TsukuBlog

I know this is short notice (The Tsukuba Film Commission didn’t announce this until today!), but the TV drama that was filmed in Tsukuba, or to be specific, at Takezono Nishi Park, Takezono 3-Chome neighborhood, a Chinese restaurant in Akatsuka area, Shimo Hirooka area, and Namiki 3-Chome, will be aired tonight from 9pm.

The name of the drama is “自販機男(Jihanki Otoko or the Vending Machine Guy)” which is a part of “世にも奇妙な物語 (Yonimo Kimyou-na Monogatari) Fall Special Version.” Yonimo Kimyou-na Monogatari is a very popular omnibus series which started in 1990. It usually gives the viewers the bizarre (奇妙な) short stories that are just way too weird to be true, but still make you think, “hey, wait a minute, it could happen for real!” Yonimo Kimyou-na Monogatari is like the omnibus of urban legends, in a sense.

It looks like that “Jihanki Otoko” will be the 3rd story in tonight’s “Yonimo….”

世にも奇妙な物語 (Yonimo Kimyou-na Monogatari) Fall Special Version
October 2, Tuesday from 9:00pm to 11:24pm
Fuji TV (or Channel 8)
Tsukuba Film Commission’s announcement
(Japanese, but you can see the pictures)

開運！なんでも鑑定団 (Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan) that was filmed in Tsukuba last month will be aired on July 17, Tueday from 8:54PM on TV Tokyo or Channel 12 here. I went to see the shooting of this program, but I don’t want to ruin the fun by writing about it!

Please read Shaney’s post “Have Your Treasures Appraised in Tsukuba” or visit the Tsukuba City’s website for more information. According to the city’s announcement, the cityscape and some research institutions will also be on TV.

Do you play petanque?

Well, to be honest, I had no idea what “petanque” was until I read about an upcoming international competition in Suwa City, Nagano this weekend!:
11th Petanque Junior World Championship in Suwa (French/Japanese)

If you are interested in forming a team and compete in petanque and other boule games, all you need to do is get 5 or more people together and apply for JPBU license. The details are on JPBU’s “JPBU License” page.

日本ペタンク・ブール連合 - JPBU
Japan Petanque Boules Union (Japanese/English/French)
F.I.P.J.P. - Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (French/English)

Petanque Clubs in Japan (for the complete list, please visit JPBU site)
Tokyo Area
Himalaya Sugi no shita Petanque Club (English)
Aoyama Petanque (English)
Nagano
Federation Nagano de Petanque (Japanese)

I would love to hear from someone who actually plays this sport!

For those who are staying in town…..

Tsukuba Expo Center
CLOSED from December 27(Thur) to January 3(Thur)
Event:
“Let’s make a Christmas ornament with glow-in-the-dark beads”
Dec.22, 23, 24 and 25 from 1PM to 3:30PM

Tsukuba Botanical Garden
CLOSED from December 28 (Fri) to January 4(Fri)

Ibaraki Nature Museum
CLOSED from December 28 (Fri) to January 1 (Tue)
Event:
“The 41st Exhibition - The 4th General Research: Nature of North-Western IBARAKI”
October 20(Sat) to January 14(Mon)

Aquaworld Ooarai
OPEN
Events:
“Costume Contest”
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during Dec. 1 to 24
Those who come to the aquarium in full Santa Claus costumes will receive a gift at the entrance, and there will also be a costume contest.
“Christmas Nights”
Dec. 23 and 24
The aquarium will be open until 8PM and there will be some special events such as a concert and special dolphin shows.

Potiron no Mori
OPEN
Events:
“Free admission days” - Dec. 22, 23 and 24
There will be a lot of events as always, and there will be fireworks display from 7:30pm on Dec.23 and 24. Admission will be free again on January 1.

Ushiku Daibutsu
OPEN
Events:
“初詣(hatsu moude/ new year’s visit)” to the Ushiku Daibutsu
修正会(shoshoue/ Buddhist ritual) from Dec. 31, 11PM to Jan. 1, 2AM and Jan 1, 7AM to 4:30PM. Admissions will be free on Jan. 1, 2 and 3 (and possibly on Dec 31 as well. Please check). Traditional Japanese music performances by area groups, monkey shows, magic shows, calligraphy (performance?), and many more will take place during these 3 days.

When:
May 29, Thursday, from 2:30pm to 5:00pm
Venue:
University of Tsukuba 30th Anniversary Hall

Program:
14:45
Welcoming address/ Palabras de bienvenida por autoridad de la Universidad.

14:55 to 15:25
Lecture by ambassador Daniel D. Polski/ Conferencia del Sr. Embajador de la Republica Argentina Daniel D.Polski
Lecture title: “Argentina‚ key drivers for sustainable economic development”/ “Argentina: Factores Claves del Desarrollo Económico Sustentable”
　　　　　　
15:35 to 16:00
Argentina tango evening/ Demonstration and lesson by Luna de Tango Company, Demonstracion y clase de tango a cargo de “Luna de Tango Company.”

16:00 to 17:00
Social gathering/ Let’s talk about Argentine

Please contact Sugimoto at 029-853-6785
or visit the following page for details:
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/hall/20080521140055.html

Program:
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/up_pdf/20080521140055001.pdf

The City of Tsukuba, the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation, and the Tsukuba 9th Symphony Steering Committee would like to invite the public to a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D. minor, opus 125, known as the “Ode to Joy Choral” to be performed at Nova Hall on Saturday, December 30, 2006. The choral parts will be performed by a community chorus made up of local residents and the 2006 Tsukuba 9th Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Yuichi Takubo. Members of the citizen’s chorus rehearsed for about 4 months to stage this inaugural year-end choral concert here in Tsukuba City. In addition to the “Ode to Joy” Symphony, Wolfgang Mozart’s Divertimento for string orchestra in D major (”The Salzburg Symphony No. 1″), K. 136 will also be part of the afternoon program, which is set to open its doors at 2pm with the actual performance beginning at 3pm.

General admission tickets are being sold for 1,500 yen at the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation or Tsukuba Shinkou Zaidan located at the rear of the Tsukuba Capio Center (029-851-2886) or at Nova Hall (029-852-5881). For more information, call the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation (029-856-7007).

For those of you out there not flying home for the holidays and who are planning to spend your New Year’s Holiday here in Japan, come join us during this holiday season. Make the December 30 choral concert a part of your end-of-the-year celebrations.

Blast is an exciting musical show that focuses on percussion. It is coming to Japan for shows in Tokyo in August and September. (August 3 to 5 at Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, August 8 to September 9 at Tokyo Kokusai Forum.) Tickets range from 4000 yen to 11,500 yen. (The cheaper tickets are already sold out for many shows, especially on the weekends.)

More info:
http://www.blasttheshow.com/
http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/593/stage.asp (Metropolis article from a previous year)

In Japanese (includes information about how to buy tickets):
http://www.blast-tour.jp/

There is a beautiful full moon tonight. Just as it SHOULD be for the O-Bon festival, but RARELY IS. Since the Japanese have switched over from their old lunar based calendar in 1873, it has been very uncommon for the 15th of August (or July in Tokyo) to actually fall on the 15th of the lunar month (which is a full moon). This year is one of those rare years, and it has provided extra atmosphere to the various BON related events going on tonight around Japan. These are mostly BON-ODORI community dance events. Until the early decades of the 20th century, BON-ODORI were danced in most communities around here, but were most famous (for their bacchanalia) on Mt. Tsukuba. For some reason ALL of these dance events including those on the mountain have gone the way of the Japanese ibis (toki), and by that I mean “disappeared”. Maybe it was the BAWDINESS of the Tsukuba-san events which lead to their doom (after the puritan western influence of the Meiji years)?

There was an interesting event which took place tonight that included Bon dancing, as well as professional Enka entertainment and a unique rain invocation ceremony. I’m talking about the Karakasa-Mando at Niihari’s Washi Shrine. I have been there before but unfortunately could not make it today (even though I came back from Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine today intending to go to Niihari). It is a perfect place to experience a small village summer festival, swarthy night-air with the girls in colorful yukata, lots of food stalls, festival music (hayashi) and plenty of speeches.

My first time at that event I had really wanted to get a good seat for watching the Karakasa, a kind of giant tanabata decoration, which when lit, sizzles like a roman candle. I found a good spot, sat down, and waited for the big moment. I waited and waited, in the dark. My eyes grew accustomed the lack of light and my pupils probably expanded to there limit. When the fuse was finally lit and the Karakasa burst into life, I was completely and painfully BLINDED. After the few seconds it took to adjust my eyes, the Karakasa had burned itself out. I didn’t see anything! I could do nothing but laugh at the absurdity of having waited so long in anticipation. If you want to have a look (and listen) though, see this page.

As I said before I spent the day (as I usually do on August 15th) at controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where tens of thousands passed through in the PULVERIZING HEAT to pay their respects to the soldiers who have fallen in Japan’s wars since the Meiji Restoration (1868), with special emphasis on WWll, since it was on this day that that war ended.

I have many amazing things to tell and lots of pictures as well, but its been a very long day and you probably don’t want to hear about it until tomorrow.

OYASUMI

=============================
CELLO RECITAL

Saturday, February 2, 2008
3pm
Nova Hall
Cello: Pieter Wispelwey
Piano: Alexander Melnikov

A seats: 3000 yen
B seats: 2500 yen
C seats: 1500 yen

Program includes:
B. Britten: Cello Sonata in C major, Op.65
L.v. Beethoven: Cello Sonata No.3 in A major, Op. 69
B. Martinu: Variation on a Slovac Folksong
S. Prokofiev: Cello Sonata in C major, Op. 119

=============================
PIANO RECITAL

Sunday, March 9, 2008
3pm
Nova Hall
Piano: Boris Berezovsky

A seats: 3500 yen
B seats: 2500 yen
C seats: 1500 yen

Program includes:
L.V Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, Appasionata
N. Medtner: from Fairy Tales
R. Schumann: Davidsbundlertanze, Op. 6

=============================
Discount!

You can get a discount if you buy tickets for both concerts at the same time.

A seat: 5500 yen
B seat: 4500 yen

=============================
Tickets

Nova Hall: 029-852-5881
Yamaha Tsukuba Branch: 029-850-0518
Ticket Pia: 0570-02-9990
Internet: http://www.tins.ne.jp/~tsukuba-concert

The sound engineer who has been doing most of our recording recently has very good English. Out of respect for his ability, I ALWAYS use that language when dealing with him, even though we could always switch to Japanese. WHICH language to use with a particular person can be a delicate question when there is more than one possibility since it could be insulting to suddenly change away from the English (or any other language) which a non-native is doing their best to speak and I usually hesitate to do so. I often witness amusing bouts of linguistic sumo in which each speaker tries his/her best to keep the conversation in the OTHER person’s language. This is why I used English to make this week’s studio booking, even though DATES and TIMES are very fertile territory for misunderstanding. I thought I had made arrangements for Thursday night, but I guess this was only heard as SAZDAY, which as you can understand, is easily confused with SADADAY, or Saturday.

Anyway to make a long story short, Michael Frei, Thomas Mayers and I showed up at the studio only to find out that we had come two days too early. Everyone felt pretty embarrassed. Fortunately, the evening was not wasted. Since we suddenly found ourselves with nothing to do, I remembered that I hadn’t been to East of Eden, a small pub which often has live music, in a very long time. I quickly found out that my friends had NEVER been there. In ten minutes we were walking through its front door. Tsukuba is full of surprises, and that night we were VERY happily surprised. Though it was a weeknight, there was a LIVE gig about to start. The proprietress told us that it was two guys from Kyushu who call themselves NO MISS GUITARS, and to get directly to the point, they blew us away. From start to finish these mid-thirtyish Kyushu-Danji kept our rapt attention with their powerful musical presence. With 2 acoustic guitars, harmonica and vocals we were treated to a full and sumptuous range of moods and tone colors, evoking an array of influences as disparate as Django Reinhart and The Violent Femmes. And though they were limited in terms of number of instruments they still made each song sound different. Their mastery of changes in dynamics was especially impressive. This was certainly not background music and I think there was hardly any conversation between audience members throughout the show. All the while, the crowd’s gaze was intently fixed on the performance. It made me sad to think how these guys, true artists, have to virtually hobo around the country, passing out a hat (there was no cover charge) while pretty faced, vapid, TARENTO inundate the media and rake in millions. I can’t wait to see these guys again and I would highly recommend that you check them out for yourselves. They will be playing at different small livehouse every day or so over the next few days.

Anyone who would like to get a glimpse of a very special Tsukuba sub-culture should head to East of Eden in Azuma. Its clientele is fiercely loyal and consists mostly of acoustic musicians and their friends. If you are a musician yourself I would VERY much recommend going there Sunday evenings for open mic night. Even if you don’t play yourself you might still want to hear some of the music that is being written right here in Tsukuba. You WILL be impressed. Also check out their LIVE schedule. Acoustic guitar wizard Okayan is a regular performer.

Epochal Hikari no Concert
December 24, Monday
Venue: Epochal Tsukuba entrance hall
Time:17:00 - 19:30
Admission: free

17:00 - Handbell Concert by Suzuno-ki Handbell Choir
17:30 - Choral Singing by Tsuchiura Choir
18:00 - Hula Dance Performance
18:30 - Handbell Concert by Suzuno-ki Handbell Choir
19:00 - Drawing for gifts

I’m sorry for short notice, but Contemporary Dance Performances by the members of Contemporary Dance Association of Japan will be held in Tokyo tonight and tomorrow night. One of the performers, Yuriko Arima teaches dance in Tsukuba. She offers lessons in English for those who don’t speak Japanese. It doesn’t look like it’s been updated for a while, but here’s her dance studio website: R Dance Club

2007 時代を創る　現代舞踊公演
(Direct translation would be something like “Contemporary Dance Performances that shape the time 2007” )
September 4, Tuesday and 5, Wednesday
Doors open at 6:30pm, and performances begin at 7:00pm
Venue:Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space Medium Hall (English)
Tickets: 3500yen

The sounds of Senegal come to Tsukuba.

When: Wednesday, May 21 from 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Where: Nova Hall
Cost: A Seats 4000 yen, B Seats 3000 yen (pre-school aged children should not attend)

See: Flyer

Reservations
Nova Hall: 029-852-5881
Tsukuba Cultural Foundation: 029-856-7007
Tsukuba Capio: 029-851-2886

Babysitting service available for children under 10 years old. 1000 yen per child, limited to 10 children. Reserve a spot for your child by calling the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation before May 11.

There is some English programming on the regular TV channels, but it can be hard to find. If you are not sure what is available, have a look at the weekly listings on the Metropolis website. With that information and a video recorder (to record the shows that are on during the daytime when you may be at work or at night when you may be out dancing), you should be able to collect enough English programming to keep yourself busy on the nights when you don’t go dancing.

Here is the channel guide for Tsukuba.

1 NHK
2 Shopping
3 NHK Educational
4 Nihon Terebi(NTV)
5 Tokyo MX TV
6 TBS Terebi
8 Fuji Terebi
9 Cable (ACCS)
10 Terebi Asahi
11 TV University
12 Terebi Tokyo

There’ll be a fireworks display at Potiron-noMori in Inashiki City.
Annual fireworks display starts at 8PM and you can get in FREE tomorrow if you go there after 4PM.

Here’s the list of other events at Potiron this weekend:
July 21, Sat.
Anpanman Show from 12:30pm and 17;30pm
Bingo – play to win Nintendo Wii and other great prizes!
- registration starts at 15;30pm and bingo starts at 18:30pm
- 300yen per bingo card
All you can eat BBQ from 11:00am
- 1800yen for adults and 1100yen for kids
RabbitStuff( or “rabisuta”) and Takuya Matsumoto Live from 19:30pm and 20:40pm
Fireworks display from 8:00pm

July 22, Sun.
Beetles hunting from 11:00am
- registration starts at 9:00am. First 100 kids)
Treasure hunting game for kids
- registration starts at 13:00pm
SANA Live from 11:30am and 14:00pm

I’ve mentioned this in my other post before, but you’ll be asked to pay 500yen for the parking which is more like purchasing an annual parking ticket. I think the free shuttle bus service will be available for Saturday, but I can’t find the information anywhere. I’ll post that information here as soon as I get it.

A mixed group of foreigners and Japanese are getting together in Katsuragi Park at 1:00 pm on March 4th (weather permitting) to play Flag Football. They’ve done it before, they’ll do it again, and it’s lots of fun. If you’re free, please join them. There’s no tackling involved, and no prior experience needed. It’s simplified American Football, but instead of tackling the person with the ball you just need to grab one of the flags hanging on either side of their waist. Bring an extra pair of long socks (to serve as flags) if you want to play. Here are pictures from last time. If you have any questions email Marc at marc.reevenewson[AT]gmail.com. Feel free to bring friends.

Katsuragi park is in Kasuga, north-west of the intersection of Kita Odori and Nishi Odori. From the intersection of Kita and Nishi go west one set of lights (to the 7-11) and turn right (so you’re going north), take your second left and you’ll see the park on your right.

April 8, Sunday is one of Potiron-no-Mori(ポティロンの森) ’s customer appreciation days, and admissions will be free*!

There will be concerts by
Ikimonogakari(いきものがかり),
Zero(a Korean singer), and
Kaori Iida(飯田圭織),
all very popular singers. There will be a public recording of “Woody Live(a popular program on “bayFM”)” from 13:00 to 15:00pm.

According to the Potiron’s website, this is also a good time to enjoy 芝桜(siba-zakura, or moss phlox/moss pink) and 菜の花(na-no-hana, or field mustard/rape blossom), so don’t forget to bring your camera(and your kids)!
* You’ll still need to pay 500yen for parking, but you’ll get an annual parking pass in exchange.

April 6, Sunday
April 6 is one of their two customer appreciation days and admission to the park will be free throughout the day.

Some of the events happening on this day are:
Mask Rider shows from 11am and 2pm
Music lives from 12pm, 3pm and 3:30pm
Bingo game from 1pm (play to win Nintendo Wii)

April 13, Sunday
“Cosplay” –Day
Those who want to take part in this cosplay event will need to pay 700yen for participation fee in addition to the park admission.

This weekend will be the perfect weekend to enjoy cherry blossoms and other flowers at Potiron no Mori if you haven’t been to any hanami (cherry blossom viewing)!

Potiron no Mori website

Some of the articles on Potiron:
http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/09/special-deals-for-seniors/
http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/08/potiron-festival-and-fireworks-displays/
http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/04/free-admission-day-at-potiron-no-mori/

Ibaraki is famous for its fruit, and Chiyoda Town, now part of Kasumigaura City, with its myriad orchards of Japanese pear (nashi), persimmon, grape, and chestnut, is surely the fruitiest place in the prefecture. There are dozens of farms which offer (for a price) various fruit picking options, in addition to plain old fruit shopping (bo-ring!). The town itself and the surrounding countryside also offer several places worth checking out.

Today was a perfect, if slightly hot, autumn day. With a few morning hours to spare, I suggested some pear and grape picking, and a very short hike to commune with some mysterious Kamakura period Buddhist carvings known as the Kankyo-Zan MAGAI BUTSU (磨崖仏). This idea was received with enthusiasm.

From Tsukuba we got onto route 53 (by staying on Nishi-Odori and continuing straight on), going past Oda and heading towards the small mountain, half-eaten away by the ravages of a quarry. We drove past that monstrosity (with windows up, of course) and after a few km on this narrow, truck-filled road, we entered a world of large traditional houses and plenty of greenery. High above, I noticed a soaring hawk. A little further on, the road was lined on both sides with fruit stands and farms offering fruit picking.

There are MANY orchards to choose from, and making up your mind as to where to stop can put you in a flurry… But if you are making the trip all the way out to Chiyoda, there is ONE place that stands out high above the others, in that it offers a very special physical setting, a spectacular 200 year old house filled with interesting knick-knacks, and nearby historical sites. I’m talking about SHO-BEH KAJU-EN (庄兵衛果樹園).

 It’s a little tricky to get there. From Route 53, you turn left at route 64 (県道６４). This road, too, is lined on both sides with fruit picking orchards. You will soon see large signs for Shobeh Kajuen and will eventually turn left. Just to make sure you’d  better check the map on their website.

Just having the chance to walk around this neighborhood makes the trip worth it (for me). The gate and main house offer some interesting features and, if you are lucky, the proprietress will show you around. Also, near the house, next to a small shrine, are two rare stone pagodas (important cultural property) and a memorial to the family’s war dead.

Shobeh’s offers chestnut, persimmon, pear, and grape picking. Today, we opted for grapes — KYOHO, my favorite. After paying a 900 yen per person entrance fee you can enter and eat as much as you like. There is no time limit. I would recommend bringing a picnic lunch and drinks with you.

After having our fill, we headed further towards Yasato, where we turned off towards the foot of Mt. Kankyo (閑居山）. Kankyo means TO DWELL IN SECLUSION in Japanese, and according to legend, the great Buddhist Kukai (KOBO DAISHI 774-835), did just that on this mountain, more than 1000 years ago.

It is now the WILD-BOAR CULLING SEASON, and a sign warned us of hunters with guns and the presence of traps (we saw one at Shobeh’s). We were not going to be climbing very far though, so I suggested we forge on. A ten-minute hike brought us to scores of mysterious Buddha figures carved into rock. Exposed to the elements for centuries, most of them have been badly worn away. Still I find it a good place for a little peaceful contemplation. If you like, you can continue on for further hiking. (The SHOTS you hear are probably not hunters. Farmers use time released fireworks to scare off birds in this area).

Time was short, so unfortunately we had to rush back to the Science City. I’d like to go back soon, though, and if YOU haven’t been to Chiyoda in autumn, you might want to check it out for yourself.

You can pick pears, grapes, and chestnuts until November and in winter (from the end of December) there is strawberry picking.

Tsukuba Family Farm Opening Soon!

15 minute walk from Kenkyuu Gakuen Station.
A garden right in front of the station.
Do you want to start a family garden?

Would you like to have some space for a private vegetable garden?
You can get 5 tsubo (about 16.5m3) for 5000 yen per year or 10 tsubo (about 33m3) for 9600 yen per year.
And the quality of the land is guaranteed!

You might want to consider this offer if you answer “YES” to any of the following.
* Do you have an interest in organic vegetables?
* Do you find it hard to get enough exercise in your daily life?
* Do you want to work on something together with your family?
* Do you want your children to experience gardening?
* Do you want something to do after you retire?

What can you grow?
* Spring (March to May): cabbage, onions, squash, lettuce, spinach, etc.
* Summer (June to August): tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, edamame, potatoes, etc.
* Autumn (September to November): spinach, daikon, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.
* Winter (December to February): broccoli, white cabbage, cauliflower, shungiku, etc.

You can grow over 30 kinds of vegetables during the year.

You will probably make lots of mistakes at first, but soon you will become a professional! An experienced gardener is available to give you advice on the weekends.

Make your own garden at your own pace.

Enjoy the scenery, with Mt. Tsukuba in the background, Kenkyuu Gakuen Station in front, and the blue sky and clean air all around.

66 plots available.
Shimo Hiratsuka
In front of Kenkyuu Gakuen Station
15 minutes walk from Kenkyuu Gakuen Station
4 minute walk from Torisen Supermarket
In front of the new shopping center
Tsukuba Family Gardens in Yoshihara

Contact:
Taniguchi Kikaku
029-846-5080 or 090-3046-2854
taniguchi [AT] y7.dion.ne.jp

2007 KVA Festival Department of Global Communication Movie Party

Classic Japanese Cinema with English Subtitles

VENUE: Tsukuba Gakuin University, Room 1311

SATURDAY, October 27

11:00-12:10…… Sisters of the Gion (Mizoguchi, 1936; 66 minutes)
12:15-14:00…… Late Spring (Ozu, 1949; 90 minutes)
14:10-16:40…… Ikiru (Kurosawa, 1952; 143 minutes)
16:50-18:40…… Late Chrysanthemums (Naruse, 1954; 101 minutes)

SPECIAL EVENING SHOW:
18:45-20-45…… The Funeral (Itami, 1987; 120 minutes)

SUNDAY, October 28

10:00-12:10…… Woman in the Dunes (Teshigahara, 1964; 123 minutes)
12:15-2:20…… The Burmese Harp (Ichikawa, 1956; 116 minutes)
2:30-4:30…… Sansho the Bailiff (Mizoguchi, 1954; 120 minutes)
4:40-6:40…… When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (Naruse, 1960; 110 minutes)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
1. For a program and description of the films in English, contact Robert Juppe at juppe[AT]tsukuba-g.ac.jp
2. There is no charge for this program. Seating limited to 40, provided on a first come, first served basis.
3. All films are shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
4. Light snacks will be available free of charge (as long as supplies last).

1964 was a pivotal year in post-war Japanese history. With the inauguration of the first SHINKANSEN bullet train, the introduction of the first color TVs, and most importantly, the hosting of the Olympic Games, it was a year which now symbolizes Japan’s economic recovery and marks its return to the forefront of the international scene after a two decade period of frenzied rebuilding following the total devastation of WWII. 

In 1966, the Japanese government designated October 10th as Taiiku no Hi (Sports Day) to commemorate the Games. If you are wondering why October was selected as a day to remember the Summer Olympics, you are not alone. The fact is, however, that in 1966, the Opening Ceremonies were held on the 10th of October! The wise decision to hold the Tokyo Summer Games in Autumn was made in deference to Japans cruelly humid summer weather (why wasn’t the same change made for Beijing?).

Since the year 2000, as part of the HAPPY MONDAY MOVEMENT (having national holidays on Monday to make a 3-day weekend), Taiiku No Hi has been moved to the second Monday of October, giving us a nice break in what is probably Japan’s best season weather-wise. 

Over the Sports Day weekend you are likely to hear signal fireworks (aizu no hanabi) announcing that school and university sports festivals (UNDO KAI) are being held. For the Japanese, these events are MAJOR markers of the passage of years. It is common for grandparents to come from afar to be present, and in Tsukuba, parents often go out in the middle of the night to stake out a good place to put down their plastic sheet for the next morning’s festivities. You can get a glimpse of what goes on at an UNDOKAI on YouTube.

If you turned on the TV this morning, you might have seen some of Japan’s Olympic medalists giving workshops for schoolchildren and also scenes of little Aiko (the daughter of the Crown Prince and Princess) running (victoriously, of course) in her first Sports Festival.

Many Tsukubans set aside time every year during the second weekend in October to attend Tsukuba University’s three day Culture Festival. All of those who do have their own favorite attractions. For me, there is the music, especially the jazz cafe and the Andean Folk Music Troupe. This year, with the blessing of truly glorious weather, not a soul could have left disappointed. With a wide range of cheap and delicious foods, live music in all genres, arcade games, scientific displays, and technological exhibitions all served up with youthful enthusiasm, for me the GAKUEN-SAI is the true TSUKUBA FESTIVAL (Tsukuba Matsuri).

As I have written before, one noticeable thing for many graduates of foreign universities is the lack of any political or INTELLECTUAL presence in the Tsukuba University festival. In recent years, however, environmental awareness has started to be felt with several booths selling organic produce or showing data from research on GREENER LIVING. Still walking the length of the campus this weekend, I felt pessimistic about recent calls to lower the voting age in Japan to 18.

For LOTS OF INTERESTING DETAILS ON THE TOKYO OLYMPICS SEE THIS PAGE and THIS ONE. (You should read more about this event!)

Tsukuba City Hall has stopped publishing the Nova Hall and Capio schedules in their newsletter (which has gone from bi-monthly publication to just monthly publication on the first of the month). Since that was the only place I could find the schedules online, I am afraid that I cannot translate them anymore. (Feel free to send your complaints to the City Hall here.)

I did, however, buy some tickets to the Doudou N’Diaye Rose Percussion Orchestra performance this Wednesday and that seems to have resulted in me being put on the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation’s mailing list. I received an envelope from them today. I was hoping that it was the monthly schedules, but it just seems to be pamphlets for two upcoming events. So, for lack of any other information, here are two upcoming events:

The Harvard Krokodiloes, an a cappella group from Harvard University, will be performing at Nova Hall on Thursday, June 19 from 6:30pm. Tickets are 1000 yen for students and 2000 yen for everyone else.

Watch the Kroks perform “Wanna Be Like You”:

And on Friday, August 1, the “Shakespeare for Children Company” (子供のためのシェイクスピアカンパニー) will perform Cymbeline at Tsukuba Capio from 6:30pm. (I think the performance will be in Japanese.) Tickets are 3500 yen for adults and 1500 yen for students of high school age or under. A babysitting service (1000 yen) is available for up to 10 children from ages 0 to 10 years (reserve by July 21).

Tickets for the above can be obtained from the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation (029-856-7007), or from Nova Hall (029-852-5881) in the case of the Kroks, or Capio (029-851-2886) in the case of the Shakespeare performance.

Since the success of the international hit Shall We Dance (1996), Japanese film producers have been regularly investing in the genre which can be called O-keikomono （お稽古物）. Those of you who are active in martial arts will be familiar with the word keiko, which means training, and the above-mentioned term can be used to refer to stories in which one or more characters begin to practice an activity under the guidance of a teacher, resulting in personal growth for both student and teacher and an obligatory grand finale to display the great skill acquired as a result of the hard training.

I guess you could say that it is an age old Asian genre which has also found success in the West in films ranging from the Karate Kid to Rocky. Such recent Japanese movies as Swing Girls and Water Boys were efforts that used the same plot pattern as Shall We Dance but did not achieve the same results in either critical acclaim or box office success.

Last year, however, director and writer Sang-il Lee used the old formula to create what I found to be a film that was not only very entertaining, moving, and very well made, but also a work that should be seen by anyone with an interest in the history of this part of Japan.

The story takes place in Iwaki , which is in Fukushima Prefecture just across the border from Ibaraki (our own Prefecture) and most of the dialogue is in a type of stage Fukushima dialect (if they used real dialect general viewers would not understand) which very closely resembles the dialect spoken by natives of rural Tsukuba.

Iwaki and Northern Ibaraki were important coal mining regions and the labor of the miners was essential for Japans industrialization.The shows how these laborers and their families were proud to have made such efforts for their country and which was confirmed for them by the fact that the Emperor had visited
their town and had actually gone into the mine.

Times change however, and the company could not keep on all the miners. In Japan, however, the company is always concerned about its worker s(well, NOT always!) and tried to branch off into another business which would keep the town going. The idea was to utilize geothermal resources around the mine to develop a huge spa resort with a Hawaiian theme. Sounds crazy now and it sounded even crazier then to the hardened miners and their families.

Hula Girls is the story of the miners daughters who through great efforts with the help of an alcoholic, debt-ridden, big city girl teacher to help save the town and turn the Hawaiian resort into a smashing success, which it still is today.

Director Lee makes every frame count right from the start as a hand drawn flyer of Diamondhead blends into the next shot of the coal mountain. The script is funny and intelligent. The performances, which are sometimes campy or over the top, are sometimes quite good or even excellent. The story is formulaic, but surprising, though I don’t want to give anything away. I must add, however that it is one of the greatest feminist films I have ever seen, made in Japan or anywhere else.

Japan is a country of successive fads and the success of this film has created yet another. Have you met anyone who has joined any of the Hawaiian dance classes which have suddenly sprung up around town? And did you notice the new Hawaiian clothing shop located on the ground floor of Q’t? How long will these shops and classes be around? My guess would be not very long, though there still are a few Flamenco dance class holdovers from the Spanish dance boom created in the wake of the Barcelona Olympics (when were they?).

As I said, I’m not going to go into the details of the story. Just see it! If you don’t cry, you are made of stone!

(Rental DVDs have English subtitles.)

If you want to experience the fun of watching a baseball game but you don’t want to go all the way to Tokyo to do so, you can watch some teams from the Japanese Baseball Association play right here in Tsukuba.

The “Ibaraki Golden Golds” are an amateur baseball team managed by Kinichi Hagimoto. The team is playing a series of games in Tsukuba over the next few months.

Saturday, May 17 from 1:30pm
Saturday, June 21 from 1:30pm
Saturday, July 26 from 1:30pm
Wednesday, August 20 from 6pm
Saturday, September 27 from 1:30pm
Saturday, October 25 from 1:30pm

The games all take place at the Sakura Baseball Diamond, which is just beside the Sakura Branch of the City Hall (where you do alien registration). Tickets are 500 yen, 1300 yen, or 1800 yen. You can get a 300 yen discount on the 1300 yen and 1800 yen tickets if you buy them ahead of time.

The What Japan Thinks site translated a poll by DIMSDRIVE Research in which Japanese people were asked what Japanese movies they would recommend to foreigners.

The series of movies entitled “It’s Hard Being a Man” (男はつらいよ) was recommended the most by both men and women. I haven’t seen it, but I have heard of it. In fact, I have only seen three of the top ten movies (Seven Samurai, My Neighbour Totoro, Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind) and I haven’t even heard of four of them before (Love and Honour, Always - Sunset in the Third Street, Dororo, Death Note). And isn’t Letters from Iwojima officially an American movie? Anyway, it looks like I have some movie watching to do!

It’s a summer ritual here that I immediately took to. Watching the Koshien (甲子園) High School Baseball Tournament which takes place in sweltering Osaka. In my hometown New York, I had always closely followed The Boys of Summer, and by that I mean Major League Baseball. Since my first summer in Japan, however, more than watching the professionals, I have joined the millions of Japanese who, with beer or barley tea in one hand and a hand-held fan in the other, spend the dog days of August cheering on the Bozu of Summer (bozu, 坊主, is a term used to refer to a young boy), the high school baseball players who have made it into the Koshien Finals. There are 49 teams (representing each prefecture, with 2 teams from both Tokyo and Hokkaido) in all who battle it out in single elimination. If you are not a baseball fan, now is probably the time to become one, because no matter what, if you turn on the TV during the next couple of weeks that is about all you are going to see. In fact, I have a game on in front of me right now, and it’s so exciting that I can hardly type!

Koshien is a perfect way to show hometown spirit, and many of your friends who live in Tsukuba now are probably rooting for their home prefecture team. Native Ibarakians and others who have grown to love the Land of Hitachi (Hitachi no Kuni) have always had a lot to cheer about since this prefecture has often fielded very strong teams. The most famous of these is Joso High School which is located just near Tsukuba City. Once again (for the 3rd straight year) their manager Yukio Kiuchi, who is now 77 years old, has taken them to Osaka for the finals after an incredible extra-inning win in Mito on July 27th. This is a very impressive feat considering the hundreds of schools in the prefecture. Maybe attribute this success to what has been dubbed KIUCHI MAGIC.

Holy cow! This game that I’m watching! The Tokushima team has just come from behind to win! Incredible! Pandemonium! Unbridled joy! Tears (looks more like sobbing) of defeat! Slouching, bent over players. Dirty, sweaty uniforms. Wait! This is the part I love best. The winning team belting out their school song, singing with their bodies and souls making it known to the world that they are making an effort!! They go into their victory sprint. And now, the losing team is scooping up some soil from the infield, a memento of their fleeting moment on the Big Stage. Certainly the game will be replayed in their heads over and over again, probably for their whole lives, with thoughts of how it would have been if things had gone the other way.

Sorry for the digression. Let me get back to my main point. High school baseball fans in Ibaraki have been looking forward to watching Joso play and maybe even win the tournament and some people I know even went down to watch today’s game. Unfortunately, things did not go as expected and our local boys were blown away in their first game, by a Tokyo team (even more frustrating). Thus, Kiuchi’s bozu, as with all losing teams, could be seen after the game, scooping up the Sacred Soil of Koshien. So much for Kiuchi Magic. But… wait till next year!

Don’t be surprised then if you see more than the usual depressed, sulking Ibarakians this week. They were hoping to see their team do better.

And of course there are other ways of looking at this High School baseball madness. I, myself often cringe when I hear about the boys’ PURE SPIRIT. Like everyone else they are in it for the glory (and the girls?).

Another aspect to think about is the PROFESSIONALIZATION of the game in a similar way to what has happened in college sports in the US. Thus many teams, including Joso recruit players using certain incentives.  Many students DO NOT get the high school education they should be getting, and will be stuck after graduation. So the coaches, administration, etc., come out ahead, but what happens to the boys who have spent their school years playing ball and not preparing for exams?

Anyway, they sure WANT to play, and they do it well! That’s what makes it so much fun to watch.

For Koshien games just turn on your TV and flick through the channels.

It’s a bit early to announce this, but I’m doing it anyway since I’ve come across a timely article on Mainichi Daily News.

From April 15 article:

Pottery-clad audio products hit the right notes

KASAMA, Ibaraki — An electronics manufacturer in Ibaraki Prefecture has begun receiving orders for audio products set in local Kasama-style pottery.

The speakers are shaped like a pot and their sound is clearer than that of normal wood speakers.

The amplifier is priced at more than 800,000 yen and each speaker at more than 30,000 yen.

An official from the manufacturer in Omitama said that the firm planned to market cheaper and smaller pottery-covered audio products. (Mainichi)

If this article got you interested in the Kasama Yaki(pottery), then 陶炎祭(ひまつり or Himatsuri), the largest pottery fair in the entire Kanto Region, will be waiting for you!

From Himatsuri Website:

‘Himatsuri’ in Kasama is the biggest event during the Golden Week with 219 potters and ceramic artists participating. Himatsuri can offer much more than other ‘Pottery Fairs’.
Potters have their individual stalls fashioned with their unique works and wares, and visitors can enjoy shopping for special finds. Visitors may also enjoy hands-on experience while interacting with artists.

In addition to Show-and-Sale of Kasama ware, there will be an auction of clay masks by ceramic artists and an exhibit of clay masks made by over 1000 local school children. There will also be brass band performances by elementary and middle school children.

On May 3rd visitors may enjoy ‘Evening Market’ until 7 p.m. and the main attraction of Himatsuri, ‘Evening Fest Live’ with their favorite potters while enjoying delicious food.

Please also visit the Himatsuri Blog if you want to view the flyers. You can view a larger image of “green” flyer just by clicking on that thumbnail, but for the ones in the middle and right, you’ll need to click “ココ” located in the upper left.

Various events will go on during Himatsuri, like hands-on activities for kids and adults, pottery auctions, and live music performances by local brass bands and a professional band. So there are excuses to drag your friends or family members who aren’t into pottery with you…!

I have to warn you though. Since this pottery fair is extremely popular and famous, be prepared for traffic congestion (the parking lots can turn into battle grounds)! Kasama City’s been trying to come up with ways to ease the traffic/parking issues, but it hasn’t found a best solution yet. It’s urging people to use public transportations. There are free buses leaving from JR Tomobe and JR Kasama Stations, but only once an hour at the most.

Jing Villereal, Tsukublog’s resident videographer (okay, he doesn’t belong to us, but we sure wish he did!), captured the snow falling on various parts of our fair city.

The current TsukuBlog banner, “The Day Snow Fell in Tsukuba”, is also by Jing. (If you can’t see the new banner, please press F5 or refresh your browser.)

First of all, I would like to thank all of the people who came to the Coffee Hour yesterday. I was really nervous before I started the speech, but as things got underway, I calmed down and was able to get into a rhythm. It seemed like a successful event from my point of view. I hope that the audience felt the same way.

One of the members of the audience mentioned to me afterwards that she had trouble finding the schedule for the movie theatre. The schedule is available here. Whenever English movies are playing, the English title will appear under the Japanese title.

One thing you have to be careful about, though, is to check whether the movie is being offered with subtitles (which is the normal way in Japan) or with a dubbed soundtrack. Most movies aimed at an adult audience are subtitled, but many children’s movies are only offered in their dubbed versions (presumably because kids can’t read the subtitles that quickly).

For example, “Charlotte’s Web” is currently playing at the theatre, but only in its dubbed version. Too bad for all the non-Japanese speaking kids out there…

Movies that are dubbed are indicated by putting the Japanese word for dubbed (日本語吹替版) after the Japanese title. See, the listing for Charlotte’s Web for example.

シャーロットのおくりもの(日本語吹替版)
Charlotte no okurimono (ni hon go fuki kae ban)

Movies that are subtitled are usually not given any special qualification, but occasionally the theatre will show the dubbed version and the subtitled version at different times. Or, sometimes they just want patrons to be clear that they are showing the subtitled version (字幕版), as in the case of Eragon, another movie that is currently showing.

エラゴン　遺志を継ぐ者(字幕版)
Eragon: Ishi wo tsugu mono (ji maku ban)

(”Ishi wo tsugu mono” means something like “Inheritance”, which is the name of the trilogy. The first book in the trilogy is called Eragon, the second is Eldest, and the third has not been published yet, but it might be called “Empire” according to Wikipedia.)

14th Annual Musicafesta di Tsukuba
- A joint concert of various amateur groups in Tsukuba and its surrounding area.

June 10, Sunday
10:30AM to 5:15PM
Nova Hall
Free admission
List of participating groups (Japanese):
http://www.geocities.jp/musicafesta_di_tsukuba/festa1.html

The websites of some of the participating choirs and orchestras:
Vocal Ensemble Tsukuba
V.O.U.K. (Ushiku)
AIST Music Club Choir (Tsukuba)
Shingakademie Tsukuba (English)
Tsukuba Philharmonic Chorus
Miho Chorus
Tsumugi no Sato Chorus (Yuhki)
Tsuchiura Chorus
Ryugasaki Chorus
Kaffe kranzcben (Tsukuba)
Tsukuba Science City Orchestra (English)
The participating groups, not just the ones I’ve listed here, are accepting new members.