jackson`s flock of seagulls

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Aug 21-Sep 3, 2015
Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine
www.metropolisjapan.com
’S
TOK YIOEST
MEATING
D IN
OUR
CHECK OLUGT UIDE
SPECIA
BARK
BUSTERS
WHO YOU
GONNA CALL?
RISKIEST
BUSINESS
TOM CRUISE’S
IMPOSSIBLE
MISSION
RUNWAY
FOR HOPE
STRUTTING ON
A PRAYER
X
THE FACTOR
JACKSON’S FLOCK
OF SEAGULLS
inside
AUG 21-SEP 3, 2015 • #1117
EDITOR’S
LETTER
Tom Cruise’s new action movie may have all the critics raving—
including our very own—but the “mission impossible” around the
editorial desk was agreeing on a temperature setting for our AC.
This issue, we prepare for the end of summer with a look at American football’s growing popularity in Japan—attested to by Obic
Seagulls star Kevin Jackson. TELL is also getting active by walking
to celebrate life and raise awareness of suicide. An added dose of
inspiration can be found on the catwalk, as non-profit Runway for
Hope finds a way to make fashion charitable. Still blue? Perhaps a
luxurious Hawaiian massage is what the doctor ordered.
Photo courtesy of Obic Seagulls
123RF
06
15
On the Right Foot: Athlete Kevin Jackson’s got game
16
The Ruff Stuff: Bark Busters unites man and dog
Walk this Way: TELL builds community by celebrating life
Cover design: Kohji Shiiki, cover model: Kevin Jackson, photo courtesy of 写真提供：オービックシーガルズ・撮影：石原秀樹
GET PRINTED!
SEND IN YOUR BEST PHOTOS FOR OUR SEP 18 ISSUE. DEADLINE SEP 4.
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IN FOCUS
Finale of the Tokyo Bay
Fireworks, perhaps the last
one until after the Olympics,
by Mance Thompson
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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Neil Butler EDITORIAL Christopher Bryan Jones (Editor-In-Chief) Martin Leroux (Editor) Momoko Mochizuki
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Liddell (Arts) Samuel Thomas (Fashion) DESIGN Kohji Shiiki (Art Director) Davi Azevedo (Graphic Designer) Erin Hope (Design Intern)
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03
upfront
123RF
LINGOIST
SOMETHING BORROWED
Having a friend with great taste, be it in music or fashion, might mean they
have a lot of cool things you want to borrow. If you don’t know how to ask,
let us help. Just make sure to return them afterward!
JP
EN
Kono CD karitemo ii desu ka?
Can I borrow this CD?
JP
EN
JP
EN
Mochiron! Suki na toki ni
kaeshite kudasai.
Of course! You can return it
whenever you want.
JP
EN
Arigatō gozaimasu. Tsugi au
toki ni motte kimasu.
Thank you. I’ll bring it when I
see you next.
Wakarimashita!
OK!
WIN FREE JAPANESE LESSONS!
We’re giving away two weeks of intensive Japanese lessons, an ¥86,500
value, compliments of Genki Japanese & Culture School in Shinjuku
and Fukuoka. To enter, just tell us what you want to improve about your
Japanese! Tweet to @metropolistokyo or post on our Facebook page with
the hashtag #GenkiJapanese. Deadline: August 31.
K
1
は
A
N
2
A
C
3
4
5
C
6
7
Plan your holiday with JapanTravel.com
8
9
A
B
10
11
D
Solution:
B
C
D
ANSWERS AT meturl.com/kanacross
04
O
S
S
Across
1. Mother
5. An order
7. Sea bathing
10. Throat
11. To share
Down
2. Eight
3. Perfume
4. Music
6. Youngsters
8. Sand
9. Dawn or daybreak
Explore Japan. Share your experiences.
Earn rewards.
A
R
TO-DO LIST
3
TOP
bookstore cafes
Anjin
Tower Records Cafe
Located within Daikanyama T-Site, Anjin Library
& Lounge houses vintage magazines from Japan
and around the world that can be read while
enjoying coffee, snacks, and cocktails recreated
from movies and novels. Books from the store
downstairs can also be enjoyed here. Open
9am-2am. 17-5 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-3770-1900. http://tsite.
jp/daikanyama/
After music browsing, take a break at Tower
Records Cafe, located next to Tower Books.
Menu items are also available for takeout,
so you can continue browsing through the
mega-store with coffee in hand.
Open 10am-11:30pm. 2F Tower Records
Shibuya, 1-22-14 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3496-3672. http://tower.jp/
restaurants/cafe/shibuya
Books Bunny
Browse through foreign books on art, music,
fashion, and a range of different genres at
this cozy store located in a Harajuku alley.
The Bunny Cafe offers coffee and lunch, while
alcoholic drinks can be enjoyed at the Bunny Bar
starting from 7pm. Open 11:30am-5pm and
7-11pm. Closed Sun & hols. 2-31-8 Jingumae,
Shibuya-ku. Harajuku. Tel: 03-5772-3372.
www.booksbunny.jp
SEP 5
EDITOR’S PICK
GRANT ROLLS: SHINING LIGHT
Tokyo-based Kiwi Grant Rolls invites music fans to join
him in celebrating the release of his new EP Shining Light.
Rolls’ work falls into the classic, folk singer-songwriter mold,
with heartfelt lyrics rising above tuneful guitar lines. Rolls
played in the indie rock band The Beta Project in Beijing,
and more recently with the Tokyo folk band raKu raKu. His
song “Simple Life” was picked up by the Japanese clothing
company Renown for their Simple Life campaign. Rolls is
joined for his release event by Tokyo-based alt-rockers The
Complaints Department. Dan Grunebaum
Sep 5, 6pm, free entry. What the Dickens. Ebisu.
Tel: 03-3780-2099. http://j.mp/grantrolls2015
THE GODFATHER LIVE 2015
Experience Francis Ford Coppola’s timeless
masterpiece with Nino Rota’s score performed
live by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Oct 3,
1 & 6:30pm, ¥7,800-9,800. Tokyo International
Forum Hall A. Yurakucho. Tel: 050-55330888 (weekdays 12-7pm). www.promax.co.jp/
godfatherlive
SEP 4
ELE TOKYO FIRST
ANNIVERSARY
Silky-voiced singer Matthew Koma will grace the
stage for the first anniversary of Azabu Juban
club ELE Tokyo. Koma has contributed vocals to
monster tracks by the likes of EDM stars Zedd
and Hardwell, and will be making his first-ever
appearance in Japan. First-year festivities
continue through the month at ELE, including
the official after-party for EDM fest Ultra Japan
on September 19-21. Sep 4, 10pm, men: ¥3,000
w/ 2 drinks, women: free. ELE Tokyo. Azabujūban. Tel: 03-5572-7535. http://eletokyo.com
OCT 3
UNTIL SEP 23
ART AQUARIUM
“Art aquarium artist” Hidetomo Kimura creates dazzling
displays of live kingyo, or goldfish, that appeal to all the
senses. At 7pm, the exhibition space transforms into a
“Night Aquarium”, where you can enjoy drinks and, on
the weekend, live music and DJ performances. Foreign
visitors who come in pairs (who each bring their foreign
passport) after 8pm will receive one free bottle of beer.
Until Sep 23, 11am-11:30pm, ¥600-1,000. Nihonbashi
Mitsui Hall. Mitsukoshi-mae. Tel: 03-3270-2550.
http://artaquarium.jp/en
UNTIL NOV 8
0S-XX: PRELUDE TO THE
OPERATING SYSTEMS OF
THE FUTURE CITY
AUG 29-30
SUPER YOSAKOI FESTIVAL
Originally from Kōchi Prefecture, Tokyo’s own yosakoi
festival boasts over 5,000 energetic dancers from 100
teams who will perform their unique yosakoi dance.
Aug 29, 10am-8pm; Aug 30, 10am-5:30pm, free.
Omotesando, Meiji Jingū, Yoyogi Park, and Keyaki
Namiki Dōri. Harajuku or Meiji-Jingumae.
www.super-yosakoi.tokyo
This exhibition examines the operating system
of contemporary urban cities, and provides an
opportunity to discuss the future of Tokyo and
other cities by looking at their historical context.
Separated into two parts, the first of which features
works by artists such as Yuken Teruya, Pedro
Inoue, and Jean-François Prost, and more. Part
one until Sep 23, part two Oct 3-Nov 8. 11am-7pm,
free. Closed Mon. Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo.
Ochanomizu, Suidobashi, or Hongo-sanchome.
Tel: 03-5689-5331. www.tokyo-ws.org/english
05
feature
Photos courtesy of Obic Seagulls
PIGSKIN RISING
How Japan plays American football
BY C BRYAN JONES
F
ootball is in my blood. As a native Alabaman, it has to be. In the state also referred
to as “The Heart of Dixie,” the sport known
abroad as American football is a religion.
In the years since I was (literally) born into the
Crimson Tide family, football has supplanted
all others as America’s most popular sport. But
is it played beyond the borders of the United
States? Most Americans would say no—only
this isn’t true. Japan is actually home to a growing football culture. Both the college and pro
games are played here, and to learn more about
it, Metropolis hooked up with former University
of Hawaii star Kevin Jackson.
Now a member of the Obic Seagulls and
an ambassador of sorts for the game, Jackson
found his way to Japan more than a decade ago.
After graduating from the University of Hawaii,
where he played from 1999 to 2003, the former
Warriors defensive lineman signed a free-agent
contract with the Green Bay Packers. When
the final roster did not include him, he found a
new chance to get back on the field in Japan’s
corporate-sponsored X League. Here, he met
with immediate success, earning league MVP
honors in his first outing in 2003.
“Looking back to my first year, I was just so
excited to be playing football again. And I think
that excitement carried over to wanting to be
a part of every play, wanting to make every
play, and things worked out well for us—and
me personally—and we did good things that
first year.”
THE X FACTOR: JAPAN’S
PRO RANKS
123RF
06
The X League is analogous to the NFL, being
the sport’s top level where many players land
after their college careers. While the rules of
the game mirror those familiar to American fans,
the structure of the league is quite different. The
X League is divided into three divisions, with
the top division comprising 18 teams, further
split into three divisions: West, Central, and
East—which the Seagulls call home.
The season is also very different from the
NFL. Rather than a marathon slate spanning from
September to late January/early February, the X
League has both spring and fall components. A
spring tournament, which takes place in May and
goes through early July at the latest, consists of
five games that are played every other week. In
the fall, five additional league games are played.
These are followed by five more games as part
of the playoffs, culminating in the championship
game. To get into the playoffs, a team must finish
in the top three in its division.
The final two survivors face off in the X Bowl,
which is played in the Tokyo Dome in front of
more than 30,000 fans.
“The atmosphere for the championship
game is actually unbelievable here,” says Jackson. “It’s such a big difference from a regular
league game and a regular playoff game, from
attendance and all the activities surrounding
the game, the venue … it’s really a big deal here
in Japan.”
COLLEGE BALL
As in America, football is widely played at the
collegiate level and finds power concentrated
in key areas. “There are several leagues all
throughout the country,” Jackson explains, “but
two main leagues—the two most competitive
leagues—are in Kanto and in Kansai.” Leagues
in Japanese college football are essentially
the same as conferences in the United States.
As if talking about the likes of Alabama and
Ohio State, Oregon and Florida State, Jackson
describes the centers of power in Japan.
“In the Kanto area, Nichidai (Nihon University)
and Hosei have had a lock on the championship
game for the past few years. In the Kansai area,
Kwansei Gakuin and Ritsumeikan have really
been the two teams leading the pack.”
Structurally, the college season mirrors that
of the X League. Games are played in both
spring and fall, and a champion is crowned in
a game that caps off the fall slate. In this case,
the top two teams meet in the Koshien Bowl,
played in Hanshin Koshien Stadium near Kobe,
home of the Hanshin Tigers baseball club.
And that’s where the twist comes in.
WHEN TWO LEAGUES MEET
Every year in the United States, one team is
named college football National Champions
and another is named Super Bowl champions.
In Japan, there is just one ultimate champion.
This debate is settled in the Rice Bowl, a contest
between the X League champs and the college
football champs. Imagine finishing off the 2014
season in the United States with a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the New
England Patriots. Is that fair?
“That’s maybe a strange concept for a lot of
Americans, but that’s how they’ve done it here
for years now,” says Jackson.
When you break down the realities of Japanese football, it’s not quite as strange as it first
seems.
“I’d say it’s a bit different in the sense that the
X League players here are not all professional,”
the Seagulls star explains. “A lot of the players—
I’d say the majority of the players—actually
work throughout the week. They have a day
job, so they are unable to practice or unable
to dedicate that extra amount of time to training. So, physically, although they are bigger,
maybe stronger and faster than the college
teams here, the college teams really go in on
strategically finding out X League teams’ weaknesses and coming up with a whole assortment
of trick plays. They just have more time.”
FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR
Beyond playing in the games themselves,
Jackson is on a mission to bridge the football
gap between Japan and America by encouraging learning about the game. When not on
the field, he works in the Seagulls’ front office
and organizes unique experiences for fellow
players as well as school children—the league
visits elementary schools to teach flag football.
In August 2014, the Seagulls visited The
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the
sister city of Narashino, where the Seagulls
are based. It was a special trip for everyone
as they toured the facilities and watched the
Crimson Tide practice.
While in Tuscaloosa, the Seagulls faced off
against the Blazers of the Amateur to Professional Developmental League in the first-ever
Sister Cities International Bowl.
“It was the first experience for a lot of our
players playing against foreign competition,
so in that sense, it was eye-opening for a lot
of the Japanese guys,” says Jackson. “For the
American guys on the team, it was exciting
playing a game on American soil, which a lot
of us hadn’t done for years.”
The Seagulls came up just short.
“We lost. It was really close; we were actually on top for a good majority of the game.
They came back and ended up getting us
there in the end.”
The final score was Blazers: 16, Seagulls: 12.
But Jackson sees it as another step in helping American football gain its footing here. Is
there really a chance that the game could ever
truly become popular in Japan?
“Realistically, that’s a tough one,” he admits. “We’re trying to do our part and expose
our guys to ball Stateside, but it has to be a
team effort. I think if everyone gets involved,
then it’s a possibility that football could be a
major sport here. It might be hard to overtake
baseball or soccer or something like that, but it
could be definitely bigger than what it is now.”
For more information about American football in Japan, visit:
www.seagulls.jp/english/
www.xleague.com/english/
To hear the full interview with
Kevin, tune into our new audio feed
Metropolis One-on-One at:
http://metropolisjapan.com/one-on-one
07
Open 24hrs.
Chinese Restaurant
i
Chinese
Roppongi stn
or
i D Ga
Cafe
ien-H
ng
Eight Roppo Mori Towerigashi Dori
Hyatt Hotel
Keyakizaka Dori
Roppongi: 2F Court Annex
Roppongi, 3-2-13 Nishi-Azabu,
Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5414-5708.
Chinese
Cafe
Eight
Aoyama: B1F La Porte Aoyama,
5-51-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku.
Tel: 03-3409-5388.
Shinjuku
stn
Chinese
Cafe
Eight
Shinjuku: 6F Takayama Land
Kaikan Bldg, 3-5-3 Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku. Tel: 03-3351-8869.
Chinese
Cafe
Eight
McDonald’s
Akasaka
Mitsuke stn
Tokyu Plaza
Akasaka: B1F Floral Plaza Bldg,
3-8-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tel:
03-6234-9788.
Chinese
Cafe
Eight
Ebisu: 3F ABC-MAMIES Bldg,
1-16-12 Ebisu-Minami,
Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3713-2858.
Visit our website for info on other Chinese Cafe Eight locations (More than 120 seats available)
http://en.cceight.com/
08
246
MEAT SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
Concept
Specialties
Philosophy
BUFFALO WINGS SMILE & TOKYO
Must-try
Offers
Extra
Metropolis Deal
BEYOND B.B
Various
Otsuka
Roppongi
The atmosphere of the Australian outback. Very
relaxed with many booths that provide a private
setting.
An American atmosphere that’s perfect for
enjoying buffalo wings and craft beers from the
U.S.
Carefully-selected meat and organic vegetables,
plus a wide selection of drinks, served in a setting
that mixes Japanese and Western styles.
All of the recipes at Outback are from America,
making this a place where you can taste real
American food in Japan. Their specialties are
the flavorful “Outback Special” sirloin steak
(200g/300g) and juicy “Angus Ribeye” (280g).
Buffalo wings! With 20 flavors on the menu,
even those who aren’t into spicy food can find a
delicious option: 4 pieces: ¥599; 10 pieces: ¥1,299;
24 pieces: ¥2,699 (plus tax).
Carefully-selected A5-grade Kuroge Japanese
Beef (wagyu) is cooked slowly for 40 minutes to
make the inside very soft and the outside crispy,
bringing out the texture and taste of the beef.
Fresh and domestic. Chickens from Daisendori
(Daisen area) in Tottori Prefecture are fried deeply
through to deliver mouth-watering wings.
The “Kawara Soba” is a must-try. You might
imagine soba to be a cold dish, but Beyond B.B
serves their soba hot and on top of a Japanese
kawara (roof tile).
The Premium Rack of Lamb, which uses a limitedaging technique, is a must-try. The New Zealand
lamb is aged for four weeks and then quickly frozen
to ensure peak flavor. The full rack is then grilled
with Outback’s original mix of seasonings. The
Spring Lamb Rack (450g) is served with mashed
potatoes and steamed vegetables for ¥4,280
(available until Sep 30, 2015).
During Happy Hour, five types of beer, glass wine,
and 11 different cocktails are 50% off. Happy hours
vary according to location.
Roppongi, Shibuya, Shinagawa Takanawa,
Shinagawa Konan, Ikebukuro, and Minami Machida.
Details at www.outbacksteakhouse.co.jp/en/
BLT STEAK
Roppongi & Ginza
A modern American steakhouse with bistro-like fare,
featuring high-quality USDA prime-grade beef that
is dry-aged and then cooked in a 925-degree oven.
In addition to steaks, try delicious popovers that are
crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. BLT
Steak has 15 branches in the U.S. and other countries.
The high-quality, dry-aged Prime T-Bone Steak
(¥14,000, serves two) is a top choice. Also
recommended are the Rib-Eye (¥7,200) or Hanger
Steak (¥3,800). Top it off with your choice of nine
original sauces.
Chilling and aging to bring out the softness and
flavor. Only prime-grade beef graces the menu.
T-Bone, Rib-Eye, and boned sirloin steaks are a must
for autumn.
During lunch, a steak set of Rib-Eye (300g), salad,
and popover is just ¥4,800. Or, enjoy a hamburger
made with prime-grade meat for ¥2,200.
Roppongi Branch: 5F Izumi Garden, 1-6-1 Roppongi,
Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3589-4129. Roppongi-Itchome.
Ginza Branch: 8F Royal Crystal Ginza, 5-4-6 Ginza,
Chuo-ku. Tel: 03-3573-1129. Ginza. Opens: Lunch
11:30am-3pm (L.O. 2:30pm); Dinner 5-11pm (L.O.
10pm). http://bltsteak.jp
The wing sticks, chicken wings, and chicken breast
are all must-tries, so go for a platter!
Wing Tuesday is your chance each week to get
more deliciousness without more money. 6 pieces
are just ¥599 and 14 pieces are ¥1,299.
Readers of Metropolis get one wing free!
1F Hosaka Bldg., 3-52-2 Minami Otsuka, Toshimaku. Tel: 03-5927-9727. kagawa@megurohim.com.
Open Tue-Fri 5:30-11pm; Sat 12-11pm; Sun & hols
12-10pm; Closed Mon. Otsuka. www.facebook.
com/buffalowingsandsmiletokyo
CAFE & GRILL 512
For those looking to try a wide variety of meat,
the Meat Course (¥6,800 per person) is the ideal
choice. The Kawara Soba course (¥5,800 per
person) is also a great option, and you can enjoy
Japanese beef in both.
Kawara Soba Course ¥5,000 (regularly ¥5,800).
Meat Course ¥6,000 (regularly ¥6,800)
B1F Randic Roppongi Bldg. 4-11-13 Roppongi,
Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6447-1515. Open Tue-Sat
6pm-4am (L.O. 3am); Sun 6pm-12am (L.O. 11pm);
Closed Mon. www.beyond-bb.jp
MEISTERWERK FOODS
Roppongi
Azabu-Jūban
A hidden spot in Roppongi surrounded by nature, a
one-of-a-kind oasis in the midst of the noisy city.
With the theme “a food adventure that never ends,”
Meisterwerk Foods is dedicated to carefullyselected and delicious food. Here you’ll find more
than 500 delicious and unique ingredients.
The Huli Huli Chicken (5 pieces, ¥1,000 plus tax) is a
house specialty that comes in three flavors: original,
honey, or spicy curry. The spare ribs (¥1,500 plus
tax) are stewed to become so tender you can cut
them with chopsticks, and are available in two
flavors: tandoori or tomato stew.
Try the Beer Garden Plan (¥4,000, tax included),
which includes a highball chilled to below zero,
along with spicy nuts and french fries seasoned with
truffle that pair perfectly with alcohol!
Cafe & Grill 512 offers a unique escape from the
hustle and bustle of the city with their terrace
seating, an oasis where you can enjoy your meal
surrounded by nature—something you can’t do
elsewhere in Roppongi!
Park Side Six, 9-5-12 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tel:
03-5772-1180. Open Mon-Fri 11am-11pm (L.O. 10pm),
Sat, Sun & Hols 7:30am-8pm (L.O. 7pm).
http://512.tokyo/
The Sanuki Wagyu Udon (¥880) is their specialty,
with noodles, directly from Kagawa Prefecture, that
pair wonderfully with the high-quality Sanuki Beef.
Hard-to-find products, direct from the source,
including many delicious processed foods made
with name-brand meat shipped directly from the
makers.
Located in a quiet area of Moto-Azabu, Meisterwerk
is the place to go to enjoy all the great foods of
Japan. They also have pottery by famous Japanese
potters.
During lunchtime, you can enjoy the Italian Gima’s
espresso or original coffee for ¥200 when you order
food. During the whole day, you can order a drink for
¥200 when ordering sweets.
1-4-27 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3451-7705.
Open Tue-Sat 8am-8pm, Sun & hols 11am-6pm, Mon
11am-8pm. Azabu-Jūban. www.meisterwerk.jp
09
CRAFT BEER CAFE
GARAGE
Party Course 6 dishes + all-you-can-drink for 3 hours ¥3,480*
Girls’ Party Course Unlimited all-you-can-drink + choose 2 dishes
from our grand menu and one dessert ¥3,480*
HAPPY HOUR STARTS AT LUNCHTIME!
OPEN
Lunch 12-4pm (L.O. 3pm)
Dinner 4pm-12am (L.O. 10:30pm)
Tel: 03-3403-3993
1F Harajuku Flat Bldg. 1-10-23 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
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Summer Terrace Bar Happy Hour (17:30 ~ 19:00) Drinks 50%Off !!
9F, Unimat Aoyama Bldg, 2 -12 -14, Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo
17 different sauces for your wings!
Hosaka Bldg. 1F, 3-52-2
Minami Otsuka, Toshima-ku
Nearest Stn: Otsuka (2 min walk from South Exit)
Tel: 03-5927-9727
10
Open hours:
Weekdays: 5:30pm-11pm
Saturdays: 12pm-11pm
Sundays and Holidays: 12pm-10pm
Closed on Mondays
MEAT SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CHINESE CAFE 8
Concept
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Philosophy
CRAFT BEER AND CAFE GARAGE
Various
Harajuku
A lively environment where you can enjoy real
Chinese food in Tokyo. Open 24 hours a day, and
with more than 300 varieties of cuisine, it’s like
being at a Chinese food stall!
A beer pub with an interior like an American
garage. Six types of Japanese craft and draft beers
are always on hand. Enjoy the café setting during
lunchtime, and drinks when it gets late.
The Peking Duck (one whole duck, ¥3,980) comes
with soup and stir-fry. Pair with a bottle of wine from
more than 100 varieties.
The Beef Rib Steak (¥1,580) is a top
recommendation. The meat is shipped directly
from Shibaura’s market, a long-established butcher
shop, and then grilled perfectly.
The Peking Duck is imported directly from Hungary,
making for a very reasonable price and high quality
control.
Try the water dumplings, made by hand when
ordered. (3 pieces starting from ¥158).
Reasonable prices, great location, and the fact that
they’re always open makes Chinese Cafe 8 a top
choice for authentic Chinese food.
Aoyama Branch: B1 La Porte Aoyama, 5-518 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-34095388. welcome@cceight.com. Always open.
Omotesando. http://en.cceight.com
WAGYU YAKINIKU KIM
Each piece of meat is grilled in a way that best
brings out the flavor of the cut.
Hokkaido’s Ezo Deer Steak, from our owner’s
homeland, is a must-try and will be available
starting in late September.
Happy Hour is from 12 to 7pm. Asahi Super Dry,
glass wines, and cocktails are half price.
Mention Metropolis for ¥100 off your lunch set from
noon to 3pm. After 4pm, receive 10% off your total.
1F Harajuku Flat Bldg., 1-10-23 Jingūmae, Shibuyaku. Tel: 03-3443-3993. wens@room.ocn.ne.jp.
Open 12am-12pm. Harajuku. http://r.gnavi.co.jp/
bfd0s9hb0000/
HOOTERS
Must-try
Offers
Extra
Metropolis Deal
RISTORANTE LAGUNA TERRACE
STELLA Aoyama
Located 34 meters up, this luxurious atmosphere
that uses Cassina tables and chairs and decor
from KPM (Royal Porcelain Factory, Berlin) offers
Italian dishes that take advantage of the unique
sensibility of our chef, who cooks with seasonal
ingredients based on Italian tradition.
The Bone Steak (600g, ¥4,500; 800g, ¥7,500) lets
you enjoy fillet and sirloin together.
Even though we are located at the center of Tokyo,
we have a lagoon, terrace seats, and an outdoor
bar at 34m above the city noise, so you can enjoy
the moment with an open-air atmosphere as if you
are in another part of the world.
The bar called “36” at Aoyama LAPUTA Garden has
Happy Hour “1 for 1” from 5:30 to 7pm, when you
can get two drinks for the price of one.
Receive a free “welcome” drink.
9F Unimat Aoyama Bldg., 2-12-14 Minami-Aoyama,
Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6804-3682. restaurant@
thirstysix.jp. Open 5:30-11pm (L.O. 10pm).
Gaienmae, Ginza Line. http://laputa-garden.com
KIMUKATSU
Shirokane
Various
Ebisu
A relaxed environment featuring top-quality
Japanese Kuroge Wagyu Beef that is specially
stocked, and special course menus with some of the
most delicious yakiniku in Tokyo.
Casual American dining and sports bar from Florida
with an environment that is very active, like a party.
A perfect place to watch sports while enjoying
American food and drinks, like chicken wings.
A very chic and relaxing environment where you
can enjoy a special mille feuille-style tonkatsu
made of thin pork loin.
“Today’s Special Set” (¥6,980) is their marquee
item, comprised of rare parts carefully selected from
top-quality Japanese beef received fresh that day.
This beef will melt in your mouth!
Hooters’ specialty is chicken wings (10 pieces,
¥1,400; 20 pieces, ¥2,600). The spicy and hot sauce
will go well with a nice cold beer, and they have 11
different sauces in total, ranging from the popular
BBQ sauce to super spicy.
Kobe beef is very famous around the world, but
Wagyu Yakiniku Kim provides high-quality, rare
Yamagata beef.
The special sirloin is very rich and will melt in your
mouth like butter. Served thick, the sirloin goes best
with salt, and served thinly, it matches perfectly with
their original sauce.
Kim serves top-quality beef in their own original
way, and has great staff and an English menu to
make your dining experience comfortable.
2-2-2 Shirokane, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-6450-4129.
Open Sat, Sun & Hols 5-11:30pm; Mon-Fri 6-11:30pm.
Shirokanetakanawa. https://gurunavi.com/en/
ga4n300/rst
Real American taste. Not only when it comes to
chicken wings, but also the hamburger, with a thick
juicy patty, dynamic-sized BBQ ribs, and many other
American-style meat dishes.
Sampling the chicken wings and 11 different sauces
is a must! The Daytona sauce is very popular with
our Hooter Girls.
With an environment and food straight from
America, you can enjoy being back in the States.
Our Hooter Girls have the American spirit, too!
The Kimukatsu Set (¥1,980) consists of 25 thin
layers of pork loin, juicy yet light; that is a taste you
can only enjoy at Kimukatsu.
Kimukatsu invites you to try their unique take on
tonkatsu, one of Japan’s most famous pork dishes.
The “Plain” is Kimukatsu’s must-try dish.
The beer set is a great summer choice. Your first
beer comes with an à la carte item, and the second
beer is half off.
4-9-5 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5420-2929. Open
Mon-Thu 11am-3:30pm (L.O. 3pm), 5:30-11pm (L.O.
10pm); Fri, Sat & the day before a national holiday
11am-11:30pm (L.O. 11pm); Sun & Hols 11am-11pm
(L.O. 10pm). www.kimukatsu.com
Mention Metropolis get ¥500 off with this ad. (Valid
after 5pm through Nov 30, 2015. Conditions apply.)
Branches: Akasaka, Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku.
Details at www.hooters.co.jp
11
SS
food&drink
ummer
ervings
RECIPES AND PHOTOS
BY RIEKO SUZUKI
With the heat intensifying outdoors, it’s
the perfect time to have some friends
over. Here are some easy meals and
snacks you can make for your group to
enjoy in the comfort of your home.
CREAMY HAM DIP
Because the saltiness of commercial ham varies, I recommend adding salt and
pepper at the very end. Okara powder is dried soy pulp powder that you can get
at local grocery stores or online sites.
Cooking time: 15 min
Servings: 4
Ingredients
• 100g ham
• 50g cream cheese
• 100g unsweetened greek yogurt
• 1/2 small onion
• 2 tbsp okara powder
• Salt
• Generous amount of black pepper
Directions
MARINATED KATSUO WITH CURRY
PONZU MARINADE
The hint of curry is the secret to making this hearty appetizer pair perfectly with cold
beer or sparkling wine. Be careful not to overcook the katsuo in step two; fry only
the surface, leaving the inside raw.
1. Chop onion and ham.
2. In deep container, combine cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and black pepper
with onion and ham. With hand blender, blend to puree.
3. Add okara powder and mix well. If not salty enough, add more salt. Chill in
fridge for a while before serving.
SPINACH CHEESE DIP
Cooking time : 90 min (active 30 min)
Servings: 4, as appetizers
This vegetarian-friendly healthy spinach dip goes great with vegetable sticks and
bread slices. Any type of shredded cheese can be used for this recipe, so try out
different ones to find your favorite!
Ingredients
Cooking time: 30 min
Servings: 4
• 300g katsuo (bonito) sashimi
• 1 small onion
• 1/4 small carrot
Marinade:
• 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1 pinch garam masala
• 1 pinch coriander powder
• 100cc ponzu soy sauce
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions
1. Peel and thinly slice onion and carrot.
2. On heated frying pan, fry katsuo. Let the color of all sides change within 30
seconds. Take fish out and let it cool. Make 1-cm-thick slices once cooled.
3. Mix all marinade ingredients in flat container. Add sliced carrot, onion, and
katsuo. Marinate longer than one hour in the fridge.
12
Ingredients
• 1 batch spinach
• 1 pack (120-150g) unsweetened Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 1/4 salt
• 1 tbsp okara powder
Directions
1. Wash spinach and then boil for one minute. Drain, chill in cold water, and
squeeze firmly to remove excess water.
2. Combine all ingredients except for okara powder in a deep container. Blend to
puree with hand blender.
3. Add okara powder to the puree and mix well. Chill in fridge for a while before
serving.
YUZU KOSHŌ HONEY LEMON CHICKEN
This easy main dish with a hint of refreshing yuzu koshō (pepper) not only makes
your party table more glamorous, but also invites people to get seconds! Use any
summer vegetables available.
Cooking time: 1 h (active for 30 min)
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1. 4 chicken wing tips
2. 4 chicken wing sticks
3. 3 small zucchinis
4. 2 packs shimeji mushrooms
5. 1/2 tbsp shio-kōji (salted rice malt) paste
♦ 1 1/2 tbsp honey
♦ 4 tbsp lemon juice
♦ 1 tsp yuzu koshō
Directions
1. Slather shio-kōji paste on chicken and
leave for 30 minutes. Slice zucchini. Cut
shimeji mushrooms.
2. Combine honey, lemon juice, and yuzu
koshō into small cup and mix well.
3. Heat frying pan, then put on chicken with
skin facing down. Cook for five minutes on
medium heat. When skin is crispy brown,
turn and cook the other side for another five
minutes.
4. Shift cooked chicken onto plate. Cook sliced
zucchini and mushroom in the same pan on
medium heat.
5. When vegetables are cooked, bring chicken back
to the frying pan. Add the honey, juice, and yuzu koshō
concoction, and mix all the ingredients evenly.
6. Cook on medium heat for one minute.
FROZEN BANANA CAKE
Frozen cake bites can be easy. To save time, you can just freeze
the cake in a flat container instead of making small balls. Just
pour melted chocolate, chill, and slice when you serve.
Cooking time: 90 min (active 30 min)
Servings: 4
Ingredients
• 2 medium bananas
• 1 mushi cake (steamed cake)
• 45-50g dark chocolate
• 45-50g white chocolate
Optional:
• 1 tbsp rum
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• Crushed nuts, cookie bits, or sugar sprinkles
Directions
1. Peel and mash up banana. Break steamed cake into small
pieces. In a bowl, combine mashed banana and steamed cake
and mix well. Add rum or cinnamon at this point, if you’d like.
2. Take portions of the mixture and make them into small balls.
Stick picks in and freeze them for one hour.
3. Coat frozen cake balls with melted chocolate, or simply pour
on top. Optionally, decorate with sprinkles.
4. Put back in freezer. Serve frozen.
Rieko Suzuki
Rieko blogs bilingual recipes at
http://meturl.com/ruby
13
14
city life
Things to consider
before getting a dog
THE
CANINE
LIFE
The idea of a cute, eager Golden Retriever or
Dachshund waiting at home might be a very
desirable one. Caring for a pet can be extremely
rewarding—but it nonetheless is a serious,
long-term commitment that requires forethought.
Here are some factors to consider before
welcoming a dog into your family.
Helping man be dog’s
best friend
BY MARTIN LEROUX
L
123RF
iving in Tokyo brings with it a share of trials and rewards unique to the city. The
pros and cons go beyond affecting its
human inhabitants, too; residents of the
four-legged variety are also impacted by life
in the metropolis—especially when part of a
household.
But rather than training canines to become
more human, a healthier, faster bond can be
built by instead teaching man to be more dog.
“We don’t train dogs; we train people,” says
Chie Kawazoe, director at one of the world’s
largest dog-training companies Bark Busters’
Japan branch, with headquarters in Yokohama,
and therapists in Tokyo, Osaka, and Sendai.
“We don’t try to stop dogs from barking or biting; but as long as the human … becomes the
leader of the pack, the dog won’t do such a
thing, like biting or barking. So we’re always
training people to become a leader of the pack.”
Photos courtesy of Bark Busters
While many dog owners enroll their pups
into obedience schools to rid them of “misbehaviors,” Kawazoe explains the actions we
deem as undesirable stem from dogs’ viewing
the family as a pack—and how the dog takes a
leadership role when their humans don’t.
“When a human becomes a leader of the
pack, [dogs] will love the human a lot more than
when a dog is the leader. That’s the difference
between dogs and humans: when a dog thinks
it’s a leader, he does things on his will and he
doesn’t respect people much. When a human
becomes a leader, they will respect the human
and they’ll have stronger bonding together.”
Kawazoe’s husband and fellow Bark Busters
director Nick Christ explains that the compact
sizes of houses and apartments in Tokyo also
contributes to dogs’ taking command of their
pack.
“There’s no separate areas for the dog and
people to go to; they’re always together. So
the dog tends to take a leadership role in the
house, and so when it hears a doorbell, it’s barking—it’s warning everyone else in the house
that there’s someone at the door, and it could
be dangerous.
“In Australia or America, where houses are
much bigger, the dogs tend to be a little more
relaxed.”
Given that dogs’ behaviors are a response
to their environment, Kawazoe and Christ visit
their client and conduct the training and counseling in their homes.
“Our philosophy is, you need to actually
work with the dog in its normal surroundings,”
states Christ. “So we visit the client, we spend
the first part of the lesson understanding what
the household situation is with the animal, how
many members of the family there are, what are
all the problems.
“As Chie said, we are training the owners, so
we give them a presentation on dog psychology. We try to explain how the dog is thinking—how the dog perceives its world.”
Christ goes on to describe Tokyo as an
overwhelming area for animals, which results
in excessive barking and biting—common problems with dog owners in the city.
“There’s a lot more distraction. It’s a much
more intense environment for the animals. It’s
a lot more stressful.”
Kawazoe adds, “The most common problem
is barking—especially when there’s a doorbell
ringing, dogs bark. That’s more common here
than in other countries.”
“One of the reasons why Japanese dogs
bark at the doorbells really bad is, Japan is a
Commitment. First things first: a dog’s lifespan
ranges from 6 to 15 years, depending on breed.
How are your next couple of decades looking?
Space. Does your home have enough space for a
dog to move about freely?
Time. Factoring in work, school, and other
activities, does your schedule allow enough time
to care for a dog?
Cost. Food, vaccinations, checkups, supplies …
caring for a dog can get pretty costly. Are your
funds sufficient?
People. Consider the people you live with. Are
they willing and able to help care for a new
addition to the household? Are there kids under
13 living with you?
Pets. If you live with other animals, how would
they react to another addition?
Vets. Is there one in your area that you trust and
can communicate with?
Breed. Different breeds have different
characteristics and needs. Does the breed you
want match your lifestyle? Some shelters provide
assessment; alternately, you can consult a
professional.
very takkyubin country,” explains Kawazoe,
referring to the popularity of home deliveries.
“When they ring the bell, if you don’t answer it in
three seconds, they’ll be gone; so people tend
to rush to the doorbell, and dogs are looking
at it, watching it. They think that the person
is panicking, so dogs tend to bark to help the
person.”
So instead of training a dog to suppress its
urges, the Bark Busters directors advocate reducing the stress of the animal by encouraging
people to create a sense of safety in their pack.
“If a dog feels it’s in a strong pack, it doesn’t
have to worry about where the next meal is
coming from; it doesn’t have to worry about
making any decisions—and it tends to be much
more relaxed,” says Christ. “We find dogs we
teach, once the family structure is changed, the
dog understands that it doesn’t need to worry
about the survival of the family.”
Bark Busters Japan. Tel: 0120-272-109.
www.barkbusters.co.jp/english
15
city life
THE
PATH
TO LIFE
TELL walks for suicide
prevention
BY MARTIN LEROUX
J
apan is no stranger to suicide and mental illness. While suicide numbers in the
country have been on a steady decline
in recent years, mental illness continues
to permeate and remains a national concern.
TELL has been at the forefront of support
for mental health within Japan’s international
community since 1973. The non-profit organization offers English-language counseling both in
person and via TELL’s anonymous telephone
lifeline, and organizes events that raise awareness for social issues related to mental health,
safety, and wellbeing.
Last year, TELL launched its first Talkie
Walkie event—a walk held on World Suicide
Prevention Day, September 10, to raise awareness of mental illness. The first event, held at
both Hibiya and Yoyogi parks, was dedicated to
Tohoku residents who ended their lives as a result of struggling with the aftermath of March 11.
This year, TELL is expanding beyond the
16
borders of Tokyo, with Talkie Walkie events
planned in Yokosuka, Osaka, and Kobe, under
the theme “Reaching Out and Saving Lives.”
The event will also address the barriers in
Japan that stand in the way of mental health
support, commencing with a discussion on the
people that are most vulnerable to depression
and the reactions to their conditions.
Skorji states that an important factor that
needs to be changed is the propagation of
information regarding suicide in the media,
citing train tracks and Aokigahara Forest—
“The Sea of Trees”—as examples of unhealthy
coverage that need to be broken down.
“We like to place a lot of attention on these
places—and out of the 25,000 people that take
their lives, it could be less than 600 that would
die of these manners,” she confirms. “But we
put them in the newspaper all the time, and
we create a copycat effect, and we encourage
people to die in this manner.”
Of those in Japan who die of suicide, Skorji
states that the elderly are the most vulnerable,
taking their lives in large numbers due to isolation, not feeling valued, or health or pain issues.
Also susceptible to depression and suicide
are the young, who are affected by academic
stresses, bullying, or hopelessness for the
future; and men between 45 to 55 years old,
who feel their sole worth is monetary, and
if they lose their job, commit suicide for the
payout of an insurance policy.
Suicides in the foreign community are also
not uncommon, due to similar pressures: lack
of familial support, financial problems, the
language barrier, depression, and loneliness. Skorji
suggests that, among schoolchildren, racial identity also
factors.
The primary sign is recognizing a significant change
in someone or their behavior—poor sleeping or eating
habits, social withdrawal, talking or drawing about suicide
or death. If a person exhibits
these signs, Skorji says they
would benefit from someone
reaching out and asking them
how they are doing.
“I would also ask them,
if they’re saying they’re not
okay, ‘I’m concerned about
you. I wonder, do you ever
think about killing yourself?’
Put it out there.”
Above all, Skorji says the
most important thing is working together.
“Half of the battle here
is about the stigma and the shame attached
to mental health. And the wording, and how
we talk about it,” she states, continuing that
people with other diseases such as cancer or
diabetes aren’t shamed for their illness. Moreover, Skorji explains that suicide is the result of
a struggle with a mental health problem.
“When someone has a mental health problem, they need support and we need to break
down these barriers. The lifeline is there for
them. The community needs to get behind it.
We’ve got to change it. We’ve got to break this
down and talk about it, and support people.
“Together, we can make a difference. Together, we really can save lives.”
TELL Talkie Walkie for World Suicide Prevention Day. Sep 10. Walks in Tokyo (TELL and the
U.S. Embassy), Yokosuka, Kobe, and Osaka.
Register or learn more at www.tellwalkandtalk.com. For more info on TELL, visit www.
telljp.com. If you need to talk, call the TELL
lifeline at 03-5774-0992.
wellness
THE
HAWAIIAN
TOUCH
The story of the
Lomilomi massage
BY MUBITA MAMBWE
T
he mere mention of Hawaii may evoke
soothing imagery of pristine waves crashing into white-sand beaches, as palm
trees sway in the wind. The flowing motions of hula dances and narrative traditional
music also complement the islands’ reputation
as a haven of serenity and relaxation. Perhaps
the soothing nature of Hawaii’s many allures
can be attributed to the spirituality and culture
behind them—and the islands’ massages are
no different.
The Lomilomi massage is one unique to Hawaiian tradition. While it was brought to the
islands by Polynesian settlers, Hawaii is where
the massage evolved into both a modality of
healing and a medical practice.
The treatment process is distinguishable
from most Western and Asian massages. Rather
than focusing on isolated body parts, the Lomilomi is a holistic experience, focusing on the
entire body at once. Moreover, practitioners
incorporate their forearms, elbows, palms, and
knuckles into the process, in addition to their
hands and fingers; some even use stones that
have been heated, which are then placed onto
the back to create a sensation of relief.
Traditionally, people would perform Lomilomi on family members to provide relaxation
and healing. As such, each family cultivated
its own style of the massage; some variations
were also unique to specific regions. As a spiritual medium, non-denominational chants and
movements are incorporated into the process
to fully embody “aloha”—a word that means
“love” and “respect,” in addition to serving as a
greeting; and, spiritually, represents the course
of giving and receiving positive energy.
Eventually, the Lomilomi spread outside of
the islands and gained popularity in countries
as far away as South Africa and Australia. In its
dispersal, the bodywork became less of a traditional ritual and more of a healing and relaxation
massage, while still maintaining its characteristic use of the upper-body limbs and stones.
Needless to say, Japan’s love affair with
Hawaii has resulted in its own rendition of Lomilomi gaining traction—surely, albeit slowly.
Akiko Kuramochi, massage therapist at the
Hawaiian “healing salon” Aulii Spa in Nihonbashi, says that what she loves about her job
is the connection Lomilomi allows her to have
with people.
“By using my arms and elbows to give massages, there’s a stronger bond,” says Kuramochi
with a smile.
Aulii’s spa-centric form of Lomilomi finds
the customer being led into a partitioned area
that’s pre-scented with a tropical aroma of the
customer’s choice. After a brief relaxing foot
bath, the customer then lies down on a massage table and receives an extensive massage
based on their selected course—all performed
with essential oils (if opted for), with the mas-
seur or masseuse treating the entire body at
once, allowing blood to fully circulate.
The massage is customizable, ranging from
improving wellness, stress and fatigue relief,
and pain reduction, to beauty and diet support.
Facials are also on the menu, utilizing Lomilomi
methods to moisturize and beautify the skin.
The hot stone treatment also hearkens back
to traditional Lomilomi. Here, stones heated ti
somewhere between 50 to 60 degrees Celsius
are placed on the back, warming the body internally and ridding the body of fatigue.
While many spas cater predominantly to women, Aulii’s brand of Lomilomi continues to beckon
a large male clientele—so much so that the spa
has included men’s treatments on its menu.
Whether in the summer heat or during the
winter months, the rejuvenating touch of Hawaii
is always a hot stone’s throw away.
Aulii Spa. 4F Kyodo Bldg., 3-1-16 Nihonbashi,
Chuo-ku. Open 1-9pm, daily; closed hols.
Tel: 03-3527-9734. E-mail: info@auliispa.com
Tokyo or Nihonbashi. www.auliispa.com/en
17
fashion fix
BY SAMUEL THOMAS, FASHION EDITOR
FINDING HOPE
IN FASHION
Founder of NPO
Runway for Hope
Dr. Sena O. Vafa
F
ashion and charity can be rather uncomfortable bedfellows, as the unnecessary
excess of fashion can feel awkward in the
light of genuine need. This is a reality of
the world we live in, and sometimes a reminder
of this inequality is a necessary one, especially
for those of us in fashion with a tendency to get
caught up in our own reflections.
In this author’s case, the last time this disparity was hammered home with absolute clarity was in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011,
Tohoku earthquake, which forced the cancellation of all but a handful of the Tokyo Fashion
Week shows. Those that did go ahead did so in
shaking venues, and with an understandable
cloud over the proceedings. Since then it’s been
possible to cast these grim realities aside, even
when individuals continue to be displaced, and
communities continue waiting to be rebuilt.
It’s important that events endeavor to place
the on-going situation to the fore in our minds,
and fashion is doubtlessly one of those avenues
with reach. Its part is particularly pertinent,
in that there’s something transformative
about fashion. A garment has the power
to change not only how the individual is
perceived, but also how they perceive
themselves. I don’t suggest that this is
the end goal, but rather a metaphor for
the power of fashion to offer change—and
through change, hope.
This idea has great resonance for NPO
“Runway for Hope” founder Dr. Sena O.
Vafa, himself a refugee displaced from
his home country of Iran, who, after a period in a Pakistan refugee camp, made his
way through an extraordinary academic
career to eventually base his activities
18
in Tokyo since 2008. Originally
founded as a means of mobilizing the Tokyo fashion scene to
assist displaced children beyond
its borders, the events of 2011
forced the organization to address domestically the internally
displaced and orphaned. So far, the charity has
held a series of fundraising events, as well as
embarked on establishing a homestay program
with America to reiterate to those affected that
the world continues to care about their plight.
Runway for Hope’s latest endeavor was the
Project Runway 2015 fashion show, held in the
Roppongi Hills Club to a rapt audience of Tokyo
socialites. In attendance was the special ambassador for Peacebuilding of Japan, Akiko Yamanaka, who spoke not only of the unresolved
challenges, but also the role fashion can play in
this resolution, before giving way to said fashion
in the form of a runway show from legendary
fashion designer Yumi Katsura.
Yumi Katsura chose her “Yuzen” line for the
fashion show, the accessible bridge between
FASHION CALENDAR
Check metropolisjapan.com for the latest Fashion Calendar.
Photos by Samuel Thomas
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her haute couture line, which
realistically is only available
for rental and not purchase—
that’s the level we’re dealing
with here—and her ready-towear line. Moreover, the line
balances a mixture of Western
and Japanese aesthetics, mixing traditional Japanese artisanal techniques dating back to
17th-century Kyoto tradition, but
in easily worn European-inspired garments, including
capes, ponchos, and flowing dresses—fitting for the
multicultural audience at the show.
In fashion terms, it’s always interesting when a
Japanese designer takes the lead on Japonism, the
genre of mixing elements from tradition with Western
standards. In cases where a non-Japanese designer
takes the lead—for example, when Jean-Paul Gaultier
or most recently Thom Browne tackled the topic—the
results might appeal to the uninitiated, but those watching from Japan can’t help but cringe. In Yumi Katsura’s
case, her work simply feels authentic, even at its most
extreme. While I wouldn’t be so essentialist to say that
only Japanese designers can do Japonism (see Rick
Owens for a good Western example), you really need
to know the subject matter to do the genre justice.
Those wishing to get involved with the Runway
for Hope project or make a donation can visit the link
below. The next runway gala will be held in May 2016,
if you want to show your support in person.
www.runway-hope.org
Special
Ambassador
for Peace / LDP
member Akiko
Yamanaka
19
movies
BY DON MORTON
featured movie
NIGHTCRAWLER
The always-good Jake Gyllenhaal pushes it up to great
in this cynical and dark thriller/character piece. With
spectacular creepiness, he portrays Louis Bloom, a
disturbed scrap metal thief who happens upon the
scene of a gory accident. There he gets turned on to the
work of those bottom-feeding TV cameramen whose job
it is to get the grisliest footage possible for the local
morning news as a way to improve ratings. If it bleeds,
it leads. He buys a cheap camera and goes to work. He
lucks into some particularly ghastly footage and sells it to
the desperate news director of a low-level L.A. television
station (Rene Russo, perfect). The two form a symbiotic
relationship, marrying Bloom’s madness with the insanity
of the news media’s pandering and fear mongering. Bloom
is a piece of work. His smile is false, his eyes are dead, and
he speaks in what sounds like corporate motivational
blather. Free of any moral compass, he soon becomes
dangerously enterprising, and starts creating some carnage
of his own. Now, this is pretty twisted, but still fiction. It is,
however, closer to the truth than one would like to think, and
it has a wicked bite. (117 min)
NEW
THE BEST OF ME
Writer Nicholas Sparks’
simulated movie products
look like default Microsoft
desk tops with words
by Hallmark. Romances
are always predestined and eternal, and somebody
usually gets sick. This latest retread has two former highschool sweethearts (Michelle Monaghan and James
Marsden—good chemistry) meeting again 21 years later.
Notebook-type flashbacks fill us in on their teen romance.
All the actors are above this emotional button-pushing
material. The “twist” at the end is telegraphed in the first
five minutes. Maudlin, contrived, sappy, and overlong—I
counted three endings. You know. Sparks. Japanese title:
Kakegae no Nai Hito. (116 min)
NEW
THE DIABOLICAL
A single mother must
deal with paranormal
apparitions and an
intense presence in her
home that won’t let her
children leave. It scares away paranormal researchers.
That kind of thing. I don’t know. Perhaps horror buffs
will be more attuned to the subtleties of the formula.
It’s well acted (even the child actors are not annoying)
and the production values are good, but I found it less
than scary and kind of dull. A little ambiguity goes a long
way in this genre, but this offers more than a little. Not
satisfying. And the trick ending raises more questions
than it answers. (86 min)
BIG GAME
In this hilariously awful
f ilm by Finnish writer/
director Jalmari Helander,
Samuel L. Jackson shows
us just how low he’ll go for
a paycheck. He plays a U.S. President whose Air Force
One is shot down over Finland by a rich terrorist who
wants to hunt him for sport. I’m not making this up. The
Prez must rely on a 13-year-old lad out in the forest on
some Finnish hunting rite of passage (Onni Tommila, the
director’s nephew, doing an uncanny impersonation of
a piece of wood). By turns self-serious, simplistic, and
openly silly, this has some bad movie value, but go with
friends and get very drunk first. Japanese title: Big Game:
Daitoryō to Shōnen Hunter. (90 min)
BLACK SEA
A former Royal Nav y
submarine captain (Jude
Law) is asked to put
together a British/Russian
crew to man a decrepit
old Russian sub on a mission to quietly retrieve a few
tons of Nazi gold from a wrecked submarine off Crimea.
Nationalistic mistrust and gold lust lead to bad things
happening. A mind-blowing mid-movie twist identifies
the real villain. This film by director Kevin Macdonald is
nail-bitingly tense from start to finish. Law is an actor who
is improving as he ages, and no one does psychopath
like Ben Mendelshohn. A well-crafted and, forgive me,
immersive movie. (115 min)
JURASSIC WORLD
O kay, d e s p i te a few
charac ters eaten in
Jurassic Park, it seems
the park was eventually
built. But attendance is
off, so they’ve genetically engineered a super-monster
to lure the customers back. The irony that the same
bigger-is-better thinking could be applied to this very
movie is not lost on the filmmakers. It’s an amusingly selfaware franchise reboot. Anyway, the ludicrously named
Indominus rex is a T-Rex X2, with the camouflage skills of
a chameleon and the intelligence of a velociraptor. What
could go wrong? No sense of awe or real sense of danger.
But a solidly entertaining time at the movies. (124 min)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—
ROGUE NATION
To m C r u i s e a n d h i s
decommissioned I M F
crew (Jeremy Renner,
Ving Rhames, and Simon
Pegg) continue to try to neutralize a global threat called
“The Syndicate” even though the CIA doesn’t believe
it exists. Lists are stolen, cars—and bikes—are chased,
discs are forged, masks are worn, and digital readouts
count down. This complex yet coherent thrill ride may be
the best MI flick yet. It’s certainly the funniest, walking the
cusp of self-parody. The action bits are old-school and
crisply choreographed, the pacing is brisk, the ending is
satisfying, and Rebecca Ferguson is dynamite. I choose
to accept it. (131 min)
NEW
NEW
Nightcrawler: © 2013 BOLD FILMS PRODUCTIONS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; The Best of Me: © 2014 Best of Me Productions, LLC All Rights Reserved; The Diabolical: © 2014 CAMSET FILMS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; Big Game: ©
2014 SUBZERO FILM ENTERTAINMENT, ALTITUDE FILM ENTERTAINMENT, EGOLI TOSSELL FILM; Black Sea: © 2014 Focus Features LLC. All Rights Reserved.; Jurassic World: © Chuck Zlotnick / Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment;
Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation: © 2015 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; Minions: © 2014 Universal Pictures.; Love & Mercy: © 2015 Malibu Road, LLC. All rights reserved.; ’71: © Channel Four Television Corporation/
British Film Institute/Screen Yorkshire Limited and Run 71 Ltd 2014; The Purge: Anarchy: © Universal Pictures; God Help the Girl: © FINDLAY PRODUCTIONS LIMITED 2012; Inside Out: ©2014 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
20
More reviews: metropolisjapan.com/movies
MINIONS
If you don’t know what
Minions are, you clearly
don’t have kids. These
little yellow, be-goggled,
pill-shaped, gibberishspouting whatsits were Gru’s hench-thingies in the
Despicable Me movies, for which this is a prequel of
sorts. This marketing exercise starts with a cute montage
of their age-old quest to find the perfect super-villain to
serve, but rapidly morphs into comically disappointing,
pure movie product that’s more irritating than amusing.
Bottom line: Minions are best taken in small doses. Kids
under eight will be through the roof. Parents will have
headaches. (91 min)
LOVE & MERCY
This twin portrait of the
Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson
does two things more
co nve n t io n a l b io p ic s
do not. It illustrates the
process of creation and provides real suspense. It
toggles between two periods. In the ’60s, Wilson (Paul
Dano, brilliant) resigns from touring and makes Pet
Sounds. We are taken through the process by which he
built up “God Only Knows” and “Good Vibrations.” In the
’80s, we find an overmedicated Wilson under the thrall
of a manipulative psychiatrist. Casting John Cusack as
Wilson for this period seems jarring, but the disconnect
somehow works. BB fan or not, this is a must-see.
Japanese title: Love & Mercy: Owaranai Melody. (120 min)
’71
A wide-eyed British army
re c r u i t f i n d s h i m s e l f
unwittingly abandoned
behind “enemy lines” in
Belfast in 1971 (probably
the most violent year in the history of The Troubles in
Northern Ireland) and must rely on the kindness (real?
feigned?) of strangers to survive. The lead is Jack
O’Connell (Unbroken, Starred Up), whose ability to
convey both strength and vulnerability is central to the
film’s effectiveness. A young actor to watch. This tense,
kinetic, and intricately choreographed chase movie rarely
stops for breath. It’s immersive, unsettling, and authentic,
and packs a politically unbiased punch. Japanese title:
Belfast 71. (99 min)
THE PURGE: ANARCHY
The sequel keeps the first
film’s lame premise; that
once a year, for 12 hours,
anyone can commit any
crime, including murder,
with no legal consequences. Fortunately, director James
DeMonaco opts against a retread of the home-invasion
scenario and opens things up by taking us out to the
mean, murderous streets. The result is the rare sequel
that’s better than the original (but don’t take that as a
recommendation), about a quintet of people (led by a
good Frank Grillo) trying to survive out there. Film is best
as a simple, old-school actioner, but turns dopey fast
when attempting political commentary. (103 min)
GOD HELP THE GIRL
As I am unfamiliar with
the work of Glasgow
indie - pop band Belle
and Sebastian frontman
S t u a r t M u r d o c h , I ’m
going to assume his songwriting is vastly superior to his
filmmaking (this is his first). A tone-shifting, 16mm-filmed
version of a previously released, similarly titled song
suite, the film’s reality-free “plot” has a troubled young
woman forming a band with a pair of fellow mopey youths
to, well, “Put on a show!” Basically a string of music videos
that are so twee they make Glee seem deep. Solely for
Belle and Sebastian fans and anyone who believes Emily
Browning can act. Or sing. (111 min)
INSIDE OUT
Anthropomorphized
emotions in the mind of
an 11-year-old girl react
to her family’s traumatic
move from Minnesota
to San Francisco. A return to form for the innovative
Pixar Studios. Director Pete Docter made Monsters, Inc.
and Up. The plot is too complex for this space, but don’t
dismiss this as a children’s cartoon. This is an emotionally
intelligent, surreal, cathartic, and heavily metaphoric take
on the fleeting nature of childhood. Never a dull moment.
It’s a movie for the mind, the eye, and the heart. Had this
hardened film critic blubbering like a baby. Should you see
it? That’s a no-brainer. Japanese title: Inside Head. (94 min)
© 2015「日本のいちばん長い日」製作委員会
© IMAGE.NET
© 2014 The Weinstein Company. All rights reserved.
eiga
Apparently remaking historical,
war-related dramas is de rigueur
for well-known Japanese directors
in the prime of their careers. Last
edition we looked at celebrated
By Rob Schwartz
auteur Shinya Tsukamoto’s Nobi
(Fires on the Plain), a remake of Kon Ichikawa’s work of
the same name, and now we have the prolific filmmaker
Masato Harada’s Nihon no Ichiban Nagai Hi. This film is
a remake of Kihachi Okamoto’s 1967 film based on the
eponymous book by historian Kazutoshi Handō. In the
waning days of WWII, the Japanese brass must decide
whether to surrender or fight on despite a clearly hopeless
situation. Emperor Showa (Masahiro Motoki) wants to
accept the Potsdam Declaration’s surrender conditions
to achieve peace, and Prime Minister Suzuki (Tsutomu
Yamazaki) supports him. But the rest of the Cabinet is
staunchly opposed, so much so that some junior officers
are planning a coup. War Minister Anami (Kōji Yakusho)
wants to continue the resistance but slowly shifts to
support the Emperor. This tense wartime drama is expertly
executed. It circles around the crucial historical question
of the Emperor, taking sidelong glances at it. But the last
day of the war is the focus here, and Harada has sculpted
a fine work. English title: The Emperor in August. (136 min)
NIHON NO
ICHIBAN
NAGAI HI
movie news
The titular star of the sketch comedy TV hit Inside Amy
Schumer has made the transition to the big screen that
has proven difficult for so many of her peers. And critics
are saying she has revitalized the stale romantic comedy
genre in the process. Amy Schumer’s spec screenplay
for Trainwreck was fresh enough to attract the attention
of Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) who signed on
to direct. Schumer plays a magazine writer—also named
Amy—whose life is a bit of mess, which the writer says
is based on her own past. At the recent Locarno Film
Festival in Switzerland, the star said she wanted to tackle
the type of female behavior that is often glamorized in
other media. “If one of my friends were behaving like
Samantha, the character in Sex and the City, I would
take her to the hospital,” she said. “I don’t think all that
alcohol and sleeping around is healthy.” But that is just
where her character is when she starts a relationship
with a sports doctor (Bill Hader). “The journey that she
goes through is that at the end she looks at herself and
realizes that she is worthy of love and she can modify
her behavior,” Schumer explains. “To me it is not that she
was ‘saved by a man’, but ‘I am going to let this person
be my equal’ [and be given] a shot.” Trainwreck doesn’t
have a release date for Japan, but is available for preorder at Amazon.com. Kevin Mcgue
cinematic underground
S e c o n d - r u n h o u s e Wa s e d a S h o c h i k u ( 1 - 5 -1 6
Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku; www.wasedashochiku.
co.jp) continues its run of cut-rate double features.
Two music-themed flicks run from August 22—Begin
Again (pictured) with Keira Knightley as a struggling
songwriter in NYC, and Rudderless with Billy Crudup
as a father reconnecting with his late son through
his music. A pair of fashionable films will be on from
August 29. Cinderella finds out what a pair of shoes
can do and Dior & I takes a look at what goes into a
fashion show…Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5
Higashi-Ikebukuro Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.
com) also gives movie lovers a second chance to
catch recent releases with a program running August
31-September 11. The lineup includes the thrillers
Before I Go to Sleep, Blackhat, and The Two Faces
of January, the musicals The Last Five Years and
Pitch Perfect, and the unclassifiable Inherent Vice.
The 1971 pseudo-documentary Punishment Park gets
a much delayed release in Japan this month. The
fictional story of anti-government protesters being
brutally treated by authorities is just as relevant as it
was when it was made. On from August 29 at Cinema
Qualite (3-37-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku; http://qualite.
musashino-k.jp). KM
21
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arts&culture
1 TO 1: TOM CRUISE
IS ON A MISSION
BY DANIEL L. SMITH, FOX EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
T
here is something special about
Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise’s visits.
I caught up with the actor for his latest
foray into Japan to promote Mission:
Impossible—Rogue Nation.
I’ve been fortunate to cover several of
his visits, and there seems to be a recurring
theme in each.
It started with The Last Samurai, and I was
struck by two things. First, how much the
actors that work with him enjoy the process.
Actor Ken Watanabe told me of Cruise’s
compassion and sharing that made filming
the Samurai epic a memorable experience.
Second was how much time Cruise spent
visiting with his Japanese fans. Outside the
venue that Cruise, Watanabe, and others who
came to promote the film were waiting to enter,
I thought there was a glitch that delayed the
actor on the red carpet.
There wasn’t. It was just the actor’s mission,
a dedication to his fans and the fact that he
literally spent almost an hour signing autographs for and taking photos with them—and
just doing some old-fashioned human PR. That
was nearly 12 years ago. The only thing that has
changed since is, I think, Cruise spends even
more time with fans!
I got to experience this firsthand when I was
one of a select crew of journalists that accompanied Cruise on his previous trip to Japan to
promote the Sci-fi film Edge Of Tomorrow (titled
All You Need To Kill in Japan). On that trip,
Cruise traveled to Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo
all in one day— a stunt perhaps only he could
pull off—and managed to make the fans at each
city feel as if it was an intimate occasion.
“You know, these guys have supported me
so much over the years. You saw the crowds
out there,” Cruise told us aboard the charter
plane. “I try to return the favor by acknowledging them and making great films.”
So to get a chance to herald the latest
of a highly successful Mission: Impossible
franchise, I expected Cruise to again bring
his A-game; and neither his fans, nor I, was
disappointed.
“How’s it going man? Good to see you
again,” Cruise began.
His excitement about the franchise was
evident. “You know, I think each one has been
different because I have developed it with
different directors every time, and the action
has evolved and certainly the characters have
evolved and grown,” Cruise said.
“But it still has amazing stunts, it is very
humorous, and I think it also has great drama
within the characters. I cannot wait for the
Japanese fans to see Mission: Impossible.
Myself and the whole crew have worked very
hard and, for me, I work very hard for the audience so I hope they enjoy it. I think they will.”
Cruise, who does a lot of his own stunts
in the franchise, said he’s aware that this is
one of the things that attracts his fans. One of
the memorable scenes in Rogue Nation has
Cruise’s Ethan Hunt hanging off the side of an
Airbus A400M aircraft.
The actor, who explained that he was actually harnessed in, so there was no danger
in him falling, was more concerned about
something striking him.
“At that speed even a little particle hitting
me could have done a lot of damage!”
Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation is
now playing in theaters in Japan.
Trending now for me is the new Fox Classics,
now available to Japanese viewers. The
programming is like a greatest hits of some of
the most popular television programs of all time!
TV viewers around the world have gotten used
to this type of channel, but this is the first time
it’s available in Japan! Among the shows are
fan favorites like Charlie’s Angels, Friends, The
X-Files, Sex and the City, Ally McBeal, Knight
Rider, Miami Vice, and I Dream of Jeannie.
23
arts&culture
ARCHITECTURE
KLEIN DYTHAM
Expat architects make Tokyo their own
BY DAN GRUNEBAUM
W
hen Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham
alighted at Narita, little could the budding architects have imagined that,
in two decades, they would have left
their imprint on Tokyo in the form of some of the
city’s most recognizable buildings.
“Visas weren’t easy,” recalls Dytham about
their early years of struggle after launching
their own firm in 1991. British-born Dytham and
Italian-born Klein had arrived in Tokyo in 1988
with scholarships and hopes of interning for
one of Japan’s leading architects.
“We pushed for it, and the authorities were
extremely lenient—and if we were a different
color, it wouldn’t have happened, I think,” he
believes. “There were heartstopping moments
when we were flying back into Japan with an
office, wondering if they’d let us back.”
The pair were drawn by Japan’s freewheeling architectural spirit and booming bubble
economy, and worked in the office of renowned
architect Toyo Ito before creating Klein Dytham
architecture.
“We feel less pressure as architects here
in Japan, because you know a building is only
going to be here for 30 years, whereas in
London you’re building for 400 years,” Dytham
observes. “In London, there’s a whole public
debate by people who really don’t know anything about architecture, and that was one of
the reasons we came here. We felt restricted
coming out of college in London.”
Fast-forward two decades, and the modernyet-playful Klein Dytham look can be seen
across Tokyo in buildings like the Harajuku
Q Plaza and Daikanyama T-SITE, the latter of
which we sit in, enjoying a lunch in the cozy
complex of cafés and shops anchored by a
Tsutaya bookstore. And architecture is just the
beginning of KDa’s activities.
Photo courtesy of Koichi Torimura - Klein Dytham architecture
24
Photos courtesy of Nacása & Partners Inc. - Klein Dytham architecture
KLEIN DYTHAM’S 5
MUST-SEE TOKYO
BUILDINGS
1. Yoyogi National Stadium—Kenzo Tange
A very brutal building, but in a timeless,
beautiful way. Designed with a slide rule.
2. Tower House—Takamitsu Azuma
A tiny 4-story house Azuma built as a
student to see if he could live on 15 square
meters. A seminal work that no one knows.
3. Shibaura House—Kazuyo Sejima
Vertical, glass curtain walls are leavened by
a focal spiral staircase.
4. The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures—
Yoshio Taniguchi
Sublime space couples elegant, cubic forms
with a cheery pond.
5. Nezu Museum—Kengo Kuma
Everybody rushes off to Kyoto, but Kengo
Kuma’s building and the garden are amazing.
There is also PechaKucha, a TED-like
presentation night whose signature “20 images x 20 seconds” format now takes place in
800 cities worldwide, as well as cutting-edge
Roppongi performance space SuperDeluxe,
where PechaKucha was born a decade ago.
Unlike many starry-eyed artists and architects who come to Japan seeking Zen and
bamboo, Dytham says it’s Tokyo’s protean
energy that provides their inspiration. “Our
aesthetics don’t come from traditional architecture, but from a humanistic point of view,”
he offers. “We’re Tokyo architects. Sure, we see
the temples—but we get inspired by Harajuku,
Shibuya … contemporary currents in the city.
We try to draw people in and lift their spirits.”
Being foreign works both for and against
Klein and Dytham. “We see Japan in a very
different way than Japanese,” Dytham says.
“We see things they can’t see. For example, a
standard taxi in Japan … you’ve got lace and
gloves, automatic doors—but a Japanese person sees nothing. Although we’re all building in
Japan, the same influences come out different.”
“Some say our work is easily read,” Dytham
laughs. “When we show a model, we can’t
explain it with fancy Japanese architectural
speak, it has to speak for itself. Here at Tsutaya
too, it has to speak for itself. There’s a massive
T. We drew the T in the first three to four minutes of the briefing. Everyone understands a T.
It’s storytelling through architecture in simple
form. It’s fun and easily read, even by kids. [The]
Japanese seem a very serious race, but they
actually have a very good sense of humor.”
The love for constant renewal gives Dytham
mixed feelings about the last vestiges of postwar Tokyo now being modernized—some say
robbed of its essential spirit—with wide boulevards and quake-strengthened structures.
“People say it’s slash and burn,” he says,
“but they’re making the city safer and more
efficient. In an earthquake-prone country like
Japan, this renewal of the buildings is useful,
and could be seen to save the city in the future.
It’s tough about places like Shimokitazawa and
the Okura, but Japan’s always been like that.
You make things of wood, they burn down, and
they just rebuild, like Ise Shrine. And in Tokyo,
there is no historical context anyway.”
With a building in the works at Ginza’s main
crossing and several T-SITES in various states
of planning and completion, times are good for
Klein Dytham following a brutal patch after the
financial crisis and disaster.
“What’s happened is the Olympics,” Dytham
says. “It was an amazing thing to do because
the country collapsed in on itself after the
disaster, and the Olympics has spurred a huge
amount of works for us. We’ve even now got an
Olympic mondai—construction costs are thirty
to fifty percent more because everything is in
short supply.”
Which leads to the inevitable question as
to Dytham’s thoughts on the Olympic stadium
fiasco.
“It was a bad brief,” he answers diplomatically. “The architect [Zaha Hadid] built to the brief,
which was over-spec’d to the site. It got out of
control—they could have learned lessons from
London where they made so it can be downsized
after the Olympics. But they were obviously looking for a showcase project. It was convenient
they chose an overseas architect so there
wouldn’t be any backbiting over the job, which
was a shame because there are many brilliant
Japanese architects. It was a political decision.”
www.klein-dytham.com
25
agenda
WATCH LIST
hot tickets
SEP
23-24
Common
American hip-hop recording artist and
recent winner of the 2015 Academy
Award for Best Original Song for
“Glory,” from the film Selma. Sep 23,
6 & 9pm; Sep 24, 6:30 & 9:30pm.
¥14,000-16,000. Billboard Live Tokyo.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-1133.
http://j.mp/common2015
Tickets on sale now
Concerts
POPULAR
Anathema
British rock band whose
mastery of melancholy, melody,
and spine-tingling atmosphere
has set them proudly apart from
their peers. Aug 31-Sep 1, 7pm.
¥6,500-7,500. Liquidroom.
Ebisu. Tel: 03-5464-0800.
http://j.mp/anathema2015
Andrew McMahon in the
Wilderness
Singer-songwriter and
former vocalist, pianist, and
primary songwriter for bands
Something Corporate and
Jack’s Mannequin. Sep 1,
7pm. ¥6,800. Club Quattro.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-8750.
http://j.mp/mcmahon2015
Maroon 5
Los Angeles pop-rock band
fronted by Adam Levine and
his Jagger-like moves, brings
their hits to Tokyo. Sep 2, 7pm.
¥12,500-25,000. Yokohama
Arena. Shin-Yokohama. Tel:
045-474-4000. http://j.mp/
maroon52015
Hellyeah
American heavy metal
supergroup consisting of
Mudvayne lead vocalist Chad
Gray, Nothingface guitarist Tom
Maxwell, bassist Kyle Sanders,
rhythm guitarist Christian
Brady, and former Pantera and
Damageplan drummer Vinnie
Paul. Sep 3, 7pm. ¥7,500.
Club Quattro. Shibuya. Tel:
03-3477-8750. http://j.mp/
hellyeah2015
Monobloco Japan Tour
2015
Brazilian percussion group
Monobloco brings their
explosive mix of samba, Rio
funk, and pop music to Japan.
Sep 5, 6pm. ¥6,500 (adv)/
¥7,500 (door). Liquidroom.
Ebisu. Tel: 03-5464-0800.
www.monobloco.jp
Issues
American metalcore band
formed in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sep 9, 6:30pm. ¥4,500. duo
Music Exchange. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5459-8716. www.
duomusicexchange.com
SEP
30-OCT 12
Top Hat
One of the greatest dance musicals
of all time brings the glamour of
Hollywood’s golden age and the
glorious tap-dancing magic of Fred
Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the
stage. Sep 30-Oct 12, various times.
¥5,000-13,000. Tokyu Theatre Orb.
Shibuya. Tel: 0570-077-039.
Tickets on sale now
1133. http://j.mp/nektar2015
Against the Current
American pop rock band who
gained a YouTube following
after posting their covers of
popular songs by a variety of
different artists. Sep 10, 7:30
& 9:30pm. ¥5,000. Tsutaya
O-West. Shibuya. http://
shibuya-o.com
Dragonforce
British power metal band
known for its long and fast
guitar solos, fantasy-based
lyrics, and electronic sounds
in their music to add to their
retro video game-influenced
sound. Sep 10-11, 7pm. ¥7,500.
Akasaka Blitz. Akasaka. Tel:
03-3584-8811. http://j.mp/
dragonforce2015
Tyler, The Creator
American rapper and record
producer who rose to
prominence as the leader and
co-founder of the alternative hip
hop collective Odd Future. Sep
14, 7pm. ¥7,000. Liquidroom.
Ebisu. Tel: 03-5464-0800.
http://j.mp/thecreator2015
Jamaica
French duo formerly known
as Poney Poney, whose music
has been described as “a
breezy electro-jam with a bit
of grit and an incredibly fresh
old-school vibe.” Sep 14,
7:30pm. ¥6,000. Daikanyama
Unit. Daikanyama. Tel:
03-5459-8630. http://j.mp/
jamaicatokyo2015
Red Dragon Cartel
Rock band led by Jake E. Lee,
who was guitarist for Ozzy
Osborne in the mid ’80s. Sep
15-16, 7pm. ¥7,500 (adv)/
¥8,000 (door). Club Quattro.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-8750.
www.reddragoncartel.com
JAZZ/WORLD
No Drum, No Life! Feel
African x Japanese Drum
Beat
NOV
24
Sam Smith
After the cancellation of his last Tokyo
show, Sam Smith returns with his In
The Lonely Hour Tour! Nov 24, 7pm.
¥8,000-14,000. Yoyogi National
Gymnasium. Meiji-Jingumae.
Tel: 03-3499-6669. http://j.mp/
samsmithtokyo2015
Tickets on sale Sep 5
a half-time backbeat known as
the “Purdie Shuffle.” Aug 23,
4:30 & 7:30pm. ¥6,800-8,800.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. http://j.mp/
purdie2015
Donald Harrison Quintet
Quintet led by jazz saxophonist
Harrison, creator of “Nouveau
Swing,” a style of jazz that
merges modern dance music
like R&B, hip-hop, soul, rock,
and combined jazz with
Afro-New Orleans traditional
music. Aug 21, 6:30 & 9pm;
Aug 22-23, 5 & 8pm. ¥7,5009,500. Cotton Club. Tokyo.
Tel: 03-3215-1555. http://j.mp/
harrisonquintet2015
Jesse Van Ruller Trio
Trio led by Dutch jazz guitarist
Ruller. Aug 24-25, 6:30 & 9pm.
¥6,800-9,000. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
http://j.mp/rullertrio2015
Tower of Power
American R&B-based band
best known for their funky
soul sound highlighted by
a powerful horn section
and precisely syncopated
bass-guitar lines. Aug 24-27, 7
& 9:30pm. ¥10,800. Blue Note
Tokyo. Omotesando. Tel:
03-5485-0088. http://j.mp/
towerofpower2015
Bill Charlap Trio
Led by American jazz pianist
Charlap, featuring Peter
Washington and Kenny
Washington. Aug 26-28,
6:30 & 9pm. ¥8,500-10,500.
Cotton Club. Tokyo. Tel:
03-3215-1555. http://j.mp/
charlaptrio2015
Shakatak
English jazz-funk band known
for their hits “Night Birds”
and “Down on the Street.”
Aug 27-28, 7 & 9:30pm; Aug
29, 6 & 9pm. ¥6,500-8,500.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. http://j.mp/
shakatak2015
Diamonds for Peace (DFP)
hosts a charity event
celebrating its official
registration as an NPO, with
live music by Ivorian and
Japanese drum performers.
Aug 22, 2pm. ¥2,000-4,000.
REPICA. Gaienmae. http://j.
mp/nodrumnolife2015
Matt Bianco
Bernard Purdie and Friends
The Spandettes
American session drummer
considered to be an influential
and innovative exponent of
funk, known for his precise
musical time-keeping and his
signature use of triplets against
Ten-piece live disco outfit
whose original music combines
a classic ’70s soul/boogie
approach with a fresh and
contemporary edge. Sep 2,
7 & 9:30pm. ¥4,500-6,500.
U.K. band mainly known
for their success in the
mid-1980s and their jazz- and
Latin-flavored music. Aug 28,
7 & 9:30pm; Aug 29-30, 5 &
8pm. ¥8,500. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://j.mp/bianco2015
Nektar
English progressive rock
band whose early obscure
psychedelic rock albums
won the band a growing cult
following. Sep 9, 7 & 9:30pm.
¥6,500-8,500. Billboard Live.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-
26
JAN
15
Nate Ruess
Solo act by American singer,
songwriter, and musician Ruess,
lead vocalist of the indie pop band
Fun. and previously of The Format.
Jan 15, 7pm. ¥5,800. Studio Coast.
Shinkiba. Tel: 03-3444-6751.
http://j.mp/nateruess2015
Tickets on sale Aug 29
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. http://j.mp/
spandettes2015
Dionne Warwick
American singer and Bacharach
collaborator wouldn’t walk on
by Tokyo without a spectacular
performance. Sep 2-3, 7:30pm.
¥24,500. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://j.mp/warwick2015
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall
Husband-and-wife duo, with
trumpeter and singer Alpert
and Grammy Award-winning
singer Hall. Sep 4 & 7, 7:30pm;
Sep 5-6, 6pm. ¥14,800. Blue
Note Tokyo. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-5485-0088. http://j.mp/
alperthall2015
Eli Degibri Quartet
Led by saxophonist Degibri,
with Gadi Lehavi on the piano,
Ofri Nehemya on the drums, and
Barak Mori on the bass. Part of
the 14th Tokyo Jazz Festival.
Sep 5, 5 & 8pm. ¥3,600. Cotton
Club. Tokyo. Tel: 03-32151555. http://j.mp/tokyojazz2015
Herbie Hancock & Wayne
Shorter
American pianist, keyboardist,
bandleader, and composer
Hancock with American jazz
saxophonist and composer
Shorter. Sep 5, 8pm. ¥43,00045,000. Billboard Live.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-1133.
http://j.mp/hancockshorter2015
Paul Grabowsky Trio
Led by Australian pianist
Grabowsky, with Mirko Guerrini,
and Niko Schauble. Part of the
14th Tokyo Jazz Festival. Sep 6,
5 & 8pm. ¥3,600. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
http://j.mp/tokyojazz2015
Weiwei Wuu
Wuu began learning the violin at
the age of five, and developed
the world’s first electronic
erhu, a two-stringed Chinese
instrument. Sep 7, 7 & 9:30pm.
¥4,800-6,800. Billboard Live.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-3405-1133.
http://j.mp/weiwei2015
Kyle Eastwood
American jazz bass musician
who plays acoustic and electric
as well as double bass. Sep
8-10, 7 & 9:30pm. ¥8,000. Blue
Note Tokyo. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-5485-0088. http://j.mp/
eastwood2015
Steve Gadd Band
Led by Gadd, who is one of
the most well-known and
highly regarded session
and studio drummers in the
for free
AUG
28-31
Japan Wildlife Film Festival
Featuring an international wildlife film
competition, film screenings, special
workshops, talk shows, and programs
held by international collaborators
such as BBC, National Geographic,
and Disney. Aug 28-31, 10am-5pm.
Free. National Museum of Emerging
Science and Innovation. Telecom
Center. www.naturechannel.jp/JWFFE
industry. Featuring Michael
Landau, Larry Goldings, Jimmy
Johnson, and Walt Fowler.
Sep 11, 7 & 9:30pm; Sep 12,
5 & 8pm. ¥8,500. Blue Note
Tokyo. Omotesando. Tel:
03-5485-0088. http://j.mp/
gaddband2015
Cheryl Lynn
American disco, R&B, and
soul singer best known for
her 1978 disco hit “Got to Be
Real.” Sep 11, 7 & 9:30pm; Sep
12, 6 & 9pm. ¥10,000-12,000.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. http://j.mp/
cheryllynn2015
Madeleine Peyroux Trio
Trio led by Peyroux,
whose intensely distinctive
renditions of old classics
and modern tunes by the
likes of Leonard Cohen and
The Beatles have proven
her to be an uncannily
insightful “interpreter.” Sep
13, 5 & 8pm; Sep 14-15, 7 &
9:30pm. ¥8,700. Blue Note
Tokyo. Omotesando. Tel:
03-5485-0088. http://j.mp/
peyrouxtrio2015
Discount event tickets
Your source for discounted
tickets to upcoming events—
musicals, performance art,
plays, leisure activities,
cultural events, and more. Visit
our shop in Shibuya or Ginza
to check availability each day
starting at 10am. We're the
first discounted ticket shop
in Japan that’s like the TKTS
Discount Booths in New York!
http://ticketstoday.jp/
Free. Cafe Sepia. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3406-1300. www.
nagaremono.com/sepia
CLASSICAL
Fourplay
John Owen-Jones
Grammy-nominated
contemporary American jazz
quartet who has enjoyed
consistent artistic and
commercial success by grafting
elements of R&B and pop to
jazz, and appealing to a broad
mainstream audience. Sep
17-18, 7 & 9:30pm; Sep 19, 5 &
8pm. ¥8,500. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://j.mp/fourplay2015
Welsh musical theater actor
and singer, best known for his
portrayals of Jean Valjean in Les
Misérables and The Phantom
in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
The Phantom of the Opera.
Aug 27, 7pm. ¥8,800-9,800.
Tokyo Metropolitan Theater.
Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-5391-2111.
www.geigeki.jp
The Manhattan Transfer
American a cappella/jazz
fusion/pop group established
in 1969 by Tim Hauser, Erin
Dickins, Marty Nelson, and
Pat Rosalia. Sep 17-19, 7 &
9:30pm. ¥9,000-11,000.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-3405-1133. http://j.mp/
manhattantransfer2015
Abiah
Abiah’s new album, Life As
a Ballad, boasts gems like
the opener “September,” a
well-orchestrated melange
of mature lyric writing, full
throated, flowing, and tautlycontrolled vocal drama, lush
Beatles-esque harmonies, and
transcendent, transporting
melodicism. Sep 20, 5 & 8pm.
¥7,500. Blue Note Tokyo.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-54850088. http://j.mp/abiah2015
Blue Mountain Boys
Classic country and bluegrass.
Every third Sat, 6:30 & 7:30pm.
Paolo Fanale
Making his operatic debut
in Weill’s Die sieben Todsünden
with Ute Lemper at the Teatro
Comunale, Bologna, Fanale
has since sung in major opera
houses around the world. Sep 4,
7pm. ¥8,000-11,000. Kioi Hall.
Yotsuya. Tel: 03-5276-4500.
www.kioi-hall.or.jp
Benjamin Grosvenor
British classical pianist who
became the youngest-ever
winner of four competitions in
2003, at the age of 10. Sep 5,
3pm. ¥2,500-3,500. Saitama
Arts Theater. Yonohonmachi.
Tel: 0570-064-939. http://j.mp/
grosvenor2015
Yves Henry Piano Lecture
Concert
French pianist who was the
first Western-European to
win the Robert Schumann
Competition. Sep 12, 2pm.
¥2,000 (adv)/ ¥2,500 (door).
Mori no Hall. Hashimoto.
Tel: 042-775-3811. http://j.mp/
yveshenry2015
HONKAKU SHOCHU & AWAMORI
Taste the Spirit
of Japan
September 3
(Thursday)
7pm-9pm
Discover the charm and diverse culture of Japanese National drink at this
special event. A variety of Japanese liquors—Honkaku Shochu and Awamori
made with ingredients such as rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, brown
sugar, and others—will be presented, along with an explanation of the unique
characteristics of each. Christopher Pellegrini, an expert on a myriad of Honkaku
Shochu and Awamori, will be among those helping you explore the craft. You’ll
also have the opportunity to taste the drinks together.
Attendance is free, so please join us and try some authentic Japanese liquor!
Togo Kinenkan
Sponsor: Japanese Sake and Shochu
Makers Association
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2015
Time: 7-9pm (Doors open at 6:30pm).
Tasting will begin after the seminar.
Location: Togo Kinenkan
1-5-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Entrance is Free (Maximum 200 attendees,
so be sure to register soon!) Registered
attendees will be notified by email.
Registration deadline August 23, 2015.
* We reserve the right to make changes without notification.
REGISTRATION/INQUIRY
Honkaku Shochu & Awamori—Taste the Spirit of Japan
Office Hours 10am-5pm, Closed Sat, Sun, Hols.
Tel: 03-4588-2285 - events@metropolis.co.jp
metropolisjapan.com/freeshochutasting
Flairck Global Orchestra
Instrumental band from
Holland specializing in Romani
music. Sep 17, 6:30pm.
¥5,500-6,000. Kanagawa
Kenmin Hall. Nihon-Odori.
Tel: 04-5662-8866. http://j.mp/
flairckorchestra2015
Japan Philharmonic
Orchestra
Conducted by Sachio
Fujioka, with performances
of Rachmaninoff’s “Piano
Concerto No. 3” and more.
Sep 21, 2pm. ¥4,200-7,200.
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-53912111. www.geigeki.jp
Tambuco Percussion
Ensemble
Grammy-nominated Mexican
contemporary classical
percussion group. Sep 26,
3pm. ¥3,500. Saitama Arts
Theater. Yonohonmachi. Tel:
0570-064-939. http://j.mp/
tambuco2015
London Symphony
Orchestra
Conducted by Bernard
Haitink with performances
of Mozart’s “Piano Concerto
No.24 in c minor, K491,” and
Mahler’s “Symphony No.4
in G major.” Sep 28, 7pm.
¥27,000-32,000. Suntory Hall.
Roppongi-itchome. Tel:
0570-55-0017. http://j.mp/
haitinklondonysymph2015
Clubbing
FRIDAY 21
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5784-5496.
www.microcosmos-tokyo.com
03-5728-2824. www.visiontokyo.com
The New Matrix Bar
T2
Saturday Night Fever. Hip-hop,
R&B, reggae: DJ Ykk and
more. From 6pm. ¥1,000 (after
10pm). Roppongi. www.
matrixbar.jp
T2 Monday. EDM: DJs Hotaru,
Kenta, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥2,500 w/2d, (f)¥1,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Air
Womb
Dvs1. Techno: DJs Dvs1, Nobu,
etc. From 10pm. ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5784-3384.
www.air-tokyo.com
Cycle. EDM, house: DJs Ryohey,
April, etc. From 10pm. ¥1,500
w/1d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
Sound Museum Vision
TUESDAY 25
J Rocc. Hip-hop: DJs J Rocc,
Muro, etc. From 10pm. ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5728-2824.
www.vision-tokyo.com
The Room
Runaway. Boogie, jazz: DJs
Shuya Okino, Kawasaki, etc.
From 10pm. ¥2,500 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
T2
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs
Ando, Shu, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)¥2,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Ageha
Tokyo Wonder Night. EDM: DJs
Moti, Yoshimasa, etc. From
11pm. ¥3,500. Shinkiba.
Tel: 03-5534-2525. www.
ageha.com
Club Asia
Flash. Electro: DJs Nakata,
Nakamura, etc. From 11pm.
¥3,000 w/1d. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5458-2551. www.clubasia.
co.jp
Microcosmos
Ruby Room
Open Mic. From 7pm. ¥1,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-37803022 (evenings) / 070-69694816 (daytime). www.
rubyroomtokyo.com
Air
The Choice. Jazz, house:
DJs Yabe, Conomark, etc.
From 10pm. ¥2,000 w/1d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5784-3384.
www.air-tokyo.com
T2
Super Tuesday. EDM: DJs
Tjo, Baby-T, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥2,500 w/2d, (f)¥1,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Tuemix. EDM, top 40: DJs
Alpha One, Reon, etc. From
10pm. (m)¥1,500, (f)free.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039.
www.womb.co.jp
WEDNESDAY 26
T2
Lounge Neo
Graffiti. Hip-hop: DJs Yoshinori,
Kobee, etc. From 11pm. ¥TBA.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-2551.
http://loungeneo.iflyer.jp
Shibuya Girls Party. EDM: DJs
Mai My, C’k, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥2,500 w/2d, (f)¥1,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
The New Matrix Bar
Womb
Womb
Matrix Friday. Old-school
hip-hop, west side, south side,
all mix: DJ Ykk and more. From
6pm. ¥1,000 (after 11:30pm).
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Session. House, EDM: DJs
Boris, Ohnishi, etc. From
11pm. ¥3,500. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp
Wedm. EDM: DJs Hiroki, Yo,
etc. From 10pm. (m)¥1,500, (f)
free. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
Daikanyama Unit
THURSDAY 27
Time Trap. Techno: DJs
Ishino, Sunahara, etc. From
10pm. ¥3,000. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5784-3384. www.
air-tokyo.com
Soul Picnic. DJs: Out of
Control, Yakenohara, etc.
Live: Omoideyaro A Team and
more. From 11:30pm. ¥3,500.
Daikanyama. Tel: 03-54598630. www.unit-tokyo.com
Sound Museum Vision
SUNDAY 23
Make Some Noise. Trap,
bass: DJs Must Die, Shintaro,
etc. From 10pm. ¥3,000.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-57282824. www.vision-tokyo.com
The Room
Wah Wah. Rare groove:
DJs Kuroda, Ryuhei, etc.
From 10pm. ¥2,500 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
T2
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs
Baby-T, Shu, etc. From
10pm. (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
Ageha
Party Up. EDM, top 40: DJs
Fumi Yeah, Yu-Ki, etc. From
11pm. (m)¥3,000, (f)¥2,000.
Shinkiba. Tel: 03-55342525. www.ageha.com
Global Allmix Party. All mix:
DJs Kotani, Passion, etc.
From 10pm. (m)¥2,500 w/2d,
(f)¥1,500 w/2d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
Womb
EDM Sunday. EDM: DJs Onny,
4c, etc. 4-10pm. (m)¥2,500, (f)
free. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
SATURDAY 22
Cosmic. Sound art, noise,
drone, avantgarde: Yao
Chung-han, Elaine Carey,
Miclodiet, Blackphone666
x Darren Moore, Reizen, Mu
H, DJ Koba, Hakobune. From
5pm. ¥2,000. HigashiNakano. Tel: 03-6909-3000.
http://ochiaisoup.tumblr.com
House Session. House: DJs
Donna Edwards, Kaji, etc.
From 12am. ¥2,500 w/1d.
28
Hand’s Up. World mix: DJs
Kiyoto, Shu, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥2,500 w/1d, (f)¥1,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Womb
Mix Juice. EDM: DJs Yamariki,
Naoto, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥1,500, (f)free. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.
womb.co.jp
Five. All mix: DJs Baba, Kaol,
etc. From 10:30pm. ¥1,000.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-2551.
www.clubasia.co.jp
Feria
Feria Thursdays. From 10pm.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-57850656. http://lounge-feria.jp
FRIDAY 28
MONDAY 24
Microcosmos
Air
E·man·ci·pate. House, techno:
DJs Takahashi, Sb10, etc.
From 10pm. ¥2,000 w/1d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5784-3384.
www.air-tokyo.com
Milk. All good music: DJs
Jommy, Tessan, etc. From
12am. ¥1,500 w/1d. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5784-5496. www.
microcosmos-tokyo.com
The New Matrix Bar
Sound Museum Vision
Microcosmos
Night Concierge. All mix:
DJs Maeda, Hayashi, etc.
From 10pm. ¥2,500 w/1d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5784-3384.
www.air-tokyo.com
Club Asia
Soup
Womb
EDM Music Festival. EDM: DJs
Kaori, Daishi Dance, etc. From
11pm. ¥3,500. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5459-0039. www.womb.
co.jp
Air
T2
T2
Party Monster. EDM, house:
DJs Daishi Dance, Mitomi, etc.
From 10pm. (m)¥2,500 w/1d,
(f)¥2,000 w/1d. Shibuya. Tel:
Sinden. Electro, house: DJs
Sinden, Tamura, etc. From
10pm. ¥3,000. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5784-3384. www.
air-tokyo.com
Sound Museum Vision
Stream Festival. All mix: DJs
Nakata, 80kidz, etc. From
10pm. ¥3,000. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5728-2824. www.visiontokyo.com
The Room
Champ. Funk, jazz: DJs Marcy,
Tominaga, etc. From 10pm.
¥2,500 w/1d. Shibuya. www.
theroom.jp
T2
Shibuya Mixx. EDM: DJs
Baby-T, Shu, etc. From 10pm.
(m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)¥2,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Ageha
Manatsu no Sabishinbo Night.
EDM: DJs Alisa, Marc Panther,
etc. From 11pm. (m)¥4,000, (f)
free. Shinkiba. Tel: 03-55342525. www.ageha.com
Club Asia
Vivivi. Electro, pop: Various
DJs. From 11pm. ¥3,000.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5458-2551.
www.clubasia.co.jp
Womb
Essential Disco Fever. Disco:
DJs Watsui, Yamadera,
etc. From 12am. ¥1,000.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-5784-5496.
www.microcosmos-tokyo.com
Air
Air
Matrix Friday. Old-school
hip-hop, west side, south side,
all mix: DJ Ykk and more. From
6pm. ¥1,000 (after 11:30pm).
Roppongi. www.matrixbar.jp
Ruby Room
Neet Spirit: ’90s Music Night.
All things ’90s: DJs timutaku,
Francois, with guests Minae
(Hard to Explain), Timebred,
etc. From 7pm. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3780-3022 (evenings)
/ 070-6969-4816 (daytime).
www.rubyroomtokyo.com
Womb
EDM Music Festival. EDM: DJs
Yoji, Taku, etc. From 11pm.
¥3,500. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5459-0039. www.womb.
co.jp
Dance
The Irish Dance Ragús
A show of live, fast-moving
traditional Irish music, song, and
dance wherein audiences feel
the pulse of a rich and vibrant
musical heritage and come
away with a truly enjoyable and
unique cultural experience.
Sep 19, 12:30 & 4pm. ¥5,0008,000. Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3477-9111.
Sep 20, 2pm. ¥5,000-8,000.
Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.
Hatsudai or Shinjuku. Tel:
03-5353-9999. http://j.mp/
ragus2015
Nos Solitudes: Julie
Nioche/A.I.M.E
An acrobatic show performed
in the air, which crosses the
boundary between dance
and a circus show. Sep 26,
6pm; Sep 27, 3pm. ¥2,500
(student)/ ¥3,000 (general).
KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater
Large Studio. Nihon-Odori.
Tel: 045-633-6500. www.kaat.
jp/d/jn
Stage
Yellow Moon: The Ballad of
Leila and Lee
A play by the modern Scottish
playwright David Greig,
telling the story of a troubled
Scottish teenager and a Muslim
girl with problems of her
own, who finally encounter
something real and deep
in the Scottish Highlands.
Performed in Japanese
with English subtitles. To
make a reservation, contact
yellowmoon2015@hotmail.
com with your name, the date
and time of the show you
would like to attend, and the
number of tickets required.
Aug 20-21, 7:30pm; Aug
22, 1:30 & 5:30pm; Aug 23,
1:30pm. ¥3,000 (¥2,000 for
under 25s). Nihon Geijutsu
Senmon Gakkou. Omori.
Tel: 03-3771-2111. http://
yellowmonster.blog.jp
Germinal
Four flabbergasted
Australopithecus bipedal
primates establish a
highly fallible method of
classification that consists of
separating things that make
a “pokpok” sound from those
that do not make a “pokpok”
sound. Nonchalantly, in an
unconventional microcosm no
bigger than a theater stage,
they brilliantly demonstrate
the fabrication of theater,
offering a wild, exhilarating
philosophical epic from start
to finish. Sep 11, 7:30pm; Sep
12-13, 3pm. ¥4,000 (adv)/
¥4,500 (door). Kanagawa
Arts Theater. Nihon-Odori.
http://j.mp/germinal2015
Pippin
Tony Award-winning musical
full of extraordinary acrobatics,
wondrous magical feats,
and soaring songs from the
composer of Wicked. Sep 4-20,
various times. ¥9,000-13,000.
Theater Orb. Shibuya. Tel:
03-3477-9999. http://j.mp/
pippin2015
Don Giovanni
Performed by The Royal
Opera, Mozart’s opera based
on the legends of Don Juan,
a fictional libertine and
seducer. Sep 13, 3pm; Sep
17, 6:30pm; Sep 20, 1:30pm.
¥12,000-55,000. NHK Hall.
Harajuku or Meiji-Jingumae.
Tel: 03-3465-1751. http://j.mp/
giovanni2015
Mechanisms Unraveled:
How Ideas Are Cast Into
Shape
A program for kids, designed
to explore the ways in which
artists create their work, and
the process by which they
transform their ideas into
works of art. Until Aug 30,
11am-6pm, closed Mon. Free.
NTT Intercommunication Center.
Hatsudai. Tel: 0120-144199.
www.ntticc.or.jp/index_e.html
Erik Satie and His Time
Exhibition focusing on the
activities of French composer
Satie, portraying his lesserknown side through the works
of artists who inspired him and
who were inspired by him. Until
Aug 30, 10am-7pm (until 9pm
on Fri & Sat). ¥500-1,200 (adv)/
¥700-1,400 (door). Bunkamura:
The Museum. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5777-8600.
http://j.mp/satie2015
Nature Creations: Flowers
Witness Spiral Garden (1F
Spiral) bloom with the floral
creativity of leading artists and
designers, featuring around
100 items (which can be
purchased) inspired by flowers
including ceramics, paintings,
embroidery, cut-out pictures,
graphic art, and more. Until Aug
30, 11am-8pm. Free. Spiral.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-34981171. www.spiral.co.jp/en
Fukagawa in the Snow: The
Reappearance of an
Utamaro Masterpiece
Showcasing works by Utamaro,
one of the most highly regarded
ukiyo-e practitioners, especially
for his portraits of beautiful
women, or bijin-ga. Until Aug 31,
9am-5pm. ¥1,800-2,800. Okada
Museum of Art. Kowakidani.
Tel: 0460-87-3931. www.
okada-museum.com/en
Macbeth
Performed by The Royal
Opera, Verdi’s opera based
on Shakespeare’s play of the
same name. Sep 12 & 15,
3pm; Sep 18, 6:30pm; Sep
21, 1:30pm. ¥12,000-55,000.
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Ueno.
Tel: 03-3828-2111. http://j.mp/
macbeth2015
Exhibitions
ENDING SOON
Art in Wonderland
A modern, interactive art
exhibition with installations
focusing on light and shadow,
created by Japan’s leading
new-media artists. Until Aug
31, 10am-6pm. ¥300-1,100
(adv)/ ¥500-1,500 (door).
Saitama Super Arena.
Saitama-Shintoshin. www.
mahou-museum.com
Manga*Anime*Games from
Japan
Exhibition commemorating
the 15th anniversary of
the Japanese publication
of Gaspard and Lisa.
Enjoy artwork from the
children’s books created
by Anne Gutman and Georg
Hallensleben. Until Aug 24,
10am-8pm. ¥300-1,000.
Matsuya Ginza. Ginza. Tel:
03-3567-1211. www.matsuya.
com/m_ginza
Focusing on the 25-year period
from 1989 to the present,
this exhibition presents a
comprehensive survey of
Japanese anime, manga, and
games—three media that have
evolved into an integrated form
of expression—and provides
visitors with an opportunity to
rediscover their imagination
and creativity. Until Aug 31,
10am-6pm (until 8pm on Fri),
closed Tue. The National Art
Center, Tokyo. Nogizaka.
www.nact.jp/english
Mega Dinosaur Exhibition
ONGOING
Gaspard and Lisa
Exhibition
Featuring the restored
skeleton of the Turiasaurus
found in Spain, believed to
be the largest dinosaur ever
found in Europe. Until Aug
30, 9:30am-5pm. ¥800-1,600
(adv)/ ¥1,000-2,000 (door).
Makuhari Messe. KaihinMakuhari. http://mega2015.jp
Cy Twombly: Fifty Years of
Works on Paper
Featuring around 70
drawings, paintings, and
monotypes by Twombly,
an American painter of
large-scale, freely scribbled,
calligraphic, and graffitilike works. Until Aug 30,
11am-5pm (until 8pm on Wed),
closed Mon. ¥500-1,100. Hara
Museum of Contemporary Art.
Shinagawa. Tel: 03-34450651. www.haramuseum.or.jp
Yuki Katsura: Solo
Exhibition
Showcasing works by Katsura,
who employs a variety of
techniques and styles to draw
various modes of paintings,
from abstraction and satires to
caricatures. Until Sep 5, Tue-Fri:
11am-7pm, Sat: 11am-5pm,
closed Sun, Mon, & hols.
Free. Tokyo Gallery + BTAP.
Shinbashi. Tel: 03-3571-1808.
http://j.mp/yukikatsura2015
Listening to Paintings: Rain,
Wind, Bird Songs, and
Human Voices
As the Chinese literati used to
enjoy what they called woyou,
or enjoying a landscape painting
by lying down, indoors, and
imagining exploring the actual
landscape, enjoy imagining the
sounds suggested by the scenes
depicted in this exhibition.
Until Sep 6, 10am-5pm,
closed Mon. ¥700-900 (adv)/
¥800-1,000 (door). Nezu
Museum. Omotesando. Tel:
03-3400-2536. http://meturl.
com/nezumuseum
Legendary artists of
Japanese Western Painting
Held in celebration of the
centennial of the NIKA
Exhibition, explore the history
of 20th-century Japanese art
from the Nika Association.
Until Sep 6, 9:30am-5:30pm
(until 9pm on Fri), closed Mon.
¥600-1,300 (adv)/ ¥800-1,500
(door). Tokyo Metropolitan
Art Museum. Ueno. Tel:
03-3823-6921. http://j.mp/
nikacentennial2015
Art Nouveau Glass
Featuring pieces which
include some of the finest
works of glass produced by
the Art Nouveau movement
in Paris and Nancy. Until
Sep 6, 10am-6pm, closed
Wed. ¥500-1,000. Shiodome
Museum. Shimbashi. Tel:
03-5777-8600. http://meturl.
com/panasonicmuseum
such as Delacroix, Redon,
and Goya, this exhibition will
also feature a broad array of
items, including such important
archaeological and historical
materials as the famous Venus
with a Horn (Venus of Laussel),
and many of the decorative art
items that tell the story of the
lives of the Bordeaux citizens of
the past. Until Sep 23, 9:30am5:30pm (until 8pm on Fri),
closed Mon. ¥800-1,600. The
National Museum of Western
Art. Ueno. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
http://j.mp/bordeaux2015
Art Deco in Residence
Separated into two
sub-exhibitions, titled
“Looking at Architecture
2015,” which invites the
audience to take a closer look
at the museum building itself,
and “Art Deco Collectors,”
which showcases a variety
of reputed Art Deco works
accumulated by art collectors.
Until Sep 23, 10am-6pm
(until 9pm on Fri), closed on
the second and fourth Wed
of the month. ¥400-800.
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien
Art Museum. Meguro. Tel:
03-3443-0201. http://j.mp/
artdecoinresidence2015
New York Inspiration
Showcasing works by New
York- and Japan-based artists
including Ikuko Iisaka, Toshie
Otsuka, Miho Takai, and
others. Sep 1-10, 11:30am7pm, closed Sun. Free.
Galerie Konoha. Kanda.
Tel: 03-3256-2047. www.
konoha-g.jp
Urameshiya: Art of the
Ghost
Featuring Zenshoan Temple’s
collection of ghost paintings.
Until Sep 13, 10am-5pm,
closed Mon. ¥600-900
(adv)/ ¥700-1,100 (door).
The University Art Museum.
Ueno. Tel: 050-5525-2200.
www.tokyo-np.co.jp/event/
urameshiya
Sachie Kashima: The
Shapes
An exhibition of paintings
by Kashima, who is known
as a surrealist painter with
color composition. Aug
26-Sep 20, 1-7pm, closed
Mon & Tue. Free. Hiromart
Gallery. Edogawabashi. Tel:
03-6233-9836. http://j.mp/
theshapes2015
Art Aquarium
“Art aquarium artist”
Hidetomo Kimura creates
dazzling displays of live
kingyo, or goldfish, that
appeal to all the senses. The
exhibition space transforms
into a “Night Aquarium”
from 7pm, where you can
enjoy drinks, and on the
weekend, live music and DJ
performances. Foreign visitors
who come in pairs (who each
bring their foreign passport)
after 8pm will receive one
free bottle of beer. Until Sep
23, 11am-11:30pm, ¥600-1,000.
Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall.
Mitsukoshi-mae. Tel: 03-32702550. http://artaquarium.jp/en
Cleopatra and the Queens
of Egypt
Explore the life of Cleopatra
and other queens of Egypt,
who had great influence
over the country’s politics
and religion. Until Sep 23,
9:30am-5pm (until 8pm on Fri
and 6pm on Sat, Sun, & hols),
closed Mon. ¥600-1,300 (adv)/
¥800-1,500 (door). Tokyo
National Museum. Ueno.
http://egypt2015.jp/english
Bordeaux, Port de la Lune
Along with introducing the
many painters and art works
with connections to Bordeaux,
Risaku Suzuki: Stream of
consciousness
For this exhibition—which takes
“seeing” itself as its theme—
Suzuki has chosen not to say in
words beforehand what he has
photographed. By confronting
the photograph before us
without preconceptions,
conscious of all it depicts, we
will re-experience the world
“seen” by Suzuki. Until Sep 23,
11am-7pm (until 8pm on Fri &
Sat), closed Mon. ¥800-1,200.
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery.
Hatsudai. www.operacity.
jp/en/ag
Chiharu Shiota: Lines of
Memory
Latest works by Berlin-based
Japanese installation artist
Shiota, who uses everyday
objects such as beds, windows,
dresses, shoes, and suitcases,
to which she adds intricate,
web-like threads of black
and red. Shiota’s work often
explores the relationships
between past and present,
living and dying, and memories
of people implanted into
objects. Until Sep 26, 12-7pm,
closed Sun, Mon, & hols. Free.
Kenji Taki Gallery. Hatsudai.
Tel: 03-3378-6051. www.
kenjitaki.com
Mechanic Designer
Okawara Kunio Exhibition
Featuring works by mechanical
designer Okawara, who
designed robots, ships, and
other mechanical items for
anime such as Gundam and the
Brave Series franchise. Until
Sep 27, 10am-5pm. ¥1,0001,300 (adv)/ ¥1,200-1,500
(door). Ueno Royal Museum.
Ueno. www.okawara-ten.
com
Crafts Gallery for Kids +
Adults: Pika Boko—An
Onomatopoetic Guide to
Crafts
Explore the world of crafts
through onomatopoetic
descriptions of the works.
Until Sep 27, 10am-5pm,
closed Mon. ¥70-210. The
National Museum of Modern
Art, Tokyo. Takebashi. Tel:
03-5777-8600. http://j.mp/
pikaboko2015
The Exhibition of
Tokugawa’s Castles
See detailed paintings of
Tokugawa’s castles, including
a computer-graphics
animated tour of its interior,
and more. Until Sep 27,
9:30am-5:30pm (until 9pm
on Fri & 7:30pm on Sat).
¥470-1,140 (adv)/ ¥680-1,350
(door). Edo-Tokyo Museum.
Ryogoku. Tel: 03-36269974. www.edo-tokyomuseum.or.jp/en
Motion Science
This exhibition offers
visitors the opportunity
to touch and observe the
power of expression that
“movement” brings about.
By understanding and
experiencing its structure,
visitors are able to
perceive the enjoyment of
manufacturing, and reassess
the relationship between
design and progress in
science and technology. Until
Sep 27, 10am-7pm, closed
Tue. ¥500-1,100. 21_21
Design Sight. Nogizaka.
Tel: 03-3475-2121. http://j.
mp/motionscience2015
Yori Saito’s Gaze:
Celebrating the 130th
Birthday of a Nakamuraya
Salon Painter
Showcasing works by Saito,
an artist at the forefront
of the modern Japanese
yōga, or Western painting,
at the end of the Meiji Era.
Until Sep 27, 10:30am7pm, closed Tue. ¥300.
Nakamuraya Salon Museum
of Art. Shinjuku. www.
nakamuraya.co.jp/museum
Yoshiaki Irobe: WALL
Showcasing work by Irobe,
who considers graphic
design the work of giving
form in the human mind to
non-physical things like
memory, impressions,
or feelings. Through
wide-ranging design work
including visual identity, sign
systems, exhibition graphics,
and editorial/book design,
Irobe is constantly thinking
about how to fully apply the
power of graphic design in
society. Sep 2-28, 11am-7pm
(until 6pm on Sat), closed Sun
& hols. Free. Ginza Graphic
Gallery. Ginza. http://j.mp/
irobewall2015
Leaps in Evolution:
Tracing the Path of
Vertebrate Evolution
Invaluable fossils of
backboned creatures are
presented alongside the
latest DNA-based research
findings, reconstructed
models of prehistoric
animals, and 4K video images
to review the great journey
of vertebrate evolution.
Until Oct 4, 9am-5pm (until
8pm on Fri), closed Sep
7, 14, & 28. ¥600-1,600.
National Museum of Nature
and Science. Ueno.
Tel: 03-3822-0111. www.
seimei-ten.jp
Maria Tanikawa:
Solo Show
Tokyo-based artist from
New York shows Nihonga
paintings with traditional
Japanese ink, pigment,
gold leaf, etc. Until Oct
4, 11am-11pm. Free. T.Y.
Harbor. Tennōzu Isle. Tel:
03-5479-4555. www.tysons.
jp/tyharbor
Energy and Revival: The
Art of Momoyama
This exhibition showcases the
art of the Momoyama Period
with tea ceramics of the
Shino, Oribe, and Karatsu
wares together with paintings
by the Kano School and
Hasegawa Tohaku. Until Oct
12, 10am-5pm (until 7pm on
Fri), closed Mon. ¥700-1,000.
Idemitsu Museum of Arts.
Tokyo. www.idemitsu.com/
museum/honkan
29
Thomas & Friends
Explore the world of the
British children’s television
series Thomas & Friends,
including original artwork,
and learn about how the
widely popular series began.
Until Oct 12, 10am-6pm,
closed Mon. ¥700-1,200.
Museum of Contemporary
Art Tokyo. KiyosumiShirakawa. www.mot-artmuseum.jp/eng
Oscar Niemeyer: The Man
Who Built Brasilia
A retrospective of one of
Brazil’s leading architects,
who is highly acclaimed
for his unique buildings
that harmonize organic
curves with modernism’s
geometric forms. Until Oct
12, 10am-6pm, closed Mon.
¥600-1,100. Museum of
Contemporary Art Tokyo.
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. www.
mot-art-museum.jp/eng
What is Realist Painting?
Exploring the diversity
and potential of realist
painting through 54 works
of landscapes, figures,
and more. Until Nov 15,
10am-5:30pm, closed Tue.
¥900-1,800. Hoki Museum.
Toke. Tel: 043-205-1500.
www.hoki-museum.jp/en
Open Space 2015
Explore an array of
representative, historical,
and new works from the
realm of media art, as
well as results of research
activities at educational
institutions. Until Mar 6,
11am-6pm, closed Mon. Free.
NTT Intercommunication
Center. Hatsudai. Tel:
0120-144199. http://j.mp/
openspace2015
UPCOMING
The Last Impressionists:
Time of Intimacy
Showcasing works by
artists who were active
in Paris during the start
of the 20th century, such
as Carrière, Aman-Jean,
and Le Sidaner. Sep 5-Nov
8, 10am-6pm (until 8pm on
Fri), closed Mon. ¥650-1,000
(adv)/ ¥800-1,200 (door).
Sompo Japan Museum of Art.
Shinjuku. Tel: 03-54058686. www.sjnk-museum.org
The Art of Bulgari: 130
Years of Italian
Masterpieces
This exclusive exhibition
will highlight the jewelry
and watches of Bulgari that
defined a pivotal period in
Italian design. Sep 8-Nov
29, 9:30am-5pm (until 8pm
on Fri). ¥600-1,200 (adv)/
¥800-1,400 (door). Tokyo
National Museum. Ueno.
http://j.mp/artofbulgari2015
The Genesis and
Development of
Landscape Painting
Showcasing works from
Kunsthistorisches Museum,
Wien of attractive European
landscapes. Sep 9-Dec
7, 10am-7pm (until 9pm
on Fri & Sat). ¥500-1,300
(adv)/ ¥700-1,500
(door). Bunkamura: The
Museum. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5777-8600. http://j.mp/
wienlandscape2015
Niki de Saint Phalle
Showcasing works by French
sculptor and painter Saint
Phalle, who created a garden
called Giardino dei Tarocchi
in Italy, containing sculptures
of the symbols found on
Tarot cards. Sep 18-Dec 14,
10am-6pm (until 8pm Fri),
closed Tue. ¥600-1,400 (adv)/
30
¥800-1,600. The National Art
Center, Tokyo. Nogizaka.
www.niki2015.jp
Sports
BASEBALL
Yakult Swallows vs.
Chunichi Dragons
Aug 21-22, 6pm; Aug 23,
5pm. ¥500-27,500. Meiji
Jingu Baseball Stadium.
Gaienmae. Tel: 03-34048999. www.yakult-swallows.
co.jp
Yakult Swallows vs.
Tokyo Giants
Aug 25-27, 6pm. ¥500-24,000.
Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium.
Gaienmae. Tel: 03-34048999. www.yakult-swallows.
co.jp
Yomiuri Giants vs.
Chunichi Dragons
Aug 28 - 30, 6pm to 2pm.
¥1,700-6,100. Tokyo Dome.
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-58009999. www.giants.jp/en
SUMO
Sumo Grand Tournament
Sep 13-27, 8am-6pm.
¥3,800-11,700. Ryogoku
Kokugikan. Ryogoku. Tel:
03-3623-5111. www.sumo.
or.jp/en/
VOLLEYBALL
FIVB Volleyball World Cup
Japan senior women’s team
goes against Argentina,
Russia, Cuba, Kenya, and
the Dominican Republic.
Aug 22-27, various times.
¥1,000-10,000. Yoyogi
National Gymnasium.
Meiji-Jingumae. www.jva.
or.jp/en
Festivals
INTERNATIONAL
Asakusa Samba Carnival
Latin-style parade and dance
contest. Aug 29, 1-6pm.
Free. Asakusa Umamichidori and Kaminarimon-dori.
Asakusa. www.asakusasamba.org
Festival Na Hiwahiwa
O Hawai’i
Featuring the winners of
the Merrie Monarch Festival
and Na Hoku Hanohano
Awards, enjoy performances
of hula and Hawaiian music.
Sep 19-20, 12 & 4:30pm;
Sep 21, 11am & 3:30pm.
¥5,100-14,400. Tokyo Dome
City Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999. http://
nahiwa.com/2015
Comedy
New Material Night
Standup, improv, and trying
out new stuff. Sep 1 &
15, 8-10pm. Free. Double
Tall Cafe. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5467-4567. http://
tokyocomedy.com/new_
material_night
Aug 23, 1-11pm. ¥1,000.
Arena Shimokitazawa.
Shimokitazawa. Tel:
03-6450-7957. http://j.mp/
shimokitaparty2015
Half-Fast Cyclists
Bicyclists of all treads meet
for slideshows, lectures,
ride-planning, etc. Every
second Wed, 7pm. Free.
The Pink Cow. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6434-5773.
www.thepinkcow.com
Stitch-n-Bitch
Meet fellow knitters,
crocheters and sewers to
talk, share ideas, eat, drink
and create. Every first and
third Tue, 7pm. Free. Pariya.
Shibuya. www.meetup.
com/TokyoStitchandBitch
Dr. Sketchy’s
Anti-Art School
Burlesque models pose
for veteran artists and
sketching newbies alike
with artsy socializing. Every
third Wed, 7-10pm. ¥2,000
w/ 1d. Studio and Space
IVVA. Meiji-Jingūmae or
Harajuku. www.facebook.
com/Dr.Sketchy.Tokyo
Learning
Spain Wine vs. French
Wine Seminar
Learn about Spanish and
French wines and enjoy a
French-style dinner in an
international atmosphere.
Aug 29, 7pm. ¥11,980 +
tax (adv). Restaurant Aux
Bacchanales. AkasakaMitsuke. Tel: 03-52763422. http://meturl.com/
monthlywine
Other Events
Evening Musings 35
Spoken word lovers and
purveyors—come one,
come all! Share offerings by
Writers’ Bloc Tokyo members
and anyone else who wishes
to share their talents.
Aug 22, 7pm. Free. Loco
Popo Cal-Mex Restaurant.
Yotsuya. Tel: 03-53577013. www.locopopo.jp
Disney on Ice: Amazing
Anniversary
Watch your favorite Disney
characters, including Elsa
and Ana from Frozen,
dance on ice! Until Aug
24, various times. ¥2,9006,000. Yokohama Arena.
Shin-Yokohama. Tel:
045-474-4000. http://j.mp/
disneyonice2015
Roller Disco
Murasaki Sports presents
Roller & Disco, produced by
KZCREW. Skate and dance
to great oldies and recent
pop hits. Aug 28, 7-10:30pm.
¥2,500. Tokyo Dome Roller x
Skate Arena. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-3817-6196. http://j.
mp/rollerdisco2015
Stand-up Comedy at
The Hobgoblin
Stand-up comedians
with a variety of styles,
performing in English. Sep 17,
9-10:30pm. Free. Hobgoblin
Shibuya. Shibuya. http://
tokyocomedy.com/standup_
comedy_at_the_hobgoblin
Community
Shimokitazawa Japan
Party Vol. 3
BBQ, DJs, and dancing.
MORE LISTINGS
ONLINE → HTTP://
METURL.COM/
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system, full English support.
Call us today! 03-5437-5233
www.japt.co.jp
1 AT YOUR SERVICE
1.1 HEALTH
G E N E R A L D E N T I S T R Y.
A merican dental school
graduate, 20 years’
experience in hospital
dentistry, over 2000
d e ntal im p lant s , n a t i ve
English speaker; 3min
from JR Harajuku Stn,
p a r k i n g a v a i l a b l e. W i l l
fill out insurance forms.
info@trustdental.jp
www.trustdental.jp/english
03-3402-1501
ENGLISH-SPE AKING ADACERTIFIED DENTAL CLINIC in
Toranomon Hills offers a wide
range of preventive, corrective
a n d co s m e t i c d e n t i s t r y.
Superior service focused on
customer satisfaction and
convenience. Open until
10pm. Modern dentistry at its
best. www.rmdcc.com/english
0120-648-071
L O O K 1 0 Y E A R S YO U N G E R .
CustomYoga removes stress and
anxiety, making you look years
younger. Your office, apartment, or
our studio. Day and evening sessions.
Beginners welcome. AnnLowYoga@
gmail.com 080-4945-5055
1.2 HAIR & BEAUTY
CURLY HAIR SPECIALIST IN
TOK YO. English-speaking
Kiyoko, highly experienced
in NY’s curly hair salons,
takes care of curly hair at
her salon, Nepenji, in Ebisu.
Reser vations: 03 -3793 2357 or info@nepenji.net
http://english.nepenji.net/
index_en.html
C H I E
FUNAKURA,
the stylist
and coloring
specialist
Harper’s
B a z a a r
Australia
n a m e d t h e b e s t i n To k y o ,
finally opens her own salon in
Harajuku! Book now for your
own personalized fashion
ex p e r i e n ce. 03 - 6 4 3 4 - 52 1 9
s i lva p a p i l i o.co m co n t a c t @
silvapapilio.com
E S T H E T I Q U E S A LO N L E L I T
MEGURO, an English-speaking
beauty salon with highly
skilled staff, is like your own
s e cr e t p a r a d i s e w h e r e y o u
can relax completely. Trial
price for your first visit, tax
included: Body Deep Tissue
Massage (60min) ¥4980
(regular price ¥8640). Facial
Moisture Treatment (60min)
¥4980 (regular price ¥9720).
Hours: 9am-6pm; closed Wed
www.lelitmeguro.com/
English.html welcome@
lelitmeguro.com 090 -3913 8044
MEN’S BARBERSHOP IN
ROPPONGI WELCOMES
FOREIGNERS. Englishspeaking assistant will get
your haircut right. Haircuts
¥ 4 8 0 0. W i t h s h a ve ¥ 5 8 0 0.
Kids’ haircuts ¥4000-¥4400.
Fi r s t- t i m e d i s co u n t ¥1 0 0 0.
http://oazo.biz/top 03-55457797 oazo7797@yahoo.co.jp
2.6 BUY/SELL PREMISES
HOUSE FOR SALE IN USAMI, 2LK,
t wo toilets, wood stove, large
su n d e ck , l o ck u p g ar a g e, t wo
floors (35sqm each), freehold land,
overlooking Usami Bay surf beach,
10min walk to beach. Offers over
¥2,000,000. No resort fees. Private
sale by owner. fletcher@snow.ocn.
ne.jp 090-9819-1558
3 EDUCATION
3.2 JAPANESE TEACHERS
JA PA N ES E LESSO N S . Serious
Japanese lessons from
experienced teacher along the
Yamanote Line in Tokyo. Lesson
fee: free. Let’s enjoy Japanese
lessons and culture. Please call
Setsuko at 090-1210-9285. Email:
n i h o n g o1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 @
yahoo.co.jp
3.4 ENGLISH TEACHERS
RENTAL APARTMENTS,
HOUSES, CONDOS AND
S T U D I O S i n Yo ko h a m a ,
Kawasaki, Tokyo, and near
US military bases. English speaking staff will guide you
through the renting process.
For a stress-free search,
contact Rent Life. 045 - 470 32 14 w w w.rent- yokohama.
com/english e-yokohama@rlife.co.jp
T H I N K I N G A B O U T
ADVERTISING WITH
METROPOLIS ? Platinum
¥32,400. Gold ¥27,000. Silver
¥21,600. Prices include one
photo. Bronze ¥2000 (photo
+ ¥2000). Prices are for 4 0
words, one print issue, t wo
weeks online. For details,
email us at commercial@
metropolisjapan.com.
1.7 BUSINESS SERVICES
WANT TO LEARN OR IMPROVE
YOUR ENGLISH? Do it with your
ver y own teacher (f ive year s’
e x p e r i e n c e) i n t h e e x c e l l e n t
environment at La Tour Central
Park ¥1000/lesson or Japanese
language exchange. Inditoph@
gmail.com.
TO ADVERTISE IN METROPOLIS,
JAPAN’S NO.1 ENGLISH MAGAZINE,
log on at w w w.metropolis.
co.jp/classif ieds or email your
commercial ads to commercial@
metropolisjapan.com.
3.5 LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
Danish, German, Japanese. Hej
and 'N Tag! JF, 30s, seeks Danes and
Germans to help her with languages
in Tokyo/Kanagawa through fun
conversations over cups of coffee or just
hanging out. Please be nonsmokers.
codename107113@live.com
English and Japanese. Open-minded
Japanese female, 23-40, sought for
language exchange and socializing.
Serious only. Call Bobby at 0905589-6864 or 080-8118-4073 or email
mybaby-precious@docomo.ne.jp.
English and Japanese. E/J exchange
for book writing on healing field of
interest. Ikebukuro area. winds_fr@
hotmail.com
English and Japanese. JF seeks an
exchange partner in the daytime on
weekdays at Kawasaki Stn. tome.
haruka-soushi@ezweb.ne.jp
I M M I G R AT I O N L A W Y E R AT
N I PPA S H I O FFI CE s u p p o r t s
visa and naturalization
applications, company
establishment and
b r a n c h o f f i ce i n s t a l l a t i o n ,
including commercial
registration, as well as
inheritance procedures in
Japan. Free consultation
available in English,
Español and Japanese.
Tel: 03-6264-8446
np@nippashi.com
http://nippashi.com
CRE ATIVE SO LUTION S .
Specialists in branding, web
design, photo/video production.
Drawing A Crowd: a new approach
in design. Get in touch. info@
drawingacrowd.co
2 FIND A PLACE
2.2 RENT UNDER ¥200,000
SERVICED APARTMENTS
in a quiet residential area
of Hiroo. Studios and
suites. 4min from Hiroo
Stn. Rates: Daily ¥7800.
Weekly ¥6850-/day.
M o n t h ly ¥ 570 0 - /d a y . O ve r
t h r e e m o n t h s ¥ 51 3 0 - /d a y .
Ta x , u t i l i t i e s i n cl u d e d .
frontdesk@azabucourt.
co m w w w. a z a b u co u r t .co m
0 3 - 3 4 4 6 - 8 6 1 0
English and Japanese. JF (TOEIC 980)
is seeking a language exchange partner
who can correct her written English
emails/journals/reports (and she can
correct yours, too). Meeting in Tokyo is
also fine. dischidiak@gmail.com
E n g l i s h a n d J a p a n e s e. D e a r
Intellectually Curious People, a JF is
seeking an E/J language partner. I'm
interested in running, world politics,
movies, dramas (like White Collar),
reading, art. If this sounds interesting,
please message me. roma_wasnt_built_
in_a_day1@softbank.ne.jp
F U R N I S H E D A PA R T M E N T I N
FRONT OF TOKYO SKYTREE. Fully
furnished 2LDK, w/large balcony,
about 40sqm, 5min walk to Metro
Oshiage Station, 2min walk to
Tokyo Skytree Station, three-month
minimum stay ¥120,000/m.
Please contact us for more info.
oshiageapar tment@yahoo.com
080-6630-0498
2.5 PLACE WANTED
ICHII CORPORATION.
Over 600 affordable, qualityfurnished apartments in
central Tokyo locations. No
English and Japanese. Hi, my name
is Manabu. I am a Japanese guy, mid30s. I just relocated from CA to Tokyo.
I am wondering if someone could teach
me intonation and accent. man.kazu@
yahoo.com
Seeking housemate. Nonsmoking
JF, clean, full-time worker in Tokyo, is
seeking a place to move this autumn.
Thinking for one year. Can pay ¥50,000
for rent. aubin-euclid@softbank.ne.jp
English and Japanese. Friendly British
and Japanese couple with a 4-year-old
bilingual, princess-loving girl on the
Chuo Line seeking someone who loves
kids and is learning E/J to do some
babysitting in exchange for language
practice. uniq80@outlook.com
English and Japanese. Interesting,
well- educated, cute S JM seek s
native English speakers in Tokyo for
a language exchange. Let's meet
once or twice/week to improve our
language abilities. I'm sure that it'll be
a wonderful experience. Just email me.
languageex2010@gmail.com
English and Japanese. We'll do a
group language/culture exchange,
with five Japanese and five Americans.
We're still seeking two Japanese to join
us. snoopy58@ams.odn.ne.jp
3.6 LEARNING: GENERAL
English and Japanese. White guy, new
in Tokyo. Can you tell me what the nice
beaches around Tokyo are? I can teach
you E in exchange. Let’s do language
exchange while enjoying the nice sun.
Text me! donl3on@yahoo.co.uk
English and Japanese. I am a
Canadian male, married, 40, teaching
English in Tokyo. I am seeking a once/
week language exchange partner in the
Tokyo area. We could meet at a cafe.
torontodoggy@hotmail.com
English and Japanese. Hi, Canadian
male, 30, in Ebisu, seeks language
exchange on weekday mornings/
afternoons. I work all over, so
Kanagawa/east Tokyo ok, too. 同僚と
いつも英語だけ使うから日本語で
話したいです。 aoimebe@yahoo.ca
English and Japanese. White guy, new
in Tokyo. Can you tell me what the nice
beaches around Tokyo are? I can teach
you E in exchange. Let's do language
exchange while enjoying the nice sun.
Text me! donl3on@yahoo.co.uk
English, Irish, Japanese. Hi, I'm a
Japanese female, 36, seeking a laidback English-speaking partner. I was
in Ireland last year and am currently
working for a French pharmaceutical
company. Let's talk and have fun.
takaesatomi@yahoo.co.jp
French and Japanese. Fr and J
exchange and book collaboration in
Ikebukuro. I'm a French book writer, 50.
I seek a language exchange partner.
I'm learning J. I like mikkyo and
aromatherapy. I hope you like the same
things. winds_fr@hotmail.com
French and Japanese. I'm a JM, 27,
from the Shibuya area, seeking a native
French speaker to help me improve my
French. I'm a beginner, but serious. I'd
be happy to help you in return. takashi.
nakajima38@gmail.com
French and Japanese. Hi, I am a French
guy seeking language exchange friends,
20-47. I speak Fr and E, am currently
learning J. I'm someone reserved in
general. I want to meet new people.
brandonjpn@live.com
German and Japanese. JF seeks Ger/J
language exchange partner. Seit Sechs
Monaten lerne ich Deutsch aber ich
spreche Englisch. F/M ok. If interested,
drop me a line. gardenstate2005@
hotmail.com
German and Japanese. Single
Japanese woman, 40s, living in
Yokohama, would like to start learning
Ger. I can teach J. gru1064@gmail.com
Indonesian, Japanese, English.
Japanese lady seeks a native speaker
of Indonesian for language exchange.
Please send me a message if you are
interested. Serious only. Thanks! suka_
suka_usa@ezweb.ne.jp
Korean and English. 한국어가능
하는영국남잔데일본에 서사는
한국친구 찾고있다. 요즘일
어배우고있고한국어안쓰기땜
에한국어거의다까먹었나봐.
juicysummer@gmail.com
Korean and Japanese. Japanese male,
42, seeks a native Korean speaker for
Kor/J exchange. I like music, reading,
cooking. I hope we can learn from each
other and have some fun. astralsky@
excite.co.jp
Spanish and Japanese. Native Spanish
speaker sought for occasional language
exchange in Tokyo. Let’s hang out and
practice your Japanese! tempstadesjp@
gmail.com
Spanish and Japanese. I want to be
friends with someone who is a native
Spanish speaker. I can teach you J. It
would be really nice if we could go to
a salsa club together. riorio_0623@
yahoo.co.jp
英語と日本語. オーストラリア人で
す。英会話 教師として、12年間。
渋 谷 の 周 辺 。高 学 歴 者 お 願 。
mikedono@gmail.com
英語と日本語。 僕はイギリス人.
毎日日本 語を勉 強してる. で も
言 語 交 換にいつも失 敗しちゃう.
juicysummer@gmail.com
IKEBANA (JAPANESE
TRADITIONAL FLORAL
ARRANGEMENT) is a powerful
means of self-expression.
Trial les son, inclu din g
all materials ¥4000. No
Japanese necessary.
C e r t i f i ca t i o n , d i p l o m a ca n
be earned. Three classroom
locations in Tokyo. Website:
w w w.atelier-soka.com/
english/index.html
Email: smile@mika-otani.com
3.9 TEACH ME!
T R A N S L AT I O N F O R E N G LI S H
LESSONS. Working towards
becoming an English-to-Japanese
translator, but need help polishing
my English. Can translate simple
documents in exchange for English
lessons. michiane256@gmail.com
French in Tokyo. Seeking someone
to teach me French during the day/
evenings on weekdays. Fee negotiable,
but the more reasonable the better.
Shinjuku, Ogikubo area preferred. I can
speak English, but am a French beginner.
audi2006@gmail.com
Penmanship/clean writing. Hi!
Seeking a qualified teacher to teach
penmanship, clean and professional
handwriting. Will pay ¥ 4000/h,
transportation included. jeffstokyo@
gmail.com
4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS
4.1 FURNITURE & FITTINGS
Cabinet, kitchen, wooden
(W82xD45xH195cm) ¥2000. Display
for T V (no T V ), adjustable width
(W124-over 200xD40xH44cm) ¥2000.
tokyotama123@gmail.com
Furniture sale! Large black sofa,
coffee table, ottoman, desk, etc. Mejiro.
Contact Barbara. bturoff@gmail.com
03-5996-4164
Futon, double (140x210), brand-new,
thick, soft, w/fluffy wool stuffing (about
10cm). New ¥21,000. Sell ¥7500. Pick
up or pay for delivery yourself. Photos
available. tsutsuji.bf2mr@gmail.com
Lamp, Ikea, made in Japan, heavy base
separated from lamp body, one y/o, in
good condition ¥1500. Omotesando.
mmcaproni2010@yahoo.co.jp
Table, Ikea Norden, seats two, w/
Lerhamn chair, brand-new. New
¥19,900. Sell ¥8000. Can dismantle
and deliver for ¥1000. emeraldsae@
yahoo.com
4.2 APPLIANCES
Juicer, Vitantonio, 200W, quiet, also
makes soy milk and green juice, hardly
used, very clean ¥8000. Pick up near
Yokohama. sayonara_vancouver@
hotmail.com
Washer, Sanyo ASW-60B(W), 6kg,
white, in good condition ¥10,000. Pick
up Musashi-Kosugi. Photos available.
sanpsy@hotmail.com
4.3 SAYONARA SALE
Sayonara sale! Epson PC and Dell
monitor, in very good condition. PC
¥7000. ¥10,000/both. New Alinco Fitness
Pro exercise bike ¥60,000. Fridge, in
good condition, medium-sized ¥6000.
Tables. takecareletsgo@yahoo.com
4.4 TV & HOME THEATER
Portable TV, SoftBank PhotoVision
Huawei, white, works fine with/without
antenna, can record and play in one set or
full-seg, uses SD card, stores and displays
photos, shows weather, w/remote ¥9000.
redtomatointokyo@gmail.com
31
Many more classified ads online! Visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
5 HOBBIES&INTERESTS
5.1 CAMERAS
Digital camera, Leica X2, compact, w/
Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH lens, made in
Germany, lightweight, as new, w/leather
case ¥120,000. robertnapier@icloud.com
Digital camera, Leica X1, steel gray,
compact, w/Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH
lens, made in Germany, lightweight, as
new ¥80,000. Shibuya. robertnapier@
icloud.com
Digital camera, Lumix GF6, w/14105mm zoom lens, 14-42mm lens, bag,
holder, battery, charger ¥35,000.
redtomatointokyo@gmail.com
5.2 SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Air mattress, Snow Peak, L size, super
lightweight, no need for pump, ideal
for hikers. New ¥20,000. Sell ¥5000.
tsutsuji.bf2mr@gmail.com
Core strengthening machine, Wonder
Core, for stretching back and abdominal
muscles, etc., brand-new. New ¥14,000.
Sell ¥7000. Pick up Musashi-Kosugi.
redtomatointokyo@gmail.com
Exercise bike, Alinco AF6200; brandnew; hardly used; shows time, distance,
calories, RPM, heart rate. New ¥22,000.
Sell ¥10,000. Pick up Musashi-Kosugi.
redtomatointokyo@gmail.com
Racket bag, tennis, Penn
(73x30xW18cm), padded, holds many
rackets, shoe pocket, two other pockets,
shoulder strap, never used ¥1000. Pick up
near Yokohama. sayonara_vancouver@
hotmail.com
Folding bicycle, cheaper than ¥10,000.
Around Adachi or Katsushika. ego_prin@
yahoo.co.jp
10 HELP!
10.1 HELP ME
FRE E E NG LISH -TO -JAPANESE
TRANSLATION. Working towards
becoming a translator and need
practice with simple documents.
Have experience working in law
office, accounting, HR, advertising
and sales. michiane256@gmail.
com
Professional oil massage wanted.
Seeking a professional or student
masseur. Can pay ¥7000/90min or
exchange English or Italian. Serious
only. No shiatsu—only aroma oil
massage. Thanks. alinjap@yahoo.
com
Seeking E/J translator in Machida.
I would like to edit some documents
into Japanese, but I have limited
knowledge of it. I can teach you English
or French. Please contact me. Machida
area preferred. understanding_life@
hotmail.com
Sponsorship. Ten years’ experience
in cafe/bar work, including working at
international hotels. I’d like to open
a cafe/bar, but need sponsorship.
Individuals and Cloud Funders welcome.
Please, if interested, let us come to an
agreement. samueladonkor@gmail.
com
Amp, Louis LGA-15, as new. New ¥11,000.
Sell ¥5000. redtomatointokyo@gmail.
com
12 SOCIAL SCENE
12.1 LET’S PARTY
JAPAN INTERNATIONAL PARTY
– AUTUMN SPECIAL. Sat,
Sep 26, 6:30-9:00pm, Bar
Quest (Roppongi). Japan’s
biggest international party.
250 people expected. All-youcan-drink and free snacks.
Japanese men: ¥ 4000.
O t h e r s : ¥ 3 0 0 0. M o b i l e:
h t t p: //g e t yo u r f r i e n d .co m
mobile/ jiparty@hotmail.com
w w w. g e t y o u r f r i e n d . c o m
090-1735-5405
10.2 SUPPORT
Treadmill, Ignio Ignite; brand-new;
max 16km/h; shows calories, heart rate,
speed, distance, mode for setting; w/mat,
safety lock. New ¥60,000. Sell ¥30,000.
Musashi-Kosugi. redtomatointokyo@
gmail.com
5.3 MUSICAL EQUIPMENT
10.3 LOST FRIENDS
Seeking Mindy. Is Mindy Mack, a petite
blonde teaching assistant from L.A.,
still in Tokyo? Any info appreciated.
m106819151-tsky@yahoo.com
PHONE COUNSELOR TRAINING
PROGRAM. Fall ‘15 in Tokyo: Oct
3 - Dec 5. In-person and online
training sessions available. For
more info, visit www.telljp.com or
email training@telljp.com.
J O I N T H E B I G G E S T,
B E S T, M O S T P O P U L A R
I N T E R N AT I O N A L PA R T Y !
Great people, drinks and food!
Meet new friends and party
with nice people in a friendly
atmosphere. Events in Tokyo
(Ginza, Azabu, Roppongi)
and Osaka. ¥1500-¥2000.
http://english.gaitomo.com
info@gaitomo.com
Electric guitar, Buskers BH1 BK, brandnew, excellent sound. New ¥18,000.
Sell ¥9000. redtomatointokyo@
gmail.com
6 VEHICLES
6.2 MOTORBIKES, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES
Honda PS250 big scooter, black,
'07, large enough for highway driving
and a passenger, but small enough for
city driving and parking, in excellent
condition, 7300km, w/new battery,
chain and ETC ¥500,000. hondaps250@
icloud.com
THE JAPAN HELPLINE, 24 hours a
day, from anywhere, about anything.
From emergency assistance to
simple questions. Visit www.jhelp.
com/ and press “help,” or call
0570 - 000 -911. To volunteer or
support, please contact team@jhelp.
com. www.jhelp.com
6.3 BICYCLES, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES
Mountain bike, brand-new, imported
from France, back carrier, disc brake,
suspension fork, w/pump, extra inner
tube, lock, bike bag ¥55,000. elsa.
lepage66@gmail.com
Japan-only, limited-edition
"Real Love" condoms from Durex
The world’s No.1 condom brand presents a new safe
and sexy product to Japan. Express your love with Durex.
Available at Condomania Harajuku.
Road bike, Time, carbon, '08, Dura
Ace gears and brakes, FSA SLK compact
(50/34) carbon crankset, XL (60cm). New
¥450,000. Sell ¥105,000. morris1638@
gmail.com 090-2219-4197
7 GENERAL
7.2 FASHION
EX WETA
WORKSHOP
DESIG N E R on
The Hobbit now
bringing his own
hand-crafted
jewelry and
chainmail to market . Only the
highest quality materials used.
Order online and follow our
Fa ce b o o k p a g e . h t t p: //o n .f b .
me/1HI4kG8
7.4 ITEMS WANTED
Benz C class wagon, '11-'12 model,
black or white. No dealers or auction
guys. alinjap@yahoo.com
32
WEST PAPUA: ONE SOUL, ONE
PEOPLE . Fif t y-t wo year s ago,
West Papua should have been an
independent country. Since 1969,
West Papua has been invaded
and the people robbed of their
rights, culture and country. Help
support West Papuans’ desire to
be free. http://tapol.gn.apc.org
papuansbehindbars.org
FEELING STUCK? Are you stuck in
your current job, but don’t know
what to do? Try a free consultation
session with a trained professional
coach with 15 years of management
experience. coach@to-be.life
HI V Peer Suppor t group a n d
wo r k s h o p s . G e t to g e t h e r w i t h
people in the same boat as you,
who understand. Held in a safe,
considerate, 100% confidential setting
to discuss what’s on your mind, ask
questions and make new friends.
info@peersupporttokyo.com www.
peersupporttokyo.com
Infertility support group. TTC Tokyo
is an infertility support group that
provides informal opportunities for
women and men experiencing infertility
to connect with one another. Please visit
website for more info. admin@ttctokyo.
org www.ttctokyo.org
I N T E R N AT I O N A L E V E N T S .
Looking to join a variety of
international events? The Tokyo
Spontaneous Hangout Meetup
Group has events such as
international parties, picnics,
free live English comedy, oneday trips, language exchange
and many more. Check this
link for further details; www.
meetup.com/tokyoites
13 CLUBS & INTERESTS
13.1 SPORTS
JUST A 3MIN WALK FROM
ROPPONG I HILL S, Club 360
is Tokyo’s premier health and
fitness club. No membership or
joining fees. Personal training,
physiotherapy, fitness classes,
kickboxing, boxing, massage.
info@club360.jp www.
club360.jp 03-6434-9667
AMERICAN FOOTBALL.
N ihon Unis ys B ulls , X league
Central Division, seeks fit players
w/US college football experience
for all positions. Practice every
Sat/Sun from 10am-3pm (including
meeting) in Tokyo/Saitama (time
and venue subject to change).
Attendance at practice must be
ove r 6 0% . Pl e ase co nt ac t fo r
tryout info and send your profile to
team admin. bullsxleague@gmail.
com www.unisys.co.jp/football
A L L - N AT I O N A L I T Y TO U C H
F O OT B A L L . N o n - c o n t a c t t a g
rugby (OZ tag) and Rugby
League players. We play ever y
Sat from 10am in Tatsumi. M/F
and beginners welcome! Good
exercise and fun! M any other
activities, such as BBQs and
drinking parties! Email for details.
tokyorugbyleague@hotmail.com
http://ameblo.jp/tokyo13warriors
A M AT E U R R U G B Y L E A G U E
PLAYERS. Japan ANZACS Rugby
League team is seeking Rugby
Le a g u e p l aye r s f o r J a p a n e s e
Ru g by Le a g u e of f icia l g am e s
from Apr to Sep. Everyone
welcome. Contact for more details.
japananzacs@gmail.com
FUN WITH TOUCH RUGBY! Join
us for social or competitive touch
rugby ever y Sat at 2:30pm by
Ariake Stn, Yurikamome Line. Any
age, sex, level ok. Please email
for details. funwithtouch@gmail.
c o m w w w. f u n w i t h t o u c h .c o m /
where-we-play
P L AY R U G B Y. T h e To k y o
Crusaders are a friendly but
keen international rugby club.
D evo te d to t h e g a m e a n d i t s
social side, the “Cru” welcomes
all players and supporters. www.
facebook.com/tok yo.crusaders
www.tokyocrusaders.com
TA M B O U R E L L I . U n i q u e n e w
s p o r t f ro m S co t l a n d . U s i n g a
tambourine-like instrument as a
racket, players hit a shuttlecock.
We play two or three times/month
on weekends in Meguro with many
socials. Join us! More details:
w w w.t a m j a p a n .o r g /e n / i n f o @
tamjapan.org
All-level tennis group in Tokyo.
Serious and motivated tennis players
sought by active tennis group to join
their weekly sessions in central Tokyo.
We have advanced and intermediate
groups on weekday evenings. Beginner
and low-intermediate also welcome.
No entrance or membership fees.
Reasonable participation fees. tokyo.
tennis@yahoo.fr
Baseball player. Japan Amateur
Baseball team is seeking players for
baseball games and practices. We play
every Sat and Sun in Yokohama City.
Everyone welcome. Email for details.
starbay5555@yahoo.co.jp
Don’s Half-Fast Flash-Mob Weekend
Urban Bicycle Rides. halffastcycling@
hotmail.com
Football /soccer players. Tokyo
Redstar, Setagaya League 1, is seeking
soccer players. Practice almost every
Sat/Sun in Tokyo. Players in a spirit of fair
play welcome. saito987@hotmail.com
http://tokyoredstar.com
Futsal in Tokorozawa. Sun night
futsal? Mostly 30-45 year olds play
every Sun evening. Non-league, but
fairly competitive. Come and play
for exercise and fun! Any age ok.
futsalintokorozawa@gmail.com
Futsal players wanted by a very
friendly international team. Practice is
in Tokyo and Kanagawa on Sat. Details
available. fkkyn468@ybb.ne.jp
Futsal team. Intermediate futsal team
in Tokyo seeks people who can enjoy
the game with others. Please introduce
yourself (full name, age, nationality,
where you live, whether you belong to
another team). umek2002jp@yahoo.
co.jp
Ice hockey: Kanagawa Maple Leafs,
Yokohama. Join us! The Kanagawa Ice
Hockey League for working people is
a competitive league, so experience
in ice hockey is a must. A team is
joining A pool, B team is E pool. norio.
ooba@pfizer.com https://sites.google.
co m / ka n a g a w a m a p le le a f s / h o m e
03-3258-5401
Interested in tai chi? Then why not
start now? Take a step to counter the
stresses of daily living. Practice is in
Toyama Park on Sun mornings, near
Takadanobaba Stn. chifact@gmail.com
International futsal, five-a-side, on
weekends in Tokyo. Friendly club, all
nationalities welcome. djnorio0417@
yahoo.co.jp
Quality football. Interested in playing
football at the weekend and training
midweek? Want to enjoy a few beers
after a good run out? If you consider
yourself a quality player, please drop
us a note. bfcvagabonds@gmail.com
Seeking Japanese archery
companions. Let’s do kyudo near
Tokyo. Once/month for three hours,
weekends only. See website for
details. datemasamune216@yahoo.
co.jp http://jmty.jp/tokyo/com-spo/
article-qa3g
Tennis in central Tokyo. Active group
of tennis friends in central Tokyo
welcomes serious/motivated new
players. We play on weekday evenings
and weekends. Different levels (sorry,
no beginners), fun training sessions
and games with great people from all
over. tennis.tokyo@yahoo.fr
Volleyball Club Intervoll. Japanese
and foreign volleyball players gather
in Takadanobaba to enjoy playing.
Have volleyball experience and want
to play in a friendly atmosphere?
inter vollclub@yahoo.co.jp http://
intervoll.sakura.ne.jp/
Weekend futsal team in Tokyo.
Please int roduce your self (ful l
name, age, nationality, whether you
belong to another team, experience,
etc.). 都内週末フットサルチーム.
umek2002jp@yahoo.co.jp
Women’s football club. Five-aside, 11-a-side, on grass fields. Two
or three practices/matches on Sun.
All nationalities, experience levels,
beginner s welcome. Happy and
friendly club! We have many socials.
djnorio@hotmail.co.jp
13.2 LEISURE
MACARTHUR HEIGHTS.
Ta ke a b r e a k w h e r e G e n e r a l
Douglas MacArthur did! One
hour from Tokyo by car or direct
train. Beautiful cabins on the
ocean, w/onsen, beach, shopping.
housinginjapan@yahoo.com
Japanese home cooking. Japanese
housewife offers free home cooking
lessons to females at her house near
Kawasaki Stn on weekdays during
the day. Free, but you pay the cost of
ingredients. tome.haruka-soushi@
ezweb.ne.jp
Tokyo ET contact group. Join us under
the stars as we invite extraterrestrial
visitors and their craft to our location.
nakanosky@gmail.com http://www.
meetup.com/Tokyo-ET-Contact-Group/
events/193113322/
Tokyo Extreme Weekenders. For those
who like to escape into nature to enjoy
four seasons of adventure and activities
with like-minded people, our purpose
is to have fun and fulfilling weekends.
Subscribe to mailing list for latest
details. tokyoweekenders@gmail.com
http://tokyoweekenders.jimdo.com
13.3 ARTS
Sincere writers blogging circle.
Seeking a small, sincere group
of English language writers, any
nationality, interested in beginning a
joint, democratically run blog of fiction
(perhaps essays). We could meet in
Tokyo to start. Email Frank. sakolis@
outlook.com
13.4 MUSIC
Bassist wanted around Yokohama.
Hello, I'm seeking a bassist for a band.
We mainly play rock music and have
rehearsals in Shin-Yokohama. Any kind of
player is welcome, so feel free to contact
us. m_a_b1998@yahoo.co.jp
Japanese drummer seeking musicians.
Guitar and bass player sought for rock,
dance, pop, blues, jazz, etc. Melody is
important. Hopefully, we can have gigs
so everybody can dance! kosuke1016@
hotmail.com
Solid rock bassist wanted. Serious
working rock band needs a solid bassist.
We play classic-modern rock cover
songs. Also planning to start original
stuff. Experienced, versatile bassist who
can sing back-up preferred. Contact us
for more info. enterthegroove@gmail.
com
13.5 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
B E G I N N E R TA I C H I A N D Q I
GONG COURSES. 14-week
courses start Thu, Sep 3,
in Hiroo and Roppongi.
Experience these ancient
arts in a friendly, welcoming
atmosphere. Benefits include
relaxation, increased energy
and focus. For more info or to
b o o k , ca l l 0 8 0 - 6 8 7 1 - 8 975.
mari@mequantaichi.com
http://meiquantaichi.com/jp
SUBSCRIBE TO METROPOLIS
AND NE VER MISS AN ISSUE .
One year (24 issues) ¥3600
(corporate subscribers, 7-100
copies ok ¥22,560). Half year
(12 issues) ¥1800 (corporate
subscribers, 7-100 copies ok
¥12 ,0 0 0). B a n k t r a n s f e r o r
credit card (Visa, Mastercard,
Diners Club). Details at
http://metropolisjapan.com/
subscription.
Diamond Way Buddhism Tokyo. Do
you want to explore your own mind?
Guided Buddhist meditation every Sun,
6pm, near Azabu-Juban. International
practitioners, beginners welcome,
Japanese spoken. Please call 090-35983072 for more info. daginia@gmail.com
www.diamondway.jp
Zen meditation (Zazen). You’ve always
thought it would be interesting to try
it—why not now? Join us Fri evenings at
Tokuun-in in Ueno. Make arrangements
in advance by email, and check our home
page. tokyozazen@jcom.home.ne.jp
www.wgthorpe.com
色ー度カフェ. ライトワーカーヒーリ
ング。任意の助けのための私に連絡
してください。 winds_fr@hotmail.com
13.8 PROFESSIONAL
Tokyo Traders Club. International
club for traders and investors. Discuss
opportunities in stocks, commodities and
forex. Many regular events, including
FX trading workshop. New to trading?
No problem; beginners also welcome.
You can also learn to trade. Join free!
info@tokyotraders.com http://www.
tokyotraders.com/ 080-5444-1321
13.9 INTERNATIONAL
Intercultural activities. JII (Japan
Intercultural Institute) is a non-profit,
member-run organization that sponsors
activities (seminars, cultural events,
conferences) for those wanting to further
develop intercultural competencies and
meet other interculturalists. yuko.
bolick@japanintercultural.org www.
japanintercultural.org
Nihongo 倶 楽 部いんたぁなしょ
なる. Nihongo Club International is a
volunteer group to help foreign people
learn Japanese at the Tokyo Volunteer
Action Center in Iidabashi. Every Thu,
7-9pm. nci_tokyo@yahoo.co.jp
14 PERSONALS
14.1 FRIENDS
Dansker i Tokyo? JF, 30s, boet i KBH
befor og vil gerne laere sprog&kultur
mere. Nogen dansker i Tokyo omraade
til at moedes? Please be ikke-ryger,
Glaeder mig til at hoere fra jer snart!
codename107113@live.com
Looking for a career in media? Want to be
at the heart of what’s happening in Tokyo?
We’re expanding and looking for
talented, results-driven people to help
take METROPOLIS to the next stage.
SALES EXECUTIVES
✓ Negotiate large-scale projects
✓ Develop digital advertising opportunities
✓ Proven ability to close sales a must
✓ Japanese language skills required
WEB DEVELOPERS
✓ Help guide Metropolis’ digital direction
✓ Build sites and tools for large clients
✓ Proven programming skills a must
EDITORIAL
✓ Keep your finger on the pulse of the city
✓ Help bring Japan to the world
✓ Strong writing skills a must
DESIGN
✓ Bridge print and online
✓ Bring editorial and other projects to life
✓ Proven, fast design skills a must
SOCIAL MEDIA
✓ Build Facebook + Twitter communities
✓ Help guide social media strategy
✓ Prior experience required
We’re looking for talented additions to our team.
Prior experience and strong work samples are a must.
To apply, send letter of introduction, CV, and relevant clips to
jobs@metropolisjapan.com
Due to the high volume of correspondence we regret that
we can’t respond to every query. No calls please.
33
Many more classified ads online! Visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
Friday
August 28
7pm-11pm
Free Entry
¥500 Drinks
AUGUST GETSUMATSU
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
JOBS
To advertise:
commercial@metropolisjapan.com
03-4588-2277
インターナショナルパーティー ･ 入場無料
¥500ドリンクメニュー有り
CHAT HOSTS AND TEACHERS WANTED
BY LEAFCUP in Tok yo, Iidabashi,
S h i b u y a , Yo k o h a m a . S e e k i n g
enthusiastic, prof icient English,
French, Spanish and/or German
speakers who can teach and lead
lively conversations. ¥1000-¥1500/h.
A p p l y o n l i n e : h r @ l e a f c u p .co m
www.leafcup.com/job.php
JapanTravel
.com
Come join us for some delicious Mexican flavors on Fri, Aug 28, at Chiles
in Harajuku! Mingle with the Metropolis team and readers while enjoying
delicious burritos, tacos, and more. It's the perfect way to spend a hot
summer night! Entry is free and drinks will also be available.
Chiles Mexican Grill
1-8-24 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku.
03-6434-9693 - http://www.chiles-grill.com
MORE INFO»
http://meturl.com/aug15
JOIN US IN INTRODUCING JAPAN TO
THE WORLD. S eeking energetic ,
bilingual individuals with a passion
for travel and interest in tourism.
We offer excellent career paths and
promotion prospects and are an
equal-opportunity employer. Our
workplace is conveniently located
2min from Roppongi Stn. Positions
available include account manager,
d e s i g n e r, d e v e l o p e r, p r o j e c t
manager. Visit our jobs page for
details. To apply, please send your
resume to info@japantravel.com.
http://en.japantravel.com/jobs
J A P A N T R A V E L I N T E R N S H I P.
J a p a nTr a v e l . c o m i s s e e k i n g
E/J bilingual interns to join the
largest tourism website in Japan.
Multiple opportunities in content,
sales/marketing and web/design.
Work in an exciting, global
environment in Roppongi.
Transportation and business expenses
provided. No salary, minimum three
months, chance for full-time position.
Please send your resume (E/J) to
info@japantravel.com.
Sep
Feminine crossdresser. I am a WM
crossdresser, living in Tokyo, seeking new
friends for going out. k.sweetdream@
yahoo.com
今年は"にほんごをもの"にする
EVERGREEN LANGUAGE SCHOOL
D A I LY CO N V E R S AT I O N A N D B U S I N E S S J A PA N E S E
* One month intensive
* 2 & 3 days a week
* Private & Corporate
* Business Japanese
www.evergreen.gr.jp
YUTENJI 03-3713-4958 JIYUGAOKA 03-3723-4785
34
UDEN
VISA T
Registr
ati
Oct 201 on for
5
NOW O term
PEN!
Free trial lesson
for groups
info@evergreen.gr.jp
03-3713-4958
メトロ ポ リス は バ イリン ガ ル（ 日 英 ）の 営 業
ア シ ス タ ントと ス タッ フ を 募 集 して い ま す｡
是 非 、私 達 の 広 告 マー ケ ティング チ ーム に 加
わりませんか！ 応 募 条 件：責 任 感 を もって 勤
勉に取り組める方、協 調 性 があり、意 欲を持っ
て主体 的に働 ける方を募 集しています。営業 経
験のある方は歓迎します。フルタイム (Mon-Fri,
9:30am-6:30pm) で働ける方に限ります。
jobs@metropolisjapan.com
E NTH U S I A S TI C , A DA P TA B LE W E B
DEVELOPER. As our online media
presence continues to grow,
Metropolis is seeking a motivated
w e b d eve l o p e r to i m p r ove o u r
existing online products and more.
Experience with WordPress a must,
along with ability to use Git to track
and manage code. There will also
be opportunities to test yourself
both creatively and ar tistically.
To apply, send your E/J resume to
jobs@metropolisjapan.com.
WANT TO HELP CREATE METROPOLIS?
We’re seeking social media, web, and
editorial interns. Great opportunity
to gain experience in a multimedia
company ! To ap p l y, send intro
let ter, CV and relevant clips to
editor@metropolisjapan.com.
Hiking mates in Chichibu. European
man, 50s, seeking hiking mates and
cultural exchange in Chichibu on
weekends. winds_fr@hotmail.com
Kid on the Chuo Line? Friendly BritishJapanese couple with a 4-year-old bilingual
girl seeking other parents (married or single
parents ok) living on the Chuo Line for our
kids to play together. Non-bilingual also ok.
uniq80@outlook.com
Since 1949
JAPANESE PROFICIENCY TEST
N1, N2, N3, N4
ST
CREATIVE , AMBITIOUS BILINGUAL
SALES STAFF IN ROPPONGI. Do you
like meeting new people and driving
a project through to completion?
Are you excited by a challenge? Join
Metropolis’ sales team and work in a
fast-paced international environment.
Sales experience required, events/
project planning experience a plus. To
apply, send your E/J resume to jobs@
metropolisjapan.com.
Friends in Tokyo. I'm a single
Japanese, early 40s, funny
and serious. I am interested
in economics, sarcastic jokes
and English. If you know
about economics, I want
to learn from you and also
exchange Japanese and
English. aruku1000@yahoo.
co.jp
From Denmark or Germany? If so, drop
me a line! JF, 30s, has been seeking Danes
and Germans for friendship. Let's have
fun conversations over cups of coffee
or glasses of beer for you. Please be
nonsmokers. codename107113@live.com
Let's hit the town! Fun guy, living and
working in Tokyo, originally from near
London, seeking new friends to grab
drinks with and have fun around Tokyo.
Any nationality/age/sex ok (I'm straight).
ballyho@outlook.com
New friends. American male, can never
have enough friends. If you feel the same
way, please look me up. I enjoy drinking,
dining, or just hanging out at a cafe as
long as the conversation is interesting.
mixnplay@yahoo.com
New here. Feels weird to try finding
friends online, but with work, study
(Japanese), exercise, I thought this could
be a way to meet new people. I like going
out, travel, photography, and have a
very English sense of humor. onzeetop@
gmail.com
Seeking friends in central Tokyo. JF,
early 30s, seeks friends to hang out with
in central Tokyo. atkm92@yahoo.co.jp
14.2 MEN LOOKING FOR WOMEN
S E E K I N G A S U G A R DA D DY ?
Safely meet rich and elite
men while having fun and
making money. We are a
members-only dating club
with strict rules. Foreign and
Japanese executives, lawyers,
celebrities. Not an escort
clu b. N o ch ar g e fo r fe m ale
members. 0120-675 -858 (E)
international@universe-club.jp
ht t p: //u ni ve r s e - clu b.j p/e n /
women
JAPANESE
A R T I S T
S E E K I N G
FRIEND AND
MORE. Seeking
Japanese
speakers who
love art, dining,
travel. I taught ikebana in Prague
and enjoyed its culture. I am a
gentleman, kind, fun-loving. Let’s
start as friends. kotoshiwayaruzo@
gmail.com
American artist seeks companion.
I'm 32, a writer, photographer, artist,
here in Japan collecting dreams. I love
star constellations, umbrellas with hook
handles, etymology, rain storms, fireflies,
train whistles, the sea, the unknown and
other beautiful things. danceincode@
gmail.com
Best female partner. Seeking sexy
Japanese lady. I can manage my time and
can also host, so meeting during lunch or
the afternoon is not an issue. Someone
nice, charming, good to talk to for exciting
times. pd29570@gmail.com
Bisexual man seeks female friend.
Straight or bi-female ok. No guys–I have
enough guy friends. Must be open-minded,
not easily shocked, fun to be around. I'm
English, white. jazzbullet@outlook.com
Blue eyes interested in a Japanese lady.
Late 30s, white, fun to be with, educated,
pleasant presence and cool personality.
Text me. Let's have tea together and see if
there's chemistry. sebinnihon@gmail.com
British male, 31, friendly, tall, slim,
seeking a nice girl to hang out with.
Nationality/race unimportant, but should
be 20-35 and have a nice personality.
Interested in music and film: you should
be, too. shiodomebye@gmail.com
Charming, friendly WM in open marriage
seeks relationship. WM, 50s, 187cm,
blue eyes, reasonably good-looking,
reasonable shape, friendly personality,
mature, in open marriage, seeks
relationship with adventurous woman of
any age. chiyodafan@yahoo.com
Chinese, Singaporean, Indian...? British
guy, 30s, seeking non-Japanese women to
hang out with, maybe more. It may seem
obvious, but please only contact me if you
have time to meet. No Japanese seeking
marriage with a gaijin, please! greenteais.
yummy@gmail.com
Creepy foreigner with bad skin and
halitosis, still a virgin, Skypes his mom
every night, seeks a smoking-hot babe
with a sense of humor who wants to
experience what it's like to be socially
awkward. summerfunk@googlemail.com
Engineering isn't the best place to meet
new people, so I'm trying the internet.
Hi, French guy seeking an open-minded
person, 20-47. I speak French and English
and am currently learning Japanese.
brandonjpn@live.com
English and Japanese. お酒を飲みな
がら英語と日本語で話しましょう！
僕の国は。。。The Beatlesの国だ。
東京に住んでる男。 sum.mer.funk@
googlemail.com
Fusion of love and inspiration. Let us
cultivate a fusion of love and inspiration,
sharing Japanese culture, romance,
passion, and the tao of the art of love. I am
a book writer, 52, living in central Tokyo.
winds_fr@hotmail.com
Handsome Italian man seeking sexy,
feminine and fun to be with! Let's go
and explore new places and enjoy life.
You must be financially independent.
I'm seeking a partner, not a daughter.
No childish girls—real women, please.
sugartokyo4@yahoo.com
just love exploring art museums. Seeking
interesting companions. jvanvuren@
ntlworld.com
Japanese girlfriend. British man, new to
Japan, seeks Japanese girlfriend to show
him around. Me: 173cm, blue eyes, blond
hair, medium build, likes music, reading,
etc. jhdf2007@yahoo.co.uk
Japanese guy. Hi, I am a Japanese guy,
mid-30s, single, seeking a long-term
relationship. I lived in CA for seven years.
I would like to meet the right person here.
Thank you. man.kazu@yahoo.com
Japanese male, 42, single, seeks
sincere, warm, open-minded white
female for friendship and romance. I am
generous, nonsmoking, like traveling,
reading, philosophy and enjoying my life.
ruby12ax7@gmail.com
Japanese man seeking female. I would
like to make some friends and chill and
chat with you. I'm easygoing. Let's have
fun! I am a musician and play the drums
and piano. I like to sing karaoke, too.
kosuke1016@hotmail.com
Long-term extramarital relationship.
Me: very good-looking gentleman from
Europe, professional job, family. Life
focused on family and career. vbcfgt@
hotmail.com
Married friends. Canadian man, late 40s,
friendly, respectful, seeking friendship
with a married woman who is also dealing
with marriage issues. Maybe we can
share helpful insights from the other side
of the gender or international cultural gap.
androgoner@gmail.com
Mature Japanese lady? I'm an Australian
guy, single, tall, athletic build, 46, wellestablished in Tokyo with a good job. I
want to meet an interesting Japanese
lady around my age. soleman196@
hotmail.com
Mature man for relationship with mature
woman. Long-term open relationship, w/
reciprocal freedom. Important: mature
attitude, intelligent, open-minded,
positive. vbcfgt@hotmail.com
Need love. Handsome English gentleman,
moderate build, mid-30s, needs beautiful,
passionate JF. I am handsome, fun,
intelligent, well-mannered and empathic.
Let's have romance together. Please send
photo w/email. I'm looking forward to
hearing from you. edanoki@gmail.com
WM seeking MJF. I'm a WM from Sweden,
almost 50, seeking a MJF. I'm often in
Tokyo. Life is not just living–it is meeting
interesting people and exchanging
experiences. Maybe over a nice dinner.
tkaponen@hotmail.com
Corporate Legal matters, Contracts, etc.
Yuta Watanabe,
Lawyer
LAVISH DATES AND
INDULGENT NIGHTS—WE
C R E AT E O P P O R T U N I T I E S
for elite foreign males to meet
elegant Japanese females.
Start with a luxurious dinner
date, take the night where you
want it to go. Fresh, young
women join our club every day.
0120-978-649 (E)
international@universe-club.jp
http://universe-club.jp/en
Earnest man for marriage. Attractive,
slender, sincere, feminine SJF, 58, lovely
young looks, heart, seeks nonsmoking
professional WM, sincere, cheerful,
affectionate, doesn't play with other's
feelings. I like travel, hiking, dining out.
Serious only, w/photo, no other purposes,
please. dearwoman@outlook.com
European male sought by mature lover.
Classy Japanese Tokyo habitant seeks
a European male for a relationship. Not
just for fun, but lined by compassion.
Conversation with taste will make your
life more enjoyable. Let's have fun
together. francinetokyo@gmail.com
Let's make each other happy! SJF,
sweet, thoughtful, many say beautiful
inside/out, seeks respectful, satisfying
relationship with single-minded,
attractive, tall, successful Caucasian.
I love cooking, traveling, hiking, art,
nature. Marriage-minded singles living
in central Tokyo only. iihidana888@
yahoo.co.jp
I know what you like. I know how you like
to be touched. I know how you like to be
kissed. I know what makes you feel good.
You are 25-30, nonsmoking. Tell me why
you liked this. wakaruyo@outlook.com
I'm a long-haired SJM seeking a new
relationship with a nice female who is
open-minded and likes to communicate.
I'm 40s, sweet, cool. I enjoy rock music,
movies, novels, art. getloud999-hello@
yahoo.co.jp
Summer sun, a walk in the park, sitting in
the shade with wine and obento, watching
birds fly high in the sky. Ah, I'm dreaming
of the weekend again. Want to join me?
I'm English and love life. summerfunk@
googlemail.com
Is visiting art museums your passion,
too? European bachelor, visits Japan
every year for a few months at a time.
I'm coming on another visit quite soon. I
Two cultures, one love. Good-looking
SJM, 40s, is seeking a special Western lady
for a relationship. Inquire for more details.
Thank you. toshinoris1012@yahoo.co.jp
Love outside marriage. Married
Japanese woman, elegant, calm
and sweet, 30s, seeks good-looking
Caucasian in Tokyo. Can you be my
secret boyfriend? No one-night stands.
hanabiinjh@yahoo.co.jp
Mature for mature. Nice is one thing,
attractive is another, totally. I enjoy
being a woman, feeling feminine, and
expect men to be men, articulate,
confident and funny! Intelligent Oriental
beauty, a great figure, 46, seeks a single
professional. ocean1414bebe@gmail.
com
Seeking single non-Asian in Tokyo.
I'm a single woman, Japanese, early
40s, 161cm, slender, serious and active
(so let's play sports!), seeking a longterm relationship. aruku1000@yahoo.
co.jp
14.5 ESCORTS
ESCORTS have gone online.
To f i n d a l o v e l y l a d y
co m p a nio n , v i s it ht t p: //
classifieds.metropolis.co.jp/
category/personals/escorts.
PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT US IN ENGLISH,
FRENCH OR JAPANESE IF YOU NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
Hiroaki Sugiyama,
Lawyer
http://japanlawoffice.blog.fc2.com/
Tel: 090-8487-1968
If not available 080-4864-1258
Our office is located in Jinbocho, very close from the station (A2 exit)
1F Senshu Daigaku 8-Go 1-Kan, Jinbocho 2-8-3 Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
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Visa and immigration
Beach and bikini for summer happiness?
I'm an open-minded, happy SJF seeking a
blue-eyed Western man who also loves
sports, sunshine for relaxing beachside
on weekends or holidays. tokyomiffy@
gmail.com
Princess? Confident, tall, blue-eyed
British prince, 30s, seeks princess. What
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Mid- to late 20s only, unless you're really
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Soft, kind, romantic and also fun,
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seeking you—if you're warm, romantic,
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ぶん. 笑. Please introduce yourself when
you write. the.only.brit@gmail.com
Naturalization, mixed marriage, etc.
Yusuke Totsuka,
Lawyer
Hug me. I am seeking someone who can
make me happy on special occasions. I
don't care about your situation, as long as
you can hide our relationship. I'd prefer a
tall, very smart gentleman. muffinm99@
yahoo.com
Seeking mature Western woman.
Japanese man, 65, divorced, fit, younglooking, US education, successful company
owner, extensive overseas experience,
kind, cultured, pleasant looks, seeking
Western woman, mature-aged, healthy,
level-headed, to share fun and quality
times with. ao7777@y-mobile.ne.jp
Visa and Immigration issues
Car Accident, Inheritance, Labor Dispute
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sexy party girl. Me: the one you want.
Give me a good introduction w/photo.
No reply without photo. tokyo.p.layer@
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Seeking an interesting girl for language
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I'm seeking a sincere woman to have fun
times while studying. paradiseheart_a@
yahoo.com
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14.3 WOMEN LOOKING FOR MEN
snap@gmail.com
ス人が日本の女の子探してる。英
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今村記念法律事務所
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hang out together. cclemonade7@yahoo.
co.jp
No English? 銀行で働いてるイギリ
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ENGLISH
AVAILABLE!
35
RELATIONS
TOO HOT? OR TOO COLD?
BY GRACE BUCHELE MINETA
While I was out shopping, there was an announcement warning people
to exercise caution in this horrid heat wave. As bad as the heat is,
though, I think the hardest part of summer in Japan is the rapidly
changing temperatures, going from sweating like a maniac outside
to freezing my socks off inside the train, grocery store, and office. I
never know what to expect, so when I leave the house, I pack a light
sweater in my purse.
暑すぎ？寒すぎ？
買い物中に、東京で猛暑日が続いているので運動は控えるようにとい
うアナウンスを聞きました。猛暑も辛いですが、私は日本の夏で最も
辛いのは急激な温度変化だと思います。屋外では全身汗びっしょりな
のに、電車、スーパーや会社の中ではクーラーでつま先まで凍えそう
になります。温度変化の対応に困るので、外出する時はセーターを鞄
に入れて出かけています。
■ Grace Buchele Mineta is an author who blogs and draws comics
about her daily life in Japan at www.HowIBecameTexan.com.
horoscope
BY CATHRYN MOE
♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
May 22-Jun 21 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Jun 22-Jul 23 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣
You don’t have to wait, with exponential changes abounding. You
deserve to have your pick of them.
The Moon’s south node in Aries means it’s time
to let some things go. Feel free for this to be
any number of anchors that restrict your reach,
or no longer reflect who you are—if it ever did.
By lightening your load, you move faster and
enjoy a better view.
Taurus has a tendency to be highly
regarded. This is because, in the midst
of change on the planet, you can still
find time to appreciate beauty and love. You
bring these into being on a daily basis. Ruled
by Venus, you may be feeling the current retrograde in your area of life at home. Choices
are expansive, and have plenty of explosive
potential as Mars joins in.
Home-based issues take the forefront. It’s hard to ignore Jupiter,
Juno, and your ruler Mercury in
your chart. Time is of the essence to reap the
rewards of delightful dinners, casual conversations, and intimate intrigues. The Sun connects
starting Sunday, as you find warm-hearted
things to say about everyone—almost. Remember, Saturn is still slowing things down at work.
Studies show time spent “putting yourself together” boost s
self-esteem. Venus is retrograde in
your money house, making a tense aspect to
Saturn in your area of work and health. It’s not
indulgent to focus on exercise or home spa
treatments. Nutritious meals and comfortable
connections are for you. Balance current pressures this way—they’ll lighten up in a few weeks.
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Sep 24-Oct 23 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
Oct 24-Nov 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
If you’ve ac ted in haste, which is
unusual for a Scorpio, you may be
feeling it . An event you recently
attended or noticed could have some extra
facets. It’s a diamond being polished, so to
speak: it sparkles and has true worth. But since
diamonds are the hardest to work with, it won’t
be figured out overnight, which gives you time
to think of what to do with your other gems.
Mar 21-Apr 20 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Jul 24-Aug 23 ♥♥ ¥ ¥ ♣♣♣
Apr 21-May 21 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Aug 24-Sep 23 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣
CANCER
Mars in Leo goes to bat for you; it
moves with speed and determination, cutting through red tape and
muddled thinking. Saturn is square to your
sign—a new foundation is being built. If you
haven’t done your homework, someone will
help you, and the results will take longer.
Added to Venus retrograde, you may have to
pay twice for something as a lesson learned.
If someone says you’re in TMI mode,
so be it. Details are your strength,
so hang out with those who can
handle your awesome abilities and magnificent mind. You’re about to enter your birthday
zone—happy birthday! While this infuses your
heart and soul, you’ll probably want the material comfort too. It’s worth paying attention to a
recurring thought or dream.
Thoughts below the surface, previously acknowledged and carefully
put away, may require another viewing. Due to responsibility and perks you’re
about to be offered, it’s reasonable to doublecheck where you’re going. Your presence and
energy are substantial—an asset to any situation. Don’t sell yourself short. A sticky situation
could change suddenly in your favor.
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
Jan 21-Feb 19 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣
Feb 20-Mar 20 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
The push with Saturn is to stabilize
your position. This goes for work,
your relationships, f inances, and
just generally everything that attracts your
attention. The universe is currently interested
in what’s sustainable; if it’s not, energy and
motivation will wane, and projects won’t be
completed. Put your trust in your vision, even
if others try to persuade you otherwise.
Long distance travel or a path to
enlightenment. Which would you
prefer? Oh, you’re doing both? The
good news is, there’s an overwhelming focus on
benefits each can bring. Dark Moon Lilith, Mercury, Juno, and Jupiter are hanging out together.
They’ll help you restructure the rules, creating
new ones that work. Keep in mind: at this point,
you really have to come first.
This is a week when chickens come
home to roost. That doesn’t mean they
actually arrive at your door—although
it’s a possibility. Jupiter, Juno, Mercury, and
Dark Moon Lilith are in your solar eighth house
of inheritance; and you’re on the receiving
end. This is also the sector of rebirth. What you
haven’t seen before is becoming neon bright.
The choice is still yours.
With Saturn still trine to your sign, you
may unearth a new question. Luckily,
you’re on safer ground. Viewing your
feelings, you can be true to yourself, whatever the
cost; there was never any other way to be. What
seems like a risk today becomes a necessity
tomorrow and a drag on your resources the day
after. Mercury opposite Pisces continues to bring
insights and answers.
Nov 23-Dec 22 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
36
Dec 23-Jan 20 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
PISCES
It was reported that young
Japanese women are
flocking to tours of rural
areas with the purpose of …
looking at clumps of moss
LINGO BOX
Wakamono（若者）Youngsters
Chūmon suru（注文する）To order
the small print
Heikin jumyō（平均寿命）Life expectancy
Kaiwa（会話）Conversation
BY STEVE TRAUTLEIN
OTHER RESEARCHERS DON’T STAND A
CHANCE NOW THAT I HAVE SO MUCH.” —Shinsuke
Koike, an assistant professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture
and Technology, on his collection of 1,000 bear droppings
POP GOES THE CULTURE
⊲The
⊲
National Museum of Emerging Science
and Innovation in Koto Ward is running an
exhibition that offers youngsters the chance
to “discover the joys of science through
Pokémon.”
⊲A
⊲ JAL employee in China got in hot water for
tweeting a photo of a boarding pass used by
Satoshi Ono of J-pop group Arashi.
⊲Officials
⊲
at Honda say their Asimo robot
can now carry out simple conversations in
Japanese, English, and Chinese.
⊲Headline
⊲
of the Week: “Jimmy Page Lays
Flowers for Hiroshima A-Bomb Victims” (via
Jiji)
YOU’VE GOT TO BE
SH***ING ME
⊲Organizers
⊲
of tours to look at rural moss were
quoted as saying, “Women are rich in emotions,
so they are well-suited to moss viewing.”
⊲The
⊲
bible of the movement may well be
Hisako Fujii’s Mosses, My Dear Friends.
⊲An
⊲ O.L. on a moss-viewing tour of Nagano
was quoted as saying, “Seeing clusters of
mosses living together, I can forget about our
competitive society.”
LONG LIVE JAPAN!
⊲Officials
⊲
at the health ministry say the life
expectancy for Japanese girls born in 2014
was 86.83 years—a record high.
⊲It
⊲ was the third consecutive year that Japanese females topped the global longevity list.
Women in Hong Kong took the number two
spot, at 86.75 years.
⊲The
⊲
life expectancy for Japanese men—
80.50 years—was also a new high, good
enough for third place in the world ranking
alongside Singapore and Switzerland.
⊲Topping
⊲
the list of male life expectancy were
Hong Kong (81.17) and Iceland (80.8).
at a glance
BY RODGER SONOMURA
Koke（苔）Moss
stats
9
Percentage of Japanese workers who
put in more than 60 hours a week,
according to the internal affairs ministry
¥59 BILLION Cost of a new factory in
Tianjin being built by Toyota and a major
Chinese automaker
39.4
Percentage of government funds
earmarked for quake reconstruction that
went unused in fiscal 2014
UPWARD & ONWARD
⊲For
⊲
the second straight year, the U.S. magazine Travel and Leisure named Kyoto as the
world’s top tourist city. Charleston, South
Carolina, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, took the
second and third spots.
⊲The
⊲
operators of Uniqlo and 7-Eleven are
considering a tie-up that would allow customers to order clothing online and pick it up at
their local convenience store.
⊲Researchers
⊲
from Yamagata University say
they’ve discovered two dozen new geoglyphs
on the surface of Peru’s famed Nazca Plateau.
⊲Authorities
⊲
at the transport ministry have
launched a nationwide program to establish
a national bicycling route on public roads.
AND FINALLY…
⊲The
⊲
National Police Agency says more than
three-quarters of fraud cases last year involved
scammers targeting elderly people.
⊲Sentence
⊲
of the Week: “Tokyo police arrested
a gangster and a homeless man Tuesday on
suspicion of striking a deal for the purchase
of one of the homeless man’s kidneys for ¥2
million, in violation of the organ transplant law.”
(via The Japan News)
⊲An
⊲ NHK survey has found that six percent of
people in Japan say they “rarely” or “never”
watch television.
⊲A
⊲ research team led by a professor at Osaka
City University has discovered that a species
of African tropical fish “has high social cognition ability.”
Small Print Updated Weekly
→ METURL.COM/SMALLPRINT
Compiled from reports by AP, Japan Today, The Japan Times, Jiji, The Tokyo
Reporter, The Mainichi, The Japan News, AFP, Reuters and Kyodo
37
the last word
your article to:
WANT TO HAVE THE LAST WORD? Send
editor@metropolisjapan.com
Illustration by Christi Rochin
Love Over
Label
How I accidentally
became a housewife
BY JESSICA UJIIE
I
was never one of those little kids obsessed
with Disney princesses and happily-everafters. In fact, when I was eight, I accidentallyon-purpose ripped a very expensive Laura
Ashley dress my mother insisted I wear, by sitting
on a skateboard, trapping the hem in the wheels,
and rolling it down a hill—very fast. It’s safe to
say I was never a girly-girl.
By the time I was 18, I was determined to
become a strong, successful, independent
woman—something I remained positive about
despite moving to a country where 70 percent of
women give up work after marriage. That would
never be me, I scoffed: I’d be forever cool and
aloof, with no reliance on a man, and have the
freedom and money to do whatever I desired.
Now, as I look back at those years, I can’t help
but wonder what my reaction would’ve been if
I had known I would turn out like the currentme.
Probably disbelief met with mild gagging. You
see, that opinionated, independence-loving
girl only went and became … a housewife. Yeah.
So much for living a free, self-indulgent life with
no strings.
The younger me would probably have called
it a waste. I studied my butt off through university,
got a good degree, and had a very reputable job
in advertising with opportunities. I was prepared
to chase to the top. I was living in my favorite
city in the world, Tokyo, and feeling motivated
every day.
But when I met my now-husband, my mindset
changed. I relaxed; my friends began to comment on how I looked so much happier and how
the hungry spark in my eye had been replaced
by a more loving, wholesome glow. In Japanese,
I’m often told, “marukunatta” (literally “you've
become circular,” but meaning something more
like “your kinks have evened out; your hard
I FINALLY GOT IT. I REALIZE
NOW THAT THE PROBLEM
WAS NOT THE ‘HOUSEWIFE’
LABEL.”
angles have disappeared”) or “yoyū ga dekita”
(“you seem more calm and composed”).
My body, too, changed. My doctor told me
my estrogen production was through the roof,
and the female curves I had lacked for years
suddenly made an appearance when I was at
the grand age of 23. It’s about time! I had become
the woman I never imagined I’d be. Full-on
Disney-princess, happily-ever-after woman.
Maybe living in a culture where housewives
are everywhere has influenced me—but then
again, maybe not. Seeing my husband slave
away at work all day and come home absolutely
exhausted, yet still finding the energy to give me
a big smile and ask me about my day … well, it
changed something in me. I wanted to supply
for him in a way that no other person outside the
home could—to create the best possible living
environment for him. And for the first time in my
life, it didn’t seem like a loss of independence, or
like I would somehow become less of a modern
woman by choosing to be in the home. It was just
natural instinct fueled by love, and I was lucky
enough to be living in a place where I wouldn’t
be scorned for making that decision.
I finally got it. I realize now that the problem
was not the “housewife” label. It was just that I
had never had the experience of being so deeply
and truly in love before, so I couldn’t visualize
choosing your partner over a life where your
achievements are recognized by Western society—whether that be a paycheck, a promotion,
or a new apartment. I thought that competing in
that game constituted freedom.
But true freedom as a woman isn’t something
that any society should decide—you decide
yourself.
I’m happier now than I’ve ever been, and
have learned that you can’t put a label on that.
I’ve learned everyone is different. I’ve learned
there are many different paths and roles in life
that don’t have to all follow the same pattern to
be deemed successful.
I’d like to think that within that 70 percent of
Japanese women, there are others who feel the
same way. I’m sure there are also a number who
would prefer to continue working but can’t due
to peer pressure—which is a problem in itself
on the other end of the scale. There’s some
working out that needs to be done from both
the Western and Japanese perspectives with
regard to women’s roles in society.
But as long as you’re happy and fulfilled, I
think that’s the most important thing.
■ Jessica Ujiie is a keen cooking fanatic and
yogi living happily in Tokyo with her husband and
Chihuahua-Maltese dog, B-kun.
The views expressed in “The Last Word” are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Japan Partnership Co. Ltd. or its partners and sponsors.
38
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