more October Events

BORIS preview in today's Chicago Tribune. Sunday at the Empty Bottle - don't miss it!


EVENT - ST LOUIS


Treasured Tales: Shin-nai Narrative Song and Kuruma Ningyo Puppetry
"Traditional Japanese Narrative Song by Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI and Puppetry by Nishikawa Koryu. As part of a three-city tour these two masters will perform the light-hearted travelogue “Yaji Kita,” and the dark love story “Kurokami” at UMSL."
October 19, 2007 (Friday) 8:00 pm
J. C. Penney Auditorium at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (click for PDF map)


PRESENTATION - CHICAGO

"The Only Woman in the Room: A Memoir" - Beate Sirota Gordon
Beate Sirota Gordon was one of twenty members of the Constitutional Assembly created in Japan in February 1946 by Doublas MacArthur to draft a new constitution. She was chosen to write the women's rights clause for this constitution and participated in the famous secret session between American and Japanese officials that determined the articles to be included in the new constitution, which ensures gender equality and a peaceful role for Japan in world affairs.

Ms. Sirota Gordon will speak about her contributions to the constitution and the recent debate over constitutional revision in Japan. Coffee and dessert will be served following the Q&A. This is sure to be a fascinating presentation!

Friday, October 26, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Japan Information Center
Free admission. To make a reservation please call (312) 263-3049 by October 24. More info should be available soon on the JASC events page.


CONCERT


Polysics - first U.S. tour for the experimental Japanese pop/rock group. This should be a great tour - Polysics are a lot of fun!

October 22, 2007 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Ballroom
October 24, 2007 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater
October 25, 2007 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore

Full tour schedule and more info at Japanator.


MISC.

From a reader: A chance to trade something (of slightly greater value) for an antique set of hinamatsuri dolls. If possible, she is hoping to trade with someone in Iowa. Visit the trading blog.

Minnesota Events

Two MSP events I missed earlier today:

Schoolgirls and Mobilesuits: Culture and Creation in Manga and Anime
Annual 3-day workshop at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design
September 28-30

The Genius of Shibata Zeshin: An exhibition of Japanese masterworks
Oct 13 - Jan 6
Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Upcoming Events

Lots of great events coming up this fall. There is still time to puurchase tickets for the Chicago bunraku performance on October 8th. Don't miss out--this will be an amazing event.

FYI for readers who use Livejournal: A JMM feed is available for your friends page. User name japanmediamdwes. Check it out here.


CHICAGO EVENTS

FILM
Akira Kurosawa: Doc Films at the University of Chicago presents a Wednesday series by "The Emperor" of Japanese cinema. Ten films will be shown, starting tonight with Seven Samurai. Check the Doc Films calendar for a complete schedule.


Anime Focus 2007: Chicago International Film Festival presents three new anime features. This year's selections:
Atagoal: Cat's Magical Forest
Brave Story
The Girl Who Lept Through Time
October 6 - 14. In Japanese with English subtitles.

Two other Japanese films will screen at the festival:
Mutsugane Potshot Affair by Nobuhiro Yamashita, director of Linda Linda Linda.
Strawberry Shortcakes by Hiroshi Yazaki.


PRESENTATION

North Korea and Japan: How did we get here?
"Obtain a rare glimpse into the current state of affairs in North Korea, including a fascinating examination of everyday life there."
Wednesday, October 10, 5:00pm
Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St. Chicago

2008 JET Program Informational Meeting
Learn about opportunities for teaching and exchange in Japan through the JET program.
Tuesday, October 16, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Japan Information Center, Chicago


EXHIBIT

Hiroshima & Nagasaki A-Bomb Artifacts
October 15 - November 19
DePaul University Cultural Center, The Student Center, Room 105, 2250 North Sheffield Ave. Chicago


MIDWEST EVENTS

THEATER - MINNESOTA

Vengeance Can Wait
The Guthrie presents a staged reading of this edgy new comedy by playwright Yukiko Motoya.
Friday, October 19, 7:30pm
Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN


FESTIVAL - MISSOURI

Greater Kansas City Japan Festival
Saturday, September 29
Carlsen Center, Kansas City, MO

Sept - Oct Events

CONCERTS

Japanese rock/psychedelic/metal band Boris is on tour with Michio Kurihara and Damon & Naomi.

09-30 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle (Adventures in Modern Music)
10-05 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center for the Arts
10-06 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet
10-07 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock

Boris is an excellent band to see live. A full list of tour dates is on the Southern Lord website.

Ensemble N_JP will play at The Renaissance Society, University of Chicago campus, with guests Ko Ishikawa (sho) and Kazuhisa Uchihashi (guitar and electronics)
Mon, Sep 17, 8:00 pm


BUNRAKU

In conjunction with the tour by Japan’s National Bunraku Theater, the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago is hosting a number of Bunraku-related events.

October 1st – 3 PM: Sounds of Japan Music workshop
October 1st – 7 PM: Bunraku Puppet workshop
October 3rd – 6:30 PM: Lecture and demonstration by the Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe and Imada Puppet Troupe.

For more information, visit the U. Chicago website.


FILM

September 16th: 1960s avant-garde classic Funeral Parade of Roses by Toshio Matsumoto screens at the >University of Wisconsin-Madison

September 14th – September 20th: Noriko’s Dinner Table, a new horror film by Sion Sono, plays at Facets Cinematheque in Chicago.


FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 22nd, 1 – 5 PM: Japan Festival in Saginaw, Michigan