Twin Cities Events: June

CONCERT

Melt-Banana plays at 7th St. Entry
Sunday, June 24, 8 pm. $10.
Local Japanese punk favorites Birthday Suits open.
The tour includes stops in Des Moines (6/26) Lawrence (6/27) and Omaha (6/28) after opening for Tool this weekend in St. Louis and Ft. Wayne. Say what you will about this band--they do not neglect the Midwest.


ART

Shojo Manga! Girl Power!
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, 2501 Stevens Ave. S. Tel. 612-874-3700 Mapquest link
through June 29.
This is a fascinating exhibit of more than 200 illustrations from Japanese comics for girls. Admission is free, but you might want to call ahead to make sure the building is open. If you can't make it, the link above contains a nice gallery of images.

Ukiyo-e - from the permanent collection
Minneapolis Institute of Arts - ongoing


GROUP

Minneapolis Japanese Language and Culture Meetup Group
This is a new group that we know nothing about, so we can't exactly endorse it, but it may be worth checking out. First meeting was held June 19th.

Chicago Events: June – July

CONCERTS

Tokyo's noisy, abrasive rock outfit Melt-Banana plays at the Abbey Pub Thursday, June 21, at 9 pm. Ages 18+. Tickets $10 - $12.
Melt-Banana website

From the Chicago Tribune: "Tatsu Aoki's galvanic Miyumi Project, which combines jazz and Japanese taiko drumming, performs 9 p.m. Saturday at the Velvet Lounge, 67 E. Cermak Rd.; $10-$20; 312-791-9050."
Tatsu Aoki website


EVENTS

Japan Festival
June 23 – 24 (Saturday 11am – 6:30pm; Sunday 11am – 5pm)
Forest View Educational Center
2121 S. Goebbert Rd. Mapquest link
Arlington Heights, Illinois
$3 donation
http://www.japanfest-chicago.org/
Presented by the Mid-America Japanese Club and District 214 Community Education

JAS Chicago 77th Annual Dinner
Thursday, June 28th, 6-9:30 pm, Arlington Heights
Reservations


FILM

Paprika, a feature-length animated film by Satoshi Kon, is playing at several area theaters. This surreal science-fiction adventure has been greeted with enthusiastic reviews.
Chicago Tribune review

MIDNIGHT SUN (Taiyo no Uta) - Presented by the Japan Information Center and Cinema/Chicago as part of the FREE INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCREENINGS by Cinema/Chicago.
Wednesday, July 25 7:30 pm
Claudia Cassidy Theatre77 E. Randolph StreetFREE ADMISSION

At Facets Cinematheque
July 06 – 12: The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai
July 13 – 19: Hula Girls


ART

At the Art Institute of Chicago - Free admission Thursday and Friday evenings through August 31.

Kamisaka Sekka – The World of Things. 20th century woodblock prints.

through July 1

Kota Ezawa – On the Scene
through September 3

Japonisme : The Impact of Japanese Prints in 19th-Century Europe
through October 1

Upcoming:
Poetry of Friendship: Surimono and the Cultural Salons of Japan
July 7 – September 16


Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art
Takashi Murakami's 116-foot-wide, 24-foot-high wallpaper installation of thousands of Japanese anime-style bright green eyes. Through Dec. 30

If you know of anything else coming up in the Chicago Area, please let us know!