Minnesota Events

FINE ARTS



Arts of Japan: 900 Years of Seductive Beauty
Feb 24 - May 25 at Minneapolis Institute of Art
John C Weber Collection, one of the finest private collections of Japanese art in the US
www.artsmia.org
This should be an excellent exhibit!


THEATER

VENGENCE CAN WAIT
by Yukiko Motoya, translation by Kyoko Yoshida and Andy Bragen
Part of Mu Performing Arts series of
readings of plays by Asian-American artists.
Directed by Rick Shiomi
Saturday Feb 16, 7pm
Tickets: Suggested donation of $5 at the door.
Mu Studio
2700 NE Winter Street, Suite 4, Minneapolis


TAIKO

Developing new and/or experimental work reflecting the unique vision of Mu Daiko artists is at the Heart of Taiko Lab. Be a part of the process as these brand new pieces receive their first performances!
May 9 & 10 at 8:00 PM
Mixed Blood Theater
1501 S Fourth St, Minneapolis
Reservations: 612.338.6131 or www.mixedblood.com

Regional Events

CHICAGO

TAO Wadaiko Group Performing at Chicago Human Rhythm Project
From Nov. 23–25 Japanese drumming group, TAO will perform at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park. TAO specializes in the art of wadaiko, a traditional form of Japanese drumming rich in rhythm and movement. Don't miss this exhilarating performance!
November 23 - 25, 2007
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
205 E Randolph Drive (Millennium Park)
Chicago, IL 60601

FILM

Honey and Clover – This quirky romantic comedy revolves around the lives of five art school students. Adopted from the popular manga. U.S. premiere.
November 30 – December 6 at Facets Cinematheque.


MINNEAPOLIS

Ken Moylan – New Work: Japan Series
Remarkable paintings and mixed media pieces incorporating classical Japanese themes and images.
October 27 - December 1
Thomas Barry Fine Arts
530 N 3rd Street #B-10
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.338.3656
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11-5


MILWAUKEE

Messenger of Friendship: The Adventures of Kasumi Tsukuba Doll

Kasumi Tsukuba is a torei ningyo – a doll of gratitude – sent to the United States from Japan in 1927 as a goodwill gesture. After 80 years of rotating between display and storage she returned to Tokyo’s Yoshitoku doll factory, where she was created, to undergo restoration. She has now been fully rejuvenated and returned to Milwaukee after a tour of Ibaraki, Japan, her "home" prefecture.
November 3, 2007-June 30, 2008
Milwaukee Public Museum
800 West Wells Street, Milwaukee


IOWA – LECTURE

On Saturday, November 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. noted Japanese professor of architectural engineering, Dr. Sadamasa Komaki, will present a lecture on the buildings of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Hosted by the Japan America Society of Iowa.
November 10th, 1:00-3:00 (Saturday)
Living History Farms
2600 111th St.
Urbandale, Iowa, 50322
Contact John Wetherell at 515-280-7480 for more information.

News and events!

A festival scene from "Tonoharu"

Lars Martinson, a JET program participant from 2003 - 2006 in Fukuoka and Minnesota native, is creating a graphic novel partly based on his experiences called Tonoharu. The first volume has just been awarded the prestigious Xeric grant for self-publishing. If you're interested in comics, education in Japan, manga, or the JET program, check out his blog!


CHICAGO EVENTS


Reminder: Ms. Sirota Gordon's presentation about her involvement in Japan's constitution is this Friday. This should be very interesting!

Sessue Hayakawa: Transnational Star
Professor Daisuke Miyao will discuss the impact of this silent-film era Japanese actor. Two of Hayakawa's films will be shown: "Forbidden Paths" and "The Devil's Claim".
Friday, October 26, 2007, 7pm
Film Studies Center, The University of Chicago
5811 South Ellis Ave., Cobb Hall 307

Art of Kendo and Iaido
Iaido is a martial art using metal swords in prescribed forms.
October 28, 1 - 3 pm. Reservations required.

Iwao Matsushima: Core formed glass exhibit
November 1 - 4
SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier

JET Program informational meeting
Learn about opportunities to teach and work in Japan through the JET program
Saturday, November 3, 1:00 - 5:00 pm, Japan Information Center


MINNESOTA EVENTS


I'm going to MSP tomorrow to do some information sessions for the JET program. Anyone interested is welcome to drop in. Here is the schedule:
Thursday, October 25:
12:00 - 1:00pm: Macalester Campus Center
4:00 - 5:30pm: U of M - Folwell Hall, room 334

Friday, October 26:
9:30 - 11:00am: U of M - Folwell Hall, room 426
12:00 - 1:00pm: MCAD Student Center

Noisy Minneapolis-based Japanese rock bands on tour! Check 'em out.

Birthday Suits weekend tour:
October
26 Green Bay, WI @ Eagles Club
27 Chicago, IL @ Peter Jones Gallery "Artec Festival"
28 Madison, WI "Just Coffee's 5th Year Anniversary Party"

France Has The Bomb weekend (Hideo plays guitar in this band)
November
1 Madison, WI @ The Inferno
2 Chicago, IL @ The Note
3 Milwaukee, WI @ Frank's Power Plant

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

Regional Events

MISSOURI

“Japanese Fall Festival”
Springfield, Missouri.
September 7 – 9

The Missouri Botanical Garden's Japanese Festival
September 1 -3 (see previous entry)


KANSAS

Anime Festival Wichita
August 18 - 19
915 E 53rd Street N
Wichita, Kansas
(316)832-9387


MINNESOTA

Como Park Japanese Lantern Festival is this Sunday, August 19 (see previous entry).