Upcoming Events - April 2008

My Colt Is My Passport
Lots of interesting and unusual events coming up in Chicago and beyond!

SAKE

Sake Tasting and Seminar
Join us for this unique opportunity to taste and learn about some of Japan’s most exquisite sake! Six top breweries will be represented, and sake expert John Gauntner will give a brief presentation on the fundamentals of enjoying sake. Must be 21 or older to attend.
Tuesday, April 1, 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Japan Information Center
$35 before March 28. $45 after March 28.
Register at the JAS Chicago website

KOHDO

Kohdo: Traditional Japanese Incense Ceremony

A growing number of people are using aroma therapy to seek relief from stress. This modern-day trend is starting to attract renewed attention to the traditional Japanese art of “Kohdo” – Incense Ceremony. Gyosetsu Maruyama, Master in the Oie School of Kohdo, and Nobue Irako, who has 10 years of experience in Kohdo, will make a special visit from Japan to give us a demonstration of this refined art. You will have an opportunity to experience the aroma of some very rare and highly valuable incense, and learn about the world of the Japanese Incense Ceremony.

Thursday, April 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Japan Information Center, Chicago
Free Admission

FILM

No Borders, No Limits: 1960s Nikkatsu Action Cinema

The Gene Siskel Film Center, in collaboration with The Japan America Society of Chicago, presents No Borders, No Limits: 1960s Nikkatsu Action Cinema. The series will feature these films: A Colt is My Passport, The Warped Ones, Glass Johnny: Looks Like a Beast, Red Handkerchief, Velvet Hustler, Gangster VIP, and Roughneck.
April 5 - May 23
Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., Chicago, IL
Tickets: $9/general admission, $7/students, $5/Film Center members

ART

The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito

Shinjo Ito (1906-1989), founder of the Shinnyo-en stream of Buddhism, was one of Japan's most versatile Buddhist sculptors and an accomplished artist in fields as diverse as calligraphy and photography. This exhibit reveals Shinjo's unique capacity to meld spirituality and artistry, as well as realism and interpretation.
April 8th – May 1st
Chicago Illuminating Company
19 East 21st Street (South Loop), Chicago

THEATER

”Hana’s Suitcase”

Chicago Children’s Theatre presents this play based on the book by Karen Levine
April 11 – May 11, 2008
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Storefront Theater

OMAHA – FILM

Akira Kurosawa series at Film Streams

Twelve films from throughout Kurosawa’s career will be screened.
March 28 – May 8
1340 Webster St., Omaha, NE

KANSAS – FESTIVAL

Central Kansas Japanese Festival 2008
Enjoy various forms of Japanese culture. All are welcome to attend!
Saturday, April 12
Kansas State University Student Union, Manhattan, KS

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).

Chicago Events

Two upcoming events at the Japan America Society of Chicago:

Meishi (Business Card) Exchange
Yokoyama & Associates.
Thursday, August 23 at 5 pm.
150 N. Michigan Avenue, #2800, Chicago

"Building Global Brands in Japan: Lessons Learned From Kellogg's and McDonald's"
Presentation by author Ken G Kabira, Executive Vice President, Lipman Hearne.
August 30 at 5 pm.
190 S. LaSalle Street, 40th Floor (Adams Room), Chicago

To register for either of these events, see the JAS Chicago web site.


FILM

Grave of the Fireflies will be shown at the National Museum of Mexican Art. This classic animated film deals with life during the air raids of World War II.

Screening organized by the radio show Nihon No Rajio ("Japanese Radio"), airing in Spanish on Fridays from 6 -7 pm on WRTE 90.5 FM Radio Arte Chicago.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
1852 West 19th Street, Chicago
Nihon No Rajio website (Spanish language)


FESTIVAL

The Japan America Service Committee presents the 37th Annual Fuji Festival and Silent Auction. The festival includes buffet refreshments, entertainment, and dancing, as well as a raffle with a grand prize of $10,000.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard
For more information:
http://www.jasc-chicago.org/ff07.html


DANCE

More info about the Fujima Ryu dance mentioned last week:
"On August 25, 2007, Saturday, at 5 p.m., Fujima Ryu of Chicago is proud to present what will hopefully become the first of many performances and lecture series. The presentation highlights Fujima Shunojo, the founder and head of Fujima Ryu of Chicago."

"The lecture will provide an essential base of knowledge; a “How to watch Nihon Buyou“ so that the audience can appreciate the dance without understanding Japanese. Explanations of both dances, as well as contrast between male dance and onnagata, a female dance performed by a male, as well as Nihon Buyou’s origin from Kabuki, and how it differs from Kabuki."


A Fujima Ryu dancer performs Nihon Buyo at the Ginza Festival on Sunday

Chicago Events - August

FESTIVAL

The 52nd Annual Ginza Holiday festival will be held at the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Chicago's Old Town this weekend.

435 W. Menomonee St.
Friday, Aug 10, 5:30 - 9:30 pm
Saturday, Aug 11, 11:30 am - 9 pm
Sunday, Aug 12, 11:30 am - 8 pm

"Featured will be four master craftsmen from Tokyo who will demonstrate their centuries-old skills, two taiko drum groups, Japanese classical and folk dances, martial arts demonstrations (kendo, aikido, karate, judo), and various cultural exhibits." Merchandise and food will also be available.
For more information, call 312-943-7801.



Pictures from Saturday's Mitsuwa Festival in Arlington Heights

CONCERT

Rock group Go!Go!7188 plays Wednesday, 9 pm at the Empty Bottle. See previous entry for details.


DANCE

Fujima Shunojo will give a performance and lecture about Nihon-buyo, traditional Japanese dance, hosted by the Japanese American Service Committee. Admission is free.
Saturday, August 25, 5 - 7 pm.
4427 N. Clark St, Chicago
Call 773-275-0097, extension 226 for more information.

Japanese festivals across the region

Summer is here and it's time to enjoy festivals. Maybe you can't make it to any matsuri in rural Japan, but there is fun to be had in your area. Don't miss out!

Gion Matsuri in Hita, Japan

TWIN CITIES

Dragon Festival: Dragon boat races on Lake Phalen in Minneapolis! An Asian celebration with martial arts, ethnic food, arts and crafts.
July 14 - 15, Phalen Lake and Park, Minneapolis.

Como Japanese Lantern Festival: Held at the Como Japanese Garden, the festival features bon odori, food, arts, and entertainment before the floating lanterns are lit at dusk. Organized by the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee and JAS Minnesota, this event has grown considerably over the past decade and is well worth checking out.
August 19, 4 - 9 pm. $5 per person or $10 per family.


KANSAS CITY

Kansas City Kurashiki Week: This year, a huge delegation of 400 people from Kurashiki will visit to celebrate and strengthen the sister-city relationship with Kansas City, now in its 35th year.
July 25 - August 1. Visit link above for more details.


ST. LOUIS

The Missouri Botanical Gardan's Japanese Festival includes sumo wrestling, a geisha presentation, calligraphy exhibit, traditional tea ceremonies and candlelight walks in the Japanese garden.
4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis
Sept. 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sept. 3 (Labor Day), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$10 adults, $7 seniors, $3 children ages 3 to 12. $3 for garden members.


...and if you happen to be in Los Angeles, the 67th annual Nisei Week Festival is held August 18 - 26.