Aug 8-21, 2014 Japan’s Nº1 English Magazine www.metropolis.co.jp
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FIND SPIRITUAL
ENLIGHTENMENT
INSIDE TOKYO
CLASSIFIEDS
THE CITY’S
BIGGEST
AGENDA
LISTINGS!
GUIDING
MAIDENS
CITY TOURS WITH A TWIST
IT’S A LONG WAY
TO THE TOP
(IF YOU WANNA
ROCK IN TOKYO)
EAT, PRAY, LOVE
PIZZERIA IN EBISU
THE
ALARM’S
MIKE
PETERS
KEEPS
MARCHING
ON
your beauty
specialist in
Japan
rejuvenate
yourself
with the best
in beauty
technology
Surgical
Treatments
• LIPOSUCTION
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• BREAST SURGERY
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TECHNIQUES
• SKIN TUMORS
Cosmetic Surgery
Laser Treatment
Skin Care
Non-surgical
Treatments
• BOTOX & FILLERS
• LASER & REJUVENATION
• CELLULITE, BODY CONTOURING
& STRETCH MARKS
• LEG VEIN, BROKEN CAPILLARY
• LASER HAIR REMOVAL
• ACNE & ACNE SCARS
• PHOTOTHERAPY FOR HAY FEVER
Quality of
Akai Clinic
At Akai clinic, we only
use products and
technologies approved
by the FDA.
NEW
Other cosmetic procedures available. For fees and detailed
information services, please refer to our homepage.
KNK Bldg 3F 3-5-17, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
1-min walk from Omotesando stn, A3 exit.
Tel: 03-5771-4114 Email: amc@akaiclinic.com
Clinic hours: 11AM~8PM (Mon~Sun)
DR. KEIKO AKAI
is also a board-certified
plastic surgeon, and a
dermatologist.
The Akai Clinic offers a
range of cosmetic-surgery
procedures, laser
treatments and skin care,
using state-of-the-art
equipment and the latest
techniques.
www.akaiclinic.com
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Dermatologist
We welcome email and phone inquiries.
Omotesando
DR. HIDEMI AKAI
is a board-certified plastic
surgeon and an associate
professor of the department
of plastic, aesthetic and
reconstructive surgery at
Tokyo’s Showa University.
Dr. Akai trained at Harvard
Medical School and
Massachusetts General
Hospital before amassing
over twenty-five years of
experience.
Yokohama
Quadrifoglio 4F 5-14 Kinkocho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama.
1-min walk from Yokohama stn, North East exit.
Tel: 045-620-5745 Email: amc-skincare@akaiclinic.com
Clinic hours: 11AM~7PM (Tue~Fri) & 10AM~5PM (Sat & Hol)
inside
AUG 8-21, 2014
Photo by Kohji Shiiki
08
Exporing Tokyo isn’t only about temples and shrines—
so we present some alternative ways to tour the city.
Courtesy of L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
14
Mike Peters made a declaration with The Alarm in the
’80s. This month, he returns to Tokyo for a solo tour.
24
A 140-year-old pizzeria from Naples ( judged the city’s
best) now has a branch in Ebisu.
PLUS…
A question on intercultural relationships, giving your kids the full Pokémon experience and
summer lingo in our City Life section—see page 6. Get your fashion fix with festival chic,
manga-inspired garments, boutique info, our calendar and more—see page 13. All the best in arts and culture across
the metropolis including a mind-expanding exhibition and a major Sailor Moon reboot—see page 14.
Cover design & photography: Kohji Shiiki, courtesy of Akibaland Maid Tours
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IN FOCUS
After torrential rain, a puddle reflects Tokyo station, by Takashi Imabayashi
www.123rf.com/metropolis
03
upfront
RANKING ROUNDUP
©2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Legendary Pictures Productions LLC
We
welcome
all kinds
of parties.
Please
contact us.
Each
branch
has
different
hours.
www.dubliners.jp
8/5～31
Pint Beer
Festival!!
SPECIAL LIVE EVENTS
Everyone who purchases
a pint of beer gets a raffle
ticket for a chance to win
a 3000 yen Dubliners’
voucher.
Shinjuku
2F Shinjuku Lion Hall
3-28-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
03-3352-6606 | sali3292@sapporo-lion.co.jp
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g209300/
Ikebukuro
Shibuya
2F Dogenzaka Center Bldg.
2-29-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku
03-5459-1736 |sali6581@sapporo-lion.co.jp
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g008214/
Akasaka
B1 Sun Gorou Bldg.
1-10-8 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
03-5951-3614 | sali2709@sapporo-lion.co.jp
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g029000/
B1 Sannou Park Tower
2-11-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku
03-3539-3615 | sali2645@sapporo-lion.co.jp
r.gnavi.co.jp/g008233/
Closed: Sat., Sun., & Holidays
Shinagawa
Shinagawa Mitsubishi Bldg.
B1F Grand Passage
2-16-3 Kounan, Minato-ku
03-6718-2834 | sali6654@sapporo-lion.co
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g008220/
Opening in Japan on July 25, the new Hollywood remake of Godzilla quickly
stomped its way to the top of the box office. The next day at San Diego’s ComicCon, director Gareth Edwards confirmed plans for a sequel via a pre-recorded video
message, with silhouetted images of Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidora hinting at
what’s to come.
TOP JAPANESE SINGLES
1. Exile—“New Horizon”
2. Busaiku—“Ti Ti Ti Terette Teretititi
~Dare no Ketsu~”
3. Afilia Saga—“Magical Express
Journey”
TOP OVERSEAS ALBUMS
1. Disney—Frozen: Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack (Jpn: Anna to Yuki
no Jo-o)
2. Judas Priest—Redeemer of Souls
3. Unisonic—Light of Dawn
TOP MOVIES
1. Godzilla
2. Maleficent
3. Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the
Cocoon of Destruction
TOP MANGA
1. Inuboku Secret Service vol. 11
2. Vagabond vol. 37
3. Magi vol. 22
Movie rankings from Eiga.com. Music and manga
rankings from Oricon. All rankings as of Aug 1.
CHECK IT OUT
Strung out for souvenir ideas? How about a
kimono bottle cover? Simple to slip into your
suitcase for friends back home, all they’ll
need are two strips of adhesive tape to geishify their bubbly from the neck down (¥3,8004,000). Handmade in a Kyoto kimono fabric
shop, with a dozen different styles from subdued traditional tones to gleaming gold
leaf, the maker even promises to accommodate orders of up to 1,000 at a time to
outfit a major event in jidai style.
www.kimono-bottlecover.com
Metropolis Members Club
THIS WEEK’S WINNER!
Meredith Peruzzi
won a set of seven nail enamels
courtesy of Revlon
UPCOMING PRIZE
One lucky MMC member will win a ¥10,000 gift
voucher courtesy of adidas
Register for prizes & discounts
www.metropolis.co.jp/club
04
LINGO BOX
Scientists in
Hiroshima have
bred a flightless
ladybug for use as
a biopesticide in
greenhouses.
Wairo wo uketoru
(賄賂を受け取る) = accept a bribe
Saiban-in (裁判員) = lay judge
Tento-mushi (てんとう虫) = ladybug
Sekai-isan (世界遺産) = UNESCO
World Heritage Site
the small print
BY STEVE TRAUTLEIN
THE SEA HAS BOTH ITS GENTLE AND VIOLENT SIDES,
BUT THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS THE SEA OF BLESSING,
THE SEA OF OUR TREASURE.”—Tsuyoshi Maekawa, leader of
a shopkeepers’ association in disaster-hit Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on the
opening of a local beach for the first time since the 3/11 tsunami
BRASS ACTION
⊲For
⊲
the first time ever, the top uniformed
military officers of Japan, the U.S. and South
Korea held face-to-face talks. The meeting
took place early last month in Hawaii.
⊲Japan’s
⊲
youngest mayor—29-year-old Hiroto
Fujii of Minokamo city in Gifu Prefecture—was
arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe from
a local business owner.
⊲About
⊲
300 people attended a meeting in
Adachi-ku to call for the dissolution of Aleph,
the successor to the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult.
⊲Members
⊲
of a government advisory panel
have recommended that a group of Christian
churches in Nagasaki be listed as UNESCO
World Heritage Sites.
THE AIR UP THERE
⊲Japanese
⊲
officials are set to adopt the Boeing
777-300ER as the government’s new official
state aircraft.
⊲The
⊲
planes will be used for shuttling the
prime minister and the imperial family on
overseas trips.
⊲Among
⊲
the requirements for the new aircraft
are that they’re able to “fly directly to the U.S.
East Coast” as well as provide VIP rooms and
executive offices.
⊲Meanwhile,
⊲
ANA is set to introduce a
“stretched” version of the Boeing Dreamliner,
dubbed the 787-9.
FOREIGN INTRIGUE
⊲Newly
⊲
declassified documents from the foreign ministry show that officials were unsure
about the protocol for issuing a passport to
Emperor Hirohito before a state visit to Europe in 1971. The emperor had not embarked
on an overseas trip since assuming the throne
in 1926.
⊲A
⊲ bilateral economic partnership agreement
is being credited with a surge in wine imports
from Chile. Chilean wines have overtaken
imports from Italy and trail only those from
France in terms of market share.
⊲Under
⊲
the provisions of a new trade deal,
Mongolia has agreed to reduce tariffs on Japa-
at a glance
BY GRACE MINETA
stats
74
Percent of respondents to a newspaper
survey who believe that the lay judge
system, which was introduced five
years ago, should be continued
79
Percent of respondents who say they
do not want to serve as lay judges
1.03 MILLION
Number of EcoCute water heaters that
Panasonic is recalling over concerns
that the devices “could blow up due to
metal corrosion”
nese cars while Japan will lift import restrictions on Mongolian “heated beef.”
GRIM TIDINGS
⊲Officials
⊲
at the trade ministry have determined that if a magnitude nine earthquake
were to strike along the Nankai Trough, it
would liquefy the soil underneath nearly half
of the petrochemical complexes on the Pacific
coast.
⊲Authorities
⊲
at the justice ministry say more
than 200 organizations that participated in a
government-sponsored training program for
foreigners abused their interns last year.
⊲The
⊲
labor ministry announced that the number of compensation claims for “work-related
depression or other mental illnesses” hit a
record high in fiscal 2013.
INTO THE WILD
⊲According
⊲
to the environment ministry, the
number of licensed hunters in Japan has fallen
from 518,000 in 1975 to just 198,000 in 2011.
⊲What’s
⊲
more, only 9 percent of hunters 40
years ago were aged 60 or older; today, that
figure is 66 percent.
⊲Bottom
⊲
Story of the Week: “Composer
Writes Music for Poem by Barefoot Gen creator
Keiji Nakazawa” (via Mainichi Japan)
Many Japanese women's desire to become—and remain—pale-skinned extends to the beach, where they
will wear several layers of clothing to protect their complexion. This can leave their Western counterparts
feeling a little overexposed.
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
05
city life
ASK METROPOLIS ANYTHING
Dear AMA,
in person
ANIMAL
ADVOCATE
BY JEFF W. RICHARDS
Tell us how long you’ve
been in Japan and a little
about what you do...
I’ve been in Japan for just
over 25 years now and I am
the CEO for Media Solutions,
John Moore
a market research and international marketing company based here in
Tokyo. My job is to help our Western clients
get the most out of Japan and Asia while also
helping Asian companies look outside of their
own countries and markets.
and your passion for animals...
Yes, I’m an animal lover and advocate for their
health and safety here in Japan. When not running Media Solutions, I work closely with ARK
(Animal Rescue Kansai). ARK is a non-profit
group of dedicated members who love animals,
are devoted to sharing their lives with them, and
work actively to rescue them from suffering. It
originally started in Osaka but is now busy here
in Tokyo and other areas.
When did you start working with ARK?
I’ve been involved with ARK for quite a long
time—initially as a private donor and then as a
corporate one. This past spring, I took on the
role as their Outreach Adviser with the main
purpose being to help develop promotional
opportunities for ARK in the corporate world.
How can Metropolis readers get involved with
ARK?
There are many ways for people to get involved
with ARK, but mainly it’s through adoption and
fostering of ARK animals and volunteering.
Adopting, of course, involves bringing a rescued
animal into your family, but if you’re unable to
06
I’m an American and I’ve been married to my
Japanese wife for about four years, happily
for most of it. We’ve just recently returned to
Japan after an unsuccessful attempt at going back “home” to the States. My wife didn’t
adjust well at all and was often anxious or
depressed. It got so bad that we returned to
Japan late last year before she gave birth to
our baby boy. Now the issue is that I’m back
in a country where I feel I can’t give my new
family the financial support I would be able to
back in the U.S. I’m beginning to feel stressed
out and fear this issue will end up tearing us
apart—something I absolutely don’t want with
a new addition to the family. I don’t want to
keep teaching English forever, but I feel stuck.
What should I do?—Not a Salaryman
Dear Not a Salaryman,
We passed your question on to the good
people at TELL. Here’s what they had to say…
Feeling stressed and pressured about your
financial situation is understandable, especially given you and your wife are new parents.
Becoming new parents is one of the most challenging times for any relationship, but it sounds
as if your stress is also being compounded by
the cultural differences you have both been
experiencing. Understanding and managing
these issues are why many people call the
Lifeline. All relationships are different; what
works for one couple may not work for another
and intercultural marriages are no different.
However, they also bring their own unique set
of challenges, and it is not uncommon for these
differences to become more acute when the
relationship is placed under stress, such as
moving countries, getting married or becoming new parents.
There are so many rituals and customs we
develop as we grow up that we never stop to
think about. We all use these as a basis to feel
competent and correct with our interactions
with others. It is often not until we are living
in another country or with someone from another country that we bump into opposing or
different views, which can bring the best of
us tumbling to the ground. Some people feel
they have failed and become homesick or depressed, while others can get angry and complain about the differences, over-idealizing life
back home. Sometimes it can feel frightening
or challenging to bring these issues up and
some couples find counseling helpful in negotiating these hurdles. TELL counseling has
a number of bilingual therapists who specialize
in relationship counseling.
Learning to recognize your own values and
customs—along with those of your wife—and
being able to discuss these and support each
other will be important as you adjust to being
new parents and deciding which country is
the best option for your family. Developing a
support network, perhaps friends from your
home country or other intercultural couples
and being patient with each other will also
help. You might also like to know that many
intercultural couples do successfully manage
these hurdles, and your cultural differences
can make for a fun and interesting relationship.
Answer courtesy of TELL. If you need to talk,
they're here to listen. Call the TELL Lifeline
at 03 5774-0992 from 9am-11pm, 365 days a
year or visit their website at www.telljp.com
If you want to “Ask Metropolis Anything” about life in Tokyo, send your questions to askanything@metropolis.
co.jp and we’ll find the most appropriate people to answer your queries.
commit to the full-time responsibility of having a pet, you can help by fostering—this is
especially important for us in the Kanto area.
We’re always looking for volunteers to help
with the care of the dogs and cats at ARK’s
shelters, and aid its adoption events in Tokyo,
organize fundraising events, as well as gather
needed goods such as newspapers, blankets
and pet food as donations. Additionally, animal lovers in Tokyo can help spread the word
about ARK through social media.
What are some upcoming events or milestones for the organization?
ARK will be celebrating its 25th anniversary
next year, which also happens to be the 10th
anniversary of Tokyo ARK. We’re planning to
have some big commemoration events, both in
Tokyo and Osaka, and get people out to meet
some of our wonderful animal friends.
What’s your favorite animal-friendly park or
location in Tokyo?
My wife and I have three little guys who adore
parks—although not the hot weather. We most
frequently go to Hikarigaoka Park, which has
a large space where pets can get a good run
before the general public arrives. Our dogs
have their own network of friends at the park
so touching base with them is very important
at the weekends.
http://meturl.com/arktokyo
family matters
LINGOIST
THE FULL POKÉMON
EXPERIENCE
IT’S SUMMERTIME
Summer is the season of beer, fireworks,
kakigori (shaved ice) and bon odori dance
festivals. So throw on your yukata, get out in
the sun and use “-tai desu” to express a few
of your hot-weather desires!
BY BRAD STEPHENSON
© Nintendo・Creatures・GAME FREAK・TV Tokyo・ShoPro・JR Kikaku, © Pokémon, © 2014 ピカチュウプロジェクト
AMBER GLOW
JP Watashi wa beeru wo nomitai desu.
EN I want to drink some beer.
JP Beeru wa oishii desu-ne. Edamame mo
tabetai desu.
EN Beer tastes great, doesn’t it? I want to
eat some edamame, too.
CULTURE CONNOISSEUR
JP O-matsuri de kakigori wo tabetai desu.
EN I want to eat some shaved ice at the
festival.
JP Hanabi taikai ni iku node yukata wo
kitai desu.
EN I’m going to see fireworks, so I want to
wear a yukata.
Lesson by Meros Language School
www.meros.jp
K
With the July release of the latest Pokémon
movie, Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, Poké-popularity is once more at a peak.
The whopping 16 Pokémon features produced
since 1998 have consistently ranked among the
most watched films in Japan—partly due to the
success of the long-running video game and
anime franchise, but also owing a great deal
to the comprehensive experience built around
each Poké-movie release. If you’re wondering
why your kids are desperate to drag you to the
theater, this is it.
Any regular moviegoer will know to save
¥600-800 per ticket by buying in advance
from a konbini or music shop months before
a film’s release. But each Pokémon movie ups
the ante by not only offering an exclusive battle
card with purchase, but also printing a unique
code on the ticket that can be entered into the
latest Pokémon video games to download a
rare creature over Wi-Fi. A few of these codebearing tickets can still be tracked down after
the movie has opened, but they’re typically
advance purchase only, and the code is only
valid for a limited time. (This year’s code, which
unlocks the Legendary Pokémon Darkrai, is
good until September 30, 2014.)
Fans are then encouraged to bring their
Nintendo 3DS systems and Pokémon games
(in this case, Pokémon X and Y) to download
yet another Pokémon at the cinema. Both the
cinema download creature and the ticket code
monster are very rare, which makes movie attendance key to achieving the coveted 100 percent
completion ratio in each game. There are still
occasional chances to catch up, though—the
ticket creature is sometimes a re-release of a
previous cinema-only download.
With a large portion of the audience arriving
with a 3DS in hand, the movie theater quickly
becomes a prime location for using the system’s wireless StreetPass feature to interact with
other players and help complete puzzles, finish mini-games, trade creatures and challenge
one another to battles. Until a few years back,
theaters were filled with kids playing games
throughout each screening, but complaints from
less-obsessed moviegoers led to the creation of
an animated message that now advises kids to
wait until the movie is over to continue their play
and download the exclusive prizes. Then, when
they open their systems at the end of the film to
check their data, they’re left with a surprising
amount of content that will keep them busy long
after the credits have finished rolling.
Pokémon the Movie: Diancie And the Cocoon
of Destruction is now playing in theaters nationwide.
N
A
1
C
O
A
R
S
S
2
う
3
1
4
2
5
2
2
21
6
7
2
8
9
3
Down
1. Driving
2. Summer dance:
__ odori
3. Ladybug
4. Shaved ice
7. Summer
Across
1. Beach or ocean
4. Easy
5. Weather
6. Say
7. Repair or fix
8. Festival
9. Stone
Solution:
1
2
3
ANSWERS AT meturl.com/kanacross
07
cover
Yushima Tenjin from the “36 Views
of the Eastern Capital” series.
Hiroshige, 1862.
Paul Tierney of
Orientation Tokyo
Chinzanso Gardens three-storey pagoda
SEE A
DIFFERENT
SIDE OF
THE CITY
Specialist tours of Tokyo for
fans of art, architecture and
Akihabara
Photo by Guilhem Vellu
t, Creative Commons
BY CAL WIDDALL
St. Mary’s Cathedral
“To your left you’ll see Tokyo Tower, opened in 1958…”
We’ve all done them, the standard city tours that tick main
sights off a list while listening to a series of facts that could all
be gleaned from a cursory Wikipedia check. But there’s more
to Tokyo than this. Its rich, diverse history and its 26-millionperson present-day incarnation, with all the vibrant culture
and subcultures those people provide, shouldn’t be whittled
down to a standard set of landmarks to be bussed through.
And they don’t have to be.
Whether you’re looking to learn about a specific aspect
of Tokyo, or just for something more than a mainstream
overview of the city, here are three recommendations.
Ueno Kiyomizu Hall Shinobazu
Pond from the “100 Famous Views
of Edo” series. Hiroshige, 1856.
Jiyu Gakuen Girls’ School
@Home Café
08
Super
Potato
UKIYO-E TOUR
AKIBALAND MAID TOUR
ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
Ukiyo-e (literally, “floating world pictures”) are
the foundation on which our guide Paul Tierney’s
Orientation Tokyo tour is built—this one set in
the Ueno area. He explains that throughout
Tokyo’s rapid expansion and modernization,
the general layout of the city often remained
the same. Because of this, old photographs and
ukiyo-e images can be used to directly contrast
Tokyo today with Edo hundreds of years ago,
enabling a tour through time as well as place.
Kyoto is often thought of as the historical center
of Japan, but Tierney insists that Tokyo is by far
the most interesting.
Before we begin, Tierney produces what he
considers to be the greatest link to the past he
has at his disposal—a map of Tokyo’s train stations. Western Tokyo was populated by samurai,
he explains, hence the name Yamanote (“High
City”) and the number of large park spaces and
constructions now found there, all made possible by reclamations of feudal lords’ land at
the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912). He’s
far more interested in eastern Tokyo, though,
where common people lived. He points to various stations and explains the origins of their
names—fleshing out a living, breathing old city
buried beneath the skyscrapers and pachinko
parlors of modern-day Tokyo. The information
comes thick and fast: dates, statistics and locations are precise, and even when asked for
specific details on related topics, Tierney is able
to answer with the surety of a man recounting
what he ate for breakfast that morning.
During the tour we visit sites where entertainment districts and brothels stood, civil war
battles raged and rulers were laid to rest. Images
show how each area once appeared, and we
stand in the same spots where the painters must
have stood, with one foot in the past. Tierney
pours life into the images with his stories and
trinkets of information, and by the end of the tour
we’re able to calculate a feudal lord’s income
based on his gate, name the one time commoners could get away with assaulting samurai, and
understand why the city looks as it does today.
Orientation Tokyo’s other options include a
“47 Ronin” trail, an examination of Edo’s religious
and entertainment center, Asakusa, and an Edo
castle-focused tour of Nihombashi.
Orientation Tokyo. Price: from ¥3,000 per
person. www.orientationtokyo.com
Akihabara, the labyrinthian monument to otaku
(nerd) culture, is a fascinating but baffling window into a subculture like no other. Without
an insider to help you make sense of it you’re
unlikely to discover the most interesting sights,
and that’s where Akibaland Maid Tours comes
in—via a guide dressed as a maid, of course.
The tour’s first stop is Volks, which has a
whole floor dedicated to dolls and their accessories. In fact, “accessories” doesn’t do the collection justice: there are clothes, makeup, wigs,
eyelashes—even a section to build your own
doll by choosing your perfect proportions for
every part, with costs ranging from a few thousand yen to a few thousand dollars. The most
expensive are one-of-a-kind and come with an
“adoption ceremony.” In one corner, fur-lined
violin cases are for sale, targeting doll owners
who don’t want to risk public ridicule by carrying
them openly or, even worse, stuffing them into a
regular bag like some common figurine.
Within the space of an hour, we stop by a
“rental showcase” where people rent glass
boxes for a month at a time to display items
they want to sell, a gachapon shop stocked entirely with hundreds of gumball machines selling
everything from animal figurines to underwear
for your phone, and a place called Super Potato.
The last is a claustrophobic retro games store,
so packed with old games and equipment that
the interior resembles a losing game of Tetris.
As we walk along “Maid Crossing,” a few costumed maids smile and wave—one by wiggling a
teddy bear puppet—and we enter @home Café
for a lunch break. Our guide, Megumi Kimura—a
former maid café worker herself—explains the
system and culture behind it. As she does, a
server comes over to kneel by the table and take
our order in honorific Japanese. Upon her return,
she draws a caramel sauce Anpanman on a latte,
then casts a “spell” to make it more delicious.
A trip to Donki’s cosplay section is the last
stop before we head to Akihabara’s tourism
office. With map in hand, Kimura then makes a
few recommendations of other things possible
to see based on clients’ preferences. A goodbye
wave and bow at the train station end the tour as
some nearby otaku watch enviously.
Akibaland Maid Tours. Price: ¥3,000 per person
(min. 2 per group). Email: info@akiba-tour.com.
www.akiba-tour.com/information
Tokyo’s architecture is exceptionally modern,
but also adheres to traditional Japanese themes.
The Tours by Locals walking architectural tour
provides a thorough exploration of all the city’s
most famous buildings, as well as some (perhaps
undeservedly) lesser-known sites.
Our first destination is St. Mary’s Cathedral,
which is designed in the shape of a gigantic
cross clad in stainless steel. After experiencing
the cavernous concrete interior, we stroll around
nearby Chinzanso Gardens to a three-storey
pagoda, where tour leader Yasuko Miyamoto
uses her iPad to draw a diagram explaining how
the movement of its three sections has allowed
it to remain standing through a number of large
earthquakes over the years.
Most of her clients are from the U.S., and Miyamoto says the next building, a school designed
by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is
often the most popular. Wright was responsible
for not only the structure of Jiyu Gakuen Girls’
School, but also the furniture and doors, all of
which feature the same minimalist lines.
Daikanyama’s main street, Kyuyamate Dori,
makes up a significant part of the tour, focusing especially on the exquisite Kyu Asakura
House and the Hillside Terrace complex. One
man, Fumihiko Maki, designed every building
within the complex, and Miyamoto jokes about
how jealous her architect husband is of such a
liberal commission. Daikanyama feels different
from the rest of Tokyo, but it’s not until Miyamoto
gives the reason that it becomes clear: The garish use of signage, which gives most of Tokyo
the appearance of an old internet browser sorely
in need of a pop-up blocker, is forbidden on
the main street. A perfect example of this is the
Tsutaya building, with its facade of interlocking
T-shapes creating larger Ts, subtly referencing
the brand’s logo.
Many of the standard sights of Tokyo are included—the skyscraper offices of Shinjuku, the
National Art Center, and the outdoor museum of
modern architecture that is Omotesando—but
with architectural insights that wouldn’t be offered on a regular tour. Just be prepared for a
full day on your feet.
Tours by Locals/Yasuko Miyamoto. Price:
¥37,000 plus transportation costs (for up to 4
people). Email: yasuko-m@palette.plala.or.jp.
www.toursbylocals.com/tokyo-tours
ALTERNATIVE ALTERNATIVES
SUMO STUDIES
At certain times of the year
it’s free to go and watch sumo
wrestlers train, but organizing
entrance can be difficult. A
number of companies such
as Inside Japan Tours offer
tailored trips with all the
details taken care of.
www.insidejapantours.com
MACABRE & MYSTERIOUS
Venture into another
dimension of the city with
Haunted Tokyo Tours, who
give English commentary
at locations researched
by a certified paranormal
investigator.
www.hauntedtokyotours.com
KIMONO PHOTO SHOOT
Learn how to put on a
traditional kimono and tie an
obi (belt) at Inspire Space, then
have pictures taken around
Tokyo with a photographer.
Covers the basics for women
and men. Groups welcome.
www.inspire-space.net
TSUKIJI COOKING
Another option from Inspire
Space is their Tsukiji Market
tour. Visit the famous fish
market with a guide, then learn
from a local chef how to turn
your purchased seafood and
vegetables into tempura or
sushi (depending on the tour).
www.inspire-space.net
LINGO BOX
Baishun-yado (売春宿) = brothel
Naisen (内戦) = civil war
Kenchiku (建築) = architecture
Cho-koso biru (超高層ビル) =
skyscraper
09
SPECIAL
ADVERTISING
SECTION
Visitor Vibes
Treat your guests to these Tokyo classics
WEBSITE
AKITA PURE
RICE SAKE BAR
Savor the smooth taste of Akita
in a relaxing bar environment.
Just 1 minute’s walk from Tokyo
Tokyo Station
station’s Yaesu North exit, take a
seat at Japan’s first bar specializing in Akita junmaishu pure
rice sake. Choose from a large selection of seasonal specials
and high-end sake that can only be tasted on-site—and just
so you don’t have to limit your experience, you can get a
three-sake taster set from ¥800. The shop is located inside
Abeya, which specializes in yakitori and other dishes using
Hinai Jidori, chickens crossbred from Akita’s Hinai chicken, a
protected breed recognized as a natural living monument of
Japan. So slide on by for a tradtional taste of the north!
SPECIAL OFFER
• 3-sake taster sets from ¥800
2F 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku (in Kitamachi
Dining)
03-6256-0518
Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat-Sun & hols 11am-10pm
Tokyo (Yaesu north exit)
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g286919/lang/en/
WEBSITE
HORUMON
DEDESUKE
1F Kaneko Bldg, 3-3-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku
03-5250-7767
info@azabu-skinclinic.com
Mon-Fri 11:30am-3:30pm (lunch)/5pm-4am
(dinner), Sat 11:30am-4am, Sun & hols 11:30am-11pm
Ginza or Yurakucho
http://j.mp/dedesuke
Among the high-class avenues of historic Ginza, there is an affordable, top-quality
yakiniku place to put paid to your carnivorous cravings. Instead of purchasing
different cuts of beef like other restaurants, Horumon Dedesuke leaves nothing
Ginza
to chance. Its practised chefs buy up a whole cow every month. And it’s not just
any basic bovine they’re talking about. They make sure to purchase an A5-ranked kuroge wagyu—famed
as source of the best meat this side of a Buenos Aires steakhouse. Step in for a hearty dinner—or a juicy
weekend lunch. Peruse the menu, or talk to the chefs so they can carefully match something to your taste and
appetite. Among the recommended cuts is the “Zeppin Wagyu Zanmai Mori,” an assortment of the rare parts
of top-quality A5-rank Japanese beef. The restaurant is open well into the early hours for those requiring a
meaty end to a late night out.
WEBSITE
KAMATA
HAKENSHA
SPECIAL OFFER
• Metropolis readers making any
purchase over ¥10,000 will
receive a large nail clipper for free.
MENU
• Japanese 17-layer-steel 2-knife set, hard case,
¥17,400
• 17-layer stainless steel Santoku, ¥6,800
• 17-layer stainless steel Santoku with Japanese
wooden handle, ¥9,800
• 17-layer stainless steel small knife with Japanese
wooden handle, ¥7,500
SHOP INFO
2-12-6 Matsugaya, Taito-ku
03-3841-4205
Open daily 10am-6pm
Asakusa or Tawaramachi
www.kap-kam.com/index_english.html
10
Established in 1923 with a history
spanning four generations,
Asakusa cutlery maker Kamata
Asakusa
Hakensha knows how to slice
it. The company’s 800-strong product lineup includes topgrade handmade knives as well as factory-made ranges.
These blades have made repeat customers of some of the
world’s finest chefs, thanks to stringent quality checks and
a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee. All the knives are
designed by the owner, created by skilled craftsmen, and
individually edged. Free engraving and an inexpensive
sharpening service seal the deal on a fine gift idea. They can
engrave your name for free on any knife selected in just three
minutes. Perfect for a gift or souvenir of your stay in Tokyo.
MORE SPECIALS ONLINE → METURL.COM/VISITOR
WEBSITE
SPECIAL OFFER
Each customer who brings this copy of Metropolis
or displays this ad on their mobile device (one
per person) will receive 20% off admittance to the
show
PRICES
• Entrance fee: ¥6,000/person
• Meal fee: ¥1,000/person
ROBOT
RESTAURANT
B2F Shinjuku Robot Bldg, 1-7-1 Kabukicho,
Shinjuku
03-3200-5500 (9am-10pm)
Daily 6pm-11pm
Shinjuku
www.robot-restaurant.com/E/
Who hasn’t seen the large Valkyrie-like female robots on trucks whizzing around
Tokyo to a pumping soundtrack? These pulchritudinous automatons are waiting
in the heart of Shinjuku’s red-light district at the Robot Restaurant. The venue is a
Shinjuku
dizzying design of gold, glittering mosaics and shiny surfaces. The all-action show
involves massive robots, teams of bouncy dancers, mindblowing flying machines and more. Lest you think this
a guy thing, the audiences are always a merry mix of girls and boys, young and old, foreign and Japanese. Make
a reservation before your visit, then confirm by phone one hour before the show. The future is here and it's
kaleidoscopic and robotic… as well as an unforgettable experience.
WEBSITE
SPECIAL OFFER
Receive a copy of Tamiya Model Magazine with
purchases over ¥1,000
TAMIYA
PLAMODEL
FACTORY
6 Toyokaiji Bldg, 4-7-2 Shimbashi, Minato-ku
03-6809-1175
Mon-Fri noon-10pm, Sat-Sun & hols 10am-6pm
Shimbashi (Karasumori exit)
http://www.tamiya-plamodelfactory.co.jp/
shimbashi/about_e.htm
Get your geek on at the Tamiya Plamodel Factory in Shimbashi—where you can find every
single plastic model kit, RC model and Mini 4WD model produced by world-famous maker
Tamiya, Inc. With 6,000 items on sale over two 170m2 floors, you can get your hands on all
types of cars, tanks and aircraft, as well as RC models and Mini 4WD vehicles plus upgrade
Shimbashi
parts. The site also offers model-making classes and exhibitions, while the upper floor is
a multipurpose space with a circuit for racing Mini 4WD cars. The Plamodel Factory is stocked with everything
you need to prepare the perfect kit, from enamel and acrylic paints to high quality airbrushes, tools and model
guidebooks, as well as a selection of unique Tamiya products normally only available online. Keep an eye out for
items featuring the popluar Tamiya twin star logo—and even if you don’t want to build anything, Tamiya T-shirts,
stickers and pens make for popular gifts.
WEBSITE
MENU
• Aitchbone: ¥1,700/80g
• Rump beef: ¥980/80g
• Sirloin: ¥2,600/80g
SHOP INFO
2F Atsumi-yakuhin Bldg, 1-21 Sakumacho,
Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
03-3253-3329
Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm (lunch)/5:30-11:30pm
(dinner), Sat-Sun & hols 11:30am-2pm (lunch)/5pm10pm (dinner), closed over New Year’s holidays
Akihabara
www.yamano29.com
YAMANO
A5 is the highest grade of kuroge wagyu—a particularly succulent type of Japanese beef.
And that’s what you’ll get at Yamano, a cozy yakiniku restaurant just one minute’s walk
from Akihabara station. Yamano’s culinary crew prepare their own yakiniku sauce to make
the wagyu shine, or you can opt for simple rock salt to up the ante. Popular at Yamano are marbled steaks, rump
beef, skirt steaks marinated in special sauce and the king of beef—sirloin—all selected by the experienced
owner-chef. You can always get your barbecue on by roasting your carne at the table yourself, but if you’d like to
take it easy, just ask the staff to grill it up in advance. It also offers meat and vegetables grilled in miso sauce, and
fresh organs (horumon) cooked in a Japanese hot pot with Osaka-style soy-sauce soup. Vegetable dishes are
available too, as well as a host of other options à la carte.
Akihabara
11
One broadcasts original fashion programming to
over 300 million people in 44 countries worldwide.
The other is Japan’s No.1 English magazine.
Now we cover Tokyo couture together—in print, online and
in front of the camera!
Talent Wanted Immediately!
Do you have what it takes to report on
Tokyo’s fashion,trends and style?
We Want You!
Writers | Editors | Reporters
On-Screen Hosts
Send a CV, cover letter and link to any previous
work—on-camera or off—explaining why you would be the
perfect fit for Fashion One and Metropolis.
We’re looking for people who can report in Chinese, English,
French, Japanese and Spanish.
fashionone@metropolis.co.jp
metropolis.co.jp/fashionone
fashion fix
FESTIVAL CHIC
BY SAMUEL THOMAS
Fuji Rock may have come and gone for another year, but the rest of the
music festival season is still with us, bringing with it the opportunity to
sweat your stress away.
Those looking for a “cool”—in both senses of the word—way to combat
the heat of the scrum should look to Japan’s oldest textile: hemp. Worlds
away from the shiny, artificial AIRism offerings from Uniqlo, hemp has
ON POINT
Released this month, Japanese
label Ne-net’s latest collection is
the talk of Tokyo with a mangameets-fashion lineup that seems
to have captured the attention of
rebellious street kids and nostalgic
adults alike. The “KiraKira” series
features original illustrations and
characters from two masters of
the manga world: Katsuki Tanaka,
known for his cute, subversive and
surreal characters, and the worldfamous shojo (ladies’) manga maestro Yumiko Igarashi—as well as
illustrations from Ne-net designer
Kazuaki Takashima himself.
Fashion civilians can indulge
themselves in printed and embroidered illustrations on relatively
easy-to-implement wardrobe staples. But the
adventurous can look deeper into the lineup,
where there are a whole host of silhouette-altering garments to give your body the appearance
of having stepped off of the page. The collection
is on sale now at Ne-net stockists nationwide
and online (www.hmr.jp).
been part of the Japanese wardrobe since the Jomon era. It’s used as light
layers in the hottest months and avoids the transparency of sheer cotton.
Festival- and wallet-friendly basics for men and women can be had from
Goa (www.goa-net.com), but for those who can justify spending a couple
of crisp ¥10,000 yen notes on a single item, the premium all-Japan hemp
shirts from Share Spirit (www.sharespirit.jp) ensure you keep your cool.
international icons such as Steven
Tyler and Lenny Kravitz. The boutique—literally underground—does
not appear on any maps, hidden as it
is in the basement under the Forbidden Fruit Café on Omotesando dori.
Those curious and with the necessary fashion credentials are advised
to walk confidently around the cafe
counter to the unmarked stairs beyond and follow the smell of incense
down into the gloom. Your reward is
an apocalyptic bunker—half pirate’s
treasure trove, half Mad Max wasteland—complete with DJ decks for
when the space plays home to some
of Tokyo’s most exclusive parties.
On the racks, Bedrock mixes
rare vintage and antique accessories from around the world with high
fashion from two of Tokyo’s most exclusive and
secretive brands: Le Grand Bleu and If Six was
Nine. Perfect for those ready to rock.
STREET
FOCUS
SHOPPING STRATEGY
One of Tokyo’s best-kept fashion secrets, the
Bedrock boutique in Omotesando Hills has
been dressing Japanese rockstars, including
Hyde, for the best part of a decade—not to mention being responsible for styling the likes of
Photos by Samuel Thomas
At the moment, the edgiest of Tokyo’s menswear
is all about the hard-versus-soft, masculineversus-feminine contrast, with its most stylish
fashion ambassadors mixing leather and lace,
or pairing a higher heel with heavy rounded
shoulders to ensure that their rebellion is not like
that of their parents’ generation. Showing us how
it’s done, the design student above has paired a
hard, body-armor-like leather chest piece with a
loose sweater beneath, balancing out the spikes
and piercings with a feminine, sheer layer hanging
like a skirt off the waist.
FASHION CALENDAR
Aug 8 | Rick Owens x Adidas
The stealth-bomber-inspired
Adidas Tech Runner by
designer Rick Owens hits Tokyo
in four monotone colorways.
Even priced at the upper end
of the market at ¥71,000 plus
tax, the leather and neoprene
designs will be selling for more
on auction sites post-launch.
www.rickowens.eu
Aug 8 | Fake Furniture
by Fake Tokyo
Those looking to echo their
avant-garde fashion in their
homes can head to Fake
Furniture in Meguro, a new
interior design venture from
Shibuya underground hub Fake
Tokyo. www.faketokyo.com
Aug 5-17 | Mode of
Barbie Exhibition
Celebrate 55 years of Barbie
in fashion at Seibu Shibuya. In
addition to 250 examples of
her own stylistic shifts over the
years, Barbie will be dressed by
some of Tokyo’s leading lights,
including G.V.G.V and Yasutoshi
Ezumi. meturl.com/seibubarbie
Aug 8-17 | Celebrating 20 years
of Keita Maruyama
Omotesando Hills is hosting
a retrospective exhibition for
luxury label Keita Maruyama,
showcasing 20 years of high
fashion decadence for all to
enjoy, regardless of the price
tag. www.omotesandohills.
com/english
Aug 15 | Kiko Mizuhara for
Opening Ceremony
Model and actress Kiko
Mizuhara is adding “designer”
to her repertoire with an
exclusive collection for
Opening Ceremony. The Disco
Bowling-themed series puts a
modern spin on retro bowling
shirts and adds disco flair
to streetwear basics. www.
openingceremonyjapan.com
13
arts&culture
MUSIC
MIKE
PETERS
Something to Declare
BY C.B. LIDDELL
“Y
ou only live twice: Once when
you're born, and once when you
look death in the face.” Basho’s
haiku may have inspired the title
of a Bond movie, but Mike Peters,
singer-songwriter behind 1980s
rock legends The Alarm, has never heard of it.
“I wasn’t aware of that poem. That’s fantastic,”
Peters says down the phone from Wales. It has
particular relevance: Since 1996, Peters has been
fighting a recurring battle against cancer that, just
like the poem, has given him a new lease on life.
“It’s absolutely true, and that’s how I look at
it,” Peters says of the poem. “In addition to The
Alarm, my wife and I also run a charity, so yes, we
do live two lives.”
The couple’s Love Hope Strength Foundation supports families affected by cancer, raising
money and promoting bone marrow registration
drives—the latter inspired by Peters’ more recent
battle with leukemia.
Peters’ fighting response to his health chal-
lenges is a reflection of the positive spirit with
which he and other budding musicians embraced
the punk explosion of the 1970s—something that
fed directly into the Alarm’s debut album Declaration, released 30 years ago this year.
While punk is often seen as nihilistic and antisocial—more associated with glue-sniffing than
smiles—Peters is keen to point out its positive
aspects. “That’s what it became the moment the
Sex Pistols put Sid Vicious in the band,” Peters
says of punk’s self-destructive edge. “But before
that, it was about being creative. I saw the Sex
Pistols in 1976 and there was nothing negative
about them then. They took a hard line approach,
but they brought change with them—they brought
it into the room. They brought it in their lyrics at a
time when all the established bands were singing
about goblins and pixies and mountainsides.”
Peters remembers the hope that early punk
generated. “There were a load of young people
starting fanzines, taking control of a camera, learning how to utilize a photocopier, how to express
themselves by making their own clothes—and
that was the punk rock that fired the imaginations
of Bono or Bob Geldof or myself.”
As the noted names imply, while the movement
itself had a short shelf life, punk provided the impetus for much of the music of the of the ’80s, the
era of New Wave and later rock with a conscience,
© 武内直子・PNP・講談社・東映アニメーション
ANIME
FLY ME TO
THE MOON
The forces behind
the anime reboot
BY MIKE KANERT & BRAD STEPHENSON
Fumio Osano sits in a small meeting room accessed beyond a box of rolled-up Fairy Tail
posters. The editor of Naoko Takeuchi’s wildly
popular Sailor Moon manga, as well as its predecessor Codename: Sailor V, Osano boasts four
decades of immersion in the anime and manga
world. “I own the magazine where the word
‘otaku’ (nerd) was first used,” he says proudly.
Prior to columnist Akio Nakamori’s 1983 popularization of the term in Manga Burikko, a nowdefunct lolicon manga magazine, adult interest in
anime was simply referred to as a form of “mania.”
Looking at Japan now, it’s hard to believe
14
there was ever a time when anime wasn’t for
everybody. Anime movies account for four of
the top ten all-time box-office draws in Japan,
with Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away holding the
top spot from 2001 until June this year—when it
was surpassed by Disney’s Frozen.
Yet back in the early ’80s, Osano complains,
“Otaku were seen as crazy. If you said, ‘What
are otaku like?’ and got into the real image,
you’d see a strange pattern of overweight, bagcarrying, Ramu-chan T-shirt wearing men.”
This might explain why, even following the
raging success of Sailor Moon in the ’90s, Osano was staggered by the response to the announcement of Sailor Moon Crystal. “We didn’t
expect this many people to remember it and
for it to still have this much popularity,” he tells
Metropolis. “We had no idea at all.”
Rebooting a series with such a dedicated
global following has its own unique challenges,
which are only exacerbated in a wired world.
Sailor Moon Crystal was announced at Japan
Expo in Paris because, Osano says, “If we don’t
make the announcement simultaneously in Japan and overseas, we immediately lose control of the information.” Rather than go through
Japanese TV, the new anime series is being
Photos by C.B. Liddell
with bands that wore their political hearts on their
sleeves. Hailing from North Wales, The Alarm
were often associated with other anthemic rock
acts from the Celtic fringe like U2, Big Country
and Simple Minds.
Peters rejects criticism levelled at Bono, who
is a close personal friend. “Recently I was doing
a show in Cardiff,” he recalls. “Towards the end,
the presenter pulled me to one side and said
we’ve got a video message here from an aspiring
young band who have got some questions for
you. I had no idea what was coming, and up on
the screen popped Bono and all of U2 eulogizing
Declaration and singing ‘Going Out in a Blaze of
Glory.’ I was absolutely blown away. They didn’t
have to do that, but they took the time out to
send their best wishes, and I think that says a
lot about them.”
Peters is now reviving The Alarm’s stirring
debut album in a unique one-man show that will
come to Tokyo later this month. But those who
remember the original Declaration album may
be in for a surprise, as Peters is reinterpreting the
album with a more acoustic slant.
“Yes, the show will be very acoustic," he says.
"But it’ll have the crossover. Y’know, there was
always a point in an Alarm gig where we put
our foot on the stomp box and everything suddenly went electric, so expect some of that.” It
seems fans can expect even his one-man show
to live twice.
Billboard Live, Aug 25. See concert listings for
details. www.thealarm.com/archives/21506
aired entirely online, with subtitle options in up
to 12 languages depending on the broadcaster.
A retelling of the 1992-1997 series, Sailor
Moon Crystal promises not only to take advantage of developments in animation technology,
but also to offer depth that was not previously
possible even in the pages of the manga.
“The old anime series and the manga started
simultaneously,” explains Yuh Kaminoki, series
producer for Toei Animation. “Our advantage
now is that the series is complete. … We know
where we’re going, and we can determine how
to give the animated version a strong sense of
completion as a whole work. So as we produce
[manga arist Naoko] Takeuchi-sensei’s story as
an anime this time around, we’re conscious that
there are elements that weren’t included last
time but which are now complete, and we want
to focus on those areas.”
Kaminoki hints there were even developments discussed between Osano and Takeuchi
that were ultimately dropped—but which might
be explored this time around. Asked if there will
be any intentional changes to the source mate-
ART
ART X SPACE
A mind-expanding
exhibition at MOT
BY C.B. LIDDELL
What better escape from the hot, humid days
of summer than an hour or two in a spacious,
air-cooled and uncrowded museum with an
exhibition that transports you into the chilling
realms of space?
The Museum of Contemporary Art,
known for some obscure reason by the acronym MOT (Museum of Tomorrow?), likes
to justify its existence by putting on exhibitions that are either “worthy,” “educational”
or “popular.” While its best attended shows
tend to offer famous animation art or “kid appeal,” such content threatens to undercut the
institution’s “serious art” credibility.
The latest show, “Art X Space,” seems to
be an attempt to square some of these circles
by mixing serious art with geek-‘n’-kid fodder.
Kids will be excited by the rockets and
other space gear on display, like the moon
buggy posed against a lunar film set or the
discarded fairing (the external structure
added to the nose of a rocket to streamline
it during launch) placed next to a model of
the rocket it fell from.
rial, Kaminoki says coyly, “Well, a little—you’ll
just have to wait and see!”
The original Sailor Moon comprised 200
episodes and 18 volumes of manga, spawning dozens of video games, three TV specials, three movies, a live-action TV show and
a musical, the latter running for roughly 850
performances from 1993-2005. The musical was revived last year, even drawing cast
members from respected Japanese theater
troupes Takarazuka and Gekidan Shiki.
Osano and Kaminoki are cautious, however, about the prospect of other anime being
slated for simultaneous multilingual release.
“The success of this effort will have a pretty big
effect on the methods we use in the future,”
Osano says. But he remains optimistic: “I think
this is an anime that foreigners and people
overseas can enjoy even as adults. We’d very
much like them to check it out.”
Sailor Moon Crystal airs the first and third
Saturday each month on niconico, Hulu,
Crunchyroll and others.
Universe of Water Particles under Satellite’s Gravity,
2014 by teamLab.
Such exhibits, along with examples of the
space-themed manga of Leiji Matsumoto, have
obvious space-geek appeal. But this is not just
another science museum show; there is also
plenty of more serious and creative art.
Takuro Osaka’s Fullness of Emptiness Integral
(2014) is a large room with 500 LED lightbulbs that
switch off as they are hit by cosmic rays. The idea
is fascinating, but aesthetically it’s a little bleak.
But there are also works that create real beauty,
like Keiko Kimoto’s Velvet Order (2014), which
uses computerized mathematical equations to
create dynamic abstract patterns that have all the
beauty of shifting clouds and waves—or undulating gas nebulae several light years from Earth.
Also worth seeing is teamLab’s large video
installation Cold Life (Calligraphy: Sisyu)” (2014)
in which the Japanese character for “life” (生)
is animated in virtual 3-D space, then metamorphoses into a tree that passes through the
seasons while emanating various lifeforms.
Just when you think the exhibition is a science fair, it suddenly turns into an art show and
vice-versa. And as soon as you conclude that
it’s a serious event geared for adults, it suddenly reverts back to being an outing for the
kids—as driven home by Space Dance (2009),
an extremely interactive work right at the end.
Museum of Contemporary Art, until Aug 31.
See exhibition listings (Kayabacho/Kiba) for
details.
Fullness of
Emptiness
Integral,
2014
15
agenda
WATCH LIST
Courtesy of Womb
東京高円寺阿波おどり
EDITOR’S PICK AUG 23-24
KOENJI AWA ODORI
Ten thousand dancers and a million oglers
cram the streets of Koenji for what has
become one of Tokyo’s most energetic
annual festivals. The Koenji Awa Odori
is a recent Tokyo tradition, though—the
festival is based in the folk traditions of
Shikoku’s Tokushima Prefecture, which for
centuries has been known for its unbridled
take on Japan’s bon odori dance for the
dead. The Tokyo edition was apparently
launched by Tokushima migrants in 1956,
and is now Japan’s second-largest Awa
dance event. —Dan Grunebaum
Aug 23-24, all day, free. Koenji area.
Koenji. www.koenji-awaodori.com
AUG 22
FABRIC LONDON X WOMB TOKYO
Mega-clubs Fabric and Womb team up to bring drum ‘n’
bass avatar LTJ Bukem to Tokyo. Aug 22, 11pm, ¥3,000
(member or w/flier)/ ¥3,500 (door). Womb. Shibuya.
www.womb.co.jp
AUG 14-17
SLEEP
©Koen Broos
Choreographer
Saburo Teshigawara’s
latest piece, with
Aurélie Dupont. Aug
14, 7pm; Aug 15 & 17,
4pm; Aug 16, 3 & 7pm,
¥4,000-7,000. Tokyo
Metropolitan Theatre.
Ikebukuro. Tel:
03-5391-2111. www.
geigeki.jp
AUG 29-31
BABEL
High art, pop culture, drama and
dance collide in this strange and
evocative new work reuniting
Belgian choreographers Sidi Larbi
Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet with
visual designer Antony Gormley.
Theatre Orb. Shibuya. http://
theatre-orb.com/english/
UNTIL AUG 31
SPACE EXPO 2014: THE GREAT
CHALLENGE OF NASA/JAXA
UNTIL SEP 25
Utagawa Kuniyoshi “Haunted Old Palace at Sōma”, private collection
Courtesy of Sierra Nevada Corporation
SPECTERS,
GHOSTS AND
SORCERERS IN
UKIYO-E
Extraterrestrial exploration from 1897 until modern times.
Until Sep 23, ¥900-2,500. 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku.
Kaihin-Makuhari. www.m-messe.co.jp
Traditional prints of ghastly
ghouls and creepy critters.
Until Sep 25, ¥600-900.
Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial
Museum of Art. Open
Tue-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm,
closed Mon. 1-10-10
Jingumae. Harajuku.
www.ukiyoe-ota-muse.jp
hot tickets
AUG 13-14
SEP 14-28
NOV 1-24
NOV 15-16
FEB 27-28, 2015
Lady Gaga
Sumo: September Grand
Tournament
Singin' in the Rain
Knot Fest Japan
One Direction
With Momoiro CloverZ and Lady
Starlight. Aug 13-14, 6pm, ¥10,00025,000. QVC Marine Field. KaihinMakuhari. Tel: 043-296-1227. http://
ladygaga-japantour2014.com
Tickets on sale now!
16
Sep 14-28, various times, ¥2,20037,200. Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ryogoku. Tel: 03-3623-5111.
www.sumo.or.jp/en
Tickets on sale from Aug 9
Popular West End musical show
makes a splash in Tokyo. Nov
1-24, various times, ¥6,50013,000. Theatre Orb. Shibuya.
Tel: 0570-08-9999. http://
singinintherain.jp
Tickets on sale now!
Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Korn and
others. Nov 15-16, noon, ¥14,000
(1 day, adv)/ ¥27,000 (adv, 2days).
Makuhari Messe. Kaihin-Makuhari.
www.knotfestjapan.com
Tickets on sale now!
Feb 27, 7pm; Feb 28, 4pm; Mar 1,
3pm, ¥12,000-28,000 (adv). Saitama
Super Arena. Saitama-Shintoshin.
www.creativeman.co.jp
Tickets on sale now!
Concerts
POPULAR
Dreams Come True
J-pop duo. Aug 23-24, 5pm,
¥8,100 (adv). Saitama Super
Arena. Saitama-Shintoshin.
www.dreamscometrue.com
Eddie Sheeran
English singer-songwriter who
thinks out loud. Aug 8, 7pm,
¥5,800 (adv) +1d. Studio Coast.
Shin-Kiba. www.smash-jpn.
com
Flumpool
J-pop anime songmakers
from Osaka. Aug 9, 6pm;
Aug 10, 5pm, ¥5,800 (adv)
+1d. Yokohama Arena.
Shin-Yokohama. Tel: 045-4744000. www.flumpool.jp
Rock in Japan Fes
Kreva, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu,
Orange Range and more. Aug
9-10, 10:30am, ¥12,000 (1
day, adv)/ ¥22,500 (2 days,
adv)/ ¥41,000 (4 days. adv).
National Hitachi Kaihin Park.
Kaihinkoen. Tel: 029-2659001. http://rijfes.jp
Jolt Touring Festival
Legendary sound artist
Akio Suzuki plays with Tetsu
Saitoh and others. Aug 9,
7pm, ¥2,800 (adv)/ ¥3,300
(door) +1d. SuperDeluxe.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-54120515. www.joltarts.org
The Watanabes
Tokyo indie pop outfit with
folk rockers The Kave. Aug 9,
8pm, free. What the Dickens.
Ebisu. Tel: 03-3780-2099.
www.whatthedickens.jp
Richie Sambora
Longtime lead guitarist of
Bon Jovi goes solo. Aug
13, 7:30pm, ¥8,000-9,000.
Ex Theater Roppongi. Roppongi or Nogizaka.
Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.
ex-theater.com
Mothercoat
With How to Count One to Ten
and others. Aug 13, 6:30pm,
¥2,500 (adv)/ ¥3,000 (door)
+1d. Shinjuku Loft. Shinjuku.
www.mothercoat.com/en
Former vocalist of The Alarm
goes solo. Aug 25, 7 & 9:30pm,
¥4,800-6,800. Billboard Live.
Roppongi. www.billboardlive.com
The Three Degrees
Banda Mandacarinho
’70s soul music. Aug 26-27,
7 & 9:30pm, ¥7,500-9,500.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
www.billboard-live.com
Brazilian music. Aug 14,
7 & 9pm, ¥4,500-24,000.
Motion Blue. Bashamichi.
Tel: 045-226-1919. www.
motionblue.co.jp
Mike Peters
Animelo Summer Live 2014
The biggest anime song
concert in Japan. Aug
29-31, 4pm, ¥8,700 (adv)
+1d. Saitama Super Arena.
Saitama-Shintoshin. www.
anisama.tv
Kitazawa Typhoon
One-day rock festival with
But By Fall, Snail Ramp
and others. Aug 30, 2pm,
¥3,300 (adv) +1d. Livehouses
around Shimokitazawa.
Shimokitazawa. www.
kitazawatyphoon.com
Otodama Sea Studio
Music festival on the beach
with Aqua Timez, Konishiki and
more. Until Aug 31, various
times, various prices. Otodama
Sea Studio. Yuigahama Beach,
Kamakura. Kamakura. www.
otodama-beach.com/2014
Danger Danger
American ’80s hard rock band.
Sep 3-4, 7pm, ¥6,500 (adv)
+1d. Club Quattro. Shibuya.
Tel: 0570-02-9999. www.
creativeman.co.jp
Fear, and Loathing in Las
Vegas
Electro-metal youngsters.
Sep 4, 7pm, ¥3,300 (adv) +1d.
Studio Coast. Shin-Kiba.
Tel: 03-3499-6669. www.
creativeman.co.jp
Delay 2014
Indie psychedelic rock band
Ogre You Asshole with
Manners. Sep 5, 7:30pm,
¥3,600 (adv) +1d. Shindaita
Fever. Shindaita. Tel:
03-6304-7899. doobie-web.
com/event/140905oya.php
JAZZ/WORLD
Na Leo
Collaboration project with
members from Mongol800, Soil
& “Pimp” Sessions and more.
Aug 14, 7pm, ¥5,500-6,500
(adv) +1d. Ex Theater Roppongi.
Roppongi or Nogizaka. www.
ex-theater.com
Authentic Hawaiian music
featuring Aureana Tseu and
Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona.
Aug 8, 5:30 & 8:30pm; Aug
9, 2 & 5pm, ¥6,700-8,700.
Billboard Live. Roppongi.
www.billboard-live.com
Sonicmania
Inner Garden Live
Kasabian and others. Aug
15, 10pm, ¥10,500-20,000.
Makuhari Messe. KaihinMakuhari. www.summersonic.
com/2014
Various musicians performing
throughout the day. Aug 9,
6pm; Aug 10, 3pm, free. Mori
no Hall. Hashimoto. Tel:
042-775-3811. www.hall-net.
or.jp/02hashimoto
Rising Sun Rock Festival
Naruyoshi Kikuchi
Smooth jazz. Aug 10, 5 & 8pm,
¥6,000-24,000. Motion Blue.
Bashamichi. Tel: 045-2261919. www.motionblue.co.jp
Music festival with Arctic
Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold
and more. Aug 16-17, 11am,
¥15,500 (1 day)/ ¥28,500
(2 days). Makuhari Messe.
Kaihin-Makuhari. www.
summersonic.com/2014
Cheeky Parade
J-pop idol group. Aug 16, 1
& 5pm, ¥3,900 (adv) +1d. Ex
Theater Roppongi. Roppongi
or Nogizaka. www.ex-theater.
com
Jazz pianist. Aug 17, 2 &
3pm, ¥2,000. Softwind.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-68087337. www.softwind.jp
Jazz piano and sax duo. Aug
18, 8 & 9:30pm, ¥2,500.
Softwind. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6808-7337. www.
softwind.jp
Tokyo Symphony
Orchestra Finale Concert
Conducted by Shigeo Genda.
Aug 10, 3pm, ¥2,000-4,000.
Muza Kawasaki Symphony
Hall. Kawasaki. Tel:
044-520-0100. www.
kawasaki-sym-hall.jp
Piano Quartet
France-themed music. Aug
11, 7pm, ¥3,500. Tokyo Opera
City Recital Hall. Hatsudai
or Shinjuku. Tel: 03-53539999. www.operacity.jp
Percussion ensemble
performance for the entire
family. Aug 14, 11:30am, free.
Suntory Hall. Roppongiitchome. Tel: 0570-550017. www.suntory.co.jp/
suntoryhall
Nobuaki Yamamasu
American jazz pianist. Aug
19-21, 7 & 9:30pm, ¥6,7008,700. Billboard Live.
Roppongi. www.billboardlive.com
Male tenor singer. Aug 15,
7pm, ¥3,000. Yokohama
Minato Mirai Hall.
Minatomirai. Tel: 045-6822020. www.yaf.or.jp
Edogawa Jazz Night
Dolce Summer Concert
Summer jazz event with
various artists. Aug 23, 5pm,
¥5,500. Edogawa Bunka
Center. Shinkoiwa or Koiwa.
Tel: 03-3652-1111. edogawabunkacenter.jp
For the entire family. Aug 16,
11am, free. Yokohama Minato
Mirai Hall. Minatomirai. Tel:
045-682-2020. www.yaf.or.jp
Hapa
Authentic Hawaiian music
duo. Aug 23, 5 & 8pm,
¥6,500-8,500. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp
Sukiyaki Tokyo
World music festival with
Mayra Andrade and others.
Aug 26-28, 7pm, ¥4,800-5,500
(adv, 1 day)/ ¥12,000 (adv, 3
days). WWW. Shibuya. http://
novusaxis.com/st14.html
19-piece ensemble led by
Jonathan Katz and featuring
Tokyo-based musicians. Aug
28, 7:30 & 9pm, ¥4,000 (adv)/
¥4,500 (door). Akasaka B Flat.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-55632563. http://bflat.biz
Senzoku Gakuen Concert
Performed by junior high and
high school students. Aug 17,
5pm, ¥2,000-3,000. Suntory
Hall. Roppongi-itchome. Tel:
0570-55-0017. www.suntory.
co.jp/suntoryhall
Minato Mirai Indoor
Concert
Performed by top musicians
from the Tokyo Philharmonic
Orchestra. Aug 18, 12:10
& 2:30pm, ¥800-1,400.
Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.
Minatomirai. Tel: 045-6822020. www.yaf.or.jp
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony
Orchestra Summer Festival
With pianist Nikolay
Khozyainov. Aug 20, 6:30pm,
¥3,600-7,200. Suntory Hall.
Roppongi-itchome. Tel:
0570-55-0017. www.suntory.
co.jp/suntoryhall
Blue Mt. Boys
Classic country and western
and bluegrass. Every third
Sat, 6:30 & 7:30pm, free,
Cafe Sepia. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-3406-1300. www.
nagaremono.com/sepia
CLASSICAL
Pascal Dusapin
Conducted by Alexander
Liebreich and performed
by the Tokyo Symphony
Orchestra. Aug 21, 7pm,
¥1,000-4,000. Suntory Hall.
Roppongi-itchome. Tel:
0570-55-0017. www.suntory.
co.jp/suntoryhall
Tokyo New City Orchestra
Operetta. Aug 8, 3pm,
¥2,000-4,000. Muza Kawasaki
Symphony Hall. Kawasaki.
Tel: 044-520-0100. www.
kawasaki-sym-hall.jp
Danny Elfman’s Music from
the Films of Tim Burton
Joe Hisaishi
Instrumental jazz. Aug 11, 8
& 9:30pm, ¥3,200. Softwind.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-68087337. www.softwind.jp
Performing various songs
including popular pieces
from Ghibli films. Aug 9, 5pm,
¥6,800-8,800. Suntory Hall.
Roppongi-itchome. Tel:
0570-55-0017. www.suntory.
co.jp/suntoryhall
Tel: 03-5244-101. www.
slavasnowshow.jp
AUG 8 (FRI) - 10 (SUN)
Blast!
Explosive musical spectacle.
Until Aug 24, various times,
¥8,000-13,000 (adv). Tokyo
International Forum Hall C.
Yurakucho. Tel: 0570-550799. www.blast-tour.jp
War Horse
South Africa’s Handspring
Puppet Company brings
breathing, galloping, full-scale
horses to life onstage.
Until Aug 24, various times,
¥8,000-13,000. Theatre Orb.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-34779999. www.theatre-orb.com
GRAND OPENING
PARTY
Top 40 by DJ Klutch (NYC)
and more. Open from
11pm. (M)¥3,000/2drinks
(F)¥2,000/2drinks. Tel:
03-6826-8438. 2-17-3
Shibuya. Shibuya.
www.socialclubtokyo.com
Idomeneo
Air
Mozart’s opera recounts the
story of Helen of Troy. Sep
12-13, 3pm; Sep 14-15, 1pm,
¥2,000-18,000. New National
Theatre Tokyo. Hatsudai.
Tel: 03-3234-9999. www.
nikikai.net
Reboot. Techno: DJs Tom
Hades, Qhey, etc. From
10pm, ¥3,500. Shibuya.
www.air-tokyo.com
Dance
Daikanyama Unit
10th Anniversary. House: DJs
Maurice Fulton, Sprinkles,
etc. From 11:30pm, ¥3,000.
Daikanyama. www.
unit-tokyo.com
A Night of Royal Elegance
Tokyo Big Band
Takada Izumi Trio
Smooth jazz. Aug 12, 7 & 9pm,
Annual classical music
festival. Until Sep 6, various
times, various prices. Various
venues across Matsumoto
city, Nagano. Matsumoto.
Tel: 0570-084-735. www.
saito-kinen.com
Robert Glasper
Experiment
Legendary jazz fusion guitarist.
Aug 10, 5 & 8pm; Aug 11-12,
6:30 & 9pm, ¥7,500-9,500.
Motion Blue. Bashamichi.
Tel: 045-226-1919. www.
motionblue.co.jp
Ryo Ogihara Trio
Saito Kinen Festival
Klar
Live orchestra plays famous
scores by Danny Elfman
with visuals of Tim Burton’s
original sketches and
storyboards. Aug 9, 6:30pm;
Aug 10, 1pm, ¥5,800-9,800.
Tokyo International Forum.
Yurakucho. Tel: 0570-550799. www.elfman-burton.jp
Dean Brown Group
Summer Sonic
Hiromi
Akira Ishii and Ken Ohta
The King All Stars
Crossfaith, 9mm Parabellum
Bullet, Boom Boom Satellites
and more. Aug 15-16, all day,
¥9,300 (adv, 1 day)/ ¥18,500
(adv, 2 days). Ishikari, Hokkaido.
http://rsr.wess.co.jp/2014
David Benoit
Solo pianist, will play your
requests during the second
half of the show. Aug 13-15,
6:30pm; Aug 16-17, 5pm,
¥8,500-10,500. Cotton Club.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-3215-1555.
www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp
MTV Zushi Fes
Rip Slyme, AK-69, Cream
and others. Aug 8-10, noon,
¥8,200 (1 day)/ ¥20,000 (3
days). Zushi Marina. Riviera
Zushi Marina Mae or Kotsubo.
Tel: 0570-550-799. www.
mtvjapan.com/zushifes2014
¥3,600-20,400. Motion Blue.
Bashamichi. Tel: 045-2261919. www.motionblue.co.jp
Movie Classics
Tokyo Pops Symphony
Orchestra performs Moon
River, Speak Softly Love and
other popular movie songs.
Aug 22, 7pm, ¥5,000-6,000.
Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.
Minatomirai. Tel: 045-6822020. www.yaf.or.jp
Stage
Moon Saga: Yoshitsune
Hiden Dainisho
Starring Gackt. Aug 8-18,
various times, ¥8,000-26,000.
Meijiza. Hamacho. Tel:
03-3666-6666. www.meijiza.
co.jp
Slava's Snowshow
Snow spectacle to cool down
in the summer heat. Until Aug
17, various times, ¥6,500.
Theater 1010. Kitasenju.
Top dancers from the Royal
Ballet and the Birmingham
Royal Ballet. Aug 8, 7pm;
Aug 9-10, 1:30pm, ¥11,80013,800. Nippon Seinenkan
Hall. Sendagaya. Tel:
0570-02-9999. www.
royalelegancenight.com
Argentango
Collaboration project between
dance groups Badgirls
and Tango Boys. Until Aug
26, various times, ¥8,800.
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-53912111. www.geigeki.jp
Rock the Ballet 2
21st century dance company
performs with art video
projection and modern
music. Aug 28-31, various
times, ¥6,000-8,000. Tokyo
Metropolitan Theatre.
Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-53912111. www.geigeki.jp
Module
Double A Side. Electro,
techno: DJs Miyu, Signal, etc.
From 10pm, ¥2,000 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com
Origami
Funk D’void x Iam O’brien.
Techno: DJs Funk Dvoid x
Iam Obrien, etc. From 10pm,
¥3,500. Omotesando. Tel:
03-6434-0968. meturl.com/
origamiclub
Sound Museum Vision
Girls Festival. Hip-hop: DJs
Kango, Showwgo, etc. From
10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/1d, (f)
free. Shibuya. www.visiontokyo.com
T2
Shibuya Mixx!! Edm: Various
DJs. From 10pm, (m)¥3,500
w/2d, (f)¥2,500 w/2d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
The Tokyo Ballet 50th
Anniversary Gala
The New Matrix Bar
Performances from La
Bayadère, Boléro and more.
Aug 30-31, 3pm, ¥5,00022,000. NHK Hall. Shibuya.
english@nbs.or.jp. www.
nbs.or.jp
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
Ochiatteiru
The Room
All-female dance company
presents its latest creation.
Sep 4-5, 7pm; Sep 6, 2 & 7pm;
Sep 7, 3pm, ¥3,000-4,500.
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-53912111. www.geigeki.jp
Destination. Broken beats:
DJs Oka, Sayuri, etc.
From 11pm, ¥2,000 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
Hear My Sole
New York-based tap dancer
Kazunori Kumagai’s solo
show. Sep 12, 7pm; Sep
13, 2pm, ¥4,000-8,800.
Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-53539522. www.bunkamura.co.jp
Men in Pink Tights
Ballet Eloelle presents a fresh
and funny take on classical
dance. Sep 14, 2pm; Sep
15, 2pm, ¥5,000-7,500.
Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
Shibuya. Tel: 050-37766184. www.bunkamura.co.jp
Clubbing
FRIDAY 8
Womb
Edm Music Festival. Edm: DJ
Future Boyz and more. From
11pm, ¥3,500. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.
womb.co.jp
SATURDAY 9
Ageha
The Wonderland. Edm,
house: DJ Daishi Dance and
more. From 11pm, ¥3,500.
Shinkiba. www.ageha.com
Air
Acid City. Techno, house:
DJs Emma, Gonno, etc. From
10pm, ¥3,000. Shibuya.
www.air-tokyo.com
Daikanyama Unit
Traxman. House: DJ Traxman
and more. From 11pm,
¥3,500. Daikanyama.
www.unit-tokyo.com
Ageha
Tjo to Waipa to Yukaina
Nakamatachi. All good music,
hip-hop: DJs Wildparty, Kz,
etc. From 11pm, (m)¥3,000,
(f)¥2,500. Shinkiba. www.
ageha.com
Origami
Libre. Techno: DJs Aril Brikha,
Tsutsui, etc. From 10pm,
¥3,000. Omotesando. Tel:
03-6434-0968. meturl.com/
origamiclub
17
Sound Museum Vision
Alien Radio. Techno: DJs
Mandy, Groove Patrol, etc.
From 10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥3,000 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.vision-tokyo.com
The New Matrix Bar
Saturday Night Fever.
Hip-hop, R&B, reggae: DJ Ykk
and more. From 6pm, ¥1,000
(after 10pm). Roppongi.
www.matrixbar.jp
DJs. From 10pm, (m)¥2,500
w/2d, (f)¥1,500 w/2d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Exhibitions
Womb
21_21 Design Sight
Pop Girls. Edm: DJs Saorin5,
Mamicho, etc. From 10pm,
(m)¥1,500, (f) free. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.
womb.co.jp
Image-Makers. Mixed media
portraying a world of images
and fantasy. Until Oct 5,
¥500-1,000. Open Mon &
Wed-Sun 11am-8pm, closed
Tue. 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku.
Nogizaka. Tel: 03-34752121. www.2121designsight.jp
FRIDAY 15
The Room
Ageha
Tokyo Jazz Meeting. Jazz,
crossover: DJs Patrick Forge,
Shacho. From 11pm, ¥2,500
w/1d. Shibuya. www.
theroom.jp
The Big Party. All mix: DJs
Kaori, Hal, etc. From 11pm,
(m)¥3,000, (f)¥2,500.
Shinkiba. www.ageha.com
Air
Womb
Tresvibes. House, techno: DJs
Dana Ruh, Otsuki, etc. From
11pm, ¥3,500. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5459-0039. www.womb.
co.jp
SUNDAY 10
Module
Hell. All good music: DJs Tetta,
Onny, etc. From 4pm, ¥2,000
w/1d. Shibuya. www.moduletokyo.com
The Room
Em. Nu classic: DJs Sazanami,
Cbtek, etc. From midnight,
¥2,000 w/1d. Shibuya. www.
theroom.jp
Party Jam. All mix: DJs
Daruma, Jommy, etc. From
10pm, ¥3,000. Shibuya.
www.air-tokyo.com
Origami
Dense & Pika x Sodeyama.
Techno, house: DJs Dense
& Pika, Sodeyama, etc.
From 10pm, ¥3,500.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-64340968. meturl.com/origamiclub
Sound Museum Vision
Natsumatsuri. Hip-hop,
electro: DJs Verbal, Taku, etc.
From 10pm, (m)¥3,500 w/1d,
(f)¥3,000 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.vision-tokyo.com
T2
Womb
Release. Drumnbass, electro:
DJs Signal, Hibiki, etc. From
midnight, ¥2,500. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.
womb.co.jp
TUESDAY 12
Module
Lov. All good music:
DJs Java, Sayuri, etc. From
9pm, ¥1,500 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.module-tokyo.com
World Craft Beer Fair Aug 9-17
Limited beer barrels and bottled beer.
Beer barrels from Scotland and Czech Republic.
Bottled beers from America, Czech Republic,
Scotland, and New Zealand.
Enjoy our great selections
of Irish and European brews.
Ruby Room
Open Mic. Open Mic. From
7pm, ¥1,000 w/2d. Shibuya.
www.rubyroomtokyo.com
Shibuya Mixx. Edm: Various
DJs. From 10pm, (m)¥3,500
w/2d, (f)¥2,500 w/2d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
Wah Wah. Rare groove:
DJs Kuroda, Ryuhei, etc.
From 11pm, ¥2,500 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.theroom.jp
Womb
Dash Berlin. Edm, progressive:
DJs Dash Berlin, Hirata,
etc. From 11pm, ¥4,000.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
UPCOMING
Ageha
Summer 2014. House, techno:
DJs Luciano, Cesar Merveille,
etc. Aug 16, from 11pm,
¥3,500. Shinkiba. www.
ageha.com
Womb
Tuemix. Edm, top40: DJs
Alpha One, Sylar, etc. From
10pm, (m)¥1,500, (f)free.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
Spacious 5F terrace
over looking
central Shibuya!
WEDNESDAY 13
Air
Avn/ Ocs B2b. Techno: DJs
Shifted, Sigha, etc. Aug
16, from 10pm, ¥3,500.
Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.
com
Module
T2
Tokyu
Plaza
More details
http://failte.jp
5F, Sede Bldg. 1-5-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya
OPEN 5:30pm-2am (Mon-Sat)
3-11pm (Sunday & hols)
tel: 03-3476-7776
Shibuya Girls Party. Edm:
Various DJs. From 10pm,
(m)¥2,500 w/2d, (f)¥1,500
w/2d. Shibuya. Tel:
03-5428-8692. www.
t2-shibuya.com
The Room
The Room Bar. Bar style: DJs
Seimei, Saitou, etc. From
midnight, free. Shibuya.
www.theroom.jp
Wedm. Edm: DJs Hiroki,
Ikezawa, etc. From 10pm,
(m)¥1,500, (f) free. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.
womb.co.jp
THURSDAY 14
For the cost of postage get Metropolis
on your doorstep—and have ransom
note material for decades.
Air
http://metropolis.co.jp/subscription
T2
18
Quark x Init. Techno, house:
DJs Standard Fair, Yoshitaca,
etc. Aug 16, from 10pm,
¥2,500. Shibuya. www.
module-tokyo.com
Origami
John Daly. Electronic: DJs
John Daly, Okamoto, etc.
Aug 16, from 10pm, ¥3,000.
Omotesando. Tel: 03-64340968. meturl.com/origamiclub
Sound Museum Vision
Womb
Sonica. Techno, house:
DJs Sodeyama, Qp, etc.
From 10pm, ¥2,000 w/1d.
Shibuya. www.air-tokyo.
com
Happiness. World mix: Various
Mori Art Museum
Go-Betweens: The World Seen
through Children. Various
photographers express the
complex emotions and unique
experiences of childhood. Until
Aug 31, ¥1,000-1,500. Open
Mon & Wed-Sun 10am-10pm,
Tue 10am-5pm. 6-10-1
Roppongi. Roppongi. Tel:
03-5777-8600. www.mori.art.
museum
Mori Arts Center Gallery
Takehiko Inoue Interprets
Gaudi’s Universe. Japanese
artist’s take on one of Spain’s
architectural geniuses. Until
Sep 7, ¥800-1,300. 52F
Roppongi Hills Tower, 6-10-1
Roppongi. Roppongi. www.
roppongihills.com/art/macg/
Ota Fine Arts
Tang Dixin. Mixed media. Solo
exhibition by contemporary
artist from Shanghai. Until Aug
9, free. Tue-Sat, 11am-7pm,
closed Mon, Sun & hols.
3F Piramide Bldg. 6-6-9
Roppongi. Roppongi.
Tel: 03-6447-1123. www.
otafinearts.com/en
The Room
T2
Super Tuesday. Edm: Various
DJs. From 10pm, (m)¥2,500
w/2d, (f)¥1,500 w/2d.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54288692. www.t2-shibuya.com
AKASAKA/ROPPONGI
Ol Killer. All mix: DJs Ol
Killer, Osawa, etc. Aug 16,
from 10pm, (m)¥3,000 w/1d,
(f)¥2,500 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.vision-tokyo.com
The Room
Magic. House, disco: DJs
Kawasaki, Endo. Aug 16, from
9pm, ¥2,500 w/1d. Shibuya.
www.theroom.jp
Suntory Museum of Art
The Radiance of Stillness
and Motion: Bohemian Glass.
Exclusive pieces from the
Museum of Decorative Arts
in Prague. Until Sep 28,
¥800-1,300. Open Wed-Sat
10am-8pm, Sun-Mon & hols
10am-6pm, closed Tue.
9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku.
Roppongi. www.suntory.
jp/sma
The National Art Center,
Tokyo
The Birth of Impressionism—
Freedom in Painting:
Masterpieces from the
Musée d'Orsay. Impressionist
masterpieces from Paris. Until
Oct 20, ¥800-1,600. Ballets
Russes: The Art of Costume.
Luxurious and painstakingly
made apparel. Until Sep 1,
¥600-1,500. Open Wed-Thu,
Sat-Mon 10am-6pm, Fri
10am-8pm, closed Tue. 7-22-2
Roppongi. Nogizaka. www.
nact.jp
Wako Works of Art
Nellie. Photography and film
by Fiona Tan. Until Sep 27,
free. Open Tue-Sat 11am-7pm,
closed Sun-Mon. 3F Pyramid
Bldg, 6-6-9 Roppongi.
Roppongi. www.wako-art.jp
GINZA/KYOBASHI/
TOKYO
Bridgestone Museum of
Art
Time and Painting — 24
Episodes. 160 works ranging
from ancient art to Rembrandt,
Renoir and Monet. Until Sep
23, ¥500-800. Open Tue-Sun
& hols 10am-8pm, closed Mon.
1-10-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku.
Tokyo. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
www.bridgestone-museum.
gr.jp
Womb
Craft Gallery, The National
Museum of Modern Art
Session. House, techno: DJs
The Junkies, Ohnishi, etc.
Aug 16, from 11pm, ¥3,500.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-54590039. www.womb.co.jp
For Kids & Adults: Exciting
Patterns. Mixed media. Explore
patterns and rhythms in
nature and ordinary objects.
Until Aug 31, ¥70-200.
Open Tue-Thu 10am-5pm,
Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun
10am-5pm. 1-1 Kitanomarukoen. Takebashi. Tel:
03-5777-8600. www.momat.
go.jp/english
Ginza Graphic Gallery
So French. Posters by Michel
Bouvet. Sep 3-27, free. Open
Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat
11am-6pm, closed Sun & hols.
1F Ginza Bldg, 7-7-2 Ginza.
Ginza. www.tokyo.mae.lu/jp/
node_19876/hana-hito-tokyo
Idemitsu Museum of Arts
National Treasures of the
Munakata Shrine: The Sacred
Island of Okinoshima and Holy
Treasures from the Shrine.
Historical items from a sacred
island in Fukuoka prefecture.
Aug 16-Oct 13, ¥700-1,000.
Open Tue-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri
10am-7pm, closed Mon. 9F
Teigeki Bldg, 3-1-1 Marunouchi.
Tokyo. www.idemitsu.co.jp/
museum
Mitsubishi Ichigokan
Museum
Félix Vallotton—Fire Beneath
the Ice. Swiss painter
influenced by Japanese
woodcuts. Until Sep 23,
¥800-1,600. Wed-Fri
10am-8pm, Tue, Sat-Sun &
hols 10am-6pm, closed Mon.
2-6-2 Marunouchi. Tokyo.
Tel: 03-5405-8686. www.
mimt.jp
Mitsui Memorial Museum
Noh Masks and Costumes—
Look, Learn and Compare.
Discover the meanings behind
the different styles of masks
and extravagant stage-wear.
Until Sep 21, ¥500-1,000.
7F Mitsui Main Bldg, 2-1-1
Nihombashi-Muromachi,
Chuo-ku. Mitsukoshimae.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
mitsui-museum.jp
National Film Center
The Works of Hicozoh
Akamatsu and Movie Title
Design in Japan. Typography
and character styles. Until Aug
10, ¥70-210. Open Tue-Sun
11am-6:30pm, closed Mon.
3-7-6 Kyobashi. Kyobashi.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
momat.go.jp
Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial
Museum of Art
sompo-japan.co.jp/museum
Utagawa Kunisada: 150th
Anniversary of His Death.
Collection of prints by one of
the great ukiyo-e masters. Oct
1-Nov 24, ¥700-1,000. Open
Tue-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm,
closed Mon. 1-10-10 Jingumae.
Harajuku. www.ukiyoe-otamuse.jp
Tokyo Opera City Art
Gallery
The Way of Painting. Works by
new artists from 2000 onwards.
Until Sep 21, ¥800-1,000.
Open Tue-Thu 11am-7pm,
Fri-Sat 11am-8pm. 3-20-2
Nishi-Shinjuku. Hatsudai.
www.operacity.jp/en/ag
KAYABACHO/KIBA
UENO
Museum of Contemporary
Art Tokyo
The National Museum of
Western Art
Mission: Space X Art—Beyond
Cosmologies. Space-related
illustrations, photos and
installations. Until Aug 31,
¥800-1,300. Wonderful World.
Child-friendly event where kids
are free to explore and discover
art. Until Aug 31, ¥500-1,600.
Tue-Sun, 10am-6pm, closed
Mon. 4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku.
Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. www.
mot-art-museum.jp/eng
The Rings of the Hashimoto
Collection of the National
Museum of Western Art. Circular
bands of cultural significance.
Until Sep 15, ¥700-1,400.
Ferdinand Hodler: Towards
Rhythmic Images. Paintings by
one of the best-known Swiss
artists of the 19th century. Oct
7-Jan 12, ¥800-1,600. Open
daily 9:30am-5:30pm. 7-7 Ueno
Park. Ueno. www.nmwa.go.jp
SHIBUYA/EBISU
Tokyo Metropolitan Art
Museum
Bunkamura: The Museum
Art as a Haven of Happiness.
Mixed media. Rich harmonies
and vibrant colors by artists
born with Down syndrome.
Until Oct 8, ¥400-800.
Ancient Egyptian Queens and
Goddesses: Treasures from The
Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York. 200 masterpieces
including jewelry made for
Pharaoh Hatshepsut and
images of deities. Until Sep 23,
¥1,000-1,600. 8-36 Ueno Park.
Ueno. www.tobikan.jp
Visual Deception II: Into the
Future. Art that plays tricks on
the spectators’ eyes. Aug 9-Oct
5, ¥500-1,500. The Dream
of French Paintings: From
Impressionism to Ecole de Paris.
Select works by Monet, Chagall,
Cézanne, Foujita and more. Oct
18-Dec 14, ¥500-1,400. Open
Mon-Thu & Sun 10am-7pm,
Fri-Sat 10am-9pm. 2-24-1
Dogenzaka. Shibuya.
Tel: 03-5777-8600. www.
bunkamura.co.jp
George Nelson—Architect,
Writer, Designer, Teacher.
Mixed media works by one
of the founders of American
Modernism. Until Sep 18,
¥800-1,000. Open Tue-Sun
10am-6pm, closed Mon.
2-4-36 Meguro. Meguro. Tel:
03-3714-1201. www.mmat.jp
Tokyo Wonder Site Shibuya
TWS-Emerging 2014. New
artists showcase their works.
Aug 9-31, free. 1-19-8 Jinnan.
Shibuya. Tel: 03-3463-0603.
www.tokyo-ws.org/shibuya
SHINJUKU/IKEBUKURO
The National Museum of
Modern Art, Tokyo
Bunka Gakuen Costume
Museum
Guess What? Hardcore
Contemporary Art’s Truly a
World Treasure. Selected works
from the Yageo Foundation
Collection including art by
Francis Bacon. Until Aug 24,
¥500-1,200. Hishida Shunso: A
Retrospective. Works by a Meiji
period painter and innovator
of nihonga. Sep 23-Nov 3,
¥300-1,400. Open Tue-Thu
& Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri
10am-8pm. 3-1 Kitanomarukoen. Takebashi. Tel:
03-5777-8600. www.momat.
go.jp
Beads of the World. Bead
embroidery jewelry and trinkets
from all over the world. Until
Sep 13, ¥200-500. Mon-Sat
10am-4:30pm, closed Sun &
hols. Shinjuku Bunka Quint Bldg,
3-22-7 Yoyogi. Shinjuku. Tel:
03-3299-2387. www.bunka.
ac.jp/museum/text/english.html
HARAJUKU/AOYAMA
OTHER AREAS
Meguro Museum of Art
Hakone Museum of
Photography
Mt. Fuji. Katsura Endo's portrayal
of the ever-changing symbol of
Japan. Permanent exhibition,
¥300-500. European Scenery.
Photographs by Katsura Endo,
from the museum’s collection.
Until Sep 2, ¥500. 10am-5pm,
closed Tue (9am-9pm Sat from
May to August). 1300-432
Goura Hakonemachi,
Ashigarashimogun, Kanagawa.
Gora. Tel: 046-02-2717. www.
hmop.com
Hara Museum of
Contemporary Art
Art Scope 2012-2014: Remains
of Their Journeys. Results of a
Daimler Foundation-created
artist exchange between
German and Japanese artists.
Until Oct 13, ¥500-1,100. Open
Tue-Sun 11am-5pm, closed
Mon. 4-7-25 Kita-Shinagawa.
Kita-Shinagawa. Tel:
03-3445-0651. www.
haramuseum.or.jp
Hoki Museum
Hiromart Gallery
Freedom. Acrylic and oil
paintings by Yuka Goto and
Sachie Kashima. Until Aug
10, free. Open Wed-Sun
1-7pm, closed Mon-Tue.
1-30-7 Sekiguchi, Bunkyoku. Edogawabashi. www.
hiromartgallery.com
Ginza Dedesuke
Includes all-you-can-drink plan
(2 hours for ¥4500 per person)
*Available for groups of 4 people or more.
Food Menu
• Appetizer Assortment
• Choregi Salad
• Kimchi Assortment
• Vegetables Assortment for Grill
• Red Meat “Zanmai Mori”
(Cow Tongue, Today’s Red Meat,
and others)
• Horumon
• AssortmentIshiyaki Bibinpa or Rice
• Ice Candy
Hito Omoi, Hito Omou.
Painting. Lifelike portraits by
contemporary artists. Until
Nov 16, ¥900-1,800. Open
Mon & Wed-Thu 10am-6pm,
Fri-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun
10am-5pm, closed Tue. 3-15
Asumigaokahigashi, Midori-ku.
Toke. www.hoki-museum.jp
Espace Louis Vuitton
Steve McQueen. Mixed media.
New and original work by the
acclaimed British artist and
filmmaker. Until Aug 17, free.
Open noon-8pm daily, irregular
hols: see website. 7F, 5-7-5
Jingumae. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-5766-1094. www.
espacelouisvuittontokyo.com
Nezu Museum
Cool and Breezy: Summer
Greetings through Paintings
and Ceramics. Artworks and
messages conjure a sense
of cool respite from the heat.
Until Sep 7, ¥800-1,000.
Tue-Sun, 10am-4:30pm. 6-5-1
Minami-Aoyama, Minatoku. Omotesando. www.
nezu-muse.or.jp/en
NTT Intercommunication
Center
ICC Kids Program 2014: Inspiring
Questions—Questioning
Inspiration. Interactive
wonderland that encourages
children to think outside the
box. Until Aug 31, free. 4F
Tokyo Opera City Tower, 3-20-2
Nishi-Shinjuku. Hatsudai.
www.ntticc.or.jp
Japan Folk Crafts Museum
Shoji Hamada: Commemorating
the 120th Anniversary of the
Artist’s Birth. Pottery that fuses
both Eastern and Western
ceramic techniques. Until Aug
31, ¥200-1,100. 10am-5pm,
closed Mon. 4-3-33 Komaba.
Komabatodai. www.
mingeikan.or.jp
Miraikan
Sompo Japan Museum of
Art
Kinetic Art. Mixed media that
seems to move. Until Aug
24, ¥800-1,000. Tue-Sun,
10am-6pm, closed Mon. 42F
Sompo Japan Bldg. 1-26-1
Nishi-Shinjuku. Shinjuku.
Tel: 03-5405-8686. www.
Toilet!? Human Waste & Earth’s
Future. A playful explanation
of “what goes in, must come
out” and how it affects the
environment. Until Oct 5,
¥600-1,200. 2-3-6, Aomi,
Koto-ku. Telecom Center
station. Tel: 03-3570-9151.
www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en
1F Kaneko Bldg, 3-3-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Nearest stn: Ginza or Yurakucho
Tel: 03-5250-7767
www.dedesuke.com/horumon/
Open Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-3:30pm (lunch)
5pm-4am (dinner), Sat 11:30am-4am, Sun & hols 11:30am-11pm
19
Museum of Contemporary
Art Tokyo
Mission: Space X Art—Beyond
Cosmologies. Space-related
illustrations, photos and
installations. Until Aug 31,
¥800-1,300. Wonderful
World. Child-friendly event
where kids are free to explore
and discover art. Until Aug
31, ¥500-1,600. Tue-Sun,
10am-6pm, closed Mon. 4-1-1
Miyoshi, Koto-ku. KiyosumiShirakawa. www.mot-artmuseum.jp/eng
Okada Museum of Art
Spirit of China: Masterpieces
of Jade. Exquisite works of art
made from ornamental rock.
Until Sep 30, ¥1,800-2,800.
Open daily, 9am-5pm. 493-1
Kowakudani, Hakone-machi.
Kowakidani. Tel: 0460-873931. www.okada-museum.
com/en/
Since 1949
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
SUMMER INTENSIVE COURSE
www.evergreen.gr.jp
YUTENJI 03-3713-4958 JIYUGAOKA 03-3723-4785
Aug 11, 5:50pm, ¥4,00012,000. Korakuen Hall.
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-58009999.
Shintoken
Finding Modigliani: From
Parisian Avant-garde to
Classicism. Oil paintings and
sculptures by the Italian artist.
Until Sep 15, ¥700-1,800.
9am-4:30pm. 1285
Kozukayama, Sengokuhara,
Hakone-machi. Gora. www.
polamuseum.or.jp
Aug 18, 5:50pm, ¥3,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
Dangan111: Rookies Cup
Aug 22, 5:50pm, ¥4,000-6,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
GOLF
Setagaya Art Museum
info@evergreen.gr.jp
FREE TRIAL LESSON
The Container
SUMM
ER
PRIVAT
E
LESSON
10% O
FF
03-3713-4958
Legendary Houses in Postwar
Japan. Mid-20th century
architectural elegance. Until
Aug 31, ¥710-1,100. Open
daily 10:00am-5:30pm. 9-30-1
Tokiwa, Urawa-ku, Saitama-shi.
Kitaurawa. www.momas.jp
Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
Genius and Ambition: The
Royal Academy of Arts, London
1768-1918. Oil paintings by
Turner, Constable and others.
Sep 17-Nov 24, ¥400-1,300.
10am-5pm Tue-Sun, closed
Mon. Yano-machi 492-1
Hachioji. Tokyo Fuji
Bijitsukan. Tel: 042-691-4511.
www.fujibi.or.jp/en
Editors!
Metropolis, Japan’s No. 1 English magazine,
has full-time positions available in its editorial department.
See http://metropolis.co.jp/jobs/ for details
JLPGA
CAT Ladies. Aug 22-24, all day,
¥3,500. Dai-Hakone Country
Club. Sounzan.
KICKBOXING
Krush. 44
Aug 9, 6pm, ¥4,500-15,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
Kick Guts
Love Me, Bomb Me. Mixed
media by Brazilian-born Pedro
Inoue. Until Aug 17, free.
Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun
& hols 10am-8pm, closed
Tue. Hills Daikanyama, 1-8-30
Kami-Meguro. Naka-Meguro.
www.the-container.com
The Museum of Modern Art,
Saitama
20
BOXING
Dynamic Glove &
Dangan110
Pola Museum of Art
Looking East: Western Artists
and the Allure of Japan from the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Mixed media, including Claude
Monet’s “La Japonaise.” Until
Sep 15, ¥500-1,500. Open
Tue-Sun10am-6pm, closed Mon.
1-2 Kinuta-koen, Setagaya-ku.
Seijogakuenmae. Tel:
03-3415-6011. www.
setagayaartmuseum.or.jp/
index_e.html
* 6/30 – 9/26 FROM 1 WEEK
* SUMMER VACATION 8/4 – 8/9
* SPECIAL COURSES
QVC Marine Field. KaihinMakuhari. Tel: 043-296-1227.
●● Saitama Seibu Lions vs. Orix
Buffaloes. Aug 12-14, 6pm,
¥600-4,600. Seibu Dome.
Seibukyujomae. Tel: 04-29251141.
●● Saitama Seibu Lions vs.
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Aug 15-17, 6pm, ¥600-4,600.
Seibu Dome. Seibukyujomae.
Tel: 04-2925-1141.
●● Chiba Lotte Marines vs. Orix
Buffaloes. Aug 19-21, 6:15pm,
¥800-4,900. QVC Marine
Field. Kaihin-Makuhari. Tel:
043-296-1227.
Aug 10, 5pm, ¥5,000-15,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
MMA
Deep Jewels 5
Aug 9, 6pm, ¥5,000-10,000.
Shinjuku Face. Shinjuku. Tel:
03-3419-0536.
Pancrase 260
Aug 10, 2:30pm, ¥6,50010,500. Differ Ariake. Ariaketennis-no-mori. Tel: 03-55003731.
Deep 68 Impact
Aug 23, 6pm, ¥6,500-15,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
Aug 23, 6pm, ¥5,00050,000. Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ryogoku. Tel: 03-3623-5111.
MOTORCYCLE RACING
J. League, Division 1
●● Kawasaki Frontale vs.
Urawa Reds. Aug 9, 7pm,
¥800-4,600. Todoroki Stadium.
Musashikosugi. Tel: 044-7220303.
●● Omiya Ardija vs. Gamba
Osaka. Aug 9, 7pm, ¥1,0005,500. NACK5 Stadium.
Kitaomiya. Tel: 048-6447950.
●● Yokohama F. Marinos vs.
Kashiwa Reysol. Aug 9, 7pm,
¥1,000-5,300. Nissan Stadium.
Kozuke. Tel: 04-5477-5000.
●● Kashima Antlers vs. Ventforet
Kofu. Aug 16, 6:30pm, ¥1,4008,000. Kashima Soccer Stadium.
Kashima Sports Stadium.
●● Kawasaki Frontale vs.
Cerezo Osaka. Aug 16, 7pm,
¥800-4,600. Todoroki Stadium.
Musashikosugi. Tel: 044-7220303.
●● Urawa Reds vs. Sanfrecce
Hiroshima. Aug 16, 6pm,
¥1,000-4,500. Saitama
Stadium. Urawamisono. Tel:
048-812-1001.
Festivals
Kumagaya Fireworks
Festival
Boom Factor: 10,000. Aug 9,
7pm, free. Kumagaya area.
Kumagaya. www.kumagayakanko.jp
Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks
Competition
Boom Factor: 12,000. Aug 10,
6:50pm, Free-¥7,000. Port of
Tokyo area. Kachidoki or
Tsukishima. http:// meturl.com/
okyobay14
Ueno Summer Festival
Parades, ice sculpture shows
and more. Until Aug 12, various
times, free. Ueno Park. Ueno.
www.ueno.or.jp/ichioshi/
ichioshi_27.html
Port of Kisarazu Summer
Festival and Hanabi Taikai
Boom Factor: 8,000. Aug 15,
7:15pm, free. Nakanoshima
Park. Kisarazu. http://
meturl.com/kisa14
Higashi Matsuyama
Hanabi Taikai
Boom Factor: 5,000. Aug 23,
7pm, free. Tokigawa Riverside
Park. Takasaka. www.
higashimatsuyama-kanko.com
Motegi 2&4 Race
Sports
BASEBALL
PRO WRESTLING
Central League
Dragon Gate
●● Yomiuri Giants vs. Chunichi
Dragons. Aug 8-10, 6pm,
¥300-5,300. Tokyo Dome.
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-58009999.
●● Yomiuri Giants vs. Hanshin
Tigers. Aug 12-14, 6pm,
¥300-5,300. Tokyo Dome.
Suidobashi. Tel: 03-58009999.
●● Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs.
Yomiuri Giants. Aug 19-21, 6pm,
¥500-4,600. Meiji Jingu Gaien.
Shinanomachi or Gaienmae.
Tel: 03-3401-0312.
Aug 17, 3pm, ¥4,320-8,640.
Ota City General Gymnasium.
Umeyashiki. Tel: 03-54806688.
●● Chiba Lotte Marines vs.
Saitama Seibu Lions. Aug
8-10, 6:15pm, ¥800-4,900.
SOCCER
Inoki Genome Fight 2
Aug 23, 7:30am, ¥1,500-4,000.
Twin Ring Motegi. Motegi.
Tel: 0285-64-0489. www.
twinring.jp
Pacific League
Kubota Spears. Aug 23, 7pm,
¥2,050-3,600. Chichibunomiya
Rugby Stadium. Gaienmae.
Tel: 03-3401-3881.
●● NTT Shining Arcs vs.
Murakata Sanix Blues. Aug
23, 4:40pm, ¥2,050-3,600.
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.
Gaienmae. Tel: 03-34013881.
Super Yosakoi
Large groups in traditional
costume compete in
choreographed dances
originating from Kochi
Prefecture. Aug 23-24, all day,
free. Yoyogi Park. Harajuku.
info@yosakoi-harajuku.com.
www.yosakoi-harajuku.com
Forums &
Expos
Noah: Summer Navig.
Aug 24, 12pm, ¥4,000-7,000.
Korakuen Hall. Suidobashi.
Tel: 03-5800-9999.
RUGBY
Top League
●● Panasonic Wild Knights
vs. Toshiba Brave Lupus. Aug
22, 7:30pm, ¥2,050-3,600.
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.
Gaienmae. Tel: 03-34013881.
●● NEC Green Rockets vs.
Transformers Expo
10,000m² jam-packed with
animations, models and more
of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee
and friends. Aug 9-17, 9:30am7pm, ¥1,100-2,600. Pacifico
Yokohama. Minatomirai.
Tel: 0570-000-777. www.ntv.
co.jp/TFE
The International Model
Railroad Convention
Mini train lovers unite to
play with, learn about and
discover new model trains.
Aug 22-23, 10am-7pm; Aug
24, 10am-5pm, ¥1,800. Tokyo
Big Sight. Kokusai-TenjijoSeimon. http://jam.gr.jp
workshops and live
performances. Every Sat,
10am-4pm, Shinjuku Central
Park. Tocho-mae. Tel:
03-2504-2128. http://meturl.
com/shinjukuparkmarket
SEP 20 - NOV 29
Japan Jewellery Fair
Over 400 exhibitors
from 18 countries. Aug
26-27, 10am-6pm; Aug
28, 10am-5pm, free (adv
registration)/ ¥3,000 (door).
Tokyo Big Sight. KokusaiTenjijo-Seimon. www.
japanjewelleryfair.com/en
bazaars &
Markets
Yebisu Marché
Organic fruits and vegetables.
Every first and third Sun,
11am-5pm, Ebisu Garden
Place. Ebisu. www.
facebook.com/YEBISUMarche
Community
Tsunageyo
Aug 30, 10:30am-4pm, free.
Yoyogi Park. Harajuku.
Tel: 03-3469-6081. www.
yoyogipark.info
Live ikebana show performed
by masters of the art with
proceeds going to charity.
Aug 9-10, 10am-7pm, ¥2,000
(1 day)/ ¥2,500 (2 days).
Zojoji Temple. Shibakoen.
http://tsunageyou.jugem.jp
Oedo Antique Market
Sunday Spin
Rare treasures and cheap
knickknacks between the
Zelkova trees. Aug 31,
8am-4pm, free. Yoyogi Park.
Harajuku. Tel: 03-64076011. www.antique-market.
jp/yoyogi-park
Hula-hoop it up in Yoyogi,
no need to bring your own.
Drop in/out at any time. Every
fourth Sun, Yoyogi Park.
Harajuku. Tel: 03-34696081. http://meturl.com/
hoopinginjapan
Shinagawa Intercity
Flea Market
Stitch-n-Bitch
Flea Market
More than 120 vendors.
Sun & hols, 9am-3pm,
free. Shinagawa Intercity.
Shinagawa. http://meturl.
com/shinflea
Iidabashi Ramla Market
Every first and third Sun,
10am-4pm, Iidabashi Ramla.
Iidabashi.
Umi no Koen Flea Market
Every third Sun, 10am-4pm,
Umi no Koen. UminokoenShibaguchi. rinpodan@
umino-kouen.net Tel:
03-3226-6800.
Best Flea Market
Every second Sun,
10am-4pm, Tokyo
International Forum Hall C.
Yurakucho. Tel: 03-32266800.
Hanazono Shrine Market
Every Sun, 8am-4pm,
Hanazono Shrine.
Shinjuku-sanchome. Tel:
03-3200-3093.
Ibaraki-ichi
Farm-fresh veg from the
north. Every Sat, 7-9am,
Roppongi Hills East Court.
Roppongi. Tel: 03-64065285.
Nogi Shrine Market
Every second Sun,
5:30am-3pm, Nogi Shrine.
Nogizaka. Tel: 03-34783001.
Oedo Antique Fair
Japan’s largest outdoor
antique market. Every first
and third Sun, 8am-4:30pm,
Tokyo International Forum
Hall C. Yurakucho. Tel:
03-5805-1093.
Aoyama Marché
Organic farmers market. Every
weekend, United Nations
University. Omotesando.
Tel: 03-3456-0960.
Meet fellow knitters,
crocheters and sewers
to talk, share ideas, eat,
drink and create. Every first
and third Tue, 7pm, free,
Cafe Respekt. Shibuya.
www.meetup.com/
TokyoStitchandBitch
Phone Counselor
Training Program Fall
2014
12-week training beginning
Sep 20 then every Tues and
Thu 6:30-9:30pm in Minami
Aoyama. Omotesando.
Online program also available.
For more info: training@telljp.
com or www.telljp.com
buffet in an international
atmosphere. Sep 6, 6:30pm,
¥5,980 (adv). LB8 Hachiman
Bldg, 16-2 Daikanyama,
Shibuya-ku. Daikanyama.
www.wineandcooking.info/
en/specialevent.html
Other Events
Euro Fest
Food, drinks and
entertainment from various
regions in Europe. Aug 9-10,
10am-8pm, free. Yoyogi Park.
Harajuku. www.eurofest.jp
Transformers Battle
Autobots and Decepticons
transform and fight before
your very eyes. Aug 11,
7:30pm; Aug 12, 7:30pm; Aug
13, 7:30pm, ¥4,000. Pacifico
Yokohama. Minatomirai.
www.ntv.co.jp/TFE
Half-Fast Cyclists
Bicyclists of all treads meet
for slide shows, lectures,
ride-planning, etc. Every
second Wed, 7pm, free, The
Pink Cow. Roppongi. Tel:
03-6434-5773. cowmail@
thepinkcow.com
Citta Summer Festival
Mikoshi, bon odori, festive
games and food. Until Aug
15, all day, free. La Cittadella.
Tel: 044-223-2333. http://
lacittadella.co.jp
Battle of the Udon 2014
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art
School
Burlesque models pose
for artstars and sketching
newbies alike with arty
socializing. Every third
Wed, 7pm, ¥2,000
w/1d. Studio and Space
IVVA. Meiji-Jingumae
or Harajuku. www.
drsketchytokyo.wordpress.
com
Learning
Master Drawing with
Glenn Vilppu
Drawing instructor from
Disney and Dreamworks
Studios holds a two-day
seminar teaching
professional artists’
techniques. Aug 16-17,
noon-6pm, ¥28,000 (2
days). Studio and Space
IVVA. B1, 4-25-35 Jingumae.
Meiji-Jingumae.
masterdrawingjapan@gmail.
com. http://peatix.com/
event/45980
Udon restaurants from all
over the country fight for the
title of the “Nation’s Best
Udon.” Aug 22, noon-6pm;
Aug 23, 10am-8pm; Aug 24,
10am-5:30pm, free. Yoyogi
Park. Harajuku. http://
udon-1.com
Jupiter & Okwess
International
Film screening and live
acoustic performance,
followed by a Q&A session
with the group. Aug 27, 7pm,
¥500-1,200. The French
Institute Tokyo. Iidabashi.
Tel: 03-5206-2500. www.
institutfrancais.jp/tokyo
Sanrio Puroland Summer
Festival
Traditional street vendors and
popular characters dressed in
yukata performing at summerthemed stages. Until Aug 31,
10am, ¥2,500-3,800. Sanrio
Puroland. Odakyu Tama
Center. www.puroland.co.jp/
english
M
for entio
FR n M
EE
e
AD trop
MI oli
SS s
ION
Midtown Meets Godzilla
Provence Wine Seminar
Learn about wines from the
south of France and enjoy a
French gourmet dinner. Aug
30, 6:30pm, ¥11,980 (adv).
Stellato. Shirokanedai.
http://meturl.com/
monthlywine
Giant Godzilla statue
makes Midtown his home.
Illumination and mist shows
in the evening. Until Aug
31, 11am-11pm, free. Tokyo
Midtown. Roppongi. http://
meturl.com/midgoz
Yona Yona Beer Garden
Yasukuni Shrine Antique
Market
Every Sun, sunrisesunset, Yasukuni Shrine.
Kudanshita. Tel: 03-32618326.
Fudaten Jinja Market
Every second Sun, 10am-4pm,
Fudaten Jinja. Chofu. Tel:
04-2489-0022.
Nihonga Class
Regular classes and
one-day workshops on basic
Japanese-style painting
techniques. All classes
in English and Japanese.
Weekdays 6pm, Sat 11am
& 3pm. Email for details
on flexible class times,
4B Maruoka Bldg, 5-49-7
Jingumae. Meiji-Jingumae.
www.mariatanikawa.com
Shinjuku Central Park
Market
Celebrity Wine Tasting
Local produce stalls,
Wine seminar with a delicious
Craft beers and BBQ plates
abound. Until Sep 7, Mon-Fri
5-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm,
free. Ark Karajan Place.
Roppongi-itchome. www.
yonayonabeerkitchen.com
Horror Hide-and-Seek
Haunted house with a creepy
kids’ game theme. Ages 6 and
up. Until Sep 15, 10am-4pm
(scary)/5-9pm (super scary),
¥820. Tokyo Dome City.
Korakuen or Suidobashi.
http://kakurenbo.info
THE RACE IS ON!
Groups of 4 or more can
compete with each other
Admission
1 ticket (7 min)=¥2100, 3 tix=¥5200, 5 tix=¥7800
¥47,000
21
movies
eiga
movie news
cinematic underground
Adapted from the Joan G. Robinson
novel of the same name and directed by Studio Ghibli’s Hiromasa
Yonebayashi (The Secret World
of Arrietty ), When Marnie Was
There follows the story of Anna, a
By Brad Stephenson lonely girl who befriends a ghost
named Marnie while staying in a
picturesque rural Japanese village. What starts off as
a predictable—though charming—tale of childhood
friendship takes an unexpected turn in its second half
as genuinely surprising details are revealed about the
girls’ past and future, and their connection explained
in heartbreaking detail. While Studio Ghibli films have
always threaded a strong cord of maturity through even
ostensibly simple subjects, When Marnie Was There
presents a sense of emotional reality that surpasses any
of the studio’s previous efforts. It may not be as entertaining for young children as recent animated features
such as Disney’s Frozen, but with a strong emphasis on
self-acceptance and friendship—and a refreshingly honest portrayal of diversity in Japan presented through the
expert storytelling of Ghibli—When Marnie Was There
packs an emotional punch that’s both unexpected and
well-earned. Japanese title: Omoide no Marnie
Tokyo Disneyland and the success of Frozen prove that
Japan is a key market for the House of Mouse, but there’s
never been a Japanese hero in a Disney film. That will
change with Big Hero 6, set in the futuristic city San
Fransokyo. The animated adventure centers on teenage
tech whiz Hiro Hamada, who builds a robot and leads a
misfit team of crime fighters. Hiro is voiced by 18-yearold Ryan Potter, who was born in Oregon but spent his
early childhood in Tokyo, where his mother was studying Japanese. Returning to the States, Potter picked
up martial arts, which helped him land the lead on the
Nickelodeon show Supah Ninjas. Despite a 60-year age
difference, he bonded with co-star George Takei over a
shared interest in all things Japanese. The older actor
also instilled in Potter, who is half Japanese, a sense of
responsibility in representing Asian Americans, which
he took with him to his Disney role. Potter was a surprise guest at last month’s Comic-Con in San Diego but
didn’t stick around for the clip he introduced, explaining he wants to wait until the whole film is finished. Big
Hero 6 will have its worldwide premiere at the Tokyo
International Film Festival, and if its young star attends,
he can finally see it then. The Tokyo International Film
Festival will run October 23-31 at Roppongi Hills and
other venues. http://2014.tiff-jp.net/en/ Kevin Mcgue
When a mix up occurs in Mumbai’s massive meal
delivery system, a lonely young woman begins a
secret correspondence with an aging businessman in
the hit Indian film The Lunchbox—kind of like You Got
Mail but with curry instead of inboxes. On from August
9 at Cine Switch in Ginza (4-4-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku; www.
cineswitch.com)... French director Sylvain Chomet
won international acclaim a decade ago with his quirky
animated film The Triplets of Belleville. Now he is back
with his equally quirky live-action debut Attila Marcel,
on now at Cinema Rise (13-17 Utagawacho, Shibuya-ku;
www.cinemarise.com). The dialogue is in French, but
the title character is a mute piano prodigy, so talk is
sparse… Given the recent political climate, the time is
probably right for a program of Japanese films on the
horrors of war and the end of World World II, running
August 10-19 at Shin-Bungeiza in Ikebukuro (3F, 1-43-5
Higashi-Ikebukuro Toshima-ku; www.shin-bungeiza.
com). The lineup includes Japan’s Longest Day, with
Toshiro Mifune playing the war minister who resorts to
violence to try to stop the Emperor from announcing
Japan’s surrender. KM
WHEN
MARNIE
WAS
THERE
featured movie
BY DON MORTON
TRANSFORMERS:
AGE OF
EXTINCTION
Back in 2009, when the second Transformers flick
came out, I published a facetious review stating that
I hadn’t seen the movie because it would merely
be more of the same soul-sucking Michael Bay
nonsense. A ten-year-old boy chasitized me for
this in our letters section, so I went to see it. This
was a mistake. Well, this fourth entry is a movie of
superlatives: longest, lamest, loudest, least coherent,
etc. The story’s insulting, the people are background
decoration, the product placement’s shameless
and ubiquitous, and the thing goes on forEVER.
(Perspective: It’s twice as long as Annie Hall, and
the four movies combined are longer than LOTR.)
Recommended only for children and adults with the
attention span of a poodle. I’m not going into the plot
here, because I couldn’t really detect one. Tip: Put a
trash bin over your head and have someone beat on it
for three hours. Save you the price of a ticket. You’re
welcome. I call myself the guy who goes to all the
movies so you don’t have to, but I’m not subjecting
myself to any more Transformers movies. This time
I mean it. (165 min)
22
More reviews and theater details: metropolis.co.jp/movies
BY DON MORTON
NEW
HOMEFRONT
In this wan collec tion
of action-movie tropes,
retired DEA agent Jason
Statham, trying to cope
with single parenthood
in rural Louisiana, runs afoul of the local creeps and
kicks some serious meth-head ass. Nothing new here,
but for those who like their thrillers old-school and free
of surprises or inspiration, it’s briskly paced and moderately suspenseful. The macho, F-word-heavy script
is a bit clunky, written as it was by Sylvester Stallone
from a novel by Chuck Logan. The cast, which includes
a misfiring Winona Ryder, a scenery-chewing Kate
Bosworth and (yawn) James Franco, is uniformly forgettable. (100 min)
NEW
SUNSHINE ON LEITH
Jukebox musicals are
highly subjective. This
relentlessly perky effort
bends a soapy s tor y
around the music of the
Proclaimers, famous outside Scotland for “I’m Gonna
Be (500 Miles),” a boisterous, crowd-sourced version
of which breathes some badly needed life into the
film. Unfortunately, it’s the finale and too late. Alleged
plot has three couples dealing with mostly manufactured bumps on the road to everlasting love. Cloying,
superficial and more than a wee bit twee. Best enjoyed,
obviously, by Scots and Proclaimers fans. The city of
Edinburgh provides some great backdrops for all the
schmaltz. (100 min)
GODZILLA
A f te r t h e u n i ve r s a l l y
reviled 1998 Roland
Emmerich turkey, this
time Holly wood got it
right. It ’s a lit tle slow
getting started, but once it gets up to speed, English
director Gareth Edwards’ (Monsters) creature feature
is plenty exciting. This is no SFX-driven studio factory
job; it emphasizes character and tension over mindless
and repetitive spectacle. And while it’s about battling
behemoths, it’s told from a human perspective. Aaron
Taylor-Johnson is capable if not stellar in the hero role,
and having Bryan Cranston in the cast certainly doesn’t
hurt. The post-production 3-D is useless. (123 min)
VAMPIRE ACADEMY
Cross Harry Potter with
Mean Girls and stir
in selected elements
of sanitized vampire
mythology, and you’ll
get an idea of what to expect of this lazy adaptation
of Richelle Mead’s popular YA books. To humans,
it’s all pretty lame and derivative, but ‘tweeners will
find it sporadically clever in a female-centric highschool sort of way. And it has a breezy irreverence
that Twilight never had. Director Mark Waters made
Mean Girls and his screenwriter brother Daniel wrote
Heathers. Not really recommendable, but I’ve sat
through worse. Bad news: there are five more books.
Kill it quick! (104 min)
BLOOD TIES
Two brothers in the mid
’70s find themselves on
opposite sides of the
law. One’s a cop, the
other a robber. Their
deep fraternal loyalty, admirable as it is, could destroy
them both. It would be difficult to make a bad movie
with a cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis,
Zoe Saldana, James Caan and Lili Taylor in addition to
leads Clive Owen and Billy Crudup. And it’s true this
low-tension familial crime saga gets better as it slogs
along. Would that the whole film were as riveting as
the final 20 minutes. But for the most part it’s too long,
too talky and lacks momentum. Japanese title: My
Brother: Kanashimi no Judan (127 min)
ESCAPE FROM
TOMORROW
And now for something
completely different.
Stealth-shot at Disney
World, entirely without
permission, this is true guerrilla filmmaking. Director
Randy Moore’s sneakily subversive, darkly if fitfully
amusing story is about an every-schmuck family
guy losing his mind among the anthropomorphic
rodents, corporate kiddie mascots and manufactured
cheerfulness of “the happiest place on earth.” Did
you ever consider the evil side of “It’s a Small World”?
You will. At times massively erratic, at others merely
phantasmagorical. Call it Lynch-lite. Would have
benefitted from a splash of coherence. (90 min)
ENEMY
The two Jakes. Jake
Gyllenhaal plays a meek
Toronto professor who
discovers on a DVD a
bit actor who’s his exact
double. What’s going on? Long lost twin? Or something
weirder? He internet-stalks the guy, but when they
finally come face to exact-same-face, he begins
to wish he hadn’t. French Canadian director Denis
Villeneuve could have taken this in several directions
but opted for a banal erotic head-scratcher set to
florid, preposterous music. Gyllenhaal’s excellent
in both roles, but the absurdist-existentialist central
conceit becomes the film’s own worst enemy, and the
puzzle has no solution. Japanese title: Fukusei Sareta
Otoko (90 min)
FADING GIGOLO
Two broke New Yorkers
(Woody Allen & writer/
director John Turturro)
forge a profitable
pimp/gigolo business.
Things go well until John develops a platonic but
deep relationship with a sad, orthodox Jewish widow
(Vanessa Paradis). Turturro’s offbeat, oddly endearing
little rom-com is so tonally inconsistent that it seems
like two different movies. One addresses issues of
loneliness and longing, and the other’s a pretty good
Woody Allen movie that he didn’t make. They’re
both worth seeing. Could have gone terribly wrong
if not for the intelligence and sensitivity with which it
approaches its subject. Japanese title: Gigolo in New
York (90 min)
DIVERGENT
In yet another dystopian
future, society is
divided into five innate
“types.” And if you
happen, during kind
of a Harry Potter Sorting Hat ceremony, to fit more
than one category, you are a “Divergent” and hunted
down. Can’t see anything going wrong with that. As
cynical, opportunistic, exposition-heavy, overlong
and repetitive attempts at grabbing some of those YA,
sci-fi-fantasy, Hunger Games bucks go, it’s not bad.
What it lacks in originality, Shailene Woodley (The
Descendants, The Spectacular Now) makes up for in
pure watchability. Not terrible, just not memorable. Or
much fun. Two more on the way. (140 min)
THE DEVIL’S VIOLINIST
Niccolo Paganini (17821840) was a pioneer
in the fiddle field.
Bold and innovative
and unimaginably
talented—a 19th-century rock star. Then there’s this
cornball German-Italian movie. It focuses on his time in
London, a visit Wikipedia barely mentions. Moreover, his
strings (sorry) are being pulled by satanic agent Jared
Harris, who stops just short of twirling his moustache.
Nya-ha-ha. German David Garrett, actually a violinist,
resembles a cover model for bodice-rippers, and his
Southern Californian, Keanu Reeves-y accent supplies
the film’s only humor. Really, really bad. Japanese title:
Paganini: Ai to Kyoki no Violinist. (122 min)
MALEFICENT
It’s a neat idea: invert
the Sleeping Beauty
yarn and tell it from the
perspective of the evil
fairy godmother. This
Maleficent is a tragic figure, wronged by an ambitious
king. She curses his newborn daughter, etc. But as
the child grows to become Elle Fanning, Maleficent
grows fond of her and even tries to reverse the curse.
The film succeeds on Angelina Jolie’s committed and
nuanced performance. I’m not saying she rates among
today’s top actresses, but I can’t imagine anyone else
giving the role such emotional punch. I was surprised
to realize what a good time I was having. Not for little
children. (98 min)
EDGE OF TOMORROW
Those not fans of Tom
Cruise will be glad to
know that he dies in this
movie. Several hundred
times. Groundhog Day
meets Starship Troopers. A smarmy army PR flack is
sent along with an invasion of alien-infested Europe.
He dies quickly but wakes up 24 hours earlier and goes
through the doomed invasion another time, and then
another, etc. It’s déjà vu all over again. He teams up
with kick-ass commando Emily Blunt, nailing the Ripley/
Sarah Connor role. It’s a fun little puzzle picture, sharply
written, imaginative, action-packed, unexpectedly funny
and thoroughly entertaining. Adapted from a Japanese
manga. Japanese title: All You Need is Kill. (113 min)
Beyond the Edge: © 2013 GFC (Everest) Ltd All Rights Reserved; Edge of Tomorrow: ©2014 VILLAGE ROADSHOW FILMS(BMI)LIMITED; Maleficent: ©2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc.; Divergent: TM ©2014 Summit Entertainment, LLC.All Rights
Reserved.; Fading Gigolo: © 2013 Zuzu Licensing, LLC.; Paganini: The Devil’s Violinist: © 2013 Summerstorm Entertainment / Dor Film / Construction Film / Bayerischer Rundfunk / Arte. All rights reserved.: Enemy: © 2013 RHOMBUS MEDIA
(ENEMY) INC. / ROXBURY PICTURES S.L. / 9232-2437 QUEBEC INC. / MECANISMO FILMS, S.L. / ROXBURY ENEMY S.L. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.; Blood Ties: © 2013 – copyright : Les Productions du Trésor – Caneo Films; Escape from Tomorrow:
©2013 MMXⅢ BY MANKURT MEDIA LLC; Godzilla: © 2014 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. & LEGENDARY PICTURES PRODUCTIONS LLC; Vampire Academy: ©2013 VA Blood Sisters All Rights Reserved; Sunshine on Leith: © DNA Films;
Homefront: ©Homefront Productions, Inc. 2013; Transformers: Age of Extinction: © 2014 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
23
food&drink
Bite into a menagerie of sweetness at Ikumi Mama
no Dobutsu Doughnuts (Mama Ikumi’s Animal
Doughnuts). In addition to producing delightful
doughnuts in shapes from kittens to walruses,
alpacas and penguins, Naoko Ikumi eschews preservatives, margarine and shortening, instead
focusing on choosing the best eggs, flour, salt
and natural sweeteners from across Japan. Visit
the shop or special order online for parties and
corporate events. http://ikumimama.com
¥¥¥
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of its
amazake (sweet sake), Morinaga has released a
couple of sugary new products to help keep you
cool this summer. Its Amazake Ice Cream (¥130)
comes in a handy cup for easy sipping even as it
starts to melt, while the Hiyashi Amazake Caramel
(¥210) is an even sweeter twist on the spirited
chilly treats. Available at supermarkets nationally, there’s no danger of a hangover with these
low-alcohol treats—only an ice cream headache.
ingredients are carefully selected, and the flour,
tomatoes and mozzarella are all imported from
Italy. Staying true to its Neapolitan roots, the pizzeria only serves marinara and margherita variations—with no pasta, no coffees and definitely
no desserts. The margherita combines rich and
creamy mozzarella cheese, basil and tomatoes,
while the marinara uses tomatoes, garlic and
oregano to create a simple masterpiece of subtle
flavors. Baked in a traditional wood-fired oven,
the crust is crispy on the outside and soft on the
inside, exactly the same as that served in Naples.
Both are available in very substantial large and
regular sizes, measuring 35cm and 30cm, respectively. Unfortunately, they haven’t imported Naples
prices, too. A doppia (large) margherita will set you
back ¥2,000, while the smaller normale costs
¥1,550. The marinara is similarly priced. Straying
from the Japanese tradition of serving a cheaper
lunchtime menu, everything costs the same at da
Michele regardless of when you visit.
Other menu items comprise a selection of
antipasti—served only on weekday evenings
and weekends—including assorted Italian
uncured ham and stuffed peppers as well as
a range of salads (¥381-839). No meal this
good would be complete without a bottle of
wine (from ¥2,380), of which there is plenty
to choose.
The restaurant itself is spacious and modern,
with white tiles lining the walls, high ceilings,
retro light fittings and an open layout. A small
terrace with a big, glass front completes the
relaxed and stylish feel, making it a perfect place
to take friends, family or even a date.
Unsurprisingly, the Ebisu location has been
bustling since its opening, with weekends particularly busy. Booking a table is recommended—especially if you visit during peak lunch
or dinner times.
4-4-7 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku. Ebisu.
www.damichele.jp
Photos courtesy of L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
RESTAURANT
With the latest Pokémon movie out, the 52nd floor
of Roppongi’s Mori Tower has been fitted with
a Pikachu Café. The eight-item menu includes
Pikachu-no-Teriyaki Burger (¥1,080)—complete
with tortilla chips for ears—and Monster Ball no
Omu-hayashi (¥1,280), an omelet with a red and
white Pokéball made of dyed rice. Open until
August 31, adults need to shell out the ¥1,500
observation deck fee,while kids up to junior high
school age get in for ¥500. Roppongi
JP/ITA
Mangia! Classic
Neapolitan pizza
awaits in Ebisu
BY MEGAN WATERS
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele has been serving the
same two pizzas for over 140 years and is known
as the best pizzeria in Naples. The restaurant’s
key role in Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling book
Eat, Pray, Love—and the film adaptation starring
Julia Roberts—only helped to increase its popularity. In late January 2012, the Naples pizzeria
brought its unique menu and format to Tokyo.
Located on a quiet side street near Ebisu
station, the Tokyo branch of the classic eatery
is the first to open outside Naples. According to
a spokesperson for the restaurant, Ebisu was
chosen to be the second da Michele venue
because its “atmosphere and calm mood are
similar to Naples.” Who knew?
Its secret to success is simple: directlysourced, natural ingredients and a traditional,
tested method of leavening the pizza dough. The
24
©100taro
Cosme Kitchen Juicery in Daikanyama station
makes a great pit stop before heading into—
or out of—the city. Their certified organic fruits
change according to season. Smoothies (¥580780) combine the best ingredients for cleansing or energy concerns while you can add extra
superfood boosts (cacao nibs and maca or camu
camu powder) to each drink for ¥100-200. Veganfriendly almond, soy or rice milk options are also
available. http://cosmekitchen.jp/6129/
LOCAL FLAVORS
farmers markets
for summer fun
and goodness
BY JOAN BAILEY
OISO MARKET
Fresh vegetable vagabonds will find more than
a little to whet their appetites at this lively port
bazaar. Oiso’s monthly market runs year-round,
but in summer this Sunday morning event turns
into an evening extravaganza. Musical performances entertain those settled on party sheets
in the grassy area behind the port building,
while smaller stages scattered among vendor
tables showcase individual singers, musicians
and performance artists. Tables groan with the
best the Shonan-area growers and producers of
Kanagawa Prefecture have to offer, including local heirloom fruits and vegetables, such as Lee’s
Bread from Chigasaki and Atsugi’s Sankt Gallen
Brewery. Food trucks galore offer everything
from Yaad Food’s spicy jerk chicken to ramen.
Itadakimasu! Every third Sunday of the month.
5-9pm. Oiso Port. Oiso.
Entertainment chain iDarts has come up with an
illuminated drink server that just reached Japanese shores. Available in seven colors, the LED-lit
iTower (¥10,584) holds up to 3 satisfying liters of
liquid ambrosia while still being slim enough to
fit on the smallest kitchen counter. Our recommended summer recipe is a boozy iced tea: Fill
the tower half full of ice, add 1.5 liters of iced tea
and follow up with 250ml of Hennessy. Stir, switch
on the LED light and enjoy. www.idarts.jp/itower
RECIPE
POWER & BEAUTY
SMOOTHIE
EARTH DAY MARKET
RECIPE & PHOTOS BY KYOKO NAKAMOTO
Dreaming of fresh organic seasonal fruits and
vegetables with perhaps a steel drum band
playing in the background? Look no further than
Tokyo’s Earth Day Market in Yoyogi Park, where
each month area growers and producers—all
organic, all fair trade, all the time—gather to
share the best their fields and furrows have to
offer. Live music, workshops and samples of
yummy, organic wine make for one of the city’s
best shopping experiences. Those hunting for
staples such as rice, flour and tea will find easy
prey, as will those searching for nifty gifts. Beat
the heat with an ice-cold organic beer from Sun
Brewery while munching on a spicy curry from
Tamana Shokudo.
Last Sunday of each month, 10am-4pm. Yoyogi
Park Elms. Harajuku.
With the heat beating down on you this summer, it’s easy to feel tired and listless. If you
have a blender and some fresh produce from
your local farmers market, try this morning
pick-me-up that will keep you genki all day.
The fruits and veggies are packed with immune system boosting vitamins and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This particular
recipe is vegan-friendly—but feel free to mix
it up and try your own.
NIPPORI MARKET
Nestled in the plaza just outside the east exit of
Nippori station, this little market is always breezy
in summer and full of good fun. Music and comedy performances help keep the heat at bay,
while a rotating set of regional merchants keep
taste buds ever on the alert. Regular vendors like
Kimura-san from Aizu in Wakamatsu, with her
homemade tsukemono (pickles) and fresh vegetables, supply customers for the long haul­—and
Onaya-san, with her oh-so-delicious homemade
manju (four kinds, all worth trying) and cups of
ice-cold green tea are always on hand. August
finds growers, producers and customers banding
together to celebrate obon with a mini-Bon Odori
festival and dance around the square.
Every third Sat-Sun of the month, 10am to 5pm.
Nippori.
Start to finish: 3 min
Servings: serves 2
• 1 banana
• 60g (¼ cup) frozen blueberries (or berries)
• 60g (¼ cup) fresh pineapple (peeled, cored)
• 100ml (½ cup) soy yogurt
• 1 tablespoon maqui berry powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons almonds (optional)
• 1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
• 100ml (½ cup) ice cubes
• 50ml (¼ cup) water
DIRECTIONS
1. Add all ingredients in the order listed and
blend until smooth.
2.Pour into two glasses and serve with a
drizzle of honey, if desired.
3.Drink and enjoy!
Kyoko Nakamoto is the
brains behind recipes from
The Juicery in Daikanyama.
Follow her smoothiemaking adventures on
Instagram: @manak1106
25
Enjoy gourmet steak, fish,
seafood and a selection of
world-class wines with a
superb skyline view.
Tokyo’s No.1 nighttime panorama
Fresh fish direct from Tsukiji market
High-quality Japanese steaks
Selection of high quality wines
from over 2,000 cellars worldwide
Party & wedding catering
English service & menu available
41F Shiodome City Center Bldg, 1-5-2 Higashi Shinbashi, Minato-ku
̶ Hana・Gakoi ̶
Yakult
Panasonic
Shiodome City Center
Nihon TV
Tower
Matsushita
Shiodome Eletric
tower
LUNCH:
Mon-Sun 11:30am-3pm (LO 1:30pm)
DINNER:
Mon-Sun 5:30pm-11:30pm(LO 9:30pm)
Online Reservation:
www.fish-bank-tokyo.jp
03-3569-7171
The best Sushi and
Yakitori Restaurant
in Aoyama.
YAKITORI,SUSHI
Meiji ST.
HANAGAKOI
Shibuya P.O.
Shibuya
HIKARIE
a
yam
Ao
ST.
Roppongi ST.
Shibuya police station
26
B1 Diamond bldg
1-1-8 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 〒150-0002
TEL 03-3498-3228
Lunch 11:30 ～ 14:00
Dinner 17:00 ～ 23:00
（L.O.22:00 Drink L.O.22:30）
Metropolis and its subsequent
Classifieds section are
printed every other week. The
upcoming publication dates
and corresponding deadlines
for print are as follows. This
does not affect the online
Classifieds, where ads are
visible immediately after they
are approved.
Blog post
1 AT YOUR SERVICE
1.1 HEALTH
BILINGUAL US - LICENSED P S YC H I AT R I S T RY U KO
ISHIK AWA, MD, extensive
clinical experience in
Japan and overseas.
Family relationship
co nf l ic t s , cros s - cultural
human relationship issues
(couples, individual s).
Medication assessment
w/diagnostic inter views.
Fees on sliding scale.
Weekly seminars
available (anxiety,
r e l a t i o n s h i p i s s u e s) f o r
¥3000-¥7000. 5min from
O m o t e s a n d o s t n . w w w.
cliniczhc.com/en/ Contact
at ryupsy@gmail.com
or direc t 080 -5199 -9271
(until 7pm). Appointment
required.
T H A I
MASSAGE
T O K Y O .
Genuine Thai
massage
shop of fers
Thai or oil
massage, open 12-11pm,
close to JR Kamata stn, all
staf f are Thai women. A
warm welcome awaits you.
weingping2518@gmail.com
w w w.weing-ping.info
03-3738-8425
VISA COUNSELING:
female immigration lawyer
handles your visa case.
Permanent residency,
naturalization, eligibility
(inviting your spouse/
children/workers from
your country), extension/
change of visa status.
Consultation ¥5000. OFFICE
LIFE (Miho Fujibayashi).
Tel: 090-8330-0670 Email:
mailto@officelife.jp Website:
http://officelife.jp/en/
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. Specialists
in branding, web design, photo/
video production. Drawing A Crowd:
a new approach in design. Get in
touch. info@drawingacrowd.co
1.7 BUSINESS SERVICES
THINKING
ABOUT
ADVERTISING WITH
METROPOLIS ? Platinum
¥ 32 ,4 0 0. G o l d ¥ 27,0 0 0.
Silver ¥21,600. Prices
include one photo. Bronze
¥20 0 0 (photo + ¥20 0 0).
Prices are for 40 words,
one print issue, two weeks
online. For details, v isit
the Tokyo Classifieds blog
- ht tp: //metropolis.co.jp/
classifiedblog/ - or email us
at commercial@metropolis.
co.jp.
LAW OFFICE IN KAWASAKI
(next to Tokyo), member
o f t h e Yo k o h a m a B a r
Association. Legal service in
English for traffic accidents,
divorce, inheritance,
bankruptcy, business cases
(contracts, establishing a
company, trademarks, etc.)
and other legal problems.
Email: web@smkw.biz www.
sumikawa.net/
FURNITURE RENTAL. Create
customized furnished
apartments with our
furniture rental ser vice.
Furniture packages arranged
by our qualified interior
designers to accommodate
various sizes and styles. We
also offer apartment leasing
consultation. Please call
0120-957-520. www.smartrental-tokyo.com
2 FIND A PLACE
2.1 GUESTHOUSE
GREAT LOCATION & SUPER
CLE AN. Private furnished
rooms in Roppongi,
Akasaka, Azabu-Juban and
Minami-Shinagawa, all 2min
from stn, ladies-only floor
available, weekly cleaning
service, free internet, aircon,
fridge. From ¥ 49,000/m.
No key money/guarantor/
agent fee. 090-2405-0022
mail@bauhousetokyo.com
TO ADVERTISE IN
M E TROP O LIS, Japan’s
N o .1 E n g l i s h m a g a z i n e ,
log on at www.metropolis.
co.jp/classif ieds or email
yo u r co m m e r c i a l a d s to
commercial@metropolis.co.jp.
Think the Classifieds is just ads? Think again! Visit the blog for saucy ads of yore, ideas to make your
ads pop, updated prices (hello, free vehicles ads!) and plenty more Classifieds goodness.
http://metropolis.co.jp/classifiedblog
15min from Shinagawa.
1K~2LDK ¥58,000/
m~¥120,000/m. Tel: 044-9337000 Email:mh@minowagroup.
jp w w w.minowagroup.jp/
minowahomes
CREA-UN
UENO.
Clean, cute, furnished private
rooms near Asakusa, Ueno,
Uguisudani, Iriya, ladies only,
free internet, nice rooftop
garden, broad 24h-available
bathroom, free bicycle, from
¥56,000/m (management
charge included).
crea-un.sakura@ko-bo.com
w w w. s a k u r a - k o - b o . c o m
03-6912-0692
1.8 GENERAL SERVICES
SMILE STAND: Japan’s first
and only stylish rental
p hoto b ooth. A n exciting
a d d i t i o n to a n y p a r t y,
event , etc ., and the b es t
way to get crazy, fabulous,
professional photos. With
t h i s a d ¥ 55 ,0 0 0 ~. i n f o @
highland-tokyo.com https://
vimeo.com/44976943
www.smile-stand.com
http://metropolis.co.jp/classifiedblog
Hate missing summer festivals? So do we! That’s why we’ve
made English-language schedules for the major festivals,
Bon odori, and fireworks spectaculars in Tokyo and area.
You’ll never have to cry into your pillow in regret again. Check
the blog for the August schedules -> meturl.com/augschedule
and meturl.com/bonschedule
FRI, AUG 22 ISSUE
Deadline: Aug 14, 3pm
FRI, SEP 5 ISSUE
Deadline: Aug 28, 3pm
the official metropolis classifieds blog
KANAMACHI GUEST HOUSE.
Brand-new furnished share
rooms, separate male and
female floors, all rooms
w/d i g i t a l l o c k s , a i r co n ,
fridge, 1min walk from
Kanamachi stn, Chiyoda
line ¥40,000/m. room@
airay-apartment.net
03-5876-4575 www.airayapartment.net/
S E RV I C E D A PA R TM E NT S
in a quiet residential area
of Hiroo. Studios and
suites. 4 min from Hiroo
stn. Rates: Daily ¥ 7800.
Weekly ¥6850 -/day.
Monthly ¥5700-/day. Over
three months ¥5130-/day.
Ta x , u t i l i t i e s i n c l u d e d .
frontdesk@azabucourt.
com w w w.azabucour t .
com/ 03-3446 -8610
2.3 RENT OVER ¥200,000
TOKYO APARTMENTS. Your
one-stop housing solution
throughout Tokyo. Providing
ser v ice d, furnishe d and
unfurnished apartments,
for both long- and shortterm stays. Also providing
relocation services,
furniture rental, property
management and sales.
Please call 0120-957-920.
www.tokyoapartments.jp
2.4 HOUSE SHARE
H O US E M ATE F O R RO PP O N G I
SHARE SOUGHT. Male housemate
sought for my bright, sunny flat in
Nishi-Azabu, 2min from Roppongi
Hills, two floors, balcony, fully
furnished, move in Sep ¥90,000/m.
Shared utilities extra. na_ka_to@
hotmail.com
2.5 PLACE WANTED
Seeking a place to stay from Sep 9,
‘14. Does anyone need a short-longterm roommate? I’m a Japanese female
coming back to Japan from the Caribbean
and I need a place to live in Tokyo.
kurosawayumi31@yahoo.com
3 EDUCATION
3.5 LANGUAGE EXCHANGE
PRIVATE FURNISHED
A P A R T M E N T S .
Odakyu line: MukogaokaYu e n / Yo m i u r i - L a n d - M a e ,
20/30min from Shinjuku.
Keikyu line: Hatcho-Nawate,
a conversar e intercambiar idiomas en
Tokio. tempstadesjp@gmail.com
French and Japanese. Fr and J daily
exchange in Otemachi. winds_fr@
hotmail.com
French and Japanese. Un japonais
cherche un locuteur natif de français qui
peut faire un échange français-japonais à
Shibuya. J’ai du temps libre lundi à jeudi,
de 7 heures du soir. unicornio@nifty.com
English and Japanese. I am 33, male,
live near Koenji. I’m seeking an E/J
exchange partner. Prefer meeting on
weekdays. Maybe once/week. I’ll teach
Japanese in return. yorugaya@yahoo.
co.jp
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
English and Japanese. Hello. I’m a
Japanese female looking to improve
my English. I can help you with your
Japanese. Because I’m interested in
British culture, British friends only,
please. Any age, M/F welcome! Thank
you. wwwtomodachi-kf@yahoo.co.jp
German, English, Japanese. I’m a JM,
25, seeking to improve my English and
German in Tokyo. If you want to improve
your Japanese, let’s have a language
exchange. takashi.n1575@gmail.com
English and Japanese. Hi. I’m studying
E. I can teach you J. I’m late 30s, living
and working in Tokyo. I like traveling,
watching movies, skiing, hiking. Please
send me a message. npkpd906@yahoo.
co.jp
English and Japanese. うまく。や
っと。ちゃんと。きちんと。かなら
ず。やだ！頭が痛くなる！(男) erol.
0
ICHII CORPORATION.
Over 600 affordable, qualityfurnished apartments in
central Tokyo locations. No
key money/guarantor/agent
f e e r e q u i r e d . N e w, c l e a n
apartments, simple contract
system, full English support.
Call us today! 03-5437-5233
www.japt.co.jp
Deutsch und Japanisch. JM seeks
language exchange with someone
who can teach me Ger. I can teach
you J in return. Prefer central Tokyo
or Kanagawa. M/F ok. Native German
speakers only. snowsurfsk8@yahoo.com
English and Japanese. Japanese
seeks English speakers for language
exchange or coffee buddies at coffee
shops between Soka and Takenozuka.
Friendship only. Where are you from?
language_exchange3@hotmail.com
2.2 RENT UNDER ¥200,000
SAKURA HOUSE. Leading
m u l t i l i n g u a l r e a l e s t a te
a g e n c y i n To k y o s i n c e
1992. Over 1600 furnished
apartments and guest/
share house rooms, from
¥52,000/m, utilities included.
No key money/guarantor/
agent fee. Contact
us:
03-5330-5250
info@sakura-house.com
www.sakura-house.com
to help her with languages in Tokyo/
Kanagawa through fun conversations
over cups of coffee or just hanging out.
Please be nonsmokers, late 20s-30s.
codename107113@live.com
Italian and Japanese. Would like to
learn basic It from a native speaker
who wants to practice J. Possibly near
Shibuya on weekday evenings after 7pm.
unicornio@nifty.com
Korean and Japanese. Japanese male,
41, 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 English. Hi, I’m seeking
someone to help me learn Sp in exchange
for E or J in Chiba or Tokyo. I’m a total
beginner, so please be patient. Email me if
you’re interested. greg77jp@yahoo.co.jp
pxei@gmail.com
Spanish and English. I’d like to have a
language exchange with English-speaking
people. pronusprorsus@yahoo.com
English and Japanese. I’m learning 漢
字 now. I’m just at the early stage, but
it is so much fun, especially names. Like
友美 is friend and beautiful. What does
your name’s kanji mean? I’m male, from...
Guess! smoothm.assa@gmail.com
Spanish, English, Japanese. I’d like to
exchange conversation in Sp for E or J.
I’m from South America, native Spanish
speaker, male, educated, mid-40s.
Serious learners. Anywhere in Tokyo.
disenhador@me.com
English and Japanese. Japanese
IT worker, mid-30s, seeks language
exchange partner along the Keihin-Tohoku
line (Shinagawa to Yokohama) to improve
my language skills. Of course, I can teach
J to you. ashcrofthouse2@googlemail.com
English and Japanese. I’m a JF
government-licensed guide interpreter. I’d
like to practice English with someone from
Singapore before I work as an interpreter
in Singapore this Oct. I will teach you J in
return. Tokyo/Chiba. kaneko@kih.biglobe.
ne.jp https://twitter.com/miki_kaneko
English and Japanese. I’m seeking a
penpal. I’m a Japanese university student.
g.sato425@gmail.com
English and Japanese. I’m a female, 37,
working in Yoshiwara, an area famous for
its special business. I’d like to learn spoken
English. Could you meet me on weekdays
or Sat around noon before I have to go to
work? mail@orz-3.sakura.ne.jp
English and Japanese. Japanese female,
early 30s, seeking an English-speaking
friend to have language exchange
regularly in Tokyo. If you’re interested
in the Japanese language, history or old
culture, please contact me - I can teach
you. Thank you. crnamacka_belimacor@
yahoo.co.jp
Chinese and Korean. I am a Chinese
professional in Tokyo seeking a Korean
teacher for language exchange. I am a
beginner. Prefer a professional teacher
who can speak fluent J. thomasyctang@
yahoo.co.jp
English and Japanese. Group language
exchange every Wed, 7:30-9:30pm,
at coffee shops around Ginza. Most
members are 20s and 30s. We switch
languages every 30min. Fun events on
weekends. Free to join. ando.andy@
gmail.com
Danish, German, Japanese. Hej and ‘N
Tag! JF, 30s, seeks Danes and Germans
Español y japonés. Habla español?
Quiere aprender japonés o inglés? Vamos
3.9 TEACH ME!
PhD s tudent in engineering?
Tokyo only. Majoring in wireless/
communication or related area? Help
me with simulation. Must be able to
use Matlab/Simulink and know how to
validate hypothesis with simulation like
Monte Carlo, etc. Will pay ¥2000/h. yatri_
in_town@yahoo.co.jp
Seeking British English teacher.
Seeking a qualified and experienced
native British English teacher for private
lessons in Tokyo. I’m a JF, professional.
Please help me with my English.
mzh0228@gmail.com
Seeking personal trainer in
S h i b u y a a r e a. F e m a le s t u d e n t
seeking a personal trainer to come to
apartment gym twice/week. Based
in Shibuya area. Will pay ¥3000/h.
No qualifications necessary, but
experience in personal training
preferred. carissaleadavis@gmail.com
4 HOUSEHOLD GOODS
4.1 FURNITURE & FITTINGS
Cabinet/drawers (L90xD45xH86), w/
outlet for rice cooker/etc. mizi2005@
hotmail.com
Shelf, wooden, BoConcept. New
¥80,000. Sell ¥30,000. Table, dining,
oak, w/four chairs, in excellent
condition. New ¥200,000. Sell ¥80,000.
Desk, wooden, BoConcept, as new. New
¥100,000. Sell ¥40,000. midtown.hills@
gmail.com
27
Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
Now You Can Recharge
in Roppongi 24/7/365
4.2 APPLIANCES
Hotel
IBIS
Soba shop
Metropolis Promo
Tel: 03-3796-2411
relaxtokyo.com
60 & 120min courses now ¥1,000 off
30min course ¥500 off
Mos
Burger
Almond
Takoyaki shop
Police box
Roppongi-dori
COURSES
Fridge/freezer, Sanyo SR-B18J, 175L
(fridge 123L, on top; freezer 52L, in three
drawers), silver, ‘05, good for one-two
people, in excellent condition ¥10,000.
View Shinjuku. Can arrange delivery
for extra cost. metropolisclassified@
jungletelegraph.net
Heater, oil, DeLonghi, as new. New
¥40,000. Sell ¥20,000. midtown.hills@
gmail.com
Iron, T-fal Aquaspeed 3556, powerful
steaming capability ¥3000/obo.
unitynjustice@ezweb.ne.jp 08057127709
Body care
30 min: ¥3,150
60 min: ¥6,300
(Early bird 6am-2pm ¥5,250)
120 min: ¥12,600
Microwave, Sharp RE-S15C-B, ‘11, in very
good, clean condition ¥9000. Delivery
possible for small fee. mizi2005@
hotmail.com
Oil massage
(daytime only)
60 min: ¥8,400
120 min: ¥16,800
Vacuum, Twinbird, in good condition
¥3000. Can deliver for small fee.
mizi2005@hotmail.com
Vacuum, AIM-R0B01, robotic, white,
new ¥5000. Pick up Shimokitazawa.
aminimia@yahoo.com
Washer, Toshiba AW-50GL, hardly used,
as new ¥15,000. Free delivery within 5km
possible. mizi2005@hotmail.com
4.3 SAYONARA SALE
Sayonara sale! Washer, computer
desk, bed, kitchen table, three aircon,
garden and shop tools, etc. MinamiNagareyama, Chiba. ssbhofner@gmail.
com https://sites.google.com/site/
ssbitemsforsale/home 090-3680-1507
Don't waste time and money
on so-so dental care.
Invest in the best.Your teeth deserve it.
4.4 TV & HOME THEATER
3-2-1 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Clinic hours: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Closed: Thu, Sun and National Holidays
03-6435-0993
www.tsuruki-mita.org/english
Tuner for PC, one-seg, USB, w/antenna
(20x63x9mm) ¥500. Pick up near
Yokohama. sayonara_vancouver@
hotmail.com
TV 20”, Sharp Aquos LC-20E5, in
excellent condition, E/menu ¥19,000/
obo. Delivery possible for small fee.
mizi2005@hotmail.com
4.5 AUDIO & MP3
Speakers, Sanwa Supply, w/charging
for 30-pin iPods (1-4) or iPhones (1-4),
output-only for stereo mini-plug output
devices, output volume 4W ¥500. Koenji.
Photos available. ohpopshop@gmail.
com
Call today to book an appointment with some of the city’s
best in-room massage therapists!
Service menu:
Aromatherapy treatment
Lymph drainage treatment
Reflexology
Shiatsu
90min. ¥15,000
120min. ¥20,000
150min. ¥24,000
180min. ¥29,000
Tokyo
’s
No.1
Relax
at
Mass ion
age
Open: 6pm-5am Tel: 03-5206-5134 www.tokyo-refle.com/en/
4.6 FOR KIDS
Play kitchen, Melissa & Doug, brought
from the US, in good condition (W94xH
[includes timer]74xD31cm), some
scratches ¥2000/obo. Pick up central
Tokyo. txcany@hotmail.com
4.7 FOR FREE
Dehumidifier, Fedders, ‘90s-era, hardly
used, floor model, rolls; freezable ice
packs. Azabu-Juban. jgilbert9990@
gmail.com
Humidifier, Panasonic FE-KL05, 5L
tank, humidity sensor, w/LED indicator,
works well, good for up to 100sqm room,
compact. Yokohama or Tokyo area.
generic.email.address.no17@gmail.com
5 HOBBIES&INTERESTS
5.1 CAMERAS
Digital camera, Canon PowerShot C1, as
new, only took 50 shots and then stored
it away, w/all cables, manuals, etc.,
carrying bag ¥6000/obo. Pick up Tsurumi.
rsd91750@nifty.com 0455064415
5.2 SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Dumbbells, Irotec, Japanese brand,
60kg set, two y/o, as new. New ¥17,074.
Sell ¥5500/obo. kevjdunn@gmail.com
Exercise machine ¥3000. Pick up only.
pinkrose7@hotmail.co.jp
Golf clubs, Iron Daiwa Hi-Trac TCS, w/
carbon shaft 3-5-7-9-11 and Sure-out sand
wedge ¥2000. Pick up near Yokohama.
sayonara_vancouver@hotmail.com
5.3 MUSICAL EQUIPMENT
Guitar, Fender Telecoustic, in excellent
condition, professionally set up to adjust/
lower the action, features a built-in
28
pickup, tuner and preamp, bolt-on neck
(unusual for an acoustic-style guitar)
¥25,000. kvh@mac.hush.com
Headphones, Shure SRH1540, closedback flagship model, lightweight, hardly
used, boxed, w/spare pads, spare cable,
carrying case ¥45,000. rsd91750@nifty.
com 0455064415
Headphones, Audio-Technica ATHPRO5MK2, great sound quality, hardly
used, almost as new, w/case ¥5000.
mristhisapen@gmail.com
Insect sounds. “Bugs” collection of
insect sounds taken from Ric Viers’
Blastwave Sound Library, thousands of
sounds pre-installed on a dedicated USB
drive, brand new, never plugged in. New
$249. Sell ¥15,000. justcallmehenry@
gmail.com edwardsoperation.com
Sound suppression racks. Two 19” 12U
racks (one normal width, one wide to
accept MacPro-sized computer), quiet
four-speed fan. New ¥360,000 and
¥450,000. Sell ¥85,000/each. Photos
available. justcallmehenry@gmail.com
edwardsoperation.com
5.4 BOOKS/CD/DVD
CDs, over 320, about 80% ‘90-’05
American alternative/indie rock/folk, etc.,
in a flip book (not jewel cases), w/inserts
organized in a separate file, official
releases (not CD-Rs) ¥5000. Sold together
only. smallmediumlarge876@yahoo.com
DVDs, over 100, region 1 (US/Canada),
film and TV series, healthy portion of rare
stuff ¥333-¥500/each. List available.
smallmediumlarge876@yahoo.com
Japanese learning materials. Three
Pimsleur sets (Japanese I, II, III), each
set contains 16 CDs, booklet, guide, in
original package, as new. New ¥60,000.
Sell ¥27,000. mita.yama@hotmail.com
5.5 GAMING
Gaming seat, Playseat, for PlayStation
3, PlayStation 4, Xbox, upgraded
steering wheel, bonus manual shifter
¥ 35,000. Yoyogi- Hachiman s tn.
fishburncf3@gmail.com https://flic.
kr/p/nwJ14p 090-5198-9921
paper-type, clean, work s fine,
one cordless handset, PDF manual
downloaded (Japanese) ¥8000/obo.
Pick up Tsurumi. rsd91750@nifty.com
0455064415
7.2 FASHION
Jacket, Hobbs, formal, powder blue,
women’s, pure virgin wool, size UK 12/
USA 10, worn once, as new ¥4500. Cash
only. Pick up only 4min from Ikenoue stn.
paola@yogasan.net 03-6751-1664
Jacket, Max Mara, women’s, woolangora (50:50), size US 8 (but more like
US 10), in good condition ¥2000. Pick
up only 4min from Ikenoue stn. paola@
yogasan.net 03-6751-1664
Suit. Adidas Originals Kazuki x Ian Brown
business suit. brian.greenough@jcom.
home.ne.jp
7.3 MISCELLANEOUS
Planters. Three-planter terracotta
set (L40xW18xD17cm) ¥2500. One
terracotta planter (W34xD26cm) ¥2500.
One extra round, w/iron stand ¥1500.
¥5000/all. Pick up only Omotesando.
mmcaproni2010@yahoo.co.jp
7.4 ITEMS WANTED
Vinyl LPs and record collections.
Japan-pressed LPs, EPs and singles from
the ‘60s, ‘70s, etc., any genre considered.
Will pay cash for quality items. brian.
greenough@jcom.home.ne.jp
8 COMPUTERS
8.2 HARDWARE
Keyboard dock, for iPad w/old
connector, in great condition, hardly
used, w/original box ¥1000. Pick up
Kanda stn area. eve.christopher@gmail.
com
Laptop, Sony Vaio VGN-NW91VS, Core
2 Duo 2.5GHz, 320GB, 2GB RAM, 15”
display, LAN wireless, Bluetooth, HDMI,
E/Win 7, Office ‘07 ¥22,000. niijo33@
yahoo.com 08050310900
Motion controllers. PlayStation 3 Move
motion controller, eye camera, Move
ray gun controller, PSM-SMG controllers
¥3500/all. sssqsssq@hotmail.com
Laptop, Dell Latitude E4300, Intel
Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz, 4GB RAM, 128GB
SSD, 100/1000 LAN, Wi-Fi, CD/DVD
Multi, Win 7 Professional, E/J ¥20,000.
tokyotechguy@yahoo.co.jp
PlayStation 3 250GB, Japanese,
super-slim console, in great condition,
region-free, menu settings can be
set to English, boxed, w/controller,
al l nece s sary cable s ¥ 16,000.
j.marijeanne@gmail.com
Laptop. Lenovo Thinkpad X201s, Core i7,
8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Win7 Pro 64 bits,
E/OS and keyboard, docking station (to
connect additional devices, monitor,
keyboard, etc.). Make an offer. hrmanu@
gmail.com
5.6 COLLECTORS
Kimono, antique, 100% pure silk,
heavy silk outer and lining, bright
chrysanthemum and maple print, tiny
stains, otherwise in excellent condition
¥28,000. Pick up 4min from Ikenoue stn.
paola@yogasan.net
5.7 PETS
Bunny, 1 year old, white, black eyes,
friendly, w/cage, water bottle, food
bowl, toilet, heating pad, leftover food
¥5000. stra037@aucklanduni.ac.nz
09093241982
6 VEHICLES
6.1 CARS, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES
Roof rack, Thule, for Toyota Harrier,
in very good condition, hardly used, w/
optional canoe/boat fitting ¥5000. Pick
up Kanda stn. eve.christopher@gmail.
com
8.3 SOFTWARE
Mac Microsoft Office, Home Student
‘11 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Japanese
version, three m/o, hardly used. New
¥18,360. Sell ¥6000. mristhisapen@
gmail.com
10 HELP!
10.1 HELP ME
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 companies are welcome.
Please, if interested, let us come to an
agreement. samueladonkor@gmail.
com 090-6152-6274
10.2 SUPPORT
6.3 BICYCLES, PARTS, & ACCESSORIES
Racing bike, Panasonic Les Maillots
Mini-Velo, 9.8kg, alloy frame, 16-speed,
upgraded handlebars, seat and
brakes, Maxxis tyres, as new ¥29,000.
N a ka m e g u r o. to k y o b i ke r2 0 1 4 @
rediffmail.com
7 GENERAL
7.1 PHONES
Fax/phone/answering machine,
Sanyo/Panasonic SFX K-12, thermal
N E E D T O TA L K ? W e ’ r e h e r e
to listen. TELL LIFELINE: free,
anonymous English counseling
daily from 9am-11pm by trained
vo l u n te e r s: 03 - 57 74 - 0 9 92 .
TELL COUNSELING:
affordable multilingual
p s ych o t h e r a py by a cc re d i te d
Western-trained professionals,
a CIGNA International Provider:
03-4550-1146. TELL website: www.
telljp.com. Follow us on Facebook
and Twitter @TokyoLifeLine.
jiparty@hotmail.com http://
w w w.get your frien d.com /
090-1735-5405
THE JAPAN HELPLINE, 24 hours
a d ay, f ro m a ny w h e re, a b o u t
anything. From emergency
assistance to simple questions.
Visit www.jhelp.com/ and press
“help,” or call 0570 - 0 0 0 -9 11 .
To volunteer or support, please
contact team@jhelp.com. www.
jhelp.com/
WEST PAPUA: ONE SOUL, ONE
PEOPLE . Fif t y- one years 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/
markhelp2@gmail.com
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
TOK YO. If you have a problem
with drinking, we can help.
English-speaking meetings daily.
03-3971-1471 inquiries@aatokyo.
org http://aatokyo.org
HI V Peer Suppor t group a n d
workshops. Get together with 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
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
13 CLUBS & INTERESTS
13.1 SPORTS
JUST A 3MIN WALK
FROM ROPPONG I HILL S,
Club 360 is a large and
modern health and fitness
club. No membership or
joining fees. Personal
training, physiotherapy,
f itness classes, b oxing,
kickboxing, massage.
info @club3 60.jp w w w.
club360.jp 03-6434-9667
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/
10.3 LOST FRIENDS
Seeking Mindy. Is Mindy, a petite blonde
teaching assistant from LA, still in Tokyo?
Any info appreciated. m106819151-tsky@
yahoo.com
11 MESSAGES
11.1 PERSONAL MESSAGES
12 SOCIAL SCENE
12.1 LET’S PARTY
J A PA N I N T E R N AT I O N A L
PARTY - SUMMER FESTIVAL.
Sat, Aug 23, 6:30-9pm, Devi
Fusion (Roppongi). Japan’s
biggest international party.
250 people expected. All-youcan-drink and free snacks.
Japanese men: ¥ 4000.
Others: ¥3000. Mobile: http://
getyourfriend.com/mobile/
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 cot lan d . Usin g a
tambourine-like instrument as a
racquet, players hit a shuttlecock.
We play two or three times/month
on weekends in Meguro with many
socials. Join us! More details: www.
tamjapan.org/en/ info@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
Basketball in the Yokohama area. Want
to play b-ball in the Yokohama area? Mostly
Japanese players play intermediate games
every Mon and Wed night at a local school’s
gym. Feel free to come. Please contact for
further details. satoru.nicolas@gmail.com
Don’s Half-Fast Flash-Mob Weekend
Urban Bicycle Rides. halffastcycling@
hotmail.com
Football/soccer players. Tokyo Redstar,
Setagaya League 2, is seeking soccer
players for FW and GK positions. Practice
almost every Sat/Sun in Tokyo. Attendance
must be over 60%. Players in a spirit of fair
play welcome. saito987@hotmail.com
http://tokyoredstar.com/
Futsal player. Intermediate futsal team
in Tokyo seeking people who can enjoy
playing with other players. Please introduce
yourself (name, age, nationality, where you
live, whether you belong to another team).
futsaluk@yahoo.co.jp
AMERICAN FOOTBALL.
N ihon Unis ys Bulls , 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
& v e n u e s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e) .
Attendance at practice must be
over 60%. Please contact for tryout
info and send your profile to team
admin. bullsxleague@gmail.com
http://www.unisys.co.jp/football/
AIKIDO IN ENGLISH. Seidokan
Aikido of Tok yo invites you to
practice a modern style of aikido in
an international environment. Sat,
1-3pm, Itabashi-ku, Toei Mita/Saikyo
line. We welcome men and women,
Japanese and non-Japanese. dojo@
tokyoseidokan.com http://www.
tokyoseidokan.com 03-5994-1185
WRITE A MESSAGE FOR
YOU R S PEC I A L SO M EO N E !
Write any thing, from bir thday
messages to proposals, and so
much more! Contact us through
our website at http://classifieds.
metropolis.co.jp.
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.
Established in 1990, the Cru plays
in the Shuto League 1st Division.
http://www.facebook.com/tokyo.
crusaders www.tokyocrusaders.
com
A L L - N AT I O N A L I T Y TO U C H
FOOTBALL. Non-contact tag rugby
(OZ tag) and Rugby League players.
We play ever y Sat from 1 0am
in Tatsumi. M/F and beginners
welcome! Good exercise and fun!
Many other activities, such as
BBQs and drinking parties! Email
for details. tokyorugbyleague@
hotmail.com ht tp: //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 gby Le a gu e of f icial g ames
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.com
ht tp://w w w.funwithtouch.com/
where-we-play/
P L AY R U G B Y. T h e To k y o
Crusaders are a friendly but
Strong, beautiful, flexible
Transform your body & soul at
BASI PILATES!
Offering you “Authentic Pilates”
Metropolis Campaign
Admission Fee: ¥15,750 ¥0
Trial Machine Private Lesson: ¥10,000 ¥8,400
Package 3 Machine
Private Lessons
¥30,000 ¥18,000
Machine Private Lessons available at our Roppongi studio
Lessons in English available
Studios in Roppongi, Ginza, Nakameguro and more
03-6425-7054 • roppongi@basipilates.jp
www.basipilates.jp/english/
Futsal players wanted by a very friendly
international team. Practice is in Tokyo
and Kanagawa on Sat. Details available.
fkkyn468@ybb.ne.jp
Gracie jiu-jitsu. Seeking a partner to
practice Gracie Combatives techniques.
I’m a long-term foreign resident, can
speak Japanese. Interested in selfdefense, not MMA or grappling for points.
Prefer Yokohama area. Thanks. breathe@
world.email.ne.jp
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 Adventure Club Tokyo
(IAC-Tokyo). The IAC-Tokyo is an allvolunteer group of folks from the Tokyo
area who enjoy outdoor activities together.
stephy46800-live@yahoo.co.uk www.iactokyo.org
International football club. Five-a-side,
11-a-side, on grass fields. Two or three
practices/matches on Sun. All nationalities
welcome. Happy and friendly club! We have
many socials. djnorio0417@yahoo.co.jp
Jogging Yokosuka. SJM seeking friends to
jog 3-5km in Yokosuka, mornings preferred,
but depending on the day, other times could
work, too. ジョギング仲間募集横須
賀. elsalvadorjapan@yahoo.es
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
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
volleyball in a friendly atmosphere?
inter vollclub@yahoo.co.jp http://
intervoll.sakura.ne.jp/
29
The majority of classified ads have moved online! classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
JOBS
To advertise:
commercial@metropolis.co.jp
03-4588-2277
Tibetan Buddhist meditation in Tokyo.
Part of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan
Buddhism. This school puts special focus
on meditation practice. Regular guided
meditations Sun from 7pm. findlay65@
gmail.com http://www.meetup.com/
Tibetan-Buddhist-Meditation-In-TokyoJapan/ 080-4389-8818
Tokyo Dialogue. We have been meeting
in the heart of the concrete jungle called
Tokyo for 10 years to create an oasis of calm
reflection and listening. findlay65@gmail.
com http://tokyodialogue.wordpress.com/
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
BEER CAFÉ BRUGSE ZOT, a new Belgian
beer restaurant, is seeking part-time
hall staff, European-looks preferred
¥1000/h ~. Coredo Muromachi 2,
Nihonbashi, near Tokyo stn. Japanese
ability required. Email CV to Kondo
HR Manager. keiichi.kondo@zato.co.jp
0120-233-182 http://www.world-liquorimporters.co.jp
SEEKING WEBSITE AND PRINT
DESIGNER to join digital marketing
team at Tokyo-based high-tech firm.
Candidate must have professional
design experience both in desktop
publishing (Adobe InDesign) and
website creation. Applicants need
demonstrable skills in HTML coding
and be advanced users of WordPress.
Japanese capabilities desired but
not required. Email us your resume.
digitalmarketing@kvhasia.com www.
kvhasia.com
METROPOLIS is seeking motivated
bilingual (E/J) sales executives,
support staff and interns to join its
advertising and marketing team. Send
E/J resume to jobs@metropolis.co.jp.
Women’s soccer club. Five-a-side,
11-a-side, on grass fields. Two or
three practices/matches on Sun. All
nationalities, experience levels, beginners
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
Free Japanese home cooking. Japanese
housewife offers free home cooking
(washoku) lessons in English (females
only) at her house near Kawasaki stn
during the day on weekdays. You just
pay the cost of ingredients. tome.harukasoushi@ezweb.ne.jp
Join Japanese Sake Club in Tokyo!
Anyone interested in enjoying Japanese
sake with new people who can use the
Japanese language for communication?
We started this group to meet lots of
Japanese sake lovers. Looking forward to
exploring Japanese sake together! info@
dayspa-grace.com http://www.meetup.
com/azabujuban-sakeclub/
Let’s cook together. Why don’t you come
over to my kitchen (Japanese woman in
Shinagawa) to learn how to make yummy
home-style Japanese dishes? Washoku,
Western food, Chinese, etc. Only pay for
ingredients. Women only. cookjapon@
gmail.com
HALL STAFF/BARTENDER/RECEPTIONIST
WANTED b y R i g o l e t t o B a r A n d
Grill. Mainly weekends, proper
visa required ¥1000 - ¥2500.
C asual res taurant , w/gorgeous
international bar in Roppongi Hills.
Join our amazing staff as a star player!
Contact: Miho Omi at 0120-390-927 or
huge_recruit@huge.co.jp. http://www.
huge.co.jp/en/recruit/
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
Be my friend! Hi! I’m a Japanese female,
40s. I need a female friend who is a native
speaker of English or French. I like the
drama Sex and the City and I want some
good friends like them. pothos12@live.jp
POWERFUL, FRIENDLY MODELING
A G E N C Y WA N T S N E W S TA F F.
Requirements: management ability,
good communication skills, flexibility,
English conversation. Also includes
office work. Preferably someone
who likes kids. Please contact us at
03-5411-7767 or agency@angel17.com.
www.angel17.com
13.3 ARTS
Photo Exhibition. Yuga Kurita, the
best Mt. Fuji photographer in Japan, is
holding an exhibition at Island Gallery
in Tokyo. Visit http://yugakurita.com.
ky0611@gmail.com
13.4 MUSIC
A cappella group. Miss singing? Join
our singing group! We sing orchestral
classical music only in human voice,
conducted by a professional a cappella
singer. ryusei@acappella-cantabile.
j p h t t p: / / a c a p p e l l a - c a n t a b i l e .
jp/?page_id=202
Bassist wanted around Yokohama.
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
Blues/blues rock band seeks drummer.
We play at pubs and bars in Tokyo.
Seeking a drummer who can play gigs
once/twice a month. Any nationality
welcome. We are English-speaking
Japanese. Let’s have fun! ryohei88@
hotmail.com 080-1165-5529
Female singer wanted. I’m a Japanese
guitarist in Tokyo. I perform in parks, along
streets, at stations, cafes, music venues, on
Youtube. Pop rock! Everybody, let’s try to
play music! Everybody, let’s go now to the
dreamin’! kamikaze_vibe@hotmail.com
Female singer/songwriter wanted for
original alternative/rock working band. Stage
experience a must. Recording experience
a big plus. If you’ve got a song, maybe we
can play yours as well. Mostly we play and
rehearse in Tokyo. firstdown49@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
JF musicians wanted. Rock band seeks
Japanese female keyboard player and
guitarist. Rolling Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin,
Iggy Pop, PJ Harvey, originals. We play for
fun. markjngs@yahoo.com 09083169482
Musicians wanted to play northern
European/Scandinavian music together,
especially accordionist. Rehearse a couple
of times/month in Nakano. We are two
violinists, flutist, bassist, guitarist and
pianist. unicornio@nifty.com
You’re right - we can play guitar and sing a
song! Seeking singer or singer-songwriter.
I’m a Japanese guitarist. I play electric and
acoustic guitar. Beginners welcome. Gigs in
Tokyo. Pop, rock, punk. kamikaze_vibe@
hotmail.com
13.5 MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
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 090-3598-3072 for more
information. daginia@gmail.com http://
www.diamondway.jp/
Seeking drinking partner in Tokyo.
White male, 20, currently living in Tokyo.
I would like to find some friends to explore
izakaya around the city. Really love the
atmosphere of pubs. Send me a message
to learn more. nai-5@mail.ru
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
SUBSCRIBE TO METROPOLIS
AND NEVER MISS AN ISSUE.
One year (24 issues) ¥3600
(corporate subscribers, 7-100
copies ok ¥22,560). Half year
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¥12,000). Bank transfer or
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Diners Club). Details at http://
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SUBMISSIVE SJM, 36, cute, is
seriously seeking a woman who is
into, or interested in, dominating
men. I am so submissive, with
seven years’ experience, that I am
happy to take whatever and serve
you in any way. slaveintok yo@
gmail.com
Drinks after work. British male working
near Tokyo stn seeking new friends
for drinks after work in the evenings.
Nonsmokers only, please. Any nationality/
sex is ok, especially Brits. I speak some
Korean and Japanese. vint.snap@gmail.
com
Exchange emails. JF would like to have
friendship with foreign people who are
interested in Japan and live abroad. Shall
we share our cultures and various things
through emails in English? Non-native
speakers also ok. gbsrs@hotmail.co.jp
Fellow Japanese learners! English guy
in Tokyo learning Japanese. I’m seeking
other people who are also learning
Japanese to hang out with, share language
tips and resources, and share occasional
frustrations. My Japanese isn’t great
(yet!). vint.snap@gmail.com
French people! Je cherche un ami, homme
ou femme, n’importe qui, qui est vraiment
français. Merci! pothos12@live.jp
Help me! I spend my life going out with
male friends to bars and end up picking
up or being picked up by a girl. So, I’m
seeking a scarecrow - a woman who’ll
scare off women from approaching. ring.
ofdesire@gmail.com
Jazz-playing friends in Tokyo. Japanese
male seeking jazz players for fun in the
Tokyo area. I’ve been playing the alto sax
for a couple of years. Still amateur, but
want to play with others. yossynet@ra2.
so-net.ne.jp
Lived overseas? Genki English chap
seeking people who have lived overseas
- Japanese raised overseas or lived
overseas, or foreigners now in Tokyo.
Looking to meet up and have some
laughs and drinks. Nonsmokers only.
greenteaisyummy@gmail.com
Decent SJM. Honest, open-minded,
healthy, mature, curious and sensitive
guy seeks a cheerful lady. Let’s have
dinner or drinks to get to know each
other. Photos available. Prefer non-Asian.
toshinoris1012@yahoo.co.jp
Different from the norm. Englishman
living and working in Tokyo. Very goal
driven - knows what he wants. Fluent in
one Asian language and studies Japanese
daily. Seeking a woman who is attracted
to confident men, and who isn’t seeking
marriage. heads.itis@gmail.com
Enjoy summer nights. Hi, I’m a WM, 35,
from the UK, already married but seeking
friends or more with a JF. I’m tall, kind,
decent-looking, love conversation
over food/drink, looking forward to
meeting you! Let’s just enjoy summer.
cormacguerin@gmail.com
European gentleman, 40s, tall,
educated, good-looking, S, seeks M lady,
under 30, with unusual fantasies, ready
to explore the extraordinary. One mouse
click can make your secret desires come
true! aminimia@yahoo.com
Attractive and handsome European
male for someone special. I am a caring,
good-looking, successful, multilingual
European businessman seeking a sincere
woman for a serious relationship leading
to marriage. I enjoy watching movies,
listening to classical music and visiting
museums. shwartzwioe@outlook.com
French businessman, 38, 185cm,
good-looking, 日本語 ok, seeks a nice
relationship with a Japanese female.
Open-minded, curious, simple, not
afraid to express her emotions and
feelings, wants to share, needs love
and tenderness. jaimeparisalafolie@
yahoo.fr
Attractive single Japanese male
seeks a nice Western or Japanese
female for friendship and possibly more.
Nonsmokers preferred. I am confident
that I can create fun times for you. If
you are ready, email me. cioinjapan@
gmail.com
Guy seeking friends. Guy from the
Netherlands/Holland, 21, is seeking a
nice JF around the sama age. Kuki City,
Saitama. nico_9829@hotmail.com
Can a man and woman be friends?
There’s a man here from the UK who wants
to find someone who agrees that, yeah,
it’s possible - and it might actually be fun!
Any nationality welcome, but nonsmokers
only. cosmo.soda@gmail.com
Deutsches freund? Hallo, zusammen!
Ich suche gute Leute Sprechen
Deutsch als Muttersprache. Ich will
die Sprach weiter lernen als war ich in
Deutschalnd. Es ist nicht besonders für
Tandem. Jeder ist willkommen. Enfach
plaudern beim Interesse! Liebe Grüße!
biyakobiyanbiyan@yahoo.co.jp
Chinese-Canadian, 32, 175cm, 65kg,
caring, fun-loving, athletic, likes
basketball, music, movies, seeking a
serious relationship with an attractive
JF, 22-32. test697@hotmail.com
Big Breakfast 45. Do you read
Metropolis every night and
reply to every man? Do
you get really angry when
they don’t reply back? Get
a life! Lol. Learn how to
be nice and attract a man.
onzeetop+bitch@gmail.com
Black girl wanted. Tall, blue-eyed
white English boy seeks dark-skinned
ebony girl for drinks, and - if there’s
a spark - a little more. A love for (or
tolerance of, at least) dry British sense
of humour is a must. onzeetop@gmail.
com
Brainy JF sought by American professor
and author. coyote@west.net
British for Japanese. Seeking
friendship and maybe more, depending
on if we click. Successful, kind, sexy
and generally fun guy to be with. So
definitely worth getting to know me!
Thanks. stalonelyheart@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
Cafe and evening out friend sought
by American. Let’s meet up after work
and forget our busy days, try new cafes,
chat and see where things go from there.
Interested? accessmatrix@yahoo.com
Casual daytime fun? MWM, 30s,
educated, professional, fit, attractive,
kind, seeks an attractive Japanese/
Asian lady for passionate casual romance
(not just friends) in Tokyo. Seeking an
uncomplicated relationship weekend
mornings or afternoons-no evenings.
Coffee first. tokyodreamin@gmail.com
Celebrity JFさんへ. Be my friend.
横 浜 に 住 んで い る 男 外 国 人で
す。よ か ったらメール下 さ い 。
maldonado_4649@yahoo.co.jp
He’s cheating on you. You know it. It
makes you angry. But you don’t want to
leave him. Get revenge by sleeping with
me. I’m safe - I won’t fall in love with you,
and he’ll never know you’re meeting me.
tallmu.ggle@gmail.com
Hello, mature women in Yokohama
and Tokyo. I am a foreigner, 35, seeking
a mature JF, respectful, passionate,
romantic, extroverted, funny, able to
have smart conversation. 日本語大丈
夫。maldonado_4649@yahoo.co.jp
I’m comfortable with hot women being
attracted to me. I use my limited free time
to achieve my goals. I’ll say goodbye if I
disapprove of your behavior. This is who
I am. Tell me why you’re attracted to me.
tokyo.player@gmail.com
Indian? White guy seeking open-minded
Indian female for drinks and more.
Married/single ok. dontea.tsoap@
gmail.com
Interracial. African currently residing
in central Tokyo seeks a lady of any
nationality for a serious relationship.
Looks don’t matter. No jokes, please.
strike4me@yahoo.com
JM seeking foreign girl. Hi, Id like to
make friends with a foreign girl! I’m
easygoing and I want to do fun things.
I play music and work in real estate
in Tokyo. I like to shop, drink, etc.
kosuke1016@hotmail.com
JM seeks female friends who speak
Japanese. Let’s get lunch together. Any
nationality ok. superisajp@yahoo.co.jp
09039098457
Leaving Japan? Leaving Japan in a
few months to live overseas for a year?
Returning to your home country? I want
to meet a girl like you - to enjoy a shortterm relationship with. Let’s enjoy your
remaining time. c.carander@gmail.com
Let’s become good friends. I am a fun,
kind, active SJM, 40s, seeking someone
who could share good times and possibly
a serious relationship. I like coffee shop
chat, movies, exercise. Looking forward
to hearing from you! toshinoris1012@
yahoo.co.jp
Let’s have a coffee. European, 30,
186cm, educated, seeking women,
25-35, for relaxed, enjoyable times
hopefully leading to more. julio4561@
gmail.com
Marriage. Nice, handsome, generous,
rich SJM, 40, in Tokyo, seeks a Caucasian
woman for marriage. seven8877@
hotmail.com
31
Many more Classified ads online! Please visit classifieds.metropolis.co.jp
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Singaporean, Chinese, 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, etc., with a gaijin, please!
greenteais.yummy@gmail.com
Nice gentleman seeks a mature
Japanese woman, 50+, to enjoy special
sweet moments together, with respect
and good manners. vbcfgt@hotmail.com
Nice to meet you! I live in Tokyo now.
I want to make friends with foreign
females. How about going to eat,
shopping, sightseeing? Please send me
a message if you are interested in me.
kaeru-jz30@docomo.ne.jp
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Mature Japanese lady. I’m an
Australian guy, single, tall, athletic
build, 45, well-established in Tokyo with
a good job. I want to meet an interesting,
mature Japanese lady around my age.
soleman196@hotmail.com
Ni hao? I only know two words of Chinese
- ni hao and xie xie - but I like Chinese
women and I want to learn some more
words. If you’re Chinese, in Tokyo, and
seeking an English male friend, mail me.
i.do.tricks@gmail.com
Reasonable prices.
Free first time consultation
Patent attorney
Immigration lawyer
Serious relationship leading to marriage.
I’m a single black guy, mid-30s, living and
working in Tokyo. Work keeps me busy and
stressed at times. I’m seeking a serious
relationship that could lead to marriage.
misscicilia@in.com
Need love. Handsome Engl ish
gentleman, moderate build, mid30s, needs beautiful, passionate JF. I
am handsome, fun, intelligent, wellmannered and empathic. Let’s have
romance together. Please send photo
w/email. I’m looking forward to hearing
from you. edanoki@gmail.com
J-STAR PATENT, TRADEMARK & IMMIGRATION OFFICE
Hiroshi Oogai,
Marriage. Single man living and studying
in Tokyo is seeking marriage with a
gentle, sincere woman. I’m very caring,
sensitive, affectionate, and I like nature.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
faraponne@gmail.com
Akasaka
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stn
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Tokyu
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Email: hiroshioogai@j-star.jp
One man for two women as friends.
Professional Scottish guy seeking two
women for occasional casual drinks after
work as friends. I know my way around
Tokyo and speak some Japanese, so I’m
not needing a guide. Just friends. get.
stay.real@gmail.com
Outgoing black male seeking attractive
girlfriend, 20-55, 160cm+, who is fun to be
around and seeking intimacy in the Tokyo
area. I’m 35, smart, 183cm, shaved head,
athletic, from NY, working in IT, living
in Ota-ku. Interested? goldfinger726@
gmail.com
Proposal for SWF in Tokyo. Attractive
SJM seeks attractive, spiritually
mature, thoughtful SWF for a meaningful
relationship. Shall we begin to talk? I think
this opportunity will be a great one for us.
followupforme14@gmail.com
Seeking a good woman. I am a black
male who is honest, loyal, romantic,
passionate and a great candidate to be
your unyielding soulmate, partner, lover,
supporter and confidant. I am seeking a
secure, attractive, intelligent woman.
meetmrserious@yahoo.com
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More Than Twenty Years Experience
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042-401-0342
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Editors!
Metropolis, Japan’s No. 1 English magazine,
has full-time positions available in its editorial department.
See http://metropolis.co.jp/jobs/ for details
32
Seeking girlfriend. I am a professional
SJM seeking friendship and maybe more
with a SWF. I am a young-looking late
40s. You are 30-45, single, educated, with
a good sense of humor. july_leo2010@
yahoo.co.jp
Seeking large Japanese girlfriend.
Canadian guy, 40s, open-minded, gentle,
romantic, positive, seeks overweight
girlfriend for long-term relationship in
Tokyo. Serious only, please. bbalajan@
yahoo.com
Seeking marriage partner. Tall Turkish
man, early 40s, sensitive, compassionate,
responsible, fun, 20 years in Japan, likes
fitness, reading, cooking, traveling,
hiking, being near water, not interested
in clubs or discos. I live near Machida,
Odakyu line, speak Japanese. You’re
early 30s-40, wish to have your own
family, nonsmoking, social drinker, happy,
believe enjoying life is important. Photo
required. pisces030771@hotmail.com
Sophisticated and cute SJM seeks
interesting, warmhearted Western lady for
friendship or possibly more. If you seek a
genuine and ideal JM, just drop me a line.
Let’s start communicating and get to know
each other. jscit2007@gmail.com
Trigamy? Friendly Canadian, 51, in open
marriage with best friend, wants to find
a second lover. There is something about
having two lovers that is just right. I am
placing this ad with my lover’s knowledge.
No secrets, no lies. androgoner@gmail.
com
Western girl? Let’s start from friends!
Sick of creepy JMs hitting on you in the
street, looking at “charisma men” who
only go for Japanese girls and being lost
in translation? Cool Japanese man right
here for you. larcenciel800@gmail.com
Where is my charming princess? I seek
a serious relationship which hopefully
will lead to marriage. I’m witty, funny,
romantic. I strongly believe that you
are out there. I hope I’ll find you.
waynebrad11@aol.com
フランス ロマンス. Fine-looking
Frenchman proposing romance in Tokyo.
Blue-eyes type, tall and slender, 30s.
Sweet and respectful relationship with a
charming lady - Japanese, 25-45, welldressed and open-minded. yashinteki81@
hotmail.com
14.3 WOMEN LOOKING FOR MEN
sense of humor. caligreen2000st@
gmail.com
Friendship first. JF, attractive, educated,
mature, early 30s, seeks a sincere, goodlooking Caucasian, 20s-30s, in Tokyo.
winterwhite26@yahoo.co.jp
Japanese female seeks husband. Hello,
SJF, 30s, seeking a SWM who can speak
Japanese for a serious relationship. I have
a kind heart, like music and dining out, etc.
Can’t wait to see you. Please email me.
rykya614@i.softbank.jp
Long-term relationship. SJF, late 30s,
slim, well-educated, not club type, seeks
SWM in Tokyo for a serious relationship.
I’m busy with work usually, and seeking
someone to spend my weekends with.
summer183@hotmail.co.jp
New life. People describe me as attractive,
elegant, unique and gentle. Seeking a
man who is highly educated, genuine,
open-minded. European preferred. I am
mid-40s. Singles, long-term only. amrita_
banana2014@yahoo.co.jp
Oriental beauty. Long sleek hair, fine
skin, toned yet with a very feminine frame
and curves. Beautiful single Japanese, fun,
brainy, mid-40s, maturity with a baby face,
totally bilingual. You: single, articulate,
international, professional, around my age
or older. lemon_somehearts@yahoo.co.jp
Seeking Frenchman for serious
relationship. I’m a SJF, 30s, interested
in France, seeking a relationship with a
sincere and intelligent Frenchman, 25-50.
No language exchange or games, please.
Serious only. framboisier@inter7.jp
Seeking gentleman who likes traveling,
drinking and eating out. If you’re late
30s-mid-40s, send me a message.
hacchiru@gmail.com
Vivacious and cute! SCF, 28, cute, petite, is
seeking a man for a long-term relationship.
I’m full of energy, humorous and quirky.
I have a passion for fine art, music, geek
culture and Disney. Hope to hear from you!
nerak_3186@hotmail.com
Weekend date? Attractive Japanese
female, 33, seeking someone nice-looking
for weekend dates and drives. Seeking
casual rather than too serious. I am
pleasant, not aggressive, like three-star
restaurants and quiet, cozy cafes. Reply
w/details and photo. m1979jp@gmail.com
S I N G L E S - O N LY D AT I N G
EVENTS EVERY FRI NIGHT for
foreign men and Japanese
women. Leave the event with a
new date! Always more women
than men. FREE if signing up in
advance! Otherwise, ¥2000.
info@exeo-international.com
www.exeo-international.com
14.4 GAY & LESBIAN
British seeking newhalf to spend some
time with. If you are interested, do get in
touch. stalonelyheart@gmail.com
Top or versatile wanted. Seeking
a discreet and sexy friendship with a
healthy, DD-free, nonsmoking top or
versatile. I’m 30, 180cm, mixed, polite
and good-looking. Must be able to
host. Kanagawa or Tokyo. sp777saw@
hotmail.com
14.5 ESCORTS
LAVISH DATES AND
INDULGENT NIGHTS - WE
CR E ATE O PP O RTU N ITI 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. Try our free one-month
trial offer: first date is on us!
0120-675-858 (E) international@
universe-club.jp http://universeclub.jp/en
Seeking open-minded JF. I’m 29,
from Hawaii. I like to laugh, do karaoke,
drink. I am mixed black, Hawaiian, Native
American, Italian. Seeking a Japanese
woman, 18-42. Looking to have fun. Mail
me if interested. tonykatsu@yahoo.com
Are you normal? Single female, 34, tall
and slim, seeking serious relationship with
a white European/American man working
in Japan. You don’t need to be too goodlooking or rich, but you must have common
sense. Serious only, please. deep-ocean@
hotmail.co.jp
Seeking SJF. Seeking JF to enjoy life.
I like travel, nature, movies, concerts,
dining, matsuri, hiking, swimming. Me:
single Asian-American, 30s, professional.
Japanese ok. ilikesandiego@yahoo.co.jp
Be my boyfriend. Hi! I’m a Japanese, 40s.
I’m happy with my life, but I need someone
who loves me, and is sincere, rich and single.
If you’re interested, please send an email
with your photo. Thanks. pothos12@live.jp
Seeking some fun with a SJM? Cool,
tall, witty Japanese male is seeking some
fun with a single white female in Tokyo.
We can start from friends. You’re single;
I’m single - life is too short. Why waste
time? kemkekilab@gmail.com
Elegant, presentable and loving
in public, and outspoken, sexy and
extremely loving in private. I enjoy
the variety; you enjoy me. Intelligent
beauty, well put-together, a bit over
40, seeks a single American with a great
ESCORTS have gone online.
To f i n d a l o v e l y l a d y
co m p a n i o n , v i s i t h t t p: //
classifieds.metropolis.co.jp/
category/personals/escorts.
14.6 AND OTHERS
Massage exchange. European, 30s,
185cm, athletic, seeking a Japanese lady
to enjoy a relaxing and sensual massage
exchange. I have large, soft hands and
oil from Bali. No sex involved. alfred.
manfreud@gmail.com
Seeking JF for online roleplay and
long-distance relationship. Seeking JF,
20-30. I’m a UK male, 37. tardis672@
gmail.com
15 JOBS
15.1 JOB WANTED
NEED A BABYSITTER?
My name is Merinda
Masuda. I’m 16, great
with children and give
them 100% attention.
Trustworthy,
responsible, loving, can do housework
while children sleep. Seeking work in
central Tokyo. Available most
evenings, Sat evenings and Sun.
merindababysitter@gmail.com
♥ Love ¥ Money ♣ Luck
horoscope
BY CATHRYN MOE
ARIES
TAURUS
Rock your weekend and dance with
Uranus retrograde in Aries, currently
aspecting Saturn. It’s all about putting foundations together and waiting for the
glue to set—or not. At least, not right away.
Luckily this weekend includes the full moon,
reflecting light with a broader view. Thoughts
fill your head and distract you, ensuring that
imagination takes hold as a form of currency.
Old patterns that lack nurturance furiously
erode, moving you closer to a sought-after goal.
It’s becoming easier to experience
new vistas. Opportunities you didn’t
think on offer arrive. Many of them
have to do with expansion in travel and finances. You’ve been working in various realms
including on yourself. It may have seemed
relaxation and fun weren’t part of the equation.
Saturn opposite your sign has given this impression. The full moon over the weekend reveals
that your career can be easier as you take a step
back and see it from a distance.
GEMINI
CANCER
Mar 21-Apr 19 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Apr 20-May 20 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣
May 21-Jun 20 ♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
Jun 21-Jul 22 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣
You can’t travel all the time, but you
would if you could teleport. Off to
other realms, then back in an instant
to shop, work, relax or help with homework.
There’s a sexy side to your mercurial air sign. It
has to do with balance of power, of course. The
full moon over the weekend reflects a mirror of
what others really want, not what they say they
do. In an instant you’re able to assess and take
charge, which instantly becomes second nature
once it happens.
You can’t be the nurturer forever, the
only one making hearty hot soups
and listening to the woes of the world.
At some point you’ll need to kick out and show
everyone you have your own focus, determined to
watch your success story grow. This week is about
paring back. The full moon over the weekend is
your baby as you are the Moonchild. While it’s not
in your sign, it strengthens your connections with
people who mean the most and can help you get
where you want to go.
LEO
VIRGO
As a leader in the zodiac, you help
create other leaders. You do this with
heartfelt warmth and encouragement.
Incorporating the qualities of your opposite
sign Aquarius, you can stay detached enough
to see your fledglings fly to new destinations.
The full moon over the weekend brings relief
to crowded schedules and overpriced spaces.
Watch for Venus to enter your sign on Tuesday.
Current, belated or early gifts are on their way
to you.
As Chiron pulls out of Neptune’s influential orb, you see relationships in a
different way. Right now you’re in an
apex of power­—all you need to do is own it. In the
past, our world has not directly financed imagination. Change is coming as innovation makes your
thoughts easier to translate to reality and then
currency—for you. In the midst of the woods, your
intuition is your best guide. The full moon over the
weekend reveals how your career can fulfill your
personal goals, whatever they may be.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Sep 23-Oct 22 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Oct 23-Nov 21 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
Thank goodness all that planetary
pressure you had moving through
Libra has subsided. Or does it not feel
that way as yet? Spicing up your solar second
house of income, Mars forges through, adding
energy and drive to refurbish your bank account.
So does Vesta, who holds you to a high standard,
allowing you to choose a path that matches your
ideals. Ceres, a protective mothering influence,
has just joined them. It’s early days, but trust is
becoming restored.
You can get all you want done this
week and then some. The full moon
over the weekend reflects a level of
comfort, revealing what needs to be changed
and what you can live with. You’re running on a
high level of intuition in the midst of rather intense
requirements. While the bridge is not yet built, the
underlying plans are solid. Instead of looking for
more money from what you currently do, let Venus
show you options as she enters your house of
career starting Tuesday.
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
Holding close to the inspiration in
your environment helps you make an
important connection. This translates
to revelations during the full moon over the weekend. What has driven you before may not be the
same as you watch your goals change mid-leap.
Not everyone can sense and see what you do.
Your challenges have pushed an intense personal
scrutiny. Venus enters your sector of empowerment and long-distance travel on Tuesday. Go for
it. Bump your trust into high gear.
A smooth flow lets you enter your
comfort zone. The full moon over the
weekend incites a little internal riot.
You can detach from your finances emotionally
long enough to see them. Patterns in spending and triggers to do so rise to the surface. If
thoughts were things, which they eventually
are, all you would have to do is focus on your
heart’s desire, then wait for Venus to enter this
sector starting Tuesday to see them present
themselves to you.
Jul 23-Aug 22 ♥♥♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣
Nov 22-Dec 21 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
AQUARIUS
Aug 23-Sep 22 ♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Dec 22-Jan 19 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
PISCES
Jan 20-Feb 18 ♥♥ ¥¥ ♣♣♣♣
Feb 19-Mar 20 ♥♥♥ ¥¥¥ ♣♣♣
The full moon in your sign over the
weekend gives rise to more than one
epiphany. You can see clearly because
you have no choice. Personal will is important,
but you’ve always been aware you’re part of a
collective. At the moment you’re questing to
find the group that best represents your inner
dictates. Feel like your friends are revealing
themselves more quickly than you wanted?
They’re the same—you have grown. Keep working on yourself and reap the rewards.
The smart money is on listening to
your own inner wisdom. Chiron has
pulled away from Neptune in your
sign. You’re able to believe that healing comes
as a natural response these days. You’ve had
enough experience to trust the process. Just
remember that your perception and compassion combine to create a safe journey. With
Pallas Athene in your partnership sector, you’re
likely to attract someone fun and quirky, an outof-the box thinker to set your heart free.
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33
the last word
Illustration by Christi Rochin
Side Project
PLAYING THE TOKYO MUSIC SCENE
BY WILLIAM BRADBURY
WANT
TO HAVE
THE LAST
WORD?
Send your article to:
editor@metropolis.co.jp
Tokyo is a great place to form a band and
play. But further success—touring, making money from your music and honing
an original sound—are all frustrationinducing stumbling blocks that are nearly
impossible to kick out of the way.
Like many millions of people out
there, I’ve harbored a dream of being a
musician through my teenage years and
into my adult life. After I arrived in Tokyo,
I started out playing open mic shows—
which are unusually scarce for desperate
musos in this city. I played shows where
I would bang on a toaster and loop the
sounds on my laptop. Nobody thought
it was good, but I still meet people who
remember me as “the toaster guy,” and
it’s from this period that I met future bandmates and enthusiasts who introduced
me to other events—all of which earned
Then there are people into perfecme no money and no fans, but at least tion, preparing the most expensive
brought me temporary satisfaction.
equipment money can buy—but hesiIf you’re in a band, you’ll have to check tant to press the record button. Some
your ego at the door and accept that bands have everything thought out
a passion project is probably all it will apart from the making and recording of
ever be. Getting shows is rarely a way to the actual music.
make money; in actuality it’s more a way
There are a range of scenes and
to make money for the venue doing you communities of like-minded people
the honor of allowing you to play.
playing shows together. Some of these
I now play in several bands to escape are based purely on area; others are
the reality that my day job is teaching based on category. Tokyo, for examEnglish and my only fans are a mixture ple, is famous for being the “home of
of family, friends and girlfriends. But noise”—though I’ve always felt a conunambitious as I am, I’m aware that even tradiction in the underground noise
this would be more difficult if I lived in scene here, because although it prides
another city. If you want your own rags- itself on being “out there,” there are
to-riches success story, Tokyo is prob- often many rules as to what sounds and
ably the wrong place to be. But if you just vocal styles can be used.
want to play, you can. A large percentIt’s hard to ever become fully deage of Tokyo-based bands are passion spondent in Tokyo, though, because
projects—and if you can’t
the population is so large
find a band to join, you’re
there are always people
just not looking.
out there somewhere
People advertise the
who share your interests.
old-fashioned way, and in IF YOU’RE IN A
There could be another
neighborhoods famed for BAND, YOU’LL
guy banging on his mothmusic—such as Koenji— HAVE TO CHECK
er’s pots and pans and reyou can find lots of fliers YOUR EGO AT
cording it in his basement
from people searching for THE DOOR AND
at this very moment. You
others with whom to play. ACCEPT THAT
just have to put yourself
And yes: being a foreign- A PASSION
out there to find him.
er helps. Japanese bands PROJECT IS
There’s an earnest
seem enamored with the PROBABLY ALL
enjoyment of music in
“cool” factor of Western IT WILL EVER BE” Tokyo, but that overt earmusic. Bands here often
nestness can also lead to
have English names, write their descrip- naïveté. Many musicians accept that it is
tions and sometimes their attempts to enough just to play a show or even just to
find members in English. It makes the be in a band and enjoy that for what it is.
band appear more hip—even if half of it
Trying to make music is a strange
is arbitrary gibberish.
thing to call a hobby compared to, say,
Of course, lots of these projects in- golf, and many people don’t try for fear
volve bands making music suspiciously of failing—and miss the point that not
like that of their favorite artists—the most trying is also failing. Everybody should
common being soundalikes of My Bloody try to make music if they’re interested in
Valentine and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. doing so, even just to see what kind of
Many in the Tokyo music scene are thing they churn out. But after a certain
into gadgets and gizmos, too. There are number of years, you have to question
people with such huge collections of whether you’re getting enough of a paypedals and effects that just watching off both literally and emotionally for the
them set up on stage is like a show in time and life investment.
itself. This can lead to disappointment
if the final product doesn’t justify the ■ William Bradbury is an English teacher,
freelance writer and musician based in Tokyo
prep time.
The views expressed in “The Last Word” are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the position or opinions of Japan Partnership Co. Ltd. or its partners and sponsors.
NEXT ISSUE
34
TOKYO GHOST
STORIES
KAZUNORI KUMAGAI
BARES HIS SOLE
BLAME IT ON THE
BASSANOVA RAMEN
DON’T BE A
J@P@N N00B
Resort style in the big city
This quiet neighborhood will make you forget
you are in the middle of Tokyo...
Tucked away on the back streets of the posh Azabu neighborhood is one
of the city’s best-kept secrets in serviced apartments: Azabu Court.
Facility
This full-service accommodation has all the
amenities to take the edge off that demanding business trip: free broadband, in-house
concierge services and laundry/dry cleaning
pick-up, to name just a few. Rooms can be
rented at daily, weekly or monthly rates, with
sizes ranging from studios to two-bedroom
suites. All units come equipped with a
kitchenette, giving busy execs a place to
whip up a quick meal or stash away a few
cold ones.
Location
With the Roppongi Hills entertainment
and shopping mecca only a 15-minute
stroll away, Azabu Court residents
needn’t worry about last trains or taxis
after a night on the town. The
residence is also near expat-friendly
spots like National Azabu Supermarket
and the Tokyo Midtown complex.
Homey, sophisticated and convenient,
Azabu Court is the perfect serviced
apartment for those who want to
enjoy the best in creature comforts
while staying in the thick of things.
5-min walk from Hiroo station.
Fitness Benefit
Residents also benefit from Azabu Court’s
membership in the nearby Fitness Club
Hiroo, with tickets sold at the front desk for
just ¥1,080, allowing easy access to exercise
and fitness studio programs to work off that
seductive Tokyo cuisine.
4-5-39 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku.
TEL: 03-3446-8610
frontdesk@azabucourt.com
www.azabucourt.com
Price List
Room types
Standard Studio
for 1 person
(46 units) 20~22m2
Rate types
Feb. ~ Nov.
Daily
¥7,800 ~ ¥9,700
Weekly
¥6,850 ~ ¥8,450
Monthly
¥5,700 ~ ¥7,200
Over 3 months
Large Studio
for 1 person
(6 units) 25m2
10% Off
from Feb. ~
Nov. rate
Room types
One Bedroom Suite
for 2 persons
(8 units) 33~51m2
All year ¥5,130 ~ ¥6,480
Daily
¥10,100 ~ ¥10,400
Weekly
¥9,150 ~ ¥9,450
Monthly
¥7,700 ~ ¥7,900
Over 3 months
Dec. & Jan.
10% Off
from Feb. ~
Nov. rate
All year ¥6,930 ~ ¥7,110
Rate types
Feb. ~ Nov.
Dec. & Jan.
Daily
¥14,200 ~ ¥21,000
Weekly
¥12,200 ~ ¥18,400
10% Off
Monthly
¥10,300 ~ ¥16,500
Over 3 months
Two Bedroom Suite
for 3 persons
(1 unit) 72m2
All year ¥9,270 ~ ¥14,850
Daily
¥26,500
Weekly
¥23,100
Monthly
¥19,100
Over 3 months
from Feb. ~
Nov. rate
10% Off
from Feb. ~
Nov. rate
All year ¥17,190
Utilities and consumption tax are included in the above price list, no matter the period of stay. A security deposit will be charged if you wish to stay more than one month.
Security deposit is refundable after all payments and damage charges are settled, after complete vacation of the property.
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