Event Topics

Diary 2.0 work among pieces at art festival

by Tomohiro Osaki

Keeping a diary no longer needs to be a solitary activity. The popularity of social networking services, for example, has allowed people to post their thoughts for the world to see — which could be anything from gossip to fomenting revolution. Quick to zero in on the trend, artist Christopher ...

'Grotesque' organist hits town

Feb 22, 2013

'Grotesque' organist hits town

by Eriko Arita

Organist Cameron Carpenter, known for his wild performances and appearance, plays the organ like no one else — hitting the keys with frantic energy and a rockstar-like attitude. Carpenter, born in Pennsylvania in 1981, was a child prodigy, performing Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” when he ...

Feb 22, 2013

New play tackles the touchy issue of nationalism

by Tomohiro Osaki

Juvenile delinquency. Intersexuality. Terminal-illness treatment. These are the kinds of social issues theater troupe Fukinkobo has fearlessly tackled over the years, giving it a reputation for having the courage of its convictions to spotlight the predicament of people with marginalized social status. This time ...

Carp expo hopes to make waves with enthusiasts

Feb 1, 2013

Carp expo hopes to make waves with enthusiasts

by Tomoko Otake

The love of nishikigoi, an ornamental carp with characteristically red and black patterns, has recently spread worldwide, spawning a variety of koi (carp) clubs, associations and periodicals in various regions and languages. Anyone interested in taking a peek into this vibrant hobbyist culture of ...

South Korean dance show aims for the eyes, not the ears

Jan 24, 2013

South Korean dance show aims for the eyes, not the ears

by Nobuko Tanaka

South Korean entertainment is excelling in a lot of disciplines, and stage performance is one of them. Now a groundbreaking action-drawing show, “Hero,” will take its turn trying to impress Japanese audiences. “Hero” embarks on a monthlong run at the Roppongi Blue Theater in ...

A monk's teenage angst can be monstrous

Jan 24, 2013

A monk's teenage angst can be monstrous

by Tomohiro Osaki

Monsters and runaways aren’t usually the kinds of problems teenagers face, but a Tokyo-based theater troupe thinks these are the kinds of conundrums that await teenage monks. This weekend, the troupe Tateyoko Kikaku will present two works that are part of a series of ...

Tango orchestra to tour country

Jan 17, 2013

Tango orchestra to tour country

by Eriko Arita

A renowned Argentine tango orchestra and dancers will bring their passion for the art to audiences in more than 30 cities across Japan through March. The tour, titled Dramatic Tango — Shin Ogonsedai no Kyoshotachi (Maestros of New Golden Era), is led by Nicolas ...

Jan 17, 2013

'Driftwood' duet to be the first of its kind

by Chiho Iuchi

The first duets on two “driftwood” violins are being performed in Japan by leading Mexican violinist Adrian Justus and his teacher, Yuriko Kuronuma, a Mexico-based Japanese violinist. When the two artists visited master luthier Muneyuki Nakazawa’s workshop in Tokyo in December 2011 to have ...

Kabuki kicks off the new year

Jan 11, 2013

Kabuki kicks off the new year

by Rei Sasaguchi

Audiences at the Asakusa Kokaido venue in Tokyo have been welcoming 2013 in with some high culture. Ichikawa Ebizo XI opened the public hall’s program for the new year with a 45-minute piece titled “Kotobuki Soga no Taimen” (“The Soga Brothers Meet their Enemy”). ...

Yokocho offers up a bar crawl

Jan 11, 2013

Yokocho offers up a bar crawl

by Edan Corkill

‘No nightlife in Tokyo? Wrong!” So says the website of the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau and, to prove its point, it is holding a new event, Tokyo Yokocho Week, which commences Jan. 15. The event, which despite its name actually runs for two ...