It's time again for the Saito Kinen Festival in Matsumoto. The first was held nine years ago when many outstanding Japanese musicians gathered together, as they have every year since, to honor their teacher, Hideo Saito, with a combined musical performance.

This year's program will open with the Saito Kinen Orchestra, conducted, as always, by Seiji Ozawa, honoring Bach, who died 250 years ago. There is also a Beethoven program with a 1,000-voice chorus, chamber concerts, a brass quintet and others. Another program will feature the music of Toru Takemitsu, a composer whose works are especially appreciated because of his ability to blend the distinctive instruments of the East with those of the West, "November Steps" perhaps being the best known.

Takemitsu died five years ago and a part of this year's program honors him as well as introducing works by two of his friends, one Chinese, the other Korean. The programs are scheduled during the period from Aug. 26 through Sept. 10.

A reader wants to know where he can get a copy of the program and order tickets. For the program, he can send a fax to Masaru Ako, Saito Kinen Festival, (0263) 48-6150. Tickets are available through Ticket Pia offices (03) 5237-9888, CN Play Guide (03) 5802-9933 and at Lawson ticket services. Tickets go on sale on June 17, and they usually sell out quickly.

Here is a first for people in the Tokyo area. The Association of Wives of African Ambassadors in Japan will be holding an African exhibition of table settings and African art June 6 in the Japan Foundation conference hall in the east wing of the Ark Mori Building 20th floor, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

There are 22 participating countries and I want to name them all: Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. Your donation will be 3,000 yen.

We are all aware of the many problems facing Africa today, the endless confrontations, the famines, the droughts, in so many places there are heart-rending disasters. Many of you want -- or should want -- to help, but it is difficult for individuals to know where to send gifts. Here is a chance to make a contribution to a group that will be certain to get it to the proper places. At the same time, you and your friends can enjoy an exhibition of table settings -- one is a safari picnic, another, a king's table -- and an introduction to African art. There will be some articles for sale. You will also be able to meet the wives of our African ambassadors and to learn more about their countries.

See you there! (By subway, exit 13 at Tameike-Sanno Station on the Ginza and Nanboku lines, tickets available from members or at the door, call (03) 3448-9540 or (03) 5449-3010 for more information.)

Another reader will be disappointed to learn that she and her friends have missed the Bingo Plus afternoon sponsored by Japan Israel Women's Welfare Organization, a group that contributes generously to the support of nonprofit institutions in both Israel and Japan with emphasis on the handicapped and education. It was held May 21. If they would like to contribute to this good work, call the Jewish Community Center, (03) 3400-2259.

A gentleman expresses sympathy for the woman who is having difficulties finding information about the Japanese pension she will receive when she reaches retirement age. Her company has gone bankrupt and no one seems able to tell her the amount she will receive, information necessary for her to complete her plans for leaving Japan. While the situation he tells us about will not help her, it may be good news to some other readers. In most cases, 25 years of employment are required before one can qualify for a pension. However, he tells us -- and encloses a page from an official booklet to confirm it -- that there is a situation that requires only 15 years of employment. This is applicable when a person commences work in Japan after age 40. If you would like a copy of this page to show when you require information, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to me.