The National Museum of Ethnology in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, will show the award-winning film "The Kid with a Bike," a Franco-Belgian-Italian production, on Dec. 9.

The French-language movie, which was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, will be screened at 1:30 p.m. with Japanese subtitles.

No reservations are required and admission is free, but numbered tickets will be distributed starting at 10 a.m. the day of the screening.

The museum is a 15-minute walk from Bampaku Kinen Koen and Koen Higashiguchi stations on the Osaka Monorail Line.

For more information, visit www.minpaku.ac.jp/english (in English) or call (06) 6878-8210.

Counseling session in Kyoto for non-Japanese

A group of experts will hold a counseling session Saturday in the city of Kyoto for foreign residents on various issues, including legal matters, visas, pensions, labor conditions, social insurance, taxes and mental health.

The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kyoto International Community House. A translation service will be provided in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish. There is no admission charge, but reservations are required. The venue is a six-minute walk from Keage Station on the Tozai subway line.

For further details, visit www.kcif.or.jp/HP/jigyo/sodan/en/ counseling/konnendo/index.html (in English) or phone (075) 752-3511.

Experience a virtual tsunami in Osaka

Foreign residents can learn how to prepare for natural disasters and experience a virtual tsunami at a special event Dec. 8 hosted by the Osaka International House Foundation.

The event will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is free of charge. Advance reservations are required. The venue, the Tsunami Storm Surge Disaster Prevention Station, is a one-minute walk from Awaza Station on the Chuo and Sennichimae subway lines.

More information is available at www.ih-osaka.or.jp/english/news/20121026_2545/ (in English) or by calling (06) 6773-8989.

Seminar in Nagoya on international aid groups

The International Cooperation College 2012 will take place Dec. 8 in Nagoya, featuring a symposium in which speakers active in international cooperation activities will take part.

About 20 groups will also explain what kinds of volunteers and interns they are seeking.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are required, and a maximum 70 people will be able to participate. Entrance is free. The venue, JICA Chubu, is a five-minute walk from Sasashima Raibu Station on the Aonami Line.

For further details, visit www.nangoc.org/information/2012/ 10/1282012.php (in Japanese), or call Nagoya NGO Center at (052) 228-8109.

Foreign volunteers to read Christmas tales

Foreign volunteers at Nagoya International Center will entertain children Dec. 9 by reading Christmas story books from their home countries, explaining their ways of celebrating the holiday and singing Christmas songs from around the world.

The volunteers will speak in various languages, including English, Chinese, Spanish and French. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Only children aged 5 and above are invited to take part. No reservations are required and participation is free. The center is a seven-minute walk from Nagoya Station.

For more info, visit www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/e/archives/1187 (in English) or dial (052) 581-0100.