Visitors to Osaka's Kaiyukan aquarium can watch king penguins parading in front of the building on most days until Jan. 14.

The birds will take about 20 minutes to walk about 70 meters, and the scheduled times are 11:30 a.m., 1:45 and 3:45. p.m. No performances will be held between Jan. 7-11.

Admission is free, although the aquarium will charge admission.

The venue is a 5-minute walk from Osakako Station on the Chuo subway line.

For more information, go to www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/index.htm (in English) or call (06) 6576-5501.

Ancient ball game to be played at Kyoto shrine

Men in colorful court robes will play "kemari," an ancient ball game, during a free performance scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 4 at Shimogamo Jinja Shrine in Kyoto.

When playing kemari, players kick the ball with their feet to keep it off the ground. The rule is to try not to drop it.

The shrine is a 10-minute walk from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan and Eizan Dentetsu lines.

For more information, go to www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/pg150.html (in English) or call (075) 781-0010.

British sumi artist to hold Osaka workshops

Christine Flint Sato, a British sumi ink artist, will hold workshops in January and February in Osaka in which participants can learn sumi painting using sumi ink, brush, paper and ink stone.

Each workshop, which runs from 12:30-2:30 p.m., has a specific theme: "New beginnings" on Jan. 12 and "Oni" (demon) on Feb. 9.

Admission is ¥2,500 per session.

Participants need to bring their own sumi, ink stone, white saucers to use as palettes, calligraphy brushes, underlay and brush washer.

Reservations must be made via email to [email protected] or by phone at (06) 6222-3888.

The venue, Workroom A, is a five-minute walk from Sakaisujihonmachi Station on the Sakaisuji and Chuo subway lines. It is also about the same distance from Honmachi Station on the Midosuji and Chuo subway lines.

For more information, go to sumiwork.wordpress.com (in English/Japanese).

Japan-ASEAN anniversary forum in Nagoya

To mark the 40th anniversary of friendship and cooperation between Japan and ASEAN, a forum will be held Jan. 23 in Nagoya.

The forum, which will run from 2 to 5 p.m., features a keynote speech by a JETRO official, followed by a panel discussion by ambassadors from ASEAN nations.

Participation is free, and those who wish to attend the forum need to apply by Jan. 11 by sending an application form that can be downloaded at www.chukeiren.or.jp/news/2012/12/asean25123.html as seats are limited to 50.

The venue, ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Grand Court Nagoya, is close to Kanayama Station on the Meitetsu and JR lines, and Meijo and Meiko subway lines. For more information, go to www.pref.aichi.jp/0000057128.html (in Japanese) or call (052) 954-6181.

Free snacks at Nagoya's Tokugawa-en garden

The first 500 visitors to the Tokugawaen garden in Nagoya on Jan. 2 will be served a cup of sweet red bean soup with "mochi" rice cake, in addition to an opportunity to try to win the lottery.

If participants wear a kimono to the garden that day, professional photographers will take photographs free of charge.

The garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but the photo session will end at 3 p.m. Admission is ¥300 for adults, college and high school students, and free for younger children.

Tokugawaen is a 10-minute walk from Ozone Station on the JR Chuo line.

For more information, go to www.tokugawaen.city.nagoya.jp/index.html (in Japanese) or call (052) 935-8988.