Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament
Visit the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan to watch sumo, Japan’s popular traditional sport. Sep 14-28, main bouts start around 4pm, ¥2,100-¥14,300. Tel: 03-3622-1100. Nearest stn: Ryogoku. www.sumo.or.jp
Avril Lavigne
Canadian pop-punk singer. Sep 16, 6:30pm, ¥7,000 (A)/¥8,500 (S)/¥20,000 (premium). Tokyo Dome. Nearest stn: Suidobashi or Korakuen. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.
Ayaka
J-pop singer dubbed the next Hikaru Utada. Sep 16 & 17, 7pm, ¥4,500. Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho. Nearest stn: Yurakucho. Tel: HIP 03-3475-9999.
Yonex Open Japan
See the men and women of the world badminton circuit duke it out in this annual tourney. Sep 16-21, 10am. Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Nearest stn: Sendagaya or Kokuritsu-Kyogijo. Tel: 03-3481-2382. www.yonexopenjp.com
ShojoSkip
Japanese post-rock group with My Dead Girlfriend. Sep 20, 7pm, ¥2,000 w/1d. Koenji High. Nearest stn: Koenji. Tel: 03-5378-0382. www.valentinerecords.net
Super Dogs Carnival
Make a new best friend at Japan’s biggest canine festival, with sports competitions, parades, shows and a dog café. Sep 20-21, 9am-5:30pm, ¥600 (jr. high adv.)/¥1,000 (jr. high door)/¥1,000 (adult adv.)/¥1,700 (adult door). Seibu Dome, Saitama. Nearest stn: Seibukyujo-mae. www.super-dogs.net
Lenny Kravitz
Singer-songwriter from NY. Sep 26, 7pm, ¥9,000 (A)/¥11,000 (S). Nippon Budokan. Nearest stn: Kudanshita. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.
Madame Kawakita,
Her Life and Films
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kashiko Kawakita, a major force in promoting cinematic exchange between Japan and Europe. Until Sep 28, 11am-6:30pm, free (under 18)/¥70 (HS, univ)/¥200 (adult). National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, National Film Center. Nearest stn: Kyobashi. www.momat.go.jp
Salsa for Love
Latin jazz from various artists—with free salsa lessons. Oct 4, 3pm, ¥3,500 w/1d. Tokyo YWCA. Nearest stn: Ochanomizu. Tel: 03-3293-5422. www.tokyo.ywca.or.jp/english
Magic Revolution
Show by the whimsical Cyril. Oct 8-13, various times, ¥8,400 (A)/¥8,900 (S). JCB Hall, Tokyo Dome City. Nearest stn: Suidobashi or Korakuen. Tel: Ticket Pia 0570-02-9877.
“Diesel XXX”
All-night music event featuring 2manydjs, A-Trak, Soulwax, The Martinez Brothers and others. Oct 11, 6pm, ¥6,000. Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969. www.diesel.co.jp/xxx
Japanese Grand Prix
Head toward Mt Fuji for the open-wheel action of the 16th race of the 2008 Formula 1 season. Oct 12, 1:30pm. Fuji Speedway, Shizuoka Prefecture. Tel: 0120-337-268 (toll-free). www.fujispeedway.jp/english
“Loud Park 08”
Massive heavy metal festival featuring headliners Slipknot and Mötley Crüe. Oct 18 & 19, 11am, ¥13,500 (one day)/¥25,000 (two days). Saitama Super Arena. Nearest stn: Saitama Shintoshin or Kita-Yono. www.loudpark.com/08/english
Def Leppard and Whitesnake
Two monster rock bands, both formed 31 years ago. Oct 23 & 24, 7pm, ¥10,000 (B)/¥12,000 (A)/¥13,000 (S). Nippon Budokan. Nearest stn: Kudanshita. Tel: Udo 03-3402-5999.
Sigur Ros
Icelandic post-rock band. Oct 26, 6pm, ¥7,500. Tokyo International Forum. Nearest stn: Yurakucho. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.
Fidelio
Beethoven classic performed by the Weiner Staatsoper Opera, conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Oct 26 & Nov 1, 3pm; Oct 29, 7pm, ¥9,000 (student)/¥12,000-¥65,000 (adult). Kanagawa Kenmin Hall. Nearest stn: Kannai. Tel: NBS 03-3791-8888.
Chicago
Tony-winning Broadway musical starring Ryuichi Kawamura, Ryoko Yonekura and Yoko Wao. Oct 8-Nov 2, various times, ¥10,500 (A)/¥12,500 (S). Akasaka Act Theater. Nearest stn: Akasaka. Tel: Kyodo 03-3498-9999.
Aoyama Festival
Aoyama University’s annual student cultural event with a big pre-festival concert. Nov 1-3, Aoyama Gakuin Campus, free. Tel: 03-3409-8531. Nearest stn: Omotesando, exit B1. www.aoyamasai.com
Tokyo Designer’s Week& 100% Design
Japan’s largest design showcase event, with several categories including 100% Futures (works by students) and the always popular container exhibition. Oct 31-Nov 4, 10am-9pm. Tel: 03-3470-7699. Nearest stn: Gaienmae or Aoyama-Itchome. www.tdwa.com
“Disney on Classic:
A Magical Night 2008”
Full orchestra and vocalists perform classics from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas and more. Nov 14, 7pm; Nov 15, 2 & 7pm, Nov 16, 1pm, ¥5,000 (B)/¥6,500 (A)/¥8,000 (S). Tokyo International Forum. Nearest stn: Yurakucho. www.disney.co.jp/onclassic
Chara
Actress-turned-J-pop-songstress. Nov 15 & 16, 6:30pm, ¥6,300. JCB Hall, Tokyo Dome City. Nearest stn: Suidobashi or Korakuen. Tel: Ticket Pia 0570-02-9900.
Stuttgarter Ballett
German ballet company performs Sleeping Beauty and Onegin. Nov 23, 1 & 6pm; Nov 24, 3pm; Nov 28, 6:30pm; Nov 29 & 30, 3pm, ¥5,000-¥18,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. Nearest stn: Ueno. Tel: NBS 03-3791-8888.
Blue Man Group
The storied rhythm-based avant-garde performance troupe continues their hit show in central Tokyo. Until Nov 30, various times, ¥8,500 (poncho seat)/¥7,500 (S). Invoice Theater. Nearest stn: Roppongi. Tel: 03-5770-7857
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Tickets can be bought from Ticket Pia, the ticketing arm of all-you-need-to-know-about-Japanese-events mag Pia, among other places. Ticket Pia stations are all over Tokyo, and even if you don’t speak Japanese and don’t know how to fill out the form, someone should be able to help you out. Here are some Ticket Pia locations:
Shibuya 1F Bunkamura; Tokyu Dept Store, 10F West Wing; 1F Tokyu Bunka Kaikan; Book 1st; Ticket Port, 2F 109 Bldg; 8F Marui Young; World Sports Plaza, East Branch
Shinjuku 2F Isetan Dept Store, New Bldg; It’s Service Corner; Island Tower;
2F Center Wing; 1F Keio Dept Store; Ticket Port; 5F Seibu PePe; 7F Marui City; 8F Marui Young
Ueno Ueno Remix; CD Garden Flora Ueno; 9F Marui City; ABAB Ueno;
M2F Matsuzakaya
Ebisu Tsutaya Ebisu Garden Place
Ginza B1 Yamano Music Shop;
1F Sony Bldg; Hakuhinkan Ticket Park
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| Photo by Kohji Shiiki |
Fall for It
The clear-cut seasons in Japan have fostered a keen awareness of nature, reflected in art, cuisine and customs. Fall is no exception. It’s the time of year when Tokyo revels in the muted mosaic of autumnal colors, smells and tastes with a fervor few countries around the world can match. Watching the fall foliage is a festive ritual that rivals hanami (cherry blossom viewing in spring). The leaves start to turn in the mountains around Tokyo in early October. Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture is a favorite spot (about two hours from Asakusa on the Tobu Nikko line, or by JR from Tokyo station changing at Utsunomiya), as is Mt Takao (one hour on the Chuo line). Closer to home, come November, try any of the big parks, especially Ueno, Inokashira (Kichijoji station, Chuo line), Shinjuku Gyoen and Aoyama Bochi cemetery. |
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