keep checking back for updates on new events throughout the current month

Culture / Festivals

October is a rather quiet month, with many heading to the hills near Tokyo to do some early autumn hiking. The one very interesting festival of the month, however, is listed below.

Ikegami Honmonji O Eshiki

Oct 11th~13th Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple (Ota-ku, South Tokyo)

Museums

Mori Art Museum – (Roppongi)

Thru Nov 3rd – Annette Messager – The Messengers

The National Museum of Modern Art – (Takebashi)

Thru Oct 13th – A Perspective on Contemporary Art 6:
Emotional Drawing // Between the Wall and the Ground

Bridgestone Museum of Art (Tokyo)

Thru Oct 19th – From impressionism to Abstract Paintings

Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)

Thru November 30th – Cultural Treasures of Sri Lanka

Stage

Kabuki  - Kabuki-za (Ginza)

2 - 26 October 2008

Several matinee and evening shows will be performed around the nation – the most prominent in Tokyo at the Kabuki-za in Higashi Ginza.

Shows include

Fuji Musume – the famed dance of a young maiden around a wisteria tree – the same play performed by Ichikawa Ebizo in Paris in early 2007.
Other famous names include; Bando Tamasaburo, Onoe Kikugoro, Nakamura Shikan, and Ichikawa Sadanji

Sport

Football

4th – (Todoroki Stadium) Kawasaki VS Oita Trinita
4th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Shimizu S. Pulse
18th – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Kobe
18th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) Tokyo Verdy VS Omiya
19th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Nagoya Grampus
25th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Kashima Antlers
25th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Yokohama F Marinos
26th – (Todoroki Stadium) Kawasaki VS Sapporo

Baseball – (various stadiums)

Japanese Central (Swallows / Giants / Baystars) and Pacific League (Marines / Lions) baseball games are now coming to a close – the season ending Japan Series to be determined by teams not yet decided. Keep an eye on the domestic English language newspapers for the most up to date information and check English language Japanese media listings for exact game schedules.

•    tickets for all of the above events / sports and theatrical performances can be obtained from convenience stores and / or recognized ticket agencies.

Culture / Festivals

September is a month with festivals and celebrations held almost daily at shrines across Tokyo so you should be able to find something just by strolling around. These are a few of the most interesting.

Nogi Shrine Festival

Sept 12th – 13th (Annual Festival at the former home of General Nogi) fireworks)

Grand Sumo Tournament

Sept 14th ～ Sept 28th (Autumn Grand Sumo – at the Ryogoku Kokugikan)

Heiwajima Antiques Festival

Sept 19th – 21st (Tokyo Ryutsu Center)

Aiba no Hi (Horse Day) – various large shrines

Sept 23rd

Ningyo Kuyo - funeral rites for dolls

Sept 25th (Kiyomizu Temple in Ueno Park)

Museums

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum – (Meguro)

Thru Sept 23rd – Katsura Funakoshi – Sculpture, Drawing and Prints

Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography – (Ebisu)

Thru Oct 13th – Still / Motion – Liquid Crystal Painting

The National Museum of Modern Art – (Takebashi)

Thru Oct 13th – A Perspective on Contemporary Art 6:
Emotional Drawing // Between the Wall and the Ground

Edo Tokyo Museum (Ryogoku)

Thru Sept 15th – Beijing Gugong (Chinese calligraphy)

Stage

Kabuki - Kabuki-za (Ginza)

September will see one of the last ever performances of Kabuki at the Kabuki-za in Ginza prior to rebuilding although schedules do continue for the time being.

2nd – 26th - Ryoma ga Yuku / Hirakana Seisuiki (featuring Nakamura Kichiemon, Bando Tamasaburo and others)

At the Shimbashi Embujo (Shimbashi / Higashi Ginza)

1st – 25th - Gempei Nunobiki no Taki (featuring Ichikawa Ebizo, Nakamura Tokizo and others)

Sport

Football

13th – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Oita Trinita (14:00)
13th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Vissel Kobe (16:00)
13th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Omiya (18:00)
20th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) Tokyo Verdy VS Oita Trinita (13:00)
20th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Kashima Antlers (15:00)
20th – (Todoroki Stadium) Kawasaki VS FC Tokyo (19:00)
23rd – (National Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Kawasaki (14:00)
23rd – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Jubilo Iwata (16:00)

Baseball – (various stadiums)

Japanese Central (Swallows / Giants / Baystars) and Pacific League (Marines / Lions) baseball games are scheduled throughout much of September in and around Tokyo at Tokyo Dome, Jingu Stadium and Yokohama Stadium. Check English language Japanese media listings for exact game schedules.

• tickets for all of the above events / sports and theatrical performances can be obtained from convenience stores and / or recognized ticket agencies.

keep checking back for updates on new events throughout the current month

Culture / Festivals

• Tamagawa Fireworks

August 16th 19:00~20:00 (12,000 fireworks)

• Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri

August 13th ～ August 17th

• Hibiya Park  Bon Odori

August 22nd ～ August 23rd

• Harajuku Omotesando Genki Festival X Super Yosakoi

August 23rd ～ 24th

• Koenji Awa-odori

August 23rd ～ August 24th

• Asakusa Samba Carnival

August 30th – Asakusa area near Senso-ji Temple

Museums

• Tokyo National Museum – (Ueno Park)

July 8th – August 17th – Dueling geniuses

– The Greatest Highlights of Japanese artists

• National Museum of Western Art – (Ueno Park)

Thru August 31st – Corot – Souvenirs et Variations

• Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum – (Ueno Park)

Thru December 14th – Vermeer and the Delft Style

• The National Art Center, Tokyo – (Roppongi)

Thru Sept 15th – European Still Life Painting

Stage

• Kabuki  - Kabuki-za (Ginza)

August will see one of the last ever performances of Kabuki at the Kabuki-za in Ginza prior to rebuilding. As a result, all tickets for all performances have already sold out.

A second kabuki option – at Le Theatre Ginza is listed below:

18th – 31st -  Shinsuikoden (featuring Ichikawa Ukon, Ichikawa Emiya and others)

Sport

• Football

9th   – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Kashiwa Reysol (19:30)

10th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Gamba Osaka (19:30)

16th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Chiba (19:00)

16th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Urawa Reds (18:30)

17th – (Todoroki Stadium) Kawasaki Frontale VS Jubilo Iwata (19:00)

23rd – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Jubilo Iwata (18:30)

23rd – (National Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Tokyo Verdy (18:30)

24th – (NHK Mitsuzawa Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Sapporo (18:30)

27th – (National Stadium) Tokyo Verdy VS Urawa Reds (19:00)

28th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS FC Tokyo (19:00)

• Baseball – (various stadiums)

Japanese Central (Swallows / Giants / Baystars) and Pacific League (Marines / Lions) baseball games are scheduled throughout much of August in and around Tokyo at Tokyo Dome, Jingu Stadium and Yokohama Stadium.  Check English language Japanese media listings for exact game schedules.

•    tickets for all of the above events / sports and theatrical performances can be obtained from convenience stores and / or recognized ticket agencies.

Culture / Festivals

During July, many of Tokyo’s festivals are centered on fireworks displays – please see below.

• Museums

Tokyo National Museum – (Ueno Park)

July 8th – August 17th – Dueling geniuses – The Greatest Highlights of Japanese artists

National Museum of Western Art – (Ueno Park)

Thru August 31st – Corot – Souvenirs et Variations

• Stage

Kyogen / Noh – Fukyu-koen / Teirei-koen / Kyogen no kai

12th – Akutaro (Akutaro Performs) / Aoi no Ue (Lady Aoi) - 13:00

16th – Taishi no Teboko (The Crown Prince’s Halberd) / Matsukaze (Pining Wind) – 18:30

25th – Summer showcase for parents and kids; Shows from 13:00 and 16:00

Kabuki  - Kabuki-za (Ginza)

7th – 31st – (Kabuki-za) – (including) Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Torii Mae) (Yoshinoyama) & (Koya Hijiri) – matinee from 11:00 / evening performance from 16:30. – www.kabuki-za.co.jp

• Fireworks Displays

22nd – Katsushika-ku (10,000 fireworks) 19:20 – 20:20*

24th – Adachi / Arakawa (15,000 fireworks) 19:30 – 20:45*

26th – Sumida-gawa (20,000 fireworks) 19:10 – 20:30*

*(in the event of rain some displays are postponed 24 hours)

Sport

• Football

13th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Niigata (19:00)
16th – (National Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Gamba Osaka (19:30)
17th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Omiya Ardija (19:00)
17th – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Tokyo Verdy (19:30)
20th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) Tokyo Verdy VS Kashiwa Reysol (18:00)
20th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Kashima (19:00)
21st – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Kawasaki (18:00)
26th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Kyoto (19:00)
26th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Yokohama F Marinos (19:00)

• Baseball – (various stadiums)

Japanese Central (Swallows / Giants / Baystars) and Pacific League (Marines / Lions) baseball games are scheduled throughout much of July in and around Tokyo – with the exception of July 14th / 24th / 30th and 31st.  Check English language Japanese media listings for exact game schedules.

•    tickets for all of the above events / sports and theatrical performances can be obtained from convenience stores and / or recognized ticket agencies.

Culture / Festivals

Iris Viewing – (Meiji Shrine / Horikiri Iris Garden / Mizumoto Park)
Mid-June – popular festival based on the annual blooming of millions of irises around Tokyo

Museums

+Edo Tokyo Museum – (Ryogoku)

Until 22nd – Perry & Harris – a look at the lives of William Perry & Townsend Harris in Japan to mark the beginning of US/Japan relations. – http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp

+National Museum of Nature and Science – (Ueno Park)

Until 22nd – Darwin – a look at the life of the world famous English botanist Charles Darwin. – http://darwin2008.jp

+National Museum of Western Art – (Ueno Park)

From June 14th – August 31st – Corot (and his Mona Lisa) – Souvenirs et variations – http://corot2008.jp

Stage

Kyogen / Noh – Fukyu-koen / Teirei-koen / National Noh Theatre (Sendagaya)

14th – Suo Otoshi (The Dropped Gift) / Uto (Uto the Petrel) - 1300
20th – Bo-Shibari (Tied to a Stick) / Adachigahara (The Fields of Adachi) – 1830
23rd – 27th – Yobikoe ((Tricked by a Rhythm) / Tsuchigumo ( The Ground Spider) – 1100

Kabuki - Kabuki-za (Ginza)

3rd – 27th – (Kabuki-za) – (including) Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (Sushi-ya) & Migawari Zazen – matinee from 1100 / evening performance from 1630. – www.kabuki-za.co.jp

Sport

Football

28th – (National Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Urawa Reds (1900)
28th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Jubilo Iwata (1900)
29th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Chiba (1600)

Baseball – (various stadiums)

Japanese Central (Swallows / Giants / Baystars) and Pacific League (Marines / Lions) baseball games, as well as Inter-league games are scheduled throughout much of June in and around Tokyo – with the exception of June 20th / 23rd / 24th / 25th / 26th and 30th. Check English language Japanese media listings for exact game schedules.

• tickets for all of the above events / sports and theatrical performances can be obtained from convenience stores and / or recognized ticket agencies.