Volume 04, Number 13
Things To Do
Saturday, Jul 7
May all your wishes come true at the Tanabata (Star) Festival—hang your wish on bamboo and then take in the star-like illuminated branches at Tokyo Daijingu.
Sunday, Jul 8
Visit the Hanamidori Cultural Center in Showa Kinen Park for an art exhibit entitled blank, by four artists specializing in photography, video animation, performance, painting, and poetry.
www.b-blank.com
Monday, Jul 9
Head out to Narita and welcome in this year's summer at the Narita Gion Festival. Celebrating the start of all things hot to come at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. This promises to be one hot and fiery festival.
Tuesday, Jul 10
Release your creativity or show off your artistic abilities at Artsy Bugs, a monthly meeting of artists, creators, and performers. Head to the Pink Cow to network, socialize, and share ideas. 7pm, ¥500.
www.artsybugs.com
Wednesday, Jul 11
Hear Cio-Cio's broken heart and relive the tragedy that is Madame Butterfly at the New National Theatre, Jul. 9–14, tel. 03-5351-3011.
www.nntt.jac.go.jp
Thursday, Jul 12
Be hit by an animal art attack of award-winning artist Atsuhiko Misawa's vivid, lighthearted art at Nishimura Gallery, until Jul. 21. www.nishimura-gallery.com
Friday, Jul 13
Potter on over to Ueno to see centuries-old pottery, ceramics, and metal from Cambodia's historical Angkor past at the Tokyo National Museum, www.tnm.go.jp.
Saturday, Jul 14
Hail Japan! National pride is displayed through traditional dancing, martial arts demonstrations, and a collection of Japan's finest lanterns at the country's most controversial shrine at the Yasukuni Shrine Mitama Festival.
Sunday, Jul 15
Take a bayside seat for hanabi with a view at the Yokohama International Fireworks Festival. 7:30pm.
Monday, Jul 16
Get your elbows out for the last chance to grab a bargain at the final day of the summer sale at Omotesando Hills. www.omotesandohills.com
Tuesday, Jul 17
Cheer on your favorite team in red at the Saitama City Cup. Arguably the best team in British football head over to Saitama to take on arguably the best in Japan—the Urawa Reds. Kick off 7pm at Saitama Stadium. Tel. 03-3498-9999.
Wednesday, Jul 18
Enjoy the soothing sounds of Canadian jazz vocalist Elizabeth Shepherd and her trio including Scott Kemp and Colin Kingsmore. Jul. 18–21, 7pm and 9:30pm, at the Cotton Club ¥6,300. Tel. 03-3215-1555.
Thursday, Jul 19
Change your future and consider a career in law at Temple University's School of Law Information Session tonight from 7pm.
www.tuj.ac.jp
Friday, Jul 20
Treat yourself and your dearest to dinner at ROTI in Roppongi. Enjoy superb Californian cuisine and, of course, don't forget to pick up the latest edition of Weekender.
Learn About East Asia and the Dollar at Temple University
by Danielle Tate-Stratton
Head to Temple University in Mita on July 18 to listen to R. Taggart Murphy (Tag) speak about the US dollar's role as the world's premiere settlements and reserve currency in an event entitled East Asia and the Dollar. He will also speak about the crucial roles played by Japan and China in perpetuating that role. He has promised to suggest a new conceptual framework that could help us explain some of the seeming anomalies that arise from that role. Tag is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, and is now the Vice Chair of Tsukuba University's MBA Program in International Business. In the interim, he worked in investment banking in Tokyo, New York, and London at Goldman Sachs, Chase Manhattan, and A.G. Becker. The event will take place from 6:30pm at Temple University's Mita Hall. There is free entrance, but please RSVP before the event to icjs@tuj.ac.jp. A buffet dinner, ranging from ¥300 for dessert to ¥1,000–¥2,500 for the complete meal (¥1,000 for students), is available. For more information, visit www.tuj.ac.jp/icjs, email icjs@tuj.ac.jp, or tel. 03-5441-9800.