Volume 04, Number 23
Things To Do
Saturday, Dec 8
Listen to Yoko Ono and others, such as Love and Charo, sing at the John Lennon Music Festival 2007 in the Nippon Budokan at 6pm. ¥8,500. Tel. 03-3498-9999.
Sunday, Dec 9
Enjoy the beginning of the holiday season as the St. Petersburg Ensemble performs Bach, Schubert, and more at their Christmas Concerts, daily through Dec. 25. ¥4,500. Tel. 03-3943-9999.
Monday, Dec 10
Be entertained by the Blue Man Group's rhythm-based performances at the Invoice Theater in Roppongi through Jan. 31. ¥7,500–¥8,500. Tel. 03-5770-7857.
Tuesday, Dec 11
View the Milkmaid by Vermeer and Dutch Genre Painting: Masterworks by Rijksmuseum Amsterdam at the National Art Center Tokyo through Dec. 17. ¥800–¥1,200. www.nact.jp/english
Wednesday, Dec 12
Laugh as Chaplin Meets Japan at the National Museum of Modern Art, National Film Center through Dec. 27. www.momat.go.jp/fc.html
Thursday, Dec 13
Praise the holidays with the Harlem Gospel Choir's White NY Christmas Fifth Anniversary. Through Dec. 20, various times and locations. ¥4,800–¥10,000. Tel. 03-3402-9977.
Friday, Dec 14
Take in the magical fairytale, The Nutcracker, danced by the Asami Maki Ballet Tokyo at U-port Hall. Dec. 14–16. ¥4,000–¥10,000. www.ambt.jp/english/top.html
Saturday, Dec 15
Support Second Harvest Japan at A Holiday Concert for Charity, featuring a vocalist, a yo-yo world grand champion, and more. www.rbr-art.com/en
Sunday, Dec 16
Cycle down to watch bicycle and earth-minded films at the Bicycle Film Festival, held in Daikanyama Dec. 15–16. http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/2007_site/tokyo/
Monday, Dec 17
Learn about life in NYC's Alphabet City in the early 1990s in the musical RENT, at Tokyo International Forum. ¥8,000–¥12,000. Tel. 03-3498-6666.
Tuesday, Dec 18
Get funnier at the Tokyo Comedy Store's weekly improv comedy workshop at the RBR Center in Moto Azabu from 7–9pm, ¥2,100. www.tokyocomedy.com
Wednesday, Dec 19
Take the kids to the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno for The Great Robot Exhibition through Jan. 23. http://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/exhibitions/ueno/special/2007/robot/index.html
Thursday, Dec 20
Explore the subtle beauty of calligraphy created by Zen priests at the Tokyo National Museum through Dec. 27. http://www.tnm.go.jp/en/
Friday, Dec 21
Head to National Azabu to pick up your Christmas tree, and while you're there pick up the newest issue of Weekender, due out today.
Creative Concert with a Cause
by Marie Teather
Tokyo's most popular art and creative space, RBR (Right Brain Research), has joined forces with Tokyo's most active charity, Second Harvest Japan, to host a holiday concert on Dec. 15. The concert, which will be held at the RBR studios in Minato-ku, promises three spectacular acts, making it a fantastic family orientated show to kick start the festive celebrations.
Three very differing artists will be exhibiting their unique artistic capabilities—talents that have been developed and perfected here in Tokyo—which are sure to leave anyone attending the concert truly entertained and inspired.
Michael Gover, an entertainer and magician is sure to be a hit with younger members of the audience with his trickery and fun entertainment, followed by ‘Black`—twice a winner in the World Yo-Yo Championships, yet someone who still describes himself as having no natural ability for a toy which most fail to perfect more than the simplest of techniques. The highlight of the show promises to be Akiko Otato, a soprano and regular on the city's stage and operatic scene, singing what is sure to be truly memorable performance.
The evening, which also coincides with the launch of a new Right Brain Program for Seniors, will raise funds for Second Harvest Japan, a charity that distributes food to soup kitchens, orphanages, the elderly, emergency shelters, the homeless and other people in displacement. Second Harvest Japan will be serving soup to illustrate the work they do and admission includes snacks and a complimentary glass of wine or juice.
The RBR Charity Concert starts at 6pm with doors opening at 5:30pm. Adult advanced tickets are ¥2,000 and ¥3,000 on the door. Children ¥1,000. For more information about the event and RBR please call 03-5770-7401 or see www.rbr-art.com/en. For more information about Second Harvest Japan see www.2hj.org.
Merry Rockin’ Christmas!
Amnesty International’s Alt Rock Christmas Benefit
by Michael Mahoney
Wondering ‘what the dickens’ you are going to do on Sunday Dec. 16? Why not hear some great live alternative music and help Amnesty International to protect human rights for all?
On Sunday, Dec. 16, volunteers from Amnesty International in Japan are organizing their final fundraising event for the year, a benefit concert and Christmas party, to be held at ‘What the Dickens’ English-style pub in Ebisu (see www. aig78.org for directions.) The theme for the event is ‘Uprising in Burma’.
Bands offering their talent include Invago (a pop/rock/latin band offering “emotional music with universal themes”), Tiernan (Canadian alt rock) and Be-B (Japanese solo artist). Doors open at 5pm, with a letter-writing session from 5:30pm, while the performances go from 7:30pm–11pm. Admission is ¥1,000.
Amnesty International describes itself as “a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights.” Independent of any government influences, political ideologies or religious views, the organization of 2.2 million volunteers aims to provide every citizen of the world with the list of basic human rights, including life, liberty and security of person, as outlined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Group 78, one of two English-speaking factions of Amnesty International here in Tokyo, is putting on the show. The group includes members from Japan and other places, and has organized various concerts, film screenings and meetings, as well as participated in various other events throughout the year. Each event has a specific theme or title, bringing attention to a specific human rights issue around the world. Among their events this year were a “Rock for Human Rights” concert held in June, a concert and lecture “Say No to Child Labor, Child Soldiers and Human Trafficking” in September, and a screening of The Liberace of Baghdad in November.
Events organized by Group 78 donate their proceeds directly to Amnesty International; events organized by other groups, such as the film screenings in Shimokitazawa, give a significant proportion of their proceeds to Amnesty International.
Interested in helping out? The more, the merrier! Everyone is welcome to attend the group’s monthly meetings at the Amnesty International Japan office in Chiyoda-ku. Meeting schedules and directions to the office are located on the Group 78 website, www.aig78.org.