Volume 39, Number 01
Things To Do
Saturday, Jan 5
Learn about Italian art icon Bruno Munari at retrospective Work People Not Allowed through Jan. 27, www.shiodomeitalia.com.
Sunday, Jan 6
Have an eclectic night out with poetry from 4–7pm followed by musician Tom Holliday and topped off with some delicious pub grub at What the Dickens in Ebisu. www.whatthedickens.jp
Monday, Jan 7
Take the children to the Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of Beauty and the Beast at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, ¥4,000–¥18,000, www.brb.org.uk
Tuesday, Jan 8
See 89-year-old jazz piano legend Hank Jones at the Blue Note Tokyo at 7 and 9pm tonight for ¥8,400.
www.bluenote.co.jp
Wednesday, Jan 9
Enjoy the ten dynamic (and free!) Open! zones at ICC Open Space before it changes theme in early March.
http://www.ntticc.or.jp/Exhibition/2007/Openspace2007/
Thursday, Jan 10
Introduce yourself to kabuki with Izo, a “modern” performance starring V6's Go Morita, through Feb 3. ¥9,500–¥11,000, tel. 057-000-3337.
Friday, Jan 11
Take the family car buff to see the world's largest exhibition of cars with aftermarket parts at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Makuhari Messe. ¥1,200– ¥3,500. www.e-autosalon.net
Saturday, Jan 12
Learn about Design in Scandinavia and the climate that influences it through Jan.14 at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. www.operacity.jp/ag/exh88/e.
Sunday, Jan 13
Rock out with legendary act Bon Jovi at the Tokyo Dome tonight and tomorrow at 5pm. ¥9,000–¥10,000, tel. 03-3402-5999.
Monday, Jan 14
Celebrate today's holiday—seijin no hi—by going to Meiji Shrine where you will see hundreds of girls dressed up in decadent silk kimono to celebrate turning 20 in the upcoming year.
Tuesday, Jan 15
Cheer for your favorite rikishi at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan through Jan. 21. www.sumo.or.jp/eng.
Wednesday, Jan 16
Enjoy the haunting melodies of Icelandic sevenpiece electronic band Múm. At Shibuya Duo Music Exchange, tel. 03- 3462-6969.
Thursday, Jan 17
Take a date to UK jazz, Latin, and soul fusion group Matt Bianco as they groove at the Blue Note in Aoyama.
www.bluenote.co.jp
Friday, Jan 18
Head to Paddy Foley's for a pint and while you're there, pick up the new issue of Weekender, due out today.
The Australia Society's Gala Ball for Charity
by Danielle Tate-Stratton
With miles of white, warm beaches, some of the best surfing in the world, huge skies, and best of all, summer when we have winter, Australia would be lovely towards the end of January. However, for those of us who can't pop on a plane and head down under, the Australian Society's Gala Ball is the next best thing. The annual event celebrates Australia Day, the biggest holiday in the country. It takes place annually to celebrate, according to the government, “what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation,” including the land, people, freedom, and democracy. Help the Australians get a jump on the celebrations—on January 25—at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. The night promises “black ties, gorgeous frocks, and a delicious meal and drinks, followed by energetic entertainment and a charity auction.” Auction items are set to include wine, travel, and other goods. Make sure you match your black ties and frocks with dancing shoes as the party is set to go late into the evening, with the promise of midnight snacks and goodie bags to take home.
This year, the event is themed “Outback” and celebrates the environment both in Australia and Japan. Accordingly, the proceeds from the auction go to two environmentally friendly charities—Eco- Future in Japan and Aussie Helpers in Australia. Eco-Future (www.eco-future.net) provides grants to NPOs and NGOs in Japan for the purpose of fostering the Earth's future forests and for research on forest resources in Indonesia and Malaysia. Aussie Helpers (www.aussiehelpers.org.au) works to help fight poverty and “lift the spirits of those severely affected by drought” in the Australian farming community.
Tickets are ¥28,000 for Australian Society members or ¥30,000 for non-members and can be reserved individually or in tables of ten at www.australiasocietytokyo.com or by emailing balltickets@australiasocietytokyo.com.