deep kyoto

…a one-night multimedia celebration of sight and sound… …a stellar cast assembled for the sole purpose of creating new fusion and forms, this year’s Reflections promises to be a music/dance/art that defies definition and engenders new expressions…
RESONANCE 2010

First Ted Taylor sent me a link to this event and then I get this message from Mitsu Salmon:

This Saturday I am doing an event with a pretty awesome cast and if you have a chance could you spread the word? The former flutist of the group of Kodo is organizing and performing in this event as well as a tap dancer from New York.

Here’s the clincher though:

If people are interested they can email me their names and get a 1000 discount.

That’s it folks! Email Mitsu at footfootyourmom@gmail.com (or contact her on facebook) and get a 1000 yen discount on one of the biggest events in Kyoto this year! Alternatively contact organizer Daniel Rosen (email: yakimonos@earthlink.net) for the same bargain 2000 yen deal! Check out the list of artists here and tell me you aren’t tempted!

And while I was writing that (!) Daniel Rosen has written to tell me:

This show is an amazing mix of East and West performed by some really astounding talent that appeals to both Japanese and foreign audiences. Last year we brought down the house at UrBANGUILD, really!

Sounds good, eh? Here are some details:

Two shows! Friday 9/3 and Saturday 9/4
open … 19:00
start … 20:00
price … adv.3000円 / door 3500円 (plus drink)
place ... (the legendary) Urbanguild.
And don’t forget! 1000円 off the door price if you contact Mitsu or organizer Daniel Rosen (yakimonos@earthlink.net) in advance!

To find Urbanguild, from Sanjo Dori go down Kiyamachi Dori (this is the narrow street running alongside Takase stream) Urbanguild is on the east side (left hand side as you walk down from Sanjo) after approximately 150 metres. It’s on the 3rd floor of New Kyoto Building – access by elevator or stairs. Here is a map.

OK. Let me be completely honest about this. I’m an old git and  I don’t go to clubs anymore. The only other club I’ve reviewed up here is Club Metro and that’s only because they have an ’80s night (that’s how old I am). So when John Gatewood II wrote to me saying he was “a bit sad” I hadn’t reviewed World on Deep Kyoto and then invited me along, I have to admit I was a little reluctant to be stirred out of my normal sedentary lifestyle into the active whirl of hip young things. In fact I managed to put the whole thing off for several months. Here’s what I found though, when I finally got there.

Isn't it nice to see the young people having fun?

Club World is an underground sound chamber replete with stone arches (it used to be an Italian restaurant you know) and an awesome light system that  holds at capacity about 700 people. This intimate atmosphere, the top-level djs and the music (electronica, house, hip-hop, reggae) pulls in a young crowd and at the weekends it’s thumping. Check the schedule for upcoming events. We ended up, rather randomly, at a regular “Sprung” party event. This was around the time of the Gion Matsuri so the dance floor was full of young girls jumping around in their summer yukata…

For the first hour or so, Mewby and I sat in a corner people-watching and analysing different nampa techniques, but after a couple of Long Island Iced Teas we were about ready to hit the dance floor. Mewby being yet young and full of verve, enjoyed herself thoroughly jumping about like a wild thing. I did what I normally do wherever I go and took a lot of pics.

Despite my misgivings Mewby and I had a great night at Club World (many thanks Mr. Gatewood!) and if I was a bit younger and single, I would undoubtedly be there every weekend. But don’t tell Mewby I said that.

Club World is situated on the west side of Kiyamachi a short walk north of Shijo. Here on their splendid website is a most convenient map.

Our old friend Michael B. (aka Peko) of Kyoto Foodie & Open Kyoto has asked me to post something about this old Kitayama tradition – “another Kyoto thing that REALLY needs saving!” How could I say no? Michael says…

Kyoto Kitayama Traditional Forestry ‘Honjikomi’ Event
Nakagawa, Kitayama
September 4, 2010 (Sat) 10:00 – 11:45 am and 2:00 – 3:50 pm
1000 yen (optional charter bus from Kyoto Station additional 1000 yen)

…Every year Nakagen Forestry Co. puts on this event for people to learn about the 600 year history and culture of Kitayama’s traditional forestry industry.

Kitayama are the north mountains of Kyoto. Here the best cedar for traditional Japanese architecture is carefully and meticulously grown.

Kitayama Sugi (cedar) is used for traditional Japanese teahouse and tearoom construction and the tokonoma alcove’s main column is usually Kitayama cedar. Kitayama Sugi is raised and processed based on the aesthetic ideals of tea master Sen-no-rikyu. Read the rest of this entry »

Since moving into the city centre last year, Mewby and I have been searching for an Indian curry restaurant to take the place in our culinary affections of the Raju restaurant up on Imadegawa. We had high hopes for the new branch of Raju on Shichijo that opened up late last year, until upon our second visit some twit put chicken in my Vegetarian Dinner Set and then made the worst apology ever; grinning and constantly repeating “Don’t mind”. Thilaga near Oomiya station was in the running too for a while, but eating their admittedly tasty curries is like playing a game of Indian curry roulette; sometimes disappointingly mild and on other occasions hell-fire spicy. Now perhaps, though we have only visited once so far, the Sharma restaurant on Sanjo will turn out to be a favorite.

We ordered a couple of starters to begin with. I cannot eat Indian food without eating samosas and these did not disappoint.

This Fish Tikka (made with Sea Bass) though, was really delicious.

I followed this up with a sweet tasting Shitafal, Sharma’s very own original pumpkin curry.

The Kaju Nan (with cashew nuts) accompanied it nicely.

Mewby went for a Mugal Chicken. Curiously she reported that it tasted very much like the pumpkin curry above… It kind of looks like it too, eh?

After that feast we went home and had a bit of a lie down. To sum up, after only one visit it’s hard to judge, but the food seems nice (the fish tikka being a highlight) and the staff most courteous and professional. We shall definitely be giving Sharma another try.

Sharma sits on the north side of Sanjo between Kiyamachi and Kawaramachi. Here is a handy map.

Opening hours: 11：00～15：00 & 17：00～23：00 (Last orders at 22：00）
Closed: Wednesdays.
Tel: 075-231-3677

Here’s one for the movie buffs. Kurosawa Akira’s classic movie Rashomon will be screened at Kyoto Prefecture International Center on September 11th,  and – here’s the crucial bit – with subtitles!

Two other classic Japanese movies will also be shown at later dates. Here’s the good word from KPIC:

In coordination with the Japan Foundation, three outstanding examples of Japanese cinema are being made available to the foreign community. These films, with English subtitles, are not available through every-day rental stores here in Japan, so this is a rare opportunity. Rashomon is being shown in recognition of the 100th anniversary of its director, Akira Kurosawa’s, birthday (1910 – 1998).

The Movies:

Rashomon, September 11 (Saturday afternoon);
Synopsis: This masterpiece by Kurosawa is based on two stories by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke. In 12th century Japan, a travelling samurai and his wife are kidnapped by the notorious bandit Tajomaru. Rape and murder follow. After Tajomaru is captured and put on trial, four different witnesses give four radically different accounts of what occured in the forest.

The Munekata Sisters (directed by Ozu Yasujiro), Friday October 8.
Synopsis: Setsuko is married to the alcoholic and unemployed Mimura. Secretly she has always loved Hiroshi but they both failed to declare their love before Hiroshi left for France several years before. Now he has returned and Setsuko’s sister Mariko, despite her own feelings for Hiroshi, tries to reunite them.

The Twin Sisters of Kyoto (directed by Noboru Nakamura), Friday November 26.
Synopsis: Based on the novel The Old Capital by Nobel prize winner Yasunari Kawabata, this is the story of the adopted daughter of a Kyoto merchant who discovers she has a twin. They were separated at birth and now live in radically different social spheres

All of these movies have a Kyoto connection. To help put them into a historical and cultural context they will be preceded by a short introduction and followed by a group discussion.

Location: Kyoto Station, 9th Floor, Kyoto Prefecture International Center. Click here for access information.

Time: Starting at 1:30 p.m., there will be an introduction of background information, followed by the film showing, and then an open discussion, finishing at about 5:00 p.m.

The event is free but you need to sign up in advance. You can sign up by by fax (075-342-5050), e-mail(cinema@kpic.or.jp), or phone (075-342-5000) or (wonders!) on the internet by simply clicking here!

Right then! I’m off to Bali for a week and will be resolutely offline during the interval so there’ll be no more posts for a wee while, but before I go a short word of explanation. The astute among you may have noticed the appearance of a black box on the upper right of this page which proudly bears the name “Tadg’s”.

It looks like this (only smaller):

I’m pleased to announce that Tadg Mc Loughlin has agreed to become Deep Kyoto’s first official sponsor! Fond as I am of good food and tasty beverages, I don’t think I could have found a better partner. Tadg’s Irish bar and restaurant has a phenomenal selection of craft beers on tap (just check out the list on his site! go on click it!), and a fantastic menu. As I don’t eat meat myself, I’m particularly keen on the vegan selection. Take a look at Tadg’s legendary vegan pizza :

Mediterranean veggies, cheeseless pizza with organic Ise Miso

I ate that you know – and it was gorgeous! I ate this Tuscan bean and vegetable stew too (not at the same time though – that would be silly).

Tadg & Mika

Look at those colours! That’s not just food you know, it’s a beautiful piece of art. It’s poetry – in a bowl.

So there you have it; Tadg’s has great food, great beers, beautiful views over the Kamo river and super friendly staff and (I might be courting controversy here but), it’s also the only real Irish bar in town (in the sense of you know, actually having someone Irish in the place). That’s why I’m more than happy to have Tadg as my sponsor – I’m delighted!
To find Tadg’s walk straight up Kiyamachi from Sanjo, before you get to Oike you should see the Empire building on your right. Tadg’s is on the 8th floor. Click here for a most convenient map.

Here’s a little bit of limpid, lilting, Irish harp to cool you all down in this intense summer heat. Keisuke Teramoto performed solo at Irish pub Gnome on Wednesday night and my goodness but it was lovely! This tune is by the legendary 18th century Irish harper Carolan. Enjoy!

To my mind the best fish ‘n’ chips in town are at the 海と空 (Umi to Sora or Sea and Sky) Okinawan restaurant on Shijo.

Strictly speaking they don’t actually have “fish ‘n’ chips on the menu, but what you do is; you order the ぐるくんのスイートチリソース (That’s gurukun, a kind of Okinawan whitefish, with sweet chili sauce) and a portion of fried potatoes and you’re away! Bob’s your ojisan; the best fish ‘n’ chips in town!

ぐるくんのスイートチリソース

Basically I order this and a few glasses of Orion on draft every time. However, the last time I went there it was with my poetic pal Jeffrey Angles. Jeffrey is more adventurous than I am; he also likes to share. Read the rest of this entry »

JJ O’Donoghue writes…

If Café Independants could speak French it would probably say something like “Je suis cool.” And I would probably agree.

It’s a truism that there is a Café Independants in every city all over the world; laid back and beautiful staff, laid back and beautiful customers, long wide tables, Apple laptops, foreigners reading local papers, locals reading foreign papers, jazz and lounge music on the sound system and plumes of cigarette smoke flirting with sunlight seeping in from the street level windows. This might be just enough information to turn you on or off the place.

Housed in the basement of an adobe building – adobe in Kyoto? – a stone’s throw from the northern end of Teramachi mall, Independants shares the building with bohemian tenants; jewelers, record shops and a little gallery.

Café Independants is situated in the basement of the 1928 Building. This art deco structure built in… 1928, is itself a tourist attraction for those interested in Kyoto's modern architecture.

There’s more empty space in the cavernous basement than there are tables and chairs which makes a nice change from cafés where you are nearer your neighbor than your cup of coffee. The café is open for lunch, dinner and when the night comes it transforms into a live music venue with a wide repertoire of acts, many of which are free.

Food wise its simple fare at pretty reasonable prices; the lunch plate, which changes daily, is 630 yen. Word to the wise, or people who spend too much time online; the Independants blog is updated every day with a picture of the main lunch plate. There’s also a stock of sandwiches: chicken baguette, BLT and croque-monsieur as well as pasta and Spanish-style omelettes and pizza.

If I was to single out one dish the Nice salad is pretty darn massive and tasty. There’s also plenty on offer for those with a sweet tooth.

At the taps Independants serves Guinness, Suntory and Ebisu and has a handful of foreign bottled beers as well as wine and the usual long list of coffees, teas and cold drinks.

Café Independants is in the basement of the 1928 Building on the south-east corner of Sanjo and Gokomachi. Here is a lovely map.

Tel 075 255 4312
Open 11:30-24:00
http://www.cafe-independants.com/

Text by JJ O’Donoghue.
Pictures by Michael Lambe.
You can read other posts by JJ if you click here.

Did you spot the spider?

This is the third in an occasional series of profiles of Kyoto-based photographers. Each photographer chooses five of their favorite pictures from around Kyoto and tells us a little about what those pictures mean to them. Previously, we have featured Kyoto Journal‘s founder editor John Einarsen and associate editor Stewart Wachs. This time it’s the turn of KJ’s managing editor Ken Rodgers. Ken says…

Being invited to follow two superbly accomplished photographers, John Einarsen and Stewart Wachs, is quite a challenge. (Thanks, Michael!) Untrained in the darkroom arts, I hardly envisage myself as even a hobby shutterbug — but somehow, since starting to upload digital photos to iPhoto in 2005, I have accumulated over 16,000 images. Occasionally I get lucky, and fluke a shot that’s focused in the right places and reasonably composed (cropping sometimes helps…) Read the rest of this entry »