Good news for Jazz fans! Renowned American jazz guitarist, Joshua Breakstone has moved to Kyoto and will be playing here regularly in a special series of "First Fridays" starting this July. The venue is a great new jazz club in Gion called Bond's Rosary. Says Joshua, "On the first Friday of every month I’ll be there with my trio and we’ll invite a special guest to play with … [Read more...]
Conserv’Session: Documentary Screening of “SEED – The Untold Story” at Kyoto University
Thanks to Zsofia Budai of the Conserv'Session group for the following message. On June 23rd, we will screen the documentary “SEED – The Untold Story” (2016, 94 min), at Kyoto University, in English with a presentation and discussion in Japanese in English. Film synopsis: Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn … [Read more...]
A Stroll Along Teramachi: Kyoto’s “Temple Street”
This month, once again, our good friend Edward J. Taylor continues his ongoing journey through Kyoto’s past and present with the third installment of his "Kyoto Streets" project and a stroll along Teramachi. I choose to start just below Gōjō-dōri, at one of my favorite cafes. Efish unfailingly feels welcoming, well-lit with broad windows open to the river and an … [Read more...]
From Industry to History on Kyoto’s Muromachi-dōri
In this special guest post, our friend, Edward J. Taylor continues his Kyoto walking project; exploring both the historical and modern aspects of the city's famous streets. Today's walk takes him along Muromachi-dōri; once just a pathway in the old capital of Heian-kyo, and today a busy street of restaurants and kimono shops, the way bears evidence of 1,200 years of cultural … [Read more...]
Mitsu Salmon to Perform at Urbanguild’s “Velvet Moon” Music & Dance Night; March 31st
After a six-year absence our old friend Mitsu Salmon will soon be making a brief stop in Kyoto on her way to an artist residency in Taiwan. We are very pleased to hear that on March 31st she will be making time for a reunion with accordion player Ryotaro for a song and dance performance at Urbanguild. Here are the event details: Velvet Moon Vol.139 - Saturday March … [Read more...]
Walking through the history of Kyoto’s “Oil Alley”: Aburanokōji
Here's a special guest post from our good friend, Edward J. Taylor; taking a stroll through the multi-leveled history of Kyoto's "Oil Alley". Around the time that we were preparing our Deep Kyoto Walks project, I mentioned to Michael that I thought that a lot of Kyoto’s history could be read in the names of its streets. I proposed then that I thought it would be interesting … [Read more...]
Villa Pontocho – Luxury Two-Roomed Hotel to Open in Kyoto’s Geisha Quarter
The narrow alleyway of Pontocho is one of the most atmospheric and best-preserved traditional areas of Kyoto. One of five geisha quarters in Kyoto, it lies between the Kamogawa River and leafy Kiyamachi Street and is a popular spot in which to imbibe the scenery and mood of the old capital. In March 2018 a new luxury boutique hotel is opening in this prime location: the Villa … [Read more...]
Hotel Material – A Stylish New Hotel in the Heart of Kyoto
Hotel Material is a stylish new boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet corner of the Higashiyama sightseeing district. Newly opened in December 2017, the hotel already has a good reputation for its comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and optimal location. Guest rooms This hotel has just six rooms, all of them tastefully decorated and equipped with a fridge, flat-screen … [Read more...]
Writers in Kyoto Anthology – Now on Amazon
Kyoto's busiest man of letters, John Dougill, has written in to say that the Writers in Kyoto Anthology for 2017 is now up on the Amazon website. Here's the blurb: This anthology collects writings by established and new writers associated with Kyoto. The contents range widely from fiction to non-fiction: an extract from a novel, a short story, and a fantasy; articles on … [Read more...]
Documentary Screening of “Masked Monkey – The Evolution of Darwin’s Theory” at Kyoto University
The Conserv'Session conservation group at Kyoto University will have another documentary screening on February 10th. Here with the details is a message from Zsofia Budai: Documentary Screening of “Masked Monkey – The Evolution of Dawin’s Theory ” on February 10th, 2018 On February 10th, we will screen the documentary “Masked Monkey - The Evolution of Darwin’s Theory” … [Read more...]
