Here's the latest news direct from our friend Joshua Breakstone about his next big gig at Bonds Rosary: "On September 6 it's going to be a really special night at Bonds Rosary, "First Fridays" for 2 reasons: 1) The special guest coming to play with my trio that night is the great NY guitarist, Roni Ben-Hur who, believe it or not, will be making his first Japan tour. … [Read more...]
Encounters with Kyoto (Writers in Kyoto Anthology 3) Now Available
Here's a short announcement from the good folks at Writers in Kyoto (WiK): Encounters with Kyoto (Writers in Kyoto Anthology 3) On sale now from amazon.com and amazon.co.jp Edited by Jann Williams and Ian Josh Yates Foreword by Juliet Winters Carpenter Inside the covers lies the third collection of enticing works by Writers in Kyoto. From gardens to gangsters, … [Read more...]
Komatsu South – New Machiya Serviced Accommodation in Kyoto’s Gion District
Komatsu South is a new machiya-style residence offering fully serviced vacation accommodation in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion district. Each of the building’s four apartments have their own self-catering and laundry facilities and guests are also provided with daily housekeeping and an e-concierge service. This is the perfect holiday location for independent travelers who want a … [Read more...]
Zen & Psychotherapy – A Talk with Reggie Pawle
Thanks to John Dougill for this news of an upcoming Writers in Kyoto event... A reminder about the Writers in Kyoto event this Sunday on the intriguing subject of psychotherapy and Zen. This is also one of our two events when we will be taking the membership fee of Y3000 for the coming year (the other event is on May 12 with Richard Lloyd Parry - click the link for … [Read more...]
Echoes Anthology E-Book Giveaway from Writers in Kyoto
A short message from the good folk at Writers in Kyoto (WiK)... Echoes, the 2017 Writers in Kyoto anthology is now available as a FREE e-book on amazon.jp. Featuring work by Alex Kerr, Amy Chavez, Eric Johnston, and more, this collection includes poetry, fiction, articles, translations, and stunning illustrations by the award-winning John Einarsen of Kyoto Journal. This … [Read more...]
My Love Affair with Kyoto in the 1950s: A Public Talk by Hans Brinckmann
Many thanks to the Writers in Kyoto (WiK) group for sending this along. Any inquiries about this event should be directed here. On February 3rd, writer and translator, Hans Brinckmann will talk about his experience in Kyoto in the early 1950s and show rare photos of Kyoto from that period. In the late 1950s he was part of a Bohemian circle of artists and poets in Kyoto, and … [Read more...]
Kyoto’s Hyotei Shortlisted for The First World Restaurant Awards
The shortlist for the inaugural World Restaurant Awards was released today and we are pleased to see that Kyoto's Hyotei has made the list under the Enduring Classics category. Hyotei was founded 400 years ago as a shop and guard post outside the main gates of the Nanzenji Temple, and today is renowned for its traditional kaiseki multi-course cuisine, its signature egg dishes, … [Read more...]
Christmas Dinner at Tadg’s 2018
We had very happy tidings from Tadg McLoughlin today who has announced that he will be back in the kitchen at Tadg's Pub this Christmas preparing a very special Christmas dinner. If you are looking for a traditional turkey feast with all the trimmings then you can do no better than Tadg's! Tadg’s Christmas Dinner Menu ~ 25th December from 6pm. Small plate of … [Read more...]
Joshua Breakstone Jazz Guitar Workshops & Shows 2019
Jazz fans rejoice! Guitar legend Joshua Breakstone has been in touch with news of his schedule for 2019. Below are the flyers for his ongoing shows in Kyoto and Kobe, and he also has news of some workshops he will be giving in February and March. Here's Joshua with the details: "I will be giving a series of workshops on 4 days in February and March in Kyoto, one for … [Read more...]
Crafting Tatami in 21st Century Kyoto: An Interview with Mitsuru Yokoyama
Today we have a special guest post from our old friend, Lisa Y. Allen. Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship: Tatami in the 21st Century An interview with award-winning tatami craftsman, Mitsuru Yokoyama Tatami is a rush-covered straw mat used for flooring and dates back to the Nara Period when the word, tatami, first appeared in the Kojiki, the oldest Japanese book written … [Read more...]
Writers in Kyoto Fourth Annual Writing Competition
Thanks to Karen Lee Tawarayama for sending in details of the Fourth Annual Writing Competition conducted by our inexhaustible friends at Writers in Kyoto. ◆THEME: Kyoto (English language submissions only) ◆DEADLINE: March 31st, 2019 (Midnight JST) ◆GENRE: Short Shorts (unpublished material only) ◆WORD LIMIT: 300 Words (to fit on a single page) ◆FORM: Short poems, … [Read more...]
Heidi S. Durning’s Tapestry – A Dance & Music Project at Urbanguild, Kyoto; November 23rd – 25th
Heartfelt congratulations to our friend and local dance legend, Heidi Durning, for her upcoming 60th birthday celebrations! Join Heidi and her friends at Urbanguild for a three-day festival of music and dance at Urbanguild later this month! Tapestry - Dance & Music Project Celebrating Heidi S. Durning’s 60th Birthday in November a collaboration of traditional & … [Read more...]
Oyuna Walker Exhibition at Kyoto Daimaru; November 21st – 27th
Thanks to Aaron Walker for sending in the following information. Oyuna Walker will hold a solo exhibition of her oil paintings in DAIMARU department store, Kyoto. Exhibition title: “Blowin’ in the wind of the meadow” Dates: November 21st(Wed) through the the 27th(Tue), until 5pm on the final day. Place: Kyoto DAIMARU Department Store, 6F Art Salon, ESPACE … [Read more...]
The Benten Residences; Machiya House Accommodation in Kyoto’s Higashiyama District
The Benten Residences are two beautifully restored traditional machiya townhouses sitting side-by-side in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. Shimaya Stays, the Singapore-based company responsible for their restoration, recently invited us to stay in the Benten West house for a couple of nights, so we could see for ourselves what good work they have been doing. We also had the … [Read more...]
