I’m off on my travels and resolutely internet free until March 29th. See you when the cherries bloom!
Ima Tenko & Kiraza Butoh Performance @ Nishijin Factory Garden Oct 22/23
“Nikon Flower (Eternity in a Moment)” butoh performance and Shamisen Butoh Café “Tadaima†By Ima Tenko+Kiraza
Caitlin Coker writes,
Kiraza, a Kyoto-based butoh dance company, is known for portraying archetypes of Japanese culture with a punk-kitsch spin. Â Their performance at Nishijin Factory Garden presents the avant-garde dance form Butoh in an intimate theater, which was previously a Nishijin weaving factory. Â This nostalgic space retains its weaving loom and wooden pillars. In this space, accompanied by live shamisen, Kiraza`s white-painted bodies dance the perpetual flower- a dance of spark, emptiness and the eternal now.
Here are the details:
Dates & Times: October 22nd at 3pm and 7pm / October 23rd at 1pm and 5pm
Doors open 30 minutes before performance time.
The butoh performance will be followed by a shamisen café time.
General Admission: 1,800 yen (2,200 door)
Students: 1,500 yen (1,800 door)
The café is a separate price.
Kimono Discount: 100 yen off if you wear a kimono
For tickets and additional information, please contact Ima Tenko at Tel/Fax: 075-525-4467 cell: 090-7098-2869 E-mail: ima_kiraza@yahoo.co.jp
Location: Nishijin Factory Garden
Kyoto-shi, Kamigyou-ku Jofukuji-dori Kamidachiuri-sagaru Ebisu-chou 663
Phone: 090-4198ï¼8272
Access: 5 minute walk from Imadegawaï¼Jofukuji bus stop on routes # 201,
203, 59, 51. 10 minute walk from Senbon-Kamidachiuri bus stop on bus routes #206 and 46
Here is a map. For more information about tickets or directions, please contact Caitlin Coker at caitlincc@gmail.com.
Thanks Caitlin!
A short post to calm some fears
Almost a week has passed since the disaster in Tohoku. I haven’t posted anything since then because it has been difficult to know what to say.
I still don’t know what to say and so will keep this short. There has been a lot of hysterical headlines about meltdowns in the foreign media and quite a bit of scaremongering online too. Here’s a link to expert opinion on what the current situation is at the nuclear plants in Fukushima and how it might pan out:
http://www.mutantfrog.com/2011/03/15/radiation-safety-update/#comment-631315
Basically the situation at the nuclear plants is serious but even in a “worst case scenario” people in Tokyo are NOT AT RISK. This is NOT going to be another Chernobyl.
So let’s all stay calm and sit tight and hopefully pretty soon those 50 brave souls in Fukushima trying to cool those reactors will get the situation under control. And when that’s done we can all focus on the necessary relief efforts up north. Japan is hurting right now and a lot of people are very traumatised, but the best thing we can do right now is keep on going. Deep Kyoto posts will continue as normal from tomorrow.
Site hacked (again) !!!
Don’t use this site until I get it fixed as your computer may be attacked
BACK ONLINE!
And a fresh post coming soon! More later this evening!
Hacked
There’s something nasty in here and until I find out what it is, I’m postponing all further posts. I’d advise you all not to use this site for the interval too – as the nasty-something seems to want to attack your computer. Sorry folks. See you back here soon, I hope!
Michael
Today’s Rally for Okinawa
I was at a party last night and woke up today feeling very hungover. So much so that I was totally going to bail out of attending today’s rally and demo against the American military’s *occupation* of Okinawa. However, after reading Jeffrey Friedl’s comments on the last Okinawan post, I pretty much felt like I had to go – if only to wind him up a little bit more. So thanks for that Jeffrey, I met some really nice people there and had a really good time. Shame you couldn’t make it.
Attendance was pretty good. Over 300 people came which is not bad for Kyoto. [Read more…]
Intermission…
I’m going to be in the UK for the next couple of weeks or so. Deep Kyoto will continue when I come back.
Archery at Sanjusangendo
Just a quick reminder that award winning documentary maker Mara Alper is in town and this Sunday will be giving a presentation at the Kampo museum on the Huichol people of Mexico. Mara has been very busy this past week exploring and filming around town. Here is her video of the Toshiya archery contest at Sanjusangendo last Sunday.
Mara’s lecture “Visions of the Huichol†will take place on Sunday January 24th from 2:00 pm. The Kampo museum sits on the intersection of Reisen and Okazaki streets due east of Heian Jingu. Here is a map.
Related: Interview with Mara Alper
The Glorious Art of José Benitez Sanchez
Mashable’s 2009 Open Web Awards
Please vote for Deep Kyoto in the Mashable Open Web Awards ‘Best Local Blog’ category!
You know it makes sense!
And – I’d be ever so grateful! LINK
Spring Shakuhachi Recital @ Zac Baran
Every now and again my friend Koichi Yoshida organizes a special shakuhachi recital at Zac Baran in order to demonstrate the instrument’s depth and versatility. I was delighted to hear from him that there would be another recital on May 10th.
In Koichi’s own words:
The shakuhachi! Maybe you have heard of it but have you ever seen one or heard it played? I believe the shakuhachi is an extremely eastern instrument. The shakuhachi musician can produce a natural sound and express delicate nuances. Maybe it can be called a “flute without frets.†I have planned this recital in order to introduce listeners to the wonderful world of shakuhachi. I will perform not only traditional solo pieces, called honkyoku, but also various musical styles including improvisations, jazz, traditional Okinawan music, and new age music with some wonderful guest artists, such as a pianist, an Okinawan sanshin (traditional Okinawa guitar) player, a sitar player, a bass player, and guitar player.
Koichi Yoshida’s Spring Shakuhachi Recital will take place at Zac Baran on Sunday May 10th . Doors open at 7.00 pm and the show begins a 7.30 pm. Tickets are ¥2,000 or ¥1,800 if ordered in advance. Only 50 seats available!
Zac Baran is a legendary cafe/bar/music spot on the north side of Marutamachi a short walk east of Higashioji Dori. Here is a most convenient map. Tel: 075-751-9748
Koichi Yoshida can be contacted at koichi21@ezweb.ne.jp
Deep Kyoto on Facebook
Deep Kyoto now has it’s own facebook group so sign yourselves up now! LINK
Rie Mandala’s Art
Rie Mandala is leaving Japan and selling off her art at much reduced prices. You can take a look and make a purchase here: Rie’s Art.
Has Deep Kyoto Sold Out?
Last night, I was sitting in Smoke Room, enjoying a couple of drinks with a friend and one of the (very handsome) bar tenders happened to mention that the number of foreign visitors to the bar had increased dramatically just recently… Could it be a pure coincidence that I posted an article on Smoke Room on this very blog not so long ago? I think not! Without doubt Deep Kyoto is good for business! However, speaking of business, my friend had this to say about recent changes I have made to this site:
“What’s up with Deep Kyoto? It’s covered in Google Ads! It’s too commercialized! I liked the old Deep Kyoto! I don’t like these changes! blah blah blah…”
Well, I can see why regular readers of Deep Kyoto who are used to the old style blog might dislike these changes. However, I can no longer justify the inordinate amount of time I spend on this blog without making some kind of financial gain. And the only reason the ads weren’t there before was because I was too ignorant of wordpress usage to figure out how to add them. It is true though that in my joy at figuring that out finally, I may have gone a little over the top. It is also true that initial results are non too promising (I made 95 cents in September). So what do you think? In an effort to encourage feedback I am adding a little democracy poll here below. I think I’ve got all possible answers covered so – let me know!