British Anthems Bumper line-up of UK indie acts old and new, including The Vaselines and Patrick Wolf. Dec 6, 2pm, ¥6,500. Studio Coast, Shin-Kiba. Nearest stn: Shin-Kiba. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.
Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky opera performed by the Leningrad State Opera. Dec 10-11, 6:30pm, ¥5,000-¥20,000. Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuya. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: Koransha 03-3943-9999.
Anjin Bilingual play about a foreign samurai, starring Owen Teale, Masachika Ichimura and Tatsuya Fujiwara. Dec 10-Jan 18, various times, ¥8,400 (A)/¥10,500 (S). The Galaxy Theatre, Tennozu. Nearest stn: Tennozu Isle. Tel: Horipro 03-3490-4949.
Gishi-sai Festival honoring the 47 ronin loyal retainers, a popular subject in movies and dramas. Dec 14, 11am-10pm, free. Sengakuji temple, Takanawa. Tel: 03-3441-5560. Nearest stn: Shinagawa or Tamachi. www.sengakuji.or.jp
Yo La Tengo US indie rock trio in their 25th year. Dec 17, 7pm, ¥6,000. Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball. Nearest stn: Shinagawa. Tel: Smash 03-3444-6751.
Sacred Monsters Collaboration between French ballerina Sylvie Guillem and British kathak dancer Akram Khan. Dec 18, 7pm; Dec 19-20, 3pm, ¥3,000-¥14,000. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Ueno. Tel: 03-5685-0650.
New Year Countdown 2010 Techno DJ and producer Jeff Mills unveils his latest project, “The Sleeper.” Dec 31, 10pm, ¥6,000 (adv)/¥8,000 (door). Womb, Shibuya. Nearest stn: Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp
Emperor’s Cup Final Championship match for Japan’s longest-running soccer tournament. Jan 1, 2pm, ¥3,000-18,000. National Olympic Stadium, Kasumigaoka. Nearest stn: Sendagaya or Kokuritsu-Kyogijomae. Tel: 03-5777-8600.
Nikulin Circus Venerated Russian circus with acrobatic performances and animals. Jan 9-Feb 14, various times, ¥4,000-¥9,000. Tokyo Dome City, Korakuen. Nearest stn: Suidobashi or Korakuen. Tel: 0570-02-9999.
January Grand Sumo Tournament The first big basho of the year for Japan’s greatest traditional sport. Jan 10-24, main bouts start around 4pm, ¥2,100-¥14,300. Ryogoku Kokugikan. Nearest stn: Ryogoku. Tel: 0570-02-9310. www.sumo.or.jp/eng
Muse Bombastic progressive rock trio from the UK. Jan 12, 7pm, ¥7,800. Nippon Budokan, Kudanshita. Nearest stn: Kudanshita. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.
Dance Symphony International ballet star Kazuhiro Nishijima collaborates with 13 other dancers. Jan 12-17, various times, ¥6,500 (A)/¥8,000 (S). Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Ikebukuro. Nearest stn: Ikebukuro. Tel: 03-3201-8116.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Female-fronted NYC post-punk trio. Jan 16, 7pm, ¥6,500. Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball. Nearest stn: Shinagawa. Tel: Smash 03-3444-6751.
Tokyo Auto Salon The world’s largest custom car show. Jan 15, 1-6pm, ¥3,000 (premium ticket). Jan 16, 9am-6pm; Jan 17, 9am-5pm, ¥2,000. Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. www.e-autosalon.net
Setsubun Participate in one of the longest-running incarnations of this yearly good-luck festival, featuring bean-throwing and ceremonial dances. Feb 3, from 12:30pm. Sensoji temple, Asakusa. Nearest stn: Asakusa. www.senso-ji.jp
Backstreet Boys Grown-up boy band, now whittled down to four members. Feb 5, 7pm; Feb 6, 5pm; Feb 7, 4pm, ¥7,500-¥18,000. Saitama Super Arena. Nearest stn: Saitama-Shintoshin. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.
Wonder Festival Massive garage kit convention, one of the highlights on the otaku calendar. Feb 7, 10am-5pm, ¥2,000. Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Nearest stn: Kaihin-Makuhari. Tel: Wonder Festival Project Office 06-6909-5660. www.kaiyodo.co.jp/wf
Florence and the Machine Feted songstress from the UK. Feb 10, 7pm, ¥5,500. Liquidroom, Ebisu. Nearest stn: Ebisu. Tel: Smash 03-3444-6751.
Maceo Parker Veteran funk/soul saxophonist, appearing with special guest Candy Dulfer. Feb 11 & Feb 13-14, 6pm & 8:45pm; Feb 12 & Feb 15-16, 7pm & 9:30pm, ¥8,400. Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama. Nearest stn: Omotesando. Tel: 03-5485-0088.
Chinese New Year See in the Year of the Tiger in lavish style at Japan’s largest Chinatown. Feb 14, parade from 2:30pm (TBC), free. Yokohama Chinatown. Nearest stn: Motomachi-Chukagai (Minatomirai line). www.chinatown.or.jp
Warabi Hadaka Matsuri Spectacularly muddy fertility festival. Feb 25, 11am-3pm, free. Mimusubi Shrine, Yotsukaido. Nearest stn: Yotsukaido (JR Sobu line).
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Tickets can be bought from Ticket Pia, the ticketing arm of all-you-need-to-know-about-Japanese-events mag Pia, among other places. Ticket Pia stations are all over Tokyo, and even if you don’t speak Japanese and don’t know how to fill out the form, someone should be able to help you out. Here are some Ticket Pia locations:
Shibuya 1F Bunkamura; Tokyu Dept Store, 10F West Wing; 1F Tokyu Bunka Kaikan; Book 1st; Ticket Port, 2F 109 Bldg; 8F Marui Young; World Sports Plaza, East Branch
Shinjuku 2F Isetan Dept Store, New Bldg; It’s Service Corner; Island Tower;
2F Center Wing; 1F Keio Dept Store; Ticket Port; 5F Seibu PePe; 7F Marui City; 8F Marui Young
Ueno Ueno Remix; CD Garden Flora Ueno; 9F Marui City; ABAB Ueno;
M2F Matsuzakaya
Ebisu Tsutaya Ebisu Garden Place
Ginza B1 Yamano Music Shop;
1F Sony Bldg; Hakuhinkan Ticket Park
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Christmas in Tokyo is synonymous with the extravagant—and occasionally lurid—light displays that go up around town. These “illuminations” are prime date spots, too. Here are a few of the best:
Akasaka Sacas White Sacas ’09-’10. Until Feb 28, Mon-Fri 11am-7pm (until 9pm on hol eve), Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Nearest stn: Akasaka. www.sacas.net
Queen’s Square Yokohama Christmas 2009. Until Dec 25, daily 11am-11pm. Nearest stn: Minato Mirai. www.qsy.co.jp
Tokyo Midtown Midtown Christmas 2009. Until Dec 25, daily 4-11pm. Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.tokyo-midtown.com
Tokyo Tower Christmas Illumination 2009. Until Dec 25, daily 9am-midnight. Nearest stn: Akabane-bashi. www.tokyotower.co.jp/333/index.html
Yebisu Garden Place Baccarat Eternal Lights 2009. Until Jan 11, daily 4-11pm. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.gardenplace.jp |
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