This Week(End): Tokyo Area Events For Feb 25-26

The last weekend of February seems to be the perfect opportunity to go about the city to visit museum exhibitions and appreciate traditional local culture! On the agenda are a kabuki music event, three art and photography exhibitions, as well as a famous marathon and a major LGBT business networking event. Have a wonderful week(end)!

Traditional Japanese Tunes

Experience Kabuki Music

Kabuki is a highly celebrated art, but how much do we know about its music? This rare bilingual event/workshop teaches us step-by-step on how to play the shamisen and kotsuzumi, the two best-known kabuki instruments. What's even better, you get the chance to become fully immersed into the local culture by wearing yukata and enjoying a cup of sake while chatting with the artists. Interpreters will be at the venue, ready to help with any questions you may have. The event doesn't fall exactly on the weekend, but this is a rare one no one interested in Japanese culture — and music — should miss.

Date

THU, FEB. 23, 2017

Time

e 2 SESSIONS; 10:30 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. AND 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M.

Location

NARUKO TENJINSHA SHRINE, 8-14-10 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU, TOKYO

Fee

¥6,000 (WITH YUKATA ¥8,000)

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Cheer On

Tokyo Marathon 2017

Although entry to the marathon itself has finished, that doesn't mean the fun is over. Tokyo Marathon is a huge cultural and sports event in Japan, gathering thousands of people annually, rushing to cheer for the runners. The highlight of the event is observing the unique cosplay ideas runners come up with.

Date

Sun, Feb. 26, 2017

Time

9 a.m. to around 4 p.m.

Location

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Iidabashi, Kanda, Nihombashi, Asakusa, Ryogoku, Monzen nakacho, Ginza, Takanawa, Hibiya, Tokyo Station, finishing at Gyoko-dori

Fee

Free

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LGBT Networking Party

Fruits in Suits Japan-The Road Ahead

Fruits in Suits Tokyo is a social networking organization for LGBT professional men and women in business, education, the arts and other fields. The social networking event is aimed at increasing awareness of the needs members of this society have, as well as promote sexual equality and civil liberty. This time, Fruits in Suits invites Wayne (Wei-Cheng) Lin, the chair of the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association, the oldest and the largest Taiwanese organization promoting sexual equality. Expect great food and drinks in this unique opportunity to network and learn. Come in a smart casual look for a fun time with new and old friends.

Date

Fri, Feb. 24, 2017

Time

6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Location

The Classica Omotesando, 5-51-1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo

Fee

¥8,000 (at the door), ¥7,000 (early bird), ¥4,000 (students)

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Maintaining Japanese Tradition

Fabric Dye Festival

To celebrate the tradition and art of dying and screen printing, Fabric Dye Festival (Some No Komichi) will be held this year for the 9th consecutive time. A local tradition of the Nakai area in Shinjuku, dye producers used to dry colorful kimono fabrics outside on sunny days near Myoshoji River. At the festival, 50 to 60 long drapes of kimono cloth will be hung majestically on wires above the river as part of the “River Gallery.” Although there are only limited number of spots left, you can also take part in a tour to try out traditional dying.

Date

Fri, Feb. 24-Sun, Feb. 26, 2017

Time

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location

Around Nakai station, 1-19-1 Nakaochiai, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Fee

Free

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© Photo by Watashi bi Ai wo Ataete 2015 ©YAYOI　KUSAMA

Legacy of the Polka-Dots

Yayoi Kusama: My Eternal Soul

World-renowned avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama's exhibition traces the history of her polka-dot themed works and is bound to be a truly captivating and immersive experience. If you've ever wondered why her art is so eccentric — or why she loves matching pumpkin-yellow robes with her bright red hair — this exhibition may be the key to your answers. Featuring old and new polka-dot artworks and 130 works from the painting series "My Eternal Soul" Kusama has been working on since 2009, this is a fascinating exhibition for any lovers of Japanese modern art.

Date

Wed, Feb. 22 - Mon, May 22, 2017

Time

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Fri until 8 p.m., closed on Tuesdays)

Location

The National Art Center, 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Fee

¥1,600 (general), ¥1,200 (university), ¥800 (high school)

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Powerful Visuals and Art

Yebisu International Festival For Art & Alternative Visions 2017

So much art gathered in a single venue! Held annually, Yebisu International Festival aims to gather and encourage creativity in visual art exhibitions, movie airing, and dance performances. Artists and expressionists from all around the world, including Turkey, Israel, and many others gather to explore a wide variety of art themes, through exhibitions, film screenings, live shows, workshops and more.

Date

Fri, Feb. 10-Sun, Feb. 26, 2017

Time

10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Location

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, Ebisu Garden Place, 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro, Tokyo, and others

Fee

Free admission

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Unforgettable Faces

The People By Kishin

An exhibition revisiting the past five decades of the work of one of Japan's most renowned photographers, Shinoyama Kishin. Over 120 of Kishin's best works are displayed in five categories: God (the deceased), Star (the celebrities), Spectacle (dream worlds that take us to another dimension), Body (naked portraits) and Accidents (portraits of victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake). This is a unique chance to see rare portraits of famous Japanese and world celebrities, from Yukio Mishima and Hibari Misora to John Lennon and Vladimir Malakhov, as well as witness the struggles March 11 quake victims went through on individual basis.

Date

NOW THROUGH TUE, FEBRUARY 28, 2017

Time

10 A.M.-6 P.M.

Location

YOKOHAMA MUSEUM OF ART, 3-4-1, MINATOMIRAI, NISHI-KU, YOKOHAMA, KANAGAWA

Fee

¥1,500 (ADULTS), FREE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12

More Info

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