A Net of Eels by Jake Tilson and Kyoichi Tsuzuki will be at The Wapping Project, London from 10th July to 23rd August 2009.

'An exhibition of new work by British artist/writer/cook Jake Tilson and Japanese photographer/cultural commentator Kyoichi Tsuzuki, 'A Net of Eels' is a playful and evocative exploration of the complex cultural and culinary significance of the Eel in Japan and the UK.

Featuring a selection of photographic images, audio works and found objects drawn from historical contexts and everyday popular culture, the project combines Tilson's highly personal and eclectic approach to his subject (as seen in his celebrated narrative cookbook A Tale of 12 Kitchens, 2006) with Tzusuki's more anthropological observations (evident in his popular photographic publications Roadside Japan, 1996 and Tokyo Style, 1993).

A Net of Eels is commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella in association with The Wapping Project. Supported by Arts Council England and The Great Britain Saskawa Foundation. Presented as part of the Wapping Project / Jerwood Found in Translation programme.'

The Wapping Project, The Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SG
Tel: 0207 680 2080

Mishima: A Double Bill at Oval House Theatre by Stonecrabs.

This a theatre production of Hanjo and Hell Screen on 7.45pm from 16th June to 4th July 2009.

'Never before staged in the United Kingdom in English, Yukio Mishima’s lyrically imaginative modern adaptations of classical Noh drama and Kabuki merge traditional forms of Japanese theatre with 21st century psychology. Past and present, reality and illusion, life and death, love, greed, anger collide in a world where characters are forced to find the poetic within the mundane and love in the most unlikely places.

A Yukio Mishima double bill:
The turbulent life of Yukio Mishima, one of the greatest exponents of Japanese literature, led him to commit harakiri at the age of forty-five. The haunting beauty of his modern classics, Hanjo and Hell Screen, promise an evening of pure and unforgettable delight at the theatre.

Hanjo
Translated by Donald Keene
Directed by Franko Figueiredo
In this bittersweet story of unrequited love, the beautiful Hanako waits at a train station with an opened fan in her arms, peering into the face of every man who alights, only to return each time disappointed to her waiting-room bench...

Hell Screen
Yukio Mishima’s adaptation of Akutagawa’s short story
Directed by Kwong Loke
When Yoshihide is commissioned to paint Hell, he sets about having his sadistic vision recreated before him so that he may paint it with measured strokes... Revealed in a cup of sake with a crimson maple leaf floating on it, his conceit comes with a hellish twist - causing a beautiful maiden to be roasted alive in the inferno of a falling carriage. Such is the price of true art.'

The Oval House Theatre is at 52-54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW.

For more information
Tel: 020 86946472
Email: info@stonecrabs.co.uk

'Orbital Manga is hosting a rare and exclusive signing with Manga Artist Benjamin (writer and artist for the stunning manga book "Orange" by Tokyopop)

Benjamin is a phenomenal mainland China artist, whose stunning digital art adorns in his Art Book Xiao Pan's, "FLASH". His artistic style really catches the eye, and every panel in "Orange" is painted, brush style in colour with great detail.

He'll be demonstrating his remarkable technique and signing copies of his books including the limited edition landscape-format hardback of "Orange", his latest lavish art book "Flash", 'Chinese Youth', 'Remember', 'One Day' (in French) and images and prints on the day of the signing.'

Another great free event this Saturday, the 20th June, for those interested in practising their Japanese or English conversational skills in a friendly, informal environment.

The London Japanese Language Meetup Group will meet in Greenwich Park from 1.30pm for a language-exchange picnic!

You’ll need to join the ‘The London Japanese Language Meetup Group’ on meetup.com to register your attendance.

If you love laid-back Okinawan culture you'd best not miss this FREE, family-friendly festival at Cafe Oto!

The Okinawa Festival is on from 1pm to 5pm this Saturday, 20th June, with two musical performances by the London Okinawa Sanshin Group, at 2pm and 4pm.

'The London Okinawa Sanshin group is a bunch of people who are crazy about Okinawan folk music.

There will be a stall selling Okinawan food and their local produce.'

Cafe Oto is at 18 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL.

Tube: The nearest station is Dalston Kingsland just one minute walk from Cafe OTO. Dalston Kingsland is now part of the London Overground network so you can use your Oyster card. Take the tube to Highbury & Islington (Victoria line) then change to the London Overground. Alternatively take the Tube to Liverpool Street then bus 149 or 242.

Bus:　Dalston is well served for buses from all-over London . The following buses stop nearby: 30, 38, N38, 67, 76, 149, N149, 56, 277 & 242

沖縄まつりのお知らせ

沖縄イベントがロンドン市内で開催されますのでそのお知らせです。
沖縄出身者を中心として活動しているロンドン三線会と沖縄県人会主催。
沖縄戦が終了した慰霊の日にちなんで
平和＆歌コンサートとエイサー（沖縄の集団太鼓円舞）を行います。
沖縄に興味のある人、沖縄がすきな人、沖縄知ら
ないけど知りたい人、南国の雰囲気がロンドンで
体験できますので会場へ足を運んでみて下さい。
沖縄料理、泡盛、沖縄菓子も楽しめます。
もちろんちびっこも同伴で参加できます。

日時　：　6 月20 日（土）　午後1 時～5 時
場所　：カフェオト、18 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL
(http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/contact.shtm)
入場無料　（お食事・お飲み物代は別途）
公演2 回, 第1 部： 2 時～3 時、第2 部： 4 時～5 時

カフェオトはロンドンOverGroundのDalston Kingsland駅下車１分、Liverpool Street駅からはバス１４９番あるいは２４２番で約２０分です。バスはほかに３０，３８，６７，７６，５６，２７７が使えます。

An exhibition of new works by Mitsuko Hoshino entitled 'tracing elements' will be at the Gallery Koukan, London until the 17th June 2009.

'This is first major exhibition of new works by Mitsuko Hoshino in London since 2003. The show will include twenty-two new works in a site-specific installation.

Previously in London, Hoshino had a solo exhibition at Daiwa Anglo-Japan Foundation and in 2007 she was short listed for the Jerwood Drawing Prize. Other recent international solo shows include Gallery Gen, Tokyo (2006) and Gallery F.route, Kanagawa (2009). Her work is represented in private collections in Europe, USA, UK and Japan.'

Gallery Koukan is located at 106A Alexandra Park Road, London N10 2AE and is open Tues - Fri 12:00 - 16:00 / Sat 11:00 - 15:00.

For more details call:020 8444 7121 or Email:rie@koukan.co.uk

Photography in Nineteenth-Century Japan is the subject of 'A Special Issue of History of Photography' (released for Summer 2009, by Taylor & Francis).

This edition is guest edited by Luke Gartlan, with contributions by Sebastian Dobson, Karen Fraser, Luke Gartlan, Mikiko Hirayama, David Odo and Mio Wakita.

The Daiwa Anglo Foundation will host the launch of the book at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House on Tuesday 30 June 2009, 6.00pm - 8.00pm. If you wish to attend, you must book your place here.

There will be presentations by Dr Luke Gartlan and Sebastian Dobson from 6.00pm chaired by Professor Toshio Watanabe, followed by a drinks reception.

This issue of History of Photography will be available on the day at the special price of £15 (normally only available via subscription for £40 per issue).

'From the earliest accounts of its arrival in Japan, the camera has played a key role in the visual culture of Japanese society. In this provocative collection of essays, six renowned scholars have highlighted the historical diversity and significance of photography as a medium par excellence of Japanese visual modernity. Luke Gartlan and Sebastian Dobson will present their most recent research on the domestic enthusiasm and complex socio-political uses of photography in late Edo and early Meiji Japan. What role did photography play in negotiating the emergence of Japanese modernity? How do its diverse historical applications, in both everyday and official government contexts, challenge our understanding of the period? Avoiding the tendency to impose unifying historical narratives, these papers will present detailed case studies of key moments in the history of photography's arrival in Japan which raise broader issues central to current debates on the era's visual culture.'

Taiko Meantime is a popular Greenwich, London-based Japanese drumming group. They have a lot of great events coming up this summer, not only in London but all around the UK!

FA cup final, Wembley (30th May) - 'Taiko Meantime launch the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium! Watch out for us on TV'.

Diorama Festival (24th June, 1st and 31st July) - 'We'll be playing at the foot of the Euston Tower, London for lunchtime shows on 24th June, 1st July (flute and drum duo) and 31st July. This year we're excited to welcome back Nobuko Miyazaki, our great Japanese bamboo flute player, who will join us on the first two shows.'

Glastonbury Festival (27th and 28th June) - 'Taiko Meantime return to Glastonbury for four shows in the Theatre field, accompanied by the fireshow in the evenings. Also featuring Nobuko Miyazaki.'

5th UK Taiko Festival, Exeter (3rd July) - 'Meantime headline the annual UK Taiko Festival, joined by other greats in UK and international Taiko.'

WOMAD, Charlton Park, Wiltshire (24th, 25th and 26th July) - 'We'll be holding workshops and performances at this year's WOMAD Festival at Charlton Park.'

Taiko Summer School, Farnham, Surrey (3rd to 6th August) - 'This four-day intensive Taiko course will propel your current Taiko skills into a new league. Both musically and physically, this course will be challenging and fun. Last few places remaining'.

Details for all of these performances and workshops can be found at www.taikomeantime.com

Every year, JETAA London runs the Careers Information Day to help JETs returning to the UK this summer and those looking for a change in career. This year, the event will be in the afternoon on Friday, 25th of September on the HMS President.

They are currently looking for volunteers to join the CID rganising committee. Roles range from selling sponsorship and exhibitions, to recruiting speakers, helping out on the day, producing the brochure, managing registrations and more!

If you can offer you help in any way they are keen to here from you. Also, if you have some career advice to pass on to other JETs then why not speak at the event? JETAA are looking for people who would be prepared to give a short workshop (including Q&A) on their career field.

If you’d like to get involved, email Ed at cidregistration@jetaa.org.uk. Visit the JETAA London website for more information, or to sign up for the day.

Josy, Sharon, Steve, Vanessa, Neil and Abs from JETAA London are going to dress up in inflatable sumo outfits and run for 5km around Battersea Park on 20th June!

This sumo silliness is all to raise money for Gemin-i.org (www.gemin-i.org), a charity that provides online educational resources to the developing world.

If you’d like to join them, email Josy at londonevents@jetaa.org.uk. The Sumo Fun Run is open to everyone – not just serious runners!

If you don’t want to be part of the team, you can still support them: “We are going to look ridiculous... and are going to do our best to run despite our silly suits, but we need your help to raise money! Please visit:

www.justgiving.com/jetaasumo

to sponsor us. We would love you to get involved too - so please come along to Battersea Park and cheer us on/laugh at us!!”