At Cafe OTO, from the 8th-12th of March 2009:

'Audience participatory performances by Akira Sakata, a well respected Japanese free jazz player (alto sax, cl, vo), London-based Japanese performer Yumi Hara Cawkwell (key, vo) and London-based drummers Asaf Sirkis and Charles Hayward. Akira Sakata has performed extensively in Japan and Europe, collaborating with international musicians such as Bill Laswell and Jim O'Rourke, and returns to the UK for the first time since the '70s.'

From the 9th to the 11th March 2009:

'Otomo Yoshihide's first experiences of making music were through making electrical devices such as a radio and an electronic oscillator, and by junior high school his hobby was making sound collages using open-reel tape recorders. Soon after entering high school he formed a band which played rock and jazz, with Otomo on guitar. It wasn't long, however, before he became a free jazz aficionado. Yoshihide will teaming up with Sachiko M, who has been active as a sampler player since 1994.

Early in her career, Sachiko M was involved in the cut-up and "plunderphonic" sampling movements. In '98, in a drastic departure from those approaches, she originated the revolutionary method she uses to this day - manipulating the sampler's internal test tones. With the 2000 release of Sine Wave Solo, her extreme solo recording consisting entirely of sine waves, Sachiko M suddenly became the focus of intense interest on the international scene. Two of the solo projects she is currently working on are the live performance series Bar Sachiko and the sound installation I'm Here.'

If you want to brush up your Japanese cooking skills, Atsuko's kitchen is the right place for you! Her Advanced cycle of 5 classes will start on Wednesday the 11th of March, but check her homepage for more information.

'Where is it? At "The Grocery" 54-56 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DP -The classes will be held in the cafe area.

How much does it cost? The price for 5 classes is £150 - this includes the ingredients too.

If you can't attend for five weeks but you'd still like to attend, Atsuko can arrange for you to attend one class for £34.

What do I need to bring? Nothing - you can bring an apron if you would like to.'

'At Atsuko's Kitchen, we'll learn about the basic Japanese seasonings. I'll introduce some of the more common ingredients as we cook together.

The classes are easygoing and informal - I want to teach you practical dishes that you can prepare easily at home.'

'Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798 - 1861) is considered one of the greatest Japanese print makers. He dominated the nineteenth century alongside such illustrious names as Hokusai and Hiroshige.

On show at the Royal Academy of Arts will be his innovative representations of tattooed heroes of the Suikoden and his most successful applications of Western perspective, as well as good examples of his humorous design. '

You can book tickets on-line, or call 0870 8488484. An Adult ticket is £10.50, various concessions are available.

The exhibition is open from 10am - 6pm everyday, and until 10pm on Fridays. The Royal Academy of Arts is located near to Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD.

'Marrying traditional Japanese theatre, Kabuki, with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, celebrated Japanese director, Yukio Ninagawa creates a visionary new production.

Working for the first time with two of Kabuki’s greatest performers, Onoe Kikugoro VII and his son Onoe Kikunosuke V, Ninagawa relocates Shakespeare’s well-loved comedy to a fantastical and colourful world set in Japan’s historical past.

Through stylised gestures, speech and music; executed with precision timing, Kabuki brings a new energy to Shakespeare’s comedic moments. Ninagawa’s striking staging reflects a fanciful but nonetheless quintessential Japanese world producing a Twelfth Night of timeless beauty.'

Nightly at 7pm, the performances will be in Japanese with English surtitles.

On Saturday 28th March join the Shochiku Grand Kabuki Pre-Show Talk. Producer Thelma Holt discusses bringing Grand Kabuki to the Barbican. Free to same day ticket holders.

The London Japanese Language Meetup Group will be at Yami-Nabe at Life Bar, Old Street this Friday for a Happy hour, DJs, Japanese music, and dancers. Happy hour is from 6-8pm (specials on Kirin and other drinks), but the party goes on 'til late with music and dancers...

'Meetup Description: We have been invited to Life bar again for “Yami Nabe”. There will be an eclectic mix of music from 60’s and 70’s Japanese tracks through to world music, through to…. well, pretty much anything. I’ll be there with my yellow “Onsen” T-Shirt if you’re looking for people from the group.'

'Here's what they say:
“Yami Nabe” Chefs (Sound) and Spicers (Visual) will give full play to our abilities on that night but the menus are all hidden... I know it is slightly scary if you don’t know what you will be served.

Team YAMI-NABE
Ci’ Carie ( Rie Hartig & Polar C / Chika Nakagawa )
Dominic Dawson www.myspace.com/dominicjohndawson
Alexis Matilla http://www.alexismatilla.com
Tomomi Sayuda http://www.tomomisayuda.com

+ YAMI-NABE dancers'

Visit The London Japanese Language Meetup Group on meetup.com to learn more.

From 12pm to 8pm on Saturday 14th of March, you can simply turn up at the Tokyo Toys Trocadero Store to get your portrait drawn... Manga Style!

'Yay! The lovely talented Sweatdrop Studios artists are back at our store this weekend! This time we have Faye Yong, Laura Watton and Nana Li!

Prices: Pencil £10, Black & White £12, Full Colour £20. Add 50% to price for every extra person in picture.'

Visit the Tokyo Toys website for more information.

The Private View with the photographer Chino Otsuka and Greg Hobson, Curator of Photographs at the National Media Museum is on Tuesday 7th April 2009, 6.00pm - 8.00pm. The event is at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House, the closest tube is Baker Street. Booking is essential.

The free exhibition runs from 6th April to 5th June 2009 (excluding Bank Holidays), from Monday - Friday, 9.30am-5.00pm. There are also late night openings: 28th April & 21nd May (until 8.00pm).

'UK-based Japanese Visual Artist, Chino Otsuka, will show her Imagine finding me series in London for the first time. In these digitally manipulated and composite images, Otsuka explores themes of belonging, identity and memory.

Chino Otsuka was born in Tokyo and left Japan at the age of 10 to be educated at Summerhill School in the UK. She published her first autobiographical book in Japan at the age of 15 to much acclaim and completed her MA in Fine Art Photography at the Royal College of Art. Since then she has had numerous solo and group shows internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include Memoriography at the British Library (2008), Imagine finding me at TRACE (2006) and High Street at Gallery Vassie, Amsterdam (2005). She is currently on a Photography Bursary , National Media Museum UK (2008-9) and was Pearson Creative Research Fellow of the British Library (2007-8). Chino Otsuka lives and works in London and regularly gives workshops at Victoria & Albert Museum.'

For further information please visit www.dajf.org.uk/ChinoOtsuka or contact exhibitions@dajf.org.uk

Dissident Genro - This is Scottish Kei! - will be performing and signing at Orbital Manga on April 4th, 7.30pm. The show will be 45 minutes, 1 hour with the signing.

This is a PRE-RELEASE show for "C.I.R.C.L.E" and "The One Sleeps Within" so if you attend this show you will be able to get your hands on the EP and Single EARLY before the release date on April 20th!!!

ALSO you will get a free album sampler with 5 tracks of the new album which is planned for release later this year. You can hear Dissident Genro on MySpace.

In Japan, the spring ritual of hanami cherry-blossom viewing under a clear blue sky is an absolute must. People eager to shake off the winter blues cram the parks, sitting on blankets under the trees, drinking cold beer and eating picnic delights from bento boxes.

Here in England, my garden is liberally sprinkled with confetti-like petals of white blossom that drift languidly down from the big Damson plum tree. Blossom brings with it the warmer spring weather that we’ve all been longing for. However, the weather in the UK is rather less predictable (it torrentially poured in London at last year’s Japan Society Hanami party!).

So, Kitchen Critic’s Kate and Isshoni London’s Vanessa have teamed up to bring you the best of this season’s cheerful, pretty home essentials to ensure we can all take pleasure in springtime sakura blooms, whatever the weather!

Sakura Jubako Bento Box & Sakura Water Bottle

To take along your picnic to the park and get into a cheery cherry-blossom viewing mood, you’ll certainly need a bento box and flask. The Sakura Jubako bento box is a delightful, flower shaped bento box available from Japan specialists J-Box. This convenient ‘jubako’ style means that you can stack the layers – there are two large compartments for keeping your rice and other accompaniments separate. The Sakura Jubako bento boxes close securely with sealing Tupperware-style plastic lids. To complement the bento box is the smart 250 ml Sakura water bottle in striking black with a pink cherry blossom flowers motif. This flask has a neat push button operation to dispense water into the stainless steel cap/cup.

Available from J-Box (shipping should be between £3 to £5)
DX SAKURA JUBAKO Bento Box - USD $24.00 (Abt. £18.00)
SAKURA Mini Handy Water Bottle - USD $27.50 (Abt. £20.00)

Cherry Blossom Glasses

These gorgeous party tumblers from Graham and Green will look stylish rain or shine. Use them to serve chilled saké, wine or beer – these versatile glasses with their sturdy base and compact size are so much less likely to be knocked over than stemmed wine glasses. There are six different colours of glasses in a set, each with a lovely frosted cherry blossom pattern rendered in white. The pattern is so subtle and festive you’ll want to use the tumblers all year round – they’ll look just at as home for a summer BBQ as they will at a blossom viewing party. Available from Graham and Green, the pretty, practical glasses are dishwasher friendly.

Set of 6 Cherry Blossom Glasses - £45

Cherry Blossom Branch Lights

In Japan, people often enjoy the hanami party so much that they don’t want to go home! With that in mind, the parks often string up paper lanterns that picturesquely illuminate the cherry blossoms even in the dark. Evenings are still dark early in the UK cherry blossom season… so why not light up your home or garden with Graham and Green’s elegant Cherry Blossom Branch Lights? Standing the lights up in vases around your home is an attractive decorative accent… or why not try using the branches as unusual table centrepieces? You can choose from light pink, chocolate, pink and white lights, or combine them (they’re surprisingly affordable!).

Cherry Blossom Branch Lights - £17.57

Sia Hanami Tableware & John Lewis Blossom Cutlery

To bring the romantic magic of Hanami indoors, try blossom inspired tableware. The Hanami Tableware by Sia features a beautiful photo of dainty pink flowers, which captures the vibrancy and romance of the season. Made from fine bone china, the Hanami tableware mirrors the light delicacy of sakura blossoms. To complement these gorgeous dishes, try the Blossom Cutlery from John Lewis. The subtle frosted pattern acts as an understated accent, while continuing the floral theme. The sleek modern forms of the Blossom Cutlery combine with the contemporary photographic style of the Hanami Tableware to create a sophisticated celebration of spring.

John Lewis Blossom Cutlery (16 pieces) - £39
Sia Hanami Dining Set (24 pieces) - £99

Cherry Blossom Trivet

Besides its natural beauty, the cherry blossom has an almost iconic form. Long spindly branches that end in a burst of petals have an elegance often seen in contemporary designs. The Cherry Blossom Trivet creates a dramatic silhouette that drapes across your table. Arrange a few down the centre of your table, and you’ll create a distinctive graphic display that’s functional as well! Made from a durable cast iron, these stylish Cherry Blossom Trivets offer both protection and a simplified modern style. Available from Inspirational Elements, the Cherry Blossom Trivets bring the eastern glamour of this important Japanese celebration.

Cherry Blossom Trivet - £14.99

There are so many ways to celebrate the season while exploring the beauty of Japanese culture which makes hanami an irresistible event. Combining historic traditions with modern glamour creates gorgeous dinning pieces you’ll long for. If you’re looking for more fabulous kitchen items available here in the UK, check out www.KitchenCritic.co.uk!

The English National Ballet’s Annual Fundraising Gala for 2009 is The Cherry Blossom Ball - to be held on 30th Mar 2009, at the Dorchester, London.

'Celebrate the arrival of Spring by joining us for this glamorous evening where you will be treated to excerpts from the English National Ballet’s repertoire whilst enjoying champagne, a three-course dinner and auction together with musical entertainment including taiko drummers, and a piano recital by Motoki Hirai. Our dancers will be performing a brand new piece of choreography, specifically for the event: One Fine Day from Madame Butterfly.

All funds raised go towards helping the Company continue to take classical ballet of the highest quality to the widest geographical audience at a price everyone can afford.'

Tickets for this exclusive event cost:
£230 per person
£2300 for a table of 10
or £2700 for a table of 12

Visit the English National Ballet's website for more information, or call 020 7581 1245.

Restaurant Toku
The Japan Centre
212 Piccadilly
London
W1J 9HX
0207 255 8255
www.toku-restaurant.co.uk

*Review kindly contributed by guest writer Tat-Pheng Lay

Why?
To re-unite with fellow ex-JETs who also recently returned from Japan and were missing sushi, okonomiyaki and tempura! Between us, we selected quite a variety of dishes, including Shikoku-famed Udon.

When?
February 7th, 13.00, Saturday lunchtime.

Impression:
Busy but not bustling, a good location for small groups, couples or lone diners. The restaurant has a large dining area and bar seating area, too. However, the tables in the dining area are so close together that you can’t help but feel like you are encroaching on a fellow customer’s privacy...

Prices:
Starting from around £10.50 for a standard dish with rice and miso soup. Sashimi is a lot more pricey; excellent quality but it comes a cost! Sushi prices start at £3.50 for two pieces. Remember to look out for the deal of the day priced at £9.50!

Service:
Attentive, polite staff direct customers to free tables in a efficient manner. Quick to take orders and serve dishes while still piping hot. Also served us all at the same time, impressive considering we ordered entirely different dishes.

Description of food and drink:
Amongst the most delicious dishes we ordered was the karage set and salmon don. The karage set, consisting of deep fried chicken pieces, a delicious side salad, rice and miso soup, is a satisfying choice. The salmon don is perfect for sushi and fish lovers. Premium cuts of finely sliced fish are layered on top of piping hot rice, creating a slightly cooked covering that melts in the mouth.

Toilets:
Located right at the bottom of the restaurant. And we may as well take the ‘s’ off ‘toilets’ as there was only one. Quite hygienic and not smelly, considering the number of customers who use it.

Come again?
I have eaten here on numerous occasions and have enjoyed the food on every occasion. If you want to re-create some Japanese delights in your own kitchen, be sure to visit the Japan Centre groceries shop next door. This conveniently located mini-mart is the answer to all your Japanese cooking needs and even hosts a small range of items from the infamous 100 yen store!

Japanese Blues performer Kan Mikami will be performing both solo and in a trio with John Edwards and Steve Noble on Monday, the first night of his two-day residency at Cafe OTO, and with Alex Neilson (drums) and Guillaume Viltard (double bass) on Tuesday. Tickets are £9, or £15 for a two-day pass.

'Kan Mikami returns to Café Oto for a two-night residency. This will be the third time Kan has played at Café Oto the first being his mind blowing three-day residency in September last year followed by a one night appearance in December. It’s hard to believe that prior to those performances Kan had never played in London.

Kan has been a singular figure in the Japanese underground since the early seventies performing his unique Japanese Blues. As a live performer he is a completely mesmerizing presence.'

Renowned Tokyo-based artist Ujino Muneteru is a Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Until Friday 24th April 2009 you can see his sound sculpture/performance project, The Rotators. It's in the UK for the first time as part of Ether 09. Find it at The Hayward Project Space, the Visual Arts part of the Southbank Centre...

Ugly Knitting
'In The Hayward Project Space, Ujino presents Ugly Knitting. Domestic appliances such as blenders and hairdryers are assembled together with Ujino’s Rotatorhead, created from DJ mixing decks, in this chaotic but elegant installation.'

The Hayward Project Space
10am-6pm (daily), Late night Fridays until 10pm

Sherbet Dab Swivel
'Ujino unveils an amazing outdoor sculpture assembled from a London taxi, street sweeper, traffic lights and more from the street.'

Festival Terrace

Ujino performances
'Ujino brings his sound sculpture Sherbet Dab Swivel to life in a series of live performances blurring the boundaries between music and art.'

Friday 10 April
6.30pm (Festival Terrace)
11pm (Concrete at the Hayward)

Saturday 11 April
6.30pm (Festival Terrace)
11pm (Concrete at The Hayward)

Sunday 12 April
6.30pm (Festival Terrace)

All events are FREE!