Talk-no-kai holding two discussion sessions

Talk-no-kai, a Nara-based citizens' group, is going to hold two English discussion sessions in Nara on Saturday.

The first session, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will be led by Amanda O'Brien from Australia, who works for a local nonprofit organization working to provide education to children in developing countries. O'Brien will speak about various activities of her group that can be applied to other NPOs.

The second meeting, to be held between 2 and 3:30 p.m., will be for young people studying English. Language teacher Giancarlo Bifulco will lead the discussion on the theme of New Year's resolutions.

Participation is free for students and anyone under 20, 500 yen for members and 1,000 yen for others.

The discussion sessions will be held in a conference room at the Nara International Foundation Commemorating the Silk Road Exhibition on the sixth floor of Nara Station on the Kintetsu Line.

Call or fax the organizers at (0745) 31-1262.

Kyoto seminar to shed light on Fushimi canals

The Japan Foundation Kyoto Office is presenting an English-speaking seminar on Fushimi and its canal network at its auditorium in Kyoto's Nakagyo Ward on Jan. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Fushimi, located in the southern part of the city, served as the residence of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a warlord who reigned over Japan in the late 16th century.

Although the canal has long lost its function as a key transportation network connecting Kyoto and Osaka, the local community is considering operating sightseeing boats on parts of the canal.

In the seminar, Nobuhiro Nishio, a Seibo Jogakuin Junior College professor who studies Fushimi from the environmental point of view, will speak on the possibility of reviving the neighborhood by using the canal. The lecture will be given in Japanese with English interpretation.

For more information, call (075) 211-1312 or fax (075) 255-1273.

Toy and game fair to be held at Osaka Dome

An exhibition of new toys and games will take place Jan. 20 at Osaka Dome in Nishi Ward, Osaka.

The 15th New Generation World Hobby Fair is one of the largest exhibitions of toys, video games and comics for children, featuring 20 vendors including Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Tomy and Takara.

The latest game software for GameCube and PlayStation 2, as well as Beyblade spinning tops and various other toys will be on display and for sale.

There will also be a booth featuring the popular character Doraemon, giving the latest information on the upcoming Doraemon film "Nobita to Robotto Okoku" ("Nobita and Robot Kingdom").

The venue for the event is a three-minute walk from Osaka Dome-mae Chiyozaki Station on the Tsurumi Ryokuchi subway line, or a seven-minute walk from Taisho Station on the JR Loop Line. Admission is free for the event to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call the executive committee at (03) 5389-8101.

Kimono class offered for foreign women

Osaka Sister City Network, a semigovernmental body of Osaka City, is hosting a kimono seminar for foreign women on Jan. 26 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the International House in Osaka's Tennoji Ward.

The variety of kimonos and how to wear them will be explained before participants actually learn to dress themselves. The participation fee is 500 yen.

Twenty-five applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The application deadline is Jan. 21.

For applications or more information, call the organizer at (06) 6772-9670, fax (06) 6772-9790, or e-mail: [email protected]