Council to put Takarazuka in spotlight: The British Council's Kyoto office is inviting 60 people to a showing of a documentary film on the Takarazuka Revue, the Japanese all-women revue company, from 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the Japan Foundation's Kyoto Office in Nakagyo Ward.
The 1993 film, "Dream Girls," directed by Kim Longinotto with Jano Williams, explores the world of the popular Japanese form of entertainment, in which young actresses play both men's and women's roles. It visits the school where girls are trained to be Takarazuka stars, while also focusing on fanatical female fans who adore the actresses who play male roles and are fascinated by the revue's melodramatic shows.
The film will only be shown in English.
After the screening, there will be a seminar and discussion from 6 p.m. with Yasuko Ikeuchi, a professor at Ritsumeikan University who specializes in feminism and theatrical art. The event will be conducted in Japanese with English interpretations and will be held at the British Council's Kyoto office in Nakagyo Ward.
Admission is free, but reservations are required. Those who wish to attend must send a postcard, stating name, address and telephone number to the British Council Kyoto. The organizer's address is Karasuma Chuo Building 8F, 659, Tearaimizu-cho, Nishikinokouji-agaru, Karasuma-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, 604-8152. Applications can also be faxed to (075) 229-7154 or via e-mail to [email protected]
For more information, call the organizer at (075) 229-7151
Experts consider 'budo' for physically challenged: The International Research Center for Japanese Studies will host a seminar to discuss the potential of "budo," or Japanese martial arts, for physically challenged people between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 at its auditorium in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto.
Three speakers will address the topic; Pontus Johansson, from the Swedish branch of the Association for Budo Culture for the Disabled; Masanao Murai, a doctor and chairman of Warashibe-kai, a corporation that runs facilities for disabled people; and Kantaro Matsui, an associate professor at the International Budo University. The discussions will be in Japanese or in English with Japanese interpretations.
Anyone wishing to take part should call or send a postcard stating their name, address, telephone number and what seminar they wish to attend to the organizer. The address is 3-2, Oeyama-cho, Goryo, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, 610-1192. Applications can also be faxed to (075) 335-2092 or sent by e-mail to [email protected]
The seminar will also be streamed live and can be viewed at the organizer's Web site: nichibun.ac.jp
For reservations and more information, call the organizer at (075) 335-2078.
Kids to judge entrants in Kyoto film festival: Kinder Filmfest Kyoto, an international film festival for children, will run from Aug. 8 to 10 at Kyoto International Community House in the city's Sakyo Ward.
The festival is run by a nonprofit organization and children are involved with organizing the event and judging the films. Three feature films and four short animations will be shown.
The feature films are "Kald mig bare Aksel" ("Wallah Be"), directed by Pia Bovin, "Send mere slik" ("Send More Candy"), directed by Caecilia Holbek Trier, and "Happa no Freddie" ("The Fall of Freddie the Leaf"), directed by Zenzo Matsuyama. The first movie will be shown at 3:30 on Aug. 8 and at 10 a.m. on Aug. 9, the second at 1 p.m. on Aug. 8 and 1 p.m. on Aug. 10, and the third at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 9 and at 10 a.m. on Aug. 10. Short animated films will be screened at 10 a.m. on Aug. 8 and at 1 p.m. on Aug. 9.
All the foreign films will be interpreted into Japanese by narrators. "Kald mig bare Aksel," a Danish film, will be subtitled in English, while "Send mere slik," also Danish, will be subtitled in Japanese. On the final day, the best film will be announced and shown for free at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets for the entire festival are 500 yen in advance and 600 yen at the door. Advance tickets are available from the organizer or at Lawson convenience stores.
The venue is a six-minute walk from Keaga Station on the Tozai subway line.
For more information, call Kinder Filmfest Jimukyoku at (075) 212-8612.