Kyocera lighting up Kyoto headquarters

Kyocera's headquarters in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, is illuminating its public garden until Dec. 31.

More than 200,000 blue, white, green, red and orange LED lights will illuminate the garden in front of the headquarters building, while festive music will play in the background. Until Dec. 25, the 20-story building's interior lights are arranged to form a large Christmas tree motif on the front.

On Dec. 21, Seibo Gakuin Junior High School's hand bell and chorus groups will perform a classical concert from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the building's lobby on the first floor.

The lights are on daily from around 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (to 9 p.m. on Dec. 31). Admission is free. The venue is a 10-minute walk from Fushimi Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line.

For further information, contact the organizer at (0077) 78-0500 or access www.kyocera.co.jp (in Japanese and English).

Ramada Osaka hosting fun holiday events

Ramada Osaka, a hotel in Kita Ward, is organizing fun events for Christmas and the New Year's holidays.

On Dec. 25, there will be Latin Christmas Party from 7 p.m. to midnight. Peruvian DJ Roland will play salsa music and there will be a live performance by salsa band Ponte Duro. Salsa dancers Ivan and Ritmo Cubano will perform on stage and give participants dance lessons. Latin-themed foods, such as chili con carne, tortilla and "pincho" Spanish snacks, will be served along with beer, wine, whiskey and nonalcoholic drinks. Tickets are ¥6,800.

From Dec. 23 to Dec. 25, Christmas charity live concerts will be held in the hotel's first floor lobby. Admission is free. An amateur string quartet will perform at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, while a Swedish music band will play at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. A female vocalist trio will perform at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 25. Each concert lasts 30 minutes.

On Dec. 31, a countdown party will be held from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Pasta, appetizers and snacks will be offered along with champaign, beer, whiskey, cocktails, wine and nonalcoholic drinks. As a collaboration with the film "Burlesque," which started screening Saturday, there will be three specially themed cocktails based on the movie. Tickets to the party are ¥4,000 in advance and ¥4,500 at the door.

Go to www.ramada-osaka.com (in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean) for reservations and more information, or contact the hotel at (06) 6372-8181.

One-day language classes at Suita museum

The National Museum of Ethnology in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, is organizing a series of one-day language classes from Jan. 8 to March 31.

Twenty-three languages are covered in the classes, each of which lasts 90 minutes. The classes include Swahili, Mayan, Ainu and Ryukuan, as well as Japanese sign language.

Participation is free. Those who wish to take part need to be high school students and older and be able to read alphabets and understand explanations in Japanese. Thirty people per class will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance applications are necessary via e-mail to sekainokotoba @idc.minpaku.co.jp.

Visit www.minpaku.ac.jp/museum/event/kotoba11spring/ (in Japanese) for program details and the schedule.