The National Museum of Ethnology in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, will have a free screening July 13 of a film worked on by people from Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia.

"The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner" will be shown with Japanese subtitles from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

No reservations are required, but numbered tickets will be distributed starting at 10 a.m. on the day of the showing.

The museum is a 15-minute walk from Koen Higashiguchi Station on the Osaka Monorail. For more information, visit www.minpaku.ac.jp/museum/event/fs/movies1307 or call 06-6878-8210.

Backstage tour offered at noh theater in Kyoto

A chance to delve into noh theater will be offered July 20, featuring a backstage tour at Kyoto Kanze Kaikan starting at noon and a workshop to wear masks and costumes before watching two plays.

Tickets to the performances will cost ¥2,000 for adults, ¥1,000 for college students and ¥500 for high school, junior high and elementary school students. An additional ¥500 will be charged for the backstage tour and ¥2,000 to wear the costumes.

The venue is near Higashiyama Station on the Tozai subway line. More information is available at www.kyoto-kanze.jp/omoshiro/omoshiro.htm (in Japanese). The phone number is 075-771-6114.

Shrines, temples ready for Tanabata on Sunday

Visitors to various religious sites in Kyoto can celebrate the Tanabata star festival Sunday.

Shiramine Jingu Shrine (www10.ocn.ne.jp/~siramine/ or call 075-441-3810), an eight-minute walk from Imadegawa Station on the Karasuma subway line, starts the festival at 2:30 p.m., followed by a traditional "kemari" ball-kicking ceremony at 3 p.m.

Starting at 2 p.m., Jishu Jinja Shrine (www.jishujinja.or.jp/index.html or 075-541-2097) will hold a ceremony to tie paper dolls bearing couples' names on bamboo trees to pray for good relationships.

Kodaiji Temple (www.kodaiji.com/index.html or 075-561-9966) will display bamboo trees decorated with colorful paper strips bearing people's wishes. The grounds will be lit up after sunset.

Take city bus 206 from Kyoto Station and get out at Higashiyama Yasui for Kodaiji Temple and Gojozaka for Jishu Jinja Shrine.

Fireworks on tap for Nagoya Port Festival

The Nagoya Port Festival will take place from 12:10 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. on July 20. Fireworks displays will be held from 7:30 p.m. following stage performances and parades.

The venue is a five-minute walk from Nagoyako Station on the Meiko subway line. For further info, check out www.nagoya-port-festival.com/index.html (in Japanese) or call 052-654-7894.

Seminar on school choices for foreigners

The Nagoya International Center and the Nagoya board of education will host a school guidance seminar for foreign parents and children from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on July 28.

Participants can learn about education options for students after they graduate from junior high school.

Translation will be provided in Chinese, English, Filipino, Portuguese and Spanish. Reservations are required because space will be limited to 80 parents and students, and can be made by calling 052-581-0100 or visiting the center, a seven-minute walk from Nagoya Station. More information is available at www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/e/archives/9369 (in English).