February 2014 1 Welcome to NIC Out & About! Learn about events taking place in and close to Nagoya this month. As always, you can download our podcast from the NIC website. It s still cold, but the trees start to bud in February. Spring is on its way!! Contents 1. Hina Matsuri... 2 2. Traditional Events... 3 3. Circus & Movie... 5 4. Exhibition... 6 5. Music... 7 6. Flowers... 8 Plum Festival (Ume Matsuri)... 8 7. Living Information... 9 Pattern by Timothy Takemoto 1
1. Hina Matsuri Hina Matsuri, or the Dolls Festival, is a girls festival that is celebrated on March 3 rd. It s an event to pray for the growth and happiness of young girls. Each year, beautiful dolls are displayed in homes with young girls. Hina Matsuri at the Tokugawa Art Museum Many priceless dolls and toys used by princesses from the Edo period (1603-1867) will be on display at the Tokugawa Art Museum. When February 8 (Sat.) through April 6 (Sun.) 10AM 5PM. The museum is closed on Mondays. Where Tokugawa Art Museum (Higashi-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the city bus (Kikan Bus), get off at Tokugawaen-Shindeki and walk 3 minutes Tickets 1200 for adults, 700 for university and high school students, and 500 for junior high and elementary school students. Admission is free to elementary, junior high, and high school students on Saturdays. Hina Dolls of Chuma Asuke About 130 private houses in the Chuma area of Asuke will display various kinds of Hina dolls, totaling about 6,000 dolls in all. Asuke is a city near Korankei, which is also famous for its beautiful fall leaves. When February 8 (Sat.) through March 9 (Sun.) Where Community centers and houses in Chuma (Asuke-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken) Directions By bus: Take the Meitetsu bus to Korankei, a 70-minute trip from Meitestu Higashi Okazaki Station By car: Drive on the Sanage Green Road to the Chikaraishi IC and head east on Route 153 for about 10km. Hina Doll Tour in Seto Seto City has been a center of pottery and porcelain manufacturing in Japan for the past 1300 years. Shops will display pottery, ceramics, and glass hina Dolls for Hina Matsuri. In a complex facility in the city center, Setogura, a hinamid, a pyramid consisting of about 650 hina dolls is on display. Antique hina dolls of the Edo Era (1603-1867) will also be displayed. When Through March 9 (Sun.) Where SETOGURA and surrounding areas (Seto-shi, Aichi-ken) Directions Take the Meitetsu Seto Line from Sakae Station to Owari Seto Station and walk 5 minutes. Info 0561-85-2730 2
2. Traditional Events Setsubun Beans of Setsubun Setsubun is a lunar New Year s Eve event marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and is celebrated on February 3 rd every year. It is celebrated in Japan by throwing beans to chase away evil oni, or ogres. Once the oni are driven away, happiness is free to make its way into homes. The phrase Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! ( Get out, ogre! Come in, happiness! ) is shouted when throwing the beans. In Nagoya, you can see ceremonies like this at various shrines and temples. All events are on February 3 rd (Mon.) Bean Scattering Iwazu Tenjin Shrine Okazaki-shi, Iwazu-cho When 1PM-5PM Directions Get off at JR Okazaki Station or Meitetsu Higashi-Okazaki Station, transfer to a bus to Iwazu Tenjin-guchi bus stop and walk 8 minutes. Info 0564-45-2525 Inuyama Naritasan Inuyama-shi When 9AM-4PM Directions Take the Meitetsu Inuyama Line to Inuyama-Yuen Station and walk 10 minutes. Info 0568-61-2583 3
Osu Kannon Naka-ku, Nagoya When 10AM-5PM Directions Take Tsurumai Subway Line to Osu Kannon Station Info 052-231-6525 Kasadera Kannon Minami-ku, Nagoya When 9AM-5PM Directions A 3-minute walk from Meitetsu Main Line, Motokasadera Station or a 20-minute walk from JR Kasadera Station. Info 052-821-1367 Ryusenji Temple Moriyama-ku, Nagoya When 9AM-6PM Directions Take the Guideway bus from Ozone Station on the JR, Meitetsu, Meijo Subway Lines to Ryusenji-guchi bus stop and walk 3 minutes, or take the city bus bound for Moriyama from Meitetsu Obata Station to Obata-ryokuchi and walk 7 minutes Info 052-794-3647 Arako Kannon Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya When 10AM-5PM (Intermission 12PM-1PM) Directions Take Higashiyama Subway Line to Takabata Station and walk 10 minutes or Aonami Line to Arako Station and walk 10 minutes. Info 052-361-1778 The Memorial Service for Needles This is a traditional event to appreciate needles used over the past year and pray for improved needlework. Participants visit a shrine to thank them by sticking needles into something soft such as tofu or konnyaku. Most participants are students of dressmaking schools and professional dressmakers. There is a custom of not using needles on that day. When February 8 (Sat.) 11AM-1PM Where Wakamiya Hachimangu Shrine (Naka-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Meijo Subway Line to Yaba-cho Station and walk three minutes Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival) The annual Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Man Festival, will be held at Konomiya Shrine in Inazawa City. Since 767, this festival has been held since 767 to bring good luck and rid the town of evil. One man is chosen as the Naked Man (shin otoko) and he spends the whole day 4
naked with thousands of men dressed in only loin cloths and tabi. The men excitedly scuffle with each other trying to touch the Naked Man to get rid of the evil. It s a traditional event that draws thousands of people. When Where February 12 (Wed.) 3PM~ Konomiya Shrine (or Owari Okuni Tama Jinja) (Konomiya in Inazawa-shi, Aichi-ken) Directions Take the Meitetsu Main Line to Konomiya Station and walk three minutes from the north exit, or take the JR Line to Inazawa Station and walk 15 minutes. Kacchindama Festival According to the legend, a lady gave a newborn baby its first bath in purified water from the spring near Rokusho Shrine on February 26 th. This event is held every year, in the hopes of having easy delivery in childbirth. There are many stalls along the approach to the shrine; the most popular one sells Kacchindama (a candy about 10 centimeters in diameter with various colors and patterns). It is said that the shape of the candies represents an umbilical cord. When February 26 (Wed.) 9AM-5PM Where Rokusho Shrine (Higashi-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Meijo Subway Line to Ozone Station and walk for 10 minutes or get off at City bus Kodeki-machi Bus Stop and walk 5 minutes 3. Circus & Movie Clown! Clown! Clown! 2014 All of the members of Clown Family Pleasure B! come together once a year for this festive performance. Over 20 unique characteristic clowns will put on various performances such as dance, juggling, pantomime and circus performance to show us the power of laughter! When February 14 (Fri.) 7PM (1st floor seats only) February 15 (Sat.) & 16 (Sun.) 11AM & 3PM Where Nagoya Performing Art Center (Higashi-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Higashiyama Subway Line to Shin-Sakae-Machi Station and walk three minutes to north Price 1st floor reserved seats: 2800 for both adults and children 3 years old and over 2nd floor non-reserved seats: 2300 for adults and 1800 for children 3 years old and over Info http://pleasure-p.co.jp/plea_b/index.html Masterpiece Movie Series Charade The Minami Bunka Mini Theater is showing classic movies once every 2 months for one coin (500 yen). The upcoming movie is Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn s Charade. When February 18 (Tue.) 1:30PM Where Minami Bunka Mini Theater (Minami-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Meijo Subway Line to Horita Station, Exit No.3 and change to Kikan Bus No.1 to the Chikama-dori 2chome bus stop Price 500. All seats are non-reserved. Tickets are available at the Bunka Mini Theaters of each ward. There will be no same day tickets if advanced tickets are sold out. Info The next movie will be Waterloo Bridge shown on April 15 th. 5
Kinoshita Circus The Circus is coming to town! The Kinoshita Circus is celebrating its 111th year. Let's go and enjoy thrills and adventures. You will see white lions, trapeze artists, clowns, zebras & giraffes, a cute elephant show, and much more. When February 22 (Sat.) through May 19 (Mon.) Monday to Wednesday: 11AM and 1:40PM Friday: 1PM and 3:40PM Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays: 10:20AM, 1PM, and 3:40PM. No performances on March 5, April 9, May 7 and Thursdays Where Port Messe Nagoya parking lot (Minato-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Aonami Line to Kinjofuto Station and walk west 300 meters Price 2800 for adults, 1800 for children from 3 years old to junior high school students. Advanced tickets are 2600 and 1600 respectively Info http://www.kinoshita-circus.co.jp/htmls/sche/sche-02.htm 4. Exhibitions Toyota Automobile Museum The first Publica went on sale in 1961 and was TOYOTA s compact car of the people. The following year, the Publica Sport was shown at the All Japan Motor Show and led to the development of TOYOTA SPORT 800. Known as a fabled sports car, the Publica Sport is the focal point of this exhibition, reproduced in perfect condition using the original production process. When Through April 6 (Sun.) 9:30AM-5PM. Closed on Mondays. Where Toyota Automobile Museum Special Exhibition Room, Main Bldg. 2F (Nagakute, Aichi) Directions Take the Higashiyama Subway Line to Fujigaoka Station, change to the Linimo Line, get off at Geidai Dori Station, and walk from Exit 1 Price 1000 for adults, 500 for aged 65 and over, 600 for high school and junior high school students, 400 for elementary school students Info www.toyota.co.jp/museum/data_e/c04_01.html Discount coupon on the website and flyer. Divisionism from Van Gogh and Seurat to Mondrian Based on the theme of Divisionism, this exhibition examines Impressionist division of tones, a Neo-Impressionist technique led by Seurat, and how artists of following generations opened their eyes to new possibilities of color. Approximately 90 works from the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, renowned for its tremendous collection of Van Gogh, as well as selections from collections in Japan will be on display. When February 25 (Tue.) April 6 (Sun.) 10AM-6PM (8PM on Fridays). The exhibition is closed on March 3 and 17. Where Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art at Aichi Arts Center 10F (Higashi-ku, Nagoya) Access A 3-minute walk from the Sakae Station on the Higashiyama or Meijo Subway Lines Price Advanced tickets: 1200 for adults, 800 for high school and university students, Free for junior high and elementary school students 6
Info (Tickets at the door are an additional 200 each) http://www-art.aac.pref.aichi.jp/exhibition/next_index.html 5. Music Toyota City Concert Hall Series Vol.1 The city of Toyota s pride, its fabulous concert hall is hosting a new series you won t hear anywhere else. The commemorative first performance welcomes conductor Tadaaki Otaka and pianist Tomoki Kitamura, performing an all-nordic program of J. Sibelius Finlandia, Op.26; E. Grieg Piano Concerto A minor, Op.16; J. Sibelius Symphony No.2 in D minor, Op.43 When Where Access Price February 1 (Sat.) 4PM (Doors open at 3:15PM) Toyota City Concert Hall (Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken) A 3-minute walk from the Toyota-Shi Station on the Tsurumai Subway Line or the Mikawa Meitetsu Line. Or a 5-minute walk from the Shin-Toyota Station on the Aichi Loop Line. 1F seat 5000, 2F balcony seat 3000,Y seat 1000 (Y seats are same-day tickets available to youth under 24 years old) Season Subscription Concert Series Gaia The theme for this season of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra s subscription concert series is Gaia. This performance focuses on music expressing Water expressions of the sea and the beginning of life. The concert will be conducted by Martin Brabbins, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra Chief Conductor. The program will be F. Bridge, The Sea; D. Fujikura, Mina, Concerto for 5 Soloists and Orchestra; A. Bruckner Symphony No.4 in E flat major Romantic. When February 21 (Fri.) 6:45PM and 22 (Sat.) 4PM Where Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, Concert Hall (Higashi-ku, Nagoya) Access Take the Higashiyama or Meijo Subway Line to Sakae Station and walk 3 minutes Price S 7000, A 6000, B 5000, C 4000, Y 1000 (Y seats are same-day tickets available to youth under 24 years old) Info www.nagoya-phil.or.jp 7
6. Flowers Flower Marché This venue is filled with lots and lots of cut flowers and potted flowers! There will be about 100 shops selling cosmetics, food, clothing made from flowers, garden supplies, fertilizer, and more. You can enjoy a lot of events such as hands-on flower arrangement, café and flower competition. When February 6 (Thu.) through 9 (Sun.) 9:30AM-5PM Where Fukiage Hall (Chikusa-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Sakura-dori Subway line to Fukiage Station and walk 5 minutes from Exit 5 Price 1000 (includes 500 in-store credit) 600 (admission only) Free for high school students and under Info http://www.flowermarche.com/ Plum Festival (Ume Matsuri) Plum blossoms are the first flowers to bloom early in spring, after the cold winter. Various kinds of plum trees can be enjoyed from late February to early March. Some places will also hold an event or a festival during this time. 8
Nagoya City Nogyo ( Agriculture ) Center (700 plum trees of 12 different kinds of weeping plum blossoms) Weeping plum blossoms are beautiful with their hanging branches. Why not take a walk around the garden and see and smell the fragrant plum blossoms? Children can enjoy playing with livestock raised at the center. Don t miss the fresh milk and homemade ice cream! When February 25 (Tue.) through March 23 (Sun.) 9AM-4:30PM Where Nagoya City Nogyo Center (Tempaku-ku, Nagoya) Directions Take the Tsurumai Subway Line to Hirabari Station and walk 20 minutes, or take the city bus to Araike and walk for 7 minutes (During the festival, parking is expected to fill quickly and will cost 500 yen from March 1) Tickets Free Info 052-801-5221 Souri Pond (4,600 plum trees of 25 different kinds) Souri Pond is a man-made pond 13 times larger than the Nagoya Dome. You can take a walk around it while enjoying plum trees in full bloom. There will also be various events on Saturdays & Sundays during the festival and the Play Park will be open. When February 15 (Sat.) through March 16 (Sun.) 9AM-5PM Where Souri Pond (Chita-shi, Aichi-ken) Directions By bus: Take the Meitetsu Tokoname Line to Asakura Station, get on the Chita Bus bound for Souri to Ume-no-Yakata-guchi, and walk five minutes. By car: Take the Chita Peninsula Road to Agui IC and drive 15 minutes west. Info 0562-54-2911 (Ume no Yakata) Bairin Park (1,300 plum trees of 50 different kinds) There will be stage shows, a sketching competition and more during the festival. In the park there will be a playground for children to play on and a steam locomotive on display. When March 15 (Sat.) and 16 (Sun.) Where Bairin Park (Bairin-minami-machi, Gifu-shi, Gifu-ken) Directions Take the Meitetsu to Shin-Gifu Station and get on the bus at No. 6 bus stop, or take the JR to Gifu Station and get on the bus at No. 13 or 14 bus stop to Bairinkoen-mae for 10 minutes, and then walk 3 minutes. Info https://www.facebook.com/bairin.gifu.japan 7. Living Information National Foundation Day (National Holiday) February 11 th (Tue.) is National Foundation Day. According to the old history books, it is the anniversary of the first emperor s enthronement. Spring-Hay Fever Spring is on its way, but along with the delights of the warmer weather, come seasonal allergies or kafunsho, caused by the increase of cedar and cypress pollen in the air. There are a few things you can do to lessen the affects of pollen. Wear masks and glasses to keep pollen out of your nose and eyes, gargle when you can, wash your hands, and consider 9
using a nasal washing device and/or medication. Don t leave windows open, clean your room regularly, and vacuum your futon after bringing it in from outside. If your allergies become serious, you may want to see a doctor. The Nagoya International Center (NIC) has a list of English speaking doctors available. Thank you and have a great month! As always, you can download our podcast from the NIC website and ask more information by telephone: 052-581-0100. 10