tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52261462011-11-17T04:24:32.576+09:00The Tokyo Happy Funtime Showjlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comBlogger1411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1082542445693579202004-04-21T19:14:00.000+09:002004-04-21T19:18:05.216+09:00

If you were a regular reader, and not necessarily for the events, you can e-mail me for my other blog address. It isn't the Super-Secret Blog I keep talking about here, but rather a new not-nearly-as-impressively-secret blog that's also open to my Tokyo acquaintances. It'll be my main weblog from now on. And the Super-Secret Blog will just be used for when I want to talk shit about you guys. Just

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1080035078254738372004-03-23T18:44:00.000+09:002004-03-23T18:48:45.293+09:00

"Fancy plans...and pants to match." I keep meaning to abandon this weblog because no one really uses it. Except me. But let's face it: I'd do just as well writing all this information on the back of old receipts as I would posting it here. And at least it'd be portable. So if this is my last post, let it match my first. The Image Forum Festival is coming back. There isn't much info there right

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1079511320194272652004-03-17T17:15:00.000+09:002004-03-17T17:34:46.936+09:00

film Freak show. The Curse of the Elephant Man will be screened at Uplink Factory [map] on the 22nd and 23rd of next week. I have to see it because it reminds me of my brother. Then again everything reminds me of my brother; his interests are wide and varied. But in this case, I remember a book he had (and I coveted) on freaks. We'd flip through the pages, gasp at the pictures, guffaw at the

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1079428262634543092004-03-16T18:11:00.000+09:002004-03-16T18:14:14.543+09:00

nothing No news today because I've spent all day staring at the Coachella Music Festival site and cursing them for this killer line-up. I don't think it's safe to have all that talent in one place. An earthquake could swallow that particular part of California some time around the 1st or 2nd of May, and then where would we be? We'd have to look to second-rate musicians for inspiration. Avril

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1079081700600125202004-03-12T17:55:00.000+09:002004-03-12T18:04:37.840+09:00

film The good news: From the 20th to the 28th of this month, a digital film festival will be screening seven features and eleven shorts by independent filmmakers from around the world. The bad news: The festival is all the way in Dasaitama and the weekday schedules were made for people who don't have day jobs. The SKIP CITY International D-Cinema Festival will cater its language requirements

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1078988074982062162004-03-11T15:54:00.000+09:002004-03-12T10:18:14.576+09:00

books This is neato mosquito. BookCrossing is a project that tracks the adventures of books around the world. Participants register books from their personal library, strategically leave them somewhere (on a train going out of town, on a park bench, etc.) and cross their fingers for the book to find a new appreciative reader. Hopefully, the new reader will see the BookCrossing ID, visit the site

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1078909373669542902004-03-10T18:02:00.000+09:002004-03-11T11:28:28.280+09:00

film Feeling restless. Just the facts because I'm sick of myself (unlike most days, har). You know what would make me feel better right about now? A film about murderers. It's rare to come across a James Benning film; his work has never been made available on VHS or DVD. But on 11 April, Landscape Suicide will be screened through Image Forum's Cinematheque. The piece examines the

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1078826043000370812004-03-09T18:54:00.000+09:002004-03-09T18:57:05.140+09:00

event I feel myself getting stupider and stupider, just like in Flowers for Algernon except minus that part about becoming super-smart first and having an impressive peak from which to fall. I had to look up St. Patrick's Day because I forgot when it was. Anyway. Did you know that I'm part Irish? It's true. But just barely. My mom's mom's dad was Irish and my mom's mom's mom was Chinese. They

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1078719297061165812004-03-08T16:02:00.000+09:002004-03-08T16:02:06.390+09:00

stage Get ready for another geek-out: Da-da-daaaa DA! Da-da da-da da-daah! Quick! Guess what song that is. Quitter. It's the beginning of the Overture from Candide, composed by the lovely and talented Leonard Bernstein. I love that operetta. Love. It. I'm not talking about the dialogue. It's crap. The original script, written by Lillian Hellman, was met with pans and was replaced years later

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1078468028601551282004-03-05T15:27:00.000+09:002004-03-05T16:01:04.936+09:00

dandy and moses I've been swamped with work all week, so I've got nothing but babble for you. Sorry. I found out that, if you go to Google, type in "pictures of Jesus's tomb" (sans quotes) and hit "I'm feeling lucky," you get swept on a magic carpet ride to me. How weird is that? Well, not that weird, considering. Now that I've brought it up, I should note that you can get information about the

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1077872074146371142004-02-27T17:54:00.000+09:002004-02-27T18:13:38.013+09:00

music When you see the words "International Women's Day," what comes to mind? What do you do? Do you roll your eyes? Guffaw? Giggle nervously? Shrug? Spend more than five minutes trying to figure out whether it's "an international day for women" or "a day for international women"? It's an honest question. While I consider myself a feminist, my reaction ranges from a mental cringe to a curious

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1077789511554111202004-02-26T18:58:00.000+09:002004-02-27T10:08:12.860+09:00

film In March and April, L'Institut franco-japonais de Tokyo hopes to give the public a glimpse into Arab culture with their film programs Regard sur le Monde arabe and Vidéo-Documentaires sur le Monde arabe. Among those in the first program is Les Yeux Secs (a.k.a. Cry No More), a Moroccan film by Narjiss Nejjar shown as part of the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes last year. It's the story of

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1077518253689145252004-02-23T15:37:00.000+09:002004-02-23T15:40:16.186+09:00

demonstration On an old e-zine (that I recently found out is no longer online...bastards), I once joked, "If we had world peace, what would happen to the film industry?" It made sense at the time. And even now, I wouldn't so much say that I am for world peace as I am anti senseless violence and irresponsible world domination. So anyway, I got this link from Sakka who left a comment for the last

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1077164994538446812004-02-19T13:29:00.000+09:002004-02-19T13:34:46.076+09:00

else Nothing to do with a Happy Funtime Show, but I'm just noting that I finally removed the Dean links from the right column upon his announcement that he's giving up the race. It's about freaking time, I know. He's been an easy target for the media and his opponents for months. But he was the closest I ever came to trusting a U.S. presidential candidate from one of the two major parties. And I

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1077091543696504442004-02-18T17:05:00.000+09:002004-02-18T17:42:23.560+09:00

theatre The next RSC show to hit Tokyo will be Othello in April. And check this out: no black-face. The very same production that is currently selling out every night at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon stars Sello Maake ka Ncube as Othello and Sir Anthony Sher as Iago. Both South African actors are more than familiar with the concept of racism-fueled hatred, and both claim that that

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1076644112437178582004-02-13T12:48:00.000+09:002004-02-13T12:51:01.233+09:00

film Early next month, the Image Forum will be holding the trilingual festival Korean Independent Cinema 2004 at their theatre in Shibuya. Among the films being shown are two from twin brothers Kim Gok and Kim Sun, "possibly the most interesting and adventurous `experimental` film-makers currently working in East Asia." Information on Anti-Dialectic and Time Consciousness can be found here.

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1076059603136271712004-02-06T18:26:00.000+09:002004-02-06T18:29:03.216+09:00

music Clearly I lack the ability to concentrate on work today. Two reminders to myself: 1) Aiha Higurashi will be playing at Shibuya Club Quattro on the 18th of this month; and 2) Shonen Knife will be playing at Club Que in Shimokitazawa on the 21st. The more I think about leaving this fine city of ours, the more I say things to myself like, "I really should see Shonen Knife live while I'm

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1076032360441200082004-02-06T10:52:00.000+09:002004-02-06T10:57:31.530+09:00

film I've never been to one of these things before, but he has. Film Marmalade will be screening independent short films at the Pink Cow this weekend. Ellie clued me in since I haven't been paying attention to anything outside of my own space bubble recently. Hell, I haven't even been to the Pink Cow since before they relocated. But I do have a thing for independent and amateur film-making,

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1075973229590843722004-02-05T18:27:00.000+09:002004-02-05T18:29:28.450+09:00

music I am showing my support for Niihama by going to see Lunkhead at Shinjuku Loft on the 12th. Wanna come? I spent New Year's vacation in Niihama two years in a row because I have friends who grew up there, one of whom is the boyfriend of Sara, my closest friend in Japan. It's a quiet little town, so we never did much beyond watch TV and check out the local Jusco. One year, we made sock

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1075348842982582852004-01-29T13:00:00.000+09:002004-02-05T18:50:31.763+09:00

music Nervousness has suddenly hit me and I'm about to pass out. I'm going to have to do this weird acting thing this weekend, and as I was just telling a friend, I'm afraid of falling off the stage or completely blanking out or accidentally coming out naked. Any number of mishaps could happen! Think about it! The fun starts tomorrow. If you decide last minute that you want to witness the

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1074851868765013252004-01-23T18:57:00.000+09:002004-01-23T18:59:49.950+09:00

film A continuation of those Uplink Gallery films from the previous post. Program B (February 4, 6, 8, 10) From the Journals of Jean Seberg Obviously I haven't seen this one yet, but the fact that someone is playing the role of the subject of this documentary...gives me pause. Then again, what gullible soul would assume that all documentaries are purely non-fiction? Mark Rappaport gives us his

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1074673265196860512004-01-21T17:21:00.000+09:002004-01-21T18:03:34.936+09:00

film From the 3rd to the 11th of February, Uplink Gallery in Waseda Tsurumakicho [map] will be featuring eight documentaries to screen (at scheduled times) or to view via iBOOK and headphones at any time during the gallery's open hours (one or two viewers at a time, excluding the Joe Coleman film). And all for the price of at least one drink from their cafe. Films are as follows. Program A (

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1074486057808138732004-01-19T13:20:00.000+09:002004-01-19T13:22:53.903+09:00

theatre I may as well come out with it now: Proof. The winner of the Pulitzer Prize and numerous Tony Awards in 2001 (even beating out Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love for best play), Proof received raves from the New York rags and some mixed reviews from London. At best, it's been called masterly, compelling and brilliant. At worst? Patronizing and derivative. Yet I can't help but wonder

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1074150409513227752004-01-15T16:06:00.000+09:002004-01-19T10:27:38.076+09:00

opera Tickets have already gone on sale for the New National Theatre's production of Richard Strauss's Salome. I'm sure you know it. Due to its scandalous subject matter, Salome shocked Europe when it was first performed in Dresden, in 1905. The scene of Salome kissing the freshly severed head and extraordinarily tense music were so new and sensuous that the opera was prohibited from being

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1073636796991738562004-01-09T17:26:00.000+09:002004-01-09T17:29:06.780+09:00

event Guestblogged something yesterday at On Gaien Higashi Dori. Oh, and check this out: the Tokyo International Arts Festival - The Eurasia Festival. From 12 February to 28 March, TIF will be presenting performances by theatre groups and dance troupes from Europe and Asia. This year, there'll be three shows from Middle Eastern theatre companies. And even if you can't understand the Arabic or

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1073264776086540382004-01-05T10:06:00.000+09:002004-01-05T10:24:56.043+09:00

audition Happy McNew Year, my pretties. I can't quite recall how I spent New Year's Eve, but it had something to do with smoke, lights and mediocre music. Drinking champagne out of the bottle. Firecrackers. Cab rides. A dark room. Lots of waiting around. First meal of the year? Breakfast at McDonald's. I know. I'm ashamed of myself for supporting The Corporation. Let's hope none of this is

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1072426720173211242003-12-26T17:18:00.000+09:002003-12-26T17:21:56.296+09:00

art I hope everyone's holidays are going well. Last post of the year. I was serious about wanting to go to that Pervenche gig on the 28th, so I'm bringing it up again. Check my calendar for details and/or call me. When I return from vacation mode, I'd like to go to this. "Out the Window - Spaces of Distraction" is an exhibition of multimedia art with fifty-seven artists from Japan, China and

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1071824484373725392003-12-19T18:01:00.000+09:002003-12-19T18:28:35.076+09:00

crap Oh hell no. You want to see a picture of the Dandy? A very very bad picture? Here. Scroll down to the second item. I'm the one who looks heavily sedated (long, black hair). Yeah. Remember that audition notice I posted about "Proof"? I auditioned my own self and got cast as Catherine. I didn't even have to sleep with anyone. I was sort of conflicted about the whole thing: on the one hand, I

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1071737827744650012003-12-18T17:57:00.000+09:002003-12-18T17:58:22.280+09:00

dandy I'd say I've been a slacker for not updating, but that's not really true. I've been swamped since...well, September, but really really swamped for the past month or so. I've gained this weird twitch in my right eye because I've been getting little-to-no-sleep lately. I'm a freak! And because of my crazy schedule, I've had no free time to do other stuff and hence no motivation to look for

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1070868325377645952003-12-08T16:25:00.000+09:002003-12-08T16:28:15.030+09:00

film Note that the Avicon post has been updated. Also, there's this: the Southeast Asian Film Festival. It started on the 5th and will continue until the 14th at the Japan Foundation Forum, Akasaka Twin Tower. The linked sites are in Japanese, but an English description of the event can currently be found here. Tonight's the only night I can go, but they're showing An Army of Peace, a

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1070610622762733492003-12-05T16:50:00.000+09:002003-12-05T18:00:37.590+09:00

event Because of other plans, I don't know if I'm really going to this; I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about it. If you got the Japan Times today, there was a little "bulletin board" message on the bottom of the second page announcing "Bush's alleged Afghan war crimes face wrath of 'tribunal.'" According to a past article, Akira Maeda, a professor at Tokyo Zokei University "

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1070596962739155482003-12-05T13:02:00.000+09:002003-12-05T13:05:14.686+09:00

art It's been a while since I've been to Watarium for anything other than the downstairs shop. But they've got three exhibits running right now that I'd like to see, not the least of which is "I Love Art: part 7," displaying works by Keith Haring, Nam June Paik and Fabrice Hybert. Frankly, I don't know what the connection is, but ain't it grand? My fascination with both video art and weirdo

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1070505351018955252003-12-04T11:35:00.000+09:002003-12-04T11:43:54.750+09:00

music First thing's first. Yo La Tengo have still got it. (Er...that wasn't meant to be a pun...) They were great last night, with a stamina rivaling that of Jon Brion. They have one more performance tonight, so go if you can...even though they're sold out. Mind you, the Dandy does not condone buying from scalpers. However, the Dandy does condone sneaking in through the back, risking

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1070011906718998022003-11-28T18:31:00.000+09:002003-12-08T15:55:52.483+09:00

videoart Next month, Videoart Center Tokyo will be presenting Avicon 2003, an Asian Videoart Conference. I don't know about you, but videoart makes me laugh. It makes me giggle uncomfortably and squirm in my seat. Sometimes it makes me guffaw. Other times? Just smirk. But when it's good, really good, it makes me think. As you can tell from this web log, I'm very wordy, so I can appreciate when

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1069833178614104112003-11-26T16:52:00.000+09:002003-11-26T16:55:53.576+09:00

event So, you know Lenne Hardt? She's organizing a homeless benefit for tomorrow night at Bar Isn't It?...in that place I avoid like the plague, Roppongi. Anything for charity, right? Instead of the regular Tokyo Comedy Store show this week, Lenne, TCS comedians and other Tokyo-based performers (including Guy Perryman, Hakoita Bossa Nova Duo and Akaoni Daiko) will be taking the stage to raise

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1069398536530283042003-11-21T16:08:00.000+09:002003-11-25T15:21:49.826+09:00

Audition Help. I'm drowning in a sea of actors. And strange actor-type people. I just got this e-mail, and if you've been toying with the idea of trying out for a play, pay attention. The auditions for TIP's production of A.R. Gurney's "The Dining Room" are coming up in January. And the reason they're giving such an advanced notice is that the director is requesting two monologues for your

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1069214496631635722003-11-19T13:01:00.000+09:002003-11-20T12:00:00.560+09:00

music At Super Furries last night, Andrzej reminded me that I don't update much anymore. So here's me, rolling out of bed to post. Remember how I stalked the Lucksmiths? It was a good idea, and you're not going to get me to admit otherwise. For one thing, it got me out of the house. And for another, I was exposed to the music of Pervenche and My Pal Foot Foot. The latter brings fun Japan pop

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1068782149130688912003-11-14T16:45:00.000+09:002003-11-14T16:54:47.436+09:00

film Because of a friend's recommendation that I see more French films, I was just browsing the list of events at L'Institut Franco-Japonais Tokyo's site to see what was coming up. I didn't find any French films I'd like to see, but I did find a good piece of Japanese film noir. Akira Kurosawa's Nora Inu (or, as the French say, [exaggerated French accent] Un Chien Enragé [/exaggerated French

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1068176198447789572003-11-07T12:36:00.000+09:002003-11-07T12:50:33.996+09:00

Anhedonia... rears its flat, apathetic head. I'm busy, bored and completely numb all at the same time, so I can't work up any excitement over dandy things for this weblog. Yet for some inexplicable reason, I feel guilty for not really updating. Therefore, I've decided to post an excerpt from an old e-mail to my sister from August 2001 (titled "It's Martyrlicious!"), after I visited Christon Cafe

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067936256692892422003-11-04T17:57:00.000+09:002003-11-04T17:57:51.606+09:00

dandy Just a small shout out to Kim of 35 Degrees and Matt of opinios. We met by pure chance last week (we have a non-blogging friend in common) and I wanted to tell Kim I knew who she was, but I didn't want to creep her out or anything. They're both really cool, fun people, and I hope to see them again before they leave. (I seem to have made a habit of meeting "cool, fun people" just before

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067933177208089582003-11-04T17:06:00.000+09:002003-11-04T17:34:22.280+09:00

audition Okay, well, this isn't really an audition, per se. But then again it kind of is. Tokyo International Players is looking for directors for next season (2004-2005). So if you have an idea for a play or musical that you'd like to direct, please go here for details. You can submit as many shows as your little heart desires; just make sure to do it before the interview dates specified on

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067931915862444512003-11-04T16:45:00.001+09:002003-11-04T18:31:30.653+09:00

theatre I'll tell you a secret if you promise not to laugh. Okay? You have to promise because it's kind of embarrassing and I don't know if I want this to get around. So, okay? You ready? Here it goes. I like showtunes. Shut up. I do. I like them a lot. The cheesier, the better. The floppier, the more awesome. In fact, if the show just barely made it past previews despite a whole lot of hype,

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067593006787043702003-10-31T18:36:00.000+09:002003-10-31T19:23:55.420+09:00

music It seems like I don't pay that much attention to Japanese music, doesn't it? I guess that's mostly true. Can't develop enough patience for J-Pop. But I do wander into live houses every now and again to see what the kids are doing with their time. Last Sunday it was KIASMA vol. 8 at Basement Bar in Shimokitazawa, and despite the heavy smoke that stuck to my skin and attacked my eyeballs,

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067584045471184532003-10-31T16:07:00.000+09:002003-10-31T16:08:11.903+09:00

travel update You know that Ten Commandments stone I mentioned way back in June as part of the Grand Religious Tour of Japan? Apparently, they only wheel that sucker out once a year during their shrine's big autumnal festival. Fortunately, that festival is coming up this weekend! Unfortunately, I just found out that "only special members" are allowed to see the stone and the shrine's other "

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067425659288508702003-10-29T20:07:00.000+09:002003-10-29T20:07:47.170+09:00

event This'll be quick. And if you're neither a U.S. voter nor interested in U.S. politics, don't bother. (But if you're a U.S. voter who still isn't interested, pay attention for once, Billy Bob.) Before my state's last gubernatorial election, I quite possibly gave the voters more credit than they deserved. "They're smarter than that," I told my Japanese friends. "There's no way in hell they'd

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067394483938401052003-10-29T11:28:00.000+09:002003-10-29T19:24:56.343+09:00

music Holy shit. Belle and Sebastian are coming back. I can't tell you how excited I am about that. I've been re-discovering them this past year and practically devoured "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" when it came out last month. (Er...it's possible to devour things with your ears, right? Never mind.) I just missed their California concerts and the scavenger hunts that preceded them by about a

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067310243043068282003-10-28T12:04:00.000+09:002003-10-28T12:18:01.450+09:00

music I don't know if he'll mind my mentioning this, but my friend Andrzej's playing a short set at Night-in-gales tonight from 9pm. It's sort of a last minute thing and he probably doesn't want to make a big "to do" about it. I just thought that, if I haven't seen you in a while, this would be a good excuse before I get good-and-busy preparing for the next play. I really like what I've heard of

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1067220103370855802003-10-27T11:01:00.000+09:002003-10-27T11:53:06.700+09:00

event I'm still in mourning, but I'm in mourning while trying to be a productive person. I've just about had it with this extended vacation I've been calling "living in Tokyo" and I'm a-fixin' to go to grad school. I've been considering U.K. universities because most programs only take a year of full-time studying, but my co-worker has also planted the idea of Australian universities in my head

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1066872942049976172003-10-23T10:35:00.000+09:002003-10-23T10:35:41.730+09:00

Elliott Goodbye, Elliott Smith. I loved you. I really did.

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1066099690196353572003-10-14T11:48:00.000+09:002003-10-17T15:30:09.663+09:00

film Remember how I whinged about how BOX Higashi-Nakano shut down just when we were getting to know each other? It was mostly for naught because Theater Pole Pole is still taking it upon themselves to fill our lives with indie film goodness at the exact same location. For most of this month, the late shows are "Rock Films," which are mostly concert films and documentaries featuring—what else?—

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1065416304691029942003-10-06T13:58:00.000+09:002003-10-07T14:02:58.370+09:00

music My sister thinks I'm weird. I can't tell you how disturbing that is to me. We grew up together; she's supposed to think I'm normal. In fact, when you're feeling like a bit of an outsider and holding back so as not to scare off other people, shouldn't you at least be able to find acceptance from those with whom you spent your childhood? Besides, my quirks aren't that weird. I mumble to

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1065153180561028492003-10-03T15:10:00.000+09:002003-10-03T15:42:03.883+09:00

video art How's your Japanese? On the 19th of this month Phaidros Cafe will be showing three works by Mako Idemitsu, a pioneer in the fields of experimental film and video art in Japan. Once upon a time I wasn't sure feminism even existed in this country, but of course I now see that Idemitsu's is just one of the many voices that provide evidence to the contrary. Don't let the description of

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1065003355715991322003-10-01T19:15:00.000+09:002003-10-02T14:50:46.153+09:00

theatre You know what I hate? I hate when entertainment writers use Shakespeare quotes to make dorky headlines. Like "All the World's a Stage!" or "The Play's the Thing!" But, um, yeah. The...uh...Play's the...um. Thing. This month, anyway. There are two English-language plays being performed in Tokyo in October. The first is TIP's production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, playing from the

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1064797667634423112003-09-29T10:07:00.000+09:002003-09-29T12:20:52.536+09:00

how high the dandy I am back and highly medicated, so I don't have anything for you today. After that long vacation, I was about to abandon this blog altogether because it seriously eats into the time at work that I like to reserve for daydreaming. But we seem to be over-staffed right now, so I guess I can do both. Thanks to my sister for driving me around L.A. (even though she made us leave

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1062404472108646612003-09-01T17:21:00.000+09:002003-09-01T18:27:05.780+09:00

film Those Athénée people made a liar out of me. Okay, this is the last post I'm writing before October. Athénée Français Cultural Center's contribution to the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival does indeed have a schedule. I'm none too sharp, so I don't know if I overlooked it or if they put it up recently, but here's the English version. Match the numbers to the ones on this

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1062400582001162752003-09-01T16:16:00.000+09:002003-09-02T14:41:25.743+09:00

music Three things. 1) I updated my FAQs. Sort of. It's still thoroughly dull though, and I have only myself to blame. 2) This'll be the last post I write before I throw myself into the fire-y abyss, or as people who aren't drama queens like to say, "before I go to L.A." Please do not break into my apartment while I'm away. (The roaches will attack.) And if my plane crashes, please do not read

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1061967448005861132003-08-27T15:57:00.000+09:002003-08-27T16:58:11.633+09:00

film I admit it. This has very little to do with Tokyo. Then again so did that Jesus and Moses thing, yet people still found it helpful. So just skip toward the end if you only want the Tokyo part. I want to go to the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival except that it's just a wee bit outside of town (read: freakishly far). The first of its kind in Asia, the YIDFF started in 1989

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1061867094095726522003-08-26T12:04:00.000+09:002003-08-26T19:25:31.500+09:00

audition The audition notices just came out for TIP's next two shows (after Blithe Spirit). The first is for a Children's Christmas Show to be performed at Tokyo American Club. The fact that TAC seems like some sort of hoity-toity expat cult might be enough to turn some people off. But I have to confess that I worked on the Christmas show the last two years (on crew), and despite my 1) fear of

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1061427682972032482003-08-21T10:01:00.000+09:002003-08-21T11:02:36.003+09:00

film I won't be in Tokyo on September 11th. But if you're feeling the need to commemorate that infamous anniversary with anti-war activists (you dirty, dirty hippy), there'll be a screening at Nakano Sun Plaza Hall [map] of Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times plus a recent interview with Chomsky. These will then be followed by a discussion with director John Junkerman, author and

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1061188683310877962003-08-18T15:38:00.000+09:002003-08-18T16:03:55.160+09:00

film Art porn? Art? Porn? There's been a lot of controversy surrounding Larry Clark's film Ken Park ever since its debut at the Telluride Film Festival last year. On the one hand, Clark, who also wrote and directed Kids, claims to be telling (or showing) it like it is—teens are sexually active, penises get erect and jism happens. While the film industry doesn't hesitate to show graphic violence

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1061173725799715452003-08-18T11:28:00.000+09:002003-08-18T12:18:15.576+09:00

music I'm fully aware that three of my last four posts are Australia-related. Purely coincidental, I assure you. Instead of seeing the Lucksmiths on the 16th and 18th, as I thought I would, I decided to just go on the 15th and leave it at that. I'm a busy girl. I can't very well go around seeing the same band more than once in a single week just for the hell of it, can I? Can I? Thing is, I

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1060919236452912122003-08-15T12:47:00.000+09:002003-08-15T17:02:19.093+09:00

event As I walk around Tokyo, I often stop and say to myself, "Dandy, I would like to be surrounded by even more people. Is that possible?" or "Where in the city can I go to be pushed around by an even denser crowd of strange sweaty bodies on all sides and feel that same frustration that I must have felt in the womb lo those many years ago?" Often, the answer is as simple as a free outdoor party

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1060743005756970422003-08-13T11:50:00.000+09:002003-08-13T14:25:01.876+09:00

art I heard that there are really big bugs in Australia. Is that true? A while ago, I noted that I had never met an Australian who was afraid of roaches. Faulty logic then led me to believe that the entire country was just crawling with them. Big black and red roaches. That probably fly. But then a Japanese friend who used to live there offered that they probably weren't afraid of roaches

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1060596631656311252003-08-11T19:10:00.000+09:002003-08-15T11:50:10.483+09:00

music I'm completely obsessed with Elliott Smith and that is why I'm going to see the Lucksmiths on Saturday. That makes no sense, I know. Bear with me. I was shirking my work duties and perusing Sweet Adeline on company time (recently designated as Smith's "official site"), when I noticed a post on the discussion board about the Lucksmiths. I don't know who the kids listen to these days, but

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1060331087685042452003-08-08T17:24:00.000+09:002003-08-08T17:33:44.263+09:00

film I can't believe I forgot all about Yebisu Garden Place's annual Summer Night Cinema (formerly "Star Light Cinema"). From 19 July to 31 August, they've been showing movies free of charge under the stars in the middle of the...er...place (you know, on that slopey thing—long week), but it's been raining, so I don't know how many of these screenings were cancelled. In any case, we still have

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1060155943491778652003-08-06T16:45:00.000+09:002003-08-06T16:47:00.210+09:00

food It pays to check out those tourist websites every once in a while because that's how I found out about Ice Cream City. Let me repeat myself. Ice Cream Motherfucking City. After the lovefest that is Gyoza Motherfucking Stadium, it's almost enough to make me want to kiss this consumerist society with my foul mouth. Ice Cream City recently opened at Namco Nanjatown [map]as an urban haven

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1059730500206565702003-08-01T18:35:00.000+09:002003-08-05T12:52:48.630+09:00

club I had decided that I hated going to clubs. At least in Tokyo anyway. On top of being really smokey, they're too crowded for dancing and too loud for making fun of the people trying to dance. Furthermore, I'm just not twenty-two anymore (and haven't been for a long time). The kids these days, they can stay up all night and shake their boyish hips where their "groove thang" is supposed to be.

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1059642537492651372003-07-31T18:08:00.000+09:002003-08-04T11:28:39.600+09:00

film From the 12th to the 20th of August Centre Culturel de L'Athenée Français [map] will be holding a series of seminars on works by German non-fiction filmmaker (and CalArts film professor...or is that dean?) Hartmut Bitomsky. Five of the seven films will be shown with English subtitles (the other two will have Japanese subtitles), and are as follows. DEUTSCHLANDBILDER (PICTURES OF GERMANY) (

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1059456733964199202003-07-29T14:32:00.000+09:002003-07-29T14:33:45.773+09:00

theatre Where's my head? I didn't see this until just today. The Oxford University Dramatic Society will be presenting their production of The Taming of the Shrew in cooperation with the British Council. Performed in English with Japanese supertitles, the play will start at 7 p.m. tonight (the 29th) and tomorrow at Setagaya Public Theatre (Theatre Tram), with a post-performance discussion.

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1059376895201992852003-07-28T16:21:00.000+09:002003-07-28T16:29:16.126+09:00

music This is just a reminder that Femi Kuti and the Positive Force are playing at Tokyo's Blue Note this week, with two shows per night until Wednesday. (It's quite odd that the Metropolis has them billed as "Femi Kuti and the Positive Voice" considering that they at least bothered to get the name right the last time the group was here.) In a sad effort to convince you that I'm right and

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1058948170570145932003-07-23T17:16:00.000+09:002003-07-23T18:26:17.750+09:00

music This is really weird. Just a few days ago, I clicked on the Pia link to check ticket sales for Kiri Te Kanawa at Suntory Hall. At that time, they were sold out. Now? Not sold out at all. There are tickets available at every price level if you still want to go. You are the luckiest boy and/or girl in the world.

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1058942018589403682003-07-23T15:33:00.000+09:002003-07-23T18:21:17.096+09:00

music Oh, hell yeah. It's almost that time again—time for the Rock'n'Roll Summit in Odaiba. If you are Stephanie or Steve, you're probably not reading this. But if by chance you are, then you'll remember that I couldn't go last year. I'm sure I had something pressing to do just then, like asbestos removal...I really can't remember. But no excuses this time! Once again, my favorite Japanese bad

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1058500932029323592003-07-18T13:02:00.000+09:002003-07-18T16:34:14.420+09:00

art Okay, don't ask. I don't know what happened to my template last night (in case anyone actually noticed), but I assume it's back to normal. Today's blog title comes courtesy of UltraBob, who used to think this thing was called "Mindy Daddy." I like it. I think it's got pizzazz. Like a Pimp Daddy, but with a certain winter freshness to it. I'm keeping it until the next time I update. On to

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1057893175655579152003-07-11T12:12:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:28:29.193+09:00

music Two of today's finest operatic voices will be ringing throughout Suntory Hall this fall, those of Maori soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and American baritone Thomas Hampson. I remember when I first started getting into opera. The music was great, and the sex and violence were scandalously good. But it was voices like these that really got me hooked--beautiful, strong and passionate all at the

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1057827330533186572003-07-10T17:55:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:29:34.376+09:00

music I think I have a problem. It's hard for me to admit to liking something that everyone else likes, even if the quality of that something has only changed for the better since I first started liking it. So now, seeing as a girl's got to grow up sometime, I'm just going to shrug off this pseudo-cool habit, take a huge leap in maturity and admit that, yes, yes, I like The White Stripes. There

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1057633510612776792003-07-08T12:05:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:30:09.146+09:00

dandy Just for the sake of a little housekeeping, the Tokyo Silverfish Playfest that I mentioned here has been postponed until further notice. Not enough actors, I'm guessing. Plenty of actresses, though. And the article for the horror discussion I mentioned here is in this week's issue of Pia, available at a blood-sucking convenience store near you...provided you live in Japan. Track one down

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1057571154806119022003-07-07T18:45:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:30:53.120+09:00

theatre "If there's one thing you can say about mankind/ There's nothing kind about man." It would seem that the Tom Waits fans in Tokyo are all on tight budgets. That's the best I could do to explain why the lower-priced tickets to Woyzeck are selling like hotcakes while all other tickets are selling like--what sells slowly?--lemon-flavored Pepsi, I suppose. If the moneybags only knew what

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1057290112927472062003-07-04T12:41:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:31:30.596+09:00

film Couldn't get enough of the Short Shorts Festival's Maestro series? The Pia Film Festival hears you. From the 12th to the 25th the festival will be showcasing works by filmmakers from around the world, not the least of which will be shown as part of their Kyoshotachi no First Step series. First Step takes a look at the earlier works of such directors as Akira Kurosawa, Roman Polanski, Martin

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1057142447034089262003-07-02T19:40:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:32:32.243+09:00

film How dare I not mention the 12th Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival? Slap my hand. Slap it, I said. From July 17th to the 21st the--oh crap. Crap! I'm going to be tracking down Moses and UFOs that weekend. Ack. The good news is that I still have the 17th and 18th to spare. The festival opens with Britney Baby, One More Time, a DV movie that follows a struggling filmmaker's

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-1056683362769931602003-06-27T12:09:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:33:00.766+09:00

trip (in more ways than one) Since people don't really read this or take my advice or anything, I figure I can do whatever the hell I want here. Right? Consider this a way for me to get the details straight and have them all in one convenient, accessible place. That in mind, I'd like to work out my upcoming Grand Religious Tour of Japan, courtesy of a former co-worker with similar interests.

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-958553192003-06-20T16:23:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:33:48.693+09:00

art It's a weekend of nightmares. Tomorrow evening, I'm taking part in an informal discussion for Pia Magazine on Japanese horror films and their Hollywood counterparts. After the (arguable) success of The Ring, two more Japanese horror films are slated for Hollywood remakes--Ju-on and Honogurai mizu no soko kara (aka Dark Water). We want to know how far frightening images and ideas can go to

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-958195412003-06-19T15:57:00.000+09:002003-08-06T14:11:04.486+09:00

audition I doubt that anyone reads this weblog for the audition notices, but...okay, what the hell? From TIP's mailing list: Audition call for major part (Francisco Xavier) in NHK's famous Sunday Night Drama to be aired in 2004. Shooting will be in mid September to October. Candidate must be a caucasian male who looks 35-45 years of age, and also 178-183 cm tall with dark hair. Audition takes

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-957804782003-06-18T14:20:00.000+09:002003-06-18T14:34:33.000+09:00

theatre/audition I don't know much about Tokyo Silverfish. It looks like a newcomer to the international theatre crowd, and a very welcome one at that. Not only do they nurture theatre artists in our area by conducting workshops on all stages of play production—from creation to performance—at little to no cost, they also provide an opportunity for said artists to showcase their talents, thus

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-957007562003-06-16T11:22:00.000+09:002003-07-22T16:38:08.500+09:00

music Have I told you how excited I am that Femi Kuti and the Positive Force are coming back to Tokyo? If you've heard of him, then you've certainly heard of his father. And if you've heard of neither, well, we've got to get you out more. Let me explain. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (his name literally means "he who emanates greatness, who has control over death and who cannot be killed by man") was

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-955433272003-06-11T19:11:00.000+09:002003-06-11T19:25:41.000+09:00

film I went to a few of the Short Shorts programs this past weekend and only really found disappointment in the Academy Shorts. Further proof that Academy Awards and approval of the masses mean nothing. That in mind, I think it's time for more Eurotrash! As I mentioned in an earlier post, Uplink Factory's Eurotrash Fuhoushuukai starts with splatter movies from North America. (I don't know how

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-955420492003-06-11T17:55:00.000+09:002003-06-11T18:17:05.000+09:00

audition Here's some audition info for NHK. This is just part of the e-mail that I got this morning; if you want to see the rest, please contact me. NHK is looking for: (1) Four Thai voices: One Thai male in his late 20's Two Thai males in their 50's One Thai female in her 50's (2) Four British voices: One British male in his late 20's Two

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-953491522003-06-06T09:36:00.000+09:002003-07-17T15:35:47.056+09:00

opera The opera production I want to see the most this year will be running while I'm out of the country...turning old. From September 14th to the 23rd Giuseppe Verdi's Aida will be at the New National Theatre, Tokyo in Shibuya, with tickets going on sale starting this Sunday (June 8). "Why is it so damn special?" you ask? Well, the production, set and costume design will all be done by

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-952305322003-06-03T19:12:00.000+09:002003-06-03T19:13:24.000+09:00

photography As further reminder of my inferiority as a photographer, the 2nd exhibition of Naked Tokyo will be held at Gallery ES in Omotesando this week (3-8 June). View your city through more than thirty pairs of eyes, "stripped down to its essentials" and, in some cases, not completely safe for work. (Damn online gallery. Damn lack-of-partitions.) The exhibition includes both printed and

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-951839932003-06-02T18:08:00.000+09:002003-06-02T18:16:28.000+09:00

film Just a reminder for this weekend, the descriptions for each program in the Short Shorts Film Festival 2003 can be found here. Match them up against the schedule provided in my previous entry if you're particular about the program you want to see. This would be especially helpful if you're at all interested in any of the Maestro Shorts since they tell you which big fancy-schmancy director's

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-951802742003-06-02T15:08:00.000+09:002003-06-04T12:58:23.000+09:00

opera Ned/Stanley: You're a dame and I'm a fella. Marge/Blanche: Stanley, stop, or I'll tell Stella. Ned/Stanley: All I want is one embrace. Marge/Blanche: I'll twist this bottle in your face. Okay, so Oh, Streetcar! it ain't, but that's got to be one good reason to see Andre Previn's opera version of A Streetcar Named Desire at the New National Theatre Tokyo this month. (Produced by the Tokyo

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-950191432003-05-29T12:11:00.000+09:002003-05-29T16:37:26.000+09:00

comedy I'm stalking one of the Comedy Store guys, per his request. This means that, after the British Embassy Choir's Friday concert in Kamiyacho I have to do cartwheels all the way down the Hibiya line to Footnik in Ebisu for the stand-up show Tokyo Cynics. Stalkee assures us that the show is now much better than when I first saw it well over a year ago, which I assume means that there will be

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-949684372003-05-28T11:21:00.000+09:002003-05-28T15:47:26.000+09:00

photography I love looking at other people's photographs. Did you know that June was Photography Month? Me neither. To commemorate that, from May 30 to June 1 (just over the weekend) the Photographic Society of Japan will be exhibiting photographs by 1000 people in the center plaza of Yebisu Garden Place [access]. Admission is free, of course, and it's not much of a time commitment, so we

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-949225612003-05-27T12:13:00.000+09:002003-05-27T16:15:07.000+09:00

dandy Does this template make me look fat? There are some screwy things going on with BlogSpot right now. So please excuse the mess while they get their shit together. I've been meaning to add Tokyo Comedy Store and Tokyo International Players to my "Check List." So here they are until BlogSpot starts accepting my changes. I'm kind of a comedy snob, so it's taken me a while to warm up to TCS,

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-948872182003-05-26T15:44:00.000+09:002003-05-27T16:17:20.000+09:00

theatre Arms, and the man I sing, who, forc'd by fate, And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate, Expell'd and exil'd, left the Trojan shore. Long labors, both by sea and land, he bore, And in the doubtful war, before he won The Latian realm, and built the destin'd town; His banish'd gods restor'd to rites divine, And settled sure succession in his line, From whence the race of Alban fathers

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-948823332003-05-26T12:51:00.000+09:002003-05-26T12:54:11.000+09:00

music Since I figure that I'm too old to be sitting in the wilderness, sharing portable toilets for days on end with a bunch of younger, sweatier, no-deodorant-wearing music lovers, and tending to my bee stings with my homemade emergency kit, I'm probably more of a Summer Sonic person than a Fuji Rock person. Summer Sonic sounds like Fuji Rock-lite. Half the fun, sure. But it's also less of a

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-947630662003-05-23T10:07:00.000+09:002003-06-06T09:56:03.000+09:00

hi there Yeah, uh...if you came here from the Metropolis article, I suspect they've got the wrong blog. There's no art or photography here, just suggestions for things to do around town, some of which may or may not have already been reported in Metropolis or some other widely available publication. Read my shoddily assembled FAQs if you want to know more. Might I suggest esthet? She seems much

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-947179942003-05-22T12:16:00.000+09:002003-05-22T16:16:28.000+09:00

theatre If you are me (and let's face it, if you're reading this blog, you probably are) you missed Hamlet last night. But instead of paying the 5000 yen to see the Kichijoji performance, you could see one of the less-publicized university performances for half (or 1/5) the price. There's a list on the One World site of all the shows throughout Japan, but there are only two shows left in our

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-946740532003-05-21T16:00:00.000+09:002003-05-21T16:52:34.000+09:00

film How about I just move into the Uplink Factory? That'd be okay, right? No one would mind? It's spacious, conveniently located, has lots of chairs and plenty of booze. What's more, I wouldn't need cable. Up until now, I have failed to mention that they've been showing the award-winning documentary Promises for weeks. Shot between 1995 and 2000, the film is a study of the Middle East conflict

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-946258382003-05-20T19:09:00.000+09:002003-05-20T19:09:38.386+09:00

film Bring on the Eurotrash. As part of Uplink Factory's Eurotrash festivities next month, they're dedicating one night to horror films. Whoo hoo! On June 28th, the "Splatter Movie Archives" will be featuring Terror Train and Communion (aka Alice, Sweet Alice), only one of which stars Jamie Lee Curtis. And both so bad they've gone past good and back to bad again. (Apologies to Ghostworld.) If

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5226146.post-946089862003-05-20T10:27:00.000+09:002003-05-20T10:32:19.000+09:00

play reading TIP Reads is a side project for Tokyo International Players to hold informal play readings at a member's house. The program is run by a professor at Aoyama Gakuin's English department, and the plays he chooses tend to be of the sort that TIP shies away from--quirky plays, political plays, lesser-known classics, or plays that are brilliant but might not draw a crowd. So perhaps it's

jlphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12862617425380441131noreply@blogger.com