From that circus to a lantern festival to an indie-rock concert, there’s something for everyone this week in Japan. If you’re planning or organizing something cool, send us an email to have your event listed here.
Monday: Circus juggernaut (Tokyo)
Photo: Martin Girard, Pierre Manning / shootstudio.ca © 2014 Cirque du SoleilCirque du Soleil Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities
Cirque de Soleil’s 35th production since 1984, Kurios was created for the 30th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil. Cabinets of curiosities are the ancestors of museums, also known as cabinets of wonder in Renaissance Europe. Aristocrats, merchants and early scientists formed collections of historical relics, works of art or mysterious travel souvenirs. Kurios is set in the time of the industrial revolution during the 19th Century. The Seeker is convinced that there exists a hidden world — a place where the craziest ideas await. A collection of otherworldly characters suddenly steps into his makeshift mechanical world and his curios jump to life before his very eyes.
When & Where
- Feb 19-July 8
- Various
- Odaiba Big Top, Tokyo - Map
- ¥4,500-¥13,500
Tuesday: Illuminated heritage (Nagasaki)
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
First started by Chinese residents of Nagasaki to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Nagasaki Lantern Festival is a major seasonal tradition illuminating the Kyushu city’s winter. The event spans 15 days of activities, centered on over 15,000 Chinese lanterns in Shinchi Chinatown, Hama-ichi, Kankodori Arcade as well as other parts of the city. Highlights include a procession reenacting the arrival of Chinese crews, an emperor’s parade, dragon dance and lion dances plus acrobatics and music performances.
When & Where
- Feb 20-March 4
- 5-10 p.m.
- Nagasaki - Map
- Free
Wednesday: Here’s your plan (Tokyo)
Makoto Aida “Ground No Plan”
“Visions of the City — Obayashi Foundation Research Program” gives artists the opportunity to make proposals for innovative or ideal cities. As the first grant recipient, Makoto Aida, a Japanese artist who deals with everything from nymphets, the erotic and grotesque to war, violence and politics, and who has been scathingly critical of contemporary Japanese society, was selected. Aida makes use of various media, including conceptual drawings, scale models, paintings, installations, film and texts to depict the future city and landscapes that he envisions.
When & Where
- Feb 21-24
- 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
- Aoyama Crystal Bldg., Tokyo - Map
- Free
Thursday: Indie-rock eminence (Tokyo)
Father John Misty
Onetime Fleet Foxes drummer and indie megastar Father John Misty returns to Japan for a two-date tour. The artist formerly known as J. Tillman has blossomed into one of the world's most prominent singer-songwriters since leaving Fleet Foxes, with his 2017 release "Pure Comedy" winning rave reviews and hoisting its creator to festival main stages, including last summer’s Fuji Rock Festival.
When & Where
- Feb 22
- 8 p.m.
- Tsutaya O-East, Tokyo - Map
- ¥7,000
Friday: Hoist a leg (Osaka)
Lark with guest DJ Andy Kolwes
House and techno producer Andy Kolwes is a passionate vinyl player and collector and loves playing on a gut level, hunting for that special moment, always juggling between the deepest shades of electronic music. The Englishman has won plays from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos and Sammy Dee, and arrives to helm the Friday night wheels of steel at ever-dependable Osaka nightclub Circus.
When & Where
- Feb 22
- 11 p.m.-5 a.m.
- Circus Osaka - Map
- ¥2,500
Saturday: Saturday: Get springy (Fukuoka)
Spring Festival in Fukuoka
Chinese New Year celebrations are in full swing in Hakata, where Canal City Hakata will be decorated in Chinese colors as part of festivities that include tasty cuisine samplings and various attractions and events. Among the latter are a Mongolian song and dance show and a popular karaoke competition where non-Japanese people can test out their singing voices.
When & Where
- Feb 24-25
- 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- B1F Sun Plaza Stage, Canal City Hakata - Map
- Free
Sunday: VR space odyssey (Tokyo)
Megastar Journey
Tokyo Tower is reinventing itself to take on Tokyo Skytree, and among its new attractions is a VR-powered space journey. The experience is the brainchild of planetarium genius Takayuki Ohira, whose ABAL system allows the audience to not only walk around in the VR content freely but also touch real objects and high-five with multiple people during the performance. The show revolves around a mysterious “Time Space Elevator” made secretly by a genius scientist, Dr. Ohirada, 60 years ago and found deep beneath Tokyo Tower.
When & Where
- Feb 25-April 9
- 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Tokyo Tower - Map
- ¥1,800
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