From world-changing album art to temple flea markets to sake tastings and film, there’s something for everyone this week in Japan! If you’re doing something cool, leave us a comment or send us an email to have your event listed.
Monday: Japan meets Norway
VeVe Japan Tour
Oslo-based Japanese vocalist Seshen and Norwegian percussionist Magnus Sefaniassen Eide are Veve, a duo that is in Japan for a week-long tour. Since spring 2014, the two musicians from different cultural, personal and musical backgrounds have been meeting to explore different artistic approaches and weave them together in music inspired by nature.
When & Where
- June 19
- 7:30 p.m.
- Shichoshitsu, Tokyo - Map
- ¥3,000
Tuesday: Culture through the lens of album art
Records That Changed the World
Culled from a 240,000-strong record collection at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, this exhibition explores the history of the album jacket since the birth of the LP in 1948. The curators posit the graphic design and photography that adorned these records as a force that expressed the fashion of the latter half of the 20th century.
When & Where
- June 20-July 22
- 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Grand Front Osaka Knowledge Capital Event Lab - Map
- Free
Wednesday: Find a treasure
Kobo-san Market
Kyoto’s temples aren’t merely places of worship, but active community centers. Among the city’s various temple flea markets, the Kobo-san Market at World Heritage Site To-ji is one of the most interesting. Held every 21st or the first Sunday of the month, the market named for Buddhist saint Kobo Daishi offers all sorts of Japanese bric-a-brac and curios. Rub shoulders and vie for bargains here with locals and visitors alike.
When & Where
- June 21
- 8 a.m.-4 p.m
- To-Ji Shrine, Kyoto - Map
- Free
Thursday: Jazzin’
Ai Kuwabara with Steve Gadd & Will Lee
25-year-old pianist Ai Kuwabara is in some fine company at the Blue Note Nagoya. The young gun musician performs a blend of contemporary jazz with elements of rock and fusion sounds in concert with veteran session drummer extraordinaire Steve Gadd and Will Lee, a bassist known for his work on the Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra.
When & Where
- June 22
- 6:30 & 9:15 p.m
- Nagoya Blue Note - Map
- ¥7.500
Friday: TGIF tipple
5th Kitaya Sake Brewery Event
Kick off the weekend with premium sake and shochu from the 190-year-old Kitaya Brewery. The storied sake maker boasts that its Dai-Ginjyo Gokujyo Kitaya was declared “Champion Sake” in the International Wine Challenge 2013’s sake category. The event offers the chance to sample sake, shochu, “umeshu” (plum liqueur) and special cocktails. An original ceramic sake cup is included in the fee along with a choice selection of appetizers to go with your booze.
When & Where
- June 23
- 4-8 p.m.
- Tenjin Sky Hall, Fukuoka - Map
- ¥3,500
Saturday: Rock out
Miyavi & Charisma.com
Finger-slapping guitar sensation Miyavi returns to his native land for a reunion with local fans commemorating his 15th year as a solo artist. The tour is titled Miyavi 15th Anniversary Live Neo Tokyo 15 and an anniversary compilation album, “All Time Best: Day 2” was released April 5. Joining the funk rocker are rap duo Charisma.com.
When & Where
- June 24
- 6 p.m.
- Shibuya WWW, Tokyo - Map
- ¥4,500
Sunday: Film & technology
ShortShorts Film Festival & Asia 2017
Catch the last day of this year’s Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, a qualifying film festival for the annual Academy Awards and one of Asia’s largest international short film festivals. The theme is “CinemaTIC! CinemaTEC!” which covers the timeless feeling one can get from watching an entertaining piece and how to approach filmmaking in a time where technology is constantly evolving.
When & Where
- June 25
- Various
- Omotesando Hills Space O and others, Tokyo & Yokohama - Map
- Various
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