Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006

Immigration advice available for free:
A group of specialists in immigration procedures is organizing a free consultation session for foreign residents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26 on the third floor of International House, Osaka, in Tennoji Ward.

The private study group of administrative clerks will provide information and advice on issues involving visa and naturalization procedures. Individual consultations will be kept in strict confidence.

No fee or reservations are required.

Consultations will be available in English, Chinese and Korean.

The venue, also known as Osaka Kokusai Koryu Center, is a five-minute walk from Uehonmachi Station on the Kintetsu Line, or a 10-minute walk from Tanimachi 9-chome Station on the Tanimachi or Sennichimae subway lines.

For more information, call the organizer at (06) 6977-1501.

Traditional Kansai dance performed in Kyoto:
A performance of traditional dance originating in the Kansai region will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 in a large tatami room at Kyoto Art Center in Nakagyo Ward.

Waka Yamamura, a successor of the Yamamura school of "Kamigata mai" dance, will perform two popular repertories. Kamigata mai is a collective term for traditional dances that originated in the Kansai region. The Yamamura school is one of the four major varieties of Kamigata mai, and this year marks the 200th year since the school was established.

The two dances Feb. 26 were choreographed by the school's founder, Tomogoro, who was originally a choreographer of kabuki. They will be accompanied by "jiuta" singing with "koto" harp by two players. Between performances, Yamamura will be interviewed about Kamigata mai, the Yamamura school reaching its 200th year, and what it means to him to maintain the tradition and pass it down. The interviews will be in Japanese.

Tickets are 2,000 yen at the door for adults and 500 yen for high school students and younger.

For tickets and more information, call the venue at (075) 213-1000.

TV commercials from cultural perspective:
International Research Center for Japanese Studies is hosting a public lecture to discuss the cultural perspective of TV commercials at 2 p.m. March 18 at the center's hall in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto.

There will be two guest speakers. The first will be Jean-Christian Bouvier, producer of CM Festival, an annual event that started in 1999 with the goal of offering Japanese people the opportunity to see selected commercials from around the world. Bouvier will be followed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, a celebrated filmmaker who first established his name as a TV commercial director.

English and Japanese interpretations will be provided.

There is no fee to attend.

Those wishing to attend must apply by sending a postcard with name, address, telephone and fax number. State that you wish to attend the CM event. The postcard should be sent to 3-2 Oeyama-cho, Goryo, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 610-1192. Applications will also be accepted by sending an e-mail to koenkai@nichibun.ac.jp or sending a fax to (075) 335-2043.

For more information, call the center at (075) 335-2042.

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