Sunday, May 7, 2006

Foreign women discuss juggling work and home:
The Osaka Gender Equality Foundation is inviting non-Japanese English-speaking women to its monthly discussion meeting from noon to 2 p.m. May 20 at Osaka Prefectural Women's Center, or Dawn Center, in Chuo Ward, Osaka.

The discussion will focus on common problems facing foreign women, including those pertaining to cultural differences, employment and child care. Participants will exchange information and experiences.

This month's theme is women working abroad. Juggling career with other roles -- whether mothering, home-making or being a partner -- can be a challenge. Working in a foreign country can either enhance or impair the difficult task of trying to achieve a balance between work and personal life. The workshop will discuss all challenges facing professional women who work abroad as well as the benefits of an international career.

The discussion will be facilitated by psychotherapist Joanna Sato.

Participation is free. No reservation is required.

To get to the venue, walk 350 meters east from Tenmabashi Station on the Tanimachi subway line.

For more information, call the venue at (06) 6910-8588.

Chance for free ticket to comedy charity event:
International Lifelong Learning Culture Center, a nonprofit organization based in Osaka, is offering readers of The Japan Times a chance to win one of five free tickets to its charity talk show by a popular comic duo.

The NPO is holding the event at 7 p.m. June 2 at Creo Osaka Chuo in Tennoji Ward to raise funds to support education of people in developing or war-torn countries. Part of the proceeds will go toward creating a better educational environment for children in Afghanistan.

The guest speakers are Pack'n Mack'n, the comedy duo of Patrick Harlan and Makoto Yoshida. The popular team is among the few American and Japanese duos out there, and Harlan is also known for his appearances on such TV shows as NHK's language-learning program "Eigo de Shabera Night."

In the 90-minute show, they will talk about their experiences in acquiring foreign languages and understanding each other's cultural differences, interlacing the talk with some comic skits.

Those wishing to win a free ticket should send name, address, age, profession, telephone and fax numbers, and the statement that they are a Japan Times reader, and that they want a free ticket to "Pack'n Mack'n no Osaka Shabera Night."

Applications can be e-mailed to occ@manapi-world.org, and postcards can be mailed to the organizer at 9-3-11-318 Tanimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0012. The application deadline is Friday.

Advance tickets are available for 2,000 yen apiece from the organizer, ticket agency CN Play Guide and Lawson convenience stores.

For more information, call the organizer at (06) 6764-1282 or fax (06) 6761-5834.

Soccer films on offer ahead of World Cup:
Goethe-Institut Osaka center is commemorating the 2006 World Cup in Germany by showing films on soccer for eight weeks starting Friday.

Each weekly showing will be held at 7 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut Osaka in Minato Ward and will run through June 30. The eight movies depict the international sport and people playing it in various ways.

The films range from "One Day in Europe" this Friday, a comedy presenting soccer as a universal language, "Das Wunder von Bern" ("The Miracle of Bern") on May 26, a German hit from 2003 whose subject is the 1954 World Cup won by West Germany, and "Le Ballon d'or" ("The Golden Ball") on June 16, a French/Guinea movie from 1993 depicting an impoverished youth aspiring to be a soccer player.

English subtitles will be provided. Tickets are 500 yen at the door.

For programs and other details, call the organizer at (06) 6440-5900 or visit the Web site at www.goethe.de/osaka

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