Sunday, March 16, 2008

Senpukan to be opened for viewing by public

The Osaka Municipal Government will open Senpukan, the oldest Western-style building in Osaka, to the public from March 20 to 23.

The brick building with a veranda, which was built in 1871 and designated as an important cultural property in 1956, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The number of people who can be let in at the same time will be limited to 30 due to preservation efforts in the building. There may be some wait during peak periods. No application is required.

The venue is next to the Osaka Mint in Kita Ward, an eight-minute walk from Osakajo Kitazume Station on the JR Tozai Line.

For more information, contact Osaka City Naniwa Call at (06) 4301-7285 in Japanese between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., or fax (06) 6644-4894.

Osaka gender group wants foreign members

The Osaka Gender Equality Foundation, also known as Dawn Center, is inviting English-speaking, non-Japanese women to its monthly discussion meeting from noon to 2 p.m. March 22 in Chuo Ward, Osaka.

This month's topic is assertiveness. To be comfortable in standing up for their legitimate rights, participants will be encouraged to exchange information and their experiences.

The workshop will focus on effective communication skills that increase the participants' ability to get their needs met, and on apprassertiveness behaviors in Japan.

Psychotherapist Joanna Sato will serve as a facilitator in the meeting.

Participation is free. Reservations are not required.

To get to the venue, walk 350 meters east from Tenmabashi Station on the Keihan or Tanimachi subway lines. For a map, access the venue's English Web site at www.dawncenter.or.jp/english/

For more information, contact the organizer at (06) 6944-8242.

Participants invited to theater training event

Traditional Theater Training, an annual intensive workshop on Japanese traditional performing arts for foreigners and Japanese, is seeking participants for this year's event.

The workshop began in 1984 and has gathered over 300 participants from 20 countries.

This year it will be held from July 18 to Aug. 11 at Kyoto Art Center in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto.

Applicants can choose from three courses: noh play, "kyogen" (comical short drama) and "nihon buyo" (dance). Eight students will be accepted for each course.

The workshop starts with a three-day orientation, in which participants will be able to attend sessions on all three genres. Participants will then be divided into their respective courses and learn several repertoires from professional performers. The repertoires will be performed onstage on the final day, Aug. 11, in a free recital at a noh theater.

Applicants should be students, performers, teachers and scholars who are involved in any type of performing arts, such as theater and dance. It is open to all such individuals regardless of age, nationality and gender.

The fee is ¥50,000 for students and ¥75,000 for others.

The application form and brochure can be obtained via the organizer's Web site at www.kac.or.jp/ (in Japanese and English). Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the course is filled.

For more information, visit the Web site, call the organizer at (075) 213-1000, or e-mail kacinfo@kac.or.jp

Toastmasters holding contest, seeks audience

The Osaka Toastmasters Club is inviting people to come to observe their speech contest from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Kita Ward, Osaka.

Participation is free and no application is required. The venue is Osaka Sogo Shogai Gakushu Center, on the fifth floor of the Osaka Ekimae 2nd Building, which is a five-minute walk from JR Osaka Station.

For more information, visit the organizer's Web site at www.osakatmc.com/

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