Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008

Bank plans to host free chamber music concert

Kansai Urban Bank will host a free chamber music concert by members of the Century Osaka Orchestra in Osaka from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 and Oct. 20.

Admission is free. The first 50 people will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for each concert.

The venue is the head office of Kansai Urban Bank, at 1-2-4 Nishi Shinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, which is near Shinsaibashi Station on the Midosuji subway line.

For more information, contact the Century Osaka Orchestra Office at (06) 6868-3030

'Genji' author's retreat to hold lantern tribute

In commemoration of the 1,000th anniversary of the "The Tale of Genji," the ancient novel written in the Heian period (794-1185), Ishiyama-dera Temple in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, will be open to the public in the evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

The temple is said to have been the place where Murasaki Shikibu, the author, spent seven days developing her idea for the book.

The temple is usually open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For the enjoyment of visitors, the premises will be illuminated by around 1,500 lanterns under the mid-autumn full moon.

Admission to the temple is ¥500. The special opening will be canceled in case of heavy rain.

Ishiyama-dera Temple is a 10-minute walk from Ishiyama-dera Station on the Keihan Ishizaka Line.

For further information, contact the Ishiyama Sightseeing Association at (077) 537-1105.

Koto concert to be held at Biwako Hall in Shiga

Biwako Hall in Shiga Prefecture is organizing a koto concert in its main lobby from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 19.

Miyako Oe and her daughter Rieko will perform "Genka" by Katsuhiko Yoshizaki, "Fantasy on a Theme of Jupiter" by Yasuhide Ito and other tunes.

Admission is free and no reservation is required.

The venue is a 20-minute walk northeast of Otsu Station on the JR Biwako Line or a three-minute walk north of Ishiba Station on Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line.

For more information, contact the hall office at (077) 523-7150.

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