Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

Multilingual class to explain Japanese taxes

Minoh Association for Global Awareness (MAFGA) is holding a multilingual class on filing tax returns from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in Minoh, Osaka.

The class will explain the basic process of the Japanese tax return system and how to fill out a declaration form. Interpretation in English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Russian and Indonesian is being planned.

The venue is the second floor of Toyokawa Branch of Minoh City Office at 1-2-2 Aomadani Nishi in Minoh. Directions can be found at www.mafga.or.jp/ (in Japanese).

The class is free but advance applications are required by phone or e-mail.

For advance applications and more information, contact the organizer at (072) 727-6912 or send an e-mail message to info@mafga.or.jp

Wales-Japan society plans culture festival

The Kansai St. David's Society, a friendship society between Japan and Wales, will hold a Welsh culture festival from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in Chuo Ward, Osaka.

The theme of this year's festival is Welsh music, and the main event is a harp concert featuring the most renowned Celtic harpist in Japan, Keiko Kikuchi. There will also be a mini bazaar, Welsh cake and whisky tastings.

No admission or applications are required. The venue is Dawn Center, which is about a five-minute walk east of exit 1 of Tenmabashi Station on the Tanimachi subway line.

For details, contact Chikako Hirono, the secretary of the society, at friendofwales@yahoo.co.jp

'Nohgaku' performance being planned in Kyoto

International Research Center for Japanese Studies will host a concert featuring traditional performances of "nohgaku" from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto.

The concert is a part of the center's project introducing a new type of nohgaku music that incorporates Western-style, orchestral music. A short introductory lecture will given be in Japanese.

No admission or reservations are required. The venue is the center's facility, which is a 20-minute bus ride on the Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus Line from Hankyu Katsura Station. Four free shuttle buses, leaving from the west exit of Hankyu Katsura Station between 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m., are also available.

For further information, contact the organizer at (075) 335-2078, e-mail koenkai@nichibun.ac.jp, or access www.nichibun.ac.jp/ (in Japanese).

Dotombori comedians to yuk it up in English

The Pirates of the Dotombori, an Osaka-based bilingual comedy group, is putting on a free English comedy show on Feb. 22.

The venue is Balabushka's Bar in the Amerikamura area in Chuo Ward, Osaka. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the one-hour show starts at 7:30 p.m. No reservations are required.

For more information, visit the organizer's Web site at www.piratesofthedotombori.com/ (available in English and Japanese).

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