Monday, October 26, 2009

THIS is IT





Michael on the BIG screen.

A final glimpse.

Are you going?

2 weeks only. STARTS on the 28th.

I have my ticket.

Try the official site if you want a few goosebumps to begin with.


To see the movie, try Toho Cinemas in Namba,


Umeda


or Semboku.


SEATS filling fast though.




Saturday, October 24, 2009

MONOPOLY madness



I laughed when I spotted this Osaka version of Monopoly in a Namba souvenir shop. It felt like the Osaka spirit standing tall with absolute pride.

Just the other evening, I was giggling with some deep Osaka friends retired, who I was sharing a beer with after school at a lovely old pub in Mino. They kept joking around about 'that's an Osaka thing', or 'that word originates in Osaka', or 'that only happens in Osaka, not Kyoto'. They were so open in their absolute certainty that Osaka was the place to be. That Osaka had the pulse of everything real. That having been born in Osaka made them extra special somehow. It was so sweet to witness.

I always do that when I talk about Australia. I know I do it for Osaka too.

Try the Biliten shop in Shin Sekai for fabulous Osaka goods creative.


There is another gift shop on the corner just near Junkudo Book Store in Namba that has all things fun too.

大阪好きやねん。I love Osaka.






TORAYA



I usually walk past here when I need a burst of colour injection. The grey, black, khaki, beige, and navy blue fashion choices that greet me on the train daily at the beginning of Autumn, are so very dull for my taste. Even my students aren't that radical in any form of rebellious 80's fluoro, hippie tie-dye, or ethnic blend rainbowy. They play it safe with 'natural casual' hues from Muji.

I am usually wearing my red or pink Kangol Huntington, striking knee-high socks from Tutu Anna, my adored green retro trench coat, or a brightly shining vintage dress. Colour feeds my imagination and inner powers; especially on those cloudy days of empty sky nothingness.

Come to Toraya for your own version of paintbox rejuvenation, or come here to buy some gorgeous fabric original. Three floors of fabric and crafty goodness for you.

Easy to find just down on the right side corner in the 'shotengai' as you walk from Namba station toward Shinsaibashi.

Always people gathered about in creative juices flowing.

Perhaps something for you too?



the 2010 Michelin Guide for OSAKA and KYOTO


Well, it is out.

The Michelin guide.

ENGLISH or Japanese.

Take a peek at your favourite Kinokuniya.


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

the 16th OSAKA European FILM FESTIVAL


Arty stuff abounds in Osaka lately.

Here is another piece of temptation coming up in November.


All sorts of movies marvelous, various locations, great prices, and even a Facebook FAN page to connect with others.

Which ones to go to?

HOW delicious they all look!




FlowFit YOGA seminar


JUST JUST JUST in from my friend M.N.

Join Ryan October 25th for FlowFit® training followed by a nutrition Q&A session!

If you have been worried about how to lose that extra body fat and keep it off you must attend this two hour seminar.

FlowFit® is a full body program that targets the six degrees of human movement producing incredible fat burning results. During this seminar you will learn all seven movements along with advanced variations.

Following our FlowFit® session there will be an open Q&A nutrition session. This is your chance to ask those diet questions that have been racking your brain.

*You will need a yoga mat, towel, water, and workout clothing for this seminar.

Date: October 25th, 2009

Time : 10:00AM to 12:00 Noon

Location: Studio Ash 1st floor studio
http://www.studio-ash.com/map.html

Studio Ash is located just a short walk from either Ogimachi St. or Umeda/JR Osaka Station.

*Please call Ryan for detailed instructions on how to get to
Studio Ash.

Seminar Fee:

¥3500 with prior reservation
¥4000 at the door. However, please be advised! *This seminar is
limited to 20 people so please register as early as possible

Send me an email for reservations or call Real Creative Health for reservations and questions at 06-6857-2708 between the working hours
of 9AM and 7PM.

See you there!

Ryan

Friday, October 16, 2009

United Church of Christ in Japan Osaka CHURCH




I was just out and about on my bicycle recently, and went left instead of right. I found this beautiful old church, and an Indian restaurant up the road I didn't know about. Something about living on the wild side. The gardens are glorious, and the old brick is mysterious. If you are in the area, why not pop in and see what glories lay inside. You don't have to be Christian to enjoy such beauty.

A short walk to both The National Museum of Art, and Utsubo Park, there are also plenty of restaurants and mini art galleries along Kyobori-dori.

The main home page (in Japanese) listing all churches in Osaka is here.


This 1930 Naniwa church looks just lovely too.

Some snaps here:


ACCESS to the Naniwa church: 5 minutes walk from Yodoyabashi station (Keihan Line or Subway Midosuji)

Monday, October 12, 2009

SAMOAN Tsunami RELIEF fundraiser


the FRIDAY fundraiser

Local friend Perise is organizing a huge night of nights to help her local people in Samoa recover from the recent tsunami wreckage and mayhem.

Why not go along and help create new beginnings for people in need, whilst sharing some drinks with old friends and new?

Raffles, live music, and charity drinks await you.

The Hobgoblin Pub in Kobe will also be donating 100 yen from every spirit drunk to the Samoa Red Cross Society.

It is that easy!

Let's all rally around and give a little back in any way we can.

WHEN: Friday October 16 from 19:30 - 24:30

VENUE: Hobgoblin Pub in Kobe

DOOR CHARGE: 500 yen

Check out the website for access details.


Contact Perise for more details about the evening on:
080-6162-4976

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

DANCE of the UTERUS


Mona Hébert in Kyoto

Dance of the Uterus workshop

(10 hours of practice)

A unique workshop for women only, where you will discover a series of dynamic exercises practiced with music, designed to restore and maintain women's genital health. This workshop is meant for all women, whatever their age and gynecological condition.

By contracting and relaxing the uterus and the muscles of the lower pelvic area, we increase oxygenation and blood flow. These simple and powerful exercises allow regeneration of female organs, promote better inner consciousness and help maintain or restore hormonal balance.

Dance of the Uterus offers multiple benefits in all problems related to the female cycle:menstrual pain, irregular cycles, absence of periods, premenstrual syndrome. Practicing the exercises induces greater emotional stability and a fulfilling sexuality. The method can be used as a natural means of birth-control; it stimulates fertility and libido, helps reduce cysts, fibroids and endometriosis, and allows a harmonious transition into menopause.

The exercises are also very good for women who do not have their uterus anymore, or who suffer from fallen organs (prolapse). But most of all, Dance of the Uterus is excellent for maintaining and enhancing our genital health.

A personalized program will give each participant greater autonomy in matters of gynecological health. Each woman will be able to act individually upon her cycles, in the privacy of her home. By greater awareness of our inner magic, we regain the power of our femininity.

"In the company of women, share the language of the body, enter the way of the uterus, learn how to speak with the belly, the intimate mirror of our creativity.”

PROFILE:
Mona Hebert is a homeopath, naturopath and herbalist. She has her own clinic in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), where in fifteen years of practice she has seen several thousand women.

She also gives many workshops for women in North America, in Europe (France and Belgium) and now Japan. In her book “La medecine des femmes” (“Women's Medicine”, published in French by Editions du Roseau), she shares her rich experience of natural health care for women; she invites us to read the genital language, to perceive its encoded messages and to discover a type of health care that we can become familiar with, understand and integrate.

At the end of the workshop, you will be able to do the exercises on your own. To help in your personal practice, you will receive an illustrated booklet.

What to bring : comfortable clothes (like for doing yoga), water, pencil. During the exercises, it can become hot, so we recommend layered clothing, that you can remove and put on again according to your body's temperature.

Schedule of the Dance of the Uterus workshop

  • Part.1 - 14th (Sat.) Nov 10:30-13:00
  • Part.2 - 14th (Sat.) Nov 14:00-16:30
  • Part.3 - 15th (Sun) Nov 10:30-13:00
  • Part.4 - 15th (Sun) Nov 14:00-16:30

VENUE TO BE ANNOUNCED.

  • Class fee: ¥ 26 000 (25000 + 1000 registration fee)
  • Registration deadline : 31st October 2009
  • Information & registration: Nicole Porter, healingworkshops.kyoto@gmail.com.
  • Registration will be available during the period listed above, or until the workshop fills up, whichever comes first. Payment is required in order to reserve your place in the workshop.

(Registration may reopen after registration deadline if openings occur due to cancellation. Cancellation fees will apply.)

Individual counselling

A one hour consultation in which Mona Hébert will give you personalized advice about natural health care suited to your particular needs.

Date: Monday 16th November, between 10:00 and 18:00

Counselling fee: ¥ 15 000

Information and appointments: Nicole Porter, healingworkshops.kyoto@gmail.com

The location of the individual counselling will be announced later.

Mona Hébert's website :

http://www.lamedecinedesfemmes.com

Sunday, October 4, 2009

PINK ribbon SPLENDOR




If you can somehow draw your attention away from that extra beautiful Harvest Moon out there in our Osaka skies, you might be a little delighted to see a new addition to the Umeda Sky Building; a stunning pink ribbon of lights! It looks just great all pinky and shiny, although it could be bigger I think!

I remember being happily surprised the other day when Yahoo! Japan was all pink in hue, to support the education of breast cancer awareness. Some body cream I brought back from Australia on my last trip were also all pink in prettiness, with a proportion of the sales going toward breast cancer research. Fabulous. Just fabulous this out loud reminder for women's (and men's) health in bold. Go take a 'peek at the pink' if you are in the area; I'm not sure how long it will be there.

The last time I had such fun with favourite buildings in flashy bling, was when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was all lit up a few years back. An old school friend was getting married in the Sydney Opera House on the day before I was due to fly back to Osaka in the early hours of the next morning. Although I couldn't party hard all night, the bridge all lit up in mystery gave me quite a buzz, and made a perfect backdrop for photos original.

Osaka landscapes change so constantly. Stay aware of your surroundings if you can. The new Mitsukoshi Isetan Department Store being built in Umeda, has already blocked the view of the Sky Building from the top of the Canon Gallery (see the post "MAKE a day of it with your CAMERA"). The symbolic ABC Tower on Naniwa-suji street in Fukushima is slowly, slowly growing shorter and shorter and shorter from the bottom down. Change is everywhere. Keep your eyes open to the wonder.





Saturday, October 3, 2009

IKEBANA exhibition



I seem to be the only one interested in the arty-type tickets lying about at my schools. It is certainly the first thing I check when I walk in with my JJ-sensei mode switched on each day. The tickets I found this week are to the 43rd Ikebana Exhibition at Daimaru in Shinsaibashi.

I clearly remember the first time I ever went with my free ticket in hand, thinking I had nothing to lose. WELL! These exhibitions are rather spectacular, and I look forward to them tremendously. The art is alive, the artists are usually there, and everybody is super friendly and genkied-up.

I have FIVE sets of pair tickets if anybody would like to go and experience this for themselves. Daimaru is right downtown, so perfect for after work drop-ins, or for a burst of creativity before lunch or dinner.

Post your E-mail at the bottom of this post, and I'll get the tickets to you.

Here is the site (in Japanese).


From October 22 – 27 on the 7th floor of DAIMARU Shinsaibashi (on Midousuji Street)

OPEN 10:00 – 19:30


BEERS for BOOKS


B4B

A friend recently sent me an invite to the second Beers for Books in Osaka.


The title grabbed me, the concept swept me away, and the energy behind the spirit made me smile in giddy anticipation. For EACH drink purchased, a whole 100 yen is donated to ROOM to READ, to buy books for needy children in far away countries in Asia and Africa. Look at their impressive web page of success stories and programs here.


These small ways of volunteer quality have always made me feel good. I do the 'dollar a day' type give back for my sponsor child Senia Zulu in Zambia, through Child Fund International.


Having visited her village in 2006, the 'mini money' I give is certainly 'mighty' in ways and depths I could not have anticipated. Small steps begin a journey. Small ideas become big dreams. And small actions can become powerful answers.




Beer for Books creator, Gary Bremermann, is hoping his "idea virus" will spread and spread. His 47 Prefecture challenge in Japan is incredibly optimistic, and certainly achievable.

Why not go along to the Osaka event on October 24 from 18:30 – 21:30 at Cita Cita in Honmachi and see if you too can feel the adrenaline of feel good deed doing.

Map and access instructions can be found here.



FOUR stories OSAKA



Again, Again,

Tracey Slater of FOUR Stories origins, will bring a little bit of pizzazz and sparkle to your Sunday night with the next Osaka event scheduled for November 8 from 18:00 - 20:00.

Four Stories always has a beautiful mix of people who breathe books, crave books, and read under the covers with a flashlight as a child till late night fatigue took over.

Come and mingle with the local people real, the writers savvy, and 'kampai' your week with wines wonderful at the downtown restaurant Portugalia.

Come and make some new friends fresh, learn something offbeat, and melt into the cosiness of shared Sunday togetherness.

Come and be charmed by the simple joy of voices, characters and plot lines.

For information on how to get to the Four Stories event, see the following link.


Perhaps I'll see you there?

the Kansai RAINBOW parade


Wanting some colour and costumes?
Some bravado and bling?
Some expression and energy?
Some pride, playfulness and maybe participation?

Coming soon on October 24, the 2009 Kansai Rainbow Parade will march down Midousuji Street, Osaka to express and emphasize sexual diversity within the Japanese community. A photo gallery from the 2008 event can be seen at this link;


For full details of this annual event, see the English website below.


LOOKING in from KYOTO




Forever Friend and long time Kyoto resident Gary, comes and visits me in Osaka now and again if I let him. Until recently, I have always somehow managed to convince him I "need" some Kyoto time, and off I go on my favourite Keihan Line to meet him for a full day of Kyoto soaking. Lately we have been doing some walking and talking, marveling and mingling into Osaka ways - of together.
I absolutely adore the moods I feel in Kyoto each time I go, and the ultra magnetism of the Kamo River in neutralizing unwanted self-concepts. For Kyoto residents visiting Osaka, different angles of allure and delight are simply wow-ful and wild.
Gary tells me,
“ I like the sense of orderly nonconformity in Osaka, and the people watching. There's a nice vibe of self expression, and acceptance of others.”

How does Osaka make YOU feel?

Thursday, October 1, 2009

a WORKSHOP for WOMEN




EXPLORING the FEMININE

This only JUST arrived in my INBOX from a Kyoto friend. It looks just fantastic,
but unfortunately the timing of it doesn't work for me at all.

“Practices for health and healing. Learn about the Divine Goddess
within through a day of Yoga, Movement, Mantra, Mudra and Meditation”

"WOMEN of any age, background or Yoga experience welcome.
Workshop in English with Japanese translator."

Sunday October 4th at Kurodani Temple – Eiun-in
10:30 – 16:30
5500 yen

(one HOUR lunch break; and BENTO included)

Here is a link to the Kurodani Temple site.


There is an English link at the bottom left.

Please let Nicole know by FRIDAY lunch
(so tight I know!) if you would like to attend.

yogawithnicole.kyoto@gmail.com (E-mail)
or
nicoleinjapan@t.vodafone.ne.jp (Cell Phone mail)