Kansai News

Redeveloping Umeda

Kyle Yates — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:29:08 +0000

At the end of this month, Osaka will begin redeveloping the Umeda Kita Yard, north of JR Osaka Station, where about 2.5 million passengers of railways and subway lines pass through daily.

Get Out the Samura Sword

Kyle Yates — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:02:54 +0000

The relationship between America and Japan has been strained by the recent Toyota malfunctions. However, if the people of Japan have their way, the relationship will continue to stay strong as most Japanese are worried more about their relationship with America than the Toyota company itself.

Japanese have their ears to the tracks listening for any and all news of what’s going on in America concerning Toyota. One concern for many is that Toyota upper management may have sacrificed profit for safety, in which case, if true, would be disastrous for the company and damaging to the relationship between America and Japan.

Most Japanese want nothing of the sort to happen to their relationship that has taken decades to rebuild.

Japanese have poured years of their lives into building a close relationship with America. Many Japanese have family and friends living in the USA. They are concerned for their safety as well.

If Toyota management made cars fully knowing that they were faulty, yet sent the cars to the USA anyhow, you can bet your last penny that the majority of Japanese will expect Toyota heads to roll as damage control.

Do I hear the samurai sword being sharpened in the background?

Daisuke Takahashi – Congratulations From Kansai!

Kyle Yates — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:55:29 +0000

Daisuke Takahashi Wins Bronze!

Daisuke Takahashi is the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist!

Daisuke performed well enough to get the bronze medal in the 2010 Olympics even after falling on his quad attempt at the beginning of his last program giving Japan its first Olympic medal in a men’s singles figure skating event.

Learn to Skate Faster!

Takahashi is a student at Kansai University in Osaka. In Osaka, Japan, he trains under coach Utako Nagamitsu.

Way to go Daisuke! Everyone in the Kansai area of Japan is proud of you, foreign and Japanese alike!

Shamisen and Piano Concert

Kyle Yates — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:39:30 +0000

The shamisen, also called sangen, is a three-stringed banjo-like musical instrument played with a plectrum, a bachi in Japanese. The instrument makes a sound twangy sound similar to the banjo yet very distinct and very Japanese.

For those of you who like listening to shamisen music or have never heard one, there will be a concert on February 7, 2010 at the Izumi Hall in the Chuo Ward of Osaka.

Jazz Pianist Satoru Shionoya and Shamisen Player Hiromitsu Agatsuma will perform their original songs, a mix of standard jazz and traditional Japanese music.

Tickets for the concert are ¥4000.

For more information call (06) 6944-1188.

Kyoto Housing Fair

Kyle Yates — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:53:53 +0000

Looking for a room to rent? Do you like Kyoto?

Kyoto Interntaional Community House in the Sakyo Ward of Kyoto will hold a one-day event to share the location of 1000 rooms in Kyoto City on February 6 from 1pm to 4:30 pm.

For those seeking help renting a room, counseling will also be available at the event.

The event is free.

For more information call (075) 752-3511.

Compare Hotel Prices of the Big Guys!

Kyle Yates — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:31:19 +0000

Now there is a much easier way to find the best hotel prices around the Kansai area, and the world for that matter!

Use the new KansaiConnect Hotel Finder and find the lowest prices by comparing all the largest hotel sites around the globe like:

AsiaRooms.com
Expedia.com
Hilton.com
HotelClub.com
Hotels.com
OctopusTravel.com
Priceline.com
RatesToGo.com
Travelocity.com
Venere.com

and many more, just to name the larger ones!

Click here to find your hotel now! Or click the Hotel Finder image above!

Seeking Musicians

Kyle Yates — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:59:10 +0000

The Phoenix Hall in the Kita Ward of Osaka is offering the hall to talented musicians free of charge on select dates in 2011 as a part of arts and cultural activities sponsored by Nissay Dowa General Insurance Company, which operates the venue.

The hall will be available February 2, March 2, July 6 and August 3.

Anyone wishing to use the hall can obtain an application form from the website Phoenix Hall. Thr deadline to apply is January 29.

For more information call (06) 6363-0211.

Illumination Cruises

Kyle Yates — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:23:52 +0000

Osaka Castle

The Osaka Suijo Bus Ltd. will operate two special evening cruises to view the holiday illuminations in Osaka from December 12 to 25 from the Yodoyabashi Port.

The Romantic Illumination Cruise will be 50 minutes long and feature live music and illuminations in the Nakanoshima district. The cost is ¥2000 for adults and ¥1000 for children.

The Renaissance Illumination Cruise will be 25 minutes long and travel along the illuminated donjons (castle keeps) of Osaka Castle. The cost is ¥850 for adults and ¥400 for children.

For more information, details and reservations call (06) 6942-5511.

Special Christmas Dinner

Kyle Yates — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:17:23 +0000

Rapport coffee house in the Kyoto Century Hotel in the Shimogyo Ward of Kyoto will serve a special Christmas dinner from December 19-25.

The menu features:

marinated salmon
pasta in crab and shrimp tomato sauce
scallops and sea bream in a white wine sauce
fillet steak in a truffle and Madeira wine sauce
bread
dessert
coffee or tea

The price for the dinner is ¥5775.

Call (075) 351-0111 for more information.

Wicked: The Broadway Musical

Kyle Yates — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:11:20 +0000

The Broadway musical Wicked will be performed at Osaka Shiki Theater in the Kita Ward of Osaka until January 3, 2010; performance by Shiki Theater Company.

The cost is between ¥3000-¥9000.

For more information call (06) 4796-6700.