Tokyo Creative Weeks

September 27, 2012

Tokyo Creative Weeks

Various locations, Oct 10-31

By

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2012

Tokyo is famed as an insanely creative hotpot of cultural activity. But during the 22 days of Tokyo Creative Weeks, the funfair will be palpably fizzing in the arts spaces of Japan’s capital.

Each of the three weeks of TCW will be based on a different theme: traditional, international, and contemporary—with some ongoing events happening all the way through. Metropolis gives you a peek into what to look out for at Tokyo Creative Weeks 2012.

Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Culture Creation Project Office (The Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)

WEEK 1—traditional

Those living in Japan or just visiting will have noticed the remarkable presence of traditional culture in every aspect of society. Hence the starting point of TCW. Highlights:

Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony 2012
Experience the philosophy of “tea as art” in this quintessential Japanese ritual.
Sat, Oct 13- Sun, Oct 14, 9:30am
¥300/150/free (elem/younger)
Hama Rikyu Gardens,1-1 Hamarikyu Teien, Chuo-ku. Nearest stn: Shiodome or Tsukijishijo

Sangen Crosses the Seas—from Asian Continent to Japan
Enjoy the spectral sounds of ancient music with a sangen (shamisen) concert exploring the genre’s different regional variations.
Thu, Oct 11, 6pm
¥4,000/2,000 (students)
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Concert Hall, 1-8-1 Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku. Nearest stn: Ikebukuro

WEEK 2—International

Clocking in with the international theme of week 2, a series of seminars and focus groups will be held with art and culture experts. Highlights:

International Conference “Culture and Social Innovation—Tokyo Conference”
What power does culture possess to revolutionize contemporary society, changing it day by day, hour by hour?
● Sessions
Three sessions will be held as a preliminary step in the conference.With Japanese-English simultaneous interpretation.
Fri, Oct 19, 10am-7pm
Free
JFIC Hall “SAKURA”, The Japan Foundation, 4-4-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku.
Nearest stn: Yotsuya-sanchome.
● Symposium
With Japanese-English simultaneous interpretation and sign language.
Sat, Oct 20, 1-6pm
Free
Tosho Hall, 3-2-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. Nearest stn: Nijubashi-mae

WEEK 3—contemporary

The final week of TCW will feature the international extravaganza of performing arts Festival/Tokyo 12, and other cross-cultural events.
Highlights:

Sound Live Tokyo
A new international festival that introduces blending sound and art.
Oct 26-28
From ¥2,000
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Recital Hall, 5-45 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku.
Nearest stn: Ueno

Le Preau d’un Seul
Exhibit-style performance interpreting immigrant camps, by Jean Michel Bruyère of French company LFKs (part of Festival/Tokyo 12).
Oct 27-Nov 4, various times
¥3,500/concessions available
Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory,
4-9-1 Nishi Sugamo, Toshima-ku. Nearest stn: Nishi-Sugamo

Ongoing Events

Other events during the period will include Tokyo Artpoint Project, happening in cultural enclaves along the Chuo line and around the Skytree, and collaborations from Tokyo’s museums, with an opening-hour extension from Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum amid other activities.

Tokyo Culture Creation Project, organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture in cooperation with arts organizations and NPOs, aims to establish Tokyo as a city of global cultural creativity. The project facilitates involvement of a larger number of people in creation of new culture, by building regional bases for culture creation across the city and offering opportunities for creative experiences to children and young people. Moreover, it creates and globally disseminates new Tokyo culture through organizing international festivals and other diverse events.

For more info see www.tcw2012.jp/en