Look what's Happening in Tokyo
Issue: April 2006

Public Holidays in April

29th April is Midori no Hi otherwise known as Greenery Day.
This was originally the late Showa Emperor's Birthday. After his death it was renamed Greenery Day because the Emperor loved plants, the environment and nature. It also starts off a collection of 4 days in a 7-day period known as Golden week. The word "Golden Week" was first used by movie companies to get people to take advantage of the "Golden Time" opportunity to go to the movies. The term gradually began being used by other people to refer to this string of holidays. The month of April also brings in a new school year in Japan and every school celebrates the occasion with special entrance ceremonies.

Hana Masuri, Indy, Car Import Show and Festivals and Concerts

Hana Matsuri (Birthday of Buddha) 8th April
Flower Festivals are held to celebrate Buddha's birthday. Flowers are placed over the statue. A basin of water with a statue of the baby Buddha is placed in the middle, and people who visit the temples pour sweet tea (Amacha, or hydrangea tea) on the head of the statue. The sweet tea is made from dried and boiled hydrangea leaves. In the past, people thought sweet tea had magical powers. Services are held at the following temples; Senso-ji, Zojo-ji and Hommon-ji.

BRIDGESTONE INDY TM JAPAN 300 mile 20th - 22nd April
Twin Ring Motegi Co., Ltd. (Motegi-machi, Tochigi) will hold the "BRIDGESTONE INDYTM JAPAN 300 mile" over three days from April 28th (Thursday) to 30th (Saturday), 2005; this race will be the fourth round of the "Indy Racing League® (IRL) IndyCar® Series," a true representative of American motor sports.
Access: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya station and then take a bus to the track.

Tokyo Special Import Car Show April 28th - 30th
As traveling by train is the norm and parking costs a small fortune it is probably easy to say that, "you don't miss your car." But if you do, then make your way to the Tokyo Big Sight (West Hall)
Access: Rinkai line to Kokusai-tenjijo station or the Yurikamome line to Kokusai-tenjijo Seimon station.

Kamakura Festival 9th April ~16th April
This annual week long festival celebrates when Kamakura was the place of government in Japan (1192-1333) Festive activities can be observed all over the city during the week such as parades, open-air tea ceremony. The highlights of the festival are the Shizuka-no-mai dance on the first day and the Yabusame, an event in which horse riders in samurai armor shoot targets with a bow and arrow while on the move on the last day of the festival.
Access: Take the Yokosuka line to Kamakura station from Shinagawa station

James Blunt
24th April at Shibuya-AX
Access: 12 minutes from Shibuya station

Yumi Matsutoya Concert Tour 2006
28th, 29th, 30th April
Yoyogi national Gym
Access: 6 minutes walk from Harajuku station

Flowers in bloom this month

April Cherry Blossoms should be out at the end of March and beginning of April. A Cherry Blossom guide is available upon request.

by Sarah Yamada