Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast. Download the May 2012 edition.

The Center’s ever-popular program offers 7 types of classes ranging from conversation for beginners to Kanji. Applications will ONLY be accepted on Sunday, May 13 between 11:30 and 12:00 at the information desk on Nagoya International Center 5F.

This course is taught by volunteers and is designed for children (born between April 2 1997 and April 1 2006) whose native language is not Japanese. Students learn Japanese skills necessary for school and daily life.

Free health and dental consultations will be offered for foreign nationals by the Medical Information Center Aichi (MICA) in English, Portuguese,and Spanish.

Come and share in the fun at the Nagoya International Center 3F Library and listen to foreign volunteers as they read a selection of books from the library’s vast children’s story book section in their native language.

Join Nagoya International Center walking guide volunteers on a 3.5 km walking course from the historic Atsuta Shrine to the picturesque Shirotori Gardens. The tour is led by volunteers and interpreters in English, Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese are available.

Nameless Media and Productions Theatre (NMP Theatre) is a community theatre group bringing together a diverse and international team of Nagoya-based artists. Their second production of 2012 is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This show will be presented with Japanese subtitles and directed by Carl Bradley.

This annual event brings together well over three thousand members of the International and Japanese communities to support the vital work being conducted by local NPOs and charitable organizations. As well as a walking course this fun and memorable family event will have great food, live music and stage shows, a children’s activity zone, and a raffle with great prizes.

This special exhibition, celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of the Nagoya City Science Museum’s new wing, will introduce the evolution of sea creatures from 600 million years ago to the present day, highlighting their journey of evolution and history of diversity.

This is a special exhibition commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the museum’s new wing and the 80th anniversary of the Tokugawa Gardens.

A selection of around 100 works of art from the Collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp and other museums including 50 works from renowned Belgian artist James Ensor (1860–1949), and further related works from past Dutch and Flemish artists and contemporary Belgian artists including Brueghel and Rubens.

A total of 160 works on-loan from the world-class watercolour collection of the Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester in the UK. Featured artists range from Joseph Turner (1775 – 1851) – the great master of British watercolour landscape painting – to Pre-Raphaelite works by Millais and Rossetti.

This exhibition will bring together art from the Mie Prefectural Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts – Gifu, and the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art under the theme word of “magic”.

This special exhibition to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ukiyoe master Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) features a total of 200 prints.

Around 100 teams, young and old, from all over Japan will converge on Nagoya to perform in this two-day colourful and vibrant festival of traditional Kochi-style Japanese street dancing. Admission is free to all stage areas except Shirotori Gardens where admission to the Gardens is 300 Yen for adults.

Come and enjoy a multicultural experience on Sunday, October 23 (13:30 – 16:30) at Yokisō Villa, the historic home of Matsuzakaya Department Store founder Suketami Itō. The program includes a guided tour of the historic residence, tea ceremony, music & song, and an ikebana demonstration.

An annual festival commemorating the 1575 Battle of Nagashino; one of the most important battles in Japanese history.

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast. Download the April 2012 edition.

Two language courses open to anyone residing, studying, or working in Aichi Prefecture will be available this spring at the International Student Center (ISC) in Minato Ward. Courses will be conducted in Japanese.

The grounds of Nagoya Castle will be open daily for its annual spring festival from March 28 to Sunday, May 6. Street entertainers will be performing shows throughout the festival period and there will be special Golden Week events.

The exhibition will feature pieces by John Galliano for Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Olivier Theyskens for Rochas, Alexander McQueen for Givenchy, Arnold Scaasi, and Christian Lacroix. Garments worn by Diana, the Princess of Wales, and Hollywood actresses as they walked the red carpet will also be featured in the exhibition along with modeling photographs and illustrations of Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Madonna, and other celebrities. We have 5 pairs of tickets to give away for this exhibition!

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast. Download the March 2012 edition.

An exhibition of 24 optical art pictures where you can “jump” into the picture and be part of the optical illusion is at the Lagunasia theme park in Laguna Gamagori until Sunday, May 6.

Mary Blair (1911 – 1978) was an American artist who was prominent in producing art and animation for The Walt Disney Company, drawing concept art for such films as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of her birth, this exhibition will feature more than 180 works. We have 5 pairs of tickets to give away for this exhibition!

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast. Download the February 2012 edition.

This is a popular festival and attracts large crowds each year. The fire festival (from 19:45) sees three “ogres” chased around the main temple by dozens of torch-bearing men.

Seven of the Takayama’s famed breweries are open to the public one week at a time, provide a free guided tour that includes sake sampling; a commemorative golden sake cup is also presented to each visitor.

Watch the 1950 musical film inspired by the 1925 stage musical No, No Nanette. The film stars Doris Day in her first lead role.

A Valentine’s Day and White Day getaway in the heart of Nagoya. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere of the garden’s heated indoor atrium.

Sample the best food that Japan has to offer. Choose from over 300 famous regional recipes from across the country. Watch top hotel chefs and gourmet cooks put together dishes using local ingredients live on stage.

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast. Download the January 2012 edition.

The Heart organisation and the Nagoya Occupational Safety & Health Center will be running a special multilingual help hotline on January 15.

One of the largest and most popular annual exhibitions of Japanese fine art. This exhibition features a selection of works from the recent Nitten Exhibition at the National Art Center, Tokyo. On display are 566 works in 5 categories; Japanese and Western style painting, sculpture, crafts, art, and calligraphy. We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away for this exhibition.

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast.

From November 26 until December 26, a huge, 15m high Christmas tree and over 45,000 illuminations will be lit up each night between 16:30 and 22:00 in the Tsudoi Plaza at the Port of Nagoya.

New Year family fun at the Nagoya Dome with a large range of floor attractions, games, exciting stage shows, and over 30 bouncy castles & giant inflatables from around the world! The NIC has 10 pairs of tickets to give away!

Naka Health Center in Nagoya’s Naka Ward has started a FREE monthly child care class for foreign mothers who reside in Naka Ward. The class provides information necessary for raising children in Japan and is targeted towards expectant mothers and those with infant children. Japanese interpreters are available for those that don’t understand Japanese.

The 2011-12 season of the 8 team Japan Basketball League started on October 7. There are 2 Chubu-based teams in the league, the Nagoya-based Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dolphins and the Kariya-based Aisin Seahorses.

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast.

A selection of Western art, Japanese-style prints, Japanese western-style paintings, sculptures, and designs from the museum’s 1400 item collection. Featured artists include Cezanne, Monet, Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Magritte, Rodan, Bourdelle, and Ensor.

Out and About is a monthly event information service produced by Nagoya International Center volunteers. Its available in a PDF format or in an audio podcast.

The Japanese F1 Grand Prix returns to nearby Mie for the 15th race of the 2011 season. Twenty-four world-class drivers will compete over 53 gruelling laps of the world famous Suzuka Circuit 鈴鹿サーキットgaining top speeds of over 300 km/h. The 2010 race was won by German Sebastian Vettel.

Held annually since 1996 at Will Aichi in central Nagoya, this festival promotes works by female directors. Twenty-three films from around the world will be shown at the festival, including 3 English language films.

Known as the Bolshoi Circus in Japan, the Russian National Circus was established in 1929 as the Soviet National Circus.　This national circus consists of 8000 artists and staff, more than 3000 animals, and about 70 temporary and permanent theaters making it is literally the greatest circus in the world.

From Friday, August 26 to Sunday, August 28 over 210 teams & around 23,000 performers from across Japan and from around the world will take over the streets of Nagoya as part of Japan’s largest dance festival.

Drumline Live is a theatrical production created by the music team behind the hit 2002 movie “Drumline”. The show’s world wide tour is coming to Nagoya this Summer!

This exhibition is being held to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Art. In addition to 16 pieces of artwork by such artists as Antoine Watteau, Francois Boucher, and Jean-Honore Fragonard, the exhibition showcases furniture, dress, fans, and other accessories made in the Rococo style that were popular with both Madame Pompadour and Marie Antoinette.

During the school summer holiday period the Port of Nagoya Aquarium is open every day until 20:00. Visit after 17:00 and get 20% off the regular admission price!

The complete skeletons of 9 giant dinosaurs and more than 60 fossils, including one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered in Asia – the 27m long Ruyang Yellow River Dinosaur, will be on exhibition at the Nagoya City Science Museum this summer.

This exhibition theme is “prayer and journey” and features 300 works including woodblock prints of picturesque scenery from around Japan and a 26m long Buddhist-themed woodblock print. All profits from the sale of selected posters and postcards at this exhibition will be donated towards helping those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Last year over 1000 people from 30+ countries attended the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual sports recreation day. Join this year’s event as an individual, family, group of friends, school, or company. Participation is free, but pre-registration is required.

The Kyoto International Cultural Association’s (KICA) annual essay contest is open to all non-native speakers of Japanese.

In cooperation with the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam, this exhibition presents some 107 of the artist’s works and 10 works from related artists. The artworks are gathered from the Rijksmuseum, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Louvre Museum, and other major institutions.

Located on the hill overlooking Takayama is the Hida no Sato museum – an open air museum exhibiting over 30 typical farmhouses and other traditional buildings from the Hida region.

The Aichi Goodwill Guides Network offer 5 free English-speaking tours of sightseeing spots around Nagoya. Guides are free, but entrance fees are to be paid by participants.

There are 3 events on at Nagoya Castle this October that you may be interested in, including samurai performances, an art exhibition, and a historical flower show. No additional admission charges are required! Combine your visit with a free English guided tour!

If you are a Japanese history buff this exhibition is for you! Paintings, artwork, and items from Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573 – 1603)

The annual open house and air show at the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Gifu Air Base.

A fun and entertaining parent-student seminar by Terry Small that will show you how to study smarter – not harder. Parents and students are encouraged to attend this seminar together to learn strategies and study secrets that help students excel. Terry is a Canada-based presenter and learning skills specialist who has presented workshops and spoken at conferences around the world and his seminar guarantees increased confidence and more fun in learning.

Camp cooking demonstrations, a climbing wall, a wood craft corner, craft class, and lots of motor homes.

This popular festival dates back to 1696 and is held annually during October. Hundreds of half-naked men transport four huge decorated floats between two shrines in the town. On Sunday, the floats enter the sea. Arrive early on Sunday morning to secure your spot on the beach.

ETJ & ETJ-Aichi’s national English Language Teaching Expo

A series of 8 films from around the world that highlight the plight and struggle of the World’s estimated 42 million refugees.

Around 45 groups of street performers, musicians, and artists will be showing off their skills with their dances, juggling, and magic routines on the streets of Osu.

Watch the 1950 Academy Award-winning classic, Sunset Boulevard for just 500 Yen. The film won 3 Academy Awards and was ranked number twelve on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 best American films of the 20th century.

Tweet Tsukimi 月見, literally moon-viewing, is a traditional event that takes place on August 15th in the lunar calendar. In 2010 it falls on September 22. The moon isn’t always full, but its meant to be at its brightest and most beautiful. Free tsuki-mi-dango (moon dumplings) will be available from 17:30 at a special tent [...]

TweetHighlights include police dog & guide dog demonstrations, a photo exhibition, a small animals petting zoo, a dog training class, pony rides, and a lot of dogs from around the world. When: Sunday, September 12 (10:00 – 16:00) Where: Hisaya Hiroba久屋広場, Hisaya-Odori Koen 久屋大通公園 Admission: Free Access: 1 minute walk from Yabacho Station, exit 6.