Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13. 2026Turning 60 And All It Entails: Kanreki In Japan by Patrick Hattman
With a recently completed birthday I am now in my late fifties, with just a few years remaining until a very auspicious occasion: turning age 60 and the Japanese celebration of kanreki.
After spending most of my twenties and thirties living and working in Japan, I recall my incredulous thoughts about my own life as young adulthood passed quickly, apparently in a flash.
However, it still seemed like: "Oh, I'm getting older, yes, but old age remains far away. I can't imagine being 50, let alone 60, like many of my students. Put it out of your mind, it'll be like forever to reach those years."
But now I am almost 60. So not only do I have to accept that reality, I also have to deal with the regular aches and pains of this age, as well as to think increasingly about new concerns, with health care as an example.
But first I hope to enjoy kanreki and all that it represents to the Japanese. With ancient origins in Japan stemming from the use of the Chinese zodiac calendar, kanreki represents a complete cycle of 60 years under that system.
It is a time for "rebirth" as in leaving behind primary responsibility for a household, especially children and finances. As a traditional work retirement age, it is also a transition period from that life to one allowing for more free time and leisure activities.
And yet that's not always the case in recent decades in Japan. For increasing numbers of pensioners, paid work is essential for maintaining a household. Additionally, smaller families require seniors to provide for much, if not all, of the care for themselves.
Be that as it may, I anticipate my kanreki celebration to be full of good times with family and friends. I want to look back on life with appreciation and gratitude for all that I had, and with excitement at what is left to see and do. Perhaps I'll even kick things off by wearing a red cap and vest!
つい先日誕生日を迎えた私は、今50代後半。あと数年で60歳、非常に縁起の良い節目、日本の還暦を迎えることになる。
20代と30代の大半を日本で働きながら過ごした私は、足早に、いやあっという間に過ぎ去った自分の青春時代を振り返り、自分の人生ながら、信じられない思いでいっぱいだ。
しかし当時は「ああ、確かに年を取ったかもしれないが、まだ老いとはほど遠い。自分が教えている生徒たち同様、50歳どころか60歳なんて想像もつかない。考えないようにしよう、そんな年齢に到達するのは長い時間がかかるだろう。」と思っていたのだった。
だが今や私は60歳目前だ。この現実を受け入れるだけでなく、この年齢に伴う日常的な体の痛みや不調に対処し、医療問題など新たな懸念事項についてますます考えざるを得ない。
まずは還暦を、そしてそれが日本人にとって象徴するすべてを享受したい。還暦は中国の干支暦に由来する日本の古い風習で、その暦法における60年の完全な周期を表す。
これは「再生」の時であり、特に子育てや家計といった家庭の主要な責任から解放されることを意味する。伝統的な定年年齢として、仕事中心の生活から自由な時間や余暇活動が増える生活への移行期でもある。
しかし近年の日本では必ずしもそうとは限らない。増加する年金生活者にとって、有償労働は家計維持に不可欠だ。さらに少子化により、高齢者は自身の介護を全てではないにせよ、大部分を担わねばならない。
とはいえ、私の還暦祝いは家族や友人との楽しいひとときで満ちるだろう。これまで与えられたものへの感謝と、これから見たり体験したりすることへの期待を胸に、人生を振り返りたい。もしかすると、赤い帽子とベストを着て祝宴を始めるかもしれない！
Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback SEPTEMBER 11. 2015Icons and Elderly by Grant Piper
My local subway station is currently installing the newest generation of ticket vending machines. The electronic gates that are compatible with paper tickets and various pre-paid cards and digital payment platforms were replaced with upgrades last year, and now the train company is working on the vending machines. When I came to Japan there were no automatic gates, or protective platform barriers. Instead, train station employees manned the exists and individually punched holes in commuter tickets as they passed through. And when they weren’t busy doing that they stood there twirling the hole-punchers in their hands like cowboy quick-draw shooters - looking like Dirty Harry or Doc Holliday. Also, when I arrived here ticket vending machines still accepted the old blue-hued 500-yen paper note, which had only recently been replaced with the 500-yen coin and was in the process of being phased out. So the newest electronic gates and ticket vending machines are the fifth or sixth - seventh? - generation of electronic machines that I have seen in Tokyo. Watching and commenting on them are one way to map the advance of digital technology in society.
The constant replacement of old machines with new provides some humor. Almost every day I see elderly passengers at the ticket machines - and bank ATMs and convenience store copy machines as well - in confusion pushing the screen with their fingers as if they think they are pushing buttons. I want to shout at them, “It’s not a button, it’s an icon!!! There are no moving parts!! It’s a computer! You don’t push it, you only touch it!” I worry their violence might damage the machines over time. Of course, we are most familiar with the technology, the books, the music and TV shows that we grew up with and the current crop of elderly grew up in a world of mechanical devices featuring moving parts and vacuum tubes, not digital ones featuring solid chips. That explains why they still push the ATM and vending machines screens as if they were still pushing moving buttons. It’s funny ... and a little pathetic.
The transition to new technology is fully achieved not by convincing people of its merits but only once the older generation familiar with older ways and means has died out. On our journey through life some totally ignore and avoid the new, preferring to live out their lives with their familiar things. That’s fine. Others, bless them, wholeheartedly embrace whatever comes along. Others, like my own mother, just dip their toes into the new technology. That’s how paradigm shifts occur, not all at once like a light turning on, but gradually as the old paradigm slowly expires. I frown on the practice of businesses and governments forcing ‘progress’ us though unilateral decisions to accept payment and applications, and to provide service only online. More and more we are penalized for using cash, penalized for seeking service from a live human, and denied service if our machines use a different operating system or program.
I enjoy watching those elderly push the touch-sensitive screens as if they were buttons. It’s a live experiment in learning curve.
Unfinished business
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MAY 17. 2019Farewell to a Japan Jazz Icon by David Gregory
The messages from all over Japan read aloud during the service helped us realize how widely Koyama-san touched lives and how many like us were feeling something newly missing from our worlds. But, although wonderful and sometimes saddening us, they did not trigger crying. That happened next.
Those first few notes of the "'Round About Midnight" Miles Davis version, the cut Koyama-san always used to open Jazz Tonight, performed by a live piano and trumpet duo up front near the coffin, did it: Instant recognition, recollections, sighs around the room, eyes closed, arms crossed, heads dropped back or down, and tears, at least for me. How many times had we heard, after Miles breathed his somber opening, Koyama-san's low, raspy voice welcoming us into the studio with, "Minna-san, gokigen ikaga desho-ka everybody, how are you feeling?"?and never thought that someday we would hear him ask about us no more?
Koyama-san's widow, whom, like him, had never known me, stood alone at the coffin head and bowed in silence to everyone in turn after they placed flowers around his body as the duo continued with another slow number, the trumpet sounding so strong and crisp and unusual in a memorial service hall. After we placed our flowers, she responded to my hand on her shoulder, a touch just meant to console her, by immediately turning and reaching for me?a total stranger?burying her head in my chest, and breaking down. She needed that hug that everybody sometimes needs. She let go after her respite when she was ready to face the coffin and everyone else again, and returned to her position. Going to Kashiwa in a snowstorm was worth it just for those few moments when I could do something for her.
So our Kashiwa day was both sad and good. But, why did I even want to go a funeral for a man whom I only knew by voice, and who, although linked to jazz, was not even a musician?
Koyama-san and his Jazz Tonight program I listened to since at least the early 2000s. For more than sixteen years, while my life in Japan has been filled with huge uncertainties, he has been here Saturday nights on the radio, reliable, keeping me connected to the world's music and opening my ears to music from Japan I would not know without him. Listening to him always made me feel good, no matter what had happened in my life during the week or what was coming up in the weeks ahead. Koyama-san and Jazz Tonight were my respite. How well can I replace that comfort?
Koyama-san, thank you for helping this foreigner feel good in Japan. Please rest well in jazz heaven.
NHK Radio, thank you for giving Koyama-san a way to connect with us. Please encourage other DJs to continue doing what he did so well.
To Koyama-san's surviving family members: Please care well for yourselves now, and thank you for supporting and sharing Kiyoshi with us.
The Smallest Box by David Gregory
She came over to my table and asked if I remembered her.
“That’s my boyfriend over there.”
Their table hugged a pillar blocking the sunny Tokyo Bay view enjoyed by the other customers that afternoon in Chiba’s AquaRink ice skating facility café.
“Maybe we will marry next year.”
On my way out, I stopped to congratulate the potential groom to be. What I later heard happened with Hiromi and Hiroshi that night at another place also close to the bay sounded so too good to be true that I visited that place to confirm it really happened. It did.
Hiroshi had reserved for the course menu that night at OCEAN TABLE, next to Chiba Port, on the second floor, where tables sat by the huge windows facing Chiba Port Tower and Tokyo Bay. No view-blocking pillars there. And they had a wait, even with their reservation, because it was Christmas Eve, which in Japan matters much more than the following day; the Eve is the year’s couples’ night out, and single women without dates that night can feel their whole year was wasted.
Hiroshi had changed into a suit after skating, and had urged Hiromi, against her protests about overdressing, into a plaid one-piece, raising expectations. They had never come to a place this nice, one requiring reservations. Saizeriya was more their speed: fast faux-Italian, cheap, and everywhere.
The unexpected wait made Hiroshi antsy. He relaxed and all was perfect after they were seated.
They talked. They ate the Christmas Dinner courses. They ignored the soft Christmas background music. They admired the gleaming, golden Christmas Tree rising from the first-floor buffet area through the open center space across from their table. They could see outside the sparkling flashes and half the tree in Port Tower’s Christmas Illumination, and beyond, the lights from the ships on and facilities around Tokyo Bay, appearing almost twinkling. Perfect—but not for Hiromi.
She went to the toilet. Still he had not asked. The day was done. The reservation system only allowed them two hours there. They had been together all day. He had remembered her birthday-just by coincidence, also that day-with a necklace at AquaRink. Nice, but was that all? He had pestered her since early December about what Christmas present she wanted until she had finally exploded with, “Nothing! Don’t you know I just want a proposal?!” And had added she wanted it to be a surprise. Here he had the perfect chance, and he was wasting it.
She could try enjoying what was left of the evening. Dessert was next. At least here was better than Saizeriya….She was still stuck when she returned to the table, and had no chance to do or say anything, anyway. It was his toilet turn.
Their desserts came. Hiromi sat and waited and pondered the future. Outside, the tower stood alone against the dark sky and Tokyo Bay’s inky darkness.
Their desserts waited. Maybe his tooth was bothering him again. Maybe he was just tolerating it to make the night go well. Maybe for her. Maybe she should go to check on him. Wait-maybe she just heard his voice across the room.
No, only Santa Claus, posing for photographs with diners at the far table. He then started circling the room, giving a small present from his big sack at each table. She could check after he was done.
Hiroshi still had not returned to his seat when Santa reached their table. He handed Hiromi a big, red stocking, by far the room’s largest gift, accompanied by a squeaky, “Atari! You’re a lucky one!” Yeah. She set it aside and Santa moved on. What was he still doing in the toilet?
Santa finished his round, returned to Hiromi, and pointed at her unopened stocking with squeaky, “Un! Un!” grunts. The other diners had opened their presents. She forced a smile and said she was waiting for her boyfriend to return. “Un! Un!”
When Hiromi still resisted, Santa took the stocking in his white-gloved hands and opened it himself. Out first came a big, pink box, heart shaped. He opened that and pulled out another heart-shaped box, and then, from inside that, another heart-shaped box. Another smaller, heart-shaped box followed. He removed from that an even smaller heart-shaped box, and thrust it to Hiromi with one more squeaky, “Un!”
Still gone. Well, he’d miss it. Hiromi obeyed Santa this time and opened it, the smallest box in the room …and her mind and face went blank.
After that frozen moment passed, Hiromi looked at Santa. The second shock hit, and more followed. Santa Claus had ripped off his gloves, furry hat, sunglasses, and huge, flowing beard. He took the box from her?she was still speechless?dropped onto one knee, held the open box out and up to her in both stretching hands, and said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “Hiromi-san, boku-to kekkon shite kudasai! Hiromi, please marry me!”
Outside, to anybody looking, Port Tower’s Christmas Illumination still flashed, and the lights on and around Tokyo Bay still appeared almost twinkling. Inside OCEAN TABLE, on the second floor, everything was happening so fast that Hiromi just did not know which was more difficult to believe: Hiroshi and the ring he first tried slipping onto the finger on her right hand, the one he had taken in his before she held out her left hand, or the following PAN! and PAN! PAN! PAN! PAN! PAN! and PAN! PAN! and PAN! explosions ripping and ribbons shooting around the room as diners at the floor’s other tables popped the party crackers they had found with the notes in their presents from Santa Claus.
Copyright © 2018 David L. Gregory All rights reserved.
I Did It! by David Gregory
She had been here before. But, those were tour-guided or hand-held visits. After living most of her life in white-bread suburban USA, driving everywhere, shopping in giant malls and supermarkets, and needing only one currency and one language, my mother ventured out on her own, within and beyond Chiba, during one trip to Japan. From her notes, here are Dorothy's...
ADVENTURES IN JAPAN
Grocery Shopping in Neighborhood―Walk five blocks...buy only one bag...walk five blocks back. Survived it!
Shopping in City Center―Walk six blocks to bus stop. Ride bus fifteen minutes. Arrive at stores. Walk around. Look. Decide: cookies.
Buying: “Ikura desu-ka how much?” Hmm. “Kakimasu kudasai write please.”
Paying options: give large bill, let clerk figure change, or open change purse, let clerk take out correct amount. Decide to just give some cash.
Clerk shakes her head (“NO! MORE!”), then counts out correct amount needed from register and shows me. I mimic her action from my change purse. Smiles! Deep bows with many, “Arigato gozaimasu thank you very much!”-es.
(My error: thought there was decimal point in Yen price....)
Open cookies, expecting pirouettes with chocolate centers. Instead, peanut butter waffle rolls, no chocolate. No wonder, now I see peanut sketch on package. “Shoganai can’t be changed,” I did it to myself. It could have been worse!
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Travelling to Visit Friend’s Family on Other Side of Chiba―Walk ten blocks to train. Purchase ticket. Electronic lady on ticket machine screen says, “Arigato gozaimasu” and bows. Ride train twenty minutes, watching for correct stop, get off, walk seven blocks to house. I did it myself!
Visiting Hisae Overnight―My Japanese study partner in USA returned to Japan, now lives on other side of Tokyo Bay.
Take large purse and large tote bag with jacket, nightie, toothbrush, cosmetics. Walk six blocks to bus stop. Ride bus to train station. Ride train eighty minutes to Yokohama. Find correct exit from station. EASY. Did not even look at note in pocket explaining route and Japanese signs. And, look! Hisae and three-year old Kei are waiting! “Hello!” they say! Many hugs!
I did it!
Then, still more travel: train together fifteen minutes, short taxi uphill to lovely apartment, sunny and bright.
Returning to Chiba, just reverse process. Next time, we can meet at a station halfway in between. I can do it.
I can do it!
Copyright (C) 2015 David Gregory. All rights reserved. Chiba, Japan
Book Review
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MAY 11 2018Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami
by Rey Ventura Reviewed by Randy Swank video maker and scriptwriter Rey Ventura won the 2015 National Book Award for his third collection of essays, Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami, but for some strange twist of fate you will find very little information on this book. You can’t even buy it on Amazon. This is a shame because Cherry Blossoms... is a beautiful, insightful and thought-provoking book. |
Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami |
In "Miniskirts and Stilettos" we meet Ginto, a young lady who comes to Japan dreaming of making it big as a singer and entertainer but has to deal instead with a much darker reality; while "Mr. Suzuki Tries Again" and "Into the Snow Country" are tragicomic tales of arranged marriages where the dreams and expectations of bride-starved farmers from Japan's Deep North clash with those of young Filipino women who want to escape their poverty and go into marriage "as a girl goes into a convent." Ventura tells these stories with a great eye for detail and manages to find a ray of light even in the darkest corners, or poetry in the midst of a nuclear disaster. The book's first essay is called "The Slow Boat to Manila" and indeed, slowness is the first word that comes to mind when considering Ventura's approach to writing. Everything Ventura does is slow. He is no magazine reporter after all, and will spend days or even months getting to know a person he wants to write about. That's the kind of personal commitment and deep connection with his subject that one feels when reading his essays. |
Tokyo Fab
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13, 2026
Happy St. Patrick's!!
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Have You Been To...
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13, 2026
Kurashiki [Kurashiki, Okayama]
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in Okayama Prefecture is a beautifully preserved area famous for its white-walled merchant houses, willow-lined canals, and traditional kura storehouses. Visitors can stroll along cobblestone streets, explore museums and craft shops, and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of Edo-period Japan. Its scenic charm and cultural heritage make it a must-visit destination for history and photography enthusiasts.
Onomichi Downtown [Onomichi, Hiroshima]
Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a charming coastal town known for its steep, narrow streets, hillside temples, and scenic views of the Seto Inland Sea. Famous for its cycling routes, retro cafe´s, and film locations, Onomichi offers a blend of history, culture, and stunning landscapes, making it a favorite destination for travelers seeking both sightseeing and local experiences.
Higashi Chaya District [Higashiyama, Ishikawa]
Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa is a beautifully preserved historic area famous for its wooden teahouses, cobblestone streets, and traditional gold leaf crafts. Once home to geisha culture, the district offers visitors the chance to enjoy tea ceremonies, artisanal shops, and nostalgic architecture, immersing them in the elegance and atmosphere of Edo-period Japan.
Kakegawa Castle [Kakegawa, Shizuoka]
Kakegawa Castle Park in Shizuoka Prefecture features the restored Kakegawa Castle, complete with traditional wooden architecture and stone walls. Visitors can explore the castle keep, enjoy panoramic views of the city, and stroll through surrounding gardens that bloom beautifully in spring. The park offers a serene blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, perfect for sightseeing and photography.
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback: MARCH 27. 2016
View of Spring by Nobuyo Honda
Spring is the season of moving. I recently got a new job that’s a little far from my home in Akiruno. I have left home and now live alone. I packed my stuff and cleared out my unnecessary things from my room. A removal man came to my house in the morning and we loaded my stuff into a van. The driver put my new address into the car navigation system. I left the suburbs of Tokyo for its Metropolitan area.
The warm weather has held and the cherry blossoms have started blooming quickly this March. I watched last evening’s news which said the dropping cherry tree was in full bloom in Rikugi-en. I expected to see cherry blossoms during my move. We would cross a bridge over the Tama river and pass in front of Koganei Park.
It was a cold but fine day. We crossed the Tama river but the cherry flowers were few. They were still in the buds. There were also only a few cherry flowers in Koganei Park. The driver told me that he was planning Ohanami in Syowakinen Park on the first Sunday of April. Surely, the cherry flowers would be gone in two weeks. He made sure his friends were having the party. The guy said, “Of course.” “It is OK that there won’t be any cherry flowers. We will just drink sake.”
The view from the car was gradually changed. The greenery was giving way to tall buildings. Luckily, the traffic was not heavy on the Ome Road. I arrived at my new house around noon.
As soon as I had carried my cardboard boxes into my room, I went out to Rikugi-en, a huge Japanese Park to see cherry flowers. People flocked to the huge dropping cherry tree and took photos. The tree was magnificent and the flowers were graceful. I took some photos of the cherry flowers against the blue sky with a white half-moon. I walked in the park and was really refreshed.
I returned to my house to unpack my stuff. New life was beginning.
春は引っ越しの季節である。最近、私は住まいのあきる野から少し離れた所で、新らたな仕事に就くことになった。実家を出て１人暮らしを始める。部屋から不要なものを処分して、荷造りをした。朝、引っ越し業者がやって来て荷物を軽トラックに運んだ。運転手はカーナビに新しい住所を入れた。私は郊外から都内に移動する。
今年の春は暖かく、桜の花が早く咲き始めた。昨日の夜のニュースでは、六義園のしだれ桜が満開であると言っていた。私は移動の途中で、桜の花が見られることを期待した。私達は多摩川の橋を渡り、小金井公園の前を通る。
この日は快晴だが寒かった。多摩川を渡ったが、桜はまだつぼみで花はあまり咲いていなかった。小金井公園の桜も少ししか咲いていなかった。ドライバーが、４月の第１日曜日に、昭和記念公園でお花見を計画していると言った。2週間後に、桜の花が散ってしまうのは確実だ。彼は友達にお花見をするかどうかを確かめたが、彼らは「もちろん。」「桜の花は咲いていなくたっていいよ。酒が飲めさえすればいいんだよ。」と、言ったそうだ。
車から見える景色は徐々に緑が減り、高いビルへと変わっていった。幸運にも青梅街道は渋滞していなかった。新しい家には昼頃に着いた。
私は段ボール箱を部屋に運ぶと、すぐに六義園の桜を見に出かけた。人々がしだれ桜の大木に群がり、写真を撮っていた。壮大なしたれ桜の木に、優美な桜の花が咲いていた。私は白い半月が浮かんだ青い空を背景に、桜の写真を撮った。公園を歩き、気分転換ができた。
私は荷ほどきをするために、自分の家に戻った。これから、新たな生活がはじまる。
MUSEUM -What's Going on?-
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13. 2026
100th Anniversary of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
The exhibition “Swedish Painting: Nordic Light and Everyday Life” presents a rare opportunity to discover the beauty and character of Swedish art from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Featuring around 80 carefully selected works, the exhibition highlights a remarkable period often referred to as the Golden Age of Swedish painting. Created in collaboration with Nationalmuseum, the show introduces visitors to the distinctive artistic voice that emerged in Sweden during this era.
In the late 1800s, many Swedish artists traveled abroad―particularly to France―where they encountered influential artistic movements such as realism and naturalism. Inspired by these developments, they returned to Sweden and began to adapt these ideas to their own surroundings. The result was a uniquely Swedish style that captured the country’s landscapes, changing seasons, and quiet moments of everyday life. Through their work, artists conveyed a deep connection between people, nature, and the Nordic environment.
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Among the artists featured are Carl Larsson, celebrated for his warm and intimate scenes of family life, and August Strindberg, who explored painting with an experimental and expressive approach. Their works, along with those of other artists in the exhibition, portray luminous landscapes, gentle light, and simple moments that reflect the rhythm of daily life.
Organized around themes such as nature, atmosphere, and the beauty of ordinary experiences, the exhibition reveals how Swedish artists used art to express a growing sense of national identity. Many works emphasize mood, storytelling, and emotion rather than strict realism, giving the paintings a timeless and personal quality.
By presenting these masterpieces from Sweden’s national collection, the exhibition offers a deeper appreciation of Nordic art and invites audiences to experience the poetic light and quiet elegance that define Sweden’s artistic heritage.
Period: -April 12 (Sun.), 2026
Venue:Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Closed: Mondays
Hours: 9:30-17:30 / -20:00 on Friday (admission 30 minutes before? closing)
Admission: Adults − 2,300yen / College Students − 1,300yen / 18 years old or younger and students of high-school grade or lower will be admitted free.
For more information, please visit
https://www.swedishpainting2026.jp/
Beautiful Utopia: Visions of an Ideal World in Modern Japan
The exhibition “Beautiful Utopia: Visions of an Ideal World in Modern Japan” explores how artists, architects, and designers in modern Japan imagined better ways of living through creativity and design. Presented at the Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, the exhibition examines the idea of “utopia”―a term first introduced by Thomas More―and how this concept inspired artistic and cultural thought in Japan throughout the twentieth century.
The notion of a utopian society was also influenced by thinkers such as William Morris, who believed that art should play an essential role in everyday life. As these ideas spread internationally, they reached Japan and encouraged artists and intellectuals to reconsider how communities, homes, and daily environments could be shaped through art, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.
The exhibition brings together a wide range of materials that reflect this pursuit of an ideal society. Visitors can view architectural plans, design drawings, craft objects, and artworks that illustrate how creators envisioned harmonious living spaces and culturally rich communities. These works reveal how people in modernizing Japan experimented with new concepts of beauty, lifestyle, and social structure during a period of rapid change.
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Rather than simply presenting historical artifacts, the exhibition highlights the creative visions that sought to shape the future. Artists and designers imagined environments where aesthetics, community, and daily life could coexist in balance.
By connecting art, architecture, design, and social philosophy, Beautiful Utopia offers insight into how creativity can influence the way people live. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on how past dreams of an ideal world continue to inspire contemporary ideas about society, culture, and the future of everyday life.
Period: − March 22 Sunday, 2026
Venue: Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
Closed: Wednesdays (except for March 18)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 / - 20:00 on March 20, 21 (admission 30 minutes before? closing)
Admission: adults 1,200 yen / Students (high school and college) 700 yen / Admission is free for children in middle school or younger.
Strange but True
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13. 2026
Inflatable Chaos!
A giant inflatable rubber duck caused unexpected chaos in a Dutch harbor when it broke free from its mooring, temporarily blocking shipping traffic. Part of an art installation, the massive yellow duck measures several meters high and was designed to float peacefully as a public spectacle. However, strong winds and currents sent it drifting into the harbor’s main shipping lane, forcing authorities to intervene. Tugboats were dispatched to safely guide the enormous duck back to its designated location, allowing maritime operations to resume. The incident quickly went viral online, with photos and videos of the oversized, wobbly duck amusing viewers worldwide. While no one was harmed, the event highlighted the unpredictable challenges of public art, proving that even playful installations can create serious logistical headaches.
Unexpected Marathon Leader
Runners in a marathon in New South Wales, Australia, got an unusual surprise when a local kangaroo hopped onto the course, briefly taking the lead. The curious marsupial appeared mid-race, bounding past astonished participants and causing a mix of laughter and chaos. Race organizers halted part of the route to ensure the safety of both the runners and the animal. Spectators cheered as the kangaroo bounced alongside competitors before hopping back into the surrounding bushland. Videos of the event quickly went viral, capturing the unpredictable moment that turned an ordinary marathon into a humorous wildlife encounter. While no injuries occurred, the incident highlighted Australia’s unique wildlife interactions and left runners with an unforgettable story of the day they were “chased” by a kangaroo during a competitive race.
Links
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TenTen Guesthouse
33,000yen/30 days for working holiday students.
GOOD ROOM TOKYO
Share room, Private room, under 50,000yen
MOVE JAPAN
Private furnished rooms in Tokyo with free internet. Call us first or call us last!
Tokyomove.com
Hassle free moving starts from 6000yen.
Tokyo Helping Hands
Very flexible working hours to effectly help you with moving, deliveries, disposal, storage and more!
AirNet Travel
We'll cut you the best air ticket deals anywhere.
Fun Travel
Discount air travel & package tours 2min from Roppongi Stn.
No.1 Travel
We go the extra mile for you. International air tickets and hotels.
JR Tokai Tours
Top-value travel to Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
Matsuda Legal Office
All kinds of Visa, Immigration & Naturalization, International Marriage etc.
Futaba Visa Office
Licensed immigration lawyer & certified public tax consultant.
American Pharmacy
English speaking pharmacy since 1950.
Tokyo Skin Clinic
EU-licensed multi lingual doctors.
Tax-free AKKY
Japanese Appliance, Watch, Souvenirs
Tokyo Speed Dating
1st Sat. & 3rd Sun. at Bari n Roppongi ETC.
Tokyo Spontaneous
Picnic, Parties, Language exchange
TMA
Japanese women & Western men.
Tokyo Fab
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13, 2026Happy St. Patrick's!!
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Have You Been To...
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13, 2026Kurashiki [Kurashiki, Okayama]
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in Okayama Prefecture is a beautifully preserved area famous for its white-walled merchant houses, willow-lined canals, and traditional kura storehouses. Visitors can stroll along cobblestone streets, explore museums and craft shops, and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of Edo-period Japan. Its scenic charm and cultural heritage make it a must-visit destination for history and photography enthusiasts.
Onomichi Downtown [Onomichi, Hiroshima]
Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a charming coastal town known for its steep, narrow streets, hillside temples, and scenic views of the Seto Inland Sea. Famous for its cycling routes, retro cafe´s, and film locations, Onomichi offers a blend of history, culture, and stunning landscapes, making it a favorite destination for travelers seeking both sightseeing and local experiences.
Higashi Chaya District [Higashiyama, Ishikawa]
Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa is a beautifully preserved historic area famous for its wooden teahouses, cobblestone streets, and traditional gold leaf crafts. Once home to geisha culture, the district offers visitors the chance to enjoy tea ceremonies, artisanal shops, and nostalgic architecture, immersing them in the elegance and atmosphere of Edo-period Japan.
Kakegawa Castle [Kakegawa, Shizuoka]
Kakegawa Castle Park in Shizuoka Prefecture features the restored Kakegawa Castle, complete with traditional wooden architecture and stone walls. Visitors can explore the castle keep, enjoy panoramic views of the city, and stroll through surrounding gardens that bloom beautifully in spring. The park offers a serene blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, perfect for sightseeing and photography.
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback: MARCH 27. 2016View of Spring by Nobuyo Honda
Spring is the season of moving. I recently got a new job that’s a little far from my home in Akiruno. I have left home and now live alone. I packed my stuff and cleared out my unnecessary things from my room. A removal man came to my house in the morning and we loaded my stuff into a van. The driver put my new address into the car navigation system. I left the suburbs of Tokyo for its Metropolitan area.
The warm weather has held and the cherry blossoms have started blooming quickly this March. I watched last evening’s news which said the dropping cherry tree was in full bloom in Rikugi-en. I expected to see cherry blossoms during my move. We would cross a bridge over the Tama river and pass in front of Koganei Park.
It was a cold but fine day. We crossed the Tama river but the cherry flowers were few. They were still in the buds. There were also only a few cherry flowers in Koganei Park. The driver told me that he was planning Ohanami in Syowakinen Park on the first Sunday of April. Surely, the cherry flowers would be gone in two weeks. He made sure his friends were having the party. The guy said, “Of course.” “It is OK that there won’t be any cherry flowers. We will just drink sake.”
The view from the car was gradually changed. The greenery was giving way to tall buildings. Luckily, the traffic was not heavy on the Ome Road. I arrived at my new house around noon.
As soon as I had carried my cardboard boxes into my room, I went out to Rikugi-en, a huge Japanese Park to see cherry flowers. People flocked to the huge dropping cherry tree and took photos. The tree was magnificent and the flowers were graceful. I took some photos of the cherry flowers against the blue sky with a white half-moon. I walked in the park and was really refreshed.
I returned to my house to unpack my stuff. New life was beginning.
春は引っ越しの季節である。最近、私は住まいのあきる野から少し離れた所で、新らたな仕事に就くことになった。実家を出て１人暮らしを始める。部屋から不要なものを処分して、荷造りをした。朝、引っ越し業者がやって来て荷物を軽トラックに運んだ。運転手はカーナビに新しい住所を入れた。私は郊外から都内に移動する。
今年の春は暖かく、桜の花が早く咲き始めた。昨日の夜のニュースでは、六義園のしだれ桜が満開であると言っていた。私は移動の途中で、桜の花が見られることを期待した。私達は多摩川の橋を渡り、小金井公園の前を通る。
この日は快晴だが寒かった。多摩川を渡ったが、桜はまだつぼみで花はあまり咲いていなかった。小金井公園の桜も少ししか咲いていなかった。ドライバーが、４月の第１日曜日に、昭和記念公園でお花見を計画していると言った。2週間後に、桜の花が散ってしまうのは確実だ。彼は友達にお花見をするかどうかを確かめたが、彼らは「もちろん。」「桜の花は咲いていなくたっていいよ。酒が飲めさえすればいいんだよ。」と、言ったそうだ。
車から見える景色は徐々に緑が減り、高いビルへと変わっていった。幸運にも青梅街道は渋滞していなかった。新しい家には昼頃に着いた。
私は段ボール箱を部屋に運ぶと、すぐに六義園の桜を見に出かけた。人々がしだれ桜の大木に群がり、写真を撮っていた。壮大なしたれ桜の木に、優美な桜の花が咲いていた。私は白い半月が浮かんだ青い空を背景に、桜の写真を撮った。公園を歩き、気分転換ができた。
私は荷ほどきをするために、自分の家に戻った。これから、新たな生活がはじまる。
MUSEUM -What's Going on?-
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13. 2026100th Anniversary of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum The exhibition “Swedish Painting: Nordic Light and Everyday Life” presents a rare opportunity to discover the beauty and character of Swedish art from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Featuring around 80 carefully selected works, the exhibition highlights a remarkable period often referred to as the Golden Age of Swedish painting. Created in collaboration with Nationalmuseum, the show introduces visitors to the distinctive artistic voice that emerged in Sweden during this era. |
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Among the artists featured are Carl Larsson, celebrated for his warm and intimate scenes of family life, and August Strindberg, who explored painting with an experimental and expressive approach. Their works, along with those of other artists in the exhibition, portray luminous landscapes, gentle light, and simple moments that reflect the rhythm of daily life. |
Period: -April 12 (Sun.), 2026
Venue:Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Closed: Mondays
Hours: 9:30-17:30 / -20:00 on Friday (admission 30 minutes before? closing)
Admission: Adults − 2,300yen / College Students − 1,300yen / 18 years old or younger and students of high-school grade or lower will be admitted free.
For more information, please visit
https://www.swedishpainting2026.jp/
Beautiful Utopia: Visions of an Ideal World in Modern Japan The exhibition “Beautiful Utopia: Visions of an Ideal World in Modern Japan” explores how artists, architects, and designers in modern Japan imagined better ways of living through creativity and design. Presented at the Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art, the exhibition examines the idea of “utopia”―a term first introduced by Thomas More―and how this concept inspired artistic and cultural thought in Japan throughout the twentieth century. |
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Rather than simply presenting historical artifacts, the exhibition highlights the creative visions that sought to shape the future. Artists and designers imagined environments where aesthetics, community, and daily life could coexist in balance. |
Period: − March 22 Sunday, 2026
Venue: Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
Closed: Wednesdays (except for March 18)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 / - 20:00 on March 20, 21 (admission 30 minutes before? closing)
Admission: adults 1,200 yen / Students (high school and college) 700 yen / Admission is free for children in middle school or younger.
Strange but True
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MARCH 13. 2026Inflatable Chaos!
A giant inflatable rubber duck caused unexpected chaos in a Dutch harbor when it broke free from its mooring, temporarily blocking shipping traffic. Part of an art installation, the massive yellow duck measures several meters high and was designed to float peacefully as a public spectacle. However, strong winds and currents sent it drifting into the harbor’s main shipping lane, forcing authorities to intervene. Tugboats were dispatched to safely guide the enormous duck back to its designated location, allowing maritime operations to resume. The incident quickly went viral online, with photos and videos of the oversized, wobbly duck amusing viewers worldwide. While no one was harmed, the event highlighted the unpredictable challenges of public art, proving that even playful installations can create serious logistical headaches.
Unexpected Marathon Leader
Runners in a marathon in New South Wales, Australia, got an unusual surprise when a local kangaroo hopped onto the course, briefly taking the lead. The curious marsupial appeared mid-race, bounding past astonished participants and causing a mix of laughter and chaos. Race organizers halted part of the route to ensure the safety of both the runners and the animal. Spectators cheered as the kangaroo bounced alongside competitors before hopping back into the surrounding bushland. Videos of the event quickly went viral, capturing the unpredictable moment that turned an ordinary marathon into a humorous wildlife encounter. While no injuries occurred, the incident highlighted Australia’s unique wildlife interactions and left runners with an unforgettable story of the day they were “chased” by a kangaroo during a competitive race.
Links
Guesthouse Tokyo10 minutes to Ikebukuro. Interhousesafe and accessible solution for your accommodation needs in Tokyo. Sakura House1830 monthly furnished rooms at 204 locations in Tokyo. TOKYO ROOM FINDERContact our international team that will assist you in finding housing and overcoming any communication barriers in Japan! |
J&F PlazaFurnished & unfurnished guesthouses and apartments in Tokyo. May Flower HouseTokyo furnished apartments. Ginza, Roppongi, Yotsuya and more. TenTen Guesthouse33,000yen/30 days for working holiday students. GOOD ROOM TOKYOShare room, Private room, under 50,000yen |
MOVE JAPANPrivate furnished rooms in Tokyo with free internet. Call us first or call us last! Tokyomove.comHassle free moving starts from 6000yen. |
Tokyo Helping HandsVery flexible working hours to effectly help you with moving, deliveries, disposal, storage and more! |
AirNet TravelWe'll cut you the best air ticket deals anywhere. Fun TravelDiscount air travel & package tours 2min from Roppongi Stn. |
No.1 TravelWe go the extra mile for you. International air tickets and hotels. JR Tokai ToursTop-value travel to Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya from Tokyo by Shinkansen. |
Matsuda Legal OfficeAll kinds of Visa, Immigration & Naturalization, International Marriage etc. |
Futaba Visa OfficeLicensed immigration lawyer & certified public tax consultant. |
|
American PharmacyEnglish speaking pharmacy since 1950. |
Tokyo Skin ClinicEU-licensed multi lingual doctors. |
|
Tax-free AKKYJapanese Appliance, Watch, Souvenirs |
Tokyo Speed Dating1st Sat. & 3rd Sun. at Bari n Roppongi ETC. Tokyo SpontaneousPicnic, Parties, Language exchange |
|
TMAJapanese women & Western men. |
|
50 Shades of Yikess
