The Tokyo International Film Festival has adopted a green theme this year with a slogan of Action! for Earth.  In keeping with the theme, a number of films on the subject of ecological awareness will be screened over the nine festival days. (TIFF Special Screenings)

The main event of the festival is the competition that features fifteen films from around the world vying for the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix and $100,000 USD.  (TIFF Competition Films)  Other film collections on the TIFF festival program include Winds of Asia, Japanese Eyes, World Cinema, and natural TIFF.  There will also be a retrospective of films by Osamu Tezuka, “The God of Manga”, titled animecs T!FF. 

Visit the Tokyo International Film Festival website to obtain details about the venues in Roppingi and Shibuya and the various ticket packages and prices.  Alternatively, call 03-5405-86986 between 9AM – 6PM for assistance in English.

Image Credit:  Used with Permission of the Tokyo International Film Festival

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

Manma

How Japan’s antiquated baseball system is being challenged, again…this time by a semi-pro player.

Have you heard of Metabolic Syndrome?  It’s commonly spoken about in Japan and the government has mandated employers to counsel workers suffering from the syndrome.  Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous risk factors for a heart attack and one of the tell-tale signs is a bulging waistline.

Shochu, a Japanese alcoholic beverage, has made its way to Chicago in a restaurant and bar of the same name.

Mark at Let’s Japan has come up with 10 reasons to visit Japan based on the plots of movies set here.

Check out Off the Books in Tokyo for a list of things to see and do that may not be in your guidebook.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler