Chie's paintings, regularly shown in Europe as well as Japan, achieve a rare balance between abstraction and figuration, volume and light, repose and energy. Familiar, archetypical shapes and unadulterated colors work together to create dazzling effects which shock and soothe at the same time. Time and again, Chie seeks to translate basic components of everyday life – love, pain, prayer, loss, and joy -- into memorable images that are as much representations of an abstractly conceived inner life as they are mirrors of our own. It is said that Chie's paintings gain praise from psychiatrists and more generally people who are unusually aware of the delicate balance between mind and body and between the body and nature. Indeed, buried under a deceptive simplicity, her work synthesizes decades of research on the healing power of light, color, and shapes on the mind.

Takumi Bando
Performance with Wadaiko (Japanese drums) and dancers

In part of "ART GALA: VIVA JAPAN! NATSU MATSURI IN NEW YORK"

THE PUFFIN ROOM
435 Broome St. (Bet Broadway and Crosby St)
www.natsumatsuri-jp.com

11 Japanese artists will collaboratively translate and present "Natsu matsuri" (Summer Festival) as a modern art, bringing back memories to every Japanese. The unique approach at this event will also reveal to New Yorkers the true power and aesthetic sensitivities of the Japanese people today. This glimpse of traditional Japanese culture is an opportunity not to be missed.

Toshi Kubota
New CD Release "Time to Share"

Japanese super popular soul music artist, Toshi Kubota, released new album on Sep. 21.

Toshi and his band will be performing an album release showcase in New York City on Sep 29th. This industry event is by invite only, but 5 lucky winners and their guests will be selected to attend. You can enter the contest on his website, http://www.toshikubota.com/e_html/wnif-ny.asp.

Wed,
July 21,
8:00 PM

Thur,
July 22,
8:00 PM

Friday,
July 23,
8:00 PM

Saturday,
July 24,
8:00 PM

Sunday,
July 25,
3:00 PM

Aug 13 (Fri)
5pm

Aug 15 (Sun)
12pm

Aug 16 (Mon)
7:15pm

Aug 19 (Thu)
10pm

Aug 21 (Sat)
10:15pm

Sep 30
(Thur)
6:30 PM

New York Rakugo-kai presents "The 20th New York YOSE" featuring Katsura Demaru. MC by Nyuyokuya Sento, Syamisen by Koyume, musice performance by Big Apple Dandies.

"Rakugo" is the Japanese traditional form of comic story telling. Rakugo-ka usually sit-down on a Zabuton (small square of futon mattress) wearing kimono and Sensu (fan) in his hand. Yes, traditionally raguko-ka were all men, just like sumo-wrestlers.

Usuful website:
What's Rakugo? http://www.english-rakugo.com/english_version/english_what.html

Sep 23
(Thur)
8:00 PM

Sep 24
(Fri)
8:00 PM

Sep 25
(Sat)
8:00 PM

Sep 26
(Sun)
2:30 PM &
8:00 PM

Noriyuki Sawa is a master Japanese Puppet Theater now living and working primarily in Prague. In his "Legend of the Forest," a wounded soldier battles between life and death while lying unconscious in the forest. As he lies on the ground, a woman in white lures the wounded soldier skyward, attempting to leave his wounded body behind in the forest. He contemplates whether to leave his wounded body or return to it, but at last he decides to return into his body and awakens. Miraculously, the deep wound is healed and he starts to walk the forest again as a soldier. Sawa is author, director, designer, puppetmaker, musical director and actor of the piece. This play will be accompanied by some other small puppet pieces by Sawa. In 1999, Sawa was awarded the Franz Kafka Medal for the performance of this production and for his global activities. This performance is supported by The Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater.

Tickets: [$15]
Box: 212.475.7710
www.lamama.org

Noriyuki Sawa: http://www.puppet-house.co.jp/nori/NoriArt.htm

Late Spring (Banshun) (1949) 108min
Fri, July 9 at 2, 4:30, 6:45pm
Staring Chishu Ryu, Setsuko Hara

What Did the Lady Forget? (Shujo wa nani o wasuretaka) (1937) 71min
Tue, July 13 at 4:30, 6:45pm
Staring Sumiko Kurishima, Tatsuo Saito

Early Summer (Bakushu) (1951) 125min
Fri, July 16 at 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30pm
Staring Setsuko Kara, Chishu Ryu

Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (Todake no kyodai) (1941) 102min
Tue, July 20 at 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Hideo Fujino, Shin Saburi

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice (Ochazuke no aji) (1952) 115min
Fri, July 23 at 2, 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Chishu Ryu, Shin Saburi

There Was a Father (Chichi ariki) (1942) 87min
Tue, July 27 at 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Chishu Ryu, Shuji Sano

Early Spring (Soshun) (1956) 144min
Fri, July 30 at 3, 6, 9pm
Staring Ryo Ikebe, Keiko Kishi

Record of a Tenement Gentleman (Nagaya shinshi roku) (1947) 72min
Tue, Aug 3 at 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Choko Iida, Chishu Ryu

Tokyo Twilight (Tokyo boshoku) (1974) 141min
Fri, Aug 6 at 3, 6, 9pm
Staring Setsuko Hara, Chishu Ryu

Tokyo Story (Tokyo monogatari) (1953) 134min
Sun, Aug 8 at 3, 6, 9pm
Staring Chishu Ryu, Setsuka Hara

A Hen in the Wind (Kaze no naka no mendori) (1948) 84min
Tue, Aug 10 at 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Kinuyo Tanaka, Shuji Sano

Good Morning (Ohayo) (1959) 93min
Fri, Aug 13 at 2, 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Kaji Shigaraki, Chishu Ryu

Equinox Flower (Higanbana) (1958) 118min
Sun, Aug 15 at 2, 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Shin Saburi, Kinuyo Tanaka

Floating Weeds (Ukigusa) (1959) 119min
Tue, Aug 17 at 6:45, 9pm
Staring Ganjiro Nakamura, Machiko Kyo

Late Autumn (Akibiyori) (1960) 129min
Thu, Aug 19 at 6, 9pm
Staring Setsuko Kara, Chishu Ryu

An Autumn Afternoon (Sanma no aji) (1962) 113min
Tue, Aug 24 at 4:30, 6:45, 9pm
Staring Chishu Ryu, Shima Iwashita
Ozu’s final film.