Last week was great fun for me as an English-language spoken word event fan... there were so many spoken word events that my dog took a dim view of my constant vanishing acts to go and enjoy them.

First, Rakugo, the Japanese version of storytelling... the main differences between Western and Japanese style storytelling are that people train for years to perform rakugo, and they tell traditional stories rather than ones about themselves, with lots of two-way dialogue - but it is similar in it being funny and engaging. This was my third English language rakugo show, and my second seeing Tatekawa Shinoharu at The Footnik in Ebisu. In his introduction he said something that really resonated: he does English-language rakugo because non-Japanese people tend to go to see rakugo/kabuki/noh/etc as a 'cultural experience' but he wanted us to just enjoy it as Japanese people do without thinking about it as a worthy or especially cultural. Looks like he is telling ghost story rakugo on Saturday! See below.

Nerd Nite is going from strength to strength and is probably one of the most interesting English language events in Tokyo at the moment. The highlight was a talk from Steve Marshall, a magician who told us not about how he does magic, but why we believe in it and why we are are always so astounded. Not only was it really compelling, he made a table float and alerted me to a whole Tokyo scene of magic bars. Now all I want to do is go to bars and have magicians amaze me while I sip my G&T... Here's one I think he mentioned. Another Pechakucha night this week meant another interesting and mixed bag of talks about arty endeavours. I particularly enjoyed a talk by a freediver (is that the word? Diving deep without oxygen?) who had lots of photos with her swimming next to whales. Very cool. Though rather her than me... I also got to hear the Financial Times editor doing a talk, which was very cool. Oh, and comedy sumo slam was brilliant. I really like this show - it's spontaneous and clever and witty. I'm hoping I get to perform in it sometime...

So in conclusion... what a great week for spoken word!

Our Top Picks for Cool Things To Do in Tokyo in the Upcoming Week

Fri 30 Sept - Hooray, my favourite improv show of the month is tonight: Improvazilla. It's always super, but tonight in advance of Thursday's glory, your very own Perfect Liars Club MC and Brit About Town (me) is going to be performing! It's my most famous story and you're going to love it. See you there? Or if you're in the mood for theatre, The Hard Problem is screening from today til Wednesday at Toho Nihonbashi and Roppongi from its run at the National Theatre in London. And over at Bar Gari Gari it's another Drunk Poets See God night of songs, poems and stories.

Sat 1 Oct - Looks like there's English language rakugo ghost stories by the brilliant Tatekawa Shinoharu this afternoon at 4pm at Koper English Ginza School. Also, a new David Hockney exhibition opens today. Californian landscapes I believe - it's in Nihonbashi til 12 November. Oh, I may have forgotten to mention there's also a Dali exhibition on at the moment.

Sun 2 Oct - I mention the Tera de Marche market in Ueno largely because I'm charmed by their logo.

Mon 3 Oct - I can't find anything particularly fun tonight. Maybe this is your night for seeing The Hard Problem.

Tue 4 Oct - There's a new night tonight called Supplement: Tokyo about design, art, visual culture, fashion and writing. It sounds interesting at it's at Temple University in Azabu Juban. 

Wed 5 Oct - It's the regular Good Heavens Comedy Club - always lots of laughs.

Thu 6 Oct - Drop everything, people of Tokyo. It's the night you've been waiting for all year. And it is finally, gloriously here! Don your Sherlock Holmes garb and head down to Good Heavens in Shimokitazawa because tonight is the grand launch night of the best show ever, Perfect Liars Club! Reserve tickets here to ensure you get a seat. It starts at 8pm but doors will open at 7!

Your help please:

I so want to see Your Name at the cinema but my Japanese just isn't good enough. If anyone happens to hear of a screening with English subtitles in Tokyo, please let me know!

Oh, and we have visitors from Scotland next week - any good ideas for fun things to do? Thanks!

What a week of rain! I never thought about the weather when I decided to get a dog - this week I've been starting every day with half an hour of being totally drenched, followed by 15 minutes of trying to dry a dog as he fights desperately for the opportunity to dash into our cream-colored carpets...

Art: Hooray: the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in Ebisu has been closed ever since I moved to Tokyo, much to my frustration as it always sounded great. But it's now re-opened. We went to see the annual World Press Photo contest, which I last saw in Washington DC. With captions in English and Japanese, this is always an interesting exhibition worth seeing. A lot was about refugees this year but perhaps my favourite picture was of the Ebola Survivors' Football Team.

Film: I had a nice cinema week with all sorts of lovely experiences. The top was probably The Great Gatsby which screened outdoors in Tokyo Midtown park. We got borrowed mats and sprawled on the lawn with Moet to enjoy the film. Lessons: if you want to hear the film in English, position yourself very near one of the speakers as the volume is set pretty low; be one of the first 50 in line to score a comfy cushion, and bring a picnic and a clear umbrella. There are more films on this weekend, assuming the rain abates... We also had a super time seeing 45 Years, which was slow but good, at the delightful Ginrei Hall, my favourite cinema in Tokyo so far. What's yours? Comment below or on @perfectliarstky please! And we saw the BFG at Toho Nihonbashi which we enjoyed as much as the cheese shop we found in the basement of the same building.

This week is particularly fab and fun-filled...

Fri 23 - Tonight it's Nerd Nite, and we will be learning from Macbeth, magic and gaming nerds, while drinking beer and having a fun nerdy time.Or if you're more in the mood for drawing burlesque dancers, Dr Sketchy's is also on tonight. Or if it's not raining, go see NINE at Tokyo Midpark Cinema.

Sat 24 - During the day this weekend, head to the UNU Farmers Market for Tokyo Coffee Festival. In the evening, it's my favourite comedy night of the month, Comedy Sumo Slam. For those of us who love comedy but don't enjoy hearing people telling the same jokes again and again, Sumo Slam is our saviour! Topical comedy game show with much fun and entertainment - and pizza. If you don't like comedy and it's a nice night, just down the road at Tokyo Midpark Cinema you'll find The Devil Wears Prada.

Sun 25 - If you had envy of my description of seeing The Great Gatsby at Tokyo Midpark cinema, good news: it's on again tonight!

Mon 26 - As a storytelling fan, I have been loving Japanese-style funny storytelling, rakugo. But the Footnik Ebisu English language rakugo has been the most fun for me. And it's returning tonight! 

Tue 27 - It's new material stand up comedy night in Shibuya's Double Tall Cafe. 

Wed 28 - Good Heavens Comedy Club tonight in Shimokitazawa as usual. It's always fun. Also tonight, it's Pechakucha - people doing cool, fast talks about their passion projects in art/architecture/fashion and the like. 

Thu 29 - I'm still having traumatic flashbacks about performing comedy in Japanese last month, but if your Japanese is better than mine, tonight is Okomedyaki. Enjoy. I'll probably be at Fuckup Nights where at least half of it will probably be in English - people doing snappy talks about their professional failures in an entertaining way. It's in Meguro.

Fri 30 - I'm so excited that it's time for Improvazilla - my favourite improv show in Tokyo. And even better... I'm going to be in it! In advance of Perfect Liars Club, I'm going to be telling a Perfect Liars Club story that will inspire improv fun. Are you excited? I know I am. Fill in their form to reserve seats. If you're more in the mood for serious theatre, London's The Hard Problem is screening at both Toho Roppongi and Nihonbashi and continues all week. These NTLive screenings are almost as good as being in the theatre in London. Still not tempted? Drunk Poets See God is also on - stories, poems and song.

All week
Ginrei Hall cinema is showing Southpaw and The Revenant. Not for me - but maybe for you?

Coming up
Reserved your tickets for Perfect Liars Club on 6th October? This is going to be the show of the season. If you like comedy, storytelling, gameshows, or general fab things, reserve your tickets here.
What's Perfect Liars Club? Watch the short video below:

This has been an exciting week: moving house, adopting a lovely dog (from Ark animal rescue), and bonding with our new Hanzomon/Kojimachi/Ichibancho neighbourhood. Highlights: fabulous strolling (with lovely new dog) in Chidorigafuchi Park, and tracking down the local hipster coffeeshop - Jupiters Coffee Roasters...  We had a tasty Thai meal in Sawadee, nice cocktails in Hachiro's, and rejoiced in the delicious cakes and hipster vibe at No. 4 (part of the Ivy Place/Cicada/Roastery clan) - though I took a dim view of them not letting our new lovely dog sit in the patio. Perhaps the most exciting local find for us, as vegetarians, is Soranoiro ramen restaurant. First, it has a Michelin star. I've traveled much further than an 8 minute stroll from my house to eat at a Michelin starred restaurant! Next, it is cute and charming and attractive, while still being down to earth with a vending machine ordering system etc. And best of all: its specialty is vegetarian and vegan ramen! As a vegetarian, it's like a glorious miracle. So that has been my Hanzomon bonding so far. Where else should I try? Where could I have a drink or coffee during a walk with lovely new dog. Comment below or on @PerfectLiarsTKY on Twitter!

Of course I have also ventured beyond our new home for Tokyo fun. The week's highlight was the lovely Avenue Q concert by Tokyo International Players. Great venue (Mandala in Gaienmae), lovely vibe, super performances, and delicious gin (and fries). A delightful evening! I also went to a party in Hiroo, I went to see Dead Poets Society at the brilliant 10am weekend screenings at Toho Nihonbashi (on through this week), and I performed at Good Heavens Comedy Club, kicking off my new 'seven deadly sins' themed comedy. (I talked about pride on Wednesday, and was able to confirm that it does indeed come before a fall...)

THE COOLEST THINGS AROUND TOWN IN TOKYO NEXT WEEK
It's mostly a film extravaganza this week - but don't miss physical theatre, comedy, and nerds...

Fri 16 - The Moet Midpark outdoor cinema in Roppongi opens this evening with The Great Gatsby.

Sat 17 - Tonight the Moet Midpark cinema is showing The Man from UNCLE.

Sun 18 - There's a stand up comedy tonight at Gamuso in Asagaya. Or NINE at the Moet Midpark cinema. Or if you're in the mood for physical theatre, today and tomorrow only, get yourself over to World Peace Centre in Kawasaki where there is a double bill: A Day in the Life of Miss Hiccup (quirky, charming, 21st century clowning - I saw it at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington DC. Suitable for kids of all ages), and Touch Me Not (bereavement and filmmaking - not so suitable for kids). Click here for the various times, prices etc. Hosted by Yokohama Theatre Group.

Mon 19  - This is your only other chance to go see the two physical comedy shows described above. Also, in the evening, the Devil Wears Prada is on at the Moet Midpark cinema.

Wed 21 - Good Heavens Comedy Club is tonight at Shimokitazawa and as ever it should be  much fun!

Thu 22 - The Man from UNCLE is on again at the Moet Midpark cinema.

Fri 23 - Nerd Nite is tonight at Bar Gari Gari. Sip your beer and learn from the nerds about magic, Macbeth and gaming. Or NINE is being repeated at the Moet Midpark cinema. Or if that's still not tempting you, you can try Dr Sketchy's burlesque art class!

Even more films this week
What a good week for cinema! This week's film double bill at Ginrei Cinema in Iidabashi has one French film and one English film. The English one is 45 Years. It's on all week at 12:15, 4:05 and 7:55. A great opportunity to visit this reportedly very cool venue. And Toho Nihonbashi has The Dead Poets Society on every day at 10am (see all the films on this year from the 10am series here - thanks for the link, Fernando). The Japanese Film Center has a series of Japanese indies from the punk era with English subtitles. Finally, the BFG is coming out this week - mostly looks like it's in English. Oh, and if you missed it, I see Trumbo is on at the Hibiya Chanter.

Perfect Liars Club is launching on 6th October
This US comedy storytelling interrogation show is the talk of Washington - the Washington Post called it 'storytelling at its finest'. It's going to be amazing. Reserve your tickets NOW.

Oh okay, I know you want to see my new dog... (and if you are interested in adopting, we used ARK who were great).

It is completely bizarre to think that this is the final Brit About Town blogpost from the home base of Daikanyama - from next week, we'll be forgetting all about the aerial yoga and extremely fancy bookstores and charming boutiques and delving into the yet-to-be-discovered delights of Kojimachi. If anyone has delightful Kojimachi/Hanzomon tips for me, please comment or tweet to @PerfectLiarsTKY.

So how did I spend my last week in Daikanyama? Well of course there was aerial yoga - freakishly for the first time I had a teacher who spoke some English. Finally after five months I got to hear the safety instructions before I went upside down. There was delighting in the posh Seria 100 yen shop. Buying posh olive oil at Vom Fass. And alarmingly expensive accoutrements for our imminent new dog in Green Dog. Daikanyama, we're going to miss you.

Spoken word events: The highlight of last week was the Apocrypha story night, with people telling a diverse range of stories, and your very own Brit About Town performing her infamous chopstick story. If you haven't heard it yet, you probably will...

Art and music... and fish: We went to the Julia Margaret Cameron photography exhibition at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in Marunouchi at the weekend. Not only was the building quite cool, the portraits by this innovative 19th century British photographer were compelling, and quite startling for their time. Definitely worth a visit. (Note you get 200 yen discount if you bring a non-Japanese passport.) What's fun is that this exhibition was actually curated by the V&A Museum in London - and the gift shop is a bit like being in the British V&A gift shop. It's on til September 19th. While in Marunouchi we stumbled on several Tokyo Jazz Festival performances which was also delightful, especially the concert in the same square as the above museum (have you been to this charming square? I'm not sure what it's called but google Cath Kidson Marunouchi and you'll find it). If you're in that area and are a quiche and tart fan, don't miss Rose Bakery nearby! Delicious. And what about the fish, you ask? The Nihonbashi Art Aquarium! They have a goldfish themed show on til the 25th and it is interesting, hilarious: charming, attractive, kitsch, and after 7pm they have music and alcohol: what more could you want? I was delighted!

Film: The only film I saw in the cinema was The Secret Life of Pets. It was fun and pleasant but not really Oscar-worthy. That said, the TOHO Shinjuku cinema was sold out on Saturday night and we had a lovely time.

Highlights of Tokyo: the coolest things to do in the coming week

Fri 9 Sept: If you can get tickets, there's an Avenue Q concert fundraiser tonight.

Sun 11 Sept: One for the artists (or aspiring artists). My favourite arty gathering in Tokyo, PauseDraw, is meeting today. But I'm also adopting my new dog that day. Boo. If you don't have a new dog, what's stopping you?

Tue 13 Sept: In the mood for some new comedy? It's new material comedy night at Double Tall Cafe in Shibuya.

Wed 14 Sept: By day, the new Salvador Dali retrospective exhibition opens at the National Art Center. It sounds great. By night, it's the Good Heavens Comedy Club in Shimokitazawa - always fun open mic!

Thu 15 Sept: What a comedy extravaganza this week. Tonight try comedy at the Hobgoblin in Shibuya.

The forward look:

- 18-19: Get tickets for two plays in Kawasaki: Touch Me Not and A Day in the Life of Miss Hiccup. I saw Miss Hiccup at the fringe festival in Washington DC and it is a weird, rather beautiful, family friendly, hypnotic, sort of clown-ish performance with no language needed.

- October: Check out the performances for Tokyo's international arts festival, Festival/Tokyo. Tickets now available.