I started the week being flown to Hollywood for a whirl of story-performance-for-television glamour and ended it being nominated as one of the top storytellers of the year in Washington DC even though I don't live there anymore - so it's been a great week for me in storytelling... But what have I been up to in Tokyo? It's been all about entertaining my parents this week. We saw the English-language Broadway production of Kinky Boots and it was a high-energy charmer. It's on til Sunday so get your tickets asap if you want to go. We went to the Tokyo Film Festival to see Your Name, the new Japanese animated film that's taking box offices by storm. It was amazingly good, and has a subplot of a beautiful love letter to Tokyo. So yes, go see that too. If you can figure out where to see it with subtitles, let me know and I'll publicise it. We went up Tokyo Tower, upside down at Avity aerial yoga in Daikanyama, to see My Darling Clementine at the National Film Centre (also as part of the Tokyo International Film Festival) and frankly I'm exhausted. So I had better gather myself because next week is the very most exciting night in the Tokyo calendar: Perfect Liars Club! Get your tickets now.

Remember: Tokyo International Film Festival runs til Nov 3rd and Tokyo Design Week runs til Nov 7th. Check out their websites for all their shows and events. Also this week there's a series of Film Treasures from the UCLA Film and Television Archive. And here's what else is on:

Fri 28 Oct - My second favourite night of the month (after Perfect Liars Club) - it's Improvazilla at the Crocodile! This improv show is high quality and usually hilarious - absolutely worth a trip. Of course being the last Friday of the month means it's also the event I'd love to go to but can't bring myself to skip Improvazilla - it's the story/poetry/song evening Drunk Poets See God. AND Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School has a Halloween-themed event, combing drawing and burlesque. I really wish these three awesome events would spread themselves over three Fridays instead of all being on the same night! Or Mondays...

Sat 29 Oct - There's an English-language 'rakugo seminar' at KIFL (Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages) 3-203 at 11:15am. I think you just turn up and pay 1000 yen. Today and tomorrow there's the Tokyo Underground Short Film Festival in Koenji. Looks like it's in the really cool venue Za Koenji and while they are being cryptic about what films they're showing, they told me they all have English subtitles! You may also find their Facebook page helpful. Today's theme is Documentary/Underground Culture/Music Videos. It's also the Oedo Beer Festival AND the Kanda used book festival, both near Jimbocho. I walked past the  book festival en route to work and it was bustling!

Sun 30 Oct -  Tatsuya Sudo's English language rakugo class are doing a bilingual rakugo show in English today at 11:30-15:30 at Oedo Ryogoku-tei, free. Info here. Also, the Tokyo Underground Short Film Festival in Koenji is on again and the theme today is Short Story/Animation/Art Films. Enjoy.

Mon 31 Oct - Not much on (curse ye, Tokyo Mondays!), so why not pop to Le Cinema at Bunkamura to see The Man Who Knew Infinity?

Tue 1 Nov - Tuesday is usually a good day for things to do in Tokyo, but not this week, so go check out Tokyo International Film Festival or Tokyo Design Week!

Wed 2 Nov - If you're in the mood for American film noir at 3pm, go see Caught at the National Film Centre or Mickey One in the evening. Then Good Heavens Comedy Club is on tonight if you fancy some stand up comedy fun!

Thu 3 Nov -  Oh my goodness, hold onto your hats, it's the night Tokyo Cheapo called their favourite of the month, it's the moment you've been waiting for all month... it's Perfect Liars Club! Get your tickets here. You'll likely be able to get in on the door (1500 yen including a drink) but it's safest to reserve online in advance. Do it. You'll love it.

Fri 4 Nov - The Gamuso comedy show is on in Asagaya.

This week was a week in between visitors so I spent it recharging, taking my dog for walks around lovely Kitanomaru Park and hosting dinner parties... Although regular readers of this blog know that I could not resist doing a ton of other fun things around town.

This week I have been reveling in the joys of wordless entertainment in Tokyo (even though I didn't end up going to the silent Swedish films). I find myself spending a lot of time hunting down English-language events in Tokyo (predominantly produced and attended by native English speakers), the occasional Japanese events with translation (which I deeply appreciate), or 'bilingual' events (where I only understand part of whatever's happening). I'm not complaining of course - it's my own fault. I'm working to learn Japanese but my progress is disappointingly slow. But as a person who particularly values (a) feeling part of a city, and (b) attending film, theatre, book talks, lectures, and other spoken word events, it can sometimes be really frustrating to be excluded from so many of these because of the language barrier. I feel constantly left out.

So that said, this week has been remarkably nice, featuring two different entertainments without any words in them. It meant I got to go to events and experience them in the same sort of way as the diversity of other random people who live in this city, all of us bonded by the shared desire to see the same thing at the same time. I saw the beautiful new Studio Ghibli film Red Turtle. While I wasn't 100% sure what it was about, it was lovely. Also this week I went to the juggling/dance show by French performance artists at Setagaya Public Theatre in Sangenjaya. Liberated from language, it was a beautiful, quirky little show, even though I couldn't find the theatre for ages (it's on the third floor) then didn't have cash (ATM is on the ground floor) so had a rather frantic start. I also had an excellent G&T afterwards in a cool little bar called Sheets nearby. 

I got to appreciate the rare treat of Japanese-style events translated into English for the second time this month. My favourite rakugo storyteller Tatekawa Shinoharu performed his biannual rakugo storytelling show in the little theatre at Fujigawa Edo Museum this week and he was brilliant - sweet, funny, compelling, and he didn't repeat any of the stories I've heard him perform before. We need to get him to perform at Perfect Liars Club sometime! I was very interested, on the topic of rakugo, to read the Japan Times article this week about English language rakugo, including lessons. I'm hoping to sign up for lessons next year. I also saw some of the best comedy since I've been to Tokyo - Johan Glans, a visiting comedian from Sweden, was rather brilliant at Good Heavens this week. 

Oh, and I got to draw at PauseDraw - my favourite art event in Tokyo. What a fun week.

Fri 21 Oct - Nerd Nite is on again tonight at its new venue, Good Heavens in Shimokitazawa. Talks this evening are about gaming, robots, and the science of curiosity. There's also English language rakugo on tonight by Tatsuya Sudo at 7pm in International House in Roppongi, run by the English-speaking Union of Japan. For reservations, email [email protected] (2000 yen). And since you're in Roppongi, it's Roppongi Art Night! (actually an art weekend). If you like seeing cool art installations late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, this is the art event for you! I'm so sad to be going away this weekend and missing it. Here's the program. Look how cool this looks! Or go see free short films with English subtitles at the Short Shorts film festival.

Sat 22 Oct - During the day, if you want to try English language rakugo and fancy going to Chiba, Tatsuya Sudo is performing in a free show at Miyako library. Or watch a livestream of TEDxTokyo. Then go hear an orchestra play the music of Tim Burton at the Tokyo International Forum at 5:30pm, accompanied by clips from the films - it should be cool. Or go see free short films with English subtitles at the Short Shorts film festival. Later, enjoy more Roppongi Art Night fun. Or participate in Journey to the End of the Night, a cool race/game around town with a space theme. Much fun is promised today.

Sun 23 Oct - The Pirates of Tokyo Bay put on a bilingual improv show tonight in Ebisu. The music of Tim Burton is also on tonight at 12 and again at 5pm. This is the last day to see free short films with English subtitles at the Short Shorts film festival.

Mon 24 Oct - There's rarely anything good on Mondays, I've noticed - could someone please oblige by starting up a cool Monday event? Or tell me more stuff happening that I can share. Thanks. In the meantime, a Broadway production of Kinky Boots is on in English at Tokyu Theatre Orb all this week til October 30th. Weirdly today it's just on at 1pm... check out the link for times.
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Tue 25 Oct - I'm in a bit of a huff with Tokyo International Film Festival which kicks off today: I tried to buy tickets, but their website was overwhelmed and crashed, and now lots of stuff is all sold out. But not everything, so go try your luck. Here's the day-by-day schedule. If the film's name has a red cross it's sold out. It's also New Material Comedy Night in Shibuya.

Wed 26 Oct - Tonight's the Good Heavens Comedy Club - looks like another funny night! There's also a special Pecha Kucha night on tonight in honour of Tokyo Design Week, which kicks off today. Hear design-y talks from the Olympics logo designer, someone who makes prosthetic fingers, and more  It's taking place in a new venue too, in Meiji Jingu Gaien.  Check out Design Week's other cool events. It looks interactive and fun.

Thu 27 Oct - There's an interesting screening of Design Disruptors at the Hub in Meguro, with a discussion afterwards. Learn about how Facebook, Google, Netflix and others embed design in their business. 

Fri 28 Oct - My second favourite night of the month (after Perfect Liars Club) - it's Improvazilla at the Crocodile! This improv show is high quality and usually hilarious - absolutely worth a trip. Of course being the last Friday of the month means it's also the event I'd love to go to but can't bring myself to skip Improvazilla - it's the story/poetry/song evening Drunk Poets See God. AND Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School has a Halloween-themed event, combing drawing and burlesque. I really wish these three awesome events would spread themselves over three Fridays instead of all being on the same night! Or Mondays...

I admit it: last week I suggested you go see the bunraku puppets at PUK, a theatre that's been going in Shinjuku since 1929. And since I don't send you to things that I don't personally like the sound of, of course I went too. Alas I misunderstood the level of comprehensibility... the puppets chat away in complicated Japanese as befits a Moliere adaptation... so I never exactly knew what was happening. But in many other ways it was delightful. The puppet theatre was lovely and quaint. The puppets were brilliantly designed. The performers were passionate. The audience was enthusiastic - indeed, it was sold out. And they have a wee cafe where I had a delicious passionfruit soda. Also, they theatre had written an English summary of one of the two acts so it did help a bit. It was all the epitome of charm, if not of comprehensibility for this Japanesely-challenged Brit About Town... (Note the rest of their upcoming shows this year are pitched for kids.)

Fri 14 Oct - My lovely wife says no to a silent Swedish film from the 1920s with live piano accompaniment about women's empowerment. I say... we'll see. Or head to Tokyo Tower at 5:30 for a free open air screening of Be Kind Rewind courtesy of Tokyo International Film Fesival. Also today a cool interactive Design Touch installation opens at Tokyo Midtown. Or head to Sangenjaya for a French juggling show at Setagaya Public Theatre.

Sat 15 Oct - Festival/Tokyo kicks off today. Here's their guide to what's accessible in English. Also, tickets go on sale today for the Tokyo International Film Festival. They told me that all their films that aren't in English have English subtitles! Get booking. And are you into juggling? At 3pm the French juggling show is on again at Setagaya Public Theatre.

Sun 16 Oct - My favourite drawing event PauseDraw is on today at 4pm. Hooray. This is such a friendly, interesting and stimulating event. Or this is the final 3pm French juggling show performance at Setagaya Public Theatre.

Mon 17 Oct - We loved the Shortshorts film festival in the summer so we are excited that they are doing a mini-festival this autumn. Their tickets for today look sold out already but don't worry - my experience from the summer is that since they're free, lots of people don't turn up so you'll probably get in anyway!

Tue 18 Oct - I've been telling you about my favourite rakugo (Japanese storytelling) performer, Tatekawa Shinoharu. Tonight he's performing in English at the Edo Museum Fukugawa. Don't miss it. Also, more Shortshort films.

Wed 19 Oct - I'm going to the Innovative City Forum today and tomorrow. In the evening it's everyone's favourite standup comedy night, the Good Heavens Comedy Club. And more Shortshort films.

Thu 20 Oct - Stand up comedy at the Hobgoblin, Shibuya tonight. And more Shortshort films - I'm probably going to this screening alone so do come and keep me company.

​Fri 21 Oct - Nerd Nite has got so successful that it's moving to Perfect Liars Club venue Good Heavens in Shimokitazawa. Next Friday, prepare for talks on game art, robots, and learning.

Have a great week! And don't forget to reserve your Perfect Liars Club tickets for the 3rd November. 

What a week! The launch of Perfect Liars Club Tokyo was absolutely amazing. A sold-out crowd. Hilarious storytelling suspects. A crazy interrogation. It was all so much fun we can't wait to do it all again on Thursday 3rd November. So reserve your tickets now. And while you're waiting, enjoy our summary and photos from last night. And if you have a good story to tell, email us.

Otherwise we've had a busy week with our visitors from Scotland. Highlights were going to lovely Kiyosumi Gardens, still my favourite gardens in Tokyo. And in such a cool, quirky neighbourhood. We combined it with the Vegan Gourmet Festival at nearby Kiba Park but alas only a few of the stalls did lunch type food, they all had insane massive lines, and the food we ended up getting was unremarkable. Not like the outstanding, Michelin-starred vegan ramen we had at Soranoiro near my house at Hanzomon again last week. Delicious. I digress...This week we also came across a great little antiques market outside Yasukuni shrine (in between Kudanshita and Iidabashi stations). Looks like it's on every Sunday from 8-3:30 and it had all sorts of interesting things including yukata for under 1000 yen! Quite a good little find, especially for our out of town visitors as it's near my house! Though we were very sad to discover that the lovely hipster bakery/coffeeshop Factory, just opposite, is closed on Sundays. Boo.

​Oh, and this week I went to my first sumo wrestling tournament. Match? What is the terminology? At any rate, it was great fun - it was specially interpreted for English speakers, in the official stadium up at Ryogoku. What a cool experience - from arriving at the station which is decked out in all things sumo to the wrestlers comedy-wrestling tiny boys from a local school, to the sumo hairdressers giving a demonstration of their daily toils. And of course the actual wrestling with all its ceremony and rapid blasts of excitement. While enjoying bento boxes. A fun afternoon! 
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In some ways it's a bit of a quiet week in Tokyo... but let's see if we can find some cool things to do.

Fri Oct 7 - We're going to see Kanatsubo Angel of Death, bunraku puppets doing a play based on rakugo. I have no idea what this will be like but it is playing from tonight til the 16th in Shinjuku.  

Sat Oct 8 - There's a stand up comedy show at Vega wine bar in Ebisu tonight.

Sun and Mon Oct 9 and 10 - I can't identify any specific cool things for these days, but if you like art, then why not go check out some of the great exhibitions on right now. I suggest the Dali retrospective at the National Art Centre, the Universe and Art exhibition at the Mori Art Museum and the little David Hockney exhibition in Nihonbashi.

Tue Oct 11 - From tonight til the 16th at the National Film Centre there's Swedish silent films, some of which have live piano accompaniment. With my lack of Swedish I suspect I'll miss some explanatory text... but this sounds potentially really cool. I'm hoping to go to Tailcoat-wearing daughter tonight. If not, it's New Material Stand up Comedy night.

Wed Oct 12 - Tonight is the regular Good Heavens Stand up Comedy night. Always fun!

Thu Oct 13 - The Tokyo International Players launch their latest play Macbeth tonight - it plays til the 16th.

And if none of that tempts you, you could go see a film. I strongly wish the Japan Times would introduce an English language search feature. But I have trawled on your behalf: don't say I'm not good to you! The Japan Times film page tells me that this week you could see the following in English:

​A Walk in the Woods (the Bill Bryson film), Amy (the Amy Winehouse film), Correspondence, Dead Poets Society, Finding Dory, Genius, Ghostbusters, Gods of Egypt, High Rise, Lights Out, Little Boy, Me Before You, Money Monster, Poverty Inc, Pride Prejudice and Zombies, Race (which I thought was great), Secret in their Eyes, Seymour an Introduction, Suicide Squad, Sully (I saw it last week - pretty good), The Angry Birds Movie, The Baron of Arizona, The BFG, The Blues Brothers, The Damned, The Jungle Book, The Last Witch Hunter, The Secret Life of Pets, The Red Turtle (silent), 

PLANNING AHEAD - cool upcoming things you might want to get advance tickets for:

15 Oct: Tickets go on sale for Tokyo International Film Festival - also the Festival/Tokyo theatre festival starts today, and if you'd like to buy some tickets, here's a handy language guide to their shows.

19 - 20 Oct: Tokyo Innovative City Forum ​takes place and I'll be there.

22 Oct: TEDxTokyo is on - got your tickets? I'm furious I'm out of town that weekend. 

​Got other recommendations? Let us know.