Last week was all about comedy, film and books. I had a fantastic time at my performing debut at comedy sumo slam. This event, by Standup Tokyo, happens around once per month and other than Perfect Liars Club, I think it's one of the best comedy nights in town: it's in the style of a news quiz like Have I Got News for You or Mock the Week, and involves two teams trying to be funniest about topical issues. It is quite hard to do - how I missed the days of enjoying it from the audience rather. But on the other hand - it was hilarious.
I also had a little cinema extravaganza. I wasn't sure I was going to admit to having seen Bridget Jones's baby... but actually it was surprisingly hilarious. Presumably the Japanese subtitles don't convey the humour, or maybe it was very British - I noticed the rest of the cinema looking on in bemusement as I chuckled and roared with laughter... The next day I raised the cinematic tone by going to see Becky Sharp at the lovely National Film Centre. That place is a hidden gem. Shame the films on for the rest of the year are not in English (but if you speak German, Russian, Polish or French, you're all set!)
And finally, I discovered Kinokuniya Books in Shinjuku. I feel ridiculous because I'm sure everyone else has already discovered it, but it's the best English language bookstore for new books that I've found in Tokyo. It's modern and unremarkable in design. It doesn't have a cafe. But... it has a whole glorious floor of books in a wide range of categories. Excellent fiction selections. A decent English language magazine collection. Oh and lots of English language manga too. As a book lover, I felt a wave of relief as I've been in bookshop withdrawal for months (despite walking past the beautiful, plentiful, but not very Englishful bookshops of Jimbocho en route to work every day!). There was a French author book signing while I was there (they have smaller collections of other language books) though it wasn't very busy. Join with me in calling for Kinokuniya to bring more English language authors to do some book readings and talks in this lovely store!
I also had a little cinema extravaganza. I wasn't sure I was going to admit to having seen Bridget Jones's baby... but actually it was surprisingly hilarious. Presumably the Japanese subtitles don't convey the humour, or maybe it was very British - I noticed the rest of the cinema looking on in bemusement as I chuckled and roared with laughter... The next day I raised the cinematic tone by going to see Becky Sharp at the lovely National Film Centre. That place is a hidden gem. Shame the films on for the rest of the year are not in English (but if you speak German, Russian, Polish or French, you're all set!)
And finally, I discovered Kinokuniya Books in Shinjuku. I feel ridiculous because I'm sure everyone else has already discovered it, but it's the best English language bookstore for new books that I've found in Tokyo. It's modern and unremarkable in design. It doesn't have a cafe. But... it has a whole glorious floor of books in a wide range of categories. Excellent fiction selections. A decent English language magazine collection. Oh and lots of English language manga too. As a book lover, I felt a wave of relief as I've been in bookshop withdrawal for months (despite walking past the beautiful, plentiful, but not very Englishful bookshops of Jimbocho en route to work every day!). There was a French author book signing while I was there (they have smaller collections of other language books) though it wasn't very busy. Join with me in calling for Kinokuniya to bring more English language authors to do some book readings and talks in this lovely store!
The coolest things to do in Tokyo in the coming week
Fri 11 Nov - Tonight is your last chance to see the NTLive London play of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime screened at Le Cinema in Bunkamura, Shibuya. It is outstanding. Also tonight, NTLive presents a week of the brilliant play Warhorse in Toho Roppongi and Nihonbashi. Finally there's a new comedy night, Balls to the Walls comedy in Tokyo Sports Cafe in Roppongi.
Sat 12 Nov - During the day it's Cheese Festa in Ebisu. There will be seminars, tastings, free samples, and lots of cheese to buy. Tonight Le Cinema at Bunkamura starts screening another NTLive London hit play, Man and Superman starring Ralph Fiennes. It runs until Thursday. Click here for cinema info.
Sun 13 Nov - Swing by Bookmarc store in Harajuku between 6-7pm for a photography book signing with Ed and Deanna Templton (and beer).
Mon and Tue 14-15 Nov - There's nothing special on Monday or Tuesday. Maybe these should be your NTLive nights! Warhorse is on at 12:30pm at Toho Roppongi Hills and 7pm at Toho Nihonbashi; Man and Superman is at Le Cinema Bunkamura at 6pm.If you like excellent British theatre, you're spoilt!
Wed 16 Nov - Tonight the regular Good Heavens stand up comedy night is being transformed into a roast for veteran Tokyo comedian Vinay Murthy - he will be being duly mocked by a range of local comedians on the occasion of his 40th birthday.
Thu 17 Nov - Tonight Stand Up Tokyo brings us visiting UK comedian Stuart Goldsmith. A veteran of Edinburgh Fringe, and famous for his podcast, the Comedian's Comedian, he will be at Good Heavens bar. Get your tickets in advance! This is likely to be excellent. If you fail to get tickets there's also stand up comedy tonight at the Hobgoblin Shibuya.
Fri 18 Nov - Tokyo's only other storytelling night (aside from Perfect Liars Club) is Apocrypha and the theme tonight is doubt. It's at Bar Gari Gari.
Oh, and Brooklyn is being screened at Ginrei Hall, my favourite movie theatre, all week.
Don't forget to reserve your tickets for Perfect Liars Club on 15th December - and if you'd like to tell a story at the show, email us asap! We're still casting it.
Sat 12 Nov - During the day it's Cheese Festa in Ebisu. There will be seminars, tastings, free samples, and lots of cheese to buy. Tonight Le Cinema at Bunkamura starts screening another NTLive London hit play, Man and Superman starring Ralph Fiennes. It runs until Thursday. Click here for cinema info.
Sun 13 Nov - Swing by Bookmarc store in Harajuku between 6-7pm for a photography book signing with Ed and Deanna Templton (and beer).
Mon and Tue 14-15 Nov - There's nothing special on Monday or Tuesday. Maybe these should be your NTLive nights! Warhorse is on at 12:30pm at Toho Roppongi Hills and 7pm at Toho Nihonbashi; Man and Superman is at Le Cinema Bunkamura at 6pm.If you like excellent British theatre, you're spoilt!
Wed 16 Nov - Tonight the regular Good Heavens stand up comedy night is being transformed into a roast for veteran Tokyo comedian Vinay Murthy - he will be being duly mocked by a range of local comedians on the occasion of his 40th birthday.
Thu 17 Nov - Tonight Stand Up Tokyo brings us visiting UK comedian Stuart Goldsmith. A veteran of Edinburgh Fringe, and famous for his podcast, the Comedian's Comedian, he will be at Good Heavens bar. Get your tickets in advance! This is likely to be excellent. If you fail to get tickets there's also stand up comedy tonight at the Hobgoblin Shibuya.
Fri 18 Nov - Tokyo's only other storytelling night (aside from Perfect Liars Club) is Apocrypha and the theme tonight is doubt. It's at Bar Gari Gari.
Oh, and Brooklyn is being screened at Ginrei Hall, my favourite movie theatre, all week.
Don't forget to reserve your tickets for Perfect Liars Club on 15th December - and if you'd like to tell a story at the show, email us asap! We're still casting it.
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