I just happened to be in Yamashita Park on Monday and there was a small flower exhibition going on. I don’t know anything about it and don’t have to time to search for information about it but when I was there I snapped a few photos with my camera phone. That explains the quality.

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1. My New Mobile Phone
2. Kanamara Matsuri Photo Gallery (2006)
3. Flower Art Festival Gallery

Well, it’s not like we need an excuse to drink but here is an reason to try out (or return to) a few bars in Yokohama. Here is some info about the Beers for Books events happening in Yokohama this year.

At a Beers for Books event, the bar/restaurant owner agrees to donate 100 Yen for each drink (of any type, alcoholic or non-alcoholic) to the charity. Guests come along and have a good time and we (the organizers) try to make sure the owner has a full bar so everyone is happy. You can check the Beers for Books page at Facebook or www.beersforbooks.org for more details.

Here is a list of the upcoming events. The first one is Friday of this week.

Full Monty British Pub (3 minutes from Kannai Station) Friday, March 26, 6 p.m.-closing. At the request of Clive, the owner, all proceeds will benefit the children of Nepal. (www.fullmontyyokohama.com)

The Green Sheep Irish Pub (8 minutes walk from Yokohama Station, West Exit) Sunday, April 25, 3 p.m.-closing. (www.foodcom.jp/green-sheep)

Benny’s Place (5 minutes walk from Ishikawacho Station, Motomachi Exit) Saturday, June 5, 6 p.m.-closing (www.bennysplace.net)

So if you have time and have the thirst why don’t you check out some of these events. If you are new to Beers for Books, the concept is simple: For every drink you have, 100 yen will be donated to Room to Read and that buys a treasured book for children via Room to Read.

Room to Read is an amazing NPO whose mission is to provide quality educational opportunities to children in developing countries with the goal of empowering kids via literacy. Room to Read has projects in 9 countries in Asia and Africa including Nepal, Cambodia, Zambia, etc. For more details see www.roomtoread.org or in Japanese www.roomtoread.jp.

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1. Drink for Charity
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Saint Patrick's Day Parade Motomachi Yokohama 2006

This photo is from 2006 but I am not sure that that was the last time I attended the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Motomachi. Maybe. Anyway, this year the Parade is being held on the 20th of March between 1pm and 4pm. I suggest going a little early rather than a little late as in my experience the parade doesn’t take the three hours and you might just miss out. There will be crowds of people but not so many as to be too uncomfortable or that you won’t be able to see anything.

After the parade you should head over to Benny’s Place for a bit of craic.

You might also be interested in the following posts:

1. Drink for Charity
2. Design a poster for the Yokohama Port Opening Festival
3. YOKE launches web site

I didn’t notice any mention of a prize but it would be pretty cool to have your design used for the official Yokohama Port Opening Festival poster. There is only one winner which kind of makes sense. I mean, how many posters do they need? My guess is one.
You can find more details here: http://www.yoke.or.jp/englishblog/diarypro/diary.cgi?no=1051. The link on the page was broken but you can check out the Japanese Port Opening Festival Page here: Kaikousai.com.

You might also be interested in the following posts:

1. Y150 – Port of Yokohama 150 Year Anniversary
2. Nihon Odori Flower Art Festival
3. Kaiwo Maru Sail Training Ship in Yokohama

If you have been in Yokohama for any length of time you have probably come across YOKE. YOKE publishes a monthly newsletter informing Yokohama residents of events and activities happening around Japan as well as practical information about how to get health checks and legal advice etc. The Yokohama Echo, as the newsletter is called is published in several languages and it used to have interesting articles about Yokohama. Actually a friend of mine used to write them regularly as part of his job and I even wrote a couple myself. These days though, the creative writing has been dropped in favor of pure information. It’s a pity in my opinion but at least the Yokohama Echo is still published. There were rumors that it was going to end.

The new YOKE we site

Anyway YOKE has a new web site so now you don’t have to worry about not being able to get your hands on the Echo. If you miss an issue just check out: http://www.yoke.or.jp/english/index.html

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1. Design a poster for the Yokohama Port Opening Festival

This is not the first time Star Wars and Japanese culture have mixed (see: Darth Vader vs. Japanese Police) but it is a fun combination. Think Geek just told me about these items so it is a mystery that they are sold out. It does say on the Think Geek website that they are imported from Japan though so you may be able to find them over here. I think they would make a great gift for Star Wars fanboys and Japanophiles alike. Officially licensed Star Wars chopsticks. Who’d a thunk? Now you just have to fight over who gets to be Darth Vader.

No related posts.

Seasonal events are quite common at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise and Christmas is no exception. This year they have what looks like a female Santa Claus diving with the white dolphins and giving them presents (food) from her sack. It has been reported as far away as the BBC in England and here is the video they showed.

In the original article they call it Kakkeijima rather than Hakkeijima.

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1. Video: Yokohama Salaryman Dances

This is a bit of bad news for many people living in Yokohama and good news for a few people possibly. The Yokohama District Immigration Office moved from its central city location near Motomachi to Kanazawa on June 1st of this year. The new location:

Kanagawa ken, Yokohama Shi, Kanazawa ku, Torihama cho 10-7
神奈川県横浜市金沢区鳥浜町10-7

Phone: 045-769-1720 (General Affairs Division)
045-769-0230 (Foreigner Residence General Information Center Yokohama)

(Official link)

Transportation: At the bus terminal of JR Keihintohoku/Negishi Line station “Shin-Sugita”, use the Yokohama Kotsu Kaihatsu bus line “Torihama 61” and get off at the new bus stop Nyukokukanrikyoku-mae” (about 15 minute bus ride)

Japanese Notice (.pdf)

Information c/o Living in Yokohama Yahoo Group

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1. Jack Johnson in Yokohama
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It’s not the first time I have seen some strange occurrences in Yokohama but it is one of the first times that I have been quick enough to pull out my mobile phone and switch on the video camera. Pity I didn’t have the presence of mind to check the quality.

This video was taken about 3 or 4 minutes walk from Yokohama Station just outside the building where I occasionally work. It is hard to see but it looked like he was listening to some sort of portable music player.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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1. Tour of Zoorasia Video
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As mentioned on Yokohama Living, Zo no Hana Park was officially opened on June 2nd and while we couldn’t get down there for the opening ceremony or the events we did get down there to grab a few snaps. It was a little crowded though and we didn’t have much time so we will get back down there for more photos when we get the time. While the park is smaller and plainer than I had imagined it is still a nice addition to Yokohama’s waterfront and it is just a couple of minutes from Aka Renga on foot.

You might also be interested in the following posts:

1. Zo-no-hana Park to open June 2nd
2. Photo Gallery: Yamato Awa Odori 2005
3. Cuauhtémoc in Yokohama Photo Gallery