JULY 2015 Japan’s number one English language magazine JUVENILE JUSTICE MAKING A CASE FOR BEAUTY SUMMER IN AKITA Should School-Age Killers Former DA Gil Garcetti Traditions and Travel Be Tried as Adults? Provides Photo Evidence in the Far North ALSO: Summer Festival Guide, Art Around Town, Making the Perfect Mojito, People, Parties, Places,www.tokyoweekender.com and More... JULY 2015 JULY 2015 www.tokyoweekender.com JULY 2015 CONTENTS 12 GIL GARCETTI The former L.A. District Attorney uses photos to make a case for Japanese aesthetics 15 22 24 AKITA: THE FAR NORTH FESTIVALS IN TOKYO UFC COMES TO TOKYO History, natural hot springs, and a wealth Step into your geta, dust off the yukata, and The MMA boys are back in town, with a of cultural traditions are calling get your fan flapping—it’s matsuri time squad of Japan’s best brawlers 6 The Guide 16 A Warm Welcome in Yuzawa 28 People, Parties, Places The colonial past of one of the season’s A group of local women are bringing a A garden party at the Okura, Art Fair popular drinks, beach wear, and more new generation of travelers to town celebrates its 10th, and a few safety tips 8 Juvenile Justice 18 Kanto Festival 32 Previews Kids who kill: at what age should school- Feats of strength and skill take center When Arnie said he’d be back, he wasn’t age murderers be tried as adults? stage at this Akita City event kidding, and look: it’s Shaun the Sheep... 10 Art Around Town 22 Animated Journeys 34 Agenda Laughing and learning: exhibitions with Studio Ghibli’s flights of fancy inspired the Fuji rocks, the Sumida River gets lit, and a family-friendly theme in mind Akita-based Travel Design agency the festivals keep rollin’ on www.tokyoweekender.com JULY 2015 THIS MONTH IN THE WEEKENDER the prefecture’s cities keep centuries- JULY 2015 old traditions alive and share them with JULY 2015 visitors from around the country and Japan’s number one English language magazine across the seas. As you might have guessed from the presence of our cover toughs, a big event is on its way, looming just off the edge of the summer season. The UFC is coming back to town for another night Publisher BC Media Group of no-holds-barred MMA throwdown, Chairman Ray Pedersen but this time with a twist: leading up to “UFC Fight Night Japan: Nelson vs Executive Producer Asi Rinestine Barnett” at Saitama Super Arena, eight Editor Alec Jordan of Japan’s top brawlers will be battling Art Director Liam Ramshaw it out for a chance to compete under the JUVENILE JUSTICE MAKING A CASE FOR BEAUTY SUMMER IN AKITA bright lights on September 27. Read up, Media Director Kotaro Toda Should School-Age Killers Former DA Gil Garcetti Traditions and Travel and we’ll hope to see you there. Account Executives Nobu (Nick) Nakazawa Be Tried as Adults? Provides Photo Evidence in the Far North Chief in features is a hard look Media Consultants Mary Rudow ALSO: Summer Festival Guide, Art Around Town, Making the Perfect Mojito, People, Parties, Places,www.tokyoweekender.com and More... JULY 2015 at a tough topic, but one that sadly Sophia Bai keeps making headlines. The acts of fter a bit of June drench school-aged murderers shock, but Marketing Ingrid Dubreuil comes the summer swelter, the legal system has traditionally and with it another round Society Bill Hersey A given these young criminals lighter of the colorful traditional sentences than those allotted to their festivals that light up the nights and Lead Writer Matthew Hernon older counterparts. But recent cases put the city to new hues. From star- and the advocacy of victims’ families Editorial Associates Vivian Morelli crossed Tanabata to the raucous Koenji are influencing policy and bringing the Sarah Custen Awaodori, each celebration livens up Kyle Mullin issue of juvenile justice into the court of Tokyo and its inhabitants in its own public opinion. unique way, and we’ve compiled a Plenty more to check out in these Film Christopher O’Keeffe guide to the season’s fests that we pages, but it’s up to you to turn them: so hope will put you in a summer frame IT Manager Nick Adams as always, thank you for reading and we’ll of mind. look forward to seeing you come August. However, as lively as old estival Edo can be, there are times when we just want things to cool down—and no amount of beer garden evenings or kaki gori days can really get the EST. Corky Alexander, 1970 mercury to drop. So with that in mind, we head north again to Akita, where Editor Published monthly at the Regency Shinsaka Building, 5th floor 8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (03) 6666-4924 / (03) 6432-9229 (fax) [email protected] To subscribe to the Tokyo Weekender, please call (03) 6666-4924 or email: [email protected] For ad sales inquiries, please call (03) 6666-4924 or email: [email protected] WRITERS WANTED www.tokyoweekender.com Tokyo Weekender is looking for a few good writers. If Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors you’ve got a travel story you want to share, a gift for the are not necessarily those of the publisher written word, or have a unique take on life in Tokyo, we’d like to hear from you. To join our team of freelancers, please send us an email at [email protected] Published by BC Media Group www.bulbouscell.com JULY 2015 www.tokyoweekender.com Join the Conversation, Join the Club JOIN TOKYO WEEKENDER’S INSIDERS CLUB TO FIND OUT ABOUT LIMITED OFFERS THROUGHOUT TOKYO, ATTEND EXCLUSIVE EVENTS, GET THE LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT PRODUCTS BEFORE THEY LAUNCH, AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. CHECK OUT WWW.TOKYOWEEKENDER.COM/WEEKENDERINSIDERS FOR MORE DETAILS the guide FIGHT OFF STRESS THE ISRAELI WAY AT MAGAGYM ucked in amongst the clubs and bars of Roppongi Cen- MISSONI-ELISABETTA tral, MagaGYM is two floors of no-nonsense workout CROCHET-KNIT BIKINI space. This makes sense, as the bread and butter (or pita T Forget about the frilly, over-padded suits that populate Japan’s beaches and hummus) of the gym is Krav Maga, the “official” martial and kick off summer in style with sleek Italian swimwear. Adorned with art of the Israeli Army. It’s a fighting style that focuses on the signature Missoni zig zag knit motif, this bandeau bikini is simple fighting effectiveness over fancy forms, but as we found out and sexy. The strap can be removed, so it can be worn in two different over the course of an hour-long workout, it will definitely get ways, and it comes with a matching crochet-knit pouch to carry it—a you into shape. small detail that makes us covet it even more. Accessorize your suit with There are a variety of classes available, with levels geared gold bangles, a wide-brim hat and a chic cover-up to pretend you’re in to everyone from fighting newbie to experienced grappler, as the south of France and not on an overcrowded Tokyo beach... well as pure fitness classes based on the popular TRX system. We went in for the basic class, and it offered a good challenge. www.missoni.com Starting off with a light warmup, the course moves quickly into high and low punch combinations—including a routine that will make burpees feel like kids’ stuff—pad work with kicks and punches, and finally a chance to practice blocking punches and attacks with a rubber knife. But, to be honest, by that point we had already developed a sweat-generated defense coating... The time flies by, and because the techniques are simple to follow, even people with limited Japanese ability will have an easy time catching the drift. The workouts can be tough and martial arts–based, but the environment at MagaGYM is friendly and welcoming for men and women alike. For the most part, Tokyo’s a safe enough city, and you may not need to be defending yourself in the streets that often, but as MagaGYM owner Atsuhiro Kumagai, or “Kuma,” points out, the heart-pumping workouts will help you keep the stresses of busy city life at more than an arm’s length away. RAY-BAN WAYFARER SUNGLASSES MagaGYM will be opening a second location in Akasaka at the Nothing screams summer more than a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer beginning of July. glasses, a cult classic fashion item. They apparently flatter pretty much every face shape (they haven’t failed to disappoint yet), Roppongi Akasaka (Opening July 4) and they’re in the affordable range of name-brand accessories. Tokyo, Minato-ku Tokyo, Minato-ku The must-have item is not only practical and indispensable in the Roppongi 3-14-7 Akasaka 3-7-13 summer months, but it’s the ideal stylish touch to spruce up any Arrow Building 4F Akasaka HM Building B1 ensemble. We like the tortoiseshell version, which is a sophis- Tel: 03-6432-9794 Tel: 03-5793-3377 ticated change from the ubiquitous black pairs and too-trendy For more information please visit the official website: colored frames. www.magagym.com/en www.ray-ban.com JULY 2015 www.tokyoweekender.com ASUS ZENFONE SELFIE One of the most touted features on modern smartphones is the camera. Manufacturers are engaged an arms race of Cold War proportions—adding megapixels, widening ap- ertures and continually improving their abilities to capture high quality images—which consumers completely ignore in favor of the tiny, terrible quality afterthought of a happy Something for the weekend...A snapper on the front to satisfy their narcissism.