Marmite is celebrating 100 years and to celebrate they are bringing 100 kiwis who live overseas home with a free flight.

Check out the video here

http://www.bringinghomethekiwis.co.nz/

Summer is here and we have some awesome kiwi music gigs to announce!

First up, rising kiwi musician Grayson Gilmour is playing in Tokyo this month.

Tokyoites can catch him passing through to treat us to an acoustic set giving us a glimpse of the raw melodies behind his power filled multi instrumental compositions. Hailing from the murky swamp of Palmerston North, Grayson Gilmour began his solo recordings at age 16. Have a listen to Grayson’s music on his myspace page and become a fan on facebook to keep in the loop about his upcoming Tokyo show.
http://www.graysongilmour.com/wp/
http://www.myspace.com/graysongilmour

Saturday 21st August, 7pm start
The Pink Cow, Shibuya
www.thepinkcow.com (MAP)
***No Door Charge***

Secondly, heavyweights Shapeshifter are coming to Japan!

With four full length albums and sold out shows across NZ and Australia, Shapeshifter are bringing their unique blend of heavy soul/drum ‘n’ bass and awesome live dance floor vibes to this year’s Summer Splash at Canyons Alpine Lodge in Minakami.

Shapeshifter – Twin Galaxies (Official Music Video)

http://www.shapeshifter.co.nz/

This will be a weekend of music and outdoor action with activities such as bungy jumping, rafting, canyoning and mountain biking – just like you’d find at home in NZ!

Saturday 11^th of September, 7pm start

Canyons Alpine Lodge, Minakami, Gunma

Access: http://lodge.canyons.jp/

Tickets: 2,500yen (adv) 3,000yen (door)

http://www.outdoorjapan.com/summersplash

Accommodation:

http://www.outdoorjapan.com/summersplash_stay

Tokyo Snow Club will be running bus tours from Tokyo with an all inclusive weekend package from 18,500yen.

To apply, book directly online here: http://www.tokyosnowclub.com/summersplash-2010.html

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Look forward to seeing you out there!

Date: thursday, July 29 @ 7.30pm
Cost: 4,000 yen (2 hours nomihodai + “beer garden” food)
Location: Yebisu Bar, the garden, kasumigaseki

http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g008287/

Please RSVP by Tuesday, July 27 to ryann

ryann.thomas(at mark)jp.pwc.com

[event cancelled in the event of rain]

Other news…

Topp Twins’ Untoucable Girls
A movie based on well-loved Kiwi icons Lynda and Jools Topp, the comedic, singing, yodeling twin sisters, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment has helped change New Zealand’s social landscape. Website for details: http://tokyo-lgff.org/2010/e/index.html

Land Of The Rising Stars
The Pinkcow Art Blender Presents…

Art displaying from the 1st – 31st July (Land of the Rising Stars)
Featuring:
Seekayem, Cracked Ink, Beck Wheeler, Simon ‘Ginger’ Shaw, Mika Soma, Rob Foote, Miki Meguro and Random.

Enjoy homemade international food (awesome burritos for one!) & the cash bar  while enjoying the Live Music, Performances and Live International Interviews on the night. Including DJ Soul T Nuts, DJ Goofy, VJ Sigmund, The Takashi-na Trio. Short Films from Mika Soma, Animation from Beck Wheeler, Video footage of NZ crew in action. Live Art from Random and Guests

This International Extraviganza will be off the rictor and a Rare opportunity to purchase original artwork from Rising Stars in the Art Scenes of New Zealand and Japan

For those who can’t make it in person, there is a live & recorded webstream.

See you there, The Pink Cow at 1-3-18, Sibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan – www.thepinkcow.com

Great to see many of you at Legends for the NZ v. Slovakia game on Tuesday.  Fantastic effort by the All Whites to score their first ever point at the World Cup, in the last 30 seconds of the match!

Going from White to Black, Legends are showing the All Blacks v. Wales game on Saturday, June 19^th.

16.30 kick off.

http://www.legendsports.jp/MapOpeningHours/tabid/141/language/en-US/Default.aspx

No cover charge, drinks / food at your own cost.

Some of the guys and girls from Fun With Touch will also be heading along too.

www.funwithtouch.com

Short Shorts Film Festival 2010 & Asia

Weta Studio, VFX producer of blockbuster films “Avatar” and “District 9”, is coming to Tokyo!

The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia in Tokyo, headed by Japanese actor Tetsuya Bessho, is a qualifying film festival for the annual Academy Award® and Asia’s leading international short film festival.  This year, the Festival features a selection of short films from New Zealand.  Weta Workshop will also be holding a Special Weta Seminar, supported by VANTAN.

The two speakers at the seminar are Richard Taylor, winner of five Oscars and co-founder and co-director of the Weta companies, and internationally recognised picture book author and illustrator Martin Baynton.  The seminar will reveal how to think creatively when developing VFX on a limited budget.

Short Shorts Film Festival 2010 & Asia

New Zealand Programme

Since the international success of Weta, film-related firms have been formed one after another in the capital city Wellington in New Zealand.  Because of this boom, the city has earned the nickname “Wellywood”.  The New Zealand Programme highlighting the New Zealand film industry has selected best of the best New Zealand short films including the ones produced by Weta.  Also in the selection will be: ‘Undergrowth’ (by Weta’s Grant Major)

‘Valley of the Stereos’ (an early Peter Jackson short)

‘Fog’ (by Peter Salmon and shown in the Cannes Short Film Festival 2007)

“100% Pure New Zealand -Working Day-  (by Andres Borghi, the winner of the Tourism NZ “My Big Break” competition judged by Peter Jackson)

‘Clown Story’ (an early short by Irene Malone featuring Karl Urban)

‘Aphrodite’s Farm’ (by Adam Strange and featured in the Berlin International Film Festival 2009)

‘The Six Dollar Fifty Man’ (winner of the Cannes Film Festival 2009 Special Distinction Award, the Berlin International Film Festival 2010 Special Mention, and the Sundance Film Festival 2010 Jury Prize for International Short Filmmaking, by Mark Abiston and Louis Sutherland) See preview of Six Dollar Fifty Man

Another NZ film ‘Roof Rattling’ is in the international competition section making it eligible for Oscar nomination if it wins.

New Zealand Short Film Screenings:

• June 17th, Thurs: 12:50-14:40 @ Brillia Short Shorts Theater, Yokohama
• June 19th, Sat :  11:15-13:05 @ Laforet Harajuku
• June 20th, Sun: 17:10-19:00  @ Brillia Short Shorts Theater, Yokohama

The cost for a ticket to the NZ programme is Y1400

Special Weta seminar (with Richard Taylor & Martin Baynton) Sat June 19th: 13:20 15:10 @ Laforet Harajuku

Cost: Y1400

Pre-sales available (with Y200 discount)

http://ticket.pia.jp/pia/ticketInformation.do?eventCd=1013213&rlsCd=001&lotRlsCd=

May 19 (Wednesday), 6pm to 9pm

 Evening with Brian Martin, Chairman of Japan New Zealand Business Council – hosted by Kea Japan

Location: Club 57, www.fiftyseven.co.jp, 03-5775-7857

Cost: 2,500 yen pre-paid or 3,000 yen at door (finger food and one drink included)

NB: Attendance limited to 150 places. Please register by email to: japan@keanewzealand.com by May 17th.

May 22 (Saturday), 2pm

Japan vs. Hong Kong World Cup Rugby Qualifier

Location:  Prince Chichibu National Stadium, Gaienmae station (Ginza line)

Cost: 2,000 yen free seating, up to 4,000 yen reserved seating

It would be great if we could get a group of Kiwi Contacts to attend in support of Japan’s effort to qualify for the NZ World Cup in 2011. If you are interested in attending, please email ryann.thomas@jp.pwc.com and we will see if we can organise a group together.

Network with Brian Martin – Business Leader and Innovator
Kea Japan are honored to host an event with Brian Martin, Chairman of Japan NZ Business Council.

This is a great opportunity for you to:
*network with a business leader and innovator
*hear how Brian helped turn around Levi’s and Triumph
*learn about doing business in New Zealand
Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2010.
Time: 6pm to 9pm (doors open at 5.50pm).
Venue: Club 57, B1F Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 4-2-35. Tel: 03-5775-7857.
Cost: 2,500yen pre-paid or 3,000yen at the door.

Light refreshments and finger food will be served. Attendance at this event is limited to 150 places.

Please register your interest by sending an email to japan@keanewzealand.com by 17 May 2010. Payments to be made by paypal and full details will be provided on registration.

For any enquiries, please call Mark 080-3386-7558 or email japan@keanewzealand.com.

Regards
Kea Japan

Join us for an amazing array of Kiwi Cuisine!

For a limited time, the Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel is staging a “Night Kitchen Stadium in New Zealand” at their main restaurant, which overlooks the Minato Mirai.

The buffet style kitchen offers New Zealand lamb, beef, mussels, king salmon and more, all masterfully prepared by the hotel chef who is a mad fan of NZ.

If you are homesick for some good kiwi tucker (actually, being export quality produce, it’s probably better than what you can get at home) don’t miss this one!

Details

Date/Time: Friday, April 23 from 19:30

Place: Pan Pacific Yokohama Bay Hotel http://pphy.co.jp/event/restfair/restfair_0175.htm

Access: 1 min walk from MinatoMirai sta. / 10 mins from JR Sakuragicho sta. http://pphy.co.jp/footer/access/map01.htm

Cost: 4,700 yen per person for all you can eat buffet dinner (drinks extra)

RSVP by April 20.

Please email kiwicontacts[at mark]gmail.com with your name and the number of people in your group.

The earlier I can get an idea of numbers, the better chance we have of reserving tables in one area.

Fun with Touch is the only touch rugby club in Tokyo! 

Run by an enthusiastic Kiwi, the club attracts both men and women of all ages and skill levels – from current/retired rugby players to never-played-before-and-want-to-have-fun individuals.  If you are interested having fun and improving your fitness, learning fundamental rugby skills without getting hurt or just in playing and socialising with other fellow Kiwis, please check out the below events. 

1) Season Opening Party: Thursday 25th February from 19.00

What: FWT Season opening party
When: Thursday 25th February
Time: 19.00 – late
Where: Fiftyseven in Roppongi
http://www.fiftyseven.co.jp/en/access_e.shtml
 
Drink deal: Cash bar (no entry fee required)
From 19.00 – 21.00 draft beer, red & white wine and soft drinks are all JPY 500.  After 21.00, drinks will return to normal prices.

2) Season Opening Game: Saturday 6th March from 14.30
 
Touch rugby 2010 is about to start again in Tatsumi !!  Everyone welcome
 
http://www.funwithtouch.com/where-we-play

NB* Spikes and cleats are not permitted on the ground, so please bring specialized touch rugby shoes or cross trainers or else you will have to play in barefoot or be a spectator.

For more information regarding our club, visit our site at www.funwithtouch.com

Air New Zealand is holding a Charity Event for Auckland ’s Starship Children’s Hospital. (http://www.starship.org.nz/)

The night will include New Zealand bands and singers, DJs, spot prizes fresh off the plane from NZ such as baked beans, marmite, spaghetti, Chow chow pickle, NZ toothpaste, and the most magnificent prize of all; 2 return tickets to Auckland flying Air New Zealand. These tickets will be auctioned to the highest bidder, all proceeds going straight to the charity.

Keeping true to good old Aotearoa traditions, there will also be a meat pack raffle.

Date: Friday Feb 26th. 7 pm till late, first band on at 8pm

Venue: Cozmos Cafe in Shibuya http://www.cozmoscafe.com/en/shibuya/home/welcome

Door charge: 1000 yen (of course going directly to the charity)

Please come and join us for a night of fun and kiwi fellowship all in aid of the very good cause – Starship Children’s hospital.