Numazu – What’s On – May 2012

Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for May 2012. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.

Beer - Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom will be having May Hop Madness Month. They will be offering 15 amazing hop beers. If you want to take up the challenge then you can ask for a special May Hop Madness Month card (not the prepaid one) and take up the 15 beer challenge. If you can drink all 15 throughout the month and get a stamp for each then you will be rewarded with a  Baird Beer logo glass. Promotion last all through May and until the supply lasts so get in early. May.

Golden Week Beer – Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom will be running longer times for your drinking convenience this Golden Week. Check out their details on their homepage. 12pm- 12am April 28,29, 30 : 5pm-12pm Wed May 2 : 12pm-12am May 3-6.

Concert - Senbon Plaza will be host to a koinobori concert – first in first served, capacity 230 – 13:30-15:30 May 3

Festival – Koinobori Festival -Yes the beautiful carp streamers will be flying again this year and the Minatoguchi Park (the one next to the View-O). There will be stalls, craft activities and stage shows. Check it out and round it off with a pint at the Fishmarket Taproom. 10:00-15:00 May 4 and 5.

Party - Open party in the park come along and make some friends, eat, drink and play frisbee. Free BYO everything. Senbon park 1pm-5pm May 5

Dance party - Spazz If You Want To live DJ night at SpeakEz. May 5.

Exhibit - The Numazu Imperial Villa will be celebrating Boy’s day with a Koinobori exhibit and traditional costume display. – Adults 100yen Children 50 yen. 9:00-16:30 until May 7

Exhibit - The Numazu Fine Art Association will be holding an exhibit this month on the 1st floor of the City Cultural Centre – 10:00-18:00(17:00 last day) May 7-13

Culture - Tea Party or perhaps a tea ceremony will be held at the Numazu Imperial Villa May 13

Sport - NICE will be hosting Tai Chi Classes at the city gym – 1,500yen fee – 19:15-20:45 – May 14, 21, 28 June 4

Dance - Salsa Night at SpeakEz. Get your Salsa on at this fun dance night with a lesson at the start and then open dance after. Entry fee appies. May 18

Festival - Suisanmatsuri ( Fishery Products Festival)  celebrate the produce of the sea at this unusual festival at the Numazu Port. Don’t forget to see the seafood auction and unusual display of marine life. Great event. May 19

Live - Acousitc Night at SpeakEz – May 25.

Music - J-Pop night at SpeakEz – May 26

If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area or you need me to make any corrections feel free to post them in the comments below.

Scott

Numazu – What’s On – April 2012

Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for April 2012. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.

Beer – Stout. No not the short rotund little man kind. I’m talking dark sexy beer you can chew on. Baird Beer have come up with two amazing stouts this month, Mama’s Milk Stout and Chocolate Wheat Stout. Both coming in at5% alcohol check out their details on their homepage.

Cherry Blossoms (hannabi) - The Numazu Council Newsletter has some great suggestions for Cherry Blossom viewing in the area for this month. Check out the link for tips.

Party – Baird Beer’s annual Cherry Blossom (Hannami) party will be held again this year. Now don’t panic. The crazy ass storm we are experiencing today the 31st of March should lift by nightfall offering clear skies for a great day tomorrow. The even will be on Minato Guchi Park near the View-O (about 100m from the Taproom). There is a 3,000yen all-you-can-drink and a plate of food and, beers will be 500yen (Or you can just go the food plate for 1,000yen and buy beers as you go). I will see you there. 1:00pm-4:00pm April 1

Festival – Ose Festival and Uchiura Fishing Port Festival. These two events run hand-in-hand. They celebrate the Fisherman and bestow good luck and protection on the fishing fleet. The event is a colourful display of fishing vessels and performances. You can get a boat from Numazu port or take a ride down there by bike (approx 1hr). Plenty of great fresh seafood. 7:30-14:30 at Ose Shrine and Uchiura Port. April 4

Cherry Blossom – Along route 1 the cheery blossoms come alive in Hara as they parallel the Numa River. Come along and enjoy the flowers and festivities. April 7

Party – SpeakEz’s Full Moon party will be howling on April 7.

Live – Takahara Pistol will be playing live at SpeakEz on April 13.

DJ – Spazz If You Want is back to pump the night away at Speak EZ on April 14.

Dance – Salsa Night as SpeakEz is always bliss on April 20.

Event – Amakusa Presents at SpeakEz on April 21.

Festival – Spring Festival at the Numazu Imperial Villa – includes market gardens, local produce, bonsai exhibit and more. 9:30 – 16:00 April 21-22

Dance – This just shows that I will put just any old shit in this guide. Square Dancing classes will be held in Numazu this month at the Daigo Chiku center. 19:00-20:00 April 21 and 28

DJ live - ‘Slow to speak’ Eclectic mix of house, techno, new wave and rock at Speak EZ. Free. 21:00-03:00, April 28

Bar – The Numazu Fishmarket Taproom will be extending it’s operating hours for Golden Week from 12:00-12:00 – 29-30 April

If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area feel free to post them in the comments below.

Numazu – What’s On – March 2012

February? What February?

Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for February 2012. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.

Beer – Those loving romantic buggers over at Baird Beer created a sensual Belgian Chocolate Stout to ditch your partner for because she didn’t give you any damn chocolate for Valentines Day!

Culture -  Ganyudo fisherman’s ferry will be hitting the Kano River a 9:00am Free (36 seats) Mar 3

Live - Acoustic performance at the Baird Beer Fish Market Taproom 500yen cover starts at 8pm – Mar3

DJ - Speakez with be back with our favourite AUN for “Spazz if you Want To” Spring Festival Special Super Dooper Bigger than a Big Fat Big thing Bonanza – 9pm Start – No cover charge – Mar 3

Dance - Full moon festival at SpeakEZ – Mar 8

Live - Speakez’s chilling acoustic night -Mar 9

Dance - Bring some heat to a chilly Spring with Salsa Night as SpeakEZ 8pm-9pm free (includes dance lesson) 9pm 1000 til midnight.

Live - Thrash it out with SpeakEZ’s very own Shady Glimpse – Mar 17

Party – Celebrate Yuichi’s 3rd year owning SpeakEZ and putting up with you mongrels – buy him something pretty – Mar 31

If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area feel free to post them in the comments below.

Numazu – What’s On – January 2012

Happy New Year.

I have only just recovered so here goes for the remainder of the month.

Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for January 2011. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.

Beer – Baird Beer will have their new Brewmaster’s Nightmare Rye IPA

Live – Speak Ez’s acoustic night featuring Toshio Souno, Yuka Aoshima, Norito Makino among others. Entry 1000yen 8pm-11pm 13 Jan

DJ –  Speak Ez – DJ Koji, Toru and Maiko will be mixing it up here for you for free from 9pm Jan 14

Culture – Lecture in Japanese Culture – International communication and exchange meeting. 13:30-15-30 at Palette

Dance – Speak Ez – the very seductive salsa will be hitting the floor from 8pm. 1000yen for vertical porn is cheap! Jan 20

Live – Numazu National College of Technology Brass Band Concert Doors open 1:30pm – Jan 21

Live – Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom will be host a live performance of world renown Irish Fiddler, Dale Russ. This is an event not to miss. Entry is only 500yen. 7pm start. Jan 21

Live – Speak Ez – Jam session. If your a muso then this is your chance to show off your talents. Free. 8pm-1am – Jan 21

Sports – 58th Numazu Relay Road race applications at 7:30 for 9am start – In Ashitaka Athletic Park. Jan 22

Singles mixer – Speak Ez – Lonely and single? This is the place for you. Entry is 2500yen for Boys and 2000yen for girls (includes a drink and a snack) Good  luck. Jan 24

DJ – Speak Ez – Open DJ event bring your Mamma Mia Sound Track and make em suffer!!! Free. Jan 28.

 

If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area feel free to post them in the comments below.

Halloween Party in Numazu -2011

Wondering what to do for Halloween in Numazu this year? Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom and SpeakEz have you covered.

It looks like the festivities will kick off this year on Saturday night October 29th 2011  to let those of us who work on the weekdays party.

Here’s a suggested itinerary.

Step 1

Get into your best costume. Yup there are going to be prizes. And besides you owe it to the girls who will be wearing their skimpy Halloween costumes.

Step 2 

Get yourself down to the Taproom by at least 5pm and lubricate yourself on some outstanding beer. The Taproom crew will be setting up a free karaoke machine with free English and Japanese songs. Spook your friends with your crappy karaoke voice. I know I will.

Step 3

Jump into a taxi or freak out the locals by walking, but no matter what you do make sure you finish the night at SpeakEZ. There will be a live (well depending on their costume) DJ and prizes for the best and sexiest costume (look out I will be shaving my legs). Starts at 8pm.

Step 4

Go home with the guy, girl or thing you found that night.

Step 5

Sneak out of the place before they get up and head on down to the Taproom for a hair-of-the-dog and some breakfast on the 30 October. (getting changed is optional)

Step 6 

Gush over how great a time you had.

See you there.

Scott

Numazu – What’s On – October 2011

Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for October 2011. If you like something click on the link for more details.

Beer – Baird Belgian Pale Ale – This new one tastes great. Have a pint at the Taproom

Exhibit – Autumn Flower Exhibit – Numazu Imperial Villa. 09:00-16:30 – Oct 6-26

Art – Stages Art Festival – part of the Imperial Villa Japan Art Festival. From 18:30 Oct 8

Sports/Beer – Rugby World Cup in Numazu - Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom will be playing the world cup. If its not on when you are there ask for it and I am sure they will oblige.  Next Saturday is the first and second qualifier and it should be on around mid afternoon. Oct 8,9,15,16,21,22

Concert – Yomei-ji Music Festival – four local music groups playing – From 17:00 Oct 9

Concert – Shiorai no Utage (Concert among the pine trees) - part of the Imperial Villa Japan Art Festival. 100yen. 13:00-14:30 Oct 10

Beer – Yamamomo Mountain Peach Ale – Baird Beer will be releasing this exciting new ale. Taproom Released around Oct 10-15

Festival -Uchiura Aji Festival (horse mackeral fest) – Learning about a major part of the fish industry – 9:00 – 14:00 Oct 10

Concert – Yugen no Sekai (Jazz concert) – part of the Imperial Villa Japan Art Festival. Free. From 18:30 Oct 11

Contest – Numazu 2nd language speech contest – Japanese with say a 5 min speech in English and vice-versa. City Library 4th floor – 13:00-16:00 – Oct 16

Dance -Salsa Night – Speakez are at is again with their monthly salsa night. Have a ball. – 8pm – 9pm – 1000yen entry fee includes dance lesson with a cute girl or guy. Free after 12 (not the guy or girl). -21 Oct

Festival -Autumn Green Festival – Gardening displays, classes and auctions- Numazu Imperial Villa – 9:30-16:30 – Oct 22-23

Craft – Pottery Class – Senbon Plaza – 500yen 11:00-12:00 – Oct23

Party – Yuichi and Kyoko Birthday Bash - Speak EZ is celebrating the owner, Yuichi and his bar babe Kyoko’s birthday. Come along and enjoy. Oct 26

Party – Halloween – SpeakEZ with be hosting its annual Halloween Party. Get your fancy dress on and impress. 29 Oct

Party – Halloween – Taproom will be hosting a Halloween Party come along and check out their Autumn beer. 30Oct

Numazu – What’s On – July 2011

Highlighting the best of what’s on inNumazufor July 2011

Live – Spazz If You Want To – Exceptional Local DJ’s no door charge – July 2

Festival – Tanabata ( Star Festival) -  The Numazu Nakamise is lined with storks of bamboo with paper wishers attached andlots of decorations that my 192cm height head butts. More here. ~ July  10

BBQ – Speak EZ hosts a BBQ atMinatoguchiPark  – BYO booze and food. 12:00 – July 3

Live -Fureai Square Performance -Bands, Street Performance, Taiko Drums, Mini Train etc. Numauz North Exit right in front of Bivi. 11:00-16:00. July 3

Market -Ricodori (Rico Shopping Street). Local vegetable market, demonstrations in making puffed cereal, cereal give aways. 11:00-15:00. July 3

Live – Regional Friendship Concert. Limited seats East Annex of Imperial Villa. 14:00-15:30. July 3

Festival – Kamihon Wid-Chime Festival. Free Wind-chimes and fans for the first 100. 13:00 ~ . July 7

Live – Speak EZ Acoustic Night – 20:00~23:00 after live DJ. Entrance 1000 Yen. July 8

Live – Acoustic Live with Jordan Patrick and Friends – Folk Rock With Some Covers at Baird Beer’s Taproom. Any live performance at the Taproom is awesome. From 20:00. July 9th

Live -Speak EZ DJ Choinori - R&B, Hiphop and House – Free entry from 10:00pm. July 9

 

Sports – Kano River Walk and Run – I know that there is a couple of you who are into some long distance running so if you are interested check this one out. Run categories are in 3,5, 10 and 20km distances http://www.n-machiaruki.com July 10

Beer – Baird Beer 11 anniversary celebrations - This year they will be celebrating again with a BBQ this time with a Tex/Mex theme down stairs. Upstairs there will be a 1500 yen Buffet each day from noon til 8pm (BBQ items included in this price). 500yen beer in a plactic cup and the usual pint for 700yen. There will also be scheduled tours each day. July 16, 17, 18

Dance – Speak EZ Salsa Night – Jump in on this regular for a sexy good time. 8pm Start. Entrance 1000yen. 15 July

Live – Speak EZ Live Jam – Bring your axe and play. from 20:00. Free. 16 July

Dance – Speak EZ Anime Dance Party - A little bit of cosplay and little bit of fun. Just check out the link, hilarious. early start 2pm-10pm. Free. July 17

Live – Speak EZ Shady Glimpse – Thrash it out with this new school hardcore group. Opens at 20:30 starts at 21:00. Cover 1000yen (including drink)

Exhibition  –  Sailboat Models display – Excptional display of model sailboats. Don’t know how they got this past the ninja committee but this is definitely a pirates dream.Numazu ImperialVilla Park from 12:00 July 16-24

Festival – 32 Heda Port Festival - Fire works, drums, yosakoi dancers. At theHedaPortCentral Peir. 13:00 start . July 23

Live -Speak EZ DJ Wakana – This cuties will be spinning some hot tunes. 9pm-11pm July 29

Drink – Speak EZ Summer Festival Special - After a thorough steaming at the Summer Festival Chill out with the cool vibes from the DJ’st at Speak EZ. From 20:00. Free.  July 30.

Festival – Numazu Summer Festival and Fireworks Show. This is the main event forNumazu. The entire south side is covered in endless stalls. There will be taiko drums, dancers, endless lines of street food, riverside performances and a massive fireworks display each night. This titan of a festival has been running since 1948. More info here. July 30 and 31

 

My book: An Amorous Route

Malt Cats – Numazu, Shizuoka

Malt Cats – Numazu

Some of the best places in Japan are the hardest to find. Or maybe it is just the pleasant little sense of satisfaction that you get when you find one of these gems that makes the experience all the more enjoyable. But up dark ominous stairs, down shabby alleys and in nondescript buildings are some places far beyond the little bag of powder or another bout of crabs. When a friend guides you in this direction you are especially hoping it is not for the latter.

Last weekend’s bender resulted in a friends suggestion that we take our respective wives to dinner at AiAi followed by a game of pool. My friend led us to the south side of Numazu near the train station and suddenly veered left down a narrow alley that merged into a building. Ooh an adventure, I thought. We took a lift to the second floor and were met by muffled singing and a sole wooden rocking chair that was guiltily resting by the door. Through the door was the ‘Malt Cats’.

For some reason adding ‘Cat’ to the title of your restaurant, bar or café is the thing to do in this country. Perhaps it’s some vintage 70′s slang spending its twilight years in the nights of Japan.

Entering Malt Cats you are greeted by an illuminated bar that stands as an oasis for the thirsty amidst the subdued warm drop lighting. The bar space is split into two seating areas one around the side of the bar and the other directly across the bar and raised providing some clever depth to the place. What is most striking about the seating is the open spaces between communal gatherings of mish mashed couches. This creates a nice little level of intimacy for your party without feeling isolated from the general vibe of the bar. An open space such as this is so different from the usual cramped confines of what I am used to in Japan but may feel warmly familiar to what you might experience back in your own country.

Illuminated in competition to the bar is the pool table with, again, the perfect amount of space to play. The table is in pristine condition far distant to its sorely abused cousins in Australian pubs. My friends and I played a few games of pool, intentionally missing shot’s, pocketing the white ball every second shot and in one case acting like it was our first time playing.

Yes, I think I will stick the word ‘intentionally’ merely to rescue the last dregs of self-esteem that we all left behind on the table. Well at least one of us had a choice. It was actually her first time.

Our little group noticed some board games on the wall and we settled down to a couple of rounds of Jenga over a few beers.

Drinks were a little pricy starting at 800yen for beers with the obligatory surcharge for a few nibblies that gets the establishment out of paying a liquor license. The staff were friendly and a couple of them were even trying to use a bit of English which was very kind.

My friend tells me that the Malt Cats can get packed easily and the pool table is often difficult to get on but this is definitely an excellent bar well worth many return trips in the future. I hope to see you there – if you can find it

English Menu: sorry no English and no pictures but with the open bar you can do a bit of pointing and gesture.

Gaijin Friendly: Yup very. The seemed delighted to have us there. Very sweet.

Links: None

Costs: Beers start around 800yen

Directions: South side of Numazu Station heading towards the library.

View Larger Map

Numazu – What’s On – April 2011

Highlighting the best of what’s on for April 2011.

Party - Speak EZ 2nd Anniversary – 3,000 yen all you can drink!Friday April 1st at 21:00 pm- 0230am

Party – Charity Hanami Party & Collection, Numazu Taproom – Collecting food and supplies for Earthquake victims up north. Food is 1000yen per plate and Beer (omg this is too good to be true) 2000yen for selected beers. April 2nd 13:00 – 16:00

Party – ‘Spazz if you want to’ has their monthly bash hitting the decks at SpeakEZ this Saturday April 2 from 21:00 – 04:00.

Nature – There will be cherry blossom viewing walks held this month around Numazu. Apr 1 Mt Kanuki, Apr 2 Kadoike Park and Aytyubonotaki, Apr 3 Hara Area, Apr 5 Ashitaka Extensive Park. Leaving from 10:00am . Conact Monozukuri Taiken Skillpa a 0559523232.

Festival- Ose Festival April 4 07:30 ~

Festival – Uchiura Fishing Port Festival April 24 08:30-14:30

Festival - Kira Message Festival – 100 agricultural, forestry and marine stalls and a pro wrestling stage. Apr 3 10:00 – 16:00

Exhibition – Mon Musse Numazu – Exhibition of Dying Products by Ichiba Yuta and Yoshike Apr 2-24 10:00-17:00

Classes -Yukata making classes -April – July 19:00 – 21:00

If you have any more events to add chuck em in the comments below.

Scott

Speak EZ Numazu -”Spazz if you want to!”

The Aun Crew are back again at Speak EZ for another pumping good time. If you are after some good music, good company and great drinks then head down to Speak EZ this Saturday night. Spazz on! 

“Spazz if you want to!” on Saturday, June 6 at 9:00pm.

Event: Spazz if you want to!
      “Aun Crew Presents: Spazz if you want to! A monthly dance/ electronic music night at Speak EZ”
What: Club Party
Host: Traffikin Beatz
Start Time: Saturday, June 6 at 9:00pm
End Time: Sunday, June 7 at 5:00am
Where: Speak EZ