The World Music Festival in Ogimachi Park this Sunday, July 22nd!

去年５月に開催されたRock Fanと７月に開催されたViva Mi Raza LatinaをMIXさせたイベントを、扇町公園で行います。開催時間は１２：００より２０：００となっています。ステージでは、ロックあり、サルサあり、レゲエありと楽しめて、飲食ブースも１５テントが出展します。皆さん、楽しみにしていてくださいね！

The two popular outdoor events from last year, Rock Fan and Viva Mi Raza Latina, are joining forces to bring you a fun-filled day in the sun at Ogimachi Park. The event starts at 12.00pm and will go until 8pm. Entry is free! On stage will be a hot mix of rock, reggae, salsa and more. To help keep you cool, 15 booths will offer a mix of international and down-home food and drinks.

As it's the only international outdoor festival in Osaka City this summer, you absolutely should not miss it!

For More information, click on http://www.funkster.jp/kansai/

Where is Man-Li?

All this week the T.V. news programs and newspapers have been warning us that Typhoon Number 4 was going to hit Osaka this morning. I was expecting to wake up to howling winds and driving rain. Instead, I was greeted by a slight breeze [little wind] and the “Me! Me! Me!” of cicadas [semi]. Admittedly, the clouds are looking really dark and ominous [hinting of a bad future], but I’m feeling let down.

In Japan, typhoons are numbered. In other countries, they are given names. (You probably all remember that New Orleans was devastated [badly damaged] by hurricane Katrina a couple of years back.) Today’s typhoon – wherever it is! – is called Man-Li. I googled [checked through the Google search engine] that name. As far as I can tell, that’s a Chinese name for an area near Hong Kong, and possibly a man’s name. Traditionally, tropical storms – hurricanes, cyclones & typhoons – were all given ladies’ names. These days, the names are half ladies’ and half men’s.

Anyway, enjoy your not-so-rainy Sunday!

Monty Python Couples

I recently wrote about Monty Python’s Flying Circus (see SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM!), an English comedy troupe [a group of performers] known as “Okama-no-kyouryu” in Japan. They are probably the world’s most popular comedians.

A recent picture of some of the surviving members of Monty Python dressed as Gumbies, some of their most famous characters. I don’t think the 2 guys on the right are real Pythons.

The Be & Me Gumbies – “My brain hurts!”

You can find out more at The "Official" Monty Python Homepage or All About Monty Python in Japanese.

Writing about Monty Python reminded me of an interesting couple we used to meet every year at the Tin's Hall Halloween party. They were crazy about Monty Python! Every year their Halloween costume was based on one of the Monty Python comedy sketches [a sketch is a short comedy play]. Here are some examples of their costumes…

2000: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

2001: SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM!

2002: Spamalot (Info in Japanese)

2003: The Bishop

You can check out all our Halloween-party photos, plus photos of lots of other events at Be & Me Event Photos. The different event albums are listed on the left side of the page.

You can rent the original Monty Python TV series from big video-rental stores like Tsutaya. You can also rent the following movies…

*** Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(Spamalot is based on this movie)

**** Monty Python’s Life of Brian
(A parody of the life of Jesus Christ! Very hard to find!)

***** Monty Python's the Meaning of Life
(Maybe the easiest movie for a non-fan to watch, however, it’s sometimes very shocking)

***** A Fish Called Wanda
(Not really a Monty Python movie, but written by & starring John Cleese & Michael Palin, 2 of the most talented members. A v-v-v-very f-f-f-funny m-m-m-mooooovie!)