Events

Special Summer Lectures at Nakanoshima Center--Enjoy the Tenjin Festival to the fullest.

Osaka University, always one to support the "high" spirit of Osaka, will contribute to the enjoyment of the Tenjin Festival, a festival symbolic of summer in Osaka, through special summer lectures. Osaka University, a current seat of learning, will unlock the mysteries of this festival for the gods of academic achievement beyond space and time. 

Under the name "Open Lectures," Osaka University began holding such lectures at its Nakanoshima Center in 1968 for the purpose of sharing research results with the public. These historic lectures will enjoy their 41st year in 2009.

Date and time: July 20 (Monday and a national holiday), 2009 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Venue: SAJI Keizo Memorial Hall, 10th floor of Osaka University's Nakanoshima Center, 4-3-53 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka

Access:  http://www.onc.osaka-u.ac.jp/others/map/index.php

Admission limited to: the first 100 persons

Admissions fee: There is NO charge.

Sponsors: Kaitokudo for the 21st Century and Osaka University Nakanoshima Center Lectures Steering Committee

Supported by: Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University, The Museum of Osaka University

Supported by: Mainichi Press (tentative)

Lecture 1. Pictures of Tenjin Festival -- colors and patterns of splendid Naniwa (90 minutes) by HASHIZUME Setsuya, professor at The Museum of Osaka University

Lecture 2. History and Structure of Tenjin Festival -- attraction of welcoming dolls (90 minutes) by TAKASHIMA Kouji, visiting professor at the Center for the Study of Communication-Design and fellow at Culture Research Center, Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Following the lectures, a movie, "Tenjin Festival" will be shown (15 minutes) and a training session on a distinctive Osaka hand-clapping will be held.

Exhibition

1st exhibition hall lobby: 10th floor -- exhibition day: July 20 (Monday and a national holiday only.)

Exhibition of materials on Tenjin Festival

[e.g., a painting, "Tenma Tenjin Festival, Osaka" by MIYAMOTO Junzo (belonging to the Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University), and sketches of relevant materials]

2nd exhibition hall lobby: 1st floor (exhibition period : July 20 (Monday and a national holiday) - 24 (Friday))

Wakamaru (named after Ushiwakamaru, a childhood name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a general of the Minamoto clan in the 12th century), a welcoming robot made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, will board the Handai Boat in the Tenjin Festival on July 25 (Saturday).

Perk

The participants will be given a small reprint of a "picture of welcoming doll" published in 1846.

Application: Write your name (readings), address, postal code, age, and telephone number and email or fax the application form on the Leaflet of Special Summer Lectures.

Application deadline: July 15 (Wed.), 2009

If the number of applicants reaches the quota of 100, it will be announced on the Kaitokudo for the 21st Century web page.

For application and more information, contact:

1-16 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka 560-0043

Kaitokudo for the 21st Century Osaka University Office

Tel: 06-6850-6443, Fax: 06-6850-6449

Email: info[at]21c-kaitokudo.osaka-u.ac.jp

Note: in the above email address, [at] is used to prevent unwanted junk mail. Please replace [at] with @ when using this address.

      http://21c-kaitokudo.osaka-u.ac.jp/