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JapanK-1 WORLD GP 2010 DYNAMITE (Saitama prefecture): Dec. 31, 4 p.m.; ultimate fighting finals; Saitama Super Arena; five-minute walk from Saitama Shin Toshin Station on JR Utsunomiya-Line and JR Takasaki-Line; 6,000-15,000-30,000-100,000 yen; Dream Jimukyoku 03-5775-5065; www.k-1.co.jp/jp/event/2010/1231_dynamite/index.html (Japanese only).

YOKOSUKA COUNTDOWN 2011 (Kanagawa prefecture): Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 6 p.m.-1 a.m.; Navy ships are illuminated and fireworks at midnight; at Verny Park; one-minute walk from JR Yokosuka Station or a five-minute walk from Keikyu Shioiri Station; Yokosuka Tourist Association 046-822-8301; www.cocoyoko.net/countdown/ (Japanese only).

HAPPY ISLAND COUNTDOWN 2011 AT YOKOHAMA HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE (Yokohama): Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 3 p.m.-8 a.m.; countdown party includes free admission to Aqua Museum Fantasy and Dolphin Fantasy and free rides in Pleasureland; 3,500 yen; ww.seaparadise.co.jp/english/ENGLISH/mokuzi.html; 045-788-9632.

KOGANEI ROAD RACE (Tokyo): Jan. 1; 3 km race at 9:30 a.m., 10 km at 9:35 a.m. and 5 km at 9:40 a.m., starting and finishing at Koganei Park; four-minute walk from Koganei Park bus stop after taking a bus from JR Mitaka and Kogainei Stations; 2,000 yen adults, 1,500 yen senior high school students, 500 yen junior high school and elementary school students; 042-381-1574.

HIGASHI MATSUYAMA CITY MARATHON (Saitama prefecture): Jan. 1; 2 km race at 7:53 a.m., 5 km at 7:50 a.m. and 10 km at 8:30 a.m., starting and finishing at Higashi Matsuyama City Hall; 2,000 yen adults, 500 yen junior high school and elementary school students; 10-minute walk from Higashi Matsuyama Station on Tobu Tojo-Line; 080-5648-6404.

55th NEW YEAR INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE EKIDEN 2011 (Gunma prefecture): Jan. 1, 9:20 a.m.; 37 teams compete in 100 km (62.5 mile) relay run, starting and finishing at Gunma Prefectural City Hall; home.m07.itscom.net/jita/man_ekiden/index.html (Japanese only).

THE 90TH EMPEROR’S CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP (Tokyo): Jan. 1, 2 p.m.; the only championship held in Japan among senior high school, college, industrial league and professional teams; National Stadium, five-minute walk from Sendagaya Station on JR Sobu-Line, eight-minute walk from Shinanomachi Station on JR Sobu-Line, one-minute walk from Oedo-Line; 3,500-5,000-6,000-7,000 yen; Japan Soccer Federation 03-577-8600.

THE 47th JAPAN COLLEGE RUGBY: Jan. 2, 12:15 p.m.; semifinal game No. 1, 2 p.m., semifinal game No. 2; Jan. 9, 2 p.m., final, at Kokuritsu Kyogijyo; Japan Rugby Football Federation; 1,300-2,000-3,000 yen; 03-3401-3290.

NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS AT KYU-FURUKAWA TEIEN GARDEN (Tokyo): Jan. 2-3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; includes traditional dragon dance and court musicians at 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.; 7-minute walk from JR Kaminakazato Station; 150 yen; 03-3910-0394; www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/.

DARUMA ICHI AT AKISHIMA DAISHI TEMPLE (western Tokyo): Jan. 2-3; earliest Daruma doll festival in Japan with 600 varieties of street vendors; 20-minute walk from JR Akishima Station; 042-541-1142.

THE 87th HAKONE EKIDEN: Jan. 2-3; 217.9 km road relay from Tokyo to Hakone and back with 20 college marathon teams.

OEDO ANTIQUE FAIR (Tokyo): Jan. 3, 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (first and third Sunday every month; more than 250 licensed antique dealers participate in the largest open-air antique fair in Japan; courtyard of Tokyo International Forum, 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, one-minute walk from Yurakucho Station, JR Yamanote Line; 03-5805-1093; www.t-i-forum.co.jp/english/index.html.

THE 64th RICE BOWL — AMERICAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Jan. 3, 2 p.m.; winning team of X-League vs. winning team of Japan College American Football League at Tokyo Dome; 2,000-3,000 yen; Rice Bowl Jimukyoku 03-3280-6610; americanfootball.jp/main/2010/11/64.html (Japanese only).

TOKYO FIRE-BRIDGE REVIEW (Tokyo): Jan. 6, 9:35-11:50 a.m.; New Year’s fire drill by Tokyo Fire Department featuring firefighting and rescue demonstrations, fire trucks parade, marching band, and firefighters’ acrobatic performances on ladders, a traditional New Year’s event since Edo Period (1659); Tokyo Big Sight East Parking Lot (Rinkai Line, Kokusai Tenjijo Station, or Yurikamome Line, Kokusai Tenjijo Seimon Station); www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/ts/sa/p34.html.

TAKASAKI DARUMA ICHI (Gunma prefecture): Jan. 6-7; the Daruma doll is believed to bring luck to business, happiness, good health & protection from accidents; an outdoor Daruma market with more than 100 stalls serves the thousands of visitors who come to pray at Shorinzan “Daruma” Temple and to purchase dolls; approximately 100 km north of Tokyo, JR Gunma Yahata Station on Shin-etsu Line; 027-321-1257.

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT SHOW PERFORMED BY DENJIRO YONEMURA (Tokyo): Jan. 8, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.; science teacher performs; Hokuto Pia Sakura Hall; 2-minute walk from JR Ohji Station on Keihin Tohoku-Line; 2,000 yen adults, 1,000 yen children 3-16 years old; 03-5390-1221.

ANTIQUE JAMBOREE (Tokyo): Jan. 8-9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., the event is the largest antique show in Japan; Tokyo Big Sight East 1 Hall; 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen for ticket bought 1-6 p.m. Jan. 8; 03-5996-4105; home.att.ne.jp/sun/jambokun/antique/e.html.

PET EXHIBITION 2011 (Chiba prefecture): Jan. 8-10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; see more than 200 pets of dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, insects and more along with pet discipline classes, taking a walk with pets and horse riding; at Makuhari Messe, five-minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari Station on JR Keiyo-Line; 1,200 yen adults, 800 yen children; 06-6352-7942; www.pethaku.com/pethaku/makuhari/index.html# (Japanese only).

YOKOHAMA FIRE-BRIDGE REVIEW (Kanagawa prefecture): Jan. 9, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; annual fire drill by Yokohama Fire Department features firefighting and rescue demonstrations, parade, marching band and firefighters’ acrobatic performances on ladders; Yokohama Redbrick Warehouse; 15-minute walk from JR Sakuragicho and Kan-nai Stations; 045-334-6789.

GRAND SUMO TOURNAMENT — JANUARY BASHO (Tokyo): Jan.9-23; Grand Champion Hakuho challenges his consecutive winning streak again; Ryogoku Kokugikan; one-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station on Sobu-Line; 03-5237-9310; www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html.

COMING-OF-AGE DAY: Jan. 10 (second Monday of January); Coming-of-Age Day, or Adults’ Day, is a Japanese national holiday honoring 20-year-olds and seijin-shiki, or adult ceremony, is held in each city and town to celebrate the new adults. Many women dress in kimonos to participate in the ceremony.

89th JAPAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER TOURNAMENT FINAL (Tokyo): Jan. 10, 2:05 p.m. kick off; National Stadium, five-minute walk from Sendagaya Station on Sobu-Line, eight-minute walk from Shinanomachi Station on Sobu-Line, one-minute walk from Kokuritsu Kyogijo Station on Oedo-Line; 1,300-2,000-2,500 yen adults, 800 yen senior high school students, 500 junior high school and elementary school students; 03-6229-2662; www.ntv.co.jp/soc/ (Japanese only).

OME DARUMA ICHI (western Tokyo): Jan. 12, 1:30-7 p.m.; annual sale of Daruma dolls along Ome Kaido Street, outside Ome Station, JR me Line, 0428-20-0011.

SETAGAYA BORO ICHI (“Rag Fair”) (Tokyo): Jan. 15-16, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; see merchandise, from vintage clocks to mallets for pounding New Year’s mochi; take Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line from Shibuya to Sangenjaya Station and change to Tokyu Setagaya Line to Kamimachi Station or Setagaya Station: no parking; 03-5432-1111.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL “ZED” (Chiba prefecture): Jan. 18-March 6; show is a dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment; 25 percent discount to non-Japanese in Japan: 5,620-7,120-9,370-11,250 yen (show your passport and ID card at box office); at the theatre next to Disney Ambassador Hotel at Tokyo Disneyland; 10-minute walk from Maihama Station on JR Keio-Line; 0473-55-9621; www.zed.co.jp/home_en.php.

YOKOHAMA AKARENGA (RED-BRICK) WAREHOUSE ART & ICE SKATING: ends Feb. 28, 1-10 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m-10 p.m. weekends; art of lights with the theme of “Ice Painting Dreams,” designed by XLR Project illuminated the warehouse and neighboring ice skating rink; 500 yen adults, 400 yen children; 500 yen shoe rental; 045-211-1515; www.yokohama-akarenga.jp (Japanese only).

UJIKYU HIGHLAND ICE SKATING (Yamanashi prefecture): Ends March 21, (closed Dec. 21, Jan. 18 & Feb. 8); three ice skating rinks and skate all night Dec. 31 & Jan. 1-2; Fujikyu Higland Ice Skating, 5-6-1, Nishihara, Fuji-Yoshida city, Yamanashi prefecture, in front of Lake Kawaguchi I.C. on Chuo Express, 90-minute drive from Tokyo or a three-minute drive from Fuji-Yoshida I.C. on Higashi-Fuji Highway; 1,200 yen adults, 600 yen children; 1,000 yen shoe rental; 0555-23-2111; www.fujiq.jp/en/.

SAYAMA SKI & SNOWBOARD: ends April 3; indoor ski and snowboarding slope; 2167 Kami-yamaguchi, Tokorozawa city, Saitama prefecture, Seibu Kyujo-mae Station, Seibu Line; one-day pass on weekdays: 3,500 yen adults, 2,500 yen junior and senior high school students and 2,000 yen elementary school students, 2,500 yen seniors, weekends: 4,000 yen, 2,800 yen, 2,200 yen and 2,800 yen each, three-hour pass: 2,500 yen, 2,000 yen, 1,500 yen and 2,000 yen each; 04-2922-1384; www.sayama-ski.jp/ (Japanese only).

MEIJI JINGU ICE SKATING (TOKYO): year-round, 12-6 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.); 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (weekends); adults1,300 yen per day, children 900 yen per day and after 3 p.m., adults 1,000 yen and children 700 yen and 500 yen for shoe rental; Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku-ku, one-minute walk from Kokuritsu Kyogijyo on subway Oedo Line or five-minute walk from JR Shinanomachi Station on JR Sobu Line; 03-3403-3458; www.meijijingugaien.jp/english/ice-skating.html.

OkinawaTOMIKA (MINIATURE) EXHIBITION IN OKINAWA: Dec. 30-Jan. 4 and Jan. 8-10, noon-7 p.m.; commemorating Tomika’s 40th anniversary, featuring representative domestic model cars from 1970s including premium mini-car made of gold; Tomiton 2F special site of Tomigusuku city, Okinawa; 600 yen adults, 400 yen children, ages 2 and younger, free; 098-865-5211; www.takaratomy.co.jp/event/eventlist/tomica_okinawa.html (Japanese only).

CAMP FOSTER FLEA MARKET: Jan. 1, noon-3 p.m.; event is held the first Saturday each month and is open to U.S. military personnel & Japanese residents; 098-970-5829.

SHURIJO CASTLE PARK NEW YEAR’S BANQUET: Jan. 1-3; a re-enactment of the traditional New Year ceremony originally held early in the morning on New Year’s Day and includes performances of court and other Ryukyu dancers and free awamori (Okinawan liquor) offered to celebrate the New Year; 098-886-2020; oki-park.jp/shurijo-park/english/event/index.html.

NAKIJIN VILLAGE ROAD RACE: Jan. 2; Nakijin Village Athletic Park; 500 yen adults, 300 yen senior and junior high school students and elementary school students; 2-hour-and-45-minute ride from Naha Airport; 0980-56-5955.

CAMP COURTNEY FLEA MARKET: Jan. 8, 7-10 a.m.; event is held the second Saturday each month and is open to U.S. military personnel & Japanese residents; 098-970-5829.

KoreaSEONGSAN SUNRISE FESTIVAL (SEOUL): Dec. 31-Jan. 1; Seongsan Ilchulbong area; free; 82-64-1330.

KOREAN & SPANISH WORLD OF PUPPETRY (Seoul): Ends Jan. 8; The Performing Arts Museum of Korea, National Theater of Korea; free; 02-2280-5808.

PINE TREES AND BAMBOO – GREEN SOUNDS, BRIGHT SCENTS (Seoul): Ends Jan. 29; Ewha Womans Univ. Museum; free; 02-3277-3152.

PYEONGCHANG TROUT FESTIVAL (JINBU-MYEON): Ends Feb. 6; Jinbu-myeon, free; 82-33-1330.

MUSICAL, “GREASE” (Seoul): open-ended run, 8 p.m., Mon., Wed.-Fri., 3 & 7 p.m., Sat., 2 & 6 p.m., Sun. and holidays, Dongsoong Art Center; 40,000-60,000 won; 1588-5212.

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