Jay Gutta - 3rd's a Charm
Three years after the release of his freshman and sophomore endeavors in the Sasebo area, Jay Gutta is back and at it again, preparing for the release of his third LP, 3rd's a Charm, on August 8. Appropriately titled, his latest album steps up the quality on all fronts, the sound both heavy and crisp, and the lyrics sharp and poignant. The content varies throughout the CD, with some songs light and fun, others serving as harshly delivered political commentary. CDs can be purchased at locations around town or on amazon.com. More info and sample tracks on www.myspace.com/guttagutta or catch Jay live at club 'Infinity' on August 8.

Fukuoka Japan-British Society
Christopher Szpilman, Professor of Modern Japanese History and International Relations, and International Culture at Kyushu Sangyo University, poses next to Tadashi Kawabe, Secretary General of the Fukuoka Japan-British Society. Szpilman delivered the keynote speech titled, "Some British and Japanese Eccentrics and Their Contribution to the History of Anglo-Japanese Cultural Relations" at the recent Fukuoka Japan-British Society event. Persons interested in learning more about this association may send an email to: fjbs.tomoike@dolphin.ocn.ne.jp

Amnesty International Event
An international crowd of over 200 globally-minded people turned out for Amnesty International Fukuoka English Language Group's May 22nd event at Volume in Daimyo. The event raised awareness about international human rights concerns such as, genocide in Darfur, human rights abuses in Tibet, and Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women campaign. The group will continue holding its monthly meetings which use film and discussions to take an in-depth look at the issues and to take action for change. For more info: amnestyfukuoka.blogspot.com More photos online! www.fukuoka-now.com/gallery


Avispa Event Report
Following Avispa's 2-0 win against Vegalta Sendai on the May 25th, more than 130 people showed up at La Boheme on May 27 and helped make our Avispa International Party a striking success. Pierre Littbarski, the head coach of Avispa Fukuoka chatted, participated in the games and posed for photos with the crowd. MC Max hosted the night. In addition to MC'ing at Yahoo! Dome for Hawks games, he now does the same for Avispa at Level 5 Stadium. Many more home games remain – get out and support Avispa's fight back to J-1! More photos online! www.fukuoka-now.com/gallery

110th Philippine Independence Day
A celebration was held at Club Nuit Garcon on June 8 to mark the 110th Philippine Independence Day in Fukuoka. A series of performances showcasing native Philippine dances entertained the crowd and also offered a glimpse into Philippine culture. The event was organized by Filipinos and Friends in Fukuoka (FFF), which is a non-political, non-religious and non-profit organization. For more info, contact Grace Tomita: 090-1923-7836


Australia's A-Team in Town
June was a special month for rugby fans in Kyushu, as Fukuoka City hosted a match between the Australian and Japanese national teams. The Aussies' arrival in Fukuoka was delayed by a day, but they still managed to pull off a win against a very strong Japanese side. Final score: 42-21. Aussie team members, including these lads at Off Broadway, were spotted around town after the game.