To learn a new skill, try the following schools and classes. (Unless otherwise specified, all organizations have information in English on their Web sites but accept telephone inquiries only in Japanese.)

Martial artsAll organizations below accept English telephone inquiries.

Karate -- International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan, (03) 5992-7733, www.ikohonbu.com Judo -- All Japan Judo Federation, (03) 3818-4199, www.judo.or.jp/ Kendo -- All Japan Kendo Federation, (03) 3234-6271, www.kendo.or.jp/ Aikido -- Aikikai Foundation, (03) 3203-9236, www.aikikai.or.jp/

Tea ceremonyUrasenke School, (075) 431-3111 (English inquiries accepted), www.urasenke.or.jp/ Ogasawara Sencha Service School, (0797) 22-5405, www.jin.ne.jp/ogasawara/index.html

Flower arrangementIkenobo School, (075) 351-8581, www.ikenobo.jp/ Sogetsu School, (03) 3408-1209

MusicKoto -- Kinryo School Aigenkai: (092) 526-1117 (Fukuoka office); (0833) 44-0376 (Yamaguchi office); (082) 828-2576 (Hiroshima office); (046) 252-2172 (Kanagawa office); (03) 3926-6629 (Tokyo office)

Kinden School: (0265) 81-7500 (Nagano head office); (011) 242-2871 (Hokkaido office); (0426) 45-3721 (Tokyo office); (075) 661-8827 (Kyoto office); (092) 741-1399 (Fukuoka office); (052) 321-4525 (Aichi office)

Wadaiko -- Taiko Center, (075) 813-8615 (Kyoto head office); (03) 5302-4390 (Tokyo office); (072) 878-7870 (Osaka office), www.taiko-center.co.jp/ Matsuri Cobo, (0265) 78-6662

Shamisen -- Kine-ie Kai Shamisen School, (03) 3461-1953, www.kine-ie.com Shakuhachi -- International Shakuhachi Kensyu-Kan, (03) 3846-4447

Taizan-ha Shakuhachi Gakkai, (0471) 75-1851

CraftsWashi (Japanese paper) -- Washi Survival School in Mino, Gifu Prefecture, is holding a workshop from Aug. 14 to 16. Tuition is 58,000 yen, including materials, meals, accommodation and postage to cover the cost of mailing the completed paper after drying. Classes are in English. Contact Stephan Kohler by fax at (052) 955-0121 (English inquiries accepted) or via e-mail at [email protected]

Mino Washi Basic School in Mino, Gifu Prefecture, has monthlong workshops at Washi no Sato Kaikan in July, September and November. Classes, in Japanese, are held Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuition is 30,000 yen, including materials. For details, call (0575) 34-8111.

Tokyo Yuzen (textile dyeing) -- Senshoku Kenkyujo, 2-2-14 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, (03) 5287-7633. Classes are held twice a month.

Traditional dance Nishikawa School: 8 Daimachi, Ichigaya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, (03) 3355-6878 (English inquiries accepted). Minosuke Nishikawa can offer private lessons in English. Hanayagi School: 7-17-10, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, (03) 3401-8800 (English inquiries accepted) or (03) 3408-8555 (head office). Sumi Hanayagi can teach in English.

CookingMeijiya Cooking School: 7F 2-2-8, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, (03) 3271-6640. Located near Kyobashi Station on the Ginza subway line, a five-minute walk from Takaramachi Station on the Asakusa Line and Tokyo Station on the JR lines. Japanese-speaking ability required.

Nihon Ryori Kyoshitsu Beisai Club: Inside Shogai Gakushu-kan in Myogadani, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, (0471) 29-0741, www2s.biglobe.ne.jp (Japanese only). Japanese-speaking ability required.