Feed your inner Asian art historian at a four-lecture symposium at the Honolulu Academy of Arts that complements the new show "Trade Taste & Transformation." Curator Julia Curtis talks about Ming Dynasty Chinese porcelains for Japan at 6 tonight.

At 9 a.m. tomorrow academy director Stephen Little delivers "Japan and China: A Tale of Two Cultures," examining the artistic relationship between Japan and China.

Also tomorrow: Mary Ann Rogers at 10:45 a.m. and Christiaan Joerg at 1:45 p.m., both on kosometsuke, Chinese export porcelains for the Japanese market. Lectures are free at the Doris Duke Theatre. 532-8700.

— Advertiser staff

DARK FANTASY IN SPOTLIGHT

Japanese avant-garde playwright Shuji Terayama's "Inugami" follows Tsukio, a young boy who's the result of his mother's alleged rape by a dog. Abandoned by his parents, Tsukio lives with his grandmother and befriends ... a dog.

Through this folk tale, Terayama tackles some of society's — and theater's — darkest taboos. The Lizard Loft production is on stage at 8 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Tickets: $10. 550-8457, www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

— Advertiser staff

FINAL WORD

"I prefer to be in control of what's happening ... in soccer if the goalie makes a mistake, everyone has to pay for it."

Roger Federer | the No. 1-ranked tennis player, on why at age 12 he chose tennis over soccer, in Interview