Elvis and Reagan?

Ronald Reagan and Elvis Presley.

Somehow I can't seem to associate the two. Nixon, yes. Reagan? I don't know of any association between Reagan and Elvis, unless they crossed paths back in the days when Reagan was president of the Screen Actors' Guild and Elvis was beginning to make movies (before he was drafted).

Above, President Richard Nixon, Elvis Presley
and Egil "Bud" Krogh in the Oval Office.

Anyway, what got me on this topic was an email from the Ronald Reagan Foundation which contained this:



Sounds like it may be a fun evening. Dinner and Elvis music under the wings of Air Force One.

Any photos out there of Ronald Reagan with Elvis?

LACYR Hayakawa Party

Above, yours truly introduces S. I. Hayakawa to the LACYR party. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

Back in 1975, I served as 2nd Vice-President of the Los Angeles County Young Republicans (LACYR).

Above, Hayakawa with Assemblyman Paul Bannai and Armand. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

On September 27, 1975, I also co-chaired a fundraising cocktail party (with Mrs. Hideko Bannai) at the Beverly Hills home of record producer Mike Curb. S.I. Hayakawa was the special guest at the event. Hayakawa beat incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator John Tunney in November 1976 for the senate seat.

Above, Assemblyman Michael Antonovich, S.I. Hayakawa, Assemblyman Bannai and Armand. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

The party was seen as the beginning of Hayakawa's run for the U.S. Senate.

S.I. Hayakawa was born July 18, 1906 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada (he died Feb. 27, 1992 in Greenbrae, California). He was a scholar, university president and U.S. senator from California (1977–83). He is best known for his popular writings on semantics and for his career as president of San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University). (Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica)

He became a bit of a "folk hero" when he yanked out the wires from a public address system of some student protesters at San Francisco State.

For more on S. I. Hayakawa, go here.

Peter Falk, R.I.P.

Sad news today. Peter Falk, best known as homicide detective Lt. Columbo, has died.

Variety reported:

Peter Falk, the Emmy- and Tony-winning stage, screen and TV actor, best known to world audiences as the always-underestimated police detective in the long-running telepic series "Columbo," died Thursday at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 83.

It was announced that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease in December 2007.

Falk won five Emmys, four for portraying Columbo, and was twice Oscar nommed for supporting roles.

"Columbo" was one of my favorite shows when it aired on NBC's Mystery Movie.

To read the full article, go here.

Ronald Reagan 1980 Campaign Kick-off

While watching, whenever you hear the name Jimmy Carter think Barack Obama instead.



Ronald Reagan 1980 Campaign Kick-off

Aboard The S.S. Catalina

Summer is here. I thought this would be a good time to take a look back at another summer when two friends and I went to Catalina Island aboard "The Great White Steamer."

From Wikipedia:

The S.S. Catalina, also known as The Great White Steamer, was a 301-foot steamship built in 1924 that provided passenger service on the 26-mile passage between Los Angeles and Santa Catalina Island from 1924 to 1975. According to the Steamship Historical Society of America, the Catalina has carried more passengers than any other vessel anywhere. The S.S. Catalina also served as a troop ship during World War II, transporting more than 800,000 soldiers and sailors. After a period of service as a floating discotheque, the ship ran aground on a sandbar in Ensenada Harbor in 1997 and remained there half-submerged and decaying for more than a decade.

In January 2009, it was announced that the ship would be cut up for scrap, which has been completed.

July 24, 1974

It was on July 24, 1974 that Max Bettman, Mitch Geriminsky and I took a round-trip cruise to Catalina Island aboard the S.S. Catalina. There were faster, but smaller boats ferrying visitors to the island, but we opted to take the historical S.S. Catalina instead. Besides, the ship had a full bar!

At the time, we were students at El Camino College but were on summer vacation. Little did we know at the time that this would be the next-to-last season of the S.S. Catalina. The owners had financial difficulties, with smaller and faster boats competing for passengers to Catalina Island.

Above, en route to Catalina Island, passengers enjoy the ocean view on the S.S. Catalina's bow.

Above, Mitch Geriminsky (left) and Max Bettman aboard the S.S. Catalina.

Above, the three of us aboard the S.S. Catalina as we headed to Catalina Island. Looks like we all could've used haircuts!

Above, Catalina's Avalon Harbor is in sight as we approached the island.

Above, here I am after getting off the ship. This was my first visit to Catalina Island. I was 20 at the time.

Once we arrived on Catalina Island, we spent the day swimming in Avalon Harbor and did some horseback riding. When we walked to the stables, we had to go through an Avalon neighborhood. It was like being transported 30-40 years back in time as the homes looked like they were time-locked in the 1930s or 1940s.

After a day's worth of fun on Catalina Island, we got back on board the S.S. Catalina for the return trip to the mainland.

1982: Destined For Oblivion

After the 1974 trip to Catalina Island, I hadn't seen the S.S. Catalina until 1982, when a group of us were cruising on a business associate's yacht.

Above, the S.S. Catalina at anchor in Long Beach Harbor as our boat approached.

Early in 2009, it was announced that the S.S. Catalina would be dismantled and sold for scrap. It had partially sunken into the mud of Ensenada Harbor, Mexico. Preservationists tried to raise funds to re-float the ship and restore it, but they were unable to do so.

The old ship is now gone. Here are a couple of photos of the ship that I took in 1982. The ship was at anchor in Long Beach Harbor at the time, waiting for oblivion in Ensenada Harbor.

Above, a business associate invited several of us for a lunch cruise on his yacht and we passed by the Catalina during the cruise. The photo above was taken as we closed in.

This little song was played aboard the S.S. Catalina as we sailed to Catalina Island:

Japan Tourist Numbers Down But Improving

Above, the Yokohama waterfront.

Although the disaster of March 11 hit the Japanese tourism industry hard, there is a silver lining that is seen in the new tourist numbers.

According to The Japan Times:

The number of foreign visitors in May plunged 50.4 percent from a year earlier to about 358,000, the second-biggest year-on-year fall on record, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Thursday.

The rate of decline, however, has been narrowing since the 73 percent fall seen in the March 12-31 period following the March 11 disaster, as foreign governments have been lifting advisories on travel to Japan, according to the organization.

April saw a drop of 62.5.

As the article states, March saw a 73% drop in tourism. April's drop was 62.5%. And May's tourism drop was 50%. The figures for June and July should be much better as the Japanese tourism industry has been fighting back. At least the tourist deficit is narrowing.

To read the full article, go here.

Japan Tourism Numbers Down 31.9%

Above, a streetcar in Nakasaki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

March 11 earthquake and the resulting tsunami and radiation fears took huge bite out of number of visitors to Japan so far this year.

According to Travel Weekly:

Foreign tourist arrivals to Japan were down 31.9% from January to May compared with the first five months of 2010, according to figures released by the Japan Tourism Agency.

The disaster also reduced the number of American visitors:

Tourist arrivals from the U.S....were off 30.3% for the first five months of the year.

To read the full article, go here.

This is so unnecessary.

Tourism-Review.com put it best:

However, Japan has now risen from the ashes and is trying to tell the world the country is no longer posing any threats to the health of its people and visitors. Especially now, Japan needs tourists to return.

Noel Neill To Make First Public Appearance In Over A Year

Above, Jack Larson and Noel Neill in 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fans of the original Lois Lane can rejoice!

Jim Nolt of The Adventures Continue reported:

Here's the latest news from Noel Neill: For the first time in over a year, Noel is about to make her first public appearance. She will appear at the Heroes & Villains Comic book store in Tucson on Saturday, July 2th, for only one hour, from 3 pm - 4 pm. She is excited about the prospect of once again greeting fans and well-wishers.

Noel spent most of last year recovering from a fractured hip that she sustained in a fall at her home.

It is great news that Noel feels well enough to meet and greet her fans!

Hideko Bannai

After posting about my days working as a field representative for Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai, I did some Googling and found this (Source: Rafu Shimpo):

Hideko Bannai, 82 year-old, Burbank, Calif.-born Nisei, passed away on June 14. She is survived by her husband, Paul Bannai; and their children, Kathryn Bannai (Robert Miura), Don Bannai, and Lorraine Bannai (Norman Mar). She is also survived by her grandchildren Jared Nagae, Sean Miura, Akira Bannai, Eliot Mar, and Dana Mar; sister, Alice Yamashiro; and nieces and nephews. A private memorial service was held on June 18, and an interment in July.

The year of the article was 2009. Searching around, I found that she last resided in Seattle, Washington. Paul Bannai will be 91 next month.



Note: In the party photo above, GOP politicals include Mike Curb (who later became California Lt. Governor), Michael Donaldson (later California Republican Party Treasurer), Assemblyman Michael Antonovich (now a L.A. County Supervisor), S. I. Hayakawa and Assemblyman Bannai.

Mrs. Bannai and I served as co-chairmen for a Los Angeles County Young Republicans party (photo above) featuring S. I. Hayakawa (before he became U.S. Senator) at the Beverly Hills home of Mike Curb in 1975. The photo of Mrs. Bannai and I (at top) was used for publicity for the event.

Above, Governor Ronald Reagan lends his support for Paul Bannai during the 1973 special election. From left, Hideko Bannai, Paul Bannai, Gov. Reagan, Kathryn Bannai and Lorraine Bannai.

She was a great lady and I am sorry to learn of her passing.

Back In The Day...

Above, with Assemblyman Bannai in his Capitol office in Sacramento, 1977.

The big news in California today about state Controller John Chiang's decision to withhold the legislature's pay brings me back to the 1970s when I worked off and on as a field representative to then-Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai.

Back in those days, there was more cooperation between the majority Democrat members with the minority Republicans. Bannai was first elected in 1973 in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the sudden passing of Democratic Assemblyman Larry Townsend. The Assembly District (first as the 67th and later as the 53rd) covered Gardena, Lawndale, Hawthorne and some parts of Torrance in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County.

Bannai, the first Japanese-American elected to the California legislature, was a realtor and Gardena City Councilman before he won the assembly seat as a Republican. After he won the special election, he asked me to be one of his two field representatives for his district office. I was a student at El Camino College at the time and lived in Hawthorne.

It was as a field representative that I learned press relations work and handled constituent matters. It was a great learning experience.

Bannai served as state assemblyman until 1980. After this, he joined the Reagan Administration at the Veterans' Administration.

Mike Gatto: California's Crybaby Poster Boy

"I halted a fulfilling private sector career path to enter public service. I now have to explain to my wife and daughter that we won't be able to pay the bills because a politician chose to grandstand at our expense." - Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Burbank.

Boo-hoo!

Mike Gatto has now become the poster boy for the fiscal mess in Sacramento. He is whining over losing days of pay for not timely passing a balanced budget.

Well, it seems that he and the other Democrats in the California legislature had no problem in over-taxing California taxpayers, over-regulating businesses and driving other businesses out of the state, over-spending and being over-generous with extravagant benefits packages and pensions for state workers.

Yes, people are hurting financially, but that doesn't stop the Democrats from adding more taxes and fees. They refuse to cut spending. The Democratic Party has ruined this state. The once "Golden State" is no longer business-friendly.

Mike Gatto, you or your Democrat colleagues don't deserve any sympathy. Now that you are getting some payback, you cry like a big baby. The voters in your district (if they have any smarts) will remember this and send you back to the private sector.

It appears that your chickens are coming home to roost!

For once, there is a Democrat that deserves a big round of applause in docking the legislature's pay: Controller John Chiang! Too bad there aren't more like him.

CA Controller Won't Pay Legislators

Finally there's a Democrat in California I can support!

The Los Angeles Times reported today:

California lawmakers must forfeit their pay as of mid-June because the budget they passed last week -- which Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed less than 24 hours later -– was not balanced, the state controller said Tuesday.

Since last week, Controller John Chiang, a Democrat, has been pondering whether to pay lawmakers. They passed budget legislation on June 15, meeting their constitutional deadline for only the second time in a quarter-century, but their plan relied heavily on accounting schemes to paper over the state's deficit. In his veto message, Brown said he could not sign such a plan.

Chiang, who issues the state's paychecks, said Tuesday that it wasn't sufficient to keep their pay coming.

Voters approved a law last fall that empowered legislators to pass a budget with a simple majority vote but also threatened to strip them of pay for every day the blueprint is late. The measure makes no mention of approving a balanced budget, but other laws on the books dictate that state budgets be balanced.

Ironically, the law was backed by unions. Can you spell backfire?

Meanwhile, one lawmaker started crying immediately after hearing Chiang's decision:

"I halted a fulfilling private sector career path to enter public service, " said Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-Burbank) in an emailed statement. "I now have to explain to my wife and daughter that we won't be able to pay the bills because a politician chose to grandstand at our expense."

Left, Assemblyman Mike Gatto struggles to pay his bills.


Hey, Mike! I would be happy to explain to your wife and daughter that you didn't do your job in passing a timely balanced budget. So now you have to suffer the consequences! Maybe you ought to go back to the private sector, eh?


To read the full article go here.

ANIME EXPO 2011 ANNOUNCES MADHOUSE STUDIO CREATORS AS GUESTS OF HONOR

Source: Anime Expo 2011 News Release

LOS ANGELES (June 21, 2011) -- Anime Expo 2011 has announced Tetsuro Araki, Masayoshi Tanaka and Kentaro Hashimoto of Madhouse Studios as Guests of Honor. The trio will be present for a special July 2nd screening of the acclaimed zombie apocalypse series “HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD” and will host a creator’s panel at Anime Expo, when it returns to the L.A. Convention Center from July 1 - 4, 2011.

Tetsuro Araki has engaged with a number of animated TV series, including “Di Gi Charat Nyo” and “GUNGRAVE,” as a Madhouse staff. He makes a shocking directorial debut, with the animation adaptation of the comic series “DEATH NOTE.” Since then he has directed the vampiric saga “Kurozuka” and adapted the zombie apocalypse “Highschool of the Dead.” Mr. Araki is now working with Production I.G. on his new series “Guilty Crown.”

As an animator, Masayoshi Tanaka has worked on popular series such as ”X,” “CHOBITS,” “EUREKA 7,” “HONEY AND CLOVER” and many more. As character designer and chief animator, his most famous works include “TORADORA!,” the animated adaptation of the Shonen Jump series “REBORN!” and “HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD.” He is currently working on “Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai” at A-1 Pictures.

Kentaro Hashimoto has produced mega-hit animated television series like “Death Note” and “Kurozuka”. Mr. Hashimoto has brought out new animated interpretation of the classic literature by Ango Sakaguchi in “Aoi Bungaku: In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom.” His newest series is the acclaimed zombie apocalypse action animated series “Highschool of the Dead.”

The roster of Anime Expo 2011 Guests of Honor includes Japanese pop trio Kalafina; singing sensation Maon Kurosaki; techno pop band Nirgilis; “LASTEXILE -Fam, The Silver Wing-“ production team Koichi Chigira, Makoto Kobayashi, Takaaki Suzuki and Hiroyuki Birukawa; Japanese TV Host and blogger Danny Choo; voice actress and singer Miyuki Sawashiro; voice actors Toshio Furukawa, Vic Mignogna, Toshiyuki Morikawa and Taliesin Jaffe; stars of the Power Rangers series and movies; video game developer Sohei Niikawa; Crypton Future Media CEO Hiroyuki Itoh and Producer Wataru Sasaki; Vocaloid songwriter Onyx Kobayashi; manga artists Izumi Matsumoto and Fred Gallagher and anime director Seiji Mizushima. Anime Expo has also announced Hatsune Miku as its first ever Virtual Guest of Honor. Themed the “Year of the Fan,” Anime Expo 2011 will fully immerse guests into the world of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion. Anime Expo is a non-stop marathon of Japanese pop culture that’s been likened to Halloween in July.

To stay updated on all of the latest Anime Expo 2011 news, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and check us out on YouTube.

About Anime Expo

Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America’s largest anime and manga celebration. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. AX 2011 will be held July 1 – July 4, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org.

Rush Limbaugh's Undeniable Truths of Life

Rush Limbaugh's Original 35 Undeniable Truths of Life:

1. The greatest threat to humanity lies in the nuclear arsenal of the USSR.

2. The greatest threat to humanity lies in the USSR.

3. Peace does not mean the elimination of nuclear weapons.

4. Peace does not mean the absence of war.

5. War is not obsolete.

6. Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force.

7. There is only one way to get rid of nuclear weapons - use them.

8. Peace cannot be achieved by developing a "understanding" with the Russian People.

9.When Americans oppose America, it is not always courageous and sacred; it is sometimes dangerous.

10. Communism Kills.

11. Neither the US, nor anyone else, imposes freedom on the peoples of other nations.

12. Freedom is God given.

13. In the USSR, peace means the absence of opposition.

14. To free peoples, peace means the absence of threats and the presence of justice.

15. The Peace Movement in the US, whether by accident or design, is pro-Communist.

16. The collective knowledge and wisdom of seasoned citizens is the most valuable, yet untapped, resource our young-people have.

17. The greatest football team in the history of civilization is the Pittsburgh Steelers of 1975-1980.

18. There is no such thing as war atrocities.

19. War itself is an atrocity.

20. There is a God.

21. Abortion is wrong.

22. Morality is not defined and cannot be defined by individual choice.

23. Evolution cannot explain Creation.

24. Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women access to the mainstream of society.

25. Love is the only human emotion that cannot be controlled.

26. The only difference between Mikhail Gorbachev and previous Soviet leaders, is that Gorbachev is alive.

28. Soviet Leaders are just left-wing dictators.

29. Abe Lincoln saved this nation.

30. The L.A. Raiders will never be the team that they were when they called Oakland their home.

31. The US will again go to war. (Remember: Rush wrote this 3 years before the Gulf War.)

32. To more and more people, a victorious US is a sinful US. This is frightening and ominous.

33. There will always be poor people.

34. This is not the fault of the rich.

35. You should thank God for making you an American; and instead of feeling guilty about it, help spread our ideas worldwide.

Rush Limbaugh's Updated Undeniable Truths

Rush has updated this list in 1994 as many of the "old" UTOL having become somewhat dated:

1. There is a distinct singular American culture - rugged individualism and self-reliance - which made America great.

2. The vast majority of the rich in this country did not inherit their wealth; they earned it. They are the country's achievers, producers, and job creators.

3. No nation has ever taxed itself into prosperity.

4. Evidence refutes liberalism.

5. There is no such thing as a New Democrat.

6. The Earth's eco-system is not fragile.

7. Character matters; leadership decends from character.

8. The most beautiful thing about a tree is what you do with it after you cut it down.

9. Ronald Reagan was the greatest president of the twentieth century.

10. The 1980s was not a decade of greed but a decade of prosperity; it was the longest period of peacetime growth in American history.

11. Abstinence prevents sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy - every time it's tried.

12. Condoms only work during the school year.

13. Poverty is not the root ("rut") cause of crime.

14. There's a simple way to solve the crime problem: obey the law; punish those who do not.

15. If you commit a crime, you are guilty.

16. Women should not be allowed on juries where the accused is a stud. (In response to the hung jury in the Menendez brothers trial)

17. The way to improve our schools is not more money, but the reintroduction of moral and spiritual values, as well as the four "R's":reading, 'riting, 'rithmatic, and Rush.

18. I am not arrogant.

19. My first 35 Undeniable Truths are still undeniable.

I'll add one of my own. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan in 1980:

20. A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Barack Obama loses his.

The Caretaker of Mountain View Cemetery

Above, at the urn of George "Superman" Reeves.

In November 2005, actress Noel Neill celebrated her 85th birthday at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in Studio City. Fans from around the country converged to celebrate.

The next day, since everyone was in town, I led them on the first-ever George Reeves tour. Stops included his house in Benedict Canyon where Reeves died on June 16, 1959, his boyhood home in Pasadena and Mountain View Cemetery, where he now rests in the mausoleum between his mother and aunt (photo below). We had about 4-5 carloads of Adventures of Superman fans participate on the tour.



The Los Angeles Times has a story today on the caretaker of Mountain View Cemetery, "Between The Sacred and the Mundane." George gets a mention in the article.

To read the article go here.

PETA Slaughtering Dogs and Cats

Above, my two cats Buttons and Siren.

Ever since I can remember, my family has always had animals in our household. I've always enjoyed pets and animals in general. Last week, I found an injured snake in the middle of a residential street in Burbank. I moved it out of the street.

So I find this to be disturbing (from PETAkillsanimals.com):

Animal lovers worldwide now have access to more than a decade's worth of evidence showing that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) kills thousands of defenseless pets at its Virginia headquarters. Since 1998, PETA has opted to "put down" 25,840 adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens instead of finding them "forever homes."

PETA's "Animal Record" report for 2010, which the animal rights group itself filed with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shows that PETA employees killed 94 percent of the dogs and cats in their care last year. During all of 2010, PETA found adoptive homes for just 44 pets.

Just 44 dogs and cats—out of the 2,345 PETA took in. Those numbers are abysmal, and they and offer little hope for homeless animals to escape perishing on PETA's version of "death row."

This is a slaughterhouse. I have to thank talk show host Mark Levin for bringing this to people's attention.

PETA raises money from do-gooders claiming to be saving animals. Instead, they are literally picking up animals and killing them in their vans!

To view the PETAkillsanimals.com website, go here.

Mutantkind.com Picks Up Monster Japan Travel Guide Press Release

Above, Miki Hayashi with The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mutantkind.com (I like that name!) has picked up the press release on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

The site describes itself as a place "Where Mutants Can Connect With Their Own Kind."

In their "About Us" page, they posted:

Mutantkind is a social network that connects mutants with mutants. Mutants use Mutantkind to interact with friends, upload photos, post blogs and forum items, join Leagues and learn more about other mutants from around the world.

It looks like a fun site.

To see their posting, go here.

Japan's Tourism Struggle

Above, the pagoda in Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Washington Post published an article a few days ago on Japan's continuing struggle in attracting foreign tourists due to the "triple catastrophe" of March 11.

It is a good article by Chico Harlan (a name that evokes "What do you get when you cross Col. Sanders with Chico Marx?") refuting a lot of what the mainstream media in the U.S. hysterically reported immediately after the earthquake, tsunami and radiation problems.

The article starts with:

Beth Reiber, the freelance writer responsible for the set of Frommer’s guidebooks on Japan, felt lucky just to get on the plane. Her editors had canceled plans to publish a Tokyo guidebook for 2012, thinking it didn’t make sense to spend all that money to publish a book that nobody would buy.

But Reiber pushed back and gave them the same message that Japan is struggling to give the world: Tokyo remains radiation-free and just as safe as always.

The problems with the Japan travel industry following the quake stems from the mistaken fears that the whole country is contaminated with radioactivity. According to the article, the quake changed Japan's "image" of being a safe country, resulting in a 62% drop in foreign tourism in April. The May figures haven't been released as yet.

If people would bother to look at a geographic map of Japan, they'd see that Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Mt. Fuji, and Okinawa are far away from the affected area.

The article correctly points out:

Much of this is founded on misperception: A region was battered, not all of Japan. But the March 11 disaster has dealt a severe blow to a tourism industry the nation had been counting on to help offset static domestic consumer demand due to a shrinking population.

Regular readers of this blog are aware that I have been "beating the drums" for Japan tourism.

It is interesting to note that Frommer’s was considering canceling their Tokyo guidebook for 2012. Frommer’s is one of the premier guidebook companies for worldwide travel destinations.

I did notice a "pause" in sales for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan in the wake of the disaster. But due to using a new (for me at least) press release distribution company and a pre-vacation season discount in May, sales are now back up again. No throwing in the towel here!

It is also interesting that Frommer's was skittish in publishing their Tokyo guide, since they are a corporation and should have the resources to detect trends for Japan travel. And, they should know better (and I am just a one-man operation in comparison). Couldn't they tell from their own maps that the affected region (Tohoku) is far to the north of Kantu (to give just one example)? Maybe Frommer's should listen to Ms. Rieber more often.

To read the full article, go here.

Sonorika.com Picks Up Monster Japan Travel Guide

Above, Miki Hayashi with The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The United Kingdom's Sonorika.com picked up the Japan Visitor article on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Sonorika.com contains articles on travel, music, art and other features. It is available in multiple languages.

To see the site, go here.

Father's Day Lunch

Had an enjoyable sushi Father's Day lunch courtesy of my daughter Amber at Kabuki Japanese Restaurant in Woodland Hills.

Happy Father's Day!

Above, my dad at Weeping Rock at Zion National Park in 1980.

Today is Father's Day.

It is one of those holidays (or, observances) where one more acutely misses those who have passed on. It is even more true if one's family was close-knit as ours was.

Although it has been ten and a half years since my dad died of cancer, it still seems unreal that he's been gone that long (and it seems just as unreal my mom has been gone about a year and a half). Memories are still vivid. I can still remember things he said or did. Some funny (and some no-so-funny) incidents of the past.

One thing about losing parents is that I am still catching myself wanting to call them up on the phone. My mom especially so, since her passing was more recent. I remember a time after my dad died I was about to consult with him on some car problem I was having and catching myself. Last year, for a fleeting moment I thought about calling my mom after meeting Shirley MacLaine. Again, I had to catch myself. It is a weird feeling.

I know a lot of people who have lost a parent or family member over the past two years and I can imagine that they are going through the same thing.

Although this day is Father's Day, and time is set aside to remember mine, I think of him and my mom every day. In practice, at least for me anyway, every day is Father's Day and Mother's Day. Thank goodness for the invention of home video (and previously, 8mm home movie film) so I can still see and hear their voices. (If you don't have a home video camera, get one!)

If you are lucky to still have your parents, make sure you enjoy them while you still can because someday they won't be here except in memory.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy a lunch with my daughter Amber.

Happy Father's Day!

Anime Expo 2011

Anime Expo 2011 opens July 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. The Expo runs from Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4.

Last year, Anime Expo drew over 45,000 attendees. The show began in 1992 that drew 1,750. Previously, Anime Expo was held at the Long Beach Convention Center and the Anaheim Convention Center.

Anime Expo (AX) showcases the latest anime-related products and representatives of anime production companies and manga publishers will be in attendance.

Danny Choo, television personality, blogger and anime enthusiast, will be special guest at AX. He hosts Culture Japan, a television show that presents Japanese pop culture to the world.

For more information on Anime Expo, go here.

Japan Tourism Industry Targets Anime Fans

Above, anime characters aren't difficult to find in Japan as this Niigata tour bus demonstrates.

Japan's tourisn industry is beginning to think "outside of the box" in coming up with ways to lure foreign tourists to Japan. Japan's tourism industry was hit hard by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Breitbart.com reported today:

TOKYO, June 17 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Japan National Tourism Organization said Friday it has compiled an English-language map that introduces tourism spots and theme parks related to Japanese "anime" as part of efforts to attract more foreign tourists.

I have advocated that the Japanese tourism industry also market tours to Japan to fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies.

JNTO's targeting of the anime fan market seems to be a good start. However, anime fans tend to be younger than the baby-boomer generation (i.e., people with travel money) whose first exposure to Japanese pop culture were through Japanese science-fiction movies.

To read the full article, go here.

First Goodyear Blimp Fatality In 85 Years

(Special thanks to blimp expert Robert McArthur.)

Above, the "Spirit of Safety."

The first Goodyear blimp fatality in 85 years occurred Sunday in Germany.

The Goodyear blimp was ironically named "The Spirit of Safety."



The DAPD news agency reported:

Photographer Joachim Storch told media that the blimp — The Spirit of Safety — missed its designated landing spot at Reichelsheim airfield in central Germany on Sunday evening, causing its engine to slam into the ground.

The pilot yelled "We had an accident!" followed by "I crashed the airship!" as the smell of fire crept through the blimp, Storch told the DAPD news agency on Monday.

Storch and two other passengers, a man and woman from a TV crew, leapt 7 feet (2 meters) to safety.

The sudden loss of weight caused the ship to shoot into the air, where it burst into flames, killing the pilot who remained in the cabin.

The gasoline-powered engine caught fire after hitting the ground. The fire then spread to the helium-filled envelope.

John Edwards Mugshot

Call him "Breck Girl" or "Silky Pony," but no matter what one calls former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, just call him indicted.

Edwards pleaded not guilty in early June after a federal grand jury indicted him on six counts, including conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws.

He is accused of using campaign money to cover up an affair with Rielle Hunter.

Barbershop Talk

Living in or near Tinseltown (i.e., Hollywood) does have its advantages. Sometimes one gets to hear industry scuttlebutt (possibly) before it hits the newspapers.

This morning, my long-delayed visit to the barbershop finally came to pass (I couldn't stand it anymore) this morning. While getting myself a haircut, another customer came in and was seated at the chair next to mine.

He works in some capacity in the movie industry (I think he said he's a sculptor) and said that he has to scramble around for work. Then he dropped a bombshell.

He said that the Walt Disney Company is about to lay off 300 to 500 workers!

Ouch! That's a lot of people who will be out of work. I did see a June 6 news item about Disney laying off 250 workers globally, but what I heard this morning was local.

It seems that hope & change is not exactly working out for those in an industry who are predominantly liberal and are Democrat/Obama supporters.

Instead of "spreading the wealth," they're going so see "spreading the misery."

Happy Birthday, Miki!

Above, one of many photographs taken of Miki for promoting The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Since publishing The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, it has been my good fortune in meeting and working with a many wonderful people over the past year and a half.

One of which is model Miki Hayashi.

Last year, through writer, filmmaker and dinosaur expert Donald F. Glut, I was able to secure the services of two topnotch models, Yuu Asakura and Miki Hayashi.

After coming home from work tonight, I found out that today's Miki's birthday.

Besides being a model, Miki is a university student living in the Long Beach area. She is originally from Kyoto, Japan.

Above, following our photo-shoot, Miki and I had a "wrap" lunch at Crazy Tokyo Sushi.

I first met Miki last February (although we had spoken on the phone a few times prior) when we did our photo-shoot. I found her to be a very nice person and easy to work with.

Then, last April, I was scheduled to present a talk on monster movie locations in Japan at this year's Monsterpalooza in Burbank. My daughter Amber was going to assist me, but came down with a nasty flu a few weeks before Monsterpalooza. She stil wasn't fully recovered when Monsterpalooza approached.

So, I called Miki and she agreed to pitch in and assist me. Am I ever grateful for that!

While at Monsterpalooza, I introduced her to "Mr. Godzilla" himself, Haruo Nakajima and to master monster suit-maker, Shinichi Wakasa.

Above, Miki with Haruo Nakajima at Monsterpalooza.

So, here's a big Happy Birthday to Miki! Happy Birthday, Miki!

A Visit To Japan's Imperial Palace

Text and Photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, one of the Imperial Palace moats.

One of the main tourist attractions in Tokyo is the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace is located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo and close to Tokyo Station. It is an easy walk from Hibiya. I first visited the Imperial Palace during my first trip to Japan in 2001.

Above, one of the moats that surround the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace is the home of Japan's Emperor. The current Emperor is Emperor Akihito (or Emperor Showa). The Imperial Palace is a park-like area that is built on the the former location of Edo Castle in central Tokyo. The main palace grounds are surrounded by moats and is fortified by massive stone walls.

Above, the Nijubashi Bridge.

Above, the main gate to the Imperial Palace.

The palace complex includes the Imperial Residence, Imperial Household Agency, Biological Laboratory, Chōwaden Reception Hall, Imperial Palace Plaza and East Gardens. The East Gardens are open to the public on designated days.

Above, a guard tower near the East Gate.

The main entrance to the Imperial Palace is accessed by the Nijubashi Bridge. Don't try getting through as the gate is manned by guards.

Above, one of the gates that leads into the Imperial Palace property from the government center.

For more detailed information on the Imperial Palace, go here.