Above, the Godaido temple at Matsushima Bay.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Daily Yomiuri has posted an article on the status of tourism in the Tohoku region that was hit hard last year by the earthquake and tsunami.  The article is entitled,

Tohoku tourism halfway to full recovery

In the article, they wrote:

Tourism in the Tohoku region is still only halfway to recovering to the levels seen before the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. 

 Areas affected by the March 11, 2011, disaster have had difficulty rebuilding businesses as accommodation facilities and transportation systems have not been restored.

Tourism businesses in the disaster-hit areas face the need to urgently complete preparations for hosting tourists since the inflow of people will aid reconstruction.

To read the full article, go here. 

Donna Summer, R.I.P.

When word came that the "Queen of Disco" (a term she didn't really care for) Donna Summer died yesterday at age 63, my mind flashed back to the summer of 1977.

That summer, the first Star Wars was released.  Elvis Presley died at Graceland.  I was dating three girls.  I came down with an infection (not related to the girls) that caused me to lose 30 pounds.  I saw The Spy Who Loved Me at the Studio Drive-In Theater in Culver City (paired with Logan's Run).  Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" was a big hit on the Top 40 charts.

Summer's "I Feel Love" was an amazing song with great vocals, a pulsating electronic rhythm and whip-sounds from a synthesizer.  Her song, to me, was the "theme" for that summer.

She purportedly died from lung cancer.  Much too young.

For Bond Lovers Only

Rummaging in the Iliad Bookshop in North Hollywood a couple of weeks ago, I found a paperback copy of For Bond Lovers Only (1965, Dell Publishing), compiled and edited by Sheldon Lane.

This book came out in the midst of Bondmania that erupted following Goldfinger (1964).

For Bond Lovers Only contains a treasure trove of trivia on MI6 secret agent James Bond 007.  Some of which includes:

•  "007 and Me," which "candidly reveals the dangers and delights of having an alter-ego who lives in a world where beautiful girls and pulse-pounding excitement are always available."

• An interview with actor Sean Connery.

• Georges Simenon and Ian Fleming discuss "The Thriller Business" which compares perils, intrigues and pleasures.

• Raymond Chandler, creator of private eye Philip Marlow, faces "the fascinating question of what would happen if Marlow was ever up against 007.

• Bond's girls and weapons.  

• 16 pages of photographs.

And, a whole lot more.

One interesting tidbit from the book:

Ian Fleming thought Connery perfect for Bond.  "He has done it wonderfully," he said.  "It was a great piece of casting.  He certainly looks like 007, and I don't know who could have done it better."

"Barack Obama...born in Kenya"

This interesting item was unearthed by Breitbart.com via The Drudge Report:

Breitbart News has obtained a promotional booklet produced in 1991 by Barack Obama's then-literary agency, Acton & Dystel, which touts Obama as "born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii."  

The booklet, which was distributed to "business colleagues" in the publishing industry, includes a brief biography of Obama among the biographies of eighty-nine other authors represented by Acton & Dystel.    

It is interesting that this 1991 promo was used until 2007 with no apparent request or demand by Obama to "correct" it.  Also, it is interesting that the mainstream media didn't report on this in 2008.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Skytree Hoped To Be A Lure For Shoppers

Above, the Skytree in December 2010.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More articles on Tokyo's new Skytree tower are popping up as we are days away from its official opening.

Bloomberg's Businessweek.com has one such article:

The 634-meter (2,080 feet) structure in eastern Tokyo sits in a retail complex housing more than 300 shops and restaurants, a planetarium and an aquarium. Developer Tobu Railway Co. (9001) expects the project to draw 32 million visitors in its first year, surpassing the numbers at Tokyo Disney Resort. Tobu, whose revenue has fallen for five years, will also get a 28.3 billion yen ($352 million) sales boost in the year ending March 31, according to Kazuhiko Hirata, a general manager for finance.

I saw the Skytree a year and a half ago during my trip to Japan to promote The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.  Although it hadn't yet reached its full height at the time, it was still a pretty imposing and impressive structure to see.

The Skytree has two observation decks with the lower deck already fully booked through July 11.  The cost for a trip to the lower deck will be ¥2,000.

As the article indicates, even though the Skytree is booked up, the Tobu Railway Co. hopes the shops, restaurants and attractions in the Skytree complex will still draw many visitors.

To read the full article, go here.

Job Searching After 50

Finding a job in today's economy is tough enough.  But if you're over 50 years old, you will discover that finding a job will be even tougher.  (Believe me, I know.)

PrimeCB.com (a division of CareerBuilder.com) has some advice for those of you over 50 and are out hitting the pavement looking for a job.

They start it with:

There’s no question that job searching gets harder after the age of 50. Although age discrimination is illegal, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Many employers have preconceived notions about older workers. Among the most common: Their salaries are high, their energy is low and they’re not up-to-date on the latest technologies.

As the old saying goes, hope this helps!

To read more, go here.

Deb Fischer Wins Nebraska GOP Primary For U.S. Senate

As I have farm property in  Nebraska, I have been watching the Nebraska U.S. Senate Primary race.  Here's the latest (Source: Michelle Malkin's blog):

Nebraska state Senator Deb Fischer pulled off a surprise upset victory against Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning in the state’s Republican Senate primary Tuesday, marking the second contest in two weeks in which an establishment favorite was upended by a dark horse candidate in a Senate primary. 

Fischer, a rural rancher from the state’s 43rd legislative district, eked out a 5-point victory over Bruning, winning 41 percent to the Attorney General’s 36 percent with nearly all the votes counted. State Treasurer Don Stenberg earned 19 percent. 

As of just a few weeks ago, Bruning was widely considered the favorite in the race, and was expected to handily defeat Fischer and Stenberg to face off against Democratic candidate Bob Kerrey in November. 

Kerrey has been out of Nebraska since he retired from the Senate.  He's been out of touch anyway.

According to Rush Limbaugh this morning, latest tracking polls show Fischer leading Kerrey by double-digits.  Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin endorsed Fischer during the primary campaign.

 I am urging Nebraskans to support Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate.

New Senate Bill Keeps The U.N. From Dictating U.S. Gun Laws!

New Senate Bill Keeps The U.N. From Dictating U.S. Gun Laws!

As the United Nations Works Hard to Dismantle U.S. Gun Rights, Senate responds with bill to stop it even if treaty is signed. Click here to FAX Congress now!

A BILL

To prohibit funding to negotiate a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty that restricts the Second Amendment rights of United States citizens.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Second Amendment Sovereignty Act of 2012′.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:

(1) In October 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the United States support and participation in negotiating the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to be finalized in 2012, signaling a shift in United States policy.

(2) An Arms Trade Treaty that regulates the domestic manufacturer, possession, or purchase of civilian firearms and ammunition would infringe on the rights of United States citizens protected under the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the sovereignty of the United States and the constitutionally protected freedoms of American gun owners must be upheld and not be undermined by the Arms Trade Treaty.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING.

No funds may be obligated or expended to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States, in connection with negotiations for a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, to restrict in any way the rights of United States citizens under the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, or to otherwise regulate domestic manufacture, assembly, possession, use, transfer, or purchase of firearms, ammunition, or related items, including small arms, light weapons, or related materials.

California: Vote NO On Proposition 29

On June 5^th, voters in California will have a chance to reject Proposition 29, a flawed and poorly-drafted measure that raises taxes on California consumers by $735 million dollars.

Click HERE to Pledge to Vote NO on Prop 29

Contrary to claims made by special interest groups who stand to gain financially from the passage of Prop 29, it will do nothing to solve the state’s budget crisis. Instead, it will create more bureaucracy filled with political appointees and expand government spending.

Even worse, there is nothing to stop these appointees from treating the money taken from California taxpayers like a personal slush fund to reward favored organizations. That is no way to balance a budget.

On June 5th, please remember to Vote NO on Prop 29. 

"A Night To Remember" From The Criterion Collection

Yesterday, I went on a little spending spree at the local CD/DVD discount store, CD Trader near my Tarzana residence.  They sell new and used CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays and vinyl records.

I picked up The Criterion Collection's Island of Lost Souls (1932) in Blu-ray and their 2012 edition of A Night To Remember (1958) (presumably to commemorate the 100th anniversary last month of the Titanic's sinking on April 14, 1912) along with the best of the James Bond movies, Goldfinger (1964).

Right now, I have to rave about A Night To Remember.  I already have this movie on VHS (and also have the book), but looking over what the two-disc DVD set contained, I had to buy it.  It is the best dramatization of the disaster of the early 20th century.  It is based on the book by Walter Lord of the same name.

Am I glad that I did!

The transfers for the movie are what one would expect from Criterion.  Although a black and white movie, it is absolutely gorgeous to view on a big-screen television.  The digital transfer was created from the original 35mm camera negative.  The original soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the 35mm optical soundtrack.  Any dust, dirt or scratches and noise were all manually removed.

Besides the movie, Disc One also includes audio commentary by Titanic authorities Don Lynch and Ken Marschall and the trailer.

Disc Two includes a documentary on The Making of "A Night To Remember,"  an archival interview with Titanic survivor Eva Hart, a Swedish documentary En natt att minnas from 1962 (featuring interviews with Titanic survivors), a BBC documentary from 2006 entitled The Iceberg That Sank The Titanic.

In addition to the above, the set includes a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Sragow and many archival photographs.

A Night To Remember was directed by Roy Ward Baker and the screenplay was written by Eric Ambler, based on Walter Lord's book.  It stars Kenneth More, Ronald Allen, Robert Ayres and Honor Blackman (funny how I bought two movies featuring Blackman the same day with Goldfinger being the other one).

My grade: A+.

Clamper Stuff

I was going through my E Clampus Vitus (ECV) file and pulled up some items.  I've been a member of ECV since 1984 when I was initiated into the order through the New Helvetia Chapter in Sacramento.

What's E Clampus Vitus?


Here's a little bit of ECV history:

Back in the Gold Rush Days of the mid-nineteenth century literally thousands of mining camps and towns sprang up throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains and in neighboring territories that now comprise the western states. A new town would appear almost overnight at the mere rumor of a fresh strike. But as the gold or silver petered out the mines closed, claims were abandoned and most of the people moved on. What had been a thriving town was soon reduced to empty buildings and a few hardy souls struggling for existence. Today many tiny hamlets no bigger than a small dot on a seldom traveled back road map once boasted an area population of fifteen or twenty thousand at its peak. Stripping away the fictional glamour, one finds a picture that stands in stark contrast to the romantic Hollywood image. The miner’s life, whether working his own claim or in a larger operation, was rugged, dangerous, often short and, for many, a nomadic existence that took them from one area to another in search of riches. For all but a few their arduous labor produced scant reward. Entertainment was whatever they could make of whatever was at hand and a good prank or practical joke brought much needed relief from the serious business of just getting through the day. Not infrequently, their revelry consisted of exchanging gold dust for a raucous night at one of the many saloons or gambling halls and, whenever possible, at some unsuspecting person’s expense. 

 By 1850 two fraternal organizations, the Masonic Lodge and the Odd Fellows (IOOF), were well established in California and virtually all men of influence were members of either or both of these orders. Both groups were viewed as very strict in nature with impressive badges of office and formal attire. In short, they provided little humor and certainly no relief from the arduous task of just staying alive. In 1851 a group of men at Mokelumne Hill, California, felt another fraternal organization, one much less serious of nature, was needed and The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, with an avowed dedication to the protection of "Widows and Orphans", came to life in the west. Originally, the order was a spoof or mockery of the well known fraternal orders. But it also recognized a certain absurdity that was so much a part of their lives and, indeed, had become something that was cherished whether viewed as an escape or just another thing that had to be endured. One can only imagine the difficulty in maintaining a serious expression as these Clampers carried on their satire by addressed each other with lofty sounding titles of "Noble Grand Humbug", "Clamps Vitrix", "Roisterous Iscutis", "Royal Gyascutis", "Grand Imperturbable Hangman". To further their mockery the members bedecked themselves with badges and self created awards fashioned from tin can lids. The latter became known as "wearing the tin". Rather than having a strict officialdom, all members were declared officers with none ranking higher than his fellow Clampers. Initiates, known as Poor Blind Candidates or PBCs, were subjected to a withering blast of humiliation and relieved of as much gold dust as possible which was promptly used to sustain the gathering at the saloon. The PBC was instantly transformed into a full fledged Clamper. Although there are no formal uniforms, Clampers today maintain a tradition of wearing red shirts at their functions as a remembrance of the red union suits of old. And most will be seen wearing a vest of some sort that is adorned with a multitude badges, pins and patches. There were no dues then and none are collected today. E Clampus Vitus is now and has been since its inception a "men only" organization.  [For more,  go here.]

Today, the order commemorates sites of historical significance with plaques and monuments. These usually are weekend-long activities involving camping out or one-day events.  Here's some I've attended:

Above, XNGH Glenn Thornhill (left) and Armand with the plaque commemorating the Ridge Route in Frazier Park, California. 

Above, the plaque dedication of the Redwood Grove at Canoga Park High School.

Above, (from left) XNGH Glenn Thornhill, XNGH Abe Hoffman and Armand at the "ghost" town of Amboy.

Generally, each plaque dedication or other Clamper activity includes a booklet (such as the one at left by Abe Hoffman) about the location that is being commemorated.










Other...

Colorful characters have been members of E Clampus Vitus over the years. Below right, the late artist Jerry Zorthian is entertained at one of his birthday parties by dancing nymphs.

Below, is an illustration (by yours truly) of the evolution of man, Clamper-style.

California's Deficit Woes: "Jerk me off if I were a dude!"

The California state budget deficit ballooned from January's $9 billion to $16 billion.  

Well, Governor Moonbeam is asking Californians to pay more in "temporary" taxes.  Same old song.  California already is one of the highest taxed states.

Naturally, the public employee unions won't go along with changing the extravagant pension plans and other goodies that the Democratic legislature gave them.  Right.

My roommate's reaction while listening to Brown's speech: "Jerk me off if I were a dude!"

Mother's Day

As today is Mother's Day, here is a photo of my mom, daughter Amber and me at Zion National Park in Utah over Labor Day weekend in 2003.   Zion was one of my mom's favorite places.

2012 Tourism Off To A Strong Start

Breaking Travel News.com is reporting that international tourism in 2012 is off to a strong start.

It also reported that "arrivals to Japan up by almost 10 percent in the first quarter."  This is good news as tourism to Japan was derailed to a large extent due to the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear power plant radiation problems.

To read the full article, go here.



Left, the Broadway Mall entrance in Nakano, Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Pre-Vacation Season Sale Continues

Tarzana, CA, April 20, 2012-- Armand Vaquer, author of "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan," announced a pre-vacation season discount of 20% off the guide's cover price, making the cost of the book $12.00 plus $2.00 shipping and handling.

This special offer is offered directly from Vaquer, not from ComiXpress, the publisher.

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" is the world's only Japan travel guide tailored to fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films.

"Vacation season is just around the corner. Those who are fans of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies can use the guide to plan their visit to Japan," stated Vaquer. "Also, tour operators can use the
guide to plan special tour packages of monster locations of the
movies."

Orders postmarked April 25 through June 4 are entitled to the discount.

For ordering, send to:

Armand Vaquer
18618 Collins Street, #105
Tarzana, CA 91356

California $16 Billion In The Hole

The mess in California gets worse and worse.

The New York Times reports:

LOS ANGELES — The state budget shortfall in California has increased dramatically in the last six months, forcing state officials to assemble a series of new spending cuts that are likely to mean further reductions to schools, health care and other social programs already battered by nearly five years of budget retrenchment, state officials announced on Saturday.   

Gov. Jerry Brown, disclosing the development in a video posted on YouTube, said that California’s shortfall was now projected to be $16 billion, up from $9.2 billion in January. Mr. Brown said that he would propose a revised budget on Monday to deal with it. 

We know what party controls the purse strings, don't we?  And, we know which party wants to raise taxes, don't we?

To read the full article, go here.

Burton's/Depp's "Dark Shadows"

Tim Burton's/Johnny Depp's Dark Shadows has opened.  I hope to see it tomorrow evening after work.

Meanwhile, Ain't It Cool News has a review.  To read it, go here.

Free 2012 Campaign Poster

A friend sent an email entitled, "Free 2012 Campaign Poster For You."

Here it is:

"The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Video Picked Up By World Travel TV

World Travel TV.net has picked up the YouTube promotional video on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

World Travel TV carries "1000s of Free Online Travel Videos from Around the World."

To view the site, go here.









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

Dennis Prager's "Conservatives and Gays: Where Do We Stand?"

Talk radio host Dennis Prager has an excellent article over at National Review Online: "Conservatives and Gays: Where Do We Stand?"

He begins it with:

In addition to labeling conservatives and Republicans “anti-woman” (for opposing government-mandated free contraception), “anti-black” and “anti-Hispanic” (for advocating photo identification for voting), and “anti-science” (for skepticism regarding the belief that man-made carbon emissions will destroy much of the planet), Democrats now regularly label Republicans “anti-gay” (for opposing same-sex marriage). 

All these charges are demagogic. But when it comes to the “anti-gay” charge, conservatives need to clarify to ourselves as much as to the general public where we stand.

Prager goes on to make several points.  One of which is:

Conservatives must object to values, not to individuals. 

As it happens, there are far more gays who hold conservative values than many gay activists — or conservatives — realize. And we should embrace these people. Being gay does not automatically mean that one is on the left, and conservatives should not make that assumption. Otherwise, we risk pushing gay conservatives leftward.

The election this November will probably be a close one.  We needn't marginalize people who are conservatives, but have different personal lives.  What someone does in the privacy of their bedroom does not concern me.   It really shouldn't concern anyone else.

Prager's closing paragraph says it best:

A gay person who believes in the American Trinity — Liberty, In God We Trust, and E Pluribus Unum — and who believe in small government, in American exceptionalism, and in the need for America to be the strongest military and economic power in the world is one of us. And we should embrace him as such.

To read Prager's full article, go here.

Forbes: Japan Tourism Rides Out The Perfect Storm

Above, a street view of Tokyo Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular followers of this blog are aware that I am keen on travel, and travel to Japan in particular.  So much so, I've even published The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan to assist those giant monster fans in getting there.

Since last year's March 11 earthquake, tsunami and radiation problems, I've been keeping an eye out on the state of Japan's recovery and the tourism industry.  Fortunately, things are progressing well.  

The disaster was largely confined to the northeast region of Honshu (the main island).  The majority of Japan was unaffected by the earthquake or the resulting problems.

Above, Asakusa's Nakamise Street in springtime.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Forbes.com posted an interview article with Yuki Tanaka, the Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)  in the United States.  If you are contemplating a vacation trip to Japan, I recommend a read of this interview.  

It begins with:

I’ve recently been fascinated with missions impossible in marketing. Here’s one: getting tourists to visit Japan – a country that, little more than a year ago, has suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami, combined with the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Now factor in that this country has one of the strongest currencies out there, and you have something amounting to a perfect marketing storm. 

How has US tourism to Japan fared since the Sendai earthquake, and what has the national tourism authority done to stimulate travel? To answer these questions, I recently spoke with Yuki Tanaka, the Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization in the United States. When Tanaka assumed the directorship last June, she knew she was in for a baptism by fire. But the past ten months amount to an experience that is not only unusual, but also contains a big surprise.

Thankfully, the interview covers many topics, including the problems that are associated with the strong yen.

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City, Kyushu.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the interview article, go here.

Dollar vs. Yen: Going Wobbly

The U.S. dollar is losing ground again against the Japanese yen.

From Jiji Press:

Tokyo, May 9 (Jiji Press)--The dollar eased below 80 yen in Tokyo trading Wednesday in line with euro selling as investors shunned political risks of debt-ridden Greece. 

 At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at 79.79-81 yen, down from 79.91-93 yen at the same time Tuesday.

Tea Party Alive and Well: Dick Lugar Loses Primary Battle

Primary election results in Indiana indicate that the Tea Party is alive and well.

From Fox News:

Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) lost a primary battle Tuesday to tea arty challenger and Indiana state treasurer Richard Mourdock for the seat he has held since 1977.  

Lugar's defeat makes him the first and likely only senator to lose renomination this year.

 After returns from the primary came in, Lugar conceded to Mourdock before a crowd of supporters. He says he wants to see a Republican in the White House and will support Mourdock in his race against Democrat Joe Donnelly for the Senate seat.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/08/longtime-gop-sen-richard-lugar-loses-indiana-primary-to-challenger-richard/#ixzz1uKU6rdIj

Miyagi Prefecture Recovery

Above, the statue of Date Masamune at the site of Sendai Castle.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Los Angeles-area Japanese newspaper, The Rafu Shimpo,  has posted an article on a meeting held last month in Little Tokyo on the state of the recovery and reconstruction of Miyagi Prefecture in the aftermath of the March 11,  2011 earthquake and tsunami.

According to the article:

Approximately 100 people participated in the Miyagi earthquake recovery and tourism seminar hosted by the Miyagi prefectural government and sponsored by the Nanka Miyagi Kenjinkai on April 22 at the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo. Five officials from Miyagi Prefecture gave the presentation.

Above, Matsushima Bay's waterfront with the Godaido Temple in the background.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Miyagi Prefecture includes Sendai and Matsushima, both places I visited in April 2006.  The bay is dotted with tiny islands, which served to buffer Matsushima Bay from the full force of the tsunami.

Matsushima, said to be one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, suffered minimal damage as its 260 small and large islands in the bay helped decrease the power of the tsunami and preserve the beautiful scenery of this area. Even coastal regions that suffered the greatest damage have started recovering and welcoming visitors.

Above, one of the 260 tiny islands that dot Matsushima Bay that blunted the force of the tsunami.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 The Miyagi Prefectural recovery plan is moving forward in three stages:

The earthquake disaster recovery plan that Miyagi Prefecture developed last October proposes three stages to be implemented over the next 10 years: restoration (2011-2013), reconstruction (2014-2017), and development (2018-2020).

A visit to Miyagi Prefecture is one I can heartily recommend.  Besides the scenic beauty of Matsushima Bay (often compared to Carmel, California), you'd also be helping the local tourism industry with your tourist dollars.

Above, some of the Matsushima seagulls being fed by passeners aboard a Matsushima Bay tour boat.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full article, go here.

8 Classic TV Shows That Prophesied Modern Day Technologies

An interesting item showed up in my mailbox last evening.  It is:

8 Classic TV Shows That Prophesied Modern Day Technologies

Every once in a while, life imitates art and fiction becomes reality. Outlandish plots of yesteryear suddenly seem prophetic in retrospect. We’re not suggesting that TV writers are ever going to be confused with Nostradamus, mind you, but for some classic TV shows, there is just that sort of prescient aura surrounding the scripts.

To see the list of the 8 television shows, go here. 

ANIME EXPO 2012 WILL FEATURE CULTURE JAPAN’S DANNY CHOO AS MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND VOICE ACTRESS JAMIE MARCHI AS AN OFFICIAL GUEST OF HONOR

LOS ANGELES (May 4, 2012) – Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime,
manga and Japanese pop culture celebration, today announced Japanese pop culture sensation Danny Choo as its Master of Ceremonies and “Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt” voice actress Jaime Marchi as an Official Guest of Honor. Choo is making his third consecutive appearance at AX when the event returns to the LA Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. Jaime Marchi, who is making her debut at AX, will participate in a meet-and-greet, three autograph signings and a focus panel.

Danny Choo resides in Tokyo and runs a media production company where he produces a brand called Culture Japan which is made up of a web portal, TV show and products that focus on disseminating information on Japanese culture to the world. Choo hosts and directs the Culture Japan TV show, which is broadcast weekly on Tokyo MX TV in Japan, across the whole of Asia on the Animax Networ k and in America on Mnet America. The Culture Japan website features Choo’s musings on all things anime, including Japanese and Otaku culture, cosplay and gaming. Choo is also creator of the character Mirai Suenaga who has collaborated with many companies in the Japanese animation industry.

In addition to his AX hosting duties, Choo will be a Guest Speaker on Japanese Fandom and Culture at Project Anime, the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation-sponsored industry conference that takes places immediately prior to AX.

Beyond providing the voice of title character Panty, the multitalented Jamie Marchi is the lead writer for the script adaptation of the hit series “Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt.” Among her other voice acting credits are roles from “Witchblade”(Masane), “Hetalia”(Narrator), “Soul Eater” (Liz), “Shin Chan” (Miss Polly), “YuYu Hakusho”(Juri), “Fruits Basket “(Motoko), “Black Cat” (Rinslet), (Chloe), “Rin “(Mimi), “Blassreiter” (Amanda), as well as the unforgettable Mikako Satsukitane in “Heaven’s Lost Property.” Marchi also has an impressive list of behind-the-scenes credits writing script adaptations and directing series including “Heroic Age,” “Sgt. Frog,” “Spice and Wolf,” “Hetalia: Axis Powers,” and “Negima!?”

Danny Choo and Jamie Marchi join the previously announced AX 2012 line-up that includes popular voice actor Steve Blum and Japanese pop star LiSA.

About Anime Expo
Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo is North America’s largest celebration of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga, musical, game and fashion artists from Japan. AX 2012 will feature an exciting schedule of exclusive screenings; artists’ panels; live concerts; cosplay, dance parties, karaoke and video competitions; non-stop video gaming and unsurpassed shopping from more than 300 vendors. AX 2012 takes place June 29 – July 2, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org. Connect with Anime Expo on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property, Anime Expo®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.

Satsuma Avenue

I was headed over to a used bookstore in North Hollywood yesterday and saw a street sign that reminded me of the Heisei Godzilla suit actor, Kenpachiro Satsuma:

Above,  Ken Satsuma and Armand.

I wonder if there's a "Nakajima Avenue" in Los Angeles.

Above, Ken Satsuma with Showa Godzilla Haruo Nakajima.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

By the way, the used bookstore I was going to: The Iliad Bookshop at 5400 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood.  Big selection of new and used books!

Emergencyemail.org Picks Up Monster Japan Travel Guide News

Emergencyemail.org has picked up the news release on the 20% pre-vacation season sale of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

They provide local regional and nationa critical news.  To see their About page, go here.

To view the site, go here.





Left, Yuu Asakura with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.