Mount Fuji Receives World Heritage Status

Above, Mount Fuji's summit from the timberline.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan received some good news today as Mount Fuji received World Heritage status.

According to Fox News:

TOKYO (AFP) –  Residents in towns around Mount Fuji erupted with joy on Saturday after UNESCO granted World Heritage status to Japan's highest and most celebrated moutain. 

Known for its perfectly cone-shaped volcano, UNESCO classified the mountain as a "cultural" heritage site saying it has "has inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries". 

"Oh, I feel relieved. I am thankful," Shigeru Horiuchi, the mayor of Fuji Yoshida told reporters at his office after receiving a phone call from Phnom Penh where he was informed of the UN body's decision.

Mount Fuji also earned a spotlight in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan for its appearances in King Kong vs. Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla Final Wars. It is featured on page 37.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/06/22/local-residents-celebrate-mt-fuji-world-heritage-status/#ixzz2Wz7GKcF2

Shibuya Crossing's Q-Front Building Giant Screen Gone?

Above, the Q-Front Building's giant video screen.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been reported at Japan-guide.com and elsewhere that the iconic giant video screen on the Q-Front Building at Shibuya Crossing (the building that houses Starbucks across from Shibuya Station) in Tokyo has been shut down and may have been removed.

Last month, I reported on a contest to have the winner's video message displayed on one of the video screens at Shibuya Crossing.  The Q-Front screen was the biggest.  A poster responded to my contest blog with:

It looks as if the big Q-Front video screen has been taken down, what is the point of this promotion if only the small, relatively insignificant screens are in use? 

I checked around and there doesn't seem to be any news on the screen's possible removal.  Is it permanent or for maintenance (or replacement)?  Can anyone confirm this?

Haruo Nakajima To Miss Days of the Dead Convention

The Days of the Dead convention organizers posted the following over at Facebook today:

We have received word that due to a private and personal situation requiring him to stay home with his family, HARUO NAKAJIMA will not be able to travel out of the country and therefore will no longer be attending DAYS OF THE DEAD: Indianapolis. As anyone can imagine, this is a blow that hits us very hard and as big fans of Nakajima's work, comes as a great disappointment - however family comes first and we wish the Nakajimas the best of wishes. We will be remaining in close contact with Nakajima's manager, and as soon as things work themselves out we will begin talks to try and have him re-scheduled for next year's Indianapolis show.

Unfortunately, it is true that Mr. Nakajima will be unable to attend this year's Days of the Dead next month.

We are looking into other convention possibilities for Mr. Nakajima to attend (perhaps before the year is out).

French Trying To Shed Rude Reputation With Etiquette Manual

Above, nothing "rude" or "surly" about this restaurateur near the Tsukiji Fish
Market in Tokyo. I only met this fellow just minutes before this photo was taken.

The Japanese are some of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet while traveling.  However, the French have an opposite reputation. (I have never been to France, so I don't have any first-hand experience to convey here.)

They have been called "rude" and "surly" towards foreign visitors. This reputation, whether deserved or not, has been wearing on the French tourism industry and they are taking steps to change that perception.

In Paris, a new etiquette manual is being distributed to those who are in contact with foreign visitors.

According to Canoe Travel:

The British like to be called by their first name. Americans are direct and frank, Brazilians are by nature warm and touchy-feely, and Chinese visitors are satisfied with a simple smile and hello in their language.

These are some of the tips offered in a six-page etiquette manual that is being handed out to Parisian restaurateurs, taxi drivers, and sales staff in an effort to shed the city's worldwide longstanding reputation as rude and surly. 

Having such an etiquette manual is probably a good idea if this reputation is accurate.

One item in the article concerns the Japanese tourist:

And tourists from Japan typically arrive in the city with strictly regimented, itemized itineraries as well as high expectations. 

"The Japanese never complain right away when they're not satisfied but will complain when they return to Japan." 

That is something that Americans who interact with Japanese visitors should probably bear in mind.

To read the full article, go here.

Japan Tourism: Goals and Making Things Tourist-Friendly

Above, a tourist information office at JR Niigata Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times is in a tourism mood today as they have an article on reaching Japan's tourism goals and an editorial about the need of putting more effort into making Japan more tourist-friendly.

Starting off with the article, the Times said:

The rapid drop in the yen helped lure a record 3.17 million tourists to Japan from January to April, but achieving the government’s goal of 10 million this year will require more work, Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Norifumi Ide said. 

The first quarter was a good sign, but “if the momentum remains at this level, we will miss the 10 million goal by an inch, so we have to take some more measures,” Ide said in an interview with The Japan Times last week.

The Times editorialized:

It is clear that both the public and private sectors must make Japan a more convenient and attractive place for foreign tourists to visit. But there are signs that the government isn’t serious about attracting visitors. For example, the Japan Tourism Agency used computer translations to create English text for its online campaign to attract foreign tourists to the Tohoku region in 2012. The translations were embarrassingly poor and had to be dropped. Japan still suffers from a shortage of English-language signage and bilingual workers in tourist-related industries. Even simple tasks such as buying train ticket or renting cars can be daunting experiences for foreign visitors. 

Japan’s tourist resources include beautiful scenery with four seasons, a variety of cuisine, historical sites, pop culture and safe cities. But both the government and the tourist industry must make greater efforts to make these attractions easier to access and more interesting for foreigners. They must drop their do-nothing attitude.

It is interesting that both the article and the editorial brought up the topic of signage and workers who can communicate with foreign visitors.

The article said:

For instance, even though there may be enough hotel rooms, more of them need to be more foreigner-friendly in terms of signage and staff communication ability.

For me, personally, I have not had any problem with a supposed lack of English (or Romanji) signs in Japan.  And I have not had any problem with workers at hotels, ryokans, attractions, restaurants, train stations or anywhere else who couldn't speak English.  One way or another, we've managed to communicate good enough. (It may be a different story for visitors from other countries.)

Perhaps I am just used to "the Japanese way" of doing things.

Japan's 20 Best Castles According To Travelers

Above, one of the gates of Nijo Castle in Kyoto.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rocket News 24 has a new article, "Travelers Rank Japan's 20 Best Castles."

According to the article, it was based on feedback at TripAdvisor:

Travel website TripAdvisor recently announced its ranking of Japan’s top 20 castles, based on feedback from domestic travelers during the past year. Strap on your swords and do up your topknots as we go through the list. 

All four of Japan’s castles which are designated as national treasures made the cut, as well as eight of the 12 which still have their original keeps. In their judgments, travelers seemed to take into account the castle’s historic and cultural value, as well as the ambiance of the surrounding scenery, which explains the appearance of a few sets of castle ruins in the top 20.

To see what castles made it into the top 20 list, go here.

TWA Flight 800: A tale of two reports and conclusions

A new documentary on the crash and investigation of TWA Flight 800 re-igniting interest in the cause of the July 17, 1996 crash.

According to ABC News:

In a new documentary, former investigators who looked into the mysterious crash of TWA Flight 800, which killed 230, are breaking their silence to claim that the explosion that brought down the plane in 1996 was likely no accident, and that the final report on the cause of the blast was falsified.

TWA Flight 800 exploded in mid-air on July 17, 1996 about 11 minutes after taking off from New York's JFK airport on its way to Paris. Though theories abounded as to what happened to the plane -- from a bomb on the aircraft to it being struck by a missile or even a meteorite -- the National Transportation Safety Board concluded after a four-year investigation that the probable cause of the crash was an accidental fuel tank explosion.

ABC News's website links to the 2000 NTSB Report on the crash.  The 2000 Report states the cause to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the TWA flight 800 accident was an explosion of the center wing fuel tank (CWT), resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank. The source of ignition energy for the explosion could not be determined with certainty, but, of the sources evaluated by the investigation, the most likely was a short circuit outside of the CWT that allowed excessive voltage to enter it through electrical wiring associated with the fuel quantity indication system. 

However, here is the July 17, 1998 Interim Report by Commander William S. Donaldson, U.S.N. Ret on the cause of the explosion and crash of TWA Flight 800. Note the summary page (page 5) that states the causes.  Here are the first two:

Notice the difference?

This smells like a cover-up.  Guess who was president at the time?  Bill Clinton.

Why would this be covered up?  Could the disaster be from "friendly fire"?  Or, could it be from an attack by al-Qaeda agents (after all, this did happen a little more than four years before September 11, 2001 and after the February 26, 1993 World Trade Center bombings) that the Clinton Administration did not want disclosed?  Clinton was running for re-election that year.

Godzilla Movie Tie-In Licensees Signed Up

It appears the "hottest" news on the 2014 Legendary Pictures Godzilla movie is that licensees have been signed up for movie tie-in products.

According to Licensing.biz:

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) has signed master toy partner Bandai America Incorporated for 2014 movie Godzilla. 

Bandai will release action figures and play-sets inspired by the film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, which hits cinemas on May 16th next year. 

Additional licensees include NECA with gifts and novelties; Jakks Pacific with large scale figures; Bioworld with on-trend apparel; and Sideshow Collectibles with authentic statues. 

Hopefully, this time the U.S.-produced Godzilla will be a critical (especially with the fans) and financial success and the licensees aren't left "holding the bag" of unsold merchandise like the last time (i.e., with the Sony/Tri-Star disaster of 1998).  If they stray too much away from the look and actions of the Japanese Godzilla, there will likely be a repeat of the 1998 experience.

For this to work, Godzilla has to look and act like Godzilla, besides having a good script.

To read more, go here.

JNTO Pop-Culture Museum Links

Above, an Ultraman display at the Matsudo Bandai Museum.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing Japan is not short of is museums.

In Tokyo alone, there's a museum for just about any interest one may have. There's a museum of Salt & Tobacco, a sword museum, a kite museum, a broadcasting museum and many art museums (a number of them are sponsored by Japanese corporations).

Above, the old Bandai Museum in Matsudo.
Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has a page of links devoted to museums of manga, anime, toys and video games.

The current incarnation of the Bandai Museum in Tochigi is also listed.  I visited it when it was in Matsudo in 2005.

To view the page, go here.

Slim Whitman, Earth's Savior, Dies At 90

The guy had many jokes poked at him.  They ranged from Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show to being the savior of Earth in Tim Burton's 1996 comedy, Mars Attacks!, but he sure as hell sold a lot of records.

Slim Whitman, the yodeling country singer, died yesterday at age 90 in Orange Park, Florida of heart failure.

In Mars Attacks!, Whitman's song, "Indian Love Call" caused the Martians's heads to explode when it was played at high volume in their vicinity.

Whitman was a postman in the early 1950s when he recorded his first hit, "Love Song of the Waterfall."

According to the New York Times:

He recorded more than 500 songs, made more than 100 albums and sold more than 70 million records.

He laughed all the way to the bank when he started airing commercials (more like a blitz) in 1979 advertising his greatest hits album, "All My Best."  Although the ad campaign became the butt of jokes, it sold a hell of a lot of records.

To read more on Whitman, go here.

Japan Tourism Industry Cultivates Anime Fans, Ignores Kaiju Fans

Anime fans continue to be cultivated for tourism by the Japanese tourism industry and government.

According to Kyodo News:

The government, the Japan External Trade Organization and other bodies released a joint action plan Thursday to encourage foreign tourists to visit "sacred places" in the world of anime. 

As a "pilgrimage to sacred places," fans of Japanese anime often visit buildings, streets and other sites related to the stories. 

For instance, many fans visit a shrine in the town of Washimiya in Saitama Prefecture featured in manga-based anime "Lucky Star," according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

It is stretching it a bit to have "sacred places" referenced in anime promoted in this manner.  After all, as the JapanVisitor blog once wrote of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan:

"Original settings" is a bit a tricky concept in this context, of course. Those Japanese landmarks had been recreated as scale models in the Toho Studios and were then destroyed by the giant monster. In real life, they still stand unscathed by any monster action and can easily be visited. 

Still, in the world of kaiju, at least footage of the actual places (in most instances) were used in Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movies, just edited in with the soon-to-be-destroyed miniatures of them.  It is not  a "tricky concept" to base tours or travel guides to locations and landmarks in used kaiju movies as it is with anime. Or, I should say, it is a far less "tricky concept" to base tours or travel guides to kaiju locations than it is with anime.  Take your pick.

Regardless, if they can entice people to Japan in this manner, more power to them. But they should also promote tourism with the "sacred places" featured in Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra and Gamera movies in the same way.

To view the full article, go here.

A Record of 875,000 Foreign Tourists Visited Japan In May

Above, water lilies at Kamakura's Hachimangu Shrine.  Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

The weaker yen has greatly boosted the numbers of foreign visitors to Japan in May.

Kyodo News reported:

The number of foreign visitors to Japan jumped 31.2 percent in May from the year before to 875,000, a record for the reporting month, due to the weaker yen and the growing number of flights by low-cost carriers, a government tourism organization said Wednesday. 

The previous record was 736,000 set in May 2008, the Japan National Tourism Organization said, adding the latest figure is also the third biggest on record.

It would be interesting to see how much more people would have visited Japan in May had the Boeing 787 Dreamliner been flying.  The plane had been grounded due to problems with overheating of its lithium-ion batteries.

Still this is good news for the Japanese tourist industry.

To read more, go here.

Distant Lands On Presentation Night

As promised two days ago, I am posting some photos taken at Distant Lands Monday night.  There are none of the presentation, but I took some prior to it.  We had an excellent turnout and we had to add more chairs to accommodate more (and sometimes late) arrivals.

Above, everything's all set up.  This was taken prior to the arrival of the audience.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the front of the Distant Lands Travel Bookstore.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Distant Lands Outfitters (or gear) store.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Japan section.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Distant Lands is located at 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA.  It is one block east of Fair Oaks Ave. and just south of Colorado Blvd.

Above, the pay counter with you-know-who's book on display.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Their website is at http://www.distantlands.com/.

Back In Action

My poor computer had an unexpected bath, courtesy of a co-worker yesterday morning.

He was doing some "air guitar" moves and one of his hands knocked over his bottle of Fanta Orange soft drink right on my computer.

Fortunately, I wasn't using it at time time and the cover was closed and, which is most important, I brought it into the shop immediately.  (Some got into the keyboard and touch pads.)  Otherwise, instead of paying just $90.00 for cleaning, he would have been out $200.00 more to replace the motherboard.

So, a word to the wise, if you spill a drink on your computer, get it into the shop right away to prevent further damage!

A Great Time At Distant Lands

Above, Distant Lands Travel Bookstore from a previous visit.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tonight's presentation on Japanese monster movie locations and landmarks went great tonight.  People took advantage of the 77-degree temperatures to come out.

We filled the Distant Lands Travel Bookstore & Outfitters in Pasadena (we had to add some folding chairs) with appreciative kaiju fans who want to "walk in Godzilla's footsteps."  Some were from the World War II generation, which was a surprise.

I took some photos before the presentation began, but I'll have to post them tomorrow (I forgot the cable that attaches my camera to my computer for uploading).

It was a relaxed evening where people felt at ease to ask questions during the slideshow.  Some were surprised at the craftsmanship employed in making the intricate miniatures to match (or come very close) to the actual structures.  They hadn't given the workmanship much thought until tonight's presentation.

Besides the Japanese locations, landmarks and places of interest to monster fans, I also included two places of interest in the U.S. to Godzilla fans: the Walk of Fame star on Hollywood Blvd. and the Godzilla, King of the Monsters! plaque at Frank del Olmo Elementary School in Los Angeles.

When I showed the below photo of 84-year-old Haruo Nakajima, one of the older members of the audience remarked, "84?!  He's just a youngster!"

Above, Haruo Nakajima at Godzilla's star
on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photo
courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

Above, the "Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" plaque
at Frank del Olmo Elementary School in Los Angeles.
Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.

To top it all off, we sold copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan!

I apparently scored a home-run as I received a great round of applause at the end.

A big thank-you to the staff of Distant Lands for making tonight's presentation a successful one!

Good To Go For Tonight's Presentation!

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in Setagaya.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I worked all night and will have a two-hour meeting with the company that bought out my "parachute" job company, I had to get everything ready for tonight's presentation at Distant Lands Travel Bookstore & Outfitters in Pasadena this morning.

After the meeting, I will try to get in a few hours of napping before heading to Pasadena.

The presentation (in case some out there are oblivious) is on the subject of Japanese monster movie locations and landmarks, based on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.  It will also include a slideshow of those sites and discussion on other monster places of interest such as the Godzilla statues in Hibiya and at Toho Studios in Setagaya as well as the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka.  An Ultraman item or two will also be included. It starts at 7:30 and admission is free.

Copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan will be available for purchase.  And, I'll even sign them gratis!

Distant Lands is located at 20 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena.  It is one block east of Fair Oaks Avenue and south of Colorado Blvd.

For more information, go here.

Japan Slowly Recovering from 2011 Disasters, But...

Above, a Himalayan cedar tree planted by former President
U.S. Grant at Zojo-ji temple in 1879.  Photo by Armand Vaquer

The Japan Daily Press has an article on Japan's recovery from the 2011 disasters.

Much of what they wrote about has already been discussed here.  But the final paragraph caught my attention as it seems to fly in the face with recent trends concerning the exchange rates between the yen and foreign currencies.

Granted, the dollar has slipped a bit this past week to about 96 yen, but this appears to be temporary and not long term.

The article stated:

However, there is still a sector of international tourists that are afraid to visit the recovering country because of the still high risk of more natural disasters in the next few years. The yen is also expected to rise in its overall strength which means that it will slowly become increasingly expensive for tourists to visit Japan year after year.

I highly doubt that the yen will rise in its overall strength as Prime Minister Abe's policies take more effect on the Japanese economy. The dollar should stabilize at around 100-110 yen. If it doesn't, that would shoot down Japan's tourism goal of 25 million visitors by 2020.

To read the full article, go here.

In Today's L.A. Times Travel Section

As expected, the notice on my Japanese monster movie locations and landmarks presentation tomorrow night at Distant Lands Travel Bookstore & Outfitters is in today's Los Angeles Times Travel section.

It is on page L3 on the bottom left corner in their Films & Programs column.

Here's the online version:

Gaijinpot At Anime Expo

My good friends at Gaijinpot announced at Facebook that they will be having a booth at the upcoming Anime Expo in Los Angeles:

GaijinPot will be at the Anime Expo Los Angeles Convention Centre from July 4 ~ 7 to answer all your questions about working and living in Japan.  

GaijinPot.com is the largest English language job board and lifestyle website for foreigners in Japan. Come see us at booth #1524 to learn more about: 

• How can I get a job in Japan? 

• Do I need a degree to work in Japan? 

• Is English spoken there? 

• How much Japanese do I need to know? 

• What kind of visa do I need? 

• Are there other jobs besides English teaching?  

• How much will I make and is it expensive to live there? 

We are here to answer all your questions about working and living in Japan so come visit us at booth #1524!  

 For more information check us out at http://s.gaijinpot.com/gp-anime 

Why do I hold Gaijinpot to such high regard?  They did this nice write-up on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan back on December 16, 2010. They interviewed me while I was in Japan and included this photo with their article:

In Celebration of Father's Day...

My daughter Amber found this old picture of us in Las Vegas. In celebration of Father's Day, she posted it at Facebook. I don't recall ever seeing it before. She was about two years old, so this photo should be from 1989.

She had a crying fit at the time and we had to miss my sister-in-law's wedding by sitting out in the car during the ceremony. Well, the marriage didn't last anyway, so no big deal.

Annoying Travel Fees

Above, Tokyo's Hotel Asia Center of Japan.  Some hotels
have jumped on the fee bandwagon.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a subject that's currently near and dear to our hearts: travel fees.

In the "days of old," a meal used to come with the price of a plane ticket for cross-country flights (such as from Los Angeles to Kansas City, etc.).  Now, the airlines charge fees for just about everything (some even charge for a formerly-free soft drinks, besides meals).

Hotels and resorts have now gotten on the fee bandwagon.  Some have been kept financially afloat because of them.

Travel + Leisure's website has an article on travel fees that should help you in avoiding ones that might crop up.

They start with:

Whether it’s a $20 daily charge for a resort gym you didn’t use, or the new $200 penalty for altering your flight reservation, travel fees have an irritating way of surprising us on vacation. 

It should be easier than ever to shop based on price given the explosion of online booking sites—at least in theory. That cheap rate on the screen rarely includes all fees. Without the help of a knowledgeable travel agent or a resource like NerdWallet that compares fees for a given route, it’s challenging to calculate your total cost.

I tried out NerdWallet and it is amazing to see the fees different airlines charge.  I would recommend bookmarking NerdWallet!

My "favorite" travel fee?  The fee for heavy baggage.  I had to confront that during my recent trip to North Carolina. Luckily, I had a friendly ticket counter clerk who helped me minimize that.

To read the article, go here.

Japanese Monster Movie Locations & Landmarks Presentation Tomorrow Night

Above, the Godzilla statue in Hibiya.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yikes!  Tomorrow evening's the night for the presentation on Japanese monster movie locations and landmarks at Distant Lands Travel Bookstore & Outfitters. Where has the month (or so) gone since this was set up?

The presentation begins at 7:30 PM and admission is free. It is based on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Distant Lands is located at 20 S. Raymond Avenue in Pasadena, California.  It is one block east of Fair Oaks Avenue and just south of Colorado Blvd.

For more information, go to their website here.

Hope to see you there!

Father's Day 2013

Above, Amber and I at Crazy Tokyo Sushi in February.

Another Father's Day is here.

The best part of being a father is having a daughter to be proud of.  And that certainly is the case with me.

Her Father's Day message for this year:

Happy Father's Day to my daddy, Armand Vaquer. He may not do everything I say (because I'm always right and he really should listen), but he's stepped up to the plate, taken both parental roles, and has always proved to be a stand up guy with immense character. I'm proud to be his boss, I mean daughter :)

Another aspect to Father's Day is remembering my own dad, who passed away in December 1999.  This month, he would've been 85.  He was roughly six months older than Haruo Nakajima.

To those of you with living fathers, make sure his day is special! 

"Home of the Blues"

Above, Silky O'Sullivan's.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a vacation idea for you.

Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee is another attraction to see in Memphis besides Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion.

Above, some historic buildings are being renovated at left.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 1966, Beale Street was declared the "Home of the Blues" by an act of Congress.

Here's what Memphistravel.com says of Beale Street:

In the heart of downtown Memphis with three blocks of nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops, the Beale Street entertainment district is a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel. With cold beer and hot music, Beale Street is one of the coolest places in Memphis. 

Today, all you need to do is take a stroll down Beale Street’s neon row and you’ll hear music spilling out of clubs and restaurants like Rum Boogie Café, B.B. King’s, Silky O’Sullivan’s or the Hard Rock Café. Beale Street is serious about its music, and jam sessions at many of these clubs tend to go deep into the night. For a good time, grab a drink, soak up the sounds and throw a few bucks in the tip jar for the Beale Street Flippers.

Above, the famous B.B. King's Blues Club.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited Beale Street in 2001, and it definitely was not a disappointment.  Beale Street is essentially a three-block section of downtown Memphis of nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops.  It is called "a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel" music.

Above, another view of Beale Street.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more about Beale Street, go here.

Shopping In Shibuya

Above, Shibuya 109 department store from Shibuya Crossing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Shibuya is known as the mecca for Japanese youths in Tokyo.  It was featured prominently in Gamera 3 (1999) and in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000).  It was also briefly shown at the beginning of Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monster All-Out Attack (2001).

It is a great place to shop, if one is so inclined.  Japan Visitor.com has an extensive article on shopping in Shibuya with information on where to go.

They start it with:

From the hole-in-the-wall manicure salons for 16 year old girls, to bustling basement food emporiums for their grandmothers, Shibuya is all about shopping. 

The name Shibuya itself is cut out for the right-now, must-have vibe the area now stands for. The shibu of Shibuya - pronounced shibui as an adjective - literally means "astringent," but has come, by association, to mean "refined and elegant in style." That is stretching it for an area as flamboyant and attention-seeking as Shibuya, but it follows the general drift of where Shibuya's at. The "ya" of Shibuya means valley, so "Style Valley."

If you are planning a trip to Japan and want to do some shopping while there, this article is for you.

Shibuya is covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 27.

Read more: http://www.japanvisitor.com/tokyo/tokyo-area-guides/shibuya-shopping#ixzz2WL9dzEwa

Gertrude Smith, 1947 - 2012

Above, Gertrude Smith and Lenell Bridges around 2003.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was surprised and saddened to learn yesterday that longtime Godzilla/Ultraman fan Gertrude Smith passed away over a year ago. Her friend Lenell Bridges didn't learn about it until earlier this year.

She was a moderator over at Rodan's Roost and I did notice that she hadn't been active for a while.  Now I know why.

I found this obituary, which reads in part:

Gertrude Irene Smith, a veteran Ultraman/Godzilla fan, passed away from Emphysema on 5/25/2012 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She was 65. Gertrude was born in March of 1947 and was named after her mother. She was a prison Guard who lived alone with her cat in Blytheville, Arkansas and loved to chat/debate about local politics. 

When I first announced The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, she posted at Rodan's Roost (as "Raptor"):

A most welcome addition to any kaiju fan's shelf (and about time! ).
If anyone can put it together, Armand can IMO.

Thank you again, Raptor!

Cruising Alaska? Alternatives To Pricey Excursions

Photos by Armand Vaquer

It is cruise season in Alaska and Japan Today (of all places) has an article on saving money on off-ship activities (referred to as "excursions").

According to Japan Today:

JUNEAU, Alaska —It’s cruise season in Alaska, with more than 1 million cruise passengers expected between April and September in port towns from Ketchikan to Seward. 

Cruise passengers who sign up for shore excursions can spend hundreds of dollars, if not more in the case of families, in each port they visit. Taking a helicopter to see Juneau-area ice fields can easily run $1,000 for a family of four for a one-hour trip. A nature tour near the tiny town of Ketchikan can run $89 for adults and $50 for kids. 

But there are many low-cost and even free things to do in Alaska port towns, from hiking to exploring glaciers to learning about Alaska and Native culture. 

They then provide some ideas from some of Alaska's most-visited ports.

Back in 2000, my mom, daughter and I took an Alaskan cruise with Celebrity Cruises.  The accompanying photos are from that trip. We found then that the off-ship excursions were pricey.  We settled for a (relatively inexpensive) tour and talk about totem poles at a park in Ketchikan.

We saw some beautiful scenery that included glaciers, forested mountains, whales, eagles, rustic towns and, of course, totem poles.   We even toured a fish hatchery.

We also visited Juneau (Alaska's capital city), Ketchikan and Skagway.  We wandered around and did some shopping.

To view the full article, go here.

Fodor's "Long Weekend in Utah's National Parks"

Above, can you spot Bryce Canyon's "Thor's Hammer" and "Queen
Victoria" rock formations?  These can be seen from Sunset 
Point and the Navajo Loop Trail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Summer vacation season is almost here and if you'd like to explore some of America's national parks, Fodor's website has a great suggestion.

Above, stay at Bryce Canyon'e rustic lodge or bring your tent and camp
at one of several campgrounds.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

They posted an article, "Long Weekend in Utah's National Parks" which should entice you to want to get in touch with the natural wonders of Utah.

Above, my mom, daughter and I in Zion National Park in 2003.

My late mother's favorite national park was Zion National Park.  She, my daughter Amber and I took a Labor Day weekend trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in 2003.  It was the last time my mom visited Zion and Bryce and she was determined to hike the Weeping Rock trail in Zion.  Well, she made it at age 70!

Above, can you spot Darth Vader's helmet on this rock wall in Zion?  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with Bryce Canyon and Zion, the article also covers Capital Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park along with lodging, eatery and side-trip suggestions.

Above, a natural arch at Bryce Canyon.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To view Fodor's article, go here.