Thanks To Jarman International K.K. For The Plug

Not too long ago, I signed on as a contributor to Deep Japan, whose goal is to "to take Visitors further in for a more "Local" experience in Japan. 100-plus Senpais answer detailed questions about how to go deeper, get involved and join the fun and wonder of this amazing destination, Japan."

This led to a nice little article by Jarman International K.K. which is a promoter of businesses in Japan.

This is from their "About Us" page:

We are in the business of helping your business develop and grow in Japan. Established in 2012, Jarman International is already the most well-connected Japanese firm run by a non-Japanese CEO. Our company draws on over twenty-five years of in-the-trenches effort by CEO, Ruth Jarman Shiraishi, who started out in Japan in 1988 with Recruit Company (Japan’s top publishing and information firm) to eventually become a Director of Business Development at Space Design Inc. (a respected provider of office space and serviced apartments in Tokyo and Yokohama). Jarman International‘s unique business model focuses on non-competing partner companies and provides a turn-key solution to living, working and succeeding in Japan.

 Their article, in which I received a big mention, states:

One of our more unique senpais however is the author of “The Monster Movie Fan’s Guide to Japan”, Mr. Armand Vaquer. 

He was deeply interested in the whole monster movie and sci-fi character culture of Japan since his first experience with Godzilla in 1954. As the title of his book suggests, he not only is interested in the monster media itself, but also how this has come to play a role in shaping modern Japan. We are very excited to hear his input on a variety of subjects in the future on Deep Japan.

A big thank-you to Jarman International K.K. and to Deep Japan.

To see Jarman International's full article, go here.

Japan Expected To Reach 10 Million Foreign Visitors Today

Above, Narita International Airport Terminal One arrival lobby.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's the day (maybe) that Japan will have reached and surpassed its goal of 10 million foreign visitors for 2013.

Japan Today reported:

TOKYO —The Japan Tourism Agency said Thursday that the number of foreign visitors to Japan will surpass 10 million on Friday. 

The agency said that as of Dec 16, the number of foreign visitors was recorded as 9,920,000, TBS reported.

Once Japan reaches its 10 million visitor goal (whether it is today or a little later), I would say that congratulations are in order. It was only a year ago that the country's tourism industry was still in the doldrums due to the over-valued yen and the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. This should be considered quite a comeback for the Japan tourism industry.

To read the full story, go here.

Guest Comikaze Expo Report By Andrew Nguyen

Above, Andrew takes control in the Enterprise's captain's chair at Comikaze Expo.

Last month, I participated in a panel on Pacific Rim and Godzilla at the 2013 Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Kaiju fan Andrew Nguyen attended the show and panel and he has written a report on his experience. I am happy to post it here for your enjoyment along with some of his photographs.

Text and Photos by Andrew Nguyen

On Friday, November 1, 2013, the annual Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Starting up in November 2011 as Comikaze, the expo earned notoriety the next year when it entered into a partnership with Stan Lee, which resulted in the name change of the expo to its present state.  It has also entered into partnership with Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. It focuses on a wide variety of science fiction entertainment with guests from legacy series to the newest science fiction and horror shows as well as artists, writers, and people who work behind the scenes.

Above, a giant robot greets attendees in the L.A. Convention Center lobby.

Arriving around 12:30 pm, I made my way into the LA Convention Center where small groups of people were already arriving along with impressive equipment, particularly props from Stan Winston Studios. After getting my ticket, I headed up to the main exhibit hall where they had already started letting people inside as the festivities commenced. Among the companies present at the expo was IDW publishing, which had invited several people who worked on their Godzilla comics to the convention.

Above, Edward James Olmos and Andrew.

Although I had looked through some of the booths in the exhibit hall, I quickly made my way to the autograph section where booths had already been set up for the main guests to meet with the fans. Two of them were at the top of my list, Edward James Olmos and Michael Hogan. Both were main stars on the re-imagined BATTLESTAR GALACTICA television series and Mr. Olmos had further experience with sci-fi courtesy of working on BLADE RUNNER and VIRUS (復活の日 Fukkatsu no hi), a film directed by Kinji Fukusaku.

Above, Comikaze Expo is given two thumbs up by Michael Hogan and Andrew.

I looked around the rest of the area including playing several old games before I headed to the panels. Along the way, I met Armand Vaquer who was the author of the book “The Monster Movie Fan’s Guide to Japan” as well as one of the many I’ve known who worked with G-fan magazine for nine years, including working with tours in Japan that G-fan hosted as well as other Godzilla related events. He had participated in panels at previous Comikaze’s and was doing so again, this time in a panel titled: "From Robots to Monsters: A look into Pacific Rim and Godzilla."

Above, a packed room for the "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim" panel.

Hosting the panel was Jessica Tseang who was the host of “The Kaiju Kingdom Podcast” and the author of the books “The Comic Book Girl” and “Girl on Geek”. The other panelists included Tom Franck, Chris Eason, Bill Janczenwski, Scott Zillman, and Frank Woodward, all of which were involved in matters dealing with movie monsters.  In addition to the seven hosts present, there were supposed to be two more people participating, Max Borenstein and Robert Scott Field. Max Borenstein is the scriptwriter for the new Godzilla film while Robert Scott Field who was an actor living in Japan and had worked on GODZILLA vs. KING GHIDORAH as the android M-11. Unfortunately, technical difficulties developed that prevented Robert Scott from participating while Mr. Borenstein did participate although in a limited capacity. For the panel, the audience took up the entire provided room space and some stood in the back of the room.

The summary of the panel dealt with details about PACIFIC RIM, its performance while in theaters and the possibilities of a sequel and its chances of success should it get made. A few of the panelists compared the performance of PACIFIC RIM to the first AUSTIN POWERS movie along with the belief that it would have more success on DVD and television. All got their chance to voice their own reactions to when they first saw PACIFIC RIM, which was mostly positive but voiced some complaints on the movie. The conversation then turned to monster movies in general and the hope although a long shot one that they can be a success again.

Eventually as Godzilla was one of the premier giant movie monsters, the conversation of the panelists turned to the influence Godzilla had on all of them to which they all agreed the monster had a very importance influence on them. The panelists then gave their own answers when asked what they hope for the new film to which Miss Tseang would pass on to Mr. Borenstein. While all expressed hope that the film would be good, a few interesting answers included an eventually PACIFIC RIM crossover and to (perhaps a very long shot) make the new Godzilla movie like the Batman movie THE DARK KNIGHT. A unanimous answer was the hope that it would be nothing like the 1998 Godzilla. The panel then wrapped things up with the panelists informing the audience where to find them at the convention along with gifts they handed out and two Q and A.

Above, a "Godzilla vs. Wolfman" poster.

After the panel finished, I talked with the panelists about what I discussed earlier with them. While leaving, I ran into Mark Jaramillio as he gave out several posters of the fan film GODZILLA VS. WOLFMAN. I talked with him about the prospects of the film seeing the light of day considering Toho Studios’s legendary capricious reputation in lawsuits relating to intellectual property. While handing out posters to Mr. Vaquer as well as Miss Tseang, he did mention that the people working on bringing the film out had help from several individuals that had worked at Toho Studios in a high-level capacity.

After saying my goodbyes to Armand, I headed back to the exhibit hall to take a look around a bit more. Alongside that, I talked a bit more with Mr. Olmos and Mr. Hogan about the works I’ve seen them on, particularly of course BATTLESTAR GALACTICA as well as with Mr. Olmos about his time on VIRUS, noting the scenes that he was in during the movie. Besides that, I toured exhibit hall where I encountered fellow AX and PMX officials as well as listening in as AMC talked about recent movie news with the gist of it being the reaction to the news about Ben Affleck becoming the new Batman in the planned Batman/Superman film.

Above, Darth Vader patrols the aisles making sure people are well-behaved.

Before leaving, I surprisingly ran into Mr. Richard Anderson, who people know from the “SIX-MILLION DOLLAR MAN” but I knew him from “TORA, TORA, TORA” and to a lesser extent “GETTYSBURG”.  I ran into him a few years ago at an autograph signing and had no idea about him being present at this expo. As before, the discussions turned to “TORA, TORA, TORA” and of his scenes in the film.

Overall, it was an interesting experience and perhaps if I plan to do a return visit, I should make plans for a longer stay.

Estimated Death Toll Set At 23,000 If Quake Strikes Beneath Tokyo

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

A new study released by the Central Disaster Prevention Council revises upward the number of casualties if a temblor should strike beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area. This is sure to not let people rest easier.

According to an article in The Mainichi Shimbun:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Up to 23,000 people may be killed and economic damage may reach 95.3 trillion yen if a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area, the government said in a report Thursday. 

That is more than double the 11,000 dead estimated in 2005 by the same panel, the Central Disaster Prevention Council, as it assessed more severely the damage caused by fires in residential areas crowded with wooden houses around downtown Tokyo. The panel also said rescue efforts might be hampered by traffic jams.

The islands of Japan sit on the Pacific "ring of fire" which has a long history of major earthquakes. I've felt at least two quakes in Tokyo that I can recall. One was in October 2005 and the other was in December 2010. Neither of them compared to the biggest one I've ever felt, the January 1994 Northridge Earthquake (whose 20th anniversary is coming next month).

To read the full article, go here. 

ANA To Hike Domestic Fares 9%

Above, the All Nippon Airways booth at the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The weaker Japanese yen benefits travelers from the U.S. as they are able to get around 104 yen per dollar exchanged.

But, the weaker yen can be a double-edged sword as it increases some costs to make up the difference.

According to The Japan Times:

All Nippon Airways Co. said Thursday it will raise fares for domestic flights by up to about 9 percent from March 7 to 29 due to rising fuel costs under the weaker yen.

Under the price hike, the cost of a Tokyo-Osaka one-way ticket aboard Japan's number one airline will rise from ¥24,600 to ¥26,800.

To read more, go here.

McDonalds In Japan Closing Outlets

Above, will this Shibuya McDonald's fall under the ax?  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like people in Japan will have fewer McDonald's outlets to go to in order to get their Big Mac fix.

McDonald's Japan is reportedly going to close outlets as their annual profits fell below expectations.

According to Bloomberg.com:

McDonald’s Corp. (MCD)’s Japan business plans to close 74 outlets in the country as the fast-food operator cut its full-year profit forecast by more than half in its second-largest market. 

Net income will probably be 5 billion yen ($48 million) in the year ending December, 57 percent lower than its previous forecast, McDonald’s Holdings Co. Japan Ltd. said in a statement to Tokyo’s stock exchange yesterday. That compares with an average estimate of 9.53 billion yen from three analysts compiled by Bloomberg. The company had 3,170 outlets in Japan as of the end of October. 

To read the full story, go here. 

Dollar Firms At 104 Yen

The good news on the foreign exchange between the dollar and Japanese yen continues.

Jiji Press reported:

Tokyo, Dec. 19 (Jiji Press)--The dollar traded around 104 yen in Tokyo trading on Thursday after soaring to a new five-year high of 104.36 yen in New York overnight on the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to taper bond purchases under its quantitative easing policy.

This helps to make Japan travel even more affordable.

To read more, go here.

New Tokyo Banana Cakes Introduced

Above, a box of the regular Tokyo Banana cakes (minus three) that I bought in 2010.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2010, before I headed off to Japan, I mentioned the upcoming trip to one of my company's clients and he asked me to bring him back a box of Tokyo Banana cakes. This was the first I've ever heard of Tokyo Banana, but they seem to be one of the most popular souvenirs people bring home from Japan.

So, I bought a couple of boxes of a dozen each, one for him and one for me. Upon getting home, I opened my box and tried one. I could see why they're so popular. They kind of look like Twinkies, but they are filled with banana-flavored custard pudding.

RocketNews24 has posted an article on a new Tokyo Banana that has just been introduced.

They wrote:

One of the reporters at our sister site Pouch is also apparently a big fan, so when a new version of Tokyo Banana came out this month, she naturally had to get her hands on some! And what’s so special about the new Tokyo Banana cakes? Well, to start with, they’re only sold at one location — Tokyo Station to be exact — and not only do they come in a different flavor from the regular cakes, they come in beautiful, colorful prints! 

Yes, the small sponge cakes actually have bright flowers printed all over them. The new cakes, which came out last Saturday, are called “Tokyo Banananohana”, which is a play on the words “banana” and “nanohana“, a kind of yellow rapeseed flower common in Japan, hence the yellow flower prints on the cakes.

Sounds interesting. These new Tokyo Banana cakes are shake-flavored.  Maybe I'll try these out when I go to Japan early next year.

To read more and see some pictures, go here.

Watched "March of the Wooden Soldiers" Last Night

We watched Laurel & Hardy's March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934) over a big bowl of popcorn last night. The DVD contains the original black and white version as well as a colorized version. My roomie wanted to see the colorized version, so we did. I am not fond of colorizing old black and white movies, but I have to admit that the colorists did a good job and it aided in the enjoyment of the movie.

Above, the DVD box art.

We also checked out some of the extras the DVD contained, and there are a lot of them. We watched the (purported) only technicolor film short of Laurel & Hardy called, "Tree In A Test Tube" for the Dept. of Agriculture's Forest Service on materials made from trees and wood products. It was filmed on November 29, 1941, eight days before the Pearl Harbor attack. This short has been posted on YouTube. To see it, go here.

The DVD had trailers on other programs including one of a storybook television show (I vaguely remember this) hosted and starring Shirley Temple, circa 1960. There were also vintage toy commercials from Remco, Hasbro, Ideal and Mattel. I remembered a couple of them.  One was of a drive-in theater toy that had a mini film strip projector inside that I had when I was a kid. It struck me that the toys back then (late-1950s to early-1960s) allowed kids to use their imaginations while playing, something that seems missing today. There was also a Max Fleisher cartoon of "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer." The DVD also contained a Christmas greeting message by the kids of the "Our Gang" comedies and a Christmas greetings message shown in theaters in 1945, following the end of World War II. There were other extras that we didn't get to.

For around $6.00, the March of the Wooden Soldiers DVD was a great buy at Amazon.com.

Until last night, my roomie never saw March of the Wooden Soldiers before. She enjoyed it.

Japan Daily Picks Up Blog Article On Rules For Eating Japanese Food

The Japan Daily yesterday picked up my blog post on RocketNews24's article on the "10 Little-Known Rules For Eating Japanese Food."

I was wondering why that particular blog post was so popular and now I know the reason.

To view The Japan Daily, go here.

The Shinkansen Turns 50 In 2014

Above, a Joetsu shinkansen (connecting Tokyo and Niigata) at Tokyo Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's shinkansens, or "bullet trains", will be turning 50 in 2014. Japan is gearing up to celebrate fifty years of high-speed trains.

Inside Japan posted an "Ultimate Guide To Japanese Bullet Trains" along with a couple of videos of different bullet trains.

They start it with:

They’ve been clocked at up to 200 miles per hour, their tracks cover about 1,500 miles of the country and they safely and reliably transport hundreds of millions of passengers each year around Japan. The Shinkansen is better known simply as the “bullet train,” (a nickname it gets from its bullet-shape nose and fast speeds) was launched for the Tokyo Olympics way back in October 1964. In 2014, the Shinkansen will be 50!

Above, a "300 series" bullet train in 2001. This series was decommissioned in 2012.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

10 Little-Known Rules For Eating Japanese Food

Above, a sushi meal at a restaurant near the Tsukiji Fish Market.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japanese food is quite popular in the United States and people have developed some bad table manners (in the eyes of the Japanese) that they may bring with them to Japan while on business or on vacation.

Personally, I have been guilty of number 3 on the list.

RocketNews24 has posted "10 Little-Known Rules For Eating Japanese Food."

They start it with:

Japanese food, called washoku in Japan, has just been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, but you didn’t need an official declaration to know that sushi and tempura are absolutely delicious. But while enjoying Japanese food, have you ever mixed wasabi and soy sauce as a dip for your sushi? Or how about using your bowl as a chopstick rest? If so, you’ve committed an etiquette faux pas. Take a look at our list of 10 little-known rules for eating Japanese food and save yourself some embarrassment while enjoying a traditional Japanese meal.

To see the rules, go here.

RocketNews24 Travel Guide Posted

Above, shoppers in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Planning to go to Japan in 2014 (as I am)? RocketNews24 has posted their online travel guide to "The Land of the Rising Sun" for would-be tourists.

They start it with:

Are you planning to make that trip to Japan in the new year and in need of a few travel tips? Well, look no further because we here at RocketNews24 know a little bit about the Land of the Rising Sun and want to share our collective knowledge with you about unique restaurants, free Tokyo attractions, haunted places and surprisingly interesting tours. 

Naturally, if you are a kaiju fan and want to see the locations and landmarks that Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, Gamera and others trashed in the movies, then you'll also need The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. It is on sale for the next 7 days. For the order form, go here.

For RocketNews24's travel guide, go here.

Al Plastino Is Smiling From Heaven: DC Acquired JFK Artwork and Will Donate It To JFK Library

DC Entertainment has announced that they have acquired the original Al Plastino artwork for "Superman's Mission For President Kennedy" and will be donating it to the John F. Kennedy Library.

From the DC Comics website:

Al Plastino was one of the most influential and prolific Superman artists of the 1950s and 1960s. His passing last month saddened the entire DCE family. 

One of Plastino's most recognizable pieces was a Superman story he illustrated that featured President John F. Kennedy titled  "Superman’s Mission For President Kennedy." Among Plastino’s final wishes was for the original art for the story to be displayed at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, MA. 

As a tribute to honor him and preserve his artistic legacy, DC Entertainment is pleased to confirm that we have acquired the art and will be donating it to the JFK Library, fulfilling Plastino's longtime hope for the story, which he often pointed to as one of his most important artistic contributions.

I am glad to see that this is having a happy ending. Al Plastino is smiling down from heaven.

Kudos to DC Entertainment for doing right!

The Looney Left Report: Removing Death Penalty For Assassinations, Etc.

One really has to question the sanity of members of the Democrat Party.

This is the latest in leftist nuttery (courtesy of Breitbart's The Conversation):

Eight Democrats have proposed a bill that would take the death penalty off the table for a variety of serious federal crimes, including espionage, treason and assassinating federal politicians.  

The Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act. (HR 3741) would "end the death penalty for assassination or kidnapping that results in the death of the president or vice president, and also ends it for the murder of a member of Congress."

That's not all. It also includes taking away the death penalty for "using a weapon of mass destruction, or murder done via torture, child abuse, war crimes, aircraft hijackings, sexual abuse, bank robberies or the willful wrecking of a train."

To read more, go here.

Imperial Palace To Be Open To The Public

Above, the Imperial Palace's Nijubashi Bridge.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To commemorate the Emperor of Japan's 80th birthday, the Imperial Palace will be open to the public for the first time next year.

According to an article in News on Japan:

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo will be open to the public for the first time ever in May and October next year, the Imperial Household Agency said Monday.

To read more, go here.

Jiji Press provides more details:

Among the places to see on the tour are a dining hall that usually hosts dignitaries and the building from which the imperial family waves to the public every Jan. 2, according to the agency. 

The agency will also open the "Pine Suite," where the most formal ceremonies such as coronations are held. 

Tour participants will be chosen by postal ballot.

Latest DVD/Blu-ray Arrivals

Today turned out to be DVD/Blu-ray day.

Diamonds Are Forever

While Christmas shopping at Best Buy, I browsed through the bargain bin and found a number of classic James Bond movies. As I have most all of them, I picked up Diamonds Are Forever (1971). It starred Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Lana Wood and Jimmy Dean.

Diamonds is probably the worst Connery Bond movie. The story was silly (better fitted for Roger Moore) and much of the acting was terrible. Connery was fine, as he had an old pro's grace about him, but some of the co-stars were awful. It had its moments and it was better than the last two Roger Moore Bonds.

I hadn't seen Diamonds Are Forever for a long time as I just had an old VHS tape of it. The transfer of the DVD was excellent. The movie looked as if it were made recently, not 42 years ago. It was fun to see Las Vegas as it was in the early 1970s, the time I started going there. It was not the congested mess it is today.

I am not too thrilled about the box art, but that is just a minor quibble.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

The Blu-ray of this 2011 documentary arrived today from Amazon. My roomie borrowed the DVD from her culinary school's library and we both enjoyed it. I reviewed it almost a year ago. I decided to buy the Blu-ray edition.

March of the Wooden Soldiers

The DVD I ordered arrived right on schedule, so we'll be watching it tomorrow night over a big batch of popcorn.

Kyoto's Toji Pagoda Gets New Eco-Friendly Lighting

Above, a view of the Toji temple's pagoda from a shinkansen window.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A news article on the new lighting system for the Toji temple pagoda in Kyoto caught my attention.

According to The Asahi Shimbun's AJW:

KYOTO--Bathed in a breathtaking golden color at night, the 55-meter-tall pagoda of Toji temple near JR Kyoto Station is shining brighter and more eco-friendly than ever, thanks to a lighting upgrade. 

While passengers seeing the landmark from the Shinkansen may not notice any change, the national treasure five-story pagoda is sporting new light-emitting diode lighting, starting Dec. 6, which can halve the annual electricity costs. 

Officials of the 1,200-year-old Toji, a UNESCO World Heritage site, said they have illuminated the pagoda, which was rebuilt in 1644, at night since 1970. They installed high brilliance lighting in 1995 to make the bister-colored pagoda shine in a golden hue at night.

The article's accompanying photograph of the pagoda shows it lit up in a brilliant golden hue.

According to Wikipedia:

The pagoda of Tō-ji stands 54.8 m high, and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. It dates from the Edo period, when it was rebuilt by order of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu. The pagoda has been, and continues to be, a symbol of Kyoto. Entrance into the pagoda itself is permitted only a few days a year.

To read the full article on the lighting of the pagoda, go here.

"March of the Wooden Soldiers" (1934)

Since this is the Christmas season, I was on the lookout for a copy of March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934) (also known as Babes In Toyland) starring comedy greats Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It has been a while since I last saw the movie and I wanted a copy for viewing.

Above, Charlotte Henry.

Being unsuccessful at local stores, I turned to Amazon and ordered a copy. They told me that it will be arriving tomorrow. My roomie and I plan to pop some popcorn and enjoy it.

The movie is based on Victor Herbert's 1903 operetta Babes In Toyland, but tailored by Hal Roach Studios for Laurel and Hardy. Along with Stan and Ollie, the other standouts are Charlotte Henry (what a hottie!) as Bo Peep and Henry Brandon as the evil Silas Barnaby.

Brandon was a regular attendee of the Way Out West Tent (Los Angeles) of the Laurel and Hardy fan organization, Sons of the Desert, back in the 1980s. I was a member of the Way Out West Tent back then. Brandon was a very nice guy who enjoyed mingling with fans. The members hissed at him when he was introduced at the meetings. It was all in fun. Brandon was around 22 years old when he made March of the Wooden Soldiers. You really couldn't tell he was that young with the Silas Barnaby make-up he wore. He passed away on February 15, 1990.

I am looking forward to viewing it tomorrow night!

Newly Released Photo of Hachiko At Tokyo Museum

Above, yours truly with the Hachiko Statue outside of Shibuya Station in 2001.

Ten days ago, RocketNews24 posted the "last known photo" of loyal dog Hachiko. It was taken immediately after he was found dead.

The Mainichi Shimbun has posted a photo that is purportedly the "last known" photo of Hachiko. The photo was taken about 2 1/2 months before his death on March 8, 1935.

They wrote:

The apparently last known photograph of Hachiko, an Akita dog who waited for years for its deceased owner's return in front of Shibuya Station, is on display at a Tokyo museum. 

The picture is of Hachiko sitting on the ground as members of a neighborhood family look on. It was donated by Tokyo resident Toyoko Endo, 80, to the Shirane Kinen Shibuya-ku Kyodo Hakubutsukan Bungakukan, a folk and literary museum in the capital's Shibuya Ward, in May last year.

To see the photo and article, go here.

Nine Years Ago, They Said "Godzilla Was Dead, Long Live Godzilla"

Nine years ago today, The Japan Times published an article, "Godzilla is dead, long live Godzilla" which reviewed the history of Toho's franchise that began in 1954 with Godzilla and lamented the ending that year (2004) with Godzilla Final Wars.

Following the release of Godzilla Final Wars, Japan's biggest star was put on (at least) a 10-year hiatus. As producer Shogo Tomiyama said at the time about Godzilla's big send-off, “Our aim was to make not the last Godzilla film but the best one,” he explained. “But because we made the best-ever Godzilla film, we can’t make any more, for another generation at least. When children ask me if they will ever see Godzilla again, I tell them that when they grow up they will create a new type of Godzilla film. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with.”

It is interesting to read that December 15, 2004 article now as anticipation over the upcoming Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. big-budgeted Godzilla (including some screenings in 3D ) has taken a gigantic jump with the release of the teaser trailer last week.

It has been reported that average movie-goers have joined hardcore fans in expressions of ecstasy when the Godzilla trailer appears on-screen during showings of  The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. If this is an accurate indicator, it seems that the time is ripe for the return of Godzilla, even though the studio producing the movie isn't Toho.

To read The Japan Times article, go here.

Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Tsukiji Fish Market

Above, one of the vendors at Tsukiji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Tsukiji Fish Market is due to be closed down within the next two years and moved to the Toyosu district (provided the Metropolitan government finds someone to build the new facility), but you can still visit the historical fish market. Before doing so, there's a few things you should know.

Boutique Japan has some tips on visiting Tsukiji in, "Everything you need to know to visit Tsukiji Fish Market."

Above, the styrofoam industry must be thriving in Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited the fish market three years ago, and had I read these tips, I probably might not have gone. As it turned out, I entered through a back or side entrance (nobody stopped me) and wandered around for an hour or so snapping pictures and shot some video of the activities. I eventually made my way to the main entrance where a guard jumped out of his office to stop me (thinking I was trying to enter). He advised that the fish market was closed to visitors as it was late in the year and in their busy season. I thanked him (the fellow was just doing his job) and left. I had already seen what I came to see.

Above, a vendor prepares his goods for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After I left, I headed over to the nearby shopping and restaurant area where I browsed around before settling down to a great sushi breakfast. I got seated immediately. It is said that there is usually a long wait to be seated at Tsukiji restaurants, but this time, there were only a few people around.

Above, before breakfast, I had an impromptu photo session. 

To see what you need to know about visiting Tsukiji, go here.

Sensoji Temple

Above, rain or shine, people will come to Sensoji Temple. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan Travel Advice has just posted a nice article on Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa section of Tokyo.

It gives a little information on its history and what attractions are there to see.

They begin with:

Sensoji Temple is Tokyo’s oldest and most famous temple and its religious heart. The temple was founded around 645 AD and enshrines a golden image of kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy). Sensoji Temple, is also sometimes referred to as Asakusa Kannon Temple.

Above, shoppers at Nakamise-dori.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The attractions they discuss include the Kaminarimon (or Thunder Gate), Nakamise-dori, the Hozomon Gate, the Five Storey Pagoda, the Main Temple Compound, the Hondo Main Hall and several others.

Above,  the Five Storey Pagoda.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nakamise-dori is one of my favorite places to visit in Tokyo and I've purchased many an item at the shops along the walk, including Godzilla-related toys.

To read the article, go here.

The Japan Daily Picks Up Monster Japan Travel Guide Article

The Japan Daily online newspaper picked up the article on the last eleven days of the holiday sale of the print edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan that was posted at the Monster Island News blog. Along with the travel guide news, this will also provide awareness of Monster Island News to those who aren't familiar with it.

The article does include (although a bit blurred) the eye-catching photo of Yuu Asakura that was posted with the article.

To view The Japan Daily, go here.  For the order form, go here.

Dollar Reaches 5-year High At Upper-103 Yen

The dollar has reached a five-year high against the Japanese yen, The Mainichi Shimbun reported today.

They reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The U.S. dollar reached a five-year high in the upper-103 yen zone Friday in Tokyo, boosted by strong U.S. retail data and a widened gap in U.S. and Japanese interest rates. 

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 103.60-61 yen compared with 103.32-42 yen in New York and 102.81-82 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday. It moved between 103.36 yen and 103.92 yen during the day, changing hands most frequently at 103.60 yen.

The more yen the dollar is able to buy in foreign exchange, the more affordable a vacation trip to Japan is.

To read the full article, go here. 

James Bond An Alcoholic, Study Finds

A study, just for fun, found that James Bond 007 is an alcoholic and would have a life expectancy of 56.

USA Today reported:

It's no wonder James Bond prefers his martinis "shaken, not stirred." The man has such a severe drinking problem that he probably suffers from hand tremors that make stirring a cocktail — if not shooting a gun — impossible, say doctors who studied the fictional spy's drinking habits. 

Bond also is at high risk for sexual dysfunction, liver damage, car crashes, stroke and early death, according to findings published Thursday in an annual compendium of quirky medical studies in the British journal BMJ.

The authors found that Bond, as depicted in 14 classic Ian Fleming novels, drinks more than four times the limit recommended for British men.

To read the full article, go here. 

Eleven Days Until The Holiday Sale of "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" Ends

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

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan print edition will be available at a 20% holiday discount for another eleven (11) days.

To get "that perfect stocking-stuffer" for that kaiju fan in your life (or for yourself), just go to the order form here, print it out and mail it up to and including December 24 (Christmas Eve).

$12.00 is all it takes to get the travel guide to Japan's monster movie locations and landmarks, and that includes shipping and handling thrown in!

Don't delay, order today!

The Motley Fool Weighs In On "Godzilla" Remake

Above, a shot from the "Godzilla " trailer. Photo: Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros.

The Motley Fool has weighed in on the upcoming Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. Godzilla. The writer (Leo Sun) generally doesn't like remakes of foreign films. He has misgivings about the upcoming movie. He feels that Hollywood still hasn't learned from failed foreign remakes of the past after looking at the Godzilla trailer.

He wrote:

Ever since the 1990s, there has been a surge in Hollywood remakes of foreign films from Europe and Asia. The logic fueling these remakes is simple -- the original film's concept worked in its home country, and American audiences are mostly unfamiliar with foreign films. 

That idea wouldn't be bad if those remakes were labors of love. 

However, they're usually not -- they often suck the life out of the original and give American audiences an empty husk of a movie. Simply take a look at some of the critical response to the major foreign remakes over the past two decades.

To a certain extent, I agree with him. I didn't bother with the American The Ring, preferring to watch (and enjoy) instead the original Ringu from Japan.

The problem with remakes of foreign films, Hollywood does get them wrong. The 1998 Sony/TriStar Godzilla is a glaring example. (Another recent remake that was a big misfire was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.)  The tone of the movie was all wrong, just one big camp-fest. The monster didn't look or act like Godzilla. The only thing it had going for it was that it, at least, sounded like Godzilla.

At this year's Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles, I said that if Godzilla looked and acted like Godzilla, along with a decent script, I am okay with it. (I haven't heard enough of this Godzilla yet to determine if it sounds like Godzilla.) Thus far, Legendary and Warner Bros. seem to be doing this one right. That is why I am looking forward to seeing it. I have much better feelings about this Godzilla than I did for the 1998 abomination.

We'll find out for sure next May.

To read the full Motley Fool article, go here.