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Asian Entertainment News and Pop Culture

T-MODE 2008 Announces Musical Lineup

DC Metro area anime and gaming convention teams up with Tokyo No Records to host four Japanese bands

Arlington, VA, [RELEASE DATE] – T_MODE, the DC Metro area’s newest anime and gaming convention, is celebrating its second year with an unprecedented line_up of Japanese musicians including Thee 50’s High Teens, Gelatine, Sakura Madams, and Love etc.

“I was more than happy to lend a hand making this year’s T_MODE a truly special event,” says Eric Bresler, Operator of Tokyo No Records. “Last year’s T_MODE marked The Captains’ first appearance at a domestic anime convention and I am excited to introduce their label mates, Thee 50’s High Teens, to U.S. audiences at this year’s event.” T_MODE will be the first stop on Thee 50’s High Teens’ “Punch De Beat U.S. Tour 2008” in support of their first domestic CD release “Punch De Beat” on Tokyo No Records.

The garage rock female fury of Thee 50’s High Teens will be accompanied by a variety of New York City_based Japanese musicians: jazzy J_pop duo Love etc., power_funk outfit Sakura Madams, and horror_comical_freak core rockers Gelatine.

“I’m really excited to work with Eric and Tokyo No Records to bring more great bands to T-MODE.  Last year’s collaboration brought us the The Captains, and to have four more talented bands for 2008 is simply incredible,” remarks Renee Fortune-Stuckey, Vice-Chairman of T-MODE.  “Not only that, but T-MODE has recently suffered the loss of our Chairman and my husband, Lawrence Stuckey. We want to make this year’s T-MODE an amazing event to honor Lawrence’s memory and dream, and I think having four Japanese bands perform live on our stage will help us to achieve that goal.”

T_MODE ‘08 will be held September 5_7, 2008 at the Hilton Crystal City in Arlington, VA. The T-MODE ‘08 roster includes 3 days of guests, musical performances, anime and cosplay events, and a complete line up of gaming excitement. Pre_registration is now open and additional information can be found at their website: http://www.tmode.org

About T-MODE
T_MODE is an annual anime and gaming convention dedicated to the expansion of Asian culture and video gaming in the United States. Previously announced guests for 2008 include actor/director/musician Johnny Yong Bosch (Bleach, Trigun, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers); industry member Kevin McKeever (Robotech); and the first Maryland visual kei band, [geist]. This year’s T_MODE is dedicated to the memory of T-MODE Founder and Chairman, Lawrence Stuckey.
http://www.tmode.org

About Tokyo No Records
Tokyo No Records is a Philadelphia-based independent record label dedicated to preserving the music of Japan’s past and present for English speaking listeners. 2008 will see the release of Thee 50’s High Teens first record, a new Captains record and Fall tour, and a special compilation featuring covers of classic Japanese rock songs.
http://www.tokyonorecords.com

About Thee 50’s High Teens
Thee 50’s High Teens are four beautifully furious girls from the Fukuoka prefecture of Kyushu (southwest Japan). Formed in 1998, the High Teens combine the sounds of 60s garage rock with 70s punk rock and top it off with matching Group Sounds inspired outfits. They are currently at the top of the indie scene in Japan and will be making their first trip to the U.S. this September.
http://sound.jp/50s/
http://www.myspace.com/thee50shighteens

About Gelatine
Gelatine have been frightening American audiences with their unique brand of horror-comical-freak core rock since 2000. Lead singer/songwriter Seiko’s wide variety of influences include traditional Japanese pop, Japanese war songs, Japanese folk songs, old Japanese cartoon songs, traditional world children’s songs, punk rock, and heavy metal. Her memorable on-stage performance has been called everything from “funny” to “scary” to just plain “sick.”  You have been warned.
http://www.gelatine5.com
http://www.myspace.com/gelatinenyc

About Sakura Madams
Sakura Madams’ music represents the primal yet sensual vibes of Asian women as related through everyday experiences. The band is the funky brainchild of lead singer/songwriter/bass vixen Yukino who has lived in New York City for over 10 years and performed in such bands as Animallink and Kino. Their racy stage performances always deliver a funky good time to audiences of all backgrounds.
http://www.myspace.com/sakuramadams
http://www.woozyfly.com/SakuraMadams

About Love etc.
Formed in 2005 by Yasuyo and Tsubasa, Love etc. combines classical mentality, the warmth of Japanese pop, soulful jazz, ambient sounds and marvelous hooks. Yasuyo (Lead Vocals) began singing in a local choir at age 7 and continued singing throughout her teenage years in the choir and in a local pop band. Tsubasa (Piano) began studying classical piano at age 4 in Japan and wrote her first composition at age 5.
http://www.loveandetc.com/
http://www.myspace.com/loveetc

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Chosun reported, “Singer Lee Moon-sae and 17 other Korean entertainers are planning a week-long trip to a remote Nepalese village to help build a school. Lee organized the volunteer group for the trip, which has been dubbed the Seollebal Himalaya Expedition. “Seollebal” is a portmanteau of the Korean words “seolleda”, meaning “feeling expectant”, and “balgeoreum”, meaning “footsteps.”

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In a recent movie review by Kitagawa Ikuko for “Kakushi Toride no San Akunin: The Last Princess”, Kitagawa wrote, “Fun, excitement, thoughtfulness and tears. Director Shinji Higuchi’s remake of a classic Akira Kurosawa film has managed to pack everything into two hours. Kakushi Toride no San Akunin: The Last Princess is pure entertainment targeting every audience, from kids to their parents.”

“This historical action drama is set in three fictitious feudal lands during the Sengoku era (also known as the Warring States period, from the late 15th to late 16th centuries)–Hayakawa, Akizuki and Yamana. The story is about the exile of the last princess of the fallen Akizuki realm to Hayakawa, the former’s ally against Yamana’s brutal offensive.”

“Makabe Rokurota (Hiroshi Abe), a loyal retainer of Princess Yuki-hime (Masami Nagasawa), has been commissioned to transport Yuki-hime and Akizuki’s ample treasury of gold bars safely to the politically stable Hayakawa. They disguise themselves as humble firewood peddlers, hiding the gold bars inside the logs they are carrying so as to pass safely through roadblocks set up by Yamana, which is under the control of Takayama Gyobu (Kippei Shiina), whose attire bears a striking resemblance to that of Darth Vader.”

“Along the way, Rokurota comes across Takezo (Jun Matsumoto) and Shimpachi (Daisuke Miyagawa), who have escaped from forced labor in a gold mine. Takezo and Shimpachi first frown on joining the journey, but eventually agree to help out in the hope of escaping Yamana’s oppression and cashing in on the gold reward Rokurota offers them.”

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In a recent Televiews column by Wm. Penn for the Daily Yomiuri, Penn writes about upcoming dramas including Kimura Takuya’s “Change”.

Penn wrote, “Get ready. Change (Fuji, 9 p.m.) is coming Monday. It has taken a while, but Takuya Kimura is finally on his way to save the day for Japan.”

T”he quest for a quality political drama seems to have caused some production delays that pushed the series debut back three weeks. There have been media reports of grumbling at the network and worries that the late start will affect the timing of the summer series set for the Monday, 9 p.m. slot.”

“Can’t quite see what the problem is myself. Until the private networks create more dramas that really excite viewers, staggering the start of each new season may be one of their best strategies for keeping the public interested in TV.”

“Most of this April’s offerings have already bored or alienated viewers, so it is nice to have something new to look forward to in May.”

“Fuji has not yet revealed how many weeks Change will run, but if it should preempt a few of the between-season, special marathon, 180-minute, triple talento, super-duper, silly noise extravaganzas, will anyone really miss them? So bring on the Change already.”

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In a recent column of “Soft Power, Hard Truths” for the Daily Yomiuri, Roland Kelts wrote about “Mach Go Go Go” aka to many as “Speed Racer”.

Kelts wrote, “As Speed Racer’s Hollywood blockbuster adaptation opens in U.S. theaters today, Western media outlets are trumpeting its Japanese source: the 1960s manga and anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and Tatsunoko Productions, the studio he formed in Tokyo with his two brothers, Kenji and Toyoharu.”

“Originally titled Mach Go Go Go, Speed Racer debuted on U.S. television in 1967, bearing many of the aesthetic characteristics now associated with anime as a global juggernaut–jerky, hyperkinetic action, ethnically stateless or even Western-looking characters, visceral violence and a complex, multifaceted, episodic storyline.”

“Its commercial success marked a watershed moment in anime history. Though Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy had arrived a few years earlier, Speed Racer was the title that catapulted anime into the U.S. marketplace and penetrated the consciousness of a generation now entrenched in middle age.”

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In a recent comics review for the Daily Yomiuri, Tom Baker reviews the popular series “Full Metal Alchemist”.

Baker wrote, “Fullmetal Alchemist is an epic manga series about morally complex characters in an intricately detailed but internally consistent fantasy world. The visuals are beautiful and the storytelling is a deft blend of revelations and teases. It’s nearly perfect.”

“The two main characters are Edward and Alphonse Elric, child prodigies in the field of alchemy. Their precocious powers give them such a privileged position in the nation of Amestria that a long time passes before they have to confront the dark side of their society, which is loosely modeled on a 1930s European military dictatorship.”

“Ed and Al also have personal tragedies that initially keep them from seeing the big picture. Abandoned by their father and bereft of their mother, the two kids attempted to use alchemy bring their mom back from the dead. Among the horrific results of that mistake were Ed’s loss of two limbs–he has to make do with “automail” cybernetic prosthetics–and Al’s loss of his entire body, leaving his soul trapped in a walking, talking suit of armor.”

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JapanToday.com reported, “Actress Norika Fujiwra, 36, this week met Empress Michiko at the annual National Red Cross conference held in Tokyo. Fujiwara, who does PR for the Japan Red Cross and visited Bangladesh in February, gave a presentation on the current situation of that country after it was hit by a cyclone, during the conference.”

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This Iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock Tour 2008
-MIYAVI-

Eccentric, creative, and unabashed, solo artist Miyavi will be performing at the House of Blues Anaheim on May 14th and the Avalon in Hollywood on May 16th. Tickets are on sale now.

Miyavi appeared in the Japanese rock scene in 2002, after visual kei unsigned band Dué le quartz - of which he was the guitarist, backup screamer, and youngest member - disbanded. Miyavi went on to release seven singles and two full-length albums, and while his personal style shocked Dué fans, it attracted new ones - everywhere.

Miyavi’s demand and skill as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter led to his contract with Universal Music in 2004. His last performance as an unsigned artist was at the venerated Nippon Budokan, and since turning major, Miyavi has produced six singles and three major albums.

Gone is the traditional, four-piece rock band setup for Miyavi. Instead, now songs are peppered with harmonics, fingers snaps, guitar knocks, and a variety of vocal percussion ranging from lip blips to rhythmic, whistling exhalations - all by Miyavi. His rough, smoky vocals and scream-singing grind listeners’ senses, focused and hard. Yet, they are youthful, possessing the same signature versatility as his rollicking guitar work.

Miyavi is further known for his off-the-wall, engaging personality and devotion to fans, posting personal messages on-line and taking time in concerts to read fan mail. What’s more, he has fit English lessons into his schedule. At his U.S. debut - a surprise show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this past February - Miyavi addressed his audience in English, from having studied the language for under a year. His determined antics pose one question: What will Miyavi do next?

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 • HOB ANAHEIM / FRIDAY, MAY 16 • AVALON
Get Tickets at LiveNation.com and TicketMaster.com. Tickets also available at all Ticketmaster outlets including all Wherehouse Music and Ritmo Latino locations (single night tickets only) and via Charge by Phone– (213) 480-3232 • (714) 740-2000 • (805) 583-8700. All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. A service charge is added to each ticket price.

Japantoday.com reported, “Kirin Beverage Corp has signed up African-American enka singer Jero, 26, to appear in TV ads for its canned coffee “Fire Cafffee Zero.” The ads will be aired from May 21.”

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It’s Wednesday and which album took the #1 position?

NOTE: With Golden Week, albums that have been on the top 10 for weeks moved up with Utada Hikaru making the biggest jump, BENNIE K moving to the #1 position and last week’s #1, Madonna’s “Hard Candy” dropping to #3.

1. BENNIE K - BEST OF THE BESTEST
2. Perfume - GAME
3. Madonna - Hard Candy
4. Utada Hikaru - HEART STATION
5. HY - HeartY
6. EXILE - EXILE CATCHY BEST
7. Aoyama Thelma - DIARY
8. Arashi - Dream”A”live
9. YUI - I LOVED YESTERDAY
10. Leona Lewis - Spirit Deluxe Edition