One Piece Concert in London

 A concert dedicated to the music soundtrack to the hugely popular anime One Piece was held at London's Cadogan Hall on Saturday February 7 2015 at 8 p.m.

The music was played by Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, chief conductor Jean Thorel. and the anime series composer Kohei Tanaka.

Cadogan Hall is situated close to Sloane Square stations, a fairly intimate venue getting the most out of the audio and screen displaying clips from the anime.

Ticket prices varied from £35 for a standard ticket to more for a VIP meet and greet with chief conductor Jean Thorel. and the anime series composer Kohei Tanaka. It was a brilliant performance which saw Tanaka play the piano to songs and even sing along. Before each group of songs he introduced them and engaged with the crowd and commented on the great cosplay too.

One of my favourite parts of the set was Tanaka playing and singing along to Brook's song 'Bink's Sake which got a lot of the audience singing along and clapping with joy. This is the third type of concert I have attended of game music and possibly my most favourite.

Hyper Japan announces new Venues for 2015

After the phenomenal successes of both our summer and winter events in 2014, HYPER JAPAN is set to delight visitors yet again this year in two new events: the HYPER JAPAN Festival on July 10-12th at The O2, and an up-scaled Christmas Market on November 27-29th at London Tobacco Dock. Both events will carry on the true HYPER JAPAN spirit of bringing visitors the best in Japanese cuisine, culture, entertainment and much more; combining old favourites with never-before seen exhibitors and cutting-edge performers.

The HYPER JAPAN Festival 2015 will be a dynamic summer fiesta, offering fun activities for all the family. Our much-loved sake tasting event will make a comeback, along with other Eat-Japan staples including cookery demonstrations and seminars, delicious street food and gorgeous confections. Big names in gaming such as entertainment giant Nintendo will feature in our HYPER Game & Anime Park, where pre-release demos as well as long-established titles will be available for fans to play and enjoy. Our spectacular bi-annual fashion show, which showcases the latest Japanese street fashion trends, will be powered up to include more creative and diverse ensembles than ever before. Other onstage entertainment will include: Cosplay competitions and parades; fascinating talks on a range of Japanese cultural topics; and sizzling musical displays from a star-studded line-up of Japanese talent. Our 3,000 capacity concert house at The O2’s Building Six will be the first in HYPER JAPAN history, and will be an undoubted highlight of this extraordinary cultural festival.

November’s Christmas Market will offer plenty of shopping opportunities in the extensive Tobacco Dock venue, whose picturesque setting creates an enchanting Christmassy atmosphere for festive shoppers in search of unique gifts. Dozens of businesses from both Japan and the UK will be showcasing the best quality Japanese goods this side of the Pacific, while our range of exquisite cuisine, exciting stage shows and all-star guests are not to be missed either! What’s more, delicious and innovative sushi will dazzle visitors once again as we play host to a team of elite chefs for our latest sushi attraction. Amazing entertainment, gourmet dining, fashion, gaming and retail combine to make HYPER JAPAN’s Christmas Market 2015 a must-visit event in everyone’s winter calendar.

HYPER JAPAN announces two new locations for the events this year:

HYPER JAPAN Festival at The O2, July 10-12th

Christmas Market at London's Tobacco Dock, November 27-29th.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hyperjapan
Twitter: @hyperjapanevent
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperjapanofficial
2014 Event Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed410tP9Oso
Instagram: http://instagram.com/hyperjapanofficial

Ninja magic: iconic anime hero Naruto is coming to Manchester and Glasgow!

 Ninja magic: iconic anime hero Naruto is coming to Manchester and Glasgow!

It's official, anime fans; Manchester and Glasgow will be playing host to much-loved ninja Naruto later this year! Maile Flanagan, the voice of iconic anime hero Naruto Uzumaki, is to be a special guest at both July's MCM Manchester Comic Con and September's MCM Scotland Comic Con, show organisers have announced. As well as meeting fans and signing autographs, Maile will be taking part in on-stage panels at both events.

Since taking on the role of Naruto in 2005, Maile Flanagan has played the hot-blooded über ninja in more than 200 episodes of Naruto and over 275 episodes of sequel series Naruto: Shippuden, as well as appearing in numerous spin-off feature films and games.

In addition to voicing one of anime's most famous protagonists, Maile's live action appearances include US sitcom Lab Rats, Jim Carrey comedy Yes Man and acclaimed indie rom-com (500) Days of Summer. She has also voiced characters in animations such as Rango, Ice Age 3 and kids' cartoon Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, for which she scooped a Daytime Emmy Award.

Tickets to MCM Comic Cons are available at: www.mcmexpostore.com

MCM MANCHESTER COMIC CON – MANCHESTER CENTRAL – 25-26 JULY

 MCM SCOTLAND COMIC CON – GLASGOW SECC – 26-27 SEPTEMBER

Website: www.mcmcomiccon.com
Twitter: @MCMExpo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcmexpo
YouTube at www.youtube.com/mcmexpo

It Only Happens in the Movies? Japanese Cinema and Encounters: A Letter to Momo

After mentioning on all my feedback forms last year previously writing in capitals 'More anime please' I was pleased to see two on the line up for the touring film festival from the Japan Foundation. The ICA is a great choice of venue in the heart of the West End holding a cosy hide away for Japanese enthusiasts.

A Letter to Momo (Momo e no tegami in Japanese) follows a 11-year-old girl called Momo who ='s world is turned upside down by the recent death of her father. Growing up in Tokyo her whole life and then being up rooted to the country was already a shock to her system. At first we see Momo as a shy and bewildered child, constantly hiding behind her mother and barely saying a word. As they are ferried to their new home she is hit by three water drops on a sunny day, this is not mere water, these drops hold the form of Yokai (demons).

They move to the old family house with an uncle and aunty on a remote island where time has stopped living in old fashioned sliding door wooden buildings with holy shrines on every road and no shopping centers around. Momo is constantly thinking about her father due to having an argument the day he died and finding an unfinished letter from him addressed to her...which she keeps close to her at all times reading over and over again the words “Dear Momo.” Her aunty tries to entertain her by showing her the attic and her uncles prized Yokai picture books. One is particular in a box becomes prey to the water demons.

Directed by Hiroyuki Okiura (Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade). Seven years in the making and supported by a top-class team of skilled creators, A Letter to Momo uses traditional hand drawn animation fused with a simple story. Often compared to Spirited Away this story has similar aspects but is completely different in  everyday. Here we find the three demons are there ona  mission to keep Momo and her mother safe till the father reaches the afterlife. We aren't given much more information about the mission or the other spirits that Maade makes friends with.

Alongside the trials of stopping the demons from stealing items and ran sacking crops to feed their never ending hunger she also has a sort of love interest in local boy Yota. She's scared to make friends or dive off the bridge same as she is to move on and let the painful memories of her father go. Her relationship with her mother is also strained due to miscommunications. Sadly the mum thinks Momo is lying when confronted about the stolen items mysteriously appearing in the attic and they argue which triggers off an asthma attack.

The mothers illness turns out to be quite severe and she requires medical assistance but guess what there's only one doctor on the Island and he's off on a house call on another Island. At the same time the weather worsens and well Momo has to take some drastic measures. We see only one part of the journey where she and Iwa (Momo's mother's old school friend) travel with spiritual assistance to sheld them from the rain and wind and miraculously her mother is cured.


The demons are funny and only stay for a span for a few days and it is quite sad to see them leave after finishing there mission. However do they fulfill Momo;s last request about sending her letter to her father? You will just have to see for yourself.  There is also an American dub version of this film.

Buy tickets to watch it now.
For more news on anime, cosplay, games and Japanese culture follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Aisha Anime ^_^

NEW ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY + amiibo SKINS

Real-life aircrafts have been colorfully coated with charming Nintendo character skins for the ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY + flight simulator game on the Nintendo 3DSTM and New Nintendo 3DSTM/New Nintendo 3DSTM XL! A close collaboration between Ace Combat and Nintendo brings to fans visually delightful aerial combat as they will be able to cut through the skies while flaunting fresh paint to represent their favorite Nintendo characters like Donkey Kong, Zelda, Captain Falcon, Samus ... and even PAC-MAN!

Starting February 13th, Ace Combat pilots will be able to place their amiiboTM on the New Nintendo 3DS/New Nintendo 3DS XL to unlock exclusive aircraft skins tied to the same amiiboTM character, and today BANDAI NAMCO Games Europe has revealed new screenshots of the various character skins waiting to be unlocked when the game launches on February 2015!

Not only will each aircraft be able to visually feature character-themed skins, but the character will also determine parameter settings for the aircraft. The iconic Mario will be tied to the F-22, which is one of the most famous and powerful aircrafts in modern time and is well-balanced for both aerial and ground attacks. Mario’s eternal rival, Bowser, will be collaborated with the A-10A, which is most powerful aircraft for ground attack. Durability and offensive power will be increased to shape Bowser’s aircraft into a formidable aerial tank!

Maintain radio contact:

·         Release date: February 13th, 2015

·         BANDAI NAMCO Games Europe official website: www.BandaiNamcoGames.eu

·         Facebook: www.facebook.com/AceCombat

It Only Happens in The Movies? Japanese Cinema and Encounters: Blood and Bones

Blood and Bones also known as Chi to Hone in Japanese is directed by Yōichi Sai and starring actor/comedian/singer Takeshi Kitano (who also starred in Canadian movie  Johnny Mnemonic as well as Japanese productions). It is based on the semi-autobiographical novel 'Chi to Hone' by Zainichi Korean author Yan Sogiru (Yang Seok-il).

Released in Japan 2004, it was chosen to be shown as part of the Japan Foundation's It Only Happens in The Movies? Japanese Cinema and Encounters touring film festival now. The film was nominated for 12 Japanese Academy Awards and won four, including Best Actress, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay.

Set in the 1923, the story is narrated by son Masao who describes his father's journey from Korea to Japan.  A young Kim Shun-Pei moves from Cheju Island (South Korea), to Osaka (Japan). This isn't an easy transition due to war between the country and despite fighting brothers in arms there is still a lot of hatred between the Japanese and Koreans.

We watch the cruel misdeeds of Kim abusing his wife and children throughout the film. This leads to an inner greed as the violent man decides to destroy a house to make it into a fish cake factory and forces his family to help in slave labouring for him. Even though this provided jobs for the poor Korean-Japanese community he exploits his employees and punishes them for revolts.

He makes a fortune, then takes a mistress and continues to mistreat his former family whenever he is stressed. He shows respect to no one. Later he closes the factory when business declines, becoming a money lender now with help from his mistress becomes a successful loan shark. His evil personality does not change towards even his brother or family. After his mistress develops a brain tumour he shows some human compassion and takes care of her and takes on a maid to look after her full time.

This turns out to be a new mistress as he wants another heir to his wealth. Through much raping he has many illegitimate children who all eventually leaves him. Eventually his daughter marries a man she doesn't love to escape his abuse and she ends up in an abusive marriage. Sadly she seeks advice from her brother Masao who recommends she leave her husband or quit  moaning. Sadly she commits suicide leaving the husband quite happy. This affects Kim who beats up everyone at the funeral.

At this point he is losing his physical strength and mind, he carries on his mean life even after he kills his terminally ill mistress ad the second mistress leaves him. He seeks consolation from his wife who he left for dead after she developed cancer, she recoils and dies eventually too.

After all his mean-ness he kidnaps his illegitimate son, makes him stay with him to his bitter demise and leaves his fortune to Korea.

I left the cinema screening feeling sad as no one got a happy ending. Masao moves away and only the uncle and his wife survive. the poetic cousin moves back to Korea and is never heard from again. Great acting from the cast especially Beat Takeshi. Catch the film as it tours the uk : http://www.jpf-film.org.uk/

‘RWBY’ Creator dies at age 33

Monty Oum, animator and director of animation for online-video pioneer Rooster Teeth and creator of the hit online anime series RWBY, died on Sunday. Austin-based Rooster Teeth member Matt said in a blog post that Oum had suffered a severe allergic reaction during a routine medical procedure last month that left him in a coma.

Oum was an active member of DeviantArt.com, for 11 years, he shared his art concepts for characters there is even a recent post where fans are leaving comments of condolences and love.

His animation career began with 'Haloid', a showdown between characters from the video games franchises Halo and Metroid. That led to a job as a combat designer at Midway Games. After a stint at Namco Bandai Games, where he worked on the vidgame Afro Samurai, Oum joined Internet production house Rooster Teeth as character animator and choreographer.red vs blue In 2012, he created, directed and was lead animator for RWBY. Last year, the show won Streamy and International Academy of Web Television awards for best animated series.

Oum was also very considerate of fans and wrote in a Facebook post, “Fun fact: I try to make sure all my characters are designed with pockets/pouches so cosplayers will have places to put their phones/wallets.”

Read the original post on the Rooster Teeth blog here:

http://roosterteeth.com/members/journal/entry.php?id=3302319

It Only Happens in the Movies? Japanese Cinema and Encounters: A Bolt from the Blue

A time travelling magician? A great addition to the Japan foundation's touring film festival at the ICA London.

A Bolt from the Blue also known as Seiten no hekireki was a hit in Japan from 2014 due to being directed by a famous comedian, Hitori Gekidan. Based on Hitori’s own novel, it was a huge box office success in Japan. However there us more to the movie than meets the eye.

A movie following a dead beat magician with the skill but nothing to motivate him. Begrudging his parents for all his failures he lives by himself after leaving his dad after college. Resentful about his mother leaving him, he watches younger magicians get fame for his tricks.

One day after his flat is flooded he receives a call that his father is dead. He goes to the place where his body is found and discovers he had been homeless and living in a cardboard hut. In the hut he finds a photo of his father holding him as a baby, then like magic a both of lightening hits him and he is taken back in time to the year 1973.

Asakusa is the a place to launch stage performers and with help from a kid he is accepted as a trainee magician. It is here where he crosses paths with his young father to be.

With all the indications of his fathers faults and his birth nearing - will he find out the truth about his mother? Will he carry on to live life so bitterly. A great film to take inspiration from. Shape your life as you want do not run away and make excuses.

Buy tickets to the next showing (Jan 30-March 2015): https://www.ica.org.uk/whats-on/seasons/japan-foundation-touring-film-programme

It Only Happens in the Movies? Japanese Cinema and Encounters: Nobody to Watch Over Me

My favourite genre in Japanese film is Horror/thriller so I was excited to see 'Nobody to Watch over me' part of the Japan Foundation's touring film festival at London ICA.

Nobody to Watch Over Me (also known as Dare mo mamotte kurenai in Japanese) was a particularly interesting film directed and written by Ryoichi Kimizuka. It looks at crime through a different perspective. After watching Lady Vengeance you get an insight into the police force and how they humiliate the perpetrators on TV and seek out revenge. Nobody to watch over me follows the sister of an alleged killer. 

A police officer part of the case is sent to protect her from the media, stalkers and committing suicide. Whilst he does so and out of sympathy goes back to the family home to retrieve her mobile her mother has had enough of the allegations and hangs herself. The case is now point towards the police force for neglecting to save the public and protecting the 'killers' family.

Strange thing is we are never really sure if the boy killed the sisters or not, seeing as the only possible person to have interacted with him on the day was the sister and she refuses to talk.


Sadly the 15year old is hounded by friends, Internet and general weirdos. At the same  time you do start to question the police officer who chooses to hide her at a former victims hotel by the sea.

Needless to say this is a dark psychological movie with some action scenes to compare driving to the fast and furious Tokyo drift. Loving how versatile Ryuhei Matsuda (actor from Otakus in Love) is playing partner Misima giving the odd comedy moments.

A film to make to think of your family and appreciate all those precious moments before they are gone.

To buy tickets to the next screening as part of the touring film festival (30th Jan-March) use this link:
http://www.jpf-film.org.uk/venues/ica

It Only Happens in the Movies? Japanese Cinema and Encounters: My Little Sweet Pea

 I began to see the genre Japan Foundation chosen for this years film festival at ICA London- loss of family and had a great sadness watching the protagonist fight her emotions on whether to accept her estranged mother or not.

Catch another showing of this film:

Filmhouse
26 February 2015

Tyneside Cinema
2 March 2015

mac birmingham
3 March 2015

My little Sweetpea

A contemporary film set in current Kapan where Meguka lives a life of struggle with her brother ( Ryûhei Matsuda also starred in Otaku's in Love). Their father dies 3 years ago and lives on her Brothers wages or so she thinks.

Her world is turned upside down when a woman turns up on there  doorstep claiming to be her mother. Abandoning them as children due to their fathers infidelity Megu and her brother find it hard to forgive her.

However out of greed then agree yo her living with them as she had been sending them rent money regularly but was now unable to afford it. Megu is forced to lice with her mother Saiko as the brother decides to move out out of irritation.

She cannot tolerate the molly codelling and invasion of privacy, after her manga is thrown out and her application to voice acting school opened she lashes out at Saiko. Soon after she passes away from advanced liver cancer.

The story takes a strange detour where Megu travels to her mothers home town to bury her. Here us stared at and treated like a celebrity as she is the spitting image of her mum. Saiko was the high flyer and beauty queen of town.

Megu begins to learn more about her mother and the hardships of divorce. Did she come to stay with her knowing these were the last moments of her life? She didn't become the rich singer she dreamed of being but she was happy to have her kids. Through meeting the people in the village especially Saiko's friend Micheru she forgives her mother.

This film covered a lot of life's hardships, people are complex and not always clear. Also it was great to see hard working adults indulging in past times such as manga. Parents overall shape our behavior and way of living. Also was nice to see the curators choose a film looking at Otaku culture and having the actor Matsuda re appear after being show in Otaku's in Love at the last years touring film festival.