In the small pool of prominent anime directors, Mamoru Oshii seldom requires introduction. In a medium largely defined by a narrow set of frequently parroted visual tropes, his geometrical compositions, calculated pacing and obsession with basset hounds are in a league of their own. For …Read more »
“Comiket vs. Comic-Con International: both have “comic/k” in the name, one is still all [about] them.” - Lea Hernandez, comic artist and former Vice President General Products USA It’s telling that San Diego Comic-Con is almost always framed in the context of a celebration. A …Read more »
Not long ago, an article on the small town of Washimiya and its shrine was featured on this fair site. As fate would have it, the recent Skip City International D-Cinema Film Festival in Kawaguchi was holding a screening of Washimiya Monogatari ( Washimiya Story …Read more »
It’s probably a dead horse by this point, but the Japanese con experience couldn’t be any different from the American. For those used to the chaotic socializing of the West, experiencing something like the bi-annual war that is Comiket can be an alienating experience …Read more »
Ever since Spirited Away took the Oscar in 2000 for Best Animated Picture, Studio Ghibli seemed to have hit a creative doldrums. Howl’s Moving Castle was pleasantly forgettable, Tales from Earthsea was execrable; and Ponyo was overall delightful but disappointing for those expecting something meatier. …Read more »
So trains are everywhere in Japan. That should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard the ping-ping-ping-ping of a Hideaki Anno or Makoto Shinkai sepia-tinged railroad crossing. Japan loves its trains and with good reason. Anyone who has endured the dirtiness of a …Read more »
He was an old man sitting down in the parking lot. He had just bid farewell to some friends who were shooting the breeze as the sun starts to set on a long, sleepy day in the small town of Washinomiya. As everyone goes their …Read more »
“It’s a quiet night,” a very kind gent, by the name of Jab, with a predilection for gadgets, geek talk and some stylish bug-eyed contact lenses said as he surveyed the scene. It was a sentiment being echoed throughout the night. Meanwhile, your intrepid reporter …Read more »
It’s cheap, it’s delicious and it fuels college dorms. It cooks in three minutes and if you put tabasco sauce and lime in it, it becomes down right holy. Yes, we’re talking about Instant Ramen, that import so ubiquitous that many often forget it’s Japanese. …Read more »
The first day the Gundam Café opened up on the side of the (in)famous Electric Town Exit of Akihabara Station, there was a true carnivale spirit in the air. Fans lined up out the door, couples in full cosplay gear from all eras, and there …Read more »
It’s a mark of petty pride and immense shame to be greeted in a maid café with a “Long time, no see” from the manager. To be honest, a café is an easy way to find native otaku, especially in Tokyo, where most greetings are …Read more »
Winter is a depressing time to be in Japan. Most of the trees are brown, leafless skeletons and the weather is bitterly cold. As someone from San Diego, home of the everlasting summer, this is double-plus ungood. For those living in Japan, the only thing …Read more »
You would think having an event devoted entirely to anime smack dab in the epicenter of Japanese pop culture would be more exciting. You’d think. In all honesty, I wasn’t looking forward to visiting Tokyo Anime Fair this year. Last year’s was something of a …Read more »
Mention the word “Cosplay” in the US, and the image tends to be one of perky teens in various states of dress (and undress) crowding up already-congested convention center halls as geeks of various shapes and sizes snap their little cameras away. Sometimes they even …Read more »
Fernando Ramos
