Brain Diving - Short Term Memory

Brian Ruh, a well known scholar of anime, has started a new column over at the Anime News Network called: Brain Diving - Short Term Memory

For his first column he looks at one of the Ghost in the Shell novels, The Lost Memory by Junichi Fujisaku.

I'll be following this column regularly.

Forever Foodie

If you do sushi you have had this one.

inarizushi いなりずし or 稲荷鮨

If you have not had it order some next time.

TokyoScope Talk : BAD GIRLS & WILD WOMEN!

Patrick Macias and assorted comrades have been doing a great series of presentations at the Viz Cinema in San Francisco.

I plan to make this one, probably will be bringing a group of folks with me.

Macias has uploaded a trailer for the event and there is further event information on the Viz Cinema web site.

Satoshi Kon's last words

Makiko Itoh has translated Satoshi Kon's last words, a farewell statement by Kon.

I am most appreciative for this translation as Satoshi Kon became one of my favorite directors, something that is not easy to become, when I first saw Perfect Blue many years ago. The film completely gripped my attention and when I stood up after the credits had finished rolling I was shaking and could taste the adrenaline in my mouth. It took some hours to fully relax. Since that early film I have eagerly awaited his next productions.

A few years ago I was given the honor of introducing Millennium Actress, my favorite of Kon's films, at a special screening in San Francisco co-sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library and the Japanese Counsel General's office. After the screening many stayed for a presentation I did and discussion.

I hope I again have the opportunity to do something like this with one of Satoshi Kon films some day.

Satoshi Kon RIP

Satoshi Kon has passed away of pancreatic cancer.

One of my favorite directors is no longer with us. I highly recommend if you have not seen his movies that you do so.

I also high recommend the book Satoshi Kon The Illusionist by Andrew Osmond

Too many good ones leaving us so early.

Crunchy sweet

This week I have a traditional sweet from Asakusa. The next time I go to Tokyo I need to get some for folks at work.

kaminari-okoshi (thunder brittle) 雷おこし

kiritanpo

There are so many foods seen and mentioned in anime and manga that are just not part of our non-Japanese vocabulary.

With this in mind I give you a new edible entry.

kiritanpo きりたんぽ or 切りたんぽ