On July 3rd, fledgling anime convention Anime, Music and Manga, otherwise known as AM², was able to give their attendees quite a treat. The convention, in conjuction with JRock Revolution, put on a screening of ARC Entertainment's Spaghetti-Samurai flick Bunraku, starring Josh Hartnett and Vampiric J-Rock god Gackt.

Named for the traditional Japanese theatre style involving wooden puppets, Bunraku is a supremely stylish stranger-with-no-name revenge film along the lines of spaghetti westerns ala Sergio Leone with that touch of Samurai drama akin to Kurosawa that inspired them. Western and martial arts enthusiast Guy Moshe directs big names such as Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Demi Moore, and Kevin McKidd against a slick, eye popping backdrop created with a mix of CGI and practical sets. The film reminded me visually of a mash-up between Tim Burton and Zack Snyder, with dialog trying very hard to be written by Tarantino.

The film follows Hartnett as the mythical Stranger-With-No-Name as he blows into town to take on and take down Perlman, the most powerful man east of the Atlantic. Through his schemes and attempts on Perlman's life, the stranger picks up a samurai robed Gackt and bartending Harrelson for support. You can pretty much guess where it goes from there.

While a treat for the eyes, Bunraku does fall short elsewhere. The plot is seemingly original at first, but after 20 minutes any movie fan can call out the rest of the big points. That is not to say that the film isn't entertaining, it does have it's well choreographed moments of action and well placed spots of comedy, but many of the main actors seem to be overshadowed by the film's stuning visuals. Josh Hartnett just seems squinty and out of place, almost like he's lost and blinded by the CGI sun. Ron Perlman can play a convincing small town villain in his sleep, which might be exactly what he did here. Demi Moore seems tacked on as the Hollywood big named heroine of the group, and only made me aware that I haven't seen her on screen in quite some time. On the other hand, Harrelson did quietly well as the smooth talking bartender sidekick to Hartnett and Gackt, the latter of whom also did well with the position he was given. For me, though, the show was stolen by McKidd who I believed for every second.

Bunraku is a generally well put together movie and can be enjoyed at home in your underwear with a nice bowl of popcorn. The couch critics (such as myself) will enjoy the style of it, until they realize that it is starting to drown out the rest of the movie. Casual fans may appreciate the film for its quirks, but I wouldn't run out to line up for the movie just yet.

Bunraku is slated for theatrical release on September 30th, 2011.

2 of 4 stars.

Self-proclaimed “most powerful Japanese girlie rock� band SCANDAL returned to California for the first time in three and a half years to headline the inaugural year of AM2 – the highly anticipated anime, manga and music convention, held this past 4th of July weekend. The last time SCANDAL performed in the states was with 2008’s Japan Nite tour, where they hit various small venues throughout the country; and Sakura-con in Seattle. The band’s music has been featured in many popular anime such as Full Metal Alchemist and Bleach. SCANDAL consists of Haruna on vocals and guitar, Tomomi on bass, Rina on drums, and Mami on lead guitar.

The four ladies of SCANDAL were met with loud cheers and applause when they entered the fully occupied Q&A Panel room. Being absent from the opening ceremonies, they greeted their fans for the first time. Each member expressed their happiness and gratitude to the many waiting for their return after three years. The panel began with a few words from the MC, who commented on the truth of their hotness, and asked general fluffy anime and music related questions.  It quickly passed and the mic was opened for fans, to the delight of many. The first question was a bit thought provoking to the band, as they were asked what they would be doing if SCANDAL was never formed. Surprisingly enough, only Haruna would have stayed the music route, where the other three would have chosen completely different career paths. A response by Tomomi received much laughter from the audience when her answer “Hobo-san (day-care giver)â€� was misinterpreted.

When asked about their music writing process, drummer Rina replied that she would first compose a demo on the keyboard; then calls the other members to create each of their own phrases for the song. The band later heads to the studio to brainstorm an arrangement for finalization and recording. Then in a strange but hilarious moment, a question regarding a scene from the band’s “Namida no Regret� music video poked at Tomomi’s romantic views as she was asked what she thought of her cute band mates. The inquiry prompted a great deal of laughter from both the band and audience to boost an already lively mood. However, the bassist clarified that while she does think her band mates are cute, she doesn’t swing that way, and still likes boys.

As the panel went on, member-specific questions sprang up from the long line of supporters. According to Haruna, the four have meddled in playing each other’s instruments during rehearsals, but never were able to completely finish a song. Fans of Mami were pleased to hear a little bit more detail about equipment when she revealed that she preferred Ernie Ball .10 gauges, “the yellow package�, for producing sound from her Fender axes. Tomomi mentioned having tried the guitar herself during the band’s infancy; but the six strings were too difficult and as a result, she switched to the fewer-stringed bass guitar. As for Rina, who drew the short straw, drums were the only instrument left after her band mates have already chosen their weapons. Though she explained that it is a position that suited her and made it a goal to be a skilled drummer other girls can look up to, as there are very few female drummers in the scene.

Each member of the girl-rock outfit revealed which song they have the most fun with when performing. Although they each named different songs, it was pieces the audience certainly enjoyed. Closing out the session, SCANDAL expressed their excitement to perform for their overseas fans. “It’s been three and a half years since we’ve performed in America. We want everyone to raise their hands and have fun. Don’t be shy, shout, dance, and have fun!�



The following unofficial fourth day of AM2, SCANDAL held a press conference at the poolside terrace of their Anaheim hotel. With a new single and album set to be released in a few short weeks, the band spoke in detail about their new material. “The song is very upbeat and lively and we want the fans to draw strength from it. We think the song will remind people to keep on loving and feel the love from the song. Don’t stop loving, be yourself, and be happy.� Rina spoke about the new single “Love Survive�, which was performed at the concert the night before. SCANDAL’s upcoming album “Baby Action� aims for a new, mature personality from the band, according to Tomomi. It has been a year since their last album “Temptation Box�, and the band plans to show how much they have matured within that time frame. “Now we have grown into adults and we’ve grown our individual skills. We feel that we have matured as a band because of this.� This goal is apparent on the CD jacket covers of the album, where the band has obviously ditched the matching uniforms theme that fans have known and loved. When asked about this, Haruna explained that they are growing up and it was time to show an adult side to SCANDAL, especially after Rina had turned 20 very recently.

Speaking of goals, SCANDAL also talked about future plans for the years to come. Within the past year, they have reached the dream of performing at the popular Osaka Jo Hall. Mami explained that for now SCANDAL’s goals are to develop as a band, but a world tour is a possibility. Rina also added for another American tour through small live houses, akin to their Japan Nite adventures three years ago, would be within reach.
 
When asked about possible collaborations with other Japanese artists, Haruna spoke about their past work with idol and singer Nakagawa Shoko. The two have performed together at ANIMAX MUSIX FALL 2010, covering popular anime K-ON!’s ending theme “Don’t say ‘lazy’�. She added that SCANDAL would like to work with Nakagawa Shoko again, along the lines of anime related collaborations. Fellow girl-rock band Stereopony was also briefly mentioned regarding a possible collaboration. Other Japanese artists were talked about as the band was asked about who they would recommend to their American audience. Speaking of newer bands, Tomomi suggested rock powerhouse 9mm Parabellum Bullet. She also recommended chart-topping giants Southern All Stars and Mr. Children; and her dance-oriented rock favorite, Triceratops, to the American fans.

It has been three and a half years since SCANDAL performed in the States. Closing out the conference, the band recalled their first big show outside of Japan. “At Sakura-con, the first time we came to the States, the stage was just so huge! It was really a lot to work with. There we also learned it’s not just about the sound, we also had to feel the beat with the fans and feel their energy.� In three and a half years, SCANDAL has come a very long way; from playing small live houses in their indie days to rocking the foundations of sought out venues like Osaka Jo Hall. They have matured from young school girls in uniforms to mature adults with individual style. Now one of the mainstay girl-rock bands in Japan, SCANDAL aims to develop even more and become musicians others look up to. Thanks for returning to the States and good luck in the future, SCANDAL!


SCANDAL’s 11th single “Love Survive� will be released July 27 and 3rd album “Baby Action� will be released August 10th.

This July 1st marked the inaugural year for convention Anime, Music, and Manga, otherwise known as AM². Though just starting out, the otakus in charge brought together a nice collection of musical guests to entertain fans. Kanon x Kanon is a musical collaboration between cellist extraordinaire Wakeshima Kanon and oshare-kei band Antic Cafe's bassist Kanon. The two came together in late 2010 because they both had a strong affinity for anime, music, anime music...and, well, because they share the same name. Though I wasn't really a fan of either Wakeshima Kanon (despite my love for classical instruments integrated into mainstream music) nor the duo of Kanon x Kanon, I can't deny they were entertaining.

The penised of the two Kanons spent most of his time playing to fans, no doubtedly culled from his past experiences playing with AnCafe. During the opening ceremonies, both Kanons entered to (somewhat surprising) fanfare, but it was Kan-the-man who won the bigger pop with his own rendition of Son Goku's famous Kamehameha. Female Kanon was relegated to a kawaii, yet shy, role as the two spent their time in Anaheim.


During their fan panel, the two exhanged awkward greetings with their gathered audience and the MC before having their translator replaced by a friend/employee of Wakeshima's (dressed as a maid, no less). The pair revealed that though they have been collaborating for almost a year now, their concert later in the con was to be their first live performance as Kanon x Kanon. The fans reacted with restrained glee at the announcement that they would be the first to feast upon the team's debut stage show. The rest of the panel went about as well as a panel for a moderately known visual duo  with all but 2 singles under their belt could really go. Most of the remaining time was spent laughing at the name confusion when addressing either artist, as for some reason they decided not to just call Ms. Wakeshima by her last name. Also, a first for me, the guests decided to quiz the audience on random information about themselves, the reward being a signed t-shirt. In case you were wondering, Kanon-kun ate nachos the day before and Kanon-chan's cat is black.


Despite it being their first concert as a dynamic duo, the seperate parts of Kanon x Kanon are no strangers to performing. Wakeshima Kanon started off the show with a brief solo set, stepping toward her cello beneath a lace parasol. She warmed the crowd up by playing singles like still doll and Suna no Oshiro and rounded out her set with tracks from her 2nd album Shoujo Shikake no LIBRETTO to great applause. While Wakeshima's stage presence is quite striking, with her signature gothic lolita style and wonderful cello work, I can't really say the performace is very exciting. She sings, takes a few steps, plays her cello, takes another few steps, sings some more.


After close to 30 minutes, Wakeshima Kanon made her way backstage and a video began to roll alerting the audience that they are about to be treated to an instructional video in one of Japan's favorite past times: The Wotagei. A man (highly suspected of being the male Kanon) in an alien suit gave a lengthy tutorial on a specialized wotagei routine set to Kanon x Kanon's second single, Koi no Doutei. After an agonizing 15 minutes of watching the alien do the same thing over and over, the Kanon wonder twins (form of...AniSong Band!) emerged to thunderous ovations.


Wakeshima slipped neatly back into her spot on the stage while her partner took up a place on the opposite side, seemingly behind a DJ booth. They opened their set with their first single, Calendula Requiem, with Mr. Kanon on guitar, doing the only musical work I recall from him the whole show. Later in their performance, the two livened up a bit and performed a slow motion parapara routine as well as gave a rendition of Sailor Moon theme Moonlight Densetsu, complete with Tuxedo Kanon passing out roses to his fans. As the show came to a close, Sir Kanon informed the audience that it was time to put their wotagei skills to the test as he ran to the front of the stage and led the amassed fans in the routine from the video. By far the most entertaining portion of the concert, Kanon worked the crowd into a frenzy with his dance moves, though less than half joined along. And just as quickly as it started, it was over.


Though it may seem like I have a negative attitude towards the show, I actually was entertained. It was about what I expect from a convention concert, which is to say fast, full of people screaming random Japanese words, but overall decently put together. If you happen to be a fan of either Wakeshima Kanon or Kanon x Kanon, hopefully you can catch them in concert as well, I'm sure they will play more conventions in the future, and by then they will also hopefully have more than 4 songs to play. Aside from that, the pair are also extremely accessible. They not only held two autograph events, signing anything put in front of them, but also attended a meet and greet where they sat with groups of fans and answered questions in a quasi-intimate setting. The pair did genuinely seem enamored by the fans and their attention, and for that I applaud them. Thanks for the show Kanons!

On the 10th and 11th of December 2010, AKB48 continued on their rampage through Asia, and visited the Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention (STGCC)!

Unlike the last time with Anime Festival Asia, JPHiP was prepared and maliciel, kohilist and polyrhythm were on hand to capture the action as it happened! A lot of things happened, and I'll go through them one-by-one! But firstly, massive props to STGCC and Reed Exhibitions for making it all possible. They're a veteran in the business and definitely deserve the props for listening to the fans to make an awesome event.

Day 0: Thursday 091210

Thursday is the day before the first appearance by the girls. We (SGP48, what some of us fans in Singapore call ourselves) had already ruled out Wednesday because the whole of AKB48 had to attend the 5th anniversary commemoration event. So pretty much the whole of Wednesday night, Thursday morning was stalking all the girls' blogs to see if we could find a clue when they were leaving Japan and arriving in Singapore. We had spreadsheets set up, and there really was no way to tell when they were coming even with the date of departure pretty much set in stone.

8am. No news. No one even mentioned Singapore, much less talked about going on a plane. We were getting worried. Would we actually have to camp the airport and hope to spot them coming in? There are daily flights from Japan in the morning, afternoon and night/early morning, so no one was relishing that idea. But that pretty much looked like the only way. The event on Friday only had 3 participants (Uchida Mayumi, Nakatsuka Tomomi, Ishida Haruka), but we were convinced that they'd come as a group. After all, it's not like the girls coming were bigshots and had stuff they couldn't afford to skip, right?

Apparently, we were proven wrong after Harukyan tweeted:

今日�諸々撮影｀・ω・´����シンガ�ール�旅立����イベント���３人�������ん������んシンガ�ール��ん�wktk���｀・ω・´
Today I'll be participating in a bunch of photo-shoots ｀・ω・´ After that a trip to Singapore! It's for the event, so only 3 of us will be going. But it's the first time I'll be in Singapore, so I'm nervous still ｀・ω・´

This was around 9am, which meant that we had no idea just how close she was to departing from Japan. It was unlikely they'd arrive at 5pm, but entirely possible. The cogs started and we began panicking a little. Some of us didn't have work or school, so we'd be camping at the airport from at least 4pm while waiting for the rest of the cavalry to come. There were 2 arrivals at 11pm and another at 1am. The only real problem? The two arrivals were in different terminals and getting back home after that 1am flight would mean dropping serious cash. But hey, if not us then who else, right? The girls deserved a welcome, whatever the time.

We found a spot in McDonald's (the same one we sat at the last time AKB48 came) and settled in. Got some food, we brought our boards (mine was a ��クリ○テルよりクリス���� board) and sat down. We were mostly inconspicuous, but there was a group of Japanese boys who came as well. They played AKB music really loudly for some reason. Maybe they saw some of the guys taking out their Chance no Junban CDs. We sat there for hours. Hotel California and My Way now holds a special place in my heart. I will fucking stab anyone who plays that shit. 5pm came and went. The few of us there knew it wasn't going to happen at 5, it was way too early. But better safe than sorry.

11pm. The group grew larger. We were joined by a few people. Some of us ordered AKB waffles and got trading cards, so there was a trading card frenzy at that point. I managed to trade Yukirin away for a Mariya card (it's worth it!). We were joined by richardthebrave, who flew in from the Philippines, and the AKB48 Indonesia Forum were arriving around the same time we were speculating AKB48 to be. The group was now mobile. There were 2 flights arriving with only a 30 minute gap, and a scheduling change then meant they were arriving within 10 minutes of each other! The problem? They were at different terminals! There was no choice, we had to gamble on one. We decided it was best to stake out terminal 2, and then move to terminal 3 swiftlike. Which is what we did. Turned out that was no issue at all, because they arrived at neither! So it was left to the 1am flight. The indonesians arrived not long after we were waiting for the 11pm flight, and we introduced ourselves and whatnot. I met arsencoffee from AKB48 Journal and she's pretty cool. But we parted ways as the Indonesians left to have a meal and we waited at the belt for another 2 hours.

Crunch time. All of us were certain it was this flight, and when people started disembarking we all raised our boards and kept a lookout. We had our AKB t-shirts on, so we stuck out. A lady came over and asked us who we were waiting for. I saw that she had an AKB48 manifest on her clipboard, so we knew we hit jackpot. So we waited patiently, sizing up any potential girls. Most of the people coming out were Japanese, so I'm pretty sure it was weird for them to look at a bunch of people wearing pink and behaving really weirdly. We waved at some random people to brighten their day. We had seen some photos of what they were wearing, but Japan being Japan, everyone pretty much wore the same shit. But oh wait, that girl in the beige cap..

HOLY SHIT IT'S KRIS! KRIS!

Everyone naturally thought it was just some other chick, but I was pretty sure it was her. Then she waved back. Holy shit it was her! They arrived! The fans went bonkers. Imagine a group of 30 people just going crazy and making a din at an airport. The other two showed up and they went to collect their bags. Unlike in November, they didn't come up-close. Probably because being only 3 girls, there was very little to wait for in terms of luggage, so that was settled pretty fast. Now, this was the new Terminal 3, and we thought similar to how they arrived the last time, they were going to walk straight out to the bus. Apparently not. The new terminal doesn't have pick-up bays, so they walked the length of the terminal (their belt was on the other side) with no barriers and 30 people around them!

It was pretty fucking crazy. There were about 10 people with cameras, and some of them talked to the girls. They seemed pretty weirded out, because it was 2am and there were a bunch of people treating them like stars. Kris saw my board! I gave her a letter too! Well not her, the manager. But it was great. She smiled a bit for the cameras. We walked along, I snapped some photos. The distance was so close that basically you could carry on a conversation and walk side-by-side with the girls. Some of them did do that, and a few got to talk with their idols. Then I realized that the girl walking next to Kris (who wasn't actually as tall as I thought) was actually Harukyan! She didn't have makeup on, but she looked pretty still. Mayuchi was chillin' in the back and interacted with the fans.



The heat of the country hit them when they walked out. All the girls went 'Atsui atsui!' and Harukyan took off her jacket as she boarded the bus. The bus was being loaded and we got about 10 minutes of interaction time with the girls. On my side were Harukyan and Tomochan, while Mayuchi sat on the other side. Two of the AIF people were going 'Haato, Peace! Haato, Peace!' while doing the actions. Kris looked pretty bewildered at first, but she imitated, to the cheers of everyone who saw it. She looked in amazement and snapped some photos. I would like to think she got a photo of mine, but she has been silent about Singapore on her blog. Harukyan took some photos as well. She took one, said 'mou ikkai' and took another one. She showed us her cellphone screen and the whole place erupted in cheers. After about 10/15 minutes, the bus began to move, and the was the end of Day 0 (or was it Day 1?).



The rest of the photos I took. Kohilist is still processing his, but they will be up, in due time.