Today’s my birthday. I turn 31. 31 on May 31. Let’s hope for a good year.

GENEVEtokyo have just launched a bunch of new t-shirts. I could use a nice green one.

JapanDesignNet takes you on a tour of Tokyo storefronts. Pics galore. Link via RE.

Another interview with me is up, and you can read it here. I think I’ll add permanent links in my “about” section to these (also the one done with Robert).

Japanese cinema specialists Midnight Eye have recently released a new update to their site that includes a lengthy interview with Kitamura Ryuhei (known for his cult classic VERSUS, and now director of the final Godzilla film), and a review of THE TASTE OF TEA, the new film by SHARK SKIN MAN AND PEACH HIP GIRL director Ishii Katsuhito.

Marxy lets us know that Tokumaru Shugo (who I’ve been gushing about for a couple of weeks now) will be live at Enban in Koenji on Friday June 4 (he goes on at 7). That is absolute bad news for me because my job prevents me from seeing live shows that start at 7 during weekdays (including Fridays). I am so disapointed…

Lots of nice things to see in Taipei. On Sunday, we had a bus tour included in our package deal, and we took advantage of it to check out some of the famous sights (of course, like all Japanese tour packages, this included a few stops at duty free shops). The only place that I really didn’t enjoy visiting was the Imperial Palace, and that was because of the crowds (people pushing, shoving, being noisy – no thanks).

The latest edition of REALTOKYO editor Ozaki Tetsuya’s OUT OF TOKYO column takes us on a tour of a developing bookshop and book cafe culture in Tokyo, and takes a look at the new PAPER SKY produced BOOK246 shop. If Tokyo is to have wars, then let them be book/cafe wars!

“Shortly after the “golden week” this May, Book 246 opened in Aoyama 1-chome on the front side of the first floor of Lattice Aoyama, an old building that has been in the headlines when it was “R”-ed into a designer apartment. The rather small space is produced by bilingual travel culture magazine and self-proclaimed “in-flight magazine for the living room”, Paper Sky, and in its shelves a total of about 2,000 new and old books, magazines, as well as about 100 different accessory items that are related to the travel topic in one way or another are lined up in a tasteful way. At the cosy Cafe 246 that opened at the same time right next door, I talked to one of the shop’s initiators, Haba Yoshitaka. He is a veteran book coordinator who has been working among others for Tsutaya Tokyo Roppongi.”

Looks like Godzilla is going out with a bang.

“The 28th film in the series will pit Godzilla against 10 other monsters, wrecking Sydney, New York, Paris, Shanghai and much of Japan in the process, said a spokesman for production company Toei.”

But this won’t really be the last film in the series.

“Godzilla is set for a lengthy break after this, says Toei. ‘I don’t think there will be another movie for at least five or maybe 10 years. I would like to pour all the know-how of the last 50 years into this commemorative movie and make it the best one,’ said producer Shogo Tomiyama. ‘I don’t think another Godzilla movie will be made until a completely new way of visual expression is found.’”

Read the full article at the Japan Today site.

More pics from the Shilin night market (thanks for the name reminder, William). The meat buns they’re preparing in the image to the left was probably the best thing I ate while I was there. It seems like it’s quite the popular counter, as we had to wait a long time in line. Cooked in an oven, they were very crispy (not like the soft nikuman we’re used to eating here). And as you can see in the image to the right, Familymarts are everywhere in Taipei (as well as 7/11 and Circle K).

Erochica Bamboo is a Japanese burlesque dancer who often performs at the Amaranth Lounge (I just found out about her after she left a comment in a post I had written about the Amaranth). Do yourself a favor and check out her site. Here’s some bio info: “Hailing from Tokyo Japan, the lovely Miss Erochica began her dance career when she was 18 years old while a student attending a Tokyo art school. Tired of waiting for her oils to dry, she let a friend talk her into trying ‘Burlesque’ at a local Cabaret and she loved it very much and found her way! As a result, ‘Erochica Bamboo’ was born. She has been performing at many cabarets and night clubs and gay parties not only TOKYO but also around the world. Enveloped in feathers and sequins, she delights her audiences with sensual and tasteful performances. She has quickly risen to stardom, becoming one of Japan’s premiere burlesque dancers , photo models and film actresses. A career highlight happened this past year when she was crowned the prestigious title of ‘Miss Exotic World 2003′.”

Just a quick note to mention that Jeremy Goldkorn’s great blog covering media and advertising in China, Danwei, is back (with a bit of a new look also). He had run into problems after the Chinese government started blocking all TypePad sites (which is still the case).

“Ten students have been arrested for disrupting classes on March 12 by occupying the broadcasting room of their junior high school in Ota Ward, playing the soundrack of the movie “Battle Royale,” in which junior high school students kill each other, and attacking five teachers who tried to put a stop to the ruckus. Police said Wednesday the 10 told them they wanted to become “school legends” before graduation. They formed a barricade with desks, aired the soundtrack of “Battle Royale” throughout the school and told students: “We are now going to have you start killing each other,” a line from the film.” (Kyodo News)

“TV and the Internet are eroding reading skills and cell phone babble is replacing rational speech.”

Writer Saiichi Maruya, saying the Japanese language is being reduced to chaos. (Bungei?Shunju)

All you North American fans of the Japanese horror film JUON (and I know there’s a lot of you since it’s always one of the top searches that leads here) will be very happy to hear that before the American remake, THE GRUDGE, starring Buffy, huh, Sarah Michelle Gellar gets released, Lion’s Gate will be distributing the original in theatres this July. Prepare to get the shit scared out of you.