In New York City, it’s that time of the year again. When birds are singing, Central Park is abuzz, drunk people wander around the Lower East Side all nite long, and it’s time for Asian films! Subway Cinema is once again throwing the New York Asian Film Festival with a monster schedule this year. (Check it here.) To sweeten up the summer even more, Subway Cinema and Ningin are combining forces to give out TWELVE free tickets to (almost) any screening of the NYAFF. How do you win? Easy. Follow these instructions and no one gets hurt: More »

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Subway Cinema has finally announced the lineup for this year’s mighty New York Asian Film Festival! There’s something for everyone who loves Asian cinema, from introspective teen angst (HIGH NOON) to commercial blockbusters (CAPE NO. 7) “Pink Eiga” (BLIND LOVE) to a special live appearances. Screenings begin June 19 at the IFC Center, then move to Japan Society on June 1 as part of Japan Cuts — we’re talking like 3 weeks of Asian cinema! More »

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As promised, here’s Tina Chou’s photo recap of Japan Day @ Central Park! Check out the kids doing their version of the Japan Run. I think the distance for each kid’s race was 50 feet for each year old they were. Plenty of bonding time over some traditional Japanese board games. And tons of drinks and food being cooked and given away free as a thank you to New York City. Artists performing included Orange Pekoe, Ai Kawashima (pictured), Yaz Band, Taro Masuda, and Soichi Muraji. Wish you were there now? More »

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These Death Note-like movie posters immediate caught my attention. But these aren’t movie posters and it’s not like Death Note at all. It’s a Korean drama about a murdered girl who possesses another teen’s body to exact revenge. Not my cup of tea, but cool posters still!

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Japan Day @ Central Park! I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 6 years and have never seen so many people, Asian or non, at the 96 St subway station. Tens of thousands of people came out to take enjoy the fantastic weather, with a sudden spring shower interruption, in New York City’s Central Park with a festival of Japanese sights, sounds and tastes. More »

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Tomorrow is Japan Day in New York City. If anyone is going, you just might find me there. I might be the only girl wearing a Ningin t-shirt. I dunno how yummy the food will be, but it should be fun to try! For now, here’s a list of tasty Japanese food to look at.

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DEPARTURES won this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and America’s been waiting to see what the hype is all about… and that includes me! Originally titled OKURIBITO, the film also won 13 Japan Academy Awards. Well, I finally got to see it last nite at a special screening sponsored by Regent Releasing, the film’s distributor, and promoted by New York-Tokyo and Asian Cinevision. More »

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Japan Day @ Central Park returns this year to New York City, Sunday, May 31. Among the entertainers will be Kollaboration 2009 winner Kenichi Ebina, Jpop singer-song writer Ai Kawashima, and Japan Gold Disc Award winners Orange Pekoe. The festivities will be held at the East Meadow of Central Park (Fifth Avenue and 97th Street). There’s lots of food and music — and it’s all free! Take my advice and go early else there won’t be any chow mein, gyoza, gyudon Over Rice, miso soup, and sanuki udon noodle left. (Yes, I have learned the hard way.) More »

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Morning Musume, the girly Jpop group that I hate myself for loving, are having a totally cool contest — create their new video for “3,2,1 - Breakin’ Out!” Calling it an OPV (Original Promotion Video) Contest, you download an edited version of “3,2,1 - Breakin’ Out!” and a lot of video clips of the Musume girls dancing on green screens. More »

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Mika, oh, Mika… I know you said that you were tired of the whole NANA thing. You did some Big Band sound with “Black & Blue”. Tried the Japanese Gospel fad with “All Hands Together” and “Cry No More”. A little reggae with “My Sugar Cat”. Rocked out again with NANA2 and “Hitoiro” even tho you might not have wanted to. Got romantic with “Sunao na mama”. Got a little dancey up tempo with “Life”. Crooned your way into my heart with “Sakura -Hanagasumi-” Got a little off track with “I Don’t Know”. Won me back over with “Orion”. I know Mika’s got nothing left to prove. Girl can sing. But “Overload”? Somehow this week’s new single sounds a little old and recycled. More »

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Da Mouth (dà zui ba / 大嘴巴) is officially a Taiwanese Mando-pop group, but it may just be THE United Nations music group of East Asian. It’s not just because they mix your classic Asian pop sounds with American hip hop and RnB touches. Just take a look at the backgrounds of its members: More »

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OMG. Morning Musume drop their 39th single today with “Shōganai Yume Oibito” (しょうがない 夢追い人). Yes. Morning Musume single number 39. Scientific proof that if you take a bunch of super cute girls and have them sing super cute catchy songs, then people will eat it up forever and ever. How come America never figures out this pop-tastic formula? As is customary with Hello Project! singles, the MV will be released on DVD a week later. More »

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We just got word from Utada’s publicist that Utada has postponed all of her in-store appearances this week. Utada’s been diagnosed with an acute case of relapsing peritonsillitis. (I’m not a doctor but I think in simple English that means she has a tonsil infection.) We were told that under doctors orders she has to take it easy for two weeks, then she should have a full recovery. More »

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Last weekend at the Soundscape Jpop party in NYC, there was a moment when I was hanging out at the DJ booth with DJ Aki. I was looking over DJ Aki’s shoulder and someone was looking over my shoulder. We shall call this someone “Hwa”. So DJ Aki was playing some old Speed track and he had an ELT track queued up. (ELT of course short for Every Little Thing.) Then I heard one of the craziest things I’d ever heard. Hwa said something totally ridiculous like “Speed is better than ELT.” WTF?! More »

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At long last next Tuesday, May 12, Utada’s “This Is The One” finally gets released in American record stores. In March (Yes, way back in March), “This Is The One” was released digitally in the US market. It debuted at #20 on the iTunes overall Album chart and #2 on the iTunes Pop Album chart. Utada became the first Japanese artist to break the Top 20 Album chart on the iTunes US Store (or is that Japanese-American artist?). More »

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I know you guys want more pin games, but it’s tough finding Asian actors with significant roles in Hollywood movies. In case we miss an up and coming movie with an Asian actor/actress, feel free to send us a tip! More »

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Lots of interesting news for today so I’m posting more than my usual four. Here’s a game where the goal is to date disfigured girls. Talk about messed up. This probably says something about how messed up Japanese culture has become. Of course watch this game become really popular too.

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Jpop starlets Ai Kawashima and Minami Kizuki will both be performing next weekend in New York City to celebrate Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Minami Kizuki will perform at 4:15pm and Ai Kawashima will perform at 5:15 on both Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3. Minami Kizuki is a 19-year old new star on the Pony Canyon record label with a powerful voice. Her latest single (pictured) is a double release — “Dareka No Tame Ni / Wasurena Gusa” (誰カノタメニ / ワスレナグサ). Ai Kawashima will be making a live appearance at Kinokuniya Bookstore Friday afternoon before the Cherry Blossom Festival. More »

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The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival kicks off Thursday nite, April 30, with one of Ningin’s film favorites CHILDREN OF INVENTION. Directed by Tze Chu, COI has been garnering praise film festival after film festival. No doubt you can expect it to be showing at a theater near you after it’s incredible festival run. So Yong Kim’s endearing TREELESS MOUNTAIN will be the centerpiece spotlight film, and the Oscar-winning Japanese film DEPARTURES will close the festival. In between those great films will be over 175 other features, shorts and documentaries showcasing the best Asian cinematic talent. More »

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I’ve been a big fan of Final Fantasy related material ever since 9 years ago. I’ve played through Final Fantasy VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, X-2 and XII (incomplete) and both Kingdom Hearts. More »

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