NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco has announced a week of festivities leading up to their 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2010 VIZ Media

Japanese Film, Fashion, Music and Art Celebrated in a Week of Activities Leading Up to All-Day Event Showcasing the Best in Modern Asian Popular Culture
Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: J-Pop.com
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

More than 33,000 people attended the 2009 J-Pop Summit Festival which marked
the grand opening of NEW PEOPLE. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media. © 2010 VIZ
Media

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, will expand its upcoming 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival, happening on Saturday, September 18th in San Francisco’s Japantown, with a special series of events taking place at the venue each night during the week leading up to the Festival.

Beginning on Monday, September 13th and continuing every evening through Friday, September 17th, different aspects of Japanese and Asian film, anime, fashion design, music and other forms of pop culture will be celebrated in a series of unique screenings, interactive discussions, multimedia presentations and live performances. Special gift bags containing a variety of fun premiums will be given to all ticket holders each night.
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Haruo Nakajima sucker punches Gaira (the monster he played in WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS) during the publishing party for his autobiography Kaiju Jinsei.
Photo courtesy of Daisuke Ishizuka.

Godzilla Suit Actor Celebrates Launch of New Book
Author: Daisuke Ishizuka
Source: Yosensha Co., Ltd.

Cover art for Kaiju Jinsei, courtesy of Yosensha Co.
© 2010 Yosensha Co., Ltd.

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Today a publishing party was held for the autobiography Kaiju Jinsei (Kaiju Life) by Mr. Haruo Nakajima. Mr. Haruo Nakajima is a pioneer of monster suit acting who is well known as the suit actor who played Godzilla and various Toho monsters. He has often been invited to conventions in America; Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, etc. and he is familiar with Tokusatsu fans in the U.S. I attended the G-Fest convention in Hollywood in 2000 and it was my first time to see him. I had chance to hear about his career at that time. In 2010, we now have a chance to know about him more deeply because his autobiography was published in July by Yosensha Co., Ltd.

In Kaiju Jinsei, Mr. Nakajima details his life, from his youth to the present day. Needles to say, he focuses on his career as suit actor. In addition, he talks about Mr. Eiji Tsuburaya as well as the filmmakers and his friend and co-workers at Toho. The book is valuable resource for Tokusatsu fans.
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Popular Anime Film Plays in September
Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release
Special Thanks to Helene Muron

Japanese poster art for EUREKA SEVEN: THE MOVIE.
© 2009 Bones/ Project Eureka Movie

The Barbican Centre in London continues their JAPANIMATION event series in September with EUREKA SEVEN: THE MOVIE. The screening will once again be introduced by anime expert and author Helen McCarthy (The Anime! Movie Guide, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, and founder of the magazine AnimeFX).

JAPANIMATION
Friday 24 September, 8.30pm
EUREKA SEVEN: THE MOVIE (Kokyoshihen Eureka Sebun: Poketto ga Niji de Ippai, 2009)
Director: Tomoki Kyoda
Running Time: 115 min
Certification: 12A*
In Japanese with English Subtitles

EUREKA SEVEN: THE MOVIE is a complete re-imagining of the popular TV series, an emotional tale of love and survival amid spectacular aerial maneuvers. When Renton is cruelly separated from his childhood playmate Eureka, a girl who cannot survive in sunlight, he vows to rescue her. Years later Renton, a mecha pilot on the airship Gekko, is finally reunited with the girl he loves, only to discover her true nature and dark fate.
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Ban Daisuke and Kikaida take part in the Nisei Week Parade in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo on August 15th. Photo courtesy of Richard Pusateri.
Kikaida © 1972 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

KIKAIDA star appears at Los Angeles Nisei Week events
Author: Richard Pusateri
Official Sites: Anime Jungle, Generation Kikaida, www.bandaisuke.com
Special thanks: Joanne Ninomiya, Tetsu Shiota, August Ragone

Ban Daisuke’s recent visit to Los Angeles, hosted by Anime Jungle, demonstrated that the appeal of KIKAIDA is not limited to markets where the Japanese TV program aired in the United States. After much success at personal appearances in Hawaii, San Francisco and at San Diego Comic Con in years past, Mr. Ban met his enthusiastic Los Angeles fans August 14 and 15 during Little Tokyo’s Nisei Week celebration.
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More than 100,000 fans flocked to last month’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles.

Photos from America’s Largest Anime and Manga Convention
Authors: Chris Taylor and Daisy Evans, Not Interested Entertainment
Official Site: anime-expo.org

Anime Expo was held again this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles, California. The event was, as always, attended by many thousands of fans from across the country (more than 100,000 people attended according to official statements from the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation). Many of these fans were wearing everything from simple to stunningly elaborate costume creations from a wide range of sources including anime, manga, Japanese culture (such as many Morning Musume and various visual kei bands), as well as those dressed in the style of Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL).
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Ryuk the Shinigami and Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara) check out the new Blu-ray DEATH NOTE COLLECTION.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 2006 [Death Note] Film Partners

Highly Anticipated Double-Feature Includes DEATH NOTE, DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME and Bonus Disc
Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases
Official Movie Site: Death-Note-Movie (Japan), Death Note Films (US)
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

Ad for the DEATH NOTE COLLECTION. Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures.
© 2006 [Death Note] Film Partners

VIZ Pictures will debut the Blu-ray DEATH NOTE COLLECTION on August 24th, 2010. The 3-disc set includes 2 feature films – DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE II: THE LAST NAME – as well as a bonus disc containing more than two hours of all new behind-the-scenes footage. Both films feature Japanese audio with English subtitles as well as an English dubbed dialogue track. MSRP for the DEATH NOTE COLLECTION is $39.98 U.S. / $57.99 CAN.

To celebrate the new release, VIZ Pictures will hold a special screening of both films at VIZ Cinema, located inside NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco’s Japantown (1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115) on Saturday, September 4th.

As a special offer to U.S. and Canadian DEATH NOTE fans, VIZ Pictures will award three lucky winners posters for DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE II along with an autograph from one of the three lead actors – Tatsuya Fujiwara (who played Light Yagami), Erika Toda (Misa Amane) and Kenichi Matusyama (L/Ryuzaki).
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Akira Takarada, star of GODZILLA and several sequels, takes to the stage in New York this weekend for the Japanese musical FREDDIE THE LEAF.
© Freddie Company

U.S. Premiere Opens August 13, 2010
Source: TKO Entertainment press release
Official Site: freddie.co.jp (Japanese)

Japanese advertisement for FREDDIE THE LEAF. © Freddie Company

FREDDIE THE LEAF
An all ages Japanese musical about the importance of every life, narrated by legendary Godzilla film actor Akira Takarada.
Fri 8/13 at 7pm, Sat 8/14 at 2pm and 7pm, Sun 8/15 at 2pm

New York, NY – Freddie Company in association with TKO Entertainment proudly presents the U.S. Premiere of the Japanese musical FREDDIE THE LEAF, written and directed by Takashi Inuishi, conceived by Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, with music and lyrics by Shoichi Tama and starring popular Japanese film actor, Akira Takarada, and a cast of 21 Japanese teens and children.

FREDDIE THE LEAF runs from August 13 – 15, 2010 in a limited engagement at John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater, located at 899 Tenth Avenue, between 58 and 59 Streets, in NYC.
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Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers a chance to win KIKAIDA BROTHERS posters personally signed by the shows’ stars Ban Daisuke and the late Shunsuke Ikeda.
Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle. © Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Posters Signed by Lead Actors Ban Daisuke and Shunsuke Ikeda, courtesy of Anime Jungle
Source: Anime Jungle
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota and Yoichi Kakuma

A look at the complete poster. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.
© Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) will visit Los Angeles this upcoming weekend for Japantown’s annual Nisei Week Festival. Sponsored by the popular collector’s shop Anime Jungle, Ban Daisuke will take part in autograph sessions, the Nisei Week Parade, and a special dinner and talk show on the weekend August 14-15.

In celebration of the Nisei Week events, Anime Jungle is giving SciFi Japan readers in the United States a chance to win a free KIKAIDA BROTHERS Poster, signed by both Ban Daisuke and the late KIKAIDA-01 star Shunsuke Ikeda (who sadly passed away June 11, 2010).
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Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA, KIKAIDA-01, and INAZUMAN, will make a special appearance at Anime Jungle in Los Angeles next month.
Photo courtesy of Generation Kikaida. © 1972 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Autograph Sessions, Parade, Dinner, and More During Nisei Week Festival, August 14-15
Source: Anime Jungle, JN Productions and Generation Kikaida
Special Thanks to Tetsu Shiota, Yoichi K, and Joanne Ninomiya

Advertisement for the event. Photo courtesy of Anime Jungle.
© 1971 Ishinomori Production Inc. and Toei Co., Ltd.

Anime Jungle, purveyors of everything anime in Japantown is proud to present an autograph session with Mr. Ban Daisuke, star of KIKAIDA (Jinzo Ningen Kikaida, 1972), KIKAIDA 01 (1973), and INAZUMAN (1973) at the upcoming Nisei Week Festival in Los Angeles. KIKAIDA took the Hawaiian Islands by storm over 35 years ago, and still going strong in Hawaii and the mainland due to the successful English-subtitled version of the DVD Box Sets.

KIKAIDA, based on an original story by manga artist and writer Shotaro Ishinomori (Kamen Rider), was produced as a tokusatsu (live action) by Toei Movie Company for television in the mid-seventies. A classic good-versus evil tale, the show pitted a guitar-playing, denim-clad young biker named Jiro, played by actor Ban Daisuke, against the evil DARK, a shadowy criminal organization bent on wreaking havoc upon Japan and the world.
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J-Pop Idol Erina Mano Wows Fans at Premiere Screening of Her Feature Film Debut
Source: Japan Film Society
Additional Material: Kai Saari
Official Site: Facebook.com/TalesofTerror (US), shinmimi.net (Japan)
Official Twitter Profile: Twitter.com/ShinMimi

After the screening, Erina Mano serenaded fans
with the film’s theme song. Photo courtesy of
Japan Film Society. © 2010 BS-i, King Records

On July 1st, J-Pop’s #1 idol and Hello! Project singing sensation Erina Mano attended the world premiere of her feature film debut, KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO (怪談新耳袋-怪奇), at the world famous Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. KAI-KI is the latest in series of films based on the hit Japanese TV franchise TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO AND ALL OVER JAPAN (怪談新耳袋*, Shin Mimi-Bukuro), which adapts actual urban legends collected from across the country by writer Kihara Hirokatsu.

Club Nokia hosted two screenings of KAI-KI: TALES OF TERROR FROM TOKYO. A mini-concert followed each showing in which Erina Mano sang the film’s them song “Returning Home” as well as “Sekai wa Summer Party”, a happy pop song that from her first tour album. Both Miss Mano and Tales of Terror creator Kihara Hirokatsu took part in an autograph signing.

In addition, there was also a Q&A featuring Erina Mano, J-Idol producer Tamon Andrew Niwa and representatives from the Toyota Creative Lounge who financed the project. Toyota Creative Lounge reps included the prominent designers Agga B., Anna Fong, Melissa Serpico Kamhout (Serpico), and Lidia Wachowska (evil kitty); all of whom designed exclusive outfits for Mano-san to wear during her stay in Los Angeles.
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Personal Appearances, Activities, and Show Exclusives
Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases
Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

An early look at the design for VIZ Media’s 2010 Comic-Con International tote
bag. Photo courtesy of VIZ Media.

VIZ Media, LLC has announced an exciting roster of personal appearances, panel discussions, events, giveaways and convention exclusives for 2010 Comic-Con International. Comic-Con is the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction event, and takes place July 21-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2813.

The VIZ Media booth will be an exciting destination on the show floor for fans, with a variety of fun activities and exclusive products available for purchase during special times throughout the show.
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Anime Expo 2010 logo, courtesy of Anime Expo. © 1992-2010 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.

Source: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation press release
Official Site: anime-expo.org
Special Thanks to Kimberly Groomes

Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime and manga event, has concluded its most successful event ever – a four-day event at the Los Angeles Convention Center that drew over 100,000 fans of Japanese animation, manga (comic books) and pop culture. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited Anime Expo 2010 and joined Lattanzio in making the announcement that Anime Expo will be in Los Angeles through 2013. Collectively, the event is expected to generate more than $100 million citywide in the next three years.
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Minya, the Son of Godzilla, confronts the giant mantis Kamakiras in SON OF GODZILLA, playing this month at The Colonial Theatre in New Hampshire.
© 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

The Colonial Theatre Presents Its Fourth SPOOKTACULAR
Source: The Colonial Theatre press release
Official Site: Spooktacular IV
Special Thanks to Mark Nelson

Advertisement for SPOOKTACULAR IV, courtesy of Mark
Nelson. SON OF GODZILLA © 1967 Toho Co., Ltd.

Giant monsters once again return to Keene, New Hampshire at The Colonial Theatre’s SPOOKTACULAR, Saturday, July 31st 2010 at 2PM. Curated by SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL, New Hampshire’s first home-grown horror host TV show, the event features a rare 35mm screening of the 1967 Japanese monster melee SON OF GODZILLA (English dubbed version). In addition to the main feature, vintage monster movie previews, a cartoon, and snack bar ads will precede the film, along with prize giveaways and on-stage appearances by Scarewolf and other SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL characters. The event will be the finale of the Colonial’s annual Family Film Series, and will be an all-ages event, bringing back the feel of an old-time kiddie matinee.

“We’re thrilled to be able to present a Godzilla film to the Colonial audience on a Saturday afternoon, the same way that so many kids in the 70s first saw these films, both in the theater and on TV,” said Mark Nelson, SATURDAY FRIGHT SPECIAL curator for the event. “In fact, we’re giving fans an opportunity they never had back then to see SON OF GODZILLA on the big screen, as the film was released directly to television in the US.”
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EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE is just one of fifty Asian films playing this month at Fantasia. Photo courtesy of EIN’s M&M. © 2009 Khara

Montreal Genre Movie Festival Runs July 8-28
Source: Fantasia press release
Official Site: Fantasia 2010

The organizers of Fantasia International Film Festival— North America’s largest genre film festival— have once again pulled together an amazing lineup of movies to screen in Montreal. From July 8 to 28, Fantasia 2010 will showcase 120 feature films and several hundred shorts from all over the world, including a number of North American and international premieres.

Please visit Fantasia’s official website for their complete film list and schedule, venues and directions, ticket information, and other details. SciFi Japan readers may be particularly interested in the fest’s Asian movie schedule, detailed in the following press release.
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J-Horror Film to Screen at JAPAN CUTS in New York City
Source: Japan Society
Official Site: Japan Cuts
Special Thanks to Shannon Jowett and Tahmid Mannan

A murderous ghost seeks revenge in NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE II,
premiering next week at the Japan Cuts film festival in NYC.
Photo courtesy of Japan Society. © 2009 Shinya Tsukamoto/
Kaijyu Theater

SciFi Japan and Japan Society are pleased to present another contest for free passes to a new fantasy film premiering this month at Japan Cuts: Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema in New York City. Our third and final ticket giveaway for this year’s Japan Cuts and the New York Asian Film Festival will be the US premiere of the J-Horror movie NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE II.

In the NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE movies, actor Ryuhei Matsuda (TABOO, CUTIE HONEY, BIG BANG LOVE: JUVENILE A) stars as Kyoichi Kagenuma, a dream analyst who has the very unwanted “gift” of being able to hear the thoughts of those around him, as well as the ability to enter peoples’ subconscious while they dream. Kyoichi’s rare talents make him highly sought-after in his field, but they also render his life unbearable. He can heal broken minds, but he would just as soon kill himself as ever help another person again.

While a sequel, NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE II is a stand alone story concerning Kyoichi Kagenuma’s latest case, in which three high school girls are being haunted by the ghost of a classmate they once bullied. The viewer does not need to have seen the original NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE to follow and enjoy the newer film.
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A master thief uncovers a prize that may decide who rules feudal Japan in the action epic GOEMON, coming to select UK cinemas this month.
Photo courtesy of The Associates. © 2009 “Goemon” Film Partners.

Epic Adventure from the Producers of THE GRUDGE and the Director of CASSHERN Opens July 23rd
Source: The Associates press release
Official Movie Site: Goemon (Japan)

Japanese poster art for GOEMON. © 2009 “Goemon”
Film Partners.

Five years ago, acclaimed Japanese fashion photographer and music video director Kazuaki Kiriya made an explosive and groundbreaking assault on the movie world with his directorial debut feature, the visually stunning and hugely ambitious sci-fi epic, CASSHERN. Now, Kiriya returns in his own inimitable style with the equally spectacular period, fantasy action-adventure, GOEMON.

Produced by Kiriya and legendary producer Takashige Ichise (THE RING; DARK WATER; THE GRUDGE; SHUTTER) and boasting a star-studded cast that includes Yosuke Eguchi (SHAOLIN GIRL), Takao Osawa (ICHI; SKY HIGH), Jun Kaname (BLOOD; K-20; CASSHERN), Tetsuji Tamayama (NORWEGIAN WOOD; CASSHERN) and Susumu Terajima (CASSHERN; ICHI THE KILLER), GOEMON is based on the exploits of the film’s eponymous, ninja bandit hero – the Japanese folklore equivalent of Robin Hood.

A mind-blowing, eye-popping action epic that easily matches the visionary ambitions of Kiriya’s debut movie, GOEMON is a fast-paced historical adventure packed with the same kind of dazzling costumes, set designs, inspired visuals and awesome special effects that made CASSHERN such an original and singularly spectacular cinematic experience.

GOEMON (cert. 15) is released by Momentum Pictures and will open at selected UK cinemas on 23rd July 2010.
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Major Motoko Kusanagi is born in the updated GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0, one of six films playing VIZ Cinema in early July.
Photo courtesy of Madman Entertainment. © 1995 /2008 Shirow Masamune/Kodansha · Bandai Visual · Manga Entertainment

Six Feature Films Based on the Hit Manga to Play in a Week-Long Festival Beginning July 3
Source: VIZ Pictures, MediaLab press releases
Official Site: NewPeopleWorld.com
Special Thanks to Erik Jansen

VIZ Cinema and NEW PEOPLE are proud to present, in association with Bandai Entertainment and Manga Entertainment, “Sci-fi Anime Madness Volume 2: GHOST IN THE SHELL Marathon” with a very special series of feature film screenings taking place July 3rd – 8th at the theatre located in San Francisco’s Japantown. The creation of veteran anime writer/director/producer Mamoru Oshii, GHOST IN THE SHELL and its subsequent sequels thrilled audiences and inspired a generation of filmmakers to became one of the most revered anime franchises of all times.
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A menagerie of Japanese monsters and heroes are on display at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens’ new KAIJU! MONSTER INVASION Exhibit.
Photo by James Bonney.

Japanese Monster Vinyl Figures on Display at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Author: James Bonney
Official Site: Kaiju! Monster Invasion!

Fans of the kaiju tokusatsu, or rather, their plastic counterparts in South Florida are in for a treat. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is hosting a brand new exhibit showcasing the various figures from the world of Japanese kaiju film and television entitled KAIJU! MONSTER INVASION!
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Nikkatsu, Japan’s oldest film studio, has launched a new genre film label, The Sushi Typhoon. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon

FUNimation and Nikkatsu to Bring Films from the Sushi Typhoon Label to North America
Source: FUNimation Entertainment, Subway Cinema press releases
Official Site: The Sushi Typhoon
Special Thanks to Marc Walkow, Jackie Smith, Manny Alcala, and Grady Hendrix

Sushi Typhoon’s first movie, ALIEN VS NINJA, will premiere
this weekend at the New York Asian Film Festival. Photo
courtesy of Japan Society. © 2010 Sushi Typhoon & “Alien
vs. Ninja” Production Committee　

Nikkatsu Corporation, Japan’s oldest film studio, and FUNimation Entertainment, the leading distributor of Japanese animation in North America, have announced an agreement that gives FUNimation Entertainment an exclusive first look option on the home entertainment distribution of titles premiering from Nikkatsu Corporation’s new genre film label, The Sushi Typhoon. The first two films slated for release on DVD and Blu-ray through the partnership are the action gore comedy film ALIEN VS. NINJA and the splatter action comedy MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD in early 2011.

“The Nikkatsu Corporation is delighted to bring The Sushi Typhoon brand to this side of the Pacific,” said Akifumi Sugihara, Executive Producer of The Sushi Typhoon. “We believe FUNimation Entertainment’s experience with the Japanese entertainment industry is a great asset to helping our films succeed in the North American market.”

To celebrate the launch of The Sushi Typhoon in North America, The New York Asian Film Festival will present the world premiere of ALIEN VS. NINJA and the international premiere of MUTANT GIRLS SQUAD with directors Yoshihiro Nishimura and Noboru Iguchi, followed by launch party for The Sushi Typhoon on July 3rd at New York’s Japan Society.
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Friend comforts Friend (!?) after learning that they did not win VIZ Pictures’ 20TH CENTURY BOYS 3: REDEMPTION Gift Pack.
Photo courtesy of VIZ Pictures. © 1999, 2006 Naoki Urasawa, Studio Nuts/ Shogakukan. © 2009 “20th Century Boys” Film Partners

Source: VIZ Pictures
Official Movie Site: 20thboysfilms.com (US), 20th Boys (Japanese)
Special Thanks to Rieko Fuji

Thank you to everyone who entered VIZ Pictures and SciFi Japan’s contest for a free 20TH CENTURY BOYS 3: REDEMPTION Gift Pack. The winning entry is:

Nathan Bishop

More contests are planned for 2010 so keep checking back with SciFi Japan for more chances to win some cool stuff!
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