BayAnime.com

San Francisco based Japanese American newspaper Nichi Bei Times will be closing on September 30th. Nichi Bei Times was one of the only newspapers here in the Bay Area to publish any significant anime related content over the years. But fans need not despair… current vice president Kenji Taguma will soon be starting up a new non-profit newspaper venture in the same spirit. Let’s hope for more anime and manga issues in the future!

For more information including how you can help, visit: http://nichibeifoundation.org

Source: http://www.nichibeitimes.com/?p=5431

SAN FRANCISCO — The revitalization of Japantown — a neighborhood that wears the scars of past policies — could shut down two lanes of a roadway to make room for pedestrians where there are now cars.

The overarching plan for the area aims to bring in new visitors and add housing and ground-floor stores.

To do so, about one-quarter mile of two lanes on Webster Street would be turned into a public park, according to a draft plan. In addition, Peace Plaza and Buchanan Mall would be overhauled and new street-facing stores would open in the neighborhood.

Source: SF Examiner

FanimeCon is offering two free guest admissions to the VAMPS J-Rock show at the Grand Ballroom in San Francisco on the 25th of July. To enter, just fill out a form on the FanimeCon website with your info by June 13th.

According to this article on Gamespot, Sony has confirmed the closure of their one and only Playstation store at the Metreon! Ever since I moved to San Francisco (5 years ago!) the Playstation store has been one of few places that I always feel compelled to check out whenever I’m in the area, and it’s definitely the best place to kill time while waiting for a movie to start. Sony Style will also be leaving the Metreon when its lease expires on March 31st. The Playstation store will close sometime this summer.

There’s no news yet about what will be taking their place, but the Metreon is already looking pretty empty these days. I’m betting that the whole complex will eventually just become more of an extension to the Westfield Mall (who already owns the building anyway), the food court will expand with some proper restaurants, and it will wind up as just another yuppie plaza in a fancy building…

With the old arcade at the Metreon long gone and now the PlayStation store closing, it seems that support for public gathering places for gamers is dwindling to nothing. I guess everything’s going the way of the private console at home, and now your only option to challenge unknown opponents is virtually via online gameplay. Personally I miss those days of putting up your coin to get next in line!

NCM Fathom and Bandai Entertainment bring the U.S. debut of SWORD OF THE STRANGER, one of the most rousing Samurai epics in recent memory, to select movie theatres nationwide for Only One Night –Thursday, February 5th at 7:30 PM (local). This exclusive event will include a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of SWORD OF THE STRANGER, complete with never-before-seen interviews with the voice actors.

Please note: This event is not officially rated but should be treated as equivalent to a “PG-13″ rating.

SWORD OF THE STRANGER STORY SYNOPSIS:
Hunted by the Mings from China, a young boy named Kotaro and his loyal dog Tobimaru meet a nameless samurai (“Nanashi” or “No Name”) who is haunted by his past – a memory so terrible he has vowed to never draw his sword again.

Among the Mings is Luo-Lang, a ruthless Western swordsman with the Chinese name who has walked the earth in search of a worthy rival. When both groups clash with a feudal lord and monks torn between faith and survival, the truth behind the Mings’ pursuit of Kotaro tests the bond between the boy and the samurai with no name…

SWORD OF THE STRANGER REVEALED – A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE:
This event will conclude with all new interviews with the English voice actors plus rare footage shot behind the scenes at Studio BONES (Cowboy Bebop) during the making of SWORD OF THE STRANGER. Director Ando and Bones President Minami highlight this unique look behind the making of a modern anime classic.

Tickets go on-sale beginning Friday, January 2nd. Limited seats available – buy your tickets early!

Website: http://www.fathomevents.com/details.aspx?eventid=765

Japan Video & Media is once again sponsoring a cosplay contest for the upcoming annual Cherry Blossom Festival! Everyone is invited to participate in the parade, but the contest is limited to the first 100 signups only. You must register by April 12th either via this site or in person at the store in order to participate. All registered cosplayers will receive a prize courtesy of Japan Video & Media, and the contest winner will win a spot on the float!

The cosplay contest and parade will be held on Sunday, April 19th in front of City Hall. The contest check in time is at 10am and the contest will begin at 10:30am. Check in time for the parade is at 12 noon and the parade starts at 1pm.

Update 2009.02.16:

Cosplay activities will continue after the parade!

3:30pm – 4:00pm: Introduction of Costume Contest Winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place)
4:00pm – 4:30pm: Anime Talent Show (music performance)

Singers, dancers, and musical instrumentalists in cosplay (individual or group) are needed for the post-parade anime talent show! If you would like to participate, please describe your performance in the message area of the registration form.
More »

Japan Video & Media in San Francisco Japantown will be holding special event “Cosplay Days” on the first Sunday of every month. The store will offer a 10% discount on purchases made by any cosplayer that day. Owner Takeshi Onishi, who sponsors the non-profit anime performance group Animemyu as well the cosplay events held during various festivals, says he is working on plans to offer anime fans additional activities on these days such as anime lectures and screenings. He also hopes to approach other mall vendors about joining in support.

Next Cosplay Day: Sunday, 5 Apr 2009
Location: Japan Video & Media, 1737 Post St, San Francisco Japantown
Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm

The National Japanese American Historical Society, in collaboration with the Nichi Bei Times, presents an exhibit and public event series on the evolving artform of manga and anime.

Curated by Kenji G. Taguma / Nichi Bei Times and Deb Aoki, with contributions by the Napa Valley Museum.

Featuring:

• Osamu Tezuka (“Astro Boy”)
• Willie Ito (Disney, “Hello Maggie”)
• Stan Sakai (“Usagi Yojimbo”)
• Tak Toyoshima (Nationally-syndicated “Secret Asian Man”)
• Deb Aoki (Honolulu Advertiser’s “Bento Box”)
• Adrian Tomine (“Optic Nerve”)
• Bob Kuwahara (“Miki”)
• Lela Lee (“Angry Little Girls”)
• Other Artists
• Manga Art Contest Winners
• Anime Goes Hollywood
• Original English Manga
• Tokyo Anime Tour
• Ghibli Museum

Opening Reception:
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, 2 pm

Cherry Blossom Festival Event feat. Willie Ito, Others:
Saturday, April 18, 2009

Children’s Day Event:
Saturday, May 2, 2009

All events are in the:
NJAHS Peace Gallery
1684 Post St.
San Francisco
(between Laguna and Webster)

Hours: M-F and the first Saturday of the month from 12 Noon – 5pm

Admission to the gallery and all events are free to the public.

For more information visit: njahs.org

AOD has announced its preliminary guest list for the 2009 convention:

• Johnny Yong Bosch
• Richard Epcar
• MacHall
• PMBQ
• Ken Pontac
• Ellyn Stern
• Tommy Yune

For more info visit: http://www.aodsf.org/index.php?page=guests

This post was submitted by Hank.

The Cherry Blossom Festival committee has started fund raising for a very ambitious top secret project. A special Hello Kitty shop has been opened in the San Francisco Japantown Kintetsu Building next door to what was formerly the Mikado Kids Corner. Here you will find an assortment of quality new Sanrio goods all at 50% of retail. The store is tentatively scheduled to be open until Christmas 2008, or until everything is sold out. Store hours are unknown.

This post was submitted by jm.