BayAnime.com

Age: 21+ , Tickets: $15 adv/day , Show starts: 8:30 pm
Phone: 415-771-1421
At: The Independent, 628 Divisadero St. San Francisco CA 94117
with: CHATMONCHY / Omodaka / Red Bacteria Vacuum / OKAMOTO’S / JinnyOops!

http://sxsw-asia.com/JapanNite2010/tourdate.html

http://www.theindependentsf.com/calendar/event-detail/?tfly_event_id=4535

NorCal Anime is a new anime club based in Sacramento. Meetings/anime showings are held monthly at Colonial Heights Library in Sacramento, and are free and open to the public.

Website: http://www.norcalanime.com

Location: Moscone Center South, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 [Directions]

Website: http://www.comic-con.org

Japanese Anime and Pop Culture convention presented by Hyperbooster’s Studio.

Location: Boys and Girls Club, 450 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Website: http://www.hyperbooster.com

Pre-registration: $6/day, $10/weekend
On-site: $10/day, $16/weekend

Events:
music performances
tabletop and console gaming tournaments
cosplay contest
dealer’s room
artist alley
live panels
karaoke

If you’re a fan of director Satoshi Kon’s brilliant anime series Paranoia Agent, but haven’t seen any of his feature films – you might consider seeing possibly his greatest film to date: the dazzling, futuristic Paprika (2006).

Paprika opens with police detective Konakawa Toshimi being counseled by “Paprika,” a lively red-haired young woman. As it turns out, Paprika is actually the alter ego of Dr. Atsuko Chiba, a research psychoanalyst. Using the “DC Mini,” an experimental device that enables the viewing of a person’s dreams, Dr. Chiba enters the dreams of others in the virtual persona of Paprika in order to treat them.

Three DC Minis get stolen from the lab, and evidence points to it being an inside job. One by one, the scientists at the lab and other characters are brought into the dream world, as the real world and dream world begin to collide.

Dr. Chiba avoids dealing with her emotions and focuses instead on science, while Det. Toshimi is haunted by a recurring nightmare that seems important, but which he can’t discern the meaning of. Their stories intertwine throughout the film as each comes to a realization of their own truth and, in Dr. Chiba’s case, a recognition of what is missing from her life as well.

A recurring image of a dream world parade of cultural icons and strange creatures, symbolic of what captivates people and what people dream about, weaves in and out of Paprika, eventually spilling into the real world at the climax of the film.

Of Satoshi Kon’s feature films – Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and Perfect Blue being the others – Paprika is by far my favorite. The art is full of colorful kinetic imagery, making the film a visual feast; and the music score is top-notch, particularly the solemn yet quirky background music of the dream parade.

Paprika was produced by Madhouse/Rainbow SPA and distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.

Jan Suzukawa works in the manga industry as a freelance editor and English adaptation writer. Website: www.jansuzukawa.com. Blog: jansuzukawa.blogspot.com.

SF J-pop band Neko Punch plays songs off their newly released “Matatabi” EP at the Anime on Display (AOD) convention in Japantown’s Hotel Kabuki this Saturday!

Admission is free for AOD attendees.

Neko Punch website: http://myspace.com/nekopunch

NORCAL PRESENTS:
NORCAL STRONGSTYLE 4

BROUGHT TO YOU BY NAMCO-BANDAI GAMES!

STREAMING LIVE BY IPLAYWINNER.COM!

Norcal once again brings you one of the biggest tournaments of the year, NORCAL STRONGSTYLE 4, and fresh off of the release of TEKKEN 6 for the PS3 and XBOX 360 systems, we plan on kicking off 2010 with the biggest STRONGSTYLE yet.

Along with bringing the best players from Norcal, Socal, and across the nation, we are bringing in numerous top level players internationally. We are proud to bring to NORCAL STRONGSTYLE Rain and Tongbal Love from KOREA. The level of competition will never be higher, so if you want to see how you truly stack up, you must attend this tournament.

The tournament will be held on January 30th and 31st at the Domain Hotel, only a few blocks from Sunnyvale Golfland. There will be multiple events at the venue besides the main tournament, such as a team tournament and special matches to be set up for everyone to see.

Everyone who is looking to prove their worth, challenge the best, and have a good time should book your tickets as soon as possible and come on out.

All attendees, players or spectators are welcome during the tournament and special events!
Big thank yous to NAMCO-BANDAI games and www.iplaywinner.com

Location

Domain Hotel
1085 E. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

http://www.jdvhotels.com/domain

Registration

Online at http://norcalstrongstyle.com
Discounted Registration Rate ($10)
Allows For REGIONAL SEEDING
Allows For Placement on Preliminary Brackets viewable online before the tournament

Onsite:
Regular Registration Rate ($20)
NO REGIONAL SEEDING
Random Placement in bracket

Website

http://norcalstrongstyle.com

$250 – Premium Orchestra
(please call the JCCCNC at 415.567.5505)
$100 – Orchestra Front
$55 – Orchestra Center
$35 – Orchestra Rear

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) is proud to announce the first official U.S. tour of the enka singing sensation, JERO. This exclusive West Coast tour will kick-off with a performance on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco at 4:00 p.m.

Jerome Charles White, Jr. aka JERO is the first African American enka singer in the history of Japanese music, Jero single-handedly reignited interest in the musical ballads that emerged in Japan’s post-war era.

Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by his Japanese grandmother and half-Japanese mother, JERO grew up listening to the records of enka legend Misora Hibari. After appearing on a Japanese television contest, he landed a recording contract rising to the top of the enka charts with his hit single “Umi Yuki – Snowy Sea.”

Critics have lauded the way this meteoric talent has managed to mold a traditional musical genre around a modern context in a way that appeals to all generations. Looking like a hip-hop star, with a voice of an angel, he has redefined the soul of Japan.

Tickets go on sale on January 6 for JCCCNC members and to the general public on February 4. Special individual premium ticket packages will be $250. These special premium tickets are located in the first five rows in the center aisle and include a private reception with Jero immediately following the show. JCCCNC members will have to contact the JCCCNC at (415) 567-5505 x226 to confirm/apply for membership and to receive the early purchase code, as well as to purchase the Premium ($250) ticket package.

Buy tickets: http://www.cityboxoffice.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1465

Please come support the Japantown merchants by doing your holiday shopping at Japantown on Saturday and Sunday, December 19th and 20th from 11am – 3pm. Print this flyer and bring it to get discounts at over 50 businesses! Plus, with the flyer you can enter a raffle to win great prizes like FREE movie passes to Sundance Kabuki theater, a FREE night stay at Hotel Tomo, and much much more!

More info:

http://www.japantownnow.com/2009/12/friends-and-family-event/

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1744656

RSVP now to get into the party with SF Bay Guardian and watch 20th Century Boys 1 for FREE!

NEW PEOPLE is excited to have SF Bay Guardian host their VIP movie night at our venue! The VIP reception is from 6 to 7:15 and is open to all guests who RSVP. The private screening of 20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End will be open to the first 125 folks who check in at the VIP Reception so get there early!

WHEN:
Thursday, December 17th
Reception Time: 6:00pm – 7:15pm
VIP Movie: 7:30pm

WHERE:
Lobby and VIZ Cinema
NEW PEOPLE building 1746 Post Street, Japantown, San Francisco, CA 94115