just wanted to say I'm watching it.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
NEW PEOPLE ANNOUNCES ONE OF THE NATION’S BIGGEST POP CULTURE EVENTS OF THE YEAR WITH THE 2010 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
One Of A Kind All-Day Event Showcases The Best In Modern Japanese Film, Fashion, Music, Art, Retail Design And Popular Culture In September
San Francisco, CA, June 22, 2010 – NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, has announced the date for the 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival – Saturday, September 18th. The venue has also launched a web site at www.J-Pop.com to serve as a central information hub for updates on related events, film premieres and celebrity appearances planned for the day-long extravaganza that will take place in San Francisco’s Japantown.
Additional news alerts over the coming weeks will detail specific events and appearances.
A variety of fun Japanese pop-inspired attractions including fashion shows, a theatrical film premiere, live art performances, and mini-concerts by some of Japan’s hottest bands are planned for the 2010 Summit Festival both inside NEW PEOPLE, and also at the adjacent Peace Plaza and areas in between. Innovative artists and companies from the Bay area and Japan will join in with an array of products for sale in open air displays on both sides of Post Street and a food court highlighting Japanese cuisine will further complement the celebration.
Last year, more than 35,000 people attended the first J-Pop Summit Festival, which marked the Grand Opening of the NEW PEOPLE complex. The day-long event featured a trio of bands as part of the Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion as well as a rare appearance by famed artist and anime character designer Yoshitaka Amano, a Gothic And Lolita Extravaganza, a Harajuku Fashion Makeover, and the U.S. theatrical premiere of 20th Century Boys inside NEW PEOPLE’s VIZ Cinema, the country’s first theatre with a dedicated Japanese film program.
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NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located in San Francisco at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com.
The NEW PEOPLE complex at 1746 Post St in San Francisco’s Japantown
More than 35,000 people turned out to celebrate the opening of NEW PEOPLE in August 2009
San Francisco, CA, June 22, 2010 – NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, has announced the date for the 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival – Saturday, September 18th. The venue has also launched a web site at www.J-Pop.com to serve as a central information hub for updates on related events, film premieres and celebrity appearances planned for the day-long extravaganza that will take place in San Francisco’s Japantown.
Additional news alerts over the coming weeks will detail specific events and appearances.
A variety of fun Japanese pop-inspired attractions including fashion shows, a theatrical film premiere, live art performances, and mini-concerts by some of Japan’s hottest bands are planned for the 2010 Summit Festival both inside NEW PEOPLE, and also at the adjacent Peace Plaza and areas in between. Innovative artists and companies from the Bay area and Japan will join in with an array of products for sale in open air displays on both sides of Post Street and a food court highlighting Japanese cuisine will further complement the celebration.
Last year, more than 35,000 people attended the first J-Pop Summit Festival, which marked the Grand Opening of the NEW PEOPLE complex. The day-long event featured a trio of bands as part of the Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion as well as a rare appearance by famed artist and anime character designer Yoshitaka Amano, a Gothic And Lolita Extravaganza, a Harajuku Fashion Makeover, and the U.S. theatrical premiere of 20th Century Boys inside NEW PEOPLE’s VIZ Cinema, the country’s first theatre with a dedicated Japanese film program.
.
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located in San Francisco at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com.
The NEW PEOPLE complex at 1746 Post St in San Francisco’s Japantown
More than 35,000 people turned out to celebrate the opening of NEW PEOPLE in August 2009
LATEST EPISODES AIRED IN JAPAN OF POPULAR BLEACH ANIME SERIES TO START STREAMING ON VIZANIME.COM
LATEST EPISODES AIRED IN JAPAN OF POPULAR BLEACH ANIME SERIES TO START STREAMING ON VIZANIME.COM
Fans Are Invited To View New Episodes On VIZAnime.com
Beginning Today For FREE!
San Francisco, CA, June 22, 2010– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, continues to generate tremendous momentum for its popular BLEACH series with the announcement that English-subtitled episodes from the most current story arc will begin streaming for free in the U.S. via the company’s premier website for anime, VIZAnime.com. Starting today with Episode 275, VIZAnime.com will stream a new BLEACH episode one week after it has aired in Japan.
BLEACH is one of the most popular Japanese anime and manga properties in the world and this near simulcast schedule is part of VIZ Anime’s ongoing strategy to bring hit animated properties to a national audience via the web.
BLEACH is a popular manga and animated series (both rated ‘T’ for Teens), distributed domestically by VIZ Media, that follows the adventures of Ichigo, a 15-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow — a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace. Episode 275, from the newest story arc in Japan, marks the start of a thrilling storyline and guarantees a series of face-offs that are sure to excite old and new BLEACH fans!
VIZAnime.com is the official online home to some of VIZ Media’s best-loved animated series, and a burgeoning social network for fans to connect and form an interactive community. Over 1,000 episodes are currently available, and new content is added on a weekly basis.
“BLEACH remains one of the most successful and popular anime series in North America, and VIZ Media continues to break down time and distance barriers by making new episodes available within days of their original airing in Japan,” says Ken Sasaki, Sr. Vice President & General Manager, VIZ Media. “VIZAnime.com is the ultimate destination for the many popular VIZ Media animated titles, and currently contains an extensive catalog of hundreds of episodes from popular shows like BLEACH, INUYASHA, NARUTO, THE PRINCE OF TENNIS and more, all offered with accurate, high-quality streaming video that is completely free for viewers!”
BLEACH is a tremendously successful multimedia property internationally. The manga has been licensed in numerous countries around the world and has sold over 2 million copies in the US. In North America, the manga has been a sales hit and the popular animated series is viewed weekly by millions. This success also includes an array of related video games, apparel, action figures and other merchandise.
BLEACH animation can be viewed on Adult Swim and through a variety of other web-based video download and streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including iTunes®, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Amazon, and HULU. For more information on BLEACH, please visit bleach.viz.com. To view subtitled BLEACH animated episodes, please visit VIZAnime.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
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Thursday, May 27, 2010
GIANT MONSTERS INVADE SAN FRANCICSO
THE BIGGEST CELEBRITY FROM JAPAN – GODZILLA – CRASHES VIZ CINEMA FOR SPECIAL FILM AND DISCUSSION EVENTS IN MAY
VIZ Cinema Hosts Kaiju Shakedown! Godzillathon! And TokyoScope Talk Vol. 3 Features War Of The Giant Monsters Discussion And Prize Raffle Of New Gamera DVD
San Francisco, CA, April 26, 2010 – NEW PEOPLE and VIZ Cinema welcome the 3rd and latest installment of TokyoScope Talk – War of the Giant Monsters – on Friday, May 7th at 7:00pm. Join Otaku USA Editor-in-Chief Patrick Macias, Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters author August Ragone, and Japanese film critic Tomohiro Machiyama at the Bay Area’s hottest film venue for a fun and lively discussion on the “kaiju” (monster) movies featuring rare images and clips of Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera and other iconic creatures from classic Japanese sci-fi cinema. General admission tickets are $10.00.
VIZ Cinema invites Bay Area monster fans to a 5-day Kaiju Shakedown: Godzillathon!, running Saturday, May 8th thru Thursday, May 13th. Featured will be rare screenings of the Big G’s 4 most-loved films including Godzilla vs. Hedora (1971), Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974). Details and screening times at: www.vizcinema.com.
Don’t miss a rare chance to see the beauty and enormity of Godzilla in stunning 35mm prints with English subtitles and a premium THX®-certified sound system! These events may sell-out. Ticket prices: General Admission: $10.00; Senior & Child: $8.00. Advance tickets on sale at: http://www.newpeopleworld.com/films/films-5-2010/#godzillathon
TokyoScope Talk – War of the Giant Monsters will feature a special raffle giveaway of premium monster collectables including the brand new DVD release from Shout! Factory of Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965). The revered classic features the original Japanese version of the film presented with fresh English subtitles and anamorphic widescreen produced from an all-new HD master created from original vault elements.
VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system.
About NEW PEOPLE
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com.
VIZ Cinema Hosts Kaiju Shakedown! Godzillathon! And TokyoScope Talk Vol. 3 Features War Of The Giant Monsters Discussion And Prize Raffle Of New Gamera DVD
San Francisco, CA, April 26, 2010 – NEW PEOPLE and VIZ Cinema welcome the 3rd and latest installment of TokyoScope Talk – War of the Giant Monsters – on Friday, May 7th at 7:00pm. Join Otaku USA Editor-in-Chief Patrick Macias, Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters author August Ragone, and Japanese film critic Tomohiro Machiyama at the Bay Area’s hottest film venue for a fun and lively discussion on the “kaiju” (monster) movies featuring rare images and clips of Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera and other iconic creatures from classic Japanese sci-fi cinema. General admission tickets are $10.00.
VIZ Cinema invites Bay Area monster fans to a 5-day Kaiju Shakedown: Godzillathon!, running Saturday, May 8th thru Thursday, May 13th. Featured will be rare screenings of the Big G’s 4 most-loved films including Godzilla vs. Hedora (1971), Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974). Details and screening times at: www.vizcinema.com.
Don’t miss a rare chance to see the beauty and enormity of Godzilla in stunning 35mm prints with English subtitles and a premium THX®-certified sound system! These events may sell-out. Ticket prices: General Admission: $10.00; Senior & Child: $8.00. Advance tickets on sale at: http://www.newpeopleworld.com/films/films-5-2010/#godzillathon
TokyoScope Talk – War of the Giant Monsters will feature a special raffle giveaway of premium monster collectables including the brand new DVD release from Shout! Factory of Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965). The revered classic features the original Japanese version of the film presented with fresh English subtitles and anamorphic widescreen produced from an all-new HD master created from original vault elements.
VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system.
About NEW PEOPLE
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Action-Packed New Series Created By Two Legends Of Comics And Manga debuting in SHONEN JUMP magazine
Featuring Stan Lee and SHAMAN KING manga creator Hiroyuki Takei’s groundbreaking collaborative project –
ULTIMO!
Do not miss the July issue of VIZ Media's SHONEN JUMP magazine - available now featuring the debut of the serialization of the ULTIMO series
Originally announced to a packed house at a Press Conference at New York Comic Con in 2008, the serialization begins in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine, ULTIMO represents a historic collaboration between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, and unconventional author/artist Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular multicultural adventure manga series SHAMAN KING, published in Japan by Shueisha and in North America by VIZ Media.
A press release is attached with all the details, I have also included the cover art.
Please feel free to let me know if you would like a copy of the magazine - or need additional information.
Erik Jansen
MediaLab
(714) 620-5017 / erik@medialab-pr.com
Press Release Is Attached And Also Follows Below:
VIZ MEDIA’S SHONEN JUMP MAGAZINE JULY ISSUE NOW AVAILABLE
FEATURING STAN LEE AND SHAMAN KING MANGA CREATOR HIROYUKI TAKEI’S
GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATIVE PROJECT – ULTIMO
Running Action-Packed New Series Created By Two Legends Of Comics And Manga Begins With July Issue Of Monthly Manga Anthology
San Francisco, CA, JUNE 17, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the debut of the serialization of the ULTIMO series (KARAKURIDÔJI ULTIMO) in SHONEN JUMP magazine. Originally announced to a packed house at a Press Conference at New York Comic Con in 2008, the serialization begins in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine, which is on sale now at retailers and newsstands nationwide.
ULTIMO represents a historic collaboration between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man™, the Fantastic Four™, and the X-Men™, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular SHAMAN KING manga series, published in Japan by Shueisha and in North America by VIZ Media.
The ULTIMO back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, and seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? Find out in the first chapter of ULTIMO!
“The addition of ULTIMO to SHONEN JUMP magazine marks this as a great time for both manga and comics, and we are very excited to be able to deliver this bold new story to fans every month,” says Grant Lowery, Editor-In-Chief of SHONEN JUMP. “The captivating character designs and action-packed story blend the best aspects of Western and Asian comic book traditions and will delight fans of both genres. We invite fans of both comics and manga to seize the opportunity to explore this groundbreaking new series!”
For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to co-creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man™, the Incredible Hulk™, and Daredevil™, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.
Unconventional author/artist Hiroyuki Takei began his career by winning the coveted Hop Step Award (for new manga artists) and the Osamu Tezuka Award. After working as an assistant to famed artist Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), Takei debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 with Butsu Zone, an action series based on Buddhist mythology. His multicultural adventure manga series SHAMAN KING debuted in Japan in 1998 and has been adapted into a popular animated television series The SHAMAN KING manga series is published in North America by VIZ Media and to-date has sold more than 400,000 copies in the U.S.; for many years it was also serialized in English in VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP magazine.
Lee’s own company, POW! Entertainment (Pinksheets:POWN.PK), worked with Jump SQ. parent company Shueisha and with JEA and Dream Ranch to facilitate the development of ULTIMO.
For more information on ULTIMO, SHONEN JUMP and VIZ Media please visit www.shonenjump.com or www.viz.com.
About POW! (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment, Inc.
POW! (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment, Inc. (Pinksheets:POWN.PK), an advanced media and entertainment company, was founded by world-famous comic book and motion picture icon Stan Lee, together with award-winning producer Gill Champion and intellectual property specialist Arthur Lieberman, Esq. POW!’s principals have extensive backgrounds in the entertainment industry encompassing the creation, production and licensing of original intellectual properties, including some of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time. POW!, capitalizing on this combined expertise, specializes in franchises for the entertainment industry, including animation and live-action feature films, plus television, DVDs, video games, merchandising and related ancillary markets, all of which contribute to global expansion. POW! partners with other individuals and entities of entertainment’s top echelon, including studios and networks, in the creation, licensing and distribution of new POW! character franchises.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
AVANT GARDE JAPANESE STREET FASHION LABELS OPEN BOUTIQUES AT NEW PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS SUMMER!
New Japanese Pop Culture Attraction Welcomes Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Black Peace Now, and 6%DOKIDOKI Offering Edgy Clothing, Shoes And Accessories From Tokyo’s Hippest Fashion District, And SOU •SOU, A Kyoto Brand Introducing Cool “Tabi” Sneakers
San Francisco’s newest pop culture attraction welcomes four edgy Japanese fashion labels to – NEW PEOPLE – opening August 15th in the city’s historic Japantown at 1746 Post Street. A web site with full details is available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com
NEW PEOPLE brings creations from a new vanguard of Japanese designers inspired by everything from anime and science fiction to punk rock and Gothic Horror to Victorian England and 18th Century France.
Baby, The Stars Shine Bright leads the fashion scene as the ultimate “Lolita” brand, which is a modern interpretation of classic Victorian and Rococo apparel.
Black Peace Now has become one of the top rock and roll fashion brands for punk/gothic crossover in Japan.
6%DOKIDOKI presents a vivid, fabulously strange and colorful boutique that continues the label’s penchant for avant-garde and kitsch style that’s the essence of Harajuku girl culture.
SOU • SOU from Kyoto introduces Japanese classic “Tabi” work shoes with vibrant graphic patterns.
A press release with details on each of these exciting new labels making their U.S. debut and artwork for each label is also attached.
NEW PEOPLE is a striking 20,000 square foot structure that epitomizes the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events.
The project, three and a half years in the making, celebrates its Grand Opening August.15th!
Please contact me for more information on these labels and the NEW PEOPLE opening gala that will be an amazing and memorable event!
Erik Jansen
MediaLab
(714) 620-5017 / erik@medialab-pr.com
Press Release Is Attached And Also Follows Below:
FIRST TIME EVER IN THE U.S.
AVANT GARDE JAPANESE STREET FASHION LABELS OPEN BOUTIQUES AT NEW PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS SUMMER
New Japanese Pop Culture Attraction Welcomes Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Black Peace Now, and 6%DOKIDOKI That Offer Edgy Clothing, Shoes And Accessories From Tokyo’s Hippest Fashion District, And SOU •SOU, A Kyoto Brand Introducing Cool “Tabi” Sneakers
San Francisco, CA, June 9, 2009 – VIZ Pictures, a Japanese live-action film distributor and producer of the J-Pop Center Project, welcomes four edgy fashion labels to San Francisco’s newest permanent Japanese pop culture attraction – NEW PEOPLE – opening August 15th in the city’s historic Japantown.
Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Black Peace Now will open their first U.S. boutiques at NEW PEOPLE on the second floor of the 20,000 square foot structure located at 1746 Post Street. In addition to the permanent attractions, a part of the short-term rotating retail program will include 6%DOKIDOKI and SOU • SOU.
Harajuku is a district of Tokyo which holds the attention of top designers as a trend-setters’ Mecca of the world, and birthplace to many urban fashion sub-genres such as Cyberpunk, Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei and anime-inspired Cosplay. NEW PEOPLE brings creations from a new vanguard of Japanese designers inspired by everything from anime and science fiction to punk rock and Gothic Horror to Victorian England and 18th Century France.
“Fashion is the latest medium to play a significant role in the ongoing evolution of Japanese popular culture that has captivated the world,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the founder and CEO of VIZ Pictures and the founder of VIZ Media as well as the J-Pop Center Project. “Anime, manga and Japanese film are internationally known and loved. With NEW PEOPLE, we celebrate all of those genres and we’ll also transcend them by giving the U.S. a look at entirely new sides of contents from Japan including these innovators of Harajuku fashion.”
Baby, The Stars Shine Bright leads the fashion scene as the ultimate “Lolita” brand, which is a modern interpretation of classic Victorian and Rococo apparel. BABY showcases its absolutely adorable clothing obsessed with frills, ribbons and colorful prints, along with its more androgynous and mystic line of attire, ALICE and the PIRATES. Baby, The Stars Shine Bright apparel was heavily featured in the critically acclaimed film Kamikaze Girls (also available on DVD from VIZ Pictures), which was based on the best-selling novel by Novala Takemoto. The label also has a store in Paris and makes its U.S. debut at NEW PEOPLE.
“There was no such thing as ‘Lolita-inspired fashion’ when I started this company,” says Fumiyo Isobe, Co-Founder and Designer of Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. “I like cute things like frill, lace, round collars, and delicate colors with a very princess-like look. Historical decorative styles like Rococo or Victorian influence my designs as well as music and fashion from the 70s and 80s and shojo manga (comics for girls).”
Black Peace Now has become one of the top rock and roll fashion brands for punk/gothic crossover in Japan. The designs incorporate punk and gothic themes to evoke powerful and exquisite silhouettes that can range from mild to truly wild. The company’s second line, Peace Now, offers a more casual, everyday look that still retains a cute, edgy style. Widely known, worn and celebrated in Japan, clothing by Black Peace Now has appeared in numerous music videos, films and TV dramas.
“We’re thrilled to have a new U.S. home-base in San Francisco,” says Kiyoshi Igai, a founder and CEO of Black Peace Now. “We look forward to meeting our U.S. customers, hearing their feedback on our designs, and seeing how Japanese pop culture will influence customers and also how they will share their inspirations with us.”
6%DOKIDOKI welcomes NEW PEOPLE visitors to a vivid, fabulously strange and colorful boutique that continues the label’s penchant for avant-garde and kitsch style and brings genuine Harajuku girl culture to the United States for the first time. 6%DOKIDOKI is a Technicolor array of crazy fun, crazy colors and bright designs that invites shoppers to join their happy-punk-rebellion
Sebastian Masuda, 6%DOKIDOKI’s Founder and Designer, looks forward to his two-month endeavor. “I’m very excited to see how this culture will be perceived, infused, and accepted in the US. This is also a great opportunity to communicate with American teens and expand this fashion movement and create new culture.
SOU • SOU from Kyoto introduces Japanese classic “Tabi” work shoes with vibrant graphic patterns. SOU • SOU’s combination of form-fitting soles and striking modern looks has a huge following, from dancers to the sneaker-obsessed. While new and fun, each shoe is crafted by hand, preserving the best traditional techniques.
NEW PEOPLE is a 20,000 square foot contemporary building located at 1746 Post Street in San Francisco’s Japantown (one of only three remaining in the country), an area steeped in more than a century of history. The structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that invokes a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination for the 21st Century.
A dedicated NEW PEOPLE web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com
About VIZ Pictures, Inc.:
Based in San Francisco, California, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each release from a J-pop fan's point of view to serve the manga and anime generation in North America. VIZ Pictures titles include DEATH NOTE, NANA, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, LINDA LINDA LINDA, PING PONG, THE TASTE OF TEA, TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO and others. The company will continue to offer the hottest visual entertainment straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.
For more information please visit www.viz-pictures.com or www.viz.com
© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc
About The J-pop Center Project:
Launched by creative visionary Seiji Horibuchi, the founder and CEO of VIZ Pictures and the founder of VIZ Media, The J-pop Center Project develops and extends innovative creative alliances and collaborations across different media: film, animation, music, art and retail products. For more information please visit www.NewPeopleWorld.com.
San Francisco’s newest pop culture attraction welcomes four edgy Japanese fashion labels to – NEW PEOPLE – opening August 15th in the city’s historic Japantown at 1746 Post Street. A web site with full details is available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com
NEW PEOPLE brings creations from a new vanguard of Japanese designers inspired by everything from anime and science fiction to punk rock and Gothic Horror to Victorian England and 18th Century France.
Baby, The Stars Shine Bright leads the fashion scene as the ultimate “Lolita” brand, which is a modern interpretation of classic Victorian and Rococo apparel.
Black Peace Now has become one of the top rock and roll fashion brands for punk/gothic crossover in Japan.
6%DOKIDOKI presents a vivid, fabulously strange and colorful boutique that continues the label’s penchant for avant-garde and kitsch style that’s the essence of Harajuku girl culture.
SOU • SOU from Kyoto introduces Japanese classic “Tabi” work shoes with vibrant graphic patterns.
A press release with details on each of these exciting new labels making their U.S. debut and artwork for each label is also attached.
NEW PEOPLE is a striking 20,000 square foot structure that epitomizes the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events.
The project, three and a half years in the making, celebrates its Grand Opening August.15th!
Please contact me for more information on these labels and the NEW PEOPLE opening gala that will be an amazing and memorable event!
Erik Jansen
MediaLab
(714) 620-5017 / erik@medialab-pr.com
Press Release Is Attached And Also Follows Below:
FIRST TIME EVER IN THE U.S.
AVANT GARDE JAPANESE STREET FASHION LABELS OPEN BOUTIQUES AT NEW PEOPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS SUMMER
New Japanese Pop Culture Attraction Welcomes Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Black Peace Now, and 6%DOKIDOKI That Offer Edgy Clothing, Shoes And Accessories From Tokyo’s Hippest Fashion District, And SOU •SOU, A Kyoto Brand Introducing Cool “Tabi” Sneakers
San Francisco, CA, June 9, 2009 – VIZ Pictures, a Japanese live-action film distributor and producer of the J-Pop Center Project, welcomes four edgy fashion labels to San Francisco’s newest permanent Japanese pop culture attraction – NEW PEOPLE – opening August 15th in the city’s historic Japantown.
Baby, The Stars Shine Bright and Black Peace Now will open their first U.S. boutiques at NEW PEOPLE on the second floor of the 20,000 square foot structure located at 1746 Post Street. In addition to the permanent attractions, a part of the short-term rotating retail program will include 6%DOKIDOKI and SOU • SOU.
Harajuku is a district of Tokyo which holds the attention of top designers as a trend-setters’ Mecca of the world, and birthplace to many urban fashion sub-genres such as Cyberpunk, Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei and anime-inspired Cosplay. NEW PEOPLE brings creations from a new vanguard of Japanese designers inspired by everything from anime and science fiction to punk rock and Gothic Horror to Victorian England and 18th Century France.
“Fashion is the latest medium to play a significant role in the ongoing evolution of Japanese popular culture that has captivated the world,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the founder and CEO of VIZ Pictures and the founder of VIZ Media as well as the J-Pop Center Project. “Anime, manga and Japanese film are internationally known and loved. With NEW PEOPLE, we celebrate all of those genres and we’ll also transcend them by giving the U.S. a look at entirely new sides of contents from Japan including these innovators of Harajuku fashion.”
Baby, The Stars Shine Bright leads the fashion scene as the ultimate “Lolita” brand, which is a modern interpretation of classic Victorian and Rococo apparel. BABY showcases its absolutely adorable clothing obsessed with frills, ribbons and colorful prints, along with its more androgynous and mystic line of attire, ALICE and the PIRATES. Baby, The Stars Shine Bright apparel was heavily featured in the critically acclaimed film Kamikaze Girls (also available on DVD from VIZ Pictures), which was based on the best-selling novel by Novala Takemoto. The label also has a store in Paris and makes its U.S. debut at NEW PEOPLE.
“There was no such thing as ‘Lolita-inspired fashion’ when I started this company,” says Fumiyo Isobe, Co-Founder and Designer of Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. “I like cute things like frill, lace, round collars, and delicate colors with a very princess-like look. Historical decorative styles like Rococo or Victorian influence my designs as well as music and fashion from the 70s and 80s and shojo manga (comics for girls).”
Black Peace Now has become one of the top rock and roll fashion brands for punk/gothic crossover in Japan. The designs incorporate punk and gothic themes to evoke powerful and exquisite silhouettes that can range from mild to truly wild. The company’s second line, Peace Now, offers a more casual, everyday look that still retains a cute, edgy style. Widely known, worn and celebrated in Japan, clothing by Black Peace Now has appeared in numerous music videos, films and TV dramas.
“We’re thrilled to have a new U.S. home-base in San Francisco,” says Kiyoshi Igai, a founder and CEO of Black Peace Now. “We look forward to meeting our U.S. customers, hearing their feedback on our designs, and seeing how Japanese pop culture will influence customers and also how they will share their inspirations with us.”
6%DOKIDOKI welcomes NEW PEOPLE visitors to a vivid, fabulously strange and colorful boutique that continues the label’s penchant for avant-garde and kitsch style and brings genuine Harajuku girl culture to the United States for the first time. 6%DOKIDOKI is a Technicolor array of crazy fun, crazy colors and bright designs that invites shoppers to join their happy-punk-rebellion
Sebastian Masuda, 6%DOKIDOKI’s Founder and Designer, looks forward to his two-month endeavor. “I’m very excited to see how this culture will be perceived, infused, and accepted in the US. This is also a great opportunity to communicate with American teens and expand this fashion movement and create new culture.
SOU • SOU from Kyoto introduces Japanese classic “Tabi” work shoes with vibrant graphic patterns. SOU • SOU’s combination of form-fitting soles and striking modern looks has a huge following, from dancers to the sneaker-obsessed. While new and fun, each shoe is crafted by hand, preserving the best traditional techniques.
NEW PEOPLE is a 20,000 square foot contemporary building located at 1746 Post Street in San Francisco’s Japantown (one of only three remaining in the country), an area steeped in more than a century of history. The structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that invokes a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination for the 21st Century.
A dedicated NEW PEOPLE web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com
About VIZ Pictures, Inc.:
Based in San Francisco, California, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each release from a J-pop fan's point of view to serve the manga and anime generation in North America. VIZ Pictures titles include DEATH NOTE, NANA, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, LINDA LINDA LINDA, PING PONG, THE TASTE OF TEA, TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO and others. The company will continue to offer the hottest visual entertainment straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.
For more information please visit www.viz-pictures.com or www.viz.com
© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc
About The J-pop Center Project:
Launched by creative visionary Seiji Horibuchi, the founder and CEO of VIZ Pictures and the founder of VIZ Media, The J-pop Center Project develops and extends innovative creative alliances and collaborations across different media: film, animation, music, art and retail products. For more information please visit www.NewPeopleWorld.com.
VIZ MEDIA OFFERS A SELECTION OF INTRIGUING NEW MANGA SERIES FOR RELEASE THROUGHOUT THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2009
San Francisco, CA, JUNE 4, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, is previewing nine new manga series covering a variety of genres set to debut throughout the Third Quarter of 2009.
The upcoming releases feature titles that will appeal to a wide range of readers ranging from mature adult fans to adolescents, tweens and kids. New romantic debuts from the popular SHOJO BEAT imprint include Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, and BLACK BIRD, while new science fiction/fantasy manga releases will feature Ôoku: THE INNER CHAMBERS, Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, WāqWāq and CHILDREN OF THE SEA. A special trio of all-ages titles includes CHOCO MIMI, the first VIZ Kids manga series aimed specifically at young female readers, fun reptilian adventures with DINOSAUR KING, and the official film comic from the forthcoming Studio Ghibli film, PONYO, set to debut later this summer from famed director Hayao Miyazaki.
New Science Fiction/Fantasy Titles Include:
Ôoku: The Inner ChamberS, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences · MSRP: $12.99 US / $15.00 CAN · Available August 18
In Edo period Japan, a strange new disease called the Redface Pox has begun to prey on the country’s men. Within eighty years of the first outbreak, the male population has fallen to a quarter of the total female population. Women have taken on all the roles traditionally granted to men, even that of the Shogun. The men, precious providers of life, are carefully protected, and the most beautiful of the men are sent to serve in the Shogun’s Inner Chambers.
Ôoku: THE INNER CHAMBERS was created by Fumi Yoshinaga and won a special prize at the Japanese Association of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy’s 5th Sense of Gender Awards in 2005. Yoshinaga has won numerous other prestigious awards for her work, including the 2002 Kodansha Manga Award for her series ANTIQUE BAKERY and the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award for Ôoku. She was also was nominated for the 11th and a winner of the 12th Osamu Tezuka Award also for Ôoku, and also nominated as Best Writer/Artist for the 2008 Eisner Awards.
Announced at 2009 Book Expo last week, ÔOKU: THE INNER CHAMBERS was chosen as one of the Hot Fall Graphic Novels for Libraries.
children of the sea, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·
MSRP: $14.99 US / $17.50 CAN · Available July 21
When Ruka was young, she once saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels inexplicably drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora, who both have the ability to breathe underwater. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea that she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the ocean’s fish.
CHILDREN OF THE SEA was created by award-winning artist Daisuke Igarashi. His series, WITCHES received the Excellence Prize at the 2004 Japan Media Arts Festival while LITTLE FOREST was nominated for the 2005 Ozamu Tezuka Cultural Award. CHILDREN OF THE SEA is currently serialized in IKKI magazine, which has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga. VIZ Media’s VIZ Signature imprint and IKKI magazine have partnered to bring free previews of CHILDREN OF THE SEA and other stories to North American fans via a new web site at www.sigikki.com.
WāqWāq, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN · Available August 4
Living in constant fear of attack from machines, mankind depends on the cyborg Protector corps known as the Guardians to keep them from harm as they await the arrival of the Kami, a godlike savior with mythical red blood. One day, Shio, who is the son of a Guardian, finds a red-blooded girl! Could she be the Kami they've been waiting for?
WāqWāq is a new science fiction series by Ryu Fujisaki, who also created the mythology-based manga series HOSHIN ENGI. WāqWāq and HOSHIN ENGI both originally debuted in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and Fujisaki has also been nominated for the prestigious Osamu Tezuka Manga Award.
Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens ·
MSRP: $7.95 US / $9.50 CAN · Available September 1
In Amberground, a dangerous terrain where a man-made star casts a permanent twilight, young Lag Seeing aspires to become a Letter Bee, a postman entrusted to deliver the hearts of people separated from the ones they love.
Tegami Bachi: THE LETTER BEE features detailed and lush artwork by creator Hiroyuki Asada that brings to life a fantastic alternate world filled with innovative “steampunk” technology and imagery. The new series will further be highlighted in VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP magazine this summer.
Announced at 2009 Book Expo last week, TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE was recently chosen as one of the Hot Fall Graphic Novels for Libraries.
New SHOJO BEAT Titles Include:
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens ·
MSRP: $8.99 US / $10.50 CAN · Available August 4
Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine – for a horror movie! With her jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanor, she’s often mistaken for the haunting movie character Sadako. But behind her scary façade is a very misunderstood teenager. Too shy to fit in, all she wants to do is make some friends. But when the most popular boy in class befriends her, she's sure to make more than just that--she's about to make some enemies too!
KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU was created by Karuho Shiina who was born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan. Though KIMI NI TODOKE is only her second series following many one-shot stories, it has already racked up accolades from various "Best Manga of the Year" lists. Winner of the 2008 Kodansha Manga Award for the shojo category, KIMI NI TODOKE also placed fifth in the first-ever Manga Taisho (Cartoon Grand Prize) contest in 2008. An animated series is also in production in Japan. Bonus stickers are included in limited editions of Vol. 1.
Announced at 2009 Book Expo last week, KIMI NI TODOKE: FROM ME TO YOU was recently chosen as one of the Hot Fall Graphic Novels for Libraries.
BLACK BIRD, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·
MSRP: $8.99 US / $10.50 CAN · Available August 4
There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, but she wants nothing to do with magical realms and just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But all that changes one day when Misao is attacked by a demon. Her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to her cuts – with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the bride of prophecy, whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves – by eating her! Now Misao is just trying to stay alive and trying to decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds.
BLACK BIRD, winner of the Shogakukan Manga Award (2009) for Shojo, is the latest shojo series from Kanoko Sakurakoji. Sakurakoji’s debut title, Raibu ga Hanetara, was serialized in Bessatsu Shojo Comic magazine (currently called Betsucomi) in 2000. Her other shojo series, BACKSTAGE PRINCE, is also published domestically by VIZ Media.
New STUDIO GHIBLI Release:
PONYO FILM COMIC, Vols. 1-2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·
MSRP: $9.99 US / $11.50 CAN · Available August 4 ·
Vols. 3-4 Available September 1
From the Academy Award®-winning director and world-renowned Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki comes PONYO, a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale “The Little Mermaid.” Already a box-office success in Japan, the story of a young and overeager goldfish named Ponyo (voiced by NOAH CYRUS) and her quest to become human features an outstanding roster of voice talent, including CATE BLANCHETT, MATT DAMON, TINA FEY, CLORIS LEACHMAN, LIAM NEESON, LILY TOMLIN, BETTY WHITE and FRANKIE JONAS as Sosuke, a young boy who befriends Ponyo.
The film from Walt Disney Studios will release on August 14, 2009. The official 4-volume film comics of PONYO re-tells the film’s story with vivid full-color frames.
New VIZ Kids Titles Include:
CHOCOMIMI, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN · Available July 7
Meet Choco and Mimi, best friends in eighth grade. Choco is serious and reliable, while Mimi is silly and spoiled rotten--but they both have a flair for fashion! A new boy transfers into the girls' class, and he just might be Choco's type! Will a crush damage the girls' friendship?! Or will Mimi's crazy antics scare him away?
DINOSAUR KING, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.99 CAN · Available September 1
Max Taylor is obsessed with dinosaurs. He knows his Tapejara from his Pteradon and can find fossils better than a trained paleontologist. When he discovers a stone tablet that transports him to the age of dinosaurs, it’s a dream come true—until it becomes a nightmare. An evil genius named Dr. Z has enslaved the dinosaurs so he can use their hidden powers to take over the world! Now Max has to defeat Dr. Z and his Alpha Gang to save the ancient beasts and life as we know it.
DINOSAUR KING is the official manga tie-in for the top rated animated series seen on 4KIDS TV. The DINOSAUR KING property captivates millions of kids across North America and has spawned a variety of related video games and trading cards.
For a limited time Volume 1 will include an Upper Deck Dinosaur King trading card.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
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