J-Pop Center Opening

I checked out the opening of the new J-Pop center (1746 Post St) in Japantown over the weekend, and was surprised to see a relatively large turnout for a niche type retail market. Who knew there was so many people interested in Japanese pop culture? Post street was jammed with Asian hipsters and girls in Little Bo-peep outfits-they must have been sweltering in the 80 degree heat.

I stood in line for a good 30 minutes to check out the modernist glass structure, designed by Japanese architectural firm Torafu. It reminded me a lot of the SPUR building, with its three narrow floors (plus theater basement) and compact use of space. The main floor had a coffee/snack bar serving...you guessed it, Blue Bottle Coffee. Man those guys are everywhere. There's also the New People retail shop, that seemed to specialize in expensively designed Japanese products like a cute ipod speaker ball thingy...that cost almost 40 bucks! They are going to have their work cut out for them in this economy.

The second floor seems to be focused on fashions for young Little Bo-peep wannabees. I don't get it, but it looks colorful and fun. There's also a wall of glass looking over Post street, which might be useful for people watching. The third floor is a gallery space for Japanese Pop art (my term) that I could see hanging in some millionaire Google employee's loft. Roy Lichtenstein would be proud. I didn't get to check out the theater, but will definitely make a trip back soon. The new complex finally puts a spark in the dowdy Japantown district. Now if they could only modernize that mall...

Takeshi Kaneshiro

I've always loved these pics of Asian mixed race superstar Takeshi Kaneshiro for Prada back in 1998. I remember feeling proud that an Asian (especially one that is half-Taiwanese) face is being advertised for a major fashion design house.
Of course, TK is now one of the most recognized Asian actors in the west, having been featured in at least 2 Wong Kar Wei films: ChungKing Express and my personal favorite Fallen Angels. He also starred in one of the most popular kung fu films House of Flying Daggers.

I've been impressed that his personal life seems very private. I can certainly hope that he may be "family", one always wonders about attractive single men in their late 30's. But as I heard my young female cousin respond to these rumours, his fans really don't care that much. He's that good.

John Hughes RIP

John Hughes' films helped define my generation. I remember seeing Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Beuler and Some Kind of Wonderful during my formative high school years, they are forever etched in my mind. Even his later films like Planes, Trains & Automobiles and She's Having a Baby still resonate. It's too bad he became sort of reclusive in his final years. His films aren't considered "high art" but they are exceptionally re-watchable. And isn't that the best compliment of all?