• anime, mecha 13.04.2009 No Comments

    published Mar. 2009
    ISBN 978-4-05-605088

    This newer Patlabor artbook was purchased from Hobby Link Japan.  It’s a very nice book with many great color illustrations of labors from the Patlabor anime.  If you’re a Patlabor fan this book is worth the purchase. Read more…

    Tags:

  • anime, mecha 12.04.2009 6 Comments

    published Oct. 2002
    ISBN 4-89048-660-7

    I have always been a fan of the compilation art books for mecha anime.  Books like the Mecha Encyclopedia should be on every mecha fan’s shelf.  The book of Anime Bikes is not one to miss. It tracks down every motorcycle and hover bike to appear in anime from the beginnings to 2001.  I certainly didn’t know that the first motorcycle to appear in anime was 1969’s Judo Boy.  It’s a shame that many excellent designs from video games, art books and manga didn’t make it into the book.  Well, you can’t have everything. Read more…

  • Video Daikaiju is a company in Succasunna, New Jersey that sells live-action Japanese movies and TV shows on DVD. I just ordered 5 Godzilla movies from them and I can recommend them for their great product.  They have a large catalog full of science-fiction and fantasy movies from Japan with English subtitles.  They have every Godzilla movie ever made.  Their selection of Japanese TV shows is really impressive but most of these are not subtitled.  Alas, my quest for a subtitled copy of Ultra Seven on DVD isn’t over yet.

    In order to see Video Daikaiju’s catalog you have to send them $2 and wait for it to come in the mail.  It’s a shame they haven’t put their catalog on their Web site yet.  Hopefully they’ll take care of that soon.  If you’re curious to see any of Toho’s classic sci-fi movies then Video Daikaiju are the people you want to talk to.

  • When Godzilla first appeared in 1954 he was no joke!

    When Godzilla first appeared in 1954 he was no joke!

    Godzilla fans in the western world have to learn to live with derision. Most of the English-speaking world is familiar with the name Godzilla and see it as a nothing more than a stupid joke. One need only mention the monster’s name and eyes start rolling as if on cue. What can one expect when the venerable New York Times sets the tone with words like this: Read more…

    Tags:

  • Japan 04.04.2009 No Comments
    The main entrance

    The main entrance

    Fushimi Inari Taisha is a large shinto shrine complex in southern Kyoto. Here it is on the map. It began in the 8th century to revere Inari, the god of the rice harvest. Inari has always been an important god. Few (if any) images were ever created of him and he uses foxes as his messengers. The foxes acting on Inari’s behalf are even called Inari. Read more…

    Tags:

  • Japan 03.04.2009 No Comments
    The main entrance

    The main entrance

    Kiyomizu Dera (Kiyomizu Temple) could be called the premier temple of Kyoto. Here it is on the map. This Buddhist temple was first built in AD 798 and devoted to the deity that resided within an 11-headed Kanon statue. The current buildings were built in 1633 under orders from Tokugawa Iemitsu. It is a large temple complex that holds several famous sites and contains a good-sized shinto shrine. If you have time to only see one temple in Kyoto this would be it. Read more…

    Tags: