TOKYO HALLOWEEN 2010: NORWAY TV HOSTING JOB IN JAPAN! TAKASHI MIIKE’S 13 ASSASSINS & THE INVENTION OF DR NAKAMATS FILMS.
Dead men tell no tales… but Naomi and I can finally tell you about our latest pirate mission. A day after we unveiled our La Carmina & The Pirates coolhunting and TV fixing business, we received an email from NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation). The deal’s now complete: meaning we’ll be flown to Tokyo at the end of October to host and arrange a show for Norway TV. Yes, we’ll be celebrating the most important holiday of the year — Halloween — in spooky Japan!
One of the best aspects of TV hosting / Cool Japan consulting is meeting and working with film crews from all over the world. So far: American, Japanese, French, Australian, Dutch, Norwegian. I’ll have behind-the-scenes photos and video clips for you, so get ready for those… as well as Tokyo Halloween 2010 coverage.
The Vancouver International Film Festival is currently taking place, and I received passes for Takashi Miike’s new film, 13 Assassins. An old-time samurai recruits a team to kill a flaky, blood-loving lord. The “basket-head” soldiers hugely outnumber the assassins, but with strategy and the help of a monkey-like bandit, the samurai put on a fight worthy of Kurosawa. But this remains a Miike film, and he splatters his signatures — creepy girls, missing limbs, torrents of blood — all over the frames. Fans of 1960s samurai movies, you won’t be disappointed by 13 Assassins. (Also check out Miike’s Ichi the Killer and Audition.)
Today, I had passes for The Invention of Dr. Nakamats, a highly amusing Danish documentary about the oddball “world’s greatest living inventor.” I’ve been intrigued by Nakamatsu ever since we appeared in the same episode of Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods (my clip is here). The mad scientist refers to himself in the third person, sleeps four hours a night, and eats “the 32 best foods” to prolong his life. His 3000+ patents include the floppy disk, fuel-cell-powered karaoke, Love Jet spray, a life-extending tea, boingy shoes…
Is Dr. Nakamats a world-changing genius, or a loony creator of chindogu (infomercial-like “useless” inventions)? Only in Japan can a scientist be revered (Nakamats won the Nobel Prize for Nutrition, and his technologies are used by NASA) — and also appear regularly on wacky game shows. Win win.
This year’s Vancouver International Film Festival has an impressive lineup of indie films, especially in the Asia New Wave genre. It runs until October 15th, so there’s time to get tickets.
† I’m very happy with my latest CNNGo article about Tokyo cooking school lessons and reflections on shufu (housewife) expectations in Japan. Please take a moment to read it. You can see more photos from the Japanese home cooking classes here.
† Tokyo friends: the Synthesizer Festa is happening this weekend in Shinjuku. Sebastian writes: “All the major synthesizer companies are doing demos of the gear, and there will be a few concerts plus a flea market!”
† He also recommends the Tokyo Vegefest, October 16-17th in Yoyogi Park. “Two days of Vegan Delights! Getting bigger every year. Don’t forget to bring your plates and cutlery.” (Remember our coverage of the Tokyo Earth Day and Vegetarian Festival?)
† Saturday, October 23: both Midnight Mess and Tokyo Decadance are hosting blockbuster Halloween parties. Shinjuku Club Marz and Christon Cafe are near each other, so you can attend both. For directions, info, maps and more, please pass along my Japan Goth Cyber Nightlife Guide.
The fates are smiling upon our pirate ship… so excited for Halloween in Tokyo! Do you have plans for celebrating this year? What are your costume ideas?
Japanese Word of the Day: Chindogu = Useless inventions
Song of the Day: rice – Rain
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60 Comments
Really want to see 13 Assassins, great to heat that you liked it! DR NAKAMATS sounds like a crazy fun doc, will check that out too!
You’ll love Dr Nakamats… such an enjoyable ride throughout. :D
I’m in desperate need of creative/unique halloween costume ideas. I just can’t seem to come up with anything wild enough! Ideas?
i ♥ u carmina !
i love your blog !
xoxoxox! Can’t wait to bring you Halloween coverage from Tokyo!
i can’t wait either !
im sure it’ll awesome !
that’s so awesome!! wish I could go back sooooon. : )
Dr. Nakamatsu sounds awesome! I’d love go to to the Vegefest! I’ve heard it’s really hard to find vegetarian food there…my friend who just moved there says it’s impossible to even find bread without lard.
It’s true… however, there are Indian places and the Vegan Healing Cafe… Sebastien also knows all the vegan products in grocery stores and even conbini!
Ole Miike is at it again I see. XD It’s cool that he formed Sushi Typhoon with Iguchi and Nishimura.
I wasn’t aware Halloween day had such a presence in Japan. ^^
His films are hit and miss, I think… this is not his absolute best, but very well done.
Halloween is huge among the young and Gothic in Japan… and that’s all that matters right? XD
shut up!!!! Yay!
Dr. NakaMats?! How on earth did I not hear of this guy from before? THIS GUY SOUNDS BADASS! An 82 year old jumping on boingy shoes?! Unbelievable! And he invented the floppy disk?!!! That thing was a lifesaver for me when I was in elementary school LOL! Gotta check this guy out!
And I can’t wait to view 13 Assassins! I had a feeling of “The 7 Samurai” when I first heard the title of the movie…but “The 7 Samurai”…done the Miike way?! OH BOY AM I in for one hell of a ride! Can’t wait to see which creepy girl I start obsessing over next!
Glad to hear that the business has already gotten the kick so quickly, I wish you all the best and all the fun! And on Halloween huh…boy is it going to be spooky!
Take care!
He is so badass. The more you read about him, the more intriguing he is…
The creepy girl is possibly the creepiest girl in the Miike canon so far.
Oh,la Carmina❤ I love your cat T-shirt so much!!your outfit is so cute!
I think is hard to be a great housewife in Japan. They have to face lots of pressure but most of them are tender and good at dealing with mess, and good at cooking! I adore Japanese women very much.
I want to see 13 Assassins! I’m interested in Japanese old-time films these days such as Love And Honor,Semi Shigure etc.
There’s no Halloween party here.Sad.
xoxo
I love the old classics… Zatoichi, Kurosawa films and my favorite, Lone Wolf and Cub!
Actually, I don’t know if anyone on Youtube has had a rather unpleasant experience with NakaMats and his followers (specifically the SAGE Organization) other than me, but I sure have. One of them added me off of my having ReligionCultWatch added due to the Toshi postings, and began to relentlessly spam me. I banned/blocked them and another Nakamats Youtube added me. Blocked, banned, reported. And then it happened again before they finally went away.
I really do suspect this guy’s followers, if not him himself. Some of his stuff seems both awesome and useless, but there’s a huge creepy vibe there. o.O
Oh and just so you know, ReligionCultWatch wasn’t the spammers or the NakaMats property as far as I know. SAGE Organization and NakaMats were, and they pick people who have RCW added as spam targets, apparently thinking they will be interested in new religions???
That said, that makes almost as much sense as trying to get signups for New York Yankees fan properties outside a Red Sox game. ;)
Congrats on another gig!! And getting flown to Tokyo again!! Alas I won’t be there for Halloween this year (tho I was last year!) But am off to Malaysia next week, so not feeling too bad :)
Lots of interesting info on other Tokyo happenings there too!
oh, and there’s 5.5 hours left in my competition http://thefashionatetraveller.com/the-fashionate-traveller-giveaway-extended-to-october-10th/
Eeek! I Tweeted / Facebooked it – did you see?
Malaysia, so lucky!! Will you be there for Halloween, or Australia? I hope I can travel to more parts of Asia, like you…
That’s so awesome!
I’m Norwegian, and it’ll be so cool seeing you on my TV on NRK ! !
I look so much forward to it! And I’m so relieved that you’re guiding them/going with them, otherwise it would have been disastrous!
And congrats on the gig :D
^__^ We’re so happy – thank you for your kind comments! We’ll make sure we do our best!
Hihi, I’m Norwegian, so this will be cool!
Yayyy! NRK is, from what I hear, the biggest station and public broadcaster in Norway? Excited.
I’m Norwegian, yay! It’s so awesome that you’re going to be on NRK. I never ever watching NRK, but I might just have to tune in for that. :D
Hehe! The show wants to film some… very interesting aspects of Japanese underground culture… so I’m sure you will enjoy it. :)
That’s great news that you got something so quickly with the Norwegian Broadcasting company :)
13 Assassins sounds great, I’ll have to look out for that one :)
For Halloween this year I will be at Sexy Sunday in Whitby for Goth Weekend :)
There us a vampire theme and I was going to go as Lily Munster, but my Student Loan got screwed up and I can’t afford fabric :(
So I’m getting my boyfriend to bite my neck and going as a blood doner instead :D
Ahahaha! A real life vampire! <3 I found some excellent tutorials online for vampire makeup. I also did a bloody dripping lips look: http://lacarmina.com/2010/07/twilight-makeup-tutorial-vampire-werewolf-makeup-techniques-how-to-bloody-dripping-lips-vampire-eyes-eclipse-new-moon-film/
Oh that’s so cool :D
I was considering using the Michelle Phan vampire tutorial, maybe I might use elements from both :)
Thank you for the link :)
Her videos are awesome! We’re Twitter buddies.
Glad to hear you’ll be in Tokyo for Halloween! I’ll sadly miss Midnight Mess since I am going for the last week of October. I’ll probably go to Decadence Bar on Saturday and then the Halloween Party with Aural Vampire on Sunday for Halloween. Maybe I’ll see you??
Wait… can you send me the Aural Vampire party info?? I’m still figuring out where we are going (our work comes first) but that. sounds. amazing…
Should be AMAZING :) :)
here is the website/flyer — http://www.t-or-t.net/20101031/
and from AV’s site —
『Trick or Treat presents HALLOWEEN PARTY』
日時：10月31日(日)
場所：ディファ有明
LIVE：宝野アリカ・オーラルヴァンパイア・ヌイグルマーズ(Vo大槻ケンヂ、Gui横関敦、Bass 村井研次郎)
DJ：レイブマン・山岡晃・D.ZOMBIE and more
チケット：e＋にて発売中
*hugs*
Looks great!
I live in Norway and I love your blog, and I’m so excited you’re going to host a Norwegian TV show!! looking forward to it~~ ^-^
We’re so excited to hear from Norwegian readers! Thank you for your support! <3
Awesome!!!! Congrats!!! xD <3 May I ask you, from where did you get that cute kitty shirt please? =3
Thanks!! The kitty shirt is by Banana Fish (RIP to the brand…) I got it at Closet Child.
you are so cool
That’s so kewl. Enjoy your Tokyo Halloween :-)
Norwegian TV?! AWESOME! I’m Norwegian, this will be just awesome!! :D
So awesome to hear from Norwegians!
I wish I could spend Halloween in Tokyo with you guys rather than in Norway, though! I’ll be tuning in for sure!
That sounds so exciting!
Looking forward to see you on norwegian TV :) Have fun! :D
that cute kitty top is a cross between Basil (with ears) and Maru! :D
A friend and I are planning to dress as different iterations of David Bowie for Halloween. I get Jareth from Labyrinth and he gets Ziggy. We can’t seem to get anyone else thus far for this plan, but two Bowie’s are better than none.
Wonderful! I had fun doing a Ziggy inspired look for the Miyavi concert.
awesome news!
Good luck on the Norway TV Job!
Just wanted to say I like your style and fashion. Keep up the awesome work!
When will it air? And what NRK channel? What time?
I really wanna see it! D: And i only have NRK1. :C
Either Jan or Oct 2011 – will keep you posted!
Thank you :D
Thank you :D
Either Jan or Oct 2011 – will keep you posted!
When will it air? And what NRK channel? What time?
I really wanna see it! D: And i only have NRK1. :C
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TOKYO HALLOWEEN 2010: NORWAY TV HOSTING JOB IN JAPAN! TAKASHI MIIKE’S 13 ASSASSINS & THE INVENTION OF DR NAKAMATS FILMS.
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