ACF 1271: NEW PEOPLE presenting three special film screenings

Japanese Pop Culture VenueWelcomes The Holiday Season And

Presents Eatrip, DOCUMENTARY Of AKB48 to becontinued, And

GANTZ II: Perfect AnswerAt The Bay Area’s Hottest Movie Theatre

NEW PEOPLE, the nation’s only entertainmentcomplex dedicated to Japanese popular culture, has announced a trio of Japaneselive-action films to screen on Saturday, December 17th at thevenue’s SF Film Society | NEW PEOPLE Cinema. The screenings willinclude the culinary documentary Eatrip,which plays at 1:00pm, the newly released music biopic, DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 to be continued, which plays at 3:00pm and againat 8:30pm, and finally the action-packed conclusion of the celebrated GANTZsci-fi saga with a showing of GANTZ II:Perfect Answer at 5:00pm. Tickets are $10.00 each per film. Information andadvance tickets are available at: www.newpeopleworld.com.

Filmgoersthat bring their movie ticket to NEWPEOPLE, The Store, located in the building’s lobby, before or after eachshow will receive $10.00 off any NEW PEOPLE Entertainment DVD or Blu-ray releasethat day.

Eatrip                Screensat 1:00pm

The film takes audiences on an intriguingjourney throughout Japan and features interviews with interesting personalitiesfrom a variety of walks of life to look at how life can be led richly throughthe daily ritual of eating. To eat is more than a necessity – it’s a universal experience all humanbeings share. In the film, Yuri Nomuraembarks on an insightful journey throughout Japan to examine the daily ritualsof eating among people from different walks of life. Actor Tadanobu Asano, singer UA, and fashion designerJurgen Lehl are among those featured. From the Tsukiji fish market to a farm inOkinawa, Eatrip offers poignantinterviews with intriguing personalities including the head monk of a famousBuddhist temple; a distributor of Japanese soup stock (Bonito broth); anOkinawan woman leading a self-sustainable lifestyle devoid of modernconveniences; a tea ceremony master, and a musician and writer who recitespoems about food. Eatrip is availablenow on DVD from NEW PEOPLE Entertainment.

DOCUMENTARYof AKB48 to be continued               Screens at 3:00pm & 8:30pm

Thenew music biopic follows the unstoppable all-femaleJapanese pop idol group, AKB48, on their incredible rise to fame.  AKB48 was conceived in 2005 by YasushiAkimoto, one of Japan’s most respected music producers. Beginning as a smallall-girl singing group based in the Akihabara district of Tokyo – the city’sbustling electronics and anime/pop culture shopping Mecca – AKB48 has grown to60 members and topped Japan’s Oricon music charts with the two best-selling popsingles in 2010 as well as another two singles ranking in the Top 10. The filmwas just released by NEW PEOPLE Entertainment on DVD on December 1st.

GANTZ II:Perfect Answer               Screens at5:00pm

The GANTZsaga meets its ultimate conclusion in GANTZ II:Perfect Answer, which offers an intensely gripping story-line yetto be known to even readers of the original manga series. Determined toresurrect his friends who have died on previous missions, Kei and other memberstrapped in the world of GANTZ aim to score the 100 points needed to breakthrough and regain their freedom. Butwith the emergence of a mysterious man investigating the Gantz members, Gantzbegins to act up and the next target shocks the members. Some fight for love,some for justice but what will each member have to sacrifice? GANTZ is based on a popular manga seriescreated by Hiroya Oku and star leadingJapanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters fromIwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (DeathNote, Detroit Metal City). GANTZ II:Perfect Answer will be released by NEW PEOPLE Entertainment on DVD andBlu-ray on January 17th, 2012.

The SF Film Society | NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat subterranean theatre located at 1746 Post Street in San Francisco’s Japantown and features plushseating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX-certifiedsound system.

ACF 1251: Japanese Pop Fashions and Products sale for the holidays at NEW PEOPLE, The Store in S.F.

NEW PEOPLE Store Interior

NEW PEOPLE is kicking off the 2011 holiday shoppingseason with a variety of special sales and promotions that will take placethroughout the venue beginning on Black Friday, November 25th.

NEWPEOPLE, The Store will offer severalThanksgiving Weekend Shopping Specials on select items in the store on sale for30%-50% off! Visit NEW PEOPLE’s very on retail location, located in the venue’slobby, and explore a vast collection of fun and inventive products inspired byJapanese pop culture. Shoppers can browse a fantastic selection ofcarefully selected Japanese products that include apparel, accessories, books,toys, DVDs, music, and design items for the home and office.

Alsoannounced is a special DVD pre-order promotion for the upcoming release of the DOCUMENTARYof AKB48 to be continued, whichtraces the incredible rise to international stardom of AKB48, one of Japan’shottest pop idol groups. Pre-orders are now being accepted for the new film,which will be sold exclusively online for $19.99through the NEW PEOPLE store at: store.newpeopleworld.com. For alimited time, NEW PEOPLE, The Store is offering a FREE bonus DVD title from itscatalog to all pre-order purchasers. The film will be released December 1st.

NEW PEOPLE’s newestapparel boutique, the edgy Goth fashion brand, h. NAOTO, will also hold a sale with items available for between30% and 50% off. The sale runs thru November 27th. The first 50customers that purchase over $100.00 of merchandise will also receive a specialinvitation to attend h. NAOTO’s Holiday Party on December 10th Moredetails are available at the boutique.

Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, the renowned Japanese Lolita fashion brand, will have aspecial sale with over 250 items marked 30% to 50% off. Shoppers are invited totake advantage of some of the best deals of the season on hand-craftedLolita-inspired baby doll dresses and accessories.

Finally, Japanese Tabishoe manufacturer SOU • SOUwill hold a Holiday Sale beginning November 25th thru November 27th.SOU • SOU hasdeveloped a unique line of Japanese classic “Tabi” shoes based on a designoriginally favored by Japanese construction workers. SOU • SOU’s combination of form-fitting soles and colorful graphic patternshas attracted a huge following, from dancers to the sneaker-obsessed. Duringthe sale, shoppers that purchase at least $100.00 of SOU• SOU products will receive a free pair of Tabi socks. Offer applies toin-store purchases only; limit one pair of socks per customer. SOU • SOU willalso offer free shipping to online purchases over $75.00. (U.S. shipping only)

ACF 1240: DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 – TO BE CONTINUED on DVD and digital on December 1st

New Music Biopic TracesThe Rise To International

Fame Of Japan’s Most Popular  Pop Idol Group;

Special DVD Online PromotionOffers A Second

NEW PEOPLE Film Title With Any Pre-Order Purchase 

NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a filmdivision of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution ofJapanese films and media, has announced the release of DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 to be continued onDVD on Thursday. December 1st The new music biopic follows the unstoppable all-female Japanese pop idolgroup, AKB48, on their incredible rise to fame, and will be sold exclusivelyonline for $19.99 through the NEW PEOPLE store at: store.newpeopleworld.com.

DVD pre-orders will begin today. For alimited time, NEW PEOPLE is offering a FREE bonus DVD title from its catalog toall pre-order purchasers. Select from a list of available titles. DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 to be continued willalso be available to stream online at newpeoplechannel.comfor $4.99 (for a 48 hour rental) beginning December 1st. The DVDwill be available from Amazon by mid-December.Follow NEW PEOPLE Entertainment on Facebook and Twitter for updates. 

AKB48 was conceived in 2005 by Yasushi Akimoto, one of Japan’smost respected music producers. Beginning as a small all-girl singing group basedin the Akihabara district of Tokyo – the city’s bustling electronics andanime/pop culture shopping Mecca – AKB48 has grown to 60 members and toppedJapan’s Oricon music charts with the two best-selling pop singles in 2010 aswell as another two singles ranking in the Top 10. 

“AKB48 created an entirely new format for pop groups and theirfame has spread internationally,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEOof NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “This insightful documentary captures AKB48 on-stage andbehind the scenes and offers a candid look into the member’s lives and thephenomenal notoriety that surrounds the group. We invite J-Pop and music fansto visit the NEW PEOPLE store online to get the new DVD and to take advantageof a special offer to receive a second DVD title from the NEW PEOPLE filmcatalog!” 

With acomplicated balance of competition and friendship among its members, thegroup’s bond is extremely strong. DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 to be continued traces AKB48’s historywith scenes from concerts and rehearsals, member general elections, and fanactivities both in Japan and abroad. The film also includes personal interviewswith select members that reveal each of the girls’ personal struggles, joys,path to growth, and dreams.

One uniqueaspect of AKB48 is that the group is divided into “Teams.” When AKB48 debutedin 2005, originally there were only 24 girls. Now there are 16 girls each onTeam A, Team K, and Team B, who are the core members of the group. In addition,there are trainees who are aspiring members. Members total to around 60 girlsas some graduate and some new members come in. In the recent years AKB48 hasbegun holding elections to determine the members who will participate in therecording of upcoming singles. Fans vote for their favorites and the girlranked Number 1 performs at the center of the group.

ACF 1186: NEW PEOPLE S.F. to offer filled rice snacks from Onigilly

Popular Bay Area Food Cart Embarks On First Non-Mobile

FoodVenture Offering Healthy Rice Snacks Filled

With Delectable Fillings AtPremiere Bay Area

Japanese Pop Culture Venue

Here's some tasty news from San Francisco:

NEW PEOPLE, the dynamic San Franciscoentertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popularculture to North American shores, has expanded its delectable menu of imaginativesnacks and tasty Japanese entrees with the addition of Onigiri rice balls fromOnigilly, a popular local food cart that has been a part of the Bay Area's renowned food incubation program provided by La Cocina (NPC).

Thecollaboration with NEW PEOPLE is the first retail venture for Onigilly atnon-mobile food service location. The Bay Area start-up company, founded byKoji Kanematsu, makes Onigiri – tightly-packed balls of 30% polished brown ricewith a simple seaweed wrapper and filled with a variety of scrumptious andnutrient rich fillings. Onigilly is very particular about the delicious andhealthy ingredients it uses. Everything is made from scratch with no artificialingredients and prepared fresh daily. More information on Onigilly is availableat: www.onigilly.com.

A selectionof Onigilly’s healthy and tasty Japanese treats, including Spicy Shrimp, Eggplant, Hijiki (a type of Japanese seaweed) and Ume (japanese plums) flavored rice balls are now available from the Cinema Cafe at NEW PEOPLE located in the venue's lobby. Selections are available individually for $2.75 each and also as a lunch box for $7.00, which features 3 Onigilly rice balls, edamame and pickled ginger.

“Onigilly isan inspiring start up and is developing a big gourmet following around the BayArea with their healthy and delectable creations, and we’re very excited tocollaborate with them and make their food available in our café,” says SeijiHoribuchi, president and founder of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “Onigilly shares NEWPEOPLE’s core mission to inject a clever and sophisticated dose of  Japanese popular culture into all they do andwe look forward to the Japantowncommunity and NEW PEOPLE visitors joining with us to welcome our newest tastyaddition.”

NEW PEOPLEopened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’scultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporaryvenue featuresthe latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art,fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEWPEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

 

ACF 1136: : "COOL JAPAN: OLD MEETS NEW IN KYOTO" at J-Pop Summit Festival in S.F. this Saturday

NEW PEOPLE AND CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN PRESENT

COOL JAPAN: OLD MEETS NEW IN KYOTO

WITH SOU • SOU FASHION DESIGNER AT

2011 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

SOU • SOU Founding Designer Explores Ideas Of Creating Modern Designs

Based On Japanese Tradition With Discussion And Fashion Show

The Consulate General of Japan, in cooperation with NEW PEOPLE will present Cool Japan: Old Meets New in Kyoto, a unique fashion show and cultural discussion set to take place on Saturday, August 27th as part of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival.

The Fashion Show (1:15pm - 2:15pm): A SOU • SOU fashion show, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for 1:15pm - 2:15pm on the Pagoda Stage at Japantown’s Peace Plaza. It will feature innovative apparel and footwear products from the SOU • SOU brand, designed by Takeshi Wakabayashi, as well as a new collaborative line launched with NEW PEOPLE! Catch a variety of prominent local individuals who will act as models, including Japanese Consul General Hiroshi Inomata, famed food critic Patricia Unterman, and Graham Leggat, former Executive Director of San Francisco Film Society.

Designer Talk (4:00pm to 5:30pm): Invitation only event at NEW PEOPLE SUPERFROG Gallery (3rd Floor) SOU • SOU designer Takeshi Wakabayashi will discuss his ideas of, “Creating modern designs based on Japanese tradition.” Kyoto, where Wakabayashi resides, is an ancient capitol of Japan and a stronghold of traditional Japanese arts and culture with an accumulation of artisanship and related technology going back centuries. The city has also become a bustling center for modern creative design, where these cultural and industrial assets are to survive. Wakabayashi will also discuss how these innovative ideas are being passed to the young generations, based on his ongoing career as a professor at the Kyoto University of Art and Design.

“I’m very proud to present this special event in cooperation with NEW PEOPLE as part of the ‘Cool Japan Project,’ sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” says Consul General Hiroshi Inomata. “I invite the San Francisco Bay Area, potential business partners, and J-Pop Summit visitors to discover some great examples of Japanese innovation and high-quality products in the SOU • SOU brand, which also won two prizes at the Visit Japan Campaign - Japan’s Attractive Souvenir Contest 2010.”

Consul General Inomata will also host a reception party following the end of the lecture at 6:00pm at the near-by Hotel Kabuki in the Mezzanine Lounge. A variety of SOU • SOU products will also be on display and more information will be available on the Cool Japan Project.

Wakabayashi ‘s SOU • SOU brand has developed a unique line of Japanese classic “Tabi” shoes based on a design originally favored by Japanese construction workers. SOU • SOU’s combination of form-fitting soles and colorful graphic patterns has attracted a huge following, from dancers to the sneaker-obsessed. Designed to be fresh and fun, each shoe is handcrafted in Japan and made for durability using traditional techniques and puts a vibrant, modern twist on the ultra-comfortable, traditional Japanese work shoe.

The 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival is a showcase for Japanese pop culture events and is highlighted by live bands and DJs, fashion shows, a vocaloid music conference, theatrical film premieres, dance workshops and performances, and assorted arts, crafts and food vendors. Full details and programming schedules are now available at J-pop.com.

More information about the Consulate General of Japan is available at: http://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp.

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1134: U.S. Premiere of "Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Arcade" Game at upcoming J-Pop Summit Festival

"HATSUNE MIKU PROJECT DIVA ARCADE"

TO MAKE SPECIAL U.S. DEBUT AT

2011 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

NEW PEOPLE will team with SEGA Corporation to bring the “Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Arcade” to the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival, taking place in the city’s Japantown for two days – Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th.

“Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Arcade” is being shipped from Japan as a special treat for J-Pop Summit attendees and is the first and only unit outside Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Players will be able to purchase $1.00 tickets to play the game at the NEW PEOPLE Booth stationed on Post Street throughout the Festival. Ticket sales begin at 11:00am on Saturday. August 27th. Due to time limits, only 50 tickets will be available for purchase each day.

J-Pop Summit attendees are also invited to play “Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Arcade” – for free – at the J-Pop Summit VIP party, taking place Saturday August 27th from 7:30pm to 10:00pm at NEW PEOPLE. Come mingle with a variety of featured artists and performers from the Festival, enjoy snacks and beverages, and try your skill at the first-ever Hatsune Miku video game to come to America! Get your VIP Party ticket now.

The weekend-long J-Pop Summit is highlighted by live bands and DJs, fashion shows, a Vocaloid music conference, several theatrical film premieres, dance workshops and performances, and assorted arts, crafts and food vendors. Full details and programming schedules are now available at J-pop.com.

“Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Arcade” is the first-ever CGM (Consumer Generated Media) arcade game and features a dazzling digital world created by the players themselves. “Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Arcade” is a rhythm game featuring Hatsune Miku and other Vocaloid virtual pop stars singing popular songs from SEGA’s “Hatsune Miku -Project DIVA-“ game for the Sony PSP, and from the Niko Niko Douga web site. Check out how to play.

Hatsune Miku, whose name means, “first sound of the future,” is a digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine to create synthesized vocal tracks. In Japan, Hatsune Miku is a major national phenomenon where she appears in many popular video games and music videos.

Hatsune Miku has also played several sellout “concerts,” performing on stage as a 3D hologram backed by a live band. Her international notoriety has spread to North America, where she was recently featured in a TV commercial for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. Hatsune Miku also performed her first U.S. concert for more than 5,000 people at an event called “MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELES,” which took place at the 2011 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA.

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1131: "DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 – To Be Continued" licensed by NEW PEOPLE Entertainment & will have U.S. premiere at J-Pop Summit Festival in S.F.

NEW PEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT LICENSES THE

JAPANESE POP MUSIC BIO FILM

DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 -- TO BE CONTINUED



New Film Follows The Rise To International Fame

Of Japan’s Most Popular Pop Idol Group

And Will Have Exclusive U.S. Premiere August 28th

At The 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival In San Francisco

NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, has announced that it has licensed the film, DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 – To Be Continued, in the U.S. and Canada. The film follows the unstoppable all-female Japanese idol group, AKB48, and offering an insightful glimpse into the challenges that the group’s members have faced during their rise to international stardom. A trailer is available to view at: www.newpeopleent.com/AKB48



The U.S. premiere of DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 – To Be Continued will take place on Sunday, August 28th at 1:00pm at NEW PEOPLE’s cinema as part of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival. Tickets to the DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 are $12 and on sale now at www.newpeopleworld.com/films.



The annual J-Pop Summit, held in San Francisco’s Japantown, celebrates Japanese pop culture and is highlighted by a variety of film screenings, panel discussions, DJ dance parties, fashion shows, and live performances from several notable Guest of Honor artists. More information on J-Pop Summit Festival is available at www.J-Pop.com.



AKB48 was conceived in 2005 by Yasushi Akimoto, one of Japan’s most respected music producers. Starting as a small all-girl singing group based in the Akihabara district of Tokyo – the city’s bustling electronics and anime/pop culture shopping Mecca – AKB48 has grown to 60 members and topped Japan’s Oricon music charts with the two best-selling pop singles in 2010 as well as another two singles ranking in the Top 10.



“Pop culture and J-Pop music fans will delight in the news of our licensing of the DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 and we invite them to attend the special North American premiere at NEW PEOPLE during the upcoming J-Pop Summit,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “AKB48 has become massively popular in Japan and also enjoys a fast-growing U.S. fan base. This is a group unlike any other in pop music and we hope more people will discover AKB48 through this film. Stay tuned for more news coming soon on the release of the DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 on DVD!”



With a complicated balance of competition and friendship among its members, the group’s bond is extremely strong. DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 – To Be Continued traces AKB48’s history with scenes from concerts and rehearsals, member general elections, and fan activities both in Japan and abroad. The film also includes personal interviews with select members that reveal each of the girls’ personal struggles, joys, path to growth, and dreams.



One unique aspect of AKB48 is that the group is divided into “Teams.” When AKB48 debuted in 2005, originally there were only 24 girls. Now there are 16 girls each on Team A, Team K, and Team B, who are the core members of the group. In addition, there are trainees who are aspiring members. Members total to around 60 girls as some graduate and some new members come in. In the recent years AKB48 has begun holding elections to determine the members who will participate in the recording of upcoming singles. Fans vote for their favorites and the girl ranked Number 1 performs at the center of the group.

ACF 1128: San Francisco's Japantown announces “Hope for Japan's Recovery” banner contest winner

SF JAPANTOWN ANNOUNCES THE WINNING DESIGN FOR

“HOPE FOR JAPAN’S RECOVERY” BANNER CONTEST

IN SPECIAL COLLABORATION WITH HATSUNE MIKU

NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco’s dynamic entertainment destination showcasing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture, and the San Francisco Japantown Merchants Association have announced the winning banner design inspired by Hatsune Miku and carrying the theme of “Hope for Japan’s Recovery.” It will be displayed in the city’s Japantown and throughout the upcoming J-Pop Summit Festival. The design contest was a special collaboration with Crypton Future Media, Inc., the creators of Hatsune Miku.



The banner went up on Post Street, the main Japantown thoroughfare where the upcoming J-Pop Summit Festival is set take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th. With the recent earthquake and tsunami tragedies in Japan still fresh in everyone’s minds, the J-Pop Summit Festival has incorporated multiple benefit events into this year’s programming.



The annual J-Pop Summit Festival is a unique Japanese Pop Culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion and DJ dance events, and celebrity appearances. A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and features many new updates.



The “Hope for Japan’s Recovery” banner design was created by shiratama, an artist from Japan, and depicts a whimsical character inspired by the striking, blue-haired Vocaloid pop music phenomenon Hatsune Miku. This design will be featured on t-shirts, USB flash cards, tote bags and coffee mugs that will be for sale as part of charity programs during the J-Pop Summit Festival. A variety of shiratama’s other creations are available to view at: http://piapro.jp/ssmsub.



“We would like to send our sincerest appreciation and applause to shiratama, who designed this banner filled with love featuring Hatsune Miku holding a warm heart tightly, which delivers a message of hope from us to the people in Japan,” says Richard Hashimoto, President of the Japantown Merchants Association. “We would also like to thank the many artists who entered this contest from all over the world. Please come visit San Francisco’s Japantown to see Miku praying for Japan.”



“It’s a pleasant coincidence for us to have this banner up during the week of our second anniversary of NEW PEOPLE.” Seiji Horibuchi, the founder/CEO of NEW PEOPLE Inc, which produces the J-Pop Summit Festival. “We’re grateful to Hatsune Miku and Crypton Future Media to give the 2011 J-Pop Summit and Japantown an exciting opportunity to strengthen the bridge between the U.S. and Japan.”



NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1126: Vocaloid music phenomenon to be major centerpiece at J-Pop Summit

NEW PEOPLE WELCOMES ZANEEDS

AND DANCEROID AS GUESTS OF HONOR

TO SHOWCASE VOCALOID MUSIC PHENOMENON

AT J-POP SUMMIT



New Musical Genre Inspired By Japanese Pop Culture

To Be Focus Of J-Pop Summit VOCALOID Music Conference

And Features ZANEEDS, DANCEROID Dancers,

And DJ Amaya At Annual Bay Area 2-Day Event

NEW PEOPLE will be tapping the latest dazzling musical trend from Japan – vocaloid music – a new genre of electronic arts and music that originated from Japanese pop culture. The style notably blends catchy pop melodies and technology-inspired vocals with captivating anime-influenced imagery and will be a major centerpiece of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival and its theme of “Fashion, Music & Technology.”



The 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, August 27th- 28th across the city’s Japantown and will host the VOCALOID Music Conference, highlighted by a variety of free interactive activities, panel discussions, DJ dance parties, and live performances from several notable Guest of Honor artists. A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and features regular updates.



Hosted by Brian Zesk, the founder of S.F. Music Summit that takes place in September in Japantown, the J-Pop Summit x SF Music Tech present the VOCALOID Conference: The Voice of Future Music at 2:00pm, Sunday, August 28th. Tickets and more info on the conference are available here.



The conference will feature ZANEEDS, the vocaloid creative team that produces the work of several virtual pop idols such as Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin and Megurine Luka. The team will explore the evolution of this phenomenon and screen several music videos and discuss work they have done with many Miku-inspired creators and animators.



The main panel topic will be, "The creative explosion caused by internet platforms and vocaloid Hatsune Miku, and how it's affecting the future of music.” Furthermore, ZANEEDS and Danceroid will share latest videos and reveal behind the scene stories from the production process!



The conference also features Ikura and Kozue from Danceroid, a vocaloid dance unit that has become an international musical dance sensation with their performances choreographed to popular Vocaloid songs. The group’s videos have been played more than 100 million times online.



Danceroid also takes over Japantown’s Peace Plaza to perform on Saturday, August 27th. The spunky pair of dancers also joins the Vocaloid Dance Workshop, also set for Sunday, August 28th and will serve as judges at the Vocaloid Dance Contest the same day.



DJ Amaya returns to the J-Pop Summit Festival and will again turn Peace Plaza into a massive dancehall as he did in 2010. This year, he will feature mixes of top vocaloid artists and challenges at ZANEEDS at MIKU MIX DJ BATTLE on Saturday, August 27th!



Last year, NEW PEOPLE became the first outlet in North America to present the vocaloid phenomenon when it premiered a live concert film for virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku at the 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival. Miku has since become one of the most visible and popular vocaloid performers. A fun new hybrid of the pop star and Sanrio’s Hello Kitty – MIKU KITTY – will be a prominent character mascot at the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival.





Other Vocaloid-Inspired Interactive Activities:



Saturday August 27th



Vex Mode

DJ and musical artist Vex Mode started producing video game music in 2005 under the name David Nereus. Vex Mode will joins the 2011 J-Pop Summit with his pulsating Japanese Rave music (J-CORE) remixes that will kick off this year’s festival!



Miku Mix DJ Battle

L.A. meets Tokyo in San Francisco! DJ Amaya and ZANEEDS rocked thousands of fans at the Nokia Theater during this year’s Anime Expo and come together again on the J-Pop Summit’s Main Stage in Peace Plaza to take turns mixing up some mean Miku remixes!



Sunday August 28th



Vocaloid Dance Contest

Vocaloid fans hit the stage to dance and lip-sync in front of a huge audience! Bay Area anime organization Animation on Display is the host and guest performers Danceroid will judge the performances. Winners will be awarded DVDs of Danceroid and a variety of Hatusne Miku prizes!





Saturday August 27th & Sunday August 28th



Featured Performers:



ZANEEDS

The composers of this year’s J-Pop Summit Festival theme song, “Tokyo Beat.” ZANEEDS works as five “crews” that include: Music by ZANIO, Illustration by CHAN*CO, Design by PPRP, Movies by Ippai Attenya and Direction by Torinos. The group brings a Japanese aesthetic and the sense of beauty into their music which is inspired by Acid Jazz, Deep House and Electronica. More info at: http://zaneeds.com/.



Danceroid

Danceroid is a group of four girls that have become an international musical dance sensation with their performances choreographed to popular Vocaloid songs. The group’s videos have been played more than 100 million times online on Nico Nico. More info at: www.danceroid.jp.



DJ Amaya

DJ Amaya has been performing and producing his own original tracks and remixes since 2002. He is best known for his underground remixes of the Japanese Superstar Ayumi Hamasaki, and his podcast “Hitsuzen Radio” that features the best in Japanese remixes, and dance music from around the world. His latest CD, “Angel at Dawn,” is available now. More info at: www.djamaya.com.



NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1123: h. Naoto, Japanese fashion designer, to be at J-Pop Summit Festival in San Francisco on August 27th & 28th

NEW PEOPLE WELCOMES
JAPANESE FASHION DESIGNER h. NAOTO
TO 2011 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

Edgy Designer Inspired By Gothic, Lolita And Punk
Will Run A Fashion Show Showcasing New Work,
Screen A Tokyo Collection Film, And
Preview New Store To Open In October
At NEW PEOPLE

NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco’s dynamic entertainment destination showcasing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture, welcomes edgy fashion label h. Naoto to its 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival, happening in the city’s Japantown for two days – Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th. A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and features regular updates.

h. Naoto will open his long waited U.S. debut flagship store in October and will showcase new designs for sale in a special pop-up boutique during the J-Pop Summit. The brand will also host several events including a fashion show on Saturday, August 27th inside NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG Gallery, and screen footage from the brand’s latest Tokyo Collection fashion show on Sunday, August 28th in NEW PEOPLE’s cinema. h. Naoto will also appear to participate in a Q&A session immediately following the film

Tickets to fashion show and film screening will be given to shoppers with over $100 purchase at the h. Naoto pop-up boutique on the first come, first served basis while supplies last. Seating is limited.

In preparation for these events, h;.NAOTO has also issued a public call for volunteer models, hair and make-up artists. Information is available at www.newpeopleworld.com, and applications may be sent to: h.naoto@newpeoplesf.com.

h. Naoto is the essence of Gothic-Lolita and Punk fashion and represents the type of innovative fashion forward design for which Japan is known worldwide. The label’s one-of-a-kind unique designs, inspired by punk and goth, are widely sees in Tokyo, and are now gaining a new market in the United States. With inventive ensemble and separates, h. Naoto is poised to bring a new side of Japanese fashion and pop culture couture to North America. More information on the brand and its collections are available at: www.s-inc.com/hnaoto.

“h. Naoto incorporates the essence of the Gothic and punk-inspired styles and synthesizes an ultra-modern look that delivers the latest in Harajuku fashion to a new U.S. audience,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “The launch of their first U.S. retail store is very exciting and J-Pop Summit attendees will get a sneak preview of their latest designs and even be able to participate in the fashion show! More events will be announced shortly and are sure to make the 2011 J-Pop Summit celebration the best one we’ve done yet!”

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1114: New People to screen incredible doc "Twice Bombed, Twice Survived" on August 6th in San Francisco

SPECIAL NEW PEOPLE FILM SCREENING OF
TWICE BOMBED, TWICE SURVIVED
REMEMBERS THE ATOMIC BOMBINGS
OF HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI

Emotional Documentary Recalls One Man’s Incredible Experience
Having Survived Bombings Of Both Japanese Cities

NEW PEOPLE, the nation’s only entertainment complex dedicated to Japanese popular culture, commemorates the 66th Anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a very special screening of Twice Bombed, Twice Survived, a thought provoking documentary about Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only person to have been officially recognized by the Japanese government for surviving both explosions. Tickets, a trailer and more information are available here.

Twice Bombed, Twice Survived plays at NEW PEOPLE’s cinema on Saturday, August 6th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $10.00 each. A portion of sales will be donated directly to the Friends of Hibakusha, a San Francisco organization dedicated to supporting U.S. citizens and Japanese-American survivors of radiation exposure from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The U.S. government does not currently subsidize any medical treatment programs for atomic bomb survivors. Several survivors from the Friends of Hibakusha will speak in a Q&A immediately following the screening.

In August 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. More than 210,000 people were killed and many more victims were affected by both of the bombings. Tsutomu Yamaguchi is one person who was bombed twice, and survived twice. His hope towards the abolition of nuclear weapons brought 90-year-old Yamaguchi to appear in this incredible film. Along with Yamaguchi, seven other twice-bombed twice-survived people also recount their experiences in the film.

ACF 1104: New People launches Kickstarter Project for 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival

NEW PEOPLE LAUNCHES
A KICKSTARTER FUNDING PROJECT
FOR THE 2011 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

Fundraiser Supports The Expansion of
Annual Bay Area Pop Culture Event
Featuring MIKU-KITTY As A Main Character!
Donators Invited To Special VIP Party

NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco’s dynamic entertainment destination showcasing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture, has launched a Kickstarter Funding Project for the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival, which expands to two days – (Sat/Sun) August 27th & 28th – across the city’s Japantown. A Kickstarter page with complete project details is available here.

The J-Pop Summit Festival is a unique gathering of creative trendsetters and artists whose styles influence people around the world. With the theme of “Fashion, Music & Technology,” the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival celebrates its 3rd year with edgy new multimedia content from Japan and also blends work and products from innovative local artists and merchants to become a one-of-a-kind event that reflects the essence of “pop culture.”

A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and will feature regular updates on programming, talent and events! The site features “Tokyo Beat,” the theme song for this year’s festival produced by Popular Vocaloid Unt Zanneeds, who will attend as a guest of honor.

The Kickstarter project seeks to raise awareness of this unique event as well as fund the increased costs incurred with expanding the event to 2 days, while still keeping it free to attend.

All the J-Pop Kickstarter Project Supporters Are Invited Summit Festival VIP parties.

• $20.00 Donation - A General Pass to VIP After Party on Saturday, 8/27where a special limited edition MIKU-KITTY novelty keychain will be given as a gift for attendee’s donations.
• $100.00 Donation (only 50 tickets available) - A VIP pass to VIP After Party valid on Saturday 8/27with exclusive entry to VIP Lounge with; Key special photo opportunities with guests and celebrities from Japan; and a special limited edition MIKU-KITTY novelty keychain as a gift for donating

The Summit Festival VIP party will also include "TOKYO FRESHLY SQUEEZED: THE HOTTEST MUSIC VIDEOS FROM JAPAN!,” a series of music videos, supported by MUSIC ON! TV (www.m-on.jp) from Japan, featuring the hottest J-Pop bands and artists performing Visual Kei, J-rock, anime songs, and more to be screened inside NEW PEOPLE’s cinema on its THX®-certified sound system. All party attendees are invited to check out the latest musical acts topping the Japanese pop, rock and modern charts!

This year, MIKU-KITTY, a special character collaboration of Hatune Miku and Hello Kitty, will be featured at the J-Pop Summit. The marriage between pop culture icon Hello Kitty and the fast-rising virtual vocaloid idol, Hatsune Miku, is a true mix of J-Pop culture and sure to be an attraction for fans.

“Vocaloid” music has become the latest pop phenomenon sweeping Japan and the trend has spread fast to the U.S. with the advent of personalities like Hatsune Miku, who has become the world’s first true virtual pop star. The J-Pop Summit, where made her first film concert debut last year, will return for 2011 with even more exciting projects and products featuring Hatsune Miku!

The J-Pop Summit Festival also brings back many popular attractions such as movie premieres, live bands, fashion shows, and J-Pop artist and celebrity interviews, that have made the annual event a must-attend for fashion, film, anime and music fans as well as hipsters, pop culture enthusiasts, Bay Area residents, and as legions of tourists visiting the city. NEW PEOPLE will also help raise funds during Summit Festival for Japan’s ongoing disaster recovery efforts with a “Hope for Japan’s Recovery,” drive.

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1091: New People expands J-Pop Summit Festival in San Francisco

2011 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
Expands To 2-Days In August
In San Francisco’s Japantown

Special Design Contest Also Announced

NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco’s dynamic entertainment destination showcasing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture, has announced the expansion of its annual J-Pop Summit Festival. The 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival will take place August 27th- 28th across the city’s Japantown.

The weekend-long celebration brings back many popular attractions that have made the J-Pop Summit Festival a must-attend event for fashion, film, anime and music fans as well as hipsters, pop culture enthusiasts, Bay Area residents, and as tourists visiting the city. A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and will feature regular updates.

“The expansion of the J-Pop Summit Festival is a result of the overwhelming support from our partners and sponsors and strong attendance by a wide array of people from all backgrounds and interests,” says Seiji Horibuchi, president of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “From rock music to fashion shows, film premieres, interactive video game displays, and a special focus this year on the ‘Vocaloid’ music phenomenon, there will be something for everyone at this year’s event! We look forward to announcing more details and additional participants and sponsors in coming weeks.”

“Vocaloid” music has become the latest pop phenomenon sweeping Japan and the trend is spreading fast to the U.S. with the advent of personalities like Hatsune Miku, who has become the world’s first true virtual pop star. The J-Pop Summit, where made her first film concert debut last year, returns for 2011 with even more exciting projects featuring Hatsune Miku. More details will be announced soon!

With the recent earthquake and tsunami tragedies in Japan still fresh in everyone’s minds, the J-Pop Summit Festival has incorporated multiple benefit events into the programming. New People and San Francisco Japantown merchants are partnering with Piapro.jp (run by Hatsune Miku’s Crypton Future Media), to host two unique design competitions.

The first is for a banner design, carrying the theme of “Hope for Japan’s Recovery,” to be displayed on Post Street, the main Japantown thoroughfare where the J-Pop Summit Festival will take place. The banner should feature at least one (or more) of the following Volcaloid characters: Hatsune Miku, Rin Kagamine, Len Kagamine, Luka Megurine, MEIKO or KAITO. Special charity goods with the winning design will be available at the J-Pop Summit to benefit Japan’s ongoing relief efforts. Grand Prize will be a roundtrip trip to San Francisco (flexible travel dates) from anywhere in the United States, furnished by NEW PEOPLE and the Japantown Merchants Association. For complete entry details, please visit J-pop.com.

The second competition will be to develop a new character design for “Hatsune Miku U.S. Version” and also will award the winner with a special Grand Prize roundtrip trip to San Francisco (flexible travel dates) from anywhere in the United States, furnished by Crypton Future Media. For complete entry details, please visit J-pop.com.

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events.

NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

ACF 1058: Girl band flick "Linda Linda Linda" to kick off New People's summer series of monthly benefits for Japan relief

NEW PEOPLE CONTINUES JAPANESE DISASTER
RECOVERY FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
WITH SPECIAL NEW FILM SERIES

Rock-n-Roll Drama LINDA LINDA LINDA Kicks Off
A New Series Of Monthly Film Screenings
To Benefit Reconstruction And Recovery Efforts

NEW PEOPLE, the nation’s only entertainment complex dedicated to Japanese popular culture, continues to drive Bay Area fundraising efforts for ongoing Japanese disaster relief and reconstruction. The venue has just announced the kick-off off a summer-long series of monthly benefit film screenings that launches on Friday, June 24th at 7:00pm with the critically acclaimed teenage rock-and-roll drama, LINDA LINDA LINDA.

(For my review of this most enjoyable film, way back in ACF 025 just before it originally came out on DVD in the U.S., click here.)

Come sing, come dance, and come help Japan! Suggested donation is $10.00. Tickets and more information are available here. NEW PEOPLE is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St.

100% of net proceeds will be donated to EARTH DAY TOKYO TOWER of Japan. Earth Day Tokyo Tower Volunteer Center began its activities in response to tremendous tsunami and earthquake devastation that ravaged Northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. The group sends organized groups of volunteers into devastated areas to assist with clean-up, make food, hold events for children, sets up food courts, and more.

LINDA LINDA LINDA was directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita and follows an all-girl high school rock band after an untimely break-up. Only three days before their high school festival, guitarist Kei (Yu Kashii), drummer Kyoto (Aki Maeda of Battle Royale), and bassist Nozumi (Shiori Sekine) must recruit a new lead vocalist for their band. They choose an unlikely Korean exchange student Son (Doona Bae of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), even though her comprehension of Japanese is a bit rough!

It’s a race against time as the group struggles to learn three tunes for the festival’s rock concert — including a classic '80s punk-pop song by the famous Japanese group The Blue Hearts called “Linda Linda.” The film notably offers a soundtrack by ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and a cameo by punk rock legends The Ramones. LINDA LINDA LINDA is also available on DVD from NEW PEOPLE Entertainment.

ACF 1054: Yoshitaka Amano exhibition and benefit aution event in San Francsico

MANGA/ANIME ARTIST YOSHITAKA AMANO
DONATES THREE ARTWORKS FOR A SPECIAL ART EXHIBIT
AND JAPANESE DISASTER BENEFIT
AT NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG GALLERY

Yoshitaka Amano: FOR JAPAN
Showcases The Artist’s Vibrant Style
And Presents A Very Special Live Auction Event
To Raise Funds For Ongoing Japanese Recovery

NEW PEOPLE, the dynamic San Francisco entertainment destination that brings the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, will present Yoshitaka Amano: FOR JAPAN, a very special pop art exhibition and auction event to fund ongoing Japanese disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Yoshitaka Amano: FOR JAPAN opens inside NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG Gallery on Saturday, June 18th and runs through Saturday July 9th. A special auction event and closing party is scheduled for Saturday, July 9th – the final day of the exhibit – from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Guests must RSVP here to attend. Additional details are available at: www.newpeopleworld.com/arts/yoshitaka-amano-for-japan.

Yoshitaka Amano has donated three striking new brush works on canvas to be auctioned for the tsunami and earthquake victims of Japan. Fully 100% of all proceeds will be received by the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund by JCCCNC (www.jcccnc.org). Yoshitaka Amano: FOR JAPAN will further exhibit a range of the acclaimed artist’s works that were originally created as a testament to his childhood love for American pop culture, comics, and automobiles. Reinterpreted with his signature manga and anime-influenced graphic style, these breathtaking and vibrant pieces are boldly coated in auto paint and metallic glitter.

Bidding will be open to on-site as well as text bidding beginning at 12:00pm (PST) on Saturday, July 9th. Bid amounts will be updated LIVE on NEW PEOPLE’s TWITTER page. The Final Bidding Event is scheduled to be held during the closing party beginning at 7:30pm.

All bidders must pre-register to participate. Bidders may register online here or also on-site at the SUPERFROG Gallery. Credit Card information will be attained via phone after registration, along with a Bidder Number that will be used for identification during the auction. The bidder with the highest final bid at the auction’s closing time will attain the painting after payment is verified. 100% of proceeds will be donated to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

“Japan still faces many challenges as it works to rebuild its infrastructure and house tens of thousands of people displaced by the earthquake and tsunami,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPE, Inc. “Yoshitaka Amano is an internationally acclaimed artist in the anime and pop art world and we’re honored to offer the SUPERFROG Gallery as the venue to unveil three of his latest works that will help with such a critical cause. This is a rare opportunity to acquire work by one of the most celebrated pop artists of the last 20 years and one not to be missed!”

Legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano is widely acclaimed for his work in animation and video games. He is also renowned for designing the characters for the hit video game, Final Fantasy, as well as for anime films including Vampire Hunter D, Guin Saga, Final Fantasy, and Front Mission.

The SUPERFROG Gallery is a bright and spacious 2,000 square foot exhibit space that is located on the 3rd floor of NEW PEOPLE’s striking contemporary building in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Japantown. SUPERFROG Gallery is a permanent outlet for established as well as emerging artists that draw inspiration from Japanese and Asian pop and modern culture.

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples of Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (www.newpeopleworld.com) offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.