A Marvel Avenger in your pocket!

         Just in time for the ground breaking movie, you can own a charm sized version of your favorite Avenger (or any other Marvel Comics favorite)!  Tokidoki has teamed up with Marvel to create these fierce little “Frenzies” figures.  They will defend your cell phone, key-chain or back pack zipper!  You can order one (or more) of these randomly assorted blind boxes here!

Donut Man Turns 40 Today

The Donut Man at 40. Celebrate donut day with him at his spot in Glendora. May 23, 1972. (Patch – Donut Man)

That’s Jim Nakano below who started and runs the business. Congrats.

Tonki – Tonkatsu Shop in The Japan Times

Tonki restaurant was founded 73 years ago and while surfing just a bit, I ran into an article about this and then found a post from the past. I’ve been to the shop, and it’s an amazing place. (Japantimes – Tonki) Here’s a post from 2010 on a visit there. It just happens that it’s located near the station and it’s just a cool place. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s worth the visit. There is something special about the wood counters, seating, and it’s cleanliness for a place that’s cooking in oil. It feels great and clean and they’ll also give you as much cabbage as you handle – sometimes it’s the underdog item. (GR – Tonki)

Here’s a video of the shop

The Media Loves Cosplay

Cosplay still dazzles in the media. It’s no more interesting than Halloween for the most part. It’s people in costumes, but the media swallows it up because of the imagery, looniness and straight up: cute Asian girls. Have you seen an article about cosplay that includes no photos? It’s not the showing of the skin, it’s just the one ups man ship of the costumes. It’s not important who they’re dressing up as from the viewpoint of the readers of such articles. It’s the fascination with Asia and pop culture. Yes, cosplay is fun to peep at. Even the bad, obese or cross dressers are fun to witness. This article does tell a bit about Taiwan which is lesser known but as fanatic for cosplay. (WSJ – Inside Cosplay)

Here Comes Uniqlo to the US

It’s happening. Uniqlo is on their secret mission of becoming the world’s largest retailer. Why is it that while the economy still blows, a giant can continue to get more giant. They’re not selling oil, gold or diamonds at inflated prices. They’re selling cotton and polyester. Often times nearly the same as clothing makers of the past… but, who are American. The Gap and Old Navy have been around, but Uniqlo? Sounds like a name for the ages. 20-30 new stores in the US in the next eight years? Sounds doable, especially when they’re charing low prices in high rents in Soho and 5th Avenue in Manhattan, NY. Much like IKEA revolutionized dorm rooms, first time home owners, and great “IKEA hackers”, Uniqlo will do the same. Where will that leave the small shops like Giant Robot, which nearly at the polar opposite end? We’ll be here. (NYTimes – Uniqlo) There are plenty of Uniqlo posts in the past on GiantRobot.com and a recent visit yielded new clothing collaboration by Undercover (Uu) x Uniqlo at sale prices.

Meanwhile in other Uniqlo news: They signed up Novak Djokovic.

I Dream of Cheng and Eng – A Play About the Siamese Twins

Philip Gotanda’s latest play is called I Dream of Chang and Eng. It’s based on the Siamese Twins who could be considered one of the most famous Asian Americans at the turn of the century. They lived large evidently because of their Circus tours and were both married. Philip Gotanda, a friend of GR, is a master play writer and seems to always be working. This topic is a fascinating concept since it will feature conjoined twins! (Rafu – Bunker)

Camp Musubi Shave Ice Special

Any excuse to write about Brian’s Shave Ice is a great one. But this time it’s more than just about Shave Ice, it’s about Camp Musubi. They were having a fundraiser. Until just a bit earlier in the day, I’ve never heard of this Camp. It’s a Japanese American Day Camp for middle schoolers to learn a little bit of something about their history.

In our world that’s increasingly getting busier and bombarded with news from almost everywhere except Asian America, this is important. I’ll also add it’s important for Japanese Americans especially when it seems that “our” numbers are shrinking along with visibility in many public arenas. Sometimes when visiting film festivals, art schools etc, I wonder where the Japanese Americans are? There’s often none.

That’s filmmaker Tad Nakamura enjoying a very tiny serving of shave ice. Go large!

That’s Erika Olsen devouring size large. POG, Rootbeer, and Lihing Mui with Dole Whip in the center. That’s how the champs do it.

Tempt1 – Getting Up: The TEMPT ONE Story

Tempt1 or Tony used to work out of an office near GR years ago. While I can’t say I knew him in any kind of personal capacity except seeing him around and interviewing him one time, he’s now the subject of a documentary. It’s not exactly a happy tale since he’s now fighting ALS and can only move his eyes. The Eyewriter invention (something that was developed with Kickstarter funds) has changed his living quality. He can now draw and such with the movement of his eyes.

He once published a graf mag and I do recall him telling me how he chose to always look where no one else was looking in finding content. Of course, I do want to see this film and I hope it leads to more great things for him.

New Gama-Go women’s t-shirts have arrived!

Brand new in the Giant Robot Store are adorable styles like this napping Snow Leopard!  Gama-Go, one of our favorite goodies producer, has new designs that are sure to be enjoyed by all.  You can check out this cute style here.  Be sure to check out the rest their new styles as well!

Uglydoll Unfolds in the LA Weekly

LA Weekly write up on David Horvath Sun-min Kim and Uglydoll. It’s still an amazing ride that they’re taking. From a walk in at the shop to still going strong. They’re solid Angelinos. I’m glad to be part of the history and it’s amazing that people walk in to the store and mention the story back. It matters to many, and that’s why we keep stocking Uglydoll at GR – and it’s why we often get olds and ends that the other shops don’t. It’s only fair. The story is now 11 years old and continues on, since it happened.

Here’s an except as written by Gendy Alimurung

“Kim sewed that drawing into a doll made of soft felt and mailed it to Horvath. It had a simple, funny charm. When he received it he was so excited, he wanted to call her. But it was nighttime in Korea. Instead he ran over to visit his friend Eric Nakamura, who had just opened the store Giant Robot on Sawtelle in West L.A. “OK,” said Nakamura, examining the doll, “I’ll take 20.”

“He thought I was pitching a product,” Horvath recalls.

Kim sewed the dolls. Those initial 20 sold out in one day. “I was horrified,” Horvath says. “We were going to send people there to look at them. It didn’t make sense.” But Nakamura ordered 20 more. Then 40 more.”

Ready for J Kid Pop?

This isn’t the most exciting thing in the world but the girl on the left is a huge star in Japan. Her name is Mana Ashida and as a child of 7 years, she’s a hit. If K Pop is going to reign with sexy girls, then why not combat it with a new genre of J Kid Pop? With an older demographic and aging population, this is odd and something that’ll be studied.

“Most impressively, respected Japanese advertising agency Dentsu named Ashida the sixth best Japanese “product” of 2011—placing her in front of hybrid cars and emergency supplies.” (The Atlantic – Mana Ashida)

Tokyo Sky Tree Opens

That’s the Tokyo Sky Tree. It’s a huge structure that exists just to have it exist. A tourist trap, a monument or a testament, it’s huge and open. It’s 634-meter (2,080-foot) and will get featured in films and more. The Tokyo Tower as much as any huge monument made appearances in films including one of it’s name sake. (Huffington Post – Sky Tree)

Goh Nakamurathon – 40, 40, 41 hours to go

Anyone who’s read Giant Robot magazine, been to one of the shops, or visits the website knows that we’re big supporters of Goh Nakamura and his music. While his roots are in ’80s metal and his style is more like Elvis Costello or Elliott Smith, his worth ethic is as indie as you can get. He plays living rooms and theater lobbies, sits in on local jam nights and community gatherings. Most recently, he’s been featured in two independent features, Surrogate Valentine and Daylight Savings, which are making the film fest circuit.  The movies directed by David Boyle are very cool and I hope everyone supports them, but in the meantime Goh hasn’t been releasing enough of his own new music… Yes, the Music from the Motion Picture CD is a cool collection of tunes and scores from both flicks, but we fans are ready for a full-on album.

The Dream Sessions, Goh’s latest Kickstarter effort, would remedy that. He’s trying to raise money to record sessions in three studios. Three cities, three different sets of musicians, same rad guitarist and singer. To help publicize the campaign, he’s been webcasting live sets featuring various friends playing music or just hanging out. Today, I was the visitor, and brought Eloise as long as well. You can watch the link here, in which she sings along to The Ramones and The Go-Go’s and dances around to The Beatles. How lucky are we? Coming up on Wednesday is Tamlyn Tomita, star of Karate Kid II and patron saint of Asian American cinema. I hear she used to skateboard in pools, so watch the webcast, jump in the chatroom, and request Agent Orange’s “Bloodstains” or some other skate rock! Then support Goh, a rad musician, good friend, and awesome guy.

I LOVE NY Bags Mistaken for a Bomb

Takashi Miyakawa is a furniture designer and according to his attorney, the illuminated bags he was putting up was for NY’s Design Week. He put them on lamp posts around town. He was caught by police and was arrested and now getting a month long mental evaluation which means he must have said something odd. (Daily mail UK – Takashi Miyakawa)

Mining in Mongolia

Who’s making cash? It’s not just China but it’s quiet neighbors to the north are also growing at a large rate. It’s not all about building but it’s also about mining. The rich will get richer, and the poor who have to dig up the copper and so forth will end up poorer than ever. It’s an opportunity and won’t last forever. (NPR – Minegolia)