Slash And Burn

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Riki Takeuchi is now RIKI, complete with jumpsuit and decotruck. We've heard him sing before, but never like this:

And here he is shamelessly plugging this new record, "Kurenai no backfire," on Japanese TV:

Found on Patrick Macias' site.

Viz Theater Update

I've been pretty excited about the Japanese movie theater and J-pop center Viz is building in San Francisco's Japan Town, and have covered it in the past.

Last I heard from the company's site, the theater and center were slated to open in winter 2008. Now the site is saying 2009.

I was staying in San Francisco's Japan Town recently and had the opportunity to snap the picture that accompanies this post. Yes, it's a big hole in the ground, but that's something compared to what this space has been for seemingly ever: the old Hokubei Mainichi Shinbun building.

When completed, this will be the only Japanese theater in America. Can't wait!