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After first hitting our screens in 1960, Japan's anime hero The Mighty Atom gets the full CGI makeover and, while firmly geared towards a younger audience, Astro Boy has more than enough going for it to fulfil the retro-geek hiding inside us all. This re-mastered film we be shown this Saturday, the 17th October 2009 at 15:30!
Photo Credit: Astro Boy 2009
Japanese events in London: 12th October - 18th October 2009
The 12th October 2009, is the second Monday in October which means it is Japan's national holiday, "Sports Day." Established to commemorate the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which opened on October 10th. Many schools in Japan have a "Field Day" around this time, which includes various physical events. Some common events are the 400 metres relay arce, tug of war, and all other physical games you can think of. The children are usually divided into two teams: red and white (the children all have red and white reversible gymnastics caps). (Incindentally, the reveresable Japanese hats for school children is really Japanese - many schools adopt this.)
"Field Day" is a fun event for the entire family, in fact, some parents get up early to reserve a space at school grounds so that they can get a good view of their children competing. Mother's also prepare special bento lunch boxes for the family.
We teach Japanese language, but as I am sure you are aware, we also teach Japanese culture. Our differentiation to other Japanese language schools is that we combine the Japanese culture with the language. One of our key lessons is Japanese Manga and Anime. We have an active interest in any Japanese Manga and Anime events in London, (in a previous Japanese-UK blog post we talk about a Japanese Manga Exhibition), this Saturday we note that the The Mighty Atom Boy, aka, Astro Boy gets a full CGI makeover!!!
The Times 53rd British Film Festival 2009 is a highly regarded and anticipated event in Europe's cultural calendar attracts leading international filmmakers, industry professionals and the media together with large public audiences to London for a two week showcase of the best in contemporary world cinema - and the re-made Astro Boy is included in the line-up!!
In a previous article we wrote about Astro Boy, we established his importance in the History of Manga and Anime, but just to re-cap:
In Metro City, scientist Dr Tenma, an expert in the field of robot technology, creates a robot using advanced 'blue energy' and with the most incredible abilities ever imagined. His creation is produced with x-ray vision, super speed and strength, along with the power to fly. He makes it in the likeness of his late son and thus, Astro Boy is born. A long journey lies ahead of him; on the one hand he must face up to being different from the other children he meets and, on the other, he has many enemies who stand in the way of Metro City's survival and continued prosperity.The film will be shown this Saturday, 17th October 2009, at 15:30 and 15:45, (different screens).
This Saturday also sees a talk by the Anglo-Japanese International Symposium titled: "Human Development, Restoration and Social Development since WWII" This starts at 11am and is anticipated to finish at 5pm, Tickets cost £7 (snacks and drinks included) at the talk is being held at St Ethelburga’s Church, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG. The discussion will focus on the business, cultural, military, and political ties between Japan and the United Kingdom
This Sunday, 18th October 2009, there is a Japanese Festival Afternoon in Brighton along the lines of Matsuri, (see here our previous posts on Masturi in London). The event will take place from 2.30pm – until 5pm. The address is New Road, Brighton, outside the Oki-Nami Restaurant, which is approximately a ten minute walk from Brighton Station). The event is free, although there may be a small charge for the tea ceremony, which will be inside the restaurant. The event will also include a spectacular sword demonstration in the street, authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony, Shiatsu, Origami, Calligraphy and other Japanese cultural events.
The Japan Centre, our beloved second home in London is expanding, again, into a new shop on Regent Street. This move ought to have been completed by the end of the week.
