Me Name Tiger

Now that's a grrrrrrrrrreat suit! I knew this LP would come in handy one day. Happy Year of the Tiger!

Playlist & Podcast S4 Ep5 - 18th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat - Series 4 Episode 5 18th February 2010

Lucky Cat

Good Luck to You - Tsui Ping (Chinese New Year songs 7" EP, EMI)

Take A Tiger by The Tail - Eddie Arnold (RCA Camden vinyl LP)

Me Name Tiger - Tiger (Me Name Tiger vinyl LP)

The Wonderful Thing about Tiggers - Paul Winchell (Disney compilation LP)

Tiger Man (King of the Jungle) - Rufus Thomas (The Legendary Sun Classics Vol 1 CD)

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - Tan Dan & Yo-Yo Ma (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon soundtrack CD)

Wild Like A Tiger - Eek-A-Mouse (Most Wanted CD)

New Year Song - Rita & Sakura (7" vinyl, EMI)

Movie Stars - The Tiger(Roosevelt In Trinidad: Calypsos Of Events, Places & Personalities 1933-1939 CD)

Happy New Year - Tsui Ping (Chinese New Year songs 7" vinyl EP, EMI)

Tiger Phone Card - Dengue Fever (album of same name)

Tiger by the Tail - Buck Ownens (Buck Owens & The Buckaroos Live @Carnegie Hall vinyl LP)

Hong Kong Tiger Lantern

A tiger lantern in Shatin Central Park, Hong Kong.
(Copyright Mark Wu, taken from his excellent East Asian travel blog MangoVine.)

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 4 - 11th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 4 - 11th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat

Here's the podcast of last week's show, playlist is below. On the programme I say that the track Valorian is by Hong Kong in the 60s when in fact it is a remix by them and the track is by Arthur & Martha. I got a lot of good feedback about this track, love that bossa nova beat! The original tune is on Athur & Martha's debut album Navigation (pictured).
The Chinese Reggae on the podcast is by Cha Cha, I have the lyrics translated for both tracks if you would like them please let me know: luckycatzoe@gmail.com

Chinese New Year events in London 2010

Films, Lion Dance, and Family Activities at Museum of London in Docklands.
A chance to see the brilliant Arthur Dong documentary Hollywood Chinese


Sunday 14th Feb at V&A Museum
10.30-17.00
Drop-in Design: Chinese New Year
Join us in celebrating Chinese new Year by designing a fabulous headdress, mask or badge inspired by tigers, dragons and zodiacs you find in the China Gallery.

Make puppets and Lanterns at the Horniman Museum

Free Tigers Photographic Exhibition @ National Geographic London

Family Events at the National Maritime Museum
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/events/calendar/?by=4&keyword=chinese-new-year

Hong Kong Women's Film Making at Riverside Studios 25th Feb

Saturday 13 February 2010 @ National Portrait Gallery, Ondaatje Theatre & St Martin's Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields Church
The Confucius Institute for TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) would like to invite you to join in a great, big family celebration of the Chinese New Year. We will be bringing in the year of the tiger with a sensational Chinese dance and martial arts performances, storytelling of ancient Chinese legends, as well as a few crafts and games for those who like to get a bit messy. Times: 11:30 – 5:00, shows start at 12pm, 2pm,4pm.

http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/events#event154

Playlist 11th Feburary 2010

• Media Control – Cha Cha (Jahtari production)
  
• Put it In Your Pocket – Soom T (another Jahtari production)
  
• Money Slaves – Cha Cha (pics of Cha Cha with Clive Chin in Shanghai above, courtesy of Steve Barker)
  
• Where is the Lady - Lim Ling & The Silvertones (Singapore A-Go-Go CD, Sublime Frequencies)
  
• I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha - The Stylers feat. Johnny Teo (7” 45 EP)
  
• Four Seasons of Heartahce Part 1 - Zhou Hsuan (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Good Luck in the New Year - Linda Yong & The Silvertones (Singapore A-Go-Go CD, Sublime Frequencies)
  
• Valorian - Hong Kong in the 60s remix (the original is on Arthur & Martha's album Navigation (on Happy Robots). This remix should hopefully be released as part of a download EP on Shelflife records).
  
• Soon You’ll Be Gone – The Blues Busters (And This is a Ska Explosion CD, Debutante)
  
• Rukumbine - Shenley Duffus (And This is a Ska Explosion CD, Debutante)
  
• Dragon (Wood) – Shanghai Traditional Chinese Orchestra (Chinese Feng Shui Music CD)
  

Gong Xi Fa Cai Cupcakes

www.cookieheaven.com.my

The Princetones After the Rain soundtrack

I've just stumbled across this great Rocksteady soundtrack, really enjoying it. The CD was released by John John Records a couple of years ago. The lead singer is Zoe Devlin (Devlin Love)of Alabama 3.
It accompanies the film After the Rain by Gaelle Denis which you can see here:

The New Yuen Wo Ping Movie

Now I'm excited, this looks pretty fantastic. Forget all the disappointments, all the times you've seen Yuen Wo Ping's name attached to a film and it has turned out to be yet another epic martial arts bag of blah. Beautiful but boring and worthy (The Banquet), given the Hollywood schmaltz treatment (The Forbidden Kingdom) or maybe you're just tired of slo-mo action shots, billowing costumes, wire fighting, lame story lines and CGI phonieness. Perhaps you have epic martial arts film fatigue? It is a common condition these days.

Those were projects that Yuen Wo Ping merely action-directed, he is directing this film. Let us not forget the legacy:
Drunken Master, The Buddhist Fist, Iron Monkey, The Tai-Chi Master and Wing Chun.

Yuen Wo Ping has also been action director on some great films Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (I know some will argue with this one but it's my list and I love Michelle Yeoh!), Fearless, Kung Fu Hustle and Kill Bill 1&2.

Not sure when True Legend (aka Beggar Su - I prefer that title, too many films with 'Legend' in the title already) will get a UK release but I'll keep you posted. Talking of UK releases, Ponyo is coming.......

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 3 - 4th Feb 2010

Lucky Cat

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 3 - 4th Feb 2010

In this episode I am joined in the studio by special guests Hong Kong in the 60s.
Playlist:

• Stop the Wedding - Etta James (Argo 7" 45)
  
• Shuang Shuang Yan - Deng Bai Ying (In the Mood For Love soundtrack)
  
• Footsteps - Hong Kong in the 60s (Willow Pattern Songs EP)
  
• Love Me Well - Feng Fei Fei
  
• Will the Orange Blossom Smile - Rebecca Pan
  
• When You Were Dreaming - Hong Kong in the 60s (new track from forthcoming album)
  

Spring onion and sesame seed buns are in the lunch box, I got the recipe here.

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 2 - 28th Jan 2010

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 2 -

Lucky Cat

Listen to my interview with Jo Ho, creator of the new CBBC drama series Spirit Warriors. Chinese chicken livers and mooli & pork dumplings are frying in the pan for the Dim Sum Lunch Box. Rocksteady legend Lynn Taitt recently passed away so hear some of his Reggae guitar tunes too.

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 1 - 21st Jan 2010

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 1 - 21st Jan 2010

Lucky Cat

Here's Episode 1 of the new series, dried shrimp pancakes are in the lunch box and lots of music from Chang Loo.

Hong Kong in the 60s

Tomorrow night my special guests will be London band Hong Kong in the 60s. I'll be chatting with the band about their influences and their style (love this photo of them, very Wong Kar Wai!). I have asked them to bring in some vintage Chinese sounds from their record and tape collections.
Food will also be tasted and discussed. Probably some kind of bun.
Listen live on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere, 7-8pm.

If you're on Facebook you can listen via the player there, and why not join the Lucky Cat Radio Group?

Mooli and Pork Dumplings

Blimey dumpling crimping is hard, as I found out when I attempted for the first time ever to make my own dumplings. Well, I did cheat a little by using ready bought frozen dumpling skins but they were almost from scratch.

First I peeled and grated half a mooli (smallish one, about 20cm in length)
Then I salted the mooli and left it aside in a bowl for 10mins or so

Next I chopped some ginger and garlic (2 teaspoons each, roughly)
I then took 230g of pork sausage meat (or you can use minced pork) out the fridge.

Wok time. I heated the veg oil up and threw in the garlic and ginger, followed swiftly by the sausage meat. Seasoning: a pinch of five spice powder, dash of soya sauce, dash of mirin, dash of white wine vinegar (I was out of rice wine) and a sprinkle of sugar.

Remember the mooli? I got it and squeezed it in my hands to get the water out before adding it to the wok.

When everything looked ready I transferred the dumpling filling to a bowl and let it cool. When it was cool enough to handle I got my little dumpling flour rounds and put a teaspoon or so of the filling in and folded them in half. Then came the tricky bit, crimping the edges to seal the deal. Must practice!

You can steam, boil or fry. Best served with chilli dip and/or Chinese sweet black vinegar.

Learn to Drive with Grace Chang

Korean Film Breathless (Ddonpari) out now in selected cinemas

The debut film from Yang Ik-Joon is out now in selected cinemas. The film has won international acclaim and awards and is about a loan shark who befriends a schoolgirl. Time Out has called it "an extra-strength cinema experience".
I hope to see the film shortly and give you my review.
Breathless is showing at the ICA in London and at other independent cinemas. Distributed by Terracotta.

Playlist 28th January 2010

Reggae Rocksteady guitarist Lynn Taitt sadly passed away last week. I shall be playing tracks from his career in music over the series. RIP.
Jamaica Observer Obituary.

• Red China - Skatalites (King Edwards 7" 45)
  
• 2046 Theme - Shigeru Umebayashi (2046 Soundtrack CD)
  
• Chinese Ghost Story Theme - Leslie Cheung
  
• Duppy Conqueror - Bob Marley and the Wailers (African Herbsman LP)
  
• Zombie Jamboree - Lord Jellicoe (Dip And Fall Back (Classic Jamaican Mento) CD)
  
• Chinese Title - Wong Ching Yian (7" 45 from Singapore)
  
• You Have Caught Me - Lynn Taitt
  
• Mr Dooby - Lynn Taitt (Exclusive Rocksteady 1966-1968 Vol.01 CD)
  
• The Hula Hula Twist - Grace Chang (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Twistin' Pneumonia - Roy C (Ember 7" 45)
  
• Suddenly - Eric 'Monty' Morris (King Edwards 7" 45, B Side to Red China)
  

Lucky Cat Toilet Paper

From jlist.com

Thanks Morgan for drawing my attention to this product. I wouldn't mind a Lucky Cat slip mat for my turntable, anyone seen one?

Dried Shrimp Pancakes

Economical and Delicious

To make one pancake use...
For the pancake mixture:
2 desert spoons gram flour
A little water
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon Tianjin preserved veg (salty cabbage)
1 spring onion, chopped finely
A few beansprouts
1 desert spoon dried shrimps
A little veg oil

First mix the water and gram flour in a little bowl with a fork and try to make a smooth mixture.
In a small pan heat up the oil and put in the spring onion, dried shrimps, preserved cabbage and beansprouts. Pour the batter mixture over and cook (low heat) until ready to flip over. Serve with some chilli sauce and a few more beansprouts as garnish.

This is an amalgamation of a dried shrimp pancake recipe I found at Rasa Malaysia and an Indian pancake recipe a friend gave me. If you liek extra heat add fresh chilli to the frying pan.

Playlist 21st January 2010

Episode 1 Series 4 of Lucky Cat on Resonance FM

• Duck Soup - The Drumbago Allstars
  
• Who Does Not Care - Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings LP)
  
• Tonight - Chang Loo (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Sixty Minute Man - The Dominoes (Risque Rhythm & Blues CD)
  
• Soul Food - Lynn Tait & The Jets
  
• Cabbage Greens - Champion Jack Dupree (Triumph of the Blues Vol 9 CD)
  
• Couples and Pairs - Yao Lee (Miss Yao Lee Sings LP)
  
• Talking About Fighting Skill - Siao Fong Fong & Chan Pao Chu (Steal the Red String Box soundtrack EP)
  
• Chinese Mambo - Chang Loo
  
• Crying in the Chapel (Jamaican Style) - Elvis (7" Remix)
  
• Oh Susannah - Chang Loo & Xiao Loo (Pathe 100 CD)
  
• Hey Good Looking - Hank Williams
  

Lucky Cat Series 4 On Air Tomorrow

Lucky Cat returns to Resonance FM for a fourth series tomorrow night at 7pm on Resonance 104.4FM.
An assortment of vinyl and mp3 treats from Kowloon to Kingston, movie reviews, live music, guests and recipes. Check this blog for details or sign up to the Lucky Cat mailing list by emailing me at luckycatzoe at gmail.com
Alternatively if you're on Facebook then join the Lucky Cat Radio Group.

Listen live on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

Spirit Warriors - CBBC Goes East!

Here's the trailer for the new children's drama series Spirit Warriors created and written by Jo Ho for CBBC. Watch the first episode this Friday 22nd January 5:45pm on CBBC (freeview) or tune in to BBC 2 on Sunday 24th Jan at 9:30am.
Links:
www.missjoho.com
Dimsum.co.uk review

Chinatown London 1947

I've only recently discovered this excellent resource site - Pathe newsreels are archived and available to watch online. Whilst doing a random search for 'calypso' on the site (as you do) I came up with this little gem and what do you know, London's Chinatown is featured straight away! The calypso nightclub is in Reel 2 and well worth checking out (great jiving moves from the customers). It is a little like a round the world tour, designed to show the capital as a multicultural entertainment zone where you can eat chop suey followed by Russian vodka and Calypso Be-Bop dancing.
After the war rationing was still in place and this is mentioned in the film - rice was not available for instance. I love the line about the pandas in the zoo being the only ones who could get real bamboo shoots!
I have searched for further info on the Chinese restaurant Leyons but not come up with anything so far. It looks like it opened in the late 1930s because of its wonderful Art Deco style.

LONDON'S NIGHTWORLD - reel 1

Lucky Cat 13th January 2009 Podcast

Lucky Cat 13th January 2009

Lucky Cat

The missing Episode 2 of Series 3 now intact! Thanks Robin for recovering it from the Resonance FM archive for me.
This episode is Tetsuya Nakashima special with reviews of 'Kamikaze Girls' and 'Memories of Matsuko'. I am joined by the editor of 'Electric Sheep' film magazine Alex Fitch and comic artist Dan Lester.
The Dim Sum Lunchbox contains a Japanese pickled herring dish.

Playlist: # Isechoukou Blues - Aoe Mina # Talkin' Girls - Shonen Knife (Let's Knife LP) # I'm Blue (The Gong Gong Song) - The Ikettes (Hairspray soundtrack LP) # Since He Likes You - Kayama Yozo # Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall - Ella Fitzgerald (Ella: The Best Coral LP) # Yesterday's Memories - Lillian Leach & The Mellows # 九ちゃんのﾂﾝﾂﾝ節 - Sakamoto Kyu / 坂本九 # I am Coming Home - Pat Kelly (PAMA 45 b side) # Munasurabi Tokyo - The Peanuts # If It Don't Work Out - Pat Kelly (PAMA 45 a side) # 禁じられた恋のボレロ - Mizuhara Hiroshi / 水原弘

East Asian Film Season at the Prince Charles Cinema

The Prince Charles Cinema in London's twinkling West End is putting on an East Asian Film Festival:
http://www.princecharlescinema.com/events/#asian
Starting with the ultimate monster movie from Japan (Godzilla) and ending with everybody's favourite cheongsam chocked Chinese romance In The Moood for Love.
18th Jan - 22nd Feb, handily located near my favourite Chinese restaurant Mr Kong's in Lisle Street.
(Takeshi Kitano's Hana-Bi is pictured above, showing on 8th Feb)

Podcast - Lucky Cat, Ep 3 Series 3 (20th Jan 2009)

Lucky Cat 20th Jan 2009

Lucky Cat

I am joined in the studio by Mark Wu, graphic designer and creator of Visible Chinese and One Inch Punch. Sweet and Sour Sauce showdown in the dim sum lunch box.
To follow mark's East Asian travel adventures visit mangovine.net

RIP Wu Yingyin (吳健秋) 1922-2009

Shanghai born singer Wu Yingyin passed away December 2009 in Los Angeles. She was one of the seven great singing stars of Shanghai in the 1940s (along with Yao Lee and others found on the Shanghai Lounge Divas compilation CD). Wu Yingyin sang in nightclubs in Shanghai and was signed to Pathe/EMI in the late 1940s. She had many hits and was still performing into her 80's. There is a clip of a Shanghai 2003 concert of her on Youtube.

I love this style of singing and music, thank you Wu Yingyin may you sing in the stars.

Tribute to Nasal Song Queen

Live Journal article

NYE Menu

Snacks:

• Wasabi Peas
  
• Green Pea Crisps
  
• Cuttlefish Crisps
  
• Mixed Salted Nuts

First Course:

• Edamame Beans
  
• Mini Veg Spring Rolls
  
• Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Mon Pla)

Second Course:

• Kimchi Dumplings
  
• Prawn Dumplings

Third Course:

• Vietnamese Sticky Spare Ribs
  
• Mini Roast Potatoes

Drinks:

• Cosmopolitans
  
• Sidecars
  
• Lots of Cava and Prosecco

Most food was purchased at the excellent large See Woo shop in Greenwich. I also found there an amazing crispy chilli prawn condiment made by Tean's Gourmet of Malaysia. I have been looking out for a chilli oil laced with crispy prawns for a while, this one is great as there is not much oil plus the added bonus of crispy anchovies, shallots and garlic.

Podcast Archive: Lucky Cat Series 3, Episode 1

Lucky Cat 6th Jan 2009

Lucky Cat

Sugarpie De Santo

Great footage of the fantastic Sugarpie! Thanks Jak.

Christmas Music

Last week I bought the LP Merry Christmas from Motown, 1969. Quite a nice set of tunes on there with an unlikely cover of Ave Maria by Stevie Wonder.
Here's a good article about other groovy Christmas tunage:
www.sirshambling.com/articles/soulful_christmas.html
This Soul Christmas compilation LP looks good, it includes Carla Thomas' Gee Whiz It's Christmas (Atco label).

DJing at Messy Xmas Sat 19th December

The legendary Camberwell club night returns for one night only! I'll be on the decks alongside original Messy DJs and siblings, real Christmassy.

Let's hear it for New York

A contemporary tune I really like! No vocoder crap, great lyrics and catchy chorus. A celebratory anthem for NYC (baby).
Thanks Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for restoring my faith in contemporary black music.

The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga

This is top of my Christmas wish list, even above the Totoro seat belt covers I've been watching on the Bay of E.
Writer Helen McCarthy, has produced this wonderful looking homage to the creator of Astro Boy and godfather of Ghibli and indeed Manga's deity.
Helen came on my Resonance FM show earlier this year to talk about the Death Note films and it was clear she is very passionate about Manga and was a lively and insightful guest. I'm guessing that her passion and dedication to detail will be here in this book, which also comes with a DVD.

Available on Amazon.com and co.uk or from good bookshops.

Lucky Cat Dunny

Cute vinyl figure from Kidrobot. I just found this whilst doing one of my regular Lucky Cat image searches. This is a
Lucky Cat from the 'Dunny' Series 4.

2nd Pan Asian Film Festival @ Asia House

27th November - 11th December 2009

Asia House presents the 2nd Pan-Asia Film Festival at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly Circus, London.

The festival opens with the new film by iconic Chinese director Zhang Yimou Riding Alone for a Thousand Miles.
Films by award-winning film-makers and emerging talent from China, Japan, Iran, Taiwan Bhutan and the Philippines will be shown. This year there will also be an evening of award-winning short films from Asia selected by Future Shorts.

For more information see the Asia House web site and download their events pdf.

Zhang Jian's Radio

Released recently to celebrate 60 years of the People's Republic of China this is not a buddha machine but a radio.
Zhang Jian from FM3 made a short-wave field recording 3 years ago in Bengal Bay and it has now been released as this small, beautiful red radio.

Check the web sites:
fm3.com.cn
subjam.org

Clive Chin Tours China

Reggae producer (Impact record label), collector and DJ Clive Chin (son of Vincent 'Randy' Chin (RIP) who was a Chinese Jamaican Reggae pioneer and Patricia Chin who is now the boss of VP Records) is heading out to China this Autumn with his killer diller Reggae selection. Clive will be in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai in November.
Check the myspace page for more info:
http://www.myspace.com/aboverockrecords

Mooncakes

I hope that everyone had a great Autumn Moon Festival. Here's a picture of some lovely mooncake packaging that I found on this Singaporean blog: http://blog.lemonshortbread.com/

Sweet and Sour Dinner

Sweet: Green bean and beansprout salad with crushed walnuts and sweet sesame dressing.
Sour: Baked haddock with fresh lime, pickled ginger, garlic and mooli.
Neutral: Rice.
Enhancer: Fish sauce.

Vinyl Pleasures - Sat 3rd October @ The Foundry

A reminder of tomorrow's gig no.2 (I'm on 9-10pm):

Saturday 3rd October - 2 DJ gigs

I have been asked to DJ for at two club nights on Saturday 3rd October:

1) Chinese Night @ The Raindance Film Festival Cafe (underneath the record shop Phonica, 51 Poland St Soho). I will be playing from 7 till 8pm, warming up for Chinese electro band New Pants (fronted by the director of The Panda Candy Peng Lei). You may remember that I played the track Golden Idol by New Pants on my Resonance FM show. Hear more New Pants: myspace.com/beijingnewpants
Peng Lei is also an artist ans toy shop owner, there's an interesting interview with him at Wallpaper magazine.

2) Vinyl Pleasures at The Foundry (86 Great Eastern Street, near Old St). I'm on 9-10pm playing a selection of vintage vinyl. It's a pub do so music finishes at 11. There will be a camera set up on the decks and screens aroudn the place so you can see the discs spinning as I play them.

Both events are FREE.

Happy 25th Birthday On The Wire

Tomorrow night (Sat 19th Sept) the ground breaking radio show On the Wire celebrates a quarter of a century on the air. The BBC Lancashire show was started by music journalist Steve Barker 25 years ago and always has a fresh and interesting playlist that includes plenty of Reggae (Steve has been the dub columnist for The Wire magazine for the past decade) and in recent years contemporary Chinese sounds, with Steve being based in Beijing. Tomorrow night the show will be extra special and extra long to fit in all the fabulous birthday celebration treats for your little ears. Here are just a few of the people providing mixes:

• Mick Sleeper from Toronto, controller of the net-based show Radio Scratch, exclusively featuring the work of the legendary Lee "Scratch" Perry both as artist and producer.

• Pete Holdsworth from the world's premier reggae revival label Pressure Sounds based in the UK and Japan.

• Alan Bishop from the Seattle based label Sublime Frequencies

• Steinski aka Steve Stein and his pal Doug DiFranco (aka Double Dee) were hip-hop producers who achieved notoriety in the early 1980s for a series of underground hip-hop sample-based collages known as the Lessons.

• Beijing-based Yan Jun, works in the realm of sound and language manipulating feedback, drones, voice and field recordings for site-specific sound installations, improvisations and environmental sound. He founded the Sub Jam and its sub-label KwanYin Records.

So tune in online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/lancashire/hi/
or if you live in Lancashire on the FM dial
Saturday 19th Spetember 10pm - 2am Sunday.
Check the OTW Blog for previous shows and info.

Raindance Indie Film Festival, London

The 17th Raindance Film Festival kicks off on 30th September and runs until 11th October. Raindance celebrates independent cinema from around the globe and there are some interesting East Asian films being show. Jasper Sharp is curating the festival, you may remember he was on my radio show when Anna Chen hosted, discussing Anna May Wong. He actually specialises in Japanese cinema and is co-editor of web site Midnight Eye and the author of the recently published Behind the Pink Curtain – The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema.

For a full list of the Japanese films showing at this year's festival take a look at Jasper's site. This year there is a special focus on women directors, Sachi Hamano will be in attendance (Japan's most prolific female director who has worked mostly in the genre of the erotic pink film). She will be presenting her 2001 non-pink title Lily Festival, a comedy drama in which the inhabitants of a residential home for elderly women find their passions rekindled when the first male resident moves in amongst them.

Other titles to look out for in the Japanese section are:

Miki Satoshi’s comedy Instant Swamp (he directed the very funny Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers).

and

Lalapipo which was written by Tetsuya Nakashima (the brilliant director of Kamikaze Girls and Memories of Matsuko) and directed by Masayuki Miyano (his first film). The story is set in the heart of Japan’s outlandish sex industry.




With regards to Chinese films showing in the festival, The Pandy Candy is showing on Saturday 3rd October. The film was banned in China (it depicts a gay relationship between two young women) and is directed by musician Peng Lei of the electro band New Pants.

As a vinyl junkie I'll also be checking out the documentary I Want That Record!, which examines why over 3,000 independent record stores have closed across the U.S. in the past decade (boo).

For more details and to book tickets (the box office is now open) visit:
www.raindance.co.uk

2009 Japan Matsuri

This Festival celebrating Japanese culture is on Saturday 17th September at Spitalfields Market in East London (10am-8pm).
Expect food stalls, art and entertainment - including a Bon dance (pictured).

For all the up to date information check the web site:

http://japanmatsuri.com