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· Michelle De Pacina
How Jackie Chan and late ‘Dragon Ball’ creator Akira Toriyama inspired each other
“Dragon Ball,” which will mark its 40th anniversary later this year, traces its roots back to the inspiration of the iconic action star Jackie Chan. The kung-fu manga: In a 1995 interview with Japan’s Bird Land Press, manga artist Akira Toriyama expressed his admiration for…
· Bryan Ke
‘Dragon Ball’ creator Akira Toriyama dead at 68
Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, best known for the “Dragon Ball” franchise, has died at the age of 68. What happened: Toriyama died from acute subdural hematoma on March 1, the official “Dragon Ball” website announced on Friday. The condition involves bleeding near the…
· Bryan Ke
Jordan Peele says he’s ‘glad’ he chose not to direct ‘Akira’ live-action remake
Jordan Peele recently revealed that he is glad he decided not to direct the upcoming live-action remake of “Akira.” Looking back on his decision during a recent episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, the 43-year-old actor and filmmaker said that while he was “so…
· Michelle De Pacina
Decades-old footage of Japanese fans introducing camera phones to amazed Shakira for first time goes viral
An old video of Japanese fans introducing a camera phone to Colombian singer Shakira recently went viral. A decades-old video of Japanese fans introducing a flip camera phone to Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira was recently unearthed and posted on the internet. In the…
· Michelle De Pacina
Complaint ‘hidden’ in ‘Akira’ by fed-up animator has been discovered 33 years after the anime’s release
An animator’s “hidden” complaint in the 1988 classic anime film “Akira” has been discovered by an eagle-eyed viewer 33 years later. The complaint: Twitter user @HikozaTwi spotted the message on a caution sign attached to a piece of equipment that is seen at the 38-minute mark of…
· Bryan Ke
Jerry Lawler says his Akira Tozawa joke was not racist, got him banned from WWE
During a virtual signing with K&S Wrestlefest over the weekend, Jerry “The King” Lawler reflected on the controversial name he gave to a Japanese wrestler’s move that got him removed from his long-time role as commentator from “WWE Raw” in April 2020. What happened: Lawler, a…
· Carl Samson
Asa Akira sparks outrage for saying she’d have sex with a 13-year-old boy in resurfaced video
Popular Japanese American pornographic actor Asa Akira, 35, is facing backlash over a resurfaced video in which she conveys her willingness to have sex with a 13-year-old boy. Where she said it: Akira, whose real name is Asa Takigami, made her controversial remark in a 2012…
· Ryan General
‘Akira’ Live-Action Postponed Indefinitely So Taika Waititi Can Make ‘Thor 4’
Months after its production was announced, the live-action “Akira” adaptation has reportedly been put on hold indefinitely. Citing sources privy to the production, Variety reports that Warner Bros. has decided to pull the plug on the production, which was previously set to begin…
· Ryan General
Live-Action Remake of ‘Akira’ Starts Filming in July
Warner Bros.’ live-action remake of the beloved anime/manga Akira has been confirmed to start production in July. The highly-anticipated film, which has been in development since 2002, is now officially in full swing with the recent announcement of Leonardo DiCaprio being…
· Ryan General
‘Akira’ Live-Action Remake Will Be Produced By Leonardo DiCaprio
The highly anticipated live-action remake of the beloved anime/manga “Akira” has been confirmed to be in full swing with the announcement of Leonardo DiCaprio as producer. Warner Bros acquired the rights to create a live-action remake of Akira back in 2002 and has been stuck in…
· Ryan General
‘Thor’ Director Taika Waititi Says He Would Never Whitewash ‘Akira’ Live-Action Remake
Whenever a beloved anime property is revealed to be getting a Hollywood remake, fans are immediately reminded of the travesties that have come before it. This is mostly because Hollywood studios have long been in denial that a Whitewashed casting and a dumbed down story will no…
· Ranier Maningding
Jordan Peele Might Direct The Live-Adaptation of Akira. Here’s Why I’m HYPED
Editor’s Note: Ranier Maningding is a copywriter and mastermind behind the social justice page “The Love Life of an Asian Guy“. The opinions expressed in this piece are solely his own. After years of unapologetic whitewashing from Hollywood, I was beginning to think that the…
· Ryan General
Hawaii basketball standouts join Team Japan for Paris 2024
Akira Jacobs, a 20-year-old prospect from the University of Hawaii and Hugh Watanabe, a 25-year-old standout from ‘Iolani School have secured spots on Japan’s basketball squad for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. The two Hawaii players will be joining the Japan national team’s…
· Michelle De Pacina
World’s first ‘Dragon Ball’ theme park to be built in Saudi Arabia
The Qiddiya Investment Company has unveiled plans to construct the world’s first “Dragon Ball” theme park in Saudi Arabia. Key points:
· Bryan Ke
‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ creator challenges new artists to ‘crush’ Miyazaki, surpass ‘One Piece’
“Mobile Suit Gundam” creator Yoshiyuki Tomino issued a playful challenge to aspiring artists at a screening on Saturday. Key points:
· Bryan Ke
Leonardo DiCaprio shares the Studio Ghibli films he introduced to Martin Scorsese
Leonardo DiCaprio recently revealed he brought Martin Scorsese into the world of Studio Ghibli. How it happened: DiCaprio, 49 and Scorsese, 81, recently sat down for a virtual interview with Letterboxd to discuss films that influenced the projects they had done together. When…
· Bryan Ke
Wing Luke Museum kicks off music exhibit highlighting AANHPI artists
Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum kicked off its music exhibit that highlights the contributions of many artists from the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Key details: Titled “Sound Check! The Music We Make,” the interactive music exhibit opened…
· Bryan Ke
Meet the Japanese pop ‘boy’ band consisting of men all over the age of 65
Japan has an all-senior-citizen male idol group who once helped promote a prefecture’s tourism industry. Key details: The five-member group, known as JI-POP, the first word of which comes from the Japanese word “ojisan” (“old man” or “grandpa”), made their debut single, titled…
· Daniel Anderson
Anime adaptation of ‘Suicide Squad’ unveiled at Anime Expo 2023
Warner Bros. Japan and Wit Studio have released the first trailer for “Suicide Squad Isekai,” an upcoming anime series revealed during Anime Expo 2023. What it’s about: The trailer prominently features anime-inspired versions of beloved DC characters, such as Harley Quinn and…
· Bryan Ke
Spoiler: Leaked death of beloved character in ‘Spider-Man’ comic draws outrage online
The death of Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel, in an upcoming issue of “The Amazing Spider-Man” has drawn massive backlash on Twitter. A leaked image of Khan’s death came in the form of a grainy last-page picture of “The Amazing Spider-Man No. 26” uploaded to the Spiderman…