YeinJee's Asian Journal » Asian Events and Festivals

Pusan International Film Festival 2009 red carpet

Yein Jee — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:34:31 +0000

Red carpet show at the opening ceremony of the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, which kicked off last Thursday (Oct 8) in Korea’s City of Busan…

Ha Ji-won

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Pusan International Film Festival 2009 red carpet from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Shokotan coming to Singapore for AFA09

Yein Jee — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:03:26 +0000

Popular otaku celebrity Shoko Nakagawa, popularly known as Shokotan, will be performing at Anime Festival Asia (AFA) in Singapore on November 21-22, 2009.

AFA is one of the the biggest anime-comic-game conventions in South East Asia; first held in 2008, the event is back again in 2009 following last year’s success.

Besides Shokotan, other celebs that will be performing at the I Love Anisong concert are May’N, Aniki and Yoshiki Fukuyama. Other sections of AFA09 include cosplay, toys & games exhibits, and maid cafe etc.

The organisers held a press conference on September 1 to officiate the 2009 event; check out the coverage by blogger Darkmirage, Alafista and Double.

More details and updates on AFA09’s official website or Facebook.

Anime Festival Asia

Previous: Anime Festival Asia 2008

Shokotan coming to Singapore for AFA09 from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, Japan

Yein Jee — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:49:01 +0000

The 4th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, dubbed the world’s largest outdoor art festival, is currently held (July 26 to Sept 13, 2009) in the Echigo-Tsumari region, encompassing Tokamachi City and Tsunan Town in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

Artists from 38 countries collaborated with local residents and urban supporters to create over 350 artworks in rice paddies, abandoned houses, and closed schools etc. Check the event’s official website for more pics and details.

Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, Japan from YeinJee's Asian Journal

MTV Asia Awards 2009 in Malaysia again?

Yein Jee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:43:31 +0000

Seems like the MTV Asia Awards will be back to Malaysia again in 2009, according to Korean pop mogul JYP that is.

No official confirmation has been made by MTV Asia yet, but JYP lets his words slipped with his recent Tweet…

“Sorry cuz of the Jonas Brothers tour we can’t go to da MTV asian awards in Malaysia. But I’m sending 2pm so don’t b too sad!”

The ‘we’ is referring to JYP’s favourite employees, the Wonder Girls, who are busy working as opening act for Jonas Brothers’ tour in USA; and as replacement his company is sending boy band 2PM to the award ceremony instead.

Funny thing is most folks didn’t know that MAA will be held in Malaysia again, or if it would be held at all in 2009… and we certainly didn’t know that the Wonder Girls were scheduled to come at the first place.

MTV Asia Awards 2009 in Malaysia again? from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Super GT International Series Malaysia, Sepang 2009

Yein Jee — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:00:07 +0000

The Super GT series is back in Malaysia; Sepang International Circuit will again host the popular Japan-based auto racing championship on June 19-21, 2009.

A panning photo below; taken while collecting my ticket in the afternoon. Didn’t spend much time there, the real show only happens in the next two days…

Beside the super cars and Japanese race queens, the organiser is running a lot more extra activities this year to pull the crowd, such as drift demo, rave party and autograph sessions etc.

Should be an entertaining weekend ahead; hope that the summer heat won’t be too unbearable.

Super GT series

Next: Super GT Sepang 2009 – ENEOS Girls
Previous: Super GT Sepang 2008 – final race (2)

Super GT International Series Malaysia, Sepang 2009 from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Nakizumo – Japanese baby crying festival

Yein Jee — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:05:05 +0000

Nakizumo (lit. crying sumo) is a traditional Japanese festival with 400-years of history. The event, believed to bring good health to the babies, is held annually in temples across Japan where the kids would face-off each other to see who’s crying the soonest (and loudest)…

The above video [credits to garyjpn@youtube for the upload] is probably from Hiroshima in 2009; there are other slightly different format in other places, including in Tokyo where some real sumo wrestlers were involved.

Nakizumo – Japanese baby crying festival from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Tokyo Decadance – wild Japanese club event

Yein Jee — Thu, 14 May 2009 03:14:44 +0000

Eating beer cans, swallowing swords, wielding light saber, lesbian kiss, fire show, wacky performance, loud music, booze, dance, girls… that’s what you are going to see from the below video… [by ronindave@youtube, via Japundit]

Founded in October 2005 by ex-French drag queen Adrien Le Danois, Tokyo Decadance had the goal to mix all the most creative, flashy, crazy, exaggerated, extreme, bizarre styles of the Tokyo streets.

The event is now the rendezvous of gothic, cyberpunk, fetish, manga heroine, lolitas, yamanbas, ko gyaru, drag queen, punk, Tokyo jet-set, partymonsters, and also salaryman and ‘normal people’.

The wild party is occasionally on tour in some European cities beside the monthly show in Japan [check out Decadance' Myspace]

Tokyo Decadance – wild Japanese club event from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Auto Shanghai 2009 – showgirls

Yein Jee — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:16:51 +0000

The 13th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, commonly known as Auto Shanghai, is currently underway (Apr 22-28) at Shanghai New International Expo Centre; the biennial event is one of the largest auto shows in the world.

Sharing some showgirls’ photos from the exhibition… [via Bitauto (Cn)]

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Auto Shanghai 2009 – showgirls from YeinJee's Asian Journal

2nd Philippine Cosplay Convention (2009)

Yein Jee — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:47:25 +0000

The 2nd Philippine Cosplay Convention was held on March 28th in Manila; sharing some of the event photos [image courtesy of Philanime]…

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2nd Philippine Cosplay Convention (2009) from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Giant Torayan, fire-spitting baby robot

Yein Jee — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:32:06 +0000

“Giant Torayan doll is the ultimate child’s weapon, as it sings, dances, breathes fire, and follows only those orders given by children.” [via designer Kenji Yanobe]

The 7.2 metres robot was on of the biggest attractions of Roppongi Art Night (2009) in Tokyo, Japan. Not really sure what the designer means, but a fire spitting giant robot in real action is always a win in any events…

Giant Torayan, fire-spitting baby robot from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Falconry Festival, Xinjiang, China

Yein Jee — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:21:44 +0000

The 2nd Falconry Festival was held on March 21st at a village in Akqi County, Xinjiang, China. Hundred of falcon tamers, mainly Kyrgyz people, performed various demonstrations during the event.

Falconry demo by the Kyrgyz (Image from Xinhuanet)

Falconry (hunting with eagles/falcons) has a long history in the region; Kyrgyz nomads have been hunting with golden eagles for thousand of years. The eagles are known as Berkut in local language, and the activity is called Berkutchi.

Falconry Festival, Xinjiang, China from YeinJee's Asian Journal

3rd Asian Film Awards (2009)

Yein Jee — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:36:50 +0000

Winners of the 3rd Asian Film Awards presented in Hong Kong on Monday (Mar 23)…

Best film – “Tokyo Sonata” (Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands)
Best director – Hirokazu Kore-Eda, “Still Walking” (Japan)
Best actor – Masahiro Motoki, “Departures” (Japan)
Best actress – Zhou Xun, “The Equation of Love and Death” (China)

Best newcomer – Yu Shaoqun, “Forever Enthralled” (China)
Best supporting actor – Jung Woo-sung, “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” (Korea)
Best supporting actress – Gina Pareño, “Service” (Philippines)
Best screenwriter – Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Max Mannix, Sachiko Tanaka, “Tokyo Sonata”

Best cinematographer – Jola Dylewska, “Tulpan” (Kazakhstan and co.)
Best composer – Joe Hisaishi, “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” (Japan)
Best editor – Kim Sun-min, “The Chaser” (Korea)
Best special effect – Craig Hayes, “Red Cliff” (China)

3rd Asian Film Awards (2009) from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Hina Matsuri – Japanese Girls’ Day and Doll Festival

Yein Jee — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:18:43 +0000

Hina Matsuri (雛祭り – doll festival), or Girls’ Day is a traditional Japanese festival held on March 3rd annually to celebrate the girls’ healthy growth.

Hina Ningyo, Japanese ornament dolls (Image by Shigemi)

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Hina Matsuri – Japanese Girls’ Day and Doll Festival from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Baeksang Arts Awards 2009 – red carpet

Yein Jee — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:59:29 +0000

Red carpet gala of the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards in Seoul on February 27th…

Best actress (TV) Moon Geun-young…

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Baeksang Arts Awards 2009 – red carpet from YeinJee's Asian Journal

45th Baeksang Arts Awards (2009) winners

Yein Jee — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:09:12 +0000

The 45th Baeksang Arts Awards, one of Korea’s biggest entertainment awards, were presented at Seoul Olympic Park on Friday (Feb 27).

45th Baeksang Awards’ best actors and actresses… Kim Myung-min, Moon Geun-young,
Son Ye-jin and Jo Jin-mo (Image from Isplus (Kr))

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45th Baeksang Arts Awards (2009) winners from YeinJee's Asian Journal

CowParade Taipei 2009

Yein Jee — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:48:04 +0000

CowParade is an international public art exhibition which featured in major cities worldwide, where fibreglass sculptures of cows decorated by local artists would be distributed over the city centre. The cows are normally auctioned off after the exhibition at each city with proceeds donated to charity.

Cows… CowParade Taipei 2009 (Image by Dicky)

Taipei City is the 65th venue for the parade; the exhibition has just ended in early February… a pretty fitting event to welcome the Chinese New Year of Ox.

CowParade Taipei 2009 from YeinJee's Asian Journal