First Japanese legend Hayao Miyazaki and now super duper Korean director Park Chan Wook (Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK) will be at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International!  He’ll be there on Thursday to preview some clips from his latest film Thirst.  And it get’s even better!  The next day he’ll be at a super ultra secret sneak preview of Thirst and will also do a Q & A session afterwards.  Comic-Con attendees will have to pick up these sneak preview passes at the G4 booth while supplies last and only people with these passes can go to the screening.  That is super cool!  Comic-Con is getting better and better each year and now this gives you a sign at how Asian cinema is penetrating the mainstream pop culture radar in America.  I can’t wait!

Source: AICN

No, it’s not some Asian-American musical super group that plays avante garde jazz music.  Rather it’s a blog project that highlights prominent (and maybe not-so prominent) Asians and Asian Americans that are successful in any industry or field.  The mission of the blog is to give young impressionable Asian Americans more then just the one Asian hero everybody looks up to, which is usually Bruce Lee (though I’d add George Takei aka the original Sulu from the 60’s Star Trek).  It’s a very admirable thing to do since most of the heroes people ever see on screen or in the mainstream media do not usually have an Asian face to them.  So check out the blog and let us know who you’re favorite hero is!

The blog: The Asian Heroes Project

Actor Kal Penn starts a new job today as the new associate director in the Office of Public Liaison at the White House.  His focus will be to help better connect the nation’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities with President Obama.  The Indian American actor is quick to note that he is going to be treated just like any other staff member working for the White House.  In fact, he’s going so far as to use his real given name Kalpen Modi instead of his more famous stage name.

More power to him because I think he’s a great actor (going from pot smoking humor of the Harold and Kumar films to more dramatic work in a film like The Namesake or in television like in “House” shows some great range that he doesn’t really get enough credit for) and I think he’ll do great in his new role.

Source: Yahoo
Image: Newscom

Takeru Kobayashi has once again lost to Joey Chestnut at this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held every 4th of July.  This is the third straight defeat suffered by Kobayashi at the hands of Chestnut.  The previous year, both competitors tied by eating 59 hot dogs within the regulation 10 minute contest.  Chestnut would beat Koboyashi during overtime.  This year Kobayashi managed to improve by eating 64 hot dogs.  But Chestnut did even better by downing an amazing 68 hot dogs.  Earlier in the year Kobayashi beat Chestnut during a Pizza Hut Pizzone eating contest, but he has yet to reclaim his hot dog eating crown.  Better luck next year Kobayashi!!

Source:  Fanhouse

Recruit Co. Ltd is a classified advertisement, publication and human resources company in Japan, founded in 1963.

For those of you lucky enough to get a hold of a pass for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International you are in for a very special treat!  Legendary Japanese anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki will make a special appearance at Comic-Con this year presenting clips of his latest film Ponyo.  This will mark the very first time Miyazaki will visit the nation’s biggest pop culture event of the year.

I can’t wait to see this guy as he is behind some of my favorite animated films such as Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro and the Oscar winner Spirited Away.  And I eagerly await the US release of Ponyo.

I do have a four day pass for this year’s Comic-Con and I will also have some limited coverage of the event.  I say “limited” only because I actually go there to enjoy myself as a rabid geeky fan boy rather than work the event as part of the press.  But if you can’t go this year and you want me to visit and report on any booths or panel discussions let me know in the comments section!  I’ll try my best to cover as much as I can, but I can’t guarantee I’ll get to all of them.

Ponyo trailer

Source:  LAtimes via examiner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL3IFdykEcw

Just a little quick update on a lazy Sunday evening.  Here’s the official English version of the Wonder Girl’s first US single “Nobody”.  Remember that they are currently on their first US tour with the Jonas Brothers during the summer.  Let us know what you think of the new version in the comments section below!

Source: JpopAsia