KING of RPGS- One of my favorite comics

Book 2 of one of my favorite American comicss has come out this month. King of RPGS by Jason Thompson published by Del Rey books.
Check out this review and preview.

It's a funny story about a role playing gamers in college.


Jason Thompson is a manga scholar and is the author of Manga the complete guide, so it makes sense that his handsome comic is very influenced by Japanese manga. It has the look and feel of a Japanese comic.
Please take a look at the website http://www.kingofrpgs.com/

If you are in SEattle or San Francisco, you can meet the author at a book release party. See the Above link for more information.

Japanese mom, Canadian kids, multicultural families

My friend from YouTube, a Japanese woman living in Canada, made this video for her children. It's a touching and funny and very sweet video message to her kids about her Japanese identity and how they might not fully understand why she is different.

I don't have kids (except for RAideen and Great Mazinga) but I think I can understand how she feels.

Everybody Dies Show update June 10th

My Book release and art gallery show in LA's Lebasse projects Chinatown
I have been framing all of the original art and getting ready for the show.

I just got a shipment of 30 boxes of a fancy new four color press print of the book too. My first printing was a very limited run that was made digitally (There are still a few copies left if you'd like a 1st print). The new book is longer (32 pages), with a proper title page and some end pages, it is also much sturdier with very vibrant colors.

I found out today that "Mama J" from the very handsome website MOmtalkonline made a nice review and shout out to my book. Thanks Mama J. Momtallkonlin is a site of forums and posts about mom related topics. I am not a mom, but I am still able to look at the site.

I'm hoping to get some more reviews in blogs and papers and such to correspond with my June 10th release, so if you know anybody who might be interested please let me know :-)
If you live in the California area, I hope to see you at the June 10th opening reception from 7-10pm (friday). I think we will also have a book signing on June 11th (7-10PM?)
Http://www.everybodydiesbook.com

Breakfast in Taiwan, Breakfast in Japan, Fu Hang Dou Jiang

During my last trip to Taipei, Taiwan, I visited Fu Hang Dou Jiang, a famous spot for traditional Taiwanese breakfast foods like Shao ping (Sow Ping).

I first tried to go on a Sunday morning, but the line was so long that I got scared and ran away. I came back on a weekday and there was nobody waiting.

It's very fun to watch them put the little bread friends into the barrel oven and then pull them out with tongs and toss them into a pile. I'm pretty sure anything cooked in a barrel must be delicious like whiskey, cognac, wine and pulled porks.

Fu-Hang Dou Jiang Dian 阜杭豆漿
Near Shandao Temple MRT (Exit 5)
Zhongxiao E. Rd. Sec. 1, No. 108, 2F
台北市中正區忠孝東路一段108號2樓之28(華山市場二樓)
(02) 2392-2175

I also had a super slime breakfast in Japan in this video. Natto(fermented soybean), shredded mountain potato (tororo), okra, raw egg, and tuna. If I could, I would have slime for breakfast every day.


Here are some other videos of eating in Taiwan.

Japanese band Layla Lane

My friend Hide is in the duo band called Layla Lane. The video above is of one of my favorite Layla Lane songs.

Hide is a Japanese guitarist and vocalist who came to America a few years ago to try to make a living as a musician.

Everybody told him that it was not possible, but a few years later his band signed with the major Japanese label Avex and his music is now in a Japanese Coca Cola commercial. His band has been playing in the US and Japan and has done many fundraisers for the tsunami like the one shown below where Takeo and I interview him.



Hide's goal is to inspire other Japanese youth to follow their dreams even if they might seem difficult to achieve. Hide is always setting goals. Sometimes he reaches them and sometimes he doesn't but he always keeps moving forward.

On his blog he recently told his readers that he wanted to go from 30,000 to 40,000 hits on the above music video by May 21st.
If you like the song, I hope you will pass the video on and help Hide achieve his goal.


You can read the blog entry here (Japanese only) http://www.laylalanemusic.com/ja/news/246.html