Virginia Beach Anime

Gordon Hirabayashi, Japanese-American Hero, Dies at 93

Michelle — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:57:30 +0000

On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 into law which allowed local military commanders to set up areas called “exclusion zones.” Approximately 110,000 Japanese-Americans and Japanese were sent to these “War Relocation Camps” from the West Coast and other areas of the country (though all of the West Coast were relocated). This internment lasted until January 2, 1945 when the exclusion order was rescinded. The last camp was not closed until 1946.

There were a small group of Japanese-Americans who refused to go to the camps, and Gordon Hirabayashi was one of them. For his refusal, he was sent to prison for over a year. Although the government sentenced him to prison, they had no money to get him from his home in Washington state to Arizona, so he hitched his way there often sleeping in ditches on the side of the road. When he arrived two-weeks late, he was told his paperwork wasn’t in order and to go see a movie and have dinner. Once he returned his paperwork was in order.

Years later, Hirabayashi fought all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn his conviction. In 1987, his conviction was overturned by the 9th District Court of Appeals.

In 1999, in the Coronado State Forest in Arizona the Catalina Honor Camp was renamed the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site in his honor.

Gordon Hirabayashi Links

Gordon Hirabayashi – Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Hirabayashi

Gordon Hirabayashi Has Died; He Refused To Go To WWII Internment Camp – NPR

Japanese-American Hero Dies at 93 – Video from San Francisco’s KGO-TV

Bandai Entertainment to Cease North American Distribution

Michelle — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:44:56 +0000

Bandai Entertainment will no longer produce and distribute new titles beginning in February 2012. Instead, they will be focusing on licensing their titles with other companies especially for broadcasting and digital distribution. All is not lost as they will continue to distribute their current catalog lineup.

Some of the forthcoming titles have been canceled. They are as follows:

Anime
Gosick
Nichijo (My Ordinary Life)
Turn A Gundam

Manga
Code Geass: Renya
Gurren Lagann, Volume 7
Kannagi, Volumes 4-6
Lucky Star Boo Boo Kagaboo (Spinoff)
Mobile Suit Gundam 00I
Tales of the Abyss: Jade’s Secret Memories, Volumes 1 and 2

You are still able to purchase Bandai titles at any local retailer or online. Bandai Entertainment closed down their online store (THE STORE) on December 29, 2011. They do have an Amazon Storefront that lists their current catalog offerings to purchase through Amazon.

Anime News Network will be posting their interview with Bandai Entertainment President and CEO Ken Iyadomi on Tuesday.

Bandai Links

Bandai Entertainment
http://www.bandai-ent.com/Bandai_Entertainment/

Bandai Entertainment – Amazon Storefront
http://astore.amazon.com/bandaientert-20

Bandai Entertainment – Right Stuf
http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/5ENB9Z8mHhtoSQ97zK/browse/search/5/4/0/0/results/desc/asc/50/1

Theatrical Event – TEKKEN: Blood Vengeance 3D

Michelle — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:32:46 +0000

TEKKEN: Blood Vengeance 3D (2011)
AMC Lynnhaven 18
Cinemark Norfolk
Mac Arthur Center 18
July 26, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Namco Bandai Games, Bandai Entertainment and NCM Fathom are partnering to bring TEKKEN Blood Vengeance 3D to movie theaters for a One Night Only event on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 7:30 pm. This special event is based on the game TEKKEN. TEKKEN Blood Vengeance 3D will give fans a look into history and motivations of the fighters who join the King of Iron Fist Tournament.

Following the presentation to TEKKEN Blood Vengeance 3D will be a 20 minute special featuring interviews with the TEKKEN Project Director and Screenwriter.

For more information about locations and to buy your tickets, check out the link below.

Tickets and Locations
http://www.fathomevents.com/upcoming/locations/23454/07/26/2011/Originals/event/tekken.aspx

Updates

Michelle — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:37:49 +0000

You may have noticed a few changes to the site recently. We are currently trying to get this group more active and also looking into venues to host events. Please check back for any further updates.

Some new things you may have noticed:

Consolidated Menues

In an attempt to keep this site clean and streamlined, new subject heading pages have been added. Check out these pages for further information about each topic and even a calendar of events.

Local Culture – this is where you will find information about local groups and events, including our new event calendar.
Resources – if you are curious as to the next best read or anime to watch, this is the place for you!
Members Only – information and for our active members, including all posts that are for members only.
Staff Otaku – information and posts for our staff members.

Members Only

This is still a work in progress. If you click in this area, you will see that the posts are password protected. Currently there are no posts, so you aren’t missing out on anything! When we have all of this worked out, it will be an area for the active members of our Virginia Beach Anime group to get updates that are for members only.

Staff Otaku

The few, the proud, the Beach Otaku. This is an area of the site that is for staff members of Virginia Beach Anime.

If you have any questions or comments, please let us know by either commenting on this post or sending an email to vabeachanime@gmail.com.

Protected: Virginia Beach Anime Meeting

Michelle — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:11:31 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Voice Actress Cassandra Hodges Passes Away

Michelle — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:27:44 +0000

Voice Actress Cassandra Hodges

Earlier this evening, Chris Ayres posted on his Facebook wall that voice actress Cassandra Hodges had passed away. According to Ayres, a coroner’s report has been made, but no further information is available at this time. Hodges was 28 years old and scheduled to appear at Anime Festival Wichita next week and later on at AnimeIowa and Motaku.

Cassandra Hodges was an up-and-coming voice actress from FUNimation Studios. She was the voice of Gotanda and Yuku in Hell Girl and Camembert in Glass Fleet. Hodges also voiced various roles in Solty Rei (her first role), Hetalia-Axis Powers, xxxHOLiC, One Piece, Mushi-Shi, Fullmental Alchemist: Brotherhood, School Rumble, and other shows by FUNimation.

For further information about Cassandra Hodges, please check out the following links:

Anime News Network
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=63350

Anime Cons
http://www.animecons.com/guests/bio.shtml/2643

Te o Tsunagō Sakusen (Project: Holding Hands)

Michelle — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:31:47 +0000

In March, the website Te o Tsunagō Sakusen (Project: Holding Hands) launched with 18 characters with the goal of encouraging people, especially children affected by the disaster in Japan. The project has been a success and now features up to 45 characters. This project was created by Tsuneo Goda, the creator of the NHK mascot character Domo.

Goda’s message is this:

Our wish is to reach children who are fighting to survive this difficult situation, with the help of the characters that we created who have been and are great friends to the children.

I hope this image of the characters holding hands soothe their feelings and bring them to smile, which I believe will help them cope with what they are facing. There may be more friends to join this project and this image will be updated as they do. Please share and forward this image so that children can see via various devices.

To see what others involved in the project have to say, please follow the link below. In the spirit of this post we are passing this image on and hope you will too!

Te o Tsunagō Sakusen (Project: Holding Hands)
http://www.teotsunago.com/

Messages from Supporters
http://www.dw-f.jp/message.html

Kaboombash! for Japan

Michelle — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:33:19 +0000

Kaboombash! for Japan
June 25, 2010 ~ 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Club Relevant
929 Level Green Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA

On Friday, March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan near the city of Sendai, which unleashed a 23-foot tsunami leaving death and disaster in its wake. In the days since we have seen the news updates from the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunami to the nuclear crisis. We have also seen how the Japanese people have come together to support each other. While the initial global response to Japan’s crisis was outstanding, it has slowed down considerably. Due to this, we decided to dedicate our convention to Japan in an attempt to assist relief efforts and raise awareness.

All proceeds of this event will be donated to Second Harvest Japan.

Details

Saturday, June 25, 2011
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Club Relevant
929 Level Green Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
http://www.myspace.com/relevantconcerts

$5 at the door (If you come in cosplay you get in free).
Badge – $10 ($5 if in cosplay)

Further Information

Kaboombash for Japan! Forums
http://kaboombash.proboards.com/

Kaboombash! for Japan Facebook Event
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=226350474045238

Demand Trigun Badlands Rumble for Hampton Roads!

Michelle — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:00:40 +0000

This summer, FUNimation is showing Trigun Badlands Rumble on the big screen in select areas. As you may have guessed, we are not one of those chosen few… but do not cry just yet. If we have enough of a demand for the movie in the area, we can get Trigun Badlands Rumble here! All you have to do is demand this event on eventful. I’ll make it easy for you – just click here and you will be taken to the Trigun Badlands Rumble Hampton Roads Demand page. To see the entire list of lucky cities that will be screening Trigun Badlands Rumble, check out the Trigun Badlands Rumble – Official Page on eventful.

Trigun Badlands Rumble (2010)

20 years after meddling into the bank heist of a notorious robber named Gasback, Vash the Stampede is heading towards Macca City. Rumors say that the legendary thief might appear there causing an enormous influx of bounty hunters in the area who want to collect the $$300,000,000 prize for his head. (Synopsis from Anime News Network.)

One last time, here is the the link to demand Trigun Badlands Rumble for Hampton Roads.

Trigun Badlands Rumble – Official Page in Hampton Roads
http://eventful.com/demand/trigun-badlands-rumble-/D0-001-004824687-0

Asian Fest 2011

Michelle — Sun, 08 May 2011 16:00:31 +0000

Asian Fest 2011
May 14, 2011 ~ 10 AM – 4 PM
Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Map

Celebrate 20 years of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Organization and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month by coming out and experiencing Asian culture! There will be something for everyone as the event kicks off with a parade outside of the Virginia Beach Central Library that will make it’s way indoors. Once inside, there will be cultural displays, food, arts and crafts displays, storytelling, and more!