New People in San Francisco

[Melek Ortabasi]

Hi all,

Sorry for the cryptic subject line, which is actually the name of a new "retail venture" in SF (1746 Post St., if anyone is interested). The reason I post it here, if it isn't old news already, is that a) it was masterminded by Horibuchi Seiji, founder of Viz Media, and b) it has an internal movie theatre that shows (believe it or not) live-action cinema along with anime.

It's a rather genius marketing idea that brings "soft power" (or self-Orientalizing, depending on whom you ask) to a whole new level. "Cool Japan" is to be found here in spades, all nicely packaged - munch on an organic bento box while you're shopping for really nifty tech accessories, cutting-edge fashions, and yes, maybe even viewing the latest youth-oriented films, subtitled (which seem to be new releases?). 

http://www.newpeopleworld.com/

Am I above making a visit when I next go to SF? Nope, no sirree.

Best,
Melek
-- 
Melek Ortabasi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
World Literature Program
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Unit 250-13450
102 Ave., Surrey, BC
V3T0A3 CANADA
Phone: 778-782-8660

"Learning has always been fun in the sense of exciting, invigorating, stimulating and entertaining, but it has never offered to be effortless." -- Margery Fisher, _Matters of Fact_