おはよ！ and Aloha!  Mahalo for everyone's input on our last topic, "Growing up on Japan TV" ..I'm prepping the continuation to that, and working on getting approvals for image usage etc... (fyi, it dives deeply into more anime/hero stuff)

On to sushi...

Of course, just about everyone  has their own favorite sushi place both here and in Japan.  The consensus is, Tsukiji has the best sushi/fish, hands down. With over 2000+ tons of fish a day, it's no wonder the sushi is awesome.  Oddly enough, even Tsukiji market place has various grades of sushi to be had, and if you want to eat some of what Tsukiji has to offer-it's pretty easy to tell what shops has the best sushi.. it's the one with about 80 people waiting in line for about an hour or two (for real!).

Some shots from one of the Tsukiji market restaurants... the name escapes me but it's located right before you reach the main marketplace.  The food is excellent and the wait was only 30 minutes or so.  My favorites there, their toro (fatty tuna) and kani (crab).. sooo awesome.

Here, in Hawai`i, there are a lot of places to have sushi.. and each is good in their own right.  My top 5 would have to be:

• Sasabune... quality of fish is amazing and so incredibly buttery (signature 'negitoro!')
• Akinono... I'm a sucker for 'toro' that won't break the bank-excellent toro and great menu
• Mitch's Sushi... wow!!! (thanks Alan from Koaloha for this one)
• Imanas Tei... salmon='s incredible, love the ambiance there...
• Tokkuri-Tei... great food, sushi and do have the 'ahi poke chip' (trust me)

Now. this is no way meant to leave other places out, but based on feedback and places that Sachi and I always go to... I do want to try Gaku, I hear it's awesome.

Aloha folks, 元気ですか？ ..hope you're having a wonderful week. Mahalo to everyone that emailed, called and posted about the passing of a dear friend and Hero of Hawai`i.

Today's JapanMania topic, Japan TV.  Growing up in the 70's (I'm 38 now), my family and I were all fans of the programming on KIKU Channel 13 and other shows only available on 'expensive' cable.  I learned that the KIKU staff and the efforts of Joanne Ninomiya (currently of JN Productions) are to thank for hours of cool 日本のTV shows.  Here's a list of what we'd watched.. what are some of your favorites?  Mahalo to JN Productions, HenshinFan and Plasia for the pics!

Dad's favorite .. anything samurai, jidaigeki (period drama), ninja, shogun, swords/fighting/action/overly used fake blood kinda movies. His favorite and mine too:

Sonny Chiba & I

For my mom and aunties.. that's easy.  Abarenbo Shogun ("OMG he's SOO HANDSOME!!!"), cry your eyes out TV dramas.  They were also *huge* fans of all things Soko Ga Shiritai (the inspiration behind Doko Ga TV! mahalo to creators of Soko Ga, TBS, for their kokua and support)

For us kids... that's even easier. All things superhero: tokusatsu, sentai and anime.  Although, I must say that Ikkyusan (一休さん) was loved by everyone in the family (not to mention the really cool theme song)

what are some of your favorites?

It's with a very heavy heart that I post this... and extremely relevant to the JapanMania subject, as many of us (30's plus) saw him in his tokusatsu (special effects), super hero hay day, Shunsuke Ikeda, better known as Kikaida-01, passed away today in Japan, at 3pm.

Pictured here with Sachi and I at the Ogo's Kanikapila Party in Tokyo...

My failed '01' experience...
Growing up in the 70's and anxiously anticipating all the awesome anime and superhero shows of KIKU back in the day, Kikaida-01 was one of my favorites.  I even had a plastic trumpet, as to mimic 'Ichiro' (01's alter ego) as he played a few notes before leaping about a canyon's worth distance to pummel the bad guys below.  I figured it would be a good idea to do the same, from on top my parent's couch.  Well, as a toddler, you don't pay attention to details like... "Kikaida-01, upon jumping off the canyon's cliff, would never jump with the trumpet still in his mouth.."  details, bah.  So, I took my 4 ft or so jump from off of my parents' couch, only to land face first with trumpet in mouth resulting in a broken plastic mouth piece lodged in my throat.  Awesome.  After a quick 911-hospital visit, 'lickins' after my dad figured out I'd live (that's irony.. once your parents figure out you're still ok after such a stupid stunt, you get beaten for educational purposes).. I was home again.  Of course I had to try the stunt again later, when no one was home.. and I NAILED it.  Ha!  Ichiro would've been proud

Not only was he a 'Kikaida' ..but Ikeda-san was also in another very famous tokusatsu series, 'Return of Ultraman' as Science Officer Takeshi Minami.  A martial artist (black belt in Judo and Karate), son of well known chanbara (sword fighting) instructor Tatsuo Ouchi, Ikeda-san continued modeling and appearing in various TV series and movies.

Ikeda with Ultraman

Over the years, Sachi and I had the opportunity to meet him and we, including his incredible wife and daughter, became good friends.  We'd interviewed him for Doko Ga TV as well, and I'd learned quite a bit about him during our shoot. Since that time, he and his family would come to some of my live gigs and concerts when possible.  Ikeda-san LOVED coming to Hawaii, and was so thankful to the fans for coming out every year to the Generation Kikaida 'Kikaida Brothers' day/celebrations at Shirokiya etc.  Ikeda-san loved seeing the children of Hawaii and was thankful for the opportunity to have made that kind of bond and friendship with people here in the islands. In the last year or so, he couldn't travel much as his health was slowly failing.  We'd see him less and less often but he wanted to become healthy enough and genki again to travel to Hawaii again.

Ikeda `Ohana at our Yokohama Gig

I will always remember his words of encouragement to me-his true love for all things Hawai`i, and he'll forever be a true Hero, father, friend and honorary kamaʻāina. You will be truly missed...

Ban Daisuke, Joanne Ninomiya & Ikeda-san

Mahalo everyone for posting and emailing!  It's tough.. as there are sooo many great places to see while in Japan. For other great historical suggestions, click here.

Other cool places to visit... along the lines of interesting, fun, kid/family friendly sort.

Sanrio's Puroland
Creator of 'the' Hello Kitty, you'd think that this would be something for the little girls and very young children. Honestly, it's a really great place to bring the entire family.  From the great food, snacks, children friendly rides and the parade, Puroland is a lot of fun.

Did I mention cosplay?  Yes, you too can dress up like your favorite character for pictures (or evidence, heh heh).

Puroland fun

Puroland Parade

Nikko and Edomura Tour
JTB offers a unique Nikko and Edomura tour.  Nikko has many beautiful temples, shrines and the signature Nikko Shinyo Bridge.  Edomura is a *lot* of fun.  It's a completely immersive Edo period 'Wonderland.'  All the shops and people there transport you back to the Edo period.

new friends @ Nikko

Muscle Park
Located in the Odaiba part of Tokyo, Muscle Park is an exercise/action amusement park. In fact, it was created by the person that created the show Ninja Warrior (originally titled Sasuke).  Some of the actual (smaller scale) challenges are in Muscle Park.  There are a lot of activities for kids and parents of all ages (and health levels!). As Muscle Park stresses activity... there are a lot of clever, fun and challenging attractions.