Tag: Vancouver

Major Japanese Retailer Expands to Canadian City of Vancouver

muji-storefrontBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

MUJI, a major Japanese retailer and brand, will be expanding to Vancouver, British Columbia with the opening of two locations. MUJI Canada announced earlier today that they will be opening a storefront location on Robson and another in Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre. Both locations are to be approximately 10,000 square feet and will open sometime in late 2017.

MUJI sells minimalist products ranging from small appliances and stationary to clothing and cosmetics. The company has currently over 400 store locations within their home country of Japan and another 400 stores across Asia, Great Britain, Germany, and the United States. Three of those locations in Canada are in the greater Toronto area.

Until the store locations open, shoppers can visit MUJI’s pop up shop within the JAPANESE UNLAYERED exhibition at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in downtown Vancouver. To avoid long line ups for customers at the pop-up store, MUJI asks that shoppers register online with their company. The shop will be open from 11am to 7pm from Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29, then Monday to Friday through Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

Another Japanese retailer, UNIQLO, is expected to announce their first Metro Vancouver location later this year.

Source(s): MUJI Canada, Kenneth Chan, Chuck Chiang, Vancouver Sun, and Daily Hive.

Photo Source(s): MUJI Canada.

Tokyo Ghoul’s Katsuyuki Konishi Announced as Anime Revolution Guest of Honor!

katsuyuki-konishiBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

You might call Katsuyuki Konishi (小西 克幸) Koutarou Amon of Tokyo Ghoul, Ozma Lee of Macross Frontier, Tom Tanaka of Durarara!!, or Bulat of Akame ga Kill!. But no matter what character you know him for, he is widely regarded as one of the most in-demand voice actors in the business today and he is coming to Anime Revolution in Vancouver this summer.

An award-winning actor, Konishi got his first break as Volfogg on Sunrise’s 1997 animated series The King of Braves GaoGaiGar. He would go on to reprise Volfogg in the 2000 OVA The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final. That was the start of what would be a successful career for Konishi voicing many now favourite characters of anime. His list of credits includes Laxus Dreyar of Fairy Tail, Johann Trinity of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Pinion of Suisei no Gargantia, and Raikou in two Pokémon feature films.

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Vancouver Talent Agency Suffers Break and Enter

bossmanagement2By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

One of the top talent agencies in Vancouver suffered a break-in on New Year’s Eve when two thieves made off with 3 desktop computers, a camera, cash box, and a company cheque belonging to Boss Management Inc. The thieves, who were caught on camera, left behind fingerprints at the agency’s office located at 440 Hastings St. West – Suite #300 that may help identify them.

Boss CEO and founder Sonya Siltani released this statement on Facebook:

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Aim For The Roses (or Should I Leap the Strait of Juan de Fuca to See this Documentary?)

unnamedOpens in Vancouver, BC 
Starting December 2, 2016
Vancity Theatre
1181 Seymour St

In 1976, Canadian daredevil Ken Carter announced his intention to fly a rocket-car a mile from the banks of the St. Lawrence to U.S. territory on the other side. His vision was to land cushily on a field of roses. The great Evel Knievel called it, “the daredevil stunt to end all daredevil stunts.” Time has largely erased the ill-advised stunt from modern memory. But in 2008, eccentric Vancouver musician Mark Haney commenced an epic (and some thought equally insane) Carter-commemorative concept album for double bass, with stream-of-conscious monologues and songs, all set to a melody based on the irrational number Pi.

The two quixotic obsessions – 30 years apart – converge in John Bolton’s audacious Aim For The Roses, an artistically infused documentary that tells both improbable stories in lyrical and connected fashion. Carter’s saga is told in copious archival interviews, footage and contemporary expert witnesses. It is also filtered through the prism of Haney’s creativity (along with Haney’s own story of his dissatisfaction with the “normal” life of a bassist and his burning need for a redemptive creative challenge).

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In Vancouver, BC You Can Level Up with EXP Restaurant

exp-bar-vancouverEXP Restaurant + Bar
309 W Pender St
Vancouver, BC

Hours: 5PM–12AM
Phone: (604) 558-1337

Who can not love a restaurant catering to video game nerds? EXP Restaurant & Bar has been in operation since late 2012 and perhaps the only reason why I have not noticed this place is because it’s a game of darts at randomly determining an area to dine at whenever I visit Vancouver, BC.

At this place, all of the entertainment is digital. While waiting for a table, you can play the latest games on an X-Box One. With Shaw Wifi at the premise you can also fish out your mobile for a few Candy Crush quick plays (or another online game of your liking).

My addiction (yes, I admit it) to the Pokémon GO game is not as huge as others, but it’s still my go-to game to kill time — assuming there is a stop and spawn spot within range. This operation recognizes the sudden popularity of this game, and they had plenty of art hanging by the front to admire. I inquired if any of the new Pocket Monster creations hanging on the walls were available for purchase as a print. Sadly, they aren’t since there’s no contact information on them and one of the staff told me so. At least I was permitted to take photos for prosperity. I love the pop art fusion style that permeates through the place, and the scents from the kitchen were very good too!

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[Vancouver, BC] Samuel Beckett’s Foray With “Notfilm” Screening

notfilm-md-webBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Plays at
The Cinematheque
200 – 1131 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC

Thursday, October 27, 2016 – 7:00pm
Tuesday, November 1, 2016 – 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 2, 2016 – 7:00pm

Writer Samuel Beckett is one of those special talents whose works helped influence several generations. As a playwright, theatre director and poet, the material he penned paved the way for Critic Martin Esslin to coin the term, “Theatre of the Absurd.” This categorization of works shows mankind’s reaction to a world that seems to have no meaning. Either he or she is a puppet controlled or manipulated by outside forces. To see this style get represented in cinema requires a person of vision to explore Beckett’s foray into film. The aptly titled documentary Notfilm by director Ross Lipman will be the spotlight starting this Thursday at The Cinematheque in Vancouver, BC.

The product Beckett made, Film is considered by cinema buffs to be an “interesting failure.”

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