Vancouver Archives | Otaku No Culture

Tanagokoro: A Culinary Portrait on Changing the Fishing Industry

After Devour! Film Festival, Tanagokoro: A Culinary Portrait is headed to the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, and it’s message needs to keep spreading.

Vancouver Asian Film Festival
Nov 4-13, 2021
International Shorts Program
Available to watch anywhere in Canada from 11/11/2021 11:00 am to 11/13/2021 11:59 pm

Japanese chef Yoshinori Ishii is more than a trendsetter. He’s out to change the industry in Tanagokoro: A Culinary Portrait. After a terrific introduction to the man and how he earned his Michelin star (while he was in tenure in London’s Umu), the reason he earned massive respect is because he gives everyone some wisdom. That is, to be a top masterchef, he’ll only ethically harvest food the traditional Japanese way.

The United Kingdom’s transition to a new method of catch and slaughter was not overnight. He wrote many letters and chatted with various fishmongers and leaders in industry to change how things are done. He used his passion and gift of gab to sway heads, and that’s the true focus of this documentary. This gentle man is the embodiment of Buddha and he’s done more than started change in one country. His teachings are spreading and hopefully soon, there’ll be more converts.

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Two Top Quick Picks from Spark Animation Festival

This festival is not to be missed and more than half the programming are available to watch world-wide.

October 28 – November 7, 2021

Vancouver, BC‘s Spark Animation Festival has always been on my radar for years. To finally get to see the short and feature length films offered here meant this organization finally made the call to fully stream all of their programming. This includes the works theNFB has scheduled in this event and include past favourites which I saw at Fantasia.

Last year’s show (pardoning the pun) sparked my interest in watching more of their selections. The timing of this event falls in October, sometimes before Fan Expo Vancouver, which, for a short time, ran in November. The option to attend in-person is often tough because of my budget on how often I can make trips to the mainland.

From the handful of pieces I saw as midnight rolled in, the two annual programs that deserve full attention are:

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Vancouver’s Most Haunted in Review

In what Vancouver’s Most Haunted best offers are a few updated on some well known haunts.

Torchwood Editions
Available to order on Amazon USA

Although Ian Gibbs of Victoria’s Most Haunted (2017) didn’t take a road trip to explore the rest of Haunted Vancouver Island to put into a new book (it’s been tackled by Shannon Sinn), he is back examining the Lower Mainland instead! This time, he’s delving into the secrets Greater Vancouver has tucked away. Instead of always tackling the most well-known places, he went around to find other incidents in Vancouver’s Most Haunted: Supernatural Encounters in BC’s Terminal City.

I’ve looked at his first collection (review here) and it’s an enjoyable read. This latest shows how his narrative has developed over the years. When Gibbs is not telling tales of meeting the undead as one of the many guides in Victoria, BC’s Discover the Past’s Ghostly Walks, he’s working on his next Ghost n’ Bears podcast. What he enjoys the most is extoling the incident that helped shaped the transition of human to spirit. Sometimes, as with a certain “Private Home on Marine Drive,” it’s about testing the cultural mainstays of whether other ethnic cultures believe in this world or not. Kristy’s (not her real name) experience of staying at her grandparent’s luxury home is a standout. It is this chapter and another run-in at a private residence that I found the most engaging to read.

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Haunted Victoria’s 2021 Event Schedule (Updating)

Tis the season to be scary, and people want to get out to enjoy Halloween in 2021. The previous year didn’t happen due to a certain virus, but this year, as restrictions are in place in Haunted Victoria, BC, some operations are fit to resume and others are offering different options. In addition to Discover the Past’s Ghostly Walks going digital, the family friendly Galey Farms Festival of Fear takes place outdoors.

The following is an updating list of events confirmed to be taking place in Greater Victoria. More will be added as information is posted onine or passed on through word of mouth.

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Fandom Events for the Lower Mainland & Greater Victoria Region Update

The countdown is on! Cosplayers have more time to fine tune and make their wear as best as they can be, and the silver lining is that with patience, these mass gatherings can resume without restriction.

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Two more fandom events in Victoria and Vancouver, BC have confirmed they won’t be taking place in 2021. They made the announcement this week, and the list may continue to grow. Potential fatalities on this list include Sidney, BC’s Van Isle Comic Con and Westshore’s Phenomacon; little activity exists on their social media channels.

Capital City Comic Con decided February of this year–a weird call only a month away from their traditional date–and the sister event, Victoria BC’s Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair, is not happening for the spring season. If restrictions lift for Autumn, this event may take place. But that depends on how many people are vaccinated as the pandemic is well into its second year. The good news is that the dates for 2022 have been booked. To keep up with the situation, please visit their Facebook page.

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Oomomo Victoria, BC Please!

I prefer this Oomomo over Walmart for daily essentials. My hope and all I can ask is if they can set up shop in Victoria.

Company Name Change Announcement - Yokoyaya to Oomomo (Downtown Vancouver) — Oomomo | Japanese Household Essentials By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Daiso Canada rebranded as OOMOMO a year ago, and this company sells Japanese daily living necessities. This place is my go to place whenever I’m on the mainland, and with this year being what it is, I haven’t headed there until recently. I often go there to buying media storage products in bulk and affordable replacement screen protectors. Now, they have a few other items on my list that I’m glad to stock up on.

There are eight locations across Canada. I’m amused three are in Vancouver. Aberdeen Centre is their biggest store, and it’s almost fully operational. Their e-shop is running, and shoppers can stop by to pick up their orders. I’m glad they’re taking the pandemic seriously. But when they allow regular shopping and wandering the aisles, the search for Sanrio products begins!

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