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CEL SHADED

Japanese trio prepares to rock Hawaii

By Jason Yadao

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 08, 2008

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For those of you about to rock, Kawaii Kon salutes you.

Word came in to Cel Shaded Central last week about a musical guest added to the local anime convention's guest roster for 2009: Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, an all-female Japanese rock trio that was voted "Best All-Girl Rock Group" by Shojo Beat readers in 2007.

Never heard of Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re? Consider these excerpts from the band's Wikipedia entry, regarding its music:

» "In the rap-rock title song from 'no-miso shortcake' ('brain shortcake'), lead singer Mari invites the listener to eat her brain."

» "In 'Kamaboko' ('Fish Cakes'), all three girls play the roles of food ingredients in Japanese hotpot, with fish cakes (Mari) feeling rejected and lonely because she is never added to hotpot."

» "'Tea Time Ska,' the song which often closes their live shows, features a unique mix of punk-rock screaming and sweet harmonies."

Brain-eating, lonely fish cakes, punk-rock screaming AND sweet harmonies? I am SO THERE.

Samples of their music are available on their MySpace page (myspace.com/tsushimamirejp) or via a search of the band name on YouTube. The best way I can characterize their sound is as being similar to Puffy AmiYumi, the rock duo that did the theme song for the "Teen Titans" cartoon and starred in its own Cartoon Network animated series, "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi." If there are any Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re fans out there who can think of a more mainstream parallel to their music, please write in and let me know.

I also got word last week that just by reading this fine column, you can now get a 10 percent discount on Kawaii Kon three-day passes when you pre-register online. Just go to www.kawaii-kon.org, click on the registration link and use the discount code "celshaded" on the ticket information page.

The discount lasts through the end of the preregistration period on March 31. But if you want to save even more money, pre-register before Jan. 25; with the discount in place, adult passes are $36, and passes for children ages 6 to 12 are $27. (Children under 6 are free.)

That's a savings of $14 for the at-the-door price of an adult pass, and $13 for a children's pass -- and a bit of extra money available for you to spend instead in the dealers' room or artists' alley.

Kawaii Kon runs April 10-12 at the Hawai'i Convention Center ...

Bargain hunting

While we're on the subject of bargains: Animania is returning to Suncoast Video stores at Pearlridge and Windward Mall on Sunday, bringing with it the usual array of discounts and general anime-related fun. Buy one anime-related item -- DVDs, wall scrolls, T-shirts, toys, stuff like that -- and get a second item at half price. Trivia contests with free giveaways will be held throughout the day, and a cosplay contest will be held at 3 p.m. ...

For those of you who are looking for cheap used manga, Rainbow Books & Records in Aiea (99-185 Moanalua Road, Suite 100) is running a 15 percent off sale on all merchandise through this month. Most of the manga is already around $4.99 to $5.99 per volume, making it a greater deal ...

"Cel Shaded," a weekly look at the world of Japanese anime and manga, appears every Monday. E-mail Jason S. Yadao at jyadao@starbulletin.com.

For those of you about to rock, Kawaii Kon salutes you.

Word came in to Cel Shaded Central last week about a musical guest added to the local anime convention's guest roster for 2009: Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, an all-female Japanese rock trio that was voted "Best All-Girl Rock Group" by Shojo Beat readers in 2007.

Never heard of Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re? Consider these excerpts from the band's Wikipedia entry, regarding its music:

» "In the rap-rock title song from 'no-miso shortcake' ('brain shortcake'), lead singer Mari invites the listener to eat her brain."

» "In 'Kamaboko' ('Fish Cakes'), all three girls play the roles of food ingredients in Japanese hotpot, with fish cakes (Mari) feeling rejected and lonely because she is never added to hotpot."

» "'Tea Time Ska,' the song which often closes their live shows, features a unique mix of punk-rock screaming and sweet harmonies."

Brain-eating, lonely fish cakes, punk-rock screaming AND sweet harmonies? I am SO THERE.

Samples of their music are available on their MySpace page (myspace.com/tsushimamirejp) or via a search of the band name on YouTube. The best way I can characterize their sound is as being similar to Puffy AmiYumi, the rock duo that did the theme song for the "Teen Titans" cartoon and starred in its own Cartoon Network animated series, "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi." If there are any Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re fans out there who can think of a more mainstream parallel to their music, please write in and let me know.

I also got word last week that just by reading this fine column, you can now get a 10 percent discount on Kawaii Kon three-day passes when you pre-register online. Just go to www.kawaii-kon.org, click on the registration link and use the discount code "celshaded" on the ticket information page.

The discount lasts through the end of the preregistration period on March 31. But if you want to save even more money, pre-register before Jan. 25; with the discount in place, adult passes are $36, and passes for children ages 6 to 12 are $27. (Children under 6 are free.)

That's a savings of $14 for the at-the-door price of an adult pass, and $13 for a children's pass -- and a bit of extra money available for you to spend instead in the dealers' room or artists' alley.

Kawaii Kon runs April 10-12 at the Hawai'i Convention Center ...

Bargain hunting

While we're on the subject of bargains: Animania is returning to Suncoast Video stores at Pearlridge and Windward Mall on Sunday, bringing with it the usual array of discounts and general anime-related fun. Buy one anime-related item -- DVDs, wall scrolls, T-shirts, toys, stuff like that -- and get a second item at half price. Trivia contests with free giveaways will be held throughout the day, and a cosplay contest will be held at 3 p.m. ...

For those of you who are looking for cheap used manga, Rainbow Books & Records in Aiea (99-185 Moanalua Road, Suite 100) is running a 15 percent off sale on all merchandise through this month. Most of the manga is already around $4.99 to $5.99 per volume, making it a greater deal ...

"Cel Shaded," a weekly look at the world of Japanese anime and manga, appears every Monday. E-mail Jason S. Yadao at jyadao@starbulletin.com.

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