NEW PEOPLE, the nation’s only entertainment complex dedicated to Japanese popular culture, has announced several film and art events that it will present to celebrate the 2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival that will be held in San Francisco on Saturday and Sunday April 9^th – 10^th and April 16^th – 17^th.

NEW PEOPLE will support the annual event with screenings of the films, SAKURA SAKURA, a biopic about the father of modern biotechnology, Jokichi Takamine, and 99 Years Of Love, an acclaimed 5-episode film series tracing the history and struggles of Japanese Americans. NEW PEOPLE will also open a new art installation Hafu: Half Japanese Photo Exhibit, in the venues’ SUPERFROG Gallery.  More details on these events is available at: www.newpeopleworld.com.

The 2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, now celebrating its 44^th year, is one of California’s most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions. Each year, over 200,000 people attend this dazzling display that showcases the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American community. Complete details on the Cherry Blossom Festival are available at: http://nccbf.org .

SAKURA SAKURA
A Life of a samurai chemist, Jokichi Takamine

125 years ago today, one fateful encounter between one Japanese chemist and a beautiful American woman changed the world of medicine forever.

SAKURA SAKURA is a story of a father of modern biotechnology, Jokichi Takamine and his American wife, Carolyn. Over a century ago, international marriage was severe and full of ups and downs, but they overcome many hardships and make various miracles. Carolyn, a wife with twelve years younger than Jokichi, supports and leads him to a success with her natural personality from New Orleans, Louisiana. Jokichi is succeeded in crystallization of adrenaline and finds a digestive enzyme called Taka-amylase, the principal chemicals still now.

This is a story of two who becomes a bridge over Japan and USA over a century ago. It stars Masaya Kato (Brother by Takeshi Kitano), Naomi Grace, Sachiko Kokubu and Hiroki Matsukata.

Showing at NEW PEOPLE:
(Tickets are $10.00)
April 8^th (Fri):                                       4:30pm, 7:15pm
April 9^th – 10^th (Sat & Sun)                 10:45am, 1:15pm, 3:45pm, 6:15pm
April 11^th – April 14^th (Mon-Thu):        4:30pm, 7:15pm

99 Years of Love: Japanese Americans
99 Years of Love: Japanese Americans is an acclaimed 5-episode film telling the story of the struggles that Japanese Americans faced in a time of prejudice and racism, when they were torn between their country and their ancestor’s homeland. The epic tale, written by Sugako Hashida, a well-known writer in Japan, spans a period of 99 years through the eyes of one family, beginning with the immigration of an Issei (first generation) father to America through his Nisei (second generation) son joining the 442^nd infantry Regiment during WWII. The drama depicts the Issei and Nisei generations’ spirit, strength and love.

Kusanagi plays both the young Hiramatsu Chokichi and his son, Ichiro. When the war breaks out the Japanese immigrants face racism and segregation. Ichiro pledges his allegiance to America and gets sent to Europe, his younger brother Jiro stays back with Ichiro’s beloved Shinobu and tries to protect their parents’ farm. Their two sisters Shizu and Sachie are sent back to Japan and have to experience the horrors of war, one in Hiroshima and the other in Okinawa. —DramaWiki

99 Years Of Love was produced to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) and aired in Japan for 5 consecutive nights in fall 2010. It was viewed by millions. It stars Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, a member of the Japanese pop group phenomenon SMAP, playing double roles as the Issei immigrant and his Nisei son. The film also features Yukie Nakama (Shinobi, G@me), Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, GANTZ), Kaoru Yachigusa, Kiichi Nakai and Pinko Izumi. This event is held and sponsored by JCCCNC (Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California). For more info about JCCCNC, please go to www.jcccnc.org.

Showing at NEW PEOPLE:

(Suggested donation: $5.00 or more; Episodes are 2 hours each)

(Parts 1 to 5 begin screening at 10:30am every day (from April 16^th – 20).

April 16^th (Sat):                        Episode 1 “America”                           10:30am-12:30pm
April 17^th (Sun):                       Episode 2 “Generations”                     10:30pm-12:30pm
April 18^th (Mon):                      Episode 3 “Concentration Camp”       10:30am-12:30pm
April 19^th (Tues):                     Episode 4 “The Japanese American  10:30am-12:30pm
Regiment”
April 20^th (Wed):                      Episode 5 “Reunited”                          10:30am-12:30pm

Hafu: Half Japanese Photo Exhibit

Presented by the SUPERFROG Gallery (NEW PEOPLE 3^rd floor)

April 8^th (Fri) – April 14^th (Thurs)

Opening night reception April 8^th 7:00pm

This intriguing new photo exhibit explores what it means to be Japanese and of mixed decent. Developed as a project by social researcher Marcia Lise, who was compiling interviews with groups of half-Japanese people, and German Japanese photographer Natalie Willer, the exhibit of portrait explores the half-, or hafu, Japanese experience. The exhibit is part of an ongoing project to create a dialogue about being in between cultures. By increasing discussions about culture, ‘race’ and ethnicity the artists hope to achieve a deeper understanding of these issues

ARIST VILLAGE Vol. 4 + BAZAAR BIZZARE

Weekends of April 9^th – 10^th and April 16^th – 17^th

11:00am – 6:00pm each day; Admission is FREE

NEW PEOPLE and San Francisco Bazaar SF, San Francisco’s favorite arts and craft show, continue a joint collaboration to create another all-floor vertical art village to celebrate the Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival! This curated shopping event will be part of a nationally renowned festival (Northern California Cherry Blossom) and gallery opening at NEW PEOPLE.

For more information, please explore: http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/sanfrancisco/shows/artistvillage

About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (www.newpeopleworld.com) offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the “Kingdom of Pop” for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America. Some titles include DEATH NOTE, GANTZ, KAMIKAZE GIRLS, and THE TASTE OF TEA.

NEW PEOPLE, the nation’s only entertainment complex dedicated to Japanese popular culture, joins forces with San Francisco-based animation company Maverix Studios to present ONE, a silent auction art benefit to be held on Saturday April 2^nd to raise funds and awareness for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG Gallery hosts the special event and will open its doors at 12:00 noon for a public viewing of the auction items. A reception party and bidding begins at 7:00pm.

NEW PEOPLE and Maverix Studios will donate 100% of the proceeds to the Artists Help Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Fund and Mercy Corps.  NEW PEOPLE is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown at 1746 Post St. More information on the auction event is available at: www.newpeopleworld.com.

ONE features an inspired collection of original artworks created by more than 35 celebrated artists from the animation and film industries, including works by artists from Pixar, LucasFilms, Dreamworks, Nickelodeon and many more. Participating artists include Dice Tsusumi, Robert Valley, Ronnie Del Carmen, Enrico Casarosa, Scott Morse, Bill Presing, Steve Purcell, Lou Romano, Cam De Leon, Tooru Terada, Daniel Simon, John Wayshak, Dan Mchale, Patrick Awa, Joey Chou, Ed Bell, Todd Ueminami, Marcos Mateu, Mari Inukai ,Yoriko Ito, Jackie Huang, Soosa Kim, Jamie Baker, Alina Chou, Oren Haskins, Sei Nakashima, Julia Lundman, Le Tang, Mark Sperber, Ted Mathot ,Tom Rubalcava, Derek Thompson, Sho Murase, Sergio Paez, Vaughn Ross, and Nate Stanton. Additional works from also critically acclaimed fine artists such as Miya Ando and Kent Williams will also be offered.

ONE by Patrick Awa – To Be Auctioned For ONE Event At NEW PEOPLE