NEW PEOPLE Invites San Francisco and the World to its Grand Opening Celebration

from VIZ Pictures:

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, announces its Grand Opening next Saturday, August 15th.

Thousands will gather in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown for a day-long celebration that begins at 11:00am with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a traditional Kagami-wari (breaking of a sake barrel for good luck) at the building’s entrance located at 1746 Post Street.

A variety of fun Japanese pop-inspired events including fashion shows, a film premiere, live art performances, and mini-concerts by some of Japan’s hottest punk and alternative bands are scheduled throughout the day both inside NEW PEOPLE, and also at the adjacent Peace Plaza and areas in between. Innovative companies from the Bay area and Japan will exhibit an array of products for sale in open air displays on both sides of Post Street. A food court will further complement the celebration with delicious Japanese cuisine. The event is free to the public.

“There has never been a venue of this type before outside Japan and we will become a unique cultural and entertainment outlet unlike any other in the country,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the founder/CEO of VIZ Pictures as well as the J-pop Center Project. “Our Grand Opening celebration will give visitors a sample of pure Japanese pop culture in a variety of forms and we invite San Francisco and the world to join in the fun, celebrate our launch, and explore all NEW PEOPLE has to offer!”

Yoshitaka Amano Exclusive Exhibition Opening

Famed artist Yoshitaka Amano makes a rare U.S. appearance to personally open NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG Gallery with his newest exhibit, DEVA LOKA USA. Amano is renowned for designing the characters for the hit video game, Final Fantasy, as well as for anime films including Vampire Hunter D, Guin Saga, Final Fantasy, and Front Mission. His new exhibit was created especially for the gallery as an ode to his childhood love for American comics, culture and automobiles. For more information, visit superfroggallery.com. Yoshitaka Amano hosts an insightful panel discussion at 12:00pm on the Main Stage in front of NEW PEOPLE with a rare autograph opportunity scheduled from 4:00-5:00pm.

Special Movie Premiere Event

VIZ Cinema, which is located in the basement of NEW PEOPLE, invites visitors to the country’s first movie theatre with a dedicated Japanese film program and will cap off the day’s celebrations with the San Francisco premiere of 20th Century Boys, a stirring action film based on the smash hit manga comic by Naoki Urasawa. The 143-seat subterranean theatre features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX-certified sound system.

Gothic And Lolita Extravaganza

The influence of Japanese Harajuku fashion is undeniable and NEW PEOPLE welcomes four edgy labels from Tokyo’s hippest fashion district — Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, Black Peace Now, 6%DOKIDOKI and SOU • SOU; each opens its own brand boutique on the building’s second floor. Visitors are invited to explore all of the designs and accessories from four of Japan’s hottest labels and catch a special Gothic & Lolita Fashion Show presented by Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Black Peace Now on the Main Stage in front of NEW PEOPLE at 1:30pm.

Harajuku Kawaii Makeover

Other couture fun continues at the Harajuku Kawaii Experience at Peace Plaza, located just adjacent to NEW PEOPLE. A Harajuku fashion makeover contest is scheduled for 12:00pm and will award a free trip to Tokyo, Japan to the lucky winner who will be transformed into the most convincing Harajuku girl. Finalists’ fashion show and announcement of the award will take place at 3:00-4:00pm. Appearing at 4:15 will be OMODAKA, a duo that offers an ambient and ethereal sound-mixing Minyo (Japanese traditional-flavored folk music) and electronic music, and a special performance art dance piece by fashion label 6%DOKIDOKI. A Harajuku Kawaii-themed dance party will continue in the plaza from 5:00-6:00pm.

Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion

NEW PEOPLE, in co-sponsorship with MTV Iggy and Japan Airlines, also presents the Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion! as part of the first annual 2009 J-Pop Summit Festival, also in Peace Plaza. A special mini-concert begins at 12:45pm and features the punk and alternative rock sounds of TsuShiMaMiRe, Red Bacteria Vacuum, and Noodles.

A second full-set show is scheduled at Yoshi’s S.F., the U.S.’s largest Jazz club / Japanese Restaurant, located near Japantown, on August 16th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 at the door. Tickets are now available at http://yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/.

Yuichi Yokoyama’s Art performance and Autograph Session

Yuichi Yokoyama, the Eisner Award-nominated creator of New Engineering and Travel, illustrated the abstract faces that adorn the manga balloon inspired interior walls of NEW PEOPLE: The Store, which is located on the mezzanine level and was designed to be not only a retail space, but also a giant art installation. NEW PEOPLE: The Store offers a fantastic selection of carefully selected Japanese products that include apparel, accessories, books, toys, DVDs, music, and design items for the home and office. Yuichi Yokoyama will have a live painting performance at 12:00 pm at the corner of Post and Buchanan Streets, within the same block as the NEW PEOPLE building. Also he appears for the special autograph session at NEW PEOPLE: The Store at 3:00-4:00pm.

NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass facade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: NewPeopleWorld.com.