Ghost of a flea

Yamamoto Taro

So, I started to write this post about a movie but got sidetracked by research into a secondary character. I am now convinced that if I could understand the performance of Yamamoto Taro (Age: 31, Height: 175cm, Sun Sign: Sagitarius) in this NEC Cinema Paradise ad (yellow bandana/green shirt) I would understand all of Japanese popular culture and thereby achieve Bodhisattva status of something. For starters, what's with the snippet of Italian opera from out of nowhere? Though I am completely in accord with his astonishment when the keyboard pops out of the entertainment centre.

Toshi the pizza delivery guy, the part that lead me indirectly to consider NEC products that may not be available in North America in my lifetime, was one of the more straightforward characters in the film that started this business. I rented Moon Child in part because I was after watching a low brain-wattage vampire film but also because the cover said it starred HYDE of L'Arc~en~Ciel and Gackt, formerly of Malice Mizer, both of whom are J-pop/rock slash J-Goth figures about whom I remain sadly ignorant. I was so ignorant of Wang Leehom I had not heard of him but Taiwanese pop music is not quite yet on the Flea's radar. Suffice to say this is one of the best vampire films (à la clan Toreador) I have ever seen. It is an ongoing wonder to me how thoroughly Japan gets Goth and a more immediate wonder they have figured out how to make form-fitting loud Hawaiian shirts très gothique. Also guns. Lots of guns.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 5, 2005 09:44 AM

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