Japan

Kazu Oba shows his pottery -- some filled with sake -- at The Den Show

Pottery and cuisine don't have an obvious connection in American culture, but it's common in Japan for people in the food business to also be interested in ceramics. It's not as common for restaurant veterans to become fulltime artists -- but that's the course that Kazu Oba, a native of Kyushu, took ... More >>

Ceramic artist Kazu Oba connects clay with cuisine in Den Show

Pottery and cuisine don't have an obvious connection in American culture, but it's common in Japan for people in the food business to become interested in ceramics as well. That's how Kazu Oba became a ceramics artist, and his pottery work is showcased in the Den Show, an exhibition celebrating the ... More >>

Kids can shred at the So-Gnar Snowboard Camp at Loveland this weekend

"We wanted to do a super affordable snowboard camp for kids that is all about creativity, having fun, and getting to ride with some great pros, something parents could really get behind," says Golden-based pro snowboarder Pat Milbery, who is getting his 7th annual So-Gnar Snowboard Camp Tour underwa ... More >>

So-Gnar and CoalaTree team up with Michal Menert for Shredded Beats: Japan

Pat Milbery wears many hats (and helmets), but professional musician is not one of them. That doesn't deter him from being curious about the art form, however, and pushing that interest into the unknown. Over the winter, Milbery teamed up with Pretty Lights Music artist Michal Menert and Colorado-lo ... More >>

So-Gnar's Shredded Beats premieres at Larimer Lounge with Michal Menert

Michal Menert is a busy man. From dropping multiple albums, to playing show after show under the monikers he's created with other Pretty Lights Music artists, he is always on the grind. Tonight at the Larimer Lounge, he'll play a special set for the premier of the So-Gnar's Shredded Beats Japan inst ... More >>

The 2012 Oscar-nominated short films offer something for everyone

Jesse Miller of Lotus: "At the cost of evolution, we are always going to try new thing."

With Chuck Morris now back with Lotus, the group embarks upon a nation wide tour before buckling down for the festival season this summer. With bass in hand and a plethora of samples at his fingertips, Jesse Miller and the rest of Lotus are coming to the Fillmore Auditorium tomorrow night fresh on ... More >>

Art vandalism or vandalism as art? Four pranks that made us smile -- unlike Carmen Tisch

Some acts of art vandalism are clearly inspired by outrage. Take, for example, El Dildo Bandito, the nom de guerre of a man who stole 22 ceramic penises from an art display in Boulder. Others are inspired by drunkenness, as may have been the case with Carmen Tisch, charged with scratching and hittin ... More >>

5 and Dime label launch, Jazzy Jeff, DJ T and more on this weekend's Dance Card

​Feel like cutting a rug this weekend? Good because there's plenty on this weekend's Dance Card: There's a label launch tonight at minibar for 5 and Dime, a brand-new deep/tech house label; the launch will have music from Bones, ben A, Louis Marr, Joseph Newman and Quinn. There will be free sw ... More >>

Exploding melons and the top five dangerous foods

Reuters photo​China has a new crop: exploding watermelons. Apparently Chinese farmers trying to fill an increased market demand for watermelons -- it's backyard barbecue season, after all -- hosed down 115 acres of melons with the growth accelerator forchlorfenuron, causing the fruits to rand ... More >>

Just say Noh: Revel tomorrow in the spirit of SAWAGI!, and help Japanese quake victims, too

David Wheeler​In Japanese, "Sawagi" is so defined: Uproar, Commotion, Revel, Excitement, Hubbub, Ado, Merrymaking. In plain English, it's a hell-raisin' party, though tomorrow night's SAWAGI! Raising a Ruckus for Japan, a joint effort of Naropa University and Kansuke Productions to raise funds ... More >>

Today: Bakers and food bloggers from across the world hold an online bake sale to benefit Second Harvest Japan

​When San Francisco food blogger Sabrina Modelle heard about the earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan, she reacted the same way that most of us did: staring, dumbfounded, at the horrific images on the television screen, or listening in disbelief to the coverage on the radio. And it was ... More >>

Local Japan benefits: Video gaming, taiko drumming and a hip-hop compilation

​If you've been inclined to pitch in for the victims of the Japanese earthquake but haven't known how to do it, there are a few different options this week. One involves playing Rock Band on stage, one involves chip tunes, another involves Taiko drumming and still another is for fans of hip-ho ... More >>

Weekend Dance Card: Someone Else, Headhunter, Dubstep Function, Tigers on a Leash Label Launch, Boys Noize and Housemeister

Drawing inspiration from eccentric 1950s bandleader Spike Jones, as well as from found sounds and field recordings, Sean O'Neal (aka Someone Else) is an experimental minimal techno and house producer who is really doing his own thing. Having performed at the world's greatest nightclubs, including ... More >>

Girls Gone Wild

Ten great Japanese horror movies

​This list might have just as easily been titled Ten great Japanese horror movies in the vein of Kuroneko, since we're only dealing with a certain type of horror film here. Kuroneko, which premiers at the Denver FilmCenter on Friday, is a more subdued, fantasy-driven horror than the type peopl ... More >>

Flashlights, December 17 at the Larimer Lounge

Domino's serves up some yen for thought

​Domino's Pizza is as American as apple pie -- and just as starchy. The pizza purveyor has been all over American TV, telling us how good it is; now it looks like Domino's strategy of brainwashing the masses has been exported to the Land of the Rising Sun. Domino's Pizza Japan is offering a ... More >>

Chris Fogal discusses Parts, the new Gamits album, the band's first release in six years

The Gamits celebrate the release of their new album, Parts, this Saturday, September 4, at the Gothic Theatre, with UME and Joy Subtraction.​ The Gamits were one of the classic, melodic punk bands of the late '90s. Unlike many of their peers, they survived well into the new decade before call ... More >>

The Gamits at the Bluebird

No omakase, but Sushi Sasa server delivers great off-the-menu dish

​I wanted to pout last night when my server at Sushi Sasa, 2401 15th Street, told me omakase, the chef's tasting menu, was unavailable. His excuse: the chef is currently in Japan, and apparently no one else can make those selections. Sensing my disappointment, he quickly suggested waiter-kase, ... More >>

Placebo postpones North American tour

​After Placebo's singer Brian Molko collapsed on stage at the Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka, Japan from a combination of a virus he picked up in Asia and jet lag, the band decided to postpone its North American tour. The band's September 23 show at the Gothic Theatre has been canceled and refunds ... More >>

Mile High Music Festival Q&A: Pepper

Averaging 200 shows every year for the past eight years, the members of Pepper have earned a reputation for being as dedicated as they are hedonistic.  With five full-length albums under their belt and the development of their own record label, the Hawaiian-bred members have demonstrated an int ... More >>

Departures

Big Man Japan at the Esquire

From Japan, with love: a true noodle house

My Bloody Valentine show announced

It was a hell of a big deal when My Bloody Valentine reunited last year after a sixteen-year hiatus for gigs in London, Europe, Japan and America, including the Coachella festival in Indio, California, and the All Tommorow's Parties festival in New York. In addition to playing Coachella again, the s ... More >>

Riding the Orient Express to Izakaya Den

Toshi Kizaki, who founded Sushi Den back in 1985 with his brother, Yasu, is currently in Japan meeting with vendors, fishmongers and a third brother, Koichi, who visits the markets daily to buy fish for Sushi Den and Izakaya Den (left). When Toshi returns later this month, he'll bringing ... More >>

Bursting Sheehan's Bubble

Oh, Boy!

Izakaya Den

This sibling of Sushi Den is absolutely stunning.

Feeling Toasty

A Japan-o-phile store opens in Lakewood.

Numbers Game

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Envy

Tuesday, August 22, hi-dive, 720-570-4500.

Turning Japanese

All appearances to the contrary, Denver's latest zine has nothing to do with Japan.

Enter the Dragon

Dragon Quest VIII is the biggest thing from Japan since Godzilla.

Way of the Warrior

Gaku Homma found his domo on the range.

Raw Power

Hopes -- and fish -- fly high at Sushi Den.

Critic's Choice

Melt-Banana

Club Scout

Hip-Hop Showcase

Best Campus Flicks

International Film Series

Super Bowl

Tokyo Joe's has Denver turning Japanese.

Best Hello Kitty collection

Hello Kitty World at Min Min

Of Gods and Demons

Japanese anime fans rejoice with the American release of Princess Mononoke.

Sea of Japan

Get Your Gold Medals Here

Mouthing Off

Soy Long

A SLICE OF HEAVEN