Greetings from J-List May 10, 1998

Hello, all. Chiharu and I are enjoying a Saturday evening of Japanese television. First was “Hit Parade!, a cool show that has top Japanese singers singing songs of other singers, which causes some interesting combinations. Then we watched Much Ado about Love, in which famous Japanese comedian Samba has funny conversations about love and sex with pretty women. And now we’re watching old episodes of 90210 that NHK keeps on the air. It’s great to meet other ex-pat Americans living in Japan who wouldn’t admit to watching the show before coming to live here.

The sudden suicide death of Hide, of the popular Japanese rock band X Japan, is current in the news right now. His death has shocked and galvanized his fans, including my wife, who has been a fan of this group ever since she happened to meet Toshi, the lead singer, in a karaoke bar in Los Angeles.

We have a small update tonight, mainly more magazines and photobooks. Especially recommended are the Asami Mao the Nagai Madoka shashinshus. Also, we’ve knocked down even more prices on magazines and videos that we have too many of, so please check out those pages if you have time — thanks.