If there was anything in life that I would never regret until I die, it was the creation of tokuAsia. It is no mean feat to set up a group and then get people to join, much less run it for a few years.
Formed in 2005, tokuAsia is now into its sixth year. Perhaps it would come to the surprise of many, whom saw tokuAsia as merely an online fan community, never developing beyond cyberspace.
There are several numbers that the Chinese favored, and perhaps the number six is one of them. A Hokkien translation of six sounds like the English word, ‘Luck’, and I believe luck has been with tokuAsia for the past year.
2011 begun with a bang for us as our Co-Founder and Malaysian (now Japan) Correspondent Jaclyn secured an exclusive email interview with Niwa Mikiho, the actress who played Mone/Gosei Yellow in Tensou Sentai Goseiger. The interview was published on the tokuAsia website on New Year’s Day as a special New Year surprise for the fans. Since it was published, it has become the most popular article in our history, having been republished several times by other fan communities.
Our main crew was then able to secure an exclusive video interview with Jason Chan, who portrayed Cameron Watanabe, the Green Samurai Ranger in Power Rangers Ninja Storm. Jason himself then signed Ninja Storm postcards, which were later given away to fans via a contest on our Facebook page.
Both interviews have definitely brought us closer to the Tokusatsu fan community, not just in Singapore, but worldwide as well.
Our film production wing, tokuAsia Productions, had also achieved a milestone in 2011. Made as an entry to The New Paper’s FiRST Film Fest, Sellout is the first short film we have produced for contest participation. Vice Chairman Basil Yeo and Creative Consultant Shaun Kok were also featured in an interview on The New Paper. Shaun was even interviewed by RazorTV twice! (The second time at Cosfest). The same crew responsible for Sellout is now working on a cop drama for YouTube release, titled TRUE BLUE. Do check back for updates!
However, the biggest highlight and achievement of our 2011 certainly has to be the Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention. Having first covered the event in 2010, we were then subsequently invited by its organizer, Reed Exhibitions Singapore, to become one of the ‘Official Blogs’ for STGCC 2011.
As part of our birthday celebrations, tokuAsia would like to extend our appreciation to Reed Exhibitions, Ninemer Public Relations and all their staff whom have made our STGCC experience a fruitful one. Thank you.
Finally, tokuAsia would like to sincerely thank the tokuAsia team, both past and present, for making our 6th Anniversary a possible feat. Without their hard work and effort, we would probably be nowhere near where we are now.
In Italian, Forza tokuAsia!!
Gan Meng Yeow
Chairman
tokuAsia