Ok, so last month I wrote about how we went to see the Gamble House. I really didn’t talk about our visit to Little Toyko. It was fun, but it wasn’t really eventful. Or at least that is what I thought…

 Ok, first I will fill you in with the boring stuff. Little Tokyo is a favorite haunt of mine. Located in the center of LA it is a mecca for every Japanophile in California, that would include myself (John). I visited Japan once when I was in high school and I have studied it ever since. Unfortunately, I don’t have money to go back there, but luckily in California we have Little Toyko. Any Japanese thing you want is there. My favorite noodle house there is a place called Daikokuya.

It’s a small place, but it has these interesting old Japanese ads there. The wait can be long at times, but the food is good and the price is right. The headliner is ramen, and it is the best you can get int he states. You have to understand that this isn’t like the ramen you buy in the supermarket, it is very different. My mom likes Japanese food, but unfortunately she found out she doesn’t ramen, so I have to say it is not for everyone.

Anyhow,  that is the boring part. I really like Little Tokyo, but I wasn’t going to just blog about ramen. Have you ever had one of those moments you didn’t realize it was a big deal, but then afterwards you were like “Oh, that was a big deal.” I have been trying to improve my home movies. I can’t say that I will ever be good, but I want my videos to be at least a little more interesting. So while I walking through Little Tokyo I was taking what is known as “B roll.” Basically “B Roll” is just filler film that you can use later when bridging a gap in your film.  Here is what I shot:

Nothing really exceptional, just a little stroll through Little Tokyo, a quick pan of a few shops, a street performer in the background. Or so I thought until I saw this: (go to 33:38)

Yep, that was my brush with greatness. I met Arthur Nakane and I didn’t even know it. I should of know he was famous, my son really liked him. In fact AJ liked him so much we listened to three of his songs. I wish I would of filmed more of him. Had I known I was watching someone who would go onto America’s Got Talent I certainly would have. The guy is entertaining, but the competition is stiff so I don’t think he is going to win, but if this guy does go on to win the competition, we will be able to say “we saw him before he got famous.” I wish I would have gotten an autograph.