Last weekend, Books Kinokuniya held the grand opening of its new store in Carrollton, Texas, with author events, cosplay contests, live music, a kimono fashion show, karate demonstrations and performances that included taiko drums by Kiyari Daiko and Dondoko Taiko, traditional Yosakoi dancing by Yosakoi Soran, and the Cherry Blossoms children's choir. Pictured: (l.-r.) Shigeharu Ono, general manager, Kinokuniya Book Stores of America; Tyrannosaurus, from the popular Japanese children's series published by Museyon; Taka Kubota; v-p, Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth and HR business partner at NEC Corporation of America; Shigekazu Watanabe, Texas area manager, Kinokuniya; Matthew Marchant, mayor of Carrollton; Junji Kurokawa, director, JETRO Houston. (Another Books Kinokuniya store opens this month in Plano, Texas.)
