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This Week in TGIF: Jin Akanishi, Blu

Japanese pop singer Jin Akanishi has successfully launched a career in the U.S.

For Akanishi, a chart-busting singer-songwriter, actor, radio host and overall pop idol in his native Japan, the grass here in America seems to be pretty green. As one of the first major pop singers to make a serious attempt at stardom in the U.S., he’s already gotten American youngsters moving to his dance-friendly techno-pop beat.

• L.A. indie hip-hop star will churn it up in Chinatown
• Pau Hana Patrol: Magazine-inspired bar has tasty drinks, but its food is a wipeout
• Quick Bites: Meet a rancher during the Farmers Series Dinner
• Best of Our Web: ‘Sky’s the Limit,’ ‘Xscape,’ Friendship Gala, Taryn Manning, ‘The Lei Over’
• At the Movies: ‘Friends With Kids,’ ‘John Carter,’ Norwegian Wood,’ ‘Silent House’ and more
• Out ‘N’ About: Royal Hawaiian Band, Salsa Lounge, Coin-currency-stamp show and more
• Do It! Parker Quartet, Kulanihakoi, Hard Rock and Tahitian dance
• To Do! Foster the People, Jimmy Buffett, Manoa Jazz, Ziggy Marley and Erykah Badu
• Calendars: Music, Nightclubs, On Stage