Yakuza giving gifts to children

http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/12/30/yakuza-give-gifts-to-local-children/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JapanProbe+%28Japan+Probe%29

this is an interesting post over at japan probe :)

Overdrive by IOSYS

http://www.iosysos.com/

Welcome to Canada!

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, including Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Masako, and Prime Minister Taro will be visiting Canada for a 15 day tour, before heading over to Hawaii.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090703/canada/japan_canada_us_royals

Vegetable Music

Carrots, Broccoli, Asparagus, & Red Pepper turned into musical instruments. This is really neat. ^^ Who would have thought?!?! The carrots appear to be the best, but they all have a flute like sound to them. Very interesting.

Although, like most inventions, or new ideas, How the heck did he come about this? Was it boredom, or just a silly idea..."I wonder if I carved out a carrot if it would act like a flute??"

Well, anyway, here is the video from youtube user heita3

Greeeeeeeeeeeen Tea!

Are you a woman in your 20's or 30's concerned about health and beauty?
Then we've got the product for you. New from Coca Cola Japan,
GREEN TEA COKE!

Coca Cola Plus Catechin - as the news release states. (which is all in Japanese by the way)
No calories, selling nation wide Japan, went on sale on the 8th (monday)...and I'm having a hard time translating. But there is always Rikaichan (lol)

So I am a woman in her 20's, sure I am concerned about health and beauty. Would I try green tea coke. YOU BET YOUR ASS! Would I like it? Saaa, who knows. Will I ever have this chance? Probably not, unless I get my act together and save my money for my trip to Japan. (when ever that will be)

Speaking of tea....Takaaki Goto has written an article "Green tea revolution dated in 1985" It's interesting. ^^

I love Green Tea. Not only does it taste good, but as most of us know by now, green tea has loads of benefits.

• helps protect you from cancer (EGCG in Green Tea prevents the mutation of cells)
  
• Eases some arthritis pain
• Brings down cholesterol Levels
  
• Lowers risk of cariovascular disease
• Protects you from infection
• Helps your immune system
• used to treat multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
• Raises metabolism
• Prevents tooth decay and bad breath
• Flushes toxins and boosts energy levels
  

Green tea is also used in a wide range of beauty products. Used as an exfoliant, or moisturizer, it is claimed to reduce signs ageing, such as wrinkles and sunspots. Research states that Green tea is also effective in preventing skin cancer.

Whats not to like??

朝ごはん Beethoven's Fifth

Here is an interesting video. This Japanese vocal group has taken Beethoven's 5th Symphony and added lyrics. Lyrics about....what they are going to eat for breakfast. ^_^ Asagohan, meaning breakfast, or literaly morning rice.

They are looking at their options which include maze gohan/mixed rice and shiro gohan/white rice. Other menu items pop up, and the family just can't seem to decide, until its too late. Breakfast turns into Lunch.

Its really cute!

Whats wrong with being naked ...THE T-SHIRT

Becoming the nude, something is bad

裸になって何が悪い

http://clubt.jp/product/53243_1580907.html

I'm getting a kick out of making fun of Kusanagi. I guess that makes me a mean mean person.

What a Heavenly Voice

While we are on the topic of Drunk Japanese people....

Mr Ando Of the woods by TaniGuchiTakashi

I really have no words for this....

Oh SMAP!

Wasn't I just talking about SMAP? This has nothing to do with Goro, but I'm sure you've all heard about Kusanagi! I was surprised to see it made Yahoo! Canada news.

If you haven't heard, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (34) was found drunk and naked in a Tokyo park. The NHK reports that he apologised and was deeply sorry, however resisted arrest and was quoted saying "What's wrong with being naked?"

According to Japan Probe people are already creating parody posters of Kusanagi using the phrase, whats wrong with being naked?

As usual, when a Johnny's boy does something bad, televison ad's, shows, dramas and promo material will be removed. We will probably see him suspended from SMAP for a period of time, and he will go to a unknown place where bad Johnny boys go (Goro, Uchi, Kusano,...) sometimes they even come back! We will have to wait and see.

However, a man at his age should know better than Uchi and Kusano, who were drinking underage a couple of years ago. I don't follow NEWS all that much, so I really don't know if they have returned from never-never land, or if they've just gone back to being a Johnny's Jr.

In any case....

FUJI TV who produces SMAPxSMAP, "Waratte Iitomo" and I believe its two more Kusanagi shows are having meetings to decide what to do next, and TV Asahi and "Pu'suma," are "reviewing content" for their air date april 28 (according to mainichi)

"Pitagora Switch" a children's show which Kusanagi narrates, may be posponed accodring to the NHK.

It just keeps going! Since 2006 Kusanagi has appeared in televison and written promo ads to make people aware of the change from analogue to digital broadcasting, HOWEVER The Association for Promotion of Digital Broadcasting is asking broadcasters to REMOVE these ads, and that they will look for a REPLACEMENT.

To rub it in even more, Toyota Motor Company and P&G (proctor and Gamble) have suspended any ad, or marketing to do with him.

On the bright side apparently the movie "BALLAD Na mo Naki Koi no Uta", which stars Kusanagi will still be releated by Toho films September 5th.

Asahi Shimbun news says kusanagi's blood alcohol level was 5 times the legal limit for driving.

Ouch.

Leo DiCaprio, SMAP, and Ninja Scroll

Imprint Talk has it here.

Apparently Leonardo DiCaprio (we all know who he is don't we?) Only my high school crush. He was in Titanic, BasketBall Diaries, Gangs of NY, etc... He wants SMAP, yes SMAP, to star in a live action version of Ninja Scroll!

It's not certain yet that this will go through, but I'm kind of interested in seeing this. It's been forever since I have seen Ninja Scroll, and I wonder who will play who. AS LONG AS Inagaki Gorō is NOT JUBEI. Then again, maybe it wont be so bad. I don't have anything against him, but I just don't like his acting. He was cold in the drama "Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru", when he was supposed to be playing a variety show writer who falls for an "ugly" woman. (though she isn't a beauty, I dont think she is ugly) and in "Sasaki FUsai no Jingi Naki Tatakai" he really can't live up to actress Koyuki. He's not good with making the viewer believe his character feels what he feels...if that makes sense.

He does seem to be a bit of a dick though, lol,I recently discovered that he totally assulted a police woman after a hit and run, and was temporarily suspended from public appearances by his company Johnny's Enterainment & Associates.

But moving on...

I'm just happy that someone out there in hollywood land is using their brains and thinking of actually hiring a Japanese cast to play anime roles.(I'm afraid to watch Dragon Ball Evolution. But I was never a big DB fan to begin with, so who knows if I will actually watch it)

I guess Leo is an anime fan, and is working on a live action Akira film. Holy crap Eh?!?! (oops, there is my Canadian coming out again)

Well, if this Live Action Ninja Scroll thing turns out to come true, according to Imprint Talk, it will be the first time SMAP acts together. HA! Arashi has already done THAT....THREE TIMES! (I'm a bit biased)

Anyway! I look forward to this!!

Summer Snow

"It's Summer Snow, in the deep blue sea."

Shinoda Natsuo (Domoto Tsuyoshi) is a young man who is raising his younger brother and sister, Jun (Oguri Shun) and Chika (Ikewaki Chizuru) since the death of their parents. He works and manages "Shinoda Cycle" their family business, while trying to be both an older brother and parent.

Katase Yuki (Hirosue Ryoko), a young woman with a certain ailment that restricts her from doing certain activities has just gotten her first job at a local bank.

Their given names mean Summer and Snow respectively.

As an avid scuba diver, Natuso explains Summer snow to Yuki. Plankton that appears as snow deep in the ocean during the summer months.Natsuo, Without knowing of her ailment, encourages her to learn to dive.


The story also follows the lives of Natsuo's younger brother and sister, Jun and Chika. Jun is deaf, but can hear with the help of a hearing aid.He is a bright student, however does not have the full support of his teacher when it comes to his choice of future career. It also shows the teenaged relationship between Chika, and her boyfriend Suetsugu Hiroto (Imai Tsubasa)


I first saw this drama a couple of years ago, actually it may be more than just a couple of years now. I think the year was 2003, and by then this drama was already close to 3 years old. Having aired from July 7th 2000 to September 15th 2000. Technically it was the second j-drama I had ever seen, however the first one I did not watch all the way through, so I like to say "Summer Snow" is my first,

Domoto Tsuyoshi who is in the Johnny's Enterainment pop group "KinKi Kids" and has been in movies such as Fantastipo, and Shanghai Puppet Story works well with Hirosue Ryoko (Collage of our life) I think they definetly have great chemistry. It is probably why they were both chosen to be in the drama "Moto Kare".

We also see a young Oguri Shun (HanaKimi, Stand Up!, Gokusen) and another Johnny's Entertainment group member Imai Tsubasa, who is in the group "Tackey and Tsubasa."

A lot of people said that when they first started to watch, they were afraid it was going to be a depressing drama where one has an disease, and how they deal with it. They comment that they were very surprised at how this drama turned out. When I started to watch I had no prior knowledge of J-dramas, and it was so long ago that I can't say what my original feelings were. I CAN say that I watch this drama very often, mostly in the Summertime of course, and I never grow tired of the story or it's characters.

The theme song, which is by KinKi Kids is catchy too. "Natsuno Osama"

Haruki Murakami accepts Jerusalem Award, Takashi Murakami's Inochi.

Recently Novelist Haruki Murakami accepted the Jerusalem Award. This is a good article. :)

I love Haruki Murakami. I've read many of his books, the ones that stick out for me are Sputnik Sweetheart, After Dark, Dance Dance Dance, Kafka on the Shore and his book of short stories Blind Willow Sleeping Woman. I've also read Hard Boiled Wonderland and the end of the world, and the wind up bird chronicle.

Speaking of famous Murakami's, I recently come accross an interesting....video by artist Takashi Murakami. (I love his Louis Vuitton Superflat promo video) I guess he created this character, Inochi, which then became subject to a short movie.

Warning: It's really freaking Weird.

Inochi
=

Hungry Machine

rabu rabu rabu rabu rabu rabu rabu

Ayumi Hamasaki Album on USB drive

This is pretty cool. Ayumi Hamasaki is to relase her TENTH album titled "Next Level" completely on a USB drive.

Its a pretty cool idea if you ask me. Next Level will be released March 25th on cd, and the USB, limited in quantity, will be released the same day. It will have 4 different pakages, and the USB version will have all 13 tracks that appear on the cd, 6 music videos and lyrics.

The USB drive will be 2 GB, however the album only take 800MB, so you can use the rest of the space for whatever you want. I see it will sell at 6,800 yen, which is roughly 91.33 CAD, and 72.58USD. Seems expensive, but another blog mentioned that its a pretty good price since USB drives usually go for 4,000 to 5,000 yen. 53.77 CAD - 67.24 CAD 42.74 USD - 53.41 USD. so you buy your flash drive, and the album. Still seems S'pensive to me, but yanno, ression time (my hours got cut at work, so we all know who isn;t getting Ayumi's new album on USB, lol)
(these are calculated at todays exchange rate btw)


I think this is a neat idea. The cd is becoming obsolete, and more and more people are listening to mp3's.

Picto-san

You know those signs with the little man on it. Like, a cross walk, bathroom, wheelchair sign, or the man who is slipping and falling. Well, he has a name, and in Japan its picto-san. :D

Pictosan has his own website check it out

Thanks to Watashi to Tokyo, I wouldn;t have known that he was so popular. Here are some pictures of picto-san.

Shock
Banzai - lol he is falling but the link says Banzai. lol

And there is a whole website dedicated to Picto-san pictures, where people accross Japan take pictures of the signs and post them.

I kind of feel bad for him, you know, always falling down, getting electrocuted, and the man o war's attacting him. yeah. Picto-san is a trooper!

Picto-san song

The work of Miyanaga Aiko

This is really cool. Miyanaga Aiko creates art with Naphthalene, which is the substance that creates Moth Balls. (ew, I hate moth balls, :D) Basically she creates an image with that substance, however it slowly turns from a solid to a gas when put in room temperature. So her art work dissolves as the night goes on. Its really really interesting.

Find out more Here

Aiba Masaki and Ohno Satoshi of ARASHI speaking English!

Hey baby, whats your blood type?

"TOKYO – In Japan, "What's your type?" is much more than small talk; it can be a paramount question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job.

By type, the Japanese mean blood type, and no amount of scientific debunking can kill a widely held notion that blood tells all."

(read the rest of the article)

イノセント・ラヴ Innocent Love

Everyone deserves to find their own happiness. That seems to be the theme of this drama. It deals with perseverance and the stuggles of life.

Akiyama Kanon's (Horikita Maki) world fell apart when she lost her parents seven years ago in a fire that destroyed her home. It was only she and her brother Yoji (Fukushi Seiji) who survived, however he was soon arrested in suspision of murder.

Always believing in her brother, Kanon did everything in her power to prove him innocent. However, life isn't so fair. The community had a hard time accepting the sister of a murderer. Kanon was forced to change her name and move several times just to be accepted, however in the end someone would find out she was related to the Akiyama parricide case.

Kanon manages to find a job cleaning homes, and comes to know a man by the name of Nagasaki Junya (Kitagawa Yujin). He is a musician, but has put his carrer on hold to take care of his fiance,Kiyoka, who had become mentally ill after an accident. Junya has the most beautiful smile, and Kanon realises over time that she never wants him to lose that smile. She will do anything to make him happy. However there are dark clouds looming in the background. They are not the only ones trying to attain their own happiness...

This 10 episode J-drama ran from October 20th to December 22nd on Fuji tv. and was directed by Kato Hiromasa and Matsuyama Hiroaki.


Horikita Maki (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e), though young, has been in many j-dramas and movies, including the popular Kurosagi drama and movie, based off the manga of the same name. I think that she does an incredible job at playing Akiyama Kanon. Someone mentioned to me that she seemed stiff, and her smile didn't seem believeable in this drama. I have to agree, however it somehow works for the character. A girl who hurts a lot more than she lets on, and whose past was so bad that she had forgotten most of her childhood.

Maki works well with Kitagawa Yujin, who is part of a "j-folk' group Yuzu. He does not appear to have much acting experience, only appearing in the third episode of Meitantei Hokenshitsu no Obasan (1997) but I was very impressed with his ability to make make me smile and cry with him, and yes, he has such a lovely smile. He is married to popular tv show host Takashima Aya.

Another notible actor is Narimiya Hiroki (Bloody Monday) , he plays one of Junya's closest friends Segawa Subaru. He is a talented actor, and I look forward to seeing more of his work.

Overall, I really enjoyed this drama. I enjoy shows that bring out my emotions, and make me feel connected to the characters. :D THUMBS UP YEAH!

Steve's first spot

Originally from www.nicovideo.jp, and now on youtube.com, I bring you "Steve's First Spot". Everyone is accusing "Steve" of being drunk, and I would have to agree, that or he is just really super excited to be playing Mario.

Watch as "Steve" narrates his adventures in Mario World, shouts at monsta's, and tells you all about "Japanese Favorite Game". He will walk you through the game, giving you hints on good "Weapons", Bad monsters to avoid, How to count to 8 and How to Bite Mother's Pizza.