Boys be ambitious

Journalists approach Shutoku Mukai warily. As the leading personality of cult group Number Girl, Mukai cultivated an aura of negative charisma. Onstage, he was all contorted painful energy, round geeky glasses slipping down his nose as he spat out lyrics and drew harsh, ranting chords from his guitar. In interviews, he was often terse, distant and generally ill at ease.

Read Article..

Rail riders aroused by oral skills of cunning linguist

A Kansai woman given the job of making English announcements on trains because her pronunciation was easy for Japanese to understand is building up a considerable following, according to Asahi Geino (12/2).

Christelle Ciari has become so popular making announcements along the lines of "The next stop will be ..." she's been picked up by more than 30 railway companies across Japan to provide their English broadcasts.

Read More..

S Korean actor Bae Yong Joon arrives to tumultuous welcome

South Korean heartthrob actor Bae Yong Joon arrived to a huge reception at Narita airport on Thursday afternoon. The 32-year-old star — the most popular foreign celebrity in Japan this year — is here to attend the opening of an exhibition of his photos and outfits.

Read More..

Diamond-studded Hello Kitty effigy sold for Y10.5 mil

Mitsukoshi Ltd said Wednesday a diamond-studded effigy of the popular feline character Hello Kitty, which had a price tag of 10.5 million yen, has been sold to a customer at its Osaka department store.

Read More..

TokyoNow: Free magazines popping up all over Japan

From Kyodo News:

TOKYO, Nov. 1, Kyodo - Monthly magazines distributed free of charge at railway stations and convenience stores are popping up all over Japan and attracting readers with their slick covers as well as advertisers who see money to be made.

Seven types of these free magazines are available in Tokyo subway stations.

Metropolitana was launched two years ago by the major newspaper Sankei Shimbun Co. and Metro mini., published by Star Publishing Co., hit the stands a year ago. Both focus on lifestyle.

Read Article..

TokyoNow: 'Pure love' dramas all the rage in Japan

By Keiko Kimura

TOKYO, Nov. 19, Kyodo - (EDS: UPDATING THE NUMBER OF SOLD ''BE With YOU'' COPIES AT 5TH PARA) Amid an explosion of so-called jun'ai (pure love) television programs and books in Japan, movie companies have been releasing these films one after the other.

''Sekachu'' (Crying out Love, From the Center of the World),'' which was directed by Isao Yukisada and produced by Minami Ichikawa and Kei Haruna, was released in May and became a blockbuster in Japan.

Read Article..

Japan Lite: Ants go marching one by one, hurrah! By Amy Chavez

For years entomologists have been trying to figure out why ants work in the ways they do. Through years of my own research, and as an experienced "antomologist," I've discovered the answer: Ants have been copying the Japanese. It's ant "wa." The wa system has been in place by the Japanese since the beginning of Japanese civilization.

Read Column..

Art explosion: Design Fiesta Volume 20 in Tokyo

Japan’s largest art event, Design Festa, marks its tenth anniversary

This weekend, an artistic frenzy of painters, poets, singers and creators will rush out to engulf the shopping and entertainment bastions of Odaiba. Marking its tenth year and 20th incarnation, Design Festa will converge with 5,000-plus exhibitors on Tokyo’s International Exhibition Center, more commonly known as Tokyo Big Sight.

Read Feature..

SushiDisk: Sushi shaped USB memory devices..

From Mainchi Daily News:

Sushi-shaped USB memory devices 'SushiDisk' are displayed at Solid Alliance Corp's office, an electonics device maker, in Yokohama, south of Tokyo.

Memory devices resembling sea urchin, salmon roe and tuna sushi, each with a data storage capacity of 128 megabytes, are priced at 8,200 yen.

Those resembling tuna and cucumber rolls have 32 megabyte capacity and carry a price tag of 6,000 yen.

View Images..

G&L Fashion: Through the Looking Glass : Winter Report

I figured there was a lot to talk about fashion-wise this Winter, so I thought I'd write up my review on it. Being the obsessive I am about gothic & lolita fashion, observing this year's trends in the brands was not hard. So I write it like any distinguished Fashion Reporter would do!


Read Article..

J-pop in Korea: TV Restrictions, Taste Differences Hinder Popularity of Japanese Pop Culture in Korea

From October 1998 to September 2003, Korea opened its market to Japanese culture through four graduated stages. The after-effects from the unbarring of the crossbar on "curiosity about taboos," were minor, unlike initial concerns. No "Japanese Wave" is afoot in Korea now. Why? Restrictions on some Japanese dramas and show programs have yet to be lifted for broadcasting on terrestial TV. Japanese record circles cite the terrestial TV restriction as the main cause.

Read Article..

Asian Kung-Fu Generation finally kicks in - by Rori Caffrey

My earliest memory of Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Japan's current buzz band, is when they played at Summer Sonic 2003--not that I actually saw them perform. Heavens no. I doubt many people did. But, hey, you don't forget a name like that too easily..

Read Article..

Japan Lite: Lunch menu -- the pillage of the day by Amy Chavez

When you come to Japan as a "gaijin," it seems there is always a Japanese person who adopts you. This person makes sure you have all the things you need, informs you of important events and perhaps even takes you sightseeing. I've had several people take on this role during my time in Japan...

Read Article..