The fashion trends in Japan are almost changing daily: New clothes are combined with older ones; the same goes for accessories and other decorations. But if you always want to be up-to-date there’s one website that can help you with the newest fashion styles in Tokyo’s biggest districts.
Tokyo Street Style - Style-Arena
Read the rest of this entry »
Note: The featured article will be stickied to the top of the web page for two weeks at a time. To read the latest, proceed to the second post of the blog.
Have you ever watched an idol DVD? An idol DVD is usually an hour to an hour and a half long documentary-like film featuring a certain idol doing different things or tasks. Originally meant for the male audience, an idol DVD features the female idol (ranging from 10 to 20+ year-olds) doing various sports, posing in different swimsuits, cosplaying and basically posing around.
A few years back Marvelous Entertainment, the one behind the successful stage production The Musical Prince of Tennis, started a trend in producing idol DVDs starring male actors, specifically actors who had starred in Tenimyu at one point. The DVDs were widely accepted by Tenimyu fans everywhere and had now become a trend. DVDs starring male actors were started to be fondly called Men’s DVD. Some actors like Katou Keisuke were also starred in such DVDs even though they have not starred in Tenimyu or any stage productions. (left: Katou Keisuke’s Pieces of Dream DVD)
Exactly what can one expect when watching a man’s DVD anyway? What eyecandy are stored in such a fangirl’s treasure?
(To ensure understanding of the text with the pictures, I have incuded the actor and the title of the DVD in the pictures.)
The first time they were released, men’s DVD were sold as is: containing the main documentary clip, a short making-of video, and a digital photo gallery. The recent ones though, now come with photobooks with shots from the DVD. They are sold separately so you can enjoy both the printed and digital versions of shots from the video.
A male idol DVD contains slightly different parts from a female idol DVD. Usually, the movie is shot in a place outside Japan, commonly in other Asian countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. The actor is usually depicted as someone who is exploring the place he ended up in. All throughout the film, a voice-over done by the actor himself would be narrating, telling his thoughts of his adventures and on certain things. The movie is usually divided into categories, all of which are, more often than not, common in all men’s DVD.
Read the rest of this entry »
Title : Fruits Basket
Genre : Romance, drama, comedy, fantasy, shoujo
Production : Studio Deen
Episodes : 26
Vintage : 2001
I love this series. It’s a fresh, funny and beautiful story. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see it because I don’t like romances that much, but I kept running over it and decided to do so. I was amazed by the series that I actually decided to read the manga. The illustration is amazing and the story is one of a kind. The only thing that might disappoint you in the anime is the ending. It ends very abruptly and makes you wonder what happens next. Fortunately, the manga continues on from the anime and your curiosity will be satisfied.
Read the rest of this entry »
All countries have a legal drinking age, and many drinking laws within. Underage drinking is frowned upon, and it often becomes a source of rebellion in teens. Drinking frequently, also, is sometimes frowned upon and these people can be seen as “drunks” by some in society.
Japan, though a very strict and rule-abiding society, is surprisingly loose when it comes to alcohol. Though there are underage drinking laws, this is more of a convention to follow Western societies rather than definite rules. And, though people under 20 – Japanese legal age – cannot buy liquor from stores, they can get it from vending machines, which don’t (yet) have the ability to check IDs. Parents often allow their children to drink sake, or Japanese rice wine, at celebrations (of which there are many) even in public. The interesting side-effect of this, however, is it becomes much less of a source of teenage rebellion than it is in other countries. If your parents have given you something, even if it is technically illegal, from a young age, how is it rebellious?
Hey y’all! Back on schedule here with a few recommended releases from this past Wednesday!
ONE OK ROCK - Zetaikubyo
 |
01. Naihi Shinsho 02. Borderline 03. (you can do) everything 04. Yoru ni shika Sakanai Mangetsu 05. Yume Yume 06. Kagerou 07. Lujo 08. Kemuri 09. Yokubou ni Michi ta Seinendan 10. Etcetera 11. A New One For All, All For The New One |
Zetaikubyou is ONE OK ROCK’s first major album, and all I can say for it is, “wow!” ONE OK ROCK hooked me with their second mini-album’s title song “Keep it real” and I’ve loved every release since then, but I think this is the best so far! Etcetera is the definite hit on the album, with Naihi Shinsho not far behind. Borderline and Kagerou are noteworthy as well. If you’re a fan of ELLEGARDEN, LAST ALLIANCE, or Asian Kung-fu Generation, you’ll definitely be glad you checked these guys out!
Links:
Official Site
Wiki.thePPN Page
OOR Blog
Buy! Yesasia US // Yesasia Global // CD Japan
————————————————————————————————————
alan - 明日への讃歌 (Ashita he no Sanka)
 |
01. 明日への讃歌 (Ashita he no Sanka) 02. 桜モダン (Sakura Modern) 03. 明日への讃歌 (Ashita he no Sanka) (Instrumental) 04. 桜モダン (Sakura Modern) (Instrumental) |
alan is Chinese-Tibetan and has been trained in the Chinese Opera style of singing. This is her debut Japanese single, and for me gave me mixed reactions at first. I heard Ashita he no Sanka on her official, and didn’t really like it. I don’t prefer the Opera style of singing no matter the language, and the quality on her official wasn’t good. Once I saw her PV however, my opinion took a 180 turn! WOW! Her voice is truly beautiful, and she manipulates it so skillfully. I still don’t much like the opera style, but I definitely love this single, and I’m looking forward to what she puts out next! And a word of warning, for this girl, her official doesn’t even begin to give you the full experience of her voice, so find it in high quality if you can!
Links:
Official Site: Japanese // Chinese
wiki.thePPN Page
Buy! HMV.co.jp // CD Japan
————————————————————————————————————
Read the rest of this entry »
L’Arc~en~ciel fans, hold on to your seats because Tetsu’s getting married! Laruku bassist and founding member, Tetsu, has recently announced his marriage plans with model/actress, Sakai Ayana.
This is a translation of the announcement on his mobile site from the Laruku LJ community (I cleaned up the original translation a bit):
To everyone important to me
I have an announcement to make for everyone who supports me. I, Tetsu, and Ayana Sakai are getting married.
I’m “getting married!” I still can’t believe it myself, but I’m very happy and thankful that I got to meet someone who makes me feel this way.
I’ll work even harder to create better music for everyone, so please keep on supporting us.
Thank you in advance.
Tetsu’s sixteen years older than the 22-year-old Ayana, but you got to admit, they look good together. On behalf of Nihon Watch, best wishes to Tetsu and Ayana!
Thanks, nikki for the heads up.
Edit: Check out Ayana’s announcement in the Ayanavi blog!
You see, ever since these flavors were made known to me, I’ve had a whole new perspective of ice cream. I LOVE ice cream. Granted, my tummy hurts after eating a whole lot of it, I still do anyways. If I didn’t know such flavors exist, I’d claim I eat every flavor of ice cream there is. BUT and that’s a big but, I’d rather die from starvation than eat any of these ice cream flavors!
Charcoal Ice Cream
Umm…Hello? These are supposed to cook what’s to be eaten, not the other way around.
Garlic Ice Cream
Aptly branded — Dracula, the garlic ice cream. Uh, no thank you. Unless I want to be teased garlic-breath, I’d rather not.
Goat Ice Cream
This one’s made of goat milk with…goat meat chunks! Eeewww…
Read the rest of this entry »
Early this November, Utada.jp updated with news about Utada collaborating with American R&B crooner, Ne-Yo, for a song included in the latter’s worldwide promotional campaign. Ne-Yo has been doing collaboration of songs off his latest album, “Because of You,” from artists all over the globe. Last November 21, 2007, “Do You” feat. Utada was made available for purchase in iTunes Japan.
I love Ne-Yo, I love R&B and I love Hikki. In short, I’m digging the single a lot! Since the song’s originally Ne-Yo’s, R&B beats are predominant and it reminds me of Hikki in her early days back when she was doing this type of music. Does this mean Hikki’s going back to her roots? Hah. I could only wish.
YouTube video of the full song after the cut!
I think every country has its own YouTube star and Japan is in no way different. Presenting — YukaRitty. YukaRitty is (or was, I’m not exactly sure) a grad school student from the Nagoya University arts and sciences department. YukaRitty has since then become an Internet performer, who hasn’t been seen anywhere without her faithful Mac laptop and white helmet.
This YouTube video features the diva of Aichi prefecture singing a song which is about — of all things — being an elevator. The video was made back in 2006 and I haven’t seen any more documentation of YukaRitty in recent months. Still, I could only hope she’s well, kicking and still spreading infectious geekiness. Now, I know Thursdays are meant for Japanese gadgets but there’s a Mac, there’s a cute geeky diva and there’s the white helmet — I can’t resist.
Visit YukaRitty at her web site.
Source: Gizmodo Japan via Tokyo Mango
YouTube video after the cut because it’s ruining the layout!
Doberman Inc is known as one of Japan’s top Hip-Hop groups, but can they make it in the urban fashion world? Well, that’s what they are out to do with “Domain,” their new line of urban clothing.
In case you haven’t heard of them, Doberman Inc is a group of emcees that was formed with the help of big time producer Bach Logic in 2000. Bach Logic has worked with many artists before and after the group’s formation, including Seeda, Exile, and Sowelu, and has done remixes for many other stars, but he produces almost all of Doberman Inc’s material. The group consisted of five members until December of last year when MAB left the group, leaving Tomogen, Kubo-C, GS, and P-Cho. In August, they released a “Best of” album entitled The Best ~ Time 4 Some Action that also includes three new tracks, Brand New Day, Hypnotic (feat. Jay’ed), and a different version of Exile, Sowelu, and Doberman Inc’s collaboration, 24 Karats, that focuses on the four-man emcee group.
Donate
-
Top Commentators
Designed By :
