Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
How Much Do I Love This?
Bandai is producing working Tachikoma tanks.
They're due out this coming February.
And they will cost US$199!
Is it too late to draw up a new Christmas list?
UFO Catcher: A Guide To Winning
Via Nihonhacks.com:
Japanese Culture blog Tofugu recently posted up a cool guide to winning stuffed animals from UFO Catcher. Apparently the trick is to use the claw to push down and roll the toys near the exit rather than trying to pick them up. They made a little video showing how to do it (the meat it about halfway through). Have a watch:
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Zatch Bell Manga Draws to Close
As Anime News Network reports, "after seven years, 31 volumes, and 323 installments," the (obviously) long-running, famed manga about the tribulations of the battling "mamodos" in their effort to become king of their world, the manga, Zatch Bell! (Konjiki no Gasshu Beru!!), has concluded.
The English dub of the series, which continues to air in several markets, is continuing to be broadcasted. The Japanese dub ended early last year.
Zatch Bell! was author Makoto Raiku's first weekly serialization. The manga ran in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday.
L☆S: No Nice Boats to be Seen...
In one of the most bizarre anime meets real-life moments of 2007 (aside from the collective number of Haruhi, street dances) was a the heavy tourist bombardment one Japanese shrine received, simply because it was featured in an episode of Lucky☆Star. This month even, a brunch was planned for fans of the show to visit and tour the shrine, with lots of events lined-up to accompany the scheduled tour, and plenty of goodies to give away, including mobile phone charms shaped like shrine plaques with the anime's characters on them.
Meanwhile, one of my favorite anime bloggers, DarkMirage, is in Japan right now and has been taking pictures of some of the other real locations featured in the series. I have to imagine he took some reference photos before the shoot, because some of these match the comparison photos quite well. More pics of his travles, including others of L☆S scenery are available at his blog.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Bathtime for Buddha
Thanks for the news, Kami.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
NICE BOAT! NICE BOAT! NICE BOAT!
What's new, what's getting renewed, what's coming up for 2008?
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, will be renewed for a third season. No word on whether nice boats will preempt this season.
Afro Samurai will be renewed for a second season. It is not certain what the status is of the live-action Afro movie, starring Samuel L. Jackson, that had been planned.
Golgo 13 will get a first season. The series will follow the long-running manga of an expert assassin. Golgo has been made into several movies, but this will be the first series.
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu seems to be moving closer to premiering its highly anticipated second season. The official Haruhi.tv website has brought some concrete evidence forward that Kyoto Animation will produce a second season, titled Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu, AKA: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Find out more at DarkMirage's blog.
The second annual American Anime Awards are expected to air in April at the New York Comic Con. As per the last AmAnAwd, Ani-Pock will keep you updated on where you can see the filming, whether online or broadcasted, and who the winners were. The award show is expected to be presented during the con, April 18-20 2008.
Emperor's Birthday
Today is the Emperor of Japan's birthday everyone. Conicidentally it is also a certain certain Ani-Pocker's birthday as well. *cough cough*
Akihito (明仁) born December 23, 1933. He is going to be 75, and is the current emperor of Japan, and the 125th emperor according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He is the world's only reigning monarch with the title of emperor. The date is determined by the present Emperor's birth date. Which, when switching emperors, they have to change it before hand so that they don't miss it if it is before when the change should be made.
On December 23, a public ceremony takes place at the Imperial Palace which, usually off limits to the public, opens its gates. The Emperor, accompanied by Empress Michiko and several other members of the imperial family, appears on a palace balcony to acknowledge the birthday congratulations of crowds of festive well-wishers, who are waving tiny Japanese flags. Only on this occasion, and on January 2nd, may the general public enter the inner grounds of the Imperial Palace.
To enter the inner grounds of the palace on December 23, visitors have to stand in line at designated areas across the street from the palace. The large, graveled plaza where the visitors can see Nijubashi Bridge is closed off by the police. At the designated time, visitors' bags are checked and they are escorted to the palace grounds. Admission is free, and visitors are given a free paper Japanese flag. Also, no food and drinks may be taken into the palace.
Visitors then stand in line near the famous Nijubashi Bridge, the symbol of the palace. At 9:30 am, they allow the first group of people to cross Nijubashi Bridge and enter the plaza in front of the balcony where the Emperor will appear. At 10:20 am, the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Prince Akishino, Princess Akishino, and others appear on the balcony and wave to the crowd who wave paper Japanese flags and shout "banzai!"
If the Emperor speaks, then the crowd falls silent. When the Emperor ceases his oratory greeting (however brief), the crowd starts waving the flags again and the Imperial Family wave back. They appear for three minutes. The crowd is then directed to the exit. Most of them go and take a walk around the East Garden of the palace which includes the remains of the castle donjon. Meanwhile, the next group is led into the palace.
The visiting crowds are usually made up of significantly older portions of the Japanese population, as national interest in the Emperor has been on the wane since the end of World War II. Quite a few foreigners also attend.
((OMG sorry it's so bad, I have ONE bar of connection, and like I got this from Wikipedia... >w< And it's 1:50 AM. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_Birthday Thank you for reading everyone, Muddy out...))
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tanjoubi omedetou! Again!
Today is a very important day in Japan.
It is in fact one of the most important of days!
That day would be
Emperor Akihito, Japan's current Emperor (and the world's only reigning monarch with the title), turns 74.
Interestingly enough, the Emperor shares a birthday with one of the predeceasing Emperors of the Chrysanthemum throne, Emperor Antoku, born in 1185.
Read more about the Chrysanthemum family here in the Japan blog. Here's one about the youngest of the clan's first birthday.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Coming to Theatres: The Machine Girl
I'm am now accepting comments as to why this is an awesome movie.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Japanese Pig Toy Returns to Original Shape When Squashed
Here's a nifty Japanese toy which you can buy for just $2.50 shipped to world wide! (Free shipping)
Basically the toy returns to the same shape after being squashed or flattened.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Giant Sticky Man Messes Windows, Falls to Death Twice
Take a look at this!
Japan has way cooler sticky vending machine men than the rest of the world does.
That aside, a team from the Japanese TV show, Hey! Spring of Trivia, recently decided to let loose a giant version of the toy on a skyscraper in Akita.
Watch the hilarious results from the first trial:
And here we have supposedly a better "body to sticky stuff ratio" in this run:
Thanks, Pocky!
He finds 'em, I posts 'em. XP
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Japanese TV: Haneru no Tobira
In this one the contestants must pop the red balloon with their white foot attachments (it’s something that pop that balloon but not damage the obstacles in their way):
Norabbits' Minutes
Via fpsmagazine.com:
Norabbits' Minutes features two young rabbit brothers who live together in the forest and have endearing adventures together... though not without some absurd twists. As a bonus, we are also presenting the first episode of Norabbits' Minutes in its entirety.
Honda ASIMO gets new features
From FarEastGizmos.com:
Honda developed an intelligence technology that enhances smooth movement by enabling ASIMO to choose between stepping back and yielding the right-of-way or continuing to walk based on the predicted movement of oncoming people. Honda also developed a new intelligence technology related to ASIMO’s ability to perform tasks such as carrying a tray and pushing a cart.
Furthermore, a new comprehensive system was developed so that multiple ASIMOs can share tasks by adjusting to the situation and work together in coordination to provide uninterrupted service. For example, if one ASIMO is idled while recharging, other ASIMO robots will step in and perform assigned tasks.ASIMO identifies oncoming people through its eye camera, calculates traveling direction and speed, predicts forthcoming movements of oncoming people, and chooses the most appropriate path so that it will not block the movement of others. When there is not enough space, ASIMO will step back and yield the right-of-way.
In addition, a new battery charging station was developed for ASIMO’s autonomous recharging. When the remaining battery level falls below a certain level, ASIMO will automatically identify and walk to the closest available battery charging station and re-charge while standing.
New York City's First Anime Fair Starts This Weekend
Via TokyoMango.com:
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Speed Racer Through the Years
Here we have the original, the classic 60s (English) theme:
The opening from the early 90s series, The New Adventures of Speed Racer, which has little to do with racing:
Now we have the late 90s series, Speed Racer Y2K or Speed Racer X as it's commonly known (look at how long that mid-air kick lasts!):
And the trailer from the 2008, upcoming, live-action movie which looks like Spy Kids 3 and crazy rolling around in the powder you found on some magical, psychedelic, wonderbus trip:
I hope you enjoyed that very quick run through the Speed Racer history. I'll leave it up to you guys to decide whether the movie is going to be any good. Based on the trailer, your either love it or hate it.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Math Note: A Parody: A Review
If you like Death Note at all...
If you greatly disdain Death Note...
If you have no affiliation with Death Note...
...You will enjoy this parody. Now, I know what you're thinking. Right off the bat. Parodies aren't funny.
I think most aren't either. Though I watched a Fruits Basket parody once before, and almost broke a rib laughing. But I digress.
"School Note", or "Math Note" as it is more commonly referred, is a hilarious retelling of Death Note as a story of a student who struggles with math, until the Math Note falls from the sky. Most of the time while watching, you are assured to be confused, stupefied, and laughing. The parody includes many gratuitous pop culture references, including "The Price is Wrong" music and spot-on dubbing from The Godfather.
All I have to say is, "Salty, Ryuk."
When I showed THC this parody, he would, consecutively after finishing an episode, run to my room, open the door, quote lines, shut the door, and run away, even before I had a chance to say anything.
Go on, give it a shot:
"Every time Light-o studies math, God kills some random guy."
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Newsflash: Dateline- Ani-Pock
ADV entertainment boxes OVAs Dragon Half and PuniPuni Poemy together (US$20.00).
Everyone's head explodes.And here's why:
PPP Scene-
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Happy St. Nicholas Eve! But wait, there's more!
Today is St. Nicholas eve, AKA...
Talk Like a Ninja-Pirate day!
But since we all spoke like pirates early this year, let's just say:
It's Talk Like a Ninja day.
Fair enough.
The holiday received its origin when Santa Claus was no longer invited to come to homes to leave candy in children's shoes, as St. Nicholas day tradition. Without Santa around, his enemy, the evil Krampus, took over as ruler of the holiday and promised children that they only had harsh punishment to look forward to on this day if they were bad at all this year. This prompted Santa to take action. For five years he sequestered himself at his fortress in the icy north to study the ways of the ninja. That following December 5th, Santa gave Krampus a glorious whipping, and, as a bonus, used his ninja skills to sneak into homes to leave presents for good children again, instead of poisons and shuriken like the actual silent-killers.
So be good, for goodness sake, or he'll come and get you!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Japanese TV: Big Bird in Japan
From the 1989 TV Special! "We're off to Kyoto"
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Japanese TV: Giant Vortex Box
A vortex box blows smoke rings! Usually used in children science classes. They went on to make a giant one!!
The making:
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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All Ani-Pock Webmail accounts feature an amazing 2GB+ of mail storage!
Ani-Pock.net Webmail is powered by Google's Gmail, so it's super fast, easy to use and reliable! So want that @ani-pock.net address? Just following the steps below!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Exploding piggy-bank aims to scare Japanese into saving
TOKYO (AFP) - Greying Japan has a new weapon to scare people into saving for their retirement -- an exploding piggy bank.
The "Savings Bomb," which goes on sale in Japan next week, "explodes" and scatters coins if users fail to save for a long time, toy manufacturer TOMY Co Ltd said Thursday.
The battery-powered toy -- designed as a cartoon-style, ball-shaped black bomb with a skull and crossbones logo -- lights up, makes a noise, shakes violently and scatters coins if it is not topped up for a long time.
"Users must pick up and collect the scattered coins and reflect on their laziness," the Japanese company said.
Japan has the world's oldest population and one of the lowest birthrates, raising fears of a future demographic crisis with a smaller pool of workers financially supporting a growing number of elderly.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
VocaloID2 II!
A little update on our VocaloID2 software news...
This is starting to be big news in Japan as the December shelf date draws near.
Apparently, there will be at least one other character that you can program to sing at first release.
May I introduce, Kagamine Rin. When you use each character enough you can unlock a secret level of the software and they will fight to the death!
Just kidding, but take a look at our new (OMGCUTE!!1) character and just how good this software can sound:
And just how bad...:
And how... you thought I was going to say ugly, right?
More like awesome! Here's Miku again, singing with a host of fifteen voices to our favorite anime themes and various musics:
Thanks again to DarkMirage for the last link.
Update: Lucy informs me that video number two is actually someone's attempt at cutting their own version of a song using Rin's voice actress from another kind of application. See the comments.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Hello Kitty Strap Halts Trains
(Via Japanprobe.com): The Japanese press is reporting that a train was brought to a halt on the Osaka loop line last night around 7:55PM , after the warning lights indicated that the train’s doors were not closing properly. The source of the problem was a 2cm Hello Kitty doll, which had become detached from a cell phone strap and jammed itself between the doors. After an 18 minute delay, the Hello Kitty was removed and service on the loop line resumed. An estimated 20,000 passengers were influenced by the delay.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Abbey Road never sounded this good... at 28 Mph!
If you are traveling by car in Japan, don't be alarmed if music begins playing in your cab... even when the radio is off.
Japan's "musical roads" are a creation of Hokkaido Industrial, as such, it is no wonder that they built their three prototypes on Japan's northern island (named Hokkaido). The melodies are created by cars driving over grooves in the road (grooves, LOL), much like one would a speed bump, which cause a tone to travel through the cab of the car. In order for the melody to play correctly -sound like a normal tempo, recognizable pop song, that is- one must travel no faster or slower than 28 Mph (45 Km/h).
From The Guardian News: "You need to keep the car windows closed to hear well," wrote one Japanese blogger. "Driving too fast will sound like playing fast forward, while driving around 12mph has a slow-motion effect, making you almost car sick."
The roads are identified by a large musical note (actually denoting a break in the song) printed in the asphalt. The idea for the creation of the roads came about by accident when construction, worker and melody road patent, Shizuo Shinoda, accidentally struck grooves into the road with his bulldozer and later drove over them to find they produced interesting tones.
This from Deputy-dog: "Questions remain as to the long-term effect of the Melody Road on tire wear, whether the altered roadway will need more maintenance over the years, and if Japanese citizens will rebel against what seems to be an extravagant use of public funds for no real purpose. Then again, this is Japan - therefore, it's just business as usual!"
Watch this video for a demonstration of the roads in action:
O Diamond Tree, How Many Karat are Thy Branches?
Japanese department store, Takashimaya, is selling a miniature Christmas tree covered in over four hundred diamonds, for the price of 200.7 million yen to celebrate this year's upcoming holiday season and the soon-to-be-expected holiday rush.
The smaller diamond pieces "sparkle charmingly like morning dew on petals, while two-carat and three-carat pieces mesmerise admirers with their noble glow," quotes a store spokesperson in the AFP Google article.
The tree is forty centimeters tall and has over 100 karats of diamonds in it as well as some preserved flowers. The tree also comes with a cute, red teddy bear sporting some X-Mas bling of its own.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Lee Seeks Spot in DBZ Movie
Actor James Kyson Lee, who plays Ando on the popular NBC Entertainment series Heroes, says he would like to play a role in the upcoming live-action Dragon Ball Z movie, as bad-guy turned good, Yamcha (AKA: Yamucha).
The movie was in the planning stages for five years or more, and, according to Anime News Network, has recently begun production in Montreal, Canada.
The film will have a budget of USD$100 million.
As well as the Dragon Ball Z movie, there are at least four other movies in my mind that were promised a live-action adaptation (that I might be more inclined to watch) which have produced little to no results, as well as some false rumors altogether:
- Speed Racer
- Evangelion
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (confirmed no live-action)
- Death Note (Westernized version, to be produced by Warner Entertainment)
Maybe it's better to just stick with the anime versions of each, have the movie industry quit dangling promises of adaptations, smile, and be happy about it!
At any rate, I hope that at least this DBZ film makes it through production, so the next time a film is announced, we don't suspect someone of crying wolf. Thanks, in that respect to Transformers the movie!
Friday, November 09, 2007
Japanese scientists create "fearless" mouse!
Stunning Moon Pictures Return to Earth from JAXA Probe
In a continuing Ani-Pock blog story:
JAXA's moon orbiter, The SEELE... er... The SELENE has returned pictures of the moon's surface for view by the Internet community!
Take a look at some of these pics! (Click for larger resolution.)
More information here, and a video from the HD camera.
Also still in the news:
Comet 17P Holmes (link from the A-P blog) is STILL glowing brightly (link to new news).
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Fuigo Matsuri, Feast of Bellows
Today is November 8th, the day of Japan's Festival of the Bellows.
From the Daruma Pilgrim Museum Blog:
Pictured above: a bellows (yes, that's the singular form) from which weapons would be made.
Below: The Ikutama Jinja grounds in which the Fuigo Jinja is housed.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Robot man! You... sound... so... REAL!
Listen to a sample of this new vocalizing software.
This is a version of the Loituma song sung by the computer program:
"The singer is 'Hatsune Miku' (初音ミク) from Crypton’s VOCALOID2 software. It’s basically a music creation tool similar to MIDI composers except that instead of synthesizing instruments, it synthesizes vocals. That said, it doesn’t actually generate the voice using any magical algorithm; the vocals are actually pre-recorded (the voice belongs to Saki Fujita, an obscure seiyuu with few titles under her name)."
I couldn't have described it any better. He also notes that the Japanese language has only about fifty or so different enunciations, so it's like programing the different notes a piano can make and designing the software to be able to play it back as music, but in this case it's vocals and singing.
Here's another example and a visual of how the program works.
Watch the VOCALID2 software compose a version of Hare Hare Yuaki.
Hello, Kitty! What product of wonderment do you have today?
It's the Hello Kitty banana case:
"No longer must people duck and dart in fear whilst carrying around their bananas. Made of seemingly indestructible polyester cloth, the Banana Case provides impenetrable protection against any sort of danger imaginable: household pests, natural disasters, IEDs, wild animals including blood-thirsty hybrid species cultivated by rogue geneticists, wheelchair-bound limbless homeless men with laser beams shooting out of their gaping, toothless maws, and even the occasional occurrence of being left in the backseat of a car on a hot afternoon."
Via Conbini Bento.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Phoenix Wright Would Not Be Pleased...
Two partners in crime, who also happen to be siblings, have been sentenced in a trial that alleged they scammed several otaku. The pair worked as a team as the sister bumped into people on the streets of Akihabara, and her brother moved in and demanded apologies and payments from the victims. Together, they extorted about 110,000 yen or 1,000 USD.
As Anime News Network reports, "The twin brother, Chuo University junior Satoshi Isono, was sentenced to one year and six months of imprisonment with three years of probation. The sister, Yuka Isono, was sentenced to one year and two months of imprisonment and three years of probation."
The brother was working for a law degree at Chuo University.
...And likely, Satoshi won't have much of a career now. Unless there is a law firm in Japan that goes for the ambulance chaser-types of lawyers with a history of situating the law in their favor, he will likely settle into a good job of pickle inspector at MosBurger.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Japanese TV: The Plastic Bottle Challenge
(Via JapanProbe.com): "Haneru no Tobira’s bug dudes are back, this time with a wacky swimming challenge. They battled against the flotation power of empty plastic bottles to retrieve a plastic lobster at the bottom of a pool:"
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Slot that cartridge!
I did my usual anime blog rounds today, and I come to find most of them are talking about the new Gundam 00 series...
(While it is exciting in itself, I haven't much to say about it, so if someone else would rather report on it be my guest.)
But I did find something interesting. Non-anime related too actually.
It uses USB technology, so the base still only allows it to act like any other external hard drive.
Learn more here.
Anime news soon, I promise!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Phone Measures Bad Breath, Body Fat
The Japanese phone company DoCoMo released a new cell phone earlier this month that can measure body fat, bad breath, register calories the carrier is burning, among other functions.
As radio comedian Garrison Keillor says in his weekly comedy/variety radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, "You're supposed to keep track of all this and still drive your car? ....I guess it is able to look up where you have ordered your food from."
In a world where we expect nearly all electronics (lol, Bee Movie) to have a telephone, television, DVD player, or some other random technologies built into them as a matter of convenience, The Fitness Phone provides a service just the opposite of supporting a lazy lifestyle.
NTT DoCoMo spokesperson Kentaro Endo says, "Anybody trying to stay fit could use this phone. But we think overweight businessmen and women on diets would be our primary customers."
Of course, with a built-in breathalyser, this phone may support other lifestyles as well...
More here.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Comet Erupts in Brilliant Show
What a fated day this has been. I had a topic I wanted to share in the Community Blog, and I come to find it has a Japanese relation!
From ScienceDaily [Boldness added for emphasis]:
A once-faint comet has made a sudden leap from obscurity to center stage. Comet 17P Holmes, now visible to northern hemisphere residents, increased its brightness by a factor of one million this week, going from magnitude 17 to 2. This makes it visible to the unaided eye as well as binoculars and telescopes, offering a unique viewing opportunity for sky watchers.
The comet could fade in a matter of days or weeks, so astronomers recommend that viewers take a look now.
Amateur astronomer Edwin Holmes, who was looking at the Andromeda galaxy at the time, discovered Comet Holmes in 1892. The comet has presented a mystery to astronomers ever since. It likely was undergoing a similar outburst when discovered, since it reached 4th magnitude and was faintly visible to the unaided eye.
The comet orbits the Sun once every 7 years at a distance of about 200 million miles (compared to Earth’s 93-million-mile orbit).
And from Sky and Telescope Magazine, here is our Japanese relation:
As Earth continued to turn, nightfall arrived in Japan. "It is visible with naked eyes in a large city!" posted Seiichi Yoshida, who observed the comet from beside Tsurumi River in Yokohama. By 17:15 Universal Time he was describing Comet Holmes as magnitude 2.8.
From Kip:
Essentially, Japan broke the news this morning that the comet is visible with the naked eye.
I asked our planetary expert who is a regular speaker on the morning radio show I am a part of, who first told me word of the comet just came in from Japan, if it would be visible with such a bright full moon. He says it may hurt viewing of the comet, but not by much, and 10:00 EST (not sure how or when it will appear in other parts of the hemisphere) is the best time to view it.
Keep your eyes on the skies Ani-Pock!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The word "Pocky" really means
I'm unsure if this should go here, but I was doing some research on some words in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" and cam across the word "Pocky". Yes, Pocky is a very famous biscuit stick produced by Glico, and a famous site admin. Now to the main point of the post. "Pocky" in olde English means one infected with the "pox" which probably refers to the small pox that was going around at the time. The other supposed meaning is one infected with a disease. I'm not really sure what they were thinking, but it would make one think twice before taking Pocky from a stranger, no?
Monday, October 22, 2007
Panic at the Pool
I guess this video has been just about everywhere, CNN, AotS, and now Ani-Pock!
Below is a video of swimmers in a wave pool that is a popular spot during the Oban holiday week:
The wave pool in the video was broken until the afternoon, which immediately caused all of the visitors to flock to the pool when word went around that it was fixed.
Link to the site in the video (same sauce as my last post ;D ).
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Japanese TV: Japan's tallest and shortest person
I like the girls reaction when she sees the tall one xD
Japanese TV: Narrow Jumping Challenge
Via JapanProbe.com: The Haneru no Tobira guys attempt to jump through a progressively narrow space between poles:
Saturday, October 20, 2007
I had some Chikn'-on-a-stik recently... but this is crazy!
The Kinbashi Gold Chopsticks come packaged in two sets of five for 4,515 yen.
Although they are regular, wooden chopsticks at heart, they contain gold leaf flakes between the utensils, so that --when broken over food-- they will cause the edible gold leaf to fall on the meal.
Sauce... er, source: CScout Japan.
The Easiest Cosplay Ever
I am attending a cosplay event tomorrow. They only gave us two weeks to prepare, so I went for easy and cheap.
Here is the fruits of my labor:
Toss in a basket of apples, wear a white shirt (unbuttoned at the top), a loosend red tie, and you're Light from Death Note.
As a bonus, if you can get a buddy to wear a white T-shirt, mess up his hair, hold things funny all day, and follow you around, you've got L!
Hey! So there is an even easier cosplay subject!
Japanese Urban Camouflage!
Via JapanProbe.com:
"The New York Times has posted a set of photos that show off some of Japanese clothing designer Aya Tsukioka’s “urban camouflage” safety products, such as this vending machine dress that a woman can use to hide herself when pursued by criminals:"
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Site News: Anime page updated
Hi All,
I just found this great new site for watching Anime online! It looks like it has a bunch hosted on various sites. To check it out, just click on the Anime button now!
-Pocky
Some of the selections:
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Japanese TV: Japanese Scientists Create Perfect Mirror Within Life-Sized Metal Ball, Put TV Show Hosts Inside
Its really weird when he backs up!
Friday, October 12, 2007
U-Tsu-Shi-O-Mi virtual humanoid
(Via PinkTentacle.com):
Researcher Michihiko Shoji, formerly of NTT DoCoMo, helped create U-Tsu-Shi-O-Mi as a tool for enhancing virtual reality simulations. He is now employed at the Yokohama National University Venture Business Laboratory, where he continues to work on improving the virtual humanoid. The system, which currently requires a lot of bulky and expensive equipment to run, will likely see its first real-world applications in arcade-style video games. However, Shoji also sees a potential market for personal virtual humanoids, and is looking at ways to reduce the size and cost to make it suitable for general household use.
Here is a video of U-Tsu-Shi-O-Mi.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Toyota's latest concept car: the RiN !!!!
Rin your future car!!! A rinneh mobile!!!
"Designed to promote harmony with nature and evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, the eco-friendly Toyota RiN concept car features heated ergonomic seats, an oxygen level regulator, a spot humidifier, a “mood training” steering control system that monitors the driver’s psychological state, and greenish glass that protects against UV and infrared light while enhancing the natural beauty of the view outside. The exterior design was inspired by Japan’s old-growth Cryptomeria trees known as yakusugi, which are found on Yakushima island, a natural World Heritage Site known for its pristine, ancient forests."
Lots more cool stuff here!! Continue browsing...
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