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วันศุกร์ที่ 30 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2555

Casio signs Korean group Girls' Generation for Baby-G watch ad campaign

Casio signs Korean group Girls' Generation for Baby-G watch ad campaign

TOKYO —
Casio Computer Co has signed Girls’ Generation, the South Korean girl pop group that has taken Asia by storm, as the face of a Baby-G advertising campaign. Girls’ Generation embodies the “tough, cute, cool” concept of Baby-G, Casio’s shock resistant watches for women.

Launched in 1994, Baby-G is Casio’s watch brand for women which inherits the toughness of its shock-resistant G-SHOCK watches. Since then, the basic shock resistance and superior waterproof performance of Baby-G has evolved with additional features and higher performance, including solar-powered systems and neon illuminators. The Baby-G brand is extremely popular with young women, who appreciate how its design not only taps the latest trends but also allows individual expression, as well as the rich spectrum of colors that make Baby-G watches the perfect fashion accessory.

Girls’ Generation is a highly versatile girl pop group whose members not only sing, but also appear as models and actresses on TV, in commercials, and in films. Girls’ Generation is the ideal match for the Baby-G brand, with the group’s adaptable yet tough, active image and sporty, healthy beauty, topped by the individuality of each of the nine members’ fashionable lifestyles.

Girls’ Generation will represent the face of the brand in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

By appearing in product catalogs and advertisements, Girls’ Generation will promote the Baby-G worldview to young women, the brand’s target demographic.

Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun are the nine members who make up Girls’ Generation. Since their debut as pop singers in 2007, the girls have expanded into modeling and acting, as well.

www.japantoday.com

Aya Ueto, HIRO announce marriage

Aya Ueto, HIRO announce marriage
TOKYO — Actress Aya Ueto, 27, and HIRO, the 43-year-old leader of the band Exile, registered their marriage on Friday, Ueto’s birthday, their management agencies announced Saturday.

Ueto and HIRO, whose real name is Hiroyuki Igarashi, have been dating since last year. Tabloids first reported back in January that wedding plans were in the air but their management agencies denied it.

A spokesman for Ueto’s agency said a date for a wedding ceremony and reception have not yet been finalized, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Speaking about his new wife who has been in show business for 15 years, HIRO said in a statement to media: “She dedicated her youth to her career and continues to work hard. I learn a lot from her. I respect her way of thinking and her way of life. I wanted, from the bottom of my heart, to make her happy.”

Japan Today

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AKB48 give smart look to men's suit maker in ad campaign

AKB48 give smart look to men's suit maker in ad campaign

TOKYO — Popular all-girl AKB48 can even hawk men’s suits—they are appearing as the image characters for Haruyama Shoji’s commercials for “Otokomae Suits.”

In the commercial, six members of AKB48—Yuko Oshima, Yuki Kashiwagi, Haruna Kojima, Mariko Shinoda, Minami Takahashi and Mayu Watanabe—perform a stylish dance with mannequin-looking professional dancers.

To promote the brand’s message of “Always Looking Smart,” AKB’s 28th single, “UZA,” which is known for its complex choreography, was used as background music.

Unlike the AKB members, the professional dancers had to endure some hardships, such as covering up their faces so they would look like mannequins. They have all collaborated with famous artists before.

The commercial will be aired in November.

Japan Today

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Salia completes pre-album U.S. promotional tour

Salia completes pre-album U.S. promotional tour

TOKYO —
Japanese pop singer Salia wowed crowds at three U.S. Asian pop culture events as she showcased new music, style and an exciting music video launch for her new single, “Trust in Me.”

Audiences at three U.S. Japanese pop culture events got the privilege of sampling brand new music from Japanese singer/ songwriter, Salia’s upcoming debut pop album through a series of live pre-album promotional concerts that took place between June 16 – July 1.

Salia launched the pre-album promotional tour that included stops at Anime Mid-Atlantic in Virginia Beach, JAFAX in Grand Rapids Michigan, and Anime Festival Wichita, in Kansas, to give back to her original loyal fan base that welcomed her when she first started making appearances outside Japan in 2006. Thousands of fans got to witness exclusive concerts featuring a newly styled Salia accompanied by DJ Asu Rock, Hip Hop dancers, and brand new unreleased pop music from Salia’s upcoming album as well as her world renowned classic theme songs.

Marking the Launch of the tour was a VIP party held by Anime Mid-Atlantic featuring the release of “Trust in Me,” the first single from Salia’s forthcoming album of the same title and world premiere of the new music video http://youtu.be/3a3w6MiCP_I?hd=1

Salia’s “Trust in Me” music video is directed and edited by cinematographer Tim “Black Magic Tim” Wilson who executes a fairy tale driven storyline accompanied by amazing fantasy scenery, and enticing visual effects.

Salia will be touring the U.S. again in September with a headline appearance at the Asian American talent competition show KOLLABORATION DC to mark the release of her new album.

“Trust in Me” is released through Toramaru Entertainment and is now on sale on all major digital download outlets including itunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trust-in-me-radio/id527044155?i=527044160&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Trust-in-Me-the-Single/dp/B0082XQGPU/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342640354&sr=301-1

For more information about Salia and her upcoming solo debut, visit her official artist website at www.saliarocks.com.

www.japantoday.com

AKB48 management to send members overseas for upcoming TV show

AKB48 management to send members overseas for upcoming TV show

TOKYO —
Yasushi Akimoto, producer of the mega-popular idol group AKB48 and its offshoots, has announced a “study abroad” program for his girls.

Akimoto, who often uses expressions from the worlds of education and politics as euphemisms for business activities carried out by his performers, has announced the “study abroad” program via the AKB48 Google+ page.

It is thought that the project is to become a TV show in which young Japanese girls from AKB48 are sent abroad to spend between six months and a year with their counterparts in Indonesia (JKT48), Shanghai (SNH48) and and Taiwan (TPE48), Nikkan Sports reports.

It has not yet been confirmed who will be appearing in the show, although the group’s Google+ page says that the management are now
“accepting applications.”

Japan Today

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วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 29 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2555

Kumi Koda's new single reaches No. 1 on Oricon chart




TOKYO — Kumi Koda’s first single since she returned to show business after giving birth in the summer has reached the No. 1 spot on the Oricon chart, having sold more than 55,00 copies since its release on Oct 24.

The single is titled “Go to the Top” and is her 8th song to hit the No. 1 spot on Oricon. The year is ending well for Koda whose last album “JAPON ESQUE”—released in January—also reached the top spot.

“I languished, not knowing what direction I was going to take after life-changing events such as marriage and having a baby,” she said in a statement. “But I decided to come back to the stage and I am thrilled beyond words to be back in the No. 1 spot.”

Japan Today

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Satomi Ishihara is 2012 Zespri kiwifruit image character

Satomi Ishihara is 2012 Zespri kiwifruit image character
TOKYO —
Actress Satomi Ishihara, 25, has been chosen as the 2012 Zespri kiwifruit image character.

Ishihara takes over from past image characters Norika Fujiwara, Moe Oshikiri, Suzanne and Papaya Suzuki. She will appear in TV commercials, on posters and attend events, extolling the health benefits of kiwifruit.

Ishihara, who is currently appearing in a stage version of “Romeo and Juliet,” said kiwifruit is a great source of vitamin C and gives her the energy she needs for her busy work schedule.

Japan Today

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Kumi Koda returns to showbiz this week 3 months after giving birth

Kumi Koda returns to showbiz this week 3 months after giving birth



TOKYO — Singer Kumi Koda makes her return to show business this week three months after giving birth to a baby boy in July. Koda, 29, will appear in a sexy pose on the cover of ViVi magazine which goes on sale Tuesday.

In the magazine interview, Koda talks about married life, her pregnancy and how she is enjoying being a mother.

Koda, who is married to 28-year-old Back-On guitarist Kenji03, earlier announced her intention to return to the stage in November in a tour that will include seven performances in four cities and is expected to attract around 62,000 spectators.

The Nov 13 concert will be both Koda’s first ever show at Budokan in Tokyo and the first time she has performed on her birthday, at which she will celebrate turning 30 in the company of her fans.

Koda is scheduled to play at Osaka Castle Hall on Nov 7 and 8, followed by Tokyo’s Budokan on Nov 13 and 14, Nagoya’s Nippon Gaishi Hall on Nov 20 and 21 and then the Shimin Bunka Center in Koriyama, Fukushima on Nov 27.

Koda will also release a new single, “Go to the Top,” on Wednesday and will perform it on TV Asahi’s “Music Station” program on Friday.

Japan Today

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Yuka, Kusakari, Eikura, Kiritani winners of The Best of Beauty 2012



TOKYO —
The entertainment world is coming into the awards season when various celebrities receive all sorts of “Best” awards.

This week, The Best Beauty 2012 award winners were honored. These go to celebrities who remain talented and beautiful.

TV personality and model Yuka, 32, celebrating her 15th year in showbiz, picked up the award in the 30s age category. Yuka said she was please to receive the award that has the word “beauty” in it, Sankei Shimbun reported.

“In any case, you should love yourself. Your body will naturally respond to your affection. And laugh a lot,” she said. As for her trim figure, she said, “When it comes to maintaining my shape, I have to put a lot of effort into it,” she said.

Kenta Kiritani, 32, who won the men’s category, said, “I am a beauty? I appreciate the courage of whoever nominated me. From now on, I am going to excel as the ‘Beauty Man!’”

Other winners were Mayu Kusakari, 19, and Nana Eikura, 24.

Japan Today

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6-month Hatsune Miku production course to be offered in Tokyo

6-month Hatsune Miku production course to be offered in Tokyo

TOKYO —
Love Hatsune Miku and wish you could create your own Vocaloid music and music videos?

Digital Hollywood, a Tokyo-based school offering degree and certification programs in IT and digital media, announced they will be holding a 6-month course on CG animation and music video production using Vocaloid software and characters.

The course is called “HATSUNE MIKU, Loves Creator” and promises to give participants the skills and hands-on-expertise needed to become world-class Vocaloid media producers.

Students will study basic 3D CG animation using Autodesk Maya and practice composition using the Hatsune Miku Vocaloid software. All students must complete a “graduation piece” that will be shown at a special presentation in early March.

The course begins Sept 25, with explanatory sessions being held at the Digital Hollywood Tokyo campus on Sept 18.

Vocaloid beginners and amateurs alike are encouraged to apply, though the course is capped at 30 students and a screening test will be held if there an excess of applicants.

Those who are lucky enough to get in will officially be registered under the school’s new “Hatsune Miku film major” and attend two 3-hour hands-on training sessions on Tuesday and Friday of every week, as well as an occasional 3-hour lecture on Wednesday.

While Digital Hollywood does seem to offer an exchange program for its degree courses, the Hatsune Miku course looks like it will be conducted in Japanese only.

If you do have the language skill and want to participate what could be a fantastic opportunity to participate in a burgeoning Japanese pop-culture phenomenon, be sure to sign up for one of the information sessions here.

Source: Digital Hollywood

RocketNews24

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Toyota Japan’s sexy new topless ad featuring transgender model shocks viewers

Toyota Japan’s sexy new topless ad featuring transgender model shocks viewers

TOKYO —
A racy new Japanese ad campaign launched for the 2012 Toyota Auris, or Corolla as it’s known in some markets, has been causing a commotion for boldly challenging convention — and probably not in the way you would think.

Have a look at the commercial here.

The star of the commercial is 19-year-old Ukrainian transgender model Stav Strashko.

The commercial ends with the campaign’s tagline “Turn Your Rear to Common Sense” (常識にお尻を向けろ).

Check out a short interview with Stav about the commercial here.

RocketNews24

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18-year-old Emi Takei 'graduates' as model for fashion magazine Seventeen



YOKOHAMA —
Popular model and actress Emi Takei, 18, has “graduated” from modeling for teen fashion magazine Seventeen.

Takei was given a send-off Friday at an event dubbed a “graduation ceremony” by the
magazine’s publishers. Takei has been modeling for the magazine for 5 years and 9 months.

A tearful Takei told reporters, “I wanted to stay a little longer.” Takei said she plans to continue both acting and modelling. “I’d like to keep trying to do the things I enjoy,” she said.

Japan Today

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Atsuko Maeda posters displayed in Akihabara in run-up to her 'graduation' from AKB48

Atsuko Maeda posters displayed in Akihabara in run-up to her 'graduation' from AKB48

TOKYO —
The upcoming “graduation” of AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda, 21, is being commemorated by a “photograph exhibition” at JR Akihabara Station.

The “graduation,” a word used by the idol group’s management as a euphemism for quitting or leaving the group, is being marked by a series of 150 posters of Maeda displayed in and around the station in an exhibition that has been named “Shuku! AKB48 Sotsugyo Kinen: Maeda Atsuko Poster-ten.”

The photos include those used in magazines and other publications during the seven years since she joined the group in 2005.

The exhibition is scheduled to open on Aug 24, to coincide with the first day of AKB48’s three-day Tokyo Dome concert. The posters will be displayed until Maeda’s “graduation” on Aug 27.

Japan Today

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Japanese star escapes Taiwan jail term for assault



TAIPEI - A Taiwanese court on Thursday handed down a three-year suspended sentence to a Japanese-Taiwanese star for attacking a Taipei taxi driver in a case that has captivated celebrity watchers for months.

Singer-actress Makiyo received a lighter sentence than the four-year jail term prosecutors had sought as the Taipei district court found her guilty of common assault rather than aggravated assault, a court official said.

Her friend Takateru Tomoyori, a Japanese citizen, got a four-year suspended sentence for injuring the driver in the assault in Taipei on February 2.

The case had stirred a rare bout of anti-Japanese sentiment in Taiwan, which was a Japanese colony until 1945. Tokyo formally recognises Beijing over Taipei. Makiyo's lawyer told reporters outside the court that the entertainer respected the ruling and had yet to decide whether to appeal.

Makiyo, 27, who is known just by her first name, initially denied assaulting the driver and claimed that Tomoyori was defending her after the driver touched her chest during an argument.

However, public anger mounted after surveillance camera footage showed that Makiyo joined in the assault and seemed to have encouraged her friend to beat up the driver, who was hospitalised for several weeks for head trauma.

She later apologised and said she did not remember the details because she was drunk.

Makiyo, who was born to a Japanese father and a Taiwanese mother and holds Japanese citizenship, has not been able to work on the island since the authorities revoked her working permit in the wake of the case.

http://www.asiaone.com

Taiwan’s Weather Girls form girl group in Japan



TOKYO —
Taiwan’s adorable dancing meteorologist girl group Weather Girls have been a lot of things: Japanese school girls, ninjas, super sentai heroes…wait, notice anything similar?

Since it launched in summer 2010, their video series has taken off in Japan more than any other country, likely because most of the monthly video themes are taken from Japanese culture. Many of the themes even have the girls speaking endearingly broken Japanese, which just scores them more kawaii points.

Now, as if to capitalize on that popularity, the Weather Girls have sent seven of their best to Japan to form a brand new idol group called…Weather Girls!

According to their Facebook page, the girls arrived in Japan last month and will be releasing their first single, “Koi no Tenkiyoho” (Weather Forecast of Love) on Oct 17.

While the regular Weather Girls program rotates most of its cast each monthーwe counted a total 34 girls over the past 2 yearsーthe idol group will keep the same 7 members: Yumi, Dara, Hijon, Esse, Mia, Mini and Nue.

So can the Weather Girls stay afloat in a country already flooded with cute young girls dancing around in skirts? Some fans seemed concerned that their still-imperfect Japanese will hold them back, but like we said before, that’s one of their most charming points!

RocketNews24

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Meet FamilyMart’s newest employee - Hatsune Miku

Meet FamilyMart’s newest employee - Hatsune Miku

TOKYO —
A while back we reported on Hatsune Miku’s hijacking of four FamilyMart convenience stores. This time, however, FamilyMart has turned the tables by hijacking Hatsune Miku herself and hiring her as a store clerk.

The news comes during a display at Wonder Festival (Wonfes) Summer 2012 by figurine makers Good Smile Company. In the display, figures of Miku sporting a FamilyMart Uniform (with a few cute alterations) could be seen. These will be part of an upcoming promotional event between the popular Vocaloid and convenience store chain.

This FamilyMart promotion is called Happy Kuji and is a type of lottery in which 800 yen will give you a chance to pull a ticket out of a box. With a little luck you could walk away with some Hatsune Miku swag including these limited edition figures.

The first one is a 1:6 scale Hatsune Miku statue with her wearing the short sleeved shirt with mint green stripes that make up the current FamilyMart uniform. Interestingly, you might have not even noticed she was wearing a uniform since the colors almost exactly match the ones she typically uses in her regular outfit.

There are also two kinds of Nendoroid figures of super deformed “Hachune Miku” who instead of holding her usual green onion is holding a piece of FamilyMart chicken. The detail in the chicken is exquisite in that you can even see the QR code on the tiny wrapper.

There was also a Jumbo Nendoroid Miku made by master figure maker Yukio Ageta, but it looks like this was only for the display and not part of the promotion.

The promotion starts in the middle of August and beyond the lottery, FamilyMart is also offering various Miku related products like fried noodles, vegetable juice, and the highly anticipated Mikuman Hatsune Miku themed steamed meat dumplings (nikuman). Family Mart is keeping details of the Mikuman highly under wraps for longer than expected.

So with these figures being only available through the contest and no info on Mikuman, the masses are getting restless. In return we demand that all FamilyMart staff adopt Hatsune Miku’s style of uniform with pleated white miniskirt, thigh-high boots, and blue hair.

RocketNews24

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Yoko Kumada announces April marriage, pregnancy

Yoko Kumada announces April marriage, pregnancy

TOKYO —
TV personality Yoko Kumada has announced on her blog that she secretly got married in April. The announcement was made as reports began to emerge that Kumada is now five months pregnant.

On her blog, Kumada told fans, “We are incredibly happy together and we are in a loving relationship. I plan to use my mom and dad’s relationship as a model for my own and I hope to raise a healthy, happy baby.”

The blog post was uploaded on the same day that Kumada announced her marriage on TV Asahi’s “London Hearts” show and via her talent management agency.

Japan Today

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Kumi Koda gives birth to baby boy

Kumi Koda gives birth to baby boy

TOKYO —
Singer Kumi Koda, 29, has given birth to a baby boy, her agency Avex announced Thursday. The statement said the 2,952-gram boy was born last weekend. In the statement, Koda said she was overjoyed to be a mother.

Koda, who is married to 27-year-old Back-On guitarist Kenji03, has announced her intention to return to the stage in November.

The tour will include seven performances in four cities and is expected to attract around 62,000 spectators. The Nov 13 show will be both Koda’s first ever show at Budokan and the first time she has performed on her birthday, at which she will celebrate turning 30 in the company of her fans.

Koda is scheduled to play at Osaka Castle Hall on Nov 7 and 8, followed by Tokyo’s Budokan on Nov 13 and 14, Nagoya’s Nippon Gaishi Hall on Nov 20 and 21 and then the Shimin Bunka Center in Koriyama, Fukushima on Nov 27.

Japan Today

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Tenjin Matsuri

Tenjin Matsuri
PHOTO BY KAMASAMI KONG

Girls prepare for the famous Tenjin Matsuri (festival) in Minami-Mirimachi, Osaka. The two-day festival, which begins Tuesday, is one of the three biggest summer festivals in Japan, along with the Gion festival in Kyoto and the Kanda festival in Tokyo. The 1,000-year-old festival culminates in a huge fireworks display.

www.japantoday.com

วันพุธที่ 28 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2555

How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan

How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan

TOKYO — Your daily life changes when the environment around you changes. Many people who go abroad find their daily routine changing to adapt to the environment, sometimes without being aware of the change.

The website MADAME RiRi, which covers offbeat and interesting topics in Japan and around the world, gives some examples of how foreign people’s daily life has changed after they moved to Japan.

—I have become addicted to tissues. (American living in Hokkaido)

“When I first came to Japan, I avoided people who were distributing pocket tissues. However, now I collect them whenever it starts to get cold outside. In fact, I am uncomfortable if I don’t have tissues in my pocket when I leave the house.”

—I started to sleep on the floor. (Canadian)

—I got used to the unavoidable humidity on July, and say “I’m sorry” when I hit bump into people accidentally, and keep pushing the Open button in elevators when I get to my floor. (American living in Korea)

—I take my shoes off inside the house obviously. (American living in Tokyo)

—I cannot live without five finger socks. (American man)

—I still take my shoes off at the door when I return to my home country and I go to the convenience store 8 times a day. (Danish man)

—I spend more money than before. I feel like everything is an adventure here. (Englishman, 36)

—I serve green tea when a guest comes, eat soba noodles at the station every morning. I have changed my life to adapt to the train schedule. I have started sorting the trash out into burnable and non-burnable. (Frenchman)

—I take a hot bath every night. (American man)

—I got used to eating rice with most meals. Now I love it! (French woman)

—I got used to being treated as a foreigner. (American man)

“Japanese women became interested in me and people touch my long blond hair.”

—I got used to living in a small apartment. (American woman)

—I no longer drive a car and eat less meat and fewer snacks. (American man from U.S. Midwest)

—I think before talking, have become humble and am satisfied easily even at the small things in my life. (Austrian man)

—I carry a dictionary everywhere and am more tolerant. (American living in Japan for 15 years)

—I lost my sense of humor, became perverted, I sleep in trains, became addicted to vending machines, stopped going for a walk to smoke. I have become serious about everything. (Dutchman)

—I pay more attention to my appearance than before, and I walk and read more than before. (American man living in Tokyo)

—I got used to speaking simple English slowly, I spend a long time taking a hot bath and I bow slightly when I apologize or out of appreciation. (American woman)

—I can sleep easily. (Belgian man)

—I eat breakfast properly. (Mexican man)

“I used to drink only orange juice or coffee for breakfast before.”

—I cannot live without green tea. (Finnish woman)

—My height is 194cm, so I am careful not to hit my head anywhere. I use the air conditioner in summer. I don’t go to friends’ houses or invite them to mine. (French man)

—“It is usual to invite people over in France, but in Japan, I found it is more usual to hang out outside. Eating out is cheap in Japan.”

—I walk on the left side of the road. (American man)

—I eat less than before. (Canadian man)

“Now, I cannot eat a whole meal when I go out for dinner back in Canada.”

—I lost 15 kg in an year. (American man)

—I have fewer dislikes when it comes to food. I have even started eating raw fish. (Mexican woman)

Source: MADAME RiRi

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Some Japanese customs that may confuse foreigners

Some Japanese customs that may confuse foreigners

TOKYO — There are many customs and behaviors that are natural for Japanese people, either because they are historically accepted, imposed by society or because they are part of the Japanese psyche. To foreign visitors, some of these customs can be a bit confusing.

MADAME RiRi offers a few examples.

1. Making the peace sign (vee)

Many young Japanese people instinctively form a vee with their fingers when they pose for photos. In many other countries, this is the sign of peace. But there is no such meaning in Japan. Fortunately, Japanese make the vee sign with the palm of their hand facing the photographer and not the back of the hand, which might get them in trouble overseas. In any case, it’s a good way to spot who the Japanese tourists are in a crowd.

2. Sitting on the floor

Many foreign people wonder why Japanese people sit on the floor. It is very rare to see people sit on the floor in Western countries where tatami mats are not common. Many foreign visitors to Japan find it hard (and painful) to sit on the floor, opting instead for the familiarity of the couch or chair.

3. Drinking barley tea

If you open the fridge in most Japanese homes or look at any vending machine, you’ll likely see barley tea. It’s a refreshing drink that goes well with meals and is particularly good in hot weather. And it doesn’t have a lot of caffeine.

4. Slurping ramen, sniffling

Japanese people usually slurp when they eat noodles such as ramen, soba and udon. Although slurping noodles is considered rude in Western countries, in Japan, it is an expression of one’s appreciation for the meal. So slurp away as loud as you like. Sniffling, clearing one’s throat and swallowing phlegm are also habits that visitors may find unsettling.

5. Nodding response (Aizuchi)

When you communicate with Japanese people, you often see them nodding their response with words like “He,” “Un,” “Soso,” “So nanda” and so on. This type of nodding response is called “Aizuchi” in Japanese and dates back to the Edo period. “Aizuchi” is also a good way of looking like you are taking part in a conversation, but foreign people seldom use these words, perhaps because they feel it will look like they are not listening seriously.

6. Double-eyelid surgery

Perhaps this one applies to many women in Asia, not just Japan. Double eyelid surgery is common because young women want to have bigger eyes. Have a look at the girls who adorn the covers of fashion magazines, or pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki. Foreigners may wonder why Japanese women get cosmetic surgery for their eyes but don’t do anything about their teeth. In the West, a woman is more likely to get a nip and tuck, but rarely have her eyes altered.

7. Walking pigeon-toed in high heels

Some Japanese girls cannot walk gracefully in high heels and end up walking pigeon-toed.

8. Bowing

Bowing is an integral part of Japanese society, whether you are saying hello, goodbye, apologizing, expressing condolences or just responding instinctively. Some Japanese people even bow while talking on the phone. In Western countries, the handshake and hug are more common.

Source: MADAME RiRi

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Casio signs Korean group Girls' Generation for Baby-G watch ad campaign

Casio signs Korean group Girls' Generation for Baby-G watch ad campaign

TOKYO — Casio Computer Co has signed Girls’ Generation, the South Korean girl pop group that has taken Asia by storm, as the face of a Baby-G advertising campaign. Girls’ Generation embodies the “tough, cute, cool” concept of Baby-G, Casio’s shock resistant watches for women.

Launched in 1994, Baby-G is Casio’s watch brand for women which inherits the toughness of its shock-resistant G-SHOCK watches. Since then, the basic shock resistance and superior waterproof performance of Baby-G has evolved with additional features and higher performance, including solar-powered systems and neon illuminators. The Baby-G brand is extremely popular with young women, who appreciate how its design not only taps the latest trends but also allows individual expression, as well as the rich spectrum of colors that make Baby-G watches the perfect fashion accessory.

Girls’ Generation is a highly versatile girl pop group whose members not only sing, but also appear as models and actresses on TV, in commercials, and in films. Girls’ Generation is the ideal match for the Baby-G brand, with the group’s adaptable yet tough, active image and sporty, healthy beauty, topped by the individuality of each of the nine members’ fashionable lifestyles.

Girls’ Generation will represent the face of the brand in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

By appearing in product catalogs and advertisements, Girls’ Generation will promote the Baby-G worldview to young women, the brand’s target demographic.

Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun are the nine members who make up Girls’ Generation. Since their debut as pop singers in 2007, the girls have expanded into modeling and acting, as well.

www.japantoday.com

Former AKB48 singer Atsuko Maeda one of Vogue Japan's Women of the Year


TOKYO — Former AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda, 21, was named among Vogue Japan’s five Women of the Year this week. The awards are given to the “most outstanding female celebrities of the year.”


Maeda, who “graduated” from AKB48 in August, said she will miss not performing with the mega-popular group at NHK’s “Kohaku Uta Gassen” (Red and White Song Contest) on New Year’s eve. “I will cheer for them, watching with my family at home,” she said. As for her plans next year, she said: “I am at a turning point in my career. I would like to be an actress loved by many people.”

Other winners of the Vogue Japan Women of the Year are singer Saori Yuki, 64, model-singer Kyari Pamyu Pamyu, 19, actress Machiko Ono, 31, and actress Ayame Goriki, 20.

Japan Today

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Weird cosplay: AKB48 meets AK-47

TOKYO — What could be better than seeing a cute girl dressing as a member of AKB48 and dancing around in a uniform? A cute girl dressing as an AKB48 member firing military-grade weapons, apparently.

The following video comes from Hyper Douraku, a Japanese gun enthusiast website that has teamed up with otaku favorite and “image” DVD (footage of girls in skimpy outfits in various poses) star Mii Aihara.

Dressed in a variety of hugely impractical outfits from AKB48 to “Resident Evil’s” Jill Valentine, Mii heads down to the firing range to squeeze off a few rounds as part of the website’s “Guam Shooting Tour 2012.”

Why? We have no idea.

That Mii girl clearly knows a thing or two about guns. As well as loading her own ammo before trying out the rifle, she manages to fire round after round without blinking an eye. To look at her you’d think butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but she’s clearly trained any ready to take on the world at a moment’s notice.

Quite what the other visitors to the firing range thought when they spotted this girl in her elaborate outfits is anyone’s guess, but we’re fairly sure that few gun fans are used to sights quite like this.

But the website isn’t just about skimpy outfits, no, no! There are some genuine gun-related tips to be found here, too.

Perhaps concerned for Mii’s safety in the evening, the team provided the model with a handgun to go with her nightdress. Quite why she’d need to kill silently, we have no idea, but this led the team to wonder “Could a pillow be used as a makeshift silencer?”

Finally, Mii took the time to leave a few words for her fans, thanking them for visiting the site and taking the virtual tour of Guam with her.

“I had a great time,” she says. “If any of you ever find yourselves in Guam, you should definitely include a trip to fire off a few live rounds in your schedule!”

A perfectly normal, everyday sentence if we ever read on.

Source: Hyper Douraku

RocketNews24

External Link: http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/11/23/weird-cosplay-when-akb48-and-resident-evil-meet-ak-47-assault-rifles/

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Megumi Yasu appointed to warn Chiyoda Ward shoppers about bank transfer scams

Megumi Yasu appointed to warn Chiyoda Ward shoppers about bank transfer scams

TOKYO — Chiyoda Ward officials on Friday appointed “talent” Megumi Yasu their “Commanding Officer of Fraud Prevention” for a day.

Yasu, 30, was appointed to draw shoppers’ attention to the fact that bank transfer scams are still rife in Japan. According to police, despite notices on ATMs, high-profile news stories and repeated warning, there has been an explosion in the number of cases of elderly people transfering or posting money to people posing as their relatives, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Yasu urged shoppers to agree on passwords with their relatives and to keep in regular contact in an attempt to prevent such scams in the future.

Japan Today

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Itano, French Kiss launch Seven & i's rainwear

Itano, French Kiss launch Seven & i's rainwear
TOKYO —
With the rainy season around the corner, Seven & i this week launches its “Rain style collection” of fashionable and functionable rainwear. AKB48 singer Tomomi Itano, 20, and AKB48 sub-act French Kiss are image characters for the TV commercial campaign.

Itano said, “I don’t like rainy days, but I wouldn’t mind going out in the rain in this gear.”

French Kiss singer Yuki Kashiwagi, 20, said she is always referred to as “ame onna” (a woman whose presence seems to cause rain), while her colleague Asuka Kuramochi, 22, said the weather is always bad when the group has outdoor shoots, so the rainwear will come in handy.

Japan Today

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Nail Queens for 2012 announced


TOKYO — The latest end-of-year awards, “Nail Queens 2012,” were announced this week at the Nail Expo held at Tokyo Big Sight. The honor is given by the Japan Nailist Association to celebrities with the best nail art.

This year’s winners are AKB48 singer Mariko Shinoda, 26, who presented her “winter nails” decorated with fur and snow. “Usually, I cannot do my nails because I am working but today I spoiled myself,” she said. “Among AKB48, Haruna Kojima is the expert. She often teaches me ‘a la mode’ nail art.”

Other honorees are Chiaki Kuriyama, 28, in the actress category; model Rola, 22, in the “talent” category; and Mika Ninagawa, 40, in the culture category. Actress-singer Mari Natsuki, 60, received a special award. In the men’s category, this year’s “Nail King” is actor Gota Watabe, 26.

Japan Today

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Porn star Sora Aoi draws crowds of crazed Chinese men like few others can

Porn star Sora Aoi draws crowds of crazed Chinese men like few others can
TOKYO —
Pornographic actress and model Sora Aoi is said to be the most famous Japanese person in China. She commands over 11,180,000 followers on China’s Twitter-like microblogging platform Sina Weibo — enough to start a potent revolution if she were so inclined.

If numbers aren’t enough to convince you of Aoi’s influence, a set of photos taken during her recent visit to the capital city of Fujian Province, Fuzhou, should certainly prove that she can draw a crowd of frenzied Chinese men like very few revolutionaries could.

The images were uploaded to Chinese bulletin board site tt.mop and show a throng of male fans with cameras and smartphones rushing to catch “Aoi Sora-Sensei” on camera.

Even the organizer of the event who greeted her on stage couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off Aoi.

Aoi’s big international break came in 2010 when she began connecting with Chinese fans through Twitter and Sina Weibo with the help of translation software. Despite porn being illegal in Mainland China, she quickly found that she had millions of fans in the country who knew of her though the internet or under-the-table DVD sales.

Aoi is now trying to make a career change from porn star to performing artist, having released a music single in 2010 and a short, fully-clothed film earlier this year.

RocketNews24

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New goth-loli Vocaloid ready to take the stage

New goth-loli Vocaloid ready to take the stage
TOKYO —
A new Vocaloid character named Mayu was announced by Exit Tunes, a Japanese record label that produces Vocaloid albums, during their live event at Saitama Super Arena on May 6.

Mayu dresses in goth-loli style, wearing a black dress with red ribbons and a beret that with a speaker attached. She holds a plush rabbit with a microphone at the top its head and pictures on the official site suggest she uses the doll when performing.

While red ribbons and plush bunnies sound adorable enough, Japanese netizens have noticed one slightly discomforting detail: Mayu is gripping an axe with her right hand.

Why a Vocaloid would need a weapon is beyond us and we’re pretty sure the image of a sweet young girl nonchalantly holding an axe is the stuff of nightmares for some people.

While it remains to be seen if Mayu will take the axe on stage with her, Exit Tunes has made it clear that they’ll be providing fans a staggering amount of freedom regarding derivative works. According to Mayu’s official website, individuals and dojin circles are free to use Mayu’s character design, voice and name for items sold or distributed in a limited scale without the permission of Exit Tunes.

The site currently offers no information about the actual Vocaloid software, though there are a few wallpapers and icons up for download and two demo videos featuring Mayu’s voice have been uploaded to the unofficial YouTube channel MayuVocaloid.

RocketNews24

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Sawajiri's ad from 'Helter Skelter' to be used for Parco campaign

Sawajiri's ad from 'Helter Skelter' to be used for Parco campaign
TOKYO —
Actress Erika Sawajiri, 26, who makes her return to the big screen on July 14 after a five-year hiatus with the movie “Helter Skelter,” is now on leave while recovering from “health problems,” which some sources have attributed to depression associated with the role.

However, the movie’s creators have revealed that a commercial that was broadcast in the fictional world of the movie is to make the transition to Japan’s television screens as part of an ad campaign for department store Parco.

Directed by Mika Ninagawa, “Helter Skelter” is based on an award-winning sexually graphic manga by Kyoko Okazaki. Sawajiri plays the role of Ririko who becomes a new breed of entertainment industry star after undergoing cosmetic surgery on her entire body. When the clinic is investigated for its shady business practices, Ririko’s beauty to starts fade. Her mental condition also starts to deteriorate.

Sawajiri co-stars with Kiko Mizuhara, 21, who plays a younger model. The pair dress as Parco mascot “Parkoala” for the commercial.

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