SMAP Kimura with Two Women at Once

SMAP Kimura with two women at once, that is Ryoko Shinohara and Keiko Kitagawa. It wasn't a threesome as you have thought, instead the three will be in a new Fuji TV drama. The new TV drama is entitled “Tsuki no Koibito” (Moon Lovers) and will start to air on September of this year. This is Ryoko Shinohara's first TV appearance since she had a baby back in 2008, this is her comeback project. Lastly, Takuya Kimura of SMAP is a certified heartthrob so take off that why did he get to be with two of Japan's hottest actresses in one drama? look in your face.

via Japan Today

5 Sakura Songs by Vocaloid

5 Sakura Songs by Vocaloid? First let me explain what a Vocaloid is.Vocaloid is a vocal-synthesizing software developed and released by Yamaha back in 2004. If you still don't get it, it is basically a non-human voice creation software. I hope I made that clear. This brilliant piece of software has been used mainly to give a distinct voice to anything you can image. Including but not limited to an anime character, an action figure, vending machine, vehicles, doors, pillows, alarm clocks, home appliances and unicorns. Scratch that last one, it just popped up in my mind. But seriously, a talking unicorn? that's would be pure awesomeness! That's a lot of uses for the Vocaloid software but of course the Japanese has a much better use for it turn an inanimate figure into a pop star! Well sort of since it can only sing those ballad-ish songs inspired by the sakura tree( that's cherry blossoms in English). Two of this Vocaloid singers are Kaito the first version and Hatsune Miku. Interested? check out the in depth article. 

via Muza-Chan's Gate to Japan

HP EliteBook 8740w Looks So Sweet and Solid

HP EliteBook 8740w is now on the top of my wishlist. On the gadgets category that is. Yes, my wishlist is divided into various categories but of course we are not going to talk about that. Let's go back to the topic, my latest dream machine the HP EliteBook 8740w just looks so sweet and solid. Even the standard configuration is pretty descent. My favorite features you ask? except for the awesome juicy screen, I like the firewire and esata ports. I'm a digital hoard I have gigabytes and gigabytes of data so transferring em using USB ports is not just sad but pathetic. Anyways try to catch this new and awesome piece of hardware on your local stores. Trust me, you'll be drooling.

via Akihabara News

Japanese high school girl uniform pimping

Japanese high school girl uniform customized up to the smallest detail. Yes it is the most recent fashion trend to pick up its pace in Tokyo. The trend is known as Nanchatte seifuku (なんちゃって制服, lit. “just kidding uniform”) and started back in 2002. The idea is simple, high school girls customizes their uniforms personally or bring it to a shop that does customizations and add whatever bling and glitters they want and make it look unique up to their hearts content. It's like pimping your ride, but instead of cars you do it on school uniforms. That is just awesome!

via Japan Trends
photo: flickr

Japanese Nose Mask Pit

Japanese nose mask pit is a sort of device that you insert in your nose to act as a filter that blocks pollens, from a flower for example. Helpful if your allergic to any types of pollens.

via Roy in Tokyo

Lightning Strikes a Fluorescent Tube Caught on Video

Lightning strikes a fluorescent tube and caught on a video might sound weird and impossible. Weird? Yes. Impossible? No. Leave it to the Japanese, it's not impossible for a lightning to strike a fluorescent tube lamp when you have a 12-million-volt artificial lightning generator courtesy of Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI) of Japan of course. Check out the action in the video below and see what happens in slow motion.



via Pink Tentacle

The Best Guide to Roppongi

The Best Guide to Roppongi. Is one of those post that you can't pass on without reading. If you're planning to visit Japan's Roppongi district check the guide out. It's something you won't find on tourist guide books. And if anyone knows where to get a digital version of that very informative Roppongi map please do let me know.

via  yonasu.com
photo: yonasu.com

Best Of Japan Episode 02

It's the weekends! Yay! Well, I still have work tomorrow but yeah weekends gives me that relax soothing day feeling or not. Anyway here are a few good reads for you to start your weekend. It's about all thing Japan of course, it's the Best of Japan Episode 02.

A rainy month in Tokyo via Kirainet

Ruin of a Japanese World War II shipyard another haikyo adventure via michaeljohngrist.com

5 covers of the song Turning Japanese via loneleeplanet

That's all folks, I'll be back tomorrow so sayonara! for now. ^_^

Japanese Panty Fetish is a Crime

Japanese man arrested for stealing 256 pairs of womens underwear. Pantsu thief strikes again! this is very common in Japan and it's even referenced in Japanese movies, anime and manga. The man's collection was stolen within the period of ten years and only caught this time, impressive in my opinion. So it's true, a fetish is a fetish. I feel you bro but bringing the loot around is not wise. LOL.

via Japan Today

Toyota Installs Brake Override System

Toyota Motor Corporation and 6 other major Japanese car manufacturers installs brake override system on all of the models that they will release. The system will work by stopping the car even if the accelerator is still depressed. It's about time I think and I wonder why is it the safety measures are always the last features to be installed?

via Japan Today

Policewomen in Miniskirts

Policewomen in miniskirts? that's more like it. As long they're cute, sweet and Japanese they can arrest me anytime. But this is a far much better news because a new reflexology salon in Akihabara is going to provide their services to exhausted customers using cute Japanese girls wearing police uniforms that are very much shorter than usual. The salon police is called Action! Akiba Fumimomi Police they will massage the customers hands and feet and according to Planetplan official, the company that owns salon, 

Our purpose is to give stressed-out workers some enjoyment away from the grind of their daily jobs and heal them.

The massage routine unlike the traditional menu will be themed after police procedures. Including basic punishment or you can ask your personal policewoman to get your jail sentence immediately.And if your experience is not enough you can just ask her to rearrest you and all the procedures will be repeated.


via Japan Today

Japanese Show No Love for Google Buzz

Japanese show no love for Google Buzz according to the survey conducted by iBridge Research Plus and reported by japan.internet.com. Please note that the survey data doesn't reflect the Google Services in general but only focuses on Google Buzz alone. I won't find the results surprising, first of all the Japanese people tend to use Japanese only services like Ameba and others like it. Although regional arms of internet service giants like Google and Amazon proves to be a hit. I often find searching for Japanese content on Google.jp fruitful without me being able to read Kanji.

via What Japan Thinks

Samurai Maid Cafes in Tokyo

New Samurai maid cafes in Tokyo's Akihabara District. This is a clever twist on the already popular maid cafes also known as cosplay restaurants but I don't know if this is good or bad. I know their would be always someone who will dig a sweet young Japanese girl in a skimpy maid outfit waving her samurai asking you something like Could I slice that for you sir?. Afterall, this is Japan you are expected to think outside of the box by default.

via Japan Sugoi

Toshiba's New iPad Clone

Toshiba's New iPad Clone? I mean I love my Toshiba laptop but I don't think developing an iPad-like device is something that I would look forward to on its release late this year or early 2011.

via Akihabara News

and here are the rest of the Japan hyperlinks today:

Leonardo DiCaprio arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo today. What is his purpose? but who cares anyway? LOL.
via 3yen

Masahiro Nakai digs Swedish shirts. His an actor and he wore two sets of t-shirts made by a famous Swedish brand. I think it's common that Japanese likes to wear foreign brands as do I. My favorite Japanese idol Reina Tanaka wears stuff that has the New York Yankees logo on it most of the time. Including but not limited to baseball caps, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, shirts, hoodies, sweaters, underwears well maybe except the last one, I don't have proof.
via Yonasu

Best Of Japan Episode 01

Alright, before we get started let me tell you about this. Once a week, hopefully I can do this more frequently I will compile links that features fresh Japan related contents from different blogs across the web and post it here. And today I have the first edition of the Best of Japan! Yay!

Best Of Japan Edition 01

Check ot what Vivienne Tam did with the HP Mini 210 via Akihabara News

There are homeless persons in Japan?!? via Tokyo Times

Wow! A very sweet HDR photo of Mori Tower via Tokyo Luv

Tokyo Marathon 2010 it's happening! via Sushi Cam

Some very nice photos of Japanese trains in action via Shibuya246

Geneva 2010: Honda 3R-C Concept. It's small. It's cool! via Punjapit


I think that is all for now. I'm hungry. See you next time Japan addicts! XD

Japan Have A Red Pepper Flavored Kit Kat

That didn't surprise me. Actually Nestle Japan had given in to this one due to popular demand. Let's just say the Japanese like to taste their favorite food, in this case, Kit Kat in different varieties as possible.

New Japanese Micro-blog vs Twitter

I don't use Twitter. But I have a Twitter account, to reserve my ever famous user name in case someone gets clever and hijack it. LOL. Back to the topic, the Japanese only blogging service Ameba just released what appears to be a decent Twitter challenger called Ameba Now. For sure it's gonna lose since its in Japanese only but still anything is possible.

via Japan Trends

Slaves of the Japanese Gaming Industry

I'm not much of a gamer but I'm sure I played my share and played it well. Programming video games is cool but I suck at programming so I know it's not for me. But to work for Nintendo? how about Sony? No? how about a full time job at Square Enix? For a hardcore gamer it would be heaven. Alright then the job is awesome but how about the pay? Good question.

Recently a thread at 2ch, a Japanese BBS, asked Japanese game programmers how much money they get, of course most of the things in the internet is anonymous so it's hard to tell if the following claims are true.

Japanese Lotus Tattoo

Japanese tattoos had always fascinated me. I specifically like the single Kanji character and symbols. They are simple and less cluttered but meaningful (as long as you get the right character and its correct meaning). Although I don't like large complex tattoos I do admire its focus on details.

The Japanese Lotus is a feminine tattoo but what interests me most about it is that it has a beautiful meaning. It symbolizes a new beginning, after overcoming an obstacle or hardship in one's life. Or shall I say turning over a new leaf, a fresh start. In a woman's case, during ancient times a woman gets tattooed with a Lotus after she gave birth to her first born child. In Japanese communities the Lotus symbolizes a new life in general.

The Japanese Lotus tattoo is mostly tattooed on a woman's lower back, with the vines drawn to reach up to her shoulders and with round edges to make it very feminine.

Shimenawa

Shimenawa or enclosing rope in English translation is a rope made out of braided rice straws and used to bound a sacred space. It's commonly found tied around very old trees that grow near the shrines. It is a form of ritual purification in the Shinto religion.

I have been always interested in a Japanese shrine. It's simplicity and serenity. I like how it is built to look like and feel like it is one with nature.

via More Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan  
[Photo: Ojisanjake] 

Yakiniku: Barbecue The Japanese Way

Yakiniku is basically a thinly sliced beef that is grilled over charcoal or stove. It's seventh on the 10 Cool Japanese Foods over at loneleeplanet. What I noticed about Japanese food is that they are fond of slicing it small, cooking them few items at a time and consume them fast? Yakiniku has counterparts on almost every other country in the world and I like the local version of Yakiniku that we have here but it's the Japanese way of preparing and cooking an ordinary barbecue that wins it for me more than just the catchy name.
[ Photo: loneleeplanet.com ]