This time it's from Little Busters! It's quite an enjoyable slice-of-life anime which involves a group of close knit friends trying to form a baseball club.
October 30, 2012
Scene it: Little Busters!
Yet another Miku cameo appearance?
This time it's from Little Busters! It's quite an enjoyable slice-of-life anime which involves a group of close knit friends trying to form a baseball club.
This time it's from Little Busters! It's quite an enjoyable slice-of-life anime which involves a group of close knit friends trying to form a baseball club.
Hatsune Miku Puts Her Windows 8 Problems to Song
A key feature of Windows 8 is that it's designed to worked seamlessly with touch screens. In a new hobonichiP song, Hatsune Miku waited patiently in one of those Akihabara lines, picked up a copy of the new OS, followed the instructions diligently and found "Even though I installed Windows 8, my screen won't become a touch panel."
"Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn" Clip Creates Characters
Square Enix's latest look at Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn—the retooled version of their FFMMO—focuses on character customization. Races currently available in the alpha build include Hyur (Midlander - Male) and Miqo'te (Seeker of the Sun - Female), with class selection covering Archer, Lancer, or Conjurer. See some of the creation options in action below.
Source: Crunchyroll
FOOL’S MATE Ceases Publication
In the latest issue of FOOL’S MATE, one of the most known Japanese Visual Kei magazines, you can find a note from the editor saying that after 35 years the magazine will cease publication. They didn’t give a specific reasons for not continuing the production.
The first issue of FOOL’S MATE was printed in 1977, the last issue will be published in December 2012.
Source: jpopasia
October 29, 2012
Pumpkin's first encounter with her drawing tablet
 |
| Kise Ryouta from Kuroko no Basuke |
Time: <2.5 hours
Q: Was it difficult trying to get used to drawing with a tablet?
A: It wasn't as hard as I expected, I got the hang of it after 10 minutes of messing around and configuring the tablet.
Q: How does drawing on tablet compare with pencil?
A: Well obviously the major difference is that you have to stare at the computer screen to see what you are drawing rather than looking down at your piece of paper. In this aspect, it wasn't hard to adjust at all. For colouring, it definitely feels different trying to colour with a tablet versus shading with colouring pencils. I guess the feeling from your hands is different. With shading with pencils, you have to constantly shift the angle of the tip to get the type of lines you want to draw, but with a tablet you just adjust the option bars to get the desired thickness/angle etc.
Q: Was buying a tablet worth it?
A: Definitely. It's a totally different drawing experience. My only problem is that my neck hurts from using the computer too long.
Q: What program did you use to colour?
A: I used the program that came with the tablet called OpenCanvas Lite. It has the basic functions similar to Photoshop and Gimp. It took me a while to navigate around the buttons, but again, it was just a matter of getting used to it.
Q: What's next?
A: I want to keep honing my colouring skills. More bishies fanart. And if my motivation doesn't lose out, my own manga.
October 27, 2012
Know Your Meme: Cicada Block (蝉ドン- Semi Don)
 |
| Alibaba and Mor from Magi. |
 |
| From Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! |
Lately, there has been an spam influx of (fan)artworks on the net of similar nature to the pictures displayed above. The style of the pictures consists of a person trapped in the corner of two walls by another who pushes against the walls using all their limbs.
Crunchyroll gives an explanation of this meme:
Cicada Block, known as “Semi-Don” (Japanese: 蝉ドン, lit. Cicada Bam) in Japan, is the physical act of trapping someone in a corner by pressing one’s hands and feet against the adjacent walls to form a one-man barricade, mimicking a perched cicada insect.
The block was first introduced on Twitter and later spread to the Japanese artist community pixiv and Tumblr, where it spawned a series of crossover fanart featuring other well-known video game and anime characters.
Origin
“Semi-Don” is originally a mere joke for a typical moe situation like these images below, which are mostly shown in Japanese comics for girls. And around September 2012, this situation became to be called as “Kabe-Don” (壁ドン, lit. Wall Bam) on the Japanese web, which is a connected word of Kabe, a wall, and Don (Bam), the sound of wildly putting hands or feet on it.
The first appearance of the phrase “Semi-don” was a 4 paned picture in a tweet posted by a Japanese user named Naruse, Hatoh (成瀬ハトゥ) in October 13th, 2012.
①スタンダード壁ドン②ちょっとワイルド壁ドン③やさしく包みこむよ系壁ドン④蝉（せみ）ドン 私の友人は④がいいらしいpic.twitter.com/1QptUzKj
Transcript:
1. Standard Kabe-Don
2. Kinda Wild Kabe-Don
3. Tender Kabe-Don
4. Semi-Don
A friend of mine said he/she liked 4.This funny maneuver wasn’t her original invention because the same pose was appeared in an other online gag comic in 2008.[2] However, this tweet had scored 24000+ retweets and 8500+ favorites within its first week due to her very catchy naming to this pose “Semi-Don”.
A quick Google search will give you many results of this style of meme for your favourite anime/manga characters. Alternatively, feel free to explore picture gallery sites such as Pixiv or Zerochan for more pictures.
October 23, 2012
Hatsune Miku's 1st Official Costume Set Offered
Japanese cosplay maker Cospa began taking pre-orders for an official Hatsune Miku costume set.
The costume set includes a sleeveless jacket, pleated skirt, an adjustable tie, arm sleeves with printed icons, boot covers, headset, and rubber hair ornaments. Most of the outfit is polyester with emerald green accents except for the boot covers, which are 95% polyester and 5% polyurethane. The costume comes in ladies sizes small, medium, and large and retails for 13,440 yen (about US$170).
The set is slated to arrive in mid-December.
Scientists found guilty for earthquake deaths
 |
| Disaster ... an aerial view of L'Aquila after the 2009 earthquake that killed more than 300 people. Photo: AP |
Six Italian scientists and a government official have been found guilty of multiple manslaughter for underestimating the risks of a killer earthquake in L'Aquila in 2009.
They were sentenced to six years in jail in a case that has provoked outrage among scientists worldwide.
We cannot call this a victory. It's a tragedy, whatever way you look at it.
The experts were also ordered to pay more than €9 million ($11.5 million) in damages to survivors and inhabitants. Under the Italian justice system, the seven will remain free until they have exhausted two chances to appeal against the verdict.
October 18, 2012
3 Arrested in Japan for Uploading Games via WinMX
Fukuoka Police arrested three individuals on Tuesday on suspicion of uploading game software illegally onto the peer-to-peer file sharing program WinMX.
Those arrested include 41-year-old office worker Takao Ishii of Ebisu, Shibuya; 32-year-old part-time worker Yūsuke Suzuki of Iwata, Shizuoka; and 25-year-old Hijiyama, Hiroshima resident Nozomi Hattori.
Each suspect allegedly used personal computers to share 19 to 22 copyrighted games (including WarioWare: Touched!, Another Code: Two Memories, F-Zero Maximum Velocity, Mega Man Battle Network, and Mr. Driller 2) from July to August. According to the authorities, all three admitted to the charges and had been distributing games on WinMX for the past seven to 10 years.
Kuroko's Basketball Creator Received Threat Notes With Powder, Liquid
The alma mater of Kuroko's Basketball manga creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki and other locations linked to the author were sent threat letters with an unknown powder and other substances earlier this month. According to the police, the Toyama High School in Tokyo's Shibuya ward received a threat letter with the powder on Tuesday. Sophia University received a hydrogen sulfide-like liquid and a letter last Friday.
In addition, a publisher in Tokyo's Suginami ward received powdered barium and a threat letter on Saturday. The letter warned about Kuroko's Basketball, saying, "If you do not stop the parody manga, you will get hydrogen sulfide" and other similar threats.
FNN posted a video report on the incidents.
October 17, 2012
K-On! and Hello Kitty are part of NTT DoCoMo’s answer to iPhone’s Siri in Japan
Want to have long, endearing conversations with the gals from Kyoto Animation’s hit TV series K-On!? No problemo! All you’ve got to do is go to Japan and buy a new phone from NTT DoCoMo.
Japan’s leading telco NTT DoCoMo announced today that it’s giving its cloud-based voice-command concierge service, Shabette-Concier, a major upgrade for the Winter 2012 season: more functions, more apps supported, and the addition of over 30 interactive avatars, including K-On! characters.
A partial list of these interactive avatars can be found at NTT DoCoMo’s official website over here. Besides the K-On! girls, other licensed avatars include Chibi Maruko-chan, Hello Kitty, and Snoopy & His Friends.
Shabette-Concier works similar to Siri, in that upon activation of the app, a voice will playback on your phone prompting you for a query. The service was first launched in Japan in March of this year, and has since been updated periodically to support more questions and applications over the months.
The new version of Shabette-Concier is free to all NTT DoCoMo customers who’ve subscribed to the sp-mode Internet connection service, and will come pre-installed in smartphones and tablets (well, tablet) announced today under the telco’s Winter 2012 line-up, some of which will begin going on sale in Japan from November.
All of the devices in the line-up are Androids; NTT DoCoMo is the only carrier in Japan to not offer Apple’s iPhone products.
Teen Arrested for Stabbing Teacher With Pen for Confiscating Manga
Police in Gamagōri, Aichi arrested a 14-year-old middle school boy on suspicion of stabbing a teacher with a ballpoint pen during class. The suspect allegedly stabbed a 30-year-old female teacher over 10 times in both of her shoulders around 12:30 p.m. on October 1. The teacher sustained minor injuries that lasted about a week.
The teacher had warned the suspect about reading manga in class and had then confiscated the manga when the suspect continued reading. According to reports, the student said "Give it back!" and in a fury, stabbed her with a pen from her desk. The teacher filed a report on October 2 and has yet to return to teaching the class.
Source: Sports Nippon, ANN
New Madoka Magica Android Game Stars Kyōko, Sayaka With Baseball Bat
The ANIMATE store chain's production company Frontier Works released the third Madoka Magica "third-person shooter," Puella Magi Madoka Magica TPS Featuring Sayaka Miki & Sakura Kyōko, on Yahoo! Japan's market for Android apps on Tuesday. As in the previous Madoka Magica TPS games, the player assumes the role of magical girls to clear stages. This time, Sayaka and Kyōko are the stars with voice actresses Eri Kitamura and Ai Nonaka reprising their respective roles with some exclusive voice samples.
The game begins with Sayaka before she becomes a magical girl, so she is armed only with her baseball bat to bash enemies. Stage 2 has Sayaka after her magical girl transformation, with a saber. After that, the game switches player characters to Kyōko, who begins with a three-section staff (sansetsukon) before upgrading.
Players can pick up items to restore their health and purify their Soul Gem, which they can tap to perform magic. The game has three difficulty levels, and as the player defeats each stage boss, images from notable anime scenes will be unlocked in the game's gallery page.
The game costs 630 yen (about US$8).
Magi Manga Print Circulation Doubles in 4 Months After Anime Announcement
The number of volumes of Shinobu Ohtaka's Magi manga in circulation has more than doubled in the nearly four months since the anime adaptation of the series was officially announced on June 24.
Before the anime adaptation was announced, approximately 3 million copies of the first 12 volumes of the manga had been printed. As of October 10, approximately 6.5 million copies of the first 14 volumes are now in print. Before the anime was announced, 250,000 copies of the first volume had been printed, but now the number has doubled to more than 500,000 copies.
The 15th compiled volume in the series will ship in November. Ohtaka has been serializing the manga in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine since 2009. The story re-imagines tales from the classic story One Thousand and One Nights (also known as Arabian Nights).
Crunchyroll and Hulu are streaming the television anime adaptation in various countries outside of Japan as it airs, and Aniplex of America announced last weekend that it has licensed the series for release on home video.
Source: ANN
Hello Kitty Pork Buns Sold in Japan's Circle K Sunkus Convenience Stores
The Circle K Sunkus convenience store chain in Japan began selling pork buns inspired by Sanrio's Hello Kitty character on Tuesday.
The "Hello Kittyman" buns, filled with pork, onion, and a soy sauce seasoning, cost 150 yen (US$1.90) each. Circle K Sunkus will offer 1.5 million buns in its 6,235 stores across Japan during the campaign. The convenience store chain will offer another pork bun inspired by a different Sanrio character starting on November 6. The paper used to wrap the pork buns contains one of four Hello Kitty-related trivia questions, such as: "When is Hello Kitty's birthday?"
Those who send a message to the convenience store between October 9 through November 19 will be entered into a lottery to win one of 25 Hello Kitty Nikuman cushions.
The Gigazine news website has posted more high-resolution images of the outside and inside of the pork buns.
The convenience store chain FamilyMart previously unveiled Slime meat buns inspired by the Dragon Quest role-playing game series last September. The same chain sold more than 600,000 Hatsune Miku "Mikuman" meat buns in August-September. LAWSON convenience stores in Tokyo's Kantō area also began offering "Manma Nikuman" buns inspired by the Amagami SS+ television anime series in January. Additionally, the official Gundam Cafés in Tokyo began selling "Haro Man" pork buns earlier this month.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s “Moshi Moshi Harajuku” wins ‘Music Jacket Award 2012′
It’s been revealed that Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s debut mini-album, “Moshi Moshi Harajuku“, has received the grand prize for ‘Music Jacket Award 2012‘. This year’s winners were chosen from music CDs released between April of 2011 and March of 2012.
The cover for “Moshi Moshi Harajuku” was done by Steve Nakamura, and it shows Kyary’s unique style with a Kuchisake-onna-style (a woman with her mouth torn to her ears) paint make-up. On winning the award, Kyary expressed, “I’m very happy that my debut work received such an honored award!! When I make jacket covers, I not only make them cute, but I also think about making them fun and strange.”
The semi-grand prize went to Perfume’s “Spice” and MAN WITH A MISSION’s self-titled album “MAN WITH A MISSION“. The special award went to Nanba Shiho’s “Mizuiro Generation“.
October 16, 2012
Hatsune Miku-Colored Blue Yakisoba Noodles Sold in Japan
The cosplay café "Koakuma no En Little BSD" (Little Devil's Feast Little BSD) revealed a new item this weekend: blue-colored Hatsune Miku yakisoba (fried noodles) with long onions. The café began selling a limited number of the noodle meals at the Moe1 Grand Prix exhibition on Saturday at the Bellesalle Akihabara hall. The noodles sold for 700 yen (about US$9) each, and only 30 meals were available for purchase on the first day.
The noodles were only sold on Saturday and Sunday, and were used as a promotional item for the cosplay café. (Each set came with a 50%-off coupon.) The noodle meal will not be sold at the café itself.
The Akiba Blog has posted more photographs of the noodles in higher resolution.
Source: Akiba Blog, ANN
October 11, 2012
SEAMO×SPYAIR collaboration single: “ROCK THIS WAY”
SEAMO is collaborated with SPYAIR and they released a new single titled “ROCK THIS WAY”.
Their collaboration was planned after SEAMO participated in a live event hosted by SPYAIR back in August, and this rock tune is said to be a message song to send a yell to those who face themselves and keep chasing after their dreams.
Get a sample of this song here.
SPYAIR’s ENZEL☆ to leave the band
It’s been revealed that SPYAIR’s ENZEL☆ (DJ) will be leaving the band after their Nippon Budokan concert on December 18th.
ENZEL☆’s withdrawal was decided after a number of discussions with the members. He explained, “Leaving everything up to the members, when I seriously thought about my future, I came to a conclusion that it would be difficult for me to continue as a member of the band.”
Meanwhile, the members also commented, “We respect ENZEL☆’s decision, and we want to see him off in the best way possible. This is why we chose Nippon Budokan, our biggest challenge thus far, as the last stage for the 5-member SPYAIR.”
SPYAIR formed back in 2005 in Aichi, and made their major debut with the single, “LAIR“, in August of 2010. ENZEL☆ joined the band in 2009, and is known among fans as the mood-maker.
October 10, 2012
UVERWORLD to provide theme song for anime film, ‘Ao no Exorcist’
It’s been revealed that UVERWORLD will be providing the theme song for the upcoming anime film, ‘Ao no Exorcist‘ (December 28th release).
‘Ao no Exorcist’ is a popular manga by Kato Kazue that’s been serialized in ‘Jump Square‘ since 2009. UVERWORLD has provided the opening theme song for the TV anime series’ 1st season which started airing in April of 2011.
The title and release date of the theme song haven’t been revealed at this time because it’s still under production. TAKUYA∞ commented, “UVERWORLD is made up of members that we gathered in our hometown, so we’re old friends from before forming the band. There’s a link between ‘Ao no Exorcist’ and how we move forward with irreplaceable friends. We are currently producing a song that will find its way in the movie’s story.”
SuG to withdraw from PS Company and go on hiatus in December
Visual kei band SuG will be going on hiatus after their one-man live on December 29th. The band will also be removed from their agency PS COMPANY.
Through his official blog, Takeru (Vo) explained, “The reason is very simple. To continue our activities in this situation, we will be betraying everyone who has been involved with us as well as our history. ‘We are here now because we aren’t ashamed of the past’, we feel that’s the only way for us to shine. In order for us to challenge ourselves to things that we feel is cool from the bottom of our hearts, we decided to halt our activities.”
Regarding their withdrawal from PS COMPANY, he revealed, “It’s not that we had a disagreement, neither were we dismissed. I just feel that our directions started to shift little by little. If we hadn’t met PS COMPANY, we wouldn’t be here now. That is why we decided not to avoid this vague relationship, and faced the result of withdrawal.”
SuG will kick off their nationwide tour, ‘SuG TOUR 2012: sweeToxic‘, on October 10th. They will go into hiatus after their one-man live, ‘SuG Oneman Show 2012: This is O‘, on December 29th at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
Kuroko's Basketball Character Song CD Sells 24,886 at #3
According to the Oricon Singles charts for October 8, the "Kuroko no Basuke Character Song Duet Series Vol. 3" single released on September 26 sold 24,886 copies in five days to rank at #3 for the week's CD single sales.
The single features songs and a mini drama from characters Shintarō Midorima (voiced by Daisuke Ono) and Kazunari Takao (voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki). This is the first character song single for the series that has ranked in the top three on Oricon's chart.
Shueisha released the 19th volume of Tadatoshi Fujimaki's original Kuroko no Basuke sports manga last month. Production I.G's television anime adaptation of the series ended on September 22 and the series will receive an original video anime included with the eighth Blu-ray Disc/DVD volume of the television anime series in February.
Crunchyroll streamed the television anime into several countries as it aired in Japan.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Sings New Crayon Shin-chan Theme
Model/singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu announced on Saturday that she is singing the new theme song for the Crayon Shin-chan television anime. The announcement came during the TV Asahi Dream Festival 2012 event at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium. This is her first anime theme song.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a self-described huge Crayon Shin-chan fan who has all of the original manga volumes and catches the anime films as they come out. As Kyary Pamyu Pamyu appeared onstage at Saturday's event, Crayon Shin-chan's title character Shinosuke (or rather, a costumed performer) made a surprise entrance to express his excitement over the news.
Music producer and DJ Yasutaka Nakata (One Piece Film Z, Five Numbers!) wrote and scored the new "Kimi ni 100 Percent" song, and Shinosuke is contributing by shouting during the song's interludes. The song will begin airing in the anime on October 19.
The Mainichi Shimbun paper's Mantan Web posted more photographs from the announcement.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web, ANN
Hello Kitty, My Melody Transformed Into US$2,500 Sofas
GACKT reveals the PV for ‘Hakuro’
Check out the PV below!
October 3, 2012
Japan Passes Jail-for-Downloaders Anti-Piracy Law
Japan’s legislature has approved a bill revising the nation’s copyright law to add criminal penalties for downloading copyrighted material or backing up content from a DVD. The penalties will come into effect in October.
The Upper House of the Japanese Diet approved the bill by a vote of 221-12, less than a week after the measure cleared the lower house with almost no opposition. Violators risk up to two years in prison or fines up to two million yen (about $25,000).
Opponents of the bill worry it will lead to unnecessary prosecutions because of the way it is written. To face charges, a person must be aware that the material is illegal to download.
“We shouldn’t risk making the general public — including youths — the subject of criminal investigations,” said Upper House member Yuko Mori, as quoted in the Japan Times.
Japanese attorney Toshimitsu Dan told IT Media that even watching a YouTube video could be grounds for arrest “if the viewer is aware that downloading [such material] is illegal.”
Unauthorized uploading and downloading of copyrighted material such as music, movies and video games have been illegal in Japan for years, but until now only uploaders were subject to criminal penalties: up to 10 years in prison or fines as much as 10 million yen ($125,000), according to the Times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
