Kusama Yayoi

Do you know Kusama Yayoi?


Kusama Yayoi is one of the most famous contemporary painter in Japan.


Her works are peculiar to "dot"and "pumpkin".

It's like that.

In September, some collaboration items of Kusama Yayoi and Louis Vuitton.

Louis Vuitton shop in Ginza Matsuya (one of the most famous department store in Japan, from 1919) launch initial sales of these items.


Ginza Matsuya

A big pumpkin whose height is 2 meter appears in the shop.

Mm...very cool!

NAMCO NAMJATOWN

I went to NAMCO NAMJATOWN yesterday, for the first time.


NAMCO NAMJATOWN is an entertainment park by Namco.

It's in Ikebukuro (a city in Tokyo).


There're many amusement attraction, or food mall.


For example, attraction of being spy, defusing a bomb, bringing up a special pet, and so on...



Especially, there're collaboration attraction or food mall of Naruto or Kuro No Basuke in this summer.

http://www.namja.jp/news/kurobas/menu.html



I played an attraction of Kuroko No Basuke (a simple Basketball attraction).

And  I get 2 stickers of Kuroko No Basuke.


If you are a fan of Kuroko No Basuke, please let me know and I will present it for you.



Anyway, NAMCO NAMJATOWN is very enjoyable.

If you visit Ikebukuro, I recommend to go there.

Playing drums

Do you play musical instrument?


I play drums and performed a concert on the day before yesterday.

It's a copy band of L'Arc-en-Ciel !


(I had some movie of my playing on youtube, but I don't say here because it's shamefulness for me.

Please email me if you want to see...)


In Japan, there's not much land and we can't practice very much.

I've heard in a country that has much land, people practice drums liberally in the house or garage aren't they?


Please let me know how is it in your country!

Acchan

Do you know what is today in Japan?


Today, Maeda Atsuko (called Acchan) graduate from AKB48!


Recently, I wrote about Acchan's final act in Music station.

http://ghr-japan.blogspot.jp/2012/08/tearful-graduation.html


Today is Acchan's final act in AKB48 theater in Akihabara.


Too many people visit Akihabara today...

A parade of graduation after the final act was planned.

But, Japan police think it's dangerous because of many many people, and stop it.

It's very sad...



Yesterday, AKB48 acts in Tokyo dome.

This is Acchan's pictures.

Anyway, let's celebrate her graduation, today.


Congratulations, Acchan!

Udon

Do you eat Japanese udon?


Udon is noodles made of wheat flour and loved all people in Japan.

(I have never heard a person who dislike udon.)


In college days, I go to "Hanamaru Udon" (a chain restaurant of udon) in lunch break, 5 days a week!


The most popular udon in Hanamaru Udon.

A new udon in Hanamaru Udon, "Chicken, soy milk, sesame udon".

A brand of udon like Hanamaru Udon is from Kagawa prefecture.

(Kagawa is the smallest prefecture in Japan.)


Udon that has the brand is called "Sanuki Udon".



Enjoy your udon life!

Inside the pocket of Doraemon...

Yesterday, I write about Japanese character.


Doraemon is children's most popular character!



Doraemon has many many wonderful futural goods in his pocket.

Today, I introduce them.



Take copter

It means bamboo helicopter. Take means bamboo.


We can fly by putting on our head.

Dokodemo door

It's a door, but not usual door.


If you go through this door, you can arrive at where you want to go.

It may be your friends' house, Tokyo, Hawaii, Rio de Janeiro, or Mars.





Moshimo box

If you call with this phone, you can change this world to new world you hope.


For example, you can delete sound in this world, you can eat favorite foods infinitely...and so on.

It's very horrible!




Doraemon has many goods such as them.

He is absolutely the "dream" of Japanese Children!

Best character in Japan

In Japan, there're many many famous animation characters.


A ranking "Children's favorite character in Japan" is released.



1.Doraemon

Doraemon is a wonderful robot in 22 century.

I really loved Doraemon in childhood.


He have many wonderful goods.

(I will introduce them tomorrow!)



2.Super Mario

Super Mario is the most famous character in Japanese video game.

You might know him and have played his games.



3.Mickey Mouse

I need not explain him.

He is loved in Japan, too!


4.Totoro

I need not explain him (her?), too.

I explained too much recently.



5.Qoo

Do you know him (her?) ?

He is an image character of a juice "Qoo".

Does your child like them?or other characters?

Please let me know what character is loved in your country.

Friendly people

Do people in your country talk to stranger in street, shop, train, or bar?

I've heard people visiting Japan are wonder that no one talk in train in Japan.

It's usual in Japan.

But I know many people all around the world talk to stranger with a light heart, don't them?

I think that's wonderful!

Without that, people are in closed community and miss many chance to meet many nice people.

When I sell an item on eBay at the first time, I was very surprised that the buyer is very friendly for me.

So, I want to make many friends all around the world.

I appreciate that you are very friendly and read my newsletter every day.

I'm very happy that I have chance to meet many friends by eBay.

Thank you so much!

Studio Ghibli

Do you know Studio Ghibli?


Studio Ghibli is a production company of anime.

And many animes of Ghibli are very popular in Japan.


The most popular Ghibli anime is "Tonari No Totoro" (My neighbor Totoro).

In this week, Totoro appears in the Oricon ranking chart of DVD.


Amazingly, the total period that Totoro is in Oricon DVD chart is 556 weeks!!


It's the number one record in Japan.That's so great.



There's many Totoro goods released in Japan.


One of the most "Kawaii"(means cute or something like that)  goods is the rhythm clock.

Of course, there're many wonderful anime and characters of Ghibli.


If you like anime, please don't miss Ghibli.

Pikachu 3DS LL

About 3 weeks ago, I write about Nintendo 3DS LL.

http://ghr-japan.blogspot.jp/2012/08/nintendo-3ds-ll.html


I have received message about 3DS LL from purchaser of it.

All messages are like that.

"It's a wonderful console!"



Recently, I have heard a very good news.

Nintendo 3DS LL special version "Pikachu Yellow" will be released.

It's limited in Pokemon Center shop in Japan.

And we can get it by reserving from Aug.15 to Sep.14.

So, it will be very very rare item.


If you like Pikachu and video games, I highly recommend to get the cute 3DS LL.



You can buy the item in this link.

Please don't miss this chance.

GOPAN

Do you know GOPAN?

GOPANis a bread maker released by Panasonic.

It makes bread with rice and without wheat!

Please see this movie.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h_6z0jpOU_M

Can you believe it is made from rice?

The origin of bread is in Europe and the origin of Japanese rice is in Japan.

(Rice is the principal diet in Japan.)

I think something suuch collaboration of two cluture will be very wonderful.

I hope more collaboration in the future.

Nendoroid

Do you know Nendoroid?


Nendoroid is a brand of Japanese anime figure by Good Smile Company.


The feature of Nendoroid is the cute and deformed style.

It usually about 2.5-head figure.


Nendoroid is released for various characters.

For only Hatsune Miku, there's many models.

There're many cute characters of Nendoroid.


Mickey Mouse

Hakurei Reimu (Touhou Project)

Kousaka Kirino (Oreimo)

Saber Lily (Fate/stay night)

Let's find your favorite Nendoroid and put it in your room!

Tearful graduation

Hi, friend



Do you know "Music Station"?


Music Station is a most popular show on TV of music in Japan.



AKB48 appeared on yesterday's Music Station.

It's the last appearance of Maeda Atsuko as a member of AKB48.

She is a front woman for AKB48, but she will be graduate on August.27.


Please see her last performance in Music Station.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhFzrKLMf3Y



It's tearful...I can't believe her graduation!

Japanese Chess

Do you know Habu Yoshiharu?


Habu is a champion of "Shougi"(Japanese chess).

He is 42 years old and established 1200 won in official game of Shougi at the youngest age in history.

He looks very brainy!



I like Shougi very much.

It's very deep hobby because, you can use the piece you captured.

It's the biggest difference between Shougi and chess.



If you like chess, you must like Shougi.

Please learn the rule in wikipedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogi

and let's play in this website!

http://www.japanesechess.org/


If you learn Shougi very much, let's play with me on any online game site.

Kamehame Ha!

Do you like Dragon Ball?


Dragon Ball is the most famous anime in Japan.



Matsumoto Kaoru, who is a gold medalist of Judo in London Olympic said,

"My destination is Son Goku."


Goku is a hero of most Japanese in my generation!

"Kamehame Ha" is the most famous skill of Goku.

We believed we will be able to do Kamehame Ha in childhood....



I've heard that a "Kamehame Ha Contest" is held in New Zealand every year.


If you have been the contest, please let me know!


It's the movie.Very funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wJzGnUEQlA




So...Let's practice Kamehame Ha!

50 million !

Hi, friend



Do you know Hamasaki Ayumi?


Hamasaki Ayumi is one of the most famous singer in Japan.



In this week, she turn in a great mark.

Her CD sales run up 50 million.



I know there're many great musicians in the world whose CD sales is over 300 million, for example Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or Michael Jackson.

But, 50 million is very great mark in Japan, there's only 3 musicians (B'z, Mr.Children, Hamasaki Ayumi) turn in the mark.



Please listen to her songs!



SEASONS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JknKBQMNOXQ


Voyage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_34kYg1f5A


Dearest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnRO8PyH2RU

Obon vacation

Do you know Japanese "Obon"?

Obon is Japanese traditional observance, that is around August 15.

It is passed down as an oral tradition that ancestors come home in Obon.

It's not religional, but tradition.

We put cucumber and eggplant sticked chopsticks in our room.

We use them to resemble hourse in order to let ancestors be easy to come and return.

I think it's very funny!

And most Japanese people take "Obon vacation" from August 13 to16.

Does your country has such custom?

I'm happy to hear it!

HKT

Do you know Hakata ?

Hakata is a Japanese city in Fukuoka prefecture.


Recently, Sashihara Rino (AKB48) was traded to HKT48.

HKT48 is a group in 48 project, home is Hakata city.

(HKT is abbreviation of Hakata.)

This is a part of ranking that is gleaned from a questionnaire, "What come across your head about Hakata?"


1.Hakata Mentaiko

Meitaiko is seasoned cod roe.

It's very popular in Japan, used on rice, in spaghetti, and so on.

2.Hakata Ramen

Almost all of Japanese people love Ramen.


Pork bone broth Ramen is specialty of Hakata.

Yes, Hakata's food is special.

If you have any chance to visit Japan, visit Hakata!

Amazing airplane

Do you know Japanese "Origami"?


Origami is Japanese play that is folding square paper.



The most popular origami is crane.

There's a Japanese who makes amazing thing using craft of Origami.



That is....


"Airplane with legs"

Mmmm...it's indescribable.


You can see how to make it in this movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAp570_r2Y




I made it.

Do you want it?


If you want it, I will present it !

Hatsune Miku Walkman

I have received many many emails (over 100 emails) about "Hatsune Miku" yesterday and today.


I'm very surprised at it.

The popularity of Hatsune Miku is greater than I thought.



Above all, I received many messages :


"Can you sell Hatsune Miku Walkman?"


As a result, I can sell it.

But...please read below.





Do you know Walkman?

Walkman is a brand of digital music player released by SONY.


Walkman is the most popular brand of music player since 1979 except for iPod.



In last week, the reservation of a coｌlaboration product of Hatsune Miku and Walkman began on the website and real shop.

There're 3 models of Walkman, and each Walkman is 3939 limited.


So...the reservation have ended in 4 hours because they're sold out!


Hatsune Miku is too popular to sell only 3939 Walkmans...



Luckily, I could get 2 models of Hatsune Miku Walkman.


I planned to list these on eBay.

But I sell it in this newsletter because there's a lot of



NW-S764/L（Blue）

NW-S764/B（Black）

But I have only 3 Walkman for each model.


I have received over 20 emails "Can you sell Hatsune Miku Walkman?".

So, the Walkman will be sold out immediately. I'm very sorry...



Please don't miss this chance!



You can buy Hatsune Miku Walkman in the links.



NW-S764/L（Blue）

NW-S764/B（Black）

First sound in the future !

Do you know Hatsune Miku?


Hatsune Miku is very very popular all around the world.

I think her recent popularity is amazing!


Originally, Hatsune Miku is a software called "Vocaloid" that makes songs by virtual voice.


Do you know the derivation of her name?

"Hatsu" means first.
"Ne" means sound.
"Miku" means future.

So, her concept is, first and futural sound.

Actually, many Vocaloid software were released starting by Hatsune Miku!



But, she is popular as a animation character, now.

There're many many products of Hatsune Miku that is not related to Vocaloid.


The most typical product is figure.

So cute!


And cosplay goods are also popular.

And she do virtual live!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtTRmZOb1JY


She is about to be a human any more.


Don't miss her "future"!

Oda Nobunaga

Do you know Oda Nobunaga?


Nobunaga is  a military commander in Edo Piriod (1534-1582).


His painting.

He died by backstabbing is his secondary, Akechi Mitsuhide.

To be exact, he was forced to do "Seppuku" (hara-kiri, suicide by disembowelment).


This affair is called "Honnouji No Hen".

This is painting of Honnouji No Hen.

Such paintings (called Ukiyoe) are intriguing for people in our age.



His way of life is very cool, so he appears in games, manga in our age.


For example, Nobunaga No Yabou.