Yamatologic

Shin Yamato Damacy Ep. 3!

It’s here! The new episode of Shin Yamato Damacy has arrived! In this episode, Luka is wandering the streets of Takasaki (Think Ep. 1 or Ep. 3 of YD) asking some awesomely random questions. The results are pretty amazing.

RANDOM!

Technorati Tags: blogs, DrLuka7, gaijin, interview, Luka, random, shin yamato damacy, Takasaki, video, vlogging

Where’d Jeshii Go?

Wow, this is the longest I’ve gone without blogging for a long time. What could possibly keep me from my appointed rounds of keeping you up to date on the latest ニコニコ動画 memes?

This is my new son, Joe. He was born on January 20th. I will be getting back to the blog soon enough. In the meantime, visit any of my blogroll sites. They are hand picked for fascinating topics! XD

See you all again soon!

Technorati Tags: babies, baby, non-japan, parenting, personal

2channel Has Been Sold

Founder of 2cahnnel, target of many lawsuits Hiroyuki Nishimura (photo by Joichi Ito)

This news broke on Saturday, so we missed the scoop, but we wanted to make sure that we opened up a thread for comment (or drunken cats. Y’know, whatever) while Jeshii is unavailable.

Apparently Hiroyuki Nishimura left a one-sentance message on his blog, dated January 2nd that he had sold 2channel. Later reports indicate a small company named Packet Monster, based in Singapore.

Packet Monster, really? There’s a lot of speculation about this heretofore-unheard-of company, and I mean, with all those little characters that come out of the bowels of 2ch, (not a poket, but a packet, mind. This is the internet we’re talking about), one’s got to wonder whether thall this speculation about supposed legal bullet-dodging for Nishimura-san  has any credence.

Okay, kids. Discuss. And the people behind Yamatologic.com or any websites associated with it assume no responsibility for any crime and mayhem purpotrated by any of its readers at any time, for any reason, amen.

Oh, and here’s the link to the Japan Times article.

Technorati Tags: 2channel, bbs, hiroyuki, hiroyuki nishimura, otaku

Evangelion Winter Conditions Plug Suit

Okay, I don’t normally get all jazzed up about anime goods, but the second you combine anime goods from an anime I’ve actually seen with some other hobby of mine, my interest goes up instantly. It’s like a square wave.

In anycase, these Winter Conditions Plgs Suits from evastore are hot, or at least warm.

These things’ll run ya 73,500円 (yen). Large size is sold out. The eva snowboard will set you back the same amount. All made by the fine folks over at Salomon Snowboards.

I love how the model in the picture looks like a dood and not a hot, young clone of your mom.

Technorati Tags: anime, Evangelion, plug suit, rei, snow, snowboard jackets, snowboarding, snowboards, sports, winter, winter sports

Biyori Hime

It is here! The long awaited anime 「源氏物語千年紀 Genji」 has finally aired its first episode! Low and behold, the video for the Puffy/椎名林檎 (Shiina Ringo) collaboration 「日和姫」 (Biyorihime) is up on the YouTubes!

Sounds like a 椎名林檎 song, which means I love it. And it is good to see Puffy in action (and in kimono!) again.

Anyway, enjoy until YouTube takes it down and I have to find a new version!

Technorati Tags: anime, Biyori Hime, Biyorihime, Genji, katana, kimono, music video, PUFFY, Shiina Ringo, Shina Ringo, yakuza, 椎名林檎, 源氏物語千年紀 Genji

Japan Nite 2009

Japan Nite is coming to LA on March 29th! It is a Sunday, but I don’t care if I have work at 5am the next morning. It’s my birthday weekend and I’m gonna party. Venue is the Knitting Factory, which I am excited about since every other Japan band that I’ve seen in LA seems to play the Whiskey, and there’s only so many times you can go there.

This is interesting since Tokyo Night is traditionally sometime in March/April. This could be a good spring!

The bands scheduled so far seem pretty interesting. My favorite so far was detroit 7, but they just added omodaka (above video) to the billing. Electropop with traditional Japanese sensibilities do it to me every time.

Be sure to check the official site for some more linkage to the various bands and a complete list of cities.

Oh heck, here’s some detroit7 anywho:


【ニコニコ動画】detroit7 -- GRACIAS

Technorati Tags: bands, concerts, detroit7, electropop, Hollywood, Japan Nite, Knitting Factory, LA, live music, Los Angeles, music, omodaka, rock, sxsw, tour

More Like The Racist Office…

I really can’t believe this SNL skit about the “Japanese Office.” My friend sent it to me and I felt this overwhelming uncomfortable feeling while watching it… then I realized that’s because it is racist. And, then at the end, they say it flat out like that’s supposed to make it better. What do you think? Am I overreacting here?

Technorati Tags: Anti-Japanese, ラジオ体操, fake Japan, Japanese offices, parody, Racism, Racist, radio calisthenics, rajio taisou, Saturday Night Live, The Office, video

Japan’s Scariest Suspension Bridge

【ニコニコ動画】怖い吊橋

There is a crazy old suspension bridge in the deep Southern Japanese Alps that is known as 夢想吊橋 (Musou Tsuribashi). This bridge is known as “Japan’s Scariest Suspension Bridge” for good reason. First, it is very narrow. Second, it was built sometime in the 50′s, so it seems to be Japanese oldest remaining suspension bridge. Third, it is really in the middle of nowhere, which means to me that it is very far from help if something were to happen. This clip was found on ニコニコ動画 the other day. There is are also videos of him coming back from crossing it (YouTube, ニコニコ動画) and trying it on a windy day (YouTube, ニコニコ動画).

Now that I know about it, the adventurer in me wants to conquer it. Mt. Myogi, featured in yesterday’s post, is dangerous and scary because you climb up the side of it with chains because it is too steep to climb otherwise. However, I did it! Now, I want to do this. It is a metaphor for life!

The TV show (I don’t have a clip from that episode, sorry!) that it was featured on originally did not disclose the location, saying “since there is real danger of people dying here, we cannot tell you where it is.”

Fuck that. Here’s a web site telling you where it is. Hell, here’s a Google Map of its location. Remember though, if you die or get seriously injured going here, it is not my fault. I am merely providing information! This blog has a nice account of one man’s attempt to get there, with pictures!

Just to give a reference to how scary this thing is, the 2nd scariest bridge was decommissioned in 2007. This one will probably be decommissioned at some point… or it will just fall down.

Anyway, since I’m not in Japan, I can’t go, but if you do and live to tell the tale, please leave a comment! I’d love to hear about it.

Technorati Tags: bridge, danger, hiking, nature, nicovideo, outdoors, scary, Southern Japanese Alps, suspension bridge, thrill seekers

Shin Yamato Damacy’s The Mountain

English Version:

Japanese Version:

Speaking of Luka, looks like I totally missed the upload of a brand new production of Shin Yamato Damacy! “The Mountain” is a search for gold atop… The Mountain. That’s the name! Really, my guess is that it is filmed on 妙義山 (Myogi-san), which really is the scariest mountain EVAR. Yes, it is also a famous ハシリヤ course, but the hiking is also freaking epic. This is the only mountain I’ve ever climbed that gave me nightmares.

Anyway, there a really awesome tie-in to something else in here, but I won’t ruin it for you. Check it out! There is also a Japanese Dub on both ニコ動 and YouTube.

Technorati Tags: ザ・山, blogs, drift, friends, gaijin, gunma, hiking, Mt. Myogi, racing, shin yamato damacy, The Mountain, video, vlogging, 外人, 妙義山

Megurine Ruka, our new Vocaloid girl!

【ニコニコ動画】VOCALOID CV03　巡音ルカ

A new voice for VOCALOID2 is coming out on January 30th! CV03′s name is going to be 巡音ルカ (Megurine Ruka). Seems like the official jury is out on whether or not he name should be spelled “Ruka” or “Luka.” I’m leaning towards Ruka since I have a very different image in my head of who Luka is.

The news coming out about her says that she will have both English and Japanese voice databases so she can sing in either language. He style is husky and jazzy. The character design, by KEI, has pinkish hair, blue eyes, and… well… large breasts. Yes, this is an official trait. (-.-;) Her special item doesn’t seem to be decided just yet, but it seems like it may be an actual tuna fish, a shovel, and or peaches.

Her other official traits are as follows:

* Age: 20
* Height: 162cm
* Weight: 45kg
* Style: Latin, Jazz, Ethnic Pop, House, Electronic Dance
* Tempo: 65 to 145 BPM
* Range: D3 to D5 (apparently she can do a wider range, this is just her specialty)

Anyway, I’m excited to see what Feburary brings us in the way of new NicoMusic. Not to mention all the random videos that will determine how we see her personality. Oh man, what a world.

Technorati Tags: anime, characters, Hatsune Miku, Megurine Ruka, music, nicovideo, vocaloid, 巡音ルカ