And my response? I definitely felt a lot more insulted by this than most of the times I’ve been called 外人. It really belittles my 12 years of studying Japanese, my time living there, my respect for the culture and peoples, and generally the entire direction I’ve taken my life.

I also think it is why I spend more time on ニコニコ動画 (NicoNicoDouga) than a lot of the English-speaking Internets. I’m interacting with people who don’t know or care that I’m an outsider. They (seem to) respect the fact that I have taken the time to learn Japanese. There’s even a community cheering R and myself on to make more videos.

Actually, it’s true that a lot of people on YouTube have been very supportive, but a lot of it boils down to, “When are you going back to Japan.” The truth is, I really don’t know if I’m going back to Japan. And even if I did, I might not make videos without my partners, Rahman and DrLuka.

What I’m trying to say here is be respectful. Just remember what しじみ (shijimi) stands for; し（信じる）じ（自分の）み（道）, or “Believe in your own path.” I know how annoying little otaku can be. Hell, I was one 10 years ago. But I’ve grown up, I have a family, I have a job, and I do my little videos here in America now. No, I don’t get punched for what I do. People are generally friendly wherever you go.

And I really would like to believe that about the Internet as well.

Technorati Tags: Internet, japan, life, NicoNicoDouga, rant, respect, wapanese, weeaboo, youtube

Technorati Tags: Akiba, Akihabara, アキバ, 秋葉, 秋葉原, event, japan, kaiguys, R, 海外ズ

But then the season changed and now it is fall. So!

The new version of NicoNicoDouga is 秋 (aki)! Makes sense. After Summer comes Autumn. It’s simple. And the video introducing it was funny, saying 「文句あるか」 (monku aru ka, “Any complaints?!”) And, the 秋葉原 (Akihabara) tie-in potential can’t be ignored.

They were calling the next version… “Double Beta,” but no one really knew what that was supposed to mean. So they went with the natural next choice.

New features have been announced… many not yet implemented. Short explanation after the jump.

• NicoNico Points- Points you can use around the site, starting 10/15. I assume you have to buy these?
• NicoNico Medal Game (tentative name) – Playing pachinko while watching nicovideos? They are going for major だめ人間 points on this one!
• User NicoWari – Now you can set NicoWari’s (like the time report) in your videos?!
• NMM Version Upgrade – An upgrade of the NicoNico Movie Maker. Very exciting, especially since the old one was so lame but had so much potential.
• Page Changes – The design has changed here and there.
• NicoNico Commons new features
• New fashion collaboration with Suicommi Underground
• NicoAnime over the broadcast channels?!

What does double beta mean?! Who knows! Who cares! Anyway, I’m sure I’ll be writing more about these features as I figure them out. XD

I do miss the messages that used to be in the upper right hand corner though… ;.;

Technorati Tags: aki, autumn, ニコニコ動画, 秋, double beta, fall, japan, lol, NicoNicoDouga, nicovideo, silly, update, version update, video, web

Japanese packaging is awesome sometimes. PingMag did a review of their favorites. There are special packages for easy refills, squeezable condiments (they show maple syrup, but my favorite was the combo ketchup/mustard ones), and single coffee serving, complete with filter! I remember a lot of these from living in Japan and I never realized how much I loved them until they were gone.

My favorite? The yakisoba and spaghetti that have a draining mechanism built in (pictured). It’s simple and brilliant.

Read the full article over here: Cleverly Convenient Packaging Design

Technorati Tags: clever, coffee, condiments, cool, design, food, japan, packaging, spaghetti, yakisoba

The name comes from 大和魂 (yamato damashii), which is a phase roughly translated as “Japanese Spirit,” and is generally a nationalistic phrase. You’d never hear a 外人 (gaijin) saying it… which is why we used that name. It goes along with the surprise everyone had at us foreigners speaking Japanese.

It was a lot of fun. And people seemed to like it. But since I haven’t been able to do anything nearly as big, it makes me feel like a total internet-famous has-been. ><; The best episodes are as follows:

Episode 9: Setsubun

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wZLIgy1oUk

Episode 3: Karaoke

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBmC1jFAUqg

Episode 10: Vanity Project

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUkpRA4NRtk

Episode 29: Vanity Project 2

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL66l-JrvIQ

You can see all the episodes on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=40EA472A4F34B0AD

You can also check out the Revecess Wiki entry for even more info.

[Update] I now have pages set up for each of the Episodes here at Yamatologic. Go check them out!

Technorati Tags: blogs, friends, gaijin, gunma, japan, jeshii, rahman, video, vlogging, yamato damacy, 外人