Master Blaster (Page 18)

Master Blaster

Writer / Translator

Master Blaster is the two-man translating team of Steven Le Blanc and Masami M.

Steven Le Blanc is an English teacher in Osaka but born and raised on a steady diet of Street Fighter and Godzilla movies in Canada. You can often find him translating stories about the impending robot revolution, North Korea, poorly named products, or whatever else satiates the ADHD he diagnosed himself as having via wikipedia. He enjoys spending his free time by pondering deep linguistic questions like what the best way to start a sentence with the word "iPhone" is.

Masami M is a Japanese person born in Osaka but raised in Tokyo. A founder of one of the first Mahjong websites in Japan, Japanese Reach Mahjong for Beginners viewed by millions monthly, he was also responsible for a blog chronicling the fates of two NOVA teachers abandoned by the bankrupt company which was profiled on national TV as well as other media outlets. In addition to translating, writing and running websites he also works in advertising.

All Stories by Master Blaster

We Visit the Shrine of the Dolls, Where Creepiness Turns to Inspiration and a Doll Has Hair that Grows

Nov 2, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Awashima Shrine is known as the shrine of “memorial dolls” (dolls given as offerings to the shrine) because of the countless dolls and figures that surround the main building and the grounds. It stands apart from the other shrines of Japan in the otherworldly atmosphere it gives off. Some say it has a psychic energy to it.

At the shrine there is said to be a doll with hair that grows. Who knows if there are really ghosts in the world, but you certainly get the sense there is something “present” when confronted with these eerie yet peaceful guardians.

Nov 1, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Starting from 1 November, a completely new kind of Disney Store opened in the Takayashima Station Mall in Kashiwa city, Chiba. Until now all Disney Stores around the world followed the strict design specifications of the originals in America.

However, for the first time ever a Disney Store with a totally different look has opened in an effort to target adult female Disney fans. Rather than stickers, school supplies and stuffed animals, shoppers will be able to buy leather bags, cosmetics and smartphone accessories.

Nov 1, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Strange and interesting items often pop up on the Japanese Yahoo Auction page. Human billboards, human skulls, inhumanly overpriced electronics, and a private pop idol performance, could all be found in the past.

This time, however, it looks like the Earth itself is going under the hammer at a starting price of 69 yen (hehe) (US$0.86).

Nov 1, 2012 by Master Blaster
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On a late night light rail train in Phoenix, Arizona on what authorities believe to have been October 6, a man rescued another passenger from a fight by wielding his samurai sword towards the assailants.

The incident was caught on video and uploaded to YouTube. None of the parties involved have been identified and the police are currently investigating.

Nov 1, 2012 by Master Blaster
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When you think of France, the Eiffel Tower springs to mind. China has the Great Wall, and how about the Statue of Liberty for the USA? Even Brazil has that big Jesus statue. Now, what comes to mind when you think of South Korea?

That’s not meant to be an insult. Most countries suffer the same lack of iconic, world-renowned landmarks, like my own home of Canada. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. (Yes, I will keep telling myself that, thank you.)

But South Korea may be on the verge of breaking out of this group with the discovery of a 100 year old piece of cultural heritage – a sewer!

Oct 30, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Our fearless foodie correspondent Kuzo is traveling the world and tasting everything he can like the cafeteria food of Chernobyl, Melt-Proof Popsicles in China, and Gasoline Clams in North Korea.

However, Kuzo’s greatest challenge may in fact lie in his home country of Japan at a ramen restaurant in Hiroshima which is said to serve a ramen so disgusting it’s completely inedible. Even the staff serving it is said to gag merely at its malevolently malodorous stench – all for the low, low price of 1,800 yen!

Could he finish his lunch without loosing it? The following is his report.

Oct 29, 2012 by Master Blaster
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We all had a good laugh at some of the people who frequent China’s internet cafes recently but Japan is not without its share of nuts either. One just needs to step on one of the hundreds of trains across the country to get a nice spoonful of anti-social behavior.

Some of these folks make Cornman look like a piker.

Oct 29, 2012 by Master Blaster
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When I saw some early images of the new Windows 8 desktop, I wasn’t crazy about the change in appearance. It looked fine for a tablet device or smartphone but those new windows/buttons seemed too clunky and primitive for my liking.

But then again, maybe I just don’t like change and after using it, it’d grow on me. However, this new layout combined with some ambiguous promotion has led many in Japan to believe that it suddenly transforms your regular old computer monitor into a touch screen.

Oct 28, 2012 by Master Blaster
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With weather having turned cold, our intrepid Hyper Cool Biz Gentlemen Mr. Sato and Mr. Tashiro can finally put away their mankinis and start to pig out again. It’s good timing seeing as Pizza Hut and Evangelion are joining promotional forces to give Eva fans a chance to win never before seen merchandise.

From now to 16 December, if you buy Pizza Hut’s new “Hut Onebox” pizza combo with chicken nuggets and fries you get a chance to win Evangelion goodies such as a cushion shaped like an entry plug.

※“Entry plug cushion” might sound disgusting to non-fans. An entry plug is the capsule that people control the giant Eva cyborgs in.

Follow our gentlemen as they excitedly order their pizzas like two kids in a… pizza and Evangelion shop. What will they win?

Oct 28, 2012 by Master Blaster
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If you liked our guide to making simple 3D sketches or stories about dimension defying stationery and a surreal body artist then you’ll love these pictures!

Ramon Bruin (31) is a Dutch artist who has taken simple pencil drawing and magically brought them to new life in the third dimension. His quest for more realism led his to start learning the airbrush 10 years ago as it “is a great technique for making paintings with depth and realism.”

Applying the lessons he learnt, he put down the airbrush for a standard pencil and paper since 2010 to try and make the same effect.

Oct 27, 2012 by Master Blaster
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RocketNews’ ever faithful correspondent, Kuzo, stumbled upon a new type of drink while traveling abroad. The bottle is divided down the middle with one side containing 100% orange juice and the other holding grape juice.

The cap has two separate spouts and lids, so if you want a sweet treat of grape juice just do that side. If you feel a cold coming on then go the other way for a vitamin C boost.

Or if you want to really take a walk on the wild side, flip them both up for a very loosely mixed orange/grape blend.

Oct 27, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Earlier this month, Liu Wangqiang and Lu Zhong, two men in their twenties, celebrated their marriage in the streets of Fuzhou with a few friends and over a thousand assorted well-wishers. That’s not to say that China is one big Pride Parade by any stretch.

There has been a considerable number of opposing views on China’s Twitter, Weibo and even the Fuzhou government strongly opposed this ceremony. Adding in the fact that this marriage isn’t legal, it all makes one wonder why anyone would be against these guys.

China and every other East Asian country lacks the Judeo-Christian foundation of Western countries, yet same-sex marriage is, strangely, officially frowned upon. It’s a mystery that’s always puzzled me since moving to Japan.

Oct 27, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Japan was recently dealt a blow in the irony sector by arch rivals China. Earlier this year, a story about Japanese police on the lookout for Japanese police drew mild chuckles whilst readers continued sipping their tea.

However, this photo of a Lanzhou fire department on fire is currently being touted as “the best joke in the country” on China’s microblogging site Sina Weibo where it was originally uploaded.

Oct 26, 2012 by Master Blaster
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In recent years, Japan has been inundated with phone scams like one known as Ore Ore Sagi (“Hey it’s me!” Con). This involves a young man calling an elderly woman pretending to be her son. He then claims he was in some kind of trouble and asks her to send money via bank transfer.

In a completely new take on this well-known scam, Shigeyuki Goto was arrested on suspicion of extortion and attempted extortion by phone. However, instead of the typical monetary gain he was hoping his victims could sing him a song.

Oct 26, 2012 by Master Blaster
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This bridge located in Xi’an, China connects the villages of Huang and Xuejia. Completed in 1983, it proved to be an essential tool for the economic well-being of each village by facilitating local trade.

However, water erosion caused two major collapses in 2008 and 2010 left it in the state you see now. So far, attempts by local officials to repair the bridge have been unsuccessful, leaving residents with little choice but to roll the dice and tread carefully across the thin strip of concrete still spanning the river.

Oct 25, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Sakurajima is a well-known volcano in the South of Japan for its continuous activity that often blankets nearby towns in ash. However, on the particular day that this photo was taken, something with even more star power popped out the mountain as if it were a polka dot egg.

Yes, what appears to be Nintendo’s hungry hungry dino, Yoshi, was photographed over the volcano one day. At least most people in Japan see Yoshi… maybe we’re too accustomed to giant lizards towering over our cities.

Oct 25, 2012 by Master Blaster
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At this year’s CEATEC Japan, Tokai Rubber Industries Ltd. unveiled the first ever speaker made entirely of rubber – or should I say “smart rubber.” With this technology what appears to be an ordinary strip of latex can be wired into a speaker.

There already is a range of modern products such smartphones using miniature speakers to produce decent quality sound. However, smart rubber speakers stand above with one thing they don’t have – good bass.

Oct 25, 2012 by Master Blaster
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The above symbol (xiào) refers to the concept of “filial piety” which values the respect for one’s parents. It’s a Confucian concept that runs strong in Asian cultures, especially China, which says that it’s the child’s duty to honor the parents by taking care of them in old age and by conducting one’s self properly so as not to bring shame on them.

In China, it’s common practice for workers to send a part of their salary back to their parents who live elsewhere. Yet despite the country’s soaring economy many families are having trouble making ends meet, so one company decided to send money to their worker’s folks for them.

Oct 24, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Who doesn’t love a robot made up of other robots? To western TV viewers they could be represented by Voltron or Power Rangers depending how old you are, but these are just a drop in the bucket of super robot lore that exists in Japan.

Toy maker Bandai on 22 October announced the release of a new legend in their long line of super robot toys known as “chogokin.” Chogodai King Robo Mickey & Friends is everyone’s favorite Disney characters assembled into a giant robot to fight… god knows what but it’s still pretty cool.

Oct 24, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Are you often visited by cockroaches? Do you hate having to do battle with these quick menaces for the sanctity of your home?

At the moment, circling around tumblr, is an intriguing yet simple method to rid your home of cockroaches – possibly forever – and it wouldn’t cost you a dime. It certainly seems plausible, but whether it truly works or not remains to be seen.