RocketNews24 / Bringing You Yesterday's News From Japan and Asia, Today (Page 96)

Fashion Meets Cosplay, Outfits For Even the Most Conservative Cosplayer

Sep 17, 2012 by Michelle
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If the cosplay typically seen at anime conventions is a little too extreme for you, take a look at these toned down cosplay alternates. The clothing and style of beloved anime and cartoon characters from all over the world have been transformed into fashionable clothing for everyday wear. Who knew Lisa Simpson’s orange paper bag dress could look sexy and that taking a fashion cue from Papa Smurf would result in a decent getup?

Sep 17, 2012 by Philip Kendall
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After weeks of anti-Japanese protests in China, with many escalating into physical violence and damage to property, Japanese nationals and businesses alike are understandably on edge. With many stores being ransacked and any person thought to be supporting Japan in any way- including innocent Chinese civilians unfortunate enough to be seen driving Japanese-made vehicles- being attacked amidst mob violence, it is little wonder that people are doing whatever it takes to distance themselves from Japan.

Famous clothing brand Uniqlo- a Japanese company founded in Yamaguchi prefecture- opened its flagship Shanghai store in 2010 to much fanfare and excitement, suggesting that, irrespective of the differences the two countries may have, trendy fashions at low, low prices can bring people together in mutual consumer harmony.

It would seem, however, that even one of China’s most loved Japanese brand names is battening down the hatches for fear of mob reprisal… Read More

Not Your Grandmother’s Birthday Cake, Torte Bakery in Gunma Churns Out Some Amazing Anime Cakes

Sep 17, 2012 by Michelle
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At Torte in Takasaki city, Gunma prefecture, anime enthusiasts and otaku alike can order their favorite anime character on a cake. Starting at 3,300 yen (US $42), Torte handcrafts strawberry whipped cream cakes topped with beautiful illustrations.

Sep 17, 2012 by Steven
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Anti-Japanese rallies in China continue to escalate as protesters in cities across the country have come out in the thousands, marching in front of diplomatic compounds, attacking Japanese businesses and burning Japanese flags (see photos of the destruction here).

The Chinese government has shown no signs of intervening and the unchecked violence has become a double-edged sword as many of the Japanese businesses vandalized were staffed by local employees and contribute to local tax revenue.

Now it seems the protests have begun to take a toll on human life as well: it was revealed on Sunday that at least one Chinese person was trampled to death in a protest and, even more tragic, another person was critically injured after being attacked for driving a Japanese car.

Sep 16, 2012 by Master Blaster
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The Tokyo Game show always has displays and products guaranteed to shock and amaze video game fans from all over. This year they seem to be leaning more towards the shock with this gourmet experiment.

Remember when you were a kid, you and your friends would put mustard, salt, ketchup, and squished meat into a McDonald’s cup of cola and dared each other to drink it?

This seems to be the concept behind this Soy Milk Curry Ipecac Ramen.

Sep 16, 2012 by Karen Bremer Masuda
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Fall version of pyorin on sale at Nagoya Station.

“Pyorin”, the cutest sweet in Nagoya, is rising in the ranks of local Nagoya specialties. Take the sound a baby chick makes, “piiiii piiiii piiiii” , and the word pudding, or purin in Japanese, put them together with a darling baby chick face in the shape of a pudding-like dessert, and you have pyorin! Read More

The Cakes at Seoul’s Hello Kitty Cafe Are So Cute, You’ll Feel Bad Mutilating the Face of the World’s Most Beloved Cat

Sep 16, 2012 by Michelle
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Just about everyone knows Hello Kitty. The Japanese born cat of Sanrio, with her simple expression and cute little bow, has reached the far corners of the world. Hello Kitty, known as Kitty-chan in Japan, has made appearances on lunch boxes, debit cards, $5,000 necklaces, electric guitars, and even airplanes.

The expressionless white cat’s overwhelming popularity has spread throughout the world, prompting the creation of the Hello Kitty Cafe franchise in South Korea with locations in Seoul, Incheon, and Sinchon. One of our reporters, enamored by the cuteness that Japan’s most famous cat exudes, decided to pay a visit to Hello Kitty Cafe’s Seoul location.

Sep 16, 2012 by Master Blaster
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This weekend Japanese (and other) businesses in China have been the victims of a spate of arson attacks as well as vandalism and looting as anti-Japan protests have escalated to record levels since Japan and China established diplomatic ties in 1972.

Sep 16, 2012 by Philip Kendall
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The word otaku is a tricky one to define. Over the years, it has slowly made its way into western culture– usually used to describe a person who is excessively fond of Japanese animation or comics— and is often listed in modern English dictionaries as something along the lines of “a person obsessed with computers or particular aspects of popular culture”.

In its native Japan, however, the word is used far more broadly, describing a person who is fanatical about or devotes large amounts of time to something. That “something” could be anything from videogame culture to pop idols to hardcore ear-cleaning, and once a person reaches a certain level of obsession with their hobby, it’s far from unusual for them to be labelled as “otaku” by their friends and family. But whatever the object of an otaku’s affection, wade through the stacks of comic books, unplug that goliath gaming rig, put away the Train-Spotter’s Manual and you will discover a regular guy; a regular guy who sometimes thinks about deep things. Even marriage… Read More

Extra, Extra! Your Best Friends are Getting Happy Divorced!

Sep 16, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Have you ever bumped into an acquaintance and asked how their spouse was, only to find out they got divorced a month earlier. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to avoid these social landmines which multiply with the ever growing divorce rate?

Divorce Newspapers have been developed in Japan which allow couples to distribute a report of the demise of their marriage to friends and family quickly and easily. It’s also a way for the newly divorced to save the embarrassment of telling each person individually and helps people to avoid social blunders like above.

Sep 15, 2012 by Michelle
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The grand opening of Aomori prefecture’s first Starbucks location in the Hachinohe area drew quite a crowd. On September 14, 2012, around 100 people waited in line on the first business day of Starbuck Coffee Hachinohe Tamukai.

The store’s interior is typical of most Starbucks locations: big windows let in natural light from outside, funky lamps hang from the ceiling, and wood grain paneling adorns the ceiling and counters. The store is around 1,700 square feet with enough seating for 55 people inside and another 16 on the terrace. There’s even a drive-thru for those who want coffee on the go.

But Starbucks-goers didn’t get all riled up over a mediocre cup of coffee. Oh no, they had their eyes on something even better: Read More

We Catch a Glimpse of the Elusive “Shadow Fuji”

Sep 15, 2012 by Steven
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Back in August, group of our most daring reporters ventured out of Tokyo and into the wilderness to climb Mt. Fuji. Last week, weshared their report of the top 3 meal of Mt. Fuji , but it turns out there was another noteworthy occurrence that day.

At around 6 pm, just as the sun began to set, our heroes gathered their spirits and began the long hike down from the peak of the mountain. As they surveyed the sea of clouds that spread out before them one last time, one of our reporters noticed a dark triangle off in the distance.

The sun setting behind the mountain on one side; a triangular shadow cast over a canopy of clouds on the other side; our reporters were witnessing the fabled “Shadow Fuji!”

Sep 15, 2012 by Michelle
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You, Me, And a Tanuki is a weekly featured blog run by Michelle, a Californian who is currently one of only two foreigners living in Chibu, a tiny fishing village on one of the Oki islands in Japan. Check back every Saturday for a new post or read more on her website here!

The most shocking thing I ate when I first came to Chibu (other than salty fermented squid) was sazae. In Japan, people go nuts over this delicacy. In Tokyo, you have to shell out $3 for a single sazae. In Chibu, they are not only free, they are everywhere you look. Climbing up the side of the docks in the evening, hanging out on the ocean floor while you snorkel; there’s plenty to go around. If you’re wondering what a sazae is, here’s a picture:

Sep 15, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Labeled in English as magic spray: the aroma of flowers but sold in Japan under the name Spray Which Turns Poop Stink Into Floral Armoa, some would argue that the name of this spray is a little too self-explanatory. How it works, on the other hand, is more interesting that you’d expect.

Sep 15, 2012 by Michelle
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China, the manufacturing powerhouse that makes up 20% of the world’s entire population, has seen fierce economic growth for the past ten years. Even the automotive industry, the pride and joy of American manufacturing, has been over taken by China. The following is an examination of the Chinese automotive industry, the changes it is facing, and measures that have been enacted to combat the shrinking domestic auto market.

Sep 14, 2012 by Steven
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Makeup has been known to do some wonderful things and it’s been known to do some terrible things. Whatever your stance on the application of lavish amounts of cosmetics is, there’s no denying that it can do some pretty astounding things to the human visage.

To really appreciate how radical the transformation can be, it helps to look at side-by-side comparisons of people with and without makeup. Or better yet, as the girl above has so graciously demonstrated for the Internet, look at photos of people with half their face painted in makeup and half their face without.

Sep 14, 2012 by Master Blaster
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Sadly these days, we see more and more stories of crimes committed against young children. That’s why reporting anything out of the ordinary can help save lives.

However, on the Hyogo Prefectural Police operated online crime prevention board, “Hyogo Security Net” a suspicious person report was posted that made several people stop and scratch their heads. The police seem to have an APB out on themselves.

Sep 14, 2012 by Steven
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When I was in high school, the TI-82 graphing calculator was the cheater’s tool of choice. At first we would simply store important equations into the “Y=” graphing screen. After teachers caught onto that, we figured out that you could register data to the calculator’s memory and restore it with the push of a button.

I imagine that schools today must be on complete technology lockdown, but where there’s a will there’s a way. Just take a look at this novel, low-tech cheating method devised by one student in China that’s sure to knock you off your feet.

Sep 14, 2012 by Karen Bremer Masuda
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Are you familiar with the Q-pot brand of jewelry? It could get a bit sticky if your tried wearing it on your next night out on the town, but it certainly is attractive, and tasty!

That is because Q-pot Cafe arranges chocolates, cupcakes and macaroons into delightful rings, bracelets, and necklaces! Never before has there ever been such delectable mouth-watering jewelry, something that is served up in the most appealing manner at the Q-pot cafe. Read More

Star Wars Location Spotting in Tunisia: Mos Espa Slave Quarters

Sep 14, 2012 by Steven
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Awhile back, we traveled to the desert planet Tatooine from the Star Wars universe—well, the set of it, at least. Scenes from several of the Star Wars movies were filmed on location in Tunisia and many of the sets and landscapes seen in the movie, such as the port city of Mos Espa and Luke Skywalker’s house, can still be visited today.

This time we’d like to share our travel report of Ksar Hadada, one of three traditional fortified granaries scattered about southern Tunisia that were used in the filming of the Slave Quarters Row of Mos Espa in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.