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The Recent Phenomenon Of 'Sexy' Japanese Otaku

Date: 2005 April 29 14:40 | Posted By: Ash

Category > Culture

The UK Times newspaper this week carried a two page article of at Bridget-Jones style blogger Artesia, who has written a document of her relationship with an Otaku man which has fascinated the Japanese and has asked serious questions about the conflict between old-world Japanese beliefs and the massive Otaku culture.

Everyone Wants The Totoro House

Date: 2005 April 12 15:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Production > Studio Ghibli

According to the Daily Yomiuri On-Line the Totoro House at the Aichi World Expo 2005 has many local Japanese governments staking their claim to the property.

Many local authorities are keen to get Satsuki's and Mei's 1950's style house from the anime classic Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro) moved to their prefecture, not only will it prove a big hit with locals, but it will surely make a major tourist attraction too. The house is already one of the most popular features at the Expo and has been covered on Otaku News before. The Youmiuri article has more details such as "The wooden house was built using joints, not nails, and the glass used in the windows is not new, as the panes were all salvaged from old buildings."

The Otaku News Crew are currently considering collecting signatures so they'll let us live in it! ^_^

Souce: Daily Yomiuri On-Line

Early Bloomers Distress Japan's Cherry Blossom Fans

Date: 2005 March 31 18:37 | Posted By: Wing

Category > Culture

ABC News Online have reported that cherry blossoms in Japan blooming earlier than predicted by The Japan Meteorological Agency which has lead to people making phone calls to ask when the season will actually begin. Cherry blossoms are an important part of Japanese culture which people take very seriously and millions enjoy cherry blossom viewing parties each year.

Souce: ABC News Online

Travels For The Otaku

Date: 2005 March 26 19:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

Asahi.com have a very interesting article about the Japanese tourist industry and western otaku who are willing to go to all sorts of lengths to go to the home of anime and manga. Tour companies are now featuring things to please hardcore fans with their primary packages and even local governments in Tokyo are keen to promote anime attractions. Studio’s Pierrot and Ghibli are mentioned in the article.

Souce: Asahi.com

Visit Satsuki's and Mei's House

Date: 2005 March 21 17:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

We've been sent details from renowned anime author Helen McCarthy and journalist Ake Sasaki about the World Expo 2005 In Aichi, Japan, it looks like a dreamland for otaku!

For anime fans the highlight has to be Satsuki's and Mei's House, a replica of the house featured in Studio Ghibli's landmark My Neighbour Totoro. Just like the Ghibli Museum, entry to the house is limited to a set number of special ticket holders each day. Expo attendees must enter a lottery in advance to win the privilege of entering the house. As a result some lucky winners have taken to auctioning their tickets on-line, currently the free tickets are going for around $100 USD.

Kimono Wearers Get Free Transport

Date: 2005 March 10 16:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Following on from our earlier story about the kimono making a come back, the Otaku News crew have discovered a rather creative ploy by Kyoto City, who are offering free public transport and free entry to selected tourist attractions for an 11 day period to anyone wearing a kimono! This appears to be a bid to get more people dressing in traditional clothes in the historic city.

BBC News have more details on this story and highlight that Kyoto is an important centre for the textlie industry. Attractions offering free entry include Nijo Castle, Kyoto Tower and some museums.

Souce: BBC News

Geisha Photo Journal

Date: 2005 February 27 12:44 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

BBC News have published an interesting Photo Journal on one of the icons of Japan, the Geisha. The article in question focuses on Kimina a 23 year old geiko who works in Kyoto.

Souce: BBC News

Kimono Makes A Come Back

Date: 2005 February 22 16:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

According to Japan Today some traditions just can't be beaten, and it appears that the kimono is making a come back in Japan, with kimono lovers regularly gathering at Ginza (Tokyo's luxury shopping district), to share their joy of Japanese clothes.

Apparently kimonos have almost disappeared from normal life because they are seen as impractical and expensive when compared to western style clothes. Fans of kimonos enjoy feeling relaxed, different and enjoy expressing their individuality through their outfits.

Souce: Japan Today

Bondi Nami Hits London's Barbican Screen

Date: 2005 February 21 16:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

We've just got details in about the London Australian Film Festival screening of Bondi Nami, what's that you cry? Otaku News is supposed to be "News For Fans Of Japan", not "News For Fans of Down Under", well the more clever otaku readers (which is about 99% of our readers) will know that this film is being marketed as "The first Japanese Road Movie in Australia". So if you're in London or can get there, get down to the Barbican Cinema Centre for 9pm Saturday 5th March.

Sapporo Snow Festival 2005

Date: 2005 February 15 17:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Art

The Mainichi Daily News have some truly fantastic pictures from the 56th Sapporo Snow Festival. Which ran from February 7th to 13th.

The winner this year is the Canadian team who made a carving called Holding Back the Wilderness, featuring a Mountie holding back a bear.

The Otaku News Crew are already looking at how to make these in order to make a carvings of Elfie, Tima and Miyuki at next years event.

Souce: Mainichi Daily News

Shogun: The Life of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu

Date: 2005 February 10 11:52 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Since our readership pride themselves on being cultured, I'm sure you'd be interested to know about a major Japanese Exhibition held at The Royal Armouries. Their summer 2005 exhibition will be Shogun: The Life of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu. British otaku better head over to Leeds sometime this year!

Dancing Robots Save Japanese Culture

Date: 2005 January 18 17:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Technology > Robotics

In a story that sounds more like an episode from a comedy anime series, several news websites are covering the details about a robot that has been programmed to record and then replay traditional Japanese dance. The clever researchers at the University of Tokyo are using this to preserve Japanese heritage, since fewer people are learning traditional Japanese dance and now only see it at local festivals.

The robot used for this project was the Humanoid Robot HRP-2 "Promet", from Kawada Industries, our mecha-head readers will already know that this was designed by Yutaka Izubuchi, who has design credits for many mecha in anime series.

The Otaku News Crew wonder if these robots can also play Dance Dance Revolution?!

Souce: Robots.net

Japonisme - Cultural Crossings between Japan and the West

Date: 2005 January 07 15:02 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Phaidon Press have sent us details of a new book they are publishing - Japonisme: Cultural Crossings between Japan and the West, by Lionel Lambourne. It focuses on the history of Japanese of the West's extraordinary love affair with Japan. It's due out in May and sounds like an interesting read.

Japan Advised To Promote Gross National Cool

Date: 2004 December 14 15:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

In a rather amusing news story covered by the AFP on Yahoo! News, experts advised the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to promote "Gross National Cool" as a tool of foreign policy! The experts from the Japan Forum on International Relations believe that Japan's full range of admired cultural resources ranging from the Japanese sense of beauty, to today's movies and anime should be used to promote Japanese interests abroad.

Spirited Away's Oscar win gets a mention, as does the crisis in Japan's education system with students slipping in international league tables. What's also interesting is the fact that South Korean drama Winter Sonata has generated 1.1 billion dollars in revenue for South Korea due to increased Tourism, Otaku News has already covered a story on Bae Yong-Jun the popular actor from the show.

Souce: Yahoo! News

Goodbye Godzilla

Date: 2004 December 12 18:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Scotland on Sunday have a write up entitled Godzilla takes final bow, which reports on everyone's favourite rubbersuited monster's final feature film.

Souce: Scotland on Sunday

Densha Otoko (Trainman) Japanese Best Seller

Date: 2004 November 25 18:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

Here at Otaku News we know that our readers are cultured and intelligent individuals, which is why you've probably already heard about Densha Otoko (Trainman) a new Japanese best seller, based on a series of bulletin board posts board after the protagonist, a young Japanese man "Trainman" rescues a woman "Miss Hermes" from a pushy drunk on the train.

The collection of e-mails and bulletin board postings with emoticons, slang forms and such forms the book which spans over 360 pages. The story is more of an on-line diary where Trainman asks for and receives advice from fellow geeks on how to approach "Miss Hermes". Densha Otoko has sold over 260,000 copies in three weeks.

The Japan Times Online and ZDNet UK both have good write ups on the book and the internet culture surrounding it. Following on from bottom pinching perverts it's certainly nice to hear that there are still heroes on the trains!

Souce: The Japan Times On-line

Daily Yomiuri Roundup

Date: 2004 October 28 16:24 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

With all the Japanese news currently focusing on the aftermath of the earthquake that hit the Niigata prefecture, I thought it would be nice to cover some more positive things (there's nothing like escaping from reality).

It's about time some of you have a look at The Daily Yomiuri Website, they are running some nice stories about the following:

- A Russian diplomat who has written a book about a Sumo Wrestling.
- National Science Museum in Tokyo has lots of displays for foreigners.
- An Interesting Story about English as a Foreign Language

Also for the more enlightened otaku, have you ever wondered what a Japanese fish market looks like? The Yomiuri Website has lovely photos of every day Japanese life if you have the time to browse.

For the artist in you the newspaper have started to accept entries to their International Cartoon Contest.

Souce: Daily Yomiuri

Samurai History Papers - Quarterly Newsletter

Date: 2004 October 16 16:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

We've just got details in from Ridgeback Press, apparently they will be launching Samurai History Papers, a quarterly newsletter from Romulus Hillsborough (whose research on the history of the Meiji Restoration spans over twenty years). It focuses on the facts behind many samurai anime series, such as the Shinsengumi (central to Peacemaker Kurogane and Rurouni Kenshin).

Wrong About Japan

Date: 2004 October 10 09:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

The Scotsman.com has an interesting article about Peter Carey's new book Wrong About Japan, the article covers lots of ground including how different generations perceive Japan (Shinto Shrines, Tea Ceremonies Kabuki and video games, neon lights etc...).

Souce: The Scotsman.com

V&A Exhibit - Encounters: The Meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800

Date: 2004 October 03 16:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

I've just found out that the Victoria and Albert Museum in London are running an Exhibition called Encounters: The Meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800. It will have some great Japanese items, including:

- a six panel gold leafed paper screen
- an elaborate painting with gold on silk
- armour from the shogun Tokugawa Hidetada
- a Portable Christian Altar
- Two Dutchmen and two courtesans Hanging scroll
- Food Box (surely they mean bento box?)

Many items are being shown for the first time, so we recommend a visit.

Japanese Swords in the British Museum

Date: 2004 September 26 17:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Fans of sharp pointy things will want to pay a visit to the British Museum in London, from 30th September 2004 until 17th February 2005 they have the "Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum" exhibition, which focuses on history of swords in Japan, including Koto (old swords), Shinto (new swords) and Shinshinto (new-new Swords). The British Museum is always a great place to visit, so we suggest you visit this exhibition while you can, especially since Japanese swords are really works of art.

For a more details visit the British Museum's Department of Asia Exhibitions page.

Souce: British Museum - Department of Asia Exhibitions

Japanese Films at The 12th Raindance Festival

Date: 2004 September 26 17:16 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

London cinema otaku as always are in for a treat with the 12th Raindance Film Festival, which is dedicated to fostering and promoting independent film in the UK and around the world. For fans of Japan, check out their Way Out East strand, they'll be showing films like:

- After The Apocalypse
- Antenna
- Arakey
- Dead End Run
- Doppelganger
- Lunch Box
- Marebito
- Ramblers

If South Korean flicks are more your thing, check out Arahan and Oldboy. If you're into Chinese gothic shockers then go for Night Corridor.

Souce: Raindance Film Festival

Akita Kanto performance at the Thames Festival

Date: 2004 September 11 17:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London otaku better get themselves to the the Thames Festival which "closes busy streets and transforms the river, parks and open spaces with a rich programme of new creative commissions, a riverside bazaar and night market, family oriented activities, street theatre, music, and more."

This year artistes balancing Kanto poles will be demonstraiting their skills in London while accompanied by traditional Japanese music of the taiko drum, bamboo flute and bell. On the 18th September they will be supported by taiko drummers from Gyosei International College.

Learn Japanese by Reading Manga

Date: 2004 August 28 10:21 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

Washington Otaku will be pleased to know that the Japanese Language Center will be running a course that focuses on learning Japanese by reading manga!

10th Anniversary Origami Tanteidan International Convention

Date: 2004 August 23 16:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

The good folks at Slashdot have highlighted an Origami Convention at Toyo University in Japan.

Check out the Guardian article, Joseph Wu's site, and also previous convention photos.

Souce: Slashdot

Actor Bae Yong-jun forth most talked about product in Japan

Date: 2004 August 05 17:22 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

According to a recent survey by advertising firm Denstu, Korean actor Bae Yong-jun is the forth most talked about product in Japan. He was beaten by Athens Olympic and DVD recorders (both sharing the number one slot), with Kansu health food products in third.

Souce: Digital Chosunilbo

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