Shopping
Deciphering Japanese brand names: Rubetta
Vegetarian in Japan
Calling all vegans and those thinking about taking the plunge! The Spinshell Report has posted an informative video on organic supermarkets, restaurants, support groups and best-selling books on things vegan in Tokyo.
Check it out here:
Hairfish and Kimonos
Hairfish posted some nice shots of her and some friends wearing kimonos at a Japanese garden. You can view the pictures, taken with a DS, here.
You can also view other pictures of temples and shrines on the Hairfish Blog here.
BTW, my new shipment of Kimono Girl oil-blotting paper made exclusively in Kanazawa, Japan has arrived. You can view product information and place an order here. The 963 Group, LLC ships worldwide!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Japanese Language in the Age of English
A very interesting post on the fate of the Japanese language!
[1] The Fall of the Japanese Language in the Age of English [ja], the latest book by Japanese novelist and essayist [2] Minae Mizumura [????] [en], roused debate among many Japanese bloggers recently over the fate of their national language. In this essay, the writer, who had the opportunity to live and receive an education both in Japan and in the U.S., examines the role and future of the Japanese language. Mizumura contextualizes her discussion of this language, used for centuries by many literates and intellectuals to produce works of great literary value, in a modern age in which English is invading all fields of knowledge, to the point of becoming a universal written language used by everyone across the world to communicate.
The first blogger who wrote about the book in enthusiastic terms was [3] Mochio Umeda, who expresses his hope that the work becomes the basis for any future debate over the relationship between English and Japanese. At his blog [4] My Life Between Silicon Valley and Japan, Umeda-san writes:
Every Japanese person should read this book now. Maybe “every [person]” is an exaggeration, but what I mean to say is every person who wishes to produce something intellectual, every secondary, high school, graduate or postgraduate student (no matter their specialization), and also people who are thinking of expressing their thoughts in the future through the use of language, and finally people involved in education and parents with children. These people should absolutely read [this book]. (さらに…)
SoftBank unveils 1-Seg TV tuner for iPhone
Addressing a widely-publicized feature omission for Japanese iPhone users, local carrier Softbank on Thursday announced plans to begin selling a TV Tuner add-on later this year that will also serve as an extended battery pack.
Expected to retail for around US$100 when it goes on sale in mid-December, the rechargeable brick-like receiver will include an internal Wi-Fi module and external antenna for tuning into the One-Seg (or 1seg) mobile terrestrial broadcasting service available in Japan and parts of Brazil.
The device will deliver the One-Seg signal to iPhones via Wi-Fi through a specialized application that will be made available on the App Store free of charge. This frees users to place the receiver in their purse or pocket. Alternatively, the gadget can be connected to iPhones via the dock connector, where it can then serve as an secondary iPhone battery.
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Pepsi White
Thirsty? This in from Brent at Konbini Life. Not sure if I would buy a bottle but interesting none the less!
“So I’m walking by the soda section, and frankly this bottle is pretty hard to miss, so at the very least I have to give the design team props. ‘Pepsi & Yogurt’?! WTF?!?
Usually I don’t have to put much thought into what something tastes like, but this one I mulled over for a good 30 minutes. Eventually I came up with an answer: Girl’s Body Lotion. The split second it hits your lips you think to yourself ‘this is good!’ but you give up that thought as soon as you start drinking it. Kind of the same way you’d rather lick a girl with said lotion than eat her.
It smells sweet and if you can find a girl who will let you pour this on her so you can lick it off of her neck or belly, by all means buy a bottle. If you happen to own World of Warcraft, this ain’t gonna get you throught the night.
Price: 147yen. Store: 7-11.”
Be sure to check out Konbini Life to see what tricks and treats are offered!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Cell phones used to assist indecisive Japanese shoppers
So, you’re a Japanese consumer and you’re thinking of buying a new outfit online, or you’re wondering how you might look with the latest trendy hairstyle, but you can’t decide which look is right for you. Well, worry no more.
If you’re an owner of a KDDI au cell phone, you can now use their EZ MY STYLING feature to snap a photo of yourself and composite it with various hair styles and fashion items. And if you want to get that haircut or buy those clothes, well the au partner companies that provide the images will be more than happy to assist you.
The technology was developed by the same folks who powered the Schick Japan Hige-Chen website we wrote about back in February.
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Clam Magazine interviews Black Tokyo’s Zurui
Posted on 10月 22, 2008. Filed under: Black Resources, BLACK TOKYO NEWS, Commentary, Culture & Society, Fashion, LIFE IN JAPAN, Music & entertainment, Shopping | タグ: black tokyo, CLAM, design, Fashion, music, zurui |
Founded by film producer Andy Okoroafor,CLAM is a unisex magazine whose goal is to promote creativity, concepts and ideas in fashion, architecture, music, design, the arts, free-time, travels and African design…. these different themes are approached in two main areas: Lifestyle and Trends.
Each subject is part of an original and conceptual artistic direction. The concepts are presented through the expression of the artists and creators coming from very different horizons.
The place accorded to the image is central: she wants to be unusual, so as to create constant surprise for the viewer.
Experimentation is one of the characteristics of CLAM which explains its layout: always changing, never fixed. Clam wants to encourage creative reflexion.The presentation is based on ideas and not the seasons.
This concept confers to the magazine a collector’s status.
In the interview, Zurui discusses his background, life in Japan as a US Marine, expat worker, actor; and of course, the Black Tokyo website. You can purchase CLAM online or in: Paris, France; Italy, Sweden, Hong Kong, Japan, the U.K. and in the USA.
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