Election comparisons in Japan and California, Marie Antoinette's anime connection, and wow, a dollar buys so much!

It certainly is nice to be back home in San Diego for a brief vacation in between anime conventions, and it gives me a chance to compare the U.S. with life in my adopted country. Whenever it's election time in Japan, I usually do a post about how strange the country's democratic processes can seem to a foreigner -- candidates in loudspeaker cars, driving all around the city shouting "I will work hard for you!" and "Thank you for your support!" to the great annoyance of everyone, although this somehow manages to get them votes. California's primary elections are next week, so I'm getting a rare chance to experience the current trends in America's electoral system, and it's nearly as annoying. All week long we've been getting phone calls from very important people like Newt Gingrich, John Kerry and Gov. Schwarzenegger, telling us about important issues that we should be aware of for next Tuesday. The voices are just recordings, of course, although it's nice to imagine that we're important enough for all these famous politicians to call us and give us their opinions...

A wise gaijin once said, you've been in Japan too long when, on a visit home, you say "Wow, a dollar buys so much!" and are surprised to find everyone looking at you funny. I'm kind of having that experience now. Last night I went to Vons to get some beer, limes and various munchies -- I threw in some celery since it's very hard to get in Japan -- and proceeded to the cash register. A similar purchase back home would probably set me back 3000-4000 yen, so I pulled out two $20 bills, expecting it to cost about the same, but I was pleasantly surprised when the total came to under $15. Everything is relative, of course, but it's nice to be able to feel that things are priced moderately for a change.

It's always nice to check out what movies are showing here in the States as well, since, by and large, it will take 6-9 months for most of them to be released in Japan, except for some blockbusters that get distributed everywhere at the same time. I see that Lost in Translation creator Sofia Coppola (who played one of the handmaids to Queen Amidala in Star Wars Episode I, amazingly) had a new film at Cannes portraying the life of Maria Antoinette as a young girl. I immediately wondered if Sofia, who has had a lot to do with Japan during her life, might not have gotten some of her ideas for the film from the animation masterpiece The Rose of Versailles. One of the great classics of Japanese animation from the 1970s, it follows the history of the French Revolution as seen through the eyes of Oscar, one of the Palace Guards safeguarding the young Austrian queen. Oscar is a woman who was raised by her father as a boy since birth, and she is the bravest soldier in France. The bubbly character of young Marie from the anime series seems similar to the one portrayed in the new film, and it'd be interesting to know if Sofia Coppola is a closet fan of the anime series.

Here are today's "really cool products" that I thought were especially noteworthy. Note: the J-List links below may be for adult products and should probably be considered "not safe for work." To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	More and More -- Natsumi Yoshioka A nice Meganekko (Glasses Girl) offering for you.
	Modeloid vol.3 Spring 2006 This is quite cool -- a "not safe for work" collection of balls-rad anime figures, some of them them eye-poppingly beautiful.
	Female Emperor of Japan -- Ray Itoh Japan is currently in a crisis of succession, with no male Imperial heir. Should the country have its first female Emperor (Empress, whatever) in over a millenia? Commenting on this subject is Ray Itoh, who performs an, er, "naughty" impression of the Empress of Japan.
	Otonatsume -- Natsume Sano Another nice photobook from Japan, featuring Natsume Sano.
	Japanese Folk Tales 1 ~ Eigo de Yomu Nihon Mukashibanahi Book 1 Learn about Japan through its old tales, in English and Japanese.
	J -- Ourei Harada Ourei Harada is the new honey of J-List, and we've got her new DVD release.
	Kitty Chirimen Tapestry -- Yellow These are cool -- "tapestries" that feature plush Hello Kitty in very Japanese settings. Kawaii?
	Soryu Asuka Real Action Heroes -- Evangelion ~ Medicom Toy A *great* figure of Asuka, made by Medicom Toy. They're not just doing Kubrick toys anymore.
	"Yamakane" Sake Brand T-Shirt ~ M Size -- Navy A new T-shirt featuring a cool "sake brand" logo from real sake bottles in Japan.
	Shitamachi Madonna Shokudou 3 ~ Downtown Madonna Cafeteria 3 New ero manga, very nice artwork and themes.
	Square Tatami Sandals ~ L-Size -- Geometry Hanao We have more tatami sandals, which are very nice and feel like you're walking on tatami mats as you stroll down the street.
	Musubi Bumi *Nagakaku Type* Bento Box -- Square Type ~ Tied Letter New bento box, too. This is very well put together and stylish.
	Kiki's Delivery Service 80 Pieces Jigsaw Puzzle w/ Frame Another Ghibli puzzle, featuring a frame that's almost as cool as the puzzle. You can use the frame for pictures of your loved ones, too.
	Kafun Nodo Ame -- Pollen Allergy Remedy ~ Ume Flavor Nodo Ame (Throat Candy) that help relieve pollen -- bring it on!

Way late, I know. But here are some pictures from the show in San Jose. Here is brand new J-List Mobile, a replacement for the also brand-new trailer that was so dishonorably stolen from our parking log a couple months ago.

Do you like our logo? On the other side, the rivets are accidentally placed in, er, an embarrassing place.

Pics from the con. This is Tatsuya Uesugi from Touch, a great costume that, sadly, fewer people will probably get than my Beru-Bara reference above. But Touch is the shit, man.

It's an anime show, there must be Stormtroopers present.

This guy was getting Glomped, but good.

Nice Sakura from Tsubasa Chroniclr.

A picture of Black Jack, and two smart-ass friends of mine in the background.

Ah, anime conventions are so much fun.

I really liked the video game corner. I tried my hand at the drum game, since I've played it and I live in Japan and all. 13 year old girl handed my ass to me, I was so embarrassed.