The origins of Japan's cult of "studying," more warm weather for Tokyo, and the latest in Otaku Culture from Japan

Japan is a very seasonal place, with specific things done only during the appropriate times of year. August is when you wear a yukata (cotton kimono) and hit the summer festivals, and if you want to enjoy tsukimi or sitting outdoors and taking in the beauty of the full moon, October is the time for that. Right now it's "desk season," when furniture retailers throughout Japan display high-quality study desks for the new crop of first graders who start school in April. Japan is very much a meritocracy, and the way to get ahead in life is benkyo (studying), and so kids are taught from a very early age that hitting the books is a good way to show your thanks to your parents for bringing you into the world. The desks themselves are really very well designed, made of higher quality wood than the desk I have at J-List, featuring built-in bright lights for reading and many small drawers for kids to organize their study materials. They're also designed to grow with the user, with cute plastic mats with anime character art that can be removed when the child gets older. Buying a study desk is event in every child's school life, and it's a cold-hearted parent or grandparent who can resist buying the best for little Taro or Hanako. Is $700 a lot for a study desk for a first grader? I've lived in Japan so long I'm really not sure.

Speaking of seasons, Japan's warmest winter in living memory continues, with many a balmy afternoon -- I was even able to put the top down on my Miata a few times last month, usually unthinkable in February. It's been so warm that the kaika or first blooming of the sakura trees, which is reported on as a point of national pride by the news media here, happened a full month earlier than usual. Except for the strong winds called kara-kaze that blow down from the Japan Alps every few days -- which sound so similar to the F/A-18 jets that race over our house in San Diego from the former "Top Gun" airbase that I sometimes forget whether I'm in Japan or the States -- it's been really turn-off-the-computer-and-go-play-catch-with-my-son weather. As Japan's general fascination with otaku culture continues to grow, one word you hear a lot is Akiba-kei, which literally means "related to Akihabara," the region of Tokyo traditionally known for its electronics stores but increasingly coming to serve as a center for anime, manga and cosplay culture. There are dozens of "Maid Cafe" establishments where you can go and have cake and coffee served to you by a beautiful girl in a maid outfit, and this category is always morphing into sub-genres, such as Imoto Cafe where all the girls pretend to be your younger sister and call you Oniichan, and Tsundere Cafe where the girls act like stereotypical bitchy-but-cute characters found in most every anime series these days. The latest potential boom in Akihabara might be the Mimikaki Cafe, where a beautiful woman will lay your weary head on her lap and spend thirty minutes with a traditional bamboo ear pick, gently scraping the ear wax out and taking all your cares away. If you're not lucky enough to be in the Akihabara area this week, we've got some substitutes available at J-List that might help you experience this fun side of Japan. J-List carries PC dating-sim games, fun anime games, all carefully translated into English and compatible with English Windows computers, with stories for all tastes and genres. Today we're happy to announce that the latest title from Hirameki International, Pieces of Wonder, is in stock and shipping. A bold and interesting game in which you must guide three girls -- Amane, Syouko and Taki -- as they battle an alien race intent on taking over our world. A great RPG+ADV with real combat as well as adventures to resolve with each of the girls. Get it now! This month's Japanese adult video actress is the delicious Arisa Kanno, the elegant and stylish actress performing exclusively with Soft on Demand and their related companies. Arisa-chan was born December 9, 1984, in Tokyo. She's 160 (5'2"), and her "three sizes" are 82 (B), 56 (W) and 82 (H), making for a fabulous hourglass shape that's incidentally called kubire (koo-BI-reh) in Japanese. Her hobbies are running and playing volleyball, her favorite type of man is the strong, self-confident type, and her dream is to run in the Honolulu Marathon someday and study abroad in America. Also, we've picked the new "H-Game of the Month" and it's a really fun title, Gibo: Stepmother's Sin, a dark exploration of some great themes from Guilty and Peach Princess. You grew up a happy boy, until the day you came home and found your mother in the arms of a man who wasn't your father. Her unfaithfulness destroyed your happy home, and now you are mistrustful of the very word "mother." But one day your father announces that he's getting remarried, but instead of being old, your new stepmother is young and beautiful. How will you test her to see if she's any different from the rest? Available this month only at a special price! 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" (a yes/no verification screen will be displayed to filter products from our mature site).Hi, unfortunately we don't sell the from-Japan items wholesale at all. Japan is a great place, but it's not very flexible when it comes to the flow of goods, and there's no way we could sell these items in such a way that would be profitable for you or for us. Products can usually be ordered once, and never reordered. Discounts are terrible, and don't get better by buying more product. Shipping is difficult, to say the least. I do hope we can serve you at our PCR Distributing website, which is 100% wholesale. Check out PCR at http://www.pcrdist.com To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Bejean + DVD vol. 156 Oct 2006. New issue of Bejean, the most beautiful magazine of nude photography from Japan.
	The Kiichi no Nuri-e Book Kimono Ver.. More coloring books for grown-ups on the site. Man, this is such a popular category at J-List.
	Egg Feb 2007 vol. 124. New issue of Egg is on the site, great for following kogal fashion culture.
	Love Letter ~ Koibumi -- Aya Kiguchi. Truly beautiful photography in this new offering from Aya Kiguchi.
	Piece of Wonder. New bishoujo game, alright! This is one I've been wanting to play myself. A great game for all ages.
	You are Suffocated by Unknown Big Boobs ~ Chi Chi Kano. An ero manga that you won't soon forget, I can promise you.
	Japan's Cultural Code Words. I have to say, Boye Lafayette De Mente is da man. Came to Japan in 1947 and has written dozens of amazing books that I love to read. We've just gotten in two new ones.
	MIni Furikake Assortmant Packs *10 Packs. Cute furikake for your bento or dinner.
	Hello Kitty Letter Case Set. Hello Kitty fans, this is an origami and letter case set, so cute!
	Sakura Bento Bag and Box Set. New bento box set, with sakura themes. Comes with bento box, chopsticks and very nice bag!
	DX Kiki's Delivery Service Phone Strap ~ Jiji. We've gotten in some rare straps that have limited stock (just one of each), so snare them if you are in the market for a very nice phone strap.
	Knyacki Pink Keychain Mascot. Not sure what this is -- it started out as a child's anime without any words and have really exploded in Japan.
	Oreo Chocolate Snack. Delicious Oreo snack from Japan, mmm.
	Chelsea -- Green Tea Milk. Wow, I have to try some of these! Green Tea Butterscotch, something that could only come from Japan!
	TAKE ON ME. One of the top selling ero manga in recent history, back in stock today.
	Traditional Keychain -- Jitte *Goyou*. Super cool miniature ninja weapon for your keychain.
	Sushi Light Keychain -- Ebi ~ Shrimp. My favorite sushi, re-imagined as an LED light.
	Japanese Bamboo Ear Pick - Mimikaki. If you're interested in getting you ears cleaned in traditional Japanese fashion, this is what you need. And if you don't have the girlfriend, we've got that in stock, too.

Moseying around the kids' desks while shopping for a new chair for myself. A cute little girl came up to me and said "Hello!" then ran back to her parents. This desk is for little fans of One Piece.

Here's a Super Mario desk for studious gamers.

This being Japan, there's silly English all over the place.

When my son was smaller, he was a Mushi King type, definitely. In case you don't know it, all Japanese kids just love beetles of all types.

What, want more maid pictures? Here's the welcoming lap of a woman about to clean your ears.

The tools she will use. If you don't know about Japan's incredible mimikaki, you're missing out.

Wow, she's really all set up to get your ears really clean.

Um, a maid with a gun. It's just an air gun, but the image is still surprising.