Cool Products: Monday, June 23, 2008

Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Totoro Wooden Music Box. This is a really special item for Studio Ghibli collectors: a gorgeous wooden music box featuring My Neighbor Totoro that can be used to store you important stuff like jewelry. Plays the beautiful Totoro theme song when you open the lid and then is silent when you close it.
	Indiana Jones Soft Vinyl Figures. We've gotten in those cool soft vinyl figures for collectors of rare Indiana Jones toys from Japan. However most sold out during preorder so stock is limited -- get your set now.
	Million Memo ~ Japanese Note Parody Memo. Instead of a boring notepad, why not write on this awesome Japanese notepad with sheets that look like Japanese 10,000 notes, complete with the image of Yukichi Fukuzawa, one of the founders of modern Japan? Each surface is remarkably similar to the highest bank note in circulation in Japan, so they look quite convincing at first glance. Great fun!
	B's Log June 2008. B's Log is the popular magazine that tracks all the hottest yaoi and "otome" dating-sim games for girls that's filled with great information and images from the hottest games in Japan.
	KERA May 2008 vol. 118. KERA is the magazine of cool street fashion culture that blends goth-loli cosplay culture with everything that's hot in Harajuku this summer. We've got another issue in stock for you to order right now.
	iTunes Japan Music Cards. My own strongest impression of Japan's music scene was the 1990s, when I was learning Japanese by translating the songs that were popular at the time. Here's a cool link (iTunes link) to the best music from the 1990s, from the golden age of Amuro Namie and the Komuro Family to Every Little Thing, B'z, Zard and more. Of course you can buy all the tunes you want with the handy iTunes prepaid cards that we sell, the only way to buy Japan iTunes music without a registered address in Japan.
	New Japanese Snacks Today's new Japanese snacks include a very special Lotte 60th Anniversary Toppo featuring their "Ghana" brand of chocolate, followed by Sakuma Kabosu candies in traditional Japanese citrus flavor and yummy "Zunda" cakes flavored with yummy Edamame, a really nice traditional taste from Japan.
	KY Shiki Nihongo - Japanese Abbreviated Slang Words. There's a class of current Japanese slang words that are made up of English letters that abbreviate odd Japanese words or phrases, and you can learn about them in this useful study guide. The most famous is "KY," which stands for kuuki yomenai meaning literally "can't read the air" (i.e. is socially inept and unable to get subtle nuances around him). If you really want to surprise your Japanese friends with your knowledge of arcane slang, this is the book for you.
	Nintendo DS Study Aids. You can use any Nintendo DS to study Japanese, thanks to the useful kanji practice software available through J-List. In addition to the Kakitori kanji writing set we carry the Anpan Man hiragana learning game software, and my own favorite, a complete electronic dictionary that works great, yet costs much less than competing tools like the Canon Wordtank.
	"TENMARI" Bento Box Sets, More Chopsticks. We've restocked our attractive "TENMARI" bento box sets in blue and red, which come with everything you need and are very affordably priced. Also, see great chopstick + chopstick res sets back in stock.
	Tattoo Girls Design Book vol. 3. We carry a lot of tattoo related products at J-List, and today we have fresh stock of this popular item, featuring samples of the best and boldest tattoos being sported by women in Japan. Gorgeous.
	Japanese Good Luck Charms. See various restocked omamori (traditional Shinto good luck charms) which bring various kinds of luck to you. Use them as keychains, attach to them your backpack or luggage, they all look really cool!
	Bento Accessories. Remember that in addition to our huge line of bento boxes and bento sets, we also carry fun bento accessories, like this Hello Kitty Vegetable Cutter that turns carrots and other good things into Hello Kitty decorations for your bento creation, or onigiri (rice ball) shapers. We have so many fun things from Japan.
	Yoko 1/8 Figure Space Look ver. ~ Gurren Lagann *Preorder*. Got a killer new figure for Gurren Lagann fans coming in soon, which you can preorder now: Yoko, as created by Wave's Dream Tec series. This figure is scheduled to come in in October.
	Restocked Totoro Blankets. You won't be thinking of warm blankets in June, most likely, but you should still consider snapping up one of these deluxe Totoro blankets, which are so soft you'll find yourself pulling it out of the closet every chance you get. These are the last of the 2007 Totoro blankets we'll ever get in. Also, see fresh stock of several Totoro rubber stamps.
	Queen's Blade vol. 18 ~ Allean. Queen's Blade is the red-hot series of artbooks featuring sexy female warriors who do battle with each other, which can also be used as a fun combat RPG. Here's a brand new release for collectors featuring Allean, the elfin warrior who looks great.
	School Days Visual Guidebook. School Days is one of the most excellent eroge and anime series to come along in a while, and this is the no-holds-barred artbook that shows you all the naughty bits that weren't included in the mainstream anime. Loaded with gorgeous visuals to enjoy. Note that this book is already "lot up" (out of print) so you should bag you copy ASAP!
	Hip Parade *Vol. 01* Limited Another ver. Full Set of 12. The Hip Paradise series of "trading torsos" featuring the detailed lower halves of beautiful women wearing delicately frilly underwear. It's certainly one of those weird but fun Japanese products J-List was put on this Earth to sell. Available either in full sets or as random single boxes, which make great joke gifts for friends.
	A Girl of Nose Art 1/7 Figure Illustrated by Shunya Yamashita *Preorder*. Then for fans of the gorgeous creations of Shunya Yamashita, we've posted his Girl of Nose Art figure, inspired by the females painted on the fronts of airplanes during World War II -- but in this case the girl and the airplane have meshed together more amazingly. Preorder this "cast off"-able figure now!
	Zenra Tennis -- Nana. Real tennis star Nana, who has won the Tokyo-wide tennis championship in the past, shows you a great twist on one of the most famous sports in the world, with Zenra Tennis. This red-hot tennis star shows off her moves in good "Zenra" form for you!