Space Battleship Yamato 2010 Film Review

Over the weekend I did my duty as a Japan blogger and went to see the Space Battleship Yamato live action movie, and it was definitely an enjoyable experience. A big budget remake of the classic anime of my youth about humans traveling in a reconstructed Japanese battleship to a distant star, the movie succeeded at bringing the story to the big screen without losing its soul, unlike certain Hollywood anime crossovers I could name. The themes of the classic show were updated nicely, including Gamilas and Iscandar being changed into two sides of the same planet, and the Gamilas aliens are now actually aliens. The writers were smart enough to take cues from the second season of Yamato (the Comet Empire), which was loved by many fans. It's easy to see new influences that have crept in, including the "Battlestar Galactica" look and feel of the ship, and the formerly demure Yuki (Nova) being updated into a rough fighter pilot, ala Starbuck. The producers apparently had a crush on the movie Armageddon, too, and the closing theme of the film is sung by the vocalist of Areosmith. (I didn't even know he was an anime fan.) I have many fond memories of having to stay home from school with the measles and passing the time watching Star Blazers while drawing flip-book animation on every notepad in the house, and I was really happy to be able to enjoy Yamato in a new way.

The new Yamato film was great.

Random Nihongo

In my Twitter feed I post various things, including new items added to the J-List site, random anime pictures I've come across on the interwebs, and so on. I also occasionally post "random nihongo" tweets explaining Japanese words that have popped into my head like, "Did you know the kara in karate is the same as the one in karaoke?" (The first means "empty hand" and the second "empty orchestra.") I consider it J-List's mission to increase understanding between Japan and the rest of the world as much as we can, which is why we sell so many Japanese study materials for learners of all levels. Here are three phrases that you come across quite often when watching anime and which you can possibly use with Japanese people you know. The first is yappari (ya-PAH-ree), and it's used to reaffirm an opinion or indicate you've changed your mind about something. Yappari, ramen wo tabemasho "On second thought, I'll eat ramen" or yappari, gaijin wa se ga takai "Just as I always heard, foreigners are tall." Then there's sasuga, a way to praise someone for meeting your expectations. Sasuga Takeshi, biiru wo motte kita "Good old Takeshi, he brought beer [again as usual]." You can also just say sasuga! to mean something like, "I knew we could depend on you!" Finally there's naruhodo which just means "I see, thanks for enlightening me" and is used when you receive a bit of useful information.

The Genki Japanese textbook line is our most popular nihongo study tool.

Totoro Product Update @ J-List

Christmas is Totoro time for J-List, and we're stocked to the gills with hundreds of outstanding Totoro and Ghibli products from Japan. There are so many great items in our warehouse it can be difficult to select some to recommend, but we think the soft Totoro blankets we restocked today are superb, and my family treasures the ones I've given them for Christmas in the past. We have great Totoro T-shirts and hoodies which we love, and there are cool items like the Totoro Cuckoo clock and giant Totoro plush toys. Order now and we'll rush your order out to you!

Studying Internet memes in Japan and the World

I write a lot about the different memes that come along in Japan, and how they interact with the Internet at large. A meme (rhymes with "cream") is a unit of cultural knowledge -- an image, catchphrase, visual joke, silly Internet video, what have you -- that's passed from one person to another like a virus, and in the connected world of the Internet they can easily take on a life of their own. If you've ever seen fan art of two anime girls eating both ends of a Pocky stick, that's the "Pocky Game" meme, and when a character in Strawberry Marshmallow made a strange close-up face that amused fans, the "Gununu" meme was born. While the Internet has allowed us to create an amazing continuum of shared popular culture, there are some limitations on which ideas will be accepted by which groups. Internet memes that are easy for all to understand, videos featuring anime characters dancing, and anything with cats will be loved by all, but memes tied to language are more difficult. Certain lines from the Gundam series are quoted as often by Japanese fans as Star Wars is for my generation, but you won't find English-speaking Gundam fans saying Char! Hakatta na! ("Char, you double-crossed me!") or Naguta ne! Oyaji ni datte butareta koto nai no ni ("You hit me! Even my father never hit me!") because they're not generally part of the zeitgeist for them. Likely, Japanese are ignorant of the "Over 9000!" joke from Dragonball Z or the subtle humor of "People die if they are killed." Of course, some memes are so silly no one can resist them...

It's funny to analyze memes in Japan and around the world.

Cool Products Monday, December 6, 2010

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.

	One Piece Poster Calendar 2011 Want to make a splash in the pirate waters of your wall adornment world? Look no further than the colorful and vivid Once Piece wall calendar for the coming 2011 year! An epic illustration of the full cast with easy access to all 12 months beneath, you'll get a special bonus "WANTED" poster free, too. A great gift for the One Piece fan in your life! View products »
	One Piece Recording DenDen Mushi Straps More One Piece goodness comes in the form of these audio recording capable "Den Den Mushi" straps from the show. A handy unique accessory look!
	One Piece Tony Tony Chopper Cushion + Blankets Here's a unique idea - a blanket that can fold and tuck into itself to form a pillow! Pick either Tony Chopper or Skull Flag versions from One Piece.
	Haruhi Complete Collection (Blu-ray Disc) "Epic" gets overused a lot when talking about Haruhi, but not in this case. All episodes of both seasons, fantastic quality, and English sub/dub!
	Project DIVA ~ Miku Hatsune (Blu-ray Disc) Virtual idol Miku Hatsune live in concert. A fantastic experience in full 1080p on Blu-Ray. Restocked today!
	Monster Hunter Airu Stereo Headphone Get your Monster Hunter groove on with these stylish headphones styled after the cute game mascot cat-creature Airu. Great earthy color and great sound!
	Japan iTunes Cards  Spotted at the iTunes Japan store, a new single by Macross Frontier singer May'n, the newest release by Miku Hatsune, and the 2nd K-On song collections.
	Fun Hello Kitty Products for You The wide array of Hello Kitty toys and accessories made by the designers at Japan's Sanrio company is truly a delight! From Kitty-themed fax machines and cell phones to restaurant play sets and even a dresser you can do your makeup at, plus plenty of bento boxes and related items -- all the best Kitty gear for yourself or that little girl (or girl at heart) you know is right here. View products »
	Restocked Hello Kitty Items, too Awesome chirimen pouches for holding your stuff, the Hello Kitty die-cut mug cup, pancake maker, room deodorizer, and more.
	More Hello Kitty Fun Stuff We have tons of Hello Kitty bento and kitchen items, too, including this great furikake bottle, onigiri shapers, and many more items.
	Kawaii Long Sleeve Rabbit Onepiece Check out this super cute dress/jumper in black and pink with a rabbit-eared hood, all in one piece for a cozy-sexy and uniquely Japanese fashion look.
	Anime Cosplay Products Restocked See more cosplay items on the site, including super-cute PE uniform (called buruma or "bloomers" in Japanese), K-On! school uniforms and more.
	Japanese T-Shirt - 'Giga Pudding' Pudi pudi pudi Giga Pudding! Our newest shirt is a hit, and we're announcing a 2XL size for, um, customers who eat too much Giga Pudding. Pudi pudi pudi...
	Sci-fi Revoltech No.010 Woody ~ Toy Story This "Woody" action figure has made a splash on image boards using his distinctive face in amusing and unintended ways. Now you can make your own!
	Cho Kousou Building 3 ~ Skyscrapers 3 The Japanese fascination with skyscrapers extends to Dubai, in this amazing photobook exploration of the world's tallest structures.
	Anime Magazines with Free Stuff For You J-List carries awesome anime, fashion and other magazines that give you free omake stuff in each issue. Revolving subscriptions, too!
	Moe Moe Encyclopedia, How To Draw Manga Learn about the wonders of the world moe style in these topical tomes of bishoujo fanservice, and learn to draw manga from the pros too!
	Santa and Snowman Christmas Pens The stationery makers of Japan love holidays as much as we do, and celebrate them with these great winter-themed pens. Great stocking stuffers!
	Restocked Japanese Pens, Scissors Too Also, fresh stock of those epic Pen Type Compact Scissors, plus Zebra Sarasa, the only pen the J-List staff will use, Pilot Erasable Pen and more.
	Even More Totoro Soft Blankets If you love Totoro, we've got a treat for you: more fabulous Totoro blankets, new for the 2010 winter season, have been posted to the site. Whether you're looking for an awesome small lap blanket for yourself or to use with a baby or a full sized blanket for maximum warming, click to view the new items. View products »
	Restocked Hanten Kimonos I beat the cold in the winter by wearing a hanten just like this. The LL sized short kimonos have been restocked today!
	Rilakkuma 'Yutanpo' Bed Warmer, More The cutest bear around will warm up your bed on chilly winter nights with this great plush cover for a 'tanpo' hot water heater. Other Rilakkuma too!
	PURIN L / Homemade Pudding Mix with Caramel Make your own pudding at home with this authentic Japanese pudding mix! With plenty of rich puddingy goodness to go around, you can even use several packets together to recreate the Giga Pudding experience from the current hot meme (see our Giga Pudding shirt, too!). A great unique taste of Japan's delicious pudding cuisine. View products »
	New Snacks from Japan Enjoy "Butterpea" or delicious peanuts flavored with butter, Japan-only Mentos wonderful Macadamia chocolates plus chewy Mochi Choco. Yum!
	Restocked Snacks See Sakuma Drops from Grave of the Fireflies, Wasabi Potato Chips, Chocolate "Chip Chops" and Van Houten biscuits, Pure Mist and Calpis candy, and more!
	Give the Gift of Bento The culture of Bento is one of the greatest contributions from Japan to the world, providing a stylish, beautiful and convenient way to serve and carry food in healthy portions. With so many options to choose from you can also be sure that your bento box will make a great gift whether you're looking for yourself or a loved one of any age or appetite. Give the gift of health, simplicity and beautiful living this holiday season -- give bento. View products »
	Lucky Cat, Other Traditional Items See great traditional items like the Make a Wish Temple Bell Strap, Black Lucky Cat Display, Boxtree Lucky Turtle Strap and more.
	Re-ment Sushi Mascot Full Set of 12 I am totally in love with these miniature sushi keychains -- they are so detailed you could eat them, but don't since they're highly detailed PVC.
	Awesome Gift Ideas for Christmas J-List has tons of super items for the Holidays, which are fun to browse (but warning, you'll probably find many things for yourself). From fukubukuro grab bags to fun anime gift snack sets and gift certificates. Click to browse the most popular Christmas Guide items. View products »
	Hideyoshi Kinoshita Nendoroid Figure *Preorder* The mysteriously gendered Hideyoshi from comedy anime and manga Bakatest is coming in adorable Nendoroid action figure form, and you can preorder it now!
	Kazari Uiharu 1/8 Figure *Preorder* Also see this great preorder for the new Kazari figure from Railgun, from the wizards at Kotobukiya. Cute!
	Lingerie The Best Idol Gakuen Panty and Uniform We love magazines that give you more than gorgeous women to look at, and the tradition of omake (oh-MAH-kay), or freebees given to readers, is alive and well in Japan's ero magazine world, too. Get a full AKB48-style idol costume with pantsu. Nice desu! View products »
	Restocked Stress Toys for Men Fera Zoma is back, a mouth toy that promises to recreate the feeling of being serviced in a "pink salon." Also Tenga & the Real Scale Air Figure.
	Restocked Personal Massagers Japan's vibrators are the best in the world, and we've restocked several. Perfect for spending quality time with someone you love, even if it's yourself.
	Sexy Beach ZERO, Other Eroge Restocked The popular Sexy Beach ZERO is back in stock, one of the most awesome 3D eroge in a while. Also, Real Kanojo and Fate/stay night!
	'Futanari' H-Games & More A lot of J-List customers love the aesthetic genre known as futanari, literally "the two, being one." We recommend Cat Girl Alliance for this!

Japan and the Tragedy of Fire

Outside my office at J-List, a fire truck has just driven by, just like it does every evening this time of year. It's our local volunteer fire brigade, driving around ringing a bell and announcing to our neighborhood, "Please be careful with all sources of fire and turn off your heaters before going to bed." Fire is unfortunately all too common in Japan, a country that has historically built homes out of wood and paper which only started requiring smoke detectors a few years ago. Instead of modern central heating, it's all too common for rooms to be heated with a standalone kerosene heater, and it seems every week you see an article of a terrible fire somewhere in the country. At noon every day we hear a blast from the air-raid siren (well that's what it sounds like to me) at a nearby elementary school announcing that it's lunch time, and whenever the siren goes off at a time other than noon it means that there's a fire somewhere nearby. On no less than three occasions I've looked out my window to see homes nearby J-List burning, and once it was a house just a few doors down from us, totally engulfed in fire. Japan's tradition of organizing itself against fires has a long history, since the Edo Period.

There's a long tradition of ukiyoe art of Edo Period firemen.

Of Octopus Tentacles and Japan

Every once in a while I'm reminded suddenly that...I live in Japan. It could be a sudden earthquake causing my Star Wars figures to fall over, all too common in this volcanically active country, or seeing a woman in a traditional kimono expertly punching out out a text message on her high-tech cell phone. The other evening I was putting my dishes away in my mother-in-law's kitchen and saw something you don't normally encounter: a freshly severed octopus tentacle, waiting to be served for dinner as sashimi. Octopus -- called tako in Japanese, no relation to the Mexican food which is incidentally referred to as tacos, using the plural to separate them from the cephalopod version -- is a fairly common food in Japan, and I enjoy a good tako salad as much as a taco salad. But I usually take my octopus cut up into slices, sitting on sushi or inside delicious takoyaki balls, and don't see fresh, wet tentacles all that often.

Sometimes I'm reminded of the fact that I actually live in Japan.

J-List T-shirts are Wacky

J-List's unique line of T-shirts have always been a fun way for fans of anime and beautifully aesthetic kanji to show their unique side, and they make great gifts for the Japan-obsesed people on your list. From our line of Totoro shirts and hoodies to wacky Japanese pop culture references the classic "Respect the Emperor, Expel the Foreign Barbarians" shirt, there's something for everyone. The newest bizarre meme to seize the attention of the Internets is Giga Pudding, a giant egg custard flan that's popular in Japan, and we've got a T-shirt for you -- click to see the hilarious YouTube video. All would make great Christmas gifts!

Fun with Japanese Gestures (With Photos!)

There's more to communication than just words, especially in a country like Japan. Often a negative opinion is expressed indirectly, with a subtle word like "chotto..." (literally "just a little" but meaning so much more that was omitted), and learning Japanese ultimately involves picking up on what isn't being said. The Japanese have perfected the art of communicating through silence, too, and you know you've really screwed something up when you're greeted with a terrible, deafening silence from those around you. Gestures are another interesting form of communication, and since Japanese gestures are so different from what we're generally used to in the West, understanding them can be a challenge. The most famous Japanese gesture is the odd waving that Lucky Cat is doing, which can look like "get away from me" although it really means "come here" (or in the case of a shop, "come in and buy something"). There are obscure gestures for, "I have to get home, or my wife will be angry with me" (devil horns), "I am going out with my girlfriend tonight" (an upstretched thumb gesture by women indicates their boyfriends), "watch out, that scary guy looks like a yakuza gangster" and a gesture meaning "I don't have enough money." And anyone who's watched much anime is familiar with the childish-yet-cute sticking-the-tongue-out-while-pulling-down-the-eye insult, called ah-kam-beh! in Japanese.
If you want to learn more about unique Japanese gestures, we recommend this book a lot, and if you like the "black bar" anonymous sunglasses from these pics, see them here.

Ah-kan-BEH! Another uniquely Japanese gesture.

Cool Products Friday, December 3, 2010

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.

	Megami Magazine Jan 2011 The brand new issue of Megami is here! Start your new year in style with the cream of the crop of bishoujo anime poster magazines, bursting with almost two dozen extra-large eye candy posters from all your favorite shows. This issue includes a Nanoha mini-artbook for you to enjoy as a special free extra. View products »
	Clock Man ~ What's Your Blood Type? When you want more than a clock, Clock Man is here! An amusing companion to chat with you, note your birthday and make comments as you wake up in the morning.
	Otama Tone Melody ~ Pink Engage in interactive music with the new innovative 'note' toy that plays songs at your own controllable pace. Many familiar classics included.
	We Love Ponyo! Today is Ponyo Day at J-List, or something, and we've got a bunch of popular product like the plush toys, fuzzy keychain and wind-up swimming Ponyo.
	Great Totoro Items, Too And for Totoro fans we've got great items for you (or the people on your Christmas list). Cat Bus plush toys, the Totoro spinning top and more!
	Speaking Mameshiba Plush We've got a class-A kawaii alert on J-List, with the three plush toys we're posting now. They are awesome to hold or hug, but squeeze them and they'll talk to you. (The red one speaks Spanish since he's a chilli bean). View products »
	One Piece Marine Head Quater 'Gura' Game It's topsy turvy fun with this game that brings the high seas battles of One Piece to your tabletop! Balance the pieces to bring the pirates to victory!
	One Piece Items In Stock Tons of other epic One Piece items are here for the holidays, including 2011 schedule books, iPhone cases, oppai mouse pads and more.
	Little Busters! ~ Converted Edition The gang of lovable misfits from Key visual novel Little Busters! is at it again, this time in convenient portable form with tons of bundled extras.
	Huge Restocking of Touhou Games The action packed Touhou Project shooting games that formed a doujin empire and took the net by storm are back in stock for you today!
	Japanese T-Shirt - 'Giga Pudding' Puddi Puddi Puddi Puddi Giga Pudding! It's a shirt to celebrate the best that Japan and the internet has to offer, with our parody shirt based on the popular "Giga Pudding" commercial from 2008, Takara Tomy's bucket-sized do-it-yourself pudding. The kit itself is out of production, but you can groove to the wacky Giga Pudding song in this wacky Japanese T-shirt. View products »
	Mickey Mouse Leather iPhone 4 Case ~ White Bring a little bit of Disney class to your iPhone with this pearl white leather full phone case, emblazoned with the Mickey logo.
	Flower Point Mini Frill Skirt A new piece to add to your stylish Japanese fashion lineup, with this frilly flower-print skirt that looks great with black accessories.
	Retro Postcards Traveler ~ Modern Kanko Ryoko Go on a sightseeing vacation to the past with this book that collects photos of classic Japanese tourists spots from the postwar period. Nostalgia++.
	Great Hoodies from J-List Christmas gift suggestion #172: why not buy a soft, warm Domo-kun hoody for a special someone on your list? Or yourself?
	Restocked Queen's Blade Artbooks We've got all your favorite QB artbooks back in stock too, including the one from Samurai Girls (did we just blow your mind?) and many others.
	Moe Moe Encyclopedia ~ Angels We have a classic volume of the Encyclopedia series that introduces classical figures as cute moe girls, this one dealing with angels from all sources.
	Beautiful 2011 Japanese Idol Calendars Enjoy the most beautiful women of Japan, with our big restocking of 2011 calendars. Aki Hoshino, Yuko Ogura, Mikie Hara, Yukie Kawamura, and more!
	2011 Anime Calendars In Stock We've got your Anime Calendar needs for the coming year covered, with newly in stock Persona 3 and 4 calendars, the Working!! anime calendar, and much more.
	Awesome New Japanese Snacks See a wonderful new Rum Raisin Meltykiss chocolate delight, plus Karu Jaga potato snacks, Meiji White Horn chocolate and more. Yum!
	Big Restocking of Japanese Snacks New Pocky for 2011, Japanese Oreo Soft Cookies, Japan-only Kit Kat chocolate cookies, Fuwarinka Rose Essence Soft Candy, and Takoyaki Puff Snacks!
	Hello Kitty Bento We've got oodles of new Hello Kitty bento items this season, with the current trend to traditional Japanese kimono patterns mixed with cute Kitty icons!
	Happy Animal Bento Restocked Also back in stock today, the "Happy Animal" line of bento boxes and accessories that share their cute animal logos with you while you eat.
	Samurai Sword Chopsticks w/ Sheath Case This is one of -the- coolest products we've seen! What looks like a miniature sheathed samurai sword from the outside, opens to be a hilt-shaped holder that doubles as a chopstick rest for a pair of full adult-sized chopsticks. An epic bento accessory and gift for your samurai- or ninja-loving friends. View products »
	Fun Bento Accessories When life gives you bananas, put them in your banana shaped carrying case for bento lovers.
	SAKURA Genuine Earthen Coffee Cup, Saucer Set Bring a Japanese elegance to your tea preparation with the subtle pink color of these genuine Japanese ceramic teacups and petal-shaped saucers.
	Japanese Sentence Patterns (self-study) An incredibly practical and useful reference guide and self study course in conversational Japanese, a key to help you prep for actual language usage.
	Restocked Japan-Related Books The popular handbook for living in Japan is restocked, plus a JLPT preparatory guide, Kanji Power Handbook and bilingual books from Japan.
	Restocked Study Items, Stationery Fun Japanese pens are restocked, but our most popular eraser. For anyone studying Japanese (or whatever), we've got more flashcards too.
	Buden Hip Pouch 'Scissors Bags' Restocked The kanji carabiner pouches called "scissors bags" were so popular, we sold them all. Fortunately we've gotten more in for you.
	Traditional Ninja Straps, More Fun ninja phone straps which can be attached to your phone, keys etc. (or even your iPhone, plus Rabbit Incense Holder and more.
	Sci-fi Revoltech: Gaigan, Predator *Preorder* How to catch a Predator? Send an Alien. Or...an awesome classic Japanese movie monster, Gaigan. The Alien Queen is in stock too.
	Sora Kasugano 1/4 Figure P.E ~ *Preorder* Fans of Yosuga no Sora will love this new extra-impressive size 1/4 figure of the heroine Sora in a cute PE uniform. Deliciously cast off-able.
	Haru-Chan Nendoroid Figure ~ *Preorder* The NHK show Newswatch 9 created this moe mascot to help them forecast the weather, and gave her her own webcomic! Now she's a cute Nendoroid, too.
	Cosplay Academy People ask me to recommend eroge in English a lot, and one I like is this super cosplay game by the artist of the Raidy series.
	OKAMOTO TENGA ~ Super Fit Cup It's not every day that a brand new Tenga is born, so we're pleased to announce the entry of this collaboration between SOD's Tenga crew and the condom makers of Okamoto Industries. Dedicated to promoting social welfare through the safe release of healthy urges, this is a super effective parody item we think you'll really get a kick out of. View products »
	Japanese Condoms, Lotion Kabuto refers to a samurai's helmet, and these condoms will make you a samurai. Also: restocked Japanese personal lotions.
	Restocked Tenga, Sexy Twins Products We've got plenty of other stress relief items back in stock, including the popular 'sexy twins' simulators, so realistic you'll buy it dinner.