What eye-catching events and attractions does your community use to promote a local economy? An annual cook-off, folklore festivals, or perhaps creating another biggest ball of twine? In the land of anime, several local communities are presenting moe girls as a part of their local revitalization efforts. Some communities are collaborating with famous anime characters and others have created their original characters.
Do you have a tune that you can immediately tell what game it is from? “Name That Game” is a game which tests your knowledge of good ol’ days of retro video games. Listen to a short audio clip of sound effects to choose which retro game is it from.
What is the best way to see how expert Cosplayers wear their costumes? Seeing it in live at anime conventions or perhaps in high resolution images on a magazine like COSMODE? A Japanese photographer had taken advantages from both and put them together in his cool iPhone app.
COSPLAY SHOWCASE is software, created by Nobutsugu Sugiyama, featuring images of over 100 Japanese Cosplay models. The app let you see high resolution images interactively by allowing you to rotate the images in 8 different angles. The feature creates a three dimensional like look of each Cosplayer.
For each Cosplayer appears emotionless on a picture, you get a feeling that he or she is a doll or an anime figures in a showcase at a toy store. The name COSPLAY SHOWCASE suits perfectly for this app.
It is currently available for iPhone and iPad. Android app is expected to be released in May 13th, 2012.
Nobutsugu Sugiyama has released a print version of COSPLAY SHOWCASE in Janurary 2012. This photo book features his photography in collaborations with illustrations by computer graphics artists. Among 67 artworks on the book, 23 of them have commentary on models, hair makes, costumes, and props.
The most popular anime conventions in US and Canada will be held during summer time. This infographic shows you where they will be held and how many attendees are expected.
Do you have good expectations for upcoming anime lineups between this June and August? Take a look at the list of anime series to determine whether this summer will be a great season for anime fans or not.
Spring in Japan is a great time of a year to go picnicking with a bento box. See what are the most popular dishes to include in a bento among Japanese mothers.
According to a survey by Maruha Nichiro Holdings, one of the Japan’s leading seafood distribution company, Japanese females in 20 to 59 years of age who make at least 1 bento a week put following food in their bento boxes.
A new crop of green tea is harvested around this time of a year. The crop is referred to as Shincha or Ichiban-cha and usually appreciated more than second or third crops for having less bitter and sweeter taste. Hachijyu Hachiya is a day which marks the season of harvesting the first green tea of a year and drinking green tea on this day is considered a good luck.
If you are writing a simple letter to someone you care or giving out some cash as a gift to your nieces and nephews, putting your letters and gifts in simple origami envelopes can turn your giving into something special.
Dragon Quest was my first RPG that I had ever played. I had fun wondering through planes and forests constructed with vivid colored dots. Google has reminded me how much fun I have had with Dragon Quest when they released their April fool’s day joke on their Japanese website.
Japanese version of Google Maps had been turned into a map which resembles a world map in Dragon Quest.
Just like the Google’s playful joke that reminds you fun of playing Dragon Quest, the producer of DQ series has also created a novelty item that brings back many good memories.
Dragon Quest Legend Items Gallery Special Helm of Roto is a real size helm that a hero in Dragon Quest equips. I bet you had have thought of owning the legendary helm or Roto, if you have played the game. The downside is that it is only for display and cannot be used as a helm. However, it is still a cool item to have.
The one of the best hit Japanese anime of all time, Dragon Ball had used the Chinese classics Journey to the West, also known as Saiyuki in Japanese, as a motif of its theme. The ancient eastern theme may be the Dragon Ball’s secret to success, according to Japanese psychologist.
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