Japanese Businessmen Take Days off to Finish a Game…..

Okay, no one is innocent.  We all have taken a day off from work because we were “sick.”  “Sick,” as in, perfectly in a good health but taking a sick day off from work.  Whether it was because we wanted to go to a live concert, had a massive party the night before, or simply couldn’t wake up, we are all guilty.  But taking a day off to play a video game?

“Dragon Quest IX -The Protector of Starlit Sky,” which was sold on July 11, is the latest installment of the popular RPG series, Dragon Quest.  The series has become a societal problem in the past, as kids were bullied to give up their DQ copy.  Reportedly the fans queued up at the stores (which makes people wonder, “why?” and “don’t they have anything better to do?”), and it was announced that 3 millions copy were sold on 14.

Apparently, the term “Draque (abbreviation of Dragon Quest) day off,” started appearing on the web.  Blogs where fans announcing that they will take days off from work and school started popping out through out the Japanese blog site, and an iPhone application development venture company named “Yume wo Miru,” (meaning “dreaming”) apparently even implemented a system (!?).

It is a bit ironic that the game, despite its popularity, has spawned various harsh reviews, creating a storm on amazon.co.jp.  Some where annoyed with the constant delay, and the constant changes in the system before the actual sales date.  Some were annoyed with the fact that there is only one space to save, and that it was on DS.  The fairy that speaks Garugo (think Valley Girl speech) was not popular either.

It has been reported that it takes up to 40 hours to complete the game.  Few days off should be enough.

On an another note, I knew a guy who took several days off to read the new Harry Potter (psst….).  My friend told me of her friend of a friend that quit his work to play FF VII.  Later, when he went for a job interview for his next job, apparently he answered frankly that he quit his previous job “to play FF VII” when the interviewers asked why he quit his previous job.  And he got the job!  Ah- the beauty of working in a creative industry.

Train with an Anime Character

I haven’t covered any geek news for a long while.  So here’s one.

I still remember when Billy’s Boot Camp, an exercise DVD, was a massive hit in Japan. Two years ago, if you went into any Japanese department store, you would see a section devoted to the hardcore DVD set that promises the consumers a quick and sure way to lose weight. Then came the popular WiiFit, where even my non-geek friends were persuaded to buy.

This brand new DVD is unique in the sense that it targets geek specially. Entitled “issho ni training,” or “Let’s train together.” (English subtitle: Training with Hinako), it is a DVD where you can train with an anime character. The character setting for the main character Hinako is pretty unique. She is 16 year-old, 153 cm tall, and weights 48 kg. She loves anime and exercise (yeah right! As if such person exist). She used to be a person, but was turned into anime character when she was in eighth grade! What the…? Judging from the DVD cover, it kinda looks dodgy. I think I can do squat, push ups, and crunches on my own, thank you.

I ain’t gonna post a big pic of this risque cover.  If anyone wants to see the bigger version of this image, click here:

http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/dqnplus/imgs/7/8/785ced37.jpg

Konami Created WHAT-!?

I meant to update this post much sooner, but I have been ridiculously busy. “I-need-coffee-on-a-drip” busy.

Japanese game industry, except for the ever so wise Nintendo, has been hit hard. Apprehensive due to the declining birth rate (meaning fewer kids to play the games than before), JPN game makers have tried to scour ways to entice foreign markets, abandoning what made their games unique once, and failing miserably. Square-Enix has combined their powers with a U.S game maker to make a… war game!? Konami is jumping onto this bandwagon…. But not only will they fail, they will fail with enraging millions.

In November 2004, the USA army has surrounded the city of Fallujah for their “war against terror.” Konami thought it would make a perfect sense to make a video game based on this event, which still is a source of controversy! http://au.gamespot.com/events/konami09/story.html?sid=6207816

I haven’t played the game myself. Although Konami and its cohort Atomic Games defend their controversial action by stating, “for us, the challenge was how do you present the horrors of war in a game that is also entertaining, but also gives people insight into a historical situation in a way that only a video game can provide? Our goal is to give people that insight, of what it’s like to be a Marine during that event, what it’s like to be a civilian in the city and what it’s like to be an insurgent.” I simply don’t buy it. How can you make a game about such an atrocity? Games by nature is supposed to be entertaining to be the player; the one that is doing the action. Would the Konami manufacturer would be saying the same thing if they made a game out of Tokyo Sarin poisoning case or 9/11 hijack event? Yeah sure, you would be understanding the perspective of the terrorists. Games, by nature, make you feel sympathetic to the protagonist. We really do not need any games where such a thing, in this case where at least 1,000 civilians died, many more thousands became a refugee, is glorified.

Protests have began in several parts of the world.

Stop The War Coalition spokesperson Tansy E Hoskins has made the following statement:

“There is nothing to celebrate in the death of people resisting an unjust and bloody occupation. To make a game out of a war crime and to capitalise on the death and injury of thousands is sick. There will never be a time when it is appropriate for people to ‘play’ at committing atrocities. The massacre in Fallujah should be remembered with shame and horror not glamorised and glossed over for entertainment.”

This news came just a few months after the over the top raping game “RapeLay” (Rape Play) caused stir by appearing on Amazon.com, which was then quickly banned. To surmise what this game is about, I have copied and pasted from the website:

From the website:
RapeLay is a molestation simulation that allows you to terrorize a woman and her two teenage daughters, with events ranging from groping on a train to gang rape and forced abortions.

You can read more about this here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/4611161/Rapelay-virtual-rape-game-banned-by-Amazon.html

Although the rape game was created by and for a niche market, a bunch of underground pervs who will never gain prominence, Konami, whose game has been sold worldwide should know better. There are some subjects that should not be glorified.

Konami, go back to creating games where bunch of Caucasians stumble in a creepy town with knife-wielding zombie nurses.

To read more about what the protesters are saying about the new Konami game, read it further in here:

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/iraq-game-amentary-under-fire-590737

Was “Assassinate Ichiro” T-shirt Popular? -More Painful News-

From: http://www.zakzak.co.jp/spo/200903/s2009031402_1.html

This news may come as a bit late…. But is this true?

“March 14th: A shocking sports merchandise is sold in Korea, and is receiving wide attention.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Ito Hirobumi, a Resident-General of Korea. Placing the pitcher Bong Jung-Keun in the role of an assassinator, a T-shirt where he is aiming to shoot baseball player Ichiro is proven to be popular.

The LG Baseball League which Bong Jung-Keun is registered sold the 330 limited T-shirt, and sold out after 10 hours, fervently sought after by the fans.”

…and there are more details later.

I know, I know, WBC is over. lol

It is always wise to consider the source before believing the news, for a lot of propaganda is going out there. As I wrote before, average Japanese citizen do not have hatred towards their neighbors.

If this is true, it is a bit of an ill taste for an official baseball league to sell a joke T-shirt of trying to kill their rivals.

Call me an idealist, but just like the trailer of “Planet of the Apes” went, “why can’t we all get along?” (and yes, I haven’t watched the actual movie).

Or maybe my sense of humor has been depleted, and cannot see the funny side of the shirt.

Evil B****es Lose Against Psycho Artist in the Housing War

The much debated house

In January this year, judges in Tokyo court ruled in favor of the psycho artist to be able to keep living in the freakish house that seemed to have swallowed Waldo from “Where’s Waldo” without paying any compensation fees to the nasty neighbors.  The psycho artist I am referring to here is Kazuo Umezu, who is famous for his manga “Makoto-chan,” a gross-out comedy. But what he is most famous for is for his relentlessly gory horror manga, such as “Drifiting School,” where elementary school children are forced to confront insane knife-wielding adults, flesh-eating alien beings, and mass hysteria, or “God’s Right Hand, Devil’s Left Hand,” where psycho killer gouges the eyes of cute bambi-faced girls.

My censure aside, his work is pretty famous, and will be listed in any books chronicling “manga’s history,” for being the “grand father of horror manga.”

The author first announced his plan to build his “Makoto House” in Kichijyoji, Tokyo  way back in 2007. For those who are not familiar of Kichijyoji, it is a “nicer area” of Tokyo. Not really central, like Shibuya, but it is definitely a popular spot for families and fashion-conscious young working adults, offering lots of chic shops and restaurants.

Two inhabitants within the quite suburbia were outraged even before the construction of the house, when the author announced his plan of building his “Makoto-chan House,” and started protesting way back in 2007. Upon interviews, they stated that “the building is a violence towards color and is an act of violence.” Another inhabitant voiced this opinion: “This place is not a theme park. I feel as if my heart has been colored by a red and a white paint.”

After the construction was complete, they sued the artist, for “destroying the scenery,” asking him to pay 100,000 yen per month ( 1595 USD). Needless to say, they’ve lost.

Author celebrating victory

The author was photographed gleefully commenting “Gwashi,” the catch phrase from “Makoto-chan” and doing the hand sign done in the manga, while wearing a red and white striped tie on the day of verdict announcement.

The story doesn’t end here. Internet buzz has emerged regarding Makoto-chan House related items that are planned to be sold.  Pictured below is the first in the series, the coin bank.

Soon to follow... Key chains

Are Korea’s netizens upset over Japanese boy-on-boy manga?

Eesh. Today’s Japan News is a bit weird…. And a bit pathetic.

The original Japanese sources are here:
http://www.excite.co.jp/News/it/20090113/Itmedia_news_20090113078.html
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090113-00000034-yom-int
Here is the translated version:

The new anime “Hetalia Axis Powers,” set to be broadcasted at the end of this month, is stirring uproar within the Korean netizen community.

“Hetalia” is an anime based on a comic strip set in WWII period, and basically is a “BL” (boys love) that deals with male homosexuality.

The author, Hidekazu Himaruya, is a 22 year old design student in New York, and created a manga by imagining male characters that represent each country, after being inspired by the personalities of people form different backgrounds that he had met in his student life. After gathering cult following after being posted on the web, a book had been published, and anime adaption had followed through, scheduled to be broadcasted on Japan’s “Kid’s Station” on Jan. 24.

The netizens, who have seen the manga, are vehemently against the broadcast, claiming that the manga is extremely right wing and condescends Korea. Even a letter of protest, written in Korean, Japanese, and English, has been posted on the web.

The depeiction of Korea was discussed as well. The Korea’s netizens feel that the character setting is very unpleasant. In the illustration where all the characters are drawn, the Korean character is smiling with a Japanese flag in his hand. Also, in the strip entitled, “How to use the Japanese flag,” the Korean character demonstrates how to wear the Japanese flags, and advises to “dress elegantly by emphasizing the femininity. The red dot is cute,” “if you combine the two flags, you can make a wonderful sleeveless shirt,” and “is casually soft.”

The netizens are also claiming that it is making fun of Korea by having the Korean character perform acts of perversion, obeys U.S, claims everything has originated from Korea, and has a fraternal relationship with China. For example, there’s a scene where a Korean character touches a Japanese character’s breasts and shouts in joy “Long live Korea! (in Korean).” The netizens are upset, citing that Japan’s chest represents “Dokdo Island,” and depicts Korea as perverts by claiming the owner of the Dokdo.
-End-

Lance’s take:
Internet is amazing. I am glad that it was invented within my teen years.
Unfortunately, the “information highway” does carry “misinformation” at irregular speed all the time.
When reading the news, one should always think “who wrote this? And is this reliable?”

For example, at one point APPARENTLY, there was a rumor going on in the Korean cyberspace that a “Japan’s rap group DNP006 released a song that makes fun of Korea.”
Apparently, as a response a song called “Fuck Japan” was released, and reached #1 on the Korean charts in 1999.
http://www.mutantfrog.com/2005/01/31/fuck-zapan-korean-anti-japanese-rap-song/

Okiesss….
First of all, there is no such group called DNP006, and even if they did exist, an anti-Korean song will NEVER be popular in Japan.

Likewise, at one point, N.Y Times released an article stating something along the lines of “an anti-Korean manga a runaway hit in Japan.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/19/international/asia/19comics.html

This is bull. I’ve never seen such a manga. I am not denying the fact that it exists, and there might be some people out there that love the book, but this book was not a bestseller.

I’ve never been to Korea, so I am not sure what it is like there. But it seems like malicious rumor about how the two nations hate each other seem to to go around in the Internet. In this article, it states that “the Korean netizens” are upset, but how many are we talking about? Is this a small minority of manga obsessed geeky people?

My second reaction is, “who found out about this?”
Honestly. few years back, I read a news article about “teacher suspended for appearing in gay porn,” but I simply wondered, “so which one of his coworkers where watching gay porn? Someone had to notify the school, and that someone saw the gay porn.” How did Koreans found out about a web comic that even I didn’t know? And we are talking about BL!

Well, you can’t criticize something without actually seeing it, so let’s check before bashing it.

The original manga is here:
http://www.geocities.jp/himaruya/hetaria/

So this is what I think of the manga:
It is well drawn, and it is what it is. A BL that deals with satire. I don’t think you should take dojinshi seriously. I mean, no one takes BL seriously, I hope. Real homosexuals aren’t that attractive (THIS IS A JOKE JUST IN CASE ANYONE GOT OFFENDED). It would be as silly as Obama needing to be rescued by Spider-man in the latest Marvel installment.
The Korean character himself looks pretty attractive. I’m quite sure Japanese, Korean, and Western gays would love to hump him (again, joke). And no country is spared in this manga. Japan is depicted as a reserved shut-in that refused to talk to anyone for 200 years! (referring to the fact that Japan closed its port to anyone but China and the Netherlands from 1635 for roughly 200 years). And if anyone should complain, it should be the Italians, the main character of the manga.

Nowadays there is no such thing as a bad publicity. Many people probably learned about this anime from this, and there is a cynic within me that makes me wonder if this is a publicity stunt taking advantage of few netizens complaining I am impressed that a university student managed to create a web comic so popular this popular! My geeky non-Japanese friends were into MegaTokyo, one of the most famous web comic, and even that isn’t adapted into an anime! Kudos to the bi-curious designer student!

I think everyone should be immersed into more than one culture in their lifetime. What I see is a student who decided to satirize each country (including his own) after been exposed to people from different countries and learning about them. Of course, appreciation of different culture is paramount, as well as acknowledging the shortfalls of each one. One of these days, people will be open minded enough to be able to poke fun at one another without causing a “controversy.”

Pink Rice Sells Amazingly

Printing a cute attractive 2-D beauty on the package substantially increases your profit…. That is what the rice manufacturers from Akita Prefecture learned this month. By substantially, we are referring to 2-year worth of sales made within a month!

I knew about the pink-packaged rice that makes me feel as if it is going to dye my rice cooker pink for a while, but I didn’t expect the sales to be this high. Popular illustrator Aoi Nishimata, who has drawn for various adult-themed games, is the artist behind the special packaged version of the long-running popular rice brand, available to be purchased online. Popular among men in their 20s and 30s, the manufactures have received e-mails stating that “it was delicious!” and “I bought a rice-cooker for the first time in my life,” making those who read the news report question the quality of consumers (rice is a major staple within the Asian cuisine). National newspaper, the Asahi Shinbun even went as far as having an article reading “2D beauty saves a village,” for thanks to this, the amount of tourists to the village with large number of aging population, has increased. It is not rare for manufacturers to embrace “cute” characters to boost their sales in Japan. In a recent news, long-running French silverware and home accessories Christofle, collaborated with massively-popular Hello Kitty to boost their sales.

France's finest meets Kitty

Gothic Lolita Rocks!

A bit of an old news, but here it goes.

I am quite addicted to “Kill me, Kiss me” by Hangry & Angry, a fine example of media-mixing. Hangry & Angry originally was a stuffed toy that first appeared in the Death Note movie series. They started selling the dolls first, promoting as “the cat that you’ve seen it on Death Note”. Below is the picture of me and a promotional staff for “Hangry & Angry”

It was in front of Japan’s mega-toy store Kiddyland, and there were many girls dressed in “gothic lolita fashion.” (will explain what this is later).

Well now, the gothic cats have spawned its own “rock band,” (and its own clothing brand) featuring two of the former Morning Musume members Rika Ishizawa, and Hitomi Yoshizawa. Their identities were supposed to be secret, but all the Japanese music aficionado figured out easily.

So two of the former cutesy girl-band members are in a “punk rock” T.a.T.u -esque band. Apparently, they are supposed to be the future-version of the cats, and came to Earth as a messenger to save the Earth through songs from destruction. The song itself is pretty addictive, and it features cool gothic lolita fashion.

I think lolita and gothic lolita (or gosu-loli) fashion is amazingly cool! Lolita fashion is (according to wikipedia) a fashion subculture in Japan that is primarily influenced by Victorian children’s lothing as well as costumes from Rococo period. Gothic lolita is, well you’ve guessed it, gothic version of it.

You don’t see girls dressed up as Victorian dolls wherever you go in Japan, but if you go to Harajuku, the fashion mecca, you are surely to catch a glimpse of cute lolita fashion.

It is puzzling to see people dressed up out of time, but who cares. It is cool IMO!

Taken in Harajuku

One might wonder why people would dress up like that, but hey, isn’t youth fashion weird wherever you go? Whether it was mullets or goths, there have always been a genre of teen fashion that deviates from the mainstream wherever you go. Teen years are years where people try out different activities and styles to explore the world and see who they are, what suits them, and what they would like to avoid. If dressing up in a style is one way of expressing and exploring your youthful ways, I say “good for you!” They are enjoying the whole entire procedure, and it is fun to look at.

For those that understand French, there’s an interesting news report about French girls who are fond of this type of fashion:

More pics of lolita fashion:

Adult Game Company and Manga Magazine Find New Ways to Embarrass Fans

Is this a terrorist attack on geeks with hobbies that they can’t disclose?
An adult game manufacturing company made an egregious mistake, inflicting pain to uncertain number of users.
Apparently, a game company called “AKABEiSOFT2″ sent a “special” goods for their loyal customers enlisted in the fun club….  Without realizing that they have printed the name of the good large and clear on the box!  The company apologized publicly for the users who may have been inconvenienced…  Yeah, apology really do mean something…..  If the fan club member was living by himself, it is all right, but imagine the shock and embarrassment if they were living with their family or in a dorm when their co-habitants found a box with “Lots of Boobs Set” printed on it.

Likewise, Weekly Magazine called “Shonen Magazine” did the same with the mail-order product “Negima!: Magister Negi Magi”.  Asuna Nice & Warm, Sleep Together Bed Sheet!”  Imagine the embarrassment of pubescent boys, who started to notice the opposite sex, that ordered the product, only to find their mom seeing the box first!
(For those that don’t know, Negima! is a popular manga featuring lots of cute girls in compromising situations.  I have the shirt as well….)

Oh, and this is what the product look like:

Would you risk embarrassment for this?

And you can’t come up with a good excuse if it is printed loud and clear on the box:

Shinjuku Station Becomes a Final Fantasy Fanboy Dreamspace

Dungeon? No, it's simply a station

Shinjuku Station, which is infamous for being over-complicated and vexing new Tokyo residents by having numerous exits in confusing places, has sported brand new Final Fantasy Dissidia ads, making fanboys gag as they go through their daily commute. It isn’t rare for companies to have their ads in the station, but Final Fantasy Dissidia ads are everywhere in the Shinjuku Station, as opposed to only one section. Shinjuku is where many game and PC companies are located. I guess it is a good idea to spread ads through this horridly confusing station (there are about 15 lines or so in this station), once mocked by netizens as “complicated like a RPG dungeon.”

Tagline: Mata omae to tatakau toha

Translation: Never though I would be fighting you again (or “so we fight yet again”)

A whole entire corridor is dedicated to showing posters juxtaposing the villain and the hero per each series.