Tag Archives: japan

Tokyo Government passed anti-manga bill into law

Sad panda is sad Today, 15 Dec 10, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly passed Bill 156 into law. As previously discussed, this law gives the Tokyo government additional powers to restrict the sales of manga, anime and video games based on … Continue reading

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Tokyo Government to pass tough ordinance against mature manga

The law doesn’t touch this The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is set to pass new legislation restricting the sales of manga depicting certain sexual acts to minors under eighteen. Contrary to what certain easily-excitable individuals may proclaim, this is not a … Continue reading

Posted in Anime, Manga, Otaku, Rant | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Hinomoto Oniko

日本鬼子 (ri ben gui zi) is a common disparaging term in China for Japanese, dating back to the Sino-Japanese War(s). After the recent Diaoyu/Senkaku geo-political drama, the term has seen a resurgence in popularity in China, where the anti-Japanese movement comes back in fashion every so often.

Some creative Japanese folks noticed that 日本鬼子 can easily be parsed as a female Japanese name “Hinomoto Oniko” and the moé-fication began. Continue reading

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Tokyo Vice

The author holding his book in front of a fuuzoku annaijo Like any modern metropolis, Tokyo’s glittering skylines carefully conceal a more sinister side from the casual observations of an outsider. And like most other things Japan, organized crime in … Continue reading

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The Legend of Koizumi

I was just given YouTube links to what may possibly be the most incredible videos I have ever seen. I realize that this is a claim that I often make, but this time it’s different. Really. Videos are embedded after … Continue reading

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Jury Trial in Japan

Those of you who played the 4th Ace Attorney (逆転裁判) game would be aware of the new jury system being implemented in Japan, first proposed in cabinet review committee in 2001 and subsequently passed into law in 2004. After five … Continue reading

Posted in Rant, World | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

New York Times: Love in 2-D

Found a semi-interesting somewhat sensational NYT article on 2D love in Japan. (You can get a login from bugmenot.com) There’s a Boing Boing blog post on it too. Predictably, it didn’t take long before commentators started to sound the paedophile … Continue reading

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Japan Trip 2008 – Damage Report

Man, my drawers are dirty In addition to my Comiket 75 shopping spree, I also contributed diligently to the wider economy of Japan in numerous ways, no doubt single-handedly helping the island nation escape the brunt of the on-going global … Continue reading

Posted in Money, Otaku | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

Comiket 75 – Loot

Useless pieces of paper and plastic I’m finally back in Singapore. It’s really hot even in my air-conditioned room. Gah. But anyway, here’s my damage report for Comiket 75. I didn’t buy much. Really.

Posted in Money, Otaku | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Hatsumoude

Sensouji in Asakusa, Tokyo We interrupt the much-delayed Comiket coverage to wish you a belated Happy New Year! 新年明けましておめでとうございます! While saner people were enjoying the company of their family and friends on New Year’s Eve in the comfort of their … Continue reading

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Comiket 75 – Cosplay Photos

The cosplay area at C75 The three-day long holy celebration of otakuism that is the Winter Comic Market came to a close yesterday. This is my second Comiket, and probably the last one in a long time. I am still … Continue reading

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Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum is a wonderful place to relive your childhood if you are Japanese and born in the last 40 years or so. Otherwise, you are probably a gaijin tourist there to defile this pristine shrine dedicated to the … Continue reading

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