Archive for February, 2009

Celebrating Setsubun in New York

Today was Spring Setsubun, so a Japanese reporter in New York had a local sushi restaurant prepare him a traditional ehou maki (“lucky direction roll”):

As he went to Times Square and ate the roll facing East-North-East (2009′s lucky direction), people stopped to watch him. It took a total of 3 minutes to successfully eat the roll without stopping.
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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Ramen-eating cat

Goma the cat eats some ramen:

[via Zaeega]

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

American unicyclist in Japan

A Fukushima TV segment about Adam, an American who rides around on a 36″ unicycle:

“Unfortunately it had rained quite a bit recently, so even though you can’t tell from the video, the ground in the practice area was extremely slick, so you couldn’t really do proper turns or anything involving… having traction.

So I rode around with a bunch of the Japanese elementary school kids and generally had a grand ol’ time.”

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Japanese man banned from entering Philippines for abusing his Filipina wife in Japan

A Japanese man accused of beating and raping his Filipina wife will not be allowed to enter the Philippines:

Shinichi Ikeda, 59, has been placed on the immigration blacklist order following a request made by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said in a statement Sunday.

Libanan said Ikeda is a subject of a complaint for domestic violence filed by his Filipina wife.

“A foreigner who beats his wife is a menace to the society and who does not deserve our hospitality,” the Immigration commissioner said.

Libanan said the DFA had already issued a circular to all Philippine missions abroad ordering them not to issue Philippine visa to Ikeda, who is now considered an undesirable alien.

[via FG]

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

Japanese soccer + blackface entertainment

Dan writes to let us know about a shocking encounter at an event for Japanese soccer fans:

On January 31st, the J.League Division 1 team Yokohama F. Marinos held “Tricolore Festa”, a party for its supporters. Events included speeches, meet-and-greets, open practices, and skits performed by the
plays to the amusement of all.

http://www.f-marinos.com/tools/page_store/news_3187.html

I’ll, um, let you scroll down to the bottom and figure out what’s wrong with this picture.

A Gosperats impression, or some other form of African imitation?

Those who wish to complaint can do so by contacting the e-mail address on their site.

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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)

100 days of live concerts in Akihabara

A group that wants authorities to re-open Akihabara’s “Pedestrian Paradise” is planning to hold live concerts for 100 consecutive days as a means of bringing attention to their cause:

There was never any good reason behind the decision authorities made last June, and it is quite sad that the suspension continues to this day.
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• Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
• dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
• Kirainet.com – A geek in Japan (Subscribe)