Archive for July, 2009

eMobile monkeys

A commercial currently running on Japanese TV in which monkeys inform us that eMobile wireless broadband now works even in underground shopping malls and subway stations:

Last year eMobile pulled one if its TV ads because a small group of African Americans had complained that it was “racist” for eMobile’s monkey mascot to wear a suit and have a promotional campaign for Obama-like “change.”

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

Google Japan celebrates Tanabata

Spotted on Google.co.jp this morning:

Want to find out more about Tananbata? Check out this Wikipedia article.

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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 man hit by train in Japan

A video tells the story of Armand Nelson Schneider, an American who got so drunk at a Japanese nomikai that he ended up getting hit by a train:

More details can be found at the Colorado Daily.

[hat tip to Mulboyne]

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

Japan’s hyper speed jump rope girl

I know I’ve posted a video of this girl before, but this particular clip is from a different TV show:

The girl tries to replicate her world record of 160 jumps in 30 seconds, but only manages 143. Still pretty impressive.

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

Italian authorities shut down restaurant that tried to rip-off Japanese tourists

Italian authorities have taken action after a Japanese couple was told to pay an outrageous 700 euros for a seafood lunch at a restaurant in Rome:

The tourists filed a fraud complaint with police after being surprised with a bill for 579.50 euros plus 115.50 euros in tip for downing pasta and lobster with wine and gelato at the Il Passetto restaurant just off the popular Piazza Navona square.

Health inspectors arrived within days to shut down the 149-year old restaurant — which has served stars ranging from Charlie Chaplin to Grace Kelly — citing hygiene reasons.

Restaurants in Rome’s center have long been notorious for overcharging or serving overcooked pasta to the millions of tourists that flock here each year, and news of the pricey lunch sparked sharp criticism from consumer groups and city officials.

“As far as I’m concerned, this restaurant should never reopen again and operating licenses should be revoked for things of this nature,” Mayor Gianni Alemanno said, adding that he had ordered police to make surprise checks to uncover such fraud.

This has not escaped the attention of people in Japan: The Japanese language version of this Reuters story was one of the most popular stories on Yahoo! News Japan yesterday.

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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-born kid (“whale muncher”) nearly beaten to death by bullies in New Zealand

The above photo shows the injuries sustained by Ryotaro Wright, a Japanese-born New Zealander who was nearly beaten to death by bullies:

The teen, Japanese-born Ryotaro Wright, needed emergency brain surgery in Waikato Hospital after the attack at Forest View High School in Tokoroa this week. Doctors say he was close to death.

Four students have been suspended and police are investigating.

Ryotaro’s father Llewellyn said yesterday his son had been racially abused by four students over the past few weeks, including being called “whale muncher“.

Hopefully those that committed this violent crime will be arrested and thrown in jail.

[via 空]

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