The Pixar-Ghibli connection
A news report about the release of “Up” in Japan notes that Hayao Miyazaki’s Ghibli movies have inspired the Americans who create computer animated films for Pixar:
A lot of the Pixar people absolutely love Miyazaki’s films and some have decorated their work space with Ghibli merchandise. One of Pixar’s biggest Ghibli fans seems to be chief creative officer John Lasseter, whose office is decked out with a ton of Totoro stuff. For his 50th birthday, Lasseter received a special gift from Miyazaki – 50 stuffed makkuro kurosuke. [The Pixar folks have also sent gifts to Miyazaki, as we can see from the Monsters Inc/Totoro portrait hanging on the wall at the Studio Ghibli HQ.]
The report also shows some of the key differences between the way Pixar and Ghibli create their films. Miyazaki has almost total control over the entire creative process that goes into his film, while Pixar likes to engage in group brainstorming. Both result in great films, but one has to wonder what will happen to Studio Ghibli once Miyazaki is no longer able to create films. Toshio Suzuki suggests that a director like Pixar’s Pete Docter would make a fine successor to Miyazaki…
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Categories: Otaku & Anime
Golden muscle men perform amazing feats
Two muscle-bound brothers take a break from circus performances in Europe to put on an equilibristic show on Japanese TV (in the second round, they are joined by Japanese comedian Yoshio Kojima!):
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Categories: Foreigners in Japan, Japanese TV, Odd / Strange
Chimpanzee vs. cake-stealing bird
Super chimpanzee Pan-kun encounters a dangerous bird of prey while on a cake delivery mission for “Shimura Zoo” (he also molests a statue in the first few seconds of the video clip):
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Categories: Animal Videos
Sea Shepherd attack Japanese whalers with laser
A Sankei News video shows a ship belonging to the radical animal rights group Sea Shepherd as it fires what appears to be a green laser at Japanese whalers:
Crew from the Japanese “research” whaler Shonan Maru No 2 said they had been subjected to three hours of harassment by Ady Gil in Antarctic waters yesterday.
A statement issued by the Japanese whalers read: “The activists onboard the Ady Gil repeatedly irradiated a green laser device aiming at the Shonan Maru No 2 crew. They fired ball-like objects with a projectile launching device.
“Neither injuries to the Japanese crew nor damage to the Shonan Maru No. 2 resulted from the Ady Gil attack.”
The Japanese-controlled Institute of Cetacean Research urged the New Zealand and Dutch governments to take appropriate measures against their protest ships.
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Categories: Anti-Japan
Kentucky Fried Christmas in Japan
Merry Christmas, friends and readers! I hope you’re all enjoying Christmas in the Japanese traditional manner – by eating some Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The economy is still in the toilet this year, so it appears that KFC has been marketing small Christmas meals this year to couples who are choosing fast food over expensive restaurant meals:
The “home party” set for couples was being sold for 2,000 yen. When the report aired a few weeks ago, KFC was already reporting a 30% increase in X-mas meal reservations compared to last year.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Fried Chicken’s X-mas commercial for this year has focused on the traditional target market of families with kids. The children dancing in this video remind Mom & Dad that they want to eat some KFC:
Related non-Christmas clip: KFC was recently promoting a special set that came with Peter Rabbit collectible plates and cups.
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Categories: General Japan
Affordable housing in Tokyo
Want to live in Tokyo but don’t have much money? You might want to consider renting a closet in this building:
Rent for a closet room is a mere 18,000 yen ($197) a month!
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Categories: Odd / Strange