Archive for February, 2010

The voice of Sakamoto Ryoma

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    After reconstructing the skeletal structure of Sakamoto Ryoma using old photographs, the Japan Acoustic Lab has created a reconstruction of what his voice probably sounded like:

    The recording is available at the Kameyama Company museum in Nagasaki, where can be downloaded via mobile phone QR code.

    The Japan Acoustic Lab has done similar things in the past with Mona Lisa and Leonardo Da Vinci.

    6 comments - What do you think?  Posted by James - February 15, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Categories: Technology

    A Valentine for Sento-kun


    Sento-kun, the creepy mascot of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital, gets a Valentine’s Day cake from a female mascot character:

    The cake had “daisuki” (“I love you”) written on it. He was very happy.

    His rival, Manto-kun, also got a Valentine cake. Unfortunately, it had “friend” written on its heart. Ouch.

    2 comments - What do you think?  Posted by James - February 14, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Categories: Odd / Strange

    Curry is the No.1 home cooking dish in Japan!?

    Speaking of popular dish of home cooking, miso soup or stew have been the typical examples. But among teens today, curry and rice is ranked as the best of all exceeding “Nikujaga” (simmered meat and potatoes), hamburger steak, and many other popular dishes.

    According to statistics, the Japanese eat curry and rice 84 times yearly, which means every 4 days. Especially the people of Tottori are somehow crazy for curry flavor and taste. In fact Tottori prefecture is planning to boost the development of their prefecture with curry!

    They enjoy various curry flavored cuisines, such as curry Zouni in new year and curry Taiyaki for snack, for example. There are as many as 200 kinds of curry sauces available in supermarkets in Tottori. Nevertheless the population of Tottori prefecture is smallest in Japan, their curry consumption has recorded as No.1 in Japan several times so far.

    Why are they so crazy about curry?
    It’s because Tottori is where pickled shallots are produced, which are considered good match for curry. It’s also said that the people in Tottori are rather conservative, and they tend to stick to the foods they like. Curry is just a good example. Curry is also convenient for double-income family because it’s kept for days once it’s cooked.

    How would you like to eat curry coffee, curry cake, curry ice cream, curry parfait with a pickled shallot on the top and whatever you name it with curry flavor?
    I’d feel bored of all curry tastes, especially sweets with curry taste just look yuck, even if I am told it’s my silly prejudice against them. :p

    Do you like Japanese curry?
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    Contributor Bio: Kirin is a Japanese woman spending her life so far somewhere around Tokyo. She now works from home and is also spreading Japanese kawaii culture and etc. through her popular blog, Tokyo Kawaii,etc.

    20 comments - What do you think?  Posted by kirin - at 8:11 am

    Categories: Japanese Food

    Photos of heart-shaped things


    “Zoom In TV” shows off some photos of heart-shaped stuff that its viewers submitted for a Valentine’s Day contest:

    Heart-shaped teeth, nostrils, yogurt marks, puddles, lakes, Tabasco sauce, and even air pollution!

    3 comments - What do you think?  Posted by James - at 7:41 am

    Categories: Odd / Strange

    Airplanes collide to celebrate Valentine’s Day


    Am I the only one out there who is mildly confused by Aflac’s use of a mid-air collision between two propeller planes in its “Happy Valentine” commercial?

    5 comments - What do you think?  Posted by James - at 7:36 am

    Categories: Odd / Strange

    Annoyed man doesn’t like to wait


    Congratulations, impatient guy waiting in line! Your “bloody long” line sound bite made it onto the Japanese news coverage of the Vancouver Olympics:

    6 comments - What do you think?  Posted by James - at 7:33 am

    Categories: Japanese TV

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