Cup Ramen Kitten
A Japanese blogger puts a kitten in a noodle cup:
More kitteh videos are available at hamia0419′s YouTube channel.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Categories: General Japan
Chinese Patrol Ships Spotted Near Senkaku Islands
Chinese patrol boats have once again been spotted near the Senkaku Islands:
The Coast Guard said its aircraft found one Chinese ship at around 8:25 a.m. about 37 kilometers west-northwest of the islands just outside Japan’s territorial waters.
It said it warned by radio that the ships — one of which was confirmed to be a state-of-the-art fishery patrol boat capable of carrying around two helicopters — should not enter Japanese waters. The Chinese ships responded that they were on a legitimate mission, it added.
The Senkaku Islands, administered by Japan but also claimed by China, have been at the center of one of the worst bilateral diplomatic spats in years since the Sept. 7 collisions between Chinese and Japanese vessels near there. After the collisions, Beijing sent patrol vessels to the disputed waters several times.
Apparently these “fishery patrol boats” are newer models than the other Chinese patrol boats that have been spotted before in that area.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Categories: General Japan
The Iron Folding Fan as a Weapon
Iron folding fans are too heavy to be practical for most people. According to the Mezamshi TV segment embedded below, that makes them one of the least popular products on the Rakuten online shopping site.
As the clip shows, they aren’t meant to be used the same way as paper folding fans. The iron folding fan was used as a weapon during the samurai era, and some people still study tessenjutsu, the martial art of the Japanese war fan.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Categories: General Japan
Harry Potter Fandom in Japan
The new Harry Potter film has hit Japanese theaters today. Here’s an NTV news report about Harry Potter fandom in Japan, including some interviews with the actors:
Most of the main stars did not come to Japan for the release, but Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, and Evanna Lynch were in Tokyo. They give
Also included in the report: a Harry Potter merchandise store has opened in Ikebukuro’s Tobu department store. It was opened to commemorate the release of this film, and will only remain open until November 23rd. It has a sorting hat on display, one that was “possibly” worn by the actors in the film.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Categories: Celebrity News
Chimpanzee Athlete Masters Golf, Bowling, and Soccer
On last week’s “Shimura Zoo,” there was an update on how chimpanzee performer Pan-kun had improved his skills in various sports:
The clip contains footage of a younger Pan-kun trying each sport for the first time, followed by footage of the current Pan-kun re-trying each sport.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Categories: Animal Videos
Man Arrested for Anime Pillow Case Piracy
A 25-year-old Chinese man has been arrested for selling unlicensed copies of anime girl pillow cases:
The man was attending vocational school in Japan, and said he used the proceeds from the pillow case sales to pay his school tuition. Police say he raised about 100,000 yen from the sale of some 200 pillow cases.
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
Categories: Odd / Strange, Otaku & Anime