Anime & Manga Japan / Hello Kitty / Background

(Yuko Shimizu, creator of Hello Kitty, in 2010)
Hello Kitty was designed by Yuko Shimizu and was added to the lineup of early Sanrio characters in 1974. The character's first appearance on an item was a vinyl coin purse in Japan where she was pictured sitting between a bottle of milk and a goldfish bowl. She first appeared in the United States in 1976.

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Anime & Manga Japan / Crunchyroll streams anime in Latin America

The U.S.-based anime distributor Chrunchyroll Inc. expanded its streaming services aimed at Latin American countries in April.
The company says it is now simultaneously broadcasting Japanese-speaking anime titles with Spanish subtitles in such countries as Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela and Colombia.

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Anime & Manga Japan / Fuji TV to stream content on YouTube

Fuji Television started streaming its content on YouTube starting in April, the company said.
The Japanese broadcaster has set up its official channel on the video-sharing website, offering six programs--three news programs, two variety shows and one anime.

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Cool Japan / Asakusa (浅草) / Tokyo



(The Kaminarimon, with its giant chochin, the outer gate of Senso-ji Temple)
Asakusa is on the north-east fringe of central Tokyo, at the eastern end of the Ginza subway line, approximately one mile east of the major Ueno railway/subway interchange. It is central to the area colloquially referred to as Shitamachi, which literally means "low city," referring to the low elevation of this old part of Tokyo, on the banks of the Sumida River. As the name suggests, the area has a more traditionally Japanese atmosphere than some other neighborhoods in Tokyo do.

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Cool Japan / Tohoku Rokkon Festival (Tohoku Six-Soul Festival)

Tohoku Rokkon Festival 2011 digest / 東北六魂祭　2011年ダイジェスト

Tohoku Rokkon Festival is the biggest festival in the history of the Tohoku region. The purpose of this festival is to recover the spirit of the Tohoku people after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The name of the festival means the six souls (Rokkon) representing 6 festivals in the Tohoku region, gathering at the same place as 1 festival.
Visit the Link:http://www.rokkon.jp/index_en.html

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Cool Japan / Sanja Matsuri (三社祭 / Three Shrine Festival)

(Yakuza members display their full-body tattoos while carrying a mikoshi)
Sanja Matsuri (三社祭, literally "Three Shrine Festival"), or Sanja Festival, is one of the three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo, along with the Kanda Matsuri and Sannō Matsuri. It is considered one of the wildest and largest. The festival is held in honor of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established and founded Senso-ji. Sanja Matsuri is held on the third weekend of every May at Asakusa Shrine. Its prominent parades revolve around three mikoshi (three portable shrines referenced in the festival's name), as well as traditional music and dancing. Over the course of three days, the festival attracts 1.5 to 2 million locals and tourists every year.

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Cool Japan / Bijin-bayashi (美人林 / Bijin-bayashi Forest)

【Japanese Beech Forest】Bijin Bayashi 十日町松之山 美人林 一面に生い茂るブナ林


Located in Matsunoyama-machi, Niigata Prefecture, this virgin forest has an area of 3 hectares, where 70-year-old Japanese beech trees bristle all around. The forest is nicknamed “Bijin-bayashi Forest” (beautiful woman forest) because the slender and carefree figure of a beech tree looks like a standing beautiful woman.

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Cool Japan / Traditional Japanese Sweets and Snacks

Traditional Japanese sweets, called “wagashi” in Japanese, are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat. Often created in the shape of leaves, flowers, and other articles of nature, wagashi represents Japan’s four distinct changing seasons and appeal to all five of the human senses. Wagashi are commonly served as the Japanese tea ceremony sweets.

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Cool Japan / ‘Jika-tabi’ footwear becomes the rage to walk like a Japanese

(Sandal-type jika-tabi)
KYOTO--It's becoming comfortable and stylish to "walk like a Japanese," in traditional “jika-tabi” split-toe footwear that has long given much-needed traction and comfort to construction workers and miners.
The Japanese-style work shoe can be found in one of the clothing stores and assorted sundries shops in Shinkyogoku district here that are operated by apparel brand Sou Sou. The name of the shop selling the shoes is “Sou Sou Tabi.”

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Cool Japan / Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Leaf Crest Festival)

One of the traditional events named "Aoi Matsuri Festival" is coming soon here in Kyoto.
This is the annual festival of Shimogamo - jinja Shrine and Kamigamo - jinja Shrine. Its actual name is Kamo Festival. Along with the Gion Festival and the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages), it is one of the three big festivals in Kyoto. Featured is a gorgeous parade in the style of the ancient Heian Court. Everything in the parade is adorned with the hollyhock leaf crest, also called "aoi" _ thus the name of the festival. The parade leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 in the morning. The 700-meter-long parade passes Shimogamo - jinja Shrine and heads for Kamigamo - jinja Shrine Shrine.

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Cool Japan / Constitution Memorial Day

Today, May 3, is the "Constitution Memorial Day" and one of national holodays here in Japan.
Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日) is a national holiday in Japan. It takes place on May third in celebration of the promulgation of the 1947 Constitution of Japan. It is a part of the collection of holidays known as Golden Week.

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Cool Japan / 'The Scream' sold for nearly $120 million

("The Scream" by Edvard Munch)
According to CNN News, "'The Scream' sold for nearly $120 million".

New York (CNN) -- A pastel version of "The Scream" by Edvard Munch fetched nearly $120 million from an anonymous buyer Wednesday at Sotheby's in New York, setting a new world record for a work of art sold at auction.
Experts had expected the masterpiece to break new ground at the famed New York auction house; its presale estimate of at least $80 million was the highest ever listed at Sotheby's.
It sold for $119,922,500, which includes the premium paid to Sotheby's.

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Cool Japanese / Yu Darvish, Josh Hamilton snag April honors

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was named American League player of the month and Yu Darvish earned AL rookie of the month honors for April.
Hamilton, who turns 31 this month, led the league with nine homers, 25 RBIs, 64 total bases and a .744 slugging percentage and was second with a .395 batting average in 22 April games.

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借りぐらしのアリエッティ「Arrietty's Song」

Arrietty'song en français

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Cool Japan / Cool Japanese Person / Veteran Japanese singer tops foreign album charts

Saori Yuki Scat of the daybreak

Saori Yuki (由紀さおり, born November 13, 1948) is a Japanese singer and actress. She was born as Akiko Yasuda (安田 章子) in Kiryu, Gunma, Japan and raised in Yokohama. She started her singing career with her older sister Sachiko as a child singer. Although in 1965 she debuted with her first single "Hitchhike Musume (Hitchhiking girl)" from King Records (Japan) as Akiko Yasuda, the result was not successful and had not been for a few years.

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Cool Japan / Amazing japanese!! cool japan ...and otaku


(Otaku Room)
Otaku (おたく / オタク) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.
Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family (お宅), which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun. The modern slang form, which is distinguished from the older usage by being written only in hiragana (おたく) or katakana (オタク), or rarely in romaji, appeared in the 1980s.

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Cool Japan / Gyoza (餃子/ギョーザ)


(Gyoza (餃子/ギョーザ) A la carte)
The Japanese word Gyoza (ギョーザ, ギョウザ) was derived from the reading of 餃子 in the Shandong Chinese dialect (giaozi) and is written using the same Chinese characters pronounced with Japanese sounds. The selection of characters indicates that the word is of non-Japanese origin.

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Cool Japan / Uomi-dake (魚見岳 / Mt. Uomidake)


(Uomi-dake (魚見岳 / Mt. Uomidake), Right side photo is that of Spring season)
Mt. Uomidake (Fish-Seeing Mountain), 214.8 m above sea level, is a low mountain near the central part of Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is said that it was named so because fishermen watched the movements of fish schools from the top of the mountain.

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Cool Japan / Chinzeitaisha-Suwa-jinja (鎮西大社　諏訪神社 / Chinzeitaisha Suwa Shrine)


(Chinzeitaisha-Suwa-jinja (鎮西大社　諏訪神社 / Chinzeitaisha Suwa Shrine))
Suwa Shrine is located in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, and it is also commonly known as Chinzeitaisha. This shrine is the main shrine in Nagasaki that honors the Suwa, Morisaki and Sumiyoshi Deities.

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Cool Japan / Tategami-iwa Kagoshima (立神岩 鹿児島 / Tategami Rock in Kagoshima)


(Tategami-iwa Kagoshima (立神岩 鹿児島 / Tategami Rock in Kagoshima))
Tategami (Standing God) Rock is a huge rock with a height of 42 m located about 300 in the offing of Makurazaki Port in Makurazaki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a landmark of Makurazaki Coast. From its mysterious shape, it is thought to be the guardian god of the port who brings bumper catch and navigation safety.

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Cool Japan / 3.11 THE DAY WE NEVER FORGET via NHK World


Taking up herewith NHK World's activety. NHK World is planning the following.
Send Your Messages!
Your Comments Make Our Programs!
NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN will broadcast special programs during the period from March 6th to 11th, marking one year since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March last year.

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Cool Japan / Japan enlists foreign bloggers to revive tsunami-hit tourist biz

Japan enlists foreign bloggers to revive tsunami-hit tourist biz
The Register - Feb 9, 2012

The Japanese government is trying to get foreign bloggers to do PR for it by inviting them to earthquake- and tsunami-hit areas to write compassionately about the progress being made in reconstructing the ravaged north-east of the country. The Foreign Ministry thought up the idea in a bid to revive the disaster-hit nation's ailing tourist industry, which has been understandably affected by the events of last March, according to the Mainichi Daily News. Advertisement Perhaps more optimistically, it also wants the bloggers to let their readers know that the tsunami- and quake-affected areas around Sendai are still appealing holiday destinations. The report reveals that the foreign bloggers have been arriving thick and fast, with a total of 10 invited to the Land of the Rising Sun. (The Register)

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Anime & Manga Japan / Tottori to host manga summit in November


(Anime and manga industry officials have vowed to support the 13th International Manga Summit to be held in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, in November. Second from right is
Tottori Prefecture Governor Shinji Hirai while at right is Yonago Mayor Yasuo Nozaka.)
Tottori prefectural government officials said they will host the 13th International Manga Summit on Nov. 7-11 at the Yonago Convention Center in Yonago city.

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Anime & Manga Japan / Disney's 'The Secret World of Arrietty': movie review (+trailer)

Disney's 'The Secret World of Arrietty': movie review (+trailer)
WickedLocalArts - Posted Feb 17, 2012

(The film 'The Secret World of Arrietty' is a captivating coming-of-age story about Arrietty,
the daughter of tiny people who encounters a big world.)
... "Arrietty" was co-written by Miyazaki and directed by his protégé Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Gary Rydstrom directed the English-language version. The English-language screenplay, in which new dialogue by American voice-over actors had to painstakingly match the mouth movements of the animated characters speaking Japanese, was written by Karey Kirkpatrick. ...

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Anime / FLCL (フリクリ) / Fooly Cooly


FLCL (フリクリ, pronounced in English as Fooly Cooly) is an original video animation series written by Yōji Enokido, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which included Gainax, Production I.G, and Starchild Records.

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Anime & Manga Japan / “Usagi Drop” TV series, the anime and Puffy’s official websites announced.


Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura, who make up the girl pop duo Puffy, or Puffy AmiYumi, will guest star on the popular “Usagi Drop” (Bunny Drop) animated TV series, the anime and Puffy’s official websites announced.
They will make an appearance in the form of anime characters in the ninth episode, which will air on Sept. 1, the websites said.

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Anime & Manga Japan / VIZ Media, Autodesk form Art for Hope project to help disaster-stricken Japan


VIZ Media, LLC, the largest Japanese manga publisher in North America, and Autodesk Inc., a leading developer and distributor in 3-D design, engineering and entertainment software, have joined hands to assist quake-recovery efforts for Japan, the companies said.
Under their collaboration called Art for Hope, artists are invited to create illustrations using the Autodesk SketchBook application to create works with the theme of hope for recovery. VIZ Media will compile them into a digital art book anthology that will be available through the Viz Manga App for Apple Inc.’s iOS devices and portal site VIZManga.com.

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Anime & Manga Japan / Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal


Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal, known in Japan as Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen (追憶編 Recollection or Reminiscence), is an OVA series that serves as a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin anime television series. It was released in Japan in 1999, and was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and written by Masashi Sogo.

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Anime & Manga Japan / Kinema Junpo releases customizable personal film database Kinenote


Kinema Junposha Co., publisher of long-established film magazine Kinema Junpo, said it set up a website on Jan. 20 that offers a customizable personal and interactive film database called Kinenote.
The Kinenote works with one of the nation's largest film databases that contains data for about 50,000 Japanese and foreign films and more than 200,000 tips of information on film-related personnel.

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Anime & Manga Japan / Ghibli's 'The Secret World of Arrietty' to hit U.S. cinemas Feb. 17


Studio Ghibli's The Secret World Of Arrietty - adapted from Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers - arrives on US screens February 17th and local distributors Disney have just released a handful of new clips from the film.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

“Under Night In-Birth” – First Footage Available
Posted by pKjd on Feb 17, 2012 @ 2:48 am

｢原田さんなんだから原田さんだろ｣ by (真風)

A playable build of French Bread’s (Melty Blood) latest 2D fighter, ｢Under Night In-Birth｣, was on display at the AOU Amusement Expo event held today. The official arcade release is expected to be out in Fall of this year. In the meantime, you can check out the very first footage of the game and how it’s coming along after the cut.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

“Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus” – Coming to PSN and XBLA!
Posted by pKjd on Feb 17, 2012 @ 2:29 am

｢ディズィー｣ by (そと)

At the AOU Amusement Expo event held today, Arc System Works announced it will port their 2008 FG title, ｢Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus｣, over to the home console — Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The news is in addition to their arcade release of the game made earlier this week. There is no release date for either one as of yet.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

“Eureka Seven AO” – Trailer
Posted by pKjd on Feb 16, 2012 @ 8:48 am

｢エウレカ新作おめでとうございます｣ by (hajime)

Animation studio Bones has released an official trailer for the upcoming TV series, ｢Eureka Seven AO｣. Its broadcast is slated to begin on April 12th on MBS.

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Recruitment of NHK Cast regarding Cool Japan Program by NHK

We are looking for participants who have lived in Japan for less than one year to appear on the television show COOL JAPAN.
(「COOL JAPAN」では出演してくれる来日して１年未満の外国人の方を募集しています。)

Interested parties are requested to fill out the following questionnaire.
Please review the questionnaire carefully and answer each question.
(出演を希望なさる方は下記応募フォームに必要事項を記入の上ご応募ください。)

An incomplete questionnaire will not be considered.
(必要事項を必ずご記入下さい。)

All questionnaires will be reviewed and those best suited depending upon the content/topic of each episode will be contacted.
(記入漏れがある場合、ご希望にお応えできない場合があります。予めご了承下さい。)

COOL JAPAN is recorded at NHK's main television studio located in Shibuya.
(収録は東京渋谷NHKで行います。)

Each applicant is requested to fill out a questionnaire.
(当選された方のみ、詳しいお知らせをメールいたします。)

Please note that all collected personal information is only used in connection with COOL JAPAN and will not be shared with any other parties.
(※電話番号や住所などの個人情報を「COOL JAPAN」の番組制作以外の目的で利用することはありません。)
(詳しくはこちらのページをご覧下さい→個人情報保護について)

Cool Japan by NHK

Vending machines
Kamile Chelsea “Miho” C. Penilla
Filipina

Among the many things I love about Japan is the availability of vending machines. It provides easy access to drink for travelers. Nothing beats taking a walk early in the morning, stopping by a vendo and taking the time to choose what to get. A bottle of cold water? Juice to freshen up? Or perhaps a can of iced coffee for energy? Some machines even sell ice cream!Great for Summer! Accessibility, relief, choice. Absolutely COOL!
Please visit http://www.nhk.or.jp/cooljapan/mycool/120121_01.html

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Cool Japan / Japan enlists foreign bloggers to revive tsunami-hit tourist biz
Japan enlists foreign bloggers to revive tsunami-hit tourist biz
The Register - Feb 9, 2012

The Japanese government is trying to get foreign bloggers to do PR for it by inviting them to earthquake- and tsunami-hit areas to write compassionately about the progress being made in reconstructing the ravaged north-east of the country. The Foreign Ministry thought up the idea in a bid to revive the disaster-hit nation's ailing tourist industry, which has been understandably affected by the events of last March, according to the Mainichi Daily News. Advertisement Perhaps more optimistically, it also wants the bloggers to let their readers know that the tsunami- and quake-affected areas around Sendai are still appealing holiday destinations. The report reveals that the foreign bloggers have been arriving thick and fast, with a total of 10 invited to the Land of the Rising Sun. (The Register)

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Cool Japan / Cool Vending Machines in Tokyo Japan

(A full line of vending machines in a hospital cafeteria, including machines
for drinks, snacks, and microwaveable foods.)
A vending machine is a machine which dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, alcohol, cigarettes, lottery tickets, consumer products and even gold and gems to customers automatically, after the customer inserts currency or credit into the machine.

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Anime & Manga News by Anime & Manga Japan Net

Anime & Manga Japan / Ghibli's 'The Secret World of Arrietty' to hit U.S. cinemas Feb. 17

Studio Ghibli's The Secret World Of Arrietty - adapted from Mary Norton's novel The Borrowers - arrives on US screens February 17th and local distributors Disney have just released a handful of new clips from the film.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

Weekly Vocaloid Ranking #227
Posted by pKjd on Feb 10, 2012 @ 5:26 pm

｢VOCALOIDを描いて見た｣ by (YTEA)

This is your Weekly VocaRan countdown #227 — with music package♫ — for the week ending February 6th, 2012.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

“Arcana Famiglia” – PSP Game to TV Anime Adaptation
Posted by pKjd on Feb 9, 2012 @ 8:13 pm

According to Animate.tv, Comfort Soft’s otome-adventure PSP game series, ｢Arcana Famiglia – La storia della Arcana Famiglia -｣ , will be receiving a TV anime adaptation. It is scheduled to air this summer season.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

“Strike Witches” – Movie Trailer
Posted by pKjd on Feb 8, 2012 @ 12:58 am

Earlier today, Kadokawa released a 2-minute trailer for the upcoming ｢Strike Witches｣ film. You may find it after the cut.

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Anime & Manga News by moetron 萌トロン

Weekly Vocaloid Ranking #226
Posted by pKjd on Feb 3, 2012 @ 1:31 am

「姉弟喧嘩」 by (ﾀﾑﾗ)

This is your Weekly VocaRan countdown #226 — with music package♫ — for the week ending January 30th, 2012.

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Cool Japan / Japanese curry

(Curry rice (カレーライス) / Image)
Curry (カレー) is one of the most popular dishes in Japan. It is commonly served in three main forms: curry rice (カレーライス), kare udon (thick noodles) and kare-pan (bread). Curry rice is most commonly referred to simply as 'curry' (カレー).

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Cool Japan / Last Ninja becomes university professor

(Left: Jinichi Kawakami, 62 / Right: Ninja (忍者) Image)
A man known as the "last ninja" has become a specially appointed professor at Mie University in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, to study how to apply information-gathering and other ninja techniques in the field of business.
Jinichi Kawakami, 62, the 21st head of the Koga ninja clan, assumed the post to teach ninja know-how at the university's Community-University Cooperation Center as of Dec. 1.

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Cool Japan / Kinoshita-koma (木ノ下駒 / Wooden Horse Toys)

(Kinoshita-koma (木ノ下駒 / Wooden Horse Toys))
The Kinoshita-koma wooden horse toy is a traditional handicraft handed down in Kinoshita in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Kinoshita-koma, along with Yawata-goma of Aomori Prefecture and Miharu-goma of Fukushima Prefecture, are known as the three best wooden horse toys of Japan.

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Cool Japan!　Nostalgic

Cool Japan!　Nostalgic

COOL JAPAN - Discovering what makes Japan cool! COOL JAPAN is a term that describes the growing international interest in Japan. From the worlds of fashion, anime, architecture to cuisine, the cultural aspects of Japanese society that have long been left undiscovered are starting to make a strong impact on global trends.

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Cool Japan / Shimekazari (注連飾り / Fukuoka, Miyazaki)

(Shimekazari (注連飾り / Fukuoka, Miyazaki))
Shimekazari is said to come from shimenawa rope which is used in shrines to mark the boundaries of a sacred area.

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Cool Japan / Prix de Lausanne 2012

A prize from the moment of Lausanne International Ballet Competition 2012
(2012ローザンヌ国際バレエコンクール一位受賞の瞬間から)

Congratulations for Madoka Sugai!!!

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Cool Japan / Shimekazari (注連飾り / Shimane, Yamaguchi)

(A shimenawa at Izumo Taisha.)
Shimekazari, a New Year’s decoration, in some parts of the Chugoku region often uses red chilies along with shide, a zigzag-shaped paper streamer, and a bitter orange called daidai.

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Cool Japan / Kadomatsu (門松)

(Kadomatsu of East Japan(Kanto region))
A kadomatsu (門松, literally "gate pine") is a traditional Japanese decoration of the New Year placed in pairs in front of homes to welcome ancestral spirits or kami of the harvest.

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Cool Japan / Ice sculptures, snow slides at Hokkaido fest

Ice sculptures, snow slides at Hokkaido fest
Japan Times - Feb 3, 2012

(Winter in the city: Scenes from last year's Sapporo Snow Festival show
the range of activities available for visitors to enjoy.)
The City of Sapporo will be hosting the 63rd annual Snow Festival this month. The event is considered a "must see" for tourists and about 2 million people visited the festival last year. The main draw is a collection of sculptures created entirely out of snow and ice. This year, organizers say that 222 sculptures will be on display. The festival is held at three different sites in the city. The main site is at Odori Park, which is in the middle of downtown Sapporo. The site will feature 136 sculptures, and stages that will host a variety of performances scheduled to take place throughout the week.(Japan Times)

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