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 Nes by Cool Japan Guide

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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