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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