Thursday, October 25, 2007

Through Otaku Eyes: Article from World-Largest-Newspaper


photo by geroine

Yomiuri Shimbun(Newspaper) is approved by Guiness Book to have the world-highest newspaper circulation(about 10,000,000 copies daily).

In addition, this newspaper is gathering wide attention by Japanese otaku, as this paper published an article introducing otaku culture.

The important point is that, these article is not like ordinary article written by non-otaku, such as "moe is sweeping in Japan!" I'd like to list some of the titles:

Imouto(younger sister) Moe
Legend of Futari-wa-Pretty-Cure
Our Dojinshi was sold out in Comic Market!

What deep themes they are dealing with! Please think as if, in New York Times, it is discussed how Nagisa and Honoka is moe :-) No other newspapers have this sort of articles about latest otaku culture.

These articles are written by two full-time journalist who are otaku themselves: Fukuda Makoto and Ishida Kanta.

It is disappointing this regular series was finished, however, they are still active in writing otaku-related articles and introducing midnight moe anime.

And now, they started to write otaku articles on The Daily Yomiuri(English paper published by Yomiuri Shimbun).

Here are links to recent articles. Why don't you read them?
THROUGH OTAKU EYES / It’s no longer Japan’s secret: Cosplay is sweeping the globe(cache)
THROUGH OTAKU EYES / Romantic sighs of ’moe’ unheard by loves(cache)
THROUGH OTAKU EYES / ’Eva’ rebuilt, but not epoch-making(cache)

Friday, October 12, 2007

GURU-CON: concept


with Chiffon,
photo by Rokunon

I wanted to report the last Kigurumi-Only-Event "GURU-CON 1st," however, there have been few blogs reporting the convention and I have just few photos. Thus, today I'd like to show the concept of GURU-CON, translated by myself:

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Introduction to GURU-CON: Concept

We aim at producing the space, which EVERY kigurumi-lovers and ONLY kigurumi-lovers could come. In the cosplay conventions in amusement park, we must pay much attention to surroinding circumstances, and should be supported by people without masks, as there are many people including who are not familiar with kigurumi, and children. On the other hand, we could hardly join in off-line meeting held privately, if we don't know well each other.

GURU-CON offers the chance to be absorbed in playing kigurumi, by arranging it OPEN everybody-can-join event in Tokyo(where people are easy to go). Our concept is to create "open but closed space."

GURU-CON has moderately large space, thus kigurumis won't need any support. It would make it easyer to join in, even for who play kigurumi in the first time in front of the audience . In addition, photographers can take photos and videos without regulations. Furthermore, people would play with kigurumis without annoyed by other people's sights (since everyone in the hall is kigurumi-lovers!)

We hope to provide,For kigurumis, the DELIGHT to gather attention.For photographers, the ENJOYMENT to be absorbed in.For other people, the HAPPINESS surround by kigurumis.

Written by GURU-CON executive committee
Translated by TOMOE-project/SeraphicSteps/Silphy
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By the way, I went to listen to a handbell concert held at a Christian university(Rikkyo Univ, St. Paul's) today. What a confortable sound it was! In the same way some people outside Japan are attracted to Japanese traditional music, I think...

I like Japanese traditional music, but when I hear the sound of Ohayashi(Music of Festival), I would think "Oh, the season of Omatsuri(Festival) comes! Excited!" than "What a good music!"

In the radio English program, the foreign lecturer said he likes Noh(Briefly, Japanese musical), but for me it's far difficult to understand... Foreign people would see our tradition in other way than ours, I think. (On the other hand, I like the Japanese puppet show, Bunraku.)

PS. Natsuki-san updated the link page, and this post has the aim to test the new system :P)

Monday, October 1, 2007

Nice Boat.



Did you watch the final episode of the anime School Days?

... What a nice boat wasn't it! (lol

(For people who don't know: The air of School Days, which included the expression of juvenile murder, was stopped, after the REAL juvenile murder. The image of boat was displayed on TV alternatively.)

Just a day later, influenced by English speaker's comment "Nice Boat.", this word came to be quite popular in otaku community in Japan. What a tight relations beyond language!