Welcome to Jap-anon

God Bless you, Japan!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 21:14:00 +0000

This one's been around a while, but just got given a copy of my very own and HAD to blog it!

Mostly they're ridiculous (*snort!*) but occasionally I think: "Hey...YEAH! That would be AWESOME!" :)

Lady Gaga arrives in Japan for tsunami charity gig

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:00:00 +0000

"Lady Gaga, dressed in green from head to toe, flew into Tokyo on Tuesday for a charity music event for the victims of the March 11 quake-tsunami disaster which devastated Japan's northeast.
Some 200 fans -- joined by a 50-strong media pack -- cheered her arrival at Narita airport, and the 25-year-old singer responded by raising her left hand with a wristband bearing the message "Pray for Japan" in Japanese and English."

Kudos, Lady G! -xx-

To read more, click here.

geisha

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:14:00 +0000

As you can probably tell, I have a bit of a geisha fascination. Probably ever since I read Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. Last year hubby and I travelled to Japan, and I got to fulfil my dream of seeing geiko and maiko, and wadering around the cobble-stoned, wooden store-fronts of Kyoto. Here are some photos I took.

As you can see - many people go out 'geisha watching' in Kyoto - you can see others taking pictures too. Often you had to jostle with a few others to get a good vantage point to take your pictures!

Coincidentally, we happened to visit Kyoto at the time of the Gion Festival - one of the biggest festivals in Japan. As part of this festival, I got to fulfil another dream and attend a Maiko evening at a local hotel. This meant I got to actually spend some one-on-one time with a real Maiko, and with the aid of a friendly -Japanese speaking - waitperson, ask some questions!

Conversation with Chikayoshi - Maiko from Pontocho District in Gion.

How long have you been training?
About 2.5 months, but I have been living in the Okiya for about 1.5 years now.

Why did you decide to become a Maiko?
I've always wanted to be one, and I've always loved dance.

If you hadn't become a Maiko, what would you have done?
I would have gone to high school.

What is your favourite Maiko skill?
Dance.

What do you find the most difficult?
Speaking in the traditional language of the hanamachi (geisha district). It's a very old fashioned Japanese dialect that Kyoto Geisha are expected to speak.

How long does it take you to get ready for your evening appointments?
About 2 hours.

Do you see your family much?
No, not much at all. It's very difficult.

What would you do on a typical day?
I love going to movies! When I take off my makeup and hair ornaments, it's like being in disguise!

Do Maiko and Geiko mind people taking their picture in the street?
No, not really. Sometimes when people say nothing and just jump out, it startles me! But if they say "Excuse me, can I take a picture?' I never mind.

Brave Japanese Kids Fight Zombie!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0000

This is probably child-abuse, but it's hella funny! Watch these awesome kids take on a Zombie (actor) who comes to their house!

It's from Weekly World News.

Put your kettle to the metal!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:10:00 +0000

This just in from Geekologie:

A new Japanese invention by Naoki Kawamoto, has some sort of electronically controlled flute attachment that allows the device to play a song instead of just a boring whistle when the water is boiling.

I was only thinking the other day how boring my kettle was... not.

Ramen-bot: Is making ramen.

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:12:00 +0000

WTF, Japan??? (Nan de yo, Nihon???) #1

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Ok. Right, so I get that some ppl collect dolls. That's cool. I'm loving my little figma collection. But what I don't get is the ppl who collect Blythe dolls. You ppl are serial killers in disguise. These dolls are FRIKKIN' CREEPY man! Do they not remind you of "Chucky"???

*Shiver* By-golly they give me the creeps. Think I need to hide under my bed for a little while.

Wearable Engrish.

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Bags and satchels are great places to find some Engrish in Japan. Here's some we found:

What do you do on the train?

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:26:00 +0000

Do you:

a) Text

b) Hang on for grim death

c) Sleep

d) Read, or

e) All of the above.

Tall persons beware!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:36:00 +0000

R says: Japan not built for tall people.

Yep - we saw it. It.s not...THAT big... :)

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Kagami: "No no no Mr Gundam, you're not really that big afterall!..."

"...Look, I can hold you up with one hand!"

R says: "Not much taller than me" (Guy in background must be incredibly short)

"Gimme a kiss, robo-boy!"

LOL....LOL LOL LOL

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:21:00 +0000

LOL - friend sent me this link, and thought I'd share!

31 legged race

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:09:00 +0000

Have you seen this?

Caught this by accident on Japanese TV, and man: It's intense! They profile the kids and the schools and the teachers... and the kids AND the teachers all cry if they don't win. Whoa.

More over at Japan Probe.

And now, for some Engrish.

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:07:00 +0000

IT'S AN F-ING BARGAIN!

Careful where you eat at the Museaum of Emerging Science and Technology...

Robert? He's always in the bath at this Kyoto Ryokan...

In Harajuku you can shop at Gucc... no wait... 'goocy'???

You waffle priviledges may be revoked.

...um...? (ecchi?)

And this was my steller find. I set Dalim a challenge to find an Engrish T-shirt, and we found this little gem at Uni Qlo. Had. To. Have. It.

Loot? You want loot?!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Okay then. You can has!

Here's a couple of pics of our loot on 2 occasions of our trip.

As you can see, the first pile had a few books and manga, but also Kagami and 'Nightmare before xmas' figure we picked up for our good mate who looked after our house and our pets while we were away. (It's his fave movie). There's Dalim's Neon Genesis figures, and yes: There's a book about minature dachshounds. (They're my fave dog, and you never really see them in Australia, but there's LOTS in Japan!)

Second loot pic has chopstick sets we bought for friends and family, Fate/Stay Night figures Saber and Rin, my first bento set in cute pale blue, some pics Dal bought for his mate in their band, and a squid and a pumpkin toy for our 2 pups. LOL - yep: They even got souveniers!

I might just add as an aside here, that Dal and I went to Japan with 8kg of luggage (2 cases). We were allowed 20kg each (40kg between us).

We came back with 39.9kg (3 suitcases)!!!

(We gave each other a high-five at the airport check-in desk)

Book covers! Sugoi!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:44:00 +0000

When you buy books in Japan, the stores cover them in these brown paper covers, and I LOVE IT! I wish they did it here! You see lots of japanese ppl reading on the train, and all their books have these nifty covers, or nice fabric ones you can buy. Can you guess what book I bought in this pic? ***

The only problem is, in Japan books are so cute and tiny - so none of their standard sized book covers fit books we buy over here! :( I want teeny Japanese books!

***(Answer: The Otaku Encyclopedia!)

Collection Start! (Figma vs Fraulein)

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Okay so we were only in Japan for 2 weeks... and maybe I went a bit crazy. But so did my husband, so it wasn't ALL my fault!!! LOL

Having seen Kagami from Lucky Star on Dc.com, I knew only that I wanted to get her as a figma. I have no other figures/models/daughters, and I knew I wanted to start a collection. But all I knew is that I wanted to start with Kagami.

And so... in Nakano Broadway...

...then things started to get a little crazy. So in Shibuya...

...and Kyoto...

...and Akihabara...

...and Ueno...

^^)

As you can see, Rin from Fate/Stay Night is a Fraulein Revoltech, which I also heard others recommending on various blogs/webrings. But I found her EXTREMELY frustrating. I am not the most patient person in the world, and if I wanted to pose Rin in a hurry - she just fell apart! Especially her shoulders. Have you had this problem before? Whereas the Figmas have their limbs joined with 'ball and sockets', Rin's are more like 'stick and socket', and her joints are just not forgiving. Hubby agrees. So we have decided to be Figma people for the time being, and we bought Rin as a Figma before we came home, and will prob look for a new home for Fraulein Rin. (Perferably someone who likes to leave their figures as nice still displays, and not take them on excursions like I do!)

Wanted to take a pic of all the Lucky Star girls posed like they were happy to see Miyuki, when she was finally added to the group, but my hubby reckons it looks more like they're zombies. 'Braaiinns...' LOL

Live from Kyoto, JAPAN!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:44:00 +0000

Teeny tiny post just to let you guys know I will be home and blogging again in a few days! Japan has been....

...indescribable (but I'll try!)

Some of the things I will be blogging when I get home are:

- Figma vs. Fraulein; the start of our collection!
- A new feature called "WTF JAPAN?! (Nan de yo, Nihon?!)" outlining some of the nutty things we saw
- THE GUNDAM
- ASIMO
- Food, glorious Japanese food!
- Manga, and anime: LOOT LOOT LOOT!

....and an interview with a REAL GION MAIKO. (Yep, you read that correctly! I'll reveal all soon!) I got the pics to proove it!

Stay tuned ppl! Ja mata ne!

See you in 2 weeks! YAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:01:00 +0000

We're off tomorrow! Should have some excellent news, pics, and loot to show you soon! Woot!

Gotta love Alodia!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Hey guys - just thought I'd post a few of my fave pics of cosplayer and model Alodia Gosienfiao. Some beautiful pics, and some wicked costumes. Enjoy!

Only 4 more sleeps!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:03:00 +0000

...and to celebrate: Some Engrish!

Kero kero neko!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:46:00 +0000

Check out this cute cat from Japan! (Borrowed...ok stolen... from Japanator)

OMG - classic! 'Frog-cat is happy'.

I just found this...

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:27:00 +0000

LOL LOL LOL - Danny, you are so cute! LOL

Look out!!! It's ROBO-GEISHA! (No: you didn't mis-read that)

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:44:00 +0000

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Yeah: you can watch the clip, but it wont make any more sense to you.

Watch the buildings bleed at her magnificence! Watch her hip-katanas! And what she does with fried shrimp at 1:44!!! It can't come out on video soon enough for me.

Pilfered from I Watch Stuff.

Broken transformer? Broken Gundam? No problem!

noreply@blogger.com (Anji (aka Darklyss)) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:29:00 +0000

This one might come in handy for figure.fm members... (In your Gundam-repair kit???).

Yep: That's one tiny drill. Nothing at all like this drill here.

Does it work? Yep; it does.

...."Awww come here you cute little drill! Come here! Come here! Let me snuggle you! C'mon! You are just so CUTE!"....erm... sorry.

Another corker from Geekologie.