22.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Pikachu girl
Just saw this over at Temple University Japan, where I sometimes do guest lectures. Maybe I might join the Manga Club, too! Any thoughts on the quality of this Pikachu girl? I want to know up front if I am out of my league drawing wise...
Tags: Weird 0 Comments
18.12.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Patrick heads to AniFusion NYC
While sifting through a few piles of "Droppings" over at one of our
fellow comrade's online portholes; I was pointed to some free PR for AniFusion NYC. Thanks for the laugh by the way. So if you happen to be in New York the event will be taking place this Sunday December 20th over at Forbidden Planet New York City. As always Patrick is happy to talk about his research and personal opinion about the pros and cons of the Otaku status in and outside of Japan.
“AniFusion NYC: A One-Day Celebration of American/Japanese-Pop Fusion” on Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 2:00 PM ~ 5:00 PM at Forbidden City (212 Avenue A, New York, NY 1009, between 13th and 14th).
Tags: Otaku International Academic 0 Comments
15.12.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Hello Kitty Loves Nerds?
Here's a new bag to go with a geek's fashionable ensemble while roaming around Akihabara. Is this a case of "Hello Kitty Loves Nerds", or perhaps it's another case of Engrish and should actually read "I'm a Nerd"? So what do you think Patrick; is this just more Hello Kitty is moe merchandise?
Tags: Otaku Fujoshi 2 Comments
07.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Otaku academic conference in Ottawa
I will be presenting on the potential, and limits, of moe and talking about my . Thomas LaMarre, who recently published a on anime, will also be in attendance. I believe in addition to our presentations we will dialogue about otaku. Looking forward to seeing how the event turns out! BTW, the name of the conference is in fact "Oniichan, what does moe mean?" This was not my idea, and yes, this is a real event. Just in case there are any doubts.
2010年1月にカナダのオタワ大学で「おたく」というテーマで学術発表会が開かれます。私は「萌え」について発表する予定で、トマス・ラマール先生はアニメについて発表するようです。それから、私と先生はおたくの社会的生態について対話します。因に、発表会のタイトルは「お兄ちゃん、萌えって何?」になってしまいました。本当に。これはネタではありません!
06.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Hatune Miku at the blood bank
I reported a while back that the blood bank in Akihabara is targeting otaku men (story here). Since then, the humble little Red Cross room has opened a new location on the other side of the station. To commemorate the event, they are giving away a limited number of exclusive, official Hatsune Miku goods. If there was any doubt that they are courting the otaku crowd, this puts it to rest.
Tags: Akihabara Otaku 3 Comments
04.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Catholic school does maid cafe, and it's sexy
A friend sent me this from her school festival at Sophia University, a Jesuit school in central Tokyo. These girls picked up on the maid concept, but my goodness how they drew out the sexual undertones! I wonder what their spiritual advisors said about this? Seriously, it's like body parts - a body so sexed up it is broken down into parts. Is this how people see maid cafes? I hope not...
Tags: Maids 3 Comments
01.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Girly Gundam
Terrifying. Absolutely no excuse for this. I mean, mecha meets moe, I can see that in mecha shojo. But this? It's pink. Just wait - Macross is next in line.
Tags: Anime Otaku Weird 2 Comments
28.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Yodabashi Camera Akihabara stats
I was talking to the people who do the signage for Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara, and I heard some very interesting things:
1) Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara is the No. 2 largest electronics store in the world in terms of revenue (No. 1 is the Yodobashi store in Umeda)
2) The store stocks 850,000 distinct items
3) On average, 100,000 people come to the Yodobashi Camera Akihabara everyday. In comparison, Tokyo Disney Resort draws 40,000 to 50,000
4) Yodobashi Camera is the third largest electronics chain in Japan, but it only has 20 stores. Yamada Denki, the largest electronics franchise, has about 200 stores
5) The longest LED sign in Japan is on the top of the Yodobashi Camera store in Akihabara
Damn. Even if this is only partially true, that is one massive store…
Thanks to Max Hodges for the picture!
Tags: Akihabara 0 Comments
23.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Gigantor - Japan's pride
I was walking through Akihabara today, my birthday, and happened to notice this ad from Docomo. Gigantor is flying across the skies with Mt. Fuji in the background. It has been up for a while, but I guess I just didn't really notice it. Docomo has been pushing the nostalgia button a lot in ads of late, but in my mind the inclusion of Fuji here adds a distinct layer of national pride to this one. But honestly, who wouldn't be proud to have a son like Gigantor? I want to go see the statue in Kobe, but I'm broke... Happy birthday to me, and congrats on still being a bum.
Tags: CM Anime Akihabara 3 Comments
21.11.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Macross Frontier Part 2 movie title is???
Following the end credits of the Macross Frontier The False Diva Movie there was a very short clip of space battle animation and some illustration art of Ranka & Sheryl ending with the title for part two "サヨナラノツバサ “The Wings of farewell".
Tags: Anime 0 Comments
17.11.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Evangelion 1.01 English Dad...... I mean Dub.
I just watched the first 8 minuets of the Evangelion 1.01 English Dub on YouTube and I still think English dubbing still has a long way to go. I'm not against dubbing of anime totally, there's just hasn't been allot of quality dub jobs in the the last 5 years. The Eva clip in English is just far to soft, no edge, no tension in the majority of the voice acting. Shinji's lines about his dad should feel more shaken with a hint of mistrust, the English dialog delivery just feels way out of touch with the charter. I'm not even concerned about it being a perfect translation, my main issue is the lack of emotion and disconnect with the background music.
15.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Yoyogi Animation Gakuin and 'Cool Japan'
Just saw this sign and thought it was funny. After the failed Aso Taro administration, I thought there might be a general ban on using this ridiculous "Cool Japan" idea. Honestly, even if soft power does exist and nations can disseminate a positive image, does that mean anything if the nation has no hard power to back it up? Japan just looks like its overcompensating for the rise of China, which will eclipse it's military and economic influence very soon. Besides, doesn't cool become uncool as soon as old politicians and capitalists get their hands on it? And, I might add, Cool Japan takes its name from Cool Britannia, a failed image campaign of another island nation a decade ago...
Tags: Anime Cool Japan CM 4 Comments
13.11.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
2009 BOME Exhibition Psyche & Talk Event Dec. 11-23
"Kaikai Kiki Gallery" will be hosting BOME's upcoming exhibit and talk event in Tokyo. The event will be held from December 11 to the 23rd with a special talk live on Saturday December 12th from 18:00 - 19:00. Talk event will feature Bome and voice actresses "Ikezawa Haruna" and "Ami Koshimizu" with Cospa's Yamaken as MC. This time I'm not going to miss the exhibit like I did the Parco one.
Event will be held at:
Kaikai Kiki Gallery
Tokyo Motoazabu Crest Building B1F
2-3-30Motoazabu
Minato-ku, Tokyo
12.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Momoi Halko in Akihabara
I met Momoi Halko, idol, seiyuu and self-described Akiba-kei otaku, in Akihabara to discuss moe. She had some fascinating things to say, including a strong opinion that moe can and will travel around the world. Her evidence was a recent world tour where fans responded to Komugi-chan and Seto no Hanayome. I can't think of a better ambassador for Akiba and moe culture than Momoi Halko, who was doing street lives here back in 1996 and was among the first to not use a pseudonymn when singing eroge songs. Thanks to Momoi-san for her time, and signing my copy of her book, and Fritz Schumann for taking some great pics!
09.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
I see Kitty everywhere...
Chalk this one up to an obsessive-compulsive personality, but I can't stop seeing Hello Kitty around town. Damn you, Sanrio! Why did you have to sink your claws into me?! I am having a hard enough time controlling the output from KyoAni and Gonzo, and now this... My life is over...
Tags: Moe 0 Comments
07.11.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
K-Books Akihabara Renewal Ikebukuro Style
K-Books Akiba in the Radio Kaikan recently went under the re-grand opening knife and was closed from Oct. 27th and re-opened on this past Tuesday's National holiday Culture Day Nov. 3rd. I checked out the new K-Books and man was it a major improvement. There is more of an organized Ikebukuro Otome Road shop feel to it, the only thing missing is the BL stuff. The old set up was a mess, now it is well lit and the big cashier island is gone. If you are heading to Akiba this weekend make sure to stop by, just don't buy anything I have my eye on.
Tags: Doujinshi Figure Akihabara 0 Comments
03.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Know Akiba, get chicks
Newsflash from "R-25," a free information magazine in Tokyo:
"If you understand Akiba, then you might be popular overseas?"
「アキバがわかれば海外でモテる?」
OK, that is a new one on me. Granted, this is only a slogan written on a stand for the magazine, and I haven't seen any full article, but I just can't imagine that knowing about Akiba is going to help anybody anywhere meet women....
Tags: Akihabara CM Weird 2 Comments
01.11.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Academic article on moe published
My most recent article, "Moe: Exploring Virtual Potential in Post-Millennial Japan" has just been published in the Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal. Check it out here! Long be the age of affect!
「萌え」について論文を書かせて頂き、昨日アップされました。申し訳ないですが、英語のみですが、ご興味がありましたらご覧頂ければと思っております。詳しくはこちらへ。
Tags: Moe Academic 0 Comments