Disqus - Latest Comments for nign

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:14:02 -0000

Additional notes:

What Magibon is doing there is called "acting cute" (or more literally, "pretending to be cute") in Taiwan. I don't know what the Japanese call it, but the concept and the perception should be close.

According to an unverifiable source (Taiwanese internet media), Magibon was originally a supermarket checkout clerk in America but became an internet sensation in Japan after beginning making these videos.

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:33:13 -0000

Just feel fortunate that you live far far away in a different culture and can enjoy kawaii in an entirely differently way: as a creative style, not as a way to say that you'd want to be dumb to be pleasing. :)

And in fact "kawaii-fication" is a form of sexualization in Japan. Kawaii girls are sex objects (objects = no reaction) that men marry; girls who are sexy in the North American way are sex objects that men feel licensed to harass and even rape.

Magibon's mannerism is actually sexually provocative. It really drives men wild, and not just otakus.

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:25:03 -0000

Just got my hands on the April Kera yesterday (btw, I don't like this issue.........) and realized that both Misako Aoki 青木美沙子 and Yu Kimura 木村優 are Kera's regular models. They just happen to be the kind I don't pay attention to. :P

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:21:21 -0000

Unfortunately, Misa is exactly what young girls who want to be popular among men want (and need) to be like.....

Like this: http://www.youtube.com/user...

Like Magibon above, girls who don't speak (i.e., have no opinion of their own) are even more kawaii and attractive, both there in Taiwan and in Japan.

I have every intention to emigrate. :p

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:15:55 -0000

The image of females in manga you get depends a lot on what you're reading... And what gets translated. In the last 6-7 years, strong, independent female characters are beginning to become commonplace in best-selling mangas by both male and female manga artists. A few that I know already enjoy some degree of popularity in both North America and Europe are Inu Yasha, Fullmetal Alchemist, and 20th Century Boys. The women in Fullmetal are especially strong. Inu Yasha and Fullmetal are both by female artists.

The change is especially prominent if you compare the female characters in today's popular mangas to what they were from a decade ago.

But I have to add that most of the "boys' mangas" still have only dumb, dependent girls and there is also an increasing popular subgenre of manga targeted at women of all age groups that features chauvinistic men who are strong, handsome and rich and always overrule the female protagonist (perceived as being "protective" and therefore "well intentioned"). I heard that manga of this subgenre often has rape scenes, which are often how the female lead has her first sexual encounter with the "prince in shining armor." I know this sounds crazy, but that's actually some kind of improvement compared to a decade ago, when mangas that were sold explicitly to women could not possibly have even nudity, let alone explicit sex scenes, and the female protagonist never ever could be sexually attracted to a man.

As for "I'll try my best to do X better," it's just a Japanese thing and not exclusive to girls who aim to be kawaii. :)

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:48:01 -0000

Glad to be of some help.:)

I was just skimming through my exploding RSS reader when I saw that one.

This should interest you too -- and is also relevant to today's post:

FRUiTS Magazine produced boutique opens in Shinjuku
http://www.cscoutjapan.com/...

Those four girls are FRUiTS street snaps regulars and I vividly recall seeing at least three of them on recent FRUiTS covers. The one in the green dress seems to appear in the street snaps of Zipper and CUTiE quite often as well. It looks like they have all become official FRUiTS store clerks.

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:29:38 -0000

Not sure if you've heard about this:

Japan inducts ambassadors of cute
http://www.cscoutjapan.com/...

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has recently declared three of Japan's pretty young things to be Pop Culture Ambassadors of the country…at least for their respective niche fashion groups.

Models Misako Aoki, Yu Kimura, and Shizuka Fujioka have been drafted to represent the lolitas, gyaru, and high school girls of the Nation of Cute, and travel the world promoting Japanese pop culture.

(Typical female J Pop idols to boot. Huge groan. Are they selecting attractive international representatives-cum-celebrities or premium-brand hyper obedient mail-order brides?)

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:16:29 -0000

I hope so. : )

Re: HELLO! PROJECT HARAJUKU: FEMALE J-POP IDOLS PHOTOS AND TOKYO MUSIC STORE.

nign — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:40:09 -0000

I know almost nothing about J-Pop, having hated almost all music from this genre for all my life. (I always find the sound screechy. Sorry.) I just clicked around the Hello Project website to see who they represent. The Morning Musume (Good Morning Girls) is definitely their most successful "product" and most reprentative of female J Idols, I think -- meaning an endless array of interchangeable girls who fit into the tiny mold of the perfect sex object, looking tame, domicile, "kawaii," and dumb. They also all look like the female characters from all those male dorm fantasy mangas (a single shy, academically unsuccessful, not particularly attractive male student living among a group of very kawaii girls with mostly very huge boobs, who all hit on him like mad and want to crawl into his bed).

Yet things have been changing a bit lately... There has emerged a tiny batch of charismatic female idols who can really sing and are obviously in control of their careers and who don't fit the bill of the aforementioned traditional female J Pop Idols at all. These are those whom you'd easier imagine being dominatrixes than playing the accommodating maids of the Akihabara maid cafe fame. Anna Tsuchiya is one example. Think Japanese Beyoncé.

I like to think of this as a sign of the slowly changing and increasingly more independent female role in Japanese society, even though they are more exceptions than the norm, but their success does say something. :)

Re: Private: DIY CRAZY HATS: FROM VINTAGE FEDORA TO WEIRD VISUAL KEI GOTH ACCESSORY.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:45:27 -0000

Oh here you're O_O

Where have you been, my little link-free comment? Don't make detour like that so often please. :P

Re: Private: DIY CRAZY HATS: FROM VINTAGE FEDORA TO WEIRD VISUAL KEI GOTH ACCESSORY.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:45:06 -0000

Um, obviously Disqus really doesn't like me. My last link-free comment seems to be in the spam bin again. :P

Just realized in the third pic it's not a boot but leather garment of some sort. This spread does not include any credits for the items used. It probably was done spontaneously and nobody bothered to (or could) figure out and record what Kamo used.

Re: Private: DIY CRAZY HATS: FROM VINTAGE FEDORA TO WEIRD VISUAL KEI GOTH ACCESSORY.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:41:01 -0000

The Dazed & Confused one is also composed with various random objects; it is either his specialty or his current passion. The romantic black-and-white photography makes it less obvious. And Daul Kim, the model and the owner of the blog, didn't put up pictures of the madder ones in the series.

If you look closer (click for larger pics), the second one is topped with a log, and the third features an entire knee-length boot. I remember there's one that has Daul balancing a very heavy-looking short boot with heels on her head. Hope it didn't smell... XD

Re: Private: DIY CRAZY HATS: FROM VINTAGE FEDORA TO WEIRD VISUAL KEI GOTH ACCESSORY.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:22:02 -0000

Katsuya Kamo has been doing a lot of... er....installation-cum-hat??? things for various avant-garde mags.... Might serve as your inspiration to go even more mad hatter XD

http://iliketoforkmyself.bl...
This one is from the Dec 2008 issue of Dazed & Confused (UK edition) I think...

http://voguehommes.blogspot...
From the premier issue of Vogue Hommes Japan, which launched with much fanfair late last year.

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:41:01 -0000

You're welcome. ;)

I was just raking my brain to see what places for kawaii things I've cOme across and repressed the horrible, horrible memory.....

Your blog has become my Kawaii Overload PTSD therapy session. XD

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:58:11 -0000

This will save you a lot of time scouting and gives you more time ogling at kawaii things I suppose ;)

Excite! Japan's Woman portal has a hand-picked Today's Kawaii mini portal, linking to things users posted on its blogging site that the editors find super kawaii, and all are neatly organized by category:
http://woman.excite.co.jp/l...

And kawaii bentos of course...
http://woman.excite.co.jp/l...

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:14:13 -0000

Asahi News has a semi-regular bento feature that showcases reader submissions. It occasionally features kawaii bentos.
http://www.asahi.com/food/o...

Other major newspapers don't seem to have similar columns.

My bet is if you send in a submission and emphasize that you're of non-Japanese heritage, was raised aboard and are simply a fan of Japanese kawaii bentos, they'll be dying to publish you. ; )

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:09:55 -0000

Will Disqus think I'm spamming if I post within short intervals? Mmmmm....

I think this one is ingenious:
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/s...
making boiled eggs with cute yoke shapes

kawaii bento-making tools on Rakuten:
http://esearch.asahicom.rak...

Rakuten now ships internationally.
http://event.rakuten.co.jp/...

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:05:03 -0000

You probably have seen this?

Hello Kitty bento-making tool sets:
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/t...
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ho...

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:35:36 -0000

Here are some kawaii bento pics... took me no time to find these.

I faintly recall having seen most of them elsewhere, so you probably have too.

All pages are in Traditional Chinese.

NOTE:
These are collections of "Japanese-made" bentos. While they are on Taiwanese blogs, they were not made by Taiwanese people.

Images were taken from elsewhere and are without copyright attibutions.

http://w.kusos.com/37675.htm

http://www.baby-kingdom.com...

http://haha0512.pixnet.net/...

panda cake
http://www.travel-web.com.t...
looks like bean-shaped sponge cake dipped in chocolate on both ends.
should be very portable.

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:28:24 -0000

Hello Kitty theme room in a Taiwanese love hotel:
http://www.wretch.cc/album/...

This is the hotel's official album.

No SM equipment in room. I think the front desk might find you some if you ask. LOL.

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:12:14 -0000

Ugh. My bad. You did mention Kitty love hotel.

I've been up for four hours without eating anything and have been feeling dizzy. Time to hunt for food....

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:06:42 -0000

If you want Kitty food and Kitty food product pictures... Gawd, I can sit here all day just posting links!

Links to Hello Kitty merch pictures (including food, of course) on two popular Taiwanese blog sites:
http://tw.info.search.yahoo...

http://www.pixnet.net/sa/he...

Hello Kitty mahjong set:
http://www.wretch.cc/album/...

Have fun in Kitty Hell ; )

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:46:35 -0000

Got it :)

I've heard of the Kitty hotel in Taiwan, but I don't think it could be better than the one (ones?) in Japan. There are also a Hello KItty love hotel (um, you know the kind they have in Japan...?) and Kitty Suites in some hotel(s?) in Taiwan.

Hello Kitty cattage:
http://www.hk007.com/viewth...

Hello Kitty suite in a 5-star hotel:
http://clplayer.pixnet.net/...

official hotel suite page in English:
http://www.grand-hilai.com....

I can't believe I'm posting and Googling Kitty things.... I've been allergic to Kitty since.. I dunno, 5??? LOL.

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:10:28 -0000

Something wrong with Disqus... My last comment disappeard. Q_Q

Inside the Hello Kitty restaurant:
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/y...

If you use Firefox, your browser should automatically adjust the text encoding to "Unicode (UTF-8)" when you visit this link and the links to follow. If it shows garbled text, go to "View," then "Charcater Encoding," and select "Unicode (UTF-8)." I don't know where to find this function on IE.

From 2005 to 2008, Taiwan's Eva Air even had two Hello Kitty jets. Passengers got Kitty boarding pass, Kitty luggage tags and Kitty everything. The hotesses wore Kitty aprons (they didn't seem to have male stewards onboard) and there were even Kitty boarding areas at several airports.

The deal expired last October though.

Inside the Kitty Jet:
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/f...
http://flickr.com/photos/ri...

And more images of the Kitty restaurant:
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/y...

Re: LA CARMINA ON FASHION TELEVISION: GOTHIC DARK GLAMOUR EXHIBIT, NEW CUTE FOOD BLOG.

nign — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:46:33 -0000

From 2005 to 2008, Taiwan's Eva Air even had two Hello Kitty jets! Flyers got Kitty boarding pass, Kitty luggage tag, etc. They even had Hello Kitty toilet paper onboard. XD

The deal expired last October though...

Related articles on the official Sanrio Taiwan blog:
http://blog.sanriotown.com/...

Click on the titles for images.

If your browser shows garbled text, adjust the browser character encoding setting to "Unicode (UTF-8)." (I use Firefox. You can find the function under "View" on the browser menu.)

More Kitty Jet images (Kitty food, Kitty hostess apron, Kitty handsoap, Kitty Jet model plane, Kitty ice cream, Kitty salt and pepper packets, Kitty toothpick packet, etc. etc.)
http://www.flickr.com/photo...
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/f...
http://travel.esdlife.com/w...

Hello Kitty merchandise designed specifically for the Kitty Jet is still on sale at Eva's online shop (in Chinese):
https://mall.evaair.com/sho...