Dear Japanese Curry Rice.
You are my reason to live.
If I don't have you more than once a week, I will die.
If I can have you once a week, I am in the heaven.
Dear Japanaese Curry Rice.
I can have various topping.
Tonight, I choose spicy eggplant.
Dear Japanese Curry Rice.
I can die for you
Dear Japanese Curry Rice
I had Keema Curry today at Japanese Curry chain, CoCo-Ichi.
I ordered extra spicy just for fun (level 5 out of 10)
Dear Keema Curry.
You were spicier than regular level 5 spicy curry.
But I managed to eat you all.
Whenever people feed me Japanese curry rice, I must eat them....
Oh my stomache is still hot.
It's now 3 hours after I ate that spicy curry.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Fumiko's Propose - A Japanese students' animation work
OK. When I saw this, I was stunned.
This 2 min animation was produced by the group of Japanese anime students in Kyoto.
For your convenience, there is some storyline.
Fumiko is a middle school student (?). She proposes Takashi to be her boyfriend.But Takashi refuses her offer since he wants to devote his time for baseball at this moment....Fumiko gets shocked and shocked... and shocked...... anyway... here is the anime.
Without a further due, here you go....
Those of whom got confused... it looks like Fumiko traveled around the world, and came back to where Takashi is.
And she tried one more time... "I will cook your miso soup every morning!"
But Takashi refused again, IMMEDIATELY.... poor girl.....
Anyway, I was impressed by thier work... here are the credit.
CastFumiko - HinaTakashi - So Raika (????)Directed/Drawing/Background/3D CG/Edited/Sound Effects byYasuhiro IshidaBackground/3D Texture byYuuko Iwase (???)3D Texture/Background byKazuhiro MurakamiDrawing byTatsuro Kawano3D CG Modeling byYusaku Nagata
The director, Yasuhiro Ishida, is currently a animation student who is looking for a job.
He's 21 years old who goes to Kyoto Seika University, Manga Major - Animation Course.
Somebody, give him a job~!
I'm looking forward to seeing his future.
Here is Ishida's personal blog with pictures of drawing.
====================
Fumiko's Propose - Detail Info and screenshots (in Japanese)
====================
In addition, browse the rest of his blog... you can check out his "homework" projects, and the photo of his apartment where he made his animation?
----------
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Kyoto World Heritage Wedding for 600,000 yen
Nijo Castle, the one of World Heritage Site in Japan, is now accepting the reservation of the traditional wedding for the 2010 season until the end of this month (Oct 31, 2009).
Nijo Castle was built during the Tokugawa era (completed in 1603) as the residents of Tokugawa Family in Kyoto.
In 1994, Nijo Castle was registered as the part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Wikipedia).
According to the report from NHK program, the City of Kyoto appointed Kyoto Kokusai Hotel to provide the wedding service at Nijo Castle.
By opening the door to grooms and brides, the City of Kyoto hopes everyone to be familiar with the tradition of Kyoto, and preserve its craftmanship.
For 2010, they are accepting 65 couples to hold the wedding at Nijo Castle.
- 60 couples for daytime wedding between April-June, Sep-Dec, 2010, and March 2011
- 5 couples for nighttime wedding between April 23 and May 30 2010
If more than 65 couples aqpply for the wedding, they will hold the lottery to select the couples.
* Perhaps, you should visit Nijo Castle on one of those weekends. You may be able to witness the wedding.
Daytime Wedding Schedule
This is the translation from
The plan includes:
1. Traditional Rikisha (Jinrikisha) Parade into the Nijo Castle
Carried by the Rikisha (Japanese wooden cart) specially hand-made by 30 traditional craftmen in Kyoto.
Gloom and Bride get into the Rikisha at Kyoto Kokusai Hotel, and they will go through the gate into the Garden
2. Zen-so (Introduction)
Groom and bride entrer to Seiryu Garden (清流園)
*the place is usually closed to the public.
*Music is accompanied by Gagaku (Japanese traditional music) from here
3. Kongi (Ceremony) - Vow, and exchange ring
4. Mizuawase-no-gi (水合せの儀), Konka &Kissa-no-gi (婚菓・喫茶の儀)
The group now moves to Kaun-Tei (香雲亭), the tea house.
For, Konka & Kissa-no-gi, the couple will be required to hand-make a bamboo chopsticks prior to the wedding.
And groom and bride will serve the Japanese snacks to the wedding guests by using the bambo chopsticks
5. Ko-so (Postlude)
Closing the ceremony.
Groom and bride will throw Origami cranes to the guests in the garden from the eave of Kaun-tei
6. Picture
7. Departure
Leave the Nijo castle by Rikisha.
*and you will be seen by a lot of tourist, of course.
Location
I think you just need to see the picture here...
Basic Plan Detail
The basic daytime plan is 600,000 yen for 30 guests.
The nighttime wedding will cost 700,000 yen.
(I mean the price include the wardrobe rental~!!?? This is very cheap.)
- Wardrobe rental for groom
- Choose one from
- Wardrobe rental for bride
- Choose one from (Including hair and make-up fee)
- Juni-hitoe (十二単) !!!!
- White Japanese kimono
- White Western dress
- Ceremony (including master of ceremony, marriage certificate, location fee)
- Music peformers (Gagaku)
- Kaizoe (The special assistant to Bride for wardrobe and ceremony)
- Origami crane, and flowers
- Picture (1 set only)
** Most materials used at the ceremony are made in or around Kyoto (includes kimono and marriage certificate paper!)
Options:
- Dance by Maiko (Geisha)
- Music with flute and Japanese koto
- Adiditional photo
- Video production (DVD service)
- Wardrobe rental for the guests
Reservation
Call them by October 31, 2009 in Japanese.
Nijo Wedding (Kyoto Kokusai Hotel)
TEL 075-222-1111 (call them in Japanese)
Well... I'm sure this will be very competitive... But if you feel like doing Japanese wedding.... go for this VERY tradisional Japanese wedding.
I seriously started thinking about having the wedding at Nijo Castle (although I don't have the right person to get married yet :-p)
---
Friday, October 9, 2009
Japanese online audience are similar to TV audience
In the response to
CHART OF THE DAY: Lunchtime Is The New Primetime
A Japanese blogger posted this reply
Japanese online prime time for online video is very similar to TV.
Between 9am-10am, and 7pm-11pm.
The Japanese work environment is very strict, and they are very careful about using somebody else's computer and typing credit card information.
Therefore, there is virtually nobody who spent their lunchtime using the work computer watching online videos, or shopping.
So what do they do during the lunchtime?
They use their cell phone~!
Japanesen cell phone can watch TV, buy stuff online and play games.
So the online video viewweship tends to have the similarily to the traditional TV viewership.
They only spend online time at home....
Very interesting,.
----
Monday, September 14, 2009
16,000 yen for New York and 21,000 yen for LA from Japan!!!
UPDATE (9/16 6pm JST): The ticket has sold out... the links below are no longer valid.
And I found a craaaaazy travel agency.
Their name is Skygate.
It's Japanese online travel agency....
And I started subscribing their newsletter.
Just now, I received their newsletter....
16,000 !!!!!! yen Round Trip Ticket from Narita - New York
http://www.skygate.co.jp/airserv/PriceViewServlet?SkygGdsId=171599D&S1=priceViewByGoods
21,000 !!!!!! yen Round Trip Ticket from Narita - Los Angeles!
http://www.skygate.co.jp/airserv/PriceViewServlet?SkygGdsId=171602D&S1=priceViewByGoods
Well, the cheap ticket always has the restriction.
New York ticket: (Product ID 171599D)
- CANNOT select which airline
- MUST leave between Sep 23-30.
- MUST be 5-10 days trip.
- CANNOT change the return date.
- No refund, no cancellation
- Tax is NOT included (of course)
- MUST call for availability and buying ticket
Los Angeles ticket: (Product ID 171602D)
- CANNOT select which airline
- MUST leave either on Sep 26 or 27
- MUST be 5-10 days trip
- CANNOT change the return date
- No refund, no cancellation
- Tax is NOT included (of course)
- MUST call for availability and buying ticket
How to Order
They only take phone order, and their phone line will close 8pm today and starts 10am tomorrow (JST)
Skygate
03-5909-1150 (THEY ONLY SPEAK JAPANESE)
Good luck everyone.
The final deadline is by Sep 18 6pm (JST), but I'm sure they run out quickly.
If you are seeing this blog after 9/14 MON (JST), you may not be able to get the ticket.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
My Only Worry About Japanese Politics
Last weekend, I went to vote the Japanese general election. This was my 1st time that I was able to vote the Lower House (The House of Representatives).
Since I spent the most of my 20s in Los Angeles. I didn't really get chance to vote. We had to go through a very complicated paperwork in order to vote overseas. And you had to go to Japanese Embassy or Consulate by yourself to register? Downtown LA? Too much traffic and expensive parking... And you were only able to vote the parties, not the candidiate themselves.
However, from this time's general election, we could register and vote the local candidiate according to the local district. So I assume more Japanese people who live overseas had a chance to get involved the General Election.
Anyway, I'm not going to talk about the policy of Democratic Party of Japan this time, but I do have one concern..... which is the timing of hand over.
Too quick? The 20-days hand over process
15 years ago, Liberal Democratic Party once lost its ruling party position, but it didn't last long. LDP was able to gain back the power within a year. Also, since it was just a coalition of opposite parties, they had a hard time organizing everybody together.
But due to the overwhelming victory of DPJ, I think it will last this time.
But only 20 days to call the Parliament, and elect the new Prime Minister?
And under such a hard circumstances?
Hmmmm....
If you think about it, although Japan is a small country, the government is still big.
According to the number from Japanese Government Statics Bureau web site, the number of Japanese government official is over 300,000 in 2007.
It's still a huge organization.
And they only switch the boss within 20 days, whereas Obama spent almost 3 months to organize until the presidential inauguration, and he had 100 days thereafter.
In last 60 years since the World War II, the Japan have had only one ruling party, LDP, except the short period of coalitions parties era.
Japanese people are not accustomed to the switch of their ruling parties. And they won't understand how much work it may take for DPJ to learn the entire system of Japanese government.
And I'm kinda sure that Japanese government officials themselves don't understand how hard it would be either since it's been 15 years since last time.... many Japanese government officials have never experienced the switch of the ruling party.
And DPJ have overwhelming number of newly elected house members. DPJ themselves has to educate these rookies as well.
Yesterday, the upcoming Prime Minsiter, Hatoyama announced that he wants to review all the government spending of 2010 fiscal year from the scratch by the end of the year.....
Yeah... if you want to re-review the budget of 300,000 government within 3 month without understanding the entire system of the government?
DPJ may have to spend 3 month to get used to, and 100 days to really start executing its Manifest... at least
In my opinion, as the US Government usually take 3 month to switch the office..., DPJ would have to spend at least 2 month to learn the system and get organized everything.... (since it's a smaller country)
However, they already have to start working right away.... probably.... they will end up spending 3 months to get organized. And finally their actual "100 days" begins.
In my personal opinion, you will probably see the actual change in 300 days....
But I have to see how well DPJ can explain how long it will take to learn the government system, and calm the impatient Japanese people down next 4 years under such acute economy.
But it's very uncommon, and abnormal that one party rules the country over 50 years except the dictatorship.
So Japanese and Japanese government will have to pay its price that they didn't change the ruling party in the last 60 years. But I think this is necessary sacrifice to spend with the fact that we will lose the 2nd position of GDP in the world this year.
So be patient, guys. The change will come... slow but for sure...
---
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Forcing Propose Kit (For girls whose boyfriend are slow)
For the girls who has slow boyfriends
When I saw the news, I was cracking up.
This set was made for the girls whose boyfriends are a little slow. So Virgin Diamond started selling these set to the frustrating girlfriends.
The set-ups
Once you (girlfriend) purchased the set, they will deliver the kit to your boyfriend's house.
Once he open the box, your boyfriend will see the following greeting card.
Congraturations, Ms. XXXX (Girlfriend's name) applied the our campaign"Suprise Present Campaign ~ Support your love"You are the one of lucky 80 winners~!1st Prize - Vacation Trip to Pacific Islands 3 nights 4 days2nd Prize - DVD Player plus ten (10) Romantic movies3rd Prize - Overnight Train partitioned room ticket4th Prize - For your up-and-coming day, Propose Set5th Prize - One night Two day Zen Buddhist Tour with Love Lecture from a monk6th Prize - Aphrodisiac Wine and Pair Glasses kit7th Prize - Love card game - Game Candy, Special BoxAnd you have won the 4th prize. Congraturations!
And it follows by the instruction manual
For your girlfriend whom you think you want to be together forever.
From the web site, girlfriends should be prepared...:
If your boyfriend tells you that if he has received something, you must pretend that you don't know anything.And if he tells you that he received Propose Set, you should laugh a little... but don't forget to add... "I hope it's true."
And boyfriends will see the following package.
Fake Engagement Ring and Box
From the web site,
" Many girls are suffering from their boyfriends are not able to buy her an engagement ring due to financial difficulty. And many girls are ended up not getting engagement ring.Therefore, this fake engagement ring will bring a little happiness to the girls by your boyfriend giving it to you.The ring was made of cubic zirconia which looks like diamond + platinam ring."
Okaaay. And then next.
Piggy Bank
*** This is not the actual piggy bank that they sell
From the web site
"Your boyfriend can start saving money for your real marriage. It can contain 100 of 500 yen coins, the total 50,000 yen.If he saved up 50,000 yen, he can buy a real engagement ring from our store. Or he could try to save more and buy more expensive ring.If your boyfriend think that he does not have anough money to buy you a ring, you could give him this piggy bank."
Okaaaay... here comes next
Engagement Contract (Promise Paper)
From web site
"This works best with piggy bank. This is the contract that states "I will buy you a real engagement ring".It may be best if you kept it where the piggy bank is.Also when you find your boyfriend spending a little much money, you can show this to him.Moreover, this contract become discount coupon. If you bring this paper to our store, we will give you the discount of the same amount of this set, 8892 yen, when you purchase the real engagement ring.So maybe you can spend the 8,892 yen to go out for fancy dinner together after you save the money from us."
Oh my god.... contract plus coupon... and you get full money back when you purchase the ring!
Moreover, they are doing this campaign.
Full Money Back Gurantee If Your Boyfriend Did Not Propose You by Sep 30
Ok girlfriends, you have nothing to lose.
Buy this Kyosei Propose Set for your boyfriend, so that you guys can finally get married~!
PS.
They set the price 8892 yen because
8 = ha, 8 =ya 9 =ku, 2 =ni.
8892 = Hayakuni = Hurry Up.
You can purchase this set at their online store. I don't think they ship it oversees... but...
Kyosei Propose Set - Online Store (Japanese only)
About Full Money Back Campaign by Sep 30, 2009 (Japanese only)
-
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Check out the current issue of Rolling Stone (Aug 6)
Check out the current issue (Aug 6) of Rolling Stones magazine (US edittion).
And turn to page 72 - "Isolated - Surfing a New Reality"
It talks about the surfing move that I was a cinematographer for~!
It was a fun memory in Papua, Indonesia last year.
--
Thursday, May 21, 2009
"Etienne" World Premiere in Vegas on Friday June 12, 2009
"Etienne!"
A Story about the little things in Life
World Premiere at CineVegas on June 12, 2009
Please join us for the world premiere of our film. I worked as a various role (mainly post-production) for this film.
Trailer
About "Etienne!"
Synopsis copied from CineVegas BoxOffice
ETIENNE! is a timeless tale of friendship between two kindred spirits on a journey through life. The catch that makes this tale unique? One of the friends is a hamster.
Richard is a shy and boyish college dropout who has just started a new job at a hotel. His best and only friend is his dwarf hamster, Etienne, whom he cares for very well. When he finds out his pocket pet has terminal cancer, he decides to take Etienne on a bicycle road trip along the California coast so that the hamster can see the world before it dies. Along the way, the two meet various colorful characters that teach them about life, friendship, and happiness.
Evoking the spirits of films from yesteryear and enriched with a phenomenal soundtrack, ETIENNE! is a triumph of pure, innocent storytelling. Its remarkably controlled aesthetic transplants the audience to a nostalgic time free from pessimism. Richard Vallejos embodies the lovable man-child of the same name and infuses him with undeniable charm. Writer/director Jeff Mizushima's passion for cinema comes out in every frame. He has crafted a rare gem in this day and age...a G-rated art film for everyone.
Related Link
Purchase A Ticket
Purchase Package Ticket (A $40 June-12th-Day Pass to get in to the AfterParty)
CineVegas Film Festival
"Etienne!" Official Web Site (More information about the additional screenings in SF Bay Area)
-------
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The release of concrete5.3.0 Japanese, and the launch of its web site
Usagi Project is pleased to announce the released of concrete 5.3.0 Japanese version, and the launch of our web site on April, 17, 2009 (JST).
http://concrete5-japan.org
Due to the language barrier between Japanese and English, Usagi Project made a decision to distribute the package separately from concrete5's SourceForge account but through our SourceForge.jp account.
If you are interested in using concrete5 Japanese, please visit our web site.
We, Usagi Project, will closely keep in touch with the concrete5 core team to make sure that Japanese users continue to benefit from this wonderful CMS.
We hope that we can make the world the better place together with the concrete5 core team!
We, Usagi Project, are also an Open Source group, and keep looking for new members. If you can read both English and Japanese, and have extra time to help us, please visit our web site and submit your membership request.
http://concrete5-japan.org/usagiproject/
Kuniharu Tsujioka & Katz Ueno
Usagi Project
Usagi Project がオープンソース CMS ソフト「concrete5.3.0 日本語版」をリリース。初心者に本当に優しい無料ホームページ運用システム
Usagi Project は 4月17日、オープンソース CMS ソフトウェア「 concrete5 」の最新安定版である「concrete5.3.0 日本語版」をリリース、同時に日本語公式サイトを開設致しました。■ concrete5 日本語公式サイト
http://concret5-japan.org
■ concrete5 動画デモ
concrete5 を紹介するために動画ビデオのデモを作成致しました。
http://concrete5-japan.org/about/screencast
■ concrete5 とは
concrete5 は、アメリカで開発されているオープンソース CMS ソフトウエアです。元は商用ソフトとして、130万円で販売されていましたが、昨年、オープンソース化、無料となりました。
concrete5 はアメリカの公共広告機構である AdCouncil が制作した「ルイス＝クラーク探検隊200周年記念祭」のサイトのために生まれ、秒間1万ヒットにも耐えうる設計となっています。
Usagi Project では、アメリカの開発元、 Concrete CMS, inc. の協力の元、日本語版の翻訳と普及活動を担当することになりました。
concrete5 は、 HP 作成ツールを必要とせず WEB サイトへアクセスするだけでページ編集・追加・削除ができ初心者でも直感的に HP がつくれる画期的な CMS ソフトです。管理画面での操作も最小限に押さえ利便性が向上してます。
また、グループ管理機能も充実。企業やお店のホームページのみならず、学校のサークル、社内サイトなどに最適のシステムです。
前述の「ルイス＝クラーク探検隊200周年記念祭」のサイトは、サイト更新者が90名にのぼりましたが、3ヶ月で完成する事が出来ました。
特徴
・管理画面を介さずに、直接ページを編集
・コンクリートブロックを積み上げるようにサイトを構築
・自由自在にレイアウトを変えられる
・ユーザーごとに編集や公開権限の設定が可能
主な機能
・画像を直接編集(picnik.com のサービスを利用)
・グループ編集・権限機能
・ファイル履歴管理機能
・簡単スライドショー作成機能
・YouTube ビデオ
・アンケート機能
・RSS 表示
ターゲット
・情報サイト
・政府・地方自治体
・企業
・NPOなどのグループ
・クラブ、趣味サークル
・キャンペーンサイト
・学校、大学
・社外・社内サイト
・その他「ホームページ」と呼ばれるもの全て
■ concrete5 使用条件
・Web サーバー (Apache 等)
・PHP バージョン5
・MySQL4.1 以上
■ Usagi Project について
Usagi Project は、オープンソース SNS ソフトウェアを開発するために生まれたプロジェクトです。日本全国にいる沢山の開発者や開発協力者が、利用ユーザたちの満足度向上や新しい付加価値を求めて日々開発を行っております。また2009年2月からは、concrete5の日本語サポートを行うことになりました。
Usagi Project はボランティアグループです。メンバーを随時募集しております。
■ concrete5 資料リンク
concrete5 の紹介
http://concrete5-japan.org/about/readmefirst
concrete5 の歴史（開発秘話）
http://concrete5-japan.org/about/readmefirst/history-of-concrete5
Usagi Project と concrete5 、 MyNETS の紹介
http://concrete5-japan.org/usagiproject/about-usagi-project
Usagi Project メンバー 一覧
http://concrete5-japan.org/usagiproject/members
Usagi Project メンバー募集要項
http://concrete5-japan.org/usagiproject/wanted
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
