Japan's No.1 Flip Book ★ Tekken's 'Parapara' Manga

(From: http://www.amazon.co.jp/絵がうごく-こんな○○は××だ-DVD-鉄拳/dp/B0000QX420/ref=sr_1_13?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1361545170&sr=1-13)

The guy in above picture is called 'Tekken'.

He is a Japanese comedian and an outstanding artist for the flip books.

Tekken created an emotional 3 minute flip animation titled 'Pendulum', 'Furiko' in Japanese, for the British rock band Muse last year.

The model of the 'Pendulum' is an average middle class Japanese family and the story describes ordinary days for ordinary Japanese people.

... the happiness, anger, sadness, forgiveness, regrets, praises, compassion, compromise, thankfulness ... all you could experience through the lifetime.

A three minute video with 1038-page flip book along with the swings of a pendulum reminds you something which may have been forgot.

The life in the 'Pendulum' is not irrelevant to you all in and outside Japan.
Y★

Late spring arrival in Japan ★2012

These are the photos I would like to present to those who miss the Japanese spring, and to those who like to see the arrival of the spring in Japan.

These photos were taken at 'Kasai Rinkai Koen' (http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_02.html#kasairinkai) near Tokyo Disney Land on Spring Equinox Day yesterday.

No cherry blossoms bloomed but 1/3 of the plum tree flowers were just as beautiful as they are in the photos.

A Japanese man who looked like a scientist started to talk to my 8 years old daughter, explaining about the tadpole in a pond at the park. There were frogs' eggs and young tadpole which just hatched the eggs (black dots in the photo).

It was a very nice and warm, and an interesting day out in the park.

Y★

Cyndi Lauper speaks out for the Earthquake victims

Cyndi Lauper has been taking an active roles to help the Great East Japan Earthquake victims. She held a press conference at The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on March 12, a day after her visit to the disaster-hit Tohoku region on the first anniversary of devastating 3.11 earthquake.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQzLuBRkpEI)

She emphasized those victims in northern areas need the financial stability to get the life back on, saying 'Buy things from there. Keep people working. You're gonna buy anyway. Buy from the areas that were hit, where the stores still open. Just keep the money moving so people can recover and get back on their feet.'

She also talked about her own story in Tohoku, 'It was my idea maybe to buy a piano and donate it to the school to keep the guy working and then to get kids into the music so that they grow up with the music.'

People in northern Japan were hit badly by the harmful rumors, called 'Fuhyo higai' (風評被害). People are afraid of buying the products made in the region that could be contaminated with radiation from nuclear plants.

But Cyndi Lauper made a clear point that, 'Those people cannot be isolated and cut off. They could have radiation issues but I don't think you can catch the radiation by shaking somebody's hands or giving them a hug.'

I am sure there are many people out there who want to give them a hand but don't know how.

''Buy things from there so that people get back on their feet!''

Here is an English website, called 'Shop Tohoku' (http://shoptohoku.com/) where you can purchase some products from small business in the region.

There are not many companies that are recovered and fully operated in the region. But there will be more if every one of us make a little contribution to help the people in Tohoku to get their life back on track.

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Summer sale 2011 begins☆

Did you know the Summer stock taking sale will officially start from July 1 tomorrow in Japan?
I said 'officially' because many shops have already begun 'pre-bargain' in Tokyo.

But don't rush! The discount rate will get bigger and bigger and you will be shocked to see things could get 80 to 90% off in the end of August. The problem is things get cheaper but less chance to meet your choice ... cannot find your size, cannot find the colour you want etc. It is the decision time.

It is sooooooo hot in Japan even it is just the beginning of the summer. Japanese people seem to be so irritated with the high humidity and strong sun shine under the strict energy-saving control after the nuclear disaster of March.

It is not a bad idea to help spending money to stimulate the Japanese economy back up again.

Yx

Mother's Day in Japan

Did you know it is the 'Mother's Day' today, May 8th this year, in Japan (the 2nd Sunday of May every year)? And did you also know that the long-time most popular present for Mother's Day is carnations in Japan??! http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com/story-of-anna-jarvis.html

According to the florist in a local shop, the red carnations used to be most popular but people buy more pink or yellowish carnations nowadays.

I have got a present from my husband on behalf of my daughter and my daughter gave me full-body massage in the morning.

The Golden Week (long spring holiday season) is over and back to the routine from tomorrow.

Y★

How do we get to see a MOVIE??!

(picture above from HP: http://shinchan-movie.com/ )

Did you know that you can see a movie as cheap as 1,000 yen in Japan?!

Where can we see? What's on now? How can I buy a movie ticket? Do I have to book the seats in advance??? So many questions may discourage you to go to see movies.

Here are some tips to go to the cinemas. How do Japanese people get to know what's happening in cinemas? People see the adverts in newspapers, trains, streets, ads on TV, magazines etc. etc. They are likely all in Japanese so when you get stuck in language difficulties, here is one suggestion to visit: http://metropolis.co.jp/movies/ Keep your eyes on free English papers and magagizes.

You can buy a ticket at the ticket booth in cinemas which is currently showing. It usually costs 1,800 yen for adult; 1,000 to 1,500 yen for students depending on ages, 1,000 yen for seniors (over 60 years old); 900 yen for pre-primary school students (3-6 years old).

However, there are lots of good deals available which I have not yet all conquered.

If you buy a ticket before the official opening, you can buy a ticket for 1,300 yen (called 'mae-uri' ticket) which tickets are available in many places like 24 hours 'convenience stores' such as Seven-Eleven, Lawson, and so on.

You can also buy tickets online from each cinemas (often in Japanese only). Lots of cinemas offer '1,000 yen Day' on every 1st day of each month, like April 1st, May 1st and so on. But mind you, it is usually crowded in cinemas. I would rather choose special deals for 1,000 yen on every Wednesdays for 'Lady's' day' for all women; 1,200 yen for 'Late Night Show' after 20:00 for all and many more specials available depending on cinemas.

My 7 years old daughter went to see a movie 'kureyon shin-chan' http://shinchan-movie.com/ (only in Japanese) the other day and had lords of fun:-))

Y★