Japan manga publisher starts English version online

Japan Today reported: “Shogakukan Inc, in a rare move as a Japanese publisher, has started to allow people in the United States to read English versions of ‘‘manga’’ comic stories on the Internet at the same time as it publishes the original printed versions in Japan. The quick distribution of the ‘‘authorized’’ English version is aimed at discouraging wrongdoers from making illegal replicas of Japanese comics mainly in the United States and Europe, the publishing house said.”

You can check out Shogakukan’s ‘‘Rin-ne’’ by popular manga artist Rumiko Takahashi on the VIZ Media LLC based in San Francisco, here.

Tenso: Get Your Own Japanese Shipping Address

 

 

Tofugu has a great post on how to ship things from Japan to you, if you happen not to reside in the Land of the Rising Fun.

What Tenso is doing is one of those ideas where you think “dang, I shoulda thought of that.” It’s simple, it’s helpful, and provides a really good service. I tried it out recently, and they let me pick out a Japanese t-shirt and ship it via their service, so that I can give it away to one of you. More information on that at the end of the post.

Kimono Girl

The 963 Group, LLC of Pebble Beach, California brings you one of Japan’s top selling cosmetic gift items, Kimono Girl oil-blotting tissues. Kimono Girl is 100% natural, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and powder-free! Each Kimono Girl package is an actual hand-drawn Kagayuzen Kimono pattern. No two are the same!

The Kimono Girl concept was developed by Nakahama-san, the co-founder of The 963 Group. She is a veteran of the fashion and cosmetics industry with over 15-years experience in Tokyo’s upscale boutiques and in companies such as Shiseido, Chanel and Za Ginza. She says:

“People should use a quality skin (and lipstick) blotting tissue. Too often I see women and men wiping the oil off their face using their hands, a tissue or handkerchief! This actually spreads the oil and bacteria to other parts of their face. This can also potentially create skin rashes and blackheads, especially if the person’s hands or handkerchief are not clean.

In Kanazawa and other parts of Japan, women and men use a high-quality and affordable blotting tissue to keep the oil off the T-Zone. This really helps prevent breakouts. Additionally, women do not worry about lint or other residue from tissues when they blot their lipstick. Kimono Girl Oil Blotting Tissue has been pressed the old-fashioned way which means the fibers has been pounded over 10,000 times. This makes our product super-absorbent! Commercially produced blotting tissues do not utilize this old-style Japanese technique and thus are not as absorbent as ours! Actually, the process to make Kimono Girl oil-blotting tissues is the same technique used when we in Kanazawa make the gold leaf paper found on many beautiful Kanazawa products and on the Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, Japan. We get it right the first time! Whether you wear make-up, lipstick, or keep the natural look, Kimono Girl Oil Blotting Tissue will help keep your skin looking healthy!”

Each $12.00 order includes six (6) Kimono Girl packs. Each pack contains 30-sheets of Kimono Girl Oil Blotting Tissues. In Japan, one (1) pack of Kimono Girl oil-blotting tissue costs 350 Yen (approximately $3.50). As a special introductory offer, we are offering the six (6) package set at a $9.00 discount and with FREE SHIPPING in the Continental USA, Hawaii and Alaska.

We hope this great value will introduce our wonderful product to people around the world. Thank you very much for shopping with The 963 Group, LLC. Be sure to follow Kimono Girl on Twitter. Sayonara!

Manufactured and imported from Japan by The 963 Group, LLC

     

Kimono Girl Gift Set

6 package set (180 sheets) $12.00

Free shipping in the USA

   

Tokyo has greatest decline in residential property values

Is it time to buy? By region, the greatest drop in residential property values occurred in Tokyo, with a 6.5 percent decline.  A survey revealed that the prices are declining in nearly half of the residential areas in the Tokyo metropolitan areas. Use the BT search for real estate to get additional information on living in japan.

Land values have dropped across Japan in the past year according to statistics released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on Monday.

Residential property values on Jan. 1, 2009 were down 3.2 percent from a year earlier, while commercial property was down 4.7 percent, the first such declines in three years. Of the 24,157 areas used for comparison, 23,435 had declined in value since the beginning of 2008. Only 21 areas experienced an increase.

The decline in average Japanese property values began in the second half of 2008 with the subprime loan problem in the United States, and sped up with the worldwide spread of the financial crisis and declining economic fortunes. The decline in property values was further exacerbated by the downturn in Japan’s condominium market and the decline in real estate financing from private investors and financial institutions.

The average drop in Japan’s three largest urban areas for residential and commercial properties stood at 3.5 percent and 5.4 percent respectively. Residential values had not dropped in three years, and commercial properties in four.

Resident Evil 5: Still a Travesty on All Counts

 

I previously blogged about Resident Evil 5 (When is it not racism and just plain ol’ ignorance). Today I received an email from BlackCommentator.com Columnist, Tolu Olorunda, an activist/writer and a Nigerian immigrant. Olorunda wants to explain where he stands, currently, especially with the barrage of insults he received in response to hiscomments, and with the official release of the game this week. His article follows below. I recommend that you read my article first to familiarize yourself with both Olorunda and my views on Resident Evil 5. Be sure to visit Black Commentator to view additional links to the story and to contact the Olorunda in you have comments.

June 19, 2008, an article is published, with the title “Resident Evil 5: A Travesty on All Counts.” June 20, 2008, an international online community is rallied to war against a writer, for suggestions that a video game trailer “wasted no time in capitalizing upon the long history of blatant depictions of Africans as savages and helpless imbeciles.” He grounded this theory by arguing against the trailer, which, in his words, “featured a Caucasian male mutilating African villages, along with Africans.”

HSBC to offer Japan housing loans to foreigners

London-based HSBC Group said Wednesday it will tie up with two Japanese real estate companies to extend mortgage loans to foreign residents so they can buy property in Japan more easily.

The deal was to be announced Thursday. The two partners are Mitsui Real Estate Sales Co., one of the leading Japanese real estate firms, and Ken Corp., which specializes in handling real estate for foreigners.

Under the new loan program, the group’s wealth management service, HSBC Premier, will provide financial services to those with liquid financial assets worth ¥10 million or more.

Japan Learning from President Obama’s Oratory

I purchased  the “Collection of Obama Speeches” yesterday. The CD has proven to be a hit in Japan but I am curious to see how Japan’s political circle responds/reacts to the inaugural speech and to the new face of America. I wonder if any Nakasone-ish type comments will hit the press?

The Shukan Asahi reports that many people might have been disappointed by the historical inaugural address by the first African-American President of the United States. President Barack Obama told Americans in calm tone about ‘a new time to bear responsibility,’ but he avoided using the kind of strong rhetoric of his campaign. Has President Obama lost his oratory skills?

On January 22, the day after Barack Obama took the oath of office as president of the United States, a lecture titled “Explaining U.S. President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address” was held at the Diet Members’ Building in the capital district of Nagatacho, Tokyo, as if to emulate the fever of enthusiasm that has swept across the United States. The lecture was sponsored by the think tank of the major opposition Democratic Party (DPJ). The hall was filled to capacity. DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama delivered a speech at the outset of the lecture, saying that he was impressed by the President’s inaugural address being full of confidence. He drew laughter from participants when he said: “I feel ashamed when we Japanese politicians are compared with him.”

Uniqlock

Chiri mo tsumoreba posted an interesting clock/video that shows not only what time it is in Tokyo but short clips of women performers in Uniqlo brand clothing. A nice display/usage of modern arts.

Obama Inaugural Speech DVD a Hit in Japan

The Sankei Newspaper reports that “DVDs containing Barack Obama’s past speeches went on sale in Japan on January 21, the day he was sworn in as the President of the United States. A copy of the DVD titled “Barack Obama,” published by Pony Canyon, is now available at a bookstore for 3,150 yen (tax included).

Many businessmen, drawn to the charisma of Obama, who is often referred to as a second John F. Kennedy, picked up copies of the DVD.

President Obama grabbed the hearts of American voters with such catchphrases as “Yes, we can” and “change.” The DVD contains Obama’s significant campaign speech for presidential candidate John Kerry, delivered in a 2004 Democratic convention, as well as comments by actor Robert De Niro, 65, and other celebrities.

Hideki Sato, 46, a teacher, made this comment at a Kinokuniya bookstore in Shinjuku: “[Obama] uses key words skillfully. I think [the DVD] will help me become a good public 

 speaker.

ＢＡＲＡＣＫ　ＯＢＡＭＡ　バラク・オバマ    販売価格：￥2,835 （税込） [価格：￥3,150 （税込）]  割引額：￥315 (10%OFF) 獲得ポイント：141ポイント JANコード：4988013735248 品番：PCBP-11650  発売日：2009/01/21 第４４代アメリカ合衆国大統領選挙に、圧倒的支持を得て勝利した“バラク・オバマ”の軌跡を描いたＤＶＤ。彼の大統領選挙までの道のり、当選後の映像も収録。

Kimono Girl Gift Pack

Japan’s number one cosmetic gift item is now available in the U.S.A. and for shipment worldwide. Kimono Girl Aburatorigami (oil-blotting paper) is made from super oil-absorbent, 100% natural, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and powder-free rice paper.

Kimono Girl oil-blotting paper will not remove your make-up or lipstick. It only removes excess oils. This makes it perfect for those that prefer to go make-up free. Unlike other oil-blotting papers that contain chemicals or fragrances, using Kimono Girl can help reduce breakouts.

Every Kimono Girl package is unique. The one-of-a-kind hand-drawn Kagayuzen kimono pattern design shown on the package is often collected by women in Japan and used to make origami.

Kaga was the name given in the Edo period (1603-1868) to the territory centered on Kanazawa, which lies in what is currently called Ishikawa Prefecture. One of the best known dyeing crafts in Japan, the traditional techniques of Kaga Yuzen, which have been handed down since that time, produce elegant colors with an exceptional sheen. From the 16th century to the early 17th century, the techniques of what became known as Kaga dyeing were perfected. These consisted of using persimmon or plum extracts to dye unpatterned cloth. In the second half of the 17th century, Kaga Yuzen is said to have been started by the painter Yuzen-sai Miyazaki who incorporated the Kaga dyeing process in producing Kaga Yuzen.