TOKYO Shinjuku, Electro-World

In this Christmas season, illuminations are very beautiful in Tokyo.
When night comes, the grubby streets and grotesque buildings are shrouded in darkness and Tokyo transform itself into beautiful forest of neon.

I like Shinjuku the best. I have a lot of memories in this town.

At Shinjuku Southern Terrace, around the JR Shinjuku station southern terrace exit.

Here is thronged with tourists now.

Shinjuku Southern Terrace will be illuminated until early Feb, 2009.

Near the Southern Terrace.
Around TAKASHIMAYA

Around Shinjuku station South exit.
I like this landscape.

Around Shinjuku station East exit .
It's very Asia.









At Shinjuku Terrace City, near the Shinjuku station West exit.

Curtain of lights

.

There ware a lot of couples on the day.

I heard that by seeing from the sky, neon of Shinjuku looks like a electronic circuit card. If I was afford to charter a helicopter, I would see the night view from the sky.

I started to learn English a year ago and I started to write this blog as a way to learn English.
Is my English better than before? I don' t know.. Anyway, I'll do my best.

Thank you my friends and all visitors!
Merry Christmas! See you next year!!




Perfume "Electro World"

EXILE PERFECT LIVE 2008

I had an opportunity to go to a concert "EXILE PERFECT LIVE 2008" in Osaka. (Thank you Y.H !) EXILE is a undisputed very big artist in Japan now. Their latest best CD album "EXILE BALLADE BEST" entered J-POP charts at No.1 with a big lead over second. The CD recorded platinum sales on release date ! Their song 'Ti Amo' received the grand prize of Japan Request Award.

Two huge screen appeared from both side of the stage, moved to middle and become one. Then it emitted a strong light and it dazzled the audience. After that, the screen started to show image. It's a narrative like a movie and spectacular. Most big artist makes such a screen image and show it at the opening of the concert in big halls. It seems cost a lot of money to make but it's common in Japan. Finally, when EXILE appeared onstage, the audience erupted in cheers.

EXILE is made up of 2 vocalists and 5 dancers. (They call the dancers 'performer') The youngest member is the vocalist Takahiro, 24 years old. The oldest member is leader of EXILE and the performer Hiro, he will become 40 years old in next year. They are 15 years apart in age !
I like another vocalist, Atsushi's voice. His song got to my heart and stirred my soul. I like "ただ・・・逢いたくて" ( tada...aitakute : It means 'I just miss you' in English, may be) the best in their ballade songs.　As I listened this song, I recalled the face of my loved one. This song will remind you of your precious one.
Depending on song, the performers showed dances just like kung-fu. When I saw them live, there was one thing that I did notice about Akira, one of the performers. He has a rangy danceable body and his dance is very sexy. Someday he will become a leading Japanese dancer.

Last part of the concert, audience just brought the house down with EXILE's popular songs ; Won't Be Long, Choo Choo TRAIN, Galaxy Express 999, etc. The rhythm of 'Won't Be Long' is like a reggae or Japanese Bon dance music. Its sound and dance ware interesting.
They ware very cool !

Bellow is their song 'Super Shine'. I like this video.

UVERworld become ANIME SONG KING!?

This week, new CD single of UVERworld, "儚くも永久のカナシ" (hakanakumo towa no kanashi) topped the Oricon J-POP weekly charts. This CD single has been attracting a lot of attention as the theme song for a TV animation series GUNDAM 00 2nd season.

Member of UVERworld are from Shiga prefecture that located Western Japan. They debuted in 2005 with single "D-technoLife", the theme song for TV anime BLEACH. This song entered music charts at No.4. Now, they are popular with teenagers.
UVERworld have released 11 CD singles, 6 songs of these singles ware used for TV anime as theme song and 2 songs got tie-up with TV drama.
UVER's sounds have heart-quickening melodies. I think the reason for their popularity is catchy, ear-catching tunes and thought-provoking lyrics. It's may suitable for anime song. But lead singer TAKUYA∞ has a high-pitched voice, so most men can't sing UVER's song well like him at Karaoke. (^^;)

The story of GUNDAM 00 is heavy. . But since GUMDAM SEED series, GUNDAM is popular with women. Because the characters are attractive. In addition, theme songs for GUNDAM series always become a hit.
"儚くも永久のカナシ (hakanakumo towa no kanashi)" means transitory but everlasting sadness in English. This song has a sense of speed. It match with the opening image of GUNDAM 00.
Ending pictures of GUNDAM 00 are also great. Its theme song "Prototype" by Chiaki Ishikawa will take the top spot in J-POP music charts. Its on sale date is Dec. 3th. She also sang the theme song for GUNDAM SEED & GUNDAM SEED DESTINY in 2004 and in 2006 as See-Saw.

MACROSS F reached BUDOKAN !

MACROSS F finally reached BUDOKAN!
On November 5th, the concert "Kanno Yoko Presents : MACROSS F Galaxy tour Final" took place at a big arena in central Tokyo "NIPPON BUDOKAN" .

BUDOKAN is a special place for Japanese musicians and they are dreaming of reaching there, but by reason of the size of venue, only very popular and big musicians can be allowed to perform there.

In spite of the concert was on weekday, tickets were immediate sold out from they went on sale.
There were two concerts at city concert hall in October which has same title as this, but these were also a sellout from the moment they were on sale. So,this time's concert was decided to take place specifically as service for fan.
Of course I tried to get the ticket too, but I couldn't get it.

I was surprised because the animation series "MACROSS Frontier" had been broadcasted via TV in late night hours, so I think it should be known by fans only. (Has Otaku population increased in Japan?)
In addition, a singer May'n and a voice actress Megumi Nakajima who are 19years old girls, sings main character's song had been unknowns until then.

I think this time's success was brought by a composer Yoko Kanno, so to speak she is a God of anime music. All CDs of associated MACROSS F has entered music charts in top5 and it's a first hit for the animation music since 1997, The End of EVANGELION.

For your information, on the following day, very popular techno-pop idol group Perfume began two days concert at BUDOKAN.

Japanese culture in 20th Century Boys

20th Century Boys again !
If you watch the movie : 20th Century Boys, you may wonder at some scene.

1. As a lead character Kenji is getting ready to go to his friend's funeral, his mother say that "Don't forget to have salt!".
Why does he need salt ?
Because not to bring the "death" into home. After someone's funeral, Japanese sprinkle salt their body before enter own house. It's based on thought of Shinto religion. But Buddist may doesn't do that.

2. Do you know what it's called the character,a mask which "friend" is putting on ?
He is "Ninja Hattori-kun", a comic's character. It was serialized in a magazine series from in 1960s to 1980s and was adapted into a 2004 live-action film that starred Shingo Katori of SMAP.

3. A man who in a flag in front of Kenji's store,Do you know who is he ?
His name is "Ohsama". Ohsama means King. He is a musician who was active in 1997.

If you know these 3points, you may be well-versed in Japan !

Family that sit around sukiyaki on New Year's Eve and young people who are unconcerned with untrue information that is reported in the media. These scene are very Japan.
I'm interested in how these scene will be translated in English.

Twentieth Century Boys - the next chapter,
a new page will be open to the another "end"...

20th Century Boys ： the movie

"The world faces it's end...by our "friend"."

I watched an interesting Japanese movie, "20th Century Boys". I was really excited. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat.

The outline is,

In 1969,an elementary school boy Kenji and his friends made up a fantasy story "Prophecy".
28years later,a series of mysterious cases happened around them. It resembled the story of "Prophecy" closely.
The world was slowly being threatened by the occurs. At last,on New Year's Eve 2000,"it" has come...

Is the criminal one of us? Who is the "friend"...?

The original is a comic book series "Twentieth Century Boys" by Naoki Urasawa.

The interesting thing is this movie uses "20th Century Boy" by T.REX as a theme song.

I heard that the actors are look-alike for the characters of original comics. (But I've never read the original comics.)

Etsushi Toyokawa as Otcho is very cool ! too cool !! He doesn't look around fifty at all !

This movie is the first film in the "20th Century Boys" trilogy and the second film will be released in Japan on January 31th. I can't wait it !

Does anyone know whether this movie is being released in other countries now?

http://www.20thboys.com/index.html

東方神起 3rd Live Tour 2008 ~T~ Final Day

On May 6th, I went to a concert of 東方神起(Tohoshinki), 3rd LIVE TOUR 2008 ~T~ at the Saitama super arena. My Report is too late..(^_^;) The hall isn't in Tokyo but near Tokyo. The day, Tohoshinki sung 25 songs enthusiastically including encore.

Tohoshinki is from Korea. Now,they are very popular in Japan. That week, Their latest single CD "Beautiful you" entered Oricon J-POP weekly charts at No.1. So in Japan, it's hard to get their concert ticket. In my case, my Friend gave me the ticket. I was lucky !(^0^)

The day was the final day of their live tour ~T~. So, the fans of the hall was excited very much.

As I listened to their singing and talking, I was impressed. They can enough communicate with their fans or member each other in Japanese.

There were many young Japanese and Korean fans in and outside the hall. Also there were many fans who seems to be around 50 years old. Few years ago, there was Korean boom in Japan. Since then, middle-age-women interested in Korean pop culture.

The day, Kumi Kouda appeared on the stage and they sung "LAST ANGEL" together. SAM (TRF) also appeared on the stage. He produced the stage of the concert tour. He said that "They are a treasure of Asia !"

I like Tohoshinki's ballade songs. Their dance is very cool, too. I spent really happy time the day !

Perfume - techno-pop idol unit

Techno-pop idol unit "Perfume" is a fast-rising idol group in Japan now. Last week, their latest album "GAME" entered the J-POP album daily charts at No.1.(Oricon)

Members of Perfume are three girls who are 19 years old. Producer is Yasutaka Nakata. He is working in his own techno-unit "capsule".

The girls are from Hiroshima prefecture that is a local city in western Japan.

Perfume was formed in 1999 when they were at actor & actress training school. They came to Tokyo in 2003 and debuted majors in 2005. In 2007, Perfume became a niko-niko douga and YouTube hit. (Niko-Niko Douga is a Japanese site like a YouTube)

Last year, Perfume And their song "Poly rhythm" was used for a TV commercial of NHK ・ Environment Recycle Campaign. Finally, they break through as a star this year.

The music Yasutaka Nakata composes has a reputation for high quality. What has made more news is their cute dance. That's like a robot or a doll and not complicated. So, we can dance even a child.

I download Perfume's music from a mobile web site by cellular phone and often listen to it. I like "Chocolate Disco" the best in songs of their latest album "GAME". It's a very interesting pop song! When I listen to the tune "Chocolate Disco", I become happy, happy feeling!! (^_^)☆

MACROSS F × Yoko Kanno × Maaya Sakamoto

In Japan,new TV programs go on air in April and October. This Spring,a new TV animation series "MACROSS Frontier (MACROSS F)" is coming. Music by Yoko Kanno!! Yatta～\(^0^)/
I listened to her music for the first time by Japanese anime MACROSS PLUS more than 10 years ago. I was surprised at splendor of her music. The music Yoko Kanno composes is very fantastic!I love her music very much.
There are some series of MACROSS. Below is the history. ↓

In 1982, TV:Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS
In 1984, Film:Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS (Do you remember Love ?)
In 1992, OVA:MACROSS Ⅱ
In 1994, OVA:MACROSS PLUS
In 1994, TV:MACROSS seven
In 2002,OVA:MACROSS zero
In 2008,TV:MACROSS Frontier (MACROSS F)

In all titles,songs are the key of the story in common. so,music is very important in "MACROSS". I've seen "Super Dimension Fortress MACROSS (Do you remember Love?)". It's a old anime film but the quality of the story is amazing. I've seen "MACROSS 7",too. It's very interesting and songs are very good!

In new series,Maaya Sakamoto sing the theme song "Triangular". I like her cute voice very mach.
MACROSS Frontier × Yoko Kanno × Maaya Sakamoto !!
I'm looking forward to MACROSS F and Yoko Kanno's music !!!

AKIRA - live-action version

Japanese animation film AKIRA will be made into a live-action movie in Hollywood.
AKIRA was directed by Katsuhiro Otomo in 1988. Katsuhiro Otomo is a master of Japanese animation. AKIRA is one of my favorite animation film.

In animation version,the stage of the story is Neo-Tokyo in 2019,after 31 years of destruction with new bomb. Grotesque structure of city that wiring and pipes are exposed,lining huge buildings that emits brilliant neon lights,old section of city in ruins... The image of chaotic city is "Tokyo" exactly.

Music of AKIRA is amazing,too. The music was composed by Syoji Yamashiro (Geinoh Yamashirogimi). I think this music makes AKIRA more attractive work. When I watched this anime,I was absorbed in the story completely.

In live-action version, the stage of the story is Manhattan (N.Y.). Leonardo Dicaprio takes part in this work as a producer.

I have a simple question. "AKIRA" is Japanese boy's name. He is a key of the story.
Is the name changed into an American boy's name in Hollywood version...? If the title is changed,it's no longer AKIRA...(^_^;)

Anyway,I want the live-action version's AKIRA to become a cool and wonderful movie!

Valentine's Day!

February 14 is Valentine's Day.

In Japan,females give chocolate to males on Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day gift special counter in a department store was crowded with many woman yesterday.

In Tokyo,There are various events of Valentine's Day. Illumination of the heart shape is fantastically produced in Roppongi(Tokyo midtown). In Shibuya,Valentine's Day message is screened on a large-scale screen set up on the wall of a building.

Feb 14 is a courageous day for woman in Japan. Because it is an important day when woman confess her love for a man she loves.

Courage is necessary for life. If not courageous,we can't get a chance.

Anyway,I don't have a boyfriend. I would rather receive chocolate than give someone. Because I love chocolate!

Kazuko Hosoki - The most famous fortune teller in Japan

Kazuko Hosoki is the most famous fortune teller in Japn now.
There is Kazuko Hosoki's program twice a week at prime time. She is in great demand on TV. I am writing this, and she is on the TV right now.

She foretells person's fate by six stars astrology. But,her character is more famous than her fortune-telling.

Kazuko Hosoki doesn't listen to opinion of other perple. For expample,if someone say own opinion against her,she gets angry soon. And she always says "If you don't listen to my advice,you will die!". Kazuko Hosoki is strict with young woman. On the other side, for cool man,she always smaile and gentle.
Kazuko Hosoki looks selfish but her strong character is very interesting. In a sense,she is a funny woman.

According to her fortune-telling,I will get lucky this year!
I don't believe in fortune-telling,but I want to believe in!