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!

Toward the TERRA

This year,an animation was televised in Japan. The title of the TVanimation is "Toward The TERRA".
The original is a comic book "To TERRA" drawn by Keiko Takemiya 30 years ago. "To TERRA" was made into an animation film in 1980, and got into the news at that time.

This animation was produced quite newly this year as a TV series"Toward The TERRA". The image and music of "Toward The TERRA" are very beautiful. And because the characters are attractive, it was especially popular among the woman.

I think, "Toward The TERRA" conveys a message of to respect the environment. I feel such a message also from a famous animation film "NAUSICAA" and "Princess Mononoke" that directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Fan of "To TERRA" since 30 years ago seems to have watched "Toward The TERRA" with their children. After broadcasting the tv series had ended, a big event of "Toward The TERRA" was still held in Tokyo.

A lot of programs and CM, etc. of which the theme was ecology were televised in Japan this year. Environmental problems are so serious. I actually feel that the temperature of Tokyo goes up every year.
Some time, I want to invest in an enterprise that works on environmental problems.

I received the impact to the appearance of the earth that had been drawn in "Toward The TERRA". And the story of the last moved me greatly!

The 1st opening theme's title of Toward The TERRA is "endscape". Music by UVERworld. Recently,UVERworld is very popular rock band in Japan. 2nd opening theme is "Jet Boy Jet Girl". Song by Hitomi Takahashi. Their music is perfectly with image of Toward The TERRA!

What is Tokyo like?

What image of Tokyo do you have?

Crowded town? Businessman who commutes in overcrowded trains? or, Skyscraper?

Tokyo has 23 wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages. In 23 wards, there are famous places.

Shibuya, Roppongi, Ginza, Aoyama, Akihabara, Shinjuku...

If you are teenager, will enjoy in Shibuya.

If you want to eat delicious sushi, I recommend you to go to Ginza.

Recently, Akihabara gets into the news in Japan.

I like Shinjyuku.

Shinjuku is always too crowded. It is not possible to walk straight around the exit of Shinjuku station. Overcrowded building... it looks grotesque. The town is not beautiful at all.

Whenever I walk on the crowded road, I think "Here is Asia". But, when the night comes, the lights of the town are very beautiful. Whenever I see the lights, I imagine some story of people in the town. A lot of people live in this chaotic town. Therefore, I like Shinjuku.