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!