Suiho Tagawa, Norakuro Manga Museum

Name: Norakuro Manga Museum
Address: Morishita Bunka Center
3-12-17 Morishita, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0004, JAPAN
Phone: +81-3-5600-8666
URL: http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~norakuro/sub1/index.htm
Business hours: 9:00-21:00
Closed: First and third Monday of each month, New Year’s holidays
Admission: Free

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LUNA SEA 20th Anniversary World Tour Reboot

Rock band LUNA SEA announced their return. During the Hong Kong press conference the band confirmed the reunion and announced their first concert tour in ten years. The tour, named 20th Anniversary World Tour Reboot will start on November 27 in Germany and will likely end with a 2days performance at the Tokyo Dome in December.
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KEWPIE’s 100th Birthday

Anniversary of the 100th BD of KEWPIE

The exhibition commemorating the 100^th birthday of KEWPIE is now being held at Utsunomiya Museum.  KEWPIE was originated in the illustration by Rose O’Neill in U.S.A.  Since then, Kewpie has got popular all over the world.

A hiding Onsen for modern-day “Ninja”

Renewed Miyano Onsen wholly open

A Cozy Japanese Inn “Miyano Onsen” in the “ninja” town.

Miyano Onsen in Koka celebrates its 110^th anniversary this year. The small Onsen inn with only 10 guest rooms has started construction for its renovation and expansion since last year. Its outdoor grand bath, as a part of renovation, was begun remodeling on January 20 and finished in the end of February. Their project was stepped into the next stage of accommodation expansion plan with all Japanese-style 13 guest rooms on February 4.

New annex “Zenrinbo” (善住坊） was completed on August 15, 2010. The first floor is used for dinning area and three guest rooms are laid out on the second floor.

“Koka”, known as the cradle of “Koka-ninja”, is a small town far from 1.5km south-west of JR Konan Station in Shiga Prefecture. A small remote bathhouse “Miyano Onsen” is located in this “satoyama” town. Satoyama is a Japanese term applied to the border area between mountain foothills and arable flat land. 

The small Japanese inn is elegantly laid out in this grassy remote “satoyama” town and can accommodate only 45 guests now. The chef changes his original menu seasonally and serves characteristic and tasty local dishes to his clients.

Most visitors to Miyano Onsen usually visit “Koka-ryu Ninja-yashiki” or old residence of “koka ninja”. It used to be a residence of Mochizuki Izumo-no-kami, one of the ninja readers among the 53 Koka Families, built in the Genroku Era (1688-1703).

“Koga-ryu Ninja-yashiki” is looked like an ordinal house.

“Ninja-yashiki” looks quite ordinal on the outside, but is strategically designed to trick and entrap against any enemy broking into inside, such as “donden-gaeshi” or a reversal door, “otoshi-ana” or a pitfall, a set of “Kakushi-bashigo” and “Kakushi-beya” or a hidden ladder and shelter, and other devices.

It is recommendable to stop by and enjoy Onsen after sightseeing of “Koka-ryu Ninja-yashiki”.

■General Information

■Tariff for 1 person

＊The above prices include two meals, service charge, and tax, but exclusive 150 yen local tax for bathing.

〈For quick bathers〉

■Entrance fees for grand bath

＊    The above fees do not include 50yen local tax for bathing.

■Entrance fees for private bath in 1 hour

＊    The above fees do not include 50yen local tax for bathing.

As a certified guide-interpreter in English and also a writer of the website “Cool Japan Guide”, I will be very happy to accompany you to this wonderful ninja world in Shiga.

Thank you for your kind cooperation, I am looking forward to your contacts.

Please Contact Us/お問合せ

View Miyano Onsen in a larger map

Some 280,000,000 Yen being collected to the charity show of 『24 HOUR TELEVISION 33 “LOVE SAVES THE EARTH”』

TOKIO , the main MC of "24HTV 33" They are popular male idol group.

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Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park

I’ve been to Nikko with TOTAK members the other day.  Main purpose of our visist to Nikko was to appreciate a performance of Takigi Noh Play at Rin-nouji Temple.  Chair person of the society organized the tour not only to see the Noh Play but also including Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park. 

Currently we have three Imperial Villas in Japan.  Suzaki Imperial Villa in Shizuoka, Hayama Imperial Villa in Kanagawa and Nasu Imperial Villa in Tochigi.  We used to have an Imperial Villa in Nikko as well.  Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa was built in 1899 for imperial prince Yoshihito who would be Taisho emperor.  He was poor in health so that he needed to stay at some of the health resort.  The summer weather in Nikko was suitable for him and the officials (mainly ministry of Imperial hold) decided to build it for him.  After the world war two, due to the new constitution introduced, Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa was abolished in 1947.  However, one of Tochigi authorities maintain the property as one of parks in Tochigi.  You should go there while you are here in Tochigi, Japan.

“TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2010″’s course is going to air at Sky PerfecTV! on Sep.10th and 20th

 The course  of  “TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2010 @Shinagawa” or “TIF2010″ held on this Aug.6th-8th(the eve event was held on the 6th) in Shinagawa Tokyo is going to air on coming Sep.(Fri.) 10th 21:00- 0:00 and 20th(Mon.) 20:00-23:00（re-run will be done on the 20th） at Sky PercTV! http://www.skyperfectv.co.jp/eng/guide/index.html  and http://www.skyperfectv.co.jp/special/idol/

“TIF2010″ has been the biggest live event of  popular female idol groups ever held .http://www.tif2010.com/

There were totally 8 venues on whose main one  live performances were done. At some venue, there were tent booths of selling related items and idols hosted shake-hands events. And at some venue, dolphin shows hosted by idols were done and at some other one, live broadcast of TV programs were done. Some venues were free of charge and any casual passer-by was allowed to join in. Shinagawa Prince Hotel and its related buildings became  big and hot venues of this passionate summer festival with so many visitors of  idols’ fans.

Totally more than 40 young female groups paticipated and performed with zeal and passions at the event.  They were as follows;　(the each English translations in the blanks are not necessarily the formal English name of the group)

○アイドリング!!!（/Idoling!!!） ○さくら学院（/Sakura Gakuin） ○東京女子流（Tokyo Girls’ Style） ○Tomato n’ Pine 　○ぱすぽ☆（/PASSPO）　○バニラビーンズ（/Vanilla Beans ） ○腐男塾（/Fudanjuku) 　○ももいろクローバー（/Momoiro Clover） ○YGA 　○アフィリア・サーガ・イースト（/Afilia Saga East）　○私立恵比寿中学（/Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku） ○ディアステージ・オールスターズ（/Dear Stage All Stars） ○中野腐女子シスターズ（/Nakano Fujoshi Sisters） ○みにちあ☆ベアーズ（/Mini Cheer ☆Bears）　○桃知みなみ（/Minami Momochi） ○LOVE BOWLERs  ○わた☆チュー（/Wata☆Chu） ・・・and more・・・

The broadcasting  of the TV program will be done at  ” Ch. 191 スカチャンHD191″ , “Ch.181 スカチャン181″, and “Ch.801 スカチャンHD801″ of   Sky perfecTV! on the scheduled two dates.

☆Vampire café

I’m introducing my favorite restaurant♪
“Vampire café”in Ginza.
http://www.diamond-dining.com/vampire/index.html

Black and red fabulous gothic atmosphere.
There are many bats and roses ornaments.
It’s like a den on vampires.
The atmosphere,dishes and drinks are awesome!
Why don’t you go to this place?

Romantic Village

• To let my kids play with their friends
• To chat with my friends
• To enjoy good meal and sweets
• To buy local food
• To get a picnic-shelter under trees or under air-conditioned space
• To appreciate beautiful flowers & vegetables and buy some

 Romantic Village is the place to meet my needs above, with no entrance fee!!

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“Lucky☆Star” and the City of Moe, Kuki

Lucky Star (らき☆すた,) is a Japanese four-panel comic strip manga by Kagami Yoshimizu. The strip has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s Comptiq magazine since January 2004. Cameo strips were published in other magazines such as Shōnen Ace and others. Like many four-panel comic strips, it has no ongoing plot, and typically focuses on the daily lives of the characters.

Lucky Star’s story mainly portrays the lives of four Japanese girls attending a Japanese high school. The setting is mainly based on the city of Kasukabe in Saitama Prefecture.　The main character is Konata Izumi, an athletic and somewhat intelligent (even though she likes to copy), but also slightly mischievous and laid-back girl who, despite these attributes, is not in a sports club and has to resort to all-nighter cramming for tests. She would rather read manga and play video games than do her homework.

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Self-introduction: Taka (Walking Tokyo)

Specialized in Asian arts including Japan, China and India.Finished one-year postgraduate-diploma-course on Asian Arts offered by the British Museum and the Royal Holloway College,University of London in 2006.
Standard Chinese is also available.
Stationed in HongKong for 4 years in 1990s as a news agency correspondent.
Coverage: From economy, politics to subcultures, traditional Japanese culture and history.
Japan Walking Association (JWA) Official Walking Leader (OWL).

Main Focus is the Outdoor Hot Spring Facility

HIROSHI EBISAWA ARCHITECT & ASSOCITES

http://www.e-koubo.co.jp/

“Minara Natural Onsen, RIRAKU”

Originally, Onsen hot spring is most desirable when it naturally flows out into the open air. Famous hot spring resorts in the east-Japan, such as Izu and Hakone, are best known for such natural hot springs.

“Iyo-no-yu”（伊予の湯） of Dogo Onsen, or hot spring resorts in Ehime Prefecture boasts a long history. Ancient writings such as “Nihonshoki” （日本書紀）　and “Iyokuni-fudoki” （伊予国風土記） indicate that first Emperor’s family used it to entertain guests. Iyo (伊予国,) was an old province of Japan in the area, now called Ehime. Iyo bordered on Awa, Sanuki, and Tosa Provinces.

The name “Dogo” was inscribed in the epitaph of “Oka-no-yu” that is said to be built by Prince Shōtoku. Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子574–622) was a regent and a politician of the Asuka period in Japan., , The name is also found in Waka-poetries in “Manyoshu” (万葉集), or the collection of 10,000 Japanese-poetry.

The old drawing “Dogoyu-soezu” in Tempo (1830-1843) or Koka (1844-1847) during Edo Period shows us that there were bathhouses named “Jussen-yu” and “Jyugomon-yu” for general citizens at the southern part of “Yojoyu”. Tokushima’s feudal lord, Hachisuka Narimasa, built V.I.P. quarters next to the “Ichi-no-yu” Onsen.

Onsen in these old documents show and even in existing “Kami-no-yu（神の湯）” or “God’s Hot Water” has established itself as the Mecca of indoor Onsen.

 “Minara Natural Onsen, RIRAKU” is located in the town of Shigenobu, adjacent to Matsuyama City where a great Dogo Onsen exists. More than 17 Onsens facilities for day trippers were existed nearby. Matsuyama’s surrounding population is about 650,000. In 2003, over 1.3 million guests came to Dogo Onsen, and other 3 millions arrived in other areas. It could be said that there is a lot of first-class competitors in the market.

Architect, Mr. Ebisawa challenged to build an outdoor Onsen facility as the core of the layout plan. It was an innovative bathing approach for the people of Iyo, because they were not familiar with outdoor bathing. The bath opens up into the outdoor, blending itself into nature with providing removable sliding partitions. In addition, outdoor baths are laid out farther as a part of landscape garden.

350 tons of rocks, mainly “Abura-ishi” or light or dark-brown colored shiny rocks were transferred from Hiroshima. Total volume of water is 220 tons, largest in the area.

Ehime prefecture is the only one in Shikoku island which permits ”Family Bathing”, meaning a family is permitted to reserve a bathing room and enjoy taking bath together which is quite natural practice in Japan. “Kazoku-buro” or a reserved private baths for ”Family Bathing” were of course laid out and became very popular among young couples, family groups with children, old couples with grand sons, and young ladies.

■General Information

Rate-table (Business hours: 10：00～24：00)

Private room for Family Bathing

As a certified guide-interpreter in English and also a writer of the website “Cool Japan Guide”, I will be very happy to accompany you to “Minara Natural Onsen, RIRAKU” in Ehime.

Thank you for your kind cooperation, I am looking forward to your contacts.

Please Contact Us/お問合せ

View Larger Map

“Tora-san Museum Illustration Exhibition ‘10″ is being held

  The forth “Tora-san Illustration Exhibition ‘10″ (http://tollustration.com/index.html)  is now being held at ”Tora-san Museum”  in  Katshika-ward  in Tokyo.http://www15.j-server.com/LUCKATUSHI/ns/tl.cgi/http%3a//www.katsushika-kanko.com/tora/index.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XPARAM=search,&XCHARSET=UTF-8&XPORG=,

The event is held Aug.16th(Mon.)-Sep.5th(Sun.) and such sub-events as  mini tours with a participant illustrators, and  drawing performances of  likenesses of visitors  by  participant caricaturists on the spot.

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Aqua World Oarai

Tochigi prefecture has no ocean.  

That’s what our family had been very sad about Utsunomiya life… 

But we didn’t have to be sad at all!

Kita Kanto Expressway, which goes across Tochigi and Ibaraki pref., took us to Oarai beach in Ibaraki just in an hour.

Kita-Kanto Xpwy

Utsunomiya-Kaminokawa IC → Mito-Oarai IC

(1) Oarai Sun Beach

http://www.ibarakiguide.jp/summer/ooarai_sunbeach/index.html (Japanese only)

My kids got so happy to play on beach for the first time.

Oarai Sun Beach

(2) Aqua World Oarai

http://www.aquaworld-oarai.com/english/top/index.html (English)

We all got so excited to see live performances of dolphins and California Sea Lions at Aqua World Oarai. 

Exciting Dolphin Show

It's located in Nakaminato Port

Paradise Kiss the movie !!!!

Hi

I heard that Paradise Kiss become movie!!

Do you remember “Paradise Kiss” ??

It is a comic by Ai Yazawa ( famous at “NANA” !! )

I found that  when it comic bacome anime , Yukari ( act by Yu Yamada )

appears in the press conference wear t that dress is Yukari wear in this comics.

I can’t  wait the movie and it movie will show us very beautiful fashion.