Archive for 'Fashion' Category

The 56 Japan Record Awards Grand Prix “R.Y.U.S.E.I” of J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE(the third genereation)

The 56th Japan Record Awards ceremony was held today Dec.30th in Tokyo.(http://www.tbs.co.jp/recordaward/)  “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” of JSoul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE (/sandaime, the third generation) received the Grand prix. (http://www.jsoulb.jp/)

○The Best Rookie Singer Award/  Mariya Nishiuchi,  ○The Best Singer Award/ EXILE ATSUSHI,   ○The Special Singer Music Award/ Hiroshi Itsuki, ○The Special Film Theme Music Award/ “Anna and The Snow Queen”,  ○The Special Award/ “Youkai Watch”, ○The Best Album Award/ “TRAD” of Mariya Takeuchi, and some other wards ere given to excellent singers, composers, lyricists, and other music artists.

The Buzzwords of the Year 2014

The Buzzwords of the Year 2014 of U-Can were selected and  its award ceremony was held on Dec.1st. This year “Dameyo, dame, dame !”(/No, that is no good at all) which is a part of a dialogue of  a comedian group Nippon Erekiteru Rengo and “Colelctive self -defense” , which was  a hot subject in Japanese politics were selected, though the due rightholder, the current prime minster Abe of the latter refrained from receiving the award. Ten words including the above two becoming so popular this year  have been chosen as well. (http://singo.jiyu.co.jp/)

Washi, the traditional Japanese paper officially registered as a UNESCO’s Intangible Cutural property

Washi, the traditional Japanese paper, and its crafting techniques  were officially registered as a UNESCO’s Intangible Cutural Property at its committee meeting in Paris France on Nov.27th. As I wrote those were recommended last month here, they have been formally designated this time.

An artisan of washi, Mr. Nobushige Akiyama held special demonstrations of washi-making in Italy as a part of cross-cultural activities on Nov.29th.  Italy has a long history of making artisan-based paper as well. This time’s designation is expected to hugely expand general recognition and interest of washi and paper culture in the international  community.

Washi, Japanese-style paper recommended intangible cultural heritage

Agency for Cultural Affairs  anounced washi(Japanese-style paper) and its traditional manual making techniques were recommended as a World Intangible Cutural Heritage by the affiliated organization to UNESCO on this 28th.(http://www.bunka.go.jp/english/index.html)

 

There has been no case that recommended item be turned down at the official process of UNESCO ,and  washi and related techniques are highly expected to be listed on the heritages of UNESCO at the coming inter-governmental committee  at  the headquarters in Paris on the Nov.24th.

The handmade washi and its culture are traditional items since the 8th century and there have been some different schools and approaches. This time three schools of  Sekishu-banshi from Hamada City in Shimane Pref., Honmino-shi from Mino City in Gifu Pref., and Hosokawa-shi from Ogawa Town and Higashi-chichibu Village in Saitama Pref.  have been recommended. Sekishu-banshi was registered as a heritage in 2009 but Honmino-shi was not because it was regarded  quite similar to Sekishu-shi method, Therefore, this time all of the three were re-applied as “washi” as a whole.  The mayor and civil- servants of Ogawa Town expressed their joy in jumping  upon receiving the notice of the recommendation.

KIRARITO GINZA opened on 30th

A new commericial complex ,”KIRARITO GINZA”(a gleam in Ginza) opened this 30th in 1st block in Ginza, Tokyo.(http://www.kirarito-ginza.jp/)(http://www.kirarito-ginza.jp/pdf/language.pdf)

The  building is 66m high and has 12 floors, each of which include first-rate stores, restanrants,and  other establishments of totally 52. The basic concept is a bright shiny space like  diamonds and the “brilliant life” image is adopted.  jewelry stores, clothes shops, and even a wedding hall are there.

 

 

Ding Tai Fung, a  popular Taiwanese restraunt chain which was selected one of the top 10 restaurants of the world by New York Times, opened a branch in the new complex and only there special xialongbao(Chinese soup dumplings) whose primary ingredient is truffles are served in Japan. (http://d.rt-c.co.jp/ginza/)

Hagakure Ninja recruiting new Kunoichi(female Ninjas)

“Hagakure Ninja”, a performance group of ninja activities in a theme park “Ganso Ninjamura  Ureshino- onsen Hizen- yumekaido”(/元祖忍者村　嬉野温泉　肥前夢街道, The original Ninja village in Ureshino hotspring resort of a dream road)(http://www.hizenyumekaidou.info/) in Ureshino hotspring in Saga pref. begian to recruit for new staffers who are to work as its new members as “kunoichi”(female ninjas).

The application requirements  are ; female 13-29 years old (a student can keep her school life), a minor applicant needs her parents’ permit. A successful applicant will be trained to be a good kunoichi (so, no previous experiences as ninja activities are required) and will be a member of the first generation of “Hanagumi”(/華組。,flower group) which is to debut as a ninja girl idol group with “The Magic”, the theme song of  Hizen Yumekaido. The new group will perform in Urshino and other areas in Kyushu. The deadline of the application of  resume is the Oct.10th.

“World Cosplay Summit 2014” in Nagoya

“World Cosplay Summit 2014” is  hosted by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other bodies Jul.26-Aug.3 in Nagoya. (http://www.worldcosplaysummit.jp/en/)

This WCS is the 12nd and this time representatives join the event from  22 countries or regions. The  event includes several programs such as a coaplay parade, cosplay championship, visitations of the representatives to city offices and MFA, anime-song festival, and so forth. Six representatves of the event from China, Mexico, and Finland officially visited Seiji Kihara, the vice-minister at MOFA in Tokyo giving presentations over attaractions of cosplay. Kihawa made a speech saying, pop culture has power to bind countries together and expect the representatives to support strengthening rapport with Japan. The Chinese representative said cosplay had a role to enhance cultural exchange.

 

Tokyo Idol Festival 2014 tickets, begun to sell

One of  a popular girls’ idols/idol groups live event, “Tokyo Idol Group 2014” is going to be held on Aug.2-3, and  two types of its tickets, one-day tickets and two-day  tickets started to sell on Jun.28.  (http://idolfes.com/2014/english/)

 

Names of idols/idol groups to perform in the event are being released bit by bit and 117 idols/groups are announced. A trait of Tokyo Idol Festival is that, unlike average idol events, the facilitators focus not only very famous ones but even on less known local idols that have aptitudes as general promotion acitivity of  all corners of the Japanese society as well.

 

Tokyo being the most satisfying city of the world

Tokyo (http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/index.htm) comes first as the “overall satisfaction city” of  a survey of  satisfying cities in 2013 conducted by an Internet travel site, TripAdvisor(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TripAdvisor), according to  its report on the 20th.(http://blog.tripadvisor.com/blog/2014/05/20/survey-tokyo-tops-list-world-cities-best-overall-experience/)

The survey was conducted with questionnairs to 54,000 travelers who had visited 37 major cities in the world in such a manner as asking how much they were satisfied grading each city by 0-10 points to each of 16 sections. Tokyo has come first in five sections of “helpful locals”,”best taxi services”,”cleanest streets”,”best public transport”,and “best overall experience”.   As for the “best overall experience”, New York came second and Barcelona placed third.

ANA renewed its uniform design

ANA (All Nippon Airlines),one of  major airlines in Japan, hosted a new- design- uniforms- release exhibition on April 24th.

 

This is the tenth change of  the uniform design of the company and  changed for the first time in 10 years.  The designs come in male and female versions of  three types of the uniforms of  the lounge staff , the ground staff, and the cabin attendants.

Yuzuru Hanyuh, the 19-year-old figure skater who won a gold medal  at the Sochi Olympics 2014 and won at World Figure Skating Championships 2014 appeared in the event and performed  figure skating motions wearing the new design uniform, for he is a contracted  athlete to ANA.

The new design uniforms are welcomed by Hanyuu and employees of the company and as they seem fresh, light, and bright distinctive colors.  The designs were created by  Prabal Gurung, a worldwide popular designer who has created designs for  Michelle Obama the first lady of US and Princess Catherine of UK.  ANA expects the design to refresh the image of the company and appeal to consumers with the company’s  basic concept of “staying performing challemges to the world and staying changing “. The new design uniformes will start in this winter.

The 28th Gold Disk Awards

The 28th Gold Disk Awards  winners’ names and works were announced on this Feb.27th.  These awards are given to music artists whose achievements are higher and this time the accomplishment performances  Nov.1 ,2011 – Dec.31, 2013 were  examined objects. (http://www.golddisc.jp/award/28/index.html)

The” Artist of The Year “(the Japanese Music section)(this is the grandprix of the awards) was given to AKB48, and the group has won the same  grandprix three straight years, which was the record-high of the awards’ history. And the “Artist of The Year”(the Western Music section) was given to One Direction, a popular rock’n roll band from UK. The”Best Asian Artist” was given to  TVXQ(/東方神起).  And totally, 59 artists or works  received those honorable prizes.

EXILE won the grand prize of the 55th Japan record Awards

EXILE, one of the most popular music artist group, won the grand prize of the 55th  Japan Record Awards held  in Tokyp on Dec.30. (http://www.tbs.co.jp/recordaward/)

 

EXILE won the grand prize with its latest song “EXILE PRIDE~Konna Sekai wo Aisurutame ~” for the first time in three years and they had received the prize three times consecutively 2008-2010. The group gave up joining the awards in 2011 for they believed it to be farer after the great record of winning the grand prize three straight years. After that, AKB48 won the grand prize consective years instead 2011-2012. However, that female group  couldn’t win three times in a row, which has been achieved only by Ayumi Hamasaki and EXILE so far, and now  EXILE has established the new record of “four times winnings of  the grand prize ” in the awards’ history. HIRO, the leader of EXILE  gave words of joy and gratitude to the fans saying everything was the best.; he will retire as a performer of the group at the end this year and will exclusively serve as president and producer of the group and its company.  One of the mcs of the show, Aya Ueto, actually, is HIRO’s wife, so they must be happy very much for being able to leave such a memorable record just before his retirement.

Some musicians, artists, dancers, and so forth received excellence awards and best awards.  Among them, especially Kota Shinzato, an 18-year-old male singer stands out with popularity, who won the Best New Artist Award.

 

“Yae-no Sakura” Drama museum in Aizu-wakamatsu

“Yae-no Sakura”(/Cherryblossoms of Yae ), is a  popular period drama currently  aired, describing biography of  Yae Niijima, a  “handsome woman”  who  made a lot of  remarkable activities  at the turinig point of Japan from the Edo Period to the Meiji era of modern society about 150 years ago in Aizu Fukushima.  For this one year,  related  cultural campaign activies are being done in Aizu area. And one of the is the the service of the “Taiga Drama Museum” (http://yae-sakura.jp/dramakan)

The drama deals the information on the background of  the processes of making the drama and historical and actual aspects of  the life of  Yae and related people and events in thsoe days, So, we can learn plenty of things about both the drama and  history.  I visited this facility on 23rd and found it so interesting, and feel the need to introduce it to those who are interested in the Japanese modernization processes and the  popular drama, “Yae-no Sakura”

We started our youtube channel”Weekly GLP”!!

Long time no see!I`m Ai,the president of Gothic&Lolita&Punk no kai(GLP)→https://www.facebook.com/GLPnoKai

We,Gothic&Lolita&Punk no kai(GLP) have founded our youtube channel to launch gothic&lolita fashion culture.You could enjoy our new videos every week in English or Japanese.

Title of the channnel:Weekly GLP

channnel address:http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEPsm1Ii6eGhPSx0SUVt3jQ

We hope for  all of you interested in gothic&lolita outfits and lifestyle, to list the channel as your favorite channnel.

Please look forward for the next video!!

writer:Ai(@Ai_GLP)

FNS Summer Song festival

FNS  Summer Song Festival is being  held at National Stadium First Gymnasium  18:55-23:08 on Jul.31, whose course is being live braodcastedon TV.http://www.fujitv.co.jp/FNS/2013s/

More than  70 musicians or groups are performing on the stage all of whom are popular.