Archive for 'Old and New Cultural Scenes in Japan' Category
Another spin-off group “DiVA” is debuting from AKB48
Sayaka Akimoto
Now, AKB48 has become the paramount top young female idol group in Japan and has produced several spin-off groups, some of which I have referred to here. And now, the newest group of such is announced to debut from Avex http://avexnet.jp/index.html on coming April. 27th on this Feb.27th at the AKB48 Theater. The name of this ramified unit is “DiVA”, whose members are four members of AKB, namely, Sayaka Akimoto(/秋元才加), Ayaka Umeda(/梅田彩佳), Sae Miyazawa(/宮澤佐江), and Yuka Masuda(/増田有華) .
Ayaka Umeda
Sae Miyazawa
Yuka Masuda
As I wrote here before, Akimoto successfully finished the Tokyo Marathon 2011 http://www.tenkai-japan.com/2011/02/28/tokyo-marathon-2011-being-held/ ,and declared to come cack as captain of Team K of AKB (Umeda and Miyazawa are also members of team K ,while Masuda is a member of Team B). At this re-inaugural announcement of hers , Akimoto notifed fans of the “formal” debut of DiVA as well. This is because ,strictly speaking, DiVA kind of debuted last October singing “Nakeru Basho”(/泣ける場所, a place where I can cry) the coupling track of “Beginner” , AKB’s 18th single CD. Yet this time with a new member of Miyazawa, the new DiVA is going to fully and formally debut.
Akimoto and Miyazawa are called “The Twin Towers” of AKB, as both of them are quite tall. The two girls were also members of “Chocolove from AKB48″, the first spin-off group of AKB. Umeda was the Image Girl of Tokyo Tower 2010 and Masuda, who often performs as an actor in movies and plays as well, had debuted as a solo ” ani-son singer” with “Stargazer”, the theme song of an fantasy action anime, “Ikkitousen XTREME XECUTOR~Yume Rokkei~”(/一騎当千 XTREME XECUTOR ～ユメ六景～).
Umeda notifed Miyazawa’s joining the group, Akimoto tells they are striving for becoming musicians showing different tastes from those of AKB , Masuda tells they are determined to try to do anything not to get fans bored as all of the four members have distinct characters respectively, and Miyazawa, being absent from the announcement, sent a message to the fans, saying they hope the new group to be a good rival of AKB.
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Loading ...“Hayabusa”, the newest bullet train model launching
On this Mar.5th, the latest model of the bullet train of The Tohoku Shinkansen line(東北新幹線, Tohoku Bullet Train Line) E5 series called “Hayabusa” (/はやぶさ, falcon)launched and went into service. 
Hayabusa travels at 300 km/h which is the fastest of all the bullet train lines in Japan (the same velocity with that of N700 series of Sanyo Shinkansen line) and travels between Tokyo Station in Tokyo and Shin- Aomori Station (/新青森駅, New Aomori Station) in Aomori Pref. , one of the prefectures in Tohoku, the Northeast Region of Japan (the distance is totally 713.7 km)in 3 hous and 10 minutes. It takes two round trips a day and is planned to start travelng faster at 320 km/h at the least by the end of 2012. 
The grand opening ceremony was hosted by JR east Japan, the company of the line at Tokyo Station on the 5th with presence and celebration by its chairperson Mutsutake Otsuka(/大塚陸毅). The first train bound for Tokyo departed Shin- Aomori at 6:10am and the first bound for Shin- Aomori departed Tokyo Station at 8:20am. All of the first day’s tickets were sold out just in 40 seconds after having started selling,which has proven its great popularity.
The most notable feature of this new model may be that it is equipped with the first class seats named “Glan Class” for the first time in the Japanese bullet train lines’ history. The Glan Class contains only 18 seats equipped with the first car which has a special appearance of a rather flat and smooth shape in order to reduce possible noise a fast trains tend to make. Glan Class seats are all spacious and covered with deluxe leather. A passenger of Glan Class is provided with a free lunch box and free beverage services. 
A ticket of an economy seat costs ￥16,870 (≒$205,€146),and, a Glan Class costs ￥26,360(≒$320,€229) between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. The Tohoku Shinkansen line ,which just fully opened on Dec.04 2010, now has a new model and services drawing huge attentions and popularity of people. A lot of travel agencies have various new tour plans to Aomori or other Tohoku Region using the bullet train line, expecting carrying so many interested tourists and visitors. I hope this new situation propels
(3 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...Nintendo DS’s new version”3DS” going to be released in Feb. 2011
Nintendo, http://www.nintendo.com/countryselector , one of the top manufacturers of video game machines in the world, announced on Sep.29th at “Nintendo Conference 2010″ in Makuhari Messe in Chiba Pref. that it was going to release a new version of DS series, the one of the most popular portable game machines at the moment on Feb.26th 2011.
The name of the new version is “3DS”. The most prominent characteristic is that you can recognize and enjoy vivid 3d images with the naked eye (only the dedicated soft wares of 3DS ). You can use the soft wares for the current DS series machines as well. 
There are currently 4 types of machines in the DS series, namely, DS, DS lite, DSi, and DSiLL, whose total number of sales has reached some 130 million sets in total in the world market 2004-March 2010. The “3DS” will be the official newest succession machine of the current ones and will be equipped with good functions, such as 3D picture camera system, ”Surechigai Tsuushin” (/すれ違い通信, “passing-by” correspondence service), “Itsunomanika Tsuushin”(/いつの間にか通信, “before anyone knows it” Correspondence service ), which some TV stations issuing and renewing information on special services via the correspondence system on daily basis, and others.
The pre-determined price of 3DS is ￥25,000 (about $300, €218) . And the information on the further details of the product is going to be announced at “E3 2011″ (Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011) hosted by ESA http://www.theesa.com/ in the coming June 2011 in Los Angeles USA.
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...Takashi Murakami’s solo exhibition at Versailles in France
Takashi Murakami(/村上隆), an artist of paintings, sculptures,and baloons, is hosting a solo exhibition at Versailles, the old palace of the House of Bourbon in France.http://www.chateauversailles.fr/les-actualites-du-domaine/evenements/evenements/expositions/murakami-versailles
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...The two World’s record high; Ichiro’s 200 hits and Hakuho’s 8th undefeated championship
Now we have quite up-to-date exciting news of the two remarkable achievements of the world record high related to “Japan”. One is Ichiro Suzuki(/鈴木一朗), a Japanese outfielder of Seattle Mariners of MLB, achieving at the least 200 hits in 10 straight years on this Sep.23rd . That is the new highest record in the human baseball history ! 
Ichiro made the hit in the fifth inning of the game against Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto Canada, besting his own old record high.
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...A new trend in Japanese contemporary culture”Nigaoe”-An American and Japanese caricaturists/cartoonists meeting with Japanese pro tour guides
A famous American caricaturist/cartoonist/photographer, Mr.David ”Bippy” Boyer http://web.mac.com/bippy/Site/Main_Selection.html and a Japanese famous caricaturist Ms. Tomoko Ogawara http://www.hoshinoko.co.jp/tomoko/ had a friendship meeting with some Japanese certified guide-interpreters in Ginza on this Aug. 26th(Thur.).
Dave-san,Tomoko-san, and the pro tour guides ( Photo: David Boyer, 2010, www.bippies.com)
”Dave-san”(that is how I call Mr.David Boyer) and Tomoko-san(Ms.Ogawara) are my friends, with whom I went to Kamakura for a one- day sightseeing there last November at Dave-san’s last visit to Japan as I wrote here. http://www.tenkai-japan.com/2010/01/14/one-day-in-kamakura-with-great-nigaoe-artists-part-1/
I met Dave-san at Yurakucho Station near Ginza and showed him around Ginza area for a walking tour. He was took an interest in the Ginza street and its fancy stores and refined scenery there and took a lot of photos of them. At the intersection of the 4th block of Ginza, the most expensive land or block in whole of Japan, he took a photo of himself with his photography book of travel of his journeys to Japan. This book “Japan: A Carttonist’s Journey -Vol.1.10″ is available at the website here via the Internet. http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1517766 The book is full of beautiful photos that he took of daily life of people, streets, parks, and scenes in many places in Japan with his intriguing comments over his impressions of Japan and things he has come across there.
Dave-san holding his first book of travel at the most expensive corner in Japan(the intersection of the 4th block in Ginza) (Photo: David Boyer, 2010, www.bippies.com)
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...The 11th Tokyo Girls Collection held at Saitama Super Arena
”The 11th Tokyo Girls Collection 2010 A/W” or ” The 11th TGC “was held at Saitama Super Arena on the Sep 4th. http://tgc.st/10AW/whats_en/
This series of the one of the largest and most notable fashion festas started in 2005 and since then it has hosted these events biannually, some of which were held even in Beijing China.
This time with the theme of “Back to the Classic Future”, there were 22 fashion brands and so many top models, actors, TV personalities, idols, and even politicians with burning passion and heat. And there were more than 30,000 audience ,which was the record high of the 11- year history of TGC. There were also singing performances of singers and idols and appearancesof surprsze guests and performers, such as Anna Tsuchiya (土屋アンナ), May J, Erika Sawajiri(/沢尻エリカ), AKB48, BlUE MAN GROUP, and others. Hiroshi Mizohata(/溝畑宏), the current commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency and Becii Cruel who is one of the most popular Internet idols loving Japanese pop, anime, and stuff, showed up and jointly made addresses in which they declared that they would make every effort to promote the splendor of Japanese fashions.
The event also hosted auctions a part of whose sales was going to be donated to Miyazaki Prefecture which suffered from serious damages of Foot-and- mouth disease of cows just recently. So, Hideo Higashikokubaru(/東国原英夫)、the current Miyazaki governor,who used to be a comedian, turned up on the stage and extended his gratitude.
The management of the festa declared they are going to host the next TGC event in February 2011 in Nagoya, the capital of Aichi prefecture located in the central area in Japan, for the first time in the history of TGC.
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...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.
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...“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.
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...“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.
(2 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...A New Idol Group “AKBN 0″ (!) debut
A young female idol group “AKBN 0″ hosted its debut live concert on Yoyogi Park Open-air Stage in Shibuya Tokyo on this Aug.13th. Despite the rainy weather ,more than 500 audience welcomed this new group, which sang 4 songs of other idol groups, such as AKB48 and Morning Musume。, for the new group has no songs of its own yet. So, AKBN0 is now recruiting original songs for it at its official website http://www.akbn.tv/index.html.
There are nine members at the moment (one of them has already retired) as the First Generation of the group.
(4 投票, 平均値/最大値: 2.75 / 5) Loading ...“NMB48″ ‘s first auditon is being held
NMB４８, the newest group in the AKB48′s project is about to launch.
At the AKB48′s concert in the National YoyogiFirst Gymnasium on this Jul.10th, and11th, the project announced the plan of creating a new group based in Osaka, the third biggest city, which is one of thecenters of the western regions of Japan, in Japan called NMB48. The name represents Namba which is an area in Osaka where the new group is going to be based on. The first audition of recruiting members of MNB48 is being held until Aug.20th and the group is starting in the November. http://www.nmb48.com/ a girl who is 11-22 years old and is not contracted to any entertainment agency is eligible for the audition.
Miniskirt (/ミニスカート)
(3 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...“International Tokyo Toy Show 2010″ is being held in Odaiba Tokyo
The “International TokyoToy Show” has been hosted at the Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba Ariake Koutou-ward Tokyo Jul.15-18th. http://www.toys.or.jp/toyshow/2010_files/english/outline.html
A lot of busienesses in the Toy industry join and collaborate for the event. Special prizes are given to excellent toys. The future of Japanese toys in both deomestic and international markets must have positive outlook and our toys are expected to grow even more than current level.
(4 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...The Morning Musume。making its name at the 11th Japan Expo in Paris
As some writers referred to here, the 11th Japan Expo was held this Jul.1-4th at Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center in Paris, France. And “the Morning Musume。”(/MM) , the popular national girls idol group was invited to the event and hosted concert on the 2nd and joined the conference on the 4th.http://www.japan-expo.com/en/invite/morning-musume_11.htm
The MM made a big success at its concert which drew some 4,000 audiences. Some of them are from other countries such as Italy and China.
(3 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...AKB48 at “Anime Expo 2010″ in Los Angeles
AKB48, one of the most popular young female idol groups at the moment, joined and performed at “Anime Expo 2010″ in Los Angeles US on this Jul.1st .
This ”Anime Expo 2010″ http://www.anime-expo.org/ (Jul.1st-4th) is one of the biggest conventions of such subculture as anime and manga in North America. This time AKB48 was invited to the event as its “Special Dream Ambassadors”(honorary ambassadors) ,being expected to work as a helpful bridge of Japanese culture between Japan and US and other countries, the event’s management say.
(3 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5) Loading ...