watashi to tokyo

Commercial of the decade

I spent long time to watchi this site, COMMERCIAL OF THE DECADE, it's a result of ADweek media "best of the 2000s". The no1 ad was Honda's "Grrr". I can't understand well why that is no1, I like IKEA one.

My favorite ad? It's impossible to choose the best, so I post some nice Japanese ads of American celebs.

Brad and Musashimaru(ex sumo yokozuna came from Samoa)

Tommy Lee Jones Suntry Boss seires, it's fun.

funny comedy sketch about someone trying to learn English

Brian send me this, this was a very funny comedy sketch about someone trying to learn English from a taped lesson. The guy is Tomonori Jinnai who is ex husband of Norika Fujiawara.

The best manga 2010 & JLPT listening test

I have neve had TOEIC or TOFUL test, maybe I won't have it anymore cause I don't want to dissapointed to the result. I may lost motivation to write a blog anymore by it :-). I got "Society for Testing English Proficiency" when I was junior high in class. My American firend said it's much easier thatn TOEIC. What do you think? This is listening comprehension test for grade one.

In Japan, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test(JLPT) is is conducted both in Japan and outside Japan to evaluate and certify the language proficiency of primarily non-native speakers of Japanese. Of course I have never had it but I am interested what test it is. Then today I found the listening comprehension test for grade one of JLPT. Funny part is the story sounds fake Evangelion + Gundam +something. Mobile suit unit 1 2 3 4 and Aska appears. Strange test, but maybe many forieng people are interested in Japan because of anime cultures so it will be kay.

Personally I trust choice of "Kono Manga ga Sugoi"(the best mang of the year) by Takarajima. I picked two years ago about it and finally they released 2010 best.

Boys Manga
1.Bakuman :Tsugumi Ohba/Ken Obata(death note pair)
2.One Piece : Eiichio Oda
3.Seishun Shonen Magazine : Makoto Kobayashi
4.Hoshi Mamoru Inu: Takashi Murakami
5.Moteki : Mitsurou Kubo
6.Koukoukyuji Zawasan : Eriko Mishima
7.Fullmetal Alchemist : Hiroshi Arakawa
8.Saint Young Men : Hikaru Nakamura
9.Toriko: Mitsutoshi Shimatai
10. Yowamushi Pedal : Wataru Watanabe

Girls manga
1.Chihayafuru : Yuki Suetsugu
2.Kimini Todoke : Karuho Shiina
3.Mama was temparist : Akiko Higashimura
4.Kuragehime : Akiko Higashimura
5.Tonari no Kaibutsukun : Robiko
6.Oino Isho : Kiriko Nishi
7.Aozora yell : Kazune Kawahara
8.Gozen sanji no Muhochitai : Yoko Nemu
9.Isagiyoku Yawarakaku : Aya Ikuemi
10. flat : Natsu Aogiri

Lazy & Loudness

Do you know Loudness that were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed in the United States, releasing seven albums (three in America) by the end of 1987 and reaching the Billboard Top 100. Dramer is Munetaka Higuchi . The guitarist is Akira Takasaki, very rare successful Japanese metal band.

I think some people know about Loudness but don't know about Higuchi and Takasaki had a idol band : "Lazy" with well known anime song singer Hironobu Kageyama who sings Dragon Ball theme "cha la head cha la". Lazy was thought a first real "heavy meat" band in Japan and thier song are still good and popular in Japan. Here is thier hit number "dreamer".

However the band Lazy has a kind of tragedy, bassist Tanaka had passed away at just 46 years old and also the drammer Munetaka Higuchi died in 2008 by cancer.

It is hard to find video or audio of idol band Lazy on the internet but we can find a few. This is the rare video "Baby I make a motion "of "Lazy's resurrection festival" Vocal is Kageyama, guitar is Takasaki, Key borad is a origial Lazy member Shunji Inoue and two guests Tamio Okuda and Kazuyoshi Saitho.

Original Sukiyaki Song

When I read about airplane crashes, I remember "Kyu Sakamoto" always.

The most world-wide famous Japanese song is still Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto now. Do you know he died in the worst air plane acctident in Japan in 1985.

In the U.S. I remember Sukiyaki got popular againg as 4pm and taste of Honey also covered Sukiyaki. However the lyrics of  Sukiyaki in English are so different. It is good, such a nice love song. To be popular, that change was good I think.

But still I like the original one. The Original one's title is "Ue wo muite aruko" (I look up when I walk.)

I look up while I walk
So the tears won't fall
Remembering those spring days
But tonight I'm all alone
I look up while I walk
Counting the stars with teary eyes
Remembering those summer days
But tonight I'm all alone
Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Happiness lies above the sky
I look up while I walk
So the tears won't fall
I cry while I walk
For I am alone tonight
Remembering those autumn days
But tonight I'm all alone
Sadness hides in the shadow of the stars
Sadness hides in the shadow of the moon
I look up while I walk
So the tears won't fall
My heart is filled with sorrow
For tonight I am alone
For tonight I am alone

Sound is very simple, up tempo and light, but the lyrics are a little painful to express the moment he has just gives up and released something important. A sort of dry feeling with a full of tears. Those all combination can be good for when I need to cry. Tears are important when you recover, to forget something right?

Sukiyaki was created by composer Nakamura Hachidai(including 8 in his name), lyrics Ei Rokusuke (including 6 in his name), and sing by Kyu Sakamoto (including nine in his name), This 689 trio made good songs.

Pucchin pudding

Pucchin pulin is very popular ready-made pudding, it has 35years history we can buy anywhere in Japan. Pucchin means sound of breaking the small plastic bar in the bottom of package. Why it has a bar in the bottom? Because so that you can make this!

By the way, Glico has released self-made pucchin pulin kit, it's a huge size pudding. Looks nice for party or something.

Daichi is a beat boxer who is 18years old Japanese boy, here is his creation. So great

Now he appears on Castrol web, that is engine com. Engine has some sound ape man in Japanse so he has make up as ape and stays in engine room as ape. Check his job in Jukebox part.

automatic mario with Queen

This is funyy news from Poland, "Panther was a cheater"

Some Japanese made this automatic mario with Queen don't stop me now. Good job.

This post talk about train suicide in Japan, "Jinshinjiko : Have you ever witnessed one?" Like I wrote before Chuo line is mecca of suicide because it has long straight railway. Fortunatelly I have never seen it. Anyway I changed my site design, but this template is not good, I will chenge something soon.

busy day

I was super busy today, so I couldn't eat lunch. And also I had some trouble at my job. Finally I got home around 11pm..So that I just pick some thing fun to see. Hopefully tomorrow is nice day to me :-)

I love this "Portraits of Power" of New Yorker magazine. Lissen it's very funny. This can be good English lesson for non native English speaker.

Wow! This is great "Edible Chocolate Couch" And a nice memo pad that lose hair sadly.

Lupin the third stole moai!

Ha ha ha Mario Ukiyoe version.

This is "Top 10 Biggest Mafias Around the world". Wow I didn't know Japanese yakuza is such big. They looks scary in the black suits too.

I don't need expensive and nice design umbrella cause I often left mine in the train. Usually I use only this clear type that is cheap ($3 on sunny day) and we can get anywhere. So I don't need this but the design is very nice, it looks like ink brush of Japanese Calligraphy.

Lupin Steal Japn Project is a new projet that was made by NTV or other few company has started to give glorious fun to people in such long bad economy, dark mood Japan. People ask Lupin what he wants Lupin steal via the site. Then today Lupin did it! He stole moai statu in south exit of Shibuya staion. He left his criminal declaration on the place and alo display the same declaration on the big vision in front of Shibuya Station. I'm looking forward to next one, this is interesting project!

Fender guitar colaborates with Evangelion

This is some interesting news. Scientists create artificial meat. It could be a solution to the food supply crisis. But I hope we won't just have only fake meat to eat in the future. I don't trust artifical foods. But I like soy meat. It's not so easy to get it in Japan so I have to a special Taiwanese restaurant to get it.

Yahoo!Japan auction started a special auction, it's a collaboration between Fender guitar and Evangelion. Fender made telecasters with an REI face motif. There are only two guitars in the world with this design. One is $70,000 now and another is $50,000. I am not sure successful bidders will pay so much for a guitar, but I will tell the result when it's over.

Except for some special Japanese menu items, McDonald's sells the same menu in Japan, and also when we order here, we use the English menu names without changing them, like Burger, Chicken McNuggets and McDonald's Fish McDippers etc,. However only one McDonalds uses a translation for menu. Sugamo is called Grandma's Harajuku, so McDonald's in Sugamo has translated each menu item into Japanese for old Japanese people.! Cute!

I laughed a lot when I saw this post "please make this photo cool!" That's funny. I like the soccer one.