The bigger they come, the harder they fall. And they don't come much bigger than former Yokozuna Akebono.
2 weeks ago
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Pedophilic promo has manga maniacs panting for pre-schooler panties
It's gross, filthy and disgusting, but Japanese erotic manga fans can't get enough of a comic that comes with a pair of pre-school girl's panties as a promotional item, according to Cyzo (March).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Tabloid targets skating on thin ice
Snaring a large chunk of the inches available in Japan's wild weeklies during the week from Feb.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Japan's handicapped facilities -- ready, willing but disabled
Fully working elevators only open certain hours, ramps too steep to scale, escalators that only go in one direction -- these are just some of the barriers that "barrier-free" ideas aimed at making life easier for the disabled actually present to them across Japan, according to Spa! (2/28).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - The day Japan's red lights flickered out
Stories reminiscing events of the "Showa 30s" (from 1955 to 1964) are taken up in Shincho 45 (March).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Japan's handicapped facilities -- ready, willing and disabled
Fully working elevators only open certain hours, ramps too steep to scale, escalators that only go in one direction -- these are just some of the barriers that "barrier-free" ideas aimed at making life easier for the disabled actually present to them across Japan, according to Spa! (2/28).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Pachinko-holic support group rolls to the rescue
Though the number of pachinko players continues to increase, the amount of problems associated with the gambling game that was once almost a national pastime still is on the rise and now something is finally being done to combat it, according to Sunday Mainichi (3/5).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Former celebrity cannibal struggles for next meal
Life appears to have turned the circle for Japan's "celebrity cannibal" Issei Sagawa, who tells Shukan Shincho (2/23) that a quarter of a century after his most infamous meal, now there's something eating him.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Business-minded transsexuals a cut above your average salaryman
Salarymen have been around for decades. Even salarywomen are not such a strange sight on Japan's streets.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Former celebrity cannibal struggles for next meal
Life appears to have turned the circle for Japan's "celebrity cannibal" Issei Sagawa, who tells Shukan Shincho (2/23) there's something eating him.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Gals lick up ultra super-sized cream cones
It's thick, creamy, comes in eight different flavors including Calpis and stands erect at a whopping 46.5 centimeters -- over 21 inches in the old parlance - and, according to the Pleasure Support Squad formed by Josei Jishin (2/21), Japan's gals can't stop licking it.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Princess' pregnancy subdues the sleaze
Princess Kiko's pregnancy was the big story for Japan's wild weeklies in the week from Feb. 13 to 17.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Ideal mate remains elusive for many
OMMG is a marriage matchmaking service that current boasts some 5,500 members nationwide, who have signed up in the hope of finding a spouse.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Gundam robot craze still a powerful force in modern-world galaxy
Little boys across Japan -- like children all over the world -- love their toy robots, especially if they came from the Mobile Suit Gundam series. One difference, judging by Yomiuri Weekly (2/26) is that Japan's little boys are actually fully grown men in their 30s.
Gundam, the name given to a series of giant robots made out to be realistic war machines, has been a part of the Japanese hobby landscape for over a quarter of a century, but now is also a powerful player in the country's business world, especially through ganpura, the plastic models of robots that appear in the series.
Mobile Suit Gundam first appeared in April 1979, when it was shown in an anime TV series that spanned 43 episodes screened across almost a year.
Ganpura popped up in July 1980 -- after the TV series had finished -- and was soon attracting huge lines of elementary and junior high school pupils looking to buy the models. By 1981, 25 million ganpura sets had been sold.
Now, 26 years since the first ganpura sales, periodical re-runs have kept Mobile Suit Gundam as a powerful force not only in the galaxy, but also in the consumer goods sector, with ganpura alone boasting of more than 1,000 different types of products, the weekly says.
With ganpura prices ranging from 3,000 to 30,000 yen, simple calculation means a single sale of each gunpura product alone and you're looking at 370 million yen. A new factory making only ganpura is set to open in February.
Yoshihiro Karino, marketing manager at Bandai Co., which makes the Mobile Suit Gundam models, has few doubts about why ganpura is so popular.
"We listen to what people making the models have to say," Karino tells Yomiuri Weekly. "(Our success) is the result of continuous, detailed improvements made on a daily basis."
Karino continues: "Over 26 years, we've taken into account ideas made by people who actually make ganpura and put them into practice to create a healthy cycle."
Despite the Gundam adoration across Japan, few fans can boast of having actually seen it when the show first aired in 1979 as ratings were hardly worth talking about. The Gundam phenomenon really only exploded with the ganpura, the weekly says.
Now, though, Gundam is influencing society in many ways. Late last year, Gundam was the subject of an art exhibition held in Tokyo's Mori Museum of Art. And the Gundam touch is being felt in even more ways.
Takayuki Furuta, creator of the humanoid robot morph3 has gathered together under his wing at Chiba University's Future Robotics Technology Center a group of researchers interested in robotics, a vast majority of who joined in the study because they envisage making their own, fully operable Gundam.
"There are lots of guys here for who Gundam is synonymous with robots," Masaharu Sakigawara, head of the center, tells the Yomiuri Weekly. "They imagine crafting something like Gundam and carry on their research into such things as artificial intelligence or walking functions."
Gundam, the name given to a series of giant robots made out to be realistic war machines, has been a part of the Japanese hobby landscape for over a quarter of a century, but now is also a powerful player in the country's business world, especially through ganpura, the plastic models of robots that appear in the series.
Mobile Suit Gundam first appeared in April 1979, when it was shown in an anime TV series that spanned 43 episodes screened across almost a year.
Ganpura popped up in July 1980 -- after the TV series had finished -- and was soon attracting huge lines of elementary and junior high school pupils looking to buy the models. By 1981, 25 million ganpura sets had been sold.
Now, 26 years since the first ganpura sales, periodical re-runs have kept Mobile Suit Gundam as a powerful force not only in the galaxy, but also in the consumer goods sector, with ganpura alone boasting of more than 1,000 different types of products, the weekly says.
With ganpura prices ranging from 3,000 to 30,000 yen, simple calculation means a single sale of each gunpura product alone and you're looking at 370 million yen. A new factory making only ganpura is set to open in February.
Yoshihiro Karino, marketing manager at Bandai Co., which makes the Mobile Suit Gundam models, has few doubts about why ganpura is so popular.
"We listen to what people making the models have to say," Karino tells Yomiuri Weekly. "(Our success) is the result of continuous, detailed improvements made on a daily basis."
Karino continues: "Over 26 years, we've taken into account ideas made by people who actually make ganpura and put them into practice to create a healthy cycle."
Despite the Gundam adoration across Japan, few fans can boast of having actually seen it when the show first aired in 1979 as ratings were hardly worth talking about. The Gundam phenomenon really only exploded with the ganpura, the weekly says.
Now, though, Gundam is influencing society in many ways. Late last year, Gundam was the subject of an art exhibition held in Tokyo's Mori Museum of Art. And the Gundam touch is being felt in even more ways.
Takayuki Furuta, creator of the humanoid robot morph3 has gathered together under his wing at Chiba University's Future Robotics Technology Center a group of researchers interested in robotics, a vast majority of who joined in the study because they envisage making their own, fully operable Gundam.
"There are lots of guys here for who Gundam is synonymous with robots," Masaharu Sakigawara, head of the center, tells the Yomiuri Weekly. "They imagine crafting something like Gundam and carry on their research into such things as artificial intelligence or walking functions."
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Brutal 'martial art' babes pummel porno pipsqueaks
After decades of being ruthlessly exploited as sex objects for the pornography industry, Japanese women are getting some of their own back, says Spa! (2/21).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Saitama's Sharapova at forefront of housewives' flash the flesh fad
"Myself and a group of four housewives went off on a trip together to a hot spring resort.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - More men convinced marriage leads to life of misery
Marriage means misery, according to Spa! (2/14), which claims it has the stats to back up its contentious claim.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Distribution of female condoms set to smash Olympic record
Organizers of the Turin Winter Olympic Games have unsheathed free female condoms as their latest weapon in the battle to prevent athletes coming down with unwanted doses of the nasties, according to Shukan Jitsuwa (2/23).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Weeklies take the mickey out of Miki
Turin's Winter Olympics featured prominently among Japan's wild weeklies issued from Feb.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Tantric restaurant does wonders for flagging sexual appetites
Go to a residential area in the west Tokyo suburb of Machida, reports Asahi Geino (2/9) and you can visit "La Parfait," a unique restaurant for helping people get in touch with their "sexual sensitivities."
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Japan's got the best bums under the sun
Graduates of prestigious Tokyo university conducting open-air art evaluation meetings; former yakuza extorting bike-riding grannies; a handyman with every high-tech electronic device imaginable; women marrying guys nearly half their age; teenage girls selling their bodies before they can be stolen from them.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, an alien with a schoolgirl slipper fetish
A most otherworldly perpetrator is being blamed for the bizarre theft of 77 right slippers from a suburban Tokyo girls' high school, according to Weekly Playboy (2/21).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Tokyo's ugly duckling bops to marching melody in search of a face-lift
The Beautifuls are out to save one of Tokyo's ugliest districts.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Ex 'office lady' for tainted condo firm shakes, rattles and rolls in penance flick
A young woman has taken it upon herself to atone for her links to a scandal rocking the country over the past few months, according to Shukan Gendai (2/18).
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Desperate housewife goes up for auction, highest bidder goes down
"Welcome to today auction, everyone. Now here's a fine specimen. Name's Yukari. She's 27 years old, married and in good health.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - This week's weeklies go backdoor over Livedoor
Takafumi Horie, the podgy, sacked CEO of Livedoor, who is now struggling with inspections through his back door, dominated headlines yet again in Japan's gossip rags issued from Jan.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Ten years on, AIDS time bomb still ticking
About 10 years ago, three female masseuses employed at an old, established 'soapland' (bathhouse-cum-brothel) --- no one's saying exactly where --- simultaneously tested positive for HIV.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Kids' superhero getting bum rap over gay porn film
One of the star's of TV Tokyo's children's superhero program "Cho Seikantai Sazer X (Starship Command Sazer X)" is suspected of having appeared in a hardcore gay sex movie, according to Shukan Jitsuwa (2/16).
Anime News Network - Cartoon Network to Air New One Piece Episodes
Cartoon Network to Air New One Piece Episodes
Date: 2/1/2006 12:48 PM
Starting February 11, with One Piece episode 59, "Heading For Disaster," Cartoon Network will air new episodes of One Piece every Saturday night at 9:30 pm. The new episodes have not been announced for 4Kids TV. Source: Iolink
Anime News Network - Anime Song on American Idol
Anime Song on American Idol
Date: 2/1/2006 9:50 PM
Years ago, we received a news submission about someone singing an anime theme song on American Idol. The song in question was Fly Me to the Moon. The person e-mailing us was unaware that Fly Me to the Moon was a popular american song that predated Evangelion by many years. However tonight's American Idol did feature an anime song... Jigglypuff's song from Pokemon. Thanks to Esmeralda for this item.
Anime News Network - Mew Mew Power Broadcast Finished
Mew Mew Power Broadcast Finished
Date: 2/1/2006 10:10 PM
4Kids has announced on its forums that it has broadcast all 26-episodes of Mew Mew Power that it has. According to the post, "[4Kids is] trying to get more, but can't say when or IF this will happen." In total, 52 episodes of Tokyo Mew Mew have been produced and broadcast in Japan. Source: Animenation
Anime News Network - New York Comic-Con Announces Anime Programming
New York Comic-Con Announces Anime Programming
Date: 2/1/2006 12:58 PM
The New York Comic-con has announced details about their anime programming. In addition to panels, dealers and cosplay, there will also be an event, Anime Exodus, held at Manhattan club, The Knitting Factory. Anime Exodus will feature a live performance by Mari Iijima and DJing by Greg Ayres.
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Curtain draws on Self-Defense Force stripper who plugged for peace
Tomomi Sawaguchi made her name for getting into a military uniform, but she really became a star when she got out of it, judging by Shukan Asahi (2/10).
Anime News Network - Oyayubihime Infinity Licensed by CMX
Oyayubihime Infinity Licensed by CMX
Date: 2/1/2006 10:01 PM
CMX Manga has announced that they will release the first volume of Oyayubihime Infinity in June. The series is currently ongoing in Japan, with 4 volumes released to date. Source: Anime on DVD
Anime News Network - Fuji TV News Segment on U.S. Shojo Manga
Fuji TV News Segment on U.S. Shojo Manga
Date: 2/1/2006 12:37 PM
The Fuji TV network's "News Japan" recently contacted VIZ and Seven Seas to do interviews for a segment on the "Shojo Manga Movement in the U.S." VIZ focused on the U.S. market for Japanese shojo, while Seven Seas talked about the OEL aspect of the shojo market. The interview will be aired in Japan on February 2 at 11:30PM on Fuji TV network. It will re-air in the USA on Fuji TV at 6:30 AM on February 3.
Anime News Network - Shinichiro Watanabe at Michigan State University
Shinichiro Watanabe at Michigan State University
Date: 2/1/2006 12:03 PM
Anime News Network - The Anime Network on DirecTV
The Anime Network on DirecTV
Date: 2/1/2006 12:29 PM
The Anime Network has sent out an e-mail announcement stating that TAN will be available on DirecTV Pay per View Channel 117. Samurai X: The Motion Picture and Gantz are among the offerings.
Anime News Network - ImaginAsian TV Launches Home Video Label
Date: 2/1/2006 9:42 AM
ImaginAsian TV Partners with Central Park Media to Launch Home Video Label
Anime News Network - Tokyo Anime Fair New York
Tokyo Anime Fair New York
Date: 2/1/2006 10:14 AM
On February 6, The day preceding their Tokyo Festa in New York, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will be holding an industry only event, Tokyo International Anime Fair in New York. The event will include a trade show, and presentations from Bandai Visual USA, TOEI, Studio 4C, Sojitz Corporation and Tokyo Anime Center.
Anime News Network - ImaginAsian TV Launches Hove Video Label
Date: 2/1/2006 9:42 AM
ImaginAsian TV Partners with Central Park Media to Launch Home Video Label
Anime News Network - Kurosagi Live Action
Kurosagi Live Action
Date: 2/1/2006 9:12 AM
Sankei Sports reports that the Kurosagi manga, by Takeshi Natsuhara & Kuromaru, is to be adapted into a live-action TV series. Tomohisa Yamashita, from the J-pop group News, will star as the main character. Source: Akadot
Mainichi Daily News: WaiWai - Eco-friendly erotica drives clean-energy cathouses
Japan's knocking shops are going clean, screams Spa! (2/7), which notes the trend toward cleanliness is more about the energy to power them than that expended inside them.
