Akihabara seems to have outdone itself again. Popopure, the first maid cafe and animation studio opened last month in Tokyo's geekiest district. When customers are not being waited on by the waitress-maids, they can go over to the studio portion and lend their voices to the "Popo no Bōken" (The Adventures of Popo) anime sponsored by Tokyo Hi-Vision Eizou. Inside the cafe there are framed anime drawings and anime non-stop on a 50-inch television.
"Two animators, "Tomoe" and "Saaya," have been actually producing the entire three-minute anime project — from drawing the original sketches to coloring and editing the final animation. There are three characters in the anime; if there are not enough customers to fill all the roles, the maids will step in to voice them. As a memento of the visit, the café offer customers a "Dialogue Recording Memorial DVD" of the anime with their dubbing performance."
Source
Anime News Network
AH, We all have come across those articles that make us pause and say “What!?” and questioned human society. Well in this edition of the bootleg I manage to gather up a few of those stories.
First up is the Placenta beverage…
YUM, that Placenta 10000 jelly drink, really does the body good!
Well food or beverages that promise beauty or health are always popular now days. Ignorant people feel that by ingesting those products, they are doing their body good. Well this product takes the cake…
FOSHU (Food for a Specific Health Use) foods and drinks are very popular in Japan right, especially when it has promise of enhancing beauty. One of the newest beverages to be released is zero-calorie Placenta 10000 jelly drink that has 10000 mg of pig placenta. Now if you don’t know what a placenta is, it is in a nutshell, the sack that a baby is in within a mother’s womb. It is removed at birth along with the umbilical cord. In some animals (such as dogs) they eat their placenta to start the mother to produce milk to feed their young. Here’s a picture of a human placenta http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Human_placenta_both_sides.jpg I don’t recommend seeing this if you’re squeamish.
Why a placenta? Well supposedly it has regenerative properties, especially concerning beauty, and can help with dieting as well.
The drink cost $8 for the Caprisun sized drink, that supposedly tastes like peaches (Due to the artificial flavorings) . There is also a Placenta 400,000 which is a bigger dose and bottle.
Why one would drink this is WAY beyond me. Come on people, Pig’s Placenta !? As John Stossel from 20/20 would say, “Give me a break!”
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/placenta-10000-jelly-drink-is-foshu-for-beauty/
Woman has to have her bottom surgically removed from a toilet seat
I’m sorry to say that this article no longer exists on the web, since the Mainichi Daily News site only keeps track of articles up to a few days. Here’s the original link I read it off of http://mdn.mainichi.jp/culture/news/20080313p2g00m0dm017000c.html. Since it is now gone, I am going by memory and lost some of the nitty-gritty details.
A young woman, who lived with her boyfriend, was physically stuck to her toilet seat, after she had been on it for two years straight. She ran into the bathroom two years prior and out of intense fear or really a phobia, would not leave the bathroom toilet seat. Her skin eventually grew over the seat and when she was taken out, surgeons had to operate to remove the seat.
PIka-A-Boo!
This was on a few sites, were there was some type festivity going on, that had giant inflatable pokemon, where inside was a jumper. Well the Pikachu jumper had an interesting entrance.
Why they put it there, I don’t know, but it is stupidly amusing. I could say more, but moving on to another mascot…
http://www.tokyomango.com/tokyo_mango/2008/03/peeking-into-pi.html
Sexy Kitty?
“Busty former swimsuit model turned TV personality Aki Hoshino, a well-known Hello Kitty devotee, has teamed up with Sanrio to produce this limited series of cheeky T-shirts that throws” Hello Kitty innocent appearance into questioned.
The picture is of Hello Kitty in a thong bathing suit while a fluffy puppy pulls on the thong strap (Kinda like the waterbabies sun block lotion), striking a pose with two apples in hands, that I think are suppose to symbolize breasts? The other t-shirt image is of the model in a bikini with her bikini bottom also being pulled by the puppy.
The first in the “Hoshino Akitty” line is available from this month for ¥5,800.
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/kitty-chan-gets-coquettish-courtesy-of-aki-hoshino/
Scan the dead
“Memorial stone maker Ishinokoe (Voice of the Stone) of Yamanashi Prefecture will soon begin producing grave stones with QR codes embedded in them. They are calling the concept Kuyou no Mado, roughly meaning “Memorial Service Window”, as visitors can scan the code with their mobiles and get information on the deceased.
Contents can include pictures, video, family information, and other items. While using a QR code for this may actually seem a bit outdated in a country of burgeoning RFID technology, they are simple and will likely be readable by generations of future devices. The sample QR code below is readable if you have a capable phone.”
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/qr-code-graves-give-a-memorial-window/
Rent-a-Cat
Don’t have the space or money to take care of a cat? Well rent a cat! That’s right, at the Calico Café, customers can rent a cat for 800 yen an hour (about $8), so they can play with them inside the store rooms along with buying other souvenir merchandise.
http://inventorspot.com/articles/calico_caf_caters_cat_owners_craving_kitty_companionship_11879
Gotta have toilet paper!
In an article featuring Tokyo Anime Center's Top 10 Bestsellers in March. With the number one selling item being the Princess Mononoke post card set, followed by Black Jack Toilet Paper, and more anime toilet paper products. Out selling Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008 Reserved Tickets, the eva coffee and other products..
http://akibanana.com/?q=node/231
I have a few more news goodies, but do not pertain to this theme, so I’ll try to post them tomorrow, since it is extremely late and I got class later on today.
Man I’m boot! Goodnight or really good morning.
Thanks for stopping by and reading this world and thank you 2short, Nehszriah, and fallenangel8 for posting news today.
-TrigunCat4
Hello and welcome to the second Bootleg report
!
First before I start, I would like to thank 2short, Ryosuke Forever, and Nehszriah for all of their informative and dedicated work. Really, all of your work has turned out wonderful and truly makes this world! When I first made this world I would have never had thought it would turn out this great! Thank you
!
Feature News
Akihabanana News site
The new bilingual otaku culture media site “Akibanana.com” was launched by G.I. Jane Inc. in February. The site provides news updates, information, maps, blogs, and forums about Akihabara, to provide what the alley ways of Akihabara is really like.
I originally heard of this site from this article on http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/akibanana-launched-for-growing-global-otaku/and was intrigued, so I went to check out the site.
http://akibanana.com/
The site is still in its beta stage and very young, but the site is fantastic! It is very informative, with the articles giving a lot of detail. It once again makes you wish you had the opportunity to visit Japan.
It made me foam at the mouth when I read about the preview of the second season of xxxHolic (which is called xxxHolic: Connections which premieres in Japan this April Hazzah :D) with Clamp being there for the preview. Here’s the link to the small article http://akibanana.com/?q=node/175
Akihabanana is a definite must see site!
Anime
Otaku Pilgrimages to Lucky Star Shrine Draw Criticism
This is old news about otakus making a pilgrimage to the oldest Shinto shrine in eastern Japan, Washinomiya Jinja, but they aren’t visiting it for the shrine historical notoriety. They are visiting it because it was featured in the anime “Lucky Star”. Hordes of otakus are flocking to the shrine, but the locals aren’t happy about it. Interviews of the locals, state that they do not like the “strange men” coming to town and “scaring the children”. The article is greatly detailed, from going over a brief history of the shrine, the anime Lucky Star, and detail accounts of the testimonies of the locals. I greatly recommend that you read the article.
http://akibanana.com/?q=node/131
Random Fun News
Elementary School Breaks Guinness Record with a 118-Person Walk
“An elementary school in Shinjuku ward hosted a Guinness World Record-breaking 118-legged on march 8th.” The picture on the site, shows 117 people tied together around the ankles as they are about to start the race. The 118 person walk was consisted of students, teacher and parents celebrating the centennial of Ushigome-Nakano Elementary School. “The previous record was set by a group of consultants in the UK last September, which included 77 people.”
http://www.tokyomango.com/tokyo_mango/2008/03/elementary-scho.html
Menu's now can now have pop-up 3D feature
“TEC Japan has created the Tobidasu Menu (pop-up menu) to embed into restaurant tables. Customers can browse the digital menu by touch and then view individual items in 3D.”
This is really an article you have to see for yourself. Not so much for the written content, but for the pictures. Which I found to be confusing at first, till I realized it was just an odd camera angle. What caught my attention, was the “novelty function of placing a hamburger bun on the menu and removing it to reveal a delicious beef patty with all the trimmings.”. I thought that to be spiffy :D.
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/tobidasu-3d-table-menu-from-tec/
Fashion Week in Japan
For those who love fashion, here is an article about fashion week in Japan. Once again there are pictures accompanying the article. One of the articles of clothing that caught my eye was the hat that looked like a sea urchin was attacking the models heads.
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/fashion-week-lands-in-tokyo/
Wasabi is being made into a smoke alarm for the deaf
Prototypes of the smoke alarm that release wasabi into the air to alert deaf people of a fire.
http://inventorspot.com/articles/wasabi_silent_fire_alarm_alerts__11514
Sorry that I have not figured out what to do with this world's design. I'll have more time to, next week after finals.
Once again thank you reporters for all of your news and thank you (the viewer) for stopping by and reading our bootleg news.
-TrigunCat4
Welcome To the first post of Bootleg News Reporter :D!
I consider these posts as a taste or summary of the real article available online. Each story has the link avaible for you to check out and discover new news sites. Also you’ll be able to see the pictures that come along with the articles.
My format is going to be rough for a while, till I figure out a definite system that works. So please bare with me.
I’ve broken the articles I found into different subjects. Each subject is in bold.
Anime Related News
Ghibli Founder Takahata to Base Next Film on Lullaby
Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata who directed directed Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko, and My Neighbors the Yamadas; will be making his next film based on a Japanese Lullaby.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-03/ghibli-founder-takahata-to-base-next-film-on-lullaby
Dragonball Movie Release Date Reportedly Pushed
The movie release date has been pushed back from August 15 2008 to April 3 2009.
The article also gives information on the actors involved with the film
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-05/dragonball-movie-reportedly-pushed-back-to-april-2009
Oh Boy! Another knuckle head person quoting a manga to threaten someone on youtube.
“Connecticut State Police arrested an 18-year-old on Sunday after he uploaded a clip to the YouTube video-sharing service that allegedly threatened the students of his former school and used a quote from the Naruto manga and anime character Gaara. The suspect, Brandon A. Brown of New London, Connecticut, had been expelled from Grasso Southeastern Technical High School last June. The allegedly threatening video contained a variation on Gaara's trademark line ("The Corpse's Crimson Bitter Tears Will Flow And Mingle Though [sic] The Endless Sand Feeding The Chaos In Me And Making Me Stonger [sic]") and a warning to Grasso students to "Beware All Those Who Cross My Path […] On March 19, 2008 THE END IS HERE.” The video was included in a user channel with two earlier, unrelated Gaara”
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-04/teenager-video-with-naruto-quote-leads-to-arrest
Manga Related News
Marvel’s Stan Lee and Shaman King's Takei to Join Forces
“The Japanese publisher Shueisha has announced that Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei will create a new project together to launch the Jump SQ.II (Jump Square Second) spinoff manga magazine on April 18. The announcement of the as-yet-unnamed project was made in the April issue of Jump Square magazine, which was released on March 4 in Japan.”
Nothing is known about the plot, but there is a rough sketch available to view.
Also “Shueisha announced earlier this year that Takei will draw a new ending for Shaman King for its deluxe Kang Zeng Bang (Kanzen-Ban) edition.” So if you were disappointed by the ending (like me and my friend) there is Hope!
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-03/marvel-stan-lee-shaman-king-takei-to-join-forces
Random Fun Articles
A Magazine catalog of free stuff
“The print magazine Tada Gets (which literally means “Things for free”) is a magazine composed entirely of QR codes (basically 2D codes which are square or dot-shaped modules arranged on a grid pattern. 2-D symbologies also come in a variety of other visual formats. Aside from circular patterns, there are several 2-D symbologies which employ steganography by hiding an array of different-sized or -shaped modules within a user-specified image). By scanning the codes, users link via mobile phone to free ringtones, decorations, games, music, pictures, and other content.The magazine is in it’s 5th issue”
The magazine cover is pretty cute in my opinion. It features some original anime characters.
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/tada-gets-qr-code-only-print-magazine/
Beer in Japan has Braille on can for blind drinkers
To distinguish beer cans from other canned drinks and also to aid the visually impaired, Japanese beer cans now feature Braille on the tops and sides of the cans. The Braille reads out “Alcohol” and some of Kirin Brewery's cans spell out "Kirin Beer".
http://inventorspot.com/articles/braille_labels_make_beer_drinkin_11247
Well thats all for now. I gotta stop procrastinating and finish my english essay.
Thank You for stopping by!
