May 08, 2008
In Japan, HOT FUZZ Gains an Extra Dimension of Cool
(via edgar wright)
Posted by Groonk at 04:37 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies, One Sheets, Only in Japan
May 06, 2008
BLIND CLICK 32
That broke my brain.
(via andrewcunningham)
Posted by Groonk at 06:30 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan
IRON MAN Spawns Mainstream Exo-Suit Love
Now that the IRON MAN movie has taught non-geeks why exo-suit/powered aromor is so fucking cool, the world begins to learn the technology already exisits. It has existed for some time now.
That's my favorite of the 5 mentioned in this click-fest of an article.
(via twitter)
Posted by Groonk at 01:22 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Robots, The Future
January 21, 2008
Wild Monday: Japanese Hornets vs Japanese Honeybees
European honey bees are weak and soft and die swiftly. While Japanese honey bees surround their enemy and roast them with the heat from their own bodies.
Not kidding.
(via ectomo, educating You Tube )
Posted by Groonk at 06:50 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Animals, Only in Japan, Versus, Video
January 20, 2008
Japanese Cell-Phone Novelists get a bit of Cred
Five of the top 10 best-selling novels in Japan last year began as novels written on cellular phones, mostly composed on keypads by young women and read by others on their mobile phones, the New York Times reported.[...]
Would-be novelists are paid only if their novels are reproduced and sold as traditional books, not when readers access their works online, the newspaper said. One such novel, "If You," was the No. 5 best-selling novel last year with 400,000 copies, the Times said, citing book distributor Tohan.
Posted by Groonk at 09:34 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Books, Only in Japan, Technology
JJ Abrams Reflects on the Obvious
Abrams glanced upon something I mused on before walking into the CLOVERFIELD theater.
Stirring up uncomfortable feelings is not entirely without purpose for a monster movie, Abrams notes. It's a standard of the genre. "'Godzilla' came out in 1954 in the shadow of the bomb being dropped in Japan. Culturally, you had people living with this terror they had experienced - but in the guise of something absurd and preposterous. My guess is that it enabled people in Japan to have a catharsis."
Even though I had a few issues with CLOVERFIELD, I will say it ran circles around the hot mess known as 1998's GODZILLA.
Posted by Groonk at 09:19 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies, Only in Japan, Quotables
January 19, 2008
16 Year Old Player with Only Half a Plan
The 16-year-old boy entered a hostess bar in Niiza City near Tokyo on Wednesday night and -- over the course of six hours -- ordered two bottles of Dom Perignon champagne as well as 60 glasses of whiskey, beer and cocktails, said local police officer Hitoshi Morohashi.The boy also sang karaoke songs with several hostesses, Morohashi said.
When it was time to pay the bill, which had ballooned to $3,490, the boy told the staff he had no money, Morohashi said.
Next time, plan the escape route, my friend.
(via cnn and ponzu)
Posted by Groonk at 01:29 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan
December 03, 2007
Robo-One Champsionship: Now THIS is a Robot Battle!
When robot wars entered the scene, what, 10 years ago? Imagine my disappointment when all the robots turned out to be rolling pancakes bumping and grinding into each other.
Now imagine my delight when I learn that Japan has robots fighting to the death in ring matches and that one of the rules is "the robot must have two legs to fight."
That's what I'm fucking talking about!
(via yahoo news, battling bot you tube, robot dreams)
I feel the need for a little more Bot Action.
Posted by Groonk at 07:13 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Just Freaking Neat, Only in Japan, Robots, Versus, Video
November 14, 2007
A Talk with Monkey Punch
Monkey Punch created the LUPIN III manga that the anime was based on. He's got some neat views on comics in The Future.
His work was discovered by an editor of Futabasha, the company behind Weekly Manga Action, for whom he created the Lupin III series, loosely based on the Arsene Lupin novel series and 007 movies. The artist's strange pseudonym, he explains, was given to him by his editor, who compared his characters' faces to those of a monkey.
[...]
Monkey Punch began using computers in his work nearly two decades ago.
"Digital technology allows me to look closely at the details [of the images] and easily change minor things several times. This means, though, that it's sometimes hard to give up the details and complete [the images]."
Cooperating with famous mangaka, including Machiko Satonaka and Tetsuya Chiba, Monkey Punch established the Tokyo-based Digital Manga Association five years ago to explore and develop manga content for the Internet.
"I thought it would be a waste not to utilize the Internet, since it allows us to directly communicate with people around the world," the creator said.
"Japan's manga culture is drawing international attention, but we don't even have an archive containing information about all the manga published here," he said. "I want to find a way to set up such an archive, getting cooperation from other mangaka and relevant experts."
(via green jacketed josh hechinger, daily yomiuri online)
Posted by Groonk at 03:23 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Digital Share, Grammar, Interviews, Marketing, Only in Japan
November 07, 2007
BACCANO!: I Don't Know What was said but He Just Kicked Your Ass
Andrew Cummingham shared this cip of BACCANO! and claims shit like this happens in it all the time.
Consider me sold.
UPDATE: I know what was said now. Firo was right to kick your collective asses.
(via andrew cummingham, panel&pixel)
Posted by Groonk at 04:47 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Anime, Only in Japan, Video
November 05, 2007
Magician Pulls Burger from a Poster
Come on ladies. That's not so impressive. In america, we get carboard burgers from those little windows found in the side of McDonald's every day.
There seems to be a whole series of vids dedicated to this guy on You Tube.
I can't believe she drank that.
(via feed the hungry with magic youtube)
Posted by Groonk at 12:28 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research, Video
October 19, 2007
Opening Up to: Moyashimon: Tales of Agriculture
Are you wondering, "what the fuck?"
Read about Moyashimon:
The main character is Sawaki Tadayasu, a regular Japanese blond guy who's just moved to Tokyo to attend a college of agriculture, along with his best buddy Yuuki Kei . The trouble is, Tadayasu isn't very regular at all -- in fact he can see, touch and speak to germs. Being able to discern what types of germ inhabit a puddle of goo can be quite useful, and this potential is clear to Itsuki Keizou, a germ researching professor, who's an old friend of Tadayasu's grandfather. Not everyone is convinced Tadayasu is telling the truth, however, and to prove his abilities he's put through a rigorous test by the department's graduate student and resident bondage babe, Hasegawa Haruka.
And people say there are no new things on TV.
(via infected youtube)
Posted by Groonk at 08:01 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Anime, Only in Japan, Video
October 18, 2007
Furi Kuri!: Do It or Risk Overflow
If you people don't watch this before it disappears, well, I don't want to know you.
Nothing will happen if you don't swing the bat.
My love for this Gainax creation outshines the brightest star. I may have mentioned this before:
Searching for Kanchi
Furi Kuri overload
Fooly Cooly Loves You Crazier
Groonkly Bit
FLCL
(via anime loving warren ellis)
Posted by Groonk at 12:22 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Anime, Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat, Only in Japan, Video
October 12, 2007
Cutey Honey TV Show Less Silly than the New BIONIC WOMAN
Yes. Cutey Honey just fought the Bad Guys with her tits and ass.
God bless Japan.
Hmmm. Maybe if the new BIONIC WOMAN did that in every episode every ten minutes, I could be bothered to give a damn about the show. If Katee Sackhoff did that, well, that will have bought me for the entire season.
And holy damn, did you see what that Stairs Stuntman did there? You couldn't pay me enough to do that stunt.
BTW I watched the Cutey Honey movie once, too.
Posted by Groonk at 08:35 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Anime, Only in Japan, Video
August 06, 2007
Japan Marks Hiroshima: Will Never Seek Atomic Weapons
JAPAN vowed today never to seek atomic weapons and urged nuclear powers to give up their own arsenals 62 years after the world's first nuclear attack on Hiroshima.Some 45,000 people recited silent prayers at 8.15am (9.15am AEST), the exact moment in 1945 when a single US bomb instantly killed more than 140,000 people and fatally injured tens of thousands of others with radiation or horrific burns.
"I have strengthened my determination not to repeat this tragedy,'' Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a speech in the western city.
(via digg)
Posted by Groonk at 05:17 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan
July 21, 2007
BLIND CLICK 13: Japanese TV doing Strange/Wonderful Things...AGAIN
You have to watch that link to believe anything I just wrote. And when you watch it, prepare to have your shit rocked.
Officially.
(via geekologie and real-timed bullet-time you tube)
Posted by Groonk at 05:04 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Only in Japan, Video
July 05, 2007
BEHOLD: When Schoolgirl Zombies Attack
You *will* waste 2 minutes of your life watching this if only because you're curious.
(via stacy youtube)
Posted by Groonk at 07:04 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies, Only in Japan, Trailers, Weird
March 02, 2007
Momofuku Ando inventor of Instant Ramen Dies, My Sodium Level Lowers
In all seriousness. My heart is sad. His cheap pasta creation got me through an entire year of pennilessness.
Momofuku Ando, who — to the delight of dormitory students and other kitchen-resistant customers worldwide — invented those small packets of preflavored dried noodles that require just a three-minute boil, died Friday at a hospital in Osaka, Japan. Mr. Ando, the founder of the Nissin Food Products Company, was 96.
The cause was heart failure, said Larry Lampel, the company’s senior resources manager at its American headquarters in Gardena, Calif.
Starting with the chicken-broth noodles in cellophane bags that Mr. Ando first concocted in a shack behind his house in Ikeda, Japan, 49 years ago, Nissin now produces 16 flavors of what it calls Top Ramen and Cup Noodles. Besides six varieties of chicken, they include beef, shrimp, vegetable and spicy chili.
(via twitterpated)
Posted by Groonk at 09:59 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, People Who Died
New PAPRIKA Trailer Stuns My Brain with Beauty
This has to be the one movie I'm looking forward to this spring. Aside from 300, of course.
The trailer's only at the Apple site right now. You Tube doesn't have it yet.
Damnit.
And if this is the intro to PAPRIKA...holy shit, man!
(via warren ellis, first PAPRIKA trailer, second PAPRIKA trailer)
Posted by Groonk at 08:49 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Anime, Just Freaking Neat, Movies, Only in Japan, Trailers
February 24, 2007
Power Jacket: The Inflatable Exoskeleton
You heard me: inflatable power suits!
Japanese electronics giant Matsushita Electric Industrial unveils the prototype model for a "power jacket" to help patients recover from partial paralysis during rehabilitation, at the Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo.
(via igargoyle, less cool looking suit)
Posted by Groonk at 09:41 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research, Technology
February 09, 2007
Dating in Japan: The Highs. The Lows. The Hands.
That damnable holiday is going to bring more pieces like this one.
>> Japanese Boy << Sanko v Santei v SanshuDating services in Japan have been looking at how women have changed what they are looking for in a mate over the last 20 years and seen just how this reflects the wider geopolitical and economic realities.
During the rich 80s, at the height of the stock market bubble, all the girls wanted a "Sanko"; which means "three highs" - high education, high income and tall.
After the crash in the 90s, girls started looking for "Santei" boys. This meant they were looking for three lows instead - low risk, low dependency, low stature.
Now in these uncertain times, dating patterns have changed again. Top of the tree are "Sanshu", or "three hands". Girls now want helping hands, holding hands and taking in hand.
(via popbitch.com)
Posted by Groonk at 01:17 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Holiday, Only in Japan
January 16, 2007
Anime Innovation Tokyo Entices Indie Animators and Small Studios
Because animation should be mind blowingly awesome:
(via CENCOROLL, jean snow, and warren ellis)
Posted by Groonk at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Anime, Only in Japan, Video
January 04, 2007
The HAL5 is a Walking Mac Powersuit
I said powerSUIT.
It's the selective glowy bits that give this contraption its Mac-ness. There would be viewable video but the sucker's embed function is disabled at the source. You can still look at the thing. Just not on my noise.
(via rocketboom and cyborg enhanced youtube)
Posted by Groonk at 08:09 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Robots
November 04, 2006
In Japan, Christian Weddings are All the Rage
BBC News is slow. They are only now reporting on the business of being a fake priest in Japan.
With a rise in the popularity of Christian-style weddings in Japan, some Westerners are finding they can make a lucrative living by acting as priests. But it does not please everyone, particularly genuine priests, as Kathleen McCaul reports.[...]
The fake Western priests are employed at Western-style weddings to give a performance and add to the atmosphere. These are not legal ceremonies - the couples also have to make a trip to the local registrar.
"In the past almost all weddings in Japan were Shinto, but in the last few years Western-style weddings have appeared and become very popular," said one Japanese priest.
"People like the dress, the kiss and the image. Japanese Christians make up only 1% of the country, but now about 90% of weddings are in the Christian style."
The fake Western priests are used to create an authentic Christian feel.
I read many years ago on, then living in Tokyo, Canadian photographer Hunkabutta's photoblog about this phenomenom. He talks about his experience as a fake priest in excellent detail here:
Hunkabutta Thursday April 3rd, 2003(Scroll down to about the last entry)
Hunkabutta's opinion on the popularity of the fake christian weddings were because in a christian wedding it's all about the bride. In a Shinto wedding, not so much. He talks more about that on his Sunday September 23, 2003 post. Here's an excerpt:
"The fact that you said 'Christian weddings are trendy' seems more bizarre to me than 'Disneyland wedding'..."Yeah, I know. It is bizarre. The Japanese seem to have the ability to mix and match religions at will. At first glance this seems ridiculously contradictory, but once you accept it, it's actually pretty cool. They seem to be able to focus on the social aspects of the various ceremonies and sacraments (i.e., who's there, how do I get to mingle with other people, what message does this ceremony send out to other people about me and my family, can I afford to do these ceremonies, etc.)
Christian-style weddings started to become popular in the early 1980's after a famous singer (kind of like a Japanese Madonna) had her Christian-style wedding aired on TV. It was a big event. A few years later there was the incredibly glamorous wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, and that was really the icing on the cake.
[...]
I think that one of the reasons the Christian-style wedding is so popular is that it's all centred around the bride. She is the star for the day. Everyone stands and watches her as she makes her way down the aisle in her beautiful white wedding gown. In a Shinto ceremony, the bride is pretty much just a well dressed farm animal being passed from one family to the other. She doesn't really stand out. And let's face it, although most guys will agree to show up at the wedding, it's really the girl who puts it all together and makes the final decision.
From that first hyperlinked sentence alone I know I need to live in Tokyo for a few years. And bonus, I'd have an excellent well paid part-time gig waiting for me.
(via bbc news and warren ellis and the greatly missed photographic eye of Hunkabutta)
Posted by Groonk at 03:16 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Religion
November 02, 2006
Halloween: Now in Japan
The Beat noticed The Brunei Times report on Halloween becoming popular in Japan. I went looking for the full article and I'll be damned if it isn't gone already. With not a search box in sight on Brunei, I'll have to take The Beat's word as truth.
GHOSTIES and ghoulies, princesses and pumpkins took to the streets of Tokyo this weekend as Japan celebrated one of its newest festivals Halloween.Little known two decades ago, Halloween has spread in cities such as Tokyo, where autumn now sees florists selling pumpkins, shopping arcades festooned with paper Jack o’lanterns and even black-and-orange costumes for dogs on offer at pet shops.
(via The Beat and Brunei Times, I guess)
Posted by Groonk at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Culture, Holiday, Only in Japan
September 26, 2006
Japan has a Tongue Twisting Game Show that Slaps the Crap Out of Your Balls...
...or "Why don't we have this Show in America?"
Their pain makes me laugh.
(via Dunc)
Posted by Groonk at 01:35 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Video
August 16, 2006
Metal Wolf Chaos is the Heart of Justice that Loves America
Metal Wolf Chaos, a video game made in Japan. What is it about? I'll tell ya.
The President of the US has multi-facted omnidirectional power armor. His name is Michael Wilson. The vice President has equally multi-facted power armor. His name is Richard Hawk. The waters in The Mall part and from the middle rises Air Force One, super charged and ready to dispense justice.
*glurp*
That was me choking on a little bit of awesome that bubbled up from my stomach.
Other bits of game-awesome that I still taste in my mouth.
Woman: "At least his misreporting is consistant."
President: "As long as the city is safe, who cares?"
(via powerman Dunc!, some japan loving blog and "it loves you there" You Tube
Posted by Groonk at 06:45 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Only in Japan, Quotables, Video
June 20, 2006
The Japanese Have a Contest in Time Wasting
Don't get me wrong. I know how to burn off minutes, too. But this is such a spectacular waste of time that it's actually pretty darn cool. Some guys in Japan made a Rube Goldberg device that takes 6 plus minutes to cook up a bowl of ramen. I wonder what they won as a prize. Probably a year's supply of noodles.
Pitagora Suicchi and a You Tube search shares in the Rube Goldberginess.
(via geekologie)
Posted by Groonk at 02:31 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Just Freaking Neat, Only in Japan, Video
June 19, 2006
Multi-Servo Realistic Animal Suits for Rent
First animal flavor up is a panda suit. Who in fuck rents high-tech animal suits? Outside of Big Hollywood movie types. What man or woman wakes in the morning and thinks, "Gee, It'd be nifty to have a fully realized and motorized Panda suit to frolic about the woods all mamby pamby-like."
On second thought, I don't wanna know.
Japanese multimedia production company Buildup Co., Ltd. has announced that it will begin renting high-quality animatronic suits this month. The first suit they will rent is a panda suit that contains various technological features to help it achieve a more realistic look. The panda's face contains 14 remote control servo motors, which let the panda make facial expressions ranging from "pleasant smiles to angry grimaces" at the will of its controller. The suit contains a CCD camera system and a pair of video goggles for the person inside, removing the need for an unsightly peephole on the suit and increasing the range of vision for the wearer. The suit also comes equipped with a system that will set the suit on fire if it detects that it's being used for perverse sexual desires. Okay, it probably doesn't, but it should. I watched the video. That has to be the most retarded idea ever.
It's days like these I weep for humanity.
(via geekologie)
Posted by Groonk at 02:31 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Animals, Only in Japan, Robots
May 05, 2006
Japanese girls like to be tickled
Honest to badness, if this is what all japanese tv is like, I'm on the next jet over.
There's no nudity but I wouldn't let your boss catch you watching this:
Best I can figure, all three girls writhe and moan while the contestants decide which girl is truly being tickled in her "downstairs". And really, in a contest like that, aren't we all winners?
(via The Unnamed)
Posted by Groonk at 05:41 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Sex, Video
May 01, 2006
The Japanese scientists who climbed up a reef and came down a mountain
The territory, known as Okino-Torishima is a coral reef three miles long and a mile wide. But, The Times noted, as an island it would secure Japan's rights to an Exclusive Economic Zone in a 200-mile radius.
(via physorg)
Posted by Groonk at 06:07 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan
April 27, 2006
Exploring the Pitagora Suicchi
The fine folks at Dattebayo piqued my curiosity. Instead of blindly grabbing it, I did an interwub search and disovered others were equally piqued. In doing this I discovered what was this mysterious Pythagoras Switch:
math making NINJAS await you inside!
It's dreadfully cute, if you like fan-subbed japanese kid science shows. The rube goldberg devices at the beginning, and during the middle of the above, are charming as all hell.
That algorithm march in the above amuses the piss outta me. There are few things in this world that aren't enhanced by adding ninjas. I dare you not to get that march song in your head
I double dare ya.
And the little square dog made me smile.
The less amusing Part 1 is after the jump.
(via dattebayo)
Posted by Groonk at 12:18 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Video
April 20, 2006
ON EBAY: Deer antlered Samurai Kabuto
Resident unofficial samurai expert MedicMike says:
"Some [samurai] even had antlers positioned such that you could rest your swords on them when you weren't wearing the helmet"
» link to ebay auction
» link to Shogun Armory(seller)
(via boingboing)
Posted by Groonk at 12:34 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research
March 28, 2006
Japan wants space military... for self-defense
...SDF rising
The law would be largely symbolic since Japan has already launched spy satellites, but is meant to ease concerns about building high-end satellites and to help the space program become more internationally competitive.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans a final draft of the law by August with an eye to submit it to next year's parliament session.
Soon I'll be able to get my hands on my very own Veritech fighter.
And who doesn't want one of those?
(via warren ellis)
Posted by Groonk at 08:44 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan
March 20, 2006
MOVIE MONDAY: Yakuzasploitation
I hear-tell this is a trailer for some 70s Japanese movie called Female Yakuza Tale that contains "live action sequences interspersed with beautifully stylized line drawings."
All I needed to know was "chicks with swords" :
So NSFW it ain't funny.
Well, it is funny, if you're not your boss.
BTW, some site called http://www.secret-cinema.com has a torrent of the aforementioned tale.
(via boingboing)
Posted by Groonk at 02:55 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research, Sex, Video
March 10, 2006
Norimitsu Odachi
A blade longer than a man.
This Odachi was made by Norimitsu of Osafune in August 1447.
Specifications are as follows:
Total length - 377 cm.
Nagasa (cutting edge) - 226.7 cm.
Sori (curvature) - 5.0 cm
Nakago (tang) - 151 cm.
Thickness - 2.34 cm.
Habaki (collar to hold blade in scabbard) - 5.85 cm.
Weight - 14.5 kgs.
Mei (name): Bishu Osafune Norimitsu.
Location: Kibitsu Jinja, Okayama.
Period: Muromachi (1447).
Sugata (shape): Shinogi-zukuri, maru-mune, bo-hi with maru-dome.
Hada (grain): Itame.
Hamon (temper pattern): Ko-gunome, choji with tobiyaki and kinsuji.
This Odachi is the longest in Japan.
(via medicmike)
Posted by Groonk at 11:49 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research
March 01, 2006
Jock Samurai
The Cloud Covered Fuji wallpaper makes my head spin. Such a very good spin... in my head.
(via medicmike)
Posted by Groonk at 07:34 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat, Only in Japan
January 19, 2006
When Echizen kurage rule the oceans
I don't have enough pee in me to heal a wound from this sucker.
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- A slimy jellyfish weighing as much as a sumo wrestler has Japan's fishing industry in the grip of its poisonous tentacles.
Vast numbers of Echizen kurage, or Nomura's jellyfish, have appeared around Japan's coast since July, clogging and ripping fishing nets and forcing fishermen to spend hours hacking them apart before bringing home their reduced catches.
[...]
Cutting up and disposing of the giants can turn a three-hour fishing trip into a 10-hour marathon, while valuable fish are poisoned or crushed under the weight of the unwanted catch.
And what a catch. One Echizen kurage can be up to 2 meters (6 feet, 7 inches) in diameter and weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds).
[...]
Spikes in population have occurred in the past, notably in 1958, but consecutive outbreaks in 2002 and 2003 prompted the government to seek reasons and solutions.
Scientists have suggested global warming might be a factor.
Also:
Go figure.
(via medicmike)
Posted by Groonk at 02:02 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Animals, Only in Japan
January 17, 2006
Naked Lady Taiko!
Oiled-up, glistening, and totally naked japanese women performing taiko.
Is it my birthday?
(via tokyo times)
Posted by Groonk at 04:11 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Only in Japan, Sex, Video
Japan's got an old man cane
Japan's Slow Lifers are taking over.
"Thus people will say that Spain has entered a final senility; they might as well say that Spain is losing all her teeth," he wrote. "Or people will say that Canada should soon produce a literature; which is like saying that Canada must soon grow a new moustache. Nations consist of people; the first generation may be decrepit, or the 10,000th may be vigorous."
[...]
Societies don't die when they increase their longevity and decrease their birthrate. They don't die when their populations decline rather than increase. They change. And from some perspectives (although not necessarily the economic one) this change is desirable, the result of increasing health and wealth. In fact, this sort of change (controlled decline rather than mindless growth) might be the very condition of a society's sustainability -- and the world's.
The Japan Times recently reported the projections of Iwao Fujimasa, a demographer with the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. According to the Times, Fujimasa "believes that while depopulation could depress the real estate market and affect the financial standing of banks dependent on real estate prices, as well as rattle the pension system, it will probably have a big plus side. He pointed to possible trends such as boosting gender equality, breaking down generation gaps and ultimately allowing for a more relaxed way of living. Land prices will fall, people will be able to afford bigger homes, and the daily crush on trains will be lessened."
There are two reactions to population decline: a hard-nosed economic one and a softer, more philosophical attitude focused on quality of life. If we must use the national-individual metaphor, let's say that Japan may just be hitting a sort of collective midlife crisis. And the best kind of midlife crisis makes you ask questions like: "Is that all there is?" and "What really matters to me?"
(via wired news)
Posted by Groonk at 03:22 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Culture, Only in Japan, Research
January 05, 2006
When all else fails...dance: part 1
My advice to you is to dance like a japanese pop star backed up by a cadre of gimp sex slaves.
(via bre pettis)
Posted by Groonk at 06:14 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share, Music, Only in Japan, Video
January 03, 2006
What happens when your soul is completely corporate owned?
Japanese Arnold Schwarzenegger
"oh, where's that funny beer can thing we got? Rob, you had it, right?" And everyone looks at me, and I just stare at them for a moment, and then say, "...
Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot yet devised - a "female" android called Repliee Q1.
