Bento Bulletin

"Best" Gadget Ever

2010-01-03T18:10:00.001-08:00

This machine turns itself off - see.

That's just damn cool and you knows it.

Characters on Cars, Lots of Them

2009-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

At the Ariake Port Terminal in the Tokyo Koto Ward the Autosalone Ariake 2009 Winter Exhibition will be featuring a auto show with approximately 100 vehicals graced with images and decorations of various anime, manga and game characters. Though, there seems to be a very Moe theme to the exhibit.

Check out many a more picture at Mainichi!

Korea Creates Crayon Chaos

2009-12-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

The Korean game publisher Windy Soft announced the other day that they will be releasing an MMORPG based on Yoshito Usui's (respect) series, Crayon Shin Chan, or just Shin Chan in the U.S..

Now this isn't just another MMO, it's a casual MMO! Those are the best! Korea is pretty good at the MMO industry, and they've teamed up with Daewon Media, a company that appears to specialize in cuteness, and this is a Crayon Shin Chan game, so I don't see what could possibly go wrong.

As the Windy Soft website says, "Together we dream, together we happy!"

MMOsite

Pixar and Ghibli Friends and Colleges

2009-12-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

My sentimental nerd heart fluttered wildly when I came across this article and video on JapanProbe and Japanator.

I knew John Lasseter and Hayao Miyazaki were good homies but I didn’t know how good of friends they are. For a little history background John Lasseter (Founder of Pixar) was the first to suggest bringing Ghibli’s Spirited Away to American shores under Disney as well as countless other Ghibli films. A lot of Pixar’s staff are fans of Miyazaki’s work and have a lot of merchandise of his films around the office, as shown in the video. Miyazaki has even sent Lasseter 50 plush makkuro kurosuke (The little soot character that appears in miyazaki’s films) for Lasseter’s birthday.

The video below was to market the Japan release of “Up”, saying how Ghibli has influence Pixar’s work. A very cool little documentary!

Pixar’s and Ghibli’s friendship indeed is a very interesting one since they work under different systems of creating. Pixar works as a collaborative with their staff while Ghibli is solely created by Miyazaki.
To read the other articles on this click the link!
http://www.japanator.com/studio-ghibli-and-pixar-animation-giants-best-friends-12861.phtml#ext
http://www.japanprobe.com/2009/12/26/the-pixar-ghibli-connection/

Little Tiny Delorean

2009-12-24T23:12:00.000-08:00

Minimates has revealed a cute little version of the time traveling delorean from the wonderfully nerdy classic trilogy Back To The Future. If you're thinking of getting a real delorean, don't! They're junky and no one makes parts for them. This little fella should be just enough to indulge your delorean desires. Kay? Kay. Problem solved.

Tomopop

Oh Japan! Amussing Faux Commercials: Go Go Nike Power

2009-12-20T05:23:00.000-08:00

A faux Nike shoe ad set in Akiba. I can’t say anymore without me spoiling it, so just watch:

*a moment of silence* …Let me start off by saying I had no intentions of placing another commercial post so soon, but once I saw it I couldn’t stop laughing. Truly a masterpiece!
Thank you Nike, thank you.

Shoot People in Kawaii Style with Hello Kitty Weapons!

2009-12-20T04:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Kitty is truly unique in the sense that you can find her anywhere or on anything. One could truly live in a Hello Kitty saturated life. Well if there is not a Hello Kitty product to fit your needs, why not make one yourself!

Here is a custom painted and modified AR-15 Assault Rifle!

Or if having a Hello Kitty riffle wasn’t enough how about this taser:

To check out more fun items (Such as Hello Kitty grenades) click on the link!:

http://www.loneleeplanet.com/2009/12/top-7-hello-kitty-combat-gear/

Pokemon Playthrough for Charity

2009-12-19T05:30:00.000-08:00

A group called The Speed Gamers began last night on a three day run through of eight Pokemon games in an attempt to capture every single Pokemon to date without any trades to outsiders. They are aiming to raise $15,000 to donate the Ally's House, a charity for helping children with brain cancer. That's some kind of cool. To watch them live, and to see and listen to a commentator with a very cool Diglet hat, go the speedgamers.com.

Japanese Penguins May Be Too Fat

2009-12-19T02:20:00.000-08:00

This is the "Walking of the Penguins," or WoP. It takes place at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The cute li'l Batman villains are walked twice a day for a distance of 500 meters to help them exercise. I can't personally explain why they chose not to got with my suggestion of teaching them Taekwondo - it is a phenomenal workout.

Starting next March, they will be walked only once a day, because the snow will probably be gone, and that somehow means they won't be so plump and out of shape.

Mainichi

Next Ghibli Film Announced

2009-12-17T00:24:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday Studio Ghibli announced Karigurashi no Arrietty (The Borrower Arriety). Most Ghibli films have been directed by the ever so talented Hayao Miyazaki, however, Karigurashi no Arriety will be directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. Yonebayashi has worked on other famous Ghibli works including Spirited Away and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. Though, this is his first hand at directing. Miyazaki still has his hand in the film's planning, and always gives Yonebayashi his support.

Karigurashi no Arrietty is based on Mary Norton's 1952 children's novel, The Borrowers. The original book and the Ghibli film feature the same main character, Arrietty, a very tiny person. The expressions will definitely have their differences, but I would expect plenty of goodness. I mean, have you ever seen a Ghibli film?

Ghibli World

Oh Japan! Amussing Comericals: Matrix Pachinko

2009-12-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

A hilarious commercial advertising new Matrix pachinko machines.

Tiger Woods' life as in a harem anime!

2009-12-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

A Japanese editorial cartoon talks about how Tiger Woods love life should be a harem anime and goes to meticulously list out all the women Tiger has slept with so far. Also in the back you can see his wife with little ogre horns on her head. That’s messed up!
Source: http://www.japanator.com/will-tiger-woods-life-be-the-next-big-harem-anime-nsfw--12708.phtml

So It Turns Out, People Are Kinky

2009-12-16T02:35:00.000-08:00

Because most of you probably don't travel through Central Ave. and Mission Blvd. in Southern California too often you probably haven't gotten the chance to see the sign my boyfriend pointed out to us tonight. Had to take a picture. Had to show you. I'm just saying, the porn industry is damn efficient to whip this out so fast. Kudos.

Cha-Ching, A Rumor Confirmed!

2009-12-15T03:08:00.001-08:00

Recently there has been a rumor floating around the net about the Shonen Jump manga “Bakuman”, written and draw by Ohba Tsugumi and Obata Takeshi (The duo of Death Note), is going to be adapted into an anime sometime next year. Well, now it is confirmed!

On chapter 66 (featured on the left) there was a foot note that the next Jump issue will feature color pages and the announcement of the Bakuman anime.

Personally, I am extremely jazzed! The manga is extremely well written and drawn that practically any hard core anime/manga fan would love it! I’m surprised that it didn’t have a live action adaptation first though. I have a good feeling about this soon to be anime. I betcha that it is going to have a great soundtrack, I can feel it!! Well, we will keep you posted on the developments, so stay tuned!

A New Challenger Appears!

2009-12-15T02:34:00.000-08:00

Hi, I’m Sonia and I’m now gonna be posting on The Bento Bulletin!
I figured t o make a fun introductory post before I jump into the news articles.
Let’s start things off with a fun educational Japanese commercial!

I’m a big Godzilla dork, so as soon as I saw this video of him doing everyday things and singing, I had to share the joy.
Now, off I go to write articles *Does Superman stance*

Weekly Word! Hanaji

2009-12-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hanaji: Nosebleed. In Japan this signifies someone who is too excited or thinking sexy thoughts. In anime and manga, if a character gets a nosebleed it's a sure sign they're a horny pervert.

Courtesy of The Otaku Encyclopedia, page 95.

Best Thing to Happen to an Elevator Since Ever

2009-12-12T03:26:00.000-08:00

A wall next to an elevator somewhere in the universe (probably planet earthish area) in a surgeon's office depics Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni's Sistine Chapel painting of God reaching out to you. You become Adam as you press the button to reach your destination. I dare you to do it naked.

Boing Boing

Bento Review: Tegami Bachi

2009-12-10T02:34:00.000-08:00

Recently at Borders Books, where I feel not only at home, but at one with my outer nerd, I picked up and read volume one of Tegami Bachi. Even more recently while I was there, I bought it. See, now here is evidence that fansubs can in fact support the manga industry: Once you read it, you may very well want to buy it. But that is a longer post for another more fulfilling day.

Anyway, what first caught my eye was the art. At first glance it somehow reminded me of the art from the .Hack series. After spending only a few minutes with it though I noticed it had its own, very pleasant style of art. The greeting of the cover had hooked me enough to sit down with it and read the first few pages.

Quick synopsis:

It takes place in a land lit by an artificial sun placed directly above the upper-class capitol city of Akatsuki. Surrounding the capitol is middle class region, and surrounding that is the lower class region. Gauche is a Letter Bee, a postal worker. He is sent to pick up a letter from the far region. The letter turns out to be a young boy, Lag. Through some struggle, some laughs, and some, literally, heart powered explosions he delivers Lag to his aunt at the edge of the far region. From that point, Lag decides he wants to be a Letter Bee. Five years pass and he is on his way to take the official test to become one. He finds an abandoned, nameless girl on his way; she is a letter. He delivers her to what turns out to be a circus. She apparently has beast arms and magic sword hair. She decides to become his partner.

Sorry if I suck at reviewing things, but it's actually a very interesting manga. Volume two will be out in the US in March of 2010.

Japan Looks Pretty from the Sky

2009-12-09T02:01:00.001-08:00

There comes a time in your life when you are hang-gliding over Japan. But there are an unfortunate few who never get the chance. So for you, here are some very nice photos to make up for it.

Moss phlox, Hitsujiyama Park, Chichibu City, Saitima Prefecture.

Tea gardens, Wazuka City, Kyoto Prefecture.

Nagasaki has something called Tall Ships Festival, didn't you know that?

The gardeners at the Kuju Flower Park in Taketa City, Oita Prefecture, do a much better job than Disney Land.

Solar panel powered neighborhood in Tsubuka-Mirai City, Ibaraki Prefecture, remind us how we let electric companies take advantage of us.

Tenjin Festival, Osaka. Once again, better job than Disney Land.

(More of the Kuju Flower Park in Taketa.) Japan just seems so good at growing things that are prettier than people.

Mainichi

Mameshiba Talking Cell Phone Strap

2009-12-06T15:19:00.000-08:00

There is this cute little series of cartoon shorts out there in Internet Land called Mameshiba. Mameshiba features various bean and nut characters of many, many cutenesses. These adorable dog like beans and nuts tell you valuable pieces of trivia for the purpose of grossing you out so you lose your appetite, and will not eat them. Please, observe:

If you don't get enough trivia of the sort at home, you can now take it with you as a talking cell phone strap.

Strapya World

Weekly Word!

2009-12-03T15:04:00.000-08:00

The Bento Bulletin introduces the Weekly Word, a weekly post segment meant to teach you a new word that you didn't know before, but you certainly wish you had.

This weeks word,

Nanpa: Slang for picking up girls [regardless of cooties]. Can also describe a "soft" skirt-chaser, the opposite of a "hard" man (koha).

Courtesy of The Otaku Encyclopedia, page 160.

You Love Egg

2009-12-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

I Love Egg is a Korean show of much cuteness and creativity. Watch this three minute episode and prove it to yourself you dirty skeptic!

There now, you see?

I Love Egg is so chalk full of different cutenesses you may be inclined to look for yourself. They even have an I Love Egg motorcycle scooter type thing, but I don't think they have t-shirts in adult sizes.

Parade of Santa Clauses in Tokyo

2009-12-01T01:33:00.000-08:00

Sunday: Along Omotesando Street in Tokyo marched sixty Saint Nicks - say it fifteen and a half times fast!

The Santa Clauses(eses) were students from THE SANTA CLAUSE ACADEMY - a school for training and preparing those who seek to be among the lucky few to be employed as a toy god.

Mainichi

Computer Powered Dinosaur [foot warmer]

2009-11-28T15:16:00.000-08:00

One Japanese company has apparently discovered a way to use the USB port in your computer to give you the power of a Wizard. This product is advertised as a foot warmer, big enough for both feet, or more importantly, for your cat!

This company makes just about everything USB powered from electronic microscopes to toothbrush sterilizers. They even make a USB powered record player - like, vinyl records, the kinds you hear of in legends.

thanko.jp

Interview Synopsis with Simona Stanzani

2009-11-26T22:46:00.000-08:00

Simona Stanzani, a manga and anime translator, and self-expressed "professional otaku" from Italy was interviewed last Saturday, Nov. 21 2009, in Ikebukuro, Japan. She moved to Japan from Italy in 2007, and has translated to Italian several very famous titles including "Jojo's Bizarre Adventure", "Ghost In the Shell", and "Soul Eater."

She had the delight to be interviewed in a *Megane Suit Cafe, surrounded by, well, sexy dark haired young men in suits and glasses. The following is a portion of her lucky interview.

The Mainichi Daily News: How did you become an otaku?

Simona Stanzani: When I was a child, many Japanese anime were already being shown on TV in Italy, such as "Lady Oscar," "Aim for the Ace" and "Rocky Joe."

The first time we Italians realized that the anime were from Japan was when "Grendizer," the anime adaption of Go Nagai's manga began. Before that, anime such as "Heidi" were European stories and the drawings were not so different from Disney's, so we didn't really think much of where they had come from. But Grendizer was such a culture shock that you couldn't possibly ignore the fact it was Japanese. It had all sorts of weird aliens modeled after Japanese demons. After Grendizer, the second most famous was "Captain Herlock." I think all the boys wanted to be Herlock.

MDN: I heard you wore a black dress when your favorite character died.

Stanzani: I get moved very easily when watching a movie or reading a manga, so I cried so much over anime like "Candy Candy," saying, "Oh no! They didn't meet again!" I think the Japanese are really good at doing this setsunai thing. Setsunai is hard to translate, but to me it has something to do with solitude. It's a very Japanese way of making people cry, I think.

MDN: This is a labor of love for you.

Stanzani: Of course. Sometimes you have to translate stuff you don't like, but apart from that, the only pressure that I really have is my deadlines. It's the freedom, really. Also, I welcome a challenge, and I'm a very positive person, so I can always find the bright side even in the worst situation. Even when translating is very hard, on the next page there might be something really amazing. I'm very happy with my job.

It'd be worth your time to read the entire interview (it's really not too long). She's a pretty interesting person. She had a passion and a dream, and it happened to be anime related. It doesn't happen often, but it's just a tad inspiring. Be inspired DARN YOU!

*Megane is a Japanese word basically referring to people who wear eyeglasses. It often refers specifically to men.

further source

Sexy Ping-Pong Bot at International Robot Exhibition

2009-11-26T00:16:00.000-08:00

The sexy thing is up to you (weirdo), but let me introduce TOPIO, the Vietnamese six-packed ping-pong champion of your heart.

He is currently booked showing the world, and more specifically TOKYO, how much better than you he is at the 2009 International Robot Exhibition. He's sported a few different looks since he was first developed in 2005 (feel free to wiki him), but this is probably my favorite (and yours too!). He's like a slim, plastic coated Terminator - clearly very domineering. Look, he's even flipping someone off with his left hand, while staring you down - not to mention the ping-pong. What multitasking!

source