News On Japan - Latest News

Keitai novels (Jan 3)

Keitai novels are meant to be read in short chapters, with new installments downloaded every day. As Wikipedia says: “The first cell phone novel was “published” in Japan in 2003 by a young online writer, Yoshi. His first cell phone novel was called Deep Love, the story of a teenage prostitute in Tokyo.

Cambodian Monks force nation's first rock opera off air (Jan 3)

ok - so Cambodia is not exactly in the Far North East Asian Region - they are Asian and Buddhist - next question?

Winter Season Review: White Album - Episode 1 (Jan 5)

Based on the 1999 eroge from Leaf, ‘White Album’ gets a complete re-working for a new television audience. The story in this romantic drama follows Touya who is trying to work his way through college as best he can. Distracting him however is his girlfriend Yuki who has started a new career as a singing idol leaving little time for their relationship.

If you knew Dokdo, like I know Dokdo.... Oh, what an isle.... (Jan 1)

An English song by singer Seo Hui to inform foreigners that Dokdo (Takeshima) is Korean territory.

Lyrics here.

Found via The Marmot's Hole

Early Winter Season Preview: White Album (Dec 30)

Based on an eroge originally released in 1998, this series will follow the hero Toya and his girlfriend. Yes, that’s right… the hero of a romance based on an eroge starts the series with a girlfriend already. Not only that but she’s a rising pop star.

Bush chuckers target shoe discount (Jan 4)

A Chinese shop is giving discounts to customers who hit an image of George Bush by throwing shoes.

Japan races to build zero emissions electric car (Jan 5)

After technological breakthroughs in the development of long-lasting lithium-ion batteries, soon it may not just be Hollywood stars who are zipping around in zero emission automobiles.

High grades, high stress for Asian-American students in Bay Area (Jan 5)

Senior T.J. Wey says she does "pretty well'' at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont.

That means straight A's so far this year at a school that boasts the eighth-highest test scores in the state — and where students and teachers both joke about the "Asian grade scale":

A = Average; B = Bad; C = Catastrophe; D = Disowned; F = Forever Forgotten.

Army puts collection of Korean War photos, videos online (Jan 6)

Imagine this: Your job is a Military Photographer in East Asia..just think of what you would have seen and photographed!!.

Article Clearance! All 2008 Ideas Must Go! (Dec 31)

It's our end-of-year story-idea closet closeout!

Additional Thoughts: Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka (Dec 31)

Those of you who follow me on twitter have also followed my experience with the series ‘Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka’. Now that I have gotten to that conclusion, it’s time for another edition of my additional thoughts.

DVD Review: Nighthead Genesis Vol. 2: Regret (Jan 1)

Getting past a poorly executed introduction, the psychic bishie brothers of ‘Nighthead Genesis’ attempt storytelling and fail miserably.

Beijing moves to Crush reform calls (Jan 2)

Is it any wonder?..is anybody surprised?..(no) these 300 are just boneheads..brainless Chicom Idiots..Pirates in control of a Ship of State just about to Founder on the Reef of Greed,Corruption and a Naked Lust for Power..remora

Nintendo to take on broadcasters with Wii TV (Jan 3)

Nintendo is preparing to take on the might of the world's biggest broadcasters by launching its own television channel.

17 monks ring Japan's largest bell for New Year's (Jan 3)

At Choin-in Temple in Kyoto, Japan, it takes 17 monks to ring in the new year. It's an amazing event to witness, which thousands do every New Year's Eve. This post includes a photo gallery and a video of the event.

Melamine update (Jan 3)

Dairy companies apologize for poisoning babies

"We sincerely apologise...and we beg your forgiveness," read the note from 22 dairy firms, led by the now-bankrupt Sanlu. It said a compensation fund had been established for the victims, including the families of thousands of babies still suffering from urinary problems such as kidney stones.

Guam USAF - Japan picks up tab (Jan 4)

"Guam's transformation will cost at least $15 billion - with Japan footing more than $6 billion of the bill - and put some of the U.S. military's highest-profile assets within the fences of a vastly improved network of bases."

Japan’s Nakamura has the write stuff for Celtic (Jan 4)

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is planning to write one more glorious chapter in his Celtic story by leading the Scottish club to another Premier League triumph.

Nakamura has kept a diary of his football exploits throughout his career and uses the entries to help work out where he needs to improve his game

Harsh sentencing handed down China Software Pirates (Jan 4)

"The "ringleaders of the world's largest software-counterfeiting syndicate", as Microsoft described them in a statement last week, were sentenced on New Year's Eve. According to Microsoft, theirs were the longest sentences given for this type of crime in China's history...(1.5 to 6.5 years?)..you see what a nation of Bullshit Artists!!..remora

Tina Theune: Japan on the up (women's football) (Jan 5)

Who or what surprised you in 2008?