Japanese Blogging Machine

Mosburger salted caramel churros

2011-10-18T21:59:00.001-07:00

Mosburger now selling salted caramel mini churros. Great packaging design, sadly not that tasty as they aren't crispy, more like a soft cookie, but only 100 yen

Buffalo Daughter new digital release (For US)

2011-06-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

Japanese band Buffalo Daughter is releasing their 2010 album, Weapons Of Math Destruction in the US digitally on June 13th. Additionally, you can buy an actual CD at their 4 date tour in the US:
http://www.buffalodaughter.com/live.html#wmd6

Probably in support of their tour due to their appearance at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26th with Yellow Magic Orchestra, Towa Tei and the reunited Cibo Matto (http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/performance-detail.cfm?id=4529)

IVY is back!

2011-06-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Was pleasantly surprised to see that the band, IVY is back. New single out now and album out in September. It really exceeded my expectations and is more synth-based than ever! Check it out streaming on their webpage.

http://www.thebandivy.com/news/

Wacky Things Of Japan 2011 Part 3 (iPhone 4 cover that looks like a cassette)

2011-01-24T21:46:00.000-08:00

Hot item from Akihabara! Yep, if you want to go really retro, you can disguise your iPhone4 as a crappy cassette (look it up on Wikipedia, kids). Looks pretty cool though I think... And only about $12 bucks. Maybe something that Erika Toda would use? :)

Wacky Things Of Japan 2011 Part 2 (iPhone 4 Cover that looks like a shoe)

2011-01-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

If only I had an iPhone4 to use it. Shoe for your iPhone4! :)

Japanese Products Part 3 - Kit Kat Shinkansen (Bullet Train) (Flavor??!?)

2011-01-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

Just kidding... It's not Shinkansen flavor but a special Nozumi Shinkansen edition of Kit Kat that comes in a box shaped like the famed Osaka to Tokyo Shinkansen. Inside the box is a bunch of the regular petit Kit Kat but with Shinakensen trivia on it plus some stickers. I picked this up at that Nagoya Shineansen waiting area for my son...yeah, my son. :)

Japanese Products Part 2 - Nestle Kit Kat - European Cheese

2011-01-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

One of my other favorite things to do when going to Japan is visiting Conbini (convenient) stores like Family Mart, 7-11, Lawsons, etc and checking out the Kit Kat section. Did you know Kit Kat world wide except for United States is made by Nestle, not Hershey? Not sure why that is. What I've discovered though is there are tons of special Kit Kat flavors in Japan. It changes seasonally. Today, I'm covering one I just found called, *CHEESE*! It's not just any cheese though, its European cheese! (American Cheese Kit Kat sounds even more disgusting--I hope it doesn't exist.) Being in Japan, I'll try anything once so I bought this.

The packaging is a big box, maybe an inch and a half thick. This is a special flavor so be aware that most of the Kit Kat in Japan does come in the regular plastic wrapping that you'd see in the US. I like the lock on the side of the box to make it look exotic! Since this is Japan, everything is mini size (petite it proclaims so you can justify those 25Kcals) and individually wrapped. The ingredients are: Cheese paste, Cheese flavor & Cheese powder. Yum!

Taste? Well, its still sweet, but it has that definite stinky cheese smell. Taste is more like a bland white chocolate. I'm not really getting a cheese taste and I think in this case that is a good thing! Don't say I really care for it, but I didn't hate it either but the smell is kind of annoying. Rating: 2 out of 5.

Japanese Products Part 1 - Pepsi Mont Blanc

2011-01-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

Mont Blanc is a desert. Sort of a chestnuts and cream thing. Wikipedia Entry Here. It is very popular in Japan. I had never heard of it before. In Japan it is pronounced Mom-bu-lan (at least it sounds like it to me). Not sure if that is the correct pronunciation as it is French. My wife loves it; I think it is okay. Anyway, saw that Pepsi has a Mont Blanc flavor here in Japan. I got it and tried it. Kind of like cream soda. Was alright. Haven't seen any different Coke or Pepsi Japanese products ever since my journeys to Japan began so I thought this was significant.

Wacky Things Of Japan 2011 - Part 1

2010-12-30T17:56:00.000-08:00

Saw this item in a kids store in Japan. Not sure why someone would make this....

1) No, let's not make bananas clustered.
2) No, I don't think I will use it as an accessory case.

It looks like there a couple of more things it does written in Japanese but I can't read it.

I love Pumpkin - Part 1

2010-12-29T21:14:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure when it started exactly...within the last 10 years for sure, I think after eating Japanese pumpkin (aka Kabocha) and realizing how tasty and healthy it is. Since then, I have been searching and trying any and all things pumpkin (American or Japanese). At some point, I think I will have tried enough pumpkin items that I could have an entire day's meal of different pumpkin items (including beverages of course!).

Today's first entry was a pleasant surprise for me. Found it in the Family Mart (US=Famima!) store. Its Haagen Dazs Pumpkin! It had a tiny swirl of (I think) Caramel. I really liked it. I like that Haagen Dazs is pushing and trying new flavors (that is another thing I like about Japan and will be explored further in future posts). I think they are doing special flavors in the US as well but this flavor would probably be too radical for them as in the US pumpkin is only considered a holiday food (and usually only Thanksgiving) plus this one is more on the Kabocha style as you can tell from the picture.

Out of 5 stars, I rate this a 4.

Things From Japan Part 1: 3D Cell Phone

2010-12-28T18:58:00.000-08:00

Okay America, we are really behind when we don't even have a 3D cell phone yet!

Videogame movie cheese in HD

2010-09-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. HD Net is showing both Cloak & Dagger (Dabney Colman and that ET kid) as well as The Wizard (Fred Savage) in the upcoming week in full HD quality! Two kids videogame movies back-to-back. Looking forward to that.

Have to admit I never saw The Wizard but looking forward to seeing old NES games on "the big screen".

Cloak & Dagger was probably one of the last early 80s videogame tie-in films (ala Tron and The Last Starfighter -- although that game never was completed). C&D's game was by Atari and was called Agent X and I remember playing it quite voraciously during my 14th or 15th birthday at the old (and no longer there) Malibu Grand Prix in Northridge (a go-cart/arcade paradise).

Reviews to follow!

Wacky Things of Japan 2010 - Part 5

2010-03-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Totally inappropriate baby clothing! Does the child need to start on the weed this early in life?? :)

Wacky Things of Japan 2010 - Part 4

2010-03-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

I think the box copy says it all. Another Akihabara find.

Wacky Things Of Japan 2010 - Part 3

2010-03-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Nothing more fun then a game of fake Russian Roulette. Wonder what the original one was like (since this is Russian Roulette II)?? I also like the background says something about it being dangerous but you can't read it. That's probably not important! :)

Wacky Things Of Japan 2010 - Part 2

2010-03-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Found this in Akihabra. Forget about the bad grammar...why do we need a radio controlled moving tissue box? Are we really that lazy? What are you using tissue box for? Blowing nose only I hope.

Wacky Things Of Japan 2010 - Part 1

2010-03-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's Cats! That can only mean that I'm in Japan and I'm sharing my "wacky" photos. This is just the beginning!

From Japan Trip 2010 - Wacky Things

La Bionda - I Wanna Be Your Lover video

2010-02-06T15:06:00.000-08:00

I found this video accidentally on the Interwebs (while searching for a picture of the Japanese pop group from the 70s, Finger 5 - a Japanese Jackson 5 inspired group).

It's amazing 80s technology, cheesy Heavy Metal type animation and '80s video effects. Daft Punk has surely borrowed heavily visually and musically from these lads. I thought it was so good that I didn't think it was original at first but some kind of tribute, but it appears to be authentic from 1980. Apparently, they were a big Italian disco group. If you don't smile when they do the hand-claps, you just might not be human! :)

Time to start your own 8-bit band with help from Sony

2010-02-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Start your own 8-bit band with this royalty-free sample disc from Sony Creative Software.
8 Bit Weapon

There's a few samples on the link. Sounds good except for the Atari 2600 sample. Thought they would at least remove the buzz (is that 60 cycle Hz hum?) from the sample even though that's not authentic.

Groovy town - Call Me with Walter Wanderley & Victor M. on Drums

2010-02-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Rare video of Brazilian super-star organist Walt Wanderley doing the classic "Call Me" to lighten the mood.

I think the audio quality is a little better if you select 480p. This clip is very '70s. Walter doesn't seem very happy but it's a pretty groovy version. Unfortunately, they do not show his hands when he does that hyper-staccato thing he does on the keys every once in a while (his trademark?). Anyone got any video of that??

The opening graphic right away tells you to prepare for awesomeness. Then you got a polyester paradise and it looks like Walt is sporting a silk ascot...classy! And sitting on three stacked chairs! Drummer's got a total 70s 'stash and wavy hair too (not to mention his floral pattern shirt). Man, I love the '70s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9aftG6pybA

OK...Spies Like Us comments really coming soon! :)

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me in HD (Premiere!)

2010-01-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

The HD premier of the motion picture, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was on HD Net Movies this month (still on this month if you missed it - you are watching this channel, right? They show tons of yet-to-be-released-on-Blu-Ray HD movies). Picture quality was pretty good, little bit dirty at times but better than the DVD I think. I was excited to watch it as I hadn't seen it in a while. But now, after seeing it, I really don't think I need to see it again. I mean, it is really, really, depressing! Not quite on the Dancer In The Dark or Requiem For A Dream scale (I will NEVER watch those movies again!), but it's pretty close up there.

**SPOILER** (highlight to read) Still can't believe I never understood before after watching 2 or 3 times that the Dad also had raped his daughter?! **END SPOILER**

Geez, what a happy, little film! How could Lynch have even thought people would want more of this after the TV show?? A good example of how a prequel was not necessary. The TV show was able to convey the badness well enough I think (well, maybe not totally, but this movie was overkill). For me, just Laura's theme alone was able to convey the tragedy for me (what a beautiful theme!). I watched the pilot again and I have to say that I still tear up when it is played! :o The film is technically well done (I mean, I was sad..) and is interesting story-wise for Twin Peaks fans. Still I'd have a hard time sitting through it again. That said, I would really like to see the often-rumored deleted scenes. Apparently there's quite a bit and some French company is sitting on them and Lynch needs money to restore the scenes to his level of quality before they can be released. Someday??

OK, and if you don't know what Twin Peaks is...well, just go find some clips on You Tube or read up on it on Wikipedia...It was a great, strange TV show (have to say, its 90s fashion and wired telephones is dating it more than I thought!). If you like what you see, go rent the Gold Box. It's great stuff.

On a lighter note, almost done with Spies Like Us! :)

Spies Like Us...in HD!

2009-12-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

Continuing my series of movies that maybe don't qualify as high-brow cinema but are showing in 1080i HD, is Spies Like Us. I haven't watched it since it came out. In fact, I know the theme song much better then the actual movie. Especially because the 12" single had a rare remix by the Art Of Noise which was one of my favorite groups. So, recorded this off of HD Net Movies (great channel). And looking forward to watching it soon. Decoys!!??!
Did I mention that I once saw John Landis in a supermarket on Thanksgiving a few years ago? :D

As for Convoy.... well, I did watch it. What a strange film! I can't say it was great, but I was entranced with its 70s super-wide cinematography. I'm sure the movie has never been seen this way in a long time. Watching it on VHS or DVD probably lost a lot (don't think it was letterboxed on DVD...was it?) The movie was funny. There is a ridiculous amount of slow motion at the beginning of the film when there is a fight in a bar. And there's a whole political story line which just doesn't make any sense, but it was entertaining. Lots of slow mo trucks crashing through prop-houses later in the film too. And who can not like Ernest Borgnine? :) I did feel bad for Ali McGraw. She ditched her career for this?? (Sorry, been brainwashed by Kid Stays In The Picture I guess!) The movie didn't seem that manly though. You figured there'd be a lot more nudity..but I guess they were going for realistic (?!). Plus, the Convoy song is so fruity. Especially the chorus part. Still love it though!

Convoy... in HD!

2009-08-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Some things in life I just can't explain. One of these things is the giddy excitement I feel when I find out that a movie that will probably never be released on Blu-Ray (oh, okay at least a couple of years) is going to be shown on a High Definition movie channel. I'm not sure why but I take some weird satisfaction in this!

This month, MGM HD is showing a movie that is truly deserving of High Definition - 70s CB classic - Convoy! One of the few movies based off of a hit song (maybe Hollywood will go back to this tradition after comic books?) sung by C.W Mc Call. But did you also know that the music was co-written by Chip Davis, founder of Mannheim Steamroller (!?!).

So put on your truckin' hat and fire up the CB radio good buddy and enjoy this film in a quality that you probably were never expected to! See every pore on Ernest Brgnine's face. See Kris Kristofferson amazingly ripped abs (!). Ali MacGraw is in it too dudes.

This film is part of MGM's "Retrospective" of Sam Peckinpah. I'm not sure he would approve! Well, MGM is trying. Since they don't license other studios films, their retrospectives are kind of strange. The Robert Dino one is Raging Bull (OK), Ronin (I guess) and Flawless (what?).

Warner brings 'Death' (Note) to bigscreen - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

2009-05-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Warner brings 'Death' to bigscreen - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety

Warner Brothers is going to American-ise this popular Japanese manga strip? Will they mess it up? (Probably!)

The Rewind: alphabetical evening (More ABC Live)

2009-04-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

The Rewind: alphabetical evening

This blog has some great photos on it as well as one video for The Look Of Love overture (not on the BBC2 Radio Broadcast) from the ABC "Look Of Love" concert. Additionally, this is the first site to have a posted a full set list (a couple ABC live rarities in there). Pictures of Go West (?!?), Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) and Tessa Niles can be found as well..