tobeASIAN - your daily dose of Asian life.

This Week’s Link

Sukai — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:21:30 +0000

This Week’s Link is about an old school classic anime - Cowboy Bebop, and what this wonderful anime has taught us about life and love. I have to say, my favourite has to be the classic line: Life is nothing but a dream.

So what have you learnt from Cowboy Bebop?

Weekly Brief

Sukai — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:09:54 +0000

~ The ‘0th Volume’ to be given to moviegoers of the One Piece Film Strong World will be animated into an “episode 0″! However, episode 0 will only be released on 3,000 limited edition DVDs. [ANN]

~ Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010‘ List has included Asian cities like Singapore and Kyoto as Top cities to visit! [msnbc]

~ It appears that preference in anime genres among males and females have reversed as a survey by Otakuma has placed K-on as the most popular male anime series and Gundam for the ladies! [AnimeNation]

~ It’s official! Gintama and Haruhi Suzumiya are confirmed to have their own animated films in 2010. They sure like milking the Haruhi franchise. [ANN]

~ Olympic condoms issued by the Chinese government to their athletes are getting auctioned! The package is printed with the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger. I wonder how the auction will go… [Shanghaiist]

~ A survey on the most popular seiyuu (voice actor) in Japan has resulted in the seiyuu for Doraemon (Nobuyo Ōyama) coming in first with Kenshiro’s (Akira Kamiya) and Goku’s (Masako Nozawa) seiyuu coming in 2nd and 3rd. [AnimeVice]

~ In another survey (so many this week) on the Top 20 Freeloading Anime/Manga characters people want to live with, the results has placed Doraemon (dominating the list this week), Korosuke and Lum Invader in the top 3. [gigazine]

That’s the week in Asia! (I’ve been busy with exams lately, Weekly Briefs will be back on schedule next week.)

Picture courtesy of LeSean (THUNDERCATS: HOLY SNAPZ)

One Piece, Chapter 563: One Heart, One Man

Soulboy and Sukai — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:52:09 +0000

Can Moria’s smile get any bigger?

You can download chapter 563 here, or read online here.

Summary:
Cover page – Chopper sharing some cotton candy with swallows (with chapters this good, who cares about filler cover pages!)

Right where we left off – Whitebeard stabbed!

Luffy, the pirates, the Shichibukais, the whole Grand Line are stunned!

In a blink of an eye, Marco subdues Squad and demands an explanation. It’s revealed that Akainu told Squad that the whole war was a trap and that Whitebeard was exchanging his allies life for those of his own crew and for Ace’s.

Just before the whole scheme is disclosed, Aokiji freezes and destroys the last visuals den den mushi.

As Crocodile lets out a roar at Whitebeard’s weakness, Whitebeard embraces Squad and ask that he befriend Ace once more.

He destroys the ice enclosing the pirates just before charging into battle himself and commands the pirates to choose to run or fight with him!

The world’s strongest man is about to strike!

(more…)

My Neighbour Totoro ED

Sukai — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:13:16 +0000

Post of Awesomeness:

This week’s post of awesomeness will take you on a trip down memory lane with the simple yet beautiful ending theme of My Neighbour Totoro. I loved that movie, and this piece of music just reminds me of those simpler times of my childhood. I hope it does the same for you, or am I getting too sentimental here…

Regardless, go ahead and enjoy this light-hearted tune and hopefully it’ll lighten your mood as well, like all the Studio Ghibli films has done for me.

This Week’s Link

Sukai — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:43:15 +0000

This Week’s Link is about parenting and, wait for it… …NINJAS! What do you get when you combine the two hardest profession known to man?

Isn’t that the sweetest and most demented thing you’ve seen all week?

Weekly Brief

Sukai — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:33:07 +0000

~ Always wanted those Saiyan power scouters? NEC has developed it! But, instead of reading power levels, this wearable optical device will interpret foreign languages and projects the translation directly onto your retina for you to read! [Pink Tentacle]

~ Over at IGN, they have written up an article on who they reckon is the Top 25 Anime Characters of All Time, the list is fairly decent with Goku taking the top spot! [IGN]

~ If you’ve ever wondered what ancient Japan looks like, in colour, and in 3D, then wonder no more! You can now gaze upon these mesmerising photos by T. Enami, a Japanese photographer that lived from 1859-1929. [Pink Tentacle]

~ Get ready peeps! The internet is about to get a lot bigger as internet regulators plan to allow non-Latin-script web addresses which will include Chinese, Arabic and many other scripts! [BBC]

~ It’s Halloween this week! And what better way to celebrate it then to watch how differently the Japanese and Americans celebrate it! [Japan Probe]

~ Two big news on film trailers this week! The Eden to the East trailer has just come out, and the 2nd One Piece Strong World trailer has also just been released!

~ If you live in or near San Francisco, then rejoice! The 2nd Gurren Lagann movie, called The Lights In The Sky Are Stars will have an American premiere there on November 17 and 18! [ANN]

That’s the week in Asia!

Picture courtesy of aki (Halloween)

One Piece, Chapter 562: Pirate Vortex Spider Squad

Soulboy and Sukai — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:21:21 +0000

Talk about total annihilation…

You can download chapter 562 here, or read online here.

Summary:
Cover page – Cute little ducks forming a line behind Robin. Another filler cover page.

The Pacifista army proceeds with encircling the pirates and are met with little resistance. The pirates are then forced to push forward.

Luffy, who is already charging towards Ace is stopped by Admiral Kizaru. However, Whitebeard’s very capable division captains comes to support him.

As the pirates push forward, the marines decide to fall back and regroup, this leads to the other Shichibukai also retreating for the moment.

The marines continue to try to cut the media feeds while all this is happening, but Buggy’s men have made their job more difficult by stealing one to promote Buggy’s reputation to the rest of the Grand Line.

Meanwhile the pirates continue their assault, Squad finally shows up. As both Squad and Whitebeard prepares to head into battle too…

Squad stabs Whitebeard in the stomach!

(more…)

Post Of Awesomeness

Sukai — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:04:36 +0000

Ping Pong Fighters

What do you get when you merge the two most competitive sport from Asia? You get Ping Pong Fighters! The guy with the nun-chuck reminded me of Bruce Lee in that Nokia commercial.

I just love the exaggerated swings, lack of clothing, and absurd ball trajectories. I’ll have to try those moves out the next time I play some table tennis… or Street Fighters.

This Week’s Link

Sukai — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:41:00 +0000

This Week’s Link is a parody of the Death Note Nintendo DS game. Good thing the Japanese didn’t make a real one, or else we’ll have to many kiras running around and not enough Ls to fight them!

This reminds me, have you guys noticed that Death Note is leading our best anime series of the decade poll? It’s a good series, but I still think Gurren Lagann and Code Geass would give it a run for its money.

How would you like to be the God of the new world?

Weekly Brief

Sukai — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:14:49 +0000

~ Oda knows how to spoil his fans. Japanese moviegoers to this year’s One Piece Film: Strong World will receive a 0th Volume that is based on the events of One Piece 20 years ago! [ANN]

~ Chinese men have invaded Sweden after the Chinese news agency, Xinhua ‘reported’ the existence of a city in the Northern Swedish woods where 25,000 women do as they desire there. [thenextweb]

~ The trailer for Macross Frontier The Movie: The False Songstress has been released as the film itself will hit the silver screens on the 21st of November. [DannyChoo]

~ The upcoming FIFA 2010 video game by EA will feature a secret team of legends that includes: Obama, Bush, Mandela, Koizumi, and Hatoyama. What a line-up! [<3yen]

~ Here’s a question to think about: What kind of hair colour do you think the Japanese prefer in their partners? Apparently, blondes aren’t all that desired. [WhatJapanThinks]

That’s the week in Asia!

Picture courtesy of yuumei (Reunion)
Note: Expect less posts for the next couple of weeks since I’ll be busy with a very important quest.