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Japanese anime and manga are deeply ingrained in Japanese pop culture. Their influence and popularity have reached other parts of the world, including the United States (e.g., Astro Boy and Dragon Ball Z).
The term “manga” refers to Japanese drawings or comics, many of which were created hundreds of years ago and remain popular to this day. “Anime” refers to Japanese animated cartoons. These are usually heavily influenced by manga themes and drawing styles.
The appearance of anime and manga characters is very distinct and recognizable. Humans are portrayed to have overly large eyes, tapered chins, and tousled hair. Anime and manga are so popular that they have inspired a variety of TV series, films, action figures, cosplay costumes, toys, and other forms of merchandise. Kotobuyika, a toy manufacturing company, makes exquisite action figures based on anime and manga characters.
Various Kotobuyika products:
At KCP, we have held several anime and manga seminars such as the manga drawing seminar last August. Now, we are pleased and excited to offer the Anime/Manga Summer Program, which focuses not just on the Japanese language but also on the impact of Japanese anime and manga on everyday life.
Visit our site at KCP Student Life to learn more about Japanese anime and manga or our main site to inquire about the Anime/Manga Summer Program.
Copyright information for Kotobuyika images :
(C) 高橋和希 スタジオ・ダイス／集英社・テレビ東京・ＮＡＳ
(C)2005-2012 Nitroplus/HOBIBOX
(C)SEGA
TM & © DC Comics.
WB SHIELD: TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s12)
(C)ANOHANA PROJECT
TM & (C) 2012 Marvel & Subs.
(C) EPE, REG. U.S.PAT & TM OFF
(C)1997-2012 FromSoftware, Inc. All rights reserved.
Tags: animé, anime and manga, Japanese anime, Japanese manga, KCP anima/manga course, KCP anime/manga summer program, manga
Posted in: Learning Japanese | Comments (0)
Tokyo’s Sumida River (隅田川) branches out from the Arakawa River at Iwabuchi and flows directly into Tokyo Bay. It passes through the Tokyo wards of Kita, Adachi, Arakawa, Sumida, Taito, Koto, and Chuo. The river meanders for 27 kilometers and runs under 26 bridges which are spaced about a kilometer per bridge. Some of the more popular bridges are the Ryogoku-bashi which was built in 1932, the Nihon-bashi that dates all the way back to the 17th Century, and the Tsukuda Bridge which was built in 196 (the first bridge built after WWII).
Sumida River at night | Ian Muttoo
The Sumida River was the original route for the trade and commerce industry, and it played a major part in the success of Tokyo. The best way to experience the allure and history of the Sumida River is by joining a river cruise, of which there are several options. The ride gives you a glimpse of the rich history of Japan’s diverse culture, and how the Japanese commerce and industry developed because of the river, making the city the center of a thriving trading port.
Although there are several places to begin the cruise, a great starting point would be the Hinode Pier on the Yurikamome line. You can take a scenic route to Asakusa and Sensoji Temple, and bask at the gorgeous sights as you pass by the Hamarikyu Japanese Gardens. Taking the Sumida River Line route will let you escape the hustle and bustle of city life and transport you back in time through the lush greenery and tranquil waters.
You can also explore the river by taking the Himiko Water Bus. This cruise can begin by showing you the old atmosphere of Edo along Asakusa and you can cap your day off by exploring the shops and amusement parks in Odaiba. The Himiko boats are constructed to look like futuristic vessels that allow you an unobstructed view through their large wall to wall windows. As the sun sets, the lights on the ship will add to the aura of mystique and enchantment.
Himiko Water Bus | jetalone
What to See Along the Sumida River
The river cruise will allow you to see some of the famous sights in Tokyo, such as the Tsukiji Fish Market, the Kokugikan, which is the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament Arena, and the Asahi beer headquarters. The Sumida River Fireworks Display, one of the most popular fireworks festivals in Japan, is held around the middle of every year and is not to be missed. It can be viewed downstream of Sakurabashi Bridge to upstream of Kototoibashi Bridge, and from downstream of Komagatabashi Bridge to upstream of Umayabashi Bridge.
Sumida River Fireworks Festival | localjapantimes
Tags: Himiko boat, Himiko Water Bus, Sumida River, Sumida River cruise, Sumida River Japan, Tokyo rive, Tokyo Sumida River
Posted in: Travel in Japan | Comments (0)
The concerts of Hatsune Miku (初音ミク) are very popular—thousands of fans flock to the spectacle of her shows and rave over her singing prowess. Her appearance is unique yet appealing, with her long bubblegum blue locks of hair and schoolgirl/spy attire. But it’s not just all this that makes her extraordinary.
Hatsune Miku is a singing synthesizer “application” developed by Crypton Future Media, using Yamaha Corporation’s Vocaloid 2 synthesizing technology. Voice samples were taken from Saki Fukita, a Japanese voice actress. Using these samples, developers created words, phrases, pitches, and tones through the synthesizing engine.
Click image above or this link— http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTXO7KGHtjI
When Hatsune Miku was first released in August 2007, it took Japan by storm and sales skyrocketed. The synthesizer tunes were not just catchy but the voice actually had an image, a persona created by Manga artist Kei Garō. Her color scheme and attire design were inspired by the Yamaha synthesizer’s cyan color and user interface. She even has an official personal data sheet by Crypton.
Hatsune Miku doll. | Danny Choo
Since her emergence in pop culture, Hatsune Miku has been depicted in various forms, from anime and manga series to dolls to cosplay.
2009 marked the debut of Hatsune Miku as a live concert performer. As a 3D hologram, she would wow a stadium full of screaming and singing fans, one concert after another. Her popularity reached world-wide status and one of her recent overseas performances was last July at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, USA, during the 2011 Anime Expo.
It can be a little creepy seeing so many people in adulation of a hologram . . . that’s at least a gut reaction from the YouTube video. One whole reason to go to a live performance–to really connect with the entertainer, in both directions–has suddenly melted away. Did any of you feel this when you watched the video?
The latest news about Hatsune Miku is that her videos are somehow being deleted in YouTube, instigated by a person or a group that are filing false copyright infringement complaints. Read here for more details.
Hatsune Mike cosplayer. | Nina Yasmine
Tags: Crypton Future Media, Hatsune Miku, Hatsune Miku concert, Hatsune Miku synthesizer application, Japanese 3D concert, Japanese 3D hologram, Japanese hologram, Vocaloid, Yamaha Vocaloid
Posted in: Trends | Comments (0)
Recently, KCP staff and students attended a sumo extravaganza. It was not a regular tourney, but an event in honor of the renowned sumo wrestler Futenno, who has retired and will become an Oyakata, a master of Sumo house.
Over a dozen culture class students went with Michiko-san to see the sumo spectacle. Extra tickets were also sold to other students, including continuing U.S. program students. They gathered at a station near the KCP campus at 10:30 am and took the subway and JR to go to Ryogoku. Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium is just 3 minutes from the station. Once there, they were greeted by sumo wrestlers (actually, they lined up in the entrance hall but could barely be seen since so many people tried to take pictures of and with them).
KCP students with a sumo wrestler. | KCP Flickr
The event included traditional ceremonies like cutting off the retired wrestler’s topknot. A small tournament was held between lower, middle, and higher ranked wrestlers. A regular tournament usually lasts 15 days: the champion is decided based on the number of winning games. In this commemorative event, people could see who won each match, but no champion was chosen.
In the cavernous sumo stadium. | KCP Flickr
The event, which started at 11:30 am and ended at around 4 pm, was broadcast live on the internet. Futenno was called “blogger sumo wrestler;” an internet broadcast of a sumo wrestler’s retirement event had happened before in the history of sumo.
Two sumo wrestlers begin the leg-stomping shiko ritual in the ring. | KCP Flickr
You can visit Futenno’s blog here, and read more about the event in a previous Window On Japan post.
Click here for more KCP photos about the spectacular sumo event!
Tags: Futenno, Futenno memorial event, Futenno sumo wrestler, KCP at sumo event, sumo, sumo wrestler, sumo wrestling, sumo wrestling ring
Posted in: Japanese Culture | Comments (0)
It’s been a week or so since the start of the term. As you can see in the photos below, the teachers are already in full-throttle! The photos were taken at 6 pm; even at that time there were still teachers and some students at school.
Deep in concentration, checking a student’s papers. | KCP Flickr
Students typically hang out in the student lounge to study and chat with friends. Meanwhile, teachers discuss schoolwork with their colleagues or correct students’ homework, compositions, quizzes, etc. Correcting the assignments of students is an important learning process for teachers. Whenever they see answers written by students that are different from what they expected to see, teachers try to analyze the thought patterns of students in those answers to figure out why or how they came to their answer. This analysis helps teachers refine their teaching skills so they can lead students to better understand their assignments.
KCP teachers discuss students’ assignments. | KCP Flickr
It’s common knowledge that teachers at KCP are highly committed to their students’ success. This is one of the characteristics of the KCP school culture—the very devoted teaching staff. They are all highly serious about getting students to gain proficiency in the Japanese language . . . . and highly playful occasionally, since playing is a great way to learn.
Looks like everyone’s getting a good grade! | KCP Flickr
Tags: KCP International teachers, KCP Japan teachers, KCP study abroad program, KCP teachers
Posted in: KCP Program | Comments (0)
One of the must-see spots in Tokyo is the Tokyo Imperial Palace (皇居). Also called Kōkyo, it is the main residence of Japan’s Imperial Family. Located in Chiyoda area, the Palace is composed of several interconnected buildings, including the main palace hall (Kyuden), function halls, and administrative offices. The grounds are a massive park with lush foliage and manicured lawns, surrounded by moats and huge stone walls.
View of Tokyo Imperial Palace from across the moat. |
Freakland – フリークランド
Early names and versions
The Imperial Palace is situated where the former Edo Castle used to stand. In October 1868, during the Meiji Restoration, the emperor moved his residence from Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Edo Castle, which was renamed Tokyo Castle, then changed again to Imperial Castle in 1869, Palace Castle in 1888, and finally (for now) the Imperial Residence in 1948.
Over the centuries, many old castle structures were either destroyed by fires and earthquakes or demolished to make way for newer buildings. On May 29, 1945, the Palace grounds took a huge blow during the Allied fire-bombing raid, which destroyed most of the structures. Less than two months after, August 15 marked the end of WWII when Emperor Showa (Hirohito) declared Japan’s surrender from the basement of the Palace library.
The Palace throne hall during the Meiji Era (destroyed during WWII).
Tokyo Imperial Palace Main Gate. | gwaar
Succeeding years witnessed the rebuilding of the palace, including the Kyuden and the gardens. Today, the grandeur and beauty of the Imperial Palace is well established. The palace buildings are generally closed to the public throughout the year except on December 23 (the Emperor’s birthday) and January 2 (New Year’s Greeting), when visitors can enter the inner palace grounds to listen to the emperor’s speech and pay their respects to the Imperial Family.
Gardens for everyone
Fortunately, the outer gardens are open to the public for most of the year. The East Garden is probably the most popular with its little bridges, grassy knolls, ponds, and flowering trees. Its gorgeous landscape reflects Japanese aesthetics. Most of the Palace’s administrative offices are located here, including the Imperial Tokagakudo Music Hall, the Archives, Mausolea Department Imperial Household Agency, and the Museum of the Imperial Collections.
Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden. | Augapfel
The outer gardens are open throughout the year except for Mondays, Fridays, and special occasions. You can also join a guided tour of the Palace (in Japanese, with an English pamphlet and audio guide). Don’t forget your camera when you visit! Make sure you have enough storage space in your memory card as well as fully charged batteries, because you will surely be shooting photos left and right.
Imperial Palace Guard Tower. | Stéfan
Tags: Imperial Family residence, Imperial Palace East Garden, Japanese imperial residence, Japanese major attraction, Japanese tourist attraction, Kokyo, Kyuden, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo palace
Posted in: Travel in Japan | Comments (1)
What do you get when you combine the Japanese’ unique fashion sense with their expertise in light technology? A whole lot of brilliant flashing lights used in most intriguing ways!
LED Teeth
Everyone knows that a smile can brighten up one’s face. But the Japanese have taken this concept a giant step further with one of their latest fads, the LED teeth. These are LED inserts placed on the teeth (similar to a mouth guard) which light up whenever you smile. These can be controlled by wireless remote and can even be made to blink or change color, from icy blue to wicked red.
click image or this link– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcaQ5QWHJlM
Also called a “party in the mouth”, flashing LED teeth on a bunch of young ladies is quite a sight to behold!
Dekotora Trucks
Huge trucks are hard to miss as they travel on the road but Dekotora trucks (デコトラ) are impossible to ignore. “Dekotora” is short for “Decoration Truck” and when you see one of these, especially at night, its image will probably be seared in your brain. These trucks are pimped up with all kinds of colorful flashing lights, looking like casinos on wheels.
Dazzling Dekotora trucks | Viernest
click image or this link– http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mKsx59XbDN0
I can’t wait to see what fascinating fad the Japanese will come up with next!
Tags: Dekotora, Dekotora trucks, Japanese fads, LED teeth
Posted in: Japanese Culture | Comments (0)
Asakusa Hanayashiki (浅草花やしき) first opened as a flower park in Tokyo in 1853, when US Navy Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry visited Japan in the latter part of the Edo period (1603-1867). Nowadays, Asakusa Hanayashiki is known to be the oldest amusement park in Japan. It houses 20 types of attractions and eateries. It also has a wide selection of souvenir shops and other stores.
Asakusa Hanayashiki | Harry Vale
The Japanese term “hanayashiki” refers originally to public flower gardens (“hana” means “flower”). The transformation of the hanayashi from a flower garden to an amusement park began in the Meiji Period (1868-1912). It was fully developed between 1887-1896 by Yamamoto Kinzo, who was a lumber dealer and the manager of the park.
Various structures and facilities contributed to the park’s rise in popularity. In 1888, a pavilion 5 stories high, called “Ozankaku” was considered a skyscraper by the public and was a main attraction.
Other must-see attractions were the diorama galleries (created in 1889) which depicted various historical scenes, a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel, theatres for movies and plays, exotic animals, and dolls made of chrysanthemum flowers.
In 1923, during the Great Kanto earthquake, most of these structures collapsed and the amusement park was in shambles.
Asakusa-Hanayashiki after Great Kanto earthquake
Fortunately, the park was rebuilt and is currently fully functioning. It is operated by Hanayashiki Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings. It still draws in a good number of customers every year and has several thrilling modern rides such as the DISK’O and the Space Shot. It also operates the oldest roller coaster in Japan, and a Japanese-style haunted house.
The amusement park at night | the_toe_stubber
Tags: Asakusa, Asakusa Hanayashiki, hanayashiki flower garden, oldest amusement park Japan
Posted in: Travel in Japan | Comments (0)
For any business to be a success, one of the key tactics is the free exchange of ideas that can provide improvement. Nemawashi (根回し) is a Japanese process being implemented by numerous companies to arrive at a consensus. It is a subtle alternative approach to the Western-style business meeting which can publicly display a clash of opinions.
In English, the term “nemawashi” means “going around the roots.” It comes from the word “ne (根)”, which means “root” and “mawasu (回す)” which means “ to go around (something)”. The term originally and literally meant the act of digging around the roots of a tree so that it could be transplanted.
Business meeting | Robert Salzalone
Nemawashi consists of a conversation, either in small key groups, or one-on-one, to minimize the show of public conflicts. It can begin with someone who has a proposal he wants to share, and who will then seek out the decision-makers in the company to get their opinion. This could be tricky since in a Japanese company, there are several people that take into account the decision-making process that will impact a business. There could be no specific person whose voice weighs more than the others. For the nemawashi strategy to work, there must be a number of nemawashi meetings with small groups of people until all concerns have been covered, and core aspects have been established.
Nemawashi meetings can either be formal or informal. One can either bring up a conversation in an elevator, or during lunch, or in a social gathering. It can also have been planned beforehand to discuss a certain agenda.
The main goal of nemawashi is to give one’s point of view regarding a proposal or idea, and to get feedback and suggestions from people that you are doing the nemawashi with. Based on the feedback gathered, you can then further refine your proposal or no longer pursue it based on the gathered consensus.
You can learn more about the practice of nemawashi by attending KCP International’s 4-week Summer course on Business. It aims to help students who are interested in developing Japanese business acumen to further their careers. To learn more this new course, visit our KCP website.
Tags: Japanese business, Japanese business practices, Japanese culture, nemawashi
Posted in: KCP Program | Comments (0)
This winter break, KCP-USA student Brennen Kendall and some friends headed for the snowy slopes of Niigata Prefecture for some thrills on the ice.
Niigata is situated on Honshū island, on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It is known for its high production of cut lilies, tulips, and azaleas, although these colorful and gorgeous flowers were hard to spot in the wild, especially under the heavy blanket of snow.
KCP’s adventurers took a night bus to go to Niigata from Tokyo, and this was quite a long ride. They left at 11:00 PM and the bus reached Niigata at 6:00 AM the next morning. That’s 7 hours!
The trip was well worth it, though, and our students have pictures to prove it.
All bundled up and ready for some winter fun. Brrr-ing it on! | KCP Flickr
Warming up by snowboarding on the slope while surrounded by snowflakes. | KCP Flickr
Snow-laden trees nearly frozen in the chilly air. Can’t get much colder than this! | KCP Flickr
Tags: Brennen Kendall, Honshu, Niigata Prefecture, Niigata trip, Sea of Japan, snowboarding at Niigata
Posted in: Travel in Japan | Comments (0)
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