Fuji Film’s instant camera “Cheki” series will add new Kawaii models on July 19: “Kiki & Lala” and “Rilakkuma”. Cheki is an instant camera that you can print out the picture on a business card sized film (5.4 x 8.6cm) right after you take it.
On the same day, special “Kiki & Lala” and “Rilakkuma” designed films for Cheki will be released.
Price: Open price Models: Cheki – instax mini 8 Kiki & Lala, instax mini 25 Rilakkuma
On June 8, 2013, the “AKB48 General Election” took place in Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. This was the 5th year of the election and was broadcast live for 4 hours on national TV. For the top 16 ranked girls, there is a spot to be part of the group’s upcoming 32nd single.
For those who do not know what “AKB48″ and the “AKB48 General Election” are, let me explain a bit about them…
AKB48 is currently the most popular girl idol group in Japan. It’s named after Akihabara, famous for a subculture of techie stuff, manga, idols, anime and gaming – the center of Otaku Japan. AKB48 have their own theater and even after they started to appear on media a lot, popular members still perform in the small theater. For this reason, people call them “idols you can meet”. AKB48 consists of nearly 100 girls and they also have sister groups in other cities in Japan and even outside of Japan. Below are the current sister groups of AKB48:
SKE48 – Sakae, Aichi prefecture NMB48 – Namba, Osaka prefecture HKT48 – Hakata, Fukuoka prefecture JKT48 – Jakarta, Indonesia SNH48 – Shanghai, China TPE48 – Taipei, Taiwan
So, this weekend’s “AKB48 General Election” was for their fans to decide the top 16 girls who will make up the ensemble that will sing the group’s 32nd single. The name of the single has yet to be announced (and probably is still being written) – the reason for this is that the single will be made and tailored to fit the singing and dancing skills (or lack of skills…) of the group of 16 girls.
So who was voting this weekend? AKB48 fans could acquire the right to vote by buying the latest AKB48 single or registering/buying related services. Once they have the right to vote, each AKB48 otaku can support their “Oshimen” (the girl who you give your support to).
Getting the most votes and securing a top ranking is extremely important for AKB48 members and their fans, because the higher a girl’s ranking, the more media exposure she will receive. The girls in the top 16 will get by far the most TV time and the #1 ranked girl will always be at the center of the group.
So it is so important for fans that their “oshimen” get a high ranking – because they will be able to see more of her cute smile on TV and promotional events for the next year – and a lot of attention is given each year to see which girls will be most popular and who will get the #1 spot.
And so, the pundits discussed the chances of each of the girls, the favorites were analyzed, fond memories from past singles and past AKB events were discussed, and the results were revealed.
When the results of the election came in, the winner was a surprise! It was Rino Sashihara, 20, who got 150,570 votes, winning first place over many other popular girls including perennial favorite, Yuko Oshima, 24, the previous #1, who has had unshakable popularity and who had competed for the top of the group with former #1, Atsuko Maeda, 21, who left the group last year.
Rino Sashihara had been ranked #9 last year, but her ascendency to #1 was a big surprise because she had been transferred to sister group, HKT48, during a scandal last year amid revelations that she had an ex-boyfriend. AKB48 members are prohibited to have boyfriends, but because this was something that happened in the past, she was able to remain popular with her fans.
Another surprise happened that night, when one of the original AKB members, Mariko Shinoda, 27, who finished with a #5 ranking, revealed that she will leave AKB48 for good after receiving her ranking.
Something else that the election showed was that AKB48 is currently in a transition of popularity to the next generation of younger members.
AKB48 sells a considerable number of CDs and goods in an age when CDs don’t sell so some say that their popularity affects the economy of Japan…
The announcement of the #1 ranking for Rino Sashihara on live national TV…
It’s Golden week in Japan, an important holiday for the Nihongo population to take it easy. Not many companies are working during this week, offering their employees the time for a well deserved holiday out or to catch up watching the latest movies, go shopping or become a couch potato and get their anime or game-mode on.
This week is a particularly special one on the Oricon music charts, first we’ll give you the top 5 selling singles of this week and do the explaining below:
LinQ – チャイムが終われば (LinQ – Ring when you’re finished)
福山雅治 – 誕生日には真白な百合を／Ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅ ｇｒｏｏｖｅ (Fukuyama Masaharu – The birthday of a pure white lily)
Tamura Yukari – Fantastic future
First one is Morning Musume, the girls pop group that started out in 97 as “your average Idol group” turned over the Japanese charts. They’ve been dominating all these years (holding the second highest overall single sales on the Oricon charts as of February 2012), have their own TV show and show no signs to give up that throne any time soon.
Second is ClariS (J-Pop high school girls duo), with the single “Reunion”. Happens to be the opening track from the highly anticipated 2nd season of the Animated series: Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai (My little sister can’t be this cute). The Anime is currently aired on Japanese television, currently at around 1/3 of its 12 episode run.
Third is LinQ, a relatively new girls band consisting of 33 members. Founded in 2011, LinQ is supposed to be short for LoveInQ. In essence a “higher voltage” Kyushu offspring for the AKB phenomena. Their song isn’t particularly related to any series, however recommended to give it a little youtube search as it will give you a summer/happy feeling.
Fourth, Fukuyama-san. The smoother song in this top 5, it aims more towards the soft-rock crowd. Strong lyrics and a well balanced tune give away why this single turned out such a big seller.
And last but not least, nr5! Tamura Yukari with “Fantastic future”, the solo J-pop girl has aced it with their new single. It’s the opening song for the Animated series: Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko, an Anime focussing on the life of a perverted individual and his girlfriend who try to combat his “condition”. Tamura happens to be the voice actress for the role of Tsutsukakushi, Tsukushi (the coach of the sports team of the high school represented in the Animated series). Definitely a tune that’ll stay in your head, very catchy!
Mister Donut is currently collaborated with HELLO KITTY and selling cute “misdo HELLO KITTY” donuts and cupcakes with Kitty-chan’s bow. Several kinds of HELLO KITTY donuts and cupcakes on a stick are available for a limited time until April 30.
Popular “air-band” Golden Bomber is featured in a recent commercial for this promotion:
“Hietama-chan” by Takara Tomy Arts is not just a colorful egg. They are 3 brothers and 3 sisters supporting you to save energy from inside of your refrigerator. When you open your fridge, Hietama-chan starts telling you “You’re wasting of energy!” or “Please close the door soon!” Some people, especially kids and husbands, need these reminders to be quick when the refrigerator door is open! If multiple egg brothers and sisters get together, they sing …
Thought the holidays were over? So did we. Imagine our surprise, then, when we returned to the office to find one last, special package lying in wait: Mad CatzStreet Fighter x Sanrio Arcade Fightstick Pro. As ridiculous explosions of cute go, this one takes the sugoku kawaii cake — even the box is a Hello Kitty collector’s wet dream. Obvious overall otaku appeal aside, Xbox 360 gamers interested in the Fightstick Pro will find an eight button “authentic Japanese-style Sanwa Denshi” layout, switches for button lock / unlock and three joystick configuration settings (d-pad, left or right analog stick), turbo functionality, as well as a headphone jack upfront and a storage compartment housing the 13-foot long USB cable around back. Really though, no amount of English words will do this kitsch item justice. So check out the gallery below for a photo tour of this adorable collision of anime worlds.
For all the Hello Kitty fans out there, a new collaboration with Swarovski has been set in stone. Unlike plenty of knockoff jewelry this rainbow set silver ring is an officially endorsed Hello Kitty product. Definitely a collectors item or to give away during the holiday period.
ENLIGHTENED™ – Swarovski Elements (エンライテンド Swarovski エレメンツ) material: Stone ⇒ ENLIGHTENED™ – Swarovski Elements Cue BIC zirconia (CZ) Main body ⇒ SILVER 925 (rhodium coated)
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