#NHK World TV

[nordic-language-love]

Started watching Fill In The Blanks on NHK World with subtitles and omg it’s soooo good!

[sugar-hearts]

I'm thinking about how much of a shame it is that TV shows like Kawaii International and Tokyo Fashion Express don't exist anymore.

I understand it was because individual fashion influencers can post their content at any time. Ultimately, TV productions just couldn't keep up.

But.. I don't want to follow individual influencers. I'm not so interested in the specific people that wear the clothes; I just want to follow all Japanese fashion trends. One person (or even a selection of individual influencers) can't wear all the clothes from all the styles. And they're mostly on Instagram and Twitter, which are apps I hate using.

I do keep up with Tokyo Fashion photographs and their YouTube videos, and it does help with following along, but it's obviously not quite the same.

I guess I'll just have to accept that niche will remain unfilled, and resign myself to subscribing to jfashion influencers on YouTube.

[inkichan]

YouTube Channels for Kids by JLPT Levels

(⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ resources

こんにちは, Japanese learners! Learning a language is an exciting adventure, isn't it? To add a spark of joy to your Japanese learning journey, here's a collection of YouTube channels tailored for kids. Organized by JLPT levels, these channels offer a blend of education and entertainment for learners at different stages. Keep in mind, though, that JLPT levels aren't an exact science like math – language learning can be subjective in terms of difficulty. However, these resources provide a fantastic starting point and a fun way to explore the world of Japanese language and culture. Let's hop into this delightful world of animated learning and playful discoveries!

Friendly reminder to adjust your way of learning in order to make the most of what you're studying to reach the goal you truly want! read my post about it (ᵔ◡ᵔ)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N 5 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Curious George (N5 level)

— Japanese folk tales/anime series (Japanese audio/Japanese subtitles) from BomBom Academy (N5 level)

— Peppa Pig (N5-4 level)

— Anpanman (N5-4 level)

— NHK education (N5-4 level)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N4 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Cinnamon Roll, Sanrio (N4 level)

— [Anime] Atashin'chi (N4-3 level)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N3 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Sesame Street Japan (N3 level)

— Chibi Maruko Chan (N3-2 level)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N2 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Precure (N2 level)

またね～@inkichan

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴﹕꒰ ᐢ｡- ༝ -｡ᐢ ꒱﹕╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

[yurimother]

Live-Action 'She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat' Drama Adaptation Gets Second Season

On Monday, NHK announced that its live-action drama adaptation of Sakaomi Yuzaki's slice of life Yuri Manga She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat (Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna) is getting a sequel. The new series will have 20 total episodes, an increase from the first season's 10-episode run, and premiere in early 2024.

She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat is based on Sakaomi Yuzaki's manga of the same name. It follows neighbors Nomoto, who likes to cook to destress, and Kasuga, who loves to eat. The two women bond over their shared love of food and slowly develop a more intimate relationship.

NHKs announcement makes She Loves to Cook and She Love to Eat the first program in the Networks "YoruDora" drama block to get a sequel. It will air Monday through Thursday at 10:45 pm.

Leads Manami Higa and Emi Nishino are set to reprise their roles as Nomoto and Kasuga, respectively. They will be joined by, as of yet, unannounced newcomers as new characters Yako and Nagumo from the original series' third volume.

The first season was broadcast from November to December last year. It was directed by Yui Matsusaki and Niroyuki Nakata, with script writing by Yuri Yamada, and music by Gorou Itou. The staff is also returning for the second season.

The manga's creator commented on the announcement, saying, "It's an honor just to have my work made into a drama. But I am extremely humbled to have it be the first in the block to have a sequel produced..." They went on to say, "I want to sit in front of the TV not just as the original author, but also as a fan and viewer. I'm really looking forward to it!

Both lead actors also commented on the announcement, expressing their excitement about the second season and the opportunity to reprise their roles and work alongside the crew again. Translations of their full comments are below.

Scriptwriter Yuri Yamada teased the contents of the upcoming second season, "In Season 2, we are increasing the elements of the original drama. What will happen to Nomoto's affection for Kasuga, will there be any progress in their relationship, and what sort of dishes will they eat together this time? We hope you look forward to it."

The original She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat manga is serialized digitally by ASCII Media Works' as part of its COMIC It label. Yen Press licenses the series in English and is scheduled to release the third volume on October 17, 2023.

You can check out She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat volume 1 and 2 digitally and in paperback today: https://amzn.to/3qFrgtE

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

Full comments from Manami Higa (Nomoto):

A sequel has been announced!! Of course Nomoto loves cooking, but there is only a sense of accomplishment when there are other people to eat the delicious food. It's the same in the world of entertainment, and it is because there are so many people supporting us that we can create something worthwhile. We are happy to share it with you. In addition to Emi Nishino, who played Kasuga-san and because a close personal friend after we worked together on the previous season, new cast members will be joining us this time. I'm so looking forward to meeting them and to delivery the sequel to you.

Full comments from Emi Nishio (Kasuga):

I'm home! I am Emi Nishio. Continuing on from the previous season, I will be appearing as Kasuga. I was overjoyed when I got the news about the decision to produce a second season. I am so grateful that I'll be able to continue. Thank you very much. I'm really looking forward to working with Manami Higa, who plays the main character, and everyone I love from the She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat team. I'm excited to imagine how the story will progress and what new friends we will meet. It is the first sequel in the night drama block, and I'm very happy to say it is also the first "sequel" in my life. I value the opportunity and will focus to face Kasuga-san with new feeling. I hope to second season of She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat can reach many people.

Sources: Mantan Web, Cinema Cafe

[putschki1969]

Kajiura Yuki "Magia" - NHK WORLD-JAPAN Music Festival

Yesterday, 「NHK WORLD-JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL」 was broadcast on Japanese TV so a lot of promotion was happening on social media. For a while, #Kalafina even managed to trend on Twitter.

Back in November, the festival was broadcast on the NHK World website/app. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the snippet of "Magia" on the official NHK World-Japan YouTube Channel. Download the full event HERE.

Tweet by Keiko | Instagram story by Keiko

[the-corvus-luna]

The Tsubasa Chronicle 'Problem'

No eye, no heart, no time, no feathers, and..... no show.

It's April 9th, 2005, 6:30 p.m. BLAZE blares loudly on the TV while you sit in a dimly lit room, slurping whatever instant ramen you could find. You catch the faint silhouettes of familiar characters from Cardcaptor Sakura, looking a bit older, along with a few new faces you don't recognize yet... a new journey, a new world.

CLAMP's Multidimensional Masterpiece.

The legendary Yuki Kajiura's compositions bring the story to life. "Song of Storm and Fire" sparks that electric feeling of excitement and tension just before Syaoran kicks into battle. Eri Itou’s breathy voice floats delicately, much like Sakura’s own feathers, adding a sense of ethereal beauty. The animation is fluid and action-packed, just as you'd expect from Bee Train.

What the hell happened? How did an internationally successful anime with 2 seasons, 1 movie, and 2 OVA's that leave the story incomplete.... what the hell?!

To find out to get the full story, you have to read the manga?!

Was it just bad like this guy's review suggests?

Is it really... a bad... anime?

Let's go on a journey about how censorship ruins everything, a broadcasting company's unreasonable demands, and a group of stubborn artists who refuse to have their story modified.

First off, based on my basic research, Japanese TV shows don't have to comply with rating laws like in the US. Before any US show airs, you usually see a rating in the top left corner—common ones for kids’ shows are Y7, meaning they’re appropriate for children 7 years or older. The US rating for Tsubasa Chronicle was TV-PG. But if you know anything about this series, it’s definitely not TV-PG... more like TV-14, and maybe even TV-MA at certain points, depending on your tolerance for darker themes.

Tsubasa Chronicle originally showed on NHK-E, an educational channel, alongside a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen...

While Japan might not have a formal TV rating system, it’s probably safe to assume that NHK would prioritize age-appropriate content. Ultimately, it’s NHK’s decision what airs on their network. For example, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (which, unsurprisingly, isn’t shown on any NHK network) airs around 11:00 p.m. The later time slot allows for more graphic content without much concern.

I can hear you screaming from the void, "TSUBASA CHRONICLE ISN'T EDUCATIONAL!" And honestly, if you’ve watched the anime, it’s not educational in the traditional sense... unless you count four people learning how to cope with massive amounts of trauma in various forms.

But Cardcaptor Sakura was kid-friendly… and someone who looks just like her stars in Tsubasa.

Magic Knight Rayearth was so educational it's anime was funded by a government grant!

I think NHK was expecting them to adapt the anime to be more 'educationally friendly' due to other properties they worked on... joke's on NHK, though.

The first issue I remember hearing was how NHK wanted to censor all alcohol references from Tsubasa.

From this interview from 2005 at around the 9:30 mark, we get to have a rare look at their art studio/research library and most important, the bar. Alcohol is a part of their creative process, and based on the KyotoHoLiC collaboration with traditional sake brewers, it means they have no intention to hide their passion for relaxation... not for NHK or anyone.

Second issue, graphic imagery. When the anime came out, the manga was only to volume chapter 66 - chapter 73 (Tsubasa Onmibus Vol 4)...literally 3 pages into the next chapter is the start of the graphic imagery that eventually leads into violent fights, lots of blood, and death by the end of the series. That's assuming that NHK didn't get a sneak peak at what the story was going to become.

For people who've read the Omnibus, to goes from Piffle World to Recourt to the 'Acid Wasteland'... quite the tone shift when NHK picked up this anime for a kid friendly educational show.

That's why Tsubasa Chronicle was canceled, or at least my general theory. Sadly there's no official reason for the cancelation. CLAMP did run Kobato on NHK-E in 2009, so the censorship and eventual cancelation didn't not burn the bridge between them.

Sadly, NHK did cancel a show that was not only getting a following internationally but also had it's own international merchandise sold at retailers! I will always treasure my US Mokona Modoki Soel plush, matching backpack, and Fai's Staff necklace.

Don't forget, even Gaia Online even had a huge promotional event where players had to track down Sakura's feathers alongside other promotional events such as Magic the Gathering and Hollywood produced movies... and that was in 2007, after the anime series was already cancelled, never able to reach the conclusion.

Do yourself a favor and I'd suggest reading this manga if you loved the anime back in the day, but know that the lighthearted whimsy and sweetness of the anime is a palate cleanser for what NHK deemed they could not put on TV.

I found an unsubstantiated rumor on the fandom page about how the S2 opening was already storyboarded in Character Guide Vol 2., but NHK made them re-do it. I'm trying to track down that PDF so figure out what they cut, but it's a difficult one to find.

I did find a short of someone thumbing through their Japanese copy.

Holy shit! That's the scene in CLAMP in Wonderland 2 that's eluded to, but we never see play out in the anime. NHK made them get rid of their weapons for boxing with shadows? I guess Sakura's image also had to be 'softened' too. Ick.

[pochqmqri]

It is now May and we still haven't heard anything about the adult Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure! sequel that is supposed to air sometime this year. Nothing official or direct has been said about it since the initial announcement over a year ago, but despite that, there have been some bits of information we can piece together about it.

To start off, let's look at the initial announcement back in March 2023. To celebrate the Pretty Cure franchise's 20th anniversary, Toei Animation announced that they would be producing two sequel PreCure anime for adult audiences.

The first one was Kibou no Chikara ~Otona PreCure '23~/Power of Hope ~PreCure Full Bloom~, which was a sequel to the first five PreCure seasons, but primarily Yes! Pretty Cure 5 and Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo! It aired on NHK-E in Fall 2023 for 12 episodes, and was streamed internationally on Crunchyroll.

The second one was tentatively titled "Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure! 2," obviously a sequel to the 13th season of the same name. It was said to air sometime in 2024 on the late night ANiMAZiNG!!!! block. And that's all we ever heard about it since.

ANiMAZiNG!!!!

Let's look at what ANiMAZiNG!!!! actually is. It's an anime programming block from 2:00-2:30AM on Sundays created by the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation with TV Asahi; these networks are the ones responsible for airing PreCure in Japan every Sunday at 8:30AM, so it's familiar territory. ANiMAZiNG!!!! started in October 2020.

Notable anime that aired on this block include: Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie, The Maid I Hired Recently Is Mysterious, The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!, SK8 the Infinity, Iwa-Kakeru! Sport Climbing Girls, I Shall Survive Using Potions!, and Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement.

A 2:00AM slot for PreCure is quite interesting, as even OtonaPre aired on NHK-E as late as Saturday 6:30PM. Despite this, the anime that airs on this block usually isn't too "adult," i.e violent or sexual, so I don't expect MahoPre2 to be anything of the sort. Similarly, the recent Tokyo Mew Mew New aired around midnight, and it wasn't out of the ordinary in terms of content.

With the exception of the Jahy anime, the anime that airs on this block usually does for just one cour, i.e. it has about 11-12 episodes and takes up one seasonal anime slot. We can assume that MahoPre will also have 12 episodes, not just because of this, but also because that was the same amount OtonaPre had. Relatedly, since MahoPre2 is airing on a different network than OtonaPre did, I also think that MahoPre2, when it gets an official title, is probably not going to be under the "Otona" label. OtonaPre aired on NHK-E, the "E" standing for education, and thus was heavily tied in to topics such as climate change and SDGs, of which I don't see MahoPre2 focusing on as much given it will air on a different network that doesn't have such an educational slant (see the other anime that usually airs on ANiMAZiNG!!!!).

At this point in time, the Winter 2024 anime season has long since concluded, and the Spring 2024 season is currently ongoing. So, we know what anime has aired/is airing on ANiMAZiNG!!!! this year so far, but we also have information on a few anime that will air later in the year too, so let's paint a schedule:

The Strongest Tank's Labyrinth Raids — Jan 7 - Mar 24 (Winter 2024)

Tonari no Yokai-san — Apr 7 - TBA (Spring 2024)

??? (Summer 2024)

The Healer Who was Banished From His Party is Actually the Strongest — Starts Oct (Fall 2024)

All of the seasonal slots for ANiMAZiNG!!! this year, except for Summer, have been filled up, and none of them include MahoPre2. On the official site, the poster for the upcoming Summer season is just a blank "Coming Soon." I find it surprising in the case of the Fall slot, because I was expecting MahoPre2 to air there, as OtonaPre also aired in the Fall last year. Based on this information and lack thereof so far, one can assume that MahoPre2 will be airing in the Summer, but doesn't that seem a little strange?

The Summer anime season usually starts in July, and that's two months away now, so why have we gotten basically no official information on the anime yet, not even a proper title or a few visuals? Despite the fact that OtonaPre aired in October last year, we got a peek at the first visual about a week after the initial announcement in March, followed by a moderately paced reel of information throughout the year. Looking at the other non-PreCure anime on ANiMAZiNG!!!!, Strongest Tank was officially announced back in October 2023 (three months prior to airing), Yokai-san was officially announced back in November 2023 (five months prior to airing), [insert overtly long isekai title] was announced earlier this year in January (9 months prior to airing), so MahoPre2 definitely stands out in its lack of information at this late of a stage. Even so, I can't think of any other anime that would be taking the Summer slot at this point in time. There's also the possibility that Yokai-san runs for a second cour, but usually anime that airs on ANiMAZiNG!!! only run for one season, and Yokai-san's original manga concluded with 4 volumes and one side story, which is generally enough content to fit one cour.

So, what can we expect in the coming weeks/months? The first thing is, like most PreCure anime, a logo/title drop in the Japanese trademark office. Just a day before the initial announcement of OtonaPre, the logo was recorded in the office, so it's likely that whenever the MahoPre2 title drops, an official reveal will follow shortly.

What Rie Takahashi said

Another bit of information comes from Rie Takahashi, the voice actress for MahoPre's Mirai /Cure Miracle, on her radio show with fellow voice actress and friend, Reina Ueda (who coincidentally voices Mayu/Cure Lillian in the current Wonderful Pretty Cure!). For the episode uploaded on February 19 earlier this year, she talks a bit about MahoPre2, how it's airing sometime in 2024, and that they're excited for it, that this year is going to be a great one, no new information really, but it's probably the most recent information we've gotten from an official source, albeit a reconfirmation of what we already know.

Somewhat relatedly, the Kamikita twins, who draw the seasonal PreCure manga adaptations every year, posted a tweet earlier this year in January asking if there was anymore news on MahoPre2, which seems to indicate that, even to them at that point, they weren't briefed on anything behind the scenes.

Speculation: The "Wonderful PreCure!" movie

For the sections labeled speculation, I ask that you please do not take anything I write here as pure fact.

While browsing the Japanese side of Twitter, I came across a few opinions of PreCure fans on why Toei is being hush on MahoPre2. One idea is linked to the WonPre movie coming out later in September. In the film's initial trailer, there's a line said towards the end:

さらに素敵なお友達の出番です!っていいました？！ "Sara ni sutekina otomodachi no deban desu! tte iimashita?!" "Did you just say, 'It's time for even more wonderful friends'?!"

What's the significance of the Japanese characters I highlighted in bold? In the context of PreCure, they are the catchphrases of Sora from last year's HiroPre, and Mirai from MahoPre. The 出番, deban, comes from Sora's catchphrase, ヒーローの出番です!, Hero no deban desu!, or officially translated as "It's hero time!" The っていいました？！, tte iimashita?!, or "Did you just say [x]?!" is a quoting particle frequently used by Mirai. Tumblr only allows one video upload per post, so I'll have to link to a separate post I made with the video comparison.

With this in mind, a fair amount of fans believe that the WonPre film will be another crossover one, like the HealPre and TroPre ones were, only this time, that team will be crossing over with the HiroPre and MahoPre teams. It's likely that MahoPre is added in to promote the upcoming sequel, which could be airing around the time the film hits theaters. For that reason, it's probable that Toei wants to combine the marketing for both MahoPre2 and the WonPre film, neither of which has started yet.

Speculation: MahoPre2 Delayed?

The idea of MahoPre2 being delayed isn't really based on any evidence, but pure speculation. Some fans believe that internal politics at Toei have made them shelve the sequel for the time being. Sailor Moon fans are familiar with how Sailor Moon Eternal and Sailor Moon Cosmos were mishandled and delayed multiple times.

Ojamajo Doremi, PreCure's older sister franchise, is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary with a potential animation plan adapting the sequel light novels with the girls grown up. Funnily enough, that's similar to the concept of MahoPre2, so maybe Toei somewhere down the line turned MahoPre2 into Doremi1620? Hahaha...

Another common theory is that MahoPre2 will actually air in early 2025. That sounds a bit weird, doesn't it? They explicitly said 2024, even Rie Takahashi said so, right? Technically, that wouldn't be a lie, if Toei was looking at Fiscal Year 2024, which in Japan, lasts from April 2024 to March 2025 for governments and corporations. That would give MahoPre2 time to air in the Winter 2025 season, and thus the promotion hasn't started yet because it's still too early.

So, with that all said, there are at least two time periods I believe MahoPre2 could air in, the Summer 2024 season, or the Winter 2025 season. As of now, we can only wait for more information, but I do not have reason to believe that Toei cancelled this project.

[yuzusern]

What is IMAnimation and why is TV Asahi and Bluelock Season 2 official site putting simultaneous real time showing?

IMAnimation is a new block TV Asahi decided to make for Anime shows. This one is for shows that the network knows people want to watch now. And trending now. So Bluelock Season 2 will be aired on October 5 during that block.

Why should I care?

Well, this is for Japan viewers so it doesn’t affect international viewers. Maybe it’ll answer things about Japan’s TV networks for you.

What they stress in both the press conference for Bluelock Season 2 and on official Bluelock anime website + SNS is the “simultaneous real time through their 24 networks”. Like some series in the past, there was a simultaneous streaming for the world so both Japan and the world can watch it at the same time. There still is, I just haven’t kept up with most.

But this is for their 24 networks around the country. Besides the most well known shows such as chibi Maruko and Sazae-san (Always set for Sundays, 6:00-6:59 PM), TV shows and news networks actually differ depending where you live in Japan.

For most anime, they actually have an ‘On Air’ page to show which networks will be airing the show. For example, here’s the network airing dates for Kaiju no. 8:

Notice the start airing date is different for different regional networks. Some prefectures might not show it for up to two weeks after the initial airing in the main network in Kanto (Kanto is the Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama prefectures). Worst is Okinawa and the surrounding islands. Don’t know if their networks have caught up a little since I moved, but almost all programming except NHK and News programs were 2 weeks late. Watching anime was a pain because of their crazy schedules.

All the other networks linked with that channel play most of the programming but there are exceptions and the regional network plays their programming. News is the biggest change. The morning news programs are the same but the evening news could use both the main network’s news and regional network’s. Depends on the local news, weather, and any events. It’s funny watching them switch from regional news network to the main Kanto network in between the program.

Wait, why is there a 24:00, 25:00, 26:00, 27:00, etc???

Japan uses military time (0:00-23:59) which I never like. But networks apparently run from 5AM to 29AM.

29AM doesn’t exist for most of the world but Japan networks like to use this 24-29:00 time block to differentiate Late night/early morning rather than writing “late night at 3AM”.

Airs 09/09 at 25:30

Airs 09/09 at 1:30AM.

Which makes more sense? Probably 09/09 at 1:30AM was your answer but are you tuning in at 09/09 at 1:30 or what should be 09/10 at 1:30AM?

25:30 (1:30AM) is easier(?) to understand than 1:30AM. At least you know it’s for 1:30 AM…in the dead of night for the next day. I think it’s mostly getting used to it.

Because I still hate this system myself. I turn my TV on and just check the TV guide to find my shows for recording. But for avid anime watchers, this system is probably ingrained in your head to figure out if you get the show shown in real time with Kanto or skip it and wait for the streaming sites to load it right after it airs (for some, some can take 30 minutes after)

I’m getting tired of explaining so I’ll just end it here.

TLDR: TV Networks are crazy. Let’s simultaneously air the Kanto region’s main networks and leave it at that. No? Oh, ok. (　˙-˙　)

I feel like this after these type of posts. (　˙-˙　)

[thedepartmentofdiscoveries]

Sandii & the Sunsetz were a Japanese synthpop band that collaborated from 1979 until the 1990s. The Sunsetz, led by Makoto Kubota, and Sandii started as separate artists, and each has a separate discography. However, their collaboration provided a particular body of work that is representative of the period, and which successfully blended Eastern, Western and pop influences.

Early days

Sandii (サンディー) - born Sandra O'Neale - was born in Japan to an American father of Irish and Spanish ancestry and a Japanese mother. Her father was in the U.S. Navy, and she spent her early life in Japan, but moved to Hawaii in her early teens and began to study hula and Pacific dance.

After becoming accomplished as a singer and dancer, Sandii released her first record "Perusha Neko" under the name Sandi Ai. Returning to Japan in 1975 she was befriended by Kyu Sakamoto, who helped her to get a job as a DJ on NHK TV in Japan. Sandii performed during the interval of the "World Popular Song Festival" in late 1975, and secured a record deal with Toho. Sandii's debut album, Sandi Ai, is a mix of Japanese originals and covers of well-known songs by John Lennon and Olivia Newton-John. The album was not a great success, and Sandii left Toho for Discomate Records.

In 1976 Sandii performed at the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival as a non-competitor interval act, and the next year she won the prestigious “Grand Prix Best Vocal Performance” award with the single "Goodbye Morning", her best selling record to date.

Sandii met Makoto Kubota in 1976, when he was a guest on her NHK TV show and afterward joined his band Yuyake Gakudan ("Sunset Gang") as a backup singer. Makoto was an accomplished musician with broad influences, and the collaboration went on to be critically acclaimed, though never quite achieving the popular success expected. The music of The Sunset Gang was very influenced by blues, Southern and West Coast rock, but later they became increasingly interested in Hawaiian and Okinawan music. At this time Sandii also became friends with the future members of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, frequent collaborators with the Sunset Gang; Haruomi Hosono naming her "Sandii" because of the connection with Hawaii. However, until 1980 Sandii used a variety of names for different sessions e.g. "Sandra Hohn", "Sandi A. Hohn", and even "Sandy Ayako".

On the soundtrack of Lupin The Third Sandii performed the songs "I Miss You Babe" and "Love Squall"; the latter was a single release paired with the theme of the TV series by Yuji Ohno.

In 1978 Sandii sang the end title theme for the Japanese release of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, which became a top 20 hit in Japan. This gave Sandii and Makoto the opportunity to record a follow-up album. With limited time and budget, the album Mystery Nile consists of disco and pop cover versions including "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. Sandii and Makoto used fake English names on the record - "Sandy O'Neil" and "Theo Layer".

Other guest appearances include the albums Dead End and Monkey Magic by Godiego plus Melting Pot by Yamamoto Sho, whose backing band became Ippu-Do (including future Japan member Masami Tsuchiya).

In 1979, again using the name "Sandy O'Neil", Sandii released the disco track "Hey! King Kong", which failed to become a hit. The same year saw Sandii's first guest appearance with the Yellow Magic Orchestra on their album Solid State Survivor. Right at the end of '79 the Y.M.O. and Sandii began to record her debut for Alfa Records, Eating Pleasure, featuring lyrics by Yellow Magic Orchestra lyricist, Chris Mosdell, who, as he had done for YMO's Solid State Survivor also wrote the bulk of the lyrics for Eating Pleasure. At this point Makoto also wound up the Sunset Gang and Sandii & The Sunsetz were born. The two groups had the same members, but Sandii became lead vocalist. The collaboration with Mosdell would go on to produce some of the band's biggest hits over the next four years.[1] Sandii and Makoto are on record as saying they were influenced by the sound and success of Blondie and later became friends with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein.

1980s: The Sunsetz

Their first show as Sandii & The Sunsetz was opening for Yellow Magic Orchestra at Budokan in December 1980. In 1981 their next album Heat Scale, again featuring lyrics by Chris Mosdell, was released in 17 countries - most international releases adding tunes from "Eating Pleasure". From the release of "Heat Scale" until the next album release "Immigrants" (with a title song penned once more by lyricist Chris Mosdell) The Sunsetz spent a lot of time in the UK, recording with David Sylvian and Fun Boy Three producer Dave Jordan. Sounds, NME and Melody Maker gave The Sunsetz extensive coverage which gave the group a lot of credibility in Japan, leading to increased record sales. Their live act gained many fans in the international music industry following their support slot on the final Japan world tour. The Sunsetz went on to tour and play festivals with Eurythmics, INXS, Blondie and David Bowie. Their extensive touring and TV appearances in Australia in 1983 allowed them to achieve the #11 charting hit single "Sticky Music" (lyrics by Chris Mosdell).[2] Sandii & the Sunsetz also wrote songs for pop idol Akina Nakamori, including her hit "Babylon". The group had problems with international distribution and promotion and was unable to replicate that success worldwide, but it had an avid cult following.

Steve Cropper saw Sunsetz guitarist Keni Inoue play in his distinctive plucking style (as heard on "Open Sesame") and asked to be taught the technique.

In 1985 Sandii & The Sunsetz left Alfa Records for Toshiba-EMI, whose greater financial muscle gave the group a better budget to work with. Following a collaboration with Stephen Duffy ("Something Special") the group released the rock influenced "La La La La Love", released as "Banzai Baby" outside Japan. Although a strong album musically the group was disappointed that it was not promoted internationally, despite following the guidance of the record company, and opted to follow their own creative vision for subsequent releases. This led them to reggae, dancehall and other Jamaican styles which heavily influenced the final Sunsetz albums "Rhythm Chemistry" and "One Love".[1]

1990-present: Latter days

In 1990, the group had another re-invention, just using the name Sandii, although they would carry on using "& The Sunsetz" for live appearances well into the 1990s. Sandii and Makoto decided to concentrate on the Asian market and subsequent releases sold in greater numbers, helped by Sandii recording key songs in up to four languages. In 1996 Sandii recorded the first of her "Hawaii" albums and became increasingly involved in Hula culture.[3] Sandii now runs two Hula schools, in Harajuku, Tokyo and Yokohama and has a TV series on NHK, contributing to the popularity of Hula dance in Japan and allowing Sandii to release roughly two albums a year of Hawaiian and other Pacific style music. In late 2005 Sandii achieved the rank of Kumu Hula and celebrated with an event at a shrine in Ise, with old friend Haruomi Hosono providing the music.

Makoto Kubota is still a major music producer in Japan, always exploring new directions in world music.

[kishigunpla]

Let's Read: A Requiem for Char: The Red Comet of My Youth - Chapter 1

by Shūichi Ikeda

This post will be an overview of the first chapter, Steps to Becoming an Actor.

Please note this isn't a full summary by any means, just a highlight of parts I found interesting. Very long post under the cut!

Shūichi Ikeda was born on December 2, 1949 in Numabukuro in Nakano Ward, Tokyo. Growing up in the years after World War II, Ikeda recalls that although the scars of the war still remained here and there, the entire country was filled with an upwards surging momentum that could be described as "hope after a long period of suffering".

In 1958, he was invited by a friend to join Komadori Theater Company (劇団こまどり). Founded in 1948, it was a prestigious children's theater company that later produced many famous actors, including familiar names like Maaya Sakamoto, Daisuke Namikawa, and Ikeda's wife, Sakiko Tamagawa. He passed the entrance exam and started his career as an actor at only eight years old.

Along with movies, radio had a large presence in popular entertainment in those days. The first experience that Ikeda and the other child actors had was with radio dramas, broadcast on NHK radio. In elementary school, it was his daily routine to go to the NHK studio after school. There he co-starred with popular talents of the time.

In a funny side note, Ikeda recalls fond memories of the bento lunches they had at the studio. The rank of the bento changed depending on the rank of the actor with whom he was working. One particular instance he noted was how when the famous Musei Tokugawa starred in a lead role, lunch was eel bento, a rare delicacy back then.

As time went on, TV dramas became more popular, and Ikeda was offered his first role on television only three months after he joined Komadori. It was a simple role - a child crying in the corner in the background of a shot - but he remembers it fondly as a memorable first step into the world of acting.

In his junior high days, Ikeda starred in Gashintare (がしんたれ), a TV adaptation of the autobiography of playwright Kazuo Kikuta, and the movie Robō no Ishi (路傍の石, "Roadside Stone"), two works that made him seriously consider the job of "actor" for the first time.

In this chapter, Ikeda also talks about his relationship with famed Japanese film actor Yūjirō Ishihara. The two met as co-stars on the TV drama Shi no Hakubutsushi - Chīsaki Tatakai (死の博物誌 – 小さき闘い, The Natural History of Death – A Small Battle). Ikeda says he was immediately struck by his aura the moment he entered the rehearsal room.

Ikeda recalls how on set, Ishihara jokingly addressed him as “Shū-sensei”, as a nod to the fact Ikeda was much more experienced with TV dramas, despite being much younger. 

“Shū-sensei, you're a junior high school student, but you’re more senior than me as a TV actor, aren't you?”

In response, Ikeda replied,

“Well then, I'll call you Yu-sensei. On TV, I may be the sensei, but if I appear in a movie with you, please be the sensei.”

Ikeda fondly remembers him as a star that never faded no matter how much time had passed. Sadly, Ishihara passed away July 17th, 1985, and he never got the chance to film on a movie set with him.

In his words, “Even now, I keep in mind the way of life as an actor that Yujiro-san taught me. And I still call out to him...as Yu-sensei.”

In the spring of 1964, Ikeda began his role as the star of Jiro Monogatari (次郎物語), a TV drama based on the novel of the same name. The story depicts Japan in the early Shōwa period as seen from the perspective of Jiro Honda, a boy of a former samurai family.

The show was a hit among viewers of all ages, and ended up running as a nationally broadcast drama for two years. However, due to the popularity, from that point forward in his childhood acting career, Ikeda was typecast as a similar character - or as he refers to it, the image of “Jiro Shonen”, “a boy in a kasuri kimono”.

Ikeda was around 24 or 25 years old when Kohei Miyauchi asked him if he would be interested in doing voice-over work. The role was in a one-shot overseas drama for NHK about a group of three train robbers. Ikeda remembers struggling to adjust, thinking it might not be the best fit after all.

Soon after he was offered a role in André Cayatte's Mourir d'aimer as the dub voice for Bruno Pradal. At first he was hesitant, but accepted after finding out he would be alongside Tomoko Naraoka (dubbing Annie Girardot), whom he had worked with earlier in his career during his time as a child actor.

Ikeda recalls how this experience helped change his perspective on voice over work.

"Rather than trying to match the voice of the actor on the screen or strictly matching the actual lip-syncing, I felt how the actor and director put together the character, and translated that atmosphere into Japanese-style acting."

After appearing as a voice actor in other overseas dramas, a new opportunity arose. The person who approached him was Kazuya Tatekabe, of Doraemon fame. The two became friends and often went drinking with their fellow co-stars after work.

It was Tatekabe who introduced Ikeda to Noriyoshi Matsuura, who worked as an editor and sound director on various anime. Through some gentle persuading, he convinced Ikeda to give anime a try (while drunk, he admits), specifically the character Radik in Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3.

However, Ikeda found the speed of the process and inability to preview the material beforehand (like he was used to with film voice overs) overwhelming. He remembers thinking, "this is my first and last anime".

Despite this, Matsuura convinced him to give one more audition a try, with the promise they could go for drinks afterwards. Ikeda agreed, though wasn't enthusiastic about it.

...That audition was for the role of Amuro Ray in the upcoming anime Mobile Suit Gundam.

~

That's all for Chapter 1! I'll continue with these posts for each chapter as I go. Of course I recommend checking out the book for yourself if possible as I've left out a lot of content here for brevity.

[anti-death]

if any of yall are looking for documentaries about women that don't give you horrible despair i wanna put this out there. the NHK (japan's national tv station) has some documentaries up on youtube that are really lovely. this one is about a buddhist nun who lives in and takes care of a 1200 year old temple! the whole documentary is really laid back and sweet. she also has two miniseries about the food she makes (here) and her monthly activities (here)!

there's also this one about a woman who upcycles old clothes into handwoven rugs. she honestly has so much swag and the video's only like 15 minutes.

seriously, all of these are so calming

[falseandrealultravival]

“Don’t take the Chinese people lightly” (essay)

The Opium War

On September 22, 2023, China's vice president barked, "Don't take the Chinese people lightly." I saw it on NHK TV in Japan. It was such a unique statement that I became interested and decided to search for this man's name on the Internet. However, no information has been released regarding this statement, and it seems that this roar is considered to be a phantom thing. I can't imagine that it was the Chinese government's intention to do this (as the person who made the statement), so I think it was self-regulation by Google and others.

But should we be frightened by this statement? As the vice president said, China has "looked down on other peoples and nations throughout its history." Japan is a typical example of this, being called ``東夷：Toi'' (barbarians of the east), ``倭：Wa'' (dwarfs), and even today is sometimes referred to derogatorily as ``Small Japan.'' Even with Japan's recent ban on seafood imports, there is a clear sense of ``punishing Japan, an unsuspecting barbarian country.''

In this way, to the shock of the Qing Dynasty, which Britain also lightly regarded as a barbarian country, Britain used force to overwhelm them (The Opium War, 1840). For the first time in its history, China experienced great humiliation and felt humbled. From then on, the people must have sworn revenge on Western civilization at a deep level of consciousness.

Well, the background to this statement is probably the process of taking revenge by incorporating Western civilization and expanding its economy and military armament. Of all the countries in the world, I guess it's a country that can't be a normal country. If they are not the best, they won't be satisfied. A country of China-centered thought.

Rei Morishita

“中国人民を軽く見るな”（エッセイ）

２０２３年９月２２日、中国の副主席が“中国人民を軽く見るな”と吠えた。日本のNHKテレビで見た。実にユニークな発言だったので、私は興味を持ち、NET上でこの男の名前を検索しようとした。ところがこの発言に関して情報は一つも出ておらず、この咆哮は幻のものとされているらしい。それをやったのが中国政府の意向とは（発言当事者としては）考えられないので、googleその他の自己規制であると思われる。

だがこの発言に怯える必要があるのだろうか？副主席はそう言ったが、中国はその歴史において、“他民族、他国家を軽く見てきた”。日本はその典型で、「東夷（東の蛮族）」と呼ばれ、「倭（小人）」と呼ばれ、今でも「小日本」と蔑称されることがある。最近の日本の海産物輸入禁止にせよ、「怪しからぬ蛮国・日本に懲罰を与える」という意識が見え隠れする。

このやり方で、イギリスも蛮国と軽くみていた「清王朝」は、彼らが驚愕したことに、イギリスは力で彼らをねじ伏せた（アヘン戦争、１８４０）。ここに中国は歴史上はじめて大きな屈辱を味わい、卑小感に浸った。そしてその時以降民族の深層意識レベルで、西欧文明へのリベンジを誓ったのだろう。

まあ、西欧文明を取り込み、経済、軍備を拡大して、そのリベンジを果たす過程であるのが、今回の発言の背景なのだろう。世界の国のなかで、普通の国であることは出来ない国なのだろうな。一番でなければ、気が済まないわけだ。中華思想の国だもの。

Rei Morishita

[drivemysoul]

What have you been interested in lately?

Attack on Titan (Japanese: 進撃の巨人, Hepburn: Shingeki no Kyojin, lit. 'The Advancing Giant') is a Japanese dark fantasy anime television series, adapted from the manga series of the same name by Hajime Isayama. The series premiered on April 7, 2013, and concluded on November 5, 2023. It has aired on MBS TV (first two seasons) and NHK General TV (third season onwards). In North America, the series has been streamed on Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu. Attack on Titan has also aired on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in the United States.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the remains of humanity live behind walls protecting them from giant humanoid Titans, Attack on Titan follows protagonist Eren Yeager, along with friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert. When a Colossal Titan breaches the wall of their hometown, Titans destroy the city and eat Eren's mother. Vowing vengeance, Eren joins the elite Survey Corps, a group of soldiers who fight against Titans. It chronicles Eren's journey with the Survey Corps as they fight against the Titans while investigating their origin and history.

Since its debut in 2013, Attack on Titan has received universal critical acclaim, numerous accolades and is considered as one of the greatest anime series of all time. Critics and audiences have praised the show for its storytelling, animation, action sequences, characters, voice acting (original and dubbed), soundtrack and dark themes. The anime is noted for its widespread appeal and enormous global popularity, being cited as an important factor in introducing anime to a new generation.

[cardcaptor-lisia]

tagged by @deep-space-atomic-clock in this post, how fun! hi oz o/

Were you named after anyone?

for my first name noooope, my name being the same as lisia pokemon was an absolute coincidence, i was named after the lisianthus flower in reality!

my middle (bianca) i ended up picking myself bc i didn't have a proper one, so it is after the most important person in my life, though it's not completely her name exactly... i wanted a middle name and knew in my heart it would be after her in the end. if you know you know♡

When was the last time you cried?

i think two weeks ago when i was finishing up the cardcaptor sakura manga? a lot of parts in it really hit home to me in some ways, it's a special series to me for sure.

What sports do you/have you played?

when i was a kid i did a lot, probably because i was sickly so being active was important? soccer, baseball, flag football, basketball, some volleyball, and dance... wanted to play hockey badly but i was an undersized girl so i would have been eaten up i think. nowadays i don't really like doing much other than tennis, which i played for my high school for three years! (i also bike and roller skate but those are for transportation not sports)

Do you use sarcasm?

hmm, i'd like to hope i don't very often, but i make it really obvious when i am. i try to be more earnest than not though?

First thing you notice about people?

hmmm... probably what kind of clothes they're wearing? i'm into fashion and it's really neat to see people around wearing j-fashion, i instantly feel more comfortable around people who're brave like that.

Scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings!

Any talents?

hmm... i can speak japanese but i don't think that's a talent? i can cook and bake... i can play rhythm games at an okay level, too, i guess. i am also a magical girl but that doesn't count i think.

Where were you born?

i was born three months before my due date, though some would say in america, others would say in sootopolis city, it is up to you, reader, to decide which is true. o7

what are your hobbies?

similarly to oz i also really like tea!! it's fun to try different kinds, especially bc i grew up in a faith where tea wasn't allowed. i like flavored green tea the most? my big tip is that loose bags keep very well when placed in resealable bags in a fridge. i also have a crab shaped tea steeper it's one of the parts i like about tea

i also like studying the other languages of japan like okinawan and ainu! it's interesting to see how jp has influenced both of those...

i also like to cook and bake, too! i mostly try japanese recipes bc it's what i'm most knowledgeable about making. chahan is my fav ever..

Do you have any pets?

i do NOT sadly... i want a cat someday eventually though!

How tall are you?

despite the circumstances of my birth i'm 5'9... and forever underweight LOL. i've been told i have a 'short' vibe though... i don't like being tall but i know it is good for some reasons. maybe i'll shrink someday who knows

Favourite subject in school?

japanese! it's always been an easy A for me, so. aside from that i've always liked biology, science is a kind of magic too after all~

Dream job?

to be honest i'm really not sure! having a job where i'll be able to use my linguistic skills would be nice, but i dunno exactly. translating things is fun but it doesn't pay well... maybe being a tv presenter on NHK World showcasing different parts of japan...? i've always thought those shows were neat and i somewhat enjoy travelling, so.

ok gonna tag others because it seems that's what you do here, so sorry for the disturbance! please feel free to not do this i do not mind one way or the otherrrrr

@blxnc♡ @electrobiology @salon-maiden-anabel @torchickentacos @notwerewolf @zodiacoracle @runawaycarouselhorse hi!! apologies for the disturbance orz

[putschki1969]

【Penny Candy】 Introducing Snacks I Bought with my Pocket Money

Hello, this is Hikaru. Thank you for watching! This time, I would like to introduce you to the snacks I used to buy at candy stores when I was a child! They might not be what a child would usually pick *laughs* I’ve always been more of a salty person than a sweet person 😋 Do you have any nostalgic candy or candy that you recommend? 🍡 I am always looking for video suggestions so please leave a comment📝

Tweet by Hikaru | Instagram post by Hikaru

Hikaru on FM Toyama's "Anime Dawn"

Hikaru will appear as comment guest on the FM Toyama radio show "Anime Dawn" to talk about her solo activities Date: December 8; Time 20:00~ Official Instagram | Official Twitter

Details on Broadcasting Schedule of “NHK WORLD – JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL”

Below is the information on when Yuki Kajiura's part of the “NHK WORLD – JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL” program will be aired. The event was filmed back in October and can be viewed in 160 countries and regions around the world on the official website or in the app. Yuki Kajiura performs a special medley, including the main theme of Kimetsu no Yaiba, and (!!!)Magia(!!!) [featuring Hikaru!], the theme song to Puella Magi Madoka Magica, along with SOUKYUU NO FANFARE, the 10th anniversary theme song for Sword Art Online featuring special guests ASCA and ReoNA.

■NHK World JAPAN Part.2=> 2023/11/26 9:10～9:59 (JST) Check the website to see the broadcast slots in your time zone ■NHK G TV 2024/1/3 22:35～24:35