#source: pokemon center japan

[mirai-e-jump]

ポケモン | Fleur de Coquelicot

[plushieanimals]

Hey! I was just wondering where do you source the plushie images from, i love the variety of collections and styles and creatures you post!! But it's been hard for me to find a reliable site to browse through when I just want to look at some plushies :(

hi! i have the source in about 95% of my posts, but it’s usually a bunch of different sites. the best ones for in stock plushies are:

aurora - auroragift.com (animals, objects)

douglas - douglascuddletoy.com (animals)

meccha japan - meccha-japan.com (japanese imports)

the pokemon center websites - US & Japan

stuffed safari - stuffedsafari.com (a plushie distributor. they list by species and have a bunch of brands!) This is probably the one with the most variety

tokyo otaku mode - otakumode.com (amuse)

this is just a few of many i go to! there are more that might not have them in stock and also etsy is a great place to search for handmade ones!

[klonoadreams]

Since Hilbert thinks his twin was a stillborn, does that ever affect him growing up? Like it's a touchy subject and what ifs

Even after Sawyer, they don't have a way to definitely prove that they're related, but imagine it's one of those "$25 blood test kits! See your ancestry!" they did as a joke to fill in a sleepover and BAM

Pokemon center has a Hilbert in the corner, going through all stages of grief at once, Cheren's trying to ignore the situation by talking awkwardly to his pokemon, Bianca was asleep, so she wakes up and why is Hilbert crying?

hvjrkhjbkb SO LIKE, there's an added layer to all of this on Touya/Hilbert's end, because despite everything, he always FELT like someone should be there. and it's a bit of a touchy subject because he never found out through his parents, but through a third party source that was being too damn intrusive for their own good.

Which is never a good thing, when you bring up the fact that he is SUPPOSED to be a twin, but what the actual FUCK. Now he KNOWS about it and has to deal with the, "who should be here with me?"

And it BOTHERS him. Especially whenever he comes across other twins. And he's like, on playdates with Cheren and Bianca, but he's still just "what if they were here?" and it just REFUSES to leave his mind. And sometimes, he just thinks, "Why me?"

This is brought to you by what I ended up doing to the BW player characters regarding their family ties, with Alder being their Dad (which will forever stay a constant because lmaooo).

Often, for his safety, the identity of his dad is kept a secret (if you know, you know), but that doesn't stop some people from calling him a bastard child, even THOUGH HIS DAD IS FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. He's just kinda aimless, given the fact that one of the two children he had was a stillborn, and then one of his Pokemon died to an illness?????

LIKE CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THAT DOES TO A PERSON??? So he just often wanders aimlessly, usually visiting during holidays, birthdays, or whenever he's in the area (surprisingly, a lot more often than you'd think, since his feet usually take him home when he's not at the League). He's a good dad otherwise....

...

Oh right - Benga. So here's the thing.... Let me go on a weird, long-ass tangent that is AAAALL related to this. I swear, it's relevant, it's just gonna be massive, so I'mma put a read more

fun fact: I had the "Alder is the Player Character's Dad" thing in my fanfic done BEFORE BW2 was released (meaning there was a gap of time after BW released both in Japan, and later, outside of Japan), and if you know how things were before X and Y, this means we HAD to wait after BW2 released in Japan before we got translations, so patches existed for roms (that is how I VERY much played Black and White first, by the way, it was the first Pokemon game I followed since its release in Japan) to hold us through until the official English localization released.

Originally, I had this elaborate situation because I legitimately thought Benga was Alder's son (before I later found out that, nope, grandson - again, translation to localization situation, it wasn't as convenient as it is now), where Benga was just from a previous fling that his Mama kept from Alder, until oops, "hey, I know I was kinda a dick before for ghosting you all of these years, but I'm dying...can you take him in?"

Now, I'm just looking at that, going, "you know what, Mama can fucking get it, being a Trainer who went on her own journey." She knows what she wants, and if landing the Unovan Champion as a husband is a feasible goal for her, then of course she'd go after it.

I like to think Mama was built different and had her own elaborate journey, where she spent at least ten years on her journey, just traveling around, dealing with whatever news she heard coming from overseas regions about criminal organizations, just absentmindedly collecting badges like "I should do that while I'm here" and then forgetting about everything else, like she's in an open world environment (like it's Scarlet and Violet, where I just went around, getting distracted by everything or in the case of my friends, going around catching everything on sight and also getting into areas they LIKELY shouldn't be in).

Truly an example of "We shouldn't have let ten year olds go on their own in this dangerous region" because by the time Touya/Hilbert is able to go on his journey, he's 14 - because that's the actual age limit (if you wish to go alone on a journey), added in to lower the trainer mortality rate (and region-wide concerns). Because LISTEN, there be Hydreigon in the wild and other mons that are capable of being hostile.

Anyways Mama was like 20 before she even caught wind of the Champion. Dude's only had the title for maybe a few years now - hard to say, since she was lowkey off the grid, because she was too busy catching Pokemon to help out her father and older sister with the Pokedex. Just field research to add more consistent variables to their data.

Like again, she was super casual on the Gym Badge side of being a Trainer - she just did her own thing before realizing, "I should try the League." and got the rest of her badges at the side. I mean it helps that she FINALLY ran into Alder. The stars fucking aligned, because Mama went "AWOOGA" and just her luck, Alder was single.

Anyways it took her like six years to get that ring on her finger, because Alder really was, "dude, there are better men out there - WHY ME" But nah, Mama picked him and wouldn't stop challenging him. She never really beat him in an official League battle, but she still did kick his ass every so often. Which, in the Pokemon World, is like a good way to appear attractive to others. :V

Where Benga comes into play, it's called Alder was a reckless older teenager that got into flings, like all teenagers tend to do. And being Pokemon Trainers adds another layer of recklessness. So you got two seventeen year olds just doing stuff like having one night flings that don't go anywhere...

Except oops, there's a baby, but whatever, orphanage time. Buh bye - there's no child support to collect from some rando one night stand, so PEACE. And then she left for an overseas region, never to be heard from again.

Seventeen years later, history repeats itself - only this time, the Baby Mama doesn't exactly make it through the birth like her bio mama, so now Alder is just being called up to collect his grandson - because SURPRISE, you're not only a father, but also, a GRANDFATHER. And by this point, the Champion Title makes it difficult to just keep this kid in an orphanage, so uhhh...take him. "You're like the closest living relative we can track down"

Anyways you know how Alder said there are better men? Yeah, he's like 34, with a grandchild to raise. And thankfully, he's pretty good at what he does - but STILL...A GRANDFATHER - why the hell does this lady want to go after him, when he has a grandson???

Anyways two years later, after one wedding and pair of rings, Benga is excited at the concept of being an older brother of sorts (really, he is an older nephew - AGAIN, it's complicated). And while things go south for one of the twins, he still does have Touya/Hilbert and they're raised together, even if Benga is a bit more feral due to Alder's influence.

All this mess, just to say that there's a lot going on with Touya/Hilbert - him thinking he was the surviving twin is just the proverbial cherry on top, given how much of a soap opera his life has become.

Really, him finding out about Sawyer is gonna blow his mind, but also make him all the more protective, after all the bullshit he's gone through. Genuinely just sobbing his eyes out, having a near melt down, maybe also even punching out Team Plasma too (physically with his fists) because WHAT DID THEY DO TO HIS SISTER. JUST LOOK AT HER.

She absolutely MELTED when she received a hug. The way she got emotional over a BIRTHDAY surprise. THE TRAUMA.

What's more, in that likely scenario, he can't just SAY that to her, like...without preparation. And while it was mostly a joke, because "lmao, we look alike, let's see if we're related in some way" before the truth is revealed.

And now Touya/Hilbert has this massive truth bomb to ease Sawyer into. LIKE

Being Touya/Hilbert is suffering.

[warden-melli]

Your Christmas presents are so cool!!! I'd be excited about getting those too!!!

Just out of curiosity, would you be ok with sharing whether they were acquired by living in Japan, or through a website that you recommend? I tried finding some of them for myself, but unless you've got a better source my only option in the US is overpriced resales on ebay 😔

I’m very happy with them, that’s for sure!

Sadly as they were gifts I’m not really sure where they got them. I can ask, and if I find out I’ll let you know!

I’m in Australia, so these did most likely come from online somewhere. I can absolutely relate to how hard it can be to find Pokemon merch/collectibles outside of Japan (we don’t have a pokemon Center in Australia, and they won’t even ship here at all), so I’ll try to help you out if I can.

Is there a specific item you’re interested in? (It’d help me know who to ask lol)

[fairymint]

🗑️- for scrapped element of blog

When it comes to my Volo, I am fullass able to admit that I am not comfortable fully/completely/1000% saying 'well this is only an ainu' character- but there's ainu influence in consideration and it gets worked in. As a populational divergence, as i consider greek/catholic/etc. etc. but also world history; A simple answer is 'i don't know enough, i could appropriate culture/do it wrong/etc.', with a more complex theme of 'well difference in sources of information both muck up and complicate each others' credibility'- the truth is probably outside my scope of perception;; and they could all be right, actually. Particularly where they 'come from' as if that has a simple-ass answer. I'm of indigenous descent myself and still can't speak for all the others, that's just life in my case. It's not 'fresh' for me. and i ain't even from this bitch-

He's Greek/Ainu with that hokkaido socialization- but I've also come up with my own stuff, such as the ableism involved in a character with albinism (they have been historically brutalized/villainized. and also fetishized, which fits into some fanart I've seen about him being attractive in-universe.) I can watch a video of somebody like this talking, as well. it's a current/recent issue, come to think of it. The more 'greek' he's leaned and the more I learned about shinto stuff, the gentler and less westernized he got in general. Ironically the last pokemon generation centered on fucking japan put the god up north there, and conceptually, Shinto doesn't give a fuck about where foreigners came from. you don't typically 'convert' from my understanding. for all they care some other being/good poofed you into existence /lh

But, the unown do make sense with an ainu lense- they use latin ending consonants and therefore letters as well as custom katakana.

and this is all worldbuilding/culture to start with. Consider Volo rejecting any bad part of it, he rejects the world-

and i don't have a solid ancestry/ 'race' for him- I've considered pale blasian at times! albinism has no real restrictions, but seems to be more common with black people. so 'setting this in stone' isn't a hill I'd die on tbh. something something mixed people exist, etc.

[eeveedel]

Who’s Harry “dating” now?

A Japanese-American model, supposedly 

[cupcakedex]

The official Pokemon Center Cafe in Japan will feature a limited-time menu celebrating Pokemon GO’s 5th anniversary! Source

Starting Thursday July 22, the menu will feature:

"Pokemon GO" field map plate-with Pokestop drink- ¥ 2,992, which includes:

Hawaiian anti-chicken burger with mustard, inspired by the spicy intuition of "Team Instinct".

A cool sweets burger with a cookie cream sandwich, perfect for the cool image of "Team Mystic".

A hamburger with salsa sauce that expresses the passionate image of "Team Valor".

Pokestop lemon squash drink

Each meal comes with a 5th anniversary placemat

At Pikachu Sweets by Pokemon Cafe, the following drinks will be available from July 22 - August 20:

Team Instinct's Yellow Soda ~ Tropical Mango Flavor ~ 864 yen

Team Mystic Blue Soda ~ White Grape Flavor ~ 864 yen

Team Valor's Red Soda ~ Blood Orange Flavor ~ 864 yen

[dancerbike68]

Uae Tours

The UAE is made up of seven Emirates on the japanese seaboard of the Arabian Peninsula and is a vacation spot which is able to surprise you. It is very secure and fairly straightforward to access compared to most of the surrounding countries. The nation is principally a desert, however cultivation and enterprise have greened an excellent portion of it. Many breaks within the large cities will permit you to benefit from the various sights that might be offered to you, between quad, nautical actions or excursions by dromadaire. A safari into the desert is a should while in Dubai, and for essentially the most unforgettable expertise take a tour that contains a BBQ feast. They’re an excellent alternative for those not eager on a wild experience through the desert. A camel experience is a completely relaxing method to enjoy the sweeping surroundings, attempt some conventional barbeque, and listen to desert tales advised by tour UAE tourist information. With heady Arabian music taking half in by the bonfire as you dine on a scrumptious meal, you’ll be able to witness the true fantastic thing about the Arabian night time sky. For each the desert safari and the camel journey UAE tours, there’s an option to spend a night in the desert in a conventional Bedouin-style camp, taking in the starlit sky very like a Bedouin tribe would. From visits to a quantity of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and cultural interactions with locals to and exciting wildlife encounters, this fascinating tour of India won\'t disappoint. Sufouh Gardens Map A centre for regional and worldwide commerce since the early 20th century, Dubai's financial system relies on revenues from trade, tourism, aviation, actual estate, and financial services. Guests and motor-enthusiasts can drive a number of the extremely well-liked racecars similar to the McLaren Sprint and the Ferrari GT at the Kartdrome for real-life racing experience. The instructional park, which seeks to draw Muslims and non-Muslims alike, options 12 gardens, a “Cave of Miracles,” and a break up lake symbolizing Moses parting the Red Sea. DUBAI - A new park that makes use of gardens and landscaping to inform tales from Islam’s sacred text has opened in Dubai, providing locals and vacationers a day trip with a non secular twist. [newline]More mountainous than emirates fronting the western edge of the Arabian Peninsula, Fajairah is residence to a number of wadies. This time period refers back to the valley stream mattress or the precise stream that flows within the wet season. Wadi Zikt, in Dhadnah, is lower than five miles from the coast and hosts considered one of Fujairah’s largest dams. Located some 25 miles north of Fujairah, Wadi Al Wurayah is home to a variety of waterfalls and a few compelling surroundings. The population has expanded quickly as nicely, rising from about 50,000 individuals in 1975 to greater than 630,000 in 2012. The expansion of city areas—gray within the images—has primarily proceeded westward from the town middle because of an abundance of open space and the presence of transportation, water, and power infrastructure. Dibba Beach is on the northern finish of the emirate and presents clear, clear waters perfect for diving and snorkeling. Swim simply offshore or visit the nearby coral reefs on a snorkeling/diving tour with one of the local distributors at Dibba Marina. Another in style swimming space is Sandy Beach, a number of miles south of Dibba Beach. The Sandy Beach Diving Centre (sandybm.com) provides each hotel lodging and dive/snorkeling trips. About 25 yards from the seashore is Snoopy Island, named after the famed beagle of "Charlie Brown" fame. Yas Island also is residence to a Formula 1 race monitor that hosts the annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Dubai is making ready to welcome a World's Fair in 2020. Another great approach to attain the park is by utilizing a mix of public transport within the form of Dubai Metro prepare and taxi. The closest metro stations are World Trade Center and Al Jafiliya stations . After alighting at the metro station, you can take a taxi to the doorway of the park for a minimum fare. Resort Amenities like Luxurious bathrobes, Dry Cleaning and Gift store make your stay snug. These high Discovery Gardens resorts like Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa have every little thing that a tourist or a business traveler would want from a luxury lodge property close to well-liked Landmark places. This project aims to counterpoint its guests via thrilling options that could be found all through the park and to provide them with a secure group house where households can discover, chill out and spend time collectively. Israels New Peace Cope With The United Arab Emirates Transforms The Middle East Our writers, photographers and contributors are actual people who let you know the tales of their personal travels and experiences. Some of the international locations we currently cowl are Burma, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Break away from the continuous barrage of neon lights, excessive velocity trains, 1000's of eateries, and infinite rows of skyscrapers to visit a little bit of ancient Japan. Erawan Shrine in Bangkok is dedicated to Lord Brahma, situated by the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel. The temple is a well-liked worship attraction in the metropolis and one of the well-known temple of Brahma in the world. ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — A unique forum initiated by the Bahá’ís of the United Arab Emirates is permitting spiritual leaders of the nation to go beyond building mutual respect to fostering coexistence and unity of imaginative and prescient on questions of common concern. A good friend of mine who travelled round India advised me about this Hindu temple, and since then it has been on my “list” . It’s constructed within the typical Dravidian architectural type and has this unbelievably coloured and ornate exterior coated with depictions of gods, demons, warriors and royalty. Kapaleeshwar honors the god Shiva, and has shrines dedicated to a lot of different deities in the South Indian pantheon. [newline]Amid rising sectarian tensions and non secular animosities within the area, Abu Dhabi has unveiled plans for an expansive interfaith complex that bundles collectively a mosque, a church, and a synagogue. The different two temples include the Orlando Florida Temple and the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple. For reasons of their very own concern, Emirati leaders would help normalize the Jewish presence on the mount, and not solely tolerate, but in addition take part in Jewish prayer. This elevation involved not solely constructing both the Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock shrine, however in accordance with the Aqsa interpretative significance as the “furthest mosque,” one on par with the mosque in Mecca. Another spiritual establishment is the Muslim Council of Elders , which was established in July 2014 and is predicated in Abu Dhabi. Since its founding, the FPPMS has been lively in spreading its message and expanding its actions beyond the UAE. It holds an annual convention, which is normally attended by tons of of non secular scholars from around the Arab and Muslim worlds, particularly by those that are consistent with the UAE’s home and regional insurance policies. The FPPMS is officially sponsored3 by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Last Word Guide To Iceland's Greatest Pools And Scorching Springs On path to the ‘Garden City,’ see the rocky Hajar Mountains and find out about Al Ain’s history from an professional information. Visit the Al Ain National Museum to uncover the city’s Bedouin heritage, and explore the Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum and bustling camel market. Admire the views of the palm-filled metropolis from Jebel Hafeet mountain, dip your toes into the mountain's sizzling springs, and earlier than returning to Abu Dhabi, enjoy a tasty buffet lunch. The onsens are used a public baths and are large enough for many people. In Japan you scrub down outdoors the tub to maintain the water clean. There are sometimes 牙橋 and some have features like waterfalls or cold tubs. The scorching spring pool is neat to see due to its size and it sits proper next to the mountains. The value of discount might differ based on fare kind availability, seasonality, referral source and destinations. This $10 off sale applies to our transaction service charges only. All fares displayed above are after the 10 USD prompt low cost utilized. Maximum discount amount is the amount of the transaction service charges for that transaction or 10 USD, whichever is less. You can attain Asakusa in one stop on the subway line, and you'll stroll to all of Ueno’s highlights like Ameyayokocho buying district, and Ueno park’s shrines and museums. Rooms available at Mimaru Tokyo Shinjuku West include Japanese-style and Western-style apartments, with a small kitchen and attached toilet. This Mystays resort is in Higashi-Ikebukuro (the neighborhood where my sharehouse in Tokyo was!). It’s shut the Sunshine 60 mega-mall with its Pokemon heart, aquarium, and remark deck. A buying district in Ikebukuro is home to a huge Sega sport center, Tokyu Hands retailer, and tons of animal cafes too.Check dates and prices here. Although it has an above-average price tag for a hostel mattress, you'll keep in a private “smart pod”. Many functions of the pod can be managed through iPod given at the front desk, similar to reclining your bed in to “sofa mode”! Museums & Galleries In Dubai Aiming to introduce international up to date art to local audiences in the UAE, the Maraya Art Centre organizes domestic exhibitions featuring rising artists from the region. It also has a sculpture park and a program of lessons, workshops, screenings, and occasions. Maraya can additionally be residence to the Barjeel Foundation, a prominent royal collection of latest art. A FUNN participant creates a charcoal drawing during an art workshop devoted to children/Courtesy of FUNN.The Maraya Art Centre is a non-profit artwork house and cultural platform positioned in Al Qasba. Abu Dhabi's other cultural sites, together with Cultural Foundation and Qasr Al Hosn, also opened on June 24. There might be no tours, however digital guides shall be available to obtain on smartphones. The museum at present operates at forty per cent capacity, and guests must book slots in advance to be assured entry. It includes timings for galleries, as well as the measures being taken towards defending guests against Covid-19. Housed in building every bit as spectacular as its assortment, the museum is located on the Corniche, simply north of the Heart of Sharjah district. Astrolabes, manuscripts, ceramics and cash all vie in your consideration however don’t miss the gold-embroidered curtain for the door of the Holy Ka’ba and the mosaic inside the central dome detailing the zodiac constellations. The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah served as the residence of the ruling Quwasim family till 1964, when the late Ruler, H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al-Qasimi, moved to a modern constructing in Mamoura. It later grew to become a police headquarters and a jail, earlier than being converted into the National Museum in 1987. Reflecting its eventful historical past, the National Museum has been constantly enlarged over time, displaying a wealthy diversity of traditional architecture. Today, the ‘Late Fort’ exhibits historical, ethnographical, and archaeological material referring to the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and provides an attention-grabbing insight into the history and traditions of this area. Sixty Five Attractions In United Arab Emirates That Match This Travel Theme > Outdoor Adventures It’s also home to plenty of must-try out of doors actions in dubai to check out. If you want an adrenaline-pumping sort of water activity, then the Flyboard experience is the best for you. It is a 20-minute Flyboard ride that is water-powered and may get as excessive as 10 meters above the waters, providing you with a spectacular view of Dubai’s skyline. During the exercise, you will have an experienced instructor to guide you through the process, the life vest, and different security gear. He/She is also there to show you to maneuver and tips to manoeuvre the ride that you'll greatly get pleasure from. The exercise is safe and enjoyable and perfect for novices and skilled Flyboarders. There are plenty of water actions to do in Dubai, and considered one of them is driving a personal velocity boat. Rumble throughout the sands, roar over rolling dunes, and cease for photographs of the attractive desert on route. After your ride, relax and refuel in a cool Bedouin-style tent over recent Arabic espresso, tea and dates. Yes, responsible as a defendant, this isn't an environmentally friendly journey activity, so ideally Sustainability Tribe shouldn’t recommend it. But I experienced a tandem fall while looking for “experiences about materials” and ticking my bucket list merchandise. This was my first huge merchandise on the record and I’m glad I might tick off a quantity of more from watching Northern Lights in Iceland. However, skydiving was by far essentially the most adventurous expertise in my life. Some folks got here not to ski butto journey the chairlift and benefit from the other winter activities.I seen a few of the locals taking the tour on the lift. Some males wore their lengthy white tob garbs beneath their ski jackets with their white keffiyah headscarves. Some of the women wore their ski coats over their long black abaya robes and their headscarves and a few faces veiled. As we flew over Dubai, positioned along the Persian Gulf coast, you'll be able to see thedesert haze engulf the citythat stretched to the seaside. Even the tallest tower on the earth, theBurj Khalifa, couldn't hide from the desert parts. Best Time To Visit Dubai Going on-line has additionally helped the pageant reach a worldwide audience. "We're seeing international viewers tune in to the festival, which is wonderful," Bolooki says. Of course, that is the case with any pageant being held this early in 2021. As the pandemic continues, event organisers all around the world have had to adapt to ever-changing rules to ensure customer safety. While there has been the usual buzz surrounding the annual literary occasion, the influence of the Covid-19 pandemicis noticeable. There are not any teams of individuals unfurling leaflets, trying to ascertain how and when to get to their next session. The UAE’s independence day is properly known with a raft of citywide events, including parades, dhow races and performances of conventional music and dance. Taste of Dubai Three days in mid-March wtasteofdubaifestival.com. ULTRA Abu Dhabi 2020 is proudly introduced by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi. The festival is held annually under the patronage of patronage of Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum and as a part of the Emirates Literature Foundation established in 2013. With the program held across three weekends, one highlight had to do with newly released children’s books and the discharge of Young Voices of Arabia, which honors the primary regional winners of the Voices of Future Generations program. With some occasions held outside for security and all physical applications restricted in crowd measurement, the Emirates Airline Festival maintained a robust digital element, as well. All of our events adhere to the UAE pointers for Covid Safety, including a maximum of seven people per table, a clear hole of three meters between each, clear marking and signage, and physical distancing to avoid crowding. Masks and social distancing are also a should whilst moving around. The Al Gaffal Race commemorates historic checkpoints of pearl divers returning residence after lengthy sea excursions. The race begins with ships touring 23 nautical miles east to Moon Island from Sur Bu Na’air. For This Reason Dubai Is A Haven For Those In Want Of Retail Remedy The value will depend upon the store and the product, although in plenty of cases it's up to 70% financial savings in comparison with Europe. This street is amongst the essential stops inside any shopping tour of the city. Even if you do not plan to buy anything, simply to see all the merchandise and stroll among its small stands is a worthwhile experience. Other articles very typical of the Arab Emirates are lamps, made with stained glass, ceramic and steel figures, and shishas, the popular pipe through which many Arabs smoke fruity tobacco. On Lower floor stage between the meals court docket and Five Guys, there are a couple of stores (Jaber Gallery + 2 others). On the method in which from Five Guys in direction of Waitrose, there are tons of kiosks and shops with extra items. The worth of all this beautiful little thing is really cheap, which is very nice in phrases of a gift not essentially status, but made with a soul. Gold soukHere you'll be able to select exclusive finishes large merchandise with giant gemstone inserts. Rubies, sapphires, diamonds, emeralds, as well as garnet, agate, cubic zirconia, pearls. For a special present, it is proposed to make a ornament based on your sketch. Dubai's luxurious resorts pamper visitors with tony rooms, refined worldwide food and extra-special amenities. The world’s largest mall is way over only a retail paradise. Exhausting Rock Cafe Dubai In compliance with recommendations from local health officers, Hard Rock Cafe Dubai has reopened its restaurant and Rock Shop. We are persevering with to take precautions to ensure the security of our guests and staff members and have applied enhanced cleaning processes and social distancing measures. [newline]Hard Rock Cafe Dubai's world famous menu features all kinds of tasty options together with our mouthwatering Legendary® burger, refreshing salads, and house made entrees infused with the non-stop power of Dubai. There's beef, lamb, and different meat too, but if you do not wish to make a decision, go for the $190 signature tasting menu. Timber, brass, and marble shipped from South Africa create a shiny and breezy ambience in this spot at the shiny Al Wasl mall. Beige partitions and rustic-chic interiors lend an enthralling and welcoming vibe that attracts households on weekend afternoons. Actually three venues — a restaurant, bar and out of doors lounge opening onto the Arabian Sea — Buddha-Bar is famed for its unique food, eclectic ambiance and ambient music from an on-site DJ. The luxurious restaurant serves a fusion of sushi, Chinese and Thai meals, with a bar that plays host to Dubai’s trendy crowds. Between them, one of the best restaurants in Dubai serve nearly each national cuisine from around the globe, together with many specializing in Dubai’s personal Arabic delights. The meals was really fanatic I thought, my favorite dish for lunch being their machboos – a dish of rice and in this case chicken with spices. This Indian chain may not have the most luxe ambiance , nevertheless it does have hearty and reasonably priced biryanis, curries, tandoori grills, and wraps. United Arab Emirates Whey Protein Enterprise And Funding Opportunities 2014 Sign Up NowGet this delivered to your inbox, and extra information about our merchandise and companies. With our analysis partners within the United Arab Emirates , Edison has full-time research workers and supervisors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, enabling us to conduct market and survey research throughout the nation. The nation has one of many highest vitality consumptions per capita on the earth. The Government targets a share of 44% of renewables in the vitality combine in 2050. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC , ACWA Power , Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company , Dubai Electricity and Water Authority , Honeywell International Inc are the major firms operating in United Arab Emirates Power Market. UAE has confirmed that it holds a few of the finest solar sources on the planet while supporting financial and regulatory policies which have helped its clear power program to excel. Mechanisms for imposing property rights are predictable and truthful, although every emirate establishes its personal procedures for land possession. The judiciary just isn't unbiased, and court rulings are subject to evaluate by the political management, but the rule of regulation is generally nicely maintained. The UAE is one of the least corrupt countries within the region, however nepotism and corruption persist, and the federal government typically lacks transparency. The economy of the United Arab Emirates has maintained its standing among the many ranks of the largely free this yr. Additional financial freedom is important, nonetheless, if the federal government is to succeed in diversifying away from reliance on the hydrocarbons sector. Substantial reductions in subsidy funds would probably increase Index indicator scores for government spending and financial freedom. The United States applied an “anti-boycott” legislation in 1977 to encourage non-compliance with the Arab League boycott of Israel. Many documents which would possibly be executed inside the UAE should be notarized by a public notary. Public notaries in the UAE are officers of the courts of first instance and are supervised by the court in that Emirate. Only Arabic paperwork may be notarized, but dual-language copies containing English are widespread. The requirements of public notaries usually are not constant, usually necessitating repeated visits to the general public notary office. Consequently, firms should contemplate confirming documents through counsel for any transaction where time is of the essence. Find the most relevant details on the United Arab Emirates relating to market information, statistics and market studies. Each emirate has its own government-owned firm; overseas actors participate by way of public-private partnerships. Some of the key gamers are Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC , ACWA Power, Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company , and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority , Honeywell International Inc. Abu Dhabi’s rising population and rising economy have been the key elements driving the increase in peak demand, which grew by a median of 8.53% per yr between 2007 and 2018. United Arab Emirates Travel Guide You may must take a COVID-19 PCR test before you depart or one other particular kind of COVID-19 take a look at specified by your vacation spot. We're at all times looking for new methods to inspire your subsequent holiday - fascinating destinations, unique resorts and all the little things that come collectively to create unforgettable moments for you and your loved ones. There isn’t a global restaurant model without a presence in the UAE, but the best food is local and snacking round the historic districts is healthier than generic burgers any day. Get to know the desert and life beyond town on guided camel tours or treks. The four artifical islands of Al Marjan have some of RAK’s best family resort resorts designed around seashores and luxurious gardens but not far from the city centre. Ras Al-Khaimah is less than an hour’s drive north of Dubai, shares a border with Oman and is a favorite vacation for UAE residents. Traditional tradition is extensively known here like nowhere else within the nation so if you’ve promised everyone an evening under the stars at a Bedouin camp, you can come good on your word. There are plenty of journey actions on provide, from 4WD journeys across the desert dunes to camel trekking, sandboarding, and dune buggy journeys. Abu Dhabi's luxurious resorts rim the shoreline of the town's numerous islands. For sun-and-sand targeted vacations in Dubai, luxury resorts are targeted alongside the coast west of the central metropolis. It could additionally be a billionaire's playground, but you do not needbillions, or even tens of millions, to take benefit of Abu Dhabi. Apart from native specialities as cosmopolitan as the shawarma, hummus or falafel, there are a plethora of conventional dishes you can not fail to strive when you have the chance to travel to the United Arab Emirates. The festivities of the United Arab Emirates are marked mainly by the Islamic faith, so lots of their celebrations are topic to the Muslim calendar and their dates might range from one yr to a different. The luxury, grandeur and modernity of some of its cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have made it also have great sports and cultural events which would possibly be characterized by their ostentation. The city of shopping, Dubai, has a day dedicated to buying; good day to visit the bazaars of the town and reap the benefits of their discounts. Dubai’s been building continuous since 1967 and right now the city has 60,000 lodge rooms, with extra to come. How The Uae Turned The Center For Artwork In The Center East He is the son of the founder of UAE, the First President, Emir of Abu Dhabi, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed is well-known for being a really lively official within the UAE within the subject of increasing and developing all sorts of relations between the nation and different nations. Ahmed Khalil Sebait Mubarak Al-Junaibi, is an Emirati footballer. Who currently performs as a forward for Al-Ahli and United Arab Emirates national staff. Various human rights organisations have raised severe concerns concerning the alleged abuse of migrant staff by major contractors organising Expo 2020. UAE's business answer provider German Pavilion can also be held accountable for abusing migrant employees. The authorities follows a coverage of tolerance toward different religions and rarely interferes in the religious actions of non-Muslims. According to an estimate by the World Bank, the UAE's population in 2018 stands at 9.543 million. Immigrants account for 88.52% whereas Emiratis make up the remaining eleven.48%. This unique imbalance is due to the country's exceptionally excessive net migration price of 21.seventy one, the world's highest. Drinking And Nightlife In United Arab Emirates For a party that starts at noon and continues nicely after midnight, make for one of Dubai’s seaside golf equipment, where you'll find a way to drink, dance, swim, and mingle. Located between the desert and the Arabian Gulf, fashionable Dubai is filled with life, and there are quite a few methods to explore the multicultural, dynamic metropolis's after-dark side. A vibrant evening for the women could be enjoyed each Tuesday night with three complimentary home grape beverages from 6 to 9 p.m. This small nightclub is one of the most well-known prostitution spots in Abu Dhabi. Built in the 1980s, the venue just lately underwent a contemporary refurbishment, equipping the interior with chic modern lighting and cutting-edge decor. A top meals alternative here is the delicious fajitas; attempt both the shrimp or the rooster and beef selection. Moreover, The employees are extraordinarily helpful and friendly and are skilled in providing professional recommendation on what to do across the metropolis. Scoring the best ranking for finest dance music, Trilogy, inside the Madinat Jumeirah is amongst the most celebrated venues for the best Dubai nightlife. The Moroccan-style, three-level membership provides a wide range of moods and the most important and finest names in DJ’s. Monday’s R&B night is likely considered one of the city’s hottest events, with DJs, leisure and an intensive cocktail menu. The club also holds dedicated hip-hop, Asian and ladies’ nights, when the bar is free for ladies before 1am. Discover most likely one of the best get together tour in Dubai for personal groups celebrating various occasions or unforgettable hangouts. A top-notch tour in carefully chosen bars and golf equipment & a great way to dive into the native nightlife in Dubai. A custom-planned experience, ideal for celebrating any birthday party, pre-wedding event, corporate occasion or only a evening out with pals. It is the trendsetter for the next degree of progressive wellness. Whether alone or with your family, we ship your private journey. Buddha-Bar followers can anticipate to be wowed by the gorgeous new interior, which takes sophistication to new heights. On the one hand, yes, it’s true that Saudi Arabia is amongst the most conservative nations in the whole world – and that Syria is one of the most dangerous. But at the similar time, different Middle Eastern nations – like Lebanon, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and even Oman – are attracting extra Western tourists every year. Certain cities in these international locations have gotten, or are already well-known as – one might say – worldwide Meccas for nightlife.

[animatronicappreciation]

Do you know of any Pokémon animatronics?

Here are a few Pokemon animatronics made by fans:

1 2 3

There’s also an animatronic Mewtwo at the Pokemon Center in Shibuya, Japan.

(source)

- Mod Coyote

[pikachuanonesie]

What Is Kigurumi

A type of cosplay that employs the complete bodysuit, similar to a fursuit.  It is most frequently used with creature costumes and can also be worn to emulate people, mechs, mascots, etc.  Kigurumi is dressed up in character from head to toe.  They often wear masks which encompass their whole thoughts rather than just their face.  Characters like Mickey Mouse from Disneyland and Barney in Barney the Dinosaur are also referred to as Kigurumi from Japan.

Kigurumi is a part of Japanese civilization, which represents performing people who decorate like popular animation characters.  The word is truly a combination of the Japanese kiru (to wear) and also nuigurumi (stuffed toy).  Often seen in places like anime conventions, theme parks and even shopping malls, even a kigurumi costume always adds to the festivity of the occasion.  Even from American civilization, matters such as football mascots and winnie-the-pooh can be worn and believed kigurumi suits.  There’s not any limit, in fact, to this quantity of things a kigurumi costume is. Their range often includes:

Pikachu Onesie

Hello Kitty

Winnie the Pooh

Anime characters

Animals

Along with kigurumi still another piece of Japanese culture is called Kawaii fashion.  Much like kigurumi, Cos-Play is centered mostly around Japanese pop culture but will pull out of a few American fictions as well.   In choosing a character kigurumi costume, most frequently switch roles, playing the role they want without the limitations. Much of Kigurumi Shop actually revolves around sexual allure, and kigurumi costumes can at times be revealing and sometimes even explicit.  A character’s attractiveness is subsequently a leading force in choosing this specific design of a kigurumi suit.  Other well-known names you might understand include:

Jack Skellington

Stitch (From Lilo and Stitch)

Pokemon

Anime creatures

Disney creations

Even celebrity keeps growing in America, Japanese civilization is brimming with fashion culture and lifestyles which have Kigurumi.  Even in Europe, the Japanese hobby/ lifestyle has cut off and also has a robust following.  As time continues, cultures started to take their paths; now, there are fundamental differences.

In Japan, a Kigurumi lawsuit was initially widely utilized in staged anime shows.   Since Kigurumi spread to the West, a growing number of alternatives made a suitable Kigurumi costume.  This led to the thriving civilization that is now enjoyed all over the globe, east and west.

Inspiration Kigurumi Shop and costumes in Japan are a major source of inspiration and can be tracked back by today’s Kigurumi participants.  Needless to say, since the culture grew and spread, more”mask makers” (because they are understood ) got active in the culture and contribute to what it has become today.  Adhering to the timeline, you can find key months in the infant stages of Kawaii fashion in which costumes began to evolve.  The masks, which began looking just like masquerade masks, evolved into the anime personalities we view now.  From that point, the theme spread from anime to a variety of fictional cartoon characters and mascots that adoring fans like dressing up as.

The enjoyable and exciting civilization has been embraced by many and is now growing annually in regions like Europe and America.  Surely, new thoughts and new personality changes could help keep Kigurumi alive and thriving for quite some time in the future. Individuals everywhere, old and young, should be in a position to enjoy the culture and its imaginative fun.

[mirai-e-jump]

ポケモン | Baby Blue Eyes

[antasmas]

Hi there! I was the anon that asked about the postcards? I saw your pictures of the folder and I love it! For the postcards you found online, is there anything at the back of it? Also, I would love to see some stuff from the crobat, hoopa, and dusknoir like that you mentioned. Also, how do you get your stuff? Do you live in Japan? I really love the Pokemon coloring books that they have in Japan. I hope you get some too but yeah I'd love to see more stuff scanned, especially postcards, thanks <3!

Hi again, anon! Some of the postcards I have do have something on the back of them iirc (like the Galar Ponyta one has G. Ponyta on the back, and the Gmax Pokemon postcard has Gmax Gengar on the back). I’ll have to actually look through my non-imp line scans since I haven’t really looked at them/edited them in a year :’^) I get most of my stuff from Japan via proxy (I use Zenmarket for Yahoo Japan Auctions, Surugaya, to buy directly from the JP Pokemon Center, etc. while I use Japonica Market for Mercari JP and also to get stuff directly from the JP Pokemon Center)! I also get stuff from other collectors since I’m part of a couple of groups for it (same group but on different platforms tbh)

Edit: I also forgot to mention but while I’m thinking about it more, I most likely won’t post most of my scans unless I know the source for them since most of the things I’ve gotten were when I first started collecting or older stuff I didn’t know about unfortunately

[animepopheart]

As the Spirit Moves You: How Studio Ghibli Films Leave Room for A Range of Religious Interpretations

Today’s guest post is by Kaitlyn Ugoretz, a PhD student in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara whose research focuses on the globalization of Shinto through popular and digital media and the growth of online Shinto communities.

Since childhood, my life has been suffused with an appreciation for both anime and religion. Saturday mornings were dedicated to the weekly ritual of watching cartoons with my father (Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sailor Moon, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing—if it was on Toonami or WB Kids, we watched it!), and Sunday mornings were spent listening to him preach the gospel as the minister of our small Presbyterian church.

As a child, I never really thought about how anime and religion might intersect, but all that changed after I watched Miyazaki Hayao’s Spirited Away. Something about the heroines, spirits, and grand narratives about relationships between humans and the environment spoke to me and inspired a fascination that continues to shape my adult life. And thanks to social media and blogs like Beneath the Tangles, I know that I’m far from alone in feeling that there is something deeper—something that goes beyond what we might think of as “mere” entertainment—to be found in many anime. Today, I study the variety of religious/spiritual responses to anime as a scholar of Japanese religion, popular culture, and digital media.

Ghibli—Global Giant

Shinkai Makoto’s 2017 blockbuster animated film Your Name has given Spirited Away a run for its money in the box office, but Miyazaki Hayao’s 2001 masterpiece reclaimed its status this past June as the highest grossing anime film in the world after its long-awaited release in China. Studio Ghibli has produced an impressive 10 out of the world’s top 50 highest grossing animated films, including beloved favorites My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Ponyo.

Box office earnings are not necessarily an indicator of the spiritual depth of Studio Ghibli’s films, but they do demonstrate their enduring global appeal. Scholars of Japanese religion and popular culture, most notably Jolyon Baraka Thomas and Katharine Buljan and Carole M. Cusack, have shown that Miyazaki Hayao and Isao Takahata’s anime films resonate with audiences from a wide range of religious and cultural backgrounds and even inspire religious responses.

What is it about Ghibli films that continues to capture the hearts of people from all walks of life and allows for such a diversity of religious interpretations? Considering how Miyazaki represents his filmic intentions, in addition to how scholars and different fan audiences have interpreted the meaning of Studio Ghibli films, I find that it is the mixture of familiar and foreign religious elements that inspire us to reexamine our own beliefs and seek out those messages that resonate with us.

Miyazaki’s Mixed Messages

What Miyazaki intended to communicate to his audience through his films? After all, he is well-known for addressing moral and social concerns, including adolescence, good and evil, humanity’s relationship with nature and technology, modern anxieties, and nostalgia for the past. Given his tendency to populate his fictional worlds with spirits or gods (typically referred to as kami in Japanese) and other supernatural creatures who are closely related with nature, like the river spirit in Spirited Away and the Forest Spirit in Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki is often asked whether his films are meant to foster Shinto beliefs.

Cleansed river spirit

Shishigami-sama, the Great Forest Spirit

Shinto is a difficult tradition to define, as it has meant different things to different people throughout history. Some classify Shinto as a religion with clear beliefs and practices, while others characterize it as an essential part of everyday life in Japan which can only be understood experientially. In any case, most can agree that—at its core—Shinto is a ritual tradition which centers on the worship of kami, divine entities that inhabit extra-ordinary natural phenomena and man-made objects and whose favor grants benefits to one’s life in this world.

While this definition may seem to suit Miyazaki’s films well, the creator himself explicitly rejects Shinto as the source of his inspiration. Miyazaki grew up in the midst of WWII and his understanding of Shinto is informed by the legacy of what scholars call “State Shinto,” the modern Japanese government’s takeover of Shinto shrine affairs in order to promote imperialist and nationalistic ideologies. The filmmaker has given ambiguous answers to the question of whether his films are influenced by religion. In one interview, Miyazaki elaborated:

Dogma inevitably will find corruption, and I’ve certainly never made religion a basis for my films. My own religion, if you can call it that, has no practice, no Bible, no saints, only a desire to keep certain places and my own self as pure and holy as possible. That kind of spirituality is very important to me. Obviously it’s an essential value that cannot help but manifest in my films.

Through his consistently vague characterization of his personal brand of spirituality, Miyazaki—like any masterful storyteller—leaves room for his audience to draw upon the rich imagery, relatable characters, and familiar themes to create their own meaningful interpretations.

Scholarly Interpretations

Scholars of religion and media have interpreted Miyazaki’s works from a number of theological perspectives. Some argue that the kami characters and environmental ethics which Miyazaki employs are clearly drawn from Shinto, despite his claims to the contrary. Others have offered Christian interpretations of Miyazaki’s films. For example, Prince Ashitaka (Princess Mononoke) and Princess Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind) have been analyzed as messianic mediators between the profane and sinful realm of humanity and the sacred realm of Nature/Creation, as well as messengers of the gospel, promoting love and nonviolence.

Ashitaka goes into exile to restore harmony

Nausicaä is healed by the Ohm

Fan Interpretations

Scholars aren’t the only ones interested in the spiritual underpinnings of Ghibli films—fans around the world gather on- and offline to discuss their personal interpretations. These conversations are more than intellectual exercises; Thomas and Buljan and Cusack have shown that popular media like anime can inspire religious responses in audience members as well as entertain. That is, Ghibli films may influence viewers’ worldview and behavior, even if these viewers do not consider themselves to be religious. Thomas’s survey of Japanese fans shows that this influence may take many forms, such as a “belief in an immanent spiritual bond existing among all living things,” a pilgrimage to a special site like Yakushima forest (supposedly a source of inspiration for the sacred forest in Princess Mononoke), or a reenactment of the acorn-growing ritual portrayed in My Neighbor Totoro.

Erika Ogihara-Schuck examines how Miyazaki’s films have been translated into English and German in such a way as to secularize the spiritually-charged elements, referring to kami characters as “spirits” rather than “gods” and their powers as “magical” instead of “sacred” or “divine.” In some cases, this translation project has succeeded; some fans view Miyazaki’s films as ‘simply entertaining,’ while others read them as uncomfortably morally ambiguous, superstitious, or explicitly opposed to Christian theology. Still others in the Christian blogosphere—including contributors on sites such as Beneath the Tangles and Christ X Pop Culture—have found plenty of food for thought in Studio Ghibli films, prompting discussions of how anime narratives might productively challenge and affirm their core values as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some audiences, as I have discovered in my own research, draw upon Studio Ghibli films as a source of Shinto spiritual instruction. In my study of the growth of predominantly non-Japanese online Shinto communities (OSCs) on social media, I find that anime plays an important role in the fostering of interest in Japanese religions, as well as participation in OSCs.

In interviews, surveys, and posts, several of the leading, active members of OSCs have noted that their early exposure to Ghibli films are what inspired their further study and adoption of Shinto. In community discussions, members share their interpretations of religious elements in anime. These conversations often focus on the relationship between humanity, kami, and nature and affirm the importance of moral character and gratitude. In similar fashion to other online religious communities, OSC members will comment on posts and keep the discussion going, negotiating interpretations, sharing links to blog posts and video clips which they find informative, and posing further questions.

In response to new members’ requests for more information about Shinto, each OSC has created its own list of recommended resources, which often include anime films and series in addition to books and blogs. As such, Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke have become, in effect, ‘required reading’ for OSC members. In this way, Ghibli films function as an important introduction to Japanese spirituality—particularly Shinto—for international audiences and a resource for the construction of personal and community beliefs.

Language Games

How can Studio Ghibli films spark so many different religious responses and interpretations—Christian, Shinto, and otherwise? The answer lies with two key concepts: Jolyon Baraka Thomas’s theory of “playful religion” and Leonard Primiano’s theory of “vernacular religion.”

Thomas argues that the distinction we make between religion and   entertainment is artificial; entertainers can playfully use religious symbols to create an engaging story, and viewers can derive spiritual meaning from popular media, regardless of whether the creator intended for them to do so.

“Vernacular religion” refers to religion as it is lived—not what religious authorities say religion ‘should be,’ but how religious concepts are translated into a particular culture and actually practiced by people.

One way anime creators like Miyazaki manage to both entertain and inspire their audiences is to ‘play’ with the ‘languages’ of religion. These language games are a lot like playing Mad Libs. The storyteller chooses from among a variety of popular religious images and themes from different traditions—our collective religious vocabulary bank—and removes them from their original context. These religious elements are then recombined within a familiar narrative framework to create new images and stories that are compelling because they are both familiar and foreign to us. It is left up to each of us as audience members to make sense of these disassociated religious elements by translating them back into our own vernacular of faith.

Understanding this process of translation we all participate in as Studio Ghibli fans is important for two reasons. First, it reminds us that the meaning or significance of an anime is not defined by any one person’s vision, even that of its creator. No one has the ‘right’ answer. Our personal interpretations and those of others are just as meaningful, because they are grounded in our beliefs and thus have the power to affect the way we look at the world and live our lives. Second, the fact that the same images and themes can resonate with people of different faiths and backgrounds speaks to values we have in common, as well as a common desire to be spiritually engaged, as well as entertained, by the media we consume. Ultimately, the genius of Studio Ghibli films lies in their rich assemblage of religious symbols and grand narratives, which audience members are—if they are so inclined—free to interpret in a way that affirms their beliefs and feeds their soul.

Kaitlyn Ugoretz is a PK (Pastor’s Kid), anime fan, and PhD student in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on the globalization of Shinto through popular and digital media and the growth of online Shinto communities. Kaitlyn runs Digital Shinto, a site where anyone can learn about and participate in her ethnographic study of Shinto’s development outside of Japan.

—

Recommended Reading:

Buljan, Katherine and Carole M. Cusack. Anime, Religion, and Spirituality: Profane and Sacred Worlds in Contemporary Japan. Sheffield: Equinox Publishing Ltd., 2015.

Ogihara-Schuck, Erika. Miyazaki’s Animism Abroad: The Reception of Japanese Religious Themes in German and American Audiences. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2014.

Park, Jin Kyu. “‘Creating My Own Cultural and Spiritual Bubble’: Case of Cultural Consumption By Spiritual Seeker Anime Fans.” Culture and Religion 6.3 (2005): 393-413.

Thomas, Jolyon Baraka. Drawing on Tradition: Manga, Anime, and Religion in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai’i Press, 2012.

[primarinareblogs]

Official promotional artwork for the Oceanic Operetta line of products that will go on sale at all Pokemon Centers in Japan on July 6th!

Source

[cheswirls]

tether notes 1/3

long overdue, sry abt that.

pt. 1

why is there no change to the mines after 15+ years of destroying an environment?

i modeled the sinnoh region of tether almost exclusively on the hokkaido region of japan. from the layout of cities like sapporo, abashiri, and muroran, to geography like lake saroma northeast of veilstone and the hidaka mountain range for lower mt coronet, and especially, to the isolationism. i kept it trie to pokemon in the fact that sinnoh has no railways, unlike its real-life counterpart, which has plenty for traversing its vastness. a big part of hokkaido is how empty it is.

[on that note, though i mention both, i used muroran photography to model veilstone instead of abashiri, as its a proper port town. not super significant, jsu thought i’d bring it up, since muroran is sandgem’s counterpart.]

hokkaido is vastly underpopulated in ratio to its size. its mostly due to climate, and nature. things are far less technologized there. outside of sapporo, you won’t find very many glowing billboards and fancy casinos and active nightlife. you have to ride a train for hours to reach the next big town. the mountain range cuts the northern region in half.

when compared to this, little villages out in the middle of the wilds are far more isolated than towns. especially when they’re remnants of indigenous tribes. it’s sad, but it’s pretty standard process in the world nowadays -governments don’t care about the native people much. it’s prevalent in the united states, and if you’ve ever read commentary from fma’s mangaka arakawa, you’ll know the same is true for japan. the ainu are isolated to hokkaido. they aren’t looked after much.

so, even though it’s been a direct result of oreburgh’s mines’ negative effects, it’s still a matter of most of the sinnoh region not even knowing the village existed, and even if they did, not paying it mind. the wilds of sinnoh are difficult to traverse, and it’s more logical to take a boat to your destined city instead of traversing through them. that’s why so many of the big towns in sinnoh are located on a shore. for others, like jubilife and hearthome, there are airports that cater to people. and, for real life hokkaido, there are the trains.

i really wrote abt the mining incident in reference to bangladesh. in hokkaido, once all the prevalent mines started having accidents, the japanese government was quick to shut them down. in other eastern countries, especially bangladesh, the government is notorious for doing nothing abt the insane amounts of river pollution caused by factory waste. writing the river scene was heartbreaking, but learning about the trash rivers that prevail in countries with vast amounts of pollution, of the ones that run stark orange with mining waste, that was more difficult than anything i’d written for tether. 

so it comes down to being a mix of two things. one, sinnoh’s government viewing the production of the mine and the money it brings over the safety of the nature that surrounds it. and, two, no one noticing the damage anyway. it’s not like it ever affected oreburgh. or, maybe it did, but they installed the fresh-air vents to keep the mines clean, like the changes made in pokemon platinum suggest? the oreburgh mines are the sinnoh region’s majority of energy, after all (you can argue for sunyshore, but i’d say solar power only stretches so far from the source) so even if there’s a scuffle of it here or there, keeping it active is important.

also. my take of the pokemon world has always been a little gritty. so there’s that.

why hancock as champion?

i ask myself this question everyday. i don’t even like boa. why did i include her, if in name only? what was i thinking? oh well. it’s already been done.

[side note, again. if boa’s in charge of sinnoh, considering her, erm, personality, is it hard to believe nothing was ever done abt the mine pollution? aka does she care abt anyone but herself hm hm ]

pt 2.

i introduce a pokemon known as driftzel rather early on. it’s luffy’s, and it’s an in-progress pokemon, a concept i thought would be interesting to use. you can see what driftzel looks like here. it also links to the blog i got the idea from. instead of it being like a natural evolution, though, the idea in tether is more of a middle evolution for pokemon with two lines. so, there aren’t any for three-line evolutions. i was originally going to introduce ricaru, an evolution between riolu and lucario, but i moved away from that idea somewhere around writing part 4.

herbalist!law is the solution i came up with in lieu of him being a doctor. i had so much fun with the berries. when i was doing my maps for each part of tether, i had separate maps marking out the locations of berries in the games and which ones law collects along the journey to veilstone. 

hearthome is the only city i didn’t base on a real world counterpart. i think because i had too much to work with already. the cathedral, the contest hall, the gym. all the architecture. the poffin house. i didn’t wanna change anything abt hearthome, and more importantly, i wanted to portray part of japan’s hospitality here, too. it does extend all the way to hokkaido, yes. people are nice, and friendly, and happy to have travelers, just as depicted in all the games. 

yes, all of ace’s pokemon are named after spade pirates. except for isuka, because i couldn’t resist. yes, striker is a spade pirate, it was his ship. 

[in reference to the night walk between hearthome and solaceon] remember to bring a compass, when you’re in a region with a giant magnetic mountain range at its center, because it will be a lifesaver.

Law can see how uneasy Luffy still is, but as they walk further from the coast, he eases up, so he chooses not to ask

^ in platinum, the opposite shore houses the hallowed tower where you can encounter spiritomb. sensing the presence of an evil spirit leaves luffy on edge, thus their dodge to avoid it.

why are lunar wings, an event-only item, brought up in hearthome?

you’re right. lunar wing is a rare dppt item, and you can only get it after encountering cresselia on fullmoon island. my inspiration came from an episode of the dp anime, where a stall in canalave was selling the feathers as homage to the game event. actually, to go further, the same thing happened in the darkrai movie, which is where i got most of the insp. especially for the charms made out of them -look at the picture here!! i figured, with the sinnoh region i was depicting being a place of mostly friendly and peaceful pokemon, cresselia was more generous with her feathers. they make for popular items, and if they work in keeping the bad dreams away, whats the harm? plus, they’re in hearthome, a hotbed for tourists and foreign activity, because they’d sell best there. a good luck souvenir from sinnoh? sign me up.

but they are still lunar wings, and they do work, as shown with chimchar. i really wanted a piece of practical merchandise i could show off, and once i got the idea for chimchar’s introduction, i tweaked the hearthome scene to include the feathers. if you pay attention, though, you’ll note that law no longer has restless sleep after luffy’s secured a lunar wing.

the solaceon ruins was a place i wanted to explore so badly, but it just didn’t make sense within the continuity of the story, especially when i decided to go the northern route and introduce tsuru out of the fog. my original ideas were split between that, and law/lu cutting through the mountainous area of the ruins as a shortcut to veilstone. i was really captivated with exploring the uncharted areas of sinnoh’s map, and i think at this point i had established enough, so i decided they would stay on paved routes this time. but! i did want to bring it up, which is where carmel comes in.

in the games, there are houses on the outskirts of solaceon, nestled between the trees, and very close to the ruins. there’s one house where a little boy will give you ball capsule stickers. that’s the basis for mother carmel’s house. she lives there with anana, the first of the captive granddaughters to be introduced. 

anana is creepy in canon. you can’t die that. i used carmel’s canon portrayal to match, and then the scene becomes a match of who’s creepier -the ruins or this old lady? the atmosphere around the ruins is weird. there are unknown there, so the space is distorted. it’s an old place. it’s quite possibly connected to giratina and the distortion world, since there are unknown present. it’s supposed to be eerie and strange and off-putting. it’s supposed to feel like a place where a wandering child can disappear into quite easily. though, maybe carmel’s just inattentive.

The trees out here are tall, towering over them in shades of deep green and dull orange, a byproduct left over from spring’s bloom

i mention orange trees in a section of the woods just past solaceon. they’re not orange from fall, though, they’re naturally so. oran trees! any off-colored trees mentioned -assume they’re berry trees. also another berry thing i had fun with, deciding which was a bushel and which was a plant and which was a huge tree. 

i had way too much fun depicting the fog forest. i actually listened to a lot of pkmn soundtrack while writing tether, and for this part, this santalune forest remix was on constant replay. getting turned around, not being able to see your map, hearing the sounds and calls of wild pokemon, and then getting so lost in it that you begin to hear what isn’t there. not being able to see in front of you, barely able to dodge attacks and sabotage from wild pokemon, and feeling like youre going insane from myriads of different tunes clashing together. the road between solaceon and the dragon tamer’s house is terrifying, and i wanted to use this to depict the dangers of traveling in the pokemon world. though most sinnoh pokemon thus far had been shown to have good intentions, it can’t be said about every pokemon. 

not to mention the big drop you have before the bridge, right when you get out of the fog! not really even out of it, as it sticks around near the dragon tamer’s house. could you imagine encountering something like that in real life? imagine how many accidents there would be.

so i had a bit of trouble in deciding if i wanted to use tsuru or not. this was fairly early on in wano, and i knew i wanted to use tama, but who to pair her up with for grandmother/daughter matches was iffy. looking back at my list, i had lots of other picks for the dragon elder. gloriosa, shakky, kureha, rouge, gerth, even! carmel, too, at one point was a pick, since i planned this part out early on into the story. i actually had marine tsuru on the list as well! in the end, i think i decided on wano tsuru bc of all the dragon tie-ins thus far. if i were to go back, now, i think i might change it to toki and hiyori, possibly. or, tsuru and hiyori. not that i dont love tama, though, i do. 

i had a small list of grandkids, too, depending on who was the grandmother. anana, rebecca, tama, marguerite, and a few choices for marine tsuru (the standout was, apparently, isuka. then i repurposed the name for ace’s talonflame. tashigi was another pick, but in the end in wanted little girls.) at another point i thought about hiluluk and chopper, and had another grandfather/son combo that i can’t remember anymore. those were scrapped early on, since i wanted all girls. i also thought abt chimney and kokoro, but i wanted them on a more coastal city, to mirror water 7. 

there were two things i really wanted to happen in tether. one was a pokemon joining a team. and another was an evolution. part 2 fulfills one of those w chimchar, the pokemon i always wanted luffy to have, and the one i never knew i needed him to earn. also, giving pokemon their own personalities is really cute.

also, just before this scene, i take a skip, marking the second time an indefinite amount of time has passed between scenes. i realized while writing the time through mt coronet that i was writing more passively than actively, and this was speeding up things more than i liked. it’s why i took a break and depicted hearthome for a couple days, so that things were happening more in the moment. still, i hope at this point it’s gotten across that it’s taken a long time to travel to veilstone. moving across the entire region is a long journey, after all.

introducting aura, a movie concept.

so. aura was the main reason i wanted tether to take place in the sinnoh region. it’s actually mentioned in the games once, and that’s from riley, one of the sinnoh quartet, on iron island. in the movie where the concept is introduced, it’s brought with a lucario, another region. in the anime, riley has an active role in aura. but, for those who’ve just played the games, or know next to nothing abt pokemon, i tried to explain my best in-story. 

aura takes the place of conquerors haki in this pokemon verse, basically. you’re born with the sensitivity to it, so it’s not something just everyone can unlock. it’s rare, and it’s widely unknown. like law says, in sinnoh it’s considered an old myth. outside of sinnoh, it’s hardly known at all. so finding others to learn from is difficult. most people go their whole lives without even knowing what it is, just considering it natural luck that they can perceive things than others cannot. luffy meeting shanks, and learning that they both are sensitive to aura, is an incredible thing. having someone to teach you how to manipulate aura rare, and pretty amazing, when you think of the chances. but luffy and shanks live in different regions, and luffy has his own life. it’s been a long time, training, and as he expresses in part 2, he’s still not as far as he wants to be.

aura guardians, what shanks is, are almost unheard of. with great power comes great responsibility. and with great power comes the desire to obtain it. aura guardians are secret for a reason -if someone found out a person had an incredible power, and had the desire to, would they not seek it out for themselves? even to other aura users, revealing themselves wasn’t wise. protect yourself first. it’s a motto you’ll see come into play later.

with that said, and with one of the last things luffy mentions in part 2: could that have something to do with why shanks has gone missing?

[herobrinesfangirl]

All of the unique self ship asks? :3c

phantasmagorical - what is your favorite fantasy involving your f/o? this can be either sfw or nsfw, but please specify.

I have so many aus and fantasys, but one i always think of is, im just waling up and bendy is still asleep and just laying there, cuddling up to bendy and not wanting to move, beacuse i dont want to wake him and its so cute and mushy!

endive - if, under the circumstance, you were able to treat your f/o to a single, beautiful day without a budget, what would it consist of?

I would buy him clothing to disguise himself (because really, a toon walking around will cause panic) and taking him on a world tour, showing him more modern tech, and movies, and video games, and the big thing is japan where we will buy a bunch of pokemon merch at the poke centers and buy anime merch

limerance - gush about your f/o, no limits… but the catch is, gush as if its a message directly to your f/o. 

oh gosh hm, this is how it would be:

omg i love you so much bendy, your so cute, and adorable, and your toons are ao freaking a d o r a b l e, and i love it when you purr, and your tail is so fuccin cute! Your hooves are adorable, amd your clawa are cuteeee! I love your brooklyn accent! its so cute! i love everything about you bendy! so cuttteeee

au courant - describe in detail or provide an image of your favorite outfit your f/o has worn. if they only have one outfit, find, draw, or make an outfit collage online of something you’d like to see them in.

drawing attached

ubiquitous - how popular is your f/o in the fandom? do you think the fandom treats them well?

judging by all the x readers, au blogs, comics and stuff, pretty popular. TBH I gave bendy like angst of all angst backgrounds so i have no comment, i just dont like how people ship him with Alice AND THEY DONT TAG IT!

foofaraw - do your chosen aesthetics line up well with your f/os? meaning, if the two of you were to say, decorate a home, would your chosen styles clash or compliment each other?

If we were to get a house, we would decorate it in like a gothic style but mix in video games, dragons, and some anime.

fanfaronade - what would your f/o say when bragging about you to others?

"yeah, i gor the best wife ever, shes so cute and adorable, and she doeant take crap from anyone!"

ineffable - describe your f/o in only aesthetics. you can make a moodboard, or perhaps describe them with colors, songs, scents, unique words (; no explicit or literal details, if you can help it. be indirect. paint a picture.

ink, old cartoons, film reels, black and white, demon, dancing

serendipity - how did you first discover your f/o, or your f/os source material? how did you feel when you first saw your f/o in your source material? 

so i was browsing YouTube and saw da games had an animation for chapter 1. i watched it and laughed, then i watched the song build our machine like 100 times. every time i kept saying "dont fall in love with bendy" to myself. after like my 5th watch im like, well shit, im in love with bendy.

Drawing:

Which is a redraw of the royalty au drawing i made: