Archive for September, 2007

RSP – Lifetime Respect ~Onna hen~ lyric

. J-Pop, Japan, Lyrics

Today, I want to introduce you a song called “Lifetime Respect ~女編 (onna hen)~” sang by a group RSP who originated from Kansai area. This song is released in August 8th, 2007 with the first week selling of 26,477 units. What makes this song unique is it actually is an answer song to the original version of “Lifetime Respect” which sang by Douzan Miki (三木道三) that released 6 years ago.

The original version which sang by Douzan Miki was served as a proposal song for a man to the girl he likes to become his wife and get together forever. During the release, the touching lyrics of the song was favored by many people and became a big hit.

But it will be hanging half-way if there is no answer from the female. RSP completed that by this woman version (女編) and from the rhythm, it suggests that the woman is agree on the proposal. Before going to the lyric of the song, let me introduce you further more about this rising star group. Continue reading

Sawajiri Erika & Yui Aragaki – the most wanted face

. Japan

A face is the most important aspect of a person’s physical characteristics, especially female artists who are in Japanese Entertainment Industry, because a good looking face, can leave a good impression by everyone. Besides the good look, healthy skin and great smile is both equally important too. According to a recent research, shows that now the Japanese females are paying more interests and attention to the look of the face.

Due to this trend, audition magazine “Monthly Debut” (Oricon Entertainment) recently conducted a survey “It’s all about the face”, and asking 1000 woman on “Which female celebrity face that you would like to become (なりたい顔ランキング)”. The result shows that Sawajiri Erika and Yui Aragaki has the most favorite face. Continue reading

Free online translation service for Japanese noob

. Japan, Resources

Although I had self-studied Japanese for several years and how much I indulged myself into Japanese stuff, I’m still at beginner level of Japanese language. Blame my own laziness :P. In the past, when I listen to Japanese songs, I listen to the rhythm is enough, but now, I want to know what is the lyric mean, plus i surf a lot and a lot Japanese sites, for example Oricon chart and Japanese Wikipedia pages. But with my own tiny knowledge of Japanese language, how am I going to interpret the exact meaning?

Then, I found some free online translation services on the Internet that allow us to translate either partial of text entered or the whole web page content from Japanese into English. It is very convenient and useful for me who know a little of Japanese only. Here I listed out 10 available translation services that you can use freely. Some of them even supports other languages as well. Continue reading

Get free stock photos at Crestock.com

. Art & Design, Resources

As a designer, I always hunt for free stuff, especially stock photos. These free stock images are important because they are free of charge and become handy when I can’t capture the photos myself. Crestock.com provides this by supplying free stock photos daily.

All you need to do is subscribe to their daily free stock photo RSS, and sign up to download the photo. Besides stock photo, free vectors was provided too, but only comes in once a month. Overall the free stock photo is good quality and huge in size, normally at least 2000px and above.

The picture shown above is one of the free stock photo i downloaded. Until now, I had download over 30-40 photos. So get yourself to Crestock.com and download the free stock photos! If you hunger for more, you can always go to this site and this site too.

4 sites for your testing needs

. Resources, Web Design

Human are always curious to test things out. We test things so that we can improve and be smarter. I found out 4 sites that provides free testing and comparing services that will save your time and to know your websites performance. The testing service varies from browser compatibility check to website readability test, let’s check this out.

Typetester – Compare screen fonts

Typetester is an online application for comparison of the fonts for the screen. You can compare 3 fonts at a time, with a variety of options to customize your comparison for example text size, leading, tracking etc. You can test the web-save fonts like Arial and Verdana, it even reads all the fonts installed in your system and you can use them to for testing too.

Continue reading

Creative packaging inspiration ~modern & vintage~

. Art & Design, Inspiration, Resources

Packaging is one of the most common example of graphic design in the world. Apart from displaying the important information, the packaging has become an important sales tool. With the use of illustration, color, typography and even various packaging materials, designers can create an attractive image and build a brand identity that is eye-catchy and impactful, yet preserve the contents.

A beautiful and attractive packaging or corporate sign can boost the selling and stands out from the rack of competitors. For example the IZZE beverage packaging shown above, their sales grew 450% per year over the first two years without any TV commercials, print and web advertising. It must be its unique & simplicity of graphic approach together with clear and refreshing typeface that attracts people to buy it.

Continue reading

Toda Erika in stunning beautiful kimono

. Japan

I’m absolutely stunned by these extremely beautiful pictures featuring my favourite idol Toda Erika on kimono. She is doing promotion for Kyoto Kimono Yuuzen (京都きもの友禅) which offering kimono rental and so on. This is the first time I saw her in kimono She looks absolutely gorgeous in it. This makes me like her more and more!

To be exact, Toda Erika is wearing furisode (振袖), which is one of the style of kimono. According to Wikipedia, the name “furisode” literally translates as swinging (furi) sleeves (sode), as furisode are distinguishable by their long sleeves, which average between 39 and 42 inches in length. Furisode is the most formal style of kimono worn by unmarried women in Japan.

The furisode is made of very fine, brightly colored silk, and is commonly rented or bought by parents for their daughters to wear when celebrating Coming of Age Day the year they turn 20. By wearing a furisode, a young woman signifies that she is both single and a legal adult, and thus available for marriage.

Continue reading

Say Hey to Hey! Say! 7

. J-Pop, Japan, Lyrics

Bokura wa heisei ONLY! Showa De SHOW wa muri,
Acchi mo kocchi mo ii ne! HEY-SAY wa ii ne!

This is how is the song lyric begins in Hey! Say! 7’s first single “Hey!Say!”. They are the latest Johnny’s Junior group which consists of five members. They were called Hey! Say! 7 because all the members are born in the Heisei era and that the year of their formation was 2007. The smallest is 13 and the eldest is 17 this year.

I still remember when I watch Music Station on Animax last week, Hey! Say! 7 was one of the performing artists and they were supported by their senior Kamenashi Kazuya. He was noticed about the youngness of this group, and he was keep saying that “I’m from Showa era”.

But what is this Heisei and Showa mean?

Continue reading

5+ business card inspiration sites that you can’t miss

. Art & Design, Inspiration

5+ business card inspiration sites that you can't miss

Business card is important. It reflects you and your company’s image and identity. Although the format is small so that it can be fitted into everyone’s wallet and card holder, but the design creativity is unlimited. It depends on how you want to make use of that small space and create the best designs.

Sometimes business card designs can be gone wild too, from transparent material to unconventional shapes. Here i present you 5 sites that will sparks your business card design inspiration and go out of the box. Business card printing is easy. Make your color business cards look their best with Ps Print custom printing services.

Continue reading

Senko hanabi – beautiful Japanese sparkler

. Japan

Remember the first time i saw this fireworks is on BoA’s “Valenti” PV. The fireworks is very different from the fireworks I played during festive season. The sparks are beautiful, but not very strong, and less smoke produced, and there’s a big red ball at the tip of the fireworks. It is very nice to watch. Then these few days I watched J-drama “Yama Onna Kabe Onna”, the fireworks appear again! After doing some research, finally i know that the fireworks is called Senko Hanabi (線香花火).

Japanese loves to play fireworks during festive season. From huge to small, fireworks is a very nice thing to play and it makes people feels better. And senko hanabi is the perfect companion, ideal for couples, friends and family gathering. A senko hanabi is a thin shaft of twisted paper about 20 centimeters long with one end containing a few grains of a special gunpowder.

Continue reading