Japan

Cute Japanese font for download

. Japan, Resources, Typography

To be honest, Asian language fonts that is free are really hard to find, especially Japanese fonts. There are many Japanese fonts that can be type with English input but not the real actual Japanese input fonts. Plus, the system installed Japanese typefaces are so damn boring and too formal. But today I found a cute Japanese font free for download 😀 !

The font name is call “KFHimaji”. This font is multi-talented, because you can type alphabets, punctuation, Hiragana, Katakana and even Kanji and many more. The font example is shown below. The font was roundish, cute and happy. This is really one rare free font. So what are you waiting for? Just go to this page and download the cute font! [Direct Font Link] 😀

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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

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.

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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?

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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.

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Dondake & MTV Student Voice Awards 2007

. Japan

Recently 2007 MTV Student Voice Awards is held in Japan. This award is something like Teen Choice awards where the awards are choose by Japanese students. This is the first time I heard about this award. From the winning list, Micro of Def Tech was crowning the Best Artist award while Oguri Shun won the Best Actor award. Lets take a look on who won the other awards.

Award List

Artists/Music Categories

  • Best Artist: Micro of Def Tech
  • Best Group: W-inds.
  • Best Dance Artist: EXILE
  • Best Party Song: “Girlfriend,” Avril Lavigne
  • Best Ringtone: “Lovin’ Life,” FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
  • Best Lyrics: “Ketsui no Asa ni,” Aqua Timez
  • Best Karaoke: “CHE.R.RY,” YUI

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Toypography – A puzzle toy of type

. Art & Design, Inspiration, Japan

Wonder how to connect an English word to its kanji character? Well, let Toypography tell you. Toypography, which is a combination of the word toy and typography, is a toy that consisting of fragments of separate letters that can be put together to either English or Japanese letters and characters.

Toypography is created by a Japanese typography creator group called Dainippon Type Organization. The unique features of Toypography is that Japanese expressions can be transformed into English expressions of the same meaning. For example, the picture shown below. The English word “Bird” and transformed into kanji “鳥”. Amazing isn’t it?

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The Brilliant Green – Stand By Me

. J-Pop, Japan, Lyrics

In my early age of Jpop chasing, I hardly listen to The Brilliant Green‘s songs, maybe because they are in hiatus period. The only song I ever heard is Hello Another Way only. But recently when I watched J-drama “Tantei Gakuen Q” the credit part there… the familiar voice comes in. In such a short time I can’t remember who’s voice is this but I saw the running credit there written “The Brilliant Green – Stand by me”, I was so shock!

The Brilliant Green (or BuriGuri as short) has ended their hiatus by singing the Ending Theme for Tantei Gakuen Q, their 15th single but is the first since 2002, which released on the 22rd of August. I’m not a big fan of TBG but I want to say that this song is nice! I just love the voice of the lead singer Tomoko. Actually I listen to many Tomoko’s solo project: Tommy February6 and Heavenly6‘s songs, and they were good. 😀

According to thePPN, BuriGuri will release their best album somewhere near in the future, definitely will looking forward to it. Please read on to get to listen to the song as well as the lyrics and for the first time, translation from me! It is a very hard job for me because I’m not pro in Nihongo, and I use several online translation tools to get it done. It is not 100% accurately converting the lyrics but I think is almost there, hope you like it thanks! Yoroshiku!

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