Posts from — December 2007

Earlier in the year, I took a trip to Hong Kong, and posted a few selected “Hong Kong Picture Moments“. I’ve finally got alot more photos onto my Flickr account, so thought I’d share the link in case anyone is interested!

I’ve got 260 photos on there, split into 13 categories. If you like them (or not for that matter!), I’d be grateful if you leave a comment!

Hong Kong 2007 photos

Technorati Tags: Hong Kong, photography, unicorn

Danny Choo just posted a report by Yahoo Japan, where over 2 million Japanese anime fans voted for their favourite anime of 2007.

The top 10 out of 100 titles where as follows.

1 - sola
2 - Lucky Star
3 - Katei Kyoshi Hitman Reborn
4 - Ookiku Furi Kabutte
5 - Higurashi
6 - Gintama
7 - Nanoha StrikerS
8 - Nanatsuiro Drops
9 - Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
10 - Hidamari Sketch

Out of the 2 million votes, sola got 340,000, Lucky Star got 160,000 and Kateikyoshi Hitman Reborn got 130,000 votes

See more including links and videos on DannyChoo

Technorati Tags: anime, Japan, Best Anime of 2007

The popularity of Manga outside of Japan now seems to inevitably breed homegrown versions. See the following extracts from an article in Business Week from the 26th December and click the link below to read more…

Younger readers are abandoning stalwarts like Asterix for the Japanese comics known as manga. Now European publishers are creating their own.

At Frankfurt’s largest bookstore, Hugendubel, 18-year-old Svenja Malis bypasses the best sellers and heads to the comics section. She’s not looking for the latest Betty and Veronica or Supergirl, but manga, the richly illustrated Japanese comics that tell stories of love, mystery, and even horror. A friend got Malis hooked on manga three years ago and, like many girls in her class, she began to finance the habit with her monthly allowance. “I could also read American comics, but I prefer the Japanese ones because they’re less clumsy,” she says.

In Germany, where comic-book reading has traditionally been less widespread, manga now accounts for 70% of all comics sales, says Joachim Kaps, managing director of Hamburg-based Tokyopop, a manga publisher. “manga is one of the biggest success stories of publishing of the last decade.” So successful, in fact, that Germany is now producing and exporting its own manga.

Read more on Business Week

Technorati Tags: manga

Only in Japan?! I’m sure this could happen in any country!

From Core77

Technorati Tags: Japan, poor balcony design

For those who are serious about Hello Kitty. I know you’re out there!

Via Hello Kitty Hell

Technorati Tags: Hello Kitty, Hello Kitty Shinto Shrine

Aaron Young / Funkytwostep created “Street-Tripping” - a web comic that’s inspired by his Chinatown and New York surroundings.

Here’s the synopsis:

Street-Tripping is about a girl named Grapes who helps out at her auntie’s grocery in Chinatown. Ever since she was a baby she was prone to bad luck, which resulted in numerous self-injuries.

Will Grapes’ luck change with the arrival of this peculiar “gift?”

Here’s issue 3 - issues are now up to issue 8 on his site and seem to be updated every few days.

Aaron also has big plans for Hops - the Chinese Vampire in his tale, which is currently in production as a three inch figure. Here’s an initial sculpt.

Anyway, I love the whole idea and what Aaron is doing, so I’d recommend you click over to his site and have a peruse!

Street Tripping - A Girl and her Chinese Vampire

Via Vinyl Pulse

Technorati Tags: Aaron Young, Asian American, Funkytwostep, Street-Tripping, web comic

AsianPopcorn posted a translation of an article highlighting China’s Top Ten Successful actresses of 2007. For the good of cultural enlightenment, here’s the list with photos from the original article.

10. Xu Jinglei - She has been quiet and inactive for the past few years but 2007 was a breakthrough year for her mainly because of her popular and successful Sina blog which is the first to draw in millions of readers.

See more below…

Technorati Tags: actresses, China, China’s Top Ten Successful actresses of 2007, film

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As if all the drinking excess of the holiday season isn’t enough, here’s one drink that might “soothe” your palate (yeah right!).

Tokyo Times posted this curry flavoured, lemonade-like Ramune. I’m sure it tastes “ok”!

Via TokyoTimes

Technorati Tags: cuisine, curry flavoured drink, Japan, Ramune