A bulk of the anime we know and love are set in real-life locations in Japan. Often, the stories are based on a specific location mentioned in the anime, such as Ikebukuro where popular anime Durarara! and its sequel are set. In other cases, the setting is not mentioned but fans are quick to identify the location using scenes found in each episode. One such example would be the hit franchise The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, which featured scenery from Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture. Avid anime fans have had a long tradition of making pilgrimages to key spots in their favorite series through an activity known as Seichi Junrei. There’s now even a website dedicated to documenting these spots and they have recently released a ranking of the wards in Tokyo that contain the most number of pilgrimage spots.

If you only have a couple of days in Japan to go on a pilgrimage, this ranking should probably come in handy!

As expected, Chiyoda Ward topped the list with a whopping 234 pilgrimage spots, with many of them concentrated in Akihabara, the world-renowned home to everything otaku, as well as Kanda, where many major manga publishers are located. On top of  that, Chiyoda also hosts a university town where many higher education institutes are located. Some key anime known to be set in Chiyoda are Love Live!, Steins;Gate and the IDOLM@STER franchise.

Coming in second is the Shinjuku Ward, best known for its train station Shinjuku Station, which is also the busiest train station in the world. Because of its fame, the Shinjuku Station and surrounding architecture have also become popular features in anime. Some of the best known works that contain scenes from Shinjuku are the movies Garden of Words and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time as well as anime series Nisemonogatari.

Ranking in at a very close third is none other than Shibuya, home to Japan’s unique and colorful fashion culture centered in Harajuku and Omotesando. Furthermore, Shibuya’s Animate store is also an extremely popular hangout place for anime and manga fans. Some key titles that are set in Shibuya are Bakemonogatari, Nisekoi and the movie 5 Centimeters Per Second.

Will you be going on a pilgrimage on your next trip to Tokyo? If so, let us know where you’re headed!

Source: Niconico News
Featured Image: gfernandez

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Origin: The top 10 spots in Tokyo to make an anime pilgrimage
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Have you ever ordered a product online that turned out to be nothing like how it looked in the photo? You feel disappointed, annoyed, and slightly betrayed. It’s probably the same kind of feeling an artist gets when a product based on their designs doesn’t turn out quite like they expected.

When it comes to large anime franchises the original creator may be the one who gets all the credit, but they’re not necessarily the one who does all the work. They have teams of designers and illustrators working with them who will oversee things such as promotional material, images for magazines, merchandise, and so on. These people have a responsibility to make sure everything is in-keeping with the creator’s vision. Twitter user Yuna is one such illustrator who has done work for many famous anime, games, and other otakuish things.

Unfortunately, not everyone is so serious about fidelity to a series. Yuna was in charge of the original illustration work for a figure of hit anime Attack on Titan‘s (Shingeki no Kyojin) Corporal Levi. Unfortunately the finished model based on Yuna’s designs was quite different from what was expected.

And this isn’t just a case of changes being made further on down the line and not being communicated back. Apparently Yuna was actually sent a photo of the final figure for approval and gave the go ahead. However, when the figure arrived, something was very off. You could blame differences in positioning and lighting, but when you look closely at the eyes, which are one of the most important things in any anime character, they give a completely different impression from the original.

“Regarding the figure design I was in charge of, I got a call that the face was completely different. The image on the left was sent to me for quality checking so I replied with the OK, the figure that arrived on release day is on the right. Honestly, I’m shocked.”

私が原画を担当したフィギュアに関しまして、あまりにも顔が違うと連絡をいただくので。クオリティチェックで左の画像が送られてきたのでＯＫの返信をし、発売日に届いたフィギュアが右。 正直、私もびっくりしました色々と。色々とね。 http://t.co/xKlCcLAgM4

—
yuna (@yuna_slo) December 01, 2014

Yuna has over 40,000 followers who are always eager to see what the artist has been working on, and so feels a sense of responsibility for encouraging them to buy a product that turned out so poorly. And so the artist took to Twitter to voice their disappointment.

▼ “I was really happy to hear ‘I ordered it!’ and ‘I can’t wait!’ from my followers since I made announcements about it thinking it would be the quality shown on the left, but now it’s arrived… I don’t know what to say…”

左のクオリティだと思って告知してたので、フォロワーさんから「予約しました！楽しみです！」と連絡いただいて凄く嬉しかったけど、届いてから…私は何と言えばいいか………っていう

—
yuna (@yuna_slo) December 01, 2014

Naturally people were shocked by the difference in quality, but they didn’t blame Yuna.

▼ “It’s so bad you’d think it was a knockoff lololol”

@yuna_slo 海賊版かと疑うレベルwwwwwwwwww

—
ゆずの@カネキくんを食べたい(ツイ減) (@touhouproject53) December 01, 2014

▼ “It’s not Yuna’s fault… this is all the producer’s fault… I was shocked to see the photo. I can’t believe this happened.”

@yuna_slo yunaさんは悪くないですよ…これは完全に業者の責任ですね…写真見てビックリしました。こんなこと本当にあるんですね(´・д｀・；)

—
けろち (@exlabu) December 01, 2014

▼ “Sorry to butt in, but I saw this figure too when I was shopping in Nihonbashi. But I think the one I saw was the better one (on the left) that Yuna gave the OK to.”

@yuna_slo 横入りすいません、私も日本橋で買い物をしていた時にこのフィギュア見ました。でも私が見た方はyunaさんがOK出されたかっこいい方(左の方)だったと思います。

—
とめ八 (@tomehachi_8) December 01, 2014

▼ “I saw the one on the left in Lashinbang, but I guess then this happened… it’s shocking…”

@yuna_slo 私は羅針盤で左のリヴァイさん見たことあるんですが、こんなことになってるのですね……これはびっくりします…

—
梅猫❀テスト週間→精神崩壊の猫❀ (@kuronekoxxxxx) December 01, 2014

From the above comments it seems likely that there was a dud batch that sneaked through quality control. We’re sure the issue will be resolved soon as it can’t be good for the producers to have their artist publicly lambasting them in front of the people who would be buying their products!

▼ A compilation video of Corporal Levi’s badassery so you can see his usual expression. Admittedly it is a unique character design, but that’s all the more reason to get it perfect.

What do you think? Would you return this figure if you received it in the mail? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Twitter via Hachima Kikou

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Origin: Just a dud batch? Original artist shocked by shoddy final version of Attack on Titan figure
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Long ago, being an otaku, one of Japan’s hyper-obsessive subculture fans, made you sort of an outcast. People, especially respectable adults, didn’t really want to look at you, either out of embarrassment for your childish hobbies, or perhaps fear that having spent the last three days indoors had given you a case of shut-in cooties that would jump onto them.

That’s starting to change, though. More and more people are becoming comfortable identifying themselves as otaku, and while some still worry their fixations on fantasy are a drain on society, they’re definitely a boost to the economy, as shown by a survey that indicates spending is up in several sectors of the otaku world.

Like the combining segments of a giant robot, Japan’s Yano Research recently concluded two studies on Japanese otaku, one soliciting information from consumers, and the other from businesses. In the first, the firm polled 18,000 people between the ages of 15 and 69. Around 23 percent identified themselves as otaku (or said they believe others see them as such), an eye-openingly large number for a group that’s traditionally been defined as having tastes outside the mainstream.

Out of those who accepted the otaku label, one in three was either currently married or had been in the past. 13 percent had never been married but were currently dating, with another 19 percent having never been married and broken up with their previous romantic partner. The remaining 35 percent had no significant romantic experience, never being married, and having never been in a serious relationship.

The second half of Yano’s survey dealt with how much money subgroups poured into their personal otaku preferences over the last year. Let’s take a look at some of the standouts:

Idols (up 19.9 percent from last year, revenue of 86.3 billion yen [US $719 million])

Sales of pop idol-related products saw a huge surge from the previous year, rising to 86.3 billion yen (US$719 million) on the numerous backs of supergroups such as AKB48 and Momoiro Clover Z.

Vocaloids (up 19.2 percent, 8.7 billion yen [$73.8 million])

Musical artists who’re literally created by their producers also had a good year, with sales of Hatsune Miku V3 giving the segment a big boost.

Toy guns (up 23.1 percent, 8 billion yen [$67.8 million])

The makers of replica and airsoft guns enjoyed one of the biggest gains of the year, as the growing popularity of “survival games” in Japan means more and more otaku are looking to arm themselves.

Figures (down 0.2 percent, 31.1 billion yen [$263.7 million])

Preassembled decorative figurines, usually of the anime and video game variety, continue to attract a lot of cash. That said, sales were slightly down, meaning there’s probably just a little more empty space on the shelves and desks of Japan’s otaku right now.

Plastic models (up 2.2 percent, 25.4 billion yen [$215.4 million])

On the other hand, build-it-yourself plastic model kits saw increased interest this year, either due to good old human industriousness or the inspiration of seeing what a skilled hobbyist can do with the right painting technique.

Model trains (up 1.1 percent, 8.8 billion yen [$74.6 million])

Most Japanese homes aren’t nearly big enough to set up an extensive miniature rail network, but model train otaku still helped the sector chug along in 2014.

Dojinshi (up 2.2 percent, 73.2 billion yen [$620.7 million])

Helped by the continued shift to digital distribution, Japan’s self-producing comic creators are proving manga talent isn’t completely tied up by big-name publishers.

Romance games (up 10.2 percent, 13 billion yen [$110 million])

Dating simulators, whether aimed at guys or girls, tend not to require the most powerful hardware. With a number of mature, price-cut handheld systems, plus nearly every young Japanese urbanite sporting a gaming-capable smartphone, there’s no shortage of platforms for these all-ages games, and love is in the air, or at least on the screen.

Adult video games (down 5.1 percent, 18.8 billion yen [$159 million])

Whether you call them adult games, H titles, or eroge, it was a hard, hard year for interactive digital boning.

Boys’ love (down 0.5 percent, 21.4 billion yen [$181 million])

While it didn’t suffer the same letdown that adult video games did, Japan’s tales of fictional male-on-male love also failed to rise in 2014.

Cosplay (up 1 percent, 42.3 billion yen [$358.7 million])

Just like it does in reality, the fashion of anime and video game worlds is constantly evolving, and keeping up with the latest 2-D trends means shelling out for new goodies and materials.

Despite a couple of rough spots, overall, 2014 looks to have been a strong showing for the connected industry as a whole, and further proof that when it comes to their economic clout, the otaku are nothing to laugh at.

Source: IT Media
Top image: Livedoor
Insert images: Namba Center Gai, Internet Watch, FC2, Google Play, Mandarake

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• Tax the Handsome: One Homely Guy’s Solution to the Declining Birth Rate

Origin: State of the otaku union – Survey reveals vocaloids up, adult games down in 2014
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For the past six years, I’ve made a point of buying myself a little Rilakkuma daily planner each January and using it to keep track of my appointments, deadlines, to-do lists, etc. These kinds of daily planners are widely used in Japan, perhaps as a result of the Japanese love of punctuality and efficiency (or maybe they’re so punctual and efficient because everyone uses daily planners?) Sure, you could use the functions built into your smartphone or tablet, but there’s something about writing things down that just makes you feel like you’ve got it all together. Also, and this is kind of geeky, but it’s sorta fun to flip through your old schedule books and see what you were up to on x date 3 years ago. In fact, Japan loves schedule books so much that you can now choose from a huge range of styles which are tailor-made to cater to specific lifestyles. Whether you’re a hostess, train otaku or exam-cramming student, there’s a schedule book out there for you!

Let’s jump right in with the top 7 “specialized” daily planners available for purchase in Japan!

1. Hostess planner

Being a hostess is a lot of work! (…Apparently. I mean, I’ve never tried it.) There’s a lot of customers’ names to remember, not to mention all that after-work schmoozing you have to do. This planner apparently has charts for filling in dates, customers’ names, and tallying up, erm, bonuses. It also looks fancy, meaning it won’t clash with your shiny dress! Perfect for ladies hard at work out there in the mizu shobai!

Clubdiary.jp

2. Anime otaku planner

If you know someone who’s a fan of the long-running Gundam anime series, then this planner themed around major character Char Aznable could be an ideal Christmas present for them! Each month features a different shot from the anime, and the shiny red embossed cover makes it a seriously cool accessory!

Biglobe.ne.jp

3.  Astronomy planner

If you’re a fan of science and all things space, then you’ll be over the moon with this planner which is packed with facts and figures! Star charts and constellations are included each month so you can keep track of the skies while you keep track of the minutiae of your daily life. You’ll never accidentally sleep through that solar eclipse or meteor shower again with this meaty reference book in your pocket!

Blogs.c.yimg.jp

4. Udon enthusiast planner

This stylish planner has dedicated areas in which to record consistency, taste and marks out of ten for a variety of udon shops in Kagawa prefecture. Available in muted green or understated yellow, this little souvenir will serve as a perfect reminder of your culinary jaunt around the prefecture!

Setouchicogeiz.com

5. Train otaku planner

If you’re one of those people who just can’t get enough of trains, then this is your new bible! It includes route maps, train serial numbers and other related in-depth train information encompassing most of Japan’s rail networks, and even the Shinkansen! There’s also even a little slot on the front cover in which to keep your paper ticket while travelling (although since we’re now firmly in the age of the IC prepaid train card such as the Suica/Pasmo/Icoca, surely only a noob would buy a paper ticket anyway?)

Biglobe.ne.jp

6. Historical planner

If you’re a Japanese history buff, then you’re going to need one of these in your pocket in case you forget any important dates or facts and for some reason find yourself out of wifi range. These planners have actually been sold in Japan for the past SIXTY years, and only this year are they finally being updated with new information (sixty years’ worth, in fact!)

Yoshikawa-k.co.jp

7 . Jobhunting planner

Japanese university students embarking on the gruelling endurance march that is shuukatsu, or job-hunting, are no doubt in need of all the help they can get. Featuring 22 months’ worth of scheduling space, this handy book is perfect for writing down interview dates, potential bosses’ names and results of employment exams. Personally, though, the thought of having to spend 22 months pounding the pavements looking for a job has made my palms sweat so badly, I think I’m going to have to wrap things up here.

Atpress.ne.jp

If, like me, you’re one of those people who simply HAS to have everything in (at least some semblance of) neat and tidy order, then there’s almost certainly a daily planner in Japan out there for your specific needs and tastes!

Source: Curazy.com
Main Image: Trendy.nikkeibp

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Origin: 7 Japanese daily planners to suit every lifestyle, from hostess to otaku!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Wotagei, Japan’s unusual form of otaku dancing, is spreading across the seas and capturing the hearts of foreign idol and anime fans, causing them to contort their bodies in strange but rhythmic formations. Read on for more about this unique performance art and watch some videos of afficionados in action.

What is wotagei?

Wotagei is basically a form of dance-like cheering that’s done in support of an idol at their concerts, and has grown into its own unique culture. The name comes from a combination of the words otaku and gei, which means performance or skill–the same “gei” that appears in the word geisha. It’s kind of like an otaku version of para para but instead of being linked to clubbing and fashion it comes from the idol scene in Akihabara where cute young girls perform to legions of young and middle-aged men. Wotagei routines are based around simple moves and Japanese phrases that have become standardized.

Each song by a particular idol will have its own specific routine for fans to perform, and people will often have pen lights with them that will be a different colour depending on the artist or song. Some fans will even have matching T-shirts or jackets. Everyone who shows up to these events already knows the correct moves for each song which creates a nerdy club of exclusivity where you’re not a real fan unless you can join in. The moves are fairly simple on their own but once strung together it can get quite complex and intense. Most importantly, you’ve really gotta put your heart into it! And make sure you have plenty of space or you could poke someone’s eye out.

▼ Wotagei “for beginners” actually looks quite difficult to me

▼ The ‘Narcissus’ move is a ‘soul explosion’, or a strange contorting of the body to express that you’re overcome with emotion. It can be used at any point in a routine. If you see someone doing this at an idol even they’re probably not, as you might first think, having a seizure; their soul is just exploding with uncontainable emotion.

Wotagei abroad

There are more and more opportunities to see wotagei in action in Japan at idol and anime-related concerts, and it seems like it’s catching on outside Japan now too. It’s still very much Japanese-influenced though as the mysterious moves and shouts have been exported as-is, and it’s predominantly popular with people who were already interested in Japanese anime and idol culture.

▼ At Japan Expo 2014 in France we see Rio Hiiragi and wotagei group PCF leading fans in an enthusiastic jump-athon.

▼ And it’s people of all nationalities who’ve fallen under wotagei’s bizarre spell. Here we’ve got a performance in central park, New York, by an American, Indonesian, Mexican, and French person.

The future of Wotagei

While there are many idol and anime song events that encourage wotagei, some places have banned it as it can be a nuisance, with overenthusiastic wotagei groups spoiling it for others who are simply there to enjoy the artist. This style of cheer-dancing was born as a way to support idols and participate in events but it’s now developing separately from that. People are discovering the fun of creating and uploading routines to YouTube and perfecting their skills themselves, and are coming up with some really cool stuff.

▼ Group Katotsuyo makes great use of their glow sticks in this nighttime performance.

▼ Team PCF performs wotagei to the Shingeki no Kyojin anime OP.

What do you think of wotagei? Have you ever tried it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Naver Matome, YouTube

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Origin: Bizarre otaku dancing catches on as Wotagei spreads around the world【Videos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Over the last few years, it’s become a trend for truly obsessive anime fans to start referring to their favorite female character as their wife, or waifu, thanks to the Japanese language’s almost complete lack of terminal consonants. Honestly, the whole phenomena is crazy, because how can you claim someone’s your spouse with no legal paperwork?

Seeking to make the spousal bond between husband and anime wife just a little more legitimate, one company is now offering marriage packs, complete with marriage certificates, for two popular anime lasses.

Curtain Damashi’s bread and butter is curtains decorated with anime characters that you can hang in your home (ostensibly with the characters facing inside, not staring out at your neighbors and making them feel awkward). Two of the company’s newest designs feature Kirino and Ruri, also known as Kuroneko, characters from teen comedy/incest tease Ore no Imoto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai, or My Little Sister Can’t be this Cute.

In order to maximize the curtains’ waifu factor, each depicts the characters in a wedding gown.

There’s even a third pattern which feature both girls together, making it the perfect interior decoration for indecisive otaku looking for a harem of their own.

The curtains are priced at 20,000 yen (US$170), but while they’ll definitely serve as testament to your emotional sincerity and financial commitment, they don’t really provide any proof that your two-dimensional fiancé didn’t suddenly change her mind and leave you at the alter. To show you both really took the plunge, you’ll need to pony up 11,198 yen for a set that includes an Ore no Imoto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai personal seal, plus a marriage certificate.

When ordering, you can have the seal made with whatever name you like, but the subtle suggestion seems to be that you should have it made out with that of the girl of your choice, so you can affix her seal next to yours on the marriage certificate.

▼ Kuroneko version

But while the anime has a relaxed attitude regarding romantic love between siblings, Curtain Damashi seems to have taken a more hardline stance where polygamy is concerned, as there’s no combo pack that comes bundled with marriage certificates for both girls. Likewise, the 4,980-yen wedding cakes are sold separately.

▼ Remember, should you ever graduate to marrying a real girl, the guests at your reception will probably be kind of freaked out if they have to watch you slice into a recreation of your new bride’s face before they can eat dessert.

And finally, Curtain Damashi can set you up with a deluxe package of curtain, marriage certificate, and cake of your preferred waifu for 34,980 yen, which, like the separate items, can be ordered here.

After all, if you’re obsessive enough to fill out a marriage certificate for your anime crush, you’re probably also obsessive enough to want and all of her body of merchandising goods,

Source: Curtain Damashi via Jin
Images: Curtain Damashi

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Origin: Ready to tie the anime knot? Company offers marriage certificate for you and your 2D waifu
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

With all of the secular Christmas decoration displays at shopping centers, and Japan’s focus on finding a date at this time of year, it’s all too easy to forget the real reason for the holiday on December 25. Really, the central figure in our minds shouldn’t be Santa, nor the cute girl or hot guy you just went on a Christmas Eve date with.

Christmas is a day when we should all stop for a moment to remember that the holiday is an observation of the birth of an amazing individual. Someone who, at times when our souls are tested, has always been there to show us the way, through his combination of wisdom, courage, and ability to effortlessly slice a 30-meter giant to death.

In other words, happy birthday, Attack on Titan’s Levi!

Yes, December 25 is the birthday of the cool and ruthless Captain Levi. While the younger, more emotional Eren is the ostensible hero of Hajime Isayama’s hit manga, and leading lady Mikasa has her fair share of fans, Levi is by far the most popular character in the series.

With December 24 being the height of Christmas festivities in Japan, Christmas Day itself can be almost dully quiet. That’s not the case for Levi’s legions of admirers, though, who’ve spent the day celebrating the birth of the 160-centimeter (five-foot, three-inch) powerhouse.

▼ Can’t have a birthday party without cake, right?

兵長誕生日おめでとおおお！！！！今回は兵長のために苺タルト作ってみました♡あんまり豪華じゃないけど祝う気持ちは人一倍！！！！兵長大好き！！！！ #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 #リヴァイ兵長の誕生日に心臓捧げる人RT http://t.co/lZwQdr2OIp

—
炭酸水@兵長生誕祭 (@sooodaaa) December 24, 2014

兵長お誕生日おめでとうございます！ お顔ぶちゃいくになっちゃったけども、愛はたんまり籠めました！ #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 http://t.co/bxz19PoLb9

—
千暁@1/11:6Dや12a (@0i0i0i0i0i0i0) December 24, 2014

▼ Some Japanese people claim to not like the idea of eating food coloring. That doesn’t seem to be a problem for this fan.

兵長誕生日おめでとう♥♥大好きー！！ #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 http://t.co/l7pdEDIClV

—
예청/ひゅら@2日目西れ30b (@hikapura) December 24, 2014

▼ Whether you think throwing a birthday party for your anime crush is excessive or not, you’ve got to admit the Levi-faced daruma doll is a pretty cool idea.

リヴァイ兵長誕生日おめでとう！！！人類最強で掃除好きの紅茶好きな貴方が大好きです!!生まれてきてくれてありがとう！！そして、いつか兵長の手で巨人を絶滅させて下さい 皆兵長が幸せになってくれる事を祈ってます #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 http://t.co/oBtcKzjoSd

—
モロン＊兵長誕巨人展 (@white_peach2512) December 24, 2014

Most of the time, Levi is all about the Titan-killing, and shows interest in little, if anything else. He is often depicted sipping a cup of tea, though, so it makes sense that it would be the beverage of choice to prepare in his honor.

リヴァイ兵長お誕生日おめでとうございます！&諫山先生ありがとうございます！ ・お前の残した意志が俺に力を与える ・だからまあせいぜい悔いの残らない方を自分で選べ ・アルミン・・ありがとう #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 http://t.co/s0iCPhtY8M

—
福澤 (@fukusawalevi) December 24, 2014

▼ Is Levi checking out that plate of scones because he thinks they look tasty, or because he deduces that with such giant-sized food lying around, there might be Titans in the area as well?

リヴァイ、häþþÿ♡ßïRTHDÄÿ 私が書いてるＳＳではペトラとラブラブで紅茶料理をいつも楽しみ帰宅する！得意な紅茶スコーンをじーっと見つめるリヴァイ！ #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 http://t.co/qYJ6dIaFTM

—
女上アサヒ - Megami Asahi (@lamaku_pele) December 24, 2014

It may not be tea, but Aichi Prefecture’s Belcorno restaurant, frequent latte art contributors, also whipped up a special cup for the Captain.

ラテアート【リヴァイ兵長】＠進撃の巨人 LatteArt【 Attack on Titan 】 本日お誕生日で１杯。 Happy Birthday! #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭 http://t.co/ks4XkFi569

—
BELCORNO＠ラテアート (@BELCORNO) December 24, 2014

Leaving drinks behind, one fan decided to give a tip of the hat to Levi’s other indulgence, meticulous cleaning.

▼ Although that teacup next to the futon is just asking to get spilled all over the flooring when he wakes up.

リヴァイ兵長、お誕生日おめでとうございます。生まれてきてくれてありがとう http://t.co/p2Y7pXrM7O

—
アキノ (@akino_sk) December 24, 2014

▼ A recreation of the Survey Corps’ forest ambush operation, but substituting streamers for harpoons. We’re sure neat freak Levi is thankful none of the party crackers are stuffed with cockroaches.

#リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 おめでとうございますリヴァイ兵長！！！！ http://t.co/PMAM9g9Nwp

—
メリークリスマスれまほ (@remarema1500) December 24, 2014

▼ The life of Levi, in GIF format

兵長を祝福しますＧＩＦ！ 皆兵長が大好きです～！ #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 pic.twitter.com/hyJFrVhQeB

—
くっきー@原稿 (@db_cookie) December 24, 2014

Perhaps the award for most work put into a birthday greeting goes to this fan, who claims to have drawn 1,225 (as in 12-25/December 25) little Levis in this scene.

▼ We’re just going to take her word that the Levi count is accurate.

ひとまず1225人分線画でスミマセンッ！！！！兵長おめでとおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおおお！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！だいすき；；；；；；；；！！！！！！！！！ http://t.co/pwoqGvzH1Q

—
カナ@1225人の兵長生産中 (@7loveet31) December 24, 2014

And finally, even if you lack the artistic or culinary skills to make a piece of fan art or bake a cake, you can always get in on the celebration by sharing a picture of your stash of posters, plushies, and other anime goodies.

▼ More Levis than a blue jeans factory

兵長に出会えて本当良かった！たくさんの人と出会えて、思い出もたくさん増えました。これからの活躍も期待しています。 リヴァイ兵士長、お誕生日おめでとうございます！！(ﻭ˘ω˘ )> #兵長生誕祭2014 #リヴァイ兵長生誕祭2014 http://t.co/k81Lfwo7Gt

—
有江菜依 (@Arie_nai) December 24, 2014

Merry Levi Day! God bless us (and save us from the Titans), everyone!

Source: Jin
Top image: Rocketnews24
Insert images: Twitter (1, 2, 3)

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• Attack on Titan star Levi graces cover of Japanese women’s magazine

Origin: The true meaning of December 25: The birth of Levi from Attack on Titan
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

As someone who used to own several anime T-shirts, I can see the appeal of clothing yourself in images of your favorite series. Some might argue it’s silly to turn yourself into a walking billboard for any product or organization, but if the art is part of what attracted you to the show, wanting to wear a piece of it doesn’t necessarily brand you as some sort of mindless slave to consumerism.

If nothing else, it’s a way to communicate your passion for your hobby to those around you, and can occasionally serve as an ice breaker for meeting like-minded individuals. In a sense, anime clothing is the uniform of an anime fan.

Although, in the case of this incredibly dedicated otaku, it’s more like his armor.

While each new TV season brings a new bevy of anime beauties for male fans to obsess over, the popularity of high-school idol singer story Love Live! is proving to have some pretty deep roots. Six months after the anime’s last episode aired, fans are still clamoring for more merchandise (not to mention reruns).

But if you’re looking to score some of whatever the next batch of Love Live! goodies are, you’re going to have to act fast when they’re released, lest the guy pictured below buy all of them.

いまお祭りになっているこのラブライバー。 愛だと肯定するかキモいと否定するかあなたはどっちですか？ http://t.co/SWnWk3lSgk

—
sea亀 (@umigame2D) December 22, 2014

Twitter user Umigame 2D recently shared a series of photos of a Love Live! devotee, or Love Liver, as the Japanese otaku community has taken to calling them, dressed up for a fan event. Highlights of the intricately arranged outfit include the Love Live! shoulder bag at the small of the back, plush toys clipped to the hips, and the two custom Love Live! laptop cases serving as gloves.

▼ There also appears to be some sort of hood apparatus the wearer can flip up to cover his head while outdoors.

But by far the craziest points of all are the literally dozens of pins and key chains, overlapping like plates of protective armoring. There’s a common stereotype that otaku, by nature of all the time spent sitting in front of a TV or computer monitor their hobbies necessitate, aren’t very physically fit. Since Umigame 2D’s photos don’t show the wearer himself, we can’t directly comment on his build. Considering how much this getup must weigh, though, and at least while he’s inside it, this Love Liver is getting a pretty decent workout.

Plus, should he happen to run into any time-travelling samurai, they’re sure to be impressed by his lamellar-crafting skills.

Source: Jin
Images: Twitter

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Origin: Otaku armor! Yes, there really is a dude wearing this mountain of anime merchandise
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

A while back, we took a look at some Japanese wedding receptions that took cues from Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda and Konami’s Beatmania rhythm game. Japan isn’t the only place where fictional fandom and romantic nuptials cross paths, though.

This month, an American couple that seems to love Sailor Moon almost as much as they love each other took their vows, and not only are the outfits they wore for their ceremony the classiest cosplay we’ve seen in a long time, they’re just the beginning of the wedding’s many elegantly beautiful anime-inspired touches.

The bride, Michelle Nguyen, is a professional event planner who also has experience working in the wedding and hotel industry. So when she and her fiancé decided to tie the knot, of course Nguyen was going to play an active role in coordinating her own wedding. Right away, the self-professed otaku knew just what the theme should be: Sailor Moon.

▼ Sailor Moon’s Crescent Moon Wand can be seen in the lace pattern on the back of Nguyen’s gown.

But while Nguyen and her husband are huge anime fans, they’re also fashion-conscious adults. So instead of exactly copying the outfits and accessories of the Sailor Moon characters as they appear in the show, they instead chose to incorporate subtle elements of their designs. For example, the bridesmaids’ dresses wouldn’t look any more out of place in the court of the Moon Kingdom than a formal dinner here on Earth.

▼ The bride poses with her bridesmaids and their wands.

Since wearing a tuxedo is the norm for grooms, Nguyen’s fiancé didn’t need much in the way of extensive wardrobe modifications to evoke Sailor Moon’s male lead, Tuxedo Mask.

Since the moon itself is sorely lacking in suitable wedding venues, the couple instead held their ceremony and reception at Los Angeles’ Oviatt Penthouse. Built in the 1920s at the height of the art deco movement, the stylish surroundings added an additional layer of sophistication to the proceedings.

And once the ceremony was over, there was a Sailor Moon wedding cake for everyone to enjoy, with the Tuxedo Mask figure’s hair repainted from black to blond to match the groom’s.

All of these photos, and more of the beautiful ceremony and reception, can be found on Nguyen’s blog, I Am Chubby Bunny! The site is also worth checking out to see Nguyen’s other artistic endeavors, although we’re guessing updates will be somewhat sporadic until after the honeymoon.

Source, photos: I Am Chubby Bunny!
[ Read in Japanese ]

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Origin: In the name of the moon, I will marry you! Couple holds awesome Sailor Moon wedding in L.A.
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Let’s play a little word association game. What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear Senran Kagura?

I’m guessing at least a couple of you just said “Gesundheit.” Those of you who keep up on anime or Japanese video game releases, though, probably answered “Boobs.” After all, the Senran Kagura anime and video game series is about ridiculously oversized mammaries first, and ninja schoolgirl fighting action distantly second.

However, the problem with any long-running franchise is the risk of things growing stale, which would be especially problematic for Senran Kagura, because it’s hard to imagine something more unappealing than stale breasts. So after a half-dozen games, an anime TV series, and five different manga adaptations, Senran Kagura is poised to enter a new area: butts.

Online anime retailer Chara-Ani is currently taking orders for this 175-milimeter (6.9-inch) figure of pink-tressed ninja Hibari.

As you can see, the 1/8 scale figurine makes use of two of Senran Kagura’s most recognizable design cues: copious amounts of cleavage, and only a cursory acknowledgment of physics, as we’re not quite sure how Hibari managed to slip those gym bloomers on over such a frilly pair of panties.

▼ Actually, we’d just assumed that given the target market, she’s supposed to be stripping down, but taking another look, it’s entirely possible she’s just having trouble getting dressed in the first place.

But like we said, this figure represents a new dawn for the series, and while the bust catches the eye (and also threatens to poke it out), the real star here is the derriere. Made with a silicon infused material, Chara-Ani says Hibari’s butt is soft and pliable. Even though we’re sure its construction will be pleasing to lonely otaku who just want to rub or slap it (or, we’re guessing, kiss it), the manufacturer also points to some practical uses for the figure’s backside.

Yes, that’s a scroll of ninja secrets gripped firmly but softly in Hibari’s butt. While several of her in-game attacks employ her behind, this seems to be the first time it’s been used as a storage rack.

▼ Speaking of racks, the figure’s chest doesn’t seem to have the same functionality.

And don’t worry, there’s a perfectly good reason one of the promotional shots features a scarf-wearing rabbit attached to her hindquarters. You see, Hibari is occasionally assisted in battle by Ninto, the ninja rabbit. Ninto can help Hibari leap high into the air, summon a lightning-spewing cloud, and…now that we think about it, doesn’t actually have to be latched onto her hindquarters.

▼ Although again, maybe we’re just looking at this from the wrong perspective, and Ninto is actually stuck and trying to escape from Hibari’s crack.

Chara-Ani points out that the pliant buttocks is good for more than just displaying other Senran Kagura paraphernalia in the most awkward way possible. For example, it also makes a handy place to store an SD card.

▼ If it contains anything other than porn, sorted into two folders (“big butts” and “huge butts”), we don’t think the owner is using this setup correctly.

Other ideas include using the figure as a pencil stand (with or without a cap that turns it into an enchanted weapon), a place to loop errant cables around, and, of course, crossovers with other figures that have an ample supply of tentacles.

▼ We just sort of assumed with that last one, but Chara-Ani is still thoughtful enough to include an explanatory photo.

If you’ve got to get this baby who’s got back, Chara-Ani is taking preorders for the 11,046-yen (US$94) figure here, with shipment scheduled for late April. The website cautions that each individual buyer is limited to a maximum of 10 figures, or 20 cheeks.

Source: IT Media
Top image: Chara-Ani (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert images: Chara-Ani

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• Ita-Goods Alert! Specialty Nail Salon Features Painfully Nerdy Anime Nail Art

Origin: Anime ninja girl figurine takes it from behind, doesn’t seem to mind what “it” is
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Thousands of otaku stagger home yenless and struggling under the weight of the doujinshi, illustration books, games and other goods they’ve snapped up in a frenzied three days of pushing, shoving, and waiting in endless lines. Yep, Comiket 87 is over for now, until the whole ordeal begins again next summer.

Most people agree that the event is more arduous than fun, and the volunteer staff are in the unenviable position of keeping things under control, trying to keep the hordes moving, and looking anyone who collapses from the excitement of it all.

Below we have a collection of inspiring quotes from these heroic men and women. Some of them are simply priceless.

1. “The most important thing is your life! Not comics!!”

Wise words indeed.

2. “Move closer together! You are all puyo from Puyo Puyo! Keep right against the person in front of you! It’s okay. You’re different colours so you won’t disappear!”

This is a reference to the ’90s tile-matching game Puyo Puyo whose enemies, called puyos, are similar the slime monsters from Dragon Quest. Great to see staff putting things in words Comiket visitors will not only understand but find quite endearing. 

3. “Walk slowly! As slowly as Hunter x Hunter come out! But don’t stop!”

The Hunter x Hunter manga is notorious for its slow releases.

4. “If you don’t want to appear on TV then move forward!”

5. “It’s Comiket until you’re back home.”

6. “Lupin often appears at Comiket! Please look after your valuables!”

A reference to the gentleman thief main character of Lupin III.

7. “Adhere to ‘o-ka-yu’ inside the halls! No pushing (osanai)! No running (kakenai)! No giving up on your dreams (yume wo akiramenai)!”

8. No matter how tough it is, don’t stop and stand still!

To make sure that the huge number of visitors all make it inside, everyone in the halls must constantly be moving. In the morning especially there’s no chance of leisurely browsing, and most attendees come armed with a map planning their route.

9. “Please move forward, even just one step! You’ll be closer to your dreams!”

Comiket involves a lot of queueing, and because of the space constraints the staff frequently remind everyone not to leave any gaps between them and the person in front of them. Personal space does not exist here.

10. “Check around you. Anything suspicious? Any war spoils?”

Comiket is often described as a battle zone, and the goods otaku come away with are their spoils of war.

11. “You can’t leave the venue still in cosplay! In the same way your waifu can’t come out of the screen!”

Many hardcore anime fans refer to their most beloved 2D girl as their very own waifu.

12. “Line up in the line you want! Please ask if you’re not sure. Anyone who doesn’t know what they came here for please go home!”

Way to call it like it is.

13. “When calling for a staff member, call when someone looks like they’re going to collapse, not when they’ve already gone down!”

This is a very real fear in the crush of people, especially in summer.

13. “Move forward. Get close together. You’re all men so there’ll be no problem. Probably.”

15. “Don’t get your DS or PSP out! This is no time for canoodling with your girlfriend!”

16. “If you get out of line and don’t get home until 8.30pm a BAD END will be waiting!”

A bad end in a visual novel is one in which something bad happens, such as not ending up with your dream girl, or dying.

The volunteer staff have a seriously tough job but they still manage to do it with a sense of humour, and Comiket wouldn’t be possible without them. Thanks, C87 staff!

For those of you who are interested, the Japanese and the rankings are below.

Source: Twitter via Hamusoku
Top/feature image: RocketNews24

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Origin: Overheard at Comiket: wise words from the C87 staff
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Comiket took place from at the very end of December last year, and if you’re lucky enough to have visited in person, or if you’ve just been enjoying the plethora of pictures on RocketNews24, then you probably had a great time.

But there’s another side to the Comiket story: the hotels and other venues that serve the guests who come from all over to attend the convention. Recently on the Japanese blog Livedoor, an anonymous poster who works at a hotel nearby the convention recanted the top three craziest Comiket guests he’s had.

Without any further ado, here’s the countdown:

#3 – The Wide Man

Some guests you don’t even have to meet in person to be amazed. This guy called to make a reservation for a single, but he spoke so fast and in such a low tone that I couldn’t catch his name. I asked him to repeat it several times but I couldn’t understand him.

I didn’t know what to do, so he finally hung up on me and I got a fax instead. It read “I’m too embarrassed so I’d rather correspond by fax.” I thought, okay whatever, and put in all his information from the fax. But then I noticed a message he added to it:

“I’m actually quite wide, so will I fit inside a single?”

I dubbed him “Wide-Man.”

▼ No reason to be embarrassed Wide-Man, we’ve all been there.

quick meme

#2 – Sweaty Tenga-Man

This one’s from last summer. Check-in starts at 3:00, but a slender, bespectacled man arrived early for his room. He was wearing a hat, denim jacket, and jeans, but most of all he was wearing sweat. His whole body was completely drenched in his own perspiration from head to toe.

He asked me if I could help him with his luggage, and as soon as I got near him the smell was overwhelming. Still I put on a good face and took his suitcase, but then he removed his hat and denim jacket and asked if I could take those too.

Oh god. They were so full of stinky sweat that even their color was completely unnatural. It was like holding sponges that had been drowned in so much bodily fluid they’d turned into dead weights.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse than carrying around his putrid clothes, I peeked inside his suitcase. The zipper was open due to something sticking out of it – maybe a tripod or fold-up chair or something – and I could see inside.

It was filled to the brim with Tengas – male masturbation sex toys. Maybe he’s part of the reason why the hotel’s requests for extra tissues go up drastically during the three days of Comiket.

I dubbed him “Sweaty Tenga-Man.”

▼ We can only assume “Sweaty Tenga-Man” just got through with an intense DDR session, just like this handsome fellow.

RocketNews24

#1 – A healthy young man

This guest appeared at checkout carrying five cardboard boxes that looked about as heavy as boulders. I watched him carry one out by himself, then offered to help with the last four. He was very adamant about wanting to do it alone, so I just kept finishing his checkout procedures at the desk.

After about fifteen minutes he carried out the last box, but something went wrong. The bottom of the box split open and a waterfall of adult books came spilling out in the middle of the lobby.

Families froze. Business-talking salarymen became speechless. The guest himself spoke up in a loud voice:

“Oh no! My friend is going to be so upset if I damage all the books he asked me to buy for him!“

Yeah, that didn’t fool anyone. Especially not an old woman who was also checking out. She walked over to the guest and said in a bright, smiling face, “Hey, you’re a healthy young man. Nothing to be ashamed of! Just enjoy yourself, haha!”

He quickly left after that, his face even redder than his books.

▼ These two guys should totally get together. I think they’d hit it off.

YouTube

Since the posting is anonymous, there’s no way to verify if any of the stories are true or not, though the author’s attention to detail makes it quite believable. He also adds this addendum:

Just in case anyone in these stories happens to read these, I’m sorry for posting them without permission, but in all honesty I really do like almost all Comiket guests. They leave the rooms in much nicer condition than the drunk salarymen, old women, or people who smoke in non-smoking rooms. They’re very polite and don’t speak rudely to us, which I greatly appreciate.

Please, just one thing though: if you smell, please do something about it. We have plenty of towels and bathtubs ready for you to use.

▼ Unless you’re cosplaying as this guy. Then all is forgiven.

YouTube

 Source: Livedoor
Top/featured image: Wikimedia Commons and Flickr (edited by RocketNews24)

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Origin: Hotel employee reveals the top three strangest Comiket guests he’s ever encountered
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Not too long ago, we took a look at an anime girl figurine with its butt lovingly crafted out of soft, pliable silicon. Clearly, this is a sign of the hyper-sexualized nature of certain Japanese animated series, and the depressingly horny psyche of many male otaku.

Except, the fact of the matter is that everyone loves butts. As proof, feast your eyes on these pervy mouse pads for female anime fans.

Specifically, these mouse pads are designed for fujoshi, the subset of female anime fans who enjoy seeing male characters in sexual relationships with each other, regardless of whether or not they’re depicted as gay within the anime itself. One of the more popular franchises among fujoshi these days is superhero series Tiger & Bunny, whose production staff has become quite adept at never showing protagonists Kotetsu and Barnaby explicitly expressing romantic feelings or physical attraction for one another yet still providing just enough innuendo to stoke fangirls’ imaginations about what could be happening off-camera.

Makers of fujoshi-targeted merchandise, on the other hand, feel no such need to toe the line, as shown with this mouse pad that depicts Barnaby fully clothed yet clearly presenting his hindquarters.

The blond-haired crime fighter’s pronounced butt cheeks aren’t just there for added visual appeal, though. Ostensibly, they should also function as a wrist rest, similar to the busty chests of female anime characters on mouse pads for male fans.

Plus, it seems some buyers just like to squeeze and/or poke them.

Fujoshi aren’t the only anime enthusiasts who can appreciate a bootylicious mouse pad, though. There’s also some innovative perspective work in these offerings for dudes featuring characters from Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai/I Have Few Friends.

▼ No, the series isn’t subtitled But I Do Have a Shapely Behind.

Okay fujoshi, the ball’s in your court. Can you top that level of perviness?

We’re…not exactly sure what’s going on in this illustration. The pose Tiger and Bunny’s Kotetsu is in, with his legs stretched above his head, sort of makes it look like that’s his butt sticking out, and he is saying, “Barnaby, I told you to stop touching my butt all the time…”

On the other hand, if that is indeed his butt, there seems to be a maw of sharp, interlocking teeth constituting his crack.

We’re not butt crack experts, but that doesn’t seem normal to us. Maybe it’s supposed to be a zipper, which would make those protrusions Kotetsu’s balls…and the character himself oddly jointed and rather flexible.

All right, let’s give anime merchandise for guys one last look. Show us your stuff.

▼ Stuff, in this case, meaning “feet.”

It just goes to show what an economic force anime merchandising has become when someone concludes there’s money to be made in making mouse pads not only for fans with a soft spot for a particular character, but who also happen to have a foot fetish.

Source: Livedoor
Top image: Livedoor (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert images: Tiger & Bunny official website (edited by RocketNews24), Livedoor (edited by RocketNews24)

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• Snazz up your wardrobe with style cues from Tiger & Bunny characters
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• New smartphone game allows you to date the man, monkey, or dessert of your dreams

Origin: Pervy anime character mouse pads…butt for ladies! 【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Lovers of Japan and Japanese pop culture the world over plan for their dream trip to the motherland of anime, delicious food, and all things cute, to experience first-hand all that this fantastic country has to offer. For those finally living the dream, social media makes it easy to share your adventures with friends, family, and others interested in Japanese culture too.

When Twitter user Swiss Ambassador Rayun (@yuzu_rayun) documented his most recent trip to the Land of the Rising Sun – posting pictures of his travels, delicious eats, and his haul of eroge (erotic game) goods – we doubt he expected the amount of fame he was about to receive, as his Twitter follower tally has grown by the thousands over the past few days.

Swiss Ambassador Rayun (written in Japanese as スイス大使ラユン – Suisu Taishi Rayun) writes of himself in his profile: “A representative of Culture Japan and Dannychoo. Collaborating with Germany’s Good Smile Company. Working as a personal business consultant for a number of companies. Japan’s existence has changed my whole life.”

Rayun shared all the excitement of his trip, from his adventures in the otaku paradise of Akihabara…

秋葉原お久しぶり！ http://t.co/mIgqvJKyOq

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) December 31, 2014

“Long time no see, Akihabara!”

 …to the interesting sights…

わー！また痛車発見でしたww ( ･`ω･´) http://t.co/KItq0Gz0w7

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 02, 2015

“Wow! I found another itasha, lol ( ･`ω･´)” (Itasha is a car painted with anime characters.)

…to all that he loves about Japan!

僕の好きなエロゲショップ ( ･`ω･´) http://t.co/SKO92GM25e

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 02, 2015

“One of my favorite eroge shops ( ･`ω･´)”

アキバへ行ってきます！ http://t.co/9Dtta7EcHU

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 04, 2015

“Off to Akiba!”

焼肉天国！ (* ´﹃｀*) http://t.co/WO00dKmfx0

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 03, 2015

“Yakiniku heaven! (* ´﹃｀*)” (Yakiniku is probably best described as Japanese-style barbeque)

小鳥ちゃんだ！小鳥ちゃん愛してる ♥ http://t.co/28UPyrSZiU

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 02, 2015

“It’s Kotori-chan! I love you Kotori-chan ♥”

小鳥ちゃん！！！！！！！！！！ (* ´﹃｀*) ♡ http://t.co/kP6zLRRxiJ

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 03, 2015

“Kotori-chan!!!!!!!!!! (* ´﹃｀*) ♡”

二次元 きもコンビ 結婚～ ww @yuzu_rayun #ラブライブ ＃かよちん　#ことりちゃん http://t.co/LLXyIyCSuQ

—
拙者、鳥のカイザーでござる (@TristanJunker) January 12, 2015

“2D joint-wedding~ lol”

After a couple of weeks of fantastic, fun-filled adventure that can only be had in this quirky island nation, he returned home safely. Though it seems some of his goods he sent home had an unfortunate mishap!

やばい．．税関さん、僕のコミケグッズをどうしたか！？ ( ﾟдﾟ) http://t.co/OdqceHCWWB

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 13, 2015

“Oh no… Customs, what did you do to my Comiket goods!? ( ﾟдﾟ)”

Thankfully, it turns out that all the contents survived just fine.

日本のパンツマスク．．まじでーｗ I will try this one in summer! @ryohka_jp http://t.co/r4fZ7LLCdO

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 13, 2015

“Panty mask from Japan… Seriously! Lol”

最高だ！全てのコミケグッズは２５キロww．．(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و 笑 http://t.co/q3kylG8kqU

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 14, 2015

“Awesome! All of my Comiket goods weigh 25 kilos lol… (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و Haha”

But something had happened. He caught the attention of someone, somewhere, and as tends to happen on the internet, the news spread. Oh how it spread!

▼But that’s just the beginning!

Two hilarious tweets 1500 Retweets 800 new followers I don't get Twitter

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 13, 2015

１４、５００フォロワーありがとう？ 笑

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 13, 2015

“Thanks for the 14,500 follows? LOL”

The Swiss Japan fan’s Twitter account continued to appear on various Japanese news sites, with headlines like “Returning to Switzerland after enjoying Japan! With too many erotic doujin goods! lolol” and “The result of a handsome Swiss guy whose life was changed by Japan’s moe culture lololol”.

やばい．．(・_・;)

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 14, 2015

“Uh oh… (・_・;)”

Why am I on so many websites in Japan?! First, it was only the picture of the damaged parcel and then ... lol

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 14, 2015

And it wasn’t just Japanese sites. He was also featured on a Taiwanese website as well!

Well, at least they've taken a good pic for the preview http://t.co/77Chk8EebP

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 14, 2015

Since he hit 14,500 followers on January 13, that number has now soared to over 20,000 in just a couple of days, with people from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Japan.

What does he plan to do next, now that he’s an internet sensation throughout Asia? He talks of his plans to visit Taiwan next.

台湾の旅も楽しみだよ！

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 14, 2015

“Looking forward to my trip to Taiwan!”

What's left? Rocket News I guess? Seriously, gimme a break ...

—
スイス大使ラユン (@yuzu_rayun) January 14, 2015

*Waves* We didn’t overlook you! Hope you like the feature image we picked for this one too.

Source and images: Twitter @yuzu_rayun

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Origin: Swiss man visits Japan, returns home an internet sensation 【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

When you look at them a certain way, huggy pillows with pictures of cute anime girls on them are kind of creepy. Well, actually, they’re creepy in several ways, but for right now, let’s limit our discussion to one way in particular.

Even if we accept that there’s nothing wrong with consensual love between a man and his pillow, their relative sizes make the situation kind of weird. After all, a person’s height is far greater than a pillow’s length, so wouldn’t Miss Anime Pillow feel a little awkward cuddling with her much larger otaku owner?

It’d probably be a little like squeezing a gigantic anime pillow that’s six meters (19.7 feet) long. Of course, if that sounds like your personal vision of bedtop bliss, there’s a company giving away just that.

Japanese mobile video network operator mineo has plenty of fans, and even its own official website for them, called Maineo. Given the technological nature of its business, many of Maineo’s visitors are young men, who also happen to make up a sizeable portion of the anime enthusiast community.

As such, Maineo even has its own anime girl mascot, named Maineo-tan. Figuring it was time Maineo-tan was honored with the same kind of goodies as other cute 2-D girls, Maineo’s administrators recently decided to create an air-inflated huggy pillow in her likeness.

They also decided to make it six meters long and two meters wide.

▼ “It’s just the right size for a person who’s eight meters (26.2 feet) tall!” they boast.

The Maineo-tan pillow was previously used for a tongue-in-cheek article where the Maineo staff tried to figure out how to even get it into an apartment (they ended up having to push it through the window, since it was too big to carry in through the front door). Rather than keep the pillow for themselves, though, they’re giving it away to one lucky Maineo user.

While you don’t have to be signed up for mineo’s MVNO service, you will need a Maineo account. Applications for the drawing to determine the winner are being accepted between now and February 28, with the recipient to be announced by the end of April.

Delivery will be made personally by the Maineo writers, which means you probably won’t have to worry about shipping and handling costs. On the other hand, you will need to figure out some way to get it into your home, since odds are they’ll be bringing Maineo-tan by fully inflated. They’ll also be taking pictures to use in a future Maineo article, so you might want to run the vacuum before they stop by.

▼ Although there’s not much point in being self-conscious about a few dust bunnies on the floor when you’ve got this on your bed.

Related: Maineo
Source: Golden Times, Maineo
Top image: YouTube
Insert images: mineo

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• Sandwiched Between Twintails Pillow: For if you don’t know to hug your pillow or let it hug you
• Fluffy Fighting! The official pillow of the Japan Pillow Fighting Association debuts
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• Hardcore anime fan takes his hug pillow on the train for a romantic ride to Weirdsville
• Okayama Bus Company Encourages People to Look at its Newest Employee While They Wash Themselves

Origin: Huge six-meter (19.7-foot) anime hug pillow will prove you’re a great big otaku 【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

For most of their patrons, a visit to one of Japan’s maid cafes comes after a tough day at the office, or maybe as a special reward at the end of a busy week. But if enjoying the cafes’ light fare and frilly costumes can come as a pick-me-up after some hard work, can’t it also provide the energy boost to kick-start your workday?

That’s the theory behind a new, limited-time maid cafe that’s opening up in Tokyo, where customers can bolster their spirits with a maid-made breakfast before heading out to tackle the day’s challenges.

The Early Morning Maid Cafe is set to open in Akihabara, the center of Japan’s maid culture scene, as a joint project between talent agency A-Vanzi, the Japan Overwork Association, and U.S.-based men’s business fashion accessory rental company FreshNeck. Since many maid cafe waitresses are looking to use their stints in food service as a springboard into the larger entertainment world, it’s not too hard to see why A-Vanzi is part of the project, but how did the other two organizations become involved?

Japanese companies are notorious for applying institutionalized soft pressure to coerce employees into regularly working overtime, much of which the workers aren’t compensated for. The Japan Overwork Association is a workers’ advocacy group that’s trying to change this corporate culture, and as part of its overall mission to improve job satisfaction, is hoping a little bit of maid-based morning fun will put the cafe’s diners in good enough spirits that they’ll be able to turn in a productive day at work that supersedes the need to stay late at the office.

▼ Zangyo is the Japanese word for “overtime work.”

Unlike the snack and sweets-filled menus at normal maid cafes, The Early Morning Maid Cafe’s bill of fare is all about breakfast. 800 yen (US $6.80) gets you an order of “moe toast,” a drink, and 30 minutes of seat time to soak up the atmosphere and scenery, which will include A-Vanzi talent Kokona Yutsugi and Mizuki Honjo, among other maids.

▼ Yutsugi (left) and Honjo (right)

If you’re looking for a more fortifying breakfast, there’s also a selection of 200-yen side orders consisting of bacon, eggs, wieners, potato salad, tuna, and even ice cream. Ordering two sides gets you a special commemorative card, and customers who add three to their base meal will receive a Polaroid-style instant photo of one of the maids. Ordering a refill of your drink also lets you extend your stay in the cafe.

So how does FreshNeck tie into all this? Well, among other items, the company rents brand-name neckties. Since the Early Morning Maid Cafe will only be operating for one day, Wednesday, February 18, the diners will ostensibly be heading to the office after breakfast, and before they do, the maids will provide the heartwarming service of straightening their neckties for them. In the event that you don’t have a tie, or simply don’t own one that you think is spiffy enough for the occasion, FreshNeck will have a selection on hand that customers can use.

Like we said, though, February 18 is your sole chance for this special meal, which will only be served from 7:30 to 10 a.m. So set your alarm, because even though it can be hard to drag yourself out of bed on a cold winter morning, the Early Morning Maid Cafe is a lot more affordable than employing a staff of 100 maids to deliver your breakfast to you.

Restaurant information
Early Morning Maid Cafe / 早朝メイドカフェ
(ordinarily Cafe Triomphe / カフェトリオンプ)
Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda 5-6-4, Metro Building 1st floor
東京都千代田区外神田5-6-4メトロビル１F
Website

Source: Japan Overwork Association
Top image: Japan Overwork Association
Insert images: Japan Overwork Association (1, 2), FreshNeck

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• “Moe temple” in Tokyo to woo anime geeks with maid cafe
• Zombie Maid Café Serves Up Terror in Tokyo Before Halloween

Origin: Set your alarm! Limited time maid breakfast cafe coming to Tokyo’s Akihabara
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Anime changes lives, and we have the photographs to prove it. Who doesn’t love a good tale of transformation complete with shocking before and afters? One man showcases his change from chain-smoking drunk to dedicated otaku, but was it really a change for the better?

Twitter user @harasho2521 explained how he was lost and on the path to destruction before hugely successful multimedia project Love Live! came into his life and saved him, transforming him into someone who would be unrecognizable to his old self.

“Thanks to Love Live! I’ve been able to quit cigarettes and alcohol… I was reminiscing and looking through my photo folder and shocked myself to see what a different person I am now compared to before I got into Love Live!”

ラブライブ！のおかげでロクでも無い事もタバコもお酒も辞めれたんだよな…って思い出に浸りながら画像フォルダ見てたら、ラブライブ！にハマる前とハマってからじゃ雰囲気も部屋も色々と別人みたいになってて自分で自分にビビった(1.2がハマる前) http://t.co/3svaKgsKEt

—
ペンタゴン@6th待機勢 (@harasho2521) February 02, 2015

He described his debauched lifestyle pre-Love Live!, and is grateful that he now has his waifu Nico Yazawa to keep him in line.

“I used to smoke three packs a day and if I went without I’d get annoyed and moody. I smoked like a chimney and if anyone asked me then, I’d say I’d never, ever quit. But since I became obsessed with Love Live! and fell in love with Nico I was able to quit. I guess there was an incentive, but the most important thing is strength of willpower.”

タバコは俺も一時期1日3箱とか吸ってて、無いとイライラこえて無口になるし、誰に何言われても「タバコだけはやめん！」ってずっとバカみたいに吸ってたけどラブライブ！にハマってにこにー好きになったら辞めれたからね。 きっかけもだろうけど意志の強さってやっぱ一番大事っすよ。

—
ペンタゴン@6th待機勢 (@harasho2521) February 02, 2015

Check out these shocking before and after photos.

Before

▼Expensive tastes in alcohol could have ruined his liver and his bank account.

▼Never without a cigarette.

After

▼Proud Love Liver who saves money for his precious merch.

▼Glow sticks instead of cancer sticks.

Someone asked him to show off his current hairstyle, and he revealed that he’s heading down the route of natural beauty.

“The style is still the same as back then with the sides shaved, but now I usually let it fall naturally rather than putting it up like I used to lol”

@shink1118 横は剃ってるんで原型はこの時と同じですけど、この時みたいに髪を上げるより自然と下ろすことがとても多くなりましたwww http://t.co/LiOeJ0SkDk

—
ペンタゴン@6th待機勢 (@harasho2521) February 02, 2015

What do you think of his huge change in lifestyle? Fellow Netizens’ reactions were mixed:

“As long as he’s enjoying himself, that’s what matters”

“It looks like his entire standard of living has changed…”

“There’s only one thing that hasn’t changed and that’s his spending habits”

“Why has his taste in furniture fallen too?”

“Another one’s been saved…”

“Did he go from his own place back to living with his parents?!”

The good news is that you too can undergo your own transformation. All you need is a smartphone to download the Love Live! app. And something to watch the anime DVDs on. And money to buy all the merch. And time to go to the concerts. And a fiery and enduring love for your waifu. It’s as simple as that!

Source: Twitter via HamuSoku
Images: Twitter

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Origin: The power of anime: Man quits smoking, turns his life around thanks to Love Live!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

If you’ve been reading RocketNews24 for a while – or are yourself a mega otaku – you probably already know that “Wotagei” (or sometimes “Otagei”) is a type of dance style performed almost exclusively by “Idol Otaku,” or otaku who are specifically really into girl idol bands.

It’s generally seen as a niche oddity by the Japanese public and even less-hardcore otaku, as evidenced by the fact that even I only understood about half of the above paragraph even as I typed it and I write about this stuff for a living.

But, take heart, all you idol otaku – your time in the limelight may have come, as a cool choreographed Wotagei performance is making the rounds and entrancing the Japanese Interwebs.

It appears that Wotagei generally began as a type of semi-choreographed, mostly synchronized cheerleading that idol otaku could perform at idol events to show their support for the girls onstage. In the early days of the dance style, it seems otaku fans had nothing but a series of claps, shouts and moderately aerobic dance moves at their disposal.

But, somewhere along the way, Wotagei performers started utilizing what can only be described as tiny lightsabers (maybe they’re child-size or for Jedi in training?), dancing in dark environments to add a bit of spectacle to the whole display. The movements also seem to have become more physically demanding in line with this, as demonstrated by the Wotagei group Ginyu Tokusentai in this extreme Wotagei dance mix to musical comedy duo Kumamushi’s “Attakai”:

Ginyu Tokusentai seems to be experimenting with helping the otagei dance style break into the mainstream by performing to popular songs rather than the more niche girl idol stuff that’s generally only widely accepted within the confines of the Akihabara “geek” district.

Unsurprisingly, their most popular YouTube video to date is their Wotagei performance to the Attack on Titan theme song, as the show is a widely appreciated cultural phenomenon in Japan.

It’s probably safe to say that Wotagei has a long way to go before becoming the kind of thing you’d see in Tokyo’s hippest clubs, but by all appearances the style seems to have evolved into a pretty physically strenuous performance with a fair bit of choreography and cooperation involved so it’s nice to see it getting a little mainstream respect.

Source: Buzzmag
Videos by Ginyu Tokusentai

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Origin: “Wotagei” otaku dance style made “cool” with choreographed dance remix of pop song
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Well ok, maybe a little bit faked.

Here at RocketNews24, there’s only one thing we like better than badly photoshopped pictures, and that’s brilliantly edited photos that make the President of the United States look like a massive otaku.

The Photoshopping really kicked off, according to Kotaku, with Twitter user @neontaster and this stunning Madoka Magica photo:

Breaking News: President Obama calls Rebellion Story "Movie of the Year." #Madoka_Magica #まどマギ http://t.co/WLRZfVjxXz

—
  (@neontaster) December 12, 2013

Next up, noted anime historian and commentator Mike Toole jumped in with this stellar offering:

President Obama stuns congressional leaders; "Actually, Madoka is my favorite," he declares. http://t.co/rBWK8z3KzL

—
Mike Toole (@MichaelToole) December 15, 2013

And the floodgates were open. Let the photoshopping begin!

Obama jacks in to the anime relm http://t.co/kFX4eoxTiT

—
Hamburger Slut (@bobbypadlock) February 17, 2015

▼ This Death Note ‘shop has been around even longer.

@Lhyrcy liat deh Obama punya buku Death Note (anime ) berati dia Otaku satu hati sama gw ~ http://t.co/Gp1GEVXoJh

—
Indriani Kurniawan ♨ (@indriani_ks) March 14, 2013

Obama proves the importance of anime in western society http://t.co/n7SW36JnUT

—
Jamés Seto Kaiba (@J_Gillettee) March 05, 2014

@JustRiggz @brucegreene @adamkovic @HarmonyGrits Obama is coming to Japan. So, I tried to the collaboration of anime. http://t.co/HBpYjtdcLI

—
山崎 (@nan18twi) April 23, 2014

Obama affirms existence of anime RT @rolandkelts MT @MichaelToole MT @darlingdanichan ANIME is real, says Herr Obama. http://t.co/7zMEso7uBT

—
M. Ibrahim (@MaatMHI) March 28, 2014

Obama approves Anime. http://t.co/Ap3WbHWEqN

—
Toby-senpai. (▰˘◡˘▰) (@TobyToffy) February 13, 2015

And then, things started to get a little GIFfy:

You Can Sit With Us!

laesquinalatina

justaskeikaku

HELLO THERE

Yep. This is one meme that we hope never gets old.

Source: Kotaku
Top image: Twitter/MichaelToole
Featured image: Twitter/neontaster

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Origin: Anime is real, says Obama, in definitely-not-at-all-faked photos
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Fujoshi, (literally: “rotten girls”) are fans of manga and novels which feature romantic relationships between men, a genre is often referred to as “Boys Love.” There are an increasingly large number of women around the world that identify themselves as fujoshi and in Japan they take the fandom far beyond just reading manga or watching anime.

In summer 2014, these “rotten girls” enjoyed turning themselves into their Boys Love counterparts but only now has that trend come to the attention of the rest of the Internet. Japanese forums and websites are bustling with comments about girls drawing themselves as men, but there is one negative thought that, if you’ve got time to remember one more Japanese phrase, is startlingly more prominent than any others: kimochi warui (“nasty”)!

Last time we checked in with the fujoshi fandom, they were drawing themselves as high school boys. They were athletic, lazy, attractive, or even plain-looking, but they certainly got plenty of attention. Perhaps what started this Twitter craze was an earlier trending topic that happened between May and July of 2014. The hashtag #フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をbl男子化する (“change into a Boys Love boy character from an image received from your Twitter followers”) exploded and was used thousands of times by people asking for and sharing their BL characters.

@foraemon @50990 @doze_hii @nagihio @_o0akira0o_ @ebimayo321 @__conbu #フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をBL男子化する リプありがとうございました～！ http://t.co/AFJr9LekoB

—
けむ (@net_de_yamura) May 04, 2014

#フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をBL男子化する 今更ですが、タグにて紹介! http://t.co/QOv2VDyu7X

—
とせえる/多忙の為暫く浮上率低下 (@toseeeeel10) June 17, 2014

#フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をBL男子化する 人形屋こと浮草天來です！！よろしくお願いします！！！ http://t.co/mROz0KC2yI

—
法螺貝奏者白露 (@hakuro_sousaku) June 21, 2014

The enormity of the Internet kept the general public unaware for a while, but once something gets popular enough, any attention-seeking party is free to participate. Now the gloves are off and some Japanese people didn’t have much nice to say.

“Kimochi warui!”
“It’d be good if they all checked themselves into a mental hospital.”
“Fujoshi, don’t be around in the future.”
“It makes me nauseous.”
“Fujoshi do stuff like this. It really makes me disgusted”
“The things that girls and boys do are different, but gross otaku will do gross things.”

#フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をBL男子化する リプありがとうございました～！ なんかビッチ臭がするけど多分気のせいです http://t.co/1nwLbZdJ3Q

—
ざわ (@zawa_615) July 20, 2014

こうなりました～(*´∀｀*) 要素くださった方々ありがとうございました♡ #フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をBL男子化する http://t.co/ocTuPOLjA3

—
るな (@inunoke00luna) July 10, 2014

誰か攻略してください！　#フォロワーさんからイメージ貰って自分をBL男子化する http://t.co/f4XDvnD1Lr

—
叙情的にすぎた時間とひとつだけのきえ男 (@Re_6xxx) July 14, 2014

A few commenters positively remarked on the creative and well-done drawings, but most were down-right negative. One male user, in response, drew himself as a woman in the yuri or “lily” style (comics and novels about female homosexuality) which produced a handful of “positive” comments about how he kept his own likeness and just made himself a girl by drawing his hair longer.

Image: Imgur (DbDyno6)

It seems like this trend is all done in good fun, and it’s not actually hurting anyone. Most users who seem offended can probably continue ignoring the drawings and get on with their lives. There are enough real problems on the Internet and in the world to get upset about, so maybe we can just leave these fujoshi to their harmless self-entertainment.

Source: Rabbit Sokohoku
Top Image: Flickr (Timothy Takemoto)

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• Boys love posing book shows you how to draw two guys frolicking by that legendary pool!
• Yowamushi Pedal set to delight fangirls with karaoke rooms, mocktails and men’s boxers

Origin: Fantastic fujoshi just wanna have fun, Japanese netizens say, “No!”
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.