defrog: (Default)
And here’s what I watched this weekend: a ninja babe fighting a horny latex alien.




It’s from a film called Alien Vs Ninja. The title speaks for itself. As does the scene, really.

Real ultimate power,

This is dF
defrog: (Default)
Like a lot of people, I have Kurt Cobain to thank for hipping me to Shonen Knife. And (I suspect) unlike most of the people who learned of SK via Kurt, I still enjoy them as a band.

And even though Naoko Yamano is the only original member left, it’s still impressive that Shonen Knife have managed to go 30 years without changing their basic M.O. – i.e. cute pop-punk songs about desserts, cute animals and rocket ships.

Anyway, they’ve got a couple of new albums out now – a Ramones tribute album (Osaka Ramones), and the English version of their 2010 album Free Time, the latter of which I recently got hold of. As SK albums go it’s pretty standard, but enjoyable – not least for its recipe for “Rock’n’Roll Cake” and the cutest punk song you’ll ever hear about the economic crisis.

Here’s the single. Listen.



Perfect freedom over conventional wisdom,

This is dF


defrog: (Default)
Good morning. This is the most awesome thing you will see on the Interwebs today.



It’s from Japan, yes.

And no, I don’t think that’s him actually singing.

[Via Popbitch]

Godfather of soup,

This is dF


defrog: (Default)
Like a lot of Americans my age, my first introduction to Japanese pop culture occurred in the 70s via cartoons like Speed Racer, Astro Boy and Battle of the Planets, and of course the Godzilla movies.

And – also like a lot of Americans my age – my first introduction to Japanese pop music occurred in the 70s via Pink Lady.



And – also like a lot of Americans at the time, regardless of age – I didn’t quite understand just why they were on television in America, but figured there must be a good reason for it, because it’s not like they put just anyone on TV.

Ha ha.

Anyway, I kind of liked them, if only for the novelty value. In retrospect, they were sort of the 70s Vegas version of Puffy.



It’s interesting that Puffy had far better luck breaking America. But then Puffy appeal to a much hipper demographic than Pink Lady ever did (disco may have been popular, but it was never cool – not after Saturday Night Fever, anyway), and things like SXSW, college radio and Cartoon Network didn’t exist in the 70s. Also, it arguably helps that Japanese pop culture in general has a much broader audience these days.

Anyway, I have a soft spot for Pink Lady – it can’t be easy to try and win over American music audiences, only to end up in one of the worst shows ever aired on TV.

Think pink,

This is dF

defrog: (Default)
Also playing on local TV:



Whoever handles Gatsby’s ad account deserves a bonus.

I shall call him Mini-Me,

This is dF
defrog: (Default)
A Japanese ad currently playing on local TV in Hong Kong:



On account of both Gatsby and Kimura Takuya have a market base here.

Look like a million dollars,

This is dF
defrog: (Default)
When I left the flat this afternoon, I’d heard there’d just been an earthquake in Japan. I only saw a headline and a Facebook post from [livejournal.com profile] dinopollard , and this was maybe three minutes after it happened, so I didn’t know the details.

When I came back home 4.5 hours later, I found out about the tsunami.

I’ve been watching coverage on the BBC and Al Jazeera since then.

If you've seen the footage, you don’t need me to tell you how bad it is. And it’s going to get worse at this stage, depending on how big the tsunami is in other areas (it’s hitting Hawaii as I type this). The BBC is showing live footage of Sendai City on fire. The death toll is likely going to go way up. 

One reason I’m posting about is that it struck me how routine a headline about an earthquake in Japan is – at least to me. I was actually in Tokyo once when one hit – it was minor, and they issued tsunami alerts then, and when they came they were maybe ten centimeters high. 

So it’s a shock to see Japan get clobbered this badly after dodging so many bullets (since Kobe, anyway – and this was bigger). And of course it brings back memories of the Boxing Day tsunami.

I know people in Japan, though not really that far north. So I’m hoping to not get any bad news.

For the record, we’re fine in HK – they didn’t expect waves over half a meter, and in the end they were about 0.2m.

Oh, and for those of you who know [livejournal.com profile] dinopollard , he’s fine. He's watching Black Dynamite.

– dF
defrog: (science boom)
ITEM: Speaking of urination, Sega is installing urine-controlled games in Tokyo urinals.

Four types of "Toylets" games are available to be played during a test period ending this month at four male bathrooms in pubs and game arcades.

Each urinal is fitted with a pressure sensor, and a small digital display is placed at eye level. Digital adverts are shown after the games...

Games include "Graffiti Eraser" in which a user tries to aim at the pressure sensor in the urinal to erase virtual graffiti on the display...

"Splashing Battle!" pits the user against the previous urinal user in terms of stream strength.

Video evidence [SFW] is available.
 
 


It’s a wonder they didn’t think of this sooner.

Play to win,

This is dF



http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/toylet-games-make-a-splash-in-japan-urinals-20110119-19vmp.html
defrog: (planet terror)
His biolifeform assistants Marsha and Karsha will destroy you now. That is all.

juamp:<br /> <br />nkym:<br /> <br />Tokyo Scum Brigade - Daisenpai

Background here.

[Via Radioactive Lingerie]

I think I’m Gibanoid,

This is dF
defrog: (robot love)
ITEM [via Singularity Hub]: And now, a robot performs J-Pop with human dancers at the
Digital Content Expo in Tokyo.



Some of you will be tempted to make Lady Gaga jokes at this point. Personally I think a Britney Spears comparison would be more accurate. Either way, it just goes to show just how far Kraftwerk were ahead of their time.

It’s this kind of thing, of course, that will lead to the inevitable robot uprising. That and sexbots.

Dance for me,

This is dF
defrog: (monster beach)
Or, “That’s a big motherf***ing wheelbarrow.”



Via Twisted Vintage.

They say he’s got to go,

This is dF
defrog: (no gentleman)
ITEM [via Dangerous Minds]: And now, possibly the strangest thing you’ll see on the Interweb today:

A man killed by vagina bubbles from Hell.



Bonus ninja vagina magic here.

It’s from this film series, if you'd like to know more.

Blowing bubbles,

This is dF
defrog: (TMBG ana)
I’ve said before but it bears repeating:

One of the greatest things about the Internet is that you can bet someone $10 that somewhere on the web there’s a video of:

1. 20+ cloned muscle men
2. Doing the mikumiku dance
3. Wearing thongs
4. And they have the heads of birds.

And you’d still win the bet.

Observe.



And the best part is – if Japan didn’t exist, you’d lose.

Pay up,

This is dF
defrog: (falco)
1. Go to the Taito X-Bowl in Odawara, Japan.

2. Select the 300 Bowling Challenge (it’s the lane with 300 pins set up on it).

3. Roll the ball and knock down all the pins.



CONSUMER ADVISORY: Results will not be recognized by the Professional Bowlers Association, The United States Bowling Congress or the World Tenpin Bowling Association.

PRODUCTION NOTE: It’s all in Japanese (which I don’t speak), but you get the basic idea. One thing of note: it takes that guy close to 40 minutes to set up the pins (which is why they only get something like five people a day to do it).

I know this because the 300 Bowling Challenge was featured recently on a local game show that features Japanese oddities like this.

EXTRA CREDIT: The Space Invader bowling balls at the 0:19 mark is a nice touch.

That’s how we bowl,

This is dF
defrog: (look at this dog)
A montage of 11 pictures showing the moment a tombstoner dived 100ft off a cliff in Cornwall. The unnamed diver was pictured as he leapt from the top of the towering rock face near Penzance. He hurled himself through the air and landed in just 20ft of water below. The stunning image of his dive from the top of the cliff was captured on camera by Alastair Sopp, 25

SPOILER: It’s actually a montage of one diver, not eleven. But it looks cool.

And it reminds me of this Denki Groove video (which I’ve posted before, but what the hell, eh?).



Free falling,

This is dF
defrog: (mask)
ITEM: Just look at this boss collection of bōsōzoku-style cars from Pink Tentacle.

Bosozoku style custom ride --

B?s?zoku style custom ride --

B?s? zoku style custom ride --

Bosozoku style custom ride --

More here, here, here and here.

I can’t say how practical the designs are from a speed POV – especially those exaggerated front spoilers – but they LOOK awesome. Which is kind of the point.

I’m not a gearhead, but as someone who grew up in the 70s – the last decade when cars had personality – I think I know a bad-ass car when I see one. They don’t make them like this anymore. Maybe they should.

Pimp my ride,

This is dF
defrog: (tor loves betty)
For those of you who thought Zombie Strippers wasn’t weird enough, Japan is proud to bring you Big Tits Zombie 3D, the live-action version of horror manga Kyonyu Dragon.





The plot, such as it is [via Nippon Cinema]:

Sola Aoi, JAV idol and possibly the only J-celeb capable of racking up ~50k Twitter followers in a few weeks,  stars as a stripper named Rena Jodo who’s offered a gig at a hot springs resort upon returning from Mexico. Unfortunately, the place is nearly abandoned. Rena and four of her fellow strippers become extremely bored and decide to check out the basement where Maria (Mari Sakurai) discovers a “Book of the Dead”. She proceeds to read it, triggering a zombie outbreak which claims her and two other strippers. The newly zombified Maria becomes the leader of the zombie horde and attempts to establish a new zombie kingdom, leaving it up to Rena and Ginko (Risa Kasumi) to stop them.

Coming to a DVD player near you August 4.

CONSUMER ADVISORY: May not actually be in 3D.

Cash cash cash,

This is dF
defrog: (falco)
Good morning. It’s Monday. And Team Def is ready for business.



If you know what I mean.

No trespassing,

This is dF
defrog: (robot love)
Pink Tentacle has posted some surrealist paintings from Tetsuya Ishida. And I can’t stop looking at them.

Painting by Tetsuya Ishida --

Painting by Tetsuya Ishida --

Amazing yet sad.

Sorry. The next post should cancel out this one.

Urban legend,

This is dF
defrog: (tor loves betty)
Good morning. It’s Monday, which means it’s back to work. Unless yr American, in which case you get a day off for Memorial Day.

Unless yr employed in a business that stays open on Memorial Day. Like, say, the Monster Bikini Inspector Team.



In which case you hardly need any motivational encouragement from me.

Enjoy yr long weekend.

Monster-approved,

This is dF

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