Cute Little Baby Pandas Drinking Milk
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 10, 2008 in Japanese TV
This ultra cute video was shot by NHK in Sichuan Province, China. I wish I had a baby Panda as a pet…
Miyuki Torii Cosplay Commercial
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 20, 2008 in Japanese TV
The above commercial stars Japanese comedian Miyuki Torii — I just love how she’s talking to a Black Jack (a well known Tezuka manga character) cardboard cut out. And as with all clever advertising I have no idea what they’re selling…
Sailor Moon vs. Saku Saku
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 15, 2008 in Japanese TV
Shown above is an episode of Saku Saku from a while ago which featured Sailor Moon as a guest, well not the animated one but an actress playing an incredible simulation. Being a talk show I never have any idea what’s going on, but for some reason I can’t help but keep watching (they always seem to have quite a bit of fun). Speaking of Sailor Moon, it seems like there will be a live action version of the show. But for your immediate entertainmenthere is part two of our faux Sailor Moon interview on Saku Saku:
Kamen Rider Parody
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 2, 2008 in Japanese TV
I’m not 100% sure where this video clip is from, but it seems to be a parody of the long running Kamen Rider TV series (some of which came to the United States as the Power Rangers). I just can’t get enough of the Muppetesque characters in the skit…
Kekkō Kamen
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 1, 2008 in Japanese TV
Warning: The above video might be slightly NSFW (well depending on where you work). As soon as I watched the clip I was struck by just how surreal it was — Miki Komori (who’s an adult video star from Japan) seems to be wearing underwear on her head and her hair style looks very “avant-garde” to say the least. The video looks like a Saturday Night Live parody of something, but rest assured this is an actual series of films:
“Kekkō Kamen (けっこう仮面 Kekkō Kamen) is an adult rated manga and anime series from Japanese creator Go Nagai. The series is about the misadventures of a student named Takahashi Mayumi who attends a boarding school called “Toenail of Satan’s Spartan Institute of Higher Education”. Takahashi’s only protection is from a mysterious figure known as Kekkō Kamen.
Mononoke Dance
Posted by Guest Author on Feb 29, 2008 in Japanese TV
This is Denki Groove’s recent music video, “Mononoke Dance”. Denki Groove is a band who released their first album in 1990. They are the key band bridging the Technopop and club music. Key member Takkyu Ishino has been working on his somewhat more techno styled solo albums in recent years so proper Denki Groove releases have been rare in the last few years.
Sheena Easton and the Shochu
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 25, 2008 in Japanese TV
It’s funny I always associated the above song with Sheena Easton selling out to some national gym chain in the 80s, little did I know the same song was also used to sell a shochu drink in Japan!
L’Arc-en-Ciel: Chronicle
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 29, 2008 in Japanese TV
This is a series of short surrealistic (but slightly silly) interstitial films from 1999 by the popular Japanese rock band L’Arc-en-Ciel. The videos were shown in-between music videos on their DVD collection Chronicle. What’s odd is that even though this video is quite avant-garde, their music is much more conventional J-Pop.
My Teacher is a Dog!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 25, 2008 in Japanese TV
This is a commercial for Softbank in Japan — the talking dog is cute, no? It’s for the White Plan Family Discount for a cell phone service. I like the shot where the dog is hanging out at home after class…
Patariro Collectables Commercial
The anime series Patalliro! ran from 1982 until 1983 and is interesting because it was based on a manga by Mineo Maya which focused on bishounen (i.e. pretty boys). The show was more comedy than anything else, but I think it’s a good early example of Yaoi, which are manga focused on male gay relationships marketed to the ladies. There’s a good article on the show here by Mary Kennard. It was funny for me to come across that article because back in the early 80s I knew Mary, as she could be spotted at meetings of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization in New York City which I went to all of the time.
Just Say OK to Pocky!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 13, 2008 in Japanese TV
Check out those those tacky 80s gaucho pants which are featured in the above vintage Pocky ad!
Ken Shimura Silly Skits
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 9, 2008 in Japanese TV
Shown above is a funny skit starring Japanese comedian Ken Shimura from the the Fuji TV series “Ken Shimura’s Lordship like Vaca”. I got a real kick out of this skit which is based on Bjork’s swan costume:
Koala Cookies Commercial
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 8, 2008 in Japanese TV
Shown above is a vintage commercial for Lotte’s Koala’s March cookies:
Fujiya Peko Cakes
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 4, 2008 in Japanese TV
Shown above is an animated vintage commercial for Fujiya Peko cakes. In her kimono Peko looks cuter than Minky Momo ever did, in fact I’d say it’s high time she lands her own anime show!
Madonna vs. the Dragon
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 30, 2007 in Japanese TV
This classic 1995 Japanese commercial for Takara Sake features Madonna in traditional garb. It holds up pretty well, no?
Asahiyama Zoo: Red Pandas in the Snow
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 23, 2007 in Japanese TV
This is such a cute report from Japanese TV! It features a bunch of Red Pandas playing in the snow at the Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan.
Doraemon Themed Commercial
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 5, 2007 in Japanese TV
The advert above is for the Japanese moving company The0123 and features none other than anime cat icon Doraemon. Meow!
Found via akihabaranews.com.
Japanese Game Show: Marshmallow Eating
Posted by Michael Pinto on Nov 25, 2007 in Japanese TV
It’s hard to say if this video is funny or just slightly cruel? The clip is from the Japanese comedy show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! (which is Downtown’s “Not An Errand Boy!” in English).
Found via Mixx.
Set the Alarm Clock for Rice!
Posted by Michael Pinto on Nov 9, 2007 in Japanese TV
Because seven o’clock is rice time! I love this catchy commercial from Japan…
Xmas Beer
Posted by Michael Pinto on Nov 7, 2007 in Japanese TV
You’d think that Christmas beer from Kirin would come in a glass bottle rather than a can?! Well at least it’s not egg nog flavored…
An Athletic Pocky Commercial
Posted by Michael Pinto on Nov 7, 2007 in Japanese TV
Aragaki Yui stars in the above athletic themed Pocky commercial. Of course I like her previous Pocky commercial better (because it has an electro clash beat that much more easy to dance along with):
Japanese Video Game Commercials
Posted by Michael Pinto on Nov 4, 2007 in Japanese TV, Videogames
This collection of Japanese video game commercials is amazing! It’s like getting a compressed overview of the history of video games. Here’s part two:
Monkey Decoration Tips
Posted by Michael Pinto on Oct 24, 2007 in Japanese TV
Shown above is a cute ad for the Japanese paint company Asahipen from the early 80s.
Schwarzenegger Shills for Cup o’ Noodles
Posted by Michael Pinto on Oct 22, 2007 in Japanese TV
Shown above is an old Nissin Foods commercial featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoying a healthy helping of instant ramen after a musical work out. It’s funny no matter how much ramen I eat I never get muscles that look like that…