News for Your Weekend (July 11)

KWEH!

Hi Yattans! We have a little schedule reshuffle. News for Your Weekend will now be released on Saturdays! So keep this in mind and/or mark your calendar, OK?

Kotaku‘s resident Japanese reporter, Brian Ashcraft answers questions and gives tips about visiting Japan in this insightful article. If you are planning to visit, give it a read. http://kotaku.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-visiting-japan-1716461645

Gackt, the four hundred something-year-old vampire and rock star was criticizing the Japanese government’s project, Cool Japan for the lack of support from the government itself. It is quite an interesting read. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/07/03/gackt-lashes-out-at-cool-japan-almost-no-results-of-japanese-culture-exported-overseas/

Japan has contributed many amazing things to the world, but do you know what invention they are most proud of? Instant noodle, no doubt! However, there are many other things that are invented in the Land of the Rising Sun. Check this short news report out because you may be surprised. http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/invention-most-japanese-are-proud-of-is-instant-ramen

You have never seen Shibuya’s road cross like in this short stop-motion animation before. It is serenev and orderly, yet chaotic. There are so many different types of personalities in the short that you may find yourself appreciating the amount of effort put into it. http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/stop-motion-animation-depicts-tokyos-shibuya-crossing-using-tiny-paper-models

Are you a fan of Star Wars? Are you a fan of Ukiyo-e? If your answer to either of those is YES, then you’ll want to check out this article about the official Star Wars ukiyo-e works. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/07/03/official-ukiyo-e-project-brings-a-bit-of-historical-japan-to-a-galaxy-far-far-away/

If you are looking for something cute to watch this weekend, go to this link and look at these videos of cute foxes in their own village. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/07/08/watch-100-fuzzy-friendly-foxes-fascinate-foreigners-at-kitsune-mura-aka-fox-village/

Tofugu has a great and lengthy article explaining the differences between Western cartoons and Japanese anime from the technical, production, and animation style perspectives. http://www.tofugu.com/2015/07/01/animes-great-deception-difference-anime-cartoons/

The Japan News detailed why Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?(Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Daro ka?) a.k.a. Danmachi is their anime pick of the month. For those of you who have watched the anime, what do you think? Do you agree/disagree with the writer? http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002245858

You may have heard of the yet-to-be-named Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem game that was teased during E3. Kotaku wrote a short article about how the project came to be. http://kotaku.com/how-shin-megami-tensei-x-fire-emblem-came-to-be-1716718939

Big news for X-Japan fans: the band will be launching a new album on March 11, 2016! After what feels like decades since their last one, they are confirming the launch. Yoshiki, the band’s leader, has previously announced that they are making a new album but only recently did they set a date for the album launch. Not only that, they are announcing a concert in the UK and a documentary project. Check the links for more info. http://www.syncmusic.jp/wordpress/?p=23715 and http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/news/2015-07-03/x-japan-confirm-album-and-movie-release

Hideto “Hyde” Takarai of VAMPS and also the vocalist of L’Arc-en-Ciel commented that if he were given the chance to organize a music festival, he would choose Madonna, Linkin Park, BABYMETAL, Nine Inch Nails, and more. He also explained why they would be his picks in this news article from The Japan Times. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/07/09/music/rock-group-vamps-go-linkin-park-madonna-babymetal-fantasy-festival-lineup/