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Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi

Born in Taiwan, raised in Singapore and going to school in California, Fang has lived in many different countries, but is hoping that her final destination will be Japan. A self-proclaimed workaholic, Fang works obsessively like everyone else in Silicon Valley where she currently resides. When not working, she enjoys sleeping, reading, arts & crafts (currently into ceramics and embroidery), cooking and watching TV. Her favorite place in Japan as of now is Arashiyama, Kyoto.

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Posted by Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi

Store your Hastune Miku game in a Hatsune Miku pouch!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Mar 2, 2015
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Fans of Hatsune Miku, are you looking forward to the upcoming game Hatsune Miku Project Mirai Deluxe for the Nintendo 3DS? The latest Miku game by Sega will be released on May 28 this year and lots of hype has built up around the game among dedicated Vocaloid fans.

And now, Sega has just announced an adorable Miku-shaped pouch for Nintendo 3DS, so you can have Miku both in and out!

Japan
(Hatsune Miku • Nintendo DS • pouch • video games)

Dress your kids up with this Evangelion children’s fashion line!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Mar 1, 2015

Evangelion fans in Japan are probably jumping with joy right now over this newly announced series of children’s fashion based on the hit anime. A collaboration project between the Evangelion store, Geewhiz and StompStamp, a series of super-adorable children’s fashion items are now available online for Evangelion-loving parents to dress their kids in subtle yet stylish anime gear!

Japan
(anime • Evangelion • fashion • Neon Genesis Evangelion)

The real story of Nintendo’s Mario

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Feb 17, 2015

Ever since Mario first appeared in Nintendo’s Donkey Kong in 1981, he has been a fan favorite in the world of video games. Over the past three decades, Mario has appeared in over a hundred titles on numerous platforms as fans grew up alongside their favorite bearded (well, most of the time) Italian plumber.

For many casual Mario players, it seems like each game is an independent story filled with action and adventure. However, the hardcore players at Scorpigator Films have put together a Super Mario Timeline using clues from the various games to tell the full biography of Mario, the hero of Mushroom Kingdom.

Japan
(Mario • nintendo • Super Mario • video games)

This ‘Rock Climbing’ ramen will make a man out of you!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 30, 2015

Niigata is one of the largest prefectures in Japan by area. Apparently, their ramen is also on the larger side. And by larger, we mean XXXXL. The famous local ramen restaurant “Men Macho” (‘men’ as in ramen) is best known for serving up insanely gigantic Fuji mountains of ramen toppings. This time, they have unveiled yet another new creation called the Rock Climbing ramen. That sure looks like one intimating wall of toppings to chomp through!

Japan
(food • gigantic • ramen)

Seriously unlucky Chinese man takes an actual arrow to the knee while doing laundry

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 28, 2015

If you’re one of those people who is plagued by bad luck, then you’ll know that disaster can strike anytime, anywhere. One man from Changsha in China’s Hunan Province learned this the hard way recently when an arrow flew out of nowhere and lodged itself in his knee while he was minding his own business hanging out laundry.

Warning: this report contains an image which some readers may find squirm-inducing!

China
(accident • archery • arrow • gross • wtf)

The Guan Yu Gundam: a story of passion and friendship

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 26, 2015

Those who are familiar with Chinese history should be familiar with Romance of the Three Kingdoms, an epic that is now considered one of the greatest literary classics in China. Detailing legendary tales from the warring era of the Three Kingdoms, the book itself is full of stories of love, friendship and loyalty.

Fast forward to modern times, where we find three ardent robot fans in China with the spirit of the Three Kingdoms coursing through their veins who came together to create an amazing gigantic Gundam-like statue based on one of the best known characters in the epic – Guan Yu.

China
(guan yu • Gundam • robots • romance of the three kingdoms)

Gear up for Valentine’s Day with this lipstick…chocolate!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 26, 2015

At a glance, these lipsticks look like any other you can find at your local drugstore. However, this Valentine’s Day, you can buy a whole set of them for your loved one and watch them chomp down on these deliciously colorful lipstick-shaped chocolates!

Japan
(chocolate • lipstick • Valentine's Day)

Shaolin monk “walks on water,” smashes world record

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 23, 2015

No Hollywood special effects, no magician’s helper, heck, not even any mystical kung-fu powers here. All it took for this Shaolin monk in China to walk on water was practice, practice and more practice! That said, running across hundreds of metres of wooden panels placed on the surface of a lake is definitely not a feat that any layman could achieve without proper training, a high level of fitness and immense concentration.

China
(amazing • Shaolin • sports • video • Walking on water • world record • Wushu)

Meet Stitch at Tokyo Disneyland this summer!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 19, 2015

It was revealed in December 2013 that the Captain EO ride at Tokyo Disneyland will be replaced by the interactive attraction Stitch Encounter. The wait is now over as the Oriental Land Company which owns Tokyo Disneyland announced that the much-awaited new attraction will open in July 2015, right in time for the summer vacation this year!

Japan
(Disney • Stitch • stitch encounter • Tokyo Disneyland)

When a single dot doesn’t do the trick: Legal trouble ensues for izakaya over name

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 19, 2015

We live in a world of innovation and inspiration. Every day, we see new products riffing on older ones, and apps that are purporting to be the next Instagram for Snapchat inspired by Vine.

But when does something cease to innovate and become a simple knock-off? Would you consider “Word・Press” a different web service from “WordPress”? How about if someone opened up a hamburger joint called “McDonalds” instead of “McDonald’s”? Well one izakaya in Hiroshima, Japan tested out this first example for us, and found that simply slipping a dot into its name didn’t allow it to get around copyright and trademark laws.

Japan
(copyright • Hiroshima • izakaya • police • warawara)

COZENI turns your iPhone or iPad’s home button into a shiny, tiny Japanese coin

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 16, 2015

Literally, COZENI is a series of iPhone home button stickers which come in the shape of any of Japan’s many coins. At first weren’t sure why anyone would need a miniature coin in place of a home button, but on closer inspection we were actually pretty impressed at how cool they looked.

To test out these cute little 3-D stickers, we went ahead and purchased the entire series of COZENI and found that they are more multi-purpose than you might think!

Japan
(accessories • COZENI • iPhone)

Latte art comes to life in this amazing stop-motion video

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 13, 2015

I recently spent five bucks for a latte at a zoo just because it had a panda stenciled on it. The chocolate powdered cartoon panda was gone the moment I stirred in my sugar and really, all I wanted was to Instagram it. The allure of the Latte Art boom constantly appeals to fascinated casual drinkers and caffeine addicts alike, and the art has evolved from elaborate manga drawings to adorable 3-D pop-ups. Japanese coffee maker AFG, however, recently took the art to a whole new level when it released a stop animation in which each frame is created with cups of latte art! Now that is some serious dedication!

Japan
(animation • latte art)

You’ll never guess what these Chinese students are lining up for!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 13, 2015

Ever since Mr. Sato returned from his annual overnight vigil to obtain an Apple Lucky Bag, we learned that humans are able to withstand adverse conditions in queues driven solely by their utmost desire for something. Just look at these Apple lovers who braved snow for their favorite brand! So when you see these students in China lining up, we bet your guess is that they are getting $1 TVs…or concert tickets for the latest K-pop star…or perhaps a free iPhone. The answer, however, is none of the above; these students are in fact lining up to…

China
(examinations • library • queue)

Now you can decorate anything with gyoza with the new tape from DecoRush!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 11, 2015

DecoRush is a series of decoration tape that looks like correction tape, except instead of white-out, you’d usually get cute flowery patterns or Disney characters on them. Very appropriate for increasing the girl power on your love letters or secret diary. However, DecoRush’s latest release had netizens baffled because really, when are you ever going to send someone a birthday card with colorful borders of…gyoza?

Japan
(DecoRush • food • gyoza • gyoza no osho • tape)

This Chinese company’s year-end party game will turn you green with envy!

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 10, 2015

It’s customary for companies in Asia to hold year-end parties (bounenkai in Japan, weiya in Chinese-speaking countries), and these often reflect the state of the companies. In a good year, employees will be treated to lavish affairs complete with lotteries, extravagant performances and attractive prizes. However, one Chinese company stole the limelight this year with their ‘cash grabbing game’ that guarantees everyone a winner!

China
(bonus • bounenkai • year end)

Nope, these aren’t cat-shape lights…

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Jan 9, 2015

From afar, it seems like this building in Japan has given its lobby’s floor lights a fancy new makeover by adding cat statues to them. On closer inspection, however, we can see that these are actually real cats that have decided to position themselves right on top of the light sources and are being illuminated like heavenly beings.

Japan
(cats • cute • twitter • winter)

Chinese city government bans Christmas in schools

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Dec 30, 2014

While many of us spent the last few days stuffing our faces with Christmas treats, singing jolly carols and hoarding presents, one whole city of school children in China were unfortunately unable to celebrate the occasion because the Grinch, a.k.a. adults, had stolen their Christmas.

China
(ban • Christmas • schools)

Thanko’s Zero Gravity Armchair takes us to space in the comfort of our homes

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Dec 24, 2014

Calling all fans of Interstellar! Can’t get enough of Christopher Nolan? Get yourself this Zero Gravity Armchair from Japanese gadget and technology fiends Thanko and pretend that you’re in space. This large rocking chair even comes with a smartphone stand so you can watch Interstellar at the same time, too.

Join us after the jump for a closer look at this gravity-defying modern-day throne!

Japan
(chair • furniture • gadget • leisure • technology)

Pokémon Dream Tomica arrives just in time for Christmas

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Dec 23, 2014

Busy looking for a last-minute Christmas present for your Pokémon-obsessed significant other? Look no further! This special edition Pokémon x Tomica collaboration arrives just in time for the holiday season. Just look at the detail and that beautiful, familiar shade of bright yellow. I’m totally forwarding this article to Santa (my older sister).

Japan
(cute • Pikachu • Pokemon • tomica • toys)

The scariest snow sculpture you’ll see this winter

Hayashi 'Fang' Hougi
Dec 21, 2014

The merciless snow has hit Japan and we suppose the mood would be gloomy. However, one Twitter user found his house in a rather frightening state when someone decided to take vengeance on the snowy weather with this artful sculpture of snow that can be interpreted as either a horror movie or an installation art that is awfully hard to understand. Either way, this is probably one of the most creative uses of snow we’ve see this season.