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Slam Dunk – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Sun, 12 May 2024 05:19:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Slam Dunk – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 An anime pilgrimage even non-anime fans will love: Visiting the Slam Dunk movie shrine【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2023/08/06/an-anime-pilgrimage-even-non-anime-fans-will-love-visiting-the-slam-dunk-movie-shrine%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2023/08/06/an-anime-pilgrimage-even-non-anime-fans-will-love-visiting-the-slam-dunk-movie-shrine%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Sun, 06 Aug 2023 05:00:18 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=632008

The real-life version of the newest Slam Dunk movie’s shrine is worth working up a sweat to see.

When it comes to pilgrimages to real-world places seen in anime, fans of Slam Dunk are known for heading to Kamakura, the Kanagawa Prefecture coastal town that serves as the model for the town where the series’ basketball-playing teens attend high school. These days, though, there’s a new Slam Dunk pilgrimage site, one found far, far to the north in Akita Prefecture.

Moriko Omonoimi Shrine isn’t mentioned by name in The First Slam Dunk, the CG anime movie that came out late last year and is the most recent piece of Slam Dunk animation so far. However, fans can’t help noticing how the shrine visited by Eiji Sawakita, star player of the powerhouse team the Slam Dunk protagonists go up against, looks an awful lot like Moriko Omonoimi. The shrine is located in the town of Yurihonjo in Akita, the same prefecture where Saakita’s fictional Sannoh High School is supposed to be.

Akita, part of Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region, is one of the most rural prefectures in the country, and stepping out of Kurosawa Station on the Chokai Sanroku Line (the closest stop to the shrine), we had our breath taken away by the idyllic Japanese summertime view of a bright blue sky, pure-white clouds, and green fields stretching all the way to deeply forested mountains.

The station itself is a tiny, unmanned building, but clean and well maintained.

▼ If you’re visiting the shrine by train, you’ll want to snap a picture of the timetable, as trains only come by once or twice an hour.

Like we mentioned above, The First Slam Dunk never explicitly says that Moriko Omonoimi is the shrine Sawakita visits to pray for success in his sporting endeavors. Those who have visited the shrine and seen the movie say the visual similarities are clear, though, so much so that…

…the town and station have leaned into the reputation. At the bottom of the Kurosawa Station sign is a picture of a basketball jersey that looks just like Sawakita’s, right down to his number, 9. The sign also greets visitors with the written message “You’ve come to Kurosawa Station,” which in Japanese is “Kurosawaeki ni kita yo,” and sure enough, the sawa and kita parts are written in green.

▼ The route from the station to the shrine

It’s about two kilometers from the station to Moriko Omonoimi, a walkable distance, but there’s also a parking lot near the shrine entrance if you’re arriving by car. Along the way, we even spotted a sign directing visitors.

▼ 森子大物忌神社 = Moriko Omonoimi Shrine

▼ Even the sign for the parking lot has a cool countryside vibe.

In the movie, Sawakita visits the shrine while out running to condition himself for the upcoming game. Elite athlete that he is, he bounds up the stone staircase that leads up to the shrine’s main building.

Stepping through the torii gate, though, we figured we should pace ourselves, because there are roughly 300 stone steps.

On the plus side, you’ll have plenty of beautiful scenery to admire as you take your time, since the path you walk on leads through a dense forest of cedar trees.

As we walked, we didn’t encounter a single other person, and the solitude created a serene, sacred atmosphere. We were far from alone, though as there were tons of bugs: dragonflies, butterflies, bees, horseflies, and mosquitoes.

▼ “Beware of bees”

Since we were visiting in the summer, there was probably more insect activity than usual, but we’d definitely recommend wearing long sleeves to prevent getting bit or stung on your arms. Another thing we’d recommend is bringing some water with you to rehydrate. The cedars provide a measure of shade even at midday, but you’re still likely to work up a sweat climbing up to the shrine.

When we eventually did make it up there, the shrine building was both rustic and majestic. The unpainted wood gives it a very old-school, local-community feel, but the carvings are complex and exquisite.

Just like on the trail, we didn’t see anyone else at the shrine that day. We weren’t its first visitors, though. Set up on a small table was a row of hand counters and a multi-lingual request to press the one corresponding to your country of origin, either Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, or “English-speaking countries.”

Lumping all English-speaking countries together might seem kind of unusual, but language is clearly the focus of the tally-taking, so that the shrine, and by extension the town of Yurihonjo, can know where its visitors are coming from and how to make their time in the area enjoyable, such as by providing tourism information in their native languages. It’s a kind-hearted and admirable initiative, since as a small rural town there isn’t a lot of non-Japanese-language sightseeing information available about the town yet.

Moriko Omonoimi is actually the start of a trail for shugendo, mountain hiking pilgrimages began by ascetic monks and now enjoyed by outdoorsy types in a secular sense too. With daylight running short and our legs already tired from the climb up, we decided to save the shugendo trail for another time, and headed back down the steps.

It may not have the flash of historical significance of the country’s more famous shrines, but visiting Moriko Omonoimi is one of those quintessential small-town experiences that make getting off the beaten path in rural Japan so enticing. Even though it was the Slam Dunk connection that drew us there, you don’t have to be a fan of the series, or even anime in general, to get something out of climbing those steps and visiting the shrine, and the memories of our day at Moriko Omonoimi will be with us for a long time…

…even longer than the bug bites we still have to put anti-itching ointment on.

Shrine information
Moriko Omonoimi Shrine / 大物忌神社
Address: Akita-ken, Yurihonjo-shi, Moriko Yaotome-shita 99
秋田県由利本荘市森子八乙女下９９
Website

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Avatar: The Way of Water didn’t stand a chance against this fan fave.

Japan is probably one of the few countries in the world where anime films trump Hollywood films in the box office, and here’s a new example. Anime film The First Slam Dunk has held the top spot in Japan’s box offices since its movie theater debut at the beginning of December.

▼ In case you haven’t watched it yet, here’s a preview to pump you up.

The film is based on the bestselling 1990s manga series Slam Dunk. It’s likely overtaken globally bigger names like Avatar because it’s considered a classic among anime/manga fans, and due to the fact that it’s the first feature-length film based on the series. The Slam Dunk series also has some lovable characters and a classic underdog story.

Coming second in the box office for the sixth week in a row was Suzume—Makoto Shinkai’s newest work–and Avatar: The Way of Water debuted at a solid third place. If you’re curious, here’s the full top 10 box office ranking for last week:

1. The First Slam Dunk
2. Suzume
3. Avatar: Way of the Water
4. Dr. Coto’s Clinic
5. Fragments of the Last Will
6. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Scarlet Bond
7. Phases of the Moon
8. Kaguya-sama: Love is War
9. One Piece Film Red (on the top 10 list for 20 weeks running!)
10. Black Adam

In total, five out of the top 10 movies are anime films. If that doesn’t say anything about the power of anime in Japan, we’re not sure what will. Netizens also chimed in on the box office rankings:

“Top place for three weeks running!”
“I can’t believe Avatar debuted at third.”
“Slam Dunk sure is powerful.”
“One Piece is hanging in there.”

If you’re in Japan and have the chance to catch a movie, you might love The First Slam Dunk as much as the rest of Japan! Let’s see how long it can hold the top spot.

Source: Eiga Natalie via Otaku.com
Top image: YouTube/Toei Animation
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/12/22/avatar-sequel-no-match-for-anime-basketball-boys-in-japan-as-way-of-water-debuts-under-slam-dunk/feed/ 0 611279 SF 41 New Slam Dunk anime movie shows off CGI trailer, Japan react differently than overseas fans【Vid】 https://soranews24.com/2022/07/08/new-slam-dunk-anime-movie-shows-off-cgi-trailer-japan-react-differently-than-overseas-fans%e3%80%90vid%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2022/07/08/new-slam-dunk-anime-movie-shows-off-cgi-trailer-japan-react-differently-than-overseas-fans%e3%80%90vid%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2022 01:00:55 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=593835

Some fans are slamming Slam Dunk’s new look.

A year and a half ago manga artist Takehiko Inoue tweeted a succinct “Slam Dunk is going to be a movie!”, with a simple animated-text GIF delivering the same message. It was a pretty nonchalant way to announce the first new anime content for a series that, at the time, had been dormant for 25 years, but when you’re talking about one of the most popular sports anime ever, you don’t have to say much more than “There’s going to be more” to get people excited.

That’s not to say fans haven’t been ravenously hungry for any additional info on the project, and Toei Animation is now ringing the dinner bell with the first teaser trailer for the movie, which will be titled The First Slam Dunk.

Right away we see series star Hanamichi Sakuragi and the rest of his Shohoku High School teammates. But while the faces will be familiar to anyone who watched the 1993-1996 Slam Dunk anime, the same can’t be said for the way they move, because the trailer is CGI.

Toei hasn’t explicitly stated that The First Slam Dunk will be an entirely CG project, but the trailer seems like a pretty clear indication that that’s the direction they’re going with. There doesn’t appear to be any traditional hand-drawn character animation at all in the video.

That’s prompted a lot of angry English-language reactions in the comment sections for the teaser, such as:

“Why cgi??”
“Very disapointed by this shit cgi.”
“Worst movie trailer i ever seen.”
“Noooooooooooooooooooo not cgi.”
“Toei ruining a masterpiece with CGI.”

On the other hand, Japanese-language reactions have been several shades sunnier, or at the very least a lot more mellow.

“I’ve loved Slam Dunk for so long, and I’m grateful to be able to experience new anime for it in real-time.”
“This is the happiest 20 seconds I’ve had in a while.”
“The CG models and movement look good, but I don’t want the to forget about the sense of speed, spraying sweat, arena lighting, and intense facial expressions! ..Looking forward to seeing how this turns out!”
“I really hope this gets screenings overseas so that fans all around the world can see it.”
“Glad to see the characters’ faces and bodies are drawn just like they are in the manga.”
“Looks beautiful. Can’t wait to see it.”

So why the gap in reactions? The different space Slam Dunk occupies in the Japanese entertainment world, compared to other countries, is likely a big factor.

The series owes a lot of its success to its crossover appeal, as it’s both a high-quality youth anime and a compelling sports story. That said, you’d probably have a hard time finding many passionate overseas Slam Dunk fans who aren’t also pretty enthusiastic about Japanese animation as a whole, and the strength of Japanese animation has always been its hand-drawn artistry, with Japanese CG productions often falling far short of American ones in terms of technical merit. In other words, if someone is a non-Japanese hardcore Slam Dunk fan, odds are they’re also a hardcore 2-D animation fan, making the switch to CGI for The First Slam Dunk feel like a downgrade.

On the other hand, even though Slam Dunk is undeniably an anime series, being a Slam Dunk fan in Japan doesn’t necessarily mean someone is all that into anime, or so fiercely enamored of hand-drawn animation. The series became a mainstream cultural phenomenon in Japan in the mid-‘90s, roughly coinciding with the start of Japan’s real-world professional basketball league, and so it’s not unusual to find someone who’s read every chapter of the manga and watched every episode of the anime not because they’re an otaku, but because they really like basketball. For those who haven’t spent tons and tons of time watching hand-drawn Japanese animation since the Slam Dunk TV series wrapped up in 1996, 15 seconds of CGI movement probably isn’t going to feel as jarring, especially when the character models themselves look so close to the original manga artwork.

That said, there are also plenty of Slam Dunk fans who do watch a lot of other anime as well, so maybe the kinder tone of the Japanese-language reactions has something to do with a broader awareness that The First Slam Dunk is being directed by Inoue himself, and it’s unlikely the series creator would be accepting of the change to CGI, let alone be so closely involved with the movie, if he didn’t think it was a viable choice. That said, though he’s a highly celebrated manga artist, Inoue has never directed an anime before, and in addition to his first attempt being a project that comes with such high expectations, there’s the added challenge that Slam Dunk, like a lot of ‘90s anime, has a penchant for distorting and deforming its characters for comic effect, which is going to be a lot more difficult to do effectively in CGI, assuming the new movie doesn’t jettison that technique entirely.

Regardless of the reason, though, overall Japan just seems happy to have Slam Dunk back, and looking forward to the movie’s release on December 3.

Source: YouTube/東映アニメーション公式YouTubeチャンネル, Twitter/@movie_slamdunk
Images: YouTube/東映アニメーション公式YouTubeチャンネル
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/07/08/new-slam-dunk-anime-movie-shows-off-cgi-trailer-japan-react-differently-than-overseas-fans%e3%80%90vid%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 593835 SD 0 Legendary basketball anime Slam Dunk is getting a brand-new movie https://soranews24.com/2021/01/07/legendary-basketball-anime-slam-dunk-is-getting-a-brand-new-movie/ https://soranews24.com/2021/01/07/legendary-basketball-anime-slam-dunk-is-getting-a-brand-new-movie/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2021 11:30:18 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=528327

First-ever theatrical release for one of the most popular and influential sports anime of all time.

It takes somewhere between 20 and 30 years for pop culture nostalgia to gestate. By that math, we were just about due for some new Slam Dunk content, and sure enough we’re getting it.

A little after lunchtime on Thursday, series creator Takehiko Inoue casually and cryptically tweeted “Slam Dunk will become a movie,” along with a pencil sketch GIF delivering the same message.

【スラムダンク】

映画になります！#slamdunkmovie pic.twitter.com/jWqvCnASxj

— 井上雄彦 Inoue Takehiko (@inouetake) January 7, 2021

You might think this would be a cause for instantaneous cheering from Slam Dunk fans, but a question remained. With live-action adaptations of anime and manga becoming more and more common, is the movie going to be live-action or animated? With a story as down-to-earth as “high school boys play basketball in Kanagawa Prefecture,” there’s no reason it couldn’t be done with human actors, but live-action versions of anime have a spotty record, and Slam Dunk is a series that fans have been especially skeptical of making the transition well.

Anime loyalists can breathe easy, though. Following Inoue’s tweet, a teaser site for the new Slam Dunk movie was set up and a press release issued, both proudly bearing the name of Toei Animation, the same studio that produced the 101-episode Slam Dunk TV series, which aired between 1993 and 1996, as well as four short TV movie specials.

▼ Slam Dunk’s first episode is free to watch on Toei Animation’s Japanese YouTube channel.

The upcoming film, however, will be the first time for Slam Dunk to get the feature-length theatrical anime treatment. Currently, it doesn’t even have an official title, and there’s no indication as to whether it’ll be a sequel or reboot. But with the franchise’s status as one of the most popular anime/manga of all time, and the crowd-pleasing 2019 City Hunter anime movie showing this sort of revival can be pulled off, convincing fans to watch the Inoue’s characters take the court again should be, well, a slam dunk.

Source: PR Times, Slam Dunk movie teaser site
Top image: YouTube/東映アニメーションミュージアム公式YouTubeチャンネル
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/01/07/legendary-basketball-anime-slam-dunk-is-getting-a-brand-new-movie/feed/ 1 528327 SD 1 Top 100 manga of all time chosen by survey of 150,000 Japanese people https://soranews24.com/2021/01/04/top-100-manga-of-all-time-chosen-by-survey-of-150000-japanese-people/ https://soranews24.com/2021/01/04/top-100-manga-of-all-time-chosen-by-survey-of-150000-japanese-people/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2021 01:00:00 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=527915

Which of the thousands of titles came out on top?

It’s a question that has haunted social media and idle conversations for time immemorial: Which manga is best?

Granted, that’s an extremely loaded question taking into account mass appeal, artistic sensibilities, compelling story arcs, and a slew of other criteria, but it shouldn’t stop us from settling it once and for all with a good old election.

That’s just what TV Asahi did in the Seriously, 150,000 citizens voted! Manga General Election ranking of manga titles on 3 January, 2021. The results were announced in a two part broadcast with the first half appearing on television and the second half on YouTube.

Asking 150,000 people simply which manga is best, the top five titles were found to be as follows:

#5. Dragon Ball

Probably the gateway manga for millions worldwide, fifth place might seem rather low for epic story of Goku and his various enemies-turn-friends over the years. It will certainly remain a legend regardless, with many infamous moments like Yamcha lying in a crater, or Vegeta discovering Goku’s power levels for the first time.

▼ Yeah, I know we’re talking about manga and not anime, but showing a video of manga would be rather boring

#4. Detective Conan

Certainly a classic among manga titles, and with giving a sci-fi tinge to classic mysteries, Detective Conan follows the exploits of a genius detective teen prodigy who gets reverted to a child by an unknown drug, but continues in his sleuthing ways.

It’s certainly great, but I think the one thing holding it back is that despite having solved literally hundreds of cases, Conan still can’t seem to figure out his own. Not to mention that if this long series ran in real time, he would have grown back into his teenage self and then some.

#3. Slam Dunk

Unlike the rest of the top five the basketball themed series Slam Dunk probably hadn’t gotten quite as warm a reception outside of Japan, save a few countries like Taiwan. Nevertheless, it set the gold standard for sports manga and is easily more popular that the actual sport of basketball here.

#2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

With the explosive popularity this series has enjoyed this year, Demon Slayer only reaching number two is probably the biggest surprise of this election. The story of a young boy learning to fight demons in an effort to save his own demon-sister has smashed sales records in both theaters and book stores, but hasn’t quite taken the top spot in the hearts and minds of the people… yet.

#1. One Piece

Having just celebrated it’s 1,000th chapter, this sprawling adventure saga of super-powered pirates is beginning to make Lord of the Rings look like See Spot Run in terms of scope and length.

It seems fair that One Piece beat out Demon Slayer in that it has not only stood the test of time, it has thrived on the test of time.

The top one hundred manga titles were also announced along with the number of points they received, which appears to be a weighted value based on the total votes. Check it out to see how you’re favorite fared, but as we’ll discuss afterward, you might be disappointed.

Seriously, 150,000 citizens voted! Manga General Election Results:

One Piece (33,600)
Demon Slayer (29,100)
Slam Dunk (26,700)
Detective Conan (25,400)
Dragon Ball (22,400)
Attack on Titan (21,900)
Naruto (19,800)
Haikyu!! (18,700)
Fullmetal Alchemist (18,500)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (17,100)
Hunter X Hunter (16,200)
Gintama (16,100)
Kingdom (15,200)
World Trigger (11,700)
Doraemon (11,300)
My Hero Academia (10,900)
Yu Yu Hakusho (8,600)
Black Jack (8,200)
Jujutsu Kaisen (8,000)
Natsume’s Book of Friends (7,400)
Glass Mask (7,100)
Fist of the North Star (7,000)
Bleach (6,950)
Touch (6,900)
Phoenix (6,700)
Banana Fish (5,800)
The Rose of Versailles (5,600)
Inuyasha (5,300)
Ashita no Joe (5,100)
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (4,950)
Rurouni Kenshin (4,900)
Maison Ikkoku (4,600)
Zatch Bell! (4,400)
The Poe Clan (4,100)
KochiKame (4,080)
Golgo 13 (4,060)
Sazae-san (4,040)
Star of the Giants (4,020)
Astro Boy (4,000)
Golden Kamuy (3,950)
Tokyo Ghoul (3,900)
Dokaben (3,850)
The Quintessential Quintuplets (3,800)
Aim for the Ace! (3,600)
Dobutsu no Oisha-san (3,450)
The Promised Neverland (3,400)
Hajime no Ippo (3,100)
Ushio and Tora (3,000)
Master Keaton (2,900)
Kaguya-Sama: Love is War (2,850)
Assassination Classroom (2,800)
Kuroko’s Basketball (2,750)
Black Butler (2,700)
The Prince of Tennis (2,650)
Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern (2,600)
Candy Candy (2,300)
City Hunter (2,290)
Chainsaw Man (2,260)
Nodame Cantabile (2,230)
Parasyte (2,200)
Urusei Yatsura (2,000)
Card Captor Sakura (1,900)
Kinniku Man (1,850)
Bungo Stray Dogs (1,800)
Fairy Tail (1,790)
Tokimeki Tonight (1,760)
Reborn! (1,730)
Hoshin Engi (1,700)
Cyborg 009 (1,550)
Boys Over Flowers (1,500)
Tetsujin 28-Go (1,300)
H2 (1,250)
Galaxy Express 999 (1,200)
Devilman (1,160)
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic (1,130)
Oishinbo (1,100)
Abu-san (1,050)
Space Battleship Yamato (1,000)
Basara (990)
Captain (980)
Barbaric Legend (960)
Hikaru no Go (950)
Major (930)
Fire Force (920)
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun (900)
Karakuri Circus (890)
Fruits Basket (860)
Kaze no Daichi (830)
Yukan Club (800)
Aria (780)
Berserk (760)
Macaroni Spinach (740)
Princess Knight (720)
Rent-A-Girlfriend (700)
D.Gray-Man (690)
Sket Dance (660)
Captain Tsubasa (630)
Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (600)
March Comes in Like a Lion (580)
Dr. Stone (560)

Based on online comments, the most glaring omissions from this list were hugely popular titles like Death Note, Akira, Baki the Grappler, and Gantz. While they were all boundary-pushing and influential titles, perhaps that doesn’t always equate to being people’s favorites.

It goes to show that the vast library of manga titles out there, the top 100 is still pretty rarefied air. Probably the story will be quite different if and when Asahi TV holds the 2022 Seriously, 150,000 citizens voted! Manga General Election. Fans of these overlooked titles and others can come out in full force and put them in their rightful place wherever that may be.

Source: YouTube/動画、はじめてみました【テレビ朝日公式】, Animate Times via Hachima Kiko
Top image: SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/01/04/top-100-manga-of-all-time-chosen-by-survey-of-150000-japanese-people/feed/ 1 527915 Taiwanese sports channel airs anime Slam Dunk in place of cancelled NBA games https://soranews24.com/2020/03/17/taiwanese-sports-channel-airs-anime-slam-dunk-in-place-of-cancelled-nba-games/ https://soranews24.com/2020/03/17/taiwanese-sports-channel-airs-anime-slam-dunk-in-place-of-cancelled-nba-games/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2020 14:00:09 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=493176

We interrupt this NBA shutdown to bring you a very important anime.

The cancellation of major sporting events might not seem like a huge sacrifice in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, until you realize the massive scope of influence they have over thousands of jobs and peripheral businesses.

For example, when the NBA announced that it would suspend operations to help prevent the spread of the virus, executives across the world at ELTA TV Sports HD in Taiwan suddenly had to scramble for alternative programming. Luckily, someone there was clever enough to come up with the best possible solution.

The broadcast schedule above shows that on 17 March ELTA TV Sports TV 1 will be showing Dwayne Wade’s final slam dunk contest in April of 2019 from nine in the morning. While old sports broadcasts are all well and good, they can’t guarantee people will tune in, so during prime time, the network decided to bust out the big guns…

Yes, for people craving all the drama and excitement of basketball, there has never been a better time to revisit the classic Slam Dunk and all the antics of Hanamichi Sakuragi, Takenori Akagi, and of course Coach Anzai.

Slam Dunk follows the rise to basketball glory of bad-boy Sakuragi, who joins his high school team in order to impress a girl, only to find his true love lies in the game itself. Its easily accessible storyline and easily understandable depictions of basketball have made it not only one of the best sports manga and anime, but one of the best manga and anime of all time, period.

In fact it’s probably a safe bet to say that the very existence of basketball coverage in Taiwan is at least partly thanks to the huge influence of Slam Dunk had in Asia back when it first came out in the 90s.

Meanwhile, netizens in both Taiwan and Slam Dunk‘s home of Japan applauded the new programming.

“Genius!”
“What if it gets better ratings than the actual NBA games?”
“I wish they’d animate Slam Dunk all the way to the end though…”
“This might be a good time for a Slam Dunk reboot with some slicker animation.”
“ESPN should do the same for all sports; Redline*,* Ping Pong*, even* Keijo!!!!!!!!“
“Keijo!!!!!!!?”

Keijo!!!!!!! is a popular series centered around a fictional sport in which girls in swimsuits must knock each other off of platforms using only their chests or buttocks.

Keijo!!!!!!! or no Keijo!!!!!!!!, the full conversion of ESPN into a 24-hour sports anime network would be an amazing sight to behold, but hopefully we’ll keep working toward a return to normalcy first for everyone’s sake.

Source: Facebook/@ELTASPORTS, Yurukuyaru, My Game News Flash
Top image: YouTube/Marko Runjanin
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/03/17/taiwanese-sports-channel-airs-anime-slam-dunk-in-place-of-cancelled-nba-games/feed/ 0 493176 Japanese netizens list their top 10 choices for ’90s anime remakes — What’s your pick? https://soranews24.com/2019/01/18/japanese-netizens-list-their-top-10-choices-for-90s-anime-remakes-whats-your-pick/ https://soranews24.com/2019/01/18/japanese-netizens-list-their-top-10-choices-for-90s-anime-remakes-whats-your-pick/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2019 02:00:52 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=438564

Now that we’re two decades on from the ’90s, what shows would you like to see receive a modern day make-over?

We live in the age of the remake. Disney movies are getting all manner of live-action reimaginations, Final Fantasy VII is planned to be remade…at some point and even Japan’s biggest animation smash hit is due for a Hollywood face-lift in time (though we already have an idea how that might turn out).

Anime is a tricky thing. Some series span decades through their longevity and can boast popularity across generations, like Dragon Ball, Detective Conan and Doraemon. Others get updates via remakes to keep them relevant: see Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura and Mr. Osomatsu for examples of that.

But there’s a whole lot of ’90s anime that hasn’t been picked up for a modern update yet, and when questioned about which franchises they’d most like to see on their screens again, fans made their opinions known. In a poll by Japanese survey site Goo Ranking of 3,193 individuals, vintage anime fans said exactly which series they’re chomping at the bit to reunite with, with a final list of 60 titles. Here’s a countdown of the top ten most desired ’90s reboots!

10. Mamotte! Shugogetten (Protect Me, Heavenly Moon Guardian!) (73 votes)

▼ Enjoy this fan cover of the extremely catchy opening tune

From 1998 to 1999, Toei Animation broadcast its take on this popular shonen manga concerning a teenage boy, the ring his father had gifted him as a souvenir from China, and the moon spirit residing inside that ring. The adventures of normal boy Tasuke are aided by the cute moon spirit girl Shaorin, who is determined to keep him safe from harm at all costs.

The otherworldly romance aspect of the series would benefit from the recent supernatural romance boom, and it’d be cute to see all those spirits redrawn and redesigned for modern audiences!

9. Hell Teacher Nube (93 votes)

This fun little series is also by Toei Animation, and originally ran between 1996 and 1997. Flitting in between the genres of comedy and horror, it follows 25-year-old elementary school teacher Meisuke Nueno…Who just happens to also be a demon exorcist. Assisted with the demonic power trapped in his right hand, he saves his students and fellow teachers from a host of ghoulish demons and still has to face regular issues, like making it to payday without frittering away his wages on gambling.

Supernatural series are evergreen anyway, but the dash of comedy in this one – plus that rocking opening – would make it a great contender even in today’s anime scene!

8. Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (114 votes)

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water was broadcast from 1990 to 1991 and features some familiar names: the show was drawn up from a Jules Verne-inspired concept by Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by Hideako Anno from Studio Gainax (best known for Neon Genesis Evangelion). It concerns the titular Nadia, an ex-performer from the circus, and a kind child inventor named Jean Rocque Raltigue who promises to help get her back to her home country. Along the way, they are pursued by a band of thieves who want to steal Nadia’s pendant, and must traverse the skies and oceans while unraveling Nadia’s mysterious past.

This has all the intrigue and excitement to make for a gripping retelling, but similarities to the modern Disney’s Atlantis (2001) might work against it if a remake were in the cards.

7. Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (116 votes)

This series is actually the second time Dragon Quest took the leap from video game cartridge to animation reels, and it did so in 1989 – but because it ran through until 1992, it’s still safely a “’90s” anime. Based on the manga of the same name, the anime follows the antics of young hero Dai in his quest to defeat the Great Demon King and avenge his teacher, and features battle moves, foes and locations familiar to fans of the game series.

As Dragon Quest is eternally popular in Japan, this sounds like a super safe bet – and a great excuse to open another collaborative cafe!

6. Hana yori Dango (Boys over Flowers) (119 votes)

Toei Animation’s animated adaptation of Boys over Flowers aired from 1996 to 1997, inspired by the popular shojo manga where regular working-class girl Tsukushi attends a rich and prestigious high school full of rich and prestigious boys. She snaps back at the richest and most prestigious of all of them, Tsukasa, and earns the obsession and teasing of he and the other three boys who form the elite F4 group at the academy.

Boys over Flowers is the best-selling shojo manga of all time and has been adapted multiple times since the anime (most notably as a live-action TV series). But seeing how the author started a sequel series in 2015, maybe it’s time that got an anime too?

5. Future Grand Prix Cyber Formula (New Century GPX Cyber Formula) (157 votes)

Gundam animation studio Sunrise is responsible for this 1991 racing series, which imagines a world where racing cars come with built in AI computer support, and these systems are equally integral to racing victory as the human driver. The main characters are Hayato, a race car driver, and his computer system Asurada – the show follows his development as a racer as well as his rivalry with his mentor and friend, Bleed Kaga.

Associated video games came out until 2012, but now is the perfect time to reboot this series and throw it even further into the future – how about with motorcycles as the focus this time?

4. Rurouni Kenshin Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (180 votes)

Though the creator has come under fire recently for unsavory reasons, Rurouni Kenshin is one of Japan’s most dearly beloved manga and the Studio Gallop/Deen anime, which aired from 1996 to 1998, is especially cherished. Himura Kenshin, an expert assassin before the start of the series, uses his blade to protect and defend rather than to take lives, and the series depicts both his atonement for his violence and how he returns to take up his katana for the greater good.

With the creators modern-day dealings currently casting a shadow over the Meiji-era world of Kenshin, this one is tricky. But the story of overcoming one’s old demons and learning to live and love after a life of cruelty is deftly-told, and viewers are just as sure to react to it in 2018 as they were twenty years before.

3. Yu Yu Hakusho (215 votes)

Studio Pierrot’s 1990 adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi’s award-winning shonen manga ran until 1994. It tells the tale of delinquent 14-year-old Yusuke Urameshi, who famously dies in the very first episode and, after proving his worth in the underworld, spends the rest of the series as a ghost detective who solves monster troubles in the human world. Packed to the brim with ghouls, ghosts and demons, it’s beloved not only in Japan but across the world.

This series is especially poised for a reboot, because a tie-in smart phone RPG was released last year to celebrate the series’ 25th anniversary along with a bunch of new merchandise and Blu-ray releases. Arigato gozai-MASU!

2. H2 (285 votes)

This baseball series was animated by Ashi Productions and aired from 1995 to 1996. It includes multiple characters with names starting with H, not just the protagonist Hiro – his childhood friend Hikari, baseball ace Hideo and his manager Haruka – and shows him grappling with his love for a sport that might end up injuring him, his turbulent love life and his rivalry with Hideo.

Baseball is far and away Japan’s favorite sport and there has been a gap in the market since the popular show Daiya no Ace stopped broadcasting in 2016. Add in the cute romantic dynamics, high-paced baseball animation and some stylish re-designs, and this could be a winner!

So here we are at the number one slot!

The ’90s anime that the Internet most desperately wants to make a comeback is…

1. Slam Dunk (298 votes)

Based on one of the most popular manga of all time, and one credited with helping boost the popularity of basketball as a sport in Japan, Slam Dunk aired from 1993 to 1996 and was produced by Toei Animation. Starting with the simple ambition of wanting to impress a girl who was kind to him, rough n’ tumble teen Hanamichi Sakuragi joins his school’s basketball club. After some time spent with the team, he discovers his passion for the sport itself; and decides to put his all into bringing home the high school championship on his captain’s behalf.

With super enthusiastic fans who still seize opportunities to express their love for Sakuragi and his teammates, we figure it’s high time we brought basketball back to animated screens. Where else are we going to get our fix?

So who didn’t quite make the top ten?

11. Magic Knight Rayearth
12. Fushigi Yugi
13. Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne
14. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
15. Martian Successor Nadesico
16. Marmalade Boy
17. Cowboy Bebop
18. Ghost Sweeper Mikami
19 (tie). Baby and Me
19 (tie). After War Gundam X
21. Midori no Makibao
22. Ping-Pong Club
23. Akazukin Cha Cha
24. Kodomo no Omocha
25. Magical Taluluto
26. Goldfish Warning!
27. Master Keaton
28. Flame of Recca
29. Hime-chan’s Ribbon
30. Revolutionary Girl Utena
31. Nangoku Shonen Papuwa-kun
32. Neighborhood Story
33. Mobile Suit victory Gundam
34. Karekano: His and Her Circumstances
35. Clamp School Detectives
36. Mobile Fighter G Gundam
37. Tottemo! Luckyman
38. Saint Tail
39. Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight
40. Ninku
41. NG Knight Ramune & 40
42. Aoki Densetsu Shoot!
43. Super Bikkuriman, The Vision of Escaflowne
45. Mama Loves the Poyopoyo-Saurus
46. Sorcerer Hunters
47. Sorcerous Stabber Orphen
48. Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko
49. Turn A Gundam
50. Ore wa Chokkaku
51. Getter Robo Go
52. Nurse Angel Ririka SOS
53. Chiisana Obake Acchi Kocchi Socchi
54. Dokkiri Doctor
55. Maze the Megaburst Space
56. Musashi, the Samurai Lord
57. Marude Dameo
58. Fancy Lala
59. Excel Saga

For those of you who are hungry for a little more nostalgia, make sure to stop by the Shonen Jump 50th Anniversary exhibition – and stay tuned for some upcoming remakes of classic shows!

Source: Goo Ranking via Hachima Kikou
Top image ©SoraNews24

]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/01/18/japanese-netizens-list-their-top-10-choices-for-90s-anime-remakes-whats-your-pick/feed/ 1 438564 unnamed (1) Japanese sake with a basketball anime connection is flying off the shelves in China https://soranews24.com/2018/01/16/japanese-sake-with-a-basketball-anime-connection-is-flying-off-the-shelves-in-china/ https://soranews24.com/2018/01/16/japanese-sake-with-a-basketball-anime-connection-is-flying-off-the-shelves-in-china/#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2018 15:00:21 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=400831 Chinese consumers have been buying up a certain brand of sake in staggering numbers due to an unexpected link with hit basketball anime Slam Dunk.

Mii no Kotobuki (三井の寿) is a brand of Japanese sake originating in the Mii District of Fukuoka Prefecture. Since it began to be exported overseas mid-last year, this particular product has been experiencing an unprecedented wave of popularity in China despite the high tariffs. So what’s with the sudden boom of sales?

The reason for its success is that this particular brand actually inspired the name of one of the main characters of Slam Dunk, a hugely popular sports manga during its initial run in Weekly Shonen Jump between 1990 and 1996 which became a subsequent hit anime. The series, which follows the individual members of a high school basketball team, was also a major hit in China and is credited with helping to popularize basketball as a sport in East Asia.

The character in question is Hisashi Mitsui (三井寿), a junior high school basketball champion and expert three-pointer shooter. Slam Dunk author Takehiko Inoue revealed in a written dialogue that he derived the kanji characters in Mitsui’s name from the Mii no Kotobuki brand of sake, which he personally enjoys.

▼ Slam Dunk character Hisashi Mitsui

https://twitter.com/tooshi_80/status/908631068366053377

スラムダンクが本当に好き。いつも励まされるファンの人たちも、推しのキャラ以外のことを悪く言ったりしないなんて素敵な漫画なんだろう。#スラムダンク #桜木花道 #流川楓 #三井寿 #宮城リョータ #赤木剛憲 #水戸洋平 #安西先生 #仙道彰 #好きなキャラいすぎて書ききれない pic.twitter.com/PcDjaHsAGh

— nanapo (@y_nanapo) January 5, 2018

While the meaning of the three individual kanji, 三井寿, translates to something along the lines of “three-wells-longevity,” it’s often the case that kanji used in names have a variety of different possible readings. This explains the discrepancy between the pronunciation of 三井 as “mii” in the sake name and “mitsui” in the character’s name, and 寿 as “kotobuki” in the sake name and as “hisashi” in the character’s name (fun fact: it’s also the same character used to write the “su” in “sushi”!).

According to Tadatsugu Inoue, the managing director of Mii no Kotobuki‘s sake production company (who also ironically shares a last name with the Slam Dunk author), once the company learned this bit of trivia it decided to take production a step further by actually paying homage to Hisashi Mitsui on the brand’s label. Most visibly, they gave the label a red background to match the Shohoku High School basketball players’ uniforms. More subtly, they also enlarged the number “14” which indicates its +14 Sake Meter Value (meaning that it’s a very dry brew). Wouldn’t you know–by a fortuitous coincidence, Mitsui’s jersey number also happens to be 14 in the story!

▼ The red sake label now screams a connection to Slam Dunk character Mitsui.

昨日飲んだ日本酒
スラダンファンは食いつくよね
しかもあたしはみっちゃんが1番好き！#スラムダンク #三井寿 #三井の寿 #日本酒 #純米吟醸 pic.twitter.com/QK7QikTy6Z

— か (@24kao1oi7) January 12, 2018

All of these changes were a major recipe for success since the company began exporting Mii no Kotobuki to Shanghai and other Chinese cities last June. Although it was initially marketed towards restaurants and other dining and drinking establishments, longtime Slam Dunk fans, most of whom are now in their 30s and 40s with plenty of purchasing power, also began to buy it up in bulk once they got wind of its existence. Just four months later in September, over 10,000 bottles had already sold out. Furthermore, due to the high demand, one 720-milliliter (24.3-ounce) bottle was selling for the equivalent of 6,000-10,000 yen (US$54-90).

As a result of its popularity, Inoue is now busy preparing a new batch of Mii no Kotobuki which will once again go on sale in China later this month. Restaurants and diehard basketball fans are already eagerly anticipating its arrival, so we’ll just have to wait to see how long the new shipment will last this time around.

Source: Yahoo! Japan News
Featured image: Twitter/@24kao1oi7

]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/01/16/japanese-sake-with-a-basketball-anime-connection-is-flying-off-the-shelves-in-china/feed/ 0 400831 miinokotobuki Researcher claims North Korea’s Kim Jong-un loved manga, got bad grades as a teen https://soranews24.com/2018/01/03/researcher-claims-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-loved-manga-got-bad-grades-as-a-teen/ https://soranews24.com/2018/01/03/researcher-claims-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-loved-manga-got-bad-grades-as-a-teen/#comments Wed, 03 Jan 2018 09:00:50 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=399805

Plus, his familial connection to Sailor Moon fandom.

Sometimes, it’s easy to spot a hardcore anime or manga fan. The guy in the faded bootleg Tenchi Muyo T-shirt, for example, is probably a life-ling otaku, and so too is the woman who plays the Yuri on Ice theme every time she gets in her car.

But sometimes, otaku can pop up in unexpected places, like when you suddenly find out that your coworker’s sister is really into cosplay, your neighbor’s living room shelves are lined with anime figures, or the supreme leader of North Korea loves manga.

Japanese TV program Yabai Hanashi The World recently sent pro boxer-turned-media personality Daiki Kameda to Bern, Switzerland, where North Korean Workers’ Party Chairman Kim Jong-un studied under a false name for four years, starting when he was 12. While in Bern, Kameda spoke with researcher Gabriel Myer.

“[Kim Jong-un] loved the NBA,” Myer said in a taped segment, referring to the American professional basketball league, “and was a big fan of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.” But Myer claimed that Kim was also a big fan of manga, and, not surprisingly, basketball manga.

“Slam Dunk, something like that was the name of one of the manga he read,” Myer continued, invoking the name of the most popular basketball manga of all time, which was serialized from 1990 to 1996, which would overlap with Kim’s reported time in Bern during the mid-‘90s. Myer went on to say that Kim’s younger sister, Yo-jong, who studied in Bern at the same time, was also a manga fan, with a particular fondness for Sailor Moon. Back in the Yabai Hanashi The World studio, Kameda also relayed Myer’s statement that the older Kim was a Dragon Ball fan as well.

In the taped segment, Myer also asserted that while Kim Jong-un spent a lot of time reading manga, he apparently didn’t spend so much time studying, and got poor grades during his time in Switzerland. So now we’re left to wonder if his father, previous North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was ever seen grumbling to himself and worrying if his son was going to end up a hikkikomori otaku NEET.

Source: Livedoor News via Anime News Network/Lynzee Loveridge, The Guardian
Top image: Wikipedia/Lukepryke

]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/01/03/researcher-claims-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-loved-manga-got-bad-grades-as-a-teen/feed/ 0 399805 KM 1 Slam Dunk fans rejoice after spotting a real-life Anzai-sensei on American TV https://soranews24.com/2016/02/15/slam-dunk-fans-rejoice-after-spotting-a-real-life-anzai-sensei-on-american-tv/ https://soranews24.com/2016/02/15/slam-dunk-fans-rejoice-after-spotting-a-real-life-anzai-sensei-on-american-tv/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2016 02:00:44 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=301279 anzaifi

Anzai-sensei, the jovial coach of Shotoku High School’s basketball team, was recently spotted on American television!

Slam Dunk is not only one of the most beloved sports manga/anime series ing the world, but it is also in the list of the top 10 best-selling manga series of all time. In addition, the series almost single-handedly propelled the popularity of basketball in Japan during the 1990s, spurring many schools to create basketball clubs for children who aspired to be like series’ protagonists Hanamichi Sakuragi and Kaede Rukawa.

One of Slam Dunk‘s most lovable characters is Anzai-sensei, the coach tasked with transforming Shotoku High School’s basketball team into athletes capable of winning the national championship. Anzai-sensei is also responsible for saying one of the most memorable quotes in Japanese manga/animation history: “If you give up, the game is already over.” Dubbed “the White-Haired Buddha” for his calm demeanor, he becomes an important mentor for Sakuragi and the others on the team.

It seems like Anzai-sensei may currently be doing more than just coaching the next star high school basketball team, however, because a Japanese fan recently spotted a real-life dead ringer for him on an American news program the other day. The fan subsequently posted the following screenshot to social media, which positively blew up due to the man’s uncanny resemblance to the respected basketball coach:

今朝、TVに安西先生出てた。in NYC pic.twitter.com/9fXXMjjaOJ

— Ari(あり) (@maru9227) February 9, 2016

“This morning, I saw Anzai-sensei on TV in NYC.”

Other Japanese Internet users were delighted by the chance sighting, and shared their love for Anzai-sensei in a series of Twitter comments:

“If they make a live-action Slam Dunk movie, this guy would be perfect for the role.”

“So who is it really?”

“‘Anzai-sensei, I want to play basketball!'”

“I wanna jiggle his chin like Sakuragi always does!”

“I’m at my son’s basketball game in Kagoshima now. I wonder if Anzai-sensei’s around…hehehe.”

We sure do wonder if anyone’s ever told the man in question about his resemblance to a tremendously popular manga character. We also hope that no one’s ever taken the liberty of jiggling his chin!

Source: Twitter/@maru9227
Featured image: Twitter/@anzaiteacher12

]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/02/15/slam-dunk-fans-rejoice-after-spotting-a-real-life-anzai-sensei-on-american-tv/feed/ 0 301279 anzaifi Japanese businessmen list the top 10 manga characters they wish were actually their bosses https://soranews24.com/2015/09/26/japanese-businessmen-list-the-top-ten-manga-characters-they-wish-were-actually-their-bosses/ https://soranews24.com/2015/09/26/japanese-businessmen-list-the-top-ten-manga-characters-they-wish-were-actually-their-bosses/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2015 09:00:27 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=268656 51YGGCBRTBL

One of the great things about fiction, regardless of the genre or medium, is the way it lets us envision the way we want the world to be. Fiction can have a profound effect on us and even serve as an ideal to strive for. Which, now that we think about it, is kind of like what a good boss should be — a role model for their workers!

So, taking this thinking to its natural conclusion, we have to wonder: What fictional characters would make the best bosses? Jack Sparrow might be fun to watch, but we would hate to be in his crew! A recent online poll asked a group of Japanese businessmen in their thirties which manga character would be their favorite pick for their boss. A good question, indeed. Find out how they responded below!

▼ A great leader doesn’t need to be the center of attention, right?

[tweet https://twitter.com/ShounenStrawHat/status/625432724120190976 align=center]

Web R25 is the online version of R25, a Japanese magazine that targets businessmen 25 years old or older. The site focuses on short, concise content for the (ostensibly) busy professional, in addition to reader polls. This time, they surveyed 200 businessmen in their 30s, asking them for the top three manga characters closest to their ideal boss. The first-place choice for each respondent got three points, the second two points, and the third one point. Then the results were calculated and used to make a top ten list. The men polled were asked to choose from a list of 17 characters who were considered leaders or teachers, so the list may not have included your favorite choice, but based on the results, it doesn’t look like it was too narrow.

1. Coach Anzai (Slam Dunk)

2. Kame-sennin/Master Roshi (Dragon Ball)

3. Whitebeard/Edward Newgate (One Piece)

4. Eikichi Onizuka (GTO)

5. Chief Patrol Officer Daijiro Ohara (Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo)

6. Kosaku Shima (Kachō Shima Kōsaku)

7. Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

8. Genkai (Yu Yu Hakusho)

9. Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist)

10. Koichi Kawato (Rookies)

If nothing else, this proves just how popular Slam Dunk continues to be!

▼ Is that a mustache or are you just happy to lead me?

[tweet https://twitter.com/kanata2015/status/644819844043399168 align=center]

Here are a few comments the participants had for the top five selections.

About Coach Anzai (who had a total of 270 points), one respondent wrote, “I chose him because he gets those he leads to perform at the very limits of their abilities.” Another man said, “He doesn’t just care about skills, but also the mind.”

Regarding Kame-sennin, who had 216 points, one respondent wrote, “I really appreciate that when correcting someone, he gives them a model and does it with them.” Whitebeard, who got 80 points, was praised for his kindness towards subordinates, jokes, and actual abilities.

[tweet https://twitter.com/ArturLozano/status/645316402212118528 align=center]

In fourth place, Eikichi Onizuka got 73 points and one participant noted that he, “seems like he could be motivating. And you could always rely on him.” As for Chief Patrol Officer Daijiro Ohara, who had 79 points, respondents praised the character for his dedication, composure, and thoughtfulness for subordinates.

Of the other five, Kōsaku Shima received 68 points, Kakashi Hatake had 63 points, Genkai got 54 points, Roy Mustang had 53 points, and Koichi Kawato received 48 points.

So, what about you, dear readers? What manga character would you want as your boss? For me, it would definitely be Major Matoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell. I don’t have a good reason — she’s just so badass!

Sources: Web R25 via Otaku
Top image: Amazon Japan (1, 2) (edited by RocketNews24)

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/09/26/japanese-businessmen-list-the-top-ten-manga-characters-they-wish-were-actually-their-bosses/feed/ 0 268656 51YGGCBRTBL 51YGGCBRTBL The 9 types of basketball players in Slam Dunk – which type are you? https://soranews24.com/2014/11/18/the-9-types-of-basketball-players-in-slam-dunk-which-type-are-you/ https://soranews24.com/2014/11/18/the-9-types-of-basketball-players-in-slam-dunk-which-type-are-you/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:00:36 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=197378 10295194_589563747821901_5788984573660707018_o
Playing sports brings out a different side of us. This is especially so in sports that require cooperation within a team in order to go up against an opposing rival. It’s easy to put on a front at normal times when you’re composed and in your comfort zone, but it’s a battlefield out on the courts. That’s probably why some people say that you can tell a person’s personality by the way he/she plays on a team.

Here’s a personality analysis derived from the play styles of the characters from a certain popular basketball manga and anime series. Which type of athlete are you? Read on to find out!

Hong Kong-based illustrator and basketball fan Eiji created this personality analysis chart based on his observations of the characters from the all-time basketball themed hit series, Slam Dunk. In other words, this is based on a work of fiction and has no concrete scientific basis, but if you’re on a team or if you’re a fan of Slam Dunk, there’s no harm having a little fun making some references!

1. Reformer
Perfectionist, reformist
“Our goal is not to just be among the top 8 teams, we will reign the Nationals!”
Being the perfectionist, he has high standards for himself as well as others, and he praises sparingly.
Representatives: Akagi, Jin, Nobe

2. Helper
Fraternity type, helper
“One-on-one is just one of the ways of attacking.”
He’s always there to help, and is usually generous. He’s sensitive towards the needs of others and is not very conscious of himself.
Representatives: Sendoh, Miyagi, Hanagata

3. Achiever
Doer, achiever
“You’re never going to beat me in a one-on-one.”
He has an insatiable desire for victory, loves challenges, and dedicates his heart and soul to achieve his goal.
Representatives: Sawakita, Rukawa

4. Individualist
Self-centric, romanticist
“Coach Anzai, I want to play basketball~!”
Led by his emotions, he is sentimental and doesn’t think much of responsibility, but has incredible intuition and creativity in an optimal state.
Representatives: Mitsui, Fukuda, Minami

5. Investigator
Thinker, observer
“Don’t you even think of taking the top seat in my absence!”
He is exceptionally calm and tends to distance himself from others, observing on the sidelines before stepping into the scene.
Representatives: Fujima, Fukatsu, Hikoichi Aida

6. Loyalist
Loyalist, cautious type
“It doesn’t matter if I’m not the star of the team.”
He is hardworking and conscientious, responsible and serious, but tends to falter from anxiety and fear in times of crisis, becoming hesitant.
Representatives: Uozumi, Hasegawa, Matsumoto

7. Enthusiast
Hedonic, dynamic
“Because I’m a genius!”
He is positive and optimistic, brimming with energy, has many talents, and is often in a state of excitement. He detests being bound and controlled.
Representatives: Sakuragi, Kiyota, Kishimoto

8. Challenger
Authoritative, challenger
“There are no weaklings in team Kainan!”
As a natural leader, he is decisive and isn’t bothered by trivial matters. He craves for victory and dominance, and enjoys taking the lead.
Representatives: Maki, Masashi Kawata, Koshino

9. Peacemaker
Harmonious, peacemaker
“Do you need my help?”
Understanding and peace-loving, he dislikes conflicts within the team and is always trying to build harmonious, solid relationships.
Representatives: Kogure, Mikio Kawata, Uekusa

Team sports are fun because players of different personalities spark endless possibilities when their varying play styles come together as one. Which type of player are you?

Source/Image: 籃圖 Basketball Illustration on Facebook

]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/11/18/the-9-types-of-basketball-players-in-slam-dunk-which-type-are-you/feed/ 0 197378 10295194_589563747821901_5788984573660707018_o 10295194_589563747821901_5788984573660707018_o Four manga that are hits in Japan but relative flops in America https://soranews24.com/2014/03/17/four-manga-that-are-hits-in-japan-but-relative-flops-in-america/ https://soranews24.com/2014/03/17/four-manga-that-are-hits-in-japan-but-relative-flops-in-america/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2014 08:00:57 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=132685

Manga has made its impact all over the globe, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all that reads from right to left is gold. While your Dragon Balls, Narutos, and Attacks on Titan have all gone on to fame worldwide, it doesn’t mean every one of Japan’s hand-drawn treasures share the same love abroad.

Japan’s Da Vinchi News recently interviewed a publisher in New York whom they call “Mr. C” about four particular smash hit manga series in Japan that could hardly make a dent in the American market. What was it about these titles that made them perform completely differently in these two parts of the world?

■ Slam Dunk
Mr. C cites Slam Dunk as the ultimate example of the divergence between American and Japanese tastes with regard to manga. From the start, sports comics were never big in the USA. In fact, most reality-based genres didn’t fare so well overall commercially.

On the other hand, in Japan sports-themed stories have often gone on to big success. Internationally sports manga like the Captain Tsubasa and Prince of Tennis series have done well around the world and averagely in the USA with their superpower-laden characters. But Slam Dunk, with its slice-of-life antics and fallible players in-training just didn’t seem to grip American readers like it did the Japanese.

■ Kitaro
Mr. C also mentions that the past half-decade has seen something of a resurgence of classic manga on Western shores. Legends like Osamu Tezuka and Keiko Takemiya getting have been getting lovingly bound reprints of their old works translated to English, and yet Shigeru Mizuki’s Gegege No Kitaro seems to be just collecting dust on the shelves by comparison.

The industry insider suggests that Japan’s trendsetter of the emo haircut has had an unfortunate lack of proper promotion. This meant that poor Kitaro just couldn’t get a foothold – even with those crazy wooden shoes of his.

■ Wandering Son
This story of youngsters dealing with their gender identity has been well received both in Japan and in America. Although it’s a slow-moving work of subtle human emotions everyone who has read it seems to find a certain charm to the story.

However, according to Mr. C, in the publishing world there are few willing to take a chance on Wandering Son, fearing that it just wouldn’t sell well. That concern is partly to do with the subject matter but also had a lot to do with the incredibly staggered release schedule of the original series. In the time it took to print only 15 volumes of Wandering Son, other series would have released at least 30.

So, it would seem that this award-winning piece of writing just couldn’t fit into the commercial system to hit it as big as it probably should have.

■ JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Although you might now call this series something of a success in North America, it was a long time coming since its debut nearly two decades ago. Mr. C credits this to heavy censorship slapped onto the initial American printings which changed many of the names and situations with controversially violent and/or religious imagery. As a result it kind of well sucked, which would explain why so few picked it up.

However, thanks to the advent of the internet, the original stories were able to spread to America as they were meant to be. Combined with the release of ebook versions to replace out-of-print issues, a true renaissance of JoJo could be enjoyed by Americans.

And who knows? Perhaps with the changes in formats and taste Kitaro, Wandering Son, and Slam Dunk too might someday be top of the list, king of the hill, A-number-one in ol’ New York, New York just as they were in Japan. And if not, so be it. It doesn’t make them any less great.

Source: Da Vinchi News (Japanese)
Images: Amazon 1, 2, 3, 4

]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/03/17/four-manga-that-are-hits-in-japan-but-relative-flops-in-america/feed/ 0 132685 Unforgettable lines from popular manga https://soranews24.com/2013/07/31/unforgettable-lines-from-popular-manga/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/31/unforgettable-lines-from-popular-manga/#comments Wed, 31 Jul 2013 02:00:45 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=74643 Ever heard a phrase on TV or in a comic that shocked you right to the core? Maybe a particular line that struck a cord with you and forever afterward you found yourself repeating it? If you’re an avid anime fan, then you might have an answer to that question.

Recently, a survey was conducted among Japanese fans online regarding whether manga character lines left lasting impressions on their viewers. Out of over 700 inquiries, about 31 percent answered that yes, they’d been moved by particular phrases from manga. Here are some of the most heart-wrenching, go-getter phrases picked by fans.

Let’s see if you agree:

From the basketball-centric series, Slam Dunk:

「あきらめたらそこで試合終了ですよ」
“The moment you give up is the moment the game is over for you.”
– Professor Anzai

“Whenever my confidence is crushed, I just remember this phrase and I find the strength to try again,” says a user from Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Over 50 people chose this one phrase out of any line in any series out there. It certainly rings true in or out of a basketball court.

From the dark medical drama Black Jack:

「大したやつだな五人も殺すなんて。こっちは一人救うだけで精いっぱいなんだ」
“Impressive that he could kill five men. It takes all I’ve got to save one.”
– Black Jack

“It’s Black Jack’s signature phrase. There are many other manga with memorable phrases, but I like how this really shows the main character’s personality,” quoth a female fan from Aichi. It’s the perfect line to portray the character of the series, too.

From the classic title, Fist of the North Star:

「お前はもう死んでいる」
“You’re already dead.”
– Kenshirou

An oldie, but a goodie. It’s tough to find people who haven’t heard the main character’s signature quote. “It’s the perfect phrase for a new age legend,” according to a fan from Tochigi Prefecture.

From the twisted sci-fi series Project Arms:

「神に祈るな！心くじける！過去を思うな！敵は前にあり！」
“Don’t pray to the gods, your heart will be crushed! Don’t think of the past, for the enemy is right in front of you!”
– Johann Horst

Though it sounds a bit daunting at first, all you have to do is think beyond the connotation of eminent destruction. “When I couldn’t find my own source of determination, it helped me get the lead out,” was the cry from Hyougo Prefecture. You can’t deny that it’s an inspirational phrase.

From the slapstick satire Afro Tanaka:

「俺うんこ製造機だ」
“In the end, I’m just a poop manufacturing machine.”
– Tanaka

A sad but true tale for many of us. Though humans may accomplish much in life, they will always without fail produce the same thing as everyone else. “I was shocked when I realized that I was the same,” came a voice from Tochigi.

From the boxing series, Hajime no Ippo, also known as Fighting Spirit:

「努力した者が全て報われるとは限らん。しかし！成功した者は皆すべからく努力しておる」
“Even if you try your hardest, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be rewarded for it. But, anyone who has ever made it big tried their hardest.”
– Kamogawa Kenji

Another down-to-earth and yet inspiring line. “It’s a phrase that I can agree with whole-heartedly,” says a fan from Saitama. Though things don’t always work out, if you don’t try, nothing ever will.

What quotes from anime have stayed with you after hearing them? Let us know and share your favorites in the comments section below.

Source: Jin115

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