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It’s Hump Day! Take a Tip from Our Furry Friend Maru and Relax
- Philip Kendall
Feb 7, 2013 - Tweet
Japanese Internet celebrity Maru has been on the scene for a few years now, shooting to stardom when his owner, YouTube user Mugumogu, uploaded a series of videos of the cat launching himself into boxes and paper bags seemingly far too small to accommodate him. These days, he’s taking life a little easier, but I think we could all learn a thing or two from Maru: the undisputed king of sunshine naps.
PlayStation 4? Sony Teases Fans with Mysterious Video and Conference Announcement *UPDATED*
- Philip Kendall
Feb 1, 2013
Despite Sony Computer Entertainment’s head honcho Kazuo Hirai going on record just 10 days ago to state that he thinks it better to let competitors make the first move when it comes to releasing details of new consoles, a sudden official announcement from Sony earlier today has whipped gamers and tech fans alike into a frenzy.
Although the electronics giant’s video, simply titled “PlayStation 2013”, does not show any actual hardware footage or make any promises, it looks a lot like a teaser for a big forthcoming announcement if you ask us.
- Global
- (playstation • Sony • tech • video • video games)
New Video Game Evoland Turns Technological Advancement into a Game in its Own Right
- Philip Kendall
Jan 31, 2013
While it’s true that a number of the world’s best-selling action RPGs – including those that this new video game emulates – hail from Japan, we have to admit that we’re taking the unusual step of reporting on non-Asia specific news with this article; the reason being that it’s simply it’s too awesome not to share.
What you’re about to witness is a short promotional video for Evoland, a new game from Boreaux-based Shiro Games that’s just a few weeks away from release. But this is no ordinary video game. Imagine playing a game that quite literally evolves as you progress; its graphics, sound and gameplay mechanics gradually changing from those of the early 80s to the multi-million dollar standards set by this generation’s sprawling action RPGs.
Taking its cues from industry greats like The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, Evoland allows players to experience first-hand both the growth of the genre and the technological advancements that the video game industry has made over the past three decades, meaning that the game you finish will be almost unrecognizably different to that which you originally began.
Japan Sets Guinness Record for Synchronized Mascot Dancing 【Video】
- Jessica
Jan 28, 2013
It’s not surprising that in Japan, the land of cute and cuddly, pretty much everything has a fuzzy mascot. Even prefectural and city governments are getting in on the merchandising mania with adorable (or terrifying, depending on your point of view) characters called yuru-kyara meant to promote tourism and local products.
This week, 141 yuru-kyara from 25 prefectures across the country gathered in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, to make their mark on history by becoming the largest group of mascots ever to do the same dance together. Jaw-droppingly awesome video after the break. Read More
Too Lazy to Clean? Remote Control Mops and Trash Cans are Here to Help! 【Video】
- Philip Kendall
Jan 28, 2013
Living in filth but too lazy to do anything about it? Have a penchant for new technology and toys? Today’s your lucky day!
Introducing the new Sugoi Mop and GomibaGo! two new remote controlled devices that enable you to remain firmly planted on your sofa while doing a half-arsed job of cleaning. Operated via video game-style controllers, you can zoom your Sugoi (“incredible”) Mop around the room and bring the trash can to you whenever you need it.
Deliciously over-the-top promotional video and images after the break.
Giant Hadouken Fired Over Kanto Region, Internet Sky Gazers Track It
- Master Blaster
Jan 24, 2013
Beginning at around 2:45am on 20 January, Tweets were appearing with reports of an “explosion” and a glowing object falling from the sky. On the same day a video showing the meteor in high detail began to spread across the Japanese internet.
From the video we can easily see that this was no average meteor – this was a fireball.
Japan’s Trains: Bringing Joy (and Anger) to Millions Every Single Day
- Philip Kendall
Jan 23, 2013
By now we’ve all either heard stories of their efficiency or ridden them in person, but Japanese trains remain something of a source of amazement to many tourists visiting the country. They’re so clean! People obey the rules (well, usually…)! And the doors open exactly where they’re supposed to!
The following videos are examples of just how precise Japanese train drivers are expected to be, and how the simple process of lining up the doors of their train’s carriages with a couple of arrows painted on the platform is something that can bring great joy to many when they see it happen, and incredible anger and irritation to others when it doesn’t quite work out.
Nintendo Reveals New Pokémon Game for 3DS: Pokémon X and Y
- Philip Kendall
Jan 9, 2013
Perhaps tired of naming their Pokémon games after colours, Japanese video game heavyweight Nintendo yesterday announced its newest iteration in the popular pocket monster collect-em-up: Pokémon X and Y.
Boasting an all-new visual design, player perspective and a host of new creatures to capture and battle with, it’s sure to a hit with fans and newcomers alike.
- Japan
- (3DS • announcement • new • nintendo • Pokemon • Pokemon XY • video • video games)
Hamsters Are Watching You
- Master Blaster
Dec 25, 2012
“Hamsters are watching you.”
Before, when I said this to people on the streets they would run away and get the police involved.
Well who’s laughing now? Thanks to this video documentation uploaded on YouTube, my paranoid delusions have been proven to be real. In it, the brave camera person captured a hamster stakeout in progress.
My delirium was further validated by Yahoo! who chose this shocking footage as the “10th best animal video of 2012.”
Beautiful HDR Time-lapse of Tokyo Will Make You Want to Travel to Japan. Now.
- Steven
Dec 13, 2012
One of the many wonderful things about modern technology is that it not only allows us to visit new places from the comfort of our homes, but also to experience familiar places in completely new ways.
For example, I have visited Tokyo numerous times over the three years I have called Japan my home and I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what the city is all about: skyscrapers, bright lights, crowds of busy people, corn man. But run all that through high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging, record it in time-lapse, and watch it on YouTube in 1080p and the city sights I know so well take on a completely different, almost otherworldly, appearance.
Check out the video below!
- Japan
- (HDR • photography • time-lapse • Tokyo • video • YouTube)
Urban Soldier: Mr. Sato Dons Camo for a Call of Duty-Inspired Coffee Dash
- Philip Kendall
Dec 5, 2012
It came as an enormous shock to the entire team to hear that the legend that is Mr. Sato rarely visited Starbucks coffee houses.
Surrounded by the well-dressed, coffee sipping elite and with fancy lingo like “tall” and “grande” being thrown around, our reporter felt completely out of his depth at Starbucks and rarely dared to set foot inside even to grab a quick take-out coffee.
But after playing a lot of Black Ops 2 on the new office Wii U, a brilliant idea came to us…
- Internet, Japan
- (Black Ops 2 • camouflage • coffee • funny • Mr. Sato • Tokyo streets • video)
Your Morning Workout: Japanese Library Staff Show Us How to Strech in Hilarious / Cute Video
- Philip Kendall
Dec 3, 2012
Oh, Japan, we love you so much.
Morning stretches, or asa taisou, may look faintly ridiculous to many westerners, but it’s not uncommon for companies both large and small to have their entire staff standing up and performing a daily warmup routine each morning, often to music. Stroll past a construction site at around 8:30 a.m. and you’ll likely see a team of burly men wearing hard hats doing shoulder shrugs in unison or doing hip gyrations chanting one, two, three, four!
Just this morning, however, we at RocketNews24 witnessed perhaps the greatest example of morning stretch routines ever; a spectacle that had us chuckling, scratching out heads and finally nodding in agreement.
Prepare yourselves, ladies and gentlemen, for the Michinoku Librarian Union’s daily exercise routine!
Japanese Husband and Nissan Go All Out to Give Wife Anniversary Surprise of a Lifetime
- Karen Bremer Masuda
Nov 30, 2012
We all know about wedding anniversaries like the 50th year ‘Golden Anniversary’ and the 25th year ‘Silver Anniversary.’ Some people even may make a point of celebrating every year with something special, others may surprise their partner on an unplanned year.
One Japanese man teamed up with Nissan (yes, the car company) to give his wife the surprise of a lifetime for their 11th anniversary.
Check the video below!
“Aaaaargh!!!” Baby Red Panda Makes his Dramatic Screen Debut
- Philip Kendall
Nov 20, 2012
We’ve all seen those popular internet videos like the sneezing baby panda and dramatic look gopher, but in Hokkaido today a new internet phenomenon may have been born.
While filming at Murayama Zoo in Sapporo, visitors watched as a baby red panda, known as Gin, received a shock when his caretaker entered their pen to check if they had enough food left in their dish.
What might have caused most animals to simply jump a little, however, caused little Gin to fall over backwards, mouth open and limbs flailing like Sarah Connor when Arnold Schwarzeneggar comes out of the elevator in James Cameron’s Terminator 2…
【Fixed】 Collection of Ingenious Short Skits From the Japanese Program That Brought Us “Matrix Ping Pong” Now on YouTube
- Steven
Nov 16, 2012
Kasou Taisho, or All Japan Kasoh (Costume) Grand Prix, is a semi-annual televised contest in which amateur groups or individuals perform short skits which are rated by a panel of judges.
Many of the skits make extensive use of kurogo: stagehands dressed in all black to imply they are “invisible” to the audience while they move around props or actors on stage. This allows performers to create clever illusions and “fake” special effects, such as in the classic “Matrix Ping Pong” skit, which you can see above.
Having been on the air for more than 30 years, the show no doubt has an extensive library of short, funny video clips—or as we call it these days, internet crack. And finally figuring out that crack sells, Kasou Taisho has posted nearly 100 of their finest skits from over the years for your viewing pleasure on YouTube.
We hope you weren’t planning on doing anything productive over the next half hour…
【Video Magic】 Hatsune Miku in 3-D, Minus Glasses or Fancy Screens!!!
- Philip Kendall
Nov 15, 2012
A video released on NicoNico Video by a group going by the name of Shichoukaku iinkai “The Audiovisual committee” has wowed Japanese internet users this week by managing to create a pseudo 3-D effect on 2-D monitors.
The video has since gone viral and, as of this afternoon, has reached more than 100,000 views.
Of course, it probably helps that digital idol Hatsune Miku is the star of the video, which sees the character dancing around while surrounded by thousands of (3-D!) shards of glass.
With a little concentration, the video’s 3-D effect actually works, even if it does require the user to look faintly ridiculous to see it…
Chinese Railway Worker Suspended for “F**k’em Gangnam Style” Song Parody
- Master Blaster
Nov 14, 2012
Boy that Gangnam Style is one catchy tune. The Korean smash hit has transcended international boundaries like few others before it. When I fry my eggs in the morning I “flip’em Gangnam style” and when I’m retiling the bathroom I can’t help but “grout’em Gangnam style.”
One day, a railway worker in China was feeling down about his job and needed to let out some emotions about it. Unfortunately, he decided to “vent’em Gangnam style” and record it… and upload it to a popular Chinese video sharing site. You can probably imagine what happened from there – imagine it Gangnam style.
- China
- (GANGNAM STYLE • middle finger • video)
Sh*t Japanese Girls Say and Other Hilarious Truths From an American Living in Japan
- Steven
Nov 6, 2012
Shit Girls Say is a comedy web series that pokes fun at the cliches and stereotypes associated with young female speech.
Of course, there’s a good chance you probably knew this; the videos have racked up more than 32 million combined views to date and spawned countless parodies exploring the quirky verbal mannerisms of black girls, single girls, Asian moms and more.
Well now Japan is finally in on the joke with “Sh*t Japanese Girls Say.”
- Internet, Japan
- (Japanese women • medamasensei • video • YouTube)
Japanese Man Perfects, Battles Most Useless Machine 【Video】
- Steven
Oct 26, 2012
In the early 1950s, American mathematician and engineer Claude Shannon built a device that looked like a simple wooden casket with a single switch on the side. When the switch was thrown, the lid would rise slowly and a mechanical hand would emerge from beneath. The hand would slowly reach over to the side of the box, flip the switch off and retreat back into the box, whereupon the lid would snap shut.
Shannon called the device the “Ultimate Machine,” and since its invention, it has been reconstructed and revised under a number of different names, such as the “Useless Box” or “Leave Me Alone Box.” While all of these iterations are entertaining in their own right, a recent video by a Japanese university student has the internet buzzing that, more than 50 years later, Shannon’s Ultimate Machine may have finally been perfected.
Towel Jenga: Super Patient Pooch Lets Owners Stack Towels on His Head
- Philip Kendall
Oct 23, 2012
Before I was five years old, I’d been chased, bitten and cornered by dogs no fewer than three times.
From then on, whenever we went on to the park or were out for a family stroll, the mere sight of a dog– be it leashed, unleashed, right in front of me or 100 metres away– would have me clinging to my parents’ legs, begging them to turn back.
If only we’d had a dog like this loveable little Shiba-inu, who lies patiently while his master rests towel after towel on top of his head, I’m sure it would have taken me far less time to get over my fear of dogs.
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Today
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Yearly
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