Cool Products Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Revoltech Daizen 2 ~ Figure King Premium Series 9 Revoltech action figure fans and collectors take note -- the magazine that helps you catalogue your collection with exhaustive listings and high quality pictures is here! Includes all the latest models and trivia about Kaiyodo's epic action figure lineup. Evangelion figure included with the magazine! Awesome and highly recommended. View products »
	Cirno Figure In Stock There's no way my Cirno can be this cute! But she is, and she's here for you waiting to be taken away. Awesome figure is now in stock.
	To Aru Kagaku no Railgun Nendoroid Set of 4 Railgun comes to the Petit Nendoroid lineup with this full set, so you can get all four girls at once.
	Totoro Wooden Music Box Key Chains A miniature authentic music box made for use as a keychain, each plays a tune from Totoro when wound up and let to play out. A Totoro lover's dream!
	Totoro Plush Toys Restocked The really large Sleepy Totoro Giant Plush is restocked, plus another favorite item of ours, the soft Totoro Plush Baby Rattle for little hands!
	My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute 1 ~ Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 1 (Blu-ray Disc) A great limited edition Blu-ray release of one of the most popular shows of 2010! Join Kirino on her secret otaku crusade in full HD, packed with tons of great extras to go along with it. My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute? Yes she can! View products »
	High School of the Dead 3 (Blu-ray Disc)  The fanservicey action adventures of the high school resistance against apocalyptic zombie invasion continue! Gorgeous full HD!
	Disappearance of Haruhi, More Restocked Enjoy more restocked Blu-Ray from Japan, including the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, both Samurai Girls discs and Laputa w/full subtitles.
	Hello Kitty USB e-Kairo A great item to keep you warm at your desk or workplace, a plug-in handwarmer with a Sanrio-approved Hello Kitty theme!
	Darth Vader USB e-Kairo Also, a fun Star Wars themed hand warmer that will keep you toasty the next time you're on Hoth. You don't know the warmth of the Dark Side!
	Fantastic Hello Kitty Traditional Dolls The epic Hello Kitty traditional kimono dolls are back in production after a several year hiatus. These high quality items are super for collectors!
	Kyoto Bath Tablets Have a fabulous bath with this sakura essence bath oil, which we just got in stock. It's made in Kyoto!
	Bomb Feb 2011 The curvaceous beauties of Japan's bikini idol scene are on parade in the newly rebooted BOMB magazine. A brand new issue with all the latest!
	Health and Physical Education for Over Thirty This book is a health manual for 30 or older which describes how to get along with the opposite sex, if you know what we mean. Great for hikikomori types!
	AIUEO Study with Anpanman DX An amazing Nintendo DS learning tool for Japanese beginners working on kana reading and writing, and more advanced grammar students too!
	Also, Restocked PSP Anime Games Enjoy the 2-disc awesomeness of Clannad on your Sony PSP, or the pantsu-filled fun of the Miku Hatsune Project DIVA games. Also, K-On! After School Life!
	Anime Songs, Moe Moe Apps for iPhone from Japan You can find awesome anime songs with our iTunes Prepaid Cards, like this outstanding selection made by a fan, or roam the app store looking for cool Japan-only apps! View products »
	Boa Parka with Bear ear ~ Brown Fresh stock of the ultra-cute Boa Parka with Bear Ears, because every pretty girl should have cute bear ears.
	Restocked 'Shimapan,' Other Fashions Then, from stylish Gothic Lolita Ribbon Skirt to Japanese leg warmers to our awesome shimapan, we've got fantastic items restocked today.
	Ninja Driver 4GB ~ USB Flash Memory Restocked This ninja-themed USB memory stick will protect your valuable data with ruthless efficiency and stealth. Also acts as a luck charm against pirates!
	Sukiyaki Cheetos, Other Awesome Snacks Chances are, when you got out of bed this morning, you didn't say to yourself, "What I need are some sukiyaki flavored Cheetos. Well we've got those, official products from FritoLay Japan to boot, plus Meiji Almond Choco covered with chocolate and rice crackers (!) and a candy that I personally love, Poifull. View products »
	Fun Snacks Restocked More Lucky Star themed cakes and cookies, plus Tokyo Strawberry Daifuku, Peko-chan Milky Cnady, Lotte My Cube Gum and Pizza Potato (chips).
	HANAKO 2 Tier Bento Box & Miso Soup Bowl  Looking like a stylized kokeshi doll, the adorable Hanako makes a cute blend of traditional and modern to go with your bento meal.
	Zojirushi Warming Bento Box Designer Set If Louis Vuitton made a bento box, surely this is what it would look like. This stylish bento from Zojirushi is one of the most elegant we've ever carried.
	Even More Bento Boxes Restocked Enjoy the Momotaro Bento that goes well with Hanako, plus the Chrysanthemum Kimono Bento and Lacquered Miso Soup Bento, one of my favorites!
	One Piece 4 Piece Stacking Bento Box Add some One Piece style to your lunch collection with this great new bento box featuring Luffy's "wanted" poster.
	Restocked Onigiri Shapers, Kitchen Items Say goodbye to improperly shaped onigiri rice balls with the shapers we're restocking, plus the vegetable shaper and bamboo "cooking chopsticks."
	Japanese Study Books Restocked Then: fresh stock of the Japanese kanji drill books used by Japanese children, with several back in stock.
	Random Stuff Restocked A parody mirror that looks like delicious chocolate? A "Beauty Massage Pen" that keeps you young? Portable Paper Soap for washing your hands anywhere? Great!
	Restocked Traditional Items We love kokeshi wooden dolls form Japan, and make sure to carry some nice ones for our customers. All four seasons restocked!
	Revoltech Queen's Blade, Evangelion Preorder Figures A fresh concept of Eva Unit 02 and Yumil from Queen's Blade lead today's batch of figure preorders, Revoltech action figures representing!
	VERITA Complete Guide Book Ikusa Megami Verita, the game from Eushully that took second place in the 2010 Moe Game Awards, gets its own deluxe guidebook! Everything you need to make it through the epic fantasy RPG, plus tons of background, promotional images and supplementary material to make the game experience even richer. Massive book, 2x the thickness of most other artbooks. View products »
	Snow Moon Flower 3 Sisters Toy Collection  Three epic stress relief items are new in stock for you today, representing three different sisters and the unique characteristics of their bodies.
	Restocked Stress Relief Toys from Japan Then see some of our best onahole toys restocked, including the Angelica "Elf" series, the Power of Love Stroke Hole and favorite Bible Black characters.
	PIECES 5 ~ HELL HOUND 02 ~ Masamune Shirow Another sexy new artbook from legendary Ghost in the Shell and Appleseed creator Masamune Shirow, featuring art that is much more...mature than his stuff in those days. We're extremely happy to have this awesome book in stock finally! View products »
	Recommended Game: Princess Waltz In a dance of flashing blades one princess must emerge triumphant. Guide hero Arata through romantic intrigue and find victory in the Princess Waltz!

The Mechanics of Japanese Names in Anime

One thing I like about popular culture like anime or manga is the way is the way it can teach you about Japanese language and/or culture while it entertains. In Japan it's common for students to address each other by their family (last) names, as the use of a given (first) name implies a very close relationship. My daughter was terribly confused by this when we went to the U.S. one time, and she pulled me aside to ask why Americans kept using the first names of the Japanese J-List employees, not understanding that this was how you talk to people in English. The point at which a boy-and-girl couple stops using (formal) last names or given names with a suffix like -san or -kun and switches to using given names only is a source of drama that's often taken up in anime and manga. In Bakemonogatari, the enigmatic Hitagi Senjogahara goes for a drive with her new boyfriend Koyomi, bringing her father along apparently so she can force Koyomi to stop calling her by her last name and act like a proper boyfriend. Every time he calls her "Senjogahara" she pretends that he's talking to her father and not her, until he finally starts calling her "Hitagi."

Hitagi Senjogahara is my new favorite yandere character..

Japanese People Love Intravenous Drips

Certain unique aspects of the Japanese people stand out to foreigners who come here to live, like their tendency to drive politely, cheerfully giving the right of way and turning down the car headlights while waiting at an intersection to avoid blinding the car in front of them. Another oddity I've always noticed has been the Japanese love of tenteki, or getting an intravenous drip from a doctor whenever they feel under the weather, and anyone who is sick or tired can head up to the local clinic for a quick addition of nutrients directly into their body. Now it looks like the Japanese affinity with IV's might be blossoming into the Next Big Thing, with the rise of "IV Drip Bars" located in busy train stations and shopping areas, where men and women can relax in a chair while a drip of nutrients flows into their arm. Many opt for the optional injection of garlic essence into their veins, too, to ward off colds. There's also a well established tradition of "moe girl with an IV in her arm" among Japanese artists.

Japanese people have an odd affinity for intravenous drips.

McDonald's Japan Brings Back the Big America Texas Burger

It's common for U.S. companies doing business in Japan to make use of their American-ness as a marketing tool, and businesses like Jack Daniels, KFC, L.L. Bean and Coleman are very good at accessing the iconic imagery of America to make their products appealing to Japanese consumers. So is McDonald's, which has brought back its Big America Texas Burger, an actual product despite sounding like a parody you might read in The Onion. I did my duty as a Japan blogger and had one for lunch the other day, and it was quite good as far as semi-synthetic pseudo-food goes, basically a Quarter Pounder on a custom bun with chilli, onions and bacon. The TV commercial is as cheesy as the burger concept (if you'll excuse the pun), with rugged cowboy-types eating the burger with the Footloose theme playing in the background. After the Texas Burger promotion ends, McDonald's will sell the Manhattan Burger, the Miami Burger and the Idaho Burger, the last of which will presumably involve potatoes in some way.

Did someone say Miku-donald's?

Japan iPhone Products from J-List

I'm glad the iPhone has proven such a hit in Japan because it means there are a lot of interesting Japanese products for J-List to sell. In addition to a complete lineup of anime-themed headphones and earphones, we carry all the popular Poddities products, carabiner clips and Japanese phone strap adapters that attach directly into screw holes at the bottom of your phone. (All hardware to attach the metal bracket is included.) We also have awesome anime and other Japanese cases for your iPhone, including K-On!, Evangelion, Ore no Imouto, 2ch ASCII face and more.

Cool Products Monday, October 25, 2010

Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link.

	Comic Alive Feb 2011 A brand new edition of Comic Alive and the first of 2011, coming with a calendar you can use all year from Aria the Scarlet Ammo. Also features Zero no Tsukaima, Infinite Stratos, and tons of other popular manga's latest chapters fresh for the new month! View products »
	Animage Feb 2011 Not one to lose out to Newtype, Animage balances its Feb. coverage between audiences, with strong features on Sengoku Basara, K-On! and more.
	GeMaga ~ Game Magazine Feb 2011 Stay on top of all the latest console and consumer PC gaming news from Japan with the magazine that brings exclusive scoops to your door!
	egg Feb 2011 The cute and pop fashion styles of Japan are trending, and Egg is on top of it all. Newest issue stock is limited, sorry if it sells out.
	Pinky Street Figures In Stock  The unique look and customizability of the Pinky Street series of figures has made them a favorite among collectors and fans. See our lineup today!
	Final Fantasy XIV Stuffed Moogle Kuplu Kopo Get your Final Fantasy plush groove on with this adorable Moogle companion from the game's latest installment, FF14. Finally in stock!
	Kaomoji iPhone 4G Case ~ Shakin Adorable ASCII-style text in the form of fun, quirky faces - a great way to show Japanese net spirit and protect your phone at the same time!
	Hello Kitty Cotton Health Mask Here's a great way to keep germs, pollen, bird flu and other bad things at bay: two Japanese health masks featuring Hello Kitty! She will protect you from all forms of non-kawaii viruses. View products »
	Hello Kitty Spangle Wallet  One of the most fabulous items we've ever stocked, check out this glittering accessory that shows your Kitty love more than just about any we've seen.
	Hello Kitty Glasses Stand ~ Megane Also, that wildly popular Hello Kitty glasses stand is back, the perfect place to put your megane while night. Kitty-chan looks so awesome and nerdy!
	Jiji Baby Rattle Aww! The perfect toy for the youngster in your life who's still teething, in the crib or learning to walk, an adorable plush Ghibli toy to hold and shake.
	Price Drop on all 2011 Calendars With 2011 just started it's not too late to pick up that calendar you had your eye on -- now discounted nicely! Hurry, they are selling fast!
	DECOLE Manmaru Panda and Frog Mug Cups I defy anyone to find a cuter panda or frog coffee cup than the awesome ones we're restocking today. They come with super cute spoons that holds on to the side of the cup when not in use. View products »
	Awesome Evangelion Products Restocked From fresh stock of the Revoltech Eva 01 to those Asuka and Rei earphones, we've got tons of items for Eva fans.
	Rilakkuma Mini Face Roller Set Use these massage tools to relieve facial stress and tension in the company of the bear who really helps you relax, San-X's Rilakkuma.
	Restocked Books for Otakus From OTACOOL Otaku Rooms to the book with the hottest bishoujo previews for 2011, we've got your moe visual literature needs met.
	Hetalia Character CG Complete Guide For Hetalia fans we've got fresh stock of the Character CD Complete Guide, which even comes with the sheet music to the character songs -- awesome.
	Authentic School Briefcase Also, want to carry an authentic Japanese school bag to school? We've restocked the fabulous bookbag from Matsukameya of Nagoya today.
	Awesome Japanese...Umbrellas? From the iconic clear plastic Japanese umbrellas that embody the ideas of wabi and sabi to those Blade Runner umbrellas, we've got some neat stuff for you.
	New Snacks from Japan An awesome new flavor of the classic Milky Candy from Fujiya, in new Strawberry, plus ramen in potato form (yes) and delicious Sweet Milk Pocky.
	Amazing Restocked Snacks Akihabara Bunny Shrine Chocolate Daifuku in a gift box, Choco Ball and Azuki Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake Toppo, Charcoal Roasted Coffee Candy.
	ONE PIECE Square Volume Bento Whether you're an honorary pirate-in-training or just looking for a bento box that will stand the rigors of the high seas, this large bento featuring the logos of Luffy & crew will serve all your lunchtime box needs. View products »
	Restocked Samurai, Traditional Bento Boxes If a more traditional look is your thing, we've got bento boxes harking back to the origins of the historical lunch packing style!
	Study Hiragana with...Bento? One of our favorite bento accessories, little paper cups that teach you hiragana as you eat!
	Kawaii Red Cheek Panda Chopsticks Rest One of the most adorable ways to keep your chopsticks clean and elevated, this panda will guard them with the power of kawaii!
	Other Restocked Bento Items Enjoy the Penguin Mayonnaise Holder for bento, the perfect onirigi rice ball maker, boiled egg shapers for making eggs more fun, and more.
	Big Restocking of Mameshiba Pens, Pen Cases & More Ne, shitteru? Do you know? J-List has restocked pens, pen and pencil cases, kanji practice notebooks and more featuring Mameshiba, the cutest bean-shaped character from Japan. Click to see our lineup. View products »
	Nintendo DS Software to Learn Japanese Various restocked nihongo software for the Nintendo DS, incl. Kanji Practice for Adult, Perfect Kanji, Kanji Test DS and Literature 100 Works.
	Great Traditional Items Restocked See a huge restocking of traditional items, incl. the Lucky Cat Lover's Display, traditional omamori good luck charms, and more.
	Today's Preorder Figures The well endowed rabbit-eared Charlotte E Yeager along with Ruiko from Railgun make for great entries on today's preorder figure list!
	Samurai Girls Cushions *Preorder* Rest easy with your head on the bosom of your favorite Samurai Girl from Hyakka Ryouran, the samurai action fanservice show du jour.
	Sister Aki and Endless Ejaculation Fans of gorgeous, smooth 3D animated ecchi will love this new "doujin soft" from circle Salmon Pink Brothers.
	More Doujinshi from Comiket 79 Then get ready for...more doujinshi newly released at Comiket 79! We have a very ecchi Dragonball book, a book dedicated to Angeloid Astraea, plus Samurai Girls. Please enjoy. View products »
	Pururun Angel Bust Japan's engineering technology is put to the best use possible in their stress relief toy industry, and these novelty replica busts are just what the doctor ordered to knead out the stress of the day. View products »
	Pink Joy ~ USB Charging Rotor  Even more high technology comes in the form of a rotor 'massager' that charges plugged in to your computer's USB port.
	Love Body Ren Pillow, Meiki Stress Toys Enjoy the popular Love Body Ren blow-up toy with accompanying hole toy, plus the amazing Zhang Xiao Yu's lotion and "dignity" toy -- amazing!
	Manaka de Ikuno!! Limited Edition The Leaf games fan disc featuring the popular sisters from the To Heart 2 series, Manaka and Ikuno Komaki. Tons of fun minigames and a special artbook!
	A Very Special Bunny Sale Remember, we're having a sale this month only, lowering the price of the popular Do You Like Horny Bunnies? series by $5 per game!