Cool Products Friday, April 29, 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.

	The English Study of Haruhi Suzumiya Now you can study Japanese (or English) with the help of this official bilingual version of the first Haruhi novel! Journey with Haruhi Suzumiya through many of the familiar events from the anime while sharpening your Japanese skills with the text on the opposite side of the page. Great new book for the Haruhi fans! View products »
	Figure King No. 158 Next, indulge your inner figure lover's burning passion with all things moeteiru (blazing) in the latest issue of Figure King! We love selling stuff like this.
	Manga Character illustrated Book ~ Onnanoko ver A great guide to the moe female character comes from the Manga Character Illustrated Book collection, great for new artists and veterans.
	Anime Song Guitar Chord Book The popular book of anison (anime songs) for guitar is restocked today, so you can learn to play your favorite songs. Aim for the Budokan!
	High School of the Dead 7 Limited Edition with Blu-ray What's this? More High School of the Dead anime? That didn't air on TV?! That's right, an all new episode of the sexy fanservicey zombie apocalypse anime is here for you in all its Blu-ray HD glory. Comes with the new 7th volume of the awesome manga. View products »
	Hello Kitty Stuff Restocked Say no to boring square-shaped sandwiches and yes to kawaii Hello Kitty shaped ones. This popular item is restocked today.
	Japanese Shoulder Bag A great new item of 'utility fashion' from Japan, a slick shoulder bag that's perfect for carrying notebooks, netbooks, and other supplies.
	Restocked Ghibli Products J-List fans know that we love Totoro and all Ghibli products, and we've restocked some nice ones today, incl. the Nausicaa Fox Squirrel and more.
	Totoro & Ghibli Bento Boxes Restocked We also got more Totoro bento boxes in, too, including the amazing Totoro and Jiji the Cat Thermal Bento Box series.
	Mushiro Setta with Black Assortment Strap Some lovely authentic Japanese sandals, back in stock in time for the spring and summer months. Tatami mats for your feet!
	Traditional Handkerchief (Furoshiki) A great cloth for holding and carrying bento, displaying for its beauty, using as a hair tie, or anything else, with a wonderful Sakura pattern.
	Yummy New Japanese Snacks Enjoy the new Meiji "Feel Mint" Chocolates, awesome Chocolate Anpan from Bourbon, Matcha Latte green tea and milk ice drinks, plus new bubblegum.
	Viva Paella Cheetos *Preorder* "Strawberry Cheetos" was all over the place on Twitter today. While it's an old product from a few years back, we do have interesting Japanese Cheetos!
	Big Restocking of Ramen Noodles As Japan recovers its balance after the earthquake and tsunami, ramen noodles are back in stock and available for shipment outside the country!
	Other Restocked Snacks Enjoy Suntory Chocolate Soda (if you dare), plus Calorie Mate, Ramune Mochi candy, plus fun "Neri Ame" liquid candy you knead with chopsticks.
	Mt. Fuji & Rabbits Lacquered 2 Tier Bento Box The sight of Mount Fuji is a defining vista for all Japanese, especially those living around Tokyo. Now you can see it on this beautifully illustrated traditional bento box, along with a rabbit motif (great for the year of the rabbit) that takes you away to a spot of beauty with nature. Another outstanding bento box from J-List. View products »
	Rabbit Slim Thermos Bottle 250ml ~ Black Speaking of rabbits, this slim thermos will keep your drink hot or cold and look cute doing it! A simple, elegant design for fans of Japanese art.
	Restocked Bento Boxes, Too We've got more of your favorites back in stock, too, with awesome 'brick' shaped modern bento as well as bento styled after European motifs.
	Restocked Onigiri Shapers Restocked Say goodbye to improperly shaped onigiri rice balls with the shapers we're restocking, plus the vegetable shaper and bamboo "cooking chopsticks."
	Restocked Bento Accessories You can never have too many fun bento accessories. Enjoy cute bento picks, onigiri shapers, soy sauce bottles and more.
	Restocked Japanese Pencil Cases, More See the popular HABANERO and Natchan! "Water-in" pencil cases, plus Japanese correction tape and awesome Japanese pens!
	Restocked Japanese Study Books Several popular Japanese study books restocked, including Japan Illustrated Conversation Book, Doraemon Bilingual Comic and more.
	Genuine Tabi (Ninja Shoes) To be stealthy and light on your feet, there's nothing better than a pair of genuine 'ninja tabi' of the kind still used by Japanese workers.
	Japanese Keychains, Phone Straps Enjoy our restocked "Three Lucky Cats" phone strap, Natural Stone Magatama Strap, Lucky Rabbit, Daruma Bell keychain, awesome samurai sword keychain and more.
	Madoka Kaname Nendoroid Figure *Preorder* The adorable Madoka from the self-named Madoka Magica anime is here in Nendoroid form -- Kyubey included! No contract required to order!
	Salary Man Dogeza Coin Bank *Preorder* If you've ever felt despair over your ability to save (or that of someone else), this 'prostrating salaryman' coin bank makes the perfect gift. orz!
	Finally, Many Awesome Monster Hunter Products Posted It's a Monster Hunter bonanza in the preorders section today, with several types of phone straps (bobble-headed Airu straps and cute plush straps too), along with two large, cushy donut-shaped cushions just right to help you relax! Nice to see some awesome MonHan products coming out. View products »
	H Cup ANNA ~ Anna Natsuki  A beautiful new photobook featuring one of Japan's most charming and busty up and coming models, showing us all her best sides.
	Restocked Photobooks Several photobooks restocked, including Scene of Hips and Scene of Busts, which show normal Tokyo girls showing their oppai and oshiri in unlikely places.
	Yulia Nova Products, Too Here's a rare treat for Yulia Nova fans: those ecchi trading cards have come in stock. Also see restocked DVDs of the Russian angel.
	Resort BOIN Happoubi Jin Artworks  The legendary Happoubi Jin (the name means "eight direction beautiful face" and is a linguistic joke) has a truly epic new artbook out. We'll be in our bunks.
	USB Chargeable High Grade Vibrator ~ Tsuya Hime A truly awesome personal massager for our stressed out female customers, it wins nerd points by being chargeable via USB. With a great design and a large number of modes, this will get the job done. View products »
	Amazing Stress Relief Toys Bring your fascination with Maria Ozawa to a new level with the products we've restocked today, including her super realistic "dignity" toy.
	Japanese Lotion, Other Personal Items Restocked Also, enjoy the awesome Pepee lotion plus slippery, sliding lotion based on your favorite JAV actresses, and more.
	Inyouchuu ~ Ryoushoku Gakuen Taimaroku ~ PSP Game The new NSFW PSP eroge titles are very popular with our customers. Enjoy today's new release.
	Aiyoku no Eustia ~ Eustia of the Tarnished Wings Then, one of the most popular eroge visual novels even after just coming out, this is a great game that comes with tons of extra in the box.
	Nitou Oumonoha Ittou mo Ezu **Doujin Soft/Doujinshi* A popular doujin game that comes with an included doujinshi for collectors. We love the art and attitude of this work!
	Restocked H-Games, Too We've got some awesome import eroge for you, incl. Kyonyu Slave Class President, BOIN Super Pack, Devil on G-String and BALDR SKY Dive 2.
	Demonbane is Coming Soon! One of the most epic eroge ever is coming in English, the Cthulhu-mythos title Demonbane. This is your last chance to preorder -- do it now!
	Awesome 'Cast Off' Figures Posted for Preorder Check out this blazing hot and busty new Queen's Blade Cattleya figure, along with a great new figure of Yagyu Jubei from Samurai Girls!

How Japanese Verbs Work

Like Turkish, Basque and Korean, the Japanese language is an "agglutinative" language, which just means that a lot of information is stored in the verb's conjugation. This is good in a way, since some of the ridiculously complex grammar in English -- "she would have been able to go if her car hadn't been stolen" -- just plain don't exist in Japanese. But it unfortunately means that for every given verb, you've got quite a few different forms to memorize. For a word like "to eat" you have 食べる taberu (the "informal" or dictionary form, since that's what's listed in a dictionary, which covers both "I eat (everyday)" and "I will eat"), and 食べます  tabemasu (the "formal" form, used in situations when more politeness is called for), 食べない・食べません tabenai / tabemasen (negative informal/formal forms meaning "I will not eat"), 食べた・食べました tabeta / tabemashita (informal/formal past tense, "I ate it"), 食べよう・食べましょう tabeyo / tabemashou (informal/formal forms meaning "let's eat"), and 食べろ・食べなさい tabero / tabenasai (informal/formal command forms, "eat!"). There are other forms that express "to be able to eat," one for passive voice ("the food was eaten by me"), plus a few I'm probably forgetting. Learning these forms seemed daunting to me at first, but they all follow easy-to-pick-up patterns that you can tackle one at a time. Incidentally we have some pretty cool study books for anyone wanting to learn Japanese, including an awesome monthly magazine published in English and Japanese plus a book that specifically helps you memorize verb forms.

Conjugating verbs like "to eat" is one of the more arduous tasks of learning Japanese.

The Meticulous Japanese

After living in Japan for nearly two decades, I've made certain observations about the Japanese people. They are, for example, the cleanest people in the world, and probably the most polite. I've also met more than a few Japanese who struck me as incredibly meticulous, able to focus on something intensely for a long time. While my son studied for a year to get into a good high school, I've taught students who thought that studying was the entire reason for being alive, and they'd been preparing for their university entrance exams since the fourth grade. Near J-List there's a guy who loves to fly RC airplanes on Sundays, and he's been doing it every week without fail for a decade and a half -- how does someone keep up that kind of intensity? In the fun anime B Gata H Kei, there's a girl (Mayu) who's loved the main character all her life, but she's to shy to work up the courage to tell him. It sounds like a quaint anime archetype, but I taught a girl like that back in my ESL days. Every week in English conversation class we'd talk about this boy she'd liked for years, yet she could never bring herself to confess her love for him.

Japanese can be meticulous and obsessive at times.

Cool Western Brands on Japanese Bicycles

The other day I went to buy a bicycle. (Random aside, in Japanese the English word "bike" always refers to a motorcycle, and I've lived in Japan so long that my brain becomes uncomfortable thinking of the pedaled version using that word.) For some odd reason, many bicycles sold in Japan have famous foreign brands printed on the sides, making it possible to buy your very own Hummer® branded bicycle, or one with the Jeep® or Chevrolet® logo on it, or even Ford Mustang® if you like. They have European luxury bicycles, too, like BMW and even a Jaguar bicycle with a chromed plastic jaguar attached to the front, just like the cars. If you're a collector of Zippo® lighters, you can add to your collection by getting an authentically licensed Zippo® bicycle, and many Japanese like to experience the great outdoors by riding a Coleman® bicycle around on weekends. The reason Western brands help sell products is the sense among Japanese consumers that things from America and Europe are kakko ii (good style, cool).

So they would think the brands around this awesome girl are "cool" but most Westerners I know would be focusong on the awesomeness of the girl.

You can buy a Zippo brand bicycle in Japan.

Chocolate is Going Away Soon

J-List carries a lot of awesome food products from Japan, including lots of Japanese chocolate. When summer approaches, we unfortunately have to remove all chocolate from the site since it would turn to so much Meltykiss in the summer. We never know for sure when it will get hot enough to warrant removing chocolate, but it's really starting to get warm already, so it might only be another week or so. If you dig our fun chocolate from Japan, we recommend you make an order now, or bear the agony of having to wait until September to eat chocolate from Japan.

Cool Products Wednesday, April 27, 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.

	Dengeki Moeoh June 2011 The newest issue of Dengeki Moeoh has all the awesome art of an artbook plus many extras and free stuff. We love this amazing snapshot of all that's awesome about 2D anime and game culture in Japan. (Note, please see it on the J-List side.) View products »
	Hiragana Times April 2011 NO. 294 Enjoy the latest issue of the magazine that informs, entertains, and helps you learn Japanese! Tons of great new content every month.
	Myojo May 2011 Get all the latest on the dreamy boy bands from Japan who are managed by Johnny's Entertainment, tons of great photos and more!
	Gorgeous Artbooks from Nitroplus Restocked The complete visual works from the Demonbane series of games, and artist Nishii's personal visual collection of gorgeous art -- back in stock!
	Touhou Project ~ Touhou Defense Fource Check out this fan created homage to the Touhou Project in this frenetic sprite-based action shooter game from Hachimitsu Kumasan!
	Itazura Cat Coin Bank Restocked The most popular kawaii item on J-List these days is the Itazura Cat Coin Bank, with a cat who steals your money. Panda too.
	Gakken Otona no Kagaku vol. 31 * Preorder * Check out the amazing flying machine that you can build yourself, included with the next issue of the 'science magazine for adults'! Preorder open.
	Yuko Ogura Produced Sweets Lingerie She's done music, modeling, voice acting, and so much more, and now the bubbly gravure idol Yuko Ogura moves on to an area that's literally a natural fit -- lingerie design. Check out the wonderful fashion lineup of Yuko Ogura, now available at J-List! Yes, you can own a pair of Yukorin's pantsu! View products »
	Awesome Japanese Fashions Restocked Also in our fashion lineup, see restock of Gothic Lolita fashions, and cute, stylish tops from Y's Enterprise.
	Japanese School Swimsuits, Pink Shimapan Also great for cosplay or casual wear (?), authentic Japanese style school swimsuits and those great striped panties from anime and manga!
	Poddities iPhone Carabiner & Strap Adapters Use your iPhone with cool Japanese phone straps, or add a carabiner clip so you never drop it. See the new Poddities category.
	The Most Kawaii iPod Touch Covers from Japan If you're more of an iPod touch user, Kitty is here to the rescue to get your iPod Touch looking cute and classy! Super Sanrio look for your player.
	Big Restocking of Totoro Plush Toys For the inner Ghibli fan in all of us, check out the toys we got back in stock today. Because we all need more Totoro plush toys in our lives.
	Kawaii Rilakkuma Products Restocked Then enjoy our Rilakkuma instant noodle cooker, a really cute all-purpose bowl, and other cute San-X products.
	Japanese Traditional Kokeshi Pair Dolls ~ Coming of Spring Celebrate the new spring season with with this pair of adorable wooden kokeshi dolls, a traditional Japanese ornamental gift.
	Kanji Name Stamps, Stamp Pads Custom made Japanese hanko name stamps, legal for use in Japan, with your name in kanji. We've also restocked the ink pads today.
	More Gorgeous Photobooks from Japan The awesome book of rural towns around around Kyoto is restocked, plus other photobooks that capture the Japan we can't usually see.
	Soy Sauce Ramen Strap Next, check out this wacky strap that's just like 'fake food' in a Japanese ramen shop display -- perfect for distinguishing your keys or phone!
	Today's New Japanese Snacks New snacks in stock today include 'streaming carp' chocolate, Kameda curry senbei, traditional daifuku mochi (delicious!) and more!
	Koinobori Potato Snack Spring is the season of flying carp banners called Koinobori, and these are the perfect snack to go with the season! Delicious and fun.
	K-on! Manju Gift Box, Other Snacks We've restocked several of the items on our "Anime & Gift Snacks" page, incl. K-On! manju cakes, Akihabara Bunny Shrine Green Tea Cakes and more.
	Restocked Green Tea Kit Kat, More See what will surely be the last Green Tea Kit Kat of the season before summer, plus Pocari Sweat, delicious Hiyashi Ramen for summer and Baked Toppo!
	Kokeshi Bento w/ Built In Miso Soup Bowls Wow, these are the most adorable bento we've seen in ages! Cute kokeshi doll style stacking bento boxes, with black laquer bowls perched atop them to resemble hair. A fresh twist to the bento concept that we're really loving, and great for fans of both traditional and kawaii bentos! View products »
	Restocked Bento Picks & Cups Kawaii bento picks, our Microwave Heart Shaped Egg Maker, Hello Kitty furikake bottle and other items restocked.
	Kawaii Happy Smile Onigiri Wrapping Sheet Make the cutest <>onigiri rice balls in town with these wrapping sheets with smiley faces on them.
	The Handbook of Japanese Verbs Never be at a loss for words when trying to pick an action word to describe yourself in Japanese, or find an obscure conjugation with this handy guide.
	Flashcards for Studying Japanese The old classic standby that enforces your tactile and visual memory, helping you master vocabulary and kanji better than just about anything!
	Restocked Japanese Notebooks Fans of Japanese stationery will enjoy the simple, functional appeal of the Japanese notebooks we're restocking today. Elegant and awesome.
	Fun Traditional Products Restocked Everything from "string telephones" to good luck charms, back in stock today to bring the fun and beauty of traditional Japan to you!
	Triela 1/8 Figure ~ Gunslinger Girl *Preorder* Check out this amazing new figure from Goodsmile and Gunslinger Girl, a match made in heaven. Triela looks gorgeous! Preorder now open.
	Other Preorder Figures *Preorder* Also new for you today, Hayane from Shining Hearts in a lovely Taka Tony illustration, and Yui from Muv Luv Alternative Total Eclipse.
	Tony Taka iPhone 4 Cases ~ Shining Wind *Preorder* These new iPhone 4 cases are breathtaking, with stunningly gorgeous full color portraits by the master Tony Taka himself, taken straight from the Shining Wind RPG from Sega. Multiple versions to choose from so you can pick your favorite girl from the game! View products »
	Hatsu Saya ~ Saya Tachibana Enjoy this stunning look at the gorgeous new AV idol Saya Tachibana, her first in which she bares it all! Lovely curves just waiting for you.
	Shin Meiki Musou Onahole Enjoy these beauties in a parody of the Koihime Musou designs that will take you to heaven! Wonderful new novelty goods toy.
	Kokeshi Dancer - Geisha Girl & Boy Using the alternative meaning for "kokeshi", these battery powered toys will provide all the stimulation you need in a cute and funny design.
	Awesome Restocked Air Love Dolls, More Wonderful air dolls, holes of all shapes, sizes, types and configurations, all back for you today! Check out the Eva parody holes, too.
	The Perfect Pussy Principle Onahole Toys Japan never fails to innovate in the realm of stress relief toys, and this 'perfect' series may just live up to the name. Many restocked.
	Nakadashi to Sexloid! ~ UMD PSP Game If you ever wondered what it would be like to have to choose between the girl who just confessed to you and the android sex doll who was so very lifelike, you can make that choice on your Japanese region PSP in this new eroge on UMD! View products »
	One Piece Parody Doujin Soft Fans of opulent, pixel-perfect 3D animation will love this lush take on Boa Hancock from One Piece, put through everything you can imagine.
	Restocked Doujin Games, Eroge Whether you're into tentacles, 'thick' girls, fighting games with ero on the side, or the Touhou Project games, we've got fun things in stock for you!