Japan Fashion Week 2007 is currently underway in Tokyo.

Mainichi Shimbun reports, “Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo 2007 began on Thursday at Tokyo Midtown Hall and other locations, organizers said.”

“During the Tokyo Collection, the centerpiece of the international fashion event, 38 brands will showcase their new spring and summer collections. In conjunction with the event, budget fashion brand Uniqlo Inc. will hold charity auctions and fashion shows.”

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It’s amazing to see how man years have past since starting J!-ENT back in 1993.

A lot of people have asked how I got involved with promoting Japanese and Asian pop culture and immediately people would think it’s because of the Japanese girls or the cute pop idols at the time but I guess to explain things, I have to go back as early as 1986.

The ninja - Sho Kosugi

As a teenager, I was living in a diverse community, I grew up with very few Asian Americans and the majority was Filipino, there were Chinese families that lived in the area with relatives who worked on the railroads in California and pretty much, in the 80’s, everyone of my friends was into pretending they were ninjas and watching Sho Kosugi films.

Watching Kung-Fu theater and years before that enjoying “Transformers”, “Robotech”, “Voltron” and before that “Shogun Warriors”, “Gatchaman” (”G-Force”, “Battle of the Planets” or whatever it was called back then) and the Japanese American community were mainly farmers that owned vineyards nearby or the few who were in the military.

But a situation happened around 1986 that was surprising. It was during the time when Japanese companies were purchasing companies in the US, and there was a backlash by those who felt that their way of life and their jobs were being threatened. So, Asians were being picked on because people thought they were Japanese.

Although I am Filipino American, unfortunately our family was targeted.

I remember waking up and my parents were upset and the police were called to our home. Our water and electricity were shut down. Nails in our tires, sugar put into our gas tanks of our vehicles and painted on our house were the words “GO HOME JAPS!”

It didn’t make any sense to my parents and the police felt it was a targeted hate crime. Another family had that happened to their home (which the wife was Japanese) and to my knowledge only our two homes were targeted.

But for my father, he didn’t understand why… but he saw that because I had a Japanese friend and because I had friends coming over practicing martial arts, throwing ninja stars and we would surround the TV when “Super Ninjas” was shown on Kung-Fu theater, that the reason our home was targeted…was because of me.

And to make matters worse, a lot of other drama going on the background and this was a final straw and next thing you know, I am now attending high school my junior year at a high school in Los Angeles County and now living with relatives.

As mentioned before, I grew up in a diverse small community with very few Asian families but being in Southern California, I’ve never been in a situation where there were many Asians, let alone ethnicities that I’ve never heard of.

And to make matters more interesting, I saw a few guys walking by the home I was staying and we became friends. They taught me a lot about the city and what to be careful of because of the dangers that existed, especially near the area I was now living in.

I found myself curious about Japanese culture because of the incident that happened back at my home but also trying to discover more about Asian culture and learn from the friends around me.

For Japanese pop culture, my passion for it developed back in 1987 when every Saturday night, because my grandparents were so strict of the area we lived in and the people that I hung around (she really didn’t approve anything, including girlfriends), without the use of a phone and couldn’t go out all that much, the only station that seemed to come clear was KCSI (Channel 18) in Los Angeles which showed international programming.

On Saturday night, I found myself hooked on Japanese dramas. Subtitled and I would record it on television. My relatives thought I was crazy but I told them that I was recording it for school purposes, so as long as it was to further my education, they were cool with it.

The drama that hooked me was “Tsumatachi no Kagaijugyo”. I’ve always heard of the Japanese educational system but what I enjoyed about this was the drama focused on teen issues but more importantly, how their parents cope with trying to get their kids prepared for their high school entrance exams.

From that point on, I became a big fan of Japanese entertainment through Japanese dramas and to be fascinated and learn more about Japanese culture.

The viral video of the day is the “HALO 3″ promotion and all I have to say is that it’s quite interesting where some people would like to glomp Master Chief.

The cast of the hit NBC drama “HEROES” is continuing its promotional tour.  After promoting the series which debuts in October in Japan, the actors arrived in Hong Kong a few days later to promote the hit series.

According to CRIEnglish.com, “Four leading cast members of the extremely popular American television series “Heroes” hit Hong Kong on Wednesday, promoting the drama’s upcoming local airing.”

“Sendhil Ramamurthy, Masi Oka, Greg Grunberg, and Ali Larter showed up at a press conference talking about the hit drama and their characters.”

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Image courtesy of ent.163.com/linked from CRIEnglish.com

Jay Chou - popular singer, actor and recently a director has decided to incorporate his interest in acting to his concerts through drama segments for an upcoming concert.

CRIEnglish.com reports, “The star, whose “Secret” hit the big screen in July as a box-office front runner, is planning mini stage dramas for his upcoming Shanghai concert on November 24, as reported.”

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“May seem uninteresting but actually is a very fun game/simultor.”

Densha de Go! Pocket (Yamanote Line/Yamanote-Sen Hen) is the first Tokyo train game and the first “Densha de GO!” game from Taito for the PSP.

One of the highlights of the game is the ability to be a driver or a conductor as you drive passengers (and pick up passengers) to various destinations in the Kanto region such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Ikebukuro, Akihabara and around 30 stations.

I know many of you may be wondering why? Why a train game/simulator. I know, it’s hard to fathom of why even purchase a game about train simulations. But believe me, it’s fun (especially if you miss Japan and miss riding on the train to go to certain stops in Tokyo - I know…it sounds rather Japanophile geeky).

But with enjoyable gameplay, it may not be for everyone but if you give it a try, it will attract those who are interested in trying something that is very Japanese culture-based but at the same time, enjoyable to play or a person who is missing the riding of trains in Tokyo (like I do).

There are several modes in this game:

DRIVER’S WORK: Your role is to drive the train to each destination in the given time and taking care of your passengers (ie. not braking too fast and have your passengers falling on each other).

CONDUCTOR’S WORK: Your role is to make sure the train goes to the right destination and you signal the correct time for the announcement. More or less a way to watch the train drive to destination from outside of the train in different camera modes.

DRIVER’S ROOM: Your stats

BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE: This will allow you to trade business cards (think of it as a trading card) with others who own the game to play different trains they have accessed via wireless.

MUSEUM: Train Introduction and videos that you have unlocked

OPTIONS: Sound, Display and Controller settings

Starting off as a driver, your goal is to maintain the speed of the train (a indicator on the bottom right screen tells you of upcoming speeds (KMPH) that your train will need to be and also utilizing the brakes. The goal is to make it to your destination (the next stop) and stop exactly where the indicator says you have to stop. Go passed it or way before the stop area and you will receive negative points. Brake to hard and do something crazy and you will injure your passengers.

You start off with figures that represent your passengers (a total of 10) and you have to make sure you don’t lose them all. By missing a stop or by braking too quickly, you will lose passengers and when you lose them all, your game ends. Fortunately, you can continue and start over.

You start off with three levels. The first is a tutorial, the second is where you need to complete around 8 stops and the next is where you need to complete around 4 stops. With each level, you get to operate different trains, in different weather conditions.

By successfully completing your stops and beating a stage, you earn money which can be used to buy new levels in the game. Otherwise, you replay the stages you played to earn the money needed to access the next level.

Also, by doing well, you will be able to access several bonuses and videos.

As conductor, it is very different. It’s actually quite easy. The main goal of the conductor is making sure you announce the right stops. This may be difficult for non-Japanese readers or those not familiar with the Japan because you are told where to go, then given a map, you will need to select the area where you are going. Fortunately, the instruction booklet has the translation of the city stops (or you can select via direction pad and guesstimate the cities quickly). Otherwise, the main reason for this mode is to watch the train from the outside (overhead or sideways) as it is driving towards a destination.

GRAPHICS:

The graphics are very well done. I played the original PlayStation version and the PSP version is such a big leap in terms of graphics. How they captured the buildings, trees and local areas around the station while riding the train is beautiful. Only in Conductor’s Work Mode, will you see something which I didn’t like which was the people at the station. They are photo cutouts of people waiting. I wished that Taito would add possibly several 3D characters waiting or moving around the station like real life than just photo cutouts of people that are just standing there.

SOUND:

The audio in this game makes the game very much appealing. Hearing the music of the station before boarding to the female voice explaining about procedures for people to leave the train and much more. Also, the conductor talking about upcoming stops and much more. Just like riding a real train around Tokyo.

CONTROLS:

In Driver’s Work: Controls are actual very simple. Directional pad up and down to control speed and square button to break and X button to release breaks. That’s pretty much it. In Conductor’s Work, direction pad selects the stops you are announcing and the shoulder buttons will be used to play the audio needed when riding the train.

USER FRIENDLINESS TO NON-JAPANESE READERS:

The game is actually very user-friendly for Driver’s Work mode. Although the tutorial is an animated character explaining the game, diagrams and arrows telling you to press a button to break or to speed up is pretty self-explanatory. For Conductor’s Work mode, it may seem unnerving at first if you have to select a city when the map comes on. Fortunately, you have seconds (enough time) to quickly guesstimate the stop that you are going to next by selecting stops on the map as quickly as possible.

“Densha de Go! Pocket – Yamanote Line” is a very enjoyable game for the PSP. It’s really hard to promote a game like this for American video gamers and will appeal to those who enjoy trains and want a simulator or those like myself who reminisce about being in Japan and riiding the JR trains everyday to get to destinations.

In terms of gameplay, Driver’s Work mode sounds easy because the controls are simple but in actuality, it takes some patience and additional play to learn where to calculate your breaking as you try to stop in an exact area at the station without having your passengers rock around and fall (an indicator of people falling shows if you have done that). At times, I felt that I would receive a fantastic rating by landing in the exact spot to find that I went over the stop area by just a wee inch and that can be a bit unnerving.

For Conductor’s Work mode, it’s very simple; you only have a few things to do. With only a few clicks of a button for the right stop and at the right time and the beginning and of arrival or departure, that’s it. The main purpose of this mode is to watch the train travel from overhead or sideways and watch as it reaches the station.

Nevertheless, this game does what the game is intended to do. Operating major trains throughout Tokyo and stopping around 30 stations while maintaining happy passengers and getting them to their destinations in time. For me, it’s more of a nostalgic feeling of riding a train to various locations and Tokyo (minus the large crowds) and thus making it enjoyable.

PROS:

+ A train simulator going through major stops through Tokyo and with nice graphics and sound, it’s like riding in the train.
+ You can play the driver or the conductor
+ Ability to open up new routes and bonuses
+ Business cards allow trading of trains with people who have the game
+ Driver’s Work mode is pretty user-friendly for non-Japanese readers
+ Quick load up time
+ Experiencing the ride through Shibuya and busy areas without having to experience the crowdedness in real life.

CONS:
- Although the control scheme is simple, maintaining happy passengers and breaking exactly in the stop areas of the station is a challenge.
- Wireless trading is great but chances of finding people living outside of Japan owning the game may be a bit rare.
- Conductor’s Work mode maybe a challenge for non-Japanese readers or people familiar with the stops.
- In Conductor’s Work mode, I wish there are people moving around instead of photo cutouts of people in line waiting for the train.
- For people who want negligence in the forms of bad accidents, you are not going to find it in this game. This is not Burnout Legends.
- BEING NITPICKY: Taito’s opening theme sounds and looks like it came from a Japan Railways training video.

BAND: Dakota Star / ALBUM: Dakota Star / CATALOG #: NFCT-27029 / DURATION: 57:14

LABEL: Avex Entertainment, Inc. / Website: http://www.dakotastar.net

1. T-13
2. Never Fall from Grace (album version)
3. Together Alone (album version)
4. So Real So Numb
5. Love Won’t Stand Still
6. I’ll Be There for You
7. Go (original mix)
8. Crash -instrumental-
9. Tremolo
10. Touch What’s Real
11. L.A.
12. Dessert Boots -instrumental
13. Stay featuring Glen Scott

bonus tracks

1. What to Believe (album version)
2. Soul Surfer (album version)

CD CONTENT:

MPEG videos of the actual promotional videos for “I’ll Be There for You” and “Stay featuring Glen Scott”.

The first full length self-titled album from Japan-based Dakota Star has been out and with their music creating interest in music listeners for their song “Break Down” (used on the PlayStation 2 video game “Gran Turismo 4″) but what is interesting about this band is that despite being based in Japan and part of the Avex Entertainment Inc. label, their music is very Western and sung completely in English.

Dakota Star consists of Alan Brey (bass and guitar), Chiaki (vocalist) and Tasuku (guitars). The band got its name from the state South Dakota where Chiaki studied English and with so many bands in Japan going the all-English route, I can safely say that “Dakota Star” is a band that does it right.

That is, you can understand what the vocalist is singing and very good pronunciation for the English words in the lyrics.

As for the music of “Dakota Star”, the music on the album is mainly rock. And if you were to ask how their music is like? That’s a tough one because listening to the music, the first impression was… hmm…similar to a Sheryl Crow, Avril Lavigne or Kelly Clarkson with less angst.

Listening to the music of “Dakota Star”, the truth is that the music is a Western feel but the band is in Japan. The music is rock with melodic guitars but you sometimes get the record DJ scratching that I often felt was out of place, especially on the song “Never Fall from Grace”.

But the music of “Dakota Star” is not all rock because then you will encounter songs such as “Go” that throws in electronic beats and all of a sudden you get the Madonna (the current music from Madonna) type of feeling and then there are songs such as “L.A.” which incorporates a contemporary beat with buzzing electric guitars. And that’s not all, the instrumental track such as “Desert Boots” gets very electronic and you start to realize that perhaps Dakota Star is not a group that one can pigeon hole as an all-out rock band. Perhaps they embrace experimentation of their music and for me, I enjoy bands that can attempt such things on their album.

If one is truly more into their rock music, fortunately, the majority of the tracks are rock-based and the majority of the songs are sung by Chiaki but there is a track which are sung by Alan Frey or a combination of both Chiaki and Alan on vocals.

The album is packed with 15 tracks (two which are bonus tracks) and after giving both this album and their CD single “together alone” a chance, I actually enjoy it.

Unlike current Avex album releases which may have an accompanying DVD, for this album, their is a CD-EXTRA which features two mpeg videos of the actual promotional videos for “together alone” and “Stay” .

The CD insert features the lyrics (the English lyrics to the left and the Japanese lyrics to the right) while the CD booklet is yellow and Dakota Star is imprinted on the actual CD case.

I actually enjoyed the band’s first full-length album. I also enjoy that fact that for being a group that features a Western style of sound and songs that are mostly in English, it is good to see that it’s done well.

Now, whether or not Japanese music fans (outside of Japan) have interest in a Japanese band that sings in English, it’s a no-brainer that groups such as Cibo Matto, Shonen Knife and a few others have done quite well and have its good share of American fans. But with those bands, they target a certain niche demographic of people who enjoy Shibuya-Kei to a very Japanese style of rock music.

Dakota Star sounds very Western for a Japanese band and it’s really difficult for me to ascertain if music listeners in the US would appreciate that. The same situation with another popular band in Japan that sings both in English and Japanese but with their English songs with a North American feel to it is MONKEY MAJIK.

But from what I listened to, I have to say that Dakota Star is among one of top bands from Japan that sings all English. The music is well done, Chiaki’s English vocals are well pronounced and the album is jam-packed with a good variety of music and the CD+EXTRA. Unfortunately, the song “Break Down” (from “Gran Turismo 4″) is not on this album.

So, if you want to try something new, you may discover that Dakota Star is a band that may be to your liking.

It’s Wednesday and that means new releases.  Which artist/group had the #1 album on the Oricon Album Daily Charts?

NOTE: Ketsumeishi gets another #1 album, Kudo Shizuka’s 20th Anniversary Best Album appears at #15, last week’s hit makers such as MONKEY MAJIK, ORANGE RANGE and ZARD vacate the top 10 but stay in the top 20 while Tokunaga Hideaki and SUKIMA SWITCH stay strong in the top 5.

1. Ketsumeishi - Ketsunopolice5
2. Porno Graffiti - Porno Graffiti
3. Tokunaga Hideaki - VOCALIST 3
4. SUKIMA SWITCH - Greatest Hits
5. Muramasa - Lifull
6. Various Artists - CLIMAX ~ DRAMATIC SONGS
7. Yanawaraba - Uta Sugui
8. Various Artists - R-35  Sweet J- Ballads
9. Shonen Kamikaze - MASTER’ D
10. Chanel - Chanel

It’s Wednesday and that means new releases.  Which artist/band took the #1 position in Japan today on the Oricon CD Single Daily Chart?

NOTE:  It’s Wednesday and L’Arc~en~Ciel debuts at #1 again in 2007.  EXILE takes #2 but the surprising entry was Utada Hikaru at #3.  Great showing in the top 10 for Tamaki Nami.

1. L’Arc~en~Ciel - MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM
2. EXILE - ~Toki no Kakera~/24karats-type EX-
3. Utada Hikaru - Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry
4. Park Yonha -  Eien
5. Kuwata Keisuke - Kaze no Uta wo Kikasete
6. Nakashima Mika - LIFE
7. Sowelu, EXILE, DOBERMAN INC. - 24karats -type S-
8. Matsuura Aya - Egao
9. Tamaki Nami - Brightdown
10. INFINITY 16 welcomez MINMI, 10-FEET - Manatsu no Orion

Gravure model Inoue “wakapai” Waka (27) and pop singer Matsuura Aya (21) took part in the “35th Annual Fuji Sankei Classic Pro Am Tournament” on the 29th. Photographers were more curious of how the two would conduct themselves on the golf course and most importantly what would Inoue would be wearing (or hardly be wearing).

In this case, Waka (aka “wakapai” which is a nickname from media because of her name and oppai which means “boobs”) wore a striped polo shirt and a miniskirt. While Ayaya, sported Adidas.

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Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports