SEKAI NO OWARI, Akai Kouen, Wasureranneyo... the current trend in band names

1: しいたけφ ★ 2014/03/18 14:14:09

One of the most successful winter songs this past 2013~early 2014 was the band SEKAI NO OWARI's "Snow magic fantasy" used for the "JR SKISKI" campaign. The song which was released in January 22 sold 100,000 copies in its first week, earning them the #1 spot fort the said week on the Oricon charts, a first for the band. And with this hit song, it can now be said that SEKAI NO OWARI has evolved into one of the "big artists" in the land. But one of the first concerns that comes to mind when hearing of them is the name of the band.

SEKAI NO OWARI means "the end of the world", and at first glance, may even seem like a song title. People may have felt uncomfortable with the name at first, but as they grew in popularity, their name has been abbreviated into SEKAOWA, and all the awkwardness has disappeared. And there seems to be an increase in the number of bands which have names that may seem like song names at first glance.

3-piece rock band "Wasureranneyo", girl band "Akai Kouen", up and coming "Gesu no kiwami otome.", artistic punk band "Soredemo sekai ga tsuzuku nara", 6-piece band "Shippai shinai ikikata". There are also "Sayonara ponytail", "Sayonara, mata kondo ne", "Tesla wa nakanai", and "Mori wa ikiteiru". It does seem that a lot of new artists aren't confining themselves now to traditional band names like "The _____" or "~~~s", "~~~ts".

Source: http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/8633130/

http://ent2.excite.co.jp/music/special/2011/sekainoowari/images/personal_mainimage.jpg

Is Karina going to get married soon?

1: パニックスイッチφ ★ 2014/02/19 14:32:32

(Partial translation)
Popular model and actress Karina (29) is reportedly in a serious relationship with a younger Taiwanese man (non-celebrity) who attends a language school in Hawaii's Oahu. Karina herself has been going to Hawaii in between her projects since last year for short-term lessons, where she met Mr. A who was a classmate of hers. He's in his late 20s, and has the looks of an idol. A common friend of the two says, "I think they'll be getting married soon".

The friend continues: "I saw Karina-san at the school just this January. She was attending classes together with Mr. A.". Karina also cooked for Mr. A and his friends at his home.

This Mr. A "looks like Arashi's Kazunari Ninomiya, a fresh and pleasant-looking ikemen, and his family is very rich. Mr. A brags to his friends that he gets to date a popular Japanese actress. He would also send me text messages like, 'Do you have any idea how sad I am when I don't get to be with her!?'."

Karina has been previously romantically linked to actors Kei Tanaka (29), Takayuki Yamada (30), and EXILE's TAKAHIRO (29). She has been going back and forth from Tokyo to Hawaii despite her busy schedule, as the common friend comments, "Both of them have marriage in their sights. Maybe that time will come soon.".

Source: http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/entertainment/news/CK2014021902000184.html

http://blog-imgs-68.fc2.com/g/e/i/geitsuboo/PK2014021902100073_size0.jpg

Athletes and the English language: Where did Keisuke Honda improve his English?

1： ：ブリーフ仮面φ ★ 2014/01/12(日) 18:07:00.85 ID:???0

"I understand my situation. And I think everybody expects a lot from me."

Keisuke Honda, who joined AC Milan on the 5th of January, answered the club's official interview in fluent English. He always asks questions about the things that are unclear to him, and makes sure to grasp the gist and provide his answer.

Tadashi Yasuda, author of the book Learn English like the Indians!, has this to say about Honda:
"Honda looked extremely confident with his English in that 5-minute interview. I can imagine that he's really skilled with the language. Though I can't say that he has a rich vocabulary, he was able to express his feelings and use the common answers like, "I'm so happy to come here", and even used 'because' and 'so' afterwards to further expound on that. "

Honda has been studying English ever since he was in the J-League because he always dreamed of playing overseas. His English skills drastically improved when he moved to play in the Netherlands when he was 21.
"Holland isn't in the Anglosphere, but it's a very rare case wherein about 80% of the population can communicate in English. Honda was able to answer interviews in broken English even when he was still with his team back in 2008. He even studied the language properly with the English instructor that the club prepared for him, even after training sessions. This is where his English improved". - (Europe-based journalist)

Honda also used English heavily with CSKA Moscow, which lucky for him, was a club with a lot of different nationalities. 
He talked to them in English during the match, and would answer Russian interviews through an English interpreter. 

But Honda still needs to learn Italian if he wants to succeed, like Hidetoshi Nakata who's always compared to him. 

Nakata learned the language in the blink of an eye following his transfer to the Serie A.

Source: http://gendai.net/articles/view/sports/147068 

http://64.19.142.10/livedoor.blogimg.jp/fbn_2chfootball/imgs/1/a/1a2fe356-s.jpg

Jin Akanishi on SMAPxSMAP for 47 RONIN

1： ：れいおφ★ 2013/11/26(火) 18:59:23.95 ID:???0

Artist Jin Akanishi was on the episode of SMAPxSMAP shown on the 25th. He was in BISTRO SMAP, the main segment of the show, together with Keanu Reeves and Kou Shibasaki, his co-stars in the movie 47 Ronin.

Akanishi looked back at his first Hollywood role and said: "It really was a valuable experience". All his lines were in English, and Nakai poked fun at Akanishi who previously went to the US to study the language by saying: "So how was it speaking in English? Oh right, you studied in one of  those English schools in front of the train stations, right?"*. Takuya Kimura and Shingo Katori also used formal Nihongo to speak to him, like "Zehi, omeshi agari kudasai" (Please, help yourself) and "Irasshaimase" (Welcome). Akanishi who was treated like a VIP felt awkward and suddenly blurted out, "Ahh, I wanna go home~".

When he was asked about his connection with Kusanagi, Akanishi revealed that: "I came to greet him once when he had a drama". Kusanagi who doesn't remember this at all replied with an "Uhmmm~". Akanishi didn't expect this reaction, let out an "Ehhh--!" and dropped his shoulders, and he was visibly uneasy from beginning to end.

Akanishi also talked about doing acting duties alongside his works as an artist. He comments: "Acting is totally different from music. Music is much more about expressing yourself, while in acting, you have to become someone else".

He also made comments about composing: "There are a lot of times when we compose the songs as a team. Song creation needs to have deadlines. If there's none, I'd just end up dwelling on a song forever. If there's no deadline, I will never feel satisfied with it".


* ("ekimae ryuugaku" = catchphrase of the language school NOVA literally meaning "attend language schools in front of stations"; as most of these establishments are located around train stations.) 

Source: http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/8288454/

http://p.twpl.jp/show/large/XoeSd

http://geinounow.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/bisutoro.jpg

Why is ONE OK ROCK popular?

1: 以下、名無しにかわりましてVIPがお送りします 2013/03/05 20:23:23 ID:Rps3xcP80

Youtubeで1000万再生されててびびった。どこがいいの？
I'm shocked that they have over 10 million views on YouTube.
What's so good about them?

http://suma-to.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/oneokrock_a04.jpg

Saki Aibu for Gillette: "Men should be more aggressive and kiss more"

1： はこき ◆ZzO/EQ9qqB.. ＠はこきφ ★ 2013/09/11(水) 14:52:46.93 ID:???0

Saki Aibu (28) was at a Gillette talk show event on the 28th together with comedy duo Heisei Nobushi Kobushi. This was Aibu's first public event since coming back from her 4-month-long language study in the US.

"I've had a lot of wonderful experiences and met a lot of different people. I was able to experience a totally different culture, and it was really fun. I've gained a lot of international friends, and it has made me interested in a lot of different countries. I've made a lot of different memories."

Saki Aibu has already started work for Fuji TV's new serial drama Miss Pilot which will start on October 15.

"I wasn't bothered by the jet lag". 
When asked about her language studies: "I personally think that I am now able to communicate much better than before I left."
The press asked her to introduce herself in English, to which she responded: "I'll do that at another time."

When asked if she met a wonderful man: "I was able to meet a lot of different men and women."

"Men should be more aggressive and kiss more. People do it as a means of communication overseas, and they do it on the streets. I was thinking that Japanese men should be more aggressive and do it more."

Source: http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2013/09/11/kiji/K20130911006597380.html

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2013/09/11/jpeg/G20130911006597370_view.jpg

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2013/09/11/jpeg/G20130911006597390_view.jpg

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2013/09/11/jpeg/G20130911006597400_view.jpg

Yuma Nakayama drops out of Komazawa University and enrolls in an English school

1： 禿の月φ ★ 2013/09/04(水) 19:31:18.00 ID:???P

(Partial Translation)
Yuma Nakayama revealed in a newspaper that he dropped out of Komazawa University. He comments: "I've had a change of heart, and am now thinking of doing my best at an English school."
"I hope to do well both at my work and in my private life."

Source: http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_geinou/articles/hot_20130904_220.html

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4386904623_7ee89879c0.jpg

Ichiro's English speaking skills wwwwwwwwwwwwww

1： 風吹けば名無し 2013/08/11(日) 20:25:02.89 ID:c4TmSY6p

http://wapc.mlb.com/sea/play/?content_id=29604477&

http://www.kusemi-english.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d7f00a60a4c452acc211eeab152d50fb.jpg

Meisa Kuroki's bookshelf full of English learning books

1： 天使のかけらφ ★ 2013/05/23(木) 16:01:03.64 ID:???

Meisa comments:
"Almost all the books I have are for learning English. Even the ones behind these books are English learning materials."
"There's no point in just reading these once and be satisfied with it. It just makes you feel like you finished reading them for no reason. It's better to review the books that I have instead of searching for new ones! Yup, that's what I'll do."

"Starting to learn Conversational English"
"English Conversation - Let's speak"
"Collection of English conversational pieces for refined conversation"
"Japan speaking in English Q&A"
"Book to learn how American children speak"
"Heart-warming stories in English"
"Recitation - Beginner"

Source:
http://news.ameba.jp/20130523-566/

http://6109.jp/images/meisa/IMG_1360.JPG

Jin Akanishi's English checked out by 2channel users

1： 以下、名無しにかわりましてVIPがお送りします 2012/11/14(水) 16:31:55.51 ID:AZSnp1X70

カツーン脱退騒動とかで正直バカにしてたわ、ごねんな
I honestly looked down on him because of that KAT-TUN fracas, sorry about that.
(old thread: 2012/11/14)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb0K-k5KDdk

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518v3oo3VPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

(Jin Akanishi-related posts here)