Funassyi is featured on CNN and gives Kristie Lu Stout a good laugh

1: れいおφ ★＠＼(^o^)／：2014/06/16(月) 17:01:55.47 ID:???0.net

Popular mascot Funassyi was interviewed on CNN, making news anchor Kristie Lu Stout who showed the segment burst into laughter.

Stout was trying to hold in her laughter while explaining how the mascot business is huge in Japan, and how they make a major impact on SNS, stating that he has 750,000 followers on Twitter. She even said, "I have to start following him".

The moment she was about to switch to the next portion, she suddenly bursts into laughter, as if remembering what she has just saw.

A similar thing happened at a Taiwanese news program when Funassyi was featured. The female anchor who saw the VTR laughed and wasn't able to read her script properly. Foreigners probably find it hard not to enjoy the high-pitched voice coming out from the weird-looking character. Thanks to his reception on CNN, it seems like Funassyi is on the verge of becoming a global star.

Source: http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/8943044/

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1:40~

Hollywood version of GODZILLA doing well at the box office

1: エタ沈φ ★＠＼(^o^)／ 2014/05/17(土) 16:26:57.47 ID:???i.net

The reboot of GODZILLA took the # 1 spot at the box office on opening day in 7 countries. According to Toho, this was shown in 596 screens in France and earned USD 1.6M on opening day alone. This was also first in Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Indonesia.

Source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140517-00000031-sanspo-movi

http://blog-imgs-50-origin.fc2.com/e/b/i/ebianjohnnysmatome/20130517123413c16.jpghttp://livedoor.blogimg.jp/fightersmatome/imgs/1/7/17e74694.jpg
* WARNING - This entry may contain SPOILERS. Read at your own risk!

Jin Akanishi stays behind in Meisa Kuroki's dressing room and takes care of their baby (Josei Seven)

1: エタ沈φ ★＠＼(^o^)／：2014/05/19(月) 07:11:52.54 ID:???0.net

Jin Akanishi (29) left his agency at the end of February and is currently working as a freelancer. He has had a few projects like providing songs for a Korean group, but he has practically had a lot of free time since going independent, and has reportedly been drinking with his friends until late at night and goes home to a hotel room, as his relationship with wife Meisa Kuroki (25) was seemingly on the rocks.

"Meisa-san still had a lot of job offers even after her maternity leave, but Akanishi-san hasn't been working, nor taking care of their baby, and just kept getting drunk day in and day out... Because of the husband acting like this, there was a time when she would let her parents back home in Okinawa take care of their baby when she would have to leave their home for an extended period of time for filming." - (Meisa's acquanintance)

It won't be a surprise if the gap between a bum and a busy, in-demand working mom widens because of this, and they did seem to be heading towards that direction, but there were reports that Akanishi's stance has changed, probably because he witnessed how cold his wife can be. This was in late March, in a studio within the city where Meisa was filming her scenes.

"It was Meisa's shoot, but Akanishi-san was also in the studio for some reason. He was in Meisa's dressing room the whole time, taking care of the baby. He would hold the baby up high, wipe off her drool, and even feed her baby food using a spoon... He was totally an ikumen*. (laughs)" - (Showbiz staff)  
* (ikumen = man engaged in raising the child)

"They also looked like they had a lot of fun conversations during breaks from the filming."

The two were also spotted in mid-April at Minami Aoyama. 

"They must've been coming home from shopping, and Akanishi-san was carrying all the grocery and shopping bags. It seemed like he couldn't go against and face Meisa-san properly anymore..." - (witness)

When Akanishi left the agency, he commented, "I want to be more active with my international career", but it appears that he doesn't even have a manager yet, and it can't be said that he's started off his new career on a fine note.

"Akanishi-san probably can't even have a proper living right now if he breaks up with Meisa. He must've come to the conclusion to be a 'house-husband' until his own career gets back on track." - (Meisa's acquaintance)

Source: http://zasshi.news.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20140519-00000007-pseven-ent

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President Johnny Kitagawa: "Akanishi is the type of person who will succeed"

1: 2014/04/08(火) 19:02:09.72 ID:???0

Johnny's Jimusho president Johnny Kitagawa commented on Jin Akanishi (29) who left the agency effective last March. (Related post HERE)

Mr. Johnny insists: "I have not met with him. We didn't even talk on the phone.". On the reason why Akanishi left, Johnny said, "All he wants to do is pursue his career in the US", pointing out that this is different from Johnny's policy of giving more emphasis on their activities within Japan. He also gave his understanding that "It's just natural for one to do whatever he wants to do". Finally, Johnny joked and said, "He's a person who will succeed (in the US), as long as he maintains a good relationship with his wife (Meisa Kuroki)."

Source: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140408-00000067-spnannex-ent

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140408-00000067-spnannex-ent

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BABYMETAL set to perform at the Sonisphere Festival in the UK

1: 2014/04/08(火) 22:33:44.81 ID:???0

BABYMETAL will be participating in the Sonisphere Festival UK this July 4~6. The Sonisphere Festival was established in 2009, and will be headlined this year by Metallica, Iron Maiden, and The Prodigy. BABYMETAL will be Japan's only entry to the festival. SU-METAL comments: "I am so honored that we've been confirmed to play at the Sonisphere Festival UK." "There are so many different types of artists playing at this festival, but I hope to deliver a one of a kind, unique style metal – BABYMETAL – even to those who will be seeing us for the very first time."

Source: http://natalie.mu/music/news/114050

http://cdn2.natalie.mu/media/1404/0408/extra/news_large_BABYMETAL_art20140408.jpg 

Takeru Sato sends Taiwanese girls into a frenzy... Taiwan premiere of Kanojo wa Uso wo Aishisugiteiru

1: 禿の月φ ★ 2014/02/11(火) 05:21:49.48 ID:???P

Actor Takeru Sato (24) received a warm reception in Taiwan as he was in attendance for the premiere of the movie Kanojo wa Uso wo Aishisugiteiru. This is his second time in Taiwan; the first was 1 year and 2 months ago. Local fans were hugged by Sato, and he comments that he would someday want to "fight" in a foreign movie. 

200 Taiwanese fans greeted him at the airport as he arrived on the morning of the 7th, as some got in taxis to follow Sato's car and find out where he was staying. People even followed him from the premiere event on the 8th to his dining place, all the way back to the airport to send him off. The premiere event sold out all 650 seats in 3 minutes.　 

Source:

http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/20140211/oth14021105030019-n1.html 

http://blog-imgs-53.fc2.com/g/e/i/geitsuboo/oth14021105030019-p2.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 

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DIR EN GREY to perform at Australia's Soundwave Festival

1： ：禿の月φ ★ 2013/11/30(土) 06:19:57.89 ID:???P

DIR EN GREY will be taking part in Australia's Soundwave Festival in February-March 2014. 

The 2014 Soundwave Festival will kick off on February 22 at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds, and will make its way around Australia, including Sydney's Olympic Park, Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse, Adelade's Bonython Park, and Perth's Claremont Showground. The Festival will be headlined by Green Day and Avenged Sevenfold, while DIR EN GREY will be performing in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

It will be DIR EN GREY's first time in Australia, and they have this to say about the invitation to perform at the event: "We are already looking forward to meeting our fans who have been waiting for us all this time in Australia and to how we will be spending time with the Australian audience".

Once they return to Japan, they will be having concerts at the Nihon Budokan on March 8 and 9. "This will be the culminating event for DUM SPIRO SPERO so we are hoping to pour our feelings into this as well".

「SOUNDWAVE 2014」
Feb 22 (Sat)　Brisbane / Australia
RNA Showgrounds

Feb 23 (Sun)　Sydney / Australia
Sydney Olympic Park
    
Feb 28 (Fri)　Melbourne / Australia
Flemington Racecourse
    
Mar 1 (Sat)　Adelaide / Australia
Bonython Park

「DUM SPIRO SPERO」
Mar 8 (Sat) Tokyo Nihon Budokan
Mar 9 (Sun) Tokyo Nihon Budokan (Finale)

Source: http://www.minp-matome.jp/news/detail/26509

http://s.okmusic.jp/news_images/images/51071/extention.jpg

So ONE OK ROCK just rocked the rest of the world, huh

1： 名無し募集中。。。 2013/11/27(水) 18:54:26.79 0 ID:

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大合唱なんですが
Wow, everyone's singing along

The reason for Perfume's popularity in the West is because of their "concerts and black hair"

1： キミを見てるといつもハートDOKI＊DOKI＠谷岡φ ★ 2013/11/03(日) 20:08:02.37 ID:???0

Techno-pop unit Perfume's newest album LEVEL 3 has been conquering the download charts not just in Japan but overseas as well. Due to high demands, their album will be released in CD format in 14 different regions worldwide. Why is Perfume popular overseas?

"Perfume's best dance album" is the label attached to this latest release, and has been off to a flying start as it debuted at number 1, their 5th consecutive album to debut at the top spot, and the first time a female group has done so in 20 years and 8 months, with Princess Princess being the last. It has been made available for download in 119 countries and regions, and ranked 1st on Japan's weekly iTunes album charts, and also placed 1st on Hong Kong's, Taiwan's, Singapore's, and Thailand's iTunes electronic album charts. It also ranked in the top 10 in 19 different countries including the US and Canada.

Due to the demands, the actual CD will also be released in 14 different countries. The digital market is greater overseas, and demands for actual CD releases like this is a rare case. In response to these demands, they will be releasing an "international version" of the album with English text in the album booklet. The DVD will also have English, Chinese, and Korean subtitles so international fans can also enjoy everything the Japanese fans have been getting.

A label representative discusses the reason for their popularity overseas. "They were already popular in Asia where people have been used to the Japanese language and kanji characters, but their popularity has spread over to the West, thanks in part to their European tour last July." He continues to analyze: "Especially in the West, people have been paying attention to their concerts that make use of the latest technology to create stunning visual effects, as well as their fashion sense. I also believe that their naturally beautiful black hair is the reason why they have appealed to Western fans."

(Continued after the jump)

Source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/2030442/full/

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