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Friday, July 30, 2010

Sumo wrestling is the official sport of Japan, enjoying special status and support by the Japanese government. It's more than a sport, really, since it's closely tied to Shinto religious ceremonies going back centuries, and legendary figures from Japan's history like Hideyoshi and Nobunaga were sumo aficionados, although contestants fought to the death back in those days. Recently the sport hasn't been able to catch a break due to a series of scandals that have rocked the Japan Sumo Association and its fans. It started with a marijuana scandal which resulted in several wrestlers being ejected from the sport for trafficking in illegal substances, and things got worse when a teenage wrestler in training died as a result of bullying by other members of his sumo stable. (Not sure why, but a house where a team of sumo wrestlers lives and practices is always called a 'stable' in English.) Maverick Mongolian wrestler Asashoryu was forced to quit in shame after he smashed in the face of a patron in a bar, which wasn't exactly in keeping with the hinkaku (dignity) required of Grand Sumo Champions. Now the existence of gambling ties to yakuza gangsters has come to light, which has enraged fans and caused NHK to boycott broadcasting the Nagoya tournament. I've always loved the uniquely Japanese character of sumo wrestling, and hope the sport can clean its house and get things back to normal soon.

The sumo world is facing some big problems; sushi in the U.S. is a little different from Japan.

Normally when I come to the U.S. the last thing I want to do is eat Japanese food, since there there are so many other choices here, like Mexican and Thai and Chinese. (Chinese food does exist in Japan, but in a very different form from what you'd find at Panda Express, often melded so closely with everyday Japanese dishes that no one can tell the two apart.) This trip, however, I've been in the U.S. for so long doing stuff with my American family that I started really craving nihonshoku (Japanese cuisine), so last night I took the family out for the best sushi I know of in San Diego. Sushi in California and Japan are naturally a little different. First of all, the most common way to eat sushi in Japan is kaiten-zushi or conveyor belt sushi, which is cheap and convenient, although traditional places are common, too (though they are pricier). We laughed out loud at some of the menu items with names that would never fly in Japan, like Kabuki, Last Samurai, Yakuza and Gaijin Rolls. As is often the case when eating "Japanese" food in the U.S., the Master (the owner of the shop) was Korean. Which was okay with me -- the fish was fresh and good, and he gave us kimchee (Korean pickled cabbage) to eat for free.

No matter how long a person lives in Japan, there are always things that can bring on what expats call a "Japan moment," the feeling of utter amazement at something bizarre you've just encountered. Maybe it's something cute, like a big truck playing the Main Street Electrical Street Parade song as it backs up instead of a boring beep-beep-beep sound, or that first time seeing the plastic Colonel Sanders in front of KFC wearing his "Santa Wear" (Santa Claus Suit). Maybe it's a food item, like strawberry and whipped cream sandwiches, or the ham and cheese on French Toast complete with syrup pre-applied to the bread I saw once. You never know what will bring on that sense of "only-in-Japan" next -- driving through an extremely rural town and coming across a replica of the American Statue of Liberty? Seeing a nondescript building with "Oh!" carefully painted on it? Meeting someone who has taught English for 30 years yet has never been outside of Japan, and who asks you "Where is your domicile?" instead of something simple like "Where do you live?"


Today's New Items

Animedia June 2010
Animedia June 2010

A nice new issue of Animedia, the amazing anime magazine from Japan, which focuses on K-On!, A Certain Scientific Railgun / Index, and more. Free posters, too!

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Evangelion Desk Mat -- Pictogram
Evangelion Desk Mat -- Pictogram

This is cool: a collection of "warning icons" from Evangelion that parody the characters.

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AKB48 Visual Book 2010 featuring team A
AKB48 Visual Book 2010 featuring team A

If you love the super-cute girls of AKB48, then today is your lucky today. We've posted not one, not two, but three different photobooks capturing the beauty and grace of the different AKB teams.

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Egg Aug 2010
New Japanese Fashion Magazines

Surprise -- more awesome Japanese fashion magazines from J-List. We have the new issue of Egg in, for fans of gyaru fashion culture, plus the new Myojo for fans of male idol culture (Johnny's etc.).

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School Swimsuit Basic Type (Purple Line)
Anime Cosplay, School Swimsuits

There's something about having the actual swimsuit worn by your favorite tsundere anime character materialize on your desk that's just awesome. We're not posting two new school swimsuits to J-List because we like you or anything (ha-ha).

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Queen's Blade Rebellion -- Arudora Limited Edition **preorder**
Queen's Blade Rebellion -- Arudora Limited

Super item from Japan: a combination artbook + figure for Queen's Blade fans that you will love. In stock today!

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Electric Rainbow Umbrella
Electric Rainbow Umbrella (Blade Runner Style)

J-List is your #1 place to come when looking for rare and bizarre umbrellas from Japan. Today we're posting a "Blade Runner" style light-up umbrella -- awesome.

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Shari Shari Cools  Electric Shaved Ice Maker
Shari Shari Cools ~ Electric Shaved Ice Maker

Enjoy shaved ice in style this summer with this awesome electric ice shaver. Just add ice cubes and it will get to work turning them into shaved ice for you!

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Figma Saber Alter Action Figure  Fate/stay night **Preorder**
Great Revoltech, Figma In Stock

I am positively in love with the "evil" Saber Figma figure that we restocked today. Also: the super-detailed Alien Revoltech toy is back in stock.

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Nendoroid Petit Touhou Project Set Part 1 **Preorder**
Fun Nendoroids: Touhou, Strike Witches

Wow, these Touhou figures are so awesome, I'm getting a nosebleed. Three fabulous Nendoroid figures for your collection!

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Evangelion : 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance  (Blu-ray Disc) ***Preorder***
Evangelion : 2.22 and 1.11 Blu-Ray Restocked

We've restocked both the brand-new Evangelion 2.22 You Are (Not) Alone Blu-Ray, which is truly fabulous to see. Also, the first Eva movie if you didn't get it yet.

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Miku Hatsune Project DIVA  2 ***Preorder***
Miku Hatsune Project DIVA 2

We love everything about Miku Hatsune: her twintails, her dancing, her singsong computer generated voice and of course her striped pantsu. See the popular Project Diva 2nd PSP game restocked.

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Moppets -- Cute Dog Cleaner  Corgi
Moppets -- Cute Dog Cleaner for Computer or Phone

Keep your computer screen or cell phone clean and shiny with the new Moppets, a super cute line of plush doggie that is designed with soft surfaces to clean your important stuff. The most popular toys have been restocked!

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NET480_Rilakkuma_Ice-pack
Rilakkuma Ice-pack for Neck

Another way to keep cool this summer is the popular Relax Bear neck wrap that will help you feel great in summer.

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To Aru Kuroko no Love Cookie
To Aru Kuroko no Love Cookie

A new addition to our Anime & Gift Snacks page, A Certain Kuroko Love Cookies.

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Mousse-chan Kira-Kira Paper Clay Set  Cake Shop
Mousse-chan Kira-Kira Paper Clay Set ~ Cake Shop

Also: a new variety of Mousse-chan Paper Clay toys, which let you make your very own decorated cake with fast-drying paper clay. The molds can be re-used with any kind of clay, or even chocolate.

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Maruchan Soy Sauce Ramen
New Snacks from Japan

Enjoy Japan-only Mentos in delicious Mango flavor, then taste the Meiji Copan treats in Tuna and Onion flavor, then sample Maruchan Soy Sauce Ramen, which is really delicious!

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Yaki Curry FURIKAKE (Fukuoka)  Japanese Food Furikake
Yaki Curry FURIKAKE (Fukuoka), Food Drops

We've restocked the Yaki (baked) Curry flavor Food Furikake, which is super easy to eat because you just sprinkle it over steamed white rice. Also great for bento!

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Rabbit Slim Lacquered 2 Tier Wooden Bento Box  Elastic Band
Rabbit Slim Lacquered 2 Tier Wooden Bento Box

Oh baby, this is another gorgeous bento box from Japan, with pictures of rabbits on the end.

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950ml Volume Bento Box Set  Genuine Lacquered 2 tier Box  Elastic Band  Kinchaku Bag
Large Size Bento for Men, Too

Other bento boxes restocked: the 950ml Volume Bento Box from Hakoya and the MAGE-WAPPA, a bento box so natural it's made of carved wood.

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Hello Kitty Ball Shaped 2 Tier Bento Box with Kinchaku Bag
Fun Hello Kitty Bento Items Restocked

We have more awesome Hello Kitty bento items too, including the popular Ball Shaped 2-tier bento box, one of the most popular Hello Kitty lunchboxes recently.

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FOROMAKI Shaper  Easy Roll SUSHI Making Mold
Sushi Makers, Other Fun Items

We have two items for helping you make the perfect rolled or standard sushi, plus see more awesome soy sauce bottles for bento, miniature bento boxes and more.

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Natural Stone Magatama Strap -- Crystal
Various Traditional Items Restocked

Also, see fresh stock of several authentic magatama curved beads, as seen in Ikki Tousen . The beads are made of all-natural stones and crystals and can be attached to your phone, keys, etc.

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Miku Hatsune 1/7 Figure Designed by Tony **Preorder**
Miku Hatsune 1/7 Figure Designed by Tony *Preorder*

Miku Hatsune + celebrated illustrator Tony Taka, that's a potent mix. Preorder this epic figure of epic epicness.

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K-ON! Yui  Tsumugi Live Stage Set Nendoroid Figure **Preorder**
K-On! Nendoroid and Figma Figures

We have K-On! figures for your consideration, too, including the Nendoroid of Yui and Tsumugi with instruments, plus the Figma of Madoka -- cool!

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Ruiko Saten 1/8 Figure  To Aru Kagaku no Railgun **Preorder**
Ruiko Saten 1/8 Figure *Preorder*

For fans of A Certain Scientific Railgun, here is a fun anime figure of Ruiko, as pure and sweet a girl as you'd like to meet.

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Mina Tepes 1/8 Figure  Dance in the Vampire Bund **Preorder**
Vesperia, Dance in the Vampire Bund Figures

We have more anime figures posted too, including the slender vampire Mina from Dance in the Vampire Bund, plus Yuri Lowell from Tales of Vesperia.

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Velvet SIF EX Figure  Odin Sphere *Preorder*
Odin Sphere, Bakemonogatari Figures

We have two more figures in for you: the lusty Princess Velvet from the game Odin Sphere, plus the really cool Nadeko Songoku 1/8 scale figure from Bakemonogatari.

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KURU-TOGA  Automatic Spinning Mechanical Pencil for Super Smooth Writing
Great Japanese Pens, Study Items

See some great pens from Japan, including the KURU-TOGA Spinning Mechanical Pencil for smooth writing, the Magic Ink Set with retro design, the fun Black Stretch Eraser and the One Piece B5 Notebook.

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Curry Cup Noodle
Restocked Japanese Snacks

Finally, a huge restocking of fun J-snacks, including Morinaga Hi-Chew in Blue Hawaii and Cotton Candy summer flavors, Meiji Wata Pachi cotton candy with pop rocks inside, Azuki Caramel, Black Black Caffeine Gum, Pocari Sweat Powder, Bull-Dog Sauce for all your favorite foods, Royale Milk Tea, Curry Cup Noodle, and awesome Japan-only Doritos flavors.

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