Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

A few weeks ago, we reported on the Japanese government’s Super Cool Biz campaign, which is basically an initiative to encourage Japan’s office workers and business folk to wear lighter, cooler and somewhat more casual clothing during the hot summer months. It is a big part of this year’s setsuden summer in Japan, where a premium has been placed on conserving electricity due to the country’s diminished electric power production capacity in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear meltdown back in March. And apparently the Super Cool Biz campaign has been a big hit. Polo-style shirts in particular have become a kind of new and comfortable symbol of a more relaxed and energy-conscious environment in Japan’s busy and rather serious offices. In addition, some government offices in Tokyo and other cities are allowing workers to wear pattern-free t-shirts, and even knee-length shorts. So with every day this summer basically being a casual Friday in Japan, you wouldn’t be surprised to see folks wearing Hawaiian shirts, right? Well, wrong. Seems Hawaiian shirts, known as ‘aloha shirts’ in Japan, are a source of discomfort and controversy in Japanese office environments. At the link, you’ll get some historical background about the origins of aloha shirts (they were invented in Japan) and why these shirts are an uncomfortable reminder of Japan’s loss in World War II. Oh, and on the practical side, it seems that the very hot and humid Japanese summers make wearing the typical Rayon aloha shirt a pretty uncomfortable and impractical undertaking. Who knew? (Asahi Shimbun Online – “Aloha” Shirts Not Super Cool for Biz)
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The old cliché, of course, is that to seriously outperform something one runs circles around it. But for a certain Englishman in Tokyo it isn’t a matter of wanting to outperform an entire city so much as it is a desire to express his deep affection for his adopted home. So he isn’t running circles around Tokyo, he’s drawing pictures with it. Since November of 2010, English transplant Joseph Tame has periodically combined his love of running with that of Tokyoto turn the city into a rather large Etch-A-Sketch. Using a GPS device and special tracking software, Tame runs routes through Tokyo that end up forming large, whimsical pictures which are plotted and traced onto a Google map of the city. In April, he ran a 50 kilometer route which formed a large heart in central Tokyo. Earlier this month, he created a “G+” icon to celebrate the launch of the Google+ social networking service. And earlier this year, he ran 45 kilometers to form an ersatz Hello Kitty face spread over the Nakano and Shinjuku wards of western Tokyo. And as you’ll see at the link, he has drawn a few other fun figures as well. We can’t wait to see where this runner’s kinetic creativity will take him next. (The Art of Running – Huge Tokyo Heart)
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Less Than $800 Gets You to Tokyo for Four Nights “Tourism to Japan has dropped by more than 60% since the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear reactor leaks.” If you’re a Japan enthusiast (like we are), you know that for the right price you’ll jump on a plane to Tokyo or Osaka at the drop of a hat. Well, for the remarkable price of $780 per person, the Japan National Tourist Organization is offering round trip airfare (from select US cities) and four night’s accommodation in Tokyo. You’d better hurry, though, as this offer ends this Tuesday, May 31st, and some departure dates have already been sold out. (L.A. Times – Cheap Tokyo Package) What Exactly is Boutaoshi? No one outside Japan is quite sure what to make of Boutaoshi. It seems to combine elements of soccer, rugby, capture the flag, and a sports riot. In the video on Laughing Squid, you’ll see a guy on a pole, men ripping each other’s jerseys, and a vague sense that the players are not only organized in some strange way, but are actually enjoying themselves. Check it out and make up your own mind. (Laughing Squid – Boutaoshi) Japan Security Watch actually has a summary of some of the game’s rules, which you can read on their site. (Japan Security Watch – Boutaoshi) You can also pick up a Region 2 copy of a Boutaoshi movie on DVD. We’re interested to know what kind of scripted story can be made about such an odd sport, so drop us a line if you see the movie. (YesAsia – Boutaoshi DVD) Korean Filmmakers Chase Hollywood Success “The biggest obstacle for Korean films to advance into Hollywood is that the U.S. movie industry is largely based on personal networks.” If you’ve seen films like Joon-ho Bong’s “Mother”, or Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy”, you know that Korean cinema is as fresh, artistic and vital as anything made in the U.S. or Europe. Yet, with certain occasional exceptions, Korean filmmakers have had a heck of a time gaining recognition and success in Hollywood.  And it isn’t always the tight-knit nature of the Hollywood community keeping Korean directors on the outs. The directors might just be sabotaging themselves. (Korea Herald – Korean Films and Hollywood) Will “Sex and Zen 3D” bring “Extreme Ecstasy” to America? “It is just like being a voyeur near someone’s bed.” It seems like a pretty logical, naturally-progressing idea, using 3D technology to make a pornographic film. We’re pretty sure for some folks it’s a dream come true. And that’s what the producers and American distributor of “Sex and Zen 3D: Extreme Ecstasy” are banking on. The film out-grossed “Avatar” on its opening day in Hong Kong, and it has done very respectable business in Australia and New Zealand. Not bad for what is being described as essentially a blue movie on steroids. So, although a final release date has not been set, look for “Extreme Ecstasy” soon in a movie theater near you! (Hollywood...
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Epic tonkatsu at a spot called Tonki near Meguro station. You walk in and the space is decorated with raw wood everywhere. There’s a wide open kitchen where you see about 6 people working on service, cooking, cutting, and it’s amazing. The katsu is cooked per order so once you sit, you’ll be waiting, but the wait is worth it. It’s perfect all around. You put just a tiny bit of sauce at a time instead of just pouring it all over. I guess it’s no secret, I’m in Tokyo at the moment. It looks like this and below is how the outside looks. It’s amazing.
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