The yokai are here!

I just found out that Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide has been released in the US a month ahead of schedule. If you have any interest in folklore, Japanese culture or supernatural beasites of any kind this is a book for you.

Locale, location, tool

This week I've added the usual three entries to the Anime Companion Supplement.

This time I've gone with two locations, one in Tokyo, and a tool. Nothing spectacular, simple things that may provide background information for someone. Of the three Shōnan will be the one most familiar to many fans of anime, manga and live action shows.

The entries are:

Kabutochō 兜町

Shōnan 湘南

tembimbō (carrying pole) 天秤棒

Thugs, flowers and lesbians

The latest three term posting title brings you:

chinpira (punk, thug) ちんぴら or チンピラ

yuri (lily) 百合

yuri (lesbian [slang]) 百合

If you have an interest in the slang use of yuri you may find Erica Friedman' blog Ozaku interesting.

New manga

Today is Wednesday and that means Diamond shipments are put out on comics shop shelves.

This week three titles stand out:

GTO The Early Years v.8 - the latest in the original Onizuka manga published years earlier in Japan than GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka.

Peace Maker v.4 a Shinsengumi centered manga about Ichimura Tetsunosuke and his experiences in the 1860s. Amazing how many fan sites for the manga and anime miss the fact that he actually existed.

Disappearance Diary by Hideo Azuma - God I've waited months for this one. this is an autobiographical manga about the experiences of a manga artist including when he ended up homeless and alcoholic.

Game, cash, author

This week I'm hitting a variety of subjects. These include a game, a saying and an author I recommend for mystery fans.

fukuwarai (face game) 福笑い

kane no kireme ga en no kireme (the end of the money is the end of the relationship) 金の切れ目が縁の切れ目

Ôsawa Arimasa 大沢在昌

In the near future I'll be doing several more entries related to Japanese religion as some have expressed an interest in having more such material. Another focus I have been working on for some time is aspects of contemporary life as this is an area of interest to many fans of anime, manga and live action shows.

Real Rock and Roll

Checking the Japan Times this morning I noticed two interesting articles, so I'll pass them on:

The Ventures: still rocking after 50 years

Mad about deke-deke-deke

gender, food and vids

This week I'm adding some terminology anime and manga fans will be familiar with, and a tasty type of place to stop off for a cuppa tea.

As is often the case with the terminology entries the one for OVA does not have example from a specific anime or manga (yet).

This weeks entries are:


futanari (hermaphrodite) 二成 or 二形 or ふたなり

kanmikissa 甘味喫茶

OVA

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