Wow. Just wow. Give this tattoo artist a raise or something. Jean-Pierre Saint-Tran wanted make a tribute to his favorite Studio Ghibli films and that’s what he did. He gave up his whole arm to be tattooed with Miyazaki art from Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.
Miyazaki Tattoo Tribute
June 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Beams x New Era = Pikachu Hat Collection
June 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Pokemon fans will enjoy this mini-capsule hat collab collection by BEAMS and New Era. Japanese retailer BEAMS teams up with New Era to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Pokemon with cute and geeky Pikachu Fitted Hat Collection.
Undercover x Medicom Toy = Hamburger Lamp
June 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Cute and iconic is the Hamburger Lamp. Undercover brings it back with a team-up with Medicom Toy. The item drops sometime June 2015.
Interview with Artist Frank Cho @ Big Wow! Comicfest
May 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Like artist Adam Hughes, comic book artist Frank Cho also has a knack for drawing sexy female superheroes and villains. Ramen host Ramon Angel catches up with Frank at Big Wow! Comicfest 2015 talking about his latest projects and the “Spider-Gwen” internet buzz.
I Want Some Nissin Instant Ramen Noodles
May 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
If you’re an anime/manga fan or instant ramen noodle fan, you might find yourself enjoying this promo ad. The commercial drops a lot of anime/manga references. Now I’m hungry.
Japan: The Robot Receptionist
April 20, 2015 by 3 Comments
Meet Aiko Chihira. She’s robot made by Toshiba and you will find her working at Mitsukoshi Nihombashi department store in Tokyo. Let’s go shopping!
Woot Bear: Toys Things & Art Exhibit
April 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I bought a Mad Panda! Welcome to the Woot Bear showcase: Toys Things & Art Exhibit from Japan. Woot Bear collabs with some of Tokyo’s top toy vinyl artists like Dehara Yukinori, Hariken, Konatsu, Mai Nagamoto, Mographixx, Refreshment Toy and Studio Uamou for this exhibit running through May 10, 2015.
In Japan: Sailor Moon Cafe
April 7, 2015 by 5 Comments
If you’re one of those Sailor Moon obsessed fans, then you may want to make a pilgrimage to this Sailor Moon Crystal themed cafe in Shinjuku, Japan. Sailor Moon has teamed up with Namco’s Anion Station to create the restaurant for a limited time, well until May 6th, 2015. The food and drink items are also Sailor Moon universe inspired.
Take a Selfie with Museum Art Pieces
April 1, 2015 by 2 Comments
Usually snobby art galleries and museums frown upon people taking pictures, but not this museum in Manila, Philippines. The Art In Island museum features 3D perspective art pieces that are interactive. You are encouraged to participate and take pictures with the art work. How fun!
Japan Only: Whopper Perfume
April 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
On April 1st, 2015 throughout Japan’s Burger King outlets, it well sell a unisex perfume bottle for one day only. Clearly, this is not an April Fool’s joke, the fragrance is made to smell like a Whopper burger for men and women. The “Flame-Grilled” perfume is limited to 1,000 bottles. The bottle will cost around $42.00USD and comes with a FREE Whopper.
Takara Transformers Masterpiece: Starsaber
March 27, 2015 by Leave a Comment
This is the latest Takara Transformers Masterpiece collector’s toy: MP-24 Starsaber. Starsaber is from the 1989 Japan only release Fight! Super Robot Life-Form Transformers: Victory series which featured 44 episodes.
Viral Video Friday: Montage Clips of Tokyo, Japan
March 27, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Vibrant, electric, alive and normal is the city of Tokyo. Entitled UGUISU, this is a video montage of everyday life in Tokyo, Japan.
ULTRA ACT x S.H. FiguArts Ultraman
March 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Drink: Get Your Drink On @ the Temple
March 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A visit to Kyoto, Japan in this episode of Al-Kee-Hol to learn the art of mediating and drinking alcohol. Host Yuka Uchida and her friend Cindy Hoang travels around Kyoto visiting places like the Matsuo Taisha Shinto Shrine who is the god of sake brewing.
Takara Tomy Star Wars Lightsaber Stamps
March 3, 2015 by 1 Comment
Japanese stationery-maker Beni collabs with Takara/Tomy for stamp loving fans, the Star Wars Lightsaber Stamp Set. These pre-inked stamps are shaped in the form of the iconic Lightsabers and there are 6 to collect: Luke Skywalker “Good”, Darth Vader “Bad”, Yoda “Do”, Anakin Skywalker “No”, Obi-Wan Kenobi “Yes” and Darth Sidious.
Takara PlayStation History Collection
March 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
If you’re a Sony PlayStation fan, a miniature model collector or blind box buyer, then you might want to grab this Takara PlayStation History Collection 20th Anniversary. Takara which has already done an NES and SEGA collection, so you know these will be popular.
Eat a Tomato While Running!
February 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment
All runners out there, meet: Tomatan. The leading Japanese juice company Kagome teamed-up with design studio Maywa Denki to create this robotic backpack wearing device where it can feed runners on the go who need to eat veggies like tomatoes. The backpack weighs 18 pounds extra.
The Back to the Future II DeLorean Crazy Case!
February 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Bandai Japan has always made a splash with their Crazy Case line-up of super nerdy geeky “you-so-fresh” iPhone cases. This time Crazy Case takes the “Back to the Future II” DMC DeLorean car and turns into a iPhone6 case with LED lights galore and special effects. Look for a June 2015 release and will be priced around $52.00USD.
Grab An Espresso & Pet A Sheep
February 6, 2015 by 1 Comment
Have you ever thought about ordering a Chai Latte and also petting a live sheep all in the same place? Well, you can do this in South Korea at The Thanks Nature Sheep Cafe. Now have coffee & waffles and see sheep roaming around the cafe.
Drink: Soju
January 19, 2015 by 5 Comments
In South Korea the drink of choice is Soju. My fellow Retrenders blogger Stephen Jang has told me many “Soju Drinking Tales” from his Ktown experience when he lived in LA. As for me, I rather drink Tequila, but I do really enjoy the flavored soju concoctions like Lemon Soju. In this new episode of Al-Kee-Hol, host Charlet Duboc goes to Seoul to experience Soju drinking.
The Bandai Japan R2-D2 3D Wall Poster
December 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Bandai Japan recently released their life-size Iron Man 3D Wall Figure poster in Japan only, and now another neat upcoming release for Star Wars fans – the life-size 3D Wall Figure poster of the iconic droid R2-D2.
Jpopilicious: Utada Hikaru x Evangelion = Music Video
December 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
It’s been awhile since I watched an AMV (anime music video) and it’s been a really long time since I’d listened to Jpop. Before the Kpop domination, I grew up listening to Jpop of every genre and bought crazy expensive import CDs by Jpop acts like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, Crystal Kay, SPEED, D&D, DaPump, Smap, Exile, Mai Kuraki, M-Flo, Do As Infinity, ZARD, MAX, Heartsdales, Orange Range, Every Little Thing, Bonnie Pink, MOVE … okay you readers get my drift, but I digress. I remember like it was yesterday vacationing in Hong Kong 1999 and I was at a HMV record store, and I picked-up the very first album “First Love” by then 16-year old Utada Hikaru. I was blown away by that album and played that CD the whole summer on my AIWA CD player.
Recently released is this new music video by Studio Khara and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki featuring Utada Hikaru’s song “Beautiful World.” Neon Genesis Evangelion fans will jump for joy at this new video featuring new clips and footage from the “Rebuild of Evangelion” films. And Trivia Pursuit tidbit, Utada’s song “Beautiful World” was used in the 2007 Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone.
A Bathing Ape x Ultraman Collection
November 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
If you’re looking for cool Ultraman licensed apparel, then look no further with this hip mini-capsule collection from BAPE. The items have just dropped online at BAPE.com. The hand towel is already sold out!
Puppets Gone Mad in Thailand
November 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Puppet masters from around the world gathered in Bangkok, Thailand for the Harmony World Puppet Carnival. The puppet convention runs through November 10, 2014, so that’s 10 days of fun for puppet fans.
Artist Martin Hsu releases “Blacky” Vinyl Figure
October 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
On a brezzy night in San Francisco’s Haight/Ashbury area, Kidrobot held a Artist Signing and Release Party for super talented artist Martin Hsu. A few weeks back, Martin released his latest vinyl artwork – “Blacky” – the dragon/dog 4″ figure. The figure is limited to 300 pieces worldwide, so you might want to pick it up, since it’s also sold at a reasonable price of around $25.00USD.
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