SF Anime Festival & Cosplay 2015

SFAnimeFestivalandCosplay2015

We’ve been a little behind editing many videos from various events we’ve attended this summer.  Here’s a quick recap of the SF Anime Festival & Cosplay in Japantown that took place on July 18, 2015.  The Ramen crew was there to see all the cosplay fun and meet-up with special cosplay guest Reika from Japan.

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A animated tribute to Hayao Miyazaki

tributehayaomizakipcitureOne of the legends of anime is Hayao Miyazaki and this fan-made anime-video tribute is pretty cool.  As you watch the video montage, many of Hayao Miyazaki’s characters appear in a roll call.  Sit back and enjoy.

The LEGO Sushi Bar Restaurant

legosushishopLike my fellow Retrenders super blogger Stevie Jang, we like LEGOs, but we usually follow the instructions.  Yes, I like having a the manual in-hand and looking at the pictures to see how it’s been built.  I’ve seen lots crazy imaginative LEGO builds, but this MOC Ito Sushi Bar LEGO build is insanely neat.  Built by Denil Oh, this sushi bar has incredible details and even right down to the sushi pieces with custom stickers to enhance the diorama restaurant build.

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In Japan: Play that Xylophone

japangirlsxylophonejamExperimental musical jam session.  At this live event, these two girls jam away with a circular spinning xylophone contraption and play with a super drum set.

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Google Doodle Tribute to Eiji Tsubaraya

googlekingkongtributeIf you remember watching Ultraman or those badly dubbed Godzilla flicks from Japan back in the day, well, today’s Google Doodle is a tribute to the sci-fi monster maker Eiji Tsubaraya.  The famous director passed away in the 1970s and today would be his 114th birthday.  Google Doodles honors the man with neat little video on monster making.

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Baby Milo x Minions Capsule Collection

babymilominionscoverWearable for all ages is the cute banana loving Minions and BAPE’s Baby Milo.  This capsule collection features various graphic t-shirts, caps and zipper hoodies.  Look for the Baby Milo x Minions Collection to drop next week, July 5th, 2015.

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Japan: A Fox Petting Zoo

foxvillageboredpandaAs a kid I loved going to the San Diego Zoo with my parents and looking at the various animals in cages.  Now this petting zoo in Japan takes the cake for cuteness and that it only specializes in caring for about 200 foxes.

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VANS x Murakami Collection

vansmarukamicollectionThe surfer/skateboard imagery collides with rainbow colors and cuteness in the artistic mind of Takashi Murakami.  Japanese modern pop artist Takashi Murakami collabs with VANS premium label “Vault by VANS” for this capsule collection featuring not just kicks, but also apparel and skate decks.

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Frankie’s Garage: Wacky Mate’s R32 Skyline

r32gripcoverFinally, another episode of Tuner Club!  This show takes a look at tuning house Wacky Mate in Japan and their very own 1993 Nissan Skyline R32.  The 800hp beast was built for grip driving and time attacks.  The R32 has been heavily modified and tuned.

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Frankie’s Garage: The Euro-Spec Civic Type R

hondacivictyperThe Type R badge returns.  The UK/Euro-Spec Honda Civic 4-door sedan that gets the special treatment.  Wild and outrageous aero parts and rear spoiler looks to make a statement.  Xcar Films takes a look and reviews this pocket rocket.

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Beams x New Era = Pikachu Hat Collection

beamsxpikachuhatsPokemon 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.

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Amazing Balloon Creations by Masayoshi Matsumoto

balloonartjapanstyleMaybe at my kid’s birthday you’ll find a clown making some type of cute balloon animal or you find yourself at Pier 39 and find a street artist making balloon objects, but this artist from Japan takes the cake.  Artist Masayoshi Matsumoto takes balloon object making to another level.

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Undercover x Medicom Toy = Hamburger Lamp

hamburgerlampCute and iconic is the Hamburger Lamp.  Undercover brings it back with a team-up with Medicom Toy.  The item drops sometime June 2015.

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Viral Video Friday: One Take Drone and Team BABY-G

teambabygIf you’ve into watching dance videos on YouTube or VIMEO, then you’ve probably watched a dance video filmed by YAKfilms.  Yoram Savion and Kash Gaines were Internet video guys, who were also fans of dancing founded YAKfilms in 2008 at the Youth Uprising Community Center in East Oakland.  They’ve created a popular dance channel on YouTube and started not only a national movement, but a global dance phenomenon called “Turfing.”

Now the Internet duo film dance videos around the world and here’s the latest from Japan using a camera drone to film this in one-shot.  Dope jam!

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Gap HK – Gap Remix Project

gapremixprojectcover2015Another year, another Gap Remix Project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irtYNsITuss

The concept is re-interpret the iconic Gap logo and the project takes 11 artists from around the globe into making a fresh graphic tee to rock.  The 11 artist involved in this year’s Gap Remix is:  No. 223 from Beijing, Candy Bird from Taipei, Chocomoo from Tokyo, Fantasista Utamaro from Tokyo, Jessica Hische from San Francisco, Kyle Pierce from San Francisco, Loic Lavenu from Paris, Maud Vantours from Paris, Neville Brody from London, Pose from Chicago, and Quentin Jones from London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZefwtY2qLs

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FanimeCon 2015 is Here!

FanimeCon CoverFanimeCon 2015 is this weekend!  Stay tuned to our YouTube channel as the Ramen crew cover FanimeCon all weekend long.

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I Want Some Nissin Instant Ramen Noodles

ramennoodlesnissinadIf 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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW1WebEtMsc

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G-Shock S Series for Women

gshockswomencoverThe popular G-Shock watch series by Casio has always been toy accessories for the boys to play with, now a G-Shock S-Series for Women.  We girls, finally get G-Shock watches.  The G-Shock S-Series features unique styling, colors and most of all, be able to match our wardrobe for the night out on the town.

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UNIQLO UTGP 2015 Star Wars

utgpstcoverWe just had the Star Wars Celebration this past weekend, now comes the UNIQLO UTGP 2015 Star Wars Collection.  The winning Star Wars graphic t-shirts are in!  The Global T-Shirt Design Competition 2015 received more than 5,000 entries from around the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m40HtQMdkw4

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Japan: The Robot Receptionist

robotreceptionistMeet 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!

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Frankie’s Garage: Honda Tuner Girls

tunergirlshondaI drive a 2003 Honda Accord coupe, but I’m not much of a tuner girl per say, as all I have done is replaced my OEM CD player to a Pioneer DEH-150MP and some expensive Monster car audio cables that I got suckered into buying at Best Buy.  I laugh now.  Anyhow, these are real tuner girls from Osaka, Japan.  This latest episode of Tuner Club Episode #4 takes a look at Nabo Okamoto’s 1996 Honda Civic sedan and Yayoi Torii’s 1991 Honda Civic hatchback. 

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Maison Kitsuné “Spring Shake” & S/S 2015

springshake2015mkcoverGildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki founded French clothing outfit Maison Kitsuné in 2002 and today is still at the top of their game blending together their “East meets West” sensibilities into the fashion world.  If you have a couple hundred bucks to spend on that Spring outfit, then take a look at the “Spring Shake” 2015 mini-capsule collection.

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Human Made S/S 2015 Lookbook

humanmadess2015coverFamous clothing designer NIGO models for the Japanese urban apparel maker Human Made for their S/S 2015 collection.  The theme for the Human Made S/S 2015 Lookbook is old-school vintage.  It has the outdoor vibe, like I’m going to chop some wood and go hunting.  The Human Made S/S 2015 collection will drop next month May 2015.

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In Japan: Sailor Moon Cafe

sailormooncafeIf 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.

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Hello Kitty Toaster by Cartwheel Kids

hellokittyfaketoasterOMG, this kitchen appliance toy maybe for kids ages 3 and up, but I so want this!  As a Hello Kitty fan, this is cute toy is a must-buy for me.  The fake Hello Kitty Toaster comes with Hello Kitty-shaped toast, tart and waffle, along with a jam jar, knife, 2 butter pieces and a frozen waffle box.

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