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Japanese Company Applies for Establishment of Top Level .Moe Domain

It used to be there were only a handful of top-level domains: .com, .org, .net, .edu, and so on. Now, there’s a TLD for virtually every use, including .xxx, .me, and now, potentially .moe. Japanese company Interlink is lobbying for a new .moe TLD for the otaku crowd, possibly opening the door for a plethora of new otaku URLs. My only hope is that there’s an international governing body that decides whether or not a website is truly “moe.”

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Japan Is About to Become the Largest Music Market In the World…: While people have been predicting the death of the music industry for decades, it looks like Japan’s music market is still going strong. Not only is it bouncing back from its 2011 low, but a surprising amount of that growth is thanks to physical music sales—you know, CDs. Gotta get to those handshake events somehow! [via News On Japan]

Wagyu Beef Scandal Leads to Arrests: The beef industry in Japan can be a very high-stakes game. Kobe or wagyu beef has a worldwide reputation for high quality, leading to legends about the care and attention take to raising the cows. Now, some big names in the industry have been arrested on “suspicion of misleading consumers.” It’s unclear how the cows will be affected in all of this.

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Green Tea Wars Heat Up: Bottled beverages are no joke in Japan, as they represent a lucrative, widespread market that you can see in vending machines on practically every street corner. Now, it looks like the green tea segment of that market is poised for growth as big players like Ito En, Suntory, and even Coca-Cola are fiercely competing for market share. As one company representative said, “The third ‘Green Tea War’ is already starting.”

Artificial anti-tsunami hill completed in Miyagi [Prefecture]: Since the disasterous earthquake and tsunami on 3/11, Japan has done what it can to prepare for future catastrophes. One just completed project is an artificial hill in the city of Iwanuma. The 8-meter hill is covered with over 30,000 seedlings, and will act as memorial site, training center, and just a barrier for future tsunami. [via Twitter]

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Deadly octopus prompt warnings in Kanto region

I have a deep-seated distrust of the ocean—virtually every terrifying creature on earth lurks somewhere in the sea. Case in point, this cute little octopus recently spotted in the Kanto region. While it may look adorable, this little cephalopod is extremely venomous; a single bite from one of these octopi can kill a person in 90 minutes. Have fun at the beach, I’ll be busy hiding under my bed. [via Reddit]

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Wallpapers!

In case you need to remind yourself of the constant octopus threat, we have some desktop background sized versions of the header image, courtesy of our amazing artist Aya. Enjoy!

Wallpaper (1280×800)
Wallpaper (2560×1440)

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Retractable Tsunami Breaker Construction and First Test Underway off Coast of Wakayama: People in Japan are always working on technology to mitigate the effects of earthquakes and tsunami, but it’s become a much more serious endeavor since the horrific 3/11 disaster. Last month, a brand new, retractable barrier was built and tested out. I have no doubt that these barriers have benefited from years of experience with Japan’s retractable bidet technology.[/threecol_two] [threecol_one_last] Japan’s AV biz to thrive under TPP : A lot of the times, trade agreements between countries have unexpected consequences. It looks like for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement currently being worked on, one of the unforeseen results could be more direct competition between US and Japanese pornography. Finally, the free market can decide which country’s smut reigns supreme.

Japan’s 50 Richest: Without a doubt, Japan has its share of millionaires and billionaires, as proven by Forbes’ “50 Richest” list. UNIQLO tycoon Tadashi Yanai tops the list for yet another year, proving that big money isn’t in oil, finance, or tech: it’s in casual, designer clothing. [via News On Japan][/threecol_one_last]

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[threecol_one]North Korea ‘moves mid-range missile’: As Kim Jong-un gears up North Korea’s military for another round of threats and scare tactics, Japan and other Asian countries are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Kim is still only in his second year as leader of the DPRK, so here’s hoping that this is just his terrible twos.

Campaigns on Multiple Fronts Against Whale Hunting: Whaling remains a hot button issue internationally as the U.N.’s International Court of Justice in the Hague hears a case against Japan about whale hunting. While it’s doubtful that anything will be decided for certain (or that anything will change at all), it’s still the most high-level court in which the issue has ever been discussed.[/threecol_one] [threecol_two_last]

Have Japan’s Anti-Smoking Laws Gone Too Far? Smokers Begin to Feel the Pressure: Japan has long been known as a smoker’s paradise, but the Japanese attitude towards smoking has been changing over the years. Now, smokers are beginning to feel squeezed out, almost discriminated. My advice: take solace in knowing that no matter how stigmatized, unhealthy, and polluting smoking is, it still makes you look cool. Joe Camel told me so![/threecol_two_last]

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Cat from Putin to Akita gov. quarantined at Narita: President of Russia Vladmir Putin, when he’s not practicing sketchy politics, has been exchanging gifts with various Japanese political figures. This year, he exchanged judo uniforms with the prime minister of Japan and received an akita from the governor of the eponymous region. Now, Putin is returning the favor to the governor with a cat which, unfortunately has to be quarantined until it’s deemed to be safe. There’s a Pussy Riot joke in here somewhere, I just know it! [via News On Japan][/threecol_two] [threecol_one_last]Japanese man shows off world’s tallest Mohawk hairstyle: Even though I’m not really a fan of Guinness’s dark, almost syrupy beer, I have a soft spot for its Book of World Records. Carnival sideshows are largely a thing of the past, but Guinness still provides a glimpse into some of the wackiest things imaginable, like this Japanese guy with a mohawk that’s almost four feet tall. Sure, he can’t walk around indoors, but that’s a price worth paying. [via News On Japan]

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[threecol_one]In China, anti-Japan protests over disputed islands get some zing: People in China have been holding anti-Japan protests for weeks now over disputed territory in the Sea of Japan, but the same ol’ methods of protesting, like burning flags and flipping cars, just aren’t doing it anymore. Now protestors are getting more creative with their protests by illegally downloading Japanese porn in an effort to deprive smut peddlers of profits. Evidently, I’ve been protesting Japan for while and haven’t even known it. Go figure.

Tsunami “Miracle Pine” Destroyed to be Preserved: When the 3/11 tsunami wiped away a forest of 70,000 trees, people were astonished to see that one “Miracle Pine” still standing. Now, the pine is ironically being destroyed so it can be better preserved; the tree will be cut down in segments, then treated and reassembled so that it might stand stronger than ever. [via Japan Realtime, News On Japan][/threecol_two_last]

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[threecol_two]Young Japanese men’s trend: Trying to look pretty: Young, urban men in Japan have been upping their game lately, paying more attention to their looks than ever before. Known as ikemen (イケめん), or “good-looking man”, these dudes have no qualms with undertaking traditionally very feminine beauty procedures, like pedicures and manicures. For once, maybe the US might actually be ahead of Japan. After all, we went through Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and “metrosexuality” craze years ago. There’s hope yet! [via News On Japan, Reddit][/threecol_two] [threecol_one_last]Narcotic designation decided for 4 drugs: Drugs are weird. Modern chemistry and botany are so sophisticated that there’s almost unlimited potential for the number of sensory-stimulating drugs people can create; and the law, always a step or two behind, has to do its best to keep up. Japanese law has done just that, and outlawed four new drugs. All I really request is that the cannibalism-inducing bath salts is outlawed. [via News On Japan]

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Smokers Find New Haven in Japan, But for a Price: Governments around the world have been cracking down on smoking ever since the whole “cancer” thing was discovered; but Japan’s enormous population refuse to go quietly into that smoke-free night. A new business called Ippuku is opening up in Japan, charging for the privilege to take your smoke break indoors. Will it take off? If I know how much Japanese people love to be surrounded by delicious, carcinogenic smoke, I’d say yes.
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She’s Winner! Hatsune Miku’s Chrome ad wins at Cannes: Last year’s Google Chrome commercial featuring the ever-popular Hatsune Miku has earned itself recognition at the esteemed Cannes awards. An impressive accomplishment for a fictional vocaloid character!

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Header photo by phogel

I vividly remember watching the disaster unfold over a live video stream, hardly able to believe what I was seeing. It felt like I was watching footage from a disaster movie.

A lot has changed in the year since the devastation in Japan, but it’s sometimes hard to follow what’s really going on in the country. It seems like nobody can agree on what exactly is the situation in Japan.

On this one year anniversary of the 3/11 disaster, I’d like to try to collect my thoughts about the tragedy, recap what’s happened, and the direction the country is taking.

The Aftermath

When all was said and done,  close to 20,000 people died or went missing from the Tohoku region. Foreigners fled the country; some out of fear, some out of orders from their governments.

Tourism dropped as people became afraid of the dangers in the country, and the economy slumped as the businesses of the Tohoku region were all but wiped out.

And there’s no sugar-coating it: the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is still a dangerous place, even to this day. The nuclear reactors still aren’t fully under control, and a big area around Fukushima isn’t accessible to the public.

In all honesty, the aftermath of 3/11 was pretty bleak; it’s undeniable that the death and destruction of the 3/11 disaster was horrific. But a year later, the lessons learned from the devastation have helped the Japanese prepare for the future.

Lessons Learned

The meltdown at Fukushima has gotten people around the world thinking about nuclear power in a different way. Whether or not that means moving away from nuclear power is still unseen; but if nothing else, people have become much more conscious about where their electricity comes from.

Governments and scientists around the country have no doubt put in plenty of thought about what they can do to prevent a disaster like this from ever happening again.

Already, new walls are being raised and trees are being planted to protect towns from future tsunami. Towns are being reconstructed to place people out of harm’s way.

But probably the most important lesson learned during all of this is the importance of community. People came together like never before during the disaster, not only in local Japanese communities, but around the world.

In fact, contrary to popular belief, things are actually looking up for Japan in a lot of ways.

I’ve Got To Admit It’s Getting Better

Looking at before/after pictures of the disaster (like on The Big Picture), it’s really amazing the progress that’s been made in a year. Towns that were an unrecognizable mess after the earthquake and tsunami are now tidied up.

At the time of the tsunami, it was hard to imagine that a clean up was even possible. But now, many towns are clean and ready for reconstruction.

Before and after pictures courtesy of The Big Picture

The Japanese economy has started to pick up recently too. The Nikkei stock index bottomed out near the end of last year, but has since made a strong rebound and is on its way back up. (And you could argue that the Nikkei’s poor performance lately was because of the European debt crisis, not the 3/11 disaster.)

Tourism has been steadily improving too. People have flocked back to Japan for lunar new year and cherry blossom celebrations, seeing past the destruction to the Japan they once knew and loved.

Looking Ahead

There’s no question that what happened on 3/11 disaster was a watershed event in Japanese history. Its devastation was unprecedented and there’s still a long way to go; but, with any luck, was a level of destruction that won’t be seen again for a very long time.

But it was also a moment when Japan came together and showed its strength. It’s not everyday that we see the kind of humanity, selflessness, and unity that the Japanese showed in the days after 3/11. It just goes to show that underneath the highly-polished veneer of Japanese politeness and civility, there lies a goodwill that rivals any other in the world.

The enjoyability of the following CMs may vary depending on your level of Japanese, but basically it depicts the two actors as the reincarnations of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. At the end of their journey they arrive in Tohoku and meet the one-eyed dragon and ancient warlord of Tohoku, Date Masamune.

Kimura Takuya keeps referring to Beat Takeshi as Saru (meaning monkey) because as legend has it, Oda Nobunaga gave that nickname to Toyotomi Hideyoshi because of his facial resemblance to a monkey. This recognition directly contributes to the popular image of him being monkey-like, both in appearance and behavior.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VKOgzMWCDE']

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OMEvOfcRHQ']

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzJbuXHH7FM']

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f1jjQMAjo4']

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kLr2o_XB84']

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee4402tTz1M']

Could you follow along okay? If you have any questions about what’s going on feel free to inquire in the comments below. Toyota hopes these commercials will help promote the recovery of the region as well as promote their vehicles which in turn helps Japan as a whole.

For those interested, you can read more about Toyota’s endeavors in Tohoku here.

And Now A Message From Arashi

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTT1O2VtrSY']

Even though this video is from last year, I still find it appropriate for today’s post. And for those of you unfamiliar with Arashi, they are a very popular music group in Japan and the members frequently appear on variety shows and TV dramas.

And from all of us at Tofugu, thank you so much for keeping Japan in your hearts this past year and helping them to rebuild for a better tomorrow.

Saturday Timewaster is a weekly post that features Japanese videos, music, images, or games that will certainly waste your time (some weeks more than others). We hope you enjoy!

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