awwww.
How can you resist that silly face.
I’m predicting a group-hug on this post.
Category: Japanese
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Seldom Book Talk
I don’t read as many books as I watch films, tv series or listen to albums… but I think that reading subtitles count on as part as the word count of how much I actually read… as well as reading lyrics xD
At the moment I’m reading — being trying to finish for the last month or so — Cronica del Pajaro que da Cuerda al Mundo (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
, aka Nejimaki-dori KURONIKURU) by Haruki Murakami, but really can’t blame me for taking so long. It’s 900 pages long, and I know Harry Potter 5 is as long and it only took me 3 days to finish that one. But Cronica began really slow, and I left it there for a long long time until about 3 days ago, when I picked it up again. xD
I’m actually devouring any Murakami novel I ran into the bookstore. I have already bought Sputnik, mi Amor
(Sputnik Sweetheart
, aka SUPU-TONIKU no Koibito), and El Fin del Mundo y un Despiadado Pais de las Maravillas (Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, aka Sekai no Owari to HA-DOBOIRUDO WANDA-RANDO).
I’m looking for Kafka on the Shore
, which I saw at a bookstore’s listing, but when they checked… it was gone. Highly suspicious… I never believe things like books, cds or dvds ever get sold out here.
Julz will also be surprised to find out that I ran into copies of Män som Hatar Kvinnor… which wasn’t literally translated, as the book in Spanish is called Los Hombres que no Amaban a las Mujeres
[literally, Men Who Didn’t Love Women for those of you non-Spanish readers] – I guess Odiar/Hate is too-strong a word? At least it beats “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
” [Hardcover
][Kindle Version
]. Gosh. I was disappointed with the title in English when I saw the film. xD I also found a copy of Flickan som Lekte med Elden, which was translated to La Chica que Soñaba con una Cerilla y un Bidon de Gasolina
[literally, The Girl who Dreamed with a Match and an Oil Drum] but the Swedish title means The Girl who Played with Fire
[Hardcover
][Kindle Version
], right Julz? Which is exactly like the English title. Wonder who picks the titles…
However, I couldn’t find a copy of the third part. I will probably look for it after I finish all of the above, or buy it if I ran into it… – I wonder why they only had the two tomes.
Also, why are books so effing expensive here? I paid a bit over $30 for each Stieg Larsson book, and they’re not even hardcover editions. Frak, I even complained when that stupid Dan Brown book was $16 USD on Amazon… while they were selling it for nearly $35 USD in bookstores here. FRAK, I tell you!
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Music Overload
I just spent all day yesterday (and still) listening to music at Haoting.
Yay for keeping updated!
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Get Up and Go in Tokyo by Stefan Werc
I always love a good time-lapse~ [Vancouver][Marriage Proposal]
and I love Japan =D so… win win, right?
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“Super Dubbed” Films in Japan
Coming from an article over at Wildgrounds
What is this “super dub“? In fact, they’re trying to make the translation sounds more natural in Japanese.
…
what were you attempting with Super Dubbing to deal with this difference?
For example, Leonardo de Caprio, who plays Teddy, faces a woman working in the hospital and asks, “Were you a nurse?” If you change this to natural Japanese, just saying “Kankoshi?” However, in English when you say “Were you a nurse?” your lips move three times.
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FLOWERS Trailer
I really, REALLY hate Japanese trailers.
[iframe width=”480″ height=”390″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/500Z8Z0KTmk?rel=0″]
Not tagging this as trailers yet.
The film, as it looks there, looks a bit rubbish. The black & white looks really dull, though I saw some of a sakura shot, and it look kind of interesting.
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To Watch Until They’re 35 – Eita
Guess who’s #10 on the list of The 20 to Watch Between 25-30?
But it’s, of course, Eita!
Born in Tokyo, Japan on December 13th 1982. He might be unknown to almost everyone, unless you are already familiar with Japanese films and series, but this 27-year-old actor has proven that you should keep on watching him.
His list of films include Aoi Haru (Blue Spring), Azumi, Densha Otoko, Su-ki-da and Memories of Matsuko. Of course, Matsuko as a film works because of so many different aspects including Eita’s ability to make you want to connect with the brilliant Miki Nakatani.
Last year, Eita worked on two films that seemed to be in many of the “best of lists” in Japan, including the acclaimed Dear Doctor — by famous director Miwa Nishikawa, who wrote and directed Yureru (Sway) — as well as the seemingly popular April Bride, directed by indie acclaimed director Ryuichi Hiroki.
Add to that his recurring role as Mine on the Nodame Cantabile franchise [headed by fellow 20 to watch Juri Ueno] which sprung not only an 11-episode series, and two television special, but also two theatrical films opening on December 2009 and this month.
There is a certain softness in Eita’s aura that translates well whenever he’s on screen, making him perfect to play the sensible young man. He doesn’t even need to speak a single word, even though you probably would need the subtitles to actually understand what he is saying [unless, of course, you speak Japanese], but whenever he’s in a dramatic scene… all of that doesn’t matter. He’ll deliver the goods in a way that language would really not be a barrier.
Very few [men or women] can captivate you like this.
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Epik High on CNN’s TalkAsia
Next Wednesday, TalkAsia will be interviewing Epik High.
In the meantime… you can enjoy past interviews that you may have missed:
– AI [clip]
– Buyi and the Beijing Rock Scene
– Anna Tsuchiya
– Lang Lang
– Lee Byung-hun [clip]
– Zhou Xun [clip]Also! Heads up [at the bottom of their page]!
You can write to TalkAsia and request they interview someone.
Hello? Yu Aoi is waiting for TalkAsia xD and TalkAsia is waiting for our questions, I have decided to leave the questions opened until the end of April. =D
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I don’t like the 13th, and it’s not the 15th…
but it sure is time for YAM009 =D
is the cover kowaii??? [scary??] I would love to hear your opinion on fansubbing, as well as distribution, which are two topics I always bring up one way or the other.
You are also welcomed to comment on reviews and give suggestions.
With no further ado, go over here for download.