Touchable Holograms? Now you can poke Bender

By akgoemans on 9/22/09 9:18am
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Doesn't this sound like something straight out of Minority Report? Researchers from the University of Tokyo may have found a way to make touch-sensitive holograms! Well, they are experimenting on various methods and seems like they have hit upon a workable solution.



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Japanese Kissing Robots

By akgoemans on 9/14/09 6:02am
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Thomas and JaneThomas and Jane

 Have you been keeping an eye on the latest trends in the robotics? Then you'd already know that the Japanese innovators have been making a concerted effort to make robot use more mainstream. The good folks have calculated that venturing into the entertainment industry would be the perfect start for such integration. Hence you get the squeaky-limbed fashion robot and the cute little baby robot. But now someone has gone out and tried something completely different.

 



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Mein Kampf as a manga finds eager customers?

By akgoemans on 9/7/09 7:39am
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Manga Mein KampfManga Mein Kampf

Consider this your WTF news of the day. Adolf Hitler's infamous book, Mein Kampf, was made into a manga series and released in Japan. Contrary to any naysayers who might think that the book sales would stagnant, maybe even fall faster than Fanny Hill's garters, this manga did rather well. Apparently the Manga de Dokuha or 'read it as a manga' book reeled in at least 45,000 buyers!



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Japan's Breast Shrine

By akgoemans on 9/2/09 8:34am
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Breast ShrineBreast ShrineRemember the phallic ceremony I mentioned a while back? Well, it looks like Japan also has a religious monument dedicated to women, specifically to their breasts. The landmark in question is the Karube Shrine and it is devoted to all matters related to the boobies!

The shrine in question is located in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture and it revolves around a goddess of breasts (Chichigamisama).

 



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Western-themed Anime: something for the kids

By akgoemans on 8/24/09 8:02am
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A few weeks ago, I listed anime that was inspired by Western themes or stories. Someone commented about a few noteworthy series that were missing from this list. And so, I decided to look around and put together a more expansive list of anime that were derived from Western stories. Given the number of interesting series that I found, I decided to extend this list and include series that were derived from a number of famous as well as little known stories.

And thus, here is the list of Western-themed anime series aimed at little children.

Heidi, the Girl of the Alps


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Cute Kids Playing Some Ping Pong

By becksta on 8/21/09 9:38pm
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Two little kids play their older counterparts for a friendly game of ping pong....friendly that is, until one of them almost starts to cry. Must be an old Japanese mantra...."If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

 

Japanese Robot Dribbles Ball

By akgoemans on 8/17/09 8:44am
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If I ever saw a life-size robot display this much dexterity, I am pretty sure I would run for the hills. Of course, that would be a useless maneuver given its quick reflexes.



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Fancy Murals from Japan

By akgoemans on 8/10/09 6:01am
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NapoleonNapoleonOccupations that demand strenuous effort and planning always appear at odds with the somewhat more delicate fine arts. Well, this is one of those instances when both fields join hands. I'm referring to the rice paddy murals in Japan. It is an intricate artwork created using plants and stretching out to an impressive 2,500 sq. meters.



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Glimpse of the lifesize Gundam Statue

By akgoemans on 8/4/09 3:06am
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Lifesize GundamLifesize GundamJapan is quite proud of her cultural heritage and nowhere else is this more evident than in its treatment of the anime genre. And can you blame them? A number of Japanese anime have adding that extra tingle of happiness to geek culture all over the world. Well, here is one more instance where Japan celebrates her contribution to the genre – with the creation of a giant Gundam statute!

Photo Source: switchstyle via Flickr



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Robot Bride

By Anonymous on 7/29/09 3:24am
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Robot BrideRobot Bride

I knew she looked familiar – it's HRP-4C from a few months ago. Remember her? She strutted her cogs and curves at her unveiling at the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science? If I didn't know any better I would say that the petite robot has seen a bit of the world and is all ready to take the next big step – get married!

Or something to that effect. She's not quite ready but seems like someone has made the perfect wedding dress for her. The moment in question is, strangely enough, her moment of fame at the catwalk where she sauntered down the path in a designer wedding dress. The dress itself was designed by Yumi Katsura who must be quite proud of such a crossover. After all, she is playing a part in the gradual introduction of robots into our everyday life.



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