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Channel 5 Documentary Seeks Single Male Anime Fans

Date: 2015 May 26 12:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Fandom

It's unusual to ask our readers this! Are you a UK based single male anime fan, looking for romance? A production company making a documentary for Channel 5 are looking for eligible bachelors who are interested on going out on a date for the documentary with another anime fan. The lady in question is an anime fan and loves attending conventions.

So if you're looking to find a like minded individual, a bit of romance, while on TV, now's your chance!

NEO Magazine Is 10 Years Old

Date: 2014 November 07 16:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

Ten years ago a new UK anime and manga magazine appeared on the scene. Ten years later that magazine is still going strong. Neo Magazine are celebrating this with the launch of issue 130 which is on sale now. They've got a lot of prizes to give away this month too.

10 years ago we posted about NEO Magazine's launch, and more recently their 100th issue.

Record numbers at MCM London Comic Con as attendance tops 110,000

Date: 2014 October 29 15:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Last weekend was all about the MCM London Comic Con, which ran from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th October 2014. The good folks running the event have just sent us details of the attendance, with over 110,000 people visiting. This is up from over 101,000 people in May 2014 and 88,000 in October 2013.

To take the increasing numbers into account the show as 12,000 square metres bigger than in May 2014.

The next MCM London Comic Con is scheduled for Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th May 2015.

Hyper Japan Event Reminder - July 2014

Date: 2014 July 24 17:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of Japan looking for something to do this weekend will want to head over to Earl's Court for Hyper Japan. The Japanese Culture event is set to run in London from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July 2014. As we've mentioned before, there's lots to see and do this weekend.

Souce: Hyper Japan

Babymetal make UK debut at Sonisphere

Date: 2014 April 08 14:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

UK based fans of kawaii metal group Babymetal will be pleased to hear that they'll be making their UK debut at Sonisphere. The metal festival is set to run from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th July 2014 at Knebworth Park. Headline acts at Sonisphere include The Prodigy, Iron Maiden and Metallica. Babymetal will be playing at the Bohemia tent on the Sunday.

The Wind Rises Review

Date: 2014 March 05 03:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

While Hayao Miyazaki's latest offering The Wind Rises awaits it's special UK preview on Wednesday 23rd April 2014, it is currently being shown in the US and Australia. We were lucky enough to catch a screening in English recently.

Here's our review of the film.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Animax Launches in the UK

Date: 2013 October 25 17:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The first day of the MCM London Comic Con has just ended, we know people are partying into the night, but we're stopping to tell you the latest news from the event.

A new UK streaming / video on demand service has just launched Animax UK. The division of Sony are showing anime on a model similar to BBC iPlayer. The shows are simulcast for everyone to watch for free for 2 weeks. After that they go into the archive where paid subscribers can access the shows. Subscriptions cost £5.99 a month, and will also remove ads from any shows.

Depending on how much anime you watch a month, this could be a good way of catching up with titles without paying for a boxset.

What makes them a bit different, is apart from offering simulcasts they also have movies for paid subscribers, and also offer viewers the choice to watch shows dubbed in English where available, or in Japanese with English subtitles.

If you're going to the MCM London Comic Con this weekend (Friday 25th to Sunday 27th October 2013), you should pop over to their stall for a chance to win a big Sony TV.

It seems along with other legal streaming services Wakanim.co.uk and Crunchyroll, there are lots of ways to watch anime on-line now.

London's Japan Centre to close it's doors this September

Date: 2013 September 12 15:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Retail

London's well known Japanese shop Japan Centre has just announced that they'll be closing their doors on Sunday 22nd September 2013. Currently their store is just around the corner from Piccadilly Circus. The new location and opening details will be announced soon.

The shop has been popular with fans of everything Japanese for years, as it stocks Japanese food, books and current magazines. In the meantime they'll still sell everything via their website until the new location is revealed.

Update: The Japan Centre will reopen at 19 Shaftesbury Avenue in October 2013.

On location at Fosse Farm - Alice Cartalet's house from Kinmoza

Date: 2013 July 07 08:19 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Features

For most otaku it would be a dream come true to be contacted by an anime studio wanting to use their home as a location in a new anime series. For Caron Cooper, it is just the latest unlikely chapter in her incredible life story.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Johnnys' World: Top of the J-Pops

Date: 2013 January 25 15:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

J-Pop fans who can access NHK World will want to tune in for Johnnys' World: Top of the J-Pops.

The documentary focuses on Johnny Kitagawa of talent agency Johnny's Entertainment. The talent agency represents Tsuyoshi Domoto of Kinki Kids and Hey! Say! Jump!.

It'll be broadcast on NHK World on:
Saturday 26th January 2013 - 23:10 (UTC)
Sunday 27th January 2013 - 3:10/ 7:10/ 11:10/ 15:10/ 19:10 (UTC)

NHK World broadcasts content in English and is free to access. It's available in many countries.

In the UK if you have Sky you can access NHK World on Channel 507. If you've got FreeSat you can access it on channel 209.

Failing that, you can also watch the show on-line on the NHK Website, JIB TV, or on the NHK World App on iOS Devices (iPhone, iPad, etc) and Android Devices.

Souce: NHK World

Bunkasai - Japanese Festival London Sunday 11th March 2012 Reminder

Date: 2012 March 10 15:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

A quick reminder for those in London tomorrow (Sunday 11th March 2012), please don't forget about the Charity Event - Bunkasai Japanese Festival. We've got all the details here. The event is to raise money for Aid For Japan.

Souce: Bunkasai

Bunkasai - Japanese Festival London Sunday 11th March 2012

Date: 2012 February 06 17:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based readers looking for some Japanese culture should head over to the Bunkasai - Japanese Festival on Sunday 11th March 2012. The event is set to run from 9:30am to 4:30pm at the Park Crescent Conference Centre. The event is to support the charity Aid for Japan, which aids survivors of the March 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami. The Bunkasai will run on the first year anniversary

Cultural highlights at the Bunkasai include the Tea Ceremony, Engeki play, Traditional Japanese dance, martial arts demonstration, Taiko drumming, and cosplay.

Advance tickets are now on sale.

Interview with Kaz

Date: 2012 January 10 22:57 | Posted By: Eeeper

Category > Anime

Audio interview with Kazé UK representative Andrew Partridge where we talk about Kazé UK's origins, their plans for blu ray anime releases, Anime On Demand and more.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Bandai US and UK shuts down DVD/BD/Manga production

Date: 2012 January 05 13:34 | Posted By: Eeeper

Category > Retail

The US anime releasing division of Bandai has announced that from February they will cease publication of both new anime titles and manga titles. The company’s UK and French sister divisions have also released similar statements.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Japan Underground to Organise Free Asian Cinema All-Dayer

Date: 2011 August 24 22:16 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of Japanese cinema will want to keep Saturday 3rd September 2011 free for the Free Asian Cinema All-Dayer at Bloomsbury Lanes, Bedford Way, Tavistock Square, WC1H 9EU. It's organised by the good folks behind Japan Underground to raise awareness and support for the independent Asian film companies that lost their stock when the Sony DADC centre was burnt down in the England riots on 8 August.

Third Window Films and Terracotta Distribution are confirmed for the screenings.

Japan Underground have also sent us details about Unshin a Japanese pop/rock band based in the UK who'll launch their debut album at Japan Underground. This is event is scheduled to run 7pm-3am Bloomsbury Lanes, Bedford Way, Tavistock Square, WC1H 9EU after the Free Asian Cinema screenings.

Spirit of Hope Charity Anthology for Japan and New Zealand Disaster Victims

Date: 2011 June 05 16:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

The Comic Book Alliance have sent us details about their latest project Spirit of Hope. The comic anthology has been created to raise money for the the Japan and New Zealand disaster victims.

Aid for Japan - London - 15th May 2011

Date: 2011 April 29 13:56 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

We've been sent details about Aid for Japan an up coming charity event in London on Sunday 15th May 2011. It's to raise funds for the victims of the recent earthquake.

It'll be at -
Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square
London
WC1R 4RL

Nearest Tube station is Holborn.

They'll be holding a selection of workshops focusing on Japanese culture, including the Tea Ceremony, performances a Kimono Fashion show, a cosplay show, along with with a Shibuya and Harajuku fashion show. There'll be a manga drawing workshop too.

Japanese food and drink will also be available for attendees to buy on the day.

Souce: Aid for Japan

Heart Japan Charity Event - 20th April 2011

Date: 2011 April 09 18:10 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of Japan looking to have fun and raise money for charity should keep Wednesday 20th April 2011 free for Heart Japan. The event is set to run from 6:30pm until 11pm at Vibe Bar on Brick Lane.

It's to raise money for the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Fund.

There'll be live bands, DJs playing the best Japanese music, plus a chance to win some original artwork by Bryan Lee O'Malley the creator of Scott Pilgrim in their charity auction.

Wagamama sold to private equity firm

Date: 2011 March 26 13:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

Japanese style noodle bar chain Wagamama has been bought by private equity firm Duke Street from Lion Capital for £215 million.

London's City AM reports that Lion capital have owned the chain since 2005 and more than doubled it's UK presence. The sale was planned since August last year. Lion were hoping to get £250 million for the sale.

Impressively the London branches of Wagamama have been known to turn over 12 sittings a day.

Souce: City AM

We Love Japan - Tohoku Earthquake Relief Concert

Date: 2011 March 25 18:29 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Saturday 2nd April 2011 is when you should head to London for the We Love Japan Tohoku Earthquake Relief Concert. It'll be held at The Relentless Garage from 7pm. They'll have a wide selection of live music, comedy and karaoke, plus some of the most promising London-based Japanese musicians.

Tickets are £10 if booked in advance on-line or £12 on the door.

All proceeds from the evening will go to the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund.

BBC apologises for Japanese atomic bomb jokes on QI

Date: 2011 January 23 13:06 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

BBC News are covering a story about jokes made on popular panel quiz QI not going down well with Japanese viewers.

"Panellists made light of the experience of Tsutomu Yamaguchi who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb in World War II and the Nagasaki one three days later."

Japanese viewers complained to the Japanese Embassy in London.

"The BBC said it was sorry for any offence caused and would be replying shortly to a letter received from the Japanese embassy in London."

This story has also been covered internationally, receiving a lot of attention in Japan too.

Souce: BBC News

Multi-National Manga Anti-Piracy Coalition Formed

Date: 2010 June 08 16:47 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Multi-National Manga Anti-Piracy Coalition Formed

We've received some very interesting details from VIZ Media about the formation of a Multi-National Manga Anti-Piracy Coalition.It seems that the industry has grown tired of Scanlations - manga scanned into a digital format and distributed without the copyright holders consent. The coalition include the 36 members of Japan's Digital Comic Association, Square Enix, VIZ Media, TOKYOPOP and Yen Press.

Originally scanlations were manga translated by fans into their native language from Japanese. This can be seen as the manga equivalent of anime fansubs. Some scanlation sites branched out to scans of manga that was already official translated and licensed outside of Japan.

This has cost the manga publishing industry significant amounts of money, not just in lost book sales, but lost opportunities in the relatively new market of eBooks and mobile devices.

The coalition intend to target scanlation sites and aggregators of scanlation sites. They've drawn up a list of 30 sites to targeted for action. First they will ask the sites to cease distributing scanlations. If the sites fail to cease distributing further action will be taken depending on the jurisdiction of each site. Actions include legal injunctions against the sites, reporting the sites to governmental anti-piracy units of law enforcement, including the US Justice Department, local law enforcement agencies and the FBI.

Fans curious about piracy in the anime and manga industry should read the Pirate Anime FAQ.

This is not the first time the anime and manga industry has attempted to stop piracy in the industry, but this is the biggest and most coordinated international effort so far. With many companies in the industry forced to make cut backs, closing down offices, laying off staff, we wonder if this is the start of a new approach? Will more companies pursue legal options? Are fansubbers next?

Jonathan Ross to leave the BBC

Date: 2010 January 07 21:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

Jonathan Ross has announced he's going to leave the BBC. It's all over the entertainment section of the news, celebrity gossip news so why is it on Otaku News too? Well we're curious as to what he's going to do next.

Caitlin Moran TV Critic for The Times has made an interesting speculation -
"What most people don't seem to realise is that the documentaries he did on Japanese films, anime and cultish subjects were absolutely fantastic and I imagine he might want to go and do more of that."

London Gets Shibuya Style Crossing

Date: 2009 November 02 05:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

BBC News have an interesting article about a new crossing on Oxford Street in London.

The London shopping district now has a crossing inspired by the X style walk way. The most famous of which can be seen at Shibuya in Tokyo and is frequently filmed in documentaries that feature Japan.

The opening ceremony sounds like a lot of fun -
"In homage to its Far Eastern inspiration, the mayor will strike a two-metre high cymbal as Japanese musicians play taiko drums."

They even got cosplayers involved too -

"A giant X, in the form of 60m (196ft) of red ribbon will then be unfurled by devotees of cult Japanese Manga characters dressed in colourful costumes."

The London Mayor said the crossing was "a triumph for British engineering, Japanese innovation and good old fashioned common sense".

Oxford Street is frequently very busy with more than 200 million visitors a year and ideas like this help ease congestion at the bottle neck area of the tube station.

The BBC News Website has photos of the event you can even see a few cosplayers there too. ^_^

Update We've been sent some great photos of the opening ceremony.

Japan wins top country at Wanderlust awards

Date: 2009 March 23 16:43 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Travel Magazine Wanderlust have just announced their annual travel awards. Japan won top country.

Wanderlust readers were:
"... mesmerised by its man-made attractions: Tokyo's 'fluorescent skyscapes', its indoor rollercoasters, hi-tech loos and hotels boasting 'unbelievable levels of service and comfort'."

Readers also were moved by the "country’s ancient culture and underlying serenity".

The article reads like everything an otaku already knows about Japan. ^_^

Souce: Wanderlust

Could Manga Inspire A Murder?

Date: 2008 October 24 18:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Sky News are running an article about the possibility that manga could inspire murder, and how it frustrates anime fans. It cites the current case of Meredith Kercher, a 21 year old student who was stabbed to death in Italy in a house she shared with other students. It mentions that the prosecution of the case are highlighting that Raffaele Sollecito (one of the accused) was acting out a "dark fantasy", inspired by his manga collection. BBC News have more coverage of the same story.

London Anime Club to Close Doors

Date: 2008 October 10 15:57 | Posted By: Spike

Category > Current Affairs

No, unfortunately not a cruel April Fools joke, David "Dragon" Cotterill has announced that there will be no further regular meetings of the London Anime Club. Although rumours of quarterly or possible anniversary meeting abound, nothing concrete has been set and there are no entries in the event schedule after the meeting on December 7th, which can probably be considered the last one.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

British Theme for Fuji Rock Festival 2008

Date: 2008 July 27 16:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

BBC News have an interesting article about this years Fuji Rock Festival, which has a British theme, to celebrate 150 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Japan.

With Union Flags flying everywhere, the article states that many are wearing British themed outfits.
"British acts including The Courteeners, Hard-Fi, Primal Scream and headliners Underworld shared the main stage with Japanese performers on Saturday."

The article also highlights that the Fuji Rock Festival was inspired by Glastonbury.
"We call it the Fuji experience. It is like Glastonbury, but has been perfected in that Japanese way," says the festival's international organiser, Johnnie Fingers (also known as the founding member of The Boomtown Rats).

Souce: BBC News

New Non Photographic Law is a bit vague

Date: 2008 May 29 18:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

Some anime and manga fans in the UK might have heard about the new proposals which would ban obscene images of children. The proposals mainly cover drawings and computer-generated images, however due to certain parts of the proposals being a bit vague, it's not exactly certain what images are classed as obscene. The mainstream press are keen to wrongly cite manga as one such example.

Akira gets bad press

Date: 2008 January 21 22:06 | Posted By: Voxie

Category > Current Affairs

A Sun article on the case regarding Meredith Kercher's death last November points out that suspect Raffaele Sollecito has the words "AKIRAFUGA" as his computer's password.

"The court was told the password for his computer is AKIRAFUGA. Akira is a character in violent sado-masochistic Manga comics.

Fuga is Italian for flee. One Akira story relates how the 'hero' ran after trying to rape students.

Sollecito was remanded in custody. "

I think some further analagy is needed on the term "akira" here...

More Nova News

Date: 2007 November 23 12:39 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

Following on from the stories about Japan's English Language School Nova being bankrupt, The Times, are running a story by a Nova employee about the situation, even if you're not interested in Nova, but are considering teaching English in Japan it's worth reading, as it gives insight into what to expect when teaching English to a broad array of Japanese people as Oliver Clarke explains - "... no topic seemed taboo as I was frequently regaled with tales of extra-marital office affairs, bowel movements and alcohol-induced vomiting, despite my best efforts to steer the conversations towards shopping or pets..."

The article ends explaining that Nova employees are still waiting to find out what the situation is, as Japanese staff haven't been paid since July, and 4,000 non-Japanese instructors have not been paid since October.

Souce: The Times

It's over for Nova?

Date: 2007 October 26 05:00 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

BBC News are running at story about Nova, Japan's largest chain of foreign language schools. Apparently the company is in financial crisis and has filed for court protection from creditors. 2,000 Japanese staff have not been paid since July and 4,000 non-Japanese instructors have not been paid their October salary, according to union officials. Nova has also closed all of it's schools.

The firm primarily offers English classes, being the largest foreign language school in Japan, Nova were always keen to recruit English speaking graduates eager for adventures in Japan and frequently attend graduate fairs. English Language schools are often used by otaku as a sort of gap year experience, many have extended their stay from just a year to a couple of years, and some even joining the company permanently making their chosen career path. Nova also advertised their lessons heavily in Japan and even had a mascot, the Nova Usagi, a cute pink rabbit who was enthusiastic about learning English.

For our readers who want to go to Japan for a year, we don't think the English language school market has collapsed, Nova lost a court case that had ruled it had misled customers in adverts about it's services, as a result student enrolment dropped, and Nova accumulated huge debts. There are other English language schools in Japan (we wonder if their enrolment has increased instead of Nova's), and failing that there are also a few government schemes for foreign nationals to participate in.

Souce: BBC News

British rural tea-rooms seek geisha girls

Date: 2007 July 12 17:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

BBC News are currently running an interesting story about the quest for geisha in Cumbria. The Lake District is a popular destination with Japanese tourists. So much so that Cumbria Tourism has translated a map of tea-serving places off the beaten track into Japanese and even hosting a Green Tea Day on 19th July 2007. Cafes on the tea trail are advertising for geishas to help with intricacies of the tea ceremony. Experts are also required to help translate the more trickier recipe names like "tarty tarn drizzle" into Japanese.

Fully-trained geisha are rare and apparently would charge up to £7,000 (more than $13,000 USD) to fly across from Japan. So the tourist association is hoping some more local experts can help out. Which is why I'm really posting this story on Otaku News. I know of our readers would be able to help. Any experts when it comes to tea etiquette in Japan should contact Cumbria Tourism. I'm sure a few translators could come in handy too. ^_-

Souce: BBC News

National Office for Vocation use manga to promote vocations

Date: 2007 April 26 17:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

Following on from our story about the Manga Bible, it seems that many religions want to remain accessible to a wider audience, according to the Catholic News Agency manga will be used to promote vocations in the UK.

The article states: "We have chosen the Manga cartoons for the 2007 campaign, because we hope it will appeal to young people under twenty as well as people in their thirties," Fr. Paul Embery, Director of the National Office for Vocation, explained to the Italian Religious Service.

A new website has been launched too - www.calledtoday.com which features artwork in a manga style and tells the stories of various people dedicated to the church.

Souce: Catholic News Agency

Manga events at the Bristol Comics Expo

Date: 2007 April 11 13:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Following on from our earlier story about the Bristol Comics Expo (on 12th and 13th of May 2007), we've got some more details regarding their coverage of manga stuff. They'll have:

- Tokyo Pop
- Sweatdrop Studios
- Selfmadehero
- Yishan Li
- Umisen-Yamasen
- Siku
- Boychild Books
- Ilya
- Misako Rocks

They've bundled everyone together into a Manga Ally too, as always it's good to see Sweatdrop attending these events.

UK MP fears reduction of British children's TV

Date: 2007 March 19 15:30 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

The Guardian are reporting on British Conservative MP John Whittingdale's recent speech at the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers conference. Mr Whittingdale is the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee. He's rather worried about a children's TV and the impact of pulling food advertising from children's TV - "[It will] have a damaging effect on children's broadcasting that will lead to money going out of it, the effect will be fewer children's programmes produced in this country except for the BBC," the main concern he stresses is increase in imported Children's TV - "There will be a growth of the likes of Japanese anime cartoons and American animated content which is something we are concerned about and may need to be addressed as part of challenge of maintaining public service plurality."

So in a nut shell he's worried that there won't be enough British produced children's TV, as ITV has been reducing it's children's output. The Otaku News crew want more TV greats like Danger Mouse. ^_^

Souce: The Guardian

Oriental City under threat?

Date: 2006 November 22 13:33 | Posted By: Azure

Category > Current Affairs

Many readers of this site will be familiar with Oriental City in Colindale, North London (formally known as Yohan Plaza) a purpose built shopping centre which contains in all manner of East Asian shops, restaurants as well as a Sega arcade.

The complex's new owner Development Securities, is planning to redevelop the site, offering current tenants alternative accommodation whilst it does so. Current tenants argue that the development will disrupt the community adding that plans to allow space for a DIY superstore would destroy Oriental City's distinctive feel.

Souce: The Independent

Japanorama Returns

Date: 2006 September 04 03:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > TV

Keen readers of TV guides may have spotted the return of Japanorama, Jonathan Ross' TV show focusing on the more cool and bizarre side of Japanese culture. The previous season was well worth watching, and this latest instalment promises to be just as entertaining and informative.

UK Viewers (with freeview/cable/satellite) can catch Japanorama on BBC Three starting Thursday 7th September at 11pm, this weeks episode Ross explores the meaning of kakoii, Japanese for cool.

Souce: BBC Three

Britain Goes Sodoku Mad

Date: 2006 January 10 15:09 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Freaky Things

Amusingly Crisscross are currently running an article about Britain's current Sodoku Craze, it briefly covers the history of the numbers game and how The Times started the Sodoku wars in the national newspapers.

Souce: Crisscross

Is KyuuCON a Scam?

Date: 2005 August 25 17:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

After posting the press release from KyuuCon yesterday, it's been brought to our attention by various members of UK anime fandom that there is something fishy about KyuuCON. Firstly it appears that the venue mentioned the Plymouth Pavillions has not heard of KyuuCON or the organisers in question. The second major alarm bell is where the payments are going, into a personal bank account and not a building society account/non-profit account in the conventions name.

What's also interesting is their sudden change of heart, and the way they've just moved everything back a year. Plus this thread brought to our attention at the AyaCon Forum. At this current moment in time, based on what we have heard, we believe that KyuuCON is either very poorly organised or a cash grabbing scam, either way, we suggest you avoid KyuuCON for now.

Japanese Lessons offered on Virgin Atlantic Flight

Date: 2005 June 05 05:08 | Posted By: Davie

Category > Current Affairs

According to Japan Today, British Airline Virgin Atlantic will be offering Japanese Language Lessons on its London-to-Tokyo flights. Univerb Publishing House of Sweden developed the course and it will be offered as the airline’s in-flight entertainment system.
"Passengers can learn basic phrases or brush up on fluent conversation," said Katie Marks,
Programming coordinator for Virgin's onboard media, adding that Cantonese and Mandarin will also be added later this year.

Souce: Japan Today

Su Doku Newspaper Wars

Date: 2005 May 10 18:09 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Current Affairs

BBC's Newsnight show, have just run a TV version of this BBC News article about Su Doku. The article basically explains that a news paper war has broken out in the UK over the Japanese number puzzle Su Doku, an addicting game that can be solved using logic, so those with a phobia of mathematics can play! The game is becoming so popular it's actually now a selling point on newspapers front pages. Su Doku can be computer generated, so if you want to play take a look at Sudoku.com.

Souce: BBC News

An Interview With The Reading Agency

Date: 2004 December 07 18:15 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Following our previous news items about the educational value of manga in the UK, that appear in both the Times Education Supplement and the Daily Mail, we've managed to get an interview with the organisation that created the campaign designed to get kids reading using manga - The Reading Agency.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Mail On Sunday Portray Manga In A Bad Light

Date: 2004 November 21 21:08 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Following on from our report about The Educational Value of Manga In The UK, British News Paper The Mail On Sunday have just written an article about the topic titled "Child murder, incest and rape... is this really how our schools should be encouraging boys to read?", this is in stark contrast to previous articles we have reported on in other publications that portray anime and manga in a more positive light. When dealing with the Daily Mail and Mail Sunday our readers outside of the UK should note an Ian Hislop quote where he says that to the Daily Mail even Yoghurt is scary (I can't find the exact quote right now).

Educational Value of Manga In The UK

Date: 2004 November 16 18:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

The Times Education Supplement (a Times newspaper for teachers and people working in the education sector) are running a story about the educational value of manga, interestingly enough they make the same common misconceptions about manga - "Mangas depict wide-eyed heroes, often in varying states of undress". The Reading Agency, an organisation that promotes literacy, is encouraging schools to buy Manga comics, it seems they want to get as many children to get into reading by introducing them to manga. They've compiled a list of 150 recommended Manga titles, deemed suitable for teenagers and are sending them to all libraries and schools. The Otaku News crew imagine that this will help TokyoPop UK's already very healthy sales figures! ^_-

Souce: TES

New Eurostar Rail Link To Use Bullet Trains

Date: 2004 October 27 18:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Technology

The BBC are reporting that the new Eurostar rail link will be using trains built by Japanese bullet train manufacturer Hitachi. The new trains due to roll out in 2009 will run at 140mph, 46mph slower than the fastest Japanese bullet trains currently in Japan. The Otaku News crew hope that they don't get delayed by leaves on the line like conventional trains in the UK.

Souce: BBC

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