10 Things We've Learned From " BAKUMAN "

Bakuman .. the story of two aspiring mangaka (manga creators), Akito Takagi and Moritaka Mashiro, who team up to try and make it in the professional world of manga. And after an incredible run, the series has come to an end. Never before have readers been given such an in-depth look at the inner workings of the manga industry. Let’s look at what 10 things we've learned about being a mangaka from Bakuman.

1. Being a Manga-ka Can Be Harmful to Your Health ..

The long hours and high stress can certainly take its toll on your body. As Moritaka’s uncle proved when he literally worked himself to death. And later on, Moritaka himself winds up in the hospital from overdoing it. Being a mangaka is not for the faint of heart !!

2. It's a Tough Field to Make It ..

If you want to be professional mangaka, you have to be 100% committed, because your chances of success are low. In fact, according to Moritaka in the first volume, one in a hundred thousand people can become successful mangaka.

3. Being a Mangaka’s a Great Way to Get Girls ..

This probably never happens in real life, but in Bakuman both characters have relationships with beautiful women that connect to their manga. Moritaka has promised to marry aspiring voice actress Miho as soon as he gets an anime, and she becomes the lead voice actress in it. Akito’s girlfriend actually supports him (when she’s not beating him up) and helps both team members with their dream.

4. Being a Mangaka’s a Terrible Way to Get Girls ..

That is if you’re trying to use your manga skills to get girls to date you! Things go awry really fast, when mangaka Takuro Nakai tries to use his drawing skills to manipulate mangaka Ko Aoki into dating him. Don’t try this at home guys ...

5. Trust Your Editor. (Most of the Time!) ..

Your editor knows best and his neck is on the line too if your work doesn't succeed! But sometimes an imperfect match can result in tough times for everyone, like when team Muto Ashirogi are teamed up with editor Goro Miura who tries to make them create a gag manga, despite the fact that they’re not suited to it.

6. Defeat Can Make You Stronger ..

Being a mangaka is full of ups and downs, and team Muto Ashirogi certainly have their share. From failed manga to rejections, they feel the harsh sting of defeat multiple times. But every time they get beat down, they learn a new lesson and come back stronger! Each title refines their skills lifting them higher and higher through the ranks of Weekly Shonen Jump.

7. Being a Mangaka’s Really Tough on Your Social Life.. (Except with Other Mangaka) ..

Ever notice Moritaka and Akito have almost no friends outside of other mangaka? Who has time to go bowling when you have to meet deadlines? All the parties and events Moritaka and Akito go to revolve around people from the manga industry. Being a mangaka requires a lot of time and intense dedication!

8. Having Rivals Is Very Important ..

Team Muto Ashirogi’s rival is the genius Eiji Nizuma, creator of the popular series Crow.  Though Eiji is a tough rival, he is extremely important to their success. Team Muto Ashirogi’s determination to beat Eiji is inspiration to work hard and create their best manga. At the same time Eiji strives for success, because he’s determined not to lose. The mutual respect between these rivals motivates both of them to become better mangaka!

9. Fight For What You Believe In ..

A huge part of Muto Ashirogi’s success comes from the fact that they stand up for what they believe in. Although when they butt heads with their editors, they don’t always win. But if they truly believe something is worth fighting for, they’ll give it all they got. Passion is the secret to success!

10. If You Don't Try, You'll Never Succeed ..

While not everyone succeeds as a mangaka, some do. But the first step is trying! If you never try, you’ll never succeed! If Akito never convinced Moritaka to try and create manga, nothing would have happened. The second step—stick with it! Despite team Muto Ashirogi’s many missteps and setbacks, they keep going, even when the path to success isn't clear. And that’s what ultimately what makes the difference.

Although, Bakuman is a fictional manga, there are many lessons to be learned. Essentially team Muto Ashirogi’s success boils down to the three main principles of all Shonen Jump manga.

1. Friendship: The strength of their friendship pulls them through hard times.

2. Effort :  Akito and Moritaka nearly kill themselves making manga. They put everything they've got and then some into their dream.

3. Victory : Not to give away the ending, but team Muto Ashirogi’s determination pays off by having multiple series serialized. You can not succeed in life without hard work!

If you dream of making manga some day, remember the lessons learned in Bakuman! And no matter what—never give up on your dream! Keep drawing !!

i hope that u like it ...

" мὄʀყ " 

Japanese Rock Gardens

Konichiwa minna ≧'◡'≦

our topic for today is about zen gardens or rock gardens..

Karesansui, meaning dry landscape in Japanese, are usually referred to as rock 

gardens and sometimes as Zen gardens. Japanese rock gardens may contain rocks, gravel, trees, and plants; sometimes changing with the seaons. They are planned and sculpted to enhance the experience they create. The structure of a garden is determined by the architecture is around it. Buildings, terraces, verrandas, and other structures may be represented by structures in the garden. The Buddhist concepts of yin and yang are often used to balance aspects of the garden. In recent years rock gardens have become popular with people around the world as great ways to use small spaces for aesthetic and spiritual appeal. 

One of the most well-known Japanese rock gardens is located in northwestern Kyoto, Japan at the Ryoan-ji Temple (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon). The Ryoan-ji garden is thirty meter in length and ten meters wide. No trees are included and only fifteen rocks, some of which are covered with moss. These rocks are arranged in white raked sand. The way the fifteen rocks are arranged is such that only fourteen of them can be seen at one time from any given angle. No single designer is credited with designing the garden. Although, many people believe that it was deigned by Soami and Daisen-in. This is contradicted by the actual records of the garden and even an inscription on the back of one of the stones. The inscription includes the names Hikojiro and Kotaro. It is thought that these could have been the workers who actually constructed the garden physically.

The Ryoan-ji garden

The Ryoan-ji received UNESCO designation as being a World Heritage site in 1994. The temple has a very long history, but it is thought that the acclaimed rock garden was built in the sixteenth century. All of the various elements of the Japanese rock garden is meant to symbolize something. The sand or gravel is a symbol of the ocean. The rocks are meant to symbolize islands in the ocean and also a mother tiger swimming with her cubs to be with a dragon. The rocks also form a part of what is known as a kanji that is used for the mind and heart. It has also been said that the subliminal image of a tree is created in the viewer's mind by looking at how the rocks in the garden are laid. This is actually seen in the spaces between the actual rocks and is what projects the feeling of calm and serenity into the mind of the viewer.

Although the Japanese traditions do not specifically support these speculations, it is hard for anyone to deny that the rock garden is a great place to practice quiet meditation.

i hope that u like it ..

see u soon my friends ≧◠◡◠≦✌

ɱΘરϓ ..

Soba Noodle Salad Recipe

moshi moshi minna \ (•◡•) /

Soba noodles are a very popular lunch food in Japan.  They are usually served chilled with a dipping sauce (Zaru Soba) or hot with a dashi broth.. 

Soba Noodle Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4

Ingredients

• 9 oz. (250g) dried Soba noodles
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 stalk celery
• 1 red bell pepper
• 3 scallions (thinly sliced)
• 1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame
• 
  
Dressing
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar (60ml)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp canola oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1-2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

** Boil plenty of water and cook soba noodles according to the package. Drain and immediately cool under running water. Drain well .

**  Cut carrot, celery, and red bell pepper 3 inch long and cut lengthwise into thin sticks. Boil frozen shelled edamame until soft and cool under running water.

**  In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients of dressing well. Toss the vegetables, sesame seeds, and noodles with the dressing.

yummiiiiiii (≧◡≦)

seems cool.. i wish that i can try it  (╥﹏╥)

i hope u liked it 

see u soon 

ɱΘરϓ

Otaku Culture

moshi moshi minna ~ (‐＾▽＾‐）

our topic for today is about what is otaku culture means & who is the otaku's ..

what does otaku mean ?

Otaku is a term that was derived from the Japanese word that refers to another house or another family. It can also be used as a second-person pronoun that depicts some level of honor.

However, in modern Japanese slang otaku refers to a fan or an individual who is specialized in a particular topic, theme or hobby such as anime otaku, manga otaku, pasokon otaku and many others.

Internationally, otaku is used in specifically referring to any type of geek, however, it could also refer to anime fans or manga fans. The term otaku is also associated to those who are obsessed with Japan as well as its culture.

When we say otaku culture today, though, the Akihabara district in Tokyo, Japan usually comes to mind. This is the center of otaku culture that includes manga, anime, along with "mild cafes". Here are a couple of the most recent developments that have taken place in this district which continues to spread the otaku culture out into the rest of the world.

Akihabara was previously known to be dominated by wholesalers, but after World War II, the black market thrived, particularly those shops that handled electrical components. It was from these shops that Akihabara transformed into a hub for household and electronic appliances. It is now known as a place where individuals who have a passion for electronics can be found en mass, including computer geeks, radio operators and audiophiles, as they are certain to find whatever they’re looking for.

Akihabara

However, recently, there have been a lot of other shops which have arisen that cater to the needs of otaku. These shops would include those outlets which handle anime character merchandise and manga fan fiction. Aside from these, there are also maid cafes all over the district, where the waitresses are in maid costumes similar to the ones that are featured in manga. This further cemented the reputation of the Akihabara district for quirky pop culture. The district has subsequently been identified as the hub for otaku culture, a culture which has already spread from Tokyo to many other areas throughout the world.

There are also numerous themed cafes which flourish in Akihabara. These are similar to the maid cafes, but allow and encourage visitors to enjoy kosupure or costume play just like the waitresses in maid costumes. The waitresses even address customers as "master". For an extra fee, customers could even have the maid/waitress sing them a song. There are other shops as well that allow role-playing like this which enable otaku to have the ability to imitate the manga and anime characters that they adore.

so thats the end of the topic ..

i hope u liked it  ≥^.^≤

see you later 

ɱΘરϓ

Summer: Japan’s Ghost Season

If you happen to be a ghost hunter and you’re in Japan for the summer, there’s no need to worry about job security. Summer is Japan’s ghost season, and the month of August is when it peaks.

August is the month of the traditional Buddhist Obon festival. During this time, ancestral spirits return home for their annual visit from the netherworld to dance and celebrate, and families reunite in their hometowns to greet them and join in on the festivities.

But dancing with the ghost of great great grandma isn’t the only way the Japanese celebrate the season of spirits. Blood-curdling flicks flood the cinemas, Kabuki theaters revive traditional ghost plays, adrenaline-junkie teenagers test their courage with late-night trips to the local cemetery (I double-dog dare you!), and you can’t turn on the TV without catching a rerun of “The Haunting of Hanako-chan’s Toilet.”

Even though it’s still 2 months from Halloween, the ghost season has already started in Japan, and with so much paranormal activity going on, you’ve got to be ready. In this article, I’m gong to layout the basics of Japanese ghosts so you can be prepared for your next encounter with a supernatural (and possibly vengeful) spirit.

Ghosts Back in the Day

Kodama are harmless spirits who inhabit trees.

The word for ghost in Japanese, yuurei（幽霊), roughly translates into “dim spirit” or “faint soul.” It’s believed that stories of the supernatural were commonly shared in Japan even before documentation. The country is inundated with spine-chilling tales.

According to Haruo Suwa, a professor at Gakushiun Univeristy, the first recorded ghost stories date back to the Heian Period in the early eighth century. One of the first documented spirits appeared in the tenth century novel, “The Tale of Genji.” At this time, yuurei were considered to be harmless spirits. In fact, some believed that seeing one was a sign of good fortune (“Yes! I saw a wondering corpse! Today’s gonna be a good day.”)

While many Western religions believe in the existence of one, supreme deity, the ancient Japanese believed in omnipresent divinity. This included the idea that humans can transform into supernatural beings after death. So, while Western ghosts may be thought of as the shadow of one’s self, yuurei were believed to be like gods.

The humanoid form of a Kodama – a godlike spirit.

However, as the religious beliefs of Japan began to change, so did the ideas around the status of the human soul after death. With the spread of Buddhism, yuurei slowly became the manifestations of vengeful souls.

The introduction of the concepts of heaven and hell, supernatural beasts, and reincarnation in Buddhism completely changed the face of the Japanese yuurei. Rumors of apparitions became more and more exaggerated and prevalent, inspiring a ghost story renaissance.

According to the Japanese beliefs of this era, every human possesses a reikon, or a soul. After a person dies, their soul goes through a form of purgatory where it waits to be released to its ancestors by means of a traditional Buddhist funeral ceremony. If all goes right, the person’s soul becomes a loving protector of the living family.

However, if the person dies in an sudden, unnatural manner, whether it be by suicide or murder, or if the proper burial ceremony is not preformed, the person is said to transform into a yuurei – a being which has the power to bridge the supernatural world and the physical world. A person may also become a yuurei if they are weighed down by overwhelming negative emotions such as hate, sorrow, or vengeance in their life, and that’s when things start to get scary.

While most yuurei don’t wander around, terrorizing every pet and small child in sight, they will haunt locations specifically tied to their negative emotions. In fact, there are several classifications of yuurei based upon the way they died and their reason for returning to Earth. They are:

Onryō: Vengeful ghosts who were wrong during their lifetimes and come back from purgatory for some pay back.

Ubume: The ghost of a mother who died in childbirth, or died leaving her children behind. Instead of bringing wrath, this yuurei brings sweets and longs to take care of her children.

Goryō: Ghosts of the aristocratic class, especially those who were martyred. Goryō are also mainly interested in vengeance.

Funayūrei: The ghosts of those who died at sea. These ghosts are said to have a scaly complexion – some might even resemble mermaids. Is the Little Mermaid a ghost? Must be.

Zashiki-warashi: The ghosts of children. These guys are often more mischievous than dangerous (like Peeves from Harry Potter).

Samurai Ghosts: The ghosts of soldiers who fell in battle, especially the Genpei war. Unlike most other yuurei, these ghosts usually have legs and are almost exclusively shown in Noh theater.

Seductress Ghosts: The ghost of a vengeful man or woman who comes back to start a post-death love affair with a human (as seen in Botan Dōrō).

One of the most famous ghost stories, or kaidan, in Japanese history is known as Yotsuya Kaidan. In this tale of revenge, a husband poisons his wife, Oiwa, out of longing to marry an affluent neighbor. Oiwa’s hair falls out, her face becomes disfigured, and she eventually dies, but not without coming back for revenge on her unsuspecting husband.

This eerie tale has been revived countless times in the theater and has become a timeless classic. Thanks to the magical powers of YouTube, you can watch the entire play here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AnI0b_nb6kA

Now that you know the different kinds of yuurei, let’s take a look at how to identify them.

How to Identify a Yuurei

The Japanese tradition of telling ghost stories hit its peak in the Edo era (1600-1868). Many ghost stories came from the Bunka-Bunsei period in the early 19th century, an era of creative decadence, as it became a traditional way to pass the hours on hot summer nights.

It was during this period that the image of a typical Japanese ghost was really solidified. Ghost-revelers and those in the arts alike started attributing certain physical characteristics to spirits, making it easier to distinguish humans from those of the next world. If you’re in a situation where you need to identify a ghost, look out for these features:

White clothing

Ghosts usually are depicted in white – a symbol of the white kimonos used in Edo era burial practices. White also happens to be the color of ritual purity in Shinto and was reserved for priests and the dead. Japanese ghosts might also have a white, triangular piece of fabric on their heads called a hitaikakushi.

Black hair

This is one of the most obvious trademarks of a Japanese ghost. A yuurei’s hair is usually long, black and disheveled. Traditionally Japanese women grew their hair out long and wore it up, but it was let down for a funeral ritual. Even in modern times ghosts are said to have this type of hair, and sometimes it even attacks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3lEZaICmtzI

Hands and Feet

Another feature of yuurei is that they have no feet. Instead of walking, they drift about supernaturally, arms extended and wrists limp (almost like a zombie). This image was first depict in Edo era Ukiyo-e prints and later adopted in kabuki theater. Actors would either wear long kimonos or be lifted into the air by a system of pulleys. I shouldn’t have to say this, but if someone is coming toward you in the dead of night and you notice they are lacking the appendages to do so with, you should be very skeptical.

Hitodama

Yuurei  are often shown with a pair of floating flames or will o’ the wisps (hitodama) in colors such as blue, green, or purple. These flames look like little ghost friends, but 
they are actually separate parts of the spirit.

Ghosts in Modern Day

Although the concept of ghosts took a major turn with the introduction of Buddhism in Japan hundreds of years ago, most aspects of traditional ghost stories have stood the test of time. Even the ghost in “The Ring” looks like an accurate depiction of a traditional Japanese ghost.

Even so, the motivation for haunting and the appearance of ghosts has changed slightly at times as new issues have arisen with globalization and modernization. During World War II rumors of ghost soldiers could be heard about, and terrifying tales of radiated souls roaming the land weren’t uncommon.

These days ghost stories are often motivated by contemporary problems, such as violent incidents of suicide and murder in Japan. Another common theme is technology, as can be seen in “The Ring.” In general, ghosts have become more violent. The general rule of thumb these days is: the bloodier, the better. If buckets of blood aren’t involved, ghosts just aren’t scary it seems. More violence! Below is an example of a ghost story about suicide – a very real problem in contemporary Japan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zfUBBD1jvg8

In short, ghosts keep getting scarier and scarier, and I don’t know about you, but that means I want them around less and less. This calls for an exorcism lesson.

Exorcism 101

So you’re in Japan and Hanako-chan won’t leave you alone in the toilet – what are you going to do? Call the Ghost Busters? I don’t think they fly internationally. Whip out the good ‘ol holy water and crucifix? Sorry, that doesn’t work in Japan.

Traditionally, the best way to keep a ghost at bay is with ofuda, or strips inscribed with Buddhist sutras, which are believed to chase evil spirits away. There are also some Shinto shrines that can perform purification rituals called ofurai  that have the power to rid you of any bad omens.

the end 

i hope that u liked the topic ≥^.^≤

see u later ..

ɱΘરϓ