The decoration method is called Raden-- putting pieces of mother-of-pearl parts in shells into the surface of lacquer. The case is to be on the U.S. market via the Japanese craft shop Kusuyama, located in San Francisco.
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Crypton Future Media, the Japanese firm producing virtual singer software Hatsune Miku, announced to sell an another singer software named KAITO V3 in the mid February 2013.
]]> Male singer software KAITO adopts Yamaha's VOCALOID 3, a singing voice synthesizer. The first version was released in 2006, and the latest KAITO V3 is able to sing both Japanese and English songs. Three different type of voices-- straight, soft, and whisper-- are added.]]>
Popular vocaloid Hatsune Miku is selected as a character of a computer game titled Super Robot Wars UX. This series is known as a battle game by robot heroes in Japanese anime, such as Mazinger Z or Gundam, against aliens or other attackers. Miku becomes one of the players.
]]> As Miku herself is not a robot, the battle is conducted by Fei Yen HD, a character produced as a collaboration of Miku with another robot battle game.The new Super Robot Wars UX is on sale in March 2013.
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JTB Communications released an iPhone app of tourist map, named HAKONE Instrumentality MAP on Sep. 10 2012.
]]> Hakone is a popular tourist site among foreign visitors in Japan, and also described as a imaginary city called TOKYO-3 in a popular anime Evangelion. This map is all written in English with pictures and travel information.This app is sold at App Store, and it is $3.99.
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Tourists can request maid-costumed guides where to visit in the city, from amusement parks to karaoke shops to game arcades. The fee is 3,000 yen per 30 minutes for male, and 2,000 yen per 30 minutes for female. Several special courses are available depends on the season, such as cherry blossom viewing in spring or festival participation in summer. The special course is 80 minutes, pricing at 7,500 yen.
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Her debut single, titled "Tsukematsukeru" was ranked in seventh place in Japan's Oricon Weekly Chart on Jan. 23 2012. The song was included in her first album, which also has a song titled "PONPONPON" and other 10 songs. As a special feature, a 64-page photo book comes with the limited version of the album.
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Bandai Visual has released a blu-ray version of the popular TV anime, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED on March 23 2012.
]]> This is the first edition of blu-ray box, priced at 18,900 yen while the limited edition is 21,000 yen. The box has three discs, which include the digitally re-mastered 48 stories. The second edition is scheduled to be on sale in June.Gundam SEED was the ninth episode of Gundam series, broadcasted in 2002.
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Tobu Railway and Chichibu Railway have started to sell a ticket designed a popular anime "Raki Suta (Lucky Star)" and "Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (We still don't know the name of the flower we saw that day) on Jan. 21 2012.
]]> While Tobu is selling three different "Raki Suta" tickets, Chichibu is dealing with three "Ano Hana" tickets. It is available until March 31 although it would be an end of selling when it is sold out. Tobu's Kasukabe, Tobu Dobutsukoen and Hanyu stations are selling Raki Suta tickets, and each station has different type of ticket. Chichibu's Hanyu, Yorii and Chichibu station have Ano Hana tickets. ]]>
This anime's original characters, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Hancock, and Ace become the 63.5 millimeter-size figure. Each figure is sold with a piece of gum at 368 yen. The product name is "one piece@be.smile."
Figure is designed that its head part and shoulders are movable. More figures are scheduled to be on sale in spring 2012.
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The group has added the word "Z" to its former name, Momoiro Clover, after one member left on Apr. 10. This book focuses on the seven-day-straight event which started the next day of member's withdrawal. In this event, members were assigned to talk people from e a wide variety of genre, such as comedian Shinya Arino or commentator Dave Specter.
The book is 168 pages, including over 200 pictures. Its price is at 1,470 yen.
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Sanrio is to open its new shop, named CLUB KT shibuya, at Shibuya 109, a popular fashion spot among young generation on Sep. 22 2011.
]]> This shop is designed with club-like atmosphere, and offers teenagers enjoying music, fashion and characters. Not only does it sell 1000 Sanrio character goods, but also it places DJ booth with a large monitor and professionally-used equipments. Hello Kitty is scheduled to play as a DJ irregularly at this booth.]]>
Namco Bandai Games released an automotive navigation system featuring a popular anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam, as an iPhone application on July 29 2011. The product is called Gundam Navi.
]]> Booting this application, mobile suits and characters show up on a screen to navigate the direction where driver wants to go. Users can choose the characters of either Earth Federation or Principality of Zeon to get navigated, and based on the choice, background design and music change.The yearly charge of the application is 3,500 yen.
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Japanese cartoon character merchandise maker Movic is to sell stuffed toys of popular animation, "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" in fall 2011 at Animate and Gamers shops countrywide.
]]> The toy is named Charlotte, characterized as a snack witch, appearing in episode 3 of Madoka Magica TV anime. This reversible toy shows a cute face in one side with a scary face in the other side. It prices at 3,990 yen. ]]>
Popular Japanese girls pop group AKB48, picked for the main character of vegetable juice by Japanese food company Kagome, has been appearing a web-based clock service called "Bijin Tokei" since July 4 2011.
]]> Members of AKB48, characterized as Vegetable Sisters, dressed up with vegetable-like costume. Atsuko Maeda becomes tomato, Yuki Kashiwagi is pumpkin and Tomomi Itano becomes egg plant.Each Member holds a board telling viewers what time it is then in every 3 minutes between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This project lasts until August 3.
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Cybird has started releasing iPhone and Android application featuring four members of AKB 48 on June 10 2011. Atsuko Maeda, a winner of the third AKB 48 election, as well as Yuko Oshima, Rie Kitahara, Rino Sashihara are chosen for apps.
]]> The latest news, official blog contents, information about new products of each four girls can be found through this app at once. Free photo album and movies are also included in it. No charge is required to download an app.]]>