Earlier this year, the first annual  Moehaku 萌え博 2010 show was held at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Tokyo. Moehaku is an exhibition of itasha decorated cars. Itasha is a Japanese term for an otaku fad of decorating cars with  anime, manga, or video games characters.

At Moehaku the car decorations usually involved paint schemes and stickers and while decorated cars  are called itasha, decorated motorcycles are called itansha while decorated bicycles are  itachari.

Besides the cars, there were plenty of games and a large group of cosplayers who attended.

Moehaku 2010 Videos

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Thought its still very hot in Japan, it’s now the end of August which means summer will be ending soon. While you still have the chance, head off with some Japanese friends to the beach to enjoy the sun, surf and fun.

Living in Japan which has so many robots, a dancing robot is no longer a novelty.  Check out some groovin robos from the the 6th ROBO-ONE GATE IN INTERNATIONAL ROBOT EXHIBITION which was held at the Tokyo Big Sight last November.

`LOVE & JOY, Yuhi Kimura` by Doka Harumi (Doka Project).

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Thriller, Michael Jackson` by BLACK TIGER NEO (IKETOMU). The 2nd Place winner

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Kingrass Hoppers` by Manoi GO (MANOI Planning & Dr. GIY),

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`Nichibu Tokotoko Special` by Tokotokomaru (Team Tokotoko),

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A quiet stillness in some parts of Tokyo when the streets are empty after dark.

Learning Japanese?  Know how to say parts of the body?  Here are some basic vocabulary words.

1. Head あたま atama 2. Eye 目 me  3. Forehead ひたい hitai 4. Nose 鼻 hana 5. Chin あご ago 6. Eyebrow まゆげ mayuge 7. Ears 耳 mimi 8. Mouth 口 kuchi 9. Cheeks ほっぺ hoppe 10. Tongue  舌 shita 11. Hair 髪の毛 kami no ke – 12.  Shoulder かた kata 13. Arm うで ude 14. Elbow ひじ hiji 15. Hand 手 te -16. Thumb 親指 oyayubi 17. Chest 胸 mune 18. Stomach おなか onaka 19. Foot あし ashi  20. Eyelash  まつげ 21.  Toe つまさき 22. Underarm わきの下 23. Back 背中 24. Neck 首 25. Finger  指

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source: thejapanesepage.com

Another body parts chart from Nihongroup.

What are these guys playing on their iphones?  Could it be Japan Celebrity poker (or Japan Idol poker)  ジャパンアイドルポーカー?  That iphone app  features photos and some video of some of Japan’s top JAV artists including Maria Ozawa 小澤 マリア, Mihiro みひろ, Honoka 穂花, Risa Coda 倖田梨紗 Ai Takeuchi 竹内あい and Tina Yuzuki (Rio) 柚木ティナ.

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Which av idol do you want to playing 5 card draw with?

Non Japanese people usually sign legal contracts or other important documents in ink, but Japanese traditionally prefer an engraved stamp called a hanko. One concern though, is that the stamped signature, usually the owner’s name, can be easily forged. Mitsubishi Pencil’s Security Enhanced Personalized Hanko stamp ダイヤルバンク印 alleviates the risk of fraud by adding a two-digit dial that creates a series of marks around the printed name, making it difficult for an unauthorized person to copy someone’s stamp. It also wards against theft by requiring a code to be entered before use.

Cost of the stamp is 21,000 Yen.

We all know Tokyo is really crowded but how can you get a clear path on a crowded train platform full of Japanese salarymen?  Answer is be a cute Japanese girl wearing a short skirt

Japanese sumo wrestlers enter the sacred basho.

Day 9 – 2010 March Haru Basho Grand Sumo Tournament

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Rockabilly lives on in Japan. Check out this guy’s rockabilly hairstyle!