Free Sunday Japanese Cinema! Destroy All Monsters! The Cinema of Ishiro Honda...

Ishiro Honda was the guy, depending on who you talk to, that destroyed Japanese cinema or made Japanese cinema world famous...

I think he helped make Japanese cinema crappy, but then again, when I was a kid, I liked Mothra and Godzilla movies (the early ones that Ishiro Honda directed). I remember watching the classic, "Destroy all Monsters" and being terrified at the scary woman who wanted to take over the earth! 


I also recognize that without Ishiro Honda, Japanese pop culture most probably wouldn't be what it is today. 

No matter what you think - good or bad - I do believe that there is an evolutionary line between Honda's work and, say, today's more fantastic Japanese anime or even Hatsune Miku. Honda was definitely influential on Japanese pop culture.

A book about Honda came out a while back celebrating his life and works. The book is called "Mushrooms Clouds and Mushroom Men - The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda."

The press release reads: 

For the first time in America, a book has been published on Japan's foremost director of Fantasy Films: MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN – The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda.

Known primarily for directing such classic Japanese monster movies as Rodan, Mothra, Attack of the Mushroom People and the original Godzilla, Honda has been a much-overlooked figure in mainstream international cinema.

MUSHROOM CLOUDS AND MUSHROOM MEN is the first book to cover in English print Honda’s life as well comprehensively evaluates all 25 of his fantasy films.  It is also gives objective and critical analysis of Honda's filmmaking methods, themes and relationships with actors and technicians.

The book looks like an interesting read if you want to know who to blame, or thank, for today's Japanese "camp" or Anime.


And for your viewing pleasure, here's the trailer from the 1968 "Destroy All Monsters"

DOUBLE CLICK FOR FULL SCREEN!

DOUBLE CLICK FOR FULL SCREEN!

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KEYWORDS: Ishiro Honda, Mike Rogers, Godzilla, Hatsune Miku, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Japanese cinema, Japanese anime, Mothra, Destroy all Monsters, Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men, Peter H. Brothers, Marketing Japan, Japan, Tokyo

Hatsune Miku the Android Rock Star Tours Japan

I've written about Hatsune Miku before here on this very blog; on Lew Rockwell here; and in Japanese here. Hatsune Miku is a sensation in Japan and some of her videos have well over 12 million views on the Internet. Now, she goes on tour!

From Influx:

We've all been noticing the increasing plasticity of pop stars, whether you're thinking of Lady Gaga or Katy Perry, it's hard to deny that a certain infusion of the manufactured is part of the equation for success these days. Well, now Japan's Crypton Future Media has created a literal holographic pop star, Hatsune Miku. Hatsune began as a fictional character in Vocaloid, a voice-synth software that allows users to create songs for fictional characters to sing, but this latest innovation has brought Hatsune to "life" and sent this J-pop avatar on tour to play for live audiences.





Thanks to News on Japan

Japanese Singing Robots and Androids

I wrote about Hatsune Miku on Lew Rockwell a while back and how these sorts of androids or robots were changing the music world and our society. Some people scoffed until I informed them that, for example, a few music videos "by" Hatsune Miku have over 10,000,000 views on Japan's Nico Nico Douga.

Japan’s latest robot monster, a pop-singing robot-diva dubbed the HRP-4C

Now Bloomberg gets in on the action reporting from Pop Fi:

Robots are our future. If the Japanese have taught us anything, it's that one day we'll all be living alongside, working alongside, and possibly sleeping with sentient machines with the power to rend us in twain with the whir of a servomotor and the gush of pneumatic fluid. I'm slowly growing to accept this new reality thanks to Japan's latest robot monster, a pop-singing robot-diva dubbed the HRP-4C, which debuted at CEATAC Japan. 

I think this is pretty creepy (I mean, that people actually like this). You decide. Watch the video:



Forgive me for being crass, but these things remind me of Dutch Wives and I cannot stop thinking that the people who make these things aren't thinking the same thing.

Windows XP Errors put to Music. Great Music!

Some young people in Japan are making the most fantastic music using the most unique new ideas. Here's one from Japan's version of YouTube (called Nico Nico Douga which translates to: "Smile, Smile Moving Picture."

It is a fantastic mix and design of Windows XP Errors put to music. Enjoy!



In Japan, kids are coming up with some of the most amazing computer generated music. Here's one that is sang by the Vocaloid (a singing android) named Hatsune Miku. I wrote about what Hatsune Miku is here.




This one from my friend Lila Cleary

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Keywords: Windows, Windows XP, music, computer music, Vocaloid, Hatsune Miku, Marketing Japan, Mike Rogers, Mike in Tokyo Rogers 

Virtual Dating Getting "Popular"

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Guys in Japan, who don't have real girlfriends, have opted for virtual girlfriends and are now flocking to famous beaches in Japan on dates and to take photos with those virtual girlfriends at famous landmarks. Now that s bizarre!

Virtual girlfriends? Talk about a cheap date!

Does this guy's virtual girlfriend know he's walking around 

on the beach taking photos with another guy? 

I'm not making this up.

The article states:

If you visited the Japanese hot springs resort of Atami recently and spotted a disproportionate number of men gazing longingly at their smartphones, it probably wasn't because they were playing Angry Birds. This summer, the beach town became a vacation hub for guys who like to treat their girlfriends to sun-and-fun holidays. Girlfriends, that is, who only exist on-screen.

And yes, there are such men, particularly those enthralled with Konami's Love Plus, a popular dating sim for Nintendo DS that also comes as an augmented-reality application for iPhones. Players of the game know that to keep their virtual gals happy, they'd best spend quality time with them, throw them birthday parties, take them on dates, and yes, shell out yen for beach getaways. After all, at $84, a return fare from Tokyo to Atami on the Shinkansen bullet train ain't cheap (fortunately virtual girlfriends travel free).

Can you believe that? Your girlfriend is merely virtual but you still have to keep her happy by taking her places? As Homer Simpson would say, "Oh Marge! Why do we have to go out? We just wind up coming back home anyway!"


I think this virtual girlfriend business is just another place where Second Life and cyber-space is encroaching on the real world. I wrote about how an android named "Hatsune Miku" was revolutionizing the music industry here. That is another wild story.


But, besides the bizarreness, it is a sad state of affairs when guys are so lonely that they take up on virtual girlfriends and "going places" with those girls.


I wonder what those guy's real parents will think when the guy's introduce them to their virtual girlfriend's virtual parent's?

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015133-1.html#ixzz0yQAQ0s1E


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Keywords: Marketing Japan, virtual, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, virtual dating, Second Life, cyber-space, Hatsune Miku, Mike Rogers

Japanese Translation Hatsune Miku Article on Lew Rockwell

If you are interested in Hatsune Miku  or studying Japanese. Here is a translation into Japanese of the original English article I wrote about Hatsune Miku that appeared on LRC. As well as a link to that article.

Both are spaced and paragraphed accordingly (for your study convenience). 


Too see original English article, go here: http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/rogers240.html


音楽とは生命の響きである

文化はいくつもの要素が重なりあって作られている。そこには芸術と愛情と人の想いがある。この数百年、人々を隷属状態から解放するために、文化は大きな役割を果たしてきた。…アンドレ・マルロー

一般に、人は新しい体験を好むもので、いつでも「何か次の大物」の紹介を待ちわびている。ジャンルは何でもよい。映画か、新しいレストランか、俳優か、ミュージシャンか。しかし今日ここで紹介するものは、多くの人─特に音楽ファンを自認する人─の気分を害する可能性がある。実際のところ、ある種の人々にとって、今日の記事は突拍子もない驚きとして受け止められるだろう。

ある種の人々とは、要するにすべての大人である。そこに10代の若者は含まれない。彼らはむしろ熱狂している。

どういうことかって？　なぜなら、今から紹介する人物のような存在を、あなた方は誰も目にしたことがないだろうから。もしもこの人物に関する計画が実を結んだなら、恐るべき未来が待っているだろう。それは文化と社会に革命を引き起こすものとなる。

エルビス・プレスリーやマイケル・ジャクソンの後継となり、ベートーベンの衣鉢を受け継ぐ、そんな音楽界における次世代のスーパースターは、すでに誕生しているのだ。彼女の存在は我々の認識にまさに革命的な転換をおこしている。音楽とは何か、そして人間とは何か…。あっ、言っておくが、レディ・ガガのことじゃないよん。この彼女がもたらす文化的なインパクトに比べれば、レディ・ガガのような「アーティスト」はおよそ取るに足りない存在だ。

私が、今日紹介したいアーティストは、我々の文化を見事なまでに変えるだろうし、数十年、下手をすると何世紀に至るまで、音楽ビジネスと音楽出版のあり方を変えてしまう。いまから100年が経ったとき、レディー・ガガ、マドンナ、ブリトニー・スピアーズ、果てはビートルズといったアーティストが忘れられるときでも、今日紹介するアーティストおよび彼女の才能はさらに強力になっていることだろう。ハッタリだろうって？ まあ、読んでくれ。

このアーティストは西洋ではあまり知られていないんだが、youtubeの彼女の動画は100万回以上再生されているし、そのいくつかは200万再生超えだ！ レコーディング契約をしたこともない、たった3歳の歌手にとって、これは悪くない数字だ。

いや、むしろ、人間でさえない彼女にとっては、素晴らしすぎる実績である。

初音ミクを紹介しよう。彼女こそが、次世代のスーパースターである。初音ミクは日本人だが、生身の女性ではない。彼女は人ではなくアンドロイドなのだ。あなたの読みは正しい。音楽界の次世代のスーパースターには身体がないのである。

これは将来にも関わってくるし、今日起こっていることでもある。

「初音」には「最初の音」という意味があり、そして「ミク」には「音楽」または「未来」という意味がある。すなわち「初音ミク」の意味は「未来の音楽の最初の音」だ。彼女は「ボーカロイド」と呼ばれる音声シンセサイザーなのだ。実際のところ、いくつかの曲の中で、彼女の声は、空想科学なアカペラと同じぐらい楽器としても使用されている。彼女は、ヤマハが開発した音声合成デバイスである。


つつく。。。


Thanks to Piyomiyo!

Marketing Japan: More Proof that Hatsune Miku is Becoming a World Wide Star!

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

I had one of the best articles that I had written in a very long time published on Lew Rockwell two days ago about Hatsune Miku. Thanks Lew!

From that article:

Move over Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, roll over Beethoven; the next superstar of music has been born and she is going to revolutionize the way we think about music and ourselves… And, no, I am not talking about Lady Gaga. "Artists" like Lady Gaga will pale in comparison to the cultural impact that this lady will bring.

The artist that I wish to introduce today will not only reshape our culture, she is also going to reshape the music business and music publishing for decades to come, perhaps even for centuries.

In one-hundred years from now, when artists like Lady Gaga, Madonna, Britney Spears, even the Beatles are long since forgotten, I suspect today’s artist, or her prodigy, will still be going strong. Big claims? Read on.

Even though this artist is unknown in the west, many of her videos on YouTube have well over a million views. Some over two million! That’s not bad for someone who has no recording contract and is only three years old.

Very well done for someone who is not even human.

Meet Hatsune Miku. She is the next generation of superstar musician. Hatsune Miku is Japanese; but she is not a woman. She is not even a human; Hatsune Miku is an android. You read correctly. The next superstar of music is not of flesh and bones.

Read the entire article here.

Well, it's a case of reverse imports!... I wrote about Hatsune Miku in the United States and now, someone in Japan, on Dempa 2-Channel "Flash UP VIP News", has picked up that article and re-imported it into Japan.

Click here to see blog (in Japanese and in English)

Wow! I'm impressed!

See that blog here: http://bit.ly/9eG4je 


Thanks to my friend Graham Carpenter for the heads up!

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Keywords:

Hatsune Miku, android, Lew Rockwell, Dempa 2-Channel, Mike Rogers, Marketing Japan, Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Marketing Japan: Introducing the Next Rock Superstar: Hatsune Miku - Pre-view Feature on Lew Rockwell

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Introducing the Next Rock Superstar: Hatsune Miku.

I will have another new article on Lew Rockwell (LRC) Monday. The article will be about something that is happening in Japan that has to do with culture and music. It's implications are frightening.

I have the article, links, and videos all ready for your pleasure.

Seriously, be prepared for a shock. Remember the name Hatsune Miku... She is going to turn our world upside down. She is huge in Japan, becoming big in Europe and I hear popular in France already!

People over 30 will probably misunderstand her. People over 50 will hate her. But here's the problem!Teenagers go crazy over her - and it is not a flash in the pan! Some of her videos have more views in Japan than Lady Gaga does... Some are nearing 10 million views!

My Facebook friends and blog followers get to pre-view read the entire article here. This is one of the best pieces I have ever written. Frightening in its implications. Beautiful for today's lonely youth.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO PRE-VIEW ARTICLE ABOUT HATSUNE MIKU.

Lew Rockwell is the spiritual leader of a massive an anti-war, anti-state, pro-business web site that is the most read Libertarian news site in the world. I am most honored to be a columnist there. Lew Rockwell  (www.lewrockwell.com) is one of three sites that I read religiously everyday. You should too.

At LRC, you can get the real news and not some government sponsored propaganda.

LRC podcasts are also a must listen!

Some famous writers at LRC are Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell, Patrick Buchanan, Gary North, Fred Reed and so many other great writers that I just cannot mention them all.

Check out LRC everyday!

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Keywords:
LRC, Mike Rogers, Mike in Tokyo, Lew Rockwell, Gary North, Fred Reed, Ron Paul, Patrick Buchanan, Libertarian

Marketing Japan: The Next King of Music is Born - and She's Japanese

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Move over Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson... And, you too, better roll over Beethoven. The next king of  music has been born and he's not a he, he's a she... And she's not even human.

Meet Hatsune Miku. Hatsune means "first sound" and Miku means "music." She was "born" August 31, 2007. "Hatsune Miku is the next superstar of music. She does everything and is the embodiment of everything that pop music aspires to be...

Hatsune Miku

She can sing, compose music, play all instruments and doesn't need an agent or a manager. She is the ultimate rock star. She is the ultimate Pop Idol. And she doesn't even really exist.

Since she doesn't really exist, her music and songs are all free. There is no copyright for her music.

Today, I went to a meeting at Japan's #1 music TV station, Music On! TV (no, MTV is dead last in this country!) There I met with a man with a vision. His name is Youichi Endo. Endo san introduced me to Hatsune Miku. Now, I'm introducing her to you.

Do you remember in the movie, "Blade-runner"? The girl Rachel? Well, I say, "girl" but was she really a girl or was she an android? Do you remember at the end of the movie thinking, "Wait a minute! Is Rachel human?" I did.

Well, you will think the same thing about Hatsune Miku.

Hatsune Miku sings, and can play, but she doesn't really exist. She is an android. Miku is what is being termed as a Vocaloid. She has a voice synthesizer... In fact, many of the numbers she does feature voices as instrumentation as a sort of Sci-Fi acapella.

Here is what Wikipedia says about "Vocaloid":

Vocaloid is a singing synthesizer application developed by the Yamaha Corporation that enables users to synthesize singing by typing in lyrics and melody. It utilizes Yamaha's Vocaloid synthesizing technology with specially recorded vocals of voice actors or singers.


Hatsune Miku is causing a sensation now in Japan and in Europe, especially France, where her songs have been picked up and are covered by real-life musicians. Some of the most bizarre stuff is on Karaoke in Japan too!

Hatsune Miku "performing" Sebastian Bach "Fugue in G"

The cultural impact of Hatsune Miku cannot be over-stated, folks. This is a real revolution in music. If real humans playing music is considered "Music 1.0". Then remix DJ's sampling music could be considered "Music 2.0." Then, taking the logical progression one step further, then Vocaloid music or Hatsune Miku could be considered "Music 5.0." It is music without rights... Anyone is free to use any track as they see fit. There is no ownership. This music is community owned, so no one person can own it.


This will revolutionize the music industry. Once again, from Wikipedia:


As the recognition and popularity of the software grew, Nico Nico Douga became a place for collaborative content creation. Popular original songs written by a user would generate illustrations, animation in 2D and 3D, and remixes by other users. Other creators would show their unfinished work and ask for ideas. 


(Nico Nico Douga is like a YouTube members only community in Japan).


The impact of Hatsune Miku and soon to be coming "artists" like her will surely change the world as we know it. There will surely be ”musicians" who pooh-pooh what I have written here as nonsense, but mark my words; "Hatsune Miku is a music revolution that is coming very soon."


Hatsune Miku has several videos on YouTube that have over two million views! Not bad for a girl who doesn't even get up in the mornings.


My musician friends... Think about that!


See Wikipedia: Vocaloid


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Keywords:


Yamaha, Mike Rogers, Vocaloid, Hatsune Miku, Japan, YouTube, Nico Nico Douga, Michael Jackson, Beethoven, Marketing Japan, Elvis Presley, Sebastian Bach,