Jessica Chavez is a 29 year-old localization specialist who has a love of Japanese culture and gaming, a penchant for the sarcastic/absurd, and an unholy love of bacon. She has worked at XSEED Games for nearly three years as an editor and is primarily responsible for inserting crude and shocking witticisms into unsuspecting treasure chest messages. She has been lead editor on several projects of questionable humor such asHalf-Minute Hero, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony and Rune Factory: Frontier, has labored with great justice on works such as Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces and Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon, and has slaved mightily over the text-heavy monster that is Ivy the Kiwi?. Most recently she tackled The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky during a nine month stint where she was chained to her home desktop and allowed neither sunlight nor the joy of human company. Her current mental state is considered ‘extra crispy’.

Geek Woman: We have some things in common, I also have an unhealthy love for crude and shocking witticisms, and *sigh* bacon. How important do you think it is to use language ‘for adults’ in games ‘for adults’?

Jessica Chavez: Pig-candy IS such a lovely compliment to sardonic statements. ^_-

As for using adult language in games, I think it’s paramount actually. While I do localize with an aim to convey the original intent of the game, which can mean simpler language for younger titles, I don’t like removing or simplifying intelligent games just to appeal to a wider market. If by “adult language” you’re also touching on swearing, I think there are times for it and plenty of times where a well-turned phrase works even better than a crude expletive.

They told me that you were chained to a laptop for nine months, so that must mean you are a writer?

Nine months of having one’s face melt off from the screen glare doing rewrites, terminology checks, and basic clean up certainly qualifies me for editor (or masochist), but aside from the “Treasure Chest” messages it was all translated text. While I’d love to do more purely creative writing, “localization” calls more for working over other people’s text much like one would hammer an aged steak into tender jelly.

Do you find it difficult that so much of gaming is censored because “Oh, the children might hear.”?

Hmm… Sometimes it’s better to use less frequent swears in order to meet certain ESRB criteria (an area of some flexibility when localizing text), but I actually feel that gaming, at least our genre anyway, holds its own pretty well without kid-ifying the language. I’m not aware of any real censorship, at least not in our games. I mean, we’re more than happy to throw around an errant (but emphatic!) “fuck” where it suits, as well as moderate sprinklings of “bastard,” “bollocks” and “skin-chandeliers.”

For those who might not know, what does a localizer do?

Localizers are a kind of human sieve. In XSEED’s case this works like a set of bright-eyed, fleshy colanders that you dump a Japanese game into and get a native English version dripping out the bottom. An easy way to imagine it would be as such:

Niche Japanese Game Name
Translator
Editor (Me!)
QA (Quality Assurance)
ESRB/Master Submission

So basically, localizers of Japanese video games take Japanese products, like The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky for example, and make it palatable for the gaming/RPG enthusiast in the states. We try to render it as close to the original as we can, but in our native language.

How hard is it to localize language for games?

Some games are easier than others to localize because of the setting or theme. Usually fantasy RPG-type games are easier than very Japanese-esque titles to localize because gaming fantasy themes between Japan and the states carry over somewhat. Wizards, magic, etc, are all things that are very clear on both sides of the ocean. There’s no need for a lot of rewrites to help the audience understand the material or characters.

On the flip-side, a title like the Persona series from Atlus probably takes quite a bit effort to localize because of its very Japanese setting. Localizers on a game like this would have a lot of work trying to make sure that the audience understands what’s going on in the game without sacrificing the very things that make it Japanese. Choices like whether or not to use or remove the honorifics –san, -sama, -chan, etc, in the text or whether or not to rename products that are famous in Japan but have no meaning here are just a few of the tough decisions the localizers would have to make.

Is it true that a lot of content lost in translation?

Only if the localizers aren’t doing their job right. Some things will always be lost in translation, but the job of a localizer is to make sure that as much of the original ‘meaning’ or ‘intent’ of the game shines through. The jokes or some details might change, but the game should, at the end, be representative of the game you started with.

Are you bilingual?

Somewhat. I lived in Japan for three years, and I know enough Japanese to carry on conversations, do day to day stuff and insult people with some verve, but I’m not truly bilingual. I know just enough to make me dangerous, I guess. I’m by far the worst in the office, but I can still catch mistakes in the Japanese text while I’m editing, so they haven’t fired me yet.

Do you find it easier to understand spoken language over written language?

DEFINITELY. My sense of Japanese is very nebulous. I’ll understand about 30% of a gaming meeting clearly, catch a few key words here and there, and then using a bit of common sense, I’ll be able to piece together what everyone is talking about. I can even catch the jokes at times because I can ‘feel’ the flow of the conversation. The written language, sadly, affords me no facial or intangible mood clues to help me out.

What did you do on The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky?

On The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky I was lead editor, which basically means that I was the conductor of a very small orchestra. This game was so large (~1.5 million characters a.k.a. kanji or symbols) that it called for the work of three separate translators, help from two of my other coworkers, and the moral support of an overfed house cat. When translations would come through for the various chapters of the game (these were divided into .csv files for translation/editing) I would go over each and every line (cell) in the game to make sure that A) it made sense, B) it wasn’t a fiesta of typos and run-on sentences, C) it had consistent terminology, and D) it had a single ‘voice’. Working with three different translators, all with very different writing styles, makes it imperative that a single person line things up so that it doesn’t feel like a patchwork game. I also make it my job to add a bit a textual mischief where possible.
Aside from my main job as text overlord, I also had other less exciting chores that will make my job sound way less glamorous and probably bore everyone to death. One of them involved a microwave. And maybe a staple gun.

The film introduces us to a Japanese game show named “Happy Family Plan” which sees fathers participate in challenges, like memorising breeds of dogs or playing musical instruments in order to win prizes for their family.

Here we meet Fujio. He lost his job in the 1990s economic downturn in Japan, and relocates his wife and kids to to his father-in-law’s home in Yokohama. His wife, Yuko, opens her own business and the kids settle in to their new lives, which leaves Fujio to try and figure out what to do with himself.

Yuko and Fujio’s son secretly enters the family as contestants on the “Happy Family Plan” show. Having lost money in a failed business venture, Fujio agrees to take up the challenge – he needs to learn how to play Home Sweet Home’ on the piano and play it on live TV in 7 days time. That shouldn’t be too hard. If only he had played piano before!

The 2-disc DVD release not only showcases the film, but also has educational material included in the extras:

• Japanese Language Resource Kit – with fun video lessons and games.
• Expert commentary on Japanese society – featuring interviews with academics on Japanese social issues portrayed in the film.
• Interview with Director Tsutomu Abe
• Theatrical Trailer
• 8-Page booklet with more information about the film.

THE HAPPY FAMILY PLAN is now available from your local retailers or from Madman’s website for $29.95AUD.

You can find out more about the film and grab yourself some extra goodies (including language learning worksheets, interactive games and discussion boards) from the films website – happyfamilyplan.com.

Also, if you would like to find out more about the Japan Foundation in Sydney, you can visit them online or make a trip to their gallery and library that is open to the public, free of charge. You can find them located at Shop 23, Level 1 Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney.

KIRENJI GIRLS COMBAT SCHOOL is available as of the 9th of February, and is a live-action film. Here’s a rundown of the film:

Kirenji is so definitely NOT your typical Japanese girls’ school. For example, while the word “hot” might describe an attractive girl at other places of higher education, at Kirenji it’s more likely to mean “hot blooded,” “hot tempered” and “ready for red hot action” (as in physical combat, that is)! So when 17 year old Maki enrolls, thinking she’s the baddest bad girl of them all, she quickly learns the hard way that at Kirenji she’ll have to punch her way to the top of the pulchritudinous power pyramid… and it’s just too bad that the equally intimidating Natsumu is standing in her path!

The film is Unrated (but contains Violence, Adult Situations, and Nudity), has Japanese audio with English Subtitles, and costs $19.98US.

If you’re interested in buying it, you can buy it online here at our RightStuf store!

This time we have vampires, ghosts, crime drama and teenage angst awaiting us. I won’t hold back – so what’s in store?

VIZ Signature releases include:

Children of the sea, Vol. 1 (available now) and Vol. 2 (available December 15, pictured – top right)

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $14.99 US / $17.50 CAN each

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish. CHILDREN OF THE SEA is a surreal and riveting aquatic adventure from Daisuke Igarashi. Igarashi was given the Award of Excellence by the Japan Cartoonists Association in 2009.

GOGO Monster

Rated ‘T’ For Teens – $27.99 US / $36.00 CAN

Third grader Yuki Tachibana lives in two worlds. In one world, he is a loner ridiculed by his classmates and reprimanded by his teachers for telling stories of supernatural beings that only he can see. In the other world, the supernatural beings vie for power with malevolent spirits who bring chaos into the school, the students’ lives, and even nature itself.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!, Vols. 1-2

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $12.99 US / $16.00 CAN each

A poignant 2-volume collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence. Volume 2 continues to explore similar themes including the cruelty of childhood, the delusion of adulthood, the endurance of death and how people find a way to remain resolute and laugh in the face of reality.

SHONEN SUNDAY, SHONEN JUMP, SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED and SHONEN JUMP FICTON goodies include:

RIN-NE, Vol. 1

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

RIN-NE is the brand new series from celebrated manga creator Rumiko Takahashi (INUYASHA). As a child Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma’s home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura’s has been empty since the start of the school year, then one day her always-absent classmate shows up, and he’s far more than what he seems!

INUYASHA (VIZBIG), Vol. 1

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens – $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN

Rumiko Takahashi’s epic manga adventure INUYASHA is given an omnibus VIZBIG treatment that combines the first three volumes of the smash hit series. Pulled back in time to Japan’s ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome’s previous incarnation as the woman who killed him – and to the Shikon Jewel, or “Jewel of Four Souls,” which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone’s nightmares are given the power they need to come true.

YU-GI-OH! r, Vol. 1 (available now) and Vol. 2 (available December 1)

Rated ‘T’ for Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

YU-GI-OH! R is the shocking sequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist and the prequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World. When the follower of an old enemy returns to take revenge, Yugi Mutou must duel to save a friend’s life. But can he overcome the power of the three “Jashin,” the terrifying Evil God Cards? Bonus trading card in the first print run.

TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE, Vol. 1

Rated ‘T’ for Teens – $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN

In a land of perpetual night, your heart is your light. In this imaginative steampunk adventure, Amberground is locked in darkness. A man-made star casts only a dim light over the land. The pitch-black wilderness is infested with Gaichuu—colossal insects with metal exoskeletons. The Gaichuu make travel between the cities of Amberground extremely dangerous. But thankfully the Letter Bees, a brave corps of messengers, risk their lives in order to keep the hearts of Amberground connected.

ROSARIO+VAMPIRE, Vol. 10

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

All around teenager Tsukune can’t get accepted to any high school, save one… but on his first day, he finds the rest of the rest of the student body doesn’t appear average in the least. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can’t wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec’ – are those her teeth around his neck too? Tsukune’s going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster Hugh! But does he have a chance in hell of raising his grades at a school where turf war isn’t between jocks and nerds, but between vampires and werewolves?

DEATH NOTE: L change the WorLd Novel

$19.99 US / $24.00 CAN

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” (Kenichi Matsuyama) spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case, L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to. The DEATH NOTE novel features the same format as the original Japanese printing with a hardcover and clear acetate jacket with metallic ink.

Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media:

“We’re offering up the best of the best just in time for the holidays,” says Gonzalo. “There are new series from manga heavyweights like Taiyo Matsumoto with GOGO Monster, and Rumiko Takahashi with her newest creation, RIN-NE and many more. For new and familiar fans alike, or perhaps for ones who simply love good stories with exquisite art, any of these titles will make an especially unique gift to fit almost any budget this year.”

If you need more information on any of these items, make a visit to www.Viz.com.

BUY

Oshi, the game of influence, is a board game with a very nice feel to it. It has a simple layout and a straightforward style of gameplay. The main point is to use your pieces to push your opponents pieces off the board. This is pretty nice because for those that know a little bit of Japanese would know that Oshi means “push”.

The board is a wooden square divided up into a grid. On each side, there are small markers on the board itself that shows players that haven’t played before where their pieces are supposed to go. The pieces are designed to have a set number of levels. The smallest piece has one layer and can move one square in any direction. The two level pieces can move two squares in any direction, and, of course, the three layer pieces can move three squares in any direction. By any direction, that means forward, back, left, or right. The trick is that a piece can only move in one direction per turn.

Another thing about the pieces is how they can push each other. A one-layer piece can push one other piece. Two layer pieces can move up to two, and, of course, three layer pieces can move up to three other pieces. The pushed pieces can be your own to get your key pieces out of danger or multiple pieces of your opponent’s to try and get a big score. Score is the important part of this game; you need 7 points to win the game. Again, one layer pieces are worth one point and so on.

The game is actually pretty simple to play, like I described above. It is a strategy game that does require some thinking. It’s no where near as complex as Go or even chess, but it can be a little more difficult than checkers. It has potential to become a classic kid’s game, while still being something older kids and even teenagers and adults would enjoy.

My own experience with this game was unwrapping it and playing with a few of my friends. We’re all in college and supposedly smart and most of us enjoy doing logic puzzles, yet we managed to find enough challenge in this simple yet addicting board game while playing against each other to play game after game for a couple hours. We managed to find some of the best ways to get out of situations that appeared a lot, like learning when it was a good idea to move our own pieces or even sacrificing a piece of ours for the sake of taking more points from the other player.

For puzzle game fans, this is a definite buy. You can find it in most online stores for $19-$30, which makes it a good price for such an addicting board game.

Review product was provided by Starlit Citadel, and does not affect the outcome of this review.

I not only had the pleasure to check out the new VIZ Cinema in San Francisco’s New People complex, I got to see the world premier of 20th Century Boys 3. The New People complex is located in Japan Town, right across from the plaza with the peace pagoda. The building itself is amazing. It has stores like Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, a clothing store, and a bookstore.

For those of you that don’t know, 20th Century Boys is a trilogy of movies based on the popular manga of the same title. If you haven’t read the books or seen the other movies, then don’t fear! Neither had I. One of the great things about the third movie is there is a 10-minute introduction that is mainly a summary of the prior two films.

This movie is the conclusion of the trilogy. Now I don’t want to give away too much, but some big things are discovered, like the real identity of Tomodachi. There are a few things like background on characters and locations that are a little confusing, but it’s still a really good movie. Some things seemed really ridiculous because, well, there are some subtle differences in humor and the like that are different in Japanese films than they are in American-made movies.

If you get a chance, definitely find this and the other two and watch them. They are in Japanese, but there are subtitles. The manga is also available to read and enjoy.

Release Date: 20/05/2009
Languages: ENGLISH, JAPANESE
Genre: Action/Adventure, Anime, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Subtitles: ENGLISH subtitles
Number of Discs: 4
Runtime: 650.0 mins
Format: DVD, Region 4 (PAL)
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Original Aspect Ratio

Buy it from RightStuf

Buy it from Amazon

Fushigi Yugi introduces us to 15 year old Miaka Yuki and her best friend Yui Hongo. They are Japanese middle school students who are trying to prepare themselves for entrance exams to enter the same high school together.

One afternoon, Yui has to return a book to the National Library. Much to the surprise of her friend, Miaka volunteers to go with her. While Yui is handing in her book, Miaka has a bit of a look at the vending machines. Just as she pulls out a coin to buy something, a gush of wind rushes past her and a red light is seen going up a flight of stairs.

Miaka follows the light to a reference room and finds a book written in Chinese. Yui finds her, and (as she is studying Chinese and getting good grades) reads the book aloud for Miaka’s sake. They have come across a book titled “The Universe of the Four Gods” which divulges the tale of “The Priestess of Suzaku” and informs them that whoever reads the story to the end receives a wish just like the Priestess does. As they begin the tale, they are drawn into the book by the red light. They find themselves in a desert-like environment, and discovered by a couple of vicious looking men who want to capture the girls for slave-trading.

As Miaka starts to fight them off, a young man comes to their aid and renders the slave-traders unwilling to re-attempt their capture. The girls are grateful to the young man, and while he appears happy to help he is more interested in payment by coin. Miaka tries to search for some as the young man walks off. Yui tries to follow him, but as she does the red light appears again and takes her back to the room in the library. Miaka is still stuck in the story and assumes that Yui has followed the young man to the nearest village, so she heads there in search of them both.

Eventually, Miaka finds someone who says they know the person she is looking for and will take her right to him, unaware that she has been tricked into following someone who is part of a group of men that takes advantage of girls. Luckily the young man who who saved her earlier had overheard other townspeople mention her, and he arrives to save Miaka just in time.

Both of them manage to get themselves arrested and taken to the dungeons of the local palace. Rumours of the arrest make their way to the Emperor, and somehow Miaka and her new friend Tamahome escape. They get lost in the grounds, getting separated in the process. A beautiful young man is sitting in the courtyard as Miaka rushes past, looking for an escape route. He calls out to her and tells her where the nearest exit is. No sooner does she make a motion in that direction, then the guards show up with Tamahome in custody. They go to arrest her as well but the beautiful young man orders them to release the pair. Turns out that pretty boy is the Emperor!

They are informed that there is a legend of the empire’s guardian Suzaku (a bird) where the Priestess of Suzaku will one day appear and would be known by her strange clothing (might I add that the story seems to be set in a certain ancient period in China’s history, and Miaka is wearing her school uniform!). She is to gather the 7 Suzaku warriors, and once that is completed they can summon the guardian Suzaku who will save the empire of Konan.

The Emperor, whose name is Hotohori, believes that Miaka is the priestess. She obliges, and luckily she has already found 2 of the Suzaku 7. The warriors are distinguished by red glowing Chinese characters found on their bodies. Tamahome has one on his forehead, while Hotohori has one on his neck.

It isn’t long before the 3^rd is also found within the grounds of the palace, although at first you could be forgiven for mistaking him as a woman. Nariko walks, talks and dresses like a girl – and is even a member of the Emperor’s harem. He tries to make Miaka jealous by fawning over Tamahome (whom Miaka has begun to develop feelings for) and has everyone fooled until one day where Nariko gives Miaka a hug. The other 2 find out not long after that.

Miaka and the 3 Suzaku warriors must seek out the remaining 4 and that means a road trip of sorts (and where we find out about Nariko).Of course, it’s not all smooth going and they come across various challenges along the way – the biggest one being to return Miaka to her own world when she becomes ill.

This sees Miaka return home, and Yui (who continued to read the book in Miaka’s absence) goes back into the world of the book. The only problem is Yui ends up in the territory of Konan’s enemy Kutou, and suffers some traumatic events for 3 months of that worlds time. In their own world this is only a few hours.

Realising Yui is possibly in danger when she isn’t anywhere to be found, Miaka gathers some personal belongings (and food too, because it is another one of her weaknesses) and heads back to the library. She had informed her older brother Keisuke of the book on her return home. While he is in doubt of her story, he follows her into the library and watches he disappear into the book.

He continues to read the story in place of Yui, and we find out that Yui is under the impression Miaka knew what was happening to her and didn’t care. She also revealed that she was also in love with Tamahome, although he does not reciprocate much to her disappointment. Jealous and feeling betrayed, Yui decides to take the role of Kutou’s guardian priestess, The Priestess of Seiryu.

With the entire Suzaku 7 to gather, a friend to save and a heart (as well as an epic battle) to win, how will Miaka manage that and passing her exams?

Of course, there are special features to accompany these adventures:

• Interview with Yuu Watase – Written interview with the original creator of the manga from which the anime is derived.
• Interview with director Hajime Kamegaki – Short written interview with the director of the anime series.
• Textless versions of the opening and closing themes
• Trailers for other Madman anime releases

“Fushigi Yugi” is now one of my absolute favourites, and it struck me that the reason could be because of the various similarities I could see between it and my all-time favourite “SailorMoon”.

If you like adventures, courage, magic, love and comedy then you will find it in this series for sure. It might not be one for the boys, but this has certainly become one series I am sure to watch again and again!

Images: (c) 1995 YUU WATASE / SHOGAKUKAN ･ PIERROT

Due to some leaks on the internet, Square Enix has just confirmed that December 17 is the Japanese release date for Final Fantasy XIII.

The date was supposed to be announced tomorrow at an event in Tokyo, but Square Enix decided to confirm the rumors.

They’ve also released a new online ad that you can see here:
advert 1

[source via finalfantasy-xiii

Release Date: 06/05/2009
Audio tracks: Dolby 5.1, Dolby 2.0
Languages: Japanese
Genre: Comedy
Subtitles: English subtitles
Runtime: 116.0 mins

Most of us have some sort of idea of what is involved in becoming a Geisha – whether it’s thanks to the infamous book by Arthur Golden, or movies that aren’t completely clued in.

The story behind “Maiko Haaaan!!!” has us following Kimihiko Onizuka (played by Sadawo Abe) who is an employee for a noodle company in Tokyo. When he was still in school, his class took a trip to Kyoto. When they were given free-time, he got himself lost in the Geisha district. Crying and confused, a Maiko (an apprentice Geisha) stopped to help him by giving him directions to the train station. This experience sparked his love for Maiko.

From then on he’d been obsessed with Maiko – he even created his own website dedicated to posting pictures of Maiko. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s dating his girlfriend Fujiko (played by Kou Shibasaki) under the presumption she’s from Kyoto because she speaks that dialect. Like I said – obsessed!

All of a sudden, Kimihiko is being transferred to the Kyoto factory of his noodle company. He packs his things and has a fight with Fujiko (where it’s revealed she’s not from Kyoto) and breaks up with her. He thinks he’s all set to fulfil his dreams of visiting Geisha houses and playing strip baseball with them – but there are rules, and the big one standing in the way is “No First-timers Allowed”.

Thinking he’s lucked out, he sits back at his company office looking through his computer at the photos of his beloved Maiko. Then he notices a picture of a man whom he recognises as the owner of the noodle company. Kimihiko now decides on going to the owner for help in getting into the Geisha houses. Eventually the owner relents, saying that for him to introduce Kimihiko into the Geisha circuit he must first come up with an idea to generate record sales for the company.

He comes up with an idea that is wildly successful – and thus it gets him into the world of Geisha. Then he meets his internet rival face-to-face (who has been annoying Kimihiko with his know-it-all attitude towards Maiko, and trolling Kimihiko’s Maiko site) who turns out to be a high-profile baseball player named Kiichiro Naito (played by Shinichi Tsutsumi). This ignites Kimihiko’s obsession further by sparking new money-making ideas, as he has learned that for him to out-do Kiichiro he must have a lot of money to do so.

Meanwhile, Fujiko still cannot get over her separation from Kimihiko. As the saying goes, “if you can’t beat them, join them” and that is what she does – she goes to Kyoto and joins a Geisha house to train as a Maiko!

Will Kimihiko finally beat Kiichiro? Can Fujiko really be a Maiko and win Kimihiko back? I won’t tell you that, but what I will tell you is that you should watch this movie!

Special features? Don’t mind if I do!:

• Making of “Maiko Haaaan!!!” – Behind the scenes look of the making of the movie, as well as premiere days and interviews.
• Theatrical Trailer – Japanese trailer for the movie.
• Stills gallery – 15 stills from the movie.
• Trailers for other Eastern Eye releases.

“Maiko Haaaan!!!” had me laughing a lot and drooling over beautiful kimonos throughout the whole film. It is a bit vulgar for younger audiences and does contain a moment or two where some colourful language is used, so it’s mainly for more adult audiences. Apart from that, if you are drawn to Japan and love the Geisha theme then by all means watch it!

(c) 2007 Maiko Haaaan!!! Film Partners

US Readers: You can purchase a copy from our Rightstuf store, or visit our Amazon store instead.

Hello Kitty exhibit

We’ve almost seen Hello Kitty on everything. The red bow wearing kitty has become a style icon and a favorite at many here at GamingAngels. This year is her 35th Anniversary and just one of the celebrations is the “Three Apples” exhibition that will celebrate all things Hello Kitty and feature collaborations from many top Comic-con artists and exhibitors.

“Three Apples” will take place from October 23 to November 15 at Royal/T (www.royal-t.org) in Culver City, CA. We’ve covered Royal/T here at GA before. It’s the Japanese-inspired art space that also has a maid cafe.

For this event, there will be works of art, Hello Kitty shaped food and ability to purchase limited edition products made just for this event.

You know I’ll be going. So leave me a message if you want to do a GamingAngels trip to the exhibit!