Otaku Crave

TOKYO — If anyone has any doubts about the power of the Internet, look no further than the meteoric rise of American singer Leah Dizon. Born in Las Vegas, Dizon’s modeling activities attracted such a huge following on websites in Japan, South Korea, China and other Asian countries that she knew she had to take on the challenge of working in Japan.

“I always wanted to be a singer, and I loved dancing. It was very natural for me,” said Dizon, 21. “When I was 12, I started listening to J-pop and wanted to come to Japan, but I didn’t speak Japanese. I’d listen to the music and wonder what the words meant. It pulled me in. But I gave up on that dream for awhile. When I graduated, I moved to Hollywood to study acting and do modeling.”

That’s when big things started happening. “I saw modeling as just a part-time job, but it got much bigger than I thought it would because of the Internet. One of my friends searched for my name on Yahoo China and Yahoo Japan and a million hits came up with message boards. I was really surprised. Then my old dream came back about pursuing a career in Japan.”

Dizon started getting modeling offers from agencies in Asia. Instead of accepting them, she decided to make a demo tape of herself singing and sent it to an agency in Japan. “They asked me to make another tape singing with karaoke. Then they wanted to see me dance, so I made another tape. Next they asked me to sing and dance. Finally they said yes. Two weeks later, I was on a plane.”

That was April of 2006. Japan was a challenge at first, Dizon admits. “In the States, I had been independent since I was 18. Then I came to Japan and I was like a baby. I couldn’t read Japanese, I couldn’t order food, so that was a bit of a shock.” She took vocal lessons for an audition and started learning Japanese as her career took off. This year has seen her CD debut “Softly,” TV commercials, a third single “LOVE” and her 1st album “Destiny Line.”

“Sometimes I feel like everything is moving so fast that I have to keep up. When I first arrived, I thought I would study Japanese for 2-3 years and then maybe I’ll accomplish something. It’s a dream come true.” Her first album is an experimental mixture of pop, R&B, hip hop and ballads. “I got a chance to write a lot of the lyrics. My brother helped me to compose one song. I put a lot of myself into this album,” she says.

Despite her growing fame, Dizon tries to live a normal life. “Sometimes it’s hard if I am at the grocery store and people are staring at me,” she admits. Appearances at events and on TV are becoming more frequent as she gets better at Japanese. Her fashion style has changed since her arrival in Japan. “In Las Vegas and California, it is very laid back, T-shirt and jeans. I’d only dress nice if I had a reason. Here, everyone looks nice every day,” she says.

On her days off, Dizon hangs out at Nishi-Azabu, Ginza and Omotesando. “I also like badminton but don’t play it regularly,” she says. Her fan base is growing and her blog gets a lot of messages from fans. She is excited about her first live event at Shibuya O East on Nov 7. “I’m really looking forward to being with my fans. It was their interest in me that brought me to Japan. They helped me get back that old dream. I am a product of my fans.”

Popularity: 15% [?]

Please if this is it make the horror go away.

JAMES WONG HAS DRAGON BALLS

[GOKU] 18 years old, Goku is considered uncool and unpopular at school, but he is in fact an extremely talented martial arts fighter who gets rigorous training from his grandfather, Gohan. After the death of his grandfather by the evil Lord Piccolo, Goku finds his destiny in his grandfather’s dying request that he find Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls (of which he has one) in order to prevent Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the dragonballs to take over the world. Trained by Master Roshi, aided by Bulma and Yamcha, friends he meets along the way, Goku proves himself a formidable, almost undefeatable fighter. On many dangerous adventures to find the remaining Dragon Balls and thus save the world, Goku conquers physical and emotional challenges, ultimately saving the world but clearly impelled to spend his life searching for the Dragon Balls with his trusty companions…LEAD

[BULMA] 20s, female, pretty, with great intelligence behind her gleaming eyes, Bulma is a determined, competitive young woman whose father’s five star Dragon Ball was stolen by Lord Piccolo, and who believes that she can harness their unlimited energy and change the world like Edison or Einstein. Bulma, who has a DBE (a Dragon Ball locator device), teams up with Goku, and with him meets up with Master Roshi and Yamcha as they attempt to collect the missing Dragon Balls before Piccolo can destroy the world. A resourceful and courageous young woman who’s also a weapons expert, she overcomes many obstacles with her colleagues, only to find the seven Dragon Balls ultimately snatched from their grasp–but it’s clear she’s going to continue searching for them with Goku and Yamcha…LEAD

[YAMCHA] 20s, “the bad boy who has no trouble attracting women,” he taunts Goku, Bulma and Master Yoshi, who are trapped in a sand cave, rather than helping them with his rope ladder. However, after overhearing Master Roshi’s tale of Piccolo once nearly destroyed the Earth and are preparing to do so again, Yamcha has a change of heart and not only helps the three in the desert, but becomes a valuable part of the team. An ingenious young man whose utililty truck is the Swiss Army Knife of trucks–every tool and gear imaginable sprouts from its body–Yamcha joins Goku, Bulma (with whom he becomes romantically involved) and Master Yoshi on their quest to find the seven Dragon Balls before Piccolo…LEAD

[MASTER ROSHI] This older man is a good friend of Goku’s grandfather, Gohan, and Goku comes to enlist his help after his grandfather is killed. Although he looks like a beggar, Roshi is one of the world’s most fearsome fighters. Master Roshi begins Goku’s rigorous training to prepare him for the adventure of finding and fighting for the seven Dragon Balls to save the world from Piccolo’s destructive plan. A wise, somewhat wry man who knows as much about human nature as he does about martial arts, Master Roshi is impressed with Goku’s fighting but reminds him of his failings as well. Ultimately, Master Roshi sacrifices his own life in order to destroy Piccolo…LEAD

[MAI] Late 20s, female, her features exotic, sexy but deadly, dressed in gleaming black, with weapons strapped all over her body, she’s a martial arts expert and Lord Piccolo’s chief enforcer. Crafty and quick thinking, Mai uses her ability to shapeshift near the climax of the movie and takes on the form of Chi Chi, a young martial arts expert who’s romantically involved with Goku and later saves Piccolo from Master Roshi’s curse; once she is revealed she ends up in the fight of her life.

[LORD PICCOLO] An ancient being who despite his humanoid appearance, is from an alien race determined to take over the world. Piccolo is the cursed ruler of a demonic race who nearly destroyed Earth 2000 years ago, and with the coming of the eclipse and the possession of all seven Dragon Balls, he’s prepared to free himself and do the job right this time. Crafty and smart, Piccolo has some disturbing news for Goku, namely that the boy is actually a Saiyan who’s destined to join Piccolo as his right hand in destroying and enslaving the planet…LEAD

[CHI CHI] Goku’s lifelong love interest, Chi Chi is an attractive, tom boy-ish young woman who has grown up with Goku. She has studied martial arts and has always suspected that Goku possesses talents that are unusual and extraordinary. After Goku embarks on his journey to redeem his grandfather’s death, Chi Chi meets up with Goku and his crew at a tournament of champions where their mutual attraction finally heats up during a training session.

[GOHAN] Goku’s kindly, wise grandfather, he looks like he’s in his 70s but moves like Jet Li. An accomplished martial artist who trains Goku on the bow staff, he loves his grandson and is happy to prepare a special feast for him on his 18th birthday, as well as a special gift: a 3 star Dragon Ball. Tragically, Gohan is struck down by the high ninjas of the Namek-Jins, and as he dies he sends his grandson out to do face his destiny and do battle against them…

Popularity: 83% [?]

TOKYO — Digital download sales of songs by Hikaru Utada to the end of September have already hit nearly 10.5 million according to EMI Japan, the first artist worldwide to break the 10 million mark in a single year.

Digital downloads, which in Japan are dominated by contents for the mobile phone market, amounted to 10,491,000 from January to September, selling more in nine months than anyone has managed in a year.

The song ‘Beautiful World’ has been downloaded over 800,000 times, boosted by its inclusion in the movie “Evangelion 1.0 You are (not) alone”. The tune is used for the closing credits of the new cinematic version of Hideaki Anno’s anime classic, which has been chosen to close the Pusan International Film Festival after a huge opening in Japan last month.

“We know that “Beautiful World” sales were helped by the release of “Evangelion” because at weekends after young people have been to see the movie, there is a huge rush of downloads,” said Nozomu Kaji from EMI Japan.

“In Japan, almost all of the music downloads are for mobile phones, like most of the 800,000 downloads for “Beautiful World”. These days tracks are released for mobiles before the CD is out,” said Ritsuko Jinno, from PR at EMI Japan.

With high-speed internet connection on 3G phones the standard for most of Japan’s 100 million handsets, music and video downloads, along with a host of other contents, is a fast-growing market.

Popularity: 11% [?]

As Japan greys, who will look after the elderly? Maybe one day their aging children — in robot suits — if technology under development comes out of the laboratory and into the home.

Among the array of futuristic products for the senior citizens or their caregivers on display at a trade fair this week in Tokyo was a power assist suit that makes it easier to lift an elderly person out of a wheelchair or bed.

The suit looks clunky, takes 10 minutes to put on, weighs thirty kilos (66 pounds) and has blinking lights and wires reminiscent of a robot in a sci-fi movie.

But it allows the wearer to lift a person as heavy as 100 kilos as if they were carrying only half that weight.

“I don’t feel heavy at all. Because of air pumped in the suit, I just feel like I’m carrying a normal backpack,” said Hiroi Tsukui, a participant in the project as she carried a young man onto a table to demonstrate to onlookers.

For now the suit, developed by Kanagawa Institute of Technology, is only made to order and generally targeted at nursing homes and hospitals.

But Tsukui hopes it will be used in ordinary homes in the future.

“Of course 80-year-olds won’t be able to wear this. But perhaps for their children who are in their 50s and need to take care of their parents, this could prove to be useful,” she added.

Japan, which has one of the world’s lowest birth rates and yet forbids immigration, is increasingly turning to robots to take care of rudimentary tasks in hospitals and nursing homes as the young population dwindles.

Researchers are also looking to improve “robot suits” for the elderly to wear themselves for more autonomy, instead of relying on caregivers or their children.

A “muscle suit” developed by Tokyo University of Science also allows the wearer to lift heavy objects.

The half-body suit incorporates artificial muscles made of elastic rubber and nylon and air pumps for the arms.

Hiroshi Kobayashi, an associate professor at the university that spearheaded the project, admitted that hurdles remain before it could be easily used.

The suit, which weighs four kilos, presents “some safety concerns for elderly people,” he said.

“So for now we have limited the suit to caretakers or even construction workers whom I think would benefit greatly from this. But we hope in the future this will give old people more mobility with their arms,” he added.

Another product designed to give elderly greater mobility is auto giant Honda Motor’s “Walking Assist” product which can help the elderly walk independently without the help of a cane, walking frame or arm of a carer.

It’s a chunky belt with sensors and leg straps that monitor leg movements to help the user walk correctly.

As the person walks, a device behind the thigh pushes the leg forward and once he or she steps on the ground, another one at the front of the thigh pushes inwards, stabilising the user.

The belt is currently only a prototype, as its three-kilo weight could be a little too heavy for a frail elderly man or woman.

Taiji Koyama, an assistant chief designer at Honda R&D Co., hopes that in the near future his team, which has spent eight years on the project, will be able to make the belt lighter and easier for the elderly.

“We hope to roll this out as a product as soon as possible so people will be able to use it,” the engineer said.

“It is a lot lighter than ‘muscle suits’ that use artificial muscle. They still have a long way to go to become mainstream as they remain difficult to wear,” he added.

Popularity: 16% [?]

 CHIBA, Japan - It can take your pulse, check your body fat, time your jogs and tell you if you have bad breath. It even assesses stress levels and inspires you with a pep talk. Meet your new personal trainer: your cell phone.

The prototype Wellness mobile phone from Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. targets users with busy lives who want a hassle-free way of keeping track of their health, according to company spokesman Noriaki Tobita.

The phone, unveiled this week at the CEATEC electronics show outside Tokyo, has an inbuilt motion sensor that detects body movement and calculates how many calories you burn.

The sensor can tell whether you’re walking, running, climbing stairs, or resting, and counts the calories accordingly to tally daily totals, Tobita said.

“It’s with you wherever you go, like a portable personal trainer,” he said.

Like Nike Inc.’s +Nike technology, the handset also keeps track of jogs, letting users set targets and keeping track of time, distance, and calories burnt — all while listening to music through headphones.

Hold the phone with outstretched arms, and it turns into a mini body fat calculator. A sensor at the top of the phone takes your pulse from your fingertip.

Worried about bad breath? Use the phone’s breathalyzer. After Tobita blew on a tiny hole on the side of the handset for about three seconds, the screen flashed, “Not too bad.”

The Wellness phone, developed by NTT DoCoMo and Mitsubishi Electric Corp., also asks questions to assesses stress levels and offers advice.

When the busy spokesman answered “Yes” to a series of questions — including “Do you feel lethargic?” and “Do you go to bed after midnight?” — a message appeared on the screen warning he was under a lot of stress.

“Don’t worry, tomorrow’s a fresh new day,” the phone then flashed. “Keep your chin up!”

NTT DoCoMo is still testing some of the phone’s other technology, including a function to keep track of meals and calculate calorific intake, as well as a networking capacity to let users share data, Tobita said.

Japan has some of the world’s most advanced cell phones, enabling users to surf the Web, check in at airports and play motion games.

DoCoMo has not set a release date or price for the Wellness phone. The Tokyo-based company’s phones are not sold overseas.

Popularity: 28% [?]