POPJNEO Official Blog

Love M&Ms so much!!

2007-11-30T18:15:00.000+09:00

I got these at the 100y shop! Crispy M&Ms, mmm. From what I remember, they were pretty hard to come across back in my hometown (of course the plain and peanut ones were readily available though) but here they are always available at my convenience! Not like I need M&Ms every day or anything...

I loves M&Ms! Japanese M&Ms taste same with American M&Ms! Yay! :)

Tokyo Underground Exhibit.

2007-11-29T18:06:00.000+09:00

Today we went to the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation for their "Underground" exhibit. I'd never been to the museum (called the Miraikan) before, so it was a lot of fun! Look forward to the report in our next issue!

A cool building!!

Shooting Instant Noodle!

2007-11-28T13:10:00.000+09:00

My friend Mikel is being a model for this ramen today, haha. Welcome to our office of wackiness, Mike!

Hello, Mike! Nice to meet you:)

Mikel: Hey. Wow what a great office ;) Thankyou for having me today to try this ramen. It was delicious.

Sea-weed tea.

2007-11-27T17:13:00.000+09:00

Sea-weed tea!!

Wait, before freaking out, please hear me up! (lol)

The sea-weed tea is popular here in Japan. The tea is very good for your health and contains a lot of mineral.
It is called as "tea", but taste like soup with sea-weed flavor.
You can also use if for your cooking! I mix it with plain pasta. It is really good, try it when you have a chance :).

...(Krys left the office earlier today. Lucky you!)

Someone needs the door!!

2007-11-26T17:04:00.000+09:00

Krys found the car door near our office this morning.
There are no car mechanic stores around...

Tokyo mystery.

Somewhere out there someone is driving around, very cold...

The Datura was smiling.

2007-11-21T15:52:00.000+09:00

I spotted this gorgeous flower on the way to work. We always had Datura plants in our yard back home, but they were always white. I've never seen a pink one before!

Such a cute flower!
It looks like Japanese Morning Glory:)

A Cow Fire Fighter!

2007-11-20T18:27:00.000+09:00

A cute cow fire fighter is standing in front of the fire department!

Why cow?
Because the area is called as "Ushi-Gome". Ushi-Gome means "keeping cows", probably some people kept cows there a century ago.

Japan is a country crazy for mascot characters, they want to create mascot characters for anything, even for trains, the police department, and bacterias.

Go! Cow fire fighter!!
Save your people!
...(Krys is busy today!)

A Vending machine.

2007-11-19T18:27:00.000+09:00

Here's your random photo of the day: a vending machine! I'm not sure why, I just felt like taking a photo of it, lol.
We're nearing the final stretch in preparation for our next issue... I know it's been a while since our last issue, but starting from the next, POPJNEO is going to be distributed in bookstores all over the country! It's taken a lot of time to get the contracts finalized, so we had to delay the release date, but fear not- the next issue of POPJNEO will be out soon!

My favorite is the tea in the dark green bottle top left:).

TGIF!

2007-11-16T17:23:00.000+09:00

Sup everyone! Late day post from me here. Takayo's out for the day and we've been busy with a bunch of different things, including more photoshoots and hundreds of phonecalls!
This is a photo of a house I spotted near the office. The flowers are huge! Someone must take amazing care of these plants. Although I guess they have the Buddha looking after them too!
Have a nice weekend everyone, and see you on Monday!

For all tea lovers!!

2007-11-15T16:54:00.001+09:00

Lipton Japan is always releasing new varieties of tea flavors for limited times only. This new one is raspberry and honey! It's sweet and delicious, but the bottle is so small! Aside from bottled drinks, they have 500ml carton teas too, and the flavors are always changing. The staples you can always find are lemon tea and milk tea, but depending on the season, they also have muscat, apple, mango, grape, straight, and soo many more. One of the crowd favorites is the winter-only "Caramel Milk Tea"... only available for a month or so every year. It's one of the few things I'm looking forward to this winter!! (I hate the cold)

Caramel Milk Tea!! It sounds soooooo yummy!!
I definetely have to try! Tell me when it comes out this year!

We have to find out!

A Crescent Moon above the City of Far East Land.

2007-11-14T11:17:00.000+09:00

The moment of the sunset, indirect light of the sun softly illuminated the city, and the the beautiful crescent moon was quietly in the sky.
The evening came down, and night fell peacefully in the city of far east.

We had the beautiful crescent moon above our city last evening.
I have sentiment of joy everytime I see the beautiful sunset :)

What a gorgeous photo! Almost as gorgeous as it was in real life!

Our goldfish got new friends!!

2007-11-13T12:04:00.000+09:00

Finally, our little buddy got friends!

The tiny blue fishies are so cute! I still think he needs more goldfishy friends though!

We need to get more of his kind too!

Tokyo: A handout paradise!!

2007-11-12T17:34:00.001+09:00

When you walk in Tokyo, you get so many free things. Those handout stuffs are advertisement, most popular hand-out items are pocket-tissues. There are many people stand around big stations, and hand out those tissues for passers.
During summer, the portable tissues turn into fans. They give you fans with ads.

When you get a chance for coming over here, walk around big stations, your hands will be full of those handouts!!

Always take those handouts! They sometimes have fun samples too.. hair products, gum, candy.. even condoms!

How to eat Mikan!

2007-11-09T15:14:00.001+09:00

Thanks to Meg`s mom again!
She brought mikans for us!

Mikan is Japanese tangerine like orange, but much sweeter!
Mikan is very popular winter fruit in Japan and everybody loves it! Yummy!!

I generally don't like citrus fruits, but I love mikans! Best thing about them is you can get them in huge bundles for really cheap in the winter, so you can get all your vitamin C. Fruit here is usually sooo expensive!

This is seriously a DRESS4LESS!!

2007-11-08T12:35:00.001+09:00

We have a photo shooting today for a next issue.
Krys went out and brought back a bunch of cheap and cute clothes yesterday.
Those clothes are incredibly cheap and cute!! The one cool punk style baseball hat with chains with skull logo was about $3!!!! And a cute casual white jacket was for $1!!!
I can`t believe it.
Where did you get them Krys?

Jam pixy! Their clothes are so cute and cheap! We're featuring them in the next issue so check it out!

Sumo wrestler figures display (lol)

2007-11-07T18:11:00.001+09:00

A bunch of figures on the Krys` desk.
Masked wrestlers and sumo wrestlers...Wait. Sumo wrestler figures?

Why you display them on your desk?

The guy that left our office a few months ago gave them to me as a farewell souvenier! I have much more crap where that came from too! Did you see the Rei figure?

Well... that Rei Ayanami with a crazy Panda mask on?

I didn't do it, our boss did it!

A big scooter for everybody!

2007-11-06T13:39:00.000+09:00

Aren`t you sick of gas price surplus?
Thinking to get rid of big cars and get something easy for your wallet?
Time to get a big scooter!!

Many cool scooters became commercially available these days.
Do you think that scooters are sissy? NOT NOW!

I have never imagined myself riding on the motorcycle, but this FORZA X from HONDA may change my mind.
It was amazingly comfortable! Girls can ride this scooter even with skirts on! And this shift is automatic, so you don`t need to warry about any technical gear shift things too.

It maybe time for me to get a scooter! (or it maybe too powerful for me to handle, lol. A small scooter is fine for me;) )

What a cool bike! I think I'd be afraid to ride in Tokyo on a motorcycle but I would love a scooter! But yeah, probably a smaller one. The size scooter that pizza delivery guys drive is fine!

How it was and how it will be...

2007-11-05T11:45:00.000+09:00

We have a skype meeting every morning, because our boss occasionally goes to the Los Angeles office this month.

I sometime think how it was 10 years ago and how it will be 10 years from now...

Technology has come so far hasn't it? And Skype is awesome!

Okaki, the Japanese snack.

2007-11-02T12:28:00.000+09:00

What our accountant, Meg, is holding, is okaki, the japanese snack.
Okaki is made of ricecake, usually seasoned with soy souce, sometime with salt or miso. There is no oil and no sugur, Very healthy!

Meg`s mom visited the office a couple days ago, and left those okaki packs, she was a very nice lady. Meg loves her mom most in the world!

...(Krys is out again for report!)

Evangelion life size figures!!

2007-11-01T15:25:00.000+09:00

There was a another festival at Akihabara when the Tokyo Motor Show has most of attentions.
Akihabara Enta Matsuri (Akihabara Entertainment Festival)!!

As you know, Akihabara is the grouns zero of otaku movement, and there is the festival.

GOTTA` GO!! (lol)

We found many cool things, and I like it most in the pic.
Life size figures of Evangelion!!
Evangelion was aired about 10 years ago, but its popularity never fade, the series is simply a master piece include its theme and characters.

If you never watched "Neon Genesis Evangelion", I strongly recommend it!

...(Krys is out for Shibuya 109 fashion report today!)

Couldn`t even get to close!!

2007-10-31T18:31:00.001+09:00

TOKYO MOTOR SHOW was such a great event!
Cars and motorcycles are not only moving vehicles nor moving machines these days, but they are also stylish symbols and status for modern life.
Newest cars are amazinegly designed, they were nicely displayed just like artworks at museums. Because ambient music filled atmosphere of each booth, it remind o me of catwalk collection, but it`s not for clothes, but for automotives.

Every booth was simply worth to stop, especially booths with popular names.
NISSAN booth was probably most packed, we could not get to closer to stage. People were just crazy about new GT-R and this cute and looney looking car on the stage.

TMS is open till 11/11, if you live in Japan, don`t miss the big event!!

P.S.
There are food court outside of the convention hall, they served mostly festival food and also beer;)
I didn`t, coz` I was working!!

I might need to go back there in weekend!! (lol)

TOKYO MOTOR SHOW!!

2007-10-30T17:09:00.001+09:00

This is 1400GTR from Kawasaki.
The dude is our sales guy, and he is very happy with this superb looking motorcycle!

We went to the Tokyo Motor Show at Makuhari Messe today. That was a big event with huge amount of people!! Many big names were there, not only Japanese car makers, but also those makers from overseas, such as Harley Davidson, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche....so on.

I am not huge fan of motorcycles and cars, but it is surely fascinating!!
Cars and motorcycles are so sexy! Anybody agreed? (lol)

I agree!

LEGENDARY YAMANA from TOKYO!! (lol)

2007-10-29T13:56:00.000+09:00

Since Halloween is a Wednesday this year, most of us had Halloween parties a little early. Yesterday my friends and I dressed up like the legendary yamamba, the deep-tanned garish gyaru who wear animal suits and hang around in delinquent packs. They're pretty near extinct these days, so we created quite a spectacle walking around Shinjuku at night! We surprised and amused both Japanese and tourists alike, getting our pictures taken by the hundreds. It was a lot of fun!
Happy Halloween!

LMAO!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Lonely goldfish.

2007-10-26T17:19:00.000+09:00

This is our little buddy.
There used be four goldfishes, and all of his friends were gone.
Poor little one, we might need to find his friends soon!

...(Krys is out for fashion report today!)

A hot new purikura!!

2007-10-25T10:55:00.000+09:00

We got this notice for a new purikura machine!! I'm a purikura junkie so that's exciting enough already, but the promotion flyer is so gorgeously designed, and is starring some of my favorite models! Tsubasa from Popteen and Egg, Shizuka from Ageha. and Ikemegu from Ranzuki. This new purikura machine has all sorts of new features and the prettiest glitter! I can't wait to try it out. I'm such a nerd haha.. sorry. Hopefully we'll get to do it for an article soon! Did you know purikura machines (or at least this one) cost over 2 million yen?! That's more than $20,000!! You could buy a car with that!

This is so cute! A lots of sparkles on pictures!! I must try soon!

Definitely Addictive!!

2007-10-22T15:23:00.000+09:00

Stay away from this!! It's so addicting! You just want to pop and popand before you know it, your hands are hurting!

If you love to pop bubble wraps, you definetely will be addicted by this thing!

A clown from the Wedding Village.

2007-10-22T15:22:00.000+09:00

Yep, this is in Tokyo!

There is a small community called "the Wedding Village" near Tokyo Bay. The wedding celemony was held when I went there with my friend, and this clown was playing this old music box.
The wedding village is sorrownded by new hi-tech buildings, it seemes like that the community time-warped into the futuristic modern city in Tokyo.

(She`s been busy writing articles today!!)

Wrapping himself up and...

2007-10-22T15:21:00.000+09:00

Accountant: Hello, everybody. He is Shintaro, our sales person. He is wrapping himself and looking for girlfriend...or boyfriend.

REALLY!?
Wow!

Shintro: ...Only girlfriend, please.

Another interview with GaGaalinG

2007-10-22T15:19:00.000+09:00

Mym from GaGaalinG came to our office for interview yesterday!
Mym is a model and she loves h.NAOTO, and also a musician who does "Gothic Emily" style, which is gothic music rock sound with female musicians.

She was a very cute girl with a great parsonality! Really dedicated to music and fans.

I am pointing at her pic in the fashion magazine, and Krys is holding the album of GaGaalinG, and Mym is holding our magazine!

Check out their music here!
http://www.myspace.com/gagaaling
She loves comments for her music, style and fashion, and always welcomes to communicate with fans!!
Go her myspace, and get to know her!

Mym is so fashionable! I love her style. Gagaaling's music is really cool too, so check them out if you have a chance!

Interview at our office!

2007-10-22T15:18:00.000+09:00

Last week was busy! I had a bunch of interviews to do on top of the normal stuff. Here's a photo from one of them, an interview with Ren from the band Volume Ace. They have a crazy rock/techno sound, check out their MySpace for sound samples! http://www.myspace.com/volumeacemusic

Good job Krys!! You can relax this week!!

How About German Beer?

2007-10-22T15:16:00.000+09:00

I LOVE IT!!!
I usually drink Japanese beer, but German beer is also great.

I am definetely a beer/wine person, I love beer and wine from all around the world.
There was a October Fest in Yokohama, and many of best German beer were served!

I hope there is St. Patrick Day in Japan too, because I cannot help myself craving for Irish Ale! What is your favorite Irish ale? My favorite is Caffrey all the time!!

...(Krys is out for interview today!!)

Futuristic Building.

2007-10-22T15:15:00.000+09:00

I love this view, futuristic building with flowers!

This is a view of famous Fuji TV building.
The Fuji TV is one of most powerful broadcast station in Japan, just like NBC or FOX.

....(She`s been busy today!)

A Ferris Wheel: simple but greatest ride!

2007-10-10T10:51:00.000+09:00

A ferris wheel at Yokohama Bay!
It`s called "Cosmo Clock21", because this huge ferris wheel actually works as a clock too!! You can imagine that, a digital clock is located in middle of analogue clock.

The top of the wheel is 112m high (367 feet), standing right in the middle of hotel buildings!
The view from the top of the "Cosmo Clock21" is just priceless!!

I`d love to get buzzed at Akarenga souko, and get on "Cosmo Clock21" in any weekend!

Ferris wheels are so pretty at night! All the ones in Japan are lit up with neon lights and colors...

Best way to spend a time in weekend: Having a glass of beer with a great view!

2007-10-10T10:50:00.000+09:00

Look at the ferris wheel!
This is Yokohama.
Probably the best city in Kanto area.
Yokohama is San Fransisco kind of city, when Tokyo is like New York (Osaka is Los Angeles/lol).

This is a view from a bar patio in the mall, "Akarenga Souko (Red Brick Storage), the brick building used be a storage building of U.S. military, but now remodeled as a shopping mall.
The beer bar has great view! You can get buzzed with a icy cold beer with sunset. The best way to spend a time in weekend!

Ah, I wish I could have gone! What a beautiful view!

Next time, Krys!!

HaBaNeRo!!

2007-10-05T11:20:00.000+09:00

We found this while cleaning the office.. it's a grow-your-own habanero plant! Isn't he cute?

Habanero, the king of spices!!

SO CUTE!! You can`t help but smile!

2007-10-04T15:30:00.000+09:00

OMG!!!
Isn`t she cute or WHAT!?

She belongs to Krys` British friend, living in Tokyo now.
I want to pet her~~~!!

This is Shinya, a Russian Blue. I love kitties so much!!

Work with Gundam.

2007-10-02T11:21:00.000+09:00

Our boss loves robot figures, particularly Gundam series.
Japan has most advanced robot technology, because Japanese loves robot anime!!

Which one is your type??

hmmm...Patlabor looks good, but I also like that camouflage dude with 6 packs(lol).

Sanche.

2007-10-01T10:41:00.000+09:00

Our accountant`s favorite figure (lol).
Sanche, a crazy character from a crazy manga, Inachu Takkyubu (Ping-Pong Club).
A homeless dude, named Sanche, discovered by school kids and later pet by a woman who lives near the school, then got married to her. Sounds crazy? Yap, that is all about "Ping-Pong Club".
This subcultural manga is about damn life of obnoxious school boys. Silly, but funny. Like Jackass, Some people are crazy about it when some hate it.
If you like dark jokes, check out Inachu!

I know nothing about this manga, but he looks pretty terrifying...

Moon Viewing Event.

2007-09-27T11:50:00.000+09:00

This Tuesday was said to be the night perfect for tsukimi, or viewing
the full moon. The full moon was actually last night (Wednesday) so I
think the old lunar calendar was a bit off. It was cloudy last night
though, so technically Tuesday was the clearest night. All the
conbinis were selling these tsukimi dango and other seasonal foods on
a special display. Although I didn't do a "proper" moon viewing
outside, I still bought some tasty dango that are only available this
time of year. McDonald's also has a special seasonal "Tsukimi Burger"
with a fried egg, like the full moon!

There is a Japanese folklore, rabbits are preparing dango up there in the moon.
When you look at the full moon, you see a shape of the rabbit on the moon surface:)

A Little Buddha Piggy Bank!!

2007-09-26T10:53:00.000+09:00

This little Buddha-shaped piggy bank is a present you receive when
opening a bank account! Somebody in the office just got him, so he's
been hanging around watching over everyone. Japan is great with their
sign-up deals, it seems like you always get something extra. Just
yesterday I got in the mail 20,000y worth of gift certificates for the
electronics store I subscribed to the internet at! Now what to buy
with it...

Now he is standing at entrance, anyone who enters the office, has to put some coin in him (just kidding!!).

COSTCO!!

2007-09-25T10:52:00.000+09:00

We went to Tokyo Game Show last week, and our boss took us to Costco after the event.
I did not know that Costco is in Japan! Just like Costco in U.S, everhthing was big and great deal! I just bought prosciutto ham which is normally pricy in Japan. I wanted to buy a French cabernet sauvignon and brie cheese, and also ASIENCE (my favorite hair care line) but did not have enough money.
I hope he take us there again!

Costco!! I love Costco! It was like being momentarily transported back to the US! I stocked up on cheeeeese!

TOKYO GAME SHOW!!!

2007-09-21T10:37:00.000+09:00

We went to a biggest game event in the world, TOKYO GAME SHOW!!!
It`s opened only for press yesterday and today, and for public in the weekend.
There are many beautiful and cute companion girs in nice outfit! And those game booths were so great!! There are Square Eni, Sony, Capcon, Konami, Namco Bandai, Sega, and more!!!
My favorite was Metal Gear Solid of Konami! The game booth was surrounded by iron fences and barb wires!!
You can even play newest & upcoming games for free!!

Anybody lives in Japan, go there and check out!!
If you don`t, you miss a big time!!!

This was my first time to visit Tokyo Game Show. It was a lot of fun! I hope we go next year too~

2007-09-20T10:31:00.000+09:00

The bottle that our dearest Joe is holding, is my genki drink, Oronamin C, it contains vitamin and caffeine. Just like Red Bull, nothing good for your health, but it gives you energy. I am a Red Bull fan, anybody likes Red Bull, must love it!

Drink up and be strong, Joe!!

Asian Herbs Surely Help!!

2007-09-19T10:43:00.000+09:00

Yesterday I felt like I was getting sick, so the boss told me to pick
this stuff up at the drug store. It's called Kankkontou, and
apparently helps your body fight off an oncoming illness. I've tried
many "genki drinks" before, but unlike the ones they sell at the
convenience stores (which tend to be vitamin drinks full of caffeine,
artificial sweeteners, and/or nicotine!!) it's made of all natural
Asian herbs, so you don't have to worry about putting chemicals in
your body. I'm feeling better today, so it seems to be working! I
should probably stock up on this for the winter...

Take a good care, Krys!! And I should stock up them for myself...

A Fashon show in the Aging Day!!

2007-09-18T12:27:00.000+09:00

"Do not touch, this is for `Give Away"."

We're back from our long weekend! Yesterday was a national holiday,
Respect for the Aged Day. A lot of events were held on the day off,
and some of us here at POPJNEO went to the Shibuya Girls Collection
fashion show. It was a lot of fun, wait for the report in our next
fashion feature issue!

I wish if I could be there...

Snack for breakfast!!??

2007-09-14T10:34:00.000+09:00

Our accountant is holding Krys` breakfast.

I found this snack the other day.. it's soo good! And good for you! There are 7 grams of fiber and lots of calcium. And it tastes like a fruit-jelly-filled cookie!

I decided breakfast for tomorrow morning!

Corn Pyramid!

2007-09-13T18:21:00.001+09:00

The boss made a pyramid out of all the corn. I guess we better eat it all soon? Corn party!

NEED BUTTER! URGENT!!

Corns can be that sweet!!

2007-09-13T10:34:00.000+09:00

We got a lots of fresh corns today! Yay!!

Our boss has a manga artist friend and he has farms.
Every year, he send us his babies (vegetables/^^).
He does not use agrichemicals, this full grown corns are so sweet even they are uncooked!
YUMMY!!

Corn! I miss corn! It doesn't feel like summer until you have a nice ear of corn smothered in butter and salt... Mmm.. where's the barbeque??

INDEED!!

Tokyo Sunset

2007-09-12T18:21:00.001+09:00

Tokyo has an amazing sunset today!
Because rain washed away air pollution.

I wish if we could have this sunset everyday.

WOOOOW!!!

Typhoon season...

2007-09-12T12:51:00.000+09:00

Typhoon Fitow (number 9 this season) hit the main island of Japan last night. It was pouring rain, high winds and loud thunderstorms all night into this morning! Looks like it's finally cleared up... at least until the next one hits, which will probably be tomorrow!

I miss sunshine...

Like our new icons?

2007-09-11T17:15:00.000+09:00

Krys: Yay, I have an icon!

Takayo: Glad you like it!

I am making our icons!
Three more icons coming up tomorrow!

Mysterious Juice!!

2007-09-11T12:07:00.001+09:00

Me and Kyrs, holding "Youkai Jiru", it means "Ghost Juice".
Juice of Ghost!! Wanna taste them?
We encouraged each other and tried them!! Well, actually they weren`t bad at all :).

BTW, youkai is spirits in Japanese folklore, they are believed to be found rural area.
There is famous Anime/Manga series "GeGeGe no Kitaroh", story of those spirits. Recently it was released as live-action movie.

Anime/Manga live-action movie.
It reminds me of Evangelion live-action movie, Akira live-action movie and Dragon Ball Z live-action movie...They supposed to be released as Hollywood movies near future (I hope). I am longing for them!!

Greeting from TOKYO!

2007-09-10T12:11:00.000+09:00

Hello! Kon-nichi-wa!
I am Takayo (not Tokyo!) fom POPJNEO.

POPJNEO is an informative magazine all about Japanese popculture.
Very new magazine, just published this month!
Besides the magazine, we have blog here and post daily life in Tokyo!

Mostly me and my co-worker and Krys will post diary, because rest of them are busy! (lol)

Nice to meet you, people :)