J's Chimes: Itasha Laptops

Tony Taka, a top erotic illustrator who drew for the H games like Sora No Iro Mizu No Iro and Fault! have had his drawings Itasha on Laptops. Costing 150,000 yen or approximately SGD$2346, the specs are more or less sufficient if brought to our country. Comes with 2 designs but would prefer the gothic dress girls a lot more. Tony Taka is also famous for drawings in Shining Wind and it's a shame Xecti wasn't a model in this Laptop Itasha. Well, there are still many ways in which you do get this for cheap... For example printing it out and pasting it on your laptop for the same effect and all or have it done through retail shops which can help print it and make a new cover for your Laptop...

J's Chimes: Spice Up Your Facebook...

Got a little bored with your Facebook profile picture? How about making a continuous banner of your photos that runs onto into the status bar on your profile page? Experimented it a little when I stumbled upon Youtube clip by accident that gives a tutorial on how to make these... Below is a short clip in which you can view and learn how to make this...


However if you do not have the photoshop software to make this, there are many other ways to make this too. All you need is MS paint and that's about it. (I did it using MS paint so you don't actually need something so sophisticated for your artistic work...)

J's Chimes: When Cartoons Meet Art...

Moving to western animations for a change, someone had this crazy idea of blending cartoons with classical artworks to create something extraordinary... Imagine replacing a picture of a child into piglet from the animation Winne The Pooh.


Everyone knows Pepé Le Pew because of his behavior. People ran away from his intense odor because he's a skunk. But never did you expect him to be hugging someone in a classical painting by some ingenious people who drew him over of what supposedly to be a child.


The Tasmanian Devil, usually seen as a spinning whirlwind also appears in one of the paintings above. This time he grabs a naked woman and soars to the skies... Perhaps he needs a real woman for a change...


Cinderella's been carried by an Angel in this beautifully blended artwork which somehow makes it kinda unique in its own way or another... Reminds me of the movie titled Space Jam... Somehow or rather, such movies are on a decline...


When your horse is being replaced by a goofy looking horse that holds a flower in its mouth, you know this isn't gonna be good... even though you may had dressed up properly like the man riding on it... Looks weird too...


Out of nowhere, Bambi appears in your photo and 2 children dons a skunk on the woman's head... So what else is new?

J's Chimes: Japanese Spiderman...

It's kinda weird to have found out that there was actually a Japan version of Spiderman that was aired long time ago. What's even weirder was that in this version, Spiderman has a motorbike just like Kamen Rider and also a giant robot to control and defeat even villains just like the power ranger megazoids. Didn't know Spiderman was so much more high tech and rich the last time but what happens now? Spiderman can't even afford to pay his rents and depicts as a nerdy guy now... Nevertheless, this is a serious classic in which we could all laugh out loud...

J's Chimes: Anime Characters Top 100

The charts are out for last year's top 100 anime characters and surprisingly, much of it goes to either K-On! and Hakuouki. Characters like Suzumiya Haruhi has taken a deep plunge and Kirino from Ore No Imouto is positioned at 28. To view the charts, please click on the picture above to enlarge. Anyway the top 10 position are as follows:

1.) Yui - K-On!
2.) Azusa - K-On!
3.) Hajime - Hakuouki
4.) Souji - Hakuouki
5.) Toshizou - Hakuouki
6.) Mio - K-On!
7.) Kazemaru - Inazuma Eleven
8.) Izaya - Durarara!
9.) Shiro - Inazuma Eleven
10.) Ricchan - K-On!

It is unknown why the usual moe characters are mostly being replaced by male characters in the top 10 position... Perhaps there are more fuyoshi taking the lead soon?

J's Chimes: I Love Milk!

One of the funniest commercial I've ever seen in regards to advertising milk. And with an anime twist, this seems somewhat more of a R18 animation than something pure. But nevertheless, it does grab the attention of people that milk is good... Yup, a little too good coming from something else other than cows. Even the farmers are happy.

J's Chimes: Weird Japanese Ads And Signs

Japan has the most weirdest advertisements ever to be displayed in public which catches the eye of tourists like you and me from other countries... Well whatever the case, it is quite common in Japan and are often useful in a sense that it catches people's attention, laughing out loud and remembering them in the process... A truly awesome marketing strategy to get you thinking...


However some signage are extremely kids unfriendly due to the fact that certain adult-themed signs are being placed out in the streets for viewing... And perhaps maybe some happy-go-lucky tourist will stick their heads into the holes given to take a photo of it... Anyway the text reads 'Zettai Dorei' which basically means Absolute Slave in direct translation...


An ad for a water theme park which features visitors crying out loud at the extreme enjoyment that they are going through... Basically, an exaggerated way of saying that they are having so much fun till they shed tears of excitement...


Some crazy advert cover for an adult-theme pudding which features 2 jelly like substance that's of skin color with an anime girl for the back cover. Feeling hungry? How about sucking up on these 2 err... puddings of joy.


You wouldn't believe that this is actually a pharmacy if you didn't read he sign properly... Perhaps the displays are a bit off topic... extremely off topic I mean... Who would put some gravure idol posters and models in front of a medical shop? Or perhaps maybe they provide other services as well?

J's Chimes: Gashapon Art...

In my previous post about disposing unwanted models, someone actually did mention about microwaving and melting the models. Well in fact, someone actually did it and created something new in the process... However creative it might be, it is kinda creepy in certain ways or another.


Yup, you'd guess it. Try melting a few hundreds or maybe thousands of unwanted Gashapons altogether into a solid block and you might get something new... However the fact that Gashapons are made of plastic and dangerous toxins for the colors made me feel that this is really gonna hurt the planet... I mean by burning plastic, this ain't gonna be good... But it's all for the benefit of art...


Upon closer inspection you could see the melted parts of the solid block of merging models that could creep you out... Wonder what's with the circular parts not melted though... Perhaps some creative design?


Some of the melted models are even made into a block which are melted all the way down to the base leaving the top intact... Looks like a cake which just got out from the oven... However this is just the beginning...


I guess melting the models just wasn't enough for this sadistic art form... They even chop it into many parts like slices of cake... Seriously I wouldn't want to put this in my house because of what you did to the models... which may haunt you in return for dissecting them apart...


However, some of the melted Gashapons are given a new life by melting them and reshaping it into a bigger model instead...


Once again they can be split up to form some kinda... Creative art piece for display. Kinda reminds me of body works where bodies are split into many parts for viewing except that this is by using Gashapons as replacement...

J's Chimes: My Little Sister Can't Be This Porno...

With the popularity of Ore No Imouto sweeping across Japan, the anime is easily being at the watchful eyes of the porno industry and sooner than you expected, something of a parody version came out in the market... This is one of the crazy examples of anime taken to extremities in which am not in favor of. Popular animes like Evangelion to K-On! had already been targeted and it's nothing new to this industry.


Perhaps the most unacceptable thing about these DVDs is that the actors and actresses taking on the role of Kirino, her brother and Kuroneko aren't really impressive, causing criticism and a stir in forums. Likewise, how can this ugly guy be Kirino's brother?! And Kuroneko being so well endowed?


And here's a short clip for you to ponder about why this guy can be the main character of this 'Soap Opera'... A little comparison between the anime version from the bottom left and the main show provided for all your criticism needs...

J's Chimes: Manga Ban In Action...

It's been reported that the Tokyo Manga Ban is put into action this year with convenient stores separating mangas from general sections and into the 18+ section where adult magazines are being placed... Sadly to say, some books like Manga Home which have a couple of obscene parts have been classified for matured audiences only... Even Shounen Jump may be in danger of such. But the question is if manga is placed in the adult section, what would happen to the manga industry now? Lots of doubts and fears come in about this coming ban which may affect the industry as a whole and also freedom of expression. Hopefully enough it will not affect other countries as well such as Singapore...

J's Chimes: Unique Japanese Trains

Very often we take trains to reach our destinations but how often is it for you to see trains like those in Japan that even has a theme to it? Believe it not not, there's a train service that uses Strawberries as its theme known as the Ichigo Densha or Strawberry Train.


Even the logo is a strawberry... check out the interior design. You really don't get to see these things everyday... The train really looks like it just popped out from a fairy tail world, one that's really extraordinary cute that somehow resembles Hello Kitty.


Somewhat the interior designs definitely looks more comfortable than your travel with our local train service. There are banners of strawberry, posters and pictures of strawberries... And what the heck, even the cushions for the seats are strawberry prints...


And it's only in Japan where such trains are equip with something that looks like snacks and drinks for their passengers... Well even so, don't do it in Singapore cause ya gonna get fine even just by popping a sweet into your mouth...


The other unique train service in Japan is called the Omocha Densha. Briefly translated as the Toy Train, this train is specially design in its interior and even its exterior for kids and their parents to hop on board. Well as you can see, even the exterior is design something as to that of a toy to match its theme...


The whacky interior is somewhat refreshing and it looks like a playhouse for kids to play... But didn't your parents since young told you not to play on a moving train before? So why now?


The train is even equip with a Gacha Machine for those little kids to churn out a little toy... Nice way to make a little more money for a train delicated to kids...


Surprisingly there's even a bed included for small infants to ride on the trains too. Another thing you don't get to see everyday... Now that's what I call extreme customization for a train...


There are even toys being displayed in the cabinets of the trains... Perhaps to tempt them into getting one? I wonder with all that shaking and movement of the train, wouldn't the figures be under extreme turbulence?

J's Chimes: Retired Figures

Sometimes you just have to make way for your hobby collections by disposing of the older models. Though it may be painful to do so, but its necessary to so as to make way for the new. I have little intention to keep Gashapons now due to the fact that will only be concentrating on scale models soon. So what do you do to your retired models too?

J's Chimes: Japan Vending Machines

Vending machines are great because it is a much convenient and easier way to get your stuff. However in Japan, vending machines are a norm almost everywhere and are used widely for just about anything in which you could name. And so we can see from above where breads are sold in a box...


Can't get your eggs in the market? How about a little vending machine that looks like lockers where you'd need to put 200 Yen to get one of these...


Even alcohol can be sold via vending machines... Sometimes I wonder how do they restrict young customers from buying... Perhaps that's the reason why Singapore doesn't have any of these...


What would you do if it rains heavily? How about vending a umbrella? That's really something you wouldn't see everyday...


Oh no, you meeting starts in 5 minutes but you forgot to bring your tie or had stain it during lunch... Now you know where to get a new replacement...

J's Chimes: Cleaning Clearing Models....

It's the time of year once again and had decided to do a major spring cleaning of my cabinets that houses my scale models and figures. It is wise to check your models and clean them occasionally because it might be stained or dirtied after exposing to the environment, which is especially so in Singapore because of its wet and humid weather.


I just had to take out and clean every single one of the models, figures and Gashapons that I had. Just as mentioned before about how PVCs may melt overtime, it is wise to clean it so that further damage would not occur to your hard earned models... This is especially so to gashapons as they are made of poor quality plastic materials that may melt overtime when exposed to the environment...


After which, I would rearrange the placement of the Gashapons at the bottom of the display cabinet. I absolutely adore the Mecha Musume series which look similar to Sky Girls or the anime Strike Witches. However, the materials melt and thus would have to do a really thorough cleaning to wipe off the stickiness of the melted plastic that covers the figure.


The second level displays my classic anime figures that I collect from years ago till now. The arrangement is kinda bad though because of the mixture of small to medium sized figures... Well, due to space constraints it is inevitable to place it properly though...


The 3rd level contains mostly the BOME series from Kaiyodo and some miscellaneous models from Evangelion to The Revoltech figure boxes behind... I love BOME series models because its rather detail and nice. However, it seems that the series had stopped somehow...


My favorite models are placed on the 4th level within eye level. Scale models include Pixie Hoyori, Nagato, Mina, etc. My figmas are also placed behind in boxes... One of the problems with figma figures is that I just do not know where to find a place to store their additional parts. And I just couldn't make a wonderful pose for the figures to display, and thus they stay in the box for safe keeping... Occasionally took them out to play for a bit...


The 5th level also displays some of the few models that I loved too. Also making way for this shelf space for the newer models am getting next year... Yup... Some of my scale models are still inside the box. Sometimes I just couldn't bare to expose them into the environment. And the box looks so cool too that its unbearable to throw them away...


The highest level sits a couple of models which also may be retired soon enough as newer models are being bought next year. Behind sits 2 figures of Mikuru which is wrapped in plastic. The top of the cabinet is considered as the blind spot of my collections as you'd rarely paid attention to it because its so darn high... Ya can't put Gashapons there and would seem to be the most neglected corner of all...

J's Chimes: Capsule Hotels

Capsule Hotels are unique in Japan because of the rooms that guests checks in and offers a cheaper alternative for those staying for a night. Hotels are really expensive in Japan and especially so in busy areas like Central Tokyo. Thus to maximize usage, Capsule Hotels offer guests a room in a shape of space capsules and basic amenities for a night's stay.


A typical example of a capsule room is as shown above where guests climb into their rooms or known as pods. These rooms are design just enough for you to sleep inside comfortably for the night. However these area is shared between other guests so it might get a bit noisy at times.


An example of space limitations for a simple capsule room. Perfect for anyone who just needs a night of sleep and traveling. Seriously why spend more for a hotel stay when you could have this at cheaper rates.


Basic amenities would include a tv, hanging rack and lights in a capsule. You would probably have to sleep with your bags inside unless you'd wanna use the lockers provided but it would cost more. Other than that, there are other amenities which include toilets and a eatery which is shared and located in the vicinity.


An example of a small canteen in the hotel. All food can be bought via vending machines. And 1 thing amazing was that the hotel is almost self-service without staffs in operation besides the room servicing and maintenance workers. A truly unique concept which could be seen in Japan as most things are automated.