In 2000, the anime industry was
on the brink of what looked like a global takeover, and was pushing live action movies to the side. However, trouble began to take hold just a few years later, when
labour issues involving long hours and low pay, along with a
sharp drop in anime DVD sales, began to cause serious trouble for the industry. Although some government officials
pinned their hopes in beefing up exports in order to breathe life into the economy, to industry insiders the situation looked
bleak and
possibly unresolvable using traditional models. However, other avenues - such as the internet, and even internet piracy - were studied for their economic effects. The results?
[more inside]
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing
on Feb 2, 2012 -
32 comments
Japan's opposition party,
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), is projected to win a
landslide victory tomorrow, ending the 52-year reign of the
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Furthermore, according to a survey conducted by the popular Asahi Shimbun newspaper,
the DPJ could win a two-thirds majority, enabling them to roll legislation through the Diet unabated. Despite the projections, the two parties are still
battling hard. Washington is
following these elections very closely, because of the man who could be the next prime minister,
Yukio Hatoyama.
[more inside]
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing
on Aug 29, 2009 -
46 comments
The global economic crisis claims another industry -
anime voice actors, or seiyu. In a country that produces
60% of the world's animation, competition has always been fierce, but the rewards can be great, as seiyu sometimes
achieve national fame, and are
lauded with awards. The fame does come with a price, though: Female seiyu have
fallen prey to stalkers, and male seiyu face the wrath of their fans
should they dare marry. And for most seiyu, life isn't at all glamorous. It's estimated that 80% need to take on part-time jobs (
at McDonald's, for example), or do voice acting for
hentai; pornographic anime, in order to make ends meet. The fact is,
the industry is glutted, and being a seiyu is no easy life.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing
on Mar 9, 2009 -
34 comments
Vocalist
Sayuri Anpo is far from well known, even in her native Japan, despite
an extensive discography, the ability to cross multiple genres and an amazing voice. But you can listen to a number of her works online: she does rock both
here and
here, something gentler
here, and something closer to dance
here (video image slightly NSFW). She recently teamed up with other musicians to form a light jazz group, with demos available for free download
here (alternate link to demo files
here for those who can't open .lzh files).
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing
on Feb 23, 2009 -
5 comments
Phase — Mother Earth, a piece created by Mono-ha artist Nobuo Sekine in 1968, has been
re-created:
Consisting of a hole dug into the ground, 2.7 metres deep and 2.2 metres in diameter, with the excavated earth compacted into a cylinder of exactly the same dimensions, Phase — Mother Earth was instrumental in the early development of work by the Mono-ha artist group, and has been considered a landmark work in Japanese postwar art history.
More about Mono-ha inside.
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posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing
on Dec 3, 2008 -
8 comments
