Funny Jap Commercial

Softbank

another funny Gatsby commercial!

Childhood's TV memory lane

Little House on the Prairie

Six Million Dollar Man

CHIPs

Bonanza

Dallas

Dynasty

Love Boat

Charlie's Angels

Fantasy Island

I dream of Jeannie

Mission Impossible

Hawaii Five O

Star Trek

Tour of Duty

Knight Rider

Remington Steele

Beverly Hills 90210

C-JeS Mango Tree PROJECT (eng.kor.jap.)

JYJ to Participate in Charity Project to Plant 20,000 Mango Trees in Sudan

JYJ, Park Yoohwan and Song Jihyo Transform into Mango Santas. “Let’s Plant 20,000 Mango Trees in Sudan!”

JYJ, Song Jihyo and Park Yoohwan stepped up to the “Plant 20,000 Mango Trees of Hope in Sudan, Africa” Project ahead of Christmas.

Recently, JYJ, Song Jihyo and Park Yoochun gifted an early Christmas through the website of the C-JeS Entertainment, saying: “How does gifting mango trees that can act as food and shades for the children of Sudan, Africa who are losing hope due to long internal wars?”

The support of mango trees is an enterprise proceeded by World Vision to help the children of sudan, Africa. The stars of C-JeS Entertainment will combine in the campaign with the fans in a meaningful way and so will promote enthusiastically with the goal of sending 20,000 mango trees.

The seedlings can be supported for 10,000 KRW (approximately 10 USD) per one. C-JES Entertainment plans to send a letter with a thanking message and autograph from the stars to everyone who participate.

JYJ said: “We heard that mango trees become food and act as good shades for the children. We hope to create a dense forest with the fans who look after and love us. Since a mango tree has a lifespan of 100 years we want it to be something of precious significance that are together [with us] for a long time.”

Lee MinHo on " The One and Only" 2012 Toyota Camry CF [ Eng Sub ]

New Toyota Camry Ad..interesting..





The last episode killed the whole film by inserting the "in your face" product knowledge..I guess it's one of those things an agency has to do against our free will..hahaha..every ad man went thru it at least 10 times in their career life!! Cheers!

I personally just love the fact Lee MinHo is in it. Cheers to that!!

Mr. Brown's "SIMI" with subtitles - Singapore version of SIRI iPhone4S

Super FUNNY!!!!!

Happy Energy Campaign - JYJ

[GALAXY Note] Introducing Samsung GALAXY Note

Pink Samsung Galaxy S2 launches

Samsung fans and just fans of colourful phones in general will soon be able to get hold of one of our favourite handsets in a shocking pink colour.

Samsung has introduced a pink version of it’s award winning Android smartphone, the dual-core touting, Super Amoled running and 8-megapixel Samsung Galaxy S2.

Unfortunately the phone is only available in South Korea at the moment, but we’re hoping if sales are steady it will hit these shores.

The black edition has been around since launch, with the white version launching recently in the UK, selling 4 million and 850,000 respectively in Samsung’s native country alone.

With the pink version the South Korean camera giant is clearly trying to edge into the female market. Although whether women would choose a pink above black or white remains to be seen.

Japanese Phone Service Lets You Make Friends with Coke Machines

The Japanese branch of The Coca-Cola Company announced on Thursday that it will launch "Happiness Quest" mobile phone service on December 5, allowing users to become friends with an anthropomorphic Coke soda machine. "Happiness Quest" lets users customize a Coke machine character and enjoy "friend-like communication."

"Happiness Quest" users will be able to interact with vending machine characters and receive messages from them. People can create a name for one of 20 basic soda machine friends and customize them. The Coca-Cola Company will release 1,000 different facial expressions and items for the characters online.

Coca-Cola machines throughout Japan will display special plates with QR codes (a type of matrix barcode) that people will scan with their mobile phones to access the "Happiness Quest" software and get a soda machine pal. Over 400,000 Coke machines will display the plates to start, and the beverage company plans to introduce them on 820,000 machines by next March.

Coca-Cola has also partnered with anime and manga projects in the past, including the Air Gear side-story manga and the Coca-Cola Racing Family: Fantastic Four anime-style commercial.

source: ANIME NEWS NETWORK

Perhatiin baik-baik!! Aneh banget!

TVXQ & Gospellers singing Towani

TVXQ - Bolero LIVE

TVXQ - Begin Live

Beautiful..

Kim Jaejoong with his SAMSUNG GALAXY S2.

Ui aa! (We Are!) by Tohoshinki.

the melody of my mood today.

J.K. Rowling unveils "Pottermore"

J.K. Rowling Announces Pottermore

Asia 21 2011 Public Service Award

Asia 21 2011 Public Service Award

We are now accepting applications for the Asia Society's Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative 2011 Public Service Award (PSA). Deadline for submissions is midnight ET, June 30, 2011. Please submit all applications by email to Asia21PSA@asiasociety.org.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):

1. What are the criteria for this award?

All organizations applying for this award must:

Be nominated by an Asia 21 Fellow or Delegate of a past Asia 21 Young Leaders' Summit;
Be based and conduct activities in the Asia-Pacific region;
Have a plan to engage actively with and accept ongoing support from the Asia 21 Class of 2011 Fellows;
Have permission to accept funds from the United States of America;
Demonstrate positive impact from their work at the time of submission of their application;
Have an annual budget of less than US$3,000,000; and
Have a transparent accounting process for finances.

For a list of additional desirable criteria, please see the complete application form.

2. What documents are needed for applying?

Completed nomination form;
Two (2) references / letters of recommendation from individuals and/or organizations clearly indicating their support for the nomination for the Asia 21 2011 PSA and attesting to the nominee's contributions. These supporting letters must come from appropriate project stakeholders (e.g. project beneficiaries, government officials, or private sector);
Most recent annual report of the organization from 2009-2010 or 2010-2011, including an annual financial statement (please include only the latest report);
Additional information that supports your application (such as press releases, reports or other data relating to projects mentioned in your application). The additional information should be a maximum of five (5) pages. This is not essential to your application. We may request additional information during the review process.

3. When is the award going to be decided and what are the deadlines of which I should be aware?

Call for Nominations: May 6 - June 30, 2011.
All proposals for the Asia 21 2011 PSA should be submitted by email to the Jury Administrator by June 30, 2011, 12:00 midnight ET.
Review of proposals and the selection of Top 5 nominees: July 1 - August 15, 2011.
Announcement of the Top Five nominees on the Asia Society website: August 15, 2011.
The Top Five contenders are notified of the results of the Asia 21 2011 PSA: September 16, 2011.
Asia21 2011 PSA Presentation Ceremony at the Asia Society's 2011 Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in New Delhi: November 19, 2011.

4. Why is it important for the organization that I nominate to be able to communicate with Asia Society Asia 21 in English?

In addition to the US$10,000, a very important component of the Award is access to the Asia 21 Fellows' network for program development and mentoring. To ensure that the award-winning organization gets the most out of their experience through this exchange, English proficiency is a requirement. Click here for a link to the profiles of the 2011 Asia 21 Fellows.

5. Is the award only for organizations or can individuals also apply?

This award is only for organizations that are based and conduct activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

6. Can I nominate my own organization if I work at a public service organization?

If you are a past Asia 21 Fellow or Delegate, you are also encouraged to nominate your own organizations.

7. Who should I contact if I have more questions about the Public Service Award?

For further queries, please e-mail us at: Asia21PSA@asiasociety.org. In order to ensure a speedy response, please do NOT leave a question in the comments section on this page.

http://asiasociety.org/policy-politics/asia-21/asia-21-2011-public-service-award

110528 Lotte Duty Free -- NEW Full Version

Starring: Hyun Bin,JYJ,Bigbang,Song Seung-heon,Choi Ji-woo,2PM,Jang Keun-seok,Kim Hyun-joong

ToHoShinKi 3rd LIVE TOUR 2008 T - Kiss Shita Mama, Sayonara

What a beautiful song..



Kiss shita mama Sayonara (As we kiss goodbye)
by Kim Jaejoong & Park Yoochun (TVXQ/Tohoshinki)

Blink... Smell it... and feel it...
Open, open your eyes
Just look at me now

Boku no sekai no subete datta
You were my world

Nakushita katahou no kutsu mo oreta chiisai tsume mo
Koboshita atsui coffee mo iroaseta namida mo
One lost shoe, a small broken fingernail
The spilled hot coffee and stale tears too

Girl, tell me little lie Please, tell me little lie Kikoeru you ni
Demo yawarakaku kono te kara koboreta kimi
Girl, tell me little lie Please, tell me little lie So that I can hear you
But you just softly slipped away...

* Longway people Longway people
Sou, kizukanakatta ano hi hanashi kakeru
Longway people Longway people
That's right... we were unaware that day, just talking

** Longway people Longway people
Tada naite naite naite wasureru shika nai?
Longway people Longway people
Just crying... crying... crying... Can I forget?

Nagaku tsuzuku kono michi ni ima wa inai kimi e
Kiss shita mama goodbye
On this never-ending road...That you're no longer on
As we kiss goodbye

Girl tell me little lie Please tell little lie Kikoeru you ni
Ima furitsumoru konayuki ga boku wo dakishimeru
Girl, tell me little lie Please, tell me little lie So that I can hear you
Now the snow piles up, enveloping me

* Repeat

Longway people Longway people
Tada naite naite naite wasureru shika nai no?
Longway people Longway people
Just crying... crying... crying... Can I forget?

Kioku ni nijinda namida no kazu wa kawaite iku boku no kokoro
Kazoe kirenai, hoshi no you ni
Blurred in the memories, the number of my tears (my heart will dry)
Are countless, like the stars

** Repeat

Longway people Longway people
I know kimi wa mune no naka ni itsumademo
Longway people Longway people
I know you will live in my heart forever

Longway people Longway people
Tada naite naite naite Kiss shita mama, sayonara
Longway people Longway people
I'm just crying, crying crying... as we kiss goodbye

Japan doctors used Twitter to save patient lives after quake

Doctors in Japan used Twitter to reach chronically-ill patients in the wake of the devastating March earthquake and tsunami, telling them where to go to get life-saving treatment after phone networks became unusable.

In a letter published in The Lancet on Friday, doctors Yuichi Tamura and Keiichi Fukuda said they sent tweets to 60 patients to tell them where to obtain crucial daily refills of a drug to prevent heart failure when they realized they couldn't reach them by phone due to congestion or damage.

"There are only about 1,000 such patients in all of Japan. It is a rare disease and there are not many hospitals that supply such rare drugs," Tamura, based at the Keio University School Of Medicine cardiology department in Tokyo.

The patients suffered from pulmonary hypertension and needed once-daily refills of a drug that is pumped into a catheter connected to a vein in their neck. It prevents blood clots and heart failure.

"We directly contacted 60 patients and they re-tweeted to over 100. Some couldn't reach hospitals because they were living in disaster areas, so we took drugs to them using cars and, in one case, by helicopter."

Short message services SMS.L and now online social media are increasingly used by healthcare workers around the world to remind patients of appointments and to take their medicines.

The March 11 quake and ensuing tsunami have left nearly 25,000 dead or missing in Japan.

source: REUTERS; japan_now

JYJ, Nature Republic and Samsung Galaxy Tab!!

NIKE WOMEN'S RACE TEASER

ALFALFA - Let Me Call You Sweetheart

a great learning: In tragedy, Japan impresses the world

Despite the horrific scenes of destruction, Japan may emerge from its quake-tsunami disaster with a stronger international brand-name as the nation's resilience wins wide praise.

Television stations around the world have broadcast the footage of the seismic waves as they razed homes and carried away cars as if they were toys, stranding dazed survivors on the brutalized landscape.

But coverage has also shown another side -- Japanese showing calm as they search for loved ones or wait for basic necessities. There is not a hint of looting or violence, even as residents line up at half-empty stores.

Entries on the English-language blogosphere speak of the Japanese as "stoic" and wonder the reaction in Western countries would be to a disaster of similar magnitude.

Harvard University professor Joseph Nye said that the disaster may turn out to benefit Japan's "soft power" -- a term he coined to describe how nations achieve their goals by appearing more attractive to others.

"Though the tragedy is immense, this sad event shows some of the very attractive features of Japan, and thus may help their soft power," Nye told AFP in an email exchange.

"In addition to the sympathy it will engender, it shows a stable, well-mannered society that was as prepared for such a disaster as any modern country could be, and which is responding in a calm and orderly way," he said.

Officially pacifist Japan has historically relied on aid as a key tool of foreign policy, but it is expected to reconsider at least some of the spending as it contends with a hefty reconstruction bill.

Even though Japan is one of the world's wealthiest countries, Americans alone have donated more than $22 million since Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake, according to a tally compiled from aid groups.

While nearly all nations enjoy sympathy at a human level when they experience tragedy, countries' reputations rarely benefit as a result.

Pakistan received aid from the United States and other countries last year when it was submerged by major floods. But funding came slowly from individuals overseas with relief groups pointing to Pakistan's image problems.

China and Haiti also faced criticism over government handling of earthquakes in 2008 and last year.

Some experts believed the earthquake could change the narrative about Japan to one of rebirth after years in which the country was identified with feeble economic growth, an aging population and revolving-door governments.

"The question was whether Japan was going to be able to deal with what's necessary, to innovate and revive its economy," said Nicholas Szechenyi, deputy director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"It's way too early to make any predictions, but I think so far, viewed from afar, it seems like the Japanese people are demonstrating resilience at a time of crisis. I think that could say a lot about Japan in the days and weeks ahead," he said.

Japan, however, has come under scrutiny for the safety of its nuclear industry after explosions rocked overheating reactors at the Fukushima plant.

Critics of nuclear power have pointed to the crisis as a reason to freeze moves for nuclear power, while lukewarm supporters of atomic energy in the United States have now called for a safety review.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel put off a plan to postpone the date when Europe's largest economy abandons nuclear power.

However, in the United States, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, the number two Republican in the chamber and advocate of nuclear energy, spoke of being "very impressed" with earthquake preparations by Japan.

"It may well turn out here that the Japanese did a phenomenal job of avoiding a catastrophe," Kyl told reporters.

Leaving aside the nuclear issue, newspapers saluted the Japanese response.

Canada's National Post said that Japan's foresight saved "untold tens of thousands of lives."

"Unlike in Haiti (2010), Pakistan (2005) or Sichuan (2008), the rolls of the dead were not needlessly extended by acres of ramshackle tenements that collapsed immediately upon the heads of their occupants," it said.

The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial: "After a once-in-300-years earthquake, the Japanese have been keeping cool amid the chaos, organizing an enormous relief and rescue operation, and generally earning the world's admiration."

source: Yahoo; japan_now

Your Inspiration ELLE atTV

[ELLE atTV] MOVIE STILL with JAE JOONG

Toho suing Honda over Godzilla

Movie Company, Toho, is currently suing Honda for using their character “Godzilla” in an American commercial without their permission.

They’ve presented their case on the 11th and are suing Honda through the Los Angeles district courts. A specific claim amount wasn’t included in the legal brief.

The advertisement in question is a commercial for the Honda Odyssey. They never mention Godzilla’s name, but a character in Godzilla’s image was shown breathing fire on a video screen inside the minivan.

People close to Toho stated, “Godzilla is also popular in America, but they used our character without permission and infringed on our copyright”. Honda is leaving it up to the lawyers stating, “We can’t comment on this case”.

source: TOKYOHIVE;japan_now

Daun Sirsak (Bunuh Sel Kanker)>>Soursop Leaves (Kill Cancer Cells)

Daun sirsak (latin: Annona muricata)

Dari alam telah menyediakan obat alami yang dapat membunuh sel penyakit yang sangat berbahaya. Ya, daun sirsak. Rupanya sangat sederhana dan mudah dicari di sekitar kita. Banyak orang meninggal karena penyakit yang satu ini. Daun yang dapat di petik dari tumbuhan berbuah ini ternyata sangat ampuh bahkan lebih kuat dari obat kimia kemoterapi.

Orang yang menderita penyakit kanker sudah barang tentu sangat menderita yang dirasakan. Bagaimana tidak? Orang yang terkena penyakit kanker sudah menderita karena penyakitnya, penderitaannya ditambah karena obat kemoterapi yang menyiksa. Orang yang menjalani kemoterapi rambut yang tumbuh di tubuhnya sudah pasti akan rontok. Itu dikarenakan obat keras dari ramuan kemoterapi yang masuk ke dalam pembuluh darah kemudian disalurkan ke seluruh tubuh.

Selain biaya yang murah dengan menggunakan obat yang telah disediakan oleh alam dan tidak menyiksa saat anda menggunakan obat ini, cara pengolahannya pun juga mudah. Berikut cara pengolahannya :

1. Rebus 10 buah daun sirsak yang sudah tua (warna hijau tua) ke dalam 3 gelas air dan direbus terus hingga menguap dan air tinggal 1 gelas saja.

2. Air yang tinggal 1 gelas diminumkan ke penderita setiap 2 kali sehari.
Setelah minum, efeknya badan terasa panas, mirip dengan efek kemoterapi. Dalam waktu 2-4 minggu, hasilnya bisa dicek ke dokter. Daun sirsak ini sifatnya seperti kemoterapi, bahkan lebih kuat lagi karena daun sirsak hanya membunuh sel-sel yang tumbuh abnormal dan membiarkan sel-sel yang tumbuh normal.

Kandungan dari daun : Senyawa aktif untuk pemompaan P-glycoprotein untuk menhasilkan senyawa anti kanker alias kemoterapi.

Sephora Cosmetics Launches U.S. Hello Kitty Line

In an e-mail newsletter, cosmetics retail chain Sephora announced that it is launching an exclusive Hello Kitty line of products this month. The line includes cosmetics in branded Hello Kitty-shaped cases, perfume in a Hello Kitty bottles, and various accessories, including a scented necklace. Prices range from US$5 for nail art stickers to US$55 for the Hello Kitty fragrance. Sephora website customers can also receive a free sample of the fragrance in a corresponding Hello Kitty bottle if they have earned 100 reward points (by spending US$100 or more at the site).

The Hello Kitty character is famous for being attached to all manner of products. Last year, a Hello Kitty Italian motor oil was announced, as well as a joint birthday event with Space Battleship Yamato; the two were created in the same year (1974). In 2009, a Yoshiki-branded Hello Kitty named "Yoshikitty" was announced. In 2007 the BBC reported that police officers who had committed small infractions in Thailand could be made to wear a Hello Kitty armband as punishment.

source: ANIME NEWS NETWORK

Japan x Twitter = A Bear that Tweets Out Loud

Last year marked a breakthrough for Twitter in Japan. The microblogging service rapidly expanded from near obscurity to near ubiquity, creating a phenomenon that fascinated local media and critics.

Last summer during soccer’s World Cup, for example, the Japanese set a global record at the time of 3,283 tweets per second for the most-ever chirps per second; and Japan broke its own record just after midnight on New Year’s Eve with all the “happy new year” tweets.

Now that the Japanese have embraced Twitter, it’s time for the Twitter culture to start adding more of the local flavor in the home of Hello Kitty and Pokemon. And so it was that, addressing Japan’s well-known obsession with cute characters, Tokyo-based toy maker WiZ Co. late last year released a new product: A four-inch tall bear that reads out aloud every tweet that comes into your Twitter account.

The “Charatter,” as it’s known, is Japan’s first tweet-reading character toy. It received an unusually large number of pre-orders online, and has been enjoying brisk sales since its Nov. 30 launch, says a WiZ spokeswoman, though the company doesn’t disclose sales numbers.

How does it work? Users first download a special Charatter application either via iPhone or PC. This free software developed by WiZ translates the tweets into sound and sends it to a speaker inside the bear toy, which then reproduces the message out loud in a robotic voice. Not cute enough? How about this — its little lips actually move in sync with the sound.

Officially, WiZ says that the bear is designed to read out tweets in Japanese, but in its own rigorous newsroom tests, Japan Real Time tried the toy out and found that it actually reads tweets in English too. Though it does sometimes miss some words and pronounces English with an unmistakably Japanese accent – which perhaps even enhances the “cute” factor.

One word of caution: There’s no button on the bear itself to change the volume of its voice (though users can do so via the iPhone or PC), so be careful if the friends you follow frequently tweet about embarrassing subjects.

WiZ says the idea for some kind of talking toy came about after the number of Twitter users began to increase sharply in Japan last spring. Several ideas came and went during the development stage, including a tweet-reading bird, an obvious association from the Twitter logo. “In terms of cuteness, everyone agreed that the bear was the best,” said the WiZ spokeswoman.

And as you might have already guessed, the tweet-reading bear has its own Twitter account. The account picks up many comments from Charatter fans: “It’s so cute I don’t know what to do with it,” reads a tweet by one of the fans. Some fans tweet photos of their pet cats sitting side by side with the toy bear.

And now to the cold, hard cash part of the equation: The suggested retail price for the Charatter is 2,200 yen (about $27), but it can sometimes be found at lower prices at consumer electronics retailers and other stores in Japan. WiZ currently has no concrete plans to sell it outside Japan, although the company would be interested in opportunities to take it overseas, the spokeswoman says.

follow the bear thing on twitter: http://twitter.com/charatter_PR


source: wall street journal, youtube

"Virtual fishing to get reel in Japan"

Good news for busy, urban anglers: Japanese toymaker Tomy will release an augmented reality fishing rod allowing users to feel a bite and reel in a heavy fish regardless of their location.

"Virtual Masters Real" -- a palm-sized rod with an antenna-like tip equipped with a reeling handle and small screen -- will go on sale in Japan in July for 6,279 yen ($76), Tomy said on Tuesday.

The rod's camera uses special technology to augment any location shown on the screen with "fishing opportunities", potentially giving offices, streets and shopping malls the refined air of a relaxing day by the lakeside.

Or, depending on the size of the fish, users could find themselves haunted by a virtual obsession to rival Captain Ahab's pursuit of Moby Dick.

A whirring sound accompanies the simulated casting of the line, as well as a satisfying "plunk" when the sinker hits the water, the company said.

The harder the user casts out, the further the line flies on the screen. A bite on the line is conveyed by a vibrating reel with the "weight" on the line changing in accordance with the size of the fish, it said.

If the fish is successfully hooked, the reel will shake as users work to reel in the virtual beast. The line will go limp if the fish is allowed to escape.

Tomy has set a sales target of 300,000 units for the first year of sales as it looks to cash in on the rising popularity of outdoor leisure activities, including fishing, in Japan, the company said.

source: Google; japan_now

Kim Junsu for Naver Happy Bean

Singer and musical actor Kim Junsu, who is currently participating in the musical “Tears of Heaven” where he would be embroiled in a love fate relationship with a girl, has recently partaken in a charity drive event for the African children.

Kim Junsu has been active as a member (Xiah Junsu) of the group TVXQ that is under the company SM Entertainment and is currently involved in another group JYJ.

According to a staff on the 19th of January 2011, Kim Junsu has helped Jirani Choir from Kenya, Africa.

Jirani Choir was set up for the children from the only music school (Jirani Arts School) in Goreugochyo village that is located in Kenya, Africa. Goreugochyo village has been labeled as a ‘garbage village’ where a daily meal cannot even be guaranteed for the villagers.

Kim Junsu expressed his thoughts, “I gained energy from songs and music”, ” ‘Jirani Choir’ is the only place where the African children can learn about music in such a tough situation. The children in there will be able to seek hope and gain happiness, thus I would want to help them even if it’s insignificant amount.” He also shown his concerns, “I hoped they will become someone who is able to bring happiness and hope to everyone through music in the future.”



Anyone can join Kim Junsu in helping the Jirani Choir by donating your own Happybean though Kim Junsu’s link (http://happybean.nav...yEnergyView.nhn) Each donation of a Happybean equates to 100 won, which will then be given to Jirani Choir.

The staff from the musical will be giving out “Tears of Heaven” tickets through a lucky draw to the netizens who donated their Happybean. Netizens who joined the donation drive will also be receiving the most anticipated special chance of 2011.

Not only actor Kim Junsu, the production team of “Tears of Heaven” also participated in this donation drive event.

The production team has been revealing through a blog about the production process of the musical and behind-the-scenes stories. Production staff said, “This is for netizens who has never seen a musical before, to have a chance to get in touch with a musical and to also provide a chance for those who would like to work in the musical field.”
Additionally it will be holding an audition for those who has the ambition to become a musical actor.

The donation that will be collected through the musical will be used to build classrooms for children in Vietnam.

“Tears of Heaven” is a musical that shows the benevolent love of a man who overcame his destiny and is a work consisting of top participants from both Korea and overseas.

This touching stage will be created by world renowned composer Frank Wildhorn (whose works include “Jerkyll n Hyde”) as the music producer and includes the performers Kim Junsu, Brad Little (who acted as Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera”), Yoon Gong Ju, Jung Sang Yoon, Lee Haeri and others.

Musical “Tears of Heaven” will premiere on the 1st of February 2011 at the National Theatre.

McDonald's Japan: Big America 2 campaign

In slender Japan, chain dishes out burgers piled high with tortilla chips, hash browns.

Even as its U.S. parent bows to consumer demand for healthier products, McDonald's in Japan is ladling on the calories -- an unusual strategy in a country known for its healthy diet and longevity.

Japan's top restaurant chain by number of stores, McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) Ltd. rolled out its Big America 2 campaign last week, featuring four burgers named after U.S. locales. The Idaho burger, which will make its debut by the end of this month, features a quarter-pound beef patty, melted cheese, a deep-fried hash brown, strips of bacon, onions and pepper-and-mustard sauce. The calorie count: 713.

The Texas 2 Burger -- with chili, three buns, cheese and bacon -- comes in at 645 calories. The 557-calorie Miami burger has tortilla chips -- not as a side dish, but nestled on top of the beef patty. By contrast, McDonald's Japan's Quarter Pounder and Big Mac mainstays come in at 556 calories each.

McDonald's Japan expects to report a 41% drop in net income to 7.6 billion yen ($91.4 million) for last year, largely because of the cost of closing 433 smaller and underperforming stores during the year. But the outlook is less severe than the 55% drop the company had forecast earlier and accompanies an improved outlook for operating income and sales. McDonald's Japan's stock rose 14% last year, while Japan's Nikkei Stock Average fell 3%.

Yasutsuru Mori, a svelte 74 year-old patron, wolfed down a Texas 2 Burger this weekend. "I love hamburgers. I eat every new hamburger that comes out in Japan, but I especially love McDonald's burgers," he said. "McDonald's keeps to the fundamental American hamburger profile: ketchup, mustard and beef."

The strategy in Japan seems diametrically opposed to McDonald's U.S. strategy: a continued focus on healthier eating options. Though McDonald's in the U.S. still offers hefty items, such as a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese listed at 740 calories, nine meal-size salads and a fruit-and-walnut salad for snacking are on the menu as well. The U.S. website features a steaming bowl of oatmeal, studded with fruit. In Japan, there's only one salad offering -- a puny side salad -- and no oatmeal.

McDonald's Corp.(NYSE: MCD - News) in the U.S. says it doesn't have plans to add bigger burgers but that the Angus Third Pounder already on its menu is successful. A spokeswoman called the Japanese campaign "just one creative example of how McDonald's markets strive to cater to local customer tastes."

McDonald's Japan says its strategy here isn't different from that of its parent, which owns 50% of the Japanese company. A McDonald's Japan spokesman said it regularly is in touch with its U.S. parent to discuss strategy and products. "I believe we are not going in a completely different direction to the U.S.," a McDonald's Japan spokesman said. "Consumers in Japan see beef as what McDonald's can offer, and it tastes good. It's our core competency."

The big burger blitz comes as the Japanese, famed for their fish-and-rice diet and general slenderness, have been plumping up over the years. The proportion of Japanese adults considered overweight increased nearly four percentage points to 23.2% in 2004 from five years earlier, according to the World Health Organization.

While Japan is still several waist sizes away from the U.S. -- the WHO said 66.9% of U.S. adults were overweight in 2004 -- health concerns have prompted Tokyo to implement measures to help trim expanding waistlines. In 2008, the federal government passed a law that makes waistline measurements a compulsory part of annual check-ups for adults between 40 and 74 years old.

Unlike its U.S. parent, McDonald's Japan hasn't been vilified for the nation's expanding girth. A spokesman said men around 18-30 years old typically make up the bulk of its "big sandwich" consumers, though other age groups consume them as well.

Part of the success in Japan is because of its marketing strategy. The company has homed in on a crucial element of the Japanese consumer psyche: a predilection for offerings that are available only during a short time span. For example , the Texas 2 Burger, introduced last Friday, will be replaced by the Idaho burger later this month. The company also has used Twitter and bloggers to spread the word.

"Japanese people have a weakness for products that are available for a limited time period," 34-year-old Kazuyo Aoshima said outside a McDonald's outlet in Tokyo's posh Ginza district last Friday. The Tokyo resident said she plans to try all four burgers.

McDonald's outlets in Japan also don't evoke the image of a typical fast food joint. Workers greet customers with the type of enthusiastic attitude characteristic of Japan's service industry and the restaurants are lit with a warm glow.

"There are more service people and they come around [to clean] pretty frequently. The garbage cans are never full at McDonald's," Mr. Mori said. "The management is far better here than other places," he said.

source: YAHOO; japan_now

Samsung Share a Book Everyday Campaign

[Trans] 110107 JYJ Participates In A Book Campaign – Jaejoong Recommends A Japanese Author

Popular Korean group 「JYJ」 will be participating in 「Samsung Share a Book Everyday Campaign」. This was confirmed by Samsung Campaign’s press relations company, Prain on the 7th.

Prain explained, “In this campaign, JYJ will participate through Samsung’s blog, and recommend “a book of hope” which holds a special meaning to themselves.” The books that 「JYJ」 recommend, along with books chosen for the campaign will be gathered and donated to a choir for the disabled.

Jaejoong recommended author Suzuki Hideko’s「辛いときはただ泣きなさい」(Just Cry During Tough Times), Junsu recommended poet Jung Ho Seung’s「내 인생에 힘이 되어준 한마디」(A Word That Gave Me Strength In My Life) and Yoochun recommended photographer Jo Seon Hui’s「힐링포토」(Healing Photo).

Jaejoong, who recommended Suzuki Hideko’s「辛いときはただ泣きなさい」, expressed this thoughts on the book, saying that “the line ‘Be grateful for everything on Earth’ hit home “and “after reading this book, you feel that if you look at everything positively, your life can be beautiful”.

On the other hand, Yoochun revealed, “I have all of his books in my study, but I keep 「힐링포토」in my room.” He also added “Some years ago, when I felt very beaten down, I received the book as a farewell present from the one who gave me strength.” Junsu said, “Feeling the importance of “A Word” and understanding the need to be alert when I talk”, and recommended 「내 인생에 힘이 되어준 한마디」.

Through sites like Twitter, net users can participate and the members also sent this message, “Even in tough times, we want the members of the choir, who continued with music (despite everything), to read the recommended books and feel happiness and hope.”

In this same campaign, net users can choose “a book of hope” along with stars, and donate books to low-income earners, childcare centres and people who have a lesser chance at contact with books.

Source: [Wow!Korea]