Ghibli strikes again.

Watched The Great Gatsby recently and was fortunate enough to watch the trailer for Studio Ghibli's two new films -- coming this summer/fall!!  

Anime-film making sensations Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata have each created a brand new film for me to watch, fall in love with and proceed to quote, think about and love for the rest of my life.  

Miyazaki's new film "風の立ちぬ" will premiere on July 20th 2013 in Japan.  Kaze no tachinu is a film based on his manga series about the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the Zero Fighter airplane.

Other classic films by Miyazaki include: My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997), and Spirited Away (2001).

http://www.kazetachinu.jp/

Takahata's new film "かぐや姫の物語" is a film adaptation of the classic Japanese folktale of the bamboo cutter and the princess he finds in a bamboo stalk who is the princess of "the capital of the moon".  This film will premiere in Japan in the fall 2013.

Other classic films by Takahata include: Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984), and Pom Poko (1994).

http://www.kaguyahime-monogatari.jp/

Piercing Blue

"The Blue Pond is located in the left bank of the River Bieigawa, southeast of the town of Biei in Hokkaido, Japan, about 2.5 km northwest from the Platinum hot springs at the foot of Mt. Tokachi. The pond gets its name from the unnaturally bright blue hue of its water. With tree stumps protruding from the surface of the water, not unlike Lake Kaindy, the Blue Pond has an ethereal and enchanting appearance."

http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/08/blue-pond-in-hokkaido-japan.html

FIFA Qualifiers

 

みんなちゃんと見てる？

2014 World Cup Qualifiers!!!!!

Go JAPAN!

(Photos from Summer 2010 FIFA World Cup)

２０１０年の夏の写真！懐かしいー

めちゃくちゃ楽しかった夏の思い出がたっぷり！

For one of THOSE days...

SOUR: 日々の音色
(Hibi no Neiro) MV

This music video was shot for Sour's 'Hibi no Neiro' (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album 'Water Flavor EP'. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam.

Director: Who-fu (Magico + Masayoshi Nakamura ) , Hal & Masa

SOUR official site: sour-web.com

2009 Zealot Co.,ltd / Neutral Nine Records

I can't imagine how long it took them to arrange/shoot this.
Just a happy-inducing music video.

 

Mother's Day 2012

"Being a mom is the hardest job in the world. But it's also the best."

This Procter & Gamble commercial honors everything that all moms do to help their children succeed by showcasing the amazing moms behind Olympic athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

 The hardest job in the world is truly the best job in the world. 

Beautiful Video.

I LOVE MY MOMMY.

Kyoto 2011

Home Sweet Home II

Trying on amazing kimonos for my Seijinshiki.

Seijinshiki blog coming soon.

成人式の振り袖着物を買いました！

------------

The man who sells the kimonos also collects antique and vintage silverware.

The cups and plates were GORGEOUS.

AND he let us drink tea from them... I felt like a goddess.

お弁当

Veggie Faces a la Japonais

Missing In Action

I shall be MIA for the next few days until the 13th -- going to my lovely grandparent's place in Tokushima.  During the obon season (Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors.) Tokushima is packed with tourists coming to watch the awa odori that takes over the entire city.  And so I go as well, to dance, eat, and have fun with my cousins!

数日徳島に帰るのでブログを止めます！１３日にはもどるのでその日を楽しみにしてまってください！お盆の阿波踊りを踊りに、祖母に合いに、それと美味しいいケーキを食べに行ってきます！

This is just one shot, imagine an entire parade!!

Badass much? Perfectly in sync.

Me and cousins at Awa Odori last year!!