I just want to say that my wife’s family and all of our friends are safe and doing well in the aftermath of the disaster in Japan. We hope the best for those suffering in the wake of these events.

I wish this was the kind of world where I could drop everything I’m doing and hop on the first plane headed to Japan to offer my support, but the truth is, it’s not. Honestly, that would be selfish. The Red Cross doesn’t want novices putting themselves in jeopardy, eating into the resources of an already depleted nation. The best thing we can do for now is to give money to those charities that need it and pray. Even if you don’t believe in a “god” or “gods,” the positive energy added to our connective human consciousness couldn’t hurt.

Be safe, inutachi.

your humble singing hound,

-boo

I was browsing the cereal aisle of the internet when I came upon this colorful box of lucky harms(sic).

The best is the confusing limerick which kicks off the “Grab Your Japanese Dream”-off.

Because only limitation
is your imagination

…which makes sense in engrish, the japanese english hybrid, but in standard english it means quite literally that the only imagination which you have is limitation.

Call me bitter and war-torn (please call me war-torn!) but I just don’t know what this is supposedly leading to. How many U.S. acts make it big in Japan before first having some modicum of success on their own shores? If the goal is to find Japanese/American talent why offer English language channels at all? Why make it sound like every anime geek with a Singstar mic has their shot at being some kind of weird foreign exchange idol? –I’d like to exchange Vanessa Hudgens for Fujimoto Miki please.

The deadline is March 31, so if you get off on disappointment, or are looking to rebuild a previously successful career in Jpop/rock/tv/talent (I wonder if Klaha is going to audition?) then sign up today.

Nationalities, sex and age are not asked.

Are we clear? These things are “not asked.” You dont’ apparently even need ID at any point. Hey, I know where Osama Bin Laden is, he’s Grabbing his Japanese Dream! (Or… they translated 問わない which in this context means “will not be a factor” or the more friendly “all welcome” as “not asked”)

So bring on the 90 year old Tibetan throat singers and 3 year old tap dancers.

All that being said, maybe Yochien Ronin needs to sow our evil seed?