These days, many engaged couples usually choose their gowns and suits, and take a beautiful set of pre-wedding photos before solemnizing their marriage during their wedding ceremonies. In the past, however, not many couples had the privilege of having lavish weddings.

An elderly couple in Hunan Province, China, have been married since 1946, but it is only now, 68 years later, that they put on their wedding dress and tuxedo for the first time!

Heqin Zou is a 93-year-old retired soldier who has been through the warring years in China. He joined the army at the age of 17, and was involved in the Battle of Kunlun Pass. After the Japan-China warfare ceased, Zou returned home and was introduced to Cunhua Chen, whom he married in 1946. In the wake of the long years of war, they could only afford to have a very simple ceremony. They had no banquet (usually a must in Chinese traditions), no wedding ring, and of course, no wedding photos in memory of their matrimony.

Chen, who is now 86 years old, says that “life was hard, but he (Zou) was always optimistic, and he was very nice to me.” Although their lives were very much affected by the war, and Zou always had to work long hours to make a living, Chen always stood by him through thick and thin, and always looked forward to his return in the evening. Zou officially retired in 1982.

When a group of volunteers went around visiting retired soldiers, they met the old couple and were deeply moved by their life story, especially since it was rare to find retired soldiers and their spouses who were both able and healthy. After some planning and sourcing, they managed to find a wedding photography company that agreed to photograph the elderly couple free of charge.

On the day of the shoot, Chen was first to get dolled up, stepping into a white wedding gown for the first time in her life. Seeing his beloved wife in the beautiful dress, Zou couldn’t help but exclaimed “Good!” (in English!), causing everyone to break out in laughter in surprise. He then went on to say, “Looking at you now, I think we can live to be 150!”

When it was Zou’s turn to change into his suit, Chen kept looking over her shoulder and peering over to the changing room, waiting for Zou to appear through the door, even though the people around her kept trying to converse with her. When the groom emerged from the changing room, Chen immediately went over and held on to his hand. When the journalist teasingly asked them to kiss, Zou appeared to be shy, but it was Chen who took the initiative and planted a kiss on her husband’s cheek, telling him “I love you!” aloud.

Though both Zou and Chen had some difficulty walking, they walked hand in hand into the studio and fulfilled their lifelong dream of having their wedding photos taken. Even at their age, Zou told his wife after the shoot, “we’ll have to work harder from now on to keep our family united and take care of our children and grandchildren.”

In this age where divorce rates are constantly on the rise, it’s extremely heartwarming to see elderly couples showing us that love is not lost, and that getting married isn’t all about having lavish banquets and dreamlike ceremonies. We hope this loving couple will indeed live to 150 years old and continue to be the perfect role model for their descendants!

Source: ETToday
Images/Reference: Hunan.voc.com.cn

We’ve all heard about the dogs and monkey brains served on the Chinese dining table. But believe it or not, the latest trend now is raw deer blood.

According to Mr. Yang, the owner of a deer farm located in Nanjing, deer farming is much more lucrative than cattle or sheep farming. Every single part of the deer can be sold, including the meat, the antlers, and of course the blood.

In fact, the recent National Day holiday was a busy one for Mr. Yang, as his farm saw a sudden increase in customers hailing from the cities. Men and women, old and young, lined up from early morning, hoping to seize the first drop of fresh deer blood.

Mr. Yang would lead the customers, while carrying a saw in one hand and a bottle of white wine (used for mixing with deer blood) in the other, into a shed with 5 to 6 deer, where he would shoot down the deer with anesthetic needles. After that, the workers would tie the limps of the deer together, and Mr. Yang would begin sawing off the antlers. At the end, the artery in the neck is cut off.

This may sound gory and sick. But the Chinese definitely love it.

Once Mr. Yang moves his saw, it would be a scene of chaos as everyone tries to snatch antlers over and start sucking on them. They’re also not the least hesitant to gulp down cups of bright red raw blood. To them, fresh deer blood nourishes blood, increases vitality, enhances metabolism, strengthens the kidneys, increases virility, … the effects of the fresh deer blood are endless! It’s claimed to be the gem of all animal blood.

However, are the so-called benefits real or just a myth?

Deer are valued in traditional Chinese medicine, and the antlers are especially expensive and highly sought after, says an expert from Jiangsu. However, he also says that deer blood may not be suitable for everyone.

In traditional Chinese medicine, food and people are classified into two types – “warm/hot” and “cool/cold”. A good balance of both “warm/hot” and “cool/cold” is the key to good health and a strong body. Deer blood is considered to be “warm” and should not be taken by people with “hot” body types.

In western medicine, it is said that deer products can cause high blood pressure, frequent urination, and inflammation of the kidneys in some cases, so people with liver problems should avoid consumption. Also, despite the rumor that deer blood can cure diabetes, it actually elevates blood sugar levels.

Source: Tencent QQ
images: 163 news

With it being the season of Chinese New Year, there are many tourists both leaving China for other lands and many people heading into China to enjoy the festivities. Perhaps that’s why the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Daily newspaper chose now to release an infographic on their website highlighting various incidents of rude behavior done by foreign tourists in China.

They broke it down in an easy-to-follow top-10 list of things foreigners were spotted doing around the country so we can all learn what not to do when visiting.

Here’s the full list, which doesn’t seem to be in any particular order.

1) Public nudity/photography

This is in reference to a recent incident at Angkor Wat where two American women were caught taking partially nude photos. Although not actually in China, I guess it hit close enough to home to count.

2) Camping on the Great Wall

This is referring to an incident in 2009 when a group of foreigners camped out on the historical site despite signs declaring it prohibited.

3) Peeing on expressways

There was a case in 2013 where a bus full of sightseers from Denmark made an impromptu stop on the median of a busy Shanghai expressway so that half-a-dozen guys could take a leak in full view of oncoming traffic.

4) Swimming in no-swimming areas

In 2007, a group from France caused a stir after swimming in an area which had “No Swimming” signs posted around.

5) Two people sitting on a four-person bench

No, we didn’t make that one up.

6) Climbing trees

7) Eating popcorn on the street and spilling some

8) Climbing into big vats and getting a picture taken

Or this.

9) Peeing off/on the Great Wall

10) Having pictures taken standing on cultural heritage

At this point it might seem like the infographic was simply meant to bolster national pride by looking at the slovenly activities of other peoples. However, the true purpose of it is revealed in a segment below, with points for Chinese readers on how to better their own behavior at home and abroad, some of which includes.

“Littering, urination, and spitting are absolutely wrong.”

“Cutting in is out, now forming a line is the new style.”

“Remember, customs vary by region so be sure to check with a travel guide first.”

Our Japanese writer Meg, who frequently visits China, mentioned that when going anywhere one should always act as they would in their own home. While that technically wouldn’t avoid the nudity or taking up of large seats issues, it’s still a good place to start. As the infographic states, checking with a travel guide is always a good idea. Also, whenever your in a foreign land when in doubt about doing something, just don’t do it. There’s probably a good reason you doubted it in the first place.

Source: People’s Daily , YouKu , Tencent News (Chinese)
Original article by Meg Sawai

裸照随地小便 官媒图解“老外的不文明行为”
春节黄金周将至，很多国人都将出游。老说中国人有不文明现象，其实老外也不少。本网梳理了 mychinanews.com/news/n/1/925993 http://t.co/j65aFBTGRj

—
中文焦点新闻 (@cnfocus) February 17, 2015

▼ Some coverage of the Danish pee scandal a few years back

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPmroXpNa90&w=580&h=357]
[ Read in Japanese ]

Not so long ago, being a Japanese idol singer was purely a domestic gig, with even the biggest stars of the genre remaining more or less unknown outside their home country. But thanks to the spread of Japanese pop culture around the world over the last decade and a half, that’s not really the case anymore. These days, it’s not uncommon for J-pop idols, especially those with an anime connection to boost their foreign exposure, to make appearances overseas.

Now, in a case of animated art imitating life, the high school idols of Love Love!, Japan’s biggest current idol anime hit, will be heading abroad as the upcoming Love Live! theatrical feature has been announced for international release.

It’s been almost a year since Love Live! wrapped up its second 13-episode TV season. The franchise hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, though, as fans still continue to buy merchandise and turn out in droves for related events, including this month’s Love Live!-endorsed Kanda Matsuri festival .

Still, it’s been a long time since fans have had any new anime to watch in the saga of the animated would-be teen idols. Their patience is about to be rewarded on June 13 with the opening of the franchise’s first theatrical feature, Love Live! The School Idol Movie, across Japan.

When licensed for overseas release, many anime movies go straight to Blu-ray or DVD, and even when a theatrical run is in the cards, it often comes far after the one in Japan. For example, Studio Ghibli’s latest film, When Marnie Was There, came out in Japan last summer but is only now arriving at theaters in the U.S.

So the international community of Love Livers, as Love Live! fans have taken to calling themselves, will be happy to know that their wait will be far shorter, as Love Live! The School Idol Movie’s, website has been updated with release dates for 13 territories outside Japan starting as early as August.

▼ Promotional image for the Love Live! movie

Currently, the official list of overseas premiers and dates is:

Australia (September)
Bruenei (Early October)
Hong Kong (August 6)
Indonesia (October 21)
Korea (early August)
Malaysia (October 1)
New Zealand (September)
Philippines (October 1)
Singapore (October 8)
Taiwan (early August)
Thailand (late August)
U.S.A. (September 12)
Vietnam (Early October)

To celebrate, Emi Nitta, voice actress of Love Live! character Honoka Kosaka, recorded this special message for foreign fans.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fqQbbxRzy4&w=580&h=357]

According to the website, Australian screenings are currently planned for Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, and venues in Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand. The U.S. release will be handled NIS America, which previously licensed the Love Live! TV series, with showings expected in Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. And while American Love Livers are no doubt disappointed that they’ll have to wait a few weeks more than their counterparts in Asia to see the movie, you have to admit that it’s appropriate timing to premiere Love Live! The School Idol Movie just about the time summer vacation ends.

Related: Love Live! The School Idol Movie Countdown Website
Sources: Inside Games via Jin , Love Live! official website
Top image: Love Live! official website
Insert image: Love Live! official website

Has internationalization taught us nothing? How strange it is that so many people can laugh unabashedly about the Orient’s attempts at “Engrish” and yet remain stubbornly ignorant of the meanings behind many Asian symbols, whether they’re printed on t-shirts or inked into their skin ?!

Yes, the existence of tattoos with inappropriate meanings remains an epidemic. What’s perhaps the most surprising is that even in this day and age many people sporting these strange Asian symbols didn’t necessarily skimp on the research and just got suckered into something by their tattoo artists. Rather, many Western people don’t care enough to ask about the meanings at all!

One of China’s daily world newspapers recently reported the tale of Hoan, a Chinese woman living in America who moved from the state of Missouri to the bustling metropolis of New York City. Soon after settling in, she received a knock on her front door and was confronted with a Latin-American man with the Chinese for “casket maker” tattooed on his upper arm. Taking the words as a metaphor for some sinister lifestyle and thinking that she’d somehow crossed paths with a member of an organized crime syndicate, Hoan promptly shut the door in his face.

As it turns out, the guy was actually a pizza delivery man, but for being a newcomer in a strange land, we can surely forgive her some initial confusion. Chinese and Japanese people living in Western societies often encounter these sorts of awkward situations where they understand perfectly the kanji that people decorate themselves with. Oftentimes, these symbols are chosen for their exotic appearance, rather than their actual meaning.

In fact, when Hoan visited the pizza shop at a later date and asked the “casket maker” what he knew about the meaning, he reportedly didn’t have a clue! He chose the words because they had “such great impact and looked really cool.” He never bothered to ask about the meaning. I’ve got to say that it’s hard to pity someone with that sort of attitude, no matter how many strange stares they may garner…

Thankfully, not everyone is so willfully ignorant. Many people will look up symbols online before making their way to the tattoo parlor, but even then, mistakes can be made. One man apparently looked up the word “free” in an online dictionary and had the results of his search inked. Unfortunately, what he thought said “free” in the ‘freedom’ sense actually said so in the ‘zero charge’ sort of way. But at least he tried, right?

I guess the moral of this story is to be cautious when getting inked in kanji. Either learn the language or do a lot of research before having any Asian characters injected into your flesh. And if you can, check the meaning with a native before you follow through with it. Otherwise, you could be the next “ugly,” “self comfort,” or “casket maker.”

Source: Record China via Hachima Kikou (Japanese)
Image: Hanzi Smatter

Models, a tiger-head backpack, and one confused Kim Jong-un impersonator–it’s not exactly a list of participants to inspire confidence when it comes to “fan-made” dance videos. Notice the lack of anyone with solid dancing skills here. While we’re sure that all of the folks that appear dancing in this video set to the Chinese hit “Memeda” by Lin Meixi and Xia Wenxi have their own unique talents, it is immediately obvious that moving in a rhythmic fashion in unison is not one of them…

The song “么么哒” (“Memeda”), which is apparently a new Chinese slang for “xoxo” or “hugs and kisses,” has become a hit in the Chinese-speaking world. As you might expect, there have been numerous fan-made videos set to the song, but one video starring a group of models has captured over 333,000 views since it appeared on Youku, a Chinese video site similar to YouTube, on October 22.

While we’re sure that there are plenty of folks who have watched the video simply because they like the song, we doubt anyone has actually watched the whole thing due to the expert dancing on display. Look, dancing is not easy–we completely understand and appreciate that, but it does mean that if you’re going to produce a dance video, you should at least try to practice it a few times. We find it hard to believe that this group even knew what song they were going to be dancing to until they met up in the park.

In addition to awkward, off tempo shuffling, the video also features the inexplicable guest appearance of tiger-head-backpack-wearing guy who is either really short or 10 years old. Either way, he manages to make their awkward shuffling seems almost graceful as he rushes around the models pretending to blow them kisses after doing what we think was a lasso dance.

But then, just when you think the video will be a complete waste, Kim Jong-un (or at least an incredibly bored impersonator) appears and somehow makes everything better with a lethargic performance. When the whole thing is going down like the Hindenburg, there’s something refreshing about Kim Jong-un’s “Why am I even here?” attitude that puts a grin on our faces.

You can check the video out for yourself below, but we promise you it will be as uncomfortable as pooping in a stall with no door. (If the Youku video doesn’t work for you, try this YouTube mirror .)

Well, after that, we suppose you’ll need a good palette cleanser. How about taking a gander at this cutie ? At least there’s no awkward dancing!

Sources: Youku , Shanghaiist , Chugokugo Mattari Gakushuuki
Image: Youku

Oh, money, you make me smile like it’s Christmas Day and the cat’s just coughed up a shard of rainbow. As a man who spent most of his university years trying to work out ways to make potato chips and sliced bread viable alternatives to meat and vegetables, during the brief moments that I have a bit of cash in my bank account these days I become a noticeably nicer person to be around. I won’t even try to gouge your eyes if you greet me in the street.

This pillow is for people like me. People who want that warm money glow 24/7, so that even when our bank accounts are empty, our hearts are filled by the shallow but immediately believable promise of happiness that only cold, hard cash can bring.

Designed by Chic Sin Design and available from Japan-based website Monoco, this unique cushion measures 47 cm by 48 cm and is a huggable 18 cm thick. Made to look like a fat roll of 100 yuan (US$16) notes held together with a rubber band, this is the perfect gift for those who are constantly pinching their pennies or calling your house at 2 a.m. to remind you to pay back those three dollars they lent you.

For little more than a pile of threads, this actually looks pretty impressive, boasting a tremendous amount of detail.

Rather than coming from a cavernous stock room of trinkets and toys, this cushion–along with the other items carried by Monoco–is made to order only after the limited sale period has come to an end (at time of writing the item is available for just three more days) and then mailed directly to the buyer.

It might take a little while for your money pillow to reach you, but we’re sure it would prove to be an excellent conversation starter when friends come to visit, or at the very least give them a hint as to what you’d like for your next birthday.

▼There’s Chairman Mao looking as regal as ever.

▼ A close-up shot of the detailed thread work.

For more information head over to the cushion’s listing on Monoco . Only members can make purchases via the site but Monoco is currently offering up to 70 percent off on a number of items so you might just grab yourself a bargain, leaving you with more money to rub against your face and make everything better.

Source/images: Monoco (Japanese)

Part of the appeal of cats is their air of sophistication. Compared to dogs, their simple-minded and eternal rivals, felines seem to exhibit a deeper appreciation of the finer things in life. Just like humans, they appear to understand the intrinsic value of gourmet food, luxurious surroundings, and, as this video shows, the most cultured pastime of all, whack-a-mole.

Unfortunately, despite what seems to be a latent love of the game, it’s kind of tough for cats to get their whack-a-mole fix. Not only are most arcade cabinets too big for them, they lack the opposable thumbs to properly grip the mallets.

▼ Plus, no matter how many dead birds they shove into the coin slot, the machine refuses to register any credits.

So if you’re looking to give your kitty some mole-hating playtime, you’ll need to spend a minute crafting the equipment yourself. First, grab a cardboard box, flip it over, and cut some holes into the bottom. The video demonstration uses nine, but you can make more or less, depending on how alert and agile your cat is.

Next, you’ll need to cut a semicircle out of one of the sides, large enough to fit your wrists and part of your forearms through. Oh, and while the woman in the video isn’t wearing any, you might want to slip on a pair of gloves if your cat still has its claws, since while the game plays more or less the same as arcade Whack-a-Mole, this non-mechanical version uses your fingertips as the targets.

Aside from putting a smile on your face, it’ll keep your cat active and entertained. Just make sure to let it win once in a while. Otherwise it’s likely to pick up on just where those “moles” are coming from, and realize it may as well just pounce on you directly.

Source: Facebook
Top image: Facebook (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert images: Tech Exclusive , Facebook

Need a little laugh to help ease yourself into the week?

In the past, we’ve featured some photo fun from Asia , 35 signs you might be in Asia , as well as 39 looks at the lighter side of Asia . This time, we’re bringing you 36 more bizarre, comical, and downright nonsensical scenes from around Asia!

A small FYI–if anyone reading this is a bit squeamish about reptiles, you may want to scroll past #32 really quickly. Cheers!

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▼ That’s certainly one way to get the ladies’ attention–if he doesn’t burn it all off, that is.

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▼ Wait, you mean that’s not what bras are designed for ?

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▼ Could this be a relative of that man who collapsed after a 14-day online gaming streak?

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▼ It’s almost like they’re trying to get revenge for something…?

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▼ #shortpeopleproblems (I know)

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▼ Reminds me of kid Goku in Dragon Ball, always lugging a big fish around.

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▼ Very resourceful. We expect he’d do well on one of those reality survival TV series.

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▼ Because why not??

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▼ Not the most traditionally romantic bike ride, but they look like they’re enjoying it enough.

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▼ Apparently graduating wherever this is allows you to attain monkey-like powers.

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▼ You were warned!!

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▼ A man and his dog, driving off into the sunset.

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We’re a bit surprised Mr. Sato didn’t make it into any of these pictures, but maybe his unique brand of weirdness hasn’t made it far enough outside of Japan yet. Next time, for sure!

Source/Images: Kotaro Blog