Anime fans around the world were disappointed in February when The Tale of Princess Kaguya, which all signs point to being the final directorial effort from veteran filmmaker Isao Takahata, failed to capture the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature .

Still, it’s unlikely the low-key Takahata himself got too worked up over the result, given the many accolades he’s received over his almost 50-year career. Besides, this week Takahata had another honor bestowed upon him, as he was given the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government.

The prestigious award, which translates to Order of Arts and Letters, was formally given to Takahata on April 7. Recipients are recognized for their contributions to the arts, and there’s little room to argue that Takahata hasn’t advanced the field of animated film through his work directing such Studio Ghibli classics as the reflective Only Yesterday, imaginative Pom Poko, experimental Tale of Princess Kaguya, and heartrending Grave of the Fireflies.

▼ Takahata is truly one of the few directors whose talents are broad enough to handle both a tragic tale of children struggling to survive in the closing days of World War II and an unflinching depiction of anthropomorphized tanuki fighting off property developers using their giant testicles.

Takahata also served as producer for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Castle in the Sky Laputa, respectively the film that paved the way for Ghibli’s formation and the first feature released under the name of the newly formed organization.

But it seems as though Takahata wasn’t chosen by the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres selection committee only for his roles in animation production. A graduate of Tokyo University’s French Literature Department, Takahata has also been involved with Japanese translations of a number of pieces of French animation for the Ghibli Museum, as well as transitions of the works of French poet Jacques Prévert.

Takahata was given the second of the award’s three levels, Officier (“Officer”). He becomes the eighth Japanese recipient of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, joining an exclusive circle that not even Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is a member of. Previous Japanese nationals who have won the award include actor and media personality Beat Takeshi, Akira manga creator and director Katsuhiro Otomo, and Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda designer Shigeru Miyamoto.

Source: Asashi Shimbun via Hachima Kiko
Top image: So-Net
Insert image: Filmbalaya

In the UK, where I’m from, people get really passionate about tea. It’s the first thing you offer someone who is a visitor to your home, and remembering how someone likes their tea made is one way of showing that you care about them. We’re also fussy about the ritual behind making tea (you should see what happens in my house when someone puts the milk in first). In this way, we’re kinda like the Japanese.

In Japan, they drink green tea rather than black tea, but their attitude towards it matches ours. It’s both something for all-day long refreshment, and for special occasions. They’re also really into the ceremony behind it, with chadou, or tea ceremony, being a celebrated art in Japan.

So, what happens when the tea companies try to make green tea happen in the UK? A whole lot of added flavourings, that’s what! Join us after the jump for a taste test!

In conducting this taste test, I had a hypothesis in mind – the British public can’t (in general) handle the bitter taste of green tea without first mixing it with other flavours they find more palatable. Today we’re going to be tasting four types of flavoured green tea: Salted Caramel, Caramelised Apple, Gingerbread, and Pineapple and Grapefruit. Let’s get started, shall we?

Salted Caramel Green Tea

PROS: Lots of flavour
Nice subtle aroma
CONS: Artifically sweetened somehow :(
A bit sickly

Caramelised Apple Green Tea

PROS: Not too sweet – refreshing apple flavour
CONS: Just tastes like apple-y tea

Gingerbread Green Tea

PROS: Amazing gingerbread aroma
Genuinely tastes like gingerbread
CONS: Taste isn’t subtle enough for everyday drinking

Pineapple and Grapefruit Green Tea

PROS: Strong fruity flavour and aroma
CONS: Stringless teabag is awkward to fish out
A little sour/citrusy

In general, the only one of Twinings’ green tea offerings that I really liked was the Gingerbread tea, but that might be because I happen to really like gingerbread. The Salted Caramel tasted decidedly artificial, and the Pineapple and Grapefruit was overly sour for something like tea. The strong flavours also completely washed out the taste of the green tea itself. Overall, I wasn’t bowled over by these takes on a Japanese classic.

While these kinds of flavoured green teas aren’t sold in Japan, some adventurous Twitter users in the country have been trying out some of the more unusual kinds of green tea you can buy abroad. The general consensus? “Weird, but good”:

トワイニングのオーストラリア限定、グリーンティー＆レモン！出張にいった人に頼んで買ってきてもらった～♪日本人からすると不思議なカンジだけど、爽やかで飲みやすい。 http://t.co/uJVONSq1Mp

—
ナルトニャー (@narutonyah) August 11, 2014

▲ “Only sold by Twinings in Australia, it’s Green Tea and Lemon! I asked a friend to bring some back for me. To a Japanese person it’s quite a strange flavour but it’s very drinkable!”

オーガニックティー♪ イギリスと日本の認証マークもついてる！☆ グリーンティーにはザクロも入っているので女の子にとても良さそうです。♡ http://t.co/WsvuFFT7mp

—
いず (@its_me_izumi) October 14, 2014

▲ “Organic tea! Certified in both the UK and Japan. Green tea and pomegranate might be a hit with the girls!”

緑色だけどマンゴー風味の
イギリスのグリーンティー。
未知！！！😂😂 http://t.co/5etCVauOrT

—
えりか (@ere_453f) December 02, 2014

▲ “It’s green tea but it tastes like mango. This is British green tea! WEIRD!”

最近お気に入りのmighty leafに、お試しパックがあるのを初めて気付きました！今日はお試し箱とグリーンティー　トロピカルを。ここのブレンドは不思議だけど凄く美味しい(^_^)今はおうちに6種類の箱が揃いました♪♪他のも気になる！ http://t.co/jtQfcwAUYZ

—
macha (@machakoara100) February 27, 2013

▲ “Mighty Leaf trial packs. Today I’m trying Tropical Green Tea. It’s a bit of a weird blend but it’s really good! I’m excited to see what else is available.”

It’s worth noting also that cold, flavoured teas in cartons (including some green tea mixes) are sold at conbinis in Japan, but they taste more like fruit juice, and are a different thing altogether to regular green tea. Today we’re talking about hot, unsweetened green teas you can brew up yourself. Also, it seems that even the aforementioned cold juice teas tend to slightly weird some Japanese people out:

リプトンのグリーンティー＆ピーチ美味しい！
飲み口はピーチ、後味にじわっとお茶の味が広がって、不思議な味わいです。 http://t.co/3vMWy0WS6i

—
オールジャンルオススメさん (@rokotsu_gayoku) June 06, 2014

▲ “Lipton’s Peach Green Tea is pretty good! Mostly tastes like peach but with a subtle tea aftertaste. Definitely a very strange taste.”

不思議な味がするグリーンティー&マスカット http://t.co/82JMWDMXf1

—
斗鬼 (@toki281) April 13, 2014

▲ “Muscat Green Tea, which tastes weird”

Before we wrap up our little taste test, there was one more thing that I had to try. It seems strange to me that a country so set in its tea-drinking ways would essentially try to turn healthy green tea into a speciality drink rather than simply substituting it for their beloved but less-healthy black tea. What if I brewed up a cup of green tea exactly as I would usually, by adding milk and sugar? Could this be an as-yet undiscovered taste sensation?

Green Tea with Milk and Sugar

I’m using semi-skimmed milk (1.7 per cent) and two sachets of white sugar I filched from a coffee shop. Also, I’m using a variety of green tea from one of the more “everyday” UK tea brands, Tetley -beloved by builders and office workers alike.

▼ Green tea with milk. Here we go…

Verdict: You know when you give a baby something it doesn’t like to drink and it all comes splooshing out of their mouth as their eyes go all googly, and they make this horrible gurgling noise? Yeah, that’s what happened when I tried to drink this…monstrous creation. It tastes like nothing so much as slightly aromatic sugared milk, a total affront to my British senses! Bleurgh!

Conclusion: It seems that, for those Brits who really can’t make themselves like the pure, clean taste of unadulterated green tea, the only option is to try to make it taste a bit more familiar. Clearly, simply adding the usual milk and/or sugar creates a monstrous abomination that’s only fit for swilling lavatories. Therefore, the British tea companies seem to have decided to mix in flavours that everyone in the UK likes, such as gingerbread (like mum used to make!) and caramel apples (just like on Bonfire Night !). There’s probably also a bit of coffee-company envy going on here. “They have salted caramel lattes? Two can play at that game!” In general, it’s not really surprising that Twinings JP sticks to selling mostly black tea varieties in Japan. We’re not sure how well these flavoured green teas would go down with the Japanese tea-buying market. Then again, Japan is the land of the weird flavour combination , so who knows?

All photos © Evie Lund/RocketNews24

Somebody really wanted to get ahold of Nintendo’s Splatoon game for Wii U.

Ars Technica reports that a truck full of copies of the shooter game was stolen while on its way from Nintendo’s European warehouse to deliver the games to video game chain Game.

The haul included Game’s allocation of the special-edition “Splatoon Amiibo,” the retailer said, which comes with a rare Squid Inkling Amiibo figure.

Who could steal this little guy?

Nintendo

Now Nintendo fans in the UK who ordered their special-edition Splatoon from Game will not get it in time for the Friday launch, and Game will not be replenishing its stock. Instead, customers can get the ordinary edition of the game and a $10 refund, or bite the bullet and cancel their preorder.

Whether or not the thieves targeted the truck intentionally, they came away with a pretty good haul. According to Ars Technica , at last count Nintendo had sold over 10 million Amiibo figures, and a gold Mario version available only in limited edition from Wal-Mart in the US sold for $100 (£65) on eBay .

The new Nintendo 2DS is out and we got our greedy little paws on the first one we could! Mmm…we love the smell of new game systems in the morning!

It’s not foldable and it doesn’t have a 3-D screen. On the other hand, it’ll play 3DS games with no problem and it’s significantly cheaper.

But is it worth your cold, hard cash? Find out below!

• Affordability is the name of the game

Now, as you already know, the device can’t be folded up like it’s predecessors, and it doesn’t have a 3-D screen. While this may seem like a step in the wrong direction, you have to consider its pricing–only US$130. That’s about $70 dollars less than most recent 3DS XL, which is around $205 new on Amazon. Obviously, you can pick up an older, regular-sized 3DS for less than that, and used is always a less expensive option, but if you’re in the market for a new Nintendo handheld, the 2DS is going to have everything else beat in terms of price.

• A solid gaming experience

Considering the size and shape of the unfoldable 2DS, it ended up reminding us of one of those retro handhelds which only had one game, like “Game and Watch.” For those of us who remember them, this lends the new 2DS a sense of nostalgia, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

Game and Watch image via Wikipedia

In general, we found device to be solid and easy to get a good grip on without it feeling awkward. It was overall more comfortable to game on than the 3DS, though it was a little heavier than we had expected. Also, as you might guess from the design, it was a bit top-heavy, but not enough to become a problem as, unlike the regular 3DS, you hold the console towards the upper screen.

• It feels like a toy

To be perfectly honest, the exterior feels much cheaper than the 3DS, making it seem more toy-like. But, you know what, it is a toy!So, for us anyway, this was a good point, and we think it’ll appeal to a lot of gamers, and definitely younger kids who don’t care about flashy exteriors and the newest tech.

• But of course, there’s still that region lock…

▼Sorry! No Japanese games for you!

Like the Nintendo 3DS before it, the new 2DS is region-locked, which, unfortunately, means that devices can only play games with the same region codes, and you can’t access online stores from different regions. Since the 2DS isn’t even available in Japan yet, it means that we couldn’t play our Japanese 3DS games in the new 2DS. What a bummer that was.

• 3-D photography? Sure, why not!

Though the new 2DS cannot display 3-D content, it can still take 3-D photos and videos as the device comes with two cameras like its predecessor. You can transfer the images to a 3DS and, sure enough, you’ll be able to view them in proper 3-D! Yeah, we’re not exactly sure why this feature was included either, but if you’d liked to check out what kind of photos it can produce, you can download our sample here . Unzip it to get an MPO file which should be viewable on a Nintendo 3DS, a 3D TV, or a 3D monitor.

• 4GB SDHC cards

The new 2DS come loaded with a 4GB SDHC card with class 4 transfer speed, which means it should be able to read/write at a minimum of 4MB per second.

Now the rumors are that the new 2DS will only be released in Europe and the Americas, and targeted at lower-income earners, but it’s entirely unclear as to whether or not this is true. However, a Japanese release date hasn’t been announced yet, so take that as you will. Since Sony’s new PlayStation Vita Slim is currently Japan only, however, we suppose it’s only fair that the balance has sort of been restored!

Overall, we found Nintendo’s new portable to be a pretty solid gaming device, especially considering its price. And if you don’t care about lugging a larger device around on account of its non-folding design, or 3-D gaming for that matter, this will probably serve you just fine. But please be sure to try before you buy!

Don’t forget to check out more unboxing images below!

Unless otherwise noted, all images by RocketNews24

▼Let’s get this started!

▼We really liked how the indented Nintendo logo turned out.

▼No problems playing any 3DS game!

▼Obviously your region and language options are limited by region.

▼And now it’s time to game!

▼Last but not least, we also have a nifty unboxing video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xULWVaDpc-k&w=640&h=480]

[ Read in Japanese ]

Watching Japanese performance artist Miyoko Shida’s physics-defying balancing act is a more intense experience than your closest game of Jenga, guaranteed. At Rocketnews24, a lot of our writers have trouble just walking straight, so trying to imagine the coordination and concentration required to put on a show like this makes our heads hurt.

Ms. Shida performed the unique, if somewhat bizarre (are those dinosaur bones?), act on Spanish television show “Tu Si Que Vales” (“You are So Incredible”), while a stunned audience and judges watched in slack-jawed, captivated silence.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnDeo0yhIws&w=560&h=315]

The Interweb is equally captivated, as users from all over the world are expressing their shock and appreciation in forums:

“I swear I held my breath the entire time… wow.” (Serbia)

“I’ve never seen such precision before and I never thought I would. Amazing!” (New Zealand)

“The performance has such a beautiful message. I’m at a loss for words.” (USA)

“When Asians with this much training concentrate this hard, they basically gain superpowers!”  (Belgium)

“This is a scary performance, in a good way!” (Singapore)

And, our personal favorite:

“What kind of idiot wears sunglasses at an indoor performance?!” (USA)

▼That is a valid question, sir or madam, but we think your attention should have been on Ms. Shida.

[ Read in Japanese ]

When we look at our four-legged companions, we can see ourselves stripped of all the complications of being human. After all, dogs seem to derive an almost inordinate amount of joy from the simplest pleasures: a well-chewed bone; a warm spot on the couch; occasional rolls in the dirt. Yet, as with humans, there are some dogs that value the finer things in life.

Samsung might just have the answer for these posh canines: the Dream Doghouse. With building costs of US$30,000, this prime piece of real estate is hardly a bargain… but, then again, how many doghouses have a hydro-pool and treadmill?

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

Samsung commissioned the luxury doghouse as part of its sponsorship of Crufts 2015, the world’s biggest dog show. A team of 12 designers then went to work over the next six weeks creating the “dog house of the future.” With its sleek, curved design and a slew of features, this doghouse might have come straight out of the world of The Jetsons.

So what kind of trimmings should dogs expect in their living space a hundred years from now? More than many people can boast today, apparently. Let’s take a look at some of the amenities.

▼ “I got these on discount the other day. Something about the black on white just really livens up the room, don’t you think?”

▼ “Can you believe I even get Netflix on here?”

▼ “And here’s a picture of us summering in Maine. Lovely weather that time of year.”

▼ “We have a guy… yes, did all our rooms. I’ll get you two in touch.”

▼ “Sometimes I get home and all I want to do is pop some kibble in the tray–I’m just that tired.”

▼ “It really does wonders for the complexion, darling. I don’t know how you live without one.”

▼ “What… do I do with this?”

Though some might argue that these features are wasted on a canine, Andy Griffiths, president of Samsung Electronics U.K. and Ireland, believes dogs have already entered a new age of technology. In a recent press release, Griffiths wrote:

“The Samsung Dream Doghouse looks sleek and modern, featuring the kind of tech the discerning dog of the future will need. From dogs who have social media profiles, to owners who use video call to check on their pets while away, technology is fast becoming an integral part of everyday life.”

If this information leaves you wondering how you can get your hands on one of these, we have some unfortunate news: Samsung created only one Dream Doghouse, which will be given away in a social media contest.

Then again, who knows? Maybe there will come a day in the near future when dogs can get everything they need–exercise, food, even belly rubs–with the touch of a button. Humans will become superfluous, and dogs will become the masters. Or, to put it another way, dogs will become cats.

Sources: Nari Nari , The Huffington Post , Fortune
Images/Video: YouTube

Disney animations are timeless classics loved by children and adults across the globe. We’ve seen quite a lot of Disney related items here on RocketNews24, both official and fanmade , but none of those look quite as fashionable as these drawings of Disney-inspired avant-garde runway fashion!

Known as Sashii or Sashiiko online, Russian fashion design student Sasha (real name) has been creating these stunning catwalk interpretations of Disney characters since 2012. Complete with towering platform shoes of exaggerated proportions, the recreated outfits she designs are fashion focused while embodying characteristics of the original characters themselves.

What we love most is that Sashii not only dresses the protagonists but also turns some of the male characters and villains into stylish badass chicks that could totally steal the limelight from the pretty princesses!

▼ Princesses

▼ Villains

Apart from her Disney-inspired collection, Sashii has also drawn fabulous outfits inspired by popular characters from The Avengers, Rise of the Guardians, and even Studio Ghibli masterpieces such as Spirited Away and Ponyo on the Cliff.

▼ The Avengers

▼ Rise of the Guardians

▼ Spirited Away

▼ Ponyo on the Cliff

How we wish these beautiful designs could be materialized into real outfits! It might be a mind-breaking decision, but if you could pick one design (just one!), which outfit would you like to wear? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Check out Sashii’s other fantastic designs on DeviantArt !

Source: Zhaizhai News
Images: Sashiiko-Anti on DeviantArt

On 9 November, 2011, a member of the Association for Aid and Relief Japan, Atsushi Miyazaki was killed while helping relief effort in an earthquake stricken region of Turkey.

Although Miyazaki had made the ultimate sacrifice for another country by laying down his life, the Turkish people also have shown an unending sense of gratitude by continuing to honor his name years later.

Atsushi Miyazaki was dispatched to Turkey with the AAR Japan following the 2011 Van earthquake which hit eastern Turkey in the afternoon of 23 October. He had only been a member of the association for a couple months before getting the orders, joining to help relief efforts in areas affected by the Tohoku Earthquake of the same year.

In the country only a short time Miyazaki was able to overcome language barriers and forge close ties with the Turkish people using only a phrase book. His job was to distribute food and water around to a number of shelters in the Van area.

The festival of Eid al-Adha ended on 9 November that year. Miyazaki and fellow AAR member Miyuki Konnai spent the day delivering extra meat to families in the worst hit areas for the holiday.

As the pair returned to their hotel in the evening to write up reports a 5.7-Magnitude aftershock hit and collapsed the building. Konnai survived with injuries but Miyazaki was among the 36 people who died beneath the rubble.

His body was flown back to Japan on a chartered jet after a ceremony was held at the airport in which the Japanese flag was draped over Miyazaki’s coffin.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVZomoRwO2o&w=580&h=357]

One month later, a memorial service was held in Tokyo which was attended by 222 people including the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey. During services, Serbay Ekinoğlu, who worked closely with Miyazaki before his death, gave a touching eulogy.

Dear Miyazaki-san,

A famous writer once said “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give”.

I think this is the best sentence that explains your personality. You were the one who came to Turkey to help the earthquake victims all the way from Japan. You were the one who went to the poorest villages just to find the victims who are in need of help the most.

During the period you were in Van, you personally tried to contact people, even learnt some Turkish words from your Turkish book and treated everybody in a nice, caring way.

You cared about giving more than getting. In return you were able to have a good night’s sleep, thinking about your good deeds until the night of November 9th.

I also want to tell some nice anecdotes that we had. Two days before the sad event we went to the barber shop to get your hair cut. We tried hard to convince you as your hair got really long there, even when you were wearing the AAR cap your hair was coming everywhere out of the cap. Finally you said, “Okay let’s go.” And then you, Miyuki, I, and the driver, whom you called “Babam” (meaning “my father” in Turkish) went there and you took your glasses out and sat there to have the hair cut. When the barber started you were first little excited not knowing how the barber will cut the hair. I told you: “Miyazaki-san, don’t worry I will tell him to do it good and you will be handsome at the end”. After some time the barber turned to me and asked if you were sleeping as you weren’t saying anything, just standing still. After that you said that you are not sleeping but you can’t see without your glasses. So it was a total surprise for you at the end how your hair would look. Anyway, you and everybody liked your new hair style. And Babam (the driver) even said that he should find you a Turkish woman to marry and you said that you would love that.

You liked this idea as you would want to live in Turkey and as you also loved the Turkish food there.

We had some nice plans. You were going to come to Izmir, where I live and I was going to show you beautiful stuff in Izmir introducing you as a rich Japanese businessman.

But unfortunately you left the world too early.

You were an honest, hardworking man with a great sense of humor.

In closing I would like to tell condolences of the whole of Turkey. We are sad not to have you with us anymore.

I wish strength and patience to your family and to all your beloved ones. We share their grief.

Atsushi Miyazaki, thank you for being part of our lives. We are all going to miss you.

Arigato
December 6th, 2011
Serbay Ekinoğlu

Two years on, to show that the Turkish people mean what they say, parks, streets, schools and dental clinics can be found named after Miyazaki throughout the country. A statue of Atsushi Miyazaki is also near completion and should be erected later this year in Miyazaki Park near the Black Sea.

Although it’s touching to see how these two distant countries grew a deep affection first through tragedy and then through charity, generosity, and respect, this story is also a sober reminder to acknowledge all the volunteers and emergency workers who risk their lives as much as possible.

Source: AAR Japan , Japan Daily Press (English) via Kotaro (Japanese)
Video: YouTube – TheLala445
Top Image: Facebook – Atsushi Miyazaki

If you were to measure your life in sights that left you spellbound, whether they be of natural beauty or formed by the hand of man, to what extent could you say you have truly ‘lived’?

Okay, existential conundrums aside, a beautiful view can be a pretty life-affirming experience. On June 21, the sky above the Polish city of Ponzan was transformed into such a view when 50,000 paper were released into the night sky to celebrate the summer solstice, known as St John’s Night.

According to our Japanese correspondent who was in Poland for the celebration, attendees write their wishes on the paper lanterns before sending them up. It is said that if the lantern safely reaches the sky, the wish will come true.

The organizers of the event sought to set a Guinness world record for the most lanterns flown simultaneously and their efforts seemed to have paid off as thousands of people gathered at the field along the Warta river where the event took place. Part of this is likely thanks to the 2012 UEFA EURO European Football Championship being held at the same time and the area was alive with live music and other festivities. By the end of the night it was said that roughly 50,000 lanterns were released into the sky, compared with only 8000 last year.

Though rain the day before led many people to fear the event would be cancelled, it soon cleared up and by the evening the crowd was so eager that many people began lighting their lanterns even before the official 10:15 starting time.

Our correspondent writes that she was also unable to contain her excitement and decided to light her lantern early, though it proved more difficult than she thought.

“The lanterns were so large that it took 3 people just to put one together and 5 minutes to ignite the piece of charcoal that sends it floating upward.”

Our correspondent continues: “I had become so absorbed in trying to light my own lantern that I almost didn’t notice how the night had become brighter than before. When I looked up, there already a countless number of lanterns drifting through the sky above. It may sound tacky, but at that moment the night really did feel magical, almost like I was in the scene of a Disney movie. A profound emotion gripped my chest as I thought of how I stood there with thousands of strangers, gazing up at the same sky as our lanterns carried each of our wishes to the heavens.

“I followed my lantern as it floated gently upward, a tiny beacon in the dark, until it disappeared in the sea of orange light that filled the sky. Even if my flame went out and my wish goes ungranted, I’m grateful that I was able to help create such a beautiful view and share it with so many people.”

While only in its third year, this paper lantern skyline looks like it may become an annual tradition and those of you interested in attending next year should mark your calendars for June 21. Trust us: if you think the images and video footage below is breathtaking, wait until you see it for yourself.

Photos & Correspondent: Photographer Koach

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMcHjvva_l8&w=580&h=326] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqSbmKaffo4&w=580&h=326]

[ Read in Japanese ]