Gunma Prefecture, the Least Interesting Prefecture in Japan

December 16, 2013, 1:51 am

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If you visit Tokyo's prestigious Ginza district right now you might come across a shop selling products featuring the official mascot of J-List's home prefecture of Gunma, named Gunma-chan. The purpose of the shop is to promote awareness of our prefecture's many wonderful products and teach Tokyo-ites about Gunma, which is located in the exact center of Japan's main island of Honshu, about 100 km northwest of Tokyo. Gunma's "brand" has been suffering over the last few years, coming in last place in a popularity ranking of Japan's 47 prefectures, and when most people in Tokyo are asked what comes to mind when they think of Gunma, they can't think of anything beyond onsen hot springs and maybe a few ski resorts. Over the years I've met several business partners in Tokyo who were amazed that J-List was located in such a quaint and out-of-the-way place, as if we were based in Kalamazoo, Michigan instead of a brief shinkansen hop from Japan's capital. Although Gunma's mascot Gunma-chan has a lot of fans, we're definitely losing out to Kutamoto, whose popular prefectural mascot Kumamon brings in an incredible $300 million in tourism and trade to Kumamoto Prefecture annually.

Our home prefecture tries to improve its image.

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My Bilingual Kids

December 16, 2013, 1:52 am

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My kids are haafu, half Japanese and half American, and my wife and I have done our best to ensure they could grow up bilingual in both languages without having to go through years of hard study as we did. I imported all my DVDs from the U.S. so that if my kids wanted to watch Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Events they'd have to do it all in English. I'd even sit through anime that was badly dubbed in English with them, pretending there was no Japanese track on the disc in order to force them to learn English, which I think shows real dedication as a father. Most movies that children would be interested in seeing are shown in two versions in Japanese theaters, a dubbed one for younger viewers and a subtitled one for adults who can read the difficult kanji characters. My kids had no problem with English, so they were always the only kids in the subtitled theatre. Because they know English, they're able to observe Japan in ways normal Japanese can't. My daughter is a fan of reading novels submitted by users of Japanese websites, and there's a button asking users to "clap" their hands if they liked what they read. Sadly, most of these sites write the word as "crap," which causes my daughter to giggle every time she comes across one.

Sorry, I don't want to read any "novels of crap" today.

Cool Products Wednesday, December 18, 2013

December 18, 2013, 2:38 am

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For the new update, we've got some excellent products from Japan for you. You can view all new J-List products by clicking this link.

Today's New & Restocked Items

Dengeki G's Festival vol. 36 2014 Jan The latest edition of Dengeki G's Festival is here! The premiere magazine for all things moe and is known for high-quality omake extras that come with every issue as well as providing the latest info on bishoujo games and anime. This issue focuses on BaseSon's upcoming bishoujo game Sengoku Koihime and it comes with a cute hug pillow of Nobunaga Oda. Please see this on the 18+ side. view this product »

	Fruits Nov 2013 NO. 196 Check out what's hot and what's not in Japan's street fashion. Featuring the latest trends and clothing, unique street culture will be pleased with this no-ad magazine!		Chara Selection Jan 2014 J-List presents a new Boy's Love Manga Magazine, Chara Selection, for a Sweet and Happy Boy's Love Life. Please see this on the 18+ side.
	Various Popular Manga Restocked Enjoy fresh stock of the To Love-Ru Darkness series, plus Maoh Yuusha and more.		Anime Calendars Selling Out fast We started with more than 100 copies of this year's Hatsune Miku calendar, now we've got less than ten. Browse our lineup before your calendar sell out!
	Awesome Ghibli Calendars, Schedule Books This year's anime schedule books have been popular, too, with Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service selling fast. Browse our lineup during our EMS sale!		Other 2014 Japanese Calendars We also carry calendars that let you get closer to Japan through its past, with ancient castles, beautiful photos of Mt. Fuji and more.
	Kawaii Brassiere & Shorts for Sexy Cosplay A super cute ero-cosplay item from Tamatoys, this is a bra and shorts set, white with cute pink dots and ribbon design.		Meow Meow Kitty Knit Beanie The ultimate in winter fashion here in Japan, this cute beanie cap is equipped with dual neko mimi (cat ear) for x2 cuteness.
	Cute Cat Beanies, Too These cute neko mimi (cat ear) caps are great for looking cute while keeping you warm in the winter.		New HANTEN Winter Kimono Relax in traditional and comfy Japanese style with this beautiful casual lounge coat in bright blue colors.
	Awesome J-List T-Shirts If you're in a hurry to get Christmas gifts, why not consider J-List T-shirts? They're 100% otaku approved.		Evangelion Socks and Other Otaku Life Gear Eva fans, we have something new for you to collect. Introducing the Official Evangelion Socks. So cool, stylish and distinctly Eva.
	Anime Glasses for Cosplay Our customers love the anime glasses for cosplay we stock, and we got a bunch more in stock today. Which anime character will you be?		Huge Update of Totoro Products J-List loves Totoro almost as much as Mei and Satsuki, and we've got hundreds of Totoro products to browse. See the restocked Totoro door curtains!
	Attack on Titan, Steins;Gate & More In Stock We've got some great figures in stock from Attack on Titan, Steins;Gate, Sonic the Hedgehog, plus Macross Heroines, so great to display on your desk.		Sailor Moon Communication Device Case Those Sailor Moon Communication Device Cases are in stock, though 80% of them have sold. Grab a set if you want one!
	Fuku-bukuro Grab Bags are a Big Hit Every year we're amazed at the popularity of our grab bags, which give you a ton of random toys, bento, even hentai inside. What will you get?		Did You Forget Anyone On Your List? If you can't make up your mind, make things easier on yourself and just get a J-List gift certificate. They'll be glad you did!
	'Let's Make Eraser with Microwave' Restocked! Japan loves its erasers, and we have a big restocking of the fun erasers you make yourself using the microwave and included molds, incl. chocolates!		Sushi Origami ad More Learn the secret art of sushi origami (perfect for practicing for the real thing), plus all the Japanese study supplies you can shake a katana at.
	Kumamon Gift Bag Kumamon is a popular Yuru-Chara of the Kumamoto Prefecture which are all the rage in Japan now. Check out this lovely Kumamon Gift Bag.		Fun Pokemon Products Restocked When life gives you lemons, make Pikachu shaped muffins, I always say. Various fun products restocked today.
	Kagami Mochi 2014 Kagami Mochi literally means 'mirror rice cake' in Japanese, and is a traditional New Years decoration. Celebrate the New Year with this mochi display.		Other New Japan Snacks Enjoy a delicious new variety of Bitter Chocolate Fran, plus Premium White Soda (Pocari Sweat) candy and Ramune gummy!
	Anime Snacks from Japan We love to sell Japanese snacks related to your favorite anime, and today we restocked our Pokemon candies.		Japanese Snacks Restocked Be sure to take a look inside our snack listings because we've got tons old favorites back there waiting for you like the Heart Moko Moko Toilet Candy.
	My Neighbor Totoro & Kiki's Delivery Service Bento Box We got two new 2-tier bento box featuring the adorable Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro and kawaii Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service.		Gummy Candy Maker Not only is this penguin super cute, he's also a functional gummy candy making friend! Words cannot describe this cuteness.
	Fun Kitchen Products Restocked A large update of random kitchen products, like the Pop Up Character Bread maker, and awesome Nyanko Cat Tong for cooking.		Ridiculously Coffee Cups Restocked Today We defy anyone to find a cuter panda or frog coffee cup than the awesome ones we're restocking today. Click to browse now.
	Year of the Horse for Good Luck See great products for getting good luck in the new year. We also have traditional ema wishing boards for Year of the Horse, 2014!		Akagi Nendoroid Figure ~ Kantai Collection Preorder this kawaii Nendoroid figure of cute aircraft carrier, Akagi. She comes with a lot of fun extra parts fans will enjoy.
	Athena Asamiya 1/7 Figure Wow! A rare figure of Athena Asamiya in her goddess outfit from the classic 2D fighting game Neogeo Battle Coliseum. Preorder her now.		Umi Sonoda 1/8 Figure Fans of popular idol anime Love Live! are in for a treat with this lovely figure of cute idol Umi Sonoda in her vibrant idol costume!

New and Restocked NSFW / 18+ products

	New Ecchi Magazines Posted Raizo is a hot JAV magazine featuring a wide array of genres, previews from the hottest label, AV stars and amateurs.		Sexy Photobooks Restocked Enjoy Mana Sakura's latest photobook jam-packed with sexy photos showing off her amazing body. Click to see our awesome photobooks in stock.
	New Hentai Comics Available! Whether you're into hot wives with glamorous bodies or slutty rich girls, you'll find something you like in our manga section today!		Today's New Doujinshi From Space Battleship Yamato 2199 to A Certain Scientific Railgun S, and more, we've got plenty of new doujinshi for you to browse today!
	We Love Yuri Manga From the mangaka of the zombie girlfriend manga, Sankarea, comes this wonderful yuri manga about cute girls loving other cute girls tenderly.		Gorgeous 'H' Manga Restocked And we've restocked some of the best like Monster Musume Paradise, Soku Hame Channel and other popular ero works.
	Sexy Artbooks from Top Artists We have a nice update of sexy artbooks, including Moeru! Majo Jiten for fans of cute witches, plus Erect! visual fanbook and more.		New 'Cast Off' Figures Posted Then: enjoy some red-hot "cast off" anime figures from Japan, which have an, ah, interactive aspect to their clothing that really makes them fun to own.
	More 'Pure Girl' Stress Toys We love the new onaholes from TamaToys that simulate pure, studious girls who are curious about sex, with great Kantoku-style art.		Other Onahole Toys Restocked See other toys in stock, including the Passionate Gimmick, a really well made toy, and Deko Boko Mou Mou, plus parody anime toys.
	Awesome Onaholes Based on JAV Actresses Plus toys based on our favorite JAV stars, such as Aimi Yoshikawa, Risa Tachibana and Mihono Sakiguchi. SOD male aids restocked, too.		Cat Tail Butt Plug, Other Toys Restocked The toy that lets a girl become a cat-girl in an interesting way is on its way to becoming a J-List legend. See vibrators, too.
	Ecchi Cosplay from Japan Costumes can add so much to playtime, and we restocked several items, including shimapan and various "trap" products.		School Days, an Awesome English Eroge Today's recommended English eroge is School Days, the full animated amazing game that's completely uncensored + super awesome!
	Venus Blood ~ GAIA The fun continues with the latest installment of the Venus Blood series, an erotic strategy RPG with challenging gameplay and plenty of cute girls to conquer.		Top Import Eroge from Japan See restocked eroge too, incl. the USB powered toy + 3D Custom Girl games, Fault!! Service by Tony Taka, Cross Channel and the Majikoi games!
	Female Teachers HD 8 Hours TMA sets us up with 15 hot Japanese girls including Eririka Katagiri, Nao Mizuki, Erika Kitagawa for a hot female teacher fetish compilation in Blu-Ray.		The Complete Works of Yuma Asami 8 Hours Yuma Asami fans will want to get their hands of these 2 new best-of from Alice Japan, put together with love, in a 2 DVD - 8 hour package!
	Deep Kiss ~ First Experience! SOD has put together an awesome new lesbian release featuring only amateur friend couples enjoying their first les-experience guided by Erika Kitagawa.		Unstoppable Whaleshower - Mayu Sato Watch the new and long awaited SOD Star in her second release, a juicy shiofuki performance!

Finally, A Huge Restocking of Ero DVDs & Blu-ray Finally enjoy a large update of "H" works including a very special cafe in which girls pay for their coffee by felating their waiters, Could You Enter a Hot Spring Bath With Only a Towel? 8 Hours Special, The Tentacle DX Box 470 minutes (!!), Kiss Chijo with Kana Yuma, the New Face Debut of Towa Aragaki, Fascinating Lesbian Soapland with Women Who Are Addicted to Women, plus more stock of the Akira Fubuki remastered videos. view this product »

Our EMS Sale is Still Going Strong

December 18, 2013, 2:39 am

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Remember that J-List has begun an awesome EMS cash back sale! From now through Christmas, we'll give you $25 in store credit if you buy $125 or more on the site and choose EMS shipping, or a whopping $50 back if you buy $250 or more. EMS is ridiculously fast, comes with insurance included and is also fully trackable. J-List store credits can be used on either the JLIST.com or JBOX.com websites, and they never expire. . Get shopping now!

2014 Anime Calendars are Selling Out Fast

December 18, 2013, 2:39 am

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Every year J-List carries hundreds of great 2014 calendars from Japan, including anime and manga, popular Japanese idols, gorgeous views of Japan including Mt. Fuji, and some "naughty" calendars for JAV fans. Every year the calendars sell out quickly around Christmas, but this year they're disappearing at an even faster rate than normal. Already several major calendars have sold out for the year, so if you want to avoid the agony of missing out on that gorgeous Kantoku or Oreimo or Steins;Gate calendar, grab the ones you want now. All calendars are covered by our ongoing EMS sale, too! Click here to browse all 2014 calendars, ranked by our awesome customers.

The History of Kissing in Japan

December 18, 2013, 2:40 am

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One topic that's interesting to explore is the Western custom of kissing and its history with Japan. While the English word "kiss" was imported during the Meiji Period, when Japan was modernizing as fast as it could, the concept of kissing goes back at least to the Heian Period (794-1185), where it's described in literature from that era. As often happens in Japanese, English speakers are happy to find a convenient loan word available to use, the English word キス kisu, but eventually you have to learn the archaic but often aesthetically beautiful Japanese word, which is 接吻 seppun. While private kissing between lovers is fine, the Japanese are very conservative when it comes to this act, and would never do it in a public place. They're extremely suspicious of the European custom of cheek kissing as a greeting between friends, and this is often used as the basis for comedic misunderstandings in anime. Drawing their favorite anime and game characters kissing is a favorite pasttime of Japanese fan-artists, whether it's as a reward for a job well-done or exploring the various possibilities of yuri tonsil hockey. If you're on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, follow J-List to see some of the random images I post each day.

Some info on the history of kissing in Japan.

The Japanese Take their Glasses Seriously

December 18, 2013, 2:44 am

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I write often about how one of the joys of living in Japan is experiencing exceptional service, which is all the more amazing because there's no custom of tipping here, which can be a frustration when you want to reward someone who went out of their way to provide exceptional service but can't. The other day my wife wanted to buy some new glasses, so I went with her to her regular glasses store to see what new designs they'd gotten in. The Japanese take their megane seriously, and there were many styles in the shop, including frames by famous designers like Christian Dior and Bvlgari along with functional designs with more down-to-earth prices. The process of choosing the frames was impressive: we sat down at a counter and drank green tea while the employee, who knew my wife by name and was already familiar with her tastes, suggested different styles to try on. While she did this, another employee completely dis-assembled her existing glasses, replacing several parts that were worn out and tightening everything nicely for her. The coup de grâce came as we left the store, and the first employee rushed out into the street to bodily stop traffic for us, bowing deeply as we drove off. It was certainly an experience to remember.

The Japanese take their glasses very seriously.

Good News for Kuroko no Basketball fans

December 18, 2013, 2:45 am

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The word 同人誌 doujinshi literally means "same person publication" and refers to an amateur-published work (these days nearly always a comic book, though literary magazines used to be common) made by a group of like-minded fans who share the same passion for embracing and extending Japan's pop culture. Unfortunately this view isn't 100% universal, as witnessed by one individual who sent more than 400 letters -- some containing lethal substances like hydrogen sulphide -- threatening violence against shops and doujinshi events that carried works related to the anime and manga 黒子のバスケ Kuroko no Basuke (Kuroko's Basketball). As a result of the letters, circles producing comics related to the anime and manga were banned from selling their works at Comiket, and several other events were canceled entirely over public safety concerns. When the police announced that 36 year old failed manga-ka Hirofumi Watanabe, the individual responsible for the letters, had been safely arrested, there was much rejoicing throughout Japan's otaku community.

The reign of terrorism against sweaty anime boys has come to an end.

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Cool Products Friday, December 20, 2013

December 20, 2013, 2:35 am

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For the new update, we've got some excellent products from Japan for you. You can view all new J-List products by clicking this link.

Today's New & Restocked Items

Big Update of 2014 Calendars See a great update of 2014 anime, idol, traditional Japan photo and other calendars to the site today, though be warned: nearly all the calendars have come in, and every day we're seeing more and more popular calendars sell out completely. Today we posted Rozen Maiden, Infinite Stratos, Kantai Collection and many others. Browse and order soon! view this product »

	Figure JAPAN + Ultimate Madoka Figure It's time for a new issue of Figure Japan, the premiere magazine for amazing figures from Japan. This issue comes w/ an Ultimate Madoka figure. Wow!		Little Devil Ageha ~ Koakuma Ageha Jan 2014 Another super issue of Little Devil Ageha, a great Shibuya-influenced fashion magazine that showcases the most glamorous trends in Tokyo right now.
	KanColle Dengeki Comic Anthology 1 We found a very nice manga anthology of Kantai Collection (KanColle), the popular online game full of cute battleship girls.		Monthly SUNDAY GX Jan 2014 Sunday GX is an awesome new manga magazine packed with great stories and amazing art.
	'Super Pose Book' Ero Artist Photobooks Artists need pictures of sexy Japanese girls in various poses in order to perfect their skill. That's our story and we're sticking to it.		Nichijou, Touhou, Oreimo Manga Restocked See awesome manga restocked, including Nichijou, OreImo, Touhou, nice yuri works and more.
	Kawaii Anime Figures Posted See fresh stock of our kawaii anime figures from Fate/stay night to Puella Magi Madoka Magica to Haganai and other series.		Did You Get a J-List Grab Bag? J-List fuku-bukuro grab bags are a great way to get a big value and save money. Click to browse this year's bags now. But hurry, they go away in January!
	Rabbit Ear Hoodie Little kids aren't the only ones that get all the fun to wear cute clothing with animal ears.		Stylish Denier Black Tights Here's a warm pair of Japanese black stockings that are sure to add extra warmth and style to your daily life.
	Strawberry Panty 100% ~ Size M & 3L A super cute pair of ichigo (strawberry) underwear that has been seen in various anime and manga. By customer request!		Wonderful Striped Socks, Shimapan See other popular memes-turned-fashion, like the striped socks and real shimapan, great for cosplay or other uses.
	Totoro T-Shirts! We've got great anime T-shirts in stock in San Diego, like the new Totoro x Batman crossover design. Do you like it?		Takoyaki Cooker, Other Kitchen Items Bring home the traditional Japanese summer festival food, Takoyaki, with an authentic pan for use on gas and electric stoves tops.
	Anime Games for PSP, PS3 Restocked Fresh stock of Sword Art Online, Oreimo Portable, Galgun, Queen's Blade Spiral Chaos, To Love-Ru Doki Doki! Rinkai Gakkou, Toradora Portable, and more.		Tachikoma Earphone Jack Figures You can now own those cute Tachikoma's from cyberpunk anime Ghost in the Shell with this cool Earphone Jack Box Set for your smartphone.
	Why Not Pick Up a Japanese Kotatsu? And there are a lot of great traditional products posted today too. Get yourself a Japanese kotatsu to keep yourself warm in the winter.		Exotic Spa BUB This limited edition Bub brand bath salts includes the scents of a resort vacation, including a floral, fruits, 'romantic' and forest scents.
	Cabernet Sauvignon Grape...Hi-Chew? Enjoy the great flavor of Japanese Hi-Chew, in a new fun and fluffy flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon grape.		Fuwawan Microwave Pancake Kit Even young kids can learn the joys of baking with this easy to use kit to create real pancakes in your microwave. Kawaii~
	Traditional 'Neri Ame' Liquid Candy "I've always wanted to try this!" squeals Mugi in an episode of K-On! She was talking about Neri Ame, a fun traditional candy you knead with chopsticks.		Japan Kit Kat, Other Snacks Restocked Enjoy Japan Kit Kats and Oreos, Lotte Drink Mix Candy, Meiji Hamburger Gummy Making Set, Kracie Puchitto Fruit Soft Candy, Morinaga's Hi-Chew, and more.
	Kawaii Kitchen Accessories Posted Not only can you make Hello Kitty shaped cookies, we have restocked other kitchen accessories, including Roller Food Deco Stamp, Panda Cookie Cutter Set, and more.		Ramen Microwave Bowl, Other Kitchen Items Make ramen fast with our popular Ramen Microwave Bowl, so excellent for university students. Also, see other great microwave cooking products.
	Japanese Omamori Charms, More Restocked We can always use more good luck, and we restocked several authentic omamori good luck charms from Japan today.		Evangelion iPhone5/5S Skeleton Covers Also: show your Evangelion love with these official cases for iPhone 5/5S, which feature famous Eva logos on the back. Preorder now.
	Sailor Venus S.H. Figurearts Action Figure Venus Power! Makeup! The Sailor Senshi of Love and Passion gets an awesome Figurearts action figure. Preorder Sailor Venus now!		Levi Figma Action Figure ~ Attack on Titan! From the epic anime Attack on Titan comes a very excellent figure of Levi! Complete w/ Survey Corps uniform and 3D maneuver gear plus more!
	JC.COM The Muse of Range Murata 1/6 Complete Figure W-W-Wow, is all I can say, looking at this outstanding Range Murata figure. How can something this cool looking exist in the universe?		Shimakaze Pureneemo Doll ~ Kantai Collection From Kantai Collection (KanColle) comes this beautiful doll of Shimakaze of amazing design. We think you will love this one.
	Tomo Asama 1/8 Figure 'Zudon Miko' ver. From Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, we have Tomo, posed ready to fight while looking very sexy in skintight clothing. Preorder now.		Finally, Even More Figures to Drool Over There's more! Click to see top-quality figures of cute girls from OreImo, Henneko, Wolf Children, and other popular series.

New and Restocked NSFW / 18+ products

	The Best Magazine GOLD NO. 194 Feb 2014 Another outstanding issue of The Best Magazine, which features nude erotic photography that can only be called "the best.		Tsubomi First Photo Essay The angelic yet naughty Tsubomi has just about everything you could want in the world of JAV. Check out her latest photobook.
	WAaI! boys in Skirts vol. 15 Fans of "traps," or joso (crossdressing boys), won't want to miss the latest issue of this awesome magazine full of the prettiest boys around.		Sentence Girl Sumiya presents a heartwarming erotic love story about a guy who gradually falls in love with an eccentric girl after their first sex.
	Delightful Ecchi Manga Restocked Enjoy some great restocked manga volumes, including Ruri Ruri by the epic Yui Toshiki, plus Futanari Princess Knight Elise and Otome Saku.		Touko Hinamatsuri illustration Works Check out Touko Hinamatsuri's much awaited second artbook featuring promo art and new illustrations from popular eroge titles.
	Other Fun Ero Artbooks Restocked See other ecchi 2D artbooks restocked, too, including the Sports Wear Complex book, which we love.		New 'Cast Off' Figures Posted We've got some wonderful cast-off figures for preorder, like genderbent versions of Amadeus Mozart and King Arthur, plus sexy maids, pirate girls, and more.
	Fuwa Toro Dosnade Another huge and high grade stress relief toy for men, from famous Japanese adult toy maker ToysHeart, the onahole that's as soft as marshmallows!		KanColle Parody Bukkake Lotion...? Tamatoys never cease to amaze with brilliant ideas, the new addition to our catalog is a Tamatoys lubricant for bukkake fans!
	Fresh Stock of Popular 'Monster' Onahole Toys J-List customers love "monster girls," and we restocked the popular detailed onahole toys that look totally inhuman. Very popular item.		Fella Pet, More Restocked The geniuses a Toys Heart have created a very realistic fella onahole, shaped like a face with an accurate recreation of a girl's juicy mouth.
	Don't Forget the Batteries Here's a great vibrator for our female customers that's great for beginners, with an excellent shape and power to relieve stress.		The Best Eroge and Visual Novels Today's recommended English eroge is Shuffle! a great game that happens to have an ichigo pantsu girl in it!
	Sengoku Koihime BaseSon's popular Koihime series continues with an all-new game full of cute girls based on historical figures!		BIJIN Blu-ray Special - Mio Morisaki (Blu-ray Disc) KMP introduces us to a new super hot actress, Mio Morisaki, half Japanese and Brazilian, gifted with super hot looks and body.
	My Only Kyonyu Female Teacher - Hitomi Tanaka (region 2) The amazing 98cm J-Cup kyonyu queen Hitomi back in a new hot release label, as a hot teacher, turned into a sex slave by one of her student...		Amateur Lesbian Couples 2 A new release featuring only girls enjoying the company of other girls, featuring only real amateurs Japanese hotties.
	Sex within 4 Seconds Special 3 2 Discs & 8 Hours Alice Japan occasionally throws a little curve ball for their AV Idols to keep things fresh and fun during production.		Female Juice - Aimi Yoshikawa Aimi Yoshikawa pre-retirement release with SOD is certainly the hottest Aimi Yoshikawa performance so far, a super hardcore production that fans must see.

Hitomi Tanaka, Other Great Ero Works Restocked Enjoy the latest and best releases from Hitomi Tanaka, including Ero Cowgirl, J-Cup Super Bakunyu Instructor and her epic All 19 Titles 8 Hours Blu-ray work, plus Lesbian Battle and other awesome works. Brunette Lotion School Swimsuit Europe, the best performances of Sora Aoi, and my favorite, the Zenra Ballet series. view this product »

Did You Order Anything Using our EMS Cash Back Sale?

December 20, 2013, 2:37 am

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Remember that J-List has begun an awesome EMS cash back sale! From now through Christmas, we'll give you $25 in store credit if you buy $125 or more on the site and choose EMS shipping, or a whopping $50 back if you buy $250 or more. EMS is ridiculously fast, comes with insurance included and is also fully trackable. J-List store credits can be used on either the JLIST.com or JBOX.com websites, and they never expire. . Get shopping now!

Fun Memes from Japan via J-List

December 20, 2013, 2:38 am

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Whether it's Japan's famous shimapan or ichigo pantsu or cushions based on the "boned meat" meme in Monster Hunter and elsewhere, you can find fun products on J-List. We love to follow anime memes as they get popular and get the items on the site, since anime is more fun if you can buy the real products. Why not browse and make an order during our shipping sale?

The Japanese Love Traveling to Famous Resorts, Including San Diego

December 20, 2013, 2:39 am

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The Japanese are big fans of traveling abroad, and there are hundreds of travel agencies that provide cheap package tours to various destinations, along with dozens of TV programs that showcase the best vacation spots around the world. The other day I was flipping channels and stopped at a familiar site: my home town of San Diego, California. It was a show called "Let's Enjoy the Seven Seas" in which beach-loving comedians Mimura Masakazu and Otake Kazuki -- who form a manzai duo called "Summers" -- travel to resort destinations like Tahiti, the Bahamas and Australia's Gold Coast, reporting on things that are important to Japanese travelers like the cost of rooms, the quality of the food and even the strength of the water pressure in the showers. The duo traveled all around San Diego, eating at my favorite Hawaiian Shave Ice shop in Pacific Beach and exploring exotic resort hotels in La Jolla. The show awarded San Diego its coveted five star rating, saying it matched the top-ranked Hawaii in terms of fun activities for tourists while providing the perfect climate free from unpleasant humidity.    

The Japanese love traveling to exotic locations.

Famous Memes from Japan: Domo-kun and Ichigo Pantsu

December 20, 2013, 2:39 am

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It's fun to mark the Japan-related memes that come along over the years, like the rise -- forgive the pun -- of ichigo pantsu, underwear with strawberries printed on them, iconicized by the popular manga and anime Ichigo 100%, or the recent popularity of the cartooonish "boned meat" meme in Japanese pop culture. This Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of an old friend of ours at J-List, Domo-kun, a popular brown monster created on December 22, 1998 to celebrate ten years of satellite broadcasting by NHK, Japan's national broadcasting network. Domo is a "strange creature that hatched from an egg" whose name is a very polite word (seen in phrases like どうもありがとうございます domo arigatou gozaimasu, the most formal way to express thanks), and he exists in part to encourage Japanese children to speak to others more politely. Domo-kun exploded onto the Internet in 2002 when someone posted the now-famous "Every time you...God kills a kitten" Photoshop image to FARK.com, and suddenly anime conventions were filled with Domo-kun cosplayers chasing catgirls all over the place.

Some of my favorite memes from Japan.

Famous Memes from Japan: Domo-kun and Ichigo Pantsu

December 20, 2013, 2:40 am

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It's fun to mark the Japan-related memes that come along over the years, like the rise -- forgive the pun -- of ichigo pantsu, underwear with strawberries printed on them, iconicized by the popular manga and anime Ichigo 100%, or the recent popularity of the cartooonish "boned meat" meme in Japanese pop culture. This Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of an old friend of ours at J-List, Domo-kun, a popular brown monster created on December 22, 1998 to celebrate ten years of satellite broadcasting by NHK, Japan's national broadcasting network. Domo is a "strange creature that hatched from an egg" whose name is a very polite word (seen in phrases like どうもありがとうございます domo arigatou gozaimasu, the most formal way to express thanks), and he exists in part to encourage Japanese children to speak to others more politely. Domo-kun exploded onto the Internet in 2002 when someone posted the now-famous "Every time you...God kills a kitten" Photoshop image to FARK.com, and suddenly anime conventions were filled with Domo-kun cosplayers chasing catgirls all over the place.

Some of my favorite memes from Japan.

Japan's "Geinou-kai" Talent World

December 20, 2013, 2:40 am

≫ Next: Cool Products Monday, December 23, 2013

≪ Previous: Famous Memes from Japan: Domo-kun and Ichigo Pantsu

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It's fun to look at Japan's 芸能界 geinou-kai or entertainment world, which encompasses all actors, singers, bikini idols, comedians and anime voice actors. Japan's show business industry is highly structured, with virtually every aspect of a given star's career carefully controlled by professional talent agencies with names like Yellow Cab, Keep Smiling, Queen's Factory and Hello! Project, who manage what stars will appear on which TV shows, what "guarantee" (lump sum payment) will be paid by the TV studios, and even what kind of bento the stars will be served while working. There are similar talent management companies in the U.S., of course, but one big difference is that here, everyone is quite aware that the irresistibly cute Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is affiliated with the Asobi System talent agency, while the enigmatic half-Japanese, half-Russian fashion model Rola works through the Libera Production management company. It's common for stars associated with the same company to sometimes appear together. For example, director/comedian Takeshi Kitano runs a successful talent agency called Office Kitano which discovers and manages young comedians and other "talents," and any show he produces will often feature members of his "Takeshi family" of performers. Japan's talent management companies often become so influential they can leave a lasting impression on popular culture, like Johnny's Entertainment, which virtually created the category of ikemen (ee-keh-men, extremely cute male idols) in Japan over the past three decades.

The Japanese know which companies manage their favorite stars.

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Cool Products Monday, December 23, 2013

December 23, 2013, 2:24 am

≫ Next: Our EMS Sale Goes Through January 1st

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For the new update, we've got some excellent products from Japan for you. You can view all new J-List products by clicking this link.

Today's New & Restocked Items

2014 Anime Calendars Our 2014 anime, idol and other calendars are selling incredibly well this year, so well that we've already sold out of some popular offerings. We're happy to report that the Tony Taka calendar has come in stock, though 75% of them are already sold to preorder customers. Grab your copy before they are all gone! view this product »

	Kantai Collection, Other Calendadrs Posted The red-hot KanColle calendar is in stock too, along with other popular works from Infinite Stratos to Steins;Gate to Evangelion. Browse now!		Great Studio Ghibli Calendar for 2014 This year's Studio Ghibli calendar is popular as usual, featuring original art from the top Hayao Miyazaki films. We restocked the calendar but no more stock will come in.
	Super Sonico & Other Nitroplus Figures Nitroplus fans, rejoice! We have an awesome figure of Santa Sonico in stock, just in time for you to buy and take advantage of our up-to-$50-cash-back sale.		B's Log, Comic Coro Coro The definitive magazine for all things fujoshi, B's Log is the first and best source of information for yaoi fans. Plus Comic Coro Coro too!
	Cutie Jan 2014 For the cutest fashions in Tokyo today, there's no better resource than Cutie. Each issue is packed with photos of only the trendiest Tokyo girls.		Zip-up Bear Parka Japan loves wacky fashion! Become a super soft and huggable bear, in this new parka from Japan.
	Awesome New Japanese Lace Up Socks J-List loves the over-knee socks which, when combined with short skirts, create zettai ryouiki or "the absolute zone." See all the new varieties!		Wacky Horse Head Masks Back in Stock 2014 is the Year of the Horse, and you can have loads of fun with one of these at your New Year parties. In stock in San Diego.
	Slightly Ecchi Cosplay We love to stock cosplay items from Japan, and today we have swimsuits, shimapan and much more for you to try.		To Love-Ru Darkness Bath Towels Check out these great bath and beach towels in stock featuring Momo Velia Deviluke and Yami from super interesting anime To Love-Ru Darkness.

Need Any Last Minute Otaku Gifts? If you've still got someone to buy a gift for, why not score some otaku cred with them by getting a J-List Gift Certificate? They're processed electronically and will be sent -- either to your recipient or to you, so you can print the gift certificate out yourself -- by email without a few hours of receipt. J-List Gift Certificates can be used on either site and never expire. view this product »

	Restocked Anime Blu-ray Boxed Sets Enjoy fresh stock of the Steins;Gate movie limited boxed set and Madoka Magica movies, which have FULL English subtitles.		Evangelion Watches, Figures & More Need that extra special gift for the otaku in your life? You can never go wrong with an Evangelion watch, shirt or collectable.
	Cute Anime Cups, Tumblers A great item for fans of the ultra popular anime Pokemon Best Wishes. Collect or give them to your friends. They also make a great present for kids.		Fun Animal Crossing Products Restocked The Japanese love stamps as much as the next person. See our very cute Animal Crossing Stamp Sets featuring your favorite characters.
	The Colossal Titan Rubber Mask is Back! One of the hit products of 2013 has been the Colossal Titan mask, which sold out over the summer. It's back in stock, in plenty of time for Halloween!		Sailor Moon Make Up A great item for Sailor Moon fans: official eyeliner (pencil and liquid type). Now you can literally "Moon Princess Power...make up!"
	Rabbit YUTANPO ~ Eco-Heater Be warm this winter with a Japanese designed yutanpo, perfect for the eco-conscious, in a cute rabbit plush style.		Amazing 'Kairo' Japanese Hand Warmers Winter is coming, and the best way to keep warm is with these Japanese kairo hand warmers. They keep you toasty for hours, really!
	Kawaii Coloring Books Fans of shoujo manga will have fun coloring these lovely books with tons of illustrations done in shoujo manga style by top Japanese artists.		Professional Manga Pens, More Restocked Get some great Japan-only pens to make your art look better than ever, including the official pens used by manga artists + more.
	KADOMATSU 2014 Celebrate the new year with a Japanese flair this year. This is a traditional Japanese New Year's ornament known as a Kadomatsu, and we love to sell them.		Omochi Pack Make a breakfast or snack that's totally Japanese by adding some mochi to it!
	Big Update of Japanese Snacks Today Today's new Japanese snacks include Double Layer Custard Pudding Pretz, Fit's Gum in "betrayal" flavor (?) + strawberry fruit gummy.		Restocked Kyoto Candy & More We also restocked our Kyoto Candy that customers love so much, plus Milky Candy, Gummy Takoyaki and Pocky!
	Popular Bento Boxes Restocked Today Plus we've got a ton of awesome Totoro and Ghibli bento boxes, along with other kawaii character bentos.		Kawaii Hatsune Miku Bento Boxes Jump into the cute and artistic world of bento lunches, now with even more cuteness thanks to everyone's favorite virtual idol, Miku Hatsune.
	SAKURA Bowl White Japan has some really great dish ware, like you've seen in anime and Japanese films. Everyone needs at least one Japanese style bowl.		Japanese Miso Soup Bowls, Other Items Restocked Nothing tastes as good as a bowl of steaming miso soup in the morning. See fresh stock of these miso soup bowls today.
	Kawaii Pikachu Cake Molds When life gives you lemons, make Pikachu-shaped cakes, using the cute silicon molds we restocked in time for Christmas.		Awesome Anime Chopsticks Today's Pokemon and Totoro chopsticks are sure to be super effective at making someone in your family happy...maybe yourself.
	Popular Cookbooks + Bento Books Learn how to make all the delicious dishes that can be found in Japan, all detailed and beautifully photographed in this wonderful book.		Beautiful Traditional Noren Door Curtains We have two new noren today, from the famous artist classic Japanese artist, Katsushika Hokusai, painter Red Fuji and more.
	Maken-Ki! 12 Limited ver. with Oppai Mouse Pad Preorder the newest volume of Maken-Ki, the manga known for its ecchi fanservice. This limited edition version comes with an oppai mouse pad. Wow!		Maka Albarn 1/8 Figure ~ Soul Eater We got a rare figure of Soul Eater's main character, Maka Albarn ready for preorder. She's looks so cool with her trusty scythe, Soul Eater.
	Attack on Titan Sports Towels See our huge selection of Attack on Titan Sports Towels for preorder featuring fantastic art of your favorite characters!		Monokuma Mask ~ Danganronpa Jump into the world of Danganronpa when you put on this cute Monokuma mask. A great way to freak out your friends. Preorder now.

New and Restocked NSFW / 18+ products

	The Famous AV idol Delivery Service!! Another fantastic digest "H" magazine focusing on the AV idol delivery genre, in which lucky fans get visited by their favorite AV girl. Sounds nice.		Love Para - Nozomi Asou 3000 Limited Edition Fans of super cute AV performer Nozomi Asou will love this mind blowing limited edition photobook, featuring tons of superb pics of her.
	H-Manga From Erect Sawaru, More From the great mind of Erect Sawaru comes this awesome ero manga for tentacle lovers featuring excellent stories in various settings.		Moe-Collection Akihabara Concept Visual Book Fans of moe anime girls will love this new artbook appropriately titled Moe Collection with over 50 pages of high quality moe art.
	Gorgeous H-Manga Restocked Today Enjoy our newly restocked hentai manga including Pure Mates, Lovely Lovers Love, Mousou Lovers, and Just A Little More.		Today's Restocked Ero Manga Plus, newly restocked selection of H-manga like Futa Suk, Wagamama na Tare Chichi, Honto ni Atta H na Taiken 3, and Kagaku na Yatsura.
	Sumire Fiard Koushaku 1/5 Cast off Figure Based on the popular h-manga by Mizuho Nanase, this cast off figure is definitely NSFW, unless you work at an office as cool as J-List.		Pretty Guardian Sailor Mercury Parody Toy Tamatoys finally delivers what fans have been waiting for, a new high quality onahole parody of Sailor Mercury!
	NIJI YOME ~ Nakoto Next up, we've got a great onahole featuring the cute school girl Nakoto, who is willing to be your girlfriend or your naughty childhood friend or whatever.		Awesome Japanese Lotions Too Fun personal lotion for anime fans restocked today, plus our most popular onahole cleaner and "magic rings" for men.
	Onaholes Based on JAV Stars Also, we have "H" toys based on JAV actresses, plus the popular Virgin series of well designed ero toys.		Don't Forget the Batteries Japan's powered personal toys are the best in the world, and we restocked the Premium Silicon Vibrator from Tamatoys.
	New Eroge from Japan Enjoy the gorgeous Imouto ~ Mitsu-Tsubo for fans of Oreimo-style themes, plus the legendary Muv-Luv game series.		Today's Recommended English Eroge Speaking of imouto themed games, we recommend Hitomi My Stepsister as a fun game with great ecchi story elements.
	Sexual Massage Parlor 5 The Bazooka label packs together this amazing compilation or erotic massage parlor scenes, in 2 Blu-ray for 8 hours of High Definition action.		Perfect Body Race Queen - Nami Itoshino If you love Race Queens and other hot asian companion girls from Motor Shows, you will love this new release featuring Nami Itoshino, a former race queen.
	Wives Oil Massage 8 Hours A super hot best-of from SOD featuring hot wives from across the world, willing to try Aesthetic Salon the Japanese way...		Amateur Lesbian Couples 3 A new release featuring only girls enjoying the company of other girls, featuring only real amateurs Japanese hotties.

Finally, Today's New Ero DVDs and Blu-rays Finally, a nice update of "H" titles, including the delicious AV Debut of Aika Yumeno, Sora Aoi Best 8 Hours Special, Yuma Asami Selection Best 10 Scenes, Hitomi Tanaka as the Bakunyu ("explosive boobs") Landlady with 8 hours of her best works collected, plus Zenra Sex Education, Stop the Time part 20 and Silk Labo, which is JAV made especially for women. view this product »

Our EMS Sale Goes Through January 1st

December 23, 2013, 2:25 am

≫ Next: Consider J-List Gift Certificates for Gifts

≪ Previous: Cool Products Monday, December 23, 2013

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Remember that J-List has begun an awesome EMS cash back sale! From now through Christmas, we'll give you $25 in store credit if you buy $125 or more on the site and choose EMS shipping, or a whopping $50 back if you buy $250 or more. EMS is ridiculously fast, comes with insurance included and is also fully trackable. J-List store credits can be used on either the JLIST.com or JBOX.com websites, and they never expire. . Get shopping now!

Consider J-List Gift Certificates for Gifts

December 23, 2013, 2:25 am

≫ Next: Japan, Christmas and Christmas Cake

≪ Previous: Our EMS Sale Goes Through January 1st

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If you missed anyone on your list this year, there's still time to get them the perfect gift: a J-List Gift Certificate, the gift that says, "I think your nerdiness level is over 9000." J-List gift certificates can be used on either the J-List or JBOX.com sites, and they never expire. They can be sent directly to your recipient via email, or sent to you, so you can print it out and present it to them in person. Order a J-List gift certificate now!

Japan, Christmas and Christmas Cake

December 23, 2013, 2:26 am

≫ Next: Death Planning in Japan

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Well, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and we're all getting ready for a nice American-style Christmas in Japan. Being a relatively recent import from the West, Japan's idea of Christmas is likely to be a little different from your country. While around 1.5% of Japanese are Christians who attend mass at local churches (there a dozen or so Catholic, Baptist and Mormon churches located in the cities around J-List, and even one affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church), for most Japanese Christmas is a fun excuse to have a party with loud firecrackers, spoil children with presents from Toys "R" Us and maybe perhaps go on a date with that special someone. It's common in the U.S. for people to lament how "commercial" Christmas has become, though this is not a new problem -- it's a theme found in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special which has been around since 1965. Sadly Japan is no exception to this trend, and shops are filled with so many plastic Christmas-themed products it can sometimes be hard for gaijin living here to get into the proper mood. One idea I'm fascinated with is whether it's possible to quantify the cultural importance of a thing by how many related fanart images are posted to websites like Pixiv. If this measure is at all accurate, Christmas is very important to Japan, based on the thousands of cute images of anime characters dressed up as "Santa-san" that exist. If you want to see some of these pictures, follow the J-List Facebook, Tumblr or Twitter feeds!

One of the most famous images of Christmas in Japan is "Christmas cake," a delicious cake that's either handmade from scratch or ordered from a bakery to be picked up on December 24th. The custom got started in 1910 when confectionery company Fujiya -- the ones who make those delicious Milky caramels -- introduced the British tradition of Christmas cake to Japan, though the local version is usually a standard sponge cake with strawberries and a whipped cream-based icing. One big trend over the past few years has been the rise of convenience stores selling Christmas cakes featuring licensed characters like Madoka Magica, Pokemon and even Attack on Titan. Convenience stores have become a popular way for animation studios to reach new fans, and by creating limited products like Lawson's Eva-themed Christmas cake that comes with a metal Spear of Longinus knife to cut your cake with, convenience store chains can bring a lot of customers into their stores.

The Japanese love creating Santa-themed art; you can't have Christmas without a Christmas Cake.

Death Planning in Japan

December 23, 2013, 2:28 am

≫ Next: Cool Products Wednesday, December 25, 2013

≪ Previous: Japan, Christmas and Christmas Cake

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Today (December 23rd) is the birthday of the current Japanese emperor, Akihito, who happens to be the 125th ruler in an unbroken line that stretches back for 2000 years. The reign of each emperor has an "era name," with the current one being Heisei ("peace everywhere"), and since 2013 is the 25th year of Akihito's reign the year is nearly always referred to as Heisei 25 inside Japan. It's unknown how many more years the Heisei Era has left, since the Emperor is getting up in years, having reached the age of 79 with health problems ranging from prostate cancer to a heart condition requiring bypass surgery. Last month the Emperor did something quite remarkable: he released a document outlining his wishes for a funeral and burial for himself and his wife, Empress Michiko. This was unique because, for all the "death culture" that foreigners observe when they arrive in Japan, there's very little forward thinking about preparing for death. In America, it's quite common to write a will outlining your wishes or create a living trust to protect your family's assets from undue taxes upon your death, but these kinds of preparations aren't done in Japan at all, and even bringing up the subject is a big taboo, as I've learned by accidentally raising the issue with my Japanese in-laws. Hopefully with the Emperor's embracing of the subject, more Japanese will think positively about making preparations for the future.

The Emperor and his wife are thinking about the future.