A Qoo d'Etat!

Since it's Talk Like a Pirate Day today, I'm going to jump the gun on a Countdown to Halloween post and show some cute Pirates right now.

  

That Pirated gal is none other than Jeongyeon of  Twice fame, a K-Pop group that has sung many of their tunes in Japanese as well. What follows are several of the other gals in Halloween garb anointing the label of either Orange, Apple or Grape-flavoured Qoo.

 

 

 

 

 

It was not until I went to the Qoo website that I noticed that the random letters behind each gal spell out something. (I didn't buy 9 bottles of one flavour, I mixed and matched.)

Here's a brief commercial...



I didn't just buy the Pops (can't really call them juices) for the flavour, I also scored a Clear File and a mini-tote bag.

 

A word of advice, if you want to run out and buy these, I'd do so at a supermarket where they're about 78 yen each, if you go to a Conbini, they're about TWICE that. (See what I did there?)

I don't think I'm going to run out and buy any of their albums, they're a tad to sweet for me.
Case in point...



To wrap up this "Talk Like a Pirate" post, I'd be remiss if I didn't include a silly statement I made on Facebook today. Similar in vein to two years ago, I said,
"Are you King of the Jews?"

"Quod scripsi, scripsi" ("What I have written, I have written.")
"Quid est veritas?" (What is truth?")
"Crucify him!" Why, what has he done?"

It's "Talk like a Pilate Day"!

9 years ago, it was, 

Altitude: 21,000 feet. Speed: 520 knots. Level flight. Course: zero-niner-zero.
As everyone knows, it's "International Talk Like a Pilot Day".

Today's witticism is:

I'm an iron sulfide with the chemical formula FeS₂.
It's "Talk like a Pyrite Day"!

Poster Post!

I popped into Movix on the way home from work, not to see a movie, but to see what goodies they might have. I picked up a few advance movie tickets just to get the premiums that come with them.

Of course, I had to get Gojira and the accompanying poster. It's such a nice deal, I got two!

Too bad it opens worldwide in 10 days and I have to avoid spoilers for 10 more weeks because it won't hit Japan until July 25th! Once again, Japan, you have failed me.

As you can see, I also bought a ticket for Pompeii, not so much because I want to see the movie, but because I get a cool box of tissues!

Similarly, I want to go see Maleficent but I should wear this eyemask in case it gets too spooky!

Spoiler alert: a few unreleased scenes here plus a very annoying blonde chick at the 2 minute mark.



 I take the opportunity to smooch Angelina!

I'm a little disappointed that there are no advanced goodies for X-men Future and Past. Here I try to telepathically acquire some hints about the movie.

I did buy another bucket of Spidey-popcorn. This bucket is actually made of metal and holds a heckofa lotta kernels.

Chilling with a Spartan:

My buddy Crayon-Shinchan and I meet Roboto-chan!

I've shown these before (but damned if I can find them on this blog) but these are the "No More" Illegal Download/ Anti-Piracy ads. The one at the 33 second mark is my favourite, that gal is just so cute. Too bad she'll end up behind bars.



The anime version:



The most recent one, this time with English subs.



They've proven so popular (though not necessarily effective) that they're now marketing the characters. But not the cute gal, darn it.

It's Not Even Talk Like A Pirate Day.

I just got back from watching キャプテンハーロック (Space Pirate-Captain Harlock). I  didn't have a clue what was going on, but it sure was pretty. Great animation, pushing the limits of the genre, visually stunning, but wtf was going on? Something about Earth being devoured by Dark Matter and this guy becomes the new Harlock or something. Anyway, really cool but you should definitely watch it with subtitles, preferably on a big screen.

I received this clear file when I bought my advance ticket and it is also quite cool.

Upon admission to the theatre I was handed this card. Not sure what it means but I think I'm member 204374 of the Space Pirate Society!

For those of you too lazy to click the above link, here's a trailer for you.



Another movie that's out right now but I don't think I'm going to see it is a live-action version of ガッチャマン (Gatchaman). But I did pick up another clear file!

I just re-watched the trailer. It does look kind of cool. Maybe I'll go see it on Monday, it's a holiday.

It's Talk Like a Pikachu Day!

In honour of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here are a few mash-ups you might enjoy! (Not much difference between them, I'm afraid.)





No real Pirates here but it features my favourite character, ホラーマン (Horrorman).



And I'd be remiss if I didn't include キャプテンハーロック Captain Harlock!



I really have to do a Harlock post one of these days!

I managed to do this entire post without talking like a pirate. Aaaarrr!

Altitude: 21,000 feet. Speed: 520 knots. Level flight. Course: zero-niner-zero.

As everyone knows, it's "International Talk Like a Pilot Day" so I encourage you all to use the jargon of our bus drivers in the sky. What? That's "International Talk Like a Pirate Day?" Nevermind.
(I've been in Japan too long! )
 
In honour of ITLaPD, here is an unembeddable Casper toon, The Deep Boo Sea. Or you can watch this...

 
I be at the shores of Shiogama listening to some sea-shanties all day. You can eyeball more pics at my facebook page but here are a few highlights. 

Shiver me timbers, what a day that be!

ps. A heads up to the Wonderful Wonderblog who provides the "Top Ten Pickup lines for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day." I've chosen my favourites, click the link for the entire list.

Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.

How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?

Well blow me down?
And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is … click the link!

Mao-sy No Longer.

As the article in the Asahi Weekly states, "Mao regains her footing." 浅田 真央 (Asada Mao) is Japan's next Olympic hopeful in the Figure Skating category. Check out her Official Site for more details, if you're so inclined.
Though I'm usually not so interested in skating unless it involves hockey sticks and slashing, this is not my first foray into the world of Figure Skating. I never did meet Sendai's very own 荒川 静香 (Arakawa Shizuka) who was the 2006 Olympic Champion and the 2004 World Champion but I came close. One of my pals, Mariko who has her finger in most of the pies in this city, once asked me to translate her Skating resumé into English so that she could take her Ice show to Dubai of all places. Some of this may actually be my handiwork! I never got paid for this work, but I was given free Rakuten Eagle tickets as compensation. Shizuka was intended to become a sponsor for the Pirate Charity that I was assisting occasionally and we were supposed to meet at that ballgame. She didn't show otherwise I'm certain that we would have hit it off and today we'd be working on our second child together! (In some parallel universe, this time-line has occurred.)

Anyway, back to Mao. Best of luck to her in Vancouver, I hope she beats her South Korean rival (Kim Yu-na) and I'll even allow her to win the Gold, provided she makes room for Canada to win the Silver (Ha! Fat chance!) Remember, it's not whether you win or lose that's important, what's important is that the USA loses (I kid!)



Now for the reason that I'm rambling about Figure Skating in the first place...Lotte chocolates have had a promo where if you buy two of their products, you get a free Mao-strap! Look what I have attached to my phone now! Quite the conversation starter...

It's Talk Like A Pilot Day!

In honour of International Talk Like a Pilot Day and the beginning of Oktoberfest here in Sendai, I present for you some covers of our favourite Mother-Fokker Pilot, Hans Von Hammer!














































I happened to attend the aforementioned Oktoberfest and had a grand old time which is the reason I'm still suffering from a nasty hangover. Here are some highlights. As you can see, our favourite Monkey Majikian was on hand, Blaise as well as many many other people.
















































What's that?!? It's Talk Like a PIRATE Day! ARRRRRRRGH, I've been in Japan too long and am beginning to mix up my Rs & Ls too!



Guess what folks, this is my 1299th post! I'll have to make the next one extra special...