I am saddened that my t-shirt with a cartoon version of my old Japanese baseball hero, Ikeyama (shortstop, Japan Champion Yakult Swallows, 1993) doesn't fit too well and is about 2 washes from retirement.
But I can always count on Japan to bring me new cartoons, and today they announced a great new one: Sumo Birds!
Apparently, the Japan Sumo Association is finally trying to develop some younger fans (about time, since they were complaining about lack of younger fans back in '93 when I was there) and in order to do that, they've developed some Sumo cartoon characters.
In typical brilliant Japanese pun style, they are Sumo wrestling birds. Why? The Japanese word for Sumo wrestler is "sekitori" and the Japanese word for bird is "tori", so they call these characters "Seki-tori-kun" ("Kun" is like "San", but used as a diminutive for kids). Gotta love that. Unfortunately, I can't read the small print on this poster, but I think they've given names to the different bird-wrestlers, and bios and stuff. And the plan is to have giveaways of stickers and pictures and things of the seki-tori-kun at the tournament (which starts in 2 weeks, by the way).
Now, I just need to figure out how to get an adult size t-shirt with that top middle bird on it (I think his name is Hiyonoyama). Might have to just bootleg one myself...
Last year, I heard somewhere the song "The Little Patton" by The Seedy Seeds and liked it a lot (enough to post it here -- amusingly, under the title 'I like this song' and I didn't remember that when I titled this post).
Last week, I was listening to a mix I had made of the best songs of 2008 and heard the song again and wondered to myself what The Seedy Seeds were up to now. I hadn't heard from them since that song, so I assume they haven't toured out to the west coast.
Anyway, coincidentally (a "plate of shrimp" moment), I got back from vacation and checked out the music blogs I hadn't looked at for a couple weeks and what should I find, but a new video/song from The Seedy Seeds. Good stuff.
They have a good Web site -- check it out here -- or you can follow them on Twitter (@theseedyseeds). Here's the video:
There's a new documentary opening Friday called It Might Get Loud. It's directed by the guy who did the Al Gore movie, and it features Jack White (of The White Stripes), The Edge (U2), and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), talking about playing guitar and playing guitar.
While I don't like giving Jack White the credibility he doesn't deserve by putting him in the same sentence as Jimmy Page (and let's be honest, The Edge doesn't either, but there aren't many who do), this is a movie I can't miss. I'm sure it will be worth the money to just hear a few minutes of Jimmy Page talking about his influences, how he came to his guitar style, how he created some of his most famous riffs, and most importantly, just hearing him play and taking in the genius of one of the greatest of all time (Page has to at least be in the conversation for best rock guitarist ever).
For you Wii-players out there (and especially the horse-riding Wii players), check out this possible upcoming Wii accessory.
http://kotaku.com/5334428/nintendos-shameful-inflatable-horse+riding-wii-controller
Seems a little ridiculous, but I actually think Nintendo could do it and make it very fun.
