The Filipino dancing prisoners pay tribute to Michael Jackson

It was their version of Thriller that first made them an Internet sensation.

Now, in the wake of his tragic death, the Filipino dancing inmates have made a new Michael Jackson tribute.

RiP - Michael Jackson

A very quick post (might be edit later)

It's in the middle of the night (3.45 AM) in the Sweden right now, about 2.30 AM I got up since it was so hot and I had trouble sleeping. I turned on the TV and saw the news of that MJ had passed away.
I wasn't a big fan of him. But he was a genious as a musican and has contributed alot.
I really feel sorry for his family and the thousands of fans that are mourning him now. :(
Just to bad it happened a few days before his comeback tour.

Asian drama series I’ve seen

Here's a list of the asian dramas I've seen so far.
You're welcome to tell me what you think of these dramas.
Most recently seen drama: Satokibi Batake no Uta (2003)

In alphabetical order:

• 14 Sai no Haha (2006) Well... what to say. This drama is well acted most of the time. I especially liked Tanaka Misako and Namase Katsuhisa's (Miki's mother and father) contribution to this drama. Shida Mirai did also do well acting as Miki. In some way I think Satoshi, being Miki's boyfrined, should have been there more for her. The soundtrack for this drama is good, maybe not top-notch, but still good. During the first episodes I kept wondering if it could be possible that the reporter could've been Satoshi's father.
  This drama does not make it to be favorites list, even though it's well acted.
  Personally I think it's wrong of 14 year old to give birth, risking both her own and the baby's life, and that she's too young to become a parent.
  However maybe the purpose of this drama was to show young persons to responsibility of their actions - I'm talking about things in general here.
  
• 15 Sai no Blues (2005)
  
• 3 nen B gumi Kinpachi Sensei + Graduation Special (2001) [Season 6]
  
• 3 nen B gumi Kinpachi Sensei + Graduation Special (2004) [Season 7]
  
• Aoi Tori (1997)
  
• Asunaro Hakusho (1993) This is a drama serie that I really like
• Bara no nai Hanaya (2008) Wonderful drama! Absolutely worth watching.
  
• Beautiful Life (2000)
  
• Blackjack ni Yoroshiku (2003)
  
• Byakuyakou (2006) Another drama that makes it to my "Best dramas". Great acting, a very interesting story and good music overall. At first I felt sorry for Yukiho, then I thought she was just using Ryouji, by episode 9-10 I disliked both of them. Memoriable quote from this drama: "You're the worst."
  
• Gokusen (2002) A fun drama, smiliar to GTO. If you liked GTO I'd suggest you watch Gokusen. I'm not going to debate over which is better.
  
• Gokusen 2 (2005) Kumiko returns yet again. This time to new school with a bunch of new students. My first reaction when seeing Odagiri Ryu (Kamenashi Kazuya) He reminds of Shinya, from Dir en Grey.
• Great Teacher Onizuka (1998) Also known as "GTO".
• Hakusen Nagashi (1996) This drama made me long for my own (secondary) high school days. Wishing that I could go back in time. For the most part enjoyed going to school.
  
• Hatsu Tsubomi (2003)
  
• Ichi Rittoru no Namida (1 Litre of Tears) (2005) + Special (2007) The drama that is no. 1 at my list. A great plot, with deep message, good acting and soundtrack. Tissues are needed for this show.
• Ikebukuro West Gate Park + Special (2000) Also known as "IWGP".
• Innocent Love (2008)
• Iryu - Team Medical Dragon (2006) [Season 1]
  
• Itoshi Kimi e (2004)
  
• Joou no Kyoushitsu + Special (2005) In a way I almost liked the Special more than the actual drama serie itself.
• Jotei (2007) Based on the manga with the same name. I began watching this drama, then dropped it after three episodes. Recently I picked it up again. From the very first moment I saw Rina (and Reiko) I disliked both of them.
  I guess that many of the girls that 'agreed' with Reiko of everything she said about/to Ayaka did it since they was afraid of being the next bully victim.
  Ayaka developed into a strong young woman, but I think she payed a (too high?) prize for it. The theme song "Kanata", sung by Nanamusica is really good. I wish I could find more music with this artist.
  
• Kamisama, Mou Sukoshi Dake (1998) A little bit of over-acting, but a really great soundtrack. Thanks to S.E.N.S. and Luna Sea. This serie isn't bad, I just say, it could have been better.
• Kanojo to no Tadashii Asobikata (2007)
• Konno-san to Asobo (2008) A little bit odd serie - but hilarious! ^o^
  
• Kono yo no Hate (1994) Also known as "End of the World"
  
• Kou Kou Kyoushi 1993 (1993) This was the second drama I watched. Compared my first, being Summer Snow. This was much darker. I can't praise the soundtrack of this drama enough, thanks to Douji Morita (森田童子).
• Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003 + Special (2003) New story but some old character(s) appears from "Kou Kou Kyoushi 1993".
• Last Friends (2008) A must watch for anyone.
  
• Life (2007) Adapted from Keiko Suenobu's manga with the same title. A very good drama about bullying. If you like the manga LIFE I can also suggest you read "Confidential Confessions" by Reiko Momochi.
  
• Long Love Letter (2002)
• Loss Time Life (2008)
  
• Mahiru no Tsuki (1996) Takes up the topic rape seen from the victim's point of view and the consequences of it.
  
• Majo no Jouken (1999)
• Maou (2008)
  
• Meguri Ai (1998)
• Nobunaga (1992) The 30th NHK Taiga drama. Year 1540-1585. This was a very long watch, 51 episodes! It took a few months. A good way to learn of Japanese history, especially how Christianity was brought to Japan.
  
• Orange Days (2004)
  
• Otousan (2002) I thought this drama was slow.
• Satokibi Batake no Uta (2003)
  
• Seija no Koushin (1998)
  
• Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu (2004)
  
• Shiroi Kage (2001)
  
• Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi (2002)
  
• Summer Snow (2000)
  
• To Heart (1999)
• Toi Shinseki Chikaku no Tanin (1999)
  
• Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi (2006/2007) [Season 1 and 2] I loved this drama. Just too bad each season was so short, only four episodes.
• Warui Yatsura (2007)
  

Gackt Dears Fan Club Overseas?

It looks like Gackt is considering setting up the Dears Fan Club overseas. (Please do it) ^^
A survey can be found here.

Dir en Grey, MUCC and girugamesh to Perform in Scandinavia

This June, various metal festivals are taking place in Scandinavia. Three Japanese bands have been announced for the line-ups.

Dir en Grey, MUCC and girugamesh will all be performing on the Swedish event Metal Town, which will take place on June 26th and 27th in Göteborg, Sweden. Currently, the event's schedule has not been released yet.

In the same weekend, Tuska Open Air will place in Helsinki, Finland. MUCC and girugamesh will also perform on this event, and their performances have been scheduled for June 28th. Dir en grey is not part the event.

For more information about the two events and to order tickets, please refer to the Metal Town and Tuska Open Air websites.

Buono to play at Stockholm Japan Expo 2009

Buono! From italian language adjective for 'good' is a J-pop band consisting of three Hello!Project Kids members: Momoko Tsugunaga and Miyabi Natsuyaki from Berryz Kobo, and Airi Suzuki from °C-ute.
The unit was officially announced at the Nakayoshi magazine Festival 2007 on July 21st, 2007, at Tokyo's Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, and formed to sing both the opening ("Kokoro no Tamago") and ending ("Honto no Jibun") themes for the anime adaptation of the Shugo Chara! manga.

Buono!s official homepage
Hello!Project Official homepage
PONY CANYON Official homepage

Buono! will perform on Stockholm Japan Expo 2009 on Sunday, May 24th.

Tickets can be bought at Ticnet, one ticket for 500 SEK includes all three days, 22nd-24th May when the event takes place.

More information can be found here
In Swedish: http://www.japanexpo.se/
Or in English: http://www.japanexpo.se/index.php?id=1

European Releases of Kagrra,'s Shu and PS COMPANY 10th Anniversary DVD

The German label CLJ Records will release Kagrra',s upcoming album Shu in Europe on April 1st, simultaneously with its Japanese release. The album will also be available in a regular and limited edition.

Also the DVD PS COMPANY [10th Anniversary Concert Peace & Smile Carnival], containing the concert of PS COMPANY's 10th anniversary on January 3rd, will be released in Europe by CLJ Records. The DVD will be released on the same date as the Japanese release: April 15. It will be available in a regular and a limited edition, the limited edition coming with the same bonuses as the Japanese one: six booklets of 12 pages containing all artists and special packaging.

Peace&Smile Carnival 3.1.2009 at Nippon Budokan

LIVE-DVD: Kagrra, / Kotodama / Sai / Utakata Kra / artman / Mutaku to Mutaku to / Amaoto wa Chopin no Shirabe / Buriki no Hata alice nine. / Velvet / RAINBOWS / Blue Planet the GazettE / Filth in the beauty / LEECH / DISCHARGE -miyavi- / Kabuki Danshi-KAVKI BOIZ- / Sakihokoru Hana no youni-Neo Visualizm- / As U r -Kimi wa Kimi no mama de- ＜Opening Act＞ SuG / LOVE SCREAM PARTY SCREW / VEGAS

More information about both releases can be found on CLJ Record's website.

Source: JaME U.K.

Dragon Ball: The Movie

The movie Dragon Ball Evolution has premier on March 13th, which happens to be a Friday. Looks like this movie can't get any worse (?) start.

Bad Luck Numbers:
There are several unlucky numbers in Japanese. Traditionally, 4 and 9 are unlucky. Four is sometimes pronounced 'shi', which is also the word for death. Nine is also sometimes pronounced 'ku', which can mean suffering.
13 is also occasionally thought of as unlucky, although this is imported from Western culture.
Because of these unlucky numbers, sometimes levels or rooms with 4 or 9 in them don't exist in hospitals or hotels, and particularly in the maternity section of a hospital, the room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean "still birth." Therefore, when giving gifts such as sets of plates, they are normally sets of three or five, never four. [Source: Wikipedia - Japanese Superstitions]

But one thing that's the same when it comes to bad luck is this
Black cat: There are also some imported superstitions such as the believe that black cats crossing the street in front of you cause bad luck.

My top 5 Jdramas

1. Byakuyakou (2006)

2. Last Friends (2008)

3. Kou Kou Kyoushi 1993 (1993) / Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003 (2003)

4. Ichi Rittoru no Namida (1 Litre of Tears) (2005)

5. Seija no Koushin (1998)

Of these dramas, Nojima Shinji (野島伸司) is the screenwriter of three, Seija no Koushin, Koukou Kyoushi 1993 and 2003. Great screenwriter!

Miyavi to play at Stockholm Japan Expo 2009

Miyavi and Blood Stain Child will be two of the musicans playing at Stockholm Japan Expo.
Tickets can be bought at Ticnet, one ticket for 500 SEK includes all three days, 22nd-24th May when the event takes place.

More information can be found here
In Swedish: http://www.japanexpo.se/
Or in English: http://www.japanexpo.se/index.php?id=1