Elite Yankee Saburo エリートヤンキー三郎 is an 11 episode TV drama (and movie) based on a comedy manga by Shuji Abe about an awkward and nerdy boy who enters high school. He is unfortunately saddled with the legacy of his two older brothers, who were well known delinquents, and consequently is misunderstood and labeled as an “elite yankee.” The late night TV drama was shown on TV Tokyo in 2007 and the 2008 movie was directed by Yudai Yamaguchi.

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K-ON! けいおん! pronunced “Keion” is a fun to read Japanese four-panel comic strip manga  by Kakifly serialized in manga magazines Manga Time Kirara and Manga Time Kirara Carat. The anime version by Kyoto Animation began airing in Japan on TBS  in March earlier this year.

The story is bout four cute  Japanese  school girls who join their school’s music club in order to save it from being abolished due to the lack of members.  The four girls are Yui Hirasawa 平沢 唯 – the new energetic but clumsy lead guitar player,  Mio Akiyama 秋山 澪, –  shy, dark haired left hander who plays bass guitar, Ritsu Tainaka 田井中 律 – the club’s self proclaimed president who plays the drums and Tsumugi  Kotobuki 琴吹 紬– a rich blonde  (nicknamed Mugi) who cooks very well and plays the keyboard.  Read more...

Gekkou Kamen or Gekko Kamen, 月光仮面, or Moonlight Mask is the first Japanese TV superhero created by writer Kōhan Kawauchi 川内 康範, in 1958.   Gekko Kamen  dressed in white tights, white & red cape, white scarf, yellow gloves & boots, dark glasses, face cloth and Indian-style turban (pinned with a “moon” ornament) was  armed with a whip, two six-shooters, shuriken and moon-shaped boomerangs and is always seen riding his motorbike.

About 130 episodes were aired with  Jūrō Iwai – Moonlight Mask played by Ose Koichi 大瀬康一.  There were also 6 movies made between 1958 and 1959 and a Gekko Kamen Manga was produced.  Read more...

Ninja Hattori Kun 忍者ハットリくん is a manga series from 1964 – 1966 by Fujiko Fujio 藤子不二雄 which was later adapted into a live action TV series  (1966 to 1967),  TV anime series (1981-1987)  anime film (1983)  a NES video game  (1986) and eventually a movie ＮＩＮ×ＮＩＮ 忍者ハットリくん ＴＨＥ ＭＯＶＩＥ (2004) starring Shingo Katori 香取 慎吾, Rena Tanaka, Gori and Yuri Chinen.

The story of Hattori-kun revolves around 10-year old Ken’ichi Mitsoba who befriends a little ninja named Kanzo Hattori. Hattori becomes part  of the Mitsoba family along with his brother Shinzou and his ninja dog, Shishi-Manu. Hattori helps Ken’ichi with his problems especially against  Kemumaki, a Koga Ninja and his ninja cat Kagechiyo.  Read more...

Karina Nose 能瀬香里奈 (or just Karina ,香里奈) is a top Japanese actress and model from Nagoya in Aichi prefecture.  This pretty 25 year old has two sisters Anna and Erena who are also actresses.

Karina has been a fashion model for Japanese fashion magazines JJ, Ray and CanCam and appeared in TV commercials forPepsi, Shiseido, Lotte,  Bausch and Long, Big Globe, Subaru, Honda, Suntory, Toyota, ShaMaison and JAL.

Karina has also appeared in several movies including, Bandage (2008) , Koizora (2007), Shaberedomo Shaberedomo (2007), Rinne / Reincarnation (2006), Umizaru (2005)
Tengoku no Honya ~Koibi~ / Heaven’s Bookstore – The Light of Love (2004) and Shinkokyuu no Hitsuyou (2004).  She has one upcoming movie next year “Parade”.  Read more...