Category Archives: Japan Envy

Japan Envy: TokiMemo Girl’s Side Credit Card and Exclusive Events

I have to say, this is going to be my favorite Japan Envy posts in a while. Why? Because it’s about Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side-themed VISA credit cards!

official website

Of course, there’re credit cards for virtually everything these days, but this is the first time I’ve seen a credit card game tie-in before (feel free to point out others in the comments, if you know of any). And this isn’t just any game tie-in, but an otome game tie-in!

The perks of this card are that once you collect a certain number of points, you’ll be rewarded with various exclusive merchandise. The lowest revealed tier contains stickers featuring characters from the three games, and there’s also a 800-point option that gets you a signed illustration.

But most interestingly, only cardholders will be able to attend a certain upcoming event being held in celebration of the series’ 10th anniversary. On March 9th and 10th, cardholders will have the chance to go on a “live 2.5D” date with one of the series’ 32 different characters:

It’s still early, so there aren’t many details available on the website, but it will take place at Tokyo Disneyland and there’ll be all sorts of exciting things for fans going on, such as appearances from the voice actors and special exclusive goods for sale. 
But who cares about that –– this date thing is what’s got me really interested! Apparently, it will consist of some kind of animation sequence that actually changes depending on the things you say. Along those lines, the website is touting that it’s an event where you’re not merely watching, but actually actively participating in. I’m not sure how they’re going to go about achieving any of that without having everyone just playing copies of the various games, though… 
So, if there was a credit card available for your favorite game franchise or company (Nintendo VISA, perhaps?), would you want one? What kind of perks would you want it to have? I’ll be completely honest and admit that even though I probably wouldn’t actually attend the date event, I’d want a TokiMemo credit card solely because of the fact that it’s so adorable! 
For more information on Tokimeki Memorial: Girl’s Side, head over to my Otome Game Primer post!

Japan Envy: POKÉMON with YOU Train

Anyone who’s a fan of Pokémon probably knows that Japan has plastered the lovable critters faces in virtually every inanimate object available – including trains, school buses, and even airplanes. The upcoming POKÉMON with YOU train (yes, that capitalization is intentional), however, takes the trend a little bit further by featuring a full Pokémon-inspired interior and special play carriage with the theme of a “Pokémon forest” for rambunctious children!

Of course, these images are an artist’s interpretation and do not reflect what the final train will look like exactly, but it will probably be fairly similar to what’s pictured above and below.

Now, I can safely say that I would definitely ride the POKÉMON with YOU train if given half a chance, but I’m not really impressed with the color scheme, especially those horrid bright-colored seats in the first illustration. Yuck! 
If I were the president of The Pokémon Company (and I clearly should be), I would’ve utilized the gorgeous designs used in the Pokémon Time merchandise series exclusive to Pokémon Centers in Japan. Well, at least the outside looks pretty adorable: 

The POKÉMON with YOU train is part of the POKÉMON with YOU program, which was established as a way to spread happiness to the children of Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. It will run in the Tohoku region of Japan (the Northern section of Honshu, Japan’s main island, which was most affected by the disaster last year), consist of two cars, and have 100 different Pokémon featured throughout. The first week of service, December 22nd to the 28th, will be exclusive to victims of the disaster, following that it will be open to the public for 160 days. That means it’ll still be running when I visit Japan in June! Now, if only I could find a reason to go to Tohoku and a child to bring along so I don’t come off as a total weirdo…

I wonder if the stewards will wear Pokémon-themed uniforms like the attendants on the Pokémon planes?

Note: I’ve just switched to Disqus for comments, so please let me know what you think of it! 

Japan Envy: Animal Crossing 3DS LL

source

I realize this is old news now, but I can’t help but share my thoughts on the recently-revealed Animal Crossing 3DS LL. Just look at it! I’ve heard some say it looks too much like a polka-dot underwear pattern, and though I suppose I can see where they’re coming from, I think the small repeating pattern on the white system is actually very classy. The red x black Mario 3DS isn’t too shabby either, but let’s face it, I only have room in my heart for Animal Crossing.

Now some of you may recall that I started pondering the possiblity of buying a Japanese 3DS LL (or XL for us westerners, but I’ll continue to call it an LL since I’m talking about the Japanese version) back when the Pikachu yellow version was announced, and I have to admit that even though I didn’t manage to snag one of those (believe me, I tried, and you can hear the gritty details in the upcoming Nichiest Podcast Ever), the whole ordeal has subsequently found me comitted to buying a 3DS LL sooner rather than later. Hell, I’ve even started contemplating what Japanese game I’ll get with it!

I was nearly charmed into buying that gorgeous little pink x white 3DS LL, so this Animal Crossing limited edition came at just the right time. Releasing on November 11th and coming with a digital copy of Animal Crossing preloaded onto the SD card, this system is basically a sign from Nintendo that I am meant to purchase a 3DS LL before the end of the year. And purchase I shall, as long as there aren’t crazy day one shortages like there were with the Pikachu 3DS LL!

But enough about me… what do you think of the Animal Crossing 3DS LL? Prefer the Mario one? Think they’re both rubbish? I’m curious to know!

[UPDATE] And now that lovely Pikachu 3DS XL is coming out in Europe… Way to throw a wrench in my plans, Nintendo!!

Japan Envy: Pikachu Yellow 3DS LL/XL

Guess what? Japan’s getting yet another amazing limited edition console, and this time it’s a Pikachu-themed 3DS LL (or XL for us westerners). I’m fully ready to admit that this is the most beautiful handheld I have ever seen. I want it with every fiber of my being. Okay, that’s a little creepy, but I definitely like it more than the last exclusive Japanese 3DS I gushed over (this Kingdom Hearts one).

This brilliant 3DS LL, titled “Pikachu Yellow,” will only be available for preorder at Japanese Pokémon Centers from August 25th to September 14th for 18,900 yen, strictly limited to one console per customer. Believe me, if I lived in Japan, I would literally line up outside my local Pokémon Center for this, if need be!

Pikachu’s pleading eyes bore right into my very soul.
Funnily enough, I’ve actually been warming up to the 3DS XL as of late, not in part due to shidoshi’s rave comments regarding his first-hand experience with one on our latest Nichiest Podcast Ever. This bright yellow with the white hinge definitely takes the cake –– I only wish that they showed the inside, which I’m assuming is white. If it’s actually yellow… Well, that would be quite jarring to look at, wouldn’t it? 
So what do you think: is the Pikachu Yellow LL the handheld of the century or an unbelievably garish monstrosity? I think you know where I stand! 

Japan Envy: Pizza Delivery Chain Tie-in Merchandise

Here’s another thing about Japan that will stump me for all eternity: American pizza chains are actually cooler over there than they are in their home country! Sure, some may argue that squid ink pizza doesn’t sound all that appetizing, but this time I’m not talking about the pizza itself, but rather all the awesome freebie tie-in merchandise American chains like Pizza Hut and Domino’s get in the land of the rising sun.

First of all, here’s what spurred me to write this post in the first place: Pizza Hut is currently having a campaign until October 21st where if you buy a kid’s crispy pizza, you get a Rilakkuma bowl for free:

200 lucky customers will get their pizza in that adorable box!

For the curious, the pizza contains the following ingredients: sausage, sliced potato, corn, parsley, mayonnaise, and tomato sauce. As it’s a kid’s size, it’s only 15 cm big, but is priced pretty reasonably at 500 yen (about $6.40). More importantly (why would anyone order Pizza Hut for the food?), here’s the bowl that comes free with every purchase:

official site

Unlike a lot of these campaigns, obtaining the bowl isn’t a matter of buying x amount of kid’s pizzas to collect stamps or points, but you’ll actually get a bowl with your very first order. If you’re a sucker like me who’d want to have both bowls, it’d still only set you back about $13 –– a pretty good deal for two little pizzas and two adorable bowls, if you ask me!

Though it pains me that I can’t partake in this awesome campaign, I think this is a fine occasion to share my own pizza delivery tie-in merchandise experience. And what better franchise to feature a tie-in than with Pokémon?!

This Pokémon x Domino’s Pizza campaign was going on back when I was in Japan in 2009, and my host mother was sweet enough to order me one! And it came with not one, but two awesome freebies:

Plastic tote bag – front
Plastic tote bag – back (note the Domino’s logo and the Arceus;
this promotion coincided with the release of the film Arceus
and the Jewel of Life
An adorable pouch! I use it to carry my camera 
Close-up of pouch detail

Oh, I have no doubt moving back to Japan would make me go broke… from buying so many pizzas for their adorable freebies!

Japan Envy: Totoro Cream Puffs

Japan has the art of cute edibles down to a tee, if you ask me. Not only do they have everything from Dragon Quest to Sailor Moon-themed cafés, but there’s an edible version of practically ever Japanese character you can think of! Case in point:

Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory! They specialize in none other than Totoro cream puffs. They’re almost too cute to eat!

I love how the one on the left is looking upwards!

The different things on their heads represent what flavor’s inside, too. The regular green leaf is the straight-up vanilla cream custard, while the brown leaf indicates a seasonal chestnut flavor available from October through December. In addition, there’s strawberry cream (pink flower), peach cream (hat with a pink ribbon), and chocolate cream (hat with a blue ribbon). They’ve even got a special Christmas Totoro:

I think I need to make a special trip just to eat these. I mean, even the storefront and map found on the website oozes charm (the shop’s location is indicated by a white Totoro!):

Definitely make sure to stop here if you’re in Tokyo!
That’s it! Time to plan my next trip to Japan.

Japan Envy: Even more Pokémon merchandise

If you’re at all familiar with this blog, you know that I’m not a stranger to posting about Japanese Pokémon merchandise. So what more could I possibly have to say about the topic? Prepare to be amazed. 

Recently I stumbled on to what might be the best Pokémon-related website ever, Pokémon Tokyo. What is it, exactly? Oh, you know, just some pictures of Pokémon merchandise the author finds in Tokyo. Except they post virtually every day. Sometimes multiple times a day! If you need a Pokémon merchandise fix, Pokémon Tokyo is all you need. 

Granted, it would be nice if they wrote a little bit about all of the different items they post pictures of, but the titles are generally more than enough to figure out what the picture’s of, even if you don’t speak Japanese. I suppose actually writing about each thing would take away from the time they could be posting more photos, so I won’t hold it against them.

I highly suggest you head over there and scroll though a few pages of Pokémon merchandise goodness.  Here are a few of my personal favorites: 

I don’t really wear too many t-shirts, but I quite like the design of this one! I would totally wear it, even though I never thought myself much of a Keldeo fan. 
Classy handkerchiefs! Love the retro pixel art. 
If the postman showed up with any one of these, I would die of happiness. What great designs! I honestly can’t decide which I like the best… 
But I am quite partial to grass Pokémon (don’t ask why, I have no idea), so perhaps this one? Oh, but the water Pokémon-themed design is so cute, too… Can I just have them all? 
A dancing Scraggy?! Now if only there was a video of him in action… Oh, wait… 
Okay, admittedly that wasn’t as mind-blowing as I hoped it would be, but it’s still pretty darn adorable. 
And finally, I’ve saved the best (?) for last: 
I give you: the Stunfisk section. Is there some kind of hidden love for Stunfisk in Japan that I’m not aware of? I always thought of him to be some kind of sad Pokémon joke, kind of like Luvdisc (granted, Luvdisc is much, much worse). Anyway, I’m glad to see so much merchandise for this under-appreciated (?) Pokémon!