Even George Lucas loves japanese nerdy illustration?

Geek industry is huge in japan and it has still potential of growth. No wander, even in unrelated fields, people try to take advantage by using "Moe". (What dose "Moe" mean? that is one of very hard Japanese words to describe, let me put the reference link here Moe (slang) - Wikipedia)


Akita Komachi - that is a well-known rice brand. the package is normally like the picture bellow. It has very traditional, classic design on it.




but last year, Maybe the makers got out of mind, they made the special package for the rice, designed by the illustrator who is popular among geeks. (sounds like because his pictures are mostly sexual). You can see the package bellow. And believe or not, they sold lots of the rice with the Moe designed package.



More surprisingly, (that is why I am writing this post) George Lucas offered the illustrator for Star Wars Memorial Portfolio which involves a hundred famous illustrators form all over the world. He was picked by George Lucas him self and suppose to draw Moe pictures of Star Wars, he said in his blog. it sounds like they're making the portfolio is not announced officially yet.

Reference Sankei MSN News (Japanese)

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Kim Jong-il's son : that is natural Japan intends to intercept The Taepodong Launch

North Korea launched a missile over Japan. Of course, Japan is now pissed off.
(refer to CBC news)

Not many people thought that there would be some very bad thing happen (the missile fall down to Japan by their bad design of the missile or this is just a bluff or something), but I couldn't help worrying about my family in japan here far away from there.

Before it launched, Japan said "We are going to intercept the rocket if it goes over Japan" and North Korea said "then we are going to intercept back to japan". North Korea was determined to be stupid as usual.

But the North Korea President, Kim Jong-il's oldest son gave pretty commonsense-comments about the issue in a interview on Japanese News.

I found only pics and it shows below very small so click it to see the big picture. I also put English translation each seen from top to bottom but sorry if there are not proper translations.

(1)(reporter) Recently photo of your father is released, he looks like he lost lots of weights. (there is the rumor Kim Jong-il is ill) (2)(the son) Its better to lose some wights then gain wights, isn't it? (3)(the son) He must be very tired, he has been very busy. (4)(reporter) Do you think Japan is over reacting toward the rocket launch? (5)(the son) I think Japanese reaction is very natural for self defense.

This guy has visited to Japan without any permission from Japanese Government before. He immediately got caught by police at the Narita Airport in Tokyo and answered "I want to go to Disneyland in Tokyo" to the question "What is the purpose of visiting Japan?". He brought his family, He simply came to go to Disneyland with his family for his vacation. Maybe he could never imagine what would happen if such a important North Korean Person comes to japan with no permissions. Of course he and his family were sent back to their country immediately.

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