DBSK does it again with this sexalicious new MV for their song “Wrong Number.” This is the thrill of fangirling right here. The picture they used may have been wrong but certainly not the video. The picture makes it look like all the boys are secretly strippers and Max just owns them. In this new MV, we get to see a sexy side to all of the boys, especially band leader U-Know (Yunho). There were scenes where my jaw just dropped from the sexy overload. I thought he was just too sexy for the screen when he gives that glance to Xiah while on the phone. NO. It got hotter than that. That scene where Yunho was in the bath tub. GOODNESS. And when he STEP OUT of the bath tub. I swear, these boys poison my teenage mind every time. Then there’s also a few new backing vocals added with Xiah singing. He’s got an amazing voice. But I’m pretty sure there’s just going to be lots of fangirling over Hero (with his rapping part and all). Just my fangirling instincts kicking in I suppose. I think everyone will just have to see the MV for themselves. More »

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This past week, I had the opportunity to eat at a Japanese restaurant called Menchanko-Tei and boy was it yummy.

I was there with my boyfriend to eat with a friend who was 15 mins late! It was really hard not to eat without her since the room was completely filled with the aroma of ramen. Looking over the menu, most of the items were inexpensive; however, I felt like there wasn’t much of a selection. It mainly consisted of ramen where you could add multiple toppings. More »

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OMG. This is the group that got me into KPop way back in sixth grade, in 1996 for me. This group and this particular song, their first mega-popular single. Man, this is bringing back so much memories. H.O.T., standing for High-five of Teenagers, were like Seo Taiji, all revolutionary in their own ways to change the Korean media.

While I still think Seo Taiji really paved the way for groups like H.O.T., I think H.O.T. were the ones who really made it popular. I mean, popular with a capital “p”. I mean so popular that their jerseys? The ones in the video belows? They were being sold as well as their hats. Seriously. One of my friends knew where to get those merchandises. She liked Tony, I liked Hee Jun, another friend liked Kangta, and another liked Tony as well, but we all took those merchandises, and we were even considering memorising the dance, the song, and everything and perform it at our school’s talent show. Luckily, that didn’t go through, but that’s how popular the group was.

Anyway, since I got into DBSK, I was actually looking back into the past boy bands like H.O.T. and decided that they are classic enough to warrant an entry. Anyway, watch and listen to the videos below. “Candy”, the song lyrics has NOTHING to do with the confectionery, is a happy-go-lucky song, catchy, and er . . . the boys were in very strange outfits now that I look back on it. Regardless, here’s “Candy” by H.O.T. More »

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For those who don’t read Chinese, here’s the story. Once there was this Chinese restaurant owner in Beijing who was very eager to cater his restaurant business to the visiting foreigners during the Beijing Olympics games. His restaurant sign was written in Chinese, and had to be translated into English according to the local authority. The owner did not want to hire a translator in an attempt to economize his business efforts. A friend of his suggested that he use one of the free online translator websites instead, and he gladly followed his advice…

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There has been a lot of buzz on which snack sensation was first. Pepero or Pocky? Does it really matter which delicious delight began the snacking sensation? Isn’t imitation a form of flattery? It is time to come together people and say there is room for both! Yes, let us all snack together! One world of goodies and sweetness!There is room for all the snacks of the world to be munched on! Kirin Sticks, German Mikado Sticks, and Yan Yan too. These thin stick-like candy coated biscuits that are favored snacks of many can bring us together! Love people… World Snack love! 

Aren’t we elated at the chocolate coated confections have reached the western market? They now grace the shelves of many convenience stores. No more trekking to specialty stores or anime conventions to get our cravings, you can even buy them online. However, I do find it slightly ironic that many supermarkets don’t carry these cookie-like goodies but make room for their westernized brethen. Yes, I am talking about Nestle Stixx. I’ve tried sticks and I have found them to be lacking in comparison to their Asian cousins. Now of course if you would want to share a Stixx with me.. I would comply only out of my extreme politeness. More »

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The company that makes Pocky has a philosophy “A wholesome life in the best of taste!” HUh?!? Wha?!

If you think about the meaning of Glico’s motto, there is really no question. The tasty confections like Pocky are an instant answer, so we actually get the meaning while we munch. Sweet snacks are part of many of our wholesome memories birthday cake, Halloween candy, Girl scout cookies, candy canes are just some examples of goodie goodness. So here and now we declare season O’sweets starts now. Happy Holiday’s Everyone! Pocky day is upon us! Today we have even more license to nosh on these wonderful sticks of delight. Begin the fun, take the test and decide your Pocky poison. More »

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It is time for a sugar rush! Here is your plan for the Pepero & Chobap Dinner Party.

First complete your shopping list by getting the main platters ingredients. First you will first need Pepero! Pepero will act as your chopsticks for the evening. Make sure you get as many as possible because with this meal it is almost a requirement to eat your utensils.

Then you will need to make your chobap, this particular platter was found at Not Martha. The ingredients that you needed are Hostess pastries found in many markets. A small package of mini powdered donuts (6 to a package), a small bag of multi colored jellyfish, 2 prepackaged Twinkies and a box fruit roll-ups. Take your donuts and cut them in half to make a C shape. These half moon donuts will act like a rice base. Top with the Jellyfish and wrap in a fruit roll-up that you have cut into strips. Then cut your Twinkies into thirds, wrap in green fruit roll-ups and garnish with candy. On the side you can serve the little red yogo treats like they were fish roe or some gummy crystallized ginger. YUMMY! More »

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Hey everyone! Happy Pocky day! I must say, this has got to be one of the best days ever considering all we have to do is EAT POCKY AND CELEBRATE IT’S AWESOMENESS. But that aside, one of my favorite parts of Pocky day is the commercials! My brother and I used to just look up Pocky commercials in our spare time because they were so funny and ridiculous. Here are a few of my favorites! More »

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Pepero = Pocky = Icing covered pretzel sticks. Strangely, I find it ironic that Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day also means Pepero or Pocky Day, at least for the Koreans and the Japanese. Honestly, it’s really a strange combination of a day when one stops to think about it.

I also find it ironic that as much as Korean resents Japan for what happened during the Japanese Occupation Era, Korea likes to copy Japan in more than one ways. Copying the Japanese snack of Pocky into Pepero, it wasn’t until 1994 did Pepero Day start with Japan following suit with their Pocky Day in 1999. (Having read this on Wikipedia, I am not sure if it’s accurate. Don’t hold me accountable, please!) Talk about irony on top of irony. It cracks me up. More »

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The Ezaki family has been creating and innovating confectionary products, including the immensely popular Pocky, since 1922. Their company, Ezaki Glico is currently run by Katsuhisa Ezaki, who has been serving since 1982.

First sold in 1966, Pocky consisted of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. Simply enough, right? It had sales of ¥30b yen in its first two years (roughly $30.2b USD) and was an instant hit among Japanese teenagers.

Founding Father After the death of one of his sons, Riichi Ezaki had retreated to a fishing village and noticed a group of very healthy and active children playing. Further investigation yielded the villagers’ high consumption of oysters which contained elevated levels of glycogen. More »

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If it’s 11/11, then it must be Pepero Day!

For the next 24 hours, good Korean citizens everywhere will be exchanging cookie sticks coated 3/4 with chocolate(-like edible substance). If not, the Korean economy, which is powered by the mighty Lotte corporation, might collapse. (As you may have heard, these past few weeks have been shaky times for many financial markets.)

Pepero comes in all sorts of gift packaging for Pepero Day. You can get it in a gift basket, stickered with Winnie the Pooh, tied with a ribbon, or in its normal box (yawn!). A pair of Pepero in each hand, held up to the light, will remind you that today’s date is in fact 11/11.

Prepare for a sugary sweet lesson in Hangul: More »

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Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) released her new album “Love Exercise (愛的練習語)” and (surprise!) it’s entirely in English. It features Jolin’s pop electronic renditions of English karaoke favorites like “Lovefool” (The Cardigans) and “Lady Marmalade” (Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Pink, Mya).

But what hit me was the Asian counter punch of “Kiss me”… More »

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“Hey boss, can’t make it to work today, caught that nasty IAS bug that’s been going around…”

Yeaaa, imagine the possibilities. Chinese doctors have now officially defined internet addiction as a sickness. The cause? Spending more than six hours a day online, with symptoms like difficulty sleeping or concentrating, yearning to be online, irritation, and mental or physical distress.

Well, no kidding. As with many immature medical theories, they lack a sort of specificity that prevents an accurate diagnosis, should it ever come to that. Found in Chapter 1, page 598 of “Owning Newbs, Anime Bewbs: A Guide to Internet Lifestyle” by Dr. Jerry, a more specific list of common ailments can be found: More »

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The 2003 Korean Drama, Dae Jang Geum (A Jewel In The Palace) will be made into a feature film soon. The love of my life Lee Yeong-Ae will return to play the lead role, Seo Jang-Geum. South Korean heartthrob Song Seung-Hun will also join the cast, as well as some Chinese actors and actresses. The details of the cast have yet to be decided. I think they should have Zhang Ziyi play the role of the evil empress Choi-Seong Guem. It’s a role she was born to play.

The Asian film industry is finally taking a page from Hollywood. It’s about time they start turning TV series into movies. We have turned countless TV series into major motion pictures here in the U.S.  Some were successful (i.e. Sex and The City - The Movie) and some were not ( i.e. Inspector Gadget). I hope they won’t screw this up. Dae Jang Guem has got to be one of my favorite Korean soaps thus far.

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Synopsis/Plot Or otherwise known in Korea as Babo (fool in Korean), the story takes place with the talented pianist Ji-Ho (Ha Ji Won) who returns home from Europe after she gets stage fright. When arriving in her home town, she is greeted by her childhood classmate, Sung-Ryong (Cha Tae-Hyon), who is mentally ill. While Ji Ho may have forgotten him, Sung-Ryong has always remembers and loved her. Along with Ji Ho, he also deeply cares for his sister Jee-In (who is completely ashamed of him; Park Ha-Seon) and Sang Soo (his best friend; Park Hee-Sun). As the story progresses, each of Sung-Ryong’s loved ones are approached with difficult situations where Sung-Ryong saves them in a surprising way. More »

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Hope you guys enjoyed your week as it was a very exciting one. I would like to congratulate President-Elect Barrack Obama for winning, we’re all looking forward to change.

Here’s this week’s wrap up. More »

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One day I was browsing the web and I was reading up on some Asian American issues. Somehow I came across a link to a film festival in San Francisco. It was called the SFIAAFF which stands for the San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival. I also knew of some people in a Facebook groups and some Asian American message boards that were buzzing about it. I read up on it and decided on a spur of the moment to attend it. More »

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It has taken me twenty-three years to discover the godliness of Indian cuisine. I admit that I am not adventurous when it comes to food, but when I am at the point of where I am sick of eating the same crap over and over again, I will look for something different. Therefore, this past spring, one of my friends who loves Indian cuisine suggested we try Taj Palace out in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, a place she never been to before but heard good reviews of the place.

This restaurant is near Hooker Hill a red light district in Itaewon, and it’s above a transsexual bar. That made me think weird random stuff in my head. However, considering how it’s normal to see set ups like that in Seoul, especially in Itaewon, I threw those thoughts aside and went in there. It is a nice, clean place, with nice host and waiters. On Saturdays and Sundays, they have their weekend buffet, where it’s 16,500 won (about $15-16) and it’s all you can eat. The varieties is good, and along with the buffet food, we also get free naans on the side. Mmmm.

Let’s just say after my first visit there, I was forever converted into Indian cuisine fan. I love that place, and I went back more on my future visits, bringing friends with me who agreed that it was an awesome place. I guess despite its choice of location and whatnot, it’s a great Indian restaurant. See below for images of the meal from my last visit. More »

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Chan Wook-Park’s “Old Boy” is now making its way overseas to the US for a remake by Steven Spielberg and Will Smith. While I’m not a big fan of remakes, I’m actually looking forward to the movie.

In the 2003 Korean original, a man gets kidnapped and held in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. Suddenly, he’s released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.

Currently, the duo is still in talks but hope to move forward with Smith as the lead. There is still no writer but hopefully they’ll stay true to the original story. Otherwise it wouldn’t be as good. More »

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A couple of weeks ago, I attended the 2nd Annual Asian Summit here in Cincinnati, presented by the Asian Community Alliance and hosted by Northern Kentucky University. I went with an open mind, not really knowing what to expect. It was good to meet people within the Asian-American community, but there was something missing—young people. So here’s a recap. I hope my coverage encourages you to get involved with similar events in your city.

At the opening session, I scoped out the fruit and doughnuts, then looked around for a table to eat with. A couple of white college students sat at a back table, but I felt that NOT sitting with them was my personal stand against segregation. A bunch of middle-aged Asian women were very glad when I brought out my secret weapon—a brag book of my adorable sons, aged almost three and eight months. Now, if you’ve read my blog at all, you know that my husband is Korean. One of the ladies asked me, “Will you send your sons to Korean school?” I hedged a bit, feeling that decision was better left to hubby. More »

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