Based on nothing other than a single picture and short summary, nothing really looks promising except for Katanagatari, Nodame Cantabile, Legend of Koizumi and Fate/Stay Night. I’m usually wrong about this though and there’s always a few other shows that are really good, just not from a glance. More »

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Regular readers of Ningin know that I’m a big baseball fan, especially a big New York Yankees fan. Until recently, I thought America had the most passionate baseball fans in the world. Then I watched this documentary by Kenneth Eng on Koshien, the national high school baseball tournament in Japan. Prestigious alumni of Koshien includes current World Series MVP, Hideki Matsui and another World Series ring holder, Daisuke Matsuzaka. Baseball in Japan isn’t just a sport or a national past time, it’s an intricate bond that holds entire communities together on a local level and an entire nation together on a national level. Players don’t play for themselves or their teams, but for their coaches, their schoolmates, their family, and all their friends. Losing in Koshien is the equivalent of letting down all who supported them. I like that these games mean so much. It makes the competition all that more fun to watch and makes playing in them a once in a lifetime opportunity. More »

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From Rekuru: This year was a busy year for Nintendo’s handheld, with heaps upon heaps of games released over the course of 2009. Amidst the onslaught of titles to be released though, 2009 also marked the release of some of the most original, as well as best, titles for the system. Below, I’ve compiled a list of ten games that stood above the rest. If you haven’t played these titles, it’s time to start spending that christmas money from grandma. More »

Remember back in October when a flood of girl groups and boy bands showed up out of nowhere? Well there were a few of those n00b’s decided to brag and say they were better than ___ artist. So why don’t people learn from it and show off with their abilities first rather than talk smack then fizzle away and never return? *Cough* Top.Az *Cough*…Ha. More »

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From Rekuru:

Above: Yukio Hatoyama, banzai!

It’s been an exciting year for the Land of the Rising Sun: we’ve seen a significant political power shift, Japanese technology continues to both fascinate and frighten us; but their expatriates are still embarrassing them. So without further ado (drumroll puh-leaze) her are Japan’s Top Five News Stories of ‘09: More »

From Rekuru:

Some people make New Years Resolutions - lose weight, start exercising more, eat more vegetables, all that jazz. But really, all you end up with is a dusty stair-master in the corner of the guestroom. Me? I’ve decided to put together a wishlist of what I’d love to happen in 2010.

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There isn’t much truth in saying that December is part of the most wonderful time of the year. It’s always the most wonderful time of the year here! Although for this month, there’s a lot to be specific about when it comes to calling things wonderful. For starters we launched two sites; beauty site FlauntMe.com and dating site CrazySingleLife.com We also had a ton of stuff under the Christmas tree for you like the Asian Beauty Tribute, The Things Ninginers Would do for Love, The 12 Days of Christmas and the End of the Year Special. Let us also not forget to mention the new games site, FT Island albums + posters, 2PM albums + posters, Red Cliff posters, Ninja Assassin posters and Mixr Rewards’ Xbox 360 and Wii giveaways. More »

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Welcome to the first day of 2010! What better way to start with all the top stories of the day from The Daily Mixr?

via Wirebot: EoTY: The Nine Biggest Surprises of 2009 - #3 - Videogaming’s Blockbuster: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Shatters Every Record… Ever After Action Report: Batman Arkham Asylum

via Ziggytek: LED shower or teleportation device?

via Ningin: Final Fantasy IX Odin statue review

via Rekuru: Japan in Review, 2009

via Flaunt Me Disproving an old wives’ tale about eyelash length

via GirlyBubble: The $750 cupcake

via BlitzNation: BlitzNation Roundtable Predictions: Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl

via CrazySingleLife: How to score a date with me…online More »

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Sure, with our End of the Year Special we’ve been giving you all the highlights of the year in Asian entertainment, but what about actual top blog posts of the year? Based on search engine results, the following are the Top 10 Ningin Stories of 2009. More »

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From Girlybubble: I’m not a smoker, but I can see why Taiwanese women (or men) smoke in the first place. It doesn’t hurt (or it does hurt) that Taiwan-based cigarette brand, 520, features heart-shaped cigarettes. The reason for the 520 name is that the numbers 520 in Chinese sound similar to “I love you.” More »

The “Legend of Koizumi” or “Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku” is a manga about the 89th Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi. The first chapter is about his mahjong battle against George Bush Jr. Things get crazier from there. Later on he battles against the more competent George Bush Sr. and then the dirty fighting Kim Jong Il. He also tag team battles with Aso Taro. I haven’t gotten any further than that but things seem like they just get more ridiculous. More »

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Over the holidays I was able to add another Final Fantasy figure to my collection, or more accurately, a statue. While it doesn’t have any articulation points, this allows the details and pose to come through for an excellent display piece in your case, mantle, or to spice up your furniture. More »

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From Rekuru:

The end of the year is rapidly coming to a close and with it, a decade as well. I decided it would be nice to look back at 2009 and reflect on what this past year has taught us. Below, I’ve compiled 10 things that we (or at least some of us) learned over the course of 2009. More »

From Rekuru:

Comic cons, anime festivals, and the like have run their course this year. With 2009 almost at an end, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the best cosplay of the year. And while the many festivals and conventions have come and gone, 2010 is around the corner with more cosplay goodness waiting to be had. More »

After finishing Umineko Episode 5, I was a bit disappointed that Battler and his cape didn’t show up. I guess it’s in episode 6? Battler was just some guy in a suit that cried a lot. But with a cape? First impression he gives me is that he’s going to beat my face in. And just look at other caped characters. More »

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