North Korean Karaoke - 'Anarchy in the DPRK'

In March 2008, Shane Smith and Eddy Moretti risked their lives and liberty and crossed over the Chinese-North Korean border and filmed a truly amazing documentary of their trip into 'The Hermit Kingdom' in The Vice Guide to North Korea:

"Getting into North Korea was one of the hardest and weirdest processes VBS has ever dealt with. After we went back and forth with their representatives for months, they finally said they were going to allow 16 journalists into the country to cover the Arirang Mass Games in Pyongyang. Then, ten days before we were supposed to go, they said, “No, nobody can come.” Then they said, “OK, OK, you can come. But only as tourists.” We had no idea what that was supposed to mean. They already knew we were journalists, and over there if you get caught being a journalist when you’re supposed to be a tourist you go to jail. We don’t like jail. And we’re willing to bet we’d hate jail in North Korea."

"But we went for it...."

And they certainly got it! Check out this quite surreal and somewhat humorous episode:

unkie Promo Video 'blink'

Here is a new promotional video called 'blink' by unkie:



And check out my review of unkie from last year: Detroit Rock City Review 2008

unkie is Tokie (bass), Yutaka Aoki (Guitar) and Horoshi Kido (Drums).

See and hear more at unkie Myspace

detroit7 Live Video: Hollywood March 29, 2009

detroit7 jams one of their early Japanese singles "OWARI HAJIMARI" at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood on Sunday, March 29:




For more information on detroit7's current world tour check out the official schedule at detroit7 to tour the world!!

detroit7 Live Video: San Francisco March 28, 2009

detroit7 rocks out a really great new song: 'Mr. Kato On The Road' at The Independent in San Francisco on March 28:



Soon from now The Tokyo Trio will travel to Europe to continue their exciting world tour of international indy rock, grunge rock and also some hardcore punk rock too in The Black White Europe Tour

And on Wednesday, April 8, detroit7 will perform with CONDKOI and The Unseen in Paris at Glazart.

So, there is no doubt, this will be one very powerful show that, obviously, has already excited some members of CONDKOI:



Yes, indeed, this landmark event will be talked about for years to come at the Glazart I really wish I could be there! WHOAH!!!

detroit7 Live Video: Seattle March 27, 2009

detroit7 performs 'Why?' live at Seattle's High Dive:




detroit7 is currently on their Black and White World Tour 2009 and will appear at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 29.

detroit7 Promo Video 'Cold Heat'

Here is a new promo video 'Cold Heat' from detroit7:



This sexy rocker is from their previously released 'detroit7 BABYLON Live Album (2009)' album which coincides with their recently launched detroit7 Black and White World Tour 2009 Also, look for their latest release: detroit7 (2009)

In case you missed them last year, check out my review: detroit7 Live @ DETROIT ROCK CITY @ Chelsea Hotel 2008.2.25

See more at the official Japanese/English website of detroit7

WHO THE BITCH IS BACK!

Yes! One of my very favorite Japanese underground bands: WHO THE BITCH is back:

Hi! Jack!


Video link by 3Yen News on Japan


I saw them last year here in Tokyo and they were awesome: Who The Bitch - Who The Fuck!! Vol. 4 Review And very recently they released a new mini album "ミラクルファイトde GO! GO! GO!" Check it out on their Who The Bitch Myspace page


And be sure to visit their really cool WHO THE BITCH OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Japanese TV: Japanese Flash Mob

David Bowie's DJ remix by Benny Benassi

Via Bowienet.com News

Benny Benassi began performing this remix track live back in March 2008 and 'DJ' quickly became a big favourite on the UK dance club circuit.

Soon this track will be officially released through Positiva in June 2009: the 30th anniversary of the original single's world wide release in June 1979.

Japanese TV: Japanese Obama

Japanese TV: Osaka BANG!!!

Cooking With Dog: Japanese Cooking Videos

Cooking With Dog: Japanese Cooking Videos

Japanese 'Louis Armstrong' sings 'What a Wonderful World'

Via 3Yen

Wired Video: Nintendo DSi Review

Wired.com's Chris Kohler and Daniel Dumas review the
Nintendo DSi which is now ONLY available in Japan.

Via Wired.com

Google Blog: The future of online video

Google Blog: The future of online video: "The Internet has had an enormous impact on people's lives around the world in the ten years since Google's founding. It has changed politics, entertainment, culture, business, health care, the environment and just about every other topic you can think of. Which got us to thinking, what's going to happen in the next ten years? How will this phenomenal technology evolve, how will we adapt, and (more importantly) how will it adapt to us? We asked ten of our top experts this very question, and during September (our 10th anniversary month) we are presenting their responses. As computer scientist Alan Kay has famously observed, the best way to predict the future is to invent it, so we will be doing our best to make good on our experts' words every day. - Karen Wickre and Alan Eagle, series editor"

Continued...

Online Videos

Honda Unveils Walking Assist Device

Via 3Yen.com

Japanese Plant 'Midori-san' - First Botanical Blogger

Via Telegraph.co.uk:

Midori-san, which lives on the counter of a Japanese café, writes regular updates with the help of sensors attached to its leaves.

The detectors pick up electronic signals on the surface of the plant, which responds to light and human touch.

The data is then combined with weather and temperature information and translated into chatty blog posts using a computer algorithm.

Midori-san is a hoya kerrii, which are more commonly called "sweetheart plants" because of their heart-shaped leaves.

And here is a link to Midori-san's Blog (Japanese)

Japanese TV: Chimpanzee Rides Segway

Via Japan Probe