Friday, November 23, 2007

Music List Updated!!

Click here to view this week's featured music single and top 20 music hits from Japan.

posted by Fudocom - Robot @ 11:10 AM 0 Comments

 

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Is this really necessary??

So sorry for being so late kids. I was away on, well let's call it vacation.

On my way back to Japan, I was bombarded by the new rules and regulations that immigration would be enforcing as a way to keep Japan nice and safe from terrorism. Fingerprinting and picture taking. What? "But I've been a resident here for years and years," I say. " "Do you have a Japanese passport?," is their humble answer. "I, thankfully, do not," is my not-so-humble answer. "Back of the foreigner line, please." Darn...

Now I know that Japan is not the first to employ this line of defense to terrorism, the States having been the first. But the problem with USA's method is that they do not use it consistently with all foreigners. Often only the ones they believe to be threatening will have to go through the photo/fingerprinting song and dance. Japan, however, intend to ID all foreigners, regardless of their residence status. While this sounds like a good idea, I really fail to see how in a terrorist attack they would be able to use the information. In fact, I see more of a potential for its misuse in barring good people with the typical "I can't get a visa" immigration troubles from entering into this humble country. Immigration intend to employ a blacklisting system by fingerprint with this new procedure, so who's to say their policy won't change a little to blacklist the decent folks who hopped to Korea for a short trip to avoid overstaying their visa?

Fingerprinting for terrorism? Frankly sir, I don't buy it. But as a foreigner in Japan with no rights, what choice do we have but to deal with it, a sentiment that's actually quite Japanese, isn't it?

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 2:48 AM 2 Comments

 

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Music List Updated!!

Click here to view this week's featured music single and top 20 music hits from Japan.

posted by Fudocom - Robot @ 4:03 PM 0 Comments

 

Friday, November 09, 2007

What is a Rolly?



Hello! I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Stephen. You may have seen my posts previously...or maybe not, it has been awhile. But I'm now a full-fledged writer for this here blog.

And so onto my post.

What is Rolly?

Well, that is the $64,000 question isn’t it? To kill some time one afternoon last week I popped into Bic Camera in Shinjuku to check out the latest gadgets and gizmos. One thing that immediately jumped out at me on display under the SONY banner was a pretty looking thing called “Rolly.” “What is it? What does it do? What is it for?” I immediately asked myself. It looks interesting – shaped like a egg on its side. The promotional video from Sony shows it rolling on its side quite gracefully with “ears” that flap to the music that it plays. It seems to be designed with the aim to be a cross between a portable music centre and a robot pet. The family in the video is in awe of the cuteness of it as it is rolling and ear-flapping to the music as if it was the cutest puppy.

Rolly looks very well designed and it’s a cool toy. You can’t argue with that. The problem is that I don’t understand what it is for. It’s a wonderful gizmo to show off to gob-smacked friends at parties. (If one of my friends had one I would definitely be begging for a chance to see it in action for a good 5-10 minutes.) But are we really supposed to play with it when we’re alone and no-one is looking? For years to come?

I’ve checked out the Sony website for more info and promotional videos at Sony and I still don’t feel like I’ve answered my original questions. “What is it? What does it do? What is it for?” Perhaps I’m missing something.

I still want one though.

Check out the official promos here.

posted by Fudocom - Stephen @ 3:34 PM 0 Comments

 

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Music List Updated!!

Click here to view this week's featured music single and top 20 music hits from Japan.

posted by Fudocom - Robot @ 5:58 PM 0 Comments