The OQ Weekly (22 July 2021) - The 'Hot Summer' Edition
The best curated newsletter in the Japanese pop-culture world.
It’s hot. Need. to. stay. inside. and. watch. anime.
Or maybe just put ‘Pon Pon Pon’ on repeat and read again about the Kawaii Revolution. Want to read it with me and then talk about everything cute and pink and musically genius?
Scroll down to your weekly digest! Here’s to another otaku summer where we don’t melt into oblivion.
I am Ura, your hot (pun DEFINITELY intended) friend in this amazing journey into Japanese pop, geek, and sub culture.
Thank you for joining us.
1
After the revolution.
In the transitional year of 2011, one up-and-coming artist released a song invoking all of the power of Harajuku named ‘PONPONPON.’ Nothing was ever the same again.
Of course, ‘PONPONPON’ wasn’t a solo effort on the part of one Kiriko Takemura, the woman we now call Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. From this debut ten years ago all the way until now, her composition and production has been entirely handled by former Shibuya-kei vanguard Yasutaka Nakata, now turned into a bonafide pop wizard.
That isn’t meant to diminish Kyary’s own hand in the project: she is a genuine Harajuku fashionista who blogged about that subculture well before her musical career started. Someone without her genuine expertise couldn’t serve as the avatar for kawaii expression that she’s become, but it does speak to Nakata’s versatility to be able to perfectly channel that spirit into sound.
‘Perhaps some privileged netizens, rather those already hip to Yasutaka Nakata’s beloved Capsule and Perfume, had anticipated the Kyary Pamyu Pamyu project with glee... To the rest of the world, ‘Pon Pon Pon’ exploded seemingly from our collective malleable inner-consciousness, as one’s wildest dreams of what Japan might look like burst out Alien style onto YouTube dot com, where the Pamyu Pamyu Revolution would truly begin.’ (Chris Cimi)
2
What’s next for Araki?
Hirohiko Araki is faced with a choice as the eighth part of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series JoJolion comes to an end in Ultra Jump.
For many fans, this will be the first time they have seen a part of Hirohiko Araki’s long-running saga come to an end. Although the series was always popular, it has seen a second wind of popularity in recent years thanks to David Productions’ anime adaptations, particularly among overseas audiences. Consequently, many more eyes are upon it than ever before.
In many ways, JoJolion represented another stage in Hirohiko Araki’s evolution as a mangaka. Part seven (Steel Ball Run) already pushed the envelope when it came to art and character designs, but JoJolion shook up the basic formula of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series that had been in place more or less since the late 1980s by taking the form of a mystery. Yet, the question is: will it be followed up by another installment in the series?
‘I wonder. Araki is pushing sixty years old at this point and has been working for the majority of his adult life… Nevertheless, they do say that old habits die hard. Araki might be tempted to see how he can continue to innovate in the JoJo universe with a potential part nine and beyond, especially considering the strides forward he has made as an artist. We’ll just have to wait and see.’ (Jacob Parker-Dalton)
3
A very normal factory tour.
Ever wanted to go on a tour around a mecha factory? That’s something you can do in 2021 from the comfort of your own home, thanks to Evolving G.
The mecha factory in question is the Gundam Factory Yokohama, which opened earlier this year and boasts the world’s first walking Gundam. Four different ‘missions’ are available to fans through the Openrec live streaming service: one focuses on the design of the moving Gundam, while the other focuses on the movement of the moving Gundam. The remaining missions focus on the relationship between those two things and the structure of the installment.
Essentially, it’s all about how the team behind the Gundam Factory brought the project to life. It’s quite similar to the book that they're also releasing, except in video form. There has been no announcement about if international fans will be able to participate in the Evolving G event, but you’re welcome to give it a go.
4
Takahashi’s treasures.
A tour of Rumiko Takahashi’s house on Twitter has revealed several impressive features, including some incredibly rare merchandise made for the master of manga herself.
First of all, what greets you when you first enter Rumiko Takahashi’s house is a giant, life-sized figure of Lum from Urusei Yatsura. In fact, it might be even bigger, judging from how it looms over the stairs, but no matter. Almost immediately, it provides an indication of whose house you are entering and what you can expect going further in.
Other treasures include a special, limited-edition figure of Inuyasha made to commemorate when the Inuyashamanga originally ended back in 2008 and the Medal with Purple Ribbon that Takahashi received from the Japanese government last year for her contribution to the arts. Talk about showing off to your guests!
‘The last two items in Rumiko Takahashi’s house that have currently been shared on Twitter are a signed illustration of Ai Habara from Detective Conan by Gosho Aoyama and the author’s work desk. While the former speaks to the solidarity that the two no doubt feel as long-time authors in Weekly Shonen Sunday, the latter provides some indication of how Takahashi actually became one of the richest women in Japan: damn hard work.’ (Jacob)
5
Killer vs. Cop.
Not content with letting Golgo 13 steal its thunder, volume 201 of KochiKame has been scheduled for release this October.
Two weeks ago, history was made as Golgo 13 author Saito Takao officially received the Guinness World Record for most volumes published in a single manga series. Volume 201 was what pushed his series over the edge and just ahead of the previous record holder: Osamu Akimoto and KochiKame. As a result, this latest release from SHUEISHA is clearly an attempt to fight back.
What comprises volume 201 of KochiKame is also evidence of the series’ continuing popularity and success. Despite officially ending in 2016 after forty years of publication in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump, Osamu Akimoto has penned several special one-off chapters since then: these include stories for the main Jump magazine, one of which was included in this week’s latest issue.
‘Given that volume 201 of KochiKame is mainly made up of these ‘extra’ installments, it seems unlikely that Osamu Akimoto’s series will be able to put up a serious fight against Saito Takao and Golgo 13… If Takao thinks that Akimoto is going to go down without a fight, though, then he has another thing coming.’ (Jacob)
Video Corner
‘Ever since the release of Monster Hunter World, this franchise has ballooned in popularity, and the team at CAPCOM have been doing their best to expand it into all sorts of media. The turn-based RPG got a sequel, they greenlit a live-action film, produced a mobile gacha game, and announced a 3D animated film titled Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild set to release in 2019. Cue three years of waiting and we’d pretty much given up on it, until it was renounced as a Netflix Original Anime coming out later this year. And while it’s nice to see again, it’s looking a little rough.’
Video and Words by Callum May
See you next week!
Ura and the OTAQUEST team.
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