Greetings From J-List
1/27/2012I've written before about how one of the more pleasant aspects of living in Japan is that people tend to be honest and upstanding, and chances are if you lose your wallet or camera it will be turned in at the local "police box," as the tiny two-man police stations that dot Japanese cities are called. That's not to say there's no crime in Japan: as with all countries, there are thefts, assaults and the occasional murder, but in general the chances that crime will affect a given person are low. Sadly, one type of crime is still too common, the bank transfer frauds known as Ore Ore Sagi or "It's me, it's me! Scams." Usually they take the form of an elderly Japanese person receiving a call from a "grandson" with a cold (hence the change in his voice) who says, "It's me, it's me! Don't you know your own grandson?" The swindler then proceeds to tell some lie about how he's gotten in an accident or made a costly error at work and needs $5000 transferred to his bank account right away to fix things. The problem is bad enough that police are often posted by bank ATMs to ask patrons if they've received any suspicious calls, and the ATMs themselves display warnings when transferring money. These types of crimes are reportedly less common in the Osaka area because criminals can't mimic the Osaka-ben dialect as easily.


Characters in anime often speak in unique ways; bank transfer scams are still a problem in Japan.
When I started studying Japanese I was anxious because I knew the grammar would be unlike anything found in English or the smattering of Spanish I'd taken in high school. Happily I found that, to me, the grammar and syntax wasn't that bad -- I learned to memorize base sentences and switch out the nouns, verbs and adjectives until I was comfortable using them, and of course I read lots of manga to pick up new vocabulary words. One unique aspect of Japanese is that there are grammatical "particles" which mark certain words, clearly indicating the sentence subject, object, etc. Here are a few examples in case you're curious:
wa and ga | The "subject" and "topic" markers of sentences, and if this sounds a little vague, join the "confused by wa and ga club." In a nutshell, wa is the master subject marker of a sentence, and ga is used in certain situations, including questions or when you need emphasis. Example: Nihongo wa muzukashii. Dono hen ga muzukashii? (The Japanese language is difficult. What part is difficult?) |
o | The object marker for sentences, by happy linguistic chance, is "o." Can they get any more convenient? Example: Kinou eiga o mimashita. (Yesterday I saw a movie.) |
ni | Filling the role of "to" (as in where you're going, or to whom an action is directed), and "into" for verbs like to enter. It's "in" spelled backwards so it's another easy one to remember. Example: Neko wa hako ni hairu. (The cat goes into the box.) |
ka | A marker for questions. Example: Kore wa zombie desu ka? (Is this a zombie?) |
ga, keredomo, keredo, kedo | These all mean "but," ranked from most polite to most informal. Example: Ugoite mo ii keredo, totemo kiken yo. (It's okay to move, but it's very dangerous.) |
It's often the case that words a person chooses to use say a lot about their character, like a tomboy who uses the first-person pronoun usually used by males. In the anime Bakemonogatari (and the new sequel Nisemonogatari), it's common for characters to always use the word keredo (above, meaning "but"), which provides an oddly formal and precise quality to everything the characters in the show say, though no one really talks like that.
Akihabara is the area of Tokyo famous for its Electric Town shopping district and for being the international center of otaku culture. It's a popular destination with foreign visitors to Japan, and you can always tell the train has arrived there because all the gaijin will get off suddenly. But Akiba, as it's often called, hasn't always been the Holy Land for anime and computer nerds. In 1869, after a devastating fire in the area, the Meiji Emperor ordered a temple built for prayers against future fires, which people started referring to as Akiba-sama, a Shinto/Buddhist deity believed to protect against fire. When the area was ordered cleared of trees to prevent further fires from reaching the more populated areas of the city, the field (hara) that resulted was named Akihabara, the Field of Autumn Leaves. After World War II, shops selling vacuum tubes to students attending a nearby technical school appeared, and this formed the base of the electronics retailers that are so famous now. During the 1990s, home electronics and computers were available just about anywhere, making Akiba less important as an electronics hub, and shops specializing in anime CDs and videos, doujinshi comics and PC dating-sim games started to take over.
Valentine's Day is not far off, but there's still plenty of time to order if you want to get some good chocolate and other items from J-List. We recommend the awesome lineup of Japanese Kit Kat we've posted this week, along with favorites like Meltykiss. Also recommended is the new Pocky Decoration Mold -- just melt chocolate in your microwave, add a Pocky stick and let it cool. You'll have the most delicious Japanese treat around!
Today's New & Restocked Items
New 'Chocopa' Products from San-X (Choco Panda)
If there was an award given for the cutest product of the year, we'd have a winner! These adorable new creations from San-X feature Chocopa, the Chocolate loving panda, with some amazingly cool accessories like cell phone cases and accessory bags. VIEW PRODUCTS
-
Fruits Mar 2012 NO 176
The magazine that brings you the best in Tokyo streetwear in a no-frills package that gives you hundreds of HQ photos of authentic fashion. view products -
Afternoon Mar 2012
Grab the newest copy of the elegant and super thick monthly magazine that is so cool, with top quality manga like Ah! Megami-sama (Ah My Goddess). view products -
Shinryaku! Ika Musume 11, Other Manga
The saga of Ikamusume continues, the eco-moe story of the squid-girl from the sea. Also enjoy fresh stock of Madoka and other manga! view products -
New Kirino, Shining Hearts Figures In Stock
Great new figures in stock today. Check out the swimsuit version of Urayukihime from Shining Hearts and three moe versions of OreImo's Kirino. view products -
Evangelion Neko Mimi Hoodies for Preorder
Proclaim your love of Eva to the world with these great nekomimi hoodies designed to resemble the Evangelion units. The latest in otaku fashion. view products -
Evangelion Mug Cup ~ Eva Unit 01
Give your coffee that extra kick when you serve it with this amazing mug cup featuring Unit 01 from Evangelion. view products -
Itazura Cat Coin Bank, Other Cute Products Restocked
J-List has tons of cute ways to save money, like our popular line of Itazura Cat coin banks featuring cute pop-up kittens and puppies. Now restocked. view products -
Monster Hunter Headphones and Other Items
Get your Monster Hunter groove on with these stylish headphones styled after the cute game mascot cat-creature Airu. Restocked today. view products -
Lace Decoration Over Knee Socks
The perfect addition to any girl's assortment of over-the-knee socks, with stylish white lace on black. Great for gothic cosplayers too. view products -
Wonderful Japanese Fashion Items
You'll find at we have a huge selection of great fashion items, perfect for those who are in love with Japanese fashion and trends, newly stocked. view products -
Fun Cosplay, OL Pantsu Restocked
Lots of great ecchi cosplay items back in stock, like sailor uniforms, swimsuits, panties, shimapan, pantyhose, kneesocks, and more! view products -
Awesome Japanese 'Keep Out' Tape Restocked
Mark the barriers of a no-intrusion zone or a box you want to keep sealed with this great tape from Japan that really makes a statement. Restocked. view products -
Japanese School Bags Restocked
It's the kind of thing Japanese people take for granted, but those school book bags they carry in anime are pretty awesome. Now you get your own! view products -
Restocked Anime Artbooks
Artbooks are the best, and we've restocked the new Steins;Gate dating-sim game fanbook plus the Otona no Anime Yearbook and Hetalia guide to Italy. view products
Amazing Diablock 'LEGO' Shoes for Kids
LEGO-style building blocks are one of the world's most popular toys, and that's true even in Japan. Let your kids take the joy of LEGO everywhere they go with these colorful Velcro sneakers from Diablock, Japan's premier building block manufacturer. VIEW PRODUCTS
-
Chi's Sweet Home 2012 Calendar
Our 2012 anime calendars are going fast, but we've got good news: we got in a few units of the Chi's Sweet Home calendar for fans of Japan's cutest lost cat. view products -
Madoka Magika Calendar Update
Also we posted internal photos of the pages in the Madoka calendar for this year, one of the most popular anime calendars. Grab one while they're on sale! view products -
Totoro Bento Box, Other Ghibli Items Restocked
See the great Microwave Safe Tight Totoro Bento Box we restocked today, plus high quality playing cards (or "trump" as the Japanese say) of Totoro and Jiji. view products -
Pocky Decoration Molds, Pocky Chopsticks!
I knew the silicon mold that allows you to decorate Pocky sticks would be a hit, and we sold out fast. We got more for you, though! view products
Today is Japan Kit Kat Day, Apparently *Preorder*
Japanese Kit Kats are among our most popular products, and our customers love to taste the unique types of Kit Kat made for the Japanese market by Nabisco. In addition to the Sakura Green Tea Kit Kat we got in last time, we've posted Kit Kat Message Packs for students taking tests, plus Tokyo Sky Tree limited Kit Kat! VIEW PRODUCTS
-
Meiji Horn Chocolates In Stock, Too
Also enjoy new flavors of Meiji Horn chocoaltes, which quality and elegant chocolates from Japan that will lift your spirits when you eat them. view products -
Ramune, Mario Mints & More in San Diego
Enjoy some sour candies in Super Mario tins, authentic Japanese ramune in multiple flavors, essential treats and more, now shipping from San Diego. view products -
Chopper 2 Tier Bento Box ~ ONE PIECE
A great bento box for lovers of the One Piece series that comes with everything you would ever need, from chopsticks to bento band. view products -
Traditional Bento Boxes Restocked
When you want to show off your lunch to your co-workers or friends, do it with a box that will awe and impress. Several nice ones restocked today. view products -
2 Sizes Triangle Onigiri Maker ~ Dual Dize!
Create your own Japanese style onigiri (rice balls) with this easy to use shaping kit. The perfect way to make a delicious lunch. view products -
Bear Shaped Cooking Cup
Are you into bears? This great silicon cooking cup is very versatile, allowing you to create foods like bear onigiri to bear cupcakes. view products -
Healthy Sparkling Bath Tablets BUB Restocked
No one knows bathing like the Japanese. Enjoy our healthy and fragrant sparkling bath tablets, now restocked in three delightful aromas. view products -
Restocked Stationery, Traditional Brush Pens
See the popular Coffret du Couturier Letter Set restocked, plus an those traditional fude brush pens that let you write Japanese calligraphy. view products -
Gorgeous Japanese Idols Photobooks
See fresh stock of the kawaii Maki Goto, former star of Morning Musume, plus a really gorgeous photobook offering from Yoko Kumada. view products -
Beach Queen Kobato and Ryugu Azusa *Preorder*
Great new figures up for preorder. You'll love the adorable Beach Queen version of Haganai's Kobato, and also the beautiful Azusa from Idolm@ster. view products -
Tales of Vesperia, AnoHana Figures *Preorder*
We also have an awesomely dynamic figure of Rita from Tales of Vesperia and AnoHana's Anaru in a delectable one piece. view products -
Even More Awesome Preorder Figures
Also: see this gorgeous new Metroid figure plus plush toys from Uta no Prince-sama, a great Sayaka Miki figure, Fate/Zero more. view products
New and Restocked NSFW / 18+ Products
Otonyan vol. 6 ~ Joso Boy Special Magazine
For fans of the popular joso trend in Japan today, meaning boys wearing female clothes, here's a great issue of Otonyan magazine. This is a great item if you're a fan of "trap" themes and think Hideyoshi from Baka Test is awesome. VIEW PRODUCTS
-
Cho Very Good S Class Gal vol. 3
Only the most fashionable Tokyo girls are allowed to grace the pages of this magazine. Comes with a 3 hour DVD full of trendy girls doing it. view products -
Carnivore Gals x Masochist Boys??
These "carnivore" girls are very picky about their men: the easier to manipulate, beat and humiliate the better. An exciting and erotic "H" manga. view products -
Love Nurse ~ Love Kangofu
We love hentai stories featuring sexy nurses, love and eroticism -- which are all here in this great new eromanga here at J-List. view products -
Gorgeous Restocked Ero Manga
Enjoy such fun H-manga volumes as Change-H Red (for joso fans), LoveLove & ChuChu, My Fist ____ "H," Naked Party and Three Sisters Plus. view products -
Great H-Manga in English
Of course, manga is even better when it's in English, and J-List carries quality erotic English manga, like the amazing Girl with a Thousand Curses. view products -
Gorgeous New 'Cast Off' Figures
If you like women with truly enormous breasts, then you'll want to check out this amazingly sexy figure of Masaki Mizuhara's ultra-busty Reira. view products -
OTOKONOKO? ~ Futanari Stress Toy
This body-shaped stress relief toy is one of a kind, being the first futanari onahole toy we've ever seen. Why not? view products -
Bokkin Boy Beast (Ring)
Give your manhood a shonen power-up with these "girth enhancement rings." Slip one on and listen to your partner's screams of ecstasy. view products -
Restocked Onaholes for Otakus
Wow, popular stress toys featuring Azunyan, Anaru from AnoHana and more, which will make your otaku life more enjoyable. view products -
Fun Oppai Toys Restocked
The Oppai Onanie Hole is back, one of the most amazing inventions for self-pleasure we've seen, plus the welcoming mounds of Mami from Madoka. view products -
Amazing Personal Lotion from Japan
Spice up your private time with our selection of personal lotions, including varieties specially formulated to increase your moe moe kyun. view products -
'Futanari' H-Games & More
A lot of J-List customers love the aesthetic genre known as futanari, literally "the two, being one." This game is loaded with these themes! view products -
Maji de Watashi ni Koishinasai! S - Majikoi S
The sequel to Majikoi is here! Pick up where you left off with your favorite Majikoi heroine or romance one of 5 new girls in this fun erotic game. view products -
Japanese Eroge Restocked, Too
Then enjoy Delusion Virtual Character Trouble w/T-CAM, Yurikako Yori Tenshi Made, the BL-tastic Chiral Amusement Disc, Do Love Me Seriously! and Rance Quest. view products -
Cabaret Club Best 6 Gals Blu-ray Special
Enjoy 2 full hours of hard-pounding sex in tons of kinky positions from 6 of the most smoking hot cabaret hostesses in the business. view products -
Black Pantyhose Onesan 8 Hours w/Pantyhose!
Get your leg fetish on with this compilation featuring 8 hours of hot Japanese girls wearing black stockings and pantyhose. Comes with stockings! view products -
Muscle Athlete Lesbian
If you like both lesbians and athletic women, then you'll go wild for this 2-hour DVD starring 2 hard-bodied women who engage in hot lesbian action. view products -
Onanie Watching Each Other
Watch amateur girls learn how to masturbate in another great rookie compilation from SOD. Once they start feeling it, it's only a matter of time! view products
Super Restocked DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Finally, see a big restocking of ecchi JAV goodness, including the AV debuts of Miku Hasegawa and Nanami Kawakami, former AKB48 star Riko Yamaguchi and her younger sister Riku performing together, Stop the Time! Wives SP, Sex Within 4 Seconds Special, Bakunyu 7 Private Teachers, Ero Body Swimsuit, plus the 107cm K-Cup Private Video in Hotel with Rin Kajika -- nice! VIEW PRODUCTS


