Greetings From J-List
2/22/2012The current anime season is an extra-good one, with several interesting series I want to follow, and I've had to really juggle my schedule to create enough free time to watch them all. (Sometimes being a dedicated Japan/anime blogger can be hard work). One show I'm liking a lot is Mouretsu Uchu Kaizoku, translated as Bodacious Space Pirates, though I shed a tear that the original novel's title of Mini-Skirt Space Pirates wasn't preserved, since girls wearing mini-skirts in zero-G spaceships is...well nevermind. It's a well-made space opera about Marika, a genki high school girl who learns that her father was a famous space pirate, and is told she must take over as captain of his ship. As usual, it's common for elements of the story to potentially cause confusion. In one scene, captain-to-be Marika calls the intelligent Chiaki (also known as "Kuroneko...In...Space!") by the familiar name "Chiaki-chan," which causes the mature girl to take offense. This is the kind of cultural issue you might counter when watching anime that can confuse you even if you have subtitles -- in this case the chan name suffix is only added to people who are younger than you or below your station somehow, and some females dislike having it added to their names.


Space pirates in mini-skirts certainly are bodacious; the "sailor uniform" is an endangered species.
If you've watched more than an hour of Japanese television, you'll know that school uniforms are a big part of life in Japan. School uniforms were introduced during the reforms of the Meiji Era, with the iconic "sailor uniform" appearing in the 1920s, based on a British fashion from the 19th century. Today nearly all junior high and high school students are required to wear uniforms; elementary school students generally don't wear them, except in the case of private or religious schools. There are a lot of benefits from uniforms, including removing the differences between wealthy and less-well-off students (which appeals greatly to the Japanese), and adding a degree of discipline that I certainly lacked growing up. While the sailor style uniforms have become a world-famous image of Japan, this style is actually fading away, replaced with the more modern "blazer" type. (Haruhi's normal uniform is an example of a "sailor" uniform, and her dark uniform in Disappearance an example of a "blazer.") Incidentally J-List is fortunate to carry the authentic Japanese school uniforms from Matsukameya of Nagoya, male and female uniforms which are sewn to your exact measurements and sent to you. The quality is fabulous, and we recommend you check them out.
Like many Japanese young people my son is into Japan's ubiquitous BBS 2ch (pronounced ni-channeru in Japanese), where all manner of anonymous Japanese net users post news, debate issues and sometimes make rants that are amusing to read. As he reads the matome (thread summary) sites, he knows it should always be on the lookout for good neta for me. This is a Japanese word with many definitions, first and foremost referring to the top part of a piece of sushi (the fish part that sits on top of the rice, which is called shari if you were curious). The word neta has other meanings, too, including material for a joke, or in my own case, ideas for these little missives I write here. The word for "spoiler" in Japanese is netabare (neta-bah-ray, lit. to expose an idea to everyone), and whenever Hollywood tries to make a motion picture based on an anime, fans accuse them of being netagire (neta-gi-reh, meaning "completely out of ideas"). And the word for "NSFW" (not safe for work, meaning material that might be too ecchi for some situations) is shimoneta, basically "ideas related to the lower half of your body." Now you know some random Japanese words.
I've been playing through our working copy of the upcoming epic RPG Yumina the Ethereal, and I'm amazed by how much I like the heroines. The main character Yumina is the classic upbeat "genki" girl whose antics are both hilarious and charming. Then there's Kirara, the leader of the Debate Club, whose cuteness contrasts brilliantly with her sly and sadistic personality. And finally, we have Ai, a cool and collected blue-haired girl who often says things that will leave you wondering, "What planet is this girl from?" You can see detailed profiles for these characters at the official Yumina the Ethereal site, or visit the product page to preorder the game now!
Today's New & Restocked Items
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Egg Mar 2012
J-List recommends the fabulous Egg magazine for all your Tokyo fashion needs. Stay up on the latest trends in Shibuya and Harajuku, and enjoy photos of Tokyo girls. view products -
B's Log Apr 2012
Catch up on the latest in otome game news with this issue of B's Log. Comes with PSP decals, posters, and other great omake. view products -
Hiragana Times 305 Mar 2012
Learning Japanese is fun and interesting with the Hiragana Times, a bilingual magazine that keeps you informed while helping you study. view products -
Hobby Japan Mar 2012
Grab a new issue of the top magazine for model and figure enthusiasts, packed with mouthwatering photos of Gundams, tanks, cute girls, and more. view products -
Little Busters! Converted Edition **Pre-Order**
Preorder the PSVita release of Key's acclaimed visual novel Little Busters! Features improved graphics, touch screen functionality, and new CGs. view products -
PlayStation Network Card (3,000 YEN)
Get the most out of your PSP, PS3, or PS Vita with this prepaid PlayStation Network card. You also get access to free demos once you make an account. view products -
Authentic School Uniforms, Made for Your Size
Get your very own authentic Japanese school uniform, made to order by one of Japan's best tailors. Plus, authentic school swimsuits, bags, and more! view products -
Gothic Lace Over-Knee Socks, Maid Outfit
You'll be looking your best when you add some Japan made fashion accessories to your wardrobe. All the hot items are here. view products -
Restocked Pantsu, Cosplay Items
For the more risque cosplayers out there, J-List has a wide variety of panties, swimsuits, shimapan and bloomers, now fully restocked. view products -
More Awesome Monster Hunter Toys
And for something a little more epic, we've got the next installments of the Monster Seitaizukan model series, numbers 5 and 6, in stock. view products -
New Moe Moe Manga Releases
Check out Blangel, about cute vampire girls fighting at the expense of their clothes, and Sailor Uniforms and Heavy Tanks for military moe otaku. view products -
A Certain Restocked Manga
Fans of the super-powered battle series A Certain Scientific Railgun will be happy to know that we've restocked all volumes of the fantastic manga. view products -
Pop-up Hello Kitty Oil Absorb Paper
Let Japan's cutest kitty help keep your skin young and healthy with these Hello Kitty oil absorbing pads. Comes in two kawaii designs. view products -
Other Hello Kitty Items Restocked
See our Hello Kitty business card holder w/wallet, Hello Kitty Lucky Mascot characters, Re-Ment traditional sweets plus our Hello Kitty glasses holder -- kawaii! view products -
Totoro Gift Towels, Plush Car Mascot
Everyone's wonderful friend Totoro is here, now is practical and fun Towel form, plus other plushies and toys featuring Ghibli characters. view products -
Kawaii Products for your Kitchen
We've got tons of cute products for your kitchen, including the Love Love Panda Salt and Pepper Shakers we restocked today. We love these! view products -
Go! Go! Nippon!
Not able to visit Japan right now? Then you should play Go! Go! Nippon!, a great all-ages visual novel that's almost as good as being here. In stock now. view products -
Fun Ways to Learn Hiragana
Make learning Japanese fun and easy with these great study aids, like the hiragana bath chart, hiragana towel, and Roman Letter Mouse Pad. view products -
Great Restocked Crafts from Japan
With these amazing kits from Japan, you can make your own key chains, erasers, cell phone decorations, and more. Also, the Erasable Bath Crayon! view products -
Kapibarasan Cafe Sweets Mascot Set of 5
Then see fresh stock of the uber-cute Kapibarasan Cafe Sweets Mascot figures, so cute they'll give you a cuteness overload. view products -
Glico Fuwa Fuwa Rich Milk Cream Collon Set of 3
Yum! These new Cream Collon snacks are delicious, just like everything from Japan by makers like Glico, Meiji, Tohato, Kracie and more. view products -
Fun Restocked Snacks
The amazing Neru Neru Nerune DIY gummy snack is back, plus Poppin' Cookin' Sushi Candy, Shigekix Pirate Fruit flavor, baked Toppo, and Crayon Shin Chan Chocobi. view products -
Beautiful Traditional Bento Boxes Restocked
Wonderful bento boxes are always available at J-List or JBOX, from ones big enough for a family to some small enough for children. view products -
Cute Animal Mini 3 Cases Set
Store your knick knacks in these kawaii cases shaped like the heads of a pig, frog, and bear. A great new storage solution from Japan. view products -
Kawaii Bento Cups from Japan
Keep the parts of your bento lunch in their own individual cups, each featuring cute art of Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, or another kawaii mascot character. view products -
Awesome Onigiri Shapers Restocked, Too
Have trouble molding your onigiri rice balls into a perfect triangle? Worry no more, with these handy shapers that get them perfectly shaped! view products -
Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks Restocked
Japan and Star Wars go together like rice and... well, anything! Take, for instance, these brilliant lightsaber chopsticks, restocked today. view products -
More Great Chopsticks
We've also restocked several other innovative Japanese eating utensils, including the popular Sushi Non-Slip Chopstick Set and training chopsticks. view products -
Get Your Own Kanji Name Stamp in 2012
Get your very own custom made Japanese hanko name stamp, legal for use in Japan, with your name (or anything else you want) in kanji. view products -
Traditional Japanese Ear Cleaners
You haven't lived until you've had your ears cleaned by a Japanese bamboo Mimikaki. See our popular ear cleaners restocked, including kawaii pink cotton swabs. view products -
Embroidered Polo Shirts from J-List
J-List carries professionally embroidered polo shirts which look great, allowing you to "keep it real" even while at work. Several fun designs in stock. view products -
Tamaki Kousaka 1/4 Figure ~ ToHeart2 *Preorder*
Check out this sexy figure of ToHeart2's Tamaki Kousaka in a bikini that leaves nothing to the imagination. Comes in giant 1/4 scale! view products -
Inia Sestina Figure ~ Total Eclipse *Preorder*
Moe figure collectors will also be interested in this beautiful rendition of mecha pilot Inia Sestina. Chest or thighs - take your pick. view products -
Marisa Kirisame Figure ~ Touhou *Preorder*
Next, we have this stylish figure of everyone's favorite sorceress Marisa Kirisame. Love the hat, and could her dress get any more frilly? view products -
Double Homura Figures on J-List Today
Two new figures of Homura Akemi for preorder, both featuring her cute school uniform in moe moe mode. We love Homura! view products -
Yuki Miku Nendoroid Winter Coat ver. *Preorder*
Don't miss this one-of-a-kind Nendoroid featuring internet sensation Hatsune Miku in cool and stylish winter attire. She looks like a snow fairy! view products
New and Restocked NSFW / 18+ Products
CHIBUSA no Aru Fukei ~ Scenes of Breasts
This unique photobook collects scenes of women baring their beautiful bodies in some of the most famous places in Japan. It's a great new photobook that combines an amazing photographic concept with one of our favorite things, beautiful Japanese girls. As usual in Japan, the printing quality is out of this world, and we recommend this item a lot. VIEW PRODUCTS
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Erokawa Zenkoku Joshidai
Meet the college girl of your dreams in this great magazine full of hot university co-eds who strip, suck, do much more for the camera. view products -
Otome Drops ~ Girl Drops
Enjoy a new erotic manga anthology full of cute, sexy women who learn what being a girl is all about. Over 200 pages of grade-A sex. view products -
Yarasete Bunnys
Do you like horny bunnies? Then you'll love this erotic manga featuring big-breasted girls in bunny suits, maid outfits, and lots of other costumes. view products -
Restocked 'H' Manga
Enjoy some fun restocked manga, including Ero Swimwear Anthology, Menkui!, Kono Hentai Yarou! plus the excellent futanari manga Read Me! view products
UNICORN ~ Pink Personal Massager
Here's a great new offering for our poor stressed-out female customers: a well designed simple massager that's easy to use yet has many features, including ten vibration modes. Fully waterproof, you can use it in the bath -- wow. We also restocked several popular products including the classic Japanese "egg rotar" [sic] that every girl should have in her "special" drawer. VIEW PRODUCTS
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Amazing Stress Toys Restocked, Too
That mouth-shaped love hole is back in stock for you to enjoy, plus Greatest Stroker II self-powered toy for men, and the Bubble Shake Onahole too. view products -
Restocked Personal Lotion from Japan
A top-quality stress toy needs top-quality lotion to keep its action smooth and sweet. Try Female Nectar and Tenga Hole Lotion, now restocked. view products -
Great Restocked Import Eroge
Enjoy HOTEL, Corona the Dragon Maiden, Binyuu Kiss Nee Rimi plus the popular Ikinari Anata ni Koishiteru (Suddenly, In Love With You). view products -
Great H-Games by Internet Download, Package
J-List has tons of English-language eroge too, like the famous Sagara Family, one of the most beloved English titles ever. view products -
Magical Girl Cosplay Tsubomi
Check out this great cosplay parody of Madoka Magica, starring JAV idol Tsubomi as everyone's favorite (homu homu). Fulfill your magical girl fantasies. view products -
CFNM ~ Can you Lick Chinpo Candy?
SOD gets Tokyo girls in the mood for some sucking with the help of a delicious penis-shaped candy. A weird and funny JAV for for fellatio fans. view products -
107cm K-cup Wet Lotion Shopgirl ~ Rin Kajika
For everyone who's ever dreamed of being with a hot waitress or salesgirl, Rin Kajika and her amazing K-cup breasts bring those dreams to life. view products -
Cat Fight Complete Edition *10 Hours!!!*
Enjoy 10 full hours of tantalizing catfight action, with something nice awaiting the losers -- and sometimes the winners too! view products
A Great Restocking of Ero DVDs, Blu-ray Discs
Finally, enjoy some of our most popular JAV titles, including Thanks for 10th Anniversary Million 100 AV actresses 12 Hours Special, Very best of Million on Blu-ray, Hitomi Tanaka's Bakunyu Instructor and Wife's Sister releases, Water Pole Best 12 Gals, Working Ladies Tight Skirt 4 Hours, Costume Play Festival with Touhou, Lingerie Sex 4 Hours, Stop the Time! plus great Pure Love Lesbian releases. Enjoy them all. VIEW PRODUCTS





