♪Song of the Week・CANDY CANDY + PONPONPON by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu♪

For a while there, you thought that ‘song of the week’ had disappeared forever. Well, I’m glad to say, it’s back! Sometimes, music just brightens your day that much more, so I am super-extra- happy to welcome two songs in one week to make up for all the lost songs in the past.. month or so.

The singer’s name きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ・Kyary Pamyu Pamyu does not sound like a name at all, I must admit. Nevertheless, her songs are very addicting to watch, and they do, as by my all-music-must-do-rule, brighten up your day.

Some quick background info on the singer – her real name is actually Kiriko Takemura (I am very humbly sorry to shock many people that ‘kyary pamyu pamyu’ is not her real birth name. Imagine writing that during Kindergarten.) She is also a model and blogger, often featuring in the Harajuku fashion magazine ‘Kera’.

Oh, and she is 19 this year.

Here is a lovely picture of our singer with some ketchup on her face.

PonPonPon – Kyary’s first single. Please do enjoy this psychedelically challenging ride of a MV. It’s amazing how you don’t get bored while watching, and at the same time, the music is so catchy♪ It actually topped the music charts internationally so I’m so proud of her!

Candy Candy – Kyary’s second physical single.

la la la~ Hope you love Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s bright and bubbly music as much as I do!

Word of the Day

まごまご・mago mago

confusing

Japanese Mobile Phones ケータイ電話 (and their CMs)

I remember back in the pre-iPhone days when I had a brick phone, I would notice that Japan had all these awesome phones. These days (even when my brick phone is now only used for one purpose: throwing at people – it is a brick after all) Japan is still popping out these amazing phones that we, in the West, have probably not even dreamt of yet.

Exhibit A: Sharp’s Solar Waterproof Phone

And that was back in 2009!

Big brands including AU, Softbank, Docomo NTT dominate the ケータイmarket today. And like with any other marketable product in Japan, many of the CMs they broadcast are complemented by the presence of idols, actors/actresses, singers, celebrities, sports stars. Here are some of my personal favourites: