
Japanese singer and actor Ayumi Ishida dies at 76
Singer and actor Ayumi Ishida, known for her hit tune "Blue Light Yokohama," died of hypothyroidism at a Tokyo hospital on March 11. She was 76.
Ishida, whose real name was Yoshiko Ishida, was born in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, and raised in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture.
While studying under the late composer Taku Izumi, she made her debut as a professional singer in 1964. "Blue Light Yokohama," released in 1968, sold over 1 million copies.
As an actor, she appeared in such films as "Eki Station" and "Otoko wa Tsurai yo Torajiro Ajisai no Koi" ("It's Tough Being a Man: Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san"). Her performances in "Kataku no Hito" ("House on Fire") and "Tokei Adieu l'Hiver" won her the Japan Academy Film Prize in the best actress category in 1987.
She also acted in many television drama series including "Kita no Kuni Kara" ("From the northern country"), "Kinyobi no Tsuma Tachi e" ("Friday Wives") and "Seishun Kazoku" ("Youth family").
Ishida was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in 2021.
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SoraNews24
2 days ago
- SoraNews24
New Studio Ghibli Uniqlo T-shirt line coming to the U.S., Japan left out once again【Photos】
Eight Ghibli anime movies inspire new collection of tees and sweatshirts. Uniqlo has announced some pretty big-name collaborations with the anime/manga world this summer, including new partnerships with Pokémon and Ai Yazawa. But the casual clothing chain isn't done adding anime flare to fans' wardrobes yet, as they've now announced a brand-new line of Studio Ghibli apparel. However, as has become oddly the norm for Uniqlo Ghibli collections, once again these items won't be offered in Japan. Instead, they appear to be exclusive (at least for now) to Uniqlo U.S.A. As with the previous Uniqlo Ghibli items, these designs were created by Thai artist Kanyada Phatan, who contributes photography and poetry to Neppu, a monthly magazine published by Studio Ghibli. The new collection consists of both short-sleeved T-shirts and long-sleeved sweatshirts, featuring characters from eight Ghibli anime films, including, of course, My Neighbor Totoro, with the Catbus hanging out near the nape of your neck on this shirt. While some of the designs take their illustrations directly from their source anime, others are original creations, like on the Totoro sweatshirt, which has some Soot Sprites congregating near the left cuff. The Howl's Moving Castle design uses pretty much the entire front of the shirt as a canvas for the titular mobile architecture… …and there's no missing No Face, blazingly emblazoned in triplicate across the front of the Spirited Away sweatshirt, which also bears the film's Japanese title, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi. ▼ This time there's a Radish Spirit hanging out on the sleeve. Some of the designs are double-sided, with graphics on both the front and back, like with the Princess Mononoke sweatshirt. Set in a forest green field on the front is monster princess San, accompanied with raised text of the film's promotional poster tagline in Japan, 'Ikiro' ('Live' or 'Survive'). San appears on the back as well, underneath Ashitaka, with the movie's Japanese-text title, Mononoke-hime, overlapping them. There's more princess-related attire with the The Tale of the Princess Kaguya T-shirt… …and another Ghibli anime that doesn't get a lot of merchandising attention, Pom Poko, is here too. Along with the movie's Japanese title and the kanji character for tanuki (狸), the text on the back identifies the wearer as a member of the human-observing tanuki research team, while the front graphic is, as far as our analysis can tell, the first-ever depiction of testicles on a Uniqlo T-shirt. ▼ Though these are culturally relevant testicles. A less ballsy option is this Kiki's Delivery Service sweatshirt, which is both dual-sided and bilingual. Rounding out the single-movie designs, The Boy and the Heron gets two pieces, a T-shirt with the Gray Heron unnervingly saying 'My Dear' on the front while the back reminds you of who made the movie as the scene-stealing Warawara remind you of just how adorable the little marshmallow-like creatures are. The sweatshirt flips their positions around, with the Warawara on the front and the Gray Heron on the back. And finally, rounding out the adult-sized collection is an overarching Studio Ghibli T-shirt, with illustrations of Porco Rosso's protagonist, Nausicaa, Ponyo, Castle in the Sky's Dola, and The Wind Rise's Ka-14 aircraft, which would eventually evolve into the Imperial Japanese Navy's World War II Zero fighter plane. The T-shirts are all priced at US$24.90, and the sweatshirts at US$39.90. The entire collection will be available on July 10 at Uniqlo stores in the U.S. and through the chain's U.S. online shop here. Source: Uniqlo via Yahoo! Japan News via Game Watch Top image: Uniqlo Insert images: Uniqlo (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!


Yomiuri Shimbun
23-05-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Artist Kotaro Sekiguchi Uses Newspapers, Adhesive Tape, to Create 3D Art; Materials, Techniques Inspired by Model Made in Elementary School
The Yomiuri Shimbun Kotaro Sekiguchi speaks in front of works he created with children at the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design in Toyama City. On Feb. 22, 'cat day,' 'Oneko-san' (Big cat), a 3-meter-high statue of a plump cat, was displayed at the TAD Gallery of the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design in Toyama City. The statue, made mainly of newspaper, color adhesive tape and a wooden frame, was made for an event held on the day, which is called cat day because the Japanese word for two, or 'ni,' sounds like the first part of a cat's cry of 'nyan' (meow). The statue was created by artist Kotaro Sekiguchi, 41, along with children. The Yomiuri Shimbun 'Oneko-san' (Big cat) created by Kotaro Sekiguchi with children When you were young, you may have made a ball by wrapping adhesive tape tightly around a rolled piece of newspaper. Sekiguchi uses these materials and techniques to create various artworks. He said the origin of these crafts was a model he made for a summer homework project when he was in third grade in elementary school. Sekiguchi, who in 2012 received the Taro Okamoto Award, a prestigious contemporary art prize for emerging artists, is known for his three-dimensional works of imaginary creatures and buildings made from newspaper and adhesive tape. He began creating these works while studying sculpture at an art university. 'I used to carve stone and wood for my works, but they were expensive and required specialized tools,' he said. 'I felt there must be an easier way to make sculptures.' He recalled a 60-centimeter-tall model of a stegosaurus that he made with newspaper and adhesive tape when he was in elementary school. Using the same method, he created an almost life-sized model of a professional wrestler, which made him feel satisfied. 'I was drawn to how I am able to easily try out new ideas while adjusting things such as the shape of the statues,' Sekiguchi said. Feelings, imaginations He makes all his artwork in the same basic way — by rolling newspaper to soften them up before shaping them into a desired form and wrapping adhesive woven tape around them. When making an animal figure, for instance, he first makes the head, legs and other body parts separately, then puts them together with adhesive tape. Courtesy of Kotaro Sekiguchi Sekiguchi's work, 'Yamata-no-Orochi' To make his works resemble real things, he squeezes and bends the paper to gradually sculpt the shape. 'No material is as handy as newspaper. The feel of crumpling them up sparks my imagination,' he said. 'Let's create, not destroy' Sekiguchi also works as an art teacher at a special needs school in Tokyo. He chose the job because he feels he can see children's growth through art. When participating in an art show, he creates his work at the venue, because some pieces can be more than five meters tall, making them difficult to transport by truck. Since he has classes during the school year, he often creates works during summer vacation. 'I still do what I started doing during the summer vacation when I was in elementary school,' he said. The Yomiuri Shimbun Children play with newspaper to make them soft and easy to use before making 'Oneko-san.' Courtesy of Kotaro Sekiguchi Sekiguchi's university graduate project, 'Shunkan Jiin' ('Instant Temple') Sekiguchi is also actively involved in activities at art events for children. He travels on request to various locations to teach children how to create three-dimensional works using newspaper and adhesive tape. He said he wants to introduce them to the joy of creating things with everyday materials and broaden their access to art. 'I feel sad when I see things created by people being destroyed by disasters or wars. Nevertheless, I believe it is my role as an artist and art teacher to convey a positive message saying, 'Let's make something new,'' Sekiguchi said.


Japan Today
10-05-2025
- Japan Today
Studio Ghibli brings Princess Mononoke's Wolf Fang Dagger to life as a ballpoint pen
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24 Back in 2022, Studio Ghibli released a special range of goods to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Princess Mononoke." One of the key items in the collection was the Wolf Fang Dagger Ballpoint Pen, which proved to be so popular it quickly sold out. Now, fans of the movie will be pleased to know that the highly sought-after item is back in stock at the chain, looking just as beautiful as it did when it first wowed us three years ago, with etched details to match the look of the dagger seen in the film. Used by the film's titular character, who also goes by the name San, this dagger is first introduced to viewers when fiesty warrior San brandishes it during a tense fight scene against Lady Eboshi. What it lacks in size — it is made from the fang of a magical wolf, after all — it makes up for in speed and precision. As these two things are also handy when writing, you'll be able to feel the magical assist whenever you use the pen to scribble down your thoughts. The pen will look right at home on your desk, especially if you have one of the studio's Rollbahn notebooks to pair with it. Measuring 13 centimeters in length, this is a dagger that makes an impact, whether you're using it as a pen…. ▼ …or as a beautiful display piece. The only downside to the pen is the ink cartridge isn't replaceable, so its ability to write is finite. However, with such beautiful design features, the pen bring a smile to your face long after you've finished using it, and it can be purchased for 2,310 yen at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online, while stocks last. Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Studio Ghibli Rollbahn notebooks are both dynamic and subtle salutes to anime classics【Pics】 -- Princess Mononoke Ghibli accessory line returns with all-natural dagger pendant and more【Photos】 -- Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke plushies show a softer side of formidable Ghibli characters External Link © SoraNews24