Latest news with #Kanji
The Review Geek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Wind Breaker – Season 2 Episode 10 Recap & Review
Episode 10 As the fight continues, Tsubaki says GRAVEL's trying to steal Shizuka's love, and he takes that personally. Compared to that pain, his punches mean nothing. Then, in an awesome counter, he slams Suzuri's head to the ground. All his team members get worried about him and scream his name, which confuses Sakura. However, their leader gets back up easily and tells Tsubaki that everything he's saying is idealistic, highlighting how far apart their realities are. When Suzuri was a child, he hated seeing his friends fight over food. So, he convinced them to start sharing, which resulted in everyone having crumbs for a meal. They didn't remember the last time they had their stomachs full, but at least they weren't turning against each other. When he realized they'd never achieve anything and die a pointless death, he had to act. That's how he united them and created GRAVEL. Tsubaki keeps talking about how painful loss is, but he never had anything to begin with. So, it doesn't matter what he says, it's all static to him. That's when the boy charges desperately, making the brawl even more frenetic than before. But that sparks a change in Tsubaki, as well. He realizes the pain Suzuri's going through, even if he doesn't fully understand it. When he defeats Suzuri, and the boy can't move anymore, he says he's sorry. Now, Tsubaki wants to do anything he can to help him and the other GRAVEL members. In accordance, Kanji and other people from the district tell them that many stores are opening or require new employees. That way, they can follow a new path without giving up on what they love. After that, Suzuri gives up and accepts the opportunity. He also apologizes to all his friends, saying he forced them down the wrong path. Even though he expects a bad response, they immediately acknowledge his new decision. They're all a unit, so they must stay together. Then, Tsubaki scolds Shizuka. When she tried to give up and turn herself in, she was trampling on everybody's feelings. Tsubaki wants her to understand that she can never do that again. Then, Shizuka says she's sorry, and both of them start hugging and crying. As Kanji tries to diffuse the situation, his friends start teasing him about how he and Shizuka should already be dating. Suou then jokes about it with Sakura, expecting the boy to be flustered by the couple's talk. However, he's lost in his thoughts. Sakura tells Kanji he can't stand the way his group fights. At first, he thought their mentality was cool, but he changed his mind after realizing what it meant. Even though he understands it's naive, he doesn't want any of his friends to get hurt. And Kanji agrees with him. He can't do that, but he believes Sakura should try. The boy's smart and strong enough to achieve that one day. Even if it's idealistic, it's the best possible outcome. Right when everything seems peaceful, Kanji remembers someone hired GRAVEL to kidnap Shizuka. Although Suzuri believes he can talk things out and solve the problem, it seems 'the problem' is already there. Suddenly, a tattooed man calls him a loser and affirms he can't do anything. It turns out he is the same guy who appeared after the KREEL fight, and Tsubaki knows him. To the point, he seems scared to see the man there. The Episode Review After KREEL, it's nice seeing an antagonist who isn't actually a villain. Not to mention that understanding what's going through his mind and what motivated him to become who he is. Suzuri having a deeper story is a nice surprise. It's similar to what happened with Tomiyama and Togame in season 1. They're all teenagers, and Wind Breaker tries to be realistic, so it wouldn't make sense if they were cartoonishly horrible people. So, if Suzuri isn't the real villain, who is? Well, we don't know him yet, but he already seems incredible. The tattooed man clearly has a connection to Furin and has been orchestrating many things until now. The anime has yet to explain how Umemiya changed the school and who made it the way it was before. Hence, there's definitely a story there. It feels weird that this is happening as a cliffhanger to the next episode, instead of to the following season. However, it also makes the final stretch of the season even more exciting. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Top 5 chase cards in 2025 Topps Sterling Baseball: Ohtani, Judge, Mays & more
Topps Sterling Baseball is back for 2025, and as always, it's bringing the heat for collectors. Dropping June 4, this year's release maintains the premium feel fans expect. Each hobby box delivers two autographed relic cards, all numbered to 25 or fewer, featuring a stacked lineup of today's biggest stars, legendary greats, and rising talent. New additions to the checklist include a nod to Shohei Ohtani's incredible 50/50 season with the 'Club Charter Member Autograph' set, as well as 'Legendary Cut Signature Jumbo Patch' cards that pair iconic Hall of Famers with eye-catching memorabilia. With one-of-one gems like bat knobs, nameplates, and jersey letter patches also in the mix, 2025 Sterling is shaping up to be one of the most exciting high-end releases of the year. Advertisement Here are the top 5 cards to chase in this year's set and why each one deserves a spot on your radar. 1. Shohei Ohtani – Game-Used Kanji Bat Relic with Kanji Autograph This card is nothing short of a masterpiece. Featuring a game-used bat inscribed with Japanese Kanji alongside a matching Kanji autograph from Shohei Ohtani, it captures the full scope of his cultural and on-field impact. It's an ultra-rare piece that feels more like a museum artifact than a trading card. With Ohtani coming off a record-setting 50/50 season and continuing to reshape the sport, this is easily one of the most coveted cards in the entire 2025 hobby landscape. Shohei Ohtani – Game-Used Kanji Bat Relic with Kanji Autograph (Topps) 2. Willie Mays & John F. Kennedy – Dual Cut Autograph ("A Moment in Time" Insert) This card defines historic. Part of the new 'A Moment in Time' checklist, this dual cut auto pairs two American icons, Willie Mays and President John F. Kennedy, on a single card. It commemorates their legendary meeting at the White House in 1962, blending sports and politics in a way few collectibles ever have. With Mays' recent passing and JFK's eternal legacy, this card feels like a snapshot of a golden era frozen in cardboard. It's exceptionally rare and will undeniably be one of the most significant pulls in 2025 Topps Sterling. Willie Mays & John F. Kennedy – Dual Cut Autograph ("A Moment in Time" Insert) (Topps) 3. Aaron Judge – Nameplate Game-Used Bat Autograph When it comes to modern-day sluggers, few names carry more weight than Aaron Judge, and this card does his legacy justice. Featuring a game-used bat nameplate paired with Judge's on-card autograph, it's a powerhouse piece that feels as bold as his presence in the batter's box. The oversized bat letter relic adds a raw, physical element that collectors love, especially when it's tied to one of the most feared hitters of the era. With the Yankees chasing another deep postseason run, this card hits all the right notes: star power, game-used material, and a clean, hard-signed auto. Aaron Judge – Nameplate Game-Used Bat Autograph (Topps) 4. Mookie Betts – Game-Used Bat Knob Auto 1/1 Bat knob cards have always held a special place in high-end products, and this Mookie Betts 1-of-1 is no exception. Showcasing the end cap of a game-used bat, this card captures a piece of history from the Dodgers' World Series-winning season. From MVP seasons to clutch postseason moments, Mookie continues to cement his place among the game's elite. The sheer rarity of a bat knob card and Mookie Betts Topps autographs, combined with his continued dominance at the plate and in the field, makes this an instant centerpiece for any serious collection. Mookie Betts – Game-Used Bat Knob Auto 1/1 (Topps) 5. Shohei Ohtani – Charter Member 50/50 Club Autograph Capping off our list is another jaw-dropper from Ohtani, this time celebrating his historic entrance into the exclusive 50/50 Club as its founding member. This insert, new to the 2025 Sterling lineup, honors his unprecedented feat of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The card features a sleek, modern design with a bold on-card autograph, cementing Ohtani's place in baseball lore. It's not just a tribute—it's a time capsule marking a season that redefined what's possible on a diamond. Shohei Ohtani – Charter Member 50/50 Club Autograph (Topps) 2025 Topps Sterling Baseball is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases of the year. Whether you're chasing legends, marveling at Ohtani's greatness, or just in it for the thrill of the rip, there's something in this set for every collector. And when you hit something big, or just want to show off your latest pickups, be sure to post it on Mantel. Mantel is the go-to app for collectors to connect, share, and celebrate the hobby. Your collection deserves a community. Download Mantel today.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Japan Just Banned ‘Sparkly' Baby Names in a Wild New Law
Americans may try to find the most whimsical, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind baby names for their children — but in Japan, that is no longer allowed. A new law banning 'sparkly' baby names just went into effect there, which will restrict what baby names Japanese parents are allowed to choose. New revisions to the Japan Family Register Act on May 26 limit the use of kirakira baby names, according to the South China Morning Post. This translates to 'sparkly,' 'shiny,' or 'glittery' names that promote individual expression. More from SheKnows These Baby Names Give Off Major 'Stranger Things' Energy Jewel Lovely Kitty Elsa Ōjisama ('Prince') Naruto Pikachu Naiki (pronounced 'Nike') Pū (like Winnie-the-Pooh) Purin (pronounced 'pudding') Daiya ('Diamond') Akuma ('Devil') According to CNN, special names like this can be 'confusing for hospitals, schools and authorities who don't know how to pronounce them.' This is mostly because names are typically written in Kanji, based on Chinese characters, which can be pronounced multiple ways. Figuring out the right pronunciation for these names is complicated if the names aren't traditional names or if parents pick an unusual combination of characters to write a name. (Think: 'Ashleigh' instead of 'Ashley.') This rule was first prompted by a parents Shigeru and Ayako Sato, who named their child Akuma, which translates to 'Devil' in 1994, per TODAY. Japanese officials approved the name initially, then later took them to court to make them change the name out of concern for the child. They ended up agreeing to change his name. A 2022 study found that unique kirakira names have increased in popularity since the 1980s. They analyzed nearly 60,000 baby names over 40 years published in local newsletters and found that parents have increasingly been giving their babies unique and individual names. Interestingly, this increase was more prevalent for baby girls than for baby boys. Other countries have bans on baby names as well. Like in New Zealand, where they routinely reject names based on royalty like King, Prince, Princess, Duke, Queen, and Royal. In Italy, the name Blue (or the variation Blu) is banned due to a 2000 presidential decree mandating that a child's name must correspond to their gender, and officials have argued that the name Blue is not associated with the female gender. In the US, names that include a numeral are banned, which is why Elon Musk and Grimes dropped the '12' from their son's name and changed it to X AE A-XII. There's nothing wrong with wanting to give your baby a special name, but you might want to double check you aren't breaking any laws first! Best of SheKnows 19 Celebrity Parents With Trans & Nonbinary Kids 20 of Serena Williams' Most Adorable Motherhood Moments 30+ Baby Names With Ivy League Vibes — No Degree Required
7NEWS
30-05-2025
- General
- 7NEWS
Japan introduces new rules banning ‘sparkly' names for babies like Pikachu or Nike
If you go to Japan, there's a chance you might meet someone with an unusual name — such as Nike, Pikachu or Pudding. While still a minority, these names have grown in popularity over recent decades as parents reject traditional Japanese names for something more unique. But the practice has also drawn criticism — mainly that it's confusing for hospitals, schools and authorities who don't know how to pronounce them. Now the government is cracking down on these so-called 'kirakira' names, which means sparkly or shiny. New rules came into effect on Monday that will limit parents from giving their babies names pronounced in unconventional ways. The news was met with mixed reactions; some social media users argued that kirakira names are an expression of individualism, that they're fairly harmless and don't warrant government regulation. 'They're not children of the nation, right? They're children of their parents,' one person wrote on X — formerly known as twitter — after the announcement. Many more, however, welcomed the change — lamenting that children with unusual names might face harassment, or at the very least complications in administrative tasks like registrations or banking. 'Why do certain people put kirakira names on their kids? It just causes those kids to be bullied,' one X user wrote. Another joked sarcastically: 'Please stop restricting kirakira names. Seeing a child's name reveals the intelligence of their parents, which is helpful.' How 'kirakira' names work Japan uses three writing systems — Kanji, which is based on Chinese characters, and two other phonetic systems. Names are typically written in Kanji, and this is where the trouble comes in. Because these Chinese characters were mixed with the existing Japanese language, each Kanji character can be pronounced multiple ways — some with ten or more ways. You decipher the 'right' pronunciation based on context clues and the other characters in a sentence or phrase. In kirakira names, which became more popular from the 1980s onward, parents often choose a name based on the phonetic sound — wanting their child's name to sound like Pikachu, for instance — and pick similar-sounding Kanji characters. The problem is that those characters might not usually be pronounced that way — making it hard, or impossible, for a teacher or nurse to decipher how to properly say a child's name just by looking at its written Kanji form. Some have drawn parallels to how American parents have, increasingly in the past decade, chosen unusual spellings for common names — such as Ashleigh instead of Ashley, or Catelynn instead of Caitlin. The Japanese government's new rules aim to limit this by mandating that only widely accepted pronunciations of kanji characters will be allowed. Parents will need to include the phonetic readings of their baby names in the registry — and if local officials see that the phonetic sound of a name doesn't match how its characters are typically pronounced, they may reject the name or request additional paperwork. The rise of unusual names This is not the first time strict naming rules have sparked debate in Japan. Japan still legally requires married couples to share the same surname, unlike most other major economies that have done away with the tradition. Normally, wives take their husband's name, since same-sex marriages aren't legal in Japan. A movement to change the rules around surnames has been brewing, led by women's rights advocates and those trying to preserve the diversity of Japanese surnames in a nation where a handful of names are becoming increasingly common. First names have afforded more room for experimentation — at least, until the latest rules came in. More and more people have been given unusual names in the last 40 years, according to a 2022 study that analysed baby names published in local newsletters over the last few decades. The trend suggests a shift toward seeking 'uniqueness and independence' in Japan, the study said — also seen in changes to other parts of Japanese life during that time, like family structures and societal values. Girls in particular saw an increase in kirakira names, it added — perhaps suggesting that parents had a stronger 'hope for their daughters to become unique and independent than for their sons'. Japan isn't the only country that has seen an upward trend in unusual baby names. A 2016 study found that American parents picked more unusual names between 2004 and 2015, pointing to the culture's 'increasing individualism'. In China, too, rapid economic growth and upward mobility have meant people today value individualism and autonomy more than previous generations, according to a 2018 study — reflected in the steady rise of parents choosing unique characters in their babies' names. Like in Japan, the study found that Chinese girls were more likely to have unusual names than boys — perhaps reflecting different 'parental expectations'. But it's also common for countries to have rules in place for what names are acceptable. In the US, this is often state-by-state — names in California can only use the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language, which briefly posed a problem when Elon Musk and Grimes named their baby X Æ A-12. They eventually changed the name — very slightly — to X Æ A-Xii. In Germany, authorities may strike down a baby name if they find it offensive or potentially harmful to the child's best interests. For example, they've previously barred parents from using Borussia, a reference to a soccer team, or Gastritis, arguing that the names would 'jeopardise the welfare of the child', according to the official Frankfurt city administration. Meanwhile, New Zealand also maintains strict rules that include bans on references to titles, meaning names like King and Prince are routinely rejected. Baby names in Australia cannot be obscene or offensive, established by repute or usage, include or resemble an official rank or title, or contrary to the public interest.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Japan cracks down on ‘sparkly' names for babies like Pikachu or Nike
If you go to Japan, there's a chance you might meet someone with an unusual name – such as 'Nike,' 'Pikachu' or 'Pudding.' While still a minority, these names have grown in popularity over recent decades as parents reject traditional Japanese names for something more unique. But the practice has also drawn criticism – mainly that it's confusing for hospitals, schools and authorities who don't know how to pronounce them. Now the government is cracking down on these so-called 'kirakira' names, which means sparkly or shiny. New rules came into effect on Monday that will limit parents from giving their babies names pronounced in unconventional ways. The news was met with mixed reactions; some social media users argued that kirakira names are an expression of individualism, that they're fairly harmless and don't warrant government regulation. 'They're not children of the nation, right? They're children of their parents,' one person wrote on X after the announcement. Many more, however, welcomed the change – lamenting that children with unusual names might face harassment, or at the very least complications in administrative tasks like registrations or banking. 'Why do certain people put kirakira names on their kids? It just causes those kids to be bullied,' one X user wrote. Another joked sarcastically: 'Please stop restricting kirakira names. Seeing a child's name reveals the intelligence of their parents, which is helpful.' Japan uses three writing systems – Kanji, which is based on Chinese characters, and two other phonetic systems. Names are typically written in Kanji, and this is where the trouble comes in. Because these Chinese characters were mixed with the existing Japanese language, each Kanji character can be pronounced multiple ways – some with ten or more ways. You decipher the 'right' pronunciation based on context clues and the other characters in a sentence or phrase. In kirakira names, which became more popular from the 1980s onward, parents often choose a name based on the phonetic sound – wanting their child's name to sound like 'Pikachu,' for instance – and pick similar-sounding Kanji characters. The problem is that those characters might not usually be pronounced that way – making it hard, or impossible, for a teacher or nurse to decipher how to properly say a child's name just by looking at its written Kanji form. Some have drawn parallels to how American parents have, increasingly in the past decade, chosen unusual spellings for common names – such as Ashleigh instead of Ashley, or Catelynn instead of Caitlin. The Japanese government's new rules aim to limit this by mandating that only widely accepted pronunciations of kanji characters will be allowed. Parents will need to include the phonetic readings of their baby names in the registry – and if local officials see that the phonetic sound of a name doesn't match how its characters are typically pronounced, they may reject the name or request additional paperwork. This is not the first time strict naming rules have sparked debate in Japan. Japan still legally requires married couples to share the same surname, unlike most other major economies that have done away with the tradition. Normally, wives take their husband's name, since same-sex marriages aren't legal in Japan. A movement to change the rules around surnames has been brewing, led by women's rights advocates and those trying to preserve the diversity of Japanese surnames in a nation where a handful of names are becoming increasingly common. First names have afforded more room for experimentation – at least, until the latest rules came in. More and more people have been given unusual names in the last 40 years, according to a 2022 study that analyzed baby names published in local newsletters over the last few decades. The trend suggests a shift toward seeking 'uniqueness and independence' in Japan, the study said – also seen in changes to other parts of Japanese life during that time like family structures and societal values. Girls in particular saw an increase in kirakira names, it added – perhaps suggesting that parents had a stronger 'hope for their daughters to become unique and independent than for their sons.' Japan isn't the only country that has seen an upward trend in unusual baby names. A 2016 study found that American parents picked more unusual names between 2004 and 2015, pointing to the culture's 'increasing individualism.' In China, too, rapid economic growth and upward mobility have meant people today value individualism and autonomy more than previous generations, according to a 2018 study – reflected in the steady rise of parents choosing unique characters in their babies' names. Like in Japan, the study found that Chinese girls were more likely to have unusual names than boys – perhaps reflecting different 'parental expectations.' But it's also common for countries to have rules in place for what names are acceptable. In the US, this is often state-by-state; names in California can only use the 26 alphabetical characters of the English language, which briefly posed a problem when Elon Musk and Grimes named their baby 'X Æ A-12.' They eventually changed the name – very slightly – to 'X Æ A-Xii.' In Germany, authorities may strike down a baby name if they find it offensive or potentially harmful to the child's best interests. For example, they've previously barred parents from using 'Borussia,' a reference to a soccer team, or 'Gastritis,' arguing that the names would 'jeopardize the welfare of the child,' according to the official Frankfurt city administration. Meanwhile New Zealand also maintains strict rules that include bans on references to titles, meaning names like 'King' and 'Prince' are routinely rejected. Soyon Nishioka contributed reporting.
