Latest news with #Sakura
Pink Villa
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Yandere Dark Elf Episode 9: Sakura Gets Scouted By Publisher—Recap, Release Date, Where To Stream And More
In ' Debut as a Vendor Part 1,' Sakura finishes her doujinshi starring a sword-wielding heroine based on Bell and asks Hinata and Bell to cosplay and help sell copies. At her home, Bell strips without hesitation and forces Sakura to do the same while trying to get Hinata undress too. At the convention, Hinata is embarrassed to cosplay a female character, though the girls insist. Sakura's manga sells well. During their break, Bell tries to seduce Hinata again before Cecile and Mei arrive dressed as adventurers. Expected plot in Yandere Dark Elf Episode 9 Yandere Dark Elf Episode 9 will continue as with Hinata and Bell dressed as characters from Sakura's manga. Hinata's tussle with the large crowd that arrived at their booth will come to an end as Mei and Cecile arrive to assist with sales. Thanks to their help, Sakura will sell out all her books. She will also end up receiving an offer from a publishing editor. Overjoyed, the group will head to the cosplay plaza in high spirits, though something unexpected and possibly dangerous will happen there, interrupting the celebration. Yandere Dark Elf Episode 9: Release date and where to stream Titled 'Debut as a Vendor Part 2,' Yandere Dark Elf Episode 9 is scheduled to air on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:05 am JST, according to the anime's official website. Due to time zone differences, international viewers may be able to watch it on June 1, 2025. In Japan, Yandere Dark Elf Episode 9 will be broadcast on channels like Tokyo MX and BS11, with the uncensored version streaming on Deregula. It will also be available on U-NEXT, ABEMA, and d Anime Store. Internationally, HIDIVE will stream the episode in select regions, including the USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, and France. For more updates from the Yandere Dark Elf: She Chased Me All the Way From Another World! anime, stay tuned to Pinkvilla.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
How this $7,000 EV is said to be busting the 'biggest' myth about cars in Japan
A Japanese startup, KG Motors , is aiming to boost Japan's electric vehicle (EV) market with an ultra-compact, affordable one-seater EV called the mibot, according to Bloomberg. Resembling a futuristic golf cart, the mibot is designed for Japan's narrow streets and has already pre-sold over half of the 3,300 units planned for delivery in 2027. This puts KG Motors on track to surpass Toyota, which sold around 2,000 EVs in Japan in 2024. This reportedly puts KG Motors on track to sell more EVs in Japan than the world's biggest automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., which shifted around such 2,000 vehicles in all of 2024. In a country where EVs are still a rare sight, KG Motors is trying to bust a burgeoning myth: That Bigger is Better. 'Cars are simply too big,' said Kazunari Kusunoki, KG Motors' founder and CEO, as quoted by Bloomberg. The mibot, priced at ¥1 million ($7,000) before tax, is half the cost of Japan's popular Nissan Sakura EV. It offers a 100-kilometer range, a five-hour charge time, and a top speed of 60 km/h. Production is set to begin in October at a new factory east of Hiroshima. Japan's EV market lags globally, with EVs making up just 3.5per cent of vehicle sales in 2023 compared to the global average of 18%, per BloombergNEF. Toyota's multi-pathway approach, favoring hybrids alongside EVs, has shaped public skepticism about EVs' popularity, Kusunoki noted. However, small kei cars like the Sakura, which sold nearly 23,000 units in 2024, dominate Japan's EV market. KG Motors' mibot, with its minimalist design and low production costs, targets rural areas with declining public transport. Bloomberg reports that 95per cent of the 2,250 pre-orders come from homeowners with at least one vehicle. The startup expects to break even on its second batch of 3,000 units and aims to produce 10,000 annually thereafter.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Veryrare Founder Raf Reyes on Disruptive Denim Design
Veryrare is on a mission to revolutionize fashion with its 'bold, fresh and reimagined' designs. Founded by Raf Reyes, the Paris-based brand emerged in 2020 during the pandemic while Reyes was a postgraduate student at the Royal College of Art in London. According to the designer, the brand was born from a desire to merge art and fashion, creating pieces that 'democratize art' by making it wearable and accessible. More from Sourcing Journal From Legacy to Relevance: How True Religion Is Captivating New Audiences Celebs Dress Up in Denim for Red Carpet Moments Ksubi Drops Rockstar-Inspired Collection 'The concept behind the brand is to reference design's history and signal its presence within the colliding worlds of archive and 21st-century fashion,' Reyes told SJ Denim. 'Selected visuals feature various universes, ranging from collector '90s aesthetics to contemporary subculture imagery. These elements are either amplified or stripped down to create a fresh and reimagined clothing style—where opposing ideas speak to one another—resulting in very rare pieces.' Five years in and the brand has built a strong international presence, reaching customers in over 86 countries, with the U.S. as its primary market. This growth has been fueled by its online platform and partnerships with prominent retailers such as Selfridges in London, H Lorenzo, Wolf & Badger, Simons in Canada and HBX in Hong Kong. This rapid growth has helped the brand gain recognition from some of pop culture's hottest names, including J. Cole, Jake Paul, Jaylen Brown, Lil Tjay, Rich The Kid and Famous Dex, to name a few. 'With my brand, I'm continuously working to redefine fashion by merging art and clothing, creating timeless pieces that challenge traditional fashion norms, [which is what] Veryrare consumers love,' Reyes said. A key aspect of Veryrare's buiness is its distinctive denim designs, which often feature 'ultra-limited' lifestyle pieces that combine 'intertwined narratives and visuals,' Reyes noted. Take, for example, the Sakura jean—made of 100 percent cotton—which features vibrant cherry blossom embroidery running up each side of the leg. Reyes said the $129 jean takes over 15 hours to hand-embroider, a process that incorporates various techniques, including chain stitch and piqué. Veryrare sources fabrics globally, collaborating with textile associates in France, Portugal, Turkey, China and Japan. 'We are committed to finding the best fabrics in terms of quality, durability and originality, ensuring each piece meets our high standards,' Reyes said. 'We even know each of our denim artisans by name, visiting their weaving mills and dyeing factories regularly to ensure the craftsmanship and materials align with our [ethos] of transparency and authenticity.' Here, Reyes shares what drives the world of Veryrare, one unapologetic answer at a time. What's one word to describe Veryrare? Raf Reyes: Unapologetic. Who (or what) inspires your designs the most? RR: The global community, humanity, existence and the creative tribe—our mentors, the scenius, the collective genius of everything we've made and conceptualized since emerging from our Neanderthal caves. If Veryrare was a music genre, what would it be? RR: Probably a fusion of synthwave, ambient, phonk, punk, indie, house, hip-hop/rap, jungle, DnB, UK garage, drill, trap and jazz. Coffee or tea while designing? RR: Coffee. What's a guilty pleasure you have when it comes to fashion? RR: Indulging in maximalist designs and collaborating with friends (shoutout to Kiji Opera, my homie with the matcha tea saloon—we'll be doing a matcha set/box together soon). What's the best compliment you've received about your brand? RR: Being told that our pieces are timeless and inspirational. What's your favorite city to visit for fashion inspiration? RR: Tokyo. What's the most important thing you want customers to feel when they wear your designs? RR: All the pieces I release are designed to be worn like armor or second skins for the absurd reality we navigate daily. So flex them, rock them proudly. They say things you don't need to express aloud; they speak for you.
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
How this $7,000 EV is said to be busting the 'biggest' myth about cars in Japan and is set to beat Toyota in EV sales
A Japanese startup, KG Motors, is aiming to boost Japan's electric vehicle (EV) market with an ultra-compact, affordable one-seater EV called the mibot, according to Bloomberg. Resembling a futuristic golf cart, the mibot is designed for Japan's narrow streets and has already pre-sold over half of the 3,300 units planned for delivery in 2027. This puts KG Motors on track to surpass Toyota, which sold around 2,000 EVs in Japan in 2024. This reportedly puts KG Motors on track to sell more EVs in Japan than the world's biggest automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., which shifted around such 2,000 vehicles in all of 2024. In a country where EVs are still a rare sight, KG Motors is trying to bust a burgeoning myth: That Bigger is Better. 'Cars are simply too big,' said Kazunari Kusunoki, KG Motors' founder and CEO, as quoted by Bloomberg. The mibot, priced at ¥1 million ($7,000) before tax, is half the cost of Japan's popular Nissan Sakura EV. It offers a 100-kilometer range, a five-hour charge time, and a top speed of 60 km/h. Production is set to begin in October at a new factory east of Hiroshima. Japan's EV market lags globally, with EVs making up just 3.5% of vehicle sales in 2023 compared to the global average of 18%, per BloombergNEF. Toyota's multi-pathway approach, favoring hybrids alongside EVs, has shaped public skepticism about EVs' popularity, Kusunoki noted. However, small kei cars like the Sakura, which sold nearly 23,000 units in 2024, dominate Japan's EV market. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Trading con IA en Chile ayuda a usuarios a obtener ganancias potenciales! Mainhubfb Más información Undo KG Motors' mibot, with its minimalist design and low production costs, targets rural areas with declining public transport. Bloomberg reports that 95% of the 2,250 pre-orders come from homeowners with at least one vehicle. The startup expects to break even on its second batch of 3,000 units and aims to produce 10,000 annually thereafter. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
This $7,000 single-seat electric car is a big hit in Japan
In the rural suburbs of Hiroshima, a Japanese startup is trying to kick start the nation's electric vehicle market with the smallest, cheapest car it can possibly make. KG Motors has developed a battery-powered one-seater that more resembles a futuristic golf cart than it does a modern EV, much less a traditional car. And yet well over half of the 3,300 units it plans to deliver in 2027 have already been pre-sold to customers. Incidentally, that puts it on track to sell more EVs in Japan than the world's biggest automaker, Toyota Motor Corp., which shifted around such 2,000 vehicles in all of 2024. In a country where EVs are still a rare sight, KG Motors is trying to bust a burgeoning myth: that bigger is better. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals 'Cars are simply too big,' founder and Chief Executive Officer Kazunari Kusunoki said. 'Seeing so many big cars traveling Japan's narrow streets – that's where this all began for me.' At under 1.5 meters in height, KG Motors' mibot has a range of 100 kilometers (62 miles), a charging time of five hours and a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour. It will cost ¥1 million ($7,000) before tax when production starts in October at KG Motors' new factory east of the city. That's about half the price of Japan's most popular EV, Nissan Motor Co.'s Sakura. Live Events To date, domestic and foreign automakers alike have struggled to find traction for EVs in Japan. The cars accounted for about 140,000 units or around 3.5% of total vehicle sales in 2023, a far cry from the global average of 18%, according to BloombergNEF. Chinese behemoth BYD Co., for example, sold 2,223 automobiles in Japan in 2024 – a sliver of the 4.3 million it delivered worldwide. Toyota and its Japanese peers, meanwhile, are at odds with other legacy automakers that hold an all-electric view of the future. Toyota has long harbored a multi-pathway approach to a greener tomorrow, one where EVs as well as gasoline, hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles play a role. As a result, the gas-electric hybrids pioneered by Japanese manufacturers still dominate. 'Toyota said EVs aren't the only solution and, because it's Toyota, Japanese people assume it must be true,' Kusunoki said. 'A large number of people in Japan seem to believe EVs won't become popular.' Japan, at least, has been slower to embrace the global trend toward larger, roomier vehicles. Smaller autos have always been a feature in the Asian nation and its lightweight kei cars have even found cult followings abroad. In recent years, they've claimed the lion's share of the domestic EV market, accounting for 55% of total sales in 2023. Nissan's Sakura is a kei car, with just under 23,000 units sold in 2024. In April, BYD said it's planning to produce a fully-electric kei car specifically for the Japanese market in the second half of 2026, while Hyundai Motor Co. introduced the Inster earlier this year, a ¥2.9 million vehicle it claims to be Japan's cheapest EV, at least among full-sized passenger cars. Small-sized EVs have helped spark consumer acceptance of battery-powered cars overseas as well. In China, the world's biggest EV market, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co.'s Hongguang Mini was at one point the nation's top seller. Still, with its single-seat design, KG Motors' mibot is in a tiny league of its own. The first 300 should be delivered to customers in Hiroshima and Tokyo by the middle of next year, while the next 3,000 will be shipped nationwide, Kusunoki said. KG Motors says it will lose money on the first batch but should break even on the second. After that, the company aims to produce around 10,000 units annually. It's in the process of acquiring the vehicle safety certification needed to commercialize the mibot. The startup's size and make-to-order strategy could work in its favor. EVs use far less parts than conventional gasoline or hybrid vehicles but the mibot takes that to another level, essentially consisting of a battery, motor and sparse electronics connected by wiring housed within a monocoque chassis on four wheels, so production costs are low. Even KG Motors' marketing draws on Kusunoki's former life as a YouTube content creator. The company has published footage on its website of the mibot being tested on the icy roads of Hokkaido, squeezing between homes packed into Hiroshima's historic districts and smashing into concrete walls at high speeds to ensure it satisfies Japan's strict safety regulations. Kusunoki, 43, who founded KG Motors in June 2022, grew up in Higashihiroshima, a suburban town with streets sometimes too narrow even for a Japanese sedan. He watched the country's public transport infrastructure deteriorate as a shortage of taxi drivers was compounded by an aging, shrinking population. As young people migrate to big cities, it's also becoming more difficult for the elderly to get around. As a result, KG Motors ultimately sees demand for one- or two-seater compact, cost efficient cars. As of early May, the company had received 2,250 orders, with over 95% coming from homeowners with at least one vehicle. 'In rural parts of the country, public transportation systems are in shambles,' Kusunoki said. 'This might be hard for someone living in Tokyo to understand but at some point, it becomes necessary to have one car per person, not just per household.'
