Japanese Hip Hop: M-flo

http://charmless.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/mflo_lovesong.jpg

Next featured Japanese singing group: M-flo

M-flo consists of Verbal (yes, that is a name) and Taku Takahashi.

They do JPop, Japanese Hip-hop, rap, jazz, and techno.

They have 5 studio albums, 5 remixed albums, 2 best albums, 4 compilations, and 22 singles.

Including my favorite: Miss You (single) which I have been addicted to lately
Featuring Ryohei Yamamoto, Japanese R&B singer


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-zWIsDmKQo&feature=related

Official website: http://m-flo.com/index2.html

Natural Elixir

http://brucefong.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/green-tea.jpg

What makes green tea so special?

It has something called Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is known to be the key to its many benefits:

1) Help weight loss

2) Decrease cholesterol level

3) Increase the immune system function
4) Helps the heart and circulatory health
5) Lower risk of/ prevention against a long list of cancers and diseases
6) Helps to soothe and cure the esophagus

7) It's full of antioxidants

8) It has bacteria-destroying ability (ie. prevent tooth decay, avoid food poisoning)

Japan has been drinking this tea for centuries and is part of many traditions and holidays.

The amount of antioxidants in one cup of green tea surpasses a serving of most fruits and vegetables like broccoli, strawberries, and spinach.

Surprisingly, it also has more vitamin C than a lemon.

Many people have asked me about the dieting part of green tea. It works! Plus, water plays a role in this too since your metabolism is raised when your bodily water level is raised too.

Green tea has polyphenols which are responsible for fat-burning.

Last summer, I spent a month sitting and studying so I did not do much exercise. But everyday at my desk, I always had 2 pots of green tea which I just sipped throughout the day. After that month, I lost 6 pounds. I did not even have to move a muscle. So that is the proof that it does work.

You can try this too. But please don't treat this as an exercise substitute. Yes, I lost the pounds but exercise is always need. And don't start eating more unhealthy food as well as green tea thinking it will balance out. Green tea simply cleanses the body. It is like a sink dispenser. You throw food down there and it goes down the sink. Then you turn it on, and it gets rid of all the excess food remaining thus making it clean. But if you decide to pack it with buckets of food, that simply defeats the purpose. And the sink dispenser can only get rid of so much before clogging the whole system up.

When making green tea, remember to add boiling water for it increases the extraction of polyphenols. And don't leave it in for too long. About 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the pot. If it is there for too long, it will become too concentrated, bitter, and caffeinated (so it's like coffee...you don't want to drink 2 pots of that...that's a bit too much)

And another thing that is great about green tea is that it can have taste and it doesn't. It is versatile. So you can always get your ECGC's from other sources besides the tea. You can find it in a solid, liquid, and powder form. You can put it in almost anything! And sometimes you dont have to taste it. There is a powder form of it which you mix into your food without ruining its taste. So you can get the nutrients that way. Or you can definitely taste it like in a Starbucks drink. Yum.

Green tea for the win.

Japanese Music（日本の音楽)- Yuna Ito

I haven't been up-to-date on Japanese music lately but I have all-time favorites.

I listen to a lot of of Japanese Pop (JPop).

I will do a post a day on my favorite artists.

Today's singer: Yuna Ito

http://desertheart.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/urban_mermaid_cddvd.jpg

Born in Los Angeles, Yuna Ito started to become interested in singing in Hawaii, where her family moved to. She originally debued as an actress in Korea. Then she moved to Japan to pursue her singing passion.

In 2005, she was casted in an acting role in the manga-based Japanese series "Nana" where she sang the theme song for: "Endless Story." This song started her whole singing career.

Since then, she has made 13 singles, 2 albums, and won 7 awards. Including 3 "best new artist" awards and MTV Video Music Awards Japan: Best Asia from Japan.

"Endless Story" is one of my favorite songs of hers.
This is a slow ballad of hers.
It showcases her amazing voice.
It was #1 and #2 for weeks and named "Best Love Song of 2005"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb49N8UZQb0

A year later, another hit-single debuted: "Stuck on You" which is my personal favorite.

This is an upbeat and happy song.

It makes me want to dance and sing along.

I play this when I am having a bad day to cheer me up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1QhW4v71I

So those are my favorite songs of Yuna Ito and I will post more artists later!

Her official site: http://www.yunaweb.com/

Her blog: http://playlog.jp/yuna/blog/

Takara- FOOD

It is time to talk about something that everyone can relate to: food.

Yummy, scrumptious, delicious, heavenly, melt-in-your-mouth FOOD.

So there is this amazing Japanese restaurant in Capitola, Santa Cruz.

Takara.



http://takarasushi.com/

The first thing you might think of when someone mentions a Japanese restaurant is sushi. But this restaurant has so much more than that. It has food for practically every person of every age of every taste. They have cooked food, raw food, seafood, noodles, soups, etc.



Takara is not your typical Japanese restaurant.

Every week, the chefs get together and experiment to create new sushi rolls. And since they ran out of ideas with the original sushi ingredients, they have created exotic sushis. For example, rolls that have fruit, soy wrap, chili sauce, or originally made sauces.

Takara also has its own salad dressing that they make freshly everyday. It is so good that they put it in the togo menu because customers have requested to buy it by the gallon. Takara also has its own tapas menu with bite-sized original creations. They even have live bands on the weekends. How cool is that?

80% of the sushi was created by the sushi chefs and about 50% of the menu, you cannot find anywhere else because it is Takara's creations.

Here is the menu.
http://www.takarasushi.com/TakaraMenu08.pdf
But this is only about half.

Next time you go down to Santa Cruz, you should definitely eat there. It is right outside of Capitola mall (part of the mall). Outside of Sears (shares the same parking lot). It's just a few minutes from the beach, across the street from a movie theater and part of a mall. So take a trip with your friends down to Santa Cruz to hang out and eat there!

Compared to other Japanese restaurants, the price is low.

And the quality is amazing.

It has been voted by Good Times the best Japanese restaurant in Santa Cruz 16 years in a row. A running streak!

Takara is a very unique restaurant and I highly recommend eating there. I cannot even describe their creations in words because they are just different. But delicious! So you have to try it for yourself.

Phone: (831) 464-1818
http://www.takarasushi.com
Open everyday. Even on holidays.
Huge restaurant so it can accompany large parties

Yup that's mango

Another original creation. They're bugs! Not real ones...nigiri ones

And another original. It is called sweet mussels. Made with Takara's secret sauce which they will not reveal no matter how much customers beg.

Aren't those cute? They come with every kids meal

Doesn't that look delicious?

Yum

MAC Hello Kitty

(all photos from http://www.maccosmetics.com/)

(these are only a few items in this line)


2 famous names: MAC and Hello Kitty

MAC is the most professional cosmetics store in my opinion. The products are high quality, long lasting, strong color, and a fair price.

Hello Kitty is one of the most widely known name in Asia. And which I am a fan of.

They are two totally opposite companies.

But when combined, they produced a limited edition line of makeup that is not too bold yet not too subtle: bright and cute.


MAC released this in February 2009 and most of the items are already sold out.

(Here's a photo video of the collection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om2ADyylC1c)

The Hello Kitty line also attracts fans of both MAC and Hello Kitty (such as myself). So I think it was a advantageous partnership for both sides.

So me, being a makeup and Hello Kitty lover, I went to buy something. But when I got there I was a bit disappointed because the products were pretty small for that price. Then again the sizes are perfect for carrying around and MAC is professional. But I was happy because the colors are really bright. Not something you would wear on an everyday basis but are fun for going out. Since I desperately wanted to get something, I got this lipgloss. The color comes on really strong. A bit too strong for me since I am in highschool. But I would wear it at night or in a few years when I look more mature since lips that are not light pink do not look natural on me. I really recommend this line because it is by MAC (reliable and professional) and is Hello Kitty (fun colors).






Because these products were so successful, MAC came out with a new line this week: Hello Kitty Kouture



This line is more expensive because the products are embedded with crystals. It only consists of 2 products.

The lipgloss is $30 and the powder is $90. But the case is removable and is made out of silver and embedded with Swarvoski crystals. So the price is fair.

If you are looking for new makeup and want to create a colorful look, I definitely recommend this line. If you compare the price of MAC and other cosmetic stores, the price difference if small. And MAC is probably better so I say that going to MAC would be a better choice.

You can find MAC in almost any mall and you can order online. The price ranges a lot since there are many products. So visit the website! And have fun shopping! http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Shiseido AND MAC Eyelash Curlers

Recent Epiphany!
I found out why my Shiseido eyelash curler works better for me than my MAC one.



Left: Shiseido's Eyelash Curler (GCR)- Made in Japan
Right: MAC's Full Lash Curler- Made in America


I think that both of these eyelash curlers are equally good. It just depends on your eye shape.



As you can see, the one on the right (MAC) has a larger curve and the left (Shiseido) not so much. That is because the asian eye protrudes less than other races usually.

And the width of the left one is smaller than the right. That is because asians have smaller eyes.

They are both very good eyelash curler and I recommend both brands.

But since I am asian, I find the Shiseido one to work best for me since it fits in all the hard-to-reach-corners and targets every single eyelash unlike the MAC one.

I'm not saying the MAC one is bad. It still works for me. Just not as well as the Shiseido one due to my eye shape.

So that was a recent discovery.

So for all you asians out there, I highly recommend the Shiseido eyelash curler (the one made in Japan). For people who have larger eyes, I really recommend the MAC one because it creates a strong curl that is not a harsh line in a few clamps.

I give them both 5 out of 5

Where to get it: MAC and any cosmetic store that sells Shiseido. Maybe more luck in an asian department store.
Price: MAC- $15/ Shiseido- $17.50
Websites:http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT135&PRODUCT_ID=370&QUERY=eyelash%20curler and http://www.shiseido.co/jp