Purr purr ฅ(•ㅅ•)ฅ

     
The movable cats released in February from Bandai, similar to bjd pet line, hold their poses, and includes magnetic fishes.

Set contains nine cats, three spotted, three white, and three gray colour, but different eyes, and magnetic fishes (skeletal or normal fish). The kittens mouth magnetic too, so the fishes can also find to easy way there. (=①ω①=)


There are a lot of cat figures in Japan, realistic little series in Gashapon machines, or Choco-Eggs. In the Japanese art and literature you can find them too. Natsume Soseki wrote a satirical novel in Meiji period (1868 -1912) "I am a Cat" (1905-6) title, which shows the life of the Japanese middle-class through a domestic cat. The kitty watching people all day, a school teacher, a businessman, a young scientist, while commenting hard. In the 8th episode of Hoozuki no Reitetsu refer to art, the chief editor of Nekomata news in this sentence : "Now I have a name "Sneaze"." The I am a Cat first sentence is " I am a cat. I don't have a name yet", and Mr. Sneaze is a teacher in the book, whose name comes from "sneeze" (in the original "Kushami"). In 1972 the book released in English.


Would you like to see a lot of cats? There are more "Cat Café" in Japan, and opened in several countries. The intiative started from reason that some people cannot keep kitty in their aparment, but like the animal. Cat shops, cute statues, and other little things can all be found in Japan.
The quieter, and outer part of Tokyo located Gotokuji, the "Lucky Cat Temple" (Maneki Neko). The legend originate from early 17th century,  li Naotaka was caught in a strom, but get shelter from a cat, who lived in the temple (the cat raised his paw, and beckoning Naotaka in the temple), after Naotaka decided that the temple under the protection of the li clan.
The first station manager cat is Japanese too, "Tama", who was manager from 2017 to 2015, followed by "Nitama" (Tama's trainee). Kojama found the stray kitty in 2004, that time they wanted to close the station, but stayed at the request of the passengers. Due to the cost reduction of several smaller station, they were looking employees from nearby companies to provide station mangement. Kojama got the posotion, but in 2007 Tama became a boss first, than director in 2010. Tama got a small office in this time, the station popularity increased too.
Another kind story comes from cat islands. One such island is Aoshima, where the kitties walking freely everywhere. Only 20 people live in the island, and over 100 cats.
The cats came to the fisherman to the island on ships, they were taken with them against mice, when 1000 people lived in the fishing village. They are be on the TV, internet news, and community platforms, if they need some help ( food, medical care...). Visitors regurarly take food, and other health-care gifts, because huge storms in winter, and ships don't go to the island. People send packets to the animals to the island storage to stormy winter period.

source: FindTravel

Who could resist a cute kitty, with fluffy paws, fortunatelly the small figures get well painted pink paws too.
The joints are 100% rotatable ( the tail too), the magnets in the mouth is strong, and can hold the fish figures.


They are 4 cm high, and 5 cm long, suitable for Nendoroid, Nendoroid Doll, Cu-Poche, and Obitsu dolls up to 21 cm. They will be very good photo partner in the future. •ㅅ•



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Winter is coming~

     
Against the cold, Proof re-released their fluffy nendo clothes. Two holiday theme set released in autumn, and winter. The first came at the end of September with a Halloween theme, and the second in November with fluffy fur and Chritmas theme.


With the same patterns, the manufacturer also makes a 15 cm version, they are fit for larger dolls plush, 10 cm versions fit for Nendoroid, Obitsu 11 cm, and Cu -poche. The little bells are real, jingling :).



In Japan, Christmas has only been celebrated for a few decades,  the Christmas Eve is a celebration of lovers. Young couples go for a walk, look at the decorated festive lights, exchange gifts, go to a restaurant. The popular dish of chicken and Christmas cake, "Strawberry Shortcake", which is a very sweet cake, decorate with strawberries. In KiraKira Precure's opening episode also makes such a cake, and at the end of each chapter show the "One-minute Baking" series with a short recipe.


The Emperor's Birthday is December 23, which is a National Holiday, followed by New Year Holidays (December 31st to January 4th). The Japanese New Year ("O shogatsu") more like our Christmas time,  families gather, eat together, pray .
"Santa san" is also popular in Japan, so GSC surprised us with Christmas Nendoroid kits, female and male versions.



Both sets include a base, a body, Santa hat, hands, and heart gift for the girl body, and Santa's bag for the boy.


Hokkaido is the northernmost island, where held Sapporo Snow Festival. It is also known as the Winter Wonderland, because of the variety of lights, gigantic snow, and ice sculptures. In 1950, high school students began the tradition, their built a snow statue in Odoni Koen Park, and the next years come, more and more people,  joined and worked together on the huge statues, raising the festive spirit.
Maybe they also wanted to built a Colossal Titan together, but finally someone landed in the snow (⇀ 3 ↼).




Finally, the spirit of happiness should go through at least as much as Hoozuki (μ‿μ) ❤ XD, love and piece, and thanks to Regcsy for the joint work.


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Nendoroid Doll body, and comparison with Cu-Poche~

     

The first official Nendoroid Doll body released in October, Archetype Boy and Girl. Boy comes with two skin colors, peach, and cinnamon (cream color release date: 05/2019).


In the box you will find hands, magnetic base, universal holders, rods for doll, replacement neck joint. The figure base just a magnet sheet, if we would like to put the traditional Nendo rod parts on it, we also have to put first the magnetic "dot"on the base.



Of course, there were also fan alternatives before this official body, "how to make Nendoroid more poseable like ball jointed dolls". The first solution was the Obitsu 11cm body,  the Nendoroid's head fit a little transformation this body (take off the small "hat" from obitsu's neck joint). In 2014, Kotobukiya's Cu-Poche Madoka (still in plastic clothes) came on the market, and the extra series was launched with separate body, dress, and other accessories.
Nendoroid head does not fit on this body, neck joint of Kotobukiya is shorter, but the solution is very simple, both Nendoroid and Cu-Poche neck joints can be split, the shorter end into the body (original Cu-Poche) while the Nendoroid part is up, into the head.


The Cu-Poche body is smaller than the new Nendoroid Doll, but the feet and hands are larger, can stand without magnetic base, the joints are harder to move.


The body on the picture is a Cu-poche School Swimsuit Body (2017), similarly hand set in the box, with a magnetic base, but there is a hole on the top of the base for rod parts, no extra dots.


GSC doll body has more poseable points, smaller foot, so it needs a magnetic base to stand on a flat surface too, both manufacturers have a strong magnet on the foot and base. There is no need to use extra stand rod, just magnetic sheet for the simple standing pose.


Of course, Kotobukiya has come up with his own new boy body (Cu-Poche extra, released in 11/2018), with extra joints.


The question is the fans will change the old Nendo hybrids to the official GSC body or keep it. I think they don't change, but will buy the official Nendoroid Doll bodies in their future projects. All in all, I like both bodies, and I was happy with the difference in height, because it will be good for the lower or kid characters the Kotobukiya version. Two Nendo Doll bodies have been received for Mikazuki and Kashuu. I can't wait for the "work" and game with them.


GSC announced more add-ons for doll series, clothes and hands set too. (hand collection release date in 05/2019 peach, cinnamon, and cream colour)



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Nendoroid more: Dress Up summer sets

     

This summer released many nendo add-ons \(★ω★)/, two Love Live Dress up and Yukata set. On July 30th released the Dress Up Yukatas set which include six bodies and figure base with three girls and three boys. Yuri on Ice was on the promotional pictures, we had been waiting for it for a long time, because it would be a good additional parts to create a custom diorama in Japan style.



Also released separately for this collection the "After Parts 05 Summer Festival", which contain six hands, and two backgrounds.




When the rainy season end, start Yukatas, and time of the festivals, makes the summer more beautiful. Japan is the "World of Festivals", but there are even more wonderful events in the summer. There are many summer local festivals, including street parades, stalls, fireworks, karaoke, drink competitions, and many other programs. There are many smaller festivals, and big national holidays too. The local festivals are usually sponsored by sanctuaries and temples. Of course, these festivals often occur in anime too, such as the Iwatobi swimming team at the 9th episode went to "Hachima sama" summer festival.


One of the two Love Live Sunshine! Dress Up World Image Girls Sets released in July, and the second at the end of August.
In the first collection include five bodies with stands (UK maid, Australian, Korean, Singaporean, and Taiwan clothing) + bonus hair for the maid body. For the second set contain four bodies (Chinese, German, American, Thai), and a little additions to the Australian body, + the American Image Girl hat, the bonus was a pigtail hair.



Fortunately, the manufacturer don't stop for good habits, so there will be more accessories in the future, thank you for the pictures to my friend Regcsy, who is a big Nendoroid and Attack on Titan fan (⌒ ▽ ⌒) ☆.
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Epoch Japanese Sakazuki, and dishes set~

     

In the Fall, released new Epoch miniature set for dolls the Japanese Gachapon machines. Very fabulous collection, with golden floral patterns, and decoration on a red background.


The collection includes a Choshi cup with a Sake pot, a Sakazuki cup set, bentos, a soup, and a flatter bowl (Hirawan) with chopsticks. The covers of the plates and cans can be removed.


The Sakazuki set is still use today as a Ceremonial Accessory, the oldest piece of cup style, with beautifully decorated, wide-mouthed cups. The most common is a red lacquered style with wood, and gold or silver decoration, but it can also be made of porcelain. When using Sakazuki,  always filled another person with the etiquette, accepting each other's recommendations, symbolizing mutual empathy, hospitality, and accepting and prioritizing the needs of others.
In the middle of the Edo period, the guinomi (deeper) were more popular than the formal Sakazuki, and are now made of porcelain and glass. Nyanko Sensei also recommends it, but he love drink from big sake pot. (=⌒‿‿⌒=)


Often referred with ochoko, but is usually smaller, or the masu, the wooden "cube". Originally used in the Edo Period (1603-1868) traders used to measure goods, such as rice, vinegar. It is hard to break and easy to store, so later it became a cup of festivals.


Nowadays, masu is used even in traditional pubs. Made from Japanese cypress, Hinoki , the aroma of wood with the spice gives a really fresh taste.
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