“That’s right Sweetie … you can be the new “Otaku Judge” now!”
(Denny singing to the lyrics of Paul Simon’s Mrs.Robinson: “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio”)
Dear Readers: I was sad to learn that The Otaku Judge will no longer be blogging.
I encountered the Judge a few years ago, as he often commented on the same anime and gaming blogs that I also followed. We followed each other’s posts, and I always enjoyed his comments. While we both have had to spend less time on WordPress the past couple of years, it was good to see his posts once in a while. Many in the anime, gaming and movie community may have noted his absence.
He was a good man — a man of good taste and good humour.
He didn’t just stop writing … his blog is GONE don’t ya know. I saw that it says the blog has been REMOVED. I also looked up his Twitter, and it is gone as well. I hope everything is OK.
I was surprised. I thought he was “the Rock of Gibraltar”. Ha Ha.
I’m not sure what happened. If he does not want to do the blog anymore, I understand. I respect that. It is always sad when someone that you interacted with evaporates into the internet ether. I had to deal with the MorningBerryz48 retirement. Also, I think that Mabel Kwong has about given up too. (Cough, Cough). I came to know the Judge as a well-respected friend.
Dude .. If you ever see this, know that I wish you well in your future endeavors …
Starlight: Please comment if anyone know what happened. I hope he has moved on to bigger and better things.
“Count what you have now, Don’t count what you don’t have …”
That’s right Mariya! Although my blogging pace has slowed down the past couple of years, I have noticed from my click counter that “Denny Sinnoh’s Akihabara Starlight” is now up to close to a HALF-MILLION reads!!! It should go over 500,000 this weekend. Look to my sidebar to the right under “blog stats”. See if YOUR CLICK is the one that pushes me over 500 K!
Thank you WordPress readers! Of course some bloggers have millions of reads, but I am happy whith what I have counted here, thus I want to share this song. At my “day job” of processing agricultural chemical request orders, I sometimes have to write up technical reports. These tech papers are only read by about maybe five people or so. I have to feel good that my writing has been seen by half-a-million humans and their bot minions. Special Thanks to YT user Artzie Music for sharing this song.
“Shiawase no Monosashi” Music, lyrics and vocals by Mariya Takeuchi.
LYRICS:
(One, two, three & four)
Count what you have now, don’t count what you don’t have
Count what you have now, don’t count what you don’t have
Find that you have so much
ganbari sugiru jibun ni tsukarete futo nakete kita mayonaka no basu ruumu de
mada te ni shita koto no nai shiawase ga dokoka ni aru ki ga shite aseru no wa toshi no sei?
hitori tanoshiku ikite kita no nani hitotsu kuyande nai kedo
kumotta kagami no you ni ashita ga mienai
Can’t you see? Can’t you see?
jiyuu to kodoku wa futatsu de setto kimama na hodo sabishisa mo tsuite kuru
(Don’t you know? Don’t you know?)
tonari no shibafu ga aoku mietara kono niwa ni hana o uereba ii
Count what you have now, don’t count what you don’t have
Find that you have so much
naimo no nedari shinagara minna mayotte ikiteru otona ni natte kara mo
ashimoto ni saita kirei na hana ni kizuku dake de hito wa ureshii kimochi ni nareru noni
itsuka mune no oku ni kakaeta jirenma no meiro nukereba
hontouni daiji na mono shiru hi ga kuru darou
Can’t you see? Can’t you see?
donna michi o eranda toshite mo nayami no kazu onaji dake tsuite kuru
(You can choose You can choose)
watashi ga kimeru watashi no puraioriti nani o totte nani o akirameru no
Can’t you see? Can’t you see?
shiawase no kijun hakaru monosashi jibun no kokoro no naka ni aru no sa
You can find You can find
tarinai mono kazoeru kurai nara tariteru mono kazoete goran yo!
Count what you have now, don’t count what you don’t have
I am sorry to report that I am locked out of Google and YouTube for a while.
Please email me at dennysinnoh@mail.com
NOT dennysinnoh@gmail.com . GMail is what I use for my WordPress account, among others. If WP wants to send me any type of email on my account, I can’t verify the change from gmail.
My crime? I would not give them a phone/text number. It does not matter if I give them my password, or answer security questions. The evil monolith wants a phone number.
Stalin’s buddy: He helped created The Evil Empire. No, not the one in Bay Area California, you silly. But, yes it is the same mindset.
In my continuing series of blogging posts of “How to write more gooder”, my topic today is a special one!
How to make an anti-Japanese Idol article or blog post, similar to the garbage in The Japan Times or RocketNews.*
Step #1 – Title your article something salacious such as “Japan’s Pervert Culture” or “Weird Japanese Music Fans and the Idols They Worship.”
Step #2 – Broach topics in the opening paragraphs, including elements about the Japanese pornography industry, prostitution, pedophilia, etc.
Step #3 – Important: Conflate these social ills with Japanese Idol singers. Make sure to mention AKB48 or other popular idol groups.
Step #4 – Be harshly critical of Idol music. Link an Idol music video, but not an artistic one. Chose one in which in your narrow mind, you think is the silliest. Then write: “see how terrible it is…” Important: Make sure to not reveal your own vulgar musical tastes. This is especially true if you enjoy violent “thug” performances. If we heard what you actually like, no one would take you seriously.
Step #5 – Insert older photos of AKB48 throughout these steps– you may be able to confuse the readers. Include some of the members interacting with fans, and they will associate the group with pornography and prostitution.
Step #6 – Mention that Yashushi Akimoto is “literally Hitler”. Otherwise dig up older scandals which have long since been debunked. If you repeat the lies enough, then you make them true.
Denny lisping just like a Social Justice Warrior: “Liturali Hitluur”.
Step #7 – Open the article to comments, but then make sure to delete all of Derek Vasconi’s well reasoned comments. If someone gives an alternative opinion– you might not be right!
*RocketNews, now called SoraNews24 is the Gold Standard for ignorance about Idol culture. No one knows less about Idols than them, although there are some blogs on WordPress that come close.
Readers: This very cool and funky song is merely my suggested music track for you to listen to as you read this post. I mean no disrespect to Mariya. Click and enjoy. Which reminds me …
Whoa. I have not posted on WP for a long time. I am in SO MUCH trouble at work. I need to get caught up on all these agricultural fertilizer reports. Yup, I gave up blogging for a while. I have been a good employee — keeping my nose to the Moonstone. Look, I am even bringing work home where I can do company work on my own PC!
The work is very boring. and I get distracted so easily by these pop ups. Wait — this looks interesting. An ad for “KornHub”? Well it must be agricultural then, so I will just click over there and … OH MY GOD!!!
Wait — this is interesting. I don’t usually look at video sites like these (Denny coughs). Besides, there is probably something agricultural in here. Ok … typing “nitrogen” into the search box … and … Hello.
It says if I click there, I can watch a sexy Asian lady urinate. Oh, no no. I could NOT do that. Really. Not my thing. Look I am not a prude, but I draw the line at bodily functions. I could never watch that. That would be perverted. True, I know that it is only “Number 1” … but still. I am NOT a pervert. These videos are not for me. I don’t have any fetishes.
Besides, although men’s bodies are disgusting, ladies are perfect. Women’s bodies are beautiful, fragrant works of art. (Denny momentarily loses touch with reality). Pretty girls don’t PEE! Their little hoo-hoos don’t really make that bad stuff do they? (Denny in denial) How could this video even exist?
I’m NOT going to watch this!!!
Uh … maybe … unless … maybe YOU want to look, mydear Readers … er .… I mean … this one time would not hurt could it? If you say that it is OK … watching a pretty girl take a pee, I will do it. That does not make me a bad person, right? Right?
OK then (Denny exhales), here goes. CLICK.
Huh …you know, these urinal-on-the-floor-toilets always seemed weird to me. Japan is otherwise so highly technological – so why is it that some basins look like a hole in the floor? … and OH! … There she is.
I think she likes me, she looked right at me and smiled. So pretty. Whoa … the panties are down … uh … hoo-boy … well, that answers the “hairy or shaved” question. Mystery solved!.
Wow — she IS vert cute. Hmmmm … so beautiful in there ... so interesting … she seems like she has good balance. I wonder what led her to film this?
OK, this event should start any minute. (Denny watching, waiting).
It is always entertaining to see up a nice lady’s hoo hoo. There are all these wonderful grooves and folds. Fluids reflecting and refracting. So Interesting … so very interesting.
Alright … gunna happen soon … (Denny glances at watch).
You know, you can find a lot of meaning, and answers to the big questions in the universe looking in there … I know you will think it strange … but you know what? I think I just saw the answer to a quadratic equation problem that I never finished back in 7th grade math …
… Hmmmm … still waiting here. It is a nice view and everything, but nothing is happening.
Ha. Penny for your thoughts, dear girl. She is smiling, but she should be thinking about running water. It’s gotta start any second now …
Uh … still waiting. (Denny’s mind wanders) Gee, I wonder how many miles I put on the Volkswagen last week. Darn it — I should go check … I think I am due for an oil change … and OH MY there it goes!!!
So …
Uh huh … OK … right … OK … so … so that is what it looks like. Ahem.
Starlight: I really do need to get back to work.
This is a photo of the famous Kegon Falls in Japan. What?
[Readers: Please play the YouTube music while you read my post. I chose it for the special emotions I am feeling today]
Today, I wanted to discuss my blog, blogging stats, other bloggers and such. I am getting close to 200,000 views on my blog. I guess that is good. I noticed that I get a big jump in views when a new Pokemon game comes out. Perhaps I should have monetized my site. Since I started blogging in 2014, I have always used the “free” WordPress site. I have over 400 “followers” but I think that most of them are “commercial” blogs. There are only a handful of WP bloggers who actually read and comment on my blog. (I’m winking at you Mabel and the Otaku Judge.) I subscribed to several music, anime and Pokemon blogs. I have seen them come — and I have seen the bloggers go — on this site. Some of my followers who I used to read and interact with … only stayed around for a few months, then they would disappear into the blogging ether.
Where am I going with this? (Denny sighs sadly, exhales) …I have to be honest –
I miss MorningBerryz48.
Some of my fellow bloggers know her. Her homepage is linked here.
“MB” as I will call her, was the greatest Japanese pop culture/Idol music/ AKB blogger I have known. She shares a lot of great articles and media on her blog. Also, she’s intelligent, witty, and maybe “a little naughty” at times. She was more than just a pile of random electrons to me. I miss her replies to all my goofy comments, and my weak attempts at comedy. If I ever made her smile, then that is a light upon the world. (That’s not hyperbole is it?)
Jesus, … er .. I mean Buddha … What a great lady she is. Look at her website. She likes music, but she also likes sports. The lady even likes stock-car racing. I know that I do not follow racing, but that fact that SHE likes it just adds more depth and dimension to her cultural multiverse. She lives in Hawaii, so that means that the place really is paradise.
She liked, and posted about Watarirouka Hashiritai. Do you people realize how long I have wanted to talk to another soul on this planet about the Watarirouka Hashiritai 7? Glorious God in heaven … I am not ALONE … in this cold, cruel world. Another person who “gets” my appreciation for Idol songs. Up until now, my friend’s reactions to my AKB48 fandom has usually been the old“Get Away From Me Man”. I’m talking to you Bob, and Nate.
She introduced me to so many Japanese musical artists, who I would otherwise never know even existed. She is a great Idol historian. A true Idol scholar. She taught be about Coco, ribbon, ZARD, Qlair and many others.
When I discovered this genre of idol music from the late 80s, early 90s it was like memories were activated from my parallel life. I never knew about this stuff at the time. It was something which I always missed, but which I never knew even existed. Something was missing in my musical life in the early 1990s, but I never knew exactly what it was. MB has eased my pain. The hole in my heart was filled. Somewhere in the space-time continuum, it is 1992 and I am listening to ribbon.
Thus, she made a difference in my life — and I’m not making one of my smartass jokes here. Music is very important for me. Her blog’s influence is a big part of my current listening.
I loved reading her articles with morning coffee on the weekends, or wasting company time in the office, or checking in one a day to see if I missed anything. I learned a lot from her blog. When I first started blogging I thought I might become some type of expert on Idols/AKB. (Denny exhales.) I can’t even come close. Nothing has made me prouder however, than when she would comment on one of my posts.
(Denny sighs again — heavily):
MB has stopped writing her blog … at least for now. She said it was because of technical problems, but there may other reasons, and I respect that. For whatever reason(s) she has stopped posting. I have been going through the usual five stages of grief.
Denial: “This can’t be happening” I thought. No more Idol video links? … this is NOT happening … Nope, definitely NOT happening. I had hysterical blindness when she posted that she was quitting. I was bumping into lamps, tripping over the couch.
Anger: Damn that computer which crashed and caused her to lose so much work. It is a conspiracy I tell you! It is all SONY’s fault. (Denny shakes fist, imitating Homer Simpson): Your empire would lay in smoking ruins you bastards … if I didn’t need a new PS4 so much. You corporate screw-ups will pay for taking her away from me … you will ALL PAY!!!
Bargaining: “Maybe she can just post once in a while”. Maybe she can stop after she finishes that big “Coco” post she was working on when her computer failed. Maybe she can just make a post when there is a new AKB48 record. Maybe just a top-ten list post at the end of the year. Maybe …
Depression: “Why go on?” Why get out of bed in the morning if I can never enjoy learning about the Idol genres I love. There won’t be a post about the new HKT48 single, so nothing matters. In fact, I will stop blogging now. What’s the point if her light is not in this electronic world anymore?
Acceptance: “It was good while it lasted” There are still a lot of old articles, and articles from her previous blog site. I just feel lucky to have known her. She is a great lady and has other interests. Perhaps it is time for a break. Time to concentrate on other life goals. Perhaps there may be some guy in her life who is on the receiving end of her efforts now. (The lucky bastard.)
I would be honored if I could call her “friend”. I know that some of my Internet friends, Derek, Matthew and others also miss her. You guys, if you get a chance, re-blog my article. Tweet, or Face-tube or whatever-the-devil you kids call it — to get my message in a Poke bean bottle out there.
If any of my current readers love MB’s blog even half as much as I did, please sign a tribute comment below.
Starlight: MB, if you are out there, I’m not really crazy.
You got that right Haruppi! Too much thinking can cause yourself a lot of stress!
Something has been bothering me lately. I feel that I should not write any more blog posts, because I need to dedicate more time to writing and publication in my professional life. My job “processing agricultural chemical orders” has not been going very well. I have not been making the kind of accomplishments that I really need to make. I didn’t keep up with technology. I get poor reviews. I am not in line for raises.
Yes, that is how I felt, Miss Kodama … like a big “F” -ing hat.
A couple of months ago, I told myself that I would not spend any more time on social media until I made a major accomplishment at work. Either complete a major project … publish an industry article … or actually help one of my colleagues. Well, I stopped posting (only two posts in two months), but I STILL did not get anything done at work. All I accomplished was that I was just making myself very unhappy because I could not write about topics I like … animes I have seen, Pokémon nicknames, kimono styles, or JPop music I love.
Well, I’m just happy that you are happy Haruka.
I really hated not writing on WP because when the Pokémon Go mobile game launched, my Pokémon Nicknames posts started getting hundreds of views every day! I would really like to create more posts. (Note: My “Pokémon Nicknames” is often not really about Pokemon nicknames. It is often just a jumping off point for some other rant on popular culture or my old man stories. The Sunflora example linked here.)
It is frustrating because I have the OPPOSITE problem of writers block. I have many ideas for blog posts, but I feel guilty if I use my time to write them. I feel that I should not waste time on pop culture and entertainment social media … when I know I should be developing myself professionally.
Ideas for writing about pop culture keep popping up, just like you Haruka!
It does not help, that I genuinely despise my work. I try to look on the humorous side when possible. I don’t like the field, and I can’t understand why any young person would ever want to go into it. Why stay? Oh yeah, it is easy — and I have pretty good job security. (On a bad day, I can just close my office door, put on a Hanako Oku concert DVD, listen to headphones and be instantly transported.) I know I could not find another job that pays as well for someone my age. … but it is like living a lie. If I could write my blogs for a living … I sure would.
Oh… you were so sweet. Your suggestions for “tropical fertilization” were a nice gesture, Kodama-san.
You kids should have seen me in my younger days though. All full of piss and vinegar — writing articles in the industry … traveling to conferences … educating the young interns. (Cut to scene of young Denny in business suit – jingling his pocket change: “I’ve got you’re your fertilizer right here”. I was cashing in, moving up, blazing new trails … and … and all … “put it on my tab.” Now I’m deadwood.
Yes, I appreciate your ability to “handle old wood” Haruppi, but I need to do this for my own good.
I need to rededicate myself to professional life – and that means no blogging. I need to redeem myself.
Allways contemplating in lonely solitude. I know the feeling Haruppi.
I will still check in with some of my blogging friends once in a while. It is also frustrating not being able to read all of YOUR posts. Just today, I was scrolling down through all of these WP articles I would like to read and comment on, but I feel like I would be letting my family down if I use up time when I should be chasing a raise.
Sorry Haruka, I can’t see the entire message … but I would still not be able to ANYTHING you out — until I get some real work done!
I am going to take a solemn vow. I am not going to post anything on WordPress until I actually make an accomplishment in my professional life.
I will still check in on your posts and make comments, but I will post no new articles. I can’t live without MorningBerryz48 idols blog, and I depend on The Otaku Judge to advise me on which anime to choose. I should be a better role model for young Matthew. All of you who routinely read and “like” my posts …. I will see you down there at the “likes” area … and I will be checking in. The next time you see Pokemon nicknames, Kimonos on Monday, or a list of risqué jokes about Japanese idols, that means that I have turned it around.
It does inspire me that you will wait for me Miss Kodama.
I have to say that do I miss writing about her and fanboying all over her. The good news is that Wasamin will have a new solo record out this month. She will also have a full solo concert on January 6th. I cannot be there … but if there is a CD, I will buy it. If there is a DVD I will buy it.
Denny’s fantasy: I went to a downtown Chiba karaoke bar with Wasamin and we rented a private singing-room so that we could compete against each other. Sing that funky music Chiba-Girl …
Wasamin got me very drunk on Sapporo, and she was pretty good at convincing me to start blogging again. Actually I did not need much convincing. I will blog/talk to anyone who will listen about the glorious Miss Iwasa.
Also, Misaki-san can be a little intimidating after she has had a few:
“Don’t make me have to get ROUGH with you, Mr. Sinnoh”
Starlight: Note to self — Never challenge Iwasa Misaki to a karaoke battle.
Sayaka Yamamoto’s suggestions for gaining 20,000 views on WordPress.
I have been on my blogging hiatus, however I checked in today in order to view/return messages and delete my spam. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I have now accumulated well over 20,000 views on WordPress!!!
I have asked AKB48/NMB48 member Sayaka Yamamoto to be guest blogger today, so that I might continue to catch up at my day job — processing orders for agricultural chemicals. Do you have some advice for those new to WordPress Sayaka-san?
Translating …
1. Voice of Sayaka: You should follow other bloggers who have the same interests! Visit their sites, read their blogs! Make suggestions. You may also come up with some great ideas!
If you are interested in “Interior Design” follow other bloggers with the same interests!
2. Make sure to effectively TAG your posts! Tags are a great way to group related posts together and they quickly tell readers what a post is about. The right tag also makes it easier for Internet people to find your posts!
This post has been effectively tagged as “Water Conservation”
3. Start a new SERIES! Choose one of your favorite topics and write about it regularly. You may want to start a weekly, bi-weekly or some other interval. You may develop a new following!
4. You may increase your traffic if you make interesting comments. Bloggers may visit your site, and find out what interests you, if you make comments. Remember: Always be polite!
Do not be afraid to SPEAK YOUR MIND!
5. Write about what YOU are interested in, or what you want to be an expert on! You are not writing for anyone else. Don’t worry about “giving the pubic what they think they want” — just be yourself.
If you are an expert on Wedding Gowns — write about your unique designs!
5. Give it some time! Kyoto was not built in a day … You WILL find your audience!
—————————————–
THANKS AGAIN SAYANEE!!! Wow, she is so smart! Follow the advice from Yamamoto-san, and you new bloggers out there will soon find yourself with thousands of hits on your site!
No, no one could ever forget your pretty face, Yuko!
I will continue to toot-my-own-horn here and offer up another “Top Ten” list today! I have made more than 150 posts this year. I will share a selection of my favorites. If you are a recent follower, then you get a chance to see some of my earlier posts!
1. One of my first posts on WP was “Koi Suru Conspiracy Theory”linked here. Looking back, I realized that I made a lot of technical mistakes. Good thing I only had five followers at the time, and three of those were merchants.
2. I enjoyed writing about my favorite musical performer Hanako Oku in “What Happens in Hanako Oku’s Music Video for “Fuyuhanabi”linked here. I wasn’t trying to be funny here. Oddly, it is the only one of my Hanako Oku posts that was not “tweeted” by anyone!
3. I had the most fun writing “My Mouse Is Very Happy Now”linked here. Unfortunately after I posted it, it was like tumbleweeds. I think that this is because the music videos for it are only on Jpopsuki, instead of YouTube. Jpopsuki has very long loading times so I think some readers gave up. Some things I want to share are just not on YouTube.
4. I loved writing about Watarirouka Hasiritai, even though even my friends can’t understand why I adore the squeaky ones so much. I knew that few would take my “straight” review of their DVD seriously, so I tried to make a “mash up” of sorts. What if the late British author Anthony Burgess wrote the review for me? Hence, my post “Anthony Burgess Reviews My Watarirouka Hashiritai Farewell Concert DVD”linked here. I was trying to be like an English major and become all “literate” … using the voice of one of his characters — but my readers probably just thought: Denny you are one weird dude : (
5. I do like a good mash-up. However I am not sure if my younger readers know who Dean Martin was however, and what his celebrity roasts were. Perhaps I am of the wrong generation to make “Roasting Yuko Oshima’s Butt”linked here. This is an example of how I would probably have to explain the jokes to you. I have the cultural references of an aging baby-boomer.
6. My blogs on Pokémon have been fun! For example “Fujin and Raijin and Pokemon”linked here. I know that many readers are not Pokemon players, however I try to make my Pokémon posts interesting enough that you do not have to play Pokémon video games to enjoy the humor. I often digress far off topic on the “Pokemon Nickname” posts.
7. Sometimes I write what I think was a pretty good sardonic article about a music video, then RECORD INDUSTRY WEASELS remove the video! A good example is “My Grandfatherly Advice for the Young Miss Mako Kojima”linked here. My attempt at humor would not make sense if you cannot see what happens in the video. Dang it! I hated to lose that clip. DANG IT! DANG IT!! DANG IT!!!
8. The reason I started this blog was because I wanted to write about the AKB48 song: “Sakura no ki ni narou – I will become a cherry tree (a graduation song)”linked here. I had to start a blog, because whenever I tried to talk about it with my friends, they would always say — GET AWAY FROM ME MAN! Unfortunately, all but the lowest quality video clip was removed (by you-know-who). I encourage you to still watch the low-res version. It seems funny now, but I was choking up when I wrote that article, as I thought the song was so beautiful.
9. My first ever post! I didn’t know what I was doing! … and another one that had the YouTube clip removed by RIWs was “The Little Great One”linked here. I loved that video of the end-credits of “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”. I put related links at the end of the post however. I do not know Hanako Oku from last Tuesday, but there is no one that touches my (musical) heart like her. I could write a Top-Ten just about her videos. She is my raison d’etre.
10. You would not believe how many views my post “Kodoku na Hoshizora” by AKB48: Is it “art” … or do I just have a dirty mind?” has gotten. Again, the music video is on Jpopsuki, not YouTube. You should see the disgusting Google “search terms” I see on my Stats page for this post — linked here. It is a great kimono video, well worth the load time. It has always been one of my favorite AKB48 music videos. Why do perverts want to see this so much?
I guess that is TEN … but you are correct. I did not include a KIMONO post! I have been encouraged by all the “Likes” that my “Kimonos on Monday” series of posts have received this year. Thank you readers! I hope to keep the kimonos coming in 2015. So to leave off, here is the lovely Yuko Oshima in one of her own kimono designs. Sorry about the “derp” face photo above … but you know that I love you Yuko : )
Likes: Pop Culture, Humor, Japanese Culture, Iwasa Misaki, Hanako Oku, AKB48 History, Kurosawa films, Kimonos, Anime, Lolita fashion, Buddhist philosophy, and finding the perfect nicknames for my Pokemon.
A fansite; for old and new fans of AKB48 and all their domestic and international sister groups: (SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, STU48, JKT48, BNK48, MNL48, AKB48 Team SH, SGO48, AKB48 Team TP, and CGM48)
Denny Sinnoh 
Written
on January 2, 2016