New Gundam Series to be announced

A new Gundam anime will be announced on 2nd July at 11:59 Japan Standard Time (GMT+9).

The keywords given are "1/144 GUNDAM 機動". 機動 means manuveur or mobile in some ways.

The latest Gundam anime series was Gundam AGE, which was first announced in June 2011.

It looks like that this may be a new series independent from the well known Universal Century timeline. By the way, there is still no news of GUNDAM THE ORIGIN anime adaptation in case you may wonder about that. Shuichi Ikeda, voice actor for Char Aznable, did hint such possibility to happen in 2014 during his stay in Hong Kong though. We shall continue to wait and see what may come for us in the near future.

Website:
http://gundam-bf.net/
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Big Zam Tofu

After the success of the Zaku Tofu and Z'gok Tofu, tofu manufacturer Sagamiya and Sunrise is making a third collaboration on the popular Zeon tofus, and this time it's bigger! Meet the avocado flavoured Big Zam tofu that is releasing this month!


The notorious 2-legged, beam spamming beast ravaged in the asteroid base of Solomon in Mobile Suits Gundam anime. Now, in mass production, it would bring even greater terror and undoing of Zeon's enemies!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDvODqjn6GU


Gigazine has a set available for review just before the tofu's official release date.


Everything in the package: One Big Zam main body tofu, one Big Zam leg unit tofu, a rice cutter (mould for rice with Zeon emblem), and instruction leaflet


The instruction leaflet informs you how to set up the Big Zam meal with the tofus and rice, and perhaps some touch up to make the Big Zam look epic~


Main body of the Big Zam. It stands at 58.5mm tall according to the website.


Leg unit of the Big Zam. The height is 48.7mm.


Size comparison with an iPhone 5. The leg unit is about the same size as the previous Zaku and Z'gok tofus, but the Big Zam's main body is noticeably bigger.


The actual tofu for the leg unit.


Rice moulded by the so-called rice cutter. The emblem can't been seen so well here because it's all white. Perhaps adding some sauce to it to make the emblem stand out better?


According to the instructions leaflet, one is supposed to place the Big Zam tofu on top of the moulded rice. Add seasoning and sauces etc to beef up your Big Zam!


As with the Z'gok tofu, there will be a photo contest for the Big Zam tofu diorama. Submissions is available until end of July, with results to announce sometime near the end of August. It will be interesting to see how the battle of Solomon will be replicated by the fans~


Here are some of the examples from the contest website:





A special Solomon War Set will also be available in a gift box with Zeon emblem near end of June. It comes with one Big Zam main body tofu, 2 leg units tofu, as well as a Zeon emblem rice mould and 4 Zaku tofus. An ideal summer gift for any Zeon fans~ ^^


The Big Zam tofu starts selling in Japan on 7th June. As with the other tofus, this is Japan only, so those of us outside Japan are out of luck on this.

Images are from:
ねとらぼ
Gigazine
Sagamiya's Big Zam tofu website
http://big-zam.jp/ Big Zam tofu photo contest website
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Shingeki no Kyojin Parodies

The anime of Shingeki no Kyojin, also known as Attack on Titan, started airing this April. The powerful opening, together with its dark theme and graphics, make it a popular hit of the season. At the same time, parodies are spawning here and there as the anime series' popularity grows.


There is a phone app where you can superimpose extracts from the Shingeki no Kyojin manga onto pictures or photos. This one for example makes the fun of the giant duck that is currently floating in Hong Kong. (Source: https://freeweibo.com/weibo/3574379025920275)

The app is only available for iPhone and iPad. Too bad I can't get to try it on my Galaxy Nexus...


Titans having fun on dancing arcade machines.


Doughnuts!!!

You can see more the app's photos here.


People imitating the hunting of the titans... (Source from twitter)


... As well as being the hunted. (Source from twitter)


This guy sure is having quite a dream!


The curiosity (and sneeze) of Chitanda Eru from Hyouka will bring mankind to the brink of destruction.


Shingeki no Mikudayo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2UciNlbzCA

Mikudayo will definitely bring fear to humanity... ^^;

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Ice Cup Noodle Light

It's late in May. Temperature is soaring towards the 30-degree mark, and humidity these days are averaging around 80%. What's worse is that I have no air conditioner installed at home due to due to renovation.

Let's imagine you're hungry at night, and you want some instant noodles for a snack. The problem is that instant noodles are usually served hot, and under having hot food in hot weather is not always so appetising. In Japan, there is an official solution to this problem - Ice Cup Noodle Light. Essentially Cup Noodle Light but with less boiling water and more ice.


Ice Cup Noodle Light was released last year in Japan, where one is supposed to add boiling water up to the noodles, stir for 30 seconds, and leave it soaked for another 2 and a half minutes, before adding ice cubes to chill it right down. So far, 4 flavours are available: Plain, Seafood, Curry, and Tomato.

According to Reuters, the introduction of Ice Cup Noodle Light is a popular move, mostly due to the power situation in Japan as a result of the earthquake and tsunami, as well as the subsequent nuclear plant disaster in 2011; the use of air conditioners are encouraged to be cut down as much as possible. This causes people to look for new ways to beat the heat, and Ice Cup Noodle Light happens to be one of them.

Why use Cup Noodle Light instead of the normal Cup Noodle? The Light version uses less oil and is lower in calories, which may seem more appealing to the ladies. It is apparently chewier this way, while having the salty edge of the soup softened down a bit at the same time.


Recently, Nissin (makers of the Cup Noodle) also recommends having iced milk cubes substituting normal water ice cubes for curry and seafood flavoured noodles. While I haven't tired either of these flavours, I think adding milk gives more of a creamy feel to the soup as well as the flavours. But seriously I never imagined making iced milk cubes before!

According to its official website, there is also "new content" to be announced in the near future. What will it be? Guess we will have to wait to find out. :o

Iced cup noodles... While I don't think this particular line is available in Hong Kong, I guess it won't hurt to give it a try with ordinary Cup Noodle Light. I wonder whether it's that good though. But looking that Nissin made a campaign for it last year, it can't be disasterous. Well, we shall see once I have the chance to make some myself ^^;

Images are from Ice Cup Noodle Light website
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Giant Rubber Duck in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has various visitors coming over by sea this year: a sailing ship, a warship, and now... A giant rubber duck?

This larger-than-life rubber duck is currently the latest hype rocking the city of Hong Kong. Having been floating here near the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui since early 2nd May, it brought a lot of hype and joy to locals and tourists. Again, as it's not something one will get to see every day, I decided to pay the duck a visit as well.


Instead of taking the MTR train, I took the ferry across the harbour, which is in fact a shorter trip.


By the time I arrived on the other side of the harbour, the crowd is already just outside taking pictures of the duck!


And here's the duck itself in full view. This Rubber Duck is an ongoing project from Dutch artist Florentijin Hofman, where the duck has made appearance in various cities across the world, spreading joy to those who get to see it in person. Hong Kong is currently the latest stop for the duck to visit as part of its world tour. Standing at 16.5m tall, it is currently the largest duck to make appearance in Asia, 2nd largest in the world tour next to that in St Nazaire (26m).


Hi there!






Going up to the carpark, which was the same location as where I took picture of the USS Peleliu last month, the


Looking down on the curious crowd.


A view of the Rubber Duck by the Star Ferry Pier with Central district of Hong Kong in the background across the harbour.


A view of Central from Tsim Sha Tsui. The great number of glassy skyscrapers mark the pinnacle of the commercial district in Hong Kong.


A look at the crowd taking pictures of the duck. There sure are a lot of people!



There are smaller rubber duck statues on display for people to take pictures with. Don't really think one is allowed to sit on them, but that got ignored quite often, especially the children.


The floor underneath the ducks has a nice illusion of waterfalls when looked from a correct angle. I was lucky to take this picture as the crowd got dispersed as a result of a sudden rain.


I do find the way people take pictures of the duck amusing, along with the variety of equipments used.


The rubber duck will be on display until 9th June. If you do happen to be nearby up til that date, do try and give it a visit; it isn't very often you see a big duck floating in a city. :P
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