Kyoto-based tech start-up running Japan’s largest social bookmarking service Hatena[J] (meaning a question mark in Japanese) set up a new entrance specifically designed for the iPhone/iPod touch[J] today. Hatena Bookmark has a Digg-like feature allowing you to record the links of the websites that you have browsed and to share them with the other users. … Continue reading Hatena Bookmark for iPhone: Simply Rotate Yours To Share Your Favorites
CyberAgent Launches Twitter Clone Called “Ameba Now!”
Shibuya-based social media service company Cyber Agent launched a Twitter-like micro message service called “Ameba Now[J]” today. As a Japanese Internet slang, “now” is frequently used in a Twitter message telling other Twitterers where you are, such as “Shibuya Now!” and “Akihabara Now!”. That company’s new service name comes from it. As Serkan Toto mentioned… Continue reading CyberAgent Launches Twitter Clone Called “Ameba Now!”
NTT Docomo And DeNA To Launch Joint Mobile UGC Site
Japan’s largest cellphone carrier NTT Docomo and The 3rd biggest social network Mobage-Town’s DeNA announced a joint venture worth 1.6 billion yen (17.7 million USD), which will run an User Generated Content site on cellphone since the first half of 2010. DeNA’s mobile social network Mobage-Town has a user posting sections for novels, music and… Continue reading NTT Docomo And DeNA To Launch Joint Mobile UGC Site
Hatena Testing Reconstructed Microblog Service Haiku2
Hatena, Kyoto-based web startup known by their geek users, the most popular social bookmark service Hatena Bookmark, and recent collaboration with Nintendo DS on Ugomemo Hatena (Flipnote Hatena for oversea), announces that they are running closed-beta test of their microblog service Hatena Haiku’s new version Hatena Haiku2 [J] (currently shows error page). Initially 1,000, currently… Continue reading Hatena Testing Reconstructed Microblog Service Haiku2
Japanese Government Opens Hatomimi.com For Informants
Japanese Governmental Gyosei Sasshin Kaigi(Regeneration of Administration Committee) [J] announced that they open “Hatomimi.com (or .jp)” from December 2nd for government workers, and in January 2010 for citizens, to receive opinions/requests/suggestions for cutting waste, absurdity, injustice and unfairness in government offices, to realize more efficient government operations. You may send information not only on the… Continue reading Japanese Government Opens Hatomimi.com For Informants
MA5: Mashing Up A Variety Of APIs Makes A Lot Of Fun
Tokyo-based publication and human resources company Recruit held a presentation and ceremony event introducing the fifth edition’s prize winners of the Mash-up Awards[J] contest last weekend. More than 50 tech companies sponsored the event and their founders and directors served as the juries to evaluate nominees. An applicant for the contest must use one or… Continue reading MA5: Mashing Up A Variety Of APIs Makes A Lot Of Fun
Japanese Kaomoji Stamp
Kaoiro by Ginghami is a classic stationery stamper which does not mark year-month-date but Japanese net emoticons Kaomoji(Facial Ascii Art), matches with your “:-)”, “X-D”, “;-P”, etc. # Kaomoji is different from Emoji, every single of which is a single letter like “A” and “1” and being suggested to be included in Unicode. You may… Continue reading Japanese Kaomoji Stamp
Japanese Classics For Kindle
Amazon has recently announced their Global Wireless Kindle. However, as English only books are sold from Amazon.com, most Japanese couldn’t find the product very appealing. Takayama Kyosuke just released a web based tool which translates books from Aozora Project (Japanese equivalent to Gutenberg Project) to Kindle supported PDF format. To get your favorite Japanese classic… Continue reading Japanese Classics For Kindle
Google Releases Google Japanese Input (Beta)
Google Japan’s development section announced on Google Japan official blog [J] a project started from their famous 20% rule” produced a new Japanese input method “Google Japanese Input” application, both for Windows and Macintosh (currently for Intel 32 bit only, no 64 bit support). After installation, you may choose Google IME(Input Method Environment) on your… Continue reading Google Releases Google Japanese Input (Beta)
Tokyo Hermes Mixed Reality Ad
Japanese A-lister Masaki Ishitani [J] took an interesting video of an installation ad at Hermes Tokyo branch at the most decent shopping area Ginza (location on Google Street View). This is Tokujin Yoshioka‘s work and she is an actress Tae Kimura. See Also: Tokujin Yoshioka’s blog entry on this project [J]