In sports, not everyone can be winners. Some must come in second, or third place. Some must come in dead last. Some don’t even do that.

Just ask Hiroshi Matsuyama. He’s the head of Japanese game developer, CyberConnect2, and to mark Naruto selling ten million video game spin-offs, Matsuyama decided to run the Paris

Matsuyama revealed that he failed to finish the race, and uploaded photos of the game exec honcho with with “loser” written on his cheeks in Japanese. Loser or not, it seems like he has a good attitude about the whole thing.
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The Walt Disney Studios has announced the May 22nd release of the Studio Ghibli film The Secret World of Arrietty, which broke the Ghibli record for a North American theatrical release with $18.6 million. Anime grandmaster Hayao Miyazaki wrote the screenplay for Arrietty, which is based on Mary Norton’s children’s classic The Borrowers, but Miyazaki didn’t direct the film, leaving that task to Hiromasa Yonebayashi, a talented animator who made his directorial debut on Arrietty.

Since Miyazaki’s Ghibli releases have typically been the bestselling anime home entertainment release in North America of whatever year in which they appear, The Secret World of Arrietty, which will be available in a 2-disc Blu-Ray/Combo (MSRP $39.99) as well as a single-disc DVD version ($29.99), will likely take “Top Anime” release of 2012.

Also on May 22nd Disney is releasing the first high-def Blu-ray versions of two other Ghibli films including, most notably, Castle in the Sky (Laputa), one of Miyazaki’s very best films, which will be available in a 2-disc Blu-ray for an M.S.R.P. of $39.99. Castle in the Sky is one the great anime classics and it has never looked better than in its new Blu-ray edition. The other film debuting on Blu-ray is Whisper of the Heart (Mimi o Sumaseba), a brilliant, but lesser known Ghibli film from 1995 that Miyazaki wrote (adapting a manga by Aoi Hiragi), but did not direct (Yoshifumi Kondo helmed the film). Whisper of the Heart is also available in a two-disc Blu-ray edition for an M.S.R.P. of $39.99.
Via www.icv2.com

Marry These Japanese Geeks! It’s a big decision. Choose wisely. And more and more Japanese women are supposedly picking towards otaku (geeks) for their marriage partners. The reason why otaku make attractive partners is that Japanese women think they won’t cheat on them and that they’ll be good listeners.

But not all geeks are the same! And not all geeks are guys. Here’s a field guide (via Gow!Magazine), which isn’t only applicable to women looking for a marriage partner, but also to anyone keen to date geeks. So which breed of geek is best for marriage? Let’s fine out.
•Anime Otaku: The stereotype is that anime otaku stay indoors all the time, watching and recording anime. For those who are already homebodies, an anime otaku might make a fetching catch, wrote Gow! It’s also possible that both of you will totally get into the same anime. Since anime otaku can be interested in figurines and voice actors, Gow! advised to check to see just how far your otaku is into anime as well as be aware of what your tolerance level is.

•Electronics Otaku: These geeks are into computers, audio equipment, and electronics. Since electronics are expensive and since this breed of otaku usually want the latest and greatest device, Gow! described them as “money draining landmine otaku”.

•Idol Otaku: Idols are typically young pop stars and pin-ups. Idol otaku go to concerts and meet-and-greet events, which is why Gow! described being in a relationship with an idol otaku as “difficult”.

•Game Otaku: The number of couples that are into gaming together is increasing, Gow! noted. Sharing the same interest is good for relationships. Though, Gow! warned that if the one partner stopped playing video games, then both might have nothing to talk about.

•Train Otaku: Train otaku don’t only enjoy taking trains, but they also love photographing them and building model train sets. Being in a relationship with a train otaku means that you’ll probably going on loads of train journeys together, even as you both get older. Gow! warned that model train sets are pricey as are cameras. Also some might not like if their partner is more interested in taking photos of trains than them. Gow! also referred to train nerds as “landmines”.

•Superhero Otaku: These otaku are into Japanese superhero Ultraman and Kamen Rider. Because many of these otaku are collectors, that means your house could be covered in superhero items. Gow! warned that rare items can cost a considerable amount of cash. If the couple ends up with a child, then Gow! added that the superhero otaku can do a good job of explaining right and wrong and will probably be a good parent.

It was actually somewhat “in” to date otaku for like a weekend in either 2005 or 2006. Around that time, Train Man was a hit book, movie, and TV show. Otaku were viewed as diligent, earnest, and serious. They were good choices for dates.

Then, on June 8, 2008, a man named Tomohiro Kato went on a stabbing rampage in Tokyo’s geek district, Akihabara. Otaku, sadly, reverted to their default setting in the Japanese media: creepy, strange, and possibly dangerous.

Thankfully, it looks as though otaku are making the climb back to mainstream acceptance—and marriage. So don’t run from your geekiness when looking for a mate. Embrace it so your partner can embrace it, too. Because your otaku hobbies are probably not going away…

Culture Smash is a daily dose of things topical, interesting and sometimes even awesome—game related and beyond.
Via kotaku.com