2D love for PC savvy girls at Web Kare

Considering the not-so marginalized male population who openly admit online to preferring “2D” girls over the real, live thing there has got to be a proportionate number of lonely 3D girls out there fed up with competing for the remaining eligible segment of the population.

Or perhaps it is another example of the current trend of taking digital world success stories and tweaking them to suit the growing tech-savvy female population. Either way we are seeing a continued number of new “love simulation” role playing games for romance-hungry school girls (and admittedly probably some older ones too).

The latest, launched this month from contents creator Link Think, certainly doesn’t try to candy coat the concept—its called Web Kare (“kare” means “boyfriend”).

Set on a campus, Web Kare is a PC based game that also incorporates a profile page, facebook wall style “minilog,” blog parts, and BBS. Like other SNS that encourage user-generated content, the BBS is called “Oekaki” (“draw a picture”) and is a space for members to upload their original Web Kare inspired illustrations.

After registering, members can choose from four preset boyfriends (representing the usual types: sporty, bad boy, intellectual, and the older man) although the potential for making the acquaintance of new love interests exists as the game unfolds.

Changing between any of the four can be done by the simple clicking of a button. There are also events that can be attended together and users can maintain animated photo albums to record these “shared” memories. Perhaps the most impressive function is that voice actors provide voices for the characters, making this replacement for the real thing that much more convincing.

Tags: Romance, RPGs, SNS, Web 2.0
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Technology & Gadget Trends
Other categories: Marketing & Ad Trends

Pre-Valentine’s Day chocolate madness

With only one day left before Valentine’s Day, the chocolate buying rush has reached a frenzied pitch. An unfortunately timed visit to the food department in Tokyo’s high-end Isetan department store proved the madness.

The most popular chocolate companies set up Disneyland style ropes in an attempt to keep the peace. By far the longest line was for Jean-Paul Hevin at 30 minutes.

Godiva and Armani Dolce also had substantial queues, proving that brand appeal carries all the way to sweets.

A box of eight chocolates from Jean-Paul Hevin (pictured left) goes for ¥3,780, which wouldn’t be so bad if you were only buying one. Recently women feel pressure to buy giri-choco (pictured right), or obligation chocolate, for male co-workers and friends, those these guys usually wind up with something a little bit cheaper. The recipients of the chocolate, giri or otherwise, are expected of course, to reciprocate the following month. Consider it a chocolate investment.

Tags: Confections, Romance, Valentine's Day
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends
Other categories: Technology & Gadget Trends, Marketing & Ad Trends

New Valentine’s Day chocolate, again

More news from the Valentine’s Day chocolate rush: Tokyo Super Sweets is offering 200 limited sets of “Ariga-choco” (a clever blending of the words for “thank you” and “chocolate”).

The “thank you” comes from the receiver, who after scanning the QR code on the package with his mobile phone, can choose from over a hundred pre-written “thank you” messages to be sent to the giver’s mobile phone.

Sending a thank you note has never been easier, so if you get one of these boys, there is no excuse!

Next up, for the literary lad, high-end department store Takashimaya is offering original chocolates (pictured left) inspired by scenes from the classical Japanese novel “The Tale of the Genji,” which is celebrating its 1000-year anniversary this year.

Also from Takashimaya, these decorative chocolates (pictured right) are designed to resemble the pieces used in the shell matching game popular with aristocrats during the Heian Era, Genji’s time. How sophisticated!

Ariga-choco from Tokyo Super Sweets: ¥2,625 for a set of 5
Takashimaya original chocolates: ¥1,680 for a set of 4

Tags: Confections, Romance, Valentine's Day
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends
Other categories: Technology & Gadget Trends, Marketing & Ad Trends

Etiquette Checker improves dates, confirms drunkenness

Anything that promises to boost confidence and make people more attractive to the opposite sex has big-seller potential in Japan. Enter the Etiquette Checker from Topland, which encourages would-be buyers with the slogan, “Let’s become a sociable person.”

This mobile phone-size 2 in 1 breath test checks for both offending breath and alcohol level in just 13 seconds and ranks the results on a six level scale visible on an LCD screen.

The product description further promises to help users become responsible drinkers and cut down on killer hangovers. Although it doesn’t seem to be too strict: according to the level descriptions, the checker deems you drunk at levels 4 and 5 but doesn’t pronounce you “way too drunk” until you are off the scale. Below is some video of some ambush breath-tests and excuses like “It’s probably because I ate some garlic”.

Tags: Etiquette, health, Romance
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
Other categories: Marketing & Ad Trends, Fashion & Lifestyle Trends