Weekly Brief

~ Employment in Japan has gotten more competitive in the wake of the GFC. Even Gundam model-making has been added as a job application test for artificial teeth makers, Bitec Global Japan. They must love their gundam figures. [Kotaku]


~ Job-seekers of the more legally-questionable kind are also facing their own employment challenges with the infamous yakuza group, Yamaguchi-gumi requiring potential recruits to take exams in crime. Yikes! [WAN]


~ News has surfaced that the proposed live-action Cowboy Bebop film will be rewritten after the original script was found to take half a billion dollars to make! Keanu Reeves has also stated that they’ll be following the original story very closely. Keanu as Spike?… [ANN]


~ Microsoft has injected $19m to help in online game development in the South Korea. Looks like Microsoft is aiming to extend their corporate hands into the gaming-savvy nation. [BBC]


~ The Nikkan Sports newspaper has summarised the new prime minister of Japan, Hatoyama’s interest in anime and manga. He’s favourite manga is Robot Santōhei by Koremitsu Maetani, and his favourite anime is Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki. With such great taste in the Otaku arts, Japan is certainly in good hands. [ANN]


~ MangaHelpers, a popular manga scanlation distribution site faces community backlash after their alleged ‘draft’ business-model for Viz was leaked onto the net. Hopefully, it’ll be resolved swiftly and English-translated manga will become more accessible internationally. [MangaHelpers]


~ In motor sport, Hamilton wins the Singapore Grand Prix after starting in pole position! [CNA]


That’s the week in Asia!


Picture courtesy of yosinori (SakuraSky)

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