TokyoScope NEWS: International Neon Manga Twitter Alternatives to AI

A round up of recent Japanese pop culture headlines and ephemera

Anime: Tech: AI: Gundam Creator Yoshiyuki Tomino on Artificial Intelligence

Yoshiyuki Tomino and Gundam. I hope he doesn’t say anything uncouth!

Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the Mobile Suit Gundam anime, occasionally gives really bombastic "old man yelling at clouds" interviews, and the 82-year legend is off the chain yet again with some choice words about artificial intelligence.

As Tomino says in a new interview with Futabasha The Change online:

"There's a big difference between people who simply watch porn or read erotic comics online and those who know what real sex feels like. For instance, the novels that might be written on ChatGPT could be described as 'cheap erotic books.' That’s what it smells like. Human sensitivity is actually quite sharp, and I can smell it.

Well, that’s um, great, Tomino-sensei….

I can post more of the interview if there's interest, but the bottom line is that Tomino believes that ChatGPT and the like are not a threat to entertainment. Not at all. Because he can smell it.

---

Audio: Art: Neon Sign Day

DJ Waterdamage (left) and Cyber Okan (right) prepare for Neon Sign Day

It’s official. July 15th will be formally recognized as “Neon Sign Day” by the Japan Anniversary Association…

To commemorate this auspicious occasion, the song “Neon Ondo” will be released by musical artist and neon aficionado Cyber Okan in association with DJ Waterdamage. The song will be produced by Mandokoro Takano (aka Professional Hamburger), formerly of the pioneering Japanese nerdcore group Leopaldon.

A closer look at Cyber Okan’s DIY neon mikoshi portable shrines.

In an age where blazing neon color is an endangered species, and LEDs has taken over the Tokyo cityscape, this is a step in the light direction (see what I did dere?)

Source: PR Times

---

Art: Manga: The 17th Japan International MANGA Award

Via Deb Aoki:

“The Japan International Manga Award REALLY wants more international comics creators to enter this year! Don’t be put off by the “manga” in the contest name — they want all kinds of comics creators to enter! “

Application Form

Past Winners

---

Tech: Japan is looking for a Twitter Alternative

Via Jefferey J. Hall:

“‘Service competing with Twitter’ is currently trending on Twitter in Japan, with many users sharing articles about Meta's new "Threads" app, which will come out on the 6th. Japanese netizens are looking for a stable alternative that doesn't have a daily read limit.’

Wasn’t Threads also the name of a terrifying TV movie about nuclear war in the UK?

---

News: Quick Links

Headless body found at Sapporo hotel

Japan moving company apologizes after video of worker tied naked goes viral

Japan publishes guidelines allowing limited use of AI in schools

The Tokyo National Museum Is Running an Exhibition About Mexican History + "Mexico Week"

---

Retro: Random Mode

Knight Rider, the manga!

---

SPONSOR