Today I watched the first episodes of Yasuko to Kenji and Seigi no Mikata, both of which are about hapless siblings. In many ways Kenji and Kumako are similar, thus I have drawn up a chart to compare the two.

(Fun facts: Yasuko to Kenji stars TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka, and Seigi no Mikata stars Yamada Yu, also known as Oguri Shun's girlfriend.)

( Who wins? )

One thing I have learned from manga is the existence of something called "White Day", which seems to only exist in Japan (and Korea, according to lemontart). I find it an interesting custom but can't help but feel that this is capitalist marketing at its finest:

It is widely believed that White Day was invented in the late 1970s by a candy-maker in Nagoya as an
occasion for men to repay their lady-loves for Valentine gifts the previous month. Japan has developed its
own, distinctive tradition for Valentine's Day, when women alone lavish chocolates and other presents on
their sweethearts, or even on men they work with. The confectionery industry saw a lost opportunity here
and firms such as chocolate maker Morozoff began promoting White Day in 1978. Handkerchiefs became
an alternative gift idea. By 1991, the phenomenon had grown to the point where, according to a survey
by the Osaka Marketing Information Research Office, Japanese men spent $330 million on White Day
gifts. The average unmarried office employee shelled out $105 on women friends and colleagues, the
survey showed. Yumi, who has worked in an office for 14 years, estimates her White Day handkerchief
collection now exceeds 80.

Basically, the women give out chocolates (often handmade, as I have been led to believe, though who knows if that's true or not) on Valentines Day, and one month later, on White Day, the men who received chocolates give presents back to those women. Theoretically. What do you think?

Lingerie makers jumped on the bandwagon in 1985 and they too now furiously promote the
festival. For 1993, one manufacturer, Wacoal, offers hot pink T-back knickers with the slogan "Intellectual
Sexy Elegance." Another pair of panties, in red high-cut lace, is emblazoned "I Want to Express my Sober
Feelings for You." A third depicts seeds for "planting together," while perhaps the smartest gift box
proclaims "Your Inner Charms are Best Brought Out with Silk." (Reuters)

HAHAHAHA. Who wouldn't want a pair of red lace panties that express a man's sober feelings for you? I won't even touch "Planting Together" (mmhmm, you'll be planting something, alright) - yeah, I'm going to stop here before this turns NC-17 and I get flagged.

ETA: Black Day, for singles.

Hahahahahahahaha.

The best part is the confused person in Australia who doesn't know who that is.

I had this really weird dream about reading a fanfic last night. It was about this couple - I don't remember what fandom it was - who always went shopping together, and the girl would wait for the guy in the parking lot while looking at his picture (rofl). The great TWIST was that the whole time he wasn't even in the store, he was standing behind her WATCHING HER LOOK AT HIS PICTURE and it was supposed to be this grand touching moment. I remember in my dream I turned around and said to someone WTF THAT'S SO CREEPY! And then I woke up and I just started laughing. I think all the Twilight chatter is starting to affect my subconscious...

Guys, I'm obsessed with buying underwear. I don't even buy it, actually, I just go to La Senza all the time and stare at all the pretty bras I can't afford. I YEARN. I am the girly girl type when it comes to clothes so I am all over stuff that's got frills and ribbons and all that shit. I always sneered at people who are like that - you know, girls who are all about the expensive lingerie that no one ever sees - but I AM BECOMING ONE OF THEM. I don't even have a boyfriend! No one to wear it for! YET I WANT PRETTY UNDERWEAR SO BADLY.