So today is 11/11 which in Korea is known as Pepero Day which everyone gives and gets Pepero sticks (more widely known as Pocky sticks, their Japanese name). Pepero sticks are, as defined on Wikipedia:

Pepero (빼빼로) is a cookie stick, dipped in chocolate syrup, manufactured by Lotte Confectionery in South Korea since 1983. It was inspired by the Japanese product, Pocky produced by Glico.

I think there should be a warning carried on the boxes stating that they are as addictive as Crack. Just told myself that I was only going to eat a few out of the box I just opened, but that did not happen. I am throwing the empty box away as I type…and horribly missing the garbage bin cuz this white boy can’t play B-Ball. This day definitely does not help us with ever expansive waist lines because armies of little monkeys (my nickname for Korean students) will give you enough Pepero Sticks to last you through your 30s…but don’t worry you will demolish them all in a matter of days resulting in a diabetic coma.

The Pepero Day idea was obviously started as a marketing ploy by companies such as Lotte, that market this super addicting little candy. They chose November 11th because when the date is written out in numerical form it looks like a bunch of sticks 11/11 (like the candy). I wonder if there will be an even bigger event for 11/11/11. Oh and my favorite is that you can buy these damn sticks in giant form! Up to almost a meter in length (about 3 feet for those back home).

Pepero Day Display

Also to go along with todays post I have some musical weirdness from Japan to report. Apparently there has been some new pop singers in Japan (nothing new there) but with a little twist. They aren’t real people they are Holograms! Oh and I don’t mean Holograms that just conceal the real person singing (like Gorillaz does with their cartoons), there aren’t any real people singing, it’s a computer program creating the voice. First, check it yourself (it’s better in HD, go to youtube to watch that):

Hatsune Miku – The World is Mine

Apparently, her voice is rendered using a program called Hatsune Miku which is based on a really interesting going by the name of Vocaloid. Vocaloid is a program that samples voices and allows someone to use a synthesizer to peace together words, lyrics, melodies, etc… sounds like a really cool program if you have some time to nerd out. Although, I’m not sure how I feel about cyberstar being born and strutting about the stage. But thank you Japan for always being creative and strange.

Next on the music list today, is a badass little Korean kid who will blow your mind on a guitar. His name is Sungha Jung, here is his website, and he is totally worthy checking out more of his stuff than just this clip.

Sungha Jung – Ebon Coast

Also it’s worth checking out this clip with Sungha Jung jamming with Andy McKee:

Sungha Jung & Andy McKee – Rylynn