(E02) After watching this second installment of 'The Pacific,' I think I have a feeling why people who've seen further along are talking about how things pick up once we get into the next episode. With these first two parts, we spent virtually the entire time on Guadalcanal, and there was virtually no time for any sort of character connections.

After this, the 1st Marines are finally getting off the island to move onto their next campaign, which means a change of scenery, and a chance for the impact of what they've just gone through to start hitting both the marines themselves, and the audience. Just like them, we've had virtually no time to process all the horror and warfare these men endured on the island.

While last week spotlighted most of the hour on the beauty of the island, this week it was the brutality of war itself that took center stage, with almost constant gunfire from the opening credits to the closing credits.

Just why DO we go to war anyway? The soldiers on 'The Pacific' (Sun., 9PM ET on HBO) have a few theories on that, some involving Japs and shipping lanes.

And one offers something more prophetic about swords, brave men, countries and omens. We'll go with that one, mainly because it sounds super cool.

Watch the video after the jump.

Granted, I laughed when I saw this, but I can imagine that some would be appalled. If this ever appeared on American television, it would be pulled in about three seconds. Basically, it's a children's show (geared for boys ages 6 to 11) called The Ancient Dogoo Girl, and it's about a teen girl (who hopefully is played by someone older) with some sort of ancient magic bra that shoots energy weapons or spikes or magic beams or some such equivalent. No, I am not kidding about this.

I see some Japanimation influence on the show (they have a cute sidekick robot of some sort), and quite possibly some hentai influence, as well. What does it say about a culture when even its children's television is degrading to women?

Marvel Comic's website is now offering a look at Spider-Man not seen by many on this side of the Pacific, with a Japanese television show from the 1970s.

Taking an American superhero and blending him with the traditional motifs of Japanese children's TV produces a bizarre mix -- like tossing a hot dog and sushi in a blender set to frappe.

Rather than take on the Green Goblin or Electro, The Land of the Rising Sun's version of Peter Parker defends precocious Japanese kids from guys in rubber suits, ala Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

In general, you could mark me down as a fan of reality TV. I've never missed Survivor, written thousands of words about Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, and despite what my daily uniform of jeans, t-shirt, and Chuck Taylors would suggest, I even watch Project Runway. The one show I actively root against though, is Moment Of Truth.

I just can't find anything to like about the show, from the concept right on through to the execution. It's with that in mind that I excitedly clicked on the entry in my feed reader telling me that Hole In The Wall was replacing it. Hosted by Brooke Burns (Dog Eat Dog), Hole In The Wall is the latest incarnation of a game popularized in Japan. Before the jump to the US there were already successful adaptations in a number of other countries.

The success has a lot to do with the simplicity of the concept. A wall, with a shape cut in it, moves toward the contestants and they have to contort their body to pass through the hole or be swept into the water. As they fail to do so, hilarity ensues, hopefully. Get a look for yourself, after the jump.

Those Japanese sure can innovate when it comes to TV. A new television show from Japan has a Japanese man sitting naked in a room for a year while being recorded.

He was locked in an apartment with no food, furniture, household goods or entertainment. He was required to write postcards to contests until he won $10,000 in prizes, at which point he was to be released.

As you may have been able to tell from my last name, I am Asian. Anime was a big part of my childhood, especially when I lived overseas in those early years. I even went through that awkward Sailor Moon phase in third grade. However, by the time the anime craze hit America, I was over it. So while my classmates traded Pokemon cards and donned cat ears, I quietly filled my heart with loathing and silently complained about the newer animes that everyone else seemed to love so much. In my eyes, nothing seemed to deliver.

But just this summer, not only did I manage to tolerate an anime show, I fell in love with it. Enter Death Note, an incredibly engaging anime that just wrapped up its run in Japan three months ago.

Don't you wish someone would make a live-action movie based on a popular cartoon from the '80s about giant robots?

No, not that one, I'm talking about Voltron. Variety reports that Voltron: Defender of the Universe is finally on the cusp of getting made. Of course, the success of Transformers has helped quite a bit as far as stirring up interest. New Regency and the Mark Gordon Company are close to finalizing a deal to start production on the movie. New Regency's other live-action adaptation is Alvin and the Chipmunks. Eek.

The Japanese just do some things better. For instance? Game shows. Japanese television execs understand that people want to see other people perform ridiculous physical challenges for prizes.

Another example? Talk shows. This one in particular. I have no idea what the show is called, but it kind-of reminds me of a Japanese version of Wayne's World because it looks like it's on cable access and is filmed in someone's basement. And Johnny Depp went on it. Apparently for the second time. It's weird because A) Depp doesn't speak the language, B) Depp is the only one sitting while two other guys in suits stand around and interrogate him, and C) well, you just have to watch for yourself but let's just say there are little kids dressed as pirates, singing "It's A Small World." Depp, by the way, is the perfect gentleman and reacts to everything with gratitude.

Video after the jump:

[Via Pop Candy]

Japanese television makes American television look sleepy. Especially their game shows. I don't even know the official name for this game show, but it's essentially a human version of Tetris. Big walls of styrofoam come flying at contestants who have to contort their bodies to fit through the shape in the wall, or be pushed into a pool of yellow water. It's sort-of like Tetris. I've attached a four-minute clip to this post. For some of those challenges, I have no idea how a human body would get through the space (I think that's the point).

I want on this game show more than I want on The Price is Right.

Video is after the jump:

After losing co-founder Joseph Barbera and animator Ed Benedict, Hanna Barbera is again saying good-bye to yet another legend. Iwao Takamoto, who designed Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and the rest of the Mysteries Inc. gang, passed away yesterday at the age of 81.

While Ed Benedict is credited with designing the original Flintstones characters, Takamoto designed the Great Gazoo. He also created Muttley, the wheezing dog featured on such shows as Laff-A-Lympics, Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines and Wacky Races; and Astro, the Jetson's dog who, oddly enough, sounded not unlike Scooby-Doo (both were voiced by Don Messick). His other credits at Hanna Barbera include Josie and the Pussycats, Jabberjaw and many, many others.

Those folks at Guinness keep track of a lot of stuff, don't they? They're so busy keeping track of all these obscure world records, it's almost a miracle that they have time to brew all those millions of gallons of that wonderful beer of theirs (mmm... beer...).

(Actually, I don't think the beer company owns the records company anymore. Still love that beer. Mmm... beer...)

Anyway, recently, the Guinness World Records folks honored Japanese TV personality Norio Minorikawa, better known as Mino Monta -- as the record holder for most live hours on TV in one week. According to the organization's web site, Mino Monta puts in 21 hours and 42 minutes of live television per week, including the hosting job on the Japanese version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. He also hosts 11 other live shows, ranging from a wildlife show to a health and fitness show.

Mino Monta averages 3 hours of TV per day, seven days a week. Regis Philbin and Don Francisco are slackers compared to this guy.

If you have ever watched the Mac ads featuring John Hodgman and Justin Long and wondered what their Japanese counterparts must look like (and I'm sure everyone has), look no further! Yes yes, the Japanese have their own versions of the ads, starring members of sketch comedy group The Rahmens (I don't really know who they are, but I've read that they're like Japanese comedy's answer to Wes Anderson... whatever that means). The ads are pretty much the same as the American ones, but, y'know, in Japanese and with different actors. I like the original ads better, but, I must admit, the Japanese PC works some pretty sweet hip movements when he's rocking out to his iPod. Look out, Hodgman.

I admit it. I have a proclivity for watching weird TV shows done in languages I don't understand. Since I know I'm not the only one out there who does this, I invite you to take a gander at some of these clips of Japanese game shows. I think the videos are safe for work, depending on your company's tolerance for scantily-clad women (and men). If you click the above link you'll also find more videos listed in the comments. I'm not making any claims about the content of those, however. You'll have to venture into that particular jungle on your own. 

[via Boing Boing]