Word is that The Weinstein Co., fresh off a hit weekend with The Forbidden Kingdom, are preparing yet another take on Akira Kurosawa’s epic, The Seven Samurai, to open in 2009. This ground-breaking project is undoubtedly proceeding in the interest of those who not only missed out on Kurosawa’s classic original film, but also the first Hollywood remake The Magnificent Seven, the dubiously anachronistic PS2 beat-em-up interpretation Seven Samurai 20XX and the brilliant anime adaptation Samurai 7.

Despite the utter failure of recent remakes of Japanese films which have been constrained to hasty J-Horror retreads, the new version of The Seven Samurai reportedly promises not only to be “high-quality” and “action-packed” but also “Asian-themed.” Additional details are scarce for the time being. Also uncertain is whether this new film will provide atonement for past sins or continue the Weinsteins’ ham-handed mishandling and modification of Asian films, but fans of the original and/or the plethora of existing remakes are encouraged not to hold their breath.

TWC’s Asian Film Fund (via Variety)

By Eugene Poon

Are you interested in keeping an important part of the Japanese landscape alive? If so, The Totoro Fund is interested in your dollar! They’ve recently launched an English language version of their site, The Totoro no Furusato (Homeland of Totoro) Foundation. The foundation is charged with preserving the Sayama Hills and surrounding area on the outskirts of Tokyo, also important in the production of tea in Japan. It also happens to be Hayao Miyazaki’s inspiration for the well loved film My Neighbor Totoro, hence the name of the foundation. So visit their site, if you’re feeling generous give a little, and who knows, maybe next time you’re in Japan you’ll be able to track down everyone’s favorite mythical raccoon/cat/owl creature.

Totoro Fund (via Nausicaa.net)

By Jesse Mann

Last week we reported on the work of paper artist Shin Tanaka with his streetwear inspired paper toys. This week, another fellow paper artist with a slightly more traditional background, will be showcasing his work in NYC. Shu Kobo, with his slice of life visual works, captures a more uniquely Japanese perspective. It can all be seen starting tomorrow, April 23rd at the Nippon Gallery on 57th Street. Hit the jump for all the official info.(Image courtesy Consulate-General of Japan in New York)

With Wii Fit having already passed one million units sold in Japan (and with analysts predicting a similar popularity once it releases in North America), it’s clear a lot of gamers have fitness on the brain. But what’s a good fitness regimen without a supplement? Well, as of April 8, the folks at Cyber Gadget in Japan have put on the market health supplements tailor-made to benefit gamers. There’s no word on how effective these things are, but I suppose if one’s exercise regimen is limited to (at worst) getting up from the chair to change games from the console or (at best) some rounds of Dance Dance Revolution, any help is good help.

Gamer Health Supplements (via Canned Dogs)

By Stewart Smith

Funky Forest: The First Contact - DVD Review
Available from Viz Pictures

Admit it. You’re all about the Japanese culture because it’s mysterious, progressive and kooky. Well, you haven’t seen anything, yet.

Just released stateside on DVD from Viz Pictures, Katsuhito Ishii’s Funky Forest: The First Contact is mind-rendingly weird. Even by Japanese standards, it’s off-the-scale crazy. If you consider yourself a person who enjoys foreign film because it tends to provide some form of insight or cultural education, or perhaps makes a statement about the universality of the human condition, you’ll want to look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you like being left feeling as if you’ve been abandoned by logic, mouth agape and eyes watering, stop by and witness the spectacle, the cast of which includes Ichi the Killer badass Tadanobu Asano, Oscar-nominee Rinko Kikuchi and Evangelion director Hideaki Anno.

Have you ever felt like you’re just not smiling as fully as you used to? Do you feel that your maximum smile potential is more than what you actually achieve when flashing your pearly whites? Are you Batman and wish you had a device that could show who in a crowd has the biggest smile, thus helping you pick out the Joker when he’s in disguise? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then the minds at Omron Corp. have got just the thing for you with their new Okao Catch, or “face catch” technology.

Interestingly, though, Omron Corp. hopes to expand the use of its tech to beyond just seeing who has the biggest grin as they’re researching applications for it in the fields of robotics and medicine. No word yet, though, if Wayne Enterprises is researching similar technology.

Omron Shows Smile Measuring Technology (via WIRED/AP News)

By Stewart Smith