Girls' Generation moves 1 million units

The June 1, 2011 self-titled first Japanese album by 9-member kpop group Girls' Generation reached 1 million units on the 11th of this month.
This is a first for a Korean artist since Boa's "Listen to My Heart" (1.29 million units), Boa's "Valenti" (1.4 million units) and Boa's "Best of Soul" (1.2 million units).
It's also a first for a Korean group to reach the million mark in Japan.

Sales included the original album released last June, and the repackaged album released on December 28 of last year.

While repackaged albums are unknown in Japan, they are common in South Korea which doesn't release singles. A repackaged album includes additional recordings and new packaging and features, put out as "Limited first release", "Limited release" and "regular". The combination of these three helped Girls' Generation hit the one million mark.

Japanese Documentary Films the Real Jang Geun-Seok

Korean Wave star, Jang Geun Seok is the star of a Fuji TV documentary, "Becoming a Prince of the World! The Real Jang Geun Seok." Cameras followed the 24 year old from October to December of last year. He is currently a university student, and gave cameras a tour of his home, university campus and other areas of his personal life, in scenes shown for the first time in Japan.
Particularly shocking was how he continued filming while on intravenous drip in October after his Japan arena tour concert at Saitama Arena.

The documentary will be aired on Fuji TV on January 13 from 1:05am-2:05am)

WiMAX to become available in Tokyo subways

[this year is the year of coding it seems. i am also trying to learn a lot this year. but, since i'm still unemployed, i figured i'd try my hand at my own year: "the year of translation". my goal is to translate a few articles from japanese or korean into english. i need to become a better, faster translator. i guess it won't happen within the job market. *sigh*]


On December 26, 2011, UQ Communications launched its WiMAX service in and around Otemachi Station on the Toei Subway Mita Line. Construction at Otemachi began on November 28, 2011. Along with UQ's WiMAX, one can also use other MVNOs' (mobile virtual network operators') WiMAX services in and around the station.

UQ has five WiMAX base transceiver stations in operation around Otemachi Station; three situated near ticket gates, two on the station platform. While the former three offer WiMAX around the ticket gate area, the latter two on the platform are situated so that they send radiowaves towards Shinbocho Station and Hibiya Station; allowing WiMAX usability in part of the subway tunnels.

UQ is continuing construction on base transceiver stations on stations along the Mita Line. They expect to have service for Shinbocho Station ready by the end of this month, with Hibiya Station following in late-February. When competed, users should expect to be able to use WiMAX in the subway tunnels between Otemachi and Shinbocho Stations and Otemachi and Hibiya Stations.

After the Mita Line, UQ is looking to expand service to the Toei Asakusa Line, Toei Shinjuku Line and Toei Oedo Line within this year. Aside from the Tokyo Metro Area, expect to see WiMAX services coming to major subway lines in the Chubu, Kansai and other areas throughout Japan.