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RAKUGO(audio book) is Traditional comedy.

Net users claim music video character resembles bulletin-board art

Net users claim music video character resembles bulletin-board art

The popular "Noma Neko" character from the hit song "Koi no Maiahi" is causing a stir among Internet users, who claim that it resembles the "Mona" character frequently used on "Ni-Channel," Japan's biggest Internet bulletin board.

"Noma neko" appeared in the promotion video for the song "Koi no Maiahi," the Japanese title for "Dragostea Din Tei," by Moldovan band O-Zone. This month, T-shirts and other goods featuring the feline character went on sale.

However, tens of thousands of critical comments have appeared on Ni-Channel, saying that the character is being used exclusively by a specified firm.

Avex, the music giant handling the song, said that "Noma Neko" was an adaptation of "Mona" and other "ASCII art" characters, which are drawn using only the letters and symbols on keyboards.

"'Noma Neko' was animated with inspiration from 'Mona' and other ASCII art that has become familiar on Internet message boards, and with these products it was made into a character with new added scenarios," an Avex message posted on a shopping site said.

Avex says that the use of ASCII art characters that already existed "should not be restricted," but debate is continuing on Internet message boards with many users still unable to agree with the firm's stance.

Avex officials said they had no intention of halting sales of "Noma Neko" goods in spite of the large number of critical comments.

"A lot of people posted criticism on Internet message boards. We don't usually make comments on message boards, but we put a comment from our firm on a shopping site. We are not thinking of halting sales of the goods," a company representative said. (Mainichi)


http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/entertainment/news/20050913p2a00m0et014000c.html

o-zone DISCO-ZONE
恋のマイアヒ～（koi no maiahi~）　（マイヤヒ）
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000AMD24O/


Plagiarized flash
http://sweet.littlestar.jp/b/entries/test/20050313072810.files/maiyahi.swf

Samsung Exec. Held in U.K. for In-Flight Antic(schosun.com )

Samsung Exec. Held in U.K. for In-Flight Antics
A Samsung Electronics director was arrested in the U.K. after he created a disturbance on a London-bound flight.

An industry source said Tuesday, the executive, a man in his late 40s, upset fellow passengers when he removed his socks shortly after take-off from Incheon on Saturday and used a moist towel to wipe his toes before moving to the galley, where he used mineral water to wash his feet. He later earned a stern warning after he tripped up a stewardess and made sexually charged remarks, but his behavior showed no improvement.

The source said the executive threw his socks at the meal cart and disrupted service by spiking the coffee on the coffee cart with alcohol, becoming abusive when flight attendants tried to stop him. Showing signs of a nervous disorder, he threatened to harm himself with a razor blade from the plane's bathroom. He was placed in restraints and moved to the "bunker," the crew rest area in the back of the plane, where he was nonetheless able to take off his clothes and urinate. The man was handed over to police once the aircraft touched down in London.

An airline official said the executive did not appear drunk and showed no symptoms of mental disturbance before boarding. The official said stronger sanctions were needed against in-flight rampages that threaten the safety of passengers. Under Korean flight safety and security laws, causing an in-flight disturbance, smoking, harming others after the consumption of drugs or alcohol, or indecency carry a fine of up to W1 million (about US$1,000).