Darth Vader has metamorphosed from an innocent boy to one of cinema's quintessential symbols of evil. But now he's getting back to his roots — in Japan.
A Tokyo-based traditional dollmaker, arguing that Darth Vader was inspired by Japan's samurai knights, has designed a set of armor fashioned after the Galactic Empire's dreaded enforcer.
Fans in touch with their dark side can buy a 90-centimetre tall samurai outfit handmade out of silk, aluminium and brass that covers the torso, arms and legs, along with a pair of black boots with padded soles.
"Darth Vader's costume was originally inspired by the Japanese samurai, so now we're returning the favor," said Norifumi Tanaka, manager for the Yoshitoku dollmaker, which will be soon mark its 300th anniversary.
The set also includes a bow and arrow and a sword — one of the traditional Japanese variety rather than the bright Star Wars lightsabers.
The suit is being released ahead of the 30th anniversary of the original Star Wars film along with Japan's traditional May 5 holiday for boys.
But with the full outfit costing 346,500 yen (NT$96,976), the dollmaker acknowledges their customers will be adults.
"Mainly people who are maniacs about this film are buying this — essentially men in their late 20s and older who grew up with this film," Tanaka said.
But Shigeki Sugihara, 34, taking a peek during his lunch break, said the price tag was just too much.
"The melding of the samurai and Darth Vader is certainly impressive, but it seems a little too expensive for what it is — and I'm disappointed that the sword doesn't even light up."(AFP)
星際大戰中的黑武士達斯?維德從天真無邪的小男孩，變型成電影中典型的邪惡象徵。但是，他現在回到了根源地︰日本。
東京一家傳統人偶商指稱，達斯?維德的靈感源自於日本武士，這家人偶商已設計一套以這位銀河帝國駭人武士為藍圖的盔甲。
和黑武士有所共鳴的影迷，可以購買九十公分長，長及軀體與雙腿、材質為絲、鋁銅合金的手工武士盔甲，還搭配了一雙加墊的黑靴。
即將邁入三百年歷史的吉德大光人偶廠之經理田中則文說︰「達斯?維德的服裝靈感源自日本武士，現在我們不過是互惠罷了。」
這套盔甲還包括了一對弓箭與一把日本傳統寶劍，而非《星際大戰》中閃亮的光劍。這套盔甲預計在《星際大戰》電影三十週年紀念、日本五月五日男兒節前上市。
不過，一整套的裝扮售價高達三十四萬六千五百日圓（新台幣九萬六千九百七十六元），這家人偶商顯然將消費群鎖定為成年人。
田中則文說︰「許多星際電影迷都會購買‥‥‥尤其是跟著這部電影成長的二、三十歲或年長男性。」
不過，趁午休時一窺究竟的三十四歲的杉原茂樹卻說，價格訂得太高囉。
「日本武士與達斯?維德的綜合體相當吸引人，但似乎有點太過昂貴。我對劍不能發光感到失望。」
（法新社/翻譯︰賴美君）
SAY WHAT? 說說看
be a maniac about sth
著迷，著魔
If you are a maniac about something, then you love it and probably spent much of your time on it. "Sam is a maniac about anime. He reads five comic books a day." You could also say Sam is mad about anime or Sam is crazy about anime.
If a person doesn't spend quite so much time on their hobby or interest, but still enjoys it, you could say that he is into his hobby. "Emily is into baseball. She reads the sports section every day."
假如你是某事的「maniac」，你熱愛這件事，也可能將大多時間投注在上頭。例如︰「山姆簡直是動漫畫迷。他一天可讀五本漫畫書」。你也可以說山姆「is mad about」或「is crazy about」動漫畫。
假如有人沒有花很多時間在自己的興趣上頭，但還是很喜歡這樣做，你就可以說那個人「is into」他的興趣。例如，「艾蜜莉很喜歡棒球。她每天都會讀體育版」。
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Chloe: Have you seen all the Star Wars movies?
Samantha: I think I saw some of them when I was a kid, but I haven't watched them in a long time.
Chloe: You've got to be kidding me! Those are the greatest movies ever. I can't believe you haven't watched them all!
Samantha: Don't go overboard. They might be good, but I'm sure they're not the best movies ever.
Chloe: Well, in the end it's just a matter of taste.
克洛伊︰你看過所有星際大戰電影嗎？
莎曼珊︰我想我小時候看過一點，但很久沒看了。
克洛伊︰你一定是開玩笑！那是史上最偉大的電影系列。我不敢相信你沒看完！
莎曼珊︰別太誇張了。那些電影是不錯，但我確信他們不是史上最佳的電影。
克洛伊︰這終究還是個人品味。
go overboard 太誇張了
If someone goes overboard, then they act in a manner that's too extreme. "Catherine said she was having a BBQ, but I didn't expect her to go overboard and roast three whole pigs."
假如你說某人「goes overboard」，是指那個人行事太過份。例如︰「凱薩琳說她要烤肉，但我沒料到她那麼誇張，竟然烤了三隻豬」。
A: After attending Taiwanese baseball superstar Chen Wei-yin’s retirement ceremony in Japan, why didn’t you stay longer for some fun? B: Don’t you remember? We’re going to Blackpink member Jisoo’s fan meeting at Messe Taoyuan this Sunday. A: Oh, that’s right. She’s the second Blackpink member visiting Taiwan as a solo artist after Lisa. B: Jisoo just released her EP “Amortage” on Valentine’s Day. A: Blackpink will also release new songs and launch a world tour this summer. A: 你去日本參加台灣強投陳偉殷的引退儀式後，怎麼沒留下來玩幾天？ B: 你忘啦？我們週日還要去「桃園會展中心」參加Blackpink成員Jisoo的見面會。 A: 啊對耶，她是繼Lisa後第二位單飛訪台的Blackpink成員。 B: Jisoo不久前才在情人節，推出個人迷你專輯《Amortage》。 A: Blackpink今年夏天也會推出新歌，還會啟動世界巡演呢！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
There were 127,350 measles cases reported in Europe and Central Asia last year, double the number of cases reported the previous year and the highest number since 1997, an analysis by the WHO and UNICEF showed. Measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico in the US are now up to more than 250 cases, and two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and was considered eliminated from the US since 2000. In the US,
Imagine standing in a lush forest, surrounded by the songs of birds and the rustling of leaves, with the earthy scent of soil and trees filling the air. This is the essence of forest bathing, a natural experience that brings peace to both body and mind. Originating from the Japanese term “shinrin-yoku,” forest bathing is a simple yet healing activity. It requires no special equipment or skills, just a willingness to disconnect from the digital world and embrace nature. The key is to use all of your senses to fully engage with the forest: feeling the warmth of sunlight on your
A: Taiwan’s baseball superstar Chen Wei-yin announced his retirement, and I’m still in shock. B: Didn’t you fly to Japan last Sunday just to attend his retirement ceremony? A: Yeah, it was held by Chen’s former Japanese team, the Chunichi Dragons. I even cried at the event. B: His glorious record of 96 wins in Japanese and US professional baseball altogether is unprecedented. A: His total income of NT$3.3 billion, including a huge 2016 contract of US$80 million with the US Miami Marlins, is also unprecedented. A: 台灣棒球巨星陳偉殷宣布引退，真是令人震驚。 B: 你週日不是特別飛去日本，參加他的引退儀式嗎？ A: 對啊老東家「中日龍」為他舉行了儀式，我還感動到大哭。 B: 他創下日／美職棒總計96勝紀錄，真是史無前例。 A: 而他生涯總收入高達33億台幣，包括在2016年時，和「馬林魚」簽下8千萬美元巨約，更是無人能及！ （By Eddy
RSS