Akiba Day 1 – Where are teh cosplay?

So I am typing this entry from a hostel in Asakusa, and I am currently really really tired since I didn’t get much sleep on the bus. I have a hard time sleeping in these kinds of situations. Anyway, man Akiba is no fucking big deal, but it was still relatively fun since it is me and this other guy from school here. I also met up with another guy who is from my host college in America but doing his study abroad in Tokyo.

Anyway, Akihabara is basically the area of Nagoya called Osu Kannon spread out. The various stores all sell relatively the same things but they vary in degrees of awesomeness is the best way of putting it. For example playing Magaman music instead of some random J-pop song or going to a bishoujo store and having them playing hardcore metal. This first day I only got three things. An Asahi Sakurai (Comic Party) figure which is old as hell because it is from the original release of Comic Party back in 99. Asahi has been one of my all time favorite girls so this was a great buy for me and cheap. I also got a Tsukasa (Lucky Star) figma figure because I actually like Tsukasa to be honest, and I am tired of getting Konata from every capsule vending machine I go to. Tsukasa is so cute and clumsy.

Lastly, I spent a rather moderate sum of money for something rediculous. I got this Yoakena Augustsoft variety pack just for this small poster which has Mia laying on a bed rather ecchi like drawn by a different artist. Included was a lot of crap pushing the new added character and of course Feena. I wish there was more Mia merchandise honestly. I love her cute, innocent and shy personality, but everyone likes Feena! Damn heroines.

In general it is tempting to buy a shit ton of stuff because everything is relatively old and cheap for some of the figures I like. Hell, I should have bought the Mint figure I saw just as a joke. POSTING MINT IN A TONBERRYKING THREAD. Plus, um, a lot of Aria stuff that I want like those awesome giant figures. But this all means I will have to carry it home and not to mention carry it some how with me when I return back to America. Hmm, how difficult.

There was hardly any cosplay around but this is understandable since it is a Thursday. I am sure more people will come out either tomorrow or Saturday night. I am looking forward to it really! I think tomorrow might be a better day since we will be more rested and everything. Yeah, honestly I think it is kinda dumb using the break just to check out Akiba since it is hugely otaku but whatever this is the shorter one. During the longer break I plan to do some personal travel on foot perhaps but I should probably put some effort into that.

Well, I hope to try harder tomorrow to find more interesting or odd stuff. Also, wow I saw some recent shots of Yui Horie and I really don’t like what she has done to her hair. I wasn’t much of a Yui Horie fan to begin with but to like Yukarin is to like Yui Horie too. Yui Horie’s hair is shoooooort now.

Going to Akihabara – FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

See you guys in a few days. I am off to spend hundreds of dollars in the anime mecca of the world.

A 12 year anime fan speaks – His road to fandom Part 1.5

For the record, I liked Megumi the most in Nadesico for a while until she turned into a real bitch and then my love shifted to Ruri who was so much more superior.

So, up to this point my anime watching was rather limited but I think I had a fairly diverse background with a bunch of different shows. Tenchi and El Hazard for harem comedy. Magic Knights Rayearth and a few bootleg Cardcaptor Sakura episodes for magical girl. Nadesico and Evangelion for mecha. And Fushigi Yuugi as shoujo. I was watching some other stuff that I never really did finish but I forget them to be honest. I still some how missed the Cowboy Bebop craze in what was it 1998? Also, never got into shounen either. But I did watch Gundam Wing and a lot of the new episodes of DBZ and Sailor Moon as well when they aired. Hell, I watched a lot of the stuff on Toonami, a kind of anime block of shows on the Cartoon network in the late 90s early 2000s, since I wasn’t getting anything new.

I seemed to have failed to mention I actually watched End of Evangelion via a bootleg video in I think 2000. God that was pure orgasmic win which messed with my head over 9000. I honestly could not sleep after watching that thing. I felt really sad and depressed over it all. My friends and I had a thing going for a few years where we’d watch it every New Years Eve. I usually have been keeping the tradition alive without them because I am oh so ronery.

A 12 year anime fan speaks – His road to fandom Part 1

It has been a long road to getting to the point I am at writing to you today. Maybe I want to connect with myself from years ago in this time I find myself so disinterested. Search out and find that myself that liked anime and maybe find some meaning to keep watching it today. This is my story.

I have been into anime for about 12 years, but maybe more since I never knew what I was watching was called anime. This isn’t such a long time for some I am sure, but I still wear it like a badge of honor. I was there when anime still wasn’t big in America. I mark my anime beginnings with the time I saw Tenchi Muyo in Love on Sci Fi way back in 1997. I would say that my anime beginnings were rough since I was into a hobby that no one knew about at the time. Who would think anime would turn into what it is now? Anyway, there really wasn’t anyone to talk to around about anime at the time. A friend of mine got interested in it for a while but mostly Tenchi and rarely branched off from that while I continued down the path to fandom.

Awesomeness in its purest form

I am not certain what drew me into anime at first. Maybe it was the neat visuals, the characters that showed depth, the music and interesting storylines. Tenchi Muyo and Sailor Moon were two definite shows that grounded me into anime. Tenchi because it was funny, I loved the characters and plot, and Sailor Moon to this day I have no idea why I got up so early in the morning everyday to watch it. As a young boy I was really embarrassed watching it and I was really paranoid about having other people like my parents see me watching a show with girls who transform into these skimpy leotard outfits.

I mostly explored new series by renting anime from blockbuster or hollywood video and watching shows that would be aired on Sci Fi’s Saturday Morning Anime since buying anime was expensive (and still is I think) since you would get like 2 episodes for $25 bucks. For some reason being a kid, I was very paranoid about the types of shows I would rent mostly because I didn’t want a whole lot of violence or nudity. Maybe this is the result of my constant ecchi/moe anime interests today? Regardless, at that time I was watching shows like Blue Seed, El Hazard, and Fushigi Yuugi, but what really transformed my viewing and anime experiences for the first time was probably watching Evangelion.

I didn’t find them attractive then and I don’t find them attractive even now.

I think back in the day I was really hyped about Eva. If I recall correctly, I remember being all like, “Yeah, I am going to get into that show some day because I heard from the magazines (Gamefan) that it was good so it must be popular!” Then my chance came when Hollywood Video had the first volume of Evangelion for rent. I rented it and loved it. I rewatched it a lot during the time I had it rented too. The opening theme, Cruel Angel’s Thesis, was my first real experience with the Japanese language since up to this point I was purely watching Dubs only. Eva was a great show for its time, and probably still has a spot in my heart somewhere. Eva, although put down due to its off the wall psuedo philosophy, actually awakened in me questions some children at my age probably never really think about.

During the time the last Eva VHS was released to about when I graduated from middle school my anime fandom was really weak. I mostly rewatched a lot of the tapes I had bought in the past over and over. I was too afraid to explore shows because one bad buy would be a waste of possibly buying something good, and I wasn’t sure what was really good in a sense. My interests were still very young. I was also very limited to what I could see because I couldn’t just as easily download a show or go out and buy something. I was a kid and I didn’t have money. I did keep up with what was being released through magazines like Animerica released by Viz which is now no longer being published, and visiting the anime board on GameFaqs which we all know my username is tonberryking. But from the time I entered high school, my interest in anime really started to take form.

Pool’s Closed

Yeah, so I really don’t have it in me to write here and I was never really all that good at blogging to begin with. This place is dying a slow death and my daily hits are showing that which is mostly due to not updating often and just plan sucking at doing this.

I have lost my motivation to write about anime and watch it in general, but gained more of a desire to write more about myself, thoughts, and desires once again. Also, I am going through some tough times here in Japan. I am starting to see faults in my character and I am just getting depressed and saddened over it. I want to change and I could either take this opportunity to change or just continue down the same path. Whoever said that I am going to grow as a person here wasn’t kidding. I am wondering why I even came here to begin with. I feel a lot like Shinji right now, and I could use a Kamina to punch me back to my senses.

So, for now I am closing up shop. I guess as an fyi if you want to read about how I am doing personally you can check my other blog.

Goodbye.

Imouto Complex – That’s it! I want a cute little sister of my own! Part 2

I’m not sure exactly what is going on right now in Clannad After Story since it all seems kinda ridiculous, but hey if it allows more Mei-chan to be written into the plot I am for that. I would love Mei-chan tenderly. You can read part one here which basically sums up some of my past feelings. In this episode particulary, I loved the whole bit with Tomoya and Mei-chan half way through the episode. Tomoya going crazy over being called Onii-chan and what not. (Yukari Tamura is so great for this too!) On the whole, we’re 3 episodes into Clannad AS and so far I have no real complaints. So I just hope it gets better. Honestly I think it was the whole trying to jam everything in at once that was the problem. AS seems more focused which is something I can enjoy more.

Anyway, Kyoani really knows how to animate a cute little sister because there were just too many instances where Mei-chan looked really cute.

Not Mei-chan I know I just thought this was hilarious.

Nagisa really got owned here. I felt kinda bad for her but I still laughed.

Hyakko 02 – Torako Kageyama = Tomo Takino basically

Ayumi is definitely the moe one of the four girls.

I am really annoyed that the OP is just a bunch of random clips from the first episode. I thought maybe it was something that would change with the second episode but I guess not. That is so unoriginal and I hate those kinds of OP just as much as I hate it when they just have the cast fly around the screen which is like in 99% of anime OPs anyway…

I was instantly reminded of that quote in Azumanga about Wimbledon.

Finishing up this episode I have come to the conclusion that the character Torako is trying too hard to be a second Tomo from Azumanga Daioh and I really like Aya Hirano’s voice when she plays a shy character. *SHOCK* I mean honestly, Fumiko Orikasa even seems to try and imitate the style of voice used for Tomo. Not like this is a bad thing, I think Tomo is a fun character from Azumanga and Torako is just kinda like her as far as being hyper and a bit strange. As for Aya Hirano, I think she is doing a pretty good job so far, and I can’t believe I find myself liking a character she does the voice to. The characters have yet to really show much depth in this episode either which sort of bothers me, but it is still just episode two.

Ace wo Narae!

Another thing about this episode is that the jokes got overused as far as being a pattern of finding a club, make some random references to sport stars and anime, Tatsuki getting hurt and then moving on to the next club. Some of them were kinda fun like the Ace wo Narae reference and what not. I enjoyed some of the jokes honestly where I chuckled here and there and if this isn’t a common thing with each episode I think I can tolerate it. I mean, I hope it at least tries different ways to get a laugh out of me than just using the same jokes but a different topic all the time.

I can see Hyakko being one of the shows that I can just watch without putting too much thought into it without really paying attention much since it really is just a mindless fun kind of show with cute girls in it. I seem to have mentioned Azumanga a lot in this entry, and if you haven’t already noticed I liked Azumanga Daioh a lot when I saw it and I still do. I seem to size up these kinds of shows up with Azumanga for some reason, and Hyakko just doesn’t come close because it seems like a mix of stuff that has just come before it.

Hyakko 01 – Your typical let’s throw a bunch of random girls who have nothing in common together show

I’ve been seeing some Hyakko stuff on display in anime stores around here, but mostly of the manga which has absolutely horrid designs if you ask me. Kinda reminds me how I find the artwork plain in Zetsubou Sensei’s manga but I enjoy the designs used in the anime. Anywho, from this first episode I really got a large impression that this show is just a mix of Azumanga Daioh, and Minabi Straight. I mean, yeah you know the drill if you’ve been into anime for the past five years. Your typical geared toward young men show where they take a bunch of random girls each with their own various interests and personality types and have them do wacky things together.

What? Our show is just like the many others before this one. ;_;

Although, in cases with these kinds of shows it really comes down to how things come together, and I liked this first episode. My first reaction was automatically, “OMG IS THIS AYA HIRANO?” *checks ANN* “Shit! It is I don’t believe it.” If you know me, for certain reasons I just don’t like Aya Hirano because I believe she gets too much credit even though she is only known for her two big roles (Haruhi and Konata) and she severely lacks experience, but she still gets a ton of praise. Oddly enough, I liked Aya Hirano’s voice for the shy, lacking confidence, pantyhose wearing Ayumi. This is my first time hearing her do a shy girl voice and I like it actually I am really used to her being a bossy bitch and having some high pitched nasal voice.

Although, on the whole, the four main girls are still your standard stuff. Shy girl who lacks confidence and looks up to the outgoing one, the silent girl, the stuck up princess one, and the outgoing leader of the group. Reminds me of the girls from Manabi Straight for the most part but without Aya Hirano doing the stuck up girl role. How far these girls fit into these niche traits have yet to be seen, but it looks like Ayumi has some kind of interesting back story from her middle school days so I am interested in finding out about that. Apparently their teacher is voiced by Keiji Fujiwara who is one of my favorite male voices. I wonder what is the role of his character other than just yelling at the girls and ranting to them?

Some of the facial expressions used in Hyakko are pretty amusing.

I personally relate well to characters like Ayumi and Mikan (Manabi Straight) because I struggle a lot with my own issues on wanting to break out of my shell, excepting the kind of person I am and to become the kind of person that I want to be. Seeing how the viewer gets to listen to Ayumi’s thoughts it kind of just makes me regret being born a male because maybe my life would just be a whole lot more simple because the feelings that confuse me, like Ayumi, might be justified in some weird way.

I liked this episode and found some of the parts humorous mostly the reaction facial expressions, and how the 4 characters came together as they all seemly got lost on their first day to class. Looking forward (MASSUGU!) to seeing how things will progress. Yay for slice of life shows.

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I met Domo-kun in Sakae today and it was awesome.

Nogizaka Haruka – Welcome to the list

Welcome to my favorite female list Haruka! Only four episodes into Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu and I already love Haruka a lot. She is such a typical moeblob and such a wish fulfillment female character, but really that is why I like her. Haha. I mean where Konata from Lucky Star fails, Haruka succeeds in my opinion. Haruka has such a bubbly personality but she is also very kind and good at a lot of things (other than anime) and despite liking anime she views it as a flaw or rather something other people shouldn’t know about. Haruka is also really one of the first characters I’ve seen that gave me some pantyhose fanservice in anime. I mean, come on it is always thigh highs or stockings. That first episode really was delicious. Not to mention Mamiko Noto does Haruka’s voice!

A thing I like about Nogizaka Haruka the anime in general is it appears to be a commentary on the anime situation in Japan or at least the first two episodes seemed to briefly touch on the issue. Does liking anime make me any less of a person? This and more really bothered Haruka and confused her how Yuuto could just accept her even if she liked anime. I mean from my perspective anime is just a normal hobby like all things but here in Japan it is one of the less favorable things to like and by observing the Japanese females (and males), I can really understand Haruka’s fear of having other people find out because it would be a big deal. But it all seems to contradicting because in anime stores I see men and women of all ages go into these kinds of stores on occasion SO um, hax?

This was rather interesting to hear but nothing like teh Rie.

Yuuto’s role is basically a place holder for wish fulfillment on the viewer’s part because who wouldn’t want to get to know a beautiful girl who is into anime and accepts her for who she is? It is a perfect love story for a pitiful otaku male. Although, I like it that Yuuto doesn’t seem to be all that interested in anime himself. I never really blogged about it here since I wasn’t writing at the time, but I enjoyed Ai Yori Aoshi back when it was airing because despite being a quasi harem show it really wasn’t because it was clearly defined that Kaoru was interested in Aoi and vice versa. I am seeing similar things going on here and it seems to be really defined that Yuuto and Haruka like each other despite not really saying anything yet.

So for whatever reason I am really into this show because it is a cute love story filled with some anime references. Nogizaka Haruka is one of the better moe shows if that even means anything. Haruka is so fucking cute and if it is one thing I have learned from this show it is that I love moe anime despite being rather hateful of it and proclaiming it or rather the moe style is destroying the anime industry as we know it. It took me 14 years to realize this…