Plot

Kai Yuuki (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is in his senior year at university studying social welfare psychology. At present, he is in the middle of job-hunting season. He is finding it difficult with no job offers so far. One day, he meets a girl who is playing violin in the campus. She is Sae Hagio (Kou Shibasaki). In marked contrast to her beautiful tone and attractive looks, her personality is somewhat impertinent. And to top it off, she communicates through very vulgar sign language. Four years ago, she lost the most important thing for a violinist – her hearing. As a result Sae closed off her inner self from the outside world. Kai finds himself on a date with Sae, in place of his best friend. Unexpectedly, he comes into contact with Sae’s private side. Love, job-hunting, friendship… Setting a campus in spring as a dorama`s backdrop, it’s the start of a glittering youth drama.

Opinion

I have to say I really did like this show for multiple reasons. First it showed, to some degree, how some Japanese deal with disabilities. There was also good emotion and kind of took you through the thought process that one might go through if they were to lose their hearing.

I think one of the coolest things in this show was the sign language used. Since they had sign language they had to do a lot of Japanese subtitles. Having the subtitles in Japanese and in English was a lot of fun because I could look at the kanji and the sentence try to read it then read the english one real fast if I missed it. Was a fun show for working on your Japanese with.

Another point I liked is when people actually said things directly a few times unlike other shows where they are too Japanese and try to talk things out the round-about way. Also I have to say they had the best kissing seen in a Japanese drama I have seen to date.

So over all I would recommend this show for sure. Give it a watch I don’t think you will be disappointed it. Good story, good actors and good for helping with your Japanese, can’t really lose.

Images

More images can be seen in the flickr set (Orange Days Flickr Set

Plot

Junpei Kōsaka is a second-year high school student who despises cats and has an allergy to them. It just so happens that his high school crush is Kaede Mizuno, a girl who adores cats. One day, while walking home from school, Junpei kicks an empty can and unfortunately breaks the local neko-jizō-sama (guardian deity of cats). He finds he can now understand what cats are saying, including his family’s own ill-tempered cat, Nyamsus. However, if he does not grant 100 wishes to cats, he will turn into cat himself and die from his own allergy.

Opinion

With so much time watching more classic anime I wanted to watch something that was new. Nyan Koi was the first one back from the classics, so maybe a bit scewed opinion. I got this one on the suggestion from someone on MyAnimelist.net.

Well first I will say this is a pretty standard Ecchi Harem, no complaints there. However, they decided to make it “new” by adding cats. Unlike the images display they aren’t nekomimi; nope they are cats, and the girls don’t turn into nekomimi either .

What I liked about this anime is that it looks good, I think. Also for late night watching standard harems are always fun. This one kept me engaged by throwing out something enough at the end story wise to make me want to watch the next episode so I applaud that. There isn’t too much more about the anime it is pretty standard, but isn’t bad at all.

What I didn’t like is that they relied to much on same old same old in they way of gaffes and cliches. While the whole possessed cat kami statue cursing someone was new it still was pretty much the same old same old, which I didn’t have to much of a problem with.

If you like this type of anime you will like this one for sure. If hate these then don’t bother watching. If you are 50/50 I think you might enjoy this one over others.

Images

More images can be found in the flickr set (Nyan Koi flickr Set)

I have recently been splitting my anime watching time up between classic anime and new anime.  Generally doing a horrible job of keeping up with both I am trying to watch so much at one time. However, I finally got a chance to watch Project A-ko movie.

Plot

Sixteen years have passed since a mysterious alien ship crashed on Earth. Graviton City, once leveled by the ship’s crash, is now a bustling metropolis. Within the city’s high school, superhuman high school student A-Ko Magami dukes it out with the diabolical genius B-Ko Daitokuji, who will stop at nothing to win the friendship of A-Ko’s buddy C-Ko Kotobuki. Meanwhile, in outer space, another alien ship is on course towards Earth to find its planet’s lost princess. (via ANN)

Opinion

Overall the anime was good for a satire piece. If I had to rewrite the plot I would probably write it as

There are 3 girls in a broken love triangle. C-ko decides to fight A-ko for the love an affection of B-ko, and the war between them is on. By the way there is also a ship headed to earth to find their princess.

Originally this anime was supposed to be a part of the Cream Lemon hetnai ova series, but they decided against it and produced it as a movie. That said you can pretty much tell it was supposed to be a hentai considering there are all of 4 males in the whole show. A-ko’s dad and 3 military guys. Everyone else is female. Also considering how much yuriness there is to it it is almost unavoidable to notice it was supposed to be a hentai.

As for as a classic goes I definitely suggest getting it and watching so that you can add it to classic anime to talk to the veterans about. At the recent anime con I went to a group of people started talking about it, and I wasn’t able to join in for that 5 minutes. It is only an hour and a half so give it a shot.

Images

These are images from the anime Project A-ko (More images can be seen in Project A-ko Flickr set)

Plot

Three girls named Anita, Michelle and Maggie are hired to protect Japanese author Nenene Sumiregawa during her stay in Hong Kong. In an incident where the “Paper Sisters” save Nenene from a disgruntled author, Nenene discovers that the sisters have the capability to control paper at their own will – an ability once used by her long-lost friend Yomiko “The Paper” Readman. Arriving in Japan after an airliner incident, the Paper Sisters move into Nenene’s apartment and become her freeloading bodyguards.

Opinion

I really liked this anime I started it at Tokyo in Tulsa, but only the first episode and liked it enough to put it on my list then forgot about it. A couple months ago I got hold of it and finally finished it. I have to say this was pretty awesome anime. Kind of confusing a bit at first as to what was going on and getting used to killer paper. It is a fun story with good character growth, which is missing a lot now-days. Anyway I wish they would have used their powers more, but with a moving story I can forgive not so much paper action. Also I must say the fight scenes were pretty cool when they had them, am a fan of good anime fight scene. I definitely recommend you watch this for your next anime.

Images

These images are from Read or Die. For more images visit the Flickr set (Read or Die Flickr Set)

Plot

After making a serious mistake in his work in Tokyo, talented surgeon Goto Kensuke is invited to take charge of the only clinic on the small island of Yonaguni, Okinawa. It is difficult to get competent doctors to serve on this remote island, and the islanders are now used to traveling for hours via boat for proper medical care. Despite seeming weak and unreliable (he gets very seasick, and does not have a driving license), he wins over the skeptical islanders with his skill and dedication. Some children of the island make a flag for his clinic, but get his name wrong. Thereafter he is known by all as Koto.

Opinion

This wasn’t too terribly exciting. Nor was it your general appeal to otaku. This J-Drama was a down to earth day-to-day show. It showed the struggles of people as they might actually be in life. Thing I liked the most was to see more realistic cultural things. most of the time you see over the top shows since that is what is appealing mostly to fansubbers. This is a good change of pace. What is also interesting is that this is the first J-Drama where all of the actors and actresses aren’t hot, so they have to rely on the actual story. As a warning this isn’t a fast paced action packed funny ecchi show. It is very slow thought out and “real”. If Japan interests you, not just otakuized Japan, I would recommend this otherwise move on.

Images

These are some of the images from Dr Koto Shinryoujo for more visit the flickr set (Dr Koto Shinryoujo flickr set)

Plot

In the future, an organization called the GGP has taken control of the world. Rin Ogata was a promising up-and-coming ballet dancer, but suffered a serious injury while dancing and decided to quit. Years later in college, she comes across a club building and soon finds herself intrigued by a transforming motorcycle-like robotic vehicle called a “Rideback”. She soon finds that her unique ballet skills with balance and finesse make her a born natural on a Rideback.

Opinion

I’ll start by saying this is an awesome anime and you should watch it. That being said I was a bit annoyed at how they started on an awesome path of being a cool racing style anime with mechs, actually done right. However, it quickly turned political, boo. However, even though it went political it wasn’t bad at all because you get to see some awesome rideback action. If you are a mech and a motorcycle fan you will like this one I think. They now need to make a side series on it just over the racing aspect.

Images

To view more images of ride back visit the flickr set (Rideback Flickr Set)

Plot

The Kagemori family has secretly protected its neighbor, the Konnyaku family, for 400 years. Mamoru has been the protector of the daughter, Yūna Konnyaku, since they were in kindergarten. When Yūna is in trouble, Mamoru quickly puts on his ninja suit and transforms into a competent ninja; able to protect her from harm. Unfortunately, this poses quite a challenge as Yūna, being both clumsy and absent-minded, often stumbles into situations where Mamoru must once again come to her rescue.

Opinion

I liked this anime, but I don’t recommend it. It is a bit to formulaic and there is better stuff out there. If you like wacky ninja scenarios then by all means watch it because you might like it too. I will say you gotta love the Banana song. Some of the over-the-top fights and scenes were really funny and some just gave you a “What is going on here?”. I am curios what others think though.

Images

Here are a few images. To see more check out the Flickr Set (Kage Kara Mamoru Flickr set)

K-ON! Seems to be like it is pretty popular, but really I can’t figure out why. Maybe it was just over-hyped to me. Not saying it was bad, in-fact I did like it. However, not really sure what all the fuss is about, especially Mio. The only reason I can see why people like her so much is that she has the biggest boobs and gets scared the easiest. The music is good. I am a fan of the type of music they were playing throughout the whole show, and I liked the story line too. Something different that we don’t get to see everyday, but by no means revolutionary like so many people made it seem. Believe me though if there is a second season I’ll be watching it, once it is all released and I can marathon it.

Plot

K-On!’s story revolves around four Japanese high school girls who join their school’s light music club to try to save it from being abolished. However, they are the only members of the club, and at first Yui Hirasawa has no experience playing musical instruments or reading sheet music. Eventually, she learns how to be an excellent guitar player. The rest of the club helps her to buy a guitar, and they perform at the school festival.

Images

For more images check out my K-ON! Flickr set (K-ON! Flickr Set)

The first annual Tulsa Godzilla Fest was a lot of fun to be able to participate in. I was there as the president of my school’s Japanese Language Club. We had some tables there to help show some of the things of Japan and try to get some donations for our club. So how about a tad bit of a photo tour of the event

Note: There was some horrible lighting situations I don’t have to experience yet to get around so some photo’s are not so good. Also I should have spent more time taken pictures so there aren’t very many or a good diversity.

This is the entrance to the event. The building where the Fest was hosted is a VERY nice building.

Next couple of shots are the above shots of the area.

After the introduction and start there were some Taiko Drummers. This was a lot of fun to watch.

Then came the dancers from the Japanese Society of Northeastern State University. For the life of me I can’t remember the dance they did and I feel horrible for it. Sorry.

The Kendo club of tulsa also showed up and was a lot of fun to watch too.

Also had the treat of getting to eat real Japanese food prepared by a local Japanese lady who is extremely nice, and a great cook. I had some Japanese Curry, was great, and a croquette, was interesting. Wish I could have eaten more but was too full.

We were lucky to have 3 tables to do what we were wanting. From the bottom up we had:

• Music
• Bookmarks where you could get your name written in katakana
• Commemorative Photos. Basically we take a picture of you in kimono, or not, and photoshop you next to Godzilla or some cool landscaping
• We also had an area you could look at origami of some Godzilla’s
• Finally we were able to have a TV where we showed Anime and Japanese Drama’s all day

It was a lot of fun. I would say about half of the people that showed up were Japanese and I have a few good and one terrifying experience of speaking Japanese from the event, but that is for another time. Lots of good people, good food, and fun atmosphere you really couldn’t have gone wrong with the event.

Plot

Shion no Ō centers around a young junior-high school girl named Shion Yasuoka who witnesses the murder of her parents as a child. At the time of the murder, the killer takes the king piece from her father’s shogi board. This leads her to believe that the murderer may be a shogi player. The shock of the incident renders Shion unable to speak, forcing her to communicate by writing on a pad. After being adopted by her neighbors, the Yasuoka family, Shion takes up the game herself, both for the love of the game and to possibly learn who killed her parents.

Opinion

I have never watched a board game based anime so this was a first, and I must say it was a lot of fun to watch. The concept is kind of odd I mean who wants to watch an anime about a board game. However, they have to create a great story/drama if they want to keep people engaged in the show. I think that is just what they did. They have a good amount of tension and actually get you interested in shogi enough to feel emotion with moves.

I liked the idea behind the main story where in order to find Shions parents killer she had to become the best Shogi player. I am a huge fan of anime about the main character comeing from behind and kicking some butt. Honestly, if you haven’t watched anime about a board game before I recommend this one. Actually I recommend this one in general.

Images

Shion no Ou images for more visit the flickr set (Shion no Ou flickr set)