I know it's a little early, but hey, at this time, Japan's already rung in the new year, sooooo...
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu*!! :D
Seriously, though, I'm thinking back to when this blog first started... that was about 10 months ago. I know the going's been pretty slow, but please bear with me.
Well, with that said, may all of you have a fantastic start to the new year, and,
Minna-san,
Sayounara!
P.S. I've updated the Glossary with more "rough English equivalent" pronunciations.
2011/12/31
2011/12/25
Joy to the World
Minna-san, with wishes and prayers for hope, joy, and peace, Merry Christmas.
Until later (soon, I hope),
Sayounara!
Until later (soon, I hope),
Sayounara!
2011/12/16
Almost There...
Minna-san, konbanwa!
So for a little update, I've got a little more ways to go before I finish my project, but hopefully afterward I'll have more time for working on reviews. But just to let you know, I haven't forgotten this blog... so please don't go thinking that I've left it for good.
Also (and I'll have to get around to writing a review for this) I have started reading the series La Corda d'Oro (and watching it; almost done with the anime) and I would definitely give a recommendation for it. It's a lovely series. Personally, I prefer the manga to the anime, but because it's a series about music, the anime is good in that respect. So hopefully some day in the future I'll be able to post a review, and for those who'd rather just watch it without the review, it's available on Crunchyroll. However, if you're like me, you could probably look for it at your local library (like I did); not only was the DVD not in high demand, but there were 13 episodes per disc set (as it was released here in America by Sentai Filmworks), the image quality was excellent, and best of all was that there were no commercials :D But yeah, I want to review that series.
Anyways, just a quick update for now, to let you know I haven't forgotten about this blog. With that said,
Minna-san, sayounara!
P.S. I've also been playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword lately; they weren't kidding when they were saying they wanted to make it the best Zelda ever. It's fantastic.
So for a little update, I've got a little more ways to go before I finish my project, but hopefully afterward I'll have more time for working on reviews. But just to let you know, I haven't forgotten this blog... so please don't go thinking that I've left it for good.
Also (and I'll have to get around to writing a review for this) I have started reading the series La Corda d'Oro (and watching it; almost done with the anime) and I would definitely give a recommendation for it. It's a lovely series. Personally, I prefer the manga to the anime, but because it's a series about music, the anime is good in that respect. So hopefully some day in the future I'll be able to post a review, and for those who'd rather just watch it without the review, it's available on Crunchyroll. However, if you're like me, you could probably look for it at your local library (like I did); not only was the DVD not in high demand, but there were 13 episodes per disc set (as it was released here in America by Sentai Filmworks), the image quality was excellent, and best of all was that there were no commercials :D But yeah, I want to review that series.
Anyways, just a quick update for now, to let you know I haven't forgotten about this blog. With that said,
Minna-san, sayounara!
P.S. I've also been playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword lately; they weren't kidding when they were saying they wanted to make it the best Zelda ever. It's fantastic.
2011/11/01
A Preview of Things to Come (Eventually)
Konbanwa, minna-san.
Originally, this post was about how until I finish a project I would be banning myself from reading manga, watching anime, and playing video games. Well, that was a rather brash and hasty decision on my part, so I've since dropped it. And I've gone back to change this post. But while the post may be different, I will still share with you a little about the title I will be reviewing next: GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class [manga] by Satoko Kiyuzuki (written on the book as "Kiyuduki").
It's a series based on the lives of five high school art students (most of the time; sometimes it focuses on another group at the school somehow sometimes related to the main five) and the daily happenings. Yes, it's much like Azumanga Daioh and Lucky*Star (and any other show that adopts this formula) but in this case, I would say that it works. It's similar, but definitely tries to stand out. And another thing: while there's a character in both Azumanga Daioh and GA that has "Tomo" in her name (not to mention with a similar kind of wild, brash personality), I just find that Tomokane (from GA) is a lot nicer than Tomo Takino (from Azumanga Daioh). Tomokane may be crazy and bursting at the seams with energy (and fight), but she definitely cares about her friends. Tomo... well, I really couldn't say with her. It just seems like she enjoys tormenting her friends.
Hopefully, I'll finally be able to get around to finishing the review for this. On the plus side, I recently learned that Crunchyroll is streaming the episodes of the GA anime, so, if you'll excuse the pun, "color" me thrilled. I'll have to do a review for that (though I'm sure with a few exceptions, it'll be remarkably similar :P).
Anyways, with all of that said,
Minna-san,
Sayounara!
Originally, this post was about how until I finish a project I would be banning myself from reading manga, watching anime, and playing video games. Well, that was a rather brash and hasty decision on my part, so I've since dropped it. And I've gone back to change this post. But while the post may be different, I will still share with you a little about the title I will be reviewing next: GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class [manga] by Satoko Kiyuzuki (written on the book as "Kiyuduki").
It's a series based on the lives of five high school art students (most of the time; sometimes it focuses on another group at the school somehow sometimes related to the main five) and the daily happenings. Yes, it's much like Azumanga Daioh and Lucky*Star (and any other show that adopts this formula) but in this case, I would say that it works. It's similar, but definitely tries to stand out. And another thing: while there's a character in both Azumanga Daioh and GA that has "Tomo" in her name (not to mention with a similar kind of wild, brash personality), I just find that Tomokane (from GA) is a lot nicer than Tomo Takino (from Azumanga Daioh). Tomokane may be crazy and bursting at the seams with energy (and fight), but she definitely cares about her friends. Tomo... well, I really couldn't say with her. It just seems like she enjoys tormenting her friends.
Hopefully, I'll finally be able to get around to finishing the review for this. On the plus side, I recently learned that Crunchyroll is streaming the episodes of the GA anime, so, if you'll excuse the pun, "color" me thrilled. I'll have to do a review for that (though I'm sure with a few exceptions, it'll be remarkably similar :P).
Anyways, with all of that said,
Minna-san,
Sayounara!
2011/08/31
No, I Haven't Forgotten...
...it's just that with summer, internship, and graduation... yeah, no excuses. I know. Well, with that one series that I'm working on, I'm just about 1/3 of the way there. I should probably get working on that this afternoon.
On some other notes, I've recently begun playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess after seeing my brother play it, and I must say, this is definitely a pretty interesting game. In fact, I think that I am actually starting to become a Legend of Zelda fan. Yeah, this from the girl who thought she'd never really be into fantasy. Kind of lulz-worthy, considering that I'm also writing fantasy novels right now XD But more on that at a later date.
Then there was the series I had to stop reading recently... it was such a wonderful story, up to a point. I mean, as a period piece romantic drama, yes, it was wonderful, but throwing in gratuitous nudity was certainly a misstep on the part of the manga artist, I feel. Totally unnecessary. And drove me away from even opening one of the later books to find out how the story ends.
But! On a more pleasant note, I've got a series that I really do recommend if you're looking for something nice. While I borrowed the DVDs from the library and thus don't own the series yet, the Aria series (the Animation, the Natural, and the like, NOT Aria the Scarlet Ammo; please don't get the two confused, because I'm not sure what the other series is about!) is beautiful, relaxing, and brought many a smile to my face. It's set in the distant future and is about a young girl who wants to become a gondolier on terraformed Mars, now called Aqua because it's practically covered in water. Kind of out there, yes, but it's still a lovely series. I still haven't seen Aria: the Origination yet (the third and final season), but that'll come in due time.
But! On a more pleasant note, I've got a series that I really do recommend if you're looking for something nice. While I borrowed the DVDs from the library and thus don't own the series yet, the Aria series (the Animation, the Natural, and the like, NOT Aria the Scarlet Ammo; please don't get the two confused, because I'm not sure what the other series is about!) is beautiful, relaxing, and brought many a smile to my face. It's set in the distant future and is about a young girl who wants to become a gondolier on terraformed Mars, now called Aqua because it's practically covered in water. Kind of out there, yes, but it's still a lovely series. I still haven't seen Aria: the Origination yet (the third and final season), but that'll come in due time.
Well, anyways, I've got a few things I've got to work on before I continue reviewing that other series. With that,
Minna-san,
Sayounara!
Minna-san,
Sayounara!
2011/07/01
WOOOOOT!!!
Guys, great news!
According to what my brother read on GoNintendo, Viz Media announced at Anime Expo 2011 that they've picked up the rights to bring the movie Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva stateside!!! :D I'm ecstatic right now, seeing as I've been waiting for this announcement for months. Details are really scarce, and as it's Viz, I have no clue if they'll try to release it in theaters, but hey, just being able to see the movie is good enough for me. Hope they get the game's voice cast (I don't know if the Singapore release did); the in-game cutscenes really just made those games special so keeping with the games would probably be best. But here's me just speculating! We'll see what else is announced in the future. And you can be sure that when my brother and I can get a copy of the movie, I'll be sure to review it ^_^
And the funny part is that I just wrote about wanting to see the movie brought stateside like TWO DAYS AGO. God really listens when you talk, even if you don't think what you're saying is important. God is concerned with your cares, no matter how small you think they are.
As for One Piece, not much said at FUNi's industry panel. We're guessing that they're saving some big announcement for Otakon, but I don't want to get my hopes up like I did for the other conventions they didn't announce anything at. Unfortunately for me, I keep getting my hopes up without wanting to do so in the first place... but at least there's the Layton announcement to tide me over for quite a while ^_^
So yeah, just so excited, so I had to share. With that, have a fantastic night, and minna-san,
Sayounara! ^_^
According to what my brother read on GoNintendo, Viz Media announced at Anime Expo 2011 that they've picked up the rights to bring the movie Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva stateside!!! :D I'm ecstatic right now, seeing as I've been waiting for this announcement for months. Details are really scarce, and as it's Viz, I have no clue if they'll try to release it in theaters, but hey, just being able to see the movie is good enough for me. Hope they get the game's voice cast (I don't know if the Singapore release did); the in-game cutscenes really just made those games special so keeping with the games would probably be best. But here's me just speculating! We'll see what else is announced in the future. And you can be sure that when my brother and I can get a copy of the movie, I'll be sure to review it ^_^
And the funny part is that I just wrote about wanting to see the movie brought stateside like TWO DAYS AGO. God really listens when you talk, even if you don't think what you're saying is important. God is concerned with your cares, no matter how small you think they are.
As for One Piece, not much said at FUNi's industry panel. We're guessing that they're saving some big announcement for Otakon, but I don't want to get my hopes up like I did for the other conventions they didn't announce anything at. Unfortunately for me, I keep getting my hopes up without wanting to do so in the first place... but at least there's the Layton announcement to tide me over for quite a while ^_^
So yeah, just so excited, so I had to share. With that, have a fantastic night, and minna-san,
Sayounara! ^_^
2011/06/29
A Missed Opportunity
Minna-san, konbanwa*.
Just feel like saying this: I'm really not happy that Capcom decided to not bring Ace Attorney Investigations 2 over from Japan. Granted, they said it's because the first game didn't sell well enough (and I can understand that from a business standpoint), but it's a really bummer for me, because I was really looking forward to it. It would have been an instant day one purchase for me, and because I don't usually buy games the first day they come out, this game was something special. So thanks, Capcom; you just lost my $30 (not much in the grand scheme of things, but there are likely others who aren't happy either).
Looks like if I want the game now, I'm going to have to import it (handy that the DS and its games don't have region lock, huh? :D Not so with the newer systems, though). Not that it's really a problem, it's just that 1) Japanese DS games are typically more expensive, and with the dollar/yen ratio at around 1.00/80, maybe more so (I'd have to check XE.com); and 2) The entire thing's in Japanese. Yeah, duh, I know, but for those of you not familiar with the Ace Attorney series, it's a "visual novel" type game. In other words, you've got text coming out of your ears. Granted, it would be an excellent language study, but it'll take me a while to complete it (and a dictionary with kanji lookup; I wouldn't be able to play it when I'm not around a computer with internet). Ah, well. Maybe someone should start a petition or something. Or if more people would buy the first game and give it a try, maybe we could get somewhere.
Hopefully this won't have anything to do with that new Phoenix Wright live-action movie; if they go by the sales for the recent games, we may never see it. Heck, I'm still waiting for Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, and the games in that series sold really well as far as I know.
As for the review I'm still working on, I need to finish book one before I get out and complete the other two books. It's a 4koma*, so it could take a little bit.
Well, with that, you all have a good evening. Minna-san,
Sayounara!
2011/06/15
Of Media in General
Minna-san, ohayo gozaimasu*!
Yeah, another update, I know... but I do have a review I'm hoping to have finished soon ^_^ So sit tight; you'll likely be seeing it within the next few weeks. That said, it's unfortunately not an anime review (though that may be the third one I get up?), but it's still what I'd call a great series nonetheless (there is an anime for it, though it's unlicensed in America as of now... I'd buy it if it came out here, though).
Also, my radio internship is up and running. It seems that it'll be keeping me rather busy for the next several weeks, but it's fun, particularly when I have to set up and monitor broadcast shows. The station is called Radio Maria; you can find it online at www.radiomaria.us (for America), so if you can, please check it out sometime ^_^ We'd all appreciate it.
Also, my radio internship is up and running. It seems that it'll be keeping me rather busy for the next several weeks, but it's fun, particularly when I have to set up and monitor broadcast shows. The station is called Radio Maria; you can find it online at www.radiomaria.us (for America), so if you can, please check it out sometime ^_^ We'd all appreciate it.
With that,
Minna-san, sayounara! ^_^
2011/05/20
Hooray for... Overachieving?
Tonight, I was inspired to create a list of all the anime and manga that I wanted to review. So that's what I did... and wow; so far, there are 33 tentative (and published) reviews on it o_o Some of them I'm not going to complete for quite some time, but hopefully, I'll get around to it eventually. This is a hobby, after all... just like crocheting...
Anyways, some of the items are naturally going to take a while. Like One Piece. But not just because it's a long, as of yet unfinished series. It's mostly because there's not only so much of it out there, but also because there's so much that hasn't been brought to America yet. I'd like to just stick with what's been made commercially available here (even if it's out of print). Anyways, when FUNimation releases more of the anime, I'll be able to review it. Right now, the most I could do is the manga, up to volume 56. And there's no way I'm going to cram everything into one review. That's why for the manga, I'm splitting the reviews up by story arc/saga. As for the anime, I'll be going by the number of episodes in the big box sets (the first one, with episodes 1-26, is set to come out in late July).
Thankfully, the end of the quarter is around the corner. All I have to do is just motivate myself to write a long paper, and the rest of the work shouldn't be too bad.
Well, with that said, have a good weekend, and as always,
Minna-san, sayounara!
Anyways, some of the items are naturally going to take a while. Like One Piece. But not just because it's a long, as of yet unfinished series. It's mostly because there's not only so much of it out there, but also because there's so much that hasn't been brought to America yet. I'd like to just stick with what's been made commercially available here (even if it's out of print). Anyways, when FUNimation releases more of the anime, I'll be able to review it. Right now, the most I could do is the manga, up to volume 56. And there's no way I'm going to cram everything into one review. That's why for the manga, I'm splitting the reviews up by story arc/saga. As for the anime, I'll be going by the number of episodes in the big box sets (the first one, with episodes 1-26, is set to come out in late July).
Thankfully, the end of the quarter is around the corner. All I have to do is just motivate myself to write a long paper, and the rest of the work shouldn't be too bad.
Well, with that said, have a good weekend, and as always,
Minna-san, sayounara!
2011/05/09
*Distant Rumbling*
Hey.
As for right now, things have been kind of quiet on the review front. I'm currently waiting on the last three volumes of Oishinbo, so there'll be something to read once my school schedule dies down a bit.
Frankly, though, I'd like to take this opportunity to gripe about something, if I may. I'm not completely sure who those well-meaning people were, but if they said School Rumble was "surprisingly clean," well, heh heh, CLEAN IT AIN'T.
And I had been wondering why the first part of the series was rated TV-PG while there was some dispute between the ratings for the second season (one part of season 2 said TV-MA while the complete season 2 set said TV-PG)... anyways, it's not that it's explicit or anything... it's just that the dialogue's getting too risqué. Baka* Imadori and all his like-minded pals... I had thought the love triangle with Harima, Tenma, and Karasuma was funny and cute, but it's marred by their pervy classmates... and other off-color comments from various people.
So until further notice, I'm not watching the rest of the episodes in that series. Not that I was planning on reviewing it, but let's face it: while it's not the worst sexual offender of anime, it certainly isn't an innocent, sparkly-eyed schoolgirl of an anime either. And I really liked the unpredictable nature of some of the jokes early on (like the message-shot-by-bow incident of episode 3, for those of you who know what I'm talking about). I may go back and watch the earlier, cleaner episodes though, for old time's sake (or language studies, whatever).
I can't get past episode 2 of Full Metal Panic?! Fumoffu either. The first two were really good, but I'm worried about what could come afterwards.
Anyways, for now,
Sayounara, minna-san.
(BTW, the asterisk in the post above? Yeah, that word appears in the glossary, just in case.)
As for right now, things have been kind of quiet on the review front. I'm currently waiting on the last three volumes of Oishinbo, so there'll be something to read once my school schedule dies down a bit.
Frankly, though, I'd like to take this opportunity to gripe about something, if I may. I'm not completely sure who those well-meaning people were, but if they said School Rumble was "surprisingly clean," well, heh heh, CLEAN IT AIN'T.
And I had been wondering why the first part of the series was rated TV-PG while there was some dispute between the ratings for the second season (one part of season 2 said TV-MA while the complete season 2 set said TV-PG)... anyways, it's not that it's explicit or anything... it's just that the dialogue's getting too risqué. Baka* Imadori and all his like-minded pals... I had thought the love triangle with Harima, Tenma, and Karasuma was funny and cute, but it's marred by their pervy classmates... and other off-color comments from various people.
So until further notice, I'm not watching the rest of the episodes in that series. Not that I was planning on reviewing it, but let's face it: while it's not the worst sexual offender of anime, it certainly isn't an innocent, sparkly-eyed schoolgirl of an anime either. And I really liked the unpredictable nature of some of the jokes early on (like the message-shot-by-bow incident of episode 3, for those of you who know what I'm talking about). I may go back and watch the earlier, cleaner episodes though, for old time's sake (or language studies, whatever).
I can't get past episode 2 of Full Metal Panic?! Fumoffu either. The first two were really good, but I'm worried about what could come afterwards.
Anyways, for now,
Sayounara, minna-san.
(BTW, the asterisk in the post above? Yeah, that word appears in the glossary, just in case.)
2011/05/02
Randomness
Well, I hope you've all had a good weekend, and hopefully liked (or at least were mildly interested in) the first review. It's kind of weird, but I actually feel kind of inspired to finish the collection (well, the American one, anyways, as the Japanese collection is much larger, as far as I know), so you'll likely be seeing more Oishinbo reviews in the future.
Also, HTML was being a pain in the butt when I tried to post the review. Note to self: drag-and-drop reviews out of Word directly into the HTML window to avoid formatting issues. I should also probably learn more about HTML when I get the chance.
Also, I played and finished Portal 2 over the weekend. Honestly, it was really interesting. Frustrated the heck out of me a couple of times (didn't know what to do for a few of those puzzles at first), but it felt so good once I actually found a solution to those puzzles ^_^ I haven't played the first game, since I watched my brother when he played through it (he bought both games at the same time; we were only somewhat familiar with the series beforehand... you know, "the cake is a lie" and all that), but that's all right.
And I can't help but repeat myself (only insofar as I've said this in the real world): I can feel that things are changing. There's no doubt about it. We need to be praying because things are getting really serious, and life as we know it is about to change. Don't know when. Just know. And the same goes for a lot of people; I'm sure many of them can sense it as well. It's actually a kind of unsettling feeling, really. I know I'm feeling it now. But all I can do is just live out my everyday life, doing the best I can.
Anyways, on to the topic of other reviews: I've mentioned Summer Wars, so I'll need to watch it through subtitled and once more in English and then hopefully I'll get a review up for that (my homework schedule went through a slight lull but is about to pick up a bit again, so we'll see what happens). As noted before, keep an eye out for more Oishinbo in the future, and I'll be working on reviews for Mixed Vegetables and the Bakuman volumes as well. I can't explain it, but the majority of my manga collection is from Viz... and this doesn't even include One Piece (which my brother buys... but I'll probably have to buy it once I move out), one of my favorites. Oh well.
With that, I hope to be working on more reviews soon when homework gets a little quieter. For now,
Sayounara! ^_^
Also, HTML was being a pain in the butt when I tried to post the review. Note to self: drag-and-drop reviews out of Word directly into the HTML window to avoid formatting issues. I should also probably learn more about HTML when I get the chance.
Also, I played and finished Portal 2 over the weekend. Honestly, it was really interesting. Frustrated the heck out of me a couple of times (didn't know what to do for a few of those puzzles at first), but it felt so good once I actually found a solution to those puzzles ^_^ I haven't played the first game, since I watched my brother when he played through it (he bought both games at the same time; we were only somewhat familiar with the series beforehand... you know, "the cake is a lie" and all that), but that's all right.
And I can't help but repeat myself (only insofar as I've said this in the real world): I can feel that things are changing. There's no doubt about it. We need to be praying because things are getting really serious, and life as we know it is about to change. Don't know when. Just know. And the same goes for a lot of people; I'm sure many of them can sense it as well. It's actually a kind of unsettling feeling, really. I know I'm feeling it now. But all I can do is just live out my everyday life, doing the best I can.
Anyways, on to the topic of other reviews: I've mentioned Summer Wars, so I'll need to watch it through subtitled and once more in English and then hopefully I'll get a review up for that (my homework schedule went through a slight lull but is about to pick up a bit again, so we'll see what happens). As noted before, keep an eye out for more Oishinbo in the future, and I'll be working on reviews for Mixed Vegetables and the Bakuman volumes as well. I can't explain it, but the majority of my manga collection is from Viz... and this doesn't even include One Piece (which my brother buys... but I'll probably have to buy it once I move out), one of my favorites. Oh well.
With that, I hope to be working on more reviews soon when homework gets a little quieter. For now,
Sayounara! ^_^
2011/04/28
Oishinbo - Sake
Title: Oishinbo: Sake*Author: Tetsu Kariya (story) and Akira Hanasaki (art)
Publisher: VIZ Media
Rated/My Recommended Rating: T for Teen (+13)/+20 (I'LL EXPLAIN BELOW)
Synopsis: "...[A] fascinating, addictive journey through the world of cooking and food culture," as the book's back says, Oishinbo follows Shirō Yamaoka of the Tōzai News Company as he works to put together a project called the “Ultimate Menu.” As he and his coworkers progress, they deal with trial after trial, be it through trouble caused by a rival news company, or through the difficulty of finding the perfect appetizer. In the Sake volume, Yamaoka and others discover, among other things, just how unique and amazing sake is, and how it works well with a number of foods.
Review: As this was the first Oishinbo book I read, it was a great way to start out the series. Granted, the chapters are not presented in the consecutively published order (as each book contains stories relating to a specific topic), so you may have a skip in the plot (for example, two characters could be dating, and then in the next chapter, they’re married, as that chapter’s in a different book), but the book does a fairly decent job of filling in the blanks when you have a skip like that. This book is very educational, and as someone only recently ushered into the world of alcoholic beverages, it told me a lot about sake, and a little about wine and champagne as well. Additionally, there are translator’s notes in the back of the book to clarify just about any topic that readers may be unfamiliar with. I would recommend this for those (obviously) near or over 21, but the content itself isn’t so bad that a teenager wouldn’t be able to handle it. I’d only recommend it for older people because the book portrays alcoholic beverages in a positive light, and while that’s not bad per se, I endorse responsible drinking according to state and local laws…responsible parental discretion is also endorsed (as drinking ages vary or could even be non-existent depending on where you live).
Positive Messages: One could argue that this interest in finding amazing food and beverages could implicitly be extolling all the wonderful things that God has given us to eat and drink. Since Jesus Himself drank wine at parties, it’s safe to say that we can enjoy alcoholic beverages as well, provided we’re responsible with them and follow local laws and whatnot. Additionally, while Yamaoka tends to seem abrasive at first, he really has people’s best interests at heart, and wants to help them when he’s one of the few people, if not the only one, who can see both the problem and its solution clearly in a given situation. One man learns that perseverance is important, and should be applied to not only one aspect of one’s life.
Spiritual Content: There is talk of “respecting” food and drink. One character relates the “spirit” of a country to the “spirits”, or liquor, it produces. Dom Pérignon, the monk believed to have invented the method for making champagne, is mentioned.
Violence: There’s not much violence as the series focuses on food, but what is there is for the most part slapstick in nature, usually in retaliation for someone saying or doing something insulting or smart-alecky.
Language: “D---” and the misspelling “d-mm-t” appear once each. Milder language includes “heck,” “bull,” and “for Pete’s sake.” One character tells another to “stop screwing around” (in this case meaning “stop joking around”). There’s also name-calling, and insults are slung about as well.
Sexual Content: Yamaoka, in jest, says that people are only interested in women when the women are still young. In a written section, the author says that one man, made generous by drinking, offered him his wife as a gift.
Nudity: In a photorealistic panel, a shirtless man is seen from the back, making sake.
Drugs/Alcohol: Well, this volume, while in the culinary realm, focuses on a bevy of alcoholic beverages, be it the book’s namesake, sake (called Nihonshu, or “Japan’s drink”, in Japan… as we find out in the book), wine, or even champagne. That was sort of a “duh” statement. Anyways, some characters are seen drunk (one in particular is an alcoholic and another is practically in a state of constant drunkenness), but it’s not really portrayed in a positive light. In one case, heavy drinking was implied, but in a humorous manner. Also, hangovers are mentioned.
Other Negative Content: A few scenes involve sake-tasting, and, while it’s necessary in any type of alcohol-tasting event to avoid getting drunk, I personally feel that spitting out the sake was wasteful. Not a major complaint, and it could just be me who thinks this way, but I thought it was worth a mention. The waste generated by higher-quality sake is brought up. Corporate corruption is also discussed.
Yamaoka, while he’s a good and intelligent person, is quite brash and can get rather rude and defiant at times, particularly when it comes to his father.
One character expresses the desire to go to a sake brewery and taste all of its sake varieties, even though, as one character points out, she’s apparently pregnant.
2011/04/24
Happy Easter!
As the title says, happy Easter, everyone! May God bless you and your families ^_^
Minna-san, sayounara!
P.S. I'm almost done with that review; please be patient with me as school may hamper its progress.
Minna-san, sayounara!
P.S. I'm almost done with that review; please be patient with me as school may hamper its progress.
2011/04/22
Good Friday Update
Minna-san, konnichiwa!
I apologize for the lack of reviews; I've got a handful of them started, but school has been really demanding lately. HOWEVER, I plan to take Easter Sunday off, so hopefully you'll find a review as an Easter gift here ^_^
With that said, the first review up will probably be "Oishinbo: Sake." I know it's not a really new manga, but it's really interesting (at least, I think it is). Also, I recently saw Summer Wars and bought a copy, so I'll probably do a review for that one, too.
If anything, Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is probably going to take the longest, considering that I've only really rewatched the first episode in my rewatch session, and there are 203 episodes in total ^///^ Yeah... that'll take a while.
Anyways, have a blessed (and safe) Triduum, and for all my Jewish brothers and sisters out there, have a blessed Passover. As for tomorrow, I'm planning on going to the Easter Vigil Mass, like I usually do. It's just amazing ^_^
Sayounara!
I apologize for the lack of reviews; I've got a handful of them started, but school has been really demanding lately. HOWEVER, I plan to take Easter Sunday off, so hopefully you'll find a review as an Easter gift here ^_^
With that said, the first review up will probably be "Oishinbo: Sake." I know it's not a really new manga, but it's really interesting (at least, I think it is). Also, I recently saw Summer Wars and bought a copy, so I'll probably do a review for that one, too.
If anything, Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is probably going to take the longest, considering that I've only really rewatched the first episode in my rewatch session, and there are 203 episodes in total ^///^ Yeah... that'll take a while.
Anyways, have a blessed (and safe) Triduum, and for all my Jewish brothers and sisters out there, have a blessed Passover. As for tomorrow, I'm planning on going to the Easter Vigil Mass, like I usually do. It's just amazing ^_^
Sayounara!
2011/03/12
Japan and the Earthquake
I know I didn't write about this sooner, but beyond the shadow of a doubt, I'm sure you've heard of the massive earthquake that hit Japan yesterday. Please pray for all the people involved, be they in the country or out; you know I'll be praying for them as well.
God bless you all, and God bless the Japanese people. For now, minna-san, sayounara.
P.S. I'm still working on the reviews; in fact, I've got two right now (the newest one being the manga "Mixed Vegetables," but given that it's a completed series and eight volumes long, it could take a bit. This is because I'm not really a fast reader ^_^U)
God bless you all, and God bless the Japanese people. For now, minna-san, sayounara.
P.S. I'm still working on the reviews; in fact, I've got two right now (the newest one being the manga "Mixed Vegetables," but given that it's a completed series and eight volumes long, it could take a bit. This is because I'm not really a fast reader ^_^U)
2011/02/28
Not Alone...?
Minna-san, konnichiwa! (Everyone, hello!)
I know this may be kind of a "duh" statement, but I've just now realized I'm not the only one with the "CelestialSushi" moniker on the internet. A year or so ago? Yeah, maybe... but now? Certainly not. It's amazing what you'll find on Google... especially considering that I don't talk the way the other CelestialSushi does o_o Nor do I have any art accounts with the exception of Flickr.
Currently, I'm working on one review: "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!" or "Home Tutor Hitman Reborn!" or just "Reborn!" depending on your title preference. I haven't seen a content review on this show yet (I'll be reviewing the anime rather than the manga), so I figured I'll do the first. Also, as I've seen the whole anime (ignoring the recaps during the 203 episodes), I figure it'd be good to go through it once more (it's available free and legal on Crunchyroll), just to make sure I don't miss any notable content to add to the review. Actually, it was my brother's idea to watch it again, so kudos to CaptainHypersock ^_^ With that said, it's gonna be a while before that review is up, so please be patient. I'll try to work on another review in the meantime (most likely a manga), so hopefully that can be the first review.
Also, I find it a little annoying that the "Total Pageviews" counter on the bottom is registering every time I switch pages while I'm editing... this blog isn't that popular! >_< Oh well.
Sayounara!
I know this may be kind of a "duh" statement, but I've just now realized I'm not the only one with the "CelestialSushi" moniker on the internet. A year or so ago? Yeah, maybe... but now? Certainly not. It's amazing what you'll find on Google... especially considering that I don't talk the way the other CelestialSushi does o_o Nor do I have any art accounts with the exception of Flickr.
Currently, I'm working on one review: "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!" or "Home Tutor Hitman Reborn!" or just "Reborn!" depending on your title preference. I haven't seen a content review on this show yet (I'll be reviewing the anime rather than the manga), so I figured I'll do the first. Also, as I've seen the whole anime (ignoring the recaps during the 203 episodes), I figure it'd be good to go through it once more (it's available free and legal on Crunchyroll), just to make sure I don't miss any notable content to add to the review. Actually, it was my brother's idea to watch it again, so kudos to CaptainHypersock ^_^ With that said, it's gonna be a while before that review is up, so please be patient. I'll try to work on another review in the meantime (most likely a manga), so hopefully that can be the first review.
Also, I find it a little annoying that the "Total Pageviews" counter on the bottom is registering every time I switch pages while I'm editing... this blog isn't that popular! >_< Oh well.
Sayounara!
2011/02/21
Irasshaimase!
To all those who have found this blog, irasshaimase! (This is the way they welcome customers to shops in Japan.)
As a fan of Japanese culture, I can say that this will be a fun endeavor for me; I enjoy watching anime and reading manga, and when I find something I really like, I feel like I want to share it with someone.
That said, updates will be sporadic, depending on if and when I watch/read something new. Naturally, manga will have one post per volume if it's a newer series still being released (or if I haven't gotten around to collecting/reading all the volumes XD), but older completed series will have one post for its entirety. I think the same could go for anime as well; older anime fully released will be on a per-series basis (e.g. sequel or spin-off series will have separate reviews), and newer anime (like simulcasts) will be reviewed on a per-episode basis.
That said, I hope to release my first review soon, and I hope you will enjoy reading it. Reviews will have my opinions about whatever I watched/read, a section for possibly objectionable content, and a bit on whether or not I would recommend it.
Minna-san, sayounara! (Everyone, good-bye!)
As a fan of Japanese culture, I can say that this will be a fun endeavor for me; I enjoy watching anime and reading manga, and when I find something I really like, I feel like I want to share it with someone.
That said, updates will be sporadic, depending on if and when I watch/read something new. Naturally, manga will have one post per volume if it's a newer series still being released (or if I haven't gotten around to collecting/reading all the volumes XD), but older completed series will have one post for its entirety. I think the same could go for anime as well; older anime fully released will be on a per-series basis (e.g. sequel or spin-off series will have separate reviews), and newer anime (like simulcasts) will be reviewed on a per-episode basis.
That said, I hope to release my first review soon, and I hope you will enjoy reading it. Reviews will have my opinions about whatever I watched/read, a section for possibly objectionable content, and a bit on whether or not I would recommend it.
Minna-san, sayounara! (Everyone, good-bye!)
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