Sunday, May 30, 2010

Time for some noodles! (ヌードルの時間やで!)

Well. Today, dear readers, we are trying a new vein entirely.

That's right, it's cooking time with Edo.

Whip out your aprons and jaunty chef hats, everyone; we're about to hit the kitchen.

On the menu today is the seasonally appropriate...

ざるそば (zaru soba, chilled soba noodles with dipping sauce)



Ok, so, technically, NOT ざるそば, as we are not all supplied like 和食 (washoku, Japanese food) restaurants, and thus do not have fancy-schmancy bamboo draining baskets to put our noodles on (and thus no ざる).

No, we commoners just plop them right in the bowl and slurp 'em straight like the peasants we are.

Ours will probably look a lot more like this:



a la コンビニ (conbini, convenience store). Minus, you know, the neat little plastic tray.

...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let's see how decently I can mimic a cookbook format, shall we?

So, ingredients.

- soba noodles (as much as you'd care to prepare)
- one half-sheet of nori (give or take)
- soba tsuyu (basically, soba sauce, we'll talk about it later)
- scallions (to taste)


First, you want to boil some water, and cook the soba noodles to your desired doneness. There should be a minute guesstimate on the package somewhere--even if you foolishly bought a package that only has instructions in a language you don't understand, it's a safe bet they stuck with the Arabic numeral system, so just look for something along the lines of "7-8" and make your assumptions from there.

Once they are done, remove the noodles from the boiling water IMMEDIATELY and run them under some cold water. The best way to do this is by using a strainer or colander of some kind, and having an assistant dump the noodles in for you so you don't strain your poor back.

Now, you can keep running them in cool water until they chill down enough for your tastes, but I'm impatient, and usually put my noodles in a bowl of ice water. It works wonders, though I'm sure that traditional chefs are scoffing at me as I speak.

While you're waiting for your noodles to cool down, start fixing up your tsuyu. Now, you can make this stuff yourself (recipe provided here, at the very nice Just Hungry blog), but I prefer to just buy it from the store. Because, hey, it's right there, and pretty darn tasty. (Admittedly, you will need an Asian supermarket, or even better, a Japanese supermarket, for this to work.) If you're going to store-bought route, check your bottle. If it says ストレート or straight, you shouldn't need to water it down (though I would do a little taste testing before you go dousing your noodles in the stuff), and honestly, I've never seen the other kind, but make sure you check. The last thing you want it a pile of ruined noodles because you put the super-duper heavy-duty concentrated stuff on.

Now, you can fix your tsuyu one of two ways: the first is to make a "dipping dish," and place your tsuyu and toppings in a small bowl to dip your noodles in as you eat. Traditional, yes. Messy and more dishes for you to clean? Also yes. However, if you are a soba newbie, I would recommend this method, as you're probably not yet certain how much tsuyu you want. Pour some tsuyu out into your designated dipping dish, then take your nori, fold and cut it up into small slivers (I like kitchen shears for this), and either wait to place it on top of the noodles for maximum crunchiness, or place it in the dipping dish if you're only after the flavor and can live without so much of the texture. Do the same with the scallions (finely sliced), if you care to; I never do, and always gave my little scallion packet to Debs when we got out cheap コンビニそば.

The second way is to fix your tsuyu a la コンビニ. Wait until your noodles are cooled, drain them THOROUGHLY (you don't want any water in there diluting flavors), then just dump the desire amount of tsuyu right on top of your noodles (this works best if you're using a bowl.) You see why I don't recommend it for beginners? The worst part is that the tsuyu disappears under the noodles; you don't really know how much you have except by memory and guesstimation. Again, cut up the nori (and possibly scallions) and sprinkle them on top of the soba. Unless you're serving it to others, prettiness is not an issue.

Now, if you're using the "dipping dish," eating can be a little messy, especially if you're not too skilled with the chopsticks (hmmm, maybe I should re-think recommending it for the newbies...). Take a mouthful of noodles, dunk them into your tsuyu concoction, then slurp away. (Yes, you slurp your noodles in Japan; it is considered polite, and if you don't, people think there's something wrong with you. I know this from experience.)

If you're using my lazy, no-muss-no-fuss method, however, no preparation required. Simply enjoy!

Now, this is, of course, my way. I don't claim that it is the best way, just the way that works for poor little ol' me in my American environment. Other options include the recipe at Just Hungry, the blog I linked to above (linked to again here for your convenience), this one at the Splendid Table (which actually seems a bit pretentious and Western-centric to me, but whatever), or this rather cute one at Web Kids Japan. If you find my recipe lacking in any way, please, feel free to get a second opinion, but do be good enough to leave a comment telling me first. Otherwise, I'll never learn, will I?

This is Edo, signing off whilst fondly remembering sitting on the steps of the Umeda station, slurping コンビニ bought soba and drinking 爽健美茶...

Friday, May 28, 2010

What is it with the vampires... (吸血鬼がどうしたの。。。)

Well, I guess I can only keep up the reputable movie-reviewing posts for so long.

I mean, I don't have time to watch movies every night! What do you people think I am, some sort of fresh college graduate without a day job?

...

...Yeeeeaaa.

Anyway, today we turn once again to the wide world of music.

Or, rather, the more narrow and condensed world of "music Edo likes."

Hey, you read my blog, you get a certain cross-section of Japan. You knew that coming in.

Anyway. Today:

VAMPS



... well, I find them aesthetically pleasing sometimes, so you get two pictures.



Long story short, Hyde, J-rocker of fame, fortune, and remarkably short stature, cannot keep a band for long. I presume that the other members ultimately get sick of his Napoleon complex and kick him out for being an arrogant ass.

... at least, that is my totally unbiased and editorial opinion. Ahem.

From Wikipedia, we have a slightly more... bland description:

VAMPS is the name of the band formed by HYDE (L’Arc~en~Ciel) and K.A.Z (Oblivion Dust). HYDE and K.A.Z have been working together on HYDE’s solo work since 2003. After years of collaboration, the two finally decided to form their own band and agreed that there was no better way to announce VAMPS than getting out in front of the fans right away.


So yay for them, they went on tour. Unfortunately, Hyde is not the best performer when it comes to lives. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea.

I, personally, discovered VAMPS when they did an appearance on MUSIC STATION, performing their new single, I GOTTA KICK START NOW:



I was intrigued. Usually, I am not the biggest fan of Hyde's (or L'arc~en~ciel's, I suppose) music, as I find it too soft. VAMPS, however, has harder, "rockier," feel, which I very much appreciate.

When I listened to the entire album, I found that I rather enjoyed the whole thing, especially the original single, LOVE ADDICT:



Don't ask my why he insists on singing it mostly in English; I couldn't tell you for certain. However, I presume that it has something to do with a more "bad-ass" vibe. Because we all know how bad-ass English is. Although, frankly, I find his pronunciation to be rather impressive; he nails both the hard r's and the l's, both of which are notoriously difficult for those raised with Japanese phonology. His intonation isn't quite right, but hey, cut the guy some slack.

... and definitely don't ask about the vampires. I assume it has to do with the name of the band, of course, but why it had to be so cheesy is beyond me. Sprouting fangs randomly as your shirt blows in the wind is not the manliest thing ever.

(Side-note: I much prefer Hyde with this shorter, straighter hairstyle. Only Kimutaku can pull off the long, auburn curls, sweetheart.)

So, if you're a fan of Hyde, but would prefer a harder, slightly "rockier" version of him, I definitely recommend VAMPS to you. Be forewarned, though, that I am NOT joking around about that; Melon is not a fan specifically because VAMPS are too hard. This isn't just L'arc without the band-mates, kiddies.

... at the same times, it's no Sex Machineguns or Dir en grey either, so don't get your hopes up too high on the other end of things.



I also suspect that VAMPS is Hyde's attempt to prove to the world that he is, in fact, a straight man, despite all evidence to the contrary (just look at that hair, not to mention the giant phallic symbol he's waving all around). Because this video is a little bit ridiculous.

You'd think the wife would have been enough. ...although really, we know it wasn't. After all, a gay man is the ideal husband... (Yes, I have articles that back this opinion up which I had to read ad nauseum for Desire in Japanese Film, and no, I don't agree with it.)

But I digress. I would definitely recommend the band for a quick listen, although I would most certainly NOT suggest getting involved with the fanbase. They get a little miffed when you call Hyde short, for example.

This is Edo, signing off, wondering how many fangirls are currently out for her blood as a consequence of this post...

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Let's hop in the pool! (プールに飛び込もうぜ!)

Well, let it never be said that I stayed on a single track for too long.

Er, well. Too long according to my own standards, anyway.

Today, we return once again to the world of cinema--completely lacking in metal in any way, shape or form. (My grandmother is just thrilled, let me tell you.)

No, no, today's post is enjoyable for the whole family, and indeed recommended for it.



ウォーターボーイズ, or Water Boys, is a movie I had been hearing about for a number of years without really understanding what all the fuss was about. I had conflicting messages--it had to do with synchronized swimming, it had to do with BL, it was hilarious, it was touching, it was the "best movie ever"...

Needless to say, I had to watch it for myself.

Definitely worth anyone's time, let me tell you right now.

The basic plot is that of a young group of "misfits" in an all-boys high school, who are somewhat reluctantly reigned into a synchronized swimming team by a new, cute female teacher. The trick is, she gets them by starting the club as a simple "swimming" club... then has a "mental breakdown" which is only calmed by the students professing that they will do anything she tells them to, and she's a good teacher, really!

Cue the synchronized swimming tapes.

Needless to say, the previously enraptured senior class (presumably; it's a lot of boys) high-tails it, leaving the afore-mentioned "misfits" as the only members.

This may be because our protagonist of sorts was already intrigued by synchronized swimming, having stumbled upon a meet after his own failed attempt at competing in freestyle--he could most certainly be called the ringleader, and it is presumable that the other five stay on because of him.

Then, after everything seems ready to go (with only five members, but かまわない!), that cute female teacher gets sick with baby.

... yes, I could have figured out a better way to say that, but really, it's quite vague. She's not nearly big enough to be going into labor... though there is mention of "eight months," making me wonder if there isn't some premature action going on there.

Needless to say, she is out of the picture, and our five heroes are on their own if they want to continue with the club. Which, after some debate and pussyfooting about, they decide that they do.

Of course, the main two points of conflict and plot development in this film are:

(1) The derision these boys take from doing a traditionally feminine sport.

(2) The difficulties of practicing and becoming good enough for a performance when there are no teachers to be had.

Of course, hilarity ensure, as do some heartwarming moments. The finale is quite satisfying, if a little unbelievable (though admittedly, without a firm grasp of the time frame, I can't really claim that), and I left feeling very good.

I laughed aloud many, many times during this film--definitely good if you're looking for something light-hearted and cute. No surprise deaths here, my friends, no indeed.

As for the BL aspect, it is a very, VERY small part of the movie, represented as sort of an inevitability of all-boy education (something that was brought up in my own discussions with men who had gone through this system as truth.) Don't watch this if you're looking for some hot man kisses is what I'm saying here.

And of course, there are drag queens, for what is a good Japanese comedy without drag queens?

As stated previously, definitely recommended. Edo-approved, you might say. If you can get your hot little hands on this film in any way, shape or form, I would suggest that you do so.

This is Edo, signing off while dancing along with the amazing choreography in her head.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Metal can be nice, too. (メタルは優しさできるで。)

Oh, my poor, dear readers. I'm mucking up my update schedule again.

Well, I'll have you know that it's for a good reason. A few, in fact.

(1) I have begun scanlating once again. It's good for my brain.

(2) I am no longer sitting at my computer for the better part of the day. Being out of college will do that to you.

(3) I am constantly on edge due to this whole find-a-job, decide-your-future, where-are-you-even-GOING issue, so posting on my blog is not really my number one priority.

Nevertheless, I simply cannot allow myself to abandon you for too long.

This is, after all, my creative outlet. ...or, at least, one of my creative outlets. Definitely the one that is most likely to earn me some recognition, although admittedly that's not saying much. (I'm looking at you, fluctuating reader base.)

Anyway.

Today, we will again be discussing the delightful, classic, head-banging sounds of the Sex MachineGuns, the band (or rather, blog-post-subject) who single-handedly changed the opinion my dear grandmother had of my person. This, dear readers, is what happens when you distribute your blog address haphazardly.

We will take a slightly different track today, however, and look at one song in particular:

とうちゃん (Tou-chan, Daddy)



(... is it just me, or does Anchang get more attractive every time you look at him? Really, I just like how he's smiling the whole time. ...also, I rather hope that those are his muscles and not the shirt's... )

While you non-Japanese speakers may be confused as to why I selected this song for some further analysis, anyone with even a slight grasp of the language will immediately notice something amuck. Heck, I gave you a hint by translating the title, right up there.

Yes, this is a heavy metal band, writing and performing a song called "Daddy." And while I'm sure it could be interpreted as ironic or satirical, but I think that it's rather sweet.

A rough translation (that yes, I wrote) of the chorus would be as follows:

Work hard, daddy! Don't lose, daddy! I'm waiting for you to come home!
Do your best, daddy! You're so awesome, daddy! I'm happy because you're here!
Old man! ...Daddy


And you all said that metal had no heart.

(Side Note- I apologize for the lack of Japanese lyrics; unfortunately, my internet sources are being very tetchy at the moment, and I don't have the patience for them this early in the morning.)

So, the question is this.

Are the Sex MachineGuns special in that they are not all death, violence and sex? (They also have a song about recycling...)

Or is there a movement in metal that non-metal-heads simply don't understand? Do these men, in fact, have hearts of gold that are simply covered in spikes, chains, and a hard black varnish?

Have we been misunderstanding metal this entire time?

... ok, so I doubt that, but it's fun to think about, regardless.

So let's just listen to some more music then, shall we?



Songs about volcanoes are always good.



Look, that one's even sort of soft!



That one too! And here I thought I couldn't draw the non-metal-heads into the Sex MachineGuns fanbase... I clearly just wasn't trying hard enough.

Anyway, in keeping with this theme of unexpected metal, I love the closet-head-bangers that seem to be lurking all throughout Japan. You can see a few up there in that とうちゃん live video; you know, ladies in pretty, floral tops with long, flowing hair... slamming their heads around with the best of them. Melon and I were seated next to a number of these closet-types at the Dir en grey live at Osaka-Jo in 2008; it was quite the experience.

This is Edo, signing off wishing that she could just head-bang her troubles away.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Where are my glowsticks? (うちの光る棒はどこ?)

So, I just found a new blog to read, and it got me thinking...

Am I not specialized enough? Are the contents of my blog entirely too scattered and disparate to attract a single, devoted following?

Am I, in fact, driving myself to obscurity?

...

Well, I'll worry about that later. Say, when I actually have something I can specialize in.

Until then, I'll just keep going on as I have, shall I?

Just a quick life-update before we get started.

I have done two first-round interviews, and will be moving on to my third tonight (Thursday). Admittedly, having three separate first round interviews isn't an amazing feat in and of itself, but... at least I feel like I'm getting somewhere. Kinda.

Then again, I could be turned down by all three by the end of the week and then where will I be.

(In a much more pessimistic position, let me tell you.)

(Oh, yes, and I think I've solved my Monbusho/Nonbusho problem, no thanks to you, oh silent readers.)

ANYWAY.

In keeping (somewhat) with the theme of that new blog I found, today's topic of discussion will be 櫻井敦司 (Sakurai Atsushi), the vocalist and lyricist for BUCK-TICK. Specifically, we will focus on his solo career. Even more specifically, 愛の惑星 (Ai no wakusei, Planet of Love).



You see, in 2004, during a sorta-kinda mini break up of the band (they're back together now, don't worry!), Atsushi released a solo album. As he is the lyricist and not the music writer of the band, he collaborated with a number of musicians to produce the album, such as CUBE JUICE, Wayne Hussey, and Raymond Watts (so says Wikipedia, anyway.)

Needless to say, the music is quite a departure from your regular BUCK-TICK fare. As Melon and I often say, it's got a very strong techno vibe, and we feel that we should throw a rave party to it. (Have I mentioned this?)

Of course, this could only be our opinion. We are linked at the brain, you know.

I'll let you be the judge.



Yes, I COULD use my neato music thing again, but really, I've said it before and I'll say it again: BUCK-TICK is amazing life, and Atsushi alone is similarly talented.

Not to mention he's just fun to watch. Fanservice, anyone?



Don't look at me like that. The man puts on a show. Anyone who doesn't appreciate it is... well, dead. Or at least dead in the pants.

He is so blatantly sexual sometimes that I think it might be illegal.

But really, who's going to cuff this man? Besides, he offsets it with his occasional charming dorkiness. I mean, come on, who dances like that, really?

...and yet, it is so very endearing.



I posted this video once already, but eh, it's my blog. I can do what I want.

(Side note- if you have any idea what he is doing with the microphone between his arms at the end... I would very much appreciate it if you could share that information, as I am absolutely lost.)

In this case, at least until the end, you kind of need to know what this song is about to get the dirty, dirty imagery. (Though I guess the incessant pelvic thrusting could possibly tip you off...) Suffice it to say that the song is about anonymous sex; I would provide a translation, but, again, the translation thieves... also, there is no one part of the song that truly captures the entire essence.

Well, except for maybe...

溢れ出しちゃう コボサナイデネ
It comes flooding out, don’t spill any


Oh Atsushi, you're such a dirty, dirty man.

... and I have proof.



I'm willing to bet that CUBE JUICE did not read the fine print of his contract. He does, however, deal very well with the situation, all things considered.

No, I cannot explain Atsushi's actions. The only possible reasoning I have come up with thus far is that "it gets lonely on the road." (Or Atsushi really likes CUBE JUICE's music?) Because really, fanservice aside, don't molest the guest artists. It's just not in good taste. I don't care if you break if up with some fancy interpretive dance.

Besides, you're just making all of the fangirls green with sexual envy.

Random bursts of inappropriate contact and dorky dancing aside, I rather enjoy 愛の惑星, and would definitely recommend it to any fans of Atsushi's voice ...although possibly not fans of just BUCK-TICK in general; it really is quite a different different.

This is Edo, signing off while pretending to jump around stage like someone half her age.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The (other) eternal question....([もう一つの]永遠の質問。。。)

Once again, dear readers, I come to you from the wilds of my own life, which is rather apt considering the fact that this is the first post I am making as a college graduate.

That's right, oh beloved readers of mine. What you are reading is being produced by someone in possession of a BA degree. With Distinction in my Senior Exercise, even.

...though really all that means is that you are now reading the ramblings of someone who is officially educated as opposed to someone who is only literally educated. What a difference a single document makes.

Anyway.

Today's question, as I'm sure you are all eager to know, again pertains directly to my future, though this time in a much more long-reaching sense:

Monbusho or Work Force?

That is, Japanese Government Scholarship for full funding to play around in Japanese academia, possibly coming out with a Master's/Doctorate in Japanese Language and Literature, or actual experience and income that may or may not assist me in finding that elusive career I so desire?



The Monbukagakusho, or MEXT Scholarship, is... well, pretty much what I just said. You go through hell to get it, but after you do, the Japanese government pretty much pays for your post-graduate education for as long as you can manage to pass their tests and stay within their system. You get to select three top choices for your desired location of schooling, but the guys paying your bill have the ultimate say in the matter. Your placement also hinges, of course, on whether or not your chosen school wants you. Oh, sure, you think you're special, but do you think 京大 is going to be impressed by that 3.7 GPA? Think again, sucker.

A pretty sweet deal if you're into the academia realm, which I... may or may not be.

You see, I like the idea of academia. I'm constantly coming up with ideas for papers, I wrote a 119 page + 182 page thesis, and I work well under mind-numbing pressure.

The problem is, it's quite possible that I only enjoy academia in a controlled setting. Say, when there's a specific deadline after which my work ends. Thesis turned in? Good, now you can sleep/eat/be merry.

However, in the realm of academia, it's more along the lines of: Wow, you finished that book? Good. Now write another one or we won't give you tenure and you'll be out on the streets at 42 desperate for any job, even one from the University of Arkansas.

(... no offense to any Arkansas students/alums out there, of course.)

In other words, I don't want to make a career out of academia. It's more something I'd like to dabble in.

Thus, can I afford to spend one and a half, possibly two or more years of my life dabbling?

Yes, I am young. Yes, I have my whole future ahead of me.

But dagnabit, I am as type A as it is possible to be, and I don't like being wishy-washy when it comes to anything, especially things as important as my life.

I suppose it boils down to whether video game companies want work experience or school experience, and that I simply do not know. It could vary based on person, company, or time of day, and I really would have no way of finding out until I chose one path and wound up flat on my back in a ditch ten years from now, wondering what happened.

So, once again, a plea to you, my wonderful readers.

Thoughts, comments, advice, or even experience would all be much appreciated. Even second-hand, I am willing to listen and add it to the pot of wisdom from which I will draw my decision before the deadline for the scholarship in June. E-mail, comment, or messenger pigeon, I am open to anything.

This is Edo, signing off wondering whether or not graduation has this sort of impact on everyone.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

And you thought cheerleading was for girls. (お前は応援団が女子向けだと思ったやん。)

How about a little 応援団 (ouendan, cheering squad) to get me revved up just before graduation, eh?

応援団 comes from the word 応援, ouen, meaning to cheer on , support, reinforce, what have you. You tell someone that you are 応援-ing them when they're about to take on a big project, present a thesis, play in a soccer match, whatever.

An 応援団 is just a more official version of that, really.



It is, for lack of a better word, hard core.

While they were originally intended to support sports teams and perform at school pride festivals and the like, they now, as you can see above,have their own competitions, which I guess would be comparable to cheerleading competitions.

Most places do, however, have what we would think of as cheerleaders on top of these 応援団. Oftentimes, they perform together, the girls in their skirts and the men with their yelling.

But we know which one we prefer.



I do apologize for the poor quality of these videos, but, alas, I do not have access at the moment to 応援団 performances myself, and thus must rely upon the offerings of youtube and all the shake camcorder-holders therein.

I think the bad-ass-ness translates, though; even through poor quality filming.



I mean, look at this. They're not even wearing shirts, that's how awesome they are.

... yes, awesome can be measured in terms of clothing. As though you didn't know.

I find it interesting that in such a traditional (cough) activity as this, the rough ヤンキー type look is almost encouraged.

Admittedly, it could just be another factor adding to their image of bad-ass-ness. Who knows.

I do apologize, dear readers, for the failure in managing my update schedule, but... well, graduation weekend. I'm sure you understand.

In fact, who do you think you are, complaining about a lack of posts? Consider yourselves lucky you got anything at all! Ha-rumph, I say!

This is Edo, signing off while pondering her place in the world as a soon-to-be-graduate.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Pretty and smart to boot! (佳麗の上、頭がいい!)

You know, it's not really good for my ego to check how many readers I have on a daily basis. Every once and a while, sure, but daily?

You people are so fickle. Why must you leave me so often? Why must my audience drop by factors of three regularly? It's tough to bear!

I guess my only choice is to continue producing quality material in the hopes that you will one day see the light...

And to, you know, keep that one e-mail subscriber I have feel that he/she's getting their money's worth. I do my best, my friend!

...though I am reverting to the old stand-by today. It's a good stand-by, what can I say!

Not to mention that I was watching it yesterday as a for of stress relief.

Oh yes, MR. BRAIN...



They began advertising it about a month before I left Japan. A drama with both Kimutaku and Mizushima Hiro, I said? How can you go wrong, I said?

...no, that wasn't a build up to a fall. I apologize for the convoluted writing.

MR. BRAIN is everything you could ever hope for and more.

Except for maybe Mizushima Hiro's hair. That's a little... meh.



I mean, so a perm vomited on his head. I'm sure it wasn't his decision.

And besides, when you're next to the fabulousness of Kimutaku's hair, there's really not a whole lot you can do, competition-wise.



Just look at him. No one's topping that. It simply isn't conceivable.

(... does the editorial content of this blog suffer whenever I begin to gush uncontrollably over this man...? Just checking.)

Ok, all right, enough with the aesthetic appreciation, and on to the actual meat of the matter. Again, from the lovely DramaWiki, because I am nothing if not a lover of the block quote:

Tsukumo Ryusuke is a quirky, yet brilliant neuroscientist working for the National Research Institute of Police Science. Wielding a unique perspective and psychology, Tsukumo tackles the nation's most baffling crimes and scandals, going head-to-head with the most brilliant and twisted criminal minds. But his eccentricities and poor social timing can also aggravate people and circumstances, further complicating matters.


... man. I don't even want to credit that to TBS, because it's embarrassing for them. Step up those summarizing skills, guys!

What the conspicuously FAIL to mention is the fact that Kimutaku Tsukumo was originally a host. Yes, that's right: Kimutaku was playing a role where he sold his body nightly.

I won't say a thing.

Anyway, during a rather bumbling but charming moment (he was attempting to help a woman who had broken her heel), Tsukumo, the average, not exactly intelligent yet extremely beautiful host, gets hit by a falling scaffolding.

That's right, you guessed hit.

Brain Injury => Super Brain Powers.

Because the American media never does scientifically unreasonable things like that. No siree bob.

...

Anyway.

After some rather poor explanation and a time skip, we come to the present day, where the now super-intelligent yet super-weird (personal space issues and an obsession with bananas anyone?) has been hired by the National Research Institute of Police Science.

Also, the equipment they give him is quite impossible. Admittedly, as this is, theoretically, the height of classified technology, it is conceivable that such things do exist, but as it stands... holographic projectors and massively capable touch-screen desks with the ability to absorb information directly through the screen.... Forgive me for being a little bit dubious.

However, if you know that any of this definitely exists, please, do tell me. I'm just as ready and willing as the next guy to squeal over exciting new technology.

Anyway.

Even if this wasn't a drama starring Kimutaku and Mizushima Hiro, it would be a pretty decent Police Drama anyway. As it is, we get to spend a lot of time watching Kimutaku being an eccentric genius (do you see me arguing?) and receiving a small dose of layman neuroscience in the form of animated sprites every episode.

Oh. Also.

If you listen to Kimutaku's radio show, you also get a very dirty comment about bananas that I can only assume was inspired by Tsukumo's obsession with the fruit.

And I mean a dirty comment. Ooo, it gives me chills.

This is Edo, signing off wondering if she is too easily swayed by the beauty of certain Japanese men...

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Dubious in respectability. (人聞きが怪しい。)

You know, it's funny; I always complain about not knowing what to put in this blog, and yet whenever I think about it, something always comes to mind in five minutes or less.

I suppose my head is simply too full of things Japanese to keep quiet for long.

Anyway, on to today's topic:

Music in Anime.

Or, more specifically, popular music used as endings and openings for anime series.

Specific? Yes. A topic inspired by a particular instance? Why yes, yes it is.

As a matter of fact, it's how I originally discovered BUCK-TICK, though I didn't know it at the time.



Yes; oh so many years ago, when I naively rented Nightwalker from Netflix, I happened upon a marvelous opening tune by a band whose name I simply could not find. For many a year, I simply knew it as "Gessekai" (I didn't speak Japanese then, after all, so no kana.)

(Side-note: What a disappointing series Nightwalker was. Any and all potential of intriguing vampire BL completely spoiled by dreadful writing and a low animation budget. Alas.)

Ironically, it was only after I heard the ending to XXXHolic that I figured out who the men behind Gessekai were.



In fact, XXXHolic's ending, 蜉蝣~かげろう~, is what inspired my passionate love for BUCK-TICK in my sophomore year of college. And we all thought that anime wasn't good for anything but attracting the weeaboos in droves.

(I jest, of course; I like anime just as much as the next Japan blogger.)

With BUCK-TICK as its ending and スガシカオ's 19才 as the opening, XXXHolic truly beats out all competition, in my opinion, as best-musically-surrounded-anime-series of all time.



You're free to contest my opinion, of course, but I expect auditory evidence and a full three pages (minimum) of well-reasoned argument backing your candidates.

Of course, if you were to find a series with an opening by the Sex Machineguns and a closing by Dir en grey... well, suffice it to say that you could color me impressed.

Interestingly enough, at least in the case of BUCK-TICK, neither of these anime-tunes was ever on an album. There were, however, videos for both; though admittedly I think it was just an opportunity to do a little bit of camera whoring.



(Is it just me, or is that a little bit of cosplay there, Atsushi?)



Again, though, do you see me complaining? No-siree-bob.

It makes you wonder, though. Sure, publicity is great; it draws random white college girls into your audience, after all, but are some things just a little embarrassing, even for rock stars?

I suppose that line of reasoning is entirely contradicted by the fact that Gackt appears to be doing nothing BUT anime tunes recently... but then again, as we all know, the man is crazy, so perhaps he is not the best model with which to compare.

Anyway, as suggested in the title, this is perhaps a dubious manner in which to discover music, but... when it leads to a life-long love for BUCK-TICK, who am I to argue?

This is Edo, signing off while humming along to the music in her head.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy birthday to me~ (自分に誕生日おめでとう~)

Well, readers of mine, it is my birthday. 22 years of age and still kicking along.

And you know what that means.

.... that's right.

A day of little to no editorial content in favor of interesting things that make me smile.

As I've mentioned time and time again, it is my blog. You want posts that cater to your whim, then you're going to have to start one yourself.

Of course, I will still stay within the main theme of Japan; with such a broad and forgiving topic as that of this blog, the least I can do is not diverge from it.

Anyway.

The following is by far the best advertisement that I ever saw lining the walls of a train:



If you simply appreciate the aesthetics and don't find yourself snickering uncontrollably... well, please don't let me taint the purity of your mind.




I'm honestly not sure what this is, nor what it was for, but do you see me complaining? I don't think so.



No one likes Goro. Poor, poor Goro.

Also, the thought of Kimutaku sleeping in a giant, lush bed awash with zebra print... it just slays me.

Ok, ok, I hear you. Enough with the Kimutaku already.



It makes me laugh every time.

Gackt is a special, special man... who may or may not get his own blog post some day in the future.

And finally...



A little bit of Atsushi goodness.

Apparently, when he did his own album... he went the a little bit crazy with the electro-rock root. Melon and I plan to one day host some sort of glow-stick rave with this album on repeat in the background.

Ah, the simple pleasures in life.

This is Edo, signing off wondering if her stress is going to simply keep building up in the coming years...

Thursday, May 6, 2010

No need for realism. (現実性は必要なし。)

Again, for those of you who are interested: I am done with the academic portion of my undergraduate career. All that's left is to graduate.

... I assume it will sink in eventually.

In the meantime, it appears I've found a go-to niche for when my creative juices run dry:

Drama review.

What, you had something better in mind? Well, it's not your blog, is it.

Today, we'll be discussing

必殺仕事人 (Hissatsu Shigotonin, or "Certain Kill Worker")

(...forgive me for that translation, apparently my brain is a little dead at the moment.)



According to Drama Wiki this time:

This show marks the return of the jidaigeki series "Hissatsu Shigotonin," which has had several seasons between the 1970s and the 1990s. The franchise came back in 2007 with a one-shot special, but this is its first full season since 1992. Makoto Fujita returns as the protagonist Nakamura Mondo, one of the "shigotonin," a team of hired assassins.


Admittedly, they apparently took it from Tokyograph but... let's not get our panties in a knot over proper citation in a blog here.

Basically, this show is about Tokugawa (or Edo, hur) era assassins, and how they go about their daily lives. It's highly episodic, and there really isn't any over-arching plot (other than some character development), but it's a good series despite that. Admittedly, I sometimes prefer the episodic formula; makes for easier watching.



Every episode focuses around the misdoings of one particular group of people (thugs, brothel owners, creepers, what have you), and also around what the assassin group (who are your average samurai, old samurai, weird artist, strangely Johnny's-boy-looking merchant, and awesome middle-aged woman) happens to be doing at the time. Usually, they're just dealing with their own issues, but sometimes, they happen to get involved with the hubub, and thus take more than a casual interest when they are hired to off the group.

As it is, of course, set in the past, everyone speaks in some sort of psuedo-古典 (classical) Japanese, so it's a bit difficult to understand... I say psuedo, because if it were legitimate 古典, I would probably have a much easier time with it. Huzza for Japanese major requirements. Admittedly, what they spoke in Tokugawa Japan is not what I study in Classical, but... meh. It's difficult to say what they spoke, really, and so no one really knows. I suppose their guess is as good as any, but I remain dubious.

And what about the title, you may ask. What's so unrealistic about killing people in Tokugawa Japan?

Oh, only everything.

Admittedly, the samurai guys are ok; hack and slash, I believe, though there is a significant lack of ANY blood. EVER.

However.

Johnny's boy? Kills with some sort of bamboo-string-snake-whip. I kid you not. He holds it upright, and somehow it leaps from its case and chokes his target to death a good five, eight feet away, just because he's doing a few jerky motions that don't really seem to be accomplishing anything, physics-wise.

Pardon me while I protest.

Crazy artist man is a bit more realistic; he stabs his targets with a long, thick needle through the shoulder, and pierces their hearts. That, I could buy.

But he has to change clothes before he does it.

Into some sort of deranged, gay superhero outfit.

And it is never explained why.

...yup.

But really, though I complain, the craziness is most of why I love this series. Not to mention my adoration for the Tokugawa period in general. It's a win-win all around, even if sometimes I don't quite know what's going on.

Definitely recommended, though if your Japanese level is much below mine (aka conversationally quite advanced), I'd look for some subtitles. Even I don't get a lot of it, I just have a smattering of pride to deal with.

This is Edo, signing off free and clear... except for job searching.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Busy times... (忙しい時。。。)

Let it be known, dear readers of mine, that as a soon-to-be-graduating-senior, I am currently suffering from Interesting Times.

You know. Two finals on Wednesday. Kinda thing.

...Even though I'm totally and utterly done with thesis. There ought to be some sort of law against that.

But let it never be said that I don't entertain you!

You know I love キムタク. Most people are aware of this fact.

But did you know that Japan shares my love in every possible way?

I mean, he wasn't the longest-running holder of the Sexiest Man in Asia position for nothing, you know. (I could cite that but... you know. Busy. And tired. Don't judge me.) And, as I mentioned, he's also credited with that whole inspiring Japanese men to pretty themselves up a bit thing. How can this man be so powerful in the minds of so many, I hear you cry.

A simple glance at television is enough to let you know.



He is an incredibly successful (and in the above instance, adorable) spokesperson for everything.



And anything.



Especially GATSBY products, which range from men's skin care to hair styling products to... well, body paper. It apparently rids you of unsightly sweat.

It could give you scurvy for all I care; I would still enjoy the commercials for it immensely.



There's a reason they play some of these commercials only at night, you know. Too exciting for the general public.



Oh dear. Is it getting hot in here, or is it just my computer screen?

People hire this man for a reason; their products sell when he dances with them on the screen. 37 years of age he may be, but losing his power as a sex symbol? He is not. キムタク is a veritable tidal wave of pure lust and commercialism, all rolled up in what seems to be an incredibly nice man.

Goodness, I get chills just typing about him.

Well, dear readers, I hope that I have given you sufficient evidence to support my long-lasting love for all that is, was, and will be the man called キムタク. If not, well... I did distract you from the fact that there was absolutely no editorial content in this post, didn't I?

This is Edo, signing off while thinking wistfully of long, auburn curls...

Monday, May 3, 2010

I wanna roll you up! (お前を丸めたい!)

For all of you lovely readers who are interested: your host is the official recipient of the 2010 Pomona College Japanese thesis prize. Not only am I entertaining, I'm academically decorated!

Oh, aren't you just thrilled to pieces.

Anyway. We have discussed my status as a video game nerd, correct?

As such, I decided that hey, why not throw some video game reviews into the mix?

Of course, it goes without saying that I will only be reviewing Japanese-made games.

Because, after all, this is a Japan blog, people. You want reviews of Halo? Go somewhere else.

僕の私の塊魂



Or, "Me and My Katamari" for you American types (I must admit, I have the American version... they don't tend to sell them foreign games here in America-land.)



First, the basic point of this game, for those of you who have not played Katamari titles in the past (you poor poor souls) is exceedingly simple: you, the dashing Prince of All Cosmos, roll things up.



And up.



And up and up and up.



The point is, of course, to get as big a 塊 (which loosely translates to "lump" or "mass") as you can manage, which, in this installment, will be turned into an island for whoever the Prince happens to be assisting at the moment. (In others you get to make planets, so I do feel a bit short-changed.) They may want a bright island, or a heavy island, but really, the main point is to roll up anything and everything you can.

Sound simple? It is. And yet, it is by far and large one of the most engaging games I've ever played.

I don't know what it is, but this game is addicting. You play, and play, and play, and you just don't get sick of it. Don't ask me how it works, because I don't know myself.

All I know is that Namco did something AMAZING here, and that I wish I could have been part of it.

(I also wish I had discovered this franchise BEFORE my interviews... dang.)

This game is, without question, one of my favorites of all time. HIGHLY recommended. It has certainly eaten up a lot of my time recently... Oh dearie me.

Not only is it fun, it's adorable. The Prince is an excellent protagonist, even if he never speaks and is entirely too small to be possible. I mean, he pushes around katmari that get big enough to roll up VOLCANOES, and the kid is inches tall.

And then, of course, there is the King of All Cosmos. Look at this man. He is, I must say, one of the greatest video game characters ever. Bar none. No argument.



Not to mention the fact that the man localized his speech patterns is a GENIUS. Either that or he simply made the whole thing up... but I have to believe that the Japanese was similarly strange and amazing, so, we'll stick with localizing genius for now.

The music is also quite, quite excellent. I would not, however, recommend listening to "Katamari on the Rocks" in the car... (ahem)

Needless to say, I recommend you pick up this game (or any other Katamari game you can find) in short order. To say that you would not regret it would be an understatement of... well, cosmic proportions.

Oh ho, I made a funny.

This is Edo, signing off with that disturbing urge to roll over everything in her path that's slightly smaller than she is.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Do vampires even care? (吸血鬼って、気になるの?)

So, during a conversation with Melon the other day, I mentioned that I had just discovered "some gay vampire" drama.

Little did I realize much more there was to it.

And thus, a post was born.

RHプラス (RH Plus)



Being the horrible nerd that I am, I think the title is very clever. The RH factor is what determines whether your blood is positive or negative; the plus, I can only assume, indicates the former in this case. Cute name for a drama about vampires, yes?

Interestingly enough, though, as desperate as many Japanese people may be to know your 血液型 (blood type) for personality-delving and fortune-telling purposes, they don't tend to care about your RH factor. I have never, in fact, seen anything written about what it means to be positive or negative. Books on what being an O type says about you, sure, but O- versus O+? Zip.

I mean, really, it's obvious that personality traits can be determined solely by whether or not you possess a certain combination of A and B genotypes, but RH factors? Oh please, now you're just being silly.

...did I digress into condescension this time? Oops.

Anyway.

I admit, dear readers I was dubious from the beginning. Perhaps I should have stopped and saved you all the trouble... Alas.

The show opens with an illicit crime scene in a warehouse somewhere. Were this America, the baddies would be swapping drugs for cash. But no, this is Japan; they're trading guns. Yea, that's right. Guns. For those of you who didn't know, guns are absolutely illegal for civilians to own in Japan. Minds blown, oh American readers?

But that's not the dubious part. The dubious part is when the criminals hear noises... and suddenly get swooped (yes, swooped) away, one by one, by mysterious, swiftly moving man-shapes.

When only one criminal remains, he, reasonably perturbed as he is, whips out one of those illicit guns and begins to shoot wildly, of course missing anything aside from a few innocent pipes and storage boxes. Still unsettled, he begins to scream for the swoopy-people to show themselves.

Cut to two snot-nosed high-schoolers standing silhouetted by the spotlight passing through the window.

Crime fighting vampires? she snorted in mocking disbelief.

They proceed to beat the poor, unsuspecting criminal with their super-human strength and taunt him with their ridiculously high-pitched voices. They then drink what appears to be cans of tomato juice to toast their victory.

Cue opening credit sequence.

I've got to admit it to you readers; after this opening, I was hard-pressed to continue further, even though the episode was only half an hour long.

Long story short: four vampires, one house, trying to live as humans. Two are the aforementioned snot-nosed high-schoolers, Ageha and Makoto, one is a sort of creeper dude who sleeps in a room full of books (the last bit I can totally dig) who's name I never really caught, and the last is Kiyoi, an incredibly effeminate butler who may or may not be coming on to everybody at some point during the episode.

And out of four protagonists... None of them can act for beans.

The main plot of this episode, as far as I can gather, is the attempt on the part of these crazy vampire men to capture a serial killer of students at a nearby all-girls school. To do this, of course, they decide on subterfuge, and pick Ageha, the girlier of the two high-school kids (he is pretty damn girly; all they need to do is put him in a skirt and pop some lip-gloss on) to pass as a student and... oh, I don't know, hopefully get attacked.

This, of course, happens within five minutes. Five minutes of Ageha wandering aimlessly on the street, two of those minutes taken up by being sexually harassed by three hooligans who think he's hot stuff.

This is what happens when we turn manga into dramas, people.

As for that "gay vampires" comment above? Well, at the moment, I believe the potential is between Ageha and Makoto (Ageha throws a fit when the serial killer man calls Makoto a monster), or Kiyoi and... anyone, really. He seems pretty non-discriminatory with his strangely affectionate behavior.

And as for the vampires in general bit... they go out during the day, eat regular food, and can appear in mirrors when they try hard enough. Aside from the super-strength, some sort of ritual blood (see: tomato juice) drinking after their meals, and one momentary glimpse of fang, they're rather disappointing if we're talking about children of the night. These certainly aren't you're grandfather's vampires, no siree bob.

In conclusion? Not exactly something I'd recommend, unless you're a glutton for punishment. The acting is dreadful, the storyline isn't long enough to develop properly, and all-in-all it has the trappings of a corny manga turned even cornier drama.

Admittedly, it could get markedly better after this first episode. I'm... not holding my breath.

At the same time, I may continue watching just for the resounding horribleness of it. Sort of like a car crash, you just can't look away... despite the fact that it's slowly chewing away your brain cells.

Especially since the next episode appears to involve Makoto being abducted by some sort of cross-wielding crazy... What will they come up with next!

This is Edo, signing off amazed that the pansy-vampire trope has extended as far as Japan.