Hatsune Miku - clock lock works

"Clock lock works" is a new vocaloid song that EXIT TUNES PRESENTS Super Nova had Miku sing. It was uploaded to NND three days ago and now it occupies high spots in the rankings. The music part was done by hachi, and the video was made by task・utsushita. I don't really know why, but I really like this song. Maybe because of that cute melody.

The translation is in the video description, but for your convenience, I'll copy it here.

Pappara I indefatigably work hard
Ro Do Ro Do Ranranra
Same thing different day
I found myself lost my way like a stray cat

Some people are trying to change with someone else somewhere
Ma No Ma No Ranranra
Nobody cares but
I chased numbers 24/7

Deep inside my heart the door is locked
“Ridiculous” telling myself,
I ignored the knock

“Nothing will change” letting it go,
I get rushed by the stopped clock hands
If it’s a dream, I’ll gratefully
“Wish upon a star” I said seriously

Tick-tock Work, you stupid soldiers
Gattan Gattan Ranranra
Make a choice, ready, set, go
I found myself become pitch black like junk

Even if morning switched with night
No Ma No Ma Ranranra
Nobody would care but
I greedily chased numbers

From behind the door voices are faintly coming out

“I have no choice” drawing my knees,
I quietly swore in the corner of the room
I don’t care where, just take me out of here
But a prince wouldn’t come

“Good evening, Good morning.”
Someone said from behind the door
“You don’t need to unlock it.”
“You can still hear my voice, can you?”

I don’t wanna hear such a story
I said no! Don’t talk to me
I’m begging you, please don’t go anywhere else
Stay by my side and let me hear a story

“Nonsense” pretending to lie,
I still want someone to notice it
It’s too cold to touch
I couldn’t touch it forever

As I work in the coffin,
I don’t wanna say “It’s not a big deal.”
The clock hands move to the end of time
A gentle knock makes me cry

Be grateful to motokokusanagi2009 for translating the lyrics.

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Mizuki Nana Itasha Cars

I came across a review of Itasha Graphics vol.6 magazine, which presents a report from the 2nd Ita G Festa, and there was a link that led me to a photo gallery of the event. All the cars in the photos looked amazing, but I spotted something that took me by surprise. Itasha cars devoted to Mizuki Nana.

In total, it's three Nana cars in the photos. Massively wonderful, aren't they?

I wonder if there's more, but I guess there aren't. Even yesterday, I would have never thought that something like a seiyuu itasha existed. But why wouldn't they exist? After all, not only the characters are adored by people, but also the seiyuu who lend them their voices are worshiped. Now, I rather wonder why there aren't more of them.

I've tried to search for an itasha of other seiyuu, but it was a fruitless effort. However, I might not have looked for the right names. If you have some pictures of seiyuu itasha or know of a site with some, feel free to post a link in the comments.

It's been a long time I made such an amazing discovery ^^

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Fate Testarossa Nendoroid Preorders Begin

As usual, Mikatan has posted a few photos of upcoming GSC's product, and this time it's the highly anticipated Fate Nendo. Like in Nanoha's case, also Fate will come together with her familiar Arf.

Besides the standard face, Fate has two other interchangeable faces. First is the "serious face"...

...and the second is "closed-eye face". This one is probably my favorite.

As regards Fate's twintails, they are attached to the head by joints so you can move with them, of course. Furthermore, even the ribbon is movable.

Fate's intelligent device and inseparable partner Bardiche comes in two forms. First is the Device Form. I think it looks a bit different to the Device Form Bardiche, not Bardiche Assault, in the first season of anime. The edge was not that round in anime, it was more straight.

And the second is the Scythe Form.

Fate Nendoroid is available at Hobby Search(reservations have been closed at Hobby Search), and AmiAmi at the moment. You can try checking HLJ or cdJapan later. Don't put it off and order her now, since the reservations are likely to be stopped very soon after the start, like they already have at Hobby Search.

For me, a Fate adorer, this is a must-buy. I have to be on the alert now so that I don't miss her when the preorders start at HLJ or Otacute. If I didn't manage to place an order, I would probably go berserk ^^

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Pettanko Thursday - Aisa, Hecate, Sawako

This Thursday is devoted to Mamiko Noto. She was born in the city of Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture on February 6, 1980. After graduating from Hokuriku Gakuen Senior High School, she attended Yoyogi Animation Institute. She is admittedly not good at sports. During her school years in a round of basketball in her physical education class, she was uninvolved to the point where neither side knew which she belonged to. When the ball was accidentally passed to her, both teams rushed her in confusion. Her seiyuu career kicked off in 1999 with a minor role in anime Super B-Daman. In 2001, she finally got two notable roles: Rin in Inuyasha, and Monou Kotori in X. Since then, she has lent her voice to numerous well-known anime characters, such as Tsukamoto Yakumo in School Rumble, Miyazaki Nodoka in Negima, and Ichinose Kotomi in Clannad. In April 2005, she was diagnosed with a heart condition and was hospitalized for 6 weeks.

Himegami Aisa from To Aru Majutsu no Index series is a reticent girl who always wears miko attire. However, she is far from being a regular miko girl, as she is able to kill vampires and is known by the portentous name Deep Blood. This nicknames derives from the fact that her blood allures the vampires, whom she sucks blood from then. She feels very depressed from her actions, and goes to Academy City with hope that she might be able to suppress her powers there. After a certain event, she moves in with a I-will-save-everyone type of boy, and later she moves to some other place. She also gets a cross that blocks her unwanted powers.

Now, Himegami is not that flat, but her miko outfit makes her look so.

Next is Itadaki no Kura Hecate from Shakugan no Shana series. Her name translates as Master Throne Hecate. Hecate is a very quiet and emotionless girl. She often says that she feels empty, and despite not showing any signs, it definitely makes her feel down.

The light novel depicts her differently to anime. In light novel, she is a very feared being and murders even uninvolved people. She is able to shoot an extremely powerful meteor beam fusillade.

Her voice in the anime is very cold and remote, simply amazing. Mamiko Noto did a really good job with her.

Go watch the anime, or read the novel or manga if you want to know more about her. Any more might be quite a big spoiler.

The last character today is Kuronuma Sawako from the ongoing anime series Kimi ni Todoke, based on the ongoing manga.

Sawako is 15 years old, born on the New Year's Eve. She resembles Sadako from the Japanese horror Ring, so she has a hard time making some friends, and the fact that she is shy doesn't help at all. But she is very sincere and kind and gradually makes some friends.

Although Sawako's personality is far from unearthly malevolent, her behavior is odd at times.

Sawako is quite short, having mere 158 cm in height. But it's only natural, because her father is only 160 cm tall. Sawako weighs 44 kg, and her blood type is 0.

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Wrist Cutter on NND Live Broadcast

Click on the picture for uncensored version

In the early morning of November 25, a girl used Nico Nico Douga Live Broadcast system to show her wrist cutting shenanigans to public. The viewers were dumbfounded by the expressive sight and commented on the video in dismay.

The main and unsolvable problem is that the live broadcast cannot be moderated in real-time, which leads to misuses such as in this case. NND responded that they ban the users who abuse the live broadcast system by spreading such inappropriate and atrocious videos. However, they can only deal with it after the incident, and that's too late, unfortunately.

Sadly, in case such videos kept appearing, it might evoke a lot of protest against the live broadcast, and maybe even against NND in general. It would be very lamentable if some deranged freaks caused a serious trouble to NND.

Source: Rocket News

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"This Light Novel is Great!" LN ranking at Gamers shop

Light novel ranking "This Light Novel is Great! 2010" (このライトノベルがすごい! 2010) has been put up at the Gamers shop. The first rank has been acquired by Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, which is getting an anime adaptation scheduled for broadcast in January.

"This Light Novel is Great" is an annual light novel guide book, published by Takarajimasha. The rankings featured in this book are put together according to readers surveyed on the Internet.

Ranking:

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (バカとテストと召喚獣)
Bakemonogatari (化物語)
Bungaku Shoujo (文学少女)
Toradora! (とらドラ!)
Seitokai no Ichizon (生徒会の一存)
Tasogare-iro no Utatsukai (黄昏色の詠使い)
Usotsuki Mi-kun to Koware Tama-chan (嘘つきみーくんと壊れたまーちゃん)
Ben・Too (ベン・トー)
To Aru Majutsu no Index (とある魔術の禁書目録)
Soukyuu no Karma (蒼穹のカルマ)
Sayonara Piano Sonata (さよならピアノソナタ)
Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない)
Kami-sama no Memo Chou (神様のメモ帳)
Sword Art Online (ソードアート・オンライン)
RO-KYU-BU! (ロウきゅーぶ！)
Sentou Jousai Masurawo (戦闘城塞マスラヲ)
Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon (境界線上のホライゾン)
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (電波女と青春男)
Ookami to Koushinryou (狼と香辛料)
Black Blood Brothers (ブラック·ブラッド·ブラザーズ)

Source: Akiba Blog

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Mizuki Nana to participate in Kouhaku Uta Gassen

Mizuki Nana will be singing in the Kouhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in her life. Kouhaku Uta Gassen (Song Battle Red and White) is a singing contest that takes place on New Year's Eve and is the most viewed music program in Japan. With Nana's recent achievements (10th single in Oricon Top 10, album ranking #1 on Oricon, etc.), she definitely deserves it.

Artists on the Red Team are aiko, Akimoto Junko, Angela Aki, Ikimono Gakari, Ishikawa Sayuri , AKB48, Otsuka Ai , GIRL NEXT DOOR, Kawanaka Miyuki , Kimura Kaela , Koda Kumi, Godai Natsuko, Kobayashi Sachiko, Sakamoto Fuyumi, Tendo Yoshimi, DREAMS COME TRUE, Nakashima Mika, Nakamura Mitsuko, Hamasaki Ayumi, Perfume, Hirahara Ayaka, Mizuki Nana, Mizumori Kaori, and Wada Akiko.

Artists on the White Team are Arashi, ALICE, Itsuki Hiroshi, EXILE, NYC boys, Kitajima Saburo, Kitayama Takeshi, Kobukuro, Jero, SMAP, TVXQ, TOKIO, Tokunaga Hideaki, Hikawa Kiyoshi, FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, Fukuyama Masaharu, Fuse Akira, flumpool, Hosokawa Takashi, Porno Graffiti, Mikawa Kenichi, Mori Shinichi, Kamiji Yusuke, Yuzu, and Remioromen

There are 6 newcomers, including Nana, on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen lineup this year. They are Arashi, NYC boys, FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, flumpool, Yuzu, Kimura Kaela, and of course Mizuki Nana.

Several videos are streamed at the official page, and one of them is fully devoted to Nana. She sings a song that has been composed for Kouhaku Uta Gassen contest. Have a look.

Source: ANN

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Finnish Santa Claus comes to Japan

There is still about a month to go before Christmas, but Santa Claus has already arrived in Japan. Apparently, he left his reindeer and sled at home, as he came on a Finnair flight from Finland. How he got from the North Pole to Finland is, however, unclear. Santa will appear at many Christmas events across Japan during his tour that will end on December 24. His schedule comprises visits to kindergartens and nurseries, where he will give presents to children.

Santa comes to Japan every year by this time to take part in charity work and promote the Finnish airline. When he's not on a tour, he has his hands full with replying to the letters from children around the world. The airline say he gets about 500,000 letters a year. Quite a horrifying number, isn't it? However, I doubt he himself replies to all the letters, as he would have to write about 1,350 letters a day. That would mean writing one letter every minute, with only 90 minutes of rest per day ^^' If the Santa in question is not a mecha, he is undoubtedly not capable of performing such a demanding task.

Source: Japan Today

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Kiss×sis 4th OVA Episode Confirmed

Production of a fourth episode of Kiss×sis OVA has been announced today on Kodansha's official site. The DVD with the new episode will be included in the limited edition of the volume 6 of Kiss×sis manga, which is due to June 4. As the first episode was labeled #0, the upcoming episode will be #3.

The story revolves around three siblings, twin sisters and their younger step-brother Keita. Both sisters constantly and relentlessly try to seduce Keita and each of the two makes enormous effort to win him for herself.

The third episode was released earlier today and contains a lot of hard-ero scenes. You can have a look at a few screenshots from the episode on Sankaku. I hope that it goes without saying that the pictures are definitely Not Safe For Work.

Besides the new OVA episode, a TV series is planned for Spring next year.

Source: ANN

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Pettanko Thursday - Hinagiku, Wreathlit, Akiha

In today's Pettanko Thursday corner, we'll have a look at three characters that were brought to life by Itou Shizuka. Most of you have probably heard this seiyuu's voice before, because she has done a lot of roles - at random, To Heart 2, Negima, xxxHOLiC, El Cazador, Baccano. Her career started in 2003 with roles in Tsukihime and Texhonlyze. Since then, she has voiced approximately 50 characters, excluding game roles. Quite a stunning number, don't you think?

First character on the spotlight is the Student Council President at Hakuou Academy who rules over the school from the highest place far and wide, Katsura Hinagiku from Hayate no Gotoku. Hinagiku, or Hina for short, is fifteen years old at the beginning of the story. Her birthday is on March 3, on the same day as Hinamatsuri (Hina Festival). Hina is a very reliable girl and she is very diligent about her work as the Student Council Pres. Since her assistants aren't really passionate about the paperwork and other council tasks, Hina often has to take care of things even in their place.

Not only is Hina clever and hard-working, but she's also very athletic. Although she has full hands of the student council work, she somehow manages to find the time for club activities and is the leader of the Kendo club at Hakuou.

Hina seems to be flawless and acts rather manly, she even gets chocolates on the Valentine's, but there's a cute side of her, though she shows it reluctantly. Hina's probably biggest weakness is her fear of heights, which is rather comical as the Student Council room is on the highest floor of the clock tower.

Some other characters, particularly her big sister Yukiji and a friend(?) Nagi, sometimes pick on Hina for her underdevelopment in certain areas between her neck and stomach. Hina herself seems to have that kind of complex about her growth so the comments irk her a lot.

However flat Hina is, she has won the hearts of many people all over the world. Hayate no Gotoku character popularity contest resulted in her decisive victory. Then, she won the Best Moe Tournament 2007 in which she defeated Shana by mere 2 votes. And last but not least, Hina was exalted to the first place in the International Saimoe League 2009 last month. The final round of ISML 2009 was a repetition of the Best Moe finals and Hina didn't let Shana to take her revenge.

Wreathlit Noel from Yoake Mae yori Ruri Iro na Crescent Love is a mysterious girl who comes from the Moon. She looks very young, but she's much older in fact - it must be due to the Moon environment ^^ Wreath doesn't show much interest into her surroundings, so she isn't very talkative, either.

She's 139 cm tall, blood type B, and her three sizes are 64/49/67.

Last character today is Touno Akiha from Shingetsutan Tsukihime. Coming from a prestigious family, she had a very strict upbringing and was rarely allowed to go play outside the mansion where she lived. Later, her parents had her enroll to a boarding school despite her reluctance to go there.

She dislikes her family except one single person, his brother whom she loves. When he is around other girls, she gets jealous, and you could say she practically keeps surveillance on him. Big Sister is watching you XD

The blood that flows in the veins of most of the members of Touno family is a demonic blood. Akiha possesses non-human powers, but she also needs to maintain a very high body temperature. Fortunately for her, she is able to absorb heat from any living or non-living object that comes into her view.

Akiha has 160 cm in height, weighs 45 kg, and her sizes are 73/57/79. I've just found her blood type. It's supposed to be B, but is it really possible to say she is B type when her blood is not regular human blood? I suppose not.

Another installment of PT is over. Look forward to next Thursday.

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Anime Raku 1st Anniversary

Time goes by very fast, and today, it's been exactly one year I started this blog. If you did some research (who would do something so pointless though; furthermore when I'm writing it here now), you might oppose that the first post was posted on November 19, which is true. However, I made an account and created the blog the evening before so I think birthday should be today.

Although I think that the year has passed in a blink of eye, I feel as if I've been blogging since long, long ago. It's a very funny paradox. It must result from the fact that blogging has become a part of me, a part of my daily routine. Anyways, I want to say my thanks to all my readers and all the people who have taken liking to this blog for whatever reason. Also one big thanks goes to fellow bloggers, who often inspire me and support my passion for blogging, anime, etc.

When I started this blog a year ago, I would never even imagine that it could cross the milestone of 100,000 page views in one year. Now, one year is behind and the site has got 216,700 page views in total. Once again, thanks everyone! I promise I will do my best even in future.

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Fate/stay Night gets recapitulating OVA

Alongside the Fate/stay Night Unlimited Blade Works movie, which is coming to cinemas in January, F/SN will get a 2-episode-OVA that will recap all the 24 episodes of F/SN TV series in 2 hours. Each episode, 60 minutes long, will be released individually on both DVD and Blu-ray discs. The first volume will cover the episodes 1-12, and the second volume will then cover the rest, episodes 13-24. Both volumes will ship on January 22, one day before the premiere of Unlimited Blade Works movie.

There will be new openings and endings featured in the OVA. Re-recorded version of the song "disillusion" with a new arrangement will be used for the opening of volume #1; video sequence will be redone completely. Both volumes will have new songs as their endings: TV reproductionI ending is to be performed by Jukai feat. Tainaka Sachi, TV reproductionII ending by Tainaka Sachi alone.

I'm not that excited by the idea of cramping the whole story into the span of 2 hours, but I'm looking forward to the new and reworked songs.

Source: ANN

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Nendoroid Fate Testarossa Teaser

Mikatan, in her latest post, teases us with this single photo of Nendoroid Fate's back. There's no information about when she will be available for preorders or when she will be released. We probably won't get to know it until the full preview of Nendo Fate, which I hope to see soon.

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Myon5 - Bad Apple!! Guitar Cover

An amazing guitar cover of the Touhou song Bad Apple!! by a Nico guitarist Myon5. His playing sounds very natural, smooth, and relaxed. Simply yukkuri ^^ Watch till the end so that you don't miss the surprise at 4:00.

I just felt a sudden obligation to share this with you.

Have you seen anyone playing with a knife instead of a pick before? It sure looks cool, more so in the combination with a maid outfit.

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Kichiku Megane Yaoi Game OP Parody

Kichiku Megane means "a cruel four-eyed", but it is also the title of a yaoi visual novel. Somebody has adapted the opening video from this game, and instead of the game characters, he or she has put there Japanese politicians. It's a very well made, cool video, and when you know what it makes parody of, it is funny as well. NND viewers seem to enjoy this video quite a lot, as it's high in the rankings, so I hope you will do so, too.

And this is the real OP from the game.

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GSC's Index 1/8 PVC Preview

Mikatan has posted a few photos of this upcoming GSC's figure of Index from To Aru Majutsu no Index.

Index is holding the cat called Sphinx. It's a cat she found and took care of in the story.

Her wimple is removable.

She seems to have two pairs of interchangeable arms.

The reservations are expected to start around November 17.

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To Aru Kagaku no Railgun Fanta CM [MAD]

A creative person has made an amusing MAD video, using the audio from a Fanta commercial and video from anime To Aru Kagaku no Railgun. See for yourself what has been born by this combination.

Quite funny, isn't it? Even if you didn't understand a single word, I believe you still liked it, didn't you?

The video below is the original Fanta CM. It's subbed, so if you'll watch it you will understand the To Aru Kagaku no Fanta video as well.

Omake:

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Pettanko Thursday - Ichigo, Ink, Bernkastel

I'm sorry for last week, that there was no Pettanko Thursday. Some urgent business cropped up on Thursday's evening and it kept me from making the regular PT post. But I will try to make up for it today by presenting you a very refined selection of three characters voiced by same seiyuu, who is very popular I dare say and belongs to my favorite seiyuus, too. As many of you can certainly guess by the names in the post title, I'm talking about Tamura Yukari.

Tamura Yukari was born in Fukuoka on 27th of February, 1976, which means she is 17 years old, like many other seiyuus ^^ She works for the I'm Enterprise company as a seiyuu, and her singles and albums have been being released by King Records since 2007. Earlier, they were being released by Konami Music Entertainment.

Her hobbies are tying ribbons, making sweets, and collecting cats (probably cat-themed goods).

Yukarin's official website -> here

One of Yukarin's first major roles is Morino Ichigo from anime series Onegai Teacher!. Despite looking like a junior high schooler, she's actually 21 years old. Ichigo is very quiet and doesn't associate with other people very much, which makes her look cold-hearted and uncaring. However, she cares a lot for the few friends she has, and even helps two of them to draw together. The main reason for her actions is that she doesn't want to let them experience painful emotions like she has had.

She lives alone in a rather austere apartment, because she doesn't want to be a burden to her parents. Why should she be a burden is something I will not say, as I would spoil too much.

Despite her age, she is not much endowed. Though, there are certain circumstances that have undoubtedly affected her development. Still, what we count is what we can see, and, let's say we cannot really see anything there. Pretty much dead plains.

Last time I presented Sumi from Moetan to you, and this time I'm presenting her classmate and the main heroine, Nijihara Ink. She is 17 years old, though she doesn't look like it at all, and people often mistake her as an elementary schooler. Her strong point is English, which she is supposedly very good at. After meeting with a magical, but above all a perverted duck, she gains magical powers and the ability to transform into mahou shoujo. When she assumes her magical form, she goes by the name Pastel Ink. And as Pastel Ink, she helps people who are in trouble. However, her primary objective is to teach English in disguise to her classmate, whom she has crush on. Still, she goes through some adventures thanks to her magical powers and the perv- ehm, magic duck.

What she would like as yandere

One of Ink's characteristic traits is her ability to trip over nothing, and her clumsiness overall.

Frederica Bernkastel, making appearance in Higurashi and Umineko, is said to be a witch. The Witch of Miracles, to be specific. She very much resembles Furude Rika from Higurashi series, and even her first name, when transcripted into Japanese, strongly resembles "Furude Rika". Bernkastel is said to be able to enter a unique world, or rather space, where she can picture fate and odds and compare it in numerous, parallel worlds. This power gives her the ability to bring about miracles as long as their probability of happening is not zero.

She is a traveling witch, who can travel between the kakera (something like parallel dimensions) and step into territories of other witches without losing her powers.

Some artists draw Bernkastel with ordinarily developed breasts, yet, some draw her as a pettanko character. Her real bust size is unknown, as it's utterly unimportant for the story. As for the anime, Studio DEEN have portrayed her almost as flat as a chopping board.

I'm not telling you any more as I don't want to spoil this masterpiece to you. Besides, I couldn't even say much with certainty, because there are various theories about Bernkastel's entity. Go read the visual novel, it's an unforgettable experience.

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