A record of Nana's new song has leaked on the Internet. The song is called Mysterion and will most likely appear on the July 7 album Impact Exciter. Nana-chan displays the powerfulness and intensity of her voice along with a brand new voice color. The whole song, both voice and musical aspect, is something quite different to the usual Nana. It's darker and to me it seems more like a song by a J-ROCK visual kei band. I guess Nana-chan is trying to expand her domain, which is only good.
The album Impact Exciter can be preordered on CDJapan. You can choose either the limited edition w/ DVD or the regular edition w/o DVD.
Asanon has posted a silhouette of a new Puchi Nendoroid on her blog. It is most likely Alice Margatroid from Touhou Project. She will be a part of the 2nd installment of Puchi Nendoroid Touhou Series.
Preview photos should be revealed soon at Mikatan's blog.
Hello everyone, I hope you enjoy the weekend if you don't have to do any disagreeable work. Fortunately, I don't have much work to do now. Though, I have the jitters at the moment since the parliamentary elections votes are currently being counted. If the left side wins, this country will head the Greece way... Anyways, enjoy the gallery.
NHK is going to introduce a new program introducing popular anime songs from 2000 to 2009. Its name is Moeru! Nakeru! Moeru Zero Nendai Shugyoku no Anime Song Special (萌える！泣ける！燃える ゼロ年代 珠玉のアニメソングスペシャル). Various artists will appear in it, including JAM Project, Lia, Ishikawa Chiaki, Gojou Mayumi, Ikeda Ayako, and Oku Hanako, and composers, including Kousaki Satoru, and Tanaka Kouhei. The show is scheduled to air in August and should be about 3 hours long.
The show contents will be divided into 3 groups, as the title implies. First is "Moeru (萌える)", which will consist of cute songs and catchy tunes, usually performed by seiyuu or idols. The next one is "Nakeru (泣ける)", songs that are supposed to make you sad and bring you to tears, provided you understand the lyrics. Otherwise, you won't follow the deep emotional story of the song and you will only enjoy the solemn melody and singing. The third group is yet again called "Moeru (燃える)" but the kanji are different. This "moeru" means to get fired up. These songs are epic, heroic and they should ignite a fire inside of you and get you all pumped up.
It would be great if this show helped to change the popular opinion on anime songs in Japan, because their position is not very good and they are often scornfully looked down on. That's why I hope that common people realize their opinions are simply biased and judge anime songs objectively.
Anime Expo has announced that seiyuu Horie Yui and Kitamura Eri will appear as official Guests of Honor at the July convention. They will participate in attendee panels, meet-and-greets and autograph sessions. Besides, they will be promoting Toradora! anime, which is getting published by NIS America starting in July. Horie Yui and Kitamura Eri voiced Kushieda Minori and Kawashima Mai, respectively, in Toradora!.
Kitamura Eri
Horie Yui and Kitamura Eri will join other previously announced guests, including our fellow blogger Danny Choo, all-female musical/idol group AKB48, singers MELL, Nakajima Megumi, May'n, SOPHIA, Mano Erina, seiyuu Konishi Katsuyuki (Kamina, Johann Trinity, Komui Lee), Asakawa Yuu (Aoyama Motoko, Rider, Sakaki), directors Watanabe Shinichi (Excel Saga, Tenchi Muyo), Kawamoto Toshihiro (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain), Kamiyama Kenji (Ghost in the Shell, Higashi no Eden), Nakamura Satoru, manga artist Hiroe Rei (Black Lagoon), and producer Ishii Tomohiko.
Shinkai Makoto's heart-warming and heart-wrenching anime film 5 Centimeters Per Second, which has brought countless people to tears, is getting a manga adaptation. We'll be able to enjoy this great work in a bit different appearance and many hefty guys will surely shed manly tears once again.
Seike Yukiko draws the 5 Centimeters Per Second manga adaptation and it first appears in the July issue of Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine, which has been released today.
A preview of the opening video for SEGA's upcoming release Hatsune Miku Project DIVA 2 has been streamed. The video features all Vocaloid 2 characters, that is Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin & Len, and Megurine Luka. Plus Hachune of course. They are portrayed as a band; Miku does the vocals, Rin plays the bass, Len plays the guitar, and Luka beats the drums. The song in the video, named Kocchi Muite Baby (Look Here Baby), has been composed by a distinguished Vocaloid composer ryo (Melt, Black Rock Shooter, World is Mine).
Hatsune Miku Project DIVA 2 game for PSP is going to be released on July 29.
At times like these I'm depressed that I have an NDS and not a PSP ^^'
Consumer electronics association CEA has conducted a survey inquiring people about the reason why they do not play games. The results were presented at the world's largest consumer electronics tradeshow CES.
It's a very good news that only 2% responded that games are for children. I think that this general misconception is fading out, finally. I expected more people to say they don't have time for it, but some people who responded that they aren't gamers might not be gamers precisely because they don't have time for playing games.
I don't have much time to play games either, so I'm not sure if I'm a gamer or not when I play only occasionally. But visual novels are generally regarded as games, aren't they? (I consider them to be more like books though) If yes, then I am a gamer ^^
This is already the fifteenth Saturday since I started making DFC posts. Actually, it's the sixteenth as I forgot about it once. Anyways, today's gallery is a bit kinkier than usual and definitely is not safe for work, unless your colleagues (or classmates) and subordinates (or teachers) are understanding.
The days are longer and longer, which is a sign of summer approaching. And since it is closing on us, we should have a look what anime series are awaiting us. As usual, our fellow Denizen has created a graphic list of Summer Anime, comprising all announced TV series. We appreciate your hard work. Now, let's have a look at a few notable anime, which have caught my interest.
Will watch
Shi Ki
Shiki, a horror mystery manga by Ono Fuyumi and Fujisaki Ryuu, centers around an isolated mountain village, whose inhabitants start dying because of strange reasons. Later, the cause is unveiled; it's vampires.
The creator Ono Fuyumi is known for writing the novels Ghost Hunt and The Twelve Kingdoms. The other one, Fujisaki Ryuu, has drawn Soul Hunter manga.
The concept reminds me of Higurashi, which I loved.
Strike Witches 2
The continuation of Strike Witches series. However, AIC production has taken over after Gonzo, which faces bankruptcy. The young witches from all over the world will gather again to fight. Let's see how it turns out with AIC in charge.
Will give a go
Occult Academy
The third in TV Tokyo's Anime no Chikara Project. A story about mysterious and supernatural occurrences at so called Occult Academy, a fortress resembling academy city.
High School of the Dead
The world is overtaken with a very deadly disease that turns humans into zombies. In Japan, several students of Fujimi High School, and the school nurse, band together to survive the present apocalypse.
I expect a lot of intriguing action combined with a certain level of ecchi. If the main story doesn't turn out bad, which I don't suppose, it might be quite a good watch.
Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi
The story revolves around a girl with fierce looks and sharp, canine teeth, Ookami Ryouko. Her family name is a play on words, as it is homonymous with the Japanese word for "wolf". Another main girl character is Akai Ringo, a girl with angelic looks but bad behavior. Together with their odd friends, the two fight to change the world, one issue at a time.
It might be quite fun. The main character, who is voiced by Itou Shizuka, strongly resembles Aisaka Taiga from Toradora!.
Asobi ni Ikuyo!
A student, particularly fond of anime and games, encounters an alien girl with cat ears and tail one day and the next morning, to his shock, he wakes up beside her in one bed.
It might be another stereotypical yet funny sudden-girl-appearance anime, which I'm usually fond of as long as it keeps me entertained and doesn't get overly banal.
Might give a go
Shukufuku no Campanella
Based on Shukufuku no Campanella -la campanella della benedizione- adult game by Windmill. The story is set in Ert Aria, a city well known as the treasury of the world. During the preparations for a harvest festival, Leicester Maycraft, a technician, sees a shooting star near a party he's attending. He goes to check it and upon finding it, he encounters a girl who calls him her father.
Seitokai Yakuindomo
Based on a yonkoma manga series. The main male protagonist, Takatoshi Tsuda, is a new student in the recently gender-integrated high school. He's asked to join the student council as the vice president. Thus begins his days as the only normal boy among 3 female student council officers.
Having enjoyed another anime about a student council before (Seitokai no Ichizon is what I mean, of course) I may give this one a go to see if it can live up to my image of ideal anime from this setting.
To make it complete, let's mention the OVAs which are not on the graphic lineup. There are 3 I'm excited about. First is Black Rock Shooter which has been recently delayed to July 24. Next one is Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo, based on a visual novel by Fukuriya. This one is falls to the 18 restricted category ^^ And the last one is Aki Sora: Yume no Naka, a sequel to hentai OVA Aki Sora.
Worth mentioning are also Kurenai 2010 OVA, and Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail.
So much for now, a version 2 with newly announced series and updates might appear at a later time.
In episode 7 of K-ON!!, Houkago Tea Time introduced a new song called Pure Pure Heart. This song is going to be released as another K-ON single, and the second song included is going to be a rock version of the school anthem of Sakuragaoka High School. The release is scheduled to June 2 and you can already preorder it at CDJapan.
The part with the song from ep 07:
Single Song List:
1. Pure Pure Heart 2. Sakuragaoka girl’s high school song [Rock Ver.] 3. Pure Pure Heart (Instrumental) 4. Sakuragaoka girl’s high school song [Rock Ver.] (Instrumental) 5. Pure Pure Heart (Instrumental 【-Guitar1】) 6. Pure Pure Heart (Instrumental 【-Guitar2】) 7. Pure Pure Heart (Instrumental 【-Keyboard】) 8. Pure Pure Heart (Instrumental 【-Bass】) 9. Pure Pure Heart (Instrumental 【-Drums】)
Since I have heard the passage with the new song just twice so far, I haven't got any reasonable opinion on it, but the first impression was pretty good. Furthermore, Mio is the singer for this song, which is another good point.
When it comes to sacred land of otaku, the first name that springs in your mind is definitely Akihabara. However, Japan is not only about Tokyo, although about a third of the population lives in this area. There are other large cities and in those cities there must be a considerable number of otaku. Those can hardly travel to Tokyo's Akihabara to go shopping, which means there have to be other anime/manga/game shopping districts the size exponentially responding the number of population. In other words, somewhat smaller than Tokyo's Akihabara, as Tokyo is the largest metropolis.
In Osaka, the third largest city in Japan and the biggest city in Kansai region, there's a shopping district called Nipponbashi, which is often compared to Tokyo's Akihabara. Nipponbashi, like Akihabara, is known for its many shops which specialize in electronic tools, and otaku interests. The area is centered along Sakaisuji Avenue, extending from the Ebisu-chō Interchange of the Hanshin Expressway in the south, to Nansan-dōri in the north.
During Edo Period, this district was called Nagamachi but later was renamed to Nipponbashi. This name refers to the bridge of the same name, which crosses over the Dōtonbori canal.
Den Den Town, or Denki no Machi, are alternate names for this district, due to its wide variety of stores selling electronics. The shops are famous for their negotiable prices, and several retailers are even tax and duty free. Another alternative name is Akihabara of West Japan.
Nipponbashi is the haven for Kansai otaku and harbors many distinguished anime, manga, game and other otaku goods stores such as Tora no Ana, Melon Books, Gamers, and Mandarake. There are also numerous maid cafés in Nipponbashi, varying in its thematization and services.
In 2009, Nipponbashi Project for promoting business in the area was launched and artist Itou Noizi designed the image characters Neon-chan, and her little sister Hikari-chan. They are both very lovely. Neon-chan even has a seiyuu and that is Matsuoka Yuki.
Neon (left) and Hikari (right)
If you travel to Osaka, make sure you visit this district. You'll definitely not regret it.
Kimura Shinichi's light novel series "Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?" will be getting an anime adaptation. Any details are still unknown, but the author of the light novel is going to appear on May 20 on the web radio program "Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Hai, Kimura Shinichi One Heart With You" where more information about the anime production is likely to be revealed.
The story revolves around a high school boy Ayumu Aikawa who falls victim to a serial killer. However, he is resurrected by a necromancer girl, who he'd met before getting killed, and becomes a zombie. When Ayumu comes to, he finds himself in a world encompassed by girls with magical equipment, and vampire ninja.
A today's wedding ceremony at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo was very special as it was led by I-Fairy, a 1.5-meter-tall robot with flashing eyes and plastic pigtails. I-Fairy wore a wreath of flowers and directed a rooftop ceremony. Wires stretched out from beneath it to a black curtain a few meters away, where a man crouched and input the robot's commands into a computer.
This wedding was the first wedding ever to be held by a non-human being. The price of I-Fairy is about 6.3 million yen and three of its kind are in use in Singapore, USA, and Japan, according to Kokoro company spokeswoman Kido Kayako. Its arms have 18 levels of motion and it mainly repeats pre-programmed movement and sounds.
"This was a lot of fun. I think that the Japanese have a strong sense that robots are our friends. Those in the robot industry mostly understand this, but people mainly want robots near them that serve some purpose," said bride Inoue Satoko (36) who works at manufacturer Kokoro.
"It would be nice if the robot was a bit more clever, but she is very good at expressing herself," said new husband Shibato Tomohiro (42), a professor of robotics at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology in central Japan.
Hello everyone! Are you enjoying your Saturday, or do you have heaps of work to get done and have no energy to get started? Either way, the regular Saturday gallery is going to help you recharge your batteries a bit.
Sankaku Complex
