Kimi ni Todoke

Cited from Animelist:

Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from "The Ring", which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose "100% refreshing" personality earns him great admiration from Sawako. So when Kazehaya starts talking to her, maybe there is hope for the friendships Sawako has always longed for. Maybe...there is even a little hope for some romance in her future.


Review:

This is an AWESOME anime! I know I may seem biased because I am really into the whole shoujo romance manga/anime thing, but seriously, this must be the BEST depiction of what I had in mind of a GOOD shoujo romance anime. The love, although not formally expressed in words, is shown through actions and innermost thoughts and feelings. It makes the relationship between Sawako and Kazehaya to be so PURE and INNOCENT. Different than the typical romantic school romance anime, I find this to be the most realistic of all. I love how animes in this genre go into drama-mode where it will seem less anime-ish and make you forget that they are just drawings. For once, I felt the characters were lifelike. It is hard for a viewer to not feel attracted to Sawako's unique charm and personality and would love to befriend Yano-Chin (a gyaru character, kind and supportive, humorously masochist) and Chizu-chan (a former Yankee Girl who is actually really sensitive to emotional stuff, haha). The problems in school-life and relationships are shown in a more realistic form where viewers can actually relate to. The opening song and ending song are very soothing, and addictive. No teeny-bopper whiny moe songs, but actual songs with proper lyrics to go along with the movie! Refreshing! Overall, ths has definitely conquered the top-spot in my favourite animes.

Haven't said this before in previous anime posts, but this is a MUST watch.

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge

Cited from Animelist:
Takano Kyohei, Oda Takenaga, Toyama, Yukinojo, and Morii Ranmaru are going to rent a house for free on the condition that they make the niece of the house's landlady a "lady". However, Nakahara Sunako, the girl living there, is gloomy, weird, and horror movie maniac. She has a trauma of when she was told ugly by the boy whom she loved when she was in junior high school. She doesn't like beautiful things and gets a nosebleed when she looks at something beautiful.

Review:

Different from the other animes that I have watched, I started of with the manga first for this one. And I had been anticipating the anime for a while back then. I LOVE Sunako! She is different then the typical prissy, pretty, pheromone-exuding, cutesy female anime lead characters. The more you get to know her in this anime, the more you want to befriend her! Despite loving all-out gore, preserved intestines and skulls, he would make the perfect housewife (or a housekeeper? LOL). Kyouhei's character is a bit exaggerated but everything seems to be exaggerated in this anime, making it a fun watch. Kyouhei is the MOST handsome boy to walk on this earth, according to my understanding of the anime. I mean, women and MEN actually fancy him. Disturbing, yes. Funny? Absolutely! I prefer Takenaga over Kyouhei though. I'm always favouring the darker haired characters over the seemed-to-be-more-famous blondies. For instance, in Fruits Basket I liked Shigure the most. Oh, and also, expect lots of nosebleed, LOTS OF. Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is a fun to watch anime that you would have no trouble rewatching again and again.

Valentine's Day and White Day

What comes to mind when we say Valentine's Day? Flowers? Teddy bears? Heart shaped balloons? Proposals? Chocolates? Jewelery? Extra special dates?

Valentine's may seem a complete normal and nonchalant day to us, but in Japan, there seem to be a whole set of rules when it comes to, erm, giving your chocolates to.

In Japan, Valentine's Day is observed by females who present chocolate gifts (either store-bought or handmade), usually to a male, as an expression of love, courtesy or social obligation. The handmade chocolate is usually preferred by the receiver, because it is a sign that the receiving male is the girl's "only one".

Many women feel obliged to give chocolates to all male co-workers, except when the 14th falls on a Sunday, a holiday. This is known as giri-choko (義理チョコ), from giri ("obligation") and choko, ("chocolate"), with unpopular co-workers receiving only "ultra-obligatory" chō-giri choko cheap chocolate. This contrasts with honmei-choko (本命チョコ, Favorite chocolate); chocolate given to a loved one. Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as tomo-choko (友チョコ); from tomo meaning "friend".

On White Day, the converse happens: males who received a honmei-choco (本命チョコ, "chocolate of love") or giri-choco (義理チョコ, "courtesy chocolate") on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually more expensive. Traditionally, popular White Day gifts are cookies, jewellery, white chocolate, white lingerie and marshmallows. Sometimes the term sanbai gaeshi (三倍返し?, literally, "thrice the return") is used to describe the generally recited rule that the return gift should be two to three times the cost of the Valentine's gift.

Extracted from here and here. Photos from Google.

On a totally different note, White Day is my birthday. (^_~)

Azumanga Daiou!

Cited from Animelist:

Azumanga Daioh is about high school life through the eyes of six girls with unusual personalities: Chiyo (the 10-year-old genius), Osaka (the resident airhead), Sakaki (the shy one prone to cat bites), Tomo (the loose cannon), Yomi (the short-tempered one) and Kagura (the resident jock).


Review:
A sweet anime for those who love moe-ness of cute school girls! There is not really a proper storyline, more to the day to day life of schoolgirls. The anime goes to the entire 3 years of high school; the school festivals, summer breaks, sports days etc. Some memorable characters beside the main characters above would be Yukari-chan, their homeroom teacher; wacky, crazy, fun-loving, self-centered and probably the worst driver ever? LOL. Chiyo chan was psychologically scarred after riding with her. Haha! The only prominent male character would be this male teacher, Kimura Sensei who erm, is a creepy pervert man who enjoys admiring school girls. I don't like him period. My favourite episode is episode 16, where they organised a stuffed animal cafe for their second school festival and Chiyo chan dressed in a penguin costume. Believe me, the kawaii overload of this episode will make you return to this anime again and again. The final episode for me was a tearjerker, where they were graduating from the school. Most probably because I can relate to it as I am facing my convocation at the end of the year. This anime is definitely an enjoyable one and Chiyo chan will be forever etched in your mind, with penguin costume or not.



And I present to you Chiyo chan in a Penguin Costume! (because I think it is the cutest thing EVAR.)

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijyou

Cited from Animelist:

Miyazawa Yukino is the perfect student. Kind, intelligent, pretty and modest, it's unbelievable that such a person could exist. Little did everyone know Yukino's perfection was just a facade. An act to fulfill her desire for praise and admiration. Her life took a turn however, as a newcomer to their school Arima Soichiro topped the exam rankings. Arima is more then just intelligent, he's also kind, handsome and modest, an unbelievable person who can actually exist. Even worse luck, Arima found out Yukino's secret, blackmailing her to help him out. Their odd relationship soon develops into friendship and eventually into love. But can their love prevail through the many problems that come their way?

Review:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this anime. The storyline would be a bit slow for others, but I think it was well thought out. I love how different the two lead characters are in terms of personality. And the love story between them is light and beautiful as a first love should be. They start of as smart-ass rivals, with Yukino feeling challenged by Arima's non-chalant smartness. She prides herself as being the top of everything and lives for applauses and praises by friends and teachers. Only her family knows her true personality as an attention whore. Arima on the other hand has a dark past. The two suddenly got together when Yukino accidentally left her guard down in front of Arima. They got closer after that and only the two of them truly understood each other's true pesonality and secrets. My favourite character is Asapin, who makes the story light-hearted with his perverted jokes and cute girls-collecting mission. However, I wish the story had a more prominent ending. It felt like the ending was a cliffhanger leading me to believe there would be a second season or something, but sadly no. Overall, it's still a good watch!

Proper Sushi-Eating Etiquette

I am a HUGE Japanese food junkie.

I can eat sushi and sashimi for the rest of my life and still be happy.

Unfortunately I just realized that all the while I have been eating sushi the wrong way. :'(

Check out this article on "Are You Sushi Savvy?"

And I am unfortunately guilty for two sushi-eating malfunctions:

1. Dipping the rice into soy sauce

2. Mixing wasabi into the soy sauce turning it into a greenish soupy gunk.

(T____T) I am ashamed.

Fortunately while Googling, I found this page on sushi-eating etiquette which provides all the major Do's and Don'ts when eating sushi. Let's not make the sushi chef cringe everytime we're mixing the wasabi in the soy sauce. ("-_-)

Detroit Metal City

Cited from Animelist:

Souichi Negishi is a shy young man who came from the rural Ota Prefecture to Tokyo for college and wished to become a kindergarten teacher. However, for some reason he became the singer and songwriter of a metal band named "Detroit Metal City," with a stage name "Johannes Krauser II." Whenever he wears the heavy makeup, Negishi becomes a completely different person, shouting the most vulgar profanities beyond anyone`s imagination. With the popularity of DMC increases, Negishi starts worrying his double personalities can have negative effects on his (romantic) life off stage.

Review:

How do I start this.. Hmm.. This would be a totally LYAO type of anime. It does seem to be more of a favourite among guys though, but it seemed to be so famous in Japan, that I decided to give it a go since I usually watch animes based on reviews. And this anime did not get any rating below 9! And it is totally well deserved, I must say. But definitely not for the faint-hearted and the prissy prudents. The words commonly used in this anime are "F*ck" and "Rape". But trust me, anyone with a good sense of humour would love this. Negishi is an obedient son who loves his parents, good with animals and is into ballad love songs. After coming to Tokyo, he suddenly found himself as Krauser II, vocalist of Metal band Detroit Metal City singing about killing and raping his parents and well, you get the idea. My favourite character would have to be DMC's manager; foul-mouthed and seems to get turned on by anything metal. And another plus point is that each episode runs for 13 minutes. 10 minutes if you skip the opening and ending credits, so you can easily complete the series within 2 hours, yay!


HERE's a DVD commercial on the anime. Unfortunately it's not English subbed, but you sort of get the idea when you watch it. Oh, the live action movie is already out, I'll be watching it and reviewing it sooner or later! The MOVIE TRAILER looks awesome too!

Koko ni Iru Yo and Soba ni Iru Ne

Both songs are currently on my playlist, and I really love this song since I first saw them perform it on Music Station while I was in Japan a while back. It doesn't sound like the typical JPop, but the songs were definitely ear-catching and different. Aoyama Thelma is gorgeous and she somehow reminds me of a Japanese Kelly Rowland. X3

The songs actually corresponded to each other, the first one sang by Soulja, "Koko ni Iru Yo" (I am Here) featuring Aoyama Thelma and the corresponding song was "Soba ni Iru Ne" (Together Here) sung by Aoyama Thelma featuring Soulja. They are GENIUSES I TELL YOU, because the songs are AWHSUM.

Since the videos are already subbed with Romaji and English lyrics, I'll just put the kanji here for anyone to practice their reading skills. (^_~)

~Koko ni Iru Yo~

※Baby boy わたしはここにいるよ どこもいかずに待ってるよ
You know dat I love you だからこそ 心配しなくていいんだよ
どんなに遠くにいても変わらないよこの心
言いたい事わかるでしょ?
あなたのこと待ってるよ※

不器用な俺 遠くにいる君
伝えたい気持ちそのまま言えずに 君は行っちまった
いまじゃ残された君はアルバムの中
電波でしか会えない日々 たけど見えないぜ君の微笑み
君のぬくもり 髪の香り こののどの渇きはそのまま満たされずに
過ぎてく日々の中 なんだか君の面影ひたすら探した
君とよく歩いたあの道は 今俺だけの足音が響いていた
んなことよりお前の方は元気か? ちゃんと飯食ってるか?
ちくしょう、やっぱ言えねえや
また今度送るよ 俺からのLetter

(※くり返し)

鎌倉の砂浜で見た君の姿 波にのまれた君に言いたい言葉
なんだかマジせつねぇ 男なのになんで…言葉出てこねぇや
覚えてますか?君と行ったカラオケの中
俺が入れた曲の言葉 モニターに浮かんだまま
ほんとは君に伝えたかった
君と二人きりで初めて待ち合わせをしたあの日
まるで偶然に会ったかのようにはしゃぎ
微笑む君が忘れられないって
話かなりそれちまったがわかるよな?俺が言いたい言葉
S**t 残り書く場所がねえや
ごめん 次は絶対に送るから

(※くり返し)

俺がもっと金持ちだったら もっとまともな仕事をしてたら
もしもすべて犠牲にできたのなら 俺は絶対に君を…
だがPlease勘違いだけはすんな 君に寂しい思いはさせたくねぇが
忙しい中あんま話せねぇが
baby believe これは all for our future
But 正直 今すぐ君と会いたい 今すぐ抱きしめてやりたい
昔 君が俺の隣で座ってた席には もう誰もいないって…
まぁ そんな事はいいんだ 言いたいことはそんなんじゃねぇんだ
いまさらだが ずっと言いたかった言葉を込め 送るUnsent letter

Baby girl わたしはここにいるよ どこもいかずに待ってるよ
You know dat I love you だからこそ 心配しなくていいんだよ
どんなに遠くにいても変わらないよこの心
言いたい事わかるでしょ?
あなたのこと待ってるよ

Baby boy わたしはここにいるよ どこもいかずに待ってるよ
You know dat I love you だからこそ 心配しなくていいんだよ
どんなに遠くにいても変わらないよこの心 今なら素直に言えるよ
I don't eva wanna let you go

~Soba ni Iru Ne~

あなたのこと　私は今でも思い続けているよ
いくら時流れて行こうと　I'm by your side baby いつでも
So　どんなに離れていようと
心の中ではいつでも一緒にいるけど　寂しいんだよ
So baby please　ただ hurry back home

Baby boy　あたしはここにいるよ　どこもいかずに待ってるよ
You know dat I love you　だからこそ　心配しなくていいんだよ
どんなに遠くにいても変わらないよこの心
言いたい事わかるでしょ?
あなたのこと待ってるよ

んなことよりお前の方は元気か?　ちゃんと飯食ってるか?
ちくしょう、やっぱ言えねぇや
また今度送るよ　俺からのLetter

過ぎ去った時は戻せないけれど　近くにいてくれた君が恋しいの
だけど　あなたとの距離が遠くなる程に　忙しくみせていた
あたし逃げてたの
だけど　目を閉じる時　眠ろうとする時　逃げきれないよ　あなたの事
思い出しては　一人泣いてたの

あなたのこと　私は今でも思い続けているよ
いくら時流れて行こうと　I'm by your side baby いつでも
So　どんなに離れていようと
心の中ではいつでも一緒にいるけど　寂しいんだよ
So baby please　ただ hurry back home

Baby boy　あたしはここにいるよ　どこもいかずに待ってるよ
You know dat I love you　だからこそ　心配しなくていいんだよ
どんなに遠くにいても変わらないよこの心
言いたい事わかるでしょ?
あなたのこと待ってるよ

不器用な俺　遠くにいる君
伝えたい気持ちそのまま言えずに　君は行っちまった
今じゃ残された君はアルバムの中

アルバムの中　納めた思い出の
日々より　何げない一時が　今じゃ恋しいの
And now　あなたからの電話待ち続けていた
携帯にぎりしめながら眠りについた
[抱きしめて会いたい]　どこも行かないよ　ここにいるけど
見つめ合いたいあなたのその瞳
ねぇわかるでしょ?　あたし待ってるよ

Baby boy　あたしはここにいるよ　どこもいかずに待ってるよ
You know dat I love you　だからこそ　心配しなくていいんだよ
どんなに遠くにいても変わらないよこの心
言いたい事わかるでしょ?
あなたのこと待ってるよ

俺はどこも行かないよ　ここにいるけれど　探し続けるあなたの顔
Your 笑顔　今でも触れそうだって思いながら手を伸ばせば　君は

あなたのこと　私は今でも思い続けているよ
いくら時流れて行こうと　I'm by your side baby いつでも
So　どんなに離れていようと
心の中ではいつでも一緒にいるけど　寂しいんだよ
So baby please　ただ hurry back home

あなたのこと　私は今でも思い続けているよ
いくら時流れて行こうと　I'm by your side baby いつでも
So　どんなに離れていようと
心の中ではいつでも一緒にいるけど　寂しいんだよ
So baby please　ただ hurry back home

Lyrics were derived from JpopAsia.

P/S: If the videos turn out to be unavailable, just search for them on YouTube, it'd be around somewhere. ;)

Nyan Koi!

Cited from animelist:

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

Review:

My bf loved this anime, I found it to be fun, but not as memorable as Furuba XD. But it had an interesting storyline which was different than the ones that I am usually familiar of. But I liked that it was funny and entertaining. However after a while it did get to me how much of an idiot Kousaka was for not realizing how much Kana-chan liked him. Heck, iw ouldn't have mind if he ended up with her, seeing how dedicated she was to him. And Mizuno just needs to take action dammit if she likes her just as much as he likes her. Geez, I hate unrequited love. But as a cat-lover, there were really cute cats in this anime. I liked that it only consisted of 26 episodes because I don't think I would have completed it if it was long-winding unless it was REALLY REALLY GOOD in my books. Oh, and there's a slight ecchi parts in this anime (guys would so dig this wtf.) and a lot of erm, groping wth. So not recommended for under 18, LOL. The characters were not really memorable, but this is a good watch if you are looking for something to pass the time. ;)


HERE's part 1 from episode 1 just in case you're curious! :D

Fruits Basket

Cited from animelist:

Tohru Honda is 16 year old orphaned girl who gets invited to live in the house of her classmate, the handsome boy Sohma Yuki, and his cousins, 16 year old Kyo and 27 year old Shigure. However, these young men and parts of the rest of their family (both close and distant) hold a curse; if they are hugged by the opposite gender, they transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Everyday is an adventure for sweet Tohru, as she gets to know everyone in the large family better (especially Yuki and Kyo), in both common and bizarre situations. But, the Sohma Family curse is certainly no laughing matter... it also holds horrible cruelity and heartbreak.


Review:

Fruits Basket or also known as Furuba, was my first ever anime and I am glad that I was persistently introduced to it by my best friend. It was what made me fell in love with anime. The storyline is captivating and riveting. The usage of Chinese Zodiac make viewers want to identify themselves with their own Zodiac character. For this, I was Momiji, the Rabbit. And he is the most adorable character with the cutest voice ever that most of my ringtones consists of his voice! LOL. It is a nice anime with LOTS of humour and a visual feast for female viewers mostly (I LOVE LOVE LOVE SHIGURE AND AYAME XD). But there are also those sad moments within the anime that would be tearjerking. (I CRY AT THE SAME SCENES EVERYTIME I REWATCH THIS SERIES T__T). But still, definitely a must watch for anime lovers. Oh, and the OST is AWESOME. ;)

Check out the opening song! I know it sounds sad, but you'll understand it throughout watching the anime! Enjoy! :)

"Serenade" by Ritsuko Okazaki

First Post 始まるよ～！！！

Wow, after thinking it thoroughly, and some persistence aka motivation from my bf, I decided to create a blog for my passion for anything Japanese!

Currently still editing the blog here and there so there will be something exciting in the near future.

Expect lots of anime, JPop, Japanese food, Nihongo (Japanese Language) and possibly stories on trips to Japan? *all flexible limbs crossed*