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Learning Japanese with waterproof flashcards
by Karen Gellender, 03/11/2010
Learning Japanese with waterproof flashcards photo

Now, I know the purpose of these waterproof flashcards is to allow you to study while soaking comfortably in a nice warm bath, but I think I'm ready to take it one step further: I think I'm ready to start studying Kanji completely underwater.

Just think- it's March already. Soon it will be spring, after spring comes summer, and then I'll be in the pool. When I was a little girl I used to pretend that I was Ariel from The Little Mermaid and spend all of my time at the bottom of the pool, and to be honest I never really broke that habit- I mean, I don't usually find myself thinking "it's time to pretend that I'm a mermaid!" or anything, but the fact of the matter is that I do most of my swimming underwater. In fact, I try to spend as much of the summer underwater as humanly possible.

That's why it would be a nice touch if I could integrate my summer plans with learning Japanese the Baka Way- that is, continue studying kanji not only between trips to the pool and by the pool, but in the pool. This way, I could punish myself for forgetting kanji by staying underwater for an extra five seconds or something, meaning that my very survival would depend upon improving my Japanese reading comprehension. What can I say, I'm one of those people who works better under pressure.

I'm not trying it at the beach, though- I don't think I could take getting sand in my bathing suit AND trying to memorize multiple kun readings. I can deal with one or the other, but not both.

 

  2 comments Latest by DGX Goggles
"I'm already training underwater WHILE UPSIDE DOWN"...read more



 Lightning Warrior Raidy II now available for preorder
by Karen Gellender, 03/11/2010
Lightning Warrior Raidy II now available for preorder photo

Considering how often I say things like "Why must it always be PORN??", I might not seem like the most likely person to be bringing you news about the hentai dungeon-crawler Lightning Warrior Raidy II:Temple of Desire. However, not only do I own the first game, but I've written about it in the past.

Why is this? Well, see, the thing is I love dungeon crawlers. I love dungeon crawlers to a stupidly huge extent. This led my fiance to wonder whether or not I could love ALL dungeon crawlers unconditionally, so I was gifted Lightning Warrior Raidy in order to find out the truth. It turns out that I do NOT love all dungeon crawlers unconditionally, but it wasn't the hentai images in the game that I had a problem with- it was the navigation. The useless map system in the game annoyed me long before the porn had a chance to. Plus, the combat was about as basic as it gets. If you weren't into the ero side of it, there was very little there.

However, if the new game actually has loads of new features and "a brand new map interface" as promised, I will face a dilemma- what if the second LWR is actually a good game? Will I get addicted to it, and then start getting into yuri through osmosis? It makes my life easier when hentai games just suck- then I can simply mock them and move on. This game seems to be in way too much danger of actually being decent under a thick coat of ero-paint.

You can pre-order Lightning Warrior Raidy II:Temple of Desire for $34.95- which is actually cheaper than most translated bishoujo games that I've seen. So at the very least, it has a good price point going for it; we'll just have to see about the rest.


  5 comments Latest by Seravi
"Do NOT get the second game, ... or the first game. They are not by any chance worth it. Since I can really sit through the long dialogs of visual novel, I have tried many H games with "gameplay"...."...read more



 The Otaku Sex Industry: 3D women desired, for now
by Karen Gellender, 03/11/2010
The Otaku Sex Industry: 3D women desired, for now photo

According to the Japan Subculture Research Center, many otaku haven't given up real women for the likes of Nene from Love Plus just yet. Of course, that doesn't mean that they're going out on dates either- pssh, that's just crazy talk. No, the current trend among Japanese otaku is to pay real women gobs and gobs of yen to dress up like maids and/or anime characters, and listen to them babble about anime. Or, otaku might pay a cosplayer to accompany them while shopping in Akihabara, so the be-ruffled lass can whisper encouraging things like "you have great taste in LCD monitors!", or "you're so tech-savvy, SUGOI!"

I never thought I would encounter an activity that would make traditional prostitution look so classy in comparison. I mean, normally I'm very conscious of checking my Western-bias; I am not quick to pass judgment on a culture that I know I do not truly understand. However....seriously, how messed up is this?

The fact that the current rift in Japanese otakudom is not between dating-vs.-not-dating, but 2D, imaginary girlfriends versus costumed, paid escorts/prostitutes (not that all of them are prostitutes; a full range of services are offered, from the innocent to the ridiculous), just seems beyond dysfunctional to me. I don't put all the blame on the stereotypical lonely otaku, either; apparently, many Japanese women refuse to give men the time of day, meaning that many otaku cannot get female companionship unless they a)pay for it, or b)imagine it.

I can't exactly condemn Japanese women for not wanting to jump to the barefoot-and-pregnant stage, but I sense a tremendous, growing fear of real women on the part of otaku that must be coming from somewhere; I think part of the popularity of moe is due to the fact that moe characters are vulnerable, inexperienced, and need protection, and inspire a sense of virility in men that they can no longer get in their interactions with contemporary women. Is the problem that many Japanese women simply are not interested in men? Or are Japanese men simply unprepared to deal with independent women, even if the women in question are open to dating? In any case, I call sociological shenanigans here.


  17 comments Latest by EpcotServo
"@ The Crimson Blade - And call it Everything Wrong with American Fandom? The Moe Hate is ridiculous. If every Anime show was just Hyper-Violent action shows that you claim to be the single best t..."...read more



 Glowsticks should be banned from the next Miku concert
by Josh Tolentino, 03/11/2010
Glowsticks should be banned from the next Miku concert photo

They nearly ruined the whole affair, especially for folks who have to view such things through a certain series of tubes, like myself.

The issue is - and I'm not afraid to admit it - that Miku and her Vocaloid friends are not real people. Until Crypton Future Media can build/grow proper vessels for their greatness, their concerts will be done via holographic projection onto a clear screen placed onstage.

What that means, then is that the audience should not  be allowed to bring in objects that will reflect on the screen. Because it, y'know, reminds everyone that hey, Miku doesn't have a proper physical form yet. 

Anyway, that aside, the concert went swimmingly. Check below for some awesome footage of her duet with Megurine Luka. 

If there was one good thing to come from all those damn glowsticks, someone in the crowd assembled several white and green ones to form a large leek-shaped glowstick.


view full story & comments

  17 comments Latest by DKnight
"Mad props to the guy with the glowing leek!"...read more



 VIZ debuts Yuu Watase's Arata: The Legend yesterday
by Josh Tolentino, 03/11/2010
VIZ debuts Yuu Watase's Arata: The Legend yesterday photo

Yup, yesterday, which means that the first volume of Arata: The Legend should be on store shelves right now. It's from Yuu Watase, also known as the lady behind Fushigi Yuugi and Ceres: Celestial Legend.

Just to get you pumped for your next bookstore run, here's a bit of background info on this newest entry to VIZ's Shounen Sunday imprint line:

In a world where humans and gods coexist, Arata is the unfortunate successor to the matriarchal Hime Clan--unfortunate because if he's not cross-dressing to hide his gender one minute, he's fleeing for his life the next! When Arata winds up in the modern world and switches places with a boy named Arata Hinohara, it's a wonder which Arata is actually better off...

In Volume 1, Hinohara is the spitting image of Arata, so he suddenly finds himself fighting people after his life! As he navigates through this foreign world filled with power-hungry warriors, who will come to his aid?

Alternate worlds, warriors, and cross-dressing. Something for everyone! Any takers?


  3 comments Latest by Kageryu
"Traps...? Hm..."...read more



 Oh happy day! Wandering Son to see anime adaptation!
by Brad Rice, 03/11/2010
Oh happy day! Wandering Son to see anime adaptation! photo

Wow, a few great days in a row. How lucky am I? First, I find out that Fantagraphics has licensed one of my favorite manga titles and are bringing it over to the US this year, and now I found out that in the latest chapter of the manga, they've announced an upcoming anime adaptation!

We're waiting on details such as staff and cast, but I'm expecting great things of this. C'mon, I'm pulling for A-1 Pictures to animate this, just on a whim.

While we're waiting for more news, be sure to check out Deb Aoki's interview with Gary Groth of Fantagraphics, where he sheds a bit more light on the intricate process of picking and choosing manga titles for their line. 


  2 comments Latest by Miraito
"I'm excited about this too."...read more



 gwjunkie review: Grand Fantasia
by gwjunkie, 03/11/2010
gwjunkie review: Grand Fantasia photo

[Editors Note: This is a promoted Community Blog, written by one of our readers. If you would like to see your own Cblog on the front page, warm up your keyboard and write something awesome! ~Jon Snyder] 

(Yes, feel free to add me if you play. This character is on the Alice channel 1.)

Some of you may remember that Karen gave a brief review of Grand Fantasia not long ago. Because my brother has also been playing this game for a while, I decided to see what it was about before I scold my brother for neglecting his other gaming duties. 

Am I disappointed? In some ways. Every game has its issues, somewhere. But there aren't enough in Grand Fantasia for me to drop it, which is very surprising considering the kind of game it first appears to be.


view full story & comments

  6 comments Latest by gwjunkie
"Aw, what made you stop playing GW? And SPORTS? What kind of otaku ARE you? I admit Mass Effect is pretty cool. I haven't played enough to consider "moving on" to it though."...read more

Gallery Images:
Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo


Why Yakuza 3 is blatantly better than Final Fantasy XIII
by Edward Baylon, 03/10/2010
Why Yakuza 3 is blatantly better than Final Fantasy XIII photo

This week, one of the most anticipated Japanese Role-Playing Games just came out in the western market, and that game is Final Fantasy XIII. I'm sure many of you out there are going to get (or already have) this latest installment of a beloved franchise but did you also know that another JRPG also came out this week? That game is Yakuza 3, from the wildly popular Yakuza video game series in Japan.

I've only recently discovered the Yakuza series and the games amazingly blend traditional JRPG elements with an action brawler set in a modern day Japan. The Yakuza games puts you in the role of Kazuma Kiriyu, a badass Yakuza who is nowhere near like the usual brooding, effeminate trap that have become the staple in many JRPGs.

The Yakuza games haven't enjoyed the same success in the west than it did in Japan. Many would say that Yakuza 3 is being sent to die to be released alongside one of the most anticipated games in the last decade. So I'm here to prove to you how Yakuza 3 blatantly better than Final Fantasy XIII.

Hit the jump to find out why Yakuza 3 is the new JRPG hotness!


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  29 comments Latest by Kougeru
"I found FF to be worth more money..more hours in it for me, and I enjoy REAL rpg combat and not that action-game button-smashing. A lot of the fights in FF13 require you to think differently than..."...read more



 HearJapan wants you to win Vocaloid figures for Miku day
by Josh Tolentino, 03/10/2010
HearJapan wants you to win Vocaloid figures for Miku day photo

Actually, it's a little late for Miku day itself, which was yesterday, but HearJapan's "Miku Treasure Hunt" contest is still running, and you might just win some adorable Vocaloid figurines and store credit.

To hunt for the musical treasure that is Miku, just hit up HearJapan's contest page, sign in, and download a free album, which is loaded with ten untitled, untagged Vocaloid songs. Your job will be to identify the songs by browsing their Vocaloid library and listening to the various 30 second samples. The winners will be selected from the correct entries, and notified on April 9th.

The first place winner gets the awesome Good Smile Miku Nendoroid, a calendar, and 5000 yen in HearJapan store credit. Placers 2nd through 4th can choose the Kagamine Len, Kagamine Rin, or Megurine Luka Nendoroids and will also score 2000 yen in store credit. Even the 5th through 8th placers can claim a cute 2010 calenda. The last two winners will make a cool 500 yen in store credit, enough to get a couple of Miku songs for their trouble.

Anyone planning to enter? I could certainly use a Nendoroid, though I think I'd prefer a Luka figurine rather than one of Miku. She's 20, and thus is less likely to fall afoul of the law.

 

 

  4 comments Latest by nortonantivirus
"After brute forcing a hell of alot of albums I have, I found out I was wrong. At least one isn't a remix. I know, I found it. :P"...read more



 Chiaki Kuriyama debuts new song at MTV Iggy
by Danica Davidson, 03/10/2010
Chiaki Kuriyama debuts new song at MTV Iggy photo

They say MTV is no longer about the music, but MTV Iggy still has some musical stuff going on. This site gives itself the headline "Breakthrough Music and Pop Culture from around the Globe" and has information on entertainment from the UK, Israel, India, Brazil . . . all over the place, really . . . and yes, Japan.

In fact, this week it was MTV Iggy that debuted Chiaki Kuriyama's single Ryusei No Namida, the theme song for Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. There's even a page dedicated to this stylish singer.

Take a look at the video below and let us people here at Japanator know what you think. The song itself starts about twenty-five seconds into the video.


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  5 comments Latest by Gush
"I remember the time when I first saw her in Battle Royale. :D"...read more






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