I’m not sure where the readers of Jtor stand on such thorny subjects as that of World War II, but I’m about to do something to find out by highlighting a book that recently came to light in the US national media. The book is called Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization, by Nicholas Baker (incidentally from my hometown of Rochester, NY), and it deals with, of course, World War II, but it brings up an important question – is there such a thing as a “just war,” and was World War II an example of one such war?
The hypothesis of the book is that the answer to the above question is a resounding no. To back up its hypothesis, the book looks at various (and often overlooked) historical documents from the time such as newspaper articles, journals, diaries, and snippets from memoirs. The intent of the author was to create a day-by-day account of the war as opposed to looking at it from a blanket perspective so that readers can understand the various contradictions of the war.
Although the book deals mainly with the European front, some interesting statements are made about the fight against the Japanese as well – for one thing, the book portrays Franklin D. Roosevelt as someone who actually taunted the Japanese into attacking Pearl Harbor. Historical documents he uses to back this up include ones that mention the US wanting to arm the Chinese during its conflict with Japan prior to WWII, the US oil embargo against Japan, and others.
Although I haven’t read the book, its subject matter does bring up some very strong feelings within me. While I do support the book and its message, the feelings that World War II in general brings up in me…aren’t pretty. If you want to know them, I’ve posted them after the jump, but read at your own risk.
What is going on here? Someone in Japan is toying with my emotions! They've teased at some kind of cross between my favorite Wii golf game, Pangya (Super Swing Golf in the US), and my favorite computerized voice... character... thing.
Dark Diamond tells us that the Pangya Web page has been updated with an announcement of some kind of event event tied in with Vocaloid’s lovely blue-haired vocalist Hatsune Miku. Of course, they aim only to tease, as no other details are given. I suppose we'll just have to wait until the May 22nd event to find out.
Maybe they're on top of this and have been reading minds Really, the only way I could love Pangya more is if Miku was one of the characters. Or better yet, my caddy!
If you've never heard of or played what Dark Diamond calls "loli golf," check out the video after the jump.
What do you think? Would you like to get in the rough with Miku?
Now here is a game that might have the chance of being localized for those of us who can’t read moon runes, Mugen no Frontier: Super Robot Wars OG Saga, for the Nintendo DS. Unlike previous Super Robot Wars games, this one will not be your standard tactical strategy game, but will be more like a RPG game with a battle system like Valkyrie Profile. Also, the mecha aspect has been toned down heavily; in fact the mecha that do appear in the game are only three meters tall!
This story will take place on multiple worlds, and what I assume to be multiple dimensions; with characters from Namco X Capcom and Xenosaga joining in on the fun. Also, two of the main characters, Haken Browning and Kaguya Nanbu, share surenames with characters from the Super Robot Wars universe, Excellen Browning and Kyosuke Nanbu; quite a twist wouldn't you say? This game will be released in Japan on May 29.
Hear our prayers Atlas, please take this one under your wing!
As promised, here's where you can buy tickets to the Bleach movie if you're lucky enough to have a participating theater in your area. As I expected, there are three theaters in my artsy-fartsy neck of the woods showing both Memories of Nobody and the so-so Death Note live-action flick - click the ad on your right and give us precious, precious pennies! - which I am still attending in a coupla weeks. Hopefully, the tween crowds won't be as thick as I've heard Naruto attendance tends to get, and a good time will be had by all. With Bleach's dub's decent track record and DN's subtitles, I don't anticipate having to bring any artillery with me...at least not for use on the movie. Shrieking Byakuya fangirls might be a different story.
[UPDATE: My cycloptic colleagues inform me Death Note is going to be dubbed, hopefully less suckily this time. Now I'm frightened. Curious, though.]
Sorry about the delay, last week we had the battle of the sexes, per se. Big swords vs. big breasts, which would you rather have in an anime? The people have spoken, though this was not a happy pleasant speak. Choosing between the nectar of life and the steak of death is not something done with a simple passing thought alone; this takes great contemplation. Most of you would rather have big swords rather than big breast. That’s good, because that means there is a lot more for me then. Big Swords: 29 Big Breasts: 13
Curious about the next debate? Check it out after the jump!
How many times have you had the girls over and just dreamed about how TOTALLY AWESOME it would be if Gackt *squeee!*...Sorry...if Gackt just came over to your house *SQUEEEEE!!*...I know! But what if he just came over and sang a song just for you?! *dies*
OK, OK. So obviously that's never going to happen, no matter how many times you write his name in your dark diary and cover it with chicken blood and an ounce of your bitter tears. But now, thanks to the space age technology behind the immensely popular Vocaloid software, you can at least sort-of pretend to control his silky voice.
According to his website, Gackt has suppled his dulcet tones for a new edition of the magic box that created virtual robotic idol singer MikuHatsune. Clumsily titled "Gackpoid," (seriously, why not "Gacktoid?" Everyone is doing it!) users will be able to compose their own songs using Gackt as the singer. Well, sort of. You can get a glimpse of the horrible future here in this streaming Windows Media file. Warning, file contains Windows Media.
Obviously, that sample sounds awful, but in the hands of a seasoned Vocaloid master, I'm sure it'll be sheer Gackt gold. I mean, that's basically how pop singers are made to sound less like drunken salarymen and more like sweet sweet angels in the first place. They're just cutting out the middle man.
The first anime board game comes to us from Gozer Games. Collateral Damage lets you play as gang bosses that try to take over as many cities as possible in Neo-Japan. Each gang is made up of characters from romantic comedy anime. Characters from Project A-ko and Dominion Tank Police have been licensed for the game.
This $40 game can be played with 2-6 players. Their Web page says that it has been in development for 10 years now, and was just released last November. ICv2 says that the game's illustrations were done by by Webcomic artist Shannon Townsend of Otaku-no-Yen.
Would you play an anime board game? We should make a Japanator one!
