Cross Game Vol.4 July 24, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Uncategorized.add a comment
Another month, another brilliant double volume of Cross Game arrives on my doorstep. And it doesn’t disappoint with a new rival for Aoba’s affections and the Seishu team finally embarking on their road to Koshien.
(SPOILERS) (more…)
Arietty DVD July 17, 2011
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This isn’t out in UK cinemas for another 2 weeks, but a friend just returned from Japan bearing gifts! And I thought I’d missed out as the DVD release date was just after I returned to the UK from my trip.
The DVD is apparently selling out all over Japan, so getting hold of this is quite lucky. Can’t wait to watch it. Review to follow soon.
Koshien July 17, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Japan, Travel, Video.Tags: Baseball, Hanshin Tigers, Koshien
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Among my many ambitions is to visit the hallowed ground of Koshien Stadium in Osaka, home of arguably Japan’s most famous baseball team: the Hanshin Tigers. I finally achieved this last month.
I can’t really say I’m a baseball fan. It’s not shown in the UK so I don’t really understand the rules, yet alone the complicated stats and tricks that make it fascinating. My real reason for visiting is what it represents: a dream, or rather the goal of a dream. Every year, Koshien hosts the finals of Japan’s National High School Baseball Championship, and it’s that dream is immortalised in numerous baseball manga and anime, not least the works of Mitsuru Adachi. Having become a fan of Adachi-sensei in the last few years through Touch and Cross Game, a trip to Koshien represents a pilgrimage of sorts to me. (more…)
Japan 2011 – the otaku’s tale July 4, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Anime, Culture, Japan, Manga, Travel.Tags: Den Den Town, Kobe, Osaka, Osamu Tezuka, otaku, Takarazuka, Tetsujin 28-go
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No trip to Japan is complete without a bit of fanboying. I’ve written about the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum and Tetsujin 28 statue already (the Tezuka museum was probably the otaku highlight of my trip).
This post is largely mopping up a few random observations and running through this trip’s haul of merchandise. (more…)
Tetsujin 28 statue, Kobe July 4, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Anime, Japan, Manga, Travel.Tags: Kobe, Robot, Tetsujin 28-go
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I saw the life-sized Gundam on my last trip to Japan, so it seemed appropriate to this time visit the other giant robot statue in Japan: Kobe’s Tetsujin 28. (more…)
Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum July 3, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Anime, Japan, Manga, Personal, Travel.Tags: Anime, Astro Boy, Manga, Osamu Tezuka, Phoenix, Takarazuka, Tetsuwan Atom, Tezuka
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One of the highlights of my trip to Japan was a visit to this shrine to the ‘God of Manga’ Osamu Tezuka.
Given how many times I’ve been to Kansai, I’d thought about stopping by many times before, but never quite had the time or inclination. For one thing, I haven’t actually read or watched that much of his original work. Probably the closest I’ve come is watching recent remakes or reimaginings, like Naoki Urasawa’s Pluto series. This is not to say I’m ignorant – I’m fully aware of Tezuka-sensei’s influence and history (it’s hard for any anime or manga fan not to be). In fact, one of the earliest anime I saw as a child was a bastardised cut of an adaptation of his Phoenix series. It confused the hell out of me as a five year old, but it says something about Tezuka’s vision that part of it still sticks in my memory despite my youth, not to mention the bad dubbing and editing.
The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum is based in Tezuka’s home town of Takarazuka, an easy 40 minute ride from Osaka Station on the JR Takarazuka line. Exiting the station into a little shopping mall, you quickly find Atom pointing the way. (more…)
Japan trip 2011 July 3, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Japan, Travel.Tags: Fukuoka, Japan, Kagoshima, Kobe, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Nagasaki, Osaka, Takarazuka, Travel
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A few weeks ago I returned from my fourth trip to Japan. As usual, the time passed quickly and joyfully with just over two weeks passing by in a flash. In some ways, it was the usual whirlwind of a trip, but in many other ways, it was a different change of pace.
(I’ll drop in a few pics throughout the post, but as always there’s a rather extensive set on my Flickr. And just to warn you, this is a long post).
What do I remember from this trip to Japan? As usual it’s a hazy, jet-lagged mix of convenience stores, vending machines, shop assistants shouting “Irashaimaseeeeeee!!”, new friends, old friends, good food, PET-bottled drinks, 100 yen coins and being tired and excited all day every day. It’s the greatest experience of my life (again) and only reinforces how this is, without a doubt, my favourite place on earth. (more…)
20th Century Boys Vol. 15 July 1, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Manga.Tags: 20th Century Boys, Manga, naoki urasawa
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I received the latest volume of 20th Century boys this week and read it in one sitting!
Evangelion 2.22 blu ray June 23, 2011
Posted by ayasawada in Anime, Film.Tags: Anime, evangelion, GAINAX
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