cognitive_buzz

My CDs came from CDJapan. Mizuki Nana's Shinai and May'n's May'n☆Street. Thinking I will only get them by the end of this week, surprisingly it was already in the mailbox since Saturday or Sunday and the house mailbox was opened only last night.

( Welcome to my Space☆ )

First post of the year, Shinai PV from youtube below.





( delicious screencaps and more… )

Other songs in the Shinai single going to be released on 21th Jan 08.

1. 深愛
2. PRIDE of GLORY (radio rip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFyLd3G4sCQ
3. 午前0時のBaby Doll (from Gold Rush radio rip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiqzlGRFFqY

Unrelated, I can graduate successfully after all. (Appeal approved today, and filed for graduation.

19thシングル「深愛」
発売日：2009年1月21日
発売元：キングレコード
品番：KICM-1270
盤種：CD Single
価格：￥1,200(税込)

Mizuki Nana's new single going to be released on 21st Jan 09 which happened to be her 29th birthday and also this blog too, but it was a coincidence.
That is so far one of the nicest single cover, and some more it's a close up shot. The similarity of the black background and flowers reminded me of one of Gackt's single cover "No ni Saku Hana no Yo Ni". But of course Nana one is nicer.

I don't know if I should really get the CD single as I tend to get album to save money. Maybe I should due to the nice cover. May'n is also releasing her mini album "May'n Street" on the same day too. It is a good excuse to get the single together with the album huh.

On daily note, I have been marathon-ing China drama version of tenipuri, if you have been following the fandom now and then. What amused me the most is the angst and raw emotions of the characters you don't really see in manga/anime. It's a good thing, though it can get abit draggy at times, especially at Kawamura and his father subplot. It's a drama so it really feel like one. I think I should be posting some interesting screenshots and comments within these few days.

If you are free you can watch it off www.tudou.com. And search for 网球王子真人版. You probably need a plugin called 飞速土豆 to be installed first so that your flash player won't stop loading after a while. It is supposed to help speedup the loading. Else you can try refreshing the page.

http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/wangquiwz/shipin/more.html <---- (in chinese) in the making and specials. Or you are lousy with chinese, you can always wait for for the subs.

And I have been playing game too. Playing deBlob on Wii. I don't own it but my bf does. My right arm is aching due to my bad playing oh well. More deBlob.

Arggh, results coming out soon.

The glorious trailer.



I got to admit I quite like the effects used. But in terms of follow the original adaption, it totally failed. I don't like Dragonball. Anyway, it's something coming from Hollywood so it won't definitely follow the original storyline.

Annnnndddd,
Ayumi Hamasaki is going to sing the theme for the movie. Superbly great.

How come I see the pattern of good songs being used for shitty anime/movies? and also the other way round? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


On another note, I passed my IBM certification test. The testers from IBM came late for 30 minutes and took another 30 minutes to set up and wait for him to key in the private code individually before we could start the test. The best thing was a few of my friends were already done with 20-25 mins as the questions were almost 60%? identical to the few-years-series past exams questions given by another friend who took the same test last time. And we all passed. But I thought almost all of the questions looked the same to me. Lucky I studied the whole ebook and did the past exams questions some hours before the test, so I wasn't so lost in what the questions were asking. But it kinda WTF as you don't really have to tried using the software to pass it, just mug. And I dunno if that will kinda defeat the purpose of the cert. Anyway it's good that I can take the test for free though.

It's another month of holidays before I start my final semester.

This is the original coloured draft by Konomi-Sensei being exhibited at a small corner in the Suntec city convention hall level 4. Pretty saddened by the tiny exhibit of the Jump-Festa thing. I needed some expectations adjustment damn.

May'n mini-concert was epic-ly good. Too bad I can't get her autograph. :( Somehow it was already decided when I bought the VIP pass instead of the DIAMOND VIP pass. Oh well, it's another boo-hoo. (plus the extra long queue-ing for the AFA entrance ticket.)

( abit more but I don't have nice photos of May'n being taken because it's not allowed )

Seems like there are some dorama going after AFA'08 regarding the pre-signed white board that the Diamond VIP were given, and they were refused signatures on their CDs and posters by the management. You can read them here, here here and here. (if you're really bored.)

My thoughts on the issue -- whether or not it's pre-signed, I think it's already a privilege to received an autograph from May'n. Especially in Singapore when we rarely have Japanese singers coming. Just think about those who didn't even get chance to get an autograph or even a handshake.

Mizuki Nana's father Kondou Nobumitsu passed away at the age of 75 on Oct 29th due to multiple organs failure. Nana is 28 this year. Here is a translation of her heart wrenching blog entry.

One thing is she won't be posting on her blog everyday, something I always looked forward to on reading her entries. I guess the amount of emotional turmoil she's going through must be really great considering how much she has shown to be respecting and loved her father. Nana doesn't talk about her family, so she actually did well in keeping her private life in private. But maybe it is also is something she won't like fans to worry, and continued to be strong.

:(

Shit, the $118 diamond VIP passes has been SOLD OUT. But the pre-sales only started from today NOON!! Damn the response is really good. I'm now left with the VIP pass ($68) to get. 1/15 chance to get autograph, my hopes aren't that high. :( But then my friend who wants to come along with is broke... if I really seriously think about it: May'n is not my most fav singer, she's no Mizuki Nana, Megumi Hayashibara, Tamura Yukari, Horie Yui, Sakamoto Maaya... I'm wondering if it's really worth forking out $68 for it. but there are people willingly paid $118!

On the other hand, I should be supporting such singers whom the organisers managed to invite to Singapore to hold a live. It's a opportunity not to be miss, seriously. I MEAN SINCE THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY JAPANESE BANDS/SINGERS WILLING TO COME TO SINGAPORE TO HOLD A LIVE. To date only Change & Asuka, Misia to date (so far that I can remember). Even Tenimyu hold their overseas musical in Taiwan and Korea recently (oh dears! I just knew it recently from Kato Kazuki's blog as he was in those musicals! DAMN!), responses were overwhelming of course. (Singapore, you're too SMALL!!).

EMOS.

May'n singing voice for Sheryl Nome of Macross Frontier is CONFIRMED coming to Singapore's Anime Festival Asia 2008 for live event!!

via here

OMG YESH!

*spazzes*

NOW THAT'S HOW AN ANIME CONVENTION SHOULD BE HELD.

but Japanese artists dun really come to Sg anyway. :'(

I thought to share this coz this animation is too cute.
Official Site: Lamie De Zoe

I reformatted hard disks on my laptop after several attempts. I managed to find the trick of reformat C: drive of in my Fujitsu laptop after I googled 'how to reformat hard drive' or sth like that, as I can't format it from the system tools option. (They don't allow it.) So my disks are cleared of hidden trash files and viruses. Now my C: drive can more spaces for Adobe CS3 and Visual Studio '05.

So what I've been doing:
1) Watched Gundam Wing TV series together with Endless Waltz OVA. I regained the fangirl/otaku feelings after watching after it died together with the PoT saga. Back then I didn't get to finish the whole thing on TV, only some episodes here and there. I realised there is a lot of plot that I missed. Clear my misunderstandings for most of the characters. And it's amazing that GW has no fanservice (only mecha) or whatsoever and can be still be captivating to watch. Last 9 episodes of GW is pure gold.

And I found out there are 2 opening versions of 'RHYTHM EMOTION'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z10U6msyF4M <-- version 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QshfZl9iAsM <-- version 2 (for the last 2 episodes)

Also 2 different versions of 'Just Communication'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBajABE2s7k <-- version 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYBi4AtCG40 <-- version 2 (abit bad quality)

But GW is already more than 13 years old. Need moar Gundam Wing. I don't care about SEED/SEED Destiny/00. yah.

2) Bidding for modules. Due to my lack of points I can't get the mods I want and have to appeal. I have to wonder why some CS mods have a surge of ppl bidding for it, and I can't seem to get it. The process is not stressing, just super plain sian. The top no.1 reason students hate CORS for.

I finally started watching Macross Frontier and I'm loving every minute of it. And I craving for the next episode after watching one, and weirdly Code Geass didn't really make me crave for episodes so badly like Macross Frontier. since the days of Yu-Gi-Oh!s & Nanohas

Nevermind the fact that Macross series span for about 25 years and already have several spinoffs/OVAs/prequels/sequels in the 80s. I never really watched any of them as I didn't find them interesting enough. Macross F is good because its musical sequences cleverly mixed according the scenes and mood, and that superb animation that surpasses Code Geass. The animation is just filled with spectacle. Even if you don't like mecha, it's good enough to watch it for the music and animation. Some more the story is about a love triangle, romance cleverly done.

And I have this post dedicated to Macross Frontier, isn't it good enough to pick up that series? :)

The official JLPT site has just been updated. Woo it has changed an layout and looks much smarter now. It also has announcements regarding this year's 2008 jlpt test date on 7th Dec. As usual it falls on the first week of Sunday. I should be taking JLPT 3 this year, since I didn't took it last year as I felt I wasn't ready for it. I'm on the mentality that whenever I took tests I should pass with flying colours with good preparation instead of barging in without much studying. Somehow this doesn't work for uni's case. :'( JCS also has changed the site layout from red to baby blue. It's weird to have sites changed their layout maybe around the same time. But oh well.

On 2010, the JLPT tests are going to be revised, with new added level. And instead of calling the usual 'level 1, 2, 3,...' from the report of the site itself, it is going to be called N1, N2... to N5. N5 and N4 is going to like the usual level 4 and 3, while N3 (the new level) will be like a buffer level falling between the level 2 and 3. Currently, the difficulty between level 2 and 3 is rather steep. They also toying with the idea of scheduling the tests twice a year. Seems like in July, N1 and N2 exams will be scheduled, and end year all the level will be administered as usual in December. It sounds like good news to me, at least I have the chance to take the exams in middle of the year instead of end of the year. I bet the new revised levels will be good to my friends who are currently studying Japanese not too long ago.

Also, they are going to rise the difficulty of N1, and bringing it higher than the currently level 1. Plus revising the marking scheme which I don't know how yet, since my Japanese not so good to decipher every single word of the report. (Maybe not so good news, it would probably mean more studying, and time to search Japanese pen pals to converse with. =/)

I watching Slayers Revolution, if you remembered and liked the Slayers, it a show not to be miss. Coz they are continuing where they left off from the TRY series AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS BEEP. I'm still looking out for new anime titles to watch to add on my current list.
Kurenai, Code Geass R2, Zero no Tsukaima -Princess no Rondo Vampire Knight is already over and sequel is coming out in Oct/Nov. Probably thinking of watching Macross Frontier but I abit lazy to download. Maybe trying out Soul Eater when I'm done with Kurenai. Hmmm but I'm not really sure.

Okay, and I'm also sort of in time with happenings in xxxHOiLC, Tsubasa, Naruto and Gakuen Alice. I kinda lazy to continue Bleach from the Arrancar arc onwards, and the later chapters are flashbacks chapters of the past captains. OH OH. But I'm not really interested. So much for being lazy oh well. Anyway, according to the storyline in xxxHOiLC and Tsubasa which are reaching climax soon, the ending will come probably next year. I don't know how Naruto will end coz there are still a lot to go on in the epic story. Gakuen Alice not so sure, I'm waiting for Chapter 100 to be scanlated though.

I don't know if I need to change my Japanese class timing again for the next term as the timetable of the modules for next academic year are not finalised yet. Currently, I'm taking class on Weds evenings, and hoping not to have modules to have classes in late evenings. Or more like not having classes that ends on 6pm else I have to rush and have late dinners. But next week, I will have to register for a class already if I wan to stay on the Wed class. =/ Feeling the dilemma? Hopefully CORS updates before next Wednesday.

It's late but I can't sleep. Trying to finish up Japanese composition but I can't resist to urge to surf net while I'm trying to form sentences with the grammar I learnt. And the topic is quite a boring one [私の習い事] which direct translates to [My lesson], in the compo I'm supposed to write about lessons (school not counted) that I attended after I was borned till present. I'm writing about attending Japanese classes since I haven't pick up driving, and all the extra lessons like swimming, violin classes... that I took up were sort of tie up with school. Unless I make up one, since it's just a compo.

If you remembered the Akihabara stabbing incident that took placed just last month, apparently there are many copycats of the similar crime that sprang up; announcing threats/notices on the Internet forums before committing the acts. Well, some fool tries to do the same thing to Mizuki Nana and fans (in Japan) but luckily he got arrested before he could go on to do what he wanted. Why? Last weekend (same Sat & Sun that Cosfest 08 was held), Mizuki Nana was having her summer live LIVE FIGHTER Concert. (Of course I didn't attend both Cosfest & Live Fighter Concert as I was a coward and a starving and poor student.) Those copycats are a crazy bunch of bored people with nothing better to do arh...

It's a good thing the concert ended safely. And Nana is going to release a new single on 1st October and release Blu-Ray version of her Live Fighter concert. YAY!! Why? because this Blu-Ray is going to be in the same region as the one in US, Japan and South East Asia!! That means when I buy a blu-ray player in sg, the disc will be playable by the player lah. (If I get the one with Region A of coz.) One step further in supporting my favourite artist.

thebakasaru, I saw your photos on so many anime blogs today. And your cosplay of Ranka looks good. Wah, you're famous already liao.

My favourites are Cornelia & Euphermia pair, the cute Haruhi cosplayer, another cute Ayu, and whole ANBU naruto one. I thought the group of Bleach Arrancar was pretty cool too.

Read the latest Naruto manga chapters. (Be warned it is in Chinese, there are English versions at NarutoFan.com) I sense the Naruto x Sasuke kizuna is getting stronger. Because Naruto thinking of Sasuke like a koibito. Something going to happen to Konoha sooner or later.

I bring you - some dlds. Links taken down.


Macross Frontier OST 1 Nyan Furo.

I feel everything that are good about the OST are the songs not the music which is pretty sad since OST should have more soundtrackish songs rather than singing ones. But I just highlighted those singing ones which I feel are worth listening for.

What 'bout my star (Sheryl on Stage) by May'n

It's alright, it's catchy after some repeat listening. Information about the singer May'n is she is also known as Sheryl Nome (she is obviously a Japanese). I didn't really know her until Macross Frontier although I have watched none of the episodes of MacrossF currently. She got a powerful voice, and I think she sings pretty well. | official site



( for more )

Today (CNY's eve) is the release of Mizuki Nana's
new single STARCAMP EP. I should go get my copy soon, but I got the mp3s already so a short review.

Astrogation - most of the reviewers said this song is rather mainstream popish, I kinda agreed. Probably due to the arrangement of the music, but this song is also the February theme song for music program '音楽戦士 MUSIC FIGHTER', one of the popular music program where popular j-pop artists (YUI, Ayumi Hamasaki, w-inds, etc...) appeared. So that explained the mainstream popish sounding-ness. PV

COSMIC LOVE - My least favourite of the whole single. OP theme for anime Rosario to Vampire, one harem anime. Didn't leave a great impression on me though.

Dancing in the velvet moon - the real highlight, and the one that I will repeat on my playlist. Also the ending theme for Rosario to Vampire (if the opening is just as good, but I don't watch the anime so anyway). If Justice to Believe and ETERNAL BLAZE were to mix together, you get Dancing in the velvet moon. no PV, but full version of song

空時計 (Soradokei) - Not fast pacing, but it reminded me of the mellow songs in her older albums where the tune is slow, but not exactly sad.

But seriously, is this real?! For boy making the move is believable enough, but a girl?!! I wonder it is made up. One of the most freaking amusing reply I even seen.

For the first time I'm hating CORS.

Can't take Jap 4 and Artificial Intelligence and a level 4000 cs module together because they choose to have the same exam date and timing. ORZ. There goes my ideal combination.

This is not the most shitty thing. The most crazy thing is have less than 5 places for one NM mod for SoC students. Well there are places reserved already for the FASS students but they have bloody 8 times more. ORZ. That's for NM3208 module.

( think pictures speak a thousand words )

Module combi still undecided yet until all bidding ends and appeals successfully. Please pray I get my mods.

I finished watching Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Hachiyou Sho~ during the ordeal since there is no point watching bidding all the time. I'm okay with game-ish ending which doesn't give a clue who Akane ends up with. There are 8 different endings for the each of the Hachiyous and I watched them all. My favourite would be Yasuaki, the Onmyouji who always goes "No problem". Thought it was kinda cute for a cold-hearted guy like him. Hee.
There should be a Akram ending though =/ since he is the guy Akane likes anyway.

Hayate no Gotoku! 38-39 -- Best line: "I'm not Himegami. I'm Princess God." from Himegami when he keeps denying his name is not Himegami but Princess God.
(Hime = Princess, Gami = God)

Weekends don't feel like weekends for me. Must be too many holidays cramped into 2 weeks.

It's time to bid modules. So fast. Dun like. =(

I marathon-ed 2 more anime titles during post-Christmas. Sumomomo-momomo and Touka Gettan. The main female protagonists have names of Momoko and Momoka. It's not helping when there is a miscellaneous character in Touka Gettan that has the name of Mo-moka. Okay WTH. So I had watched anime related to momo (peaches) and of rather erotic and sexual nature. But Sumomomo-momomo is more slant to comedy and I think it's more funnier than Ouran high, so I think it's good to watch it if you want some good laughter and jokes. I WTF-ed several epic scenes in Sumomomo-momomo already.

Touka Gettan is more fantasy, story told in a backward chronological order. It's more slant to rather explicit erotic and adult themes. It can rather confusing if you can't understand it because story is told backward. But I like the way the story is told and mysteries slowly unfold itself. There is hardly any loopholes and allows space to imagine. I wanted to watch long ago but didn't have the time to really get down and watch it. Somehow this title slipped out my mind and i forgotten about it. So now I remembered yeah.

Yeah, I *finally* finished making the presents today afternoon and made it to Jac's Christmas dinner. The food was good but it was little expensive for the serving itself though. But once in a while splurge should be okay I think. The presents will have to wait till 25th on Mag's party to know what it is about. (And yuuuuppp, I'm going for once.)

Anime current watching list
Hayate no Gotoku!
Saiunkoku Monogatari II (Oh yeah I have caught up to episode 29, it's a must watch especially after the Sai province arc.)
Shakugan no Shana II (because I liked the 1st season)
Dragonaut -The Resonance- (mediocre plot, but I like the idea of extraterrestrial dragons having humans forms.)
Clannad (really strong plot, I liked the way the story is being told. Dango dango dango~)
Moyashimon (for the sake of cute microbes, SERIOUSLY. since when science is so fun)
You're Under Arrest Full Throttle (kinda went downhill after the epic 1st episode. Sheez~)

For those who had watched Clannad till episode 12. Here is the story of 'The Dandelion Girl'. The line which Kotomi said 'the day before yesterday, I saw a rabbit, and yesterday a deer, and today, you.' in past episodes before 12 was from this short science fiction story written by Robert F. Young.

One of the reasons I would keep watching anime.

Sucks, 2 more exam papers to go before I'm freeeeed from hell.

Anyway videos.

ALI PROJECT and Mizuki Nana duet during Animelo Summer 2007 concert of the song Seishoujo Ryouki from Rozen Maiden.


From the same concert, this time Masami Okui and Mizuki Nana duet of the song 'Rinbu Revolution' from Revolutionary Girl Utena.


Good stuff, must watch if you like the original version of the songs.

Editorial: An Open Letter to the Industry

The brillant article basically identified clearly the discourses between the world's anime industry and Japan's anime industry, and also issues regarding fansubs.