90% Little Busters! Roundup: Goods, News, and Anime recomendations

I was going to call this a general roundup but then I realized it was 90% about LB -_- Scroll past jailbait Kyousuke to get to the non-LB stuff

Not much of interest has been happening to me as of late. I have been working on some long posts about aspects of Little Busters that will end up here if/when they get finished.

I preordered Kud Wafter with the yet-unannounced omake. I was waiting for getchu's decision (they supply himeya) before ordering but then erogeshop had a coupon sale. I hope I don't get burned. -_-

Aoishima replaced my Komari mobip after 2 months of exchange negotiation. Not bad service (considering my terrible Japanese...) but her joints aren't very good on this one either. They are cute but I can't recommend the mobip series at this time.

I bought the LB-EX artbook (despite not having played the EX part yet). Even so I'm considering getting the other one as well (which is what I was trying to avoid) because it seems to have bigger versions of some favorite CG and illustrations.

----End obsessed LB otaku section----

With that artbook, I also got the fifth Nanatsuiro Drops manga (recommended since its a fairly easy read) and the new JLPT spec book. This new listening section could be a problem but I haven't done a mock run-through yet. I'm pretty good at listening from playing LB though (see how I worked it in? xD) the grammar section is what is going to kill me.

For my birthday I got the Fate/Stay Night DVDs. I might review the set later since most reviews are by people who haven't played the game. Would that be worthwhile?

Animewise, I've been watching a lot of CrunchyRoll since they went legit. Particularly I want to recommend Time of Eve and Natsume Yujincho which are both fairly overlooked series that are quite deep and entertaining. (I've also been watching Heroman but that is something else entirely >.>)

I'm sure this post reads as a little aimless. -_- Please comment on what things you would like more in depth posts about!

Miku-4 (mikuyon)

Miku-4, pronounced mikuyon, is a doujin 4-panel comic by Nagimiso that took the net by storm some time back. This comic has very few words but tells a pretty long story of Hatsune Miku's (the vocaloid character) coming of age.

I got the tankoban bound edition at BookOff! this week. This version varies slightly from the web edition but the majority is the same. (I recommend getting this version if you can because the art is much larger and nicer.)

You can read it here (some Japanese).

American Live-Action Movie of CLAMP's Clover?!

Dark Horse, Universal Negotiating on Clover Movie - Anime News Network

WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF

ARE WE THINKING OF THE SAME BOOK?

THAT CLOVER?

Nevermind that CLAMP supposedly has 2 more volumes to go with it or that its 3 separate storylines that interweave (but aren't intended to be read chronologically). Nevermind the SHORTNESS of it all.

HOW could this work at as a movie?

I have the music-video-esque short anime on order so at first I thought this was "DH is releasing Clover movie" (the previously existing one) because that would make SLIGHTLY more sense.

But not really.

I should have gone to this panel....

Kino no Tabi and More Goodies (updated)

I went to BookOff despite going quite recently (see this post) because of an excellent game campaign. If you sell them 3 current-gen console games (worth more that 50 cents) you get an extra 10$. If you sell them 6 you get an extra 30$. I managed to scrounge up 6 and some ps2 games but had to split the money with my sister, leaving me with a bit over 30$ meaning half the money we got was because of the promotion.

My plan was to get the money and go over to Book Cafe J who had LB 3 on order for me. Of course it didn't work that way...

I ended up buying two things at BookOff. Guess the most expensive item in the picture?

The only planned purchase. The third volume of the wonderful LB 4 koma. Many obi are like this and simply provide a way to promote the book (rather than text printed on the book) and blend into the cover. They come off to leave a clean version of the same picture and I don't keep them. Not much to say except I LOVE THIS COMIC. Cover price is 780 yen but I paid a bit under 12 dollars which isn't bad for a special order from Japan (or so I keep telling my self).


The soundtrack for Air. A totally unplanned purchase but the stock is constantly changing so I went ahead and got it. 2 discs, 9 dollars. Its Air so there isn't much to be said. Shinji Orito can have my babies. (I'm joking!)


Here we have a product that I didn't know existed! I love Kino no Tabi and this little book/DVD set piqued my interest because I'd never seen it before, online or otherwise. Titled, キノの旅　〜とっておきの話〜 (Kino no Tabi ~totteoki no hanashi~) which loosely translates as "Kino's Travels ~Treasured Stories~". This book is comprised of two short stories and episode 00 of the anime. This set clocks in as the most expensive item (15$) but its Kino so no regrets. EDIT: Turns out to be a mail-order only item from '03.


The DVD with the prequel episode (12 minutes). Haven't watched it yet.


The book is mostly text with some illustrations.


The copyright page and anime cast information.

I spent more than I should have but I don't think I would have seen these items again or at that price. Such is the life of an otaku...

Blogger is really screwed up right now, periods appearing at the front of sentences in WYSIWYG mode. I'm typing in HTML mode just to be able to understand what I'm typing.

Manga artist combats bootleggers - English

asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：Manga artist combats bootleggers - English

I find this to be a interesting article not because of anything Rumiko Takahashi has done but because of this descriptor : "unscrupulous translators who upload low-quality manga bootlegs". This is so different to how American "fans" describe the "service" these "fan translators" do to the "community" particularly the claim that "scanlations help a series grow a fandom and sell better".

The Japanese (news and mangaka alike) sure don't seem to agree. And its their manga.

WITH THE LIGHT: Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe

Yen Press : WITH THE LIGHT: Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe


This is one of the hidden gems of manga. A serious story about raising a disabled child that runs in a magazine aimed squarely for mothers. It has much to offer to the rest of us however, the characterization is wonderful and the price is a bargain (double to triple the size of many manga released for only a bit more money: 14.99 a volume). Sadly I haven't seen any news (like ANN >.>) coverage or other deserved attention for it. A shame really, this is not a title to miss.

Now to go find the drama at bookOff while I wait for the slooow release table.

Goodbye Mr. Despair

....is what they should have just titled the damn thing. That's the official translation given in the very book after all

As you might have guessed, I picked up the first volume of さよなら絶望先生 today; helpfully transliterated as "Sayonara, Zatsubou Sensei". Translating involves changing the words from one language to another while keeping the meaning. Retyping in roman letters in transliteration. Titles indicate something about the series if people can understand them! Alas, crappy pirate scanslators keep the "authentic" title (aka... thier lazy) so everyone wants a jumble of Japanese for the title. Del Rey at least added a subtitle "The Power of Negative Thinking" parallelling the pun that is lost in translation.

Anyhow its a very fun manga. Good art and wit make this a highly readable book. Highly reccomended and the only title worth reading among the crap being pressed out nowadays (read: this week's releases). Nice localization with pages on pages of translation notes (its one of those series). This large reliance on Japanese culture dooms it from commercial sucess but atleast we can enjoy it.

メーカー非公式初音みっくす - The offical "unoffical" Miku comic

Amazon.co.jp： メーカー非公式初音みっくす 1 (1) (CR COMICS DX): KEI: 本


メーカー非公式初音みっくす 1
# コミック
#価格： ￥ 735
# 出版社: ジャイブ (2008/12)
# ISBN-10: 4861765897
# ISBN-13: 978-4861765896
# 発売日： 2008/12

Having checked this out as a scanslation because I could not find a collected book, I was happy to see this title in the J-List update! I will likely order it from Book Cafe J tomorrow. Just as an FYI, if your near a JP bookstore print out the info above and show it to them: they may be able to order it.

To my fellow "fans": Are you happy?

Broccoli International USA to Shut Down by Year's End (Updated) - Anime News Network

More and more anime/manga/visual novel companies have been shutting down or losing licenses or all sorts of drama. Now Broccoli USA is dead. Blah blah blah boom, natural course, all that shit. The problem is too many selfish egoistical jackasses read manga and watch anime online. Those who don't sit in the middle of the floor at Borders and bend the books out of shape. These things are a luxury, you don't deserve them and you certainly don't need them. To claim you have a right to read it before the english book is out is asine. Don't have money GET OFF YOU ASS AND GET A JOB. Maybe you shouldn't be spending the whole day reading scanslations.

These people aren't fans they are leeches that damage the fandom and damage the community. They band together for "justice" against "unfair laws" but can't even define fair use. They are ignorant SOBs.

People are degrading. People come up to me "why don't you have photoshop?" me: "Cant afford it", them "why don't you download it" me: I don't pirate them "OMFG how can you be such a prude, don't insult me!". Other remarks "Why did you buy Japanese games/dvds that stupid and a waste of money"me " I dont steal" them "You dont have to be a jack ass about it"

So fine, I'll be a "jack ass" or a "prude" or what ever the hell a person with morals and fucking human decency is called. Atleast I support what I like.

From a message board because I suggested he should buy the game translation he wanted :
"Yaa and i am sure that your windows is genuine because you suporte microsoft and Bill Gates for a bug free vista and all your programs have been processed because you suport all of them..please give me a brake."

Yes, my copy of XP is GENUINE. So is my copy of my primary operating system, LEOPARD. BECAUSE ITS YOUR PROBLEM I PAY FOR MY SOFTWARE.

The anime fandom can go to hell. I'm going to book off and buying a copy of Sola 2 since I can't count on a English edition anymore.

LOVE SONG〈2002〉Saikano Artbook

LOVE SONG〈2002〉 (Big spirits comics special): 高橋 しん: Amazon.co.jp: 本

Another great find at Book Off! I went in to sell books and plump my wallet but instead found this gem for 14.50$. Now, I know the Amazon page says 'used and new' (and not shipping outside Japan) from 250yen BUT the copy I found has all of the first press bonuses (and the obi but I don't care about them), the first copy on Amazon with all of these items is 2800yen. Also the CD-ROM was unopened :D

What it comes with:
*A large gorgeous artbook by Takahashi Shin (duh XD)
*A4 size plastic card of the cover image with the logo disappearing depending the angle (lenticular)
*CD-ROM with voice clips, trailers, music, and comic to storyboard comparisons.
*B2 size double sized poster with a drawing by Takahashi on one size and the same image in the anime's style on the other.
*A special letter "by Chise" on her trademark diary paper (and a note saying said paper can be bought at Animate countrywide)

This is an amazing book.

From the WTF department: DeathNote+2chan=?

Ever wonder what you would get it someone took a chapter of DeathNote and changed all the ... to www (laughing in Japanese; like lol)? Now you can know~! It all goes better with dramatic classical music of course. Please note this has DeathNote spoilers since its a certain middle chapter we all remember very well... (though everyone spoils this chapter anyhow)

New computer, witch touching, and Erin

Well, I am back from my excursion to Oregon. We of course went to the Portland area Kinokuniya Shoten where I picked up the first two volumes of "Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese" a NHK video series with textbooks for foreigners learning Japanese. I also grabbed Lucky Star GN 1.

When I came home I was greeted by a small package from eBay: Doki Doki Majyo Shinpan. This had to wait though because I had to head off to the FedEx depot to pick up my new MacBook Pro.

Yes, I am typing from it now.

Saikano Supplementary Volume : You and the Two of Them at the End of the World (?)

最終兵器彼女 外伝集 世界の果てには君と二人で

Bit shaky on that title translation ^^; but yes, this is a supplementary volume of Saikano!!! I found it unsuspectingly at my local Book Off (still one copy in stock at San Diego branch!) Several color parts for every story as well as a Saikano illustration gallery make this a nice buy :D

Stories included:

• わたしたちは散歩する （We go on a stroll) Chapter 4 : This is Shin Presents! 4 koma series chapter four. The chapters are seemingly not connected.
  
• 世界の果てには君と二人で。。。(Long title I am not typing it out）：This is a long story with a long name I haven't tried to power through yet. New cast and subtitle: "The Last Folk Song on This Little Planet" Set during the time of Saikano.
  
• LOVE　STORY,　KILLED. ： This one was published a couple years back around the anime announcement and quite a few fan translations can be found on the net. An excellent story.
• スター＊チャイルド　（Star Child) : Again I have not read this story yet (as I am lazy and have eroge to play) but seems likely to be an aftermath story.
  
• ギャラリ　「最終兵器彼女の世界」(Gallery : The World of She, The Ultimate Weapon)　Color art SinPre has made of Saikano since the release of Love Song 2002 artbook.
  

Don't expect to find this in English any time soon despite that Viz hold the license for the original 7 books.


She, The Ultimate Weapon, or Saikano is an amazing romantic seinen manga and I would highly recommend it to all mature fans but just as a reminder, Takahashi Shin puts the graphic in graphic novel as this series (including this supplementary volume) contains serious depictions of war and sex (sometimes together). XP

Goods Round Up : Small purchases add up

These are three otaku goods I have acquired in the last week or so. First on top is a Little Busters! pass case. This was originally destined for my work ID but since I have one maybe two days of work max for the next several months I have not decided what to do with it except put my currently useless pasmo in it and wish longingly to return to the land of the rising sun. ^^;

Secondly, I have a small note pad featuring Saya Tokido from LB!-EX scored off ebay. This normally comes with Dengeki festival! Comic 3 but that magazine and the other goods (a CLANNAD anime poster and towel featuring the image used for the LB pillow from Dengeki Festival! 9) did not thrill me enough to order the whole package. This little one is destined to be used up by Aki and I planning similarly fetishistic purchases.

Lastly, we have a true gem. This is the schedule book included with the Chobits First Press Limited Edition manga volume 4. I found this FPLE book at my local Book Off! for $9 (I also bought Shana 1 for $1). I am scheming to create refill pages but a recent bout of severe illness has cut in to that.

AnimeExpo and LB-EX

Well my Little Busters! Ecstasy focused G's festival DX arrived while I was away at AnimeExpo. G's is a simply wonderfully moe magazine, and festival's are always a treat. I need a mouse so I can use that mouse pad...

Booty List from AX

Dengeki G's Festival 5 - Tsuyokiss with talking alarm clock, metal pins, and pencil board
sola GN 1 by Broccoli Books
Love Hina Bilingual GN 8 - One dollar clearance
Little Busters! Solid Works trading figures: Kudryavka and Rin
Day of Love by Hirameki
Anime LA 4 shirt I forgot to buy in January

The Kudo figure is most definitely from the same leg mold as the G's anniversary Kudo with a very similar rest of the body (different faces, same pose). The paint and textures are a lot better however especially on the upper body. Kudo isn't a big fave of mine but I enjoy her well enough to not regret the purchase. Rin is the real treat however as she has such a cute pose (pulling on her socks with a frolicking cat nearby). I seemed to get a different colored cat than the box had but this might simply be a issue of prototype vs. finished product.

I saw the three announced Kotobunkiya LB figures. Adorable, excellent quality, and NOT FOR SALE waaaaah ToT. I saw ToyWorks Kudo for sale but cannot say the same praise... it looked fine but not as polished.

MangaGamers had a presence through Circus who was there through Broccoli. very nice people at Cicus's booth.

ComicCon will still remain my go-to con for esoteric purchases but AX was a wonderful change of pace being a "large" con vs. a megagiant (My sisters first words... wow its so small!) . If all goes well I will have attended all 4 major sizes of conventions by the end of the year (small - ConJecture, medium - ALA, large - AX, San Diego - SDCC; The size is simply called San Diego because its the side of the San Diego convention center XP )

I will be making my biannual Himeya purchase tomorrow. All you San Diegans suck for not splitting shipping XD Just kidding I know how hard it is to afford this shizz.

Haven't posted in a while!: Goodies, work, and AX08

Well its been a while, I haven't had anything particularly notable to blog since I am not buying any otaku goods until I've placed my Himeya order (LBEX and a hell of a lot of KeySoundLabel CDs). And I'm not placing this order untill after AX in case I find someone selling the said CD's there (like that'll happen =P).

I will be at AnimeExpo Saturday and Sunday. This is my first time at AX and I am excited. ^_^ Additionally, I recieved my first paycheck of the summer today >.> I am working all week up till the convention (including the 4th) so I should have no problem affording LBEX. I just might not have time to play anything XD I enjoy work though in a way because it lets me interact with happy people. This is the big "secret" in working at a theme park: the customers are already happy and relaxed so your job is halfway done before you say hello.

Anyone who keeps up with me on Google Talk might have been aware of this but I am trying to clear out my anime/game backlog this summer hence titled : 萌えの夏 . Here's what's been done so far:

• Finally cleared the last bit of Hourglass of Summer (Mana's route)
• Wrote a bit more on ONE review ^^;
  
• Finished Tomoyo's route in CLANNAD (I can now play Tomoyo After with no regrets)
• Cleared Nanatsuiro*Drops DS again to unlock a new "If Story". Yuri is popping up in the main game now. :3
  
• Purchased SHUFFLE! volume 4 (en route)
• YesAsia goodies
  
• Purchased Dengeki Festival! DX 3 (en route)
• Cleared Kudryvaka's route in Little Busters! Now powering through common for the last time (making save points this time ^^;)
  
• Worked more on Wahrheit Academy plot
  
• Hung up Nanatsuiro Drops posters that have been rolled up for months.
• Rereading Higurashi because it is brilliant. The translation is full of life and a pleasure to reread. :3
  

YesAsia goodies

A package came:

Nanatsuiro Drops Comic 3 : No suprise its the third volume. Jurisia (?) from the pS3 version is in it and thats kinda odd but its exactly what I expected. More 4 koma this time ones I haven't seen and a bonus chapter. (volume 2 had the strips from G's Festival which I have in large color pages already)

Shining stars bless * : Kaori Utatsuki's debut single. Kotoko provides some vocals also I think. The OP theme from Nanatsuiro Drops anime and a unplugged version of "I'm home". Karaoke of course. I opted against the Special Edition since a region 2 music video DVD didnt thrill me enough for YesAsia's markup.

Saishuu Heiki Kanojo ~The Last Summer Festival~ : Saikano drama album. I'm listening to it right now. Fun stuff but side stories all the same. Insert book had the transcript which is nice. Oddly the spine and obi had the title as "The Last Summer Vacation" despite the story starting with a school day. The fault of lazy quality checkers.

Kanon & AIR: Sky : This is an anthology of Kanon and Air sidestories and crossovers by Rei Izumi/Idumi. Izumi draws Hibiki's Magic (written by Jun Maeda) currently and has previously drawn .hack//The Legend of the Twilight Bracelet and the insert art for Natsume Kyosuke Fuurai Ki (Little Buster! Visual Guide Book). She seems to have a very friendly relation to Key and is drawing a corner for LBEX in Dengeki G's right now. This is a larger than average comic (like the Dengeki Comics EX line) and has nicer paper than any Japanese volume I have. Textured cover and a decent amount of color pages scattered throughout. A nice book!

Back fron Little Tokyo! Ring up the damages

Hey I went to little Tokyo this weekend and scored some good deals. I got the Clannad Visual Fanbook for an average price but managed to find Nanatsuiro*Drops GNs (tankoban) 1 & 2 for 1$ each. Also picked up Magichu Little Busters! 4-koma volume 2.

Fun times indeed, and a great Japanese dinner too (the place is called Oomasa if anyone is ever in LA)