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!

Cute Things looking Cute

Also, World is Mine Miku is on her way so expect a post soon.

Obitsu Body for Sumomo and packing to Move

Its been a while! Entirely my own fault but life has been hectic...

At ComicCon I got Sumomo a posable Obitsu body. While this isn't as nice plastic as the Pure Neemo bodies (which are PVC) it is much much more posable. Shes been sitting on my desk for a while now ^_^

I recently changed her back to her regular uniform. I think this body makes her look older...

On another note, I'm moving to a dorm. I can't take all my figures so I've boxed about 75% up (and will box/cover the rest soon) so far to keep them safe and clean. (I don't have the box for older figures like my Sumomo nendoroid or Primula nendoroid and 1/8th so they are in the mighty mouse and dokimajo boxes) I'm still deciding who to take...

Doll Cosplay

Sumomo's new clothes arrived today!

I'm annoyed with HobbySearch lying about the shipping charges. They say they charge by a provided weight chart. According to that chart these clothes weigh 1500g/3.3lb which cost 3200 yen to mail. The package says it weights 203 grams and cost 1200 yen to mail. I want my 2000yen back. I think someone made a innocent mistake because the customs form says "1500g" as well. I've ordered from HS before and the shipping price was accurate to their chart.

UPDATE: HobbySearch gave me 2000 points "store credit" to fix the shipping problem the same day I sent off my email. I'm satisfied with that :)

The package is simple with Kudo on the front (Resinya sells a Kudo head).

The clothes laid out. Its all very nice especially the skirt fabric. Fairly accurate costume overall.

Sumomo has a Azone Pure Neemo Advance body while this was made (I think) for the more posable obitsu body which has different proportions. I hope to get a obitsu body soon. The posablity would also make her easier to dress. Her thighs keep the skirt fairly high on her body.


Here you can get an idea of the accuracy compared to Koto's very excellent Rin PVC figure.

"How do I look?"

Overall I am happy with this costume despite the high price tag (4343yen + EMS shipping). I'll write a retailer review of HobbyStock sometime after I see how they handle my email about the shipping charge discrepancy. UPDATE : Received store credit very promptly to compensate for the mistake. :)

Sumomo's a star!

Kind of ^^; I sent some photos in for Hobby Search (for the kimono set) and they're up. The color was degraded somewhere along the line but they can be viewed here.

Furisode & Hakama Set for 25cm Doll (Pure Neemo Orginal Costume)

It is spring and time for long boring graduation ceremonies! (In Japan anyhow..) I recently acquired this beautiful furisode (long-sleeved kimono for unmarried women) and hakama set for dear Sumomo.

Fittingly, the print is of plum flowers (Sumomo's namesake).

The bag wasn't designed for Yuki-chan but he fits in it. As you can see the kimono is lined so she has the multiple collar effect (a white collar piece is in there as well). The kimono has snap buttons on the natural flaps so the back does not have unsightly Velcro seams . The obi does come open in the back but the snap buttons and seam are covered by the bow The light purple obiage (帯揚げ) can be removed also so the hakama can be worn properly (according to the instructions: I don't know how to wear a woman's hakama and evidently japanese otaku don't either). Because she does not have individual toes, her shoes are very difficult to get on (you have to remove the strap partially and then reinsert it once the foot is in place).

Ready for graduation in the rare woman's hakama.

It took me a while to get her dressed properly but I love the detail in the clothing. much better than a back-velcroed Barbie one-piece outfit. Right now she's still in the hakama set ^_^

From 着物すもも

A romance with Coca-Cola

Its HOT. Santa Ana has hit and it's HOT. It's time for light clothes and cold beverages. Sumomo is no exception and has shed her hot winter sweater to enjoy some of Mexico's finest export.

Ah the joys of being near the border... you can get this stuff at Costco!!! For those not in the know, Mexican Coke is made with cane sugar and is infinitely superior to the plastic-bottle High Frutose Corn Syrup version sold in the US.

This was rather impromptu as I set the bottle next to her and it was the same height. The pose looks like she's running to embrace the bottle like a long lost friend. I really need a tripod so I can do better photos.

Birthday

From すももドール

For my birthday I went to Disneyland and got the aforementioned Sumomo Azone doll (not at Disneyland; for the same occasion). That about sums it up (some other manga and anime here and there).

The Pure Neemo body isn't very posable but I could get her to do a cute walking pose. I'll probably order another body for other poses. Bodies aren't expensive, the heads and clothes are but they really are well made.

Pantsu and ring. You can see how the sweater texture differs from the skirt and socks. Her sweater is adorable.

Littlebusters! Girls School Uniform Mini Costume (Fashion Doll)

Littlebusters! Girls School Uniform Mini Costume (Fashion Doll)


It would fit that Sumomo doll...

UPDATED: Ordered! (before I have a doll but this set is not to pass up >.>) Its Hobby Search so I have to remember to save the money to pay later.

[UPDATED] Nanatsuiro Drops - 1/6 Akihime Sumomo Hybrid Active Doll: I will make her mine

Nantsuiro Drops - 1/6 Akihime Sumomo Hybrid Active Doll [TL300783731] : ToysLogic, Imported Anime Toys, Gundam, Ma.K

Somehow...

Yeah anime dolls are hella expensive but Moe Moe Rabu has shown me how awesome they are. This particular Sumomo doll has a PVC head (like a figure) to look more like her anime/game counterpart. I'm really considering buying her..... (I have work scheduled for next week ^^)

Review Part A (Japanese)
Review Part B (Japanese)
Store with lots of photos

Things Seen Today

Happy Things....

Nagato x NanaDro .... 萌え

Scary Things....

DirectX installing on my Mac

Overlooked Things...

What does this Dock say about me? (Post below)

Photos of my Nanatsuiro Drops DVDs

I appreciate well designed packaging, especially for things I keep the boxes of like DVDs. The nice thing about these is the two boxes (easier to handle) and the slimmer cases (about 2/3rd as thick as the usual style. The jewel case style is very pretty.

Nanatsuiro Drops - DX Trading Figures (Set of 5)

Nanatsuiro Drops - DX Trading Figures (Set of 5) [TL300786084] : ToysLogic, Imported Anime Toys, Gundam, Ma.K

Its toysworks but....


It's NANATSUIRO DROPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIGURES!

WITHOUT SHANA!

(You all shall become nanadro otaku just like me >:D)

Nanatsuiro Drops R2s

I finally broke down and bought the Nanatsuiro Drops R2 DVDs. I still think the price is obscene but that is the depth of my fandom I guess. As people told me they run fine on VLC despite my R1 drive. Very cute boxes (2 boxes of 3 discs each) and cases all around.

Photos eventually...

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!

What I'm Playing

I'm playing a lot of games right now but not getting very far in any.

In the scope of English VNs I just finished ONE. It was painfully repetitive but the characters are very well developed. I promise to review this soon. I'm as far as possible in Higurashi (day 12) and it is a wonderful wonderful game in the sense that I can't sleep safe anymore. The writing is brilliant but NEVER play at night! Lastly, I need to finish Phantom of Inferno atleast once... the format is such a drag. I need to get back to Night of the Forget Me Nots as well... the endings are so numerous! Hotel Dusk has largely been forgotten but I hope to play some later tonight. (sorry Jimmy!)

While not a pure VN I am stuck on battle 5 of Gadget Trial. Anyone know how to get through it? (I suspect it has to do with the factory in the middle of the left lower side.) Graduation still haunts me with bad marks as well.

As for Japanese games I am playing Nanatsuiro Drops DS, Little Busters!, Primula's Little Big Adventure and Little Royale. I am through the main route of NDDS but not all the IF stories, its a fine adaptation of the anime version of the story but doesnt branch which was rather disappointing. Oddly only the IF stories are fully voiced. The minigames are excellent though.

I'm crawling through Kudo's route of Little Busters! and am near the end of SEEN4000. A lot to go on that.... Primula is extremely fun if limited and if anyone can hack it I could be persuaded to translate it as it is short. Little Royale is a LB doujin fighting game. Jon finished it a while back but I haven't managed too.

ななついろ＊ドロップスDS! Or: why I don't have a life

From the title it is obvious what came in the mail today: Nanatsuiro Drops DS! The game is quite fun but Japanese knowledge is necessary unless you just want to play minigames. It follows the anime heavily including cut-scenes and the opening. Characters are not voiced except in the cutscenes. I wish I could buy the anime but I don't have a region-free player.

The first-press is absolutely adorable. I ordered it from National Console Support since Play-Asia was out when I was buying (they may have some now). Very fast shipping. The nendoroid of Sumomo is adorable and I will hang the posters soon :3. I love Sumomo's pajamas, they are pink with little sheep, I might poke around Yardage Town to find a similar print >.>

What do people do with spare nendoroid parts? I'm afraid of loosing them if I leave them laying around. ^^;

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)

ななついろ★ドロップス DS

ななついろ★ドロップス DS (1st press goods)

I hope to afford/find/buy this when I go to Japan next month. Seven (appropriately) bonuses for the 1st press edition.

Bonus Goods
*Nendoroid figure
*school? calendar
*Pin badge
*postcard
*stick posters
*special packaging illustration
*chibi stickers

This series is soooo cute. X3