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Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is a great monster-catching metroidvania. That’s two distinct genres, so let’s break down how to intersect.The monster-catching is phenomenal. The developers clearly get it. I almost…
Nessa no Wakusei
Okizari presents the first English-subtitled release of the original version of Nessa no Wakusei (Desert Planet or Hot Sandy Planet), a mid-1990s borderline hentai OVA. It's better known in North America…
Bakuen Campus Guardress, Gakkou no Yuurei, Gon, Nightsong of Splendor, Kitty-Cat Fantasia
Heavy
Orphan has done a couple of shows about boxing already: Takahashi Rumiko's 1989 OVA One Pound Gospel and the 1992 three-part OVA Nozomi Witches. We're now releasing another,…
Karuizawa Syndrome, Nightsong of Splendor, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Vampire Princess Miyu, Dragon Half
Issue #98: The 2020s in TV Drama Music
We look back at our favorite J-pop singles tied up with TV dramas from 2020-2024, featuring music by Official HIGE Dandism, Kenshi Yonezu and more
Grave Friends: Lonely Seniors in Japan Vow to Spend Eternity Together
As Japan continues both to age and become more single, some senior citizens are looking to one another for comfort in the afterlife.
Reader's Digest Condensed Anime - Cello Hiki no Gauche (1998)
Some Japanese stories are so beloved that the have been made into an anime many times. One of them is Miyazawa Kenji' s Cello Hiki no Gauche...
Tanjou: Debut
Tanjou: Debut ( Birth: Debut ) is a two-episode shoujo OVA from 1994. It was originally subbed in the VHS-fansub era. Its two stories revol...
Nozomi Witches, Star Dust, Bungo Stray Dogs, Dirty Pair Flash, Tree in the Sun
Twilight Hotel #09 — Buy Those Singles!
Idols suck. Impressions: …Yep, the whole thing was just an excuse to pitch some damn singles. It walks through every character and each one in turn unceremoniously…
Issue #92: Walls
Exploring the new Laura day romance album and Seiko Matsuda's "Rock'n Rouge," plus guest recommendations of new singles
Ranked: Infinite’s title tracks & promotional singles
Hi friends, I hope you’re all doing well! In celebration of Infinite’s comeback next week, I wanted to rank their title tracks/singles! I only included singles that were…
What is a 1K Apartment in Japan? Costs, Pros and Space-Saving Tips
Wondering what a 1K apartment is in Japan? Learn about its layout, features, and why it's a popular choice for singles.
Scrolling for Love: MANTA has the singles covered with these heartwarming Valentine’s Day recs
It's Valentine's Day (aka Single Awareness Day for some people) and Manta has the perfect reads for those looking to treat themselves.
Seirei Tsukai (Elementalors)
Seirei Tsukai ( Elementalors ), not to be confused with Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance , is a one-shot OVA based on a manga by Okazaki Takesh...
Dragon Half, Berserk, Bosco Adventure, Marmalade Boy, Seitokai Yakuindomo
Gakkou no Yuurei (School Ghosts), Volume 1
Gakkou no Yuurei ( School Ghosts ) is an anthology of ghost stories, mostly set at schools. Seven volumes were released between 1995 and 19...
Dirty Pair, Gakkou no Yuurei, Macross, Milky Passion: Dougenzaka - Ai no Shiro, Orphen
#113 Two On Ice (Ft. Official Series Translator Jan Cash)
Are these ice skaters fast or furious? We and our guest, the official series’ translator Jan Cash, discuss Shonen Jump manga Two on Ice. Show Notes:…
#113 Two On Ice (Ft. Official Series Translator Jan Cash)
Are these ice skaters fast or furious? We and our guest, the official series' translator Jan Cash, discuss Shonen Jump manga Two on Ice. Show Notes:…
#112.5 First Thoughts on Two on Ice
Does it take two to make a manga thing go right? David and Jordan give their first thoughts on Shonen Jump manga Two on Ice. Listen in…
#112.5 First Thoughts on Two on Ice
Does it take two to make a manga thing go right? David and Jordan give their first thoughts on Shonen Jump manga Two on Ice. Listen in…
Ushiro no Hyakutaro
Ushiro no Hyakutaro ( Hyakutaro Behind or Hyakutaro in Back ) is a two-volume OVA from 1991. Based on a eight-volume manga by Tsunada Jir...
Galaxy Express 999, The Twelve Kingdoms, Bite me!, Girl from Phantasia, Fruits Basket
Princess Army
Princess Army: Wedding Combat (to give it its full title) is a two-part OVA from 1992. It's a teaser for a 12 volume manga by Kitagawa Miyu...
Dallos, Joshiraku, Oh! My Goddess, Akai Hayate, Doukyuusei -Classmates-
Houkago no Tinker Bell
Houkago no Tinker Bell ( After School: Tinker Bell ) is a one-shot OVA based on the second in a series of 23 (!) light novels by…
Oh! My Goddess, Bubblegum Crisis, Houkago no Tinker Bell, Mikan Enikki, Mr. Osomatsu
Could Japan Become Anti-Child as Population Declines?
More people are remaining single and childless than ever in Japan. Could that feed into existing anti-child sentiments in the nation?
Issue #84: Seasons Move Forward
Digging into best albums of Q2, Yoshimi Iwasaki's "Touch," and the year's favorite boy-group singles so far
Idol Watch's 50 Favorite Idol Songs of 2024 (So Far)
The column's favorite singles from girl groups this year so far, plus listing some favorites from the boys
Idol Watch #22: Best of the Boys 2024
Checking out the year's best boy group singles so far from PSYCHIC FEVER, Number_i and more
Mack’s Music Highlights: First Half of 2024
New(-ish) year, new music. This post is going to be long enough so no beating around the bush. Let’s get to it, especially since there are a LOT…
Visual Novels to Play this Pride Month (and Beyond)
Happy Pride Month Blerdy Tribe! Representation has come a long way over the years and now more than ever, there are so many great games featuring stories and identities…
Bride of Deimos
Deimos no Hanayome: Ran no Kumikyoku ( Bride of Deimos: The Orchid Suite ) is a 1988 one-shot OVA. It's based on an incomplete 17-volume ma...
Vampire Hunter D, The Golden Bird, Junk Boy, Nightsong of Splendor, Katte ni Shirokuma
Bakuen Campus Guardress
When I first watched Bakuen Campus Guardress ( Combustible Campus Guardress ), a four-episode episode OVA from 1994, I was gobsmacked by ho...
Combustible, Cosmic Fantasy, Hashire!, Blue Sonnet, Gallery Fake
That Side of K-pop #2: Born to Be
The newsletter pivots to K-pop to discuss the new Itzy album, the songs of NewJeans and the Hallyu Wave exhibit at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, plus great…
The Apothecary Diaries #24 — Convenient Eternally Seeping Wound
Chinese medicine works in mysterious ways. Impressions: And so we sputter to the destined end (announced continuation notwithstanding), attempting nothing, and accomplishing nothing. Lakan reunites with his baby…
Is Tokyo Really Best for Solo Travel?
A recent report declared Tokyo the best city for solo travelers and single living. But is that true? Our writer looks at the numbers.
Issue #76: Let's Live Happily
Exploring the new kinoue64 album, Nanase Aikawa's debut single and some of the great anison singles from January
Asatte Dance
Here's another ecchi OVA from Knack: 1991's Asatte Dance ( Dance till Tomorrow ), adapted from a seven volume manga by Yamamoto Naoki. It's...
Blue Sonnet, Kitty-Cat Fantasia, Run Melos, Oedo wa Nemurenai!, No Money!
Mellow
Another year, another ecchi OVA about cross-dressing from Knack. This time it's 1993's Mellow , which is based on a manga by Kasahara Rin th...
Run Melos, Marmalade Boy, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Exper Zenon, Girl from Phantasia
Okama Hakusho (Okama Report)
This one needs warning labels: Borderline hentai! Outdated stereotypes! Nudity! Sex, mostly gay, some straight, some consensual, often not! ...
Urusei Yatsura, Captain Tsubasa, Kizuna, Peter Pan & Wendy, Sazae-san
Issue #73: Remember
The year's last issue brings the newsletter's 50 best anime songs of 2023 and a hit from Sukeban Deka, along with the usual 3 singles
Genji Part 1
Here's another project that's been on my "to do" list for a long time: 1992's time-travel sci-fi mind-fuck OVA Genji (Part One) . The "Part ...
The Eccentric Family, Captain Tsubasa, GeGeGe no Kitaro, Izumo, Nightsong of Splendor
First Look: I’m in Love with the Villainess
What if a girl reincarnated into an otome game fully of hot male singles ready to mingle, but she was actually gay?
A This Side of Japan playlist: Imported Oricon Weekly Hits 1968-1974
Compiling all of the non-Japanese singles that made it on the Oricon Weekly top 20 during 1968-1974
Idol Watch's 50 Favorite Idol Songs of 2023 (So Far)
We list the column's favorite singles from the year so far
Tezuka Osamu's Tales from the Old Testament Ep25-26
With the return of the Jews (as they were now known) to Jerusalem, the historical narrative in the Old Testament basically peters out. The b...
Hellsing Ultimate, Moonlight Mile, Samurai 7, Senya Ichiya Monogatari, Video Girl Ai
Star Dust
Orphan's last release for 2022. The 1992 sci-fi OVA Star Dust is the brainchild of Itano Ichirou, a well-known action director who worked o...
Death Note, Dragon Fist, Fruits Basket, Karuizawa Syndrome, Ushio and Tora
NEW POLKADOT STINGRAY, Fantano vs Drake | Salt Mountain Podcast #01 PT.2
Part 2 of the pilot episode of the Salt Mountain Podcast. @WW2 Dragon joins to discuss the new album 躍る様に (Odoru yo-ni) from POLKADOT STINGRAY, YOASOBI's [祝福] (Shukufuku)…
"I'm Not Really Qualified to Sing a Love Song..... Still, I Want to Sing!!"- an Interview with Haru Nemuri
The moment I finally listened to Haru Nemuri’s first major album ‘Haru to Shura’ was in September 2018, after I’d seen its album cover repeatedly appear on my…
Hayou no Tsurugi
Hayou no Tsurugi was a series of forty (!) light novels by Maeda Tomiko, published between 1989 and 2017. (A spinoff series, Hayou no Tsuru...
Perrine Monogatari, Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac, Zipang, Dragon Fist, MAJOR 2nd
Kakyuusei (1995), DVD Edition
The world doesn't need another version of Kakyuusei (1995), but here's one anyway. An Internet pen-pal who goes by the handle of ProxyMan ha...
Saber Marionette J, The Big O, Doukyuusei 2 Special: Sotsugyousei, Ergo Proxy, Battle Vixens: Ikki Tousen
Validate: Struggling Singles in Your Area – First Impressions
ValiDate is a romantic visual novel about 13 adults in Jercy City navigating new relationships and the harsh realities that come alongside them. I’ve talked about this game…
Happy Singles’ Awareness Day (…not)!
“Everyone is in love.” I kinda feel like I was being denied with this statement.
Practice Makes Perfect (A-Girl v3)
You were probably not expecting (or needing) this: a fourth version of the 1993 shoujo OVA A-Girl. Well, practice makes perfect. In 1992, Ma...
The Fashion Boy is Cool, Singles, Zetsuai 1989, A-Girl, Kiss wa Hitomi ni Shite