You thought that I had completely given up on the Johnny’s Jr’s didn’t you? I never did that but my coverage of the groups has dropped of significantly since Snow Man’s debu…
Jul 3, 2020 • Subscribe
More like this
Konbini Kareshi Episode 5 Review
August is this episode’s title, which makes me happy since my birthday is in August! +10 points for Gryffindor to anyone who figures it out. Anyways, in this…
A-Z Drama Challenge: Zettai Kareshi
I did it! I made it to the end of my list! At least for the dramas that I intended to review here on my blog. The fine…
Dot Kareshi II and New Manga
I got some new loot, including the new Dot Kareshi game and some manga.
Dot Kareshi – We’re 8bit Lovers! II ~The Sky’s Kiss~ Otome Review
Dot Kareshi is a fantasy otome game series developed by Rejet that parodies the RPG genre. There are three games in the series: The Legendary Maiden, Tenkuu no…
Hiking in winter in Japan
From isolated trails to distant interactions with curious wild macaques, here are our favourite things about hiking in winter in Japan.
That Lame Fight in In/Spectre
I’ve highly enjoyed the past few episodes of In/Spectre, but the battle of Steel Lady Nanase vs. Kuro has much for me to gripe about. If you haven’t…
In/Spectre
By Andrew Osmond. Watching the series In/Spectre may put you in mind of one of the most prominent displays at the huge manga exhibition mounted at the British…
In/Spectre
An interesting mystery and exploration of truth with strong classically Japanese cultural spirits, albeit with somewhat shallow and annoying characters at times.
Filled In
Author: Ukari (translated with author’s permission, please visit their website to see the original Japanese works!) To say here is far, The post Filled In first appeared on Kowabana.
In Search Of… Fafner in the Azure
Good morning and welcome to a New Year to all of you wonderful people out there in the Otakusphere. It is once more time to talk about my…
The Biggest THREAT in Made in Abyss
The biggest threat in made in abyss season 2, this new season of made in abyss leaves absolutely nothing out of the manga. Riko and Reg get the…
In Defense of Subjectivity in Anime Blogging
Having any sort of online communal experience is a weird thing. We all experience things in different ways so it can already be a little tough to understand…
A Weekend in my Life (in Japan)
While the vast majority of my uploads these days are my diary entries instead of travel posts, I recently realised that I could make things even more personal.…
Licensed in Silk – a Mixed Nikkei’s Journey in Studying Kimono in Japan
Newly licensed in the wearing of kimono, Rin takes a look back at what drew her closer to the traditional clothing - and to her own heritage.
This Week in Anime - Made in Abyss Ignites Firestorm in K-Pop Fandom
Chris and Steve revisit the dark fantasy series' controversy after several K-Pop idols come under criticism for watching or reading the series.
Day 6: Believing In Akko That Believes In Her That Believes In Magic
On the sixth day, on the sixth night, in the sixth celebration of the 12 Days of Anime I discovered some real magic. The magic of believing in…
Day 6: Believing In Akko That Believes In Her That Believes In Magic
On the sixth day, on the sixth night, in the sixth celebration of the 12 Days of Anime I discovered some real magic. The magic of believing in…
Life in Japan Episode 1: Christmas in Kyoto
The start of a new KFC holiday tradition - Kyoto For Christmas. Read more
Review: In/Spectre Episode 4 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 4, “Idol Dies by Steel Beam,” after their close encounter with Steel Lady Nanase, Saki Yumihara took Kotoko Iwanaga back to her apartment…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 8 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 7, “She Who Spins Fiction,” Kotoko Iwanaga felt terrified. Not of an attack by the Steel Lady Nanase. Not because she was afraid…
How to Watch Made in Abyss in Order
The deeper you go, the more disturbing it gets – That's Made in Abyss. That is ultimately the charm of this series. It does disturbing things to
Review: In/Spectre Episode 3 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 3, “The Rumors of the Steel Lady,” Kotoko Iwanaga, with Kurou Sakuragawa by her side, concluded her business with the mountain serpent spirit.…
#MeToo in JET: Verdict in Sexual Assault Case
A former JET Program participant who suffered sexual assault has won a civil lawsuit against Nagasaki Prefecture.
Review: In/Spectre Episode 2 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 2, “What the Guardian Serpent Heard,” Kotoko Iwanaga received a request to help a mountain serpent spirit resolve a complex problem, and she…
Shipgirls in thighhighs: My year in Azur Lane
Once again, this isn’t the game review post I had planned next. That one is still on its way. But I can’t possibly post more than two proper…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 9 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 9, “The Committee to Conquer Steel Lady Nanase,” Kotoko Iwanaga, from her seat in the back of the car, began her attack on…
The Most EVIL Character in Made in Abyss
The most evil character in made in abyss: Wazukyan. He has done some very questionable things that led to what happened to the 6th layer in season 2.…
I watched “Your Lie in April” in April
So I was planning to watch “Your Lie in April” for a while now but I decided to wait for April to come. I avoided this anime for…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 12 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 12, “She Who Defends Order,” Kurou Sakuragawa redoubled his efforts against Steel Lady Nanase, who made an incredible attempt to fight back. Ultimately,…
Vampire in the Garden (Vanpaia in za Gāden)
You know the very-real genre known as “not-quite-tearjerker”? Yep, that one – absolutely something real that you’d find in a video store, or in the list of categories…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 11 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 11, “The Ultimate Fiction,” Kurou Sakuragawa had tried to grasp a future thread, but he found that by himself, he couldn’t reach it.…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 7 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 7, “Preparing to Conquer the Steel Lady,” Kotoko Iwanaga felt exhausted. On the heels of Steel Lady Nanase’s first confirmed murder, Kotoko’s mission…
The Year in Japan's Rap in 10 Songs
plus a list of the 50 best Japanese rap songs of the year
Review: In/Spectre Episode 10 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 10, “Dueling Factions,” Kotoko Iwanaga launched the second phase of her attack. While Kurou Sakuragawa fought Steel Lady Nanase to keep her occupied…
Star’s experience in Supernatural: Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre)
Watch the trailer This series is about two unlikely people who meet in a hospital. Both have a secret that they can see yokai and spirits. The girl…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 6 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 6, “Logical Fiction,” Kotoko Iwanaga put her prodigious experience as goddess of wisdom to work on the problem: Coming up with a more…
Every Gunpla Kit Released in 2024: In Progress!
This year, we’re doing things a little differently at Gunpla 101. For the last 10 years, I have written a monthly update of Gunpla pre-orders and new releases.…
The Eminence in Shadow – 02 – Toiling in Obscurity
Kagenou Minoru is hit by Truck-kun, then resurrects as Cid, the infant son of a noble family, while maintaining all the intelligence and awareness of his 18-year-old self.…
Darling in the Franxx: A Lesson in Disappointment
If you haven’t gotten the hint from many of my essays for the last month or so, I have a weakness for mecha anime. It’s just such a…
This Week in Anime - Getter in that Robo!
Old school mecha fan Jean-Karlo introduces Steve to the world of Getter Robo Arc, subterrainian dinos, insect troops, and how it's all one big metaphor for nuclear power.
NO ONE is SPARED in Made in Abyss
Made in Abyss has some of the most ruthless character treatment in anime, you will not find any other anime that willingly puts so many good characters through…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 1 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 1, “One Eye, One Leg,” Kotoko Iwanaga took one look at Kurou Sakuragawa and fell in love. She even saved his life, which…
Review: In/Spectre Episode 5 Best in Show
Quick Summary In In/Spectre episode 5, “A Monster of the Imagination,” Saki Yumihara and Kotoko Iwanaga watched as Kurou Sakuragawa fought Steel Lady Nanase. Saki was beside herself:…
Diplomacy in Reviews
The other day I was thinking about what my biggest pet peeves are when reading a review, and while there are a few, instead of listing them I…
Periods in Anime!
You read it right – this blog is going to be entirely devoted to menstruation – or the lack thereof – in anime.
Overextension in Anime
Return to despair
“Alice” in Chains
I sometimes have a problem with shows where the main character and others possess supernatural powers, while the rest of us have to bumble through life with not…
Alice In Borderlands
Seasons: 2 Episodes: 16 Country Of Origin: Japan Network: Netflix Overdub: Yes Completed, Running or Canceled: Completed Summary: An aimless gamer and his two friends find themselves in…
Trauma in Anime
Anime characters sure have though childhoods. Well the action ones at least. If you sit down and really think about action anime, it’s a sea of PTSD. You…