Caught up on some reading this month so 😀 If you’ve happened to come across my few writings on idol viewing culture as it relates to anime viewing culture (such as this one one on the interpellation of 2.5D idols … Continue reading →
Apr 12, 2020 • Subscribe
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Idols and You — Thoughts on Galbraith & Karlin’s 33 1/3 JAPAN, AKB48 (a book recommendation and some musings thereafter)
Caught up on some reading this month so 😀 If you’ve happened to come across my few writings on idol viewing culture as it relates to anime viewing…
Understanding Idols and the Success of AKB48 (Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith)
On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of Japanese aidoru (idols) and discussing the dynamics behind one of Japan's most popular idol groups: AKB48. About…
Vampires, idols, and pretty-boys: Thoughts on Visual Prison
It’s a New Year! Welcome, welcome 2022–soon to be the year of the tiger. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday time and enjoyed our 12 Days…
On Idols and Context
People are people.
Gurazeni: Money Pitch, Karakuri Circus, Lupin III, Lupin the 3rd Part V, Macross
Some thoughts on Tatsuyuki Nagai
After watching 7 episodes of ‘Ano Natsu de Matteru’ I’m bound to say that this is a damn fine show considering its genre and the studio. I…
Some Thoughts On Mieruko-chan
There are two different stories in horror: internal and external. In external horror films, the evil comes from the outside, the other…
Some thoughts on Loving Vincent
Loving Vincent is beautiful, but I don’t have much to say about it as animation (or as film, really), outside of a few cool moments of motion blur…
Some Manga, The Mugen Train and Other Musings
It’s been a hot minute since I was blogging here, huh?
Yotsuiro Biyori, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Rapid thoughts on some 2020 anime
I figured that instead of the usual ‘random manga I read’ monthly post, I should just talk about the anime I watched this year. Unfortunately, I barely watched…
Some thoughts on The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor and “comical cruelty”
I picked up the Legendary Moonlight Sculptor web comic a few days ago. I found myself so into the story that well I jumped right into the Web…
Attacker You! 33
Hello, everybody! May is about to end, I couldn’t let it go without a release! Be happy, because Attacker You! is back! After a fight with Mr. Daimon,…
Urusei Yatsura – 33 – Heaven Is a Date on Earth with You
With the possible futures mini-arc concluded, Urusei is back to self-contained segments, both of which have to do with the supernatural. First up, Mendou is out of school…
Thoughts on FetchFrosh’s Rebuild of The Ultimate Anime Recommendation Flowchart: You Can (Not) Escape
In June 16, 2021, redditor FetchFrosh collaborated with other anime fans to make a giant flowchart on anime recommendations, and I will be going through it. I will…
Let Me Swim A Little Bit More: Thoughts and Musings on the Album “SOAK” by Negoto (A Tribute)
Notes:*let me swim a little bit more (oyogasete mou sukoshi dake) is a reference to a line in the song “Suichuu Toshi”
Some Thoughts on Youjo Senki (Tanya The Evil)
Saga of Tanya the Evil, Youjo Senki, anime discussion
Some Thoughts on Youjo Senki (Tanya The Evil)
Saga of Tanya the Evil, Youjo Senki, anime discussion
Some Thoughts on the Winter 2020 Anime Season
A quite reasonable reason to get back into watching anime more regularly, I’d say. As you may remember, back in January I said that I was going to…
Some belated thoughts on Wakana’s first solo album
The challenges faced by the former Kalafina and FictionJunction vocalist in releasing her solo debut
Obscenity, Censorship & Erotic Comics in Japan (Patrick W> Galbraith)
Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Akihabara and the related
JFF16 - AKB48: The Show Must Go On
少女たちは傷つきながら、夢を見る Eiki Takahashi, 2012 I’ll be honest. This was the film I was looking forward to the most; the documentary of…
Princess Connect #15 — Idols! Idols! Idols! Idols!
…No. Impressions: One step forward, three steps back. Compared to last week's episode, it at least remembered that it did introduce some kind of story in the…
Book Review: A Beginners Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations
A particularly idiosyncratic book this may not suit the tastes of some but is certainly one which provokes. There are many and often inexperienced travellers to Japan who…
Some thoughts on volumes 1-4 of Yakuza Lover
This manga hit the scene pretty hard a few months ago, due to it being newly translated at that point. I saw some reviews, was curious enough about…
Some thoughts on reacting to the Kyoto Animation Tragedy
By now, everyone has heard of the terrible fire at KyoAni office. This isn’t a news post or anything, just some thoughts of mine, so by all means…
Luna’s Thoughts on Weathering with You
Recently, Star and I went to go see the new Makoto Shinkai movie Weathering with you and it was…interesting. Interesting in a good way but it also never…
Brief Thoughts On: Are You Lost?
Disaster has struck! A plane crash during a school trip leaves 4 girls stranded on an abandoned...
[Manga Musings on Mondays] A Distant Neighborhood – Review
Created by: Jiro Taniguchi Chapters: 15 Hello and welcome to Manga Musings’ Week 2! This time around, I look back at another series which is a favorite…
Parallel World Pharmacy Episode 2 — You Get Some Medicine! And You Get Some Medicine!
Parallel World Pharmacy was my favorite premiere last week, and this week’s episode is my favorite again so far. Granted, I haven’t gotten around to watching Call of…
Anime Frontier 2022: Wrap; And Some Additional Thoughts
I was just looking on twitter randomly and noticed Holiday Matsuri. This is the annual event in Orlando, Florida, right before the end-of-year holidays. I can’t find easily…
#MechaMarch #MechaMadness The Final Winners and Some Thoughts
I know what you guys are here for, so let’s get to those first. Final Poll Results Gold Winner The Winner is: The Gold Hyaku Shiki Award goes…
Answerman - Why Do Some Anime Releases Have a "Content Japan" Logo On Them?
Kim explains this specific anti-piracy measure and how it came to be used.
Musings on Multi-Mind Mayhem
Although the modern variation of the “isekai” trope has existed within manga and anime since the early 1980s, the concept of a character swept away to a life…
Can You Start A Business in Japan On ‘Work Visa?’
Do you want to start a business in Japan? Here are the legal steps to take if you're currently on a work visa.
Some Very Brief Thoughts on Episode 8 of HEALER GIRL
Spoilers Below I would love to talk at length about today’s Healer Girl episode, but frankly, I simply don’t have the time or mental energy. I encourage you…
A Completely Random Post About Baseball and Idols
What do you mean I came up with the idea of this post because I wanted to talk about =LOVE for a third post in a row? In…
A Completely Random Post About Baseball and Idols
What do you mean I came up with the idea of this post because I wanted to talk about =LOVE for a third post in a row? In…
A Completely Random Post About Baseball and Idols
What do you mean I came up with the idea of this post because I wanted to talk about =LOVE for a third post in a row? In…
Some Unsolicited Thoughts: January 2024
And just like that, we’re almost at the tail-end of January 2024. While there were only a handful of major announcements and/or happenings this month, I did want…
Some more thoughts I have
I found an excuse not to watch My Dress-Up Darling After watching someone’s review of My Dress-Up Darling up to Episode 3, I was like, “Nope. I ain’t…
2022 Fall/Winter Book Haul | maids, mythology, & midnight musings
NEW BOOKS! Hey guys, here’s all the non-graphic novel books I accumulated over the last few months of 2022! Let me know if you’ve read any of these…
2022 Fall/Winter Book Haul | maids, mythology, & midnight musings
NEW BOOKS! Hey guys, here’s all the non-graphic novel books I accumulated over the last few months of 2022! Let me know if you’ve read any of these…
Book Bloggin’ — Thoughts on Classroom of the Elite Volume 1
Hey y’all, welcome to a new series that I’m starting every other month called Book Bloggin’! I will be discussing different manga and light novels that I’m reading…
Brief Thoughts On: A-Channel
A-Channel is just frustratingly serviceable. It's basically a template anime that never dips low and never rises far.
Book translation: Space Battleship Yamato and 70s Japan
Throughout its long history, Yamato has been the subject of repeated analysis with one textbook after another examining the phenomenon. (See them all here.) They are all tempting…
Okaeri! Musings and Announcements
Anime Rants checks in with an important announcement!
Thoughts on I Love You So Much, I Hate You
I Love You So Much, I Hate You is a yuri manga written and illustrated by Yuni. The story focuses on office lady Saori Fujimura and her boss…
Impressions and thoughts on Noragami
Noragami (12 Episodes – Winter 2014) The world of the gods is often a popular subject for anime just because how religion works in Japan which is to…
Impressions and thoughts on Baccano!
Baccano! (13 Episodes – Summer 2007) So it is around this time that I have come to the realization of two things, the first is at the time…
In Japan, Oshidan Let Fans Idolize Their Idols
Do you have an idol you worship? Now, you can literally worship them - with stage lights and all - with an oshidan prayer altar.