Living your life with purpose—finding your ikigai.
Sep 16, 2022 • Subscribe
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Censorship in Practice
A short news reaction post from me this week, but first a simple quiz for my dear reader. Name the common trait linking the following anime series: Engaged…
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
Practice Makes Perfect Volume 1 Review
Japan's volleyball rep Nohara and judo rep Takaya attempt to tackle something new -- love -- in Ui Hanamiya's Practice Makes Perfect manga.
Tsurune 2 Episode 8 -Practice Match
Kyoani continues it's comeback with the second season the archery sports anime: Tsurune. I had forgotten how pretty this show is.
How to Practice Music in Japanese Apartments or Find Studio Spaces
The best solutions for playing guitar, piano or other instruments with small, albeit cozy, sound-leaking apartments.
Pass the JLPT! Taking a JLPT Practice Test
Not quite ready for the JLPT? A JLPT practice test is a great way to measure progress, pinpoint trouble areas, & get a feel for the real deal.
I Got Cheat Powers #01 — Speed Reading Practice
I hope you like status screens. Apparently this got an early premiere on FujiTV's streaming service, though the broadcast is supposedly still April 6th. No idea if that's…
Ask Japanese Animators - How Should I Practice Drawing?
The 2022 Animator Dormitory Project is Live! https://gogetfunding.com/the-new-animator-dormitory-project-2021/ The Animator Dormitory is made possible thanks to our supporters via crowdfunding. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The New Anime Making System Project 2020 https://gogetfunding.com/2020-new-anime-making-system-project/ Let’s change…
Advanced Japanese Reading Practice with Side-by-Side Readers
Want Japanese reading practice with newspapers or essays? Here's how to level up your Japanese game with side-by-side readers.
Rent-a-Girlfriend – 23 – Super Sakurasawa Practice Partner Part III
All Hail Sumi, High Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar Rental Girlfriends. She has Chizuru ask Kazuya if he’ll spend another day with her under the pretense…
Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku | Episodes seven: Practice makes perfect.
Episode seven of Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku, embodied the phrase "Practice makes perfect". Who did Akebi-chan influence today? Let me tell you about it.
Review of Fire Force Episode 22: Practice Makes Perfect Memories of Childhood
Quick Summary In Fire Force episode 22, “A Brother’s Determination,” Shinra continued to battle against Sho as Victor Licht watched in alternating terror and fascination. As the fight wore…
Daily Prompt #4: Things You Practice Daily to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle
Well, this is an odd post, definitely not one that I’d normally make.
Interview: The Faraway Paladin Author Reveals How The Story Was Originally Written as Practice
How did a web novel created as writing practice become a bestselling series that inspired an anime? The novel author Kanata Yanagino shares the series surprising origin story.
Love Live Superstar 2nd Season – Episode 2 – The First Day of Intense Practice and Kinako’s Resolve
Episode impressions of Love Live Superstar 2nd Season Episode 2 as Kinako decided to join the School Idol Club. However, she doesn’t realize how intense the practice is.
Hey, this isn’t idol practice, this is gay sex! [LIP Lewd Idol Project Vol. 1 Review]
Kairi wants to be an idol so bad, but she’s about to give up on her dreams when Ranko, a voluptuous redhead, approaches her and offers her a…
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…
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/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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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:…
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…
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.
Life in Japan Episode 1: Christmas in Kyoto
The start of a new KFC holiday tradition - Kyoto For Christmas. Read more
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…
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.…
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 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 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…
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.…
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 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…
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 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…
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 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…
#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.
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.…
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…