AKIHABARA!

As an OTAKU, I have merged myself with a few cultures in Japan, even though I haven't been there yet. I have always dreamed of going to Japan, buy figures, see my favorite seiyuus, buy manga and so many more. But more to that, I want to see this certain place in Japan where all the OTAKUS come and go, AKIHABARA.

So, Akihabara. Akihabara (秋葉原 "Field of Autumn Leaves"), also known as Akihabara Electric Town (秋葉原電気街 Akihabara Denki Gai), is an area of Tokyo, Japan. It is located less than five minutes by rail from Tokyo Station.  

Akihabara is a major shopping area for electronic, computer, anime, and otaku goods, including new and used items. New items are mostly to be found on the main street, Chūōdōri, with many kinds of used items found in the back streets of Soto Kanda 3-chōme. New parts for PC-building are readily available from a variety of stores. Tools, electrical parts, wires, microsized cameras and similar items are found in the cramped passageways of Soto Kanda 1-chōme (near the station). Foreign tourists tend to visit the big name shops like Laox or other speciality shops near the station, though there is more variety and lower prices at locales a little further away. Akihabara gained some fame through being home to one of the first stores devoted to personal robots and robotics.

It has been talked about in many animes that I have watched, making me curious what Akihabara really is. Though with the massacre that happened in 2008, rules have been implemented by the start of the year 2011, tighter security, due to the number of people that come and visit the place. Akihabara is a place of fun, entertainment and also good food, as I've heard. There are lots of gaming centers, as well as stores that sell the rarest games to the latest. There are also stores that sell consoles, figures, nendroids, second hand stuffs in good conditions (visit mandarakes), as well as karaoke bars. Cosplayers can also be seen in many places as well as maid cafes. But in most cases, Akihabara is a place for a gamer and otaku to consider a haven and to gather friends with the same interest. 

I have to be very honest, that this place will be my very first stop once I get to Japan, whenever that will be. ALL HAIL OTAKUS.

PEACE OUT... TEEHEE

Character of The Day: Hagumi Hanamoto

A supremely gifted artist, Hagu's immense talents are esteemed by all who witness her works, catching the eye of numerous professional artists who insistently urge her to submit her work to exhibitions to heighten her publicity (which she seems to find daunting). She is 18 years of age at the beginning of the series and her appearance is that of a child, and she conveniently behaves as one. Raised in a largely sheltered and obscure home by her irritable grandmother, her sociability is below average. It is whilst living in that home that Hagu develops her skill in drawing and painting, her only past-time, though she finds nothing to sketch save for the never-changing view she has from her porch, varying only in seasons. Hagu is from Azumino city, Nagano-ken.She is introduced to Takemoto, Morita and Mayama by Shūji, her mother's cousin and also a professor at the college. Upon seeing her, Morita and Takemoto fall in love with her, though both express it in different ways. Hagu knows not of their feelings towards her, but sees them as friends. However, Morita expresses his love for her in very odd ways, and Hagu is often seen trying to escape from whatever shenanigan Morita has planned for her. Though later Hagu develops feelings towards Morita, although she does not at first realize this, as Shūji points out.

Hagu is very shy, and because she is so nervous when interacting with people, the other art students think that she is strange. Hagu doesn't seem to be too close with family members either, with the exception of Shūji, whom she fondly calls "Shū-chan". However, as the series progresses, Hagu is able to become closer friends with Takemoto, Mayama, Morita and Yamada. When Shūji leaves to go do a research project in Mongolia, Hagu forms a deeper bond with each of them, essentially seeing them as a sort of family. Hagu lives with Yamada (whom she calls "Ayu") when Shūji is away and they become very close friends.

During parties, she is seen to be crying because of her envy of Yamada's beautiful legs and beautiful breasts. Mayama tries very hard to comfort her but failing rather miserably saying that "You'll have one of those when you're older....probably". While Hagu is crying, Morita is also crying because of her infectious tears.

Later in the series, Hagu started to avoid Takemoto after he confessed his feelings for her, leaving doubts if his love for her is reciprocated or not. In the latest manga chapters she admits that she likes Morita, but would rather be with Shūji because she knows that he can take care of her (especially after a life-altering accident that may permanently impair her abilities as an artist)

 .

TUNE OF THE DAY

I've been a long time avid fan of Suga Shikao. Ever since the xxxholic franchice started, I have been saving his songs on my playlists and music players. And today, I saw yet another song of his, and it happens to be an insert song at Honey and Clover. Though I wasn't  familiar with kanji or any japanese characters then, I had no idea it was him until now and that I can easily recognize his voice, this song is now a new favorite of mine.

PLEASE ENJOY. 

Remembering Honey and Clover

Today, I was planning to just sit around and do nothing. It's been a while since I wrote anything in my blog. Well, it was because of the busy schedule or maybe because I just wasn't in the mood to write or type anything. But that all changed today. At times that I'm opening my internet browser, I will never hesitate to open a tab and type in my favorite websites, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, MANGAHERE and ANIMEFUSHIGI. These sites always keep me busy, or so  I think. Anyway, I don't know what urged me to click the full list of animes and see HONEY and CLOVER.


In all honesty, I have finished this series around 5 years ago. It was around those times that our house was renovated and we got to live in it again. And when 11.30 struck, I would clearly change the channel to ANIMAX and tune in to it. I don't really know what hooked me to it. The artwork is nice and all and the story line is fantastic, but most animes that I like range up to those specifics. I have no favorites when it comes to watching anime but I love watching anything that seems entertaining or those that catch my eye. Honey and Clover was one of those that caught my eye.


But I guess I was bias back then. Honey and Clover turned out to be more than I expected and it left a mark that has clearly changed my feelings and emotions altogether. So I know that some of you might be curious as to what I'm blabbering about all this time, but let me give you a brief summary about this anime.


Yuuta Takemoto has just started his life as college student at an art university in Tokyo. He is staying in apartment close to the school, and stays at the apartment with his other schoolmates, Shinobu Morita and Mayama Takumi. As he is adjusting to his new life as an architect major, one spring day, his teacher, Shuji Hanamoto brings his niece Hagumi Hanamoto. A small, cute, charming and quiet girl, Yuuta fell in love with her at first sight. The same goes for Shinobu. Yuuta kept his feelings for Hagu and stayed close friends with her instead. As for Shinobu, he is a persistent guy who showed his interest by doing weird things like taking pictures of Hagu, putting it on the internet and making tons of money for it. Hagu, however, does not like the fact that Shinobu does such rash things towards her. But because both of them have the same passion for art, Hagu ends up having feelings for Shinobu, making Yuuta on the other hand unhappy. Though with the circumstances, the trio haven't revealed their feelings for one another. Yuuta, graduating soon from college, suffers from a stomach ulcer, having to repeat his year. The stress of having to repeat and wanting to find out what his real purpose is, goes to a journey around Japan in his bicycle, enlightening himself. As he comes back to Tokyo, he becomes a totally different person, and establishes better understanding and was able to pass a remarkable graduation thesis. In the end of the first season, he was able to confess his feeling for Hagu.


I think the striking part of the series that got me hooked to it to some unknown reason is the complexity of each character. Hagu, being an art prodigy, has a lot of expectations brewing around her. Shinobu, being the genius as he is, wants a normal life but cannot establish it for himself. Yuuta, trying to find out who he really is and what his future should really be and many more. Although the story focuses on romance and drama, some slapstick comedy should also be anticipated. You can expect that in an episode, it wouldn't end without Shinobu or anybody from the cast making us laugh. The drama is light in some cases, but can turn heavy especially towards the end of the series in season 2 which was real treat to fans of the series. 


The reason for my nostalgia however is left unsolved, as to why I wanted to see the series for some strange reason. But I'm glad I did.




PEACE OUT!...TEEHEE