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Title: ラブひな (Love Hina) Endless DVD Box
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Catalog No.: KIBA-91221~7
Release Date: 7/6/05
Rating: BEST!
More than 5 years after the broadcast and DVD release, they finally finish up the entire story with a reunion performance by the original cast on a drama CD. Love Hina is still by far my favorite series of any and everything. It may not be a superlative in anything, but overall, it's a show that has changed me in so many ways. I could go on explaining why it's so profound in my personal history, but I would be revealing too much.
So the box contains all the shows, the 25 episodes, 2 specials, and 3 ovas. I already have all those DVDs, so buying this box wasn't for the video. I haven't seen it, but it's probably the same quality as the original release. Those are all packed on 7 dual-layered DVDs, stuffed in 4 thin-cases, and then put in a plastic box. I wish they had used original artwork though, rather than use the identical covers as the original release.
The reason I bought this box is for the exclusive drama CD where the original cast voice-act out the last few chapters in the manga. The story is slightly different from the manga, and in my opinion, for the better. The original comic was a little wild and off-the-wall with Ema coming to Hinata. The drama, however, makes slightly more believable and puts more emphasis on how the characters have changed in the 5 years since we left them.
Everyone sounds the same, especially my fav, Ho-chan. The only exception is Yuu Asakawa, the voice of Motoko. It seems like her voice is slightly lower now and has less power than when she first performed as Motoko. I doubt she can do those oh-so-famous Motoko screams.
I think this wraps up the series. To me, it's a little sad because of the sentimental value that this series brings. However, I understand that all good things must come to an end.
I don't need to remind you of the episode titles. Here's the drama CD tracks.
1. そこへと続く道は遠く[ひなた温泉前駅] (The Road There is Far [At the Stop in Front of the Hot Springs]): A young 15-year-old girl, Ema Maeda, with ambitions to attend Tokyo University gets off at Hinata train station. She's heard about a famous girl's dorm where the residents all end up attending Todai. She looks in her bag for a printout map of the city and finds that all she has is a blank piece of paper. She decides to ask around and fortunately for a her, a young woman (with a big bust) walks by her softly singing "Liddo-kun's Big Adventure" walks by (it's Mutsumi, but listeners only know because of her voice). When asked, she starts reminiscing about the place... passing the exams to Tokyo U., being dumped by Keitaro and that he's going to get married. Ema reminds her about the dorms. Fortunately, Mutsumi has a map and hands it to Ema. Before she leaves though, Mutsumi tells Ema that Hinata-sou is near, but also far.
2. オープニング (Opening): SAKURA SAKU! (TV Sized)
3. 本当のはじまりはこれから[ひなた温泉前駅] (The Real Beginning Starts Here [At the Stop in Front of the Hot Springs]): Despite having the map and walking around some, she ends up back at the train station. Another woman comes and notices Ema (it's Naru, but again, listeners only know because it's Ho-chan's beautiful voice). She tells Ema that she reminds him of someone she knows. Ema explains that she's looking for a girl's dorm and the woman knows she's talking about Hinata-sou. She then gives her verbal instructions. The train arrives and the woman boards. Ema thinks this woman is really pretty.
4. どんな未来が待っている?[ひなた荘へと続く道] (What Kind of Future Awaits? [The Path to Hinata-sou]): As she's walking to the dorm, a mecha comes and stops in front of Ema, scaring her. Motoko then comes telling Suu not to scare this girl. Motoko helps Ema up. Ema asks about the dorms again and Motoko tells her it's just up the stairway. Motoko then notices that Ema's skirt is a bit dirty and uses her swordsmanship to whip up a storm and clean up her. However, Ema faints soon after. Suu tells Motoko to leave the scene of the crime.
5. 翔けていこう![ひなた荘へと続く階段] (Let's Soar! [The Stairway to Hinata-sou]): As Ema ascends the stairs, she meets Kitsune. Kitsune introduces herself as the manager of the tea shop and tells her to go up the stairway. When she reaches the top, another woman greets her (Shinomu) and apparently knows her name.
6. CM: ラブひなDVD-BOX エンドレス♥ (Commercial: Love Hina DVD Box Endless): A brief commercial to sell the DVD box.
7. ようこそ! ひなた荘へ[ひなた荘ロビー] (Welcome to Hinata-sou! [Hinata-sou Lobby]): Shinomu introduces herself, saying that she's a sophomore at Tokyo U. She tells Ema that Kitsune told her about the new girl coming to Hinata. She continues introducing Motoko, a 3rd year law student at Tokyo U. as well as Suu, a junior at the same university. After the introduction, she says there's a wedding later today with Naru and Keitaro and explains that the two met at this dorm, so their wedding is here too. Kitsune then comes and describes Keitaro in her own way and the more she explains, the more Ema realizes how similar she is to this Keitaro. The other Hinata girls come.
8. 翻弄されて本望です?[ひなた荘玄関前] (Wish to Be Teased? [In Front of Hinata-sou]): Kitsune formally introduces Ema to Suu and Motoko (there's a discontinuity here with the voice acting). They're now practicing for the play they're going to do at the wedding re-enacting a scene where the girls chase after Keitaro. The script is written by the prolific romance fiction writer, Motoko. The part they're rehearsing is when the girls were chasing Keitaro out of the building after being caught in the hot springs. Because Mutsumi isn't here, Ema takes on the role of Keitaro and suffers Suu and Motoko's abuse. In the background, a car horn sounds and a man comes rescuing Ema. It's Keitaro. It's now time for the wedding.
9. 次はなにが起こるやら[ひなた荘大庭園] (I Wonder What Will Happen Next? [Hinata-sou Garden]): Sara, Seta, and Haruka (whom Sara calls mama) arrive. Sara, who is the same age as Ema, tells Ema that she'll be fine if she lives at Hinata-sou. When in doubt, blame Keitaro. Haruka interjects saying that Shinomu shouldn't turn out to be like Motoko, living at Hinata-sou as a content single woman. Shinomu reminds Haruka that she was the same.
10. 人生は時に厳しく[ひなた荘大庭園] (Life Is Sometimes Cruel [Hinata-sou Garden]): The wedding bells ring announcing that the bride is ready. Ema looks at the bride and recognizes the big bust size. She tells the other girls that she's met her before and shows them the map. The map is written in Turtle-ese and they realize that it's Mutsumi dressed up in the wedding dress. Mutsumi apologizes for the joke. The real bride then shows up and is quite angry at Keitaro for almost marrying someone else. She gives him a Naru-Punch which also carries Ema to the sky too.
11. それにも増してすばらしい[ひなた荘大庭園] (But Even With That It's Wonderful [Hinata-sou Garden]): The ceremony starts and Naru tells Seta, who's marrying the two, to hurry it up because Keitaro might end up somebody else's husband. Keitaro tries to rebut, but gets another few punches. They exchange vows. As they're about to kiss, the other girls, especially Shinomu, get fidgity. And just as their lips are about to lock, the girls all scream out. "Wait!" This causes Naru and Keitaro to topple over and fall down.
12. エンディング(祝福) (Ending): Shukufuku! (TV Sized). As the music is playing, Seta says that everyone's the same. Haruka adds that the reason no one changes is because Hinata-sou is a magical, endless place.
 Endless Indeed! (Click to Zoom)
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Title: ラブひな (Love Hina) Novel Vol. 2
Author: 川崎ヒロユキ (Hiroyuki Kawasaki)
Illustrator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 200pp.
First Printing: 2/15/02
Rating: 3/4
This is one of my oldest novels that I have which I haven't read until now. If it hadn't been for the DVD release, it probably would have stayed unread for another few years. But since the box finishes the story, I decided that it I should finish everything Love Hina, this being the last unread book.
The story takes place between when Keitaro leaves to go abroad and before Kanako comes to Hinata. Again, given that I know the characters and the overall story pretty well, this was a very fast reading. The story is unique to the novel. I don't think that the stories in itself were too interesting, but I won't deny that nostalgia played a part in my enjoyment.
Bonus comes with a two page story at the end detailing Naru's wishes on Christmas Eve hoping that Keitaro would come back soon. After this, there's a little note that says "To Be Continued..." but after more than 3 years and the drama CD detailing the end of the manga, I don't have my hopes up. The bottom corner of the book has a flip-book cartoon. Interesting touch.
Preface. ひなた荘の朝 (Morning at Hinata Apartments): After Keitaro leaves for America following his very brief study at Tokyo University, Naru decides to pack up and sneak out to fly out to where he is. The other girls at Hinata are already prepared as it seems routine and manage to subdue her before she tries to run away.
1. 機械じかけのエロガッパ (Mechanical Pervert): Early December, 2000. Everyone at Hinata seems to be missing Keitaro, especially Naru. Out of reflex, Suu and Sara barge into Keitaro's room to play with him but realize that he's abroad. They come up with an idea.
A few days later, Kitsune, Naru, and Mutsumi talk about how Suu and Sara have been asking them about their memories of Keitaro. That night, as Naru is about to sleep, she sees a Keitaro's silhouette. But as he approaches, Naru realizes that it's a machine. Suu and Sara have created a Mecha-Keitaro. The top half is human-like, the bottom half is turtle-like. Despite the odd physical appearance, its voice is strikingly similar. The next morning as everyone else is asleep, Naru goes and tries to program Mecha-Keitaro to say "I Love You, Naru" because she wants to hear those words. However, before it can finish the utterance, Mitsumi steps in and Naru in her panic, shuts down the machine.
A few days later as Naru is in the hot springs, Mecha-Keitaro appears with Suu following. The robot seems to be trying to repeat the words Naru programmed it with. As soon as she realized what he was going to say, she tries to stop him. In self-defense, Mecha-Keitaro unleases his laser beams on Naru and Suu. It then runs away. Later, they try to lure the machine into a trap with the Hinata girls in bathing suits, but Mecha-Keitaro sees through it and runs away. They then hear that there's a robot on the rampage in the city. Suu warns that they have to deactivate it else it'll explode from all the damage it's taking on from the authorities. Suddenly Naru knows where he's going. It's 12/10 today, but because of the power shutdown, it probably thought today was 10/21, the day that Naru and Keitaro went on a date to the movies. Naru manages to shut it down, although she's a little sad in doing so.
2. 受験剣士のホリディ・ナイト (Holiday Night of the Student Swordswoman): Mid December, 2000. Motoko secretly wants to attend Tokyo University, and it's because she also has a crush on Keitaro. In fact, she even dreams about him. However, she doesn't tell anyone where she wants to attend college because she finds it embarrassing. On top of that, she lacks self confidence and every so often, wants to commit seppu/harikiri.
One night, as she's moping in the streets, her sister Tsuruko shows up. She comes back to Hinata Apartments with Motoko and explains that she was out on a task in the area. She spends a night with Motoko in her room. Being afraid of her sister, Motoko barely gets any sleep. The next morning, after some questioning and to return the favor of letting her stay the night, Tsuruko demonstrates a secret art of the Shinmeiryuu, the exchanging of souls. She performs this Suu and Shinobu, causing them to switch into each other's bodies. She then restores them. Kitsune asks if Motoko can do the same and wants to switch spirits with her. Tsuruko thinks it's a great idea, but Motoko is scared because she doesn't know if she can and knows that if she fails, she'll be punished by Tsuruko.
As the ritual starts, Kitsune suddenly has a pain in her stomach. She has Naru take her place. Motoko does the ritual, but nothing seems to happy. However, to not make Motoko look bad, Naru pretends to be Motoko. After Tsuruko leaves for a few moments to say hi to Haruka, Naru finds out that Motoko and Kitsune really did switch, but they have to be on the pretense that it was Naru to prevent Motoko from being punished. Later, Tsuruko enjoys one last bath in the springs before she leaves. She explains to Kitsune (who is Motoko) that she thinks Mokoto is too serious and should act more her age.
After Tsuruko leaves, the three of them try to find out how to reverse the spell. They find a book that mentions that the two of them have to sleep together in the same bed the night of their switching to reverse it. In the meantime though, in order not to let Shinobu, Suu and the others know, they have to act their persons. Motoko (who is Kitsune) has to try studing with Naru and Shinobu. Kitsune (who is Motoko) lounges around in Kitsune's room and ends up reading a love-themed magazine. Kitsune can't stand the studies and decides to take a night on the town in Motoko's body. Naru and Motoko go looking after her and after finding her, Motoko remembers what her sister said about her and decides to loosen up for the night. They help a cafe run by an acquaintance of Kitsune's and dress up in bunny suits to bring in customers. That night, the two sleep together and wake up in their regular bodies in the morning.
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Yet another trip back. I might be going back again in two weeks.
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Title: マブラヴ (Muv-luv) BASXI Ver.
Vocals: 栗林みな実 (Minami Kuribayashi)
Release Date: 7/26/02
Catalog No.: HBC-001
Rating: 4/4
This is one the CDs I bought when I went to Japan, specifically, at the Animate in Shibuya.
The three songs included include the theme song to Muv-luv, Kiminozo, and a new song Minami wrote, titled "Happy Birthday." If I remember correctly from the DVD, she wrote it for a friend. Because these remixes are with her band, the music sounds a little less engineered and more like what you would hear at a jazz hall. Of course, my favorite song on here is Rumbling Hearts and the karaoke version is also here. This is the only CD with a karaoke version of that song.
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Title: クロノクルセイド (Chrono Crusade) OP Single
Vocals: 栗林みな実 (Minami Kuribayashi)
Release Date: 1/21/04
Catalog No.: LACM-4110
Rating: 3/4
This is one of the three Minami Kuribayashi CDs I got to show my gratitude for what they did on Kiminozo Radio.
I have no context for the story of this series, neither anime nor manga, so I can only judge it based on what I'm hearing. As with anything else, I might like the songs better if I knew the story. Anyhow, this CD was the 5th highest selling anime single of 2004.
The first song is the intro to the show. It's a upbeat song and I get a sense of "adventure" from the melody and lyrics. The second song is an original song written by Minami and Masaaki, the same collaboration of the Kiminozo songs that I love. It's a bit too slow for me, but it shows the range of music that Minami can sing.
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Title: 舞-HiME (Mai-Hime) OP Single
Vocals: 栗林みな実 (Minami Kuribayashi)
Release Date: 11/3/04
Catalog No.: LACM-4157
Rating: 3/4
The second CD I bought to show my appreciation for Kiminozo Radio.
Like the Chrono Crusade opening, this CD ranked at #7 for 2004 in anime singles. Both songs on here are collaborations with Minami and Masaaki. Since I haven't watched the anime and only read the first volume of the manga, I didn't know what to expect. However, after hearing the song a couple of times, I've finally come to enjoy it. It's one of those songs that I think only Minami can sing. Her voice and the music go very well together. The second song is just decent.
The image is of the back side of the CD.
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Title: 舞-HiME (Mai-Hime) OP Remix
Vocals: 栗林みな実 (Minami Kuribayashi)
Release Date: 3/24/05
Catalog No.: LACM-4189
Rating: 2/4
The last (3rd) CD purchased in appreciation of Kiminozo Radio.
There are 3 versions of the opening theme on this CD. The regular version is already lively enough that I didn't think it warranted all these techno remixes. These three songs overdo what is already a good song.
The bonus DVD has a music video with the original mix. As with the Precious Memories DVD, I don't particularly like Minami in a black veil outfit. I know she has a dark aura, but I think she would look better in any other type of costume.
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Title: イリヤの空、UFOの夏 (Sky of Iriya, Summer of UFO) Vol. 4
Original Creator: 秋山瑞人 (Mizuhito Akiyama)
Volume: 4/6
Catalog No.: BIBA-5404
Release Date: 6/3/05
Rating: 4/4
Again, this episode showed me exactly what I had imagined when I first read the book. The scene at the restaurant is hilarious, especially with the juices squirting out of the super-sized gyoza. This episode did condense the eating contest with Enomoto taking Iriya away, making it part of one scene rather than two. I guess it works out in the end. When Iriya was at the bottom of the stairway, I thought they would have left in her reassuring words, "It's okay, it's okay. It's fine, it's fine" but I guess the scriptwriters skipped over that. Those words left a lasting impression when I read that part in the story.
The video quality in his episode is vastly improved over the previous episode.
4. 水前寺応答せよ (Please Answer, Suizenji)
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Title: AIR Vol. 3 LE
Original Creator: Key/Visual Art's
Volume: 3/6
Catalog No.: PCBX-50670
Release Date: 6/1/05
Rating: 4/4
Minagi! Her story is my favorite out of the three present day girls and the two episodes included sum up her story. I thought it was a bit short though and if I didn't play through the game, I probably wouldn't have understood how profound her story is. Actually, one of the best parts about the anime is that I'm finally able to hear her talk in long paragraphs. I don't remember her having many long phrases in the game. I love the prosody of her voice.
Bonus comes with the sleeve case and postcard, like the other LEs. The commentary is done by the continuity directors of episode 5 and 6, as well as the director for episode 5.
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Title: サイレン (Psiren) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 井原裕士 (Yuji Ihara)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 194pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Dengeki Daioh 8/04-3/05
First Printing: 5/15/05
Rating: 3/4
I started by Dengeki Daioh subscription when this series was on its second chapter so I didn't get to read the first chapter until I got this book. The story is about two people who have secret identities. One fights for justice, the other for evil. However, when they're not saving/destroying the world, the two, Soichiro and Meruna, have a romantic relationship with each other. I personally enjoy this series for the dysfunctional romance and humor rather than fighting that happens occasionally.
No bonuses except for a color page. The inside covers also have a some gag comics.
1. 天から降ってくる出会い1 (A Meeting That Came From the Sky, Part 1)
2. 天から降ってくる出会い2 (A Meeting That Came From the Sky, Part 2)
3. 天から降ってくる出会い3 (A Meeting That Came From the Sky, Part 3)
4. アプローチはソフトでね (A Soft Approach, Okay?)
5. 二人には秘密がいっぱい (The Two Have a Lot of Secrets)
6. 星流産業お仕事事情 (The Situation at Hoshito Industries)
7. 蜘蛛女ですよ (Spiderwoman)
8. 彼女のピンチが彼にチャンス (A Girl In Trouble Is a Guy's Chance)
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Title: ドラゴンエイジ (Dragon Age) July '05
Issue Date: 7/10/2005
Publisher: Kadokawa (Fujimi Shobo)
Pages: 854
This month's issue is a bohemoth. There's two new series starting, Pixy Gale and The Sea I Saw From Heaven. The first is a more mysterious and mystical story, although not too dark. The second one is daily-life story with a touch of magic, similar to Someday's Dreamers and Nodoka Nobody. Girl Following (Tsuiteru Kanojo) ends this month, rather abruptly. There's also a one-shot war manga.
Bonus this month is a pencil board with Pixy Gale art on one side, FMP Sigma on the other.
* Summaries abbreviated due to backlog (but got carried away again).
Pixy Gale: 1: Rikano has just received a heart transplant from a young priest. As part of the agreement for his organ, she has to be his successor in the church. Soon after she awakes from surgery, she meets Yan, one of former priests disciples. Apparently, Rikano has a few enemies, but Yan protects her. There's also a little more to the master/disciple relationship.
Karin: 恥の27「落ち込む雨水君と果林のカミングアウト〜coming out〜」 (A Depressed Kenta and Karin's Coming Out): Karin goes to Maki's house and Maki is able to guess the reason for Karin's sorrow quite easily. Kenta realizes that he really shouldn't have pushed Karin away like that and blames his father. Karin then bumps into Kenta's father and screams at him. The father is surprisingly nice and gives her a nikuman to calm her down.
Zero In: Piece 21: Turkey Shoot: Kou has another admirer, Nomihara, who lets him eat a bento that took three days in the making. He gets an upset stomach and as Ayuna helps walk him back home, he notices that she seems like she wants to talk with him about something. He lets her know, and she starts crying because her brother knows her so well. A stalker then sees Kou make Ayuna cry and maims him.
FMP Sigma: mission 003 (Black and White): Sosuke has a heated discussion with Tessa about his reassignment. Afterwards, Sosuke and Kurz are at the bar and a new face comes in and sits in the seat of a fallen comrade. A scuffle ensues and Sosuke is challenged to a mecha battle. The guy is Belfanga Kuruzo (?) and he pilots the M-9 that Sosuke and gang saw in Sicily.
Maburaho Colorful: 第6話「くりこ、ワインレッドの夢」の巻 ("Kuriko, Wine-Red Dream" Chapter): Kuriko has an opportunity to go to Hollywood, and asks Kazuki whether he wants her to go or not (it'll be a long trip). She basically forces him to say that he wants her to stay, and so she does just that.
Tsubame Syndrome: ACT18[濡れた翼] (Soaked Wings): The love triangle between Haruka and Tsubame is too much for Taiga and his origin heart takes over, turning him into a Phantom that attacks Haruka. Tsubame comes just in time to subdue him.
Maid Guy: 8: Naeka wants to abstain from the prefecture kendo competition because she knows that there's another girl participating who is seeking revenge on her for something that happened years ago. Kogarashi has her train in the mountains and she competes. Kogarashi uses some illusion tricks on Naeka's opponent allowing Naeka to win.
Dorothea: 第2話「無垢の瞳」 (Innocent Eyes): Gyuruku is opposed to having Dorothea accompany him in returning to the army because of the way she looks, being an albino female and that he doesn't think she's prepared for it. However, she is insistent on going.
Kiyoshirou: 2: Kyoshiro and Miki go into a secluded village where he thinks the scroll may be. The locals don't like strangers around, but the village chief talks to them and explains that he doesn't have the picture anymore. Kyoshiro tells him his mother's name and it turns out that it's the same name as the miko, Yuki, in the village. The next morning, they find Yuki seriously injured from an attack.
Sea From Heaven: 1st Album「今宵あなたと」 (Tonight With You): Mito is a freshman starting at a university in Tokyo. Being from the countryside, she has to get accustomed to life in the city. She makes friends with Ayami, a fellow freshman also interested in the film club. She gets a part time job in a coffee shop and discovers a talking cat which she names "Cross" after "Bing Crosby."
Love Dog: 第9話「天音、青春真っ盛り!」 (Amane, At the Peak of Adolescence!): Because she's part dog, Amane is worried that she doesn't know what is. After talking to Yoneda, she comes to understand that the feelings she has for Soichiro are what other girls would have on their crush.
Taisetsu na Koto: Step 17: 初めてのデート (First Date): A few days after Christmas, Ryutaro has some free time so Nami and him go on their first date. After dinner, they find a motorcycle that seems to be stolen and Nami is able to use her magic to bring it to the police station. As Ryutaro drops her off and leaves, she realizes that she forgot to take a picture of him.
Girl Following (Last): 第8話「空へーー」 (To the Sky--): In order to exorcise the spirit within Miori, she and Eitaro are taken to a shrine deep in the mountains. Despite all that, Miori runs away with Eitaro from the ritual. As they're along in a hut at night, Natsuru comes back into Miori's body. She wants to fulfil the promise of being his wife, but Eitaro refuses because it's not Natsuru's body. Natsuru comes to terms with her situation and finally leaves Miori's body.
Nodoka Nobody: 拾弐ノ湯「明日への迷路(前編)」 (The Maze Towards Tomorrow, First Part): Nodoka is going to help renovate a hot springs deep in the mountains of Nagasaki. The fiance of the son of the owner is very depressed and decides to call off the wedding. Nodoka gets an idea of how to get them together.
Unlimited Wings: #3<Storm piercer>: Elizabeth and Tetsuya are back in Nevada racing. After a race, Elizabeth collapses. Because there's a storm going on, it'll take a while to get her to the hospital. Tetsuya decides to fly her with his racing plane.
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Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 32
Issue Date: 7/20/05
Publisher: Kodansha
Pages: 482
Because the anime is starting, Suzuka has a rather large feature in this week's issue. There's a story on the 5 girl singing group, COACH, each of whom also plays a role in the anime. First it was DROPS with Negima, now this.
* Summaries abbreviated due to backlog.
Suzuka: #67失踪 (Disappearance): After having Yamato profess his love for her, Suzuka leaves the apartment. Realizing that Suzuka has been away for a little too long, Yamato goes out looking for her. Meanwhile, at the shrine, Honoka finds a weeping Suzuka.
Overdrive: 9 I was not born yesterday: Mikoto exhausts himself out to find the guy who dismissed his captain, Yosuke, 3 days ago atop the hill that Mikoto finally rode up (from last chapter).
Hamanaka Ai: 093面接日和 (Interview Weather): Nakamura teaches Masahiko to be more "unique" in his interview for high school admission.
Rose Hip Zero: 10: Kai has a gunfight with Kasumi and blames her for the death of his brother, Yuji. When things start looking bad for Kasumi, Kyouji comes crashing into their building in an ambulance.
Negima: 101時間目 体力バカのホントの力 (The True Strength of the Powerful Baka): The mysterious person is Kunel Sanders (alias), friend of Negi's father. He blesses Asuna and during the battle with Setsuna, she's able to summon magic again, similar to what she was able to do as a child.
Full Spec: 5 Over Take: Chinta jumps out of the car too, leaving Arata as the driver. With the shortcut, the race is now neck and neck. However, Kitazato's team realizes that they may have underestimated the engine in Arata's car.
Tsubasa: 84心の眼 (Eye of the Heart): Only 5 racers remain after the run through the gorge. Sakura has now caught up to second place, just behind Kuro.
Student Council: #29遠目の鏡 (Farsighted Mirror): As the members walk through alternate passageway to find Akane, Mami and Musashi encounter more enemies and dispose of them. Kaoru is paired up with Hitsuji and the two of them have a battle with a demon too.
Changing Now: #58敗北!? 力無き正義 (Loss!? Justice Without Strength): Just when it looks like the end for Machina and Velveteen Rose, Big Ben and Dog Fighter appear!
Zetsubou-sensei: 11今月今夜のこの月が僕の涙で曇りますように (Hoping for the Moon on This Night of This Month To Be Clouded By My Tears): During Tanabata, Nozomu comments on all the inane wishes people hang on the trees. In the end, he hangs himself on a branch.
Toto: 28ワンダーー家と兎銃曾 (Wonder, Us and the Rabbit-Gun Gang): Kakashi hears about the reason for this opposition gang, the one against the Rabbit Group. Turns out that the young female leader, Alice, had close ties with the Man-Chicken gang, the same group that perished during Kakashi's first trip off his island.
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I'm quite tired after a long day at the beach.
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Title: 苺ましまろ (Ichigo Marshmallow) Chara-CD 3 Ana
Original Creator: ばらスィー
Vocals: 能登麻美子 (Mamiko Noto) and cast
Release Date: 5/11/05
Catalog No.: GNCA-0011
Rating: 3/4
While this CD can stand on it's own, I think it's the least interesting of the 3 that I've listened to. There are many funny moments, but most of them revolve around Miu's off-the-wall remarks and interjections.
I've listened to the included song a couple of times, but my opinion remains the same. It's a pleasant soft song, good for Mamiko's voice. However, it doesn't have anything that would make me want to listen to it for more than a few times.
Limited edition bonus comes with an eraser.
1. オープニングトーク (Opening Talk): Matsuri introduces the show, but flubs many of her lines. Miu makes fun of her whenever she can.
2. アナへの10の質問 (10 Questions for Ana): Matsuri interviews Ana with 10 questions. The questions aren't too interesting, but Ana finds out that they're written by Miu.
4. お悩み相談 (Advice): Chika reads a postcard from an unknown author where wants some advice about helping his sister to get a unique trait. As usual, the girls don't exactly answer the question and Miu takes over the conversation and manages to put down the other girls while promoting herself.
5. ミニドラマ「すりすり」 (Mini-Drama "Surisuri"): The girls talk about spending all their time in Chika's room. Nobue says everyone's welcome except for Miu. Miu makes remarks about how Nobue hangs out with them because she doesn't have a boyfriend.
7. おまけコーナー「茉莉の日記」 (Bonus Corner "Matsuri's Dairy"): Matsuri describes a day in her life. Starts out with Miu waking her up to go to school. She goes to school with Chika and Ana. After school, she goes to Chika's place.
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Title: かりんと。 (With Karin) Vol. 2
Artist/Author: THE SEIJI
Original Creator: 氷幻嵩人 (Taketo Higen)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 192pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Weekly Shonen Champion Vol 19, '04 - Vol 28, '04
First Printing: 10/15/04
Rating: 2/4
I went through this volume not being too impressed with the story. There are some funny points where the Junpei and Shuichi switch at the worst time (for Junpei, perfect for Shuichi), but overall, I didn't feel like this volume contributed much to the story.
Bonus comes with a few pages of extra comics in back and a summary page.\
10. 淳平の決断!! (Junpei's Decision!!)
11. チェンジ!! (Change!!)
12. アクシデント!! (Accident!!)
13. 飲んで飲まれて♡ (Drink and Be Drunk)
14. 送り狼!? (Lecherous Man)
15. 言葉の探さは (Finding Words)
16. ビバ・プール!! (Viva Pool!!)
17. 溺れる花梨は (A Drowning Karin)
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Title: ドラゴンエイジ (Dragon Age) June '05
Issue Date: 6/10/2005
Publisher: Kadokawa (Fujimi Shobo)
Pages: 688
There are two new series this month, "Dorothea" and "Kiyoshirou, Romance File." I consider both series to be a little darker than most, but they look like something I'm interested in. In addition, there's two one-shots this month. The first is a war comic, which I passed up. The second is a new story with the girl who has the soul of a T-Rex dinosaur. I had read the first story in a previous volume of this magazine and enjoyed it immensely. This month's story is also very good.
Supasu-pa has a mini-comic in addition to the main chapter. Given that it's 5 volumes (expected), it looks like it's almost time to finish up the story in the next few months.
Maburaho Colorful has the week off.
The story in Someday's Dreamers just went through a few months in a few pages. It's nice to see that something is happening though. Despite the title, I don't sense any magic like what there was in the first series.
Next month's issue will have a new manga "The Sea as Seen From the Sky." Looks interesting.
* Summaries abbreviated due to backlog (got a little carried away this time, though)
Supasu-pa: 29「傍にいてくれるということ」 (To Be By Me): Itsuki has a fever and while sleeping, has a sad dream about his mom. He wakes up to find Suzu beside him.
Karin: 恥の26「文緒の告白と健太の拒絶〜refusal〜」(Fumio's Confession and Kenta's Refusal): Kenta's mom tells Karin about how she was pregnant with Kenta at about Karin's age and explains the tribulations she had to go through with her parents and how she eventually ran away. Karin's parents are worried about their daughter having run away to find Kenta. Later, Karin and Fumio run into Kenta, but Kenta tells Karin to stay away from him.
FMP Sigma: mission 002 (trust YOU): After completing their mission, Melissa asks Sosuke to think about his future. Sosuke returns back to school just in time to take his midterms. Meanwhile, the abductee, Ms. Bruno is interrogated and reveals the name of the enemy, Amalgam. The admiral tells Tessa that there's to be some restructuring. Kaname has Sosuke go to a stylist, but ends up having to cut his hair herself. Afterwards, he gets notice that he's been transferred and that Reisu (レース) will be Kaname's new guardian.
Tsubame Syndrome: ACT17[Don't Stop Me Now]: Haruka tries to make passes at Taiga and goes as far as to ask him to come over and help her study. Tsubame, for some reason, feels sad and a bit jealous.
Zero In: Piece 20: Parabellum: Mikuru finds out that Shikie has found the weapon used to kill Kina. She wants to help investigate, but is ordered to deal with a bank robbery. Shikie tries to find out more about the gun, but is caught up in some gangs. She kills her enemies, which is in contrast to Mikuru's technique of just disarmament.
Maid Guy: 7: Because Fubuki is sick, Naeka decides to be a nurse to take care of her as well as her own brother. She doesn't a pretty poor job at it, but Kosuke explains to Fubuki that Naeka's always wanted to be a nurse.
Dorothea: 第1話「渇望」 (Thirst): As a child, Dorothea was told that in the near future, men will come attack their castle because they are different. The people living there are albinos. Years later, Dorothea becomes the protector of the place and fends off attackers. During this fight, she is joined by Gyuruku, apparently her lover who has been away for more than 2 years in the army. As he's about to leave again, Dorothea contemplates leaving to fight with him. However, she's told that people will not accept her because of the way she looks, her while skin and red eyes.
Unlimited Wings: #2<Sharpen Menbers>: Aramaki finishes the plane, much to Elizabeth's delight. However, she has no pilot and reluctantly has Aramaki's grandson, Tetsuya, test fly it. During it's maiden flight, something goes wrong. Tetsuya is forced to make an emergency landing. After some changes, they fly again, this time successfully.
Girl Following: 第7話「嘘」 (Lie): Natsuru wants to find the keychain she lost and got killed looking for. With Miori's help, they finally find it. Inside the keychain is a note Natsuru wrote saying that she'll be Eitaro's wife in the future. He remembers this, but when she asks, he conveniently says he forgot.
Kiyoshirou: 1: Kiyoshiro gets injured after being attacked by various monsters while wandering around the dangerous woods. He ends up in the hospital run by Miki's father. There, he explains to Miki that he was out looking for a picture he thinks is mother. He explains to her about how his mom got kicked out of the house when he was young and the picture was all he had of her. It eventually got sold and after some research, he's out looking for it again. When Kiyoshiro recovers, Miki tells him she wants to come along with him.
Love Dog: 第8話「ご主人たまのひ・み・つ☆」 (The Master's Se-cr-et): Shinichiro is bummed about his family issues again. He gets angry when the 4 goddesses look through his photo album, but the girls eventually calm and reassure him.
Taisetsu na Koto: Step 16: クリスマスの約束 (Christmas Promise): Nami and Ryutaro are on good terms and she becomes really close to him for the semester. It's now almost Christmas and she still thinks that despite their rapport, it doesn't feel like they're close enough. She manages to gather enough courage to ask if he's free Christmas Eve. That night, he arrives late, but gives her a gift. He then suddenly embraces her.
Nodoka Nobody: 拾壱ノ湯「あの人と見た夕陽」 (11, The Sunset Seen With That Person): Nodoka helps a mother and daughter, owners of a hot springs, settle their differences about drinking in the bathes by creating a bar where people can soak their feet in water.
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Title: 花右京メイド隊 (Hanaukyo Maid Tai) Vol. 11
Artist/Author: もりしげ (Morishige)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 192pp., w/furigana
First Printing: 5/10/05
Rating: 3/4
Ikuyo isn't a significant presence in this volume, but that's alright. I actually liked the two chapters with the Go team and the bet to be Taro for a day. There's no much plot progress although there's a slight mention of a secret that Konoe's keeps at her side.
Bonus comes with a few character images in the back and the summary page in front.
66. ときめきに死す (Heart-Pounding Death)
67. コノヱのゑ (Konoe's "e")
68. GO! GO! 囲碁部(前編) (Go! Go! Go Club, First Part)
69. GO! GO! 囲碁部(後編) (Go! Go! Go Club, Last Part)
70. 太郎の夢 (Taro's Dream)
71. 日出処はお天気 (The Weather at the Place of Sunrise)
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Title: AIR Vol. 2 LE
Original Creator: Key/Visual Art's
Volume: 2/6
Catalog No.: PCBX-50669
Release Date: 4/27/05
Rating: 4/4
These two episodes sum up Kano's story. It's a bit short, but I feel that it sufficiently explains Kano's story without all the complications and discontinuities that the game had. It can only get better from here because Kano's story is probably the weakest of the 5 stories in Air.
The commentary features the director of photography and episode 3's art director and continuity director.
3. こえ〜whisper〜
4. はね〜plume〜
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Title: 魔法先生ネギま! (Magic Teacher Negima!) May OP Single
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Vocals: こやまきみこ (Kimiko Koyama), 狩野茉莉 (Mari Kano), 門脇舞 (Mai Kadowaki), 志村由美 (Yumi Shimura), and 松岡由貴 (Yuki Matsuoka)
Release Date: 6/8/05
Catalog No.: KICM-3099
Rating: 2/4
Again, I think they tried too hard with this mix. It has a touch of techno with voices slightly altered and heavy emphasis on the synthesizers. But even with that, I thought the singing was pretty flat. I'm sure that a Chisame and Eva only version would have been better. I thought the lyrics were okay.
Kimiko's happiness is eating (what's up with all these seiyuu and food?). Mari likes #3 = swimming, #2 = chocolate, #1 = everyone. Maita likes snoozing, taiyaki (me too!), popicles, Sakura flower, parent's dog, summer breeze, the countryside, bathing, receiving letters, events, and the people she meets. Yumi likes martial arts and fighting, i.e. boxing and wrestling because of the strong men. Yuki likes the fresh outdoors and the moon (so in character).
First pressing comes with Fumika/Fuuka mistake card.
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Title: ドラゴンエイジ (Dragon Age) May '05
Issue Date: 5/10/2005
Publisher: Kadokawa (Fujimi Shobo)
Pages: 580
Three new series this month. There's Full Metal Panic Sigma, Souseki no Aquarion (based off the anime), and finally Unlimited Wings. I'll pass on Souseki, but I'll start the other two. There's hefty coverage on Karin this issue. There's also a bonus DVD included which offers a preview of the new FMP series. The label is Kaname (Tessa's version, which has the same content is in Dragon Magazine).
* Summaries abbreviated due to backlog.
FMP Sigma: mission 001 The Beginning: It's another day with Sosuke and Kaname at school. While she thinks he's a pain at times, she also appreciates him around. Right before midterms, Sosuke gets called on an operation in Sicily. Along with Kurz and Melissa, they capture the daughter of a mob boss. As they make their escape, they get attacked by some enemy AS. However, they're saved by even a bigger one, an M-9, piloted by an unknown person.
Karin: 恥の25「健太の自覚とかりんの家出〜run away from home〜」: Karin wakes up after being asleep for 6 days. His family has offered Kenta and mother a place to hide out, but they also make him promise not to see Karin anymore. Karin runs away from home to find Kenta, but collapses outside on the grass. Fumio, the mom, accidentally bumps into Kenta's father momentarily before running away. She finds Karin laying on the ground.
Maburaho Colorful: 第5話「りん、純白の義侠心」の巻 ("Rin, A Pure and Righteous Heart" Chapter): Rin wants to show her gratitude to Kazuki for helping her out when she broke her sword. However, everything she does (she gets cues from Kuriko and gang), she messes up and becomes more indebted to his kindness. Kazuki finally tells her that all he needs is a "thank you."
Tsubame Syndrome: ACT16[彼女の願いを紡ぐ糸] (The Thread Spinning The Girl's Wishes): Cocktail's evil part takes over and she turns into another Phantom after Taiga's origin heart. However, Taiga convinces her that she's more than just a robot. Taiga wins the battle which leaves Cocktail tattled, but Ura comes to the rescue and is able to repair her.
Supasu-pa: 28「思い生まれし時」 (The Time Memories Are Born): Haruna tells Suzu about how Itsuki helped her when she was younger. She was extremely passive and took up too many responsiblities. Itsuki helped her to say no.
Maid Guy: 6: Naeka gets caught up in a bank robbery and Kogarashi, rather than helping, joins in the action fighting against the police.
Zero In: Piece 19: Mind Set: Mikuru is rather happy that she's in Kou's class this year and has become more optimistic about life. Shikie finds the gun used to murder Kina and Ayuna seems to be stalked by some guy.
Love Dog: 第7話「真ちゃん実家に帰る!?」 (Shin's Going Home!?): Shinichiro bumps into his bodyguard who urges him to go back to his family's home. Amane later hears Shinichiro explain how he's the successor to his family's enterprise, but that he didn't want to be burdened with that and ran away from home.
Unlimited Wings: #1<Ancient Craft>: Elizabeth Whitehead is a foreign teenage girl with a terminal illness who is particularly fond of air races. When she needed a new engine for her airplanes, she goes to Japan to a famous smith, Aramaki. Aramaki has stopped making jet engines as he still hasn't forgiven himself for contributing to WWII, but upon hearing Elizabeth's situation, he offers his services.
Taisetsu na Koto: Step 15: 泣かないで (Don't Cry): Nami returns Ryutaro's student pocketbook and runs away apologizing. After school, she accidentally falls asleep at an arcade and goes home late to find an angry father awaiting her. Nami runs away and Hideki phones Ryutaro wondering if he knows where she is. Apparently he does and finds her sitting by herself atop a cliff. Nami finally explains why she's angry (because of Kayoko and his bike). Ryutaro embraces her.
Girl Following: 第6話「逃走と追跡」 (Escape and Chase): The school nurse finds out about Natsuru's ghost in Miori's body and wants to give her a sending. Miori regains control of her body and prevents her from doing it. However, they get caught in a corner...
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Title: いま、会いにゆきます (Be With You) LE DVD Box
Original Author: 石川拓司 (Takuji Ishikawa)
Catalog No.: SDV-15192D
Release Date: 6/24/05
It's very very unlike me, but I cried during the last 15 minutes of this movie. This movie was one of the top domestic Japanese movies of last year and spent a few weeks at the top of the box office before Howl came along. It's based off a book of the same name, and one that I'll read someday (I already have it with me).
The story is about a widowed father and his 6 year old boy. The mother, before she died, drew a picture book for her son where she tells a story about a girl coming back from the Archive Star, the place where dead people go, during a rainy period. When the weatherman reports that the rainy season is coming, both the father and son expect something to happen. And then, a woman who looks identical to the wife/mother appears.
I'm going to stop there. This is one of those types of movies where you really ought not to know anything about the movie before you go. The premises is okay, but you'd be doing yourself a great disfavor if you read anymore. The story is ultimately a happy one. The emotional impact for me comes from the the pacing and ordering of events in the movie.
The movie is mastered in 5.1 audio, but for some reason, it defaults to stereo so you have to make sure that it's using surround. Besides that, I have no complaints about the movie quality itself. The box comes in a very meaningful picture of a sunflower field, but it's pretty plain if you don't have the context. Hence, I put up the cover to the DVD rather than the box cover.
The limited edition DVD box comes with the movie and a 20 minute making-of with commentary by the little boy actor, Akashi. Other bonuses include a kit to make your own upside-down Teruteru Bouzu, a blank replica diary, and a family photo album.
This movie has already been purchased by a Hollywood studio and will be re-made in the English version.
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Title: 電車男 (Train Man)
Author: 中野独人 (Hitori Nakano, alias)
Pages: 367pp.
First Printing: 10/20/04
Train Man was released as a movie just last month so I decided to pick up the book and see what it's about.
The story is non-fiction as it recounts something that actually happened with a person on 2ch, the most popular online forum in Japan. The hero is an 22-year-old self-described otaku who has no experience with women. However, everything changes when he shows his bravery in confronting a drunk who was harassing women on the subway.
The book is an edited compilation of posts to the forum by Train Man and the anonymous people giving him advice and reads just like a forum thread. There are a few commentaries here and there by the editor, but most of it is taken directly from the forum logs, including all the ASCII art.
If the story wasn't in this format, I can imagine that it'd be quite boring. The difference is though, that this was happening on 2ch in real-time from March to May of 2004 and as you read the various posts, you'll realize that they all happen in a very short amount of time. The time-stamps of each post is included and it isn't rare for 5 minutes of posting to take up several pages. For me though, reading about an otaku's first encounter with love is pretty amusing. It's amazing how much stuff he was worried about when meeting up with the first real girl.
The responses Train Man gets from other members on the boards is also pretty insightful and hilarious at times.
I don't know how they can translate it into a movie, given the non-cohesive nature of the book, but it did reach #1 for domestic Japanese films, so they probably did a good job on it. I'll watch it when it comes out on DVD.
1. 緊急指命「めしどこか たのむ」 (Urgent Request "Please, A Place to Eat")
Our hero, a Akihabara otaku known only as Train Man, helps a bunch of women in the subway one night when he stood up against a drunk. After the police come and settle everything, a few of them ask for his address. One of them sends him a pair of tea cups, which he finds out from members on the forum is a brand name, Hermes, which eventually becomes the name of the girl in the story. He eventually sets up a date with her and during the conversation, he asks forum members for a restaurant recommendation. They decide to dress up for their dinner (which is a little problem for our hero because he's an otaku and has no sense of fashion).
2. 「ちゃんと掴んでますから」 (I'm Holding On To You)
On their date, as they're walking to the restaurant, they have to walk through a crowd of people. With his comment about the population, she says that it's okay because she's holding on to him and does just that. He startled when a female actually touches him and she lets go. To his dismay, they don't touch for the rest of the night. They set up a second dinner, this time, a friend of Hermes wants to come too.
3. 彼女はそっと俺の手を引く (The Girl Gently Tugs My Hand)
They go on a third date. A few hours before they meet, he gets a proper haircut and hangs out in Akihabara. A clerk tells him that he doesn't look like someone who frequents that part of town. After their meal, they have some drinks. As she's about to get off at her exit on the subway, she unexpectedly tugs on him and asks if he can walk her home from the station.
4. このカップを使う時が来た (The Time to Use These Cups Have Come)
The next time they meet, she invites him to her house when her parents are away and asks him to bring the two cups she had given him. There, she serves him some tea which he later learns from forum members that it's of pretty good quality. She also asks him on some advice for a buying a new computer.
5. 「あんまりその気にさせないでください」 ("Please Don't Make Me Worry")
Hermes will be away for a few days during Golden Week, so they plan to meet after that. In the meantime, Hermes is giving hints that she's single. Many of the forum members are urging Train Man to formally ask her to be his girlfriend.
6. 奇跡の最終章 (The Miraculous Last Chapter)
When Train Man and Hermes meet again, he takes her to buy a computer. She's driving a car. They have meals and he suggests that they go to a park. They find a bench and he gets up, about to say it. Hermes sense his nervousness and tells him "you can do it!" He then confesses that he loves her. She has reciprocal feelings. People on the forum go crazy and congratulate him.
Epilogue. 「こんなに頑張ってたんだ」 ("You Tried So Hard")
A few weeks later, Train Man reports that he showed Hermes, his girlfriend now, the entire forum logs from when he first met her on the train.
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Title: 魔法先生ネギま! (Magic Teacher Negima!) Second ED Single
Original Creator: 赤松健 (Ken Akamatsu)
Vocals: 笹川 亜矢奈 (Ayana Sasawaga), 松岡 由貴 (Yuki Matsuoka), 桑谷 夏子 (Natsuko Kuwatani), 田中 葉月 (Hazuki Tanaka), and 渡辺 明乃 (Akeno Watanabe)
Release Date: 5/11/05
Catalog No.: KICM-3098
Rating: 2/4
The first song, the actual ending, isn't too bad. It's not something that I would rank highly, but it's not as bad as some of the stuff I've heard from Negima. To be honest, it actually does sound like show's ending song. That's the feeling I get from it. The second song, however, is forgettable.
First pressing comes with an Kufei mistake card.
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Title: たんぽ (Tanpo) Vol. 1
Artist/Author: 若宮宏明 (Hiroaki Wakamiya)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 216pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Magazine Special 9/04-11/04
First Printing: 4/15/05
Rating: 2/4
This prologue to this series appeared in Shonen Magazine a while back, but later changed to Magazine Special. I actually enjoyed the prologue very much when I first read it. However, I don't really like where the author is taking this story. Rather than pursue the story where the girls are the guarantees (hence the title) for the family's debt, the story is now some daily like comedy at a Christian school. It's downhill after the prologue.
Bonus comes with a few more pages describing the members of the student leadership at the school.
prologue. 藍ちゃん七変化 (Aoi-chan Evolution)
1. 奇跡の男 (Miracle Man)
2. あーーいーー (A---I---)
3. フラチなる犯行 (Rude Crime)
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Title: かみちゃまかりん (Mini-Goddess Karin) Vol. 6
Artist/Author: コゲどんぼ (Koge-Donbo)
Book Size/Pages: Small B-6, 176pp., w/furigana
Original Serialization: Nakayoshi 1/05-4/05
First Printing: 4/28/04
Rating: 2/4
I think this story is really going to slow. There's some more development with Kazune and Michiru, and a little romance between Karin and Kazune. However, it doesn't feel like anything significant happened in this volume.
Bonus comes with a postcard. It has the translucent cover like previous issues and an short omake comic. (Previous two sentences cut 'n' pasted from last volume's).
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Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 30
Issue Date: 7/6/05
Publisher: Kodansha
Pages: 480
Another photo shoot in Okinawa, this time with 23-year-old Yoko Kumada. There's a short interview with Kinya in the back, he's the singer for the Tsubasa opening.
* Summaries abbreviated due to backlog.
Rose Hip Zero: 8: Kasumi manages to outwit one of her old colleagues in the gang, Night King/Hayato. As she tries to convince him to use his skills for good, Kai, another member shoots him in the leg.
Full Spec: 3 First Heat: Arata and Kitazato have their race. If Arata wins, Kitazato will give Maki back to them. If Kitazato wins, Arata will get his car graffitied. Kitazato takes an early lead. The people keep tabs on the race then notice that Arata has gone off-roading.
Hamanaka Ai: 091ゲームの達人 (Game Master): Hamanaka hears about how video games can be educational and decides to buy Masahiko a dating-sim.
Negima: 99時間目 秘策炸裂 (Exploding Secret Plan): Negi defeats Takahata and advances. Later, Setsuna tells Takahata that there's something going on with Chao and he and Setsuna's Shikigami go investigate. They end up getting detained by Chao and Mana.
Suzuka: #65落案 (Pitfall): Despite all the preparations on winning and confessing to Suzuka, Yamato loses to Arima and has a worse time than his previous runs.
Tsubasa: 82最初に落ちる者 (The First To Fall): Sakura gets her badge and passes the first checkpoint. During the second checkpoint, Fye, along with others, crashes and has to drop out of the race.
Student Council: #27世界樹の根 (The Roots of the Worldly Tree): The Atsuma that was discovered to be a fake is just a shadow. The real person has Akane and, using another entryway, has taken Akane to the other world. Nemu shows the members how they can go through that alternate route.
Overdrive: 7 Give the devil his due: Yosuke has Mikoto swim to train him. At the end of the day, Mikoto explains to Terao that he things Yosuke doesn't like him. Terao, another member, says that it isn't the case.
Zetsubou-sensei: 9僕たちは、どんなことがあっても一緒に固まらなければ駄目だ (No Matter What Happens, We Should Stick Together): Nozomu has skipped class so when the counselor comes in to take role, she finds out that there's a female student named "Taro" (usually male name). Upon more investigation, they find out that she's an illegal.
Toto: 26: As they're trekking towards the city, Dorothy is being stingy so Leon and Kakashi decide to earn some money on their own. They hear that there's a monster in a ditch, and decide to exterminate it to get a reward. The two of them fall in and find out it's only the general. Dorothy is the one who eventually saves them and collects.
Changing Now: #58相克!! 悲しみのはらから (Conflict!! Sadness from Within): Velveteen Rose is fighting her brother Machina. When the general of the baddies want to finish Machina, Rose steps in and gets shot, revealing that she's just a marionette.
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Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 31
Issue Date: 7/13/05
Publisher: Kodansha
Pages: 466
Being the 100th chapter, Negima has a special color page and a few pages on all the stuff you can buy for the series. There are two Anime Research Manga in this issue, both of which deal with Negima. The cover girl is the new Miss Magazine, 14 year old Kie Kitano.
* Summaries abbreviated due to backlog.
Negima: 100時間目 秘められた記憶 (Hidden Memories): As a child, Asuna apparently could do some magic and liked Nagi more than Takahata. The next fight is between Setsuna and Asuna. As she's about to fight, she's visited by a stranger. Eva is in disbelief, could it be?
Overdrive: 8 Hunger is the best: Despite failing many times, Mikoto finally is able to ride up a hill called "Fukazawa Pass," aptly named after his captain, Yosuke.
Suzuka: #66誤算 (Miscalculation): Yamato is bumming. Suzuka brings him some extra food she has, but still acts quite coolly. As she's about to leave his room, he tells her that he loves her (even though the original plan was to win the race first).
Full Spec: 4 Changing Lane: Arata, Chinta, and Buyan go off-road as it's a shortcut. When they're about to catch up to Kitazato, Arata complains that the car needs to go faster. Buyan jumps off to offset some weight.
Rose Hip Zero: 9: A new girl, Aya, is introduced. Apparently she has a crush on Kyouji and seems to be a comic relief in the story. Meanwhile, Kyouji leaves the hospital despite still have broken bones to find Kasumi.
Zetsubou-sensei: 10本当は問題の多い教室ですから、どうかそこはご承知ください (It's Actually a Class With a Lot of Problems So Please Understand): This series always has these long titles. Nami, a girl who never goes to class because she thinks she's pitiful goes to class this one day and finds out that she's the only non-dysfunctional student in the class.
Hamanaka Ai: 092僕たちの体位なんて知らない (We Don't Know Our Physique): Masahiko brings Ayana into the nurses office but ends up doing it rather awkwardly.
Student Council: #28魔魅の覚悟 (Mami's Preparations): Musashi and Mami encounter their first Valkyrie who turns out to be a former member of the student council from years past. She puts him out of his misery.
Tsubasa: 83最後の難関 (The Last of the Difficulties): Shaoran is now out of the race leaving Kuro and Sakura.
Toto: 27ギャング・オブ・キャロット (Carrot Gang): The three arrive in Casino City, but lose all their money in the casinos. They manage to get caught up with a rival gang to the Carrot Group where they find out that they're really close in finding the Rabbit.
Changing Now: #57凄絶!! 全ての終わりへ (Extreme!! To The End of Everything): Machina and Dog Fighter both are outnumbered.
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Got myself a new iMac this weekend. The top of the line of the last generation iMacs for only $999 (university discount, 20"/1.8GHz/SuperDrive). I was already in the market for a new computer and was eyeing a PowerMac 2.3GHz + Dell 24" monitor. But with the transition to Intel and rumors of a dual core G5, I wouldn't be completely satisfied with my purchase (my original plan was to buy when it hit 3GHz, but that doesn't seem likely). And so why spend $4k+ for something I wouldn't be completely happy with? My philosophy is to buy the best or buy the cheapest. I went with the latter this time. In addition, I was also looking for a new printer because my POS HP doesn't have drivers for 10.4. To my good fortune, Fry's had the Canon MP750 for $99 this holiday weekend, a good 50% off.
I now have 5 computers in my little apartment. 3 laptops and 2 desktops.
 Haruka (iMac) and Yume (Powerbook)
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 Increasing Haruka's memory. :)
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 The new printer with Naru (Notebook) and Luna (Desktop)
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