thoughts before Spring 2012

with the exception of Aquarion EVOL and Moretsu Pirates, i've finished all other Winter series last week in preparation for the new Spring season.

four Weekly Shonen Jump series ended last week,
1) Bakuman (no worries, there's still season 3 in Fall)
2) Bleach (total-drag-thank-goodness-it-finally-ended)
3) Beelzebub (my first surprise ending)
4) Gintama' (shocker!)

i'm still reeling from the shock of Gintama' ending. something i really couldn't accept especially with the news coming only a week before the last episode. since i don't follow the manga, i can't be too sure whether it is because the anime have caught up to the manga chapters. but at least, or i hope, this will not be the end of Gintama. the last episode still gave me a small glimmer of hope that there could still be some continuation somewhere in the near distant future, even though what was posted on WSJ sounded like there would never ever have anymore Gintama anime.

with four WSJ series wrapped up, we only get 2 replacements, Medaka Box and Kuroko no Basuke.

Spring 2012 is HUGE!! of the 50 shows, i already have 20 which i would definitely catch their first episode. whether or not i will continue on watching, will have to be determined after that.

Spring 2012 also comes with the much anticipated Fate/Zero continuation!! another sequel is Kimi to Boku, but we all know everyone is more excited about Fate/Zero.

finally, even with 20 new shows, i've started watching Naruto Shippuunden. something to fill in the hollow that Gintama left.

New Year's Eve trailer

Jon Bon Jovi. Josh Duhamel. Michelle Pfeiffer.

3 reasons to watch this movie. and no, the plot really doesn't matter. HA!

Nendoroid Prince Baka Ki El Dogra

from the sci-fi gag manga Level E, comes Prince Baka Ki El Dogra, AKA Baka-Ou.

wiki character description:
First prince of the planet Dogura. He has an exceptionally high IQ and has little interest other than using it to torment those around him for his own amusement.

that pretty much sums up everything about him. wonder if this is how all people with high IQ works? being too bored and all. HA!

Petit Nendoroid: To Aru Kagaku No Railgun series

under the Sega Prize items, since i was only interested in the 4 main girls, so i bought these from 3 different sets released at between June to August.

our main leads from the series.


from Sakugawa Middle School, Saten Ruiko and Kazari Uiharu.

from Tokiwadai Middle School, Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko.

Nendoroid Kuronuma Sawako

the ever-positive protagonist from Kimi ni Todoke, had brought her back from the store way before i went on holiday, but was too lazy busy for a photoshoot.

isn't she the sweetest?

Ouran High School Host Club Live-action Ep 7

one of my favorite shojo series so far, i've forgotten the number of times i've re-read the manga or rewatched the anime, especially since the live-action dorama started in July.

still remembered complaining about the manga drawings back when the anime first started me going on this series, but i'm glad i picked it up. it has been a wonderful ride following the guys on all their misadventures.

i know that the actors aren't as good-looking as most fans expect them to be, but after watching 7 episodes, i'm actually getting very attached to them. even Honey-sempai, whom i initially thought was the ultimate wrong choice, has become one of my favorite in the dorama.

as for Haruhi, Kawaguchi Haruna did a pretty good job portraying her. if Sakamoto Maaya brought out the nonchalant feel of Haruhi, Haruna brought out the pissed-off look very well. now, if only Yamamoto Yusuke wasn't that whinny as Tamaki, everything would have been much better in the adaptation.

unlike other adaptations like HanaKimi or even Hana Yori Dango that chose to change tons of things, the dorama has been quite faithful to both the manga and anime, which is a definite good move, because that definitely pleases fans like me.

you can check out the similarities and differences between the two versions in my favorite episode, where the host club goes visiting at Haruhi's apartment.

the guys tries their "space saving" sitting position.

Nendoroid Hatsune Miku: Support version

after 3 weeks of waiting, the first of GSC Cheerful Japan series, here's Hatsune Miku Support version.

Puss in Boots trailer

a spin-off from Shrek, our Mexican cat gets the limelight this time.



in theaters on 04 November 2011.

Nendoroid Puchitto Rock Shooter Support Ver.

the third nendoroid in GSC's Cheerful Japan line-up is Puchitto Rock Shooter Support Version.

a spin-off based on the infamous Black Rock Shooter, Puchitto Rock Shooter is a online browser game on the Nico Nico Douga website. she looks way cuter than the original BRS though. HA!

as per all Cheerful Japan products, PRS is priced at ¥3,000, with a ¥1,000 donation from each purchase made to the Japan Red Cross in order to support relief efforts in Eastern Japan. shipping is ¥2,000 via EMS, so the obvious decision would be good to share the shipping cost with friends (AKA ah gu), at a maximum of 5 nendoroids per buyer.

shipment will be made in late November.

Nendoroid Bakuman Mangaka Combi

YAY! we're finally here!!

Bon Clay Den Den Mushi measuring tape

just couldn't resist getting this measuring tape. nevermind that i have no need for one at all.

Nendoroid Haru-chan

from NHK General's Newswatch 9, let's welcome Haru-chan the Spring Goddess.

Haru-chan: konnichiwa! Haru-chan desu~

Nendoroid Date Masamune

guess who?

Something Borrowed

if you ask me to name the one reason why i'm watching this, it's only because of Colin Egglesfield who plays Dex in the movie. i have no idea who he is up until i saw the trailer, but man, he's HOT~

check out the official website here.

in singapore theatres, 12 May.

Nendoroid Hatsune Miku: Support ver.

just put in mine and ah gu's orders for the Hatsune Miku charity nendoroid at Good Smile Company's online store.

Miku is still priced at ¥3,000, with a ¥1,000 donation from each purchase made to the Japan Red Cross in order to support relief efforts in Eastern Japan. shipping is ¥2,000 via EMS, so the obvious decision would be good to share the shipping cost with friends, at a maximum of 5 nendoroids per buyer.

she'll be ready for shipment by end July.

have never gotten into the whole Hatsune Miku craze, but it would be good to own at least one Miku nendoroid that seems almost synonymous with the GSC name.

and what better one, than this charity nendoroid right?

Taipei manga and DVD loot

just to show what i lugged from KT comics.

it really doesn't look like 52 books does it. heehee.

Taipei loot

i'm back from Taipei. first time experiencing such weather change, from freezing our butts out on the first day, to blazing hot weather on the last day.

photos will be in the next post. for now, my major shopping .

not much in terms of clothes. Wufenpu (五分埔) Wholesale Market has failed to tempt me yet again. i've outgrown the type of clothes found there, though i did bought a couple of dresses while we were out in the night markets. what i didn't expect to buy a lot of, was stockings.

yup. stockings. and socks. lots of it. blame it on the uber cold weather in the beginning of the trip. of course, i also factored in that i need to start preparing for the Europe trip in late September where i would definitely need tons of them.

also bought the usual facial masks, for personal use and to give as presents. my sister thinks i'm mad to lug back so many boxes, but it's by far the easiest gifts for your girlfriends. seriously.

the Animate flagship store was a huge disappointment. was expecting 2-3 floors of anime goodness. it ended up being only one floor on manga, and another basement level on anime merchandise that was somewhat lacking. there wasn't even any nendoroids or figurines in the store.

and finally, the main highlight, manga shopping.

t'was total bliss inside KT comics at Ximending where i filled two baskets in a span of one hour. well, i filled one in 5 minutes, but really, who's counting right?

as expected, aside from the 2 sets of CLAMP's and the Saiyuki manga, i managed to get everything else from the list in my previous post.

other books i got while i was there.

Single Tankoubon

• Kyou mo Ashita mo 追逐梦想的每一天 #7 (i bought an extra copy two days later without checking whether i already had it! @_@)
• Otomen 粉红系男孩 #11
• Mei-chan no Shitsuji 小咩的管家 #14
• Chibisan Date 小不点日记 #01 (from Hetalia author Himaruya Hidekazu)

Series

• Otome Youkai Zakuro 半妖少女綺麗譚 #01-04

add all of that up, plus the couple of books i grabbed for ah gu, that makes it a total tally of 54 books. although incomparable to ah gu, who lugged the entire One Piece series back from her last trip, it was my biggest buy ever.

at the end of the trip, my luggage was at a staggering 30kg.

all i can say is, thank goodness for group check-in!

Taiwan COLD!!

first time i've experienced such cold weather in Taipei.

it's a good thing i brought all my Uniqlo buys from last year's Japan trip; boots, heat-tech long sleeves and heat-tech stockings. i'm actually able to wear a skirt today thanks to the uber fantastic uniqlo stockings.

we're actually in Keelung now, after visiting Yehliu. definitely will recommend staying in Ocean Hotel when you're in Keelung. besides being right beside Miaokou Night Market, the amenities are much better than our Taipei hotel.

well, it's another five more days left, and we're going Jiufen tomorrow. can't wait to eat the yummy black boar sausage.

yummy!!

Taipei shopping list

as i count down to my third trip to Taipei on Sat, here's a list of manga i've been restraining myself from buying at Kinokuniya since late Jan.

it was a true test of restrain, especially with the two members' sales in Feb and Mar tempting me like mad.

Single Tankoubon

• Kin-iro no Koruda 金色琴弦 #15
• Vampire Knight 吸血鬼骑士 #12
• Oresama Teacher 王样老师 #08
• One Piece Data book -Green-
• K-ON! #04
• Shin Prince of Tennis 新网球王子 #04
• Hoshi wo Utau 星歌恋曲 #09

Series

• Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru 无法挣脱的背叛 #03-08 (Kino didn't even bring in this after the last time i saw it at the Bugis branch.)
• Shitsuji-sama no Oki ni Iri 学园管家 #01-08
• Vassalord 血咒圣痕 #01-04
• Hetalia 义呆利 #01-03
• Chotto Edo Made 江户梦时代 #01-04
• Clover #01-04
• RG Veda #01-10
• Kyou Kara Maoh 今天开始做魔王 #01-10
• Saiyuki 最游记 #01-09

Light Novels
Migawari Hakushaku 替身伯爵 #07-08

Novel
Norwegian Wood 挪威的森林 by Haruki Murakami

if i can find everything on this list, i would be lugging back close to 50 books. but that's still a very big IF, since it would be harder to look for older series like Clover and RG Veda (my two missing CLAMP series).

even now, i'm checking the Tongli website for new releases every day and browsing for potential manga and light novels i might be interested in bringing back from Taipei.

plus, this will be my first time visiting the Animate flagship store at Ximending. while i don't expect them to be as well stocked as the Japan stores, the thought of going through each floor level is exciting nonetheless!

and my sister wonders why i don't wanna share luggage with her.

Nendoroid Hirasawa Ui

Ui's here!



the sweet little sister of Yui gets her own nendoroid!