Category: Japanese

Minna’s 25 Years as an Anime Club Deserves a Catbus Cake

CatbusCake1By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Reality TV isn’t my thing but for a time I gave it a chance when I watched the TLC program Cake Boss. It’s a series about an Italian-American family run bakery called Carlo’s Bake Shop. Founded in 1910, the shop operates in Hoboken, New Jersey. I didn’t watch the show for the stories or even for the personalities, I watched the show for the astounding cake art that was produced. And one has to admit, if there was any reason to tune in to each episode, it was for the cake creations Buddy Valastro and his team were responsible for. For a time I was cake crazy. And as hard as I tried, I just couldn’t find cake art that was even remotely decent in my small city of Victoria, British Columbia.

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Flying Dog Confirms First Haruka Chisuga Live Concert!

HarukaChisugaBy James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Flying Dog, the record label owned by Japan’s Victor Entertainment, have confirmed Haruka Chisuga’s debut live concert “First Try!” The concert will take place at the Shibuya Duo Music Exchange in Tokyo July 9th and will be in support of Chisuga’s 1st full album “Try!”

Chisuga is both a singer and a voice actress who found fame in 2012 by winning the Miss Macross 30 contest. Chisuga earned the role of Mina Forte in the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) game Macross 30: Voices Across the Galaxy. The game would commemorate 30 years of Shoji Kawamori’s Macross franchise. The game featured every animated series of the franchise up to that point. Chisuga continued her success by performing in the animated series of Aquarion Logos (Kokone Kikogami), Owari no Seraph (Mikaela Hyakuya), and Gakusen Toshi Asterisk (Sylvia Lyyneheym).

Haruka Chisuga’s debut full album, “Try!”, will be released June 22, 2016. “First Try!” will be performed Saturday, July 9th. Doors open at 4pm. Curtain is at 5pm.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM5ToDRa_1E&w=560&h=315%5D
 

Source(s): Gwyn Campbell and the Macross Fans- US Facebook group.

Video Source(s): Flying Dog.

KOEI Tecmo Confirms Attack on Titan Console Release for North America and Europe!

AOTPS4By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

The action game of Attack on Titan (AOT), based off the Japanese animated series of the same name, will be released in North America on August 30, 2016. Available in Japan under it’s title 進撃の巨人 since February 18th, the game saw successful sales. AOT will be released on PS4, Xbox One (Physical) / PS3, PS Vita & PC Steam (Digital). The console game as described on KOEI Tecmo’s official Facebook site:

Attack on Titan closely follows the riveting story-line of the anime’s first season and focuses on the exploits of various key characters, putting the player in a position to relive its most shocking, courageous and exhilarating moments. It revolves around the story of three young people who survive the destruction of their walled city district by enormous, man-eating Titans and eventually go on to join the Scout Regiment in order to protect humanity from this overpowering foe.

AOT will also be released in Europe under the title A.O.T. Wings of Freedom four days before North America’s release. Europe will also find AOT available for purchaseon PS4, Xbox One (Physical) / PS3, PS Vita & PC Steam (Digital).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEg4mz3o7Kg&w=560&h=315%5D
Source(s): Jared Odom, Anime Collectors Galore Group Facebook group, Playstation Life Style, KOEI Tecmo Europe Twitter, and KOEI Tecmo America Facebook.

Video Source(s): DBZanto Z

Bringing Japan’s Ambrosia to Earth; Nakano’s Shuzo Ichigo No Osake

Nakano’s Shuzo Ichigo No Osake is created using the natural waters flowing from Fujishiro Mountain Range and every time I sample this strawberry-infused delight, I’m floating on air!

Nakano Strawberry Sake out of production SMALLSake lovers already know not all brands are alike. Everything comes from the purity of the water, type of rice used and how it’s brewed. But when it comes to additives, what can be added to transform this drink to become a holy nectar of the gods? Nakano’s Shuzo Ichigo No Osake is created using the natural waters flowing from Fujishiro Mountain Range and every time I sample this strawberry-infused delight, I’m floating on air!

I discovered this delight when in Vancouver many months ago. As I drifted by Gyoza Bar, the harmonies I heard from within drew me inside and as I sat down, I eyed the drink menu over the food instead.

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Macross Delta Blu-ray / DVD Update!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

MacrossDeltaPromoAmazon Japan is listing 9 volumes of Macross Delta (マクロスΔ) to be released on limited edition Blu-ray and DVD. Volume 1 will be sold July 22, 2016 and Volume 9 will be released March 24th of next year. Volume 1 will contain the first three episodes. Among the extras will be a special version of episode 1, commentary by cast and crew, a 40 page special booklet, Luxury art box and inner sleeve designed by character designer Majiro, special sleeve case drawn by Macross visual artist Hidetaka Tenjin, and English subtitles. There is no indication volumes 2 – 9 will contain extras. DVDs will retail for ￥8,424 ($76.25 USD, $100.04 CAD) and Blu-rays for ￥7,344 ($66.45 USD, $87.20 CAD) on Amazon Japan.

Bandai Visual is listing a Blu-ray box set for the retail price of ￥70,200 ($635.44 USD, $833.84 CAD). Buyers will be able to get their hands on the first volume July 22nd with each additional volume being released over the period of a year (the final volume will be sold March 24, 2017). A set bonus of a 1/72 scale plastic model will be included with the shipment of the final Blu-ray. Again only Volume one indicates English subtitles.

Source(s): Gwyn Campbell and Macross Fans- US Facebook group.

Macross Delta to see Japanese Blu-ray release!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

MacrossDeltaPromoThere wasn’t any time wasted it seems to get Macross Delta (マクロスΔ) out the door for home release. During today’s broadcast of Delta‘s first episode, which differed from the preview episode shown in Japan on New Year’s Eve, this episode was extended and had texture touch-ups added to the animation. A date of July 22 was dropped during episode 1 for the Macross Delta series release on Blu-ray and DVD. The company handling the Blu-ray distribution will most likely be Bandai Visual. No other information is available at this time.

One has to hand it to the people behind the marketing of Delta, so far it has worked in Delta‘s favour. And it was because of that marketing that Macross Delta‘s broadcast of April 3rd is also the 8 year anniversary of the original broadcast of Macross Frontier. It is most likely Delta will not see North American release due to rights owned by Harmony Gold USA. Hopefully the company releasing it in Japan will have the foresight to add English subtitles to get around this obstacle. Credit where credit is due, Carl Macek and Harmony Gold USA established Robotech and introduced generations of people to Macross and even gave them their first taste of Japanese animation but Macross has continued where Robotech as a licence has shown little activity over the years animation wise. Robotech we thank you but let’s face it, Macross is here to stay.