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Kurashiki streets

Kurashiki is QUEEN. | Japan DAY 9 – BLAUGUST 2025

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How would you spend 20 summer days in Japan? Here’s a log of highlights from my latest trip, day by day. Follow along this Blaugust as I recount my adventurous July!

It’s been a couple days since I last popped by. We’re only halfway through my trip, and so I’ve basically consented to this Blaugust series extending into September. Oh well!

Welcome to my favorite day of my summer Japan trip!

Kurashiki is one of those many cities that tout the title “Venice of Japan,” but to its credit, I think it really nails it. Canals run through the city’s unique wood-sided, charcoal-roof-tiled shopping streets, so you can cross over the little stone bridges anytime you want to see the green from the other side. You can even enjoy the scenery from on a canal boat or take a rickshaw ride through the winding roads! We engaged neither of these activities, but we saw some do it on our wonderfully non-crowded day, and many DO take on these historical rides.

Looking back, it’s hard to think of a shop that we didn’t stop into and buy something. Seriously! It’s all amazing, high quality, hand-crafted goods from the heart of the countryside! From tote bags and wash tape to other stationary and photograph postcards, cute cloth designs and miniature cutlery to clay cups and wood-carved magnets, I took a BIG haul from Kurashiki. In fact, most of my family’s souvenirs came from the kind vendors of Kurashiki. ~She~ really is that legend, that queen.

Whether gazing down from Achi Shrine at the tiled roofs or admiring the countless storefront windows, posters from the water polo anime RE-MAIN stalked my path. Which is hilarious, because I think it’s a terrible anime, lmao. It must mean something to the people of Kurashiki, though, so I respect.

As if this day couldn’t get any better, we managed to score an incredible set meal at a restaurant that only prepares 50 of them each day. My fried croquette was stuffed with a blend of potato, cheese, and seafood. I even got the little tomato pasta “side” that many Japanese restaurants seem bent on serving you. Sure, it’s odd getting two random pasta noodles or a clump of spaghetti next to your shredded cabbage, but no complaints here! To escape the warm and drizzly weather, we stopped in for fruity bingsu or shaved ice (idk what the Japanese call it).

I look back on Kurashiki warmly, and not only because it was like 90 degrees F and humid. (If anything, the on-and-off showers added to the whole aesthetic, darkening the wood with rich hues.) This was a return trip for my friend, so I got to interact closely with a couple of the shop owners whom he was familiar with. We even took a selfie together, but that’ll remain my closely guarded photo. 😛

It seems like an out-of-the-way locale, but Kurashiki offers a canal-laden traditional Japan like no other. Plus, it’s relatively quiet compared to other cities that claim to offer similar experiences. I’ll definitely be keeping it on my recommended itinerary for family and fellow travelers, and I can’t wait until the day I return.

Our next stop is Kyoto, where we manage to do NONE of the major touristy things (except Kiyomizu) despite being there for two full days. ‘Til then, thanks for reading.

– Takuto

Mugi holds club ad

The Anime V-Day Special Returns for 2025!

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Happy Valentine’s Day~!

The time for me to bundle up against the cold and take on another highly treasured anime property is here! That’s right, we’re back at it again this year, but the flavor is a bit different for 2025. As the early part of any year tends to put me in the mood to bite down on some sci-fi anime, I can usually call this the “Sci-Fi V-Day Special.” However, after gazing at my options of interest, it seemed that I wouldn’t be able to make room for anything huge this year. In the interest of time, I was forced make a swift pivot, yet trust me when I say that I’m still excited for what 2025’s special holds.

BUT, before I make the announcement, let’s look back on the history of this homegrown tradition. Here’s a refresher for those in need!

2013 ~ Steins;Gate

2014 ~ Kokoro Connect (I think . . . )

2015 ~ Neon Genesis Evangelion

2016 ~ The Rose of Versailles (It’s not always a sci-fi watch, I know!)

2017 ~ Ghost in the Shell

2018 ~ Haikyuu!! (Again, not sci-fi!)

2019 ~ RahXephon

2020 ~ Gunbuster (PANDEMIC)

2021 ~ Gunbuster

2022 ~ *SKIPPED* (I did watch Heroic Age, though.)

2023 ~ Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo (REWATCH)

2024 ~ Trigun

This annual advent always emphasizes classic anime, those which have proven the test of time and are still beloved across many circles. With full knowledge of the time restraints AND the desire to try a slice of the easy life (or cake, whichever is served first), I’m happy to announce that this year’s V-Day Special will be . . .

2025 ~ K-On!

After the Trigun watch poster turned out so nicely, I put similar effort into designing the watch order “roadmap.” Hope y’all like it!

While K-On! hasn’t been one of those titles lingering in my physical collection amassing a thick layer of dust on its case for too long, it’s one every anime fan from the dreamy 2010s era remembers fondly. I’ve admired these silly girls and their light music club from afar for YEARS, and it’s time I sat down and truly gotten to know them.

Over the next few days, I’ll be hibernating before the TV and munching on the sweet treats. In fact, what makes this marathon so much swifter is that I purposefully chose a title I’d already started to serve as the V-Day Special. Sooo, my actual “starting point” for the holiday will be in the middle-ish of the second season. Call me a cheater, that’s fine! I’d like to think of it as being proactive!

As I spend this time recollecting myself and appreciating all the things I’ve accomplished within the past few weeks, I hope you, too, will be spending this season of love doing that which makes you happy. Whether that means enjoying time with family, friends, or a loved one, what matters most is that you find and embrace that warm, tingly feeling that makes our hearts flutter. Of course, eating something sweet is a must as well!

When next we meet, I hope I’ll be able to muster the energy to organize my thoughts on the K-On! franchise, be it in the form of a review or a more casual reflection post. Either way, it’ll be a retrospective glance at a 15-year-old anime gem. Look forward to it with passion!

IT’S FUWA FUWA TIME!!

– Takuto

Anime in 2023: What Should I Watch?

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Hello!

I’m back with a more “typical” aniblogger post this time. I’ll have more updates about what I’ve been watching, reading, and listening to in the near future. For this post, I wanted to reach out to you with a question:

What anime from 2023 did YOU think were worth watching?

I caught a couple odd series each season (like finishing Netflix’s CG Ultraman and Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters) but my simulcast slate was mostly clean for the year. This was largely due to preparing for my graduate exam in the spring, studying abroad in the summer, and starting a new job in the fall. Hopefully you’ll agree that it would’ve been a bit tricky for anyone to keep up with what’s current given all I went through in 2023!

I DO come prepared, however, with a small list of titles that I saved throughout the year in my back pocket. So, here’s everything I’d like to watch from 2023!

Winter 2023

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a – I love the game, firstly, and the anime is a pleasant way to revisit this world of machines and ruin. I found the first couple episodes quite enjoyable, so I’m mainly coming back to see how the adaptation turned out. I heard there’s more coming, which makes me excited that A-1 Pictures is committed to adapting the “full” story.

Buddy Daddies – No thoughts on this one other than the premise is cute.

Trigun Stampede – I still need to watch the OG Trigun, but I love the character re-designs!

Tsurune – The Linking Shot – I’ll revisit the first season before watching this sequel. From what I remember, I found the pacing of Tsurune sleepy and the characters somewhat unremarkable. Maybe a rewatch will change that.

Gridman Universe – I’m ALWAYS down for Gridman, and it’s crazy that this is the end! ;_;

Spring 2023

Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc – I’ve continue to stick with this series because I enjoy seeing the work Ufotable puts out. The previous season was tons of fun, and I’m hoping that this third season carries that energy forward.

Oshi No Ko – This was a much-discussed title! If I have time, I’ll scope it out and see what the hype was about. Cute character designs, too.

Heavenly Delusion – Production I.G is another studio I’m fond of, especially when it comes to their sci-fi catalog. The manga for this mystery/survival series intrigued me awhile back, so if I like the anime, I’ll consider picking up the volumes. Really stoked to watch it!

Ranking of Kings – The Treasure Chest of Courage – Yay, more adventures of Bojji and Kage!

Ooku – The Inner Chambers – This one rides in the same train as Heavenly Delusion does for me. I even own the first volume of the manga. (Don’t ask why I haven’t read it.) Hope the anime turned out well!

Sailor Moon: Cosmos – At last, we’ll see how the new Sailor Moon adaptation ends! I’m a little concerned that Netflix hasn’t licensed it for streaming yet, though. My expectations for the production are somewhat low, so I’m just hoping these final films are able to stir an emotional reaction from a longtime SM fan.

Summer 2023

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 – I started the first season on a whim like a year ago, and I got surprisingly addicted to its rhythm of action and comedy. Of course, this has been the only series people have talked about since 😛 so I’ll get around to the sequel eventually.

Fate/strange Fake – Whispers of Dawn – Is this just the first episode? If so, I’ll wait until the full series is released before starting. Looks great, though!

Maboroshi – The latest film from director Mari Okada JUST came out on Netflix the other day! Always happy to see what she’s working on.

Fall 2023

Frieren – Beyond Journey’s End – This was on a lot of friends’ “best of year” lists, and the online response seems to range from “like it” to “LOVE IT.” Can’t wait to put names to all these faces!

SPY X FAMILY Season 2 – This reminds me, I still need to finish the last few episodes of season one! Oh dear, where does the time go!

The Apothecary Diaries – If you followed Frieren and friends this past fall, then you also probably watched this little series. I recall being initially grabbed by the anime’s gorgeous teaser visuals and videos. Now that it’s out, I’m hoping that the characters are as charming as the animation I saw.

PLUTO – Another short series dropped on Netflix, I’m a complete stranger to the works of Naoki Urasawa. I anticipate this will serve as my gateway drug.

Considering the sheer volume of anime that is produced each season, this is a fairly small, manageable list. I handpick everything so carefully because I’m still working through my physical to-be-watched stack. (We’re making steady progress!) Still, hidden gems slip through the cracks, so be sure to let me know what you liked from all the anime released in 2023. Thanks for reading, and ’til next time!

– Takuto

*Abridged* V-Day Special!

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Happy Valentine’s Day~! 💛

If you’ve been following my blog for even a year, you’ll know that V-Day is something I take quite seriously. It has become tradition for me to book off an entire weekend to marathon anime (usually a classic, or something with several parts, such as films, OVAs, etc.) and enjoy quality time with myself.

Well, in lieu of binging an entire series as a challenge to myself (as I’m quite short on time due to my M.A. exam mid-March), I’ve decided to return to Evangelion.

And I’m sure this comes as literally zero surprise to anyone.

I’ve got tasty treats, a comfy couch, and my Funimation Blu-ray of Evangelion 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo. all lined up for me to enjoy this Tuesday evening! I always enjoy an Eva rewatch, but I’m especially partial to 3.33 during this season of love because it’s when I first watched it back in February 2016. Once more, time to relive the nostalgia and bittersweet promises that this title brings to me.

I hope you’re all spending V-Day doing something you love, whether that’s with someone or watching Eva for the hundredth time like me. I’ll be doing a TRUE marathon after my March exam, likely Trigun since it’s what people are talkin’ about these days (plus I’ve had the Anime Classics DVD for YEARS just gathering dust). Please look forward to it!

That’s all for now—stay sweet, and ‘til next time!

– Takuto

Just Stopping By! (Happy 2023!)

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Hi there!

Did I catch you by surprise?

I know, it’s been over 3 months since my last visit. Terrible track record. But, I did promise that I’d be back to regular blogging once I graduated. Unfortunately, that won’t be for another 5 months, although I’m sure—like most semesters—it’ll fly by! 🙏

So until the spring, I’m merely stopping by to wish everyone a Happy New Year and a welcome to 2023! My resolutions? Graduate and get a job (adulting sucks 😭). I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday. I logged in HOURS of board games and caught up on LOTS of shounen favorites that I’ve missed out on due to school. Here is what I watched over break in case you’re curious:

Belle (great, rated 8/10 for the lovely l CG work and meaningful message here, but need to rewatch already)

Chainsaw Man (GRUESOME GOODNESS, only watched first 4 episodes, will continue at some point)

My Hero Academia 6th Season Part 1 (significant step up from S5, rating 9/10 for the high stakes, can’t wait to see how the battle ends in P2)

Millionaire Detective – Balance: Unlimited (way more boring than I expected it to be, rated 7/10 for at least the pretty character designs, and FYI don’t watch the dub, sorry fam)

Jujutsu Kaisen (MY LOVES, this revived my passion for anime recently, honest!! Both series and 0 Movie are 9/10 for me, and I crave more)

Sword Art Online: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night (surprisingly enjoyed a lot, rated 8/10 for Asuna continuing to be more interesting than Kirito, tempted to recommend this over S1 to newcomers)

Demon Slayer Season 2 (the main fight of the Entertainment District Arc dragged on a little long, but potentially more enjoyable than S1, rated 8/10 for that incredible Ufotable animation!)

Dr. Stone Season 1 (stopped after 11-ish episodes, it’s fine . . . when do we get to see Senku’s old friends again, I miss them)

Blood of Zeus (a fantastic recommendation if you’re chasing after that Castlevania high, rated 8/10 for Greek mythology continuing to serve)

Link Click (I knew I’d enjoy this one but WOW was I taken by these characters, rated 9/10 for the thrills and the whole aesthetic, but needing that sequel ASAP)

Odd Taxi (this one also wins for being a backlog serve, rated 8/10 for an actually engaging anthropomorphic title, and that ending, Y’ALL GOT ME GOOD)

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a (my recent obsession as a huge fan of the game, the only simulcast I’m following this season, and I’m still so shocked that A-1 is proceeding with this 2D/3D blend . . . staying hopeful it’ll be a masterpiece)

Of course, I also rewatched Ghibli favorites like Howl’s, Kiki’s, and Ponyo this winter break. Just trying to reignite the anime passion after feeling absent for a while now. 🔥

My primary goal with this post was to update you all with what I’ve been up to. Going forward, I’ll return to simul-uploading my YouTube videos on my channel and my blog. I apologize in advance if Kpop isn’t your thing, and I hope the manga/anime content is at least to your liking. >.<

The next time we “meet” will probably be for my annual V-Day special. (Hint hint, the show I’ll be watching currently has a remake airing!) That should be lots of fun, so look forward to it! 👍

Thank you as always for sticking with me throughout these content-less months. Once I’m done with uni, I’ll be able to officially brush off the cobwebs and start new projects. But for now, I wish you all a healthy start to the new year!

– Takuto

The Stranger by the Shore || Summer Film Spotlight #6

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THE BOYS ARE FINALLY HERE, MY FRIENDS

Hey guys! Welcome to the sixth Summer Film Spotlight! Today we are celebrating the streaming release of Akiyo Oohashi’s “Umibe no Étranger” or “The Stranger by the Shore,” which is now available on Funimation. This 2020 shounen-ai romance film explores the cute relationship between aspiring novelist Shun and the spry young Mio. This film is FULL of love, and I can’t wait to listen to the English dub! 🌼

I hope you’ll continue to join us on this summer journey through film. See you next Saturday with another Summer Anime Film Spotlight!

Interested in more anime, manga, or K-pop content? Subscribe to stick around 🙏

Thanks for watching~!

– Takuto

Ride Your Wave || Summer Film Spotlight #5

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SUMMER ROMANCE IS HERE 🏄‍♀️💙🏄‍♂️

Hey guys! Welcome to the fifth Summer Film Spotlight! Today we are celebrating GKIDS’s beautiful dubbed Blu-ray release of Masaaki Yuasa’s Ride Your Wave. This 2019 romance drama film tests the effects of grief and mourning on the human heart with the relationship between summertime lovers Hinako and Minato. Themes of acceptance, friendship, and self-discovery also make waves in the lives of those deeply impacted by tragic loss. 🧡

I hope you’ll continue to join us on this summer journey through film. See you next Saturday with another Summer Anime Film Spotlight!

Interested in more anime, manga, or K-pop content? Subscribe to stick around 🙏

Thanks for watching~!

– Takuto

Children of the Sea 🐋 || Summer Film Spotlight #4

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MYSTERIES OF THE SEA 🐠🐋🐠

Hey guys! Welcome to the fourth Summer Film Spotlight! Today we are celebrating GKIDS’s beautiful dubbed Blu-ray release of Ayumu Watanabe’s Children of the Sea. This 2019 film adaptation of Daisuke Igarashi’s famed manga explores the fascinating relationship between nature and the human mind. Contemplated is the relativity of existence, and how we’re not so different from the stars shining above us—or the creatures lurking deep below the ocean’s depths.

I hope you’ll continue to join us on this summer journey through film. See you next Saturday with another Summer Anime Film Spotlight!

Interested in more anime, manga, or K-pop content? Subscribe to stick around 🙏

Thanks for watching~!

– Takuto

End of March Update 4/9/21

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Hey guys,

Once again, I don’t have too much to report on from March. Throughout the past month, I mainly spent my days studying, reading manga, and rewatching a few of my favorite anime. It was a therapeutic month, if a somewhat unproductive one on the blog side. While I want to spend April making posts over the things I enjoyed in March, another part of me wants to keep on moving forward. So, there may be posts for older stuff, but also maybe not. I’ll play it by ear. For now though, let’s look at how terribly I failed my goals for March. >.<

Goal Reflection

Write Five Posts Each Month | Did I really only write two or three posts in March? Yikes.

Review More Anime | I did not do this either. If it counts, I did discuss my hopes and dreams for the Evangelion 3.0+1.0 now that it is finally in theaters! And it was a “Cafe Talk” post–like, when was the last time I wrote one of those!?

Continue Writing Manga Reflections | I was able to write a post (AND film a video) for my first impressions of Battle Angel Alita that you can read right here! April will have more manga content for sure!

Write Posts for Video Content | All four of my March videos were uploaded here as blog posts. I’m one short of my YouTube goal there of five videos a month, but please check those out if you’re interested!

Achieve 750 Followers | Current count is 724. Thank you so much for reading and following along~!

What I’ve Watched

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian — I actually started this early 2010s gem quite some time back, but I’ve yet to go further than the first 3 or so episodes. My main reason for starting Dantalian was because it had the same look and feel as Gosick, one of my favorite mystery anime. Although the plots differ, the energy is the same, and I’ll try to keep going with it even if it leans on the slower side. Has anyone else seen this show?

Crest of the Stars — The hype of Evangelion 3.0+1.0 has led me down a tunnel of craving vintage sci-fi anime. I won’t lie, this series didn’t initially catch my eye until Funimation licensed and released it on DVD a couple years back. The art looked mystifying, and I finally caved to watching. I’m 3 episodes out from the end (I think) and I’m enjoying how sad yet romantic it is. Loving the space travel aspect, too. More to come in a review!

Sword of the Stranger — I plan to watch more films in 2021, and it looks like this samurai-turned-vagabond adventure flick was first up. I won’t lie, this era of Japanese history isn’t my favorite. BUT, it’s definitely starting to grow on me, and this film was fantastic from start to finish. The fight choreo and animation hold up super well after all these years, and the MUSIC, oh my GOD, so riveting and passionate!! I might review it, but . . . just know that the Blu-ray will stay on my shelf.

Great Pretender — HELLS YEAH I watched Great Pretender, and HELLS YEAH I loved the shit out of it. This is the kind of series I needed to fill the void left by Eden of the East, Baccano!, and Terror in Resonance, and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more than I did. In fact, I binged all 23 episodes of the series in a SINGLE DAY it was that good, and while I want to review it, I already know my words will be senseless squealing over my mans Laurent, my queen Cynthia, my girl Abigail, and mah boi Edamameeee ❤ Seriously, this was the thrill ride I needed to kickstart my love for anime again. The dub is phenomenal, too! GO WATCH IT!

Attack on Titan Final Season — This was the ONLY simulcast I actually finished in time, and WOW what a series this has been. Of course, we’re not done yet, though, as a the second cour of this anime giant is set to conclude the story this winter. I’m thrilled to see how it ends, especially with the manga’s recent completion. But for now, we wait!

The Promised Neverland Season 2 — CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST SIMULCAST ANIME I EVER DROPPED. LOL. After 5 or 6 episodes, I couldn’t do it anymore. Because I still love the story and characters, however, I took to the Shounen Jump app to start reading the manga. That’s right fam, ya boy’s reading Neverland. I can’t wait to get past the content of the first anime to see where the sequel started. Maybe I’ll revisit season 2 after I’ve read it all just to see how some of it was animated, but otherwise it’s manga-only for me from here on out!

Fire Force Season 2 — With all of the Simuldub episodes finally available on Funimation, I was able to binge the second half of the series and see how it compares to the manga. The good news? Fire Force remains one of the most consistently adapted series that the anime fandom has ever seen. The bad news? At present, we’ve no guarantee for a third season. Keep on supporting the manga and the anime and maybe we’ll get a season 3 before too long!!

***I have yet to continue watching episodes of Wonder Egg Priority, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Skate-Leading Stars, Horimiya. Finishing these simulcasts is the first goal of April! I will have more to report then.

What I’ve Read

Please watch my March 2021 Manga Reading Log video if you have the chance, as I discuss all of these titles there in more depth!!

Battle Angel Alita Volume 1 — Read full the post here!

My Androgynous Boyfriend Volume 1 — Here we have a start to the relationship between a beautiful man who likes makeup and his wonderful graphic designer girlfriend. The art style is super cute, and these two pretty much just support each other for life! It’s a simpler story than I thought it’d initially be, but who knows where the story will go. Looking forward to reading more.

Eniale & Dewiela Volume 1 — Between this hope-yearning angel and trouble-seeking demon, a minor fashion disaster in heaven can spell major catastrophe for the people of Earth. Eniale and Dewiela are just about the pettiest (and prettiest) pair of friends you’ll ever find, yet their individual quirks and charms often cause the other to wreak havoc on the other. And of course, who else would be caught in the conflict than the innocent mortals of the lower world. I think there are only 3 volumes in this series, and you bet I plan to read all of it!

Phantom Tales of the Night Volume 1 — My favorite read of the month! In this series, we are following the innkeeper of an enchanted inn that exists between the spiritual and mortal realms. Seemingly innocent passerbys stumble upon the inn, and for safe passage, they are admitted at a single cost: they must forfeit one of their secrets to the innkeeper. Of course, in monkey’s paw fashion, nothing ever goes right for the guests, but that doesn’t stop the devilish innkeeper from preying on humanity and learning more about them. My only regret from this read was that I didn’t have the next 4 volumes waiting for me on my shelf!

Caste Heaven Volume 1 — This darker BL series explores what happens when high schoolers are forced to find cards scattered all throughout the school and that also dictate that student’s role in the social hierarchy. Poor Ones and Twos will yield to Fives and Sixes, and Sevens and Eights will obey Jacks and Queens. Of course, the King is on top, and anything they say goes–including manipulation and sexual favors. This series is far from clean, but I’m interested in seeing how certain characters will play the game past this initial volume.

Fire Force Volumes 19-20 — When you watch more Fire Force, you naturally want to read more of it, too. Things are starting to gear up towards the series’ climax, I can almost feel it. These volumes cover the end of Season 2 and some change, so if you’re dying to know what is happening to the Tokyo Empire and Company 8, Volume 20 will give you that sneak peak! Now that I’m all caught up with what I own, I can go out and pick up the two latest volumes, yay!

As a whole, March enjoyed a bunch of odd watches, random catch-ups, and much relaxation from school work. That said, April will be tricky if I try to blog more. But, as I’m sure you all know, I never choose the easy way out, heh heh. I’ve already got a head start into manga reading for April, and I don’t plan to slow down. Also, I’ll get back on my simulcast game so I can take a look at what’s new and airing. WAIT, are you telling me that the Spring 2021 anime season has already begun!? Looks like I’ve got lots to catch up on this weekend!

We had a couple rainy days this past week, which was an amazing relief from the dramatically warmer temperatures we’ve been having. Though, it also snowed the other day, so who knows what’s what with weather anymore. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. Here’s to hoping I get my vaccine shot this weekend!! Thanks for reading, and ’til next time!

– Takuto

End of February Update 3/1/21

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Hey guys,

With school ramping up for midterms, I haven’t had much time or energy to blog. Even my anime watching has diminished, and I can’t remember when I last picked up a volume of manga that wasn’t for the Manga Love Readathon on Valentine’s Day weekend. (You don’t know how badly I just want to drop all my school work and crack into some Yona of the Dawn >.<)

So, this monthly update will be pretty sparse, but I hope you enjoy reading about what I’ve been up to. First, let’s discuss goals.

Goal Reflection

Write Five Posts Each Month | I fell two posts short of this goal. School is tough!!

Review More Anime | I published two anime reviews this month, one for Gunbuster: The Movie and another for its sequel, Gunbuster 2 or Diebuster. We’ll see if I write another post about Diebuster: The Movie. An “Anime Revisted” post for Emma: A Victorian Romance is in the works!

Continue Writing Manga Reflections | As previously mentioned, I was able to book off the entire Valentine’s weekend to read for the Manga Love Readathon. During the readathon, I read from five different titles, yet I never got around to writing about them! I’ll see if I can give some of them proper reviews, but until then, I hope my recap vlog will suffice. ^ . ^

Write Posts for Video Content | All four of my February videos were uploaded here as blog posts. I’m one short of my YouTube goal there of five videos a month, but please check those out if you’re interested!

Achieve 750 Followers | Current count is 714. Thank you so much for reading and following along~!

What I’ve Watched

Gunbuster: The Movie — A mere 1200-word post cannot describe the magical experience that is the classic Gunbuster. This year’s V-Day Special was dedicated to the popular GAINAX franchise, and I couldn’t be more pleased with what I watched. In case you missed it, I wrote an entire review that you can read here!

Gunbuster 2 — Most of the same glowing compliments could be said about Gunbuster‘s sequel, Diebuster. While I enjoyed Gunbuster more, I found the zany nature of Gunbuster 2 (review here!) to scratch that itch that the Evangelion Rebuild films left for me. (Who’s excited for the final Evangelion film to come out March 8!?! DEFINITELY ME!!!)

Diebuster: The Movie — I just finished my journey through this franchise with the Diebuster recap film last night. It takes on the daunting task of cramming six 30-minute episodes into a single hour-and-a-half-long film (like its predecessor). Despite the cuts, I really enjoyed it! I’ll try to write a post over this film, but should this be the end for now, check out my two reviews. 🙂

Attack on Titan Final Season — SASHA NOOOO. I’m about ready to YEET a dumb little kid off the face of the planet if we continue this frustrating BS. My anger aside, however, I LOVE where this series is going. The War Hammer Titan rises to the top as my favorite of the Nine Titans (so cool!), and I continue to soak in the wondrous sounds of Hiroyuki Sawano’s OST. Still a little scared about how this is all going to wrap up in the coming months!

The Promised Neverland Season 2 — I’m a little disappointed, not gonna lie. If y’all are following this one, you’ll know that the latest episodes deviate from the manga significantly (or rather, jump ahead seeeveral chapters). A certain character makes a comeback, and I couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t milked for all its worth. Like, we knew, we knew, but it’s still weird to know that hey, this is it. We’ll see if things get better.

Wonder Egg Priority — I’m behind the latest couple episodes, but where I last left off, the four girls have gathered together! Looking forward to catching up on egg time ~~

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation — Rudy leaves home and we meet Eris. She’s a brat, but I’m sure Rudy can handle her. I’m also behind on this one, but I’ll catch up!

Skate-Leading Stars — While I don’t “love” this series, I do find it entertaining enough to be worth finishing. That said, I’m behind on the latest couple episodes, but I hope to finish it soon.

Horimiya — Annnd I’m also terribly behind on the season’s most popular romantic drama! (See a reoccuring theme here? Yeah, school bites.) I’m loving the screencaps that I see of this series on Twitter, though. 😛

What I’ve Read

5 Centimeters Per Second: One More Side — This is the only novel I’ve been able to follow since February started. It was a spontaneous decision to pick up, but then I remember telling myself I would reward my reading efforts by picking up Shinkai’s hardcover published novels from Yen Press–IF and only if I read what I already had. So here we are reading this alternate perspective story of Shinkai’s popular 5 Centimeters film, and I’m surprisingly enjoying it a lot. If the film is a favorite of yours, consider picking up this novel which explores the other side of the story!

This begins the titles I read for the Manga Love Readathon, so check out the vlog for more information!

Love in Focus — This is my first Yoko Nigiri manga and OMG, I love her style so much! Love in Focus is a quaint little three-volume series which follows a high school love triangle between two members of the photography club and an ex-child model (who is now an introverted high school boy living at their dorm). It’s cute, quick, and I like the childhood friend (AKA the other boy, Kei). Love in Focus is the perfect Valentine’s read!

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow — I read the first three volumes of this sweet yuri series and I love the main couple so much! Anything aquatic will generally catch my eye, so the days spent doing activities with the aquarium club are pleasant. This is kind of one of those healing manga, but it does have a romance plot. Looking forward to picking up the rest of the series!

Let’s Dance a Waltz — After YEARS of sitting on my shelf, I finally gave this short three-volume shoujo drama manga a read. The good news—it’s earned the spot on my shelf for a long time to come! The series follows a girl who picks up ballroom dancing because she fell in love with a boy. At the boy’s family studio, she meets two other professional youth dancers, and the four grow to enjoy each other’s company (some wishing to push the boundary of friends). The characters are so kind to one another, and if you’re wanting a fast-paced manga that showcases the beauty of ballroom dance, definitely give it a shot.

The Young Master’s Revenge — I finally got around to reading volume one of this series and omg, no regrets! Rich boy Leo wants to get revenge on rich girl Tenma for making him look like a fool during their childhood. However, upon reuniting as teenagers, Leo finds out that the Tenma’s family business has gone under, leaving her out to dry. She wishes to serve Leo as a personal maid to make some money, but Leo’s not sure how this change of events will affect his plans for revenge! Such a fun premise. I’ll pick up the other three volumes sometime.

Komi Can’t Communicate — Last but not least, I started Komi! This is the highly beloved shounen comedy manga about an antisocial girl who just wants to make 100 friends. Komi leans far more on the gag comedy side, so I’m not sure if I’ll keep up with this digitally or find copies at my library. It’s a fun series, but IDK how long I’ll keep up with it. Glad I read this first volume, though!

If you couldn’t tell, the whole of my February was occupied by two projects: the Manga Love Readathon and my Gunbuster marathon. Not much else got done, but I still enjoyed myself immensely. February is one of my favorite months, perhaps because I always use the Valentine’s holiday as a time for self-love. We also slowly emerge from the slow cold of winter (hope all my midwestern pals withstood the sudden freeze!), and the onset of spring begins. I hope the warmer weather will boost my productivity, and I also hope to work harder on the blog and my channel in March.

School continues to be tough, but we never asked for the easy way out, did we? Hahaha, oh how I can taste the end! Only three months of my undergraduate career remain, and as I gear up for graduation, I hope you’ll continue to come back and read my posts. But what am I saying, we still have all of March and April—and this update has gone on too long! Please let me know what you all enjoyed this past month, and remember to take care of yourselves! Thanks for reading, and ’til next time!

– Takuto