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Cafe Talk #4: “HARMONIZE WITH ME MAGGOT!” (a Ren-fest experience)

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Grab some hot apple cider or a chilled fruit drink because it’s finally time for another “Cafe Talk!” Chinese food, old men in capes, and bee swarms – This one’s a doozy but I’ve managed to get it all (and no, I’m not just trying to reach to a wider audience)! I won’t be leaving an outro at the end like I usually do, so if you have had similar experience you HAVE to let me know in the comments! While you’re at it, feel free to hit the like if you enjoyed the story 🙂

First some prior knowledge:

I frequent a Renaissance Festival every year with my family and I absolutely love the art of it. It started off as my siblings and I performing music with a Celtic group in “The Chapel,” but when the academy went under we stopped going because we had to and started actually enjoying the festivities.

Flash forward and I’m eating Chinese food on a Friday night. I know right, great way to spend the day. But after devouring my beef fried rice, my fortune cookie did as they usually do: It told my future.

Next week, green is a lucky color for you.

So I got super paranoid and tried to remember to wear green throughout the week. I think I managed to fit one day in, sporting a regular lime Nike shirt, but nothing “spectacular” happened. In fact, I was probably even more exhausted that day . . . But Saturday came around ( I realize that a new week would have passed the Friday right before, but it’s a fortune cookie, and their magic can be a bit iffy at times), and this was our family’s planned day to wake up at the freakin’ crack of dawn, dress like fools  epic knights, elves, what have you, and arrive at the Renaissance Festival at 10 AM-ish. Due to my crazy student life (also noticeable by the lack of posts, sorry), I had virtually no time to prepare a costume like I usually do. So what did I end up with?

My makeshift Attack on Titan cosplay outfit. It’s the stereotypical neat jacket, the tight-ass white jeans, that leather skirt thing, a plain gray shirt, and my brother’s old Ren-fest-bought leather boots that resembled giant socks after so much wear and tear. Lastly, a short leather cloak with metal clasps with a freakin’ awesome hood that I bought in the previous year or two to function as the Scouting Regiment’s symbolic flare. Seems legit, so no biggie.

Long story short, I had a fantastic weekend. My weirdo sister kept SnapChatting pictures of an old man in a red cape, crown, and shades who, I’m SO SORROW OLD MAN, looked like a fool. My mom ordered a delicious apple-pie-ice-cream-thing-which-has-a-name-that-escapes-me, and was pretty much attacked by bees that buzzed around occasionally (they left after a while). The sad part in that is that my mom hardly orders anything for herself, but at least she liked the dessert! Anyway, she ended up buying herself a damned nice black cloak and a fancy blue corset, so it all worked out.

Seriously though, awesome weekend! But the story doesn’t end there . . .

We spent the whole day there. Tired in my sock boots, we were making our last rounds of enjoying the smell of roasted peanuts and turkey legs, the cloudy atmosphere, the assorted wooden structures in the hills, and the cool 60-degree HEAVEN until we ran into a large group of young adults. I looked down as per usual and kept to myself, but then an enchanting cosplayer in a white and red fox outfit called:

“MY YOUNG TITAN SLAYER, come hither ~!”

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Something like this.

F*ck.

What do I do?? EVERYONE was looking at me, but I couldn’t even notice them I was so nervous. I bumbled around but quickly accepted my fate. This could have been a call of sorts, you know?

Honor took over me, and I did the fist over heart salute like they do in the show. Everyone smiled.

Capture

I approached the now nicknamed fox demon woman and, after a bit of small talk – her spewing compliments about my wondrous leather one-of-a-kind Scouting cloak – the tall man in the group towering over me (whom I now just noticed) gave a hearty chuckle. The fox lady and the others coaxed their bud into saying something that I’m not sure he himself was wanting to say or do, but he did:

“I can do an impersonation of Keith Shadis’ abridged voice from the YouTube video.”

“Well,” I sputtered, “You have to do it now.” hehehe

And then, clearing his throat, he yelled the scene during training camp right before he twists Armin’s neck. He yelled it loud and proud, starting with the “sweet mother” part.

“Do you sing?”

“No,” I sputtered, according to the skit.

“HARMONIZE WITH ME, MAGGOT!!” woooaaahhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

“WAHAHAHAHGAGAGAAGAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAH!!!!” I screeched at the top of my lungs.

Then he twisted my neck, gently of course. And it was awkward for everybody.

Oh Internet, how you . . . scare me sometimes. But seriously, where’s the lie?

It was the first time anything like this had ever happened, but oh boy, how I’ll never forget. Everyone around was sharing good cheer, smiling and laughing. I, like everyone else, applauded his and my efforts to pull it off.

That’s when the fox-lady burst out how cool of a guy I was, and then she asked a fatal question:

“Wah, you’re so freakin’ awesome!! Do you have Facebook or something so that I can contact you?”

Ouch. Yep, I’ve got no social media. Just an email, a phone number, this cafe, and of course my MAL . . .

WAIT?!? Doesn’t every anime fan under the sun have a MyAnimeList account??

Too bad I didn’t think of that in time. 

I replied with a weak “no,” and she and the rest were like, “Bummer, well this was so much fun, anyway! :D” I had missed my chance at a real-life stranger-to-friend situation. I had failed as a human. I mean, I didn’t want to just give my email, isn’t that a bit too personal for not having even getting to know each other?

But then she glimmered with hope. “Do you go to any conventions? Maybe we can meet up again sometime for something silly like this!”

“NAKA-KON!” I probably shouted hoarsely. Maybe there is a chance at redemption now!

“Cool! Well then, we’ll be seeing you around!”

And that was that. Two seconds of fame but no way to ever get it back. Perhaps this spontaneous coincidence was meant to be. Heck, a nearby girl in Scouting Legion cosplay ended up being right behind me, and after hearing our skit, she ran up to me with a high-five and we took a picture. So one with her, and one with the other big group. Proud memories to cherish as an anime fan!

We had no Armin since I have dark hair, but hey, pretty much.

So what was the message in it all? It is what it is, or it’s all ultimately left up to Fate? I’m not really too sure myself. But as for my fortune cookie I hinted at in the beginning (but sadly managed to squeeze no luck out of), what color was my Scouting Regiment cloak – the very thing that spotted me out from the crowd?

Oh damn it all.

🙂

– Takuto, your host

30-Day Song Challenge Day 12: A Song That Reminds You Of Your Best Friend

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Best friend. Hmm, I currently don’t have one of those, but rather a small group of individuals whom I talk to more than others. Does that count? Also, I know I’m a day late again, but better late than never . . . right?

From Soul Eater, “Resonance” by T.M.Revolution

If someone mentioned this anime prior to this past spring, than I just hit them over the head and ignored them. I thought Soul Eater was the stupidest looking show ever – until I watched it. My friend, who shall remain nameless for now, was fairly new to anime. He was a childhood friend, so in elementary and middle school we were pretty close buds. But then we grew further apart as we had different interests, classes, etc. So now, finally “reunited” with him, I led our conversation on to anime, and he mentioned that he was saving up his money for, yep, you guessed it, Soul Eater. Ugh, I thought to myself. He’s new to anime and he’s already picking one of the dumbest shows to exist. Why not watch Steins;Gate? That’s the real good stuff!

But I simply nodded, happy that I had something else to spark up conversations with. A couple months pass, I let him do his thing, and I watch Evangelion among others. It wasn’t until I was scoping around the cruel world that is online shopping that I noticed the Halloween-esque show pop up.

It was only $30. So I bought it.

Each day after coming home I would watch an episode or two with my brother, who by the way had the same pre-thoughts as myself. 51 episodes later, it was over, and I was surprisingly sad. I still haven’t told my friend that I watched it, and I’m not sure if he even went out of his way to pick up a copy. But I think about it whenever I hear this song. Did he ever get to purchase the series? Is he even into anime anymore? 

Well, I suppose I could go ask.

Songs like this are powerful. The ability to not only bring back memories of you watching it, but also to remind you of your closest friends are unique and should be treasured forever. Does a song out there remind you of your best friend? I’m sure we all have one, so drop it down below in the comments. Because I was swamped with work yesterday, I have two entries to post tonight, so see you in a little bit ~

– Takuto, your host

It’s Real Neat to Have Blogger Friends (Real Neat Blog Award)

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Hello all! Just when I was thinking of how dull my reviews can be at times, JekoJeko over at UEM! reminded me of my creativity in the form of a nomination – The Real Neat Blog Award! So regardless of the ceiling-high stack of reviews I still have to write, I will take this little break graciously. Thank you very much, JekoJeko.

UEM! brings forth tiny details hidden in anime and intricately weaves them with “unfettered and unnecessary opinions” to form truly thought-provoking posts. But whether it’s Christian beliefs, first impressions or great biased reviews, JekoJeko always manages to keep me wanting more content, and isn’t that the goal of a blogger? UEM! is a new key Aniblogger site in the community, and you should do yourself the favor by following them around (click here)!

JekoJeko asked seven questions as part of the award criteria, and here are my answers:

  1. Who or what got you to start watching your first anime?

I watched Ghibli movies, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Beyblade, and Yu-Gi-Oh all prior to my first anime, but I do not count them since at the time, I did not know they were anime, nor what anime even was.

Sadly, I didn’t have a buddy to get me into anime 😦 so I have been a lone wolf up until recently. What got me into anime was actually an incredibly embarrassing, cheek-burning question: What is hentai? After a totally appropriate Google search, I found Negima!? the Spring and Summer OVAs, and though they are nowhere close to actual hentai, the magic comedy and youth aspects made me crave more! I wrote a whole story about it here if you want more depth.

  1. What do you think is your most controversial opinion about anime/manga?

Honestly speaking, probably that The End of Evangelion is one of the most transformative and fresh breath-inducing films I’ve ever seen, and that the series is just as spectacular. It’s been one of the most controversial opinions to bomb the anime chat rooms and forums since 1997, but I think its messages of rebirth through death are inspiring (no, I’m not going to do anything crazy). I’m just saying, you can’t deny the weird vibes you get when Lilith Rei initiates the Human Instrumentality Project.

Also controversial, I think in order to start the Fate anime franchise you should start with Fate/Zero. There, I said it. Haters go hate.

  1. What song do you wish could be an anime opening or ending?

What a fun question! Let’s see, any Train songs like “Drive By” or “Mermaid” fit the bill for a fun show in my opinion. They’re upbeat and pretty catchy. I like it when folk, Irish, or classical music is reprised for anime to enhance the mood, so maybe something like that?

  1. Has a show ever impacted your beliefs or values in an important way?

Anything by Kyoto Animation has made me realize how delicate relationships and lives themselves are, and that life is so much more interesting with others. Additionally, works like Chu-2, Beyond the Boundary, and Free! showed me how literally beautiful and vast the world is. Every small vase on a windowsill; every miniscule patch of grass growing through the cracks of concrete; every scrunched little alley big enough for one only one car to pass through, so the other person pulls over, gets out and waves to the other like all’s right with the world, allowing them to pass first; every charming, wooden, traditional Japanese home as well as modern homes; All of it is present in KyoAni works, which taught me to be most of all humble.

  1. What’s the most exciting thing you’ve been a part of?

For most of my childhood, my siblings and were a band that performed Irish, fiddling, classical, and even pop music for organization banquets and meetings. In fact, we’ll play for a friend’s wedding in August. Though there have been rough times, it was at the very least thrilling in multiple ways, probably the highlight of excitement for my childhood. 🙂

Last year, high school, I formed a small orchestral group that performed at seasonal concerts and various ceremonies. We played pieces that I had written myself, which was an incredible honor to do so with my friends! I couldn’t thank people enough for the waves of positive feedback and standing ovations we have received! There were too many late nights of writing, though, so for now, we are on hold.

  1. Which show do you wish your life was more like?

“Honestly any show. Anything. I am so boring.”

I’ve always thought that life was boring, that I’m the kid in class waiting for the mass murderer to show up and blow up the entire school, to which I escape, meet a cool boy/girl, and we fight off the villain. That or the apocalypse. But then I started to realize, unless I’m the one receiving the mysterious powers or magical strengths, it would be a huge inconvenience and a horrible thing to wait through. I mean, my family and friends could die!

So now, like most everyone, I seek out the slice-of-life route. Perhaps Free! because I am in swimming, or even Kokoro Connect like Keatle had said in his nomination because of the close bonds with friends. I’ll live an enchanting yet ordinary high school life – ideal for anime . . .

But I’ll always be expecting something to happen, something to shake up the world.

Anything.

  1. What’s your biggest goal in life, and how do you plan to achieve it?

Ahh jeez, here’s the big question. What to do with my life? Well, I want to be successful and happy at the same time, but I do not know how to do that – yet. I haven’t settled on a career, but if it could involve anime in some way, that’d be great. I’m sorry I can’t answer this yet, but I’ll work hard and keep looking forward now!

Here are a few people that I’d like to pass the nomination on to, as I think you all have “Real Neat” blogs. I’d be thrilled if you accept the award!! (I’ve been trying to look for people who haven’t already been nominated that deserve it, and there’s a whole slew of you that are awesome :D)

In the Cubbyhole

Curious Stars

The Huge Anime Fan

Viewer’s Discretion is Advised

Shay-shay’s Anime Blog

Jamie Talks Anime

Chibi Majo

Entertainment Review Project

UNOTAKU

Let’s Talk Anime

mirrorpurple

FUJINSEI

Now for my seven questions I’d love to ask these amazing people:

  1. Are you absolutely content with your blog? Do you plan to add any new segments or features soon?
  2. Have you ever considered creating a YouTube channel?
  3. Do you find yourself reading more manga, playing more games, or watching more anime?
  4. What is the first anime that you recommend to a new person, considering that they are cool with any genre and episode length
  5. Do you prefer to buy anime limited or standard edition, if any?
  6. Borrowing this one from JekoJeko, which show do you wish your life was more like?
  7. What is one anime that you will defend to your death, if any, regardless of its understandable flaws?

Here are the rules for the Real Neat Blog Award. If you choose to accept, please leave a comment below with a link to your post so that I may read it!

  1. Put the award logo in your Blog
  2. Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you
  3. Thank the people who nominated you, linking their blogs
  4. Nominate any number of bloggers you like, liking their blogs
  5. Let them know you nominated them (by commenting on their blog)
  6. Ask the bloggers 7 new questions

That was tons of fun, but it’s over now :(. A thanks to JekoJeko one last time, because otherwise I’d still be swamped in the lost, unsaid words of future reviews! I hope you have enjoyed reading and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Ray of Sunshine! (Sunshine Award)

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Just yesterday morning I woke up to a normal, hot summer day, that is, until I found out that I’ve been nominated again, but this time, for the Sunshine Award!! I can’t say anything else, however, until I extend my thanks to Shiroyuni over at “thelimitlessimagination.” She’s not only a great blogger friend but she writes very, very interesting posts, so please check out “thelimitlessimagination” if you haven’t already!

Paraphrased from Shiroyuni herself, the Sunshine Blog Award is given to those who exhibit positive attitude and “creatively influence” other bloggers. To the questions!

  1. Do you think you’ll ever stop blogging? If yes, why and if no, why not?

Ooh, this is a hard one to answer, considering that I do not know what the future holds in store for me. While I can’t give a straight answer, I can confirm that I’m not going anywhere for the time being. In fact, it’s summer – I should be blogging more!

  1. How do you juggle between real life and blogging commitments?

I don’t, haha. I’ve always lived by “work first, play later,” so that’s what I do. I’m not sure if I would call that juggling real life or squeezing in whatever free time I can for blogging, well, that and anime >.< I won’t lie, it’s a pretty hard task, and that’s why these awards are such a good idea – let peoples’ work get noticed and the appreciation they deserve! Go anibloggers!!

  1. Do you let people you know in real life read your blog? If yes, why and if no, why not?

My blog is one of my most heavily guarded secrets known only to those dwelling on the interwebs, haha! Even though it will probably never happen, I want one of my friends to be on the web, find my blog and go, “Woah, this is pretty neat,” cause then I could say, “Hah, I am Takuto, and welcome to my cafe!” (*sigh* I’ll probably just tell them in a couple months or something)

  1. What anime / manga / movie / TV series character do you resemble the most, in terms of personality?

This right here was easily the hardest question. I want to say Oreki from Hyouka, as I’ve heard about his personality, but I’ve never watched the anime so I can’t confirm that 😦 If I had to pick, though, I’d go with Mikoto Misaka from A Certain Scientific Railgun. Even though she’s a girl, we both have this facade of being high class and pretentious when we’re actually down to Earth and relatable. Misaka is unyielding to challenges and always performs tasks with such unwavering dignity. She’s kind, a bit selfish at times, but is always looking out for others. We also both have secret hobbies (fu fu fu :3)

  1. What is the biggest concern you have right now?

My biggest concern right now is my future career. I don’t really know what I want to do yet, and I’m crunching down on time. Yeesh, scary! I need to get a job . . .

  1. Name one virtue/value that you think is extremely important and why.

To me, honoring integrity is incredibly important. I was once told that if someone was to describe another with only one word, “integrity” was the best thing they could say. It’s one of the heaviest values and it encompasses other virtues like honesty and uprightness/dignity. Truly an honorable value!

And now for a few people whom I nominate, as they are all great, positive influences in the anime blogging community:

Shay-shay’s Anime Blog – not only super nice, but she posts great questions where she always responds, we have great conversations

ZeAnime – they haven’t posted in a while, but the content that’s there is amazing, pleasant to talk to as well

LitaKino Anime Reviews – literally the funniest aniblogger that I know, a ray of positivity who also has a YouTube account you should check out

The Huge Anime Fan (Cassandra) – a great blogger friend who enjoys writing about the anime in season as well as being extremely fun to talk to

The Otaku Judge – the definitive place to find constructive criticism on anime/games, very supportive of other anibloggers and myself as well

Let’s Talk Anime (tcondon1) – another blogger buddy who always answers my dorky questions (go ask some yourself) 🙂 , I appreciate all of the replies and everything that they post

Rocco’s Anime Journal – a long-standing blogger friend if I do say so myself, posts in-depth episode-by-episode reviews as well as supports my own blog with anime-related knowledge

***If you’ve already been nominated and you’re on the list, no problem, just comment below with a link to your Sunshine Award Nomination post because I want to read it! If there is a question here that you feel the need to answer, feel free – comment away! 🙂 Thanks and Congrats ~

Questions for my nominees (again, you can simply comment below with an answer to one if you have already been nominated):

  1. Do you prefer anime films or series?
  2. Why do you write on your blog?
  3. Gun fights or sword showdowns?
  4. What was the last anime character that you related deeply to, if any?
  5. What’s your opinion on this spring anime season – simulcasts?
  6. I liked Shiroyuni’s question so here’s “ How do you juggle between real life and blogging commitments?”
  7. At this exact moment, what anime and episode are you on/watching, if any?

Official Rules of the Sunshine Award:

If you have been nominated for The Sunshine Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Sunshine award in which you:

  • Thank the person who nominated you.
  • Answer the questions from the person who nominated you.
  • Nominate a few other bloggers.
  • Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you nominated.
  • Notify the bloggers on their blog.
  • Put the award button on your blog.

Ahh, such a long post to write, so many interesting blogs! Each of you write such positive things that honestly, everyone deserves the Sunshine award! I had tons of fun writing this and answering Shiroyuni’s questions – thanks again for the nomination! Can’t wait to read your responses and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

WataMote: No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular! Review

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A really touchy subject that I have is friendship. I don’t really hang out with people nor talk about anime a whole lot in public. The friends that I have at school stay at school, and that’s the way it’s been for a long time. I study, do my work, laugh a lot, then head home to catch the simulcasts! So looking back at my freshman year, was I excited to start? Waiting for new things? Not really, but this new freshman girl, Tomoko, expects her whole world to change when she starts high school – and for the greater good!

Kuroki Tomoko is a boring girl; she googled it. The kid spends hours, even nights, watching anime, playing otome games and browsing the web. In middle school, her best friend, Yu-chan, and herself were “really cool,” and now entering high school, she intends to keep that middle school rep. She expects her new school life to be like it is in her anime: eating on the roof, sitting by the window, casually flirting with boys . . . Instead, she’s an unnoticeable, hobbling disaster that can’t even say goodbye to her own teacher! Unsocial, flat-chested, bags so large under her eyes it’s a wonder she can even hold her head as high as she does! But she’s determined to achieve flawless, and that’s all that matters, right?

I could spend this entire review saying how relatable Tomoko is, but I’ll leave those sunrises for you. Kuroki is a fragile, shaggy black-haired little girl, her main feature being her bulbous, emerald and sleep-deprived sagging eyes. Though a failure, Tomoko always tries to do what all of the popular kids in anime do. She merely wants to fit in with her peers by trying new things and improving her social status. With that said, her perseverance is unmatched by any other character out there! She never gives up, telling herself constantly that “there’s still plenty of time left to change!” And that’s why I love this cute mess :3

Kuroki isn’t that perfect, however, as she never follows follows up on her training to become recognized by the world. Coming so close in her many new experiences, she either turns back running and crying or fails so miserably that it just becomes sad to watch her and this show. If she truly wanted to become popular, she would’ve stayed in each game just a little longer to see what’s beyond the credits, so to speak.

The other characters, Tomoko’s realistic mom and dad, her easily-angered brother Tomoki, and her transformed old friend Yu-chan are great when supporting Kuroki throughout the show. They never bring her down (except for Yu-chan being a hottie) or ruin the anime. Her family and friend are good contrast to her abstract way of thinking. Later we are introduced to the student council president, who hides in the back calmly and gracefully giving Tomoko the attention she wants; a pure role model to follow.

Visually, I am reminded of Negima!? when I watch this anime. The show features a unique geometric lighting that highlights what is important or what you as a viewer should be following. The anime even grayscale individuals, Kuroki included, to show depression or if they are unimportant. Tomoko herself gets many intense and brightly colored scenes that capture her anger or stress, which are just hilarious. As for the graphics, it’s hit or miss, really. I was fond of them.

Okay, I don’t like screamo music. At all. But this opening, “No Matter  How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular!” by Konomi Suzuki and Kiba of Akiba is hardcore punk . . . and I find myself drawn to it and its powerfully flashy scenes. It is an exaggerated yet symbolic song of struggle – ideal for this anime.

The rest of the OST is filled with what feels like old-timey film or game music, just updated. Many of the tracks are foolish piano melodies or outlandish tunes, while some are clearly made from a soundboard of sorts. It’s hard to describe, yet I don’t really need to since it’s nothing outstanding.

I feel a male audience is best suited for this anime, for my sister only took pity upon Kuroki Tomoko, realizing that she herself wasn’t that much of a loser and saw right through the comedy. Boys would sympathize, then move on to attempt to enjoy the hilarity behind the small details of the show.

WataMote was hilarious and tons of fun at first, but it doesn’t really resolve itself. By the end Tomoko is still an unsocial loner; however, the student council president does catch her eye. Perhaps if it had like 2-3 more episodes or an OVA for resolution so that I could forgive Kuroki for her mistakes, because it certainly doesn’t need a sequel to drag things out. I enjoyed this anime’s fresh/complex comedy, but not its tragedy. WataMote was great; it just wasn’t done quite yet.

Presently, a copy of the anime by Sentai Filmworks with a fabulously dubbed Tomoko by Monica Rial sits on my shelf waiting for a text from its best friend or a “hey” from a super hot boy – “Screw you guys.” – Kuroki Tomoki

This was a great way to spend parts of my winter vacation. I hope you are all doing well, too! A “hello” to my new followers and those already following! You’re all choosing the right cafe to relax at 😉 Hit the like or follow button for more material and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host