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≡ Category: Shows | Author: Ichigo |5 Comments

 
icon for podpress  Episode 142 [57:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We’ve got a great show this week. We discuss living in Japan, report on the news (or lack thereof) and review Kyouran Kazoku Nikki and Strike Witches.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki - Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it.
Strike Witches - Wait until it hits the US and NetFlix it. Read more

≡ Category: Features | Author: Ichigo |3 Comments

So earlier this week I decided to treat myself and went out to Hakone where I visited a spa that was recommended to me by Kaitar. It was a complex with areas called Yunnesun and Mori no Yu. Yunnesun consisted of the title area and Yutopia. Yu means hot water, so it’s both accurate and a pun, classic Japanese humor.
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≡ Category: Shows | Author: weltall |1 Comment

 
icon for podpress  Manga Episode 36 [78:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week on Manga Pulse Tim and Myself talk about the future of manga and other random things. Then review some manga. Make sure to check out this great show.

Kujibiki Unbalance - Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Peach Girl - Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers. Read more

≡ Category: Shows | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

 
icon for podpress  One Hour Samurai [49:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the “How to become a samurai in one hour” panel from Anime Boston.  Many thanks to Rangiku for recording this panel.

≡ Category: Industry | Author: Fazman |Leave a Comment

Spike TV has announced that it will be airing the Movie Sequel to Afro Samurai, “Afro Samurai: Resurrection” In January 2009. They have also said that Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels) and Mark Hamil (Star Wars) will add their voices into the mix. Spike had originally aired Afro Samurai in the U.S. back in January 2007. Read more


Features

≡ Category: Features | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

Welcome to the AP news team Fazman.  He is our first non-host member of the news team and will be posting Japan and Industry related news.  Join me in welcoming him.

≡ Category: Features | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

Full day #2.  I decided to spent more time in Akihabara this time.  So I headed over there in the morning.  I spent a lot of time just browsing the stores, played a bit more of the Gundam game.  I have decided that yesterday must have been a fluke, because this time I got my ass handed to me.  Instead of being the top out of both teams, I was near the bottom this time.  Plus I was against people with much more advanced mechs, either they had played a lot more or had paid a lot more.  I found a great CD called CROSSFIRE BARRAGE by CROW’SCLAW which I’m currently listening to on repeat.  It’s all instrumental metal. Read more

≡ Category: Features | Author: Ichigo |9 Comments

After getting settled into my hotel, I went out to find some food in Ikebukuro. I found this great little nook of a noodle shop. I was advertised as a Ramen place, but I ordered the Mori Yasai (もり野菜) which was pretty interesting. It was a thicker noodle closer to soba. They gave me a bowl full of cold noodles, and a bowl full of broth with veggies in it. I put the noodles in the broth and then ate them up. Tasty. Add to that the 600 Yen (around $6) Asahi beer which was a 633ml bottle (that’s a lot of beer for $6), and I was satisfied. The meal was 800 Yen, so the whole night was $14. I strolled through a Pachinko parlor, but I was too tired to figure out where to get balls to start playing, I’ll work on that another day. Read more

≡ Category: Features | Author: Ichigo |10 Comments

I’m currently sitting in my tiny hotel room in Ikebukuro, having been up over 24 hours, checking email and watching the “Wall Crash” game show on tv. I’m going to get some food, take a bath and then go to sleep. I’ll try to have some pictures for you all tomorrow after I stroll around Tokyo a bit.

≡ Category: Features | Author: Ichigo |8 Comments

As you can see, I put together a new layout with a new mascot character that we commissioned from Jason and Heather from ArtPlayMix.com.  I hope you like it and let us know of any bugs you find.

Industry

≡ Category: Industry | Author: Fazman |Leave a Comment

Mythwear was a licensed Anime apparel retailer most known for it’s Anime shoulder bags. The company launched back in 2001 and quickly accrued a mass of licenses to manufacture Anime apparel like bags and wallets. Some series they had rights to were Full Metal Alchemist, Hellsing, and Gravitation. Read more

≡ Category: Industry | Author: Fazman |Leave a Comment

Last season Gundam fans all over rejoiced over the first season of Gundam 00. While still primarily a giant robot show, this series focus a lot more on the pilots and their reasons for being Gundam pilots. Although there is still that evil organization lurking in the corner that drives them. The Japanese site for 00 has been updated for season two giving the premise for the next season and updated character info in aftermath of the first season’s finale. Read more

≡ Category: Industry | Author: Fazman |2 Comments

When the news came that Newtype USA would be ceasing publication many fans were shocked. For a lot of fans Newtype USA was a one stop Mag for Anime, Manga and more. you couldn’t wait to see who would be on this months cover or what poster was inside. But what all the anime fans wanted was the DVD inside with three free episodes of new shows to watch. So to say we were sad to see Newtype USA go would be an understatement. Read more

≡ Category: Industry | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

Here are my notes from the ADV panel.

ADV is not going anywhere.

They separated from their business partner Sojitz, and Sojitz took a lot of titles with them.  But ADV has procured a new partner, whose funding has allowed them to start negotiating for a new group of Anime acquisitions.

They have no plans to acquire any new manga for at least 12 months, although they would “like” to finish their existing ones.

ADV will continue to do dubs, as they have their own production facilities.  They might have new acquisition titles by Otakon.

Blu-Ray releases are coming, but have to wait on the Japanese distributors.

≡ Category: Industry | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

The 2nd industry panel was a moderated panel.

Technology, Entertainment and Licensing
Ken Iyadomi - President & CEO, Bandai Entertainment
Vu Nyugen - VP Business Development & Strategy, Crunchyroll
Trulee Karahashi - Society for the Promotion of Japanese Anime
Asako Suzuki - Director of Manga, CMX
Moderated by Justin Sevakis, Director of New Media, Anime New Network

Licensing is becoming more, not less, complicated.  Multiple parties want approval and control rights about how things are released.  The Japanese distributors have no real internet strategy because they fear the impact on DVD sales as well as piracy. Read more

Japan

≡ Category: Japan | Author: Fazman |1 Comment

Yoji Totsuka became famous when he discovered that the elementary particle called neutrinos have mass. Totsuka who had been a special emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo won Japan’s Read more

≡ Category: Japan | Author: Fazman |Leave a Comment

On May 12th 2008 in the Sichuan province in china there was an earthquake that took the lives of 69,196 people. This tradgedy makes its mark in the history books as the 19th most deadly eartquake of all time. The most deadliest earthquake of all time was Tangshan China in 1976 with 242,419 dead. Read more

≡ Category: Japan | Author: Ichigo |Leave a Comment

A man who allegedly issued a death threat June 19th on 2ch against 水樹奈々 (Mizuki Nana) was arrested the day prior to her July 5th LIVE FIGHTER concert in Yoyogi (between Harajuku and Shinjuku in Tokyo).

Part of the threat posted on 2ch was 「お前ら安心しろ。水樹奈々と水樹信者はダガーナイフと2t(トン)トラックを使って、俺が代々木で皆殺しにしてやるからよ」.  This roughly reads “You can all relax.   I will use a 2 ton truck and a dagger to kill Mizuki Nana and her fans in Yoyogi.” Read more

≡ Category: Japan | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

Shokotan, the amazing blogging idol, is keeping an english blog during her stay at AX.  So if you’ve always wanted to know what the fuss is about but can’t read Japanese, now you can check it out.

Shoko Nakagawa

English Blog
Japanese Blog
Official Website

Shows

≡ Category: Shows | Author: weltall |1 Comment

This week on Manga Pulse Tim and Myself talk about the future of manga and other random things. Then review some manga. Make sure to check out this great show.

Kujibiki Unbalance - Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers.
Peach Girl - Wouldn’t kick it out of bed for crackers. Read more

≡ Category: Shows | Author: Ichigo |1 Comment

This is the “How to become a samurai in one hour” panel from Anime Boston.  Many thanks to Rangiku for recording this panel.

≡ Category: Shows | Author: Batou |1 Comment

 
icon for podpress  Episode 141 [54:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s a great show this week. Both Ichigo and I are here, well sorta, yes Ichigo is still in Japan and will probably continue to be there for the foreseeable future. This week week give a little talk about the news, Ichigo regales us of tales from the land of the rising sun and we talk about a couple of shows. This week enjoy the platitudes of us reminiscing about Antique Bakery and World Destruction.

Antique Bakery - Download Now!
World Destruction - Wouldn’t Kick it out of Bed for Eating Crackers Read more

≡ Category: Shows | Author: weltall |1 Comment

 
icon for podpress  Manga Episode 35 [75:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week I (Weltall) post the show… lets see how much I break. This week we review Gantz and Eden: It’s an Endless World! We also talk about AX. Make sure to check out this great show.

Eden: It’s an Endless World! - Read it now.
Gantz - Read it now. Read more

≡ Category: Shows | Author: Ichigo |Leave a Comment

 
icon for podpress  Episode 140 [43:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s a great show this week. I record solo from Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. I talk about the news, review Slayers Revolution and recap my first couple weeks in Japan. Check out this great show.

Slayers Revolution - Download Now! Read more