I was randomly browsing and got interested in this anison event called “ANIME JAPAN FES” (AJF). First held in 1998, the main event usually consists of 4 weirdly-named concerts in 3 days (in order of performance):
- 「アニソン女子部“夏祭り”」 “Anison Joshi-bu Natsu Matsuri”
- 「スーパーヒーロー魂“夏の陣”」 “Superhero Tamashii Natsu no Jin”
- 「ゆかいな仲間たち」 “Yakai na Nakamatachi”
- 「スーパーアニソン魂“夏の陣”」　”Super Anison Tamashii Natsu no Jin”

What easily won my attention was Yakai na Nakamatachi (Happy Friends). It’s a 5-hours all-night concert starting from midnight, led by JAM Project’s super-uncles Kageyama Hironobu, Endoh Masaaki, and Kitadani Hiroshi. They features a LOT of guest singers, but that’s not all.. it’s practically a cosplay live! Now that explains the weirdos on stage in the first pic.

I’ll let last year’s event pics speak for themselves.

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I almost cried when I saw the new update. I recall ranting about why Makkun is not listed separately when Animelo was first announced few months back. Now I don’t need to give up the dream~

August 30 - Okui Masami 奥井雅美

Having over 300 songs, she can sing whatever she wants and I’m happy. Duet with Nana-chan is a must.. Get Along or Kujikenaikara! (Slayers ED)? xD
Songs:
- MuvLuv game OP/ED: INSANITY, Total Eclipse
- Jama wa sasenai (Slayers NEXT ED), CUTIE (DiGi Charat OP)
- Cyberteam in Akihabara: Birth, Taiyou no Hana, 朱 -AKA-, Koishimasho Nebarimasho
- Yu-gi-oh! OP/ED: Shuffle, Ano hi no gogo
- Non-anime songs (she did -w- last year anyway): RING, 蜜-mitsu-, HAPPY PLACE, CHAOS, It’s my life, Iiwake..

August 31 - Yoshiki Fukuyama 福山芳樹

I remember his Macross 7 songs but that’s about it.. Though I’d love to hear Basara and Sheryl do a PLANET DANCE duet.
Songs:
- Work Guy (Kamen no Maid Guy ED)
- Makka na Chikai (Busou Renkin OP)
- Macross 7 (as Basara): Seventh Moon (OP), Totsugeki Love Heart, Angel Voice, etc~

I haven’t seen any this season’s anime episodes because, as you might know, my internet connection runs slower than Yamabuki Art’s headmaster. Well, at least that also means I got more time to finish a shitload of manga, fix my cosplay costumes, and sort my (unrealistic) shopping list for next month’s Japan trip.

Anyway, I tried to list out a comparison of online stores I’ve been using to waste my paychecks buy Japanese CD/DVD. I’m that bored. Please note that the list is based on my experience and preference. Ratings are out of 5.

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Poster and DVD

Weeks late for a review, huh? But who cares anyway.

The live DVD was a pretty enjoyable ride, I’d rank this as good as Kuribayashi Minami’s, minus the good long Making Of.. wait, Minorin doesn’t even have one. >_> Anyway, she sang impressively, although most of her songs sound the same to me.

Few notes before tracklist and snapshots.

- Minorin got a custom jewel case with rounded edges (like Mizuki Nana’s Starcamp EP) but I hate hate hate thinpak. It’s OK for anime, saved me hell lotsa space, but not for my precious live DVD collection.
- Booklet is so-so, I already got most pics from hm3. Head over townberry for scans.

- She only changed costume once. At first this was a real downside for me, but like Kuribayashi Minami’s live, after I stopped being an oyaji got over it, it wasn’t that bad. Nice gowns.
- Two songs were performed twice, given she can only sing her Lantis songs.

- This is Minorin’s first big(ger)-scale personal live to mark the debut album, ignoring non-Lantis work (heroine). She didn’t look nervous, but she didn’t move a lot (except the trademark para para hands) until the second half of the concert.

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Right, they just added more people to the already-cramped line-up.. it’s not that I’m unhappy with it, but I’m afraid this means Nana will sing less. And I paid that much money to see her live more than anything. >_>

Anyway. Da Capo fans must be really happy.

August 30 - CooRie

Songs:
- Da Capo ED: Mirai e no Melody, Sonzai (D.C.)
Akatsuki ni Saku Uta, Kioku Love Letter (D.C.S.S.)
Yasashisa wa Ame no you ni (D.C. II)
Bokutachi no Yuku e (D.C.II S.S.)
- Usotsuki (School Days ED)
- Cross*Heart (Kyoushirou to Towa no Sora OP)

August 30 - yozuca*

Songs:
- Da Capo OP: Sakura Saku Mirai Koi Yume (D.C.)
Sakurairo no Kisetsu (D.C.S.S.)
Sakura Kimi ni Emu (D.C.II)
Sakura Amaneku Sekai (D.C.II S.S.)
- going my way (Girls Bravo OP)
- Kirameku (Joshi Kosei OP)

August 31 - MOSAIC.WAV

Definitely yay. Their crazy denpa-moe style kinda reminds me of Under17, although less awesome, but their songs still get stuck in my mind..
Songs:
- Chousai Kenbo Sengen (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki OP)
- Katamichi Catchball (Potemayo OP)
- Kyun Kyun Panic (Mamotte! Lollipop ED)
- Sumomomo momomo OP: Saikyou x Keikaku, Setsujou! Hyakka Ryouran

Yells ~It’s a beautiful life~ preview

I browsed NND with my lame connection, and found a preview of Yells (kinda outdated, but oh well).. it didn’t win me in the first try, but after few repeats I kinda like it, maybe as good as Generation A.. but no chance to dethrone OUTRIDE as my favorite Animelo song. The first press is running out, secure a copy now!

…the internet in hometown is dying.
It’s slower than Noto Mamiko’s normal talking speed. Really. I mean, three days to download a single episode of Code Geass.. (and that’s only to see my favorite girl gets killed by a gay emo bastard). I even gave up uploading Minorin’s DVD screenshots, will try again after I get better connection.

To make matters worse, Nana Clips 4 was stuck with Aussie customs so I had to fly back home without it. Mood is slightly better after I ordered another copy, coming here in about 2 days. News on Nana’s 18th single to be released near my birthday and her upcoming BluRay totally made my day too. I just need to get my hand on PS3 and 5.1 speakers.. right.

Another Animelo Update

I just checked Animelo website again after a looooong time. I was disappointed enough with AAA ruining my perfect 8/30 line-up (ignoring the Zettai Karen girls), but rejoice, it’s Lia we’re talking about here. I was really amazed the first time I listened to her “crystal voice” in Aozora… but to be honest, I haven’t checked her other works, except that and the School Rumble insert songs.

New artists from my last update:

August 31 - ave;new feat Sakura Saori (1st Animelo)

Not really well-known for western fans, I guess.. their songs are mainly used in adult PC games.
Songs:
- Nursery Rhyme (OP, ED): true my heart, Dearness
- angel breath (game): just be with you

August 30 - AAA (1st Animelo)

ATTACK ALL AROUND! …..whatever.
Songs:
- World Destruction (OP): ZERO
- ….do I care? no.

August 31 - Lia (1st Animelo)

Songs:
- AIR (OP, IN): Tori no Uta, Aozora
- Gunslinger Girl II (ED): doll, human
- Initial D 4th Stage (BGM): ALL AROUND, SKY HIGH

Theme song singers (CD)

..so they did leave people out. Here’s the list, copied from the website:

ALI PROJECT, Ishikawa Chiaki, Ishida Yoko, ELISA, GRANRODEO, Kuribayashi Minami, PSYCHIC LOVER, savage genius, JAM Project（Kageyama Hironobu, Endoh Masaaki、Kitadani Hiroshi, Okui Masami, Fukuyama Yoshiki), Suara, Chihara Minori, Hirano Aya, Misato Aki, Mizuki Nana, May’n, Momoi Halko, Yonekura Chihiro

I’m not going to write a lot (LOL) since there are those who already did much better reviews (and pretty much similar to my opinion), but well, just thought I’d post the poster and rant a bit before I start drooling over Minorin’s Live DVD. On to the track list..

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Absolutely the best news since… I forgot, too many bad things happened to me in the past week: I got mizuki-nana.net but I couldn’t make anything yet due to nonstop labor work (even today), I even forgot to order first-press-now-sold-out Slayers Megumix, then my hard disk died (along with all my pr0n image collection and Mizuki Nana photos I’ve gathered forever), and lazy Aussie Post Office holding on my Minorin DVD and Makkun tribute album. -_-;

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Pics spam only~ Lazy xD

Nakamura Eriko 中村繪里子 (Amami Haruka 天海春香)

Imai Asami 今井麻美 (Kisaragi Chihaya 如月千早)

Takahashi Chiaki たかはし智秋 (Miura Azusa 三浦あずさ)

Shimoda Asami 下田麻美 (Futami Ami and Mami 双海亜美・双海真美)

Imai and Chiaki~ I love Chiaki’s boobs.

Miko (..who host a channel in NicoDouga and remixes a lot of Touhou music in her group IOSYS, and gonna release an album soon..)

OK, from what I read in Nana’s and Minorin’s blogs, they have recorded the theme song. So why the heck are they adding more performers? I was wondering how they gonna fit everyone in a song, but now it makes more sense that they’re doing two versions -one for each day- and not everyone is singing.. maybe. >_>

On to the good news:

August 30 - Ishida Yoko 石田燿子 (3rd Animelo)

She finally made the cut, although she hasn’t released anything new for a loooong time, excluding the Yocomix series. And damn, she sang Aka no Seijaku in 2006 already.
- OPEN YOUR MIND ~Chiisana Hane Hirogete~ (Aa! Megami-sama OP)
- Natsuiro no Kakera (Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai ED)
- Just see her Single Collection’s tracklist.

August 31 - THE IDOLM@STER (1st Animelo)

The participating IDOLs will be announced tomorrow. I’m not familiar with the game nor the anime (they have different casts anyway).. I only recognize Takahashi Chiaki and Ochiai Yurika (boobs alert? lol) and Kugimiya Rie. Let’s see how things will go.

Makes me think they would add more people again..

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