August 30. AKINO from bless4

So only AKINO is coming? I’m 100% sure she’ll perform that one popular song..
Songs:
- Sousei no Aquarion OP: Sousei no Aquarion, Go Tight!

August 31. Sound Horizon

I was a bit surprised they were invited. This makes Day-2 a NicoNico festival with one orchestra band.. ^^;
Songs:
- I can’t recall any anime song from them.. wiki said Gunslinger Girl image album and few game themes.
- my personal faves: Ark, Eru no Rakuen

Animelo Theme Song

It was out yesterday. Go and buy it too. My CD is so far away from me (this is why I hate going home), I can only see the shiny jewel case and whatever poster I got in September.. Anyway, the song and PV are already available in the interwebz.. couldn’t help not to download them. The song is pretty good.. not memorable like Outride or catchy like Generation-A, but I like it. Still a mystery for me why they didn’t use motsu (m.o.v.e) to do the rapping part..

Hit the jump for screenshots and lyrics.

PV was awesome as usual. Generation-A was better for displaying lyrics. Nana’s long hair is WIN. But seriously almost all of them look about 10-15 years younger than their real age. That means Momoi Halko looks 15 and Hirano Aya looks 10.

Okui Masami. Chihara Minori.

Misato Aki. Taniyama Kishow (GRANRODEO).

Kuribayashi Minami. Yonekura Chihiro.

Kitadani Hiroshi. Endoh Masaaki.

Momoi Halko. Hirano Aya.

Suara. Mizuki Nana.

May’n. Aa (savage genius).

Ishida Yoko. Ishikawa Chiaki.

Kageyama Hironobu. YOFFY (PSYCHIC LOVER).

Fukuyama Yoshiki. Takarano Arika (ALI PROJECT).

ELISA. Anisama Friends.

Below are the romaji lyrics I made, so most likely it has a LOT of errors somewhere there. Makkun wrote really admirable Engrish lyrics like usual.. Now I just need to memorize all this before August 30.

Yells ~It’s a beautiful life~

Lyrics: Okui Masami
Composition: Kageyama Hironobu
Arrangement: Suzuki DAICHI Hideyuki

Wow oh~ For your smile, Yell for my life (all)
Wow oh~ For my smile, Yell for your life (all)

Ikiteriya ne, (Okui)
Tama ni wa ne, (Chihara)
Furikaette tomatte mitari (Okui + Chihara)
Choushi ni notte (Okui)
Koronda tte takaramono ni naru (Okui + Chihara)
Kagayakeru Green day (Misato + Taniyama)
Kowaimono shirazu na mainichi wo (Misato)
Sugoseru no mo subarashiki jinsei (Misato + Taniyama)

Koeraresou mo nai HAADORU ga (Kuribayashi + Yonekura)
Iku te habande namida wo nomu toki datte aru kedo (Kuribayashi + Yonekura)
Ichiban boshi ☆ mitsuketa! (Kitadani)
Happy na kaze wa fuku (Endoh)
Egao de asa wo mukaeyou (Momoi)

Utsuriyuku toki no naka de (all)
Kawaranai mono ga aru ne (Hirano)
“Daisuki na dareka wo (Kuribayashi)
sotto mamoritai” sonna kimochi toka (Suara)
Sawagashii gojisei dakara (all)
Kawaranakucha ikenaimono (May’n)
Tachidomarazu ni arukou (Mizuki)
CHARENJI wo (all)
Tsuzukeru kimi de ite (Taniyama)

Wow oh~ For your smile, Yell for my life (all)
Wow oh~ For my smile, Yell for your life (all)

Otona ni ne, (Mizuki)
Nattara ne, (May’n)
Shiranakute ii koto bakari (Mizuki + May’n)
Nani ga ni odo (Mizuki)
Rasarete jibun wo miushinau (Mizuki + May’n)
Iroaseta IMEEJI (Aa + Endoh)
Kaseki ni natta yume wo dakishime (Aa)
Mou ichido seimei -inochi- fukikondemita (Endoh)

Imashika dekinai jibunshika (Ishida + Ishikawa)
Dekinai koto wo sagasu tabidachi no hi wa sugu soko ni (Ishida + Ishikawa)
Ichiban boshi ☆ miagete (Kageyama)
MIRAKURU wo negatta yo (YOFFY)
Mikansei wa mugen no kunshou -akashi- (Hirano)

Kagayakeru mirai -asu- e tsuzuku (all)
REERU nara tsukureba ii (Yonekura)
Tachidomari shinkokyuu (Ishida)
Shite CHAAJIshita Energy wa Full up (Misato)
Ikizurai gojisei dakara (all)
Nogashi tara mottainai Timing (Okui)
Tachidomarazu ni arukou (Momoi)
CHARENJI wo (all)
Tanoshimu kimi de ite (YOFFY)

Bragging (Endoh + Okui)
WANSEGU (Kageyama + Yonekura)
Nagareru NYUUSUtachi (Endoh + Okui + Kageyama + Yonekura)
Kidoairaku (Endoh + Okui)
Sechigarai (Kageyama + Yonekura)
Kie iku mono to (Kitadani + Misato)
Nokori yuku mono (Taniyama + Kuribayashi)
Subete wa itto kono chikyuu -hoshi- (Kitadani + Misato + Taniyama + Kuribayashi)

Bipolarization (Kitadani + Misato + Taniyama + Kuribayashi)
Get up! (Endoh + Okui + Kageyama + Yonekura)
Stand up! (Kitadani + Misato + Taniyama + Kuribayashi)
Datte nigerarenai (Endoh + Okui)
Zutto odori tsuzukeru PURANEDANSU (Endoh + Okui + Kageyama + Yonekura)
Kokoro ga itai (Kitadani + Misato)
Kimi ni aitai (Taniyama + Kuribayashi)
Ima sugu ni kimi ni aitainda (Endoh + Okui + Kageyama + Yonekura + Kitadani + Misato + Taniyama + Kuribayashi)

Jibun ga shiranai basho (Mizuki)
Susumu no wa minna kowai (Mizuki + Fukuyama)
RISUKU wo seou yuuki (Takarano)
Motsumono dake ga tsukamu CHANSU kitto.. (Takarano + Kageyama)

Get up! Stand up! You’re tight! (Endoh + Kitadani + Fukuyama)

Utsuriyuku toki no naka de (May’n）
Kawaranai mono ga aru ne (ELISA）
“Daisuki na dareka wo (Chihara)
sotto mamoritai” sonna kimochi toka (Ishikawa)
Sawagashii gojisei dakara (all)
Kawaranakucha ikenaimono (Momoi)
Tachidomarazu ni arukou (Suara)
CHARENJI wo (all)
Tsuzukeru kimi de ite (Kageyama)

Wow oh~ For your smile, Yell for my life (all)
Wow oh~ For my smile, Yell for your life (all)
Wow oh~ For your smile, Yell for our life (all)
Wow oh~ For my smile, Yell for our life (all)

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.

School uniforms

Misato Aki in Strawberry Panic!’s St. Spica uniform
Nogawa Sakura in Kimikiss uniform
Hashimoto Miyuki in Shuffle! uniform

Kuribayashi Minami in School Days uniform (I kept thinking of Kotonoha.. for some reason~ xD)
Oumi Tomoe as ALI PROJECT’s Takarano Alika

The high-school girls with yozuca* as female teacher

Yonekura Chihiro as cheerleader

Kageyama as school delinquent
Endoh as female gang leader

Maid crossplay
PSYCHIC LOVER’s Imajo was really cute (and convincing) in pink maid costumes that everyone wanted a piece of him~

with Matsuzawa Yumi as Princess Knight

with Endoh as Medama no Oyaji (目玉の親父)

with Okui Masami as maid of my dreams

with Matsumoto Rica as long-skirt maid

Other cosplay

savage genius’ Aa in yukata and Takumi as Keroro Gunso

Ishida Yoko as a Bakuchu Mondai (爆チュー問題) and Oumi Tomoe

Matsumoto Rica and Takahashi Tomohide as Pikachu twins

PSYCHIC LOVER’s Yoffy as Macross 7’s Nekki Basara and Fukuyama Yoshiki as a Mexican

The girls~~ and Ishida Yoko changed to maid costume too.

The girls with Kageyama as ghost

JAM Project. Kageyama as a Saiyan, Makkun, Rica, Fukuyama, Endoh as masked hero, Kitadani as Luffy.

This year’s Yakai na Nakamatachi will be held on August 16 in Zepp Tokyo.. which means whoever stays up for this will be half-dead in the following day’s Comiket. Hell with it, I’m so looking for tickets now~ xD And since this year is AJF 10th anniversary, here’s praying Mizuki Nana would just pop on stage in Barrier Jacket..

Image credits: Nogawa Sakura, Misato Aki (old blog), Yonekura Chihiro, PSYCHIC LOVER, savage genius, Kageyama Hironobu, Matsumoto Rica, Fukuyama Yoshiki

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.

1. CDJapan

+ The only store that guarantees you a first-press edition with bonuses
+ Ship pre-orders before the release date
+ Detailed item information (track list, sometimes with samples)
+ Use your own affiliate link (awesome!)
+ Use bubble-wrap in a box and treat posters nicely
+ Comprehensive listing of old and new stuffs
+ Count towards Oricon chart
- Expensive shipping, I think it’s including handling fee.
- Rarely on sale.. and if they do, most of them are useless stuffs

Point system:
Earn 3% of item price subtotal as points (3 pts every 100 yen)
Extra 30% of the points for large order more than 10,000yen.
Applied in small units of 100 points = 100yen, you can use it faster.

Current events:
- Coupon campaign
- DVD and CD clearance sale

My rating:
My first choice for new stuffs because I prefer limited crap to good food. Only 4 Chikas given because it’s still expensive.

2. HMV Japan

+ Delicious special offers: Multi-buys or bungee price
+ Low “HMV price” that applies to old/new stuffs randomly
+ Cheaper EMS shipping, but not boxed
+ Detailed item information (track list, sometimes with samples)
+ Comprehensive listing of old and new stuffs
+ Count towards Oricon chart
- At risk of getting broken CD cases
- They fold posters! IF you’re lucky enough to get them
- Yep, no guarantee on first-press
- EMS only for international shipping

Point system:
1 point worths 500yen.
Redeem value: 50 pts for 1,000yen and 100 pts for 2,500yen.
Spend about 25,000yen for 50 pts = 4 pts every 100yen
Spend about 50,000yen for 100 pts = 5 pts every 100yen
A better deal than CDJapan, but it takes longer to use them. There are double-point offers, but no points earned from priced-down items.

Current events:
- The list is too long
- 2 Music DVDs at 25% off campaign is awesome

My rating:
I’m a girl. I buy things I don’t need just because they are on sale.
And I’d give another loli if they can let me use boxes.

3. Play-Asia

+ “$10 off $50″ coupons
+ One “$5 off $50″ coupon arrives with your order
+ Cheaper shipping fee since it’s Hong Kong based
+ Sell Hong Kong versions (half-price cheaper, but I never bothered)
- Don’t even think about first-press edition, unless you’re lucky
- (Almost) no stock for things older than 2004
- Terrible search system and item details
- Do NOT count towards Oricon chart
- No point system

Current events:
- Summer Sale 25% ends today. Don’t worry, it’s worse than CDJ sale.
- Make one “$10 off $50″ coupon per 5 junk posts per month in StrikeBang forum

My rating:
The coupons are godsent. But I never buy anything new here because I still like the sound of “Oricon +1″.

4. Amazon Japan

+ Discount for new items
+ Still have a fresh copy of old stuffs
+ If they don’t, private sellers might have it.
+ Count towards Oricon chart
- Unreasonable shipping and handling fee, srsly
- No guarantee on first-press
- Some private sellers set crazy price and might be unreliable

Point system:
1 point equals 1 pts. Normally you earn 1% per CD (1 pts every 100yen). No points from discounted live DVD.
Although users can apply any amount anytime, it’s so little and useless I don’t even care.

My rating:
Except for seiyuu magazines, no.

5. YesAsia

+ Free international shipping (airmail only)
+ Sell Hong Kong and Korean versions
+ Comprehensive listing of old and new stuffs
+ Detailed item information
- Higher item price, maybe because they add the shipping fee to it? –;
- Very slow processing, exceed the promised date.. I even forgot that I ordered the thing.
- Do NOT count towards Oricon chart
- No point system

My rating:
Only if I’m really desperate.

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.

01. Contact

02. 詩人の旅 (Shijin no Tabi)

03. MC
04. Peace of mind～人魚のささやき (Peace of Mind ~ Ningyo no Sasayaki)

05. ふたりのリフレクション (Futari no Reflection)

06. Cynthia

07. MC
08. Fragment～Shooting star of the origin～

09. sleeping terror

10. MC～メンバー紹介～ (MC ~Member Introduction~)

11. 純白サンクチュアリィ～Acoustic Ver.～ (Junpaku Sanctuary)
When I first read the tracklist, I had doubts. How the hell they gonna make a powerful techno-pop song into an acoustic piece? Anyhow it turned out nice.

12. MC
13. Dears～ゆるやかな奇跡～ (Dears ~Yuruyakana Kiseki~)

14. mezzo forte

15. interlude

16. 夏を忘れたら (Natsu wo Wasuretara)

17. MC
18. Last Arden

19. 君がくれたあの日 (Kimi ga Kureta Ano Hi)

20. too late? not late…

21. 純白サンクチュアリィ (Junpaku Sanctuary)

22. MC

23. truth gift

24. 詩人の旅 (Shijin no Tabi)

25. MC
26. Melty tale storage
Preview of her “upcoming” single Melty tale storage. Weird, I didn’t really like this song when I heard it months ago, but her performance here was convincing.

27. MC
I was quite amazed she didn’t cry when the audience were calling her name frantically.. compared to, say, Momoi, who would have filled up a bucket of tears already. ^^; I don’t know why but it seems she tried her best not to cry. But she finally cried after thanking her parents, who came to the concert! Wow.

Mom and Dad

28. Contact 13th

29. End Roll

Minna, daisuki~

30. Ending

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!

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