The anime thread sequel (it's still not as good as the Manga though),

memyselfandi said:
It's all very high level at the moment ... currently four nights Tokyo, four nights Kyoto, 6 nights Tokyo with flights to and from Tokyo. Which gives the basic structure, but we'll be getting a seven day JR pass to get from Tokyo to Kyoto so will probably be going out from there to other places, (I've been to Kyoto twice before already so really using it as a bit of a base), with the same for the first couple of days back in Tokyo afterwards as the pass will still be valid.

For instance I know I'll be going back to Osaka one day, but I haven't really decided fully yet (we're not going until October so plenty of time to plan things out :)). I've got several places I want to go to, or back to, in the Tokyo area and I'll be talking to my Japanese teacher for suggestions too.

Also got reasonable deals on the hotels we wanted booking now, (20% off the Tokyo one and 50% off (all but one night) at the Kyoto one). Flights were pricey though, (direct, premium economy).

I would have liked to spend some time in Hokkaido to but it just worked out to expensive in the end this time.
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Sounds good! I'm off to Tokyo for 2 weeks late May for my first time. Though I wouldn't have minded travelling to other areas but there seems to be so much to do in Tokyo it will keep me occupied. I also went for direct flights with BA, got them for a good price too (£550). Then I am staying in a house in the Sendagi region (local train station being Nippori).

What did you enjoy most doing in Tokyo?


Back to anime, I have watched the first episode of Amagami SS+ and I was a little disappointed with it. We will see how the next episodes go as I have been wanting to see this one.
 
saitrix said:
Sounds good! I'm off to Tokyo for 2 weeks late May for my first time. Though I wouldn't have minded travelling to other areas but there seems to be so much to do in Tokyo it will keep me occupied. I also went for direct flights with BA, got them for a good price too (£550). Then I am staying in a house in the Sendagi region (local train station being Nippori).

What did you enjoy most doing in Tokyo?
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Lol, my flights were a tad more than that :)

Well from an anime and manga point of view Akihabara and Nakano are both musts, (note with the former the UDX building there has two floors of little restaurants and some pretty good public toilets). With Akihabara the Animate store seems to open quite early and has good aircon :) Bargins can be had at Mandarake as well (it deals in second hand items) ... I haven't made it to the Tokyo store(s) due to being sidetracked each time but I have been to their store in Osaka :)

Otherwise Tokyo Tower (I'm not sure if the Sky Tree will be open when you go as it's public opening isn't until 22nd May), science museum at Ueno (there are other museums etc there but I've only been to the science museum myself), Meiji Shrine, Asakusa. I need have more a look around Shibuya when I go as I only spent about half an hour there last time and I have a few other areas I want to take a look at too. I will be looking through the articles on Danny Choo's site as he has some things on interesting places to go. Outside Tokyo Nikko is fairly close and could be worth a visit, you're also only 2.5hrs from Kyoto which has lots to see if you want.

It's worth looking at the public transport system use advance if you have never used it before as once you understand it it is very easy to use the subway/rail services. I did find it useful to have one of those pop-up maps which gives an indication of where things are and a transport map. Despite it's complexity I do find it easier to navigate than the London underground and Shinjuku at rush hour is fun!
 
Thanks for the info there. :) Yeah I will be there for the new Sky Tree so may go up, but I worry it will be rammed due to only just opening!

I have been going on Danny Choo's blog daily for about half year now, seems to be loads of different things to go see. Will go round the anime stuff even though the 2 people going with me don't watch it (well 1 of them has watched death note :p). I have had a look at the underground stuff, seems like getting a Suica card is the easiest way to go. Already got a pupup map, just need to find a transport map now.

How did you find restaurants for ordering food? I have picked up you can read Japanese whereas I have only just taught myself Hiragana and basic phrases.
 
Well, just derailing what is an interesting subject for those us planning to travel...

Just finished Shikabane Hime (Kuro).
Not a perfect series, it shows it's foundation as a shounen series at times and does have a couple of slow segments and episodes.
That having been said the animation stayed reasonable throughout, and the story and characters retained enough depth to remain interesting throughout which I think elevates it above many other shows loosely in it's vein, although the actual subject matter isn't quite as popular.

It was quite nice to see antagonists, as well as protagonists, with understandable motivations even when from our viewpoint, what they have done is utterly wrong; it's something a lot of stories lack when it comes to evil protagonists; there is a tendency to just make them fully evil, or slightly twisted, whereas its rarer to find antagonists with ultimately well intentioned ideals, that they achieve in despicable methods, being twisted by neccessity. It makes a nice change, and makes you more empathetic to thier actions, even whilst disliking them.

Working out what to watch next, my Supernatural Season is starting to come towards the end of shows I'd deliberately picked for it now, with the following remaining:
Ghost Hound
Ga Rei Zero
Ergo Proxy
Paranoia Agent
Dantalian no Shoka
Cube(3)
Ookami Kakushi
Negima?! (This will be last, as I started the Supernatural run a few months ago with Negima)

A few good shows there so a little torn.

I originally cited Air for it's probably supernatural elements (based on Kanon and Clannad's subject matter), but along with things like EF, I decided to check that out at another point when I start checking more dramas.
 
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saitrix said:
Thanks for the info there. :) Yeah I will be there for the new Sky Tree so may go up, but I worry it will be rammed due to only just opening!

I have been going on Danny Choo's blog daily for about half year now, seems to be loads of different things to go see. Will go round the anime stuff even though the 2 people going with me don't watch it (well 1 of them has watched death note :p). I have had a look at the underground stuff, seems like getting a Suica card is the easiest way to go. Already got a pupup map, just need to find a transport map now.

How did you find restaurants for ordering food? I have picked up you can read Japanese whereas I have only just taught myself Hiragana and basic phrases.
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I would imagine that the Sky tree will be jammed that soon after general opening ... you might want to be prepared to queue.

I didn't actually get a Suica/PASMO card when I was there last time (as we were only supposed to be in Tokyo 3 days but ended up being there 8 ... but that's another story) ... paying cash did help keeping change from getting out of hand (although the machines won't take >200Yen in 10Yen coins :(). My popup map actually includes a transit map but really you can just grab one from Google with the station names in romanji which allows for comparison with what you are seeing in the stations. The maps at the stations have the amount to get to the stations from the current location on them. Each station also has a letter + number reference which is useful as the signs indicate the next reference for each directions trains, (e.g. if you are at Ueno (G16 on the Ginza line) then Asakusa is G19 and Shibuya is G1. It is easy just a bit intimidating at first.

You will get lost leaving stations as it's easy to lose you bearings (I did several times ... hint at Akihabara take exit 3 from the subway and then just go straight ... you should come out down the side of the electronics store opposite the taxi rank at the railway station, the main areas are on the other side of the railway so cross the road and then either go diagonally right across the taxi rank and then follow the railway up until there is a road under it, take that and go down to the main crossroad ... left or right will bring you to good stuff (Animate is right) ... or go left and loop round the block to get under the railway (there was an interesting second hand store as you passed under the railway here iirc), i.e. do a U and then explore. Google Streetview before you go is a very good idea (I'd have never found Mandarake in Osaka without it as the map on their site is poor).

I never had any real issues with food out there ... but it depends on what you want. Eating in hotels is expensive so we tended to eat is small Japanese restaurants and I think that all but one had some form of English menu, (even the dive we had our only bad meal in (in Kyoto) did) ... the one which didn't was the Korean BBQ place in the UDX building in Akihabara :) ... but we still managed fine with minimal Japanese, as long as you smile and are laid back things are usually fine. Last time, hell even the time before that, my Japanese stretched not far beyond a few numbers, please, thank you and sorry and we had practically no issues ... in fact at times it was half the fun when the waitress asks you something and you look at her blankly (*) ... remember they still have an idea of service out there in shops and restaurants so they try to help you if you are struggling in my experience.

Other options are picking up something from a Lawson convenience store (lots of these) or department stores usually have awesome food sections with really nice bentos and really, really nice cake! I have travelled with people who just ate sandwiches and western food and even one guy who just ate donuts most of the time ... please don't do that!

(*) did happen, she wanted to know what size beers we wanted ... she ended up getting a glass of each size so we could understand the question and indicate what we wanted (the largest of course).
 
Brilliant info there with finding Akihabara, I will make a note of that. Fortunately the house I am staying in comes with wifi so I will be using google maps plenty to plan ahead, but to be honest I normally find where I want to go anyways.

Japanese food is no issue, so for me I will be going to small local restaurants to try some proper Japanese food. Sounds like it will be easier than I expected with ordering food etc. But all thats handy info there, thanks!
 
Thanks for that, I also found another useful website.

http://www.tokyo-subway.net/english/index.html


Back to anime, I watched Mōretsu Pirates, seems to have real promise as a series. You could tell I enjoyed it as the episode went by so quickly. I also watched Kill Me Baby, which I would say is so-so.

Tonight I will watch Area No Kishi, people have said they expect it to be good. I wouldn't normally watch a sports anime but I am willing to give it a go.

I have also been watching Mitsudomoe, I have found it surprisingly funny and have enjoyed it more than I expected. Though it isn't for everyone.
 
saitrix said:
Thanks for that, I also found another useful website.

http://www.tokyo-subway.net/english/index.html


Back to anime, I watched Mōretsu Pirates, seems to have real promise as a series. You could tell I enjoyed it as the episode went by so quickly. I also watched Kill Me Baby, which I would say is so-so.

Tonight I will watch Area No Kishi, people have said they expect it to be good. I wouldn't normally watch a sports anime but I am willing to give it a go.

I have also been watching Mitsudomoe, I have found it surprisingly funny and have enjoyed it more than I expected. Though it isn't for everyone.
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area sounds very much like a football based copy of Touch, the very long baseball anime
 
@saitrix, yep I've used that site before. Hyperdia is very good as well as it allows you to limit modes of transport and gives a nice selection of results (with a JR Pass you can get it to tell you only the bullet trains in the results you can use it on). They have an Android app but note roaming data charges before using it abroad.

--

I find sports anime odd. Normally I generally hate watching sport ... I just find it dull and pointless. But I'll quite happily watch an anime that is based around sport, (Big Windup, Princess Nine etc etc), and enjoy them.

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Finished watching a couple of things today ...

Initial D First Stage ... season one of this downhill road racing anime. Well the animation is looking a bit dated now and the cgi of the cars is a bit jarring at times but if you look past that it is a reasonable watch. It did feel a bit repetitive at times and I'm not sure what my opinion of the title will be after watching the rest of it. At the moment I prefer the live action film version.

Heaven's Lost Property season 1 ... on the Funimation BD release. Ok it's not a big, clever or complex series. It does do everything it can to introduce situations where the main male character can be perverted and it can use fanservice. But looking past that it is surprisingly sweet at times and does look good on BD.
 
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Wow that's the first person I know of who prefers the live action Initial D. To be honest I know my view of the anime might be a little skewed due to me liking the cars but I really do enjoy that anime. Now you need to watch the other 3 stages to go past the original story. You watching it subbed or dubbed?

Change of plan what I watched last night, I watched Another. I am liking it, not scary as such, but I am definitely interested in the story. Looking forward to episode 2.
 
saitrix said:
Wow that's the first person I know of who prefers the live action Initial D. To be honest I know my view of the anime might be a little skewed due to me liking the cars but I really do enjoy that anime. Now you need to watch the other 3 stages to go past the original story. You watching it subbed or dubbed?

Change of plan what I watched last night, I watched Another. I am liking it, not scary as such, but I am definitely interested in the story. Looking forward to episode 2.
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Maybe if I'd seen the anime first then I'd prefer it to the live action film but the anime just seems rather drawn out at times and lacking in depth, (bloke gets challenged ... has race ... repeat ... it would be nice to have them working on the cars and stuff ... and some nice big crashes). The aging animation style doesn't help too. I admit I'm not into cars at all.

I have all four stages to watch through, (got them all for Christmas/Birthday on Funimation's S.A.V.E release), and I am watching them subbed.
 
memyselfandi said:
Maybe if I'd seen the anime first then I'd prefer it to the live action film but the anime just seems rather drawn out at times and lacking in depth, (bloke gets challenged ... has race ... repeat ... it would be nice to have them working on the cars and stuff ... and some nice big crashes). The aging animation style doesn't help too. I admit I'm not into cars at all.

I have all four stages to watch through, (got them all for Christmas/Birthday on Funimation's S.A.V.E release), and I am watching them subbed.
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The thing that most annoys me is how Bunta is portrayed in the movie, he is shown as a violent farther whereas in the anime he is a much quieter respected character.

I recently picked up the live action dvd though for 75p! Was real pleased with that bargain!
 
Had my second packaged from RightStuf's sales turn up today.
Ironically it's the lower priced of the two packages...but the one that got hit with customs (eh...what?). £4.50 customs, £8 handling charge...yay (not)!

Still, was some nicely packaged copies of Tekkaman Blade vol1-3 which is the entire series; for those who haven't seen it it's a mecha series from the 90's. I grabbed it as it was one of the first anime I ever saw (my ex was a fan) and I felt a bit nostalgic.

The package also contained the Murder Princess OVAs, the premise intrigued me and soundeed like a bit of fun, and it didn't cost very much at all :)
 
Well things have gone from bad to worse in the states as media blasters has reported that it is laying off 60% of it's staff (but at least they're not shutting up shop completely).

It would explain why one of their upcoming releases has been delayed indefinitely.
 
I got Whisper and Arrietty the other day, which I plan to watch ASAP :)


Demonix, that's not good news at all from MB :(
I think they were pretty small to begin with so it could well mean they are down to a handful of staff now :(
Mind you, unlike Bandai from memory MB have a LA action arm like Animeago, and do some other stuff as well (I think for example they do hentai under a different label).
 
My Whisper of the Heart and Arrietty are at my parents (late Christmas pressies due to the release date delay) ... that means that I won't get them until mid-February at the moment :(

Media Blasters ... well they have made some irritating mistakes over recent history which have annoyed some people I know. I do wonder whether they will manage to put out all of Bakuman season 1. It is a shame as they do put out interesting series.
 
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