I'm in Japan, yes?
Dec. 27th, 2008 11:16![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ltgmarsI went to the one tiny bookstore in Kaminoyama (where Isaac lives) and picked up the newly-released Mistress Fortune. Unlike the other Tanemura Ribon tankoubon, this one is really, really shiny and sparkly on the outside. It's going to be the new kid who doesn't fit in well with the rest of them in my box back at school. D: I did read the three chapters that were the main story, and upon second read, I think I like it a little better than I did before (even if I didn't quite understand all of it).
Recently there was a post in the Arinacchi community by a person who didn't seem to like her stories based on romance. That is, the stories that revolve around the main character chasing after her long-lost love or doing something for her loved one or generally having anything to do with love to begin with -- Full Moon, Shinshi Doumei Cross, and Mistress Fortune. The poster had a point in that it's difficult to develop a story based solely on human relations -- that it's easier to have real, interesting development as far as plot goes if there is a real plot to hold on to -- but to me, the "love" plots are the epitome of shoujo. If anything, they're the most real, interesting ones. Yeah, such and such is happening in this girl's life, and she has to deal with singing songs or being a Platinum or vanquishing Ebes, but before and after all of that, she's a girl -- what's happening to her in realtime may very well end up taking a back seat to the drama of the day with the boy she likes. So I forgive the so-called "paperthin plots" that the aforementioned LJ poster criticized. The real plot, after all, is the story of the girl.
It's the same kind of thing that keeps soap operas interesting, I think. There's no plot to speak of, but because you tie in some human relationships, it can keep moving.
And hey, maybe I'm easy to please (I am), but I liked the plots of those series, even if they were a little messy. My favorite, though, will always be Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. I have a personal attachment to it, and it spoke to me on so many levels -- friendship, love, trust, honor, forgiveness, and even the kind of relationship I want to have with God -- that I couldn't help but fall in love with it.
I saw the Tenimyu photobook, too, and oh how tempted I was, but I'm eventually getting a copy special-ordered through Akadot Retail, who've always been so good to me and so nice about special-ordering things, so I'd have to be a really terrible person to back out of this special-order now. I'll get it soon enough... :3
Beyond that, it's been quite nice and peaceful here so far. There've been a couple of colleague-parties that I've gone to with Isaac (last night I got a little sick from the boozin', though, because in Japan what you do is eat and drink and eat and drink and drink and drink, and you mix beer and wine constantly, and they keep making you drink, and I don't usually drink that much anyway so I wasn't used to it, and ugh my stomach was so full of nonsense that it had to come out), and sometime soon we're going to head into Yamagata city (adjacent to Kaminoyama) and see a town with actual people in it. :3
[To the authorities stalking my LJ: I am of legal drinking age in both US (21) and Japan (20).]
Next week is Tenimyu! :D :D :D I'm going with Leigh and others to Osaka to see Kenken in his natural habitat. Yay~ \o/ Thanks again to Leigh for this opportunity. ♥♥♥ I can't believe it's actually happening. *_*
After that, Isaac and I will be in Tokyo for a few days. On our list of places to go is Ueno, Akihabara, Asakusa, and I guess Shibuya. Anywhere else?
Anyway, I hope you all are having a lovely holiday season, wherever you are.
Recently there was a post in the Arinacchi community by a person who didn't seem to like her stories based on romance. That is, the stories that revolve around the main character chasing after her long-lost love or doing something for her loved one or generally having anything to do with love to begin with -- Full Moon, Shinshi Doumei Cross, and Mistress Fortune. The poster had a point in that it's difficult to develop a story based solely on human relations -- that it's easier to have real, interesting development as far as plot goes if there is a real plot to hold on to -- but to me, the "love" plots are the epitome of shoujo. If anything, they're the most real, interesting ones. Yeah, such and such is happening in this girl's life, and she has to deal with singing songs or being a Platinum or vanquishing Ebes, but before and after all of that, she's a girl -- what's happening to her in realtime may very well end up taking a back seat to the drama of the day with the boy she likes. So I forgive the so-called "paperthin plots" that the aforementioned LJ poster criticized. The real plot, after all, is the story of the girl.
It's the same kind of thing that keeps soap operas interesting, I think. There's no plot to speak of, but because you tie in some human relationships, it can keep moving.
And hey, maybe I'm easy to please (I am), but I liked the plots of those series, even if they were a little messy. My favorite, though, will always be Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne. I have a personal attachment to it, and it spoke to me on so many levels -- friendship, love, trust, honor, forgiveness, and even the kind of relationship I want to have with God -- that I couldn't help but fall in love with it.
I saw the Tenimyu photobook, too, and oh how tempted I was, but I'm eventually getting a copy special-ordered through Akadot Retail, who've always been so good to me and so nice about special-ordering things, so I'd have to be a really terrible person to back out of this special-order now. I'll get it soon enough... :3
Beyond that, it's been quite nice and peaceful here so far. There've been a couple of colleague-parties that I've gone to with Isaac (last night I got a little sick from the boozin', though, because in Japan what you do is eat and drink and eat and drink and drink and drink, and you mix beer and wine constantly, and they keep making you drink, and I don't usually drink that much anyway so I wasn't used to it, and ugh my stomach was so full of nonsense that it had to come out), and sometime soon we're going to head into Yamagata city (adjacent to Kaminoyama) and see a town with actual people in it. :3
[To the authorities stalking my LJ: I am of legal drinking age in both US (21) and Japan (20).]
Next week is Tenimyu! :D :D :D I'm going with Leigh and others to Osaka to see Kenken in his natural habitat. Yay~ \o/ Thanks again to Leigh for this opportunity. ♥♥♥ I can't believe it's actually happening. *_*
After that, Isaac and I will be in Tokyo for a few days. On our list of places to go is Ueno, Akihabara, Asakusa, and I guess Shibuya. Anywhere else?
Anyway, I hope you all are having a lovely holiday season, wherever you are.
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no subject
Date: 2008-12-27 02:21 (UTC)Hope you'll even have more fun! ^^
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Date: 2008-12-27 02:35 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-27 04:02 (UTC)I need to read more Tanemura...
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Date: 2008-12-27 05:01 (UTC)It would be nifty. It's a pretty city.
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Date: 2008-12-28 07:13 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 00:10 (UTC)Do you want any photosets? While I'm there, I can pick 'em up for you.
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:11 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 00:13 (UTC)Also, I picked up the first three Toradora light novels for you. (They're about $6 each because the US dollar is so weaksauce.) I didn't know how much you wanted to spend on them, so I figured $18 was an okay price for now. Let me know if you want any of the next six (the bookstore had all nine so far).
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:13 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 00:13 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 00:14 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 00:14 (UTC)On the Yamanote line, get off at Ikebukuro Station and take the Sunshine City exit. From there, just go straight (follow the crowd). You will pass a SEGA arcade on the left. If you want plushies, GO THERE. The staff there are really nice and you can ask them to move the one you want closer to the hole to make it easier to get. I love that place and have taken home many plushies from there. X.D
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:15 (UTC)Is there a photoset in particular that you really, really want? It can be a present. :3
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:16 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 00:18 (UTC)Awwwwww, thank you. ^^ Hmm... Furukawa Yuuta, I guess. Yun is AMAZING. ^^
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:23 (UTC)kk, Furukawa Yuuta it is. :3 Is your address the same as it was two years ago? With a 13 in it? (Wow, has it been two years already?)
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:26 (UTC)Yay~~! \(^.^)\ \(^.^)/ /(^.^)/ Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuu. *chuu*
*nods nods* Address (http://amamiyarin.livejournal.com/564951.html). :D
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Date: 2008-12-29 00:35 (UTC)Oh, and the trick is to push them over, not to actually lift them up.
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Date: 2008-12-29 03:42 (UTC)Japan *_*
Date: 2008-12-29 08:33 (UTC)Akihabara is HEAVEN. The multi level stores of goodness, and the cute maid cafes!
You have to see Shibuya for THE DOG and the crazy crossing.
You'll probably pass through Shinjuku alot, as it's the transportation hub.
Try to visit Azabu-Juuban, Shiba Koen, and/or Roppongi in the Minato Ward!
You can also visit Yokohama (though it's further out of the way, the furthest out I went)... the Jindai Botanical Gardens (from the SailorMoon R Movie!), the foreign memorial graveyard is there... and it's just a darn neat view.
The Tokyo Tower is fun too ^^; I'm getting all nostalgic now. Hope you are having a BLAST!
Re: Japan *_*
Date: 2008-12-30 23:28 (UTC)