Festivals are a very important part of both secular and religious culture in Japan and are frequent settings for the varied plotlines of anime and manga series. As many festivals are connected to religious observances, a local Shinto Shrine or Buddhist Temple sponsors many of them.

Often times, the sacred festivities are crowned with a procession featuring a Mikoshi. A Mikoshi is a shrine structure small enough to be carried by several human beings, and contains the local Kami, or divine spirit. Sometimes, a number of parade floats will accompany the Mikoshi.

Seasons are an important fixture in Japanese identity, and the blooming of the beautiful Sakura cherry blossoms are a time for much jubilation. The festivals are celebrated with food, fun, flower gazing, and the lighting of traditional lanterns.

The New Year’s Festival in Japan was changed from the traditional Chinese lunar date to the Western date of the first of January in 1873. Food, special postcards, rice cakes, and poetry are a few of the countless observances that a modern Japanese person might enjoy on this special date. Most importantly, of course, is to visit a Shrine or Temple and provide the year’s first prayers. This observance is known as the Hatsumode.

Many households will also put up a kadomatsu, or gate pine, to celebrate the New Year. This decoration is usually made of pine and bamboo, and provides a temporary home for the Kami to visit. After the middle of January, the kadomatsu are burned to release the Kami, and please them.

Lucky Star provides a glimpse into some of this celebration. The girls wear a form of traditional dress called Yukata to a summer festival. These are a form of summer kimono that is considered to be more casual than their fuller counterparts.

Goldfish scooping is a common attraction at many such summer festivals. While thought of as a carnival game in many cultures, goldfish scooping has a long tradition among the Japanese. In fact, there is a National Competition of Goldfish Scooping in that nation, and children and adults enjoy the game on equal levels.

Festival celebrations are very important to the Japanese way of life. In fact, some Shinto shrines have had millions of visitors during the Hatsumode observance. Due to this commonality among all walks of life in Japan, it’s easy to see why these celebrations provide such a ready place to set an anime or manga plotline.

Want more? Check these out:

• Shinto Spiritual Practices in Anime
• The Ties That Bind: Anime and Kokka Shugi (Japanese Nationalism)
• Exploring Reoccurring Scenes in Anime

Do you enjoy watching the girls from Battle Vixens/Ikki Tousen go to the hot springs? If so, then you’ll want to checkout the extra features of Dragon Destiny DVD disc 1.

All the Dragon Destiny girls head off for a relaxing day at the hot springs where clothes are not allowed. Even Hakufu is there! She spends most of her time giving  Ryomou a massage (downstairs) I couldn’t tell if Ryomou was enjoying it, embarrassed by it (because the other girls walked in on Hakufu’s pleasuring fest) or was it a little bit of both.

You know, it’s never a boring moment at the hot springs especially if they are the girls from Dragon Destiny!

T.A.G.

Want more? Check these out:

• Kanu from Dragon Destiny
• Ikki Tousen Disc 3 Water Wars: Episode 9
• Ikki Tousen Disc 2 Historic Battles: Episode 7

Kakashi and Gaara

For our Naruto fans we like to present to you the Kakashi and Gaara Naruto Shippuden Series 2 Action Figures. You can expect the figures to ship on March 11, 2010 (if all goes according to plan).   **UPDATE March 8: Kakashi and Gaara have arrived and ready to ship!

We are also working on something special for Sasuke fans, as well, which should be available sometime in June assuming there aren’t any changes by the manufacturer between now and then.

I’ll update you when I find out more but for now all I know is that it is a figure and there will be a limited amount available.

Until then, click the link to purchase the Toynami series 2 figures to add Kakashi and Gaara to your Naruto collection today

T.A.G.

Want more? Check these out:

• Featured Product: Ichigo and Rukia Bleach Series 1 Figures
• Featured Product: Toshiro Hitsugaya and Kisuke Urahara Toynami Figures
• Good Smile Company Warns About Fake Figures

Scene 5  Teresa of the Faint Smile (Hohoemi no Teresa)

A Claymore starts off by slaying a montage of several Yoma. The villagers that apparently hired her are thankful and attempt to pay her. The Claymore responds by telling them to give the money to a black robed man who will come by later to collect it. This prompts them to complain that they might pay a different person, which she responds by telling them to be careful in that respect lest their village be destroyed by Yoma.

The Claymore meets this man that she described, he says that how she put it made it sound like the Yoma were being sent by the Organization. She asks for her next assignment. She is to go to the town of Theo. She is the 182nd warrior and 77th of Claymores and is somewhat of a powerful fighter. Her name is Teresa and she always has a faint smile upon her face.

Teresa of the Faint Smile

Upon entering into a village, she seems to indiscriminately begin to cut down human beings. Two of them become Yoma and they too are killed. The corpses of the ones she has killed upon entering the village turn into Yoma and the remaining villagers are deeply shocked by this fact. However, she says that there should be seven Yoma, yet she has only killed six.

She then jumps over to a man holding a little girl, and asks him if he really thought he could hide from her as she slices him in two.

Resting in the town, she wakes up the next morning. As she explains the process payment for completed mission a little girl (who the Yoma from the day before used to hide himself behind) grabs her cape. Teresa quick knocks her over.

A townsman states that the girl is mute and seems to have been badly abused by the Yoma. She gives Teresa a hug, which is met with a bit of violence on Teresa’s part. ( she seems to be a much different sort of Claymore than Clare is).

As Teresa leaves for the woods, the small girl follows the Claymore. Waving her sword around, Teresa tries to scare the girl off, however, it would seem that danger is afoot for real. She pauses, and sees several people in the forest drop to the ground. In fact, she almost kills a human before she can tell it’s not a Yoma!

One man lays his hand on the mute girl and Teresa cuts off his hand, but it still seems they’re humans. They’re bandits! They can tell, however, that she’s a Claymore and she tells them she hasn’t anything of value. She also warns that the man whose hand she cut off could easily bleed to death if they don’t treat him soon.

One of the criminals warns that Claymores are powerful and she shouldn’t be messed with. He knows that they are supernatural warriors. It’s my guess that a lot of fans have probably been waiting to see what a Claymore can do against a mortal foe. All they seem to have previously fought were Yoma. One of the bandits is wise to this situation though, since he tells the others that Claymores can’t murder a human or they’ll get killed too. This makes the rest of the bandits laugh.

Teresa figures out that they are probably about to violate her and in response, she opens up her shirt. They’re sickened by what must be very unnatural and flee the area. Teresa tells the mute girl to leave.

She doesn’t leave though and Teresa starts to realize that she is going to have to put and end to this whether by hook or by crook. This realization prompts her to jump off a cliff and the girl follows her! You would think that Teresa would do something to save the girl but she doesn’t. The mute girl doesn’t die as a result of the fall, though it is only because her fall was softened (a little bit) by grabbing onto a branch which breaks causing her to crash to the ground.  Knocking herself out.

If the seemingly heartless Teresa is going to finally get rid of the tag-a-long, this is probably her best chance to do it.

Instead, however, she tosses the girl into a river in the hopes of waking her up. She certainly lacks some of the finesse that Clare possesses. She feeds the girl, and laments that its almost as though she has a pet. The girl falls asleep. When she awakes the next morning Teresa is not there. The little girl starts to tear-up but then sees Teresa walking towards her with a rabbit.

Once again, in the forest, Riku (the guy Teresa injured in the woods)  appears and starts his pursuit after them. The girl begins to fall asleep, and Teresa watches over her to make sure no trouble comes of her. With the coming of the next morning, Teresa tries to find a name for her. After all, she cannot continue calling her hey or you. Teresa comes up with a name: she addresses the young girl as Clare.

Clare is very happy. She tries to talk but she doesn’t know how. Teresa surmises that Clare is the girl’s real name and tells her that her parents named her after one of the twin goddesses Teresa and Clare.

Want more? Check these out:

• Claymore Scene 4: Clare’s Awakening
• Claymore Scene 3: Darkness in Paradise
• Claymore Scene 2: The Black Card

Episodes 9-11.5 of Nana were fairly good (episode 11.5 was basically a clip show) Nana did have me tearing up a bit, couple of times (yep, that’s right. I cry and I don’t like it). There seems to be a lot of focus on Hachi (I’m not sure why) I find her a bit annoying but she does add some a comic relief to the series. I’m really interested in Nana. Something about her and her story really hits the bulls-eye of my heart (not sure why).

But I’m very curious as to why Hachi narrates the series as she does. How far in the future is she and why does speak as if Nana is no longer around. Are they still friends, did Nana die? (Oh, please don’t let it be the later. I just couldn’t take)

Oh, well. I’ll just have to make my way through the anime series. At some point I do plan on getting my hands on Volume 1 and seeing how the story progress in the manga version.

I can’t wait to watch the next set of episodes. I’m also trying to get my hands on the live action version as well. I wonder if it’s any good?

Tell me, have you seen the live action version of Nana? Is it any good? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Later,

T.A.G.

Want more? Check these out:

• Nana, Now We Are Getting Somewhere
• Nana Anime and Mid-Calf Boots
• Nana, Nana is Here

Boys Over Flowers

(opening song below)
I stayed up until 3 am watching Boys Over Flower the live action version. I liked it! It’s been 4 years since I saw the anime (boy time is flying). It took me awhile to get into the anime because of the bullying and harassment but after all that I started to enjoy it.

Since it’s been forever since last seeing the anime I can’t recall how the storyline progressed so I am unable to tell if the BOF drama follows the anime but in any case I’m liking what I’ve seen so far.

I’m very surprised that I’m getting into this series so quickly (I mean I stayed up until 3 am to watch all 3 scenes on disc 1)

The BOF has all my favorite things: comedy, drama, a bit of suspense, cute boys, and one goofy girl. Each episode has scenes that resemble a boy band music video which for me (a former boy band fan) I liked. It does get a bit repetitive but I think that’s part of the shows charm. Oh, I find myself rockin in my seat during the opening and ending credits (so much fun)

It really is a funny and entertaining show. I’ve laughed so many times while watching it.

It will probably be a while before I get my hands on disc 2 (can’t be helped) but I’m really excited to see how everything will progress. I kind of know how it will turn out but this version has a few additional new twist and turns so that will be fun to discover.

Pro: funny, entertaining, good plot, cute guys, cute, goofy girls, delightful story

Con: facial expressions on Jan Di a bit annoying at first but after while they add to the hilarity of the situation, excessive bullying, harassment, suicide attempt

Have you seen BOF? Let me know what you think about the cast and story

To help you get into the mood here is some music from Boys of Flower TV series Enjoy!

T.A.G.

Want more? Check these out:

• Sexiest, Cutest and Prettiest Anime Boys Ever!
• Anime Series Progression
• Exploring Reoccurring Scenes in Anime

This month’s poll: Is There An Anime Character That Can Defeat Sosuke Aizen?

Sosuke Aizen

Sosuke Aizen is a very powerful, evil and intelligent character (that maybe an understatement) in Bleach. So, is there any anime character out there that can defeat him? If we take all the characters ever created so far from humans to super-humans to non-humans can Aizen be defeated? And just to make it even more interesting (since Aizen does have that powerful and soul trembling spiritual pressure) let’s not limit this to a one-on-one fight. Is it possible for a group of anime characters to defeat Aizen? Hmm…

Let me know what you think by taking the poll and if you think Aizen can be defeated tell me which character or characters are strong enough to take on and crush such a man who powerful Espadas dare not tackle.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Alucard (Hellsing)
All the ladies from Claymore
Akira or Tetsuo (Akira)

Okay now your turn!

T.A.G.

Want more? Check these out:

• 15 Steps to be Like Sosuke Aizen
• Battle of the Boys: Ergo Proxy vs. Blassreiter
• Battle of the Ladies Part I: Clare vs Saber

Scene 4 – Clare’s Awakening (Kurea no Kakusei)

Picking up where the last episode left off, the Yoma that had speared Clare drops her body. Turning towards Sid and Galk, the Yoma notices a squad of Knights running into the Cathedral and runs away. In a strange sense of respect for the Claymore, Galk examines Clare’s heartbeat and defies Sid by picking her up. Galk defends his decision by saying that she is a lifesaver and that he owes a debt to her for it, despite the fact that she is half Yoma.

Raki near a wounded Clare

Clare’s body is on a central dais in the Cathedral, and it is here that Raki visits her at. Father Vincent says to Raki that they did all they could by bandaging her, but that they knew not what more to do for her Yoma physiology. Sid scoffs and says that she will die, and it’s not a bad thing since she is simply a half-Yoma anyways. He says that he sees it as one Yoma killing off another Yoma. Angry, Raki uncharacteristically punches Sid. Raki yells at him, saying that Clare is always putting her life on the line for humanity and that he was happy that she had decided to take him along with her. He also says that she is pure of heart more so than any human.

Sid returns the favor, and swiftly punches Raki, stating that he’s returning to work. Galk tells Raki that Clare will survive. He must have faith. Raki then says a prayer for Clare.

Clare awakens, and Father Vincent tells her that she has been asleep for two days. He also says that Raki has been beside her body, praying the entire time. She says that she wishes to ask a favor, and the next scene shows the Priests and Knights of the Cathedral gathered together. Clare shows herself, after Vincent announces a Yoma hunt. The Priests are angered at the appearance of the Claymore, but cooperate due to the Knights. Under protest from Sid, but with cooperation from Galk, Clare inspects each Priest.

Raki is in a different chamber in the Cathedral, and he’s brought the statue with him from the last episode. Just like the last time, he is visibly uneasy in this scene due to the presence of the skeletal remains of a Saint. Clare inspects Father Vincent and the Archbishop, but neither of them are Yoma either. Clare, puzzled over how any Yoma could hide itself that well without being disguised as one of them, suddenly is met with a chilling revelation as to the Yoma’s whereabouts.

From the sepulcher behind Raki, the Yoma rises up and Clare, having realized this is where the monster was hiding, arrives in time to save him. However, she gets separated after a second attack, and Raki now has to rely on Galk to save him while Sid begins to throw knives. Sid tells Clare to protect Raki, and he and Galk will protect the city with their lives. Galk echoes this sentiment, while they both charge the Yoma. However, the Yoma gains control of Galk’s sword and presses on Clare until her wounds tear open.

Raki grabs the statue, and tells Galk to give it to Clare, who blocks the Yoma’s assault with it. This causes it to break, and reveal her sword inside. Reunited with her weapon, Clare cuts off the Yoma’s arm.

Galk is impressed at this, and this prompts Raki to tell him that she is fighting beyond her normal limits. Clare stops moving while breathing heavily, and the Yoma realizes that she cannot keep this up. He stabs her, raising her up once more with a slam to the ground. When he tries to spear her, however, Galk takes the hit for her and Sid slices off the Yoma’s elongated fingers. Galk says that though they are not matches for the Yoma, that Clare may use their lives in any way necessary to defeat the beast.

Charging the Yoma, Sid and Galk get speared while Clare jumps from behind. She slices off the Yoma’s remaining arm, and the Yoma responds by stabbing himself on her sword. The beast states that she can’t get the vital point this way, which Clare figures out is the head. Her Yoma powers flare up as she slices the Yoma in half.

With the defeat of the beast, Clare kneels while saying that her Yoma powers have been called upon too greatly, and now they’re becoming uncontrollable. Clare tells Galk to kill her, and she then tells Raki to say goodbye. She tells him that a Claymore doesn’t reach this point slowly, and it happens immediately after they’ve used too much of their Yoma powers.

As Galk starts to position his sword, Raki grabs Clare and starts to cry. He says that after his family was killed, he was glad that he was able to travel with her and that she was kind for allowing him to be with her. He also says that should she die, he would wish the same for himself.

With a flash of light, Clare has returned to normal as the power of Raki’s words have saved her. She tells him that the Yoma’s rage has stopped, and her arms embrace Raki.

Clare bids Father Vincent farewell. He tells her that he’s asked the Archbishop to take the boy in, which shocks Raki. Clare smiles and tells Raki that it’s his choice to stay at the Cathedral or continue with her. Raki smiles broadly. Galk throws Raki a sword telling him to grow strong to assist Claymore. Galk and Sid finally bid their farewells to Clare and Raki.

Want more? Check these out:

• Claymore Scene 3: Darkness in Paradise
• Claymore Scene 2: The Black Card
• Claymore Scene 1: Great Sword

So I finished disc 2 containing episode 5-8 of the Nana anime series. I really do not know what they were thinking for episode 6 and 7. They were basically repeats of disc 1 episodes 1-4. I thought I had entered some Déjà vu moment or something.

I had to read my disc a few time to ensure that it was disc 2 and not disc 1. I was frustrated by the repeat storyline and dialogue. Yes, yes they did offer us a couple of minutes of new info, thrown in towards the end, but to have the viewers sit through more of Nana’s whining. . . now that’s just cruel.

However, despite the repetitive dialogue, episode 8 resuscitated my interest in Nana. Finally, the show has started to pick up momentum. It’s got me involved and has actually held my interest for the whole 23 minutes. (Yes! We are finally making progress)

At first I was a bit baffled: how could there be over 21 manga and the anime be so annoying. I guess Nana (anime) is a bit of a late bloomer. We got off to a slow start but now I am excited and ready to see what happens next.

Want more? Check these out:

• Nana, Why So Emotional?
• Nana Anime and Mid-Calf Boots
• Nana, Nana is Here

I started watching the next installment of the girls from Ikki Tousen:  Dragon Destiny (DD). Wow, they ampted up the fanservice in this series. But I still forage ahead to get a better understanding of why a character like Kanu Unchou is so popular.

There have been so many figures of her by several different manufacturers with more to come. Take the Alter figure of Kanu. Before seeing Dragon Destiny I didn’t understand why there were so many of Kanu. She wasn’t featured that much in Ikki Tousen anime series but that’s quiet different in Dragon Destiny episodes. Her presence is known and felt throughout DD.

Being a girl I’m not sure I will ever fully understand the spell she cast upon fans.  I’m only privy to so much. But it still makes me wonder about her appeal and allure; is it because she’s a sexy schoolgirl who can handle a long, deadly staff blade or is it her long flowing hair, the large boobs, the white panties, the school uniform or her long legs or sexuality?

Why rack my brain trying to figure it out . . .  hmmm? I don’t know it’s kind of fun trying to figure out what makes some people salute Kanu when they see her. And why other Ikki Tousen characters get love as well but are not as popular as the Miss Kanu.

The puzzles continues

Later,
T.A.G.

Want more? Check these out:

• The Girls of Dragon Destiny Go to the Hot Springs
• Kanu and Chouun Figures for You!
• Kanu Unchou White Lolita Dress Figure