Shocker Shocker love the way you groove!

Hey Minna! 元気かい？

It has been a while. I've been busy with games. SO MANY! So here are a few updates to get you going!

ACCESS UPDATES.
Our boys are having two concerts on December 31st. The first concert is called "Encore of "Operation Connect" It will be done in the same style as their summer tour. The concert starts at 5:30pm on the 31st.

The next concert will be a countdown concert. Because of the time they ask that everyone be 18 and over. The concert starts at 10:30 pm on the 31st.

For the countdown concert you can request what songs will be played. The survey is at http://www.access-web.jp/live.html



When you get to the survey here is a guide on how to fill it out.





Then below that is the "Submit button" (I didn't want to screen cap it)

I don't know if the concert will be streaming. I will update you when I know!

On to VIDEO GAME NEWS!

Lately I've been SUPER on a video game kick. There are a lot of releases I'm looking forward to.

The Idolm@ster 2.
A rasing sim game where you create an idol group and make them popular. The game has been in arcades and the Xbox360. Finally it has been released for the PS3. The game is so popular it has been back ordered! Twice! That is a feat in Japan let me tell you.

Project Diva -Extend-
Sega has released another version of Project Diva for the PSP. This one includes previous costumes as well as new ones. The songs are more Nico Nico Douga famous songs. Such as "Luka Luka ★ Night Fever" and "Uraomote Lovers" The song "Rin Rin Signal" marks the debut of an append song in Project Diva. For those who don't know, appends are expansion packs of the vocaloid voice banks. They are designed to help enhance the sound of vocaloids. Currently only Miku, Rin/Len, and Gumi have them. Because Gumi is from a different company her expansions have different names. KAITO has an extend in the making as we speak. Project Diava -Extend- promises not a new game but the same game as PJD2 only with more requested songs. The game goes on sale November 10th.

Sengoku Basara 3 UTAGE
This season is full of branch games. Sengoku Basara is no exception. Utage is the traditional word for "Party" but because the katakana word "パーティー" is more popular you don't hear it as much. SBR3U promises party modes such as mission modes, versus, and endurance rounds. Using saved data can get you extra items and money. It looks to be amazing fun!

Well I'm sick today so I'm going to go lay down and rest. Gonna have ochazuke tomorrow!

See you next round!

~Lala~

let me just crying, crying for my love

Hello again everyone! お元気ですか？

I have been super busy since I went to Japan! First I went to New Mexico to visit my grandmother then I went to Japan to volunteer and now I am going back to New Mexico again.

I said I would post while I was in Japan but I because busy with traveling and sightseeing as well as my volunteer work. I fell like today I should spread some light on a not so pleasant subject. Death

Part of my volunteer work was in a graveyard in Yamamoto. The city of Yamamoto lies on the coast of Miyagi prefecture in Watari district. The damage was extensive. I can't begin to describe how hollow it felt to be looking at a barren place where houses once stood and children ran and played.

Our task was "debris removal" we weren't really sure what to expect but when we arrived where were told that we would be cleaning a graveyard. A few of the others, myself included were at first skeptical about why we needed to clean up a graveyard.

The truth of the matter is that in Japan, death is important.

While I'm sure you can go on wikipedia and find out all about it I'll give you the basics.

Due to Japan's religious nature, most funerals are Buddhist in nature. Depending on the individual's religious preference. However, due to space restrictions and cost, 98% of all Japanese are cremated. Superstitions usually play a role in the decision of the funeral. Some days are considered auspicious and others not. When the body is on display at the funeral it usually has it's head pointed to the north. (This is why Japanese people usually make a great effort to make sure their head do not point north in their beds.)

After the funeral the body is cremated and the family searches the remains for bones. (This is the only time it is socially acceptable to use chopsticks to pass items from person to person) The bones and ashes are placed in a urn and then usually divided up between family, company, and grave.

After the bones have been chosen, they are enshrined in a family plot with a large headstone known as "haka" but you must always refer to it as "Ohaka" out of respect.
If an individual has a haka then their name will be engraved on it. Otherwise only the last name. Haka weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. They are solid stone.

(Shown is a typical grave in Japan. The top tall stone has the name engraved. The small bench is meant for offerings.)

After the internment is over, the following year no New Year's card (nengajo) are to be sent. A picture of the deceased is placed in the family alter, and the following years a memorial service is held (usually following the calendar of the 13 Buddhas) prayers are offered so that the soul may rest or be reborn.

A bit of a downer huh? Well it is might be hard for us to understand but, to Japan this is really important. The dead must be respected and cared for. So for those on that trip. To help clean and fix the graves. It was not only an important task but an honor. I hope that even though I couldn't do much. I was able to heal the hearts of some of the people of Miyagi.

That's all for today. I hope to make a more up beat post next time!

See you next round!
~Lala~

Cool ni Ikoze!

So I'll be on another hiatus. Once again going to visit my grandmother in New Mexico. Then I'll be resuming my blogging duties ... FROM JAPAN! I'll be volunteering as well as sightseeing. Maybe see a concert or two? hmmmm? *laughs* but I am really excited to be helping out.

A lot of people and blogs have been talking about the concept of "gamman" which means to endure. I don't really subscribe to the fact that Japan is "enduring" they are surviving and moving on. I hope that with my eyes I can see and feel the strength of the of people of Japan. As always,

立ち上がれ！日本！
(tachi agare! Nippon!)
RISE UP! JAPAN!

Keep It Keep It! SHOW GUNS UP!

こんにちは！konnichiwa! How are you? Me? I'm genki!

A few updates on some stuff. Part one will be access and part two will be SBR

Share The Love postcards

As per last year, the pre-order singles will include postcards. Unlike last year however, the single will include different pictures. Pre-ordering A will get you A post card while B will get you B postcard. No word on what's on the postcards yet. Also each store will offer a different postcard! So HMV, TOWER, Tsutaya, Shinseido, and Yamano records will offer the store cards. CDJapan will get the non-special ones (but you still get pre-order postcards)
To sum it up...
FOR YOU HARD CORE COLLECTORS... THERE WILL BE 12 DIFFERENT POSTCARDS.
Enjoy spending your money! I know I will!

Sengoku BASARA 3 UTAGE

Capcom has officially confirmed that SBR3U is ... official. The web page has gone up you can see it at http://www.capcom.co.jp/basara3utage/
The game will include a new battle system as well as what appears to be mini-games. Also claims there will be a co-op version that might be online but at the very least will be able to link up to SBR3.
To sum it up...
NEW SENGOKU BASARA GAME! DOES STUFF THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T DO!
Enjoy spending your time leveling up Kojuuro! I know I will!

Well that should be all for now. I should go check Gundam and Vocaloid fandoms! FOR NOW... DINNER!

じゃ、まったね〜
SEE YOU NEXT ROUND!

~Lala~

PREPARE THE TRIGGER!

So in a rumor that serviced, There will be a new SBR3 game. Called "Sengoku Basara 3: Utage" It seems that Kojuuro Katakura and Sasuke Sarutobi will be playable. An even more shocking announcement, Hisahide Matsunaga, who has appeared in various games as well as the anime, will be playable for the first time. Other characters who are NPC in SBR3 will be returning as well. Muneshige Tachibana, Tenkai, Sorin Otomo, Hideaki Kobayakawa and Yoshiaki Mogami.

More news about this when it becomes available!

SEE YOU NEXT ROUND!

Share The Love!

Hello there everyone. How are you this morning? Some exciting news from AX and from access!

I was able to meet Kojuro's voice actor last night. Toshiyuki Morikawa. He was very friendly despite how nervous I was. He even let us (my new friends and I) take a photo with him. I was so shocked. I was nearly in tears! Thank you Morikawa and my new friends!

Secondly, access has hinted that they will have a new single and dropped a few clues. (Sorry I wasn't able to post about it) Finally after teasing us they have let us know the full song list. I PRESENT TO YOU!!!!

Share The Love

There will be two versions of the single. The first one:
A version - DWDH-004
1. Share The Love
2. Keep It
3. Ride Up For The Shiny Way

For those of you who are keeping track, Keep It was introduced at last year's tour. The third song is described as being "an access trance song" This will be very interesting to hear!

B version. DWDH-005
1. Share The Love
2. Keep It (2010 Version)
3. Higher Than Dark Sky (Piano Version)

On this version "Keep It" is directly from last year's tour. Probably taken from the Ustream viewing. The title song for last year's single "Higher Than Dark Sky" makes an appearance as a Piano version. Claimed that it the first take from a new studio. Sounds to be very moving! I hope you all will fall in love with them all over again!

As per usual, all CD's are available on CDJapan and HMV.

That's all for today, I hope to have a photo update later.

SEE YOU NEXT ROUND!
~Lala~

Put your guns on!

Hello, there bloggers! It's Lala! お久しぶりです！　It's been a while!

Today I am posting from Anime Expo. (We have a slow day today) I know I haven't posted in a while. For many of us, trying to help heal the scar of this March is still a tough task. Because of the events that have occurred, I am have decided to once again rededicate myself to this blog. I want to still help you all learn Japanese but I would also like to talk more about Japan and about my fandoms. So for now, this is what you can expect out of this blog:

Non-Fandom
Japan info
Travel Japan info
Japanese learning info.

Fandom
access (DA/Hiro solo)
Vocaloid
Sengoku Basara
Video Games

If I have more fandoms I might add them but for now, please enjoy. I will try to keep you up to date on news and stuff. Thanks for the views!

~Lala~