Genshiken

Genshiken (げんしけん, Genshiken?) is a manga series by Kio Shimoku about a college club for otaku (extremely devoted fans of various media) and the lifestyle its members pursue. The series has also been adapted into an anime directed by Tsutomu Mizushima. The manga originally ran in Kodansha's monthly manga anthology Afternoon from June 2002 to June 2006, and has been reprinted in nine bound volumes. The ninth and final volume, which was also available in a limited edition with an audio drama featuring the original voice actors from the TV show, was released in Japan on December 2006.

wiki-chan referencing

Ok, this is a comedy series which basically is about Genshiken (society for the study of modern visual culture) club in University of Shiiou which activities centered on anime and games, but in particular, it's about attends conventions/comicket, going to Akibahara, shopping for dojin, cosplay and much more. Oh not to forget, their favorite series discussion, Kujibiki Unbalance.

Story plot: "Sasahara Kanji is a college freshman who decides to join a student society to share his hidden thoughts on manga, anime and gaming.
When he first visited Genshiken, his groundless pride was destroyed by the plotting of Madarame, a sophomore student in Genshiken, but he still couldn't admit that he is an otaku.
However, as he participates in society activities such as visiting dojin (private publishing) shops and anime festivals, and hangs out with other society members Kosaka (a hardcore otaku despite his extreme eccentricities and good looks), Kosaka’s girlfriend Kasuga Saki (who isn’t really an otaku), Ohno (a cosplayer) and the others, he opens his mind and resolves that he will make his way into the otaku world. With their help, Sasahara slowly adjusts to otaku life in Genshiken. "

I starts of the series by reading the manga, which at that moment reach vol 6. Then I search for the anime and found it. Not much difference than the manga though, only that it end way early than the manga (just after Sasahara become Genshiken president). The anime have 12 episode, continued with the OVA (currently 3 episode have been released), and still continue, maybe until ep24, or maybe even further.
Vol 7 and 8 of the manga has been released a few month ago, with the story has become more interesting, particularly the relationship between Sasahara and Ogiue...And the manga still ongoing till today.


more infos about this series can be found here

1 down

Today I took my first paper of final exam: Biology. Yesterday (today actually) I went to sleep at 6 am and woke up at around 10, then prepare a bit for my exam, and go straight to the battlefield, Wayville Showground. I've never went to that place so I didn't know where does the place situated. Luckily the seniors from Broadview are able to take me to that place, along with some others who took the exam today.

My first impression toward the surrounding (Wayville) is..."lol, a fun fair??:333" yeah it's been surrounded by some fun-fair gadgets and most importantly, the exam hall reminds me of Comiket (Comic Market). It really have the air of comicket; the size, floor, atmosphere, just that this time it's full of tables and chairs, haha. Well, it's indeed a market after all. The exam starts at 2pm, and finish at 5pm. Hm...what can I say about the exam paper? Not that hard, but not easy either. I was bored for 1 hours (finish answering all question lol), and almost fell asleep. Doing past years paper really helps me a lot in answering the questions, even though in certain parts there are still questions which lead to uncertainty...

Now I feel a bit listless due to the lack of sleep...I might call it day real soon...Next: Process System and Chemistry on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Anyway, current watch: Genshiken ep15. Yay, at last the 3rd episode of the OVA has been released, with this episode being one of my favorite so far. Why not, Ogiue is there, cosplaying as Renko, while KOS-MOS and the Vice-Prez also featured this time. Ogiue is indeed one of the best example of "modern" tsundere character, hahaha

Nageki no Mori

Title: Nageki no Mori/Forest of Grief/嘆きノ森
By: Ayane
From: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri OP


Romaji

Fukai nageki no mori higurashi no naku…

Sono hi wa totemo hareta hi de tsumetai kaze suikonda
Toki ga biryou, isshun dake hari o tometa

one-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

Kawari yuku mono to sore o nozomu mono
Tooryanse oide ya

Dareka ga naita sono koe wa doko? Sotto sotto, nozoite mite goran yo
Oyasumi yoi ko wa nemure okite iru ko wa tete o otosu zo
Aoi tsukikage, ichiboku no? Kono michi de komoriuta o kiitara
Matsuri ga hajimari hi wa mata kiete yuku fukai nageki no mori higurashi no naku…

Yasashii mono o osoretari sore ga himei o agetari
Kami o kiriotoshitakute hitomi tojita

one-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

Akaku somaru me wa dare no na o sakebu no?
Tooryanse tanoshi ya

Yashiro ni utsusu okizari no kage kitto kitto, ano ko wa mou inai yo
Hi mo iriai oni no men osanai emi de hane o mogaita
Awase kagami ni utsuru sugata ni kao ga nai to, kao ga nai to, naitara
Matsuri ga hajimari hi wa mata kiete yuku fukai nageki no mori higurashi no naku…

Dareka ga naita sono koe wa doko? Sotto sotto, nozoite mite goran yo
Oyasumi yoi ko wa nemure okite iru ko wa tete o otosu zo
Aoi tsukikage, ichiboku no? Kono michi de komoriuta o kiitara
Matsuri ga hajimari hi wa mata kiete yuku fukai nageki no mori higurashi no naku…

English Translation

In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…

That day was a very sunny day, but I breathed in a cold wind
Time, in just a tiny instant, stopped its needle

one-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

People who change and people who desire so
Let them pass, and you come here

Someone cried; where is that sound? Please try peeking quietly, quietly
Good night, good children sleep and the awake children project hands
Is the pale moonlight from one tree? If you hear a lullaby on this path
Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again; in the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…

Fearing those who are kind, and them giving screams
I wanted to cut away my hair and I closed my eyes

one-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

Whose name does your eyes that dye red call for?
Let him pass; it’ll be fun

The abandoned shadow casted on the shrine; surely, surely, that child doesn’t exist anymore
The day also has a sunset face of a demon, and with a childish smile, I wriggled my wings
If you cry about not having a face, not having a face on your figure reflected in the opposing mirror
Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again; in the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…

Someone cried; where is that sound? Please try peeking quietly, quietly
Good night, good children sleep and the awake children project hands
Is the pale moonlight from one tree? If you hear a lullaby on this path
Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again; in the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…

Kanji

深い嘆きノ森　ひぐらしのなく…

その日はとても晴れた日で　冷たい風吸い込んだ
時が微量、一瞬だけ　針を止めた

one-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

変わりゆく者と　それを望む者
とおりゃんせ　おいでや

誰かがないた　その声はドコ？　そっとそっと、のぞいて見てごらんよ
おやすみ良い子ハ眠レ　起きている子ハ　手々を落とすぞ
碧い月影、いち木ノ？　此ノ路でデ　子守歌を聞いたら
祭が始まり　炎はまた消えてゆく　深い嘆きノ森　ひぐらしのなく…

優しいモノを恐れたり　それが悲鳴をあげたり
髪を切り落としたくて　瞳閉じた

one-way, that cannot return twice.
A lost child looks for a bright place.

紅く染まる目は　誰の名を叫ぶの？
とおりゃんせ　楽しや

ヤシロに映ス　置き去りの影　きっときっと、あの子はもう居ないよ
日も入り遭い鬼ノ面　幼い笑みで　羽をもがいた
合わせ鏡に映る姿に　顔が無いと、顔が無いと、泣いたら
祭が始まり　炎はまた消えてゆく　深い嘆きノ森　ひぐらしのなく…

誰かがないた　その声はドコ？　そっとそっと、のぞいて見てごらんよ
おやすみ良い子ハ眠レ　起きている子ハ　手々を落とすぞ
碧い月影、いち木ノ？　此ノ路でデ　子守歌を聞いたら
祭が始まり　炎はまた消えてゆく　深い嘆きノ森　ひぐらしのなく…

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My current addiction. From one of my favorite jpop singer Ayane, this song is featured in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri for PS2, adapted from the anime (gore and violence theme).
Also featured in her latest album "Archive Lovers"

Three paragraphs+1

Only 3 days left before my final exam. First paper is Bio this Saturday at 1pm. Luckily it's not a morning paper, or else I will be forced to go to bed early. Preparation? I've done "a little", including revising the lecture notes and tutorials. What left is working on past year exam. Frankly speaking, I think biotech student have the longest duration of exam. We start early (16th June) and finish our exam late (27th June). Well, at least that gives me more times to prepare...

Today we go to CM to buy groceries. We must go, or else we won't have anything to eat for dinner (no rice, no meat, not even instant noodles). Luckily Bro Aie was there to bring us with his car, so we can make a massive shopping this time. Going to Thuang Fat groceries, then to Coles. Unfortunately, the meat shop already closed (even though it's still 4.30 pm) so we go to another Butcher shop at Hindmarsh. Finally we went to Paradise for dinner.

Going home, I decide to do Chemistry online tutorials. My first thought is, since I've read little about the 2nd part of Chem, I might have difficulties doing the quiz. But I still proceed on doing the quizzes, starting with the Practice. Wowza, it was darn easy. Same goes with the quizzes part, I don't even need to break a sweat to finish them. I wish the exam paper to be just like this, even though obviously it wont :333

Well enough ranting, need to continue studying. Next: Process System.

Stigma

band / artist : Yousei Teikoku,
album : Stigma
year : Nov 12 2005
genre/styles :gothic

Tracklist:
1.Fee
2.Stigma
3.鳥籠 (Torikago, 鳥籠)
4.春へ (Haru e, 春へ)
5.月下狂想 (Gekka Kyousou, 月下狂想)
6.Deep Sea
7.沈黙の繭 (Chinmoku no Mayu, 沈黙の繭)
8.Pray in the Darkness
9.Garden


direct download here

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Finally, another Yousei Teikoku album. This is their third album that I possessed (first being the PS2 Mai Hime OST, 2nd is GLP). Irony, this album is the earliest among those 3 to be released (2005). I was lucky that there's still people who are willing to seed this album.

Hyper Moe Trance

band / artist : Ayane,
album : Hyper Moe Trance
year : May 25 2007
label: Pioneer LDC
genre/styles :J-pop

Track List:
01 Tsuki to Yozora to Houkiboshi (Trance Ver.)
02 ORANGE (Trance Ver.)
03 To the Moon (Trance Ver.)
04 Private place (Trance Ver.)
05 complex image (Trance Ver.)
06 Fractal Tree (Trance Ver.)
07 Film Makers (Trance Ver.)
08 Acacia no Ki no Shita de (Trance Ver.)
09 Nageki no Mori (Trance Ver.)
10 Romancing Story (Trance Ver.)
11 Majokko Megu-chan (Trance Ver.)


torrent here

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as previewed in the previous post, I got this album together her Archive Lovers album. Basically all songs in this album are the Trance version of her popular songs, including my favorite song Private Place. I don't favor trance that much though...

Archive Lovers

band / artist : Ayane,
album : Archive Lovers
year : April 25 2007
label: Pioneer LDC
genre/styles :J-pop

Track List:

*01. ORANGE
*02. Private Place
03. Acacia no Ki no Shita de アカシアの木の下で
04. After Rain
05. ARCHIVE LOVERS
06. そよ風のシルエ
07. Film Makers
08. Complex Image コンプレックス・イマージュ
09. To the Moon
*10. 龍刻の彼方へ (Ryukoku no Kanata e)
*11. Nageki no Mori
12. カカシ(Orchestra version)
13. Romancing Story ロマンシングストーリー

direct download here |mirror|

*favorite

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Today I got my hands on 2 Ayane album: Archive Lovers and Hyper Moe Trance. I'm not a fan of Ayane to begin with, I don't even have much idea who Ayane is. You see, her info is very hard to be found on internet (maybe because of her name). What makes me so interested in this 2 album is because of one song: Private Place. This song has stuck in my head for quite some time, after I listened to this song in Valkyrie Profile AMV Code_Valkyrie.

Overall, this album is still entertaining. Now searching for the lyric.....

oh, don't ask me for the song title translation. I did trying to do some translation, but some end up being too weird.

Interval of Freezed Time

hm...just a bit of scrawling, this week is the beginning of my study leave before the final exam coming on 16th June. So far I haven't revise much except for Process System and Bio. Just when I'm about to start revising for Chemistry, I realize that there's another online quiz for Bio, which count for 5% for total marks for Bio. Wow, I have no idea that we have such quiz...btw, I just finish doing the quiz, not that hard actually except for the celvin cycle/electron transport chain/photosystem which I utterly clueless (this is the only part that I never read, huhuhu)

Then today, I got another shocking news. My friends back then at MJSC Serting, Farid Kamarudin@Kechik had passed away last Thursday because of accident. I have little detail about it, but it truly surprised me. He's also at the same school with me at MJSC Terendak .
May God bless his soul, may he rest in peace.

Hinokakera

Hinokakera~ The Fragments of Innocent Sinners is a fighting dojin by Reddish Region, a game which even if you google for it, you will barely find anything about this. Even Wikipedia lacks infos about this game. Hinokakera is probably one of the most famous dojin fighting games around, even with the lack of sources. Featuring great 3D graphics, as well as awesome characters. There are a ton of moves to pull off, as well as a training mode to perfect these moves. The stages are beautifully created too.

Well, what can I say more ? Simply one of the best fighting games.

some of the awesome battle scenes


all characters ultimate attacks/overdrive

The guide, though not official can be obtained here

Kujibiki Unbalance Original Soundtrack

album : Kujibiki Unbalanced Original Soundtracks
year : Dec 6 2006
composition: Tomoki Hasegawa


Tracklist:

1. Unbalance Sky
2. Joy to the School
3. Komorebiyori
4. This morning
5. Chiisana Tokeitou
6. Tsuugaku Roll
7. Kaze no Madobe
8. Pizzicato
9. Sansaro
10. Eyecatch
11. Yattekuru
12. Mission Hard
13. Shukumei no Tango
14. Chase!
15. Yasashii Kotoba
16. Seitokai no Theme
17. Secret Agent
18. Yuuyake no Ballad
19. Yurushite Agete
20. Sasayaka na Dai Sakusen
21. Hurry up
22. Mellow Heart
23. Precious Garden
24. Kokoro no Chime
25. Saigo no Yakusoku
26. Egao to Egao
27. Tokeitouyo Saraba
28. LOVE! YES! NO ~ Hateshinai Ai de
29. Kita Hatoba
30. Rikkyouin Gakuen Kouka
31. Ai (TV size)
32. Harmonies* (TV size)

torrent here, or direct download here

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First the OVA (ep 1, 21 and 24), then the TV series (Kujian 2006) and now the OST...