Review of "Free!" Part 1

The animation of this season released by the Japanese popular anime-creation company "Kyoto Animation" is "Free!"

 

As I wrote in this blog before, it is the type of sport animation.

 

In my knowledge, it would be the first time that Kyoto Animation created this type of animation.

 

I was a little bit afraid that it would not possibly be able to get good reputations because the style of anime was somewhat different from their past works, for example style of pictures.

 

That seems to be because the company which creates this anime is not only them but also another company.

 

However, my trouble was not needed.

 

Although I have watched "Free!" to the eighth chapter until now, I have never felt it was not interesting.

 

The way of expression of characters' feelings Kyoto Animation has is great as usual.

 

In my opinion, the most important point of this anime would be the relationship between the hero named Haruka Nanase and his rival named Rin Matsuoka.

 

Rin is the type of man who always does his best to achieve his object, while Haruka is not interested in doing so.

 

But, more talented man is not Rin but Haruka.

 

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Review of "Kabukimonogatari"

Last weekend, I watched the second chapter of anime version of "Kabukimonogatari."

 

The second chapter was the story in which Koyomi Araragi and Shinobu Oshino went to the past by Shinobu's power.

 

They came to the past period when Mayoi Hachikuji was still alive although they did not deliberately do so.

 

However, Koyomi Araragi came up with the idea that they would be able to save her life from traffic accident which killed her.

 

I remembered "Kabukimonogatari" was such a story.

 

As a picture of Mayoi Hachikuji is used for the cover of "Kabukimonogatari", we can understand it is her story.

 

Actually, the story about her proceeded in the beginning of it as mentioned above.

 

But, my understanding might be wrong.

 

That was because attraction of this story would be the conversations between Koyomi Araragi and Shinobu Oshino.

 

Perhaps, "Kabukimonogatari" would be the story for them rather than Mayoi.

 

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Review of "Hitsuuden" 2

As I mentioned before, I am now reading the latest volume of "Densetsu" series titled "Hitsuuden."

Although I have finished reading only one third of all the story yet, what I feel about this novel is only one.

It is a strange story as usual, indeed.

The story is so mysterious that I cannot predict how it will proceed at all.

The hero whose name is Kuu Sorakara was subjected to go to an island where a certain incident happened to investigate what happened there.

However, we could not even understand his situation, let alone himself.

Moreover, he happened to meet a mysterious girl, who wore a peculiar clothing like magician's one, as soon as he got to the island.

I could only manage to imagine she would be a key person of this story, though.

Such a feeling I had during reading would be an unique feature of works of Nishioishin, who is the author of this novel.

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Kabukimonogatari Finally Started!

The anime version of the second season of my favorite Japanese anime series "Monogatari series" is now broadcasting in Japan.

 

As I reviewed in this blog before, "Nekomonogatari (White)", which was Tsubasa Hanekawa's story, had been broadcast as the first story of the second season until last week.

 

Then, the story which is one of my most favorite one in "Monogatari series" has finally started this week!

 

The title thereof is "Kabukimonogatari."

 

It was a part of the second season in the novel series.

 

I like this scenario very much because it is the story for a little girl named Mayoi Hachikuji.

 

Don't misunderstand. I am not the type of person who deeply loves little girls.

 

She is certainly a little girl, but so mature that I can't believe she is really so.

 

And, she is the character who always makes small talk with the hero in this series Koyomi Araragi.

 

Their talk is basically small talk, but it's sometimes so meaningful.

 

That's why I am usually attracted by that.

 

Anyway, repeatedly speaking, "Kabukimonogatari" is the story about her, so I had been looking forward to the anime version thereof.

 

There is no choice to miss watching it!

 

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Review of "Hitsuuden"

I introduced "Himeiden", which is the novel written by Nishioishin, in this blog before.

 

There is the following volume thereof already.

 

Its title is "Hitsuuden."

 

I have finally begun reading it although I couldn't do so because I had been busy recently.

 

I heard that "Hitsuuden" is not the novel which was planned to be released in the first place.

 

I suppose it was released thanks to its popularity and the author s discretion.

 

In fact, I am forgetting the detailed story of the previous volume "Himeiden" because some time have already passed since I finished reading it.

 

But, it seems the author wrote "Hitsuuden" in a manner that we can understand the story without knowledge of the previous one.

 

Though I have read only about one eighth of all the story yet, it would be interesting as I expected.

 

 

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The Newest Volume of "Yahari Ore no Seihun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Youth Romantic Love Comedy Is Wrong As I Expected)"

I am now so excited!

 

That's because I heard that the newest volume of "Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Youth Romantic Love Comedy Is Wrong As I Expoected)" will be finally published on August 20, 2013 in Japan.

 

It seems that it will be not 8th but the 7.5th volume although the previous one was the 7th.

 

The 7th volume was published in last March, so it took about five months from it to the 7.5th.

 

As you may presume from the number of volume, the newest seems to be not the following story of the 7th volume but a collection of short stories.

 

I would really like to read the following story, but I am not very disappointed by that because I believe "Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru" would always be interesting to me.

 

I would rather admire the author's endeavor because he should definitely have been so busy due to the anime version of this series which had been broadcast until last June.

 

I have a plan to read the newest volume soon, of course.

 

I hope you look forward to my review thereof!

 

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Kanako Kotera Is My Favorite Singer

I wrote in the last article that power of music in animations and games is so significant.

 

I would like to write about my favorite singer today.

 

Her name is Kanako Kotera.

 

She is a Japanese female singer who mainly sings songs for computer games, animations and TV commercial.

 

I knew her for the first time when I was a university student.

 

In fact, she is the singer of theme songs of recent "The Legend of Heroes" series.

 

The ending theme song of "Sora no Kiseki SC", which is my most favorite computer game I introduced in this blog over and over again, would be her first song in "The Legend of Heroes" series.

 

The title of this song is "I Swear..."

 

I still remember I was so moved when I heard her soft, clear and beautiful voice for the first time.

 

She would receive good evaluations from a lot of players after "Sora no Kiseki SC" was released.

 

That was why she has been almost a singer under exclusive contract with Falcom.

 

There are many good songs other than "I Swear..."

 

For example, "Cry for me, cry for you", which is the opening theme song of "Sora no Kiseki The 3rd", is also fantastic.

 

Actually, it is likely to be so popular.

 

But, her song I like the most is "Sora wo Miagete."

 

It is the ending theme song of "Sora no Kiseki The 3rd."

 

I like it very much because it really fits her nature of voice.

 

You can try listening to and buy her songs in iTunes Store, so let's try!

 

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Effect of Music to Anime and Games

Today's topic is not animations or games but music.

 

I love music so much as well as animations and games as you may realize from previous articles in this blog.

 

Actually, I can play some instruments.

 

Anyway, I really think that power of music highly affects popularity of animations or games.

 

In the case the music used in animations or games is so great, they would become popular even if they are not in themselves.

 

In other words, they would not be able to get a good reputation if the music is not good.

 

I am also the type of person who can be influenced by qualitiy of music in fact.

 

I am sure most of animations and games I like have good music in them.

 

For example, the song "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (The Story You Don't Know)" used in "Bakemonogatari" is fantastic as I mentioned before.

 

And, sound tracks of "The Legend of Heroes" series and "Sword Art Online", which are my favorite game and animation, are also wonderful.

 

I think it is not rare that music for games or animations is better than general one.

 

Don't you think so too?

 

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Do you like "Nayuta no Kiseki"?

Today's topic is about "Kiseki" series again.

 

For visitors who come here for the first time, "Kiseki" series is one of the series of Falcom's popular computer games.

 

"The Legend of Heroes" series have had the word "Kiseki (which is a Japanese word meaning "miracle" in English)" in its titles since the sixth work named "Sora no Kiseki."

 

That's why it has been called "Kiseki" series among fans.

 

Falcom released the seventh work "Zero no Kiseki" and the eighth one "Ao no Kiseki" subsequently after "Sora no kiseki" because "Sora no Kiseki" was given a very good reputation.

 

I was also one of those who were absorbed in "Sora no Kiseki" deeply, so I played and enjoyed the two following works too.

 

After that, Falcom released the ninth work titled "Nayuta no Kiseki."

 

We expected that it would be the newest work of "The Legend of Heroes" series because we had been known that "Ao no Kiseki" was not final.

 

However, I was a little bit disappointed by realizing "Nayuta no Kiseki" did not belong to "The Legend of Heroes" series actually.

 

"Nayuta no Kiseki" should have been categorized into a type of action game, while "The Legend of Heroes" series is done into a role playing game.

 

It is not correct that I would like to say "Nayuta no Kiseki" is not good, of course.

 

But, what I want to say is Falcom should not have made its title have the word "Kiseki."

 

Nevertheless, I bought "Nayuta no Kiseki" too.

 

I think it is a good game because Falcom is originally very good at the genre of action game, for example "Ys" series.

 

Honestly speaking, though, I prefer "The Legend of Heroes" series to "Nayuta no Kiseki."

 

Do you like "Nayuta no Kiseki"?

 

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"Free!" Changed Its Target?

Most Japanese Animations based on so-called light novels are popular among mainly male manias as you may know.

 

That's because there are a lot of pretty female characters in the animations.

 

They feel "Moe" by the characters as well as enjoy contents of the animations.

 

Of course, one of Japanese popular animation creation companies "Kyoto Animation" is not an exception of that.

 

I have also been attracted by pretty ones in their animations over and over again, actually.

 

However, it seems that Kyoto Animation somewhat changed a target of their latest work "Free!"

 

There are mainly many cool and shaped-up male characters, who often show their upper part of naked bodies, in "Free!"

 

That's why "Free!" is likely to become popular among not only male viewers but also a plenty of female ones.

 

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New Anime From Kyoto Animation "Free!"

The New Anime created by Kyoto Animation, which is my favorite anime creation company in Japan, is being broadcast this summer.

 

Its name is "Free!"

 

It's the story of a swimming club in the high school, in other words, Kyoto Animation's latest work is a sport anime.

 

As long as I know, it could be that Kyoto Animation made this type of anime for the first time in their history.

 

Although there were lots of masterpieces (for instance, "Air", "CLANNAD", "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", "K-on!" and so forth) in their works, I was a little bit worried that their new work would not be interesting very much in fact.

 

Nevertheless, they has always lived up to our expectations until now, so I tired watching it after all.

 

As a result, I admired their basic power to attract viewers deeply.

 

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Highlights of "Nekomonogatari"

Last week, the anime version of "Nekomonogatari (White)" had finished in Japan.

 

So, the highlights of "Nekomonogatari" was broadcast yesterday.

 

"Nekomonogatari (White)" was a part of "Monogatari Series Season 2", so a next chapter should begin before long, I guess.

 

However, it would need some time to prepare the next program.

 

For this reason, it would be suitable for making the time to broadcast the highlights of "Nekomonogatari."

 

Some viewers might complain to the highlights because the content thereof was what they had already known.

 

Though, I could enjoy it enough.

 

That was because I was able to remember the detailed story of "Nekomonogatari (Black)" thanks to it.

 

In addition, I was glad to see Koyomi Araragi, who is the hero of "Monogatari" series, after a long time because he did almost not enter "Nekomonogatari (white)".

 

I felt he was certainly a attractive character again when I watched the highlights.

 

I am looking forward to the next chapter although I have no idea what will be broadcast next Saturday.

 

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I Want To Play "Sen no Kiseki" Soon!

I want to play "Sen no Kiseki", which is the newest work of The Legend of Heroes series, soon!

 

It will be released on September 26, 2013 in Japan.

 

Of course, I will definitely play it.

 

But, it is for not PSP as the previous works but PS Vita and PS3, and I don't have them yet in fact.

 

Although I have to buy either PS Vita or PS3 to play the newest work of the said series I like the most, I am now considering which I should buy.

 

As you may know, PS Vita is a portable game machine and cheaper.

 

On the other hand, PS3 is a household game machine and more expensive.

 

I think the former would be a better choice for me because I could play it in a little pastime by PS Vita.

 

However, Quality of graphics of PS3 is better, of course.

 

Well, I would buy PS Vita after all.

 

It seems that new information about "Sen no Kiseki" is being revealed step by step in Falcom's web page although I don't recently check it.

 

I should do so, shouldn't I?

 

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Ending Theme Song of Nekomonogatari (White) "Ai wo Utae"

One of chrams of the anime version of "Monogatari" series would be goodness of the theme songs.

 

The ending theme song of the first anime of the series "Bakemonogatari" was especially wonderful.

 

The title is "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (The Story You Don't Know)", as you may already know.

 

The singer of the song is "Nagi Yanagi" who also sings "Yukitoki" which is an opening theme song of "Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Youth Romantic Love Comedy Is Wrong As I Expected)."

 

The song was so fantastic that I could not help expecting the theme song for "Nekomonogatari (white)."

 

However, the ending theme song thereof was very great as I expected.

 

The title is "Ai wo Utae."

 

The singer of the song is "Runa Haruna."

 

Actually, I didn't know her before the anime version of "Nekomonogatari."

 

But, melody of the song is so good, so I was attracted and searched the presence of her at once.

 

You can download it from itunes, so I would like to recommend you to listen.

 

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Review of "Fate/stay night" Part 4

"Sever Route" is the story of the heroin "Sever", of course.

 

She is one of my most favorite characters.

 

She is so beautiful knight and has polite personality.

 

In a sense, such a polite character would be rare in this type of game.

 

That was why I was attracted by her.

 

Although she was summoned as Shiro's servant, their relationship was not good in the first place.

 

She tried to dedicate herself for him, on the other hand, he wanted to make an even relationship with her.

 

I was so moved when they understood each other and succeeded to make a good relationship as partners.

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Review of "Fate/stay night" Part 3

What I should remark regarding "Fate/stay night" is that the scenario writer is "Kinoko Nasu."

The sentences and settings of stories he/she (no one knows which is correct) creates are so attractive.

One of the characteristic of Kinoko's works is that there are magicians in a story.

You may imagine the magician is someone who puts a triangle-shaped hat on his head and use some magics with a staff.

However, the magicians who enter Kinoko's works are not such ones.

Their figures are definitely the same as ordinary people.

They only have a little magical power ordinary people don't have.

"Fate/stay night" is also the story of such magicians.

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Review of "Fate/stay night" Part 2

As I said before, "Sever Route" is the scenario you can play at first in "Fate/stay night."

"Sever" is a main heroin's name.

"Sever" means "cut" by a sword or something as you know.

As this name, she is a knight with a large sword.

One day, the hero in this game whose name is "Shiro Emiya" happened to summon her as his servant when he was in a critical situation.

He should not have been able to done so if he had been a ordinary person, of course.

But, he could.

That was because he was a magician in fact.

He was entitled to summon her.

The substantial reason why he did was that he was elected as a member of "Sacred Cup War."

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Anime Version of "Nekomonogatari" Was Fantastic!!

Last Saturday in Japan, the anime  version of "Nekomonogatari" had finished finally.

I can say "Fantastic!!" only as a whole impression of this work.

I really think that the anime creation company "SHAFT" succeeded to describe attraction of the original novel of "Nekomonogatari" by the anime sufficiently.

The scene I like the most, in which the heroin "Tsubasa Hanekawa" wrote to "Black Hanekawa" who was something like a monster but herself, was also animated greatly enough to satisfy me.

However, I wanted to back to the original again to be moved by goodness of sentences made by the author "Nishioishin" in it after all.

Especially, the scene in which Hanekawa finally confessed her real feelings to "him" and the one where she said "I'm home." were so moving.

I admire the author really.

You should abusolutelly try either the anime or the original novel at least!

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Review of "Fate/stay night" Part 1

"Fate/stay night" is so popular PC game in Japan.

 

I am also one of fans of this game.

 

It is categorized into the type of visual novel games in which you proceed stories during reading texts with graphics.

 

I have heard that this game was originally created by not a large company but some amateur creators.

 

However, the game and creators became famous because of good reputations from gamers.

 

As I mentioned before, I knew the game for the first time when I was a college student.

 

Maybe, It was the first time when I tried this type of game.

 

I did not think that it was interesting to me yet because I did not like reading books very much at that time.

 

But, I was highly attracted after all.

 

It was not even rare that I played it all through the night.

 

The most prominent charm of this game would be that it is like a general novel.

 

Quality of the scenario is so high, I guess at least.

 

It has three kinds of scenarios.

 

The one you can play firstly is "Sever Route."

 

"Sever" is one of main characters who used to be a legend hero (heroin) in a northern european myth.

 

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Recommendation of "Fate/stay night" From My Friend

 

Although I have mainly written about light novels or animations in this blog until now, today's topic is about a PC game named "Fate/stay night."

 

You probably know it already because it is so famous among fans of games and animations.

 

"Fate/stay night" was originally the game for Microsoft Windows though it is now remade for other hardwares, for example Playstation and PSP.

 

I knew the presence of "Fate/stay night" for the first time when I was a university student.

 

My friend who was familiar with computer games recommended me this game enthusiastically.

 

He tought me a certain phrase "Fate is literature, CLANNAD is life" at that time.

 

It means that the sentences in "Fate/stay night" are so good as if it were a literature itself.

 

I deceded to try playing the game because his recommendations about games were always reliable.

 

I think my decision was correct even now.

 

I want to mention why I think so from the next article step by step.

 

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I Remember The First Volume of "Sword Art Online"

Novels of "Sword Art Online" has been released to volume 12 until now.

But, I have never read the latest volume yet because I have been paying attention to other works recently.

Nevertheless, I sometimes think that "Sword Art Online" is so interesting to me  even though it were compared with other fantastic works.

Especially, what I like the best is the volume 1, of course.

I guess it would be the best also from the objective point of view.

That's because it is the volume in which the story of Kirito and Asuna is told the most importantly.

They met and fell in love with each other in the volume 1.

Their special relationship was so moving for me and I often felt "I want to make such a good relationship with my partner too!" or something like that.

To remember such feelings, I want to read the volume 1 again when my memory about it is more diluted.

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