The last anime that I shed tears as I watched was Byousoku 5cm, and the last time I watched it was almost a year ago. Therefore, it’s been quite a long time since a single salty droplet flowed out while I watched anime. I was determined not to cry while watching any anime anymore, but [...] Related posts:I am now a fan of Shinkai MakotoOne Outs Strikes OutPuchi Eva DS Game
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

I’m sure you’ve seen enough headlines about this, and the critical acclaims Shinkai gets with his works. But I’m just pacing through CrunchyRoll’s Byousoku 5 Centimeters feed now, and funnily enough the speech-like pacing of Oukashou made streaming that 480p video casually easy. It gives you a lot of places to hit that pause button so [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

I figured this was going to happen last week, but it was only a few days ago that crunchyroll announced that they were going to host Makoto Shinkai's three major works for streaming for free for the 24 hours that Global Shinkai Day will last (Friday (2/27) from 5 pm/PST to Saturday (2/28) 5 pm/PST). So I'm late that even Anime News Network had covered this yesterday, just been a very busy time between work, trying to prepare a few things for GSD, and other responsibilities. There's a group made on crunchyroll for this event. Click here or on the banner below to go to it. Props to Crunchyroll1 for bringing even more attention to an excellent director. What just started as an idea on a fan forum has spread out far beyond what I expected. Hope more of these events can be held. Now hopefully I can get a Yasuhiro Yoshiura Day event going at some point in the future2... 1. Even if they have a pretty dubious reputation, they are at least working with the Japanese companies for distribution now. 2. He might need more significant work out before that happens, but Shinkai did get a "Collection" box set created when he only had 2 major works out!
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

In my little corner of the world, Global Shinkai Day 2009 will be a quiet affair centred on a chronological private DVD viewing of Shinkai Makoto’s four main works: Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko; Hoshi no Koe; Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho; and Byousoku 5 Centimeter. I had originally intended to do [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

This week gravure idol feature is the beautiful Ayaka Onoue 尾上綾華. I really don’t know much about her except that she was once casted as the seiyuu of Akari Shinohara in Byousoku 5 Centimeter. From the Wiki JP, she seems to have done some commercial as well. She is from this talent agency called Space Craft [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Though I've seen some quick write-ups from some lucky bastardspeople who got to see (and meet) Makoto Shinkai at the BFI in London, Martin was another of those lucky bastardspersons who got to even shake his hand and wrote about the experience at Nakama Britannica. When last linked to an interview of Shinkai, I had pointed out that he was working on a new feature-length film. In his talks at the BFI, he confirms one of my thoughts at the time: Shinkai went to London to get some new inspirations for his new film. He mentions getting out of his "comfort zone" to recreate the feelings of when he left home for Tokyo when he was eighteen. In other but related news, I mainly have two words for Fledge: Do it!1 I did buy the Shinkai: Collection Box Set2 for $30 a few years ago at the local Best Buy3, an investment that was well worth it. Worth it enough to import the Special Edition R2 DVD of Byousoku 5 CM when it was released in Japan4 along with buying the R1 release when it came out here in the U.S. 1. The power of peer pressure compels you! 2. I've always found it a bit amusing and presumptuous that it was called a "Collection" when Shinkai only had two movies and a short out that totaled to only about 120 minutes total, but they are probably my most re-watched DVDs so far. 3. It might also be available at Robert's Anime Corner Store if Fledge couldn't wait, but I'm sure there's a good reason he's waiting for it to be available on Amazon. 4. Picture of box here. I should put up a pic of the full contents of the DVD too...
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Definitely one of the greatest songs ever. I can’t stop listening to it. ahhhhh. So incredibly leet. Such great lyrics that match up with the story too! damn damn damn, Byousoku really was a sad ending wasn’t it? Lyrics from Animelyrics: Koreijou nani wo ushinaeba kokoro wa yurusareru no Dore hodo no itami naraba mou ichido kimi ni aeru One [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

Remember the Byousoku 5cm Real Life Pictures post I did last year while in Japan? I decided not to miss doing a Spring Edition as it was the main season the whole film was set in. After all, how often do you get to see the blooming of Sakura trees? Post from: 望み - [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

It was nightfall by the time we were done with our Byousoku journey, but it was still rather early, since the sky turns dark at around 6pm in Japan. Since Shibuya was just a few stops away, we decided to head over for some photo taking. There was a HMV at Shibuya too, so I [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)

In order for our Byousoku trail to continue, we had to pass through Yoyogi Park, a rather huge park between Harajuku and Yoyogi. Or so I think we had to. I wasn’t sure of the way, so I just followed Windbell around and snapped whatever I fancied with my camera. Upon entering the park, it felt [...]
(Read the rest of this entry) (Entry meta)