Who knew I’d get tired of them so quickly? Impressions: I… feel like the show is losing a bit of focus here. Straight out of "terrible romantic comedy cliches 101" come a set of necklaces that let loose the hidden feelings buried deep inside for various Kann-u antics in multiple forms. I’m not entirely certain [...]
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I enjoy reading Battle Vixens (aka Ikkitousen) by Shiozaki Yuji and I’ve decided to give Battle Club a try since it’s also by him. My verdict? The characters look similar like those from Ikkitousen, there’s fan service but it’s so much that I find it rather distracting. Usually if there’s a well developed and interesting [...]
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Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link. Bento T-shirt - "Japan Friends of Bento Club" Girls' Fitted version. Ah, bento, the delicious and visually pleasing Japanese traditional boxed lunch. We've made a T-shirt just for our bento-loving female customers, which proclaims you to be a member of the Japan Friends of Bento Club. A delicious looking fitted T-shirt that comes in "wasabi" color. Lucky Star Perfect Guide. Fans of the anime Lucky Star will enjoy this great art book, the "perfect guide" that give you all the information and beautiful visuals on the characters you want. Hello Kitty Pancake Pan. Next time you're sitting around the house bored, why not make Hello Kitty pancakes? This awesome Kitty-chan shaped pan is perfect for making pancakes in the shape of everyone's favorite Japanese feline. This is one of those "J-List was put on this Earth to sell" kind of cool items we like so much. Nintendo Doubutsu-no-mori Bento Set ~ Box & Chopsticks & Lunch Bag This is a really cool bento box and accessory set from the Nintendo Doubutsu no Mori (aka Animal Crossing) that you will love. Includes everything you need to have some seriously fun Animal Crossing bento times. Rilakkuma Mug Cup. Rilakkuma, aka Relax Bear, is the top character from the San-X character company, who we like to think of as the anti-Sanrio. This is a really cool coffee cup that comes in a protective box. Revoltech No.38 Super Valkyrie VF-1A Movie ver. 25th Limited Edition ~ Macross. Wow, is all I can say to this super detailed Revoltech toy that's based on the VF-1A Skull Valkyrie piloted by Hikaru Ichijo in the 1984 Macross movie. Normally available as an exclusive only from Revoltech's main company store, we got them to give us a few units. Includes all "super" armor, alternative weapons and missiles, and dozens of potential poses you can strike. I got one of these for my birthday and I've had tons of fun with it. Animage June 2008 vol. 360. Animage is one of the top anime magazines from Japan, filled with visuals of Japan's hottest anime series, as free posters from Lucky Star, Gundam and more. We have several copies of this issue in stock today. Back Ground Visual Material 1 -- Factory District. The fantastic photobook of "factory moe" (mo-EH) or enjoying the dystopian imagery of big, metallic factories in all their beauty, is back in stock today. Japanese Temple's Donation Box Coin Bank. Here's a really cool item: a wooden coin bank designed to look like the offering boxes in Buddhist temples. How cool is that? Sakura Business Card Holder, Magatama Phone Straps. Enjoy some uniquely Japanese items today, including more metal business card cases that feature cherry blossom styling on the outside, as well as authentic magatama or curved Japanese beads you can you on your phone, keys, camera etc. Fun with Hiragana ~ Sutekina Hiragana. The first place to start learning Japanese is, of course, learning hiragana, the fundamental writing system of the language. This is a fun book to help you get started. Hello Kitty Bento Boxes, Onigiri Makers. Bringing rare and unique Hello Kitty products to our customers all around the world is extremely important to us around here, and today we've gotten in several Hello Kitty bento boxes, for every type of Sanrio fan. Also, fresh stock of those Hello Kitty Onigiri Makers, which shape rice into awesome Hello Kitty shapes. Totoro 3D Bento Boxes, More. We've restocked both of the popular My Neighbor Totoro bento boxes today, as well as the "Trio Set" that gives you a spoon, fork and chopsticks for your bento. There's something good and organic about Totoro that makes food taste better. Hakufu Sonsaku 1/6 Figure School Swimsuit ver.~ Dragon Destiny *Preorder*. There's something about a fighting kung-fu girl wearing a swimsuit that sets a man's heart aflutter. Here's a great large 1/6 scale figure of Hakufu from Ikki Tousen featuring the girl in a tempting pose indeed. FUURIN ~ Japanese Summer Bell " SMILE ". Make your summer happier with this Japanese wind chime that features a smiley face along with a lower section on a string that sways back and forth in the wind, making a pleasing sound. BLUE DRAGON Clear File, Pencil Board, More. J-List has restocked some cool Blue Dragon items, including the "clear file" document protector, plastic pencil boards and more. We also have that dreamy Blue Dragon bento box that is highly recommended. Pen'z Gear -- PG-010 Geometric Cube Green. Also, we have some brand new pens that are great for trying the fun sport of pen spinning, with adjustable weights in the ends to make them go. Oh, you can also write them them. Poison -- Sayaka Ando. Sayaka Ando is back again with her glossy new photobook Poison, filled with amazing photographs of this delicious Japanese goddess showing you how beautiful she can be. This fantastic photobook is 1.5x the thickness of most other books, too. Highly recommended item. Lightning Warrior Raidy Manga. Also, we've restocked the excellent anthology of stories about Raidy, the sword-welding female warrior who fights to bravely in the hit title Lightning Warrior Raidy. Enjoy both the manga and the game! Amane Shiratori Cast Off 1/7 Figure ~ The Nurses You don't Know. Wow, man, just wow. This is a "cast off" figure (meaning you can reconfigure her clothing) based on Toshihide Sano's gorgeous nurse Amane Shiratori, from his current art book and game. In stock and ready for your immediate order! Yulia 1/5 Cast Off Figure ~ Yulia 100-Shiki *Preorder*. A super cast-off figure from the sexy manga Yulia 100-shiki (Yulia Type 100), this is Yulia, a robotic pleasure doll that also cooks and cleans. Buy the preorder figure now.
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Again the ridiculousness continues. Firstly, it’s a new sister for Hakufu, next it’s the revival of Ryoufu Housen, who’s suppose to be dead. Actually I’m a fan of Ryofu Housen in the manga and when I see that she’s back in season III, I’m unsure whether to jump in joy or to sob in misery [...]
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  Needs more smashing and bisexual groping, less hugging. Impressions: I’m a bit disappointed that there was pretty much nothing else to the fight scene aside from what they showed in the preview, and I don’t know that I like this rewrite of Ryofu’s character all that much. Regardless of whether you subscribe to the anime [...]
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I’ve had a first look to the first 3 anime this summer: Ikkitousen Great Guardians, Chocolate Underground and Telepathy Shoujo Ran. I watched Chocolate Underground and Telepathy Shoujo Ran in RAW (and I DONT UNDERSTAND JAPANESE too much… its a challenge… but I could tell what they’re doing and I somewhat know some J-words that [...]
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Gosenzosama Banbanzai Yeah, I know that this ova is already two decades old, but I just had to mention it. Liam recommended it to me, and after watching it, I have to agree that this one’s brilliant! I think the only thing you need to know about it is that it’s basically Mamoru Oshii’s attempt at [...]
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I was pretty surprised when I saw in my GoStats account that someone searched for "Panther's preorders" as a searchphrase. Albeit only one person, but I feel honored. In any case I was planning to do this for some time, but yeah, I had other things to talk about and all. Still, since next week is expected to be hectic for me and I feel like not blogging about any important, this post today will be about my preorders up till October so far, as well as wishlist, if you are interested in knowing what I will be getting.Quite frankly at the start of the year I did not expect that I will make this many preorders. Appalling. Well, here goes. Pictures are taken from various sources and I will thank the various sources in the pictures' captions themselves.Wishlist is at the bottom, and I will be going by month for confirmed preorders. Links to the respective figure makers are in the right sidebar if you wish to peruse their official sites (all in Japanese). You can also buy these figures from respected online dealers, their links are also in the right sidebar. Be forewarned, this is an intensive picture post.June 2008If I do not have it, despite it already waiting for me somewhere, it is a preorder. That is my principle. Even if by the time this post autoposts, I have it, I am considering it a preorder at the time I post it. So sue me for being a prick.Image thanks to AkibaHobby's review. Name: Elwing la SylphisSeries: Shining WindScale: 1/8Manufacturer: KotobukiyaRelease date: 9th June 2008Already out, yes. She was released well ahead of schedule, from the 25th it was moved forward to the 9th. No idea why. I will actually have her by the time this is posted though, since she already is waiting for me at La Tendo. According to Jon, the figure is twice as good as she looks in photos. In other words, photos do not do her justice. I will know when I get her. By the way, she will be the Figure of the Month for July, look forward to it.Image thanks to Shimbori's baron pavilion. Via AkibaHobby.Name: YokoSeries: Tengen Toppa Gurren-LagannScale: 1/7Manufacturer: Enterbrain Inc. (Wafudo)Release date: 31st May 2008Yep, also already out. I would be getting her by the time this posted if not for La Tendo's supplier forgetting to somehow put her in this week's shipment, like WTF. So I will only receive her next week. I have seen quite a few reviews already, she really was well done and I stick by my view of this being the best Yoko figure to date. Space Yoko (see below) is looking to fight with her though, but currently, this one is the best of the lot for me.July 2008A month I hate. Seriously. Still, there are figures coming in as well for this month, so yeah.Image thanks to Orchid Seed's official site for her. Name: Mizuho KazamiSeries: Onegai SenseiScale: 1/7Manufacturer: Orchid SeedRelease date: 25th JulyOne of the first figures I got to know about this year that I must have. Unfortunately I already bought another Mizuho beforehand, but I am thinking that I shall have no regrets with this one. She looks fantastic, though Orchid Seed's scale sizing is a little weird; at 1/7 she will only be some 10 cm tall. I wonder how big is their 1/7 exactly. I still have yet to watch the series heh.Image thanks to DC.com.Name: Noyamano Ringo (Hentai Ver.)Series: Air GearScale: Non-scaledManufacturer: YamatoRelease date: JulyUnknown release date because I suck at Japanese and cannot search for her on Amazon JP. She wears so little, I just had to get her, despite not even planning on watching the series at all. Screw the bag though, not interested in those. This one will surely raise more than a few eyebrows for most people, but I like it. That is the most important thing.August 2008The month of Wonder Festival 2008 Summer. At this point in time nothing has been announced that has even bothered to tickle my fancy, and I am hoping none will be, because I seriously would be spending too much. Aside from Wonfes, here are the figures coming out that I am getting in August.Image thanks to AkibaHobby. Name: Kanu Uncho (Nekomimi Ver.)Series: Ikkitousen Dragon DestinyScale: 1/7Manufacturer: GriffonRelease date: 25th AugustWee. Neko Kanu? Get. I like only Kanu from the Ikkitousen series and quite frankly I gave up 3 episodes into the second season. Just not my type despite the fanservice. The neko one is so cute though, but what is up with Chibi Ryuubi and Zhang Fei (forgot name in Japanese)? Bah. An expensive figure as well.Image thanks to GA Graphic.Name: String Bikini GirlSeries: NoneScale:Manufacturer: Solid TheaterRelease date: AugustAgain, unknown release date due to nubnesty on my part. This one was originally not on my get-list, but guess what? Ero-ecchi wins. Some more blue hair. I need to do something about myself.September 2008Singularly the most important month this year for figures other than Wonfes due to a certain figure, as you will see below.Image thanks to AkibaHobby's sample review. Name: Ira Blanc Neige GardeniasSeries: Shining WindScale: 1/8Manufacturer: KotobukiyaRelease date: 25th SeptemberI mentioned several times before Blanc Neige's Shining Wind outfit was a must-have. And here it is. September! I will be using all my points from La Tendo to redeem her. I had enough. I must have her. Mai waifu.Image thanks to DC.com. Name: Mitsuki Hayase (Bikini)Series: Kimi ga Nozomu EienScale: 1/8Manufacturer: Good Smile CompanyRelease date: SeptemberNoobnesty once more, so no actual release date. Sometimes they also move forward or delay it, so whatever. Another figure I want before watching the anime. I hear she is not well-liked, but blue hair plus slipping bikini? Yes. I do have the series, and I plan on watching it...whenever.October 2008Figure preorders for this month are still incoming. Right now I only have one confirmed preorder for this month.Image thanks to Wcloudxkumo. Name: AyaSeries: Oneechanbara VorteXScale: 1/7Manufacturer: AlterRelease date: OctoberUnknown release date yet again. However even though I already have a previous version of Aya (which I am selling, look here if interested), I far prefer this one. Blame Alter for telling us late they are coming up with one. Their works are fantastic. This one is no exception. Preordered.WishlistWhether released or not, these figures are ones I definitely want, but for some reason or other have been unable to preorder them, or they have not been opened for reservation yet. Also included are preorders I made that somehow have not arrived.Image thanks to Amazon JP. Name: Kotona EleganceSeries: Zoids GenesisScale: 1/7Manufacturer: Max FactoryRelease date: Sometime in March this yearYep, she has been out for a long time now, but she is going quite pricey here. I might wait for La Tendo to get her in stock...though I wonder how long that will be, seriously. This is a great figure of Kotona, the series was decent.Image thanks to AkibaHobby's sample review. Name: MaoSeries: Shining WindScale: 1/8Manufacturer: KotobukiyaRelease date: 25th JulyLa Tendo tells me they will have her in stock but not up for preorder. What a shock. That means I am getting her as a off-the-shelf item, that will suck since I will not get a 10% member preorder discount. Bah. One of the Wind figures I am also getting. I do not have her swimsuit counterpart by Max Factory, and do not feel like getting it anyway.Image thanks to Tsuki-board.Name: Arin (Transparent)Series: PangyaScale: 1/8Manufacturer: Solid TheaterRelease date: Sometime in 2007Yep, found out about her by chance in La Tendo. Figure reserved and set aside for me and by the time this posts I will already have her. I prefer the normal to the limited version though, since the limited version is...weird in color scheme. No, I am never playing Pangya. But in contrast to the game, this one looks less moe, less loli. Always good, that.Image thanks to HobbySearch.Name: Imari KurumiSeries: Bible BlackScale: 1/8Manufacturer: MiyabiyaRelease date: March 2008Another released figure that I already saw locally but not yet arrived at La Tendo. I wonder when she will be coming. The only figure from Bible Black I would get. Imari is hawt. They could have done better though.Image thanks to Wcloudxkumo once again.Name: Yoko (Space Ver. Limited)Series: Tengen Toppa Gurren-LagannScale: 1/8Manufacturer: WaveRelease date: October 2008On the wishlist, Yoko Space Ver. limited looks cool. This one is from the second part of Gurren-Lagann. I am still hesitant on getting her, due to financial as well as other considerations. But if I do get her, I would get the limited one, since transparent back is better and cooler. And cooler is awesomer.Image thanks to Neko Magic.Name: Takami RinSeries: Lyrical Lyric (eroge)Scale: 1/7Manufacturer: Solid TheaterRelease date: September 2008Well, WTF. She just got announced, and I want her already. Her bikini is castoff-able, I assume that means that the bikini is of soft material. Still, lol. Yeah I know, I need to stop pwning myself. And I realize that a lot of my preorders are from ST this year. Hmm.And that is my current preorder and wishlist! I know, huge. One wonders how I get the money to buy them too. I need to stop spending so much. Then again, without these figures, and what they represent for me, I wonder what else I could live on, sometimes.Pandora left one thing trapped inside her box.The only good thing in Pandora's box, was Hope,Panther
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ji~~~~~~~~~~~ Yeah I know we are abit late on this so much so that Ikkitousen has already aired. But that show sucks so it doesn’t count ^^. So what will some of our bloggers here at ABanzai! be watching? Scroll down to check it out! Ikkitousen Great Guardians Trailer: Here Air Date: 11 June Website: http://www.ikkitousen.com/top.html Summary (Season 1): Seven schools [...]
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Ikkitousen is still as softcore as ever, but nevertheless, I´m enjoying this new series. Kanu were quite a lesbian for Ryuubi at Dragon Destiny, but in Great Guardians, she´s burning lesbian for her. First episode´s used to show how she lusts Ryuubi and how she wants to do common lover things with her, like going to [...]
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