So I watched the 3rd DVD of the Cromartie High School anime. For some reason, it's a lot easier for me to sit through one of these than say, Kino's Journey. I guess that means I have a short attention span. HEY, LET'S RIDE BIKES!
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An excellent episode centred on the relationship between Nono and Mirei, the Drama Club president. Two fine seiyuu really acting: Kawasumi Ayako (Nono) and Yukino Satsuki (Mirei). This is the most I've liked Yukino-san since she played Ai in Planetes. Her crying in this episode is the best I can remember hearing.Once again, this show gives us complexities of relationship and character, and deepening emotions. And subtle feelings of female friendship tinged with yuri. Summary begins after the first set of pictures. Risaki is putting up posters for the Hitohira play, featuring a big picture of Mugi in the lead role. Mugi is freaking out but can't stop her.During rehearsal, Nono is being hard on Mugi, telling her to put more feeling into it. As Mugi and Risaki go on, Katsuragi tries to get Nono to be gentler, but she says it's necessary. When Risaki complains that Nono is talking when she should be watching them rehearse, Nono says Katsuragi was sexually harassing her.Chitose is mooning at a window somewhere, thinking beautiful pink hearts toward Katsuragi. Another Drama Club member tells her she should be practicing, and she says: Yes. You're right. I should go and do something about it, and rushes off to Katsuragi.When she gets to the Drama Study Group's room, she peeks in and sees that Mugi is actually acting pretty well. She knew she had that voice, but now there is something different. So she realizes she had better practice herself. Risaki, the Drama Club president, is coming to find her, but when Chitose sees her, she gets down on the ground and apologizes profusely and says she will get back to work. Risaki is embarrassed and her anger defused. Nono is waiting in the school doorway for the rain to stop and remembers the day she brought her resignation from the Drama Club to this door, wanting to apologize to Mirei for leaving the Club, but feeling she had to keep acting, which Mirei wouldn't let her do. Katsuragi offers her his umbrella, with the intention of sharing it. She says it would be a bother and rushes off into the rain, saying the rain feels good. Katsuragi complains to himself that she's inhuman. Mirei comes up and says Nono is just unreasonable and does her own thing, that he should give up on her. Katsuragi says: "So should you." This takes her aback. "What do you mean?" she says. He gives a non-answer and rushes out into the rain, leaving her his umbrella.The next day, Mirei and the Drama Club are getting ready for the festival. They are missing a raincape costume. Meanwhile, Nono is lamenting that the Drama Study Group doesn't have one. But Risaki produces one, which she has kept from the Drama Club days (I think). Risaki goes the her Club's storeroom to look for it. She has trouble opening the door until she realizes she hasn't urned the key. Once inside the storeroom, she realizes someone else is there. And she realizes it's Nono.Risaki tells Nono that her obsession with continuing to act is not going to work, that they won't succeed with their play. Nono says they will. The two get into a little fight with rolled up posters as swords. Mirei falls over and pulls Nono down on top of her in one of the nicest little romantic pile-ups I can remember: quick, with a brief flush when they realize how close they are to each other. They decide to leave, but neither can get the door open. they realize that no-one is going to come to the storeroom soon and let them out. Mirei shouts, saying she's an actress and should be able to rouse someone. Aren't you embarrassed? asks Nono. Mirei says that an actor doesn't get embarrassed. Nono decides to shout, too. Mirei is worried that it might hurt her voice, and softens to her real feeling of concern for Nono, with her hands on Nono's shoulders. Then Nono really does lose her voice. She writes that on a pad of paper to tell Mirei.Meanwhile, Mugi wonders why it's taking Nono so long just to return the cape and goes to the Drama Club room to find her. She imagines Nono and Mirei having a knock-down, drag-out fight. She finds out where they are and rushes off.Back in the storeroom, Mirei is crying over Nono losing her voice. Nono writes: It's nothing for you to cry over, is it? Stop fooling around! shouts Mirei. Why do you you have to act? she weeps. Nono remembers how lonely she was and how Mirei got her into acting and gave her this wonderful world, saying how much fun it was to become a self that is not yourself. She remembers Mirei holding her hands to calm her, as she held Mugi's hands. There's a nice, somewhat suggestive shot of their bags on top of one another while they are working through a script. Then we see Nono about to quit out of a feeling of inability, exactly the way Mugi was about to quit, and Mirei saying: Okay, quit, and go back to your lonely world. On a cold day after rehearsal, Nono felt her throat and Mirei thought she had a cold and they walked home together sharing Mirei's scarf. She remembers Mirei unzipping her costume to measure her for altering it. Then she remembers the day she told Mirei she might lose her voice. Mirei felt it was her fault for inviting Nono into the Drama Club. She said Nono should stop and look after herself, but Nono refused. Mirei made it an order, as Club president. In the present, Mirei says she did it because she was worried for Nono, but Nono then left her. The Goddess of Spring costume from episode one is sitting there in the storeroom beside them.They remember the day Nono brought her letter of resignation from the Club. Mirei was shocked and unhappy, but said Nono had to rest and could come back when she was better. Nono said she wasn't going to come back, that her high-school life was half over and she wasn't going to wait, she was going to do it herself.Back in the storeroom, Mirei is crying and saying: What's wrong with me being concerned for you? Do you hate me that much? She laughs bitterly that Nono isn't that good at making friends. Nono writes that she has a friend. Mirei thinks she means Katsuragi. Nono writes that it's Mirei. Mirei cries. Nono wipes away her tears. They embrace.Mugi comes up outside and sees them embracing and hides. She thinks how hard everything must have been for them, being friends, and loving one another ("love" doesn't imply anything except close friendship). Then she sneezes and they hear her and Mirei calls for her to let them out quickly and get someone to help Nono because she's lost her voice.The next day, Nono's voice is fine. Mirei gets mad at her and they rush off. Katsuragi says that's how they always were. At the end, Nono says to herself that she still has a lot of uncertainties, but for Nono's sake and for her own sake, she is going to keep working hard toward the play.
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Saiunkoku Monogatari II Episode 5 -愛は惜しみなく与う (Love is Lavishly Given) If I were to sum up this episode in one word, I’d say it’s all “revelations”. From the Bara-hime I simply thought of was just a character in a story, it’s far deeper than what I thought, and once again intertwines with other events and characters in the world of Saiunkoku. Now that I think about it, it seems as though just about each and every character, events, and the like, are all intertwined in this series, which simply makes us see how great of a “weaver” the author Yukino Sai is. This episode has also made us see a glimpse of a blooming love, but that which, alas, has to come to an end. I believe the title ‘Love is Lavishly / Generously Given’ speaks of this love, and also of Shouka’s love for his wife Shoukun. Another form of love shown contrasts this title, referring to Riou’s “love” which is nothing but a selfish kind of love (possessive)
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Oh Ikuto you silly ho you. I don’t really like Yukino the loli or her barrage of spherical animals so this episode was kinda dumb for me. The only part that made me laugh was the bishounen bear. He’s definitely win. XD
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Yukino finds Kuma Kuma in a shed eating all of the jam inside.
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After being wowed by the TV series but left wondering about the character of Kino herself, I was really interested in seeing the prequel movie. It doesn’t deliver the same amount of philosophical questioning that the TV show did but gives some fascinating insights into Kino’s early life. This ‘lost episode’ (in that it still [...]
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My respect for Satsuki Yukino just went up considerably with this character CD. Self-duet for the win XD. The Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Character CD’s are probably the most entertaining character CD set I’ve seen in a while. “USODAAAAA!!” Rena’s CD has Keiichi and Oishii duet rapping, which was the funniest thing ever since [...]
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There is a Japanese wiki for Touka Gettan which collates information about the show, including a run-through of each episode, as well as details about the characters, links to other sites, etc. I thought I'd translate the wiki for episode 3. It may not be as useful as I thought -- and it is definitely more work than I expected -- so I may not do others. But here it is.Up to episode 3, this show just gets better and better. Unique and fascinating. Episode 4 aired a few hours ago.Notes:→inference, question, etc.+++ hashihime ――two days before the concert ―― SCENE1　night Yumiko’s room Yumiko is sleeping. Nene arranges her covers. SCENE2　night Kamiazuma house Touka sitting in his room. "The memories in the sword really looked and felt like my own experiences." "Nevertheless….” →Is he denying that he is Isamihiko? Memory 1 Touka with the Sword, and a strange expression on his face. Subtitle "Sword" SCENE2 continued　Night　Kamiazuma house, under the eaves facing a pond Touka worried. ”What should I do?” The three sisters fly around Touka as butterflies, teasing him. Memory 2 （fragments, apparently in reverse time order）６．Girl with twin ponytails in a field →because of the sound when the scene changes, this probably follows all the other memory scenes ５．White sleeve with an unpainted girl doll on the red sword →birth of the present Touka？ →did the girl with the ponytails put it there？ ４．Girl with twin ponytails in front of a burning building. In her hand is the blossoming sword. ３．Girl with twin ponytails and sword pushes Haruhiko down (?) ２．Twintail girl goes close to Haruhiko and says: “If I get the sword, Haruhiko, I’m going to cut you first.” １．Twintail girl with Yumiko: ”I want the sword. Where is it?” SCENE 3　night　Yumiko’s room Yumiko, sitting up quickly: “Touka-chan was different in my dream. He was a little girl. Little… → different in age? In gender? ”It’s okay, Yumiko-sama.”→Are Yumiko and Yuriko combined? (Up to now, Nene has called her Yumiko.) →is Juna possessing her, or gone?→does the real Yumiko realize Touka is a boy? Memory 3（also in reverse order？）７．Kikyou at a ceremony to purify the sword (older than in 6？） ６．Kikyou at the ceremony to purify the sword (same place as 5?) → is she the sword’s keeper？ ５．Beginning of the sword purification → for sealing up the sword？ ４．Juna shoots out some kind of blue energy. Sei (Momoka) protects with pink energy. Juna is defeated and Fuu cries out “Onee-sama!”→is Juna also strangely bewitched with the sword？ →does she hate Sei for bewitching her brother？ ３．Juna before the sword. She looks strange. ２．Isamihiko kills a lot of people with the sword →although the torches are the same as 1, the dead are not soldiers. A different scene? Fuu, Sei, and Juna are afraid. The sword is glittering. Fuu and Sei call out “Isamihiko-sama!” and Juna “Elder brother!” →Isamihiko disappears? １．Isamihiko offers the sword to a masked man in a military encampment. Sei is next to the masked man. Juna and Fuu have secret expressions. The masked man pulls Sei closer to him. Isamihiko grabs the sword and brandishes it, scaring the soldiers around him the sword gives off light that cracks the mask SCENE4　night Touka“Please save Isamihiko!” ”What a joke. That’s just too much.” →he is indeed denying that he is Isamihiko Touka crawls into Makoto’s bed→a mistake because he is so tired？ SCENE5　night 10pm　Momoka’s room・Makoto’s room Momoka puts a dictionary on her cup-ramen. called by Makjoto’s cries, Momoka beats up Touka SCENE6　night 10pm　Haruhiko’s room Haruhiko sitting on his bed. SCENE7　night　Yumiko’s roomTouka and Yumiko playing around together eyecatch ――day before the song festival―― SCENE8　morning　entrance to Kamiazuma house？Conversation about invisible stars between Touka in ordinary clothes and Haruhiko in school uniform Makoto on her way to school SCENE9　noonMomoka and Makoto eating lunch Momoka: “What if we were to part?”Makoto: “No, no, no.” SCENE10　evening　Kamiazuma houseTouka alone in his room →Touka didn’t go to school that day? SCENE11　？Yuurika imprisoned by a spirit barrier SCENE12　evening The Ninoimiya sisters enjoying tea ”This year’s song festival will be different.” ”But we will be the same.” →their disappearance was not their idea? SCENE10 continued“Please save Isamihiko.”“Does that mean it’s time?” Kikyou appears before Touka“Man’s consciousness, the power of the spirit, man’s powers of concentration – how many huydreds of years can they be maintained? Do you know?” ”To maintain it for so long, how much will the human heart weaken? Do you know?” →What about Kikyou herself？ SCENE12　evening　roof Kikyou appears before Makoto ”Tomorrow’s song festival is supposed to be the last.” ”You should release the full power of the dragon within you. I will support you.” ++she did, standing there flaming along with Makoto in the hall in ep1 SCENE13　evening　path homeMomoka is in distress.Sei’s image and Momoka’s.“It cannot go on→what can’t？ SCENE12 continuedAs Makoto practices, the dragon glows, and Yuurika’s barrier opens. SCENE14　？Yuurika realizes the barrier is down and escapes SCENE15　evening Ninomiya sisters looking at cherry trees Shouko drives a green sports car (license plate MAKO).When she takes her glasses off, her attitude changes: ”About the 20% reduction in the student council estimates for the coming year…” →Shouko is on the student council？ Yuurika passes by ”What?” “My goodness!” ”Isn’t that the beautiful monster you captured?”→it was the Ninomiya sisters who imprisoned Yuurika SCENE16　nightTouka is still sitting there He remembers his conversation with Kikyou “I will soon take a long sleep. I want to sleep.” SCENE17　night　Yumiko’s room Nene peeling garlic →for protection against Juna？ She calls Yumiko Yumiko →because Juna isn’t there? SCENE18　night Fuu (green) and Juna (blue) radiating light. Fuu is in front of a torii (not the dance pavilion) SCENE16 continued Touka decides SCENE19　night　bath Makoto thinks of Momoka ”I’m sorry, Momo-sempai. But it is what you want. ” →How does she know what Momoka wants? Did Kikyou tell her? SCENE20　night　outdoor passageway Touka and Momoka pass. Yuurika is watching.“If I pretend I’m just kidding, can I hug you?”→what is the barrier between them? ”I couldn’t come to Kinomiya, but if we meet again, I’m going to kiss you.” →last scene of ep1 Yuurika shows herself ”What are you doing here?” ”It’s because I hate you.” →does this have anything do do with Yuurika’s imprisonment？ Yuurika attacks Momoka, who responds with a blast of energy →the same energy with which Sei responded to Juna’s attack？ The butterfly sisters (Ninomiya) appear ”I’ll get Nene to make me some ramen.” →the garlic ramen from episode 2
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I gave the Kinokuniya bookstore a visit again on April 22nd. I swear, it has become like a ritual. Every time I go to New York City I always visit that store for new products I could potentially line my walls with. New York’s Kinokuniya is one of the few places in my vicinity that [...]
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Episode 4 didn't thrill me as much as the others, but it shows us that this is not a simple, predictable show. The characterizations begin to broaden. Nono is not just the sweet sempai eager to help Mugi. And one time on stage does not make Mugi an actress.Sorry I'm late with this post. Real life intervened. Full summary after the first set of pics.Mugi got 42 on her Japanese test. She tries to hide the test from Kai, but he shows her that he got a low mark, too. They feel a bond and shake hands. But Mugi is actually pretty good in Japanese. She just wrote all the answers down wrong.Chitose comes in to return a notebook to Mugi and loans her a book on acting she read a long time ago. Mugi says she is skipping drama practice. Everyone is shocked except Kayo, who says that's what Mugi's like. Chitose says Mugi has gone bad. Mugi imagines herself as a biker chick saying she won't go to club because it's boring.Kai says Nono will kill her. Mugi says she knows, and they smile together about skipping practice. The older three club members come in. Katsuragi says they seem to be in love. Nono congratulates them and says she hadn't noticed. Risaki tells her brother he moved unexpectedly fast.Chitose says good morning to Katsuragi. He says it's afternoon. Kai tells his sister they're not lovers, and anyway she shouldn't just barge into someone else's classroom.Risaki grabs Kai to drag him off the practice. Mugi pretends to have a fever and says she thinks she might be getting sick. Nono gets very close to her and tenderly holds her chin and offers to take her to the clinic. Mugi says it's not that bad. Nono says such half-hearted acting wouldn't fool anyone, and drags her off to practice.They run. They do speaking practice while the exhausted Mugi rests. Mugi thinks how amazing Nono is, despite her normal appearance. She suddenly found out she was losing her voice, but can still be as strong as this. They practice ad-libbing a role, for when they might forget the script. Mugi is very hesitant in her part of a waitress, but Nono says it's very apt, like an overseas student from Asia. Mugi tries to run away. The others go after her, but Nono praises the roile: "Very interesting. A waitress who runs away."After they catch her and finish practice, Mugi is exhausted again. The head of the Drama Club, Sakaki Mirei (played by Yukino Satsuki) comes by and greets her pleasantly. Then Nono is there, saying coldly: "If you try anything with one of our kids, I'll kill you." "I was just saying a few words." ""You're shameless, spying on our rehearsal like this." "Shameless? Don't be ridiculous. You were practicing in the open courtyard." Mugi tries to sneak away while they're arguing, but Nono catches her and tells the head of the Drama Club that Mugi has the ability to get into the top 50 in the class. Mugi, not being much of a student, is incredulous, but Nono says they have to beat the Drama Club in every way. When Mugi talks back to Nono, Katsuragi comments that she is really growing up. Then Nono says they all have to get into the top 50.We next see the club studying history together by doing dramatic readings from the textbook. Nono says it will help them remember. Mugi says it's a bit embarrassing. Kai says it will bother the neighbors. Katsuragi says they all have to obey their president, Nono. Risaki calls him an idiot, and we soon see why. Nono praises his attitude, then orders him to strengthen his stomach muscles by stooping against the wall while he drinks his tea. When he objects slightly, she repeats what he said: that her words are absolute. When Mugi says how impressed she is, Nono gets Risaki to do it, too.Mugi asks something she has wondered: why do you hate the Drama Club so much? Kai is coming in and tries to get away. Mugi apologizes for asking something strange. Risaki says they were all originally members of the Drama Club. Kai complains that Risaki dragged him in without telling him. She apologizes, saying she didn't know how to explain. Nono says it was really she herself deciding whether to go on acting. Katsuragi says they admired Nono and wanted to help her continue. Non says it isn't exactly hatred. She knows Sakaki-san (the Drama Club president) is right, but it's a matter of her decisions about her own life.Walking home from Risaki/Kai's house, Nono asks Katsuragi to escort Mugi. She says her own route home is well-lit all the way, so she'll be all right. She runs off, telling Katsuragi not to become a wolf. Mugi realizes she's alone with Katsuragi, and thinks of Chitose will kill her. Katsuragi asks what's wrong, and she says her heart is fluttering. He says she's been working hard. She asks: have I? He says the whole club can attest to it. That makes her feel good: she has been doing her best. She is determined to do even more.Mugi says Nono is really something. Katsuragi says she wasn't always like that. She didn't even like acting. Mugi asks who was the "important person" who got her into it. It was the Drama Club president, Sakaki Mirei. But she opposed Nono acting after her throat problem, and Katsuragi and Misaki supported her.At home, Mugi is studying hard, despite being so tired. She picks up the book on acting that Chitose loaned her and reads: The stage is a place of dreams. Meanwhile, Nono is in a park practicing, with her strained voice. Mugi thinks how great Nono is.It's the day when results are posted, and Sakaki says that the Drama Club will get their club fees if they all don't get in the top 50 in their year. Risaki says with a smile that it's impossible for her. Nono is 6th. Mugi says how smart she is. Kai says that smart people are all weird.Sakaki comes 2oth. She says to Nono that's good, and that it has nothing to do with the bet anyway. Katsuragi comes 25th, which surprises him and delights Chitose. Risaki thinks about what's possible and impossible, and that what's impossible can't be made possible. She blandly makes her way to the front and grabs the results list and tosses it to Kai and rushes away.Nono goes after them, with glowing red eyes like a monster. "If you don't come out, I'll kill you." "She'll kill me if I do," thinks Risaki. Nono comes into the classroom where Risaki is hiding and calls out loudly, then her voice breaks as if in pain. Risaki rushes out to help Nono, but Nono grabs her and says: Gotcha.Chitose and Katsuragi hear Risaki scream. Katsuragi says nothing can stop an angry Nono and burns incense to Risaki's spirit. Mugi and Sakaki are sitting waiting. Sakaki says the idea of them all getting in the top 30 was ridiculous. She wonders of Nono is stubborn or stupid. Mugi tries to ask if Sakaki and Nono can't be friends, but Nono shows up with Risaki, still looking for Kai.Later, in the club room, Nono says that during the summer they will go off and stay together for intensive training. They can't just do a second-rate job because it's a student performance. And Nono will train Mugi all summer. Will Mugi work hard? Risaki and Katsuragi say that personal taining with Nono is hell, and they don't know if Mugi will survive. Mugi faints. Then we see Nono in a doctor's office, hearing that her throat condition has worsened.
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