Manga:Hatsukoi Limited 8: Tsubasa 173: Tsubasa's getting more exciting. The duel between Syaoran and Seishirou was interrupted by a black mass attempting to snatch the feather. Syaoran managed to hold onto it and was sent to the dream world. A hand appeared behind Sakura.... who's hand is that????Tennis 366:Cross Game 104: Air Gear 185: Purchase:Returned home to find an EMS parcel has arrived, need to collect it tomorrow. It's the parcel from Bookcafe. I didn't realize it was EMS and it's faster and cheaper than Yesasia's economy shipping. Real efficient!Three HLJ orders on the way to my doorsteps; Final Fantasy Mini Trading Figures,, Suzuka guidebook and 3 clear Bandai action bases. Hope Suzuka guidenbook will arrive tomorrow....22 days
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It's end of the year, the season where merchandises overflow and wallets shrink. These are some of the vendors that I have patronaged or visited. Maybe these information might an extra bit of knowledge on online purchases. I mainly purchase my anime related merchandises from HLJ, Yesasia, Play-asia and recently Bookcafe.HobbyLink JapanLink: HLJEstablishment: 1997Location: JapanCredibility: Very HighPopularity: Very HighIdeal for: Gundam kist, figures, crafts and anime collection. Minimal selection for books, CD, fun goods and apparelsFeatures:*Economical and offer SAL shipping*User friendly navigationLimitations:*Poor at combining orders for shipping*Slow processing due to large amount of orders*Slow shipment (SAL)Personal experience: > 13 ordersYesasiaLink: GlobalEstablishment: 1998Location: HK, JP, Korea,Credibility: Very HighPopularity: HighIdeal for: CD, DVD, Book, Movies & Dramas, GamesNot ideal for: Toys, Gundams or figures, MangaFeatures:*User friendly navigation*Decent customer service*Allows order amendments*Support several languages website*Free shipping for selected itemsLimitations:*Slow in acquiring, processing and shipping*Expensive shipping cost*Inconsistent product handlingPersonal experience: 12 ordersComments: Yesasia used to offer free shipping to manga and books but dropped it last year. You cannot combine manga with other products to be eligible for free shipping as well. Thus it loses the effectiveness of the free shipping offer.Play-asiaLink: Play-asiaEstablishment: 2002Location: HKCredibility: HighPopularity: MediumIdeal for: DVD, CD, Games and minimal selection of toysFeatures:*Economical shipping*User friendly ordering system*Several choices of shipping methodLimitations:*Rather new and less appealing*Self-advertisements prone websitePersonal experience: 5 ordersBookcafeLink: Star BookstoreEstablishment: 2003 Dec.Location: TW, HKCredibility: GoodPopularity: ---Ideal for: Manga CH, Novels & Magazine CH, Minimal selection of JP ArtbooksFeatures:*Economical price for CH manga (mostly range from HK28-30)*Fast processingLimitations:*Shipping charges at 500g bracket*Order cannot be amended*Chinese language only website*Harder to navigate, less user friendly*Less payment optionPersonal experience: 2 orders (27 manga)Comments: Guess what 2 days to process my order and shipped already. Yesasia can never do that.Other Stores:Amazon Japan: Giant amazon store in JP. Offers a large variety of anime-related items. However, it only offers express shipping after March 2007 and items such as figures are not shipped outside JP. Only books, CD and DVD are permitted to be shipped internationally. Thus, becomes less ppopular due to shipping and variety. Personal experience: 1 orderHobby Search: An online store specialize in anime figures. Base in Tokyo, JP. EMS shipping only. More information. Personal experience: 1 pre-orderAngloz : A hongkong based online store dealing in a variety of goods including figures and gundam kits. More information. Personal experience: 3 ordersAnimaxis: An online store based in Tokyo, JP and incorporated in 2002. Offers many anime-related accesories and fun goods not available in other online store. EMS shipping only. More information.CDjapan A Japan based online store specializes in CD, DVD and collectibles. This is the only online store (among above) that ship any first print bonus to the customer, which is important!.Practical Examples:Case I: Yesasia Vs BookcafeProduct: MangaYesasia: US$4.49 (HK 35) + Shipping (Shipment + Unit)Bookcafe: HK 28-30 + ShippingAverage unit cost [5 units + shipping] is $8.48(Yesasia) and 7.58(Bookcafe)Average unit cost [12 units + shipping] is $9.01(Yesasia) and 6.64(Bookcafe)Case II: Yesasia Vs Play-asiaProduct: GSD Alliance VS ZAFT II Plus PS2 GameReferences: Yesasia and PlayasiaYesasia: $62.42 (Discounted) + Free shippingPlayasia: $64.90 + 3.10 shippingCase IIIa: Yesasia Vs Play-asiaProduct: Jyukai AMG OP ED SingleReferences: Yesasia and PlayasiaYesasia: $11.25 + shippingPlayasia: $9.90 + 2.60 shippingCase IIIb: Yesasia Vs Play-asiaProduct: Aria The Natural Vocal Song CollectionYesasiaPlayasiaYesasia: $27.25 + shippingPlayasia: $28.90 + 2.60 shippingCase IV: Yesasia Vs Play-asiaProduct: Suzuka DVDReferences: YesasiaPlayasiaYesasia: $53.25 + Free shippingPlayasia: $57.90 + 3.10 shippingCase Va: Yesasia Vs HLJProduct: MG Strike Freedom GundamReferences: Yesasia and HLJGundam Kit: MG Strike FreedomYesasia: $99.99 + Free shippingHLJ: $43.46 + $28.97[EMS] or $15.21[SAL]Case Vb: Yesasia Vs HLJProduct: 1/8 RAH DX Lacus Clyne FigureReferences: Yesasia and HLJYesasia: $61.99 + Free shippingHLJ: $36.22 + 20.10[EMS] or 9.78[SAL]
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Manga:Hatsukoi Limited 7: A chapter on Bessho and his sister Koyoi who has a serious brotherly fancy. She checked on Bessho who met out with Yamamoto but was relieved to learn nothing between them.Tsubasa 172: Kendappa told Tomoyo to set a barrier so that Syaron could duel against Seishiro. Yui realized that Tomoyo had paid the price so that they would appear in Nihon after Celes.Tennis 365: Golden pair's up for the double match. Momo thought of a way to revive Ryouma's memory.Cross Game 103: After paying respect to Wakaba, Koh encountered the Wakaba look-alike girl in yukata.Air Gear 184: Finally the match's over. What a waste of chapters!Purchase:1. Three orders on the way to my doorsteps; Final Fantasy Mini Trading Figures,, Suzuka guidebook and 3 clear Bandai action bases.2. Place the ARIA the Origination Punit Figure Akari and Alice with Hobbysearch.3. I've placed a pre-order at Play-asia with comprising just the Ah! My Goddess OP & ED single by Jyukai.4. I've placed an order with bookcafe for 27 mangas comprising; Cross Game 9, Suzuka 16 & 17, Pastel 17, Conan SP 10+ & 20+, Ichigo 100% 17 and Tsubasa Chronicles 1-20. I had to use a visa card since I couldn't get through the transaction with both mastercards.
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Sorry for being away for so long, that's if you're still visiting the blog. :P I'm currently busy with assignment marking.I have lost hope for my ARIA Solidwork collection, most likely MIA. I think I'll choose EMS next time for shipping my figures. My ARIA Alicia 1/8 figure and Suzuka guidebook have been shipped separately. Hope they will arrive safely.Mood: SadManga:Hatsukoi Limited 4: Kei nominated by her class as the cheerleader. Kusuda voluntered. In the end, the girls have to wear the male school uniform. I think I'm not going to write any thought or comment for this series. Boring, the only thing keeps me reading is the illustration.Tsubasa 170: Cool, Syaoran against Seishiro next chapter!Tennis 362: Fuji against Tezuka imitation, will the well-known Genius be able to beat "Tezuka". Match score 5-4(Fuji).Cross Game 101: A new noodle house under construction beside Koh's house and a new girl who looked like Wakaba appeared.Anime:Gundam 00 3:Kimikiss Pure Rouge 3:Last week:Manga:Hatsukoi Limited 3: Uemura has aspired to be a mangaka and Yuu agreed to help him. However, he met a lot of competition in drawing Yuu's attention.Tsubasa 169: Kurogane received a mechanical arm. Yui paid a price with his blue eye magic that possess magic power. Now it became gold.Cross Game 100: No, he wasn't able to and they lost the game. Aoba asked Ichiyo how would Wakaba react if she was there.Air Gear 180: Kururu and Tool Toul To members activated the Pledge Regalia. Something suspicious about Hako again.Tennis 361: We get to know that Tezuka lost to Fuji when they played during childhood. Fuji is in lead over Niou imitation. Graham approached Setsuna.Anime:Gundam 00 2: Not bad...like Exia more and more... Gundam Meister on their mission phase II. Kimikiss Pure Rouge 2:
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Suzuka guidebook has been released and available at HLJ and Amazon JP. I requested for it to be available at HLJ. :)In addition, Suzuka JP last volume V18 has also been released.It features Suzuka high jump action on the cover page. Available at Amazon JP.Aside: Pastel JP V17 has also been released.Available at Amazon JP.
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Currently at PJ Royal Bintang Hotel, much better than the Genting Highland Hotel. The internet access really made me happy as I can read the manga and check my mails. I'm working on a summary of Suzuka manga before the Suzuka aftermath post. ARIA Arietta summary post on hold. At the moment I have not pick up any anime from the new season. Anticipating for Gundam00 and Clannad.Mood: HappyManga:ARIA 57 Akira and Aika. Will be updated...Hatsukoi Limited: Mizuki Kawashita new work. Will be updated...Tsubasa 168: Encounter of Watanuki and Syaoran in dream. Will be updated...Anime:Non at the momentPurchase:My Alicia 1/8 Goodsmile PVC is now on shipping list. Hurray! Hope the ARIA solidworks collection will reach once I return to Perth.
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I'll be leaving for Malaysia tomorrow morning 12.55am but I have to arrive at the airport at around 10pm tonight. I do have internet connection back in Malaysia but since Suzuka has finished, it's not going to make much difference. There's a Suzuka aftermath post which I'm still compiling and also an ARIA Arietta summary post coming up. I'm sure glad that Romeo & Juliet, Zero no Tsukaima and Moetan finished on the same week. Mood: HappyManga:Air Gear 179: Cross Game 98: Prince of Tennis 400: Anime:Romeo x Juliet 24: Finale, Romeo & Juliet died, one for the sake of love and one for the sake of Neo Verona.Zero no Tsukaima II 12: Saito was on the verge of death but saved by an elf.Moetan 12: There will be a new series 初恋限定 (Hatsukoi Gentei) "Limited First Love" by Mizuki Kawashita, mangaka for Ichigo 100% next week
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Fans of the long running manga series Suzuka would have heaved a sigh of relief as Suzuka came to a neat closure with chapter 166. I remember first watching the anime some time this year before the start of this semester’s hectic school life as I was really bored with my 3 months holidays. The series [...]
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Mood: HappyManga:Suzuka 166: Final episodes of Suzuka! Yamato and Suzuka's daugther, Fuuka is so cute. Air Gear 178: Kururu's back unharmed.Cross Game 97: Koh reached his limits although he didn't show it. Prince of Tennis 359: Inui and kaidou lost. Akaya entered demon stance and aimed at Inui. Inui collapsed. Looks like Seishun lost the 2nd match as well.Anime:Romeo x Juliet 23: Juliet taken away by Ophelia.Zero no Tsukaima II 11: Siesta exposed, Louise cat cosplay and the rebellion of army because of the enemy magic spell/potion.Moetan 11: Without magic, Ink cannot change to Pastel Ink but she cosplayed and continued with the tutoring. Purchase:My sister just has her wedding so a bit rush on this post. I'll update on it soon. Just been informed by my friend that there's a new series "Limited First Love" by Mizuki Kawashita, mangaka for Ichigo 100%.
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Suzuka 166Cover page: Suzuka in wedding dress.A year later, they held their wedding. Their first child was a girl and was named 風夏(ふうか) Fuuka.Miki said that she wanted to have a child as well and Yasonobu replied that he could help her anytime. (same joke)Honoka caught the bouquet.Arima and Kobayakawa became Japan national representativeYamato and Suzuka planned for second child.Kouji Seo next work will appear in Spring.P/S: I was right in the first place, even though I retracted the statement before. There's a wedding. Wonder if Fuuka, their daugther, was their flower girl. Anyway, Suzuka has ended. I'll write an aftermath post for Suzuka manga next week.Note: Support Kouji Seo and Suzuka by purchasing the manga. CH available at Yesasia and JP available at Yesasia and Amazon JP. EN is available at Amazon
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