Listen to the Silence my Friend...

VSSing at D-Addicts

2020-01-30T23:00:00.003+01:00

VSSing over at D-Addicts
Nov 1st - Dec 1st: Kita no Kuni kara episode 1-6
I will be seeding six episodes each month and eventually also the SPs. So if everything goes as planned it should look something like this:
Dec 1st - Jan 1st: Kita no Kuni kara episode 7-12
Jan 1st - Feb 1st: Kita no Kuni kara episode 13-18
Feb 1st - March 1st: Kita no Kuni kara episode 19-24
March 1st - April 1st: Kita no Kuni kara SP 1983 ~Fuyu~, Kita no Kuni kara SP 1984 ~Natsu~, Kita no Kuni kara SP 1987 ~Hatsukoi~ and Kita no Kuni kara SP 1989 ~Kikyou~
April 1st - May 1st: Kita no Kuni kara SP 1992 ~Sudachi~ Part 1, Kita no Kuni kara SP 1992 ~Sudachi~ Part 2, Kita no Kuni kara SP 1995 ~Himitsu~ Part 1 and Kita no Kuni kara SP 1995 ~Himitsu~ Part 2
May 1st - June 1st: Kita no Kuni kara SP 1998 ~Jidai~ Part 1, Kita no Kuni kara SP 1998 ~Jidai~ Part 2, Kita no Kuni kara SP 2002 ~Yuigon~ Part 1 and Kita no Kuni kara SP 2002 ~Yuigon~ Part 2

Note: Usually online every day from 10 AM – 2 PM New York time.

New single from Gackt

2009-11-06T18:53:00.006+01:00

At the press conference of the game Samurai Warriors 3 on August 5, it was revealed that famed JPop/JRock artist GACKT will be performing the theme song for the game.
The songs "Zan" ("斬~ZAN~") and "Setsugetsuka" ("雪月花 -The end of silence-") will be used in the promotional CMs for the game, and will also be featured in the game's ending. The single for "Zan" is set to be released on December 9th 2009.

GACKTのニュー・シングルは、大人気ゲームソフト「戦国無双3」のテーマソングに決定! 「戦国無双」のTV-CMはもちろん、ゲーム本編でも楽曲が使用される予定。インストを含む全4曲収録予定。

Track list:
01 雪月花 -The end of silence-
02 斬～ZAN～
03 雪月花 -The end of silence- (inst)
04 斬～ZAN～ (inst)

The single can be pre-ordered at:
YesAsia: Setsugetsuka -The end of silence- (Japanese Version)
Amazon (Japan): タイトル未定 [Single] [Maxi]

I was supposed to be born today...

2009-11-06T07:25:00.011+01:00

I was supposed to be born today at the Gustavus Adolphus Day, but I instead I was in such a hurry, 3½ months. What a shame.

*Sings Happy brithday to Me*

I think I will celebrate the day eating a Gustavus Adolphus pastry. ^^

Gustavus Adolphus Day is celebrated in Sweden each year on 6 November. On this day only, a special pastry with a chocolate or marzipan medallion of the king, is sold. The day is also an official flag day in the Swedish calendar. In Finland, the day is celebrated as svenska dagen or ruotsalaisuuden päivä, "Swedishness Day", and is a customary flag day. In Estonia, the day is known as Gustav Adolfi päev. In all three countries, 6 November is the name day for Gustav Adolf, one of the few exceptional name days in the year.

Information from Wikipedia on: Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden

Gackt to have lead role in theatrical version Nemuri Kyoshiro

2009-11-05T23:50:00.004+01:00

Sources:
Tokyograph (Nov 5th 2009)
MainIchi (with pictures)
Japanese Yahoo Entertainment

Gackt has been given the lead role in a theatrical version of the jidaigeki story "Nemuri Kyoshiro". This will be his first performance in a stage play.

Originally a series of novels by Renzaburo Shibata, "Nemuri Kyoshiro" has been the basis of more than a dozen films and several television dramas. The story revolves around a sleepy-eyed swordsman born from a Japanese mother and a foreign father.
Performances are scheduled to begin at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo next May.

At the press conference Gackt revealed his real age. He will turn 37 next year.

There were many results for Nemuri Kyoshiro on DramaWiki so I don't really now which one it's supposed to be.
Nemuri Kyoshiro (TV Asahi - 2005)
Nemuri Kyoshiro (TV Tokyo - 2005)
Nemuri Kyoshiro ~ Burari Hika (TV Tokyo 2005)

Credit: To excused_early for the translation
Audio part (not text at the bottom).

[Koyama (draft, screenplay)]
I met GACKT-san for the first time one hour ago. While thinking to myself, “Oh, it’s GACKT...” [laughter], I observed him up close and honestly thought “If Nemuri Kyoshiro time traveled to this day, he’d look like this.”
I’ll start working on the story now, and I’ll do so while looking at his face up close. [laughter]
I hope to create a new Nemuri Kyoshiro based on the inspirations I get from him.

[GACKT]
Many great actors have played this role of Nemuri Kyoshiro in the past. I’m happy, from the bottom of my heart, that I will be able to revive him today as a new character, a new hero.
I hope that my Nemuri Kyoshiro will send many messages [to the audience], such as the value of self and the reason to live.
Please look forward to a Nemuri Kyoshiro, GACKT’s Nemuri Kyoshiro, that is very different from those in the past. [applause]

Q. How are you preparing for the role?
I’ve been thinking for a long time that I shouldn’t be tied down by how he was portrayed in the past. So, I want to deliver his thoughts, and my impressions of him, that I get from the book through my body.
This Nemuri Kyoshiro character is mixed-blood and very unique, very interesting. And you can feel an abundance of [literal translation: you can “smell” a lot of] nihilism and dandy qualities from him. [laughter]
So, as I was reading, I was convinced this character exists for me. [laughter]
I hope that [my Nemuri Kyoshiro] will be accepted not only by my fans but also by the die-hard fans of Nemuri Kyoshiro. I hope they’ll say “GACKT’s Nemuri Kyoshiro’s not bad.”
I hope that GACKT’s Nemuri Kyoshiro will become the hero of today. Now that I’ve accepted the role, I’m determined to follow through to the end of the project.

Q. It said [on the screen] that you will be 37 in 2010. [laughter] Isn’t this the first time you’re revealing it?
It’s not that I wasn’t announcing it publicly. I just jokingly said that I’d been born in 1540 during MC in lives long time ago, and that ended up being put on my profile. [laughter] Then before I knew it, it'd been spread to the world. It was like I was the longest living person next to Demon Kogure. [laughter] So, I was thinking “Now, what’ll I do?”, but I missed the chance to correct it.
I feel strongly that [me succeeding this role] was meant to be. I mean, it’s not that I was hiding [my age] at all anyway, and I believe that the time is right for me to take over.

Geocities is dead

2009-11-05T23:36:00.001+01:00

Source: The Other East

Yahoo bought Geocities a while back (for several billion dollars[!]) and yesterday they pulled the plug. Oh sure, younger people may laugh at Geocities, and sure it was basic and filled with terrible animated gifs but short of buying webspace and coding your own page from the ground up there weren’t many options for making a personal webpage back then. Geocities was free webspace. Some say that Yahoo fucked up big time, they shelled out all that money then didn’t do anything with it. There wasn’t Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, or Wordpress back then. If you wanted to express yourself on the internet for free on dedicated webspace back in the day you went with Geocities (or Tripod or Angelfire, but Geocities was the hotness with its neighborhoods) Considering how many personal webpages are basically Myspace pages they missed out on a big opportunity to make a lot of money. I’d like to see if they saw a profit on paying 3 billion for a free hosting site…
Also think about how many dead hotlinks are on forums around the world now. Yeesh.
But on a jrock note this means that two of the more important websites regarding the history X are dead, I believe Jun’s site and that site with all the indies era bootlegs and merch documented were both on Geocities. Hope someone mirrored that stuff.

I was one of those who had my homepage way back in mid 1990s, during the years I've been hosted at Fortunecity, Tripod and for a while maybe also Geocities. I wasn't the one who did that much HTML coding, more often using a program.
Nowdays it (sadly?) seems as if most homepages/fan pages etc have moved to various forms of communities (closed or open).
Of course there is there Wayback Machine that can be used for all the dead links.

First knitting project

2009-11-05T23:34:00.001+01:00

In February 2009 I began knitting. Really fun to do. :)
This is result. It took about 6-7 months, when not hurrying. During the summer in can be really hot so if I choose to knit then it's usually late at night.

Taiga dramas

2009-11-05T23:29:00.002+01:00

A list of (mostly) NHK taiga dramas by in chronological order.

Yoshitsune 1159-1189 Minamoto Yoshitsune (源義経)
Hojo Tokimune 1251-1284 Hojo Tokimune (北条時宗)
Mori Motonari 1497-1571 Mori Motonari (毛利元就)
Fuurin Kazan 1535-1573 Yamamoto Kansuke (山本勘助)
Oda Nobunaga - King of Zipangu 1540-1583 Oda Nobunaga (織田信長)
Toshiie to Matsu 1550-1599 Maeda Toshiie (前田利家)
Komyo ga Tsuji 1560-1595 Yamauchi Kazutoyo (山内一豊 or やまうちかつとよ）
Tenchijin 1560-1620 Naoe Kanetsugu (直江兼続)
Sanada Taiheiki 1582-1622 Sanada Nobuyuki (真田信之)
Aoi Tokugawa Sandai 1598-1616 Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康)
Musashi 1600-1645 Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵)
Genroku Ryoran 1701-1703 47 Ronin (元禄赤穂事件)
Shinsengumi 1863-1868 Tokugawa Police (新選組 or 新撰組)
Atsu-hime 1836-1883 Tenshouin or Atsuko (天璋院 or 篤子)

Watched dramas

2009-11-05T23:25:00.002+01:00

Currently Watching: Maria (2001) Homework (1992) (on hold)
Most Recently Watched Drama: Bokutachi no Sensou (2006)
You’re welcome to tell me what you think about the dramas I've watched.

14 Sai no Haha (2006) Well… what to say. This drama is well acted most of the time. I especially liked Tanaka Misako and Namase Katsuhisa’s (Miki’s mother and father) contribution to this drama. Shida Mirai did also do well acting as Miki. In some way I think Satoshi, being Miki’s boyfrined, should have been there more for her. The soundtrack for this drama is good, maybe not top-notch, but still good. During the first episodes I kept wondering if it could be possible that the reporter could’ve been Satoshi’s father.
This drama does not make it to be favorites list, even though it’s well acted.
Personally I think it’s wrong of 14 year old to give birth, risking both her own and the baby’s life, and that she’s too young to become a parent.
However maybe the purpose of this drama was to show young persons to responsibility of their actions – I’m talking about things in general here.
15 Sai no Blues (2005)
3 nen B gumi Kinpachi Sensei [Season 6] + Graduation Special (2001)
3 nen B gumi Kinpachi Sensei [Season 7] + Graduation Special (2004)
Aishiteiru to Ittekure (1995) Very good drama, highly recommended if you like the dramas from the 1990s.
Akai Ito (2008-2009) It was first at the two last episodes that I began to like this drama. There are other school dramas that I would recommend over this one. “Asunaro Hakusho” and “Hakusen Nagashi” being two of them.
Aoi Tori (1997)
Asunaro Hakusho (1993) This is a drama serie that I really like
Bara no nai Hanaya (2008) Wonderful drama! Absolutely worth watching.
Beautiful Life (2000)
Blackjack ni Yoroshiku (2003)
Bokutachi no Sensou (2006)
Byakuyakou (2006) Another drama that makes it to my “Best dramas”. Great acting, a very interesting story and good music overall. At first I felt sorry for Yukiho, then I thought she was just using Ryouji, by episode 9-10 I disliked both of them. Memoriable quote from this drama: “You’re the worst.“
Gokusen (2002) A fun drama, smiliar to GTO. If you liked GTO I’d suggest you watch Gokusen. I’m not going to debate over which is better.
Gokusen 2 (2005) Kumiko returns yet again. This time to new school with a bunch of new students. My first reaction when seeing Odagiri Ryu (Kamenashi Kazuya) He reminds of Shinya, from Dir en Grey.
Great Teacher Onizuka (1998) Also known as “GTO”.
Hakusen Nagashi (1996) This drama made me long for my own (secondary) high school days. Wishing that I could go back in time. For the most part I enjoyed going to school.
Hatsu Tsubomi (2003)
Ichi Rittoru no Namida (1 Litre of Tears) (2005) + Special (2007) The drama that is no. 1 at my list. A great plot, with deep message, good acting and soundtrack. Tissues are needed for this show.
Ikebukuro West Gate Park + Special (2000) Also known as “IWGP”.
Innocent Love (2008)
Iryu – Team Medical Dragon (2006) [Season 1]
Itoshi Kimi e (2004)
Joou no Kyoushitsu + Special (2005) In a way I almost liked the Special more than the actual drama serie itself.
Jotei (2007) Based on the manga with the same name. I began watching this drama, then dropped it after three episodes. Recently I picked it up again. From the very first moment I saw Rina (and Reiko) I disliked both of them.
I guess that many of the girls that ‘agreed’ with Reiko of everything she said about/to Ayaka did it since they was afraid of being the next bully victim.
Ayaka developed into a strong young woman, but I think she payed a (too high?) prize for it. The theme song “Kanata”, sung by Nanamusica is really good. I wish I could find more music with this artist.
Kamisama, Mou Sukoshi Dake (1998) A little bit of over-acting, but a really great soundtrack. Thanks to S.E.N.S. and Luna Sea. This serie isn’t bad, I just say, it could have been better.
Kanojo to no Tadashii Asobikata (2007)
Koinu no Waltz (2004) A very strange drama.
Konno-san to Asobo (2008) A little bit odd serie – but hilarious! ^o^
Kono yo no Hate (1994) Also known as “End of the World”
Kou Kou Kyoushi 1993 (1993) This was the second drama I watched. Compared my first, being Summer Snow. This was much darker. I can’t praise the soundtrack of this drama enough, thanks to Douji Morita (森田童子).
Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003 + Special (2003) New story but some old character(s) appears from “Kou Kou Kyoushi 1993″.
Last Friends (2008) A must watch for anyone.
Life (2007) Adapted from Keiko Suenobu’s manga with the same title. A very good drama about bullying. If you like the manga LIFE I can also suggest you read “Confidential Confessions” by Reiko Momochi.
Long Love Letter (2002)
Loss Time Life (2008)
Mahiru no Tsuki (1996) Takes up the topic rape seen from the victim’s point of view and the consequences of it.
Majo no Jouken (1999)
Maou (2008)
Meguri Ai (1998)
Nobunaga (1992) The 30th NHK Taiga drama. Year 1540-1585. This was a very long watch, 51 episodes! It took a few months. A good way to learn of Japanese history, especially how Christianity was brought to Japan.
Orange Days (2004)
Otousan (2002) I thought this drama was slow.
Satokibi Batake no Uta (2003)
Seija no Koushin (1998)
Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu (2004)
Shiroi Kage (2001)
Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi (2002)
Summer Snow (2000)
To Heart (1999)
Toi Shinseki Chikaku no Tanin (1999)
Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi (2006/2007) [Season 1 and 2] I loved this drama. Just too bad each season was so short, only four episodes.
Warui Yatsura (2007)