Delicious Ca-ke pt. 2

This series is dedicated to "Delicious Ca-ke", because in Japan ca-ke is COOL! For females and males alike, the Japanese celebrate various offshoots of culture that are dedicated to the good life and a well mannered set of ways to have fun and be humane or human. One of these, is for their people as a ethnicity, to enjoy and place value on cake.

Though they would rather use the derivative loanword which sounds and is pronounced like. 

Ca-Ke!

R e d   V e l v e t   C a k e

R e d   V e l v e t   W a f f l e   vvv

T o d a y ' s   s p e c i a l   "C a-K e"

Red Velvet Cake! 

RPGHero's Corner: Anime + Current Events

RPGHero's Corner

What does being an otaku mean in the modern world? Well we should examine current events through the perspective of anime and video game to find out a bit more.

What comes to mind first when you think about the, “#blacklivesmatter” protests? For myself, “Sword Art Online”. “Angel Beats”, and “Steins;Gate” are three anime that have come to mind. As an otaku who also founded this blog and also who is African-American, I see the plot elements of these anime when I see the emotions that the “#blacklivesmatter” protests have evoked from both those who agree with the protests and those who don't. That's because if you've seen all those anime mentioned, they are about the drive that the protagonists have to protect the lives of those around themselves and not necessarily their own life. I clearly see that the real-life protesters would fit in as the protagonists of any of those anime, if not the ones of their own choosing. They feel more strongly about the sanctity of life, especially in the face of clear persecution against “Black people”, than the people who see themselves more as spectators to the protests or even who are offended by them. In the otaku world of anime, such protests would happen and they would be called “human rights” protests. However, IRL the “#blacklivesmatter” movement has been seen as a bunch (rather large bunch) of youths rasing trouble for other people who are supposedly already down with the sanctity and purpose of all life. For those new to the concept of protests or self-actualized endeavor, that should be expected but for adults in reality any protest is a rally for society to change, not for any one individual or something. That and self-actualized persons, the famous ones rather, are all familiar with the concept of failure on the road toward a goal. So otaku and also everyone else should understand that without the protests, nothing would change and nothing would get better. At least nothing that the right people can take credit for when it happens. That's one perspective from the founder of a blog.

There's still more yet. What about the gender equality movement, called feminism? Actually feminism is much more popular as a movement than as a protest against society. Gender equality is a societal trend and not something anyone is really fighting for and striving for at all (that protesting was already done before our time).

The anime, manga, and otaku world is just following the rest of the world and by following them, I meant leading the way by showing young women and women in a more positive than the rest of the world's media. Even if that means portraying all men as, “nose-picking, selfish, tie-on-head wearing, grouchy, crybaby, softy, hippocritical, and about everything else there is in the book, stopping short of hardline misogynist (which no one can really prevent or change in another person).

But what if you ARE a woman? How do you see the otaku world?

IMO there are barely any shounen-power inspired heroines in anime, not enough to combat the fujoshi-girl stereotype of otaku which actually seems like a negative connotation for the real life woman of power. IMO the anime industry would greatly benefit from more Blood+ and Birdy the Mighty like anime series but I'm sure I've mentioned that before on here somewhere... The two main characters of those shows Saya and Birdy the Mighty are assertive and powerful enough to feminist character models.

Haruhi from “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” actually seems like a fujoshi-girl but given her power over the other characters in the show, it looks more positive. C'mon what kind of real life girl would go for a a male character like Kon... a loner like Kon, a over-critical loner like Kon! It does make make sense now to you, the reader, right??! Haruhi's character, even a extroverted fujoshi-girl, comes off as the savior character, especially since Kon doesn't “do” any saving or anything at all for the group. All Kon does is suggest different alternatives to haruhi's outlandish and outgoing plans and actions, adding to his character's needs which he later says are met by Haruhi's brooding influences and escapades!

In addition, Gintama has enough sketches that make fun of men, for a person who is a “good-for-nothing” to relate and laugh! Maybe Gintama isn't the best show for human empowerment since its a comedy battle shounen, so IMO it keeps it real with its fans. Gintama pokes fun at all kinds of “good-for-nothing” and “weird” characters and doesn't discriminate between different “kinds” of people, just making fun of as many people as possible without really apologizing. IMO that's just the way IRL works with injustice and misfortune and the alleviation thereof. I would rather laugh and feel a bit uncomfortable with Gintama, than deal with injustice and misfortune in the real world...

There you have it, otaku friends, and without any obvious political references!!!

JPOP Oricon Charts Week of February 1st!

Youtube chan:
Manzo a.k.a

Bleach Vol. 65 Review

"Bleach" is the hit manga by Tite Kubo that has taken the comic book and animation world for a thrilling, action-packed, supernatural battle adventure. Fans come from all countries, ages, and even genders. However, the series is mostly popular with girls and young women. "Bleach" follows the fictional events and story of Ichigo Kurosaki who started out as a fifteen year old high-school freshman that could interact with apparitions of "Karakura Town", the suburban town where he lives. Ichigo met Rukia Kuchiki who transferred all of her "Soul Reaper" power to him both at great cost to her reputation and so that he could save her life in that moment. Eventually the story in the manga post-hocs that of the anime and this manga is still running in North America.

In the manga vol. 65 of "Bleach", the reader sees Zaraki passed out without his eyes closed, defeated by the "quincy" opponents he was battling with.

The main opponents in vol. 65 are:
They're happy-go-lucky seeming girlish women (kind of), that actually disposed of Zaraki's "strongest sword" that he finally mastered, for battle. (Get your mind out of you know where lol). Jokes aside, Zaraki's fighting techniques are, or were, slower than Ichigo's from the beginning, so it makes sense that he lost four-on-one with those chicks.

Early on, Ichigo shows up and wants to fight, saying to Zaraki that he, "Came to help...". In review, I think that Ichigo's character hasn't been radically developed by vol. 65 or he would have learned how to talk to Zaraki's character on a more equal level, maybe Ichigo would even address Zaraki's more senior level "Soul Reaper" status than by a friendly kind of patronizing... Either way, Kubo probably decided that it is in the best interest of the manga not to radically change Ichigo's personality.

Not to reveal all of the contents of the volume, Ichigo takes on the four quincy chicks at once also, in a battle which shows the usual "Bleach" style onomatopoeia or sound effect speech graphics. Bleach onomatopoeia are easy to follow probably easier than "Naruto" but not as interesting as "One Piece".

Anyway, Ichigo fights and is caught in an awkward moment where he could have been defeated (not pictured). You'll have to read the volume for yourself. I believe, that's good enough reason to pick up a copy.

Throughout the volume on a few sporadic pages, the story follows the antics of the current antagonist, "His Majesty", who seems to be a quincy male with "untold power". That's while Ichigo is spending his "battle energy" on the four girlish women (kind of) who work for "His Majesty". The antagonist follows Kubo's typical "Bleach" event progression formula where "they" are off-scene from the main sequence and also from the "protagonist. Then that antagonist is advancing in a separate plot that hasn't yet encountered any relevant opposing influence (to the antagonist plot). In other words, Kubo uses a popular anime / animation trope for the antagonist characters. I think, that for Kubo and "Bleach" it works and he hasn't really changed his author approach in terms of that formula. Go Kubo?

The characters and their idiosyncrasies are where Bleach changes or progresses in its story. That's where "Bleach" has made its great success. Then in addition, for vol. 65, there's some funny jokes made by Urahara Kisuke (not pictured).

In review, there's good enough reason to pick up a copy of Bleach vol. 65 wherever and whenever, you want.

Jpop Video of the Day!!!

Heart Station

Utada Hikaru

Play Kitty City, for GooglePlay store!

Kitty~City

Chansu is the blog's secret weapon yet he's developed a secret weapon for boredom. It's a puzzle strategy game called, "Kitty City"!

Full of fun and intriguing levels of gameplay, a lot of Tetris Attack for SNES or Pokemon Puzzle League for N64. Although this game is for your mobile phone or tablet. It's complete with lots of different colored cats who are looking for a mate and a home. Help match these kitties together in their new cool worlds and homes.

HELP THEM ESCAPE THE LIFE OF BEING A STRAY IN THE CITY!

Just kidding!

Install and Play it for free on your mobile smartphone or android!

Kitty City