Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto

by Gaby

If you are looking for something laid back to watch this season, something to enjoy on your spare time then try "Haven't you Heard? I'm Sakamoto. 
Sakamoto is cool, cooler, actually he is the coolest at the school and all the ladies love him and everyone wishes they were him, either that or they are jealous.
It juse seems that everything Sakamoto does just comes out with such a suave flare, even when people try to steal his chair in class, he just finds a way to make sitting on the windowsill the coolest ever!

This is the type of anime that doesn't seem to have a huge storyline that you need to follow, you can jump on in and start watching Sakamoto being cool at any episode.  
See how he deals with bullies, girls who have a crush on him, and how his Senpai treats him. 
This is a good one to just go ahead and try out see if you like it.

Crunchyroll has current episodes streaming online on Simulcast

Japanese Spring Festival in Fort Worth TX

by Gaby

Every year, I like to attend a few Japanese culture events around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, yesterday I visited the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens for the Japanese Spring Festival at the Japanese Gardens. 

This year I noticed that the price for admission has really gone up, last year it was $6 but this year it was $8, talk about inflation am I right?!  Even with the large price increase, that did not stop the people from coming to this event, in fact it was the most crowded I had ever seen before.  So crowded that even in the middle of one a dance performance someone had to get on the microphone and tell people to sit down because other people couldn't see the stage behind them.

This year they had the usuals, lots of booths with arts and crafts around the zen garden. Origami booths, calligraphy, artisans, and Japanese carnival games.  There were a few vendors selling accessories, hats, wall scrolls, and trinkets.  Also a booth where people could try on a traditional Japanese kimono and take a picture.

Some of the main attractions were schools of martial arts, Japanese tea ceremony,  dancing, and the taiko drummers.  This year was also made possible by the Fort Worth Japanese Society, check out their facebook page for more up to date information on any upcoming events www.facebook.com/fwjsonline.
Also look forward to the Fall Festival that they put on at the gardens as well, lots of fun activities are usually in the works for that as well. 

 

Review: Only Yesterday

by Gaby

The 1991 Studio Ghibli Film has finally been released in the US this year, 2016.  
In this film the year is 1982 and Taeko is now a 27 year old single career woman working in Tokyo where she has lived all her life.  Her family has made it a point to state that she should start looking for a husband since she isn't getting any younger. 

Taeko and crush, Hirota, in 5th grade

Taeko has longed for the country life ever since she was in fifth grade in 1966, when all her friends would go off on trips to a relatives place in the country.  Now that her sister is married, her brother in law has family in the countryside and she is going to take advantage of having that family connection and go to the country to help with the farming season. 
During the trip and even her entire time at the farm, she continously has flashbacks from when she was in fifth grade.  Remembering times from when a boy had a crush on her, puberty discussions with her friends, going to the baths with her sisters, or the first time she was struck by her dad. 

Taeko and Toshio at the farm hanging out

While she is at the farm, she hangs out with her brother in laws distant cousin Toshio, they seem to have a good connection when they talk that even Toshio's family starts to wonder if maybe Taeko would like to stay and become part of the family.

This film is great to be enjoyed by both young and older viewers relating to issues that many people have had to face growing up.  Sure I guess I could call it a coming of age type of movie, since there are a lot of coming of age scenes int he flashbacks.

In the end I enjoyed this film, Studio Ghibli films are hard to be disappointing, I wish this had been released a lot sooner, but better late than never I suppose.  I recommend this movie if you enjoy Hayao Miyazaki or Studio Ghibli films, if you are looking for a good coming of age anime, or if you are in the mood for some good slice of life movies with a retro vibe.

All-Con 2016

 All-Con was just this weekend from Thursday to Sunday (3-17 to 3-20). This is the first year that it was held at Westin Park Central in Dallas, Texas. It features all kinds of panels from every fandom possible, especially those of the sci fi genre. There was a lot of variety at the vendors area too. Special guests included Brian Muir, Gigi Edgley, Chuck Huber, and many more. Here are some pics of the fabulous cosplay that was at the con.

 This vendor was so cute I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Mini A-Kon 2016

Mini A-Kon 2016 was on March 12, 2016 at the Lewisville Premier Event Center.  It was a larger venue than the Denton Civic Center where Mini A-Kon was last in 2014.    This year they had the usual that is expected, a few artists, some vendors, video gaming, and a couple of voice actors.   This is basically a promotional con of stuff you will be able to find at the bigger A-Kon, that will take place in June at the Dallas Hilton Anatole.

Here are a few pictures I took at the event.

Review: The Boy and the Beast

by Gaby

Bakemono no Ko, known here in the states as, The Boy and the Beast, was released here locally this past weekend, March 4th, 2016.  To be 100% honest, I had heard of this movie but I had no idea what it was about, I assumed that it was about a boy being taught martial arts by a beast, but it goes deeper than that.

The story of Ren, renamed Kyuta by his beast master, Kumatetsu, starts with the death of his mother

Kyuta mimics Kumatetsu's moves

when Ren is only 9 years old. He does not know the whereabouts of his father so instead of being put in other relatives custody he runs away and decides to live on the street.  One day as he is sitting there on the streets he is approached by two beasts who have been talking about needing a pupil. Kumatetsu asks the boy to come with him but Ren just sits there, he does become curious after they leave and when the police start chasing after Ren, he sees the beasts go into an alley.  He follows them and is transported to Jutengai, the Beast Kingdom.
Soon after arriving, Ren was being bullied but is discovered by a Pig Beast Monk who then bumps into Kumatetsu and that's when Kumatetsu claims the child.

Kumatetsu and Iozen fighting in the market

Kumatetsu ends up changing Ren's name to Kyuta since he is only nine (kyu) years old.  After being initially hesitant to be Kumatetsu's pupil, Kyuta eventually starts mimicking his beast masters steps and starts learning predictability of moves, which envokes a want to learn more from his master.   Years pass and Kyuta grows up to be 17 years old, and accidentally stumbles back into the human world, where he has a thirst for book knowledge and befriends a high school girl who was being teased named Kaede. 

But it's not all peaches and cream the main climax of this movie occurs when Kumatetsu and his rival Iozen are competing to become the next Lord of the Beasts, and one of Iozen's sons decides to take matters into his own hands.  I won't give away the rest of the story but I highly recommend you watch it.

Ren protects Kaede

It was certainly an enjoyable story to watch. Seeing how a heartless beast turns soft from becoming the surrogate father or an orphan, how a child who came from nothing still longs for knowledge, and how friendships can develop through common interests.

Happy Hinamatsuri!!!!

Girl's Day or Dolls Day in Japan is Hinamatsuri celebrated on March 3rd!  Youtuber Japanagos, has a really good video on this one, take a look!