Let's Welcome in the New Year - 2016!

I used to do this on my livejournal every year, but since I've kind of stopped posting there and this blog seems to be the slightly more relevant/active one, I'll be doing my annual year-end review here. To start off, as per the usual  here is a table outlining the games I've played, books I've read, movies and shows watched.

FNS 歌謡祭 - Arashi [2015.12.03]

FNS Kayousai is my most favourite year end music special. Why? Because unlike Best Artist which is turning more and more into a Johnny's fest every year, and Music Station which tends to just focus on more current Jpop stars, FNS has a good mix of everything--and they literally mix it up! I love seeing the collaborations between groups and singers, and hearing older classic songs spruced up with the latest singles.

All in all, as a music show I think FNS has the most to offer and is the most entertaining. With that being said, ever since the great fiasco of 2011, Arashi stopped appearing live on FNS which made me not really watch it anymore. This year though, they were there, which got me really excited because that meant that a) they were going to collaborate and b) hopefully they would sing live again?

Well. A was partially true but I really shouldn't have gotten my hopes up for B. I mean, at the end of the day I don't mind if Arashi lip syncs. I really don't--I'm not  here for there spectacular singing voices anyway. BUT. The thing is, at FNS, it is so obvious that everyone is singing live. You can hear it. Even if you don't necessarily recognize the song and have never heard the recorded track, you can tell just from the sound of their voices that they are singing through a microphone. Arashi? Yeah. Nope. And the reason this bugged me?

BECAUSE  IT MEANT THEY DIDN'T DO A SINGING COLLABORATION. I was so upset! I loved when Arashi did their collaborations in 2009 and 2011. They were really great and super enjoyable and fun to watch. And at least for their version of Hatenai Sora in 2010, it was obvious they were singing live. But no. This year, they did a "collaboration" with Momo Clover Z where the girls just back danced for them. And obviously the girls couldn't sing a long because Arashi was lip syncing (and they were, it was obvious). If you listen to the sound of Arashi vs the sound of literally anyone else who performed, it is obvious those voices aren't coming from the mics. Or--if they were (which I think for Ai wo Sakebe they kind of were)--it was accompanied by heavy backing vocals.

Honestly. Part of me feels like the only reason they appeared live this year was because Matchy was there. If they didn't need to support their sempai (seriously watching all the Johnny's standing front and centre pretending to enjoy Matchy's performance was so embarrassing... I wonder what everyone else though), then I doubt they would have showed up. I wonder if they'll even bother showing up next year or if it'll be back to sending in studio recordings again :|

Also. Finally. What the hell was up with MatsuJun's hat?

Oh. This was supposed to be a performance review wasn't it? Um. I thought it was cute that MatsuJun shook the hand of that MomoClo girl before they left. Ai wo Sakebe had Sho making faces as usual and Jun looking super happy. Uh............ yeah. I don't even remember what song they did in between Wish and Ai wo Sakebe. Did they do song in between? You can tell how impressed I was with the performance. Sorry. I love Arashi, but guys, no one is going to freak out if you sing out of tune okay. We all saw the 2011 fiasco, you can't get worse than that. Seriously. -_-;;

Once Upon a Time - Ranting about Season 5 (SPOILERS!!!)

So last year (wow, only last year) I got into the ABC drama Once Upon a Time. One of the very few English dramas I watch, and besides Modern Family, the only American show I have ever followed while it was airing. Basically, that means that I like this show a lot. 

Or at this point, I am very tempted to say that I liked it. Why? Because season 5 has been such a train-wreck. (SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT - LIKE REALLY SERIOUS ONES - YOU  HAVE BEEN WARNED)

大野智 - 暁

(Translation Index: Here)

大野智 - 暁 (Akatsuki)

ふと見上げ　おぼろ月浮かんだ　夜に
可憐に咲いた　花よ
時代が　流れ流れても
遠く　時を超えて　運んでゆく　あなたの元へ

Casually, I looked up at the moon  hanging dimly in the night sky
Like a flower that has bloomed, oh so sweetly
Even as time flows on and on
From far away, overcoming time itself, I'll make my way to your side

離れてく　千切れ雲
追いかけて　さざ波
触れずとも　魅せられて
儚き　影の中で

The scattered clouds have drifted away
The ripples are scattering to catch up
And without even needing to touch you, I am enchanted
Into those fleeting shadows

風　いたずらに　吹き抜けて　水面に
浮かぶ空　掻き乱してゆく
移ろう　（時を）　願う
手を伸ばしても　ただ　溢れるだけ

The wind aimlessly blows upon the water's surface
Disturbing the reflection of the sky drowning within it
I wish (that time) would move on
But even when I stretch out my hands, it simply floods past me

もう　来ぬ人を　待つような　想いで
過ぎてゆく　あてもなき夜
心　（消えぬ）　景色　汚れなき　微笑みに

Feeling as though I am waiting for someone who will never arrive
I pass these aimless nights
And in my heart is a scenery (that won't disappear), giving me a smile not marred by anything

「心にも　あらで憂き世に　長らへば．．．」
知らぬはずの　燃えるように　鮮やかに　輝いて　

"Even if I do not wish to, if I must remain within this bleak world..."
I shouldn't have know about it, but there it is shining so brightly, like it's burning

暁に　胸の中
叩く音　とまどい
夢の中　近くとも
どんなに　遠きことか

As dawn enters into my heart
I am troubled by a throbbing sound
Although you are close to me in my dreams
How far am I away from you in reality?

今　映し出す　離れない　記憶は
叶わない　約束としても
深く　（響き）　渡り
身を尽くして　ただ　羽ばたいてく

These memories appearing in my mind that I can't be rid of
Act like a promise I will not be able to fulfill
(Echoing) deeply inside me
Simply flapping their wings to the point of exhaustion

そう　舞い落ちる　花びらは　夢想の
彼方へと　呼び覚ましゆく
出逢い　（深い）　調べ　ざわついた　隙間にも

The petals that have fluttered down
Call for you, who are in my dreams, to wake up
Meeting, creating (profound) music, stirring up the spaces in my heart

「心にも　あらで憂き世に　長らへば．．．」
追えど見えぬ　掻き分けて　雲の間に　輝いて

"Even if I do not wish to, if I must remain within this bleak world..."
I chase it without seeing it. Pushing it's way through, it shines brightly between the spaces within the clouds.

「心にも　あらで憂き世に　長らへば　恋しかるべき　夜半の月かな」

"Even if I do not wish to, if I must remain within this bleak world I will yearn for the moon hanging in the midnight sky"[*]

[*] - this line is actually a poem from part of the "百人一首" (Ogura Hyakunin Isshu), a collection of 100 poems written by 100 poets, and is central to the card game karuta. 

----Translators Notes---

I don't usually make comments but this song is actually just so beautiful lyrically and very poetic--so much so that I think I actually need to explain a few things and my translation choices.

I don't think I did justice translating the poem itself, and thus the rest of the song, but I also didn't like any of the translations I found online. The idea behind the poem though seems to be that if the person must continue living in their present reality against their wishes, what they will find solace in, is the beauty of the moon.

And this song--Akatsuki--reflects the sentiments of the poem almost perfectly. The subject of this song is also taking about their longing for the moon and to be close to it. Also there is a line up there "I wish that time would move on" - and this reflects the part of the poem that expresses having to remain in the world against the persons wishes. In the song, "wishing that time would move on" implies a notion of change as time moves on---so not just time passing, but time changing and ultimately (I assume) for time to bring this persons death. But the next line "even when I stretch out my hand..." shows that despite the subjects wishes, time just continues moving on but not affecting him.

In fact--the fact that the song itself is named Dawn just makes so much sense because this is the moment when the moon begins to disappear. So the subject tries to chase the moon as it it outshone by the sun, despite not being able to see it--but you know how you can see the moon sometimes on a clear day? So the moon shines through regardless, even when it should have disappeared with the morning light.

Blargh, I honestly hated analyzing poems but man, this song just... I don't know, it strikes a chord in me. My English tutor would probably have tears in her eyes if I told her this xD.

櫻井翔 - Rolling Days

(Translation Index: Here)

櫻井翔 - Rolling Days

揺らめく様な　香り近づく　目を閉じても　君と分かる
夢じゃないさ　零れる吐息は　高鳴りを連れて

A faint scent comes closer and even with my eyes closed I know it's you
This isn't a dream. The breath that escapes you makes me tremble.

聞こえているか？　漂う音が
気付けば falling down　止まらない想いで

Can you hear it? The sound hanging in the air.
By the time I realized, I was already falling down in to memories that wouldn't stop.

刻まれた　時間の中　生まれゆくダイヤのような
そこにしかない　輝きを　君の指に飾るから

In the time that has passed, a brightness is born that can only be found in diamonds
And I want to put it on your finger

どこまでも深い場所まで　二人落ちてゆけるなら
何も見えない闇さえ　優しく包み込むから
終わりなんて　怖くないのさ…
始まりは　いつも underground
もっと響かせ

If the two of us fall into the deepest of places
Even in such absolute darkness where we can't see one another, I'll embrace you gently
I'm not afraid of the end...
The beginning always starts from underground
Make it echo even more

とても綺麗な　涙が落ちる　透き通る様な　水晶になる
触れてみれば　懐かしさに似た　痛みを映した

A breathtaking tear falls, becoming a clear crystal
And when I tried to touch it, a pain close to nostalgia was reflected

覚えているか？　あの日の音が
打ち抜いた breaking down　変わらない想いで

Do you remember? The sound from that day.
Hitting and breaking down those unchanging memories.

脱ぎ捨てた　その肌は　なめらかな刃のようさ
傷ついたって　かまわない　君のそばにいたいから

The skin that you've shed is like a smooth blade
Even if you hurt me I won't mind, as long as I can be near you

強く抱きしめるたびに　壊れ落ちてゆくのなら
全て無くなるほどに　ひとつになればいいから
終わりなんて　いつか来るのさ…
始まりは　いつだってあるのさ
ずっと響かせ

If we break and fall apart every time we hold each other
As long as we become one, to the point where everything else is gone, it's fine.
When will the end come?
There will be always be a new beginning.
Keep on echoing

Ah　一時の快楽
燃えて　また灰になる
終わりなんてないはず
会いたく...（なる）　また拝借

Ah. That small moment of pleasure.
Burning and returning to ashes
There shouldn't be such a thing as an end
I want... (to see you). To borrow you again.

香りだけ漂う
想いまだ彷徨う
嗚呼もう　Wanna know?

Only your scent hangs the air
As my feelings continue to wander
Ah, that's enough. Wanna know?

もう闇の中へ逃げよう　（Oh)
僅かな光の強さを見せよう　（Oh）
もう離れなくていいんですよ　（Oh）
だから…　傍にいてよ　（Oh）

Let's escape into the darkness (Oh)
Let me show you how powerful even the smallest light can be (Oh)
We don't have to be apart anymore (Oh)
So please... stay by my side (Oh)

汚れたまんまでもいいの
夢の中まで逃避行　（Yeah yeah）
いつも現実は強引で　（Yeah yeah）
Rolling, rolling days

Even while tainted, you are fine
Let's disappear in to our dreams
But reality is always pulling us out to those
Rolling, rolling days

心叩くたびに　火花を巻き上げた
二人見つめたまま　光の中へ
重なり合う音が　螺旋を描いてた
溶け合いながら　永遠へ

Every time my heart beats, sparks fly
While gazing at each other, we head in to the light
And the sounds overlap to create a spiral
As we meld together into eternity

どこまでも深い場所まで　二人落ちてゆけるなら
何も見えない闇さえ　優しく包み込むから
終わりなんて　怖くないのさ…
始まりは　いつも underground
もっと響かせ

If the two of us fall into the deepest of places
Even in such absolute darkness where we can't see one another, I'll embrace you gently
I'm not afraid of the end
The beginning always starts from underground
Make it echo even more

Arashi - Ai wo Sakebe review [Single + Performance]

As promised in my Japonism album review, I will be reviewing Ai wo Sakebe. Mainly because it wasn't on the album so I couldn't talk about it there, and also because I actually have quite a bit to say about this single. So, first up I will talk about each of the individual tracks, then the PV+Making, and then... I don't have any of the performances downloaded on my computer, but I watched all of them (I think?) so I'll review whatever performance I can find still streaming online.

Before I start, I just want to say the thing about this single was that I was really surprised when it came out because I had totally forgotten about it. It's the song to a wedding CM or something right? I'm still not really sure what it was for, but yeah. So, when it came out I wasn't excited or happy, I was just downright confused and sort of blah, because weddings. Blergh. But... in the end, I was pleasantly surprised.

Arashi - Japonism review

Hello. It has been a while again, especially on the Arashi front. I didn't do a review of AoKimi or Ai wo Sakebe. The latter I really should review though because I actually liked it (and I say actually because I was not interested in it in the beginning). But, before I get to that, a more important thing. Arashi's 14th album has been released as of today, Japonism, and as per the usual I will be giving a review of it.

Digitalian Concert - Quick Thoughts

These are literally just random thoughts I have while watching the concert - in point form.

• Ever since the LOVE concert I realized that having the Japanese subs makes watching the concert 50,000x more fun (cause I can sing along).... my download doesn't have the subs. =( Oh well. 
• Jun's heart rate is ridiculous, like how is he alive o_o
• The opening to the concert is so cool =D ommmgggg
• Cool costumes, Asterisk has a pretty sweet dance
• Wonderful... are these guys part of a cool boy band or sassy girl group (SORRY BUT SERIOUSLY THE DANCE JUST MAKES ME THINK THAT)
• Aiba is so fucking precious this guy omg, Disco Star, I can't even. DISCO STAR-SAMAAAAAA - I would've been yelling that so hard if I had been there
• I think... I mean, I love Aiba's solo but there is something about Sho's performance of Hey Yeah!! that makes me like and enjoy the song so much more than I originally did--and I already like Sho's solo to begin with. So. Great for him. Although the speech in the beginning...
• Seriously "Who are your real people" for 友達って何だろう (tomodachitte nandarou) (I think that is what the Japanese on the background screens say). Who gave that a green light? Why couldn't they just stick with "Who are your friends" or if you really want to have the word "real" in there for emphasis... "Who are you real friends" - but "real people"? 
• But shit I really love Sho's solo and ommmg the background video to his solo looks so cool, I actually wish they'd release a separate video just for it
• And I'll admit I do think the opening speech mixed with what his song is talking about... works really well... except not sure why he thought to do it in English--I guess cause it sounds cooler?
• Actually, I think it's entirely due to how awesome the backing video is for Sho's solo that I am so impressed with his performance
• By the way, for anyone who even remembers my review of The Digitalian album, I've gotten over how fucking weird One Step sounds in the album -- don't get me wrong, I've always liked the song but it doesn't weird me out inside the album anymore either
• I never understood why people were so happy they sang Love Wonderland but I think this is like how Intergalatic worked during the LOVE con -- I love the song in concert but outside of it I'm still pretty meh about it. 
• Performance is seriously all different sorts of cute and adorable though
• ...I really wish they would stop putting in the FULL instructions of their next section in to the MC part of the DVD and actually give us the entire god damn MC. DAMN IT.
• Nino's solo is... uh. Yeah. Whatever
• Surprisingly, I like Jun's solo better than Ohno's 
• The thing is Jun's song was never that interesting for me and in terms of performances this has to be his most tone-downed performance since... 2004? But I feel like his dancing has actually improved a lot and therefore, despite being quite toned down, it still ended up being really interesting and entertaining
• Ohno on the other hand is still better at dancing than Jun but... his choreo for his solo was pretty sparse--I mean it had the usual Ohno style of being very smooth and flowy but without much "wow" factor, so I felt like I didn't get much out of it--I could have just listened the song by itself and felt the same.
• I looooove the costumes for Tell Me Why and TRAP (and btw yes the performance was pretty damn awesome, nice choreo Ohno :D)
• The costume change from TRAP to Troublemaker.... how......? 
• How long do you think they had to practice Hope in the Darkness for them to perfect it because daaaaaaaamn o_o
• I feel bad for Sho since he's the bass--he has to move his arm the entire song ^^;; 
• Always like this song but whenever I hear it now I'm going to remember this performance and just get so many feels omg seriously, so freakin' cool!
• Finding it slightly amusing how Ohno is so graceful, Nino looks like he's having spasms, and Sho, Jun and Aiba are pretty much being robots--especially Jun, his face is so serious
• After seeing just how dead serious ALL of them were, it's nice to see them smile again for Zero-G
• And now we're at the 15th year anniversary medley. I won't do every song but some quick thoughts regardless:
• I think it's nice that they wore their BLAST costume for this 
• Also I realized the banners on the side of their hot air balloons has the logos for all their past concerts, that's pretty cool actually
• Jun looks like he's having a blast during Kotoba Yori
• OMG the members with each group of juniors starting from Sakura Sake is so cute! ^_^
• Matsumiya moment during Happiness :D
• I wish they had sang Truth instead of One Love for 2008 =( Haven't heard that song being performed in a while
• I think it says a lot that I.. know the last song they sang was from the album but I do not remember the name at all... it was the song I said was a typical Arashi song. Kimi something? 

Okay, these are my thoughts on the latest concert DVD. Also yes I have watched DVD 3 and this was one of the best things they've done. I loved watching them make takoyaki xD Also copious amounts of Jun, yaaay. But more dressing room shenanigans would be nice--I guess they really don't do shit like that though. 

One thing I really want though is I wish Jun could be on Jounetsu Tairiku. It's the show that did a documentary of Nino in 2006/2007 when he was doing Iwo Jima and Marathon. I want them to do one one Jun when he plans concerts, but I guess they'd never release something like that. Damn it. I love watching him do stuff like that though and I'm glad we got to see more of it recently. I wonder when he started? It can't have been right away.... 2006? 2005? ...2004?! (he was only 21 at that time!!). I really wonder. 

Anyway, enough rambling!

Arashi - Sakura review [single + performance]

Our first Arashi single of the year which surprisingly is not related to anything Arash is doing at all.... although it is the theme song to the drama Ouroboros which happens to star MatsuJun's two BFF's Ikuta Toma and Oguri Shun! (side note: it's pretty good so far, I am impressed).

I'll be doing a review of just the songs and the three performances (the two music station ones and the Shiyagare one) - the making of I will talk about in a separate post because I actually have quite a few thoughts on it.

Let's go!

Paper Mario: Sticker Star + Child of Light

Ey-yo, it's been about a month since I last made any posts and boy are you going to get a lot of posts this coming weekend because a lot of things have happened regarding Arashi and I need to talk about these things, but first! The most important thing - within the month that I disappeared I have played two games and these are Paper Mario: Sticker Star and Child of Light.

They were both relatively short games, so I'm just going to be really brief with my thoughts which is why they're going to be squished in to one post. Ready? Let's go!

Bravely Default

I finally finished playing Bravely Default the other weekend - took approx 105hrs. I didn't 100% it, I was trying too (hence the extended hours) but partway through and with 4 or 5 jobs remaining I was like.. you know what, I'd rather just go and beat the boss now, thank you very much.

But anyway - let's talk about this game shall we? (This isn't necessarily a game review, I just want to talk about it).

*WARNING SPOILERS*

Stravaganza Series by Mary Hoffman

I went on a trip to Italy for the first time this winter and it brought back a wave of nostalgia for a certain book series that I had absolutely adored as a child. In fact I loved it so much I "tried" (I told myself I would try) to learn Italian and dreamed of going to the beautiful city of Venice. 11 years later the dream of going to Venice finally came true - but I'm not making this post to talk about Venice. I want to talk about the book series.

This series is not well known from what I understand, but is called Stravaganza by Mary Hoffman. The series consists of six books, it started with three (which I had read when I was 9) and then apparently she had written three more, which I have just finished reading now. The book is set both in our modern London, England, and in an alternate version if Italy, named Talia, from 400 years ago. The premise of each book is quite simple - an unhappy teenager from Barnsbury Comprehensive finds a special talisman that transports them to a specific city in Talia where they go, change, and ultimately help to save the day.

The thing about this series, is that I love it, and I would recommend, but it is not amazing nor is it out of this world. It's no Tamora Pierce novel, no Harry Potter, but it is sweet, simple, and I truly understood why, as a child, I adored the books so much. With that being said, it's simplicity leads to cliches, lots of eye-rolling moments, and a bit too many happy coincidences. While the first three books were very strong, and ended on a good (but still open-ended note) - I feel the last three books, particularly the final ones, are lacking. With that being said, let me get started talking about each book, give a very brief summary and basically the thoughts I associate with each book.