animemiz’s scribblings..

This is a recap of Sunday links submitted for Day 1. If you haven’t seen my past Tweets, as well as the helpful Twitter reminders from other Manga bloggers on their Twitter streams (Thanks @manga_critic!) Sunday, today is the beginning of March’s Manga Movable Feast. Actively I will promote throughout this week, what links has and will be written. Alternatively I will also be writing posts to the series on this blog as well. So please look under the category of Manga Movable Feast on this blog for those entries.

Already some people have sent me their past coverage of Aria. I am still quite happy to read and share it. These are links to articles that was written before this MMF.

Erica from Okazu has a comprehensive, and pretty extensive archive of blog entries devoted to Aria, 19 entries in total. Reading her anime and manga coverage possibly has some spoilers, but definitely well worth it to read of a love she has for Aria.

Johanna Draper Carlson from Manga Worth Reading shares her past link of
Book 1, Book 2, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6 These are individual reviews of the volumes that has been written, though there are some broken links within the entry (cough, Book 1), there’s nothing broken about her entries. Book 6 review definitely sums up how Aria as a series is, to relax with.

Aaron of Manga Power contacted me prior to this MMF, about a question he had on reposting his older review. So here is his opinion on Aria: Volume 1

Lastly Rob of Panel Patter for this month’s MMF read and wrote about his opinion on Aqua’s Volume 1-2. He’s definitely nailed one of the many favorite element I have from this series. The presidents!!!!

Aqua/Aria as a series in manga and anime is definitely something to get into. I was reminded by Rob actually that Netflix has Aria the anime. This month’s MMF, is also actively looking for links in terms of the Aria anime as well. People can submit links for archival purposes up to Sunday-Monday of this next week. Happy reading/watching and possibly writing?

President Aria

Categorized as a science fiction and slice of life title, Aria is a complete manga series by Kouzue Amano. The series originally began with the title of Aqua, serialized in 2001, with Enix’s imprint magazine Stencil. It was then  picked up by Mag Garden monthly imprint of Comic Blade and published from 2002-2008. The series was renamed as Aria, and there are 12 volumes in total.

Similar to how its Japanese publication may have been a tongue twister, its American publication history has also been quite unique. Aria was originally licensed, translated and released by ADV Manga for three volumes, before they had to discontinued the series. Aria was then picked up by Tokyopop, and re-released from its Aqua beginnings. So many fans and readers of this series, treat the two-volume Aqua as the prologue to Aria. Tokyopop has currently released up to volume six of Aria, so there is no definite news to when the rest of the series shall be translated and released, however there are fans waiting.

In the meantime, take the time to check out the Animation series that was inspired by this manga. The three animation seasons and OVA has been released by Nozomi Entertainment, that is an imprint of Japanese Animation and Manga American retailer, RightStuf.com. To follow in order, from the beginning to the end, please note the series from  Aria the Animation (1st Season) Aria the Natural (2nd Season) Aria the OVA ~Arietta~ and then Aria the Origination (3rd Season).

This series follows the life of Akari Mizunashi, a former Earth inhabitant that resettles on the planet of Mars in Neo Venezia, a city based after the city of Venice during the 24th Century. Earth and Mars are referred in Aria by different names, Manhome for Earth and Aqua for Mars.

Akari aspires to be a professional gondolier known as Undines, and she must work from apprentice upward. On her way to become an Undine, she meets, befriends and experiences many things that make Aria a very peaceful read.

Okay, I am jumping days, but yes. I definitely feel like talking about sooner than my other blog entries! After a year of thinking, getting over my nerves, I finally made it to a sento, or a Japanese bathouse. What a nice experience this was. Showers and bathes are always great in my book.

Background
I have memories of watching anime like Ranam ½, Totoro, My Neighbor the Yamadas, One Piece, or other Japanese life anime titles, with the most recent being Higepiyo, that has me just loving the idea of being able to go take showers and baths at a facility that is not just a spa or a gym. The United States does not have communal bathing experiences, based on a conservative or hygienic reason. I imagine that as an Americans, a person who won’t try this is missing out on a Japan or Asian experience.

Prior to Japan 2010, as I was researching the push is for tourists to try the onsen. There are some clear distinction between onsen and sento that affect price. Mineral water vs. tap water is one factor. Another factor is the connection of onsen with a ryokan, so a tourist who is in Japan with a budget, then sento is the answer. Sento by some readings are also considered lesser in numbers, and being swallowed by other factors of apartments having their own bathrooms, or a growing conservatism. There certainly is not as much help in English finding various sento, however there are still some English blogs and resources trying to correct this issue. My concerns were finding a sento that won’t be too shady or too out of place to travel for. Another small reason on why I waited a year to try the sento was a fear of my tattoos, usually Japanese don’t really think highly of tattoos, being synonymous with Yakuzas. Fashion tattoos are questioned though, so my tattoos attracted some attention.

Impressions of Komparu-yu
I found a nice sentou that wasn’t very out of the way, and simple to get to. Ginza’s Komparu-yu, a sento opened since the 1800’s, so with some aspects updated, there are still nuances from yesteryears off Japan. Komparu-yu is definitely a basic sento, and not a super sento. The sento is divided into three main parts, the shoe area, the locker room area and the bath area.

As Rai and I stepped past the blue store sign, past the vending machines, we stopped to put our shoes into individual shoe compartments, each locked and open with a wooden key. I was mentally feeling excited and nervous, and as we stepped into the woman’s bath. We paid an elderly granny, the 450 yen price entrance fee. One of the sento site said that the fee was for 430 yen, but the price has obviously changed. Komparu-yu also has toiletries that a bather can purchase if they didn’t have any. Some sentos said that there are coin lockers, and Komparu-yu had lockers with keys, that bathers can wear like a bracelet on the wrist. After claiming a locker, I stepped into the bath area, where there are also two sections, one a shower/cleaning section where bathers sit first to clean and wash off the body. After going through the normal bath routines, I tested the bath water, and stepped in. Soaking in the tub was great, it was relaxing, and the temperature of the water did take use to. After soaking in the sento, my skin felt egg smooth, so I really hope to be able to go again. After stepping out and rinsing off, I stepped into the locker room, and got dressed. Rai pointed that there was a blow dryer for 20 yen to use. I did see another of those old fashion salon style dryers for 40 yen to use, so there is that option as well.

Rai mentioned to me that there was a majority of elderly woman or tourists at this particular sento, I need to go to another sento to see if that is the case, but with this being in Ginza, I wouldn’t expect differently.

So we left the sento, and got milk from the vending machine. The practice of drinking something after soaking in a sento is definitely for re-hydration purposes. I was definitely thinking about the Japanese animation title, Saki.

So for a cheap way to relax, sentos are a great thing to experience.

Okay this is another story I found pretty interesting. People can lose things on trains right? Well JR Railways actually has rules that regulate how much time, can items be claimed before they are sold in a public auction, at very cheap rockbottom prices. Laptops, ipods, applicants, DS….some new, and very cheap. (sighs)  Wonder if the U.S. would do things like that? The only lost & found of this kinda scale is either the Grand Central Railroad one or the NYC MTA.  Because if no one ever claims them, then what happens? It would be a waste of space to keep it. Hmm..

Here is the Japanese Youtube newsclip.

After a period of checking through my Google reader… found this blurb of information via Japan Probe, but the gist is this, Ito En is marketing Tea’s Tea as an exotic New York drink. I buy enough of their drinks from Kino or from Zaiya, but talk about globalization marketing. Wonder if the scheme works?

Here’s a youtube video.

Okay a couple of days after my trip to Japan. I miss it, and want to go back! Of course the airplane ride was pretty not so cool.. 13 hours going to and 12 hours coming back. Complete with a screaming baby on the ride back. Jet lag knocked me over for the first two days or so, but with yesterday, it seems like it went back to normal. Thinking back to my trip though, I went at a great time, as my friend in Japan said. Right now it seems like it is rainy season in Tokyo now.. >_<

Here is my photo collection on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/animemiz/collections/

10 albums in all.. and if it gets confusing – start with:

Tokyo Batch – 1
Tokyo Batch  – 2
Kyoto Day 1
Kyoto Day 2
Weekend Saturday and Sunday
Courtesy of Rai
Monday to Tuesday
Wednesday and Thursday (Tokyo Tower)
Harujuku, Ghibli Museum and Odaiba
Last Day of Japan

Food in Japan was a collection of no particular order things.

So I think it is under Japan May Trip. Oh and if you want to comment, you would have to be a Flickr user, but if you have a yahoo account.. easily transferable right? I looked at Google’s Picasa and Yahoo’s Flickr and had to go with the unlimited picture dumping.

I meant what I saw when I said photo dump, so lots of images. Sorted out all the food images. Sorting out the other images would be way too exhausting.

Okay, I spent a little too much time taking way too many pictures of trains, food, ads, birds and architecture.

Because of my fascination with birds self-photography, I do take a lot of seemingly pointless pictures of wildlife. I blame this on my beginnings with taking pictures of crows in London.

Also as a practice tip from an acquaintance, he mentioned the validity of taking one than one shot of a subject to steady the hand. So lots of repetitious pictures.

Also lots of pictures of ads, since I happen to like watching Japanese cultures a lot. >_< Hence my love of some things, might seem a slight odd.

Also because of some experimentation. I pixelated some of the images, since the subject of the people were never asked if their pictures were to be taken. I had to do some measures of that.

Also because of privacy issues, my own image, as well as my friends are erradicated. I might put up some pictures on Facebook, but don’t ask me to add you, just because you want to see my mug. Nothing special. It is just that I went on a solo trip, so often my times visiting places. I didn’t get to get a picture of myself. There was lots of experimental shots though.

Follow the trend of my blogging in Japan, to actually piece together what exactly I did. Perhaps the photos can lead to some imagery to what I wrote?

Impressions of Japan Part 1
Impressions of Nakano Broadway = First day of shopping
Otome Road – a must!
Surprisingly an update from Kyoto
Rushing Off to Sendai
Busy Weekend – Sendai, Tokyo Dome, meetups
Monday to Tuesdays
Conclusions

This topic has been on my mind ever since a class mate asked me what do I like about Japanese culture. I responded to her of liking everything that Japan has to offer… but then, there are so many faucets – so what then? I spoke about this with a co-worker and I was able to write up a ranking list…..

1. Food
2. Anime
3. Music
4. Dramas
5. Manga

Now these are pretty broad categories, and I guess I can try to squash in Video games somewhere, or idols or the Theater things, or fashion… but I kinda always think of these categories when I think of Japan. I guess, if you asked me several years ago, I would have ranked anime and manga much higher, but currently that ranking has changed.

Now then, as a fan for things Japanese – what would be your top five things that you like about Japan and reasons why?

These days.. sadly my anime watching has cut down… in favor of work, reviewing for an online journal, prepping for summer school, among other things. One thing that has reminded me of anime and Japanese news is the blogs I visit on a nearly daily basics. I found these stories today that was interesting.

Japan Probe is a blog I go to, to read of daily real life events at Japan. I am a junkie for news. This news has been interesting so far.

Cigarette Vending Machine Woes – I just thought of how much cigarettes are now in N.Y. $9 a box and now this is an example of Japan combating underage smoking.

Japanese government urges people to speed up on shower and bath - I think that ofuro is one thing that makes Japanese culture unique, but now in order of conserving energy – this traditional past time is being impacted. The entry meant speed in succession, so as to not let the hot water grow cold in the tub.

Since my undergrad was in Geography.. I have a fascination with maps and so I was pretty happy when I found this blog. Nearly everyday the blogger posts strange maps. I always find it interesting.. so this map will definitely get a kick out any heaven believer.

Heaven as an amusement park that never closes – In my mind now thinking of that Lamp Chop song.. kinda like this is the song that never ends.. yes it goes on and on my friends..