Sneak Peek: 小池徹平 I was...

I has eeeeet. (　＾∇＾)

If you were buying JUNON just for him (I don't though, I never bought any Japanese magazine), this memorial photobook is such a steal! I had this last January 10, and my fangirling soul had never been happier. Thank you, Jyunkudo (Osaka branch) for having it exactly on January 4! Thank you, tito!

Happy (ﾉ´ｰ`)ﾉ

Happy Birthday, Koike Teppei! May you have a more prosperous career and happy days~ ヽ(´ー`)ﾉ I asked my uncle in Japan to buy this for me. This is the first time I did that, so it's so awkwaaaaaaard. I'm a one happy camper. I don't like the cover layout, but hopefully the contents won't disappoint me.

From www.shufu.com.jp

Happy birthday to my friend, Luzia! Another nice Capricorn! Have more kape!

Sakuma Drops

There was a time that my uncle brought me Sakuma Drops when he came home from Japan. It's not usual to find candies inside a tin can so it was hard not to forget, and I loved it ever since.

Sakuma Drops

(小池徹平) Teppei Koike

After so many years, he still looks so young! LOOK. Such a bibifez.

Tentai Kanzoku (2002)

Meiji Christmas + Other Finds

Got chocolates and sweets for those people whom I have no idea what to give for Christmas from Saizen. I would always prefer to receive Meiji than Hershey's or Cadburry. They melt in my mouth, not on my fingers. I wish someone would bring a Meiji 100% Chocolate Cafe here. That would definitely be a Meiji Christmas!

Meiji Milk and BLACK Chocolate. BLACK is mah favorite.

Manga Realities: Exploring The Art of Japanese Comics Today

The Ayala Museum and the Japan Foundation in cooperation with the Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito in Japan brought the travelling exhibition in Manila as its last stop. From Japan, Manga Realities was also previously exhibited at Artsonje Center in Seoul, South Korea and to the Vietnam Fine Art Museum in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Such a very interesting lecture.

Last Friday afternoon, Ji and I attended lecture of Prof. Jacqueline Berndt of Kyoto Seika University about Manga and Art: Alleged Traditions, Museum Galleries and Appropriative Artists. I wish the exhibition came here before I did my college thesis. I learned so much about the legitimization of manga as an art form and the differences between contemporary Japanese comics and Hokusai manga.

It was really disappointing when Prof. Berndt revealed that they were supposed to include Bakuman in the exhibit but Shueisha declined. It could’ve been the best manga installation ever!

It was also disappointing that some of the details only look nice from afar, but when you closely look at them, you’ll see pencil lines, obvious tracing, and the vinyl flooring not nicely intact to the wall. Also, if only the museum had more space. Even so, the entire exhibition was still visually engaging.

Harold Sakuishi’s BECK: The Mongolian Chop Squad

I haven’t really looked at the manga/anime of BECK. It looks good. I’ll probably check it out when I have the time. It could’ve been nicer if it had an entire band instrument setup. And the parody covers are very cool!

Ninomiya Tomoko’s Nodame Cantabile 

Nodame Cantabile on the other hand left me hanging. I've seen the j-drama when I was in college, so I had a weird expectation of seeing a grand piano and music sheets. The gold frames, the carpet and the lighting were nicely put together. Very European!