Thursday, March 31, 2011

Everyone has his own story -- Myself ; Yourself

Konnichiwa minasan. I would like to recommend an anime series to you. It is called "Myself ; Yourself". This is a Japanese visual novel developed by Yeti which was released on December 20, 2007 for the PlayStation 2. Before the game's release, a light novel based on the story, written by Takumi Nakazawa, and illustrated by Wadapen, was serialized in the Japanese bishōjo magazine Dengeki G's Magazine between March and November 2007.  An anime adaptation began airing in Japan on October 3, 2007 on the TV Kanagawa television network, and contained thirteen episodes.


Title        : Myself ; Yourself (マイセルフ;ユアセルフ Maiserufu ; Yuaserufu)
Genre      : Drama, Romance, School-life
Episodes : 13
Story       :
The story is about 5 good friends. They known each other since their childhood. The town is in a quiet, rural area on the southern tip of the prefecture and borders the Pacific Ocean. Sakuranomori is the birthplace of Sana Hidaka, a sixteen year old high school student, who grew up with his childhood friends Nanaka Yatsushiro, & Aoi Oribe, his best male friend Syusuke Wakatsuki, and his twin sister Syuri Wakatsuki. Sana left Sakuranomori when he was eleven years old, but returns five years later living on his own in the apartment building Aoi's family runs. Sana soon finds out that while some things have stayed the same, there are still just as many things that have changed.

Characters Description :


Sana Hidaka (日高 佐菜 Hidaka Sana, born October 13, 1991)

Sana is the main protagonist of the series. He left Sakuranomori during his childhood, and during the beginning of the series he comes back to live by himself in the apartment building owned by Aoi's parents. He apparently had a crush on Nanaka before he left and still holds those feelings for her. He used to play the piano, but he forgot every song except the song Nanaka wrote for him which he says is very important to him. He has a fear of blood, because he tried to commit suicide during his middle-school years due to constantly being bullied.


Nanaka Yatsushiro (八代 菜々香 Yatsushiro Nanaka, born July 29, 1991)

Nanaka is one of Sana's friends, and seemed to have feelings for Sana. When Sana returns to town after five years, her personality has completely changed from sweet and caring to a cold demeanor, and moody. When she meets Sana again after he returned she slaps him for apparently not knowing who she was. She still seems to have romantic feeling as she gets jealous whenever Sana is with another girl (especially Asami).
Nanaka was a victim of possible arson shortly after Sana left Sakuranomori, and lost both her parents during the fire; she managed to escape the fire with only her violin and the sakura bracelet Sana gave her. Since certain parts of the event were unknown to her, her uncle and aunt has since then taken her into custody and make sure she never remembers that event that has caused her so much pain. Soon afterward, she remembers what had happened in the fire. Her father had started the fire because of Nanaka's mother cheating on him with his best friend, who was also Nanaka's violin teacher and her real father.


Aoi Oribe (織部 麻緒衣 Oribe Aoi, born August 28, 1990)

Aoi is not Sana's cousin, despite the fact that Sana calls her mother his aunt. Her parents own the apartment building that Sana lives in. She prefers to be called Aoi-chan instead of Aoi-san, despite the fact that she is a year older than Sana. She wears glasses and has a busty physique. She loves to read books and is very energetic and clumsy. She has a very high-pitched voice and child-like character. Despite being childish, Aoi has a very caring personality, and never fails to aid a friend in need.


Syuri Wakatsuki(若月 朱里 Wakatsuki Shūri, born March 23, 1992)

Syuri is one of Sana's friends since childhood, and is the older twin of Syusuke Wakatsuki. Yuzuki refers her as unlucky Wakatsuki twin. She can be seen as the most athletic of all the girls, although she is somewhat lacking when it comes to her figure. Despite her sporty physique, Syuri is still a very supportive friend that had no trouble connecting with Sana, even after his prolonged absence. She was also the first to be a volunteer at the old folk's home before inviting Asami. In the anime, she and Syusuke run away together, but come back in the final episode to see Nanaka's violin performance.

Syusuke Wakatsuki (若月 修輔 Wakatsuki Shūsuke, born March 23, 1992)

Syusuke is one of the four childhood friends Sana left behind when he moved, and is still one of his new friends when he returned. He is the best friend of Sana and the only male besides Sana himself of the five friends. He is the younger twin of Syuri Wakatsuki. Yuzuki refers him as the lucky one of the Wakatsuki twins. When he and Syuri are accused of being lovers, their father decides to send Syuri to London. When Syuri says that she cannot stand to be separated from him, he decides to run away with her.

Hinako Mochida (持田 雛子 Mochida Hinako, born August 5, 1997)

Hinako is ten years old at first but becomes eleven in the course of the story. She is in love with Syusuke from when he saved her from three bullies who took her bag and would not give it back. She seems to want to learn how to be the girl he will like and asks Sana and Aoi for help. Hinako has a personality comparable to Aoi's, however being only in the fifth grade, she is childish as a result of her age. In the last anime episode, it is shown that she is the girlfriend of Asami's cousin, who is five years younger than her.


Yuzuki Fujimura (藤村 柚希 Fujimura Yuzuki, born December 26, 1982)

Yuzuki is the twenty-five-year-old homeroom teacher of Sana's class; Syusuke, Nanaka, and Syuri are also in the same class. Whenever her students do a good job in school, such as cleaning a classroom thoroughly or bringing things to the teacher's lounge, Yuzuki will give them a piece of caramel candy, and even though she says to keep it a secret, everyone already knows that she does this. Many years ago when she was in high school, she met a child at the park and gave him one such caramel candy for trying so hard at attempting to flip over a metal bar (this turned out to be Sana during the course of the anime); this is what helped her decide to give them to others.


Asami Hoshino (星野 あさみ Hoshino Asami, born October 28, 1991)

Asami is a friend of Sana's and is in her second year. Asami seems to have a very gentle personality, and even volunteers at an old folk's home; she often asks Sana to come too, who is happy to oblige. However, she actually has a very vindictive personality. She takes revenge on people who hurt her. In the anime, she had a crush on Syuri and when she confesses to her, Syuri says they should just be friends. Angered, Asami writes a letter to the school, accusing that Syuri and Syusuke are lovers. Later on, she invites Syuri and Sana to the hospital to visit a sick lady so she could see how much she hurt Syuri. To her surprise, Syuri seems fine. At the hospital, the sick lady takes a knife and tries to kill Syuri, but Asami runs to protect her and is stabbed instead. She lives to realize that she should not hate Syuri anymore.


Personally, I like all the characters in this anime series. They are cute, caring and funny in each of them. I think the funniest is the Aoi-chan. Although she is the oldest among them, she is still very childish and petite size.

OK, let us take a preview of the scenes of "Myself; Yourself".
















Well, if you would like to catch this anime series, please click into "Myself; Yourself".

Enjoy watching! ^.^

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Kaicho wa Maid-Sama - Chapter 59 – Demon Lover?!

I just finished reading the chapter 59 of KWMS in the Chinese version. I think this chapter is interesting, thus, I will brief the story to you all while waiting for the English scan. The title of this chapter is “Demon à Lover?!”
The story starts with Misaki is begging her friends (Sakura-chan and the glasses girl) to keep the secret of her relationship between her and Usui.  Her friends are asking her if they are dating, is it started from the spring trip after they did something and how is their first time.  Misaki then asked them back if they have noticed about it and the glasses friend replied as “Of course, we are the friends of Misaki!”

Sakura-chan then asking Misaki if she has given the muffler to Usui and Misaki is blushing. The specky friend says it is the first time to see Misaki in such expression and love really can make one person to change. Misaki then begging them to leave her alone. Sakura asks why Misaki wants to keep the relationship as a secret, is it due to Usui is a popular guy in school and would cause other girls to jealous? Misaki then replies that she is the President of the school and should be a good role model to the students. Moreover, the graduation school trip is coming, she has to control of the students and would be careful in the coming time.

All the students are excited to plan for the graduation school trip, Misaki’s class is going to Kyoto for the trip. The female students are looking forward to meet a hot guy as Usui in the trip and Misaki is looking forward for the trip too.
One day before the school trip, the idiot trio keep on asking Misaki where she would go during the trip as they want to be with her and of course she does not allow them. Usui is standing at the door side and he hears the conversation. Then Usui enters into the classroom and called “Ayuzawa!” “Is there anything happened?”Misaki asks Usui and he replies ”Nothing!”
“I wanna to see you that’s why I’m here”. Usui is telling Misaki face to face. Misaki is stunned for it and Usui continues “Can’t you hear me?! I wanna see Ayuzawa, that’s why” “Come here for a moment” Misaki says. All the male students are shocked to see and hear their conversation and they wondering what is happening between both of them.



“What are you trying to do?!”Misaki is asking Usui in blushing.
“Isn’t a secret in the school?”Misaki is telling Usui.
“It’s Ayuzawa who says it’s a secret in the school. When I want to see you, I’ll go for you! Usui says. Misaki then leaves him and returns to her work. Misaki and the others are busy to do the work before they are going for the trip. After that, they leave and Misaki stays behind to clear all the works by herself as usual, and Usui is in the room with her.



“You really do not change a bit, just like a guy, very capable, my Girlfriend!” Misaki is blushing and a bit angry after she hears it and asks Usui if he wants to fool her and he replies as “Probably!”
Misaki is really pissed off and Usui is grabbing her hands and says “No matter how I playful I’m to you, you’ve known that I’m truly love you?” “I really want to see you even you feel tensed”.
“If you’ve known that I got tensed….”Misaki says, Usui continues “maybe I wanna see you in tense!” Misaki is blushing again. Usui then walks approach to the window and shouts to the students in the field “Ayuzawa and I are”



“Wah! Don’t!”Misaki says and pulls Usui away and covers her mouth with her hand. Usui then thinks Misaki is really angry and he licks the hand of Misaki. Misaki is shocked and asked “What have you done?”
“I licked it!” Usui says.
“You licked it? What are you thinking about?!”Misaki is asking him.
Usui grabs Misaki’s hand pulls her to him. “We can’t! People can see us….. Usui!”Misaki says.
“You can gimme a hard punch if cannot!” Usui is telling Misaki.
Misaki then thinks herself is too naive as she does not thought of this before. Then they KISS!
“Certainly, this is the time that is the most honest!”Usui says in smiling face to Misaki and Misaki is mad for it.
“I’m really looking forward for the graduation school trip!”Usui says.
“What are you thinking? You pervert alien!”
“Really is a serious person and wants to be leader of everything although it is a hard work!”


4 days 3 nights school trip, can this matter be hidden?!

End of chapter.
Well, hope you all enjoy! ^.^

The Happiest Bride - April Bride

Konnichiwa minasan! April is reaching in a few days; I would like to recommend a Japanese movie here. The title is called “April Bride” aka “Yomei Ikkagetsu no Hanayome”. The movie is based on the true story of the love between Chie Nagashima, a woman who died at the age of 24 while fighting breast cancer, and her boyfriend/husband Taro Akasu. April Bride was number one in the box office in its opening weekend. The length of the movie is 129 minutes. The director is Ryuichi Hiroki. This is a tragedy romance movie.
The story begins with Chie Nagashima(Nana Eikura) and Taro Akasu (Eita) are met at a workshop. Taro falls to Nagashima at the first sight, eventually they fall in love, become a couple and having a good time.



When Tara finds out that Nagashima is having breast cancer, she leaves Taro and goes for the surgery by her own because she thinks that she does not suitable for him. However, Taro does not give up on the relationship and he keeps on looking for Nagashima.  After sometime, Taro is able to find Nagashima at his hometown. Taro telling Nagashima about his feelings for her that he does not mind about her body after the surgery as he truly loves her and wants to stay together with her.  So, they become together again and having the happy time.




However, the sickness of Nagashima has relapsed and getting worse. Taro even moves in to stay together with Nagashima in the hospital in order to support and take care of her by ignoring the objections of his parents. Both of them fight the cancer together. 



When the doctor announces that Nagashima is only having one more month to live, Taro decides to give a wedding to Nagashima. He and Nagashima’s best friends plan the wedding behind Nagashima, and then he takes Nagashima out from the hospital by telling her that he takes her for the photo shooting in the wedding gowns. After they taking the photo in front of the church, they are having their wedding ceremony then. On the wedding, Taro is proposed to Nagashima in front of all the friends and families, and Nagashima agreed and then they exchanging rings. All the friends and relatives of Nagashima and even the parents of Taro   also attended this special wedding ceremony.






However, Nagashima has passed away after the wedding. Nagashima has left a video clip to her husband that she thanked him for what he did for her and she loves him. Taro is sad but then becomes strong to keep on living with the memory of Nagashima in his heart.

When you are watching this movie, please prepare some tissue papers next you because the story is very touching and there are many touching scenes. Eg. The scene that Taro-san expresses his feelings to Nagashima at the seaside, Nagashima’s father thanks Taro-san in the wad. For me, the most touching scene is Taro-san is proposed to the girl on the wedding. I was cried out in the last 30 minutes of the movie. It is indeed very sad and touching! L I think the Taro-san is a very good guy as he truly loves Nagashima deeply although she is a sick person. He does not care of his parents and keep on staying by the side of his loved one when she needed him. I think Chie Nagashima was a very lucky person as she has found her true loved in her life time before she leaves the world.
Chie Nagashima's story was actually told in a 2007 TBS documentary. The documentary achieved ratings of 16.6%, and the story was later published as a book that sold more than 400,000 copies and then adapted into this movie. The story is even been adapted into manga series, but I could not find it.
Both the actor and actress are having very good acting in this movie. The actress, Nana Eikura even cut her hair in very short in order to act as a series cancer patient. This movie makes her won an award of “Rookie of the Year”at the 2010 (33rd) Japan Academy Prize on 5/3/2010.

Let us preview some more scens of the movie.



If you would like to watch this touching story, please click into "April Bride”, and enjoy the true love!