1/12 RX-78-2 Gundam Model Kit

Posted on August 3, 2006 by DarkMirage

You read that right: 1/12.

Dubbed the “HYPER HYBRID MODEL 1/12 RX-78-2 GUNDAM”, this model kit (if you can call it that) will be on sale in Japan from December 16 for a reasonable price of just 350,000 yen (roughly 3000 USD). Perfect Grade, eat your heart out.

1/12 Gundam
1/12 Gundam. The robot, not the girl.

According to ITmedia News, the model kit consists of roughly 260 parts and has 14 movable points that use metallic parts for additional support. Using a special remote control, you can even play sound effects and make the lights located in the vulcan gun barrels flash.

This is a continuation of the large size Zaku that was sold 5 years ago for 207,900 yen. A total of 1500 Zaku was sold.

I’m guessing this guy will be getting himself a few of this.

Posted in Anime, Figures | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Unlimited Essay Works

Posted on August 3, 2006 by DarkMirage

This guy deserves respect.

Unlimited Essay Works

A++ if I were his teacher.

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Japanese Titbits #1 – 黄昏 (tasogare)

Posted on August 1, 2006 by DarkMirage

I came across an interesting passage about the origin of the word 黄昏 (tasogare) today. It’s not enough for a proper lesson chapter and I have no idea what topic to dump it under, so I’ve decided to create a brand new section: Japanese Titbits! How exactly does this differ from Katamari, I have no idea. Just accept it. So anyway…

Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese | Tagged | 7 Comments

More money down the drain

Posted on July 31, 2006 by DarkMirage

The postman was here today! And you know what that means…

CD Japan orders

Gedo Senki Insert - Teruu no UtaDa Capo 2 Vocal AlbumThe Adventure Over Yui HorieSuzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu DVD Vol.1

Total cost: 18,062 yen

The sad thing is, the two DVDs are not mine. ＿|ï¿£|O I don’t have enough money to collect R2 DVDs…

Gedo Senki has been receiving bad reviews from Japanese fans who have seen it in theatres, but the insert song is so good that I bought the single anyway. Just listen to it:

[audio:teruu_no_uta.mp3]

This version comes from the movie OST. The version in the single is 4:49 long and has some bgm.

Posted in Money | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Beginner’s Japanese – Chapter IV – 1st Katamari

Posted on July 30, 2006 by DarkMirage

In Japanese, 塊まり katamari refers to a lump or a mass of substance, made famous by the hit PS2 game Katamari Damacy about an alien prince trying to roll the entire planet up into a ball. Don’t ask.

Today’s lesson will not focus on any particular topic. Instead, we will take a look at some of the interesting things you can find in the Japanese language, things that you probably won’t find in a textbook. Maybe. In a sense, I’m lumping all the small miscellaneous topics into a katamari. I’ll probably include a Katamari chapter every few lessons.

Okay, so that’s really just an excuse for me to write a really short chapter of randomness because I am sort of busy this week.

Bottle Fairy

On another note, Katamari chapters will not have any theme character but instead have a variety of pictures from various forgotten directories on my computer. I bet an archaeologist can publish a few books just by digging through my hard drives.

Your nominations from last week will carry on to next chapter.

Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese | Tagged | 14 Comments

Bunny Haruhi figurines for sale

Posted on July 28, 2006 by DarkMirage

By now everyone should have seen the pictures: the mysterious Haruhi figurine that has been the topic of much discussion on 4chan and everywhere else. I’m sure that, just like me, you can’t wait to get your hands on one of them. Too bad you probably can’t. Neither can I. orz

Usagi Guitar Haruhi Power!

Usagi Guitar Haruhi Power!Usagi Guitar Haruhi Power!

According to the blog サイコロキャラメルの謎, which belongs to the creator of this awesome custom resin figurine, Suzumiya-sama will be on sale during the next World Hobby Festival to be held in Kobe on July 30th (and not the more popular Wonder Festival Summer to be held next month in Tokyo). Details as follows:

  • Price: 12,000 yen (~100 USD)
  • Availability: 200 pieces
  • Type: unpainted and unassembled resin kit
  • Limited to one per person

Well, WHF is held in Kobe, just a bit away from Osaka. Alternatively, you can try Yahoo! Auctions Japan in a few days’ time and buy one for an insane amount of money.

Gah, if only it were Wonder Festival. At least I know some people who are in Tokyo and going to be there. But Kobe is just… =_=

There is currently no plans for PVC mass production.

Posted in Figures | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

kwok: お帰りなさい～

Posted on July 25, 2006 by DarkMirage

Kwok from lolicontrol returned to Singapore last night. It seems like he hasn’t updated his blog yet because he is dreading about going back to work tomorrow… Shia and I just met him a few hours ago at his house to pick up the things that we got him to buy.

Purty colours~

That’s the SOS-dan XL-size T-shirt from COSPA, the School Days Secret Live DVD (which I’ve already released on torrent just two posts down), a Tamaki doujinshi and… the Comiket 70 CD-ROM Catalog!!! Woot.

That said, it just so happens that I bought the exact same doujinshi when I was in Tokyo last month. So now I have two copies of it. Well, twice the Tama-nee I guess. :3 (Or does anyone want to buy it off me? lol)

The worst part is he bought a copy of Tony’s Caladblog for a little over 1000 yen but it wasn’t for me. ;_;

Posted in Blog, Otaku | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

The picture that won the Internet

Posted on July 23, 2006 by DarkMirage

Komaki Station

Posted in Games | Tagged , | 12 Comments

School Days Secret Live

Posted on July 23, 2006 by DarkMirage

Once again, ThePaper @ irc.rizon.net brings you yet another BitTorrent release that no one was particularly looking for!!!

It’s the DVD rip of School Days Secret Live! Get it here.

This is the DVD rip of the School Days SECRET LIVE concert that was held last year to commemorate the release of School Days It was released on June 23 2006, the same day as Summer Days.

School Days Secret Live

The singers are, in order of appearance:

  • Miyuki Hashimoto
  • YURIA
  • rino
  • yozuca*
  • Minami Kuribayashi

Unrelated note: According to YURIA in the video, she was the president of the drama club in high school, a member of three seperate bands AND the student council president… :O

Posted in Games, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Beginner’s Japanese – Chapter III – Kanji

Posted on July 22, 2006 by DarkMirage

Wait a minute… didn’t I mention in the previous chapter that this time I would be highlighting some interesting quirks about the Japanese language instead of a formal chapter? So why is today’s chapter on kanji?

Well, let me just assure you that kanji is one of the craziest things about Japanese. Wars have been fought over deciding how a kanji should be read.

I realized that in order to get to the more interesting stuff, I need to first explain kanji and related topics. So I’ll be doing a crash course to kanji today and then we’ll get to the things that I promised in the next lesson. Really.

Before we start, here are your character nominations for this week’s chapter:

  • Yuki Nagato (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu)
  • Lacus Clyne (Gundam SEED)
  • Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden)
  • Shana (Shakugan no Shana)
  • Mahoro (Mahoromatic)
  • Nanaka Shirakawa (D.C. II)
  • Saber (Fate/stay night)
  • Kotori Shirakawa (D.C.)

Tough call. But…

Mahoro wins!!!… just because I happen to have some pictures of her lying around. ^^;; On to today’s lesson…

Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese | Tagged , | 25 Comments