February 2009 Loot Box

Ever since incurring that debt, I’ve cut down on the amount of merchandise to get from Japan, so this month’s loot box isn’t as huge or extensive as previous ones’. However, now I limit myself to get rarer goods and/or goods of higher quality.

Edit: This is messy. I’m going to do a clean Merchandise Sales post later with all currently available merchandise neatly linked instead of the awkward assortment below. This post will now just be a loot photo-sharing post.

ｷﾀ━━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━━━!!!!!

A Quick Question

I noticed something odd today with blog stats. The daily view count for the post with lyrics of Last regrets, the opening theme to Kanon (2006) and game, shot up from an average of 10 views per day to over 150 just yesterday alone. I checked my incoming link clicks and search terms, but I couldn’t find anything that correlates with the song.

So…why the sudden popularity? Is it because of the impending snowstorm today?

I first thought that it may have something to do with WordPress’ annual special snow effect for blogs, but that was turned on over a week ago, and the Last regrets post didn’t experience any change in view counts then.

Merchandise Tidbits – November 19th, 2008

Max Factory 1/8 Suzumiya Haruhi (Extravaganza ver.)
Max Factory 1/8 Nagato Yuki (Extravaganza ver.)
Max Factory 1/8 Asahina Mikuru (Extravaganza ver.)

- At the recent Miyazawa Models Expo 2008 Fall, Max Factory unveiled posters of 1/8 scale figurines featuring Haruhi, Yuki, and Mikuru from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in their Extravaganza attire. The Haruhi figurine will be the first to be released, currently scheduled for March 2009 and at 7,800 yen. Preorder for it will open on November 21st, JP time. It stands approximately 210mm tall. The Yuki figurine will be released in April 2009 and the Mikuru figurine will be released in May 2009; both are about 200mm tall and the price tags for these two are still undetermined.
- Wow, wow wow wow. That is amazing. The figurines look stunning in the poster. I am right to have passed on the Alter Haruhi, because the new Max Factory Haruhi looks incredible. I hope all three figurines will look as good in their mass-production incarnation without the photoshop. As an afterthought, I’d still say the face on the Alter Haruhi is better, but this MF Haruhi trumps it in nearly every other department.

September 2008 Loot Box

11,800 yen for shipping. Dang.

- Izumi Konata Plush
- Code Geass Stage 1 Special Chara Fortune Set (for someone else)
- Code Geass Stage 25 Special Chara Fortune Set (for someone else)
- Vampire Knight Cross Academy Day Class Girls’ Uniform
- Kodomo no Jikan Mini-Randoseru
- Ouran High School Host Club Original Production & Settings
- Ouran High School Host Club Original Production & Settings Cosplay Edition
- Ouran High School Host Club Binder
- Fujioka Haruhi Student ID
- Clannad Visual Fanbook
- Hatsune Miku Leather Wallet Chain
- Tsukimiya Ayu’s Winged Rucksack
- Max Factory 1/8 Tsukimiya Ayu (for a friend)
- Geass Swing 2 Anya
- Max Factory 1/8 Sawatari Makoto (for a friend)
- Prop Plus Lelouch Lamperouge
- Prop Plus Kururugi Suzaku
- Kotobukiya 1/8 Kawasumi Mai (for a friend)
- Zero’s Mask
- Animage October 2008 Issue
- 9 X Code Geass R2 Dokidoki Chara Fortunes

There is so much stuff that I’m having a hard time keeping them straight. I’ve already put away most of the items for storage and I’ll try to write up evaluations of individual things in the coming week or two. I’m too busy with schoolwork to do so now.

Dining in True Weeaboo Fashion

Oh god, Makoto ♥♥♥ (No, not the one that lost his head)
I…I think I made too many.

The desire for nostalgic meat buns struck, so I made a dozen based on a mix of two recipes from The Anime Blog and Just Hungry. This is the first time that I’ve made them and they did turn out to be pretty good. However, the best stuff was the buns that the street vendors offered at 7am in China during my childhood days… Oh, good times… Good times… Too bad that the government has cracked down on the street vendors (read: unsanitary) in the last couple of years, so they don’t really exist anymore.

Kanon (2002) Ending Theme – flower

flower
Vocals: Fujiwara Miho
Lyrics: Kosaka Naomi
Composition: Kamata Masato
Arrangement: Ozu Hiroyuki

The blue sky that peeked through the spaces among the drifting clouds
Makes even the familiar streets sparkle

The backs of our small running figures; the us from back then
Hid the reasons for our spilling pains with innocence

Kanon (2006) Ending Theme – Kaze no Tadoritsuku Basho

Romaji has been added.

The Place Where the Wind Reaches
Vocals: Ayana
Lyrics: Key
Rap Lyrics: I’ve
Composition: Orito Shinji
Arrangement: Takase Kazuya (I’ve)

The wind beneath my feet; light danced; the amount of miracles that only accumulated in the ordinary days
If we look up, there are clouds; we’re going down the way home that leads into the distance faster than we did from the days when we were young
Like children who waited for the snow to thaw, we run; shining droplets are hopping around
We’re not even worried about our meeting tomorrow; it’s shining within the seasons

Kanon (2006) Opening Theme – Last regrets

Last regrets
Vocals: Ayana
Lyrics: Key
Composition: Key
Arrangment: Takase Kazuya

I won’t say ‘thank you’; I’ll leave it in myself forever
Goodbye, after a dream that doesn’t overshadow it, quietly lands

I forever, forever embrace the pieces pouring into my hands
And I already know the strength of laughing until the end