"Humans all behave the same way, like idiots. They all forget that someday, they're gonna die, so the moment they come face to face with death, they cling to life." - Ginti (Death Parade)
Rare giant squid swims into Japanese bay.
On December 29 Japanese people received a sight they thought they would never see. Giant squids usually prefer the deep sea so when one managed to get swept up into the bay many onlookers were very surprised. Although this giant squid was only 3.7m but can grow up to be a whopping 13m, the squid was in the harbor for several hours and was filmed by local divers on Christmas eve. Talk about a Christmas miracle, although there have been more than a dozen sightings in the past year. However this squid may not be so lucky as professionals said that the squid did not look very health and would most likely die.
Mr Kojima said "with a rise in sea temperature, giant squid have moved north to waters off Toyama, from where they swim up from deeper waters during the winter season." So if you ever want to see a giant squid the best time to go would be during the winter season.
Japanese researchers have discovered the 113th element
This may not sound like a big deal to most people but this is the first element to be named by an Asian team. This wasn't a quick process for the team though, they started there research in 2003 trying to achieve a complete fusion of zinc and bismuth. The team managed to synthesize particles of the new element in 2004, 2005 and 2012. A joint team of US and Russian researchers also claimed to have discovered the 113th element but by different methods, but lucky for japan because the IUPAC confirmed that the Japanese team was the original discoverers.
So for japan this is amazing news and i'm sure that we can be expecting much more great things from the science department from japan coming soon.
Starry sky scene every night on Ishigakijima
Ishigakijima island in Okinawa Prefecture is known for its blue sky's, emerald green sea and white sand beaches. But at night it turns very dark but then is lit up by the stars in the sky. island is part of the Yaeyama islands, which are located at the south westernmost point of Japan this area is known as an area where you can see stars bright and shiny. People born on the island have said "that they always see the stars so they don't seem so special to me" however this is an astonishing site to anyone that can see it.
If you ever get a chance to go to this island I would most definitely take the chance as this is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
God Eater 2: Rage Burst
The struggle of God Eaters, like that of the members of Blood, had ended. The "Devouring Apocalypse", a threat that would engulf the world, changed its form into a structure known as the "Spiral Tree" due to the sacrifice of a God Arc user.
Then, one day something odd in the "Spiral Tree" happens. The members of Blood set out for an investigation together with fellow God Arc user, Livie Collete dispatched by Fenrir headquarters. While each holds their own feelings in their hearts, they will have to confront with the Spiral Tree once more...
The balance of the world and a promise with a comrade. Something awaits for Blood at the depths of the spiral tree....
I don't believe y'all have had the pleasure of meeting Haoge, which is an unique chinese cosplayer. Haoge isn't the most active person, but makes up for it by being a little different than most other cosplayers.
For this portrait I have chosen to display his Kotori cosplay series, because I believe it displays some very good pictures. It's also the character, which Haoge became known to cosplay.
Series: Love Live! School Idol Project Character: Kotori Minami
Rita is the only surviving citizen of the Nebelville massacre. She revived the town into zombies and lived there for 200 years before deciding that she needed a change of scenery.
Currently I will be selecting the waifus of the week although if you disagree and/or want to see your waifu here post it on the thread or shoot me a PM we are always looking for suggestions, all waifus/opinions will be taken into consideration. We only want the finest of waifus to be listed in the glorious news.
For this weeks waifu of the week i present to you all Rita from the anime Shingeki no Bahamut.
Here we have a typical old af loli, because we literally cannot get enough of them. i mean lolis right!?
Rita appears to be a young loli but is in fact much older... Try 200 years older. She was able to stay this old by using her necromancer powers and eventually turning into a zombie. (Yes zombie loli) She has pale skin and often wears a hat and wield a staff. She has short black hair and bluey greenish eyes.
At first Rita appears to be evil, mysterious and sinister but after a change of events turns out to be somewhat of an amazing companion. throughout the anime Rita appears to be mature and focuses mainly on her immediate goal. She also is very perceptive and usually the first to notice when something is going down.
Parasyte -The Maxim-
Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen
24 episodes
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Synopsis Based on Iwaaki Hitoshi's science-fiction horror manga by the same name.
The 17-year-old Izumi Shinichi lives with his mother and father in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo. One night, worm-like aliens called Parasytes invade Earth, taking over the brains of human hosts by entering through their ears or noses. One Parasyte attempts to crawl into Shinichi's ear while he sleeps, but fails since he is wearing headphones. The creature enters Shinichi's body by burrowing into his arm instead, taking over the boy's right hand. It adopts the name Migi.
Because Shinichi was able to prevent Migi from traveling further up into his brain, both beings retain their separate intellect and personality. As the duo encounters other Parasytes, they capitalize on their strange situation and gradually form a strong bond, working together to survive. This gives them an edge in battling other Parasytes, who frequently attack the pair upon realization that Shinichi's human brain is still intact. Shinichi feels compelled to fight other Parasytes, who devour humans as food, while enlisting Migi's help.
Characters Migi (ミギー) Migi is the Parasite which lives in Shinichi's hand. Unlike "successful" Parasites, Migi has no desire to kill humans for sustenance, and is nourished by the food Shinichi eats. Migi is, like other Parasites, completely without emotion. His primary consideration is survival, and he has threatened (and in some cases attempted) to kill other humans who pose a threat to his and Shinichi's secrecy. When he and Shinichi were first coming to terms, he even threatened to remove Shinichi's other limbs in order to render him unable to place the two of them in danger. Migi can be reasoned with, however, and has just as much reason to be mistrustful of other Parasites as does Shinichi. On the other hand, unlike Shinichi, Migi has no inclination to place himself at risk in order to protect other humans from Parasites. As the series goes along, however, he becomes more human, whereas the reverse happens to Shinichi.
Shinichi Izumi (泉 新一) Shinichi is the protagonist of the manga, a thoughtful, compassionate high-school boy whose hand is infected with a Parasite. Shinichi is repeatedly put into difficult positions. He must find a way to peacefully coexist with Migi, the Parasite which has taken over his hand, and reconcile his desire to protect humanity from the Parasites with his desire to keep his own Parasite a secret in order to avoid being killed or used as a laboratory specimen. Like a superhero with a secret identity, he must also find a way to explain away his Parasite-fighting activities, as well as the stress and grief they cause him, to his friends and family. Shinichi's retention of a human mind, emotion, and sensibilities causes other Parasites to see him as a threat. He and his Parasite must defend themselves from attacks by other Parasites, and their ability to think and act independently, and as a team, gives them a tactical edge over normal Parasites.
Kana Kimishima (君嶋 加奈) Kana is a disobedient "bad girl" who develops a crush on Shinichi. She is attracted to him because of his sensitive personality, and because she can sense something "different" about him. In reality, Kana has an unexplained psychic ability to sense Parasites.
However, her senses are not as fine-tuned as those of the Parasites themselves, and she cannot tell whether she is sensing the presence of Shinichi or of a normal Parasite, putting her in considerable danger.
Satomi Murano (村野 里美) Shinichi's best friend and sometime companion. Shinichi and Satomi develop a romantic relationship over the course of the series, but their attraction to and fondness for one another is hampered by Shinichi's fear of his own monstrous nature, and Satomi's fear of Shinichi's secretive behavior and the mood swings that result from the trials and tribulations in his life.
synopsis and characters derived from MyAnimeList.net
Review
When talking about the best anime released in 2015, Parasyte is certainly in the discussion, and rightfully so. The ending to this anime was a bit "meh" but it certainly doesn't effect the enjoyment of the anime in the slightest. One of my favorite characters in Parasyte was Satomi Murano. She seemed pretty perfect aside from the seemingly incessant "R U THE REAL SHINICHI?!?!". All in all, I would recommend this anime to anyone who likes action, horror, drama, or maybe even sob stories.
Story This anime is based off of the manga by the same name. The story stays pretty linear. Nothing was rushed, and certainly nothing was drug out... everything was paced very nicely. No filler episodes, and every episode had it's own fix of action, certain to keep you entertained throughout the whole series, especially if you like blood. Aside from the "meh" ending, it was very well written. I wouldn't mind watching Parasyte again.
9/10
Characters Like I always say, characters make, or break, the anime. The characters in this anime certainly made it. You can tell there is a gradual change of Shinichi throughout the story, along with many other characters. Their development is not rushed. They play a vital role in this anime, and they definitely deliver.
9/10
Art The art style in this anime is definitely different, but not in a bad way. I love the way this anime was drawn out, although colors seem a little dull at times but that was probably intentional to imply, or set, the mood. The artist also has a habit of... uhh... making foreheads way too damn big. Satomi would look so much better if she had a smaller forehead, just saying.
8/10
Enjoyment What isn't there to enjoy while watching this anime? From episode 1 all the way to episode 24, I enjoyed every bit of it. Every episode had it's fair share of action, love, and sometimes even anguish. There is never a dull moment in any of the episodes. This anime is completely enjoyable for anyone. The combination of the fantastic story, the art, and the well-rounded characters makes this anime extremely enjoyable to watch. 10/10
Overall Rating:9.2/10 Very well written anime. It will keep you entranced for every single episode. I certainly hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, or if you haven't watched it yet, I hope you do enjoy it as much as I did. It's certainly a top anime of 2015... maybe even a top anime of this decade. Thanks for reading my review! I look forward to writing the next one.
Synopsis: Spoiler (Click to View)A tale of revenge set in future Shanghai, where crime syndicates and cyber-warriors rule the city.
The schools of martial arts can be largely divided into two styles - Waijia, the external schools that concentrate solely on the development of speed, strength, and powerful forms and techniques - and Neijia, those that use control of breathing and blood flow to master the internal energy - qi - that flows through the body's meridians. Because of these methodological differences, the two styles have vied time and again for supremacy.
Although practitioners of Waijia were far greater in number, in the end not one of them could stand up to a warrior who had truly mastered the secrets of Neijia. For centuries, this was the unchallenged law of the martial arts world. However, the advent of cybernetics changed everything. Freed from the yoke of their physical limitations, Waijia schools discovered an entirely new world of possibility. The Neijia schools that had reigned over the martial world with their secret techniques, suddenly found themselves obsolete.
In this age where technology is changing the face of combat, heirs to the ancient martial traditions have developed anti-cyborg techniques for the sole purpose of defeating cyborgs with one's bare hands - at great cost to the wielder.
Kong Taoluo, one such master and former asssassin in the Qingyun Society, returns to Shanghai from a year in recovery after being betrayed by the syndicate and assumed dead. Discovering the horrible truth of what has happened to his sister during his absence; Taoluo swears an oath of vengeance and sets out to murder those responsible.
Story review:
Well before we start I implore you to read the above synopsis as it sets the stage pretty fucking well. Leaping off from it, to be specific what "happened to his sister" is that she was gang raped repeatedly then "killed" by having her consciousness's split into 5 pieces and put in sex robots. Who then get raped on the daily. This is a really cheery story so far isn't it? The tight cast of character's is shown as well as backstories to really get you to dislike some of these guys. All while knowing the main protag is not clean of any sins himself. But at least he's got SOME righteous justification for fucking these guys up right?
On his rampage to get his sister's pieces back there are quite a few AMAZING fight sequences. I never really knew I wanted cybernetic Kung-Foo until reading this. And now it makes me wish Gen Urobutchi made more of this world. OH YEAH. I didn't mention Gen Urobutchi AKA the "Urobutcher" made this did I? He fucking loves this style of dark storytelling as i am sure many of you know from works such as "Madoka Magica". So expect the same quality tone and scenarios in this story.
Sound:
The music fits perfectly with the tone of the VN. Even the tracks that one might call upbeat seem dark in tone during the fight scenes they appear. Such as the one I will have you listen to below. Spoiler (Click to View)
Art Kikokugai's artstyle is a bit dated but still holds up well. The weird city scape CG's in the background can sometimes be jarring but it wasn't totally worthless.
Overall Satisfaction:
This is a great work from the Urobutcher and a gem that a lot of people pass on because of it's age. It still remains solid as a solid dark toned action story. If that's your jam check this shit out!
Story: 8/10 (Ayyyyyyyyyyy revenge is the name of the game what could go wrong? :^))
Sound: 8/10 (Fits the entire story perfectly. What more can you ask for?)
Art: 5/10 (A bit dated and it is offputting to a lot of people. Still worth looking past the art flaws for the story however.)
Resources Kikokugai has no official English translation. However there are two versions easily available to find. 18+ Patch info HERE. With 15+ Patch info HERE.
You will have to find the original game to patch by yourself. ARRRRRRRRRRRRR MATEYS!
The games VNDB can be found here or by clicking the header image.
"Ahh, how you’ve changed. I almost mistook you for a walking corpse."
Sandaime J Soul Brothers, officially known as Sandaime J Soul Brothers from Exile Tribe, are the third generation unit of the J Soul Brothers, a J-pop vocal and dance group formed by Exile leader Hiro. Formed exclusively by Exile's Vocal Battle Audition in 2010, Sandaime J Soul Brothers released their first single "Best Friend's Girl" in November 2010, which peaked at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart. Their self-titled debut album J Soul Brothers, released in 2011, also peaked at number three. In 2013, they achieved their first number-one record with their third album Miracle.
On December 30, 2015, the annual music awards show "The 57th Japan Record Awards" (organized by The Japan Composer's Association) was held at The New National Theatre, Tokyo, and the winners of the grand prize "Japan Record Award" and the "Best New Artist Award" were announced. This year, Sandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE's "Unfair World" was chosen as the grand prize among 10 "Best Song Award" winning songs. The group also won the same award last year with "R.Y.U.S.E.I.".
(Click to View) Tiffany A.: Hey Kiyoshi, how are you doing? And I guess I should wish you a happy new year!
Kiyoshi: Hi! I'm good, thanks. Just lying in my bed trying to get better after this operation I've had.
Happy new year, indeed!
Tiffany A.: Oh, well i'm sorry to hear about your operation. Do you mind if I ask what it was for?
Kiyoshi: Ah, sure. It wasn't anything important. Just something with my tailbone.
Tiffany A.: Either way, I hope you make a full recovery from it soon! Moving on, what would you say was your favorite show that aired in 2015?
Kiyoshi: Thank you! :)
Oh god, I knew one of these questions would appear.. My favorite anime that aired 2015.
Really hard question tbh. And very rarely have a fav anime, but I enjoyed - Overlord, Shokugeki no Soma, and fate/stay I guess. Just to mention some. (I suck at picking one).
Tiffany A.: I have troubles picking favorites as well since I tend to watch a lot of the shows while they air. Fate/stay was very good though, so nice choice. Since Shokugeki no Soma and Fate/stay are very different in genre, what would you say your favorite genre would be?
Kiyoshi: Actually, when it comes to genres I wouldn't really say that I have an favorite. As long as it's good and I enjoy it, I'll watch that shit.
Then again, I do enjoy anime series with op MCs, or stuff that builds up decently with a good story and characters. Like Hunter x Hunter or Steins;Gate.
Tiffany A.: Steins;Gate is one of my all time favorite shows. Makise Kurisu is best girl for sure. This is kind of a different question but i'm sure you have noticed that the activity in the AA subforum has decreased, not to mention half of the threads are usually asking for recommendations. What is one thing you think might help to bring more activity to the subforum?
Kiyoshi: Yea, that is true for sure.
A recommendation.. Hmm, hard one.
Maybe some kind of weekly contests?
If it would've been an easy fix, it probably already would've been done.
This isn't really my strongest side, I'm more of an "outsider" when it comes to these kind of things. ;p
Tiffany A.: Coming up with new and effective ideas isn't really my strong side either. If you had to guess, when did you start becoming active in the section?
Kiyoshi: Hmm, not really sure.
I know that I started out just lurking in the start though, but maybe late 2014?
Or something like that.
Tiffany A.: I think we all started out by lurking ;p But i'm surprised, you haven't been around in the section for that much longer than me. So I noticed on your MAL that you have completed quite a lot of shows. Do you keep your MAL updated regularly?
Kiyoshi: I haven't updated it these last few months, but it should be pretty much up to date when it comes to shows I've watched and are watching.
But as far as I know, I probably forgot to add some shows that I've seen.
Tiffany A.: For the most part, mine is updated as well but I always get the feeling that I am missing a show or two. As for 2016, are there any sequels or new shows that you are looking forward to?
Kiyoshi: As for 2016 I haven't really kept myself THAT up to date when it comes to the new anime series that are getting launched etc, but I know that Shokugeki no Soma will get a second season this summer, which probably will be pretty fun and enjoyable. So definitely looking forward to that one at least.
Guess I can add AoT too, just because it's so hyped. - Let's just hope it delivers.
But as far as I can see, there are probably a good number of anime shows I'll add and bookmark to watch this year.
It'll probably be a good year for anime, can't wait. :)
Tiffany A.: I'm looking forward to the second season of Gakusen Toshi Asterisk, but i'm sure there are many others that will be just as good. Anyways, thank you for your time, I really enjoyed interviewing you! :)
Kiyoshi: True, that is also one anime that I'll be sure to add to my bookmarks and watch! :)
And no problem. Was fun! Even if it is 5, soon 6am here.
Title – Monster Title in Japanese – モンスター(Monsutā) Genre(s) – Mystery, Psychological horror, Psychological thriller Chapters | Volumes – 162 | 18 Author(s) – Naoki Urasawa Artist(s) – Naoki Urasawa Released – December 1994 – December 2001 Status –Completed
Synopsis
Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a renowned young brain surgeon of Japanese descent working in Europe. Highly lauded by his peers as one of the great young minds that will revolutionize the field, he is blessed with a beautiful fiancé and is on the cusp of a high promotion in the hospital he works at. However, all of that is about to change with one critical decision that Dr. Tenma faces one night—whether to save the life of a young child or that of the town's mayor. Despite being pressured by his superiors to perform surgery on the mayor, his morals force him to perform the surgery on the young child, saving his life and forfeiting the mayor's. All of a sudden, Dr. Tenma's world is turned upside down by his decision leading to the loss of everything he previously had. A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when a series of murders occur in the vicinity of Dr. Tenma, all of the evidence pointing to the young child who he saved, Tenma's beliefs are shaken.
Characters Dr. Kenzo Tenma
[img]http://spacecoyote.com/temp/favartists/monster_tenma2.jpg[/img]
The protagonist of the series, Kenzo Tenma is a Japanese neurosurgeon working in Düsseldorf, Germany. Earlier in his career, a boy with a bullet wound in his head was brought into the hospital the same day the cities mayor was. Though the hospitals director and chief of surgery told Tenma to work on the mayor first, Tenma insisted he work on the boy as he was the only one who could. As a result of going against his superiors orders, the boy was saved but the mayor died. Years later, he learns that the boy he saved was the one who killed the mayor. Plagued by guilt, he resolves to destroy the monster he created.
Johan Liebert
[img]http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11116/111160082/4009823-johan.jpg[/img]
Johan Liebert is the titular 'Monster' of the series. He is regarded as a monster, as the devil himself. He states that he intends to be the last one standing when the world ends. As a child Johan was shot in the head but saved by Dr. Tenma. Because of this, he regards Tenma as a father figure. He also has a twin sister, Anna, whom he claims to love and has some form of loyalty to her. Johan has spent parts of his life in different places under different names. While charming and intelligent, he is extremely cunning, manipulative, and deceitful. He uses these talents to manipulate and corrupt others, mostly just to create pain and chaos.
Anna Liebert
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/violentracism/anna.jpg[/img]
Anna Liebert is Johan's twin sister. While she seems to live a happy life, but is aware that there are many parts of her past she does not remember. She is a sweet, warm, and loving young woman; the opposite of her own brother. She is later adopted by the Fortner family under the name Nina. She lived a peaceful life as a law student until her brother contacted her on her 20th birthday.
Inspector Heinrich Lunge
[img]http://40.media.tumblr.com/d0214787e233848be621baa4010f3aec/tumblr_mgphyhaxFS1qhpwa9o1_500.png[/img]
The inspector is an investigator looking into the mysterious being that is Johan. Not knowing much about him, he believes that Dr. Tenma created him and it is his alter ego. His dedication to his work and his obsession with Tenma has heavily impacted his personal life. He has spectacular memory, "entering data" into his mind so that he never forgets it. Seemingly emotionless and absolutely dedicated to his work, he has an intense toughness that at one point drives a murder suspect into killing themselves.
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Personal Opinion
For those looking for something soft and warm, turn away now. For those looking for what can easily be called one of the greatest psychological thrillers in any medium, with a villain as clever and memorable as the great Hannibal Lecter himself, here you go. This series is thrilling, enthralling, and spectacular, it's hard not to consider it an epic of it's genre. The character of Johan is so masterfully created, he sets a standard for what a villain should be across all genres. He truly is the Hannibal Lector of the manga world.
The story gets an 9/10
Although long, this story is extremely complex and makes you question every moral you have. Is killing for the greater good right, or is it wrong? This series pushes the limits of making the reader take an inward look at themselves and question what they truly think is right and what is wrong. The biggest downside is that you will be left with a lot left unexplained. Unlike most series, the characters intentions aren't explained in an expanded dialogue every time something happens. Much of the characters intentions aren't explained at all. That being said, the series does not start something it can't finish.
The Characters get a 9/10
All the characters, you could just find them in real-life. And that is awesome. It all feels real, especially for the medium. The characters change a bit throughout the story and their goals and actions are constantly changing with the new information they're uncovering. While we see this to an extent in many series, the characters in Monster seem to evolve just as humans in real life do over time, adding a much more realistic feeling to the series.
The art gets a 7/10
The art is good. It's not amazing, but still good. Not much to say here. It portrays the characters emotions in a subtle yet clear manor. Additionally the characters actually age quite noticeably as the series goes on.
All in all, Monster gets a9/10
While the art is lack luster, it isn't a series that demands spectacular art.
Thanks for reading this weeks manga review of manga here! If you have any requests, message me here and let me know!
Cya guys next time,
Isley
As a lot of you may know, it's not easy writing the AA Weekly. It takes a decent amount of time and dedication by each individual writer, and we make the AA Weekly for you. So today, make sure you take time to maybe thank one or two (or all!) writers of the AA Weekly. On another note, we're still desperately looking for writers. If you're interested, please let me know! There are no requirements, just PM me. Thanks for reading this edition and I hope to see you again next week!
Jan 3, 2016 06:58 PM (This post was last modified: Jan 3, 2016 07:00 PM by Yuikoro.)
>Haoge is a guy
Honestly when it comes to us Asians, I can't be that surprised. I am friends with a dude who likes to cosplay females and honestly, sometimes I have to question my sexuality. "He's a dude. But he looks fucking hot, but he's a dude. I only think that because he's a girl. But he's a dude." It's like we're all Okabe from Steins;Gate
-
Now that I look at myself in the mirror, if I put on makeup to make my skintone more white and had a good wig with some melons, I could probably pull off Eli Ayase. But the more I think about the possibility of doing it the more I am likely of sending myself to the grave.
I am currently looking for a Visual Novel of the Week writer and a Waifu of the Week writer. If you're interested, please, please, let me know. There are no set requirements, as long as you meet the deadline on time.
(Jan 3, 2016 06:58 PM)Yuikoro Wrote: >Haoge is a guy
Honestly when it comes to us Asians, I can't be that surprised. I am friends with a dude who likes to cosplay females and honestly, sometimes I have to question my sexuality. "He's a dude. But he looks fucking hot, but he's a dude. I only think that because he's a girl. But he's a dude." It's like we're all Okabe from Steins;Gate
-
Now that I look at myself in the mirror, if I put on makeup to make my skintone more white and had a good wig with some melons, I could probably pull off Eli Ayase. But the more I think about the possibility of doing it the more I am likely of sending myself to the grave.
Don't let the impossible cosplay standards hold you back!