The Meaning of ‘Too Much’

Recently the world has seen 2 great calamities…in my opinion, Mother Nature is showing her wrath on humankind for the countless atrocities committed.

Anyway, I really feel for Myanmar and her people.
But not so much for China. Why?
’cause some of them do not forget their greed even in such times of distress:

And another (This is extremely graphic…would deem this as real-life horror):

http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/index.asp

Well…this is another of my own rantings…not like anyone would bother. O_o

Kamen Rider Kiva Episode 09

交響:イクサ・フィストオン
Reverberation: IXA Fist On

The year 2008.
Wataru is testing out the latest violin he has made, and is disappointed to find the sound quality not up to his expectations. Bringing the violin outside the mansion, he burns it just when Shizuka is entering. Shizuka tries to salvage the violin in vain, and Wataru breaks into a fit of depression again.

The year 1986.
In Café mald’amour, Shima hands Jirou a Fangire Slayer, recognizing him as a member of the Aozora Organization. Shima and Yuri also learn of Jirou’s name at this time. Yuri starts singing praises about Jirou, and Shima comments that it is rare to her using feminine words. As a result, Yuri gets embarrassed and even slaps Shima at the arm. Soon after, Otoya comes visiting, asking for Shima to keep his promise of letting him into the Aozora Organization. However, due to lack of witnesses to his heroic deeds, he is merely mocked by everyone in the cafe for fainting after just drinking coffee, and eventually knocked out by Yuri with an uppercut.

2008.
Wataru is trying to burn another of his violin creation, but Shizuka manages to stop him in time this time. She brings Wataru to see a man waiting at the mansion gates, who is strangely in a daze while looking intently at the mansion. Bringing back his attantion, Shizuka introduces him as Oomura Takeo(大村 武男), a man who is well-known for his repairs on violins, and shows him the violin that Watrau was about to burn. Holding the violin in his hand and observing it closely, Oomura walks to the burning tin and places the violin into the fire, to Shizuka’s shock. She attempts to salvage it again, but Wataru stops her. He tell Oomura that he wishes to make a violin like his father’s on his own without the help of anyone else, and Oomura respects his decision, but he asks to see the violin made by Wataru’s father.
Wataru brings Oomura into his workshop, and while Wataru is retrieving the Bloody Rose, Oomura goes into a trance, as though hearing a melody in the room, while having a smile on his face. Wataru brings his attention back again with the Bloody Rose in his hands. Oomura, holding the violin dearly and examining it, tells Wataru not to make a violin like the Bloody Rose, but to make a violin that is of his own. Before Oomoura leaves, Wataru has a change of heart, and asks him to teach him in violin-making.

1986.
A musician is playing a black violin in her home when she is attacked by a shady Oomura, donning a cap and shades.

In Café mald’amour, Shima lets Otoya in on a case involving attacks on people who had won the black violin, known as the Black Star, in auctions. Kido, now skeptical about Otoya, tells Shima to stay away from Otoya for his sake, but is surprised when he sees Buruman acting friendly with Otoya, since Buruman does not get close to people easily. He carries Buruman away when Otoya tries to kiss him. Otoya assures Shima that he will prove his worth to him this time, then comments on Kido always playing the songs of Onyanko Club(おニャン子クラブ). Both Shima and Kido expresses their interests in member number 32: Yamamoto Susan Kumiko.

The next day, Yuri expresses concern over Shima letting Otoya know know about their cases, but Shima gives the reason of Otoya being an interesting person. Yuri then asks about the Rider System the Aozora Organization has been planning: the IXA (Intercept X Attacker) system, and Shima replies that it is near completion, giving them a chance to finally destroy the Fangires completely. Yuri then makes a request to Shima to give IXA’s power to her when it is completed.

2008.
At the gym, Shima tells Megumi about hearing her proposal for the wearer of the IXA system to be on rotation, and remains indifferent to it, an indirect way of rejecting the suggestion. Megumi asks for the reason to this decision, and Nago appears, answering for Shima that he is simply far more superior than her in every aspect for IXA. A disheartened Megumi vents her frustrations through speaking bad about Nago, but Nago calmly tells her to complain to IXA, for it is the one who chooses its own user.
Back in Wataru’s mansion, Wataru is undergoing Oomura’s lesson, with Oomura teaching very patiently. Shizuka tries to bring them some tea, however due to her clumsiness, she drops the tray, causing a racket. The noise gets worse when Shizuka topples a cart when getting a cloth to clean up, and Oomura is very affected by the noise, even falling onto his knees. Wataru tries to help him up, but Oomura pushes him away and leaves, abruptly ending their lesson for the day.

1986.
At an masquerade auction, Jirou and Yuri are on a mission to obtain the Black Star, which is one of the items on auction. Oomura is also one of the guests present. Things seem to be going well for the duo when Otoya, with a Tengu mask, arrives, vying against Yuri for the supposedly cursed violin. Yuri contacts Shima when Otoya ultimately pushes the price to an insane 200 billion-yen, and under Shima’s orders, Jirou knocks Otoya out, and the violin is finally won by Yuri at a price of 200 million and one-yen.
With the Black Star in her hands, Yuri is now randomly strolling along with the protection of Jirou, waiting for the suspected Fangire to come attacking. Though Jirou assures her safety under his protection, she comments that she cannot always rely on him if she is to become IXA. Now resting on a bench, Yuri takes out the Black Star, wishing to play a tune or something. Jirou waits in anticipation initially, but eventually moves to another bench a distance away when screeches emit out from the violin under Yuri’s playing. Otoya shows up, telling her to stop and hand the violin to him, for he can hear the ’screams’ of the violin. Being ignored like usual, Otoya tries to get it the hard way and gets punched by Jirou instead. Leaving the unconscious Otoya behind, the pair continues their stroll, not knowing that Oomura is watching them.

2008.
Back at Wataru’s workshop, Oomura has resumed his lesson with Wataru with much patience. Out of curiosity, Wataru asks if Oomura has made any violins of his own. Oomura replies that he has made one, but does not elaborate more about it.
At Megumi’s favorite eating house, Megumi is trying to bribe Nago for the rotation of use of the IXA system with lunch. As expected, despite her sweet words, Nago refuses the proposal, telling Megumi that IXA already belongs to him in the first place. He even puts her down by commenting that it is rude to even ask for favors in such places. When Megumi is about to start on her lunch, Nago sees Oomura outside and after checking his list of wanted offenders/criminals, foots the bill and leaves to go after him.

1986.
Yuri continues her terrible playing of the Black Star at a pier, causing even the fishes to die from the noise. Otoya, showing up again, asks her to stop to no avail. Soon, they hear a voice, and they see Oomura ordering Yuri to return the violin, deeming her unqualified for the Black Star. Otoya agrees readily to this statement, and after a brief smile, Oomura transforms into the Frog Fangire. Seeing this turn of events, Otoya confronts the Fangire head on, but he is obviously no match to the Fangire and falls into the waters. Jirou then comes charging, and the 2 members of the Aozora Organization fights the Frog Fangire with their Fangire Slayers in synchronized attacks. The Fnagire manages to give them the slip with his bubble attacks, knocking Yuri unconscious as a result, and Jirou gives chase. Meanwhile, Otoya manages to get himself out of the water.
Jirou catches up with the Fangire and telling him he has to die, Jirou transforms into Garulu, unbeknown to him that he has done so right in front of Otoya’s eyes. Garulu and the Frog Fangire have a fierce fight, but due to an advantage in terrain, the Frog Fangire escapes into the waters, leaving a frustrated Garulu. Ramon shows up, asking Garulu the reason for his alliance with the humans. While Garulu transforms back to his human guise, the last of their partners, Riki(力) shows up, reminding Jirou that humans exist only as food for them. Jirou then finally informs them about his plans to use the humans to destroy the Fangires, who have destroyed their respective clans, making them the last of their kinds.

2008.
Oomura is enjoying a melody on his music player, which is actually one of Otoya’s pieces. However, his appreciation of this soft melody is disturbed by a rock band performance. Becoming agitated as a result, Oomura crashes the performance, destroying the equipment and beating the members up. He is stopped by Nago, who wants to apprehend him for repeated offenses of violence. Unable to curb his agitation, Oomura transform into the Frog Fangire in front of Nago and attacks him, but is countered by Nago and his IXA Knuckle.
Meanwhile, at the Kurenai mansion, Wataru is still working on his violin. Kivat warns him about the suspicious Oomura, but Wataru remains skeptical to Kivat’s notion. Shortly after, the Bloody Rose starts sounding, signifying another appearance of a Fangire. Wataru and Kivat soon catch sight of the escaping Frog Fangire, and transforming into Kiva, clashes with the Fangire. Kiva has a tough fight against the Frog Fangire and his rifle, and decides to use the Basshaa Fuestle. Being the superior marksmen, Kiva Basshaa Form disarms the Fangire and shoots him into submission, causing him to revert back to his human form. Kiva, shocked to see Oomura, transform back into Wataru, and the 2 of them remain dumbfounded for some time. Wataru walks up to Oomura to learn more, but he runs away without saying a word.

The escaping Oomura collapses from his injuries from the previous fight against Kiva and rests. However, his time of peace is brief as he hears footsteps, and sees Nago walking towards him. Having no other choice, Oomura transform into the Frog Fangire again. Nago holds up the IXA Belt, wears it, and then tranforms into Kamen Rider IXA(仮面ライダーイクサ). The Frog Fangire advances on IXA with a sword, but his attacks prove useless and even get turned against himself. Telling the Fangire to return his life back to God, IXA switches from Save Mode to Burst Mode, burning the Frog Fangire with the resulting flames.


Oomura Takeo(大村 武男), portrayed by Murai Katsuyuki(村井 克行


Buruman is unexpectedly close to Otoya, to Kido’s distaste


Otoya with his Tengu mask at a masquerade auction


Oomura’s fashion choice back in 1986


Megumi tries to bribe Nago into letting her have a chance in using IXA


The last of their respective clans: Jirou, Riki(力), and Ramon


Nago stops Oomura from creating more chaos


Holding the IXA Belt in his hand, Nago transforms into…


Kamen Rider IXA(仮面ライダーイクサ)


Transmission into Burst Mode

An update on my life

Whew.

It’s been like forever since I’ve wrote about anything about myself.
Been up to nothing much…it’s been just work and home for weekdays, work then street-roaming on Saturdays, and then home-staying on Sundays.
Well, there’re also my Japanese lessons and tuition sessions…but they form a routine anyway.

Yup, my life has been nothing but a boring routine.
Meeting with friends? Thought about it. However, it usually gets to the discussion stage before everything gets called off. :)
Meeting with girls? Female friends? Dreamed about it, but for it to succeed, wait till my mouth gets as smooth as a waxed bowling lane.

So far, my only entertainment sources are the internet, the television, and my toys. Internet for me to browse through forums and sites, and not forgetting videos. Television for my eyes to be occupied while eating my meals (since we pay ~$110 -compulsory- for crap shit on local television…no need to waste time on it). And my toys…my confidants. (!?!?)
And taking this chance…:


My Sochaku Henshin figures. Still waiting for Kiva to come dropping by. :)


My S.I.C. collection. I hear Blade’s footsteps close by…


My Rider Mask collection. Some are hidden due to lack of platforms…
…and I can’t afford to expand this display right now. :P

Yup, that’s all for personal updates.

And yeah, I started running again…at nights with Walter ol’ bro. A deed that’s very unlike me, but gotta do something about my showing tummy. :P

黒瀬 真奈美 (Kurose Manami)

Well, this post is done on request by rai-san. :)

Kurose Manami-san, born 25th December 1991 in Saitama Prefecture. Has performed in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (花ざかりの君たちへ) as Imaike Komari (今池 こまり), the girl who always get told to shut up by her peers. (The only role that I know of… :P )
She has also appeared in the drama Hatachi no Koibito (ハタチの恋人), and currently working on the set of the movie Kakushi Toride no San Akunin (隠し砦の三悪人), set to show later this year.

Photos of her (that I managed to find… :) ):


Probably taken when she was younger


A significant difference in the way she looks with different hair styles


Photos from her blog (I’d probably get my head chopped for these)


And probably the best photo of her I’ve found so far. :P

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e Episode 12 (Final) - Part II

With a crowd lining from the school gates to way beyond the school compound, the 25th Osaka Gakuen Festival starts off with a bang. The classes fight it out to attract the most number of customers, and even Akiha and her partner are trying hard to make money by selling the photos of their student. Class 3-C, Nanba’s class, is having a host club, but they face fierce competition form 2-C’s maid cafe. At the entrance of Class 2-C, guests are greeted by sweet Nurse Kayashima and Maid Ashiya, though things are not quite the same inside. Ashiya hits Sano with her tray, telling him to greet the guests with a smile. Hearing the arrival of a ‘big’ guest, Sano turns and greets with a radiant smile, but both him and the guest, Kagurazaka, are shocked to see each other under such circumstances. Kagurazaka comically picks Sano to serve him.
Tennouji and Oscar’s class is performing the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’, with the dorm heads playing the title characters. At the hugging scene on top of a school building however, Tennouji sees the signals of Ashiya and the other, and then sees a jealous Kanna crying out to him. He throws Oscar down the building, and finally completes the play with Kanna. Meanwhile, Juri is roaming around within the school when she sees a board featuring top members of the host club. She holds up her hands when the photo of Kayashima catches her attention, and Kayashima appears out of nowhere, placing his own hands on hers. At the host club, Nanba curses at the couples present: Tennouji-Kanna, Sekime-Erika, Kayashima-Juri. Nakao tries to get Nanba to go out with him and gets punched by him instead.

At the toilet, Nakatsu and Sano talks about Ashiya while relieving themselves (a scary sight). Nakatsu asks Sano why he does not confess to Ashiya about his feelings, even though she is waiting, but Sano replies that Ashiya is still wishing to stay in the school as a guy, and he respects that decision.

Hibari is having takoyaki alone when Oscar walks past, cursing and swearing at Tennouji for spoiling his play while devouring a sausage. He sees Hibari and asks if she can join her, and though he gets snubbed by Hibari, he confesses his love to her. Hibari hits him where it hurts most, but accepts his confession, and ‘Masao’ runs after Hibari, yelling ‘Hibari 4′ endlessly.
Returning from the toilet, Nakatsu and Sano sees Ashiya, who tells them to hurry up for the next item in the festival: a fashion show. Many of Osaka Gakuen’s student dress up in downs, to the (strange) delight of the audience. Oscar gets mocked by Hibari to be ugly, and even Kagurazaka gets roped into the show. At the end of the show, the shocking winner is announced by Yoshioka-sensei: Sano Izumi, and everyone is amazed that Ashiya, the real girl, has lost. Several of Dorm 1 tenants try to dispute with Yoshioka about the results, and Tennouji confronts them, asking them why they had not choose him to be the winner. He punishes them after hearing them hearing that it is impossible. Despite the commotion, Ashiya is enjoying every moment of this time together.

The next day, everyone prepares for a day of celebration for the success of the school festival. Though asked to join in by Sano, Ashiya uses the excuse of leaving something behind in their room and sneaks out. She, dressed in her uniform, packs all her luggage and leaves a message ‘Forever in my heart’ on the window of her dorm room for Sano. Ashiya then carries her luggage and takes a lonely and sorrowful walk around the school, with the intention of leaving the school without anyone knowing. After a last visit to Yuujirou, Ashiya walks out of the dormitory gates, but she finds Yuujirou following her. Waving goodbye to him, she continues on her way out until she sees all her schoolmates, together with the Hibari 4 and Kagurazaka, all in school uniform. already waiting for her arrival. Nanba tells her they have already predicted what she would do, and a touched Ashiya runs up to them.
Nakatsu asks Ashiya for the reason why she wishes to depart secretly, and she replies that it is to avoid a painful farewell. Seemingly unable to accept this, a sullen Nakatsu leaves and Sano follows him. Facing the rest, Ashiya has a lengthy farewell from the respective dorms and Hibari 4, followed by tearful goodbyes from Sekime, Nakao, and the dorm heads. Finally, she is greeted by Akiha, who hands to her a photo album containing photos of her time in the school, and Tsubaki and Sawatari, whom she receives her graduation certificate from, together with the applause from her friends. Right when she is about to leave, Nakatsu comes running again, this time properly completing his farewell to Ashiya, who is now unable to stop her tears, and Nakatsu embraces her, telling he will never say ‘goodbye’, since they can meet whenever they want to.
Ashiay sees the person hardest to say ‘goodbye’ to: Sano, and breaks into tears again, yet Sano remains silent, not knowing what to say. Umeda then shows up with the keys to the school bus, and asks Sano to tag along the trip to send Ashiya to the airport. With a final expression of gratefulness to her schoolmates, Ashiya departs on the school bus, and everyone waves goodbye.

On the bus, Sano, who was sitting at a distance away from Ashiya, moves to sit next to Ashiya. After telling her that it is the same blue sky outside as when he was high-jumping, both of them reminiscences about their time together throughout Ashiya’s stay.

Reaching the airport, Ashiya expresses her thanks to Umeda for all the help that he has given her all those times. While watching Ashiya walking off with Sano, Umeda hears the much-feared voice of Akiha, who has been hiding in the trunk of the bus. Umeda realizes he no longer has a phobia of women after nothing bad happening when Akiha holds his arm. Akiha jokes about becoming his girlfriend again, and is shocked when Umeda replies that he will think about it.
With only the two of them now, Sano confirms with Ashiya that she is no longer a student of Osaka Gakuen, and she is rather hurt by this reminder. Sano then also confirms Ashiya to be no longer a guy, and using a distraction, holds her in his arms and finally giving her a kiss on the lips, confirming his affections to her.
Sano promises Ashiya to go to her the next time, and this time, she confesses her love to him.

And that is the end of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e……


Nakatsu informs Sano about Ashiya having her identity exposed


The reaction of the dorm heads after seeing a girl changing in their school


Sekime hears from Yuujirou about the disguised girl


Shocked to find the secret leaked despite their efforts


Ashiya miraculously (or deviously) passing the gender test


Hibari decides to return Ashiya’s missing passport and wallet


The dorm heads find out their girl is in fact…Ashiya!?


Nakatsu and Sano try to help by negotiating with the Sakura Committee


Enjoy the present, and fret not the future


The Hara sisters, whose relationship only a few know of


The Sano family finally finds peace


Kayashima’s words of consolation are as cold as winter


Ashiya apologizes to everyone in Class 2-C for deceiving them for so long


Kagurazaka stupefied to see Sano in a maid costume


Maid Ashiya…what’s not to love?


The unwanted bachelors at the host club


A truly terrifying sight


Hibari’s way of accepting someone proves too painful for Oscar


Kyobashi, Nakao, and Noe in gowns!?


Tennouji and Oscar…and even Kagurazaka is pulled into the show


The Dorm 2 ‘beauties’


The highlight of the fashion show, and Sano wins instead of Ashiya, the real girl


A final message from Ashiya to Sano


All of Ashiya’s schoolmates send their well-wishes and farewells


Konno Mahiru(紺野 まひる) as Hara Akiha(原 秋葉), Matsuda Seiko(松田 聖子) as Tsubaki(椿)
Ukaji Takashi(宇梶 剛士) as Sawatari(猿渡)


Shirota Yuu(城田 優) as Kagurazaka Makoto(神楽坂 真言)


Matsuda Madoka(松田 まどか) as Kishizato Juri(岸里 樹理)
Taira Airi(平 愛梨) as Abeno Erika(阿部野 エリカ)
Iwasa Mayuko(岩佐 真悠子) as Hanayashiki Hibari(花屋敷 ひばり)
Kiritani Mirei( 桐谷 美玲) as Amagasaki Kanna(尼崎 カンナ)
Kurose Manami(黒瀬 真奈美) as Imaike Komari(今池 こまり)


Okada Masaki(岡田 将生) as Sekime Kyougo(関目 京悟)


Kimura Ryou(木村 了) as Senri Nakao(中央 千里)


Yamamoto Yuusuke(山本 裕典) as Kayashima Taiki(萱島 大樹)


Ishigaki Yuuma(石垣 佑磨) as Tennouji Megumi(天王寺 恵)


Kyou Nobuo(姜 暢雄) as Oscar M. Himejima(オスカー・M・姫島)


Mizushima Hiro(水嶋 ヒロ) as Nanba Minami(難波 南)


Kamikawa Takaya(上川 隆也) as Umeda Hokuto(梅田 北斗)


Ikuta Toma(生田 斗真) as Nakatsu Shuuichi(中津 秀一)


Oguri Shun(小栗 旬) as Sano Izumi(佐野 泉)


Horikita Maki(堀北 真希) as Ashiya Mizuki(芦屋 瑞稀)

…or so it seems!

1 month later, now in California, Ashiya is on her way out from home when an arrow mysteriously lands on the lawn right before her. She picks it up to find a newspaper tied to it: Osaka Sports! She reads it and is shocked to find out…the students of Osaka Gakuen will be coming over to California for a field trip!
Together with the dorm heads who will pay for their own tickets!


“NO WAY!!!”

Snapshot of the episode!


The real kiss between Ashiya and Sano!