(Update: faster here: http://www.animecrazy.net/hakuouki-reimeiroku-episode-1/)
(Update: It seems the first anime link does not include Saito speaking at the end of Ep 1 of Reimeiroku).
Currently, it is un-subbed (no English subs yet). But I still watched to its end because... I needed to see.
Ahhh... I finally found the name to the face of the handsome man I saw on an artbook cover in 2009 at a Japanese bookstore in Shibuya (I think it was Shibuya).
Hijikata. The man who caught my eye on the top floor of that bookstore (can't recall the name). Samurai in western uniform, long-hair, sad, cool look, standing with his sword drawn among the fall of Sakura petals. Didn't know who he was, didn't know the anime (I guessed must be anime or manga). Couldn't fully read the Japanese writing on the cover that looked like Chinese. Read the first word as "Bo" which I felt was incorrect, and the last word was "Gui" (ghost). Didn't know what was the middle word in cursive (even if it were not, I still wouldn't know).
(I did guess that it probably has something to do with the Shinsengumi, since the fashion style looked familiar to that time frame. I had watched Peacemaker Kurogane previously. Present time looking up in Wiki shows it's not anime, but a game. From the game, it was adapted into anime and manga.).
(I did guess that it probably has something to do with the Shinsengumi, since the fashion style looked familiar to that time frame. I had watched Peacemaker Kurogane previously. Present time looking up in Wiki shows it's not anime, but a game. From the game, it was adapted into anime and manga.).
Certainly, the Japanese pronunciation would be different. I didn't know what it was, and felt one day, I would know which anime the artbook came from and who was on the front cover. Maybe I could look it up when I returned to SG, although it is difficult without the Japanese name and just front cover. (In hindsight might be possible using just the 2 Chinese words).
At that time, didn't have much money left for shopping, except enough for maybe just 1 or 2 more items before I have to stop. That was the extent of the allowance I set aside for shopping, which wasn't much and I hadn't bought much.
It is still unopened because I love it as it is. Strangely, I don't feel like opening it. To keep it as it is, is to preserve it in its original form, untouched, forever perfect.
I couldn't buy both books with different covers, unless I abandoned the Taki and Tsubasa meant for the past love. In the end, I sacrificed my side in order to bring back the Taki and Tsubasa for someone whom I needn't have sacrificed for.
2850 yen. Approximately based on today's rate, around SGD 45. I think the rate has been around there since 2009. 1 yen = 15+ SGD. So, it's still pretty expensive. But if sold at SG, probably above $70. Yet, the airfare has also to be considered in the cost. So, not really saving.
This first pic was taken on the $99 foam mattress on top of my bed that's going to be dismantled tomorrow to make way for the new Franc Franc bed coming tomorrow. I took pics of the whole mess of my bed as well.
The 2nd and 4th pics taken at the kitchen window. The 3rd pic and last pics on the washing machine top that's near the kitchen window. All for the light.
I have not seen this selling in Kinokuniya in SG.
This first pic was taken on the $99 foam mattress on top of my bed that's going to be dismantled tomorrow to make way for the new Franc Franc bed coming tomorrow. I took pics of the whole mess of my bed as well.
The 2nd and 4th pics taken at the kitchen window. The 3rd pic and last pics on the washing machine top that's near the kitchen window. All for the light.
I have not seen this selling in Kinokuniya in SG.
In SG, such artbooks sold by Kinokuniya are expensive. While browsing the bookstore, it occurred that I could get cheaper here at the source (Japan). So, the purpose was set as I started looking around for anime artbooks to see what I might find, perhaps not available in SG.
Found a Taki and Tsubasa calendar book for my past love, considered whether to buy it with the tight budget I had, whether worth sacrificing for the person, decided to sacrifice the amount of money for it, then went upstairs.
Was in the back of the topmost floor, almost disappointed at not being able to find any artbook, when that man on that front cover stopped me. Didn't know which anime it was, but had to buy it.
Why is it, I always take a while to find out the identity of the men I love? City Hunter and now him. Starts with just a picture, an illustration, don't know who he is or where he comes from. But I will, in time.
Some time back, was at Central 2nd floor where an anime theme shop recently opened. From there, I bought a Kuroshitsuji T-shirt. And saw the familiar gang that the handsome man I saw in Japan belongs to. It seems the handsome man is among them, though I couldn't be sure since the artbook illustration was more beautiful. But the overall artwork seems to be from that anime (that I didn't know about).
I asked the young woman staff who was attending to me, what anime it was. She said the name, even spelt it out to me when I asked. And yet I couldn't remember after that. So... it passed.
Then recently, my past love has been sending unhelpful e-mails to me, and a few days back sent this one about a prequel to an anime called Hakuouki Reimeiroku. And something about a movie going to be done. I didn't care for it. But this morning, feeling in the mood, had a closer look at her e-mail.
Somehow wondering if it could be that anime with that man, I pasted the name into Google, and viola.
I read some of what it was about in Wikipedia and thought the story was unique and interesting. Somehow, the Japs always come up with such cool ideas I could never think up [such as the Rasetsu, whatever that means, and the wanting of some royal being wanting to capture a girl instead of another who has the protection of a bodyguard (sexy idea)]. And I saw a few Seiyuus (voice-actors) I know in the cast (that's how I saw Shinichiro Miki as Hijikata and definitely had to see.).
I read some of what it was about in Wikipedia and thought the story was unique and interesting. Somehow, the Japs always come up with such cool ideas I could never think up [such as the Rasetsu, whatever that means, and the wanting of some royal being wanting to capture a girl instead of another who has the protection of a bodyguard (sexy idea)]. And I saw a few Seiyuus (voice-actors) I know in the cast (that's how I saw Shinichiro Miki as Hijikata and definitely had to see.).
At the end of this first episode, it would seem the man I am looking for (who seems to match the front cover of the artbook I bought)... is not Hijikata... but someone else. This man: Who is he?
Currently, there is only Ep 1 of this prequel, said to be Season 3. So, I will need to look at Season 1 from the start to know who he is.
While watching Hijikata, I thought Lee Min Ho's face is like Hijikata's, like anime. That's why the Japs like him.
But also, while watching, I felt I still like the Hijikata and Souji in Peacemaker Kurogane anime.The Hijikata there is more manly and sexy, with a fearsomely sexy voice unlike this one voiced by Miki Shinichiro and looks feminine type.
The Souji in Peacemaker is sexier with his fragile-looking willowy figure and girlish voice that incites the possibility of yaoi with Hijikata (more fun). This Souji in Hakuoki makes no impact at all. Just a young punk like the rest with a pale no-impact voice.
Also, of course, in Peacemaker Kurogane, there's the pig Sanzo, that I almost expected to see in this Hakuoki.
Update: Just realized. Hakuouki is 薄桜鬼. The prequel is called Hakuoki Reimeiroku. What's Reimeiroku?
Looked up Season 1. Part 1 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5E_BZLwPFo
Follow up with this full version since the uploader for the above link didn't upload further. http://www.animeshippuuden.com/hakuouki-episode-1/
Strange: In Wiki, it says the anime was first released in 2010. But the bookstore was already selling the artbook when I was in Japan in 2009. So the artbook I have... is based on... ? The game? (disappointed). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haku%C5%8Dki
Ep 2 (part 2): Take out your sword leh. She wears pants but she falls like a girl.
http://www.animecrazy.net/hakuouki-shinsengumi-kitan-episode-2/123279Ep 3: http://www.animeshippuuden.com/hakuouki-shinsengumi-kitan-episode-3/
Ep 5: http://www.animeshippuuden.com/hakuouki-shinsengumi-kitan-episode-5/
Wahh... Okita is so cool. His stroke so beautifully executed in the rescue of Chizuru in the garden washing sake bottles when approached by the sly Itou.
Later, what Saito says, applies to SG. "A group grows and expands when people with various ideas gather together. But it will fall apart from the inside out if you force diversification.". There is now a rift between Singaporeans.
