Ecchi Yukiko For You ~ ♥

Sorry for the lack of updates guys, I've been real busy this week.
Will try to make some updates today to make up for it ;)

-- Otaku-sama

Persona 4 Full Cast!

-- Otaku-sama

Persona 4 Fan Art Yukiko

How about this awesome Persona 4 Fan Art of Yukiko Amagi to start your day? ;)

-- Otaku-sama

One Piece Soda

-- Otaku-sama

Fan Art Friday

I want to do something like Fan Art/Fan Fic Friday, where I choose my favourite from the week and display it. When I choose it, they will also appear along the left side bar.
Usually I will do both a Fan Art and Fan Fiction, but this week I didn't have the chance to read much fan fic, so I'll only be showing my favourite fan art.
So, here it is ;)

Sakura Miku,
By Clavies 

Will try to do both fan art and fan fic next Friday :)
-- Otaku-sama

Naruto Growing Up Cosplay

-- Otaku-sama

These Cuties Will Melt Your Heart ~♥♥♥

But for me it will always be Charmander.

How about you?

-- Otaku-sama

And Your Funny For Today Is...

--Otaku-sama
P.S. Sorry for the late updates today... I haven't been feeling too well :'(

Rule 64 Anyone?

Kanji-kun, or should I say Kanji-chan...

-- Otaku-sama

Spirited Away Cosplay

-- Otaku-sama

Your Funny For Today

Ah, yes, we all know that feeling...

-- Otaku-sama

Otaku News: 16th May!

The city of Beppu, in Kyūshū, known as one of Japan's major hot spring resorts, has been collaborating with Tokyo-based anime studio, Tatsunoko Production Co. to promote tourism and overnight stays at its resorts. 

The city will display such things as life-sized panels and figures of characters from varous Tatsunoko poperties.

Tatsunoko Production is also creating an original anime featuring characters from Beppu and various Tatsunoko characters. 

The promotion is set to continue year-round, with features such as a stamp print collecting event, a screening of the live-action feature film adaptation of "Gatchaman", the unveiling of an original Beppu character, and a video clip of Hatsune Miku!

-- Otaku-sama

Persona 4 Family Picture

Ready to start your day the Persona way?

This is probably my favourite Persona 4 fan art.
I just love the way the artist captures the feel of the game.
Art by meru-chan ~♥

-- Otaku-sama

A Japan Awesome To Keep You Going ~♥

Japan Tunnel of Lights

-- Otaku-sama

Day In The Life Of An Otaku: 15th May

One of my goals for a while now, is to compile a top 100 list of anime to watch. 

It would be, most likely, just a personal preference list, but still something I've always wanted to do.

But, you see, in order to do that I would have to had watched hundreds of anime (to do the list properly, that is). And sadly, that's not something I have done.

Edit: Although I haven't watched hundreds, after sitting down and actually tallying all the anime I've watched, including films, I was rather surprised at how much it was - I didn't think I had seen that much! Not nearly as impressive as hundreds, but...

I will eventually reach that goal and compile that top 100 list, which is why I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that you  may have.

Right now I'm watching "Welcome to the NHK", and, "Elfen Lied" (and I will review these like I did Paranoia Agent when I'm done watching). I have a few other titles I want to watch after.

These are, in no particular order:

Ergo Proxy

Steins;Gate

Speed Grapher

5cm Per Second

Angel Beats

Serial Experiments Lain

Persona 4

Eden of the East

Mai-Hime

Ouran High School Host Club

High School of the Dead

Monster

Puella Magi Madoka Magica 

So, please, send your suggestions away! Either leave a comment or go to the "contact" page for details on how to reach me.

I appreciate all your help.

And together, we shall create the ultimate top 100 anime to watch list!

-- Otaku-sama

Overly Attached Girlfriend Gasai Yuno Cosplay

She portrays it well, wouldn't you agree?

-- Otaku-sama

Oh Japan... One Piece, Nami - BOOBS!!! ~♥ ( . )( . ) ♥~

Your Japan funny for today is...

-- Otaku-sama

Pokemon Kira!

Pokemon/Deathnote cosplay anyone?

-- Otaku-sama

Otaku News Update: 15th May!

Earlier this month, Dragon Ball Super Art Collection, by Akira Toriyama, was released!
The book is 240 pages long and includes more than 400 illustrations form 1985-2013.
A must have for any Dragon Ball fan!

At the moment I think it is only available in Japan, but you can buy it from here. Just remember to read the "How To Use" page on the site, as it works slightly differently than most places you would buy from (I think the people running the site buy the product for you as they're located in Japan, and so it works slightly differently. But don't quote me on that or anything :P just make sure you check out how it works before you try and buy).

Stay tuned for more updates ♥

-- Otaku-sama

Start Your Day The Persona Way!

So, how is everyone today?

Here's the guys from Persona 4 to help you get through the day ;)
It's the ultimate Fan Art Fangasim, really, because what more could you ask for when you have both Persona & Pokemon combined?

(Remember to click for the full size picture ^)
I'm thinking about a Persona 4 post every morning, to kick start the day (and when I finish playing Persona 3, maybe I'll include that too), what do you guys think?

TTFN, my little Otaku piglets! ♥♥♥

 -- Otaku-sama

Paranoia Agent Review

Year: 2004

Genre: Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Psychological, Thriller

Episodes: 13

Synopsis: Sagi Tsukiko, a famous, idolised character designer, is assaulted one night on her way home from work. Traumatised from this experience, all she can piece together from the night of the attack is a vague image of an elementary school boy wielding a golden bat, and wearing matching rollerblades.

Two police detectives take on the case, and just when they think they've made progress, another victim is attacked. Soon word spreads, and the unknown assailant is given the nickname "Shounen Bat."

The police detectives soon find that they can't find any similarities in the victims except that they all felt emotionally cornered  at the time, and as more victims are assaulted, the attacks become more violent and strange, until things begin to warp and distort by society's paranoia of the "Shounen Bat."

The "Shounen Bat" becomes an obsession, leaving people with only a thin layer between reality and insanity.

Otaku-sama's Thoughts:

An anime both written and directed by the psychological-genius, Satoshi Kon, that, in itself, would be enough to draw in any fan. That's why, I suppose, I had high hopes for this series. *Sigh* Well, we all like to delude ourselves sometimes, don't we?

Now, now, before you all come knocking on my door with fire and pitchforks, let me tell you why it was a let-down.

But first I would like to make one thing quite clear! I'm not saying it's bad, per say, just not as good as I had expected from someone like Satoshi-sama.

While the series had quite a lot of good points, my major problem was that I felt like the anime was constantly catering to its fans and just trying to get a reaction from me rather than genuinely tell a good story.

Don't believe me?

I almost don't believe me.

But when I saw an episode where the characters were thrown into the mind of someone, and interacted within their fantasy, I couldn't help but think it was the exact same thing I had seen before in Millennium Actress, his earlier work.    

And this kind of thing happened often. It wasn't just the same technique used, there's nothing wrong with that(and if done right it gives a sense of style to the story), but it was almost identical in the way the characters interacted, and the way the scenes jumped from place to place, and how the further into the mind they went the more they became part of it.

My other problem with the anime is that I never felt the sense of being threatened. 

There's supposed to be an attacker, which later turns into a serial killer, on the loose... but his an elementary school kid (as far as people know) wielding a bat. 

Not a knife, or a gun... but, a bat.

Okay, I guess to some that may sound scary, but I have to tell you, when's the last time you actually saw an elementary school kid? They're, well, tiny. So tiny, that if one were to come up to you, even with the momentum of rollerblades, they wouldn't be too hard to overpower (unless you yourself were tiny).

I guess that's a little pet peeve of mine, but it kept tearing me out of the story because of how little a threat it seemed.

And lastly, and this may sound strange, the characters lost touch with reality too quickly.

I know the series was only 13 episodes, so they were strapped for time, but the thing about people is they don't go from sane to insane in the space of a day. It builds up in you, until you overflow. It's not and on off switch.

There were only a few exceptions to this where the characters were already slightly mentally unstable, so it made sense when reality started to blur for them.

But enough about that, let's go into some good points.

It is definitely one of those anime that you can watch episode after episode, it's great at bringing you in like that, and of course, when the psychological element is done right, it's amazing! Just like you would expect from Satoshi Kon!

The characters are well fleshed out, and have that unnerving feeling to them that gets right under your skin. 

Is it the lecherous way they smile at you, or the close up in your face angles that disturb you? - it's hard to say - all you know is that they make you uncomfortable, in the best way.

It can be disturbing at times, especially when you watch the episode where a trio of people become friends online, and then decide they all want to commit suicide together (one of said people being a little girl) and spend an entire episode trying to find ways to do it.

But this is what makes it great! It leaves you with that sickening, yet satisfied feeling after watching it, in an awfully sadistic type of way, and that's what makes it wonderful, strangely enough.

I guess what it boils down to is, if you like Satoshi Kon's previous work, you're going to like Paranoia Agent.

It can seem contrived at times, and a little rushed, but all-in-all you can see the hard work and effort that was put into it, and the good moments far outweigh the bad.

It's definitely a must see before you die anime, so go watch it.

Pros: Engaging story, great characters.

Cons: Can seem contrived, rushed, and an unfulfilling ending.

Rating: 

-- Otaku-sama

Temari Naruto Cosplay

Hope this fantastic Temari cosplay brightens up your day as it did mine.

Fantastic use of surroundings, wouldn't you agree?

Stay tuned for more posts later today! Just keep hitting that refresh button ;)

(Clicky, clicky for bigger photo ^)

-- Otaku-sama

Anime/Manga News(14th May): Learn Japanese The Yaoi Way!

And now for a quick news update!

Okay friends, how many of you ever wanted to learn Japanese, but just couldn't bring yourself to do it due to the severe lack of Yaoi motivation?
Well, there's no need to curse your unfortunate luck, because now a way has been made for you!

The Japanese company "Otome's Way" has just announced the release of "A Fujoshi's Guide to Japanese Book 1"! This text book uses yaoi (boys-love) scenarios and themes to teach beginners Japanese.
This e-book is in full colour, features flash animation, sound clips and is the first in a series of boys-love learning experiences! ("Oh myyy", as Gerorge Takei would say).

This exceptional book is available through the Otome's Way Online Store for a mere $20USD, and will soon be released in Apple's iBook Store for $29.99 on May 20th!

So why not learn Japanese the fun and flirty way? ;)

And in case you weren't quite convinced, here are some sample pages:

Now don't say you don't want it! ;)

--Otaku-sama

Persona 4 "Miss" Yasogami!

Ohayo!

Are you having a good morning today? I am (technically it is morning for me, as I just woke up, despite it really being the afternoon... hehe).

So, how about we start the day with a smile on our face, and I'm sure our lovely beauties here will help with that ;)

(Don't forget to click on images for a full size preview!)

-- Otaku-sama

Today Marks The Beginning Of An Adventure

"A couple walking together at a festival... Unused to wearing it, the girl's yukata comes loose... Otaku Days has begun."

Welcome to Otaku Days!

Ah, yes, the first post which marks the beginning of the journey - the adventure - filled with hours of some of Japan's best entertainment and, of course, heart-stopping amounts of caffeine.

I want to thank you for taking this journey with me, for without you, it wouldn't nearly be as fun!

So, sit back, relax, grab your bowl of instant ramen and let us begin Otaku Days...

So, what's in store for you?

Well, the journey to becoming an Otaku is an ardours one, but the end result is immensely rewarding. If you're not already an Otaku, it may be at times over stimulating, like you've taken the front seat on a rollercoaster, but don't worry, that seat's exactly where you want to be.

Otaku Days will be my front seat on that rollercoaster too, so in a way, we're in this together.

You can expect Anime/Manga/Game news here along with, Reviews, Fan Art/Fiction, Cosplay, Inspiring or Fun Pictures, Otaku Music, Otaku Cooking/Otaku Fan Cooking, Countdowns, Top Lists, Best Of, and The Day In The Life Of An Otaku.

If you don't know what some of them are, then don't worry, because a few of them are unique to this site only and I will explain, as the time comes, what each thing is.

There's no need to rush here. Just keep it cool and lazily let the river of Otaku take you to places you've never been before.

So, please make yourself at home, friend (for you are my honoured guest), and enjoy your stay at Otaku Days.

-- Otaku-sama