Imaizumi brings all the gyarus to his house 4

See other formats

our /pecTflcuwR Annum wue of n/mn pop cuiture & evert coverage

OWN THE GORGEOUS NEW NEAR-SCI-FI ROMANCE ANIME FILM
FROM THE STUDIO THAT BROUGHT YOU ATTACK ON TITAN.

After the sudden death of her beloved boyfriend Hal, a young woman falls into a reclusive and joyless
existence - until a new form of "robot therapy" brings to her an ultra-lifelike robotic surrogate to take Hal's
place and lure her from her shroud of solitude. Resistant at first, this shattered beauty slowly yields to her
feelings of longing, but both the girl and her new Robo-Hal soon discover that nothing about their artificial
love story is quite as it seems BUY NOW ON BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO PACK
YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING FUNIMATION.COM/HAL

table o
confen

pall 201 3-fall201 4

event
coverage

EVENTS PART 1

<
<

1^
I— s,

£c3

2014

contents

J!-ENT says "Thank You" and a
sad farewell to longtime JI-ENT
entertainment photographer,

ANGELO DELOS REYES.

L.E. Miller attends KawaiiLand
NYC for art, fashion and rock n'
roll!

JI-ENT covers the return of
Harajuku Kawaii Fashion at

JI-ENT interviews Rise,
Harutamu and Pomitan of Gyaru

J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 group, BLACK DIAMOND.

THANK YOU
ANGELO!

KAWAIILAND
NYC

OH, SO
KAWAII PT. 2

In This Issue

6 STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

1 1 From the Editor

10 JI-ENT News & Updates

25 Watch Style

92 Revisiting the JI-ENT Archives: Tony Bancroft

(The Lion King)

100 PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013: AN INTIMATE

EXPERIENCE FOR ATTENDEES

227 Revisiting the JI-ENT Archives: Persona 3

Cosplay

315 TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE FANS

326 LISTENING TO 25 YEARS OF TOKYO SKA
PARADISE ORCHESTRA

375 JI-ENT ARCHIVE: OFF-SHOT

376 WHAT ARE JI-ENT STAFF LISTENING TO?
435 JI-ENT ARCHIVE: Donnie Dunagan

454 JI-ENT ANIME & MANGA CHARTS

464 VIDEO GAME NEWS

476 USA VIDEO GAME CHARTS

478 JAPANESE VIDEO GAME NEWS

480 JAPANESE VIDEO GAME CHARTS

48 1 AKB48 TEAM SURPRISE PACHINKO
528 BLU-RAY/DVD REVIEWS

530 ANIME BLU-RAY/DVD REVIEWS

532 MANGA REVIEWS

537 UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

FOR THIS JI-ENT ANNUAL, ALL OF OUR AOS & LINKS ARE
CLICKABLE! AND WILL TAKE YOU TO THEIR WEBSITE!

4 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

BLACK
DIAMOND

PAGE

NOVEMBER 2014

featured

Getting to know artist and
designer RENJI "RANGE"
MURATA

RANGE
MURATA

-know

toiffdmi
itanol_

Getting to know animator
and director HIROSHI
NAGATAMA.

HIROSHI
NAGATAMA

Jl-ENT follows ANTONIO
(BOSSMAN) for his trip to
Japan for Anime Japan and
more!

Hardcore idol fan, MARCO, is
interviewed by J!-ENT in regards
to his adventures as a American
hardcore idol fan visiting Japan
for a handshake/2-shot event.

173

ANTONIO'S

JAPAN

ADVENTURE

198

THE

ADVENTURES OF

A WOTAi

Jl-ENT interviews
Colorado-based cosplayer
FELICIA DARK!

Jl-ENT interviews KARRI E
(KARRIEBEAR) SHIROU
about the Geeks Giving Gifts
calendar and more!

212

FELICIA
DARK

221

KARRI E "KARRIE-
BEAR" SHIROU

Jl-ENT interviews the
DAICHI "The Human
Beatbox"

240 DAICHI

Jl-ENT interviews Sony
Music artist ELISA about her
debut performance in the
United States and morel

249 ELISA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 5

contents

J!-ENT interviews the wolf
human-like android rock band,
MAN WITH A MISSION

They rocked at J-POP SUMMIT
FESTIVAL and now, Ji-ENT
interviews PINKY DOODLE
POODLE.

JI-ENT interviews BRANDON
MASTERS, a TOKYO GIRLS'
STYLE SUPER FAN!

J!-ENT's Dennis A. Amith
interviews TOKYO SKA
PARADISE ORCHESTRA.

268

MAN WITH A
MISSION

289

PINKY DOODLE
POODLE

316

THE TGS
SUPER FAN!

322

TOKYO SKA

PARADISE

ORCHESTRA

J!-ENT's Dennis A. Amith
continues the J-POP 365 with
a special EXTRA DAYS
section covering 2012-2014.

J-POP 365:
EXTRA DAYS!

6 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

J-POP SUMMIT
FESTIVAL 2014

f eatu red

SAYONARA ANI-JAM. After
1 1 years, the Fresno,
California convention is over.

A1 n SAYONARA
* ' U ANI-JAM

JI-ENT showcases a Q&A
with voice acting legend
MAM I KOYAMA

424

MAMI
KOYAMA

PAGE

Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger

NOVEMBER 2014

J!-ENT interviews English dub
voice acterss J AD SAXTON.

Anime Q&A - ATTACK ON
TITAN PRESS PANEL with
TETSUYA NAKATAKE, KYOJI
ASANO, YUI ISHIKAWA AND
TETSUYA KINOSHITA

430

JAD
SAXTON

442

ATTACK
ON TITAN

Anime Q&A - MAGI: THE
LABYRINTH OF MAGIC's
KOJI MASUNARI,
TOSHIFUMI AKAI AND
SHUNSUKE SAITO

446

MAGIC: THE

LABYRINTH OF

MAGIC

ANIME Q&A - SWORD ART
ONLINE's TOMOHIKO ITO,
SHINGO ADACHI AND
SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA

SWORD ART
ONLINE

J!-ENT's Kenneth Tran covers
POWER MORPHICON IV in
Pasadena, California.

J!-ENT interviews the wolf
human-like android rock band,
MAN WITH A MISSION

488

POWER
MORPHICON

515

JOHN
TELLEGEN

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 7

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

FOR THIS SPECIAL FEATURE

DENNIS A. AMITH

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER
Multiple Articles

DENNIS A. AMITH is the Editor-in-Chief and
founder of entertainment and pop culture
website JI-ENT. He is also the owner of the
multi-disciplinary communications and design
business, nt2099 media and entertainment.
Graduating from California State University,
Fresno with an educational background in
mass communications and journalism, Dennis
A. Amith has interviewed and featured many
talents and industry professionals in the United
States, Europe and Asia and is recognized for
promoting the entertainment and pop culture
of different countries to an International
audience. Currently residing in California.

KEN ERIC CHAN

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER
Multiple Articles

KEN ERIC CHEN (TRAN) joined
JI-ENT in 2013. He graduated
from UC Santa Barbara with a
degree in Asian Studies and was
a staff writer for Giant Robot
magazine. In his spare time, Ken
enjoys collecting action figures,
listening to live music, keeping
up with Japanese idol culture,
and assembling outfits for
cosplaying.

ANGELO DELOS REYES

PHOTOGRAPHER
Event Coverage

ANGELO DELOS REYES joined the
JI-ENT family as a photographer in 2004
but has been part of JI-ENT since it was
founded. In the Philippines, Angelo
was a professional concert photogra-
pher and also a personal photographer
for the country's top celebrities. Angelo
passed away in July 2014.

DARREN YAMASHITA

PHOTOGRAPHER
Multiple Articles

DARREN YAMASHITA is a sports and event
photographer based in the San Francisco Bay
Area. Darren began his work for JI-ENT cover-
ing a variety of musical performances in 2014.
Mainly a sports photographer, Darren has
covered a variety of sports at the youth, high
school, college and professional levels.

MICHELLE TYMON

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER/TRANSLATOR
Multiple Articles

MICHELLE TYMON, has contributed to JI-ENT
since 1996 as a translator of Japanese music lyrics
and her promotion of Johnny's Jimusho groups. Mi-
chelle's work includes her involvement as a trans-
lator, writer and photographer for JI-ENT. Michelle
has interviewed bands, talents and industry profes-
sionals. Michelle currently runs media operations in
the Northwest region of the US for JI-ENT and is a
graduate of the University of Washington. Michelle
grew up with both cultures, living in Japan and the
US. She grew up watching Japanese TV shows and
anime and listening to Japanese music and has been
a fan of Japanese entertainment all her life. Other
than translating, her interests include writing, art,
music, and entertainment. Michelle's dream is to
one day live in Japan.

NERGENE ARQUELADA

PHOTOGRAPHER
Multiple Articles

NERGENE ARQUELADA joined JI-ENT as a
photographer in 2004. He is known to many as
the anime convention and cosplay photographer
"Super No. 1". Nergene has photographed
bands, talents and industry professionals for
JI-ENT. He is an avid fan of Japanese and Korean
music and dramas. Nergene graduated from the
University of Southern California with a degree
in Aerospace Engineering. In his spare time, he
enjoys exercising at the gym and attending local
cultural festivals. He currently lives in the Los
Angeles area.

8 JI-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS

FOR THIS SPECIAL FEATURE

DEREK ORCHARD

PHOTOGRAPHER
Event Coverage

DEREK ORCHARD is featured for the first time
on Jl-ENT with his photos from ANI-JAM 2012.
Derek is a photographer from the Central Valley
in California. After studying Mass communica-
tion in journalism at Cal State University in Fres-
no, He graduated with a degree in Computer
Arts, Combining his love of art, computers and
photography. When he is not running his family
owned ranch you might find him shooting pic-
tures at San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon and
Ani-Jam to name a few. Derek is always looking
to create an image with impact, bringing to life
thoughts and ideas that were only a dream
before.

RHIANNAN SMITH

PHOTOGRAPHER
Event Coverage

RHIANNAN SMITH joined Jl-ENT in 2013.
She is better known as Rhapsodey at cons
and online. She is a cosplaying photographer
and a Jane of all trades. She has been going
to conventions since 2006 (Sakura Con was my
her first), and have been doing cosplay for two
years. She has been a huge geek her whole life
and a huge fan of anime, anything of a particu-
lar white bobtail cat and her friends, and ador-
able things all around.

GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER
Multiple Articles

GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO joined Jl-ENT
back in 1995. Realm is a jack of all trades. He
has covered film and photograph events pho-
tographing celebrities, sports figures and mod-
els. Realm graduated from the Art Institute of
California-San Diego, receiving his Bachelor of
Science degree from the Media Arts & Anima-
tion program. Realm is also a proud member
of the "Knights of the West Coast" car club
and the security firm, "Kuya Protection". When
not on the road attending events, Realm likes
to spend time with his girlfriend, family, watch
movies, draw, play basketball, read, listens tol
records and dance. Realm currently resides in
San Diego, CA.

JENN JACKSON

PHOTOGRAPHER
Event Coverage

JENN JACKSON joined J!-ENT in 2014. She
has been capturing moments since she was
able to peer through the viewfinder. Born and
raised in Upstate New York, Jenn nurtured her
appreciation for the beauty and fluidity of life
throughout her extended education in Marine
Sciences. She has continuously endeavored
to capture the fleeting moments that are the
essence of lasting impressions. Although her
mainstay is DSLR- she has been known to use
her iPhone as a point and shoot. She loves kit-
tens, narwhals, knitting amigurumi, coffee and
Tim's Jalapeno Potato Chips. She is also a huge
fan of the Seattle Sounders.

CHARLES AMITH

VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER
Multiple Articles

CHARLES AMITH is the videographer for
Jl-ENT. Charles has also worked on the bulk of
the IT and marketing operations since J!-ENT's
inception. He is based out of San Diego and
follows the latest trends in the Korean
entertainment industry.

ANTONIO AIROSO

PHOTOGRAPHER

Antonio's Japan Adventure

ANTONIO "BOSSMAN" AIROSO is a man

passionate about Japanese culture. "Antonio's
Japan Adventure" is an ongoing special contri-
bution for this Jl-ENT annual.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 9

WORLD'S GREATEST

PARENTS

HO M D° N T HAVE T ° BE PE KFECT

4- TO BE A PERFECT PARENT, -f

There are thousands of kids in foster care who will take you just the way you are.
888. 200. 4005 ^ T Adopt us Kids AdoptUSKids.org

FROM THE EDITOR

s we celebrate our 21st year of JI-ENT and prepare to enter year 22, this
year was no doubt one of those years to reflect on. As our 20th anniver-
sary annual summed up our amazing experience of being part of JI-ENT.
But I recently found the very first issue of JI-ENT from 1994. Suffice to
say, it was a bit embarrassing as it was written years before I learned AP
Press Style but at the same time, it was fascinating because it captured a
moment of time of what we were enjoying at the time at JI-ENT. In 2014
we saw the release of "Ranma 1/2", featuring episodes remastered on Blu-
ray! How awesome is that? Well, upon discovering this issue of our first
JI-ENT zine, surprisingly enough, the discussion was about "Ranma 1/2".
Here is an excerpt of what I wrote back in 1994:

A lot of you have probably heard of Ranma 1/2. In fact, a lot of you are
probably sick of hearing the title of the series because no matter how old it is...
You still love it! Many of us have stuck around, enjoying this series because we enjoy

Rumiko Takahashi's work. A lot of us stick around because we love the anime and are true "Otaku no Ranma
Whatever reason you have, for sticking around for 'Ranma 1/2", for now, 'Ranma 1/2" is still going strong!

DENNIS A. AMITH, EDITIOR-l

1/2".

Of course, the series is a Rumiko Takahashi classic, as with "Urusei Yatsura" and "Maison Ikkoku", a lot of
these titles were close to the hearts of fans who loved the '80s series well into the '90s. While the 2000's would usher in a new group of Rumiko Taka-
hashi fan with the series "Inuyasha".

And of course, our JI-ENT coverage at a convention:

/ made it to theAkemi Takada panel! One thing I was dissapointed was that there were a lot of people there but it was shameful that not too many people wanted to
ask her any questions. So, I started asking questions like crazy..

I personally had to laugh at what I wrote back in 1994, because its the same complaint that myself and other press have at many of these press panels at
many events. These conventions have so many press attending, but rarely do you see any of them at a press panel anymore and when you do, they don't
bother asking any questions, leaving one or two other press groups including us, to ask the majority of the questions for the guests.

I noticed this year, covering events, meeting a lot of the bloggers for other Asian entertainment sites/blogs, asking us a question of how were we able to
do this for so long? My feeling is the same I had back then and that is the fact that if you are passionate about what you do, you'll continue to do it.

While JI-ENT has changed significantly since 1993, you have to enjoy what you are covering and you have to be dedicated to stay with it for the long
haul. Covering Asian pop culture has its positives, but it also has its negatives.

The fact is not many sites are making great money doing this, so people should not think covering Asian entertainment will lead to great money.
What it will lead to is great friendships worldwide, a feeling of accomplishment for promoting an artist, group or band that many people will want to
listen to or reviewing a film or drama that others may want to watch. But also valuing the people you work with at the companies you deal with.
Working with Japanese entertainers go beyond the entertainers themselves, it's about working
with those at the entertainment company or label and being on the same page.

And with each year of getting older, a realization that your taste in pop culture will eventually
change. And the people who were with you when you were younger, will not be there years
later because of personal change or unfortunately, due to some sort of tragedy, which we at
JI-ENT had to learn in 2014.

Sure, we cover a lot of entertainment from the U.S. and Europe these days, but as I always tell
people, we never forget about our roots of JI-ENT. From the beginning, it was covering a lot of
the geek culture, anime, manga, video games, cinema, music and it hasn't changed all that much
many years later.

We work with fantastic people in the industry, wonderful entertainers who gave us the oppor-
tunity to feature them and of course, we meet fantastic people who are familiar with our work
at many events and it's a relationship that we at JI-ENT will always value. Thank you for 21
years of support for JI-ENT... let's get ready for Year 22!

— DENNIS A. AMITH

Our cover was shot by JI-ENT photographer Angelo Delos Reyes, who
passed away in July. We dedicate this 2014 JI-ENT annual to Angelo I

flWfi J PfiCTflOMfi A/HI POP CHTUM UJHNIJllNI flflfWH, If AJt

Jl-BVTT MOB* UPDATES

Disney's "Planes: Fire
8 Rescue" Flys Home
to Blu-ray 11/4

Disney's Planes are back in the high-flying comedy adventure "PLANES:
FIRE 8c RESCUE," landing on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD,
Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand platforms Nov. 4, 2014. In
this heart-pumping, laugh-filled follow-up to last year's smash hit "PLANES,"
world famous racer Dusty Crophopper joins an elite fire and rescue unit and
learns what it takes to be a true hero. Featuring non-stop action, memorable
characters and never-before-seen bonus features, "PLANES: FIRE &c RES-
CUE" is this fall's must- own animated family film!

After flying to the top of the box office this summer as the #1 animated movie
in America three weeks in a row, "PLANES: FIRE &c RESCUE" soars to spec-
tacular new heights on Blu-ray and Digital HD, featuring wondrous high defi-
nition picture and sound, plus thrilling bonus features, including the all-new
exclusive short " Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular;" the mock-umentary promo-
tional piece "Welcome to Piston Peak;""CHoPs"TV Promo and "Air Attack:
Firefighters From The Sky," an exciting inside look at the making of the film
featuring real-life smoke jumpers and firefighters. Additional bonus features
include Spencer Lee's "Still I Fly" music video, deleted scenes with filmmaker
introductions, and two "PLANES: FIRE &c RESCUE" shorts: "Dipper" and
"Smokejumpers." Exclusively available on Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)
are the bonus shorts "Blade Ranger" and "Piston Peak."

"Maleficent" Arrives on
Blu-Ray on 11/4

Disney's most iconic villain "MALEFICENT" comes to
life for all to own, November 4, 2014. Starring Academy
Award® -winning actress Angelina Jolie (Best Support-
ing Actress, "Girl, Interrupted," 2000) as Maleficent, this
wickedly fun twist on the classic "Sleeping Beauty" will be
made available on Disney Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Digital
HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand
platforms.

After enchanting audiences around the world and gross-
ing more than $700 million in worldwide box office, this
live-action, fantasy adventure casts a wondrous new spell on
Blu-ray and Digital HD, featuring stunning high definition
picture and sound, plus spellbinding, all-new bonus features,
including several deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes
featurettes that take viewers deeper behind the scenes of the
filmmaking magic.

Join the cast and crew as they explore how Disney's
animated classic "Sleeping Beauty" was re-imagined as an
innovative, live-action epic in "From Fairy Tale to Fea-
ture Film." Discover how King Henry and Maleficent's
opening battle scene was created using gigantic wire rigs
and elaborate choreography in "Building an Epic Battle."
Learn how playing Aurora was a fairytale come true for
actress Elle Fanning in "Aurora: Becoming A Beauty." And
find out more about the meticulous detail that went into
creating Maleficent's elaborate head wraps, rings and other
accessories in "Classic Couture." Viewers can also relive
the film's journey to the screen through concept art, layered
visual effects and behind the scenes footage in "Maleficent
Revealed."

12 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

HEWS& UPDATES JI-BMT

CEMAN chills out on BD 8 DVD Nov. 11

Bonus Materials Include "The Making of Iceman"

International martial arts icon Donnie Yen (Ip Man franchise, Hero, Special ID) brings his trademark action
to ICEMAN, debuting on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Nov. 11 from Well Go USA Entertainment. A
remake of the 1989 film Iceman Cometh, Yen plays a Ming era warrior who, along with his three traitorous
childhood friends, are accidentally buried and kept frozen in time. 400 years later, they are defrosted and con-

?tinue their battle in modern times where they left off.
Directed by Law Wing Cheong (Punished, The Wrath of Vajra), ICEMAN also stars Eva Huang (Kung Fu

Jf* "• *y Hustle, Race to Witch Mountain), Wang Baoqiang (Lost in Thailand), Simon Yam (The Thieves, Ip Man

^ franchise), Mark Wu (Due West: Our Sex Journey), Gregory Wong (Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen
hen) and Yu Kang (Special ID). Bonus materials include the seven-part featurette "The Making of Iceman,"
hich takes an in-depth look at the filming of the rooftop sequence and the disco scene, as well as interviews
ith Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang and Eva Huand.

nopsis:

onnie Yen is a Ming Dynasty palace guard, wrongly accused of murder and hunted by three vengeful
ied, frozen at the height of battle. 400 years later, they are defrosted and resume their mortal struggle - whi

\cim3r

AS THE LIGHT
Blu-ray 8

OUT" ignites
on Nov. 18!

Directed by Derek Kwok and
Starring Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Simon Yam & Andy On

To save Hong Kong from an fiery disaster, a team of dedicated firefighters battle an out- of- control
blaze that threatens to plunge the city into catastrophic darkness in AS THE LIGHT GOES
OUT, blazing onto Blu-ray™, DVD and digital Nov. 18 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Writ-
ten and directed by Derek Kwok (Journey to the West), the action-packed suspense drama stars
Nicholas Tse (Shaolin,The Stool Pigeon), Shawn Yue (The Guillotines, Infernal Affairs trilogy),
Simon Yam (Ip Man, Election), Hu Jun (Firestorm, Let the Bullets Fly), William Chan (Triad),
Bai Bing (The Viral Factor, Shaolin), Andy On (Special ID, White Vengeance) and a cameo by the
legendary Jackie Chan (Rush Hour franchise).

Synopsis:

It's Christmas Eve in Hong Kong, and while the residents prepare to celebrate, a dedicated band
of brothers - the firefighters of Pillar Point Division (Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Andy On) - are
dispatched to a warehouse fire. What they find there first plunges the city into darkness, then threatens a far worse fate for them all.
When every move could mean sudden death, the bonds between the men are tested, and dangerous truths uncovered. Will they be
able to trust each other enough to make it through the night, saving themselves and the city they've sworn to protect?

AS THE LIGHT GOES OUT has a runtime of approximately 115 minutes and is not rated. For more information, please
visit www.wellgousa.com.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 13

ji-but nm& updms

THE FULL SEASON ORDER. FOX PICKS
UP SIX MORE EPISODES OF SMASH HIT

FOX has ordered six more episodes of this fall's breakout new drama series, GOTHAM, it was announced today by Dana Walden and Gary Newman,
Chairmen and CEOs of Fox Television Group. The announcement raises the series order to 22 episodes.

"GOTHAM debuted as one of the most buzzed-about shows of the fall, and with good reason. Bruno Heller and Danny Cannon have created an
incredibly rich world, with characters that draw you in and a cast that brings to life these heroes and villains in a way we've never seen before," said
Walden and Newman. "We are so excited to see where Bruno, Danny and the entire GOTHAM team take this story over the course of this season,
and so thankful to all the fans who have embraced it this fall."

GOTHAM is tied as Monday night's No. 1 drama among Adults 18-49 and is this season's No. 1 broadcast drama overall among Men 18-49 — a
full rating point ahead of the No. 2 drama in that demographic. The debut episode, which exploded into Premiere Week with a 6.0/18 rating among
Adults 18-49, outperformed "Blacklist" and "Scorpion" and delivered FOX's highest-rated fall drama debut in 14 years. This Live +7 rating reflects
the largest post- three day ratings gain (+0.9) of any broadcast drama, ever. In addition, GOTHAM's premiere drew 14.1 million viewers in the first
seven days and has been streamed more than two million times to date on FOX NOW and Hulu. The show's second and third episodes continued this
positive trend, each delivering a 4.0 rating or higher in just the first three days, making it one of the Top Three dramas overall on broadcast television
this season.

In the next all-new episode of GOTHAM, "Arkham," airing tonight (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, a contentious city council vote on the future of
the Arkham district approaches, and politicians on both sides are in danger. Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Bullock (Donal Logue) must race to protect
the council. Meanwhile, Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor), who has already been christened "The Penguin," takes violent measures to further
ingratiate himself with Maroni (guest star David Zayas), and an old friend pays Gordon a visit.

GOTHAM is an origin story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From
executive producer/writer Bruno Heller ("The Mentalist,""Rome"), GOTHAM follows one cop's rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering be-
tween good and evil, and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time. The entirely new, untold chapter stars Ben McKenzie
("Southland," "The O.C."), Donal Logue ("Vikings," "Sons of Anarchy") and Jada Pinkett Smith ("Hawthorne," "Collateral").

GOTHAM is based upon the characters from DC Comics and is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Executive producer Bruno Heller ("The Men-
talist") wrote the pilot, which was directed and executive-produced by Emmy Award nominee Danny Cannon (the "CSI" franchise, "Nikita"). John
Stephens serves as an executive producer on the series. "Like" GOTHAM on Facebook at facebook.com/GOTHAMonFOX. Follow the series on
Twitter @Gotham and join the discussion using #gotham. See photos and videos on Instagram at @GOTHAMonFOX.

12 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Htffli UPOlim J'-BMT

22 Jump Street Available on
Digital HD Oct. 28 - Coming to
Blu-ray 8 DVD Nov. 18

BlU-BAV ■ D'/Q ■ DIGITAL HD

JM ilUJ, *:-,i:i;n:iMf.u/

Jonah Hill (Moneyball) and Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher) are back in
action in Columbia Pictures / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures out-
rageously explosive 22 JUMP STREET, debuting on Digital HD on
Oct. 28, and on Blu-ray and DVD Nov. 18 from Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment. After making their way through high school (twice),
big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum)
when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a
kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemi-
an art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they
don't have to just crack the case they have to figure out if they can have
a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from
freshman to real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened
to them.

The $314 million worldwide box office hit also stars Ice Cube (Ride
Along), reprising his role as Captain Dickson, along with Peter Stormare
(The Last Stand), Wyatt Russell (Cowboys & Aliens), Amber Stevens
("Greek"), Jillian Bell ("Workaholics"), the comedic Lucas Brothers duo,
Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation") and Jimmy Tatro ( YouTube's
"Life According to Jimmy").

Bonus features on both the 22 JUMP STREET Blu-ray and DVD
include five deleted scenes, commentary with Directors Phil Lord and
Christopher Miller, as well as Hill and Tatum, and a "Line-O Rama"
alternate scene that gives audiences a look at different takes during one
of the film's funniest scenes. Also included on Blu-ray and DVD is "The
Perfect Couple of Directors" featurette, which takes a look at the directors
creative vision for 22 JUMP STREET and their collaboration with
Tatum and Hill. Blu-ray exclusive bonus features include 17 additional
deleted and extended scenes (22 in total), six all-new featurettes, four
more "Line-0-Ramas,a montage of jokes cut from the film, and two viral
videos, "Zook & McQuaid's Football Tape" and "Jenko Split".

THE POPULAR SYMPHONIC
WORLD TOURING SHOW
VIDEO GAMES LIVE*
LAUNCHES 2ND KICKSTARTER
TO FUND 4TH ALDUM!

The first, longest running and most successful video game
concert tour Video Games Live is proud to announce the
launching of its 2nd Kickstarter project to help fund their 4th
album entitled VIDEO GAMES LIVE: LEVEL 4. Last
year Video Games Live successfully funded LEVEL 3 as it
became the 3rd highest grossing Kickstarter album to date.
The album was released earlier this year in February on the
exact date that was originally planned.

Video Games Live Creator/Executive Producer and 25 year
game industry veteran Tommy Tallarico said, "The music
industry has changed a lot over the past 13 years since we
started Video Games Live, and no record company was will-
ing to take a chance on risking the money needed to create
the project to the high quality and standards that it needed
to be. The traditional record companies didn't believe in the
concept and they thought we were crazy. . . but the outpour-
ing of fan support from around the world was incredible and
inspirational. We proved to the world that people DO care
about video game music and we believe that lightning can
strike twice."

The project can be found at the following link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1916334303/video-
games-live-level-4-lets-do-it-again

Hoping to continue its success, Video Games Live is once
again quadrupling the reward value for every pledge to give
back to the supporters as much as possible. "This isn't about
making a profit", said Tallarico who has never taken a pay-
check from Video Games Live over the 13 years since it was
created, "this is about continuing to prove to the world how
culturally significant and artistic video games have become
and to provide the highest possible quality to the fans around
the world. We are very transparent in the numbers for the
project and have listed a complete budget for everything. I
wish more Kickstarter projects would do this."

There are over 110 different Rewards offered through the
LEVEL 4 project as top game composers and developers
from around the world band together once again to help
create something special for audiences around the world. A
complete spreadsheet of Reward Tiers can be found at the
following link: www.videogameslive.com/LEVEL4Reward-
Chart.xls

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 13

VOL.

Blu-ray & DVD
Coming

12.23

Limited Edition (BD/DVD/CD Combo Set)
Features:

* Japanese & English Audio
% English & Spanish Subtitles

* Double-sided Poster
% Collectable Postcards

* Original Soundtrack CD #2

* Wei/3 Schwarz Exclusive
Collectable Card (while supplies last)

* Standard BD/DVD Also Available

www.KILLIaKILL.com

TRIGGER, Kazuki Nakashima/Kill la Kill Partnership

SWORD ART ONLINE

Extra Edition

Blu-ray & DVD

Coming

12.23

Blu-ray Features:

• Japanese & English audio

• English & Spanish subtitles

• Special Animation "Sword
Art Offline" (English Subtitled)

• SAO II Trailer

• Deluxe Booklet
Exclusive Poster

vMjJSwordArt-OnlineUSA.com

©REKI KAWAHAR A/ASCII MEDIA WORKS/SAO Project

the Liberator

Blu-ray Set Coming

1.20.2015

• Textless Opening

• Textless Endings

• Battle Scene Collection

• Collectable Postcards

• Deluxe Poster Specially Illustrated

by KatSlira Hoshino (Original Character

* Japanese w/ English Subtitles

* Episodes 1-5

> Textless Opening

> Textless Endings (Chitoge & Kosam vers.)

* Collectable Ending Card Pin-ups
' Deluxe Poster

CominW" 2015

www.NisekoiUSA.co

10.28

• Textless Opening and Ending

• "Omnibus 3" Video

• Deluxe Booklet

• Pin-up Postcard Set

• Package Illustrated by
AKIO WATANABE (character design)

www.AniplexUSA.com/monogatarisecondseason

Sllverf^ Spoon

season iiibu

Set

m Textless Opening
^ Textless Ending
m Commercials

Complete 1 st Season
DVD Now Available!

w.AniplexUSA.com/valvrave

www.AniplexUSA.com/siivejtS PGo5il

WWW.ANIPLEXUSA.COM

THANK YOU ANGELO!

ANGELO DELOS REYES was known for taking exclusive photos of celebrities and for his concert
photography in the Philippines. He continued his entertainment work in the United States for JI-ENT until
his passing in 2014. We honor Angelo Delos Reyes for his contribution to JI-ENT.

Photos by Angelo Delos Reyes | Article by Dennis A. Amith

few days before J-Pop Summit
^^^U Festival was about to take place, I
spoke to our Bay Area photogra-
pher Angelo Delos Reyes via cell.
He was excited about joining me
and a few of our staff for an excit-
A ing weekend and also wanting to

^^f^^ m ^^/^^ m take pictures especially video as it

became his latest hobby as of late.
As Angelo was the ultimate foodie and known for treating
himself to the best cuisine that money can buy, my last words
to him, I said jokingly, "I'll buy you dinner but don't expect
me to spend too much on you." He laughed, knowing I spent
quite a bit for his lunch and dinner at a New York Yankees vs.
Oakland Athletics baseball game just weeks before but how

he was looking forward to seeing me and my brother Charles
at the event.

And then a two days later, receiving a message from his
niece that Angelo had passed away.

Needless to say, I was in disbelief and as I type this article,
I am still in disbelief that my mentor, my friend and our JI-
ENT photographer is gone.

Angelo was one of the few people who was around when
J!-ENT was created in 1993.

Back then, Angelo and I were passionate about Japanese
culture. We discovered the anime series "Ranma 1/2" and
"Video Girl Ai" and it would be the catalyst for us to join a
local anime club. In fact, he was there with me when I pur-
chased my first LaserDisc player, Super VHS and television,
so we could watch "Tenchi Muyou" and "Bubble Gum Crisis"

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 17

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ANGELO DELOS REYES (1966-2014) \\\

in better quality.

But he was also making occassional trips to Japan Town
in San Francisco to purchase rental videos of "Music Sta-
tion" and "Count Down TV" and give them to me, knowing
I was starting to have a huge interest in J-Pop.

But music was important for Angelo. Despite his later
years having an interest in more high-technology, music
was his escape. Many times we would discuss music and he
would discuss Noriko Sakai, KISS, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu,
Joey Albert and more.

And as an entertainment photographer in the Philip-
pines, he was known for being a perfectionist but also an
innovator when it came to concert photographer, shooting
photos of Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Keno, to name
a few. He would have light techniques that you would think
was done on Photoshop but the truth was he never used ed-
iting software for his photography for us. His photos would
be given to us as is with no editing and we would be amazed
of how his photos were.

For our 20th Anniversary J! -ENT annual in 2013,
Angelo wrote about one of his favorite moments working
for Jl-ENT and that was being invited by rock guitarist,
SUGIZO, for dinner and sitting with him in the car and
sharing his photos with him but also covering the group,
Red Bacteria Vacuum.

For 2014, Angelo's final coverage for Jl-ENT was for
Japan Nite in San Francisco, covering Jungles from Red
Bacteria Vacuum.

One of our last conversations was how he was ready to
purchase a new DSLR and was looking forward to take
advantage of the new technology as he was a photographer
that loved using film. When he transitioned to digital, his
focus was on better lenses and not worrying about upgrad-
ing unless he really needed to.

Unfortunately, Angelo had passed away too early. But
for those who knew him, will know that despite any hard-
ships he had lived, he tried to live life the best he can.

For me, having grown up with Angelo, I am forever
grateful to him. For if he never introduced me to Japanese
music shows, dramas and entertainment, there would be no
Jl-ENT.

While Jl-ENT s original origins were coverage of anime,
sci-fi and video games, it was our coverage of Japanese mu-
sic and dramas that help build Jl-ENT and over the years,
that synergy would go on for us to cover entertainment
worldwide.

So, I will always remember Angelo for his contributions
to Jl-ENT.

In honor of Angelo Delos Reyes, we present several
photos taken by him for Jl-ENT (2004-2014).

Thank you Angelo. We will miss your wonderful
photography but most importantly, we will miss you!

Rest in peace.

18 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

A ['-EM 5FECJAL f £ AT R. E ARTICLE

BY DENNIS A. AM1TH

W FRANfl*C0 T3?ri TVi-H JT-hy W* AJWRHO R RY rs I J'-^T >

!.■ ■, iL I.KV » I4> "1 1 *■ WJ. Ml I "i NT ■■■■'-y 7-M--.JL 1^ T ■■

TOP: In Memory of Angelo @ J-Pop Summit Festival 2014
MIDDLE: A photo of Red Bacteria Vacuum by Angelo Delos Reyes, Jl-ENT
BOTTOM: Kanon Wakeshima cover featuring a photo taken by
Angelo Delos Reyes, Jl-ENT

/// ANGELO DELOS REYES (1966-2014)

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ANGELODELOS REYES (1966-2014) \\\

/// ANGELO DELOS REYES (1 966-201 4) JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ANGELODELOS REYES (1966-2014) \\\

/// ANGELO DELOS REYES (1966-2014)

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

nippon

NIPPON GIRLS
JAPANESE PORBEAT &
BOSSA NOVA 1966-1970

CDWIKD 288

IP OM IR S M

UfUIEBW,
t Ids r u

NIPPON GIRLS
JAPANESE POP, BEAT &
BOSSA NOVA 1967-69

HIQLP 001

rock'n'roll <•>

iBeaTi

-inTemamonaL

TAKESHITERAUCHI
NIPPON GUITARS

WIKD 297 (LP)

MASAAKI HIRAOAND HIS
ALL STARS WAGON
NIPPON ROCK'N'ROLL
THE BIRTH OF JAPANESE
ROKABIRII
HIQLP 01 3 (10")

www.acerecords.com

TAKESHITERAUCHI
NIPPON GUITARS

CDWIKD 297

NIPPON GIRLS 2
JAPANESE POP, BEAT &
ROCK'N'ROLL 1965-1970

CDWIKD 321

MASAAKI HIRAOAND HIS

ALL STARS WAGON NIPPON

ROCK'N'ROLL

THE BIRTH OF JAPANESE

ROKABIRII

CDWIKD 31 3

NIPPON GIRLS 2:
JAPANESE POP, BEAT &
ROCK'N'ROLL 1966-1970

HIQLP 022 (LP)

/// WATCH STYLE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Following its 30th anniversary, G-SHOCK looks to the future; driving the brand into the contemporary women's fashion space with the
launch of its first watch line exclusively designed for women.

The G-SHOCK S Series is created for the influential, fashion forward woman that seeks a sportswear-inspired toughness to add to her
modern style, while valuing advanced technology and precision in a fashion accessory piece.

Impeccably designed to represent female values, the S Series goes beyond the typical fashion watch to withstand the wear and tear of
a modern and active lifestyle. Casio has brought the G-SHOCK brand into a premium and contemporary fashion space by reducing the
size of the G-SHOCK watch and adding a female touch to the finish with classic and on-trend colors and prints.

With a strong focus on innovation and design, the S Series delivers a truly modern accessory to contemporary fashion.

The GMA-S1 10 is equipped with an auto LED backlight, 5 daily alarms, 1/100 second stopwatch, countdown timer, world time with 29
time zones and is magnetic resistant as well as water resistant to 200 Meters. The GMA-S1 10 is available in six colorways: purple and
teal colorblock, black and blue colorblock and navy and pink colorblock; neon green, neon turquoise and neon cranberry.

The GMD-S6900 is equipped with an EL Backlight w/Afterglow for high visibility under low-light conditions, 3 multi-function alarms,
1/1 00th stopwatch, countdown timer, 12/24-hour time formats and 48-city world time. The GMD-S6900 is available in nine bold color-
ways: raspberry camo, navy camo and authentic camo; raspberry metallic, taupe metallic and black metallic; solid raspberry, solid plum
and solid mint.

"This is the first time in the brand's 31 -year history that a series of models have been designed specifically for female consumers", said
David Johnson, Vice President of Casio's Timepiece division. "The size, color and design are geared towards a fashion forward female
that is looking for an accessory to compliment her modern and active lifestyle. This collection gives us a new look and new consumer
to build upon in the future."

The S Series was released in September at Nordstrom's, Macy's and select department stores, as well asG-SHOCK's store in
Manhattan's Soho, NYC and www.g-shock.com. Prices range from $99 to $130.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 25

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

WATCH STYLE \\\

CASIO G-SHOCK RELEASES NEW LINE OF G LIDE WATCHES THIS WINTER

Casio America, Inc. announced the release of the G-SHOCK GLS8900CM - the impressive assortment of G-LIDE watches for Winter
2014. Focusing on remarkable functionality and performance, the latest addition to the G-SHOCK G-LIDE series offers four camou-
flage-banded watches equipped with unique, weather responsive functions to combat the colder days that lay ahead.

The technology showcased in the WINTER G-LIDE GLS8900 Series is ideal for athletes competing in cold weather environments due to
its impressive ability to function in sub-zero conditions. A low temperature resistant LCD that can tolerate temperatures to -20C means
that G-SHOCK WINTER G-GLIDE is suited for athletes as well as the spectators cheering them on.

Key Features:

Camouflage Band

Low Temp Resist (-20C/-4F) - LCD resists fadeout in cold conditions
Auto LED (Super Illuminator) - for easy reading in low-light conditions

Tech Specs:

Shock Resistant, 200M Water Resistant, Low Temperature Resist (-20C/-4F), Auto LED (Super Illuminator), Flash Alert

World Time (29TZ/ 48 Cities)

4 Multi-Function Alarms & 1 SNZ

Twin 1/1 00th Sec. Stopwatch (1000Hr) w/Auto Start

Countdown Timer (24Hr)

12/24 Hr Format

Mute Function

Case Size 52.5mm

All GLS8900CM models will retail for $130.00 USD.

Product will be available for purchase from selected department stores, fashion boutiques, key jewelers and the G-SHOCK NYC Soho
store.

/// WATCH STYLE

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Seiko wins the "Petite Aiguille" prize
at the 2014 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve

The award was accepted
by Susumu Kawanishi,
a Senior Vice President of
Seiko Watch Corporation.

In an industry where many watches are feted with many prizes in many countries each year, one award stands far above all
the others. It is the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve. Founded in 2001, it immediately became the watch industry's "Os-
cars" and its award ceremony is now firmly established, alongside the Baselworld Fair, as one of the key dates in the watch-
making calendar.

On October 31, the 2014 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve award ceremony took place at the Grand Theatre de Geneve.
17 awards were made in total, most of which rewarded watches in specific categories such as "Tourbillon", "Chronograph"
and "Jewellery. "The "Petite Aiguille" category, in contrast, was open to any watch of any type under Sfr 8,000 in price and, as
usual, attracted a large entry. From the short list of six, the jury of 25 watch and luxury experts selected the Grand Seiko Hi-
Beat 36000 GMT Limited Edition as the winner.

Seiko Watch Corporation is delighted and deeply honored to receive this award. For over half a century, Grand Seiko has
been the very best of Seiko, and to see its beauty, durability, legibility and watchmaking excellence recognised by the most
prestigious award in the industry is the greatest possible tribute to the Grand Seiko watchmakers and designers, past and
present, who have dedicated their skill and talent to the creation of this remarkable collection.

The watch that won the "Petite Aiguille" award was first revealed at Baselworld 2014. It is the Hi-beat 36000 GMT Limited
Edition (SBGJ005). In both performance and appearance, it expresses the very best of Seiko's mechanical watchmaking. The
caliber has a high accuracy of +5 to -3 seconds a day and a power reserve of 55 hours. The GMT hand can be used as a dual
time indicator with the hour hand being adjustable independently as the time of day hands continue to mark time. It is the
perfect watch for the international traveler.

Commenting on the award, the President of Seiko Watch Corporation, Shinji Hattori said, " I am very grateful to the
GPHG and its jury for their decision to award to Grand Seiko this most prestigious accolade. For 50 years, our Grand Seiko
team has worked tirelessly to create the best possible functional watch in the world. The Hi-beat 36000 caliber is our proud-
est achievement so far and this award will spur us on to new achievements in the future."

For full details of all the awards, please see the official website of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve at:
http://www.gphg.org/horlogerie/ en

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: KAWAIILAND NYC \\\

A JOURNEY TO KAWAIILAND NYC

L.E. Miller travels to New York City for KAWAIILAND NYC for art, fashion and rock n' roll.

Article & Photography by L.E. MILLER

espite the name, "Kawaiiland
NYC" was not simply a J-Pop
event. While Japan was heavily
represented from the Pocky
sponsorship, to Gyaru, to
Lolita accessories for sale, all
sorts of independent art was
represented. For instance, the
headlining band of the eve-
ning "Nylon Pink" performed a set of hard-rock covers
of K- Pop hits such as SNSD's "Run Devil Run" to a very
receptive crowd.

A Japanese Idol influenced performance by Bubble
Pop, and an Avant Garde monologue/performance to

western music by Kitty Pryde also provided live music for
the night, but undoubtedly the main attraction was the
fashion show.

Lasting around an hour, dozens of looks from House of
Correia, Chain Candy, Lita Amelia, Sunshine and Bravado,
Belladonna, and Wear The Pain took the stage to popping
flashbulbs. It was a exercise in extremes; swimwear, lolita,
sweat shirts, and pip-up on stage together.

Unfortunately, the event was rather short, with the
crowd being ushered out around 10:30, as the venue had a
nightclub event to host later in the night.

Hey, its NYC! Midnight isn't too late to start a party on
a Friday. It might even be early.

28 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// FASHION: KAWAIILAND NYC

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL FASHION: KAWAIILAND NYC \\\

/// FASHION: KAWAIILAND NYC

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

/// FASHION @ J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

OH, SO KAWAII! PART DEUX

San Francisco's J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL continued to incorporate Harajuku Kawaii fashion to its event with an
appearance by fashion models Ayumi Seto, Una, Misa Kimura, KERA magazine fashion model/singer Akira and more!

Article & Photography by Dennis A. Amith

arajuku Kawaii. It was a
big part of the 2013 J-Pop
Summit Festival thanks to
appearances by 6% DOKI-
DOKFs Sebastian Masuda
and the Harajuku Kawaii
models but also, the event
was highlighted by a live
performance by Kyary Pamyu

Pamyu.

And for 2014, J-Pop Summit Festivals goal was to
incorporate more of the Harajuku Kawaii fashion with
models showcasing "ma chere Cosette", which specializes in
French-retro accessories.

As the audience went crazy over the accessories and
fashion, they were then treated to another style of fashion

courtesy of KERA magazine fashion model, Akira. Best
known for her single "Aoki Tsuki Michite" for the TV anime
series "Black Butler - Book of circus" but also for her gothic
style and also, as one Japanese pop star told me, "woman who
looks like man".

The next fashion show followed up with models sporting
"Aymmy in the batty girls" featuring local models plus ap-
pearances with Harajuku Kawaii models Misa Kimura, Una
and Aymmy fashion designer, Ayumi Seto.

The fashion show culminated with a fashion contest in
which attendees were able to showcase their "kawaii fashion"
and were judged by Ayumi Seto, Misa Kimura and Una.

There is no doubt that Harajuku Kawaii fashion has found
a home at J-Pop Summit Festival and the reception for it has
been wonderful.

We look forward to Harajuku Kawaii fashion in 2015!

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 33

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 \\\

/// FASHION: J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

tor;-

&a+ McDowell

Worldwide Release
October 28th !

Available on
. . Runes,

spotif y and
www katmusk jp

"U/*V-e starhv\$ at /•Jve -ettd,
- /rofw fli* song 'Hof-tful'

More info @
I Mwww.katmusic.jp

Si*

@katmcdowcll

/// BLACK DIAMOND

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

GYARU FASHION!

BLACK DIAMOND is the most famous and the largest Kuro-gyaru (tanned skin gals) group that was formed
back in 2012. Consisting of 150 members from all over Japan, their fashion style revived and evolved the
"Ganguro" fashion trend, which started in the mid-90s in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Interview by Dennis A. Amith

or many years, "Ganguro" fashion has
^^^J permeated in Shibuya, Tokyo. There
U ^ is no doubt that the fashion trend has

U M been looked at with awe and for some,

^^Hl^^^H to their chagrin.

U But for those who have watched Japa-

U nese variety television shows, they may

U have seen talent being converted into

Kuro-gyaru by a group known as Black
Diamond.

And as evidence by the large number of members within Black
Diamond, there is no sign of the fashion trend waning. And in July
2014, members of Black Diamond embarked on a trip to California
to showcase their fashion style and also to promote their singles
"Avant Gyarude" and "Crazy Tribe/Persona".

Recently, J! -ENT had the opportunity to interview Black

Diamond members Rise, Harutamu and Pomitan.

J!-ENT: How did you get involved with the Gyaru-kei?

POMITAN: When I was still in elementary school, my dad
brought me a magazine and said, "I found a magazine that you
might be interested in" and the magazine was "Egg" (a magazine
that featured Gyaru culture). I was inspired by the fashion and by
Tsubasa Matsuwaka and what I saw on television of Matsuwaka.
HARUTAMU: When I was in elementary school, I was a big fan
and was inspired by Ayumi Hamasaki. I was then inspired later by
Manba (white makeup above and below the eye) and it would lead
to me interested in Gyaru culture.

RISE: When I was in elementary school, I went by a shop and
immediately was captivated by the fashion, the makeup and colors.
I started reading the magazines and eventually got into Gyaru-kei.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 59

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

BLACK DIAMOND \\\

J!-ENT: I read there are 150 members of Black
Diamond. But how do you all come up with the
decision, for example, which members would get to
come to California?

HARUTAMU: There is a producer at Black Diamond
who selects individuals based on singing, shodo and
people who stick out. So, they are selected by those
standards.

J!-ENT: I saw quite a few Americans at J-Pop Sum-
mit Festival who loved the gyaru culture. And for
those just discovering it, are there any stores or
online sites that you recommend to them?

HARUTAMU: I recommend for them to visit Shibuya
and go to stores like 109. But there are a number of
stores in Shibuya and Harajuku. There's not many places
like before but they should be able to find stores that
showcase Gyaru-kei.

J!-ENT: Curious, what is the most expensive mer-
chandise that you purchased for yourself in rela-
tion to Gyaru-kei?

HARUTAMU: The dying of the hair and the painting
of the nail colors can be expensive, because they only will
last for a month. So, you have to keep doing it and it cost
about $200-$300 each time.

J!-ENT: Pomitan, with nails so long, how often do
you break them?

POMITAN: The nails are actually quite strong but I
unfortunately broke one the other day.

J!-ENT: I heard that due to a flight problem, you
were unable to do any sight-seeing in San Francis-
co but you did have fun in Los Angeles.

HARUTAMU: It was awesome and we had so much
fun!

RISE: Yes! We went to Venice Beach and Santa Monica.

J!-ENT: What was your expectations prior to com-
ing to the United States to perform?

HARUTAMU: I know that Gyaru-kei may not be well-
known in the United States but it was nice to see people
who would do the parapara with us. So, that made me
happy.

J!-ENT: Rise and Harutamu, you are both pro-
ducing a fashion brand known as Galeo. Can you
please tell us more about it?

RISE: The concept of Galeo was created because we
would hear from those overseas that a lot of Gyaru-kei
clothes do not fit. So, we are making variety of sizes for
women and the theme of the brand is "Get wild and be
sexy" for independent women. This is not only for Japa-
nese gyarus but also for foreign gyarus.

J!-ENT: Was the process of creating your first two
singles difficult?

HARUTAMU: It was challenging.

POMITAN: When we decided to make the CD, it took about two months
because of all our schedules and we live in different areas. So, we were able to
create the first single during our offtime.

J!-ENT: Can you tell us more about your second single "CRAZY
TRIBE/PERSONA".

POMITAN: Like the first single, it was very difficult to make because of our
job schedules and trying to get everyone together for at the same place. We
didn't really practice much and we learned the song in a few hours, practiced
and recorded it. After finishing the recording, there were a few things that we
wanted to fix. But after those few changes, we were OK for the release of the
second single.

JI-ENT: You made new fans of gyaru-kei with BLACK DIAMOND
coming to America. What final words would you like to leave with
your American fans/supporters?

POMITAN: We have all have our own individual websites but we do post
our updates and information on Facebook and Twitter. But please visit our
website (blackdiamond.jp), our Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/
GalUnitBlackDiamond) and our Twitter site (https://twitter.com/bdiajp) for
more information.

HARUTAMU: We are very happy to have received support from American
fans and we will continue to create more promotions and activities. So, please
continue to support us. ■

54 JI-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// BLACK DIAMOND JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

BLACK DIAMOND \\\

/// BLACK DIAMOND JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

BLACK DIAMOND

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL BLACK DIAMOND \\\

/// BLACK DIAMOND @ J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL BLACK DIAMOND @ J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA \\\

YOU JUST BLEW $10,000.

Buzzed. Busted. Broke.

Get caught, and you could be paying around $10,000 in fines, legal fees and increased insurance rates.

Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org

■MB *****

Effl NHTSA

(joincil =

'.nhtsa.gov

70 Jl-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

The Clark Center for
Japanese Art and Culture
to Shut Down in 2015

Article and Photography by Dennis A. Amith, Jl-ENT

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ART: THE CLARK CENTER FOR JAPANESE ART & CULTURE \\\

^Hp^^^M or over 20 years, the Clark Center
for Japanese Art and Culture in
m Hanford, California, has provided
^^J^^^^v magnificent exhibitions of art-

V work to many people in the local

area but also many who travel to
see artwork that you will never
^^^^^^ see at many of the major art mu-

seums in the country.
Founded by Willard "6111" Clark and Elizabeth "Libby"
Clark, the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture is a
fascinating place to visit. For one, its not your typical mu-
seum type of location. In fact, its located far from the city
and hidden in an almond orchard where the Clarks reside.

But several yards away from their home is where
the Clarks private collection was held. With one office
featuring staff offices and the local store, the other was an
exhibition room featuring artwork that revolved around a
certain theme every three months.

As small as the location was, the Clark Center for

Japanese Art and Culture housed nearly 1,700 priceless
objects (valued at $25 million) dating back for as far as
seven centuries and was no doubt one of California's rare
gems dedicated to Japanese art.

But as Bill and Debby Clark are in their 80 s, the
Clarks decided to donate their private collection to the
Minneapolis Institute of Arts and not leave their children
the financial burden involved in preserving the fragile
artwork.

The acquisition by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
will now make the museum, one of the top five museums
in the nation with an extensive collection of Japanese art.

Currently, the Clark Center for Japanese Art and
Culture is featuring the "33 Dances: Japanese Calligraphy
from the 16th Century" which will run through December
6th.

A farewell exhibition will run from Feb. 3 -June 30 and
the Center s extensive bonsai collection will be transferred
to the Golden State Bonsai Federation and will be placed
in the Shinzen Friendship Garden in Fresno.

72 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// ART: THE CLARK CENTER FOR JAPANESE ART & CULTURE JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ART: THE CLARK CENTER FOR JAPANESE ART & CULTURE \\\

APRIL 3-5, 2015

WASHINGTON
CONVENTION

JUMP RIGHT IN

All ages, 100% volunteer & non-profit

Truly "by the fans, for the fans"

24 hours a day-round the clock
anime, manga & more

Traditional cultural presentations,
artists, educators & performers

Dances that literally rock the house

Cosplay, dances, guests, fan panels,
local artists & much more!

LEARN MORE

Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/SakuraCon

Visit our Website
www.SakuraCon.org

She is one of the most talented but also
private shojo manga artists in Japan...

A JI-ENT EXLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MANGA ARTIST

INTERVIEW BY DENNIS A. AMITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAHITO TOMOI

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

MANGA: RINKO UEDA

inko Ueda is a shojo man-
ga artists that has captivat-
ed me for over a decade.
Her elaborate artwork,
gorgeous character designs
and romantic storylines,
Rinko is currently working
on a new manga project.
With a professional career
that started back in 1986 with the manga series
"Hana no Hi ni Aitai", followed by her first major
series in 1988 titled "Kimi ni Botan no Namida".

Rinko Ueda also released two other titles in 1988
titled "Onaji Yume wo Kazoete" and "Prism ga Koibi-
to .

In the '90s, Ueda released three more manga se-
ries: "Kiss wa Me ni Shite", "Shin Gakuen Tengoku"
and the successful Margaret Comic series "Ryou".

By 2000, the decade would be one of her busies
with the release of "Panpu Appu" (Pump Up!) and
the very popular series "Tsuki no Shippo" (Tail of
the Moon, 2002) and "Hadashi de Bara wo Fume"
(Stepping on Roses, 2008) which were released in the
United States courtesy of Viz Media.

Rinko would go on to work on "Cho Tokkyu Hi-
yokko" (2009), "Margaret Best Selection: Not Friend,
But..." (2011) and Sakura Juuyuushi" (2012), followed
by "Sakura Juuyuushi 2" in 2013.

In fall 2014, Rinko Ueda returned with two new
titles, a series titled "Maria no Shiro" and a one-shot
manga titled "Hoikumen!".

A busy manga artist but also a busy mother of
two children, throughout her career as a manga artist,
Rinko Ueda is known to be one of the most private
manga artists in Japan. And a mangaka, who prefers
to let her work speak for itself.

Despite her private nature, JI-ENT recently inter-
viewed Rinko Ueda in regards to her manga career.

JI-ENT: Before we discuss your career, let's
get to know you a little better. Your name is
Tomoko but you go by Rinko. How did you get
your pen name?

RINKO: My real name is ±ffifmr? and the pro-
nunciation is Tomoko but the kanji also has
another pronunciation and it is Rinko.

JI-ENT: What was your favorite manga growing
up?

RINKO: Tomoko Sasaki's "Doubutsu no Oishasan"
(Animal Doctor)

JI-ENT: Do you have a favorite manga that you
are reading now?

RINKO: Kazuhiko Shimamoto's "Aoihonoo".

2
>

o
o

JI-ENT: Prior to becoming a manga artist, did you receive any
formal training as an artist?

RINKO: Just in high school. My major was in art and that is where
we learned the basics of painting during art class.

JI-ENT: And from there, what led you to become an artist?

RINKO: Just out of pure happiness of drawing a picture from what I
have imagined.

JI-ENT: Did you know that you have fans following your work
in the United States and around the world?

RINKO: A few years ago, I read a book about Japanese culture and in
the book, a high school student in the United States said he liked "Tail
of the Moon". I was very surprised!

JI-ENT: Was there any certain manga artist that inspired you?

RINKO: All manga artists give me inspiration.

78 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// MANGA: RINKO UEDA

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT: Prior to having a career as a manga artist, did
you ever contemplate other jobs?

RINKO: Not really.

JI-ENT: While your professional debut as a manga art-
ist was back in 1989 with "Kimi ni Botan no Namida",
what was your actual debut as a manga artist?

RINKO: That would be "Hana no Hi ni Aitai" (editor's note:
This was created back in 1986 when Rinko was graduating
from junior high).

JI-ENT: And from there, how did you get involved in
the manga industry?

RINKO: I would again and again, send submissions to man-
ga magazines.

JI-ENT: And was it a difficult process of getting your
manga published?

RINKO: Before I became a professional manga artist, just
only in half a year, I sent around seven works to the publisher.
Six of them were not good enough but finally the last one was
published.

JI-ENT: For you, how do you find inspiration to create
a story or characters that are fresh and new for each
series?

RINKO: I receive inspiration of ideas in moments such as

when it is raining, whenever I am listening to the radio or
even when I am drying the laundry.

JI-ENT: I know in America, two of your manga titles
were released: "Tail of the Moon" and "Stepping on
Roses". But of all the titles you have created and were
not released in the U.S., which title would you like to
see released?
RINKO: "Ryou"

JI-ENT: Speaking of "Ryou", I met you for the first
time when you were working on that series. But I'm
curious, how have you changed as an artist from that
time?

RINKO: I was often working at night when I met you at
that time. But now I start to work very early in the morning
because of raising my children.

JI-ENT: What I love about your artwork is that it looks
so complex. But I have seen you sketch and you are
very quick as an artist. But I'm curious, of all the man-
ga that you have created, what was the most challeng-
ing title and why?

RINKO: That would be "Home". It is a story about Spain
back in the 15th Century. A Spanish girl was the protagonist
in the manga series. You can now read it for free at http://
www.zeppan.com/book/detail/41 181.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 79

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

MANGA: RINKO UEDA \\\

JI-ENT: What would you say is the most import-
ant aspect in creating a manga series. Would it
be the story? The characters? The drama?

RINKO: I think that it's important of whether or not
it would be an interesting story involving the charac-
ters.

JI-ENT: For your American fans that love "Tail
of the Moon" and "Stepping on Roses", what is
the inspiration when you created both manga
series?

RINKO: For both series, when I drew them, I try to
make an effort to be able to create an exciting story for
the readers.

JI-ENT: Do you have a consistent theme
throughout your works?

RINKO: Pretty much to experience an exciting view
of the world.

JI-ENT: While I was doing my research on your
career, I realized that back in '93, your manga
"Kiss wa Me ni Shite" was made into an OVA.
What was that experience to see your manga
made into an anime and are you open to seeing
your manga work being animated?
RINKO: That was once upon a time and when I think
about it now, it's too embarrassing.

JI-ENT: Are you familiar with American comics?
And do you see a difference between Japanese
and American comic books?

RINKO: I'm not too familiar with American comic
books but I do know the biggest difference is the space
of the frames.

JI-ENT: Let's get to know more about you out-
side of manga. When you are not busy working
on manga or with family, what hobbies do you
enjoy?

RINKO: I listen to the radio and I also watch movies.

JI-ENT: If you had one advice to give to someone
who wants to learn how to draw in manga style
or wants to be an artist in general, what advice
would you give to them?

RINKO: Learn to draw may pieces but most impor-
tantly, to draw many pieces without any rest.

JI-ENT: In every JI-ENT interview, I have a
wordplay. This one is "Fill in the blank", I will
give you five sentences and you complete it:

a. Before I work on a manga, I like to .

RINKO: Drink coffee

b. When I go to the grocery store, I always have to buy

RINKO: Tomatoes

c. The last movie I watched in the theater was .

RINKO: "Guardians of the Galaxy"

d. The character that I really enjoyed drawing the most is

RINKO: Nozomu Ijuin from "Hadashi de Bara o Fume" (Stepping
on Roses)

d. My favorite pen/pencil I used to draw my work is

RINKO: Zebra New Spiral CC

What final words do you have for your fans worldwide?

RINKO: I will continue to draw more interesting manga. Please
read them! ■

For more information on Rinko Ueda, please visit her ^
blog and twitter at: 1

https://twitter.com/korinntonn >
vvvv\vvvvvv\vvvvvvv\vvvvvvvvvvvvv\vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv\v\vvv^

80 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

ART Q&A 2014

Jl-ENT ON LOCATION @ SAKURA-CON 2014:
Media Q&A with Renji "Range" Murata

By Michelle Tymon and Dennis A. Amith

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM Q&A MICHELLE TYMON

82 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// RANGE MURATA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

For many amme
fans, Japanese artist
and designer Renji
(Range) Murata
is best known for
his work on "Last
Exile", the sequel
"Last Exile - Fam,The Silver Wing-",
Blue Submarine No. 6" and "Shan-
gri-La".

He has published more than a
dozen books such as "robot", "rule",
"futurhythm" and was voted "Best
Artist of the Year" for the Seiun
Award back in 2006.

He also is involved in releasing
figures and sculptures based on his art
as well.

Range Murata recently took part
in a press conference at Sakura-Con.

RANGE MURATA: My name is
Range Murata and I come from
Japan. I'm an illustrator and I do
a lot of anthology work and I'm
also involved with anime as well.

Your art style is very unique,
how did you come to evolve
your sci-fi style?
RANGE MURATA: When I gradu-
ated high school and went to col-
lege. I went to an art school but
I also took some regular classes,
one of them was anatomy. And
when I studied anatomy, I looked
at how the body was put togeth-
er and how the muscles were
put together, so I was looking
into not lines but areas and that's
how it affected my art style. So,
at the time, I was able to look at
manga and understand how the
lines put together to form those
parts, but that is how I started to
draw something in lines and that
was where my style would begin.
And also, I am interested in vin-
tage-retro things as well and I try
to take those things in account as
well, so I try to take those things

in account when I'm designing
the clothing of characters and
also mecha.

JI-ENT: Did you have any anime
or manga that you enjoyed as a
child?

RANGE MURATA: So, I definitely
liked specific things like "Gan-
ba no Boken", "Yatterman" and
"Gundam".

Can you go more into your
thoughts on the creation of
male characters?
RANGE MURATA: As far as

drawing male characters, because
I draw female characters as cute, I
kind of gone the opposite direc-
tion of men where I draw them
with stark lines and angular. So,
that is how I have been drawing
and worked so hard in that direc-
tion that now it's impossible for
me to draw them the other way.

JI-ENT: A lot of work that you
have done are character de-
signs, but I've read that when
you attended Osaka Art Col-
lege, your focus was on car
design. When you first got into
the anime industry, was your
goal to focus on mechanical
design or was character-based
design your main passion? (sec-
ond part question) Would you
ever want to be involved in gi-
ant robot mecha anime design?
RANGE MURATA: When I was
in college, I was in an industri-
al design or course, so I didn't
draw just cars but other industrial
items, sewing machines, the sort
of things, the electronics that
would be tablets. I worked in
that design, I worked in regular
courses such as coloring and blue
printing. So, when I became an
illustrator, I started off in illustra-
tions such as manga, so it's from
those works that the anime indus-

try would notice me and I would
get calls to work with them. And
even in my illustrations, I have
been drawing bikes and things
like mecha, clothing and I was
invited to design the ships in
"Last Exile" and the motorcycles
in "Solty Rei".

Since you implied our work in
industrial design, what is your
inspiration behind some of the
designs in your illustration such
as the airship wingchair? Do
you foresee yourself going back
into those areas?
RANGE MURATA: So, of course,
in my drawings, I would take
into account of what I do. But
I draw things such as vehicles,
clothes and other things. I, of
course, buy furniture, shoes and
I purchase these things in my
everyday life, and I purchase
things that I really like the design
of. And I take the nuances and
put those into my designs. So,
the airship wingchair, that you
are talking about, I was going to
work with a furniture company in
a project and have some samples
in my home. But unfortunately
the company went under before
the full project went into frui-
tion. It was unfortunate but it
was a great experience. But in
my designs, it's hard to make big
things, but I would love to make
furniture again, but smaller things
like bags, glasses, would prob-
ably be a lot easier. So, I would
love to do something like that
very soon as well.

You have been successful with
your art books, anthologies and
also your PSE figure collections.
But is there a big part of you
that wants to see your original
characters like "Chris" in ani-
mated format?

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 83

RANGE MURATA: I am an illus-
trator but not a manga artist, so I
don't draw anything with a story.
But obviously, coming up a sto-
ryline around a character would
involve someone to help create
the scenario and story, but it
would be a challenge but it would
be something that I would be
very interested in.

JI-ENT: Do you picture your
orignal characters having back
stories?

RANGE MURATA: There is a little
of that, but I don't necessarily
think about the personality of the
characters. I don't think about
who they are interacting with,
but although the characters have
a shape of a person, my illustra-
tions are one image of graphic
design, so I think of the shapes,
where the colors may go and it

becomes my work of art. I ap-
proach of it as a graphic design
perspective, so I don't think
about a story behind a character.
So, as a graphic designer, and
if you are designing a sign, you
would think about the color and
the font and where you placed
the text. I approach my art in
the same way.

You are always taking a camera
along with you. What colors
and shapes inspire you to take
a photograph?

RANGE MURATA: I like to take
pictures of things with a stark
contrast. For example, the sun
was coming out of the clouds
and hitting a building and the
light was reflecting off another
building. The space between
buildings, things like that is what
I enjoy taking pictures of be-
cause they are so interesting. Of

course, I take pictures of my food
and everything too.

JI-ENT: What are your favorite
hobbies right now?
RANGE MURATA: Taking pic-
tures is one of my hobbies, I'm
also interested in bicycles, cars
and things with wheels. I also en-
joy glasses and clothes but most
recently, I'm interested in taking
pictures and in the past, I would
try to do my best with older
analog cameras but now I have all
these digital cameras. With the
advent of digital cameras, I have
picked up the hobby strongly and
now I am very much into it!

JI-ENT: You have come to the
United States as a guest to sev-
eral conventions for years now.
But I was wondering, each time
you come to America, is there
something you always want to

84 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// RANGE MURATA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

eat or buy?

RANGE MURATA: I usually try
to eat things with meat like ham-
burgers. When I first came here
in 2000 # I was surprised by the
amount of food that you get and
the size of the portions were huge
and strongly favored. At the time,
I would eat the food but after sev-
eral days, I wanted to eat some-
thing with lighter flavor. But now
when I come here, I have become
used to it and now I want to eat
all American food. So, in America,
things are extreme, the portions
are extreme, the sandwiches are
huge, the food are strongly fla-
vored. Even the donuts are crazily
colored and you never see that in
Japan. And you eat them, your
teeth start to hurt but that is one
thing I noticed about American
food.

Can you tell us more about how
you worked on "Last Exile"?
RANGE MURATA: It was around
the time I was finishing up "Blue
Submarine No. 6". The scenario
for that work for Yamaguchi was
actually a fan of my dojinshi. It
was a time when I wasn't well-
known and I only released a few
dojinshi, but he took those and
showed the director Maeda of
"Last Exile" and he liked them.
So, they decided to hire me for
the project. I was not sure if I
would do any good. I worked
on the video game but never on
anime, so I was unsure of myself
but that is how I came together to
work on the project.

JI-ENT: If you weren't working
in this industry, what industry
would you want to work in?
RANGE MURATA: I don't think I
can work on anything else... I think
I would be homeless. I would

probably be a NEET and never
come out of my room.

Give me your impression of the
current production cycle of a
series for when animation was
done by eel and now is being
done via digital?
RANGE MURATA: I have never
worked with cell before. "Blue
Submarine No. 6" was the first
anime ever made completely
digitally, so I'm not familiar with
the changes from cell to digital
or how things were done before
and unfamiliar with the chang-
es. Although, I have heard from
those in the industry talk about
how difficult it was back then to
work with eels. I do know that
the animators still do the same
work, the inbetweeners till do
the same work but the process
of coloring a cell and taking a
photo of it has become digi-
tal. But I heard there was a lot
of work in the original process
to make a smooth animation.
Those who took photos of the
eels had a special skillset for that
job and there were things such
as shining light on a eel to make
an expression in the animation.
But there were very specific
methods to make eel animation
but I have heard recently that
a lot of the people who used
to do that work are no longer
employed and companies that
specilized in that work, have
closed down. But I do think the
advent of digital animation, that
people can see a broad range of
new expressions in animation.

Is there any artists or illustra-
tors that you look up to?
RANGE MURATA: The man-
ga artist Kamijo Atsushi (best
known for his manga "Mob

Hunter") is one of my favorites
and I recently had the chance to
meet him. His art is so cool but
he is also very cool as a person!
So, as far as American artists,
Alex Ross is a big name, but I like
him. For illustrators, I like Nor-
man Rockwell and I definitely like
other American artists, such as
music artist Bruce Springsteen.

What do you think of Seattle?
RANGE MURATA: I have been
to America several times before
but this is my first time in Seattle.
Going to Seattle is representative
of how I imagined American be-
ing. When I was looking at news-
papers or magazines as childs,
and seeing the wideness of the
streets were large, the traffic
lights are how I pictured Amer-
ica as a child. So, the first time
coming here is almost nostalgic.
The food is also great. I also
enjoy the clam chowder and have
had crab last night! I wish there
were less portions, that would be
great. There was a crab leg this
big and there was two of them,
I wasn't sure how to eat all of it.
(laughing)

Do you have anything that you
are working on right now?
RANGE MURATA: I really can t
discuss what I am working on
right now but I am working on
two anime projects. And as for
other things that I am working
on, I am working on anthologies
and illustrations. ■

^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiij-

= For more on Range Murata, E
E please visit his website at:

http://www.pseweb.com/
=tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirf

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 85

He is best known for directing anime series such as "Mushishi" and "Detroit Rock
City", but with a career as an animator and now as a director, HIROSHI NAG AH AM A

discusses his career in the anime industry.

By Michelle Tymon & Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Michelle Tymon

^h^^m or animator Hiroshi Nagahama, he's had
a strong career as an animator. From be-
^ ing the mechanical designer of the classic
m anime "The Cockpit" and later becoming

H^^^^ a storyboard writer and animation direc-

^ tor best known for works on series such

as openings for "Doraemon", "Pokemon",
"Fruits Basket", "Kimi ni Todoke", Hiro-
^^I^^B shi Nagahama would move on to bigger

responsibilities a few years later.
Best known for directing "Mushishi", "Detroit Metal City",
"Aku no Hana (The Flowers of Evil)" and a few Hatsune Miku
music videos, Hiroshi Nagahama was busy with the second
season of "Mushishi: Zoku-Sho".

To promote his latest work, Hiroshi Nagahama was among
one of the guests at Sakura Con 2014 in Washington.

The following is a transcript of Q&A that were asked during
the press conference which took place at Sakura Con 2014.

HIROSHI: My name is Hiroshi Nagahama and I am an an-
imator designer but more recently, I have done more directing
in recent years. I'm not sure how many times I have come to
the United States because I have lost count. But as far as re-
cent works, I have directed the opening for "Fruits Basket", the
opening for "Pokemon", "Doraemon" and "Anpanman". But the
project that I directed responsibly was "Mushishi", the "Detroit
Metal City" OVA and "Aku no Hana" which was shot in roto-
scope. And most recently, I was contacted to direct the second
season of "Mushishi".

Of all the series that you have done, which one is your
favorite?

86 JI-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// HIROSHI NAGAHAMA

JI-ENT 2013 ANNUAL

HIROSHI: You know... It may sound
like the diplomatic answer but I think
it is hard to pick any one. I feel really
committed to "Mushishi" because that
was the first project that I had a big role
but any production that I am involved in,
I always try to dedicate my skills have to
offer to the series. But I would be hard
pressed to pick one series out of all of
them.

JI-ENT: What has been the biggest
influence for your career? Any mov-
ies, anime, manga?
HIROSHI: There are so many things
that influence me and my decisions and
the things I create. The process is always
constant and always ever evolving. I

see something new and I want to do
something with it. So, it is really hard
to pick one thing. But if there was
one thing that left a lasting impression
is the manga "Cyborg 009". It really
taught me about how to express a story.
"Cyborg 009" is not your average cookie
cutter story where it's all happy. There
is a lot of hardships that are told in
this story and the way they had to fight
evil, it just so happened that people
are forced into that situation. Even
when I was a child, I always thought it
would be awesome to become a cyborg.
But reading the story, understanding
the drama and seeing the hardships
makes you want to reconsider if you
want to have super powers, if you want

to become a cyborg. And while I was in
that state of shock, I also happen to get my
toes wet with American comics, specifi-
cally "Spider-Man". And those two titles
matched and it helped make me thing of
what was the meaning of power and what
responsibilities come with that. I for one,
am left-handed. So, I see a lot of those
situations of being an outcast and not being
viewed as the same as everyone else.

You mentioned rotoscoping in "Aku no
Hana", could you tell us why you chose
rotoscope?

HIROSHI: Having read the original
manga, the characters and everything... I
didn't feel that it should be expressed in
anime form, in terms of clean images, per-
fectly sculpted designs. In fact, a lot of the
darker sides of human emotion and drama,
I thought really hard of how I can express
that in animated form. And how rotoscope
gives you a raw, dirty and warped image,
I felt it was a good correlation of how the
manga tries to approach and tell a story.

I was impressed in a previous in-
terview of how you expressed your
thoughts on the "Fruits Baskets"
opening and I wanted to know your
thoughts of what went into the
"Mushishi" opening?
HIROSHI: The original manga for
"Mushishi" had a real wide spectrum of
fans and it was interesting of why they
did this and that. In anime, among ani-
mators, there is a phenomenon of those
who are anime watchers and those who do
not watch anime. I really think it's not an
understatement to say that late night anime
has become the mainstream source of high
quality animation. So, what I wanted to
achieve and pursue is to capture that same
demographic, those who don't necessarily
watch anime, catch them when they come
home and then get them to watch the show
and possibly be engaged in it. To give you
ancedote, an office lady who comes home
late from work, she takes a shower and she
comes out, wants to relax and watch TV.
There are those who watch variety shows,
action shows or anime, but if I can catch
that person who normally doesn't watch
anime, and I can get them to watch the
opening, I really believe it would give it a
fighting chance. They won't classify it as

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 87

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

HIROSHI NAGAHAMA

an anime immediately. That's why I try to avoid using that
anime style in my openings. I think once they watch the
opening, it kind of gets their attention. Go to a commercial
break and when it comes back and they will say "oh, it's an
anime". And if they change the channel then, then that's
on the anime. But if I can get people that far, get their foot
through the door, I do believe I can convert a lot of new
fans, like the kind of fans who do watch anime. So, that's
what I wanted to do with the openiing. Having been so
close to the original work of the manga of "Mushishi", I felt
it was part of an intellectual property, a story that so many
people can enjoy. What I really wanted to achieve in the
opening was create a means for those not exposed to anime.
So, even for the music, I chose a song where there was no
Japanese lyrics because I believe that the lyrics might efFect
how one judges a series before giving it a chance. Any sort
of element that would limit the scope of how people would
judge the series, I tried to eliminate those and work from
there.

With "Aku no Hana", was there a meaning to the end-
ing theme song?

HIROSHI: I'm going to completely be level with you. Trie
way that anime openings work in the industry, a music label
will collaborate with us and help produce these tracks. In

this case, it was King Records. So, they come onboard as a spon-
sor and their objective is to sell as many CD's as possible. And in
order to do that, they try to push their agenda. As creative guys,
we wanted to push an agenda that links the story to the music.
So, what I did for "Aku no Hana", I told King Records that they
can do whatever they want for the opening. They can send me an
idol, they can send me anything they want, and we will create an
opening that will suit their needs. However, let us do the ending.
Because I feel that the ending credits make a bigger influence
than the opening, you finish an episode, and then the emotion
that you are left with at the end, must really link with the ending
itself. So, I put a lot of effort to make this ending perfect. So,
Oshima-sensei suggested "Hana" and this song in particular,
he created the original work with the song in mind. So, it was
really our agenda. People in our teamwere surprised. They were
concerned and not sure if it would work, but Oshima-sensei and
I felt it was the coolest song that we have ever heard. So, we
told King Records that they could do the opening but we get to
keep the ending and that is the story of how the song made it to
the ending. In hindsight, some fans felt the song felt creepy and
scary but it made us think twice about our decision.

You are interested in appealing to a broader audience. Is
there a dream project that you would love to do? Would
you want to collaborate with Western stories or an

88 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// HIROSHI NAGAHAMA

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

original story?

HIROSHI: Yes! I would absolutely love to. I truly believe
that I was put in a room with someone that deals with media
that is unrelated to anime, there would be many interesting
conversations that would happen there. So, I had the op-
portunity to work with a lot of artists as well and contrary to
what I do by converting manga to anime, it opened my idea
and shocked me about their thinking processs. I really believe
that if I worked with someone in a completely different field
or genre, whatever it is, the ultimate media we are creating, I
would defnitely not turn down that opportunity or possibli-
ty. There is a lot of instances of where you want to do certain
things but obviously you can't. I look back on my past projects
and I feel that timing was a big issue, but I felt fortunate for the
opening of "Fruits Baskets", the director presented the song, but
he said the song was quiet and soft and wasn't sure if it would
work but I said I can make it work and this song will work and
I can guarantee it. So, I created several storyboards in a day and
presented it. It's not that I pursued that job, it fell in my lap in
a weird way but it gave me the opportunity to create something,
really my own. It came down to timing and the stars aligning
and the same with "Mushishi" and "Detroit Metal City". I feel
that projects I will work on in the future and I feel it is well-fat-
ed and that timing and chance will give me the opportunity to
work with other talented artists out there.

J!-ENT: In American comics, there is good side and dark
side. If you had a chance to take this theme on, who

would you like to do?

HIROSHI: Superman! I feel the brighter the light shines,
the bigger shadow it casts. Because he is an iconic hero, if
we ever had a chance to peek into his dark side, it goes really
deep and there is a lot of pent up darkness. If that darkness
ever surfaces, what if he switched sides? He would become the
most powerful villain. That would be an interesting storyline to
pursue and many comic book fans will always want to see that
happen but there is a line that Superman never crosses because
he is always protected by the writers because he never really
goes completely dark.

I read that you were involved with the X-Men anime?

HIROSHI: Yes, I was involved in the "X-Men" anime, but
unfortunately I didn't get to work in the United States. It was
manufactured, created and produced in Japan. I would love to
one day work in the United States but for an IP created in the
US and done in Japan, there really isn't much of a big differ-
ence. It's just the form that you express it and the core values
and emotions you try to convey. There really wasn't much of
a big difference at all. When it was first presented to me and
I had to start making storyboards, the first thing that I saw,
it wasn't that great. Having grown up reading the American
comic books and the knowledge of the X-Men, the first thing
I said was "no, this is all wrong?". For example, they had called
Henry McCoy as "Henry" but I changed it to "Hank". So,
these are the minor details that I changed along the way during
the process but it was because of my love for the characters. ■

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 89

YOU DON'T WANT
THEM RESPONDING
TO YOUR TEXT.

STOPTEXTSSTOPWRECKS.ORG

m *****

Efn NHTSA

CjOLTICII d\stractiqn.gqv

Revisiting the

II-ENT ARCHIVES

ince Walt Disney had
created his animation
studio back in 1923,
the company has had
its fair share of suc-
cess.

Especially within the last two
decades, may it be from the success of
their live action films and their PIX-
AR animated films, but still to this
day, "The Lion King", the 32nd film
in the Walt Disney Animated Classics
remains as the most successful ani-
mated film for the legendary company
earning over $862 million in the box
office (created with a budget of $45
million) and in terms of overall ani-
mation, it's the fifth highest grossing
animated film of all time and the #1
highest grossing film when it comes to
hand-drawn animation.

The film earned two Academy
awards plus a Golden Globe for "Best
Motion Picture - Musical or Come-
dy" and is the #4 animated film on the
American Film Institutes "10 Top 10"
list.

With a 3D version of the film
released in Sept. 16, 2011, "The Lion
King" makes its debut on Blu-ray (2-
disc) courtesy of a Diamond Edition
on Oct. 4, 2011, as well as a 3D Blu-
ray (4-Disc) and also an 8-disc "The
Lion King" trilogy box set.

To promote the release of "The
Lion King in 3D" and "The Lion
King" Blu-ray releases, J! -ENT re-
cently took part in a media roundtable
Q&A with "The Lion King" Super-
vising Animator (for Pumbaa),Tony
Bancroft. Here is a transcript from
the Q&A:

What were your visual inspira-
tions for Pumbaa?
TONY BANCROFT: As animators

we always start with the real thing
first. I spent almost 6 months in the
beginning of the film just researching
warthogs and African animals. It was a
great time to soak in what the real an-
imal looked like before I moved away
from it and caricatured it. Besides re-

ality, Ernie Sabella, the voice of 'Pum-
baa' was a big influence. He has a very
round and appealing smile that I knew
just had to be a part of Tumbaa.

How much was voice actor Ernie
Sabella used as a live-action refer-

92 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// THE LION KING: TONY BANCROFT Q&A (201 1)

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ence for the character of Pumbaa?
TONY BANCROFT: A lot. Early in
the process of making the film, I flew
out to New York City with Mike Sur-
rey, the animator on 'Timon, where
both Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane
(Timon) were in "Guys and Dolls" to-
gether on Broadway. It was a great edu-
cation for me to see Ernie performing,
to study his movements and actions.
Then when I got back to my anima-
tion desk I would try to incorporate
as much as Ernie s acting style in my
scenes. I think it really helped in bring-
ing the character to life.

J!-ENT: Looking back at the char-
acter, is there anything you wish
you had done differently?
Tony Bancroft: Not really... since I
was a first time Supervising Animator
my mistakes had to do with manage-
rial things that I was learning about
leading a crew but also the work on the
screen of which I am most proud of. I
learned so much on this movie and it
really changed the kind of artist I am
now.

JJ-ENT: What's the sequence
you're most proud of in this film,
and why?

Tony Bancroft: That's a tough one,
but I would have to say the sequence
where Pumbaa is lying on his back
looking up at the stars with Simba and
Timon talking about what the stars are.
I loved Pumbaa's response to Simba's
thoughts on what the stars above re-
ally were. He says, "Aw, gee. . . I always
thought they were balls of gas burning
billions of miles away." That scene re-
ally helped round out Pumbaa to be a
more fully realized character. He's not
dumb; he's just an innocent animal that
follows Timon's lead. Once I animated
that scene, I felt like I knew who his
character was.

What was it like working at Disney
Animation during that period?
TONY BANCROFT: Boy, it was a great
time. Many of us on "The Lion King"
were young animators that just had no

fear of trying new things and we were
totally focused on making great films.
There was not a lot of pressure on us at
the time because the studio did not ex-
pect much from The Lion King at first
so we felt creatively unharnessed.

Will you say something to Viet-
namese audiences who are urged
to see The Lion King 3D at the end
of this September?
TONY BANCROFT: Yes, Xin Chao
Vietnam! I am so happy to know that
there are fans of The Lion King in
Vietnam too. We made this film for
the world so please enjoy this epic and
fun story that we made for you and, as
Pumbaa would say, "Hakuna Matata"!

The Lion King is such a super clas-
sic and popular story to millions
of children all around the world
through many 2D versions. Al-
though the 3D movement is now
in vogue, the Disney 2D anima-
tion has become an irreplaceable
trademark. Do you think remak-
ing this film into 3D might be a
double- edge sword?
TONY BANCROFT: When I first
heard that "The Lion King" was being
made into a 3D version I must admit,
I was skeptical. I wasn't sure what the
technology would bring to our 2D ani-
mation. Then I saw it and I was amazed
at how it looked in 3D- how much it
enhances the animation. When we cre-
ated the film in 1994, we tried to make
it as dimensional and real as we could
with the technology during that time
but now with stereoscopic technology
it actually fully realizes the potential of
what were trying to make. I think it
actually improves the film.

What was the most difficult aspect
of animating Pumbaa, and why?
TONY BANCROFT: Really trying to
make a warthog appealing. They are
really the ugliest animals in the animal
kingdom so trying to make him cute
was an ongoing battle. I'm pleased with
the results though.

I assume you have a personal col-
lection of animation eels that
you have collected over the years.
What is the most curious and most
interesting animation eel you
have?

TONY BANCROFT: Good question! I
do love collecting artwork from anima-
tion but not of my own, mostly art by
my friends and mentors. Besides ani-
mation drawings by my friends at the
studio that I have framed on my walls,
my favorite is an animation drawing of
two of the dwarves in "Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs". It is a rough
pencil drawing by Disney legend Fred-
die Moore, and it is incredible. It has so
much life in the drawing! It's an educa-
tion in itself.

Did you ask to supervise Pumbaa?
What drew you to the character?
TONY BANCROFT: No, actually I
asked to work on 'Zazu' originally.
Pumbaa and Timon, even at an early
stage of the film, were the break out
popular characters and they seemed
out of my reach to even request as a
first time Supervising Animator. Hav-
ing just finished animating 'Iago' the
parrot from "Aladdin", I thought, "well,
Iago s a bird and Zazu s a bird. . .maybe
I have a shot!" I was totally taken by
surprise when the director s called me
to offer me the character of Pumbaa! It
was one of the happiest days of my life.

What is your favorite character
you have worked on? Why?
TONY BANCROFT: Definitely, Pum-
baa. I enjoyed all of the comedy char-
acters I have worked on over the years
(Iago, Kronk, Cogsworth, etc.) but
there is a special place in my heart for
Pumbaa. I think it was because he was
my first character to supervise as an
animator. Also, he and I have so much
in common. Were both are overweight
and enjoy a good bug every once in a
while!

When did you realize "The Lion
King" was more than just a movie?

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 93

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

THE LION KING: TONY BANCROFT (Q&A 201 1) \\\

TONY BANCROFT: It's funny because
at the time we had no idea that "The
Lion King" would become the phe-
nomenon that it has become. At the
time, we thought it was just this fun lit-
tle film with a quirky story about a lion
cub in Africa that thinks he killed his
father and has bug-eating friends set to
music by Elton John. Not the normal
Disney story for sure. It still amazes
me that it is so well-loved around the
world.

What will the 3D technique bring
to this new 3D version of The Lion
King?

TONY BANCROFT: I think if we had
the technology of stereoscopic 3D
in 1994 we would have used it in the
making of this film. We really tried to
make it as inclusive as we could for the
audience with the technology we had
at the time. Look at the wildebeest
stampede scene for example. We made
the wildebeests in CGI and lowered
the camera down to the level of Sim-
ba so that the audiences feel the fear of
the little lion cub as they rush past him.
In 3D that scene literally leaps out at
you and makes it all the more fright-
ening for little Simba. That alone is an
improvement on the story telling and a
great reason to have this new awesome
version.

JI-ENT: If you had any advice for
anyone wanting to break into the
industry, what advice would you
give them?

TONY BANCROFT: I still think it is
so important that an animator knows
how to draw really well even in this
computer animation world we live in
now. Drawing is a quick and easy way
for an animator to communicate his
ideas to a director or others before go-
ing to his computer to flesh out a scene.
But besides that, studying how people
move and act around them is very im-
portant. Watch your family around the
house, how your dog moves, or how
people interact at a bus stop. All of

those things will help you bring a char-
acter to life.

Is there anything subtle in the
movie that you see in it, that you'd
like to point out to audiences?
TONY BANCROFT: One of my all-
time favorite movie moments hap-
pened in "The Lion King". There is a
scene where Simba after disobeying his
father and going to the elephant grave-
yard is walking back to home follow-
ing behind his father. He knows he's in
trouble and more than that; he feels like
he will never live up to being the king
that he is. Those feelings are summed
up in one visual moment as Simba ac-
cidentally steps into his fathers foot-
print. The camera shows his little paw

inside the huge footprint of his fathers
and in that key visual scene, it says so
much about not only their relationship
but also the great responsibility Simba
has in following his fathers "footsteps"
in becoming the next king of the pride.
To me, that is great film making!

What are your thoughts on the di-
rection animation has gone since
"The Lion King"?

TONY BANCROFT: Its a little bitter-
sweet for me. I love 2D hand-drawn
animation and it's hard to see the world
of animation turn so much to CG an-
imation. But I also love what CG an-
imation has done for filmmaking in
animation too. I think there's room for
both techniques in the world of anima-

94 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// THE LION KING: TONY BANCROFT (Q&A 201 1)

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

tion and I hope to see it balanced out
more in the future.

JI-ENT: What do you enjoy the
most about your job?
TONY BANCROFT: I think I have the
best job in the world! I love bringing
characters to life through animation.
Its a great feeling to go to a theater
and sit with an audience that is seeing
a movie I worked on and hearing them
laugh or cry at a character I helped cre-
ate. It's probably the biggest perk of
what I do that I can move people in an
emotional way.

In countries where animated films
are hard to survive, it is very dif-
ficult for young animators to pur-
sue their dreams. So what do you
think that these people should do
to keep themselves motivated, be-
fore their passion runs out?
TONY BANCROFT: I think for ani-
mators, in countries where it is difficult
to find work making animated features,
it is important not to give up. There is
a great big world out there through the
Internet, so find different ways to get
your animation out there to the world,
such as animated shorts for the Inter-
net or commercials with animation.
Keep your head high and find a way to
meet your audience.

Are there any rituals you would
do (listen to a genre of music or
watch a film) that you would do to
get you in the mood to work on an-
imating a character?
TONY BANCROFT: I don't know why,
but I remember Mike Surrey (who an-
imated Timon) and I listened to a lot
of Broadway musicals while animating
Pumbaa and Timon. Mike and I shared
an office together and would listen to
the music out loud all day long. We
would sing along to "Les Miserables"
or "Miss Saigon' while animating our
characters. Maybe it helped in ani-
mating our character singing "Hakuna
Matata". . .1 dont know.

What were the big lessons you
took from The Lion King?
TONY BANCROFT: The theme of the
movie that Simba learns is that "we
all have a purpose in the great circle
of life". It is the thing that he tries to
ignore half way through the film but
ultimately it comes back as his respon-
sibility to his pride and family. I think
this is a great and universal lesson that
really helped this film become the uni-
versal success that it is.

How surreal is it to have been part
of the most successful animation
movie ever to have been made by
the most prestigious animation
studio in the world, ever?
Tony Bancroft: Very! Not a week
goes by, that someone doesn't come up
to me and want me to draw Pumbaa or
tell me how "The Lion King" affected
them. For a film that was considered
the "B movie" by the studio and with a
staff, like myself, that were mostly new
talent, working on a very different kind
of story for Disney, it is surprising to
see the reaction over the years.

What are your thoughts on the
production system whereby spe-
cific characters are assigned to
specific animators (or teams of
animators with a supervisor)?
This was done on The Lion King
and many of the stronger animat-
ed Disney movies, but it's not al-
ways the way animated films are
produced. Do you favor this sys-
tem over the alternatives?
TONY BANCROFT: Yes, I do. Back
when we were making "The Lion King"
at the Disney studios it was common
for animators to be a "cast" on a char-
acter by the Directors just like live-ac-
tion actors are cast for their parts in a
movie. Some animators are better with
comedy characters, lead stars, women
or villains. I was always "type casted" as
a comedy character guy, which I loved.
This system is good because animators
really are considered "artists with a
pencil" so they have a natural skill sets

in how they draw and make their ani-
mation that connects better to certain
character types. For me, this still is the
best way to work on a film.

You directed "Mulan" in 1998
along with Barry Cook. Any in-
terest in directing more animated
features?

TONY BANCROFT: Yes, I have devel-
oped several films since "Mulan" but for
whatever reason I have not made it to
the screen yet. I am currently directing
a new CG feature right now that I am
excited about. I can't tell you anything
about it yet . . . but soon. . . very soon.

How did you get started as an an-
imator?

TONY BANCROFT: I loved to draw
ever since I was a child. I used to draw
with my brother as much as most
kids go out and play sports. The love
of drawing later combined with a love
for movies that lead me to animation. I
went to a great college called Califor-
nia Institute of the Arts to study ani-
mation and was picked up by Disney
right out of college. From there, the
rest is history!

JI-ENT: Tony, any final thoughts
on The Lion King?
TONY BANCROFT: "The Lion King"
for me represents a great time in my
life personally as a young animator. I
am so happy that I get the opportunity
to reminisce on that time with the re-
lease of "The Lion King 3D". It's been
17 years since I worked on Tumbaa'
for the film, but for me it's like visiting
an old friend. So much has changed in
how we make movies in animation and
yet so much has remained the same.
The essence of making animated mov-
ies is still about taking the audience on
a magical journey to a place they have
never before seen through the eyes of
characters that are appealing and en-
dearing. I think "The Lion King" is the
best example of that. ■

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 95

fye) ^

if 3 fiigrtJ^com an^oi^otm} Hastings

sentai raeao

FtLM WORKS* SMtamrnwo**

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT KUMORICON 2013, VANCOUVER, WA - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

Tust when you think it was time to settle down after coverage of events during the
summer, it was time again to get ready for a few events for the end of the year. Here
is our event coverage from conventions in the final months of 2013.

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT KUMORICON 2013, VANCOUVER, WA - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

98 Jl-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT KUMORICON 2013, VANCOUVER, WA - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

Jl-ENT 99

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT KUMORICON 2013, VANCOUVER, WA - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

Jl-ENT 101

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT AKI CON 2013 IN SEATTLE, WA - PHOTOS BY MICHELLE TYMON

102 J!-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT AKI CON 2013 IN SEATTLE, WA - PHOTOS BY MICHELLE TYMON

104 J!-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT AKI CON 2013 IN SEATTLE, WA - PHOTOS BY MICHELLE TYMON

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 107

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT AKI CON 2013 IN SEATTLE, WA - PHOTOS BY MICHELLE TYMON

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT AKI CON 2013 IN SEATTLE, WA - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) RESTORED SCREENING PREMIERE

HANFORD, CA - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

Pacific Media Expo:
An Intimate Experience for Attendees

Article By Kenneth Iran, Photos by Nergene Arquelada

Pacific Media Expo 2013 was held at
the Hilton Los Angeles Airport for the
third consecutive year on November 8th
to 10th.
Being one of the final Asian media
expos of the year, PMX offers a nice
atmosphere for a younger demographic;
especially for the cosplay and Lolita fashion communi-
ties.

Despite being a great deal smaller than Anime Expo
or even FanimeCon, PMX offers a much interactive ex-
perience between industry guests and attendees. Often,
fans have an easier time to

This is my second PMX in the past 4 years, my first

covering the event as a reporter. My impression this time
around is the tremendous prevalence of cosplaying, a
welcome sight for many fans who appreciate this art. It
remained quite small, but much more welcoming than
the much busier cons.

The venue was once again held at the Hilton Los
Angeles Airport and offered a much more calm and
quiet experience. Its relatively close distance from LAX
made it much more convenient for traveling guests and
attendees.

However, the tradeoff is the lack of food options and
nearby shopping areas. The hallways and lobbies were
sufficient enough to hold a much larger convention.

The guests at PMX ran the gamut of Asian popular

112 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

culture.

It featured the American debut of AVEX's multi-genre group, Back-On, and the return of Izumi Matsumoto,
creator of Kimagure Orange Road. Other guests included voice actor, Michael Sinterniklaas, and Juliette et Justine!
head designer, Mari Nakamura.

There were plenty of panels running all weekend, with many game and video rooms, and how-to seminars to
boot. Though, PMX constantly features a small dealers' room, the artist alley and fashion boutiques made up for
this multifold. It also offered attendees much more intimate setting with the guests.

Izumi Matsumoto even held several panels, including a secret meeting, for the fans. Since the schedule was not
busy, panels often went beyond planned duration. There was no rush from guests and fans, alike.

The main events drew the most attention, such as the fashion show, masquerade, and the Back-On live concert.
Back-Ons first American performance was a high-powered one, definitely garnering the full attention and enthu-
siasm of the audience.

The band stayed after to meet fans, eagerly chatting, posing for photos, and signing fliers and cd covers. Their
sense of humor was out on display during the panel, entertaining the public a great deal.

The caliber of cosplay was what drew me to the con. Numerous outfits were brilliantly made, especially for the
amateur level.

The amount of outfitted attendees was simply staggering. The cosplayers were significantly younger than other
nearby events, with many of them walking around with their parents in tow. It offered a nice playground for teen-
age anime fans to make friends and network.

By no means is PMX for everyone. If you are looking for big name guests and tons of panels, disappointment
might ensue. If you are into enjoying an intimate and friendly fan experience, PMX, without a doubt, offers this
experience for attendees.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 113

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

vJMHtHiiuiifii i nffiH

114 JI-ENT I i-entonline.con

NOVEMBER 2014

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

116 J!-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 117

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

118 J!-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 119

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 121

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

Pacific M#dld fcxpo

122 J!-ENT I i-entonline.co

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 123

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 125

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 127

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

128 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 131

JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JJ-ENT COVERAGE: BACK-ON AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

JI-ENT COVERAGE: BACK-ON AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 141

JI-ENT COVERAGE: BACK-ON AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

142 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JJ-ENT COVERAGE: BACK-ON AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO 2013 - PHOTOS BY NERGENE ARQUELADA

NOVEMBER 2014

i-entonline.com I JI-ENT 143

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT WONDERCON 2ol4 (ANAHEIM, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

144 JI-ENT I j-entonline .con

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT WONDERCON 2ol4 (ANAHEIM, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

146 JI-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT WONDERCON 2ol4 (ANAHEIM, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT WONDERCON 2ol4 (ANAHEIM, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

148 J!-ENT

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT WONDERCON 2ol4 (ANAHEIM, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

Jl-ENT 149

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT SAKURA-CON 2ol4 (SEATTLE, WA) - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

152 J!-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT SAKURA-CON 2ol4 (SEATTLE, WA) - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

156 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT SAKURA-CON 2ol4 (SEATTLE, WA) - PHOTOS BY RHIANNAN SMITH

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

Jl-ENT 157

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT SAKURA-CON 2ol4 (SEATTLE, WA) - PHOTOS BY JENN JACKSON

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT SAKUR-ACON 2ol4 (SEATTLE, WA) - PHOTOS BY JENN JACKSON

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ROBO TOY FEST (PASADENA, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT BIG WOW! COMIC FEST (SAN JOSE, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT BIG WOW! COMIC FEST (SAN JOSE, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT BIG WOW! COMIC FEST (SAN JOSE, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT BIG WOW! COMIC FEST (SAN JOSE, CA) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT FRESNO OBON FESTIVAL - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT FRESNO OBON FESTIVAL - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

f 4.

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT FRESNO OBON FESTIVAL - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

fuNimAtion

FUNIMATION.COM

I iW M I MAT 1 0 N ^0 m F U N I HATlON Q F UN YH AT I ON TU M BLR. C OH ^Jj #FU NIDATION ^ J* UHIHATIOH

LET OTAKON VEGAS PUT YOU UNDER ITS SPELL

OTAKON
VEGAS

January 16-18, 2015
Planet Hollywood
Las Vegas, Nevada

EsjSE

/// TRAVE L A J! -ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

A SPECIAL TRAVEL JAPAN PICTORIAL BY ANTONIO AIROSO

Antonio "Bossman" Airoso had previously has traveled to Japan in 2012 with a tour group. Determined
to see more of the otaku attractions in 2013, Antonio made the decision to strike it alone by himself and
discover what Japan had to offer. Now with a better sense of how to navigate Japan and visiting the sites
that he has always wanted to see, Antonio continued his otaku adventure in 2014 and revisting familiar
locations to see how much has changed a year later.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 173

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

he first day in Japan was arriving in Ikebukuro to settle in at the hotel and get
some need sleep. But I woke up the following morning in high anticipation of
revisiting "Gundam Crisis", knowing that I wanted to experience it again for
2014. But to my surprise , "Gundam Crisis" was not there. The place was gutted
and the building looked like it was stripped out. It was the first place I wanted to
hit up but ended up taking the route through the "Thomas the Train area". As I
figured, I might as well see more than just two areas. So, it was back to "Evange-
lion: World", have fun and take more photos!

174 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 175

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

DAY 3: ODAIBA &ANIME JAPAN

After attending Tokyo International Anime Fair and Anime Contents Expo, I was
thrilled to see both events joining forces and putting together the event "ANIME
JAPAN". The event was much crowded than either event, shoulder to shoulder. Much
better space for the location but still incredibly packed.

'Mr

176 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

180 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

NOVEMBER 2014 j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 181

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

%J5

A-

j| i- i %

day 4: shinjuku gyoen national garden

&MeIji Shrine

For day 4, not knowing how to get into the garden, I walked
around the entire west side trying to find the entrance,
turns out there was a train stop that I could have taken, but
Google told me to walk from a different station. The trees
had just started to blossom, so searching for them took a lit-
tle work and there was a lot of people trying to take pictures
as well. So, getting a picture without them in was a little
hard. After the guarden I walked to the robot restaurant,
in hopes to get seated but they were only open three times a
day and needed reservations.

182 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

On day 6, it was a busy day on foot. Off to Tokyo Sky Tree
and then the nearby aquarium. While I had fun last year
and this year at Tokyo Sky Tree, afterward, it was
traveling to to Zozoji Temple and Tokyo Tower.

I went to Tokyo Tower back in 2012 as part of a tour, but
it was great to have more time check out these locations.
Next to Tokyo Tower is the Zozoji Temple which was built
in 1393 and moved to this location in 1598 by Tokugawa
Ieyasu as his family temple. You can also see the red
Sangedatsumoon Gate which was created back in 1622.

184 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 185

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

DAY 7: NIPPON TE LEVI SION/NAMJA TOWN

On day 7, having went to NTV to watch the
morning show "PON!" live with their spring
concert series last yean the same concert
series was happening in 2014. 1 woke up early to
watch Nogizaka46 perform. But to my
surprise, the place was so packed that I was
unable to get in. But while I wasn't able to
watch Nogizaka46, 1 was able to watch Shoko
Nakagawa perform live. I also got to see the
Studio Ghibli clock at the Shiodome up close.

186 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 187

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

DAY 7 - NAMJATOWN/J-WORLD (IKEBUKURO)

On day 8, 1 headed to Namja Town in Ikebukuro.
During my visit to Sunshine City, they were building
J -Town, a Shonen Jump dedicated indoor amuse-
ment park for children with a big emphasis on
"Dragon Ball Z", "One Piece", "Naruto", "HUNTER
x HUNTER", "Kuroko no Basket" and other titles! I
had a fun time at ] -World!

188 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

DAY 8 - TOEI ANIMATION STUDIO & CAT CAFE

For day 9, I headed to Toei Animation Studio; Unfortu-
nately, no photography was allowed, so all I can share is
the outdoor of the building. Walking into the front door,
you walk down a hallway with pictures ofanime series
that they have done. Seems to be 70s and 80s anime
series and at the end of the hallway is a room featuring
current anime series. They had cardboard cutouts of
characters around the ledge near the top of the room. In
the middle they had original sketches ofanime and next
to them they had a recreation of a Japanese room from
a house. In it they set up a black and white TV play-
ing older anime. Walked in another room with many
figures and props from different anime. After Toei, I
visited various cat cafes around Tokyo and although I
own no kittens, I found myself enjoying these locations
and seeing how clean the cat cafes are all over Tokyo.

192 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

DAY 9 - KIYOMIZU TEMPLE/MEIJI SHRINE

The day before I returned back to the U.S., I spent
time near the Kiyomasa-Ido Well atMeiji Shrine
(the largest Shinto shrine in Tokyo). The well is said
to have been dug up by famous feudal warlord Kato
Kiyomasa. I then spent my final days enjoying the
rest of Tokyo.

194 JI-ENT I i-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVEL \\\

196 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

A JI-ENT SPECIAL FEATURE

NOVEMBER 2014

While I am studying Japanese, I do
believe that anyone can go to Japan and
travel to their favorite destinations in
Tokyo without Japanese knowledge and
even purchase items without knowing
Japanese. Having conversations, is
another thing. But as for getting to one
place from another, I rented a Wi-Fi de-
vice at the airport (which I recommend)
and used Google Maps as my main
GPS. It was very helpful to look things
up while I was traveling. Back in 2012,
I was scared to go to Japan and went
with a tour guide. Last year, I went by
myself and I was able to get by. And the
same in 2014. Even not knowing how to
speak Japanese, there are many things I
was able to do. Most electronic termi-
nals are translated and i can order with
images from menus at restaurants. With
GPS navigations the streets in japan, I
was able to find the places i wanted to
go and I look forward to going to Japan
in March 2015. If you ave any sugges-
tions of cool locations to cover in Tokyo
or elsewhere in Japan, feel free to let me
know at:

httpsil Iwww.facebook. com/Boss.
Man.559

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 197

J!-Ent Interviews Marco About His Adventures As
awota (hardcore japanese idol fan) visiting japan.

BY DENNIS A. AMITH

/// TRAVEL

TH€ l\DV€flTU«€/ OF ({ UJOTI\!

Marco's car features photos of Natsuki Kojima and a photo of his 2-shot with Natsuki "Nattsun" Kojima

MARCO is possibly one of the more hardcore
AKB48G (AKB48-related groups) fans that you will
ever meet.

Idol fans in California have seen him with his
"Nattsun" AKB48-related black cheering coat at a
convention or often sporting an AKB48-related hat
or T-shirt, trading photo cards or buying Japanese
delicacies at your local Japanese grocery store, suffice
to say, Marco is hardcore into Japanese pop culture
but he is also a wota (hardcore idol fan).

And as Marco traveled to Japan to meet his favor-
ite idols, JI-ENT had to interview Marco about his
experience of traveling to Japan and learning more
about the wota experience of two-shots and more!

Tell us your experience handshake and
experience from the moment you got to
the arena?

MARCO: Hmm. . . Well, right when we got inside the

venue for the 2-shot event, it was full of people! I had
nine members to meet and 16 tickets to use, six being
all Nattsun (Natsuki Kojima) (laughing). Before actually
getting in line to meet the member, I had an hour and a
half of free time to roam around the venue. During that
free time, I searched where all the members lines are
of who I am going to meet because once I start lining
up, it will be an endless run to the next line. I also went
to a nearby vending machine in the venue and loaded
my backpack with Pocari Sweat and Red Bull because
I know I don t have time to rest since I have about only
10-15 minutes to go meet the next member. And this is a
ongoing 15 -hour event!

I actually only had one 1-hour lunch break in-between
meeting the members. The atmosphere is just amazing
though, seeing a lot of fans supporting their favorite
members and or the whole group! To my surprise, I
would of thought there would be only males attending

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 199

TH€ aDV€aTUR€/ OF t{ WO

this event, but no! Its the other way around!
There were actually more women and or girls
that attended this event than guys! There were
also women that cosplayed in various AKB48
uniforms as well, which I thought was really
cool! Aside from my club that went to the 2-shot
event coming from California, there were also a
lot of other foreign fans that attended the event
as well and I got a chance to meet and talked to
some of them! We also had some Japanese fans
actually came up to us and recognized our club,
because it was very obvious because the shirt I
was wearing has our club name on the front and
back in bold letters and since I was really tall, I
stand out like a sore thumb amongst the crowd.
They recognized us because of the "Koisuru
Fortune Cookie" video on YouTube, also for the
Hirata Rina AKB48 fanclub Holiday Card video
she made when she received the gift from us.

Finally, It was time to meet the members. This is
where I got really nervous because not only the
first person I'm going to meet is Iwatate Saho,
one of my favorite AKB members, but I com-
pletely forgot my Japanese cheat sheet at the ho-
tel which consists of what to say to the members
in Japanese. The closer I got to the members
booths, the more nervous I got and my mind
was on "WTF! Is this really happening!" mode
cranked up to the max, which made me keep on
thinking what to say to the member since again,
I left the cheat sheet at the hotel and I can only
speak basic Japanese. I was a nervous wreck.
But, I survived it nonetheless! I would talk about
all the members handshake experience here but
that would take too long and would require sev-
eral pages, so most likely I will do a blog on my
youtube channel of the handshake experience
with each of the members I met, so if you're
interested to know how it went, subscribe to my
YouTube channel!

Can you explain about the process of
obtaining a 2-shot or handshake?

MARCO: Hmm. . . The process was pretty com-
plex actually, since I didn't know how to read
Japanese that well, I had asked some help with

* i-

* ♦

^4.

Marco posing with AKB48's Nattsun

my fellow club members to acquire the 2-shot tickets. First, I
had to create a account online where a Japanese company or also
known as "proxy" would receive my albums and then ship them
to my house, since the tickets would have to contain a Japanese
address and your real name. So that means, no one can use your
tickets at the event because the staff will check your I.D. or pass-
port to match the name on the 2-shot ticket and scan it to verify
its you, its a real ticket, and its a one-time use. Once its scanned,
you cannot use it again and staff takes the ticket. Second, the
albums that contains 2-shot tickets are usually about $21USD
each. I bought 16 albums (laughing)! Once it gets shipped to

200 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

The long lines at an AKB48 2-Shot event

your house, the box should contain your CDs, random
member photos (1 photo per CD), and your 2-shot
tickets! Once you have your tickets in hand, put them
in a safe, under your bed, or somewhere safe that you'll
remember not to lose them! Treat those tickets like
gold!!

How long did you wait in line for a two-
shot?

MARCO: It actually all depends on the member you
are meeting. The member that is less popular is the
fastest time to go through with usually a 2-10 minutes
wait. The really popular members or senbatsu mem-
bers, you can expect a wait time of 45 minutes to an
hour and a half long! I remember a club member was
in line for Matsui Rena and his wait time actually ex-

ceeded his time slot and waited for about an hour to an
hour and a half! I'm actually glad and lucky that all 16
members I got to meet were the less popular members.
I actually got to meet all of them except for one mem-
ber due to her injury.

Because the lines are so huge, did people
sit on the ground or did you stand until
your feet ached?

MARCO: Yeah, about that, there are no seats and
practically everyone is standing. The whole 15 hours
the time I was there, the people waiting in line to meet
their favorite members were all standing up, no one
was sitting down. I never sat down while I was in line.
Basically at the end of the day, my legs were shot. I
had to stay in the hotel room the next day cause my

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 201

TH€ aDV€aTU»€/ OF t{ UIOTHj

TRAVEL \\\

Marco's 2-shots with AKB48 Team K's Maria Nagao and AKB48 Team B's Rina Hirata

feet and legs hurt so bad (laughs). The only time you
can sit down is if you're not lining up to see a member.

What would happen if you needed to go
to the bathroom while waiting in line?

MARCO: Well, if your 2-shot ticket has been scanned,
accepted by staff, and you proceeded to go in line, you
are pretty much screwed! There's no getting out of line
and coming back in since the staff already took your
ticket. So, my best advice is to plan your 2-shot sched-
ules evenly with at least 10-20 minutes free time in-be-
tween meeting the members to take a bathroom break
or drink and eat. Worse thing to have is a full sched-
ule with just meeting the members, especially if you
have senbatsu members because that will take a very

long wait and it may be possible "burning" or wasting
other members tickets because every ticket will have
a specific time frame (usually only an hour long) you
can meet the member. Once that time has passed, you
just "burned" your 2-shot ticket. You wont be able to
see that member because the ticket has expired and or
exceeded the time frame listed on the ticket.

Did you do a handshake or just the two-
shot?

MARCO: Actually the 2-shot itself is both! A hand-
shake and a picture! Except in a two shot, you get only
a few seconds and you'll be lucky to get a minute or
more if staff is really nice or knows you, to get to talk
to the member. But most of the time its only a short

202 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

TK€ qDV€aTUft€/ OF a WOTty

Marco's 2-shots with (left) NMB48 Team Kll's Shibuya Nagisa and (right)
AKB48 Team K's Yuka Tano.

ten second talk with the member, then straight to tak-
ing the picture with of course, another 5 seconds or so
to figure out what kind of pose you want to do with the
member for the picture.

Pose for the picture?

MARCO: Yep! You get to figure out what kind of pose
you want to do with the member your doing the 2-shot
with. The standard pose is usually the "heart pose", its
basically you and the member making a heart shaped
pose with each others hands. You can do other poses
like peace signs or funny faces or whatever, just nothing
vulgar or sexual. Staff will approve or disapprove the pose
before taking the picture.

So, in the pictures you can touch the mem-
bers?

MARCO: Only fingertips. That's why the most common
pose is the "heart" pose when taking the 2-shot with the

member. It is forbidden to touch the members and staff
will say something about it, if they see you touching like
arms or head, and even fingers! Again, only fingertips
are allowed. Although, the members are exempt to this
rule. They can touch or hold you wherever when taking
the 2-shot pictures, but again staff has the final call if
the members touch or hold is acceptable or not.

For those who are can't read Japanese,
how do you go about getting handshake
tickets and is it always guaranteed or if

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 203

Marco posing with AKB48 manager Yuasa and AKB48' Togosaki.

the idol is sick or tired, they can easily
cancel? And can they be used for some-
one else?

MARCO: Usually, for acquiring tickets, people will
buy the singles or albums that contains the handshake
or 2-shot tickets online through a Japanese proxy
online service for those who don t live in Japan and get
them mailed to their house. Its always guaranteed for
handshake tickets but if a member is injured, depend-
ing on the injury, they will not attend any handshake
or 2-shot events. If they are sick, I think they have an
option to show up to the event or not. The members
cant easily cancel especially if they are only tired, be-
cause all the other members I'm sure are all tired from
handshake 2-shot events. Especially, if they just had
an event or performance the day before. Remember,
the members have to wake up super early and be at the
venue a couple of hours early and prepare, before they
open the venue to the fans, which is around 8-9am and
the whole event doesn't end till 10-1 1pm. So, I cant
blame them when they look tired around 6-8pm.

If the member doesn't show up to the event, manage-
ment will announce that the unused ticket can be or

not be used to meet a different member or use it at a
next handshake or 2-shot event. I had one 2-shot ticket
of a member who couldn't show because of her injured
wrist, so I didn't get to use it.

MARCO: You have pictures with the man-
agement team of AKB48, how did that
come about?

Yes!!! (laughing) I actually got lucky to meet Yuasa-san
at the AKB48 Theatre in Akihabara when they were
open. It was pretty funny too because he just happened
to casually walk around the theater in his business-ca-
sual suit and one of my members told me, "hey, isn't
that Yuasa?" I had to look real hard and make sure that
was him, and it was! Me and my club member went
up to him and asked if we can take pictures with him
and he happily agreed! I shook his hand and told him,
"I always wanted to meet you!". Yuasa-san said, "thank
you!". Then he immediately said, "Oh! You're Filipino
aren't you?" (in Japanese) and I said, "yes!" He smiled
we both said thank you and we both shook hands,
bowed, and that was all.

The second time I met Yuasa-san we saw him this

204 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TRAVEL

TK€ RpV€qTUe€/ OF a UIOTa!

time, in his casual wear, hanging out at the staff tables at
the 2-shot venue. We came up to him, he saw me, and
said, "hey! Its you again! Didn't I see you at the theater
a few days ago? (in Japanese)" and smiled. I said, "Yes!
Hello again!" and laughed, he laughed as well and my
members and I took pictures with him again. It was
pretty funny because after he took a picture with one of
our club members, he played with his belly! It was so
hilarious, we started laughing. I always have thought he
was the super serious type of manager but actually he
was pretty cool and fun to talk and be with. Yuasa-san,
you're the best! Thank you!
Right after we took pictures with Yuasa, I turned

Marco's 2-shots with AKB48 Team A's Morikawa Ayaka and SKE48 Team S's
Ryoha Kitagawa.

around and started to walk toward the 2-shot lanes
until some guy walked past by me, we actually almost
bumped into each other, we looked at each other, nod-
ded our heads then BAM! It hit me and I just noticed, it
was Togasaki-san that just looked at me and nodded. I
kind of froze and just said, "what the hell?!" in my mind
(laughs). I was just standing for another 5-10 seconds
to process in my mind what just had happened, then
we all just said, "OMG! Its Togasaki!. We all came up to
him and also asked If we can take pictures with him and
Togasaki-san happily said, "sure!" It was my turn to take
a picture with him and before we did, we shook hands,
bowed, chatted a little bit, and to my surprise, he speaks
very good English. Yes, I said English! Togasaki-san told
and asked me, " Thank you for coming! So, who is your
oshimen?" I told him, "of course its Nattsun, Kojima
Natsuki!" He looked at me all surprised! Then he said,
" Nattsun?! Really? Wow I didnt know there would be

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 205

Ttt* RpV€aTU»€J OF ({ \UOJ({l

TRAVEL \\\

Marco and members of the AKB48 SoCal Fan Club visiting Minami Minegishi's parent's curry restaurant

Nattsun fans in America!" I told him, " I'm probably
the only Nattsun fan in America!" We both laughed
then took a picture. Finally we both said thanks, and I
told him, "See you again soon!" and he nodded smiling.

If you had to do it again, what would you
have done differently in terms of prepa-
ration?

MARCO: Oh, I'll be doing it again! I wouldn't have
done anything differently cause everything went out
smooth but I did make a mistake of leaving my "what
to say to the members at the event" paper at the hotel,
so I was a little panicked because it had all the
sentences of what to say to the certain member I'm
meeting in Japanese. It was pretty funny too because
I had printed multiple copies too and I left it all in the
hotel! So throughout the whole 2-shot event, I just im-
provised, asking my fellow club members what to say in
Japanese keeping a mental note in my head hoping to
remember what to say in Japanese and say it correctly

to the member. Thank goodness the members under-
stood what I said, (laughing) So next time, ill be better
prepared by not only making multiple copies but double
check and make sure I have it with me before departing
to the event.

You went to Minami Minegishi's parent's
restaurant? How was that experience?

MARCO: Oh, it was great! A few of us in the club went
to go eat at her parents restaurant and they make the best
curry ever!! We also got to meet Miichan's mom!! She was
super nice! After our lunch, we gave both of her parents
our club t-shirts that we made for them. They had this
section in the back near the kitchen area of all the AKB48
memorabilia and autographs of members that have visit-
ed the restaurant!

You went to Tsukiji Market where AKB48
had appeared. Can you tell us about that

experience?

206 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Marco showing off his WOTA pride with his Nattsun jacket.

MARCO: Yep! We went to that famous Tamagoyaki
stall where Paruru and Haruu ate the most delicious
"scrambled egg on a stick". It was super tasty! ! I do
have a video of it on my Youtube channel if you are
interested checking it out! Just type in www.youtube.
com/islandbruthamarco and not only you'll see that
video but other videos containing my adventures with
the AKB48 SoCal Fanclub members! We also ate super
delicious oysters where Paruru ate at as well! It was
definitely a fun filled day of nothing but just eating
everything we see that comes across our paths at the
market! Food, drinks, snacks everywhere!

You purchased photos from the vend-
ing machine but also went to the AKB48

stores, is there a difference? Is it cheaper
or more expensive?

MARCO: Oh., there is a big difference alright (laughing)
the photo vending machines are way more expensive
than just buying individual photos at the stores in Akiba.
Within less than 10 minutes, I figured last minute that I
almost nearly spent $300 just on the vending machines.
Vending machine prices are pretty high and they usually
start from $15 for random photo group sets all the way
up to $30 for individual popular member sets. Mind you,
your only getting 5-10 photos per each random pack you
get from the vending machines.

You made a jacket for Nattsun. How much
did you spend on it and tell us about the

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 207

TK€ aDV€aTU»€/ OF ({ \UOJ({l

TRAVEL \\\

creation process of the jacket?

MARCO: Ahh... Yes the jacket (laughing). I'll come
straightforward and tell you that I spent almost about
more than $800 just for the materials and custom
patches made for the jacket and it took me about al-
most 8 months to complete, just in time for the 2-shot
event in May. Creating it was sort of easy, I first made
a "blueprint" sketch of how I want my jacket to look
like. Once its finalized what I wanted, I start ordering
the custom sew-on patches online and bought a regu-

(left) Marco with Nattsun during a 2-shot. (top) Marco purchasing photo
cards from a vending machine and from stores.

lar black trench coat online as well. Then there's the hard
part. This is the reason why it took so long, cause the next
process was done all by hand sewing and using the sewing
machine.

If you see the photos of my Nattsun coat, the words
"Nattsun" in hiragana was all handmade and handstitched
by me before permanently sewing it onto the coat.

Did Nattsun like the jacket you made and
dedicated to her?

MARCO: Did she like it? (laughing) She loved it! She
was shocked at first when I walked in her booth with the
coat on because the first two shot with her she just saw
me with my club t-shirt on. I was hiding the jacket in
my backpack, so she probably thought I'm just a regular
AKB48 fan. But then when I went back in for the second
time, well, I walked in with the jacket on, she saw it, and
her eyes glowed and smiled so bright and said "Sugoi"!
She even asked me if I did it myself, when I said yes, it was
handmade, she was definitely impressed! I have succeeded
making Nattsun very happy! ■

208 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

TRAVEL

AK B48

TH€ aDV€flTUC€/ OF t{ WOTty
^1

IflFflN 5 MOST

SOPHISTICATED SHJJLV

PRIHiHTffl BY THf

OSHIMA YUKO

A K94S SOUTHERN CALlFQR N | A FANfU>B

we 3 BEST/

ENCYCLOI
< 2 1 L l T l

NONFICTION
BIBLE I 1 1

z c/) ~n c

ER
DOG*

SCISSORS

COMPLETE
COLLECTION

PAPE

A I

Tl -S,

ond ottier hoe Fiefo Jcr* -

Ifijr Trij'S mt^om ar^zon£orn' Hastings,

^ 30MANC

^APE

sentai I3@©a

FILMWORKS^ SemaiFiimwortra,™

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Cosplay Interview: Felicia Dark

Haven't heard of FELICIA DARK yet? A cosplayer bred from humble beginnings is looking to gain recognition

beyond a relatively small costuming community in Colorado.

By Ken Eric Chen, Photography provided by Felicia Dark

L » ' hy did you start cosplaying?
■ M ¥ FELICIA DARK: Well, back
j in 2004, 1 made some fantastic
/ f upperclassmen friends in high

school that actually introduced
W W me to the whole convention

world. My friends just kind of let
me go through their closet(s) and throw some stuff togeth-
er. I was just a make-shift angelic girl. I wish I had pictures,
only because it just looked so terrible! Still looking back
though, I had a blast. Mind you, that no one really looked
their best as the convention/cosplay scene was all pretty
new and its not as big as it now. If I could go back in time

and give myself everything that I can get now, huge
difference.

How many hours does each costume take to
complete?

FELICIA DARK: I am really not sure. I usually work on
costumes after work each day when I make deadlines for
myself. So I mean my Nami Swan from "One Piece" was
probably a 3 hour job compared to my Shiroyasha that I
made in a week. BB hood from "Darkstalkers" took me
something like 3 days (rush) and my Idol Flonne I took
almost a whole month to actually finish. It really depends
on my confidence in the character and how badly I need to

212 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

get it done.

How many have you complet-
ed?

FELICIA DARK: So far, I have
about 15 costumes actually finished
or just missing one or two little
things. I have tons of costumes I have
started and just never finished and
some I probably wont. I've had a C.C.
cosplay sitting in my closet for nearly
six years or more, now that I just have
not gotten back to finishing. Or my

Jam costume that I made, I believe
in 2008, that I have actually no
professional pictures of. So, I could
really have anywhere between 15
and 25 in total.

What was the most
challenging aspect of
cosplaying?

FELICIA DARK: Probably
knowing where to start. I would see
all these other cosplayers having
amazing costumes and looked

nearly 100% to the character they were
portraying and I was so envious. My
sewing skills were pretty decent from day
one, but I had just never known that I
could turn fabric into something other
than what I could find off a pattern. I
started with Rinoa as my first cosplay
even. Tons of mistakes and tons of redo s
happened in the process of making it.
Even buying hair extensions to replace
my short hair with long so I could look a
little more like her and hope that some-
one would appreciate my effort as much
as I appreciated everyone else.

How have your abilities improved
throughout the years?

FELICIA DARK: Wow! Where to
begin? My sewing has improved about
300% that of what it used to be in 2004.
There are not millions of tutorials out
there now that I have used and learned
from to make nearly everything I didn't
have a clue about. Hezachan taught me
how to work with vinyl and how to top
stitch. Sparklepipsi showed me how to
make a sailor scout outfit. Rufflebutt
showed me how to make a bunny suit
and even sell her patterns. There are tons
of other cosplayers out there that have
just helped inspire and help me improve
all of my cosplaying habits. I'm still
working on figuring out worbla, so that s
something I defiantly need a ton of time
to improve!

When you create a costume, what
is more important: accuracy or
adding your personal touches?

FELICIA DARK: For sure accuracy, but
only because I'm a raging perfectionist.
I have a hard time coloring outside the
lines when it comes to making characters
I want to cosplay. I might slip and miss
one or two things and it will drive me up
the wall and down that I forgot even a
single button! I think I still do a little of
my own personal touch though. I mean
I can't exactly make the most anime of
bows or the most defined bangs/cowlicks
to 100% perfection, but it's always still a
new learning experience to me.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 213

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK \\\

What do you do with your
costumes, wigs t and props after
you are done with them?

FELICIA DARK: Actually I try and
give everything it's very own bin. At
least small costumes. For instance;
my Strawberry from No More Heroes
is currently stored in a small con-
tainer bin. Wigs, accessories, outfit,
shoes, and every other little thing all
sit in the same container so I have
easy storage and access to it later. My

Shampoo and Rei are stored to-
gether because both of them are so
small and skinny and I didn't need
to make much for either to worry
too much about room. Shiroyasha,
BB hood, and Pure Flonne on the
other hand I have to leave hanging
in my walk in closet. Flonne wings
are large so I would rather not
waste a bin storing it in something
that has uses like my fabric/wig
piles. BB hood and Shiroyasha are

the same in the large department. I keep
the little accessories stored in a miscella-
neous bin that has other hanging cos-
tumes stuff. I just would be so bummed
storing costumes that big in bins. I have
a walk in closet anyways, so its not doing
too much damage. I'm also very happy
cosplay gave me nice opportunities, like
being invited at "Tales of the Lane," a
"League of Legends" tournament, partic-
ipating in some fan films and other great
things like that!

What is the most satisfying
aspect of cosplaying?

JENNIFER: Seeing my friends light up
in excitement over anything I make. Re-
gardless if they know what I am dressed
up from or not. It's just the best thing
to get that type of reaction/notice. Their
eyes get all big and they will start flailing
and fawning together with me. Shower of
compliments to follow on both our ends.
Even getting asked how I make particular
things or how it's all put together just
shows how interested in the outfit itself
just amazes me.

Is your family and friends sup-
portive towards your hobby?

JENNIFER: My mother has always been
super supportive about my anime/manga
hobby. She's actually the one that intro-
duced me to all of this. "Sailor Moon"
was my first collection of manga I got.
When the movies came out, my mom
would have it sitting in the living room
and ready to go as soon as I walked in the
door. She's always been my number one
fan and always pushed me to do anything
and everything I want to do, regardless
of what other people might think in the
end. She actually even brags about all my
costumes to clients and friends whenever
she can. Just opens her phone and goes to
town! I don't think I would honestly be
where I am today without her constant
support and praise on a regular basis
since it all began.

What is your favorite cosplay you
have done?

214 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK \\\

FELICIA DARK: Pure Flonne. I
am pink and sparkly and fluffy and
AHH! Just so much fun running
around and being the angel of love
and justice-! Before Flonne though,
was probably my Yoko. I had tons of
fun running around in her. She was
my first real experience into a lot of
new fabrics and sewing skills. Yoko s
outfit really pushed me into thinking
outside the box and making some-
thing so totally intense and insane to

me that I just could never forget all
the fun I had. I'm sad that its going
to be a forever retired outfit. Un-
less I plan to make a new one, but
I probably loved wearing her the
most of them all.

Which one had the most
positive reaction?

FELICIA DARK: All of them
have always had a positive reaction
to them (negative as well). I know

Yoko, Nami, Rei and Flonne I could
probably say have gotten the most praise
out of all of them. It's hit and miss really.

How hard do you try to stay in char-
acter?

FELICIA DARK: I tend to not real-
ly be "in character" to people I cosplay
unless in pictures. Super sassy Nami,
nonchalant Rei, love coated Pure Flonne.
I really just enjoy just fitting into the
character when pictures happen because
outside of those I just love to genuinely
have fun and derp around the con with
my pals!

What would you like to improve on?
(either your sewing skills, prop mak-
ing, etc)

FELICIA DARK: Sewing I could al-
ways improve on. Patterning skills would
be great to be a little quicker at. I'd love
to actually make larger props and have
the confidence to pull it off and make it
accurate before the perfectionism kicks
me in the butt! Make up skills could al-
ways be worked on. Cost of materials and
less mistakes to need to get replacement
fabric. There are lots of things I could
improve on! One day at a time though!

What are your hobbies outside of
cosplaying and do they contribute
to your cosplaying ideas?

FELICIA DARK: Video games! Love it
so much! Straight up probably my biggest
hobby in comparison to cosplaying. I
sadly have cut back a ton from what I
used to in order to meet deadlines for my
cosplaying habits. Stinks, but I know I
have time to go back and play things over
and over again. My costumes are only
going to fit me for so long before retire-
ment or just needing to be thrown really
takes effect.

How many conventions do you
attend?

FELICIA DARK: Well in Colorado we
have at least 4 "big" cons a year. An-
imeland Wasabi, Starfest, Denver Comic
Con, and Nan Desu Kan. There are other

216 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

"I really just enjoy just fitting
into the character when pictures
happen because outside of those
I just love to genuinely have fun
and derp around the con with
my pals!"- Felicia Dark

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK \\\

/// COSPLAY INTERVIEW: FELICIA DARK

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

smaller cons we have here and there
through the year but I just have not
attended any of them. This year I will
be attending at least 5 conventions
total, including AX. I'm really excited
to meet all my new Cali friends and
see some of my old friends from my
home state of Minnesota. I hope at
least the following year (2015) I will
have more time and money to attend
out of state conventions over the in
state ones.

How far do you usually

travel?

FELICIA DARK: Well, for local
cons I don t have to travel very far.
At most... 30 minutes, if traffic is a
little bad to get to the destination.
The rest are all super close and don't
take really any time to get there.
Anime Expo will be the farthest
one I will be traveling to and I am
so excited for it!

Which character do you want
to cosplay as the most?

FELICIA DARK: A lot of them! Feena
from "Grandia", Archer from "Dragons
Crown", Etna and any of the characters
from "Disgaea", all of Yoko's S.T.A.R.S.
costumes, Selkie from FFCC, and tons
more. That was just a short list so it didn't
get crazy! If I could spend every day
making costumes I so would! So many
characters I fell in love with! I prefer
video game girls over anime as well. Just
something about their artistic designs
and such just always make me so excited
to play with them.

What is your motivation to
continue?

FELICIA DARK: Boyfriend, friends,
family, and the future. I dont know where
I will be in 5 years. I dont even know if I
will still be cosplaying or not. I just want
to have fun, run around conventions and
take pictures and selfies and then just get
drunk at night with a ton of wonderful
people around me! I motivate myself to
learn and grow. I just dont want to look
back and ever regret anything I did or
didn t get to do.

Recognition pure passion t or
becoming pro?

Everything. I mean I'm not going to lie
and saying being popular hasn't crossed
my mind once or twice. But all in all I
just love having fun, making new friends,
learning from my mistakes and just over
all growing. I love what I do and I'm
doing what I love. I don't expect anything
special out of life or from what I do. I get
featured, awesome! It makes me so hap-
pen when opportunity just presents itself
to me. I just want to always be happy with
this while I can and just see where life
takes me from now on. ■

^IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILL

| For more information on Felcia
Dark's cosplay, visit her
Facebookpage at:

https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaDarkCrafts =
qilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllir

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 219

AnimePast

www.animepast.net

The Aging Otaku Lounge

forumuinimeiiast.net

Saturday AuguM 13 - Dallas
The Harvey Hous*

7915 LB J Freeway * Coft Road

won'l ckrte urtlill

to,"-.. -

41*

Venice Perfect Memory

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

FOR SCIENCE!

:::::::::::::

■HIM

■

GIVING GIFTS

FOR CHARITY!

Cosplay for a good cause? J! -ENT interviews KARRIE KARRIEBEAR SHIROU about the "Geeks Giving Gifts"
2014-2015 calendar and how the concept of creating a cosplay calendar for charity came together.

By Kenneth Eric Tran | Photos courtesy of Geeks Giving Gifts

ow did the concept come together? Who
decided to take this direction?

KARRIE: I work with a company called
Strangely Compelling Multimedia. We re a
marketing/PR/localization firm that pro-
motes Japanese and indie games in NA and

EU. We like to get the word out about our games in interest-
ing ways that fans are paying attention to these days... so in-
stead of just doing ads on websites and whatnot, we do music
videos and Twitter/FB campaigns and whatnot.

How was the idea of a calendar brought up?

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

COSPLAY INTERVIEW: KARRIE "KARRIEBEAR" SHIROU \\\

Photo: Karrie "KarrieBear" Shirou from the "Geeks Giving Gifts" 2014-2015 calendar

KARRIE We're also gamers and nerds
first and foremost, so we know how
awesome gamers are when they get
together for passion projects... things
like "Twitch Plays Pokemon" and
"Awesome Games Done Quick" char-
ity marathons really inspire us. We've
always wanted to do something to
give back to charity, so when we were
brought on to promote a game called
"Constant C", which is an anti-gravity
puzzle -platforming game, we decided
to smash together charity and cosplay
and "Constant C"! So that was the
direction of the calendar and theme.

Of course, "Cosplay for a Cause" was
an inspiration as well are the events I
usually attend.

I noticed the models chosen
weren't just professional cosplay-
ers. Was that a conscious choice?

KARRIE: Yup! So the theme of the
calendar was "anti-gravity pin-up
scientists", so we didn't need cos-
tumes. We did make sure that every
girl we chose was a geek though. So
in addition to cosplayers we looked at
gamers/streamers, anime fans, indus-
try folk, kind of just everyone across

the gamut. I think everyone is some level
of cosplayer/costumer though, just maybe
not professional ones. Fans.

Are there some stories about how the
girls came together to do the calen-
dar?

KARRIE: Let's see... So, we were looking
for primarily local girls to Los Angeles.
I was scouting a bunch of geek girls and
this name kept coming up attached to a
lot of photographs — that's how we ended
up finding our amazing photographer
Greg De Stefano. He'd already shot with
most of the girls by pure chance, so a lot
of them knew each other already. Like,
Chloe and Victoria were on "Heroes of
Cosplay" together, and they shoot with
Jessie Pridemore for Gold Bubble Clothing
with Greg. Greg had also shot costume
photos with Jessica Dru and Sarah Kulyk.
Jennifer Zhang was amazing and pulled
in LeeAnna Vamp and Alicia Marie for
us, who know each other from way back.
Cristina Vee, Jessie Pridemore, and I did
"K-On!" promotions together for Bandai
Entertainment USA. So in a weird way, we
all already were connected!

How did you decide on the charity?

KARRIE: Honestly? One of the produc-
ers is Filipino, so he wanted to support his
people with the somewhat recent events
of Typhoon Haiyan. After that, we just
made sure to do our research and find a
charity that actually used their money for
the people in need, rather than administra-
tive cops. So that's how we got to Doctors
without Borders. We were also contem-
plating breast cancer research, but thought
that would be a little too cheeky.

That would have been pretty funny

KARRIE: Because boobs,. (Laughing)
We almost went with it but decided to
just put all the money towards one charity
instead of splitting it.

Speaking of boobs, were any of the
girls a little shy of being in labcoats
and lingerie?

KARRIE: Everyone was surprisingly cool
with it! Even though some girls didn't even
own lingerie and had to go buy some spe-

174 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// COSPLAY INTERVIEW: KARRIE "KARRIEBEAR" SHIROU

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

cifically for the shoot. It was the first time
shooting scantily clad for some of the girls
too, but everyone really went for it. On the
flip side, some of the girls love the pin-up
style, like Jessica Dru, Sarah Kulyk and
our awesome makeup artist Chrissy Lynn,
who brought a massive suitcase of lingerie.
So, it was a good mix! We did have some
girls turn down being in the calendar
because of the lingerie, though, which I
totally understand. I wouldn't have done it
either like ten years ago.

It was rather sexy. I know you have
been a cosplayer for quite a while, but
how was it for you, personally?
And why the trapeze poses?

KARRIE: It was a really different experi-
ence for me... I have cosplayed for a super
long time, but I was more of a "run around
conventions and never stop to get any
good pictures" type of cosplayer. So doing
a professional shoot, where you have to
know your angles, also while being scantily
clad, was a big learning experience for me.
As for the circus act, I've trained on silks
for 4+ years, so when the idea came up for
an anti-gravity shoot, I had to do it! I have
to say, Greg De Stefano really made it
an awesome environment for us, too. He
was super patient with us as we dealt with
these crazy concepts and probably took a
million photos of us with terrible expres-
sions while we were flying on trampolines
and things.

What did your close friends and fami-
ly say about it?

KARRIE: My parents loved it. My dad
actually asked me to send him the photo
of my final calendar shot to his phone;
to which I was like, "He realizes that I'm
totally half naked in this photo, right?"
Cristina Vee, too, her parents and relatives
came around at Anime Expo and bought
like 4? 6? copies of the calendars.. Super
supportive, super happy
This is easily something that could be
misunderstood — like, why are you posing
half- naked? So, I hope that means we did
a good job keeping it classy.

I know some people who are not quite
as friendly towards ladies who are

Photo: Karrie "KarrieBear" Shirou from the "Geeks Giving Gifts" 2014-2015 calendar

sexy in their cosplays. How do you feel about the negative connota-
tion towards that and how would you convince them about the posi-
tive about this calendar project?

KARRIE: Hmm. That hits me a little personally because I grew up at con-
ventions. I was this super mega tomboy who refused to show any skin or wear
makeup and didn't have any friends who was as obsessed with nerdy things as
I was. Cosplaying was this safe haven for me to try new things, be a different
person... like, be this super awesome strong character when I was just this super
nerd. So it makes me sad that people think poorly of girls who want to be sexy.
A lot of us are nerds who never felt pretty growing up, because we were more
concerned with playing games than dressing up. So to have a safe outlet like
cosplay where you can try being sexy, and it's not really "you" being sexy, it's you
being a character... is a magical special thing.

As for being positive towards the calendar... honestly, I think all our girls are
amazingly gorgeous and they're super sexy even if they were rocking garbage
bags. I want to celebrate that. And I don't know if I can go so far as to say we'd
influence anyone, but I kinda love the idea that some nerdy girls might look at
this and think — "Wow, I can love video games and comics and anime and be
a sexy badass woman like that too."

I will say that it's important that you do it for yourself, though. Do it for
self-confidence not because people are paying attention to you and validating
your sexiness, do it so you are proud of your own body and know that you look
damn good for yourself.

Are there any plans to make this an annual project, or maybe even
other collaborations for charity?

KARRIE: I hope so!! At the moment we have plans brewing for another
calendar, but maybe centered on artwork rather than cosplay/modeling. And
definitely we want to keep the charity collaborations going. It's just a matter of
what ideas we can come up with and what clients we can get on board. I

For more information on the 2014-2015 calendar, please visit: http://geeksgivinggifts.com/

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 175

■;j=;-=i -'"

FOR SCIENCE!

■a::-

GEEKS GIVING GIFTS

FOR CHARITY!

to 4>

graphic / illustration _
character design A

www.evantsaidesign.com
www.flickr.com/photos/teacher_evan
f facebook.com/evantsaidesign

Revisiting the

JI-ENT ARCHIVES

With "Shin Megami Tensei Persona 5" set
for release on March 2015, for our J!-ENT
Archives for Cosplay Underground for this
year s annual, we go back to October 2009 in
which our photographer Nergene Arquelada
photographed "Persona 3" cosplayers Sushi
Monster as Ken Amada, Shiya as Fuuka
Yamagishi and Susan as Aigis.

The following photos were featured on
JI-ENT s "Cosplay Underground" vol. 3.

/// JI-ENT ARCHIVES: PERSONA 3 COSPLAY (2009)

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

/// JI-ENT ARCHIVES: PERSONA 3 COSPLAY (2009)

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

o g
o 5,

x IE

PHOTO DARREN YAMASHITA, JI-ENT

We figured that nearly everything about BABYMETAL (consisting
Su-metal, Yuimetal and Moametal) has been written up in media
already. So, we at JI-ENT decided to do something different by
giving those who attended a BABYMETAL concert in Los Angeles
(at the Fonda Theatre) a chance to share their first time experience
of attending a BABYMETAL live event!

PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA, JI-ENT

234 JI-ENT I i-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

BABYMETAL: THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE \\\

Back in July, the Japanese
concept group known
as BABYMETAL which
consists of Su-metal,
Yuimetal and Moametal
made their US debut in
Los Angeles at the sold-
out Fonda Theatre.
Despite the many
articles out there about BABYMETALs per-
formance and how they became one of the
phenom music groups worldwide in 2014,
JI-ENT wanted to find out what kind of
experiences people had by going to their first
BABYMETAL cocnert.

Suffice to say, we received a good number
of comments from those who attended the
Los Angeles concert. Here are a few different
types of experiences that BABYMETAL con-
cert goers wanted to share.

BABYMETAL CONCERT
EXPERIENCE #1: CHRIS K.

BABYMETAL is a group I have wanted to see
for quite a while. Unfortunately, my visits to
Japan have never coincided with any of their live
shows. As much as I always prefer the authentic
experience of seeing Japanese groups/bands on
their home turf, I was excited for this opportuni-
ty. BABYMETAL did not disappoint in any way.

Arriving at around 3:30pm, I found myself pretty
far back in the line. Fortunately, I was able to
find a great vantage point on the left side, clear
of the shenanigans happening in the center of
the floor. I love live concerts, but at the end of
the day I am there to enjoy the band. I don't
need to be part of the spectacle.

A big part of what makes BABYMETAL great is
their supporting band. These guys are simply
awesome musicians. While the sound at the
Fonda wasn't great, you could still appreciate
the perfection in the way they play. One could
say that the band is THE difference between
BABYMETAL being a complete J-pop gimmick
and a legitimate headbanging rock group.

As for the girls, they did their thing. ..perfectly.
It is often noted how young most J-pop idols
are. But the professionalism of these girls never
ceases to impress me. They are fearless. They
know their act. They go out there and perform

it with great intensity.

At the end of the day it was a great experience. Hopefully I will soon
get the chance to see them in Japan and really feel the passion of
their local fans.

BABYMETAL CONCERT
EXPERIENCE #2: MARCO

It was my first time actually attending a Japanese Metal (or should I
say, Japanese cute metal) concert in Los Angeles, and it was the BEST
EXPERIENCE EVER! I was actually pretty close to the stage and got
to see the girls clearly. The only thing is, I was right next to all of the
speakers so by the end of the concert, I could barely hear the whole
night but Til tell you, it was worth it!

The fans were so into the concert, the energy inside the venue was
insane!!! The whole time I was just singing and dancing/moshing by
myself and screamed so much I lost my voice!

236 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// BABYMETAL: THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

When "Ijime, Dame, Zettai" went on, I knew the wall of death was going
to happen and I really wanted to participate, but I just had to pass be-
cause I had work the next day and it wouldn't be a good thing going to
work with injuries or bruises (laughing). Not saying you'll get injured in
the wall of death, but it can happen... So, I didn't take any chances.

Overall, they really put on an amazing show and I would definitely go
again if they performed in LA., this time, hopefully getting a VIP ticket!

BABYMETAL CONCERT
EXPERIENCE #3: SHIOKA

My BABYMETAL concert experience, well. ..it certainly was an experience
but I can't say for sure if it was a concert. I went in expecting a concert
that was maybe 80% idol and 20% metal. So, I made sure to get my nor-
mal position at front and center. What I got was a concert that was 90%

metal and 10% idol and I was at the front of a
very large very energetic mosh pit. The girls
sounded great but I didn't get to see most of
the concert because I was constantly being
pushed against the railing and fighting against
the flow of the crowd.

During the span of that concert I got el-
bowed all over, shoved, squished, and I even
got kicked in the face. During "Ijime, Dame,
Zettai", the crowd began the wall of death,
fought against it with all my strength because
I had no other choice. I left that concert the
most exhausted and in the most pain I have
ever left a concert in and all I can say is... It
was amazing!

I would definitely see BABYMETAL again. Their
live vocals were top notch, the environment
they create is entirely unique to them.

The venue was hot and uncomfortable, to the
point where everyone at the front was just
passing around water bottles, germs were not
an issue, survival was. When I left the con-
cert I had to immediately go and buy a shirt,
because my shirt weighed 30 pounds more at
the end of the concert, and I'm not even sure
whose sweat it was.

The concert was absolutely nothing like I
expected and is one of my best and most
memorable experiences to date.

BABYMETAL CONCERT
EXPERIENCE #4: HENRY T.

The time leading up to the concert was a lot of
fun, even though I didn't get a chance to meet
up with our group before the concert, while
I was waiting in line, I spoke with someone
who is really into Japanese culture. We spoke
about his work in the gaming industry in Japan
and both are experiences while traveling in
Japan.

When our group arrived, I moved back in line
to hang out with everyone and just talked and
met with other people that we saw at J-Pop
Summit Festival a few weeks before. A few of
us investigated the area and could hear BABY-
METAL practicing in the venue.

When the line started to move, I started to get
excited as there was talk that they were selling
BABYMETAL/American flags at the merchan-
dise stands. It was a little hectic inside since
they setup the counter near the entrance.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I J!-ENT 237

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

BABYMETAL: THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE \\\

BABYMETAL CONCERT
EXPERIENCE #6: ALBERT

Poor floor planning meant most of us
who were ready to buy a flag missed
out.

By the time we bought what we want-
ed, the floor area right in front of the
stage was a quarter full already. The
bravest among us went out into the
foray to truly experience a BABYMET-
AL concert. The rest of us stayed to
the sides, right in front of the 20 ft.
speakers.

I kinda knew that I wasn't a fan of the
Heavy Metal genre, and that night,
I was able to get confirmation. I did
enjoy some of the more upbeat songs
and the girls were amazing, but I had
more fun hanging out with the group
and seeing them enjoy the concert
than the actual concert.

The floor was packed, and it was body
against body. I know that there was
a lot of body contact, heat and sweat
since everyone I know who was on the
floor came back afterwards literally
drenched in sweat, half of it not their

own. All and all, a memorable night,
and one I'm glad I got to experi-
ence, but I don't think I would go to
another BABYMETAL concert.

BABYMETAL CONCERT
EXPERIENCE #5: KIXI

I had a mind blowing time at the
BABYMETAL concert! It was my first
time at a heavy metal concert, much
less in a mosh pit. I will never forget
the craziness in there (laughing). It
was amazing to see BABYMETAL
perform up close, and we were in
the front row! They are fantastic
performers and really drew the au-
dience in! I was mesmerized by their
dancing during "Megitsune". Ev-
eryone was singing along and head
banging the whole time too. My
favorite performances of the night
were "Onedari Daisakusen" and
"line!" but really all of them were
amazing. I also have to give props
to the live band! I can't wait to see
BABYMETAL perform live again!

I was definitely hyped about BABY-
METAL since I really like heavy metal
music to begin with, combine that
with idol, it's like my favorite kind
of music. As for the concert itself, I
thought it would be more idol-like
instead of more metal like. ..oh how
wrong I was! (laughing) Although
there were idol fans, but the concert
itself was actually more metal than
idol. The band was awesome, and
the girls were fantastic.

Also got to mention the crowd was
amazing and really responded well
to the music. "Ijime Dame Zettai"
was the highlight of the show with
that wall of death. I walked out of
the show with pain in every single
part of my body and sweat from
god knows who. But it was really fun
and I would love to see them again
if I can.

238 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

o
o

JO
JO

m
Z

DAI CHI a.k.a. "The Human Beatbox" returned to the U.S. with a performance at
J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 in San Francisco.

Interview by Dennis A. Amith & Charles Amith, Photography by Darren Yamashita and Dennis A. Amith

In Japan, there are notable beatboxers that you
can find on YouTube. You have HIKAKIN
who has began to focus on becoming more of
a YouTube personality but one beatboxer that
has stayed true to his craft for beatboxing is
DAICHI "The Human Beatbox".
With a well-received performance at last
year's J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL, DAIC-
HI makes his return to San Francisco.
Jl-ENT interviewed DAICHI about his career in beat-
boxing but also giving J! -ENT's Charles Amith a lesson on
how to beatbox (visit our Jl-ENT YouTube channel).

Was there anyone who inspired you as a beatboxer?

DAICHI: Kenny Muhammad and Roxor Loops

you and HIKAKIN gaining popularity on YouTube. It
has led to you being featured on television in Japan.
How does that make you feel as being one of the more
visible beatboxers from Japan?

DAICHI: I entered an acapella competition and after that, I
started to get many television offers, so that is when I felt that
I have been doing something right. One of the biggest rea-
sons why I have been invitied to international events thanks
to my YouTube upload from four years ago for my Beatbox
Battle Wildcard video which has received over 24 million

views.

Who did you listen to growing up, may it be from Ja-
pan or internationally?

DAICHI: Dreams Come True, Mr. Children, The Beatles.

As a beatboxer, we are seeing more beatboxers such as

If I would look into your music player or cell phone
right now, who would I catch you listening to?

240 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// DAICHI

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

was very shy. But when I performed on
stage and saw the wild crowd, I real-
ized that I could utilize my skill set and
beatboxing was a way for me to battle
my shyness. And by uploading videos to
YouTube, I knew that beatboxing is what
I wanted to do.

Performing at J-Pop Summit Fes-
tival in the United States, has this
made you wanted to perform more
in other countries?

DAICHI: I havent been to Europe yet
but I would love to travel and perform
there.

You came to San Francisco last year
for J-Pop Summit Festival but is
there something you wanted to
experience differently this time
around?

DAICHI: The main focus is of course to
perform at J-POP Summit Festival but
aside from that, I wanted to go around
San Francisco and experience of how it
would be as a street performer. I havent
done it yet, but it would be a challenge
for me to try. Around Union Square, I
had a chance to jam a bit.

If you had a word or words to de-
scribe yourself, what word would
that be?

DAICHI: The master of lip service

In every JI-ENT interview, we try to
have a word play. I give you a sen-
tence, you complete it.

a) Before I perform live, I like to

DAICHI: Bruno Mars and Daft
Punk.

You are from Fukuoka. If we hung
out with Daichi for the day, which
area in Fukuoka would you show
us?

DAICHI: We would go out for some
tonkatsu ramen and to Canal City
Hakata where there is a lot of ramen
shops, many places to go shopping and
a lot of shows are there as well.

If you had the ability to time
travel and go back in time and
give advice to yourself in the
past, what advice would you have
given?

DAICHI: Keep going forward and
if you have any obstacles, go right
through them.

How have you evolved as a beat-
boxer from when you first start-
ed up 'till now?

DAICHI: When I was younger, I

DAICHI: I like to give all my staff
members a high-five and get them hyped
up!

b) To keep my voice clear before each

beatbox, I like to drink

DAICHI: Cola

c) The last movie I watched in the the-
ater was

DAICHI: "Frozen"

d) I like to see the crowd's reaction

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 241

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

DAICHI \\\

when I do

DAICHI: There are many reactions
but my favorite reaction I would like
to see from people is when I do my
turntable scratching sounds.

e) My red hat to me is like my

DAICHI: Partner

How long do you practice each
day?

DAICHI: There is no set time when I
practice, I'm always on.
DAICHFS MANAGER: Whenever
we are together, he s always beatboxing.
I have to often tell him to chill out.
He'll beat box anywhere, the hotel, the
train...

DAICHI: No... Shh! So, I don't
practice in a typical way. It's more of
my lifestyle. I feel that I love the art
of beat boxing, there was no negativity
but I have overcome many obstacles
and I'm pretty happy.

So, do you beatbox in your voice
mail as well?

DAICHI: (laughing) Oh! Nice idea!

What final message do you have
for your fans?

DAICHI: Never give up on your
dreams. I have been beatboxing for
15 years and I had to practice every-
day. Everything is achieveable and you
have to keep practicing and keep doing
what you love and not give up. Also, I
also have an iPhone and iPad app that
you can learn how to beatbox. please
check it out!

□:

m
Z

Check out Daichi presents Human Beat Box Lesson
on the iTunes Music Store by transcosmos, inc.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daichi-presents-hu-
man-beat/id687226256?mt=8

Visit DAICHI's YouTube Channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/daichibeatboxer

and his second channel, TheDaichiNet at:

https://wwwyoutube.com/user/TrieDaichiNet

Like DAICHI on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/daichibeatboxer

Follow DAICHI on Twitter:

https:// twitter.com/ daichibeat

242 JI-ENT I i-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// DAICHI

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

DAICHI \\\

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

DAICHI \\\

ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST ASIAN FILM FESTIVALS ON THE PLANET

-Ain't It Cool News

SUBWAYCINEMA.COM FACEBOOK.COM/NYAFF TW1TTER:@SUBWAYC IN EMA

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

One-on-One with ELISA

ELISA is a model turned singer best known for hit songs on anime series such as "A Certain Scientific Railgun" and "Valvrave the Liber-
ator". She has captivated listeners with her style of music and at Sakura Con, many had the opportunity to watch ELISA perform live in
concert. JI-ENT interviews ELISA about her music career and her first performance in the U.S.A.

Interview by Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Michelle Tymon and Jenn Jackson

^^^^^^ ony Music Japan artist ELISA has
^^T^ done quite well for herself since

■ she debuted as a model and music

■ artist back in 2007.

With eleven singles released in
Japan and songs that have featured
on numerous hit anime series such
as "Ef ~A Tale of Memories", "Na-
bari no Ou", "Hayate the Combat
Butler", "A Certain Scientific Rail-
^^^^^^^^^^r gun" and "Valvrave the Liberator",

ELISA has attracted fans around
the globe for her style of music.
In April 2014, ELISA brought her music to a live audience
in Washington for the event, Sakura Con and JI-ENT recently

had the opportunity to interview ELISA about her music career
and her feelings about performing overseas for the very first
time and how difficult it is to make a song and more!

Before we get into discussions about your music, let's
get to know a little about you. When you were a teenag-
er, was your dream to become a model or a singer? Or
did you imagine yourself in another type of job?

ELISA: I wanted to become a banana.

Curious... What kind of student were you in high school?
Were you the artsy student? The fashionable
student? The musician? The book worm? The prankster?
The athlete?

ELISA: I was a class officer (representative) in high school.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 249

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ELISA \\\

Did you know there were many
people in the US who listen and
are fans of Japanese music? And
are you pretty surprised to see the
support that you are receiving from
fans all over the world?
ELISA: I am very happy to have many
people listen to my songs! I feel this is
all possible because of anime!

What kind of music did you listen to
growing up?

ELISA: Mostly classic. Also, to a Japa-
nese singer named Melody

If I looked into your MP3 player or
cell phone right now, who would I
catch you listening to.

ELISA: I am listening to The Swell
Season.

You will be performing at one of the
largest anime conventions in Amer-
ica, but for fans that are curious, do
you have a favorite anime or manga
series?

ELISA: Right now I am reading
"Warau Salesman".

Having arrived in Seattle, was there
a certain type of food that you have
been wanting to eat in the United
States?

ELISA: I want to eat everything, except
for crab and shrimp.

Your songs have been featured on
several popular anime series. But I
was wondering... How was that first
experience when you heard your
song being used on an anime series?
ELISA: It was very strange because
when I heard it on television, I couldn't
believe it was my voice that I was listen-
ing to.

Your songs tend to use extensive
layering of background vocals. I
imagine that it is challenging and
quite long to create one song.

ELISA: For "God only knows", that
song uses 60 vocal tracks layered and
I was in the studio for 16 hours just to
make one song.

250 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

/// ELISA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

In April 2014, you will be releas-
ing your latest single "Millenar-
io". Can you please tell us more
about the new single?

ELISA: The song is the ending
theme for the TV anime series "The
Irregular Magic High School", so it is
a ballad song that pulls you in with a
warm tone.

Was performing in Sakura Con
and in front of an American au-
dience a bit stressful?

ELISA: I wasn't nervous at all! It
was such a vibrant and warm atmo-
sphere here (at Sakura Con). I was
able to be myself and sing all out.

How was the experience for you
to perform in front of an Ameri-
can audience?

ELISA: It was my first concert in the
U.S., so I was a little worried in the
beginning. I was trying to imagine
how the performance would turn
out because I heard that American
audiences are different than Japanese
audiences and that this concert, the
audience would be using glow sticks.
So, during my rehearsal, I was on the

stage and I was trying to imagine how
it would be in front of the audience and
it hit me right then, I'm here because
of anime. Because through anime, I'm
thankful to anime because we are here
together because of it and I want to
show my appreciation to the anime
culture.

Having performed for an
American audience, was there a
difference in the American
audience reaction compared to how
audiences are in Japan during your
concert performance?
ELISA: In a way it was similar and
different. In Japan, they go for unity
and they have choreography and keep
the same color of glow sticks. So, it was
pleasing and different. One thing I was
surprised about is that the glow sticks
that we used at the concert are softer!
(note: the glow sticks were made out
of Styrofoam) and larger than the ones
used in Japan.

You have fans that would love to see
you perform in their country. Are
there any countries or cities that
you would love to visit and perform
at?

ELISA: Europe.

You have performed at Animelo
Summer Live and Anime Festival
Asia, how was that experience
to perform at those events?

ELISA: Thanks to anime, I was able to
meet everyone there and everyday my
heart was pounding. Also, the color
schemes of the glow sticks were very col-
orful and pretty. Mostly sleeping. And I
also go for walks to refresh my mind and
body.

Of all the songs featured on your
singles or albums, is there a song
that is very close to your
heart? If so, what song is it and
why?

ELISA: "God only knows" and "Mil-
lenario", because I was able to weave in
several of my vocal sounds.

Last year, Aoi Eir and Luna Haruna
performed at Sakura Con and this
year, you are performing.
But I know you have performed on
stage (at Lisani) with both Aoi Eir
and Luna Haruna. How was that ex-
perience like to perform together?
ELISA: Depending on one person

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 251

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

or three people singing, it can totally
change the expression of the song.
I was amazed by that.

If there is an singer you would love
to collaborate with, who would it be
and why?

ELISA: I would love to perform with
Kalafina. I sang with them before and it
was fun.

I saw on your Facebook that you
have been playing the piano since
you were 3 years old. What songs do
you currently love playing on the
piano?

ELISA: I have had more opportunities
to sing while playing my songs on the
piano during my concerts, so I've been
practicing that more.

When you are not working, what
other hobbies do you enjoy doing?

ELISA: I either watch Hulu, relax or
clean (my home).

If there was one word to describe
yourself, what word would that be
and why?

ELISA: Headstrong.

Do you have a pre-concert ritual?

ELISA: Before a concert, I sit in the
front and back rows of the concert venue
and take in how the audience views the
stage. I imagine how I can deliver the
best performance to all the fans sitting
in their seats. That is usually how I get
myself pumped up!

What final words do you have with
your fans worldwide?

ELISA: I love you, guys! I hope to see
you soon! Please check out my songs
and please visit my website, Twitter and
Facebook! ■

For more information on ELISA,
please visit her official website,
Facebook and follow her Twitter at:

http://www.elisa-smile.com/
https :/ / www. facebook. com/ elisa. smile . official
https://twitter.com/ELISA_0414

253 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

ELISA \\\

MC^IEiCTi? presents...

How to Draw

mangauniversity.com

ELISA

Milenario

Sony Music Labels
SECL-1497

DURATION: 19 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 18, 2014

groove

A JI-GNT MUSIC RGVIGW

01. $ U^'jTf-

02. Sign -1^0)11-

03. Cage

04. ^ U^-'J^t" (Instrumental

ELISA has been creating quite a bit of
buzz amongst Anison (anime songs) fans.

You can listen to her music and
wonderful voice and instantly feel that
the music takes you to another world.

ELISA's music has been featured as
the opening or ending theme songs for
many anime series such as "Nabari no
Ou", "Ef - A Tale of Melodies", "Hayate
the Combat Butler Second Season", "A
Certain Scientific Railgun", "Valvrave the
Liberator" and more.

And now she is back with her 11 th
single "Millenario" which is used as a
theme song for the anime series "Mahoka
Koko no Rettosei" (The Irregular at Magic
High School).

There were two versions of
"Millenario" released, a normal CD
version and another version that comes
with both CD and DVD. The version I
am reviewing is the normal version which
comes with an 8-page booklet, photos
of ELISA, lyrics and production credits.
Also, a small business card size photo
card with a message from ELISA on the
back. Plus a small flier promoting her
latest album "AS LIFE".

The single kicks of with "Millenario", a
beautiful ballad that flows gently with it's
piano arrangement.

The song written by zopp and
composed by Shihori is a love song about
wanting to sing a song without fear, and
if it is the end, this will be the eternal
song and wanting the song to comfort
people, 10 years, 100 years, 1000 years
from now.

The second track "Sign -^6DiI-"
(which translates to "Sign - Promise
of the Bell") is a song that is written
by ELISA and is a mid-tempo upbeat
track that is consistent with a lot of the
music that ELISA is known for. From her
back vocals and strings playing in the

< A BEAUTIFUL SINGLE FROM ELISA!

Is "Millenario" taking ELISA's music to a new direction? Nevertheless, it's a wonderful single!

background, it's a beautiful track.

The lyrics for the song is actually
quite deep but positive. Why is there
no sound? Why is the door blocked?
Beyond the bells is a sign of the
past. Will the dream come true? Not
wanting to regret, you want to face the
challenges with your own state of mind,
as a sign of "Keep on Fighting" displays
within yourself.

The third track is "Rain Cage" co-
written by ELISA and Watanabe Sho,
who also composed the song. An
upbeat ballad and like ELISA's lyrics, are
quite deep as it revolves around wanting
to return to a time when two people
were happy, all that is left are memories
during a time when all there is only
endless rain.

The fourth track is the instrumental
for "Millenario".

Overall, "Millenario" is a much different
single compared to the previous singles
from ELISA. In some ways, there was a
style of music that she is known for and
a style that was often compared to the
group Kalafina. But with "Millenario",
there is a feeling that she is breaking out of
that mold, showcasing her beautiful voice,
deep lyrics but maintaining that wonderful
musical arrangement but trying something
a bit different and it works.

But it remains to be seen if this musical
direction is the ELISA we can expect now,
or just a fitting style for a ballad release
and she will return to the music that she is
best known for.

Nevertheless, "Millenario" is a beautiful
single and wonderfully performed by
ELISA! Recommended! A

— DENNIS A. AMITH

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 256

Former AKB48 member, brings her SxWxAxG to the United States for her American solo
live debut in San Francisco for J-POP Summit Festival 2014.

Article by Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Dennis A. Amith and Darren Yamashita

omomi Itano. Known to her fans as
"Tomochin" was one of the well-rec-
ognized members of AKB48. Known
for her fashion and her dancing, she
has also appeared on television for
"Kamen Rioder Double" and various
"Kamen Rider" films., plus the popular
AKB48-related "Majisuka Gakuen"
films. Tomomi also had one of the
most commercial contracts in Japan
back in 2012 and also being fearless in trying out various foods,
it is no wonder why Tomomi Itano was popular among AKB48
fans.

But when she decided to graduate from AKB48 and focus on
her solo career in the music and entertainment industry, many
wondered if Tomomi would maintain her popularity without the
AKB48G umbrella.

So far, Itano has done well for herself post-AKB48. She co-

hosts the variety show "Itano Paisan!!" with Ruriko Kojima on
TBS. She continues to be featured on a wide variety of maga-
zines and she is coming off her "Tomomi Itano Live Tour Sx-
WxAxG" after performing in the United States at J-Pop Sum-
mit Festival 2014 in San Francisco. Her solo debut in America!

Prior to her live performances, Tomomi Itano held a press
conference. Here is a transcript from the press conference:

What was the moment did you know you wanted to be an
idol and a singer?

TOMOMI: When I was in kindergarten.

What is the best thing about being a solo artist than
what you can do in AKB48?

TOMOMI: It has been only a year since I left AKB48, but it
has been a dream of mine to be a singer since I was in kindergar-
ten. So, it is amazing for people to see me as a solo artist.

260 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

How many hours a week are you
practicing

TOMOMI: I practices dancing once
a week, but because my tour is coming
up, when I get back to Japan, I will be
practicing every day.

JI-ENT: With the release of your al-
bum "SxWxAxG", how did you want
to differentiate your music from
AKB48?

TOMOMI: There are four previously
released solo singles featured in "SxWx-
AxG" and there is a variety of music such
as EDM, hip-hop and more. So, I would
like to showcase a variety of music as a

solo artist.

Are you surprised that there is a
foreign audience outside of Japan
for your music and previously for
AKB48? And what do you want
audiences from outside of Japan to
take from your music and perfor-
mances?

TOMOMI: I am very happy to have a
big fan base in the United States. And
going forward, I want to make more
fans of my music.

In your show "Itano Paisen", you
help people with meaningful life

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

tasks. What is one thing that you wish
you had little help with?

TOMOMI: I would like to get other danc-
ing music and make others be happy.

After doing a music career, what is the
most happy moment?

TOMOMI: I really enjoy performing, so
having fans up close, that's the best part of
my career.

What is the most challenging of being
a solo artists and do you miss being
part of a group?

TOMOMI: When I was in a group, there
would be many people, but in a solo career,
you have to be cool, sexy, beautiful and so
it's challenging. But I understand that is a
challenge and will face that challenge going
forward.

Can you talk about being an idol and
what you want to be now?

TOMOMI: In the past, I was an idol and
had to be cute. But going forward, I want
to be a cool adult.

JI-ENT: What was your reaction that
you will be performing solo in front
of your America fans at J-Pop Summit
Festival?

TOMOMI: It was very exciting to get this
opportunity but to finish her rehearsal and
seeing fans pop up after rehearsal made me
very happy.

You schedule seems extremely busy,
what is your typical work day?

TOMOMI: So, now that I am a solo
artists, i have my busy days and not so busy
days. In my not so busy days, I have time
to travel but with a tour coming up, I am
busy again.

There have been anime about idols
such as "AKB0048", do you see your-
self being part of that world?

TOMOMI: I am very happy that AKB48
had an anime but as a solo artist, I am
trying to move away from that world. I did
enjoy anime such as "Pokemon" and "Drag-
on Ball", when I was a child.

You have challenged a lot of various
things in your career such as singing,
modeling and acting. Is there any one

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 261

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOMOMI ITANO \\\

thing that you still want to try?

TOMOMI: I want to be in the movies.

At J-Pop Summit Festival, there
is typically a fashion component.
What kind of fashion do you wear?

TOMOMI: I wear a number of differ-
ent styles. I try to change it up, the day
before I was in cool clothes, the next day
it was giry, I try to switch things out.

What's your #1 fashion that you
like?

TOMOMI: I like bright, fancy clothes.
But if I had to choose between girlish
and cool.

JI-ENT: Tomomi, on Twitter, you
tend to post many pictures of you
wearing New Era hats. I'm curious,
how many New Era hats do you have
in your collection?
TOMOMI: Including all hats, there
will be around 50. ■

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOMOMI ITANO \\\

///TOMOMI ITANO

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOMOMI ITANO \\\

SUMMIT

1 Va I

► POP.

MM 1

■ TIVAI

"0
I

o
o

>
<

>
70
70

m
Z

imfs

N WITH A MISSION

have electrified audiences worldwide with their rock music.
But the group which consist of five wolf/human-like androids (vocalist Tokyo Tanaka,
bass player Kamikaze Boy, guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny, DJ Santa Monica and drummer
Spear Rib) remain mysterious. Who are they? Why are they on this planet? With the
band recently signed to a recording contract with Epic Records and having recently
performed in Los Angeles and New York, J!-ENT's DENNIS A. AMITH interviews

to learn more about the band, their music and their mission.

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL ISSUE

MAN WITH A MISSION \\\

Greetings, MAN WITH A
MISSION! I know that Jean-Ken
Johnny is the only member who
has the capability to speak. So t
let's start out with a few questions
in trying to learn more about the
band. I have read that you were
created by a mad scientist long ago
in a laboratory Was this mad sci-
entist into music and did he have
any influence on your band?
MAN WITH A MISSION: He loved
music! He was pretty good in playing
the guitar. His name was Jimi-Hen-
drix, oh., but not the one you guys
know. In those days we did not play
music at all, so he didn't have a
chance to listen to our music.

IVe read that you were sealed in
ice in the South Pole because of
things you have done in the past*
While you were sealed t you were
introduced to music all around

the world. With that being said,
what kind of music or bands
inspired you while you were en-
cased in ice?

MAN WITH A MISSION: Talking
about me the late '80s and '90s
alternative music scene was a huge
influence to me. The Smashing
Pumpkins, The Foo Fighters, Nirva-
na, Dinosaur Jr., Pearl Jam, Incubus,
Rage Against The Machine, The
Pixies... I can go on and on talking
about this.

MAN WITH A MISSION made a
promise that when you all broke
free from the ice t you would cre-
ate music. For those not familiar
with MAN WITH A MISSION,
how would you describe your
music?

MAN WITH A MISSION: We have
a backbone of all the music that
I noted, but not only that, we've

got influenced by all kinds of music
genres. We mixture various essenc-
es of what we find interesting and
compile it to make our music that
has both the magic that was going
on those days and the experiment
and challenging sphere to make it
always sound new. Well, I believe
that's what music is all about for
any ages.

IVe read that the mad scientist
named the band "MAN WITH A
MISSION", as your music is
being heard by people all around
the world, what is your latest
mission?

MAN WITH A MISSION: I'm not

sure I can describe the whole mis-
sion of ours, but listening to our
music, coming to our shows will
help you give a hint of what we're
all about.

270 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Because you are androids t with a
human body with the head of a
wolf, there is a lot of
passion in your music* So t does
that mean that each member of
MAN WITH A MISSION were
programmed with emotions. Es-
pecially the emotion of love?
MAN WITH A MISSION: We are
created as androids but just like
you, human beings, we grow,
learn, in the everyday life. Just like
humans, we experienced a lot of
things in our times and not because
of being programmed but for that
we have the same emotions that
could be shared and secure your
sympathy.

Does it surprise you that so many
people all around the world are
familiar with your music* How
does that make you all feel?
MAN WITH A MISSION: That's
great. It's just great to have a lot

NOVEMBER 2014

of people all around the world feel
something with our music.

I've read that you first performed
in Shibuya and several live
venues* How was that first expe-
rience for the band versus today t
now that you have performed in
different parts of the world?
MAN WITH A MISSION: It doesn't
change a bit. Anytime, anywhere
playing in front of the crowd is just
amazing.

In 2010 t your mission has
brought you to the city of Los An-
geles* What was that experience
for the band to play in the United
States?

MAN WITH A MISSION: At first,
we performed in The Whisky and
after that, at The Roxy. It was a
great honor and I was really excit-
ed. Playing on the stage on such a
famous and historical venue which

many famous artists performed,
was like a dream come true.

You released your first mini-al-
bum 1 Welcome to the World" in
2010 and it was the first to enter
the Oricon Charts* But earlier
this summer t you released "Mash
Up the World", your most suc-
cessful album yet* How does it
make you feel that the band has
progressed so much in these last
four years and each improving on
the Oricon Weekly Charts?
MAN WITH A MISSION: I don't
know, but I believe it's great and we
always want more and more people
to listen to our music so making
progress on the charts might be a
sign of that. But at the same time
we got a lot more to go and do, so
I think we'll just go on to see more
what we can do.

In October, you released your

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 271

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL ISSUE

MAN WITH A MISSION \\\

It*

latest single from Sony Records
titled "database" feat TAKUMA
(10-FEET) and the song was
used in the anime "log Hori-
zon"* What was it like to work
with 10-FeetTakuma?
MAN WITH A MISSION: He's a
great friend and at the same time
one of the artists we really respect
a lot. It was great to have him
working with us.

In December, you performed in
New York City and Los Angeles.
How did it feel to perform in
America again?
MAN WITH A MISSION: It was
amazing. A lot of people came to
the show, lot more than last time.
Fun and exciting every time you
play in front of a new audience.

You also performed in France
for Japan Expo 2012. How was
that experience for MAN WITH
A MISSION to perform in
France?

MAN WITH A MISSION: It was a

huge festival and a huge audience.
A lot of people in France already
knew about us very well so we real-
ly felt welcomed so much and that
was just great.

Curious, what artists/bands or
songs would I catch you listening
to right now?

MAN WITH A MISSION: If you're
talking about new artists, I recently
listened to "The 1975" and they
were awesome.

While the band has been around
since 2010 and with 2014 (your
fifth anniversary as a band)
around the corner, what would

the band like to accomplish mu-
sically for your fifth year?
MAN WITH A MISSION: There are
a lot of things to do but anyway I
think it's all about striving to make
good music good songs that stim-
ulates ourselves as well. And I also
hope we get more chances to play
a lot more overseas.

Because of the unusual nature of
some people in Tokyo t especially
in Shibuya or Harajuku t have
you been able to meet with oth-
er android females during your
mission?

MAN WITH A MISSION: Unfortu-
nately... No. Could you find some
for us?

Jean Ken Johnny give me one
word to describe yourself and
Tokyo Tanaka t Kamikaze Boy DJ
Santa Monica and Spear Rib?
MAN WITH A MISSION:
Tokyo Tanaka...The Leader; Kami-
kaze Boy... The Drunk; Jean-Ken
Johnny.. The One that can talk;

272 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// MAN WITH A MISSION

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL ISSUE

DJ SantaMonica...The Party Junkie
and Spear Rib. ..The Perfect Pet.

What final words would you like
to say to your fans all over the
world?

MAN WITH A MISSION: People all
around the world. ..Hi! This is the
MAN WITH A MISSION. It's great
to have a chance communicating
with you guys and I'm looking
forward to meet you at the show
very soon. Until then please check
our CD's iTunes anything what's
available and please feel free to ask
us anything on the internet such as
twitter Facebook anything. Thank
you so much and see ya again.
Bow-wow! □

For more information on MAN
WITH A MISSION, please visit:

http://www.mwamjapan.info/

MAN WITH " *
A MISSION

NEW YORK &
LOS ANGELES
SET LIST

NEW YORK:

1 . distance

2. WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD

3. Smells Like Teen Spirit

4. FLY AGAIN

5. Emotions

6. Get Off of My Way

7. Take What U Want

8. DON'T LOSE YOURSELF

End/NEVER FXXKIN' MIND THE
RULES

Enc.2 / database feat.TAKUMA (10-
FEET)

LOS ANGELES:

LTake What U Want

2. /Bubble of Life

3. Smells Like Teen Spirit

4. FLY AGAIN

5. Emotions

6. distance with SID

7. Get Off of My Way

8. DON'T LOSE YOURSELF

Enc.1 / MASH UP THE DJ! !
Enc.2 / database feat.
TAKUMA(1 0-FEET)

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 273

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

From her debut as a music artist in 2005 to performing the singing voice of Sheryl Nome in the anime TV series "Macross
Frontier", May n has come a long way since then and returned to America with a live performance in San Francisco

Interview & Photography by Dennis A. Amith

^m^m MM hen JI-ENT last featured

May'n, she was promoting her
J I m music post-"Macross Frontier"
M% H M at Anime Expo 2010. As many
f M anime fans were captivated by

^^^M ^H^r her voice of Sheryl Nome, we

often wondered what would
happen to May'n after the
"Macross Frontier" excitement

subsided?

Since then, May'n has done quite well for herself, performing
throughout Japan and Asia and various anime festivals but
also performing her first solo concert at Nippon Budokan in
2010. By 2011, a 3D live documentary movie titled "May'n
The Movie: Phonic Nation" was released and her singles and
albums would do well on the Oricon music charts.

May'n would continue to perform songs for other mediums
such as Capcom's "E.X. Troopers" and collaborate with Daisuke

Asakura for her singles "Scarlet Ballet" for the anime series
"Aria the Scarlet Ammo" and "Chase the world" for "Accel
World".

In 2013, May'n would continue to release several more
singles that would be featured on various anime series. "Run
Real Run" and "Outsider" were featured in "Real Onigokko the
Origin" and "Onimusha Soul"; her single "Vivid" was featured
on "Blood Lad" while the coupling track "Wild Rose" was
featured in "Ikenie no Dilemma".

In 2014, she released the single "Kyo no Koiro" which was
featured in the anime series "Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha" and she
also released her latest album in Jan. 2014 titled "New World".

In July 2014, May'n would hold a one-night concert in San
Francisco, but prior to her performance, she surprised the audi-
ence at J-POP Summit Festival 2014 with a performance of a
few songs at Union Square.

A few hours before her surprise performance at J-POP
Summit Festival 2014, JI-ENT had the opportunity to inter-

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 277

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

May'n \\\

view May'n.

When you were younger, was there
a certain moment in your life in
which you knew you wanted to be-
come a singer?

May'n: I liked the music in Evangelion
when I was younger, but it was when
I saw Amuro Namie, a famous J-pop
singer, I wanted to be like her.

You have had a career singing many
anime theme songs, but are you
into anime or manga?

May'n: I was really into "Sailor Moon"
when I was younger and now with the
new anime series, I have been buying all
the latest "Sailor Moon" merchandise.

Who did you listen to a lot when
growing up?

May'n: I listened to a lot of Amuro
Namie as she was my favorite, but I also
listened to a lot of international artist
such as Janet Jackson.

You have performed in Singapore,
Malaysia, Indonesia and Viet-
nam. How was the experience of
performing in these other Asian
countries?

May'n: My fans in Asia are very wel-
coming and despite our differences in
culture and our languages, music brings
us together without any international
barriers. So, I felt very energized in
Asia.

You are well known as the singing
voice for Sheryl Nome in "Macross
Frontier", but was there a lot of
pressure on you to move pass that
as a music artist?
May'n: I really didn't differentiate my
music from Sheryl Nome. But I did
want to be the main character of these
songs and since Sheryl Nome had sexy
songs, and as May'n, I had a variety of
sexy and cute songs of different genres,
for the music. So, I didn't differentiate
from it all that much from the character.

If there was words to describe
yourself, what word would that be
and why?

May'n: "You taberu", because I'm

hungry and I eat a lot. Mainly because
I will try everything once, despite its
appearance, I will try it. It's the same
with my music, I don't judge my music
by the cover. I try to listen to it before
judging if it's suited for me. So, I apply
that to all aspects of my career.

Your music has come a long way
and I see a difference between your
previous albums "If You..." and
"Heat". But how different was the
experience of creating your new

album"New World" versus the past
albums.

May'n: What I do with my albums,
I based them on what I want to make
them at that time. So, that is why "If
You..." and "Heat" are very different al-
bums. But for "New World", I want to
challenge the dance music genre and it's
reflected on this new album. So, I get
a lot of inspiration from my concerts,
but I actually do the concert tours and
see what songs are popular among my
fans and what they want to hear more

278 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// May'n

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

May'n "NEW WORLD'
album covers

of. So, with "New World", I was basing
the album on the experience of my last
concert, we were able to base it off that.
So, that's how I make my albums.

In "New World" is there any certain
song that is very special to you?

May'n: All the songs have special
meaning to me but one song, "ROCK
YOUR BEATS" was created by me
after my experience from my last world
tour, especially my feelings when I was
in the United States. So, that is why
this song is very special to me.

Curious, what is your favorite
food?

May'n: Taiyaki (laughing). The best
place to get it is Hiiragi in Ebisu.

What final message would you like
to leave with your fans?

May'n: I'm very happy to return to San
Francisco but also would like to have
more performances like J-Pop Summit
Festival and giving me the opportunity
to perform for my fans. I thank them
for all their support. ■

For more on May'n, please visit
her official website at:
http://mayn.jp/

Visit her blog at:
http://ameblo.jp/mayn-blog/

Visit her YouTube site at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/
MaynOfficial

Visit her Facebook site at:
https://www.facebook.com/mayn.
official

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 279

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

May'n \\\

SUMMIT

FES

VAL

UMJ

J!-ent 2014 annual May'n \\\

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

May'n \\\

May'n

Re: RE MEMBER

Victor Entertainment
VTZL-81

DURATION: 24 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 18, 2014

01. Re:REMEMBER

02. m&fctofc

03. jj^yixV

04. Re:REMEMBER (without May'n)

05. H^/c46tc (without May'n)

06. (without May'n)

We have seen May'n grow each
year, especially since she was the
singing voice of Sheryl Nome on
"Macross Frontier".

And as we see her evolve as
a music artists and her vocals
become much more refined, May'n
this time tackles a beautiful ballad
for her June 2014 single titled
"Re:REMEMBER".

The CD+DVD version of the
single comes with a black and
white slipcover featuring May'n
and a ten-page booklet, also
black and white, featuring photos
of May'n, lyrics and production
credits.

The single kicks off with a
beautiful ballad that showcases
acoustic guitar and strings. A
touching track which is used as an
opening theme song for the anime
series "M3 ~ Sono kuroki hagane"
and also happens to be May'n's
first ballad as the A-side, the track
is absolute passionate and moving.
The music and her vocals work
in unison and is one of her best
singles yet!

The coupling track
"Daregatameni" which translates
to "Who for?" is a rock and roll
track. And an awesome coupling
track for those wishing for
something more faster and upbeat
A coupling track featuring great
use of guitar and bass for this rock

< MAY'N'S FIRST BALLAD CD SINGLE

"Re: REMEMBER" is passionate, touching and overall, a beautiful CD single!

track!

The third track is "Katatsumuri"
which translates to "snail"
and is another ballad, where
"Re:REMEMBER" was more about
the strings and acoustic guitar,
"Katatsumuri" features a beautiful
piano accompaniment and
another moving and passionate
ballad.

The remaining three tracks are
the instrumental versions of the
three vocal tracks.

As for the DVD, the DVD
features May'n singing in what
looks like an abandoned building.
May'n sings while walking around
a chair with flower petals all over
the ground. Also, singing while
dark clouds move above her. A
beautiful music video showcasing

a deeper, more passionate side of
May'n.

Overall, the tenth CD single
for May'n is possibly her most
passionate single yet with two slow
ballads and one rock n' roll track.
This is the first CD single in which
we get to see May'n performing
ballads, both which are so beautiful
and passionate. While not
containing any upbeat dance tracks,
we do get a fast-paced rock track
included.

But "Re:REMEMBER" is definitely
a May'n single that shows maturity
but also showcasing her vocals and
the singer's more passionate side.

Recommended! A

— DENNIS A. AMITH

286 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

10,107 ■ ■

n Hp : U me a* . so p >m u v: . c ? . £.<

^ M £imy Mi3-.it Fjhl i-H .umiih-i il I.^mii f rtilHTii.it imiuil] j-.r.cI h4TWF ^
[Ml iMf MADT KA74JKV]

f hfck out thK hfwrtwarjnlnt") video from ht; jHF MAT5F ^ftf I'ifflriaFs concert ar
An Imp vYpefcend Atlanta! Tfoey ^m*? did retake a hr nf "family" In Atlanta^

HMKN L1M- pAfiime Weekend Atlanta /nil
Anime Weekerel Atlanta
JOth Annwerary
■Am ..

flhmkii flnnmemadekamkLi Atlanta *AF| *AW AJHM — at rtnanie Weekend
Atlanta.

Sony Music Entertainment Japan news

in English!!!

Visit our Facebook Page and Like us at:

https://www.facebook.com/SMEJ.international

Sony Music

LIGHTS! CAMERAS! CINEMA!

INTRODUCING PINKY DOODLE POODLE!

JI-ENT interviews Yuria and George of the high energy, Tokyo-based rock band PINKY DOODLE POODLE.

Interview by Kenneth Eric Iran, Photography by Darren Yamashita

t first glance, the name Pinky
^^^^P Doodle Poodle might not scream
hard rock, especially when your
^^^^^m lead singer is often heard per-
M forming for anime and video

games.

Yuria s refined vocals mesh
well the aggressive guitar shred-
ding from bandmate, George, creating a sound reminis-
cent of the more experimental offerings from the likes of
Boris.

During their live performances, the crowd is often
surprised of how loud the band is, but there is never
a complaint. There is a lot of dancing, shredding, and
face- melting.

Yuria and George wouldn't want it any other way. To
be known purely as a Japanese rock band is unsatisfacto-
ry to their overall goal and dream.

It is to be known as a great rock band, period.

JI-ENT: You have been touring outside of Japan
quite a lot, but how is it being picked up by a label
and recording in America?

GEORGE: So great!

JI-ENT: This project is very different than your
career performing anime and video game music.

YURIA: Basically, I am a rock musician. Anime and
game music is J-pop, and J-pop is my day job. This band

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 289

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

PINKY DOODLE POODLE \\\

is my life. Being a part of this band
is my passion.

JI-ENT: How is it touring
around the world? How are the
audiences different compared
to audiences in the US?

YURIA: Audiences who did not
know Pinky Doodle Poodle, or are
seeing us live for the first time are
surprised of our style of rock. In
Japan, the crowd is often shy. People
are excited, but their bodies don t
move. After the live, they tell us we
are very good, but on the most part
the fans are generally very reserved.
Around the world, like in Europe
and America, the people are danc-
ing and screaming. There is a huge
difference.

JI-ENT: How is it working with
Robby Takac and others at Good
Charamel?

GEORGE: Everybody is great.
Robby is always very kind. He un-
derstands our music completely and
what we want to do. So, it is very
easy to work with him. It is com-
fortable.

JI-ENT: Does he ever give you
any advice?

YURIA: Mostly just good advice
for arrangement.

GEORGE: He gives us the free-
dom to do anything!

JI-ENT: How was it perform-
ing in San Francisco for J-pop
Summit?

GREG: It was very fun!
YURIA: The audience was very
excited. We had so much fun. So
many people came to greet us. We
were talking to many fans, shaking
their hands, and signing autographs.

JI-ENT: Were you disappoint-
ed in not being able to do your

American tour?

YURIA: The tour is only post-
poned until next year. We hope to
come back and do the tour.

JI-ENT: What kind of bands do
you listen to?

GEORGE: AC/DC, Motorhead,
and of course, the Goo Goo Dolls.
I always listen to American and

European bands.

I noticed you do not have a
drummer. Was there a plan to
add a permanent drummer?

YURIA: Of course, when we
formed a three-person band but we
were still lacking a drummer. Our
bassist left, so I had to take over
bass. In Pinky Doodle Poodle, we

290 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// PINKY DOODLE POODLE

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

write all of our songs, and George
does all of the arrangement. Some-
day, if we could meet a very good
drummer, we would gladly recruit
them. All of songs are twin guitar
songs. Because of that, we play a lot
of guitar solos, especially with me
and George. Since I moved to bass,
that dynamic is gone. One day we
hope to return to that.

JI-ENT: Do you want to have a
career in America?

YURIA: We hope to move to
America. We love America very
much. It is very comfortable to
make rock music here. In music bars
in America, we can rock until mid-
night. In Japan, they tell us to quiet
down by 10pm! It is not easy for us.
GEORGE: If we wanted to do
J-pop, we have to stay in Japan. We

want to do strictly, rock music, not
even J-rock music. We love Japan,
but America is just a great place to
make music.

JI-ENT: Do you have any plans
to sing in English?

YURIA: This recording, I plan to
do all songs in English. Hopeful-
ly, it will be easier for me to write
in English. At the moment, I am
only able to come up with lyrics in
Japanese. My mind is 98 percent
Japanese. As my English gets better,
I hope to write strictly in English.
GEORGE: We want to speak in
English more and get better at it.
I feel not many people from Japan
speak English well enough.

JI-ENT: What message do you
have for the world about Pinky
Doodle Poodle?

YURIA: Please listen to our al-
bum! Many people are surprised
when they come to our gigs. Our
show is very high energy rock. I
don t think people expect us to be
quite so hard. Then end up being
very surprised. Hopefully, people s
opinion of us change for the better.
Listening to the album is great, but
it is just a small part of what we can
offer. We feel the fans can only feel
all of our passion when we are live
on stage. Because my voice is cute
and the name of the band is cute as
well, people are very shocked to be
hearing hard rock music.
GEORGE: Our debut album was
released in April. Next year we
hope to see everyone on our tour.
Please come to our gigs! ■

For more information on
Pinky Doodle Poodle, please visit:

www.pinkydoodlepoodle.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/PINKY-
DOODLEPOODLE

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 291

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

PINKY DOODLE POODLE \\\

/// PINKY DOODLE POODLE

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

WORLD TOUR 2015 IHELIO W0RID1

JAPAN • FRANCE • UNITED KINGDOM • TAIWAN • USA • HONG KONG

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/lnfo/scandal/worldtour2015/

Also, like the official SCANDAL Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/scandalofficial

MUSIC | ART | FILM I ANIME 1 FASHION | GAME | FOOD

SUMMER 2015 | SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U 5 A I J-PDP.COM | OO

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE (TOKYO JOSHI RYU) made their debut on the Avex Trax label back in
2010. Consisting of members Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yamabe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae, and Mei
Shyoji, Tokyo Girls' Style was the first idol group which Avex had created in seven years. In July
2014, the idol group made their USA debut at J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 in San Francisco.
JI-ENT'S DENNIS A. AMITH & CHARLES AMITH had the opportunity to interview each member of
the group.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARREN YAMASHITA & DENNIS A. AMITH

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE \\\

ack in 2009, Avex Trax
created the Japanese idol
group Tokyo Joshi Ryu,
better known to their
fans worldwide as Tokyo
Girls' Style.

With the growing
popularity of idol groups in Japan, Avex
wanted to create their first idol group in
seven years.

Tokyo Girls' Style would release their
debut single "Kirari"in 2010, followed by
a second single weeks later titled "Onnaji
Kimochi".

Avex Trax would eventually look into
promoting the group worldwide with
their first step by breaking into the Asian
market.

"Onnaji Kimochi" would be re-record-
ed in Mandarin Chinese and the single
would be released in Taiwan and Hong
Kong. Followed by their first major per-
formance outside of Japan in Singapore
which attracted many fans in Asia.

In Oct. 2012, the group's 11th sin-

gle titled "ROAD TO BUDOKAN
2012: Bad Flower", debuting at #4 on
the Oricon Charts and later in the year,
accomplishing another major feat, by
performing at Nippon Budokan.

In 2014, the year has proven to be a
breakthrough year for the group as Tokyo
Girls' Style would make their US debut at
J-Pop Summit Festival in San Francisco
and also starring in two films "Count Five
to Dream of You" and "Kotodama - Spiri-
tual Curse".

JI-ENT recently had the opportunity
to interview Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yam-
abe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae and Mei
Shyoji of Tokyo Girls' Style.

J-ENT: Before we talk about your
music, let's get to know more
about Tokyo Girls' Style* Please
introduce yourself and tell us
about your favorite hobby
MEI: I am Mei Shyoji and I love tak-
ing pictures with my camera.
YURI: I am Yuri Nakae and I love to

listen to Western music.
HITOMI: I am Hitomi Arai and I love
to look at pictures of sweets.
MIYU: I am Miyu Yamabe and I like
to look at music videos of pop stars.
AYANO: I am Ayano Konishi and I
like to walk around and look at land-
scapes.

JI-ENT: I know you still attend

high school* Curious, what kind

of student are you?

MEI: I love to be with my friends for

conversations, we love to have fun

together with my friends and study

together.

YURI: I'm still in high school but I
love talking with friends and hanging
out with friends and just have fun!
HITOMI: I became a new high school
student and made new friends. I
am trying to do my best to balance
school and my music career.
MIYU: I am in my senior year in high
school and I haven't changed since

298 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

my first and second year. I love to
have conversations with friends and I
love to talk! (laughing)
AYANO: I am always the happy type
and always make jokes to the point
where my friends would say "please
stop it!". I'm a very fun person,
(laughing)

JJ-ENT: Curious, if I was to take
a peek in each of your MP3 play-
ers, which artists t song or album
would I catch you listening to?
MEI: I listen to the K-Pop group
Shinee.

YURI: I love R&B music and right
now I am enjoying the music of Taylor
Swift.

HITOMI: I listen to the Japanese
group AAA.

MIYU: Right now I listen to a lot of
K-Pop and for guy groups, I listen to
Exo and for girl groups, I listen to A
Pink.

JJ-ENT: We dig Exol

MEI: Really, what is your favorite
song?

JJ-ENT: "Overdose"

MEI: "Overdose"! (Mei starts imitat-
ing the dance moves and Ayano tries
to stop her)

AYANO: I also like to listen to
K-Pop. My favorite group is Block B.

JJ-ENT: From your music debut
in 2009, how have you grown as a
member of Tokyo Girls' Style in
2014?

MEI: When I first debuted in Tokyo
Girls' Style, I was only 12-years-old
and it's been five years since then.
When I first started, I had a younger
face, a younger voice and I think I
have grown more mature, became
more calm, better voice.
YURI: When I first debuted, we
weren't that great talking during

our live performances. We would
often talk over each other and
weren't good at making presen-
tations. But since we have been
doing this for five years, we have
done much better with our presen-
tations and our talking at events.
HITOMI: When we first began, we
had cute, adorable music. But when
we got older and as years past by,
we started to perform more difficult
songs, more playful, dance music.
MEI: When we first began, our live
performance had only 200 people
in the audience, but then we got to
perform in Asia and we eventually
started to gain more fans and here
we are now in the United States. So,
we are doing much better and we are
happy!

AYANO: When I first began, my
voice was childish but now I can sing
mature and challenging songs.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 299

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE \\\

JJ-ENT: When you first heard
that you were about to perform
in the United States, what was
your reaction?
MEI: I was really surprised and I
couldn't believe it. I was very ex-
cited and I began singing more our
songs in English and I wish I could
sing them in the United States.
YURI: I also couldn't believe it and
I was very excited. I wasn't sure if
there would be many fans to see
us in San Francisco, but I was very
surprised and so happy to see our
fans.

HITOMI: I was very happy and
wanted to give the best perfor-
mance and see everyone's smiles.
And I was so happy to sing the
song "Himawari to Hoshikuzu" in
English, in the United States.
MIYU: I was very excited, so much
that I changed my bedroom into a
western style especially with Power
Puff Girls art. My mom was also
very excited and I'm so happy to be
in America!

AYANO: I was so very happy and
my mom's sister, my aunt happens to
lives near here, so I was very happy
for them to see me perform our live
for the very first time in America.

JJ-ENT: Our field poll that we
conducted after J-Pop Summit
Festival showed that many peo-
ple in the audience gave you
performance the highest marks
and people who have never heard
of your music before, have now
become fans. How do you feel
about that?

TOKYO GIRL'S STYLE: (Everyone
clapping in excitement) Wow! We
are so happy!!!

JJ-ENT: You released your fourth
album "Killing Me Softly" in
June 2014* How was this album
different compared to your previ-
ous albums?

MEI: Our previous albums were
more pop-inspired, more happy and
more childlike. For our latest album,

it's more mature than any of our
past albums.

YURI: I feel that for this fourth
album, we can express ourselves
and our feelings much more with
the music than in past albums.
HITOMI: There are pictures on
each of our albums and I can see
how our faces have changed with
each album. Like how our outfits
and other details about us have
changed. For the current album,
it's become more colorful and
shows more of our personality,
especially through our outfits.
MIYU: Our first album was really
cute because we were still young.
Our second and third album, we
added cool songs and matured a
bit. But our fourth album, since
we are in high school now, we can
express our feelings a lot more and
put more deeper feelings into our
songs.

AYANO: In our first album, it was
really cute. And with our new al-
bum, similar to how the others have

300 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE \\\

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE \\\

felt, it is more mature and person-
ally, I feel that I can express myself
much more into our music.

JI-ENT: In every JI-ENT in-
terview, we do a JI-ENT Word
Play** J give you a sentence and
you fill in the blank:

a. The food I really want to try in
America is .

MEI: Clam chowder.
YURI: Seafood.
HITOMI: Clam chowder
MIYU: Muffin
AYANO: Steak

b. Before each live performance I
like to .

MEI: Put our hands together
YURI: Stretch
HITOMI: Practice my vocals
MIYU: I eat natto
AYANO: I eat

c. I like to see the audience

YURI: Smile

HITOMI: Have fun

MIYU: Have fun and cheer

AYANO: Dance together with us

d. My favorite music
video that I worked on was

MEI: I don't know... (laughing and
thinking).

YURI: "Kodou no Himitsu"
MIYU: "Road to Budokan 2013
-Chiisana Kiseki-"
AYANO: "Partition Love"
HITOMI: This is hard... "Killing Me
Softly"

EVERYONE: Mei? (laughing)
MEI: I don't know, I don't
know..."Onnaji Kimochi" (laughing)

e. The last movie I watched was

JI-ENT: What final words do
you have for your fans?

MEI: We want to try our best to
come back to America. So, please
keep cheering us on! Thank you!
YURI: We really love America and I
hope we can come back to America
again!

HITOMI: I want to practice English
more, so if we get the opportunity
to come back, I can communicate
with our fans in English.
MIYU: We enjoyed coming to
America but we also want our fans
to also know about our Ustream
channel and on YouTube for many
of our videos and continue to cheer
us on.

AYANO: We hope to come back to
San Francisco again, so please sup-
port us and keep cheering for us.
TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: Thank you!

MEI: Smile

MEI: Our horror movie "Gakkou no

Kaidan".

HITOMI: "L-DK"

YURI: "Gakkou no Kaidan"

MIYU: "Gakkou no Kaidan"

AYANO: "Yamikin Ushijima-kun"-

For more on Tokyo Girls' Style,
please visit:

http://tokyogirlsstyle.jp/

https://www.youtube.com/user/Tokyo-
GirlsStyle

306 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA \\\

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA \\\

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA \\\

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE: PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH \\\

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE FANS: CHASE & KENNETH

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

NAME: Chase
FROM: California

"From the first notes of " L v 7 ^ U <bMM" to asking them how they would function as a
family, to watching five wide smiles appear as the crowd cheered with sunflowers raised to the
skies, Tokyo Girls Style has captivated me with their all-too-brief visit to San Francisco. They
have limitless potential to be standouts in the idol industry, and I hope to see them in action
again soon! Oshimen: Shoji Mei"

NAME: Kenneth
FROM: New York

It was 2010, the year right after I learned about the existence of Japanese Idols through
AKB48. Although I already consider myself to be a diehard fan at the time, I was still rela-
tively new to the entire Japanese Idol scene. The only other group at the time that I knew was
Morning Musume and Momoiro Clover, however my time and interests were completely
dedicated to AKB48.

Then one day, on September 11, 2010, 1 came across a series of threads on an international
AKB48 forum that introduced other idol groups and music artists - among which was Tokyo
Girls Style. I clicked on the Tokyo Girls Style thread and one of the comments talked about
Onnaji Kimochi and Kirari, Tokyo Girls Style first song.

The moment I listened to those songs, I immediately got interested. Just like when I first found out about AKB48, 1 was
filled with wonder and curiosity and like the video that got me into AKB48, 1 had never heard a music style before like the
one introduced in Kirari. My immediate reply to the thread was "Where can I buy their album?" to which the reply was
"They haven't released an album yet but they've had one hell of a year - they're released four singles so far this year". The
group was now on my radar and looked forward to the release of their first album. Then that's when Kodou no Himitsu
came out - 1 was awestruck at how amazing the song and its accompanying PV was.

For me, the entry point into any idol group is their music. Tokyo Girls' Style had a unique mix of funk incorporated into
their songs along with a plethora of guitar riffs, solos and bass solos which made them stand out in what the media started
referring to as the "Idol Sengoku Jidai". Unlike the 48 groups which were constantly being suspected of lip synching during
their performances or for their lack dance skills, these are areas where Tokyo Girls' Style shone.

However this left me in a strange place. From 2011 to 2013, 1 always looked forward to their latest singles but never closely
followed their latest activities or the members themselves as I did with the 48 groups. I guess you could call me a "hard-
core casual". That was until Tokyo Girls' Style came to JPOP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 in San Francisco to perform for the
weekend where I got to watch a movie that stars the members as the main cast and experience their performances first-
hand. While having fun, they always maintained a high level of professionalism and their dancing and singing was flawless.
In addition, I got to attend a meet-and-greet session as a VIP holder and take a group photo with them. The entire expe-
rience was amazing. By the end, I made up my mind that if 48 groups ever decide to disband and Tokyo Girls' Style is still
around, they would become my go-to' group.

Thanks to my experience, I try my best to catch with the group's various activities like their constant Ustreams or Arai Hit-
omi's Hitomibocchi despite the twelve to thirteen hour time difference from New York to Japan.

Last but not least, they are all very cute! This is my personal preference but I like how the entire group has long black hair.

BRANDON MASTERS: THE TGS SUPER FAN!

When it comes to Tokyo Girls' Style, in America, there is one super fan that is on top of every merchandise
release and also will travel to Japan to watch them perform. JI-ENT gets to know Tokyo Girls' Style super fan,
BRANDON MASTERS and how far his fandom goes for the idol pop group!

By Dennis A. Amith

hat song made you
a big Tokyo Girls'
Style fan?

BRANDON: "Lim-
ited Addiction" was
one of the first songs
I heard and saw them
perform via Ustream,
and it was basically love
at first listen. Prior to
that, I hadn't delved much into the world of idol music aside
from Hello! Project and the 48 family, and the funky pop vibe
of this song was a great eye-opener to the true variety and
potential of idol music.

You're one of the few Americans, especially one not
affiliated with the media, who had the opportunity to
travel to Tokyo Idol Festival 2014. How was the expe-
rience for you to attend the event?

BRANDON: Attending "Tokyo Idol Festival" had been a
dream of mine ever since I first watched footage of it in 2012,
and having finally attended in 2014, it lived up to my expec-
tations in every way. TIF is an ideal event for me as, while
TGS is my very favorite group, I am a fan of a number of
other idol groups, the majority of which attend TIF regularly.
TGS is always a main headliner of the event, and that was no
different this year, which gave me the opportunity to see them
several times throughout the weekend while also catching my
other top groups and even get an introduction to some quality
groups I did not know much about beforehand.

316 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE SUPERFAN: BRANDON MASTERS

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

I greatly enjoyed TGS' set lists through-
out the three different performances of
theirs I saw at TIF; there were songs I
first experienced in San Francisco, and
songs that really get the crowd moving,
such as the frantic towel-waving in At-
tack Hyper Beat Pop. Best of all, in true
idol fashion, there were several oppor-
tunities to meet the groups, and I met
TGS when they came to sell goods at
their booth both days. They recognized
me from San Francisco, which was a
great feeling. All in all, it was very much
worth all the saving it took to make the
trip happen, and I would jump at the
chance to do it again. I may very well do
so next year!

You watched Tokyo Girls Style per-
form on TV Asahi's "Summer Sta-
tion Live". How was that experi-
ence?

BRANDON: TGS' appearance on
Summer Station Live occurred the day

after Tokyo Idol Festival, and it didn't
feel very different to seeing them at
TIF, with the exception of a longer set-
list. The crowd was all there to see them
specifically, also a difference from TIF,
where a good percentage of the people
in the crowd is just waiting for the fol-
lowing act to start. I once again enjoyed
the composition of the set list, mixing
their hit older tracks like "Kodou no
Himitsu" with my very favorite current
songs like "Count Three". This was my
first time seeing their cheerleader track
"Ganbatte Itsudatte Shinjiteru'live, and
I was really looking forward to doing the
"furicopy" I had always done behind my
computer screen prior to this, haha.

I attended this with my friend from the
UK whom I encountered online through
mutual interest in TGS, and our first
time meeting in person was through this
simultaneous trip to Japan, which made
things even more special.

How was the "Hardboiled Night
Lives at Akasaka Blitz" perfor-
mance?

BRANDON: The lives at Akasaka Blitz
were a definite highlight of my 2-week
trip and one of only 2 "one-man" lives
I attended. The first live, which I was
unfortunately late to, consisted only of
songs from their second album "Limit-
ed Addiction", many of which are rarely
performed any more. So, attending this
live was a treat for my friend and I and
all other longtime fans. My tardiness
caused me to miss the performance of
my favorite TGS song of all, "Regret",
which was disappointing. This was also
my first opportunity to do a legitimate
encore call for TGS, and it was an awe-
some feeling calling out in unison with
the crowd.

The second live was part two of their
5 -month "Hardboiled Night" movie
special, in which a western film played

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 317

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE SUPERFAN: BRANDON MASTERS \\\

Photo: What's in Brandon Masters' Tokyo Girls' Style collection! Photos courtesy of Brandon Masters

out in between performances of their more "cool" style songs.
They introduced a brand new song as well, titled "existence",
that really impressed me. The majority of the "Hardboiled
Night"-related songs to date are of high quality musicality.

Not knowing much Japanese, I couldn't really comprehend
what was going on in the movie, but it was still interesting
enough to watch. And the performances were of the fine-
tuned quality I've come to expect from TGS. Much to my
surprise, at some point in the middle of the live, they per-
formed "Regret" again, and I got to fulfill my dream of seeing
my favorite TGS song live after all. Overall, both lives were
excellent, while at the same time bittersweet, as that would be
my last time seeing them on the trip, and it will surely be quite
a while before I meet them again.

You attended J-Pop Summit Festival 2014 in San Fran-
cisco and saw them for the very first time. How was
that experience for you?

BRANDON: It's really hard to put all the feelings and emo-
tions I experienced in San Francisco into words... Simply
put, all of my biggest dreams in relation to TGS, and idols
in general, were fulfilled in that one short weekend. The first
moment I would encounter them was on Saturday the 19th, as
they headed to Pagoda Stage for the opening ceremony. My
TGS fan friends and I pooled our funds and know-how into

having a banner made for them, and we found the spot they
would come into and held up the banner, waiting for them to
come through. Most of my friends had run into them the day
prior, but this was my first opportunity.

As we waited, my mind raced like it rarely had before, and my
emotions welled up. "This is it, I'm finally going to be meeting
my favorite group," I thought. When they came around the
corner and into view, I could feel the chills going down my
spine as my friends and I cheered for them and welcomed
them as best as we could, much to the delight of the girls
themselves. Shortly after, staff told us the girls wanted a pic-
ture with us and the banner, and I was stunned. At no other
idol event I'd been to before would even the thought of such
an occurrence have been permitted, much less after the AKB
handshake incident.

After the picture, they even stayed around for a minute to talk
to us as we fumbled through whatever words we could get
out. This close contact with the group continued throughout
the whole weekend, from being only a couple feet away at the
movie Q&As to getting pictures taken with and autographs
from the group at the VIP sessions, to us handing off the ban-
ner directly to the girls as they left for the final time. All this
before even mentioning the lives themselves, with TGS' trade-
mark smooth dancing and solid vocals throughout several of

318 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE SUPERFAN: BRANDON MASTERS

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Photo: What's in Brandon Masters' Tokyo Girls' Style collection! Photos courtesy of Brandon Masters

their most iconic songs. Even if they
weren't my favorite idol group, it would
have been the best US appearance by an
idol group to date in terms of access to
them.

You have met with Tokyo Girls'
Style several times. Do they recog-
nize you each time you see them?

BRANDON: When I met them for
the first time in Japan at TIF, they
quickly remembered me from San Fran-
cisco. I met them two other times face
to face afterward at TIF, and each time
they definitely recognized me. Those
were the last times I would see them
up close; during a MC at the "Hard-
boiled Night" live, I waved at Yuri and
she smiled and waved back. I, of course
cant confirm that meant she recognized
me, given how hard it can be to see a
particular face in a crowd, but given the
history, and, to be frank, my contrast
from everyone else in the crowd, it isn't
far-fetched to say she did.

Would you classify yourself as a
wota (mega idol fan)?

BRANDON: I don't know if I can
say so one way or the other. I clearly
identify with several characteristics of a
wota: being interested in idols, buying

idol merchandise, going to events, etc.
However, other expectations of wota I
do not follow so much. For example, I
don't think it's necessary to devote your
love and time to only one member of
an idol group, as it devalues the quali-
ties of the other members a bit. I also
don't blindly devote myself to a group
and ignore their shortcomings or faults,
and am capable of looking at the groups
I love without rose-colored glasses. That
said, my behaviors do lean towards me
being a wota, but not quite a fully-im-
mersed wota.

What is the most expensive idol
item you have purchased?

BRANDON: While I have a lot of
merchandise, I have never spent a ton
of money on one single item. My prici-
est item is probably a Blu-ray/DVD set
of TGS' 2nd Japan tour final and 2011
Christmas live, which cost 10,000 yen.

I know you are one of the hard-
core TGS fans out there but what
are your favorite TGS merchandise
that you have in your collection?

BRANDON: Without a moment's
thought, my favorite piece of TGS mer-
chandise is the set of Astalight (fanclub)
clear files I got hand-signed by each

member at J-Pop Summit. No other
piece of merchandise evokes such strong
memories.

Having attended an idol event
overseas, what advice do you give
to other idol fans who may want to
attend an event such as TIF2014 or
watch a performance "Tokyo Idol
Festival 2014"?

BRANDON: I recommend, especially
if you don't know Japanese, to find and
make connections with someone living
in Japan who can offer you assistance.
It's near impossible to get tickets to
many Japanese events without having an
address to ship the tickets to, or a Jap-
anese mobile phone, so having a friend
who will let you use theirs and help you
out with purchasing access to events is
a must. "Tokyo Idol Festival" opened
ticket purchasing to foreigners this year,
yet I still went through my friend in Ja-
pan, as doing so came with more perks
than the foreigner's ticket.

Also, make sure you bring plenty of
money. You may not think you will
spend much, but the cost of attend-
ing events, meeting your idols, getting
handshakes with them, and taking pic-
tures with them can add up in a hurry. ■

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 319

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE SUPERFAN: BRANDON MASTERS \\\

Photo: What's in Brandon Masters' Tokyo Girls' Style collection! Photos courtesy of Brandon Masters

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

For 25-years, TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA has been entertaining the world with
their music which incorporates a mix of traditional ska, jazz and rock. JI-ENT recently had the
opportunity to interview TSPO after their performances in the United States.

By Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Yoji Abe & Mayumi Nashida

It was back in 1988 when the Japanese ska and
jazz band, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra was
formed. And in 2014, the ska band known
for their electric, upbeat performances will be
celebrating their 25th year anniversary With
a world tour which included performances in
Santa Ana, Los Angeles and New York and Ja-
karta, Indonesia, J! -ENT had the opportunity to
interview Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra mem-
bers NARGO (trumpet), Masahiko Kitahara (trombone),
GAMO (tenor saxophone), Atsushi Yanaka (baritone sax-
ophone), Tsuyoshi Kawakami (bass),Takashi Kato (guitar),
Yuichi Oki (keyboaards), Hajime Oumori (percussion) and
Kinichi Motegi (drums).

JI-ENT: Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra has managed
to stay strong for 25-years. What is the secret behind
the success of the group and having stayed together
for so long?

TSPO: It is definitely the audiences smile that kept us

going.

JI-ENT: As you all are celebrating your 25th year an-
niversary, looking back when you first started, what
is the difference with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
today vs. the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra when you
first started in the group?

TSPO: We have been playing ska music in suits. The music
has evolved as we adopt various genres of music.

JI-ENT: For your latest album "Ska Me Forever", was
there anything different, in terms of how you created
this album compared to your last albums because it is
your 25th anniversary album?

TSPO: It is the integration of our 25th anniversary. Peddlers
2014 is our self- remake of Peddler, the 1st track on our very
first album. You can see how we evolved in the period of 25
years.

JI-ENT: One of the coolest aspects of the music of

322 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra is
the ability to fuse ska music with
other types of music. For "Ska Me
Forever", you collaborated with
10-FEET, MONGOL800 and ASIAN
KUNG-FU GENERATION. How was
that experience to work with each
of them?

TSPO: It was very inspiring to us all.
We believe it inspired them as well.
Working with younger generations,
we gave and took different ideas and
energy.

JI-ENT: Recently, you traveled
to both California and New York
for performances. How was that
experience to perform in America
again in 2014.

TSPO: Yes, we performed at Obser-
vatory in Santa Ana, at Supersonico
festival in LA and Irving Plaza in NY.
IT was awesome to come back to the
States to perform in front of the real

music lovers!

JI-ENT: You have a large fol-
lowing all over the world. U.S.,
Europe, Mexico and you will be
performing in Costa Rica, Mexico
and Jakarta, Indonesia. With
your own personal experiences
with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orches-
tra, what was your most memo-
rable event to perform at so far?
TSPO: We must say it was "Vive
Latino" in Mexico.

JI-ENT: As one of the proponents
of ska music around the world,
are there any artists or bands
that get you excited?

TSPO: Specials and Madness

JI-ENT: And having collaborated
with so many talent around the
world, who would you love to
collaborate with?

TSPO: Specials and Madness

JI-ENT: 25-years delivering fantastic
ska music to audiences worldwide
and you all have accomplished so
much as a group. But what is the
next stage for TSPO?
TSPO: Just to keep on going and bring-
ing smile to everyone's face!

JI-ENT: What final words would you
like to share with your fans world-
wide?

TSPO: Don't put limits on yourself.
There is no border in music! □

\ For more information on

\ TOKYO SKA \

\ PARADISE ORCHESTRA, \

\ please visit: \

\ j

I http://www.tokyoska.net/

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 323

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA \\\

/// TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

LISTENING TO 25-YEARS OF
TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA

By Dennis A. Amith

or 25-years, TOKYO SKA PAR-
ADISE ORCHESTRA has been
U ^ entertaining fans worldwide with their

U combination of ska, jazz and rock. But

^^f^^^^m also making themselves stay relevant

U by making sure their music stays fresh

U with experimentation and also constant

collaborations with top artists in Japan.

Their music has also being featured
on video games such as "Incredible
Crisis" and "Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus" and "HE-
ROES - One Piece 3D movie soundtrack".

TSPO are one of the few bands in Japan that continually per-
forms all over the world and people of all ages continue to flock to
their concerts, showing no signs that the music of TSPO is waning.

There is no denying that an enormous part of their success is
the band's ability is to showcase their music to receptive audiences
worldwide and that ska music is music that is enjoyed and music
that you can dance to.

From the enthusiastic crowds of Mexico, to countries in Europe
who continue to showcase TSPO s music and TSPO also have

released albums in Europe as well.

While TSPO performed to American crowds in 2014, for fans,
the performance was a long time coming.

But back in 1988 when the group formed, it didn't take too long
for TSPO to release their first major single with Epic Records with
the studio album "Skapara's Intro" in 1990 and their debut single
"Monster Rock".

As the single would eventually capture listeners, for me, it would
take me nearly a decade later to finally discover their music.

For me, my interest in TSPO began with the Sony PlayStation
video game "Incredible Crisis" and my interest in the group would
grow after the group collaborated with pop duo PUFFY for the
song "Boogie Woogie No. 5" (and would collaborate several years
later with "Hazimu Rizumu") and would take part in another
awesome collaboration with Shiina Ringo for the track "Mayonaka
wa Junketsu".

But the first single that I have of TSPO was their 1999 sin-
gle "Hinotama Jive", the band's third single with Avex Trax after
spending eight years with Epic Records.

"Hinotama Jive" was a wild and exciting single which showcased
the band's ability to play their instruments with effiacy

The next single I would listen to from TSPO was their first

326 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// 25 YEARS OF SKAPARA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

<
08

single through the Cutting Edge music label titled "Filmmakers Bleed
"Decisive Battle on the Summit~". A song that I love for its complexity
of its musical transitions but it's a single that I would constantly listen to
on a commute to the beach before I went surfing. I love the music from
this song especially for its brass!

By 2003, 1 would enjoy the integration of reggae music to their single
"A Quick Drunkard" and transitioning to a pure ska track with the group
singing in unison with an uplifting groove. And the same could be said
for the two coupling tracks "Lover s Walk (strut Dub) and "Rendezovous
in Space! (A Dream Rucket Dub)".

That same year the band released their album "High Numbers" and
it was my first foray into hearing the more rockish side of TSPO. With
songs such as "Put on Fresh Sex" and"Wreckin Ball" that featured a punk/
ska fusion.

My next album that I would add to my collection is their 2005 album
"Answer", an album that would feature an energetic sound with more
rock/ska but no doubt a soundtrack that would easily win over an audi-
ence if performed live with its mix of high energy tracks. In fact, one of
the tracks on the album "$2>(c£^cfc ^farewell My Friend^", is one I
still listen to this day.

In 2006, the first TSPO album that I have that would include a DVD
was their 2006 album "WILD PEACE" which was a fascinating album as
it featured vocals by Chara, Hanaregumi and The High-Lows Hiroto Ko-
moto. The DVD would feature music videos, the recording of the album
and also the collaboration with the vocalists.

That very year, I would also check out Tsuyoshi Kawaka-
mi &c His Mood Makers. The TSPO bass player would
release a reggae themed album featuring artists such as
BONNIE PINK, FruichiToko, Wada Akiko, and singing
covers from the Beatles, The Monkeys, Hall &c Oates and
more.

In 2007, the year would kick of with TSPO creating
music for the "Tribute to Haruomi Hosono" album.

Spring 2007 would also feature the first best album of
TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA during the
Avex/Cutting Edge years with "BEST OF TOKYO SKA
1998-2007".

Because of the number of singles that TSPO releases,
the release of the best album was a great way to get some
of the singles from "Ai ga Arukai?" (1998) to "Sapphire no
Hoshi" (2006) plus other popular tracks and also 17 of their
music videos on DVD. Most interesting is the tracks on the
best album were selected by drummer Kinichi Motegi.

In 2008, TSPO s collaboration with KinKi Kids would
lead to another #1 hit single for the Johnny s duo with
"Secret Code".

By 2009, the group would release their 20th anniversary
album "Paradise Blue" and in 2010, their album "World Ska
Symphony" featuring guest vocalist Tamio Okuda, Crystal
Kay and Kazuyoshi Saito.

In 2013, the band would come to America to perform
at the Coachella Music Festival, release the album "Dia-
mond in Your Heart" and leading to single collaborations
with 10-FEET, MONGOL800 and ASIAN KUNG-FU
GENERATION.

And by 2014, the band would celebrate their 25th anni-
versary with the release of "Ska Me Forever" and a concert
tour which brought the group back to America in October
at The Observatory in Santa Ana, Supersonico in Los An-
geles and to Irving Plaza in New York and in late October,
performing in Jakarta for Java Soundsfair 2014.

For 25-years, TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHES-
TRA has entertained the masses with their ska music and
live performances and there is no doubt that fans all over
the world will continue to support the band for many more
years to come.

Skank to the rhythm... Viva la Skapara! ■

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 327

Japanese pop female vocal duo YANAKIKU electrified a packed San Francisco
audience with their performance at J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014.

Interview by Ken Eric Tran
Featuring Photography by Dennis A. Amith, Darren Yamashita and Ken Eric Tran

Around a quarter before 9 in the
morning, Yanakiku were already
M at sound-check preparing for their

m debut performance in America. It

M was going to be a start of a busy

^^^^^^^^L weekend, including five stage ap-

M pearances and many hours at their

M merchandise booth on Post Street.

As a relatively unknown vocal duo,
it was important to go into the
festival with energy and exuberance in order to gain exposure.
Walking around the main street in the midst of a calm before
the storm, the pair, clad in their trademark "Kimo-Cos", were
garnering a great deal of curious stares and attention. Through-
out the weekend, they would refer affectionately to their fans as
their "lettuces", a running theme to all of their prior live shows.
It was certain through their high-energy style, comedic dis-
position, and catchy tunes, attendees were not going to forget
about the charismatic young ladies.

JI-ENT: What is "kimono-cos"?

YANAKIKU: As Yanakiku, we are trying to represent Japan

through our appearance, as well as with through singing. We
want to travel the world as ambassadors representing Japanese
culture with our lyrics and through our dress. Thus, the concept
of Kimo-Cos (kimono-cosplay) was born. Our outfit for "Fu-
jiyama Disco" is a kimono featuring disco ball. It is an amalga-
mation of the past and future.

JI-ENT: Do you cosplay in general?

KIKU: I like cosplay, but don't really extensively do it. I am
much more into idols! I enjoy their costumes and often imitate
them, like AKB48. My favorites are Ebichu and Momoiro
Clover.

YANA: I'm not really into cosplaying outside of Yanakiku, but
I do enjoy wearing all the different varieties of kimono.
JI-ENT: you view yourselves as idols or vocalists?

YANAKIKU: Since we make our own songs, we would like to
be considered artists. But calling us idols is extremely flattering.
To us, the definition of "Idol" means kawaii. It really makes us
happy to be referred to as cute!

JI-ENT: What ambitions do you have?

YANAKIKU: Our ambition is to conquer the world with our

330 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// YANAKIKU

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

songs. We would wish to tour the world,
being at bigger and bigger venues. One
day we hope that people around the
world will recognize us as Yanakiku,
scream our name, and sing along with
us. That is our dream. We also want to
spread knowledge of the Japanese cul-
ture around the globe.

JI-ENT: Do you take pride in your
strong vocals?

YANAKIKU: Thank you for the com-
pliment! We have been working togeth-
er for around ten years. Because of that,
we have become very close and even our
voices appear to harmonize together
quite well. Every day, there are vocal
lessons and training. We don't really
speak English, but we are trying hard.
Today, Yanakiku are going to do a stage

JI-ENT: Is there anyone in partic-
ular you draw inspiration from?

YANAKIKU: We want to be original,
so we don't really model ourselves after
anyone.

JI-ENT: Do you have any words of
wisdom to give to your current as
well as future fans?

YANAKIKU: We never got to travel
overseas before we became Yanaki-
ku. I (Yana) was a shy person. After
traveling around, we realized that even
though we cannot speak the language,
it felt like home. It is very hard to take
a chance and put yourself out there. If

there is one thing we can pass to the next
generation, don't be scared and go for it.

For more information on
YANAKIKU, please visit:

http://yanakiku.jp/

https://www.youtube.com/
YANAKIKU

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 331

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

YANAKIKU: PHOTO BY DENNIS A. AMITH \\\

/// YANAKIKU PHOTO BY DENNIS A. AMITH

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

YANAKIKU: PHOTO BY DENNIS A. AMITH \\\

/// YANAKIKU: PHOTOS BY KEN ERIC TRAN

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

YANAKIKU: PHOTO BY DARREN YAMASHITA \\\

/// YANAKIKU PHOTO BY DARREN YAMASHITA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

YANAKIKU: PHOTO BY DARREN YAMASHITA \\\

ARE YOU UP TO TRYING THE

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE?

BY DENNIS A. AMITH

Since 1993, Jl-ENT has covered Japanese pop culture and when it comes to music, we have reviewed many singles and albums, we have covered live concerts
and have done many interviews along the way And always, I'm looking to try something different and new when it comes to coverage.

So, back on September 21, 201 1.. it was "Day One" of my J-Pop 365 photo challenge. Where I would take a photo of an album(s) or single(s) that I lis-
tened to that day. But the requirement was that the music must be from Japan.

I was first introduced to Japanese music by my father who was stationed in Japan. I was very young when I was first introduced to Pink Lady and by my
teenage years, I was listening to Chisato Moritaka, Akina Nakamori and Noriko Sakai. I can remember living in Southern California and watching the
International Channel (KSCI) from Los Angeles and watching Japanese dramas and loving the opening themes to these shows. And during my early college
years, I began writing about Japanese music on the JI-ENT BBS. From anime cassettes to CD's which I would purchase from an anime convention. I would
eventually discover the music section at Kinokuniya Book Store in San Jose and San Francisco, the UC Irvine Bookstore and various shops that catered to the
J-Pop fans. And I would listen to Japanese daily, especially during my commutes to college. It was like J-Pop non-stop!

Of course, that was then. Now, my coverage of Japanese music has been focused on reviewing music, interviewing artists or covering their live events. And
as for listening to music, while I listen to a lot of Japanese music, my tastes have flourished to discover music all over the world. But in the back of my mind,
I wanted to see if I could listen to a Japanese music CD once again, every day for one year. But I would have to document it. And what best than to take part
in FLICKR's 365 project by taking a picture for 365 days straight. And in 2012, it would be 366 thanks to the leap year.

So, I decided to take on that challenge!

It started off great, but then I quickly realized that there were days where I had to travel, days where I was ill, days where I was working very late.. .It was dif-
ficult, but I still managed to take a photo each day for the challenge. And while I started off taking one photo per day, I eventually started listening to more
than one album or single per day and this led to me taking 3-6 photos a day and that became part of my daily routine.

Now that I have completed the J-Pop 365 challenge, I have to say that it was a fascinating experience, especially re-discovering music of various artists and
bands.

So, this first segment is to showcase the photos I have taken from September 2011 through September 2012 for 365 days straight!

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 341

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE

Zone Tribute -gAKtifcfcO)- (J-POP MIH? - JUJIiHfll (J-POP 365 -
365 - 9.21 .20 11 - DAY 1 ) 9.22.201 1 - DAY 2) / Tomiko Van -
Tokyo Byori

moumoon - SPARK (J-POP 365 ■
9.23.201 1 - DAY 3)

*M - Love Letter (J-POP 365 -
9.24.201 1 - DAY 4) / Ai Otsuka - Love
Letter

mm*** V7?4X*-T7> h ^ - WILD PEACE tXZ ™ XT ~«J5?w"£? P * 365 'u

(J-POP 365 - 9.26.201 1 - DAY 6) - 9.27.201 1 - DAY 7) / Chatmonchy

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra - Wild ' Hv °j°
Peace

YUI - HELLO -Paradise Kiss- (J-POP * ^ . I

365 - 9.25.201 1 - DAY 5) m

AAA - Red Soul (J-POP 365 - 9.29.201 1
- DAY 9)

EXILE - THE MONSTER -Someday-
(J-POP 365 - 9.28.201 1 - DAY 8)

My Little Lover - blue sky (J-POP 365 -
10.1.2011 - DAY 11)

SCANDAL - BEST*SCANDAL (J-POP 365 -
94 MUiLIFETTo (J-POP 365 - 9.30.201 1 - DAY 1 0)

10.3.2011 - DAY 13)

TRF - GRAVITY (J-POP 365 - 10.2.201 1
-DAY 12)

MAX - MAXIMUM (J-POP 36E
10.4.2011 - DAY 14)

> -

■t
w.

■

M.m* t mho n-

ji ma ma - BEST OF ji ma ma
Ig<55fc~ (J-POP 365 - 10.8.2

Oil -

THE F-POP 365 CHALLENGE

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

PIZZICATO FIVE - MADE in USA (J-POP Mr. Children - BOLERO (J-POP 365 -
365 - 11 .1 2.201 1 - DAY 53) 11.1 3.201 1 - DAY 54)

MM - BODIES (J-POP 365 -

11.1 2.201 1 - DAY 53) / Nao Nagasawa

SPEED - RISE (J-POP 365 - 1 1 .1 1 .201 1
- DAY 52)

JACKSON VIBE - MMHtftlt* / 7 l J*s? Various Artists - ^0)** (J-POP 365 -
(J-POP 365 -11.1 6.201 1 - DAY 57) / 11.1 7.201 1 - DAY 58) / "Fuyu no Uta"
"Yoru wo Kakenukero/ Alicia"

w-inds. - 1 0th Anniversary Best
Album -WE SING FOR YOU- (J-POP 365
-11.15.2011 - DAY 56)

L'Arc-en-Ciel - KISS (J-POP 365 ■
11.14.2011 - DAY 55)

UNICORN - I LOVE UNICORN -FAN EVERY LITTLE THING - Every Best

BEST- (J-POP 365 - 1 1 .20.201 1 - DAY Single -COMPLETE- (J-POP 365 -
61) 11.21.2011 - DAY 62)

- Sugarless II (J-POP 365 -
11.1 8.201 1 - DAY 59) / Shikao Suga

¥tt§I - m WXti Ken Hirai 1 5th
Anniversary c/w Collection '95-' 10
(J-POP 365 -11.1 9.201 1 - DAY 60) /
Ken Hirai

Do As Infinity - DEEP FOREST (J-POP i-f $//»iV$/=7 - 5/>?Jkfc£a —THE
365 - 1 1 .24.201 1 - DAY 65) BEST OF AE- (J-POP 365 - 1 1 .25.201 1

- DAY 66) / ASIA ENGINEER / "Single
Daizenshu - The Best Of AE -"

ZOO - Can I Dance? (J-POP 365 ■
11.23.2011 - DAY 64)

The Pillows - PIED PIPER, NEW ANI-
MAL and TOKYO BAMBI (J-POP 365
- 11.22.2011 - DAY 63)

RYO the SKYWALKER - Love-a-Dub
Showcase (J-POP 365 - 1 1 .26.201 1 -
DAY 67)

Various Artists - (J-POP 365 -

1 1 .27.201 1 - DAY 68) / "Fuyu Kibun"

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

m&tii- - Make Up and Best Friend
(J-POP 365 - 1 2.2.201 1 - DAY 73) /
Kana Nishino

EXILE - g3vs;g5fc$/\ (J-POP 365 -
12.3.201 1 - DAY 74) / "Aisubeki Mirai

m&Vtfr - Best&Covers (J-POP 365 -
1 2.4.201 1 - DAY 75) / Hitomi
Shimatani

V l Ji- l M-)l7>9-X - Happy Xmas -War
is Over- (J-POP 365 - 1 2.1 .201 1 - DAY
72) / URINARI ALL STARS

AAA - Attack, All, Around (J-POP 365 -
12.8.2011 - DAY 79)

m-flo - COSMICOLOR (J-POP 365 -
12.5.2011 - DAY 76)

DREAMS COME TRUE - BEST OF
DREAMS COME TRUE (J-POP 365 -
12.6.2011 - DAY 77)

feZ£ - X)li/-)l-e.p. (J-POP 365 -
12.7.201 1 - DAY 78) / Negoto "Mer-
ushiiru"

U5:*PX> - U5*^Xh (J-POP 365 -
1 2.9.201 1 - DAY 80) / Remioromen

S3;<ntfU>$>YrP-K Singing Heart
(J-POP 365 - 1 2.1 0.201 1 - DAY 81 ) /
Kimagure Orange Road

J-

- A BEST 2 -WHITE-£A BEST
2 -BLACK- (J-POP 365 - 1 2.1 1 .201 1 -
DAY 82) / Ayumi Hamasaki

ARIA - NEXT DOOR & Color of Love
(J-POP 365 - 1 2.1 4.201 1 - DAY 85)

twenty4-7 - Various Singles and Al-
bum (J-POP 365 - 12.13.201 1 - DAY
84)

AKB48 - Team A 1 st Stage «Party ga

Hajimaru yo» (Jf— ixA 1st Stage'PAR-

TY#*&3;5<fcjstudio recordings) t Team SHANADOO - Launch Party!!! - (J-POP
K 1 st Stage «Party ga Hajimaru yo» (* 365 - 1 2.1 2.201 1 - DAY 83)
-IaK 1st Stage r PARTY^5S^S«fcjStudio
recordings) (J-POP 365 - 1 2.1 5.201 1
- DAY 86)

twenty4-7 - Various Singles and Al-
bum (J-POP 365 - 12.13.201 1 - DAY
84)

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

limShU \£j.-h7Jmk -Tribute to Ha-
ruomi Hosono- (J-POP 365 - 1.12.2012
- DAY 114)/ Haruomi Hosono

Acid Black Cherry - Q.E.D. (J-POP 365
- 1.13.2012 -DAY 115)

KEMURI - ALIVE (J-POP 365 -
1.14.2012 -DAY 116)

Xmb l M - I Got Rhythm? (J-POP 365 ■
1.1 1.2012 -DAY 113)

tpmnm - always (j-pop 365 ■

1 .1 5.201 2 - DAY 117)/ Mika
Nakashima

LINDBERG - LINDBERG XX (J-POP 365
- 1.18.2012 -DAY 120)

88 i

'RESENTS

MY LITTLE LOVER - PRESENTS (J-POP
365- 1.19.2012 -DAY 121)

- (miss) understood (J-POP
365- 1.16.2012 -DAY 118)

mmm - ScfcfcSltWfcSiLEofcA,*: (J-POP
365 - 1 .20.201 2 - DAY 1 22) /
KISHIDAN's "Sayonara Sekai / Omae
Dattanda"

t&fcfr? - Time for Music (J-POP 365 -
1 .1 7.201 2 - DAY 119)/ Takako Matsu

r i

m.c.A-T - m.c.A-T Best Singles+ (J-POP
365 - 1 .23.201 2 - DAY 1 25)

misono - Tales with misono - BEST
(J-POP 365 - 1 .24.201 2 - DAY 1 26)

Irs5 - £<n (J-POP 365 - 1 .21 .201 2 ■
DAY 1 23) / Saruganseki's "Magure"

LISA - ready to disco (J-POP 365 ■
1.22.201 2 -DAY 124)

THE F-POP 365 CHALLENGE

serial TV drama - (J-POP
365 - 1 .30.201 2 - DAY 1 32)

J&J!i60WATTS - j&m (J-POP 365 -
1 .29.201 2 - DAY 131)/ Tokyo 60
Watts

PANG - PANG 5 STAR (J-POP 365 -
2.2.2012 -DAY 135)

■'.'■fr'^'i ;'!v£sri.

THE BOOM - BOOMANIA -THE BOOM
SPECIAL BEST COVERS- (J-POP 365 ■
2.3.201 2 -DAY 136)

Disoscillators - Last Rockers (J-POP
365 - 2.6.201 2 - DAY 1 39)

JONTE - IF (J-POP 365 - 2.5.201 2 ■
DAY 138)

RAMRIDER - £*tf?£+Remix Tunes
(J-POP 365 - 2.4.201 2 - DAY 1 37) /
Kimi ga Suki + Remix Tunes

&m<D&<DWl -Everlasting Love- (J-POP
365 - 2.7.201 2 - DAY 1 40) / Eien no Ai
no Uta - Everlasting Love

VAT fit!! - I AM ME (J-POP 365 -
2.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 1 43) / Yuya
Matsushita

ftfPH? - Van. (J-POP 365 - 2.1 0.201 2 ■
DAY142)/TomikoVan

DA PUMP - SUMMER RIDER (J-POP 365
-2.9.2012 -DAY 141)

Various Artists - ELECTRIC RAYS
(J-POP 365 - 2.1 2.201 2 - DAY 1 45)

Do As Infinity - StfU&U£$ ~Do Asx
*£X SPECIAL SINGLE- (J-POP 365 -
2.1 5.201 2 -DAY 147)

SEED - BLOOM I NT (J-POP 365 -
2.13.2012 -DAY 145)

Various Artist - LOVE SONGS -jg!U<T-
(J-POP 365 - 2.1 4.201 2 - DAY 1 46)

NICO Touches the Walls - *-U=7
(J-POP 365 - 2.1 6.201 2 - DAY 1 48) /
Aurora

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

PornoGraffiiti - EXIT (J-POP 365 -
2.17.2012 - DAY 149)

in**¥? - Syoko. The Ballad of Syoko
Suzuki -GOLDEN BEST- (J-POP 365 -
2.1 8.201 2 - DAY 1 50) / Shoko Suzuki

miray - miray (J-POP 365 - 2.1 9.201 2
-DAY 151)

D - Snow White (J-POP 365 -
2.20.2012 -DAY 152)

Kat - Echoes Over the Ocean (J-POP
365 - 2.21 .201 2 - DAY 1 53)

ZAN - Neo Tokyo Lounge (J-POP 365 -
2.22.2012 -DAY 154)

fcJtfflfll - colorhythm (J-POP 365 -
2.25.201 2 - DAY 1 57) / Hitomi Yaida

m®l>£fr - SMILES (J-POP 365 -
2.23.201 2 - DAY 1 55) / Hitomi
Shimatani

Sfljr? x KREVA - A TO XYZ /

h (J-POP 365 - 2.24.201 2 - DAY 1 56)

Toko Furuuchi x KREVA

mn-tm - n--?n&j*> (j-pop 365 -

2.26.2012 - DAY 158) / Nanase Hoshii
/ Nanase Hoshii's "Perm Pavillion"

ALONG I

- mmwfr&iti/r? (j-pop 365

- 2.27.201 2 - DAY 1 59) / CureaL's
"Hohoendemiru Dake de"

*?§I - A LONG VACATION (J-POP
365 - 2.29.2012 - DAY 161) / Eiichi
Ohtaki

dream - 777 -another side story-
( J-POP 365 - 3.1 .201 2 - DAY 1 62)

MteZtm - Tears in the Sky (J-POP
365 - 2.28.201 2 - DAY 1 60)/ Satomi
Takasugi

EM*® - ?H=7... (J-POP 365 - 3.4.201 2
- DAY 166) / Michi Saito's "Dakara"

Hoi Festa - Now Printing (J-POP 365 -
3.2.201 2 -DAY 163)

AS* ** - yB-t=7 (J-POP 365 - 3.3.2012
- DAY 1 64) / Hiromi Sakimoto

mm - ilofcHH (J-POP 365 - 3.5.201 2
- DAY 1 67) / Kiyoharu's "Kurutta
Kajitsu"

Various Artists - £L!ift£n& 6A>£l/2
JMltMl (J-POP 365 - 3.6.201 2 - DAY
1 68) / "Ranma 1 /2 Nettou Uta-Gas-
sen"

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

J-FRIENDS - People of the World
(J-POP 365 - 3. 11 .201 2 - DAY 1 72)

(J-POP 365 - 3.1 2.201 2 - DAY 1 73) /
Sharan Q's "Single Best 1 0"*Omakase

Grace Mahya - The Girl from Ipanema
(J-POP 365 - 3.1 3.201 2 - DAY 1 74)

CHEMISTRY Feat. MT-T - £0)H-
(J-POP 365 - 3.1 0.201 2 - DAY 171)
feat. Dohzi-T "Ano hi"

■3

M JJj — KinKi Kids - A Album (J-POP 365

3.27.2012 -DAY 188)

mmmm - mww (j-pop 365 -

3.26.2012 - DAY 187) / Kaoru Mochida

THE [ POP 365 CHALLENGE

Seventh Tarz Armstrong - The World
is Mine (J-POP 365 - 3.28.201 2 - DAY
189)

D&D - LOVE IS A MELODY ~D&D me-
morial 1 st- (J-POP 365 - 3.29.201 2
-DAY 190)

BoA - MADE IN TWENTY (20) (J-POP
365 -3.30.201 2 -DAY 191)

Sowelu - The Best 2002-2009 (J-POP
365 - 3.31 .201 2 - DAY 1 92)

Various Artists - avex dance matrix
'95 Live (J-POP 365 - 4.2.201 2 - DAY
194)

CoCo - Singles from 1 989 to 1 994
(J-POP 365 - 4.3.201 2 - DAY 1 95)

m-flo Loves Emyli & Diggy-Mo - Do-
pamine (J-POP 365 - 4.4.2012 - DAY
196)

SIAM SHADE - SIAM SHADE XII THE
BEST LIVE COLLECTION (J-POP 365 -
4.1.2012 -DAY 193)

- *>3U3£#;LT#5 (J-POP 365 -
4.5.2012 - DAY 197) / CureaL's "Yasa-
shisa wo Kangaetemiru"

L'Arc-en-Ciel - Clicked Singles Best
1 3 (J-POP 365 - 4.8.201 2 - DAY 200)

ONE*DRAFT - DREAMAKER (J-POP
365 - 4.6.201 2 - DAY 1 98)

£S itHit - A Walk in the Park (J-POP
365 - 4.1 0.201 2 - DAY 202) / Namie
Amuro

MAX - NEW EDITION -MAXIMUM HITS-
(J-POP 365 - 4.7.201 2 - DAY 1 99)

3§H!I - Can you celebrate? (J-POP
365 - 4.1 0.201 2 - DAY 202) / Namie
Amuro

MHH - Don't wanna cry (J-POP
365 - 4.1 0.201 2 - DAY 203) / Namie
Amuro

DEEN - Teenage dream (J-POP 365 -
4.1 1.2012 -DAY 204)

mm=f-m - 1 7* (j-pop 365 - 4.1 2.201 2 ■

DAY 205) / Chisato Moritaka - 1 7-Sai

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

RYTHEM - mrij^y (J-POP 365 -
5.2.2012 - DAY 225) / "Kubisuji Line"

V**>***7*77-T*-X (KING OF FIGHT-
ERS: THE KING OF SOUNDTRACKS 94-
XIII) (J-POP 365 - 5.3.2012 - DAY 226)

□ □□ - Everyday is a Symphony
(J-POP 365 - 5.4.2012 - DAY 227) /
Kuchiroro

;HjR^fE - m-mfii (J-POP 365 - 5.5.201 2
- DAY 228) / Hideaki Takizawa's "Ai

moumoon - moumoon (J-POP 365 -
5.6.201 2 -DAY 229)

?>tftf - ^Xh*^X (J-POP 365 -

5.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 234)/Tanpopo's "Last

Kiss"

i m<-

\ I -VISUM

$Tffitt - Honesty (J-POP 365 -
5.1 2.201 2 - DAY 235) / Yuya
Matsushita

mjJJlii - keep yourself alive & I BE-
LIEVE (J-POP 365 - 5.1 5.201 2 - DAY
238) / Tomomi Kahala

ZARD - Jftl5?JU (J-POP 365 -
5.14.2012 - DAY 237) / "Yureru Omoi"

Hangry & Angry - Kill Me Kiss Me
(J-POP 365 - 5.1 6.201 2 - DAY 239)

iKffliS- With T*2/*7'J-Xh - Love
Somebody (J-POP 365 - 5.1 5.201 2 -
DAY 238) / Yuji Oda with Maxi Priest

mm - kuroyume the end CORKSCREW
A GO GO! FINAL [Live] (J-POP 365 -
5.1 7.201 2 -DAY 240)

LOVE - LOVE IT (J-POP 365 ■
5.18.2012 -DAY 241)

D - ma>m<DT l JX (J-POP 365 -

5.1 9.201 2 - DAY 242) / "Yami no Kuni

no Alice"

THE [ POP 365 CHALLENGE

&mm - Captain of the Ship (J-POP
365 - 5.20.201 2 - DAY 243) / Tsuyoshi
Nagabuchi

SMAP - (iEfrtDIli ~$/7h*0<fc<~
(J-POP 365 - 5.20.201 2 - DAY 243)
/ "Hadaka no Ousama -Shibutoku
Tsuyoku-"

**** W- feat. /MR Gi~ - ^mtV*-
IW* (J-POP 365 - 5.20.2012 - DAY
243) / Scha Dara Parr's "Konya wa
Boogie Back" feat. Kenji Ozawa

Le Couple - l>mmO<om (J-POP 365 -
5.20.201 2 - DAY 243) / "Hidamari no
Uta"

mm+m - uvt>**h\sy (j-pop 365 ■

5.21 .201 2 - DAY 244) / Chisato
Moritaka's "Rockin' Omelette"

Mr. Children - 7E -Memento-Mori-
( J-POP 365 - 5.20.201 2 - DAY 243) /
Hana -Memento Mort-

als* - JlUfc<TU**fcfcU (J-POP 365
- 5.22.201 2 - DAY 245) / Hiromi Go's
"Aitakuteshikatanai"

(J-POP 365 - 5.23.201 2 - DAY 246) /
Pink Lady

iRffl^RT? - ftttfctt (J-POP 365 -
5.21 .201 2 - DAY 244) / Chikako
Sawada's "Aitai"

mmm? - na>*a>&g (j-pop 365 -

5.22.201 2 - DAY 245) / Aiko Kayo's
"Hitomi no Naka no Meikyuu"

T .IM Ufa +4

m#7£V - Another Orion (J-POP 365 ■
5.22.201 2 - DAY 245) / Fujii Fumiya

mnm* - mm (j-pop 365 - 5.22.2012

- DAY 245) / Hiroko Moriguchi's
"Shisen"

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

OLIVIA inspi' REIRA (TRAPNEST) - A
Little Pain/Wish/Starless Night (J-POP
365 - 5.23.201 2 - DAY 246)

BOOM BOOM BOOM, »fe7 - »t\;utf-*y
fl-0)f§ (J-POP 365 - 5.24.201 2 - DAY
247) / Akagumi 4's "Akai Nikkichou"
(Red Diary, Kiiro 5's "Kiiroi Osora de
BOOM BOOM BOOM" (BOOM BOOM
BOOM in the Yellow Sky) and Aoiro 7's
"Aoi Sports Car no Otoko"

Various Artists - TOKYO MOTOR SHOW
COMPILATION REMIX (J-POP 365 -
5.25.201 2 -DAY 248)

Jepca

lecca - Dreamer (J-POP 365 -
5.25.201 2 -DAY 248)

T.M Revolution - Coordinate & Seventh
Heaven, abingdon boys school - Ja-
pan Tour 2008 (J-POP 365 - 5.25.201 2
- DAY 248)

MUR? with t. komuro - fel>2£ HoU
<*£ fomZt (J-POP 365 - 5.24.2012 -
DAY 247) / Ryoko Shinohara's "koishi-
sato setsunasato kokorozuyosato"

- HEART (J-POP 365 -
5.25.201 2 - DAY 248) / Yuna Ito

ZARD - ZARD BLEND -SUN & STONE-
(J-POP 365 - 5.26.201 2 - DAY 249)

M&.~7ls>X The Movie music collection
(J-POP 365 - 5.25.201 2 - DAY 248) / Uchida
Tokyo Friends

ftfflWSE - MI-CHEMIN, BAD/?* (Ai no
Baka), nakitakunalu(&££<&3) (J-POP
365 - 5.26.201 2 - DAY 249)/Yuki

clazziquai project - color your soul &
Love mode (J-POP 365 - 5.24.201 2 -
DAY 247)

m-flo loves BONNIE PINK - Love Song
(J-POP 365 - 5.25.201 2 - DAY 248

ZARD - *a (J-POP 365 - 5.27.201 2 ■
DAY 250) / "Eien"

V6 - V6 Very Best II (J-POP 365 ■
5.26.201 2 -DAY 249)

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE

7 - BEST

(O SKA 1998-200
7.201 2 - DAY 250

Hif;p Orchestra

7 (J-POP
/ Tokyo

xllOC \fm Vl Ivw LI CI

Various Artists - J-Pop Navi: Music For IMfl§ - «>5^<5^teauT03;UfcU
Driving (J-POP 365 - 5.27.201 2 - DAY (J-POP 365 - 5.27.201 2 - DAY 250) /
250) Shizuka Kudo's "Mechakucha ni Naite
Shimaitai"

SPEED - ALL MY TRUE LOVE (J-POP
365 - 5.27.201 2 - DAY 250)

AAA - alohAAA! (J-POP 365 -
5.28.2012 -DAY 251)

Safarii - &K'.NN (J-POP 365 -
5.28.2012 - DAY 251) / "Renai Shoset-
su"

Anna Tsuchiya inspi' Nana (Black
Stones) - Rose, HIVK, Lucy and Anna
Tsuchiya inspi' NANA (BLACK STONES)
(J-POP 365 - 5.28.201 2 - DAY 251 )

EXILE - EXILE PERFECT YEAR 2008:
Ultimate Best Box (J-POP 365 -
5.29.201 2 -DAY 252)

PIZZICATO FIVE - TYO, FREEDOM, FIVE
BY FIVE, QUICKIE, HAPPY END OF THE
WORLD, a television's workshop e.p.
and Romantique 96

ft 46

■n if

Nostalgia, COSMIC LOVE (J-POP 365
- 5.29.2012 - DAY 252) Aikawa Nan-
ase's "Yume Miru Shoujo ja Irarenai",
"Koigokoro"

Every Little Thing - For the moment,
NECESSARY, FOREVER YOURS, Over
and Over, Someday Someplace (J-POP
365 - 5.30.201 2 - DAY 253)

Various Artists - m$7\s5.T -White-
(J-POP 365 - 5.30.201 2 - DAY 253) /
"UTA-HIME Premiere White"

Shinichi Osawa - The One (J-POP 365 -
5.30.2012 -DAY 253)

HINOI?-A - IKE IKE, KING KONG, Night
of Fire/Play with Numbers, Sticky
Tricky and Bang, Super Euro Party,
Now and Forever, Dancin' & Dreamin
(J-POP 365 - 5.31 .201 2 - DAY 254)

SMAP - h (J-POP 365 -

5.31 .201 2 - DAY 254) / "Dynamite"

mmtzz - mmtzz cover best an

—MM, momo-i quality, 21t£SS, Feel So
Easy!, Sunday early morning,
0)So<, ipVXD&th,, 'ttSZiHJP DATEj
SONGS BEST, JU£ft (J-POP 365 -
6.1.2012 - DAY 255) Haruko Momoi

mm - ENFLEURAGE (J-POP
365 - 5.31 .201 2 - DAY 254) / Megumi
Hayashibara

misono - MWtfDH & ttMfrO&toT— "7 ~7
Ix<D?7 % J>9~ (J-POP 365 - 6.1.2012 -
DAY 255) / "Kazoku no Hi / Aburazemi
Mesu (Osaka Version)" and "Lum no
Theme Song"

EX MACHINA ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK Honey L Days - / *5©ISIC«

(J-POP 365 - 6.1 .201 2 - DAY 255) A^SKM (J-POP 365 - 6.2.201 2 - DAY

256) / ""Kimi no Phrase / Kimi no
Tame ni Boku ga Tsuyoku Nam"

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

£ - the primary./vesperbell. (J-POP
365 - 6.6.201 2 - DAY 260) / Kei

&m=t-m - mcqmiT (j-pop 365 -

6.9.201 2 - DAY 263) / Chisato
Moritaka's "Kaze ni Fukarete"

ito^h— M - Music Blend 2 & Music Sour
Soundtracks (J-POP 365 - 6.7.2012 -
DAY 261) / Maison Ikkoku

Various Artists - THE COMPLETE
SELECTION: The 25th Anniversary Of
Fuji Television Grand Prix (J-POP 365 -
6.9.201 2 -DAY 263)

Lisa Ono - Soul & Bossa (J-POP 365
6.1 0.201 2 -DAY 264)

m - Maiself (J-POP 365 - 6.8.2012 -
DAY 262) / Mai

54 ffl --n

trf - trf HYPER TECHNO MIX, trf HY-
PER TECHNO MIX II, trf HYPER TECH-
NO MIX III, trf HYPER TECHNO MIX 4,
TRF Burst Drive Mix -album- (J-POP
365 - 6.9.201 2 - DAY 263)

m-flo loves BoA - the Love Bug (J-POP
365 - 6.8.201 2 - DAY 2621 )

Skoop On Somebody - (Akiu-
ta), 3.4r9?ep. (Yukiuta), ANOTHER LIFE
Feat. KUREI (J-POP 365 - 6.1 0.201 2
- DAY 264)

PENICILLIN - BLUE HEAVEN (J-POP
365 - 6.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 265)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

1R f T x vY*\i7ST x V x y - COLORFUL (J-POP
365 - 6.25.201 2 - DAY 279) / Pocket
Biscuits

Various Artists - VELFARRE J-POP
NIGHT (J-POP 365 - 6.26.201 2 - DAY
280)

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE

THE I-POP 365 CHALLENGE

PUFFY (Puffy AmiYumi) - Various
Albums (J-POP 365 - 7.1 2.201 2 - DAY
296)

Do As Infinity - TRUE SONG (J-POP
365 - 7.14.2012 - DAY 298)

fflttK- - Love (J-POP 365 - 7.1 3.201 2
- DAY 297) / Ryuichi Kawamura

THE I-POP 365 CHALLENGE

move - worlds of the mind (J-POP 365
- 7.1 5.201 2 - DAY 299)

SUPER EUROBEAT Presents Initial D
Non Stop Mix from KEISUKE Selection
and Super Eurobeat Presents Initial D
Absolute Album feat. Keisuke Taka-
hashi (J-POP 365 - 7.1 6.201 2 - DAY
300)

*7-?±mmn/Lyr\c Piano (J-POP 365 -
7.1 6.201 2 - DAY 300) / Seiko Sumi

- VThtfxtf'flvW* VIDEO CLIP
CHRONICLE 1991-2001 (J-POP 365 -
7.1 7.201 2 - DAY 301 ) / Spitz

Ryohei - Ryohei BEST (J-POP 365
7.1 8.201 2 -DAY 302)

m ■?« : E-=>?$fio'SXhlO, Hello! FIRST
LIVE AT SHIBUYA KOHKAIDO (J-POP
365 - 7.1 7.201 2 - DAY 301 ) / Morning
Musume

mmm% - some boysi touch (j-pop

365 - 7.1 9.201 2 - DAY 303) / Maki
Goto

=li**n Feat. KREVA - Your Love
(J-POP 365 - 7.1 9.201 2 - DAY 303) /
Daichi Miura

3IJ5iXflA^r*7r-$-*h^ - HIGH NUM-
BERS, A Quick Drunkard, jAcCDiy W
Paradise Blue, Answer, 7*rJUZo('f
~H±&$~ (J-POP 365
- 7.1 8.201 2 - DAY 302) / Tokyo Ska
Paradise Orchestra

NEWS - Pacific (J-POP 365 -
7.1 8.201 2 -DAY 302)

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE

Various Artists - GENTLE 2 ~7-n>m
tt?3t-»U*h~ (J-POP 365 - 7.25.2012
- DAY 309)

SiRfllS - mom 06/07 (J-POP 365 -
7.25.2012 - DAY 309) / Kazufumi
Miyazawa's "Yorimichi 06 / 07"

Tourbillon - A Tide of New Era / Frame
of HEAVEN (J-POP 365 - 7.26.201 2 -
DAY 310)

Sweets - Delicious -Complete Best-
(J-POP 365 - 7.26.201 2 - DAY 310)

THE [ POP 365 CHALLENGE

sifow - RULE/Love Spell/MTE^ (J-POP
365 - 7.27.201 2 - DAY 311)

P-K*?X$»- - ROAD OF

MAJOR, mUlZftfroT, ENERGY (J-POP
365 - 7.28.201 2 - DAY 312)/ Road
of Major's "Saraba Aoki Omokage",
"Seiten ni Mukatte"

- mm (J-POP 365 - 7.27.201 2
- DAY 31 1) / Shibashirazu

S.E.N.S. - GOLDEN^BEST ~ SINGLES
COLLECTION (J-POP 365 - 7.27.2012
-DAY 311)

SOFFet - Life/NEW STANDARD (J-POP
365 - 7.28.201 2 - DAY 31 2)

T&VWX- - ®m<D7)inJA (J-POP 365
- 7.28.201 2 - DAY 312)/ Scha Dara
Parr's "Guzen no Album"

BACK-ON - HERO, BABY ROCK, CHAIN
NEW WORLD, Butterfly, BLAZE LINE/a
day dreaming/flower (J-POP 365 -
7.30.201 2 -DAY 31 4)

Various Artists - ALL SONGS MUST
PASS: Office Augusta 20th Anniversa-
ry BEST (J-POP 365 - 7.31 .201 2 - DAY
315)

*r vh&i— - nmomti&n (j-pop 365

- 7.31 .201 2 - DAY 315)/ Chatmon-
chy's "Miminari" and "Seimeiryoku"

THE I-POP 365 CHALLENGE

sft&BI* - Red Cliff: Original Soundtrack
Part 1 (J-POP 365 - 8.3.201 2 - DAY
318) / Taro Iwashiro

mmmte - biohazard DEGENERATION
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (J-POP 365 -
8.3.201 2 - DAY 318)/ Tetsuya
Takahashi

a-nation BEST HIT LIVE (J-POP 365 -
8.4.2012 -DAY 319)

MISIA - LUV PARADE/Color of Life
(J-POP 365 - 8.4.201 2 - DAY 319)

TARO SOUL - EVERYTIME (J-POP 365 - Mother Ninja - 7jK>T4-7'7> (J-POP
8.4.201 2 - DAY 319) 365 - 8.5.201 2 - DAY 320) / "Sponta-

neous"

V? (J-POP 365 - 8.3.201 2 - DAY
318) / Kamen Rider Den-0 Original
Soundtrack

Asianpimps - Nagoya ROCKers (J-POP
365 - 8.5.201 2 - DAY 320)

SMAP - flgfcSliKBttS* (J-POP 365
- 8.5.201 2 - DAY 320) / "Oretachi ni
Ashita wa Aru"

KEMURI - our PMA (J-POP 365 -
8.6.2012 -DAY 321)

THE LOOSE DOGS - THE LOOSE
DOGS STORY ~BEST~ (J-POP 365 ■
8.6.2012 -DAY 321)

t*jVx.=7 t* - wmm (j-pop 365 -

8.7.201 2 - DAY 322) / Angela Aki's "Ai
no Kisetsu"

YMCK - 7j>5 , J-$/x*2/Z (J-POP 365 ■
8.6.2012 - DAY 321) / "Family
Genesis"

n%Q>% - mntOU^ (J-POP 365 -
8.7.201 2 - DAY 322) / Yuki Suzuki's
"Aka no Kakera"

DJ KRUSH - KRUSH, MEISO, MiLight
(J-POP 365 - 8.8.201 2 - DAY 323)

T l J)l - a little prayer (J-POP 365 -
8.7.201 2 - DAY 322) / AMI

TIGER - Black Hair & Black Eyes/
Orange (J-POP 365 - 8.8.201 2 - DAY
323)

20th Century - *UU*M***5i;*«:S
X> (J-POP 365 - 8.9.201 2 - DAY 324) /
""Ore Ja Nakya, Kimi Ja Nakya""

Various Artists - DRAMATIC SUM-
MER ~¥$M5fcBEST~ (J-POP 365 -
8.9.201 2 -DAY 324)

Fairlife - #5<3Hfll (J-POP 365 -
8.1 0.201 2 - DAY 325) / "Michikusa
Biyori"

BREATH - Chance, ■K<SfW,

a-, Heart of Mine, B Best,

Jukebox (J-POP 365 - 8.8.201 2 - DAY

323)

IMPS - She Best of Best (J-POP 365 -
8.1 0.201 2 - DAY 325) / Shizuka Kudo

The Kaleidoscope - - theme

of GO -, snowman, The Kaleidoscope
(J-POP 365 - 8.9.201 2 - DAY 324)

KODO - BEST OF KODO/Live at ACROP-
OLIS, Athens, Greece (J-POP 365 -
8.1 0.201 2 -DAY 325)

trf - Happening Here (J-POP 365 -
8.1 1.2012 -DAY 326)

f&*^JI£ - S/fUcWiU (J-POP 365 ■
8.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 326) / Sarina
Suzuki's "Share ni Nan Nai"

Something ELse- ^Xh (J-POP
365 - 8.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 326) / "Last
Chance"

tt^-l&VZtffit— FLOWER GEN-
ERATION (RED VERSION) (J-POP 365
- 8.12.2012 - DAY 327) / Sekirara

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

THE [ POP 365 CHALLENGE

Various Artists - GURREN LAGANN
BEST SOUND (J-POP 365 - 8.22.201 2
- DAY 337)

ft±ti£& - mtum&m (J-POP 365 -
8.23.201 2 - DAY 338) / Ko-Jo Seara's
"Kimi to Nara Zekkocho"

MEGA RYU - (J-POP 365 -

8.24.201 2 -DAY 339)

mnmm - $tffll§§Acoustic Sound Ver-
sion (J-POP 365 - 8.26.201 2 - DAY
341) /NAO

nobodyknows+ - 5MC & 1 DJ (J-POP
365 - 8.26.201 2 - DAY 341 )

RffiKS - Mi 'EjSHBj ORIGINAL
SOUNDTRACK (J-POP 365 - 8.27.2012
- DAY 342) / Saiyuki Original
Soundtrack

$JffH# - ®c#fP ^Acoustic Sound Ver-
sion (J-POP 365 -8.26.2012 -DAY
341) / Kazutoshi Sakurai

Smappies - Rhythmsticks (J-POP 365 -
8.27.201 2 -DAY 342)

speena - chu chu de vistal/TJUZl'U*??
(J-POP 365 - 8.27.201 2 - DAY 342)

H^&SSfcfciz-^-A-V - Songs from
the Hit TV Series.H'^&ifctt-^-A-

>r mmm, m^-tm±M-^-h->s mmm

(J-POP 365 - 8.28.2012 - DAY 343)

Pizzicato Five - London-Paris-Tokyo
ep, This Year's Model ep, Readymade
Recordings - Pizzicato Five in Person
ep, Pizzicato Mania! (J-POP 365 -
8.28.201 2 -DAY 343)

Various Artists - Long Vacation Orig-
inal Soundtrack Special Box + Extras
(J-POP 365 - 8.29.2012 - DAY 344)

THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS - OSC
- DIS (Oscillator in Distortion) (J-POP
365 - 8.29.201 2 - DAY 344)

Rie - Tender Love (J-POP 365 ■
8.30.201 2 -DAY 345)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

TRF - Memorial Snow/Closure (J-POP
365 - 8.30.201 2 - DAY 345)

®m -m - DIVERSITY (J-POP 365 -
8.30.201 2 - DAY 345) / Ichiro Ito

LINDBERG - EXTRA FLIGHT (J-POP 365
-8.31.2012 -DAY 346)

£S §£H^ - ALARM, WANT ME WANT
ME, Baby Don't Cry, I HAVE NEVER
SEEN and Something 'Bout the Kiss
(J-POP 365 - 8.31 .201 2 - DAY 346) /
Namie Amuro

AIR GEAR WHAT A GROOVY TRICK!!/ Tsuyoshi Kawakami & His Moodmak-

TV7=* r X7«#7j*U$WU1^X/Kh^^ ers - Singers Limited - Golden Mood

AIR GEAR WHO WANTS MORE GROOVY Hits! (J-POP 365 - 9.2.201 2 - DAY 348)
TRICK!!?? (J-POP 365 - 9.1 .201 2 - DAY
347) / Air Gear

> (J-POP 365 - 8.31 .201 2 - DAY 346)
Animage Vocal Collection

ffcfciEU - ONE, Ami Suzuki joins Yutaka
Nakata (capsule) - FREE FREE/SUPER
MUSIC MAKER, DOLCE, ffrfcEH joins
Aly & AJ - Potential Breakup Song
(J-POP 365 - 9.2.2012 - DAY 348) /
Ami Suzuki

RAM RIDER - PORTABLE DISCO 8bit
edition (J-POP 365 - 9.2.201 2 - DAY
348)

- P$-»yhX--2J- / One x Time,
LOVE PiECE, PEACH, Ttf^yh (J-POP
365 - 9.3.201 2 - DAY 349) / Ai Otsuka

73i*stt - (J-POP 365 - 9.4.201 2 ■
DAY 350) / Suga Shikao

m.o.v.e - LIVE CD at SHIBUYA CLUB
QUATTRO & 10th ANNIVERSARY
MEGA BEST (J-POP 365 - 9.3.2012
DAY 349)

MONKEY MAJIK - MONKEY MAJIK x
MONKEY MAGIC, MONKEY MAJIK +
SEAMO - 2?H,*UT*^, MONKEY MA-
JIK + m-flo - Picture Perfect, Monkey
Majik + Sfflftie - Change (J-POP 365 -
9.3.201 2 -DAY 349)

SPEED - SPEEDLAND - The Premium
Best Re Tracks / 35Ufc0£ (J-POP 365 -
9.4.201 2 -DAY 350)

5050 - SSl^tiJim-'J- (J-POP 365 -
9.7.2012 - DAY 353) / ""Dai 1 Ji Sekai
Bari"

ttffl 35*? - 4 hot wave, Promise Star,
BUT/HIE, affection, Black Cherry
(J-POP 365 - 9.6.201 2 - DAY 352) /
Kumi Koda

AAA - depArture and CHOICE IS
YOURS (J-POP 365 -9.8.2012 -DAY
354)

ACID BLACK CHERRY - BLACK LIST, - ttttftlt&tM, Remix &

20th Century Boys, H9*B (J-POP 365 - Live (J-POP 365 - 9.8.201 2 - DAY 354)
9.8.201 2 - DAY 354) Asia Engineer / ""Zettai Makenai!"

x-^V/Jvg - GIRLS' ROCK -Tiara-,
GIRLS' ROCK, m<&to (J-POP 365 -
9.9.201 2 - DAY 355) / Demon Kogure

&mm$L - GEM (J-POP 365 - 9.1 0.201 2 -
DAY 356) / Beni Arashiro

Various Artists - J-Pop '90s "RED"
(J-POP 365 - 9.1 0.201 2 - DAY 356)

MAX - MAXIMUMII and Jewel of Jewels
(J-POP 365 - 9.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 357)

My Little Lover - Shuffle (J-POP 365 -
9.1 1.2012 -DAY 357)

Mr. Children - =2/Xfc#2/X / %a>mii
A (J-POP 365 - 9.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 357)/
"Nishi e Higashi e" and "Hikaru Sasu
hou e"

THE BOOM - My Sweet Home (J-POP
365 - 9.1 1 .201 2 - DAY 357)

SPEED - Wake Me Up!, SPEED SPIRITS
COMPLETE, GO! GO! HEAVEN, BODY &
SOUL, STEADY (J-POP 365 - 9.1 2.201 2
- DAY 358)

AAA - 1 st ATTACK at SHIBUYA-AX,
2nd ATTACK at Zepp Tokyo on 29th of
June 2006, Channel a - AAA & More!
(J-POP 365 - 9.1 3.201 2 - DAY 359)

Various Artists - BLACK JACK BEST
ALBUM and BLACK JACK SOUND
KARTE SPECIAL (J-POP 365 -
9.1 1.2012 -DAY 357)

[«1

Vanilla Mood - Vanilla Mood (J-POP
365 - 9.1 3.201 2 - DAY 359)

BUFFALO DAUGHTER - CAPTAIN
VAPOUR ATHLETES (J-POP 365 -
9.1 3.201 2 -DAY 359)

COLOR - Summer time cruisin' & RED
-Love is all around- (J-POP 365 -
9.13.2012 -DAY 359)

The Pillows - The Pllows & Ben Kweller
- Lightning Runaway - -No Music, No
Life-, The Pillows & Noodles - "Deli-
cious Bump Tour: In USA" DVD and
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake Up!" (J-POP
365 - 9.1 3.201 2 - DAY 359)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE

THE F-POP 365 CHALLENGE

HEARTSDALES - Various CD Singles and Albums (J-POP 365 - 9.20.201 2 - DAY 366 - FINAL DAY)

3f5tt3B - Various Singles and Albums (J-POP 365 - 9.20.201 2 - DAY 366 - FINAL DAY) / Tohoshinki

Various Artists - -BEST J-POP 2nd Stage- (J-POP 365 -
9.20.2012 - DAY 366 - FINAL DAY) / UTA-HUME BEST
J-POP 2nd Stage

Thanks to our work with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program,
we got $1 1 million back in tax refunds for local families.

And it can happen here too.

IJfJI To donate or volunteer, go to UNITEDWAY.ORG.

tSiicfl BECAUSE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE LIVE UNITED.

United
Way

WHAT ALBUMS OR SINGLES ARE JI-ENT
STAFF RECENTLY LISTENING TO?

Dennis A. Amith

1. Bob Dylan and the Band - The
Basement Tapes Raw - The
Bootleg Series Vol. 11

2. Duran Duran - GREATEST

3. Def Leppard - VAULT -
GREATEST HITS

4. THE SMITHS - THE SOUND
OF THE SMITHS

5. OK Go - Hungry Ghosts

V A U L j

Kenneth Tran

1. Diane Birch - Speak a Little
Louder

2. Young the Giant - Young the
Giant

3. The Naked and Famous - In
Rolling Waves

4. Tomomi Itano - SxWxAxG

5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis- The Heist

Peter Pastor

1. Pitbull -El Mariel

2. Pitbull - Feel This Moment

3. Shakira Feat. Pitbull - Rabiosa

4. Pitbull - The Anthem

5. Daddy Yankee - Limbo

Charles Amith

1. FAR EAST MOVEMENT - KTown
Riot EP

2. BoA - Who's Back

3. EXO - XOXO

4. SISTAR - TOUCH N MOVE

5. BoA - Only One

Darren Yamashita

1. BABYMETAL - Ijime, Dame,
Zettai

2. PERFUME - GAME

3. ONE OK ROCK - DEEPER
DEEPER

4. TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE - Killing
Me Softly

5. X JAPAN - SCARS

1. Kalafina - The Best "Blue"

2. Kalafina - Heavenly Blue

3. Muse Best Album Best Live!
Collection (from the anime "Love
Live")

Michelle Tymon

1. Alkaline Trio - Help Me

2. OWL CITY - When Can I See You
Again?

Chii Sakurabi - Beyond the Horizon
Black Eyed Peas - 1 Gotta Feeling
Tom Cochrane - Life is a Highway

Derek Orchard

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE?

EXTRA DAYS

BY DENNIS A. AMITH

Back on September 21, 201 1, 1 began a 365 photo and music project in which I had to listen to Japanese music each day and
chronicle what I listened to by taking a photo each day

By September 22, 2012, 1 was able to finish my J-POP 365 project with 366 days (it was a leap year) of music!

But I was asked to continue the project, since I listen to so much music daily, so I figured... Why not?!

So, on October 18, 2012, 1 began taking pictures and chronicling the various singles and albums I listen to during the day.

So, here is the result so far, of photos taken from 2012-2014 which I call it... J-POP 365: EXTRA DAYS!

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 377

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

MISIA - Xtt*t>6&W?fc (J-POP 365 -
10.30.2012) / MISIA - Koi wa Owaranai
Zutto

*-AK«> from AKB48 - jfrtiDHtt
(J-POP 365 - 1 0.30.201 2) / Team
Dragon from AKB48's "Kokoro no
Hane" (Team Dragon Ver.)

75*tR46 - mm Bicycle (J-POP 365 -
10.30.2012) / Nogizaka46 "Hashire!
Bicycle" (Regular Edition)

DEEN - ALL TIME LIVE BEST (J-POP 365
- 10.31.2012)

SMAP - SU*>7uA-h (J-POP 365 -
1 1 .1 .201 2) / SMAP - Lion Heart

AKB48 - Beginner (J-POP 365 -
11.1.2012)

THE HELLO WORKS - PAYDAY (J-POP
365-11.1.2012)

AKB48 - ±fr£7'J3 (J-POP 365 -

1 1 .2.201 2) / AKB48 - Ue kara Mariko

^ J 1 AKB48 - MttfcttTtVB (J-POP 365

Various Artists - I Love 30 My Melody - 1 1 .8.201 2) / AKB48 -"Kaze wa
(J-POP 365 - 1 1 .3.201 2) Fuiteiru

ELPPHORIA - m% (J-POP 365 -

1 1 .3.201 2) - EU PHORIA - Yakusoku

AKB48 - Everyday^^a— *sv
(TYPE-A, TYPE-B, Theater Edi-
tion) (J-POP 365 - 11 .8.201 2) /
AKB48 - Everyday Katusha

COLOR
** *

■ -m

COLOR

Stag:

COLOR - BLACK -A night for you-
(J-POP 365-11.8.2012)

£Hit - 60s70s80s (J-POP
365 - 1 1 .8.201 2) / Namie Amuro -
60s70s80s

AKB48 - EM0Sounds good! (TYPE-A,
TYPE-B, Theater Edition) (J-POP 365
-11.1 0.201 2) / AKB48 - Manatsu no
Sounds good!

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

Various Artists - U£toii05fc (J-POP
365 -11.1 2.201 2) / Various Artists
Shiawase no Uta

AKB48 - GIVE ME FIVE! (TYPE-A &
TYPE-B) (J-POP 365 -11.1 2.201 2)

AKB48 - $a>*fc#35(Type-A) (J-POP
365 -11.1 4.201 2) / AKB48 - Sakura no
Kini ni Narou

Various Artists - CLIMAX 90's BEST
PLATINUM (J-POP 365 - 10.13.201 1
DAY 23)

2tlll5&0>& - GUILTY (J-POP 365 -
m®ttm - Dear J (TYPE-C) (J-POP 365 - n .1 6.201 2) / Hamasaki Ayumi ■
11.1 6.201 2) / Tomomi Itano - Dear J GUILTY

if ^^^-"^^P

smap - vtmz-omttQiz &y9)i"?7-v

a» (J-POP 365 - 1 1 .25.201 2) / SMAP
- Sekai ni hitotsu dake no hana

mmmn - ^nx^^tt^ nype-B] (j-pop

365 - 1 1 .25.201 2) / Rino Sashihara -
Soredemo Suki Da yo

sftUP* - if AIR (J-POP 365 -

1 1 .25.201 2) / Iwasa Misaki - Mujin Eki

mmmm - love brace (j-pop 365 -

1 1 .25.201 2) / Tomomi Kahala - Love
Brace

mwmz - SMILING -THE best of
NORIYUKI MAKIHARA~ (J-POP 365 -
1 1.25.2012) / Noriyuki Makihara

m&mtMl - First Love (J-POP 365 -
1 1 .30.201 2) / Utada Hikaru

75*tR46 - fcUTS/f >7- (J-POP 365
- 1 1.30.2012) / Nogizaka46 - Oide
Shampoo

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

m.o.v.e & ALTIMA - Various Albums
(J-POP 365 - February 12, 2013)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

SMAP - SAMPLE BANG! (J-POP 365 -
February 12, 2013)

m.o.v.e - Various CD Singles and
Albums (J-POP 365 - February 21,
2013)

fern*

m.o.v.e - Various CD Singles and
Albums (J-POP 365 - February 21 ,
2013)

ttl*a$E - $/a-h*-* [Type-A & B]
(J-POP 365 - February 28, 201 3) /
Yuki Kashiwagi - Short Cake (TYPE
A& B)

French Kiss - If (Theater Edition)
(J-POP 365 - March 7, 201 3)

1 ■■ffiffflMjjfeffl

AKB48 - So Long! (Type-A, Type-K,
Type-B + Theater Edition) (J-POP 365
-March 12, 2013)

Not Yet - BAD**** [Type-B] (J-POP
365 - March 1 8, 201 3) / Not Yet -
Naminori Kakigori

75*tR46 - MKOT**> (Type C) (J-POP
365 - February 22, 201 3)

HI?** - GO FOR IT! (J-POP 365 -
February 22, 2013) / Kana Nishino

m.o.v.e - Best moves, -and move goes
on (J-POP 365 -March 7, 201 3)

SDN48 - NEXT ENCORE (Theater Edi-
tion) (J-POP 365 - March 7, 2013)

- 2.\tm<m\tWl5 (J-POP 365 -
March 18, 2013) - Luna Haruna - Sora
wa Takaku Kaze wa Utau

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

NMB48 - *#*f* (Type-A) (J-POP 365
- March 28, 2013) / NMB48 - Nagiichi
(Type-A)

ffi*E$E - $/a-h*-* (Type-C) (J-POP
365 - March 29, 201 3) / Yuki
Kashiwagi - Short Cake (Type-C)

^-->^mo - 3rd -LOVE/ W-TX-
(J-POP 365 - April 25, 201 3) / Morning
Musume - 3rd - Love Paradise -

HKT48 - X*! X*! [Type-C]

1 1 (J-POP 365 -5.22.201 3) / HKT48 ■

YUI - GREEN GARDEN POP (J-POP 365 Suki! Suki! Skip! (Type-C)
-5.22.2013)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

HARUKI - mm<J>^7 (J-POP 365 -

5.30.201 3) - HARUKI - Houki no 1

Messiah 9nine - BRAVE (J-POP 365 - 6.1 .201 3)

YUI - ORANGE GARDEN POP (J-POP
365-6.15.2013)

Various Artists - 7*y^Xh ~HW£A*~
(J-POP 365 - 6.1 .201 3) - Pucchi Best

mmm*. - Color the Cover (J-POP 365 -
6.15.2013) / Kumi Koda

•

AKB48 - T\s-- : t-)1£*S3.*sd. (TYPE-A,
B and THEATER Edition) (J-POP 365
- 6.1 5.201 3) / AKB48 - Ponytail to
shushu (TYPE A, B, Theater)

no3b - (J-POP 365 -

7.22.201 3) / no3b - Kiss no Ryuusei

NMB48 - m*><03. [Type-A] (J-POP
365 - 7.22.201 3) / NMB48 - Bokura no
Eureka [TYPE-A]

T.M.Revolution - \
365-7.22.2013)

HOME MADE mm - 3RISE (J-POP 365 -
7.23.2013) / Home Made Kazoku

Various Artists - SflK^50years -NHK
2002-201 1 (J-POP 365 - 7.23.201 3)

SKE48 - JH'S/t^VU! (Type-A) (J-POP
365 - 7.23.201 3) / SKE48 - Aishiter-
aburu! (Type-A)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

AKB48 l—my^X - S*2/>A°2/-£;H
Ml 5 - A-hOWMU (J-Pop 365 - Sep-
tember 1 6, 201 3) / AKB48 - Heart no
Vector

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

AKB48 - A-h«XU* [TYPE-4] (J-POP
365 - 1 1 .24.201 3) / AKB48 - Heart
Ereki [Type-4]

AKB48 - A-h«XU* [TYPE-A] (J-POP
365 - 1 2.4.201 3) / AKB48 - Heart
Ereki [Type-A]

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

mmmtL - t*Ul%<Dtt [Regular Edition]
(J-POP 365 - 1 2.1 9.201 3) / Mayu
Watanabe - Hikaru Monotachi (Regular
Edition)

% VI*

SKE48 - mmi3 t m\ (Type-D) (J-POP
365 - 1 2.1 9.201 3) / SKE48 - Sansei
Kawaii (Type-D)

- snowdrop (J-Pop 365 - Janu-
ary 1, 2014) / Luna Haruna

no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru' to Itte
Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa
DM Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari
ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no
Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no YM n
Mono" (Type-S)

Various Artists - J-WAVE LIVE
2000+BEST (J-Pop 365 - January 1 ,
2014)

THE T-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

9nine - 9fEM0<SW (J-Pop 365 - Jan- AKB48 - ^(DJEM (Theater Edition) 1 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ m

uary 29, 201 4) / 9nine - Ryuusei no (J-Pop 365 - February 1 4, 201 4) / Mr. Children - Tomorrow Never Knows

Kuchiduke AKB48 - Tsugi no Ashito (J-Pop 365 - February 1 4, 201 4)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

JASMINE - Welcome to Jas Vegas
(J-POP 365 - May 1 7, 201 4)

AKB48 - ^7^K-;U«Uh'J/V- (TYPE A,
K, B, Team 4 and Theater) (J-POP 365
- June 4, 201 4) - AKB48 - "Laborador
Retriever

75*tR46 - ft^ttfc&jmu (TYPE-A,
TYPE-B, TYPE-C) (J-POP 365 - May
17, 2014) / Nogizaka46's "Kizuitara
Kataomoi"

fAEiltbii*^- A*7^rx7x*h (J-POP
365 - June 19, 2014) - Shiritsu Ebisu
Chugaku - "Butterfly Effect"

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

^HtS-ilX - WE ARE THE GIRLS
(J-Pop 365 - September 20, 2014) -
Modern Girls - "WE ARE THE GIRLS"

**prr far fr*- - ■■ p-y*

m®M - l-Jlr^T'fWl (J-POP 365
- October 2, 2014) / Saori Minami -
"Golden Idol"

(J-Pop 365 - October 4, 2014) / Sasaki
Nozomi's "Papepipu Papipepu"

$/>?VU3U*$/3>(J-P0P 365 - October
2, 201 4) / The Candies - Golden Best -
Complete Singles Collection

AZU - PROMISE/I LOVE YOU TOO
(J-POP 365 - October 2, 2014)

LiSA - Rising Hope (J-Pop 365 - Octo-
ber 4, 2014)

MAN WITH A MISSION - When My Devil
rises & database feat. TAKUMA (1 0-
FEET) (J-Pop 365 - October 25, 2014)

THE J-POP 365 CHALLENGE: EXTRA DAYS

AKB48 (Team SURPRISE) - S(CU*
5 / A>?U-^r*> (J-Pop 365 - Octo-
ber 4, 2014) / AKB48 (Team Surprise)
2nd Stage first single "Mirai ga Me ni
Shimiru" and second single "Hungry
Lion"

akb48 *-my^x - n^cmaom

M6 (J-Pop 365 - October 25, 2014) /
AKB48 Team Surprise's sixth single
(2014) "Youchien no Sensei".

akb48 i—my^x - jx^oma'jkmMoi

- Hell or Heaven (J-Pop 365 - October
25, 2014) / AKB48 Team Surprises
7th single (for 2014) titled "HELL OR
HEAVEN"

BLACK DIAMOND - Avante Gyarude
& CRAZY TRIBE (J-Pop 365 - October
29, 2014)

AKB48 *-W7^X - ^fcHSfcS
M3 (J-Pop 365 - October 29, 201 4)
/ AKB48 Team Surprise's (Second
Stage) 3rd single "Yume wo Miru nara"

akb48 *-my^x - mmzT^Ts^M
fciK/uECDlitoESS? (J-Pop 365 - Oc-
tober 29, 2014) / AKB48 Team Sur-
prise (Second Stage) eighth CD single
" Saigo ni Ice Milk wo Nonda no wa
Itsudarou?"

mmms. - 7^7 yu^y g-Pop 365 -

October 29, 2014) / Aki Toyosaki's
"Flip Flop".

GARNiDELiA - grilletto (J-Pop 365 -
October 29, 2014) / GARNiDELiA's
second single "grilletto"

AKB48 l—btty^X - tZtoZTyr*
-9 (J-POP 365 - November 1, 2014)
/ AKB48 Team Surprise - Tokimeki
Antique

Various Artists - M ~BEST7*-?~
/ -BEST -j.-Sj.-*Jv<7 Before-
(J-Pop 365 - November 1 , 201 4) /
"Utahime -Best Folk- and "Utahime ~
Best New Music Before-" compilation
albums.

Aisha - I, Shout!!! (J-POP 365 - Novem-
ber 1,2014)

mmmm - mom (J-POP 365 - November
7, 2014) / Takagaki Ayahi - Ai no Hi

DJ#*US£MCZI*A> - ttUtofc (1 1JM2
m (J-Pop 365 - October 29, 2014) /
DJ Misoshiru and MC Gohan - Hajimeni
(November - December).

GARNiDELiA - ambiguous (J-POP 365 -
November 7, 2014)

G-CLEF - Golden Balls (J-POP 365 -
November 7, 2014)

Before the Dragon Age: Inquisition game

learn the backstory of
Cassandra Pentaghast

THE PROTAGONIST IN THE MOVIE

Dawn of the Seeker

WITNESS THE RISE OF HER LEGEND

IN THE ANIMATED FEATURE

AS SHE INVESTIGATES A CONSPIRACY

WITHIN THE CHANTRY.

he sun rises on a thrilling adventure in
Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker - the
first feature-length, animated addition
to the Dragon Age world. In the land
of Orlais, a brash young Seeker - Cassandra - fights to
stop a blood-soaked conspiracy. Hidden hands seek to
tear apart the realm's mostpowerful religious order,
and as the sinister plot unfolds, Cassandra is accused
of treason and murder. Hunted by friend and foe
alike, the impulsive beauty must clear her name while
clashing with corrupt Templars and rogue Blood
Mages. Should she fail, the executioner's blade awaits.
Should she overcome her rage and expose the unseen
forces threatening the rule of the Divine, Cassandra
will take her place in legend.

RATING: TV^MA RUNTIME: 90 MINUTES

DRAGONAGEMOVIE.COM

DOWNLOADABLE DIGITAL COMIC

For a limited time the home video release comes with
a code for the free downloadable digital comic,
Dragon Age: The Silent Grove from Dark Horse.

30 MINUTES OF ON-DISC EXTRAS

include a Bio Ware Studio Tour, Production Art
Gallery, and a Dawn of the Seeker Backstage Pass
exploring the development of the film.

Featuring "Desire For Need" performed by the
chart-topping rock band Seether and remixed by the
Grammy award-winning artist Roger Sanchez.

From the Japanese Academy Award nominee,
Fumihiko Sori, director of Ichi.

'An action-packed look at the origins
of a character destined to shake
the very foundations of the
dragon age world"

MIKE LAIDLAW, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BIOWARE

AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD, BLU-RAY/DVD COMBO, AND HD DIGITAL

© 201 2 Electronic Arts Inc. EA and EA logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. BioWare, BioWare logo
and Dragon Age are trademarks of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved by FUNimation/T.O. Entertainment.

BiOWARE

F?uN|lvlAYIpN

J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014
TURNS IT UP TO 1 1

Article By Kenneth Iran, Photos by Darren Yamashita & Dennis A. Amith

rhe 6th annual J-Pop Summit Festival
returned to the beautiful confines of
Union Square for a twilight exhibi-
tion of the top musical artists from
Japan.

On the heels of last years very suc-
cessful matinee main event featuring
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, organizers succeeded in providing
programming surpassing any other previous festival to
date. The headlining show, dubbed J-Pop Live, featured
singer/model Una, human beatboxer Daichi, idol group
Tokyo Girls' Style, former- AKB48 member Tomomi
Itano, and vocalist May'n.

Starting the night off was Una, a Harajuku fashion

icon who debuted as a singer just one year prior.

Donning an incredible yukata-like outfit befitting
of a charismatic Aomoji-kei queen, she sparkled in her
performance of her heavily electro-pop setlist, including
her debut single Juicy-Juicy.

Next on stage was the return of Daichi, known
around the world as one of the best beatboxers alive. Be-
sides his amazing skill with the mic, Daichi was incred-
ibly entertaining cracking jokes and initiating audience
participation.

A brief intermission featured Koji Mizutani's Mer-
ry Project. The project featured umbrellas printed with
smiling faces from the children affected by the Fukushi-
ma tragedy. It is a reminder to stay strong despite over-

394 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

whelming obstacles.

Anticipation grew as Tokyo Girls' Style slowly appeared on stage, amidst a sea of sunflowers, and started singing
Himawari no Hoshikuzu. The crowd went absolutely wild, cheering and dancing through their whole performance.
As a surprise, TGS sang Himawari no Hoshikuzu once again, this time in English.

The momentum continued with Tomomi Itano, who suddenly appeared from the curtain to the greeting of
"Tomochin" chants. In her Swagalicious attire, she struck the audience with the same type of charisma as her days
with AKB48, leaving many in attendance yelling "SWAG" as a recognition of her debut album.

Finally, May'n greeted the San Francisco crowd. But rather than just promoting her performance planned for
the following night, May'n gave everyone a treat and began performing, much to the delight of everyone.

After such an amazing headlining show, it is easy to forget the rest of the events planned for the weekend. The
rest of the fun would be held in Japan Town for the duration of the festival. Live events would be held at the Pa-
goda Stage, as each of the headliners performed once again along with many other artists such as Kylee, Yanakiku,
Pinky Doodle Poodle, Black Diamond, DJ Coco and DJ Amaya. Cosplay, fashion, and idol events would also be
held on stage.

Besides the main stage, New People Cinema hosted the inaugural Japan Film Festival of San Francisco fea-
turing screenings for the entire week. The top floors of New People were reserved for the fashion events, with
numerous appearances by iconic figures in Japanese youth fashion: Ayumi Seto, Una, Akira, and Misa Kimura.The
fashion events featured live performances by Akira and Una, meet and greet sessions, and a fashion show.

Along the main street of Japan Town were dozens of vendors and booths of every kind. Kinokuniya and SEGA
hosted a special signing session with Miku Hatsune illustrator, KEI, as well as featuring the upcoming video game
of the digital diva. Along the other booths were many meet and greet opportunities with most of the Guests of
Honor.

Down Post Street was the crowded Ramen Street event, with patron standing in line for over an hour just to try
each ramen masterpiece. The Pop Gourmet Food Festival was also held offering creative snacks and sake tasting.

The J-Pop Summit had something for everybody, as intended by the organizers. This year s festival easily sur-
passed last years attendance of 80,000 people with 120,000 attendees in 2014.

"The 2014 J-POP Summit was the biggest and most successful we have ever staged. The addition of the Ramen
Street attraction and the array of artists, performers and other events also made it one of the most exciting. We are
looking forward to presenting an even bigger J-POP Summit for 2015!" said Seiji Horibuchi, President/CEO of
NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-Pop Summit Festival Committee.

With this momentum, it is likely J-Pop Summit will continue to grow in popularity and feature even more head-
liners in the near future. We could be witnessing the genesis of a future marquee festival.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 395

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DARREN YAMASHITA

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

402 JI-ENT I j-entonline.con

NOVEMBER 2014

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

' ■ /

ill

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

rxTF

MMIT

BBS jf g,

* *■ hum | ■

^1 1

if**: i

I T0M0\1_

NOVEMBER 2014

i-entonline.com I JI-ENT 405

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

406 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com NOVEMBER 2014

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

i-entonline.com I JI-ENT 407

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

408 JI-ENT

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

1 A

JI-ENT 409

CONVENTION COVERAGE

SAYONARA ANI-JAM!

Since 2003, ANI-JAM has entertained California's Central Valley as their primary anime
convention. But despite a wonderful 2014, it would be the convention's final year.

Article By Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Derek Orchard & Dennis A. Amith

or over a decade, Fresno's premiere anime

^ event would entertain the Central Valley. But
h like any other convention, may it be a business
or non-profit organization, the cost to main-
tain an event is quite expensive.
And while conventions around the country
had to increase attendee registration fees to
offset expenses and as conventions grew in size and brought in major
guests which led to an increase in attendees, ANI-JAM faced an
uphill battle.

For one, while the Central Valley has had long- running anime
clubs in various counties, it would not lead to significant growth sim-
ilar to other counties that received thousands more of attendees.

From 500+ attendees from their one-day event back in 2003,
for 2014, ANI-JAM would receive nearly 1,800 attendees. A major
increase from previous years but not the growth that was expected, as
conventions in California have added several thousand attendees in
their last five years.

Known as an agricultural hub in California, Fresno (especially
during 100+ degree weather) was a difficult area for organizers to at-
tract out of town visitors compared to Southern California, Bay Area
and Sacramento events. But the goal was always to serve the local
area and organizers were content with the growing numbers of their
event each year.

But as the financial backer of ANI-JAM did all he could to con-
tinue the event, due to health issues, he had no choice but to end the
event. Fortunately, on a positive note.

But ANI-JAM was one of the few conventions that maintained
its roots by creating an event tailored for its local attendees without
changing its identity and because of that, it maintained a unique
charm compared to other major anime conventions in the California
area.

While ANI-JAM has is now no more, I will remember it as one of
the more enjoyable small anime conventions in the United States that
we have covered for JI-ENT. ANI-JAM will be missed.

410 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ANI-JAM 2014 - PHOTOS BY DEREK ORCHARD

1,1

412 JI-ENT I i-entonline.co

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT ANI-JAM 2014 - PHOTOS BY DEREK ORCHARD

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 413

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ANI-JAM 2014 - PHOTOS BY DEREK ORCHARD

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ANI-JAM 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

i~ £ '>- * *•. '

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ANI-JAM 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT ANI-JAM 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

fr -i.

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT KCON 2014 - PHOTOS BY CHARLES AMITH

>* ii3rtr7Twrf^

i3 L^flS

111

119 1

■T"7W

■ " -'

hit *k *t m hs. fe

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT KCON 2014 - PHOTOS BY CHARLES AMITH

mm:
t in in it ^

B ■

Order The Limited edition blu

combo pacK todays

The Definitive Edition of One of The Most Beloved Anime of All Time
Uncut, uncropped and unedited-the way it was meant to be seen

6 disc set, 23 uncropped and remastered episodes
With All-New exclusive extras Sailor Moon Announcement Panel
Behind The Scenes With The English Cast and more!

#Jv- "V nir All in a premium chipboard box fit for a Moon Princess!

# w

fr^

Season I Part I Coming Out This November 2014
Watch New Episodes Monday on Neon Alley

neonalley.com • viz.com/sailormoon

©Naoko Takeuchi/PNP, Toei Animation

NOT FOR SALE.

SPECIAL FEATURE

A VOICE ACTING LEGEND

MAM I KOYAMA is best known as the voice of popular anime characters such as Arale Normaki (Dr. Slump), Minky Momo
(Fairy Princess Minky Momo), Kycilia Zabi (Mobile Suit Gundam), Ryoko Mendou (Urusei Yatsura), Ophiuchus Shaina (Saint
Seiya), to name a few. JI-ENT had the opportunity to take part in a press conference with the voice acting legend.

By Michelle Tymon and Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Michelle Tymon

/n Japan, there are voice talent who are
well-revered for their work. And there are
a few who still are working in the anime
industry today.
Voice actress Mami Koyama is one of those
legendary voice talent that continues to work
in the industry.
Best known for her voice as Arale Nori-
maki in Akira Toriyamas popular series "Dr.
Slump" and Minky Momo in "Mahou no Princess Minky
Momo", she also did the voice for Lunch in "Dragon Ball",
Ryoko Mendou in "Urusei Yatsura", Kei in "Akira", Fujiko
Mine in "Lupin III" and Kyculia Zabi in "Mobile Suit Gun-
dam", to name a few.

In fact, Mami Koyama has a long list of credits that dates
back to 1975.

Mami first started working as a voice actress for the young
Yayoi Kikyoya in "Ikkyu-san" in 1975 and reprising her role as
Ophiuchus Shaina in "Saint Seiya Omega" in 2012.

She is also well-known for her video game voice-acting
work such as Tina Armstrong in "Dead or Alive", "Misumi" in
"Summon Night 3", Clementia Foerster of "Valkyrie Chron-
icles II and III" and most recently as Maltran for "Tales of
Zestiria".

For Hollywood films in Japan, she is best known for her
Japanese dub voice work for actress Kim Basinger, Sharon
Stone and Michelle Pfeiffer and also television shows as the
Japanese voice for Elaine Benes of "Seinfeld", Mary Alice
Young of "Desperate Housewives" and many more.

JI-ENT took part in Mami Koyama s press conference at
Sakura Con in Seattle.

424 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// MAM I KOYAMA

What do you think about the word
"otaku"?

MAMI KOYAMA: When that term
was first used in Japan, it was a little
after when I became a voice actress
and about the same time as the sei-
yuu boom but at first, it was not a
term with any derogatory meaning at
all. Actually, just like the fans at the
Q&A panel earlier, they are extremely
dedicated, serious and knowledgeable
anime fans who come to events to see
us. And when we began to see these
people, we noticed it. A characteristic
of them was that they are really polite
but they would correct each other. So,
for example, at a autograph session,
they would form a line themselves, they
would police the lines themselves. And

if anyone broke the rules, they would
correct that person. Even though they
were young and polite to each other,
they would say where are you from
and they would answer "otaku". And
when you use the word otaku, it is a
polite words that are used. And that
was the original source of the term,
but only when it was after, it then was
used as a derogatory meaning. But
this is something that many of you
probably do not know about.

What do you think about
cosplay?

MAMI KOYAMA: Around the time
I was recording the voice of Minky
Momo for "Magical Princess Minky

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Momo", that was a time when cosplay
started to become a phenomenon. Be-
cause the blue skirt that the main char-
acter wears, we noticed that fans were
making various versions of that skirt and
showing it off* to each other And the
cosplay would spread through Akihabara,
and now it's spread all over the world.
We were all surprised by it because we
didn't expect to see male fans dress in a
blue skirt. But it was a playful spirit.

JI-ENT: As your long career as a
voice actress , you voiced many major
roles, but is there any particular role
that is close to your heart?

MAMI KOYAMA: I have done so many
roles to date that I cant even count and
remember all of them. So, this question
is difficult but what comes to mind, if the
role is close to my own self, it actually
becomes harder for me to do the voice
role. I also dub American movies to
Japanese and it happened to have a scene
and plot that coincided my own private
life and it was too close for me to record
that role. I cried so hard that I couldn't
record that line. If its too close to my
life, it would be hard to do. That s why I
think that voicing roles for Arale-chan of
"Dr. Slump", Kycilia Zabi in "Gundam" or
Ophiuchus Shaina of "Saint Seiya", roles
that are different from my private life,
allows us to branch out and do different
things. So, it's something that I have
enjoyed in my career.

How has doing voice work for West-
ern moves differ from doing voices in
anime?

MAMI KOYAMA: I think when
dubbing live action movies and anime,
they are basically the same. For example,
there are Korean films that we have been
dubbing into Japanese, not just American
movies but there are some differences that
come in mind. For example, for action
sequences, you are laying lines spoken by
another human being, so you have certain
things in common such as breathing, but
in anime, your lines are on top of anima-
tion that a real human was not involved
as the person speaking those lines and do
not feature human breathing. So, I see in

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 425

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

MAM I KOYAMA \\\

a technical aspect, voice acting is much
more difficult in animation.

JI-ENT: How is the voice acting in-
dustry different today versus how
it was back then?

MAMI KOYAMA: Changes in the
voice acting industry... Back in begin-
ning, we recorded to film. So, what
we saw in the recording dialogue was
film, and we didn't have much of a
chance to rehearse. We would go into
the studio, see it played once, see if the
microphone was working and then
we would record the lines. We had to
jump right in to do it. Now its differ-
ent because we are given the DVD s
to play your scenes over and over and
practice your lines over and over again
and do it the best you can. So, that is
how people were able to master match-
ing the timing with the scenes. Also,
another difference that I have seen
since the anime and seiyuu boom is
that the level of competition is greater
now. There are more people wanting to
get into the voice acting industry than
there were when I first started. When
I first came in, there wasn't that many
new talents in the industry. So, I think
the level is more competitive today. In
Japan, there are voice acting talent who
want to voice a role so badly that they
would pay money in order to do it,
but that would leave problems for the
professional but there are some peo-
ple who really want to break into the
industry. Is this the same in the United
States?

In America, there is a trend where
studios are drawing in big main-
stream actors for voice acting
roles instead of voice talent.

MAMI KOYAMA: I think in Ja-
pan, its the same. A famous actor or
actress may be called into voice-over
role because they fit an image that the
talent has developed. Because some of
the differences when dialogue has been
recorded, for example, I started in film
and it required a lot of skill to match
the film s timing, you had to match

the dialogue to the film. So, dubbing
over a foreign film, you have to say it in
Japanese but you have to be able to say
the words in time. But now since ev-
erything is on DVD, now it's possible
to take that digital image and to edit it
and that has opened things a bit with
those who are not traditional voice
talents to voice roles, because if you
can speak Japanese well, then they can
make it work and they can voice the
role. I think dialogue has now become
more digital in that sense and how it's
easier to bring more famous talent.
But in the American system, in the US,

you support the dialogue first and the
animation is made to match it, in Ja-
pan, it's almost happening at the same
time, you have to make the dialogue to
match the scene. So for example, since
the dialogue is recorded first and the
image is made to match it, it's more
easier to bring in famous actors to voice
that role, because there is more room to
adjust.

JI-ENT: You originally voiced
Ophiuchus Shaina in "Saint Seiya"
back in 1984 and then you revisit-
ed it again in 2012. How was your

426 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// MAM I KOYAMA

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

approach to the role since there
was a long gap in time.

MAMI KOYAMA: It was quite an
experience because it's not often that
there is that large of a gap in time of
revisiting that role. In fact, it was a
large gap that most cases, you would
get another actor to succeed that role.
It s passed on a new person and that s
how it worked with Arale-chan and
Minky Momo, but with Ophiuchus
Shaina, the creators and fans requested
my voice to come back to that role and
I was very happy and pleased about
that. So, that is the strongest impres-
sion that I have of revisiting that role. I
was touched that I would be doing the
voice again for Shaina.

You also did the NHK live action
show "Kiyoka Won't Cry". Can
you tell us more about working on
that?

MAMI KOYAMA: I was studying
drama and the live drama "Kiyoka

Wont Cry" is based on a script by Ya-
mada Taichi and this script was for an
arts festival. So, when I first moved
into voice work from theater, one
thing that I noticed, that really sur-
prised me was how difficult was how
difficult it was to work in voice versus
working on theater and television. As
opposed to television and stage, you
put yourself in the setting, it's yourself
acting that out and inviting all aspects
of that character, with voice, you have
a page with a figure on it, you have
to figure that character out and who
they are and that is a completely
different experience than working on
theater and TV and it's really diffi-
cult and also very interesting. That is
one thing I noticed when I made the
switch.

JI-ENT: Is this your first time in
America? And is there anything
you want to see in Seattle?

MAMI KOYAMA: I have been to

New York and visited Sedona, Texas, but
this is the first time I have been to the
West Coast. I would like to get to see
and learn more about Seattle. When I
went to Sedona, I visited a Hopi reserva-
tion and that is one experience I remem-
ber very well. I am also not here just for
Sakura Con, I'm also here for a theatrical
performance for Sakura Matsuri in the
Seattle Armory Building and also theat-
rical performances. I am going to Fort
Vancouver and work with a theater group
at a college and then come back to Seattle
and do the performance at the Seattle ar-
mory. I would love to go to see the place
where Twin Peaks was filmed.

Does your knowledge of English help
you with voice acting for films?

MAMI KOYAMA: Sometimes it does
help to understand English to redub films
into Japanese but sometimes its a hin-
drance. Because when we are redubbing
films to Japanese, we are listening to the
original English dialogue at the same
time we are saying the words in Japanese,
so for example, if I hear the character say
"yes" in English, I accidentally say "yes"
instead of "hai" in Japanese. And some-
times you have to answer a negative ques-
tion in the opposite way, so sometimes
"No" requires me to say "hai".

What do you think about Arale's
crossover in "Dragon Ball"?

MAMI KOYAMA: I think that when
Arale is in "Dragon Ball" is probably an
in-joke by Akira Toriyama because he
likes to do that joke. One time, he creat-
ed a character named Mashiroto in one
of his series who was based on an editor
at Shueisha named Torishima, who was a
real scary person. So, he wanted to creat-
ed a parody and he likes to do those jokes.

For more information on ^
^ Mami Koyama, please visit her 6

website by clicking here:

% http://koyamamami.com/mam- 6

ickOl/

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 427

FOUR PLANS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY PLAN

Make sure your family knows what to do during an emergency. Who to call. Where to meet.
What to pack. Visit ready.gov/kids for tips and information.

Wi Read^

ij 2012 ^ % 2012 li? ^ 2013 0. \ 2012 # % 2012 & % 2013 L ^ \

THE L AT EST MASTEPPlEC E

FROM THE iMT£»r«ftTtCfn*LLV a £ t- a l~d l M G & piftECTGB- CI r il/MMEP WAGS

2013

MAMOPU HOSODA'S

CHILDREN

AS CLOSE TO PERFECT AS A PRODUCTION CAN GET.'

Available now

on BLu-ray and DVD

YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING

WOLFCHILDRENMOVIE.COM

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

GETTING TO KNOW JAD SAXTON

In the United States, JAD SAXTON has done the voices of characters such as Carla on "Fairy Tail" Sena Kashiwazaki on
"Haganai" Komoe Tsukuyomi on "A Certain Magical Index" to name a few, JI-ENT recently had the opportunity to interview

Jad Saxton about her voice-acting career!

Interview by Dennis A. Amith, Photography by Derek Orchard & Dennis A. Amith

/ad (pronounced as "Jade") Saxton has
come a long way since graduating from
Texas Wesleyan University back in 2005.
From her first voice acting role in "Sasa-
mi: Magical Girls Club", Jad has contin-
ued to work hard as a voice actress or on
stage and doing what she loves... Acting.
While she is known for her voice as
Carla on "Fairy Tail", Farris on
"Steins;Gate", Sena Kashiwazaki on the
"Haganai" series", Komoe Tsukuyomi on "A Certain Mag-
ical Index", Haruna on "Is This a Zombie?" and as Yuki on
animated feature film "Wolf Children" to name a few, she
has earned a reputation for her high-pitched voice but also
her worth ethic.

JI-ENT recently interviewed Jad Saxton, who was a
guest of honor at Ani-Jam 2014 in Fresno, California.

When did you know that you wanted to become a
voice actress?

JAD SAXTON: I was one of those precocious children
who wanted to perform on stage, since when I was three
or four-years old. Doing stage work, singing and stuff
like that. But I knew about animation and like every little
girl, I wanted to be a Disney princess. But when it comes
to anime, it was probably around the early 2000 s. I was
introduced to "Dragon Ball Z" and I was like "OK, what
is happening?" and then I found out that they recorded it
in Dallas., in the city I lived in. And I felt, "I had to do
this". But it took about six years before I was cast. And

430 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// JAD SAXTON

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

when people ask me this question, I
always say, "its the same way you get
any other job, its all about network-
ing. It's all about meeting people
and making those connections." And
because I have done a lot of acting, I
met another actor who knew a di-
rector at Funimation and got me an
audition and I was cast in "Sasami:
Magical Girls Club" by Leah Clark,
who is now one of my really good
friends. And it started to work from
there. Once you get that one little
shot, if you make it work, you can get
more auditions and chances.

If you look at yourself back then
when you first started as a voice

actress and see yourself now,
what was is the biggest differ-
ence between Jad Saxton then
and now?

JAD SAXTON: Wow.J have not
been asked that before. I'm not as
scared. I was terrified back then. I
was really nervous at auditions, I
was really nervous in the booth and
really nervous of what I was doing. I
still get nervous at auditions but I'm
way less fearful of what I am doing
because I have seven years of experi-
ence under my belt. I can go in and
know easily of the character that I
have in my head and create the vocal
style that I want to do for that. And
because I garnered relationships

with these directors, I can suggest to "try
this" and before, I was very cautious and
careful. Now, I am more carefree and I
can really go for it. And I think I am
now better.

What is the most positive aspect
about being a voice actress?

JAD SAXTON: Just doing what I love
which is acting and creating characters.
I get to say that I make cartoons for
a living. That's pretty cool! And I can
work with awesome people and hear
their work and be influenced.

Is the competition fierce as a voice
actress?

JAD SAXTON: The competition is
fierce and to be a female voice actor.
But at the same time, a lot of anime are
female-centric, so there are a lot of op-
portunities. So, you have many different
chances to do different characters.

I noticed that the trend for anime
releases on Blu-ray and DVD as of
late are anime that is more about
the fan service and sometimes more
mature. Do you have any problems
doing any character roles that are
more mature or too risque?
JAD SAXTON: I think there is that
aspect in every anime that I have worked
on. Some more in your face than others.
Honestly, it makes me laugh. It s funny,
the majority of the time. I have record-
ed a few things that felt embarrassing
but they are usually funny. Sometimes
you have to view and say to yourself, "this
is how I'm going to view how this is".
Like any other art in the world, it's for
the observer to make up their own mind
about it. I have never done hentai but
I feel that most of the time, I feel it's
harmless, and there for comedy.

What anime have you done, are you
best known for among your fans?

JAD SAXTON: Sometimes it's for a
lot of the older stuff that I have done
like "BACCANO" (as Eve Genoard)
and "Ghost Hunt" (as Masako Hara).

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 431

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JADSAXTON \\\

Jad Saxton @ Ani-Jam 2014 in Fresno, California. Photo by Derek Orchard, Jl-ENT.

But many people are big fans of
"Haganai" (as Sena Kashiwazaki),
my role as Yuki on "Wolf Children",
Carla on "Fairy Tail" and Faris on
"Steins;Gate".

What is like to do the voice of
Carla on "Fairy Tail"?

JAD SAXTON: I like that one be-
cause its one of my creature character
roles. I have done several creatures
such as a penguin or a random gerbil.
But on "Fairy Tail", I get to be a cat
and it's in a fantastical fairy tale, mag-
ical setting. So, the sky is the limit of
possibilities and I like that aspect of
not knowing where the story is going
to go. And I love how my character
is tied to one of the main characters,
Wendy who is played by Brittney
Karbowski, who I have fun working
with. And I also love working with
the director, Tyler Walker. So, it's
really fun to continually get to work
with Tyler.

What is your most challenging
voice role so far?

JAD SAXTON: There is a show
called "Toriko" and that is where I
play the creature character, Yun, the
penguin. All he says is his name in
a high pitched voice. Which is why
Tyler cast me for that role, because
he has cast me before for baby cries
in certain things. Crying like a baby
is among one of my random talents.
Some people can do it really well and
some people cant. Somehow I can
and he said he wanted that same kind
of quality to it. But I can only do that
for an hour or a hour and half at a
time. It was very vocally exhausting
and that penguin got very emotional
and it was very hard vocally and to say
one word and having to emote a range
of emotions and feelings, all through
that one word over and over.

Curious. Do you have a way to
keep your voice fresh before each
recording? Is there something

that you drink? Or a ritual that
you usually do to prepare your
voice?

JAD SAXTON: I try not to drink
the night before. Alcohol is really bad
for your voice. I don't know if I have
always been consistent about this stuff
but I generally drink tea or coffee in

the morning. And I generally drink
room temperature water, as cold water
can be bad for your throat. I also
dont go to a concert and scream my
lungs out. Stay away from people
who are sick. I try to take care of
myself and keep myself healthy.

432 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// JAD SAXTON

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Jad Saxton @ Ani-Jam 2014 in Fresno, California. Photo by Dennis A. Arnith, Jl-ENT.

Do you ever watch the anime
series that you have worked on?

JAD SAXTON: I do. I really try to
because if people ask me questions, I
want to be able to answer and re-
member it. Because we never get to
see all the scenes together, so I like
to watch the series and see how the
other actors did.

Is there any manga or anime
series that you enjoy?

JAD SAXTON: I'm going back and

watching a series that I worked on
called "Last Exile: Fam, the Silver
Wing" (Note: Jad did the voice of
Fam Fan Fan). So, Fm enjoying that
Fm revisiting that.

In every Jl-ENT interview, I do a
word play. I will give you a sen-
tence and you fill out the missing
word.

a) Every time I go to the store, I buy

JAD SAXTON: Tater tots.

b) The last movie I watched at the
theater was .

JAD SAXTON: "Boyhood"

c) The person in the voice acting in-
dustry that makes me laugh the most
is .

JAD SAXTON: Chris Cason

d) My favorite character role to do
the voice was .

JAD SAXTON: Hatchin of
"Michiko and Hatchin".

e) The one thing I love to eat is

}

JAD SAXTON: Chocolate. But I
also have a special affinity for ranch
dressing.

f ) An Anime that I really want to be
in is .

JAD SAXTON: "Attack on Titan"

If you have one word to describe
yourself. What word would that
be and why?

JAD SAXTON: Hmm... One word?
I don't know. Fll have to say
"awkward". Because I dont know
how to answer this question, (laugh-
ing) But I guess I could say "loving"
or "goofy". Something more about
the silly side of me.

What final words do you have for
your fans?

JAD SAXTON: Stay positive and be
kind to people. Send light and love
out to the world. ■

For more information on
I JAD SAXTON, please click on the ^
\ following social media links below: ^

\ \

\ Facebook /

\ <

\ Twitter ^

Lvvvvv\vvvvvvvvvvvvvv\vvvvvv\vvv^

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 433

Thanks to our work with NFL PLAY 60, we've brought fun fitness programs
to more than 35,000 kids. And it can happen here too.

(joincfl

To donate or volunteer, go to UNITEDWAY.ORG.
BECAUSE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE LIVE UNITED.

United
Way

Voicing Bambi, A Role of a Lifetime

A special Q&A roundtable interview with Donnie Dunagan, the voice of young Bambi.

By Dennis A. Amith

or Donnie (Don) Dunagan, he was giv-
en a chance to take part in a role of a
lifetime, being the voice of "Bambi" for
Walt Disney Studios.

But things were never that easy in the
beginning. Donnie and his parents lived
in Memphis and at three -years -old, he
was taught to tap dance and when he
was entered at a talent contest, he won

the $100 prize and he also caught the
attention of a movie talent scout who happened to be in the
audience.

Donnie and his family were given the chance to come to
Hollywood by train and from 1938 to 1941, Donnie would be
in the movies and starring in films such as "Mother Careys
Chickens" (1938), "Son of Frankenstein" (1939) and in 1941,
providing the voice of young Bambi for Walt Disney.

But instead of focusing on entertainment, Donnie focused
on education and attended the University of Alabama on a
football scholarship and then transferred to Virginia Tech to
focus on a science degree.

With the Korean War and the draft happening, Donnie
volunteered as a marine. He was sent back to college by the
Marines to complete his education and he graduated with a
degree in Civil Engineering.

After he graduated and completed boot camp, Donnie
became a Private, First Class and became a boot camp Drill
Instructor, the youngest Assistant Drill Instructor (a Marine
Sergeant at age 19) and into the Navy s Military Law-Justice
School for JAG officers at the War College in Rhode Island,
followed by the Army s training program for CIC special
agents.

While serving his country, Dunagan was combat wounded
twice while leading a patrol and commanding units in Viet

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 435

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

J!-ENT ARCHIVES: DON DUNAGAN \\\

nam.

Dunagan continued his education
with a Masters degree in Engineer-
ing Management with honors at the
University of Vermont at Burlington
and became a candidate for a Ph.D. in
Mathematics before leaving the U.S. In-
telligence Agency private sector.

Throughout his education and time
in the military, Dunagan kept his acting
career private, especially his childhood
role as the voice of Bambi until after he
left the military in 1977.

Since then, Dunagan who is on
semi-retirement keeps busy in mentor-
ing and consulting the underprivileged
and now enjoys talking about his young
life in Hollywood, working with Walt
Disney and being the voice of an iconic
character.

Jl-ENT recently took part in a Q&A
press interview with both Donnie Dun-
agan.

Here is a transcript of the Q&A

roundtable interview including ques-
tions from Jl-ENT and other media
outlets.

How did you get cast in Bambi? What
did you do before that role?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Mr. Disney called
my mother in Westwood, California. ...near
UCLA, and told her he would like me to
come to the studio and talk about being
the facial model for an animation story of
a little deer. My mother was thrilled. Then
the two of us laughed about how I could
try to look like a deer. I had previously
been in the following films, from age 4 &
1/2: Mother Carey's Chickens, as Peter,
1938; Son of Frankenstein, also as a Peter;
Peter von Frankenstein, 1939 (released in
early '40); Fixer Dugan, 1939; Forgotten
Women, 1939; Tower of London, 1939 as
Prince Richard; Vigil in the Night, 1940;
Meet the Chump, 1941, and to top that
off, Bambi in 1942.

Who did you work with when you were
recording your lines?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: I wish I could an-
swer very specifically. As a candid man, let

me share this, first, a very nice man who
was gracious to my mother and me, talked
me through some of the words and script.
But I had no clue of the story line; had nev-
er even seen a deer. At age 6, I was not
jaded or ever rude to anyone, but he and
my mother could tell that I was bothered
by some of those unknowns, as this was
my first voice-over work. Then a wonder-
ful lady took me, and the girl that played
my sweetheart in Bambi, to a small room
and coached us on the storyline, using a
book and some drawings. My Mother also
rushed me to a Zoo, I think the LA. Zoo.
I saw one deer. He looked dull and lazy to
me. My Mother, as I remember this well,
said do not say anything about a lazy dear
at the studio! She is a wise lady. When I re-
corded my lines I unfortunately never got
to work with or meet the wonderful voice
actors that put so much charm and laughs
into all the other characters in Bambi, in-
cluding Thumper'.

Can you tell us what it was like working
at Disney in the late 1930's?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: It was the thrill of
my young life. Of the six films I was in--

436 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// JI-ENT ARCHIVES: DON DUNAGAN

J!-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

BAMBI DIAMOND EDITION was released on DVD Combo/Blu-ray Combo Packs back in 3/1/1 1 .
© Disney. All Rights Reserved."

many with co-star billing, the most recent
two films were not as exciting as Bambi,
even for a roguish kid. I just wanted to be
playing baseball. When we got the cast-
ing to pitch-in for Bambi, I was re-excited
about being in film again. ...forget baseball!

What was the toughest scene for you to
work on?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: First off, I think
when working initially as the facial model
for Bambi, it was being asked to look like
something grim has happened to me. Sec-
ond toughest for me was when they asked
me to shout for my mother when she was
in danger.

Of what scene in Bambi do you have the
best memories of recording?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: When Thumper was
teaching me (Bambi) a word during our
speech lesson like "flower/' or "bird", I
started laughing during the practice of that
scene, which slowed things down.

Did you ever regret that you didn't pur-
sue a career in Hollywood?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: I do now. If you are
loaded with bright ideas of how I can get a
producer or director interested in this older
gunfighter/ character actor, voice over guy,
send me your tips. This old jock is ready.

How much did you deal with Walt Disney
and the Disney animators?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: I saw Walt Disney
many times. He talked with me at least
three sharing moments I can remember. He

was interested in my ability to read news
clips at age five. He was a leader; all over
the place, helping, coaching, laughing.
Even a kid like me back then could sense
that he was keenly respected by the ani-
mators and production people. That was
not always the case in other studios when
the "Boss" came around. Mr. Disney was in
a class by himself.

What were some of your memories of
working with Walt and his people?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Mr. Disney was
a joy to be around. My sense is that the
Studio had not had many children on lot
before doing voice-over work. They were
wonderful. There was one exception
though, a single man who I called 'Grump'.
I took a water gun, that I was given on
the set of "Frankenstein" in Christmas of
1939, and shot at him one day and got in a
bit of trouble. Security took my gun away.
The Disney Studio still has my water gun. I
would like to have it back.

Did your voice-acting in Bambi make you
a sort of famous movie star?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: I had been in ma-
jor roles as a little kid. I co-starred in six
films before Bambi. I was a trained actor
at age 6 (going on 18). Bambi is the best
known and loved of all of those and being
any part of it is the joy of my working life
today.

What's your favorite message in Bambi?
Was it dealing with the pain of loss? The
friendship?. Respect for your family and
friends?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: Bambi tells the sto-
ry of life in realistic cycles of which evokes
comedy, adventure, fantasy, courage, dan-
ger, emotions, laughter. Very much like the
score, Bambi is a song that will never end.

Do you have a quote from the film you
like the most?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: It was little Flower'
saying. .."That's OK; he can call me Flower
if he wants to." I have seen children un-
derstand that really well. It says a lot if we
pause and reflect on it.

Not counting Bambi, what is your favor-
ite Disney movie?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs is my favorite Disney film. I
wanted to be one of the rogue Dwarfs-
they were having a great time.

What was your first thought, when you
were asked to be the voice of a deer?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: My Mother and I
laughed and tried to understand how even

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 437

I-ENT 2014 ANNUAL JI-ENT ARCHIVES: DON DUNAGAN \\\

wonderful Disney could put my child face
and eyes on a little deer. Soon we sensed
at the Studio that it was my eyes and ex-
pressions they were interested in.

What is your fondest or happiest memo-
ry of your Hollywood career?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: To be candid, the
Bambi character voice is one of my best
memories of working in Hollywood. Look
now 70 years later the film is still loved all
over the world. I hear from children in for-
eign countries even today raving about it,
and the joy they have from watching it.

Did you shoot any live-action reference
footage for the film? Did you model for
any of the animators?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: No live-action cam-
era was involved. Initially, as the facial
model, what I called 'drawing men' (anima-
tors) at the time, sat around and asked me
to look happy, look up, look sad, etc. Then
voice work was offered after that.

How were you chosen for the role?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Mr. Disney had seen
me in other films and still photos and want-
ed to use my eyes and facial expressions to
help draw animations on little 'Bambi'.

How did your early years in show busi-
ness affect the rest of your life so far?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Now that fans know
I am still alive-- I was re-discovered about
6 years ago, I am having a great time with
it. The Second World War changed Disney
Studios and all of our lives greatly. Bambi
was my last film work. From about age 9
until about 6 years ago (I am approach-
ing 77 now), I never talked about being in
those great classics. If I could get another
role now, it would be the 'Longest Come-
back in all Film History'.

Were you able to attend the film pre-
miere of Bambi? What memories do you
have if so?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: Yes. In 1942, my

mother took me to what I thought was
some Los Angeles, California nearby des-
ert town and we saw it. I was overpowered.
I was so bright as a child that I thought I
had it figured out. I was wrong. Nothing
could have prepped me or anyone for the
grand visual and happy and emotive story
of Bambi. My Mother cried.

How much interaction did you have with
the other voice actors?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: None, to be hon-
est. I met a young girl one day when the
story-line was being explained to me by
someone from the production team, and
only then did I realize that she was the cute
female deer (Faline).

You said that if your fellow Marines ever
found out you were the voice of Bambi,
your career would have been finished.
Why do you regret not telling your Ma-
rine Corps friends about your past?

438 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// Jl-ENT ARCHIVES: DON DUNAGAN Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

DONNIE DUNAGAN: I had been promot-
ed quickly and always in a leadership po-
sition. From an 18 year old Drill Instructor
at Boot Camp then a 21 year old Senior
Sergeant. The Marine Corps was my life
and it was good. When I would think about
it, the idea of some young strong corpo-
ral and others finding out that I was the
voice of Bambi (even though Bambi was
also a character of courage) was not ap-
pealing. I was worried that some of them
would write home to say, "mom, guess
who my commanding office is?.... Major....
Captain. ..Lt. Bambi!" I did not think that it
would add to our combat readiness!

Jl-ENT: Bambi has entertained gener-
ations for 70 years, but looking back,
when did you first actually realize that
your vocal role in Bambi would touch so
many people and will continue to reach
out from generation to generation?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: I would love to tell
you I had that sense all the time. I wish
that was so. Candor is that when Disney
was about to re-release Bambi in two disc
DVD, 5 years ago and my life story leaked
out as part of it. The response from people
in six countries and in America just over-
powered me. Children or their parents in

even hospitals would write and e-mail me.
That in itself was an honor that I am not or
never sure that I deserve.

Jl-ENT: By any chance, was there any
memorabilia that you have from your
work on "Bambi" that you have kept for
yourself and treasured all these years?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Yes. Photos were
taken at the studio that we still treasure.

How long did it take to do the recording
of Bambi's voice?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: I am not too cer-
tain. My Mother drove me there at least
four times in slow LA city traffic. We would
be at the Studio for no more than two
hours each recording session.

What do you think was the reason why
Disney cast you?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: I was told specifi-
cally that it was my eyes and expressions
in other films, and of course a great deal
of luck.

Did you like Bambi the first time you saw
it as a child, did your like of the movie
change with the time?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Loved it. The first

time I could not believe anyone could
make animation and backgrounds like
Bambi. As I have grown older, I've listened
to people talk about it when they did not
know I was a part of it. I grew to realize
that Mr. Disney had let me become part of
a never ending love story in this world. My
debt to him is great.

Jl-ENT: As Bambi is celebrating its 70th
anniversary on Blu-ray and DVD in 2011,
what comes to your mind when you
know, a new generation of children will
be watching this film that you took part
in. Does it surprise you? Especially since
the film is so iconic and so much of a part
of American pop culture and movie his-
tory...

DONNIE DUNAGAN: Bambi has a unique
persona in the sense that he embraced
something different in human values,
laughter, lasting feelings about life, like
nobody else in this world has experienced
or has ever seen. It is really a pleasure to
view the movie in Blu-ray. My children,
grandchildren and my 88 year old neigh-
bor have all seen and savored the story.
It's a refreshing tale that still is a beloved
classic. Mr. Disney insisted on all the back-
grounds in the forest being done in actual

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 439

Jl-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

J!-ENT ARCHIVES: DON DUNAGAN \\\

oil-paints versus the convention of water
colors. It is that original visuals of Bambi
that allows the engineering of Blu-ray to
just put you in a different atmosphere
when you watch it.

At the time, as there were not as many
cartoons as today, what kind of work did
you think you were going to do when
you first heard you got the role of young
Bambi?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: My mother and I
had no idea how animation stories were
filmed. I heard the news through media
that was published. Mr. Disney had picked
me to be the facial model for the deer. Be-
fore we got to the Studio, my Mom and
I teased each other about maybe having
to put on deer skin and move around on
all fours.

Jl-ENT: Your first role was in the 1938
film Mother Carey's Chickens, what
memories do you have of working with
Anne Shirley, Ruby Keeler, Fay Bainter,
Walter Brennan or Margaret Hamilton
(known to many as the wicked witch of
The Wizard of Oz)?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: It was great fun.
I have specific memories of that initial
event. First, it took my parents out of grim
economics of 1938. 1 sensed that and I was
proud to know that I helped change that.
Walter Brennan treated me like a grand-
son. Ruby Keller was a gentle queen. I
think she just played her norm, all gracious
and kind self. Fay Bainter contacted my
mother several times after the release and
we went to a top-end hotel for dinner with
her and others. I do not have reportable
memories of the others.

Did you see the new Diamond edition of
Bambi in Blu-ray HD? What is your im-
pression about the sound and the voices
in this digital restoration?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Bambi on Blu-ray
will give more joy to young and tired eyes
than anything else even on film from any
camera. The colors are so sharp and the
dimensions will capture you with loving
arms. I wish Mr. Disney and his champion
art teams could see this work of theirs, so
loved by so many for so long, on Blu-ray.

Jl-ENT: Why do you think Bambi has
stood the test of time?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: The caliber of an-
imation in 1942 is absolutely stunning. It
would not achieve that without being a
story that is realistic about the cycle of life.
Look at the closing emotions of Bambi.
He stands on the rock platform next to his

dad, who then retires the responsibility
of the forest to Bambi. And, after lots of
comedy, laughter, love, adventure, cour-
age, life goes on. We all see some of our-
selves in Bambi's' story.

Did you get involved in theater during
college, or later in your adult life?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Yes. But remem-
ber that from age 9 forward, I just never
talked about being in seven movies. My
wife of near 1 9 years did not even know of
the films until nearly our 3rd year togeth-
er. (I ate some peanut butter for meals for
a couple of days for that non-disclosure.)
During my stateside time in 25 Marine
years, I took some personal time off and
did three live-stage theater roles, mostly
for non-profit needs. I loved it.

How did you envision working at Dis-
ney at the time? What did that repre-
sent for the kid you were then? How
did they coach you?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: If I understand
well, let me share this with you, while
coaches would tell me what mode or
senses to say certain things, no one tried
to change my age or my natural voice.
Mr. Disney wanted real kids to be the
'kids' in the forest.

How did the Disney artists manage to
get you into that universe that you had
only seen as static drawings? How did
they inspire you to give life to your
character?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: Just to be your-
self. A fun example, view the kiss scene
given to Bambi by the female deer. When
Bambi was sitting in a thicket feeling sor-
ry for himself, being foolish, I was asked
by the "Drawing Men" (animators) to
look like something real bad had just hap-
pened to me that made me mad. I was
having the time of my life then, so really
I had a hard time putting on an 'unhappy
face'. The men drawing me were wait-
ing for me to do it better. Then one man
asked me about any recent bad experi-
ence such as a spanking, bad food, etc.
I told them that my Mom had given me
something called Castor oil last week....
it was grim. "Donnie, pretend that you
just had a double-dose of Castor oil. And
I did, my face crunched up and eyes grew
mad. So when you see that cute scene
in "Bambi", the thicket kiss, you can call
that the Castor oil kiss.

How was the role of Bambi explained
to you originally?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: I remember ask-

ing "what is the story line" of this film? A
nice lady at Disney cured that problem and
explained. My mom also took me to a zoo
to see my first deer.

Now that Bambi is re-released on Blu-ray
do you think the film still has a message
to the new generations? And what kind
of message?

DONNIE DUNAGAN: Yes, quantum Yes.
If Bambi did not have the magic, story line
and characters all these 70 years, we would
not be having these interviews, and peo-
ple would not be eager, of all ages always
eager to see it again and again. The Blu-
ray release will take that great story and
art-work to such a level that if I lived until
1 06 years, we will still be talking about and
loving Bambi.

How much is Bambi like you, de-
sign-wise? Did you work with Milt Kahl
on that aspect of the character? How
was he as a person?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Boy, would I love to
share with you some memory of Milt Kahl.
What an honor that would be. Sorry. I do
not recall any action with him.

Can you tell us about your specific mem-
ories of Walt Disney himself, watching
him at work and how he related to you
when you were a child?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: In half of my pri-
or six movies, on-camera roles, I came to
understand the differences in crew and
actors, and responding to the Boss com-
ing around. Many were clearly in fear of
the Boss coming in and work being done.
This was not so with Mr. Disney. You could
see the positive reactions, all the time - of
workers, the 'drawing men/ all would say
"Here he comes, ask Walt, he is coming...
he will know what to do, Walt is here, show
him that...." etc. That is what real leaders
do. He built a major company during a
grim economic time in America, and the
people at Disney were his family.

Donnie, any final thoughts on Bambi?
DONNIE DUNAGAN: Bambi, the Di-
amond Edition Blu-ray will extend this
love-story to many generations. It is, af-
ter-all, Mr. Disney's visual sense of the
classic story that is with us now 70 years
'young/ Bambi is laced with emotions and
joys we all have in our natural life. That is
the magic bond with us and Bambi. We
are there, in the forest with him and his
friends. Thanks for letting this old warrior
and Disney lover share this with you. ■

440 Jl-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

you work so hard
to pay the mortgage.

MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE.gov

888-995-HOPE

We are a free government resource that can make paying the mortgage easier.
Call now to talk one-on-one with a housing expert. Now more options are available.

JI-ENT ON LOCATION - ATTACK ON TITAN PANEL @ SAKURA-CON 2014:
Media Q&A with Animation Producer Tetsuya Nakatake, Production I.G. Key
Animator Kyoji Asano, Voice Actress Yui Ishikawa, Producer Tetsuya Kinoshita

By Michelle Tymon & Dennis A. Amith

PHOTOS MICHELLE TYMON, JI-ENT

/// ATTACK ON TITAN (JUS

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

t Sakura-Con, the Se-
attle convention was
host of a press con-
ference for the series
"Shingeki no Kyojin"
(Attack on Titan)
featuring animation
producer Tetsuya
Nakatake, Production
LG. animator Kyoji Asano, voice actress Yui
Ishikawa and producer Tetsuya Kinoshita.

The following is a transcript of the press
conference which J!-ENT took part in.

How difficult is it as a new studio to
convince other rights holders to feature
their work on a series?
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: So, in the begin-
ning, myself and Mr. Nakatake worked
on a previous project titled "Sengoku
Basara" for Production I.G. and we
always bounced ideas around that we
would work together, because w like
working together. And he asked if we
can approach Kodansha for the rights to
"Attack on Titan". We got Mainichi (the
TV broadcasting station that did "Sen-
goku Basara"), Pony Canyon and Pro-
duction I.G.. all three of us got together,
made a proposal and pitched it and that's
how we got it.

Did you expect that this anime series
would be such a worldwide hit from
inception to when you got it in air?
TETSUYA NAKATAKE: So, at the start,
we didn't expect to have a global, explo-
sive popularity but the original manga
was highly regarded and very well-
known. So, we were surprised but thanks
to the original manga, we achieved
worldwide popularity.
KYOJI ASANO: And at the time when
it aired, there were a lot of people that
were watching, and part of our plan, a
portion of these people who continue to
support us and when the DVD's and Blu-
ray's come out, we need to maintain the
quality of action and animation.

From the music to the color choices of
the animation, and create that feel of
the manga, what was the philosophy of
bringing that to life?
TETSUYA NAKATAKE: The overall direc-
tion was Araki-san's direction but using
the manga as a base of inspiration and
awareness of the world of "Attack on Ti-
tan", we were able to use digital process-
ing to express the urgent atmosphere
and express that within the character
models, but Araki-san's direction was key.

The music and theme song was not done
by us but the lyrics were done by the
manga writer Hajime Isayama and input
with Araki-san and both collaborated
with each other.

How long were you in the studio for
the voice acting and overall process?
YUI ICHIKAWA: So, the voice over
process starts two months before the air
date when we record. Every week, all
voice talent gathered in the studio and
we all go through our lines. For myself, it
took 3-4 hours to record all the dialogue
that is required for a 30 minute episode.
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: And in the two
month lag time of when the episode airs,
we get to see the reception of how the
episodes are viewed and received, so we
can tell by how the air changes and the
sense of nervousness and the popularity
ramping up. For me personally, I'm on
the other side of the booth and glass
watching them do it and it's a lot of fun.
YUI ICHIKAWA: There is an air of inten-
sity, even in recording, when we were
recording the first episode, we knew that
many people were going to die. And
we had to express that, package all of
that raw world of what is in the manga,
and it's representative of the series. ..the
hoplessness, it was intense.

JI-ENT: Did you know this was going
to be a big project when you were
working on "Attack on Titan" and were
there any challenges you faced?
TETSUYA NAKATAKE: We didn't think
it would be this big of a reaction. The
images of the manga were very strong
and powerful and so I talked to the
director of how we would convert the
manga and turn it into an anime. So, for
the anime, we used lines that were fatter
and touched up, and also used more
colors. So, that's what we did to make it
a more powerful anime. As a result, this
made a lot of animators suffer and do a
lot of work. But among all of us, we feel
a great sense of responsibility due to
the strong fan reactions every week, so
we built up a sense of responsibility for
the fans based on their reactions. And
that is because of those challenges, we
overcame it.

How important was it to include clues
to the Titan's identities when planning
the anime?

TETSUYA NAKATAKE: So, I will commu-
nicate of how we approached the draw-
ing of the Titans based on Isayama-san

and director Araki-san. One point was
not changing their expression. Our direc-
tor Araki-san told me that we don't know
the goals of the Titans, they are unpredi-
catable and that is the scary aspect about
that. They don't act intellectually but
they act in the moment, based on their
own desires and that scares people. And
Araki-san said, the #1 thing is that this
fear is that all enemies are naked men.
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: A lot of thought
went into creating this scenario, even in
the storyboard phase, everything was
planned out for each of the 25-episodes
and like a western drama, each of the ep-
isodes are setup in acts and there will be
a tease of information, so they will want
to watch the next episode. And looking
at how all the 25 episodes were laid out,
we knew that we had to have original
content, so even that was thoroughly
planned out.

So, how important was it to show girl
power in the anime?
TETSUYA NAKATAKE: In the process
of turning the manga into an anime, it
ended up the way it did. it was not nec-
essarily our intent to alter that in anyway,
but it was our job to reproduce it as best
as we can.

TETSUYA KINOSHITA: Isayama-sensei
would say that he wanted to remove
all sexual elements from the story. We
wanted to give people an equal power,
and equal state. We are also witnessing
a similar phenomenon in Japan where it's
not male or female dominated. So, it's
the creator's original intent to make sure
that sex was not an issue.

JI-ENT: Is it your first time in the Unit-
ed States, did you have a chance to
enjoy Seattle?

TETSUYA NAKATAKE: This is my first
time in Seattle. The ocean is very close
and a photogenic city and it's a city with
appeal, so it's a city I want to keep com-
ing back to. I was particularly impacted
by the deliciousness of meat and shrimp.
KYOJI ASANO: This is my first time in
Seattle and I want to eat crab. I went
to the Space Needle and it was a great
view. We would like to go to SafeCo
Field to see a Seattle Mariners game.
YUI ICHIKAWA: This is also my first time
in Seattle. And I have went to various
events in Asia but this is my first time
at an event in the United States and it's
interesting to see the level of intima-
cy we have with fans. And it's surreal
when I saw a California Roll and I ate it,

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 443

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

ATTACK ON TITAN (jHHO^A) \\\

it's a food that originated in Japan that
has been westernized, and now being
consumed by a Japanese person. It's
fascinating and an interesting cycle,
(laughing) My friends from Seattle would
tell me that the seafood is to die for, so I
intend to eat a lot of seafood.
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: They pretty
much covered everything. I'm good!
(laughing)

If you weren't working in animation,
what kind of job would you be doing?
TETSUYA NAKATAKE: (laughing) I love
anime but I also enjoy video games. So #
if I can get a job there, I would like to join
Nintendo and make simulation games.
KYOJI ASANO: When I was younger,
I enjoyed soccer and wanted to be a
soccer player, (laughing) But in reality, I
would probably be working in a factory
near my hometown.
YUI ICHIKAWA: When I was younger,
I always wanted to be part of theater
and performances, but it's hard to think
of any alternatives that doesn't involve
acting. I guess the traditional OL (office
lady), but I don't know if I would do that
either. I always return to Genesis and act
a certain way.

TETSUYA KINOSHITA: Before I landed
in the job I did, you receive a lot of ca-
reer counseling in Japan, and my counsel-
or said I would be great in the assembly
line guessing the sex of chicks. I'm really
good at working in mundane tasks, so
if I weren't where I am now, I would be
doing something very, very different.

I know there have been many "Attack
on Titan" related promotions such as
the Subaru commercial. How do you
feel about the "Attack on Titan" pro-
motions?

TETSUYA KINOSHITA: So, prior to the
series airing, the tradional marketing
collaboration is to do a collaboration with
the convenience stores. But there was
one fundamental flaw in the relationship,
people are getting eaten by Titans, so
there is an unspoken rulefromconve-
nience stores that sell food, that they
would not want to do a collaboration.
It wasn't until after the series became
popular that we were approached with
other brands for collaborations and we
always want to stay involved. Once we
were approached, we always want to stay
involved for creative process and deter-
mine what the series has to offer and
create the best campaign that we could.

Are you familiar with Crunchyroll?
With simulcasts, they were airing on
the same time in Japan and the US and
Canada. How do you feel your indus-
try has changed with simulcast with
streaming services like Crunchyroll?
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: So, our first and
foremost goal was, and this is linked to
the simulcasts, in a weird way, the fan
subs produced quality fan subs and get-
ting them up as immediately after they
aired. Our goal was to beat the fan subs
in an official manner and made sure the
time lag between the airtime in Japan
and around the world, was as quick as
possible. One thing that I have been
thinking, now that we can get content
simultaneously, I think about how can we
get products out into the world quickly.
It's hard to get products from Japan out
to the world quickly. My latest challenge
of brainstorming is how can we get these
products out to fans in an official manner
before the pirated products come out. I
really feel that footage and anime, but
anything in Japan, but the next big goal
is to eliminate the time difference that
people can receive products. We will do
our best.

When are we going to see the next
season of "Attack on Titan"?
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: This was just an-
nounced in Japan but there are two fea-
ture films coming out. And the first one
"Guren n Yumiya" is scheduled to be
released in the winter 2014 and the oth-
er, "Jiyuu no Tsubasa" in 2015. And the
movies are split into two parts and will
show what the TV series aired but in an
abridged version. So, the continuation of
our story may come after that. And this
is the question we do get asked a lot but
the first season of "Attack on Titan" took
three years in preparation alone, and we
want to put the best quality as possible.
So, please hang tight for now.

Now you mentioned the movies are an
abridge footage of the TV series. Will
it include new footage?
TETSUYA KINOSHITA: It's an interest-
ing question, because there are a lot of
retouching for the TV series to the Blu-
ray edition. So, in the first movie, expect
to see the retouched, fixed-up versions
from the Blu-ray, re-edited in a two hour
package. To be quite honest, I to would
be surprised if there is new footage add-
ed to the movie.

What final comments do you have for

your fans of "Attack on Titan"?
TETSUYA NAKATAKE: Thank you all.
Thanks to "Attack on Titan", I was able
to come to the beautiful city of Seattle
and I want to thank everyone for their
questions, we are able to get a lot of
thoughts into our project and I want to
make sure our next project good enough,
so we can come back again.
KYOJI ASANO: I work in the animation
industry in Japan and have already seen
the reactions of the Japanese fans for
"Attack on Titan". But being here in
Seattle, now I had the opportunity to
see the reactions from people who came
from all over to the US and now I want to
make them very happy. Thank you very
much for the wonderful support you have
shown.

YUI ICHIKAWA: Thanks to "Attack on
Titan" and the fans all over the world,
I have been able to travel all around
the world myself and this makes me
happy to engage with fans all over the
world. Even in Japan, we have witnessed
non-anime fans take interest in the show.
Anyone from grade-schoolers to people
of my parent's age, there is no target
audience. This has really surprised me
and given me a lot of pleasure. Recently,
I talked to the voice actor for Levi and
he has been to many conventions and he
said that this is a phenomenon that is not
only unique in Japan but non-anime fans
viewers all over the world have become
fans have taken interest. So, it's really
great the series has become what it has.
I hope when the English dubbed version
is released of "Attack on Titan", will also
bring in non-anime fans and make them
new fans.

TETSUYA KINOSHITA: With "Attack on
Titan, I have to confess, and I can only
say this only now, that there were a lot
of unexected problems that have came
up. But for whatever reason, better or for
worse, fans and consumers have taken it
to a positive way and for me, this was mi-
raculous that it lined up to our advantage
and to be quite honest, I don't know if
this phenomenon can be reproduced, but
I would like to take my experience which
I learned here and take it back and make
even better content for people to enjoy.
So, everyone thank you. ■

For more information on "Attack
on Titan", please visit

http://www. shingeki.tv/

445 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

November 2014

Now $24.98
or less

Start your collection at a-new lower price

Naruto Uzumaki is back! After twojnd a half years of training on .the road with Jiraiya ol^the Sannin*
Naruto is back in the Village Hidden in v the Leaves, and he's ready -ffshow off his new skills! .

Available at^jgur Jo^al(DVD retailer and online!'
V i Z naminiiH huiiii

JI-ENT ON LOCATION - THE "MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC
PANEL @ SAKURA-CON 2014:

Media Q&A with Director Koji Masunari, Character Designer
Toshifumi Akai and Producer Shunsuke Saito

By Michelle Tymon & Dennis A. Amith

PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE TYMON

446 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Jn Japan, Shinobu Ohtakas
"Magi: The Labyrynth"
has been captivating
fans since it received
serialization in "Weekly
Shonen Jump" back in
2009. Withananime
series adaptation airing in
Japan from 2012-2014, with the manga
and anime series being released in the
United States, director Koji Masunari,
producer Shunsuke Saito and character
designer Toshifumi Akai were special
guests at Sakura-Con in Seattle. JI-
ENT took part in a press conference for
"Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic" and for
this JI-ENT annual issue, will present
the transcript from the press conference.

There is a rumor that you would
not want to work on "Read or
Die" if there is a male lead charac-
ter. Can you please elaborate on
that?

KOJI MASUNARI: Originally,
"Read or Die" was going to feature
a male protagonist but in pre-pro-
duction, the protagonist changed
from male to female. I made a joke
on that and it played out.

JI-ENT: With "Magi" having a
successful first season, what
challenges did you face in season
two?

KOJI MASUNARI: Since the staff
got acclimated to the production
of season one, we can carry on the
comfort that we developed into
season two. So, we started off in
a very good way. But perhaps Mr.
Akai can add into the art style of
season two.

TOSHIFUMI AKAI: Since the
art style in the manga also has
changed overtime, it was some-
thing I could follow up with and
change things up for season two. I
also added my own personal style
to it.

There are a lot of important
characters on both seasons of
"Magi". How much extra work

did you have to put in, so that all
the characters looked as good as
they do as opposed to a title with
a few characters?
KOJI MASUNARI: Since we have
six or seven characters on screen
at once, there was something that
was testing for the animators and
all I can say is "keep up the good
work" to them.

TOSHIFUMI AKAI: And perhaps,
one of the biggest secrets is that
for characters who have the least
amount of screentime, looked
good as well.

Did you have America in mind
when creating this title?
KOJI MASUNARI: This really de-
pends on the nature of title. For
example, "Read or Die" didn't have
an American audience in mind,
while "Kamichu" is something that
is purely for Japanese consumption
and a show like "Magi" is based on
pre-existing work is based on the
intentions of what the producer
had in mind. So, perhaps the pro-
ducer can expand on that.
SHUNSUKE SAITO: As an anime
project, as producer, I thought
that "Magi" had potential to be
world class titles such as "Fullmetal
Alchemist", "One Piece", "Bleach"
or "Naruto". And the overseas
branch of Aniplex was very much
looking forward to "Magi" as a
title, so a world audience is some-
thing we had in mind for "Magi".

JI-ENT: How is your experience at
a Sakura-Con so far?
SHUNSUKE SAITO: The biggest
surprise for me attending an Amer-
ican convention is seeing how the
cosplay has become more refined.
It really makes me glad to see ev-
eryone having a good time here?
TOSHIFUMI AKAI: This is my very
first time in the U.S., so I feel like
I came from the country, so every-
thing looks new to me.
SHUNSUKE SAITO: Compared

to what I have seen 4-5 years ago,
when I came to the U.S., and I see
the fans who are more real-time
than their Japanese counterpart,
a lot of that has to do with more
shows being simulcast at the same
time. We can see that in what
cosplayers do, and cosplaying more
recent shows and the titles they
choose are what is happening in
Japan. So, that was interesting to
see that.

With season 2 of "Magi" having
just wrapped up, I believe the
"Adventures of Sinbad" is next f
but what's next for "Magi"?
SHUNSUKE SAITO: The Adven-
tures of Sinbad"will be released
as an OAD (Original Animation on
DVD) and not broadcast on televi-
sion. The main story of "Magi" will
continue to be TBD.

What's your personal impressions
of the U.S. so far?
KOJI MASUNARI: Great meat
SHUNSUKE SAITO: Very good
local brew that I would love to
bring back home. Any recommen-
dations? For me, it's the cosplay
and the diversity of genres the
American fans can offer. I don't
think Japan can have this kind of
diversity like America.
TOSHIFUMI AKAI: I also like how
the hospitality in the U.S. is much
better than Japan. To expand on
that, if you look at Japanese fans,
they are infatuated by the voice
actors but not interested in seeing
the creative staff, unless you talk to
the so-called animation otaku. It
seems that American fans have an
interest in the creative staff.

JI-ENT: Have you done any

sight-seeing in Seattle?

KOJI MASUNARI: I got to go to a

video game store because I wanted
to get the latest edition of Madden
NFL.

TOSHIFUMI AKAI: I like to go

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 447

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC \\\

shopping downtown.
SHUNSHUKE SAITO: I want to
see the ocean and see the city full
of high rises and see seagulls. So, I
want to see the ocean.

You mentioned that you wanted
"Magi" to be a world class title
such as "Bleach", "On Piece",
"Naruto". What steps did you
take to reach that level of popu-
larity?

SHUNSUKE SAITO: It s not so

much specific steps we need to
take. We need to appeal to the an-
ime fans if there is no comic being
released. There is potential in the
show, so, I encouraged the staff to
make a good show. But there is one
challenge we face is the broadcast
time frame of Sunday, 5 p.m. It is
a favorable broadcast spot and we
took it on and made that our chal-
lenge. And once incentive for that
is when you pick a later hour, the
age demographic is much older but
we wanted a time slot that would
attract also younger boys and girls
in the audience.

on previously matter? What's
the most important thing to you
during the course of a production.
TOSHIFUMI AKAI: Titles and
genres are important, but it is also
very important to have mutual
respect for my colleagues, because
if you don't have that, it won't be a
worthwhile endeavor, so having re-
spect for staff is something I value.
KOJI MASUNARI: For me, if I can
get to the principal characters,
that's all I need. I wouldn't be picky
on the genre for that. If the pro-
tagonist is cute, that is very good.
But action is one of the main draws
of anime, so that is something that
I value. But I am very fond of the
slice of life and mellow works as
well. So, that's another genre that I
can fit myself into.
SHUNSUKE SAITO: Because I am a
producer at a label, my sales work
is very important. I have to choose
titles that would lead to good
sales and my task is to maximize
the sales potential for the show.
So, I'm in love with any genre that
comes to me.

titles influenced you?
KOJI MASUNARI: I recently dis-
covered an essay of a fourth grader
of what he wanted to be when
he grows up, he wanted to be a
carpenter. So, if I read that earlier,
I probably would be a carpenter
today. But what got me into the
anime industry is a show called
"Irion".

TOSHIFUMI AKAI: My childhood
dream was to make a living by
doing nothing. But my influences
were "Macross 7" and "Evan-
gelion", so I was very much into
anime.

SHUNSUKE SAITO: The same for
me, "Evangelion" was my influence
and I always wanted to work in the
entertainment industry, so here I
am today. ■

When working with different staff
members, does what they worked

JI-ENT: Is this what you envi-
sioned doing for work, and what

For more information on "Magi:
The Labirynth of Magic", please
visit the following sites:

MANGA: http://www.websunday.
net/rensai/magi/

ANIME: http://www.project-magi.
com/

448 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

7 ,

Own the

Limited Edition
Coiiector's Blu-ray
DVD combo P acK ;...

3 Special OVA

*!t P S manga d***
toy BLOOD LAD creator

meraa

tK^ m** f But unlike his a" ce J°e S ; n d

^attt your cop^

w rr

viz.com/bloodlad

DE013 Yuuki KODAMA/Kadokawashoten/BLOOD LAD Partne

Q&A 2014

SWORD ART ONLINE

Jl-ENT ON LOCATION - SWORD ART ONLINE PANEL
@ SAKURA-CON 2014:

Media Q&A with Director Tomohiko Ito, Character Designer Shingo
Adachi and Aniplex Producer Shinichiro Kashiwada

By Michelle Tymon and Dennis A. Amith

PHOTOGRAPHY FROM Q&A MICHELLE TYMON

450 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// SWORD ART ONLINE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Last year, Sakura-Con
featured "Sword Art
Online" creator Reki
Kawahara as guest of
honor. As he discussed
the storyline and his
novels, his appearance
gave us good insight on "Sword Art
Online" and "Accel World".

For 2014, with the airing of "Sword
Art Online IP, Sakura-Con invited
director Tomohiko Ito, character design-
er Shingo Adachi and Aniplex producer
Shinichiro Kashiwada as guests.

The following is a transcript of the
"Sword Art Online" press panel which
JI-ENT took part in.

What would you work in if you
had a career in a different field?
TOMOHIKO ITO: Before I became
an animator, I was in a seafaring
school, so I would have become a
sailor.

SHINGO ADACHI: I went to film
school, but its not easy to become
a film director even if you go there.
So, I was going to look into getting
work at a small TV production com-
pany as an assistant director, but as
I come from the baby boom gener-
ation, so the competition was very
tough and it didn't work out, and
around that time that's when one
of my sempai's recruited me into
anime production. At the time I also
was seeking jobs in TV production
as an assistant director and also
video game companies like Konami
and Capcom but I didn't make it
into any of them, so I ended up in
anime.

SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA: I

wanted to be a police officer but
didn't like to study so I would have
never passed any of my civil service
exams. I actually studied engineer-
ing in school so I studied something
that has no bearing on what I do
today.

JI-ENT: Sword Art Online explains
the gaming terminology pretty
well, were there a lot of gamers

on staff? What was it like getting
used to the video game terminol-
ogy?

SHINGO ADACHI: Before SAO
started, I was addicted to "Final
Fantasy 1 1 " , so much to an extent
that it affected my job perfor-
mance... so you could say that I
did all the research necessary well
before working on SAO. It was my
wife who scolded me and made
me make the bitter return to "Real
Space". Around the time when
author of SAO, Kawahara Reki was
addicted to "Lineage", I was pret-
ty much playing the other Korean
MMO "Ragnarok Online". So both
of us were pretty familiar with the
current online gaming lingo.

This question is for Tomohiko Ito.
You stated "Neon Genesis Evan-
gelion" inspired to be an Anime
Director. With the "You (Can) Not"
movie series releases. What are
you thoughts on the execution of
the movie series?
TOMOHIKO ITO: You know me
well (laughing). Once you become a
pro in the anime industry its hard to
watch anime from a fan's perspec-
tive. Despite that, "Evangelion" is
one of those shows I like to watch
as a pure fan. I don't really look at
how its changed between the old
"Evangelion" and the new movies.

What challenges were there in
adapting a story that was original-
ly self-published online vs adapt-
ing an already established title
from a manga, video game or light
novel?

SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA: The

challenges of animating that was
not so different, granted before
SAO was published as a novel. It
was self published online but I'm
pretty sure ASCII Media Works
pretty much knew that and it was
popular back then. That is why they
picked it up to publish it. Unlike
say video games, SAO always was
something that had appeal not just

to the Japanese audience but to the
world. That was the hook we had to
grab it and to animate it.
SHINGO ADACHI: This wasn't just
SAO but my previous show "Work-
ing!" also has it's self published
doujin roots and I think it has come
to be that publishers are looking at
pre-existing works by authors who
did so not for their lively hood but
for their passion. That tends to help
create diversity in the genre, you
can say that with Hatsune Miku on
the music side of things as well. I
think this trend will probably con-
tinue.

What challenges did you all face
during the production of Sword
Art Online?

TOMOHIKO ITO: Back then this
would have been 2012. We wanted
to pose the question, "what would
be a new fantasy world?"
SHINGO ADACHI: Back when I
was in High school, very much the
Euro-Western fantasy was the rage.
It was very popular with titles such
as "Record of Lodoss War", and
I was certainly one of the fans of
the genre. Eventually the audience
started to get bored and the pop-
ularity of the genre died down. We
thought that if we followed the
same formula, we would end up the
same way. The producer told us not
to go with that but to go strictly
with the created world of the video
game fantasy world (within SAO),
and not the general online fantasy
world(s) and take it from there.
SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA: This
is more of personal view, in SAO
one of the characteristic premises is
that "game over" means personal
death. But If you compare death in
a live action to animation, I always
thought it was hard to beat the real-
ism of death in animation but if you
look at other recent shows such as
"Attack on Titan", the desperation
of the character is no less unrealis-
tic, so I thought it was something
that is fairly depictable using the

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 451

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

SWORD ART ONLINE

anime medium.

JI-ENT: The first season of Sword
Art Online is very popular interna-
tionally. Did you feel any pressure
on the staff for Sword Art Online
season 2?

TOMOHIKO ITO: Yes! (laughing)
SHINGO ADACHI: In SAO when
you move into a new game, the
characters looks completely
change, we can't use the character
designs from the previous produc-
tion and carry it on to that. That
is very different from my previous
show "Working!!", where you can
just continue on with the previous
character designs. IN SAO, you
have to come up with new character
designs from scratch for the next
season and that is a tough thing to
do as an animator. But if you look at
the previous characters, Kirito and
Asuna, you can see how time has
changed them. They have grown up
a little and that is something we can
look forward to seeing.
SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA: Well,
for me I do not have the pressure
but it was so in season one and it
still so in season two that we're
blessed with good and character
designers and that there are good
staff people in Japan. I know we can
do it and I know I can trust them.
And in season one, this was a world
of combat where it is sword vs.
sword. In season two this is sword
vs. guns and this is a new world. It
won't be the same as season one
and this is what to look forward to.

Sword Art Online's ratings in
America (on Toonami) are 7.1 and
5.8 (out of 8). What do you think
about those numbers? Did you
expect that popularity?
TOMOHIKO ITO: The producer
doesn't give us those numbers.
SHINGO ADACHI: I'm glad to hear
those numbers.

This question is for Adachi and To-

mohiko. Since your debut works,
(Tomohiko: Death Note & Adachi:
Rockman) what changes do you
see in the production process?
SHINGO ADACHI: As a character
designer, Rockman was my first se-
ries but I had been an animator for
10 years before that, the biggest
challenge was changing from eel
work to digital work.
TOMOHIKO ITO: Another change
is the executive animation direction
system. Each episode would have
its own animation director but the
episodes would be overseen by
the executive animation director,
so that became a bottleneck but
does allow the character designer
and executive animation director
to make all the cells consistent and
give a consistent feel to the entire
series. It does depend on talent of
one single artist but that has been
the change for the good.
SHINGO ADACHI: For me I wish
this system were not in place. Jap-
anese fans are very demanding and
want consistency in style through
the entire series. Consistent sales
in DVD and Blu-Rays show success
in the system, but makes the work-
ing studio environment difficult.
TOMOHIKO ITO: I worked on
"Death Note" but it was not my
debut, that would probably be
"Monster". Going from an episode
director to series director means
you have better influence for the
entire production. I have to figure
out when to apply the controls
since I'm not an artist, so may it
be working with the screenplay
or sound director, those are areas
where I can apply myself.When
you're allowed to do a lot of things
with digital production, you are
being forced and compelled to do
a lot of things because you can
but digital production allows to do
things in a shorter amount of time
and it allowed us to do a lot of
things.

This question is for Ito-San. Can
you give us your thoughts on your
collaboration with Gen Urobuchi
on episode 11 of "Puella Magi
Madoka Magica ff ?
TOMOHIKO ITO: Wow! That's a
very specific question. We only col-
laborated on one episode, so there
is no locking with the horns with
him. But there are so many people
who want to collaborate with Gen
Urobuchi, he would have plenty of
suitors.

When adapting a series how much
input does the original author
have, and from what point do you
actually take the reins?
SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA: The
beginning and the end were read
out to the author and that was de-
termined with his presence. We're
working on a fixed time frame, and
certain things, elements in the story
that need to be cut out and were
with the consent of the original
author. We did this to avoid prob-
lems later on such as the author
saying that these things were done
without his consent, or that the
production staff did not understand
the intent of the story.
SHINGO ADACHI: As an animator
when I am given pre-existing works
to do my work on, you may have
popular books and titles that are
already in the book stores stacked
up for everyone to grab but there
is also the part of the population
that has not grabbed any of those
books and who don't know of the
existing work. I think it is my task
to take the art style of the original
books and stylize into something
that is much more accessible to ev-
eryone else. No matter how great
a show might be if you don't grab
them on episode 1 they don't start
watching the show. So I think as a
character designer one of the most
important is to come up with the
key visuals that would entice the
potential audience to try episode
one. So, that they would be sitting

452 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// SWORD ART ONLINE

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

down in front of the television when
episode one is broadcast, and that
would be all pertinent to the key
visuals that I work on.

What was the most memorable
moment you had while working on
Sword Art Online?
TOMOHIKO ITO: Well, perhaps
it was the fact that I was dumped.
Well, it was after the SAO was done,
but it wasn't during the production.
SHINGO ADACHI: On the final
episode, we worked for two weeks
straight, so I didn't go home. My
wife told me she was thinking of
divorce.

SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA: During
the course of the series there were
certain ways that we anticipated
the audience reacting, such as Kirito
proposes to Asuna, you can an-
ticipate a lot of viewer frustration
episode, so that was intended and
anticipated. But I'm sure the frustra-
tion was reflected it back on Ito-San
and Adachi-San, who were working
on the series.

SHINGO ADACHI: While I was
working on SAO, fan popularity
wasn't something that I consciously
removed from mind while working
on it. I was later happy to learn that
Blu-ray sales were good and there
was a second pleasant surprise to
hear that there was an American
audience that enjoyed SAO. That
also leads to being invited to places,
like here in Sakura-Con. You can say I
had more memorable moments with
SAO after production.

Adachi-San, As a character de-
signer what personal touches and
details do you add to your work to
make it special and stand out?
SHINGO ADACHI: It's difficult to
see my own work in an objective
fashion. I always try to respect the
style of the original work but there
seems to be a something that is
my own character that I can never
remove from the art. Whether that
is considered my own character or

whether that is something desir-
able, I can't really tell or perhaps
because of that. That is why I keep
on getting work. I am still not sure
if I should completely remove that
or retain that.

JI-ENT: What are your thoughts
on Sakura-Con and anime's pop-
ularity in the U.S.? And people
enjoying your work?
TOMOHIKO ITO: I am happy!
SHINGO ADACHI: I am happy to
see fans here and to actually be
here. At the same time I still have
a hard time believing that it is all
here too. When I work on a show,
I really have the Japanese viewers
and audience in mind, and that
is also the sensibilities I draw on.
There are certain styles of art that
is popular in Japan, so to see that
get accepted overseas is some-
thing I find very incredible because
I always thought that American
audience, perhaps that the style
of American comics, the style of
Marvel would be the only thing
that would be popular here, and to
see other styles be accepted is a
discovery for me.
TOMOHIKO ITO: Looking at the
cosplayers, I see some longevity
in the costumes. There are a lot of
"Sailor Moon" cosplayers, for ex-
ample. I hope that ten years from
now there will be a lot of Kirito
cosplayers.

Another question for Adachi-San.
When doing character designs,
do character expressions come
naturally to you?
SHINGO ADACHI: The charac-
ter's expressions seems to come
naturally to me when you look
at the story board and visualize
the scene. You go through it so
many times in your head tha the
expressions come pretty naturally,
however all artists can identify that
when you're drawing a character
with a certain expression you tend
to be mirroring that a lot and so

when doing a sad expression you
look sad as an artist. When drawing
a smiling character, you are smiling,
you are also grinning and looking
pretty. I often look at myself that
way as well.

What work have you done on oth-
er projects since Sword Art Online
season 1?

TOMOHIKO ITO: I worked on a
show called "Silver Spoon", it's
based off on a manga from Arakawa
Hiromu, the creator of "Fullmetal
Alchemist". It takes place in a agri-
cultural school and is very subdued.
Working on SAO was a refreshing
change, both mentally, as well as
physically.

SHINGO ADACHI: "Galileo Don-
na" was the first for me, because
this was my first original title. And
so, we started with no artwork to
based the character design on.
There are original shows where the
concept art was done by a famous
illustrator but for "Gallileo Donna",
we really started out fully from
scratch. I'll be repeating myself,
but SAO and "Working!!" were
based on popular titles, so you can
already see what kind of audience
you want to grab. But when you
start from scratch, you have to
come up with key individuals, so
you can get people to try out the
first episode. And that was pretty
much where my effort all went into.
I really put all my effort into the Blu-
ray jacket art for "Galileo Donna",
so maybe you can google the jacket
art online. There are six of them
from volumes 1-6, but I would be
very happy if you can look at them
and look at what I did. ■

^lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllb
= For more on Sword Art Online, =
= please visit:

= http://www.swordart-online.net/ =
^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I J!-ENT 453

Ji-BMT anime& manga charts

ANIME: TOP 10 BEST SELLING DVD'S IN JAPAN

Source: ORICON ANIME DVD RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 3, 2014)

1. DVD-BOX1 (Yokai Watch DVD-BOX1)

2. Slfx-XCDI?^ OVA vs GeniusTO Vo 1. 1 ) (Shin Tennis no Ohsama OVA
vs. Genius 1 0 Vol. 1 )

3. Effl'j>fti?W3<A, 3H2g [DVD] (Gekkan Shojo Nozaki-kun Vol. 2)

4. g^VU-CD^-7T>®«-»(l 4. 09) (Despicable Me2)

5. W^omm V[DVD] (Kamigami no Asobi V)

6. Smi«ah-*a-^-;U[DVD]vo 1. 2 (Tokyo Ghoul Vol. 2)

7. x-hO^-f?!! DVDRBSJjR *5« (Date A Live II DVD Vol. 5)

8. /-y-A'Z-^f 7 V[DVD] (No Game No Life V)

9. Hybrid Child *1S[DVD]

10. ^fh*7— e7*7*?lU?;U05.09) (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

MANGA: TOP 10 BEST SELLEBS IN THE U.S.A.

Source: THE NEW YORK TIMES: NOVEMBER 9, 2014

1. NO GAME, NO LIFE, Vol. 1 (Yuu Kamiya and Mashiro Hiiragi, Seven
Seas Entertainment)

2. NARUTO, vol. 67 (Masashi Kishimoto, VIZ Media)

3. FOOD WARS!, Vol. 2 (Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki, Viz Media)

4. Haganai, I Don't Have Many Friends, Vol. 9 (Yomi Hirasaka and Itachi,
Seven Seas entertainment)

5. Attack on Titan, Vol. 1 (Hajime Isayama, Kodansha Comics)

6. Maximum Ride, Vol. 8 (James Patterson and NaRae Lee, Yen Press)

7. Deadman Wonderland, Vol. 5 (Jinsei Kataoka, Viz Media)

8. Black Butler, Vol. 1 (Yana Toboso, Yen Press)

9. Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 8 (Maki Enjoji, Viz Media)

10. Attack on Titan, Vol. 13 (Hajime Isayama, Kodansha Comics)

MANGA: TOP 10 BEST SELLEBS IN JAPAN

Source: ORICON MANGA RANKINGS (November 3, 2014)

jEmttfflh-* 3— 9-11 1 4 / EfflX-f (Tokyo Ghoul Vol. 1 4, Sui Ishida)
?4r 23 / *mm (Magi Vol. 23, Shinobu Ohtaka)

GIANT KILLING 33 / (»?S?h^/(lUR*nti1S2l)M*f§& (Maya Tsunamoto
and Tsujitomo)

■fcOOD^P 11/ ft*Jfe (Nanatsu no Taizaii vol. 1 1 , Nakaba Suzuki)
yava 'M> 8 / M*mSB (Jojorion Vol. 8, Hirohiko Araki)
*yWk 36/ ®mx (Kingdom Vol. 36, Yasuhisa Hara)
?-f >^>K'-tf*f 1 5 / mmm (Vinland Saga Vol. 1 5, Makoto Yukimura)

t&zim<DmmEm{<(>Ty?7>) 1 4 / mmmmmm/mm*®** ss/t**^*?-®

i£)l£U&££<fcfcfr (Toaru Majutsu no Index, Kazuma Kamachi and Kiyotaka
Haimura)

WSkf-^—f-^— 19/ ftiv3# (Oresama Teacher vol. 1 9, Izumi Tsubaki)
)£7J<m 25 / -SSZfc (Piano no Mori Vol. 25 / Makoto Isshiki)

454 JI-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

JI-BVTT RNIME& MANGA MEWS

SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES
LE FRUIT DE LA GRISAIA

I**

In his search for normalcy, a new student at a strange school
will come to learn that the seeds of darkness lie hidden deep in
the hearts of five young girls in Sentai Filmworks' latest acqui-
sition, Le Fruit de la Grisaia. This psychological drama series
is directed byTensho (KINMOZA!, Tears to Tiara) with
series composition by Hideyuki Kurata (Orelmo, The World
God Only Knows), music by Elements Garden (Bodacious
Space Pirates, Kamigami no Asobi), character designs by Akio
Watanabe (Bakemonogatari, Hoshizora Kiseki) and animation
production by 8 Bit (Infinite Stratos, Tokyo Ravens).

Mihama Academy is less of a school and more of a prison.
With a massive wall surrounding all sides, this private acade-
my is both protected and isolated from the outside world. But
while Mihama Academy may not seem appealing to your av-
erage student, it is a safe haven for those looking to hide from
the various cruelties that life has dealt them. One such student
is the stoic Yuji Kazami, whose closest shot at leading an ordi-
nary high school life lies only within the walls of Mihama. But
when Yuji transfers to this untraditional establishment he finds
that his chance at "normal" may be further than he thought. As
the first male in a school with only five female students, Yujis
arrival threatens to disrupt the carefully crafted illusion of daily
life at Mihama. And as Yuji begins to adapt to life in his new
surroundings he soon learns that behind the innocent faces of
his classmates hide secrets that are nearly as dark as Yujis own.

Le Fruit de la Grisaia will be available soon through select
digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

SENTAI FILMWORKS
LICENSES "LOG HORIZON 2

The adventures continue as Shiroe, Akatsuki and the rest of Log
Horizon prepare to delve deeper into the world of Elder Tale in
Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, Log Horizon 2. This new
season of the wildly popular action adventure series from the
brilliant mind of Mamare Touno (Maoyu) is directed by Shin-
ji Ishihara (Log Horizon, Fairy Tail) with series composition
by Toshizo Nemoto (Towanoquon, Dog & Scissors), music by
Yasuharu Takanashi (The Severing Crime Edge, The Ambition
of Oda Nobuna), and animation production by Studio DEEN
(Fate/stay night, Higurashi - When They Cry).

After struggling to survive in a surreal existence they were
suddenly thrown into, Shiroe and his friends have managed
to restore order to Akihabara by defending the people against
the Goblins in the Zantleaf Region. After six long months with
the team gaining the trust of the many guilds that use the city
as their home base, they must now prepare for their unfore-
seen future - and a tough winter ahead. Once shy and a little
standoffish, Shiroe has stepped up and shown that he can be a
great leader. But can he keep Akatsuki, Naotsugu, and the rest
of the gang together as they start to have differing opinions on
their future course of action? And will the clique agree to leave
the safety of the holy land of Akihabara to head off to one of
the other four cities and explore foreign lands of Elder Tale?
Whatever they may decide, this world that was once a game for
the players is now reality and they must decide what is best for
each and every one of the members of the team. Get ready for
the punch line as the saga continues where the adventurers must
determine their true destiny in LOG HORIZON 2!

Log Horizon 2 will be available soon through select digital out-
lets with a home video release to follow.

SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES "MUV LUV ALTERNATIVE: TOTAL ECLIPSE"

Two brave souls will hold the fate of humanity in their hands as the world nations unite under the threat of alien invasion in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, Muv Luv
Alternative: Total Eclipse. This sci-fi action adventure series is directed by Masaomi Ando (White Album 2, Re:Hamatora [assistant director]) andTakayuki Inagaki (Desert
Punk, Indian Summer) with music by Seikou Nagaoka (Chaika -The Coffin Princess-, He Is My Master), art direction by Kei Ichikura (Dragonaut - The Resonance, Kurau:
Phantom Memory) and animation production by fxtl and SATELIGHT (Bodacious Space Pirates, Log Horizon).

Since 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA have driven the human race into near extinction. Facing an enormous enemy force, mankind has responded by developing
large humanoid arms called Tactical Surface Fighters, deploying them to its defensive lines throughout the world. All of their efforts, however, could only slow down the
BETA: the people of Earth are forced to abandon major areas of the Eurasian continent. After 30 years, humanity is still bogged down in a back and forth war with the
BETA with no end in sight. . .

In 2001, Imperial Japan faces great difficulties in developing a next generation TSF while also defending the frontline of the Far East. In response, the United Nations have
proposed a joint development program between Imperial Japan and the United States as part of its new international initiative: The Prominence Project. Yui Takamura, a
TSF pilot of the Imperial Royal Guards of Japan, is assigned to the project and sets off to Alaska. Meanwhile, Yuya Bridges, a US Army TSF pilot, also makes his way to the
icy wilderness of Alaska. Neither know of each other, or how their fates will forever change when they meet. As humanity hangs in the balance, two souls will intertwine as
the new age of Tactical Surface Fighters emerges to defeat the BETA in MUV LUV ALTERNATIVE: TOTAL ECLIPSE!

Muv Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

ANIME& MANGA HEWS JI-BSTT

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES TOKYO
GHOUL AND OTHER NEW
MANGA ACQUISITIONS

North America's Leading Manga Publisher Thrills Fans At New York
Comic Con 2014 With The Announcement Of A Harrowing New Action
Horror Series And A Hilarious New Shojo Manga Title

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of
manga and anime in North America, announced the acquisition of a pair
of exciting new manga (graphic novel) titles during panels held during the
recent New York Comic Con 2014.

Fans attending the East Coast's biggest pop culture and comics event
enthusiastically welcomed the announcement of the Summer 2015 launch
of creator Sui Ishida's horror action series, TOKYO GHOUL, which will
be published under the VIZ Signature imprint, as well as Go Ikeyamada's
cross-dressing comedy, SO CUTE IT HURTS!!, set to be published under
the Shojo Beat imprint. Both titles will be released in print as well as digi-
tally.

TOKYO GHOUL • Rated T+'for Older Teens •
Print MSRP: $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN • Available June 2015
This riveting horror/ action series about a reluctant monster has been one of
the year's most fan-requested new titles. Ken Kaneki is an ordinary col-
lege student until a violent encounter turns him into the first half-human
half-ghoul hybrid. Trapped between two worlds, he must survive Ghoul turf
wars, learn more about Ghoul society and master his new powers.

SO CUTE IT HURTS!! • Rated T' for Teens •
Print MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN • Available June 2015
The fun begins when the cross-dressing starts in this hilarious new high
school shojo manga comedy. The Kobayashi twins, Mego and Mitsuru, were
named after historical figures, but only Mego has grown up with a taste for
history. So when Mitsuru is in danger of losing his weekends to extra histo-
ry classes, he convinces his sister to swap clothes with him and ace his tests!
After all, how hard can it be for them to play each other?

"New York Comic Con is a perfect setting to announce the acquisition of
these exciting new manga titles and we are thrilled to expand our Shojo
Beat and VIZ Signature rosters with these scheduled releases," says Leyla
Aker, Vice President, Publishing. "The much buzzed- about horror series,
TOKYO GHOUL, presents a frightening world where monsters called
Ghouls live among us, seemingly the same as normal people in every way,
except for their endless craving for human flesh. SO CUTE IT HURTS!!
will delight readers with a smile-inducing mix of cheeky comedy, funny
characters and energetic artwork. We look forward to readers discovering
both of these new VIZ Media manga titles next summer."

For more information on manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit
www.VIZ.com.

SENTAI FILMW0RKS
LICENSES "CROSS ANGE
RONDO OF ANGEL AND DRAGON"

A once powerful princess who had the world at her
fingertips will join a group of warriors to defend it
from destruction in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisi-
tion, CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon.
This fantasy adventure series is directed by Yoshiharu
Ashino (Tweeny Witches, Thundercats [201 1]), with
series composition by Tatsuto Higuchi (Phi Brain
Puzzle of God,Toradora!), mecha design byjunichi
Akutsu (My-HiME, Code Geass: Lelouch of the
Rebellion), and animation production by SUNRISE
(Gintama, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere).

Mankind has acquired a highly advanced informa-
tion technology known as "Mana." Thanks to this
almost magical force war, hunger, pollution, and every
other problem on the face of the earth have been
conquered. Finally the world is a Utopia of peace and
luxury.

Angelise is the First Princess of the Empire of
Misurugi. She also lives a life of luxury, is celebrated
by the citizens, and is expected to wear the crown.
However, the truth becomes known that she herself is
a "Norma."

A "Norma" is someone who cannot use Mana. They
are called "Irregulars" and are considered anti-social
"things."

With everything taken away from her, she is sent
into isolation on a secluded island. There she meets
Norma girls who know of nothing but fighting. They
spend their days piloting transforming humanoid
weapons called "Para-mails" to hunt giant aggressive
life forms called "Dragons" which have invaded from
another dimension.

Having lost her name, "Ange" becomes a warrior. But
what will she see at the end of her battles?

What is to be trusted?

What is to be gained?

The story of one girl and her determination begins
here.

CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon will
be available soon through select digital outlets with a
home video release to follow.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 456

JI-BVTT RNIME& MANGA MEWS

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF
ONE PIECE MANGA BOX SET 2

New Box Set Edition Features The Continuing Adventures Of The Straw Hat Pirates
With Vols. 24-46 Of The World's Bestselling Manga Series

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers a special treat to fans
with the latest Box Set installment for the world's most popular manga series - ONE PIECE.

The ONE PIECE Manga Box Set 2 will be released on November 4th and is rated T for Teens. The set contains Volumes 24-46, which
comprise the series' third and fourth story arcs - Skypiea and Water Seven - and will carry an MSRP of $185.99 U.S. / CAN. The Box Set
also features a full-color poster and special ONE PIECE mini-comic.

As a child, ONE PIECE main character Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he acciden-
tally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. The only drawback? He'll never be
able to swim again - a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the "One Piece," said to be
the greatest treasure in the world...

"This new release from VIZ Media continues the venerable ONE PIECE saga in lavish box set form and is a pirate's treasure for any man-
ga fan," says Alexis Kirsch, Editor. "Catch all the action as the Straw Hats search the exotic sky island of Skypiea for hidden gold and then
journey to Water 7, a wondrous water metropolis constructed upon the ruins of a sunken city Jump aboard for fantastic adventures with
manga's favorite band of pirates!"

ONE PIECE creator Eiichiro Oda began his manga career at the age of 17, when his one-shot cowboy manga, Wanted!, won second place
in the coveted Tezuka manga awards. Oda went on to work as an assistant to some of the biggest manga artists in the industry, includ-
ing Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), before winning the Hop Step Award for new manga artists. His pirate adventure ONE
PIECE, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1997, has become one of the most popular manga in Japan and the rest of
the world.

For more information on ONE PIECE, or other manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

458 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

MEDIA LAUNCHES NEW
SERIES KISS OF

PARANORMAL SHOIO MANGA
THE ROSE PRINCESS

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor
of manga and anime in North America, announces a thrilling new
paranormal shojo manga (graphic novel) adventure with the launch
of Aya Shouoto's KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS on November
4th.

The new series will be available for the first time digitally as well
as in print under the Shojo Beat imprint. KISS OF THE ROSE
PRINCESS is rated T for Teens and will carry a print MSRP of
$9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

A digital version of KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS, Vol. 1 also
will debut on November 4th for $6.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZMan-
ga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®,
iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, as well
as through the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.
Future editions of the 9 -volume series will be released in-print and
digitally on a bi-monthly basis.

Anise Yamamoto has been told that if she ever removes the rose
choker given to her by her father, a terrible punishment will befall
her. Unfortunately she loses that choker when a bat-like being falls
from the sky and hits her. Anise is granted four cards representing
four knights whom she can summon with a kiss. But now that she
has these gorgeous men at her beck and call, what exactly is her
quest?!

"Aya Shouoto uses her stunning artwork in KISS OF THE ROSE
PRINCESS to bring us a tale of a modern princess and her four
handsome knights in this reverse-harem series," says Nancy This-
tlethwaite, Editor. "Our reluctant but fearless heroine must pledge
herself to save the world from the Demon Lord, but what will hap-
pen if she falls in love with one of her knights? Don't miss the start
of this exciting new series in November!"

For more information on KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS, or
other Shojo Beat manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.
VIZ.com.

SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES "BRYNHILDR IN THE DARKNESS"

The night's sky hides a dark secret that will threaten the lives of not only one, but many in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, Bryn-
hildr in the Darkness. From Lynn Okamoto, original creator of legendary series Elfen Lied, Brynhildr in the Darkness is directed by
Kenichi Imaizumi (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Student Council's Discretion Level 2) with character designs by Hiroaki Karasu (MAO-
YU, Gatchaman Crowds), scripting by Yukinori Kitajima (Hamatora, Senran Kagura), and animation production by ARMS (Elfen
Lied, Samurai Girls).

A high school senior Murakami Ryota had a childhood friend called Kuroneko who died in an accident. Ryota had made a promise
with Kuroneko that he will prove there are aliens in the universe. In order to fulfill his promise, he joined the astronomy club at the
school as its only member and kept observing the stars almost every night. One day, a girl who looks like Kuroneko transferred into his
class. To his surprise, the girl's name is Kuroha Neko which is really similar to his childhood friend's name. However it seems that there
is something unusual about her. It turns out that she is a witch who actually escaped from a research laboratory.

Brynhildr in the Darkness will be available soon through select digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

JI-BVTT ANIME& MANGA MEWS

VIZ MEDIA'S HAIKASORU IMPRINT DELIVERS AN ADRENALINE-FUELED RIDE
THROUGH THE GRITTY TOKYO UNDERGROUND IN ASURA GIRL

VIZ Media's Haikasoru literary imprint publishes a gripping and strange thriller
with the release of Otaro Maijo's ASURA GIRL on November 18th.

The tense urban drama about the violent and sexually charged life of a Japanese
teenage girl in Tokyo is offered in English for the very first time with a translation
by Stephen Snyder, a professor of Japanese Studies at Middlebury College in Ver-
mont and a noted translator of numerous works of Japanese fiction.

ASURA GIRL will be available in print from Haikasoru for $14.99 U.S. / $16.99
CAN. An eBook edition also will debut on November 18th for $8.99 (U.S. / CAN)
for the Amazon Kindle, Apple's iBooks Store, Barnes 8c Noble's Nook Book Store,
the Kobo eBooks Store, and the Google Play store.

Seventeen-year-old Aiko lives a life of casual sex and casual violence, though at
heart she remains a schoolgirl with an unrequited crush on her old classmate
Yoji Kaneda. Life is about to get harder for Aiko, as a recent fling, Sano, has been
kidnapped, and the serial killer Round-and-Round Devil has begun slaughtering
children. The youth are rioting in the streets, egged on by the underground Internet
bulletin board known as the Voice from Heaven. Expecting that Yoji will come and
save her from the madness, Aiko posts a demand for her own murder on Voice of
Heaven but will she be left waiting... or worse?

"ASURA GIRL starts with a teen girl living on the edge, and then pushes her
off the cliff into a surreal underground on conspiracy, serial murder, apocalyptic
fervor, and even love," says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru's tradebooks Editor. "Otaro
Maijo combines well-observed depictions of desperate characters with the darkest
humor and suspense. ASURA GIRL, largely set in the western suburbs of Tokyo,
completely immerses the reader in the surreal and often deadly world Aiko and her
friends inhabit. Check out this exhilarating new release from Haikasoru!"

Otaro Maijo is a novelist from Fukui, where most of his stories take place. He de-
buted with his mystery novel, Kemuri ka tsuchi ka kuimono (Smoke, Soil, or Food),
with which he won the Mephisto Prize. He started writing pure literature with
Kuma no basho (Place of the Bear), which was nominated for the Mishima Yukio
Prize. Then in 2003, he won the Mishima Yukio Prize for Asura Girl.

For more information ASURA GIRL and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the
dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

ANIPLEX OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES ONIMONOGATARI

BLU-RAY SET

Halloween is in the air and anime fans who enjoy the idea of apparitions were certainly given a treat at
Aniplex of America's industry panel at New York Comic Con this Saturday when they announced the
details on their ONIMONOGATARI Blu-ray Set. The set is planned to be released on December 30th,
with pre-orders beginning next Monday on October 13th on their official homepage (www.AniplexU-
SA.com/monogatarisecondseason) and through official retailers for sale in the U.S. and Canada.

The ONIMONOGATARI Blu-ray Set will feature all 4 "Shinobu Time" episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs
featuring over 100 minutes of content. The set will include the original Japanese audio and English
subtitles. Bonus contents and materials will feature the textless ending, PV & CM Collections, a deluxe
booklet, a pin-up postcard set and the package illustrated by the character designer Akio Watanabe.

MNIME& MANGA HEWS J!-BWT

RELEASE OF SAILOR MOON SEASON ONE PART ONE

ipdfc M*fflfui 'iSfr

Celebrated Anime Released For The First Time Uncut,
Re-mastered And In High Definition; Limited Edition
Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack Packed With Extras Fit For A
Moon Princess!

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and
licensor of manga and anime in North America, delivers one of
the most legendary anime series of all time with the home media
release of SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 as a Limited Edition
Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and on DVD on November 11th.

SAILOR MOON has been completely re-mastered and is pre-
sented uncut and with a brand new English voice cast. The Stan-
dard Edition DVD and first-ever Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD
Combo Pack each contain 23 episodes along with a wealth of bonus features and premium packaging. English dubbed as well as Japanese
subtitled dialogue options are available on both formats. The limited edition SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack
will carry a MSRP of $79.98 U.S. / $93.99 CAN; the DVD edition will have a MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $51.99 CAN.

The stunning SAILOR MOON Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack offers a deluxe, 6-disc collection (3 DVDs 8c 3 Blu-rays),
housed in a beautiful shimmery holofoil chipboard box with specialty printing, and contains an array of exclusive extra features along with
an 8 8 -page full-color booklet filled with artwork, character profiles, an episode guide, lyrics, and more! Blu-ray episodes are presented in full
1080p High Definition video.

Fans also can enjoy a bevy of bonus material available exclusively on the Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack such as an interactive,
full-color SAILOR MOON video art gallery, the original series trailers, a 'signs and songs' subtitle track, analogue closed captions for the
deaf and hard of hearing, and exclusive all- new behind the scenes footage of the English dub sessions as well as special SAILOR MOON
convention announcement panel footage, and more!

The SAILOR MOON Season 1, Set 1 Standard Edition DVD features 3 discs with beautifully illustrated variant O-card packaging featur-
ing embossed holofoil printing. Episodes are presented in 480p standard video format. Bonus features include the 'signs and songs' subtitle
track, VIZ Media SAILOR MOON convention highlights and panel announcements as well as the original series trailers and analogue
closed captions for the deaf and hard of hearing. Uncut English dubbed as well as Japanese subtitled dialogue options are available.

SAILOR MOON depicts the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a cheerful 14-year-old schoolgirl who often finds herself in unwanted trouble.
One day, she saves a talking cat named Luna from some mean kids, and her life is changed forever. Luna gives Usagi a magic brooch that
transforms her into Sailor Moon, guardian of love and justice! Now Usagi must work with Luna to find the other Sailor Guardians and the
Moon Princess, whose Legendary Silver Crystal is Earth's only hope against the dark forces of the evil Queen Beryl!

"After being out of print and unavailable in North America for over ten years, the return of SAILOR MOON makes this set a truly historic
anime release and one that should be a part of every collection," says Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager, Animation Marketing. "The Limit-
ed Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack is an especially noteworthy collection and offers the debut season of this treasured series for the very
first time in crisp High Definition, uncut and re-mastered, and with a brand new English dub cast. Join the Pretty Guardians of Love and
Justice, and catch all their early adventures in these forthcoming home media releases that are fit for a Moon Princess!"

The smash hit SAILOR MOON anime series is inspired by the bestselling manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoko Takeuchi
(published in North America by Kodansha). In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the
powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary
Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation!

For more information on SAILOR MOON, or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

JI-BVTT ANIME & MANGA NEWS

IMIIIIIII

HELLO 40

]

CELEBRATE THE
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF
POP ICON HELLO
KITTY® WITH HELLO
KITTY, HELLO 40 -
NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA'S
PERFECT SQUARE

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of
anime and manga in North America, joins the global celebration to mark
the 40th Anniversary of global pop icon Hello Kitty® with the release of
HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40, available now.

The hardcover full-color anthology features a notable line-up of some of
Hello Kitty's biggest fans paying tribute in the best way they know how:
through their stories and art. HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 is published
under VIZ Media's Perfect Square imprint, and carries an MSRP of
$29.99 U.S. / $34.99 CAN.

A digital version of HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 is also available
for $14.99 U.S. / CAN from the Perfect Square App, which has titles
available for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini. The Perfect Square App
is available from the iTunes store. Fans also will be able to find digital
versions for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo eReaders, as well as in the
iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

VIZ Media will also take part in the very first Hello Kitty convention.
Hello Kitty Con 2014 will take place in Los Angeles October 30th
- November 2nd at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Museum
of Contemporary Art) in Downtown LA's Little Tokyo district. VIZ
Media's Perfect Square booth will offer a convention exclusive edition
of HELLO KITTY, HELLO 40 along with a variety of other HELLO
KITTY original graphic novel titles for purchase. Additional information
on Hello Kitty Con is available at: www.sanrio.com/hellokittycon.

Perfect Square publishes an acclaimed collection of HELLO KITTY
original graphic novels including, HELLO KITTY: WORK OF ART,
HELLO KITTY: JUST IMAGINE, HELLO KITTY: HERE WE
GO!, HELLO KITTY: DELICIOUS!, and HELLO KITTY: SUR-
PRISE! These books will be featured as part of the first ever Hello Kitty
Reading Day on October 25th. Hello Kitty Reading Day is a multi-pub-
lisher event with programming at bookstores and libraries across the
country. See http://www.sanrio.com/hellokittyreading for more informa-
tion.

Sanrio® is the global company behind classic iconic characters Hello
Kitty®, Little Twin Stars®, My Melody®, and many more. Sanrio® was
founded in the 1960s in Japan by Shintaro Tsuji, whose simple dream
of bringing smiles to people's faces grew into the brand's "small gift, big
smile" philosophy. This philosophy has served as the inspiration for the
broad spectrum of products bearing the likeness of endearing characters
that have helped to skyrocket the brand into a $8 billion-a-year business.

Additional information on HELLO KITTY and other titles published
by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

SENTAI FILMWORKS
LICENSES

A group of young girls will follow their dreams to make an anime
of their very own in Sentai Filmworks' latest acquisition, SHI-
ROBAKO. This lighthearted comedy series about the trials and
tribulations of anime production is directed by Tsutomu Mizushi-
ma (ANOTHER, Girls und Panzer) with series composition by
Michiko Yokote (Genshiken, Princess Tutu), character designs by
Kanami Sekiguchi (CANAAN, Tari Tari) and animation produc-
tion by P.A. Works (Nagi no Asakura, Angel Beats!).

Aoi will never forget how she felt the day her high school anima-
tion club's labor of love was shown at the cultural festival. The sense
of awe and the feeling of accomplishment that came with com-
pleting their very first project are exactly what encouraged Aoi and
her club mates to enter the animation industry in the first place.
But two years later Aoi has graduated, and now that she works as a
production assistant for a big-name animation studio, the daunting
reality of her job has somewhat diminished her enthusiasm. Despite
the long hours and the punishing schedule, Aoi still hopes to fulfill
the promise she and her club friends Ema, Shizuka, Misa, and
Midori made: to one day reunite and make a real animated feature
of their own as professionals!

SHIROBAKO will be available soon through select digital outlets
with a home video release to follow.

SENTAI FILMWORKS LICENSES
"WOLF GIRL AND RLACK PRINCE"

A girl with a penchant for flagrant fabrications is about to
learn a hard lesson as one of her lies becomes a reality in Sentai
Filmworks' latest acquisition, Wolf girl and Black prince. This
romantic comedy series is directed by Kenichi Kasai (Honey
and Clover, Love Stage!!) with series composition by Sawako
Hirabayashi (Shiki, Watamote), music by Go Sakabe (Date a
Live!, SoniAni: Super Sonico the Animation) and animation
production by TYO Animations (Amagami SS, Flowers of
Evil).

Prideful Erika talks to her friends all the time about her exploits
with her boyfriends, but the sad truth is she's never had one
in all her 16 years. Sensing her lies were reaching the breaking
point, she secretly takes a picture of a cute guy she sees in town,
and tries to boast he's her boyfriend, but it turns out he's Kyoya
Sata who goes to the same school. She comes clean and gets
him to play along, but despite him seeming like a nice guy, Sa-
ta-kun is actually a totally black-hearted sadist! With no choice
but to comply, Erika is ordered around like a dog.

Wolf girl and Black prince will be available soon through select
digital outlets with a home video release to follow.

462 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

ANIME & MANGA NEWS J!-BWT

VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS THE NORTH AMERICAN
HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF
ROAD TO NINJA - NARUTO THE MOVIE

"For My Friends And Family, Til Risk My Life For This Mission!"

VIZ Media gives anime fans across North America the opportunity to add the sixth
and latest feature film of the massively popular NARURTO SHIPPUDEN saga to
their personal collections as it announces the release of ROAD TO NINJA - NARU-
TO THE MOVIE on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and DVD on November 25th.

The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is a 2-disc set and will carry an MSRP of $29.99 U.S. /
$37.48 CAN. The DVD edition of ROAD TO NINJA is a single-disc release that will
carry an MSRP of $19.98 U.S. / $34.98 CAN.

A variety of bonus features will also make ROAD TO NINJA of special interest to
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN fans. These include the original Japanese theatrical trailers,
broadcast commercials, and promotional videos offered on both the DVD and Blu-
ray editions. The Blu-ray edition features crisp 1080p High Definition video and also
includes a special bonus art gallery. The Blu-ray edition contains DTS-HD audio,
also with English and Japanese dialogue options and English subtitles. DVD audio
selections include English 5.1 as well as Japanese 2.0 dialogue options, with English
subtitles.

In ROAD TO NINJA - NARUTO THE MOVIE, long ago, a mysterious masked
shinobi unleashed the Nine-Tailed Fox onto the Village Hidden in the Leaves to
spread chaos and destruction. But the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife
Kushina Uzumaki sealed the Tailed Beast into their newborn son, Naruto, to save the

village, foiling the shinobi s plan.

Years later, Naruto and his friends succeed in driving away the infamous Akatsuki, who have mysteriously returned from the dead. Upon
returning to the village, the young shinobi are praised by their families for completing a dangerous mission. Reminded of how alone he
is, Naruto begins to wonder what it's like to have parents, when a strange masked figure appears before him - the same masked shinobi
responsible for the death of his parents!

VIZ Media also invites NARUTO fans to catch the exciting adventures of the world's most popular ninja in manga (graphic novel)
format (rated 'T' for Teens), available in-print and also digitally from VIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, and from a host of partner
platforms. Fans can further dive into all of the previous NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN feature films on DVD or Blu-ray,
and also catch anime series episodes and select films on Neon Alley, VIZ Media's FREE media streaming platform, including brand new,
subtitled episodes simulcast with Japan!

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the best ninja in the land. He's done well so far, but Naruto
knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO SHIPPUD-
EN begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks - except him. Saku-
ra's a medic ninja, Gaara's advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi. . .well he remains the same. But pride isn't necessarily becoming of a ninja,
especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization
is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki's goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems.
Naruto is finding that he's older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

Additional information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.Naruto.com.

For more information on manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

KOEI TECMO AMERICA CONFIRMS LAUNCH
DATES FOR ATELIER AYESHA PLUS: THE
ALCHEMIST OF DUSK AND ATELIER

SHALLIE: ALCHEMISTS OF THE DUSK SEA

Final Chapters of Revered Alchemy RPG Series Unfold Early 2015 on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita

KOEI TECMO America is pleased to announce that the latest installments for the esteemed ATELIER series are con-
firmed for release in North America. The grand finale of developer Gust's Atelier Dusk series will bring Atelier Ayesha
Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk to the PlayStation® Vita handheld entertainment system on January 13, 2015 and finish
with Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on March 10,
2015.

Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk tells the tale of Ayesha Altugle, who after the death of her grandfather
and the disappearance of her younger sister Nio, now lives alone blending healing cures to sell in her workshop. Upon a
vision of Nio appearing near her empty grave, Ayesha, convinced she is still alive begins her search to save her.

The enhanced PlayStation Vita version will bring new features including dual audio, bosses from Atelier Escha & Logy:
Alchemists of the Dusk Sky, new costumes, a hard mode and the Album missions which unlock exclusive costumes and
gameplay features and the ability to change party members at any time. Additionally, almost all content from the origi-
nal PlayStation 3 version can be carried over. Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk for the PlayStation Vita will
be available for digital download on January 13, 2015 for $39.99. This game has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

464 JI-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea closes the final chapter in the Atelier Dusk series and is the incarnation of
features developed based on community feedback of the previous Dusk titles and new systems that combines ease of
entry for newcomers, with the choice to advance gameplay for long-time fans. The battle system will incorporate strate-
gy and speed, the time management system will be free from restrictions allowing for unlimited play time and Alchemy
RPG fans can look forward to a straightforward menu in the engaging Synthesis system.

In Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea players chose to play as either the reserved, mission-focused Shallistera,
daughter of a tribal leader who embarks on voyage to find a cure for her ailing father or ambitious, energetic Shallotte,
who has been struggling to bring success to the alchemy workshop since the passing of her father. While their personali-
ties and appearance are drastically different, they both share the nickname "Shallie" and uncover the reasoning why along
each of their journeys — the dual main character system has been improved with separate stories and multiple endings for
Shallistera and Shallotte.

For the first time in the Atelier series, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea will include a 360 degree camera, giv-
ing players more freedom as they explore a vast world map that has expanded greatly with many new environments that
evolve based on how the player progresses. In the new Quest system players can either take on only assignments neces-
sary to progress the game or earn more points engaging in additional, more challenging quests. Atelier Shallie: Alche-
mists of the Dusk Sea will available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on March 10, 2015 for $49.99.
This game has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

For the latest KOEI TECMO America news follow us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmous or @KoeiTecmoUS or visit
the official website at: www.koeitecmoamerica.com.

For the latest DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires news follow us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmous or @KoeiTec-
moUS or visit the official website at: www.koeitecmoamerica.com/dw8e.

** Xbox Live gold membership required.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 465

KOEI TECMO AMERICA REVEALS LAUNCH
DATE FOR DYNASTY WARRIORS S EMPIRES

Popular Tactical Action Franchise Returns on January 27, 2015

KOEI TECMO America is excited to announce today that the tactical action game, DYNASTY WARRIORS
8 Empires will release on January 27, 2015 in North America for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment
system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. The PC (Steam®) and
PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system digital only versions will also be available at launch. Additionally,
the company announced that the official website has launched and can be found at: www.koeitecmoamerica.
com/dw8e. The DYNASTY WARRIORS Empires series returns replete with new features including deep
customization of warriors, horses and armies, or even the creation of an original character in dynamic battlefields
that evolve with environmental changes.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires focuses deeply on the chaotic lives of the warriors as their fateful decisions
affect the rise and fall of the nations they bravely fight for. Players can select from 83 unique characters, or create
their own original character with a plentitude of options through the edit function. The visual customization
goes further with the newly implemented ability to customize their horses, banners and "normal" officers.

In the returning Empire mode, players can select from one of many distinct roles which are best suited to them
or to experience the epic history and its outcomes through a different methodology of warfare in replay. Wheth-
er choosing from Liu Bei, a provincial ruler forced to wander the land in search of a home or Lu Bu, an egotisti-
cal warrior who moves from one betrayal to another in search of his own glory, players are swept up in the drama
of warfare.

466 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

2014 Jl-ENT ANNUAL

VIDEO GAME NEWS

Courageous warriors trudge through Ancient China with its vast plains, bleak wastelands, narrow ravines and
immense castles as they slash through enemy lines. In DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires, warriors must fight
against not only enemies but also the forces of nature as the changing seasons bring new elements to the more
than 35 battlefields affected by seasons and the passing of time.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires is published by KOEI TECMO America and will be available on Janu-
ary 27, 2015 in North America. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be available for $49.99. The PC
(Steam®) and PlayStation 3 digital only version will be available for $49.99 and $39.99, respectively. This title has
not yet been rated by the ESRB.

For the latest DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires news follow us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmous or @
KoeiTecmoUS or visit the official website at: www.koeitecmoamerica.com/dw8e.

** Xbox Live gold membership required.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 467

VIDEO GAME NEWS

2014 J!-ENT ANNUAL

CATCH THE P0KEM0N OMEGA RUBY AND POKEMON ALPHA
SAPPHIRE DUAL PACK TO RECEIVE AN IN-GAME BONUS

Fans who want to pick up both the Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire games when they launch for the
Nintendo 3DS family of systems on Nov. 21 now have access to a special offer. The Dual Pack launches on Nov. 21, exclusive-
ly at Best Buy retail stores, on BestBuy.com or on Amazon.com at a suggested retail price of $79.98. Separately, each game
sells at a suggested retail price of $39.99. The Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire Dual Pack includes both
games, letting players experience both adventures (not to mention the ability to capture both Legendary Pokemon).

In addition to both games, the Dual Pack includes a pair of in-game download codes that can be redeemed for 100 Potions each. Starting
a new Pokemon game with 100 extra Potions is a treat for players who want to be well-stocked for their epic journey through the Hoenn
region.

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire are reimagined versions of the original Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire
games, which launched for the Game Boy Advance system in 2003. Not just simple remakes, both games offer updated graphics and new
features like Soar, which allows players to travel on the back of Mega Latios or Mega Latias. Players can also decorate their personal Secret
Bases and enter Pokemon into in-game Pokemon Contests. Fans may even learn the mysterious origins of Pokemon Mega Evolutions.

Both Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire will launch in stores and in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on Nov.
21. People can also purchase the digital version of the game at Nintendo.com and have it sent directly to their Nintendo 3DS system.
(Click here to pre-order the game now). The Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire Special Demo Version is also now
available. Visit Nintendo.com to learn how to receive a download code.

For more information about the games, visit http://www.pokemonrubysapphire.com.

468 JI-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

2014 Jl-ENT ANNUAL

VIDEO GAME NEWS

PHOENIX WRIGHT: ACE ATTORNEY
TRILOGY ARRIVES THIS DECEMBER

Capcom confirmed that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy will be releasing
on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on December 9 for North America and
December 1 1 across Europe.

A new collection of comparison assets have been released today, which feature
screens from the original Nintendo DS release of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

- Justice For All side-by-side with
screens from the upcoming remas-
tered Nintendo 3DS game. These
screens highlight the stunning
high resolution re-drawn graphics
that are featured in the upcoming
game.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Trilogy will include newly remas-
tered versions of Phoenix Wright:
Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright:
Ace Attorney - Justice For All, and
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney -
Trials and Tribulations all in one
digital package on the Nintendo
3DS system for $29.99 / €29.99 /
£24.99.

Join rookie lawyer Phoenix
Wright through the early years
of his career in his quest to find
the truth behind all of the classic
cases! Prepare for intense court-
room showdowns by investigating
crime scenes, collecting evidence,
and questioning witnesses. Use
evidence and the testimonies of
witnesses to your advantage as you
battle for the innocence of your
client. Nothing less of a full acquit-
tal will do in this court of law. Find
the contradictions in witnesses'
testimonies to expose the truth!

VIDEO GAME NEWS

2014 J!-ENT ANNUAL

Asymmetrical Co-op Spy Thriller
Clandestine" Infiltrates Steam Early Access

Danish indie developer Logic Artists, the cre-
ator of the popular turn based strategy game
Expeditions: Conquistador, today (October
30, 2014) announced that asymmetrical co-op
espionage adventure "Clandestine" is now avail-
able on Steam Early Access. Set in the mid 1990s, Clandes-
tine offers players a globetrotting cooperative stealth experi-
ence, solving a Post-Cold War agent conspiracy in the role of
field agent or a spy. Download Clandestine on Early Access
today for 26.99€ / 29.99$ / 22.99£: http://store.steampow-
ered.com/app/290530. Early Access players will also be given
free access to the first DLC package planned for the game, a
value of 45.99€ / 49.99$ / 34.99£.

"We're so excited to launch Clandestine on Early Access
so that we can start gathering player feedback and incorporate
that into the final version of the game", said Jonas Wasver,
creative director at Logic Artists. "We know that players will
enjoy this unique asymmetrical cooperative gameplay and look
forward to hearing what they think!"

With Clandestine launching on Early Access, developers
guarantee a spoiler FREE version, meaning that players have
access to four Challenge maps to experience the core mechan-
ics of the game without giving away Clandestine's intricate
plot through the Story mode which will be available in the

full launch version. In addition to the Challenge maps, Logic
Artists has introduced three playable game modes, including
Cleaner, Smash & Grab and Exfiltrate.

The 'Spy' and 'Hacker' characters, central to the theme
and gameplay, also each have unique features and abilities
that must be used together harmoniously in order to achieve
success. The Spy has a selection of weapons to equip, including
three pistols (PPK, SRI, MK23), two ammo types (Lethal,
Non-lethal), gadgets and grenades (Banshee, Remote Pager,
Remote Modem, Fragmentation Grenade, Flashbang) and
two outfits (Tactical Gear, Low Profile - civilian outfit), as
well as a lock-picking option to help infiltrate secure areas
without calling attention to themselves. The 'Hacker' player
in Clandestine holds the important role of blocking security
cameras, bribing guards, hacking security doors, arranging
dead drops of ammo and health, guiding the Spy through in-
tricate mazes, alerting the Spy to nearby danger and generally
providing instructions about what is going on outside of the
Spy's visual field. For the Early Access launch, Logic Artists
has also included the ability for the Hacker to tag enemies so
that they are visible to the Spy, even through walls.

Find out more information about the player roles watching
Clandestine Developer Blog #02: http://youtu.be/QHY5H-
GoTXEc

470 Jl-ENT I j-entonline .com

NOVEMBER 2014

2014 JI-ENT ANNUAL

VIDEO GAME NEWS

4 J

The year is 1996, five years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a string of accidents and murders have gone unnoticed by the
public, but have put the world of espionage on high alert. Former Cold War operatives, believing their cover intact, are being assassinated
around the globe. Soviet and NATO spies are being targeted indiscriminately, causing turmoil and suspicion on all sides.

Featuring asymmetrical cooperative gameplay (Hacker and Spy team), Clandestine transports players to locations around the globe,
where they must use tactics and stealth to infiltrate corporate headquarters, hideouts and safe houses to determine who is behind the
string of murders and lift the curtain of conspiracy.

For more information, visit the official Clandestine website: www.clandestinethegame.com
Visit our Facebook page for regular game updates: www.facebook.com/logicartists
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/LogicArtists

To learn more about Logic Artists visit: www.logicartists.com

VIDEO GAME NEWS

2014 J!-ENT ANNUAL

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJOR AS MASK 3D
DESCENDS ON NINTENDO 3DS IN 2015

Nintendo Also Reveals Additional Details About amiibo, Splatoon, Xenoblade Chronicles X and

Many Other Upcoming Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Games

During a Nintendo Direct presentation on Nov. 5th, Ninten-
do dropped a moon-sized announcement: The Legend of Zelda:
Majora's Mask 3D, a remake of the beloved Nintendo 64 game, is
coming exclusively to Nintendo 3DS in spring 2015. The Nintendo
Direct video also revealed new details about amiibo functionality
and upcoming games like Splatoon, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Kirby
and the Rainbow Curse, Code Name S.T.E.A.M. and Captain Toad:
Treasure Tracker.

"Now is the best time to be a Wii U and Nintendo 3DS owner,"
said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of
Sales & Marketing. "There's something for everyone with a variety of
quality, exclusive games already available and launching soon. From
new IP in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker to unforgettable greats
like The Legend of Zelda on the horizon, we have both classic and
new franchises covered."

Some of the details revealed in the video include:

WiiU

Mario Kart 8 DLC: The first pack of DLC for Mario Kart 8
launches on Nov. 13 and includes new courses, vehicles and charac-
ters from other Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda, F-Zero
and Excitebike. Players can buy and download from the in-game
menu or in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U.

amiibo: In addition to Super Smash Bros, for Wii U, multiple
games will be compatible with amiibo, including Mario Kart 8 and
Hyrule Warriors in 2014, plus Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Kirby
and the Rainbow Curse, Yoshi's Woolly World and Mario Party 10
in 2015. This amiibo functionality will be available to players in the
following games when the first wave of figures launches on Nov. 21.

Mario Kart 8: When players tap Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi,
Donkey Kong, Link, Captain Falcon, Fox, Samus or Kirby amiibo
figures on the Wii U GamePad controller, they will receive a Mii
racing suit themed to that particular amiibo character. Players' Mii
characters can wear these detailed suits when racing in the game

Hyrule Warriors: A Link amiibo figure gives players a special
"Spinner" weapon in the action-packed Wii U game. Additionally,
every Super Smash Bros, series amiibo figure will grant randomly
selected materials, weapons or rupees in the game.

The first wave of amiibo starring characters like Mario, Link and
Samus launches on Nov. 21, the same day as the Super Smash Bros,
for Wii U game, and the second wave of six characters hits store
shelves in December.

Splatoon: The four-on-four online multiplayer shooter also fea-
tures a single-player mode, which pits a player's squid-like Inkling
character against an army of octopi equipped with an arsenal of ink
weaponry. Splatoon will launch exclusively for Wii U in the second
quarter of 2015.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: In this new RPG from Monolith Soft,
players embark on an epic quest in a new world. Using the city of
New Los Angeles as a home base, players will embark on missions,
collect items and take on requests from residents. Xenoblade Chroni-
cles X - which features a bigger world than Xenoblade Chronicles
for Wii - is scheduled to launch exclusively for Wii U in 2015.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse: The newest game in the charming
Kirby series finds the lovable pink puffball journeying through a
world made of clay. Players guide Kirby along a rainbow line drawn
on the Wii U GamePad controller's touch screen. A new four-player
multiplayer mode lets one player play as Kirby and focus on drawing
rainbow lines on the GamePad, while the others control a trio of
Waddle Dee characters that can collect items or carry Kirby around.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse launches for Wii U in February 2015.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: A new trailer for the game
debuted during the Nintendo Direct and showed snippets of some of
the 70+ levels players will encounter. The game also features different
challenges that, once completed, will reveal additional content in the
game. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker launches for Wii U on Dec. 5.

Nintendo 3DS

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D: One of the most
talked-about games in the history of The Legend of Zelda series is
coming to Nintendo 3DS. Launching in spring 2015, The Legend of
Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D brings Link's suspenseful, intricate quest
through the mysterious world of Termina to a hand-held system for
the first time with enhanced 3D graphics and added features for a
smoother game experience.

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.: From Intelligent Systems, the creators

2014 Jl-ENT ANNUAL

VIDEO GAME NEWS

of the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series, comes Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., a turn-based tactical action RPG that features characters like
. . . Abraham Lincoln? That's right: Abraham Lincoln leads a team of newly revealed playable characters like Tiger Lily and Tom Sawyer. Each
character in the game possesses special abilities, like Tiger Lily's healing and Tom Sawyer's gadgets, that help players complete missions across
well-designed battlefields. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. will launch exclusively for Nintendo 3DS in spring 2015.

Ultimate NES Remix: The NES Remix series comes to Nintendo 3DS, combining 16 of the top NES games from the NES Remix and NES
Remix 2 games on Wii U. Famicom Remix Mode offers challenges from the Japanese version of NES Remix, featuring slightly different sound
effects and backgrounds, and in Speed Mario Bros., players can play through the original Super Mario Bros, ramped up to super speed. Ultimate
NES Remix also features online leaderboards, allowing players to compare scores in challenges with others in their region. The nostalgic game
launches for Nintendo 3DS on Dec. 5.

Persona QEdition Nintendo 3DS XL: In honor of the Nov. 25 launch of the ATLUS role-playing game Persona Shadow of the Lab-
yrinth, GameStop will be the exclusive retailer for the Persona QEdition of the Nintendo 3DS hardware. The design evokes the essence of
Persona Qwith styling on the front of the iconic Grimoire - the tome used by the attendants of the Velvet Room and containing information
on the many Personas - and the new style of character art represented on the back. It will be available at a suggested retail price of $199.99. (The
Persona Shadow of the Labyrinth game will be sold separately. Both the Persona Shadow of the Labyrinth: Wild Cards Premium Edition
and Limited Standard Edition versions of the game will be available for a limited time only.)

Wii U& Nintendo 3DS

PIKMIN Short Movies: Last month, Shigeru Miyamoto premiered PIKMIN Short Movies, a series of animated short films he directed that
takes place in the Pikmin universe. These short films are now available as one paid download in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo
3DS. As a supplement to the movies (in addition to popcorn, of course), a free demo version for Pikmin 3 is also now in the Nintendo eShop on
WiiU

Sonic Boom: A free demo for Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, the new Sonic the Hedgehog game launching exclusively for Nintendo 3DS
on Nov. 11, is now available in the Nintendo eShop.The free demo for exclusive Wii U game Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (also launching on Nov.
11) will be available on Dec. 4. In addition, a new Nintendo 3DS Home Menu theme and Puzzle Swap panel inspired by Sonic Boom are both
coming to Nintendo 3DS on Nov. 11.

Indie games!: Nintendo's support for indie developers continues with a host of indie games coming to both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. In ad-
dition, fans will be able to discover a Commander Video trophy in Super Smash Bros, for Wii U based on the classic character from the Bit.Trip
series, as well as download a new Nintendo 3DS Home Menu theme based on hit indie game Shovel Knight. Many of the creative indie games
coming to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS include the following:

Runbow from 13AM Games (Wii U) - 2015

Chromophore: The Two Brothers Director's Cut from Ackk Studios LLC (Wii U) - Winter

Citizens of Earth from ATLUS (Wii U, Nintendo 3DS) - Winter

Nihilumbra from BeautiFun Games (Wii U) - Winter

The Swapper from Curve Digital (Wii U) - Nov. 6

Thomas Was Alone from Curve Digital (Wii U) - Nov. 25

Proun+ from Engine Software (Wii U) - Winter

Trine Enchanted Edition from Frozenbyte (Wii U) - Winter

Chariot from Frima Studio Inc. (Wii U) - Winter

A.N.N.E. from Gamesbymo (Wii U) - Winter

Gunman Clive 2 from Horberg Productions (Wii U) - Winter

SteamWorld Heist from Image & Form (Wii U) - Spring 2015

Affordable Space Adventures from KnapNok Games (Wii U) - Ql 2015

Gone Home from Midnight City (Wii U) - Winter

High Strangeness from Midnight City (Wii U) - Winter

forma.8 from MixedBag (Wii U) - Winter

A World of Keflings from NinjaBee (Wii U) - Nov. 13

Tengami from Nyamyam Ltd. (Wii U) - Nov. 13

Treasurenauts from Renegade Kid (Nintendo 3DS) - Ql 2015

Xeodrifter from Renegade Kid (Nintendo 3DS) - Q4

Swords &c Soldiers II from Ronimo Games BV (Wii U) - Winter

Beatbuddy fromTHREAKS (Wii U) - Ql 2015

Sportsball from TOO DX (Wii U) - Nov. 6

6180 the moon from Turtle Cream (Wii U) - Winter

Rive from Two Tribes (Wii U) - 2015

For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com. You can also now pre-order or purchase a number of games directly from
a PC or smart device by visiting http://nintendo.com/buydigital.

Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access.
For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

VIDEO GAME NEWS

2014 J!-ENT ANNUAL

LAUNCH DATE AND NEW STAGE DETAILS LEAD
C0MD0 PUNCH UF NEW INFORMATION FOR DEAD

OR ALIVE S LAST ROUND

Team NINJA unleashed an onslaught of new information for DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round. Currently in development for
the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system
from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, KOEI TECMO America has con-
firmed that the game is schedule to launch in North America on February 17, 2015, and will be available at the price of $39.99
MSRP for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (physical and digital) and $29.99 MSRP for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (digital only).

With an official launch date in place, KOEI TECMO America has detailed preorder incentives for retail preorders (physical cop-
ies) at the following North American retailers: Players who preorder DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round at GameStop will receive
exclusive costume packs including the "Ninja" (for Ayane , Hayabusa, Hayate and Kasumi), and Aloha (for Ayane, Hitomi, Kasumi
and Mila ) sets. Pre-ordering at Amazon (PlayStation / Xbox) and Best Buy (PlayStation / Xbox) will give purchasers access to
exclusive costumes sets including the "Showstopper" (for Christie, Helena, Lisa and Tina) and "Beach Party" (for Kokoro, Leifang,
Momiji and Rachel).

Team NINJA pulls back the curtain even further, divulging more new content players can expect in DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last
Round. Dynamic fighting stages are a hallmark of the DEAD OR ALIVE series, and they are taken to the next level in Last
Round. A fan favorite stage from DEAD OR ALIVE 2 makes its glorious next gen debut in The Crimson. A multi-level stage set
in a bustling urban street in Asia, players start out on sprawls of tin rooftops where victory and defeat teeter on a razor thin edge.
Combatants are one good punch away from being thrown through the surrounding fence, treated to one of several all-new over-
the-top Cliflhanger events, and ultimately smashing through to the lower level, a dimly lit street tinged only with the light of sur-
rounding neon signs. In new next-gen screenshots released today, characters Kokoro, Brad, Leifang and Tina can be seen traversing
and utilizing Danger Zones across both levels of The Crimson, while sporting brand new costumes and even customized hairstyles.

Players wanting to get a taste of what DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round has to offer can play the main game content in DEAD

474 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

OR ALIVE 5 Last Round: CORE FIGHTERS free of charge. Gamers playing on PlayStation 4 will have access to the free-to-
download version via the PlayStation® Network which includes four fighters - Ayane, Hayate, Kasumi and Ryu Hayabusa - and
almost every game mode will be available. Those playing on Xbox One will have access to a free trial version of Last Round via the
Xbox Games Store consisting of the same free-to-download fighters and features as noted above, but is not expandable via addi-
tional purchases. Xbox One users wanting an extended experience can purchase Core Fighters for $4.99 MSRP, which includes all
contents as the free trial, but adds four more fighters to the mix in Hitomi,Tina, Jann Lee and Bass, and is expandable from there
via additional purchases. All users, regardless of platform, can transfer unlocked titles, costumes and Story Mode progress from the
last-gen versions of DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Ultimate as well as compete with combatants from both the free and full retail version of
DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round. Additional characters, Story Mode and other features can be accessed for a fee. For additional
information regarding DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round: CORE FIGHTERS visit: http://teamninja-studio.com/doa5/lastround/
us/ftp.html.

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round will take to the ring to deliver the signature DOA fighting style, wrapped up in the most graph-
ically impressive version of a DEAD OR ALIVE game ever seen. Combatants will present an unparalleled level of life-like detail,
and smooth striking animations that will firmly place every fighter in the heat of the moment. The game's dynamic interactive stages
once again boast a range of visually striking locations from around the world, while offering even more destruction, deadly new
danger zones and a higher level of strategic choices for players to utilize in the quest for victory. Character customization options get
even deeper, as DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round will offer over 300 open and unlockable costumes, and the brand new hairstyle
and accessory options will give nearly endless possibilities to adorn the fighters for any occasion. Players can bring their run of ros-
ters, costumes and accessories from DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Ultimate, as previously purchased DLC content will be transferable from
last gen consoles to the PS4 and Xbox One.

Currently in development by Team NINJA, more details about DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round will be revealed in the coming
months. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB but Koei Tecmo anticipates a rating of "M" for Mature.

For more news about Team NINJA, visit https://www.facebook.com/teamninjastudio, and the DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round
Official page: http://teamninja-studio.com/doa5/lastround/. Don't forget to "Like" us on the Dead or Alive Facebook at https://
www.facebook.com/deadoralivegame and follow us on Twitter @TeamNINJAStudio.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 475

U.S. VIDEO GAME SALES CHART

ittltlttttltlttltlttttllltttttlltttllllltttttlttttlllttltlltttllll

RTH AMERICAN VIDEO GAME SALES CHARTS • OCTORER 25, 20

Source: vgchartz.com

1. Bayonetta 2 (WiiU)

2. Super Smash Bros, for Nintendo 3DS (3DS)

3. NBA 2K15 (PS4)

4. NBA 2K15 (XB360)

5. MineCraft (PS4)

6. The Evil Within (PS4)

7. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (XB360)

8. MineCraft (XB360)

9. Fantasy Life (3DS)

10. MineCraft (PS3)

Source: iTunes USA

1. Five Nights at Freddy's

2. Minecraft - Pocket Edition

3. Heads Up!

4. Plague Inc.

5. Geometry Dash

6. Grand Thef Auto: San Andreas

7. Buddyman: Kick 2

8. MONOPOLY Game

9. LIMBO

10. Plants vs. Zombies

476 JI-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Japanese Video Game

Jl-ENT ANNUAL 2014

ONE PIECE: SUPER GRAND RATTLE! X

On November 13th, Bandai Namco Games will be releasing the Nintendo 3DS game "ONE PIECE: SUPER GRAND BATTLE! X".
Developed by Ganbarion, the video game is a sequel to the "Grand Battle!" and "Gigant Battle" video game series. The new game will be set in the
New World and will feature more than 85 characters, features 4 player battles in tag team style combat.

For more information, please visit: http://www.bandaigames.channel.or.jp/list/opj/

• tltttlttllltttltttisttistttllttlttlistllttttistlltttltttlllttltl

RTVITA.

KADOKAWA
GAMES, LTD.

Kadokawa Games, Ltd. to release
Fate/Hollow Ataraxia" for the PS VITA

Back in 2005, a Japanese visual novel PC game titled "Fate/hollow Ataraxia" by Type-
Moon was created. Set after "Fate/stay night", the game features Bazett Fraga McRe-
mitz, a member of the Mages' Association and a master in the 5th Holy Grail War,
waking up on the fourth day with a new servant, Avenger, with no memory to what
happened to her. And now they will prepare to fight and win the Holy Grail War.

On November 27th, Kadokawa Games, Ltd. will be releasing "Fate/hollow Ataraxia" on
the PS Vita which will now included full-voice acting.

For more information, please visit: http://www.typemoon.com/products/hollowvita/

478 Jl-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Jl-ENT ANNUAL 2014

§t^7 Japanese Video Garni

JAPAN NEWS

to release "PHANTASY STAR
NOVA" for PS VITA

On November 27th, Sega will be releasing "Phantasy Star Nova". Produced by Yasuyuki Tsuzuki
of Sega and Hiroyuki Tamura of tri-Ace, the game will be multiplayer compatible but will have
an emphasis on single player mode. Up to four players can play in co-op using local ad-hoc WiFi
play. Enemies from Phantasy Star Online 2 will make reappearances in the game.

CAPCOM TO RELEASE BIOHAZARD HO REMASTER"

On November 27th, CAPCOM will be releasing "Biohaard HD Remaster" for the Sony PS3 anx
XB360. The video game is a remaster of the 2002 remake. The game can be switched from 4:3
standard to widescreen anytime during gameplay. While the graphics will receive an upgrade to
HD, as well as the audio, "Biohazard HD Remaster" will also feature a new dual control scheme to
go with the original classic controls.

CAFCOrt 8

lip RhUviliR

ARC SYSTEM WORKS TO RELEASE "GUILTY GEAR
XRD -SIGN-" IN JAPAN, AKSYS GAMES TO RELEASE
IN THE U.S.A. IN DECEMRER

The fifth "Guilty Gear" game in the series titled "Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-" will be released for the PS4
on Dec. 4th in Japan (from Arc System Works) and Dec. 16th in the U.S. (from Aksys Games). The
series takes place a year after "Guilty Gear 2: Overture" and the fighting game will be presented with
eel-shaded graphics.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I Jl-ENT 479

JAPANESE VIDEO GAMES SALES CHART

IAPANESE VIDEO GAME SALES CHARTS • OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Source: m-create.com

JSICHO

^^^ ^^^

2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.

10.

Monster Hunter 4G (Capcom, 3DS) | =E>7.?— J\>$— 4G
Yokai Watch 2 (Level-5, 3DS) | &tl'?*y? 1 2 7E*i/*^
Dairantou Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo, 3DS) | ^SLMXv'y^a.'^V'tf —
Xfor ->x>K-3DS

Jikkyo Power Pro Yakyu 2014 (KONAMI, PS3) H^K7^l/7Pif^2014

Psycho Break (Bethesda Software, PS3) tH'PTW?

Jikkyo Power Pro Yakyu 2014 (KONAMI, VITA) | ^WV77Jl7n&M

2014

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2K, PS3) | 7tt— ?-?>X 7'J^-?x;u
OnechanbaraZ2: CHAOS (D3 Publisher, PS4) | J K=7Z2 ~*7T7s~

Tales of the World Reve Unitia (Bandai Namco Games, 3DS) | x-fVI/X ?T
7 tr 7- iUK U-7 n^fx-i'T'

Gakuen K: Wonderful School Days (Idea Factory, PS3) |
^HK -Wonderful School Days-

HULl

Source: iTunes Japan

Minecraft Pocket Edition

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Deemo

Where's Wally?® in Hollywood

6. ^FHIl0I10lg;^J12

7. Modern Combat 5

8. w^fdi^iez;

9. Plague Inc.

10. ktv^p Wj&\y=7 i J-vymm

480 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

AKB48 TEAM SURPRISE: KNOWING THE BASICS
OF PURCHASING A PACHINKO MACHINE

Article and Photography by Dennis A. Amith

Pachinko machines have been part of Japanese
entertainment since it was first built in the
1920s. With the first parlor built in Na-
goya back in 1948, by the 1980s, mechanical
pachinko machines became popular as the
technology improved by showcasing flashing
lights, levers and more.
Today's modern pachinko machines have
improved dramatically within the last decade as video machines
show longer videos, feature more gameplay and also giving people a
chance to win more prizes.

But as pachinko machines are looked as a form of gaming, oth-
ers look at it as a gambling machine because it is addictive and you
must pay to use your pachinko balls during a gaming session and
it's easy to go through hundreds of pachinko balls without winning
anything.

But lately, pachinko parlors are upping the ante of what kind of

prizes people can win and sure enough, people have easily blown
their money playing a pachinko game.

But for any person living or visiting Japan, it's easy to see why
pachinko machines as part of popular culture. With the many tie-
ins to major anime, video game and musical properties, it's easier to
become addicted to pachinko.

When I was younger, I was introduced to a basic toy pachinko
machine that my father had purchased for me in Japan.

And each time that I visited a pachinko parlor in Japan, while I
was always amused and curious, I wasn't driven to playing a game
until the first AKB48 Team Surprise (2012) pachinko game was
released.

Because I was actively purchasing the AKB48 Team Surprise
CD+DVD's at the time, there would often be shows on television
and also clips on YouTube playing the game.

Seeing how popular the AKB48 Team Surprise pachinko game
was at the time, all one could wish is that a console version would

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 480

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

AKB48 TEAM SURPRISE PACHINKO \\\

be released (as many pachinko games have
easily been released for consoles, cell phones
and tablets).

Two years later, as AKB48 Team Sur-
prise (Second Stage) CD+DVD's are now
being released in fall/winter 2014, a new
AKB48 Team Surprise pachinko game has
been released. As for the 2012 machines,
fortunately, the company Akimono based
in the United States have imported two
dozen of the AKB48 Team Surprise 2012
pachinko machines and are selling to any-
one who has an interest in pachinko games
but also having the convenience to play
pachinko at your home and most impor-
tantly, without having to continually spend
your own money to play, Akimono has set
the machine, so you can play as much as
you want.

For those interested in ordering any
pachinko machine, ordering from Akimo-
no through their website is much cheaper
than ordering on eBay. And while a total
of 500 pachinko balls are included, I do
recommend a purchase of an additional
500 pachinko balls. I also recommend the
purchase of three or four containers (or
pachinko trays).

You will need to put several hundred
pachinko balls in the front of the unit
(which you will play with), about a hundred
or more on the top of the unit as these are
your bonus cash-out pachinko balls. And
the other balls, I would keep in a container
because you will need to continually fill up
the front or top unit occasionally.

As for the containers, the reason why I
recommend the purchase of them is that
you have a container to catch balls at the
front/bottom unit (if you do well in the
game, you win a lot of balls) and often, you
will need to quickly switch out the con-
tainers if they get full. And you will need a
container at the back of the machine, as this
catches the "bad" pachinko balls that fall
into the gutter area.

So, that is why I recommend purchasing
an additional 500 pachinko balls with the
500 that comes with the purchase of the
machine and have at least three slim plastic
containers and one slightly taller container
for the back, as the container will fill up
quickly.

As for if you need to purchase a shelf
unit for your pachinko machine. That de-
pends on you. My friends have purchased
or created their own shelving units, while
for me, I have it sitting on a small dresser.

Pachinko machines are quite heavy, but
a shelving unit is good if you are scared of
someone tipping it over or if your area is
prone to earthquakes.

For those wondering how the unit is
shipped, the unit is shipped in a huge box
with a lot of styrofoam. So much styro-
foam, that it can get into the unit or open
areas of the machine.

Fortunately, to do maintenance on your
machine, Akimono provides a key, to open
up the front door case of the machine. I

did have a piece of styrofoam that got
lodged in the front pachinko ball tray, but
I was able to get it out, thankfully with the
use of a bend paperclip. This is rare but it
did take me sometime to remove it.

As for how it plugs in, Akimono pro-
vides a plug for those to use it on their US
outlets. They are held together by a wire
crimp cap and there may be times when
a wire may come of the crimp cap during
shipping but it's easy to put back into the
pincher and also, I would use electrical tape

482 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

November 2014

/// AKB48 TEAM SURPRISE PACHINKO

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

In Japan, from September to December, to
promote the AKB48 Team Surprise pachinko
machines, a CD + DVD was released each
week. The special AKB48 unit would feature
a CD+DVD released each week and sold
only at certain pachinko parlors and online.
You can also win the CD+DVD by playing the
pachinko game.

? ?y? »i ?' * ,

i r f T*j TT6' 7 * £ti

njrtrfrrTfl

"TTTTTT1

to hold things together.

It's important to only plug in your
pachinko machine during gameplay You
do not want to keep it plugged in 24/7
because even though the machine is turned
off, there is still power going into the
machine and it will literally kill certain
electronics on your pachinko machine.

As for audio, there are audio controls
for left, center and right channels. The
machine is meant to be loud but fortunately
you can adjust the volume controls if you
want to turn things down.

When you first begin the AKB48 Team
Surprise pachinko game, the first thing
you will want to do is select your character
(the first character you can start off with is
Atsuko "acchan'Maeda).

On the bottom right is a lever which you
can shoot pachinko balls out and the goal
is to have them fall in a center area of the
machine. This is not easy to do as you have
to be precise of where you shoot your balls.
The more balls that fall in to the center, the
more videos and music you start to open for
the game.

There are times where a mini-game
will open and it will require you to hit the
center button.

But where you will get to level up your
character is through "Music Rush" mode
and that is trying to hit an area on the right
side of the machine with a pachinko ball
and many mini-games will start to take
place. And this is a workout because you
will need to continually fill up on the top
area of the pachinko machine with balls, as
you start to win more of a payout of balls
that come out of the front of the machine.

The most awesome thing about AKB48

Interested in purchasing

an AKB48 Team Surprise
pachinko machine but want

detailed instructions in
English on how to play or how
to setup your machine? Please

click on the bottom link:

http:// stage48.net/ forum/ index.
php?threads/akb48-team-sur-
prise-pachinko-owners-q-a-
discussion.8080/

Team Surprise is how the machine lights up
differently, how it automatically moves and
transforms itself throughout gameplay. But
also with each hour, on the top center is a
timer. Once you reach a full hour, the ma-
chine goes into LIVE mode in which you
can watch a full music video from AKB48
Team Surprise (or you can keep playing).

But what amazes me about this game is
the sheer amount of music videos, docu-
mentary videos, animated music videos and
mini-games.

There is so much gameplay in this game
that owning the machine is much better be-
cause you can see how people literally gam-
ble their money away because its addicting
but to keep furthering your gameplay as you
level up, you literally need to use more balls.
In the parlor, you need to pay for those
additional balls, while owning the machine,
you keep using the balls that you have.

And the most difficult part about own-
ing a pachinko machine is that you want
to purchase more. Similar to those who
collect pinball machines, you just want to
buy more because they are so awesome. But
you will need to have the space to hold the
machines.

Akimono tends to have many sales
running on their website and they offer
so many pachinko games based on an-
ime (such as the popular Evangelion and
Gundam pachinko games) and also a good
number of J-Pop pachinko games which
include Koda Kumi or Hamasaki Ayumi.

But if you ever want that pachinko part
of Japanese pop culture in your home, now
that you can thanks to Akimono. As for
the AKB48 Team Surprise pachinko ma-
chine, I definitely recommend it! ■

Interested in purchasing a
pachinko machine from Japan
but shipped for free from the
U.S.? Visit Akimono's website
by clicking here:

http://akimono.herokuapp.com/

Also, visit the Akimono
Facebook site by clicking here:

https://www.facebook.com/pag-
es/Akimono/307704364656

The pachinko game is fully customizeable
as you can easily change BGM, change the
AKB48 Team Surprise character that you
want to p 1 1 ay. You can also save your prog-
ress, which you will need a cell phone as you
must download the app for your iPhone or
Android phone, take a photo of a QR-code
and then input characters and enter it on
the app. It's not difficult to do and there are
steps online in English.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 483

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

AKB48 TEAM SURPRISE PACHINKO \\\

AKB48 TEAM SURPRISE (2012 - First Stage) - The following members are characters that can he selected

Rino Sashihara

Rie Kitahara

i E Li

.Rena Matsui

Atsuko "Acchan" Maeda Haruna "KojiHaru" Kojima

Mariko Shinoda

r- V*£*

b ;:r;~

Minami "Takamina" Takahashi

Sae Miyazawa

Aki Takajo

Fufci "Yukirin" Kashiwagi

Mayw "Mayuyu" Watanabe

Haruka "Paruru" Shimazaki

K#i" "Yuihan" Yokoyama

Yuko Oshima

Minami "Miichan" Minegishi

Tomomi "Tomochin" Itano

WHAT THIS PLACE NEEDS
IS MORE CAPS AND GOWNS.

Thanks to our work with local high schools like Henry Ford High,
graduation rates are up 18%. And it can happen here too.

IJ1JI To donate or volunteer, go to UNITEDWAY.ORG.

tSiJ BECAUSE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE LIVE UNITED.

United
Way

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON (2014) - PHOTOS BY GILBERT "REALM" AQUINO

CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE POWER RANGERS

Article By Kenneth Iran, Photography by Dennis A. Amith

Power Morphicon doesn't come around
too often. Since this was during
the 20th anniversary of the original
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, this
one was extremely special. Bandai has
done a great job with merchandis-
ing their toy line in conjunction with Power Rangers
Super Megaforce, allowing for a lot of past rangers in
become featured onscreen and on retail shelves.

PMC4 was a celebration of the past 20 years of the
Power Rangers franchise in America, as well as reveal-
ing the amazing plans for the future.

Headlining the show was the special appearance of
Austin St. John, the original Red Power Ranger, and

Yuuta Mochizuki, the Red Tyrannoranger of Zyurang-
er.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the
two actors who portrayed the same iconic hero meet
each other for the first time.

However, St. John was also attending the show
with his fellow cos tars, Walter Emanuel Jones and
David Yost.

For the first time in a long time, the original male
rangers were onstage, much to the delight of fans,
young and old.

Also, on the guest list was numerous rangers
throughout the past 20 seasons of Power Rangers:
Brad Hawkins, Danny Slavin, Steve Cardenas, Karan

488 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// POWER MORPHICON IV (2014)

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

Ashley, and Anna Hutchinson, just to name a few. Several series held panels: Ninja Storm, Dino Thunder,
Mystic Force, Jungle Fury, and SPD. Jason Narvy, who portrayed Skull in the original series, also gave a hilari-
ous panel based his theater class at Concordia University On the Sentai side, Mochizuki was joined by Hiroshi
Maeda, Yasuhiro Takeuchi, and Tsuyoshi Nonaka, all of whom were integral parts of bringing Zyuranger to life.

Despite all of the wonderful events featuring the alumni, there was also amazing announcements done by
Bandai America and Saban.

A brilliant panel with the current Super Megaforce rangers led to something exciting. Like the past Mor-
phicon, Saban chose to reveal their cast to their next series, Dino Charge, which is set to premiere in 2015.

Also revealed at the convention was the newest Legacy collectibles, toys based upon the original MMPR
series.

On display was the White Rangers Saba Sword, his Tigerzord, and the amazing carrier zord,Titanus. Also,
Bandai revealed their exclusive Ranger Keys, to be limited to 500 and only available at PMC.

Around the exhibit floor was tons of vintage toys of the Power Rangers and Sentai franchises. There were
even props and scripts from the original shows. Around the convention center were numerous cosplayers with
intricately- made ranger suits.

Saban and Make-a-Wish Foundation allowed six children to live out their special day as honorary rangers
rescuing the attendees from evildoers, having a wonderful breakfast, and a special meet-and-greet with the
Super Megaforce cast.

If this was indeed the final Morphicon, it was a wonderful finale to a terrific event.

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 489

-ONCES

,-M

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT POWER MORPHICON IV (2014) - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

2X\1&\ n ! a c k f R a n g e r*

.STUDIOS

n A

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT POWER MORPHICON IV (2014) - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

BRAF OPtP it y

MC J

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT POWER MORPHICON IV (2014) - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

«s4

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT POWER MORPHICON IV (2014) - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

Ethan 'jatriBk

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT POWER MORPHICON IV (2014) - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

JI-ENT ON LOCATION - POWER RANGERS REUNION PANEL @
POWER MORPHICON 4 (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA):

Panel Q&A with Walter Emanuel Jones (Zack Taylor - Black Ranger), Austin St. John
(Jason Lee Scott - Red Ranger) and David Yost (Billy Cranston - Blue Ranger)

PHOTOS DENNIS A. AMITH, Ji-ENT

508 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// POWER RANGERS REUNION

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

he date was
August 28,1993
and the United
States would
be introduced
to the "Mighty
Morphin ' Power
Rangers". The
Fox Kids series would tar Austin St.
John, Walter Emanuel Jones, David
Yost, Thuy Trang, Amy Jo Johnson and
Jason David Frank, the series would
take American by storm on Fox Kids
weekday afternoon block.

Adapted from the Japanese TV
show Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger and
using stock footage from the series,
"Mighty Morphin" Power Rangers" was
no doubt an iconic series from the '90s.

Many people have hoped for a re-
union of all the original Power Rangers
but it would prove to be difficult.

Austin St. John would focus on
working overseas; original black ranger
Walter Emanuel Jones would become a
world champion salsa dancer and both
he and original blue ranger, David Yost
would focus on their careers in the en-
tertainment industry. Original yellow
ranger, Thuy Trang died in a tragic car
accident in 2001; original pink ranger
Amy Jo Johnson would focus on her
television and film career and never
took part in any Power Rangers -related
events since leaving the series and Jason
David Frank would focus on mixed
martial arts.

But there has been no discussion of
any major reunion of the original cast
members and for the 20th Anniver-
sary of the series, a reunion would not
happen. That is until Power Morphicon
announced that Austin St. John, Walter
Emanuel Jones and David Yost were
to attend the bi-annual event at the
Pasadena Convention Center.

With many fans heavily anticipat-
ing this panel, JI-ENT presents you
with a transcript of the select questions
from the press panel with Austin St.
John, Walter Emanuel Jones and David
Yost. (Please note: Austin St. John was
only present for a few questions as he

had prior obligations)

On the series, you had to face ri-
diculous rubber monsters. Which
one made you think.. /'Why are
we fighting this?". What is going
on?".

WALTER EMANUEL JONES: I

would have to say that Porky Pig
was always strange to me.
DAVID YOST: It was pudgy pig,
not porky pig. (audience laughs)
WALTER EMANUEL JONES:
That's very prodigious of you Da-
vid.

DAVID YOST: I think a lot of the
monsters are in the category of
"why are we fighting this thing?".
Like the pachinko machine was a
weird one.

WALTER EMANUEL JONES:

There was a giant oyster.
AUSTIN ST. JOHN: We all have
PTSD from the monsters on the
show.

DAVID YOST: That is true.

Have you ever seen the Japanese
show, "Zyuranger"?
AUSTIN ST. JOHN: I recently
saw one episode in anticipation of
being here.

With the Power Rangers reboot
coming out, would you like to
have a cameo and who would you
want to play you?
WALTER EMANUEL JONES: I
would like to have a cameo as that
would be awesome and amazing.
I can't tell you who I would want
to play me, teenagers right? So,
someone up and coming.
AUSTIN ST. JOHN: I feel the
same way. I really can't tell you.
Who would be me? But whether a
cameo, it's definitely something I
would like to take a look at.
DAVID YOST: I would like Theo
James to play Billy, that would be
hot! A cameo, for sure I would
have to take a look at it.

I would like to hear from Zack,
Jason and Billy.. .20 years later,
what is it like to be a retired
ranger?

AUSTIN ST. JOHN: Jason would
say... "Switzerland is nice!".
WALTER EMANUEL JONES:

What would Zack say 20 years lat-
er? "Where's Angela?"
DAVID YOST: Although, you think
I may have retired as a ranger. As I
really haven't because I have been
traveling to space, I have been
traveling the universe and if you re-
ally knew what was going on with
me, what I'm creating, you would
really be hesitant about calling me
a retired ranger.

I know some of the old Rangers
are in talks to appear on Dino
Charge and if you do come back,
what color would you come back
as?

DAVID YOST: I can only speak for
me but the show is shot non-union,
so as an actors who are union, we
wouldn't be able to shoot a non-
union show because it would break
ties with the union, so unfortu-
nately I wouldn't be able to back
because of that. And I would still
be the blue ranger.
AUSTIN ST. JOHN: How many
colors are there? I don't know. If I
was to come back and was invited
to come back, I would come back
as the original red.
WALTER EMANUEL JONES: If
it wasn't a union thing, I would
like to go back and be part of the
show. The problem is that it has to
be union. But if I could go back, it
would be the original black ranger.

What's your craziest fan experi-
ence?

DAVID YOST: Craziest or most
disgusting? At some con in the
world, this girl wanted me to sign
her jeans and she put it up on my
table and there was this big wet
spot in the crotch. Like she just

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 509

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

POWER RANGERS REUNION

peed in her pants and took them
off and thought it was the best
time to bring it to me, and I did
sign it.

AUSTIN ST. JOHN: For me, I've
been gone for so long, so it would
be coming back this time. Being
absolutely blown away by each
and everyone one of you. Walt
called me when he was last here
and I was still in the Middle East
when we had a phone conversation
and... each time I go out there and
see you all standing in line. I really
don't know how to respond to that
but, "that's crazy".
WALTER EMANUEL JONES:
There was this one time I was
walking down the street and I see
this woman with a little girl. And
the little girl said, "excuse me,
my mom's car was stolen". And
I responded and said, "Oh, man,
is there something I can do?" and
she said, "You're a power ranger,
do something!". That was crazy, I
felt bad and there's nothing much I
can do. And I felt that I could not
live up to my television personality.

If there was a Power Rangers
crossover, what would you do?
DAVID YOST: I would do "The Big
Bang Theory".

WALTER EMANUEL JONES: I

would do. .."Mighty Morphin' Pow-
er Rangers meets Buffy the Vam-
pire Slayer"!

Back in 1994 at Universal Studios,
I was there with friends and part
of the madness in the audience.
I was wondering what your take
was being on stage?
DAVID YOST: It was the most
overwhelming experiences that I
have had in my life. I don't remem-
ber all the specifics, but we were
scheduled to do one performance
of it. But because we sold out
Universal Studios and backed up
the 101 freeway by ten miles in
each direction. I was like "Wow,

what's going on?". We did seven
or eight shows instead of one and I
remember seeing the kids scream-
ing like at a Justin Bieber concert.
It was pretty intense! And at that
time, I didn't understand what the
show meant to all of you guys but
20-years later, I can get to under-
stand on how it influenced you.
We are very humbled by all of you
guys and so thank you.
WALTER EMANUEL JONES: For
those who weren't there, it was
like being a rock star. There was
cameras flashing everywhere and I
felt, "Wow, this is how it feels like
to be like Prince!".

What is your most memorable
moment with Thuy Trang?
WALTER EMANUEL JONES: We

had a lot of great experiences on
the show together. One of the
things I remember after we left the
show, it was a transformation for
the three of us, me, Thuy and Aus-
tin and we did a lot of videos. I did
a dance video, Austin did a mar-
tial arts video and I did a hip hop
video. And we were into the music
and Thuy was talking to the kids
and everyone is all loving her. Her
energy was so amazing. It's funny
because we had a lot of moments
together, and I remember how all
the kids responded to her.
DAVID YOST: Thuy was very nice
and sweet and had an amazing
laugh. There was one thing that
always sticks out of my mind, on
Twitter, the fans would tweet the
video when she says "Billy you're
too high up" and I could remember
that scene and it took her to sev-
eral times to do that scene and we
kept laughing and laughing. She
had an infectious laugh and she
loved to brush her hair. I had a lot
of good times with her!

How do you guys keep fit?
WALTER EMANUEL JONES: I

always been very active. I was into

martial arts and dancing, if I wasn't
dancing, I was hiking or swimming.
I love being active, I like watching
TV too but I get out of the house.
I dance, I'm a world champion salsa
dancer and I go out at night and
dance. That keeps me in shape.
DAVID YOST: Honestly the best
exercise is lots of sex. I was just
trying to see if you were all awake
but yeah, sex is good. I run, I
lift weights and I go hiking a lot.
When I was in the show, things
were much easier but when you
get older you have to be on top of
that. I ran marathons and am lifting
weights.

What inspired you to be on
"Mighty Morphin"'?
DAVID YOST: I wanted to be a
working actor.

WALTER EMANUEL JONES: We

auditioned for the US television
show, we didn't know what it was.
"Dino-Rangers" or something... I
didn't know what it was, I just was
excited to be on a TV show. ■

For more information on Aus
St. John, please visit his Faceb
Page at:

ustin
ebook

https://www.facebook.com/aus-
tinstiohn

Emanuel Jones, please visit his
Facebook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/Wal-
terEJonesFanPage

Yost, please visit his Facebook
Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/Da-
vidYostActor

510 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

November 2014

You don't hdve to be perfect

to be a perfect bdfeflt.

There urc thousands of teens m foster cdre who d orl 't need perfection, they need you,
4* $ Adopt US Kids jS| 888-200-4005 MdoptUSKrdi.orj

JI-ENT ON LOCATION - Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger Panel @
POWER MORPHICON 4 (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA):

Panel Q&A with Yuuta Mochizuki, Hiroshi Maeda and Yasuhiro Takeuchi

By Dennis A. Amith

PHOTOS DENNIS A. AMITH, JI-ENT

512 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

/// KYORYU SENTAI ZYURANGER JI-ENT 2014 annual

Jn Japan, the Japanese sen-
tai series "Kyoru Sentai
Zyuranger" became the
16th Super Sentai fran-
chise forToei and Bandai
back in Feb. 1993.
With a planned release
of all 50-episodes in the
United States courte-
sy of Shout! Factory "Kyoryu Sentai
Zyuranger" is a series that many sentai
fans have wanted to see released but
also hopes for more Japanese sentai
series to be rleased in America.

As the Power Rangers franchise
is celebrating its 20th anniversary
because "Mighty Morphin Power
Rangers" used stock footage from the
Japanese TV series, many fans are aware
of the Japanese series, Zyuranger.

And to celebrate the planned DVD
release, Power Morphicon featured
actor Yuuta Mochizuki (who played
Zyuranger s red Tyranno Ranger, Geki
and also as Koji Segawa on "Kamen
Rider J"), professional Japanese stunt-
man for the Red Ranger (and many

other sentai series), Hiroshi Maeda; and
professional stunt man and suit actor
Yasuhiro Takeuchi (who is one of the
stuntman who portrays the Dragon
Ranger/Green Ranger).

Here is a transcript of selection
questions from the Kyoryu Sentai
Zyuranger panel:

Yuuta, what was it like working
with director Keita Amemiya for
"Kamen Rider J"?
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: My experi-
ence with working with Keita Am-
emiya was for the second episode
of Jyuranger and I haven't seen
him for over a year and a half until
we did "Kamen Rider J" togeth-
er. But I was also working on the
"Sailor Moon" musical, so it was
very difficult to find the time to sit
down and talk with him. He is a
wonderful director!

I know you work in super sentai
but do you enjoy the other toku-
satsu franchises? Do you watch

them?

YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: Of course!
(audience erupts with applause)

What is your favorite?

YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: For me, J1

(Neo Jetman).

HIROSHI MAEDA: In the series, I
am in the suit for Red Hawk.
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: The next
year I played Zyuranger red.

How difficult was it to shoot Bu-
rai's death scene?
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: It took all
day. But right before Burai's death,
they called for a lunch break. We
were all in the moment for the
scene and then they said it was
lunch time. It was really tough! If
you watch closely, there is hermit
crab crawling on his face and we
were waiting for it to pass. It was
very emotional.

What was your favorite moment
while working on Zyuranger?

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 513

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

KYORYU SENTAI ZYURANGER \\\

YASUHIRO TAKEUCHI: It was

really fun to do the action scenes,
but I was really nervous.
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: Me and

Burai are not friendly to each other
but the more we fight, we get to
know each other well. Before we
became friends, on the last fight, it
was me and Yasuhiro battling each
other.

HIROSHI MAEDA: My favorite
moment was our fight scene (red
ranger vs. green ranger).

Even before I watched "Power
Rangers", one of my favorite per-
formers was Machiko Soga (Ban-
dora, note: in the U.S. her name
is Rita Repulsa). What was it like
to work with her?
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: She is very
impressive and she thinks about
all the encantations all by herself.
And she always stayed in that
makeup at home and the set.
YASUHIRO TAKEUCHI: I've gone
drinking with her once, it was nice.
I remember we were with a senpai
and he had a runny nose. She took
out a tissue and wiped his nose.
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: Probably no
one ever saw her real face.

What is it like to be here at Pow-
er Morphicon?

YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: It is very
exciting! Especially, since it was
the first time meeting Austin. I am
very glad to meet him. I thought
he was the same age as I was but
I was shocked to find out that he

was seven years younger.
YASUHIRO TAKEUCHI: Japanese
people normally don't wear tights
as they become shy and nervous,
but it's nice to see people of dif-
ferent shapes and forms wearing
costumes.

What was it like to work on the
movie "Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger
vs. Go-Busters THE MOVIE Great
Dinosaur Battle? How do you
feel about your return?
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: The filming
took place in October and No-
vember of 2013. The offer came
around August. First, I was really
surprised and a little concerned
since I haven't done any action for
over 20-years. But I decided that I
wanted to do it because all these
rangers were meeting in one place.
Back when we filmed, it was on film
but now everything is digital, using
CG. So, I felt it would be a lot of
fun! When all the rangers got into
line and assembled and the cast
assembled by those in their teens,
those in their 20's and then their
30's and I was the only one in their
40's. Everyone was wearing a dark
costume and I was the only one
wearing bright red.

Do you still keep up with the
other Zyuranger cast including
Burai?

YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: We have
not seen each other for over
20-years. When the movie came
out, all five of us came together

and although we haven't seen each
other for the longest time, the
time difference disappeared. The
person who has played Burai was
not there, but the only person I
have kept in touch was with Hideki
Fujiwara, who plays Dan, the blue
TriceraRanger. But I haven't seen
anyone else for over 20-years.

Were you ever afraid to do any
of the stunts on the show?
YUUTA MOCHIZUKI: Every-
day! For the pilot episode, I was
asked to dive from a rollercoaster
rail which was around 10-meters
high and I had no experience with
stunts. Senpai showed me an ex-
ample and told me to watch care-
fully. And I saw it and I was like,
"Are you serious?". I thought he
was trying to make me confident
but he screamed when he landed.
After 5-10 minutes, I stood up and
sat down, stood and sat down and
the director was saying, ""Jump
already!". I looked down and this
huge cushion mat looked quite
small. Even if I was trained to do
this, and if I missed it, I would die.
I asked the director, what would
you do if I die, he said, "It's OK, I
will find someone else". We filmed
one or two episodes that were not
aired, so that means, if I died, they
could use someone else and no
one knew what happened to me.
So, I looked down and I jumped for
my team and my career. ■

514 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com

November 2014

JI-ENT ON LOCATION - INTERVIEW WITH "POWER
RANGERS" WRITER JOHN TELLEGEN @ POWER MORPHICON
4 (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA):

John Tellegen is the writer for "Power Rangers R.RM", "Power Rangers Jungle Fury",
"Power Rangers Operation Overdrive", "Power Rangers Mystic Force", "Power
Rangers S.P.D.", "Power Rangers DinoThunder" and "Power Rangers Ninja Storm".

Interview by Dennis A. Amith

PHOTOS DENNIS A. AMITH, Ji-ENT

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 515

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

JOHNTELLEGEN \\\

JI-ENT: What was the first series
you worked on for the Power
Rangers franchise and what was
your memories working on the
show?

JOHNTELLEGEN: "Ninja Storm"
was my first season on "Power
Rangers". I worked for Doug
Sloan and Austin and it was my
foray into the Power Rangers and
worked for six to seven more years
on "Power Rangers". It was an
amazing experience!

Did you work with American writ-
ers or New Zealand staff?
JOHN TELLEGEN: It was pretty
much all American writers. It was
an amazing challenge by taking
a Japanese show and turning it a
show for America and shooting in
New Zealand using actors from all
over the world. So, it was a pop, a
stew, to get the "Power Rangers"
to come out. But it was a great
time and it worked out very well!

Did you have to refer to the Jap-
anese material?
JOHN TELLEGEN: We love and
respect the Japanese version but
there are some episodes where
we were't sure of how we were
going to convert but luckily we
did 32 or 38 episodes, they would
give us 50. So, there was some
footage we didn't have to use. But
we respected the Japanese show
greatly.

What was your biggest memory
of working on any of the series?
JOHN TELLEGEN: Well, "Ocean
Alert" (for "Power Rangers Dino-
Thunder") was my favorite episode
I wrote. It starred Nilki Valentina,
a character I created. A lot of fans
didn't care for "Ocean Alert" but
other fans felt it was their favorite
episode. It was one of my favorite
that I wrote, so "Ocean Alert" was
my biggest memory.

Seeing the amazing turnout here
at Power Morphicon, did you
ever imagine the fandom would
be this huge and fans would love
your work?

JOHN TELLEGEN: I didn't under-
stand how big "Power Rangers"
was when I was hired and by the
time I have done it for seven years,
I started to realize how massive of
a franchise it was. In fact, when I
went hiking in the jungles of Belize,
I came across a village that looked
as if it had never been touched by
society, and there was a red ranger
towel hanging. I realized that if the
"Power Rangers" could be make
it into the jungles of Belize, then

"Power Rangers" must be huge
and it is!

Were you on strict deadlines
working on the "Power Rangers"
series?

JOHN TELLEGEN: We were al-
ways on strict deadlines. But that's
just TV.

Was it 24/7?

JOHN TELLEGEN: Sometimes.
Sometimes you would have ade-
quate amount of time or some-
times you would have to write
one quickly due to a problem or
an actor is sick and couldn't work,
and you have to rewrite but that is

516 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

November 2014

///JOHNTELLEGEN

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

television.

Is there an episode that you wish
you could rewrite?
JOHN TELLEGEN: Man ...I don't
know! They all stand on their own
two feet.

When the writers needed a cre-
ative break, what did you guys
do? Anything fun?
JOHN TELLEGEN: Inbetween

"Ninja Storm" and "DinoThunder",
we were figuring out what "Dino-
Thunder" was going to be, so we
rented a big suite in Las Vegas and
spent the weekend, locked our-
selves in the suite and said we are
not going to leave until we find out
what the next season was going
to be. We couldn't have fun, we
couldn't gamble until we figure out
what "DinoThunder" was going to
be and we cracked it in that room

and we celebrated in Vegas.

You're working on a new project
called "Zanimals". Can you tell
us more about this project?
JOHN TELLEGEN: It's my new
horror comedy film that we are
going to film in Australia in 2015.
And it's about an animal zombie
apocalypse and it's going to be
great! ■

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 517

JI-ENT COVERAGE AT ZAPPCON 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

As Fresno, California would lose their
largest anime convention, ANI-JAM,
they would gain a new convention called
ZAPPCON aimed towards the sci-fi,
comics, movies and gaming.

The first year would prove to be a success
as it would bring 90 exhibitors and bring
in 1,400 attendees. The convention has
announced that a second year of
ZAPPCON is a go!

mm 1

SIDESHOW

BIBB.

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ZAPPCON 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

J!-ENT COVERAGE AT ZAPPCON 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

JJ-ENT COVERAGE AT ZAPPCON 2014 - PHOTOS BY DENNIS A. AMITH

BLU- RAY/DVD REVIEWS

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

liUDUl UmUltEli. lib blllillbu DrEblllL L

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY: Adult Swim I DURATION: 22 MINUTES I RATING: TV MA

In this second "DC Comics Special" of "Robot
Chicken: DC Comics Special 2 - Villains in Para-
dise", the story shifts from the heroes and focuses
on the villains. What happens when the villains
get some R&R in a private beach and Lex Luthor's
daughter Lena falls in love with Superman and
Wonder Woman's son (or the clone Superman/Su-
perboy) and both want to get married?

From utilizing Lex Luthor and showing his old
rock n' roll self known as Sexx Luthor and him

having a child, or seeing the joke about the clone
Superboy being the actual child of Superman and
Wonder Woman. And what happens when Green
Lantern gives Batman a ride?

Despite a 22-minute runtime, the DVD features
many special features such as the making of, 20
questions with the staff, chicken nuggets, cut
sketches, actors and writers commentary and so
much more! If you enjoyed the first, you'll enjoy
the second special. ***

DISNEY PHINEAS AND FERB STAR WARS

AVAILABLE: November 11, 2014 I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY:

Featuring a hilarous collaboration between
Disney's Phineas and Ferb and the Star Wars
franchise, what happens when the brothers
find themselves in the "Star Wars" universe
(during the fourth episode, "New Hope")
and come upon the plans for the Death Star.
Can the brothers resist the dark side?

Meanwhile, Candace is a stormtrooper
and wants nothing more but to catch Phin-
eas and Ferb. Can Agent P stop Darthensh-

Disney I RATING: TV G I DURATION: 164 MINUTES

mirtz from using the Force-powered "Sith-ln-
ator"?

Featuring not only the "Star Wars" ad-
venture but also comes with a few holiday
episodes as well and many special features.

I have watched many Phineas and Ferb
DVD releases but this one is hands down my
favorite release by far!

Recommended! *****

KUNDO

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: Blu-ray I COMPANY: WELL GO USA ENTERTAINMENT I DURATION: 138 MINUTES I RATING: N/A

"Kundo" takes place in 1862 (late Joseon dynasty)
during an era of social and economic unrest and during
a time of tyranny when rulers kept rice for themselves,
rather than give them to the starving villagers. As
villagers suffer from natural disasters, poverty and
famine, death runs rampant. But a group of fighters
known as Kundo have risen against the authority and
have helped the impoverished.

We are the introduced to two people who were
brought up differently on two ends of the economic
spectrum and their paths will cross.

Dolmuchi (portrayed by Ha Jung-woo) is a poor

butcher who was offered money to go to the mountain
where monks live and kill a young woman. But in the
process, Dolmuchi failed and because of the failure, he
and his family were burned alive. Now Dolchi wants
nothing more than to avenge his family and take down
Jo Yoon, the successor and stepson of the corrupt
and aging former governor Lord Jo Won-suk of Jeola
province.

One of the better Korean action films that I have
seen in awhile! Action-packed, awesome fight choreog-
raphy and an exciting story that's not afraid to suprise
its viewers with its use of tragedy. ****

MflLEFICETfT

MALEFICENT

AVAILABLE: NOW I MEDIA: Blu-ray/DVD I COMPANY: Disney I DURATION: 97 Minutes I RATED: PG

I must admit that prior to watching "Maleficent", I
was rather cautious about Disney trying to capitalize on
another title and try once again to provide a backstory
of what led to someone becoming evil.

Seeing of what happened with "Oz, the Great and
Powerful", the first thing that came to my mind when it
was announced at D23 Expo that a movie based on the
"Sleeping Beauty" antagonist, Maleficent was being
made. Needless to say, I was skeptical.

And with the film being left to visual effects designer,
Roger Stromberg, as director, I was even more skep-

tical.

But sure enough the visual beauty of this film along
with Linda Woolverton and Angelina Jolie's performance
made this film a winner!

"Maleficent" is moving, captivating and was more
than just a pleasant surprise, it was a visual experience
demonstrating wonderful acting, special effects and cos-
tume design. Great picture quality and a wonderful loss-
less soundtrack. The "Maleficent" Blu-ray release is no
doubt one of the top live-action Blu-ray releases I have
seen in 2014! ****1/2

528 J!-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

J--ENT 2014 ANNUAL BLU-RAY/DVD REVIEWS

PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: Blu-ray & DVD I COMPANY: DISNEY I DURATION: 84 Minutes I RATING: PG

"Planes: Fire & Rescue" begins with Dusty Cro-
phopper enjoying the success and the fame of being
the winner of the "Wings Around the Globe" race.
But one day, while flying, his engine's gearbox starts
to malfunction due to being repeatedly forced to
go beyond its limits. And to make things worse, the
gearbox that Dusty uses, is no longer available and is
out of production.

After a mishap that leads to a fire at the Propwash
Junction Airport, the accident brings out a govern-
ment inspector named Ryker and because there is

inadequate firefighting personnel, he has no choice but
to close the airport.

Feeling bad for his carelessness and knowing that the
closure of the airport is his fault, Dusty decides to make
things right by training to become a certified firefighter
in order to meet the necessary regulations of having the
airport reopened.

"PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE" is a family film that will
no doubt entertain the family, and while visually appeal-
ing, the storyline is a bit too simple, which is great for
children. ***1/2

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE BEGINNING - THE COMPLETE 1ST SEASON

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY: Nickelodeon/Paramount I DURATION: 625 Minutes

Maybe not the TMNT that you grew up watching
as a child but the 2012 reboot will interest any Ninja
Turtles fan, especially those who are open to a new and
different storyline.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Beginning - The
Complete 1st Season" features all 26 episodes in one
DVD set.

In this newer series, each of the Ninja Turtles try to
get accustomed to being heroes as they are taught by
their sensei Splinter. A former human that was changed
into a rat.

A different storyline but similiar premise as the Nin-

ja Turtles take on Krang, Shredder, Baxter Stockman,
Karai and other enemies.

But before these turtles can fight their enemies,
they need to work out on their own differences with
each other.

Far from the "cowabunga years", this version fea-
tures teenager, April O'Neill who loves video games
and pizza but also has a special spiritual sensitivity.
And because of it, she is being trained by Splinter to
be a ninja.

Overall, a worthwhile DVD set for children or the
young at heart who can't get enough of TMNT! ****

L.D.

MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S H I E LD.: SEASON ONE

AVAILABLE: NOW I MEDIA: BLU-RAY & DVD I COMPANY: Marvel I 946 Minutes I TV PG

With the second season of Marvel's "Agents of
S.H.I.E.L.D." airing on television, enjoy the first sea-
son of the hit adventure series on ABC.

Agent Coulson along with Maria Hill are trying to
put together a small team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to
handle strange cases, especially those revolving with
Project Centipede and its mysterious leader.

Coulson's group includes Grant Ward (portrayed
by Brett Dalton), a S.H.I.E.L.D. black ops specialist;
Melinda May (portrayed by Ming-Na Wen) who is

known as "The Calvary" and is haunted by her memo-
ries of being a field agent; Leo Fitz (portrayed by lain
De Caestecker) who specializes in engineering and
weapons technology; Jemma Simmons (portrayed by
Elizabeth Henstridge) who specializes in life sciences
and works closely with Leo; and civilian computer
hacker Skye (portrayed by Chloe Bennet).

An exciting and entertaining first season, the DVD
features the cast promoting the series at San Diego
Comic Con, outtakes, deleted scenes and more! ****

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS: THE LOST MISSIONS

AVAILABLE: November 11 I MEDIA: Blu=ray I COMPANY: Lucas Film I DURATION: 287 MIN. I RATING: G

With the "STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS: THE LOST
MISSIONS" (season six) having aired on Netflix earlier this
year, fans (who don't have Netflix),who have been antici-
pating the Blu-ray release will be happy to finally see all 1 3
episodes on Blu-ray.

The sixth season focuses on Clone Trooper Tup who is
suffering from a severe neurological disorder and needs
to be examined. Meanwhile ARC Trooper Fives goes to
investigate and learns the truth about all clones.
Meanwhile, Padme Amidala's old flame Rush Clovis comes
back into her life and Anakin does not trust him.

Also, Yoda must travel to the heart of the galaxy and

pass a test. But he encounters a vision of what may pos-
sibly be the future.

Featuring a 16-minute documentary celebrating the en-
tire "Clone Wars" series plus 4 additional unfinished story
reels only available on Blu-ray.

The sixth season features the final episodes of "Star
Wars: The Clone Wars" and features the return of Katie
Lucas to write the first arc of the season. Writers have no
doubt saved the best for last and for anyone who watched
the series will want to watch "THE LOST MISSIONS".

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 529

ANIME BLU-RAY/DVD REVIEWS I!ENT 2014 ANNUAL

SILVER SPOON - COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY: ANIPLEX I DURATION: 275 MINUTES I RATING: 13 & Up

From mangaka Hiromu Arakawa comes "Silver
Spoon" is an anime series that revolves around a stu-
dent named Yugo Hachiken, a teenager who attended
came from a wealthy family but has left the big city of
Sapporo to live in a farming area and attend Yezo Agri-
cultural High School.

Because of the expectations put on him by his par-
ents, Hachiken's true reason of going to Yezo is primar-
ily to escape his parents but after seeing his school-
mates being so passionate about their future careers in
agriculture, Hachiken starts to wonder what will he do
for a living? And most importantly, how will he do at

Yezo since he knows nothing about agriculture, let alone
animals or where food comes from.

And the longer he stays at Yezo, he starts to under-
stand the world of agriculture but also his perspective
on life, on the food people eat but also how he starts
to affect other students who are amazed by Hachiken's
perspective, because he didn't come from an agricultural
background.

"Silver Spoon: Complete 1st Season" was a big surprise!
A hilarious and educational anime series about agriculture
and the people who are raised in that environment.
A fantastic anime series that I highly recommend! ****

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN DVD SET 20 - ORIGINAL & VNCVT

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY: Viz Media I 300 Minutes I RATING: TV 14

As the great Ninja War is set to begin, in order
to protect Naruto, he is told that he will take part
in an S-ranked mission.

But during his mission, as he goes through
training with the help of Killer Bee to control
the nine tails power, Naruto receives help from
someone special.

"Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 20" is a volume
that features episodes 245-257 and finally gets
back to the main storyline about the great Ninja

War (and bypassing all the filler episodes) that
was seen in the manga.

Definitely one of the more deeper "Naru-
to Shippuden" volumes, fans can expect an ac-
tion-packed volume as Guy takes on Kisame.

If you are a "Naruto Shippuden" fan, and
stayed with the series for this long, you definitely
want to check out "Naruto Shippuden" DVD set
20! ****

RANMA 1/2 BLU-RAY SET 3: SPECIAL EDITION

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: Blu-ray I COMPANY: Viz Media I DURATION: 530 MINUTES I RATING: TV14

In volume 3 (episodes 47-69), we are introduced
to more characters from China. With Ranma defeating
Shampoo in a battle, the customs of her homeland is
that if a man wins, she will marry that man. And to wel-
come Ranma to the family is Shampoo's grandmother,
Cologne.

But with Ranma refusing to marry Shampoo, Co-
logne is not going to let Ranma marry any other girl.
But also not wanting to support their marriage is hid-
den weapons master Mousse, who has always been in
love with Shampoo.

Meanwhile, a panty thief is on the loose but for

Genma and Soun, they worry that they may know who is re-
sponsible, their martial arts master, the lecherous Happosai.

And could it be that Genma made a promise to an
Okonomiyaki owner long ago, that his daughter Ukyo would
marry Ranma?

Featuring a hilarious and delightful storyline written with
non-stop humor and action, "Ranma 1/2 is at true anime
classic that will forever entertain many generations of anime
fans and will forever be remembered for its characters and
wild and crazy stories. And it's a Rumiko Takahashi anime se-
ries that I highly recommend!. ****

DRAGON RAIL Z: BATTLE OF GODS - EXTENDED EDITION

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: Blu-ray & DVD I COMPANY: FUNimation I RATING: TV 14V

The film features Beerus, the God of Destruction,
being awakened by Whis from a long slumber.

With Beerus awakened, this has caused distress
for many, including Kaio-sama (King Kai), who tries to
keep the existence of Beerus as a secret and knowing
that if Son Goku finds out, Goku would do anything to
fight him as Goku has always wanted to be the most
powerful person in the world.

But Goku is easily defeated with two blows.

Meanwhile, Beerus the Destroyer heads to Earth in
search of the Super Saiyan God and Kaoio-sama sends

a message to Vegeta to protect his friends as Goku was
easily beaten with two punches.

But to Vegeta's surprise, Beerus arrives and inter-
rupts the party and as the Z Warriors fears the de-
struction of Earth, can the Z Warriors fight against the
powerful Beerus?

Featuring both the extended and theatrical versions
of the film, "Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods" is not the
best DBZ film ever made, but it was no doubt exciting
to see a DBZ film made 17 years after the last film.
***1/2

530 J!-ENT

j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

j-.ENTANiME reviews ANIME BLU- RAY/DVD REVIEWS

ATTACK ON TITAN: PART TWO

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: BLU-RAY & DVD I COMPANY: FUNimation I 325Minutes I TV M

With part two of the series, the series becomes very
interesting as it was revealed that Eren Yeager has the
special ability to transform into a Titan.

While he is not sure how to control the power or his
rage towards the Titans, despite being thought of as
humanity's threat, because of his determination to stop
all Titans, he is also a final resort into protecting of what
is left of humanity from the Titans.

As he now becomes part of the team led by Levi
Ackerman, one of the best soldiers still alive!

Meanwhile, a tall female titan has appeared out of

nowhere and is causing destruction to those who kill it.
But with captive Titans being murdered by an unknown
assailant, humanity must push forward into finding how to
defeat the Titans but finding a weakness of mobilizing the
female titan.

"Attack on Titan" is one of the most heavily anticipated
series to be released in 2014 and as much hype that has
come out for this series, the fact that all the hype is war-
ranted. The characters, the storyline, the animation and
it's overall presentation from FUNimation makes this one
anime series worth owning! *****

KILL LA KILL, VOL. 2

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: Blu-ray & DVD I COMPANY:

"Kill la Kill" is set in Honnouji Academy, a
school that is ruled by the iron-fisted student
council president, Satsuki Kiryuin.

Meanwhile, Ryuko Matoi joins Honnou-
ji Academy. She is brash and wields half of a
scissor-shaped longsword in search of the person
responsible for killing her father. And if she finds
the person that owns the other scissor blade, she
will exact her revenge.

Volume 2 features episodes 5-9, Uzu Sanag-
eyama of the Elite Four takes on Ryuko in battle.

Aniplex I DURATION: 125 MINUTES I RATING: 16+

Meanwhile, Satsuki declares to begin a "Nat-
urals Election" and every student must saurvive
seven days to participate in "The King of the Hill
Final Battle".

The set comes with a "Making Documentary"
DVD, a postcard set and a double-sided poster.

Kill la Kill" is an exciting series and these
four episodes have been captivating and addict-
ing so far that I can't wait until vol. 3 is released.

Recommended! ****i/2

FANTASISTA DOLL: COMPLETE COLLECTION

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks I 300 Minutes I RATED: TV 14

With the popularity of the Kadokawa Shoten manga
series, "Fantasista Doll", an anime adapation was creat-
ed.

The series revolves around a young girl named Uzume
Uno who has found a mysterious device in her bag.
Uzume is not really motivated and despite doing well at
collecting cards, she is not interested in joining the high
school card club headed by her friend Manai Suzuki.

One day, she begins seeing things and hearing voices
in her head. While being stalked and attacked, Uzume
is helped by Sasara, who explains that she is a Fantasista

Doll and as Uzume is her master, she can call her into
the device and give her powers to take on those who
are trying to hurt her.

Sasara explains to Uzume that she is a Fantasista
Doll and she is her master. But it is also revealed that
Uzume is the master of a total of five Fantasista Dolls.

A fun and sweet anime series that features a more
creative and fun twist on the card battle genre. An
entertaining series from beginning to end, "Fantasista
Doll: Complete Collection" is recommended!
*** 1/2

VALVRAVE THE LIBERATOR: COMPLETE 1ST SEASON

AVAILABLE: Now I MEDIA: DVD I COMPANY: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment I 282 Minutes I Not Rated

The Year 71 and 70% of humanity lives in space on a
"Dyson Sphere". The world is divided with the Dorrsia
Military Pact Federation and the Atlantic Rim United
States. But right in the middle is the JIOR that declares
neutrality between the two forces and has remained
peaceful.

Teenager Haruto Tokishima was a normal high school
student until the Dorssian Military begins to invade
JIOR. With friends in danger and the one person he
loves, possibly dead, Haruto goes inside a mysterious
humanoid weapon known as Valvrave.

But what has happened to Haruto's body since getting
into the Valvrave mecha?

A fascinating series that combines an exciting me-
cha storyline with almost a hint of what you would see
in a vampire series or film, "Valvrave the Liberator" is no
doubt a unique mecha series worth watching.

As expected from Aniplex, you get some swag with
collectible postcards and a deluxe poster illustrated by
character designer Katsura Hoshino.

An exciting anime series that
mecha fans will surely enjoy!

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 531

EVI EWS

MANGA REVIEWS

TERRA FORMARS VOL. 3

BY Yu Sasuga/Ken-lchi Tachibana I AVAILABLE: November 18, 2014 I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for older Teen

With a new mission is being set by U-NASA (20-years
after the disastrous BUGS-2 mission), this time, this lat-
est expedition is for the survival of humanity as a virus
has swept Earth and the only known antidote is in Mars.

New recruits have been selected and a powerful group
of officers that are part of Annex 1 are on their way to
Mars, but to the surprise of anyone onboard, the Terra-
formars have gotten aboard and now it's a fight for sur-
vival in the spacecraft traveling to Mars.

The third volume of "Terra Formars" is a shocker and
once again, Yu Sasuga has no problem killing as main pri-

mary characters off. Like the first volume, it all seems
doom and gloom from the start as the Terraformars
have invaded the spacecraft of Annex 1 and when the
crew does reach Mars, they realize that the enemies
they have fought, also have gain intelligence and a new
brand of fighting back. Which does not sound good for
humanity, at all!

"Terra Formars" is an exciting, violent but addictive
series that I am looking forward to! Volume 3 of "Terra
Formars" is recommended!

YU-GI-OH! 5DS VOL. 6

BY Masahiro Hikokubo and Masashi Sato I AVAILABLE: Now I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for TEEN

With Akiza Izinski having lost duel, Goodwin ap-
proaches Akiza to have a chance to bring out the per-
son that she was in a previous life, the Duel Priestess
and in order for Goodwin to awaken the tremendous
power of the Ultimate God, the Duel Priestess must
lose. But with the Duel Priestess also regaining her
memories of what Goodwin tried to do to her thou-
sands of years ago, she is going to makes sure she
fights for victory against Sect.

Meanwhile, Jack challenges his father, Goodwin, in a
battle of who will be king.

With vol. 6 of "Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's", we suddenly get to see
more revelations about the evil Rex Goodwin and also his
relation to the Skeletal Knight.

But this volume marks the major battles that go on be-
tween the Duel Priestess vs. Sect, Crow Hogan vs. Lazar,
Jack Atlas vs. Rex Goodwin. So, in essence, you are get-
ting three major battles in this volume alone!

"Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's" is definitely continuing to be an ex-
citing, action-packed manga series and focuses on three
major battles as the final players are now getting closer to
the final round.

TIME KILLERS: KAZUE KATO SHORT STORY COLLECTION

BYKazueKato I AVAILABLE: September 2, 2014 I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for older Teen

Like many manga artists, "Ao no Exorcist" (Blue Ex-
orcist) manga artist Kazue Kato started off creating their
own creations in hopes their short stories would eventu-
ally give them their big break with a publisher.

With the release of "Time Killers: Kazue Kato Short
Story Collection", the collection features a plethora of
stories created by Kazue Kato and a few short stories
that make you feel that they should have received a se-
ries.

For "The Rabbit and Me", the story revolves around
a young assassin named Shuri Todo, who is sent to kill a

corrupt doctor. Meanwhile at school, a boy named Taira
Futamura, a good-natured boy is insistent of becoming
friends with Shuri and hoping he can change the bad
boy and make him good. But what happens when Shuri
finds out that the doctor he is planning to kill, is the
father of Taira.

Also, featured is "The Miyama-Ugulsu Mansion Inci-
dent" which readers will read an earlier work connect-
ed to "Blue Exorcist".

A wonderful collection of short stories but also col-
lected works from mangaka, Kazue Kato!

07-GH0STV0L.13

BYYuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara I AVAILABLE: November 1 1, 2014 I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for older Teen

Teito Klein has been taken back by the military,
brainwashed and not remembering anything about
his time when he escaped the Academy and tried to
learn more about his past with the help of Frau.

As the military continue to play with Teito's mind
and act as if nothing has changed, Teito finds out
that his best friend Mikage has died and now he is
being invited to his funeral. Teito doesn't under-
stand how his friend has died and while Hakuren
Oak tries to help bring back his memories, Teito is

too brainwashed that his recent memories are gone.

Meanwhile, Frau plans his attempt to save Teito
but weaken and injured, can he do it?

A deeper storyline which has some action but
focuses more on the storyline and to document Teito
who is unaware of what is happening around him but
feels that something isn't right. But who can jog his
memory?

If you are looking for an exciting action adventure
manga series, "07-Ghost" is recommended!

532 JI-ENT I j-entonline.com

NOVEMBER 2014

MANGA REVIEWS

WBt

luninu VUL. Z4

BY Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro I AVAILABLE: Now I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for TEEN

Toriko and the Four Kings have defeated the giant
monster known as the Four Beasts and saving humanity
but also thanks to Komatsu creating Medicinal Mochi as
an antidote. And now the chef in training, Komatsu has
increased in rankings at #88 on the World Chef Rank-
ing and having the right to participate in the grandest
cooking competition in the world, the Cooking Fest.

Will Komatsu be ready to take on the world's great-
est chef's in hopes to achieve the title "Super Cook"?

What I enjoy about this volume is how Mitsutoshi
Shimabukuro is able to utilize Komatsu (many readers

have no doubt, wanted to see Komatsu propelled in
his career as a chef thanks to his risky adventures with
Toriko) and we get to see him in competition with 99
other world class chefs. And as everyone looks at
Komatsu and looks at him as a normal guy who is no
threat, those who are ranked high see his potential due
to his skills and quick thinking.

This 24th volume also features a special interview
between "Toriko" creator Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro and
"Naruto" creator Masashi Kishimoto.

Another entertaining volume of "Toriko"!

LBX: Little Battlers experience Vol. 2 - Artemis Begins

BY Hideaki Fujii I AVAILABLE: NOW I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: A for ALL AGES

In order to save his father, Van must take part in the
LBX World Tournament and with the help of his two
friends Kaz Walker and Amy Cohen, the three must take
on other competitors in the popular robot tournament.
But also taking part in the tournament is the tough
Justin Kaido, a genius LBX player and the grandson of
politician Cilian Kaido.

Will Van learn the techniques in time to take on the
toughest LBX battlers in the country?

With the first volume focusing on introductions of
characters, the second volume focuses on battles. As
Van and friends will do whatever it takes to win the

tournament. But what happens when Van comes across
his rival, Justin Kaido. Will they have to fight against each
other?

The storyline incorporates some of the adventure ele-
ments that you would normally read from adventure series
such as "Pokemon" but instead of one young lad trying to
be the best trainer, Van wants to be the best at controlling
his LBX and take on the best LBX fighters out there. And
despite having a powerful LBX, it's going to take a lot of
skill and learning to prepare for battle.

For those who want a non-complex mecha storyline, then
LBX: Little Battlers experience" is for you!

WORLD TRIGGER VOL 2

BY Daisuke Ashihara I AVAILABLE: NOW I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for Teen

Osamu Mikumo has survived big battles
thanks to Yuma Kuga, a mysterious boy who
happens to be a Neighbor, the very thing that
humanity is fighting against.

But what happens when Osamu reunites with
the S-Ranked Border Agent, Yuichi Jin, the man
who was responsible for saving his life?

I really enjoyed "World Trigger" and Daisuke
Ashihara has managed to create a manga series
that is exciting, action-packed and hilarious!

Because Yuma has now become a major part of
Osamu's life and is dedicate to protecting him, it
makes it a bit difficult for these two men to work
together, knowing that more and more Neighbors
are popping up within the vicinity and also Border
agents are trailing them.

But this is a story that will no doubt set the
stage for an exciting vol. 3!

WHAT DID YOU EAT YESTERDAYP VOL. 5

BY Fumi Yoshinaga I AVAILABLE: NOW I COMPANY: VERTICAL INC. I RATING: T for Teen

Shiro is an accomplished home chef and a
gay man who lives with his boyfriend. But what
happens when he is introduced to Mr. Kohinata,
a gay man with a boyfriend?

A fascinating slice-of-life manga series, what
is quite intriguing about "Fumi Yoshinaga's
"What Did You Eat Yesterday?" is the fact that
many of the pages features Shiro cook a dish
and using manga to show how he cooks a dish,
so in some ways, you feel like wanting to cook
and try the dishes that Shiro is cooking.

But it's a manga that is tastefully done. It's
about one's love for cooking but also the persona
life of Shiro and his boyfriend Kenji and for this
issue alone, what happens when he meets another
gay man named Mr. Kohinata. And Shiro starts to
worry about what if Kenji finds out?

Also, what happens when both Shiro and Kenji
discuss getting a ring together? And the awkward-
ness they feel of doing so.

An entertaining manga series about cooking and
relationships! Recommended!

what did \^ou
eat yesterday?

lunii \ :!M.. i ."I

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com

JI-ENT 533

REVIEWS

MANGA REVIEWS

NARUTO VOL. 67

BY Masashi Kishimoto I AVAILABLE: Now I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for TEEN

The fight against Obito begins as Obito combines
with Ten Tails and now has superior offense and de-
fense.

With the Ninja clans weakened and the great Sage of
Six Paths under Obito's control, Naruto and his father
must come up with a plan to fight against him. But can
they do it?

With volume 67, this is an all-out battle against Obito
who has literally become Ten Tails and has managed to
take control of the Sage of Six Paths.

He has become beyond powerful with no weakness
in offense or defense. But the Allied Shinobi Force can

not give up and Naruto and his father along with Sasuke must
find a way to take him on an expose a weakness.

Once again, the storyline of this Great Ninja War seems dire
as last volume, we thought that the Allied Shinobi Force was
on top of things but now Obito has the upperhand and it's not
looking good as he has a move that can literally suck all the
chakra out of a ninja and instantly kill them.

For longtime readers of "Naruto", volume 67 continues
this great battle between the ninjas vs. Obito and if you have
followed the series for this long, "Naruto" Volume 67 is highly
recommended!

SERAPH OF THE END - VAMPIRE REIGN VOL 2

BY Takaya Kagami/Yamato Yamato I AVAILABLE: NOW I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for older Teen

With the death of his friends, massacred by vampires,
Yuichiro has one goal and that is to get revenge on all
vampires and destroy them. But first, he needs power.

In order for Yuichiro to earn his place in the Japanese
Imperial Demon Army, he must make friendships and do
well in school.

But unfortunately, he meets a hothead like himself
who also likes to fight named Kimizuki. And both of them
need to make it into the army. ..but will they ever get
along?

The storyline by Takaya Kagami is enjoyable, humorous

and it has its dark, violent moments that easily drives
up the ratings to "Older Teen" but for the most part,
it's not a horror manga series, nor is it too dark that it's
twisted or scary partly because of the comedy due to
its hardheaded protagonist.

The artwork by Yamato Yamamoto is well-done and
characters are very expressive.

Overall, "Seraph of the End - Vampire Reign" is en-
tertaining, humorous and so much fun! I look forward
to volume 3!

SUNNY VOL. 4

Sunny

BY Taiyo Matsumoto I AVAILABLE: Now I COMPANY: VIZ MEDIA I RATING: T for TEEN

For the orphans of the Star Kids Home, the children
who dream about having a family after being aban-
doned by their own parents or lost their parents, can
only hope that life will become much happier. But for
now, all they have is each other.

In volume 4 of "Sunny", Haruo starts becoming de-
fiant by shoplifting and what happens when his father
comes to visit him?

Meanwhile, for teenager Asako, her mother returns
to tell her that she is divorcing her father. How will
Asako take it?

As for Sei Yamashita, is he dating the intelligent girl

in his class, Kumi Takahara?

And as for Elizabeth, her mother is marrying a man and
plans to take her out of the orphanage. For Elizabeth, the
opportunity to say good by to Star Kids Home has been
a dream but it now becomes reality. But will life be much
better?

"Sunny" is an innocent, real slice-of-life manga series
about children at an orphanage and the experiences (happy
and sad) that each have to deal with in their young lives.
You don't really find these type of manga in the U.S.... So,
for anyone wanting some real, different or unique, then I
definitely recommend Taiyo Matsuoto's "Sunny".

USA

ATTACK ON TITAN: BEFORE THE FALL

By Ryo Suzukake and Art by Thores Shibamoto I AVAILABLE: Now I COMPANY: VERTICAL INC.

"Before the Fall" takes place when only less than
500,000 humans were left after being decimated by the
mysterious behemoths known as Titans. To protect
what was left of humanity, three walls... Wall Maria, Wall
Rose and Wall Sheena were created in hopes that it
would be enough to keep the Titans away.

But in the Shiganshina District, working in Wall Ma-
ria is craftsmen Angel Aaltonen, a craftsman who along
with his assistant Corina llmari and his close friends
Solm, Maria and alchemist Xenophon are enjoying the
peace behind the walls that protect them from danger.
But one day, Angel's life would change as the Titans

would enter the city and nearly destroy everything in its path.

For Angel, he knows he has to craft something to give
humanity a chance and through many adventures he will dis-
cover the materials that will no doubt give humanity a fighting
chance!

For any fan of "ATTACK ON TITAN", this book goes into
how the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment was discovered and
how it was made. But also how the weakness of the Titans
were discovered.

A fascinating book for anyone who is enjoying the "ATTACK
ON TITAN" series!

KUYAPROTECTION.COM

/// UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

JI-ENT 2014 ANNUAL

upcoming conventions

CONVENTION

DATES

VENUE

LOCATION

Anime Blast Chattanooga

November 7-9, 2014

Chattanooga Convention Center

Chattanooga, TN

FANdom Con

November 7-9, 2014

Emerald Coast Convention Center

Fort Walton Beach, FL

Nekocon

November 7-9, 2014

Hampton Roads Convention Center

Hampton, VA

Pacific Media Expo

November 7-9 # 2014

Hilton Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles, CA

Haberkon

November 14-15, 2014

Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco/Hotel, Convention Center & Spa Frisco, TX

Lucky Con

November 14-15, 2014

The Priory Centre

Lincoln, UK

NerdaCon

November 14-15, 2014

Columbus State University, Davidson Student Center

Columbus, GA

Animate! Miami

November 14-16, 2014

Miami Airport Convention Center

Miami, FL

Anime North Texas

November 14-16, 2014

Radisson Hotel Fort Worth North - Fossil Creek

Forth Worth, TX

Auchinawa

November 14-16, 2014

Glasgow Marriott Hotel

Glasgow, UK

Bakuretsu Con

November 14-16, 2014

Hampton Inn Burlington

Colchester, VT

Nakamacon

November 14-16, 2014

Beachside Resort Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach, FL

Hamacon Minicon

November 15, 2014

Von Braun Center

Huntsville, AL

Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show

November 15-16, 2014

Paris Porte de Versailles

Paris, France

Chibi-Pa

November 21-23, 2014

Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port Hotel

Dania, FL

Daisho Con

November 21-23, 2014

Kalahari Resorts : Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells, Wl

Eirtakon

November 21-23, 2014

Croke Park Conference Centre

Dublin, Ireland

Supanova Pop Culture Expo -

AdelaideNovember 21-23, 2014 Adelaide Showground

Adelaide, SA Australia

Animaine

November 21-24, 2014

Best Western Merry Manor Inn

South Portland, ME

Epic ACG Fest

November 22-23, 2014

Albany Community Center

Albany, CA

MCM Birmingham Comic Con

November 22-23, 2014

The NEC Birmingham

Birmingham, UK

Supanova Pop Culture Expo -

Brisbane November 28-30, 2014 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Brisbane, QLD Australia

Atlanta Anime Day

November 29, 2014

Wyndham Atlanta Galleria

Atlanta, GA

Otafest Aurora

November 29, 2014

SAIT Polytechnic

Calgary, Alberta

Sangawa Project

December 5-7, 2014

Pittsburgh, PA

Sukoshi Con Prime

December 5-7, 2014

Holiday Inn Birmingham-Airport

Birmingham, AL

Yama-Con

December 5-7, 2014

LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge, TN

Animara Con

December 6-7, 2014

Cegep de Sherbrooke

Sherbrooke, Quebec

Aniwave

December 7, 2014

Wilmington Convention Center

Wilmington, NC

Holiday Matsuri

December 12-14, 2014

Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel & Convention Center

Orlando, FL

Sac-Con

December 14, 2014

Scottish Rite Center

Sacramento, CA

Con+Alt+ Delete

December 19-21, 2014

Hyatt Regency O'Hare

Rosemont, IL

Anime Apocalypse

December 26-28, 2014

Best Western Clock Tower Resort Regency O'Hare

Rockford, IL

Ichibancon

January 1-4, 2015

Embassy Suites Concord

Concord, NC

Anime Kaiju

January 2-4, 2015

Millenium Maxwell House Nashville

Nashville, TN

Anime-Zap!

January 2-4, 2015 Embassy Suites East Peoria - Hotel & Riverfront Conference Center

East Peoria, IL

Ikkicon

January 2-4, 2015

Hilton Austin

Austin, TX

Kollision Con

January 2-4, 2015

Hyatt Regency O'Hare

Rosemont, IL

Sac-Anime

January 2-4, 2015

Sacramento Convention Center

Sacramento, CA

Sukoshi Con: Ft. Walton Beach January 3, 2015

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort at Destin West

Ft. Walton Beach, FL

KotoriCon

January 9-10, 2015

Rowan College at Gloucester County

Sewell, NJ

AhnlCon

January 9-11, 2015

Ramada Conference Center Kansas City

Kansas City, MO

Anime Los Angeles

January 9-11, 2015

Los Angeles Airport Marriott

Los Angeles, CA

Sukoshi Con: Pokecon

January 9-11, 2015

Crowne Plaza Airport Expo Center

Louisville, KY

Digi-Con

January 11-12, 2015

Doncaster Racecourse

Doncaster, UK

Akumakon

January 16-18, 2015

National University of Ireland

Galway, Ireland

Taiyou Con

January 16-18, 2015

Mesa Convention Center

Mesa, AZ

Arisia

January 16-19, 2015

Westin Boston Waterfront

Boston, MA

G-Anime

January 23-25, 2015

Palais des congres de Gatineau

Gatineau, Quebec

Bak-Anime

January 24-25, 2015

Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center

Bakersfield, CA

Setsucon

January 24-25, 2015

Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel

State College, PA

Ohayocon

January 30 - February 1, 2015 Greater Columbus Convention Center

Columbus, OH

FrostCon

January 31, 2015

Chestnut Residence and Conference Centre

Toronto, Ontario

AOD

January 31 - February 1, 2015 Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport

Burlingame, CA

NOVEMBER 2014

j-entonline.com I JI-ENT 537

* Get Affordable Web Hosting!
htt p ://GoandVi ew.com/myhost

FREE VIDEO
How to Generate Mor

Income Without
Picking Up the Phonel

■

rn More Online:

ttp://GoandView.com/moreincome

ENTERTAINMENT WORLDWIDE

j-entonline.com

Imaizumi brings all the gyarus to his house 4

See other formats

Related Posts

Advertising

LATEST NEWS

What is a good withholding tax percentage

Can i view a house without a realtor

What is the ticket for driving without a license

Best wireless keyboard and mouse combo 2022

How to cook a 25 lb turkey

How to move ira to another bank

2022 honda civic sport coupe for sale

How to track my daughters iphone from my android

H and r block estimate tax return

How much oil does a club car golf cart take

Advertising

Populer

Advertising

About

Legal

Help

Social