Sugar Sentiments

Review: Zettai Kareshi

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:50:15 +0800

While the futuristic robot-rabu is not new in anime and manga culture (think of Chii from Chobits), the idea of a perfect humanoid boyfriend is. With most humanoid robots being "created" to satisfy the fetishes and ronery-ness of Japanese men (and non-Japanese men as well), isn't it interesting if there's something about a male robot lover for the ronery women as well?

Interesting is exactly the word for it, and it comes in the form of a shoujo manga turned live-action drama called Zettai Kareshi, or Absolute Boyfriend.

Zettai Kareshi is the brainchild of shoujo manga extraordinaire, Yuu Watase, although the live-action version is a bit different and tailored to be more fitting for a drama series. Both the manga and the drama center on broken-hearted, no-boyfriend-since-birth Riiko Izawa, and eventually pan on her love triangle with Tenjo Night (the "completely perfect robot lover"), and Asamoto Soushi (her childhood friend in the manga, and her womanizing boss in the live-action drama).

The drama starts with what seems to be a budding romance between Riiko (Saki Aibu) and her senior co-worker, Ishizeki Hayato. However, it turns out to be a heartbreak, since he only thinks of Riiko as a serious junior co-worker. Riiko talks about it with friend and colleague Ito Mika (Ueno Natsuhi) in a bar they frequent.

Meanwhile, seated near Riiko is Gaku Namikiri (Sasaki Kuranosuke), a scientist/inventor/developer for a robot manufacturer called Kronos Heaven. He overhears Riiko's story of rejection, and makes a deal with her. He offers Riiko the chance to change her life and meet her perfect man, free of charge. All she has to do is answer some questions about her preferences for her ideal boyfriend.

It turns out that Namikiri found Riiko the right woman to test Knightly Series Type 01 (Hayami Mokomichi), Kronos Heaven's first perfect developmental product: a humanoid male lover programmed to be solely loyal and devoted to his girlfriend.

A few days after she signed the contract, Riiko receives a large and unusual package, with Type 01 inside. Urged by Namikiri, reluctant Riiko opens it, boots Type 01 with a kiss, and leaves for work when 01 didn't move/switch on right away. When she got home that night, Riiko freaks out to see 01 up and running. And so their crazy, rollercoaster love story, (and eventually, the love triangle, when Asamoto Soushi (Mizushima Hiro) falls in love with Riiko) begins.

I read the manga a few weeks after watching the drama, and yes, it is a lot different from the TV series, apart from the plot. Here in the drama, we see a more mature but insensitive (towards Night) officegirl Riiko instead of a giddy highschooler who bears the "queen of unrequited love" title. Night/01 is a bit more hyper and perverted in the manga, yet in the drama, he's more like an adorable child-like boyfriend that grows on you. The drama's womanizing Soushi is hot and appealing in his own way, but the manga's stern, four-eyed older brother version of him really won my heart.

The plot appears simple at first, but as the story progresses, we are made to see the irony behind the perfect lover. Night seems to be the answer to "NBSB" Riiko's prayers for a perfect boyfriend, but she doesn't respond the way Namikiri and Night himself expected it. Nevertheless, since Night comes with artificial intelligence that gives him the capability to "think" and "make decisions," he soon realizes by himself that he needs to come up with something to please his girlfriend. How did he deal with it? By learning what Riiko really needs and wants, way beyond the capacity of his system.

Even a seemingly perfect story has something predictable to it, and with Zettai Kareshi, it's the fact that Night is a robot and his "life" is bound to end sooner than expected. Anybody who has watched it will probably say they saw it coming. As an "appliance," he requires constant repairs, and when he begins to develop his own personality and human-like emotions towards Riiko, his system prevents Namikiri from tampering with the software. Because of this, Namikiri couldn't make important updates during a critical time in the story, and his system eventually overloads and breaks down.

Through out the series, it's interesting to note that most (if not all) of the characters learn something important about love and relationships: Soushi learns how to truly fall in love; Namikiri learns that love and emotions are not things to play with; Riiko learns that true love and the right person comes when you least expect it; and Night learns that being "perfect" doesn't mean you can truly please and be genuinely loved by someone. Overall, Zettai Kareshi is a refreshing J-Drama that gets you on a roller-coaster ride: it pulls hard on the heartstrings at one point, then sends you laughing and feeling giddy like a highschooler in love.

Rating: 8/10

2050

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:08:08 +0800

Hyde-sama, I'll still love you even if you're already a snoring grandpa by 2050. LMAO.

I'm not sure about the dialogue, but it's pretty easy to guess from the clues that the snoring grandpa is Hyde, in 2050. Look at the hair and necklace! XD

Here's roughly what they're saying (I got it from the vid's comments, and some parts could be wrong though):

"ahhh so nostalgic..
Arc!
i had it but i lost it during the war..."
"what are you talking about?"
"larcenciel"
"a CD from 50 years ago"
"51 years."
"larluku...? oh.. there was something like that i think... hatchiru-san do you remember?"
SNOREEE
"how can he not know? he was 20 then!"

Oops.

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:10:38 +0800

Oh my. I'd have to apologize to my affies and readers/visitors for not posting for so long, yet again. A lot of things happened since my last post, and I'm still hanging on to the updates and reviews that I was supposed to make.

While these aren't exactly the updates I've been planning to post, here are some of my musings and all about the stuff that has been keeping me "busy":

a. Mom.

One of the primary reasons why I haven't been able to do much on the Intarwebs (including blogging) is, I had to take care of my mom. She had a serious bout of skin allergy and asthma late this August, and she was hospitalized for five days because of it. About a week later, she was back in the hospital again, because of her asthma, cough (with phlegm tinged with blood), and pain in her upper chest. It turned out that she had pneumonia. Two days ago, the doctor told her that she was diabetic, (and had been since 3 months ago), which is why her pneumonia was that bad. We're still not sure though if she's really officially diabetic, since the doctors also told her that her steroid/asthma medicines could be causing the shooting up of her blood sugar. Her blood sugar levels are still being monitored, and she has been getting regular insulin shots.

So, no more of the sweet stuff for her. Only half-cup of rice per meal, more protein, and one serving of food a day. No cakes, ice cream, pastries, and cola (even if it says "No Sugar"). When the doctor was telling her what to eat and what to avoid, I couldn't help but let out an audible "ouch." Before he left, the doctor noticed me munching on some cinnamon bread sticks (which are uber yummy OMG), and said, "How old are you? Maybe you should start monitoring your blood sugar levels as well."

Okay, sure. I mean, at least I'll lose weight if I start cutting down on sweets. However, shove these cute Puccho cupcakes (pictured) in front of me, and I will eat it with gusto, without thinking twice. I can hardly resist sweets and pastries, especially if it's anything that cute!

b. Artsy Fartsy.

As soon as I'm done with work (which is a little before lunch time), I look for artsy tutorials, tips, and photos on Etsy, Flickr, and many other arts and craft sites. I'm getting excited about buying pretty fabrics, different colors of felt and fleece, laces, ribbons, and buttons. Jennie and I have been planning to shop for these supplies and sew our own fabric wallets, wristlets, and plushies! Hopefully she'll be here in Manila soon, and we can do our shopping before September ends.

c. Soon to Open!

Speaking of arts and crafts, Jennie and I are planning to open our Kawaii shop, hopefully late September or early October. We'll be selling stationary items and handmade goodies, like felt stuff (pictured), headdresses, phone charms, bag charms, wristlets, wallets, and maybe even shirts. We're slowly but steadily getting things ready, and we're hoping we can buy some materials soon! I'd have to thank Jennie for allowing me to run a shop with her. Jennie, if you're reading this, I'm sure you're as excited as I am!

So bye-bye for now.. Hopefully I'll have more time to write more "engaging" posts in the near future. I've decided to keep a list of topics to blog about, and I'm hoping they would make things easier for me. I have so many scattered thoughts that need to be organized. T__T

First two photos taken from Naomi and Melanie.

After a month...

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:57:45 +0800

Finally, after nearly a month, another post. I've been both busy and lazy lately, falling asleep as soon as I get home from work. I don't know why, I'm not exactly stressed from work, but most of the time I feel so tired.

However, more importantly, I was "busy" watching Tak Sakaguchi's films, looking for more J-Drama and movie titles to watch, and finishing my Zettai Kareshi review. I'm finally done with the ZK review (which I'll be posting soon, I realized I still have to do a few edits), and next on my list are Linda Linda Linda, Sakigake! Otokojuku (Be a Man! Samurai School), and Pacchigi.

Okay, I admit, there are a lot more things that have been keeping me really busy:

a. Manga.
I just finished reading Zettai Kareshi/Absolute Boyfriend's manga version, and I'm currently reading Wallflower/Perfect Girl Evolution.

b. PSP.
I'm re-playing (?) my old Playstation favorites, like Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy VII on my PSP. Not to mention my PSP favorites as well, such as Patapon and Taiko no Tatsujin. I keep postponing playing Silent Hill Origins though.

c. Poupee Girl.
Enough said. LOL.

d. Crafts.
I've been trying to crochet a nice hot pink and green phone pouch for Sephy's mom, but it looks like I my crocheting has gone rusty and I need more practice. T_T I've also decided to try sewing a nice fabric wallet and wristlet. There are also some pending amigurumi projects. Gaah.

e. Catching up on my reading.
I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Yes, pretty late, because I wanted to read "in peace". And I couldn't borrow a copy from any of my friends back then (of course they were reading it LOL). I decided long ago to buy all HP books in hardbound once they're all out, and re-read them all over again, that's why I don't have a single HP book on my bookshelf.

f. I've been thinking a lot.
About some random stuff, like a new layout for my site, new pixels for the Sweet Shop, and how to rearrange my room.

And now, for the FRIDAY FIVE stuff I missed:

August 8, 2008

1. Smells, and memories. Do you have a scent that when you smell it, brings up a memory? Do share.
- No, as of the moment, I can't think of anything.

2. Songs. Is there a particular song that brings back happy memories? Song title and memory, if you care to share that much.
- Spice Girls songs. They remind me of my best friends since we were in 5th grade. We used to sing and dance to Spice Girls songs, and pretty much collect every SG collectible we could find.

3. How about a song that brings up painful memories? Song title and memory, if you care to share that much.
- I don't think I remember anything about this anymore. LOL.

4. Food. Is there a certain food that conjures up memories?
- Zagu's Creme Brulee. Reminds me of college days and Sephy.

5. Clothing? Do you have an item of clothing or if you see a certain item, does it make you think of a time/place or person?
- No.

August 1

1. Name one movie you wish everybody could watch.
- City of Angels.

2. Name two books you wish everybody could read.
- The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada, and Ring by Koji Suzuki.

3. Name three goals you wish everybody could achieve.
- Finish school, follow dreams, get the dream job.

4. Name four people you wish everybody could know.
- L'Arc~en~Ciel. That's Hyde, Tetsu, Ken, and Yukihiro. ^______^

5. Name five places you wish everybody could visit.
- The Pyramids of Giza, The Parthenon, Angkor Wat, The Louvre Museum, and Fountain of Trevi.

July 25

1. What type of hair do you have? (Thin, Normal, Thick, Frizzy, etc.)
- A bit thick and frizzy.

2. What color is your hair currently?
- Black.

3. What colors have you dyed/highlighted your hair?
- Haven't tried coloring my hair yet.

4. If you could dye your hair any color, what would it be?
- Brown, or violet, if I'm feeling a little bit edgy. LOL

5. What is your hair's length?
- Nearly waist-length, but it doesn't show since I tie my hair in a bun most of the time.

P.S. I "made" my avatar
on faceyourmanga.com.
Does it look like me? =p

Been really lazy again T___T

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:16:53 +0800

Last week, I was so thrilled to be at the Eiga Sai film fest with Sephy. I wasn't really feeling good back then, but it didn't keep me from enjoying Linda Linda Linda (my personal favorite!) and Pacchigi. Sephy particularly loved the brawly Pacchigi, especially because Tak Sakaguchi was there! I'm three films away from my 5-film target, and hopefully I'd get to complete them this August. I'd be watching at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where Mom is working.

Speaking of Tak Sakaguchi, Sephy and I have been on Tak-kun addiction--we've been watching a lot of Tak's movies! We especially enjoyed Death Trance and Sakigake!! Otokojuku (Be A Man! Samurai School). I still have Versus, Cromartie High School - The Movie (live action), and Shinobi: Heart Under Blade to watch.

Also, I have my copies of Nana 2 (live action), Kurosagi (live action movie), Samurai 7 (Akira Kurosawa movie), and Nobuta wo Produce! Looks like I have a lot to watch, and more movie/j-drama reviews to make. I've started writing one for Zettai Kareshi (which I watched the whole day last Sunday), and I'm planning to write short mini-reviews for the Eiga Sai '08 movies that I'll get to watch.

I've been too lazy again, and I keep forgetting about Friday Five. >_< Anyway, here they are:

JULY 17

1. If you could change one life-changing event in the life of someone important to you, would you?
- Hmmm. Maybe.

2. Which do you think is easier to do, being friends for many years, or being life partners for many years?
- Being friends for many years, definitely.

3. Have you ever walked away from someone you considered a friend?
- Yes, because she did it first.

4. If you had to choose between telling the truth and hurting a friend or lying and making them happy, which would you choose?
- Tell the truth.

5. Which would you rather hear--the truth which will hurt, or the comforting lie?
- Hear the truth, at all costs.

JULY 11

1. Do you have a favourite cause that you support?
-I'm against animal abuse, but I'm not really active in supporting it.

2. If so, how do you support it?
- NA

3. Have you been an active member of an organization (attending meetings, volunteering etc)?
- No, there's simply no time T__T

4. Have you ever led any group?
- I used to be the president of a writing guild in high school.

5. If so, how was your experience with it?
- It was memorable, but I hated how the kids back then disliked the challenge of writing, and were more interested in the boring, no-brainer stuff.

...and Eiga Sai 2008 finally begins.

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:35:09 +0800

FINALLY. THE AWFUL LONG WAIT IS OVER.

I've long waited for Eiga Sai 2008, and it has just started yesterday. It's a Japanese free-for-all Film Festival sponsored by Japan Foundation of Manila that lasts for about two months, in celebration of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month. The Foundation gives the Philippines the chance to watch some of the most interesting and critically-acclaimed films in Japan for free. Yep, that's what's gotten me so thrilled.

This year's roster of films (go here for synopses and reasons to love it):

1. Kuratta kajitsu (Juvenile Jungle)
2. K?ch? teien (Hanging Garden)
3. Kanaria (Canary)
4. Unmai janai hito (A Stranger of Mine)
5. Linda Linda Linda
6. Pachiggi! (We Will Overcome Someday)
7. Toki wo kakeru sh?jo (The Girl Who Lept Through Time) (Anime)
8. Chibi Maruko-chan (Anime)

I want to watch 5 (Canary, A Stranger of Mine, Linda Linda Linda, Pachiggi, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time), and I've convinced Sephy to go with me. We're planning to watch three films this Saturday.

Also, I finally finished watching Densha Otoko! I loved it. I'm hoping I won't be too busy/lazy this weekend so I can write a review. Next on my list are:

TV Series:
1. Akihabara @ Deep
2. Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend)
3. Sexy Voice and Robo
4. Hachimitsu to Clover
5. Nobuta o Produce
6. Kimi wa Petto
7. Ikebukuro West Gate Park

Movies:
8. Death Trance
9. Sakigake! Otokojuku (Be a Man! Samurai School)
10. Versus
11. Cromartie High School: The Movie
12. Shinobi: Heart Under Blade

Errr.. that's quite a lot. I'm crossing my fingers and I'm hoping I'll get to watch all of these!

Do you have some more J-Drama/Movies in mind that should make it to my list? I'd love to know about it!

Friday Five x 4

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:12:58 +0800

I've been sleepy a lot lately, and these past weeks I fall asleep easily as soon as I get home. I've been meaning to do some J-Movie/J-Drama reviews this weekend, but the past days were a bit busier than usual so I decided to rest. Those and more updates will follow soon, I hope!

BTW, I have Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil(by John Berendt) and the two REMOTE manga (I bought from the 2008 ToyCon) on my reading list. Also, I'm nearly finished watching Densha Otoko, and hopefully I'd get on with the rest of the stuff on my to-watch list: Akihabara@Deep, Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend), Sexy Voice and Robo, Kimi wa Petto, Hachimitsu to Clover (Live Action), and Nobuta o Produce. Just to name a few. Hopefully, I'd shake laziness off my shoulders, resist sleeping right away once I get home from work, and get started with all of these soon!

So for now, here are some Friday Five stuff:

July 4

1. What drink wakes you up best in the morning?
- Coffee, of course.

2. During the day, what do you drink to keep going?
- More coffee, mango juice or iced tea

3. Do you drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day? Why/why not?
- I think so. No particular reason, I guess.

4. What are the ingredients of your favorite mixed drink? (Doesn't have to be alcoholic!)
- Strawberry Daiquri and Sprite, Apple Juice/Cranberry Juice and Iced Tea

5. Are you a coffee drinker? How do you take your coffee, if so?
- Yup yup! I like it hot and a bit strong. And I very much like it when it's Hazelnut flavor (from Nescafe~).

June 27

1. You have the summer and plenty of money to travel abroad. Where all would you go?
- JAPAN, Korea, France, Greece.

2. What foods would you be sure you got to eat?
- Lots of Sushi.

3. What landmarks would you be sure you got to see?
- Temples, ruins, shopping districts, historical places.

4. What airline would you use?
- Any would do, as long as it would take me where I plan to be.

5. Would your knowledge of other languages influence where you went? (i.e. would you be more likely to go to France if you spoke French)
- Hmmm... not really.

June 20

1) what is one thing about you that you hate?
- MY HAIR.

2) what is one thing about you that you love?
- Hmmm...

3) if you had to change one thing about you what would it be and why?
- My hair, because it annoys me too much.

4) what is one word that you would use to define yourself?
- Different, I guess.

5) imagine what you would look like in a perfect world...what do you look like?
- Rich, talented, beautiful. ROFL.

June 12

1. Did you get an allowance as a kid, and if so, how much was it?
- Yes, about Php. 50 - 100 (like $1-2; but it was sort of more than enough for me. Everything was cheap back then! LOL that makes me seem so old!)

2. How old were you when you had your first job, and what was it?
- I was 21. I worked as a web content writer.

3. Which do you do better: save money or spend money?
- I do best at saving money that I intend to spend soon! (Like saving for a shopping spree LOL)

4. Are people more likely to borrow money from you, or are you more likely to borrow from them?
- A bit of both, but most of the time, I avoid borrowing money from other people.

5. What's the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
- An air-conditioning unit for my room.

F*ck, I want some legs...

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:54:03 +0800

...for my Pinky dolls. Not that they're crippled or something, I just found some hot legs that would fit nicely on Pinky dolls.

The obsession began while I was checking the Kalye Pinky flickr group yesterday, and saw the post Nina made about some gorgeous legs (and nice shoes too) for Pinky dolls.

They're called Kokoro legs, and they feature legs that let Pinky dolls sport some Crocs! I'm not a big fan of Crocs (the usual designs you can find, but I like the more recent designs) on people, but I think they look pretty nice on Pinky dolls! I'm sooooo drooling over all these:

Standing Kokoro Legs:

Sitting Kokoro Legs:

Kokoro Skirts that match the sitting legs:

Both the sitting and standing legs sell for $2 unpainted, $5 painted. The skirts, I'm not sure yet. Visit Kokoro Shoe Shop for more pictures and details!

Nina is asking if anyone wants to group order, and I'm seriously and carefully contemplating whether I should join them. I really, seriously, deliriously want these f*cking delicious legs. Sorry for the f*ck. LMAO.

ToyCon 2008!

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:22:48 +0800

Last June 14 and 15, Sephy and I went to the 7th Philippine Toys, Hobbies, and Collectibles Convention held at Megamall. Better known as ToyCon, it is an annual event where all collectors and hobbyists gather around to celebrate their passion for, well... toys and collectibles!

In a nutshell, you can find Marvel comics, anime, manga, exhibits, and toy figures in ToyCon. Cosplay is also a part of the event, and many anime fans take part and enjoy themselves in the said segment. Toy collectors also anticipate the event since they can buy new toys to replenish their growing collection.

Okay, enough of the crappy intro. LOL.

JUNE 14

Anyway, Sephy and I went there early on Saturday, and the line to the ticket booth was already super long at 10 a.m. (around the time the mall opens). We got inside the Megatrade Hall after an hour, I think. It was worth the wait though. We were also with Kezzy, who we met about an hour after we got inside.

Our first stop was a shop selling cute paperweights and slabs, where we also found some minature food erasers. Sephy and I thought they'd make good props for my Pinky dolls and his Yotsuba, so we bought some. My next stop was a booth selling cute plush toys and keychains, where I bought a panda keychain coin purse and a Frog Style plushie. Next, we went to the Sanrio booth, where I bought a nice Hello Kitty hotdog tako pen and Hello Kitty in kimono odoriko phone charm (which matches the Hello Kitty earrings I bought last year).

Around 1 p.m., Kezzy had to meet her boyfriend so Sephy and I decided to have lunch. We had Tonkatsu Curry at Rai Rai Ken. Yummy, it became my instant favorite (I used to like Ebi Curry only.)!

I was hoping to find some Pinky dolls, but unfortunately, Kalye Pinky wasn't able to get a booth. KP is the only sure way for me to find Pinky dolls, but since there was no booth, I decided to look around. I couldn't find any. T___T So I just went along with Sephy and Lez (one of our best buddies and manga guru LOL) as they checked each booth and looked around for some model kits and figures.

Although my Pinky mission failed (LOL), I found a lot of goodies though. And in place of a Pinky, I bought 2 Peto-Peto San figures. I've been wanting to buy them since I first heard that they resemble Pinky dolls, and their heads actually fit nicely on Pinkies.

The highlight of the day for me and Sephy would probably be running into the famed Hard Gay cosplayer, Hard Gay Philippines! He has caught the attention of many cosplayers and HG fans since he began cosplaying the Japanese comedian, and now has a fairly large fanbase. Sephy and I are smitten. LOL. Sephy brought out the HG Stitch we bought at Multiply last week, to the surprise of everyone! HGP even wanted to buy it from Sephy! Sephy had his 'moment' with HG Stitch and Hard Gay Philippines caught on cam, and I wasn't the only one who took a snapshot!

JUNE 15

I had second thoughts about going there the next day, but Veronica, one of my best buddies at my previous work, said she was going, so I decided to go and meet her there. Before meeting her, I went back to a booth selling kawaii stuffed toys and plushies. I found a purple Afroken and a dancing Korilakkuma (battery-operated). I couldn't resist, so I bought them both. LOL.

Sephy and Lez were there too, and after spending some time with Veronica, I went with them and two more friends, Leo and Benjo. Later we had our pictures taken for free in one of the booths (argh, will post them later), and they turned out nicely!

Later in the afternoon I spotted some limited edition Pinky dolls! There was also an accessory set of guns for Pinky dolls. Too bad I didn't have enough money to buy at least one doll. Since they're limited ed, they're priced higher and my wallet started yapping that I couldn't afford them. Not yet. LOL.

Before we went home, Lez and I checked some manga being sold for Php. 100 - 300. He spotted Volume 1 and 2 of Remote, priced Php. 150 each, and handed it over to me. That was pretty cheap for a good manga, so I couldn't resist.

So with all that, I ended up broke. But happy!

We took a lot of pictures, and I guess showing them would be better than anything I would manage to write here. So, here they are!

www.flickr.com

READ SEPHY'S POST HERE AND VIEW PICTURES HE TOOK HERE!

P.S.
I know this is quite crappy,
but hopefully I'll be able to
edit it one of these days.
x___x

At least 7 killed in Akihabara stabbing spree

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:42:51 +0800

Early this afternoon, while I was watching CNN with my parents, the breaking news around 2 p.m. shocked me.

A 25-year-old Japanese man ran over a group of Sunday shoppers with a rented 2-ton truck then went on a stabbing spree in Akihabara around 12:30 p.m. Japan time. On the latest update posted in CNN's website, at least 7 victims--five men, a woman, and a victim of unknown gender--were killed in the incident. There were also eleven injured, two being in critical condition. In a Yahoo! News report, the suspect, identified as Tomohiro Kato, said he "was tired of life" and came to Tokyo's video game district to kill people.

Just several months ago, a similar incident occurred in Ibaraki Prefecture, wherein a 24-year-old man went on a stabbing spree outside a shopping center. According to a Japan Times report dated March 24, 2008, Ibaraki Prefectural Police arrested Masahiro Kanagawa near the crime scene shortly after he attacked eight people (one killed, seven injured). The police also said that Kanagawa was placed on the wanted list two days before the stabbing spree, on the suspicion that he was behind the murder of a 72-year-old man. Reports also mentioned that Kanagawa went to Akihabara on the day he was put on the wanted list by the police. Coincidentally, the stabbing incident also occurred on a Sunday.

For reports about the Akihabara stabbing spree, go to:
1. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/08/japan.stabbing.spree/index.html
2. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080608/ap_on_re_as/japan_stabbing
3. http://www.akibanana.com/

I found the Akihabara stabbing spree a bit timely (if you can put it that way) since it so happened that one of the Japanese television series I'm watching is Akihabara@DEEP. It focuses on the struggles of a group of young otaku in Akihabara, and their efforts to help others like them. One of the key issues in the series is violence against otaku, who are considered as social misfits and outcasts. I'm planning to make a review about Akihabara@DEEP, and hopefully I'd be able to get started with it soon.

So that's about it for Akihabara-related stuff. Now, for some Friday Five:

1. If you had to participate in one olympic event what would it be and why?
- Perhaps I'd just cover the event/write something about it.

2. What is the one song you always sing along to?
- I think I do pretty good on most songs that I like, it's just that I don't sing (like on karaoke/videoke) a lot.

3. Do you wear a seatbelt in the car?
- I don't have a car LOL

4. Car, suv or truck and why?
- A car, it's more personal, I guess.

5. Are you a good/bad drive? explain (sic)
- I don't drive.