For Culture's Sake in 2013

The beginning of a new year is often a time for summing up the past year. So I'll do so. This post will be related to the blog itself. Some musings and statistics.



But first, I'd like to thank all the readers for being with me, for reading and commenting and for inspiring me. Writing this blog I was able to find a lot of new friends. I hope to keep in touch with you in this new 2014 year and later on. THANK YOU! I wish you all the best during this year.

A Girls and Panzer New Years...

One of the joys of being an anime fan in Japan is visiting the real places seen in your favorite anime series, which is known asseichi meguri in Japanese, lit. "making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land." My first visit to a real place in anime was in Shinjuku, standing in front of the hallowed then exploring the station to find the City Hunter "xyz" blackboard. (Yes, I rock my anime old school.) These days most every anime are set in real locations for added realism, and if you should want to eat in front of the train station from Kanon, walk up the sakura tree-lined road from or enjoy a pleasant afternoon of boating on the lake from and the final scenes from , it's possible to do so. One of the most popular places for otakus to ring in the new year this year was Oarai, Ibaragi Prefecture, the setting for the popular moe tank anime , and many fans traveled there to see the first sunrise of the new year.

Many Gal-Pan wishboards were hung at the temple in Oarai.
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Memories of 2013 part 11: Marital spat

The first K-Drama I watched this year, and the one that got me hooked onto them again (it was sooooo good!) was CITY HUNTER. The show draws its name and basic inspiration from Hojo Tsukasa's manga of the same name, though the story is mostly it's own - a tale of family, love and revenge that was really hard to put down. But whilst it was generally a serious show, I also want to remember it for some of its light hearted moments: and this was definitely the best one.



Hah! And I do especially love that look on Nana's face! (and Yoon Sung dying of embarrassment at that!)

2013: My Year in Film

Hey, I don't solely watch asian cinema that's based on anime and/or manga properties! Sometimes I watch other movies. These are the best older movies I watched all year.



DISCOVERIES

Overdue K-drama reviewish things

I'm so behind in my semi-reviews of k-dramas so I'll try and make these brief. But brevity isn't really my thing so...



MI-RAE'S CHOICE/MARRY HIM IF YOU DARE - 1.5 STARS

Lee Min Ho Plans to Lose Weight and Get Buff for Movie Role

Super star LEE MIN HO has no time for rest as he has recently announced, "I think I am going to crazily work out my body. I think I will lose even more weight."



This was one of Lee Min Ho's resolutions for 2014. After a wildly successful run with "THE HEIRS," Lee Min Ho has confirmed his next project to be the film, "GANGNAM BLUES," which is an action noir film.

Drama Review: Bridal Mask (2012)

GRADE: B-

CATEGORYAction-flavored fusion sageuk

WHAT IT'S ABOUTThe struggles and triumphs of a masked vigilante who stands up for the Korean people during Japan's occupation of Korea in early twentieth century.