Anime Asia Magazine Volume 1 Issue 2

Today I bought an anime magazine for the first time. And I realized that what I thought was called Animegazine is actually Anime Asia Magazine, except in their first issue the "Asia Ma" on the cover was blocked by Ayuzawa Misaki's head. Hehe. (See picture in previous post.)

Anime Asia Magazine Volume 1 Issue 2 features Kasugano Sora of Yasuga no Sora on the cover. I've actually never heard of this anime before, so I'll be checking it out. Other anime/manga featured in this issue are:

Anime Premiere

• Heartcatch PreCure
• Nurarihyon no Mago
• Yumeiro Pâtissière
• Strike Witches 2
• Seitokai Yakuindomo
• Digimon Xros Wars

Seiyuu

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00
• K-On!
• Toaru Majutsu no Index
• Kuroshitsuji II

Anime Hitlist

• Motto To Love-Ru -Trouble-
• Otome Youkai Zakuro
• Hakuouki Hekketsu-roku
• Seikon no Qwaser
• Mayoi Neko Overrun!
• Jewelpet Tinkle
• Hime Chen! Otogi Chikku Idol Lilpri
• Ichiban Ushiro no Daimao

Mangamaniac

• Void
• Sugu Rogu
• Wanted
• The Conductor

On The Cover

• Yosuga no Sora

Character List

• Arakawa Under The Bridge

Specials

• Akikan! OAV
• Angel's Feather

Most of the titles above are unfamiliar to me, and I am excited to check them all out. Unfortunately, the articles in Anime Asia Magazine need a bit of improvement in my opinion. I like that there are a lot of pictures, but I would like the articles to help me decide which anime or manga are worth watching/reading, maybe by providing good anime/manga reviews. I'd also like to learn more about each anime/manga, like it's target demographic (i.e. shonen, shojo, seinen, josei) and genre (i.e. romance, action, slice of life, comedy, horror, mystery, etc.) to help me know if it'll match my taste.

I really hope the next issue improves on this point because it's the best-looking otaku magazine I could find in the stands here where I live. There were only two other magazines besides Anime Asia Magazine: Otakuzine and Otaku Vault. The first one is kind of small and the second one's cover layout looks kind of cheap like a cheesy gossip magazine or a cheap songhits.

By the way, the centerfold poster in this second issue of Anime Asia Magazine is a cool one: Saito Hajime of Hakuouki in his Western style getup as seen in Hakuouki Hekketsu-roku. But it would have been even cooler had it not been slightly pixelated. :D

Animegazine Volume 1 Issue 1

Animegazine Volume 1 Issue 1 is the very first anime magazine that I have ever owned. It was given to me as a birthday present last month, and I was really happy and excited when I got it.

On the cover of this issue is Ayuzawa Misaki and Hanazono Sakura of Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, one of my favorite shojo animes. The magazine is about the size of a letter-sized bond paper, and it is divided into sections featuring the following anime or manga:

Anime Premiere

• Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai
• Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto
• Shiki
• Fortune Arterial: Akai Yakusoku
• The World God Only Knows
• Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge

Seiyuu

• Super Robot Taisen OG: The Inspector
• Otome Youkai Zakuro
• Psychic Detective Yakumo
• Durarara!

Anime Hitlist

• Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru
• togainu no chi -Bloody Curs-
• Shinryaku! Ika Musume
• Highschool of the Dead
• Fairy Tail
• Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan
• The Legend of the Legendary Heroes
• Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls

Mangamaniac

• Yankee-kun to Megane-chan
• Onidere
• Defense Devil
• Medaka Box

On The Cover

• Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Characters in Focus

• Nurarihyon no Mago
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00
• Angel Beat!
• Seitokai Yakuindomo
• Katekyou Hitman Reborn!
• Fullmetal Alchemist

One thing I like about this first issue of Animegazine is that it contains a lot of nice pictures on the above-listed anime. I also like its classy layout of the cover and contents. I just wish the articles contained more useful information.

My Thoughts on Highschool of the Dead

I just loved Highschool of the Dead! I didn't think I would after watching the first few minutes of the first episode. I mean, the numerous boob and panty shots kind of turned me off and made me think it was just another brainless plotless pointless anime that only succeeds in portraying women as objects. But I decided to watch at least the first episode until the very end since the main character Takashi Komuro was really cool. :)

Then the adrenaline rush or whatever you call it kicked in. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, bracing myself and screaming with my eyes wide open. I would say Highschool of the Dead is the only zombie show, animated or otherwise, that I have actually enjoyed watching so far. To be honest, it's quite addicting... and delightfully horrific!

A bit of warning though: Highschool of the Dead is NOT for the faint of heart.

Takashi Komuro leading the gang in Highschool of the Dead

8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Japan Today

Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake a couple of hours ago, the worst-ever earthquake Japan has encountered, and tsunamis have been flooding some cities in Japan and sweeping cars and houses like driftwood as a result. Casualties have been reported and many commuters have been left stranded away from home due to the shutdown of Japan's normally reliable mass transit system. Aftershocks, some as strong as a 7.1 magnitude, have continued to rock some cities, terrifying people.

I would like to take a moment of silence and sincerely offer my heartfelt support to the people of Japan. Stay strong. This too shall pass.

Quotes From Kazehaya Shouta, Kimi ni Todoke Manga Volume 1

Kazehaya Shouta

Kimi ni Todoke

The following are quotes from Kazehaya Shouta, Kimi ni Todoke manga volume 1:

To Sawako after overhearing her talking about him:
"Hey, how should I take that?"

To Sawako during their first conversation:
"When you talk properly, you get your feelings across properly, right?"

To his classmates when they suggested that he date Sawako for one week as punishment for not completing the test of courage activity:
"I'll do anything besides that. That's too rude as a punishment game. Kuronuma's a girl, you know."

To Sawako after she expressed thanks to him for trying hard for her and and listening to her:
"You know, I think that you probably don't really understand me, Kuronuma."

To Sawako after he gave her the small bag of candy their classmates prepared for her as an apology:
"Is it all right if I anticipate meeting you over summer break, Kuronuma?"

Quotes From Kuronuma Sawako, Kimi ni Todoke Manga Volume 1

 Kuronuma Sawako

 Kimi ni Todoke

The following are quotes from Kuronuma Sawako, Kimi ni Todoke manga volume 1:

Thinking to herself during her first conversation with Kazehaya:
"When I told him my feelings, he understood. When I said I wasn't lying, he believed me."

To Ayane and Chizuru when they said they'd feel guilty if she played the ghost against her will in the test of courage activity:
"I have never done anything against my will. I want to get along with everyone, but I'm not being forced to do anything just for that..."

Thinking to herself after explaining to Ayane and Chizuru why she wanted to play the ghost:
"They understood my feelings! It's only a little, but I feel like I've changed."

To Kazehaya when he asked her if she wasn't scared playing the ghost by herself:
"I like the night a bit especially summer nights. The air, the smell, the sound of insects and such."

To Kazehaya when he told her to stop looking at him like that:
"S-s-sorry, I was caught up in the moment! I'll be careful to not look in your eyes for more than three seconds."