K-On! – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Sun, 31 Mar 2024 17:21:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 K-On! – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 New survey ranks top ten fan favorites among over 50 Kyoto Animation productions https://soranews24.com/2020/09/28/new-survey-ranks-top-ten-fan-favorites-among-over-50-kyoto-animation-productions/ https://soranews24.com/2020/09/28/new-survey-ranks-top-ten-fan-favorites-among-over-50-kyoto-animation-productions/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2020 03:00:22 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=517173 
Did your personal favorite make it into the top ten?
Since its founding in 1981, Kyoto Animation has become a powerhouse studio in the realm of Japanese animation. Though the studio suffered immense tragedy in 2019 due to an arson attack, it has since rebuilt itself, releasing a new film feature and reviving theatrical screenings of every movie it has ever made.
With the studio’s most recent release, Violet Evergarden the Movie, which serves as a sequel to Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memories Doll, a new survey was conducted to determine what were the top ten fan favorites of Kyoto Animation’s wide range of productions, encompassing nearly 40 years of animated series, films, and shorts.
The survey was held by Voice Note, a Japanese survey service, and gathered opinions from 200 Japanese men and women. Age-wise, participants ranged from individuals in their teens to folks who were in their forties.
Without further ado, here are the results of the new survey:
10. Lucky Star
9. Clannad: After Story
8. Nichijou
7. Full Metal Panic!
6. Free!
5. Sound! Euphonium
Treat yourself to Sound! Euphonium Season 2 OP - "Soundscape" by TRUE
— Crunchyroll (@Crunchyroll) August 5, 2019
Combining the anxieties of adolescence with one gal’s journey through band camp, Sound! Euphonium is relatable to anyone regardless if they’ve ever picked up a musical instrument or not. Individuals who were in marching band in high school will admire the show’s attention to detail, and generals fans of anime will enjoy the depictions of everyday life for members of Kitauji High School’s concert band club. A lovely blend of drama and the slice-of-life genre, Sound! Euphonium‘s place in the top five is well-deserved.
4. Hyouka
氷菓普通におもしろい pic.twitter.com/DYn0PeYkId
— タピ#彼氏とペア画 (@tapisan1429) September 21, 2020
Set to the dreamy backdrop of the fictional city of Kamiyama, based off Gifu prefecture’s Takayama City, Hyouka is both a coming-of-age story and a steadily paced entry of the mystery genre. Viewers of Hyouka follow the perspective of Hotaro Oreki, who upon his sister’s request, joins his high school’s Classic Literature Club to prevent its abolishment while solving mysteries around the school. While the mysteries that the club solves together don’t involve grand themes like saving the world from a huge calamity, the straightforward and thoughtful storytelling makes the series a worthwhile watch in the eyes of fans.
3. Violet Evergarden
Named after its protagonist, Violet Evergarden is a story about an ex-child soldier who becomes an Auto Memory Doll, essentially working as a ghost writer for individuals who wish to express their emotions as eloquently as possible, but have trouble doing so alone. As Violet meets and works with more clients, her understanding of the world around her grows, which is a highlight of the series for many fans. Besides her emotional journey, viewers have also lavished heavy praise on the gorgeous visuals and beautiful soundtrack of this production.
2. K-On!
#けいおん #Anime Frame 22055 from Season 1 - Episode 11. pic.twitter.com/9K8uw1C0I3
— Random K-ON (@RandomKon) September 19, 2020
Considered a cornerstone of the moe genre — anime that features innocent, pure, and cute girls — K-On! is a relaxing slice-of-life series focused on five members of a high school “popular music” club: Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Tsumugi, and Azusa. With catchy tunes that get easily stuck into the viewer’s head, K-On!‘s sizable appeal point is watching these gals goof around as they try to navigate the academic and social rigors of high school, themes that many will find much common ground with.
1. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
https://twitter.com/childlunch_cake/status/1307986224003665920
Produced from a light novel series that has over 20 million copies in print since 2003, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya‘s spot as the top fan favorite is no surprise given its popularity. This series follows the everyday antics of Haruhi Suzumiya, an eccentric teenage girl who has reality warping powers, but does not know this herself, as well as her cohort’s attempts to keep her entertained without tipping her off about her supernatural abilities. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has inspired a multitude of homages and spoof videos on the Japanese version of YouTube, NicoNico Douga, and its broadcasting schedule was even part of a solution to an unsolved mathematical problem from 1993.
The survey results show a wide breadth of work from Kyoto Animation’s sprouting years to their more recent, popular productions. Hopefully, your favorite was among the ten in the list. If these rankings got you in the mood to learn more about which anime have caught the hearts of netizens, check out this survey for Japanese people’s top 20 favorite anime opening themes!
Source: Futabanet Manga Plus via Otakomu
Top image: YouTube/KyoaniChannel
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/09/28/new-survey-ranks-top-ten-fan-favorites-among-over-50-kyoto-animation-productions/feed/ 0 517173 スクリーンショット 2020-09-24 午後8.34.24 Online poll ranks Japanese netizens’ favorite series from anime powerhouse studio Kyoto Animation https://soranews24.com/2020/05/07/online-poll-ranks-japanese-netizens-favorite-series-from-anime-powerhouse-studio-kyoto-animation/ https://soranews24.com/2020/05/07/online-poll-ranks-japanese-netizens-favorite-series-from-anime-powerhouse-studio-kyoto-animation/#comments Thu, 07 May 2020 04:00:47 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=500335 
Kyoto Animation has a library of celebrated classics: which one came out on top?
Kyoto Animation, also known affectionately as KyoAni by fans and industry workers alike, is one of Japan’s most cherished animation studios, and with good reason. Not only is it renowned in the animation world for its incredibly detailed, lush animation work, but it’s reportedly also a great place to work alongside some of the most talented people in a deeply talented industry…making it all the more sad when one of their studios was burned down in an arson attack last year. With a range of masterpieces under their belt, it’s hard to pick a favorite; harder still when you factor in the various movies the studio produced. But Internet news site Netlab challenged users to name their favorite, and now we have a clearer picture of which of these expertly-crafted works loom largest amongst fans!
Counting down from the top 10, here are the picks from the survey’s 9,521 respondents:
10. Beyond the Boundary
9. Nichijou
8. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006)
7. Liz and the Blue Bird
6. Clannad
The top five features some breakout hits beloved by die-hard anime fans and casual viewers alike. Make sure to check them out if you haven’t had the chance, and prepare to be blown away by breathtaking direction, sweet character designs and a palpable sense of passion.
5. K-On!
Suddenly missing my girls, HTT.
This is still
. #K_On #keion #けいおん pic.twitter.com/7lBGESV2qj
— Shojie ショジエ (@joshu0707) May 19, 2019
K-On! follows the members of a titular “popular music” club — rather than typical band clubs found in high schools, the band in K-On! focuses on electric guitar, sweet vocal harmonies and catchy riffs that stick in fans’ heads to this day. Teenagers Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Tsumugi and Azusa undergo the trials and tribulations of keeping a small-time school band afloat, improving their respective skills with their instruments and tackling typical high school issues like shyness, studies and awkward social situations.
4. Hyouka
kangen Hyouka *jpfpic.twitter.com/zrHQHkQT32
— JPF (@SideAccountJPF) May 5, 2020
Hyouka’s title literally means “frozen dessert”, but there’s more to it than meets the eye — which is part of the allure of this 22-episode anime series, following protagonists Hotaro and Eru as they unravel a series of suspicious mysteries about their school and hometown. With a wonderfully intense mood, strong vocal performances and of course, a bounty of mysteries to solve, Hyouka will stay with you long after the credits roll on the final episode.
3. Free!
This is so good! #free #フリー pic.twitter.com/MW4xzsdY6V
— 轟ショート (@shotogadaisuki) April 18, 2020
When the teaser commercial for Kyoto Animation’s animated continuation of the High Speed! light novel first hit the Internet in 2013, there was an international surge of interest for the show and its cast of Speedo-clad swimming boys. Apparently there was enough interest in Haruka, Makoto, Rin, Nagisa and Rei’s swimming escapades to fill a whole mass of swimming pools, as the Free! franchise now spans various seasons, audio dramas and theatrical releases; and its fans are still eager for more!
2. Sound! Euphonium
The story of Kumiko Omae’s high school’s band camp journey, beset by inadequacy anxieties, worries about losing her closest friend and the nagging fear that maybe the club won’t place at finals has captured many hearts: some current band kids even cite it as the reason they enrolled in band club at high school. Achingly real in everything from its depiction of teenhood malaise to its pitch-perfect recreations of high school band performances, Sound! Euphonium is an experience to savor.
But what did Netlab’s survey find to be the crown jewel of Kyoto Animation’s achievements?
1. Violet Evergarden
https://twitter.com/ExA998XGAk35hCC/status/1257957444065640448
Netflix faced some controversy in their decision to not air this lavishly rendered series simultaneously worldwide after securing its streaming rights, but Violet Evergarden has thrived like the proudest flower in a war torn field. The first of the series’ movies was released in the wake of the tragic arson attack, and another due to be released this year was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but fans are standing vigil to see the heartrending story of Violet and her fellow dolls through to the end.
Hopefully you’ve picked up a couple of new possible favorites from this list, and if you need more anime to keep your spirits up, don’t forget — Katsuhiro Otomo’s works are streaming free for a period, as are Sailor Moon and Evangelion features!
Source: Yahoo! News/Netlab via Otakkomu
Top image: YouTube/KyoaniChannel
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/05/07/online-poll-ranks-japanese-netizens-favorite-series-from-anime-powerhouse-studio-kyoto-animation/feed/ 0 500335 KF 41 Where’d the time go?! Top anime series that finished ten years ago, ranked by Japanese netizens https://soranews24.com/2020/04/05/whered-the-time-go-top-anime-series-that-finished-ten-years-ago-ranked-by-japanese-netizens/ https://soranews24.com/2020/04/05/whered-the-time-go-top-anime-series-that-finished-ten-years-ago-ranked-by-japanese-netizens/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2020 13:00:55 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=495635 
Seriously, it’s been a long, long time since these series aired, and now we feel really old.
What were you doing in 2010? Were you doing anything at all? Were you, perhaps, old enough to be watching anime?
No matter how old you get, there’s always a show out there to suit your pace of life. When you want to take a break from the dramatics of modern life and reconnect with your spirituality, or get a new burst of motivation from some singing schoolgirls, anime has your back. Still, the more anime you watch, the more it tends to blur together — hence why so many dyed-in-the-wool otaku were astonished to hear that these series last aired a new TV episode in 2010.
Here’s the top ten of these decade-old anime! Which ones have you watched recently?
10. Kuroshitsuji II
9. Durarara!!
8. A Certain Scientific Railgun
7. Nodame Cantabile Finale
6. HeartCatch PreCure!
Interestingly, the majority of these series so far are either spin-offs (A Certain Scientific Railgun), next chapters in an established story (Kuroshitsuji II, Nodame Cantabile Finale) or instalments in a true and trusted franchise (Pretty Cure changes casts and settings each year; Durarara!! came hot off the heels of cult hit Baccano!, another anime based on light novels by the same author).
Let’s check out the top five in more detail.
5. Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhood (2009/2010)
Opening 1 - again pic.twitter.com/xtlCafKmwH— Openings Animes (@SecondsAnimes) February 12, 2016
Hiromu Arakawa’s beautifully contained and achingly emotional shonen epic started life as a monthly manga serial in 2001, whereupon it quickly got picked up to be turned into an anime in 2003. Unfortunately, as the series had yet to be finished, the 2003 anime took a very dramatic veer away from the manga’s events; this was addressed in 2009, when the anime was reinvented at Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in order to more closely follow the story in the source material. Its original run ended in 2010, but its lasting impact on fans worldwide can be felt to this day. Ed’s alchemist escapades are just as vivid and inspiring today as they were almost twenty years ago, let alone ten!
4. K-On!!
K-ON!!
↬ HTT (Houkago Tae Time) - GO! GO! MANIAC
↬ 2010
↬ 1st opening of 2nd season of K-ON! https://t.co/Sd7abXsk6Q— asia/laczek (@j7ebeom) March 14, 2020
K-On!! is notable on two fronts: not only is it a major landmark in the rising popularity of “cute girls doing cute things” moe anime, a genre that has only grown in strength and power as the years go by, but it is one of the first anime to specifically combine said genre with music. While earlier anime like Nana and Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad showcased characters in bands, K-On!! took the leap to make its fictional band as popular as one in the real world. The show’s opening theme, Go! Go! Maniac, was the first anime theme song to ever top Japan’s music charts. Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Azusa and Tsumugi paved the way for all kinds of anime girl bands to follow in their footsteps.
3. Inuyasha: The Final Act
https://twitter.com/rubyred1120/status/1193201656764256257
Everyone’s favorite wolf boy Inuyasha has been scampering across TV screens since 2000, and that first series spanned a colossal 167 episodes that ended in 2003. The original manga bounded onwards for 21 more volumes, and a second anime series began airing a year after artist Rumiko Takahashi drew his adventures with Kagome to a close. This ran for 26 episodes, ensuring that Inuyasha’s entire epic journey was rendered in animated form for future generations. Seeing as it took twenty years to complete, it’s no wonder people lost track of when exactly it ended.
2. Animal Detective Kiruminzoo
https://twitter.com/mahoushoujogif/status/1211320372827754496
Coming in as a surprise dark horse contender is this adorable magical comedy created by Shoji Kawamori — yes, the co-creator of the Macross franchise. This story focuses on twins, Riko and Rimu, who use the magical compact they found in their attic to transform into all kinds of animals! The series ran for 50 episodes before it ended in September 2010, and seems like a perfect fit for kids who like Animorphs-style furry antics, PreCure, or both.
But who is the top of the pile? Japanese voters decided that they were most surprised to learn that this show finished in 2010, despite its firm place in the cultural consciousness.
1. Hidamari Sketch×☆☆☆
Hidamari Sketch × ☆☆☆ ep.11 @ 16:40.59
"I wonder what we'll be working on a year from now..."#HidamariSketch pic.twitter.com/KPKRxulhCF— Mecharin Mizunashi (@MMecharin) April 1, 2020
Though Hidamari Sketch (Sunshine Sketch) first hit TV in 2007, telling the sweet and uncomplicated lives of four girls in their school’s art club: Yuno, Miyako, Hinano and Sae. It was followed up by a spate of sequel series. The third, Hidamari Sketch×☆☆☆, introduced two new protagonists — Nazuna and Nori — to the main line-up. Unlike other series listed here, the Hidamari Sketch franchise did actually receive one more season in 2012, the longest gap between seasons for the show. Still, this series in particular is subject to repeats due to how it tells one of its gentle, soothing storylines in chronological order; Hidamari Sketch typically jumps from month to month with each episode, telling seasonal stories in an anachronistic fashion.
You may recognize the art style from a similarly dated TV show — 2011’s Puella Magi Madoka Magica’s cast is designed by the author, Aoki Ume. Unfortunately Madoka was one year shy of the cut-off!
Do you have some favorite nerdy memories from 2010? I personally remember staying up late to watch The Tatami Galaxy as it aired, sans subtitles, which is definitely not the way to watch it as a relatively inexperienced speaker of Japanese. Let us know your favorites in the comments!
Images © SoraNews24
Source: Goo via My Game News Flash
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/04/05/whered-the-time-go-top-anime-series-that-finished-ten-years-ago-ranked-by-japanese-netizens/feed/ 0 495635 20-04-02-16-56-51-932_deco Kyoto Animation makes over a dozen anime TV series and movies free to watch online https://soranews24.com/2020/03/17/kyoto-animation-makes-over-a-dozen-anime-tv-series-and-movies-free-to-watch-online/ https://soranews24.com/2020/03/17/kyoto-animation-makes-over-a-dozen-anime-tv-series-and-movies-free-to-watch-online/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2020 16:00:06 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=492988 
New titles released every day over 16-day period as much of Japan stays home to prevent spread of coronavirus.
To say the past 12 months have been a difficult time for Kyoto Animation would be a severe understatement. On July 18, the company’s Fushimi studio was the site of the worst mass murder in modern Japanese history, with 35 employees killed when an arsonist lit the building on fire. Eight months later, Kyoto Animation, like all companies in the anime industry, is facing an extremely uncertain business climate as the coronavirus outbreak causes the cancellation of just about every planned anime industry and fan event, including the Anime Japan convention in Tokyo and Street Festa cosplay gathering in Osaka.
And yet, Kyoto Animation has still made the incredibly generous decision to make 17 of its critically acclaimed anime TV series and movies free to watch online, with the first becoming available today.
While it doesn’t specifically mention the coronavirus, Kyoto Animation’s announcement came on March 5, well after the disease began dominating the public’s attention in Japan. As part of video streaming site Niconico Douga’s Spring Vacation Youth Anime Special event, the TV series/movies will become available in a staggered schedule between March 16 and March 31 (the length of time each will be available has not been announced).
At least one new Kyoto Animation title/season/movie will be released every day, with a double dose on March 30 and a triple helping on the 31st.
March 16: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-On!
March 17: K-On!! (episodes 1-14)
March 18: K-On!! (episodes 15-24)
March 19: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
March 20: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions -Heart Throb-
March 21: Sound! Euphonium
March 22: Sound! Euphonium 2
March 23: Hyoka (episodes 1-11)
March 24: Hyoka (episodes 12-22)
March 25: Air
March 26: Kannon (episodes 1-12)
March 27: Kannon (episodes 13-24)
March 28: Clannad
March 29: Clannad After Story
March 30: K-On! The Movie!, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
March 31: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me, Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band, Sound! Euphonium: Todoketai Melody
While it isn’t the only anime company making its works free to watch, the gesture is especially touching coming from Kyoto Animation. With all the company has been through, no one would bat an eye if the company were to say, “Sorry, but right now we need every single yen we can get,” and yet KyoAni, even after losing so much, still finds ways to give something back to its fans, once again showing the priority it places on human happiness and well-being.
Related Niconico Douga links for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,
K-On!, K-On!! (1, 2), Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions -Heart Throb-, Sound! Euphonium, Sound! Euphonium 2, Hyoka (1, 2), Air, Kannon (1, 2), Clannad, Clannad After Story, K-On! The Movie!, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me, Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band/Sound! Euphonium: Todoketai Melody
Source: PR Times via Livedoor News/Anime Ju via Jin
Images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/03/17/kyoto-animation-makes-over-a-dozen-anime-tv-series-and-movies-free-to-watch-online/feed/ 0 492988 KA 2 An otaku is born! Japanese Twitter goes gaga over adorable one-year-old baby loving anime【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2019/06/15/an-otaku-is-born-japanese-twitter-goes-gaga-over-adorable-one-year-old-baby-loving-anime%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2019/06/15/an-otaku-is-born-japanese-twitter-goes-gaga-over-adorable-one-year-old-baby-loving-anime%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2019 01:00:10 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=455432 “Whenever I watch anime, I lose the ability to speak too. It’s quite powerful.”
For decades now, one question has baffled scientists: where do otaku come from? What exactly is the origin of these creatures who participate in elaborate dances and pay exorbitant sums to marry their 2-D waifus?
Up until now, such answers have eluded us. But thanks to the Internet, we may finally have our first glimpse at the beginning of the otaku lifecycle.
This clip was posted by Japanese twitter user @moja017 in order to further our otaku research:
▼ “A one-year-old getting pumped for K-On!“
https://twitter.com/moja017/status/1138044972177870848
Incredible! Observe the tiny otaku’s movements, the facial expressions, the emotions — they are all nearly identical to those of the adult otaku as well. Truly a remarkable, and adorable, discovery.
Could we be seeing the creation of an otaku here? The process by which an average, boring human metamorphosizes into a beautiful anime-lover?
Perhaps more date is required:
▼ “The otaku is excited for the ending theme too.”
高まりオタク、EDも実はありました
pic.twitter.com/aFvrGQ4RBt
— moja (@moja017) June 13, 2019
I think that settles it folks! And it looks like there are plenty of Japanese netizens who agree:
“I totally understand, I get the same happy feeling too.”
“The cutest lil otaku! I hope he grows up strong and healthy.”
“I don’t know if otaku have the brain power of one-year-olds, of if this one-year-old has the brain power of an otaku, but he’s acting just like one.”
“Definitely the former.”
“Whenever I watch anime, I lose the ability to speak too. It’s quite powerful.”
“Showing K-On! to a one-year-old… what an incredible educator you are!”
“So us otaku are basically the same as him, minus the cuteness and bright future.
Hey there, otaku friend! There’s no need to be so sour. Now that we know that otaku babies are real, there is only one explanation for where they come from: the happy union of two otaku in an anime-merchandise-filled house.
Source: Twitter/@moja071 via Hachima Kiko
Featured image: Twitter/@moja071
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/06/15/an-otaku-is-born-japanese-twitter-goes-gaga-over-adorable-one-year-old-baby-loving-anime%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 455432 k-on baby top Real-world music shop from K-On! anime closes its doors, but the music isn’t ending https://soranews24.com/2019/03/29/real-world-music-shop-from-k-on-anime-closes-its-doors-but-the-music-isnt-ending/ https://soranews24.com/2019/03/29/real-world-music-shop-from-k-on-anime-closes-its-doors-but-the-music-isnt-ending/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2019 05:00:01 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=446921 If this particular anime pilgrimage spot was on your bucket list, you won’t be able to cross it off anymore (well, at least in its original location).
One of the funnest parts of being an anime/manga fan in Japan is visiting places that appear in your favorite series. This extra appeal, for example, has turned an ordinary staircase in Tokyo, which was featured in Your Name, into a tourist spot visited by people from around the world.
One such pilgrimage spot for fans of K-On!, the musical manga and anime that took Japan by storm in the 2000s, will unfortunately be shutting down soon. The Akitaya Musical Instrument Shop located on Paseo Street in Fukushima City will be closing on March 31, 2019.
You may be thinking, “Wait, wasn’t that shop supposed to be somewhere in Kyoto?” since that’s what was said in the anime. However, when you look at a side-by-side comparison, it looks pretty obvious.
▼ Manga and anime artists have the power to fictionally transport stores to other cities, apparently.
【訂正】
けいおん！のプチ聖地「あきたや楽器店」さん。
3月末でパセオ通りから五月町の新店舗へ移転されるそうです。
新店舗オープンは5月、3月末までセール中とのこと。#ふくしま街コス #街コス pic.twitter.com/EVceNlaiDt— ふくしま街コス (@fukushimacos) March 25, 2019
K-On! fans reacted with both surprise and disappointment, as it seems there are some that hadn’t yet been aware of the instrument shop’s real-world existence in Fukushima.
“I didn’t know there was a pilgrimage spot in Fukushima…”
“But where will elderly people buy their enka cassette tapes now?”
“I had no idea this place was in my hometown.”
“Aw, the Akitaya Musical Instrument shop is closing…I’ve been going there since I was young…it looks like a lot of people didn’t know about it as a pilgrimage spot.”
The good news, though, is that the store will be re-opening in a different location! It’s moving to another area of Fukushima called Satsuki-cho in May. Twitter user @fukushimacos originally tweeted that the shop was closing altogether, but that tweet has since been deleted and replaced with the happy news that the shop will just be switching venues.
With the revelation so many fans had of the shop’s existence in Fukushima, perhaps the new store will see many new fans!
Sources: Twitter/@fukushimacos, Otaku.com
Featured image: Twitter/@fukushimacos
]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/03/29/real-world-music-shop-from-k-on-anime-closes-its-doors-but-the-music-isnt-ending/feed/ 0 446921 SF 1 Anime song-playing, lightning-shooting Tesla coil is world’s coolest high school science project https://soranews24.com/2016/10/04/anime-song-playing-lightning-shooting-tesla-coil-is-worlds-coolest-high-school-science-project/ https://soranews24.com/2016/10/04/anime-song-playing-lightning-shooting-tesla-coil-is-worlds-coolest-high-school-science-project/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2016 06:00:48 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=348687 One of anime’s most famous opening themes, but like it’s never been heard before.
While the popularity of schoolgirl rock band anime K-On! has cooled a bit since its last animated installment in 2011, the franchise still has a special place in a lot of people’s hearts. As a series in which music plays such a large role, many of the K-On! loyal record covers of the show’s theme songs, but you don’t have to be able to sing or play an instrument in order to pay musical treatment to the Kyoto Animation-produced hit.
Well, we suppose the equipment used in this video shared by Japanese Twitter user @yjsenrisen could technically be classified as an instrument, since it’s an object being used to create musical notes. Still, it’s not something as traditional as a guitar or piano, but instead a Tesla coil spitting out both lightning and “Go! Go! Maniac,” the first opening theme for the second season of the K-On! TV series.
https://twitter.com/yjsenrisen/status/782600785326551041
With sparks stretching several feet in length crackling up to the ceiling, the song’s frantic tempo echoes through the room. All the while, a single young man, ostensibly the mastermind behind this mashup of applied science and anime fandom, stands in the background with his arms smugly crossed.
If your knowledge of science is more focused on anime giant robots than real world phenomena, a second tweet gives a layman’s explanation that “The sound is produced by electricity causing the surrounding air to expand and vibrate.”
https://twitter.com/rinH91231/status/782778548960436224
But what’s perhaps most impressive is that this anime song Tesla coil was put together by students at Osaka’s Takatsuki High School. In the fall, it’s customary for Japanese schools to have what’s called a “Culture Festival,” which is sort of like an open house in which kids get to show off their creative projects. But instead of running a food stand or a haunted house (both Culture Festival mainstays), Takatsuki High’s Electrophysics Research Club decided that a musical Tesla coil was a more appropriate demonstration of what its members have been learning.
Online, the videos have rapidly been racking up comments of “Awesome!” and “Amazing!” About the only detractors to be found are those who would have preferred that it play a theme song from anime series A Certain Scientific Railgun, whose heroine has the power to manipulate lightning. We have to admit, that sounds like a great idea, so maybe we can look forward to that, or a Tesla coil version of electric-type Pokémon Pikachu’s theme song, at next year’s Takatsuki Culture Festival.
Source: Hamster Sokuho, Twitter/@yjsenrisen
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/10/04/anime-song-playing-lightning-shooting-tesla-coil-is-worlds-coolest-high-school-science-project/feed/ 0 348687 Amazing schoolgirl drummer nails anime theme, and her music career is just getting started https://soranews24.com/2014/10/31/amazing-schoolgirl-drummer-nails-anime-theme-and-her-music-career-is-just-getting-started/ https://soranews24.com/2014/10/31/amazing-schoolgirl-drummer-nails-anime-theme-and-her-music-career-is-just-getting-started/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2014 15:00:13 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=192627 
Compared to a lot of other anime, the premise of K-On! is decidedly down-to-earth. It’s about a group of high school girls who form an after-school rock/pop band, and none of them are reincarnated princesses or commute to school in a giant transforming robot built by their brilliant but aloof father. They just hang out and play music together.
Still, there’s one big break with reality that comes at the start of each episode, when instruments are obviously played by studio musicians, and not actually a bunch of teenagers, for the theme song. You really can’t fault the producers for this decision, though. After all, where are you supposed to find an actual high school girl to perform the manic drum beats used in the anime’s second opening?
Ah, we see Kawaguchi-san is raising her hand.
The 17-year-old Senri Kawaguchi attends high school in her hometown in Mie Prefecture. That is, she does when she’s not on the road lending her skills and providing precocious percussion performances for currently touring idol troupe E-girls. Kawaguchi didn’t land this gig because she’s friends with one of E-girls two dozen or so members, though, but because she’s wickedly talented.
Just how talented? Watch her absolutely nail the opening theme to the second season of K-On!, which is just as fast and chaotic as you’d expect from its all-capitalized title of “GO! GO! MANIAC!”
Not only does Kawaguchi literally not miss a beat, she’s got enough mental capacity left over to smile for the camera.
▼ You’ve got to be tremendously good to make something so hard look this easy.
When someone shows this level of skill at such a young age (the above video is from 2010), it’s tempting to toss around the label “natural.” While we don’t know how much God-given talent is involved in the above display, what we can say is that it’s also the result of a ton of practice. Kawaguchi took up the drums at the age of five, and by the time she was eight she was receiving lessons from famed Japanese jazz and rock drummer Kozo Suganuma.
▼ Kawaguchi performing with rock band Nokemono, something she did before becoming a teenager.
From there, Kawaguchi went on to win tournaments, appear on TV, and even land endorsement deals with Yamaha and Zildjian. She hasn’t let it go to her head, though. Just the opposite, she only seems to have improved in the years following her early successes, as shown by her most recent video from just a few weeks ago where she proves she’s as skilled at Asian-infused jazz as she is anime rock.
▼ We’d have a hard enough time just keeping tracks of which sounds everything makes.
While nothing beats seeing a talented drummer in person, with each strike rattling in your eardrums and your chest, if you can’t make it to one of Kawaguchi’s live shows, she’s also earned prise on Amazon Japan for her two albums, A La Mode and Buena Vista.
Given how many years she still has left in her music career, we figure there’re a lot more glowing reviews to come.
Related: Senri Kawaguchi official website, YouTube Channel, Twitter
Source: Curazy
Top image: YouTube
Insert images: YouTube (1, 2, 3), Amazon Japan (1, 2)
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/10/31/amazing-schoolgirl-drummer-nails-anime-theme-and-her-music-career-is-just-getting-started/feed/ 0 192627 KD 8 KD 6 KD 2 KD 1 KD 4 KD 3 KD 5 Figure-skating silver medalist Chan prepared by drumming to K-ON! https://soranews24.com/2014/02/18/figure-skating-silver-medalist-chan-prepared-by-drumming-to-k-on/ https://soranews24.com/2014/02/18/figure-skating-silver-medalist-chan-prepared-by-drumming-to-k-on/#comments Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:30:26 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=125081 It’s not just gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyū who has won the hearts of anime fans. 23-year-old Canadian figure skater and Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan seems to be a K-ON! fan himself. He personally posted a YouTube video of himself preparing for his 2011 trip to Japan — by drumming along to the anime’s opening:
Chan would go on to win gold at the 2011 Japan Open competition. In the same vein, Chan also prepared for his South Korea trip by watching Korean idol group Girls’ Generation/SNSD:
Since his win in 2011, Chan has garnered scores of tribute art in Japan.
[Via Yaraon!]
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- 7 Love-Crazed Characters
- Poll: Most Useful Stands from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Japanese Box Office, February 8-9
]]> https://soranews24.com/2014/02/18/figure-skating-silver-medalist-chan-prepared-by-drumming-to-k-on/feed/ 0 125081 Screen Shot 2014-02-17 at 10.23.48 AM Patrick Chan With an otaku umbrella, you’ll hope for rain every day https://soranews24.com/2013/07/15/with-an-otaku-umbrella-youll-hope-for-rain-every-day/ https://soranews24.com/2013/07/15/with-an-otaku-umbrella-youll-hope-for-rain-every-day/#comments Mon, 15 Jul 2013 05:05:48 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=70239 
What better way to brighten up a rainy day than with a cute girl shielding you from the downpour? And if you can’t find a girl to hold your umbrella, then maybe a girl on your umbrella is the next best thing…
The umbrella maker, Seasonal Plants, is selling a range of bright and cheerful umbrellas that all have one thing in common – they’re plastered with popular moe characters from anime and games such as K-On!, Oreimo, and Super Sonico.
The company commented that it’s their duty to “make waves in this stagnant market by creating a fad for otaku umbrellas within Japan’s famed otaku subculture, and then spreading this culture to the world”. I salute them for pursuing such a noble cause.
The umbrellas are set to go on sale during the summer’s most competitive period for otaku merch. The Oreimo umbrella will be released on July 28 at Wonder Festival, a bi-annual event that focuses on anime and game character model kits. The others are being saved for Comiket 84 which will be held from August 10 -12. If you can’t handle the convention crowds, you can place an order through the Seasonal Plants official website.
As well as the full-size umbrellas, there will also be folding versions and mini-desktop umbrellas so that you’re not limited to rainy days to show off your otaku-ness. Hopefully opening the mini ones inside won’t bring about any bad luck…
Prices range from 9,000 – 12,000 yen (US$90 – $120) for a full-size or foldable umbrella, and 1,700 – 2,000 yen (US$17 – $20) for a mini umbrella.
▼ Oreimo
▼ K-On!
▼ Super Sonico
▼ Seasonal Plants original mascot
Source: Hachima Kikou
Images: Seasonal Plants Official Website
]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/07/15/with-an-otaku-umbrella-youll-hope-for-rain-every-day/feed/ 0 70239 Otaku umbrella3 K-on umbrella Otaku Umbrella kasa1 kasa3 kasa4 kasa2 Rocksmith’s Japanese Commercial Seems to Defy You to Buy It, Employs Aki Toyosaki https://soranews24.com/2012/09/29/rocksmiths-japanese-commercial-seems-to-defy-you-to-buy-it-employs-aki-toyosaki/ https://soranews24.com/2012/09/29/rocksmiths-japanese-commercial-seems-to-defy-you-to-buy-it-employs-aki-toyosaki/#comments Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:00:25 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=20393 
After mastering Guitar Hero years back, I was left with an empty feeling. I had taken my plastic 4-button guitar controller out on the street to perform One by Metallica but no one paid any attention to me. In fact, passersby seemed to be intentionally avoiding eye contact.
This is why I was excited to find Rocksmith would be released in Japan on October 11. The game that actually lets you practice a real guitar in a fun way so you can walk away from it a better person with an entertaining skill!
However, my excitement took a bit of a hit when I saw the first Japanese commercial for it.
Japan definitely has its fair share of guitar virtuosos, such as Tak Matsumoto, Akira Takasaki, and Ryo Kawasaki, to name a few. So Ubisoft should have no problem choosing a spokesperson for their newest game. But who did they get?
None other than K-ON! star Aki Toyosaki, dubbed by many as “Butcher of the Beatles” for her notorious video earlier this spring showing her, eh, truly unique rendition of Hey Jude.
Sure she’s cute, but this video is kind of like a Mercedes commercial showing Snooki trying to parallel park an SLR. I still want it – but damn – they seem to be trying hard to make me not want it.
I could only tell from the subtitles that she was struggling to play Song 2 and Smoke on the Water after tuning up. Is this how I’d look playing this game?
On the other hand, this commercial is the first in a three part series leading up to the instructional game’s 11 October release. I’m expecting them to show a marked improvement in Aki’s playing skills which will ultimately redeem the game, and perhaps Toyosaki herself.
Source: Rocksmith Japan via My Game News Flash (Japanese)
▼ Parts 2 and 3 of the Rocksmith saga are set for the coming weeks.
▼ A true Rocksmith.
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/09/29/rocksmiths-japanese-commercial-seems-to-defy-you-to-buy-it-employs-aki-toyosaki/feed/ 0 20393 9b9cbbc9 Getting Directions Home from High School Girls: K-On! Anime-Themed Car Navigation System Helps Drivers Reach their Destination https://soranews24.com/2012/09/24/getting-directions-home-from-high-school-girls-k-on-anime-themed-car-navigation-system-helps-drivers-reach-their-destination/ https://soranews24.com/2012/09/24/getting-directions-home-from-high-school-girls-k-on-anime-themed-car-navigation-system-helps-drivers-reach-their-destination/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:28:57 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=19671 
Tired of listening to the same, soulless car navigation systems while you drive? Wouldn’t you rather listen to someone a little cuter while you’re trying to track down your nearest Guns ‘n’ Ammo store? Wouldn’t it be fun if your favourite animated high-school girls could be the voice of sense and direction!?
If you’re a K-On! fan, you’re in luck- a new portable car navigation system has just arrived in stores, ready to drive you home and everyone else up the wall.
K-On!, or Kei-On! (lit. “light music”), is an animated TV series based on the original four-panel comic of the same name. The story follows five female high schoolers who join their school’s hōkago (after school) light music club band, only to find that there are no other members. Needless to say, adventure and hilarity follow…
Since its original release in 2009, the series has amassed a huge fan-base and spawned a plethora of K-On! branded merchandise. The latest, this portable navigation system, however, is perhaps the most extravagant to date.
Designed to look like a rather awesome old-school cassette-tape, the navigation system, or “navi” as they’re known here in Japan, sits snugly in a packaged plastic stand that can be affixed to the car’s dashboard. Before it’s activated, the unit’s main screen displays the cassette-tape’s spindles and “label”, complete with the band’s name, “After-School Tea-Time”, written in faux handwriting.
Although I’m not the biggest K-On! fan in the world, it’s clear from the outset that this navigation unit’s design does a great job of capturing the original manga and anime’s art style.
The unit’s box itself is well-made and resembles, appropriately, a box of teabags. Before it’s even connected up, this product is sure to win over K-On! fans and window-shoppers alike.
As well as looking the part, the unit reportedly does a good job of entertaining drivers, as the five characters sporadically chat among themselves and make little quips. And with an extensive library of pre-recorded comments, it would probably be a while before even the most frequent driver hears the same phrase uttered twice.
Naturally, this being a Japanese-made product, the girls make a point of warning the driver not to play around with or focus too much attention on the screen while operating a vehicle. Very sensible indeed; when I was a high schooler, the girls used to sit in the park drinking cheap cider…
But what’s the use of a portable navigation system in Tokyo, where the vast majority of the population would rather take out a second mortgage on their home than deal with the hassle of owning a car and finding a place to keep it? The girls have got you covered; the unit also comes with an ‘on-foot’ mode, so you can join the masses of people walking around the city not looking where they’re going…
Personally, I’m still hanging on for a navigation unit voiced by some of my favourite comedians, or perhaps good old Super Mario: “Let’s-a-go! Turn-a-left-a-here!”
Sorry…
The K-On! portable navigation unit is available to buy now, costing around ¥39,800 / around US$500
Source: IT Media
]]> https://soranews24.com/2012/09/24/getting-directions-home-from-high-school-girls-k-on-anime-themed-car-navigation-system-helps-drivers-reach-their-destination/feed/ 1 19671 K-On Navi K-On Navi K-On Navi tape K-On Navi with box K-On Navi in action K-On Navi warning screen Eyes on the Prize: A Look at Japanese Pop Culture Trends Through Arcade Prizes 【October 2012】 https://soranews24.com/2012/09/12/eyes-on-the-prize-a-look-at-japanese-pop-culture-trends-through-arcade-prizes-%e3%80%90october-2012%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2012/09/12/eyes-on-the-prize-a-look-at-japanese-pop-culture-trends-through-arcade-prizes-%e3%80%90october-2012%e3%80%91/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:00:10 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=18072 
One fun way to see what anime or game series are currently popular with kids and otaku in Japan is to visit an arcade and take a look at the prizes up for grabs in the crane machines, or UFO catchers, as they’re often called in Japanese.
Unlike North America, arcade culture is still going strong in Japan and UFO catchers are one of the main attractions. Always found on the first floor of arcades, these machines are stocked with the latest limited-edition figurines and plushies of popular characters, many of which can only be acquired as UFO catcher prizes (or on Amazon at obscene prices).
Japanese toy company Banpresto has announced their newest lineup of CRANEKING arcade-exclusive prizes, available this October. Check what toys are hot on the Japanese arcade scene below!
■ I LOVE EVEE Plushie series 
■Capibara-san Super Delux Christmas Plushie 2012 
■Kamen Riders Wizard DX Deformed Figures 
■MY Pokemon Collection Plushies 
■Smile Pirikura! Power Up Tiara Plushie 
■One Piece Plushie Thriller Pack 
■I LOVE EIEVUI High Quality Eevee Plushie 
■Gintama Deluxe Figure 
■Recommembers One Piece Plushie 
■Chibi-kyun Gintama vol. 2 
■Chibi-kyun Nisemonogatari vol. 2 
■One Piece Scultures vol.3 
■Gundam Seires World Collection Figure vol. 1 
■JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure DXF Passione vol. 3 
■Kamen Riders Head Pack vol. 3 
■ K-on! Movie DXF Figure 2 
■Puella Magi Madoka Magica SQ Figure 
■Pokemon Move Museum vol. 003 
■TIGER ＆ BUNNY World Collection Figure vol.4 
■TIGER ＆ BUNNY MASTER STARS PIECE THE Kaburagi T. Kotetsu 
■One Piece DXF ～THE GRANDLINE MEN～ vol.14 
■One Piece World Collection Figure vol.28 
■Chibi-kyun Character K-on! 
■Macross Frontier Movie 2: Sayonara no Tsubasa DXF Figure NURSE ver. 
■Uta no Prince-sama Serious Love 1000% Plushie Vol. 1 
■Uta no Prince-sama Serious Love 1000% Plushie Vol. 2 
■Natsume’s Book of Friends Big Nyanko-sensei Plushie No. 3 
It looks like Pokemon, One Piece and K-On! are as overwhelmingly popular as ever. Tiger & Bunny also made a good showing, no doubt thanks to the success of the 2011 anime and sure-to-be-successful movie scheduled to release September 22.
I’m personally considering a trip to the local arcade to get my hands on one (or all) of those I Love Eevee plushies. According to the campaign website, those who fill out a survey at participating arcades are eligible to win one of twenty giant Eevee plushies through December 7. Though I can never decide on which stone to use…
Source: 4Gamer
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