First of all - happy new year! May the next 2010 bring us all only fulfilled dreams, happy moments and good dorama for us to enjoy!

Second - sorry for not posting for so long. There were so many things I wanted to write about but I'm too lazy for my own good so... ^_^" I will write about them in the near future though (I hope ^^) :)

Ok, back to the topic. Just watched Rinne no Ame on YouTube. It was... well, dramatical is the best word that can describe it. Both Seto Koji and Yamamoto Yusuke did their job great. When Shuu was scared, he really did look scared. When he was happy, he truly was happy. For me Yamamoto Yusuke's role was a bit harder though - and better played. He portraied very well the dilemma Kouhei was going through and the hardships he had to endure because of his brother, but also how much he really loves him. Both actors showed how good they truly are in the final scene (although Yusuke's face looked a bit like it was made of plastic ^^"). Shuu was so... happy and sunny when he though his brother had been reborn as his old, gentle self, but so was Kouhei himself. As if nothing had happened and they were little kids again, wanting nothing more than to be together.

All in all, I liked how the actors played their roles but the story itself was a bit too dramatical for me. And since it's only one episode (right?), we won't really find out what happened to Kouhei. All we do know is that the brothers will be separated by either bars or life itself.

Ok, now waiting for Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (wonder if Kame will be a good enough Kyouhei?)

Ok, JLPT when pretty much OK. It had a few difficult parts but hey - it's my fault for not knowing the words. And I'm pretty sure a question or two had no correct answer xD So I'm probably wrong and who knows what I've written on them ^_^" We'll see when the results are out - around the end of February or the beginning of March T_T Still, I think I did pretty good...

Change of subject.

Tomorrow I'm leaving on a two-day celebration trip with my... eh... schoolmates? I don't know how you call university 'schoolmates' in English... Anyway, we're gonna be about 32 people from all courses, including some of the teachers/lecturers and at least one boyfriend and a Japanese friend. Why, you ask? Well, in Bulgaria December 8th is the Day of the University Student so we all get a free day. It's basically a time when all students go somewhere together and have fun xD We're going to some villas a few hours away from Sofia (not sure how far away it really is though ^_^"). I hope it's going to be fun - it was a bit cold last year but this time around may be better :) Only time will tell xD

Ok, going to bed 'cause I have less than 7 hours of sleep... Good night! :)

My shortest post ever but I really felt like writing it.

It's 1:15 am. I have a 3rd level Japanese Language Proficiency Test (能力試験) in about 12 hours. And I'm watching Kamen Rider Kiva and Seto Koji related stuff on YouTube.

Feel free to call me crazy anytime ^_^" xD

Just finished watching Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World and thought I'd give my opinion on the Kamen Rider Kiva series as a whole :)

Kiva was times better than I had ever expected! Yeah, it was the first Tokusatsu I've ever seen (not counting the various Power Ranger series I've seen on TV) but I still didn't expect it to be that good. At first I thought it would be mainly about guys dressed in plastic suits fighting other guys dressed in plastic and rubber suits. Thank God, it was more than that xD

I especially liked how the story was constantly evolving - first with Wataru fighting random Fangire until we later got to the part where we found out what and how happened to his father. Otoya was unbelievable in terms of both character and acting - Takeda Kouhei did a wonderful job! But I still can't decide which one's funnier - Otoya or Nago after IXA was taken away from him *lol* Almost all (important) characters were interesting and very well played. There was one really annoying though - Mio. From the moment she found out about Wataru being half Fangire, she became the most annoying creature in the universe. Frankly, I'm glad she couldn't get it her way - I wouldn't have survived her staying with Wataru/Seto Koji, even if it's just in on screen. xD Btw he looked absolutely gorgeous with his "bad guy"/"I'll be King!" expression *heart*

... Am I the only one who thinks Otoya and Yuri were a better couple than Otoya and Maya?

The end of the final episode was so... FUNNY! xD Ok, Nago and Megumi got married (something I never thought could happen in a tokusatsu series when even renzoku rarely have anything more than one kiss (well... at least we did get one kiss ^_^")) Poor guy started suffocating as soon as he saw his bride xD And Masao storming in with his "Papa, papa!" - priceless!!! xD

The movie... well, it had a lot of Wataru and Otoya in it so I liked it ^_^ Another advantage - the quality (watched the series on Youtube... didn't really think I'd like it that much and by the time I realized that I was already like: "Where's my next episode? Where IS IT? WHEEEEEEEERE!!!" so searching for links and waiting it to download was beyond me ^_^")

We had a lot of time traveling - another thing I love in a movie/series. In this case, it was neither too much nor too little for my taste :) Taking into consideration the fact that Otoya died before Wataru was born, the two spent a pretty good amount of time together, didn't they xD

I don't know if the other Kamen Rider series are that good or I just happened to see the best one, but if there is at least one more that's this interesting don't hesitate to tell me ;)

Sorry, I'm sure there are grammatical and spelling mistakes in the randomness above but it's so late (~3:30am) that I can't even see those mistakes ^_^" Somehow I end up writing here in such a time that I can't even think well...

Ok, enough of the randomness. Till next time :)

Finally saw the last episode yesterday. It was really cute, with flashback of some of the most interesting moments. Asuka was absolutely gorgeous in the white suit *heart* But I didn't really get why the engagement ceremony had to be in a church though... And I'm a little bit frustrated that Asuka's father didn't appear before his family - I really wanted that to happen  Oh well - that just means more material for a new season xD Asuka's Dad and the national championship we never got to see *roll* But Sano Kazuma and Seto Koji were really cute ^_^

Btw I noticed something. When Asuka was calling Ryou on her cellphone, his name appeared on the display. It was written as 飛鳥 . I just couldn't help but wonder - WHY THE HELL DO YOU READ THAT AS ASUKA?!?!?!  

...Aren't Japanese names fascinating? xD Seriously, it's so fun trying to read them or find the meaning behind them :) And how you can write the same name in so many different ways... I have a feeling you can write your name with the kanji you want to, read it the way you want to and no one can tell you a thing! Like Death Note's main character Light, who's name is written as 月. Awesome, huh? xD

There was a Japanese festival in Sofia on Friday. A lot of stage events took place on the stage of Sofia theater, like an Aikido demonstration, koto instrumentals, kimono revue, folding a giant origami and others. And I was part of it all. How, you ask?

Well, this Monday one of the organizers came to our Japanese class (just before the start of this week’s kanji test xD), told us about the event and said he was looking for volunteers to help. Since I had planned to go back to my hometown I didn’t really pay much attention… until he mentioned he was looking for five girls and one boy to dress and take part in the kimono revue! So I postponed going back home for Saturday and signed up for it!

And so, yesterday I went to the theater at around 3:30pm (the event was going to start at 7pm). I thought we were just going to be dressed up and someone would take care of things like makeup and hairstyle. So I was pretty much surprised when, after arriving, I realized we had choreography and a rehearsal for it right away. Fortunately, it wasn’t that complicated so very soon we got to the interesting part – dressing up!

When we got to the dressing room we were given a pair of tabi – the floor of the room was covered with some kind of cloth so that we could walk there without shoes (some of us missed that little detail at first, of course ^_^”) Since we were in season groups – spring, summer, autumn and winter – everyone had a specific kimono to wear. In the winter group they presented kimono from four different Japanese historical periods – Meiji (明治), Taisho (大正), Showa (昭和) and Heisei (平成). I was in the spring group, representing a graduation ceremony (卒業式) kimono. It wasn’t just the six of us as I’d thought so it took the two Japanese women about two and half hours to just dress everyone up. I was a little bit disappointed my kimono was with a black hakama (but I absolutely loved the pink flowers on the sleeves ^_^) and not one of those colorful, long-sleeved kimonos but the woman who dressed me said they would change it after the revue so I could take pictures with it if I wanted. So I saw myself in both hakama and a Showa period kimono ^_^ And during the revue I found out that one of the two hakama kimono that were worn that night was about 150 years old and, judging from the design, it was probably mine. Which means it was made in the end of the Tokugawa shogunate… scary >_<

But the biggest surprise for me was after the show when we got back to the dressing room. The Japanese who had dressed us earlier said they had presents for us… and gave us yukata! Seriously, I never expected to be given a yukata just like that (actually, I’ve never thought I’d have one ^_^”). And so, now I have a dark blue yukata with red and yellow flowers on it and a one side yellow, one side red obi for it xD

After we had changed back to our own clothes (and I had gone through the Showa kimono) we went to the hall to watch the rest of the show. And then came the scary part. I saw a woman talking to one of the other girls (who studies Japanese with me). It turned out she was an interpreter or something for a Japanese reporter and his cameraman who wanted to interview us! When at some point he asked me about Japanese mode (which made me look like this O_O) I started talking about J-drama… I wanted to die right on the spot TT_TT I guess I was (or will be) shown on some Japanese television making a fool out of myself… Good thing was, when it was all over I went out with a couple of friends and we had some beer and pizza xD

Ok... I realize that's the longest post I've made so far but I was still too excited when I was writing it to skip on the details ^_^" I'm also posting a few pictures (although I usually look awful on pictures ^_^")


    


So... will post again soon :)

Ok, I just saw the Koizora drama. I haven't cried that much on a movie or dorama in my entire life (although I am a big crybaby when it comes to movies - I even cried on Lord of the Rings' end ^_^" But still...) I knew I shouldn't have broken my own rule not to watch anything based on a true story, especially when I know it doesn't have a happy ending. Not that Koizora is bad - just the opposite. It's just so sad... I spent the entire last two episodes wiping tears off my face and I couldn't stop even after it ended - had to wash my face to calm myself down  I could hold it up to episode 4, but it was impossible ever since Mika met Hiro's friend on Christmas Eve. And when she was folding the paper cranes in the hospital and wishing for him to get well I felt like I was a two-year-old who's toy had been taken  Should've just started learning the new kanji like I intended to...


To be honest, I started watching Koizora because of Seto Koji  I don't even remember how I got to the Koizora DramaWiki page and after seeing him with that white hair on the poster my first thought was: "OMG" O_O and, after reading the review, the second was: "Must see!!!"  Gotta admit, he really surprised me - I didn't expect him to do such a good job. Maybe because I've never seen him in such a serious role before. And he did great - be it when he had to act angry, jealous, happy, sad or anything in between. The entire cast was great - everyone did their job perfectly. And I saw Koji with black hair for the first time - it really suits him. Don't know why but I thought he'd look strange and unnatural (yeah, I know that's his natural color ) but he looked really... really... *tries to think of the right word and fails*  Uh, I hate it when I can't describe something I feel or think    Anyway, he looked great! 


If things continue like this, I'll watch Kamen Rider Kiva too. Seriously. Already saw three episodes  Which reminds me of TETRA-FANG. As far as I remember, I found them through Otomen. Funny, huh? Truth is, I once saw this cute picture of Otomen's cast. On it, Sano Kazuma had the 真 character on him and I though "Hey, maybe the 'ma' in his name is this 'ma'!" Long story short, I ended up trying to read the names of every cast member in Japanese xD When I got to Seto Koji and opened his DramaWiki page, it said he was both actor and singer... and I found TETRA-FANG ^_^ I downloaded their Destiny album - again, not expecting much 'cause when I usually download something I've never heard before I don't really like it. But this time I loved every single song, starting from Rainy Rose and at some point - Mind Garden (which is still my favorite ^_^).

And so, I mentioned another one of my current passions in an unnecessarily long entry And put a lot of emoticons. Sorry. Ahh, it's past 1am... too tired to learn kanji... might as well go and watch Kamen Rider Kiva... xD


Will rant more about random stuff again soon. Bye for now and thanks for reading 

Ok, I just finished watching the special and the first two episodes of Mama-san Volley de Tsukamaete (ママさんバレーでつかまえて). It tells the story of Mammies - a women's volleyball team sponsored by a supermarket. The thing is, all the members are of different age varying from 25 to 70 :) What they don't know is that the new 28-year-old coach Koutarou and the 40-year-old team captain Suzuko are newlyweds...

I can honestly say that's the strangest dorama I've ever seen. I can't even call it dorama - it's more like a Japanese sitcom o_O It's so strange... It seems that they're filming it like it's a play - the entire episode in one take, with an audience present. If that really is so, they're all really good actors. My Japanese isn't good enough to understand all the jokes and word plays but watching the troubled Mukai Osamu is just priceless xD Poor guy, being assaulted by all the women in the team before his beloved wife's eyes... *lol* I don't know if he has a stylist or chooses his own clothes but every series I've seen him in he's dressed really well. For Mama-san Volley de Tsukamaete I liked the clothes from the special the most ^_^ To be honest, I started watching this because of him - he was so cute in Atashinchi no Danshi, and in Mei-chan no Shitsuji was absolutely gorgeous! Katagiri Hairi (Asuka) looks a bit strange though... Her face, I mean. I don't know what is it, but, oh well - I'm still watching it because of Osamu-sama    And I have to admit - for a series about a volleyball team there sure isn't much volleyball xD


Got sleepy again - it's almost 2 a.m. after all... And I wanted to write about other stuff too... Apparently that'll have to wait until tomorrow... or at least in the next few days... *remembers the mountain of kanji she has to learn* Uhh... as soon as possible is the best I can say ^_^"

Bye-bye!

Ok, back with the dorama ranting xD

As the new season begins, new dorama start on many Japanese televisions. Wow, that sounded like I actually know what I'm talking about *lol*  Truth is, I've never watched more than one ongoing drama (and I've watched only ONE ongoing - HanaKimi). But something came over me this time and I started watching few with the intention of starting a few more :D Bellow is my opinion on the things I've already started.




Saw first episode about two hours ago. Absolutely loved it! It combines so many things - history, sci-fi, mystery, romance... The fetus part is a bit creepy though ^_^" I love the time traveling aspect - it makes you think about the way one little thing in the past can change the future. And it puts our character in an interesting situation xD Also, it was very fun for me to see things I've only heard about in class actually happening, like the obi tied on the front of Nokaze -  the way only courtesans where it, or how women dress in a white kimono before commiting suicide, like Saki's mother threatened to do. It makes you realize that the things you're told about in class DO exist (or did, in this case). Saki is also very cute - I spent the entire time wondering where I had seen her before but could never quite grasp it until I asked DramaWiki (the answer was: Himitsu no Hanazono) ^_^" And the fact that Sakamoto Ryoma - an actual historical figure - appears is really interesting. I hope it means they will stick to  history as it really happened (although, as Wiki says, Sakamoto was assassinated when he was 33 and here he looks older). I have really high expectations for this one, definitely gonna watch it!





Awwww, that one's so sweet! Koharu is really cute. I'm surprised at how well the girl plays her role. Aiba Masaki's good too. I can't keep myself from yelling at my screen every time he leaves Koharu alone so that means he does his job really well xD To be honest, I expected My Girl to be more of a comedy but I'm glad it turned out more serious :) It has so sweet moments, like when Masamune gave Koharu a ride on the back of his bike. And I'm so looking forward to him telling his mother that he has a daughter xD 

So... First time doing this EVER so I'm not too sure what to write... Might as well start from the basics ^_^

I'm a 20-year-old girl from Bulgaria, my name's Ivelina. Starting this October I'm going to be a second-year in university with Japanese Studies as a major. A few years ago I started reading manga and watching anime (I blame it on Yu-Gi-Oh... if they hadn't shown the first two seasons on TV I wouldn't have downloaded the rest and so on xD) and at one point I realized I wanted to learn that language no matter what :)  Yeah, I know, it's probably not the best reason to take up such a major but I had absolutely nothing else I wanted to do at that point ^_^  Anyway, after a year studying it, I don't regret that choice one bit!

At some point I also started watching different Asian drama series - not only Japanese but also Korean and Taiwanese. I find Korean ones too tragic from time to time though... What 'from time to time'? Each and every one that I've seen so far has been at least a bit over the edge (not to mention the one in which the two main characters actually died  x_x)  As for Taiwanese - they're a lot better, at least in my opinion. They have everything - drama, comedy, romance - and it's all very well balanced. And Japanese... Well, their biggest plus is the diversity of topics - there're not only romances but also dramas, comedies, thrillers... I've already seen over 15 and I plan on continuing xD

And so... a few weeks ago I started watching this J-dorama called Otomen without subs as an experiment - I really wanted to see how much of it all I would be able to understand *blush*  I was really surprised of how much I really did get - about half of what they said @_@  I was so excited... I though: "Hmm, wonder how much of that I can translate..." ... and I did it (with the help of my good friend the dictionary xD) Took me longer than I had thought but, to be honest, I never really believed I'd be able to finish that one episode xD Truthfully speaking, I registered here because of Otomen - a sub group that, as I thought, had started translating it as well, has a page here and I though I had to register to view the topic and download the subtitles or something ^_^"  In the end it turned out that they haven't finished editing episode 1 so that's why there wasn't anything... I felt like a complete idiot  >.<  Anyway, the dorama itself is pretty fun but I'll rant about it next time ;)  *lol*

Ok... This isn't the introduction I planned... not that I really had a plan to begin with... it definitely wasn't to talk about Asian dramas but I don't want to delete it 'cause I'd have to start all over again and I'm pretty lazy ^_^" So let's say that's good enough for a start, ok?  See ya ;)