ディエゴの日々

Sound financial advice from Matsuoka Miu

Diego — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:23:19 +0000

Here’s the situation: say a million yen suddenly falls into your lap. What do you do with it?

Spend it? Nah, in these tough times it pays to tighten the purse strings.

Invest it? I wouldn’t trust the stock exchange with a child’s lunch money, let alone a million yen.

Stick it in a bank account? Right . . . and while you’re at it, pray the state’s teetering deposit insurance system will keep you covered when that place goes belly-up.

Now let’s have an expert’s opinion on the matter.

Question: What would you do if you suddenly got a million yen?

Miu: I’d walk around and slap people in the face with wads of cash.

Sign me up for the next COMITIA

Diego — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:08:15 +0000

Then again, probably not the next one. (I’ll need time to replenish my Japan Excursion Fund after Spring 2009’s bank-busting visit.) But if they’ve got one slated for the second half of November 2010 or thereabouts, I’m game.

I’ll readily admit to having the occasional Comiket itch. The mainstay of anime blogs, convention posts and otaku news sites the world over, Comiket is to a foreign-based doujinshi enthusiast what being an astronaut is to a seven-year-old mulling over prospective careers: powerfully appealing and (for the overwhelming majority) completely unattainable. Not being a doujinshi enthusiast, I’ve never felt the pull as strongly as some, but from the time I was first exposed to it in Genshiken I’ve occasionally entertained the fantasy of squeezing myself into Tokyo Big Sight and helping myself to the mountains of fan-made merchandise on offer. Of course, the passing fancy never made it into the real world: financial considerations aside (which in any case can be surmounted after several months of diligent paid labour), the sheer enormity of the event, the practical difficulties faced by attendees and the mature content favoured by many of the participating circles all served to dissuade me from queuing up for a ticket.

But the dormant embers of my desire to attend one of these events – if only for the experience of it and nothing more – were fanned back into life by a recent piece on Anime News Network about COMITIA 90. Leaner, meaner, and supposedly cleaner, COMITIA sounds like just the sort of doujin gathering Diego can happily attend.

Most encouraging of all was the following bit of information (from the same ANN article):

While this may sound like it keeps with the stereotype that all Japanese dōjinshi conventions are filled with porn, it is important to note that beyond the adult and game sections, the presence of adult material at Comitia was mostly limited. In fact, Comitia had a few groups that I’m accustomed to not seeing at events like these: families, walking around the show floor with children of all ages.

More evidence of the same, from Daniel Lau’s post on COMITIA 89:

Comiket is more about fandom than it is about comics. What I learnt was that in a convention that permits derivative work, the majority of output seems to be 1) fan favourite characters in compromising situations, 2) fan favourite characters being repeatedly compromised by other, same-gendered characters, or 3) anything + Fist of the North Star.

Regarding the first two, I’m no prude. I support, you know, any perversion you can name. But much of Comiket was like walking through an adult video store (which is honestly what was most worrying about there being so many kids there this year, but that’s another topic).

Comitia prides itself on being all about original comics. When you take out all the fanfiction, even going so far as to ban cosplay, the bar gets raised a little. Creators have to get a bit more serious or stay home (looks like nine halls full of circles stayed home). That’s not to say there wasn’t any erotic material at Comitia, but not surprisingly it shrunk to a minority. I guess it’s no fun when there’s no love in it.

With my next trip to Japan already in its early planning stages, COMITIA’s prospects of earning a spot on my itinerary look very promising indeed. The problem is finding enough information about it in English (since my Japanese isn’t quite good enough to decipher much of what’s on the official site). Comiket has been written about to within an inch of its life in the anime blogosphere, but COMITIA doesn’t enjoy the same breadth and depth of coverage. If you’ve got any helpful tips for a prospective first-timer, feel free to sound out in the comment box or by email (animeaffairs AT yahoo DOT com – cut out the spaces and so forth). I’d certainly appreciate the advice.

Cheerio.

Update (23 November 2009): Daniel Lau has very kindly responded to a query I posted on his blog. If you’re planning to attend COMITIA, check out the Comments section of his COMITIA 90 post for some great advice.

LINKS

The Anime News Network article that sparked my interest in COMITIA.

Daniel Lau’s post on COMITIA 89, and a fresh write-up on COMITIA 90.

The official site.

Reshaping Tokyo – one webpage at a time

Diego — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:44:52 +0000

We're rebuilding Tokyo. Care to lend a hand?

As its Collaboration of the Month project for November 2009, the denizens of the free online travel website Wikitravel have embarked on an important endeavour: bringing order to the massive accumulation of district entries and information pages that collectively make up the Tokyo travel guide.

Like Wikipedia, Wikitravel allows anyone to contribute and edit information, so I’d encourage readers to jump in – or, to use site parlance, “plunge forward” – and help make the project a success. Whether it’s the address of a hole-in-the-wall manga shop or a new travel guide for an entire district, any helpful contribution is welcome, no matter how big or small.

Arrivederci, Neo Venezia: Amano Kozue’s Cielo (artbook review alert)

Diego — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:13:40 +0000

Diego briefly escapes from the drudgery of the white-collar salt mines to bring you another review, served piping hot on the Wolf Hurricane blog.

Today, the spotlight falls on Cielo – the last in a three-volume series of hardbound books featuring the manga art of ARIA author and illustrator Amano Kozue.

Read the full text of my review here.

Putting “Japanese” through its paces

Diego — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:53:10 +0000

The iPod Touch puts Swiss army knives to shame. Never mind that you can’t use it to cut cheese, start a fire or skin a wild mountain goat. With a Touch in hand, you can bop along to the heavenly tunes of Palestrina one minute and study for the JLPT the next. Heck, why not do both at the same time?

(Because Latin and Japanese don’t really mix well, that’s why. But you could if you wanted to.)

Today, Diego turns the spotlight on an app that iPod Touch or iPhone-toting Nihongo students might consider adding to their software arsenal: codefromtokyo’s Japanese.

INTRODUCTION

Japanese is a language reference app that bundles a dictionary, kanji database, hiragana/katakana guide and various lookup/study aids into a single software package.

The price? US$19.99. (In a word: Ouch.) By the end of this review, you’ll know whether I think the app is worth giving up a few overpriced gourmet lattes for.

The current release (version 2.0) weighs in at a hefty 47.2MB, but the space investment is well worth making because the entire database resides on your iPod Touch or iPhone. No internet connection is required for the app to function properly; just switch on your device and you’re good to go.

As for system requirements, Japanese is compatible with both the iPhone and the iPod Touch, in both cases requiring version 3.0 of the iPhone OS. (Note: The app’s official website says that only version 2.0 or 2.1 is required, whereas the App Store product page says 3.0. I’ll err on the side of caution in this case and prescribe 3.0.) All of the information in this post is derived from the app’s performance on my device, which is a first-generation 16GB iPod Touch loaded with OS version 3.1.2.

FEATURES WALKTHROUGH

Japanese is like a Swiss army knife within a Swiss army knife: out pops the blade, which in turn sprouts even more blades. There are almost too many features on this app to write about, but let’s try to go through some of the most important.

First up: the dictionary function. There are four ways to dig up the word you’re seeking – the lunatic way (scrolling through all 154,957 entries until you find the one entry you need), the boring way (using the standard Western keyboard to type in romanised words), the fun way (using the built-in kana keyboard to type in hiragana), and the really fun way (which I’ll save for later).

Doing a search is easy peasy: just type in the word you want . . .

. . . then tap on the desired result to bring up the word’s full dictionary entry.

Now let’s pop out a few more blades. Tap on any item in the “Kanji In This Word” section to bring up a full database entry for that specific kanji that sets out variant readings, sample sentences, popular compounds, radicals and identifying codes for various references (such as New Nelson and Kodansha). The sample sentences, compounds and radicals can themselves be tapped on to bring up even more information, but let’s not get into that here or we’ll soon find ourselves tracing out a tree with seemingly infinite branches.

Before we return to the dictionary entry though, let’s tap on one more thing in the kanji database entry – the stroke count. This will bring up a large, almost full-screen animated diagram setting out the proper stroke order for drawing the character, very useful for writing practice (although its usefulness is limited by the format which follows the straight-edged word processor style, not the more natural handwritten style found in some printed works).

Back to the dictionary entry. Scroll down and you’ll find a list of example sentences containing the word you searched for – another useful feature for students. Tap on any item in that list to bring up an enlarged, more readable version of the example (complete with furigana). And the blade-popping doesn’t stop there: tapping on another word in the sentence . . .

. . . takes you to the dictionary entry for that word.

A great feature of the dictionary in Japanese is the ability to search for verbs using their conjugated forms – something that the otherwise excellent free app Kotoba! didn’t have. (In that app, one had to know the dictionary form of a verb to conduct a successful search.) For my part, I found this a very handy function whilst listening to Japanese songs: on hearing the word 漕ぎ出そう in the Aria opening theme, I typed the word into the Japanese search bar and it brought up the entry for the verb 漕ぎ出す. (Moreover, the dictionary entries for verbs contain an extensive list of conjugations, including informal variants and special types like imperative and volitional forms.)

Earlier, I mentioned a really fun way to do a word lookup. Now for a demonstration. Picture yourself in a Japanese convenience store (within the borders of Gakuen Toshi, to put the screencap in its proper context), idly browsing through the magazine racks. As your eyes flit from one cover to another, you run into a word you can’t understand.

What now? Even the kana keyboard is useless if one doesn’t know the word’s correct reading. Fret not: just open Japanese, bring up the Traditional Chinese handwriting recognition keyboard (which should have been activated beforehand via the device’s general settings), draw in the kanji one by one, select the result that matches what you’re seeing . . .

. . . and you’re done.

This direct-entry feature isn’t always spot on, but keep in mind that it was designed for Traditional Chinese. As of this writing, the people behind the iPhone OS have yet to introduce a handwriting recognition keyboard tailored specifically for the Japanese language.

There are many other features worth writing about, which I shall have to rush through in the interests of brevity:

Hiragana and katakana charts, complete with stroke-order animations for each character.

A 12,736 entry kanji database, which includes the 1,945 jōyō kanji and stroke-order animations for more than 2,000 characters. Kanji are categorized by component, radical and school year (i.e., elementary levels 1 through 6 and junior high). The best part: a feature that allows users to search for kanji by their individual components.

Various lists and list-making features, including a search history, classifications (ranging from food to mechanical engineering) and lexical categories (proverbs, nouns, verbs, adjectives and so forth).

There is also a special section that may be of help to anyone revising for the JLPT. Vocabulary entries are grouped into four levels (following the ranking format of the exam), and there’s a reminder up top that tells you how many days you have left to study.

PERFORMANCE

Japanese loads very quickly on my iPod Touch, requiring no more than two to four seconds from first tap to search-ready. It also responds to search queries with blistering speed – something that I’ve found very convenient when trying to look up a word heard moments earlier in a song or an anime episode.

The app’s broad range of personal settings allow for a substantial degree of customisation. Controls are available for features as basic as the romanisation method (five to choose from, including two variants of Hepburn) and as obscure as nanori (special kanji readings used mainly for Japanese names).

FINAL VERDICT

Prior to the major improvements that were rolled out with version 2.0, Japanese offered few advantages over the free dictionary app Kotoba! (with which it shared a number of features such as handwriting input and the use of the massive JMDict Project database). While Kotoba! remains an excellent and reliable option for those on a budget, Japanese has now pulled well ahead in terms of features and performance. (For a general overview of what the app was like before version 2.0, check out the great review of a previous version on iPhoning Japan.)

Packing several print references’ worth of information into a single user-friendly – and highly portable – app, Japanese could prove a handy companion for students who need to look something up on the go. In view of its comprehensiveness, wide range of features, ease of use and fast response time, the price of a few visits to a pretentious cafe seems well worth paying.

I don’t think Sony should get my Christmas bonus this year

Diego — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:32:18 +0000

Thanks for the warning, Adolf.

No KyoAni, you are not forgiven yet

Diego — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:40:50 +0000

But if I see the following scenes from the novel brought to life . . . then we’ll talk.

What was this reaction… similar to a normal person’s?

Nagato’s eyes were tightly shut, and a blush of red began spreading on her ceramic-like pale cheek. Moans, like faint sighs, escaped from her slightly parted lips, and I finally noticed the quivering of her delicate shoulders under my hands, like a puppy under chilling air. A shivering voice reached my ears.

“Stop it…”

I confirmed that Asakura had left first before I whispered to Nagato.

“See you. Can I visit the club room tomorrow too? I have nowhere else to go to after school.”

Nagato fixed her eyes on me, and…

…Gave a faint but definite smile.

I was literally dazzled.

Show me this, KyoAni, and I will show mercy in return when I pass sentence over you for what I now realise is the longest, most expensive, and by far the most frustrating movie teaser I’ve ever had the displeasure of sitting through.

I’m thinking of the good old days

Diego — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:39:22 +0000

Remember when this show used to be good?

Remember when the next episode was something one used to look forward to?

Remember when the adoring masses wanted to heap bouquets on KyoAni’s doorstep, instead of burning tyres and Molotov cocktails?

Yeah, I do too.

So here, for a limited time only, is a reminder of happier times.

And now for a brief update . . .

Diego — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:40:06 +0000

. . . on my present circumstances.

Not much to say, really. Work is proving a major drain on both my overall enthusiasm and my time at leisure, but that’s all par for the course – and the not-inconsiderable pecuniary fruits thereof are regularly being converted into fresh acquisitions for my manga shelves. If all goes well I may even be able to put away enough for a return journey to the Land of Raw Fish on Rice next autumn, a year ahead of schedule.

This blog will continue to be updated when time (and mood) permits, so no announcement of a hiatus is forthcoming. On the other hand, do expect a slower rate of publication than before, thanks mainly to my full-time commitments as a white-collar slave but also because I don’t see much worth blogging about in this year’s disappointingly bland fall anime lineup. (The good people at Random Curiosity will happily bring you up to date on that.) It’s not a good sign for the upcoming season that the only show with a reasonable chance of going on my viewing queue – for now at least – is about a chap who can understand catspeak.

Cheerio.

Japan 2009 Highlights: Koishikawa Kōrakuen

Diego — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:48:47 +0000

Let’s go for a stroll through one of Tokyo’s finest traditional gardens.

(NB: To put things in the proper context, I took these pictures on Sunday, 29 March 2009 – right in the middle of hanami season. Enter the garden now and there won’t be a single cherry tree in bloom, although I’m sure it’s still worth visiting.)

Nestled within the urban sprawl of Bunkyō-ku (north of the Imperial Palace), the Koishikawa Kōrakuen dates from the 17th century and was once associated with the Daimyō of Mito’s Edo residence. It’s not exactly off the beaten track, but for tourists seeking to escape the company of their fellow gaijin this place really hits the spot.

On the other hand, there’s no escaping the hordes of happy Tokyoites who descend on the garden every time the cherry trees start breaking out into clouds of pink and white blossoms.

Looking for a place to relax?

Look someplace else.

No worries – the garden is quite large and there are many quiet corners to which one might beat a hasty retreat.

Right, that’s about all the commentary I can wring out of my work-stressed brain at the moment. I’ll let the pictures do the talking from here on.

(Just one more piece of commentary – that is Tokyo Dome right next door. So close you can hear the crowds from the garden, although the cheering tends to be quite muffled so the atmosphere isn’t badly spoilt.)

The Koishikawa Kōrakuen is within easy reach of Iidabashi Station on the Toei Ōedo Line. 300 yen gets you through the entrance. There’s a fair bit of walking involved, on different kinds of terrain – from flat, meandering paths to long flights of stairs – so wear comfortable shoes and pack a bottle of water or two.