[GAMES] Final Fantasy XIII-2 Soundtrack Promotion

Square Enix will be releasing the Final Fantasy XIII-2 OST on December 14, one day prior to the game's Japanese launch. a promotion video has been uploaded to the Square Enix Channel on YouTube.

Here is the video promotion including interview with 3 composer Mitsuto Suzuki, Mamashi Hamauzu, and Naoshi Mizuta.

If that's not enough music for you, you can get some more samples via the soundtrack's official site. The four-disc soundtrack will also come packaged with the Final Fantasy XIII-2 Collector's Edition when the game debuts in North America on January 31.

Via CrunchyRoll

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[JAPAN CULTURE] Samurai

Ever heard of "Samurai Deeper Kyo"? "Samurai X"? or "Samurai Champloo"? Yes! They are the Samurai heroes in anime world! So today we're gonna talk about one of the Japan Culture, SAMURAI!

Samurai (侍 or sometimes 士) is a common term for a warrior in pre-industrial Japan. A more appropriate term is bushi (武士) which came into use during the Edo period. However, the term samurai now usually refers to warrior nobility, not, for example, ashigaru or foot soldiers. The samurai with no attachment to a clan or daimyo was called a ronin just like Jin from Samurai Champloo.

Samurai were expected to be cultured and literate, and over time, samurai during the Tokugawa era gradually lost their military function. By the end of the Tokugawa, samurai were essentially civilian bureaucrats for the daimyo with their swords serving only ceremonial purposes. With the Meiji reforms in the late 19th century, the samurai were abolished as a distinct class in favour of a western-style national army. The strict code that they followed, called bushido, still survives in present-day Japanese society, as do many other aspects of their way of life.

Etymology of samurai
The word samurai has its origins in the pre-Heian period Japan when it was pronounced saburai, meaning servant or attendant. It was not until the early modern period, namely the Azuchi-Momoyama period and early Edo period of the late 16th and early 17th centuries that the word saburai became substituted with samurai. However, by then, the meaning had already long before changed.

During the era of the rule of the samurai, the earlier term yumitori (“bowman”) was also used as an honorary title of an accomplished warrior even when swordsmanship had become more important. Japanese archery (kyujutsu), is still strongly associated with the war god Hachiman.

So today we have learned about the history behind the samurai, Miruku Bento will post more about Japan Culture next time! See Ya!!

Via JapaneseLifestyle

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[J-POP] Tomohisa Yamashita Discusses Leaving NEWS

Yesterday a press conference was held yesterday in celebration of the first day of filming for the upcoming drama "Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata~Ending Planner~" and Yamashita, who stars in the drama, discussed about leaving the popular Japanese boy band NEWS.

He first began thinking about leaving NEWS during his solo Asia tour. As it became more difficult to balance his group and solo activities, he began discussing leaving NEWS with the group in June. 

Tomohisa Yamashita also talked about his future activities, revealing that he wanted to do more acting. This allowed him to take a bigger role in his own career. He also promised to continue singing as a solo artist. Well it's also a decision that have made after a long though.

 As a fan, we also have to give him a full support.


Via JPOPASIA

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[ANIME] Shigenori Soejima Art Works

Miruku Bento spotted the fabulous artwork from Soejima-sensei and this will be available in better comic book stores everywhere on Wednesday December 7th! Amazon/B&N/Bookstore orders should be available in the next few weeks.

The amazing art contains the art from Persona 3 & Persona 4 as well as other artwork from Soejima-Sensei’s career! And also an English translation interview with Soejima-Sensei about his art, life, and career!

Miruku Bento got some page preview from UDON, check this out!

Shigenori Soejima Art Works

Via UDON

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[GAMES] Dead Or Alive 5 Coming On 2012 !

Famitsu reveal out some new screens from Dead or Alive 5, along with some info about what kinds of things to expect in this latest numbered entry in the fighting series.

It sounds like the stages will be out to get you almost as much as your opponent with the new "dynamic attraction" system. Gimmicks like a recklessly swinging crane or crumbling concrete pillars can cause damage to your character if you're not careful. One stage in particular starts in a building under construction which then collapses, causing the rest of your fight to take place in a busy intersection where cars occasionally interrupt your fight.

Miruku Bento also got some screens from Siliconera, this 4 Fighters will be appeared on DOA5,

They are "hard-hitting karateka Hitomi", "cold-as-ice kunoichi Ayane", "Hayate" and "Ryu Hayabusa"

Check this out !

 
Dead or Alive 5 is slated for release in 2012 on PS3 and 360.


Via CrunchyRoll , Siliconera

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[ANIME] Code Geass Stage Play Coming Up Next April !

Finally the official website from Code Geass has announced that a stage play adaption of the series has been approved!

And will run for 13 performances at the Mozart Hall in Tokyo's Katsuhika Symphony Hills beginning April 7th until the 16th.

The title is Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion: Sōran Eve Matsuri (Riot's Eve Festival).

Advance ticket pre-orders will be available on December 25th.

Lelouch will be waiting for you at stage!


Via Yaraon!

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[J-POP] AKB48 Hangout On Google+!

On december 8th AKB48 announce that they will start using Google+! And today also AKB48's 6th anniversary and they made a special announcement during a press conference and it was live streamed on YouTube. A Google+ representative announced that they were really eager and excited to work with Akimoto Yasushi in promoting AKB48 and the social networking service to the world.

Announcement are included : live streaming of special concerts, using the video conferencing feature "Hangout" with AKB48 members, and also updates from all the members that will be added into your "Circles". With AKB48 members using Google+, messages will be translated into Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, English and Korean for easier access to fans.

During the press conference, Minami Takahashi as AKB48 captain, took a photo with a smartphone and uploaded to Google+ to signal the usage of this social networking service. Atsuko Maeda also added that she might try to use "Hangout" later on Google+!

Let's Hangout!!

Via jpopasia

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