Love for Nana... Only 1 Tribute

Trapnest version

Blackstones version

Tommy Heavenly6 "Gimme All of Your Love"
kawaii desu!

This is my favorite song on the Love for Nana Only 1 Tribute CD. I copped the Trapnest version at Kingstone Tuesday, which only means that the manga artwork for the fictional band Trapnest is on the cover. You could imagine my panic when I discovered there were two versions of the cd. Judging how good The Trapnest version was I would have to get the Blackstones version because that had to be just as good or better! Turned out that it was only a ploy by the record company to make us fans by the same damn cd twice to collect both versions of the cover. Assholes.

Here's a track listing peep the all star cast on this cd!

1. Takamizawa Toshihiko Beat The Theme Of Love For Nana
2. Tommy Heavenly 6 Gimme A11 Your Love
3. Kimura Kaela Twinkle
4. Tetsu 69 Reverse
5. Abingdon Boys School Stay Away
6. Do As Infinity I Miss You ?
7. Tomoyasu Hotei Featuring Moribayashi Miho Bambino
8. Glen Matlock Featuring Holly Cook Sleepwalking
9. Skye Sweetman Sugar Guitar
10. Japaharinet Japanese Track
11. Sex Machineguns Black Crow
12. Zone Two Hearts
13. Ai Otsuka Cherish

This cd was really good I recommend you guys pick up everything Nana related.

Oh Boy & The call in sick adventure.

So Cabraru & I are chilling in front of Kinokuniya yesterday looking at a Samurai magazine I had just copped. Cabraru was too busy looking at the hot naked chick in the magazine to notice the hottie walk into the bookstore . I advise "hey man you're missing the show" to which he completely ignored me. A few minutes later hottie walks out of Kinokuniya, I point out "there she goes man, you missed her again", Cabraru looks up & catches a glimpse of hottie & exclaims "hey I know her!", he then drops my magazine on the ground & chases after her leaving me there alone on the bench. I shrug then start to browse my magazine. I was pretty shocked to see Cabraru return with the hottie in tow.

This is what transpired while I wait on the bench, as told by Cabraru:

"I ran after her then tapped her on the shoulder, she turned around & I was like hey aren't you Seiko. She replied yes & stared at me with a blank look on her face. I said hey I'm Cabraru, then it hits her oh you used to come to my work to eat alot. Small talk ensues, then I said hey come meet my friend. Seiko goes OK."

I get the introduction Seiko desu hajimemashite. Being the male that I am I'm sizing up her thighs & cute hairstyle. But Seiko san was mad cool though, she was totally cool. I learned that she is from Yamaguchi, "I'm a country girl" she said. She loves to play guitar & likes the Beatles & 60's music. She was working at the restaurant we frequent for Shabu shabu but quit because the owner was a jerk. Technically on a student visa the individual is not supposed to work but it was very hard to survive without some type of supplemental income.

In the conversation Cabraru & I advised that we have been studying Nihongo at the private Japanese school in Japan Town. Seiko Chan advised that for $15 an hour she would teach us Nihongo & that we should exchange cell phone numbers, maybe to test how down I was she spit out her denwa bango in nihongo. Thank god I paid attention in class ne. Seiko san advised that she had to go but to call her for a lesson.

I think I just might do that.

Afterwards it was on to a new "Asian Bar & Lounge" called 4-1-5. Nice atmosphere but the bartender made a horrible Mojito & Long Island. Cabraru & I discussed his itinerary for his Japan trip coming up this Thursday. It looks like an all out adventure & I am a bit jealous. Tokyo to Kyoto then on to Fuji San then back to Tokyo I expressed my jealousy & advised that I can't wait for my next trip to Tokyo in January to come along as I am looking forward to just soaking in Tokyo & all it's sights & sounds as opposed to running around frantically hitting up all the BAPE stores in the city & shopping till I drop. 2 Mojitos & 1 Long Island later (horrible bartender!) we both decided to go to Best Buy near the infamous Rainbow grocery to buy Tokyo Drift.

It was back home after that to watch Tokyo Drift.

Tokyo no Tomodachi

I got my copy of the Tokyo no Tomadachi soundtrack at Kingstone Books, get your today!

Tokyo Friends

A great drama I've been watching lately Tokyo Friends. Appears this was a straight to dvd release 5 episodes long starring Ai Otsuka.
It's the story of a girl that leaves home (in the sticks) to go to Tokyo. She finds a job at a small bar Yume no Kura = Dream's Cellar where she meets the members of a band called Survival Company. Otsuka Ai does a great job in this, she is such a cutie pie. This drama definitely creates a world that I love to visit. This drama also has a nice ensemble cast that fans of Jdoramas will have no problem at all recognizing. We have alum from Last Christmas, Waterboys, Slow Dance, Yoshitsune, Ruri No Shima & the list goes on.
A big plus for me was the music & Survival Company has some great songs featuring Ai on vocals. I was stoked to find my copy of Tokyo no Tomodachi soundtrack at Kingstone Books this weekend.
At only 5 episodes this doesn't demand a huge commitment (a la Yoshitsune) & the atmosphere is awesome, viewers will fall in love with Tokyo & the cast.

Tsuji gives this dorama:
-two thumbs up
-a fully erect penis
-a standing ovation
-10 out of 10

Whatever grading scale you use, this is a winner. Great fun. Enjoy.

Raishu, Gacky Chan ga Imasen.

It's very interesting how I came to love Aragaki Yui. I enjoyed Gyarusa immensely but Gacky did not stand out for me in that dorama. Langdon pointed out that she was drowned out in the sea of hotties that were also in that dorama. In Gyarusa my focus was on Toda Erika, she was my crush on that series. I thought about it for a second...
What I think it is is that in Gyarusa Gacky played a total bitch. She was a too hot for me Tokyo Bijin. Stuck up with an attitude. She is hot no doubt but I think the character she played turned me off to her.
After seeing her as Hikari in My Boss, My Hero, I totally fell in love with her! As Hikari she was sweet, innocent, kind, thoughtful....girl next door hot! Amazing. I kind of fell in love with Aragaki Yui as Hikari.

I told some of my buddies that when I close my eyes & think of my dream girl I think of Aragaki Yui...as Hikari in My Boss, My Hero.

In real life she could be a raging bitch. She could possibly be more like Nagisa in Gyarusa.

Who knows, the odds are against me ever finding out what the real Aragaki Yui is like. I did watch the episode of Honey is Coming (please see my previous post entitled "You Son of a Bitch") & also the episode of Matthews Best Hit TV (please see "Bang Bang Eriku's Dead Part 2" on YODC)
& I must say I wouldn't believe it if Gacky was a mean spirited bitch in real life. She just comes across as so sweet.
If she really was a mean spirited person she is one hell of an actress. Come to think about it. Every woman I've been involved with was an Oscar caliber actress. Hehe.

Ah we'll never know.

Falling in love with Gacky was fun. Yeah it's stupid... but so what! I'm having a great time, & I'm not hurting anyone. I can still daydream about hooking up with Gacky (Hikari) & starting a happy family. Everything that Hikari represents, everything that Hikari brings to the table is the bomb! In my mind that is the perfect girl for Tsuji.

I wrapped up episode 7 of My Boss, My Hero. That is the important turning point so far in the relationship between Makio(27 yrs old) & Hikari(17 yrs old). Makio masquerading as a highschool student experienced what "first love" is like with Hikari. In the end although it was very obvious that Hikari was falling for Makio, Makio took the high road & realized that there were just some things he wouldn't be able to obtain in life. ie. a romantic relationship with Hikari. Makio chalked the whole thing up as a wonderful dream he was dreaming. ii ne.

Next week now that my head is out of the clouds (chotto ne) I will be pulling this train out of Gackyland eki & write about some other funny & interesting things that have come up lately.

BVA pointed out to me that this whole crush on Gacky was annoying & not funny at all. Well kick rocks BVA. At least I had fun!

Ja ne.

Hako no Naka ni Gacky Chan ga Imasu

To love Gacky is to Live Happy.

You Son of a Bitch.

Gackyland

I only care about Gacky Chan right now.

Watashi wa Gacky Chan no sureibu desu

Muri desu. I can't live another day without Gacky. Sayonara fellas, I'm checkin' out. I love you Gacky.

This picture actually made me cry. I don't know if I was crying because it is pretty much impossible that Gacky & I will ever be together or if I was crying because she is so beautiful....probably both ne. Her bare feet are so kawaii! I love you Gacky!

This picture made my jaw drop & a pool of saliva formed on my desk from the spit dribbling from the side of my mouth while I looked at this beautiful image of my beloved Gacky! I love you Gacky!

This picture made me get down on all fours & bark at my computer monitor.
Gacky I love you!

Oh God I Can't Stand it Any Longer!

Watch the clip dammit & you'll see how I fell in love with Aragaki Yui. Hikari & Sakaki walking to school in the rain...sigh!

Bang! Bang! Eriku's Dead!

Readers. I am so head over heels in love with this lovely lovely girl Aragaki Yui. Wonton gave me episodes 1-5 of My Boss, My Hero which I watched in one sitting last night. I just could not help myself after seeing the super duper kawaii Hikari grace my big screen. I thought about her last night before I went to bed. I thought about her all day at work. I thought about her when I ate dinner.

It feels as though there's a lumberjack in my chest chopping away at my heart. (if I may quote a line from My Boss, My Hero)

I actually feel like I'm in love!!!!!

It hurts because she will never be here, but it hurts in a good way, I kinda like it! (if I may quote again =)

Seeing Aragaki Yui made me forget all about my crushes on Nono, Sayumi, Akiko Yada, BoA, Haruna Yabuki, Yajima Maimi, Saki Chan, and Kitagawa Keiko.

Stop the presses Eriku's in love!

Aragaki Yui desu.

Wonton, god bless your soul for hooking me up with episodes 1-5 of My Boss, My Hero. I am so grateful because I would have missed this opportunity to see the girl that makes my heart skip a beat, Hikari. How can Makio help himself? Hikari has the girl next door look & is sweet & cute & everything you could ask for!

The above clip is of Makio & Hikari at the school's courage challenge. Makio is so nervous being paired with Hikari he can barely contain himself, then again I would fall to pieces too being alone with Hikari.

The actress that plays Hikari, Aragaki Yui, changed her appearance so much that I almost didn't recognize that she also played Nagisa in Gyarusa.

I am in love with her as Hikari, such a change from her role in Gyarusa.

In love in love in love!!!!!!!

I wish my girlfriend would sing to me.

yakusoku = promise

Oh, wait I guess I would need to have a girlfriend first right? This vid was kinda cool I love this song. Yakusoku by Yui Horie as featured in the anime Love Hina. I had to decipher what the hell she was saying in the beginning, I was like WTF?

"Hi I'm making a video it's for yor birthday, it's your lullaby video I don't know how I'm going to get it to you...."
Anyways, check it out.


translation at the end...happy birthday, I'll always love you my love, good night. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh.

So how'd she do? I'll let you guys be the judge, here's the song sung by Yui Horie audio only. Enjoy.

Minmi....

YODC got some MInmi love then I found this performance. I had to put it up. I have been a fan of Minmi's after hearing the awesome song Fly High, then I fell deeper in love with her after hearing Shiki no Uta & Who's Theme on Samurai Champeru. Enjoy!

Misc.

I bought the Taiwanese release of Puffy's Spurge at Kingstone Books Ranch 99

A Heartful of Love

A Heartful of Love

I bought "A Heartful of Love" on vcd @ Kingstone Books Ranch 99

2006 Autumn/Winter BAPE catalogue

Sept Issue Samurai Magazine

Sept. Issue Ollie Magazine

The BAPE Autumn/Winter 2006 catalogue came with a BAPE towel in a plaid pattern.

New BAPE kicks lineup...

Here they are the BAPE Roadsta. I hope there are some left by the end of the month when Cabraru san gets to Tokyo because I want some. Right now most of the kids in the Bay are rocking bootleg Bapestas, pretty much gauranteed that nobody will have these yet here.

Over at Bay Street in Emeryville they were doing some promotion to help kids to learn to keep the community clean. So people/artists? decorated trash cans like this. Cabraru san almost got thrown out with the rest of the trash.

Now part of my mission in the city was to eat at Burma Superstar but Cabraru san wanted to go across the bridge to Emeryville though. We ended up eating at Pasta Pomadoro at the Bay Street mall. Here's what's left of my chicken parmigiana & penne pasta.

Cabraru san opted for a salad. Salad seems right since two guys spending the day together isn't gay enough ....Cabraru san orders a salad.

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I had a day off yesterday & my plan was to drive to the city & try a restaurant called Burma Superstar. My buddy J Villa has been raving about this place & he highly recommended the Burma Cooler which is a beer seasoned with fresh ginger root & lemon. Damn doesn't that sound good? He also said the curry was off the hook.
I also wanted to pick up the latest Ollie & Samurai magazines at Kinokuniya in Japan Town. Nobody was around or wanted to hang out but Cabraru san called me up while I was getting ready to drive up to the city so he met me up at Jtown. We browsed the sparse offerings at Jtown & picked up our magazines at Kinokuniya then walked over to the new Super7 store...but afterwards Cabraru wasn't in the mood to try Burma Superstar. I probably could have convinced him to go but I'd rather eat where everyone can enjoy themselves. So we hightailed across the bridge to Emeryville to hang out at Bay Street & find someplace to eat.
We opted to eat at Pasta Pomadoro, which was ok, then we read our new magazines while sipping on decaf at the cafe. Damn the weather was cool & we chilled outside next to the fireplace upstairs. I got the great idea of showing Cabraru san Kimono My House, I called up Langdon to see what their schedule was because I knew it was wierd. Langdon confirmed that they were only open from Thursdays to Sundays. That sucked because the old geezer over there started carrying bootlegs of old ass Japanese tv shows & I was in the mood to pick a few up. Plus I think Cabraru would've gotten a kick out of the place.
After taking a piss (damned coffee), we rolled over to Kingstone Bookstore near Ranch 99. They didn't have anything mindblowing but I did pick up a copy of Splurge by Puffy, it's pretty good. I hate it when they sing in Eigo though. I also found A Heartful of Love on vcdfor $12.
After that we walked past the candy store & I almost gave in to the urge to start a stuffed toy collection after seeing Ernie, Cookie Monster & Elmo plush toys in the window. Ah man how would I expain that shit? They were kawaii though & I almost gave in to the urge. hehe.

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I was surfing yesterday & I came across this group called Aural Vampire, a synth pop group from Japan. They had some songs available for download on their myspace music page which were pretty cool. But mostly I thought thia pic of them was cool. The singer is soooo sexy OMG I wanted to beat my shit so badly when I saw this pic. EXO Chika is the type of woman that would ruin me. I would forget my job, family, friends & just follow her around all day smoking cigarettes & doing whatever she told me to do in anticipation for when we got home & she got freaky for me. Cool.



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Ooki na Ai de Motenashite has been on heavy rotation & now has bumped Yuna Ito's Endless Story out of the number #1 spot in my heart. Yajima Maimi is sooo kawaii! Can't forget Saki & Airi....sigh. That song is probably the heaviest hitter out of the recent HP! releases in my opinion, beating out GAM's releases & Berryz & Momosu's recent releases. Keep it coming!

Omohide poroporo aka Only Yesterday

Hirota kun & Taeko chan

"Omohide Poroporo" aka "Only Yesterday"

Once again I'll mention that I love slice of life drama anime much more than the standard sci fi mecha fantasy fare.

I wanted to see this movie so bad & of course it was one of the Ghibli films that was not slated for an American release, the copy I got was an obvious bootleg, but I had no choice you see.

This movie delivered in so many ways & I highly recommend it.

This single segment in the movie stands out so much for me. It was innocent & cute. We've all been there & the Ghibli crew captured it beautifully, wouldn't you agree. I absolutely love the artstyle. The only thing is the small part after this clip ends is great I wish it was included, but the bulk of this segment is here.

interesting...very interesting.....

konnichiwa, waku waku desu

kyo, Catch san no email ga arimasu

Catch would like to try & set up an interview with me while I am in Tokyo to complete my file at the company he works for. He wants to have my file ready to go for screening for the 2007 school year. I really hope that I get offered a contract to teach.

It's really exciting because it is possible that I could be living in Tokyo as soon as March 2007. I will keep my fingers crossed & prepare the best I can. Of course, nothing is set in stone, although I can dream ne!

It seems that teaching would be the easiest way for me to get settled in in Tokyo but Yumi Chan seems to think that I can get a job doing something else. She seems willing to help out too which is cool. I guess it would be to her benefit to help me get a job because if I do move I probably will be staying with her for a couple months so she can't have a dead beat friend bumming off of her.

Cabraru San called me up today & said that his older brother Roland has been hanging out at the local pizzeria/bar on Thursday nights & for the past two weeks a group of hot Japanese girls have been showing up. "A target rich environment" is how he described the scene to me. Supposedly these girls are "stunning" if I may quote Roland again. Well since the closest train station is a 20 minute drive for me I will be driving my ass to San Francisco to catch a glimpse of the promised land. Promised land = a well mannered beautiful Japanese girl. Well if they don't show up the spot has pretty good pizza & beer so it can't all be a bust. I am not however looking forward to driving for 45 minutes to get home while suffering from food coma.

The things I'm willing to do for love....sigh....

K Pop till you drop.

Kiss "Because I'm a Girl"

This music video shows that "Korean Drama" style that the J dorama writers/directors/producers are trying to copy.
This shit is so sad, I found this video a couple years ago. I stumbled upon it when I was looking for PVs by my first Jpop love BoA. BoA being Korean, I came across a ton of K Pop stuff. This video was one of em. Sappy, cheesy, romantic, tragic. Just the way I like em'.

Kabuki loves this video, he has a crush on the actress.




Here she is, early on I was smitten by the Beat Of this Angel. This was one of the noteworthy Kpop releases "Waiting" I absolutely loved this live performance. I hope you guys do too.

urbal worldwide

click to resize pic & view details
urbal worldwide ad Hilarious Magazine 2006
"founding fathers"
L to R DMS & Tsuji
don't ask me about what happened to the pic? blogger wacked it out!??!

click to resize pic & view details
unitedstate in-store catalogue ad fall/winter 2006
"founding fathers 2"
DMS & Tsuji

Skurge performing @ Capitol Garage Sacramento, Ca.

Zealous performance Capitol Garage Sacramento, Ca.

Zealous Live Santa Rosa, Ca

I tried uploading the Hilarious magazine ad twice & both times it came out wierd like that, my guess is the high res image/file size has something to do with it when blogger resizes it???
Gomen, you guys get the idea of how it will look.
UnitedState in Sacramento is the only authorized retailer in California for urbal apparel now. We opted to stick with them & pull out of Getta Clue for a few reasons, we thank the folks over at Getta Clue for showing us love in the beginning though.

Also, any fans of local Hip Hop artists Skurge of Righteous Movement & Zealous & The Chosen Few can find these dudes rocking the latest urbal apparel gear. These brothas have been showing us much love lately wearing the gear at all of the recent shows. DMS & I both feel the music that these cats are making & at the same time they are underground, down to earth, positive & supportive of all of us in the Bay Area/Sacramento that are trying to get our hustle on in a positive way. You will find either DMS or myself Tsuji at any of the shows for Skurge/Righteous Movement & Zealous & The Chosen Few hustling urbal gear so any support or love you can show us would be appreciated.

Future collabos w/our girl in Tokyo Yumi Chan for new flavors for the ladies & possibly some exclusive Righteous Movement gear, stay tuned & keep checking the website.

Much love goes out to Phil C. for the hardwork on designs & Marc of Kickstep photography for the photo shoots, we really appreciate y'all.

urbal worldwide crew: DMS, Tsuji, Phil C., Yumi Chan

photos courtesy of kickstep photography (Marc Benjamin Anacta)
except of zealous/Skurge copyright 2006 urbal apparel

More Nana goodness

This has been on repeat in my deck for the last couple days. It's because I watched Nana again. Yuna Ito masquerading as the lead singer of Trapnest in Nana. This is really tugging at my heartstrings....sigh.