Fate/Zero Blu-ray Vol.1 (w/ Kajiura OST) & Kalafina (Animate promo)

EDIT: 10th Nov 2011 - I didn't realise that this blu-ray release comes with ENGLISH SUBS!!!!  Which kind of makes it a better purchase than the Mahou Shoujo Madoka Jpn limited edition releases which had no English subs.

Link to the PRE-ORDER for the blu-ray set at CDJapan .
Fate / Zero Blu-ray Disc Box I [5Blu-ray + 2CD]

Oh man... I just knew they were going to do this. Once again they have packaged the anime with Kajiura Yuki's OST for the series... just like they did for Mahou Shoujo Madoka. The price for this set won't be pretty.  The price at CDJapan is 38000yen... you'll get 1140 points (3% of total cost) which works out to be 1140yen discount on a future purchase. 

Yikes... that's not a cheap set at all... but that said, this is the type of pricing one gets with blu-ray releases of anime releases in Japan.  They only come in cheaper when you pick them up much, much later when they re-release budget sets etc.

This set is likely to be a relatively nice set for fans with money to spend.  Although it's only half the series, so you'll only get ep1-13 on 5 blu-rays... you'll also get 2 additional cds.  One of those cds will be Kajiura Yuki's OST, the other will be a drama CD.  The set will also come with a Production Note and other extras.  I'm not sure what this Production Note will look like... but it'll likely have interviews and art-work etc.  It's unlikely to be as nice as a stand-alone artbook release like the Mahou Shojo Madoka Production Note release but it should be relatively decent.

Hence, in the end, it works out to be of somewhat the same value as the Mahou Shoujo Madoka limited edition blu-ray releases.... except that this will only be half the series since Fate/Zero is a 26 ep series.  I'm hesitant to get this set even though I would really like to get Kajiura's OST but sigh.... I'm not sure if I like Fate/Zero the anime as much as I LOVED Mahou Shoujo Madoka yet.  I partly decided to get the Mahou Shoujo set for Kajiura and partly because I loved the anime.

It's cheaper to get the set at Amazon Japan though.  Amazon Japan is giving a 26% discount and the set will weigh in at 29526yen which is loads cheaper than CDJapan but Amazon Japan gives the buyer lesser options with regards to shipping.  I'll have to think long and hard about it but I'm leaning towards not getting the set and hoping that a few years from now... we may get a stand-alone OST featuring some of the signature tracks from the anime.

One of singles I don't own yet.

ALSO... aside from hosting Kalafina Museum in several of the Animate stores in Japan, Animate will also be holding a separate promotion for several anisong artists.  Kalafina will be one of them.  If I read the post from Sony correctly, if you buy a cd / dvd / bd from Kalafina (and other featured artists) from an Animate store during the promotion period from 8th Nov to 11th Dec, you'll get an artist card.  I don't know what an artist card is but it seems this is the 4th time that Animate has held the Anime Artist Fair (アニメイトアーティストフェア) event so maybe they have given out artist cards before and those who have them know what they are.  

I will be in Japan during that period and plan on paying a visit to Animate.  I'm still missing 2 or 3 singles in my Kalafina collection so if they have something I want, I may get it and hopefully get the artist card too.

Lastly, before I go... for those who can read Japanese, Vol. 7 of Lisani! features the Fate/Zero anime.  There is also a joint interview with Kajiura and Gen Urobuchi about Kajiura's music.  I've ordered the magazine. :)

Lisani! (Listen Anime!) Vol.7 [Cover & Top Feature] Fate/Zero / Sony Magazines

That's all from me for now... I need to get ready for lunch... it's my mum's birthday celebration today. :)  Later y'all. :)

Kalafina Musuem is back!!! :)

Yes, it's Keiko again cuz
I don't have another
picture to use :D

It looks like the Kalafina Museum will be back and will actually do a tour of some of the Animate stores in Japan too.  I'm not entirely clear about what the website is saying but it looks like there will be one set up in Shinjuku during the period when I will be in Japan.  Cool!!!!!!!  :)

Sadly, this isn't the cafe, so I won't be able to go in and eat some of the meals the trio came up with but hey, for a visiting fan... this is way better than nothing. :)

As far as I can tell from what I can read, the museum will feature the following:

- A panel of photos at the museum.
- The exhibition of the actual costumes use at the Lives. (except at the shop in Hiroshima)
- There will be 3 different types... A, B and C and each will feature 3 different panels of photos and costumes except for type C which will not have a costume exhibition.
Souvenirs related to Kalafina and "Kalafina Eden" will also be on sale at the museums.
- I think there are two kinds of lucky draw events at the museum.
And for those who purchased more than 2000 yen worth of products, they can participate in a lottery for a personalized autograph from the Kalafina girls.  I think there will only be 10 winners... or maybe it's 10 winners per store... I'm not sure.
- And if I read this correctly, another 10 lucky winners will also be able to win a signed item from the photo display or something like that... sorry, my Japanese still needs lots of work. :) 

I'm also not sure how the lottery will work for overseas fans... I don't know if they'll ship it to a winner who resides overseas but if I do go... there is not harm trying to see if I can win something and if they'll ship it to me.

Looks like I'll need to try and rework my schedule in Japan to fit this in.  But first... I need to figure out the location of the musuem in Shinjuku in Nov. :)

Urls for more infor:
http://www.animate.co.jp/event/exhibition_20120205/
http://blog.oricon.co.jp/kalafina/

K... I'm off to do some work. :)  I'm back to busy again... :(

Truffle Xiao Long Bao

After post after post on Kalafina, Kajiura Yuki and Mahou Shoujo Madoka, I think it's time to take a break from all things Japanese and talk about another of my obsessions... food!!!! :)

Today, I ate the most expensive Xiao Long Bao I have ever eaten to date. This here is a photo of the Truffle Xiao Long Bao from Ding Tai Fung.  At SGD3.20 per Xiao Long Bao, it is kind of expensive since normal Xiao Long Bao go for SGD6 plus for 6 Xiao Long Baos.

But I love dumplings and Xiao Long Bao is right up my list of favourites... I have a yearly obsession with Ding Tai Fung's Chilli Crab Xiao Long Bao which is only available once a year for a month or two... so when I found out that the City Hall (MRT) branch of Ding Tai Fung was offering the Truffle Xiao Long Bao... I just had to try it.

I only ordered 2 of these little dumplings, one for my mum and one for me.  I didn't order more because I wasn't sure if it would be worth SGD3.20.  After all, who knows if you can even taste the Black Truffle in it.  I've eaten the colourful, multi-flavoured Xiao Long Baos from Paradise Dynasty in Ion and although some of them are really nice and you can really taste the flavours, I don't remember their truffle Xiao Long Bao to be particularly memorable.  Paradise Dynasty's colourful Xiao Long Baos are nice, very nice... but there are 8 different flavours for about SGD13-14... this was ONE Xiao Long Bao for SGD3.20

I must say though, that this Truffle Xiao Long Bao is VERY NICE.  The earthy and rich flavour of the black truffle combined very nicely with the pork and the soup in the dumpling and it certainly was one of the tastiest Xiao Long Baos I've ever eaten.  Regular Ding Tai Fung Xiao Long Baos are already super good but this was really something else... really good.

I'm still not sure if I would eat it again since SGD3.20 is certainly not a small sum for a small dumpling like this and I'm still a bigger fan of the Chilli Crab Xiao Long Bao... but I can say for sure that I do not regret trying it.  It was a very yummy Xiao Long Bao and a very worthy SGD3.20 experience. :)

If I was feeling better... I would dig out photos of the Paradise Dynasty Xiao Long Baos and the ridiculous number of Chilli Crab Xiao Long Baos I ate this year :D  ... but I need to take a break from the computer monitor... the reason why I was on medical leave was because too much time on the computer and the dry air-con air at work had led to both my eyes getting all swollen and inflamed. :(  Time to go drop some eye-drops.... good night. :)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Mahou Shoujo Madoka) Production Notes - Unboxing

I'm going to have to try and make this a quick and short, picture heavy post.  I'm actually on 2 days of medical leave.  I slept a lot in the afternoon which made it hard for me to sleep now but I know I'm likely to tire fast since it is kinda late now and that's a good thing... cuz it means I'll be able to sleep.

Anyway, I got this beautiful artbook a few days ago in the mail and took some photos then but did not have time to post them up.  Here goes:



I purchased this from CDJapan and as I had some points that I had been saving for a purchase such as this, I managed to knock of quite a lot for this purchase.

At this point in time, it seems that this item is now OOP, but I'm not sure if that means that there won't be a reprint.  If you want it... you'll just have to check periodically to see if they are currently offering it or sign up with their email notification service or drop them an email.  The product page is here:

[EDIT: 15th Oct 20011 -- seems like the Production Note is once again available for pre-order... although, I think this time it's without the bookmarks and the post card... btw... I did get the Kyubey bookmark... I just have not shot a photo of it yet.  Also... pre-order deadline is the 17th Oct.]
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Production Note / SHAFT

I'm really pleased with this purchase.  It is a beautifully designed artbook with all kinds of detailed drawings of the character designs, set designs, sketches etc.  The quality of the paper in the thicker main Production Note volume is of a nice quality.  The slimmer "image note" volume's paper quality isn't as nice but it does have a sketchbook kind of paper quality and I think the "image note" volume is supposed to be the sketchbook volume of this release.

I love how the books open up.  I don't think the binding will hold up to any rough usage but these kinds of books aren't meant for that kind of handling.

I forgot to shoot a photo of the back of the Charlotte bookmark and I'm not sure if I have a Kyubey bookmark... I forgot to look for it.  I've yet to flip through all the pages in the book as I have been busy at work and have not been feeling well recently... will probably do that tomorrow since I'm on medical leave.

I might update this with more pictures of the bookmarks... but may not... may get too lazy or busy. :p  But for now... I hope you enjoyed this unboxing of what I think is an item which is pretty good value for money.  If you like Mahou Shoujo Madoka and like artbooks etc... then this is a purchase you should seriously consider, if you can find it at a right price.

K... time for me to sleep. :)  Good night.

AFA11 - Kalafina's message

Got this off my AFA twitter feed.  They've opened a youtube channel and so you won't need the FB link to watch this. :)

Here is their welcome message. :)

Here is the link to AFA's youtube channel. Click me. :)

AFA11 - Kalafina in Singapore - Got my ticket :)

I used this pix just cuz
Keiko looks cool here. :D

I actually don't have that much to say but I really wanted to go YAY!!!  I've got a ticket to the "I Love Anisong" concert on the13th Nov.  The tickets went on sale this morning. :) It's not the closest tickets to the stage but still... I have the centre section, 6 rows from the front for the 3rd day... the day Kalafina is suppose to perform. :)

I'm really happy about it. :) I'm not sure if I'll have another opportunity to be this close to the stage when Kalafina sings in the future.  Who knows when or if they will come to Singapore again.  And  as I've never gone to any of the Anime related events in Singapore, I might as well make this AFA the first since 1) Kalafina will be there and 2) there will be related Mahou Shoujo Madoka events.  So if it's not too much of a fight with the crowd and I can fit it into my schedule, I would attend the Mahou Shoujo Madoka events and do some shopping etc.

Moreover... um... I didn't actually have to pay for the ticket... it was a gift from a friend who bought two VIP 3 Day packages. :D  So far I'll only be going to the Day 3 Anisong event, which is fine by me... I was only ever really interested in Day 3 anyway. since Kalafina is the only vocal group I'm really that interested in watching live at the AFA this year.  May'n is okay too so I'm happy too that she's on the same day as Kalafina is.  I wish Flow was too but they are on Day 2 so too bad for me.

That's all from me for now... I am off to rest a bit as I wait for the live stream of the first episode of Fate/Zero on Nico Nico. :)  Kajiura Yuki writes the music which is why I'm willing to wait up for it.  I liked Fate/Stay Night enough but the ending was weak... here's hoping Fate/Zero is loads better since it's by ufotable.  Too bad Kalafina isn't singing the OP or EP for this anime.  I've heard the EP and it's forgettable.  Not sure if the OP is better... I'll know later I suppose.

K... bye for now. :)

AMEND 1145pm:
Oh... AFA posted up a message from Kalafina in Facebook... not sure if you can access if you don't have an FB account but here is the link anyway. :)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150392120769493

Kalafina Record Limted Edition - unboxing

It's going to be a short post... mostly photos... it's getting late and I'm really tired.

The box that the Limited Edition is packed in is actually kind of nice. :)  It has Kalafina Record printed all over the cardboard box.  Hmmm... now you know my shirt size. :D  Well, they only have Small and Large so we Mediums have to go for Large unfortunately. :(



The photos below are of the actual unboxing:



Essentially, the insides of the Limited Edition aren't different from the Regular Edition.  The quality of the paper and the printing etc is pretty much the same. More Keiko-centric photos below. :)



Where it does differ though is the binding and the exterior hardcover and, of course, the Limited Edition comes with a t-shirt which, unfortunately, doesn't have the best of designs.

That said, if you can get a good price on the Limited Edition, I do think it's not a bad buy for a fan because the hardcover will keep better.  But the Regular Edition isn't bad too, just depends on what you think is worth it and if you can get a good price on the LE.


Here are more photos that compare and contrast the dimensions of the RE and the LE.  There isn't much difference either.  The LE is slightly taller and wider but not by much.



Before I go, here are the links to get them from CDJapan if you wish to:

Kalafina Record [Limited Edition] [T-Shirt Size S Version]
Kalafina Record [Limited Edition] [T-Shirt Size L Version]

K... that's it for tonight... good night. :)