Masako, Kuniko, Yoshie y Yayoi trabajan en el turno de noche de una fabrica de comida preparada en uno de los suburbios de Tokio. Todas tienen graves problemas, tanto de dinero como familiares, y se desenvuelven en una atmósfera hostil e inhóspita. Una noche, Yayoi estrangula a su marido, Kenji, cansada ya de sus continuas agresiones físicas. Masako, Kuniko y Yoshie la ayudarán a deshacerse del cuerpo. Juntas descuartizan el cadáver y lo desperdigan por varios puntos de la cuidad. La policía recela de ellas, pero no disponen pruebas que las incriminen. En cambio, en su lista de sospechoso se halla Satake, el dueño de un casino y un bar de alterne que Kenji frecuentaba. Mientras tanto, un prestamista vinculado a los yakuza las descubre y las convence para que se ocupen de otros cadáveres.

Natsuo Kirino

Natsuo Kirino (Mariko Hashioka, nombre real), nacida en Japón en 1951, es una de las pocas escritoras de novela policíaca cuya obra va mucho más allá de las convenciones del género. Además de ganar el premio más importante de novela negra en Japón, el Gran Premio de Escritores de Misterio, Kirino ha obtenido el Premio Naoki, prestigioso galardón literario, con Soft Cheeks. Sus libros se han publicado en dieciséis países y varios de ellos se han llevado a la gran pantalla. Out es su primera novela traducida en España. La autora ha sido bautizada por la crítica en Estados Unidos como la reina japonesa del crimen.

Citas:

Unos ojos que se asemejaban a un lago. A Anna le recordaron una foto que había visto en alguna revista, en la que se veía un oscuro lago oculto en la cima de una montaña. El agua de ese lago era helada y turbia, y Anna imaginaba que en sus profundidades vivían extraños seres enredados entre las algas. En esas aguas nadie ese atrevía a nadar o a botar una nave. Por la noche, cuando la superficie del oscuro cráter se tragaba la luz de las estrellas, los extraños habitantes de la laguna seguían escondidos en las profundidades.

—Por cierto Akira, ¿has leído Love and Pop, de Ryû Murakami?
—No —respondió Jumonji negando con la cabeza, sin saber muy bien adónde quería ir a parar con esa pregunta—.¿De que va? No suelo leer ese tipo de libros.
—Pues deberías —le recomendó Soga mientras se sacaba el cigarrillo de los labios y daba un sorbo a su cóctel, con varias capas de tonos rosa—. Le pirran las mujeres.

De pronto entendió por que había querido castigarse manteniendo su estomago vacío: para reprimir su deseo de ser libre.

Si no fuera por las partes interesadas en esa persona, un cadáver no seria mas que algo que podría desaparecer como cualquier otro tipo de basura.

Había vivido muchos días pendiente del reloj, yendo de aquí para allá, sin tiempo ni siquiera para hojear el periódico o leer un libro, durmiendo menos horas de las necesarias para llegar a todo y sacrificando los pocos días festivos para hacer la colada y limpiar la casa. Ésos habían sido días normales, inocentes y libres de la tristeza que sentía en esos momentos.
Sin embargo no tenía ganas de volver a vivirlos, de cambiar su situación actual. Al levantar una piedra caliente por el sol, quedaba expuesta la tierra húmeda y fría que yacía debajo, y ahí era donde Masako había encontrado su lugar. En esa tierra no había rastro de calidez, paro aun así era suave y acogedora. Vivía en ella como lo haría un insecto.

Al fin y al cabo conseguir a Masako había resultado ser lo más difícil. Pero no se debía a la meta en sí misma ni nada parecido, sino que era algo que escapaba a su control. Y tal vez fuera ése el verdadero objetivo: aprender a aceptar los hechos que escapan a su control. Al comprender esa realidad, Kazuo se echó a llorar aún con más fuerza.

—Adiós —respondió Kazuo, como si ésa fuera la palabra más triste del mundo.

————————–

Aww, me gustó, es bastante japonés >,<, no se como explicar eso de “bastante japonés” eso simplemente lo sabes por leer algunos libros de escritores japoneses (he leído muy muy pocos, pero me han dejado ese mismo sabor en la boca, ese sabor a simple y profundo, la cotidianidad de la vida…) o no se si es porque me gusta el anime y el genero slice o life x_D. Sí, si clasificara este libro en un género sería slice of life de crimen y suspenso. A parte tiene otra de las cosas que me gustan… no se si así escribe Kirino o es en particular este libro, pero narra los hechos desde las perspectiva de varios personajes y se adentra en sus emociones, confieso que cuando se trataba de un personaje que no me caía bien (como Kuniko) me desesperaba, pero como se interactua con otros personajes me calmaba xD.
El final estuvo bien (aunque quizás lo hubiese hecho un poco más sádico-erótico x3), no sabría decir si hay un pico de suspenso en todo el libro porque todo es fluido y no se pone a dar vueltas en una misma cosa, es simple (no común), narra la vida de varias personas y como estas vidas pueden dar vuelcos que no se controlan, por la misma naturaleza humana, no se puede decir quien es malo o bueno, son simplemente humanos.

Ah otra cosa, Masako, mi personaje favorito. xD. Epic cold bitch :3

Handmade by Masako from recycled kimono silk

I have been thinking and writing about recycling textiles recently, and this week’s featured weave — the notecard shown above — takes a gentle low-tech approach to recycling fabric that appeals to me.  Masako, the New York artist who designed it, handwove strips of recycled Japanese kimono silk and mounted them on rice paper.

Masako was trained in Japanese dancing at an early age — her mother teaches it — and she grew up wearing kimono and developed a deep appreciation for the fabrics.  Later, her work as a graphic arts designer in Tokyo refined her sensitivity to color, texture, and pattern and the skill with which she handles the delicate silk fabrics.

I have a few of Masako’s one-of-a-kind cards in  my collection and love to look at all of the fascinating individual fabrics, but I chose the card above to highlight because it has strips of remarkably tiny shibori dots,

and ikat patterns that I’ve never seen before,

interwoven with quieter strips of jacquard-woven and printed fabrics.

At the same time that I bought the notecards, I also bought a bundle of vintage kimono fabric swatches (shown below ) — similar to the ones that Masako uses.

I had no specific project in mind for these fabrics, but then, when I see an unusual textile, like this one from the bundle,

I’m much more likely to frame it or blog about it,  or just save it and enjoy it, than I am to cut it up.

Masako’s notecards and my fabric bundle came from Old Japan, in Lenox, MA, a shop owned by my friends Amie and Roku. They love and appreciate Japanese textiles, so their shop also stocks bundles of stenciled cotton and indigo ikat cotton kimono fabrics.

Masako’s notecards are not on their website yet, but to find out more about Old Japan’s textile offerings, and to see images, go here.

Bahan :

• 5 buah roti burger, belah dua
• 50 gr keju cheddar parut
• 2 butir telur ayam rebus, kupas, cincang kasar
• 1 buah jagung manis, sisir bulirnya
• 1 lembar daging sapi/ayam asap, potong kecil
• 1/2 buah apel malang, kupas, potong dadu kecil
• 1/2 butir bawang bombay, cincang kasar
• 1/2 buah paprika, potong dadu
• 50 gr mayones
• Mentega secukupnya, untuk olesan roti
• 1 bungkus Masako Sapi

Cara Membuat :

1. Campur telur rebus, jagung, daging asap, apel, bawang bombay, paprika, mayones, dan Masako.
2. Ratakan 1 sdm campuran bahan di atas roti. Taburi keju parut. Panggang hingga permukaannya agak kecoklatan. Angkat dan sajikan.

Hasil : 10 buah

Resep : MASAKO

Bahan :

• 1 buah dada ayam, potong dadu, lumuri dengan 1/2 sdt garam, diamkan sebentar, tiriskan
• 150 gr jagung muda, belah dua
• 150 gr rebung rebus, potong ukuran korek api
• 100 gr udang kupas ukuran sedang, potong tiga
• 1 buah tahu putih, potong dadu
• 1 butir telur ayam, ambil bagian putih
• 1 batang daun bawang, iris serong
• 1/3 gelas tepung maizena, larutkan dengan 1/4 gelas air
• 1 sdt gula
• Garam secukupnya
• 2 sdm minyak goreng, untuk menumis
• 1 bungkus Masako Ayam

Bumbu Halus :

• 5 but ir bawang merah
• 2 siung bawang putih
• 1/2 sdt merica

Pelengkap :

• Bawang putih goreng

Cara Membuat :

1. Tumis bumbu halus dengan udang hingga matang, sisihkan.
2. Panaskan 1 liter air hingga mendidih. Masukkan ayam dan daun bawang, rebus hingga ayam matang. Masukkan tumisan udang, jagung, rebung, dan tahu. Aduk hingga mendidih, tambahkan gula, garam, dan Masako. Aduk rata.
3. Masukkan putih telur dan larutan maizena, aduk hingga kental. Taburkan bawang putih goreng. Angkat dan sajikan.

Untuk : 5 – 6 orang

Resep : Masako

Bahan :

• 300 gr singkong, kupas, potong dadu, kukus 30 menit
• 100 gr ayam cincang
• 20 lembar kulit lumpia
• 5 butir bawang merah, iris tipis
• 3 buah cabai hijau, iris tipis
• 2 butir telur ayam, ambil bagian putih
• 1 batang daun bawang, iris tipis
• 1/4 gelas bubuk kari
• 1 sdt garam
• 1 sdt gula
• Minyak goreng secukupnya, untuk menumis dan menggoreng
• 1 bungkus Masako Ayam

Cara Membuat :

1. Tumis bawang merah, cabai hijau, dan bubuk kari dengan 4 sdm minyak goreng, aduk hingga harum. Masukkan ayam cincang, aduk hingga matang. Tambahkan singkong, daun bawang, garam, gula, dan Masako, aduk rata. Dinginkan.
2. Isi selembar kulit lumpia dengan 2 sdm tumisan. Lipat kedua sisinya, gulung dan rekatkan bagian ujungnya dengan putih telur. Lakukan hal yang sama hingga kulit lumpia habis.
3. Goreng hingga berwarna kuning keemasan. Angkat dan sajikan.

Hasil : 20 buah

Resep : MASAKO

Hôm qua, công nương Masako, người vật lộn với chứng stress vì phải làm quen với cuộc sống hoàng gia, xuất hiện một mình trước công chúng lần đầu tiên trong 3 năm qua.

Mỉm cười dịu dàng, công nương Masako, 45 tuổi, mặc chiếc áo len cao cổ màu trắng, quần màu be và đeo chuỗi vòng ngọc trai. Cô đi thăm một cửa hàng trưng bày thiết bị do các bà nội trợ phát minh, từ máy làm bơ cho đến dụng cụ giúp người tàn tật viết.

Đây là lần đầu tiên cô xuất hiện mà không có sự hộ tống của chồng, thái tử Naruhito, kể từ năm 2006. Công nương Masako từng làm việc trong ngành ngoại giao trước khi bước vào vương triều cổ nhất thế giới. Cô học đại học ở Anh và Mỹ.

Áp lực sinh con trai nối dõi và hòa nhập với cuộc sống chốn hoàng gia khiến cô mắc phải chứng mất cân bằng tâm lý. Vợ chồng thái tử Naruhito có một con gái 7 tuổi, còn em của ông có con trai hai tuổi và đây cũng là bé trai đầu tiên được sinh ra trong hoàng gia Nhật trong vòng 40 năm qua.

Ngọc Sơn (theo AFP)

Bài viết liên quan

Thái tử Nhật ngắm chùa Cầu ở Hội An

Lạc quan là tố chất nằm trong ‘gene’ của người Việt

Doanh nghiệp Nhật hối thúc VN về công nghiệp phụ trợ

Vẹt giúp người liệt nói trở lại

Nguồn: viencanh.com Công nương Nhật một mình xuất hiện trước công chúng

Guarda il video di Hana Ikusa (2007) su Family Videos

Hana Ikusa significa battaglia del fiore. La storia è ispirata alla vita della celebre Mineko Iwasaki, la famosa artista di Gion alla cui esperienza allude anche Memorie di una geisha.

Inoue Mao è incantevole nel ruolo della protagonista!

La geiko Tsuneyuu – つね有, riflessa negli occhi dell’artista Onihide.

Gion è il distretto dell’intrattenimento e dello spettacolo che sbocciò, all’inizio dell’era Edo (1600-1868), fuori dalle porte del santuario Yasaka.

Le costruzioni originarie erano dei luoghi di riposo (mizu chaya) nei quali venivano serviti tè, sake e vivande ai pellegrini in visita al Yasaka Shrine. A un certo punto le geiko cominciarono a intrattenere i propri clienti negli edifici originali e questi divennero il quartiere delle geisha di Gion: molto famoso per la Miyako Odori celebrata ogni mese di aprile quando gli alberi di ciliegio, in Kyoto, raggiungono la piena fioritura. In autunno inoltre si celebra la Onshu-kai, sempre seguendo la tradizionale Scuola Inouye.

L’originario quartiere di Gion venne più tardi diviso in due differenti quartieri: Cobu e Otsubu (1881). Al termine della Seconda Guerra Mondiale Otsubu diventò Gion Higashi (祇園東) invece Cobu mantenne il suo nome: Gion Cobu.

Mentre tutti gli altri hanamachi tengono le loro speciali danze annuali in primavera, Gion Higashi è l’unico che rappresenta la sua Gion Odori in autunno, al Gion Kaikan (1/11-10/11). La tradizione artistica è quella della Scuola Fujima.

La performance di quest’anno è particolarmente pittoresca!

All’inizio si svolge, come è tradizione, una cerimonia del tè in cui una geiko ha il ruolo di temae-san (colei che, in prima persona, celebra il rito) e una maiko quello di hanto-san (aiutante).

Nel primo atto dello spettacolo, il sipario si apre mostrandoci sul palco le senior maiko di Gion Higashi: Kanoka, Tsunemomo, Umeha, Miharu e Kotomi. Le incantevoli fanciulle ammirano i rotoli di seta in un negozio di splendidi kimono. Appena le artiste vanno via, i rotoli di seta che loro stavano accarezzando prendono vita: gli spiriti delle preziose stoffe sono interpretati dalle geiko-san dell’hanamachi.

Le geiko Masayo, Masami, Mariko, Tsuneyuu e Hinagiku fotografate da Onihide.

Le geiko Masayo, Masami, Mariko e Tsuneyuu viste da Onihide.

Ogni geisha indossa un meraviglioso kimono e danza in uno stile differente dalle altre.

Masami apre le danze con la sua grazia…

La geiko Masami – 満彩美, ritratta da Onihide.

Seguita da Mariko…

La geiko Mariko – まりこ, dipinta da Onihide.

Quindi appare Hinagiku, spirito timido che viene spronato da Masami, e danza mostrando come gioca con una pallina temari (てまり, letteralmente teて= mano e mariまり= palla).

Hinagiku e Masami…

La geiko Hinagiku – 雛菊 (fotografie di Onihide).

Masayo…

La geiko Masayo – 満彩代 immortalata da Onihide.

La maestosa Tsuneyuu…

Tsuneyuu e Masami…

La geiko Tsuneyuu – つね有, riflessa negli occhi dell’artista Onihide.

Nel secondo atto c’è l’assolo di Tsunekazu, nelle vesti di un’incantevole fanciulla e di una gru, che danza nella neve. La coreografia è ispirata all’antica leggenda Tsuru no ongaeshi (la gratitudine della gru). Una delle mie favole preferite, soprattutto nella traduzione di Maria Teresa Orsi: Tsuru nyobo (la moglie gru).

La geiko Tsunekazu – つね和, nell’obiettivo di Onihide.

Nel terzo atto, tutte le maiko-san presentano una collezione di sacri tesori che possono essere associati a eventi gioiosi.

Le Maiko Kanoka – 叶果, Miharu – 美晴 e Kotomi – 琴美…

Le maiko Umeha – うめ葉, Miharu – 美晴 e Kotomi – 琴美…

La maiko Umeha – うめ葉, mentre solleva un Houjyu (宝珠, gioiello infuocato) ossia una magica sfera del tesoro buddista…

La maiko Tsunemomo – つね桃 (fotografie di Onihide).

Nel quarto atto, abbiamo l’onore di assistere all’assolo dell’impareggiabile Masako. L’artista indossa un costume dallo stile maschile e ispirato allo stile dell’epoca Edo: la geiko, qui, è uno squalo che caccia alla luce della luna piena. Purtroppo il pesce non raggiunge il proprio scopo ma viene, a sua volta, divorato da una balena.

La geio Masako – 満佐子, nell’obiettivo di Onihide.

Nel finale, sul palco salgono tutte le geisha e le maiko per danzare insieme. Fondamentali, soprattutto in questa scena, le geiko jikata (specializzate negli strumenti e nel canto) che descrivono sapientemente l’alternarsi delle stagioni e i luoghi più pittoreschi nella città di Kyoto.

A sinistra: le maiko Miharu – 美晴, Kanoka – 叶果 e Kanoyumi – 叶祐美…
A destra: le maiko Tsunemomo – つね桃, Kotomi – 琴美 e Masayui – 満彩由…

La maiko Miharu (fotografie di Onihide).

Fortunato chi, come il mio amico Onihide, potrà sedere tra il pubblico del Gion Odori!

(^_^)

Il gran finale, di Onihide.

]]> http://occhidaorientale.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/the-silent-pilgrimage/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:00:35 +0000 occhidaorientale http://occhidaorientale.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/the-silent-pilgrimage/

Late one afternoon she and I were talking and the subject of the ’silent pilgrimage’ came up. The ’silent pilgrimage’ is something that takes place during the Gion Festival, though few people know about it. I had heard a rumour that Yuriko went on the ’silent pilgrimage’ and I wanted to know if it was true.

The Gion Festival has taken place in Kyoto for over one thousand years, and is considered one of the three most important festival in Japan. The festival starts at the end of June and continues until 24 July, and involves a number of Shinto ceremonies and rituals. On 17 July the local gods are invited to come into their sacred palanquins known as omikoshi and are taken out into the community for the final week of the festival. They are carried on the shoulders of the bearers from the main residence at Yasaka Shrine, down Shijo Street, to their temporary shrines on Shinkyogoku Avenue. The ’silent pilgrimage’ takes place during this one-week period.

‘I’d like take part in the pilgrimage, too,’ I told her. ‘What do I have to do to be included?’

‘It’s not something you join. It’s something you decide to do by yourself and you do it alone, in private. But, still, if you really want your prayer to come true, they say you have to do it for three years in a row,’ she answered. ‘And you can’t tell anybody else that you are doing it. That’s part of its power. You have to do it in silence. Keep your eyes lowered. Don’t make eye-contact with anyone else. Concentrate completely on whatever is hidden in your heart. Keep your prayer in your mind the entire time, since that is the reason for the pilgrimage.’

I was very moved by her description. Yuriko had very distinct features, unlike an ordinary Japanese face. Her eyes were staggeringly beautiful. They were large, with soft brown centres. She didn’t explicitly tell me what I wanted to know, but she offered me a smile that revealed the truth.

I couldn’t stop wondering why Yuriko was making the pilgrimage. What was it that she wanted so badly?

Geisha of Gion, Mineko Iwasaki with Rande Brown

Såg precis Ringu 0 – föregångaren till Ringu. Den gjordes dock senare, men ger bakgrunden till Ringu.

Ringu 0 Basudei
The Ring 0 Birthday

Originaltitel: リング0 バースデイ
Gjord: 2000
Sågs av mig: Juni 2008
Skådespelare: Nakama Yukie, Tanabe Seiichi, Aso Kumiko, Masako m.fl.
Genre: Skräck, thriller, drama.
Land: Japan.

Handling: Yamamura Sadako försöker fly sitt förflutna och sina okontrollerbara mystiska krafter genom att integrera sig i ett teatersällskap i Tokyo. De andra i sällskapet tycker dock att hon är underlig, och spekulerar i varför mystiska saker har hänt sedan hon dök upp. När sedan huvudaktrisen utan förklaring plötsligt dör, och Sadako tillträder rollen i hennes ställe, misstänker omgivningen att Sadako är den skyldiga.

Kommentar: Sadako, som i Ringu var huvudantagonisten har nu gjort en tvärvändning och blivit den vi sympatiserar med. Ringu 0 är inte lika skräckorienterad som Ringu försökte vara och lyckas därför vara mycket mer intressant, dramatisk och engagerande. Delvis är filmen en uppvisning i grupptrycksraseri, och häxjaktskritiseringen är ett faktum. Nakama Yukie (som vi tidigare sett i bland annat Gokusen) visar ytterligare sin bredd inom skådespelaryrket – här som skrämmande men skör japansk-skräckfilmsflicka-med-långt-svart-hår. Filmen besvarar, trots att det är Ringus bakgrundshistoria, inte alla frågetecken, men historien håller hög klass och är intressant rakt igenom. Kvalitetsskillnaden filmerna emellan märks tydligt – men skräckfilm, det är det inte.

Personligt betyg:

Tingkat Kesulitan : mudah
Waktu Persiapan : 10 menit
Waktu memasak : 30 menit

Bahan :

1/2 ekor ayam, potong kecil-kecil
minyak goreng untuk menumis

Bumbu :

5 siung bawang putih, iris halus
3 buah bawang merah, iris halus
8 buah cabe ijo, iris tipis
segenggam cabe rawit, iris-iris (menurut selera)
2 buah bawang bombay, iris kasar
1 sendok makan blue band
1/2 bungkus masako
kecap manis secukupnya

Cara Membuat :

• Tumis bawang merah, putih, bombay serta cabe ijo dan rawitnya hingga harum
• Masukkan ayam. Aduk-aduk sampai ayam berubah warna. Biarkan untuk beberapa saat.
• Masukkan mentega, kecap, dan masako. Aduk kembali.
• Kecilkan api, dan tutup ayam agar bumbu meresap.
• Tambahkan 1 gelas air matang. Masak kembali ayam hingga bumbu mengental.
• Ayam siap untuk disajikan

Bahan :

• 400 gr udang ukuran sedang, bersihkan
• 1 buah mentimun, potong-potong
• 5 utas kacang panjang, potong 5 cm
• 1 ikat daun kemangi, ambil daunnya
• 2 lembar daun salam
• 2 lembar daun jeruk
• 1 batang serai
• 4 sdm gula
• 1 buah jeruk nipis, ambil airnya
• 1/3 gelas air asam jawa
• 4 sdm minyak goreng, untuk menumis
• 1 bungkus Masako Sapi

Bumbu Halus :

• 6 butir bawang merah
• 2 siung bawang putih
• 3 buah cabai merah keriting
• 1 sdm terasi bakar

Cara Membuat :

1. Lumuri udang dengan 2 sdm gula dan air jeruk nipis. Diamkan sebentar, tiriskan, sisihkan.
2. Tumis bumbu halus, daun salam, daun jeruk, dan serai hingga harum.
3. Didihkan 500 ml air, masukkan udang, tumisan bumbu, sisa gula, air asam jawa, dan Masako. Masak hingga matang.
4. Masukkan mentimun, kacang panjang, dan daun kemangi. Masak hingga air mendidih. Angkat dan sajikan.

Untuk : 3 – 4 orang

Resep : Masako

Vinosa

Macho is a nickname that my niece and nephew gave me because they were unable to pronounce Masako when they were wee little ones. Now they are 9 and 7, but they still call me Macho. My contribution to the foodie collaborative will be mainly sweets but I may post a Japanese dish here and there, who knows… My desert of choice is cake, but I’ve recently purchased an ice cream maker, so hopefully some of those recipes will be good enough to share with you all.

Do I dare start this foodie collaborative with my chocolate chip scone recipe? I don’t want to disappoint you guys for all the subsequent recipe entries i’ll make here because it won’t be this good, but here goes… ( i should mention that this isn’t *my* recipe, but i make it all the time, so i’m going to call it mine. )

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 to 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 3-5 tbsp water

1. blend sour cream and baking soda, set aside

2. preheat oven to 375F

3. in a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, cream of tartar, and baking powder. Cut in butter in 1/2 tbsp portions. Only mix each piece for about 10 seconds. Add sour cream mixture and egg to the mix until just moistened. Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick round. Cut into 12 wedges. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown on bottom.

5. Mix powdered sugar and lemon extract. Add water until consistency of a glaze. Drizzle over warm scones and serve!

*key to this recipe is to make sure that you don’t overmix/handle the dough especially when adding butter. It’s ok if you see chunks of butter in the dough. mmm… butter…. Also, you can substitute with more healthy alternatives like raisin and nuts… i’m still trying to figure out the right proportions for making fruity scones…

hehehe, I just figured out my own spoilers to Ghost Hunt, and if in the following manga chapters things go like I deduce they shall…. *squee*

Ah but I won’t tell you because

1. I may be wrong and there’s no sense in spreading false spoilers all over the net for whoever reads my blog,

2. I don’t want to have spoiled some great surprises for you, and

3. Hehe, I’m sadistic like that when it comes to withholding that kind of major info *smug face*

Ah but anyway… you guys must be a bit tired of hearing me rant on about Ghost Hunt >.>;. Yet again I’ve been watching it for three days (plan to finish it today/tonight for the third time ^.^;;), mostly b/c I haven’t watched the actual whole anime in about 3 months but also to gather info and use my observational skills to tie things in the anime together.

Ok ok well I will say one thing though before I move on to another topic: the creator of the manga/anime pretty much gives you the answers to everything except the ending (which I may have figured that out as well but I’m not telling XD) throughout the story, just use your brain as you watch the story unfold and you’ll realise things. *hehe* then you won’t have to visit me hoping I’ll drop some spoilers only to be victim to my informational sadism ^.^
But not to worry I’ll give you something to start thinking about (for those of you who do all ready know answers and would like to kick me off my tall chair you should email me any info that would correct me).

These are some things that are given away in the end of the anime [a section I'll call season 1 since i'm going to be hopeful enough that they'll make a season 2] (which is why this isn’t a spoiler actually unless you’re reading this before finishing the anime.. then i’ll say shame on you ;P) but still pay attention to the way you can figure this out before the manga-ka and the anime hand you the information.

In the blood-stained labyrinth casefile, we learn why hara-san (masako) hates mai so much: Mai is called by her first name by Naru and they bicker back and forth like friends.

Now then, here’s how we deduce that ourselves before the anime tells you something you should have all ready figured out.

When Masako becomes a regular (like Bou-san, Ayako, and John) helper of SPR, start paying attention to the conversations with either the whole group involves or even just with masako and Naru (my highest example being the “park” case)

clue 1: Naru (I think always with MAYBE one or two exceptions when addressing her [name] to other people) always calls Mai Taniyama by her first name since casefile 1 @ her school. Masako Hara once tells Naru he can call her “Masako” but he never does. Seriously I’ve seen the anime 3 times and I’m 99% positive there are no exceptions.

clue 2: in the casefile “A Ghost Story in the Park!”, he barely talks to Masako except when they are running to where she says the spirit is showing up. Normally he’s the one who presents the case info, but this time masako doe sit and he doesn’t give any input at all (this is because Masako knows something about Naru so he has to comply.. but that’s something you find out later). He pretty much avoids saying anything about the situation (starting with when everyone’s gathered together and it’s explained that they need to pair off to act as bait), and when they do pair off and Masako asks Naru if he’s mad she made him take this case he ignores the question and asks her if she feels anything [the ghost]; basically Naru’s way of brushing someone off to concentrate on his work as we have seen before this case and so many times after.

the funny thing is something that Ayako says when Mai and the rest are sitting on the opposite bench “being bait”…

mai: [thinking]  “**** you masako. What do you mean by “bait?” *begins to talk out loud* “That’s what she was after from the beginning!”

Bou-san: “Are you still complaining?”

Mai: “but-”
Akayo: “Is Masako blackmailing him? She must have been, otherwise he would have chosen me.”

 clue 3: Naru doesn’t take cases that don’t interest him, and this isn’t a case that interested him until Masako pretty much told him to do it (though he still has basically no part in the case if you pay attention; everyone else is doing all the work, he pretty much just sits back through most of the case)…

Aside from being half wrong, Ayako gives you something major to think about: Masako could be blackmailing him and probably is. John says something [taking the American meaning of the word] toward the end of the episode about maybe Masako or her parent’s being Naru’s patron, but in the blood stained labyrinth case we find out that that is the least likely case though a logical deduction. Naru is pretty much being minorly blackmailed by Masako; Masako found something out about Naru that is obviously pretty serious (yes I all ready know what that “something” is), so she uses that aganist him to get him to go places with her and do her favors. However this actually works to Masako’s disadvantage: how I see it, is that though Naru views her as a friend but is also really irritated by her using that “something” to make him do stuff. And while Mai is right that naru doesn’t seriously hate Masako, he certainly doesn’t find the need to relate to her beyond the formal “surname-san” (last name basis) type of friendship.

Of course, *something to think about #2* in the blood stained labyrinth, now how do we explain 1. Naru’s random need to look through Masako’s belongings and 2. Masako’s comb falling out of Naru’s pocket? Check the end of episode 25: Naru has psychic abilities. It is mentioned that clairvoyance can use other people’s belongings to locate a missing person (as proved in a case Bou-san and John mention in the beginning of the Labyrinth case that had been done by the real Professor Davis in England) ; do you see how his random “I’ll go check through Masako’s things” and the finding of the comb tie together now? And there is the answer to why Naru didn’t say anything to the group about it as well! In the last case file, Naru only uses his psychic abilities out of necessity to save his friends (as well as to solve the case) THOUGH mainly also because he was overly provoked by his pride. Lin tells Mai a bit about Naru’s psychic abilities which gives us the info that Naru’s psychic abilities (though they strain his body quite a bit) are very powerful… as Lin says, “the power Naru hold is too great for any human being to have, so whevener he uses it his body cann’t keep up.” So it is HIGHLY possible he can use clairvoyance as well. And why not eh? lol. Also, this explains his collapse earlier in the series after Mai and Naru were stuck in the manhole; if Naru were using some of his abilities *as it’s pretty obvious he was* this would explain the “anemia”/need to go to the hospital after his collapse.

Interesting huh?

Now then I’ll give you something to think about and if you figure it out (please email me your answers or post them in the comment box) I’ll post it:

Why is Naru always running off? Of course, there are several reasons, but isn’t it funny he’s never “late” but he sometimes runs off and randomly comes back? Could he have the Kakashi thing going on? (and do I mean anything by saying that? hehehehe)

‘kay it’s your turn, use your deductions and make me proud of you ^.^ If you have any questions I’ll answer them, but if it’s about a spoiler and I know the answer [factually] and you haven’t finished the series, just know that anything I answer for you could ruin a few surprises.. but I’ll answer anything I can.

Ok, sorry no vids this time. Not only am I deciding to show mercy to the dial-up users (lol Raxgond) but also I have nothing I want to post video-wise XP

And as for another topic… I tried thinking of one as I was posting but all I can say is that I can’t think of one but I will say that I’ll try to update you on other things that are coming out sometime. ^.^

today i fell in love with masako. we met at a bus stop, where a girl with a petition asked me to sign. so i did. i felt the sudden need to get involved. filling out the form with a red pen, i gave her details a wiser person probably wouldn’t have. standing on the side, masako watched. she wore dark jeans and a white scarf, her thick black hair pulled by gravity into a perfect straight line. i imagined our life together and how beautiful she would look lying naked in my bed. her thin body too white for me to touch. she spoke japanese and french, i speak other languages. when the bus came she got on it. i waited for the next one.

Post recopilatorio de todos los episodios en un sólo post.
¿De qué va Otaku? Es una miniserie centrada en el mundo de los
Otakus, admiradores del anime, el manga, las nuevas tecnologías..
La conductora del espacio es Masako, una mensajera Otaku que
recorre las calles de Tokio en su bicicleta. Ella nos llevará a los
mejores lugares para leer manga, nos adentrará en los estudios que
producen el mejor anime, haremos cosplay con ella, rellenaremos
test para conocer nuestro nivel “otaku”, cantaremos en karaokes,
viajaremos al parque temático de Hello Kitty…
Queremos conocer los secretos de las grandes industrias del
entretenimiento niponas, esas que tanto nos fascinan desde
Occidente. Vivimos una época en la que lo oriental, y más
concretamente lo japonés, es sinónimo de fascinación, imaginación
desbordada, imposibles hechos realidad.
>>Nota: información sacada de la web oficial.
Lista de capítulos:
Capítulo 00 – Te presentamos Otaku
Capítulo 01 – Hola, soy Masako
Capítulo 02 – Tokio, ciudad del anime
Capítulo 03 – Yo me visto, tú te vistes
Capítulo 04 – Ojos grandes, muy grandes
Capítulo 05 – Hayao Miyazaki
Capítulo 06 – Gente Otaku
Capítulo 07 – Otaku cantantes
Capítulo 08 – Gisaku
Capítulo 09 – Un día con Kitty
Capítulo 10 – Estudio Pierrot
Capítulo 11 – Mercado de Figuras
Capítulo 12 – El templo del manga
Capítulo 13 – Las chicas de Akiba
Capítulo 14 – Otakus del tuning
Capítulo 15 – Comiket, mercado del manga
Capítulo 16 – Convini life
Capítulo 17 – Así empezó todo
Capítulo 18 – Pan Japan
Capítulo 19 – Initial D
Capítulo 20 – Moe-María
Capítulo 21 – Estética Cosplay
Capítulo 22 – Anime vanguardia
Capítulo 23 – Satoshi Kon
Capítulo 24 – Turismo Otaku
Capítulo 25 – Museo Ghibli
Capítulo 26 – El malo de Shin Chan
Capítulo 27 – Mindgame
Capítulo 28 – Otaku Manga
Capítulo 29 – Lucha
Capítulo 30 – El mundo de Tezuka
Capítulo 31 – Murakami
Capítulo 32 – Estudios Gonzo
Capítulo 33 – Diccionario Otaku

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