Columns

An Insider’s Look at Japan: Miku Cafe

Nestled deep in the heart of Tokyo, Roppongi is an eclectic, upscale district with an atmosphere almost the polar opposite that of moe-pop capital Akihabara. Yet, on the 52nd floor observation deck of the Mori Tower in the Roppongi Hills complex, an unexpected event is being held in an area that is better known for its classy bars and provocative art scene.

Majestic Prince: Episode 7 Review

When we last left Team Rabbits, they had just successfully completed their mission and surpassed all expectations during the process, especially mine! At the end of the first episode, we were left with many different questions.

Attack on Titan: Episode 07 Review by Miki

The security forces at Wall Rose, the middle of the three walls protecting mankind, are surprised by a renewed Titan attack, sending the newly commissioned forces into battle. As usual for Titan attacks, the human forces don’t fare very well.

Gargantia on the Verduous Planet: Episode 7 Review by Miki

The low-key, meandering plot hits its lowest and highest notes thus far in these episodes, and Ledo finds his place on the ship thrown into genuine uncertainty.

Attack on Titan: Episode 07 Review by Skie

Attack on Titan has remained gripping, brutal, and masterfully woven in episodes 5 through 7. It spotlights deep-running weaknesses in each of the characters present on screen, be it cowardice or arrogance, and meets that with the often fatal results of such weakness.

Attack on Titan: Episode 04 Review by Miki

Three episodes later, humanity has been forced inside the next of three concentric walls, Wall Rose, since the outermost – Wall Maria – was completely overrun by the Titans. Eren, Armin, and Mikasa have made their way through military training along with a partially colorful group of other students.

Gargantia on the Verduous Planet: Episode 4 Review By Miki

It’s been a slow but impressive learning process for Ledo – but he’s finally getting the hang of the culture and the language. He’s made faux-pas that have put the Gargantia in jeopardy, he’s taken the care to learn from those mistakes and fix them. Uttering his first words in the Earth language was a particularly endearing moment as well.

Yuyushiki: Episode 04 Review

It’s been a slice-of-life slog for Yuyushiki, but an ADD one to be sure. Most of the humor, as the show goes on, involves equal parts totally random gags, the pink and dark-haired girls fawning over the blonde one and their teacher, and the search-engine free association I was hoping would be the focus of the show.

Oreimo Season 2: Episode 04 Review

Season Two has so far shaped up to meet the expectations of fans of the series, and then some. Episode One reinstated Kirino as the eroge otaku that she is, much to the chagrin of a supportive Kyosuke. Episode 2 was an Ayase-centric story, in which she had to come to terms with Kirino’s eroge obsessions as it related to their long-term friendship.

Sparrow’s Hotel: Episode 04 Review

When we left our discussion of Sparrow’s Hotel, I was thanking the creators for only giving me three minutes of this train wreck to watch. Since then, I’ve watched an additional three episodes, which brings my time lost to this anime to twelve minutes. Let’s just say I’ll be sending the creator my invoice for time that I would like back.