This is really off topic but I'll have this to day...
Yes there are a lot of clubs in Japanese H.S. Most of the student join one to meet people from other classrooms and grades (in case you haven't notice, in Japanese schools the teacher move, not the student. You can spend all day in school without leaving your classroom much). Guys mostly want to join a sports club, but some join things like literary club to meet girls. Girls join clubs to meet guys and gossip. Everyone is encouraged to join a club as to develop interest in non-academic matters, but for some class (a few class in each grade is made from "college hopefuls) they are encouraged to spend all their time studying for the college tests. Clubs are optional for HS, but mostly mandatory for Middle school.
It may sound like fun but a lot of these clubs take their activities very seriously, so your may even ended up working harder in for your club than your school work. It's not all fun and games, and quitting a club is really frown upon.
In actuality, clubs are another way of forming Japanese relationship circles. Interpersonal relationship is paramount in the adult Japanese world, so more circle you form during your youth the better chance of receiving (and giving) help as an adult, thus more chance for success. Club members became intimate like other groups, going to onsen trips together and basically stay in touch for the rest of their lives. Some people ended up being closer to their club members than to their classmates (see genshiken). There's just no need for this kind of social relationship in the West (most people don't even goto their 10 year HS reunion while the Japanese meets every year) so the emphasis on clubs are not quite the same.
In actuality, clubs are another way of forming Japanese relationship circles.
...Which is why I've already begun asking my tutors about clubs. I'd like to get into one as soon as possible, to have fun, yes, but mostly to form relationships with people. One of my tutors is determined to get me to join the tennis club, even though I've already told her I haven't played in four years. (It's similar to the "you can speak mangled, fragmented Japanese? SUGOI!! Come hang out with us!!")
Having played flute for a number of years, my high school band wanted me to join BADLY (they claimed I was the best flautist among all the flautists they knew of; don't know if that's true or not, but they begged me everyday to join) .... My only problem was that I was used to playing solo. I'd hate to sound selfish, but playing with SO many other people was a drag, so I never joined. I really enjoy playing with a small group of people though.
Here's my Ref List for EP 20... This is from Part A, which is the part before the eye-catch. There seemed to be a lot of sarcasm in this episode... should be fun. Iku yo!
...
Katsukabe Anime Club
The two guys behind Konata while she's talking about otaku on TV was holding a copy of "涼宮ハルヒの公式" (Suzumiya Hauri no Koushiki) Anime Guide Book. Those two guys actually looked like Computer Club members from Haruhi anime, according to some ota.
Required Otaku Reading
...
Which Konata already has a copy of since she bought it the same time she bought that extra copy of volume 5 of the Shuffle! manga. (episode 8)
Required reading, huh? Wish I could read it! (yes, I have a copy of it!)
After Densha Otoko, this one really comes across as a put up.
Frankly, I 've enjoyed Fujoshi Kanojo much, much more than Densha Otoko. I heard it'll be animated or even dramatized soon. Can't wait! Have you read the blog or the book? It's hilarious.
Quote:
Doubt it. These were both being worked on for a while now.
I meant it worked on ME. Now I want to check them out and maybe buy it.
Sorry for the delay, I'm watching the dorama "Haken no Hinkaku" as I type this; I love Shinohara Ryoko-chan (I'm old enough!) too much to not watch her expressionless face... I can't recommend this dorama enough.. okay, on to Part B!
Spoiler for Long Post - unhide to read:
Suzumiya Haruhi no 巨乳
The big breasted girl asking you to buy her big-sized soft drink is of course everyone's favorite deity, Haruhi-sama. The can in her hand looks like a coca-cola parody, but I believe it should be a self-parody for the Mikuru Tea drink sold in Akiba recently. There's even sign telling the otaku to "just buy it".
Although most people know about Coka-cola in Japan, Coke doesn't really make their money with cola. Like other beverage companies, their main products are tea, coffee, and sports drink. Cola and other soda don't sell nearly as well.
Tea made by Mikuru!
Bonus: I don't really know which Coke CM they're trying to parody, so here's a Coke (Tea) commercial featuring, eh, similar theme The actress here, Tokiwa Takako, is an dorama actress famous for her, eh, attributes (got a famous nude scene to prove it). Plus 2 extra coke CM - featuring two other popular actresses.
Spoiler for Video - unhide to watch:
Coca Cola Sokenbicha CM - Tokiwa Takako & Nishida Naomi
Coca Cola Sokenbicha CM - Yada Akiko
Cocal Cola Karada Meguricha CM - Hirosue Ryoko
Algae Monster of Hokkaido
When Kagamin was enjoying Misao's ice cream, she said "(It's like) Marimokkori's Eyes!". What she was referring to was how the ice cream made her so happy that her eyes looked like the funny-looking eye of Hokkaido's Mascot character, まりもっこり (Marimokkori). Named after a special local algea, it's a cute green chara with a bulging crotch (see below). Marimokkori is a popular mascot character for Hokkaido; visitors usually brought one home along with other Hokkaido omiyage like the "White Lover" Cookies (the non-stale kind).
Check out his eyes and other interesting bits
How-to Enter ToDai with Manga
When Misao told everyone that she think she can enter Tokyo University, Japan's #1 University and one of the most difficult place to attend in the world, she go the idea by reading a manga called "ドラゴン桜" (Dragon Sakura). The manga was then remade into a highly rated 2005 dorama starring Abe Hiroshi and Johnny's Yamapi (Yamashita Tomohisa). It's basically about a loser of a lawyer who decided that he can help 5 failing students from a crummy school enter Todai with his special training. His "classes" involving mixing sports with rote memorization and ignoring school teachers for subject matter exerts. He also, of course, teachers life lesson to these delinquent kids.
When Kagami was questioning Misao, she was specifically calling her out that such teacher, classmates, environment, and training exist only in manga and TV. It was really a great reference because MANY kids DID believe they have a chance for Todai after watching the dorama. "Hey! Yamapi got in by playing catch while doing chemisty, so can I!". Kagamin is of course, the only one in the room with a real chance at Todai future. Hohoho. I personally liked the show for Abe-san; one of the great Japanese actors unknown to the West. I liked Yamapi in "Nobuta wo Produce", but he's really too Johnny's pretty for me. The show was utterly ridiculous but good acting and style saved it for me.
Abe-sama will MAKE a Todaijin out of you!
Summer Test Preparation
The reason why Konata (and everyone else) is paying attention to Summer assignment this time is because that this particular summer is special. The Summer vacation of a 3rd year HS student is spend doing special home work design to help you review the entire 1st and 2nd year of HS. This is to prepare them for the big tests in a few month. Good schools like Katsukabe would give them a review that's going to really help them do well on the tests, and anyone wanting to be in an elite University has best take advantage of it.
There's a saying: "夏休みを制する者が受験を征する" (Those who controlled their Summer vacation will conquer the test). A student wanting to enter a public college will study for 10 to 12 hours a day. Good schools will even arrange special Summer camp where the students can concentrate on studying all summer long. Still think Japanese school is all fun and games? The Hiiragi girls even said they skipped the Matsuri held by their own Jinja. Even in L*S, the pressure of the 3rd year is evident. It seemed that our little Kona is serious about going to college after all.
Students at a Summer Study Camp:
The Girls and their Eki
This episode finally showed us a couple of JR stations. The following are the new Holy Sites:
Konata's Home Station: 幸手駅 (Satte Eki)
Spoiler for Video of the Satte Eki:
Station for the Big Meeting: 東武動物公園駅 (Toubu Doubutsu Koen Eki)
The sign's changed slightly like the other names:
The Great Lucky Star Hanabi Daikai
By now we now know exactly which city Konata and the Hiiragis live, but we were never told here Miyuki/Minami resided, aside that it's closer to Tokyo. Some of you may know this, but Japan has a special breed of otaku called the Densha-Otaku; the train fanatics. Some of them are also anime-otakus. Some of these hybrid-otas analyzed the train scenes, station location, and clues from the dialog in trying to discover which Matsuri the girls went. Basically there are two candidates, and I'll just post them both. You can be the judge.
First candidate is the famous 江戸川花火大会 (Edogawa Hanabi Daikai) held 8/4 of this year. Over 1.3 million people watched it live and over 14,000 fireworks were used last year. Video links below:
Spoiler for Video - unhide to watch:
The Second candidate is somewhat famous 川崎市多摩川花火大会 (Kawasaki City Hanabi Daikai), held on the 3rd Saturday of August. Video below:
Spoiler for Video - Unhide to watch:
Tsukasa's Quick Quips
She made two one-liner references during the Masuri scetch:
When she was trapped by the ticket gate in the stations: "なんじゃこりゃー" (Nanja Koryaa!) It was the last word of Detective ジーパン (Jeans) in a legendary police drama "太陽にほえろ!" (Taiyou ni Hoero!), which was aired from 1972 to 1986.
When Tsukasa was scratching her mosquito bites, she let out "かい～の" (Kai-no~~). This phrase is a famous gag line of a popular comedian named 間寛平 (Hazama Kanpei).
She also printed on her paper fan her most favorite thing in the world: "バルサミコ酢" (Balsamic Vinegar). I'm sure KyoAni will have this out for sale any day now.
Hazama-san, Master of low-brow humor:
Lucky Dog
In Lucky Channel, new pretty-boy assistant Ono Daisuke made a reference to the past characters he and Imano Hiromi (Akira's seiyuu) played on the anime "AIR". He was the character 国崎往人 (Kunisaki Yukito) and she was the dog ポテト (Poteto).
Hiromi-chan was so cute...
The Groom's Rumba
The latest Shiraish ED again featured a song written and performed by the great Mr. White Rock. The song, "お婿ルンバ" or "Groom's Rumba" is a parody of a very popular wedding song by 70-80's idol 郷ひろみ (Gou Hiromi), "お嫁サンバ" or "Bride's Samba". I only knew about him because he dated Matsuda Seiko back in the 80's. You can watch the original song below (not the same one I posted before):
Oyome Samba performed by Gou Hiromi back in '84:
Spoiler for Video - Unhide to watch:
===
My goodness this is long. But it is so much fun. I'm reading about things I would never had otherwise. Now I know the exact model number of the train Konata rode on. Japanese otas are impressive indeed.
I am quite amazed as to how quickly the Japanese otaku squadrons can gather this type of information with such detail. Especially if many of them are not that familiar with general Japanese culture. If I were to assume the Japanese otaku average age was 13-24 and they are hardcore enough to frequent the types of boards and blogs that find this information, I wonder where they find the time to involve themselves in these other areas of culture enough to recognize the references. Some of them are probably more obvious then others, but others seem pretty obscure. It is quite impressive in the end.
I thought number 20 was quite an awesome episode, but i'm saying that about most of em now. I dunno why, but the inclusion of new characters really makes the programme more interesting when i thought it would just spiral off into stupid plots.
Loving the mosquito bit and the whole tea and melon part. Made me laugh when Yuki-chan's Mum forgot about herself and Konata though of something, no doubt, worrying.
Aw man, time consuming clubs indeed. Back when I was in high school, I spent more time in clubs than in my actual classes. That's what happens when you do marching band, academic decathlon, and mock trial at the same time every year...
Anyway, finally got around to watching the actual episode. Short LC this time around...but I found it quite amusing, better than several of the earlier ones. And Shiraishi's ED this time...man that guy's crazy. But I guess that's why we like watching him.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
School? Work? Real Life? Splitting duties with other projects?
It is September after all.... (thinks about waiting *months* for some series episode releases)
Perhaps there were just technical or logistical obstacles... they've taken longer to do an episode on average since ep 16. They're also not the only ones subbing.... though my favorites, the EnA people seem to have taken a powder for the time being... the Guerrand folks have stepped into the breech though for the impatient.
Haha yeah I figured there would be rl reasons coming into the picture. Guerrand's up to 23 now aren't they? Well...tbh I would prefer to wait for a.f.k's subs. Quite a big(stubborn) fan of them...
Awesome, now that a.f.k.'s sub is out, I can catch up on what I've missed.
Great ep, I'll start by listing everything I found funny about this episode:
Nothing.
Excellent, that was a long list.
This show has pretty much completely lost any ounce of comedic momentum it had, and it didn't exactly have a great deal to begin with. But it continues to just the same old tired jokes and pointless go-nowhere conversations that were tolerable in early episodes, without being exceptionally engaging or funny, but are just inane and boring now. I generally find that only the absolute best comedies are still funny after twenty episodes, and that certainly isn't the case for LS, but in all honesty, it hasn't been exceptionally funny at all since about ep 12.
What is wrong with this show? I mean, I found Gokujou Seitokai and Karin to be a million times funnier than this, and neither of those were fantastic. This is bordering on irredeemable now. A comedy should be funny. This just simply isn't.
Wasn't it established a while ago that this is more of a otaku(of sorts) slice of life anime than a comedy and the parts that just so happened to make you laugh or even smirk were just a bonus?
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Anime in progress and enjoying: Persona 4 the golden
Animes on Hold:None
Animes completed:I wanna be the strongest in the world,Super Sonico The Animation, Hajime no Ippo:Rising, Wake up girls,Mangaka-san to Assistant-san to The Animation
Anime evaluating:None
Manga in progress:None at the moment
Yeah, but the show should at least still be enjoyable. It was earlier on in the series... at times. It's just not anymore. I mean, I'm all for judging a show on its intentions, but if I can't find it enjoyable and/or engaging, then it's failed its first criteria as a piece of entertainment and/or art.
And I hate this idea that just because a show is aimed at certain people, it should be impervious to criticism. It's like saying Adam Sandler films are written for people who have had lobotomies, and thus no one else has the right to judge them (although I'm being harsh on Sandler here, I did find a couple of his films funny, I'm just using him as an example).
And just to ram the point home, I just watched the latest episode of Hayate no Gotoku, and I laughed more in the first twenty seconds of that than I have in the last six episodes of Lucky Star. If they incite such completely different reactions from me, surely you can see why I'd say I think one is far better than the other.
(It's similar to the "you can speak mangled, fragmented Japanese? SUGOI!! Come hang out with us!!")
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