On the Verge of Lunacy

*Note: I do not claim ownership of any of the images used in this review When Yukimura Chizuru's father stopped sending her letters, Chizuru feared something bad had happened to the old man. Yukimura Kōdō is a medical doctor who practices Western medicine. He went to Kyoto a while back and promised his daughter he'd write everyday. Chizuru decided to look for her father, but she does not know where to start and soon she got lost. Not soon after dark, she witnessed an attack by unusual men. These men seemed demonic in their intent to kill. Not satisfied with their victims, they turned to Chizuru. Hijikata Toshizou Before they got the chance to finish her, a group of men came to her rescue. But it seems that the rescuers are suspicious of her presence in the crime scene. What's more, they seem to be hiding something from her. She definitely witnessed something she was not supposed to. Chizuru found herself entangled in the schemes, secrets and battles of ...

In a time when the bonds between gods and humans are weakening, one of the most powerful beings devises a plan to teach young gods the meaning of love and restore that connection. Kusanagi Yui was born and raised near a Shinto shrine. By all standards she's a normal girl with a normal life. One day on her way home from school, she discovers a sword which transports her to a sanctuary created by Zeus. She is given the task to act as the human representative in Zeus' school to teach young gods from different countries the meaning of love. If they succeed, it will prevent the destruction of the school and release the gods trapped in the realm. But every time there is a complication, the force holding the place together will weaken. Kusanagi Yui (center) with the gods Yui is hardworking and persuasive and manages to befriend the young gods with the help of her new friend Melissa, a doll sent to look after her. She meets the Greek gods Apollon, Hades and Diony...

The book is an exhaustive treatise of the creation and evolution of the concept of the dragon. It is divided into three chapters which discuss  incense and libations, dragons and rain gods, and the birth of Aphrodite. The titles of the chapters might be confusing and irrelevant at first glance but the author did more than just explain the various appearances and characteristics of the dragon. He went so far as to discuss every possible theory of its creation, purpose, and models. He even included topics which are remotely related to minor subjects discussed throughout the book.  The author has a tendency to extend the discussion of even the minor topics because he considered every theory that was extant during the creation of this book. The title might be misleading and the reader disappointed in the writer's style but his exhaustive method at arriving at his conclusions is praiseworthy. His uses comparison and verification to form his own opinions and does not wholly...

The book can be divided into several parts which discuss the sources, application, and influence of Bushido. According to Nitobe, Bushido is a "code of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe." It is made up of maxims which are discussed thoroughly in the book. Before proceeding to the discussion of the maxims, Nitobe cited the possible influences in the development of the codes. He then goes on to tell the reader of the maxims by citing examples and comparisons. There is also a section on the education and training of the samurai, the samurai's sword, and the training and position of the samurai woman. The first two are just overviews and do not elaborate the training of the knights. Finally, Nitobe contemplates the status of Bushido and its uses in the future. The book is very easy to understand, however, Nitobe cites names and events that may not be familiar to the average reader. Still, his other examples will suffice. Alth...

The series is set in the events that followed the aftermath of Ryoma Sakamoto's assassination. The hero of the series, Akizuki Yujiro, carries a sword which glows when it is near its supernatural quarry. The target which is known by the name of the "Lord's Head" apparently has something to do with the conflicts at the close of the Bakumatsu era. It is Akizuki's task to seal this head using the sword. Along the way he meets a theatre group led by Yuyama Kakunojo. The group's quest for revenge against one man inevitably ties up their destiny with Akizuki. Their playwright, Ibaragi Soutetsu, plays a key role in the series when he reveals his true motives. The series is riddled with historical events that might confuse viewers who are not knowledgeable about this period in Japanese history. Granted, there is a narrator and the events don't weigh heavily on the outcome of Akizuki's quest. The building up of the tension is slow (for me at least...

Thirteen warriors risk their lives and honor in an attempt to assassinate Matsudaira Naritsugu and his men on their way home. Naritsugu is a brother of the current Shogun and is unpunished for his crimes. He is notorious for killing and raping several people. No one can touch him however and he is surrounded by skilled bodyguards who are loyal to him despite his eccentric and sadistic way of doing things. Doi Toshitsura, a government official, has to act before Naritsugu gains more political power and bring chaos to the land. He hires Shinzaemon to do the task for him. The first half of the movie focused on the preparations made and the acquisition of skilled samurai who would join their group. They decided to barricade a town because it was the only way to block the progress of Naritsugu's entourage. The group seemed confident that they had an advantage but they learned that instead of seventy, 200 men now escort Naritsugu. This movie is not for the faint-hearted. T...

Fuyu no Semi or Winter Cicada is a 3-part animation about two men trapped between the different views of the Shogunate and the Empire. This sad story is set in a time when Japan is transitioning from the Tokugawa shogunate back to the Imperial rule. Kusaka Touma of the Choshu clan and Akizuki Keiichirou, a Bakufu samurai, both agree that internal strife would only bring the downfall of Japan if the foreigners ever decide to conquer the country. It has to open its doors to foreign trade and relations, something that the exclusionists vehemently oppose. Kusaka, despite the objections of his friend Aizawa, still clings to his views. He started taking English lessons from Akizuki and this got him in trouble. As days passed, the relationship between his clan and Akizuki's group got worse so they had to stop meeting. Kusaka was later given an opportunity to go abroad. He had to endure years of being away from Akizuki. He has to come home however for the war and he's hoping tha...

Masanosuke Akitsu is having a hard time keeping his jobs because of his personality. Although he's a skilled swordsman, he freezes up in a crowd and cowers when everyone's attention is on him. The shy ronin meets his opposite while wandering around town. Yaichi, leader of the gang called Five Leaves, hires him as a bodyguard. He finds the gang's covert activities discouraging however and several times he tries to extricate himself from the group. However, the more he knew Yaichi, Take, Umezou, and Matsukichi, he becomes more attached to the gang. His fascination with Yaichi leads him to discoveries of the latter's past that strengthens his admiration for the gang leader. The series has a very slow pace that matches the main character's personality. It takes a few episodes to establish the personality of each member as it is a character-driven story. There are also flashbacks in certain episodes that will only make sense as the story progresses. This is a diffe...

Although this game was set in the age of the Warring States in Japan, it doesn't focus on the human conflicts. Instead the player goes on a quest to stop the resurrected Nobunaga and the Genma from taking over feudal Japan and later on, the rest of the modern world. In the first game of the series, Onimusha: Warlords , Samanosuke Akechi received a letter from his cousin Princess Yuki asking him to rescue her from imminent danger. She observed that most of their servants are disappearing and strange events have been happening in the castle. Samanosuke was too late however. And what was supposedly a rescue mission turned out be a quest to rid the world of a much greater threat. The objectives of the first game are quite easy to follow. The player also has to remember everything he sees in the castle (doors to be opened, puzzle boxes, etc.) as some of these will help unlock items needed in the game. The boss fights aren't difficult as long as the player remembers the p...

What could be more tragic than lovers torn apart by betrayal, sense of duty and families willing to fight each other to the death. Kouga Danjo and Ogen's granchildren suffer the same fate that befell them years ago. It seems like the stars decreed that they were not meant to be together; that peace between the Tsubagakure of the Iga and the Manjidani of Kouga, two ninja clans, will never be realized. The story is set at the time when the heir of Tokugawa Ieyasu was being decided. To end the conflict, Ieyasu sought the counsel of a priest, who told him that the ninjas might be useful to decide who the rightful heir is. The ninjas were also seen as a threat and that letting them kill each other will benefit the government. Gennosuke and Oboro Little did they know that the two clans were about to reconcile through the marriage of Gennosuke and Oboro. Danjo and Ogen both knew this but did not mention it when they were summoned to Sunpu in what they thought was just a showdow...

Imagine having to share your body with a historical figure and particiapting in a war that's been going on for 400 hundred years. That's what Takaya Ohgi has to go through the day he found out he's the reincarnation of Kagetora, adopted son of Kenshin Uesugi. This 13-episode series has a mix of history, supernatural and romance. The spirits of the warlords and samurai of 16th century Japan have been fighting all along as 'possessors'. Kagetora was given the task by his father Kenshin to fight and exorcise the spirits who are siding with the Feudal Underworld. He was reluctant to acknowledge these revelations at first and in fact could not remember anything from his previous reincarnations. This locking away of memories would later prove to be vital in understanding his relationship with Yoshiaki Tachibana, Nobutsuna Naoe's reincarnation, the man who swore to protect him and who revealed Takaya's identity. Takaya's power is tested during a battle wi...

Stories of two people who used to fight, become friends and end up falling in love with each other is cliche. But the formula never fails to work among the hopelessly romantic viewers. Special A tells a story of childhood friends and rivals, Hikari Hanazono and Kei Takishima. They met through their fathers who were also friends and pro-wrestling fans. As kids they've always competed with each other at wrestling. Hikari had always wanted to beat Kei ever since she was defeated in a match. She began competing with him in everything from school to athletic activities. She would always take it as a challenge as long as Kei is involved in something. Hakusenkan has a different class for the top 7 students of their school, apart from the A to F sections. This class is called Special A. The members of this class include Kei (1st) and Hikari (2nd) and five other students in order of ranking: Jun Yamamoto (3rd) who has a dual personality; Megumi (4th), Jun's twin sister; Tadashi Ka...

Niwa Daisuke seems like an ordinary teenager having troubles in his studies and romance until he learns he has an alter ego - and a powerful one. Daisuke and Dark Daisuke carries in his genes the ability to turn into Dark Mousy, a thief, and what made the situation worse was that he transforms whenever he sees his crush, Risa Harada. All the years of training he went through under the guidance of his mother and his grandfather finally made sense. Only the males in their family are gifted with the ability. At first he didn't like the idea of having someone else inside his body. As he tries to cope with his alter-ego, he meets an interesting boy at school. Hiwatari Satoshi seems to have taken interest in him and it was already clear in the first few episodes that he was to be Daisuke's rival - or friend? In the first few episodes, he gets to test the extent of his powers but most of the time, the story focused on Daisuke's relationships with family, friends, as wel...

Samurai 7's story may be typical but asking seven men to defend an entire village from bandits and the Emperor is not something you could see on a day-to-day basis. This is an adaptation of the 1954 movie by Akira Kurosawa, Seven Samurai, considered a masterpiece. This anime certainly does it justice. The village of Kanna is in a dilemma. They have to give away almost all of their rice every year to the bandits. The invaders have also taken women and children. Without any other choice, the village leader sent three people out to look for help. They looked for samurai who are willing to work in exchange for rice because they don't have anything else to pay for the services. The three villagers, Kirara Mikumari (water maiden), Komachi Mikumari (Kirara's little sister) and Rikichi, set out for the capital. They met Shimada Kambei who at first rejected their offer. The rest of the seven samurai are: Okamoto Katsushiro, a youngster willing to learn to fight for the first ti...

Taniyama Mai likes ghost stories. What she did not know was she was about to embark on an adventure filled with more than just stories. She was forced to work as assistant to Kazuya Shibuya, whom she calls Naru (narcissist), manager of the Shibuya Psychic Research (SPR) when she broke a video camera during SPR's investigation of a haunted building in Mai's school. She also injured Naru's assistant, Lin Kojo, in the process. During the various investigations they conducted she discovers that ghost hunting after all was serious business. She also unlocked her hidden psychic abilities. From left: Mai, Masako, John, Takigawa and Ayako. The anime focused on eight different cases spanning 25 episodes. Although it was a short series, the story was captivating because it has explored the different abilities of the characters. Hosho Takigawa is a Buddhist monk; Ayako Matsuzaki is a Shinto miko or priestess berated for her inability to exorcise; John Brown is a Catholic pri...

First Season of Saiunkoku Monogatari Episodes : 39 Manga written by Sai Yukino and illustrated by Kairi Yura The Story of Saiunkoku (or Tale of the Land of Coloured Clouds) tells the tale of a smart, ambitious and hardworking girl named Shuurei. Because her father does not earn enough money to make ends meet, she has to do odd jobs. Her dream however was to pass the National Exams and become a government official. Her chance to get a shot at her dream came unexpectedly through an offer of becoming a concubine to Emperor Ryuuki. She was tasked however to teach and motivate the emperor to participate in court discussions and become a better leader. Lured by the prize money, the young lady from the Kou clan accepted the advisor's offer. The young man Seiran who has a mysterious past went with her to the palace with a temporary assignment as her bodyguard. While spending time with each other, Ryuuki became fond of Shuurei. Her perseverance finally paid off and Ryuuki became interes...

kimi ha kitto onaji mainichi ni anshin dekiru hito nanda ne dakedo nani ka motomete tatakau tanoshisa ni ha kitsukanai yo ochiru yuuhi mitsumetnagara shizumu mono mo utsukushii to sore de kokoro yasugunara sore demo ii kedo boku ha zutto ue wo mezashiteku soko kara shika mienai mono wo miru tame ni natsukusu mono mo kakugo dekite iru koenakya nara nai mono itsuka koeru tame ni kimi ha itsu mo onaji michi toori shiranai roji ha mimoshinai ne dakedo tama ni maigo ni naru mono tanoshii deai mitsukerareru hitori aruku kodoku na ou no michi ha zutto hatenai kedo sore de kokoro tsubureru nara sore dake no koto sa boku ha zutto ue wo mezashiteku soko kara shika mienai mono wo miru tame ni kizutsuku no mo kakugo dekite iru dare yori mo takai basho noboritsumeru tame ni boku ha zutto ue wo mezashiteku soko kara shika mienai mono wo miru tame ni natsukusu mono mo kakugo dekite iru koenakya nara nai mono itsuka koeru tame ni boku ha zutto ue wo mezashiteku soko kara shika mienai mono wo mi...

I don't usually wake up before nine o'clock in the morning during weekends or vacation. If it wasn't for Abe no Yasuaki, the Genbu of Heaven and his green hair, I'd have spent my spare time playing Battle Realms and Generals. The last time I watched anime was more than five years ago. The last characters I was interested with were Sanosuke of Samurai X and Ryu of Streetfighter. Nothing about the story caught my attention. It was the animation that was superb. The fact that they have captured the spirit of the Heian Era was quite unusal for something that is usually associated with elementary kids. The clothes looked real. They were very detailed and beautifully rendered. They match the color of the hair and eyes of each character. The music gives a different quality to the series. You can sense the power and the tension of the opposing forces. * * * I found Tactics very interesting for its story and animation. Haruka's mysterious side and his relationship t...