I am a big fan of TVXQ!. On 8th of December 2021, one of the member, Max Changmin, released a mini album. It is his Japan album. That makes him represent TOHOSHINKI. TOHOSHINKI is the Japanese name of TVXQ!.

Source: 東方神起オフィシャルウェブサイ卜

 

This mini album title is Human, as for the main track, too. This article will talk about my opinion Human, the main track. I represent this article for Shim Changmin, one of the most influential person in my life.

When TOHOSHINKI's official Twitter account announced its release date, I was beyond excited. I was even planning to invest my money to buy this mini album, since the price is not that high. In other word, affordable. But, I back down from this plan. I realised I did not prepare more seriously for this heartwarming mini album. I didn't have enough money. I didn't even know the date of the MV release. So, when I opened YouTube, I was like, 'Huh? He released the MV already?' Pretty nice for declaring myself as a big fan, is it not?

Until I remembered one of Changmin's wise words. I do not exactly remember the actual phrases. He said to prioritized what important first. I think feeding myself enough every month, studying diligently for I am in the last year of college and doing anything I feel important rather than spend my time and money for a mini album that I can buy any other time. Changmin's mini album release is only one of many things that categorised as entertainment purpose. I know I can learn a thing or two from the MV, for perhaps I could direct an MV, too, but that is not the main purpose here.

So, to the song itself. I won't going to talk about the MV. Only the song (so, here I am, writing this article while listening to the song on YouTube Music repeatedly).

Nostalgic. That is one word that could describe the entirety of this song. We know Changmin present himself as a cyborg or super human. He is taking us from hundred or thousand years ahead. That's interesting (but this is Shim Changmin we're talking about, a person who have big interest of newest technology, so it is not that big of a fuss). It is like, he is trying to talk to us about something.

Ah, before I continue, I haven't read the lyric. I don't know the actual meaning behind this song.

In my deepest opinion, Changmin is trying to communicate with us about this earth -- what happened with the earth and humans themselves. If we continue to harm this earth or do things horribly repeatedly, there will be nothing left even before God call us to go to Heaven or Hell someday (from Muslim theory). He is trying to remind us. Changmin is trying to remind us this earth and the people are matters.

Don't you feel the same? Nostalgic. Perhaps most of you translate this song as lonely, too.

Honestly, I love him even more. Not in romantic term, mind you. I love him as one of my motivation.

'Sabishii'. I heard this word clearly. This word is Japanese, means it's lonely. I can understand. Imagine you have no one beside you anymore because this earth is damaged, like, totally damaged. Not many human left.

So it's represent in the MV itself. I cannot believe I happened to think the same as Changmin and the Director. And I am not joking. I did not write this article while imagining or watching the MV. So, what I think as nostalgic is true. Lonely is also true.

It's sadden me knowing I cannot do big things for this earth. I am not a person who hold special interest to nature, honestly speaking. I do feel sympathy, but I cannot find the right time to do the actions. I hope we will live safely in this earth much longer.

This is not a very serious article, yet I feel satisfied. Last night, I can finally express my feelings through self-talk, and today, I can finally let myself do something refreshing to express this feelings even more. I know I should learn to control my feelings (again), however this article is able to lift more of my emotional burnout.

Shim Changmin, for you out there, thank you.

Title      : Daily Lives of High School Boys; 男子高校生の日常; Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou

Genre    : slice of life, comedy

Episode : 12

Producers: Tanaka Kakeru, Ōshiro Hiroaki, Hayashi Yōhei, Satō Hiroshi, Wakanabe Ryūta

Director : Takamatsu Shinji

Assistant Director: Yoshimura Ai

Script Writer: Takamatsu Shinji 

 

Danshi Koukousei cover | Source: MyAnimeList

Daily Lives of High School Boys -- or I like to call it just Danshi Koukousei -- is an anime about everyday basis that will happen in high school boys' lives. Just like the title said. The three main characters of this anime are Tadakuni, Yoshitake and Hidenori. By the way, my favourite is Tadakuni. He always looks different from Yoshitake and Hidenori, haha, that's why I like him better.

 

You wouldn't find the anime to be continued. There are various scene an episode. Different story, different conflict, yeah sometimes related, but not always. It's a common thing in slice of life's genre. No major conflict. Just laid-back story you can watch every time you'd like to. Just what I need.

 

My cousin who happened to love this genre, so he recommended it to me. At first, I was hesitant to pick this anime as one of my go-to-watch this month -- I'm in the middle of writing slice of life radio playwright, so I kinda need it. I mean, my two main characters in script are girls, so why bother watching an anime about boys? But no, thanks God, I got plenty inspiration from this anime. In fact, I love it more and more, and by the time I finished watching, I can't stop the feeling of ... lonely. I'll miss this anime. I'll re-watch this anime!

 

The original soundtrack (opening and ending) are funny and memorable. I kept thinking the opening doesn't seem right to be the opening. At first. But through my watching time, I realise it does not matter anymore to me. It will be very memorable, and yes, it worked. The ending is so funny. What with that "ba ba ba ba ri ra ri ra ba ba" whatsoever? Hahaha! So addictive to listen. I can't even stop myself from singing. It easy to remember and memorable. If I ever heard of this ending soundtrack years from now, I wouldn't surprise to find I still remember it.

 

My favourite story is the ending actually, but haha okay, I'll pick a part. I like High School Boys and ... shoot, I forgot! Alright, whatever. I like the one when they play kick a can part. When they used Mitsuo's Gundam as the can. Hahaha, oh my Goodness. His precious action figure... I know they will never be "real" serious, and yeah I'm correct. They were just playing kick a can! Yoshitake and Hidenori, I mean. Bruh, hahaha.

 

As a broadcaster myself, I found it amusing that the Director used minimum shot type. Really, as laid-back as the anime can be, I never thought the Director -- I mean, Takamatsu Shinji sensei -- would use such simple shots, and thus, I can say, are amazing! The shots can deliver the story completely even with it minimum types. Such beauty... For example, like when they were talking about their lives while passing a volley ball. That was an amazing idea! It was simple yet surprisingly amazing! I can even learn from this anime: I don't have to push myself to use many shot types to reach maximum greatness, as long as I can deliver the message correctly.

 

I'll give this anime 5/5 stars! Happy watching and (perhaps) learning, my friends!

(Doc. Amazon.com)

I just finished watching the first season of Danganronpa. I would only give this anime 3/5 stars. Why? Let me explain it further.

Danganronpa: The Animation poster | Doc. Amazon UK

GARO: Moonbow Traveller (Gekkou no Tabibito) official poster (Doc. Tokunation)

Saejima Taiga. Saejima Kouga. Saejima Raiga. Those names are the GARO bearer from Saejima family. Never in my life, I ever think of seeing them again. Fighting together.

Since the first day of Moonbow Traveller's roadshow, I saw some photos of those three together. I saw it on Twitter. For me as a hardcore fan of GARO series since kindergarten, wishing for Kouga and Raiga reunion is enough. But this Moonbow Traveller is beyond what I wished for. There are Taiga too! The father of Kouga and also the grandfather of Raiga. I can't stop my tears for their whole reunion!

I have to say, this film has lots of plot twist. I was, "Huh?" and, "What?" here and there, haha. So, I am not going to tell the story too far. Just so you know, we can finally see Kouga, Kaoru, and Raiga in one film. For real. Even though Kaoru only visited Mayuri.

Ah anyway, about Mayuri. She's so pretty! I love her previous hairstyle, but this shorter hair is prettier. Plus, she doesn't afraid to smile anymore, even though she has no power like before. Really, she's so pretty. I can't say it in words only.

If Kaoru expresses her love using paintings and brush, then Mayuri express her love using flowers. How lovely of them. Even though the both of them doesn't have power like Kouga and Raiga, but they're willing to give all of their love. Oh God, I'm crying.

One thing that I also treasured so much is the fact that there are three Zaruba. Hahaha. Each of them on those Saejima GARO bearer. Wow. It was also a little bit comedic for me, haha.

The main characters are indeed those 3 Saejima head families, but we can't forget about Crow. In fact, he was cool too. He can pass through the barrier with his own power. So I was asking Raiga, why do you have to ask for Gajiri's help, then? You can ask for Crow's help. Oops! A little bit too far, am I not? Ah yes, there's Gajiri too, and the one who seeks for his help is Raiga. You can find a big plot twist too for this help.

I thought the only person who can use GARO armour is Raiga, but Taiga and Kouga can use it too! It didn't really surprise me as for Kouga, but Taiga??? I mean, he's already dead, but he can still use the armour? How cool! That's the first generation of Saejima head family who bear the GARO armour for ya!

Saejima Taiga, Saejima Kouga, and Saejima Raiga are fighting together (Doc. Picuki.com)

Again, I want to remind myself. There are so many plot twist, so I have to hold my fingers to type anything that indicated as spoiler. Really, if you're a GARO series fan too, you should watch Moonbow Traveller. The best film of the GARO series. I just hoped it was a series, not a film. But well, the film isn't bad too.

And! Right. I swear I saw Suzumura Rei on the train! But... he's not moving? You should watch it by yourself. I swear that was Fujita Ray as Suzumura Rei. Um, maybe my eyes were deceiving me?

Konishi Ryosei (Saejima Kouga), Hijii Mika (Mitsuki Kaoru), and Nakayama Masei (Saejima Raiga) (Doc. Twitter @GARO_PROJECT)

Today, I went to Taman Budaya Yogyakarta with one of my classmate, Dzikri. Because I only had one class (if filling the attendance sheet only can be categorised as a class), so I thought I don't have to brought anything important with me. I only brought my Handphone, Pen, and Key. Beat me, I never thought Dzikri will ask me to go with him. I didn't bring my wallet, so he had to pay for me; for the Trans Jogja's fee (Rp3.500,00 × 2 = Rp7.000,00) and my lunch (Rp10.000,00). Really, if I didn't initiated to went back together with him, then he will never ask me to come with him.

The Trans Jogja ticket

Our main purpose is to watch a documentary film. The title is Banda: The Dark Forgotten Trail. The film is telling a story about Banda island; an island where the best Pala growth. Years ago, even people from Europe had to kill Indonesian to monopolies the Pala. Pala was a very great spice to preserve any kind of food, but since the refrigerator was found, Pala existence slowly forgotten. How pity.

I've heard about Pala somewhere, but even I don't know the existence and the function of it.

Ok. Before I watched the film, I took two brochures; one is about the "festival" I was attending to (the Festival Film Dokumenter) and the other one is an art map! The map is consist of every art spaces in Yogyakarta, whether its traditional, modern, or both.

The brochures

When the film ends, we watch a short virtual reality film, it's only for 8 minutes. I was watching the one about a deaf dancer. Can you imagine it? I am a dancer, so how can you dance when you can't even hear the music? That's weird, until I watch this one. She's trying to feel the beat, the tempo, by watching people dancing and counting the tempo by heart. How beautiful I think.

And I got this book! Actually it's also a brochure. And again, actually, I took it. Well, I think I can add it to my collection.

The experience was fun, that's if I don't have to tell the rest.

Reading (Doc. The Writing Cooperative)

I love reading. Reading is a part of my soul. Without reading, I don't know how to "feed up" my brain. And without books, I don't know if I can live anymore. I love books to the point that I consider them as my children. I also like manga (Japanese comics) and anime (Japanese cartoons). So, when my friend gave me four manga, I was very happy. Even though I don't know what kind of manga she gave me.

MangaFest 2019 event (Doc. mangafest.net)

I don't know she's an MC of MangaFest 2019 (a yearly manga festival held by one of university in Yogyakarta, Indonesia). When she told me she's the MC, I was shocked. Wow! I know she loves Japanese, but never I thought she would have an interest to become an MC. By become an MC of MangaFest, she have a benefit to pick as many manga as she likes. I remember she brought six manga and only brought back two manga with her.

She gave me NURA #23, Tsubasa and Fireflies #6, A Chef of Nobunaga #16, and You Are My Future #5. Um... also a mini notebook with Tokyo Ghoul's cover. Honestly, I never touch those manga ever. I heard about A Chef of Nobunaga before, but never really "touch" it, whether it's the manga, anime, or novel (if there is a novel). The rest of those, I never heard of them at all.

All right. The first manga I read was... You Are My Future. Ugh, I forgot to tell her that I despise romance. But ok, I still read it despite the genre. I want to respect my friend, haha. I give this manga 0.1 star out of 5 stars because the girl main character is a FREAKING IDIOT. I hate her. I hate the story. I don't really understand about love, but I know she's VERY IDIOT. VERY, VERY, VERY IDIOT. The girl's name is Kayo and the boy's main character is Shinnosuke. The main "idiot" scene is when Kayo insisted to enter the same university as Shinnosuke. Shinnosuke already told her, she should think of herself first, because university is very important. She shouldn't choose her university just because she wants to be together with Shinnosuke. What kind of choice is that?! That idiot Kayo insisted that "so we can always together" as her reason. IDIOT! Don't you have any clever future? I know you love Shinnosuke, I know you want to be together with him forever, I know you want to get married to him in the future, but PLEASE! Think clearly, you idiot! Are you going to just lay down in bed spreading your legs, cook, and that's all if you become Shinnosuke's wife in the future? What an idiot human.

The front cover of You Are My Future, Indonesian version (Doc. Grobmart.com)

The second manga I read is Tsubasa and Fireflies. This one is a romance too. If you wonder why I read the romance first, it's because I want to read the best lastly. Ok! This one is not that bad like You Are My Future, but a romance is a romance. It's... cringy. I don't know! I don't like romance (':
But this one is all right. It makes me wonder after I reread for the second time just before. I confessed my feeling to the person I like... I wonder, is that person feel the same way as Akki? I come to the conclusion that I still dislike romance, but I can't dislike this manga. Though I won't read another volume. Not that interested. This manga is ok for my not-so-bearable romance hate.

Front cover of Tsubasa and Fireflies, Indonesian version (Doc. Bukalapak)

NURA is the third manga I read. It's a fantasy-action-adventure manga. I didn't like it, but I didn't dislike it too. When I read NURA, it's like reading One Piece and Naruto at the same time. Seriously. One thing for sure, don't mock your enemy, even though you have all powers the world might contain. Don't underestimate them. They're your enemy, after all, you should give them your full attention, so you can fight them with all your powers. Oh, right! I felt like reading Inuyasha when I read this manga, but the feeling is slightly different. And my favourite character, of course, it's Hagoromo Gitsune. Such a splendid power she has. Not many things I like to tell about this manga. It's a fine manga. The characters are great, the story is well-build, the photos are well-made... everything is fine, I think. But I didn't intend to buy or read the other volume. Not that interested with this manga, but just like I said, it's fine. Well crafted.

The front cover of The Great Yokai Battle NURA - Rise of The Yokai Clan (Doc. Simon & Schuster)

The last but not least manga I read is A Chef of Nobunaga. The story is about a modern professional Chef from the Heisei era who happened to slipped time. His name is Ken. He's back to the warring state era, where there is Oda Nobunaga. He can't remember who he really is back in Heisei, despite his name from someone he knew from Heisei era too and his cooking skill. As a Chef, I can tell he has an amazing skill. Despite the difficulties he found during this war era, he can cook many delicious dishes. He always cooking based on the person's personality. In this 16th volume, Nobunaga order Ken to serves his Son, who will soon become the next Oda's head family. He can deliver what Oda Nobutada going to say to his comrades. Nobutada is not a straightforward person like his Father. He tends to listen first to the other opinion. So with his cooking skill, Ken is trying to deliver everyone's thought, whether it's the soldiers or those noble people. I find it such a light and knowledgeable manga. I love it. I even started to read the manga from the first volume and watch the live-action from the first episode, haha. From the live-action, I know that Tamamori Yuta is acting as Ken. He's a member of Kis-My-Ft2; a Japanese boyband.

The front cover of A Chef of Nobunaga, the Japanese version (Doc. LiveJournal)

The Tokyo Ghoul's notebook is not a manga, but I want to talk a little about that here. I never touch Tokyo Ghoul too before, but I don't know why I found the notebook to be the most interesting one. I'll use the notebook as Zhou Zhennan's journal! I am not going to attach the photo of the notebook. I want to keep it as a secret until I can finish it as Nannan's journal.

And today, I want to announce the new logo/icon of this blog! Yay~! v:

The crown for Prince and the P for Pinky

All right! Thank you.