What's Buzzing
Have you heard about Kemko-DX!?
What do you get when you put a miniature school girl-piloting-a-robot-mecha-girl and a regular school boy? Anything but something ordinary, that’s for sure!
With the upcoming June holidays, there’s no better time than the present to treat yourself to a huge dose of comedy, action and a tinge of romance!
More details about Kemeko-DX! coming soon!
Launching on anibee 1st of June 2012! See you there!
Nihon-Vibe: AKB48 invades SEGA Prize Machines!
Mega-popular & mega-sized girlband, AKB48, is set to make their appearance in SEGA’s long-running series of prize machine goods in a mega-huge way.
From July 2012 onwards, SEGA’s SEGA Prize lineup will feature no less than 3 different series of AKB48-related products up for grabs including a USB Mouse & Mousepad sets, Tumblers, and over 30 different mini-cushion mobile phone straps featuring the members of Teams A and 4.
All these collectibles will be in specially marked SEGA Prize Machines all over Japan – and this is just the first volume! SEGA has stated their plans to release subsequent volumes monthly from August onwards.
anibee’s Guide to Nifty Japanese Words 101! (Vol. 4)
Fun with Phrase Suffixes!
On this edition of our on-going feature, we’re going to discuss phrase suffixes, or words that we use at the end of our sentences.
While possessing no real meaning on their own, suffixes, much like titles, can tell you a lot about a person; one’s position, social standing, tone, and even gender or race! There are possibly countless different kinds of suffixes in the Japanese language, but here’s a few that we know:
―です(desu) – easily the most commonly used one. ですis used very often when one intends to be polite or neutral in tone.
Example
A: 本当ですか？
Hontou desu ka?
Is that true?
B: ええ、そうです。
Ee, sou desu.
Yes, that is correct.
―だ(da) – also rather common, だ is used when the speaker is particularly confident about a topic. It often sounds rather forceful, and can be implied as rudeness if not used properly, so be mindful!
Example
A: 一番強いのヒーローは誰と思う？
Ichiban tsuyoi no hiiroo wa dare to omou?
Who do you think the strongest hero is?
B: ハルクだ！
Haruku da!
It’s the Hulk!
But as mentioned earlier, suffixes can be used for all sorts of situations to imply all kinds of meanings.
Femininity:
―わ (wa)
A: それは素敵だわ！
Sore wa suteki da wa!
That’s wonderful!
Authority:
―なさい(nasai)
A: 静かにしなさい。
Shizuka ni shi nasai.
Please be quiet.
Some suffixes are sometimes used for purely comical effect and are otherwise, non-sensical (such as Naruto’s consistent だってばよ！(date bayo!))!
Pay close attention to the next anime you watch – who knows what new suffix you’ll pick up?
Bubble Tea? It’s Woobbee time!
In our never-ending quest to satisfying our collective sweet tooths (or should that be ‘sweet teeth’?), anibee decided to head out in search of a new treat – and we found something that’s yummy and healthy too!
Tucked away at Beach road’s Shaw Tower, we discovered a lovely bubble tea shop – Woobbee! Adorned with a fusion of vintage and modern pieces and with a constant, pleasant wave of popular music playing in the background, the ambience was undeniably ‘homey’. What truly sets Woobbee apart however, is their strict policy of using only raw sugar in their bubble tea.
What‘s so special about raw sugar? Raw sugar is unrefined sugar and contains fewer chemicals compared to white sugar. Also, it contains fewer calories and is definitely a healthier choice compared to the other types of refined sugar available in the market. Thus, due to these benefits, raw sugar is more expensive but Woobbee’s insistence on using it gives us the perfect reason for getting a cup of bubble tea. Each cupful of goodness is not only loaded with the freshest premium brew, they are also a healthier choice!
Tea time, anyone?
So which flavour should you order at Woobbee? We tried two of their newest flavours:
Specialty Milk Tea Herbal Mint
With a refreshing taste unlike anything we’ve ever tasted, we were totally blown away by this pleasant surprise! The secret ingredient here is Pi Pa Gao, which is used in just the right amount, giving the drink a specific ‘punch’ to its flavour without tasting medicinal. Bonus points for the silky smooth glass jelly which complements the drink perfectly. It not only soothes a sore throat but leaves a yummy minty aftertaste too. Overall, it is a refreshing and surprisingly delectable experience! We reckon everyone should try this at least once in their lifetime!
Rating: 4.5/5
Specialty Classic Tea Guava Plum
For fans who like their tea without milk, this is a good recommendation for you. An aromatic blend of guava and plum tea with juicy Aloe Vera bits, this is indeed an enjoyable drink. Easy on the taste buds with thirst quenching effects, it’s a sure-fire solution to keeping your cool in our hot weather. If you are lover of guava and sour plum, you’ll definitely love this!
Rating: 3.5/5
Woobbee also serves delightful toasts as well and exclusively available at Shaw Tower. Our top pick is Woobbee’s signature Milk Butter Toast. Don’t be mistaken though – this is no mere slice of bread with condensed milk slapped on top of it!
This Milk butter toast is toasted till the edges are crispy with a soft milky centre, blended with butter and delicious milk spread on top. This is akin to the Bo Luo Bao served in most Hong Kong restaurants. The aromatic smell of toast in the air further whets our appetite. From just the first bite, your mouth is greeted by the taste of moist buttermilk beneath the crust, simply tantalising your taste buds. At just $3.80 with a cup of steaming hot coffee or tea this is definitely a yummilicous treat!
Head down to Woobbee for a quick bubble tea fix now:
Woobbee Outlets
Address: 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza #01-18, Singapore, Singapore 082001
Hours: Mon - Fri:10:30 am-7:30 pm, Sat:11:00 am-5:00 pm
Tele: 62208220
Address: 100 Beach Road, #01-53, Shaw Tower, Singapore 189702
Hours: 10.30am – 7.30pm, Sat 11am to 7.30pm, Sun 11am – 5.30pm, Closed on Public Holiday
Tele: 6294 2422
WIN A FREE MILK BUTTUER TOAST SET FROM WOOBBEE
Now here’s your chance to win a free yummy toast set from Woobbee! Simply answer the following question:
What is Woobbee’s signature toast and which outlet did anibee visit in the article?
Post your answer as a comment in our Facebook from now till 17 May 2012 and 5 lucky winners will stand a chance to win awesome toast set from Woobbee at Shaw Towers. Winners will bee announced on Friday, 18 May 2012.
anibee’s Guide to Nifty Japanese Words 101! (Vol. 3)
In this installment, we’re going to talk a little bit about titles, mostly the commonly used ones like さん(san), 様(sama), 君(kun), and ちゃん(cyan/chan).
A staple in the everyday usage of Japanese, titles are deceptively simple things that can tell one a lot about a particular person.
さん(san) – One of the most often used titles. This is used in both casual and formal situations, normally to people whom you’ve just met or are not fully acquainted with yet. Sometimes, you would address another party as さん, out of respect, whether due to the position held and/or seniority.
様(sama) – A title usually used in formal situations, the person you address as 様 would ideally be an individual of great importance (such as a customer) or of a high position.
君(kun) – A fairly versatile title, this can be used in most situations. Classically used to address males, this can also be used to address colleagues and/or peers of either gender.
ちゃん(cyan/chan) – Probably one of the most popular (and infamous!) of titles used in fandoms, a person you address as ちゃん would ideally be someone who is much younger than you (be it physically…or mentally!), or someone extremely close to you. In recent years, a variation of this, たん(tan), has sprung up from pop-culture slang!
Knowing when to use which title in what situation can play an important role to a successful conversation or social situation.
As a general rule of thumb, さん and 様 are your best bets for addressing someone you’ve never met before (and who might be older than you), and don’t address yourself by a title – only anime characters do that (and even then, only the really quirky ones)!
Introducing – Mirai!
She’s cute, she’s bubbly and she’s mega-energetic! anibee proudly introduces another guest writer to our line up - Mirai!
A popular blogger, Mirai enjoys Anime, dancing to her favourite AKB48 songs, and is an overall J-culture and fashion buff! Also being a huge make up enthusiast, we invited her to attend Majolica Majorca’s Make up Workshop – here’s her report on the event!
Guest Article: Mirai’s Majolica Majorca Make up experience!
Last Friday, I was invited to the Dramatic eye makeup workshop held by Majolica Majorca in collaboration with Anibee.
As some of you might have known, Majolica is one of my favourite cosmetics brand. (It's well-known for it's pretty packaging, affordability and availability. :3)
The session first started with the trainer, Wilson, introducing to us the various cosmetics products that we would be using. Products from Chapter 33- Lash King, the latest chapter, were specially highlighted.
Once the presentation ended, the participants were given a chance to try on the products!
As I brought my own false eyelashes (as required of a dramatic eye makeup), I was selected to be the "model" for the trainer to demonstrate the steps on. However, he only did half the makeup on my face and I had to complete the other half by myself!
This was a problem because the participants were laughing at my half-done face!
First, we've started with the base, using the Skin Lingerie Pore Cover (makeup base) and Skin Remaker Pore Cover (powder foundation).
Personally, I'm hooked onto the Skin Lingerie Pore Cover! While it's effects are subtle, it covered most of my pores and brightened up my skin. I'm pretty much contemplating to get one of this myself, so I could use it on days I want a more natural looking makeup.
Next, we moved onto the eye area - started off with drawing eyebrow first! Wilson taught us how to measure and draw the perfect eyebrow. He also emphasized that eyebrows should be drawn to look "3D" to nicer! :)
Despite being a fan of Majolica, I didn't even know they had so many eyebrow products. They had eyebrow pencils in Sword Cut (Slanted), Super Slim and even in powder form!
Next comes the eyeshadow. For a dramatic look, we were encouraged to experiment with different colors. (you would have to choose contrasting colors- for example, a light blue base with dark blue accent doesn't count because they're shades of blue and counted as the same color!)
Would you just look at that amount of eyeshadow colors we got to play with? Since I was the "model", Wilson did the choosing of colours for me! He chose the following 3 colours for my eyes:
Yes, it's yellow, hot pink and black! Honestly, I've never used yellow eyeshadow before and I felt rather alarmed when he told me he would be using that color. However, the results turned out pretty stunning.
Look how prettily he blended the colours! I was having a lot of problems trying to replicate it on my other eye. Despite the colours looking a tad too over-saturated when you look at it close-up, once you open your eyes, all that remains is a subtle hint of colour.
I think I might try experimenting with different eye shadow colours from now on!
After the eye shadow, we moved on to drawing the eyeliner using the Perfect Automatic liner, and used the Lash King mascara to emphasize our lashes.
Here's my friend Miyo, using the Perfect Automatic Liner.
Check out their new applicator for Lash King too! This mascara contains 5mm fibre and boasts to make your eyelashes fuller, longer and thicker.
Finally, to complete the look, we used Blood On on the cheeks and lips for a healthy, blood-flushed complexion.
Here's the final look~
Thanks to the trainer, Wilson, for introducing this new style of makeup. He was hilarious and kept the participants engaged throughout the workshop by cracking jokes. I enjoyed learning from him!
Even though I'm not exactly new to cosmetics, I have learnt many new techniques to apply my makeup from the workshop! There's something new to be learnt everyday. :)
Also, I would like to thank Majolica Majorca (Shiseido) and anibee for organising the workshop. Especially to anibee, who invited me and gave me the opportunity to attend it!
Thanks to my two friends, Joey and Miyo for accompanying me to the workshop. Hope you girls enjoyed it as much as I did!
Lastly, not forgetting the rest of participants, thanks for laughing at my face with makeup half done for being wonderful participants at the workshop. :D
I hope I'll be able to attend more of such workshops soon! I'm also looking forward to the new products of Chapter 34 (yet to be released). I wonder what theme Majorlica would go for next? ;D
Check out Miraii’s blog here.
Experience the Ultimate J-Culture Fiesta!
Credits to Japanese Arts Fiesta
Hey you there! Fancy yourself a convention connoisseur?
Perhaps you take a liking to cosplay, be it taking part in it or simply enjoying taking photos of cosplayers?
Or maybe you’re the musical sort that likes watching bands jam their hearts out, all for the sole purpose of entertaining you?
Alternatively, you could be the type of person that favours more cultural activities - soaking in anything and everything related to Japan with like-minded people?
How about an event that comprises of all of this – and more!
Introducing, the Japanese Arts Fiesta II!
Held at Dunman High School by the Yutaka Japanese Cultural Club, this student-run effort is set to be the ultimate exhibition of Japanese pop culture! Chock-full of activities, JAF II is now in its second year running, bigger and better than ever!
Here are just a handful of activities awaiting you at the event:
- The Cosplay Runway Competition with an appearance by our World Cosplay Summit representatives, Raistlin and Aya!
- Toki Doki Meido/Shitsuji Café, an authentic, fully featured themed café for your delectation!
- Inkimashou, an exciting Manga-art competition!
- Musical performances of your favourite tunes by local bands!
What’s more the event is held in association Singapore Association for the Deaf through the Youth for Causes Project. Feel the fiesta – and for a good cause!
The event will be held at Dunman High School, 10 Tanjong Rhu Road, (S) 436895 on the 2nd June 2012 from 11am – 7.30pm.
For more details, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/j.arts.
Nihon-Vibe: Rock Celebration ‘Muro Festival’ confirms 2nd artiste line-up
Source: yahoo.jp news
Source: yahoo.jp
Japan’s first rock music exhibition, Muro Festival, confirmed its 2nd round of artistes, adding rock groups Dirty Old Men, Jeepta, Good On The Reel, Lacco Tower, Karasu and winnie to its line-up.
Aiming to be a celebration of rock music in Japan with a focus on talent originating from live house and the suburbs, the 6 new participating groups will be joining previously confirmed attending artistes, Arukara, Good Morning America, AJISAI, Uplift Spice, FLiP and The Unique Star.
Muro Festival will be held at the Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal’s special stage in Tokyo, on the 14th July 2012.
Want to rock out too? More information can be found at murofes.com/index.html
WANTED: Passionate Artists!
anibee’s Guide to Nifty Japanese Words 101! (Vol. 2)
―らしい(-rashii) and ―見たい/ぽい (-mitai/-poi)
To be like something/To resemble something
Many beginning Japanese language students would learn these phrases at a relatively early stage. They are both essentially the same in their meanings, but yet, significantly different too! So how do we tell them apart? Here’s how:
らしい is basically used for when someone or something is acting in a way that befits him/her/it.
Example situation (A)
A: 今日は一所懸命でやります！
Kyou wa isshokenmei de yarimasu!
A: I’m going to go at it with all my effort today!
B: 君らしいね！
Kimi rashii ne!
B: That’s totally like you!
When らしい is used here, we get the impression that A is normally hardworking and saying such a thing is very much typical of what A does regularly.
However, 見たい/ぽい is used when someone or something is acting in a way that is not typical of he/she/it.
Example situation (B)
A: ねえ、知っている？あの子は十四歳だけだよ！
Nee, shitteiru? Ano ko wa jyuu yon sai dake da yo!
A: Hey, did you know? That girl’s only 14 years old!
B: そう？本当に大人見たい/大人ぽいな…
Sou? Hontou ni otona mitai/otona poi na…
B: Really? She’s really very mature…
In this situation, 見たい/ぽい is used to describe the girl in question for being something she isn’t (e.g. being mature/like an adult).
The TAF gets going!
One big-scale anime event not big enough for you?
Then how about ANOTHER big-scale anime event?
That’s right folks, just days before the Anime Contents Expo (ACE) which we covered previously; the Tokyo Anime Fair (TAF) hit the streets of Tokyo!
Organised by the Tokyo International Anime Fair Executive Committee and held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition hall, TAF is touted to be one of the largest anime conventions ever. With over 216 anime-related companies including around 89 overseas companies, we aren’t ones to doubt them!!
Standing before the exhibition halls, we could almost feel the sheer energy and excitement hitting us in the face like a fresh, strong breeze.
Completely adorned in the various colours and products from big name companies like Bandai, TakaraTomy, and Good Smile Company, TAF was not only chock-filled with anime companies, but the latest in toys and even fan-related content as well!
Video streaming site, NicoNico Douga was there in full force, as well as Yamaha who was there to promote ‘Vocaloid 3’, their latest version of the successful vocal singing synthesising programs.
Of course, what’s an anime event without cosplayers? Cosplayers definitely made their presence felt, with cosplayers being both hired booth attendees, product promoters, and of course, posing for photos! Not to mention there were also a number of companies specialising in products especially for cosplayers (wigs, costumes), ready to provide the necessary resources.
More than 30,000 visitors attended the 4-day event – absolutely phenomenal! Why not pay TAF a visit when you go to Japan next year? We certainly will!
The Legend Unfolds on anibee
Title: The Legend of the Legendary Heroes
This anime tells the tale of a war between a Kingdom, the Roland Empire, and their neighbouring contry of Estabul, as well as the lives of 3 characters; protagonist Ryner Lute, idealistic Sion Astal and the emotionless Ferris Eris. The story covers how the characters are affected by the events around them, as Ryner sets off on a journey to search for the relics of a Legendary Hero with hopes of bringing peace to the kingdom once again.
Adapted from a series of successful light novels from author Takaya Kagami, Legend of the Legendary Heroes has also been released as a video game on the Playstation Portable.
The Legend of the Legendary Heroes features popular seiyuu such as Jun Fukuyama (Code Geass) and Daisuke Ono (Dog Days), and promises to be an epic tale of swords and fantasy!
Launching on 27 April 2012. Stay tuned.
Become the Enemy to Destroy him!
Prototype 2 (Activision, PC/PS3/Xbox 360, Action) Release Date: 24th April 2012
The Blacklight virus is back, as is the gritty, apocalyptic world of Prototype, with a sequel that’s set to be bigger and better!
Taking place 14 months after the events of the first game, in a renamed New York City called ‘New York Zero’, you control a new protagonist, Sergeant James Heller. Infected with a new strain of the Blacklight virus himself, he is out to exact revenge on the man that caused the outbreak that took the lives of his wife and daughter – the man named Alex Mercer, the hero from the first Prototype game?!
Along with an intriguing story, Prototype 2 boasts an even larger, free-roaming world for players to explore. Richer environments, increased destructibility, a greater range of NPC animations and an all-new ‘Tendril power’ ability that James possesses, are just a handful of improvements fans and new-comers alike can look forward to!
Ready to rip into what looks to be an excellent action-romp? Then prepare yourself – it’s time to get infected!
Ani-Voice!: Haruka Tomatsu
What do a ditzy alien princes, a self-proclaimed shrine goddess and an absent minded school girl all have in common? The voice of a talented young individual, Haruka Tomatsu, and today’s focus on Ani-Voice!
Making her voice actress debut in 2007, Tomatsu has managed to earn herself several major roles in various Anime, as well as being able to manage a singing career under record company, Music Ray’n.
From the flighty antics of Lala in To Love Ru, to the extreme haughtiness of Nagi in Kannagi and the perkiness of Mileina Vashti, Tomatsu shows an impressive vocal range as a seiyuu despite her young age, possessing an infectious kind of energy in her performances no matter the setting of the show she’s in!
Image source: Wikipedia
Image source: zerochan.net
Tomatsu’s prowess as a singer has also allowed her to do the opening and closing songs for several Anime in which she voices for, such as Motto Hade Ni Ne for Kannagi. Not bad for an actress that’s still attending university!
With her sweet singing vocals and versatile voice, Tomatsu’s the kind of seiyuu that’s easy to like. We’d definitely be keeping an eye on her! You can hear her performance right now as Kisaragi in GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class, so tune in now!