Winter of 2021
Winter of 2020
All-time favorite:
It’s a Wonderful Life
Halloween 2021
Halloween 2020
Halloween 2019
This gallery contains 3 photos.
It’s the last Canada day of the 2010s!
A day spent at Costco eating Hotdogs and Ice cream.
The biggest thing to happen was yesterday when I had the Domino’s New York 1KG cheese Pizza.
The cheese was not your typical Cheese. It was layered rather than melted over the Pizza. It was not so salty! A strange thing for a pizza covered in Cheese. It was as big as a Costco Pizza, but unfortunately, it costs a bit more even with the coupon. A pie this size will set you back about 2700 yen.
The best part is, this pizza won’t send you to the restrooms.
In the Spring, the Japanese enjoy seeing the first cherry blossoms bloom. In the Winter, they look forward to the first snow and now that Autumn is here Nagoyans celebrate it like many others by watching the leaves change color. Every city has their favorite spot, and in Nagoya that spot is Korankei. Located near Toyota City, the home of Toyota Motor Corporation, traveling here by car is straightforward and doesn’t take more than an hour from Nagoya by the highway. The community in this town has embraced these visitors by setting up beautiful shops and stands, as well as offering parking (for a small fee). The town is extremely pleasing to the senses. From the colors of the shrines, temples, and buildings to the smell of the fresh country air, everything is organized to welcome thousands without sacrificing the small Japanese town atmosphere.
A short walk from the parking lot takes you over the first of many bridges, which is not necessary to cross if you want to enjoy the festival game stands or snacks that litter the boardwalk. The most famous of the bridges is red and most visitors choose to take pictures of it or of it, while also capturing the beautiful leaves change colors and the river that runs all around. From there, you can reach the center of Korankei’s festivities where they hold activities, sell delicious local foods, namely deer, and boar. From here, you can continue north to a large building resembling a temple, enter the village museum, or go further into nature and the suspension bridge, that bounces as you walk. Wherever you choose to go, the beautiful colors of the rainbow accompany you for a wonderful time.
Golden week is a time where the people of Japan can take a piece of their lives beyond the daily routine of a repetitive and scripted life. The seeds of creativity were planted on the New Year’s holidays and at last, they are free to bloom on Golden Week. And bloom they did, on our 7-hour drive from Nagoya to Tokushima, you could see cars slow down to embrace the view of the beautiful ocean on top of the world’s tallest suspension bridge. They politely shifted to the left and drove well below the speed limit on the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge as if we were at the Fuji Safari Park enjoying the view of animals. I’ve never seen such a take on driving before! Traffic was backed up but people were enjoying themselves in a polite and very Japanese manner of queuing.
The trip that was supposed to take 4 hours ended up taking 7 instead, but we weren’t even upset. The sunniest and hottest day of the year provided us with much to see around Kansai’s mountainous and sea backdrops and Shikoku’s vast and natural backdrop was the icing on the cake. We didn’t see many whirlpools because of our late arrival, but we got to enjoy a view of the bridge from below, and riverside downtown before the event started.
We got to enjoy food from the famous local “limes” to Tokushima Ramen. Of course, I also ate at the typical chain restaurants ranging from McDonald’s to Sushiro as well. Driving along the rivers was a lot of fun and climbing to the top of Bizan Park by Ropeway was also a blast. Visiting the old castle site allowed us to see many cranes and koi fish. There were plenty of “Itasha” cars around and on display on the red carpets inside the shopping arcades as well.
Tokushima embraced Machiasobi, one of the biggest seiyuu and talk show events, this Golden Week. The event also featured small outdoor concerts, all for no cost. The community and volunteers were all supportful, considering the fact that the town doesn’t usually deal with such a large influx of people and traffic. The eateries were booming, the night was lit up with the colorful glow of concert lights, cosplayers were cosplaying and everyone enjoyed over 12 hours of events from Thursday to Sunday night. One of the final events was a wonderful cosplay red carpet march, typically found at anime events in Japan. The creator of the Occulus Rift was also present, with his significant other, sporting a sunburn and a stomach full of an event packed weekend.
Netflix Japan is bundled with a larger variety of classic and new anime, but lack the subtitles commonly found on Netflix’s library abroad. I will attempt to document over time which ones have subtitles. Anime status subject to changes. I welcome and appreciate any help I get! Thank you for the help!
Special thanks to commenter Grace and others for your help!
Green/Black: Subtitles or dubs Available
Blue: Japanese/etc. Subtitles
Red: No Subtitles
Netflix Japan’s Anime List as of (3/3/21)
A Whisker Away
AHIRU NO SORA
AICO Incarnation
Altered Carbon: Resleeved
Astra Lost in Space
B: the beginning
Back Street Girls
Baki
Beastars
Big Fish & Begonia
Blame! (English, Brazilian Audio, and multi-language subs/dubs)
Blood Blockade Battlefront
Blood of Zeus
Blood-C: The Last Dark
BNA
BOFURI: I Dont Want to Get Hurt, SO I’ll Max Out My Defense
Cagaster of an Insect Cage
Cannon Busters
Carole & Tuesday
Castlevania
Children of the Whales
Children who chase lost voices (English, Portuguese, Chinese also available)
Citrus
Cyborg 009 VS Devilman
Cyborg 009: Call of Justice
Devilman: Crybaby (Korea, Chinese, English and Portuguese)
Dorehedoro
Dr. Stone (1st season)
Dragon Quest Your Story
Dragon’s Dogma
Drifting Dragons
Durarara!!
Eromanga Sensei
Evangelion: Death(True)2
Fairy Tail
Fate/Apocrypha
Fate/EXTRA Last Encore
Flavors of Youth: International Version
Forest of the Piano
Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid-State Society
Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
Gleipnir
Godzilla (3 Movies)
Great Pretender
Haikyuu!!
Haikyuu!! Movie 1: The End and the Beginning
Haikyuu!! Movie 2: The Winner and the Loser
Haikyuu!! Movie 3: Genius and Sense
Haikyuu!! Movie 4: Battle of Concepts
Hellsing Ultimate
HERO MASK
High-Rise Invasion
Hinamatsuri
How Many Kilograms are the Dumbbells you Lift?
Hozuki’s Coolheadedness
ID-0
Ingress: the Animation
Japan Sinks: 2020
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Battle of Unato
Kakegurui (English, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese subs) (Portuguese, English Dub)
Kengan Ashura
Kuroko’s Basketball
KuromuKuro
Levius
Little Witch Academia (English, Brazilian Audio, and multi-language subs/dubs)
Lost Song
Magi: Adventure of Sinbad
Maoyu: Archenemy & Hero
Megalobox
Mushishi
My Hero Academia
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Oreimo
Paprika
Psycho-Pass
revisions
Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac
Sakura Wars
Seis Manos
Seraph of the End
Smile Down the Runway
Steins;Gate
Sword Art Online
Swordgai the Animation
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzimiya
The Disasterous Life of Saiki K
The Disasterous Life of Saiki K: Reawakened
The End of Evangelion
The Future Diary
The Idhun Chronicles
The irregular at magic high school
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Quintessential Quintuplets (Season 1)
The Tatami Galaxy
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan
Tokyo Ghoul (English Audio also available)
Toradora!
Ultraman
Violet Evergarden (Korean, Chinese, English and Portuguese)
Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto-Memory Doll
Violet Evergarden: Special
Voices of a Distant Star (Hoshi no koe)
Wakfu (English, Portuguese, Chinese also available)
When They Cry
Yu Yu Hakusho
Ghost in the Shell Original Movie
Ghost in the Shell Arise
Gate
Chibi Maruko-chan
Ranma
Dragonball
Nadia
Cowboy Bebop
Full Metal Panic
Last Exile
Darker than Black: Meteor
Gakkou Gurashi (School-Live)
Gurren Lagaan
Charlotte
Kantai Collection (Kancolle)
The Devil is a Part-timer
Working!
Non-non Biyori
Magical Girl Raising Project
Inuyasha
Fairytail
Mob Psycho
JoJo’s Bizzare Adventures
Keiji!!!!!!!!
Sailormoon Crystal
No Game No Life
Hyouka (Frozen Dessert)
Log Horizon
Accel World
Zipang
Devil May Cry
Stein’s Gate
Prison School
Devil May Cry
Terraformars
Knights of Sidonia
Darker than Black
Lovely Complex
Marmalade Boy
Konosuba
Spice and Wolf
Hell Girl
Tsubasa Chronicles
Ping Pong
The Disastrous Life of Saiki
Saint Seiya
Hell Teacher Nube
Ghost in the Shell: 2nd Gig
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Erased
Planetarian
Saekano
7 Deadly sins
Psycho-Pass (Season 1+2)
Nodame Cantabile
Attack on Titan
Anohana
Gabriel Dropout
Ajin: Demi Human
Is the order a Rabbit?
Terror in Resonance
Kuroko no Basket
Katanagatari
Kingdom
Tales of the Abyss
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches
Noragami aragoto
The final part of my journey over the holidays was to a place of splendor…for military enthusiasts. We would make our way outside of Tokyo, beyond the skyscrapers and the bustle and hustle of the big city to a port town known as Yokosuka. Not a very far drive, and historically famous for being the biggest, closest naval base to Tokyo, Yokosuka is now a city of scenic ocean views, shopping centers and big, big boats.
After World War 2, all the warships in Japan were confiscated, and mostly scrapped, and well replaced with American destroyers, carriers, submarines and cruisers. The new constitution made Japan a protectorate of America militarily, and even to this very day houses the worlds most advanced ships on Earth. If you come on the right days. You’ll see every ship America and Japan has to offer, even ones fueled by nuclear reactors. That day you ask is the New Years holiday, and that was this weekend.
The boat tour was around 1000 yen and departs every hour or so, the park is rather large and has a shopping center, military gift shop and the Mikasa park.
There was one Japanese boat still around. A prewar ship from the beginning of the 20th Century. She is the Mikasa, but unfortunately, we did not have time to tour her.
Kyoto station’s Christmas tree!
On the morning of the 23rd, a national holiday in Japan, we took a train out to Kyoto. The train ride went smoothly, and with the exception to the heavy rain, we had a pleasant stay. We started out with something to eat before heading over to see the castle. The meal was some quality beef from Miyagi-ken! The restaurant is actually a chain one, and can be found near most Japanese stations. There is actually one near where I live. The name is however, on the tip of my tongue.
Beef dishes can be expensive in Japan
Nijo Castle in Kyoto actually doesn’t look like a castle. Traditionally, this is how most castles in Japan looked like due to the influence of Buddhism. Nobunaga and other warring state generals changed how Japanese castles look. This castle definitely felt more like a temple or a shrine than a warring castle. However, the interiors were very similar!
What a shape?!
It was a very rainy day, but the castle grounds were still as beautiful as ever. The rain was making it difficult to shoot on this day, so I didn’t take many shots. Unfortunately, photos are prohibited inside Nijo Castle. The walk from the JR station can be a bit far, but there was a subway nearby.
Small store, big on culture.
Afterwards, we stopped by the Kyoani shop, located just below the actual studio! The rain was really heavy about now, and I was slightly disappointed about its size. However, there were rare things to be found here. Particularly posters and board games from older series! However, 50% of the store was made up of Free merchandise. I haven’t seen the show yet.
I love chain Pizza restaurants! Especially, all you can eat ones. The wacky Japanese flavors and side menus!
We headed to the covered shopping area afterwards. Turns out there was a convenient station right by the Kyoani store. I didn’t have to get wet anymore and all we could eat Pizza was available before Blitz had to head home and get ready for work the next day.
Kyoto Tower at night
On our walk back to the hotel and Kyoto station we got to have one look at the illuminated tower. I don’t usually stay the night in Kyoto and this was probably my second time ever seeing it. Quite a wet and eventful day with a lot of eats and sights. The prices were reasonable for what we did and see. The castle didn’t cost much and we got to enjoy a sweet sake drink with small amounts of alcohol. The next day we would begin our roadtrip to Western Japan! Note: All pictures were taken with an iPad on this day.
Breakfast for the next day!
Our rental car. A Honda Fit!
Ankou News posted a poll about the most recent top 20 characters from Girl und Panzer! They polled by teams, then took the top number of votes total and put them into a top 20.
The poll appears to be pre-movie and post OVA, so without delay let’s look at their GuP annual poll!
#20 Katyusha (Pravda) T-34/85
With 96 votes
#19 Hana Isuzu (Anglerfish Team) PanzerkfwIV
With 98 votes
#18 Orange Pekoe (St.Gloriana Girl’s High School) Churchill mk.VII
With 105 votes
#17/16 Yuzu Koyama (Turtle team) 38t & Nekota (Anteater team) Type 3 (tied)
With 126 votes each respectively
#15 Noriko Isobe (Duck team) Type 89
With 135 votes
#14 Azusa Sawa (Rabbit team) M3Lee
With 137 votes
#13 Karina Sakaguchi (Rabbit team) M3Lee
With 141 votes
#12 Taeko Kondou (Duck team) Type 89
With 150 votes
-!!From here seriousness intensifies for top spots!!-
#11 Saori Takebe (Anglerfish team) PanzerkfwIV
With 153 votes
Unexpected 10th place?! Upsetting Saori!
#10 Midoriko Sono (Mallard Team) Char B1 bis
Medals for bravery under fire!
With 155 votes
#9 Nonna (Pravda) IS2
Respected for her maternal nature!
With 157 votes
Settling for 8th…
#8 Miho Nishizumi (Anglerfish team) PanzerkfwIV
Daybreak…
Loved for her variety of expressions throughout the series.
With 160 votes
#7 Duce! Anchovy (Anzio) P40
Duce! Duce! Duce! With no shame!
With 168 votes
#6 Erwin (Hippo team) StuG III
Glorious in all art forms.
With 181 votes
#5 Kay (Saunders) M4
Small size popped corn…and she needs no permission to touch…
With 188 votes
#4 Maho Nishizumi (Kuromorimine) Tiger I
I don’t have a sister complex.
With 201 votes
-Top 3 Characters-
By only one vote…
#3 Anzu Kadotani (Turtle team) 38t
She is a villain of sorts! Our first antagonist of the series!
The one and only Student Council President! No one loves Ooarai more!
With 202 votes!
#2 Yukari Akiyama (Anglerfish team) PanzerkfwIV
The DVD commentator and known as the daughter of Girls und Panzer!
The loader who sells the most merchandise holds second!
With 212 votes!!
The girl with the highest number of votes.
The commander of one of the best teams.
The classiest.
and with 297 votes!
The truest connoisseur of tea. Darjeeling is the winner of the Ankou News Annual Poll Awards by an overwhelming number votes.
It pays to be classy.
-Bonus-
Highest ranking non-main character is the chef working at Cookfan.
For more about the polls, head to the source! (Ankou News)
–Highest ranking tanks–
#5 PanzerkfwIV Ausf. D (Anglerfish team)
#4 Tiger I (Kuromorimine)
#3 PanzerkfwIV Ausf.H (Anglerfish team)
#2 Jagdpanzer 38 Hetzer (Turtle team)
#1 Type 89B I-GO (Duck team)
Note: Japan loves their Japanese tanks.
Aerial Biscuits 