So I rewatched「秒速5センチメートル」-  桜花抄エピソード (Byousoku 5cm - Sakura Extract/Excrept(?) this afternoon. But first, I’ll do a short introduction of Byousoku 5cm.

Byousoku 5cm「秒速5センチメートル」is an animated feature film by Makoto Shinkai (See She and her cat 「彼女と彼女の猫」, Voices of a distant star 「ほしのこえ」 and The Place Promised in Our Early Days 「雲のむこう、約束の場所」 ). This film consists of 3 segments:: Ōkashō (桜花抄), Cosmonaut (コスモナウト), and Byōsoku 5 Senchimētoru (秒速5センチメートル). The first segment debuted on Yahoo! Japan for Premium members from 15th February to 19th February and the full featured film on 3rd March 2007.

Due to my current geographical location, I have only been able to grab the first part thanks to the kind uploaders on the internets. I am also eagerly waiting for the DVD release (even better if there’s HD XD). Okay, now, back to the main point of this post.

If those who have watched Makoto Shinkai’s previous works might have noticed a basic theme used in each, that is the relationship between the characters. From there, he explores and creates a fine masterpiece, taking to account the finer details of everyday life.

In this rewatch, I found out that Byousoku 5cm is based in the Year 1995, around February. There are several ‘clues’ scattered throughout the 1st segment.

Firstly, we have the JR train schedule book which Takaki purchased from the bookstore. 1995 (February Issue). Funny how they have a 29th in their world :p

「種子島の鉄砲とザビエル」, the book besides the JR train schedule book does exist, although I can’t any relation between the book and the author 石原由躬雄（石原結実）(Ishihara Yumio). Someone might want to help me with this.  

Also, there’s the Super Nintendo in Takaki’s room. Nostalgic isn’t it?

 The cate scene where Akira and Takaki meets Chobi, the cat. In 「彼女と彼女の猫」She and Her Cat , the cat is also called Chobi. A pure coincidence, or a deliberate choice made by Makoto Shinkai? I have no idea :/

I  have extracted the sound file for that part just for you guys to confirm it’s “Chobi”

Chobi.mp3 (00:05, MP3, 84KB)

Finally, a Casio Frogman Model, the DW-6300-1A (1993 - 1995). Frogman is a model of wristwatch of the G-Shock style made by Casio. I think it’s a DW-6300-1A as it’s the first Frogman model to be produced.

Read more on the DW-6300-1A <Link> 

Edit: The wristwatch is actually a Casio G-Shock G 2500. Thanks Sjors for the heads up!

G 2500 <Link> Just look for the G 2500.

All these kind of leads up to my basis of it being based in 1995. Though many may argue why did I bother to do this write up and research. XD

Also, another blog that took note of these details :) I found it while searching for 石原由躬雄 on google.

http://blog.livedoor.jp/kyouin15/

Most of you would have watched Code Geass ep 22 (subbed) by now, if not, visit your favourite torrent site and grab it NOW!

You will probably have to watch Code Geass ep 22 to get this one :)

For one, we ‘finally’ know that Zero or Lelouche in this case has hawt for Euphie, which leads to super incest (Well, not really, they are somehow related). Suzaku should be in Cloud Nine now :)

At least Euphie has a hawt body, so her dancing naked wouldn’t be that bad, though I prefer her clothed. Actually, the female characters in Code Geass are hawt, with some exceptions (But it’s all up to your taste :p).

  ^ Kallen looks great, while C.C and Shirley’s just plain weird in this one.

There is still Viletta (Code geass ep 15, 11:06 :p), Milly, Nina etc.. Watch Code Geass Picture Book 3.5 for more Kallen, Shirley, Milly and Nina Goodness ^__^;;

Zero has self-owned himself badly.  I hope there will be explainations for that  in Code geass ep 23 (I really really hope).

I have been thinking alot about the future direction of this site. A lot has happened (Not really) since the start (May 2006).

Started off with something personal, moved to anime stuff, then over to Japanese related posts and a small dash of photography in between.

For the past one month or so, keeping this site ‘updated’ has been almost a chore, where the spirit of blogging has died off in vanished into the mystic ruins.

The whole site is in a haphazard manner, which depicts extreme shoddy work. I am now running in circles, to continue this site as it is, or to revamp the entire blog section, and also the direction this site will be heading towards. Will it be Anime-Japan related posts, and some ‘personal’ (Not too personal) entries like what I have been doing <With super improved (I promise) entries>, or totally start afresh. Maintanence and Updates will be of top priority.

To sum up on the paragraph above, I am at a crossroad of 2 decisions/choices 

Go a whole new direction for this site

OR

Remain as it is and improve from there

I need your feedback on this. Very much so needed ><

I saw this over at the supermarket over at the Japanese food section the other day. I do know that you can bake cakes and stuff but making your own ice cream seems a little impossible without industrial machines. I was wrong, very wrong. I decided to grab one of these and test them out.

 ^ Click to view a image of a bigger resolution

B+ on my IS modules, which I took heaps of effort in it. I was hoping for one or two more Bs instead of the C+.

^ Click to view a image of a bigger resolution

B for Japanese this semester. A definite improvement compared to last semester’s C+ and F for the one before. 

Overall, a slight improvement compared to previous semester’s results.

  
   ^ Ana Coppola-style PTL! 

Still, I’m not satisfied with these grades. PTL

  ^ Lack of good images and lackluster Photoshop skills

The image says it all. Yes, the acquisition of a new lens.

Introducing the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lens.

Before you start bashing on why the acquisition of such a cheap lens, do note that it is to get me started on telephoto shooting on a very tight budget.

As the box says, EF 75 - 300mm f/4-5.6 III. 1.5m/4.9ft required for marco-ing.

I haven’t really got the time to test out the new lens yet, but it would be useful during my trip to Melbourne as I can do more testing over there.

I have the non-USM version, therefore the autofocus is noticeably slow and/or innaccurate at times, but you get what you pay for.

On the side note, this lens is really light and cheap compared to the “L” (Luxury) lens. Of course performance and quality wise, the L lens beats this hands down.

Chromatic aberration is quite appalling if you do zoom in at the finer details.

 ^ Taken at 75mm

 
  ^ Taken at 300mm

This lens would be useful when I can’t get closer to the subject at hand. I can’t really comment on this lens right now :/

I do wish to get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II and the Speedlite 430EX as soon as possible. Someone please get those for my birthday :p