New "Young Black Jack" anime

It's a bishie Black Jack!  Starting October 1.  Based on a prequel manga about his med school days.  Hope it's as good as those old OVAs...probably won't be, but it's a bishie Black Jack!  Those eyelashes.

"Ore Monogatari!!" or "My Love Story!!" episode 18

It's Takeo's 16th birthday, and it's New Year's Day too.  Yamato and Takeo spend the day together, visiting a shrine, meeting Takeo's elementary school buddies who drop by every birthday, having cake, and kissing... haha, sort of.  Back to the beginning of the show...
Kurihara admits he kissed Nanako on their first official date to Takeo and Suna. Takeo can't believe how fast they are moving and admits his plan for kissing is to wait for the fall of senior year.  Yamato asks for Suna's advice on what cake to bake for the birthday.  It comes up that Takeo is thinking of that far away autumn before she gets kissed.  She is not thrilled.  A plan is hatched.

They meet up and go to the shrine for  New Year's visit.  They come back to Takeo's place.  Takeo's old elementary school buddies drop by to celebrate his birthday as they do every year.  This just demonstrates how great a guy Takeo is.  I mean whose elementary school friends still come by for the 16th birthday?  Takeo's mom conspicuously announces she and Takeo's dad will be gone for FIVE hours.  I think Mom would be happy to have Yamato as a daughter-in-law.

Yamato breaks out her cake and asks Takeo to close his eyes and make a wish before blowing out the candles.  She plants a kiss on him, but he has no reaction and seems not to have noticed.  She is crestfallen, but doesn't let on what happened.  After she goes home, Takeo visits Suna and tells him how he felt a bug land on his lips while making his wish.  Suna flat out tells him wasn't that a kiss?  Takeo is flabbergasted he messed up so badly, goes to see Yamato and they have a proper kiss and declare how they will protect each other in the future.  Sob.

Another sweet episode as innocent as can be and joyful as can be.  Suna...why no GF????  Ugh.

"Ore Monogatari!!" or "My Love Story!!" episode 17

It's Christmas time!  Time for a karaoke party, naturally, right? Yamato and Takeo plan one out for their friends.  Turns out Yamato's friend Nanako sorta likes Takeo's friend Kurihara and its mutual.  In fact they had a date of sorts, but Nanako still isn't sure of Kurihara's feelings since he never officially confessed.  At the party, Kurihara acts weird and distant to Nanako, while even sneaking in a secret handholding, which just confuses and angers Nanako.  Yamato and Takeo pressures the couple to be together, but it backfires and just makes Nanako uncomfortable with the pressure.  Looks likes Nanako and Kurihara sort of feel a bit inferior to the lovey dovey couple and Kurihara is failing at winning Nanako over with an overt confession.  While being forced to sing a duet (which is the OP song which has some nice lyrics by the way), Nanako leaves the party.  Yamato and then Kurihara chase her.  The two girls are harassed by some thugs, but instead of Kurihara stepping in, he runs to get Takeo, who does scare off the thugs.  Nanako is more mad at this point since Kurihara didn't rush in to save her.   Yamato and Takeo realize they shouldn't have been intrusive in their matchmaking.  But Takeo still intrudes by telling Kurihara to "man up."  Kurihara ends up proclaiming his love by getting a star at the top of a large Christmas tree in the area that is said to guarantee a successful love confession.  He finally confesses and all is well.  In fact, so well that Kurihara and Nanako have already kissed by the next school day, which bums Yamato out...  Another cute episode that manages drama even when it doesn't seem to be possible because the main couple are so darn happy together, by including others' drama!

"Ore Monogatari!!" or "My Love Story!!" episodes 15 and 16

These two episodes introduce a new character, Saijou Mariya.  Takeo is assigned to be the anchor to the class running relay race.  Saijou is called in at the last minute to fill in as the second to last leg of the relay.  However, she is not exactly a gazelle.  Takeo volunteers to coach her running.  Yamato is jealous, but tries to keep it under control.  Saijou falls during the race, but Takeo encourages her and manages to win the race even after her fall.  His coolness wins Saijou over.  But she finds out about Yamato.  She still hangs around him a bit and calls him out alone...to confess her desire to his "disciple."  A confused but honored Takeo says yes.  But others, (AKA Suna) can see through Saijou.  He warns her she is only hurting herself by hanging around as a third wheel.  She eventually confesses, and Takeo turns her down gently.  Saijou cries in the park and Suna consoles her with tissues and words of encouragement.  Wouldn't it be nice if they got together?  Hmm.  Takeo realizes how much she loves Yamato and reassures her that she is the only one for him.  Takeo is troubled that Saijou is hurt, but Saijou is still friendly with Takeo the next day which makes him happy.  What a well-adjusted, healthy ending.  Anyway, I sobbed when she sobbed so it was a moving episode that I empathized with.  Suna is again some sort of love guru.  He needs a love interest, fast.

"Ore Monogatari!!' or "My Love Story!!" episode 14

Takeo, Yamato, Ai, Suna, and Hayato go to MM Land.  Yamato wants to avoid the MM Land jinx that couples who have a date there will break up.  Hayato plans a group trip so she can avoid the jinx since it's a group outing.  But in reality he has his own agenda.  Hayato plots to get Takeo and Ai alone together so that Ai can confess to Takeo that she loves him.  He tries very hard and manages to separate the group so that they go around trying to find each other while he gives false info as to where he is.

Ai and Takeo spend some alone time together and she mentions how he had said something about her looking like a flower when they were kids.  He doesn't remember, but yet picks out the same flower again to compare her to years later.  What a guy.

As they wander around trying to reunite with the others, Ai is tempted to confess.  But as the long awaited sparkly parade is announced to begin shortly, she decides not to and to tell Takeo to find Yamato.  Takeo runs off.  I guess the parade reminded her of how Yamato was so much looking forward to seeing it with Takeo.  She tells Hayato she'll never confess.  I think it's a good choice.  Nothing good can come from inserting herself into the perfect and innocent couple that is Takeo and Yamato.  Ai advises Yamato when she appears to forget about the MM Land jinx, and trust Takeo.  Yamato gives Ai a cake to thank her for her all her advice.  I think that is proof Ai made the right call.  Yamato and Takeo are so innocent!

Hayato decides he just has to win her over on his own power and he probably will in the future!

"Ore Monogatari!!" or "My Love Story!!" episode 13

Takeo and Yamato surprise Suna for his birthday by taking him to the movies and to the mountains.  Apparently, he forgot it was his birthday and had no inkling of why they were inviting him everywhere.   I find it hard to believe anyone can forget their own birthday, but I suppose if anyone could, it would be Suna.  At first, Suna doesn't know how to react to the surprise.  Takeo says he should just be happy and Suna agrees.  It's a touching moment.

The episode then turns toward Suna's sister, who has a crush on Takeo.  A man appears to find out just who this Takeo that Ai loves.

Hayato Oda confessed to Ai, but she let it escape that she loves Takeo.  Hayato chases Ai to her hometown to scope out Takeo and win Ai over.  Takeo mistakes Suna for Takeo in a funny moment.  Ai tries to stop Hayato.

But instead Hayato manages to make a group date out of going to MM Land (like Disneyland?).   In a touching moment, Takeo lets Hayato stay over at his apartment.  His parents are infinitely cool about a sudden guest.  Hayato reveals why he likes Ai so much.  Later, he lets Ai know his plan for the group date is to get Ai alone with Takeo so she can confess, move on, and get with him!

A bit more drama in this episode.  I can see the tears coming for Ai.  But Hayato seems like a good guy.  At least he really seems to love Ai.  What will MM Land look like?

"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders" ends

It was me, Dio! jk, jk...

RIP Avdol, Iggy, and Kakyoin

Polnareff is the best!

Holly is saved.

The toilet humor, the posing, the improbable battles,  the rero rero, all of it was a great ride.  It's sad to see the end of a great show.  The best part was the camaraderie of the group in my opinion.  Jotaro is the baddest of the bunch, but Joseph is still my favorite.

"Ore Monogatari!!" or "My Love Story!!" episode 12

Another week and another feel good episode.  Yamato invites Takeo and his buds to go ice skating with her and her girlfriends.  Of course Takeo is immediately able to know how to skate and even do tricks his first time on the ice.

While Takeo's buds joke about how good Takeo is at some sports and laughably bad at others, Yamato makes an off hand remark about wishing they were going to the same school and wouldn't it be nice if they went to the same college.  Takeo immediately decides to buckle down and study to aim for the same college as Yamato, Murasakifuji.

He asks Suna to help him get into Murasakifuji.  With Suna as his study buddy, Takeo embarks on studying for a practice benchmark exam for colleges.  Yamato comes over with some sweets and Takeo's mom is told she is Takeo's girlfriend.  Best part of this episode is seeing Takeo's parents react to the news.  To prepare for Yamato coming over to study,  the parents go overboard being nice and looking their best.  Hilarious.

To escape their intrusive behavior, Yamato and Takeo go over to Suna's place to study.  Suna catches Yamato snuggling next to a sleeping and exhausted Takeo in a funny moment.  A touching moment is when Takeo suggests Suna goes to the same college as well.  Suna's expression is nice.  He compliments Takeo, but Takeo doesn't get it.  The test day arrives and Takeo misfills his scantron sheet.   Results come in, and there is an "x" by Murasakifuji.  Despondent, Takeo calls Yamato who says it doesn't matter and she didn't make it either.  Anyway, Murasakifuji is a women's college.

Suna gets his revenge on plastic wrap time from episode 6.

Manga recommendation: "What Did You Eat Yesterday?"

Fumi Yoshinaga is a famous mangaka known for writing "Antique Bakery" and "Ooku."  I've seen the anime for "Antique Bakery" which I enjoyed.  I read I think two volumes of "Ooku" but never got into it.  I have read her BL which is always very sensitive and mature about how people relate to each other.  "What Did You Eat Yesterday?" is about a gay couple, Shiro and Kenji, but it's not a BL series.  It's more about their mature, adult, normal, everyday relationship and... cooking.  Each volume has several long scenes involving Shiro cooking detailed recipes about mostly Japanese cooking and the occasional western dish.  In truth, I don't know anything about traditional Japanese dishes, and the descriptions of the various ingredients just goes over my head.  But, each time, Shiro and Kenji throughly enjoy their meals and that is entertaining.  Their relationship and their interactions with their friends and co-workers actually is the most gratifying part of the manga series for me. Shiro is a successful lawyer who loves to cook and keeps the household budget in mind.  Kenji is a more laid back  hairstylist  who throughly enjoys Shiro's food.  Over time, we get to see the intricacies of their relationship and the latest one, volume 8, is the one I've enjoyed the most.  I laughed out loud a few times and teared up a little bit too.

Summer 2015 Anime Picks

I perused anichart.net and was not too pleased with the upcoming roster of shows.  According to the art style, and whatever hunches I felt, I picked some shows that I am looking forward to watching.

"Akagami no Shirayuki-hime" looks like a "Yona of the Dawn" clone complete with redheaded heroine in historical fantasy setting.  It's based on a shojo manga and includes some action and romance, so count me in as curious.

"GANGSTA" is based on a seinen manga.  The art looks fabulous with men that look like men instead of willowy wisps.  Hoping its a mature show for adults, but I won't hold my breath.

"Junjo Romantica 3"  What can I say?  I have enjoyed 1 and 2 and look forward to more BL romance.

"Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace" is based on Edogawa Ranpo's works.  I don't know much about the author except he is a famous Japanese mystery writer.  I hope this is a good mystery series.  I like the art style.

"Rokka no Yuusha" has a pretty PV and that's all I know about it, but I want to watch it.