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Japan Envy: Avalanche of Pokémon Battle Trozei Merchandise

March 16, 2014, 9:11 pm
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Whether you call it Pokémon Battle Trozei or Pokémon Link: Battle!, there's no denying that the eShop-exclusive match three game's announcement back in February came as a bit of a surprise. The game's sudden announcement and its subsequent release in all territories just a month later left this Pokémon-obsessed gal assuming that Pokémon Battle Trozei would be left to die much like poor Pokémon Rumble U. But low and behold, the Japanese release of the game has brought an onslaught of exclusive merchandise, including not one, but two 3DS XLs!


The first item revealed was this lovely white limited edition 3DS XL. It won't be available at retail, though - it's a prize for a contest only available to memebers of the Pokémon Daisuki club. If you happen to be a member, you need to watch three videos between March 28th and April 18th and send in your guess of how many different Pokémon icons appear at the end of the videos to be entered in the drawing. There will only be two winners, but 30 runners up will get a cute set of two sticker sheets, which will also be going on sale at the end of April.


A second Pokémon Battle Trozei 3DS XL was revealed in the Japanese children's magazine Coro Coro, but this one will also be extremely limited - only five readers who send in entries will be selected to win the lottery. In the bottom right corner of the above image it says there are only 5 of these 3DS's in the world, so it's probably safe to say we won't be seeing them elsewhere.

In slightly more accessible Pokémon Battle Trozei merchandise news, Pokémon Centers across Japan are holding a lottery for a slew of adorable limited edition merchandise until April 6th. Anyone who has a copy of the game downloaded on their 3DS will automatically get one prize, and after that subsequent entries cost 3,000 yen, or $30. Just like the Hatsune Miku lottery event I covered a few days ago, everyone is guaranteed a prize with every entry. Let's take a look at what's available to win:


The "lowest" tier of items are Pokémon Battle Trozei postcards, of which there are five designs. Those who draw number 4 will be able to pick one of the five. 


The number 3 prize consists of three different sticker sheets, of which the winner can choose one.


The number 2 prize will win participants one of three different pencil cases. I wouldn't be able to decide between the first two!


The number 4 prize is this adorable mug - winners can choose either the white or the yellow design. I don't normally like yellow very much, but I think I prefer that one, personally.


Finally, the "special" prize, which I'm assuming is the most rare, is this very cool 65 cm by 45 cm pillow.

Unlike the Hatsune Miku lottery, the price of entry to this lottery is pretty high, but it's great that they give people who download the game a free go. While once probably isn't enough to win the pillow or mug, I wouldn't mind a free postcard or sticker sheet, personally!

Unfortunately, the chances of any of us outside of Japan getting our hands on any Pokémon Battle Trozei merchandise is quite slim. Here's hoping Nintendo decides to do at least a little something for the North American release on the 20th!
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Apricotsushi Reviews: OyatsuBox

March 24, 2014, 4:52 am
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I'm a huge fan of Japanese snacks, but the sad fact is that it's extremely difficult to find anything outside of the occasional box of Pocky here in Australia. Luckily, the internet has made it easier than ever to get my hands on all of my favorite Japanese treats, and a number of subscription services have even sprung up for Japanese snack enthusiasts around the globe. OyatsuBox is the first of such that I've tried, and I have to say, I might be hooked!


The folks at Oyatsu Cafe, a great website that sells all sorts of Japanese food, recently launched the OyatsuBox service, sends out a package of random Japanese snacks to subscribers on the first of every month. They were kind enough to send me March's box, which arrived on March 14th, exactly 2 weeks after it was shipped. I decided to use this opportunity to film my first unboxing video – give it a watch to see my first impressions as I open the box!


A subscription costs $25 a month, which includes shipping anywhere in the world, and their official site guarantees 7 to 15 different snacks each month. If March's box is any indication, they provide quite a varied and interesting selection. Though the shipping may be a little on the slow side, by not using the fastest option around they are able to pack even more snacks into the box while keeping it affordable, so I'm definitely not complaining!


The information sheet included with each box is also a very nice touch so that you know exactly what you're getting, even if you don't speak Japanese. It also includes transcriptions of each snack's name so you can search for them on Oyatsu Cafe's website if you find yourself craving more! 

I won't be discussing the actual taste of the individual snacks in this review, but look forward to an upcoming episode of Apricotsushi Samples where I try everything in the March OyatsuBox! For now, let's take a closer look at all the goodies in this month's box:


Now this container isn't shy about advertising what flavor snack it contains: it says "kimchi" in huge red letters right on the front! If you're not familiar, kimchi is spicy pickled cabbage originating in Korea, but it is also very popular in Japan. It has even made its way into Japanese ramen – hence these kimchi ramen bits, which are meant to be eaten raw. I've recently become quite a fan of kimchi, so I'm very excited to try these!


Next up are two different types of ramune (Japanese soda)-flavored candies. On the left are Coris whistle candies, which are a very classic Japanese candy that I've had the pleasure of trying before when I was in Japan. If you put your lips around the outside of the Lifesaver-shaped candy and blow through the hole, they whistle! The little box contains a random toy, too.

On the right are Morinaga pineapple ramune candies. I love how the package is shaped like a traditional ramune bottle! I don't think I've ever had pineapple ramune before, so I'm very interested to see what these taste like.


Now this interesting, tongue-like snack had me a little perplexed at first until I realized it was meant to look like grilled eel! According to the OyatsuBox pamphlet, it's made out of dried code and and has a grilled eel flavor. It's also a common snack found all over Japan, so I'm rather surprised I've never tried it! I'm not a huge grilled eel fan, so that might be why...


This candy, on the other hand, is one I immediately wanted to try! I'm a huge mochi (sweet rice cake) fan, so it's been really tough keeping myself from eating this Yaokin chocolate-covered mochi pie all up before filming the Apricotsushi Samples video! I just love the cute illustration of a pink rabbit pounding mochi on the wrapper. The rabbit pounding mochi is an iconic symbol in Japan (and Korea, I've recently learned), as instead of seeing a man in the moon like us westerners, the Japanese see a rabbit pounding mochi!


These Umaibo snacks are a colorful, iconic Japanese treat that I'm embarassed to say I've never tried, so I'm definitely happy to finally have to chance! OyatsuBox introduced subscribers to Umaibo last month, and is including two new flavors this month – tonkatsu (blue) and takoyaki (red). I love how they keep track of what they've sent and send thoughtful "follow-ups" in subsequent months.


Next is another item I was excited to try from the moment I saw it. For those of you familiar with the fruit, it's clear from the packaging that this candy is lychee flavored, but more specifically, it's salted lychee-flavored gum! How intriguing! I imagine the idea of pairing salt and fruit might scare away some, but I'm already a fan of salted watermelon, so I'm definitely excited at the prospect of salted lychee. Unfortunately I don't really eat a lot of gum, but I'm still interested to try this one out.


Here's another popular Japanese candy – the good old Crunky bar. It's basically just a chocolate bar with malt crunch bits inside, much like a Crunch bar. In this case, however, this Crunky bar is matcha, or green tea, flavored, which should make it a refreshing treat!


Now this traditional snack is called Dondon-yaki, named after the regional cuisine that is popular in the Tohoku region. Regular dondon-yaki is okonomiyaki that is wrapped around a stick, and this snack supposedly replicates the experience. I believe the images on the package are referencing the New Year's fire festival of a similar sounding-name to the snack, Dondo Yaki, but if anyone else has a better idea, please let me know! It could very well just be a generic festival scene since dondon-yaki is a popular festival food, but I like the fact that it may be a play on the festival's name, as well. I've never had real dondon-yaki, so I won't be able to speak to how authentic this snack is, but I'll give it a shot none the less.


Here's yet another snack based on a traditional Japanese food! This one's called Guruguru Monja, which is a snack version of monja-yaki, or simply monja. Monja is another food I've not had the pleasure to try, but Google tells me it is very similar to okonomiyaki, but with a runnier batter and finer-chopped ingredients. This snack appears to be instant monja, as you add water much like you would to instant ramen noodles. I love the little kid on the package!


This Wata Pachi melon soda candy had the craziest packaging out of the whole bunch, so I just had to save it for last! I just love the crazy frog thing and all the little guys running around on the package. For those familiar with Pop Rocks, this Wata Pachi is very similar, except it mixes the popping rock candy with cotton candy for what I can only imagine is a very interesting combination.


I just couldn't resist the opportunity to add a close-up of the funny characters on the package. Are they supposed to be anthropomorphic glasses of melon soda? Whatever they are, they're adorable!


If this isn't an impressive array of snacks and candy, I don't know what is! The OyatsuBox subscription service is a great deal for so many goodies at only $25, and they even offer the ability to cancel your subscription at any time. I had a peek at Yummy Unchi's review of February's OyatsuBox, and I do have to note that it's a shame they didn't include any character snacks or "limited edition" goodies like they did last month. I know Family Mart is currently doing a Hatsune Miku campaign that includes some specially-packaged items such as Look chocolate, so it would be nice to see them include at least one item like that every month. This is a small quibble, however, as overall I am absolutely thrilled with the selection of snacks I received! If you're a Japanese snack fan, I definitely suggest giving OyatsuBox a try!


Note: OyatsuBox sent me a sample box for the purpose of this review. I am also an Oyatsu Cafe affiliate, but that did not influence my impression of their service or this review in any way. If you'd like to support more articles like this on Chic Pixel, please consider purchasing your Japanese snacks using my affiliate links! 
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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 17 – The Vocaloidisode

March 27, 2014, 9:48 pm
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In honour of Hatsune Miku Project Diva f 2nd coming out in English later this year, my Nichiest Podcast Ever co-host, prolific games writer, and pro podcaster shidoshi joins me to discuss all things Vocaloid! Okay, we recorded this episode way before Sega dropped the Project Diva f 2nd bombshell this week, but it's perfect timing, wouldn't you say?

First, however, we have to go over some news, and we manage to delve into a rather lengthy discussion of otome games because it wouldn't be an episode of Chic Pixel Plus without at least a little otoge talk! But if you've always wanted to know what the big deal is about Vocaloids, you've come to the right place! We cover everything from their origins to live concerts in LA, so be sure to stick around after the news if you want to learn more about the Vocaloid phenomenon.

shidoshi's best of Megurine Luka playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-6MIC0cgNRztTwBAY9KV6Nu6Lu-mM-dV
my favorite Vocaloid songs playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuUfAMsT1dl3bCjd26WCWDHV5bJcO2Y_A

Opening ♫ - levan Polkka Hatsune Miku cover ver. – Otomania
Closing ♫ - ???



[DOWNLOAD] [ITUNES] [RSS]
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Announcing the Atlus Community Game-Along

March 30, 2014, 4:37 pm
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I'm having so much fun with MonMonth that I almost don't want to announce the next Community Game-Along, but the show must go on! For April, I've decided to go back to a game developer/publisher, and this time we'll be focusing on Atlus! Atlus has a huge backlog of quality games, including some of the most well-regarded JRPG series around, so there should be plenty of great games to choose from! April is a particularly great time to celebrate Atlus as the company's 28th anniversary is on the 7th, and they will be releasing Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars in English on April 15th!


As always, all you need to do to participate in the month's Community Game-Along is play a game that fits the theme and talk about your experiences using #AtlusApril! Blog posts, podcasts, or anything else where there is discussion of the theme is welcome, and I will round up all of the content created in at least one post for others to check out by the end of the month (if we're lucky and get a lot of participants, I'll do more than one). In the case of Atlus April, I think it would be most interesting to play games developed by Atlus themselves, but if you find that too limiting, there's nothing wrong with choosing a game published by Atlus, as well.

While most of the games that fit this month's theme will inevitably be RPGs, here are a few suggestions of titles to check out:

The Persona series– The Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series is without a doubt Atlus' biggest franchise to date, with the third and forth games spawning both game spinoffs and animated adaptations in Japan. If you're looking to jump in to Persona for the first time, Persona 4 Golden for the PS Vita is a great place to start, as it is considered the most polished game in the series. Other options include Persona 3 Portable (PSP), Persona 3: FES (PS2, PSN), or the fighting game Persona 4 Arena (PS3, Xbox 360). If you want to go back to the very beginning, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is available on PSN, as well.


The Shin Megami Tensei series– Shin Megami Tensei is a little more confusing, as technically nearly all of Atlus' RPGs fall under the Shin Megami Tensei umbrella. Even Persona! But SMT fans are finally able to experience the one that started it all officially in English on iOS, so that's a great place to start if you really want the retro Atlus experience. While not a "mainline"Shin Megami Tensei game, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs The Soulless Army is coming to PSN next week, just in time for Atlus month! The game features real-time battles, so if you're looking for something different than your standard RPG, that may be an interesting option.

Perhaps the best mainline SMT game suggestion would be the last year's Shin Megami Tensei IV for the Nintendo 3DS. Since none of the games are directly connected to one another, you'll be fine picking up this entry even with no prior experience with the series. Don't forget, there are also the Devil Survivor titles, too! (Nintendo DS and 3DS)



The Battle B-Daman series –  I don't profess to assume that this would be on anyone's "best of Atlus" list, but for those of you who think you've played everything, here's a goofy little series you may have missed. Both of the Battle B-Daman spinning top battle games (think Yu-Gi-Oh or Beyblade but with magical tops) are available brand new on Amazon for less than $10 each, which is quite the feat considering that they're Game Boy Advance games, so if you're looking for something quirky and cheap to pick up for Atlus April, these might be your games!

The Trauma Center series– For those that don't want to play a massive, 100 hour RPG, Trauma Center may be more your speed this April. The notoriously difficult surgeon simulation games will still give you a run for your money, but at least you won't be looking at countless menus and stats. You can get versions of the games for both the Nintendo DS and Wii, but the most recent entry in the series is Trauma Team for the Wii. When are we going to get a new instalment for the 3DS or Wii U, Atlus?!

Catherine (PS3, Xbox 360) – Catherine is an extremely unique game that combines Q*bert-style puzzle games with a surprisingly mature story about a man who finds himself torn between two women and is quickly loosing his grip on reality. This game received great critical acclaim when it came out in 2011, and would be a great pick for Atlus April if you've never had the chance to play it!

Honourable mentions: The Etrian Odyssey series (DS and 3DS), Radiant Historia (DS), Princess Crown (Sega Saturn and PSP, Japanese only).

If you have an questions/suggestions about the Community Game-Along, be sure to leave them in this post! I think I'm finally going to buckle down and start Persona 4 Golden...
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Swooning Over the Monster Hunter 4 Bible and Lagombi Hunter Nendoroid

April 3, 2014, 2:20 am
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Anyone who's following me on Twitter is probably well aware that I've gotten in a little, how should I put it, deep into Monster Hunter over the past couple of weeks (I blame MonMonth!). Just how deep, exactly? Well, I ordered this: 


While there are countless in-depth Wikis and guides to Monster Hunter 4 online, I couldn't help but want a physical book that I could refer to for weapon upgrades, monster battling strategies, and, of course, sweet screenshots of all the armour and gear in the game. I was very impressed by the Animal Crossing: New Leaf guide I was gifted a while back, so I figured why not spring for another awesome, comprehensive Japanese game guide?


The full title, by the way, is the Monster Hunter 4 Official Guide Book by Famitsu. I'm told it's the most comprehensive guide available, and it was just released in January of this year. The back cover is simple, yet they manage to pack in quite a bit of info on the obi (extra flap of paper that folds around the bottom)!


The book also comes with these two quick guides for "easy" reference when out in the field, I guess. I've already used the map with gathering point locations a couple of times. Inside the front jacket is a list of key quests, as well. Handy!


And when you take off the slip jacket... an adorable Felyne illustration is revealed! All of the outfits they're wearing are armour sets you can get for your Felyne companions in the game.


The book itself is actually a whopping 1,380 pages, which makes it more than twice as big as my Animal Crossing: New Leaf book! The pages are much thinner, though, so size-wise it's not significantly bigger.


If you buy this book looking for lots of pretty pictures, you're probably going to be sorely disappointed. There are literally pages and pages of stats like the one above! This just shows some weapon upgrade trees and their stats, along with the items required to craft them. Page numbers are provided so it's not hard at all to flip through and find where the items can be obtained.


The chapters, luckily, are broken up with some nice images such as the one above. It's just too bad there aren't more than them! Oh well, I shouldn't have expected an art book.


Ok, I'm going to complain a little bit more (don't worry, I really do love the book!): I wish they had better pictures of the monsters, too! But once again, I can tell they're trying to fit as much information as they possibly can into the book. I love how they detail all of the monster's different attack patterns and how you should fight them. Perfect for the diagram lovers out there!


Now this is a little more exciting for those who don't just want to look at numbers and kanji: armor sets! I always have to check to see how a set looks here before I craft it, because who wants to go into battle donning an ugly set of armour?


And finally, my favourite section – the Felyne armour! I just love checking out all the different outfits! One of my Felyne sidekicks is wearing the Yian Kut-Ku fursuit on the top left corner of the right page. Cute!

I can tell I'm going to be using this book for quite a long time, especially since I've already clocked more than 70 hours into Monster Hunter 4! If you'd like to get your hands on one, they can be ordered for only $23 at CD Japan and other online retailers.


Another Monster Hunter-related item I received just the other day is something I preordered way back last year... the Female Hunter: Lagombi Edition! The Lagombi armour set is undoubtedly my favourite set so far, so as soon as she was announced I scrambled to place a preorder.


I forgot she actually comes with two weapons – a gunlance and a hammer! Since my main weapon is a hammer, I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by this revelation. She looks so much like my own character in the game!


Before I get to the real good stuff, I just wanted to note that I think it's a very nice touch that Good Smile Company added a winter mountain scene for the background. It's separate from the box, so you could potentially use it as a backdrop yourself.


Here's what she looks like just out of the box. I absolutely love that they included a Felyne companion along with the two different weapons. I'm not as happy about her facial expressions... It would have been nice if she got one more, or at least something different from her blank main expression and her tearful freaked out face.

The red things are called "action parts" and are supposed to help you simulate battle scenes. I assume one is supposed to be used with the hammer and the other with the gunlance, but I can't help but think they're extremely similar and I could've probably done with just one. Oh well!


And here she is all set up on my shelf with her Felyne companion! I still think her outfit is the best thing about her, but it's a cute Nendoroid all in all. I'll be posting a video review shortly, so be sure to check that out when it goes up on my YouTube channel if you'd like to see more!

You can order the Lagombi Hunter Nendoroid at Jlist, CD Japan, and Ami Ami.
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Apricotsushi Reviews: Candy Japan

April 7, 2014, 11:05 pm
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I've always been a little wary of subscription services due to the cost and lack of control over the items one receives, but reviewing my first Japanese snack subscription service, OyatsuBox, a couple of weeks ago has completely changed my mind. As it turns out, it's pretty hard to go wrong with Japanese snacks if you're as big a fan of them as I am! 

Mister Donut now has cronuts! Why are Japanese sweets always so amazing?
After realizing how great a Japanese snack subscription service could be, I really wanted to see how others stacked up. Luckily, the lovely folks at Candy Japan were kind enough to send me a review packet of one of their candy shipments for March. Candy Japan is the same price as OyatsuBox, with a monthly rate of $25 that includes shipping anywhere in the world, but they differ in that they offer not one, but two shipments of candy per month! 

Unfortunately, I was not able to take a picture of the envelope that the items came in due to it getting ruined in a storm (which was totally not Candy Japan's fault, I have a bad mailbox and it just happened to get rained on), but after seeing the items I received, it should be clear that the envelopes aren't all that small! Candy Japan's website specifies that recipients should expect 2-6 candies per month between the two envelopes. They also send a newsletter out a few days after the shipment has been mailed to give some background information on the items. I love how helpful and detailed it is, but if you like the surprise of opening a box and not knowing what's inside, you'll have to be careful not to open the email until after you've received your candy!  


The first item in their 2nd March shipment was an Anpanman chocolate lollipop. It's too adorable! So adorable, in fact, that we need to see it from another angle...


The flavor of the chocolate wasn't anything special, but it was still a tasty and cute treat! I could have sworn I tasted a hint of strawberry in the pink chocolate, but I couldn't see any mention of strawberry in the packaging, so I may have been imagining things... 

I was slightly disappointed that the March OyatsuBox shipment didn't have any "character" snacks, so it was great to see Anpanman candy come from Candy Japan! 


Now this Kracie Popin' Cookin' Kuru kuru takoyaki kit was quite the pleasant surprise! I know these kits are really popular and hard to find overseas, so it was really great to see it included. 


Ok, the back of the packet isn't all that interesting, but it does provide instructions on how to make this takoyaki candy snack. I can't wait to try it out! I'll be filming an Apricotsushi Samples video for this one, so keep an eye out for that! In the meantime, you can watch Candy Japan's how-to video if you're curious to see what it looks like. I think it's great that they included a video in their newsletter showing how to make this kit for those who can't read the instructions.


The last item in the envelope was this bag of sakura mochi Chiroru (aka Tirol) chocolates! The last time I had Chiroru chocolates I was kind of so-so on them, but I am 100% on board anything with mochi in it! I'm not the biggest fan of sakura-flavored things, but if it's mild, it can be very nice. 


But I have to say, I just love these little chocolates! When you bite into them, they have a small amount of mochi in the center. Yum! The sakura flavor was definitely there, making them really unique, but it wasn't strong enough to turn me off. I even had my husband try one, and he gives them a thumbs up, too!

I really enjoyed how fun and varied the items in this Candy Japan shipment were. I suppose if you're not a huge chocolate fan, you might not be as happy with two out of three candies being chocolate-based, but I'm sure Candy Japan has put that into consideration and will follow up with more non-chocolate items in a future envelope.

via Candy Japan

Before I close out this review, I wanted to mention that I found this great 2013 Year in Review post on Candy Japan's website when I was poking around for some information on the company. It's an interesting read for anyone who wants to know more about the inner workings of any kind of subscription service, and I love how transparent the founder Bemmu is with his progress and thought processes. This coupled with his newsletters help give the feeling of a friend sending you some cool Japanese snacks, rather than an impersonal company, which I really appreciate.

If you like the idea of getting two small packages instead of one large one to space out the fun throughout the month, Candy Japan is the perfect Japanese candy subscription service. Their selection of items seems to be really top-notch, though they may be choosing quality over quantity, as some other comparable services may yield a few more candies each month for the same price. They also seem to focus more on candy rather than savory snacks, so if you don't want only sweet items, I might suggest OyatsuBox instead. While you can't go wrong with either service, Candy Japan stands out for their really unique selection of candies and friendly, personalized interactions.
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Have your cake, and men too, in Tokimeki Restaurant

April 10, 2014, 5:41 am
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While there's been a constant stream of otome games, both free and paid, coming out on smartphones in recent years, I've never been drawn to very many of them. My iPhone 4's small screen does not lend itself well to long stints of reading, and one of my favorite aspects of otome games, the voice acting, is often completely absent in smartphone games. But now one game has finally caught my attention... over a year after I originally downloaded it onto my phone!


Tokimeki Restaurant certainly comes from a good pedigree, as it falls into the famous Tokimeki Memorial dating sim series by Konami, specifically the Girls' Side line that is, as the name suggests, aimed at a female audience. But what makes Tokimeki Restaurant different from the official Girls' Side titles that came before it is that it forgoes traditional romance simulation gameplay in favor of restaurant management to get the guy (or, in this case, guys).


The basic premise of Tokimeki Restaurant is that you've landed a job at a cafe that just happens to near a famous talent agency. As such, all the gorgeous idols from the talent agency, specifically the members of two idol groups, stop by the cafe from time to time. Since you act as all but the official owner of said cafe, you can purchase new decor, change the layout, and, of course, decide what food to serve.

Welcome to my little establishment, the busy bee cafe! 
Since Tokimeki Restaurant is a free game with in-app purchases, a familiar stamina gauge rears it ugly head to keep those of us who don't want to pay from playing constantly. All food costs stamina to prepare, with the more labor-intensive dishes requiring a bigger chunk of stamina. You'll need to prepare each dish a certain number of times to level it up, which will often unlock new recipes to try.

I feel a little like the witch in Hansel and Gretel...
Of course, all of this is done to lure in unsuspecting men for you to engage with. It's a strange concept – Tokimeki Restaurant isn't quite a Dinner Dash clone, nor is it a traditional otome game since you're never going down any single character "path" unless you deliberately choose to play that way (and even then, it's very difficult to only romance one guy at a time). Rather, you're simply trying to make your restaurant the best it can be and checking out as many hot guys as frequently as you can in the process!


Because of this, there really isn't much romance per say, and in its absence are quaint little scenes with one or more of the characters that unlock after certain requirements are fulfilled. For example, right now I'm trying to raise my restaurant's proficiency in meat dishes because my one true love Kento has a real "steak tooth," as it were. After five scenes with a character have been unlocked, there will be the opportunity for a thoroughly embarrassing "skinship" scene, which is basically a minigame where you can poke and prod the men to elicit a range of amusing responses. This harkens back to the original Tokimeki Memorial Girls' Side games, but it's really the only thing in the game that is reminiscent of the original series.

Needless to say, I've found myself completely enamoured with this game, but I think it's more for the food than the men! Everything is strangely cute and appetizing at the same time, and since it is free, it's a great guilty pleasure for those few spare moments when I'm caught with nothing else to do (or, more frequently, when I'm multitasking). As it turns out, there were even a couple of pages on the game in the latest issue of B's Log – a clear indication that even over a year later, the game still has many, many fans. The constant new events and merchandise can't hurt, either...





As you can see, there are all sorts of different events, which usually are accomplished by cooking x amount of a certain food. Since I'm all about the deliciously-rendered food items, here are a couple close-ups:

Hina matsuri (girl's day) treats! 

Special sweets for that special someone
I'm not sure how long I'll actually stay with Tokimeki Restaurant due to its highly repetitive nature, but it certainly is adorable and could easily be something I pick up on occasion just to see what new events are going on. Though the game is only available in Japanese, it's easy to make a Japanese iTunes account or download the APK to play the game on Android devices, so don't let that stop you!

If you do intend to check the game out but aren't confident in your Japanese, I highly recommend using these two guides over at NattoPudding!
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Interview: HamletMachine on the Starfighter Visual Novel Kickstarter

April 14, 2014, 4:58 am
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Time and time again it's been said that women are not a viable market for comic books or video games. Of course, both you and I know that's simply not true, dear reader, but if you're at all like me, you still like to celebrate the times that statement is refuted. And, while the Starfighter: Eclipse Kickstarter isn't explicitly aimed at a female audience, I'm going count it raising over $110,000 at the time of this post (with 11 days left to go!) as one big win for the ladies. 


The Starfighter: Eclipse Kickstarter is helmed by none other than HamletMachine, creator of the original gay erotic sci-fi webcomic Starfighter. If you're not familiar with it, I highly suggest checking it out, but be warned, it's most definitely of the over-18 variety. The comic began in 2008 and has gained a devoted following due to its wonderful fusion of sci-fi drama, sexual tension, and of course, beautiful art. 

As a long-time fan of the series, the announcement of a Starfighter Kickstarter had me at the letter "s," but the niche video game fan in me rejoiced to hear that it would be a visual novel, to boot! While details are being purposefully kept vague, it's clear that Starfighter: Eclipse will be a separate story from the comic, featuring new characters while maintaining the series' original cast. There will alsobe romanceable characters and the same steamy action the comic is known for, making this perhaps the closest to a boys' love visual novel we've ever seen officially in English. But enough about what I have to say on the subject – HamletMachine was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the project, so let's hear what she has to say! 


First, congratulations on the successful funding of the Starfighter: Eclipse Kickstarter! What made you decide to turn your popular webcomic into a visual novel?

Thank you! I think Starfighter's set-up really compliments the visual novel format as far as the comic's focus on character interaction.. it's something I had been thinking on for some time now as I have been making the comic.

You've recently announced that chapter 4 is the last chapter of Starfighter. Do you view the game as a way for fans to get to stay in that world a little longer?

Oh yes, this is a whole game full of new Starfighter content, so hopefully this will be a nice big EU fanfic for everyone to enjoy.

Why did you choose to create Starfighter: Eclipse using Date Nighto's VNengine instead of a more traditional visual novel software such as Ren'Py?

It was really important to me that the game be easily accessible to players and Date Nighto's htmlVN was the perfect solution to deployment details we were considering when we were conceiving our vision for the game!

(there's a great article on Date Nighto and the Starfighter Kickstarter over at Polygon if you're interested in learning more!)


It's clear from your webcomic that homosexual romance is a big theme. Are you inspired by yaoi/BL? Is there a reason you chose not to call Starfighter: Eclipse a "yaoi" VN?

Yes, I am very influenced by these genres; I love the combination of drama, emotional focus, and sexual content. While the Starfighter comic is in many ways a nod to these genres, I hope it's also a bit of a personal departure from it as well. Starfighter: Eclipse isn't directly referred to as yaoi for a few reasons, but also to avoid confusion – "yaoi" is still very much a niche term and not everyone knows what it means, saying something like, "male romance" is more clear about what the game is about!

While you mention in the Kickstarter description that there will be an emphasis on character interaction, there isn't any indication of how many characters will be "pursuable." Are you envisioning multiple endings and romantic possibilities, or is there a specific story you would like to tell?

Oh yes, there is a specific story to tell in Eclipse! I am envisioning multiple endings for different characters but I'm afraid I don't want to spoil too much of the story! You can expect to interact with some of the familiar faces of the Starfighter comic plus some new ones.

Thanks again to HamletMachine for taking the time to chat with me, and a huge congratulations to all involved in the Kickstarter project! I am absolutely thrilled that a project like this is seeing such overwhelming success, and hopefully as a result we'll continue to see more varied game (and comic) endeavours with female interests in mind popping up in Kickstarter or elsewhere. 

But you certainly don't have to be a lady to enjoy Starfighter: Eclipse! If the project sounds up your alley, be sure to read the comic and back the Kickstarter before it closes on the 25th! 
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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 18 – Mentally Stable Game Localization

April 17, 2014, 7:05 am
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Have you ever wondered, "How can I be as kawaii as Ben Bateman?" Well, today's your lucky day, as the man himself (@benspants) agreed to join me on this little podcast shindig to answer that very question! We even talk about game localization and what it means to be a localization editor, along with Ben's experiences working at Aksys Games, too. In addition to revealing his origins in film (gasp!), Ben agrees to go under the magnifying glass for an onslaught of Twitter questions. If you've ever wanted to know what it's like being in the game localization business, you don't want to miss this one!


After a podcast-length discussion on all things Ben, we then turn to what anime we've been watching (it's a 2.5 hour recording, folks!). Shows discussed include Hunter x Hunter, Chihayafuru, Kill La Kill, and Space Dandy, and Ben also weighs in on Miyazaki's The Wind Rises for good measure.

Note: My audio goes a bit weird around the 50 min mark. Luckily, I was able to fix it, so if it really bothers you just skip a couple of minutes ahead! Sorry about that!

Opening ♫ - Sōkyū no Hikari – Faylan
Closing ♫ - Karuta reading



[DOWNLOAD] [ITUNES] [RSS]
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Swooning Over Video Game Nendoroids

April 21, 2014, 11:08 pm
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Good Smile Company sure knows how to hook me. Since I've sworn not to buy figures for series I'm not a fan of, they just went ahead and announced a bunch of figures for series I'm really into! Not just any series, too – GSC is bringing out a surprising number of video game-related Nendoroids over the next few months, and I'm going to have to be extra careful with my wallet if I want to make it past August with any change left over...


If the general internet's reaction is anything to go by, Nendoroid Link: Wind Waker version is probably the most wanted of all the recent announcements. I'm going to break a few hearts by admitting that though he's adorable, I probably won't be purchasing him since I'm not a huge Zelda fan, and none of his posing options really grab me (let's face it, I'm just making excuses for the sake of my wallet). I love the heart piece accessory, though!


Link's currently available to preorder on Good Smile Company's website, Play Asia, Jlist, and Ami Ami and will be releasing this August. Nintendo fans might also want to check out the Luigi Nendoroid coming out in June, too!


Unfortunately, Rin Ozawa Nendoroid is going to be a little harder to resist! The Touch Detective star comes with her very own Funghi companion, of course, and her design translates really well into Nendoroid form! She looks like she came straight out of the game! Just look at all these posing options:


Rin will be getting an official preview on the Good Smile Company blog on April 30th, where we'll hopefully be seeing more accessories aside from the Funghi. Preorders for the Nendoroid open on May 1st, coinciding with the release of Touch Detective 3 for the 3DS! In the meantime, there are many more photos of Rin, along with a fun promotional video, over at the official Japanese Funghi site.


Now here's the figure that really has me swooning – Aoba from the 18+ BL visual novel Dramatical Murder! His sculpt was first shown at Wonder Festival earlier this year, but they've finally unveiled the color version, and I have to say, he looks amazing! Between him and Gilgamesh, it's really great to see more varied male Nendoroids.


Is it hot in here or is it just me? I can't believe they included a shirtless torso part! If you compare the two photos, you can see that he also has the option to have his headphones on his head or around his neck. What a nice touch! I love the blushing face, too – it'll make him really fun to pose with other Dramatical Murder Nendoroids, if Good Smile Company ever does more. With an anime adaptation coming soon, it's a distinct possibility that they will!


By the way, today is also Aoba's birthday! What better way to celebrate than by preordering the Nendoroid from Ami Ami or Good Smile Company's store? Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until August/September for him to come out, though. I think the fact that most stores don't require payment until the items are in stock is a cruel ploy to get us all to spend more money than we should be on adorable figures!
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Announcing the Metroidvania Community Game-Along

April 29, 2014, 5:56 am
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April is finally coming to a close, signalling the end of the Atlus Community Game-Along. It was a tough month - participation saw a bit of a lull, perhaps due to the extremely long nature of Atlus games, or maybe Atlus not being as appealing a theme as I anticipated. But no matter! The monthly Community Game-Alongs appear to still be a hit, so onward and upward, I say!

When choosing a theme, I always try to gravitate toward more under-appreciated games and genres. Classic adventure games like Metroid and Castlevania are by no means niche, but the two series are closely connected, and have subsequently spawned a subgenre of non-linear 2D action-adventure games often referred to as "Metroidvania." Since there are quite a lot of games in this subgenre that haven't received a lot of publicity, I thought now would be as good a time as any to check them out! 


Metroidvania is actually a subset of games that I'm not very familiar with. The most I've ever played of anything that could really be called "Metroidvania" is a couple hours of Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow! As such, I've consulted a few very good websites for information on what constitutes a Metroidvania game, and what games fall under that umbrella. If you're similarly not sure where to start, I highly suggest checking out VG Museum's Metroidvania List. USGamer also has a great article on their top 10 Metroidvania games. While I'm sure we could sit and ponder what constitutes a Metroidvania game and what doesn't all day, just as in months past, I'm going to leave it up to you to make the final call as to whether x game counts for this month's game-along. The most important part is to have fun, after all! But if you're really stumped as to what to play, here are a few suggestions: 


Tomba! (PSN) – Tomba! is rather notorious among collectors due to the original western PSone release having a very hefty price tag (think $100+ for a complete copy), which would normally mean there would be no way I'd recommend anyone try picking it up. The folks at MonkeyPaw Games, however, have brought over both the first game and its sequel to PSN, allowing anyone with a PSP, PS3, or Vita to pick up the games for less than $10 a pop. The only catch is that the second one is only available in the original Japanese, but many would argue it's worth it!


Muramasa Rebirth (Vita) – Muramasa Rebirth is the recent Vita update of the Wii Vanillaware title, which of course is still a valid option for this month's game-along, but the Vita version is universally considered to be the superior of the two. Those who like feudal Japanese settings and folklore would do well to check this one out, as it features Vanillaware's trademark aesthetic polish and pizzaz. The game is still getting (paid) DLC updates with new content, and it also happens to be going on sale on North American PSN this week, as well!


Aliens: Infestation (Nintendo DS) – I hesitate to highlight a game that isn't on "current" consoles, but since the 3DS is backwards compatible and this game can still be found relativelycheaply, I'm going to go ahead and include it. For those lamenting the lack of good Aliens games, look no further than this hidden gem from WayForward that manages to capture the oppressive atmosphere of the original films through its Metroidvania-style gameplay and use of permadeath. It may be worth a look for those who still feel burned after Aliens: Colonel Marines and need something Aliens-related before Alien: Isolation comes out later this year.


La-Mulana (Wiiware, PC) – First, stew on the game's official genre for a moment: "Archaeological Ruin Exploration Action Game." Doesn't that sound exciting? Now, if you consider yourself the hardest of the hardcore, La-Mulana should be at the top of your list. The game looks and sounds like a MSX game and stays true to its retro roots by being both nail-bitingly difficult and featuring some extremely convoluted puzzles. I'd go so far as to say this is considered one of the most shining examples of a Metroidvania game in recent years!

Honorable mentions: The low-hanging fruit that is any Metroid or Castlevania game pick, Shadow Complex (Xbox 360), the Shantae series, Wonder Boy in Monster World (WiiWare, PSN), and Aquaria (PC/Mac). As always, there are many more possibilities than the ones I've listed here!


To participate in the Metroidvania Community Game-Along, simply play a game that falls within the theme of the month and share your experiences on your favorite social platform using #MetroidvaniaMay. There's also a NeoGAF thread to chat with other participants in, if that's your thing. I highly encourage long form writing on blogs and websites, or even YouTube videos or podcasts on the subject! Anything is game! If you'd like to submit something for me to include in my roundup post (which will definitely come, I've been slack getting up past months' posts, but they're on their way), be sure to comment here with a link to your creation or use the hashtag so I can find it.

As for me, I'm in a pickle. I have a surprising number of games that fall into the Metroidvania genre, but I've never quite been able to get into them for some reason. My backlog consists of La-Mulana, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Alice in Wonderland (DS 2010, and yes, apparently that counts). I'm also very interested in picking up Muramasa Rebirth while it's on sale on PSN, and I've never actually managed to finish Tomba!. What do you think I should start with? Argue your case in the comments!

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Cardcaptor Sakura is Back with Anime Collection and Nendoroid Releases

May 1, 2014, 2:24 am
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2014 is turning out to be an amazing year for fans of 90's magical girl anime! While the new Sailor Moon anime debuting worldwide July 5th is already more than we asked for, NIS America had a surprise announcement that they will be releasing none other than a complete collection of the Cardcaptor Sakura anime on August 5th. The anime has been out of print in North America since 2006, making it especially great news for fans who haven't been able to get hold of the DVDs.

The collection will be available in three 4-disc DVD sets priced at $59.99 each, but the real highlight is the Premium Edition Blu-ray set pictured above. The set not only comes with the complete 70 episode anime, but a 76-page full color artbook, as well. The set will be available at most retailers, with the cheapest preorder option right now being Right Stuf at $178.99. NIS America is also offering the set on their online store for $199.99 and the standard bundle for $133.97. Both include this exclusive tear-resistant poster:

Both versions of the anime will also include Japanese and English audio, which is always good for those who like to have the option. I don't buy much anime these days, but I'm a little surprised that the Blu-ray set isn't available without the artbook, as $200+ is rather steep, even for hardcore fans. I also hate to admit it, but I'm really not a fan of the box art on this set – I much prefer the design on the Madman release here in Australia:



And yes, this means that Cardcaptor Sakura is already readily available on DVD here in Australia! The series was broken into two sets and released in 2012, but unfortunately there's no sign of us getting the Blu-rays anytime soon. But though I definitely have an appreciation for Cardcaptor Sakura, I didn't watch it religiously as a child like I did Sailor Moon, so I'm not chafing at the bit to own the complete series, especially not at $200. Rather, I look upon it fondly as yet another amazing magical girl series.

In related Cardcaptor Sakura anime news, Discotek Media will be re-releasing the first anime film on September 30th, followed by a Blu-ray release later in the year.


Of course, this wouldn't be a topical Chic Pixel post without a reference to a figure of some kind, right? (It's a coincidence, I swear!) While not quite as recent news, the Sakura Nendoroid was finally fully revealed a few days ago, and you bet I registered my preorder as soon as they were available! While I may not be a hardcore Cardcaptor Sakura fan, there's no way I'd pass up something this adorable.


All of a sudden, 2014 is just a big a year for Cardcaptor Sakura as it is for Sailor Moon! I'm not complaining, but it's very surprising to see the resurgence of my childhood shojo anime icons. I hope this means that the Sailor Moon anime and films see a Blu-ray release sometime in the near future, as well!
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Monster Hunter 10th Anniversary Community Game-Along Roundup

May 5, 2014, 4:24 am
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If you've been following my monthly Community Game-Alongs, you may remember that way back in March we celebrated Monster Hunter's 10th anniversary by playing all kinds of hunting games. There was a ton of multiplayer fun to be had, which was a first for the monthly game-alongs, and we saw lots of fun tweets from people enjoying their games and writeups from both new and old hunters. Though it's long overdue, here's a roundup of some of the contributions from the month!

Gorgeous anniversary art by Sarah O'Donnell! (source)
First, of course Japan has to show up the rest of the world with a slew of awesome Monster Hunter-related events and goods throughout the year. I compiled a few of my favorites in a Japan Envy post, but the most envious of them all is the "Monster Hunter the REAL" exhibit at Universal Studios Japan!

I was happy to see Monster Hunter fan and delightfully grouchy game critic Brad Gallaway briefly chat about Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on PSP for #MonMonth in an update over at his blog. He wrote about a phenomenon that goes unnamed, but any hunter knows all too well: the dreaded desire sensor. "Desire sensor" is a term players use to refer to the fact that the game seems to inexplicably know when you're after a specific item and proceed to give you everything but said item. Hope you eventually got those fangs, Brad!

Over at USGamer, Peter Davison expands on an interview with Monster Huntercreator and producer Ryozo Tsujimoto that is a must-read for fans of the series. While the game has a massive following in Japan, in its 10 year history popularity has eluded it in the west. Definitely read the interview if you'd like to hear how the series came to be and how the creator feels about its reception outside of Japan.


Of course, there are more hunting games besides the series that started it all. Brian Clark over at One Million Power starts the month off with a great in-depth look at the original Soul Sacrifice, and follows up with a similarly thorough piece on Soul Sacrifice Delta, the not-quite-sequel that is currently only available in Japan. His piece on Soul Sacrifice does a great job at highlighting why the game should not be considered a clone, but rather a unique title that has some similarities to Monster Hunter but sets itself apart in a number of ways. I love that he urges hunting fans to not choose one over the other, but to play and appreciate both series for their different qualities.

It goes without saying that Brian's piece on Soul Sacrifice Delta is a great way for English-speaking fans to gain more information on the currently Japan-only title. While the game is more of an expansion than a full sequel, Brian asserts that it has plenty of new content to make it worth the asking price, or a great entry point for those who never played the original.


Finally, @Chozobill imported Monster Hunter 4 and wrote up his impressions after playing 11 hours of the game. He discusses the new weapon, the insect glaive, Felyne companions, the farm trader, and a number of other new features. If you can't get enough Monster Hunter 4 info before 4U is released in English early next year, be sure to check out what he thought! 

Oh, and a huge thanks to Elliot Gay for making a thread for this game-along over on NeoGAF! We got a ton of participants and there were some great discussions that wouldn't have been able to happen on Twitter. Speaking of which, there's always #MonMonth if you want to read more about what people were up to during the month. It sounds like everyone had fun! I know I did.

If you'd like to participate in this month's Community Game-Along, we're celebrating all things Metroidvania. Head over to the main post for some great game ideas!
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Chic Pixel YouTube Channel Update

May 9, 2014, 2:17 pm
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Most of you are probably aware by now, but in case you're not... I have a YouTube channel! I've always found it much easier to express myself in text versus standing up in front of people or, in this case, on camera, making starting a YouTube channel perhaps the scariest online endeavor I've undertaken yet. But as they say, practice makes perfect, the show must go on, and video is a whole new world just waiting to be explored!

This is the face of someone who loves what she does
In the future, I'd like to do a post here every time I upload a new YouTube video, but I've been rather slack about it lately, so I thought now would be a good opportunity to remind everyone that I'd like to think of the channel as an extension of the Chic Pixel site, but by no means a replacement. If you like the kind of things I post here, I'm sure you'd enjoy the videos I have to offer! But if video isn't your thing, don't worry, I'll still be writing regularly, and the vast majority of my content will continue to be written. I'm not going to beat around the bush, though – the views on my videos are painfully low at the moment, so do please consider checking them out!

The main series I'm focusing on at the moment is "Apricotsushi Samples," where I try all manner of exotic Japanese treats and film my (sometimes) hilarious reactions on camera. And since I love Japanese packaging, you can be sure there are lots of gratuitous "packshots," too! My latest episode is a weird one indeed:


I just love that someone thought to themselves one day, "You know what would be cool? A toy toilet bowl that kids can drink out of!" I actually still have my pink toilet sitting on my shelf, currently occupied by a little plastic Sylveon. I might actually do what the package suggests and plant something in it at some point!

Now, back in March I received an OyatsuBox Japanese snack subscription which was packed full of Japanese snacks and candy. After reviewing it, I did what any sane person would do – sample every single thing in the box! If you're curious to see what was good and not so good, this episode of Apricotsushi Samples is for you:


Finally, you may remember how I was swooning over the Japan-only Hatsune Miku lottery that Family Mart did during the month of March. My host mother was kind enough to enter the lottery a few times for me, and I recently received the fruits of her labor. If you're curious to see what the Hatsune Miku lottery items look like up close or what a typical package from my host mom looks like, it's all here:


With that, I think we're just about up to date! My goal is to get into a regular routine where I upload a new episode of Apricotsushi Samples a week, and any other videos as the opportunities arise. I'm having a lot of fun filming and editing them, but it's a lot of work I'm not accustomed to, so if you have any comments or suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Finally, there's the little issue of nomenclature. I can't decide if I should brand the channel with the Chic Pixel name, or use some variation of "apricotsushi" (the user name I go by on social media) in the title. What do you think? Do you have any fun channel name ideas I might have overlooked? Let me know!
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Japan Envy: Pokémon Trainer Red Nendoroid

May 10, 2014, 2:26 am
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There's nothing like an out-of-blue announcement to really get the blood pumping, eh? I'd say that's exactly what happened when Nintendo put up the shocking reveal trailer for the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS just the other day. Following that Pokémon announcement, a Japanese Twitter user tweeted a photo of a Pokémon Center poster that is sure to delight all the Nendoroid fans out there: 


That's right, the original Pokémon trainer Red has been Nendoroid-ified! His design is based on the Pokemon Origins TV special that aired last year, and will be limited to Pokémon Centers and Amazon.jp's Pokémon Center store, meaning it will sadly be rather tough for anyone outside of Japan to purchase him. 


While these are the only pictures of Red released so far, we do know from the poster that he will come with the three facial expressions shown, four different arm parts, five hand parts, and three leg parts. Three is a rather odd number of legs, but I assume that means one might be bent? 

Even more exciting, however, is the fact that he comes with all three original starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander, along with a Pokéball, Master Ball, Pokédex, and his backpack. Think of all the posing possibilities! 

Preorders open on May 24th and will be available until June 29th, and he will retail for ¥4,500. He releases on September 27th, but only those with preorders will be able to get their hands on one at retail price, and you can bet resellers will attempt to gouge unlucky potential buyers soon after. Overseas fans looking to order him will have to rely on a friend to go to a physical Pokémon Center or using a proxy service to order him from Amazon.jp, as they unfortunately will not ship figures outside of Japan. If you're at a loss of where to look for a proxy service, White Rabbit Japan is a great option. 

So, how about it? Are you a big enough Pokémon fan to pick this one up, or would you prefer a different trainer? I'm not particularly interested in Red himself, but those starter Pokémon are very tempting... 
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10 Places I Have to Visit when I'm in Tokyo

May 12, 2014, 7:19 pm
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It's often said that one can either be a fan of Tokyo or Osaka, but not both. Well, I'm a certified Osaka girl, so while I've been to Japan numerous times, I've only actually been to Tokyo once for two days nearly 12 years ago. Blasphemy, I know! Luckily, I have the very unique opportunity to attend a popular Japanese media workshop at the University of Tokyo for two weeks in July, so I'll finally get the Tokyo fix I never knew I needed.

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I say "never knew I needed" because after hearing the wonderful news that I had been accepted into said program, I promptly hit up Google to see exactly what sights I'd been missing out on in the pop culture mecca of Japan. As expected, there are a lot of exciting things to see and do in Tokyo, and my planner is quickly filling up with places to go and things to eat!

Since a lot of folks were asking what exactly was making my "must see" list for Tokyo, I thought it'd be fun to compile a top 10 list of places I'm going to make sure I hit up this July. Hopefully this way I can hold myself accountable and report back in two months with how each place actually stacked up! I'm not going to include vague general destinations like Harajuku or Akihabara that are on every "must see in Tokyo" list, though, but rather very specific things that folks like me who enjoy all things nerdy and cute will probably appreciate...

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Kit Kat Chocolatory 

Everyone knows that Japan is a haven for all kinds of amazing Kit Kat flavors, from the innocuous matcha to stranger oddities such as wasabi. In fact, Kit Kats are so popular in Japan that Nestle opted to erect the world's first dedicated Kit Kat store, known as the Kit Kat Chocolatory, in the Seibu department store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo! The Ikebukuro store opened this past January and has teamed up with patissier Yasumasa Takagi to sell three exclusive flavors: sublime bitter, special sakura green tea, and special chilli.*

While it's a little disappointing that the store doesn't sell all of the various regional Japanese Kit Kat flavors (as far as I can tell), there is no way I'm going to turn down the chance to visit the world's only Kit Kat shop! And buy a pack of each exclusive flavor, of course.

*Side note: Apparently Yasumasa Takagi made some kind of deal with Nestle, as he also appears in this bakable Kit Kat promotional video.

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Animate cafés

I'm cheating a little by not specifying a single store here, but hear me out. Animate is a chain of anime merchandise stores located Japan-wide, but certain branches have cafés that frequently feature anime tie-in menus and special decor. There are two located in Tokyo, one in Ikebukuro that caters to a female audience, and another in Akihabara that has recently teamed up with Good Smile Company (it only just opened on April 25th!) to offer some extra goodies for the figure-loving crowd.

While I'd definitely love to visit both, I'll probably prioritize going to the one that is doing a tie-in with a series I'm more interested in. Since the Good Smile x Animate cafe is doing a Love Live! collaboration until July 30th, I'll probably go with the Ikebukuro branch. However, I hear there may be some Good Smile figures that can only be purchased at the Akihabara store, so I may have to visit that one as well. Oh, decisions!


Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum, designed by visionary Hayao Miyazaki himself, is the ultimate mecca for fans of Ghibli films and Japanese animation, so of course it would be high on my "must see" list! Not only do you get to see exclusive animation shorts that are only shown at the museum, but there is also a yearly rotating exhibit that can't be seen anywhere else. This year's exhibit has just been revealed (flier pictured above), and the theme is The Nutcracker! As someone who attended The Nutcracker ballet every year at Christmas as a kid, I can't wait to see Ghibli's interpretation of the children's ballet classic.

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Of course, another highlight of the Ghibli Museum is the Straw Hat Café! Not only is the decor to die for, all of the food is served on gorgeous Ghibli-themed plates, and if you order a coffee drink you'll be treated with an adorable Ghibli design drawn in the foam. I've heard the wait can be an hour long, so it's important to get there early!

Related: I also have to try these Totoro cream puffs I wrote about two years ago! I couldn't bring myself to allow two Ghibli-related stops positions on this list, but you can bet your puffs I'll be making my way to this adorable (Ghibli-supported!) patisserie come July.

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Usagi no Ehon

There are two things I love very much in life – rabbits and books. Combine the two and you've got pretty much a winning combination for me! That's why Usagi no Ehon, or Rabbit Picture Book, immediately caught my eye. I've always been a fan of cat cafés, but I've yet to visit a rabbit café, and one that combines adorable rabbit-themed decor with quiet atmosphere and all kinds of picture books crowding the cafe shelves sounds too good to be true! While I might end up swapping out Usagi no Ehon for another rabbit café if it happens to be more convenient, I may just opt to make a special trip to sit with the bunnies and read some Japanese picture books. Did you know that rabbits are illegal to keep as pets in Queensland? Yeah, it's horrible. I need my rabbit fix!

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Otome Road

I'll tell you right now – Otome Road has always been the one major reason why I've been wistful to visit Tokyo. The single street in Ikebukuro is home to shops full of all a fujoshi's favorite things, meaning it very well could the the one-stop destination for all my needs when I'm in Tokyo. So, if you're like me and swoon over cute anime boys romancing each other or games where you play a girl who romances cute anime boys, Otome Road should not be missed! If I'm not mistaken, the Animate café in Ikebukuro is located in or around Otome Road, making them easy to see in the same trip. But knowing me, I'm sure I'll visit Otome Road much more than once during my stay!

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Capcom x Pasela Entertainment Bar

While nearly all of the themed eating establishments I've seen call themselves "cafés," I find it interesting that Capcom has opted for the more mature "bar." Virtually all themed cafés sell alcoholic drinks anyway, but I guess Capcom wanted a slightly different angle. Not only can you eat strange Capcom-themed delicacies here such as Resident Evil zombie brains (don't worry, it's a cake), but the staff apparently put on a little skits from the games when they bring out your food. While I'll sadly be missing the special Monster Hunter 10th anniversary menu, I'm sure there will be plenty of interesting food items to try and Felyne goods to buy.

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Nakano Broadway

First, I must give a huge thanks to @Richmond_Lee for providing this suggestion. Everyone always says any video game/anime nerd has to hit up Akihabara while you're in Tokyo, but there's just so much to see! Where would you even start? Of course, if you have days to kill, it's fine to wander around and find all of the hidden gems for yourself, but when you're on a tight schedule like me, it's much more helpful to have a few specific destinations in mind.

Well, Nakano Broadway looks to be the perfect place to get my otaku shopping fix – it's a three-story indoor market filled to the brim with rare toys, electronics, anime, manga, figures... and practically anything else a Japanese pop culture nerd could want! I like how Danny Choo describes it as an indoor Akihabara with "a lot less maids, eroge, and computer parts stores." Sounds like my kind of place! I'm definitely going to head here for some toy, manga, and game hunting.

These are all fake! (source)
Ganso Shokuhin Sanpuru-ya

You know what's just as awesome as eating amazing-looking food? Looking at amazing-looking food. Ganso Shokuhin is a company that has been making those plastic food samples many Japanese cafés and restaurants put in their front windows for nearly 100 years, and they've opened a shop near Tokyo Skytree where you can look at all of their amazing creations. On top of that, they have a shop for souvenirs and kits to make your own, and demonstrations so you can learn how the pros do it! It's worth mentioning that they have a branch located in the Tokyo Solamachi, a mall beneath the Tokyo Skytree that is the perfect place to shop for souvenirs, so I'll probably have to take a day to visit the Skytree and get my shopping on!


Artnia Square Enix café

It's no secret that I love nerdy themed cafés, so of course the Square Enix cafe, Artnia, would make this list. The café itself features a futuristic layout within a dome-shaped building and sells all manner of Square Enix merchandise (some that can be bought only here, of course!) in addition to the usual cafe fare. While it'd be great if Artnia is having a special menu when I'm there, I'll be happy just to try the adorable Moogle cappuccino pictured above along with a tasty pancake set.

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Kiddy Land Harajuku 

Kiddy Land's flagship store is five floors of so-sweet-you'll-get-a-cavity cuteness, so of course I have to go there! I've been to Kiddy Land in Osaka before, but I'm sure everything else pales in comparison to the official Harajuku store. If you're a fan of Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma, Disney, or virtually anything else sparkly and kawaii, this is a dangerous stop for your wallet! I think I'm going to need a shopping list and a strict budget for this one, or else I'll end up with a suitcase full of tiny adorable merchandise. It's a given that I'll have a suitcase full of amazing purchases by the end of my trip, but it'll be hard to pace myself with all the cute there is to take in at Kiddy Land Harajuku! If you're interested in being overwhelmed by all the cute, I definitely recommend checking out Japan Lover and Danny Choo's great photos of Kiddy Land.

There you have it – 10 wonderful destinations in Tokyo hand-picked by yours truly! Of course there are many more things I want to see and do while I'm there, but this is just a tiny slice of what I hope to experience. What would your #1 place to visit in Tokyo be? If you have any suggestions/things you'd like to see me cover during my trip, let me know in the comments!
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The Princess of Tennis Book Now Available for Preorder

May 15, 2014, 3:31 am
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Have you ever wanted to know what it's really like working as a manga artist in Japan? Artist Jamie Lynn Lano had the extremely unique opportunity to work as an assistant on The Prince of Tennis and has recounted her experiences on her blog, Living Tall in Japan, and has decided to compile them into a book in order to share her story. Preorders are now open for the book, titled The Princess of Tennis: Working as an Assistant on The Prince of Tennis. As an avid follower of Jamie's blog, this is a very exciting announcement indeed!


It's often very difficult to get information on what goes on behind the scenes in the Japanese manga industry, especially outside of Japan, which makes Jamie's book an invaluable resources for those interested in learning more about how the manga industry works, and what it's like being a foreigner living and working in a Japanese-dominated field. If you'd like to get an idea of her writing style and what kind of content will be in the book, her whole story has been compiled in a series of blog posts available to read for free on her website. Even if you're not sure you want to commit to buying the book, I highly suggest checking them out!

Jamie hard at work (source)
Preorders for The Princess of Tennis will only be available for a limited time, and for only $20 you can grab yourself a copy of the book (approx. 250 pages), postcard with Jamie's original art, personalized message in the book (if desired), digital copy of the book on the day of release, and free shipping worldwide. That's a pretty super deal, so it's definitely worth putting your order in early! The book is scheduled to launch on June 15th.
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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 19 – Sailor Moon Extravaganza

May 19, 2014, 5:49 am
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In honor of the massive Sailor Moon resurgence that is occurring this year, I sat down (virtually) with repeat guest Janine Hawkins to chat about the shojo giant of our youth. In this episode, we cover everything from the manga and anime to merchandise and musicals. Nothing Sailor Moon-related is safe!


Please keep in mind that this was recorded about two weeks ago before the announcement that Viz will be re-releasing the original uncut anime in English on Hulu, DVD, and Blu-ray. I like to think we called it, somehow!

Opening ♫ - Sailor Moon Theme
Closing ♫ - Sailor Moon transformation



[DOWNLOAD] [ITUNES] [RSS]
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XSEED is all for equal-opportunity ogling in Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed

May 19, 2014, 6:38 pm
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When it comes to changes made or not made in game localizations, the most topical issue that comes to mind is Nintendo's recent refusal to add the ability for Mii's to have same-sex relationships in its upcoming release, Tomodachi Life. While Nintendo originally said there was no intent to make "social commentary" with the game (as if that somehow exempts it from social commentary), they later amended that statement, saying they were sorry for alienating their gay and lesbian fans but could not add the option this close to the game's release and would strongly consider it for future titles. 

#Miiquality logo

The issue of same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life and how Nintendo has handled responding to fans isn't what I'd like to focus on today, however (please read this great piece by Christian Nutt if you want to know more!). Instead, I'd like to highlight a company that went above and beyond to make a game inclusive during the localization process. In contrast to the inability/unwillingness of Nintendo to address the wants and needs of its western audience, XSEED Games has announced that they have been working with developer Acquire to make the experience in the vampire-stripping open world brawler Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed more appealing for those who'd like to see some male eye candy. The official statement is as follows: 
"An additional feature being newly added for the North American release – set for summer 2014 – is the inclusion of illustrated 'strip portraits' for all prominent male side characters, providing equivalent gender balance alongside the game’s existing female portraits. Once these have been viewed during normal gameplay, players may also use them as wallpapers for their in-game smartphones." 
What amazes me about this reveal is that XSEED is going to the effort to get the developer to add new content to their game so that everyone, male and female, gay and straight, will feel included in the game's (presumably abundant) fanservice. Not only that, but they took their own initiative to do so without being persuaded by a large number of fan requests, as far as I'm aware. Considering the relatively large backlash the breast-laden Senran Kagura Burst had leading up to and past its release, perhaps they wanted to make a conscious effort to not look like a company that only caters toward a specific audience?

Akiba's Trip promotional art showing high school girl in Tokyo holding cell phone and skirt

Honestly, whatever the reason, XSEED's decision to add additional "manservice" to Akiba's Trip has increased my interest in the game tenfold. While the media surrounding the Japanese release of the game was most definitely aimed at a heterosexual male audience, making it seem like the content of the game itself was skewed that way, it's extremely refreshing to see a western publisher take the initiative to make a game more inclusive. Even though XSEED is a niche publisher and Akiba's Trip an even more niche release,* gaming giant Nintendo could learn a thing or two about inclusion and localization from the fine folks at XSEED.

Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed is a localization of Akiba's Trip 2, and will be released on PS3 and PS Vita this summer.

*I understand that the inclusion of the male strip portraits along with the fact that XSEED is also recording English voiceovers for the game is an attempt to have it appeal to a wide audience, but I have a hard time viewing Akiba's Trip as anything more than a niche otaku game. I hope they prove me wrong!
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Apricotsushi Reviews: Little Witch Academia Blu-ray

May 21, 2014, 4:55 am
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Way back in August of last year, I wrote about an anime short called Little Witch Academia and how it brought back memories of some of my favorite magical girl series from my youth. With its gorgeous animation, great cast of female characters, and charming story, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to see more of. I highly suggest reading the above article for more of my impressions of the episode, as today I'm not going to focus on the merits of Little Witch Academia itself (suffice it to say, I think it's wonderful!), but rather the lovely Blu-ray release now available from Studio Trigger's online store.


When my copy of the Blu-ray arrived courtesy of acttil, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the packaging. Not only does it come with the main event, the 26 minute episode of Little Witch Academia itself, but it also includes a documentary, soundtrack CD, and a separate book full of illustrations, storyboards, interviews, and more!

Back cover of the book

The official booklet's cover has the title embossed in gold text, which is a lovely touch. Though it's a paperback, the detail put into the cover on its own reveals that it is by no means a cheap extra. In fact, the book itself is 112 pages long! Let's take a look inside:



Two pages from the "story & commentary" section
Approximately one third of the book is in full color, which includes the gorgeous two-page spread shown above, illustrations of the main characters, an "image board" that consists of some backgrounds and environmental items, an overview of the story with commentary, and a color storyboard. The full color pages look great, but I wish there were a few more of them. Luckily, the rest of the book is still chock-full of amazing sketches and information.


There are a number of color glossy pages dedicated to specific animators, but since the images are all sketches, it seems like a waste to put them on the "nicer" paper at the beginning when there are full color stills that do not get the benefit of similar nice paper later on in the book (see images below). This is a very nitpicky critique, though, as the animator-specific sections and associated interviews provide a lot of interesting insight and it's nice that Studio Trigger decided to highlight them by putting them towards the front of the book.





The rest of the book is printed on slightly lower quality paper using a limited color palette (lots of purple, pink, and blue). It's difficult to think of a western equivalent, but it reminds me a lot of the monthly manga "phone books," except on slightly thicker paper. The character sheets and background sections are definitely my favorite, as they get much deeper into all of the designs used in the episode than the color section does at the beginning. The full script is also included, along with samples from the storyboard, and there are more interviews to close out the book. As I mentioned earlier, the interviews in this section include images that have been reduced to a limited color palette, which is an interesting design choice but a bit of a shame for those who might prefer the original, full color versions. 

Before I move on to the Blu-ray and soundtrack, I wanted to mention that though I did not receive one, all orders of the Blu-ray set from Studio Trigger's online store will include an extra "special booklet" that consists of English translations for all of the Japanese text, such as interviews, in the official booklet. 



Next up is the "book" that houses the Blu-ray and soundtrack CD. I am honestly really impressed by the packaging on both this and the booklet! The Blu-ray case has a hard cover, but unlike normal Blu-ray cases it's a heavy cardboard-like material, so be careful not to spill water on it! When you open it up, there's a rather shocking color choice: 


It's so pink! I love how psychedelic it is. The Blu-ray itself is self-explanatory, but the bonus production documentary "How the Magic was Created" is definitely worth mentioning. It includes English subtitles and clocks in at a whopping 66 minutes, and is an eye-opening glimpse at what work in a Japanese animation studio is like.

The soundtrack CD consists of 13 songs, making it 18 minutes of full orchestral music. It's not often that I even notice the music in an anime, so the fact that I listen to this soundtrack when I'm not watching Little Witch Academia is pretty high praise. One of my favorite tracks is Shiny Chariot's Theme – it has a great sense of grandeur and wonder that I feel encompasses my feelings for the show as a whole.

Honestly, I can't believe this Little Witch Academia Blu-ray set is only ¥6,171 (approx. $60)! It's an amazing package and it really does the episode justice. While the Kickstarter for Little Witch Academia episode two has already been funded, I'd definitely recommend supporting the series by purchasing the episode one Blu-ray. You won't regret it!
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