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ローゼンメイデン 
December 14, 2008 | 
53 Comments
As usual, I apologize for not posting anything for a while. I have to admit that it's been weird to see my anime watching habit dwindling down to nothing. Maybe I just don't feel like watching them when my life has literally turned into every cliche romance anime or Japanese drama out there. I tried to watch some mecha anime but that requires me to invest some good time staying at home. Maybe that's the real problem here. These days, I keep wanting to go out almost every single day for some reason. I just feel that there are many social interactions that I've missed because I used to always just go home and watch countless anime after work. I went to an outdoor bar yesterday and while I wasn't completely comfortable with the situation, I have to admit that I like it. My social skill is kind of rusty but I do find myself wanting to belong to that kind of scene. Mind you, I'm not talking about being stupid drunk but more like spending my time talking to random strangers while watching the beautiful sight of the harbor.
Since I don't go home until late night these days, I can only use the remaining hours before sleep to read books. I just recently finished Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Personally, the book was a bit too cerebral for me or maybe too cerebral to be read late at night. There are parts which I don't understand well and there are parts of the story which I thought are too detailed to be expressed in words. In the end, I'm still a visual-based person and it's been a while since I read anything longer than a web page. On that note, it's been said that our reading comprehension has been on the decline after the advent of the internet. Who knows if it's true or not. Anyway, so this is the book which apparently inspired Haibane Renmei and I suppose a few other anime series. It's basically a story about reality vs. fabricated world created by our own mind. The book basically asks if one would forgo mostly painful but sometimes rewarding reality for a much nicer, peaceful world even though it's not real.
I'm probably oversimplifying the story here and the fact is, the main character doesn't seem to have much of a choice between choosing reality vs. choosing fabricated world. The story doesn't gloss over the fact that to live in reality means to deal with pain and disappointment. However, pain and disappointment are the reason why we feel happiness when we succeeded in something. In a world where there's no pain and disappointment, the happiness in question will also be less intense. Moreover, would a person spend their life in happiness even though they know it's not real? Interesting question and I think my answer would have been different at different stages of my life. If someone had asked me when I was suffering from depression a few years ago, I'd probably say "yes" to that fabricated world. Now, however, I'm mentally sound and physique-wise, have never been in a better shape. Although I have ups and downs due to my emotional turmoil, I feel that at least in reality I can try and try again to reach the goal that I want to achieve.
That also makes me wonder the recent changes in my life. I don't think I regret the time I spent obsessing over several anime. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have known some great titles like Honey and Clover. At the same time, I'm surprised that moving on from them is not as hard as I thought it'll be. I think I'll always be on the lookout for the next great anime but nothing really catch my attention at the moment. I don't think the interest has completely died because when I went to a bookstore the other day, my eyes immediately latched onto this sexy piece of black cardboard box. This is actually Rozen Maiden Manga Box, enough to fit all 7 volumes of the re-released Rozen Maiden manga. The box looks awesome in that if you open it, you can see Laplace and Shinku inside. The box comes with the latest volume of the manga (7th) before the series went on temporary break. The ending is a shocker to say the least. The box also comes with a set of postcards and 7 cards representing all 7 Rozen Maidens.
As for the image that I chose to go along with this entry, I can't help but being reminded of Evangelion as I read Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. I also recently saw Evangelion 1.0 again in a theatre. I was curious to see how general public will accept the film, which is basically similar to episode 1-6 minus all the fluff. I think it was a great idea for the writers to finally emphasize the whole "Hedgehog's Dilemma" part of the story and put the Angel invasion to the side. It's just that due to the focus on the mysterious origin of the Angels, the real story of the series was largely ignored in the original. Then when the end arrives, people wonder why the story shifts from the Angels to human relationship. However, I feel that the core story of Evangelion is about human relationship and how keen/reluctant we all are to know other people. People put up barriers, an AT Field as the show puts it, to prevent others from getting too close to us and able to hurt us later on. Unfortunately, it's only by lowering our defense can a person know another better.
In a way, the Angels are metaphor for other people one encounters in one's daily life. Each one is unique and have their own weaknesses. For Shinji, facing an Angel is probably as scary as getting to know a stranger. It's hard to predict how the other party will react to his presence. It's interesting to see other people in the cinema crying during the part where Shinji made the decision to defend the city again even though it traumatized him before. I always sympathize with Shinji even when he's at the lowest point of his life so it's nice to see others actually understand what he goes through as well. He doesn't do it because he wants to but because he wants to protect the people who matters to him. Even if these people sometimes disappoint him, hurt him, and maybe will leave him alone later on. On that note, although it's a bit heavy-handed, I like that the writers decide to make Misato stand up for Shinji when his own father thinks it'll be better to replace him with Rei. That scene really represents the sub-title of the film, You Are not Alone. Ditto with the scene where Shinji gets a phone call from Touji and Kensuke, wishing him the best.
I've read Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World this summer, and enjoyed it. It's rare that I finish such a long book in a short period of time. I read the Wind up Bird Chronicle and tried doing a highschool book report on it, in which I realized I couldn't summarize the book without sounding crazy and I realized I didn't understand the book enough to write a report about it. I wish English wasn't my worst subject..
Been there done that. Eventually you'll get bored of going out (or you'll not wanna spend money for one reason or another) and you'll probably get back into your anime watching habit, albeit probably not as "strongly" as before.
I know how you feel, ain't no thang. Don't kill the blog though cause you never know when you may wanna come back to the world of animu~
Ahaha - perhaps the main reason why your habit is fading away is because your expectations have risen or that the quality of the series themselves have been dwindling. I remember that I used to get excited at almost every series - because they were so hard to come by. Now - I watch around 2 series per season regularly - sometimes 0.
I think it's good that you're spending some time away from those fabricated worlds that 99% of anime creates.
I've been in depression too - though that might be an understatement - thru ages 11-12, I wanted to hurt myself pretty badly - but strangely, now at age 17, and busy like hell, I'm quite satisfied with life. Anyway, have fun - enjoy life - weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World has always been the book i hope i can read, but did not have chance yet.
The first time i read a book by Murakami Haruki when i was 16, and that was Norwegian wood. It's a nice yet heart-broken book. I do agree with you his works rather hard to understand, there are parts, reagardless how many times i read, i still barely know what he means...
However, one way or another i always find myself somewhere between his lines which often creeps me out. Because, I do suspect if I'm really a good individual deep down in my heart. Sometimes, when I did mistakes, I wondered : was it really mistake or a result of hidden desire within me- an actual part of myself? That's the way I indentify with most of male characters in his works, especially Hajime in South of The Border, West of the Sun.
Sorry, I get carried away since a while I did not get a chance to hear my favorite author's name neither read his works.
By the way, I'm glad you find the way to go on, kambantee!
Poco, poco! (one step at a time)
I totally know what you mean by dwindling down on the anime watching. Although I still find myself half of the time looking forward towards watching anime after work, the other half of me just wants to chill with my friends. (funny, I actually have a set of friends that are into anime, and another set that totally isn't). One side of me thinks it has something to do with the quality of anime that's coming out these days. It's like the storylines are getting repetitive or something so it's boring. The other side of me thinks that it's because I want to spend time outside with my friends and coworkers and just have some social time. However, I've always been a homebody in general, so I guess that's why I still find myself watching anime half of the time. Besides, I use so much of my brain at work, anime is like my outlet so my stupidity side can breathe ^_^. (this is not to say anime is stupid, it's just relaxing)
I have all of the re-released Rozen Maiden mangas, including the box. It's gorgeous!
By the way, the 1st volume of the new Rozen Maiden series will come out this friday.
in which I realized I couldn't summarize the book without sounding crazy and I realized I didn't understand the book enough to write a report about it
That's exactly how I feel about "Wonderland". I mean I understand the gist but some part of it are too...out there. Like the shuffling part of the story, that's just a bit too much for me.
I know how you feel, ain't no thang. Don't kill the blog though cause you never know when you may wanna come back to the world of animu~
LOL yeah, I'm not killing the blog. I just have to find enough motivation to write something, which is a bit hard lately.
I've been in depression too - though that might be an understatement - thru ages 11-12, I wanted to hurt myself pretty badly - but strangely, now at age 17, and busy like hell, I'm quite satisfied with life.
Ah, I was lucky that I didn't get to that stage although I did feel like I want to sleep and never wake up again. Pretty creepy when I think about it now.
Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World has always been the book i hope i can read, but did not have chance yet.
It's pretty interesting book. Although now that I've read such cerebral book, I just want to read a simple horror one, like Stephen King's Just After Sunset.
One side of me thinks it has something to do with the quality of anime that's coming out these days. It's like the storylines are getting repetitive or something so it's boring. The other side of me thinks that it's because I want to spend time outside with my friends and coworkers and just have some social time.
I can't say much about the current anime series. Since I haven't seen most of it, I don't have any right to criticize it. I just don't have the energy/desire to watch them at the moment. And I agree about wanting to just go out and have fun. I went out on Saturday night and realized that there are so many people out and about and wondered why I used to just lock myself inside my room. Maybe it's just a phase but it's certainly a nice change.
By the way, the 1st volume of the new Rozen Maiden series will come out this friday.'
Haha, I guess the Otaku in me is not completely dead then because I swear my heart just went "YEESSSS!!" after I read that.
I sympathize with your expression in the first paragraph, but like Hinano says, the commonplace form of socialization for younger people, "going out" does get redundant. I was burned out of partying after high school and unconsciously shrugged off many friends who really prioritized it in their lives. I think it is good to revisit the experience though, because after a while, one's take may be enjoyable.
Also, yes, when life seems like fiction, watching it on the screen is just too close too home. Felt that a lot lately with many of the dramatic series this year, but I've yet to find one that fully makes me revisit tears. And, even though there is some sadness in these series, it's not a beautiful sad, just sort of meh, depressing.
Haha, fabricated reality, should we trust our senses? In one of my recent vision classes, we studied stereo vision, and mechanically we shouldn't be able to see depths that require a vertical alignment of our eyes ... but we see it anyway. Filling in the gaps of the mind, who knows what takes place.
Hope you enjoy the holidays ^_^
Garten, its nice to hear you're getting more drawn more into real life and out of the anime rabbit-hole, but don't compromise Memento :(. Maybe you can blog more about real life and yourself?
I get most of my anime exposure in group sessions with friends. Been doing it that way for the past four or five years, ever since I started watching in the first place...
I couldn't help read and think f Clannad while reading your post. Alot of it is about life and the struggles of life I recommend you watch the seond half ^-^
It's good to see a range of reviews from you, not just anime. I'm sort of going through an anime withdrawal period too, meaning, I'm watching a couple series but I no longer feel the urge to sit at the edge of my seat waiting for the next episode to come out. Actually, the last series that made me do that probably was Honey and Clover II.
I recommend The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch if you haven't already read it. It's sort of a different genre, but the whole theme of childhood dreams reached, etc. made me think of H&C. Anyhow, sometimes it's nice to see the world through someone else's lense, but it's also nice to be out there making memories and physically interacting with people as well. The balance between the two would keep a healthy mental and social state of being. :)
Eh, you couldn't happen to be based in Sydney would you Garten?
Garten, its nice to hear you're getting more drawn more into real life and out of the anime rabbit-hole, but don't compromise Memento :(. Maybe you can blog more about real life and yourself?
I'll try but it's not easy to come up with topics sometimes.
I couldn't help read and think f Clannad while reading your post. Alot of it is about life and the struggles of life I recommend you watch the seond half ^-^
Hmm, Clannad is probably the last thing that I want to see right now. Not when some of its plot remind me of my situation.
Anyhow, sometimes it's nice to see the world through someone else's lense, but it's also nice to be out there making memories and physically interacting with people as well. The balance between the two would keep a healthy mental and social state of being. :)
Yeah, there are times when some of the situations in anime closely mirror real life. But there are many things about real life that anime just don't tell you and you have to experience it yourself.
Eh, you couldn't happen to be based in Sydney would you Garten?
LOL yeah.
Oy! It's great to see you're blogging about real life fused with anime again! Keep up the amazing work.
I'm reading Murakami's Wind Up Bird Chronicles myself.
Oh no! Another blogger moving away from anime? Then again, I ,myself, am feeling less and less enthusiastic about new anime these days. I always thought balance between hobby and real life is important but I was just never good at it. ;p Maybe it's good time to start focusing something other than my hobby, eh?
Oh, Haruki Murakami! The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was fantastic, unlike anything I've ever read. Kafka on the Shore was also amazing, and a bit more to the point. Made it easier to read but I did miss TW-UBC' haunting atmosphere and the way it really made you think about life.
Ahh, Haruki Murakami! If you're looking for a far more accessible novel by him, check out "Sputnik Sweetheart." The story itself centers around three characters, and the prose is very endearing to read. Plus, the story is explainable :D
I just finished reading the novel, after getting from the library because of your post. Overall, I thought the story was very straightforward with too many red herrings (if that's the correct terminology to use).
I just realized that Tactics/ KEY's ONE was inspired by this novel. I haven't read the novel bu I have played the game. In reading what was said I can see the similarities. I hope they remake ONE....
Haruki Murakami, I'm absolutely addicted to him. Though I have to agree reading his books are quite 'cerebral' as you put it and i couldn't agree more with shirokiryuu, if you try to explain it to anyone you'll sound crazy! But so far the one i like best from Murakami is Wind Up Bird Chronicles - it's about life and death. Not something you'll read to de-stress i would say, hahaaha. :)
I enjoy your post - be it related to anime or not. I myself have been having a long break from anime-ing. :P
a happy new year----
greetings from japan
LOL I kind of deduced you were in Sydney since Greater Union was showing Evangelion 1.0 and you mentioned the harbor.
In any case, do what pleases you the most!
I love that book. It's probably my favorite Murakami book. It took me a while to get past the first few chapters though, but after that and I realized what the hell was happening, I fell in love with it. It was even good the second and third time. :)
The thing about "current anime sucking", is that you always compare everything that is running right now to select best titles in last decade(say nineties).
I'm pretty sure that if we compared 1993 and 2007, it would be pretty much the same crap with few gemstones of pure genius.
For 2008, Code Geass alone made it worthwhile year.
Amusingly, I feel the same. I have about 80gb of anime I have to watch and I can't force myself to do it. Is this some young-age crysis?;-)
i've been reading Haruki Murakami works lately (just finished south of the border, north of the sun), and this got me interested.
i haven't read this one, but i'm kind of hesitant to read this because of it's theme, and yes, as you said, it's cerebral. though the plot is interesting, it's very surreal and mind-boggling. well, i suppose that murakami is an expert at making people feel mystified by his works.
i have read 3 of his books so far: after dark (this one's pretty interesting since it's set in modern times and on tokyo after the sun sets), kafka on the shore (wonderful!!) & as i said earlier south of the border, north of the sun.
i agree with what you said in your review that murakami tends to keep some things in the dark & describes scenes very graphically like:
but i guess those things keep the story interesting.
thanks for the review! it actually renewed my eagerness to read hbw&teotw.
ja!
garten i think you're dead....
ah so garten passed away. Sad news :(
May his soul rest in peace.
I don't know what suppose to say, see your blog was not updated these days rather a sad feelings.
I know we all have bad times in life when we need to confront to our problems. No matter what happen with you, i hope you best luck and I believe you will be fine as long as you have faith ^___^
I hope one day when I comeback, I will see your story about your journey those days, maybe it will be published and becomes famous as Divine Comedy by Dante :D
Gambantee, garten-san!
I don't know what suppose to say, see your blog was not updated these days rather a sad feelings.
I know we all have bad times in life when we need to confront to our problems. No matter what happen with you, i hope you best luck and I believe you will be fine as long as you have faith ^___^
I hope one day when I comeback, I will see your story about your journey those days, maybe it will be published and becomes famous as Divine Comedy by Dante :D
Gambantee, garten-san!
I don't know what suppose to say, see your blog was not updated these days rather a sad feelings.
I know we all have bad times in life when we need to confront to our problems. No matter what happen with you, i hope you best luck and I believe you will be fine as long as you have faith ^___^
I hope one day when I comeback, I will see your story about your journey those days, maybe it will be published and becomes famous as Divine Comedy by Dante :D
Gambantee, garten-san!
Hey Garten, just dropping by to say hope you've been well.
Also, Sydney's weather has been killer lately so remember to keep hydrated xD
All the best! Maybe you'll grace us with another post in the near future.
Seems like all the anime bloggers I've been reading have closed up shop. Jason, Jeff, Garten...
Damn you, Real Life! Damn you!
it's troubling that you haven't updated for such a long time... i'm actually looking forward to some of your reviews, since there are a lot of interesting stuff coming out recently.
hope you're okay and may you get back into blogging as soon as you can.
Awaiting your return, this blog as been around for over 5 years!
I really miss this blog.
Hopefully you'll get interested in Higashi no Eden premiering next season, Garten. Seems to me that it's the type of show you'd like to watch, plus, the Umino character designs are a treat for us, Honey and Clover fans!
Personally, I stepped away from anime myself and havent really been watching it. The only show that attracts my interest is Toradora right now. The characters have all of sudden become so realistic that its interesting how something starting off so generic turned into something totally different.
I don't know which one is worse; the death of this blog or the big Fuck You that Garten is showing its readers by not even informing them of the web site's stats. Well then, what goes around come around so to you my friend: Fuck You for wasting my time, Fuck You for wasting internet bandwidth and Fuck You for playing with people.
Don't bother stupid people who post offending nonsense. Please don't leave us alone. Come back Garten. We will be always waiting for your return.
yeah don't bother with stupid people.
hang on in there, when you come back we'll still be here to read your interresting posts =)
btw, if you feel like watching some anime, watch toradora, that show is just doing great, massivly above my expectations.
its about friendship, teenagers relationship and love, pure slice of life and a great adaptation so far.
thought you'd like, it's really real life-like ^^
cheers!
I have removed you from my favorites and rss
Why u have to be so damn extremist? you dont have to watch anime 24/7 to write a blog, and if u wanna have a bigger social life thats fine but dont stop with your hobbys... you can mix them if u WANT TO, i feel sorry for that kind of black/white actitude i truly do D:
dont be like "i dont wanna watch any more anime because it reminds me about my romantic fails"
im from other planet and i do know how to mix them, ill come back next month.
is waiting for the day to read your blogs again.
hope things are well with you in life.
=D
Garten.......where are you?
=/ Website is kinda dead guys.
lol guy's been away for 3 months
Patience is virtue
i miss it
lol this reminds me of the 5 steps of somethingorother..
denial
anger
bargaining
depression
acceptance
Then, Darth, maybe u can now start create your own anime blog..
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