Blogging is a lot like exercise or any club activity. Once you miss a few sessions, it’s very difficult to get back into it. Luckily, I’ve been accruing topics I want to talk about, so I should be able to break this fortnight of silence relatively easily. I’ll start with a recap of all that’s gone on in the realm of otakudom the past 20 days.

-I got my certificate from the community college signifying that I completed the 10 weeks of evening Japanese classes. And I signed up to take the JLPT level 4 test this December. Now I just need to get some actual studying done before then.

-Love Plus is… inexplicably gratifying. Something about adjusting stat points to directly affect behavior and dating styles may be very idealized, but it is pretty entertaining. And it’s forcing me to practice my kana and kanji, so if nothing else, it’s a glorified Japanese learning supplement. Currently going steady with Nene, will see if I want to create new saves for the other two, as Manaka seems to be quite the popular choice.

-Starting kendo is probably one of the healthiest decisions I have ever made. I’ve lost 10 pounds since starting, as I’ve become more motivated to hit the gym and really watch what I eat. Plus, it’s really fun and challenging, despite still not being able to do much beyond the basic moves. Hoping I can go to more of the practices each week to speed up the learning process.

-Picked up the October issue of Megami at Kinokuniya today, mainly for the article about Kara no Kyoukai. Also see that there’s a really cool looking messenger bag and trading cards coming out next month that I really want to be able to get my hands on. Neither HLJ, HS, nor KN seem to have them available for pre-order. Still looking for a copy of the Volume 1 LE DVD, and recalled out summer.

Overall, I’m starting to feel my age, as each week seems to go by faster and faster, leaving me very little time to enjoy my hobbies more instead of constantly moving from activity A to B all the time. I do hope Fall Season has less stellar shows so I can catch up on some of the Summer shows I missed out on. And fit in an extra kendo session and kanji cramming sessions.

Inspired by Taiga and Shiki, I’ve decided to take up Kendo. Today was the first day, and my body is screaming at me for my idiotic fanboyish whims. My friend, who just started a couple weeks ago himself, was the one who invited me to his girlfriend’s dojo. Afterwards, we had dinner at her place, and she recommended watching Bamboo Blade, which I never continued after episode one. I have a feeling it might not be 100% representative of what life in a Kendo dojo is like.

Finished Higashi no Eden, and I guess the studio really wanted to save some material for the movies, as the ending was pretty bad at tying up loose ends. Was an enjoyable show nonetheless. A bit too praising of NEETs, I thought, but it’s a good idea nonetheless.

On some random survey, I put down that I would be more than willing to relocate to Japan for work. It would be an absolute dream to be able to live and work in Japan. It is currently a goal I’ve set to complete within three years.

New GETs: K-ON Vol. 1 Blu-Ray, Kara no Kyoukai Vol. 6 LE DVD, Good Smile Company Ryougi Shiki Garan no Dou 1/7 PVC. I’m going to be needing a new shelf sometime soon.

I am eagerly anticipating Love Plus. Pre-ordered it from Play-Asia, but wished I could’ve gotten in on Amazon Japan’s under cutting of independent game retailers.

I’m probably going to have to cut back on the spending this month. As much as I appreciate the anime I watch, $50 per two episodes takes quite a toll on one’s bank account. And I want to buy some R1 releases as gifts for friends. Operation stop visiting Amazon.co.jp, staarto!