Weekly News Post

Last Minute News Post would be a better description.


SenKoi
Gakken (Issho ni Cooking, Joshuseki Kareshi) is starting yet another series: セン恋 (senkoi). The 'sen' part likely comes from 'sensei' (teacher) as this series is all about falling in love with your teacher. The series is based on a novel series which is also published by Gakken. That said, it is actually an 'after story' set 5 years after the event of the novel.

This idea feels a bit strange, considering you would thus have to know the original work to fully understand this one, so I wonder why they will include a sort of summary of the original story as well. 5 CDs are planned in total; one for each novel released. Each CD will feature one of the teachers from the original series, although original characters will also appear.

Sakamoto Ryouta, the main teacher for the first CD will be voiced by Nojima Kenji, while Shimazaki Nobunaga and Ginga Banjou will voice two additional characters.


Issho ni Diet CD
Gakken is releasing another CD, and apparently it is a diet CD this time. The seiyuu is still undecided but it is planned for a 2012.02.25 release.


Honeymoon
Another month another Honeymoon (again): This time Ichijou Yamato (CV: Yasumoto Hiroki) will take you to America (oi oi oi, can't they be a bit more specific?). Yamato loves cooking, and runs a couple of restaurants. He is describes as manly, broad minded, and calm. People who meet him for the first time often find him intimidating, but he is actually very nice and quite cute when he laughs. There is a bit of a gap between his looks and his personality. He is usually kind, but can get quite jealous too.


Ani to Osananajimi
Stella Worth is releasing another CD in their Original CD series. Two CDs again to be more precise. This time the question is who you will ride the ferris wheel with: your brother or your childhood friend. As always each CD has a different scenario depending on who you choose. Details on the cast and when it will be released will come soon according to the blog post in which the CDs were announced.


Kareshi Igai
Another spin-off for the Kareshi Igai series will be released next spring 彼氏未満 (kareshi miman, Less then a Boyfriend) will once again feature Kanemori Tsubame (CV: Okamoto Nobuhiko). While the Kareshi Shoukaku CD follows the scenario where Tsubame-kun became your boyfriend, this one will follow the scenario where you stay with your boyfriend and keep Tsubame-kun on the side.


Kindan Vampire
While the official site has barely even updated to sow more info on the 5th CD, the 6th one has already been announced: 禁断吸血鬼～黒薔薇ノ皇帝～ (kindan vampire ~kurobara no koutei~, Forbidden Vampire ~Emperor of the Black Rose~). This time Tsuda Kenjirou will be the one to suck your blood. The CD is planned for a 2013.02.13 release.


Tenshi no Mesamashidokei
The plot of this CD seems rather vague, but here we go: Amemiya Kouichi (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki) is fired from his job as a sports magazine writer due to the higher ups not liking his attitude. When he learns that one of his former senpai is planning an interview with a girl who is famous for "finding pets" he tries to get close to you under the pretence of helping his senpai with the interview. Where the story is supposed to go from here I don't know.

What is special about his CD however is that there are two versions: a CD version and an "Only You" version. The CD version is the standard version, but the Only You version uses your own name during the drama. Meaning that yes, you can have Morikawa Toshiyuki say your name. This version does cost 5000yen though.

Currently there is a list of names that can be used, although other names can be requested as well. Before you plan to order though: the site does state that only Japanese names are accepted, and I have no idea whether they will accept international orders (the form for ordering the CD requires you to enter a Japanese address).

I have no idea when the finalized product will be released, but this is called "vol.1", so they are planning more CDs I guess?

Weekly News Post

Two weeks of news this time~

Also: there is another interesting tumblr which has updates on drama CD reviews and news (often with more elaborate translations than I do), so please support it as well~



Oujisama (warai) series
The first two preview tracks for the second Oujisama (warai) Date CD are up at the Animate TV site. The first track has Aladdin (CV: Miyano Mamoru) being extremely sweet, and the Emperor (CV: Okiayu Ryoutarou) and Genji (CV: Yoshino Hiroyuki) commenting on what he is doing. The second track has the Emperor writing a poem for you, and of course the other two feel the need to comment on this.

On 21st two more preview tracks will be uploaded: a preview of your date with Genji, and a preview of the Zadankai track.


Miracle Train

Lately the official site has been releasing info on new characters. 麻布十番 双葉  (Azajuuban Futaba) will be voiced by Shimono Hiro, 赤羽橋 弐人 (Akabaneshi Nihito) will be voiced by Hosoya Tadamasa. .I can't find any info on new CDs or other products being released soon, but this secretly makes me hope that there will be more escort CDs (even though I still haven't listened to any of them).

Weekly News Post

Meganebu!
The character page for the new character in Meganebu! Vol.3 is finally up. Suzuki Toru (CV: Inoue Gou) is a member of the science club and holds a grudge against Souma. His nickname is "number 3" because of the three people named Suzuki in the school, he was the one that placed lowest in the sports test. This is why Souma calls him "number 3" and also why Toru still holds a grudge against him after a year.


Hatoful Kareshi
The official blog confirms that they have sarted production on a new Hatoful Kareshi drama CD. The theme this time will be 'mamentine' (the in-game equivalent of valentine. On mamentine you give the pigeon you like beans instead of chocolate). No release date has been given yet, but the post states that more info will be released in the course of this month.

Weekly News Post

Mikkai
Black Butterfly has announced a new series: 密会~Secret Tryst~ (mikkai, secret meeting). The series will be about "a secret love that you can't mention to anyone". The story will be recorded with the dummy head mic, and 4 volumes have been planned for now. The seiyuu are as follows: vol.1 - Hino Satsoshi, vol.2 - Ono Yuuki, vol.3 - Nojima Kenji, and vol.,4 - Ookawa Tohru. No release dates have been given yet, so we'll have to wait for the teaser site to open for that.


Kindan Kyuuketsuki

The official page has updated with the visuals for vol.4: Kibara no Toganin ("criminal of the yellow rose"). Our vampire this time is Friedrich von Weiseheldenburg (CV: Tachibana Shinnosuke). Interestingly enough, the tracklist has suddenly switched to French influences instead of German, which makes me wonder whether Friedrich will be calling you mademoiselle this time. The release is still planned for 2012.10.17.

Anata ga Ofuro de Noboseru   

The official site hasn't updated yet, but Stellaworth and Animate list Ono Daisuke has the seiyuu for the final CD in the Anata ga Ofuro de Noboseru series, and 2012.10.31 as the release date. Now that we know the final seiyuu the next question will be whether they will release a second series? Considering that this was originally announced as "the first series".

News Post (Part 3)

I'm almost done with all of the news! I was all set on finally posting this on time, and then my parents internet died on meヽ(ﾟ∀ﾟ；). There is still some semi-old news mixed in here, but we're almost up-to-date again.



Therapia

The character designs and seiyuu for the third Therapia CD have been announced at the official site. To the right we have the smartphone therapia, who will be voiced by Hirakawa Daisuke. He is described as a very serious character. The other therapia for this CD is the mascara therapia, voiced by Toriumi Kousuke. He is described as being a bit of a narcist.


Ojisama Senka
The details for the 6th CD are out. This time a luxurious cruise ship strands in the middle of nowhere, and you get stuck in the engine room together with three charming older men. The self-confident director Goda Noriyuki (CV: Touchi Hiroki), the seemingly aloof but actually rather cynical travel essayist Amari Kyousuke (CV: Ebara Masashi), and the always calm and collected chairman Muranishi Kenichi (CV: Ishizuka Unshou). Will you manage to escape, and what will happen to the feelings that started to form under such extreme circumstances. We'll find out on 2012.09.26.

News Post (part 2)

Kareshi Igai

Look, a Kareshi Igai 4 cover! I hope you had a good reason for leaving him in the first place, because that cover looks pretty tasty to me. Judging by the amount of tracks titled "Haru's House" you are visting his place quite a lot in this CD... Like mentioned before the CD is voiced by Miki Shinichirou, and will be released on 2012.09.28


Cineria
Meanwhile an extra icon has appeared on the official Cineria site. The new icon says "自由研究" (jiyuu kenkyuu, "independent research"), but you can't click on it yet and if you mouse over it changes into 'under construction'. On their blog they tease that they will reveal more details soon. They also tease a bit about the icon below that, which has been 'under construction' ever since the site opened.

Weekly News Post

Sort of weekly at the moment anyway. I should be doing all sorts of other stuff right now, but instead I am writing a news post... lalala.

Also, in preparation for my Japan trip I've re-opened my personal blog (although everything from before is gone). I have no idea how regular the updates will be though. Also, I might post most of the fangirling here or on tumblr. Because my parents don't really need to know all my fangirl moments xD



Kindan Kyuuketsuki

the official site finally updated with more info on the next release: Kindan Kyuuketsuki ~Aobara no Kishi~ ("knight of the blue rose"). Several shops and magazines already listed the CD, but the official site was eerily silent. We now have some visuals with the knowledge that Yasumoto Hiroki will be voicing Rudolf von Weiseheldenburg, the next vampire. You apparently meet him on the battlefield... from where he kidnaps you. But other than that there is little info. Of course we all know what to expect by now. The CD is planned for a 2012.08.15 release.

Meanwhile, Animate already lists another entry to the series: Kindan Kyuuketsuki ~Kibara no Toganin~ ("criminal of the yellow rose") for a 2012.10.17 release. This time it will be Tachibana Shinnosuke who voices a vampire who's name I am guessing to be Friedrich.

Weekly News Post

Late News Post is late as always. Also, all reviews from May have been added to the review page. We've reached over 200 reviews, yay!!



Shinsengumi Mokuhiroku Wasurenagusa
Rejet is working on something new: 新撰組黙秘録勿忘草 (Shinsengumi Mokuhiroku Wasurengusa, Shinesengumi Secret Files Forget-me-not, after this simply Wasurenagusa) is a series of situation CD's based on the Shinsengumi and the concept "what if I could have been there". The series will use the Dummy Head Mic.

6CD's have been planned for now: Saito Hajime (CV: Takahashi Naozumi) on 2012.07.25, Okita Souji (Image to the right, CV: Suzuku Tatsuhisa) on 2012.08.29, Kondou Isame (CV: Inoue Kazuhiko) on 2012.09.26, Toudou Heisuke (CV: Shimono Hiro) on 2012.10.31, Hijikata Toshizou (CV: Hosoya Yoshimasa) on 2012.11.28, and finally Yamazki Susumu (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki) on 2012.12.26.

With each CD comes a ticket, if you buy all 6 you can apply for a special drama CD which has all of the characters interacting with each other. So far this seems to be a drama CD only series, but you never know what Rejet has planned for us...



Ojisama Senka
The cast for Ojisama Senka vol. 5 and 6 have been announced. Vol.5 will have Genda Tesshou, Hamada Kenji, and Tobita Nobuo. Vol.6 will have Ishizuka Unshou, Ebara Masashi, and Touichi Hiroki. The titles for both vol aren't final yet, but for now they are titled "itsumo no tokoro de" and "escape".

When the cast for vol.5 was announced it first said that it would be Hayami Shou instead of Tobita Nobuo, but one day later an apology saying that this was false. Tobita Nobuo was announced as cast one day after that. The apology mentions "a confirmation mistake on behalf of [his] agency" as the reason why he can no longer participate.

A mobile game on Gree has also been released, but unfortunately I have no further info on that.

Kareshi Igai 3 ~Kouhai to no Ayamachi~

彼氏以外３～後輩との過ち～

Company: Cineria
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.04.27
Official site: http://www.ike-men.net


Kareshi Igai is a series that gives you the strange experience of... cheating on your boyfriend. With a drama CD. Yeah. The concept here is that you already have a boyfriend, but that there is also someone else in your life. In the third CD you make the mistake with a kouhai from work.

Kanamori Tsubame (CV: Okamoto Nobuhiko) is your kouhai at work. It looks like you are often working together on things, which is how you know each other. During one project you both need to work overtime together, which is when you get to know him a bit better. He talks about wanting to go to an all-you-can-eat cake buffet, but doesn't want to go alone and has no-one to go with. You promise him to go together some time. He asks your phone number that time, and invites you to a drink with him sometime later. You start drinking at an izakaya, but eventually end up at his place...

Tsubame often acts a bit childish,  a bit bratty, and is very straight forward. He isn't very good with Keigo (polite speech) which is something you point out several times. When he gets excited he starts to talk really fast, which is kind of cute. He likes sweets, games, and cats.

This CD seemed a it livelier than the previous instalments. Probably largely because of Tsubame his personality, but also because of Sato-chin (CV: Ishii Satoshi) who works at the Izakaya where you go for a drink together. He is much to energetic and much too talkative, but it is kind of fun to hear him and Tsubame interact.

Something else that made me smile is that all three characters from the series work at the same company. Tsubame talks about Takano (from vol.1) and Makabe (from vol.2). Sadly Tsubame isn't listed among the cast of the upcoming spin-off CD though...

Tsubame turns pretty assertive once he has you at his place, but he warned you about that. His reaction on the morning after ("ah, so it wasn't a dream") was gold. However, he does seem genuinely hurt when you tell him that you need to go back to your boyfriend.

Like before there are two endings, both taking place 6months later. In the 'bad' ending your relationship has turned into a 100% office affair, with you doing all kinds of things in the meeting room. In the good ending you are now properly dating, and Tsubame is always worried about you being alone with other guys.

In the free talk Okamoto-san talks about how he and Tsubame are alike (because they both like games and sweets) and eventually gets completely off track. It is absolutely cute how he urges us to never do anything like this in real life though (*^-^*)


Conclusion:
Tsubame definitely isn't my type, but I did like his honesty (which is why I dislike the bad ending, you broke him!). The scenario itself was pretty realistic, just like in the first CD. Best be wary of these kinds of situations I suppose xD

Hiatus is over!

I stay away for a month and blogger changes it's interface... It is now all stylish and very confusing xD

Prepare for one LONG news post. It is not going to be everything that I missed in this month, only the most important bits, but even that is going to be one loooooong list. So one mixed plate of old and new News, coming right up!!



Shuukan Soine:

a special volume, but essentially vol.13 of the Shuukan Soine series will be released on 2012.05.25 and will be voiced by Morikawa Toshiyuki. His character is described as someone "embracing you with a lot of love and a big heart". More then anything though, the character design is gorgeous.


Toriai Kyoudai
the series is continuing, but under the name 'zoku toriai kyoudai' (zoku essentially means 'continued'). There isn't much info on the characters yet, but this time Tachibana Shinnosuke and Terashima Takuma will be fighting over our love. Apparently the atmosphere will be slightly different from the previous two CD's, but in what way is unknown.

Weekly News Post

iTunes
I discovered through the tumblr of the lovely Berselium that the Healing Stone CD's are available on iTunes. The USA iTunes store has them, and at least the Dutch one (where I have an account) has them too, so hopefully they are available globally. Search for "yumoriseki" or simply "yumori" and you should be able to find them.

They have been available for quite some time judging by the iTunes release date, but I though it was worth a mention. As of yet these are the only drama CD's I know on iTunes. If anyone knows any others, please let me know. So I can buy more stuff.


Lovers Only
Momo & Grapes their Lovers Only series continues. LOVERS ONLY２／ラブストーリーは君と (Lovers Only 2 / My love story is with you) will be voiced by Toriumi Kousuke and is planned for a 2012.04.26 release.

The story takes a whole different route than the more realistic last one. This time it is a story about the love between an angel and a human girl. The angels is sent to earth as a sort of cupid, but falls in love with a human girl. The official site describes it as the "sweet and painful story of the love and farewell between an angel and a human" so it looks like the story isn't going to end well. Now... I need to get my hands on the first CD...

Weekly News Post

Where is the time I had like 16 reviews ready to be posted, hahaha...*sigh*  Anyway, the news.


Oujisama (warai)
The seiyuu for the next prince has been announced: Yusa Kouji. This series is gathering more and more popular seiyuu.... Also, if you go to the official site you'll see that the top has been changed to an image celebrating the Setsubun (the last day of winter）.


Meisaku Bungaku (warai)
The cast for the upcoming CD 'the Ant and the Grasshopper' has been announced. Hino Satoshi will voice the ant, while the grasshopper will be voiced by Fukuyama Jun, and finally Terashima Takuma will voice the stag beetle, though I have no idea where he comes into the story.

The official blog also states that the parody version will also return in this CD. So look forward to the story of the ant and the grasshopper being adapted into: a band version, an idol version, job hunting, and a marriage proposal.

Kareshi Igai 2 ~Joushi to ayamachi~

彼氏以外2 ～上司との過ち～

Company: Cineria
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.12.24
Official site: http://www.ike-men.net


Kareshi Igai is a series that gives you the strange experience of... cheating. With a drama CD. Yeah. The concept here is that you already have a boyfriend, but that there is also someone else in your life. This second CD has you cheating on your boyfriend with your direct superior at work.

At work you are just a temporary worker and her boss, however no-one knows that you have the key to his apartment and occasionally go there after work. Makabe Hikari (CV: Yusa Kouji) seems to be cold and all about work, and well, that is actually just how he is.

Of course, there are reasons for that, and you will discover those in the course of this drama. The first is that his family situation was... less than fortunate. His mother was abusive, making him distrust women in general, and thanks to his parents unhappy marriage his doesn't believe in love to begin with. And the fact that a rich business partner () took enough interest in him to give him his apartment probably didn't help.

Each track in this CD is a (short) scene from your moments together. The first few ones establish your current situation, and after that you gradually discover more of Makabe his situation. You don't seem to be entirely naive though. Not just that you are cheating on your own boyfriend, but you seem to know full well that you are not his only girl.

There are two things that I noticed about this drama: the fact that there is no background music, and that what you hear is really only one side of the conversation. Makabe almost never repeats what you have supposedly said, a tactic that is commonly used in situation CDs. Personally, I think it is pretty amazing that they managed to write it in such a way that the entire story is completely understandable and the conversation seems natural.

That there is no background music is kind of logical. This is supposed to be a 'simulation' that lets you experience how it feels to cheat. Real life doesn't have background music, so there no background music here either. And this actually makes some scenes more intense. When Makabe has sort of broken down and his telling his story, that voice alone is enough to give me goosebumps. In the beginning I thought Yusa sounded kind of flat, but in later scenes there is so much emotion.

Something else I liked was the addition of another character, Asahi (CV: Kibe Shouta). Asahi is a subordinate of Makabe and a bit of an idiot, but he livens up the CD. The track which is written one of his diary entries is hilarious. It is part of the ending (sort of) and it made me laugh so much.

Speaking of the ending, this time the default ending is a happy one. If you listen to the extra track, there is also a 'bad' ending. Although, in the case of cheating one could wonder what a good or bad ending is.


Conclusion:
Despite me disliking the idea of 'cheating', I really enjoyed this CD. This is not your normal happy fluffy love situation, and a really emotive work. At least I became fully engrossed in it. Ah well, enjoy your cheating experience, and like I said the last time: let's keep the cheating to this CD (*ﾟ∇^*)

Weekly News Post

Tap Trap Love
A teaser site for Tap Trap Love has been opened, although there is nothing there yet except for a larger version of group illustration and the announcement that 'the site will be opened soon'. Ah well, at least we have some eyecandy now (the three on the right are already my fav characters~)

A 'trial disc' will also be sold at the winter comiket, so we will get a chance to meet the characters this year.


Damekare

Kippei his character illustration is finally up! Visit the official site to see a larger version.

I'll be honest, his design isn't quite to my liking, but I'm still interested in the concept, so I might still give it a try.




Amemakura
Taiga (CV: Taniyama Kisho) his voice sample has been added to the official site, go and listen if you're interested!

Weekly News Post

Ha! Posting commences even before November 1st!! Mostly because, well, since I've been on Hiatus for a little I've been missing out on news posts, and while there might be some old news in here,  all of it is worth mentioning  and this news post was getting so long, that I feared it would become endless if I waited another week with posting it. So without further ado: this weeks news post!!


Shuukan Soine
Almost all of the new volumes have their detailed description and preview tracks up on the official site. Most of the previews are either cute or induce nosebleeds (or both), so if you haven't listened yet I highly suggest you do!


Oujisama (warai) series
Now that the fifth story has been released, it is time for another variety drama! And that means the second vacation CD, this time with Alladin (CV: Miyano Mamoru), the Emperor (CV: Okiayu Kryoutarou), Genji (CV: Yoshino Hiroyuki), the Frog Prince (CV:Sugita Tomokazu) and of course Takemoto Eiji as their servant. The CD will be released in January, so the theme will be "winter".


Momogre
While no detailed pages are up yet, a small icon on Momogre their website states two new releases for next year. On 2012.0.26 放課後はミステリーとともに (Houkago ha Mystery to tomo ni, Mysteries after schooltime) which is originally a novel by Higashigawa Tokuya will be released (most likely under their horror and suspence label, it is a detective story after all). And on 2012.02.23 小公女セーラ (Princess Serah) which is the Japanese name for the novel A Little Princess written by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The first story I know nothing about except the fact that it is about a high school detective club, but the second story I do know. I've never read the novel, but I have seen one of the films based on it (the 1995 one, to be exact) so I know the story a little bit. It will be released as part of their Men's Only series, so I'm curious about who is going to play little Serah, as well as who is going to play the evil headmistress  Miss Minchin.

Weekly News Post

Friday 24th of June, it is now exactly 12:00am, welcome to the news.



Cineria Homepage Renewal
Cineria renewed their homepage, and with that comes the news that they are turning Kareshi Igai into a series :D There are no details yet, but it looks like we can expect a new entry to the series, along with a completely new work.. No title was mentioned, but the new site has a navigational button called "Jikkyou! Otaku no Bangohan (real condition, Dinner at home)" so I assume it has something to do with the conversations at the dinner table?  We shall see (*ﾟ∇^*)

In an earlier blog post they already said that they wanted to make something for the upcoming comiket, while there are no details again the plan is to release a book that features Kouno Nozomi (the character from the first Kareshi Igai)


Oujisama (warai) Mobile Game
I completely missed that it was in the makes, but a news post on the official homepage states that the august edition of B'sLog will have a special on the upcoming Oujisama (warai) mobile game. I only lament that I don't have a Japanese phone...

Kareshi Igai ～Douryou to no Ayamachi～

彼氏以外～同僚との過ち～

Company: Cineria (doujin)
Based on: Original
Released: 2011.05.13
Official Site: http://www.ike-men.net/


Once in a while you come across something that looks so weird and interesting that you just have to listen to it. Same with this here. Directly translating the title makes it sound funny, but you get something like "Someone other than your boyfriend ~Mistake with a Colleague~".

In other words.... cheating!?!? ∑（ﾟ∇ﾟ|||)
The description on the official site leaves no room for speculation either. "You've been living together with your very sweet boyfriend ever since university, but lately there is someone else on your mind. Some people might call it cheating, but is it cheating when your heart is serious? Will you choose your boyfriend or...?"

And so I had to see what kind of work this is.

The presentation of the story is pretty interesting. The story is told through conversations with the one you are cheating with, meaning your colleague. The tracks have been divided into 4 days, and one that is six months later. As this is supposed to be you (as listener) cheating, this is of course all just Ishida-san talking, but you get the idea.

The story starts in the smoking room in your company, where you are complaining about your boyfriend to Kouno Nozomi (CV: Ishida Akira), one of your colleagues. He has to get back to work though, so he promises to go for a drink together after work. That night a little too much alcohol results in you going home with him...

You're still there in the morning, so you decide to take the day off while he has to hurry to work. You meet up at the same Izakaya as the night before, but quickly decide to go back to his place. (I loved the overly cliche sentence Ishida-san got to use when you get back ヾ(>▽<). Of course however, your sweet time together has to end soon...

For a second I was afraid that the um, actual act of cheating would be included in the drama, but luckily there is a fade out at exactly the right moment. Now, I've never cheated so I have no idea whether this is a realistic representation, but it seems plausible enough. The only problem I have with the plot is that you stay over 2 nights, and apparently didn't inform your boyfriend. Not that I expect you to report that you are going to cheat, but if you live together with someone you can't just not come home for two nights straight without saying a word.

What I loved is how Ishida-san speaks. Not the standard, grammatically correct Japanese that you hear in most drama's but a far more conversational level, like how you actually speak with friends.



Conclusion
This certainly was an interesting work to listen to. Of course everyone always says "there is no way I would cheat!!" so this really has an interesting theme. A bit weird to listen too, best not to try and think about what you are going to listen to too much to avoid internal conflicts with your conscience (>▽<). And like Ishida-san says; let's keep the cheating to this CD (*ﾟ∇^*)

On their twitter account one of the makers said that they want to continue this as a series. I'm curious to how things will go and secretly hoping that this interesting concept will continue.