Kamitori Japanese Restaurant

Kamitori Japanese Restaurant
1044 Willamette St.
Eugene, OR 97401

I arrived about 6pm on a Thursday, so their "Happy Hour" was in effect. Let me first point out that if I ask for Green Tea, you should tell me if you intend to serve me some Green Tea/Wild Rice Tea blend. I can't stand the Wild Rice Tea, and now I know what that abomination was that I accidentally bought in Japan two years ago. This set the tone for the entire meal, so I may be a bit harsh.

To back up a bit, when I, with my three children (9-14) entered, we were greeted (much like with an actual restaurant in Japan) and seated. It took longer than I expected to receive waters and menus. My children ordered we ordered Teriyaki Chicken, Garlic Chicken, Garlic Salmon & Tonkatsu. These were sets, so we weren't allowed to swap the California Roles for something we liked and my youngest child (who likes crab) ended up with 12 California roll sections. I also ordered two sushi rolls for my youngest & I to eat as an appetizer. Our water seemed disaffected and put off in a hipster/metrosexual/effete kind of way, like we were bothering him in expecting food and stuff. I did speak with the other waiter a bit and he seemed to not hate his customers.

The sushi arrived first. It was good. The portions were a bit small (the rolls were of a smaller diameter than I am used to) but the ingredients were fine. The rice was nice and sticky but not hard (sushi rice should not crunch). I never get overly excited about rolled sushi, but my son prefers it since he sucks with chopsticks.

The food arrived. I was very surprised at a "authentic" Japanese restaurant not including rice with the meals. Actually appalled was more like it. I requested some rice to go with the meal.

The reports for the Teriyaki and Garlic Chicken put them as Good. Both children who tried the Garlic Chicken are raving about it. The Teriyaki Chicken was good, if not as spectacular as the Garlic Chicken. My Tonkatsu was dry. I was less than impressed -- bear in mind that I was in a bad mood because of the tea & the wait. However, the Garlic Salmon that I stole from my sons plate was very good. If the Garlic Tempura for the Salmon is the same as that for the Chicken, I can understand why my other two children liked it so much. The Garlic Salmon was light and flaky, as Salmon should be, and not the least bit over-cooked as was my Tonkatsu.

Other than the horrible tea, the Happy Hour Sets came with a drink. I had the house sake, which was passable, if not spectacular. House sake is much like any other house alcohol, and I find that I am often tired of drinking it by the time I am 2/3 of the way down the bottle. Kamitori bypassed this issue by providing a bottle of about half the size.

Maria-sama ga Miteru (The Virgin Mary is Watching You) Season 1

Opening Sequence
Yumi and Sachiko are in the center

Fansub Anime: 13 episodes + 7 Omake bonus "out-takes"
Original Air Dates: 2004-01-07 to 2004-03-31
Page at Anime News Network
Rating: Recommended

Marie-sama ga Miteru is set in a French Catholic Girls School in Japan. It is traditional for the senior students to mentor the younger. They refer to each other as sister. The story revolves around the Rosas who are the leaders of the student body (or Yamayurikai), their petite soeur's (called Rosa Boutons) and the Bouton's petite soeurs.

The initial story arc deals with Sachiko (Red Rose Bouton) and Yumi (unattached first year). Seems Sachiko, for various reasons, dislikes men (later episodes/seasons show that this is a phobia level issue). She is the lead for the school play (Cinderella) which will be borrowing the Prince from Handera's Boy School. The Roses agree to let Sachiko quit the part of Cinderella if she can get Yumi to agree to be her petite souer. The catch is that insecure first year Yumi will have to play Cinderella in her stead. You can guess most of what happens, however it is done rather well, so even though you are sure that it will all work out, you find yourself watching just to make sure.

Due to the airing schedule in Japan, the next arc is set for Valentine's day, the main conflict is in the form of a girl from Sachiko's past who cannot understand why Yumi is Sachiko's petite souer. concurrent with this is a treasure hunt where the entire school is searching for each of the bouton's cards. Finding the card will give the winner a half-day date with the bouton whose card you find. After this we skip back to Christmas where we learn about Sei's past. Sei is one of the few overtly lesbian characters. After this we skip forward again to the dates. Marie-sama ga Miteru covers Summer/Autumn through Winter.

Yumi (from the opening sequence)

The artwork took me off guard for a bit. It was far more angular than I am used to seeing, which gave an initial impression of coldness. However, some of the drawings were very endearing and as I became accustomed to the style I came to really appreciate it. Then again I tend to like pale angular women. I first heard of this anime as an example of Yuri (girl-love/lesbianism). While in other series, such as Nanahoa, their are lesbian characters, the love between the girls is the primary storyline of Maria-sama ga Miteru. Some of the characters are lesbians, some are not, however love between women is the central theme. This is not Hentai. For the most part, the relationship struggles seem identical with heterosexual relationships -- except no one seems upset when they sleep over at each others houses.

Sachiko (Opening Credits)

In addition to the 13 episodes, there are seven bonus sequences from the DVD's. They are in the Omakechibi style and are "bloopers" for the main series. Several of them had me laughing hard. Which is probably because the series had been so touching. One annoyance here is that I have only been able to get episodes 2-7.

Yumi and Sachiko

Just as a bonus image, here is the same scene from the title sequence as given above, but with some of the words to the opening monologue's translation retained.

Opening Sequence: Pure Bodies in Dark Uniforms

Beowulf

Movie: Theatrical Release
Release: 16 November 2007 (USA)
Page at IMDB
Rating: All Right

A friend of mine took me to see Gaimon's adaption of Beowolf. I found the adaption to be more entertaining than the written story (old English is not something I enjoy reading), and far better than any adaption I have seen to date. The CGI was quite impressive, I often found myself forgetting that the characters on the screen were not real people. When Angelina Jolie appeared, I was immersed enough that I reacted as if the actual person were present on the screen.

One of the big selling points for the movie was that it was in 3-d. They issued some glasses which fit fairly well over my own, however I really didn't see what was added by the effects. For the most part the effects annoyed me as they kept appearing in my lower periphery, an event which distracted me from the movie as I continually turned my head to locate the new "threat."

I recommend seeing this movie, on DVD, though I didn't feel ripped off from having seen it in the theater.

Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito

Hatsumi & Hatsuki

Fansub Anime: 13 episodes
Original Air Dates: 2003-10-02 to 2003-12-25
Page at Anime News Network
Rating: All Right

Hatsuki

You know the standard plot device where boy loves girl, boy loses girl, so boy goes in search of girl? Well, this 13 episode anime has a similar plot basis, except that the girl is actually "Eve," the trans-dimensional mother of all humanity, & she has been traveling the universe for some time. The plot is complicated by Eve's sister being annoyed at having to watch the "Library", where every book is a world, while her sister plays. Another complication is Gargantua, who killed Eve when she was on his world and who has dedicated himself to capturing her as the supreme source of eternal life. Oh yes, the final wrinkle is that the boy doing the searching as actually a girl named Hasuki. Evidently, Japanese lesbians are just as angst ridden as Japanese men.

Hatsumi

This anime is another adaption from a game. The translator's notes explain that the anime can be difficult to follow without the background information. Thankfully, it then gives the background info. I did not find it very compelling for the first 5 episodes. I enjoyed the artwork and the story was good enough -- or perhaps it was because it was the Yuri -- so I persevered. Episode six is where it all gelled together, the plot threads unified and I found that I had to finish watching the anime (by staying up until 2:30 am).

The synopsis is fairly simple, it is derived from a game after all. A force called Adam created reality. Riseru was created to manage it. Adam wanted people so he created Eve who caused people to populate the dimensions. After this, the gods arose and started warring, so the great library was created to preserve the worlds. Each book in the library is another world. Yami was created to care for the library.

Hatsuki

Evidently, Eve became bored and left the library to incarnate in the various worlds. Being the source of life, she imprints each world rather strongly. Her older sister Riseru is upset at having to work while Eve is playing and sets out to force her to return. Eve is only present in each world for 16 years. At midnight, when she turns 16, she dematerializes, unless she is killed before that, in which case she dematerializes when slain.

The adventure starts out with Hatsuki trying desperately to show her love for Hatsumi, who is Eve's incarnation in her world. Her frustration causes her to act erratically at times. Later episodes show that both characters are having troubles admitting to the other how much they love each other. Hatsuki is present in Hatsumi's bedroom when midnight strikes and sees Hatsumi disappear. Shortly thereafter a fat parakeet, who is Riseru's agent, appears. Thus begins the quest across dimensions for Hatsuki to find her lost love, Hatsumi.

The Kiss

The other thread involves Gargantua who desired Eve's power of life. He knew her as Jira. While acting rashly, he stabbed Jira, thus ending her life. He deals with his guilt by dedicating himself to capturing the source of eternal life (which he later discovers is Eve/Jira). He and another girl, who was present when Jira was slain, have a form of immortality. In his pursuit, he offers a soul to Riseru (who has the hots for him). She promised him Eve, but since she cannot give him that, she gives him a "blank book" which is a dimension that he can create from his imagination. From here he searches for Eve.

Redemption, re-evaluation and the like figure prominently, as does the idea of love for that which is unattainable. The ending was odd, a bit unsatisfying, but not overwhelmingly so. All Right.

Falling

Da Capo, Second Season

Nemu & Junichi

Fansub Anime: 26 episodes
Original Air Dates: 2005-07-02 to 2005-12-24
Page at Anime News Network
Rating: Recommended

After enjoying Da Capo's first season so much, I eagerly downloaded its second season. As is usual when a story line ends, it seemed to stumble a bit switching us from the first season to the second. I just have to say, up front, that were I Jun'ichi, I would have dismembered and burnt every last scrap of that magical cherry tree shortly after season one ended.

The second season starts two years later. I am not familiar enough with the Japanese school system to follow, as I thought they were 15 or so in season one, but Nemu left once she stopped spitting out cherry blossoms to become a nurse. All of the human friends from season one (& some new ones) have formed the Jun'ichi Asakura Support Team to help poor onii-san survive without Nemu. All of the girls still have their crushes on Jun'ichi, however they all know that he is devoted to Nemu.

The newest significant character is Aisia, a girl from Northern Europe who has magical ability. She has come seeking Jun'ichi's grandmother to teach her magic. Her assumption that Jun'ichi is hiding his abilities and her resulting attempts to force him into displaying them are a bit tiresome but are also fairly short lived. Just as that is settled, Nemu comes back. Her surprise appearance backfires as she has not talked or communicated to Jun'ichi for the two years in which she was gone. Their pain and jealousy is also rather short lived and all is going well, except....

Sakura. She is lecturing Aisia.

Aisia firmly believes that magic is for "making the greatest number of people happy." She also realizes how much everyone loves Jun'ichi (including herself) and feels that it is unfair for the only person who is "happy" (i.e. getting what they want) is Nemu. Sakura also comes back, and Aisia tries to get Sakura to teach her magic. Sakura refuses because Aisia refuses to recognize the danger of magic -- and the danger of trying to make everyone "happy."

Aisia wakes the tree. As expected, pain and suffering ensue for both Jun'ichi and Nemu, but the moral is that it is also hurting everyone else. Since everyone knew how close Jun'ichi and Nemu are, they could accept that they could not have him. With Nemu being "just a sibling" they cannot happily accept that they aren't the one to be with Jun'ichi. Add to this the pain of loss that both Nemu and Jun'ichi suffer as they realize and then forget their love for each other again and again. Everything becomes dull and lifeless, not just for Jun'ichi and Nemu, but for everyone involved (except, Sakura, Aisia &, interestingly, Suiginami).

Suiginami, Junichi, Nemu & Kotori.
Junichi & Nemu are caught in a cycle of realizing their love (due to the letter)
and being forced to forget it (because of the tree).

With this season, the story of Jun'ichi and Nemu come to a close. She made a wonderful bride. Da Capo II is set 53 years later and revolves around the grandchildren. I am waiting for all the episodes to be available from Fansub before watching it.

Finally.

Triangle Heart OVA "Sweet Songs Forever"

Erisu meditating on her pistol

Fansub Anime: 4 episodes.
Original Air Dates: 2000-08-28 to 2003-12-26
Page at Anime News Network
Rating: Recommended

The bouquet of roses is dripping a lot of blood

I downloaded this 4 episode OVA as it has Nanoha (as in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha) in it. Nanoha is just the youngest child of the family from which the protagonist derives -- though she is a cute little 12 year old.

Nanoha, age 12, prior to becoming a Magical Girl

This is another OVA derived from a game, taking place after the events in Triangle Hearts 3. The story line of TH3 is unrelated to TH2. I haven't played the game, but it evidently involves parents dying by the hands of a terrorist organization who has returned to try and grab Fiasse in order to gain her "Bestow" which is assumed to be valuable in a tangible sense by the bad guys. Erisu, the daughter of one of the dead bodyguards, is Fiasse's bodyguard and has an antipathy toward sword use, mainly because of the incident where her father died. The protagonist, Kyōya Takamachi, took a different route and learned the fighting style of his father to vindicate him.

Girls in the Coffee Shop run by the family of the protagonist

There is some fun sword fights, rather sappy morals, but the animation is good and the story is surprisingly engaging given the weakness of the underlying plot. I do recommend this anime. Even though it has Nanoha Takamachi, as far as I can tell, its story is divorced from that in Magical Girl Lyrical Strikers, so it can be watched at any time. From what I have read, the same goes for the other Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series as well.

Part of Title sequence (Riasse & Erisu as Children)

One more interesting tidbit. In the Erisu flashbacks, they "Westernized" her by having her be rude. I just found that hilarious.

Erisu all grown up

Writer's Cafe

Writer's Cafe: Scrapbook list on Left, notebook ToC in main (right) pane.

Shareware
Current Version: 1.28
Home page
Rating: Recommended.

I've been using "Jotting/Outlining" software for years now. As I have become more serious about writing, I started to cast about for some software to assist me in organizing my ideas (as Jotting software does) and allowing me to re-arrange my story ideas (e.g. mind-map type software).

Normally, I tend to focus on free & open source software (FOSS). While on deployment to Kuwait, I had along my laptop, which for various reasons, was running Windows rather than Linux. Since FOSS is less common on Windows, I didn't use it in my search criteria, and this allowed me to find Writer's Cafe.

Writer's Cafe is actually two applications, the first is the Cafe, which has three main components: a scrapbook, a journal and a notebook. The scrapbook allows one to store text, web links, images, etc. in a nice hierarchical format. This is a replacement for my "Jots" program -- in fact it is more versatile than the Jots program I was using. The Journal is meant to be utilized as a diary of sorts, entering in the day to day events, thoughts, etc. The Notebook is more free form, and I tend to use it for various writings and what not.

While I do not know if my usage is canonical, I tend to store everything in the scraps. Notes, ideas and works in progress. I use the Journal for daily notes, dream entries and for chronicling various practices I engage in over the day. The Notebook is where I write poems, short stories and the like. If they are good enough, I then move them into a scrap (if the idea needs expanding).

The other part of Writer's Cafe is called "Storylines." Evidently authors would often write ideas on 3x5 index cards and shuffle them into the order they needed to write their story. This idea is expanded upon for Storylines. You break down your outline (whether actual or mental) into the cards, arrange them as you wish and then flesh them out. Once you have the draft in place, you can export it out as a file (Open Office is supported) and then finish the draft conventionally.

It is interesting, I am pretty sure I am only scratching the surface with Storylines (these reviews are short enough that I have not put them into Storylines for development), so I may have to come back at a later date with a second review. The plus side is that it is shareware, so you can download an evaluation copy. I actually purchased mine, let that speak volumes for how much I like this product.

Writer's Cafe, showing my scrapbook