The Bunraku “Nihonjin No Wasuremono” or the “Forgotten Japanese Spirit” is a fine natural Yamahai Junmai Saké. It feels as though a precious genie is in the bottle that I don’t want to let out.

More than just being about getting drunk, the making of rice wine is still an almost sacred, and revered process. It involves the purest of cool water as it comes from the mountains. This one was made in the Saitama Prefecture. It is a Yamahai, which means that the brewer uses native yeasts, those just floating in the air of the brewery. It is a very tricky process which not many modern brewers use any more.

There are various “paths” or “ways” in Japan for mastering a discipline. Such as the tea ceremony, Ikebana flower arrangement, traditional archery, or working with incense. Shudo or the “Way of Sake” appeared at the end of the Ashikaga Shogunate around the fourteenth century.

Sake can be works of art. The Way of Sake has a special path each month, said to purify the soul. It is an elegant way that the flowers and the seasons are incorporated in a ritual – like fashion. Even the cups and the method of pouring has significance, and the beauty of such gestures is said to enhance the experience, elevating it from merely intoxicating to enchantment.

Shudo for February is called the “month of reviving plants,” in the lunar calendar. In February in the old Japanese calendar, ume sake is made with Japanese apricot blossoms which were in bloom at that time. According to the Japanese traditional calendar, February 4th is the first day of spring.

In the manga xxxHolic they celebrated by drinking sake and floating chrysanthemum petals, on September the ninth. That sake is for wishing for longevity and exorcism. The delicate fragrance infuses the sake’ with chrysanthemum flowers.

The mystical confluence between people and bacteria is brought to life in the anime called Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture. Where the “Forgotten Japanese Spirit” is the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an air borne bacteria which creates alcohol out of sugars.

Tadayasu is a gifted boy who has a type of clairvoyance that allows him to see the little micro organisms. He goes to the university with his good friend Kei Yūki whose family runs a sake brewery. There he is able to witness the magical process of dancing bacteria that everyone else would need a microscope to see.

Shojo stories aren’t for everyone, but I LOVE them. Most of my Shojo comes from Viz Media and I get very excited when I hear about a new series.

Stepping on Roses is a new Rinko Ueda release that comes to stores on April 6th.

Here is the summation of the story:
Poor Sumi Kitamura… Her irresponsible older brother Eisuke keeps bringing home orphans for her to take care of – even though they can barely afford their own basic needs! Just when Sumi’s financial problems become dire, wealthy Soichiro Ashida enters her life with a bizarre but intriguing proposition: he’ll provide her with the money she so desperately needs if she agrees to marry him. But can Sumi fool high society into thinking she’s a proper lady? Moreover, is it worth giving up everything for this sham of a marriage?

“Rinko Ueda captured the adoration of U.S. fans with her manga series, TAIL OF THE MOON, and this latest creation continues to show her skill as an artist and storyteller,” says Leyla Aker, Editorial Manager, VIZ Media. “STEPPING ON ROSES puts a new twist on a classic story, and readers will delight in this over-the-top romantic masquerade. We look forward to new and veteran manga fans discovering its fun story.”

I haven’t read this story yet and this plot line could either work or be kindof insulting. Or maybe that’s just cause I’m about to get married for real. Let me know what you think!

You may remember that we told you that KEKKAISHI was available to view on Hulu.com? Well, even if you missed that tidbit it doesn’t matter! KEKKAISHI will soon be coming to Adult Swim!

Here’s a recap of the story behind the show:

Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy, which is built upon the Karasumori grounds. By night, Yoshimori follows the tradition passed down through generations and fulfills his destiny as the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori’s got other demons to contend with, like an obsession with cake making and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are caught up in a feud over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting ordinary people from the ever-present danger of the Karasumori grounds, Yoshimori will continue to grow stronger as he battles the forces of evil again tonight!

In case you aren’t familiar, the show is based upon the manga series by Yellow Tanabe. The deal that has just been struck sees Adult Swim broadcasting 52 episodes of the show on their channel, which will begin on May 29th (so plenty of time to mark your calendar!).

William Germain, Director, Programming & Music Sales, VIZ Media:

“Kekkaishi spotlights compelling cool characters, in an intense yet fun-filled supernatural action adventure saga. It possesses all of the hallmarks of great anime!” says William. We are very excited to add KEKKAISHI to the Adult Swim anime lineup for U.S. fans to enjoy.”

Have you seen it? Well, let us know what you thought of it in the comments!

Anime Network Online have let us know that they are proud to premiere the comedy series “ICHIBAN USHIRO NO DAIMAO” this month.

The series is directed by Takashi Watanabe who has been involved with such anime as Slayers, Boogiepop Phantom and Fist of the North Star. Here’s a synopsis for you:

From Marvelous Entertainment (Mushi-shi, Air Gear) and Artland (Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Legend of the Galactic Heroes) comes the story of young Akuto Sai, a new student at Constan Magical Academy. On the day of admittance, his aptitude test has predicted his future occupation as…Devil King. And so begins the trials and tribulations of school life as he is hounded by do-gooders, self appointed protectors, and overzealous followers. In this school, there’s no rest for the Devil King.

The series is available to view in ANO’s online player from April 2nd 2010. You need to be a registered user to watch the show but registration is free, and apparently so is viewing the simulcast!

You can visit Anime Network Online at www.theanimenetwork.com, and be sure to check the time listings.

Fans of “INUYASHA: The Final Act” will be happy to know that the final episode will be available to view tonight on VIZAnime.com! OK, maybe you’re not happy to see the end of your favourite series, however the final episode is coming your way shortly after it has been shown in Japan!

After the many episodes and films that the manga series (written by Rumiko Takahashi) has spawned, the finale will be streamed on VIZANime.com – but what if you have no idea what the series is about? Read this synopsis to get the gist:

Pulled back in time to Japan’s ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome’s previous incarnation as the woman who killed him – and to the Shikon Jewel, or “Jewel of Four Souls,” which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone’s nightmares are given the power they need to come true.

The final episode of “INUYASHA: The Final Act” is titled “Toward Tomorrow” and will be available to view on VIZAnime.com. If you would like to check out the Inuyasha manga or the other Inuyasha anime series then head over to viz.com for more.

You can also find other Rumiko Takahashi titles there, or you can visit the Rumic World website!

“Vampire Knights” takes us to Cross Academy, a school that has two student classes – the Day Class and the Night class. Twilight sees the Day Class students return to their dorm, crossing paths with the Night Class students as they emerge. The Day Class has two Guardians in the form of Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu who protect them from those attending the Night class. Why? Because the Night Class students are vampires, that’s why!

Let me introduce you to some of the cast, and the parts that they play:

Mela Lee as Yuki Cross

Mela has been voice acting for the last 7 years. Some of her work can be witnessed in such animes as Fate Stay Night, Rozen Maiden, When They Cry, and Blade of the Immortal. Her character in Vampire Knight is Yuki Cross, who is the adoptive daughter of the headmaster of Cross Academy and one of the schools Guardians for the Day Class.

Vic Mignogna as Zero Kiryu

Most Anime fans would know Vic. He’s been an actor since the age of 8, and has been voicing anime characters for the past 10 years. Out of the 100+ roles in Anime and Video Games he has taken, some of them include voicing Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Fai in Tsubasa Chronicles, and my personal favourite Tamaki Suou in Ouran High School Host Club – just to name a few. As well as his acting, Vic has a degree in film and regularly writes, produces and directs on productions. He has also lent his vocal skills to sing theme songs for One Piece & DBGT and has even got some of his original work available on CD. As for the character he plays in this production, Vic performs as Zero Kiryu. Kiryu is a year older than Yuki and comes from a family of vampire hunters. He is also a Guardian for the Day Class.

Ethan Murray as Kaname Kuran

Ethan has been a in acting since 1994. He was approached while doing a stage production to voice monsters in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and has been voice acting ever since. Some of the productions he has taken part in include Arc the Lad, Gankutsuou, Blade the Immortal, Tenjo Tenge, and Rurouni Kenshin. In Vampire Knight, Ethan plays Kaname Kuran. Kuran is a pure blooded vampire and the current Head of the Kuran Clan. He also saved Yuki from an attack by another vampire when she was 7, and is president of the Night Class and the dorm leader. The students of the Night Class both fear and respect him.

And that’s only a few actors and their characters – I wonder what other excellent talent they will have in store for us!

William Germain, Director, Programming & Music Sales, VIZ Media:

“VAMPIRE KNIGHT is an important series that demanded skilled actors who could portray these complex characters without sacrificing any of the intensity and emotional drama each one exudes,” says William. “We also know there are a lot of fans of the manga that have been waiting for this series so we wanted to bring in some very talented people who we know will take VAMPIRE KNIGHT to a whole new level. Look for more news coming soon about the North American debut!”

There’s no word as to when we might actually be able to view their efforts, but we’ll try to do our best in keeping you informed here at GamingAngels!

The manga is a reinterpretation by Urasawa of Tezuka’s work, and the final volume in the 8 part series is set for release on April 6th 2010. The story involves robots and humans co-existing, and there is something after the 7 great robots of the world. Robot detective Gesicht is assigned to investigate the case, soon finding out he himself is also a target.

In the last volume, Atom is back and equipped with the answers to the unsolved mysteries involving Pluto, Bora and more. He’s prepared to put this knowledge and the memory of his fallen friends (Gesicht, Mont Blanc, North No. 2, Brando, Hercules and Epsilon) into action in a final battle to save the Earth!

PLUTO: URASAWA × TEZUKA has been rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and is expected to cost $12.99US or $16.99 CAN. For more info visit www.viz.com.

You can also find all 8 volumes available in our RightStuf (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8) and Amazon (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8) stores.

The latest addition is animator and character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto. If you don’t know him by name, you may know his works such as chief animation director and character designer for Cowboy Bebop, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083, Golden Boy and Wolf’s Rain. He has also been key animation director for Sword of the Stranger, Escaflowne: The Movie, Fullmetal Alchemist and Eureka Seven, but more impressively is the fact that he co-founded the anime studio BONES (producers of Ouran High School Host Club, Soul Eater, Wolf’s Rain and Fullmetal Alchemist). Toshihiro’s latest project involves being chief animation director on Hero Man and working with Stan Lee. Yep, THE Stan Lee.

Toshihiro Kawamoto will be appearing at autograph sessions, meet-and-greets, and attendee panels. To find out the latest information about Anime Expo 2010, you can visit their website, keep an eye on their Twitter or Facebook, or you could always check them out on YouTube.

Set in a bistro in Rome, the story explores the romantic relationships that evolve between the staff, plus some saucy sides. Hungry? Sorry about that, but here’s the synopsis anyway:

At the age of 21, Nicoletta travels to Rome to find her mother, Olga, who abandoned her long ago. Nicoletta finds her at Casetta dell’Orso, a charming little restaurant owned by Olga’s husband. The staff of bespectacled gentlemen welcomes Nicoletta warmly, but Olga’s reception is not so pleasant. Olga has never told her husband that she had a child – and he must never know.

In exchange for Nicoletta’s playing “the daughter of an old friend,” Olga offers her a place to live and an apprenticeship at the restaurant. Nicoletta fits in well among the unique personalities at Casetta dell’Orso. She gets along particularly well with the kindly headwaiter, Claudio, a divorced man who, in spite of the many years, has still never removed his wedding ring. As Nicoletta’s feelings for Claudio become complicated, she finds a sympathetic ear in Olga, leading the estranged pair to form a friendship neither expected. But as they grow closer, the pressure of the secret they share may become too much to bear.

If you think Natsume Ono sounds familiar, then perhaps you remember we brought you news of her manga “not simple” not that long ago. Her talented debut was made in 2003 with her web comic “LA QUINTA CAMERA”, and has since progressed with her work “not simple”, “RISTORANTE PARADISO” and the continuation of RISTORANTE PARADISO named “GENTE”. You can also find her manga drama “HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES” being publicised in Japan’s IKKI magazine.

Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media:

“Natsume Ono continues to push the manga genre in intriguing new directions with her minimalist art style and strong, character-driven stories that deliver surprising quirks and touching endings,” says Gonzalo. “Two of Ono’s other works, HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES and not simple, both now available for free preview on SigIKKI.com, have garnered accolades from older readers looking for more sophisticated stories. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the unique work of this very talented manga creator.”

RISTORANTE PARADISO will be released on March 16th under the VIZ Signature imprint. It will be rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will cost $12.99US or $16.99 CAN.

For more info, visit www.VIZsignature.com. You can also find it in our RightStuf and Amazon stores!

Just when you thought you were safe from reality TV (or safe enough) another one crawls out from the dark recesses of a desperate mind.

Release Date: 21/10/2009
Languages: English
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 154.0 mins

While it isn’t your typical reality show, “Life’s A Zoo.tv” certainly has the qualities you can expect.

Meet 7 animals: Morreski (an alcoholic Bulgarian bear), Rico (a gay caffeine-addicted crocodile), Ray (a bong-devoted monkey), Dr D (a rapping penguin), Jake (a horny Canadian pig), Minou (an African supermodel cat) and Chi Chi (a sweet and naïve panda). They have all been thrown together in a mansion in Saskatchewan – Big Brother style.

Each episode depicts the characters being faced with a challenge that usually pits them against their housemates. This tends to result in a fight to survive or just a massive all-out brawl. If one of the characters fails then they face possible eviction.

Special Features include:

• Commentary on an episode not included in this volume, which features producers Andrew Horne, Adam Shaheen & Mike Roland (the voice of Ray).

From left: Minou, Chi Chi, Jake, Rico, Dr D, Morreski, and Ray.

As you can imagine from the description given, the content of each episode includes swearing, fighting, substance abuse, adult behaviour and a lot of immature humour. I personally did not enjoy this, but I’m sure there are some of you that might appreciate it more than myself.

The one thing I think is worth noting is the use of what I am assuming are indie bands. Each episode features a song and video clip mixed into it, which would be good exposure for these bands if it weren’t for the material they accompany.

This is definitely not one for kids. If you’re unsure as to whether you would like it, rent it to see. If you don’t like it, don’t blame me!

Review product was provided by Madman Entertainment, and does not affect the outcome of this review.