The J-Music Lovers' International Assembly

[Ryusenkai]

My friend has the Wind Waker Wii U, but it didn't come with the game.  :lol: I'm not sure how that even happened. I'm not even sure if that's what you meant. 

 

Seeing all these images for that stupid splatoon game makes me mad that they delayed production for other games. :soul:

 

To be fair, having played in one of the Testfires for Splatoon, it IS a lot of fun provided your team composition doesn't suck.  But that's the big if there.  :lol:

[Ryusenkai]

I keep wanting to merge double posts before i notice that it's just Ryu and Owatari with the same avatar. 

 

Don't worry, I'll be switching to Mr.Children's cover tomorrow.  :lol:   So that should hopefully cull the confusion.

[Ryusenkai]

I like the idea esp since J-music is so vast. Like there's pop, rock, urban (which encompasses several genres), then there's techno and vocaloid (and I know many ppl hate vocaloid but I really like utaite who cover vocaloid songs and really bring it alive)

 

Welcome!  You probably already know who I am, I'd assume.  :lol:   Glad to have you join us here for conversation and music, so kick your feet up and make yourself at home.

 

 

I think it would help but we def can't make it very very long or people will lose interest. It pains me wen I see those threads being made, and all I see are kpop fans posting groups and idols (often the same ones). There's more to Jpop than idols and groups. However, we can't ignore them either because idols do have a big role in Japanese music. Sadly, I feel like recommendations from Jpop users sometimes get ignored because it doesn't fall in the same spectrum as the Kpop songs do. The sounds can be very different.

 

 

Also very, true, I wonder if we do a representative of each scene. And be like "well if you like X, you might like Y" (If you like Arashi, then you might like SMAP, KisMyFt, etc. But have like the latter groups listed as links). Honestly I'd like to get back into doing a post like that. Or maybe we can do an infographic, showing the top artists through different eras. I've got ideas swirling in my mind now too XD
 
I agree, I think people listen to K-pop and then want J-pop to be the same way. One of my friends was a big K-pop fan and I would recommend her music. But I always tried to do it based on what I thought she'd like. Like I knew she liked old Big Bang, so I recommened her Yuya and Daichi since I figured she like more R&B / hip-hop music.

 

I'd be interested in something along those lines getting made as well; I know there was talk among a few of us a while back about putting together a kind of J-Rock primer, since all too often people new to J-music don't even know where to begin with the genre or what's even really representative of it.  Something for the whole of Japanese Music is a project with a much wider scope, but I think it would be doable.  If I had any suggestions in particular, it would be to maybe do a general overview of each genre followed by a more in-depth piece for those who are interested in what they see in the gloss.  Since a question I've gotten a lot after getting someone into a style of music is 'well, where do I go from here / what else is there in this genre', and that's at times the most difficult question for someone to tackle without proper guidance.

[Ryusenkai]

There's rumors about Last Guardian being there again, so that should be incorporated into whatever you decide to do.  :happy:

 

*snicker*  That game will be released sometime between now and the end of existence as we know it.  :P

[Ryusenkai]

It's becoming the next Duke Nukem Forever (that game was on and off for what....14 years?). They need to do something with it soon. 

 

I'd rather they just be honest about the status of the project, since dragging this out isn't helping.  I'm amazed at the difficulties this title has had honestly, since it's not a game you'd think would run into this many problems in development.

[Ryusenkai]

If the service I receive is average or great then I usually go with the 15% or maybe more, but if the service is horrible then I'll either go below or not tip you at all.

 

I don't think you should feel bad or pressured when it comes to tipping honestly. I have had instances where I've sat 30 or more minutes without being seen by a waiter for something as basic as drinks or a messed up order and sometimes I feel bad for giving a bad tip, but I don't know I feel like it's something that should be earned and not guaranteed.

 

----

I need a new long RPG to play :/

 

 

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is supposed to be pretty good, though it has action elements, too. If you're looking for a standard J-RPG, then I can't think of any at the moment. :x

 

I've played The Witcher 3 at a friend's house and it is very good if you like Action RPGs, though it's a killer on PC in terms of specs.  If you're looking for a J-RPG though, I'd recommend digging back through the vault and trying to find something, since that's how I've come across a few games I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

[Ryusenkai]

Midnight in Italy,so i 'm officialy 21 years old now. Happy Birthday to me \(0)/

 

Happy Birthday!

[Ryusenkai]

The Nintendo World Championships are going right now if anyone is interested: http://www.twitch.tv/nintendo

 

I'll probably take a peek a bit later once I'm home; I'm excited to sit down and watch some press conferences tomorrow though.  The E3 adrenaline is upon me.  :lol:

 

Oh, and if you haven't heard (since I remember you liking them), Yuzu have a new album coming this Fall.  They really never slow down in terms of release pace.

Edited June 14, 2015 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

I want to take a poll but don't want to create a thread for it. Which interview would you like to see translated?

 

BUMP OF CHICKEN

Crystal Kay

Perfume

Shishido Kavka

Superfly

AKFG

 

EDIT: Also is Final Fantasy X any good? I remember playing part of it, but can't remember anything after a boat.

 

I imagine you know my answer, but I'll give a Top 3 if that's helpful:  1. BUMP 2. AKFG 3. Superfly

 

As to Final Fantasy X... the combat is good and a lot of fun, as are some of the mini-games, but I remember the story being a bit... eh.

[Ryusenkai]

If no one else responds tonight I'll work on them in that order.  :lol:

 

 

I guess I'll continue the search for an RPG to play. :lol:

 

Do either of you think any of the Final Fantasy games are worth playing?

 

 

I think it's just best to let them wear themselves out.  :lol:

 

Heh.  :3  Final Fantasy 6 is my personal favorite, though 4, 5, 7, and 9 are also pretty good.  I'd also put forth Chrono Trigger if you haven't played it, since it's a great, great game.

[Ryusenkai]

Replace 7 with 8 and add on 12 and that's basically my list. :lol: Chrono Trigger is incredible and should be played by every RPG fan at least once.

 

 

Really? I thought people generally liked 12. 

 

 

Still don't understand the hype for FF7. :wth:  For the time it was amazing, but has it held up over the years? 

I'm pretty sure I have a videotape with an old trailer for FF7 somewhere....

 

 

Hope I'm not to late to get a vote in. I'd love to see Shishido Kavka or Crystal's interview :)

 

My problem with FF8 is that the characters and story never really 'clicked' for me, nor did I find the love story they were going for particularly compelling.  I'm incredibly picky when it comes to writing though, so I might well be in the minority for feeling that way.  :lol:   Gameplay-wise I found it to be mostly alright, though I wish junctioning magic had been a tad less clunky.  I still do remember enjoying Triple Triad though.  :3

 

I generally consider FF7 to be an average or slightly above average game; definitely not the godsend that some people see it as, but not a weak title either.  And very, very agreed on Chrono Trigger!

 

Oh, and there's a preview of a new Yuzu song titled "Kakeru" on their website if you're curious - just click the box on the first banner that shows up there.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

A rather different and interesting ranking compiled by people who have more knowledge of the industry (rather than the typical ones voted on by biased fans): http://onehallyu.com/topic/187827-shukan-gendai-puts-out-their-overall-top-50-japanese-singer-list-for-2015/

 

EDIT: For those of you that want some real honest impressions on VR/AR at E3, I recommend listening to the latest episode of the BEastcast (Episode 04). Their entire conversation was fascinating. 

 

http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/beastcast/

 

Believe it or not, I actually came across this ranking on Baidu a few months back and found it to be a fairly interesting read.  It skews older to a certain extent, but a lot of the people mentioned in the Top 20 are quite talented (I'd personally put Tatsuro or Oda over Kuwata, but can understand why he'd be at the top of the bracket, given how he basically revolutionized lyric-writing in Japan).  Don't know why I never posted it honestly.  :lol:

Edited June 21, 2015 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

I read last year's and then forgot about it until they put this one out. :lol: There's some positioning I'd change, but I tend to agree with most of their reasoning for the picks. It would be nice if they had put a paragraph describing their criteria so some of the choices were a bit clearer. (Or maybe they did and no one posted that page!) I do find it a bit strange that Kana Nishino is on there, but that's my only real problem with the list. 

 

That was what I noticed after skimming over a few of the paragraphs; the reasoning appears sound enough in and of itself, but there doesn't seem to be a rigid structure that they're awarding those points on, unless we really are missing a page that explains it in-depth.  I'll admit that Kana being there feels... out of place, particularly above singers like aiko, Moriyama Naotaro, ATSUSHI, and Fukuyama Masaharu.  Her technique really isn't anywhere near as polished as a lot of the people below her, so I'd like to know a bit more about their reasoning than the small snippet that they gave on her.

Edited June 21, 2015 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

J-indie is very interesting

What are some acts that are gaining popularity? I only know Kana-Boon and Alexandros

 

Beyond those two, there's also Gesu no Kiwami Otome., Yonezu Kenshi, cero, Frederic, and I'll throw in FOLKS and Shin Rizumu since they've had some of my favorite releases this year.

[Ryusenkai]

thanks!! do any of them have female vocalists lol :( i prefer female vocalists

 

Ah, if you're looking for female vocalists then I'll also add Negoto and Akai Koen to the list (I typically prefer male vocalists, but there are a few female-fronted acts that I like).

[Ryusenkai]

@Ryu I finally refilled my wallet for the Japanese iTunes store and purchased Yuzu's "Kakeru". I'm in love with the composition for this song. It feels like one of those songs that is perfect for a summer evening. If this is a preview of what's coming with their album, then I'm ready. :lol:

 

Yeah, I actually adore both the song and the MV that they posted for it today.  From what the article on it said, they're striving to create a sound that's the 'perfect' fusion of acoustic and digital; as a result, they're working with even more new producers and musicians.  For example, "Kakeru" was actually a collaboration with tofubeats and a guitarist from a band called LILI LIMIT.  I'm all for this honestly, since it keeps their sound 'current' and yet still very much them, which is something that all too often gets lost in transition.  If this is the sound and image that they want for their new album then count me in.  :lol:

[Ryusenkai]

Oh, I must've missed the tofubeats part! I really like what I've heard from other tofubeats collaborations in the past, so it's no surprise that I like this, too. The acoustic and digital sound seems like a natural progression for Yuzu, and I'm really interested to see how they expand on that for the album should they choose to incorporate it. I usually don't preorder albums I haven't heard yet, but as soon as it's available, I'm preordering this one.  :raep:

 

Yuzu are one of the roughly... six or seven acts I'll buy from pretty regularly.  Thankfully, most of them have fairly lengthy release cycles (other than Yuzu), so I'm not actually spending money all that frequently.  :lol:   I'm mostly interested to see the theme-ing that they go with this time around, since I've really liked the aesthetic for their past few albums and hope to see that continued with whatever this new release will be titled.

[Ryusenkai]

https://soundcloud.com/hip_tanaka/dedicated-to-satoru-iwata
 
:._.:
 
 

 
It was already a huge shock, but the letter from Shigesato Itoi (his friend and the creator of Earthbound) is what finally made me break down and cry.
 
    In any farewells, all you have to say is “See you again”.
    Friends see each other again.
    There’s nothing strange about it.
    Yes. See you again.
 
    I heard that you are going on a long journey.
    It was supposed to be in the far future.
    You never said it in words, but wearing your best outfit, you were saying “Sorry for it to be so sudden”.
 
    You always looked after somebody instead of yourself.
    As such friend, maybe this journey is your first time being selfish.
 
    To be honest, I still don’t really believe anything.
    I feel like you’ll be sending me email to ask for lunch.
    Just like always, you can call me and ask “If you have some free time”.
    Of course, I can always ask you too.
 
    Anyway, “See you again”.
    You can call me anywhere, anytime, and I’ll be calling you too.
    There are things I want to discuss, and good ideas I want to tell you.
 
    See you again.
    No, we are seeing each other right at this moment.
 
http://www.nintendo-insider.com/2015/07/13/earthbound-creator-shares-farewell-message-to-satoru-iwata/
 
I have not been able to go anywhere on the internet without seeing some sort of tribute or kind words for him. Speaks volumes about what kind of guy he was and the kind of impact he had on people.

 

Reading through the Reddit thread of all of the Developers and Companies is what got me.  It's just... he helped to make gaming what it is today.  The images have been the hardest hitting though, since some of those are just so sad (yet heartwarming), these two in particular:

 

[spoiler]

[/spoiler]

Edited July 14, 2015 by Ryusenkai

[Ryusenkai]

The fanart that has come out of this has been really beautiful and touching. I also saw photos of people leaving flowers and notes for him at Nintendo headquarters and at the Japanese embassies in other countries. The Nintendo World store also had a table for that set up.

 

It will be near impossible to replace Iwata, but I hope they choose someone with the same mindset to take over. I can't imagine someone with a more business-like approach coming in and taking over the company now. Actually, that might be the worst thing that could happen with the position they're currently in.

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry.  :cry:

 

Looks like my favorite weekly podcast is up and they're going to talk about Iwata right up front.  :cry: Sounds like they balance it well with happier things this week, so it shouldn't be too hard to listen to. Let me know if there's any other podcasts that you guys listen to that do talks on this subject, as I'd like to hear them.

 

As I recall, several people (Miyamoto included), have gone on record to say that they will not be letting all of Iwata's work be in vain and that they'd like to keep the company trending on the same path that it is right now message and development-wise.  I'll have to dig up where that came from, but at least for the moment it will remain true with Miyamoto and Takeda at the reins.  I can't imagine that they'll find someone who will be quite as personable as Iwata was, but hopefully someone in the same spirit will take over.

 

A lot of gaming media has been pushing that to the front since... it's something that needs to be talked about, in a way.  I think the sentiment that's struck me most though was something less about his legacy and more the idea that he was hopefully able to say all of his goodbyes to his friends and family in the end, since being unable to do that would be... crippling and so very sad.

[Ryusenkai]

BUMP

http://onehallyu.com/topic/200972-natalie-music-bump-of-chicken-part-1/

 

Kavka

http://onehallyu.com/topic/200981-natalie-music-shishido-kavka/

 

Sorry I messed up and I'm missing a song for Kavka.

 

:ahmagah:

 

Thanks for translating the (first part of) the BUMP interview!  Finding translated versions of those that aren't incredibly old usually tends to be pretty difficult.

[Ryusenkai]

No problem. I wish there were more translators out there because interviews are some of the best things (at least in my opinion).

 

I'd agree, in terms of getting to know how an artist 'ticks'.  Since it's through an earlier interview that I first learned that Fujiwara only writes songs about his own experiences (or those of people close to him), which kind of adds a layer of authenticity to a lot of the lyrics, abstract as some can be.

[Ryusenkai]

Yeah, you really get some great insight into their music and what music means to them in some cases and it's honestly great. It allows me to connect with the artist on another level besides just the music and I really love learning the reasons behind everything. So I'll try my best to translate more interviews, but no promises. :lol:

 

I actually didn't know that about Fujiwara until I translated this interview and it's honestly interesting that he says he only can write about his own experience because looking back at a lot of the lyrics you can see a lot of what he has been through and how that has effected his worldview.

 

All agreed on the former count!  And yeah,it's something that makes you go back and reconsider a lot of the songs he's written in a new light; how he ended up reaching certain points of view or why he conveyed things as he did in some cases.  I think it's also a major part of why their albums tend to end up feeling like they have cohesive themes, since there's a kind of consistency to the overall perspective each track comes from.

[Ryusenkai]

Yep yep, particularly (please) forgive for me. Since it does come from one person's viewpoint and experiences it really does give it more cohesiveness than a plethora of different writers trying to go for a particular "sound."

 

Oh "(please) forgive".  There's an entirely different story related to that song in that it was actually written back in the summer of 2009 when Fujiwara was working on songs for COSMONAUT.  It was originally intended to go on that album, but in the end all of the members decided that it didn't fit and held it back for their next studio release.  It's interesting that it ended up fitting like a glove with the rest of RAY's material, so I have to wonder if it might have served as the cornerstone for that release, in a sense.

[Ryusenkai]

Usually only go to NeoGaf for gaming news (since, you know, it's a gaming forum) but I stumbled across the Japanese music thread and the members there have some amazingly diverse taste. I might lurk that thread from now on. Wonder if it's still just as difficult to get a membership there.

 

Oh, I've been lurking that thread for some time now, since there are times when really obscure indie acts get posted that I end up giving a shot and liking.  I don't agree with a fair amount of the opinions expressed there, but it's always good to have a check on yourself in that sense.

[Ryusenkai]

So like BASE BALL BEAR ARE FINALLY RELEASING STUFF AGAIN! Idk if its been talked about but I am excited! 3 singles for the next 3 months and an ALBUM TEASER on each single! Idk if the teasers will be different tho

 

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3QxjoFAJnA[/media]

 

I've been aware of it since the singles got announced, but it's kept slipping my mind to bring it up for some reason.  Really like the song preview though - sounds like them.