#yen town band

[lalamoco]

とても愛と平和な曲

アイノネ_YEN TOWN BAND

[nagaihiru-lineup]

中古8cmCD／YEN TOWN BAND『Swallowtail Butterfly〜あいのうた〜』／￥350【通信販売】

[write-ur-wrongs]

Stayaway

In an attempt to get out of funk, here is a very short, not edited, written-directly-into-tumblr, song-inspired grealt x reader fic. Inspired by Stayaway by MUNA (the best band in the world, begging y'all to listen to their music you will be forever changed!!).

*********

"Come on! I know you're home, I followed you!"

The bard was yelling and banging on your door incessantly and you knew you had to answer eventually. The bastard followed you home after all, he knows where you live.

"I'm not home!" you shouted back, delusional.

"Y/N! I may be a fool but I'm not stupid," he replied, and you could hear the familiar smile pulling at his lips, "Now open up! The door and your heart!"

"Jask," you sighed, laughing despite yourself at his poetic antics, "go away!"

"No! I miss you!"

"I'm not home!" you tried again, will wavering.

"Y/N!" he pleaded, and you swore you could hear half that cursed smile pull down into a pout.

You rested your forehead against the door and bit your lip, debating. All the while, your hand betrayed you, reached for the doorknob and turned it open.

Before you knew it, you were face to face with an old friend and while the sight of him filled you with joy, you were also flooded with other, less welcome feelings of remembrance.

"Y/N!" he exclaimed, pushing himself into your home and saving you from dwelling on the heavy memories that tried to creep up over you. "You're home, what are the odds?"

"Hilarious as always, Jaskier," you said, closing the door behind him. "What brings you to my little hamlet?"

"Fate, chance, what have you," he said, his cheery demeanor working overtime to cover for his abject curiosity, "The sea called and I had to answer. You know how it is."

"I do, do I?"

"Don't you? I mean you just disappeared... I assumed something called and you, you know, answered?" His tone stayed light, the practiced levity of someone who's spent years buttering people up for information all while staying neutral.

"I guess..." you bit your cheek, busying yourself by playing hostess, and pouring you both a glass of wine, "things changed and I thought, 'hell, why not change too?'"

"Fair enough... oh thank you."

"Of course," you said, taking a sip of wine yourself before guiding you both towards your couch, "but seriously Jaskier, why are you here?"

"Seriously? I was just passing through on my way to Oxenfurt when I saw a familiar face. A face I thought I'd never see again..."

You looked up from your glass then, but immediately regretted it when you met the bard's earnest gaze.

"Yennefer thought she saw you in Novigrad a while back but then... nothing. We thought you were gone for good."

"Jaskier, come on," you pleaded, praying he wouldn't elaborate on who 'we' entailed, while another, less disciplined part of you hoped for the opposite. Maybe if you knew he missed you, maybe if you knew he was looking for you... maybe you could let yourself be found.

No!

"Don't shake your head at me, Y/N. You disappear from the city, you quit your job, no one has seen you at the pub, the library - anywhere!"

"I- I know... but Jask," you stammered, trying to start three sentences at once and fumbling them all.

"I mean, you loved your job, didn't you? And what about us?" he asked, voice cracking slightly. "Gods, was the breakup that bad?"

"The thing is, Jask," you sputtered between large sips of wine, "It wasn't. It was easy, actually. He did what he always does when we fight; scowl, shut down, turn away, and then take it out on our friends. The break was clean."

"If it was so clean, then why did you leave?"

"It's the rest of it! The, the staying away that was, is impossible. If I had stayed and kept going it out with you guys, we'd drink and dance and I'd wonder where he is. Or one moment I'd be at the library studying and the next, Yen be asking me about the breakup and trying to 'cheer' me up by bringing up the good times and next thing you know? I'm answering the door for him when he rolls back into town injured and brooding. I couldn't stand it! I- I couldn't risk it."

"That's -"

"Pathetic? I know."

"No! No, but if there were so many good times, so many reasons to go back then why not-"

"Damn it, Jaskier! This is why I had to leave." You said, gesturing between the two of you before dropping your hand on your lap with a smack. "If I let him back in, then he's not the man who broke my heart anymore. Not the one who told me I was overemotional for being worried when he'd disappear for months. Suddenly everything is fine... until it's not and I'm hurt and alone again."

You felt tears begin to prick the back of your eyes and shoved the heel of your palms into them to force them down.

"Hey... Y/N," Jaskier said, gently pulling your hands away from your eyes and taking them in his. "I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

"It's okay," you said, giving your friends hands a squeeze and looking up to the ceiling, letting your tears fall for a moment, "I'm okay."

"Y/N..."

"Oh alright, but I'll be okay," you amended, laughing at yourself lightly and wiping the tears away. "Jaskier, don't look so sad. I just need time, space, distance... I will be fine."

Your words had little effect on your friend though, who seemed to grow more anxious and sad with every passing moment. You quirked your brow at him and shoved his shoulder playfully, trying to break the mood.

"Jaskier, will you relax?" you asked, desperate to get him to smile now. You really had missed Jaskier and now that he was here, you realized how much you wanted him to stick around.

"Y/N, I'm really sorry." He whispered, refusing to meet your gaze.

You were about to try another lighthearted quip when you heard a knock at your door. Not someone knocking, just a knock. One quick but deliberate rap.

"Who...?" you heard yourself asking, even though you only ever knew one person who knocked on doors like that.

"Y/N, I'm so so sorry," Jaskier kept repeating. "I really didn't know. I never would have told him if I'd known."

Your mouth was bone dry but you couldn't get your hand to reach for your glass of wine. You just kept staring at Jaskier, watching him babble.

"I'll go tell him to leave, Y/N, I'm so sorry," you heard him say, his voice barely registering over the ringing in your ears.

You felt him get up off the couch, your blurred vision registering the now empty spot on the couch only after you heard your door be pulled open.

Every fiber of your being was on fire. You were frozen. You wanted to throw yourself on the floor. You wanted to run to him.

"Y/N..." you heard him say. Fuck he sounded sad. You wanted to hold him, tell him it'll be okay. You wanted to slam the door in his face. You forgive him. You'll never forgive yourself.

Against your better judgement, you felt yourself to turn look towards the front door and your breath caught when you saw him.

Gods above, you thought, he should have stayed away.

[xinmin-exe]

(Hey there. Your work is so amazing that I need MORE! :3)

How would Shigaraki and LOV react on his s/o, who is rich and caring and she bought them a house in the woods, so they can hide when the heroes are near? Would they like to go there for a vacation with her? To just chill in the nature?

(Thank you so much for your amazing work 🤍)

Hiiiiiiii I’m so honored you like my work! ☺️☺️ I hope you like this too!!

Shigaraki with Rich!Reader

Shigaraki and the League would be incredible suspicious at first

They expected you to be some rich kid who’s “rebelling from their daddy” (which dabi understood) and trying to make their family mad

Who could blame them? You came in and told them you wanted to help the cause, but you didn’t know the first thing about fighting or stealth. “My father always paid bodyguards to protect me” Frankly, Shigaraki was ready to kick you out from day 1.

But when you came back with information about the Hero Commission’s next move (unprompted I add) they were intrigued

Shigaraki realized you could get in close like they never could. You were smart, friendly, and most importantly, the daughter/son of a wealthy, influential family

He knew that he could use that to his advantage. Eventually, he began accompanying you out, wanting to make sure you weren’t double crossing them. He would stalk behind you about 10-15 feet, keeping out of your way and letting you do your work

When the two of you would return and after telling the league what you found you, you and toga and Magne would gush on and on about how attractive your date was

Spinner and dabi would gag and leave the room, Mr. Compress would chuckle and make a comment on “the good old school girl crush” behind making his exit, but not Tomura

He lurked around the bar afterwards, drinking some cocktail Kurogiri make and listening in. (Yes I headcanon Tomura as a cocktail man, don’t come at me)

It irritated him endlessly how much you talked about your date, going on for hours about how you enjoyed it

His hands would twitch and he could feel the need to dust someone increase exponentially. He decided to not stay around afterwards anymore, but the feeling never went away

He thought it was just his annoyance of gossip, but even when he wasn’t there, the feeling lingered.

Long story short, one night Tomura dusted your date immediately after you ended the night and confessed (stuttering and scratching his neck while doing so)

But after confessing to you, the young leader became.. less of as asshole and more.. mature

By that point, you had settled into being a part of the LoV and everyone had taken quite a liking to you (even dabi if you can believe it)

Things only got better for the league when you were able to steal money from your father and buy them a much better, bigger hideout.

“My father had millions upon millions of yen, he’s not gonna notice if a few million go missing”

It was an old, a banded building on the outskirts of town. With a kitchen, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, and even a basement that the LoV converted into a training area.

While they kept using the bar as their main HQ, most of the time if someone wasn’t on a mission, they could be found in the building you bought

They even named the building “Y/N’s Mansion” (spinner came up with the name)

The Relationship

Tomura’s relationship with you was, frankly, the best thing to happen to the league

Even though sometimes he still got annoyed with how privileged you seemed, he never really could bring himself to hate you

You were always kind and generous, never really thinking about yourself

You always made sure to be ready with the first aid kit when anyone came back from missions and you always made an effort to learn about each one of them

The first time Tomura let you touch his skin, you were so delicate and soft. Treating him like a glass figure, careful not to break him

Before you, he had never been shown such tenderness, it was a new sensation for him that he swears he will never get used to it

He wanted to show you the same thing, so he forced Dabi to go out and steal some artist. gloves for him

Your skin felt so.. delicate underneath his rough palm that he almost convinced himself that you were a real angel

You were still naive to the way of the world, but Tomura wanted to keep it that way

He was like your scary dog privileges and "barked" at anyone who even looked at you wrong

A guy stared too long at the connivence story? Dusted later that night

Someone made an unwanted advance at a bar or club? They suddenly go missing a few minutes later

Dabi makes some snide comment about you? Tomura is up in his face, glaring and threatening him (Kurogiri has had to break up too many confrontations)

Overall, Tomura may have been suspicious of you but in reality you have become the single, most important thing in his life

[tma-entity-song-poll]

Battle of the Fear Bands B1R3: The Spiral

The Crows Trial:

Red Signal:

"A song about reality just completely falling apart."

Lyrics below the cut!

A Crow's Trial:

Guests line up to leave their moldy bedrooms In a dimly lit, moonlit motel The turtles are dancing with raccoons A zombie joins but gets a firm "no thank you"

The mannequin's calling for a taxi With a fee of twenty-thousand yen A familiar voice cries out to me A feathered creature I have never seen

The crow offers me a smoke He says, "It'll take you for a joyride" No, sir, I think I'd rather choke Oh, I'll be fine "You're in a web of lies"

On a busy street you'll see the city folk Run at the mercy of the singing crows The raven ponders if he enjoys the gore While he takes the frontal lobe and eats some more Little miss, don't sit, come join the fun! We've only got twelve hours 'til the party's done Paramnesia rules this world So fake a smile Take a shot, some scotch And wait until your trial

Crows line up to greet the local mushrooms Sticking fliers on their spotted head The turtles are eating the raccoons A zombie sits alone and cries "I hate you"

The mannequin's calling for a taxi For a crow who knows we have a deal A familiar voice cries out to me A feathered creature, and he's come to see me

The crow offers me a smoke He says, "It'll help you kill the third eye" My, my, you think this is a joke? "I swear, it's fine!" He's in a web of lies

The clocks take shots as the dolls relax under the morning sky They wonder if time would still proceed if they were to die The devil's work life, suffice to say, is comedy at best He wonders if there will come a time when he can leave the nest

In a burning town around inferno's court The crows are laughing with a glass of port The woman ponders if she enjoys the gore Still, she takes the devil's heart and eats some more

"Little miss, this isn't the deal we had!" Oh, did I mess it up? I guess it's just too bad Paramnesia rules this world So fake a smile Take a shot, some scotch I'll see you at your trial

Red Signal:

Y'AI 'NG'NGAH, YOG-SOTHOTH H'EE-L'GEB F'AI THRODOG UAAAH OGTHROD AI'F GEB'L-EE'H YOG-SOTHOTH 'NGAH'NG AI'Y ZHRO

[Another minute of chanting]

And the walls begin to tear. Not the walls of the train, but those of a false and hollow reality, twisting in its thrall to Yog Sothoth, the key and the gate through whose cascading rainbow being the train has passed. Yog Sothoth who is the Bifrost, and whose dread invocation now shattered, drags them towards the roiling nuclear chaos of the mad deamon sultan at the centre of reality. A billion screaming squamous things approach, oozing and crawling through the shattered tatters of a sane world. All the doors are open now.​

[edgymuses]

༶ ﾟ🥀 ┄─ having dreams should be a goal that anyone should fulfill in life. it's what drives someone and bring happiness when living in a cruel soulless world. of course with big or "unreasonable" dream, there are those who loved to bring it down. grounding a dreamer to harsh reality. a person that comes to mind is mr. mishina, his dad. he had no clue about eikichi’s double life. being a perfect son at home, but to the outside world, plus his mom, he was michel; a flamboyant front man of a rock group called gas chamber. even with his father’s expectations for his son to run the family’s sushi restaurant; this would not stop eikichi to fulfill his dream. a dream since his first year of middle school. what is that dream? making his indie rock band famous! no more daydreaming in class or pretending to have screaming adoring crowd cheering his name while singing in the shower. no more what ifs. or letting his father dictate his life using fear. it's the year of making dreams happen.

even with a dream it was rough making it happen. gas chamber became like expired chips, stale. it was time to spice things up by introducing a new interesting act to their band. what better way of getting new blood than to put flyers around town and on the web. an advertisement saying, “new member needed for our vkei band gas chambers! any instrument welcomed. refreshments and food will be provided given a generous donation of 768 yen. new member will be announced to said member’s email. tryouts at sumaru prison. let’s kick some ass and show the world who gas chamber really are!!!! good luck!!!!”

on the day of the tryouts the call was answered by a few people with a variety of instruments. tambourines, lutes, cellos, and so much more! but something wasn’t clicking. the tryouts continued on and eikichi was not satisfied with some of the acts present. that was until the piano players’ turn to try out. At first dull, but soon this next person caught his eye, drawing it to the vibrant yellow scarf.

as soon as the stranger puts their portable keyboard down and their fingers dance across the keys; eikichi was entranced by the music like a snake being charmed by a pungi. eyes closed as his foot taps along with the beat of the music until the song ends. that sprit and enthusiasm to his art just clicked. right then and there all the bandmates knew they had their fifth member of gas chamber! so much so, the group of boys at the end of tryouts ran after the stranger stopping him to announcing the news. along with this news they presented him with a matching armband of the band’s logo.

a few weeks of band practice and nonband related activities; the rest of the members began to warm up to the newcomer and learn his name, ryoji mochizuki. perhaps having ryoji in the band or crossing paths with ladyuck, after their usual show at open mic night a flyer for a music competition appeared on the cafe’s bulletin board. the prize for the winners was a record deal with the company hosting the competition and what appears to be a large sum of yen. finally! gas chamber’s lucky break! no more performing at open mic nights or hole-in-the-wall bars! or half the time performing at karaoke bars. not only will they be performing to eikichi's small group of friends, but for a pack crowd! hell if the band was successful enough, a solid out stadium!

with this exciting development, gas chamber began the perpetration. fast forward a week before the competition, eikichi agreed to meet ryoji at the cafe that usually host the open mic night. this meeting was to practiced for the big day and give a makeover to ryoji. the new comer need a little michel flare to his look. eyeliner and all. his eyes shot up as soon as the bell above the door rang. a person with a recognizable yellow scarf stepped into the cafe.

❛❛ yo ryoji, get your ass over here!! you can’t keep the most handsome guy in the room waiting! ❜❜ 

@enshijou 💜'd for a plotted starter!

[satoshi-mochida]

Ratatan Kickstarter campaign launched

Gematsu Source

The Kickstarter campaign for Ratatan, the newly announced rhythm strategy game from the creators of Patapon, is now live. It is seeking 20 million yen (approx. $141,098 USD) in funding for an initial release on PC, with a stretch goal an unknown amount beyond 50 million yen (approx. $351,672 USD) for console versions.

Get the details below.

■ Welcome to the Planet of Adventure

Once upon a time, a great goddess resided on a deserted planet. Nary a soul to play with, the goddess took to song to inject the planet with a little fun:

♪ Rat-tat! Rat-tat! Rat-tat-tat! ♪

Gather childlike souls and sing, dance, have fun,

♪ Rat-tat! Rat-tat! Rat-tat-tat!♪

Mirth and merriment will take us to The Everafter,

♪ Rat-tat! Rat-tat! Rat-tat-tat! ♪

The Everafter’s lovely, just come and see,

Yummy sweets and fluffy beds await thee!

The goddess’s song echoed on the wind across the planet, beckoning what slumbered there and inviting them to join her in The Everafter.

■ Gameplay

Ratatan is diving onto the roguelike scene in this combination of rhythm and side-scroller action. Players can move to the groove alone or team up with friends in multiplayer mayhem suitable for up to four players! Engage in huge melee brawls with more than 100 characters duking it out for supremacy. Defeat your enemies by riding the rhythm of Ratatan‘s catchy, toe-tapping soundtrack in this delightful, heartfelt adventure!

Rhythm Commands and Cobun Orders

Feel the beat and use rhythm commands in time with the music to order your Cobun in the direction you want them to go. The Ratatan can be moved freely, so use your better judgment to decide where best to give orders, where to stand when on the offensive, and when to retreat. A sense of rhythm and strategy is crucial in order to survive long adventures while losing as few Cobun as possible!

Fever System

Keep to the beat and your party will enter FEVER MODE, a feature no good rhythm game can do without! Feel the vibes shift as the background music dynamically changes and your Cobun erupt in a flurry of frenzied dance moves that’ll really get the heart pumping! And if everyone’s party goes into FEVER MODE at the same time, you’ll really bring the house down!

Adorable 2D Animations

Ratatan makes use of charming 2D animation with movements filled with vivid personality. The Cobun, your faithful and lovable servants, will wibble-wobble as they follow your orders, while your enemies will try to intimidate with their often hilarious movements, breathing even more life into the world of Ratatan.

■ The World

A brand spanking new planet with boundless potential for fun. Blue skies, azure seas, reddy-brown canyons, gold deserts and deep green jungles… A world like a picture perfect sky awaits your wonderful surprise filled adventures!

PIrates of the Paraddean

Beautiful mermaids and sparkling blue sea… Is this heaven? Eh, not quite. This is the paradisiacal Paraddean Sea of the southern waters, patrolled by Captain Barbatoid and his merry band of Swashbuckling Mantaneers.

Bad Day on Yeehawler Mountain

It’s said that, many moons ago, a railcar once carried gilded treasures across the arid, windswept wilderness of these canyons. But now Scorpswoosh Bill and his ragtag team of Stinger Diggers threaten the peace of this here town! You gotta do something!

More coming soon…

■ Ratatans

The Ratatan are groove loving adventurers that use the power of song and magical instruments called “Melodium” to command their armies of Cobun.

Using the power of the Melodium, each Ratatan has what’s called a Ratatan Skill they can unleash to dominate the battlefield!

Keroronpa (voiced by Masay Fukunishi) – An agitator born to agitate with its super-duper megaphone. Capable of raising both enemy tempers and party morale, this egomaniac is utterly enamored with the sound of its own raspy voice.

Harigittan (voiced by Hika Tsukishiro) – Loves protecting its allies with numbingly good riffs. Proficient in both defense and counter offense, this poor little guy is often misunderstood as being thorny and unapproachable.

Nyandola (voiced by Haruna Yuzuki) – An assassin that likes to toy with the enemy using fast swipes and hip dance moves. Great at sneaking up on and obliterating targets, it’s desperate to nibble on the fish-like Chorus.

Mimizukyun (voiced by Youhei Azakami) – A sniper that targets far off prey with its blinkless stare. Great at concentrating their attacks on enemy weak points, they’ll aim for the heart and never let go!

More coming soon…

■ Other Characters

Chorus – Mysterious, fish-shaped creatures that inhabit every corner of Redo. Also referred to as Ototo, these dangerous creatures devour everything in their path if left to their own devices, but transform into faithful Cobun when exposed to the songs of the Ratatan.

Cobun (voiced by Gaku Kato / Ann Yamane) – Chorus transform into these creatures when they are gifted a Medama by a Ratatan. Carrying the appearance and characteristics of its master, they can be made to act in various ways through music and song.

Fortrun (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita – A carefree, shanty singing ship. Encaptured by the song of the goddess, they set out on an adventure to join her in The Everafter, but fearing the dreadful Chorus they instead wandered the Nowhere Sea.

Baddies

Did you really think that traversing the world of Redo wouldn’t be fraught with danger and excitement? Each of the world’s realms is crawling (sometimes literally) with armies of ne’er-do-wells that have acclimatized to their surroundings. Here are some examples of what to prepare your mettle for!

Dekadon – A big grumpy dragon with a big grumpy attitude. Once the guardian deity of a world born by a different god, his presence is out of place in the world of the Ratatans.

The Swashbuckling Mantaneers – Beware, the Swashbuckling Mantaneers who cruise the famous Paraddean Seas, self-proclaimed “Nice Guys” who promise to shed neither tears nor blood. Sailing aboard The Jolly Hermit and under the watchful eye of Captain Barbatoid, they dye the southern seas red with the blood of— Oh, uhm, or not, actually. They said they wouldn’t do that…

The Singer Diggers – Times are tough, driving the Stinger Diggers to a life of crime after their dreams of striking rich fell apart, and things are only getting tougher with Wagoon rolling in and plundering the town yet again! Outraged by the constant pillaging of food, drink, and even the occasional maiden, the Ratatan’s seek to overthrow the Stinger Diggers’ leader, Scorpswoosh Bill, and return peace to their town!

Sound

Now, what kind of troupe would you be leading without the perfect tune to march your minions to?! Worry not! We’ve got you covered with the perfect musical accompaniment for crushing your enemies in a wave of adorable terror!

“Fortrun’s Theme” – Fortrun loves to sing, drawing Ratatan, Cobun and all manner of creatures as his hums his happy tune, and before long everyone is marching along in a parade of song! We wanted to capture this joy in a song that everyone can sing along to!

“Pirates of the Paraddean Theme” – You know you’re in the presence of the Swashbuckling Mantaneers and their leader, Captain Barbatoid, as their party tune grows nearer You won’t be able to stop yourself chanting along! Rat-taradee! Paraddean! Ahoy!!

“Bad Day on Yeehawler Mountain Theme” – The Stinger Dingers are on their way, singin’ and dancin’ as they ride their carts through the mines and arid wilderness. This tune has some real hustle to it!

Watch the Kickstarter campaign launch trailer below.

Kickstarter Campaign Launch Trailer 

[ifuwish]

tagged by @chocobiiis to shuffle my 'on repeat' playlist and share the first ten songs that play! thank youuuu! ٩(^ᴗ^)۶

"Mass Anasthesia" - Mediavolo

"Nightmare" - Red Velvet

"All I Think About Now" - Pixies

"Rabbiteen" - Jack Off Jill

"Ruby Shoes" - tommy heavenly6

"Band Aid Covers The Bullet Hole" - Scarling.

"Moth Touch" - Maple Bee

"Sunday Park" - YEN TOWN BAND

"Underwater" - Red Velvet

"ASAP" - STAYC

tagging @chaicolatte @dogbiscuit @eimiiko @loveinheart @missingwife @mouthlog @vampean ♥︎

[andrewtverylegitimateblog]

Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)

I really don't know. I might have some ideas. But whether or not any of them are up to scrutiny is a whole other matter. Shunji Iwai's Swallowtail Butterfly is a coming of age story, sometimes it's a Hong Kong gangster movie, and there are other times where I frankly don't know what it was exactly that I watched. Something I can say for certain is that if I had to pin any particular theme that was consistent throughout Swallowtail Butterfly it was fluidity.

Swallowtail Butterfly throughout most of its narrative follows Ageha, a young girl residing in a non-descript immigrant shanty town occupied prominently by Chinese settlers at the edge of non-descript urban Japan. This general non-descript quality is a common element in Swallowtail Butterfly. After being orphaned Ageha is left in the care of Glico, a Chinese prostitute as she and their many friends find ways to survive in Yentown.

Yentown roughly encompasses the boundaries of urban Japan and is a space where immigrants from all over the world have come to stake their claim, collect enough yen, and to return home. Aside from the non-descriptness of place Swallowtail Butterfly also does quite a bit to play with the non-descriptness of race and identity.

After a series of absurd adventures that involves desecrating a grave in a potter's field, searching the contents of a human stomach, and using a Frank Sinatra cassette to run a counterfeiting scam Ageha, Glico, and their friends open the YenTown Club. It's during this time that Glico gains the attention of record company executives for her singing talent.

During an interview with a fairly prominent record label the executives present are discussing the marketability of Glico as Chinese and decide that it would be too difficult and instead ask her if she would become Japanese. This is where the fluidity of Swallowtail Butterfly and what it has to say about race and especially about being Japanese is the most identifiable. Glico's popularity is predicated on her ability to present herself as Japanese. Not only is being Japanese something which can be marketed and commodified but also something which is not so strictly defined by essentialized ideas of homogeneity.

There are certainly other times in the film where these grander ideals surrounding homogeneity are challenged such as with the band consisting of Japanese born individuals of non-Japanese descent who's cultural upbringing and only language seems to be almost exclusively. Are these individuals not Japanese?

This really was not a film for me. I didn't necessarily find it bad. The counterfeiting scheme in general was one of my favorite plot points of Swallowtail Butterfly, unfortunately from there things branched off into places that just weren't very interesting to me. One of my favorite aspects of the film though was the setting of "Yentown", and it's "city at the edge of the world" quality and the ways in which each character had seemingly drifted into there and the stories they brought with them and their struggles. It, and especially the underworld crime portion, reminded me quite a bit of Roanapur, a fictional South East Asian island that acts as setting for the manga Black Lagoon.

[turtleations]

Pink Couldy Sky, Chapter 02 (Summarized)

Chapter 00 - 01

Chapter 02 - Awakening

In the second chapter, REM describes his childhood and his way to rock music. He was born in Nagasaki. The exact date is never given, but he occasionally mentioned his age at specific points, from which I figured he must have been born between September 1963 and April 1964. He had an older sister, and from the thank you to his supporters at the end of the book, I learned that he also had a younger brother who is never otherwise mentioned. His father was a doctor.

When he was one year old, the family moved to a small town in the deepest province of Tokushima, Shikoku, where his father worked at the local hospital. Since his parents thought that musical education is important, he had to learn the piano and came to the conclusion that he actually hated music. This, however, changed when he was nine and his sister got a guitar. As it turned out, he only hated practicing the piano.

So, REM switched to the guitar and enjoyed it a lot. At the time he was only playing folk songs, because that was all he knew, and eventually, his interest died down again. Until three years later: When he was thirteen, during the summer vacation of his first year of middle school, his parents sent him on a trip to Los Angeles with a boy scout program. For about two weeks he stayed at the home of one of the American boy scouts and participated in a bunch of events and activities meant to lead to cultural exchange and gathering personal experiences. For REM, the country boy who had never even visited Tokyo, to take his first trip alone all the way to the United States and a mega city like L.A., this was pretty exciting.

He made friends with one of the American boys despite obvious obstacles with their communication. The time came to exchange culturally significant gifts and REM gave his friend a 5-Yen coin, which was much appreciated because of the hole in it. His American friend, in return, gave him a cassette tape to listen to with “Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple on it. And hearing that intro, his life was changed forever. Except that the cassette tape was not labelled, which led to a major misunderstanding on his part that would dominate the next several months of his life.

Visiting his friend, the friend showed him his favorite album, which was by the band KISS. And since REM had no idea who had made the song from the cassette tape or what it was called, he just assumed that it was a KISS song as well.

He copied the album from his friend, assuming the song to be on it, only to find upon listening to the whole thing that it was not. Coming back home, there was no one in his neck of the woods who could have corrected his assumption, and his family had a music deck but no radio, so he spent all of his pocket money buying all the KISS albums, looking for that elusive song while spending the evenings listening with his headphones on. Of course, he never found it. But while looking for it, he came to like KISS’s music more and more.

Eventually, his parents bought him a cassette deck with a radio of his own and one day he was listening to some late-night radio program when suddenly there it was: The phantom song he had been looking for for half a year by then.

Afterwards, the radio host introduced the song and REM was pretty shocked that he had spent all his money looking for it on the albums of the wrong band. But since by then he was quite the KISS fan, that wasn’t actually too bad. And that is the story how he found his livelong musical idols by searching all of their albums for a song of someone else…

REM’s idol was KISS-bassist Gene Simmons and his father one day bought him a bass-guitar, so REM actually started his musician life as a bassist. He copied the bass and guitar parts of KISS’s songs by ear on his electric bass and his sister’s gut guitar. That he had such a good ear for notes was, ironically, thanks to the hated piano lessons his parents had forced on him, so he had to be grateful for them in the end after all. As before, he put all of his money into record and music magazines. He loved hard rock and progressive rock and got into bands like Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols and Rush. In fact, by the time of writing the book in 1999, Rush’s “Moving Pictures” was still one of his all-time favorite albums. Neil Peart was his favorite drummer, although he also had to mention his own current bandmate Kosuke, whose sound and play style was similar to Peart’s.

Eventually, REM was no longer content just to listen to music and play songs in his room. He wanted a band of his own, but being in the deepest province, fellow rock-loving musicians were impossible to come by and there was no one around who owned an electric guitar or a drum set. In his second year of middle school, at the age of fourteen, he finally managed to get a band together by more or less forcing some friends from his Kendo-club into it. Not only did he love making music together, but on top of that this band finally united him with the instrument of his heart:

The friend he had assigned the role of the guitarist to got an electric guitar, and he let REM use it one day. The effect this had on REM was similar to the moment he heard Smoke On The Water for the first time. He knew, this was the instrument for him! So he just held on to it tightly, informed his friend that he was going to play it and the friend was the bassist from now on, and never stopped to think that he was being a bit of an asshole. Being young is terrible…

Unfortunately, this memorable, historical band never got a name as they broke up before they could think of one. They only performed once: On the middle school graduation party. They played songs by KISS and Twist, and the reaction of their teachers made it very clear that the province of Shikoku was not the place for this kind of noise. Not that REM cared.

REM’s next school was a high school in Wakimachi, were he immediately joined a band as a bassist. The Band was called “Fourth Dimension” and consisted otherwise of third-year students. Due to those graduating, there were frequent member changes, but the band kept going through them all, and was quite popular. When they played in the school’s park, there were plenty of people watching them. They did hard rock and heavy metal and copied songs by Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Scorpions etc.

Due to the band’s leader graduating, REM got the role of the leader soon after joining, and he upheld the tradition of recurring member changes with passion: Whenever he thought that someone’s skills weren’t enough for his band, he ruthlessly kicked them out. Those were carefree days in which he did not fear anything that might be ahead of him, but looking back he is sorry for all the hurt he must have caused back then without thinking about it.

At some point he met with a former bandmate who had since graduated. The guy laughed as he talked to him but then suddenly stared him right in the face and pointed out that coldly firing band members he found lacking was something becoming of a big city band aspiring to go professional, not something for a provincial high school cover band, and that REM was quite unbelievable.

If, on the other hand, REM heard a rumor about a good musician he immediately checked them out.

He practiced a lot those days, as did his bandmates, some of whom he is still music-friends with at the time of writing, like the former drummer/bandleader Oomori, and the vocalist, both of whom are now running businesses in Tokyo.

He also discovered a weakness for motorbikes in those days, through the leader of a biker-gang whom an older classmate introduced him to. The guy had lost his parents at a young age and dropped out of school to support the grandmother he was living with. He liked rock music and at some point during their conversations he showed REM his prized bike.

It was cool, but ultimately, REM’s passion here remained shallow. He remembers those days as a time where he absorbed a lot of experiences, but also as a time when he was rather lonely. He did not really feel a deep connection to any of his so-called friends. The time where he was able to open his heart to people had not yet come.

He could have become a delinquent at this point in his life, and the main reason why this didn’t happen was because there wasn’t really room in his head for anything other than music.

When he was sixteen, The 4th Dimension-band recorded their first independent album. It was called “All in All” and was an LP will all original songs. REM contributed to it on the bass, but his heart continued to belong to the electric guitar. Being self-taught, he practiced tirelessly and completely absorbed.

When he was seventeen, the point came where he started to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. And his idea started to form when he visited the house of a friend in his neighborhood. The house happened to belong to a dentist, and there were plenty of expensive cars in the garage whenever REM looked inside. He thus came to the conclusion that being a dentist was pretty profitable. And he wanted a profitable job so he could one day own the Gipson Les Paul he was dreaming of, and have a studio to make music in in his own house. Meanwhile, the idea of becoming a professional musician never crossed his mind here. Or rather, while the wish did exist somewhere deep inside of him, he kept it locked away there, as the province of Shikoku around 1980 was not a place where it could prosper.

In other words, he had no idea how to go about his existence as a musician. On top of that, his parents wanted him to enter a medical profession, and he never really put that into question. But he absolutely did not want to become a doctor like his father, who often left late at night for some emergency only to come home when REM was about to leave for school, looking haggard. A dentist, however…

REM used to hate going to the dentist as a child. Still, by the time he was eighteen, his mind was made up, but he also approached the whole plan with a certain naivety and when the time came to take the entrance exam to university, he promptly failed it.

Nothing to be done about that. He consulted with his parents and then went to a prep-school in Tokyo to prepare for the next attempt. It was a boarding school where everyone lived in dorms, and his guitar was not allowed there, but REM smuggled it in anyway and hid it under his bed. Thus began his days of playing his forbidden guitar, drinking alcohol, and betraying the hopes and expectations of his parents, who had taken a mortgage on their house to pay for his failed entrance exam and then to send him to prep-school.

His main emotional support in those days was Akiyama, a friend from his high-school band, who also went to prep-school in Tokyo for some design related career and who offered REM mutual encouragement and support in every aspect of his life. It was around this time that REM started creating original songs of his own, which he would let Akiyama listen to on his Walkman, and during the summer holiday, Akiyama helped him create his songs in their studio back in Tokushima.

The studio in question was a wooden shed on top of a mountain that belonged to the family of 4th Dimension’s bandleader Oomori. During his school days, REM and his bandmates would go there to practice and record during the summer holidays as well. They stayed there for about a week, bringing sleeping bags as well as provisions in the form of instant ramen, potato chips and cola. They also waged a never ending war against the mosquitos.

Going back there now to record with Akiyama filled him with nostalgic happiness and he felt like he was creating the songs for their old band. Those days were the happiest memories of his prep-school time, which he describes as hard and painful, in a Tokyo he could not get used to living in.

Winter came. REM was nineteen. He took the university entrance exam again and once again, he failed it.

This time, he was absolutely shocked and crushed. He was not prepared for this situation, didn’t know what to do. He was shocked to the point of giving up his plans for the future. Right now, he just wanted to get away from Tokyo and from everything…

…and ended up in Osaka, crashing at his sister’s place.

REM’s sister was an art student. REM literally fled to her apartment and spend the next period of his life hating himself, who had taken advantage of his parents like that with nothing to show for it. He was physically and mentally crushed and had no idea how to approach his own future now.

During the daytime, he would hang out at a music store whose staff he came to know well. At night, he went to the live houses. Overall, he wandered the city aimlessly, and a drank a lot, and when he was done, he drank more.

The one thing that made this time of his life bearable in any way was practicing the guitar, which he did eight to ten hours per day. Without that, he feels now that he would not have managed to recover and get back out of that hell.

But he found a goal again, and he found it in the live houses. There were awesome bands playing here, like X-RAY, Marimo, 44-Magnum, and of course Loudness. They managed to push REM back into action, because he wanted to make music – but not their kind of music.

Given time, and if became friends with musicians from the area, REM was sure he could have gotten into Osaka’s style of rock music as well. But something wasn’t quite right for him. He wanted to make the kind of music found in Tokyo.

And for that he needed to get back to Tokyo – as a student. Because if he just simply got a job there, he would not have enough free time for his music. On top of that, he did have the desire to gain expertise in something, to have some kind of profession. And so, in autumn, he expressed his feelings to his parents and started to get back into studying for the entrance exam. And this time, fortunately, he succeeded: The following year, he got accepted into not one but two universities – not in Tokyo proper, but Tokyo-adjacent in the Kanto-region. Kanagawa and Saitama were the provinces he could choose from and finally leave the seemingly endless bad times behind.

In spring 1984, at the age of twenty, REM went to meet the good part of his youth.

Chapter 03

[scarletwritesshit]

Yosuke Hanamura x F!Reader ❀ Town of Blossoms ❀ June 3rd, 2013

Junes was awfully crowded for a miserable day like today. The sun hadn’t even reached its peak yet, and temperatures were already reaching scorching high numbers. The refrigerated vegetable aisle was crowded by procrastinating shoppers hesitant to leave the refreshing cool air. They could just as easily throw themselves into one of the freezers, at this rate. Could the staff even blame them for considering that? Hell, they might as well join the customers in the frozen meal aisle.

It was no use fighting through the other shoppers right now. Your primary goal was to hopefully catch Yosuke at the food court during his break. Last night, you did make a promise to see him after all.

The interior of Junes wasn’t the coolest place in the world, but you still got blasted in the face with heat as soon as you stepped outside. Unsurprisingly, the lines of people awaiting a chance to order a frozen dessert were beginning to crowd the food court.  You made your way to the shortest line that you could see and secured your position before anyone could put you further behind. Out of the corner of your eye, you were looking around to attempt to catch glimpse of Yosuke. It was hard to tell if he was outside with lines obstructing your view from all sides anyways, and if he was out at this time, he had to be already sitting down in the shade.

Now, if only this damn line would pick up the pace. For one thing, you wanted to get something to cool you down before the sun's rays roasted your body. It would also be nice to meet up with Yosuke soon so that he wouldn’t be under the wrongful assumption that you forgot about him.

Finally, it was your turn to order. You went for a large cup of standard vanilla ice cream, as it was the safest option considering the mass amount of other people who have already had the chance to order. The swirl towered over the rim of the cup, and it was quickly beginning to soften and liquify. You fought your way out of the cluster of people, which were thankfully leaving the food court for their cars. Other than the few people still waiting in line, the food court was almost completely empty.

With the majority of the tables unoccupied and the court finally clearing out, it wasn’t difficult to spot Yosuke sitting by himself in the shade. He was paying no mind to his surroundings, as he was more focused on whatever he was doing on his phone to care. His headphones were on and he was tapping his foot to the beat of the music: an absolute genius tactic to keep coworkers and needy customers away during his brief moment of peace.

You almost felt bad for disturbing him in such a relaxed state, but you wanted to fulfill last night’s promise of visiting him during the day. A little bit of hesitation lingered, though, yet you still walked over to the table he sat in and slid into a chair across from him. Yosuke looked up from his phone to see who had decided to pay him a visit, and immediately upon seeing that it was you, he sat his phone onto the table and slid his headphones around his neck. Before he tapped his phone screen to stop his music, you could faintly hear what sounded like some kind of early 2000s Western rock, but you couldn’t tell which band it was. It was most likely one of those numerous bands he constantly talked about, none of which your fried brain could remember at the moment.

"I didn’t even expect you to make it all the way out here in this heat today," Yosuke said, pleasantly surprised by your appearance.

"I needed to do a bit of shopping anyways, so stopping by to see you on your lunch break wasn’t going to hurt," you said. "Besides, it’s been too hot to do anything else."

"Yeah, tell me about it… Business has been absolutely crazy at the food courts lately. Everyone has been fighting tooth and nail for some of those 300 yen soft serves, but I see you’ve went big."

"I’d have the normal sized cone scarfed down before I could even take a seat, so I had to take things a step further."

You scooped a hefty portion off of the top with a spoon and eagerly shoved it into your mouth. Immediately, you were met with brainfreeze, an awful thing to deal with while having a mouth still full of ice cream. Yosuke was getting quite the enjoyment out of your suffering, whether or not he was actually putting in any effort to hide his snickering.

"Bite off more than you could chew, huh?" he said, mockingly.

Somehow, you felt as if you had in both a literal and figurative sense.

After the pain in your head subsided, you could finally retaliate against his snarky comment, albeit a bit too late.

"I’d like to see you finish one of these by yourself then. Or are you soft, just like the texture of the ice cream?"

"Soft? I’m anything but soft! I helped track down a murderer and...and stuff..."

"Relax, it’s a cold dessert, not a cold-blooded killer," you said, taking another bite. Much to Yosuke's disappointment, you weren’t met with brain freeze twice in a row.

"You know exactly what I meant."

"Do I? Maybe you’re the one who didn’t know, you big goof."

"I am positive that I know the exact message being conveyed here. And uh...speaking of soft desserts..."

"Yes?"

"You uh...got a little something on your face."

"Huh? Where?"

Yosuke leaned over the table, stopping himself before he got too close to you. He seemed surprised that you didn’t instinctively flinch backwards with him being so bold as to approach you in such a manner. In fact, you did just the opposite by subconsciously leaning in ever so slightly closer. He remained silent and motionless for a moment, as if he were carefully debating his next action.

Yosuke lifted up his right hand and gently slid the back of his thumb across your cheek.

"Right...here."

A little bit of ice cream was on his finger, showing that he was indeed being truthful about seeing some on your face.

He sat back down in his chair, flicking the ice cream off to the side.

"...Thanks," you said, unable to figure out how to properly respond. Fortunately, the summer heat was helpful in hiding your blush.

Yosuke nodded in acknowledgement, then looked away while fidgeting with his headphone cord. He seemed to have understood what he had done, and how it could have been perceived, yet he still felt some kind of guilt.

To get his attention back, you gently tapped on the table. He looked at you, curiously awaiting your next move. Perhaps he was worried that you were going to sock him across the food court, like a certain martial artist that you once knew would’ve. Yosuke did not flinch in fear, but merely accepted his fate.

Of course, you would never do that to him. There was absolutely nothing was wrong with a friend trying to lend a hand, which is what he was simply trying to do. No big deal, right?

It wasn’t something that you should be preoccupied with anyways. Neither should Yosuke, but he still seemed to be braced for your retaliation for his rather unique form of assistance. Before any misunderstandings should arise, you diverted his attention to hopefully a more positive subject matter.

"Do you have any plans for after work any day this week?” you asked. “Perhaps we can take a walk through the shopping district or head down to the river.”

"I don’t have anything pressing planned, but..."

"But what?"

Yosuke crossed his arms on the table and planted his face into them. He let out an exhausted sigh, sounding drained and defeated.

"Listen, man. The heat doesn’t look like it’s going to let up, and working here sucks enough life outta me. I want to actually, yknow, enjoy our time together."

Which, was completely understandable.

“I-I’m not saying I hate your company or anything! I just…” he said, realizing that his response may have sounded worse than intended.

"I get it," you said, trying to reassure him. "The offer will always be up for when you do catch a break."

"I know, I just don’t want to come off as avoidant all of a sudden, that’s all."

Yosuke looked up at you and seemed immensely disappointed at having to decline your offer. It can’t be helped, though, as what would you realistically do when sitting outside was agony enough?

"Hana, it’s fine. Taking some time to avoid the wrath of hell itself isn’t going to cause any harm."

"Still, I feel like I’ve been constantly letting you down."

"Are you letting that 'prince of disappointment' stuff get to you again?"

"...Maybe."

You pulled out an extra plastic spoon that you took from the counter and stashed away. From the start, you knew that you would be unable to finish such a large serving ice cream all on your own. The larger portion was intended to serve as an excuse for spending more time with Yosuke, but it wasn’t going to last much longer with the hot air lingering even in the shade.

You slid the spoon across the table to him, lightly hitting him in the arm. He looked down at it, then back at you.

"What was that about not being soft? You aren’t going to let yourself be defeated by cheap Junes ice cream, right?"

"Well, when you put it that way...hey wait! I'm not soft!"

He ripped the plastic off of the spoon and started aggressively digging into the ice cream from his side. What could he possibly be attempting to prove by inhaling a half-eaten bowl of mushy ice cream? He was shoving it in his mouth with such enthusiasm that you couldn’t help but laugh at his disregard for the vanilla ice cream that seemed to miss its mark.

"W-what's so funny?" he said in between bites.

"Oh, nothing. You just have a little something on your face, that’s all."

Yosuke didn’t respond. He merely narrowed his eyes at you, annoyed that you used his own trick against him. He looked back down at the formerly behemoth mound of ice cream and continued scooping away at what was remaining.

When the bowl was practically empty, Yosuke took a glance at his phone and was alerted to how much time had passed. From the look on his face, you could tell that he would have to return to wrangling inventory and customers inside Junes shortly. He stood up from his chair and hesitantly slid it back under the table.

“Sorry to cut our time together short, but I’d best be going. The boss is probably going to kill me if I stay out any longer with all of these customers around.”

“Wait,” you said, stopping him in his tracks. “I’ll walk back with you.”

“Huh? Okay...even though it’s not that far to the warehouse.”

“I’m going back inside anyways,” you said while gathering the trash into the cup. “There’s no need to see each other off so soon.”

“I thought that you would want to go home as soon as you could in order to escape this murderous weather. Braving the heat for little ol me, I see how it is.”

He really is difficult to fool, huh? He’s more of a detective than meets the eye…

“Oh shut it, Hana. I’m simply trying to make my suffering in the heat worthwhile.”

“Okay, okay I get it. Calm down…”

The walk back through Junes was a rather slow one. He was clearly dragging his feet, and you were purposefully slowing him down further. To try and appear busy in order to avoid an earful from the higher ups, Yosuke pretended to care about the stock of food and merchandise lining the shelves. One of his coworkers gave him the side-eye for being so slow to return back from break, but was more shocked to see you walking so close to his side. Rather than say anything, the onlooking Junes worker turned away and continued attending to the shelves that he was stocking previously. He was now probably snickering in his own world at the thought of Yosuke ever managing to acquire a partner.

As reluctant as you two were to part ways for the day, Yosuke did eventually have to bring himself to return to work. Though the separation would be temporary, you still found yourself craving perhaps just a few minutes more of conversation with him. Free from any distractions, you remembered the original reason, or at least what you claimed to be, why you came to Junes in the first place; a restock of ice pops.

Annoyingly enough, people were still crowded where the ice pops were located in the freezer department. With no energy left to fight through the crowds, you instead settled on a box of kinpaku. The ice cream wouldn’t hold up as well as the pops would in the heat, which meant you had to head straight home if you wanted to preserve any form of edible quality.

While walking to the checkout with your box of ice cream in hand, you accidentally bumped into something sticking out of a store display. It wasn’t a violent smashing noise or the impact of a box, but rather, a softer rustling sound when it hit the floor. You turned around to investigate, noticing a bundle of blue hydrangeas laying in the middle of the aisle.

Despite how badly you wanted to keep your ice cream from melting, you picked up the bundle of fresh flowers and carefully place them back onto the display. It would be a sorrowful tragedy to see such beautiful blossoms trampled over…

Author's note:

kinpaku is another name for golden ice cream which is mainly known for the gold foil it is wrapped in rather than a unique flavor see what i did there golden ice cream persona 4 golden haha funny

[bonnieandrhyme]

Japan Travel Checklist for First-Timers: Must-Have Items and Tips for a Hassle-Free Journey

Embarking on your first trip to Japan  Our Japan Travel Checklist for First-Timers is here to guide you. Discover essential items to pack, from comfortable footwear and portable Wi-Fi to travel adapters and Japanese yen. We also share valuable tips on navigating public transportation, cultural etiquette, and must-visit destinations. Ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey with our comprehensive guide tailored specifically for first-time travelers to Japan.

Essential Documents for Japan Travel Checklist

When traveling to Japan travel checklist, and having your essential documents in order are crucial for a smooth trip. This includes your passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, and a copy of your itinerary. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your stay. Check visa requirements based on your nationality, as some countries are exempt from visa requirements for short visits. Travel insurance is highly recommended to cover unexpected incidents. Keep both physical and digital copies of these documents for added security.

Must-Have Electronics for Your Japan Travel Checklist

For a hassle-free journey, packing the right electronics is key. Bring a universal travel adapter to charge your devices, as Japan uses Type A and Type B plugs. A portable power bank can be a lifesaver for long days of sightseeing. Don’t forget your smartphone, which can be handy for navigation and communication. Download essential apps such as Google Maps, translation apps, and Japan-specific travel guides to enhance your experience.

Japanese Currency and Payment Options: A Japan Travel Checklist

Having the right currency and understanding payment options can prevent any issues during your trip. Japan primarily uses the Japanese Yen (JPY), so it's wise to carry some cash as many places, especially in smaller towns, might not accept credit cards. ATMs are widely available but be aware that not all will accept international cards. Inform your bank of your travel plans to avoid any issues with your credit or debit cards.

Packing Essentials for Your Japan Travel Checklist

When packing for Japan, consider the weather and activities you’ll be engaging in. Lightweight, breathable clothing is ideal for summer, while warmer layers are necessary for winter. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, as you’ll likely be exploring on foot. A compact umbrella is useful for unexpected rain showers. Additionally, a small, foldable bag can come in handy for daily excursions.

Health and Safety Items for Your Japan Travel Checklist

To ensure your health and safety, bring along a small first aid kit with essentials such as band-aids, pain relievers, and any personal medications. Japan has a high standard of hygiene, but it’s always good to carry hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. If you have any specific dietary needs or allergies, consider bringing a translation card to communicate them easily.

Cultural Etiquette and Communication Tools for Japan Travel Checklist

Understanding cultural etiquette can enhance your travel experience. Learn a few basic Japanese phrases to help with communication, as English may not be widely spoken in rural areas. Familiarize yourself with Japanese customs, such as bowing as a form of greeting and removing your shoes before entering homes and certain establishments. Bringing a phrasebook or translation app can help bridge any language gaps.

Navigational Aids for Your Japan Travel Checklist

Navigational tools are essential for exploring Japan’s extensive and efficient transportation system. A Japan Rail Pass can be a cost-effective way to travel between cities. Download transit apps like HyperDia or Navitime for accurate train schedules and routes. Maps, both physical and digital, can help you navigate cities and rural areas with ease. Familiarize yourself with the basics of the Japanese public transport system to make your travels smoother.

Conclusion

Preparing a comprehensive Japan travel checklist ensures a hassle-free journey for first-time visitors. By organizing your essential documents, packing the right electronics and currency, and understanding local customs, you can focus on enjoying the rich cultural experiences Japan has to offer. Don’t forget to include health and safety items, cultural etiquette guides, and navigational aids to make the most of your trip. With these preparations, you’ll be ready to explore Japan with confidence and ease.

[tma-entity-song-poll]

Battle of the Fear Bands B1R3: The Spiral

Borderline:

"It's about drugs it's about being lost it's about existentialism it's also very trippy"

The Crows Trial:

Lyrics below the cut!

Borderline:

Gone a little far Gone a little far this time with something How was I to know How was I to know this high came rushing

We're on the borderline Dangerously fine and unforgiving Possibly a sign I'm gonna have the strangest night on Sunday

Here I go Quite a show for a loner in LA I wonder how I managed to end up in this place Where I couldn't get away

We're on the borderline Caught between the tides of pain and rapture

Then I saw the time Watched it speedin' by like a train Like a train

Will I be known and loved? Is there one that I trust? Starting to sober up Has it been long enough?

Will I be known and loved? Any Closer, Close enough I'm a loser, loosen up Setting free, must be tough

Will I be known and loved? Is there one that I trust? Starting to sober up Has it been long enough?

Will I be so in love? Any Closer, Close enough Shout out to what is done R.I.P. here comes the sun

Here comes the sun Gone a little far Gone a little far this time with something Rudi said it's fine They used to do this all the time in college

And we're on the borderline Caught between the tides of pain and rapture Then I saw the time Watched it speedin' by like a train

Will I be known and loved? Is there one that I trust? Starting to sober up Has it been long enough?

Will I be known and loved? Any Closer, Close enough I'm a loser, loosen up Setting free, must be tough

Will I be known and loved? Is there one that I trust? Starting to sober up Has it been long enough?

Will I be so in love? Any Closer, Close enough Shout out to what is done R.I.P. here comes the sun

Here comes the sun

A Crow's Trial:

Guests line up to leave their moldy bedrooms In a dimly lit, moonlit motel The turtles are dancing with raccoons A zombie joins but gets a firm "no thank you"

The mannequin's calling for a taxi With a fee of twenty-thousand yen A familiar voice cries out to me A feathered creature I have never seen

The crow offers me a smoke He says, "It'll take you for a joyride" No, sir, I think I'd rather choke Oh, I'll be fine "You're in a web of lies"

On a busy street you'll see the city folk Run at the mercy of the singing crows The raven ponders if he enjoys the gore While he takes the frontal lobe and eats some more Little miss, don't sit, come join the fun! We've only got twelve hours 'til the party's done Paramnesia rules this world So fake a smile Take a shot, some scotch And wait until your trial

Crows line up to greet the local mushrooms Sticking fliers on their spotted head The turtles are eating the raccoons A zombie sits alone and cries "I hate you"

The mannequin's calling for a taxi For a crow who knows we have a deal A familiar voice cries out to me A feathered creature, and he's come to see me

The crow offers me a smoke He says, "It'll help you kill the third eye" My, my, you think this is a joke? "I swear, it's fine!" He's in a web of lies

The clocks take shots as the dolls relax under the morning sky They wonder if time would still proceed if they were to die The devil's work life, suffice to say, is comedy at best He wonders if there will come a time when he can leave the nest

In a burning town around inferno's court The crows are laughing with a glass of port The woman ponders if she enjoys the gore Still, she takes the devil's heart and eats some more

"Little miss, this isn't the deal we had!" Oh, did I mess it up? I guess it's just too bad Paramnesia rules this world So fake a smile Take a shot, some scotch I'll see you at your trial

[u-u-uko2]

さかさに…

もう・・・・・

・・・

・・・・・

(いや歌わへんのんかぃ)

(なんかこの曲の温度と空の色温度が一緒ぐらいだったので…つい…)

今日の帰り道、

辺り一面もピンクに染まる夕暮れでした

ちなみに YEN TOWN BANDです。(言わんでもわかっとるわぃ( ˆ꒳​ˆ; )