Aside from the spelling error, the short snippet shows how the last leg of Perfume’s ⊿ tour at Yokohama Arena went. Yes, it’s very much like the one I went at Sapporo, although the only difference was the size.

Here’s an excerpt from the latest post:

Their next live performance announced will be for the Act Against AIDS 2009 benefit concert at the Nippon Budokan on December 1st. This will be their 2nd time joining the AAA “The Variety” concert.

As for releases, their just finished 2009 Tour will be released on DVD will be out on January 13th, 2010! If it seems a bit too long of a wait, don’t fret for the 10/15 Yokohama Arena venue of the tour will be broadcasted on MUSIC ON! TV after X’mas (12/26 ).

I can’t wait for both the broadcast version and the actual DVD. Mmmm more Perfume goodness. That said, I’m still a sucker and pre-ordered my Perfume Livefolio at the local Kinokuniya a week back. D’oh.

For more information, do visit Perfume City’s post.

Some of the key highlights are.

• Cosplay Finalists are selected.

They have narrowed down to 6 groups who will represent their respective countries for title of South-East Asia’s best cosplay group.

For more information :  You can visit  http://www.afa09.com/afa_cosplay_championship_09.html

• AFA09 Merchandise shop

Exclusive merchandise will be available for sale at the AFA09 shop,

They include , Limited Edition K-on! items. “I love Anisong” Concert  T-shirts.

• Exclusive Merchandise

Bandai Asia – Exclusive tamashii nations merchandise these includes

Autumn Limited Chogokin Saint Seiya Be@rbrick, Limited GX 24N Tetsujin 28 Naked Edition. Limited Myth cloth Appendix Gemini Sagao Original Color Edition(Saint Seiya) and many more.

Cospa – Exclusive Aquaplus Fiesta Bag from Aquaplus Fiesta08  .

Incluses a Sasara and Maryan sports towel(To Heart 2), Eruru hand towel (Utawarerumono). Konomi and Tamaki Bathroom poster(To Heart 2) and a Commemoration book!.

Bushiroad – Limited Exclusive goods include Da Caro and Idolm@ster merchandise. AliceCross and Chaos TCG will be launched in Singapore officially.

Takashimya Singapore Limited – There will be products from popular series such as Code Geass, Shakugan no Shana, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucky Star, Full Metal Alchemist : Brotherhood, D.Gray Man, Tora Dora and much more.

• Animation Studios

Tatsunoko Productions , Madhouse, Production IG, Imaginary Friends Studios, Stormlion and Egg Storry Creative productions to be there at AFA09

• Launch of New Sanyo Eneloopy kit.

Sanyo will be launching its new ‘Eneloopy’ Battery checker kit during AFA09. It is to celebrate SANYO’s Sales achievement of 100 million cells worldwide.

That more or less wraps up the  Key points of today’s Press conference.

Omake picture of Ume with the Moe Moe Kyun Squad after the jump :)

Omake : Ume got to take the pics with the maids from the Cafe today.

Here is the pic :)

The above picture is a collage of those from her blog over the week after her birthday 8D

May’n had a blast celebrating her 20th birthday on numerous occasions, with great friends, food and loads of caaaaaake. Including Taiyaki ones. lolololol

Next, the tracklist for May’n’s upcoming FULL album on the 25th of November, titled “Styles”. More information below:

『Styles』　
DVD付限定盤　VTZL-11 / ￥3,360(tax in)
通常盤　VTCL-60190 / ￥3,045(tax in)
発売：フライングドッグ　販売：ビクターエンタテインメント

■収録曲■
1.「Get Ready」
作詞：Mike Wyzgowski、Satomi　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
2.「キミシニタモウコトナカレ」
作詞：岩里祐穂　作曲・編曲：本間昭光
3.「standing bird」
作詞：渡邉睦月　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
4.「XYZ」
作詞：松尾潔　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
5.「Let Me Be Myself」
作詞：松尾潔　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
6.「Deep Breathing」
作詞：岩里祐穂　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
7.「Welcome To My FanClub’s Night！-Styles ver.- 」
作詞：hal　作曲：菅野 よう子　編曲：Chokkaku、鷺巣詩郎
8.「h@e me？ h@e you！」
作詞：Satomi　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
9.「パラノイア」
作詞：松尾潔　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎
10.「M-Revolution」
作詞：May’n　作曲・編曲：本間昭光
11.「YOUR ROCK」
作詞・作曲：May’n　編曲：鷺巣詩郎
12.「Heart & Soul」
作詞：Mike Wyzgowski　作曲・編曲：鷺巣詩郎

Other than her own full album, May’n will have a mini-album released under Sheryl Nome, titled “Universal Bunny”, to be released on the same day!

Proposed picture of the CD Jacket

Looks like all May’n/Sheryl Nome fans will be broke this coming end November. ;_; I wonder how would her “Styles” album sound/look like; also, wondering how the “Welcome To My FanClub’s Night！-Styles ver.” would sound like as well. o_o~

Any May’n fan will be exhilarated upon receiving either of the CDs. XD WHERE IS MY MAY’N PHOTOBOOKKKK even Minorin has one. ;_;

With Persona 3 Portable (henceforth known as P3P) release 3-4 days back, here’s a blog entry with hilarious translation of the game’s promotional video.

Click on the picture for the site link!

The kits are Kakuka Virsago and Genbusou Ryofu Tallgeese.
Following will be some pictures and my rough translation from Happinet then some of my thoughts for the two.

Kakuka Virsago (郭嘉ヴァサーゴ)

The two swords fix onto the fan

Translation from source:

Giga’s strategist, Kakuka Virsago, 3 mode change to be released!
・ Strategist mode
・ Commander mode
・ Majin mode

■ The powerup form with parts of BB Senshi No.352 Senjin Gattai Shuu Gundam equipped [?]

● Kakuka Virsago
A strategist of Giga and Shiba-I’s best pupil. His ingenuity and resourcefulness earned him a praise as the “young genius” from Sousou. Possess talent as cold and beautiful as ice [?]. Appears in Eiyuu Gekitotsu Hen (Part 2), now on being merchandised his design and gimmick receive a power up.

[Accessories] Sword x 2, fan
[Contents] Runner x 3, stickers, instruction sheet (with manga)

■ Release date: January 2010
■ Target age: 8 years and above
■ Size: packaging: 205(W)x150(H)x50(D)mm

Thoughts
With Kaku and Houtou both dead in the current Part 3, Kakuka is the last of the Three Excellencies of Giga. Feels like Giga will be crushed by end of Part 3 leaving Sousou to bring it up again.

Kakuka has a new design (old design) with three modes, two are shown but which two? Is the one similar to Chest Break mode the Commander(武将) mode or Majin(魔神) mode? Or is the not shown power up form with Shuu Gundam parts the Majin mode? If not then could the old design be the strategist mode? [EDIT] Now made clear with the new picture added.

Equipped with Shuu parts? So what is Kakuka? A remanent of Shuu? A new evil? A Shuu possession? Also as shown in the animated PVs, the three “bad guys” are Shuu, Kakuka and Toutaku.

Will he be part of Part 3’s endgame or have a role to play if there is a Part 4?

Ok, the forms are all there, even the Shuu parts equipped form

Genbusou Ryofu Tallgeese (玄武装 呂布トールギス)

Elbow joints!! A new-gen Sangokuden kit design?

Translation from source:

All new design Ryofu returns with a power up!

■ 22 joints, a pursuit of full articulation, 170% improvement over the previous Ryofu. Purple part on the helm, mask, visor will be clear parts
■ Equipped with a big-scale halberd
■ Backpack combines into shield

● Genbusou Ryofu Tallgeese
A well known and mighty warrior. Yearning to battle with more powerful opponents joins the Toutaku Troops in Sangokuden Part 1. After the decisive battle with the anti-Toutaku alliance his whereabouts are unknown, now returns with a power up.

[Accessories] Halberd, Shield
[Contents] Runner x 7, stickers, instruction sheet (with manga)

■ Release date: January 2010
■ Target age: 8 years and above
■ Size: packaging: 205(W)x150(H)x50(D)mm

Thoughts
No jumbo set for Ryofu this time, phew. Now clad in white armor with more of those hexegonal turtle shell pattern on it. I suppose the armor is called Genbusou(Genbu Armament)? Clawed and black before, now he is white and spiky :P.

Genbu(玄武) is one of the Four Symbols, associated anmal is the tortoise. The Three Lords are also associated with the Four Symbols. The stylized turtle emblem on (previous) Ryofu’s box and the Shinbu mode of the Tengyokugai also hints on Ryofu’s relationship with the Genbu symbol. In the manga version an additional scene is added in the second compiled volume of Part 1 to show that he has survived and his appearance in a panel of Part 3’s preview suggest that his role in Sangokuden is not finished yet. Also in the Comic World on his instruction sheet, the purple part is also glowing when the Gyokuji is activated.

But the mythology only talked about The Three Lords, Jyakushi, Kogyou and Ryuutei. What did Ryofu become? A new Fourth Lord? Or he has awoken to some unknown Fourth Lord? What about his own country, a fourth Kingdom?

If he is the first kit of a supposedly Part 4 then he could be the protagonist then? If so, what could Part 4 be about? About what happened to him after Part 1? As Part 3 seems to be derailing from the literature, could Part 4 be original? Also with him in Part 3’s preview could he be in Part 3 and theres no Part 4?

Still wondering, could he have lost his memory and become Kouseki after Part 1? (But Ryofu has purple eyes..who is Kouseki?)

Part 4 not confirmed yet but have a good chance.
All speculations for now…

A look at the backpack/shield gimmick

Pictures from Happinet Online (via Ngee Khiong)

From Huke’s blog, pictures of the Black Rock Shooter (and Dead Master-tan :3) plushies, inspired by chanxco’s extremely cute take on BRS/DM. These will not be on sale but will be put up as prizes at game centres sometime this month.

Lots of them.

Also, pictures of the stick poster and sticker set that will go on sale at the Pixiv Market (15th Nov) are up.

Do want.

Felt like going a bit more in depth this time.
I’ll split the chapter to these sub-parts:
- Kan-pei revives
- Shuu possessed Sonsaku
- Ankoku Gyokuji Psycho awakening
- Darkness abound in Rakuyou
- Ryuubi returns
- Kan-pei succeeds Kan-u

The following pictures does not cover the whole chapter, I did skip some.
But I’ll try to cover most of the chapter in words.

And also there seems to be pictures of probably another set of Sangokuden exclusive weapon parts on the net, more on that after the chapter.

Continuing from last month’s losing (also action-packed) struggle of the Kan-u team and Taishiji in the darkness overran Gou…

Kanpei revives

[Unhealed wound opens]
Shuusou: Kan-u hold on there
Shuusou: Lets retreat for now!
Kan-u: ARGH!! W..What hero!!
Kan-u: Not being able to save one’s beloved son..what
Kan-u: Whats about being unequaled!! ARRRGGGHHH!!

[a light from the skies shines on the frozen Kan-pei]
Shuusou: w..wha..
Kan-u: (T..This light. Ryuubi-dono…)
[Kan-pei revives! Equipped with the Ryuukihou armor, Kan-u's piece]
Kan-u: Kan-pei
Kan-pei: Th..This armor is!?

skipping some pics.. chunks of text means picture skip :P
Kan-u reminds his son of the task at hand, to extinguish the dark flame (which is coming out from the mouth of a great tiger statue atop a cliff). With an Oogakiringeki, Kan-pei smashes the tiger statue to pieces.
But he seem to have awoken and freed something thats inside…

Shuu possessed Sonsaku

I’ll refer to him as Shuu

Shuu looks down at the three. Kan-pei is scared stiff at this monster before him. Kan-u and Shuusou look from below. Without warning Shuu threw tentacles of dark energy towards Kan-pei throwing him against the rocks.

As the dark energy weave through the grounds, Kan-u comments on the overwhelming level of dark energy.
A struggling Kan-pei wonders why this monster is in Gou…

Ankoku Gyokuji Psycho awakening
Darkness abound in Rakuyou

At capital Rakuyou, in the secret shrine of the giant Ankouku Gyokuji…

Shiba-En held on to his left chest. Seems to be pain. He is forced down on his knees. “uu..th..the Darkness…”

En: The Darkness…is coming
[A piece of the giant Ankouku Gyokuji cracks off...]
[The palace rumbling...]
**After his last appearrance in April, he is now in Gundam mode?**
Kyou-i: W..Whats going on?
Kyou-i: Got to go protect his Majesty
[Kyou-i hurries off...]

Kyou-i: Your Majesty
Kyou-i: What!?
[scene of blood greets Kyou-i]
Teiiku: u..uuu
Kyou-i: Sensei!!
Kyou-i: Hang in there Sensei, what happened?
Teiiku: T..Take this to Shou…
Kyou-i: This is?
[as Kyou-i receives the scroll...]

The Emperor parts and the 2 swords are now with Souhi

[Kyou-i fends of the sneak attack]
Kyou-i: Your Majesty?
Kyou-i: Enryuu Kiringeki!!
[Kyou-i escapes and looks back at the darkness overrun Souhi and court officials]
Teiiku: Hurry..to..Shou
Kyou-i: SENSEI!!

Ryuubi returns

Back at Gappi, Gou…

Kan-pei is having a hard time battling Shuu, being thrown about and finally Shuu chance upon a fallen Kan-pei. But Kan-u rushes to cover for his son…

Shuusou: General!!
Kan-pei: Father!! **kanji writes foster father but hiragana writes father**
Kan-u: GUAAAA!!!

Kan-u: Even if this body crumbles
Kan-u: For Mirisha…our country
Kan-u: DAOOOO!!!

Kan-u lands the hammer onto Shuu, pieces under the head is knocked out. Under which revels a shadowy face which Kan-u recognize. But before he could say more, Shuu stranggles Kan-u and crush him into the rocks. Kan-pei rushes over but suddenly there is a streak of light…

Ryuubi: Alright there, Kan-u?
**look at Kan-u’s expression, priceless :P**

Kan-u: Ryu..Ryuubi-dono!!

Kan-u: Ryu..Ryubi-san
Kan-pei: Father!
Ryuubi: Be on your guard
Kan-pei: ?
Ryuubi: Its not over yet
[Shuu comes up, using darkness to control the frozen marines]

Possible new variant of the old Ryuubi kit with new swords…

Ryuubi: The ones who are trapped by darkness
Ryuubi: This spell, the dragon shall break!!
Shin Ryuuteiken Hajyakensei !!

**not sure where the 4 are now**
Bachou: This is
Chou-un: The Ryuukihou is shining..
Kochou: Why is this happening
Chouhi: Don’t tell me Aniki has..
Koumei: The power of the dragon which purifies darkness…finally
Sousou: It is time

From Ryuubi a power burst out in the form of a flame dragon. As the dragon weaves through the marines it freed them from the darkness. Ryomou and Kannei regain their selves. Taishiji unfroze. “Is Gou saved?”, he asked. “No, not yet”, Ryuubi replied.

Shuu, with darkness smoking out, doesn’t look pleased. “Ryu..ryuu..te..i..ke..en”, Shuu speaks. The worn out Kan-u arises wanting to finish off Shuu but he is at his limit. Kan-pei runs over to him as he coughs…

Kan-pei succeeds Kan-u

Kan-u: Kan-pei, what are you doing
Kan-u: If you are a man you sould know what you ought to be doing
[Ryuubi understands Kan-u]
[Ryuubi handing over Kan-u's Oogaryuugetsutou]
Ryuubi: Kan-pei, are you going to do it?
Kan-pei: I..I

[Kan-pei receives the Oogaryuugetsutou]
Kan-pei: (T..This is father’s..)
Kan-pei: Father
Kan-pei: I’ll finish the rest.
Kan-u: umu
Ryuubi: Let’s go
Kan-pei: Yes!

Kan-pei and Ryuubi charge towards Shuu as they stake their lives to defeat Shuu…

[Kan-pei gives it his all]
Shuusou: General, now is the time to tend to your wounds
Kan-u: I’m fine, Shuusou
Kan-u: To be able to see my beloved son giving his all
Kan-u: The pain of the wound..

Kan-u: (You’ve become strong, Kan-pei..)
Kan-u: (Fu..that figure its like)

Kan-u: (- no, its not like me..)
Kan-u: (This father knows better than anyone)
Kan-u: (You have become a man, Kan-pei!!)
**Kanji writes “hero” but hiragana writes “man”**
Kan-pei: (Please look, father)
Kan-pei: (Right now, right here, everything that is inherited from you!!)

Heres a list of the manga chapters of Sangokuden Part 3: Senjin Kettou Hen and happenings of that chapter (previous parts are released in compiled volumes already) :

1) Splendid lion of the azure sky Bachou!
– Establish characters Bachou and Houtoku, Bachou vs darkness overrun Houtoku, Bachou kills Houtoku, Bachou goes berserk, masked man(Sousou) returns Bachou to senses

2) Kanchu laments
– Bachou wanders into Kanchu, Bachou meets and travel with Kachou to Shou, turn back but too late to safe Kanchu from Giga troops, Giga troops cleared out by Kochou, Gien and Bachou, Berserk Bachou mistakes Kan-u, Chouhi and Chou-un as Giga troops

3) Arise! Five Tiger Generals!
– Berserk Bachou attacks Kan-u, Chouhi and Chou-un, Kochou clear things up, Kaku sets the immortal soldiers on the five, almost overcame by darkness, the Ryuukihou armor saves them

4) Untitled
– Five Tiger Generals thrash immortal soldiers, Sousou awakens, Sousou and Bachou defeat Kaku, Bachou learnt to control the dark blood

5) The crouching dragon, once again
– Koumei, Kougetsuei and Sonshoukou venture to Nanban, Koumei thrashed by Four Heavenly Kings and Shukuyuu, Koumei receives new form

6) Dragon and Phoenix
– Armored Moukaku vs Nuu Koumei, Moukaku and Koumei vs Houtou, the past of Koumei and Houtou, Houtou’s defeat and death

7) The new darkness
– revealation of the Shiba family, beginning of the fight of Kan-u Team in Gou

8) Revival of the War God
– covered above

Finally the bit on the possible new weapons parts.

Tadaa!!
Twelve weapons, interconnectable with each other to form all kinds of weapons

Twelve weapons, wonder how many more extra kits one must get to complete the set. (Three or four weapons per runner?)
Clever marketing? :P

Looks similar to the clear Ryuukihou armor.

Anyway I’m not sure if this is new stuff or confirmed stuff, just happened to chance upon it at a Chinese imageboard. Ok, found the original source right here (more pics of the twelve weapons there).

Almost forgot.
This month’s Kero Kero Ace has got three “Hero Seals”

Front face

Reverse face

Flimsy as they are just stickers.

Ok, its the end of the long Sangokuden post.
Hope you enjoy it!

Next month then!

For everyone else playing Love Plus, check the event schedule! A girl techno unit called Parfume will be playing at the event hall, starting on the second week of November.

Wait, girl techno? Parfume? Wait, what?

Will Love Plus emulate reality to the extent of there not being seats at all (And thus potentially make Rinko angry at me for dragging her to a crowded mosh pit of crazed fans?)? Will there be a PTA?

I… I don’t really understand anymore. I’ll go! I’ll go to this Parfume live!

And sign me up for PTA.

In other news, Fujita Saki (Voice of Hatsune Miku) has gone from voicing bananas to voicing pudding. I am gripped by a sudden urge to get one of those.

Part 5 of Famitsu’s P3P Creator’s Blog series. This entry features Susukida, who designed the event scenarios in P3.

-

Hi.

Susukida, in charge of the direction of Persona 3 Portable here.

Till now, I have been working alongside Hashino and Soejima in Persona 3 and 4, designing event scenes, adding bits here and there to pace the story, but this time I will be working with the game system director Kido on the system layout and graphic design!

And here, I will talk about an aspect of Persona 3 Portable which has significantly changed the gameplay, the event scenes.

I believe there are readers who have seen magazine coverages and visited the home page, but in this port of Persona 3, the daily map (Aside from the dungeon, in town and in school) and events will be taking place as 2D character based scenarios. This is to improve the loading speeds and make gameplay a more efficient experience.

In events, character portraits will be displayed to the left and right of the screen, and conversations will take place between these two characters. There will be more variations and expressions in character portraits than those in the PS2 version.

Also, it is possible to fast-forward (Skip) scenarios. In your second playthrough, you can skip scenarios you have already read.

In the day map, focus has been placed on the speed at which movement can be made.
If we kept to the same movement system as the PS2 version, where one had to walk about the map, loading speeds will be slower and movement will be sluggish.

That is where we changed the day map backgrounds to 2D, and you move your characters over this 2D map… Which greatly shortens the load time and is better suited for portable-console gameplay.

In addition, the well-received shortcut button in Persona 4 is implemented, and makes movement more convenient and enjoyable.

To make it even faster, I would recommend a “Data Install”. Upon selection of the “Data Install” option on the title screen, a part of the game data will be installed on the memory stick.
Elements such as events and the day map and other aspects can be loaded without placing stress on the console, so please do try it out!
(The data install option is not needed on the 「PSP-GO」, so please do look out.)

Now that I’ve covered quite a few of the changes, I will introduce some of the new character accessories/equipment and omake screen captures.

It’s less than a month to the release date.
We can finally deliver a new Persona 3 experience to everyone!
On behalf of the staff, we’ve put a lot of effort into creating this, so we have confidence in it!
On 11/1, please enjoy a new one-year!
Thank you for your support!

The pictures aren’t from their cosplays for the competition, but previous cosplays. To view their in-progress, please visit their figure.fm entries over here and here.

Congratulations to the winning teams! All the best at the finals! =DD

ALSO, pre-registration for cosplayers is up as well! You can access it over here. Here’s your chance to get a complimentary entrance ticket to AFA09 if you cosplay on that day!