Peter's Japan blog

Update Nov. 18th: The release date has been moved up to December 29th. So I guess a new album on January 1st will be out of the question... But I'm sure the songs will be featured in the CDL concert. Will update the covers tomorrow...

New single release from Ayumi Hamasaki, another double A-side single. The two main songs are You were... and BALLAD, and there seems to be a B-side song as well, called RED LINE ~for TA~. There will be three version, 2 CD+DVD versions and 1 CD version. No covers yet. Will this be the onset to an album release in January? Let's hope so ^^

You were... / BALLAD (CD+DVD)
Catalog: AVCD-31799/B
Tracklisting:
CD:
1. You were... (Original mix)
2. BALLAD (Original mix)
3. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Original mix)
4. You were... (Music Box mix)
5. You were... (Original mix -Instrumental-)
6. BALLAD (Original mix -Instrumental-)
7. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Original mix -Instrumental-)

DVD:
1. You were... (video clip)
2. BALLAD (video clip)
3. You were... (making clip)

BALLAD / You were... (CD+DVD)
Catalog: AVCD-31800/B
Tracklisting:
CD:
1. BALLAD (Original mix)
2. You were... (Original mix)
3. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Original mix)
4. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Orchestra version)
5. BALLAD (Original mix -Instrumental-)
6. You were... (Original mix -Instrumental-)
7. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Original mix -Instrumental-)

DVD:
1. BALLAD (video clip)
2. You were... (video clip)
3. BALLAD (making clip)

You were... / BALLAD (CD)
Catalog: AVCD-31801
Tracklisting:
CD:
1. You were... (Original mix)
2. BALLAD (Original mix)
3. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Original mix)
4. You were... (Music Box mix)
5. Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~ (Orchestra version)
6. You were... (Original mix -Instrumental-)
7. BALLAD (Original mix -Instrumental-)
8. RED LINE ~for TA~ (Original mix -Instrumental-)

The yearly Countdown Live concert has been confirmed! Now I'm sure me and my friend can go! I was waiting for it just to be sure ;p

As always, there are 2 concerts, one on the 30th and one on the 31st. The one on the 31st will start at 22h30. Hmm, that's quite early, will be another long one? ^^;

It's already all over the internets by now, but for completeness sake, a Haruhi movie has been officially announced to be released in the Spring of 2010 (might be right during my Japan 2010 trip ^^). It will be the much awaited fan-favorite arc: The Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi, which was though to be in the second season. The story revolves a lot around Nagato Yuki and will feature a long-haired Haruhi. The long-haired Haruhi was used a promotion picture for the second season but has thus been postponed for the movie.

Let's just hope the people who thought up the 8-episode Endless Eight arc have been sacked and no more surprises will be come up, but knowing what we've seen in the past, the movie might just as well be released Spring 2011. But I still have hope :-)

Today arrived a package from CDJapan in the mail with 3 items in it ^^

- a cushion case from the Saki anime. Will post pictures of it soon, but you can see it through the link. I'm quite happy about it because these collectibles sell out very fast.

- Perfume in Happy de Ki-ni naru Chandelier House 3 DVD Box: DVD Box containing all 12 episodes of Perfume no Chandelier House and the best bits of their other 2 shows: HAPPY! and Ki-ni naru Ko-chan. Not subtitled though, but playable in Europe because Japan is also region 2 ;p I still have the full HD TV rips though :)

- K-ON! Sakurako Keionbu Official Band Yarouyo CD + Band score sheet music: the CD didn't interest me that much, but the band score is very nice. It's the complete band score of almost all the songs from K-ON including Cagayake Girls and Don't Say Lazy. The CD contains some full version of some of the songs but also short practice parts for every instrument.

P.S.: It's Ayu's birthday tomorrow (Oct 2nd), so Happy Birthday! Otanjoubi omedetou!

The Tokaido road was the most important road in Japan since hundreds of years and it still is to this day, although in many different forms. It was the road between the ruling capital Edo (now Tokyo) and the imperial capital Kyoto.
The Belgian national TV's cultural channel CANVAS has made a documentary (called "Tokaido") focusing on the old Tokaido road and what is left of it. They are using old drawing made by famous artist Ando Hiroshige from 1832 and follow all the 53 stops on the Tokaido and compare his 53 drawings with the current situation. During the course of the documentary, they also show different aspects of Japanese society which may be unknown to western people.
It is a very interesting 10-part documentary which has just ended its broadcast but will likely be rerun again. But the makers would like to make a DVD release of this documetary and are looking to see if there is enough interest to make it. The DVD would probably have the original english voice in stead of the dutch voice which was shown on TV, making it easier for international distribution.

Official site: http://multiblog.vrt.be/canvasprogrammas/category/tokaido/tokaido-deze-week/
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140668917965

Okay, it's not a spur of the moment any more ^^ Flights are booked for Tokyo New Year 2009-2010! It's a direct flight from Amsterdam from December 27th till January 3rd, with KLM Airlines. Departure on December 27th is in the afternoon at 17h40, so I don't have to get up early! Still need to go get to Amsterdam from Antwerp though, but that only takes 2 hours. Now I need to get the planning going as I won't be going alone this time :) Still need to book the hotel, but there's still loads of rooms left in my usual hotel (Oak Hotel).