Otaku USA Magazine - September/October 08

I'm a bit late this time around, but nevertheless, here's a heads up.

Once again I am in the pages of Otaku USA Magazine. The September/October issue is out now. This issue sees me interviewing ex-Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo. We talk a bit about his new solo compilation album Cosmoscope, as well as his involvement with the X-Japan reunion tour and his time with S.K.I.N.

I also have a few album reviews, including Shokotan's Big Bang, BLOOD's The Reaper Behind Me, Love Psychedelico's new US compilation This is Love Psychedelico and Versailles' (who are now Versailles Philharmonic Quintet, btw) Noble album.

Of course there are also the 148 pages of other non-music coverage, like the huge number of manga reviews, the massive interview with Shokotan, all that new anime stuff, figures, film, video games, etc etc. Check this out for a better run-down of the contents.

I really hope you get the chance to track this one down. Every issue just keeps getting better, and I honestly believe that this is the best outlet for all things otaku. Get it!

July Calendar Up

Sorry for the delay, but the July Calendar of Events is now up!

The BIG news this month is Anime Expo. Three great acts will be playing live. Mega-blogger and telento Shoko Nakagawa aka Shokotan, anime singing star Yoko Ishida, and Jyukai will all be amoung the tens of thousands of anime fan swooping down upon LA the first weekend in July.

Also, don't forget that Oreskaband will be touring like crazy as a part of the Warped Tour all this month and into the next!

As always, please let me know if there's something missing from the Calendar, and please feel free to share your experiences and photos from the front lines if you can make it out to a live gig.

Shoko Nakagawa (中川 翔子 aka Shokotan)

Shoko Nakagawa is a giant among Japanese bloggers. Her blog, which she updates several dozen times a day with tiny cell pics and crazy ASCII language, has received over a billion visits since it started up in 2004. Eventually it had to be modified to exclude commenting due to its high volume of spammers. A major key to her success is the fact that she's an anime and manga otaku, something that resonates among many of her loyal fans.

In addition to her fandom, she is also a voice actress and singer. She's provided opening and closing themes for several anime shows, releasing a handful of singles and mini-albums. Most recently she released the full length album Big Bang! that complied her previous work with many new tracks. The overall feel of her music is much more rock oriented than other typical idol singers. Sure, she's got a few ballads and para-para ready songs, but she often takes a more hard-edged path. These small risks make her feel much more like a real musician than some record label's window dressing.

Shokotan projects an air of a bemused girl smiling at all of the chaos around her. She rides the overwhelming wave of attention and affection with a rare sense of humility. Sure, she's a superstar, but that doesn't mean she needs to act like a pampered snob. Instead, she's just another otaku perusing her dream.

Soraio Days (Gurren Lagann OP)

Buy Shokotan releases here!



Official Site
Blog

Major Releases
Shoko-tan Cover ~Falling in Love with Anime Songs~ (2007)
Shoko-tan Cover Cover ~Falling in Love with Anime Songs~ (2007)
Big Bang! (2008)

Snow Tears (Hakaba Kitaro ED)


Strawberry Melody


Romantic Ageru Yo


Brilliant Dream

July Calendar - Shoko Nakagawa (aka Shokotan) - Anime Expo

July 3-6
Shoko Nakagawa (Shokotan)
Anime Expo - Los Angeles Convention Center, CA

Source: Japanator