 On November 11, 2011, we here at Crunchyroll launched our very first self-produced show that highlights the ever intertwining arenas of the anime, Asian and pop culture industry. Crunchyroll moderator keikawa – Keith Kawamura – teamed up with OtakuUSA magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Patrick Macias, host/voice actress/aspiring gamer Lisa Oh along with featured guest, and cosplayer extraordinaire Linda “Vampy” Le.
 These four individuals came together – not only as a representation of the anime entertainment industry – but to bring you’re the hottest and latest things trending in the industry, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage!
Since then two episodes have been released live every Friday at 5:30 pm PST, and re-released for rerun on that following Sunday at 9 am PST. If you missed the first two shows, what did you really miss out on:
- Some of the hottest cosplayers in the business
- Interview with ViZ Media and New People Building founder: Seiji Horibuchi
- 6-month anime membership giveaway
- Sega Shinobi game giveaway
- Exclusive gaming interview with Shinobi development team
That’s just to list a few of the awesome things that went down in just TWO weeks!
But fear not, as the best is yet to come!
Here’s what’s on the docket for the next few shows:
- 12/2 - Voice actress Stephanie Sheh and Star Wars: The Old Republic!
- 12/9 - Sailor Moon Cosplay, Tinier Me and Kotobukiya
- 12/16 - BIG TIME special guests that will be announced as we get closer to the date!!
 If you really want to keep your fingers on the pulse of the industry and be given a free backstage pass to see the hottest things happening in the industry from the comfort of your own home, then tune into The Live Show (www.crunchyroll.com/live) every Friday at 5:30 pm PST.
Let us know who you want to see on the show, as that actors, artist, creator or whoever just might be on!
“Naniwazuni
Sakuyakonohana
Fuyugomori
Imawoharubeto
Sakuyakonohana…”
Written by Joe Chan
 Stillness and silence but for the recital of the first half of an 800-year old poem intoned in a sing-song chant. An explosion of movement, and then all is still once again, until the next verse is read aloud.
On the surface, the game of karuta doesn’t appear to be particularly interesting or exciting, but the game’s simple nature belies the speed and intensity of competitive gameplay. The same could be said of the new show on Crunchyroll this season, Chihayafuru. On the surface, a series about the game of karuta does not sound all that compelling, but this simple premise belies the strength of the show’s artistry, characters, and storytelling.
 The animation juggernaut, Madhouse, creates a visual wonder with Chihayafuru that really brings the world to life. The background music is soothing with themes played on guitar, piano, and oboe that really stir the heart. And last, but not least, the characters are just so endearing, especially with Chihaya as such a down-to-earth girl whose passions are so infectious, it’s hard not to get caught up in her enthusiasm. The manga has already inspired a surge in karuta’s popularity throughout Japan. One wonders how many more people will begin playing the game thanks to the anime.
Karuta is a simple game to learn, but, and I’m sure you’ve heard this hundreds of times, difficult to master. Basically, several cards each with the second half of one poem from the Hyakunin Isshu (literally “100 people, 1 poem”) are arrayed out before players. An announcer recites the first half of the poem, and it’s a race to see who can correctly tag out the corresponding card from the floor. Truly competitive karuta, however, requires intense concentration, reflexes, endurance, an impeccable memory, and sometimes a little luck.
 The series opens with Chihaya’s voiceover reciting the joka, the traditional opening verse that prefaces the start of a karuta match. It’s the first day of a new school year, and there’s a rumor going around of a pedigree beauty among the first years, the sister of a famous model. Then we get to meet Chihaya Ayase – very pretty indeed, except she has no shame and no self-consciousness. Her tomboyish nature has earned her the title “Beauty in Vain,” of which she obviously has no clue.
But there is more to Chihaya’s character than just a pretty face. As the series progresses, we see also see Chihaya as headstrong and spirited, intensely loyal, and possessing a sense of fair play so profound, that as a young girl, she defied even her closest friends to defend a transfer student from bullying. And when she becomes obsessed with something, it becomes her singular goal in life, and everything she does revolves around it.
 Needless to say, her obsession is, or rather becomes, karuta.
When she was in elementary school, she obsessed over her sister’s rise to fame, vowing to do everything she could to help her succeed as a top model in Japan – that is, until the transfer student she defended taught her that her dreams in life should be something she strove towards for herself, not someone else. That’s when karuta is introduced to her.
 Back in the 6th grade, Arata Wataya was a quiet and withdrawn boy from Fukui. His threadbare clothes and funny accent make him the target of ridicule from the other students in their class. He expresses little interest in the things that the other kids talk about and avoids interacting with them, but when Chihaya asks him what his life’s goal is, his eyes light up and the karuta cards come out. His enthusiasm for the game is overwhelming and Chihaya can’t help but become completely mesmerized by the game. He’s a bit of a pedigree himself, as his grandfather just happens to be karuta’s meijin – the top karuta player in all of Japan. He tells Chihaya that his dream is to become a meijin as well.
Then they have their chance to confront Arata’s prime bully, Chihaya’s own childhood friend, Taichi Mashima. He’s smart, athletic, and driven to win, so of course it’s an intramural karuta tournament that becomes their battleground. Arata’s raw talent and Chihaya’s determination help to turn things around in their favor, and Taichi, with a mixture of both jealousy and awe, decides that he too wants to become a karuta master.
 Chihaya’s own passion for the game comes to the forefront in the few times they play together and her natural instincts impresses Arata so much, that he has no doubt in his mind that she will also become a great player one day. He suggests to Chihaya that she can strive become karuta’s Queen, the title given to the top female player. And, so long as karuta remains a sport that is only popular in Japan, to become the best player in Japan means to become the best in the world.
This sets the stage for the three of them towards becoming lifelong karuta buddies. Oh, and of course a love triangle is born as well. Sorry guys, but it looks like karuta is all Chihaya will ever truly love.
 
 Written by Nate Ming
Schools that revolve around martial arts are a dime a dozen in anime and manga. From Ranma ½’s countless martial arts-related competitions and festivals to dedicated battleschools like the ones in Ikkitousen, Real Bout High School, and Tenjho Tenge, you can’t swing a bokken without hitting one of these things.
So when I was asked to watch Majikoi Oh! Samurai Girls, I figured I’d be in for more of the same: lots of action, lots of very familiar character archetypes, and lots of fanservice. Color me surprised when I actually watch the series and I’m not only pleasantly surprised, but I want to see more.
 You see, the series doesn’t bother with building up a big origin story for its cast, instead dropping us into a huge battle between Class 2-S’s academic all-stars and Class 2-F’s confederacy of dunces. Main character Naoe Yamato is 2-F’s tactician, not the best in a fight but certainly the best at making sure his team wins them, with his mind and heart set on his daring, beautiful childhood friend Momoyo, the strongest fighter in the school.
 Sound familiar? You bet it is! But by keeping fanservice at a reasonable level and not letting it take over the whole production, I ended up taking the characters seriously, even in this most ridiculous of situations. While the animation was bright and clean-lined, it was somewhat generic at times, only to be spiced up by almost-theatrical quality sakuga (full-motion) animation during fights.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m a couple episodes behind and have a fun, light-hearted martial arts comedy that I’m very eager to catch up on... and if you haven’t checked out Majikoi Oh! Samurai Girls, maybe you should too!
Did you know that before become a voice actress, Kei Shindou was a professional cosplayer?
Naruto Shippuden ©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved., Soranowoto © Paradores/Aniplex/ 1121, Chu-Bra © Yumi NakataEFUTABASHA^CHU-BRA Partnership, Astro Boy, Dororo, Blackjack and Phoenix © Tezuka Productions All Rights Reserved, Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magikarte Z © ADVFilms All Rights Reserved
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