Album: YUI - from me to you

Today I went to UPM to have my JLPT test (Level 3). Wanted to write about this because before I took this test I did some research through net to gather more information regarding it. And I managed to find some interesting sites and experiences from different sources. The ones that really proved useful were not the tips actually (If you are not planning to study these tips also won't be THAT useful), rather than the experiences from people who took the test really matter the most. It's great to know that people around the world are taking the same test at the same day, especially it's something that you're interested in (well most of the time). And not some stupid university mandatory courses........

Before I start rambling, you may stop reading it if you are not planning to take this test. It'll bore the hell out of you. No scopes nor tips or whatever, that will be very technical-ish, not really the main purpose of me writing this, it might be slightly biased as well haha. I'm taking level 3 this year, and this was my first time taking JLPT. My test started at 8 am, I reached there (with the help of my dad) around 7.20 am. I slept at 3 am actually, doing last minute revison lol, but not very effective because I was busying indulging myself in wonderland (meeting YUI in person and got to talk to her xD ), and for THAT reason I picked up my guitar and start practicing Good-bye days in the middle of the night, in case I really met her someday ROFL.

Back to reality. When I was there I was surprised by the amount of people there. It's alot, some even came in buses. Then I met my seniors (I'm japanese major first year), since I'm such a 'shy' and 'low profile' person I just pretend that I didn't see them. I DID smiled to some of them who recognised me. Most of the examinees were chinese uni/ college students, just like me. There are some malays and indians as well, and people from 'older' generations. There's even people wearing formal clothes (hate to wear formal =x ). Went to look for my exam hall and my seat, it's A1 and located at the 2nd floor.

After 'watching/ analysing' people from a certain distance for quite some time (too lazy to study, it's interesting anyway), we were called to enter the exam halls. I shall fast forward all these (tired adi lol). The test have 3 parts, first is Kanji and Vocabulary, 35 mins. Before that the briefing guy gave a long ass speech regarding the test, you might as well try to find something to do at that time. Okla first timer must listen to it. Then I saw the whiteboard, it's written:

Reading Comprehension and Grammer
11.40-12.50pm

I was like, issit 'Grammar' or 'Grammer'???
(Anyway it's grammar).

Finally the test started (at last). If you can read chinese there's one part mostly you'll get zero mistakes, even if you don't know the kanji, you can just eliminate all those funny looking chinese characters and pick the correct ones. For this section, you just have to watch more jdrama, anime, read more japanese lyrics haha (I'm a bad student). Beware of the 'long sounds' though. I'm having hard time picking those with う and those without.

After the test we have half an hour break. Then came the listening part. Basically if you can watch japanese shows RAW then this will be your best shot to get high marks. It's tiring though, have to pay attention and jot down all the important parts because they will only play the CD once. Hopefully I can have better marks in this to compensate with the marks I lost in grammar section lol.

Then we'll have another break, should be 30 mins but time is running out that's why had to cut it short. Reading Comprehension and Grammar. The part I sucked the most (can be applied in english as well). First semester only covered until chapter 25 (minna no nihongo), some of the level 3's syllabus can up to chapter 50. Basically I was doing first person shooting, plain aim and shoot at whichever I think it's correct lol. Suddenly I miss my sensei =/ at that time I was really exhausted, having sudden flu (no tissues *dang*), half of the time I was sleeping actually, waiting for the test to end so that I can go back and sleep lol. This part have to pay alot of hardwork on it in order to score, no shortcut for this actually, must do alot of exercises (which I'm too lazy to do), get used to the different conjugations, particles bla bla.....

1300 hours, test ended (yay). Feeling sleepy now. Hopefully next year I don't have to retake it again haha.

Till then, au revior.

Rant: The guy kept on saying 'now we will correct the answer sheets' instead of collect, seriously I'll be glad to let you correct it so that I can pass this test =P

Album: Base Ball Bear - C

Yesterday I received this package from Amazon Japan.



Inside got these 2 things:



Inside of the yellow box (Taiyou no Uta Premium Edition - First Press) got these:



2 DVDs (Movie + Behind the scene and other stuff), Diary, Guitar Pick Pendant, Flyers for both drama and movie.



The other side of the pick (It's a Fender heavy guitar pick), and the last page of the diary (wonder whether YUI really drew this O: ).


Both the DVD and the single 'Tokyo' cost me 6750 Yen (around RM 211). First time buying DVD online actually, since it's a limited edition, and comes along with a bunch of nice goodies, must keep one for myself hehe. The packaging is REALLY nice, everything was placed nicely, it's a plastic (not cardboard) box, with detailed description of the cast and the movie (as well as the drama version). Japanese product rawks xD Yea I'm a bad malaysian citizen. The movie only has japanese subs, it doesn't matter because I have 'another' copy in my HD with english/ chinese/ japanese subs lol. I watched the other disc as well, it's fun to see YUI behind the scenes and saw her 'drop' a tear for the first time ^^ made you appreciate the movie even more. Been reading various interviews from different sources as well, even though I don't think I can watch this movie again without skipping (some parts really tested my patience to the max), I still recommend this to people who liked this movie or a fan of YUI, start by buying this DVD (again it's limited edition), albums or what not buy it later haha (from a cheap person point of view).

I'll do a 'battle between 2 versions of Taiyou no Uta' soon. (Just to clear things up, freaking Sin Chew Jit Poh messed up the 2 versions zzz)

Forgot to turn the date setting off =/

Random Rant:

Nicol David's world champion title (for the 2nd time) only worthed RM 20k from the government??? WTF. Stop pouring those money on soccer or that freaking Madrid Stadium, this girl seriously needs more recognition (even though money isn't THAT important at the first place, but world champion only got RM 20,000? Joking right?). People in other blogs suggested giving her a Datuk title or Ferrari lol. Really proud of her though, as a malaysian. Youngest Squash world champion wei, don't play play. Wonder how many golds (official prediction is 9) we can get in Doha's Asian Game.

Yay PC fair again~ I'm gonna go restock some stuff later =D

Album: Chemistry - All The Best

Just finished Kekkon Dekinai Otoko. Definately one of the best this year (so far). There aren't many good jdramas this year, Unfair was one of the better ones, the rest just either heavily commercialised to target fangirls (with so-so acting), or the script just failed to capture my attention. I still haven't finish Saiyuuki, plain cheesy with boring fighting scenes, even Fukatsu Eri can't save the show. Some of the plot was recycled for the 1xxxx times, caused me to switch to American dramas at certain point lol. Luckily this season we have a bunch of exceptional ones, such as 14 Sai no Haha and Nodame Cantabile, it won't be 'that' bad afterall.

Back to Kekkon Dekinai Otoko.



If a man after 40 still single, there must be something wrong about him. See, making+eating sushi alone. And enjoying the hell out of it. This is just one of his 'hobby'. Still, throughout the drama, there are a few 'candidates' who might have the possibility to be with him.

The loyal working partner, the doctor



The cute young neighbour, or perhaps......her dog? (the pug is damn kawaii in the drama, never thought that pug can be so adorable)



The reason why I love this drama is because of it's subtleness. The characters use alot of metaphors to convey their thoughts. It's fun to see the intereaction between Kuwano-san (Hiroshi Abe) and Hayasaka sensei (Natsukawa Yui). They always ended up arguing with each other, in a 'civilised' manner. Their face expression are priceless, not to mention great acting by both the lead. This goes to the rest of the cast as well. The script was well written, with excellent dialogues and funny one-liner, in a sarcastic way =D I love it. This is how a comedy should be, and not those exaggerated actions. And it's realisticness definately connected the viewers. Sometimes I did things like Kuwano-san, the 'won't allow ppl cincai touch around my stuff' part, the 'willing to search through net first without asking ppl for direct assistance' part, you gotta watch it youself. It's basically a debate between being single or not most of the time. I find it really refreshing, at last a drama without stereotype lead who's dying to get married.

And for the setting part, you gotta look carefully at the details. Heard the floor lamp in Kuwano-san's house cost 2000+USD, plus his leather couch, hi-fi system, the model of his works bla bla. Japanese people really pay alot attention in these details (reminds me of Hana Yori Dango). I like the manga kissaten (manga cafe) in the drama as well, why we don't have something like this in Msia?

So, if you wanna see a drama with Dr.House-ish/ Mr. Bean-ish/ The guy from Monk/ Jack Nicholson in As Good As it Gets type as main character, this might suit you. It's more on the developments of the characters gradually, it doesn't really need a big twist or lovey dovey scenes. Seriously I hope that there's a sequel or special for this drama, to wrap things up. Did I mention that this drama won Best Drama, Directing, Script and both the lead won best actor in the 50th Television Drama Academy Awards? Well technically there's not much competition since most of the contenders sucked.

At noon I watched this movie, starring my beloved Shibasaki Kou and another great actor Oda Yuji:



Purposely took the screenie when they're in the lingerie section haha. Kencho no hoshi. It's a manga adapted movie if I'm not mistaken. It's more directed towards drama style so I kinda like it. About how a politician 'changed' his attitude/ prospect whatever after working in a supermarket that kind of stuff. Learned abit about the management of supermarket in the end haha. As usual, Kou-san is cute in the salesgirl outfit, but why she always has to be with men in 30s???

Then I saw the trailer of her latest movie Dororo at YouTube:



Fantasy flick wei, so my genre haha. It will be shown in 20 countries world wide on Jan 2007 so hopefully Malaysia is one of it. Gonna watch Japan Sinks soon, it's rare to see Japanese movies showed here. The action director is 程小东 (think you know who he is), the fighting scenes must be very cool then. Shibasaki Kou and Tsumabuki Satoshi kicking @rsses, can't wait.

Album: Hamasaki Ayumi - Secret

This album leaked. Well we're the ones who's getting the benefit from it so I ain't complaining. So far I've listened twice, I have one word to describe the latest album from our dear diva Ayu - Noisy. It's getting more and more rockish since she first sang rock songs in her I am... album. Overall the album was quite nice, since I've forgotten the songs in her previous album, (miss)understood, can't really compare both of it. The thing that will make me 'avoid' this album is lack of better singles. I hated ALL of her 2006 singles lol (esp Beautiful Fighters, no idea what she's 'yelling' at the background). Jewel is not one of it actually (I like this song though). To sum it all:

New songs: Good (Current fave - Momentum)
Singles: Sucked (ruined the flow of the album, have to forward 3 times at once lol)
Instrumental: Previous ones better. Still good I suppose.

Wonder whether I should buy it or not......didn't buy her last album too (dissapointed with it).

Saw this entry at Kenny Sia's blog, damn hilarious. It suppose to be a joke but some of the comments by the readers can be really funny but freaking ignorant at the same time.
Adopt-A-Rempit

The moral of the story is: Don't read newspapers, you'll ended up being dissapointed with your own country more. Or you can treat it as the jokes section, bet these are much more funnier than Garfield.

Another Jpop rant: Downloaded this PV the other day, Chatmonchy's Shangrila. Don't ask me how they got their name.



There aren't many girl bands around these days, Japan ones I only know MARIA and Nakanomori Band (which I kinda like but they are more commercialised, pretty girls mah). As for western......hmm....I should watch more MTV lol. More into alternative rock bands hee. I really liked the arrangements of this song, started with drums, then bass, finally electric guitar to 'spice' things up. It's an upbeat song which is nice to start off a day =D Looking forward for their next releases (The lead singer so tiny xD ).

PS: I'm doing Kekkon Dekinai Otoko marathon now, really loved it so far, one of few dramas that can made me watch few episodes non-stop. If you wonder why you're still single, watch this.