monkeybanana4

Hey everyone! It's been a while! (Probably 5 years since I stepped down as moderator here, damn!)
I'm kinda back into VK/J-Rock and stuff, so I'm probably trying to start hanging out here more like the old days.
I hope everyone is still doing fine and well!
 
I wonder who are still active here from the time I was active on this forum. Anyways, like old days, hope to get a chance to talk through the chat!
Also, I'm open to any band recommendations, hit me up with links as spotify and such.
Maybe my lastfm will help with some recommendations ^^
I'm currently still into MEJIBRAY and I also like bands such as ACME, HAKLO, Versailles, Diaura, Nocturnal Bloodlust, Royz.
 
Hope to see my old friends again as meeting new friends!
Yoroshikuuuu~~

Hello again!!
 
I used to frequent here quite a few years ago and have dropped off since. I've made a few "hello again" posts and have dipped in and out but im hoping I'm here to stay for good
I wonder if any of our veterans on here remember me...
 
I've not actively listened to VK in a long time but I rediscovered my old hard drive with all my music on it and fell in love yet again 
 
Bands I have kept listening to despite falling out of touch with VK are Dir en Grey, MUCC, Plastic Tree, Buck-Tick, Kiryu, Awoi, Kagrra, DEZERT, Versailles and lynch to name a few (not much new stuff on there I realise!!)
There are also a few non vk Japanese bands I love such as humbert humbert, kinoko teikoku, envy, MONCA URANGLASS, The Oral Cigarettes, LITE, Kenshi Yonezu, TK from Ling Toshite Sigure and amazarashi 
 
Excited to delve into this world again 😊

CAT-SAMA! <3 Yeah, things worked out quite well! Thank you! Hope to be able to talk to you often again like in the old days!
Thank you! That might be possible, 'cause due my private life I stepped down from being a moderator back somewhere in 2015, since then I visited the forum once a few months, but I hope to be fully back again... or at least more often like before!
 
I'm actually into Collar X Malice since they have released the EU versions for the Nintendo Switch, I'm sooo into the story!
Otomate games are taking over my kokoro hehe.

Saiyuki Reload Blast 
Black Butler (Though the Book of Circus and Book of Murder were a lot better lol disregard season 2)
Elfen Lied
The Devil is a Part timer
Wolf's Rain
 
That's about it. I don't get too much into anime anymore, though if The Devil is a Part Timer would just get a season 2 I would definitely jump back into that. Devilman Crybaby was pretty good and Mirai was actually a really cute movie to watch. 

I'm extremely surprised that SHIMONETA, a *modern* ecchi series with extremely childish jokes is in YOUR favorites. 
 
But even I, senior hater of ecchis and harems, enjoyed that series. It was super entertaining, cleverly dumb and the characters were fun.  I'm also surprised Prison School is there too, but the first half of the manga is in my all time faves. This is why we get along @YuyoDrift
 
My top 5
 
Started watching late 90s/00s when I was around 5 or 6. First anime was either Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura. 
 
1. FMA Brotherhood (we're never getting this level of quality in the industry again) 
2. Space Dandy 
3. Kill la Kill
4. Yu Yu Hakusho
5. Rurouni Kenshin (Shishio Arc only) 
 
I would add Cardcaptor Sakura somewhere in my list, but I'm gonna rewatch it first to see if it's still as good as I thought. Previous favorites that got booted off the list after a rewatch include Sailor Moon and 2 seasons of Rurouni Kenshin. 
 
Honorable mentions: Devilman Crybaby, Samurai Champloo, Made in Abyss, JJBA Battle Tendency, Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai 

Top 5 is pretty hard to choose! There's a lot that I enjoy depending on my mood/genre and I just started delving more into old 80s anime in recent years, including other classic stuff that I missed. DBZ and Sailor Moon were my first anime, and Cardcaptor Sakura was a childhood favorite that I do really still love ngl (the clear card-hen was absolute shit tho). Anyway, I'm gonna list by series and movies too cuz there's quite a few movies that I enjoy.
 
Series: (stuff that I've at least watched twice)
Mushishi
Death Note
Saraiya Goyou
Aoi Bungaku Series
Serial Experiments Lain
 
Movies:
Perfect Blue
Spirited Away
Mind Game
Vampire Hunter D (2000)
Koe no Katachi
 
Honorable Mentions: Monogatari Series, Kemonozume, Gankutsuou, Monster, Ping Pong the Animation, Elfen Lied, The Tatami Galaxy, Boogiepop Phantom, Kino no Tabi (2003)

You can't tell me Yuri from Fire Emblem: Three Houses wouldn't be a bandman if he were real

He's even got purple eyeshadow.
 
Speaking of games, there are more than a few characters in The World Ends With You who have a kind of VK/psuedo-VK look although I'm not sure if that counts as unexpected since the whole theme of the game is Shibuya youth culture.

I don't update here anymore lol, but I recently drew a fanart of Lime from Kizu and thought people here might be interested. ^^
Done in watercolor on mixed media paper.
 

 
I'm also taking commissions in this kind of style if anyone's interested......Check here for more info.

Lucy Lotus
 

 

Started watching: 2000 with Sailor Moon (technically before with the likes of Tonde Buurin and Mach Go Go Go but lol let's count since when I knew "anime" or smt) 
 
1- Code Geass (S1 only) (before anyone goes LMAOOO LOL OL I'll let u kno I am rewatching it on Netflix now and it's as good as the other 5 times)
2- Clannad
3- Psycho-Pass (S1 only)
4- Barakamon
5- Ai no KusShiki
 
Honorable mentions: Honey & Clover ; newer Fate series ; (girls can have personal tastes!!) Free! ; Akatsuki no Yona ; Ouran Host Club ; Tamako Market (specials are awesome!) ; (literally only bearable long shounen) Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood ; (no idea if these will stand the test of time:) Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu ; Tsurune ; Netjuu no Susume

Two new otome games coming to Switch~
https://www.siliconera.com/interview-learning-more-about-otome-visual-novels-piofiore-and-cafe-enchantes-localizations/

Finally managed to finish RE2 Remake earlier this year. It was a blast to play through. Hardcore mode was tough with a limited inventory space and ammo. Now, I really want to play the original one to see how it compares
 
RE3 Remake was enjoyable, but I think there was potential for the game to be even better than what was released. That being said, I love the graphics and the new character designs in this one!
 
Picked up Spiderman (Insomniac). This game made me fall in love with traversing across the "world" within the videogame. Being able to websling around the city was cathartic and highly exciting. The voice acting felt solid, and the graphics look great.
 
Currently playing through RE4. While it's more action-oriented, it's absolutely super crazy, but insanely fun, and I love every moment of it. I wonder if the rumors of a remake for this game are true. Not sure how I'd feel about if it was for real.

Ah, so you chose the Blue Lions first?  I did that as well, haha XD I ended up liking all the characters in the group. I think Dimitri is a super interesting character. It’s hard to not like him, lol XP

I got Fire Emblem: Three Houses about a week or two ago and holy hell, I don't think I've ever been so engaged in a game's story in my life. I was slightly apprehensive about the combat system but I quickly got the hang of it and I'm so glad I stuck around. Dimitri is definitely my favourite character.

I also update my collection in an excel file sheet. Although, I've fallen a bit behind on updating it ^^;
 
As for my VK collection:
 
CDs: 320+ (Approximate amount; including comment CDs) - I also have a random assortment of non-VK CDs, but I'm not sure of the exact amount since they're stuck elsewhere. But probably about 100+ if I had to estimate.
DVDs: 100+ (including comment DVDs, couldn't get an exact amount since I don't have all of it on me)
Chekis: 275+ (there's more but some aren't with me)
 
As for magazines/photobooks/pamphlets, I'm not sure of the exact amount but probably somewhere around 50. (I need to still catalogue these one day, lol.)
 
And for flyers, posters, and photosets/photocards, I also have a bunch that I've collected, but I'm too lazy to count it 😅

RE2 remains one of my top 3 PS1 games and my favorite in the series (although, I'm biased as this was my first RE game ever). I'm actually the opposite having not played the REmake yet. Curious to know your thoughts!
 
I feel like RE4 doesn't need a remake. At least, not yet. Mechanically, it practically defined how the next generation of survival horror games play (including REmake 2 & 3) so it'll probably play similarly to how it did in 2005. And unlike RE2 & 3, the game is readily available on any platform imaginable. If the rumors are true I hope they have more planned than just a visual overhaul.

Finally managed to finish RE2 Remake earlier this year. It was a blast to play through. Hardcore mode was tough with a limited inventory space and ammo. Now, I really want to play the original one to see how it compares
 
RE3 Remake was enjoyable, but I think there was potential for the game to be even better than what was released. That being said, I love the graphics and the new character designs in this one!
 
Picked up Spiderman (Insomniac). This game made me fall in love with traversing across the "world" within the videogame. Being able to websling around the city was cathartic and highly exciting. The voice acting felt solid, and the graphics look great.
 
Currently playing through RE4. While it's more action-oriented, it's absolutely super crazy, but insanely fun, and I love every moment of it. I wonder if the rumors of a remake for this game are true. Not sure how I'd feel about if it was for real.

Finally managed to finish RE2 Remake earlier this year. It was a blast to play through. Hardcore mode was tough with a limited inventory space and ammo. Now, I really want to play the original one to see how it compares
 
RE3 Remake was enjoyable, but I think there was potential for the game to be even better than what was released. That being said, I love the graphics and the new character designs in this one!
 
Picked up Spiderman (Insomniac). This game made me fall in love with traversing across the "world" within the videogame. Being able to websling around the city was cathartic and highly exciting. The voice acting felt solid, and the graphics look great.
 
Currently playing through RE4. While it's more action-oriented, it's absolutely super crazy, but insanely fun, and I love every moment of it. I wonder if the rumors of a remake for this game are true. Not sure how I'd feel about if it was for real.

Tracked down a reasonably priced copy of Parasite Eve II. Very different than the first one but still pretty fun.
 

 

So finally, excel file with my collection comes in handy.
 
I have:
112 singles( 79 different singles, out of those 23 in 2 different versions, 5 in 3 different versions) - all japanese
307 albums - 115 are japanese
41 mini albums/EPs - 37 are japanese
13 DVD/blu ray With concerts - all japanese
3 posters on the wall and 3-4 somewhere in the closet
0 cheki
51 japanese artists/bands(around 35 are VK) - not including VA albums(have only 4 of those)
 
Big chunk of my collection is the Gazette, started collecting their CDs about 10 years ago and i am pretty much at the finish line. Out of 112 of my singles, 51 are theirs.(all the different editions etc.)

I sold most of my collection, but I'm sure I still have about 250 CD's.  I'm sure I had around 500 or more tho. 
Also I have lots of chekis... more than 100... maybe even more than 200 lol 
I still do have posters... and other things.
 
Someday, I will also make a room, full of my stuff  
room of Japanese stuff.

I got the idea for this most likely quite short-lived topic for a few months now but a quite recent post in the your last music related buy topic made me finally put this idea into action.
 
So basically just tell how big is your collection? (physical only)
I was wondering because on here there seem to be many people who buy regularly stuff so i am quite curious who has the biggest collection?
Doesn't matter if it's just Vk/japanese or also none japanese bands...
 
Here are my stats: (japanese bands only)
 
1170 CDs
182 DVDs (incl. comment dvds)
442 different Bands (incl. Bands from V.A. releases)
164 Cheki
2 Fotobooks
 
No need to be as over the top with your stats like i am but since i write down everything in this regard...
 
So hopefully this is an interesting topic to get to know who MH biggest collector is.
 
Also don't worry, you can also post your stats if you only own 20 CDs or whatever. Cuz always keep in mind this is like literally mostly only about the "numbers".
For example if one owns 10.000 CDs but in your opinion out of those 10.000 CDs 9.999 CDs are total garbage then in your eyes logically it's still a shit collection.
So keep that in mind that this topic is mainly about the quantity and not what you or anyone else things about the quality cuz obviously (hopefully) every single person will love his own collection the most.
 
Finally there are many sup-questions i could add here but to keep it kinda simple i'll leave it as it is for now.

One thing coming to my mind, that especially made it easy to go to KPop instead VK, is the language barrier. 
I don't talk about the songs itself, but the musicans/singer/idol/whatever themselves. There are so many in VK who can't even talk the most simple english or understand it. Meanwhile Kpop groups start to all have a english speaker inside, or someone who is learning english. 
(I am talking now mainly about english because its aknowledged as international language)
The thing about this is, that especially foreign fans will feel more near if their 'idol' sometimes posts on social media in a language they know. 
Or you write a fan letter and you know he will be able to read it.
 
You guys understand what i am writing? I am not good at writing stuff like this down, i think. 
Dont forget the cut off MVs. 
But beside this also TV shows or anything like this is so hard to get by because stuff gets straight away deleted from youtube. All over Japanese Music Industry was somehow never friendly towards outside.
(I do admit i am happy that they forbid cameras inside concerts, because i don't like those fancam stuff that is going on in KPop)
 
Happy to hear, other people had this awful phase too. 
 
 
 
Apparently there are some kpop girls that started listening to vk too. But you can find that old fans or "hardcore" fans like to critise those girls a lot.  It think entering the VK fandom is unfortunatly quite hard. There are not a lot who welcome you with open arms. 

People have talked in great depth about the musical and listening aspect of turning from VK so I'll speak from more of a collector's perspective. For me the 2 main parts of collecting VK music that made me lose interest in the scene in recent years is boredom and exclusivity.
 
1. It just got boring collecting CDs over the years. Bands always had very predictable releases, your typical type-a or type-b for singles and regular/limited editions for albums with either bonus tracks or a PV DVD or something. The bigger bands put out more luxurious deluxe editions but those are usually just a giant box filled with stuff I never really cared for (like photo books) and I don't want to spend close to $90 for something I feel just lukewarm about. The last CD packaging I really got excited about was the GazettE's Dim limited edition but that was 10 years ago.
 
2. The live limited/fan club limited releases got old really fast. The first few times was exciting because who doesn't want to own a super limited and rare CD. But bands just kept pumping these out and that's when I folded. Regular/limited edition releases are already $40-$60 apiece and to have to shell out $60-$80 for a live single that I have to use a service for just didn't make sense. Sure, exclusivity isn't limited to just the VK scene but by this point I wasn't really invested in the music to want to go the extra lengths to collect exclusive items.
 
I understand there's a lot of decisions made related to catering to fans, using practices that are proven to work or financially makes sense, or trying to pack live performances that result in band's/label's decisions to release something a certain way, but it just isn't for me anymore.