Kenny

@sakokuotaku

He/Him. Occasionally the worse half of anibrospodcast.com, annually a decent anime-themed game show host. 3D modeling, printing, and over engineering. Actual hobby is Magic: the Gathering, but admitting this would require too much introspections. 日本語🆗

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Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jul 23

All of which is just a roundabout path towards the fact that Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell had this factor too! It is less playful with sexuality but it oozes the kind of undercurrent horniness of other properties brought to Western audiences in the nascent days of anime globalization.

A screenshot from Mamoru Oshii’s version of Ghost in the Shell. One of the most famous frames: the Major is falling gracefully backwards towards a metropolis street. She is naked except for stockings and gloves.

The Major, as presented in Mamoru Oshii’s version of Ghost in the Shell. She is dressed in an overcoat that exposes her thigh. The Major has a muscular, fit femme body.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jul 23

locked in unconsciously. Science Saru’s GITS and Trigger’s Edgerunner pass a subconscious “now this is anime like I grew up with” gut check for many factors but key it is how horny they are. Also cyberpunk but I think that’s like a tertiary thing behind emotive faces and their sexual edge.

A screenshot from Cyberpunk: Edgerunner. The character Lucy reclines and smokes a cigarette. She has platinum hair with neon accents. Lucy wears a body suit with exposed shoulders and hips.

A screenshot from Science Saru’s Ghost in the Shell. It shows a chibi Major blushing with her tongue out, her eyes swirling.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jul 23

I don’t think we consciously thought, “Damn Ryo-ohki is a babe.” I do think a piece of the Otherness of anime we got in the West at that time was that it often carried a sexual edge completely missing from the cartoons or US media “made for kids.” Romance too. And our brain chemistry at that age…

A screenshot from “Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki!” A woman sits on top of a metal platform. She has spiky, long aquamarine hair. She is wearing a dress with Asian aesthetics. She is sitting with her legs crossed, exposing her thighs. Sparks float around her.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jul 23

A component of that was the undercurrent (or sometimes overt embrace) of, for want of an equally concise word, horniness. This isn’t an endorsement of that element in media aimed at children. We can’t deny it existed though and, imo, was an aspect that hooked tweens and teens into the fandom.

A screenshot from Urusei Yatsura of the character Lum. Shot from the bust up. A woman with long green hair, and small yellow Oni horns. Her yellow and black tiger stripe bra is barely visible.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jun 24

A Magic card showing a large copper vessel with three vents and two pipes leading into it.

Thran Dynamo
{4}
Artifact
{T}: Add {C}{C}{C}.
Urza’s metathran children were conceived, birthed, and nurtured by an integrated system of machines.
Illustrated by Ron Spears

A Magic card showing a large copper gate set inside the face of a mountain. A carved boars head looks down from above the gate.

Mountain
Basic Land — Mountain
({T}: Add {R}.)
9.
One day, the day will find its furthest limit, the place beyond which no days are imagined: a place long sealed away, lost within the endless mountain range. One day, the night will find this place, and breach it.
Illustrated by Ron Spears

A Magic card depicting a red torii gate. In the center a four armed spirit is being turned into cherry blossom petals.

Path to Exile
{W}
Instant
Exile target creature. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.
Attacking a kami is considered bad luck, so seasoned mages have developed techniques to usher them back to the spirit realm without violence.
Illustrated by Ron Spears

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jun 2

A play in three acts

A screenshot from Discord in which the poster says: “Actually all I want is a Daredevil that’s interesting enough to helm a deck. As I’d be kind of loathed to put a utility player DD into a deck, but I’ll own my ‘this is my hole’ if I can have him be the commander.” This is a reference to the Junji Ito comic in which holes appear on a mountain side and people start to realize certain holes are meant specifically for certain people.

The spoiler for “Daredevil, Man Without Fear” Magic card in the new Marvel Super Heroes Magic set.

2 Red White
Legendary Creature, Human Hero
3 power 3 toughness with

Vigilance, haste
Radar Sense - you may look at the top card of your library any time.

Whenever you attack, you may exile the top card of your library. If that card is a Hero card, Daredevil gets plus 2 plus 1 until end of turn. You may play that card this turn.

The Gru meme in four panels. The 3D animated Gru stands in front of an easel with words

Panel 1: Gru is excited. Paper reads, “Daredevil as a Magic Card”
Panel 2: Gru is digging into explaining his plan. Paper reads, “Vigilance! haste! Looking at hidden information because of his super senses!”
Panel 3: Gru is explaining the last step in his plan. The paper reads: “an ability that largely cares about internal set mechanics that would require building around marvel universes beyond”
Panel 4: Gru turns to the easel and reads his plan, looking disappointed and confused.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· May 13

I don’t do this anymore but my go-to “I can’t sleep” movie as a teenager was ‘The End of Evangelion,’ sometimes with the ADV cast commentary. You asked for unhinged.

A screen shot from ‘The End of Evangelion’.

A giant female form stands above the world. Her neck is bent back and her arms out stretched holding a glowing red sphere. The planet is awash in red dots and red landscape. Glowing crosses erupt from the surface of the world.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Apr 14

Intoning “Buy Singles” as I look at this great art from Inio Asano.

A Magic: the Gathering card.

Thought Scour
A single Blue mana
Instant
Target player mills two cards
Draw a card.

Flavor text: “Inspiration can’t be forced”

Art description:
Illustration of a young student sitting in front of a blank easel. The student looks frustrated. They have a paintbrush in their right hand and are holding it against their forehead around them swirls tubes of paint writing on jets of bright color. The classroom is cluttered behind them.

Illustrated by Inio Asano

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Mar 1

After playing probably 12 hours of Requiem, I’m starting to see puzzles everywhere.

A photograph of a gravel lot behind a chain link fence. In the foreground is a pile of large cement blocks roughly 2 feet by 4 feet by 2 feet. Two of the blocks are painted neon pink — like an environmental hint for a puzzle.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Feb 16

Nope

Card image of “Eriette of the Charmed Apple” from Magic: the Gathering.

Eriette of the Charmed Apple
{1}{W}{B}
Legendary Creature — Human Warlock
Each creature that’s enchanted by an Aura you control can’t attack you or planeswalkers you control.
At the beginning of your end step, each opponent loses X life and you gain X life, where X is the number of Auras you control.
“Hush now. I need your beauty sleep.”
2/4
Illustrated by Magali Villeneuve

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Dec 25

iPhones can designate a contact as the emergency contact (which probably means Android also has that feature and had it for X+ more years than iOS). In case you want to save folks from future jump scares. I think this feature will also text the emergency contact in the event of a car crash.

A screenshot of the Settings area of iOS. The user searched for “Emergency” and the second option is “Emergency Contacts” with an SOS icon.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Dec 4

Introduce yourself with four MECHS

A screenshot from Neon Genesis Evangelion, featuring the Jet Alone. Against a partly cloudy blue sky, a giant mecha stands and is framed from the bust up. Primarily beige, with a flat red head and red shoulders. Black rods extend out of its back.

A screenshot from Armored Core on the PS1. In a 3D industrial arena, a bipedal Armored Core charged at a reverse joint leg enemy unit. The featured Armored Core is the base model you start with. A neon green hud is in the foreground. E

A screenshot from Gundam Wing featuring a unit of Leo grunt mechs. Bipedal green units. Three stand over ruined tanks. One erects a red triangle flag.

A render from Pacific Rim of the giant robot Gypsy Danger. One arm is converted into a pulse laser. It is emerging from the ocean.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Sep 19

Zul Ashur, who helms my current favorite EDH deck

Image of standard printing of the Magic card, “Zul Ashur, Lich Lord”

Zul Ashur, Lich Lord
{1}{B}
Legendary Creature — Zombie Warlock
Ward—Pay 2 life. (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays 2 life.)
{T}: You may cast target Zombie creature card from your graveyard this turn.
2/2
Illustrated by Raluca Marinescu

A thin woman marches triumphantly to stage right. She is glad in bone armor and carries a bone scepter. Glowing purple hands extend up from graves as she passes.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Sep 10

I picked a bad time to super charge my brain with caffeine. Time to crank up the hyperbolic time chamber in Focus Friend to max.

A screenshot from Focus Friend, a focus assistance app. Of importance to the post is that the timer is set to the maximum focus time of 120 minutes, and the toggle for Deep Focus is on. The virtual brown bean looks blissfully unaware of the state of American life.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jul 21

I welcome other contenders, but I really think Portland is the best city to be an anime fan. A big piece of that is thanks to the amazing curation work done by the Mecha Panic and Animayhem series at the @hollywoodtheatre.org.

A photograph of the Hollywood Theatre’s marquee in Portland, OR. An ornate cascade towers into the gray, cloudy sky. A vertical neon sign twinkles “Hollywood”. The marquee features more neon repeating the name “Hollywood”. In white letters, “Mecha Panic - Gunbuster” is spelled out under it.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jul 5

Kojima fans have a hard enough time beating the allegations without him doing this to us. (Also: Took me most of my first interaction with The Data Scientist before I realized she speaks in Japanese)

A screenshot from Death Stranding 2. The main character Sam is in the foreground. A white man with medium length brown hair. His equipment largely obscures him.

Sam is talking to a 2D hologram of a Bunny Girl. An anime style Vtuber with white-blue hair and white bunny ears. Her costume and pony tails are stuffed with big orange carrots.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jan 31

Occasionally I would use this less ominous reference made in one of the Gundam Build Fighter anime.

A screenshot from a Gundam Build Fighters anime series. Against a gray, metal cockpit wall hovers a green hologram panel that reads: “Direct Message, Sound Only”. A waveform is visible under this representing the sound of the speaker’s voice.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jan 6

Char’s Counterattack on the big screen like Tomino intended. I sometimes ask myself, “do I like anime or do I just like UC Gundam so much the rest of the medium is caught in its gravity?” It is certainly the anchor. Vibrant and extra _extra_ on a big screen.

A photograph of the neon marque of Portland, Oregon’s Hollywood Theatre at night. Beneath a ribbon of blue and red neon ribbons, a yellow HOLLYWOOD crowns the classic black and white film title marque. Of importance to the post is a bold, all caps “Char’s Counterattack”.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Jan 2

I was going to initially remark that I think I know the recipe you use but wow is that very different from my go-to. The sweet potatoes are an interesting addition — I’ll have to try that next year. (These are russets, onion, flour, and eggs)

A photograph of a plate layered high with golden brown latkes — potato pancakes. They rest on paper towels.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Dec 7

😮‍💨 What did past me do

A photograph of a stack of Magic: the Gathering cards. On top of a pile of sleeved cards is an empty magenta card sleeve.

To the right of the pile is the deck’s Commander, “Zimon and Dina”

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Dec 2

‘DANDADAN’ is so good. Watching Science Saru shine in the adaptation and approaching current with Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga is a real treat. Possible #spoiler for manga around chapter 130

A screenshot of a two page spread from Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga series DAN DA DAN.

Black and white manga illustration. Three people are performing in top of a traditional Japanese shrine float used in street festivals. A school girl is leaning forward and bellowing into a microphone. She is flanked by two hair metal guitarists. The force of their music expression is causing an uplift in shock waves and debris.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Dec 1

Explaining to my followers why my posts aren’t that good.

A screenshot from the anime series, “Serial Experiments Lain”. In a virtual reality game, the titular character Lain stands facing away from the audience. She is wearing a long sweater. In the distance a pixelated friend is facing her, in a yellow hoodie with a massive sword across his back. He is glowing with light from a circle under him.

The subtitle reads, “Nobody knows what’s fun and why.”

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 28

There’s a lot of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ in Evangelion. This is the first time I have noticed this echo.

A screenshot from the film “2001: a space odyssey” showing the main character seated at a table inside a space ship. He is eating futuristic food — an assortment of drab colored pastes in flat rectangular dishes.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 27

Ugh, bass^ It was so cool to get to see my cousin perform w/ a band he really enjoys playing in, at such a unique show. It was sold out but I got in as band staff, manning the merch table between acts. Bar served a special dish of chicken chili, pulled pork, and Hoppin’ John. It was phenomenal.

A photograph of the music venue El Puente in Yokohama, Japan. Tan walls are covered in artist and band signatures. A crowd of people stand before a three person band, HEBI KATANA. The bassist is visible through a part in the audience. He has long curly hair and is playing a yellow bass. The drummer and lead guitar are partially visible through the crowd.

A photograph of the poster. He is wearing a black and gold shirt for the band Rank and Vile, and standing in front of a table covered in merchandise for the band HEBI KATANA. Vinyl albums and T-shirts are clearly visible.

A photograph of a small dish of food. The brown clay dish holds Hoppin’ John, a southern staple of white rice and black eyed peas; chicken chili; and pulled pork.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 27

@lavenvoth.bsky.social plays base in the band HEBIKATANA, and they played a show at El Puente in Yokohama as part of the openers for the Brant Bjork Trio — the current band for an important artist in the stoner/psychedelic rock scene. One of the most unique experiences I had on this trip.

A photograph of a chalkboard sign outside of a music venue. The sign has a drawing of a red van with a gray bearded figuring leaning out its window giving the peace sign. The sign is brightly decorated with bold colors. It reads:

2024.10.27 (Sun)
Brant Bjork Trio - Japan Tour 2024
With
Raising Ravens (AUS)
Floaters
HEBI KATANA
On a Cloud
Inside Chamber
Yokujitsu

Open 14:30 Start 15:00
Sold Out

A photograph of the music venue El Puente. The tan walls are covered in signatures and dates. Psychedelic art hangs on the walls, and some of the walls are painted directly with eye motifs.

The photo centers on an empty setup for a rock band. Drums, amps, and lights.

A close up photograph of an event poster hanging on the wall inside the music venue.

The poster shows a stylized, fleshless face with one eye. Its teeth are bared but the expression is flat. The chin has a marijuana leaf. The face is painted in reds and pinks, with blue around the forehead. One eye is locking out of overlapping lids.

The sign reads:
Remember 3.11.2011
Bar El Puente

A photograph of the musician Brant Bjork signing inside the music venue El Puente. He is a tall man with long curl hair, head down by a green bandana. His medium length beard is white. He is wearing an olive shirt similar to a military fatigue. He is performing in front of a crowd.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 27

By very lucky coincidence, a special Sumo exhibition was held in Okayama in October. We were able to get affordable seats and watch a string of fun matches (with low stakes, for sure). The current Yokozuna, Terunofuji, made an appearance as well.

A photograph of a wooden sign board displaying the “Banzuke”, a special handwritten display showing the pairings for the Sumo tournament. It is written in vertical Japanese writing, bold at the top and getting smaller as the lower ranks are recorded near the bottom.

A photograph of a temporary sumo ring made from an outer boundary of firm foam edges and an interior of compacted dirt. An audience of people seated on the ground, on cushions, surround the four sides of the ring. In the middle, an imposing figure is surrounded by five sumo wrestlers. The Yokozuna, Terunofuji, is being tied into the symbol of his rank — a large white ornate rope.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 25

I hope other cities have places like the Hollywood Theatre and program runners like the cool folks behind Mechapanic (and its progenitor, AniMayhem). Catching ‘Escaflowne: The Movie’ in the main theater

A photograph of the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR. It is night and the neon of the marque is fully illuminated. Below the glowing yellow “Hollywood” is the movie marquee that reads (in part), “Mechapanic - Escaflowne”.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 22

Four drop Friday? OK — one of my favorites.

An image of the following Magic card:

Slippery Bogbonder
3 generic mana and 1 green mana
Creature — Human Druid
Flash
Hexproof
When Slippery Bogbonder enters, put a hexproof counter on target creature. Then move any number of counters from among creatures you control onto that creature.
3/3
Illustrated by Mila Pesic

Pesic’s artwork shows a young person on one knee looking off to the right in a rain forest or bogland. Over their left shoulder hovers the spherically inclined Slippery Boggart — a blueish green head with much smaller limbs. They both grip a spear.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 22

I haven’t reached our time in Shodoshima as I slowly post photos — it was great! I come from a very rainy part of the US, the Pacific Northwest, so the rain and fog didn’t detract from its beauty.

A photograph from the top of a mountain showing a lush landscape covered in trees that are just starting to turn fall colors. The horizon is obscured by gray clouds, and there are wisps of fog rolling over the mountains.

Kenny@sakokuotaku· Nov 21

Last night #DanDaDan punched me in the gut. Yukinobu Tatsu has a talent for using the turn of a page to strike unexpectedly at the reader. By Chapter 117 we’re accustom to that being a trick to reveal the monster — but damn, when humanity is the monster. What a page. (Minor #Spoiler potential)