What Possessed Me?

I foraged through all the junk on my kitchen table and discovered my little red pouch full of discount cards. Thus, I was able to trek out to Costco to buy some much needed kerosene. (Couldn't you just go somewhere closer to get your kerosene? Yes, but they don't serve rotisserie chicken.) On the way there, I popped into a BookOff and, much to my surprise, found a Puffy CD that I don't have. (Aside: I just popped out to the car to grab the CD. Inside is a Collectors Card! Oh no, another obsession!)

 The card in question!

This video may not be available in your country, so just Google "Tokyo, I'm on my Way". Then sing along!

I just happen to pass a cinema on the way so I checked out what's playing. The timing was right, so I sat down and watched The Conjuring: Last Rites. It was on an X screen, the largest of the screening rooms and I had to pay a little extra for it. But you get to see it on three screens simultaneously (sometimes). It's not a bad effect, though I would have liked the shaky seats and squirting mist/water one gets with 4DX. Imagine getting sprayed with Holy Water all the time!

 

The translation of the title of the movie in Japanese (死霊館 最後の儀式 Shiryokan Saigo no Gishiki) is "The Last Ritual of the Dead Museum" which seems like overkill.

 

 You don't need to see the previous movies (I've seen 2/3 & Annabelle), but it helps.

Not a bad movie, I was confused at times by the characters, perhaps I wasn't paying close enough attention. Otherwise, a pretty good flick with one good jump scare and a few great effects.

I flagged down an usher in the lobby to snap my photo. I wish I weren't so rushed and I would have tilted my head properly.

 Here are a few more of the posters and displays in the lobby.

Oh is that about Justin Bieber?

Unfortunately Tron Ares is only shown in English at inconvenient times, it would be terrific in 4DX. Alas, it's only in Japanese with no subtitles.

I also picked up a flyer for Wicked 2, Back to Ozu (or whatever it's called). I'm annoyed that we have to wait until MARCH 2026 for it!!

 

I went to a Game Center on the way home, do you find this surprising? One of the commenters (I've linked to him before, Deadpan Flook) on my Labubu blog entry mentioned that they remind of Monchichi from the 80s. I said that they are still around and for proof...

 

I would like one of these dolls in my possession, but they're a little out of my price range.

I think that is Annabelle!

 

I also popped into another BookOff and found a movie pamphlet (I'll showcase it tomorrow). But within the Exorcist pamphlet were these two pages ripped out of a newspaper or something. It gives you some insight into some of the Exorcist special effects. 

 

Eda-mame soup! 

 

 

Since we're on the topic of possession.Today's Oni looks like a little boy, but is nastier than most.

The kanji to the right up there (天邪鬼 amano jaku) means "Evil Spirits".
 

A quick comic that is sort of related to the above:

Before I go to bed, I'd like to wish to those who celebrate, "Happy Back to the Future Day!"

 

And the heartiest of Congratulations to the Blue Jays who enter the World Series for the first time since '93!

 See ya tomorrow.

SweetSweet!

Welcome to Day 14 of GOvember and become a victim of low content because I don't feel like pushing it.

I bought these the other day and drank one tonight. Much nicer than the last Gojira Energy Drink (Yellow Flavour), this one is the superior Blue Flavour! 

I watched the new Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex short today on TV rather than on my puny phone screen. Pretty cool though I miss the guys in rubber suits.

Really nice to see Megumi Odaka back even if she's only the narrator. Also some nice stock music by Akira Ifukube and "now to give it the perfect ending was a bit of the old Ludwig Van". (Can you identify that quote?)

I followed it up with Godzilla vs. Megalon. Just as good, maybe a little nastier. And I must say, "Humans, if you're going to be smug about approaching Kaiju, you deserve to be obliterated." 

In other news, I watched Domino (actual title Hypnotic) with Ben today. Not bad, a tad dull at times and I may have nodded off at some point. How did they end up at Jeff Fahey's farm all of a sudden? Is Ionie Olivia Nieves in EVERY movie that requires a kid now? She certainly is ubiquitous.

It wasn't until the end credits that I realized it was a Robert Rodriguez movie, I should have guessed.

Best part was the preview. I saw a clip of Sylvanian Families.

and if you skip forward about 40 seconds, you can hear a snippet of a new Puffy song, SweetSweet.

I doubt whether I'll sit through the entire movie just to hear that tune again, I'll wait for it to be released elsewhere.

I have tomorrow off, so I'll be able to increase the GOvember goodies.

Happy Me no Hi.

October 10th is a special day for a couple of reasons. As one student pointed out to me, it's EYE DAY (目の日 = me no hi. "me" sounds like "may") because 10/10 looks like a pair of eyes.

It's also National Cake Decorating Day and World Mental Health Day but neither of those pertain to moi. Me no Hi can also refer to the Day of Me (me as in the first singular personal pronoun, pronounced as "Do Re Mi"). Why is October 10th particularly important to me? Because it was on this date TWENTY YEARS ago that I first stepped off a plane and landed at Narita Airport beginning my two decade (so far) life as a teacher in Japan. To celebrate that auspicious occasion, I did something unusual and went to Izumi Mandai for a bit of Otaku Shopping.
(Say, Michael. Don't you go there regularly anyway?
Quiet you!)

I treated myself to a purple Rodan made in '93 by Bandai. It cost me ten bucks and that link is selling one for 55$ so I think I made out all right. (Too bad mine isn't Mint with Card.)

After my purchase, I was given one free shot at UFO Catcher, which is a great gimmick for you to waste your coins after your freebie.

Surprisingly, I won this guy in only 7 tries including the freebie.

I also scored a couple of Titans for 50 yen!

They hang around nicely on my Godzilla cup.

After that I went to a nearby BookOff. I found a couple of Godzilla books and a Star Wars Monsters book for a buck a piece. Woohoo!

 

I even scored a cheap Puffy CD that I don't think I already own.

(While listening to it, it does sound awful familiar though.)

I was looking for more Eko Eko Azarak books or DVDs at these places to no avail. So I'll just post today's postcard without further ado.

I didn't feel like cooking so I decided to do something really Japaneasy and dine on sushi. I went to my local Conveyor Belt sushi place but the fish weren't floating around, I had to order them freshly made.

I only ate 6 plates, some soup and karaage so it cost me 1500 yen and I didn't stuff myself.

Finally here's a link to today's Cryptkeeper, Monster Movie Kid.