Full Moon Recital Hall -Galactic Railroad Project - on sale summer 2011

[deltafour]

I almost dropped off in the middle, it was that relaxing!

It makes you wonder if Aunt Maaya gets called in to read bedtime stories to her nieces -- she apparently has two now, for those keeping score at home. I bet they'd be fast asleep in under five minutes if Maaya was reading for them.

[dillpops]

Everyone ready to tune in?

http://sai-zen-sen.jp/special/roudokukan/

[dillpops]

Half an hour to go!

[deltafour]

The twitter stream is fun to watch during the countdown.

[dillpops]

10 minutes, and the Japanese fans are getting excited

EDIT: wow, it got up to 7200-ish listeners by the end!!

[deltafour]

MP3: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8ZATCSM0 (28MB)

From what I can tell, “Sangetsuki” is fairly common reading material for kokugo (Japanese) class in high school. According to the Wikipedia page, it's set in China during the Tang Dynasty, which lasted from the 7th to 10th centuries A.D. Nakajima's writing style is filled with Chinese-derived words and characters that are no longer in common use, so if you dare to read the original version on Aozora Bunko, make sure you have a good J-J dictionary and rikai/perapera-kun or an equivalent reader plugin for your browser. If you don't have time to slog through dictionaries in search of odd words, I found a version translated into modern language for a primary/middle school audience, which is actually a quite enjoyable read.

The plot in a paragraph (or two):

The story centers on Richō, a prodigy who passes the highest level of the civil service examination at a young age. However, dissatisfied with having to climb the ladder to success, he sets out to become a famous poet. But his literary ambitions do not go as he expects, his health declines drastically, and partially giving up on his dreams, he takes a low position in a regional office. One night, while staying in an inn, he finally loses the last of his sanity and runs off into the surrounding forest, never to be seen again.

A year later, Ensan, his closest friend from his civil service examination days, is passing through the same area on official business. After stopping for the night, he sets out before sunrise, despite being warned of a tiger rumored to prey on travelers. Sure enough, he is attacked by this very tiger, but as it is about to pounce on him, it turns tail and disappears into the thicket. Ensan then hears a man's voice coming from the thicket—a voice he recognizes as belonging to his old friend, Richō. In the time that follows, Richō tells Ensan of his tale of woe, of his transformation into a tiger that night he disappeared, of how he is sometimes consumed by the Tiger in him and loses the ability to think like a Man, of how these times when he is lucid are becoming progressively shorter, and of how he can do naught but roar at the moon in frustration, his feelings understood by no one. He asks Ensan to write down the last of his poetry that he can still remember, before the Man inside him disappears completely. Along the way he reflects on how his poor choices led to his current state of affairs. The story ends with Richō and Ensan bidding each other a sad farewell, never to meet again.

[gradualpetrify]

sometimes cdjapan is sending me stuff from maaya i have absolutely no clue about.
seems to be about books too.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.htm ... OBK-861987
or
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.htm ... OBK-859504

[roxfan]

Yojou-Han Shinwa Taikei is also known as The Tatami Galaxy. Maaya played Akashi-san in the anime adaptation.
The H magazine had this interview.

[deltafour]

Story #3: "Bedtime Story" by Otsuichi

MP3: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SHLOV40H

Much longer than the previous two episodes at well over an hour. I found it to be a rather intriguing tale dealing with the ever-popular theme of destiny and fate.

The last broadcast (next month) will be a story by Kinoko Nasu, and will be recorded live in Roppongi. Those not lucky enough to get tickets to the live recital can watch a broadcast of the event from several theaters across Japan. The rest of us will have to be happy with the Ustream broadcast.

[dillpops]

You are a star!

[dillpops]

Exciting if you are in Japan:

http://sai-zen-sen.jp/special/roudokukan/#live-schedule

They are going to be broadcasting the finale one in Toho cinemas live, it seems...

[deltafour]

If you would like to read "Bedtime Story" together with Maaya, Sai-zen-sen has published the text here.

[dillpops]

What a sad story, nice, but sad. And it was nice that they published the text to read along with - thanks for pointing the way, deltafour.

[deltafour]

For the astronomically inclined, the last broadcast on December 21 coincides with a total lunar eclipse. For those in North, Central, and parts of South America, the entire eclipse will be visible, though depending on your time zone you may have to stay up into the wee hours to see it. For Japan, Korea, and much of China, the moon will rise after the eclipse has started, proceed through totality and end one minute after the broadcast begins (19:00 JST, 10:00 GMT). For the U.K. and various countries in western Europe, the moon will set with the eclipse in progress. This page has more information, including a map showing eclipse visibility and timetables.

And now for some programming notes. The last broadcast starts at 4:00 in the morning in my time zone, but I'll try to capture the audio as usual. Also, the first three stories are scheduled to be rebroadcast at 22:00 JST (13:00 GMT) on the 18th, 19th, and 20th.

[dillpops]

Bollocks! Tuned in at 11am to find it was an hour in, bloody time difference! >_< she looks nice though...