Japan’s Singing Seiyuu: What happened?

After I had the last straw with Windows Media Player, I decided to make the gradual switch over to iTunes and properly organize my music the way I want to hear it. Of course, I began with my Japanese music collection which takes up about three-fourths of my pathetic 35GB HD I have yet to upgrade. Anyway, I started with music I had not listened to in a very long while, which included my The Best Slayers collection, with most of the songs on that album sung by the great classic Japanese seiyuu of the 90s, Megumi Hayashibara. I remember dancing and singing along to “Kujikenaikara!” (Slayers ED 1) in my kitchen while washing dishes. Man…those songs took me back.

When I first was exposed to subbed anime some six years ago, Slayers and Megumi Hayashibara as Lina Inverse were my firsts. Those were the days when the main character(s) also performed Opening and Ending themes to the anime they were cast in. I really must have caught the tailend of that era because since then, I cannot recall liking a seiyuu who also sang OP, ED, or even Image songs in the anime they were cast in. The only seiyuu and singer that rings a bell is the popular Nana Mizuki. What’s sad is that I only know her by name because I had an American friend while living in Osaka who went starry-eyed whenever he saw a DVD compilation by her. Has anyone else noticed this declining phenomenon?

With that in mind, and my otaku status no longer privy to the masses, I’d like to pose these questions to whomever will lend an ear:

Are there any singing seiyuu that you remember from your anime newbie days?

Do you still enjoy their songs today?

EDIT: I meant Nana Mizuki, not Nana Kitase. Sorry about the mix up!

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

Reality has been less than stellar for me. So I found a happy distraction that is 100% FREE: Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst. Mind you, I haven’t seriously played a real 3D MMO since my Ragnarok Online days about 3-4 years ago. I have my reasons for joining up with this game only two days ago, and I have people from the community I help administrate to play with. I’m really into the world and the gameplay. Really like my avatar that I modeled after my original character, Hirika Lailan, from my ongoing story Sacred Force. Sooo cu~te! <3

I’ve heard a bit of praise about the Phantasy Star series and it seems they are well deserved. I have never had the joy of leveling while dungeon-crawling in an online setting. It’s so much fun and it doesn’t feel like your “grinding”, but rather, exploring, hoping to find some rare item and face another difficult mob for some added excitement. Quests are also available — I did one early this morning with a team. On top of that, other Player Characters seem really laid-back and nice, and some of them are Japanese players! ^^ I haven’t spoken to any yet though. I’ve always been too quiet when it comes to talking to strangers, even in real life.

If anyone wants to join me, please leave a specific comment of interest that includes your e-mail address, and I will send you the information. Don’t want to needlessly spread it around. Again, you pay nothing but your time.

Some screenshots for you:

Spotlight Preview: Shion No Ou

Been awhile since I have produced any real content for this blog…but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been watching any anime. To put it plainly, I have a new anime review published because it actually is in my job description.

Now you have two choices:

1) If you want to know the whole story that led to this publication, visit my lifestyle blog, IsShouKenMei. You can be linked to the review from there also.

OR

2) Skip the needless details and read my Shion No Ou spotlight preview before I sick those three beauties on you…and one of them is a guy.

Either way, hope to have some readers and some reactions, positive or negative. Thanks in advance.