Hey guys!

I’ll be moving to Japan next month. I haven’t decided how long I’ll be staying yet, but for now I’ll be starting a new job in Tokyo. If you’re in the area and want to meet up, feel free to send me a message.

So yeah, that’s another reason I haven’t been active on my blog lately. I’ve been preparing my move to Japan! It’s my first time moving out of home, and I’ll be living in another country too. It’s terribly nerve-wracking, but also very exciting. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, it’s the blog’s monthly update, so here are some other things I’ve been doing lately.

ANIME 

Here are my thoughts on the anime I’ve been watching this season, in alphabetical order:

Boruto: Better than the original Naruto, especially when it comes to the animation. People seem to be annoyed at how low-stakes it is, but I could watch a slice-of-life show set in the Naruto world. It’s clearly trying to do something different from its predecessor.

Eromanga Sensei: Really strong animation and direction! Unfortunately, the story is… yeah. I’ve read the first two volumes of the light novel, and I can confirm that the anime has been polishing a turd. Don’t be deceived by Sagiri’s doe eyes and cute mannerisms – she is honestly Worse Than Kirino. I look forward (?) to a certain scene from volume 2 getting adapted, exposing her as the definitive worst girl.

My Hero Academia: After a slow start, the second season has been amazing so far. Episode 5 in particular was full of adrenaline. I really enjoy seeing the kids compete against each other, although a part of me does want to see the villains enter the fray and make the shit hit the fan. My Hero Academia is at its best when it focuses on the relationship between All Might and Deku, but that hasn’t been a big component of season 2 so far.

Sakura Quest: I think Nick Creamer sums up the strengths of this show the best. It may have a light and humorous touch, but it addresses the real issues of depopulation and economic decline in rural Japan seriously. I appreciate the themes, but the show itself doesn’t grab me much. The aesthetics are rather flat, and none of the characters really stand out besides the protagonist. It definitely has potential, though, so I’ll be sticking with it.

OTHER STUFF

I’ve been helping Canipa out with research for his videos. Besides the video on the animator Toshiyuki Inoue linked above, I’ve also provided translation assistance for his videos on The Eccentric Family and Attack on Titan, which he made for Crunchyroll’s social media accounts. We have plans for collaborate on content during his stay in Japan, so stay tuned for that!

I translated an article about the problems in the anime industry for Wave Motion Cannon. It’s nothing new for anyone who keeps up with industry news, but it does provide a neat summary of a terrible situation.

Finally, I wrote the questions and translated this interview with Koichiro Ito, one of the producers for Your Name (Kimi no Na wa). You might recall that I also helped out with an interview with the Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale team last month. I hope to be doing more of this kind of content in the future if time and scheduling allows.

So yeah, I’ll be busy, but I fully intend to keep up my writing projects in Japan. I’m not sure about my translation commissions, though, since they don’t give me much money relative to how much time I spend on them. For now, I will be changing my translation rates, so please do check out the commissions page before sending me a translation request. I’m at a stage of my life where I can no longer afford to write or translate for free. I hope you can understand!

I wonder if I’ll ever have the time to blog… RIP Frogkun dot com.