#Utai Culture

[lurkingteapot]

9 People You’d Like to Know More

Tagged by @shouldiusemyname and @recentadultburnout

Last song: Kenji Kawai - Utai IV Reawakening (Steve Aoki Remix), because I was watching this Street Dance of China performance:

Currently reading: I'm working my way through a thing I'm translating for a job, if that counts as reading? If we're just talking reading for pleasure: I just finished Yellowfever by R.F. Kuang and highly, highly recommend it. Content warnings out the wazoo (the narrator is an AWFUL person who doesn't come anywhere near realising how bad she is); I still couldn't put it down until I was finished. Next up is probably a few chapters of Queer Transfigurations and a whole lot of fanfic until Shelley Parker-Chan's He Who Drowned The World is released on the 24th.

Currently watching: Laws of Attraction, Be My Favorite, Tokyo in April is …, Not Me (re-watch for class purposes), SOTUS, Good Omens S2, and technically also 10 Years Ticket but I'm stalled on it

Next in line on my watchlist: I don't have a watch list as such, but I'd like to finish one of the shows I started but stalled on – other than 10 Years Ticket, maybe The Warp Effect?

Starting soon: Only Friends

Current obsession: gonna take a page out of @shouldiusemyname's book and try to narrow it down to just three:

in concrete fannish/fandom things, this is still Bad Buddy. I've watched and enjoyed other shows, but I keep coming back – to read fic, to analyse and speculate with friends and strangers, sometimes to write … and sometimes I go back and work through an episode or two in relation to 2.) or 3.).

slightly removed, there's Thai language and everything it connects to– I've dropped the ball on it a little for brickspace reasons, but I want to get back into it. Right now, the extent of my Thai practice is watching LoA without subs every week, preparing for and attending a class focussed around Not Me, and one 1-on-1 conversation class that's technically weekly but teacher and I have both been having life things happen, so it's not really been weekly for a while now. I wish I had the brainspace to challenge myself more, especially to speak. Feels hard to believe I had the spoons to do language exchange stuff daily and have regular convo classes for a while (u_u) I miss it.

and going into a slightly different direction again, BL academia/scholarship – I was fairly interested in this even back in university, but unfortunately it wasn't something I could pursue with the professors I had at the time, so I had to content myself with the classes and papers on gender studies, queer studies, and Japanese pop culture of the 20th century I could get, and reading whatever papers about BL "proper" I could get my hands on in my spare time. I'm glad to be getting back into it now, if a bit wistful.

I have no idea who has and hasn't done this because I've been pretty awol from tumblr for a while, but as an attempt: @dimplesandfierceeyes, @ephemeral-hiraeth, @fanonplussed, @galauvant, @isaksbestpillow, @liyazaki, @loveongsa, @plantsarepeopletoo, and @sixohsixoheightfourtwo, (if you already did this and I missed it, I'm sorry and will be happy for a pointer that way!) Obviously no pressure to do this at all :D

#get to know meme #meme #ask game #about me #my nonsense #q

[pileofsith]

Are you going to introduce an Utai character?

They are a big part of Pau'an culture. Pau'ans and Utai call themselves Utapauans as a group. I think the Grand Inquisitor might misunderstand their relationship as slavery. Or be baffled why Pau'ans don't just rule over Utai with an iron fist like the Empire.

Uh I am not sure how to answer this, but maybe?

I do have an Utai character in mind, but I'm not sure how much I'll use him. Sorry if this is disappointing!

He will either be a secondary character for one chapter arc and then occasionally used for minor purposes, or he'll be a recurring background character. Thing is, I have different variants of plot details at this point, so I shape the story as I go along, depending on what works best for the general direction.

But in either case, I won't delve into the worker class Utai vs admin class Pau'an cultural aspect* too much, because a) I don't want to overly complicate the comic and b) during this era, the Empire administrates over both Utai and Pau'ans anyway.

*And also because I'm kind of going to straight up ignore that weirdly charged worldbuilding choice? A species-based social class structure is too much to unpack in a silly lil fan comic, a can of worms best left unopened...

#I just need an utai for some added utapau flavour #he'll not have much conflict with the pau'an inquisitor #they're both here to get a job done and are to each other's POV refreshingly free of socially-charged bullshit #asks #utai #utapau

[inquisitorius-sin-bin]

How do you imagine the Pau'ans and the Utai dancing?

Every sinkhole has its own culture but I imagine a lot of them have balls Disney ending/aristocrats style, Spanish like dances (it's because of all that red in their clothes) and maybe ballet.

When I see Utai I imagine tap dancing or a Scottish Jig. Something to do with their hoof-like feet.

How do an Utai and a Pau'an dance together? It can be quite hard and embarrassing I imagine.

Yeah it's really tough for me to pin down really, and I have no idea why. I kind of picture at least the sinkhole-dwelling Pau'an to do some Eastern European folk-like dances (and yes I know those vary a lot region-to-region and country-to-country) but particularly dances like the Khorovod or the Berezka. Again I think it comes down to the outfits. The long, red gowns. The Cossack would be particularly entertaining for the Utapau Guards I think.

But hey, if you imagine the Utai doing and Irish Jig and the Pau'an guard doing a Cossack, maybe they aren't entirely incompatible?

If unity is so strong in their culture, perhaps they have a shared dance designed for both? Or with parts for both races, like a square dance?

#pau'an headcanons

[imperiumallaboveall]

Watch "Utapauan Species: Pau'an & Utai (History, Biology, Culture, Ect.)" on YouTube

#Youtube

[nitr09-productions]

He is coloured! The colours are a bit muddy because I’m a bit out of practice. 

#So You've Become An Endling? #So You've Become An Endling #sybae #sybae? #Timirin #utai #utai culture #alien #creature design #alien design #my art #art #myart #digital art

[mortallyclearwonderland]

Star Wars Alien Species - Pau'an

Utapau was a remote and rocky planet in the Outer Rim Territories' Utapau system that was covered with enormous sinkholes. Its native inhabitants were the Pau'ans and the Utai, though tribes of Amani also immigrated to the world. It was the location of the Battle of Utapau during the Clone Wars. The majority of Utapau's Amani lived deep underground. Bands of Sugi also lived on the planet.

It was believed that settlers traveled to Utapau hoping to find a hospitable world to colonize after the destruction of their homeworld. Some created homes in the sinkholes, while others lived on the surface. Over time, the species changed genetically, becoming the Pau'ans and the Utai, two species with many differences but some similarities. Researchers from the University of Sanbra discovered evidence supporting the theory that the two species were related, although exact specifications were not certain. Eventually, a climate change, causing severe winds, forced the Pau'ans underground, into the sinkholes. The Utai welcomed the Pau'ans, and over time, the two societies merged together to live in a mutually beneficial civilization. Timon Medon was the Pau'an responsible for this, and he was held in high esteem by Pau'ans for his actions. Following the merging of the two cultures, they split into several different groups, forming sinkhole cities scattered across Utapau. Tion Medon, Port Administrator in 19 BBY, was named for Timon Medon.

Due to trade restrictions placed on them by the Trade Federation, Pau'ans were unable to import many goods such as weapons or starships, and were forced to create their own technology. As Utapau was located in the distant Outer Rim Territories, few independent traders ventured to their planet; although many ventured there around 49 BBY after hearing rumors that the waters on the planet had miraculous healing properties. There were even claims that Utapau was the original home of the Jedi, although these reports were not new; they had originated millennia before. Though the Pau'ans did not want to draw attention to themselves for fear of meeting more powerful cultures who might try to conquer them, they eagerly welcomed visitors who wished to experience the healing for themselves. However, once the water was proven to be nothing more than ordinary water, most people forgot about Utapau, once again leaving it alone.

During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems sought the planet. Despite this, the planet remained neutral. Late in the war, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were sent to investigate the death of Jedi Master Tu-Anh. This led them to locate a massive kyber crystal that the Confederacy was attempting to acquire. They were able to destroy the crystal before it could fall into Separatist hands.

Within months, the Separatists invaded Utapau with thousands of battle droids. Later, a number of key Separatist leaders were stationed on the planet, but were moved to a mining complex on Mustafar prior to the battle on the orders of Darth Sidious. General Grievous remained on Utapau to oversee the battle, but met his end at the hands of Jedi Master Kenobi. Unfortunately for him, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine issued Order 66 shortly thereafter. Because of their behavioral modification biochips,Kenobi's clone troopers turned on their Jedi General and shot him down into a sinkhole. However, Kenobi survived and escaped Utapau. After the end of the Clone Wars, the Galactic Empire occupied the planet.

Following the liberation of their planet by the New Republic, they joined the new galactic government, hoping to avoid further enslavement and poor treatment at the hands of the leaders of the galaxy. Following the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Utapauan Committee elected to join the Galactic Alliance, holding democracy as vital to the preservation of the galaxy. When the Sith Lord Darth Krayt took control of the Galactic Empire, Utapau sheltered Admiral Gar Stazi of the Galactic Alliance Remnant late in the war after having providing the GA fleet shelter throughout the conflict.

Condemning the genocide wrought by the Sith on Dac, Port Administrator Telan Medon of Pau City agreed to harbor Stazi and his wounded men deep in the labyrinthine caves that pocketed the capital. Unbeknownst to the Pau'ans, Sith scientist Vul Isen had established a laboratory on the planet, conducting illegal experiments on the natives. Located within plain sight in one of Pau City's main precincts, the lab's function was to provide Isen a space to concoct a deadly virus that would wipe all life from Utapau indefinitely. Before Isen could unleash the deadly plague, Jedi Knight Cade Skywalker infiltrated the lab and cut Isen down, securing the toxin and saving the Pau'an race from extinction.

Below Utapau's surface was the massive "world-ocean," a huge subterranean body of water. This water contained many powerful currents created by the tidal forces of Utapau's moons. These currents eroded the underside of the planet's crust and caused the formation of Utapau's many sinkholes and chasms, which, when combined with numerous storms, served to make the planet's surface inhospitable. One of Utapau's "continents" was more stable that the rest; for that reason, most Utapauns lived on that stabilized continent.

Because of the lack of timber on the planet, Utapaun architecture was primarily constructed out of the bones of deceased animals. The bones of nearly all of the planet's fauna were used in construction, which later developed into a unique form of architecture known as ossic architecture. The skeletons of the huge animals that roamed the lower sinkholes and ocean had huge enough bones to be used as beams; other fossil bones were mined in caves. The Utapauns' fresh water was extracted from machines that purified the seawater and also separated any valuable minerals from the ocean. Eventually, it was determined that the world-ocean contained a number of valuable substances that the planet began to export.

The Pau'ans fulfilled most of the governmental and administrative duties on Utapau, as the Utai did not desire such work, serving as laborers instead. Most Pau'ans served as leaders early in their lives, often managing teams of Utai laborers. This gave them experience that would be used later in their life. Pau'ans were kind leaders, and sympathetic to their subordinates. Each city on Utapau was controlled by a Master of Port Administration, a hereditary title reserved for Pau'ans. These administrators were assisted by advisory councils for making important decisions about their city, turning to the Utapauan Security Force when necessary. Each Administrator served on the Utapauan Committee and oversaw planetary governance. However, the committee rarely made crucial decisions, as the cities were able to function on their own most of the time.

Despite the many differences between the Pau'ans and the Utai, the two species were able to co-exist peacefully, although inhabitants of the different Utapaun cities often had conflicts due to philosophical differences. Still, these conflicts rarely developed into bloodshed, and it was more common for the cities to ignore each other. Each city had its own culture, and competition was fierce between the groups. However, they were able to cooperate when the situation necessitated it.

Pau'an society was a blend of a variety of styles and cultures, borne from the ancient merger with the Utai. Built into the sinkhole walls, Pau'an settlements such as the Pau City spaceport were divided into different areas, each a mix of architectural styles and other-worldly design. They liked art, and enjoyed studying sculptures and finding ways to incorporate different artistic styles into their architecture. Pau'ans developed an industrial society, despite their seemingly primitive and natural image, though the Utai were the ones who actually did the hard work. The Utai did not mind, however, and collectively much preferred labor to positions of leadership.

They were able to power their city by wind, harnessing it through massive windmills. Over ninety-nine percent of the planet's power came from these windmills.

Most Pau'ans rode living beasts like varactyls and dactillions instead of speeders. Pau'ans, as well as Utai, were known for their love for Podracing.

Pau'ans represented 30% Utapau's total population.

Taller than most Humans, Pau'ans are bald and have gray, wrinkled skin. Their sunken eyes and sharp teeth give them a slightly monstrous appearance. Pau'an, Utapaun or Ancients, as they were sometime called, have sunken black eyes in red eye sockets and jagged, fang-like teeth used for tearing into raw meat, as they were carnivores. Members of the species were able to see well in darkness. Pau'ans had five fingers and toes, but were more mobile than they appeared. They often wore elaborate clothes intended to heighten their impressive stature.

A typical Pau'an stands at 1.9 meters or 6.2 feet tall and weighs 70 kilograms or 154 pounds.

Pau'an age at the following stages:

1 - 16 Child

17 - 30 Young Adult

31 - 400 Adult

401 - 500 Middle Age

501 - 700 Old

Examples of Names: Timon Medon, Tion Medon, Lampay Fay.

Languages: Most Pau'ans spoke both Utapese and Basic. Their native language once had several different dialects.

#Pau'an #star wars aliens #star wars species #Timon Medon #Tion Medon #the grand inquisitor

[pldonthestreetsrdminthesheets]

Quick Info - 4.5/5.0 Story Stats

Xavier Roiyaru

The Basics ––– –

Age: 200+ (35 in looks only - immortal)

Birthday: 32nd Sun of the 1st Astral Moon (January 31st)

Race: Au Ra, Xaela

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Bisexual (female preference)

Marital Status: Mated, bound, but not married

Physical Appearance ––– –

Hair: Dark blue with white highlights, always pulled back into a slim ponytail

Eyes: White (right), red-ish orange (left), umbral ring is red and only on left eye (blind in his right eye)

Height: 7′2“

Build: Athletic, muscular

Distinguishing Marks: Freckles, scar along the right side of his face, multiple scars along his torso

Common Accessories: High Allagan Armor, multiple earrings in his horns

Personal ––– –

Profession: Khagan of the Steppe, Dark Knight (Paladin), mentor, caretaker

Hobbies: Training, babysitting Utai’s children

Languages: Eorzean, Doman, Xaelic (still learning/not entirely fluent)

Residence: Dark Knight soulstone/within Utai’s subconscious/Shirogane

Birthplace: Azim Steppe

Religion: N/A

Patron Deity: Halone, the Fury

Fears: N/A (secretly: afraid of losing his mate and the ‘family’ he’s gained)

Relationships ––– -

Spouse: Ihna Arulaq (mate, not wife)

Children: N/A (cares for Utai’s kits)

Parents: N/A (deceased)

Siblings: N/A (deceased/adopted)

Other Relatives: N/A (However he is of Dotharl decent)

Pets: N/A

Traits ––– -

* Bold your character’s answer.

Extroverted / In Between / Introverted

Disorganized / In Between / Organized

Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded

Calm / In Between / Anxious

Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable

Cautious / In Between / Reckless

Patient / In Between /  Impatient

Outspoken / In Between / Reserved

Leader / In Between / Follower

Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic

Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic

Traditional / In Between / Modern

Hard-working / In Between / Lazy

Cultured / In Between / Uncultured

Loyal / In Between / Disloyal

Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful

Additional information ––– –

Smoking Habit: No Drugs: Nhaama’s Silk Alcohol: Yes

#ooc #xavier #character sheet #quick info #malboro #balmung #malboro rp #balmung rp #cross-server rp #xavier roiyaru

[jpf-sydney]

Noh as living art

New item:

Noh is recognized as one of the oldest and greatest theatrical traditions in the world. Embraced by the samurai elite some 650 years ago, it ultimately permeated every level of Japanese society through the vehicle of utai (noh singing) and inspired generations of writers and scholars in Japan and around the world. What accounts for noh's enduring vitality? What does this austerely beautiful, understated art form have to offer a digitalized society awash in instant entertainment? Noh actor Yasuda Noboru answers these and other questions in this uniquely personal and accessible introduction to noh as living art.  -- Back cover.

Shelf: 773 YAS Noh as living art : inside Japan's oldest theatrical tradition. by Yasuda Noboru ; translated by Kawamoto Nozomu.

First English edition. Tokyo : Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 2021. xiii, 103 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm. (Japan library (Shuppan Bunka Sangyō Shinkō Zaidan)).

This book is a translation of Nō : 650-nen tsuzuita shikake to wa  published by Shinchōsha, Tokyo, in 2017."" -- T.p. verso. Includes bibliographical references. Translated into English from the Japanese. ISBN: 9784866581781

Table of contents:

Keys to Noh's enduring relevance

Mythical origins to feudal transformation

Edo period to the present

Form and function

The genius of Zeami

Noh and the tapestry of Japanese literature

Engaging the imagination

Why study Noh?

#nō #performing arts #new 2021 11 #jcentral

[erza-shidae]

Here's something for the Kalafina Song Meme. What do you think of Hoshi no Utai?

Yoshhh, my last one >_

♫ What was your first impression of it? I first heard it from one of the concert bd, I don’t remember which one it was >__> well it was weird, everything was weird haha I came from a normal anisong/kpop background, hearing this was like a culture shock

♫ How do you feel about it now? I still think it’s a weird song lol, its not one of those conventional easy listening song, but it sure is a  unique one, one that screams Kalafina/Kajiura

♫ Rate the song on a scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being the best rate)! 6? I don’t know, I mean I don’t really like rating songs since it IS based on my personal preference, and so I feel bad if the score is too low @_@

♫ Describe the song in one sentence! Weird mythical echo-y song?

♫ How does it make you feel? confused hahaha

♫ What do you like most about this song? Keiko’s voice

♫ What’s your least favourite part about it? Right before the ending with Hikaru singing with something that sounds like a reverb technique

♫ Best version of the song? Red Moon concert I guess

♫ Favourite lines in the lyrics?僕等は何を奪い何を探しに行くんだろう祈りはそこにあってただ君の手を取って

♫ Thoughts on the musical arrangement and the use of instruments? Eh, it will be more of me not liking the echo-y reverb like sound so let’s skip this XD

♫ Wakana, Keiko or Hikaru? Keiko~

♫ Share something creative related to this song (picture, gif, video, artwork, poem, anecdote, headcanon, interpretation etc…knock yourself out!)  nothing creative but I’m just curious, does anyone on tumblr actually tried the game that this song is featured in? O_O

[hikarinokusari]

4 et 5. Parce que j'aime savoir. 💃👀

4. Le personnage de RP le plus bizarre que j’ai eu l’occasion d’interpréter était une chaussette. Je ne me rappelle plus du pourquoi du comment j’en était arrivé là avec mes potes, juste que c’était très drole. Et que mon trauma des chaussettes doit dater à peu près de cette époque aussi.

5. Niveau personnages préférés .... En choisir qu’un seul serait difficile vu que je porte la même affection à deux personnages. D’un point de vu personnage original je dirai que ça a été Rikxian, dans son verse d’origine.Incontestablement. Il y a beaucoup à exploiter avec elle, que ce soit dans les thèmes sombres ou plus légers. J’ai juste eu un passage à vide et de ras-le-bol étiquetté “les gens sont cons” n°587  quand j’ai joué avec d’autres personnes que toi. Mes partenaires étaient tellement persuadés que son côté “ J’ai rien fait, je suis mignonne ♥” était tout ce qui la résumait qu’ils en étaient venus à me dire que je la jouai de manière OOC quand elle montrait qu’elle était une vraie garce. Ca m’a très vite agacé qu’on me dise qu’elle était juste adorable et que je ne devais pas en faire une peste. Alors que de base, c’est ce qu’elle est et je l’avais martelé en discussion HRP. Une peste fanatique et manipulatrice. Après j’ai plus eu le droit de jouer avec eux tant que je “m’entêtais à en faire ce qu’elle n’était pas” ou quelque chose du genre. J’en ris aujourd’hui mais ça m’avait suffisamment à l’époque pour que je dessine des dessins par pur sel pour me défouler. J’étais déjà une boule de sel immature à l’époque, qui pourrait le croire ? Je me console en me disant que j’avais réussi à la jouer assez bien vu qu’ils avaient l’air de croire à son petit jeu. D’y croire un peu trop d’ailleurs. C’est dommage. Sinon, niveau personnage issu du canon d’un jeu, je dirai Tseng pour les raisons que tu connais déjà. Personnage secondaire, headcanon à foison, complexité, papiers, loyauté, cravate, la relation qu’il a avec rufus et avec ses turks VS le reste du monde VS celle qu’il a avec d’autres connaissances ... C’est jouissif. Pis toute la dimension de la culture asiatique qu’on peut lui rajouter ( se lacher les cheveux à la chinoise pour le déshonneur. Juste. Ca. ). Donc rajouter des liens avec Utai ( jusqu’à ce que le Remake AU Crossover à la Kingdom Hearts un peu trop voyant nous dise : Sa famille a toujours vécu à Midgar depuis des générations et il n’est pas utaien du tout ! ). Donc rajouter encore plus de complexités au personnage vis-à-vis de son identité et du conflit entre Utai & Midgar. Et y a Lévi (    uwu)Je pense que tu l’as vu, c’est mon premier amour niveau RP, et quand j’arrête pour un autre personnage, je reviens toujours inéluctablement à le jouer lui. J’y peux rien, on s’aime lui et moi. Enfin moi, je l’aime. Lui il aimerait certainement que j’arrête de l’aimer et que je continue à le laisser tranquille comme je le fais en ce moment. 

#answered ask #ty for asking :) #xyanmajor #long post

[jessicaross026-blog]

Ahsh Inc.: Japanese Style Wedding Plans, in a "machiya" Guest House or on the Noh Stage, for LGBT Visitors to Japan

OSAKA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ahsh Inc. (HQ: Osaka, Japan; Etsuko Kawabe, President & Representative Director) has launched Equal Wedding Japan, an online Japanese wedding service booking site for LGBT visitors to Japan. Equal Wedding Japan is a website that offers various Japanese-style wedding plan packages to LGBT visitors to the country. While same sex marriage is yet to be legalized in Japan, there have been significant gains here recently in social awareness and understanding for LGBT issues. At the same time, tourist traffic to Japan keeps growing dramatically. So we have decided to provide sexual minority couples from abroad with unique opportunities to experience Japanese culture and take away unforgettable memories of our country. "Japanese 'omotenashi' (hospitality) is world-famous and this generous spirit pervades wedding services in Japan, too," says Etsuko Kawabe, President of Ahsh Inc. "We are pleased and proud to be able share this long-nurtured tradition with couples from all over the world. Initial service offerings are limited to and around Kyoto and Osaka, we plan on expanding our portfolio to cover all Japan." Features We cater to the various wardrobe requirements of all LGBT couples, between men, between women, or with transgender persons. We offer a variety of Japanese-style traditional wedding ceremonies in different settings, from Kyoto's "machiya" guest house to the Noh stage and Toei's Studio Park at Uzumasa. All proceedings will be assisted by English-speaking staff. By carefully walking our clients through the traditional Japanese wedding's procedure and etiquette and explain their significance, we will help each loving couple to experience and remember a special, unforgettable event. Our Plans Japan Traditional Wedding Fantasy wedding at a shrine, with maidens and ancient music Price: USD 5,500 or more http://equalweddingjapan.jp/plans/view/1 This wedding plan observes Japan's traditional style, both in terms of space and ritual. It will take place in a "Shinden," a genuine, sanctified shrine embodying a divine spirit. Located inside a hotel, however, it is not subject to weather and is provided with facilities for changing clothes and modern amenities. The Shinden's vermilion coloring is believed to ward off misfortune from the wedding couple. The proceedings will go by the book, with full solemnity. You will be guided throughout the ceremony by an English-speaking MC. The ceremony will feature "San-san-kudo no Gi," ancient ritual in which the wedding couple pledges an eternal bond by exchanging cups of sake. "Miko" (shrine maidens) decked in exotic costume will provide assistance along the proceedings and may even offer a mysterious dance performance. The whole experience will feel like a fantastic dream. Basic Plan includes: Two sets of wardrobe: "Montsuki hakama" (Japanese traditional formal attire) for men; "Irouchikake" (bright color bridal kimono) or "Shiromuku" (white bridal kimono) for women Kimono underwear, "Tabi" socks, "Sensu" folding fans Professional kimono stylist Full ceremonial equipment English-speaking MC, attendees "Miko" (shrine maidens) "Gagaku" (Japanese court music) musicians Photographer (providing photo data) Machiya Wedding Wedding at a century-old "machiya" guest house Price: USD 4,500 or more http://equalweddingjapan.jp/plans/view/3 This plan takes you inside a century-old "machiya" guest house built in full accordance with traditional style. Your wedding will proceed with time-honored rituals of Japan, within the authentic interiors, punctuated by the sound of water drops from the middle garden. The couple will pledge an eternal bond by exchanging cups of sake ("San-san-kudo no Gi") and enshrine love in a single Kanji character ("Ippitsu no Gi"). You may also take home your "Tabi" socks from the ceremony. Options are available for makeup and hairdo, a photo album, and a tea ceremony and a calligraphy lesson after the wedding. Basic Plan includes: Two sets of wardrobe: "Montsuki hakama" (Japanese traditional formal attire) for men; "Furisode" (long-sleeved formal kimono) for women Kimono underwear, "Tabi" socks, "Sensu" folding fans Professional kimono stylist Full ceremonial equipment English-speaking MC, attendees Music performance ("Koto" harp, etc.) Photographer (providing photo data) Meal for two Samurai Wedding Just like movie stars Price: USD 10,000 or more http://equalweddingjapan.jp/plans/view/4 For this plan we take you inside Toei's Studio Park at Uzumasa in Kyoto. This studio has given birth to timeless masterpieces of Japanese cinema and here we will turn you into movie stars. You are free to become a samurai, a shogun, or a princess. We will costume, wigs and makeup as befits your chosen role. Video is a key feature of this plan. A dedicated videographer will always accompany the wedding couple, so as to capture many memorable scenes. Drawing from the rich splendors of a world-class movie studio, we will produce for you a singularly inimitable movie. Basic Plan includes: Four sets of wardrobe Kimono underwear, "Tabi" socks, "Sensu" folding fans Professional kimono stylist Full ceremony equipment English-speaking MC, attendees Videography director Photographer (providing photo data) Noh Wedding On a stage of Japanese Noh- a UNESCO World Intangible Heritage Price: USD 6,500 or more http://equalweddingjapan.jp/plans/view/2 This plan takes place on the Noh stage. Noh is a drama form that dates back to Japan's Muromachi period (1338-1573). Some even claim it is among the world's oldest stage performance arts and it is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Noh stage, a five-meters-by-five square, is roofed and open on three sides, with a prominent pine tree painted in the back. Noh is characteristically devoid of props and equipment. The performance art consists of performers' "Utai" (lines), "Kata" (gestures), and "Funso" (Noh masks and costumes) with "Ohayashi" (choral and musical accompaniment). Against this mysterious background we will stage a time-honored wedding. The musicians will play "Yokyoku" (Noh songs) as you, like Noh performers, gracefully approach the stage on a corridor called "Hashigakari." After the ceremony, you may watch a Noh performance while enjoying Japanese cuisine and sake. Basic Plan includes: Two sets of wardrobe: "Montsuki hakama" (Japanese traditional formal attire) for men; "Irouchikake" (bright color bridal kimono) or "Shiromuku" (white bridal kimono) for women Kimono underwear, "Tabi" socks, "Sensu" folding fans Professional kimono stylist Full ceremony equipment English-speaking MC, attendees Photographer (providing photo data) "Yokyoku" performance NB: Prices may change due to forex fluctuations. Company profile Name: Ahsh Inc. Founded: October 7, 1986 Location: Chiyoda Building 10F, 1-2-19 Nishihon-machi, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Japan 550-0005 Capital: JPY 10 million President: Etsuko Kawabe, Representative Director Operations: Wedding services, Music/stage performances and Online sales/promotions of wedding services Turnover: JPY 207.5 million (Results of operations for the year ended July 2014) Track record: 3,500 weddings, 800 receptions

[recentanimenews]

Accel World: The Carbide Wolf

By Reki Kawahara and Hima. Released in Japan by ASCII Mediaworks. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Jocelyne Allen.

After last volume’s short story collection, we’re back to the main plotline, as Silver Crow is (finally) cleared of the accusation of hosting the Chrome Disaster. Of course, now that they know he’s not evil, the leaders all get together to try to use Silver Crow for their own purposes. It’s a very Haruyuki-centric book as he tries to gain a new ability, learns his companion’s tragic backstory, prepares for the upcoming culture festival at school (yes, Accel World has a real life aspect as well), and worst of all, deals with getting utterly humiliated in a duel against a Level 1 who has super strength hard armor. This lets all his previous doubts and self-hatred come to the fore, though thankfully he has allies now who won’t let him slip too far into that. Essentially, it’s a good, solid volume of Accel World.

Kawahara does apologize in the afterword for Haruyuki getting all the character development so far in this series, and promises to work on developing the others soon. It’s a fair point – even Sword Art Online paid more attention to its other cast members than Accel World does at times. We do get to learn more about Utai here, and as a drama major, I appreciated the fact that she came from a family of Noh theatre performers – though that also meant that I could guess why she was so upset as a child, Japanese theatre being very male exclusive. The death of her brother is one of those freak accidents that sounds a bit more ridiculous than it probably was, but once you learn about him, the way he died, and the life she grew up with, almost everything about Ardor Maiden comes into clear focus. If this is the sort of character development we’ll get in the future, I’m looking forward to it.

And then we have the titular Carbide Wolf, aka Wolfram Cerberus. No, he’s not related to Wolfram and Hart from Angel, but he does seem to be related to Accel World’s big bads, the Accelerated Research Society. I enjoy the themes between personality and armor that Kawahara gives us – the name is wolf-themed, the armor has a wolf’s head… and the actual player sounds like a big friendly puppy when he’s dueling other people, or rather when he’d kicking other people’s asses. It’s hard to fight against something when you can’t do damage to it, and that also gives us the opportunity to dwell on various metals – this had also come up earlier, when Haruyuki was being asked to learn about mirrors in order to master a new ability. Haruyuki being who he is, of course, he grows and learns, with the help of some harsh training, and the rematch, though it ends in a cliffhanger, is another solid fight scene.

Accel World has always been the more consistently written of Kawahara’s two series, and that remains the case here. There’s occasionally some tortured exposition (the animal club member teaching Haruyuki about the different kinds of reflective mirrors really seemed like a reach to me), and Haruyuki’s self-deprecation can wear on the anime fan who wants all cool all the time, but overall this is another very good entry in the series.

By: Sean Gaffney

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

[inquisitorius-sin-bin]

What do Pau’an babies look like? Do they just look like grey human babies but wrinkly?

Ah, well, idk how long you have been following my Pau'an HC anon, but this is a lovely question and I'll draw in a bunch of my other HC's and Canon itself to try and address it as completely as I can. I hope they're really cute!

Assuming they look similar to humans is a pretty good assumption. I have to dial back my own weird HC some because according to Wookieepedia, the ROTS novelization refers to Pau'an as "near-human", which is a very specific designation in the SW universe. The "near-human" "near-duros" etc designations are used to group together species that are close enough related to theoretically interbreed. Now, the novelization says the same thing about the Utai which, uh, doesn't... seem right. But I digress. Theoretically they have to be close enough to humans for that to work. So if you don't know, you can probably assume human-like.

But I think they'd probably be less-wrinkly as babies and grow in their grooved skin more as they age. After all, wrinkles are good places for bacterial growth, not ideal for baby skin. I also think their skulls probably elongate with age because of the limitations of bipedal pelvises. You want your babies to be born with flexible skulls.

A slight deviation from humans, even though I am fond of drawing my Pau'an with nipples, I think they are vestigial in both males AND females. The babies are born with two small, pointed incisors for making a small cut and lapping up blood from the fingers of their parents. Which is handy, because then both parents can feed the baby. But I think a lot of parents prefer biting their own fingers, hands, and wrists, and letting the blood trickle down into the baby's mouth, because they take care of their own mouthcare and can control the pressure and location that way. The babies would also have anti-coagulant saliva.

A kind of cultural HC I have around their babies is that they have very low fertility, so even though Pau'an might live for 500 years or so, they will probably only have 1-3 children in their lifetimes. So it's a really celebrated ordeal. They'll handmake loads of clothes and have very ornate, ceremonial outfits for the babies. Another HC I have for Pau'an is that male genitalia is internal, which as a result, means an anatomy scan would not reveal the sex of a baby, so all this clothing would be gender-neutral, equally ornate for either sex. But the adults kind of dress very gender-neutral as well, so no surprise.

I guess size-wise they would be slightly larger than human babies, just like Pau'an adults are slightly larger than human adults. So gestation is probably a touch longer. Like 10 or 11 months.

I also HC they can scream like a banshee when threatened so they can be heard for miles away, because they evolved to a grassland animal. But they rarely do, because first line of defense is being very quiet and still and hoping nothing sees you. But then when really threatened, scream loud enough to really startle whatever was going to eat you and call in mom and dad from wherever they were foraging when they left you in your grass nest. Of course, modern Pau'an wouldn't leave their babies in a grass nest, they would just carry them with in a bjorn-type-thing. But their ancestors would.

For Plains Pau'an specifically, I HC they will not fly their Dactillion with their babies so they don't risk air pressure damage to the babies' ears, so if any member of the clan has a child, the whole clan travels on ground and just has a few winged scouts bring back resources. And for the actual birth and first couple of weeks, each clan has a very specific refuge they'll go to that is safe from Hyperwind storms, so the new mom won't have to travel at all during that time.

So yeah! Just a few thoughts I have on the matter! Lol. Hope that was interesting!

#pau'an headcanons

[nitr09-productions]

Unlike the overworlders, who were forced to work as the economy dictated until their bodies decomposed around them, there was supposed to be a definite structured order to an underspawn's life. Be born, train for whatever illustrious career you had been genetically engineered for, and climb the ladder one step at a time until you either made it to the top or had done something sufficiently significant enough to be a good excuse for retirement. Anything after that was a blissful, almost animal existence where one's only care in the world was who picks parasites off of who. A passive-aggressive struggle for social dominance rendered in boozy hedonistic sedation. All Vleive had dreamed of as a small child was finding a rich, aging noblecreature crawling with gill parasites, and picking them off one by one until they were named the sole inheritor in the old bloater's will.

A little bit of Utai culture for you. Wretched creatures, all of them. 

@measlyfurball13

#So You've Become An Endling? #So You've Become An Endling #sybae #sybae? #Junior Scientist Vleive #Utai Culture #alien culture #world building #worldbuilding #scifi #sci fi

[nitr09-productions]

“Ah! Our new arrival!” Called a voice; old and warm and wise. “That’s my Iquian, always bringing back strays.” “Can we keep her?” Iquian laughed, rushing up to the stranger and pulling him into an embrace. Tracey didn’t quite know what to make of this new creature. He had the familiar general body plan of a Utai - a tentacled bottom half, a humanoid torso, and a head with spiralling ram-like horns - but with very little else in common with the others. He was a mottled brownish green in colour, covered in subtle splotchy growths like a natterjack toad. His eyes had a touch of the amphibian too; bulging brown orbs with letterbox pupils sitting behind thin framed half-moon glasses. He was tall, standing at just under seven feet, and pleasantly fat in a gently paternal sort of way that put Tracey in mind of Santa Claus or a giant cuddly toy. “I’m Timirin.” He said, reaching out to shake Tracey’s hand with a three-fingered paw. “I can see you’ve met my better half already. Welcome to The Spires, our little sanctuary.”

Nanowrimo is really kicking my butt this year. Also, the story is getting huge! Eleven chapters in and barely 1/3 of the way into the story. I’m gonna keep drafting as I have been, but I’m probably gonna have to make great big swingeing cuts in the editing process. Big oof! 

 Anyway, here we have Tracey meeting the most politically disruptive activist on Eeiutai, who, contrary to reputation, is just a nice guy who wants his people to be safe. The Spirisians whole deal is that they’re hybrids, and it’s probably pretty obvious what species makes up the other half of Timirin’s parentage. The Utai are fixated on eugenics, nepotism, and intergenerational wealth, so they are generally pretty horrid to the Spirisians, but Timirin’s heritage especially puts them in a tricky position. 

@measlyfurball13

#So You've Become An Endling? #So You've Become An Endling #sybae #sybae? #novel #sci fi #scifi #science fiction #writer #writing #nanowrimo #nanowrimo 2021 #nano #nano 2021 #utai culture #alien culture #timirin #tracey #tracey holden

[nitr09-productions]

"We had never even heard of a Broodpool Tirn until they arrived. Nobody could point to their nesting site on a map, which led particularly vulgar commentators to theorise that they must have come from somewhere unseemly. But they were in the Undercity on the orders of the reigning Aultveqna, and as old and senile as they were at the time, they were still a force to be reckoned with. The Tirn children were tentatively accepted amongst us, but that didn't mean we gave them an easy time of it. There were two of them, both gifted. The elder child, a type two psychic (or was it type three?), was the most useful and upwardly mobile if I recall. The younger was a type four visionary, though what they had visions of was never quite clear. The younger was always sickly, and the elder was always nursing them back from the brink of something or other. We teased them viciously when the Aultveqna was not around to stop us. We delighted in hurting the younger the most; tossing them into steam pools or stealing their things. This would make the elder terribly angry. They would throw fists, or lunge to bite, but it took centuries before they were big enough to actually scare us away. I'm not quite sure what happened to the elder one in the end, though our bullying must have served them well as they appeared to have made it far in life. They had sagely aspirations, I think, and have been married into so many different broodpools that I have lost track of them. If they are still amongst us, which they very well might be, I don't think I'd be able to recognise them. The second one died young, consumed by the madness inherent to their abilities. Though the elder petitioned the courts to allow them to stay, they were eventually taken away for refitting. They were made into an imagination engine and placed in an amusement house somewhere in one of the seedier parts of the Overstreets, though it appears the device was sold to an offworld buyer some years later." - Extract from Pages 766-767 of "Memoirs of a Great Aulteni: Part II, an Undercity Youth", written by Second Aulteni Baquiel.

Here I am dropping lore onto your dash like a cat drops a dead mouse onto their owner’s doorstep. Might be spoilery, but idk if I’ve posted enough info for people to connect the dots. 

@measlyfurball13

#So You've Become An Endling? #So You've Become An Endling #sybae #sybae? #scifi #sci fi #world building #worldbuilding #alien culture #utai #utai culture