The opportunity to binge #KamenRiderBlackSun came to me the past weekend and I finished it today.
The series is an unapologetic attack and commentary on contemporary Japanese societal issues, the undercurrents of #unseenjapan that #cooljapan probably tried to paper over throughout the Olympics and decades of LDP rule, and it just grew keener with the assassination of Shinzo Abe and the near-interminable desire to demand change in a society unable to accept it. It is an attempt at portraying, through fiction, that Japan is more multicultural than it tends to see itself, it is harming its soul by denying that, and it deserves better by listening to its youth, and it better do so before they swallow them and their most vulnerable.
Perhaps it is inevitable that this will be another battleground in the role of political commentary/applicability especially when it is appearing in long-running franchises. This is currently the biggest dilemma of franchises like the ones owned by Disney (Marvel and Star Wars), not to mention fantasy (the recent tussles between House of the Dragon and The Rings of Powder for ex.). The fact that *Kamen Rider Black Sun* is in Amazon Prime further highlights this. And yet if Japanese fiction can begin coming to terms with contemporary issues through the medium of its classical heroes (the way *Shin Godzilla* and *Shin Ultraman* already did, not to mention *Shin Kamen Rider* will do soon again), why not this way?
It is a testament that *Black Sun*, based off *BLACK*, probably the most successfully exported Kamen Rider before the Heisei period, is the best way to do this unbridled revisioning. (I personally grew up on BLACK on IBC13 in the Philippines.) This series speaks not only to the child who grew up with Kotaro Minami/Kuya Robert, but to the man, scholar & advocate I grew up as.
This is an unrivalled opportunity to revisit how Kamen Rider stories are told, what kind of storytelling the original creator Shotaro Ishinomori is interested in, and what can heroism possibly mean in a post-nuclear, heavily polarized and infuriating time. It is finding your lines, those who will hold your hands and back, and passing them on.
Completely forgot I bought this Urakata Hakuouki cd that came today! Do I know what it's about? Nope! But I do know the cast includes 4 Daisukes (Hira, Nami, Ono and Kirii), Kenn, Sugita, Sakurai and SuzuKen! I'd listen to them read a phone book and be happy 😅
I kinda wish they would've brought this Hakuouki to the west along with all the other ones!
The artists in order of appearance: GARNiDELiA, Hikaru, 春奈るな, NightOwl, START TO BLING. Seems like Hikaru sang six songs in total. The full setlist was finally posted by Hikaru (it’s a good thing to see her sing H-el-ical// songs, none of her anisongs though)
Hikaru’s Setlist
Ambient Border
I am me
千日紅
drizzle
Existence
pulsation
Tweet by Hikaru | Tweet by START TO BLING
The event was over 4 hours long which is crazy considering it’s a week day!
And it looks like there’s another event coming up on December 3! Hikaru is set to be one of the main acts:
START TO BLING presents
"The Pride"
supported by LADY BEYOND
『Ambient Border -DAWN-』Pre-Event
On December 17, 2022 (Sat) a special pre-event will be held at “Akihabara Talk Live BAR from scratch” to celebrate the upcoming run of the “Ambient Border” play.(Source)
Event title: "Ambient Border -DAWN-"
Venue: Akihabara Talk Live BAR from scratch
Date: December 17
【Day】OPEN 14:30 / START 15:00 (~2h)
【Night】OPEN 18:30 / START 19:00 (~2h)
Tickets:
Ticket with XMAS Present:¥4,000+1drink(¥500)
Pre-order ticket: ¥3,000+1drink(¥500)
Door ticket:¥4,000+1drink(¥500)
During a second round of announcements, it has been revealed that Hikaru will participate in the event! Takeshi Kato (Gekidan GAIA_crew) will be in charge of the script of the spin-off work that will be performed during the event! In addition, a food menu and drinks inspired by the “Ambient Border” characters will be on sale!
■ Event details
・ Live performance of the performers' tie-in songs and their own songs
・Performance of spin-off work
・Special talk show
・Reveal of main costumes
・Original food and drinks related to the characters
■ Benefits of Christmas ticket
A4 portrait designed for everyone's character
Priority entrance
Note: I wonder if I should try to get a ticket for this..? Looks a bit intimidating and I have no idea how much of Hikaru I would actually get to see but I am tempted...
Takahiro Sumida - An overall cutesy and romantic lil bugger who has a massive crush on Hamada-san, trying his best to poke the ice to find out if his feelings are reciprocated. So far not much has come out of it due to Yuki being tired and oblivious...
[Don´t use my art, or tag as ‘kin’ or ‘me’. And keep the description in!]