This world is inhabited by creatures called MANGA!

There is something great about beginnings. Remember the first day of a special school year? I don't. The beginnings I remember the most are from well made RPGs.

Stay the hell away from me old man. I've got this.

While playing THAT game probably wasn't the best way to grow up, it's one of those memories I can't shake. I remember lazing around on the couch for hours, playing Pokémon and games of the like. It was only until music became a part of my life that I started pressing keys that weren't on a Gameboy.

I was a gamer up until college, but recently I've found that I can't play these games without guilt. Playing an RPG, you get to play as an determined youth who goes out on journeys to make his/her dreams come true. But it is a fantastic illusion. In reality, you're letting precious time slip away.

When I was a kid, it was a little more understandable to play these games. I wasn't allowed outside my own neighborhood, let alone too far off of my block (protective parents). That hunk of red plastic in my hands was freedom in certain ways. Now that I'm an adult, the boundaries have dissolved. If I want to go somewhere else, the option is always there. I can do what I want. So why don't I do that?

Ergo, I came up with some goals: Go to Japan, meet Naruto.

Just kidding, I'm no fan of Naruto. I will be going to Japan as part of my study abroad experience at college, and when I'm there, I'm going to dig deep for the curious English readers out there. I'm going search for and find manga we can't obtain here, and let you know about it.

An entrance to a mine full of gold, somewhere in Tokyo

Right now, I'm preparing for my trip to Japan. For those who want to know what that's like, I'll be bringing some updates soon on that process. Resources for actually hunting down manga are a little limited, but I'll be posting what I find here.

Once I get to Japan, I’ll start getting settled in. I hope to keep you informed with my words and sights. Attending a Japanese language school will become very rigorous and I’ll let you know what that’s like.

Another thing... my writing is completely novice, which you've probably realized by now. Stick around, I'll make sure to improve.


Next Week: Tezuka's Phoenix, VIZ MEDIA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?