Merry Christmas! おべでとクリスマス！

Merry Christmas my Magicians! Here's a little present for you - a playlist of some of my favorite songs to listen to during the holidays. Some songs are not necessarily Christmas music but they still have the flavor of the season. Enjoy the cheer and peace and goodwill to all! :)

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfLGluOmSYGEgvHWwgd8Xvv3pHBE3IgVz

<3 TM

DJ MK's Throwback - Puffy AmiYumi

While on the way back from last minute Christmas shopping, the chorus from a Puffy AmiYumi song played in my head. I wanted to play it while in the car but I couldn't remember the name of the song and my phone was being used as a GPS so I couldn't look it up right away.

I knew that the song had a Christmas feel despite it not being a Christmas song. All I remembered was that the song ended on the word shiawase de.

So I looked up Shiawase and the song didn't sound quite right. But in the relevant searches, I saw the song December. While it was a leap of faith, considering the sound I gave it a shot.

Sure enough, it was the right one. :)

Puffy has enchanted my childhood and musical experiences. I'm surprised that I haven't played any of their songs on the MK Show but that's gonna change Season 3.

So as a little throwback to childhood and great music, here is December for everybody to enjoy. No matter what faith you have or even if you consider this time a celebratory time, I hope 2014 was sweet to you and here's to 2015.

http://youtu.be/WWHyNRv1x3g

<3 TM (via my iPhone)

Fun Friday - DJ MK's special announcement!

A little magician's apprentice flew into my life yesterday. My nephew was born while I was in transit from Orlando to Gainesville. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with him this holiday.

If you weren't able to listen last week, the Mahou Kunoichi Show will be on hiatus on The Basement until February. There will be a new timeslot as well and it'll be announced here on my blog. However, I will still be blogging here as well as setting up a platform on Mixlr so that you can get good music and nerdy talks anytime and anywhere.

I hope everybody's having a good holiday season so far. Peace and goodwill to all!

<3 DJ MK/TM (via iPhone)

Training Wednesday - Version Français

Bonjour mes chers sorciers!
I've got a little announcement for you. I just got done with my French 107 course and I really want to improve my skills with you. I've noticed that a lot of my readers (and most hardcore otaku, gamers, and even gaming itself!) have come from France and Canada. So I've decided to start up Mahou Kunoichi Version Français.

My French language is still rather elementary so rather than do the full fledged reviews and discussions right away, VF is going to have completely original content and it'll start off with a more letter-like format. Once I get more comfortable with the language, it'll follow more along the lines of VO's format. I may even do some translation work of my past posts!

VF will be updated once a week. If you also want to help me out with my French adventure, comment below and we can work together!

I'm looking forward to exploring this new horizon with you. I hope you have fun and enjoy the new page coming soon on Mahou Kunoichi!

Chaleureusement,

<3 TM

Interest Monday - Karaoke

Hi my Fellow Magicians!
Hope your holiday weekend was stellar! I'm in the middle of a really stressful but fun sci-fi history paper for school. Sorry for missing out on writing three times a week. But I'm back on schedule and I'll make sure to keep it that way!

Before I got my second and third loves - video gaming and movies, there was my first love: music. I always imagined that I'd be a singer someday and that dream doesn't feel too distant whenever I have a few shots to go to an open-mic karaoke event. My first solo was Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton, I've performed in choirs since I was 4 and I am very picky when it comes to my karaoke tracks because I want them to sound as close to the original track as possible and it's frustrating to try to and find one that comes with backing vocals! (/rant)

Pre-order - KH 2.5 HD ReMiX

I was originally going to wait to start shopping on Cyber Monday but then I realized that I wanted to pre-order Kingdom Hearts 2.5 for my PS3. Although I already have all 2 PS2 games (and I prefer their versions music wise), my PS3 doesn't support them so it's mainly for reliving the nostalgia, playing the games I didn't have (358/2 Days and Birth by Sleep) and getting my cousin into them since she's been seeing the vids on YouTube a lot.

The first game was a greatest hit collect I got for Christmas. But the second game will always be special because it was my very first pre-order. I saved up the little cash I had and then my dad went to pick it up while I was at school. It's significant for me because I worked hard for something I wanted and it was the first time my dad overly supported my gaming interest because he also got me the strategy guide.

Kingdom Hearts will always be a significant mantle on my gaming wall because it taught me to cherish a lot and be wild with my ideas because you never know if they'll actually work out spectacularly. Sora wasn't even supposed to be the protagonist but now he's one of the most memorable gaming characters of all time and he made Mickey show much more of a badass side.

I'm super excited for picking it up after class Tuesday. If I decide to do a YouTube video, I'll post it up here on my channel DJ MK Off the Air!

Thanks for staying tuned and hope everybody had a great holiday!

<3 TM

PS - You're not insane my fellow Magicians and Keyblade Masters. I didn't have an episode yesterday due to Black Friday. A girl's got to recharge her powers somehow! In my case, Cyber Monday's where it's at.

Rest assured I will be back this week with a nod to Kingdom Hearts this Friday followed by a special interview during Finals Week! (It's our very first one too - don't miss it!)

Interest Monday - Minute-Long Comedies

Hi my fellow Magicians!
Hope you enjoyed All Hallow's Eve on Friday. The station's wi-fi temporarily went caput thanks to the Headless Hessian but thankfully everything's alright now. Hopefully it won't be a problem for this week's episode.

I've noticed a trend in Japanese anime nowadays. Reflecting the extremely short attention span and the audience's limited free-time, minute-long performance piece have started to experience a surge in popularity. For those who don't feel like watching a full length 45-minute show or having a huge number of unwatched DVRs, these shows tend to last between 1 to 15 minutes and manage to compact the best parts of a feature length episode. The best part is that you don't have to necessarily watch these shows in order so if you miss one, continuity is not an issue.
A lot of full length shows are starting to take notes from this format and their plots have transmitted more effective messages to their audiences - a triple crown!

DJ MK's Finds - Attack on Crystal

You knew this had to happen at some point.







YouTube user Blique Shi made the Sailor Moon Crystal intro time perfectly into the intro version of Guren no Yumiya from Attack on Titan. The channel also features a reverse adaptation of AoT's intro to MomoClo's Moon Pride. A little piece in honor of Crystal Saturday! Get prepped for Episode... 9? I'm losing track! 0_0



I just got a new job so that I'll have enough money to go for cons this year and possibly some cosplay and gaming outfits. (I have almost nothing in my line of work other than games, manga and unwearable merch!) I've also had to run some performances outside of the station - yes, DJ MK has commitments outside of Mahou Kunoichi - so episode 26 has been pushed to this week. Get excited for the show!



<3 TM


PS - If you're into BL/Yaoi and happen to be in the Greater Philadelphia Area, check out Nijicon @ Valley Forge this weekend. It's their first year out so they can use the support (plus all attendees and volunteers get a free manga). Also, for those webcomic fans out there, I've heard HamletMachine (Starfighter) and Z.A.N. (Ziska, Aleksi and Nym, Grave Impressions) are going to be there!



PPS - Also, since Halloween's falling on a Friday (AKA MK Show Day), we wanted to do something really fun this year. We want to start a new segment on the second our of the show called Otaku Stories. They can be as absurd, hilarious, or as horrifying as you want them to be. All you need to do is post them in the comments or jump on the G+ page DJ MK Off the Air. Your plot could be on-the-air for loads of people to enjoy!

Fun Friday - Proof that I'm not insane in my membrane...

Even though it's been 12 hours, my lovely Magicians, I'm still trying to mentally confirm this just happened last night...

Training Tuesday - Gaming Frustrations Coming Soon!

Hello my fellow Magicians,
I finally got a format for Gaming Frustrations so expect a video to be coming your way soon! I'm not sure how long it's going to take but it'll be up - that I promise!
Due to balancing school work and getting enough sleep, it's been taking a lot longer to do any personal productions, let alone just to record. But I've come up with a format that will go a lot faster once I get something established going.
I'm borrowing a bit from Gaijin Goomba and Confused Matthew a little bit for the first few videos. But once I get settled into the recording methods, it'll be a lot easier to see more of my face. :)
やくそく！
I'll post some more of my show archives and vlogs so stay tuned for those. Until then, please take it easy!

<3 TM

Fun Friday - Season 2 So Far...

Summer vacation's coming and going.
Personally, I'm not ready for it but I know I have to get back into the normal grind soon.

I've been trying to get the first episode of Gaming Frustrations shot as promised but so many things have been getting in the way - my laptop's getting above capacity (and I have been deleting and backing up stuff!), equipment's running out of charge or I'm like the Vicar of Dibley in the early morning hours. Everything's not really syncing up just right. Just getting the first few good videos up was a challenge!

But rest assured I'm going to keep trying until the ideas I have in the Great Big Book of Everything come to life. It's a pretty purple notebook I keep my ideas in and I carry it everywhere. Even if it's a super obscure Disney reference, I believe the ideas have a magical quality of some sort. :)

Thanks so much for being patient. I have 8 other lip-sync vids I'll upload during this interval. I'll try to get the first GF vid up by Labor Day Weekend so stay tuned!

<3 TM

Fun Friday! - Mahou Kunoichi Season 2 & DJ MK's now on YouTube! :)

Hi my fellow Magicians!

There's a lot to celebrate today besides the great weather we've been having this summer. Mahou Kunoichi has officially started its second season. I changed up my show format but it still has the classic MK feel. I switched up the tunes for my title, weather, con announcements and news. Most importantly, I'm going to go for more diverse music and I understand some things are going to be outside my comfort zone. While I'm on a college radio station where I can play whatever I want, it's time that I learned how to master the art of mass appeal so that way I don't get too repetitive on my tracks. I may have some days where I don't feel too fully prepared. But I'll do my best to make sure those kinds of days are few and far in-between.

Memorial Monday - Robin Williams & Self-Awareness

Hello my fellow Magicians,

A beautiful talent has moved into the realm beyond our conscious reach. Robin Williams -  a comedian and multifaceted actor - has passed on this morning. He's enchanted our TV and film screens with laughs and tears, made gaming a comfort for loads of gamers and Disney kids and was a social advocate both on and off-camera. Though we will have the comfort of seeing 4 more new works in the 4th quarter of this year, he will still be greatly missed.

DRAMAtical Review - 35歳の高校生 (35-Year-Old High School Student)

35-sai no Koukousei
Also known as:  No Dropping Out - Back to School @ 35
Starring: Ryoko Yonekura, Junpei Mizobata, Nana Katase, Tetsuya Watari
Genre: Drama, School life
Region: Japan
Network: NTV
# episodes: 11
Year: 2013
Theme: Flower Song by EXILE
Summary - Delinquency. Bullying. Absenteeism. Depression. School caste system. These are some of the things Ayako Baba must face as she decides to complete her high school education after an 18 year hiatus. How will she and the class get along? Why the long wait? Will she stick with it this time?

Hanging out at a limb, defending the daimyo

Hello Magicians,
I know I haven't had a show in two weeks nor have I written on here in a while. This summer proved to be a lot busier than usual. Besides more training prep in the fall, I also have fiction stories to write and an imperial family to protect. Therefore, if you see huge gaps in time between posts and shows, don't be surprised. I'm still alive.

I'm also working on some other platforms for the MK show and to keep constant content whenever I can't make it to a computer. It'll also make it easy to see updates and my status on this. (I know, very un-ninja like but it's social media. A girl's gotta chat and eat too. ;) )

Hope your summer has been going great and I'll post the time for my next show. Stay tuned!

<3 TM

Training Wednesday - Blog Updates!

Hello my fellow magicians,

I believe that training's not only limited to the physical and mental states but also the digital sphere as well. So I've looked through Blogger's features in detail and looked through some apps to make the experience as streamlined and efficient for you as possible. The blog always needs improving. If you know of something better, go ahead and refer me. :)

Happy International Sailor Moon Day! 単所日オベデトウさぎーちゃん！

Awesome image by KuroStar!

Yes. The time has finally arrived!

Sailor Moon is coming back to our screens once again. And I think that this time, the show's not going anywhere. Viz Media just bought the rights to the original series and the upcoming Sailor Moon Crystal. The original series is available on Amazon Video, Viz Media's Neon Alley, Google Play and Hulu (and I wouldn't be surprised if Netflix took a leap of faith). The tankobons have been re-translated and re-released.

Long story short - access to Sailor Moon media has gotten a lot easier than before.

I'd better call the doctor...

Because I'm infected with FIFA Fever!
That's right, I'm obsessed with fùtbol. I have not missed watching every single match in the last 6 days and I'm not starting here. Thus, I haven't been posting a lot. I've got a bucketful of things for Training Wednesday. Stay tuned for that.
If you happen to be in Rio or in the East Coast this summer, take it easy and stay hydrated (especially for those athletes and cosplayers)!

Interest Monday - Dead or Alive Series

I've been putting this off for a while (almost a month!). But it's summer vacation, I love video games and E3 just started. I really want to get this out to you because that's how much I care!

Poll - Go FM or Stay Underground?

Things to think about for each option
FM

• Longer time slot (can get up to 3 hours of air time)
• Higher definition streaming
• Local and online streaming
• Afternoon slot (3-6pm)

Underground

• Can extend the show to 2 1/2 hour play time
• Online and satellite streaming
• Less messaging traffic
• Morning slot (9-11:30am)

Ideally, I'd like responses before Episode 10. Please vote and comment on the future of Mahou Kunoichi! :)

<3 TM

Go FM or Stay Underground?
	Yes. I like the afternoon!
	Yes. High quality audio would be nice!
	No. I like my morning show!
	No. The underground feel is unique!
	Other reasons - Comment! :)
pollcode.com free polls

Fun Friday - MK Episode 9

Today is more of a "play-all-you-want" day. Nothing's really set in stone except for the fact that many students (myself included) are recovering from finals burnout. Even if you're years away from the game or recovering from some kind of craziness, here's to all of those getting through it.

Cheers!
<3 TM

Fun Friday - Mahou Kunoichi Episode 8

Hello Magicians,
It's reached that time again - finals. By the time I get to the next show, it'll be over so expect some more relaxed programming.
If you're getting through those books, these songs will pep you up for summer. If you're graduating or you've graduated already, congratulations. Let's celebrate together. If you've been out in the world for a while, take some time to enjoy yourself. You've earned it.
I had fun doing this and I'm excited to continue this summer. Keep tuning in and I'll see you next time! :)

<3 TM

...

"Training" Thursday - Yoga Routine

Hello Magicians!
So I promised that I'd post my routines on Wednesdays. Thanks to my mismanagement of exam week (combined with writing burnout), I'm doing it today. Sorry for the delay!

As I've said in my last post, I've switched my training from Zhan Zhuang to "warrior mind training" until classes are over. Simple mindfulness exercises and nighttime yoga are all of the things I can handle at the moment since I'm super exhausted. Next week, I may experiment with more intense routines.

Training Reset Button

Hello Magicians,

As you probably know, Mahou Kunoichi started off as a site to reflect on my martial arts training as well as connections to modern pop culture and personal interests. However, upon closer examination of my recent content, I've realized that the martial arts section of the site has minimized and I do feel some shame about that since it was originally the main theme of the site.

But that doesn't mean I'm giving up on it! On the contrary - I'm revising and rethinking my training from here.

I haven't been able to afford proper martial arts training for a long time and - as I'm doing an exchange program at the moment - I'm not able to get involved in the university's sports (and even if I could, commuting...). So rather than doing the warrior's art, I'm first going to train to have the mind and body of one via yoga and mindfulness.

So far that routine's doing wonders for me and I've been able to withstand the stress of the final weeks of work. The majority of the site's content will still be pop-culture related but on Wednesdays, I'll describe my observations and programs I've tried out.

I also put content on Mondays and Fridays so keep a lookout!

Thank you for being so patient with me. See you next post!

<3 TM

Fun Friday - Mahou Kunoichi Episode 6 & 7 Now Online!

Announcement - As of Episode 6, you can recap episodes of the Mahou Kunoichi Radio Show thanks to Dar.FM & Cincopa! So if you feel like listening to some episodes, please enjoy these little gems.

\ ^_^ /


I'm having so much fun in the studio every Friday morning. This show gives me every reason to wake up in the morning. I know eventually I'll have to do an independent platform but I'm enjoying every minute of what I have now. I hope you enjoy it too, my fellow Magicians. :)

To next week and more themes. 'Til next time!
<3 TM

Fun Friday - Mahou Kunoichi's 5th Episode!

Yep, you've read that right. Mahou Kunoichi has reached episode 5. Thank you so much for all of the support everybody. :) I could've done this by myself but I'm so glad that I have my fellow magicians on this journey.
I have a little surprise planned for episode 6 (thanks to my little magical family for helping me with this) and it'll be announced on the air.
In terms of the theme, get your dancing shoes on because this magical ninja's getting some early morning training!

See you next ep. and more eps to come!

<3 TM

Back to the lab again

Hey fellow magicians!

Sorry for not jumping on here as often. I know 2 episodes have gone by on my radio show and I haven't posted any new material in a while (especially on Mondays and Wednesdays). But I'm coming back onto the blog scene - I promise. Classes have been rather busy this month and between Spring Break and Easter I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things.
Also, this Friday is episode 5 of the Mahou Kunoichi show. Excited? I've got something interesting planned! :) Get ready!

Happy Easter everybody and catch me next post!

<3 TM

Fun Friday! - MK Episode 2

Episode 2 - Whee!
I'm really excited today. Not only do I feel a lot more in control but also the fact that after this, I'm on vacation. It's a little sad that the second episode's coming in just before spring break. However, the warm weather is finally picking up and at least I'll have time to fully relish in it before I get back to the grind.

I have some great news for gamers, a new discussion segment and a box full of good music and entertainment to share.

Since the list is pretty much set today for the theme of spring break, there's no requests for today. However, that doesn't mean I'm not accepting them! I need to set up a good playlist for the next show. If you have any ideas for tracks, don't hesitate to post them here. :)

Also, I love discussions so post any recommendations for topics here.

http://128.175.76.123:8000/stream/3/  - Stream link! ^_^

Enjoy today's show and while I'll be off-the-air next week, I'll see you here!

<3 TM

Throwback: Power Stone

I miss my Dreamcast. The games on that system helped me get through those tough days at school and training whenever things got tough or wanted to celebrate a "great" achievement whether it's mastering a new technique or doing my math drills correctly in less than 5 minutes. Power Stone, in particular, is the ultimate test of what I've learned and the resilience of my resolve off the mat and out of the desk.

Fun Friday - Radio Debut!

Half an hour until showtime! Hope you all enjoy it!

I'm typing this to ease my nerves a bit. While radio shows have been one of a few WIGs (wildly improbably goals), it does feel like a one-sided conversation when you're the only one in the studio. But I know once that music starts playing and I get used to what I'm doing, it'll be rather easy to get into a rhythm.

If you have any song or topic requests for me, feel free to post them here on my blog.
Enjoy the stream and thanks for jumping in on the ride with me! ^_^

http://128.175.76.123:8000/stream/3/

<3 TM

Mahou Kunoichi on the Air Waves!

I have a little announcement to make. (Cue reporting music)

Glorious Fanfare (≤ 4 stars) - Final Fantasy XIII-2 OST

 Mahou Kunoichi is jumping on the airwaves of 91.3 FM on The Basement starting Friday, March 21st! Yes, you'll get to hear the voice behind the posts as well as great music live every Friday from 10-11am. I'm super excited for this opportunity as not only will it be my first time working on the radio but also it'll be great to hear more views from readers (and listeners!) like you. :)

Click here on Friday 10-11am for the livestream --> Hello! ^-^ /

Rest assured - I'll still do my regular posts. The last few weeks have been busy between class sign-ups and papers but I'm settled now. Feel free to suggest topics, do song requests and any other recommendations. For all you know, your idea and song could end up on the air!

Hope everybody's having a good weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

<3 TM

Interest Monday - Injustice: Gods Among Us

I've been playing this game for a couple of weeks now and I'm in love with it so far. Injustice: Gods Among Us seems to be a mix of Street Fighter with Dragonball Z due to its Super Moves and Wagers respectively. Even though I originally was thrown off by the super simple control scheme, with the fact that you're left without the usage of the circle/B button unless you're equipped with a weapon switch, I got used to it rather quickly and I had a lot of fun.

Fun Friday - Why Mahou Kunoichi?

It's Friday! Yay!
If you're just jumping onto my site, yokoso. If you've been following me from day one, arigatou.

I had a rather interesting dream last night about this blog in particular and all of the commentary going on. Some of them were rather supportive and provoked more discussion which I readily responded. However most had the recurring question - why did I name my blog Mahou Kunoichi? Why couldn't I have simply called this Magical Female Ninja or went with something simpler to pronouce?

Here's your answer my friends.

Training Wednesday - Phase 1 Halfway Mark

I'm halfway through my first phase of Zhan Zhuang training and so far it has been beneficial to my body and spirit. But obviously, the martial arts journey is not easy and the last couple of weeks have certainly been a rough but interesting start.

Phase one of training consists of 5 minutes of Wu Chi, which literally involves standing as still as a tree, followed by Holding the Balloon, also for a 5 minute interval, for a total of 10 minutes of training. While it doesn't sound terrific by martial arts standards, especially if you're used to more dynamic arts, the action of standing completely still AND maintaining a state of physical and mental relaxation is work.

Interest Monday - The Black Kung-Fu Experience

I love watching movies and there's nothing more that I like than the real world applications of the arts. I bumped into this documentary through a random browse of Amazon Prime and I've been hooked ever since.

For those media and history buffs, The Black Kung-Fu Experience gives a worthwhile education on the popularity of martial arts action films in the 60s and 70s as well as the motives for these artists choosing the warrior's way. It also shows the impact of their training on fellow martial artists and American culture as a whole.

I wish the movie was longer. Apparently this was supposed to be a mini-series but due to the limited budget, only one film was created. It does have great popularity on the independent and TV film circuit and it's still getting traffic to this day.

Regardless of film length, this is one film that I really enjoyed and it warmed up my spirits on a cold day. It's also the thing that pushed me to step back into the martial artist's path. In a way, I never felt like I left it. I just took a 4 year detour.

Go on and watch this film. It's really worth the 56 minutes. PBS is selling the DVD and iTunes has the film on sale. You can also stream it for free on Amazon Prime.

 Trailer - 

More info - 
Film's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TheBlackKungfuExperience
ITVS site - http://www.itvs.org/films/black-kungfu-experience
Amazon Prime Streaming - http://www.amazon.com/The-Black-Kungfu-Experience-Clief/dp/B00D5P17OK/ref=tmm_aiv_title_0/182-1257109-1670415
PBS shop - http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=20299556&cp&kw=black+kungfu+experience&origkw=black+kungfu+experience&sr=1

Welcome to MK!

And no, I'm not referring to Mortal Kombat (even though I love the theme and the games to death).

Welcome to Mahou Kunoichi - the one blog where martial arts interests, media and current training methods collide. I've been invested in this world since I was 4 years old and I feel like now is the time that I recorded my experiences on a blog devoted to my first "profession". I jumped back on the MA bandwagon at 21 1/2 and I'm not looking back!

As today is a math equation (2 x 7 = 14) as well as my half-birthday, I decided to give myself a present to commemorate this special day through starting up this blog. I also hope to help other people and learn more in the process.

I'm currently training in Chi Kung, specifically in the Zhan Zhuang method as illustrated in the book The Way of Energy by Master Lam Kam Chuen. In terms of prior MA experience, I have practiced Aikido for 13 years and dabbled in Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga and Karate.

I'll talk about my Zhan Zhuang training as well as my back-story and interests - Asian culture and MA-related.

Thank you for jumping on here and feel free to look at my other site - MessagesByTanders - which covers my general interests and college life. I also love discussions so leave me a message. I'll be sure to respond as quickly as possible. :)

Peace, love and goodwill to all on this journey!
<3 TM