Feels like an eternity and a half since I've written on here, huh? Well, there has been a lot going on in my life lately. Obviously there has been a lot with everything on the news and, of course, a near world-ending pandemic on our hands. But I'm now in a much more stable position to describe everything that's been happening here.
Hey peeps.
With all of this time to reflect on our situation, there's also been a lot of time to figure out what activities to keep our spirits up as much as possible. I've been doing several and I've detailed them in some of my livestreams - the obvious Netflix catchup, language learning (I'm picking up my Japanese again), music (in my case, singing and piano), and reading. There has been one creative endeavor I have been wanting to go back to for a while - creative writing. It's something I've had a complex relationship with for years (this blog and my previous one being no exception to this) and it's only now during this period that I've been able to begin to heal it.
This year's Camp NaNo has been my most successful writing campaign to date, not only in consistency but also in word count. My confidence in my creativity has gone up and I've also found a happy medium on my writing productivity. That moment when I crossed the 10,000 word mark was a magical space because that feeling of flow hadn't been in my world for so long.
Up until that point, the writing process I loved and felt passionate about was almost akin to pulling teeth. I couldn't produce anything outside of academia or journaling for a long time even with the ideas still coming to my brain. I'm not sure if this manuscript will see the light of day but the possibility of finishing the challenge gets me excited to go to my laptop everyday and get something down.
I'm still figuring out what finally managed to help me get through the gates. I'm still learning how to get better at my craft. But I'm glad that I'm feeling unconditional happiness again. I may write more posts here on the winding journey to this point.
For now, the biggest message I want to give to you is this - if you've been an creative rut, whether a short lived one or a lengthy one like I have, please know that there is a way through. Don't judge yourself harshly by what others produce no matter how tempting it is or that you could've started sooner. Relax and see where your words take you no matter how flawed or unclear things feel right now. Most importantly, remind yourself of the things you do enjoy in your craft and create more moments like that.
Take care of yourselves everybody. Find something you've always wanted to do and find a way to do it. Most importantly, may your heart be your guiding key. <3 DJ MK
Hope the summer's not melting your face off! Unless you're in the southern hemisphere, in that case freezing. Or at the equator which in that case, enjoy the perfect weather!
I took a huge slowdown this summer. Usually I'm busy with something whether it's a volunteering project or work. But this year I decided to take a genuine vacation and it's been strange not having to write religiously or read a roster's worth of novels, or sweep through thousands of songs on my list for work (but I still do that for pleasure - habits die hard!). As a result I haven't been creating much content here or for myself and the most updating I've been doing has been on Twitter and the occasional Google+ post.
今日はみんなさん。お元気ですか？久しぶりですね？
In case you're wondering about the musical radio silence from last week's FM episode up until today, it's because I had to fix my laptop. Yes, self-repair is a growing trend and I'm embracing it. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. While I still have no clue what I'm going to do after the FM stint's up, computer magic may be in the works for this young magician. This isn't my very first foray into building computers. My first build was a desktop with my 6th grade computer science teacher. (It's been 10 years since I've done that and I heard it still works like new. :) ) So I thought my laptop fix would not be too difficult since the principles were similar albeit smaller.
I was right but boy was I wrong on a few major levels.
Bet you all are recovering from this whirlwind that is the start of 2016. I certainly am. It's been hard trying to look through the news online considering all that's been happening this week. Even a friendly BuzzFeed quiz or an insightful Huffington Post article from a friend hasn't pushed me to take a complete plunge into the news sphere. As you probably heard from this morning's broadcast, the most I could handle surfing was Rogue One news (and that material was almost a year old!).
We lost a lot of great people this year, starting off the new year with Natalie Cole, then Monday morning over a Buzzfeed quiz to recover from the mess that was the Golden Globes I find out David Bowie passed away. Then at the Verge, reading up on Spike Lee's latest documentary and the Academy Award nominations, Alan Rickman passed away yesterday. At this point, I'm not surprised that many of us (myself included) are probably saving up for once-in-a-lifetime con experiences, re-examining life's priorities, and trying to make at least one thing concrete in our plans before we join them in the stars. And it can be very easy to feel all alone in that effort, especially as we're already in a marginalized group when it comes to fandom and how we express it.
My message to you all this week is not to give into the despair, obsession, or depression so easily but to see the light in the cracks and be bold enough to reach out when you need it. Believe it or not, there are loads of people who know what you're going through and want to help. If you need somebody to talk to, I'm here for you as well. Feel free to comment here, private message me via Twitter (@djmk4life), or whatever's comfortable for you. This is my job - to give special people like you and me a voice, to provide education for the new initiates, and cheer and entertainment to the familiar. Most importantly, to deliver comfort beyond the radio and internet waves to make the world a better place to live in. The impact may be small but it'll benefit the long run.
David Bowie and Alan Rickman will be missed greatly. They're the two most influential performers I'm glad to have experienced in my lifetime. David Bowie taught me that being yourself is the best way to live. Alan Rickman taught me how even the sharpest tool in the shed can be used for multiple purposes and tricks. I really wanted to meet Alan Rickman because he had a fascinating philosophy and a story to tell and I'm sad that I missed that shot. The final lesson these two have taught me as well as many others before them is that you can't depend on your original plans completely. Sometimes you have to fast-forward a few steps before you can backtrack to where you want to be in. So seize those moments of joy because those moments may never come the same way again.
Carpe diem.
<3 DJ MK
PS - MK on Mixlr will continue where we left off with the Bowie/Rickman Tribute. Keep a lookout on my Twitter or on here to catch the livestream. Plus my laptop's finally in commission so I can record episodes again! YES! :)
A girl can dream, right? And this one certainly has big ones.
I've always wanted to go to Japan since I was a little girl nuts about anime and martial arts. I'm happy that's one dream that's never gone away. If anything, it's gotten better over the years to bigger and more dramatic things. With dreams, the "if" is the first thing to overcome. The most important thing to remember is that there's no such thing as an "if" unless you're exploring possibilities in fiction (and even that's not solid!). The bigger challenge is the "when". I'm hoping to do this trip around my 25th birthday because one part of this vacation feels right to have it around then. Whether I'll have someone with me during the trip or not is still a mystery. But in the meantime, this is my dream itinerary, also keeping into consideration the visa travel period I currently have.
The side bar has a partial list of places I want to go to but this post will go into more detail about the activities and reasons.
Try Nikka Whisky in Hokkaido
This one's an obvious nerd-out for me. Ever since I started watching the asadora Massan, I've been learning about the whisky industry even if I don't necessarily drink it. But watching the show's been pushing me more and more to explore Hokkaido and see how close the climate is to Scotland's (I've been to Scotland but it's been 14 years <0_0> so my memory may be a bit spotty!). In addition, Rita Cowan-Taketsuru [dramawise - Ellie Kameyama acted by Charlotte Kate-Fox] is from the same area where my relatives live so maybe an international side-quest in Glasgow? ^_~
Go nerd out to Tokyo
An absolute requirement for any foreign otaku is to go nuts in Tokyo and sampling every ware possible. Activities include visiting Tokyo Disney Sea, playing tons of arcade games and riding the ferris wheel in Odaiba, doing the 1000円 challenge, buying loads of manga and gachapon figures, and making pilgrimages to Harajuku's Hachi statue and climbing to the top of Shibuya's 109 and Tokyo Tower respectably. Optional - blowing up my suitcase while doing all of these things.
Say 'おきに' in Osaka
おきに is another way of saying ありがとう while in Osaka. While I first got the context of this greeting more so in dramas (specifically the live action version of Grave of the Fireflies), I've seen a number of YouTube videos to figure out that it is a legitimate phrase. It can be used on its own or attached after ありがとう. Of course, I'm still learning so if you've worked with Kansai-ben, leave a comment below. :)
Sing the Zenko-ji song in Nagano
There's a song my martial arts teacher taught me about going to Zenko-ji temple. While he didn't specify where Zenko-ji is, educated guesses have led me to Nagano since it's the closest to his hometown. In terms of the song itself, I don't know if it's a widely-known folk song or my teacher composed it. It describes going to the temple with your friends under the moonlight. I found it really interesting so I felt the need to add this to my bucket list. That and I want to make a proper temple visit.
Enjoy jazz in Kobe*
Kobe has a really impressive jazz scene and has all kinds of styles. It's the city that gave birth to famous composers and bands like Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts. If they didn't create the styles, chances are the city gave a lot of inspiration (ex. Soil and PIMP Sessions - founded in Tokyo but inspired by Yoko Kanno) or provided fruitful ground for cover bands to flourish. In addition, the story behind Kobe's recovery after the Great Hanshi-Awashi Earthquake and the support they provided during the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster is really inspiring. I love jazz and I love good stories. Don't believe me? Watch this video: Meguru Kisetsu by All That Jazz from the album Ghibli Jazz 2
*And for those who talk about the beef, yes, it is as delicious as people say. :)
There's also a really nice onsen/ryokan called Koya, which reopened in 2012.
Be a henro & complete the pilgrimage in Shikoku
This one's the central part of why I want to go to Japan besides the nerdy pilgrimage. I also want to experience the spiritual side by going through an extensive pilgrimage itinerary. On average, it takes 45 days to complete the pilgrimage (which basically takes up 1/3 of your visa time if you're a US visitor). The time can be cut in half with public transportation & biking but there's no solid account as to how long that would take. On top of that, most henro opt solely for walking when it can be just as genuine of an effort to use public transport to get to certain spots; one will be Dogo Onsen, the bathhouse that was one of the inspirations of Spirited Away. I'm planning to a mix of both during my first shot of the pilgrimage. (Yep - this is not my only trip to Shikoku I'm going to do!) Whether I'll have someone with me or go solo, that's up to fate really.
Because there's not a lot of documentation on walking and using public transport (since it's a pretty recent practice), this site has given a guess as to what that would be like. I've been referencing this site frequently. - http://www.shikokuhenrotrail.com/shikoku/walkingAndRiding.html
There's also an informative site comparing Shikoku to the famous El Camino pilgrimage - http://senguesthouse-matsuyama.com/blog/2013/08/24/camino-vs-ohenro-a-pilgrimage-throwdown-part-un/
Soak in the hot springs in Atami
Of course, what better way to relax and recover from an intense spiritual experience than to relax in one of the most popular resort towns ever? A fitting conclusion to an exciting first time through Japan. It may not take the entirety of 3 months, but it will certainly be a fun-filled and insightful adventure to boot.
Side quests -
Go to Japan during TGS and/or JumpFesta
Practice Aikido in Hombu Dojo and Iwakuni Iwama
Go to Comiket and D23 in Tokyo
Celebrate New Year's Eve and Day
Do the Kannon and Basho pilgrimages
Browse around gaming and anime spots (Shenmue, NANA, Studio Ghibli film locales, etc.)
Fly to Okinawa!
Bike up and down the steepest bridge in Japan
Carry a mikoshi during a matsuri (yes, women are starting to do this!)
If there's any other locales or activities I should try out, feel free to suggest things in the comments or tweet them to me @djmk4life. :) Thank you so much for reading this blog and here's to another year of excitement and content!
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!)
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.
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.
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! :)
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.
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.
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! ^_^
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.
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?
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.
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.
