🎉 8.7.2026 Happy Birthday to our local sadist, Okita Sougo! 🍰
Sougo is one of my most favourite characters of all time. His character is super unique and his story is very well-written. Sougo, among other characters, remains one of the most memorable voice acting roles ever, thanks to the incredibly talented Suzuken.
This year I made Sougo nendoll his ceremonial haori as a present. I also got the cake to celebrate! Even if the story is already over, you'll forever remain one of the most impressive fictional characters ever created.
Romani has been specially invited to the party for the express purpose of cleaning up the cake. Happy to report that he's very enthusiastic.
🌈UTAPRI ALL STAR STAGE HAPPY CELEBRATION in bangkok🌈
22.03.2026
So I just got back from the venue. What I initially thought was them showing the recording in the cinema turned out to be... a Live Viewing session. That was unexpected. I showed up 3 minutes late from a pit stop because I had thought they would be showing the trailers first, which was not the case 😞.
The event being a live stream, there was apparently no subtitles. I was quite lost. I'm not very familiar with other utapri media besides the anime and the select few drama cds, so I didn't recognize most of the newer songs they performed. Regardless, this was the first utapri event I ever attended, and everyone in the cinema was pretty hyped!
I was there just for the masato song. Admittedly it was the first time I ever heard this one (I don't even know the title...) To be honest, for me this kind of virtual concert was just a substitue for the real ones (with seiyuu appearance). I can't say I totally get it. I wish not for the first time that I could travel back in time and go to those legendary stages back before COVID... It had great vibes still. 10/10 would attend the next one circumstances permitting.
My local cinemas are showing 'Kara no Kyoukai' (Garden of Sinners), so I went. I've already watched the whole thing once online and I read the unofficial translation of the novels, so I'm pretty familiar with the IP.
Still I must say the show was very impressive, especially the voice acting work! This thing dated back to 2007-2008, and Suzuken already did a great job back then. Truly amazing. The part where Mikiya was humming a tune and Shiki found herself enchanted... I mean I would have been too! And the part where he was running away from Shiki who was on a murdering spree and was panicking... Honestly I knew how the story would turn out but still couldn't help feeling stressed along with Mikiya.
Considering that 2007-2008 was the period where Suzuken just went through the whole sh*tshow that was Gundam Seed Destiny, I can clearly see how these films marked a turning point in his career (and personal life). A truly commendable work. I wish my local cinemas would go on and show the rest of the installments...
[Review] Naruto Shippuden 144-151 (Utakata filler) : the most unnecessary arc ever. — 6/10
I just finished watching this 8-episode filler arc and god I need to vent.
So what is Naruto but a filler fest, right? We all agreed on that. Some fillers are more entertaining than others. However, this Utakata introduction arc is just so pointless and unnecessary I had to ramble.
Basically, I have been a Sasuke fan since I was in middle school (waaaaay back). Then it came to my attention that Suzu did the voice for this guy Utakata, or the late host of the Six-Tailed, so I had to come back to revisit this fandom briefly (I never watched the fillers in their entirety...). A quick research informed me that he first appeared in episode 144 of Shippuden, so I had to investigate.
The filler turned out to be an introductory arc for Utakata, who in the manga canon had lost his life and his tailed beast off screen to the Akatsuki and only showed up as reanimated corpse later on towards the end. This 8-episode filler was written around his character lore, which was almost non-existent to begin with.
The arc introduced Hotaru, a brainless bimbo (TM) who was the carrier of a forbidden technique imposed upon her by her grandpa/master/first shisho. This bimbo girl had a goal which was to restore her lost village/clan, and in order to do that, she pestered Utakata, who happened to have crossed her path to become her master. This somehow involved Naruto and his team because a mission required them to keep her safe something, something, I lost the plot.
So basically, this guy Utakata just came across this girl when he was on the run from the Hidden Mist. He saved her on the fly when she was pursued but thoughtlessly stuck around and entertained her childish requests... like teach me how to walk on water etc... It doesn't make any sense, because he already had a hit on his head -- 50 millions on Hidden Mist's Bingo book!!! And he kept saying, I had to leave blah blah but never left. I don't understand.
Then came the Konoha team. They realized that he had a hit too, but still insisted on prioritizing this nobody girl's safety, completely disregarding the elephant in the room, which is a guy with a 50 million hit (yes, someone pointed it out on screen), who had nothing to do with this upstart clan and their puny forbidden Jutsu but somehow just hung around. The worst thing? They didn't even explain what the Forbidden Jutsu is exactly, wtf.
My complaint is that the anime has recycled this damsel in distress plot every other arcs already, including their theatrical releases. Ah~~ this fragile, innocent girl with a burden needs to uphold a legacy blah blah. Would Utakata really have given romance the time of day!? When he's on the run no less!? Aren't there bigger things at stake, like the Six-Tailed he's hosting!? Or trying not to let anyone find out, now that Akatsuki's out for his hide, literally.
Now personally, if I disregard the frustrating plot, then I honestly liked the portrayal. I haven't watched the later episodes (after his death) yet. But I really like the voice Suzu did for Utakata here. It's mostly Okita voice, which is the most balanced in my opinion. It's also uncanny to hear Suzu call 'Naruto!' and interacting with him on screen. I've put the images of Agnimon vs. Duskmon up there at the top huhu. They've both come a long way!!! I think this filler took on importance with time... Suzu would no longer take minor roles like this nowadays, I think. I'm also happy he's somehow in Naruto, and with more screentime than canonically possible, thanks to the filler.
Do I hate the plot? Absolutely. Am I grateful for the filler to allow me to enjoy the voice acting? Also yes.
Let me close out with the only scene I think the anime did well... the popping of bubble (in a lot of senses).
Happy Birthday to my no. 1 hero, Suzumura Kenichi.
You've brought me so much joy and given me courage when I was in despair. You've helped me through one of the most difficult episodes in my life. THANK YOU. I wish you and your loved ones the utmost happiness.
(I have plenty of his merches at home, but I'm living away from home, so this will have to do...)
So excited to attend your performance in October!!
