Dice’s Drivel

The ever lovely Kureha from the PlayStation 2 game, Shining Wind.

Sculpted by Shunji Hagii & produced by Max Factory,
Kureha stands at a tall of 25 cm. Ok that’s including the length of her
bow actually. Dressed in a rich yellow-orange outfit with wonderful
highlights in her hair and shading in her sleeves, Kureha leaves more
than a few heads turning for sure.

I
went gaga the moment I saw her picture circulating around cyberspace
back in September. She was definitely a must have! But unfortunately I
couldn’t get my hands on her before I went broke. . .

Still I was very truly blessed to be able to photograph her now, all thanks to Mervyn who loaned her to me. And  Super rats for the wonderful photography tutorial (which helped super lots　(ﾉﾟｰﾟ)ﾉ for an armature like yours truly) & of course every one else who left their encouragement from the Nagi Akizuki Figure post.

The only downside from all the shooting was the terrible suffering
of muscle aches from doing too many squats as a result of stooping down
to adjust the camera, standing up to correct the lights &
environment (x probably a hundred times). I think I’m gonna have a
perkier butt very soon.　(*´д｀*)

Can’t get enough of Kureha? More superb photos of her here:

danny the guru 
mukyaa
Happy Soda
Ota desho?

Yakuza Moon - Memoirs of a Gangster’s Daughter | 極道な月
By: Tendo Shoko | 天藤湘子
Publisher: Kondasha International

I’ve been feeling pretty bumped about life over the last few moons
when I chanced upon this book. The loud graphic (of the author) &
bold title immediately caught my eye. It was Shoko Tendo - a Yakuza’s daughter’s autobiography.

The
book spins a heart wrenching real life drama that refutes all happiness
during this jolly Christmas-y season. Written in a very direct 1st
person view, the story depicts hard core use of drugs, Shoko’s
relationships with men & the constant physical abuse from a string
of them.

She was a yanki by the age of 12, then a juvenile delinquent, a glue
sniffer then a drug addict. She spent moons in reform home, painful
years as a kept woman and maybe even decades with abusive men. She was
cheated, beaten & raped, in short, it was a string of bad karma
& ill fate. As a form of liberation, she got herself an irezumi
(tattoo) and had to go more pain from cosmetic surgery because of all
the beatings. The book was presented to the reader in simple translated
English, with a sort of detachment through which you can really feel
the horror that, that this brave woman went through.

What’s in it for me with the New Year fast approaching? I still
(guiltily) remember thinking aloud that I desperately need to read
about somebody who had it worst off than me, to feel better about my
self. I could sit and complaint till the cows come home or I can pick
up and move. But if I were to sum up life in just three words; it’ll
most probably be the same as Shoko’s: It goes on.

So what’s it for you ? Have you already read this book? Do you personally know a Yakuza (how cool is that!)

Find out more:
Blogcritics
Guardian
Japan Today
Smh
The Age

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

It’s 2 hours past midnight here and I’m just done with
the fireworks photos. It’s my first attempt *blush* with night
photography & fireworks shots; so please pardon any faults ¬(^.*)¬

Pictured: Singapore River
Center: Elgin Bridge
Left: Old Parliament House
Right: Maybank Towers, Bank of China Building, 6 Battery Road Building
Photos taken from Coleman Bridge

The calm before the storm.

Things start to get blur from this point onwards.

Filtered red & desaturated photo

Ok I hope I didn’t bore you with the pathetic shots. Nevertheless a Blessed Happy New Year to all!
And may you all win BIG money (to buy more anime & figurines) hohoho¬
Ψ(｀∇´)Ψ