Interests:
Anime / Manga
Jrock / Visual Kei
Bishonen / Pretty Boys
Shinsengumi (esp. Soushi Okita)

Hobbies:
singing
acting
Internet surfing
Visiting friends' houses

Weapons of Choice:
Assortment of Guns
"Piko Piko" Hammer (think Kodocha)

Characters:
Akira Ijuiin (20MO!, CCD, X)
Leni Milchstrausse (SWars)
Asato Tsuzuki (YnM)
Ryuiichi Sakuma (Gravi)
Ed (CB)
Puchiko (Di Gi Charat)
PKO aka Rik, Ky, and Coo (Di Gi Charat)
Soujiro Seta (RK)
Nuriko (FY)
Mabudachi Trio aka ShiHaAya(Furuba)
Sai (HikaGo)

Couples:
Kamui x Fuuma (X)
Trowa x Quatre (GW)
Omi x Nagi (WeiB)
Raiha x Fuuko (FoR manga)
Hikaru x Lantis x Eagle (MKR)
Taichi x Yamato (Digimon)
Kyo x Tohru (Furuba)
Shinji x Kaworu (Eva)

Anime:
Saiyuki
WeiB Kreuz
Clamp Campus Detectives
Kareshi Kanojou no Jijou
Gravitation
Fruits Basket
Di Gi Charat
Cowboy Bebop
Hikaru no Go

Manga:
Saiyuki
Yami no Matsuei
Count Cain
Rurouni Kenshin

Mangaka:
Clamp
Youko Matsushita
Kazuya Minekura

Artists:
L'arc~en Ciel
Hikaru Utada
Gackt
aiko
Dir en Grey
Pierrot

Seiyuu:
Toshihiko Seki
Hiro Yuuki
Megumi Hayashibara
Takehito Koyasu
Minami Omi
Shinichirou Miki
Akira Ishida
Souichirou Hoshi

Songs and Themes:
The fourth avenue cafe (L'arc~en Ciel)
Drive (Incubus)
Open Up Your Mind (mirai)
Calypso (Spiderbait)
Vanilla (Gackt)
Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
Life's Gonna Suck (Dennis Leary)
Wonder Boy (Tenacious D)
[DR] Cube (Dir en Grey)
Iris (Goo Goo Dolls)

Songs so far:
Sa Yo Na Ra (globe)
1/2 (Makoto Kawamoto)
It's gonna rain (Bonnie Pink)
Last Kiss (Tanpopo)
First Love (Hikaru Utada)
Dearest (from Nadesico movie)
Yume no Naka he (Kare Kano ver)
S.O.S. (Pink Ladies, Kare Kano ver)
Odoru Ponpokorin (B.B. Queens)
Fuyu no Uta (Kiroro)

Notes:

1. Mari tends to like animes with lots of guys in them (i.e. Saiyuki, WeiB Kreuz). Especially if they have bishonen with short shorts (i.e. Clamp Campus Detectives).

2. Mari's guys of interest are around the ages of 10-19 years of age. Although it has been noted that she sometimes catches her eye on guys who are sweet, caring, dependable, and loyal. In other words, a gentleman, which is a dying breed in our society.

3. Mari loves anything that has a Japanese theme. (i.e. Old Japan setting mangas like Rurouni Kenshin, famous artists like Gackt wearing a hakama, etc.)

4. Mari is usually compared to as a cat because of her cat-like ways that shows in everything she does. She usually makes the following sounds: mya, mew, nya, nyu.

5. Mari is a quiz addict. Thus there will be lots of results on her blog. Although she has been cutting back recently, she will probably post at least one result a day.

6. Mari is also a strawberry Pocky addict. If you wish to make her happy, buy her some pocky. She is also willing to accept Pretz, the original or old fashioned style.

Quiz and Test Results

Archive:
August 5, 2002 - September 6, 2002
July 20, 2002 - August 2, 2002
July 11, 2002 - July 19, 2002
June 28, 2002 - July 10, 2002
June 21, 2002 - June 26, 2002

Friends:
Edo
Matt
Todd

Blogs I Read:
something witty / Codi
prodigious / Cori
LiveJournal / Houki
JenTech Productions / Jen
chiaroscuro / joy
Aoi Tenshi / Kei
space between / Keri
star scream / Kim
temporary mitten / Ko
From the mind's eye / Kouri
Vital Access / Kurot
cheap escape / Lone Sheep
Lunitic Gate / mellie
entropy / mifyuu
Seeing Stars / starfire
Angel Egg / Toki
the emotive room / Torumi
goldfish / You
Slide Into Your Love / youkotriumph

Web Comics
Arcana
Boy meets Boy
MegaTokyo
Okashina Okashi
Penny Arcade
Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki

Clique

Omi ♥squick♥ Nagi

*I sleep with my Leni plushie!*

« seiyuu ¤ Toshihiko Seki »

I want my Akira-kun!

«« Weapon || Sanzo's || revoler »»

I nyah, do you?

| I ¤GLOMPED¤ Tsuzuki |

¤I fly with angel wing§

*Addict :: Shigure Sohma

i © strawberry pocky

Adopted:

Sunday, October 6, 2002
Music: Pink (YUAMU)

Which Hikaru no Go character are you?

Booyah, Baby!!!! XD

Music: Identity (Ringo Shiina)

Just downloaded a whole bunch of Ringo Shiina PVs and have this sudden urge to review them. At least the ones I’ve seen.

Koufukuron: I believe this was the first Ringo PV I’ve seen. The video starts off with her lying on the sidewalk dead. But little by little she starts to come back to life, as if nothing happened. It’s pretty weird. There’s even this big gorilla suit guy in the crowd holding this plastic bone thingie.O.o

Koko ni Kiss Shite: Surprisingly this one wasn’t weird at all. She’s basically standing there playing her guitar and singing her song. It kinda gives you more of a gothic sort of feeling than anything else.

Honou: Basically Ringo, dressed as nurse, hitting glass and screwing with a female patient. Very…interesting to say the least.

Tsumi to Batsu: She’s driving a car. Half of a car, that is. O.o I say no more.

Kabukichou no Joou: A little tamer than most of her PVs. She’s basically strummin her guitar and singing her song. I’m not too sure where she’s singing though. Kinda looks like one of those shrines they have in Japan. Oh, there’s also this little clip with a woman breastfeeding this baby. A little disturbing, yes. But…the dog that’s in the video is cute. ^_^

Mayonaka wa Junketsu: The whole PV is an anime! XD Shweet! It’s like a James Bond mixed with Cutey Honey and a dash of Lupin and a pinch of Sailor Moon. Oh and the cat that’s with her, it turns into a machine gun. O.o Explain that one to me.

Identity: …I don’t even know how to begin explaining this one. It’s definetly the most strangest one I’ve seen so far. Starts off with an American flag and a guy with this huge Afro playing guitar. Then Ringo comes in dressed as a cowgirl and afterwards in a traditional Japanese yukata (Like the ones you see in those old samurai dramas), both being dragged by a guy on a horse. O.o I don’t even understand the concept on this video but the song is pretty good. (In fact, I'm listening to it right now. ^_^) Although that screaming during the intro is kinda irritating....

Gibbs: My favorite Ringo Shiina song. ^_^ Kinda gives a little Alice in Wonderland sort of feel, to me that is. The cinematography and style has such a dark undertone, yet it’s strangely beautiful at the same time.

Giyaaaa!! What do ya mean there's no Schwarz in Gluhen! Dammit, I want Nagi! *kicks around misc. stuff*

*piku piku (eyes blinking ^^;) *…I kinda feel sort of hurt after what she said about Jrock. I don’t know whether to smack her or not…

Saturday, October 5, 2002
Music: Coppelia no Hitsugi (Noir)

Found from this blog.

Have you ever...
{x} Fallen for your best friend? …no comment
{x} Made out with JUST a friend? Yup
{x} Been rejected? Yup
{x} Been in love? Yup
{x} Been in lust? Yup
{x} Used someone? Yup ^^;
{x} Been used? Nope
{x} Cheated on someone? Depends on what you’re definition of cheated is. ^^;
{x} Been cheated on? Nope
{x} Done something you regret? Yup

Who was the last person...
{x} You touched? Uh…does my dog count? ^^;
{x} You talked to? My mom
{x} You hugged? I believe it was my dog. He’s just so darn cute! ^_^
{x} You instant messaged? I think it was my friend Jason
{x} You kissed? Heh, you don’t want to know. ^_^
{x} You yelled at? Mom ^^;
{x} You laughed with? Uh…does an online person count? ^_^;

Have you/are you/do you....
{x} Considered a life of crime? Depends what you mean on that. ^^;
{x} Considered being a hooker? Uh…no ^^;
{x} Considered being a pimp? O.o …no…
{x} Are you psycho? Maybe ^_^
{x} Split personalities? Nope
{x} Schizophrenic? Uh…I don’t think so
{x} Obsessive? Nope
{x} Obsessive compulsive? …maybe a little
{x} Panic? Nope
{x} Anxiety? Nope
{x} Depressed? Nope
{x} Suicidal? Nope
{x} Obsessed with hate? Nope
{x} Dream of mutilated bodies, blood, death, and gore? O.o uh…no…
{x} Dream of doing those things instead of just seeing them? Nope! I dream happy dreams ^_^
{x} Understanding: Depends
{x} Open-minded: Sometimes
{x} Arrogant: Nope
{x} Insecure: Sometimes
{x} Interesting: People tell me I am ^_^
{x} Hungry: Nope. Just ate. ^_^
{x} Friendly: If you catch me at the right moment ^_^
{x} Smart: Might be ^_^
{x} Moody: Sometimes
{x} Childish: Hell yeah ^^;
{x} Independent: Most of the time
{x} Hard working: Hahahahaha, no
{x} Organized: A little, in my own way that is ^^;
{x} Healthy: Pretty much ^_^
{x} Emotionally Stable: …I think so ^^
{x} Shy: Sometimes
{x} Difficult: Sometimes
{x} Attractive: Of course! ^_~
{x} Bored Easily: Yup ^^;
{x} Thirsty: Yup ^^;
{x} Responsible: Sometimes I am ^^;
{x} Sad: Not really
{x} Happy: Not really
{x} Trusting: Basically I am
{x} Talkative: Depends who I'm talking to
{x} Original: Hell yeah! ^_^
{x} Different: Of course ^_^
{x} Unique: Of course ^_^
{x} Lonely: Sometimes
{x} Color your hair? Nope. Want to though…
{x} Have tattoos? You know, I’ve always wanted a tattoo like Yo-tan’s. ^^;
{x} Piercings? Just my ears
{x} Have a boyfriend? Who needs boyfriends? I have bishonen! ^_^;
{x} Floss daily? Nope
{x} Own a webcam? Nope
{x} Ever get off the damn computer? Surprisingly yes ^_^;

Yay! I finally got a hold of the Cocoon PV! So many nice Aiji shots! ^_^ Of course everyone else was just as sexy as well. ^_^

And I'm getting my Gackt calendar, baby!! Woo! ^_______^

Kay, I go now.

Friday, October 4, 2002
Music: Elephant Love Medley (Moulin Rouge)

Dang, I've got that song in my head ever since I downloaded this. Moulin Rouge songs are so addicting...

I also finally realized while watching this video:
That bitch Miaka deserves that dork Tamahome.

As you can tell, I'm not very fond of either of them. I have my reasons. Like how Miaka always gets in trouble because of her gluttnous. And how she always depends on her stupid boyfriend to help her. And hell, she actually dumped Hotohori for Tamahome! C'mon, if I were her I would defintly go for someone beautiful and charming like him! Dammit, and his voice! He has a Takehito Koyasu voice! What the hell is wrong with her!

And about Tamahome. I don't really have a specific reason why I don't like him. I just think he's a dork. A big money grubbing dork who's probably nice to have as a friend but nothing else.

Oh yeah, I have more Saiyuki eps! Episodes 21 - 23, baby! ^_^ Wah, poor Hakkai. (kawaisou...)

I also adopted more sprites and found more quizes, including this one:

Which Yami no Matsuei Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Yeah! You bet your bippies I'm like Tsuzuki! ^_^ C'mon, who else would I be in that series? Not Tatsumi, that's for sure.

Did I ever say that I'm starting to become a TatsumixTsuzuki fan? For some strange reason they seem so much more cuter than TsuzukixHisoka.

Wednesday, October 2, 2002
Music: Canta Per Me (Noir BGM)

*sigh* I've forgoten how pretty this song was...

Been pretty busy the past few days. Went out with friends on Monday. Went out with other group of friends Sunday night. Oh, before I forget...

Edo no Baka! Why dya hafta leave?!

Seems like lots of people decided to get new layouts while I was away. I'm so jealous. I wish I could make nice layouts too...

And I found more results to add to my collection! ^_^ I'll post them up later.

Saturday, September 28, 2002
Music: Open Up Your Mind (mirai)

You will live in House.
You will drive a Hakuryuu Jeep.
You will marry Leni and have 0 kids.
You will be a voice actress in Tokyo.

...

SCORE!! ^___^

Friday, September 27, 2002
Music: none

I know, I've been away from the computer for a while...

I don't want to get too personal but lets just say that a lot of bad things has been happening over the past two years, ever since her father died.

Yeah, I'm kinda getting personal already.
He was sick, let's leave it to that.

So anyway things has been pretty rough around here since then. My family's managing somehow. Even though some relatives from my dad's side are giving us a hard time.

I suppose that's what you get for being born in a Japanese family. They always go by the samurai tradition. The men are treated like kings and the women are basically treated like shit.

Sad, isn't it?

Well, know what. Fuck them all. I don't care if any of them are reading this right now. They should just go and think about what the hell they have been doing to us for all these years. Because of them, my mom's all stressed out and me and my brother just don't know what to do to cheer her up.

I am so not in the mood to continue this anymore...

Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Music: my sweet darlin' (Hitomi Yaida)

I knew Ringo Shiina's songs were weird...

But her PVs are even weirder...

Koko ni Kiss Shite was alright. Mayonaka wa Junketsu was pretty cute. ^_^ Gibbs was interesting. Tsumi to Batsu was... unusually interesting to say the least. But Koofukuron is really freaky...

And here's a quiz result to fill up the void.

This Pierrot Quiz was created by Ritz. Interested in who YOU might be? Take the test at the Pierrot HQ.

Figured I'd get Jun. Not that I'm complaining... ^_^

Sunday, September 22, 2002
Music: au revior (Malice Mizer)

I have just read Boys Next Door...

WHY DOES ALL OF KAORI YUKI'S WORKS HAVE TO END SO SAD!!!

*sniff* Dammit! I need a new box of kleenex...

Music: PURPLE SKY (Pierrot)

Yeah, I know. I’m doin’ a Jen again. So sue me. A lot of things have been on my mind lately and figured this would be the best way to explain them.

For The Birds: I got the Monsters Inc. DVD and watched it with my friends. I love that little short they play in the beginning! The pigeons even have personalities. The first one that comes out is bossy. The second one is chipper. The third one’s a snob. And the forth one is neurotic! ^_^

Calenders: Alrighty, the store in my neighborhood got their Japan calendar chart for 2003 and my choices this year are Gackt, Dir en Grey, and Saiyuki. Decisions, decisions...

Tsukikage Ran: Omigawd! It’s a female Kenshin!! Well, in a kinda sorta way. A female ronin who kills and can drink sake like water. My male friends have dubbed her “the perfect woman”.

Now and Then, Here and There: Pretty sad anime but was worth watching. I love Nabuca! I’m already a NabucaXShuu fan! ^_^

W Juliet: Got the second volume! Kyaa~! Makoto kakkoii~! ^_^

Mifyuu: Kya! Your new layout! It’s Aiji!! Kyaa~!! Me love! ^_^

Cori: May Mari use your wonderfully made Aiji clock? Please? ^__^

English: FUCK THIS STUPID ESSAY!!!

My diet: Losing pounds. Most of my clothes feel looser now. ^_^

That’s all for now…

Friday, September 20, 2002
Music: Hikari (Hikaru Utada)

Dammit, everyone’s saying how good Kingdom Hearts is. I don’t wanna get another game since I still haven’t finished my Arc the Lad Collection but I really want Kingdom Hearts! Heck, I could careless what the story is, as long as it has Cloud and Tidus, it’s all good. ^_^

Apparently the Squaresoft staff decided to keep the “Hikari” song in the English version so of course I had to download it. The English version is… interesting. The song’s not it English but they instead have remixed it. I still think the original is better.

And just to make it clear with people: my blog’s name is “Open Up Your Mind”

Why I named it that? Well, mainly because I just so happen to like the song (and the anime ^_^). And the words alone kinda does make a nice name for a blog. After all, in blogs you are “opening up your mind”, right? ^_^

Don’t get me wrong. I am very happy that more people are starting to read this pathetic person’s blog. It’s just that I wanted to give them the proper name, that’s all. Not to embarrass or pester or anything.

Hakkai, huh? Me and my friends are stuck on Goku but lately I’ve been fawning over Sanzo. Pretty weird considering my usual taste in men. Maybe it’s cause of his attitude…and his pretty face…and his lean body…and his Smith and Wesson revolver… *dreamy sigh*

And I am trying to make a layout. Not a very good one, but nevertheless a layout.

Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Music: PURPLE SKY (Pierrot)

Mya~~~... It already the middle of September and its still hot here! And I had to walk home today too! Argh! I can't think with this heat! Mya, Mya, Mya~~~! -_-;

School's alright so far. English class is getting a little bit on my nerves with all this essay writing but I am passing Japanese easily. ^_^ And my drama class is doing "The Pied Piper of Hameln" for our childrens' play and I get to be Johann, the crippled orphan boy. Hee hee, not only I'll be in rags but I get a crutch as well. Shweet! ^_^

And fanfiction.net officially sucks ass. I won't be going there for a while.

Why is it so freaked hard to find Pierrot PVs? I could only find that one Kagrra one and I really wanna see a Plastic Tree PV but I can't find any! Dammit, I want more Aiji!!

Monday, September 16, 2002
Music: none

Woke up aroung 5 or 6 in the morning and I'm still tired. I'm actually using my teacher's computer at the moment. I probably shouldn't be doing this but hey, it is free time, right?

No worry, mifyuu. It happens to the best of us. Cheer up! If people have a problem with you, fuck them. ^_^

Heh heh. I just want to say that I really really like Saiyuki 6.

(After the big fight)
Hakkai: (to Sanzo) How are you feeling?
Sanzo: Like Shit.

After getting a new Saiyuki manga after 5 months, I kinda forgot how much I love this comic. So many cute scenes in this book, love both Sanzo and Goku scenes. (During and after the fight.)

Nya~, I feel like sleepin now...

Sunday, September 15, 2002
Music: Gibbs (Ringo Shiina)

Went to Shirokiya this morning and picked up some new manga. Saiyuki 6 (Kya~! Sanzo and Goku scene, kawaii~~!!), Violinsit of Hameln 11, and W Juliet, a story about a girl who dresses as a guy and a guy who dresses like a girl.

If Mari ever hooks herself on a new manga series, it's probably because:

1. It has tons of cute young guys in it.
2. The story is set in a Japanese era. (Heian, Meiji, etc.)
3. One of the main guy characters dresses in drag 24/7

Obviously, I brought W Juliet under number 3 on the list. It's actually a cute comic though. Right now I'm kinda crushing over Makoto (the drag) though. Girl or guy, he's still cute ^_^.

I also found out about Kagrra, which is basically a Jrock band that wears kimonos as their main attire! I watched a little of their Yume Izuru Chi PV and was practically nya-ing througout the whole song. (Mari does that when she gets excited...) Only saw a few pictures of them and I'm already falling for Nao and Isshi, who both happen to be the most feminist looking in the group.

God, I must have a thing for pretty guys in dresses... (Nuriko, Milphey from Bakuretsu Hunters, Aoi from Taiho Shichauzo!, Shinya and Toshiya, Mana-sama, etc. I can name more but my head is too much filled with Makoto. ^^;) But I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks like that...

Then again, I'm still attracted to Leni, even though she is a girl...

Okay, I'm not even going there!!

Friday, September 13, 2002
Music: au revior (Malice Mizer)

I got a new Gackt skin!

With matching wallpaper!

And their both very PINK!! ^___^

I am now listed on Cori's and Mifyuu's blogs which also makes me happy. Unless their doing it out of pity...

Lots of stuff have been happening with preparations for graduation and senior panorama and other junk. I still haven't found enough time to watch the rest of that Sakura Wars tape I borrowed. And I also have this stupid thesis to write for my stupid English class but since I'm in such a good mood at the moment, I'll do it later...if I remember that is...

I'll also note that for the past few days, I have been practicing like heck for the compitition that's probably be somewhere in October, I'll check back later. Apparently quite a few people were surprised that I sung a slow song for once, instead of a fast song like S.O.S. or Last Kiss. Which is nice to know, I guess. I'd rather sing a something that's catchy but most of the judges there or so stuck on Enka, (Old fashioned Japanese style singing; think of yodeling in Japanese and you'll kinda get the picture), they practicly look down on pop or fast songs.

And there's no way I'll singing enka on stage. It may be Japanese but it doesn't fit my stlye.

Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Music: Naze (Hysteric Blue)

Now I find out that fanfiction.net is closed for 9/11 and all that's left on that page is a flag.

And the world has succeded in pissing Mari off for the day.

Music: Infection (Chihiro Onitsuka)

Amireal, I understand how you feel.

I'm as well getting sick of hearing everyone talk about 9/11 and such. Personally I wish people would just get over it. Yes, it was terrible. Yes, it's sad that innocent people had to die. And yes, I can agree that Bin Ladan is a freakin asshole for doing this and should be stoned and burned to death.

But you know what? It happened already. Enough with the memorials. Don't you think it's a bit disturbing the see everyone being so patriotic all of a sudden, mainly so that you'll be reminded of what happened a year ago?

Maybe it's because at the time I had no relatives or friends that were live in New York. I do feel sorry for those who had lose someone at the time. But that doesn't mean I have to mourn every single year as well, does it?

To be honest, I do not like funerals as well as memorials such as these. It gives a very bad taste in my mouth when I think about it. But of course you kinda have to go so that people won't think of you as disrespectful or anything. And now there is like hundreds of people in my town putting up mutiple flags on their car, their house, other people's fenses, everywhere. And that's what makes me a little irriatated.

People really just need to get on with their life. The past is the past and I'm sorry, I don't know how lightly I can put this, but there's not very much we could do to about it...

Monday, September 09, 2002
Music: Bara wa Utsukushi Kuchiru (Lareine)

I got in the finals! Banzai! Banzai! Mari-chan ureshi~~~!! ^____^ Now I have to practice for another whole month until then. And find something to wear. And get my cassette tape and picture to the station. And whole bunch of other stuff... Yeah, I'll be pretty busy until then.

And I finally got my Go Crackers! I must say Juu did a great job putting this book together. Loved Koyar, Juu, and Keiko's stories the best. (Too bad Sai couldn't stay visable for a little while longer.) This was definetly worth spending on.

Did you know that this song was the opening for that really old but kinda new "Rose of Versailles" series? Kinda makes me wanna see it now, even though I don't have the slightest idea what it's about...

Sunday, Septmeber 9, 2002
Music: [DR] Cube (Dir en Grey)

I know. I know.

I need to change this layout.

Since a lot of people liked this movie, I decided to watch "Battle Royale". I've only watched a little of it and I must say it is one of the few violent movies I can stand watching. I usually don't care for films with a lot of blood and gore but for some strange reason, "Battle Royale" more or less kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next.

I could definetly see why this movie has good reviews. I don't think it will be one of my personal favorites but it will leave a lasting impression on me. I also heard something about a "Battle Royale 2". Now that would be interesting.

The singers who got in the finals will be annouced tomorrow. People said I did good job yesterday but I hope the judges thought so too...

And because it's been such a long while...

Which Anime Uke Are You?

My, how interesting. I never considered myself being anything like him.