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First, the simple basis for understanding the way Japanese think about the supernatural. Simply put, Shinto, which was the country's official religion and is the religion that originated there, is an animistic faith, with a strong tendency toward the personification of nature and objects. Second, Buddhism was the dominant faith in Japan for centuries, when the various shogunates tried to weaken the Emperor's power by strengthening the influence of Buddhism as a rival faith. Why is this relevant? Shintoism personifies the dead and believes in the concept of living gods. The Buddhist tributaries in Japan generally believe in reincarnation. Both faiths create a belief that there are things in the world that exist alongside us that cannot be seen by 'normal' people. Both have a belief in life after death, and both have a concept of 'lingering' and 'ascension'. Generally speaking, Japanese spiritualists hold to a belief (or so they say) that if you can see a spirit, you can effect it and it can effect you. It is vital to understand this before anything else when dealing with Japanese spiritualism in general. While the idea of ghosts harming or possessing those who can't see them isn't denied by Japanese spiritualists, those who can 'see' them are thought to be more vulnerable, if left untrained ('training' generally resembling Buddhist asceticism and meditation). Now, the word 'oni' is perhaps the most overused name for spirits in Japan. This is because it can be taken to be any spirit that can and does cause harm, refer to humans whose souls have fallen into evil, and/or the legendary giant ogre-type creatures like Shuten-doji that litter Japanese legend. Because of this, it isn't uncommon for ghosts, youkai, and even some 'kami' (the animistic idea of gods in the Shinto faith) to be considered 'oni'. This should give you an idea of how useless any attempt to define what an oni is can be, and why it is so conveniently used in VNs, anime, and manga. A lot of this lack of discrimination comes from the fact that Shinto attributes souls to all things, whether they are humans, animals, natural disasters, or even inanimate objects. Now, the two attitudes 'traditional' people in Japan take toward ghosts tend to be: 'seal them up' or 'banish them'. While Shinto can be said to be nature-worshiping, it is at its heart a pragmatist's faith. 'Cleanse people's souls so they don't do bad things'. 'Cleanse a place to prevent possible disaster'. 'Worship a god so it doesn't squish you'. Simple, isn't it? Of course, there are a lot of deeper details, but that is what you should keep in mind as a core reality of the faith and its view on spiritualism. In otaku-media, it is extremely rare for fantasy anime that deal with ghosts, spirits, or demons to take a single-faith approach to it. You'll almost always see a multi-faith approach, with one or more being dominant (including Christian ones at times). Shinto is dominant the most often, though Buddhism tends to dominate when you get into stuff based a few centuries in the past. Onmyoudou, one of the original types of 'spiritualism' in Japan is very much a fusion of Buddhist and Shinto ideas, if you want an example, since it is extensively used in various anime. What does this all come down to? Basically, traditional Japanese viewpoints on ghosts and spirits tend to be ones of rejection, and this is something to keep in mind when reading a VN or watching an anime that deals with ghosts, youkai, or other supernatural beings. A few bits of vocab: kami- While it is a term that is also used for the Christian god, it is a universal term for all supernatural beings that have worshipers or need to be be/have been worshiped. By Japanese standards, angels and demons would be considered to be kami under the right circumstances, as the Japanese consider 'enshrining' a harmful existence to be a way to keep it from harming them. akuma- Simply, demon. This is a relatively modern term made of the kanji for evil and the kanji for 'that which is outside/heretical'. oni- both a name for a specific type of ogre-type youkai and a generalized umbrella term for evil spirits, humans who have fallen into evil ways to an extreme degree, and aspects of certain kami. youkai- spirits of Japanese legend. The most common are nature spirits, animal spirits, dragons, and 'object spirits' (Tsukumogami). It isn't uncommon for beneficial or powerful ones to be raised up as 'kami' and enshrined to gain the benefit of their blessing and prevent them from doing harm. Whether they are seen as having physical form varies based upon the individual viewpoint. Reibaishi- An almost identical concept to the Western 'medium'... basically someone who can see spirits and/or communicate with them and makes a living off of it. Jorei- Exorcism, though it is usually of spirits rather than demons. PS: This isn't complete... I'll be adding to it later, lol.

dont hesitate poking your finger abit more in our wounded souls aka their decision is so miraculous, even miracles find it miraculously miraculous, causing miracles miraculously to wish upon a shooting star...

I sicced JAST's licensing goons on ChuableSoft's president, so hopefully they'll make him an offer he can't refuse.

Welcome, this thread's purpose is to help people learning bass from VN/Eroge or give a reference of how the bass played.. if you are a beginner bassist or you wanna be a bassist and you want to play a VN/Eroge song this place might be useful for you.. VN/Eroge Playlist: https://goo.gl/ZtYbTz Contain:

Hey guys, had some free time and made image showing all Navel's titles and their scores. It looks like Navel made easy demands on MG, if they want the partnership, they'll need to release titles from the oldest to the newest, that's how it looks atleast. So, what do you guys think, will we be getting best Navel's games anytime soon? It wasn't annouced at AX or Otakon which is pretty strange and disturbing.

Oy! I hope you get an amazing time here! also here is a cute guy:

http://youtube-global.blogspot.pt/2015/07/youtube-comments.html Don't delete your Google+ pages yet though, otherwise your youtube will go down with it. I wonder if all the "This is bob, Bob is taking over Youtube" comments actually worked.

Stage Nana just updated their website it seems: http://stage-nana.sakura.ne.jp/ I really love Narcissu guys. Had to share this (OuO)! Looks like the new story will take place after Narcissu Side 2nd, and it features a new heroine named Sumire.

*shatterer of hopes & dreams

YOU'RE MAKING ME GUILTY THAT I CAN'T GO ONLINE AT CONVENIENT TIMES FOR YOU ANYMORE ;-; I'll buy a cellphone and spam you in Skype or something while in class. Would you advise me about stuff?

Finally, I can stop pretending to be Suika Shoujo and embrace my true self- SuikaShoujo, all one word. This is a great day.

Hmm>hmn=hmm >hmm=moaning sound >girls moan when they have sex >girls get their hymen torned on their first time Doesn't this all seem suspicious??? I thought so HMN = hymen confirmed [21:20:16] HMN: screw you bancy [21:20:26] Vokoca: But wait [21:20:27] Noel (aka madvanced): kek [21:20:30] Vokoca: Did you see that? [21:20:32] HMN: you ...i dunno virgin [21:20:36] Vokoca: HMN has 3 letters [21:20:41] HMN: no [21:20:44] HMN: don't go there [21:20:46] HMN: pls D: [21:20:47] True Blue Lino*: O shit [21:20:48] *** ohiowar puts the tail on hmn *** [21:20:51] Noel (aka madvanced): a triangle has 3 sides [21:20:54] HMN: NO [21:20:55] True Blue Lino*: O sheeeeeeet [21:20:58] True Blue Lino*: and... [21:21:00] Noel (aka madvanced): you know what also has a triangle? [21:21:00] Kohaku: All the adorbs- http://i.imgur.com/pSGmdyC.png [21:21:02] True Blue Lino*: three corners... [21:21:03] HMN: shit i've been found out [21:21:13] Vokoca: LOOMINATI HIDES UNDER HYMEN CONFIRMED?! [21:21:13] Noel (aka madvanced): the illuminati [21:21:19] Kohaku: lol [21:21:25 | Modifié (21:21:29)] Noel (aka madvanced): hymen = illuminati confirmed [21:21:31] *** HMN contacts the illuminati *** [21:21:39] *** Vokoca picks up the phone. *** [21:21:40] Kohaku: Oh nu [21:21:43] Vokoca: "Yeah?" [21:21:51 | Modifié (21:22:18)] ohiowar: So if i break hymen do I break the illuminati? [21:21:53] HMN: "'sup boss" [21:21:56] *** Elias stabs Voko and picks the phone *** [21:21:58] Kohaku: o.o [21:22:02] *** Kohaku hides *** [21:22:04] Sarayne~: [21:20] Noel (aka madvanced): <<< a triangle has 3 sidesare you a math major? [21:22:05] Vokoca: "Don't break our co--adslkvjav [21:22:12] Kohaku: lol [21:22:14] HMN: "O_o" [21:22:21] Noel (aka madvanced): [21:20] ohiowar: <<< So if a break hymen do I break the illuminati?there's always virgin women, the illuminati is eternal (´・ω・`) [21:22:37] *** Kohaku nids *** [21:22:37] HMN: welp boss is ded [21:22:42] Kohaku: *nods FSG being illuminati Hymen hidout

Wow, everyone here is so friendly! Thank you for all of the warm welcomes, I really appreciate it. I'm really looking forward to interacting with you all.

Hello. My name is Manuel Godoy and I am the lead developer of Black Sands. I am ex-military, married with kids, and a total geek. I did an interview for Black Sands which really speaks to my character and how I think. Enjoy WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CREATE BLACK SANDS? I have long been the center of every conversation regarding history and mythology. Since I was a young boy my obsession with mythology has always been overbearing. I watch for years Hollywood butcher myth after myth trying to put a modern spin on things without making much sense at all. This is why I started writing Black Sands. I developed my story the last three years. First I wrote of Horus but decided I should start chronologically with Rah, the Dark Pharaoh. There were many holes and similarities shared in ancient mythologies that I thought needed to be addressed and Black Sands is how I decided to do it. WHY CHOOSE TO MAKE IT A VISUAL NOVEL? I am a big believer in character development. Budget constraints and unpopular ideas make visual novels a more appealing median. It’s hard to pitch “Black and Middle Eastern ethnic gods create empires which to this day, shape our world.” Hollywood always wants to recreate your story to their likings and I would not allow it. With the Visual Novel genre I have freedom to fully develop the characters and make villains heroes in the right situation. Take for instance the main character of this saga Rah. He is an alien hybrid who resembles a light skinned man with an obsession for Onyx that fights with absolute brutality and suffers from dementia. Good luck fleshing that out in another median. WHAT MAKES BLACK SANDS UNIQUE COMPARED TO OTHER VNs? To not sound too cliché, it is basically like game of thrones. The Origins chapter allows players to connect with the major characters in the world before they attempt to conquer it but once they leave the rift, there are many event going on around the world that are told in the story at the same time. Much like in a game of thrones episode, we jump from place to place to watch characters do their own thing. Additionally, we use q specific set of rules that govern our world so we can make as much sense as possible while incorporating the many and various mythologies of the third millennium BCE. · A God (Alien) must not kill humans directly. · A God must never lay with a human. · A Fallen God must never interfere with the living world. How we enforce these laws is fun. First, if an ancient god (pure blood aliens) kills a human directly, they lose some of their power. Ancients are immortal but are also elementals so they rely heavily on their reserve power. Hybrids are not as fortunate. They were created with the intention of defeating the Ancients while building empires for humanity. So if they directly kill humans, their lives are literally shortened. Since hybrids are more human than alien, they are mortal. The second rule is not necessarily enforced, but it is a cautionary rule. The Titans broke this law and created Nephilim. The Nephilim we know of re the giants in Canaan. They raped and enslaved all the women in Canaan while killing every man they could find. This all happened because of foolish desires. The third rule applies to hybrid gods. They are mortal but when they die, they do not go to dust. Instead, their soul stays as a guardian spirit. These guardians are forbidden to interfere with the mortal world but can still interact with other hybrids as advisors or protectors. There are also 6 major species in the world. · Ancients – Aliens that share the same extreme power and longevity that Nun the watcher has. · Humans – Tribal societies scattered across the earth with organizational skills uncommon in alien culture. · Nephilim – Human/Ancient hybrids with incredible power and human like reproduction qualities. · Alien Beasts – Creatures that roam the alien home planet but are recreated here by the ancients. · Beasts –Earth formed animals that are commonly found here but can have useful talents. · Hybrids – Mortal gods that create empires and lead the forces of man against the tyranny of the Ancients.

Cyr's avatar + sig is smex +200

Sounds pretty natural response given the information about her you provided here. You should really think about what jokes are to be made depending on the peronality of the person you are talking to. You are the one at fault here, at least that's how I see it.

You forgot mind break and corruption.

I'm actually glad there are two more months of NonNon... Cuz starting from next monday, I'll be having classes. So NonNon will prevent me from "overstressing". And then, there are more three months of Gochiusa... hehehe... Seems like I'll have it easy this semester...

I'm anxiously waiting for the next ep! It seems promising! And I want a Komari-focused episode too!

8 that image looks badass

I answer to myself in my head with imaginary posts so you don't have to worry about it. Just post on the forums for a couple months. That's how I did it. Ofc, you're my friend. I just looked at your name and made it into your title. "Ene.exe"

Good luck with your project!

Titus Andronicus' new album comes out today so I'll definitely be listening to that. In the meantime, there's this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2rti2SgQnc

Incidentally, Himawari's new OP (Japanese version) has been put up on the MG's YT channel, but they seem to have forgotten to announce it:

Mhmm, and I'd kill many of characters through... I love killing... And one certain someone might soon know how much I love it ^___^

Know that feel ;_; Still got another 8(? Maybe 9?) episodes to go though, so don't worry too much just yet I've gotta wait until after work to watch it as I don't have time now, shit sucks.

PE is definitely overrated here. I thought it was okay, but that's pretty much it. A sometimes charming but largely boring read. The lottery development is certainly convenient. Don't worry, I understand what you're trying to say. This is a recurring problem with the game, it always has the most convenient plot developments. The goons are basically local thugs, not yakuza/mafia.

You should've seen Ren when he found it. It looked like he literally found God.

I enjoyed that one quite a bit, but I always find Murakami's work to be simultaneously easy-to-read, emotionally impactful, and thought-provoking. He's one of my favorite authors as well.

AH... Another lovely episode! I just can't... Describe how much I love this anime! It just performs its task SO DAMN WELL: it's relaxing, heartwarming in a way I've never experienced before. NonNon is a masterpiece! It has such a lovely cast, so many wonderful moments, the perfect setting... I also like the fact it doesn't come from a 4koma manga. Not that 4koma adaptations are bad (Gochuumon is also wonderful); it's just that I think the fact it doesn't have to rely on skits every time makes it flow better... Since I like it more the more I watch it, I think it'll soon become my favorite anime... I am just afraid of what will happen to me when this season ends... But better not think about it now and enjoy that NonNon is here...

God damn it Non Non Biyori I didn't order a bag of feels.

Confession: I very much approve of Cyr's new avatar liek if u cri evrytim Confession 2: Writing is 2 hard 4 me Confession 3: I cried more from SSY than I did from Clannad

C9 vs LGD G2 spoilers: (Twitter is amazing <3)

Hanayo > body of a little girl. Whaaaaaaat?

Welcome to Fuwa.Enjoy your stay.

Hi Nagito welcome to Fuwa, have a nice stay here

A little test I did: What it really means: my translation is far from perfect and I'm still not sure about "the send it to the sky or warm it up in the sky" but the translation of the machine it doesn't make any sense ... and it's not complex or anything . Google seems to be the most accurate one.

Sora no Method OVA Noel is way too cute!

Welcome! whats your favorite vn?

Welcome and good luck with your project! Seriously, I hope it goes really well. Make sure to reach out to people during your time here.

That does sound like it could be really quite good. Best of luck with it!

Thanks to rabbit(who is a member of fuwa but I don't remember his username, sorry rabbit : <) I finally went to MG1. Nova ranks you will never be missed.

Say thank you and be extremely happy? Hell no. A salty and alpha dominant response. That's my girl. They grow up so fast.

It's party time!

You really want me to go to hell after I die, huh?

Grisaia no Kajitsu Licensed by Sekai Project Summary Mihama Academy - on the surface, a closed learning environment established to nurture students who find themselves at odds with the world around them; in actuality, an orchard-cum-prison built to preserve fruit that has fallen too far from its tree. Whatever the circumstances behind its establishment, Mihama Academy is at present home to five female students, all with their own reasons for "enrollment." For better or worse, each girl has established a routine obliging of her current situation; life moves at an idle, yet accommodating pace within the walls of Mihama. Yet with the arrival of the institute's first male student, the nearly preposterously opaque Kazami Yuuji, the students at Mihama begin to fall out of step with their predetermined rhythms. Will Yuuji prove to be the element the girls around him needed to take hold of their lives once more, or will the weight of their pasts prove too steep a wall to overcome? And in the first place, just who is Kazami Yuuji? While the true nature of the "job" he is wont to alight to at the most haphazard of moments remains shrouded in secrecy, one thing is for certain - his encroachment upon the quiet orchard known as Mihama Academy will prove itself momentous in one way or another. And of course, one cannot discount the possibility that perhaps Yuuji himself carries the weightiest past of any of the students... Ending Guideline / Suggested Route Order The game has a similar structure to G-Senjou no Maou in that its plot branches into a heroine's route at certain choices, although each of them is valid in its own as there's no true end. After entering a heroine's route the choices boil down to a single one for good/bad end. Following the flow of the story and entering each route as soon as you encounter them would lead to the following order: Makina -> Amane -> Sachi -> Michiru -> Yumiko. That said, Route Guideline Amane Good End Bad End Makina Good End Bad End Michiru Good End Bad End Sachi Good End Bad End Yumiko Good End Bad End Attribution A mysterious source. Aaeru formatted the original version of this post. It has since been updated and reworked several times by various staff members and admins.