Seems like in 2008 I spent more compared to 2007, but not that much.

Click more to see expense breakdown for 2008.

note: All calculations are in Australia Dollar, since the JPY fluctuate so much this 2008.. (Early 2008, 1 AUD = 97 JPY, Late 2008, 1 AUD = 60 JPY…)

My total expenses for otaku related item for year 2008 is A$6,988 (approx.) which includes:

• Figurines: 28.78%, down from last year 39.3%
• Books: 11.82%, up from last year 1.83%
• Trading figurines: 5.71%, about the same as last year 5.43%
• Games & Console: 35.19%, down from last year 39.01%
• Merchandises: 6.01%, up from last year 5.71%
• Shipping cost: 12.49%, up from last year 8.71%

and the breakdown in A$:

• Figurines: A$2011, down from last year A$2041
• Books: A$826, up from last year A$95
• Trading figurines: A$399, up from last year A$282
• Games & Console: A$2459, up from last year A$2026
• Merchandises: A$429, up from last year A$296
• Shipping cost: A$873, up from last year A$452

If I add my Japanese trip, Animelo concert tickets (total for both days were 40k yen >_<, should add this to the expense review, but meh.. too late already haha), Macro Lens, Nikon Flashlight, GPS, Figurine storage (detolfs), the total for 2008 will exceed A$10,000.00 (approx.)…….

The number of items obtained in 2008:

• Figurines: 36
• Books: around 30
• Trading figurines: 6 sets
• Merchandises: plenty from comiket.. towels, fan, etc
• Games: 2 Consoles (XBox 360 & PSP) and 32 Games (15 PS3, 5 X360, 7 PSP, 3 PS2, 2 PC)

Break down of purchase per month (of total A$6,988 )

• Jan: A$347
• Feb: A$259
• Mar: A$419
• Apr: A$577
• May: A$511
• Jun: A$619
• Jul: A$399
• Aug: A$1651 (I was in Japan!)
• Sep: A$411
• Oct: A$619
• Nov: A$635
• Dec: A$541

Most expensive items:

• Figurine: Hayate Yagami A$167 (sucky A$ at this time..)
• Books: Aria Poster Book 2 A$72
• Trading figurine: Chihaya Kisaragi from FA4 idolm@ster A$22 for single trading figurine, not including shipping!
• Merchandise: This one is hard, seems most merchandise I bought are small items / bag with many items.., i guess for single item is Louise Towel, A$55
• Game: Japanese XBox 360 Pro, A$343
• Shipping: Hayate Yagami shipping, A$97

I spent more for hobby goods in 2008 year compared to 2007, but the total for everything is about the same

I think this year 2009, my spending for hobbies will be less, since I’m thinking of buying house, but not sure yet heh.. I’m planning to go back to Japan in August or late September, either for wonfesu+comiket or Tokyo Game Show

First of all, Happy New Year 2009, Otadesho.com wishes all the best for you in this new year!

あけましておめでとうございます、今年もよろしくおねがいします〜

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu, Kotoshimo Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu~

The year 2008 has over, what a nice year this year went to Japan, watch Animelo, Comiket, and also got my figurines photos published in a local anime magazine

2008 Favorites

Figurine

It’s very hard to pick favorite figurine for 2008.. so many good figurines but my choice went to 1/8 Ryu Meifeng- Shuraki 02 made by Good Smile. Even tho she’s originally released 2007, but I got it from the second release, which is in 2008 :p. Close second is Alter’s Queen’s Gate Alice (haven’t took her picture :o)

Figurine Maker

Favorite figurine maker for this year is definitely Good Smile Company, so many good figurines from them this year. Alter is a close second favorite

Game

Favorite game that released this year is definitely Disgaea 3 (魔界戦記ディスガイア３). Plenty of good game, but this one get the most play time from me. I’m still playing it right now

Anime

Drama: Clannad
Comedy: Hidamari Sketch 365
Slice of Life: Aria the Origination

Anime Character

This one is really hard as well.. but my choice goes to Mizunashi Akari from Aria series, love her character

Seiyuu

My favorite Seiyuu for this year is still Kugimiya Rie

My wish for 2009 is just one.. for AU$ to go up as strong as early last year….. Once again Happy new year!

So now the Comiket 75 is happening in Ariake. And tomorrow (30th Dec 2008), my circle will sell this doujin game in Comiket (Block X-48a).

Props for Evospace and other people in the project for the hard work I hope it sells well tomorrow! (even tho it is still a demo ver :D)

Wish you a have a merry Christmas and happy holidays!

The girls:

Ami, Haruka, Ritsuko, Chihaya

Mami, Miki (Awakening ver)

Iori, Asuza, Miki (Normal ver)

Yayoi, Makoto, Yukiho

This figurines are from Idolm@ster collection 1 and collection 2. Bought them while I was in Japan, paid Chihaya and Haruka much more (like 4 times!) than the original price >< others only a lil bit from their RRP price.

Camera Info

Nikon D40, Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro HSM Lens, Nikon Speedlight SB600

Figurine Info

Maker

Alter

Size

Trading Figurines / Non-scale

RRP

JPY 650 each

Release date

Collection 1: August 2007, Collection 2: March 2008

Availability

Discontinued

1/8 Siesta from Zero no Tsukaima series, made by Alter. This figurine is really well made her face is really well done. I was planning to do normal white background shoot for this one, but one of my lamp suddenly died.. and decided to actually do something else (cant remember how many months I use white bg haha).

Enjoy the photos and guess who is the guest figurine

irrashaimase~ goshujin-sama

Closer view.

moe~

Full view of the figurine

Must have for zero no tsukaima fans I personally like this Siesta more than the Louise bustier ver

Camera Info

Nikon D40, Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro HSM Lens, Nikon Speedlight SB600

Figurine Info

Maker

Alter

Size

1/8

RRP

5500 yen

Release date

July 2008

Availability

HLJ

1/7 Yagami Hayate from Nanoha StrikerS series, made by Alter. This figurine has a very very big box!!! largerst box so far among my figurines.. you can fit 2 PS3 boxes in her box!

The figurine size is not that big compared to the box haha, but still big enough for 1/7

Nothing I can say about this figurine but one, AWESOME! Enjoy the photos!

There’s also alternate head with light brown hair, but i think the darker one is better. And also her cap is removable

The base, and also they provide base for the small reinforce

This figurine is a must have! some people may hesitate because of the shipping price (5000yen SAL, 5400yen EMS), but it’s worthed!

tips: becareful when putting her on the base.. I broke one of the peg, but super glue easily fix that…..

Camera Info

Nikon D40, Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro HSM Lens

Figurine Info

Maker

Alter

Size

1/7

RRP

9800 yen

Release date

November 2008

Availability

HLJ

Just did some cleaning for my blogroll, removed some non active blogs and dead links. If you happen to see that your blog removed but still around, please tell me also tell me if you want your blog to be added

1/8 Sawatari Izumi from He is My Master series, made by Alter. This figurine is quite rare because this one is old (2005 release) and also Hobby Japan Exclusive. Found this one in K-Books while I was in Japan, quite lucky

The quality for this figurine is okay, not as good as current Alter figurine, but still it is still Alter quality

her size is a lil bit too small for 1/8 (about the same size with GSC Hatsune Miku)

From this angle she does look like the anime version, other angle, not so much ^^;

Overall this figurine is nice, although some of the sega prize figurine may have better sculpt, but this one has better quality

This figurine is one of the item in my Japanese Loot #3 shipment I decided not too post the loot #3, but to take photos of the figurine one by one instead, since most of the thing in shipment #3 are figurines

Camera Info

Nikon D40, Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro HSM Lens

Figurine Info

Maker

Alter

Size

1/8

RRP

3600 yen

Release date

October 2005

Availability

Hobby Japan Exclusive - Discontinued

Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid 01 made by Good Smile Company. This figurine is pretty I missed the original September 2008 release, the preorder closed way too fast, lucky they did re-release just 1 month after that…

The detail of this figurine is pretty; but I have two complaints tho.. first is her shirt is too dark, and second her skin needs more paint layers (it’s a lil bit flat, no not DFC flat, but paint flat!).

Full View (a lil bit too small, click the image for bigger view, a lot better!)

Her skirt is removable

Her base got her name printed

Now, I hope I can get my hand on Volks Hatsune Miku, saw the prototype when I went to Japan, which is a lot bigger compare to this one.

A must get figurine for any figurine collector if you still haven’t bought her, you can buy her from HLJ and play-asia, both still have her in stock

You can see more of her at Shino’s blog too

Camera Info

Nikon D40, Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro HSM Lens

Figurine Info

Maker

Good Smile Company

Size

1/8

RRP

5200 yen

Release date

September 2008 (Re-release November 2008)

Availability

In stock @ HLJ, Play-Asia

It’s that time of year again 28 now! one year older but always young at heart Happy Birthday to me!