ナナコの見た世界〜ヒマワリページへようこそ
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Personal Profile
t h e BLUE SUNFLOWER

n a n a k o ... Sino Ako?
ナナコって一体誰？
So, who is aoi nanako really? This page reflects my interest in things Japanese so I use the Japanese name bestowed upon me by friends but I'm actually from good old Manila.　葵(aoi) is actually "hollyhock" although people have always associated it with the color, which isn't so bad as blue is one of my favorite colors. There's a long story behind "nanako" but let's just say I found it better sounding than the original monicker I was given, "yoshiko".
I'm a keen follower of Japanese pop culture (or try to be, not much Japanese news this side of Asia) and I love 日本語(nihongo)! I'm a newcomer into the thirtysomething set and am slowly carving my own niche in the field of Japanese language education, teaching... 当たり前ですよ。what else?日本語(nihongo)!
I've been to Japan and enjoyed myself thoroughly and each time I've gone, there's always something new to see and discover. For me, Japanese culture-watching is always enjoyable, interesting and fun. Whether it's a trip to a popular tourist destination or just down the block to the friendly neighborhood Family Mart or Seven Eleven, I never cease to be amazed by the little discoveries I make.
Got some unusual tidbit or insight on Japanese pop culture to share? Click this and tell me about it! >>Tell nanako about it!

FACES PLACES
ナイスショット（＾＾；）
For the curious souls, here's a shot just for you guys!

FACES PLACES: Nanako in Daiba

Taken from my favorite place in all of Tokyo, Odaiba Park
　overlooking Rainbow Bridge.
　Say chee~se!


わたしの東京で一番好きな所…
　レインボーブリッジの見えるお台場。
　はい、チ〜ズッ！



Nanako's Choice
ナナコセレクション
Through the years, I've come to like an assortment of artists, actors/ actresses and shows plus other stuff that I've experienced in Japan. I've drawn up a list for each category and check out my merry mix of favorites.
  • Favorite Singers... aiko, Imai Miki, Okamoto Mayo, Nakashima Mika, Amuro Namie, Yamazaki Masayoshi, Okuda Tamio, Matsu Takako, Takeuchi Mariya, Oda Tetsuro, Fukuyama Masaharu, Fujii Fumiya, Koyanagi Yuki, Onitsuka Chihiro
  • Favorite Groups... Ulfuls, SMAP, Sharan Q, Spitz, Pornograffitti, L'Arc~en~Ciel, Dreams Come True, Chage and Aska, My Little Lover, The Brilliant Green, Glay, Mr. Children, J-Walk, Southern All Stars, Pocket Biscuits, Hana * Hana, The Little Monsters Family, Bluem of Youth, The Postmen, Morning Musume, Do AS Infinity, Garnet Crow, KinKi Kids
  • Memorable Performances... Yamaguchi Tomoko (Long Vacation), Kimura Takuya (Long Vacation, Kyosokyoku, Kimi o Wasurenai [Fly, Boys, Fly!]), Mizuki Arisa (Ichiban Taisetsu na Hito), Katori Shingo (Ichiban Taisetsu na Hito, Doku), Yasuda Narumi (Doku), Higashiyama Noriyuki (Dear Woman), Otake Shinobu (Dear Woman), Inamori Izumi (Long Vacation, Beach Boys), Takenouchi Yutaka (Long Vacation, Hoshi no Kinka, Beach Boys), Sakai Miki (Hakusen Nagashi), Nagase Tomoya (Hakusen Nagashi, Days),Imai Miki (BRAND), Ichikawa Somegouro (BRAND), Eguchi Yosuke (Hitotsu Yane no Shita), Oda Yuji (Okane ga Nai!, Shuushoku Sensen Ijou nashi), Zaizen Naomi (Okane ga Nai!, Ii Hito), Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (Ii Hito), Sorimachi Takashi (Kimi o Wasurenai, Beach Boys, Cheap Love), Karasawa Toshiaki (Kimi o Wasurenai, Oishii Kankei, Eve~Santa Claus Dreaming), Esumi Makiko (Maboroshi no Hikari), Morimoto Leo (Long Vacation, Oishii Kankei), Suzuki Kyoka (Kanojotachi no Kekkon), Uchimura Teruyoshi (Best Partner), Sakai Maki (Best Partner), Tsuruta Mayu (Cheap Love, Satorare), Fujiwara Norika (Kinyoubi no Koibitotachi e), Odagiri Joe (Satorare)
  • Cho~ Omoshiroi TV personalities... Tokoro George, Tamori, Kazami Shingo, Uchimura "Utchan" Teruyoshi, Nambara "Nanchan" Kiyotaka, Chiaki, Downtown, Kubo Junko "Kubojun", Matsumoto Akiko, Hisamoto Masami "Machami", Ninety-nine, Fujii Takashi, Nasubi, Korokke, V6, Neptune, TOKIO, the Friday cast of Fuji TV's "Waratte Iitomo"
  • Pretty Faces... Imai Miki, Nakayama Miho, Inamori Izumi, Sakai Miki, Yamaguchi Tomoko, Iijima Naoko, Suzuki Kyoka, Fujiwara Norika, Tsuruta Mayu, Suzuki Anju
  • Kawaii~~!... Chiaki, Koizumi Kyoko "Kyon-Kyon", Hashino Emi (TBS "King's Brunch"'s himesama)
  • Kakko Ii!... Kimura Takuya, Takenouchi Yutaka, Sorimachi Takashi, Karasawa Toshiaki, Shiina Kippei, Oda Yuji, Ichikawa Somegouro, Fukuyama Masaharu "Masha", Takizawa Hideaki "Takki", Harada Ryuji, Nakamura Shunsuke, Odagiri Joe
  • Memorable Dramas... Ichiban Taisetsu na Hito, Hakusen Nagashi, Long Vacation, Oishii Kankei, Hitotsu Yane no Shita, Doku, Ii Hito, Kanojotachi no Kekkon (Leurs Mariages), Age 35' Koishikute, Dear Woman, Saigo no Koi, Beach Boys, Best Partner, Seija no Koushin, Cheap Love, BRAND, Kinyoubi no Koibitotachi e (Dear Friday's Lovers), Taiyou wa Shizumanai, FRIENDS, Koi wa nannen yasunde imasu ka?, Hatsutaiken, Satorare
  • Memorable Films... Love Letter, Kimi o Wasurenai (Fly, Boys, Fly!), Maboroshi no Hikari, Mimi o Sumaseba, Hotaru no Haka, Tonari no Totoro, Bokura wa Minna Ikite iru, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi
  • Anime Lookout... Crayon Shinchan, Ah Megami-sama (Ah! My Goddess), Azuki-chan, Tondebu~rin, Bideo Senshi Rezarion (Laserion), Chou Jiku Yosa Macross (Super Space Fortress Macross), Windaria, Candy-Candy, Chou Denji Mashiin Voltes V, Toshou Daimos, Hana no Ko no Runrun, Chibi Maruko-chan
  • Omoshiroi All-time Variety/ Game Shows... Magical Zuno Power, Aka Haji/ Ao Haji, SMAPxSMAP, Tokuhou Oukoku, Ainori (love Wagon), Waratte Iitomo, Ten Best Show (Miyage vs. Sekiguchi), Dotchi no Ryori, Merenge no Kimochi, Oshare Kankei, Tetsuwan DASH, Tokoro no 20 Seiki Taiken, Susume! Dempa Shonen (Susunu! Dempa Shonen), Urinari, Mahha Buirokku (V6), Shutsubou Adomachikku, Utchan Nanchan no Hontoko (esp. Mirai Nikki), Mechaike, Gakkou e Ikou, Wonderful, King's Brunch
  • Favorite uniquely Japanese phenomena... karaoke, purikura (print club), sutakura (stamp club), hyaku-en shop, CD rentals, Shinkansen, onsen, canned coffee, PET bottle drinks (especially Calpis Water and "near water" drinks), obento, discount stores and stores who offer サービスfreebies and discounts galore!

The Other Side of Nanako
日本だけではなく...
Of course, my interests are not just limited to the Japanese genre. I do have a variety of other interests. I go for American shows ( Survivor series, The X-Files, The Pretender, The Simpsons, Sex and the City, The David Letterman Show) and sitcoms ( Boston Common, Ask Harriet, Seinfeld, Pearl, Cafe Americain, Sydney, Head Over Heels, Just Shoot Me, Third Rock from the Sun, That 70s Show ), comics ( Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes, Bud Grace's Ernie, The Buckets, Mutts, Gary Larson's The Far Side, Kobayashi Makoto's What's Michael?, Umi no Teppen, Souryu Fuyumi's Boyfriend, Garasu no Kamen), Asahi Shimbun's 4-koma series Kobo-chan, nice-to-read-while-you're-curled-up-in- bed-on-a-rainy-day romance novels and depending on my mood, a mug of brewed coffee or a glass of ice-cold Coke. I'm not exactly a fantasy nor movie buff but Peter Jackson's rendition of JR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" on the silver screen is tops in my book. (あ〜あ、思い出深いの映画でもあるし…）It deserves an Oscar, but then that's just me... And I absolutely adore Chow Yun-Fat, even BEFORE his "Replacement Killer" days, when I first came to know him through a little-known afternoon series dubbed in English called "Proud, Smiling Wanderer" way back in my high school days. I do indulge my Chinese action movie interest once in a while. I love sketching and drawing and dabble in fiction and poetry. I also love writing newsy letters and text messages to friends (more often than not, have little time to do it, though!) and since I discovered it, cannot imagine life without e-mail! I enjoy visits to school supplies stores, 100-en shops and other small shops for knick-knacks and new stuff. Japan was just one big 文房具stationery goods heaven for me!
Any questions to ask me?
Nanako's e-mailbox
feel free to write me at: nanakoworld@yahoo.com



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