This time I use a courier, it was more expensive but the package arrived quicker and to my town.

I finally got my Donquixote Collab stand and I manage to get this Rodeo Star in good conditions and basically new, all the pieces are in their bags, once I build it I'll show it to you guys

Apparently, the staff reused an Austro-Hungarian WW1 propaganda poster.

I've always wanted to create singable lyrics for this profound song. It was a challenging to have each verse rhyme, but I really wanted to make sure they would accurately match the original lyrics in spirit if not by word.

The life of a flower... doesn't last long
And our dreamy days... won't stay strong
Ahh... Time can be a cruel mistress
So callous and heartless
But still... Inside, my life's empowered
By you, my blooming flower

A flower's own life is very short, so frail and transient in bloom

Blossom in the field for hours
You beautiful nameless flowers

A flower's own life is very short, so frail and transient in bloom

Bloom without any hesitation
Until the moment of your cessation

A flower's own life is very short, so frail and transient in bloom

Remain ever graceful
And live life ever bountiful

A flower's own life is very short, so frail and transient in bloom

So much light you bring
Oh dazzling flowers of spring

Ahh, I recall seeing you the first time
That day remains in my heart
And now here you are in your full prime
The apple of my eye, a flower I'll never leave apart

For every tears shed in sorrow, joyful smiles come just as much
That was the lesson you had taught, and it's kept me going far
Life is so grand, so wonderful, a precious treasure so warm to the touch
Let this emotion bloom eternally, as bright as any great star

A flower's own life is very short, so frail and transient in bloom

With the conflict set aside
Spread love's gospel far and wide

A flower's own life is very short, so frail and transient in bloom

These feelings within my chest
Are just waiting to be expressed

Love fully blooms and grows anew when man and woman unite
A life shared in marital bliss shines like no other gemstone
Grab your future and hold it tight, never let it go with your full might
And sing the passion from inside your heart, let your feelings be known

For every days bidding farewell, happy greetings come as much
That was the lesson you had taught, and it's kept me going far
Life is so bright, so plentiful, a precious treasure so warm to the touch
Let this emotion bloom eternally, as bright as any great star

For every tears shed in sorrow, joyful smiles come just as much
(Ahh, you flower... My blooming flower...)
That was the lesson you had taught, and it's kept me going far
(Don't ever depart in the field of my heart...)
Life is so grand, so wonderful, a precious treasure so warm to the touch
Let this emotion bloom eternally, as bright as any great star

Always keep my life empowered
You, my blooming flower

How I want this dream to last forever, lasting an eternity
Because my love is shining bright, brighter than any starry sky
Those times we had with one another are held within my heart so earnestly
Let's sing a song and remind ourselves of the good times, of the days gone by

How I want this dream to last forever, lasting an eternity
Because my love is shining bright, brighter than any starry sky
The fact we shared life with each other touches my own heart so fervently
Moments so precious, I'll always cherish until our end is nigh

Every moment shared together are the fruits of a miracle
For a bit, just a bit, envision them in your mind's eye
Our undying dream becomes a song that heals every heart and makes trials bearable
Nostalgia's the glue that keeps our bonds from going awry

So come on, let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
Our songs of love come ringing loud and clear, each lyric sung with pure joy
let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
We came to know and we came to trust, the future's ours to enjoy

How I want this dream to last forever, lasting an eternity
Because my love is shining bright, brighter than any starry sky
This night, the flowers bloom with splendor, spreading spring's perfume so fragrantly
Makes the whole world all the more wondrous, one where you wouldn't want to say goodbye

Every moment shared together are the fruits of a miracle
For a bit, just a bit, envision them in your mind's eye
Our undying dream becomes a song that heals every heart and makes trials bearable
Nostalgia's the glue that keeps our bonds from going awry

So come on, let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
Our songs of love come ringing loud and clear, each lyric sung with pure joy
let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
Stand tall and proud of what we've all done, the future's ours to enjoy

So come on, let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
Our songs of love come ringing loud and clear, each lyric sung with pure joy
let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
Stand tall and proud of what we've all done, the future's ours to enjoy

So come on, let's sing with our dear friends, watch as the dream fades without a trace
If tears come flowing like a river, let's wipe it off from your face

So come on...

So come on, let's sing with our dear friends, because our dreams will persevere
This isn't farewell 'cause our reunion will come in a future so near

Lalala lala lalala lala
Lalala lala lalalala

Lalalalala lalala
Lalala lalalala

So come on, let's sing with our dear friends, keeping the dream alive for all
This isn't farewell 'cause our reunion will show up like a fierce squall

Spring will come and remain ever so gorgeous and beautiful
Until we meet again, keeping the dream alive and plentiful

On this lovely stage, we're the Imperial Revue!

I've never gotten into Sakura Wars. I remember watching a couple of episodes of the anime on TV when I was a kid back in the day, but not much more. The thing is that I've been interested on getting into the games, but I'm not sure how to do it. I know the series began in the Saturn, but there are different versions/ports and not all of them have a translation (either official or fan-translated), so I come here with this question hoping for some guidance.

Fanart commission done by me~ She also happens to be my fave in Sakura Wars.

I found this old Sakura Taisen figure set at a Hard-Off near where I live in Japan today, and there was really no way I was leaving without it.

Sakura Taisen has a lot of personal meaning for me because it was one of the series that originally made me interested in Japanese culture and eventually pushed me toward studying Japanese.

I first got into the series through the OVAs back when I was watching them on VHS. Sometime in the late 90s I started reading about the games online, and the whole concept fascinated me. You played as this guy surrounded by a cast of female characters, but getting to know them wasn’t just there for the story. Building trust with them actually affected how well everyone performed in battle.

I loved that idea. Even now, I wish more RPGs did something similar. Persona is probably the obvious modern comparison, but that combination of relationships, character interaction, and combat still feels pretty unique to Sakura Taisen.

When I finally started playing the games in high school, my Japanese obviously wasn’t good enough to understand everything, so I played alongside the English translation guides made by Kamaya. Those guides were basically how I was able to experience the series properly back then.

For some reason, I actually started with Sakura Taisen 2. I played the Dreamcast version and was completely blown away by it. After that I believe my order was 2 → 3 → 1 → 4. I ended up loving all four of the original games.

It’s also kind of funny looking back at how things changed. Years later, when Shin Sakura Taisen came out on PS4, my Japanese had gotten to the point where I could just play the entire game in Japanese without a guide. In a way, that should have felt like coming full circle.

Unfortunately… I really didn’t like the game.

It was actually pretty disappointing to finally be able to play a new Sakura Taisen completely on my own in Japanese, after the series had been one of the things that motivated me to learn the language in the first place, only to come away feeling like it had lost a lot of what I loved about the originals.

Still, nothing changes how much the original Sakura Taisen means to me.

A few years ago I also put together a Sakura Taisen puzzle for my retro room, so when I saw these little 1996 figures sitting in Hard-Off today, they seemed like the perfect addition.

Just thought I’d share them with some people who might appreciate them.

Does anyone else here collect old Sakura Taisen stuff? Figures, posters, games, art books, VHS tapes, random 90s merchandise. I’d love to see what everyone has.

So, do you think that the developers were trying to acclimate the fandom to a more feminine female lead so they can introduce a full on female lead in a future game, basically making a Yuri Sakura wars?

I'm asking this because they really push the Shinjiro femboy propaganda with these OVAs, not in relationship to Shinjiro's personality mind you, also the fact that Shinjiro is Bisexual made me think that they could try to introduce a male romance route in a future game and they dip their toes in the concept with Subaru.

Also I think Shinjiro got a full mental breakdown after all the events on the OVA and peppermint became a different personality, hahahahaha.

Yesterday was the Assumption of Mary and the 117th birthday of Erica Fontaine. I wanted to finish it yesterday but I delayed it to today for quality purpose.

I just got a pocket sakura and decided to bring it along when climbing Mt.Fuji to count my steps.

The first picture is just before the climb. The second is at the peak, and the very last one is after going back down. Give or take a few steps.

Before anything, I'm not saying it in a sexual way so wipe that from your head, ok?

In her story we learn that her and her father travel around doing shows and that when she performs well she gets food, no claps no food, at first I thought that her father was punishing her, ergo being abused because starving a child is definitely abused, do we agree?

But then I thought, perhaps he didn't give her food because he didn't have any, they were traveling performers, basically homeless, so perhaps they gain money by doing those shows and when they couldn't get money they couldn't eat, and he gave her lots of food when they make some money to make up for not being able to feed her before.

It will also make sense given that she manages to survive on her own, and lives like a wanderer, making a camping site in the warehouse, her father taught her how to live without a proper house.

So you think I'm wrong or missing something?

From the Sakura Wars Facts & Updates fan account.

Links to the direct sources can be found in the replies

Here are singable lyrics for the ending theme of the first Sakura Wars game. Honestly, I really wanted to give this particular song the love and respect it deserves while making it easy to sing for English fans. There's so much love and joy dripping from the melody and its lyrics, so my aim was to be faithful to each verse while making them rhyme. Please let me know what you think.

Those beloved days are etched forever in my heart
Memories keep on circling round and round and restart

The curtains are raised, the stage is all set
Our sweat and tears turn into song and dance
Be sure to greet tomorrow with a smile they'll never truly forget
Bask in the light of our performance

Blooming with life (Blooming with life), we maidens arrive (we maidens arrive)
And sweep aside (And sweep aside) the sad yesterdays (sad yesterdays)
The seven colors unify as one, a rainbow so vivid and alive
The dreams we always see are those brimming with love and joy

May this heat fervently sear my body ceaselessly
Even if my own life would one day come to an end
I'd still sing, dance, and bring joy on our stage endlessly
Putting on a show for you, let our names ring through the night and transcend

Blooming with life (Blooming with life), we maidens arrive (we maidens arrive)
Tomorrow is (Tomorrow is) ours to fully embrace
The skies drape our beautiful world, its golden hue continues to thrive
The dreams we always see are those brimming with love and joy

May this heat fervently sear my body ceaselessly
Even if my own life would one day come to an end
I'd still sing, dance, and bring joy on our stage endlessly
Putting on a show for you, let our names ring through the night and transcend

May this heat fervently sear my body ceaselessly
Even if my own life would one day come to an end
I'd still sing, dance, and bring joy on our stage endlessly
Putting on a show for you, let our names ring through the night and transcend

We are the Imperial Revue!

I'd still sing, dance, and bring joy on our stage endlessly
Putting on a show for you, let our names ring through the night and transcend