Wayback Series - Urusei Yatsura

Prepare to get some nostalgic feels for this one!

So, it seems that Tanabata is really fun without a taste of a single dish of asagao sushi. Okay maybe a little one on these.

If you're going on a hot date on a cold rainy night, maybe you should talk about this one that is Urusei Yatsura. Yes, prepare to get rekt by electric shocks and a fire-breathing baby attack courtesy of Lum's infant cousin, Ten.

Yes my dear readers, before Ranma ½ , InuYasha, and the current anime Rin-ne, Urusei Yatsura is a teen comedy/Sci-Fi and romance anime that is written and illustrated by famed mangaka Rumiko Takahashi, and serialized from 1978 to 1987 (a year after the People Power Revolution) with a total of 34 tankobon volumes that has 374 individual chapters on them in Weekly Shōnen Sunday. And by of course, the anime makes some heavy usage of Japanese culture, puns, and notably culture. The series then later adapted into a anime series produced by Kitty Films and broadcasted by affiliates from Fuji Television on October 14th, 1981 to March 19th, 1986 with a grand total of 195 episodes in its resume. Later on, eleven original video animations (OVA) and six theatrical movies have followed, and it was later released on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray Discs in Japan. Urusei Yatsura then received positive reaction and reception from in and out of Japan from the fans and anime critics alike. The series received the coveted Shogakukan Manga Award in both the shōnen (Boys) and shōjo (Girls) category in 1981. And here's a catch, the TV anime of the series is credited with the introduction of the format of using pop songs as OP and ED themes in anime. And here's another one, the first new episode in more than 17 years was shown at the creator's exhibition, 'It's a Rumic World' in 2008.

The story begins with the Oni, an alien race that is arrived on Earth in order to invade it. But instead of taking over the planet by force, the Oni gives the humans a chance to fight for the rights to the planet, by taking part in a competition, by which is a variant of the the game of tag (or literally in Japanese, 'the game of the Oni'), in which a human player must touch the horns of the Oni player's head within one week. We meet a boy named Ataru Moroboshi, a lecherous, unlucky, and stupid high school student from Tomobiki-cho, and we meet the sexy Oni player named Lum, who is the daughter of Mr. Invader, the leader of the Invasion Force. Although despite his initial reluctance to take part of the competition, Ataru later becomes interested in the game when he meets Lum. Then, she surprises everyone by flying away and Ataru finds himself unable to catch her when the competition started. Just before the last day of the competition, Shinobu Miyake, Ataru's girlfriend, encourages him by pledging to marry him if he wins. Ataru then wins the game by stealing Lum's bikini top on the final day of the game, in which prevents her from protecting her horns in favor of protecting her own modesty. Ataru expresses his joy at being able to get married in celebration of his victory; Lum however, misinterprets this as a proposal from him, and accepts it on national television. She then falls in love with Ataru and moves into his home despite the misunderstanding.

Despite his lack of interest in Lum and in order to attempt to rekindle his relationship with Shinobu, Lum interferes frequently, resulting it in losing Shinobu's interest in Ataru. But still, Ataru's perverted and flirtatious nature persisted despite Lum's attention. She then attempts to stop him from flirting, which resulted in receiving a powerful electric shock attacks from her as punishment. There are two characteristics that Ataru had possessed: one, his perverted side and two, his bad luck that draws through him and all of the weirdos on the planet, the spirit world, and even the entire galaxy. Later on despite Ataru's objections, Lum begins to attend the school where Ataru had attended, and she develop a fan base of admirers among the boys of the school, including a boy named Shutaro Mendou, the handsome and the rich heir to a large corporation that all of the girls from Tomobiki-cho have a crush on. None of Lum's admirers will definitely risk upsetting her by trying to force her and Ataru apart, despite their romantic interest, but although this doesn't stop them from trying to get Ataru from being punished due to his bad behavior, and interfering every time they get close to him.

Some of the voice actors of the series are all indeed awesome for this iconic series. That includes Toshio Furukawa (Ataru), who is known for his roles in Mobile Suit Gundam (as Kai Shinden), Fist of the North Star (as Shin), Dragon Ball (as Gen. Blue and Piccolo), and One Piece (as Portgas D. Ace). Lum's voice actress, Fumi Hirano, is known for her career roles in Legend of the Galactic Heroes (as Dominique Saint-Pierre), MD Geist (as Vaiya in the Director's Cut version), and Is This a Zombie? (as Eucliwood Hellscythe). Hirano also voiced Cherry Jubilee in the Japanese dub version of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Shutaro's seiyuu, Akira Kamiya, is known for his roles in Fist of the North Star (as Kenshiro), The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (as Roy Focker), Detective Conan (as the first voice actor of Kogoro Mori until he is succeeded by Rikiya Koyama), and Kinnikuman (as the iconic Suguru Kinniku). The voice actress who played Shinobu, Saeko Shimazu, is known for her roles in her resume. That includes Sayako Kuroki in Maison Ikkoku, the dreaded sister of Tatewaki Kuno, Kodachi in Ranma ½, Four Murasame in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, the narrator in Magic Knight Rayearth, and Glycine Bleumer in the Sakura Wars franchise. Other voice actors starred in the series including Mayumi Tanaka (as Ryuunosuke Fujinami), Kappei Yamaguchi (as Kosuke Shirai in the new OVA), Shigeru Chiba (as the leader of Lum's Stormtroopers, Megane), Akira Murayama (as Perm), Issei Futamata (as the timid crybaby Chibi), and many more including Kenichi Ogata and Mami Koyama (as Ryoko's younger sis Ryoko).

Relive the comedic, romance, and the adventures that is Urusei Yatsura!

But before I close this Tanabata-themed article, I have good news for those who live in my hometown of Cainta, as well as for those who live in Rizal Province. The iconic image from Cebu, the Sto. Niño de Cebu, is coming, and urging the faithful parishioners (that includes me), to go and venerate the image in these selected parishes to which the image will visit. Therefore, I will dubbed the historic visit as the 'Sto. Niño de Cebu: The Rizal Province Tour'. According to the official site of the Diocese of Antipolo, other details will soon thereafter.

Cebu's 'Little Prince' is coming to your parish!

And here are the ten selected parishes and the locations where the Sto. Niño de Cebu will be visited:

- Wednesday to Saturday (July 22nd to the 25th): Antipolo - National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo Cathedral)

- Saturday to Sunday (July 25th to the 26th): Cogeo, Antipolo - Sto. Niño de Praga (Child Jesus of Prague) Parish

- Sunday to Tuesday (July 26th to the 28th): Brgy. Mayamot, Marcos Highway - Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus

- Tuesday to Wednesday (July 28th to the 29th): Concepcion, Marikina - Immaculate Conception Parish

- Wednesday to Thursday (July 29th to the 30th): San Mateo, Rizal - Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Aranzazu

- Thursday to Friday (July 30th to the 31st): Modesta, San Mateo, Rizal - Sto. Niño Parish

- Friday to Saturday (July 31st to August 1st): Sta. Elena, Marikina - Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned

- Saturday to Sunday (August 1st to the 2nd): Cainta, Rizal - Our Lady of Light Parish

- Sunday to Monday (August 2nd to the 3rd): Taytay, Rizal - St. John the Baptist Parish

- Monday to Tuesday (August 3rd to the 4th): Angono, Rizal - St. Clement Parish

And to remember these in three words: Mark your calendars for the historic visit!