Welcome!
Welcome to MaayaSakamoto.net! If you've been here before, then you've probably seen my old Dive page (which you can still find here). Thanks to my buddy Chris, this site has been given a complete facelift. :)

If you feel dropping a line, you can e-mail me at jason@maayasakamotoNOSPAMnet (replace "NOSPAM" with a period / dot).

Budokan Concert Sample Video,
Cover Song for New Tamayura Anime
It's been almost two months since I last posted any news, but thankfully there finally is some. Victor Ent. / flying dog posted a mini-site for Maaya's Budokan Concert video release. The promo site includes the set list, but most importantly a youtube video clip. More content should be added to the mini-site in the days leading up to the release, but in the meantime you can watch the sample video.

In other news, Victor Ent. also posted that Maaya will be performing the opening theme song for a upcoming anime OVA titled Tamayura. The song will actually be a cover of "Yasashisa ni tsutsumareta nara", which is the original ending song for the Kiki's Delivery Service anime movie.

Budokan Concert First Pressing Details
There are some additional details about Maaya's Budokan concert video release on her official site. Victor Ent. / flying dog will be including a 32 page photo book with the first pressing. A black gift box will enclose the photo book for the blu-ray release, and the dvd will include a white box. Both versions will also include a colored ribbon (pink, blue or gold) that can be wrapped around the video packaging to make it look like a present. I guess the ribbon makes it very easy to buy the concert disc as a gift, but this is one present I think almost all Maaya fans will buy for themselves.

Budokan "Gift" Concert DVD & Blu-ray
Victor Ent. / flying dog finally announced the video release of Maaya's Budokan concert on her official site. They will be releasing the concert on dvd and blu-ray in August. The entire concert play list of 24 songs will be included, as well as behind the scenes video. Here are catalog #s and CD Japan links for both disc formats. The blu-ray version is only ¥1,000 more than the dvd, so it's definitely worth the extra cost if you have a BD player (or plan to get one). It's also worth noting that the blu-ray version is region free according to CD Japan.

• Title: Maaya Sakamoto 15th Anniversary Concert "Gift" at Nippon Budokan [DVD]
• Catalog #: VTBL-11~12
• Release Date: 8/11/10
• Price: ¥6,300
• Preorder DVD from CD Japan

• Title: Maaya Sakamoto 15th Anniversary Concert "Gift" at Nippon Budokan [Blu-ray]
• Catalog #: VTXL-2
• Release Date: 8/11/10
• Price: ¥7,300
• Preorder Blu-ray from CD Japan

CD Giveaway Contest Conclusion
My Easy Listening cd giveaway contest is now over. Congrats to Ivan who won the cd, and thanks to everyone that entered!

Kentoushi Fune Saigen Project
Event & Theme Song "Utsukushii Hito"
Over the past weekend on May 8, there was an event for the Kentoushi Fune Saigen Project to celebrate the first ship departing Osaka, Japan and setting sail to China. Both Maaya and Yoko Kanno attended and performed the theme song "Utsukushii Hito". Here is an article about the event which also includes some pictures of Maaya and Yoko Kanno.

One of the attendees recorded part of the event using his iPhone and posted the video on the net. You can actually hear Utsukushii Hito being played on speakers at the 14:20 time mark. You can also see Maaya and Yoko Kanno take seats at 15:50 into the video. Here's a link to the original video posting and also an embedded version.

Video on Twitcasting.tv

One enterprising fan upsampled the audio part of the above video and posted a mp3 of the song, which is much easier to hear. You can still hear some of the other people talking, but it's still a lot better than listening to the song from the video.

Click here to download mp3

New Maaya and Yoko Kanno
Collaboration, Spring Anime Roles
Victor Ent. / flying dog posted news on Maaya's official site about her and Yoko Kanno working together on a new song. They will be producing the theme song for the Kentoushi Fune Saigen Project. This is a cultural project with the goal to rebuild ships used to transport envoys / emissaries between China and Japan during the Tang Dynasty. This seems like an odd job for Maaya and Kanno, but I'm looking forward to hearing the new song.

It's another new season of anime in Japan, and Maaya actually performs in two shows out this Spring. She voices the main female character, Nino, in Arakawa Under the Bridge. Nino is a peculiar, homeless girl that lives under a bridge. The second anime she's in is titled The Tatami Galaxy (Yojo-Han Shinwa Taikei). The plot for this show is fairly bizarre, so I won't even try to explain it (check the link for more info). Maaya voices a character named Akashi, and Funimation is simulcasting the show for the N. American market on their own web site and also on Hulu.

CD Giveaway Contest Update,
Budokan Concert Reports
It looks like I made the first trivia question for my Easy Listening Giveaway Contest too difficult as most entries have the wrong answer. Only a couple people have provided the correct answer, so I've decided to get rid of that question and make things easier. I've also extended the deadline to May 15, 2010. If you have already entered the contest, you do *not* need to e-mail another entry.

So what was Maaya's very first anime voice role? Back in 1992 she worked on an anime titled Little Twins and voiced the character of Chifuru. You can find more info about the anime on this site. Maaya was actually asked this same question during a panel when she attended Anime Expo 2005.

People have been posting their thoughts about Maaya's recent Budokan concert. Here are a couple blogs with lengthy reports that include lots of pictures.

• Ramblings of Darkmirage
• Super Noisy Rice Shower Goes Boom!!

Easy Listening CD Giveaway Contest
To celebrate Maaya's 15th anniversary and 30th birthday, I'm running a giveaway contest for a free copy her re-issued Easy Listening mini-album. I can't let the folks at Victor Ent. / flying dog have all the fun, right? Check out the link below on how to enter.

Contest Entry Page

On a different note, I've been reading some tidbits about Maaya's Budokan concert. Apparently there were lots of video cameras filming the event, which I think is a good sign of a possible dvd (and maybe blu-ray) release in the near future. Yoko Kanno also performed with Maaya for a couple songs during the concert. I'll post more info as I find it.

Funimation Licenses Kuroshitsuji
I have good news for Kuroshitsuji fans in North America. Funimation announced yesterday they have licensed the anime for R1 dvd. Maaya voiced the main character in the show (albeit a boy), Ciel Phantomhive. Funimation will be releasing the anime later this year under the alternate title Black Butler.

Today is also the eve of Maaya's BIG day. Well if you live in Japan it's already March 31st. In any case, Wednesday is her 30th birthday, Budokan concert and release of Everywhere. I also have a little surprise tomorrow for readers of my fansite, so stayed tuned!