Kirakira (visual novel)

Kira☆Kira (キラ☆キラ) is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Overdrive and first released playable on a Microsoft Windows PC on November 27, 2007. An official English translation by MangaGamer was released in June 2009 only available via downloading on MangaGamer's website. A PlayStation 2 version published by PrincessSoft was released on February 26, 2009. A version of the game with all adult content removed was ported to the iPhone and iPod touch by M-Trix Inc. and was released on the App Store on November 20, 2009. In addition, a sequel called Kira☆Kira Curtain Call (キラ☆キラ カーテンコール) was released by Overdrive for the PC in August 2008.

Plot

The protagonists of Kirakira, Shikanosuke, Kirari, Sarina and Chie are the members of the second literary club (第二文芸部, daini bungeibu) at the Christian school Ohbi Gakuen. The club was set to be closed in next March so they try to set up a band they call the Second Literary Club Band (第二文芸部バンド, Daini Bungeibu Bando, shortened to d2b) to save the club. Their performance at the subsequent school festival succeeds with flying colors. That performance was put on the Internet where one of the live houses in Nagoya offered the band to put on a performance in Nagoya. They honestly want to disband after the performance at the school festival because they had to study for entrance exams or look for jobs, but they were convinced to go on a live tour by Yagihara, the vocalist of Star Generation. Shikanosuke's band d2b begins its live tour across Japan in an old van.

Kira-Kira

Kira-Kira is a young adult novel by Cynthia Kadohata. It won the Newbery Medal for children's literature in 2005. The book's plot is about a Japanese-American family living in Georgia. The main character and narrator of the story is a girl named Katie Takeshima, the middle child of the Japanese-American family. "Kira-Kira" (キラ キラ in katakana) means glittering or shining.

Plot summary

In the 1960s, Katie and her family live in Iowa, where her parents own a Japanese supermarket. When the family's store goes out of business, the family moves to an apartment in Georgia where Katie's parents work at a hatchery with other Japanese families. Katie's best friend is her older sister Lynn, whom Katie looks up to as the most intelligent person she knows, citing Lynn's ability to beat their Uncle Katsuhisa, a self-proclaimed chess grand master, at his own game as an example. Katie holds close to her heart the Japanese phrase "kira-kira", which Lynn taught her and they use to describe things that sparkle in their lives.

Beni (singer)

Beni Daniels (born March 30, 1986 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan), is a Japanese-American R&B recording artist, who debuted in 2004 under the Avex Trax label under the name Beni Arashiro (安良城 紅, Arashiro Beni). In 2008, Arashiro left Avex Trax and transferred to Universal Music Japan where she started to perform under the mononym, Beni (stylized as BENI).

She was initially best known for her 2004 single "Here Alone," though later singles after her move to Universal (such as "Mō Ichi do..." with Dohzi-T, "Mō Nido to..." and "Kiss Kiss Kiss") have surpassed this.

Life and career

Start of her career

Born in Okinawa she moved to California and then Yokohama. Her father is American of European descent, and her mother is Japanese. She was influenced by Namie Amuro, Alicia Keys and her father's favorite singer Janet Jackson. She graduated from Nile C. Kinnick High School in Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. She majored in Sociology at Sophia University.

From a young age she wanted to become a singer and because of her musical parents she took up piano. Because her parents were living overseas she was traveling between Japan and America a lot which exposed her to both Japanese as well as overseas music. When she was in Japan she participated in the Kokuminteki Bishōjo Contest the largest talent contest. She made it all the way to the finals. This was quite special since she had no formal training. When her demotape was seen by Avex Trax they were so impressed by her clear voice, natural beauty, and English pronunciation that they decided to sign her to the label and prepare her for a debut. She became a member of Bishōjo Club 31. Beni was the first from the group to pursue a solo career while being active as a member of the group. Her first solo single named "Harmony" was released on June 9, 2004. The song "Harmony" was a theme song for the Japanese drama Reikan Bus Guide Jikenbo.