I GOT IT!!!! the dvd box set & TIE!!!! / how 2 play region 2 DVDs

[i put the pen next 2 the box so u have something 2 compare it against, so u know how big it is]

[on the tie, right here, it does say "NOT FOR SALE" & some kinda washing instructions...]

i was not gonna buy it, but then i read 1 of toma's blog messages, & he was saying that ppl that buy the dvd, remember 2 take pics of yourself wearing the tie!! i didn't know it came with a tie! well, just the first press of the dvd comes with it.

the TIE!!!!!! the tie is the best part of the uniform, and i like ties in general!!! but i spent a couple days mulling over it....2 buy or not 2 buy?? in the end i did, and i checked right after i ordered, and it said "first press: sold out"! I BOUGHT THE LAST FIRST PRESS VERSION FROM CD JAPAN! wicked cool!!!!!

can't believe it took only 2 days (shipped 27, got 29) 2 get the dvd box set!! had 2 sign 2 forms 2 get the box, and it's so NICELY wrapped in a green tissue paper!! wah. the packaging is really nice. i first looked thru the photobook (nice!) and then tried 2 play the DVD.... i took some pics of the dvd box and tie 2 share with every1! =) also, scanned the nicest toma-related pics from the photobook that came with the dvd. (some of the color is messed up, my scanner does that sometimes. =/ ) http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd87/ilovetoma/Hanazakari%20No%20Kimitachi%20E%20dvd/

spent quite some time later trying 2 tie the tie. (i'm wearing it now!!) haha! i've never worn a tie in before in my life! read an online tutorial with pics and i messed up several times. gave up and looked for a video instructional thing on youtube. i messed up a couple more times be4 i got it. the windsor knot. now i know how 2 do it!! but i'll leave it already tied just in case. i printed out the crest of the uniform 2 stick on the only gray jacket i have 2 complete the uniform. looks authentic and pretty real!! took LOTS of pics of me in my "uniform". lol!! fun!!! i was so COLD while taking the pics though. anyway, i really love this tie!

( *___* nosebleed!! no, didn't get it from looking at toma's pics. haha.
i got it later that evening cuz seems like the weather is too dry and i mighta blown my nose too hard.
funny, how after watching hana kimi, nosebleeds/showers/wristbands remind me of nakatsu/toma!! lol. and also hamburgers and now shorts makes me think of him. haha!!!)

..................................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xizJ2KXq7Tg&sdig=1
[u can watch a commercial for the DVD box (part 1), which shows the DVD box, tie and photobook. thanks to Enchamien 4 the link!]

i encourage all hana kimi fans 2 buy the DVD box part 1 *IF* it's the first press!!!!
(if not, u can wait till later, when the price goes down. haha...)

cuz u'll absolutely love the tie and feel like u're a student at osaka gakuen! the DVD box part 2 comes with the nice crest that is on their uniform jacket. i'm not sure if it's got any extra DVD with special stuff... the first DVD box set, FIRST PRESS only, comes with the tie and 4th dvd with special features. i'm not sure if the photobook comes with the regular non-first press versions....but probably not. unfortunately, i've asked at yesasia.com and sensasian.com, and they both say the first press version is sold out. i went 2 these places be4 cdjapan.com. and when i got there, the dvd set part 2 FIRST PRESS was already sold out. who knew i'd be the last 2 buy the first press of the dvd box part 1???!!!

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-aa-49-en-70-2d7n.html
[this place might still have first press, since they still have the pic of the tie there and it's not as well-known as cdjapan or the other sites...but remember 2 ask them first be4 u buy if they have it or not!]

i did some research online about the buying options one has for hana kimi and other japanese videos, etc. if u don't live in japan/don't speak japanese....but it's a really long list and i don't want 2 take up too much room here, so i just uploaded that Notebook file here. u can read all about it HERE.
I HOPE THIS HELPS OUT PPL WHO R NEW TO BUYING JAPANESE MEDIA ONLINE, LIKE ME. =)


-------------------- YOU *CAN* WATCH REGION 2 DVDs WHERE U LIVE! =D--------------------------

u might be wondering how in the world would i watch the region 2 dvds (cuz i'm in the usa), in japanese even! well, i can't do anything about the japanese part....but i remember the dialogue of the cute toma scenes, which is a lot. haha.... and i'm trying 2 learn basic basic japanese.

and the region 2. well, there R ways 2 get around that.

this site teaches u various ways:
http://www.j-fan.com/edit.cgi?selected=dvd_region
[but about turning your PS2 into a region free dvd player.....my brother has an Action Replay Max CD that's supposed 2 do that, but he's never used that option, but when i tried, it won't play the dvd! and i looked online, and there's at least 1 other person who has the same problem. dunno if it only not works for region 2 dvd's?]

also, thanks to these dsoul.net members 4 teaching me more ways 2 watch region 2 dvd's no matter where u live:

jeffchen:
well what you need to look for is a "Region Free" dvd software, there are many region free dvd software available online and from the top of my memory cyberlink DVD only allows you to change you region settings only 3 times or somehing like that, the best is to look for a region free dvd playing software, look for VLC media player i think they are region free

hope this helps
................

ord0g:
Use DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink and rip the DVD to remove the region coding. Then burn it out again onto another DVD. Otherwise you can buy a region free DVD player to hook up to the TV, which are most on the market these days. Pioneer, Samsung, Philips, Toshiba are all brands that don't care about region code.

.............

i used the VLC player, but when playing, the video & audio is glitchy and the audio is a little messed up. it's almost impossible 2 try 2 watch it like that! but i tried doing what ord0g recommended, and i can watch it on my regular dvd player now!!!!!!!! YESSSSS!!!!!!!! IT'S SO COOL 2 SEE TOMA ON MY TV, AND THE VIDEO QUALITY IS PERFECT, SO SHARP!!!!
every1 that can see toma on their TV often or even in person at certain shows/events/concerts, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LUCKY U ARE!!!!!!!!