RajiRom Brunch Vol. 1
Shoeisha SECD-2001
4800 yen
released 1998.01.29

This was the first of a year long monthly series of Seiyuu CD-ROM shows
called "RajiRom"  There are six separate RajiRom series, named after
different times in the day, ranging from Morning to Midnight.  The
series featuring Toyoshima Machiko is titled Brunch.  Currently, the
CD-ROM is only sold in Windows 95 format, but the audio tracks of the
CD can also be played with a normal CD player.

The CD-ROM also comes with a nice picture of Machiko in the studio,
with her co-host "Sugar", with a handwritten message from Machiko
written on the back:

"Welcome to RajiRom Brunch!  Please spend a pleasent brunchtime with me."

(some stores selling this CD also gave away a poster with the picture
used on this card.  I hear there will be a new picture and poster every
month...)

Running the program brings up a graphic set resembling a television set.
On the side there is a control panel that allows users to select from
one of the eight "tracks" on this program.  Along the bottom is a marquee
that occasional scrolls messages from Machiko along with the program.
(This is probably the only part that won't work right on non-Japanese OS)

Most of the channels are just audio, with occasional pictures flashed on
the screen.  But the "Machiko to Sugar no Kore ga Oki ni Iri" channel is
a full-motion Quicktime movie.
(this movie doesn't seem to play very well outside of the RajiRom
program.  I wonder if that is by design...)

The vocal tracks are roughly 50 minutes total.

Opening
-------
Machiko has a talk with...some guy.  (^_^;)
They talk about what comes before breakfast and lunch.  Machiko has
the "bu" part right, but has a difficulty time coming up with the correct
word, without the help of a dictionary.

Then some pictures from the studio, which is decorated as a kitchen where
one might be eating brunch, flash on the screen, as Machiko introduces us
to RajiRom Brunch.  She says that she's done radio before, but this is
the first time she's done a CD-ROM series.  The main difference is that
with this, they are able to display images.  Machiko says she's used to
speaking, but she's not very good at being on camera. so she's a little
nervous.

Otayori Corner da yo!
---------------------
Machiko says that even though this is the first time, she already has
letters.  The first one was from a fan who said that he didn't have a
computer, but said that his old brother had a Mac, so he would get him
to tape the contents for him to listen to.  Machiko said that this was
Windows software, and that it couldn't be played on a Mac.  But the
tracks on this CD would also work on a normal CD player, so he could
listen to it even without a Windows computer.

The next letter was from a jukensei (student cramming for exams) asking
for some encouragement.  Machiko said she remembers those times, and
told them to try their best.

The next person had sent in a postcard with a drawing of Machiko, which
was shown on the screen.  Machiko said that when she received
illustrated postcards on her radio shows, she never knew of a good way
to convey them to the listeners, so she's very happy to be able to show
them directly to the users with the CD-ROM.  She's waiting for more...

The last letter was from someone who had recently purchased Sentimental
Graffiti Live CD.  Fans were chanting "Manami!" (Machiko plays a
character named Sugihara Manami in Sentimental Graffiti)  He wondered
whether Machirin prefers to be called by her name or her characters
name at times like this.  Machiko says either is fine, but normally
(when she's not doing a character) she prefers to be called "Machirin"
or "Toyoshima-san" or such, but during a Sentimental Graffiti event
either is fine, as she's just happy to hear her name being called.

Machiko no Brunchtime
---------------------
Machiko explained what "brunch" was, sort of like a late-morning
breakfast.  Machiko said that she actually ate "brunch" much of the
time, as she usually ate too late for it to be considered breakfast.

This portion was kind of like a cooking show, as Machiko prepared
various kinds of brunch.  This was a specialty of one of the members
of the staff, "Sanshoku Toast"  This was three different kinds of
toast, prepared separately, but served at once.  The screen
showed various stages of preparation, showing the ingredients,
and parts of cooking.  Machiko made French Toast, Bacon Toast, and
Egg Toast.  

[I should try this someday...as soon as I find a frying pan.  ^_^;]

Machiko asked for either other brunch recipes, or restaurants that
had good brunch items for future RajiRom Brunch shows.

Kongetsu no Oshirase
--------------------
This is the corner for giving information on Shoeisha and Toyoshima
Machiko news.

On February 26th, Shoeisha is releasing Ayakaji Ningen for the Sega
Saturn.  There were various pictures from this game shown on the
screen, as well as for the March 26th game Princess of Darkness for
the Playstation.

As for Machiko, she said that the game Sentimental Graffiti had
already been released...probably.  (^_^;)

[The games release had been delayed many times before, so Machiko
wasn't entirely confident that the January 22nd release date would
be met...]

Machiko no Digital Theater
--------------------------
This was a drama called "Akanai Ninki" (The diary that wouldn't
open)  This was augmented by various pictures shown on the screen.

Today, the character had found a diary from long ago, three years
ago.  She remembered that this was the diary where she wrote her
thoughts from when she was going out with that person.  She tried
to remember where the key was to open the diary.  She thought
back to what was in the diary, all the thoughts she had from that
time.  All the things she wanted to say to that person, but
couldn't.  Back then, she couldn't ask the things she wanted, or
say "I want to see you" when she wanted to see him.  She wrote
all of those things like, "It would have been better if I had
cried." or "I wish I had said this..."

She wondered if she couldn't open the diary anymore.  She tried
very hard to find the key, but she couldn't find it.  She recalls
they broke up after only a year together.  So this diary was a
fossil of those times (?)  She tried to resolve herself that she
couldn't open the diary, but she kind of wanted to meet herself
from three years ago once again.  She says shes become a lot more
"sunao" over those three years.  She wonders what she should do
with this diary she can't open.  Throw it away?  After all, it
won't open anymore.  But...she couldn't throw it away, and she
point it back in her desk, where it sleeps today.

Machiko asked how the play was.  Machiko said that the pictures
that showed up in the Digtal Theater were taken by Machiko with
a digital camera.  And this episode was written Machiko as well.

"Fiction?  Nonfiction?  I'll leave it up to you to decide."

Machiko asked for comments on this Digital Theater, as well as
ideas, pictures, or even stories to use for future Digital
Theaters.

Machiko to Sugar no Kore ga Oki ni Iri
--------------------------------------
This part is a three-minute full-motion video, dedicated to
things Machiko is interested in.  It cannot be played on a
normal CD player.

She introduced her friend Sugar, a small white rabbit, for
whom Machiko did the voice.

[if she is actually doing ventriloquism for this, she is
very good!]

Machiko pointed at a shoe on the table, and asked Sugar
what it was.  Sugar said, "It's a shoe"  Machiko said yes,
but it's a very special shoe.  Sugar said, "Oh it's an
Air Max."

Machiko thought these shoes were very cool and wanted them
very much.  She said they are very easy to run and exercise
in.  But since Sugar is a rabbit, he doesn't need shoes to
hop around...

Machiko asked Sugar to guess how she got these shoes.
Sugar had something bad in mind...but Machiko had gotten
them by mail order.  Sugar said, "So it came from America?"
Machiko said that all Air Max come from America!

Sugar wasn't impressed, he would have preferred caviar.
Machiko started to pout...Sugar said, "It's just shoes!"
Machiko tried to explain, but Sugar wouldn't listen, and
ended the segment himself.

Omake Corner
------------
Since this is the introduction, this month they introduced the
staff.  The audio was accompanied by pictures of the staff.

Producer   :Masa-san
Director   :Nikumara-san
Mixer      :Ihara-san
Cameraman  :Makita-san
            Machiko has done a lot of work with many of these
            people already.  Makita-san has been involved in
            many of the photo shoots Machiko has done.
Hair       :Yoshimi-san
Friend     :Sugar.  She was the one who decided to bring him
            along...but today she regrets it.  (^_^;)  Machiko
            had some less than complimentary things to say
            about him, then asked Sugar for a comment, to which
            he replied, "Why are you saying these things about
            me?"  Machiko isn't sure she'll bring him next
            month...
Manager    :Akiba-san.  When Machiko graduated from Aoni Juku,
            it was Akiba-san who decided that Machiko could
            enter Aoni Pro.  Machiko said, "He's such a nice
            person!"
Personality:Toyoshima Machiko.  She said it was strange to
            introduce herself at the end...but explained her
            job a little.

Ending
------
Machiko said that the preparation for the Digital Theater took
a lot of time, but everything came off as a "homemade" show, so
Machiko was pleased with the results.  Machiko was waiting for
everybodys opinion.  She then gave the address for sending
postcards, and the URL for the RajiRom webpage.

[The zip code that Machiko said and what showed up on the screen
were different.  But the producer said that the one printed on
the screen was correct.]  She said that while the Otayori corner
was short this time, it would much bigger from now on.

Until next month...sayonara!

My Thoughts
-----------
This CD-ROM is a lot of fun!  It's very nice to see a whole 50
minutes of programming dedicated to Machiko, and she is
talented enough in so many areas to make everything interesting.

Joe Petrow--joepet@server.berkeley.edu--http://server.berkeley.edu/~joepet
/------------\   Kimi ni ageyou  oozora tobu tsubasa wo    /-------------\
|    chi     |    Mou kowakunai ashita he to tobitatou     |  Toyoshima  |
|  Ma   rin  |     Sou kokoro wo jiyuu ni tokihanatou      |   Machiko   |
\------------/Mou nakanaide hitori ja nai da kara nigenaide\-------------/