Welcome, friends! To kick-off my official return to blogging I am going to be doing the month’s first Blogsphere Highlights. If you’re new to these posts, this is a space that I set aside to specifically spotlight other bloggers that I follow—from various subjects—and the content that they have created during the month thus far. It is just my way of trying to give back to the community that has given me so much support, whether professionally or personally.

August seems to be quite a fantastic month as there were so many amazing posts and content created! In an effort to showcase all the brilliant hard-work, there will be multiple posts from some bloggers, and each section has a decent chunk of things for you to check out and discover. I feel very excited to share all of these today, and I hope that you will take some time to pay these creators a visit and show them love that is very much deserved!

As per usual, everything is broken down into categories to make it easier to navigate. If you have any questions, or if you’re a blogger interested in showcasing your content, please drop me a line under Inquiries, and I’ll check out your stuff.

Books & Comics:

• Nandini at Unputdownable Books has two amazing posts that I absolutely adored. The first is the book review for The Psychology of Time Travel, and the second on is a Top 10 Tuesday where she does an Epic Book Mash-Up!
• Shruti at This is Lit has written a marvellous review for the poetry collection Yarn by Pragya Bhagat that merits a visit!
• Michel has done a fantastic book review for on of my favourite companion novels—Another S/0—to my favourite #OwnVoices Japanese Psychological Thriller, Another, both by Yukito Ayatsuji.
• Destiny @ Howling Libraries has created a unique spin on the TBR Hole bookish meme that is pretty cool and fun, and definitely worth checking out!
• The Comic Vault offers a profound post discussing the link between superpowers and dissociative identity disorder with the character Typhoid Mary.
• One of the coolest dudes I know started up his own comic blog, where he will be discussing comics from the 1970s to the 1990s, focusing on Spiderman, X-Men, Superman, and Batman. So, if you’re interested in learning about classic comics, or wanting to start reading comics from their roots, please go check him out and follow his blog!
• Dani over at the wonderful Touch My Spine Book Reviews has done a really neat post sharing some beautiful literary tattoos that all folks into body modifications and books should take a look at.

Anime, Manga, & Light Novels:

• Scott has written a highly contemplative post on why anime is important regardless of getting older. As someone who’s going to be 31 this year, and who has been an aficionado of anime for many years, this post resonated with me on a personal level. I feel it applies to anyone who has hobbies or interests that are construed to be “for youngsters” because this post shows that you’re never too old to enjoy things that make you happy.
• Luminous Mongoose has written a superb manga review for the boxing manga Saotome Senshu. The artwork alone is enough to get me interested, but this post shows us that the manga is about more than sports; it’s about the characters themselves and their struggles.
• Nefarious Reviews has shared with us a delightful review for the anime My Bride is a Mermaid, talking about the good things and the not-so-good things. It’s articulated so well!
• Irina, who is one of the best anibloggers in the community, has written a review for the anime Tōken Ranbu. It’s entertaining, well-written, discusses the positives with the short-comings in way that feels like she’s having a conversation with you, and is just overall quite fabulous. Check it out!
• Chloe, a.k.a. The Spooky Redhead, has created a super pleasant post about the grim reapers from the manga/anime series Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji).
• Karandi, who is another pillar in the anime community, has written a review for one of my favourite light novels, Kieli Volume 1. She expresses all of the things that make it good, and how volume one can be read as a stand-alone rather perfectly.

Films, Video Games, & Entertainment:

• Pete over at Moe Gamer has written a splendid article about Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride that focuses on fatherhood that is contemplative and an overall brilliant examination of a classic in Japanese gaming.
• Arthifis has written so many astounding posts this month, but my favourite is one where he discusses the lack of proper of representation of LGBTQIA+ characters in the JRPG, Persona 5, which is one of my favourite additions to the franchise. It helped me look at the game from a new perspective and be more appreciative of the fact that it is far from perfect.
• Kay over at KDrama Kisses has written a review for a South Korean drama series that I am currently obsessed with—Are You Human?—that I feel captured all of the beautiful aspects as well as the inadequacies of the series. If you’re a fan of K-Dramas and are in the market for a new series to watch, please read this amazing review.
• Another post from The Comic Vault, this time focusing on five iconic wrestling poses that have defined a generation. As a person who’s recently gotten into wrestling within the last year or so, I found this to be extremely insightful!

Travel, Mental Health, & Blogging:

• Mara talks about her daily life living in Japan and the important role that routine plays in life. I related to this post so much and felt it is jam-packed with wisdom that will help anyone who is struggling to find stability in their lives, or if stability is even the right fit for them right now.
• Karandi chats about balancing work life with hobbies and how it is far more complex than a set routine or schedule, and has more to do with personal conviction and the depth of your desires to keep enjoying your hobbies regardless of normal life’s demands.
• Another insightful post with something to learn from, particularly if you are a newer blogger or have struggled with writing reviews. Anushka has shared with us her take on the aspects that create a good review! Any current and potential reviewers should take a gander at it.
• Fravitch shares a mouth-watering recipe for a Japanese gluten-free chicken meatball soup! Since I’m a pescatarian, I’m thinking about trying it out with crab! If you want to try a new recipe, check this one out!
• Sam shares with us some of her favourite things about her time spent in Japan, one of which includes delectable donuts! Honestly, this post makes me quite impatient for my trip to Japan, whenever that finally happens. I shared it with my cousin, who currently resides in Japan, and he also agrees that everything in her post are things to treasure about the nation.
• The Flying Tofu brings us the super duper adorable Snoopy Town Shop in Hakata that is too damn cute to pass up.

Honorary Mentions:

I wanted to create a space for honorary mentions where I discover awesome new bloggers and posts that have content that may not be relative to the current month. This time I wanted to share Fred’s extensive and carefully crafted post on Depression, the different kinds, stigmas, and challenges. It is comprehensive, informative, personal, and wholeheartedly reflective.

Please do take some time to visit these bloggers! Once again, if you are a blogger interested in showcasing your content, please drop me a line under Inquiries, and I’ll check out your stuff and spotlight ya.

Thank you so much for visiting me today. Until next time, keep reading and keep otakuing. 💜

Hello, friends! If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me with a one-time Ko-Fi ($3) donation, so that I can pay for my medications, and for the maintenance and upkeep of the blog! I would greatly appreciate any ounce of support you could provide. Thank you. 🖤