[Cpl_Crud]

Lucky ☆ Star (らき☆すた)
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life

oha~ Lucky!
This is Level E (the WinD TL for this series) and I have taken over this thread
This thread will serve as a FAQ to Lucky ☆ Star and any references and notes, I've made that may or may not have made it into our subs.

First off, What is Lucky ☆ Star?
Lucky ☆ Star is a 4koma written by Yoshimizu Kagami (美水かがみ).
The strip like various other 4koma does not have a plot, but focuses on the social observations made by the characters throughout their daily lives.

Kadokawa Shoten publishes Lucky ☆ Star in various mediums. It is primary serialized in Comptiq, but also appears in Shōnen Ace, Comp Ace, Newtype, Dragon Magazine, From Gamers, Mobile Newtype, and Kadokawa Hotline.

Currently there are four manga books, a Drama CD, a mini-Vocal Album, and a Nintendo DS Game Moe Drill which is a spoof off the game Brain Age. A second DS game, Moe Drill: Journeys will be released in May of 2007.

Many of the characters attended Ryou Ou Gakuen (陵桜学園) which the school itself is a spoof of the High School the author went to. Both schools (fictious and actual) are located in the city of Kasukabe in the Saitama Prefecture. Kasukabe is written as 糟日部 in the anime, however, 春日部 is how it is actually written.

Washinomiya Shrine (left), and the Kasukabe JR Train Station (right)


See Kasukabe Kyoei High School


This picture seen after the OP is the mascot of the Kasukabe Kyoei Swim Team.

[Level E]

Character Profiles

This post will be updated as the characters are introduced in the anime.

• Izumi Konata (泉 こなた)
  
  
  Birth Date: 05/28
  Blood Type: A
  Dominant Hand: ambidextrous
  Family: Father, ★Eldest Daughter
  Hobbies: Games, Anime, Reading (manga)
  Likes: Choco Cornet, Moe
  Dislikes: Mozuku (type of seaweed), Sport Programs
  Fav. Color: Red, Black
  Strong Subject: Physical Education (but doesn't mean she likes it)
  Weak Subject: Any of the sciences
  Class: 3-B
  Occupation: High School Student, CosPlay Cafe (part-time)
  
  Konata goes around life at a "my pace," and gets bored easily when a subject doesn't interest her. Nonetheless when motivated, she shows a remarkable sign of intellect. She's an experienced Martial Artist and is very athletic; however, these abilities rarely find use as she rather spend her time dwelling in her hobbies. Konata plays a variety of video games from your MMORPGS, Ero/Gal games, Fighting and even quizzes. Physically she is very short with long blue hair fully equipped with an elongated Ahoge and has a mole just under her left eye. Her height has not change since she was in sixth grade. Konata surprisingly is good at housework since her mother passed away when she was very young.
  
  
  
  
• Hiiragi Tsukasa (柊 つかさ)
  
  
  Birth Date: 07/07
  Blood Type: B
  Dominant Hand: Left
  Family: Father, Mother, Eldest, Second, Third, ★Fourth Daughter
  Hobbies: Cooking (House work)
  Likes: Sweet thing (especially fruits like Melons), new things
  Dislikes: Green Peppers, Occult, Horror
  Fav. Color: White
  Strong Subject: Home Economics
  Weak Subject: Physical Education
  Class: 3-B
  Occupation: High School Student, Miko
  
  Tsukasa is your normal girl with average grades, however, she may appear dumber then she really is as she is very clumsy and forgetful. She easily gets carried away by the mood set by the other characters. Yet, she is always smiling as if there's a warm sun existing in her heart; she is your stereotypical "good girl." However, seeing that she has adapted well to Konata's boke, she might be quite tough mentally. While they may not look alike, Tsukasa is Kagami's younger fraternal twin sister.
  
  
  
  
• Hiiragi Kagami (柊 かがみ)
  
  
  Birth Date: 07/07
  Blood Type: B
  Dominant Hand: Left
  Family: Father, Mother, Eldest, Second, ★Third, Fourth Daughter
  Hobbies: Reading, Games
  Likes: Sweets (especially chocolate pastries)
  Dislikes: Shell fish, weight scale
  Fav. Color: Violet, Black
  Strong Subject: English
  Weak Subject: Home Economics
  Class: 3-C
  Occupation: High School Student, Miko
  
  Kagami is Tsukasa's older fraternal twin. Her grades are topnotch unlike her sister. In her first year, she was the Class President which where she met with Miyuki. While she is in a different class, she often comes by to visit her sister meeting with Konata. Since both she and Konata share the same interest in games, they get along quite well. However, Kagami is busy everyday being the only character to point out the errors in Konata's bokes. Kagamin, as often lovingly called by Konata, is in constant battle with the weight scale. Unfortunately, she is weak will when it comes to sweets. Unable to cook well either, Konata has labeled her the consumption half of the twins. Despite her aggressive demeanor, she gets embarrassed easily and is quite lonely that she doesn't have a friend who shares her interest in Light Novels, hence in Konata-terms, she's a Tsundere.
  
  
  
  
• Takara Miyuki (高良 みゆき)
  
  
  Birth Date: 10/25
  Blood Type: O
  Dominant Hand: Left
  Family: Father, Mother, ★Eldest Daughter
  Hobbies: Reading, Simple games that require thought
  Likes: Egg custard, Japanese confectionery, Studying (gaining knowledge)
  Dislikes: Raw fish, Doctors (especially dentists)
  Fav. Color: Orange
  Strong Subject: None in particular
  Weak Subject: None in particular
  Class: 3-B
  Occupation: High School Student, Class President
  
  Konata and Tsukasa's classmate. Beautiful, well mannered, intelligent, she is the perfect model student. She also comes from a wealthy family, already starting on the winning side of life. To make things worst, her flaws aren't really flaws - she's a living, breathing, lethal weapon of Moe. While she loves to learn, even with her vast knowledge, she has problems keeping up with Konata's conversations.
  
  
  
  
• Kuroi Nanako (黒井 ななこ)
  
  
  Birth Date: 02/08
  Blood Type: O
  Dominant Hand: Left
  Family: Father, Mother, ★Eldest Daughter
  Hobbies: Watching sports with a beer in her hand, Games (perhaps she plays as she watches?)
  Likes: Edamame, Lotte
  Dislikes: Shiitake mushrooms, half-ass extra innings, temporary server downs due to maintenance
  Fav. Color: White
  Strong Subject: World History
  Weak Subject: English
  Class: 3-B's homeroom teacher
  Occupation: World History Teacher
  
  Kuroi is the World History teacher and homeroom teacher for Konata's class. Optimistic and carefree, she is one of those friendly teachers you'll see at any school. In fact, she is often on the internet, even playing in the same MMORPG with Konata. She's an avid baseball fan of the Chiba Lotte Marines. For some reason she speaks with a fake-Kansai accent and was thrilled when Kagami asked her if she was from Kansai after 3 years with no one asking her that very question.
  
  
  
  
• Narumi Yui (成実 ゆい)
  
• Kobayakawa Yutaka (小早川 ゆたか)
  
• Iwasaki Minami (岩崎 みなみ)
  
• Kasakabe Misao (日下部 みさお)
  
• Minegishi Ayano (峰岸 あやの)
  
• Kogami Akira (小神 あきら)
  
  
  Birth Date: 02/14
  Blood Type: O
  Dominant Hand: Right
  Family: Father, Mother, ★Eldest, Second Daughter
  Hobbies: Games, Karaoke
  Likes: Liver Sashimi
  Dislikes: Nothing in particular
  Fav. Color: Blue
  Strong Subject: Nothing in particular
  Weak Subject: Nothing in particular
  Class: Private school Mashiro Intermediate division 3-A
  Occupation: Super-idol!, Radio Personality, Captain of the Lucky☆Channel, Middle School Student
  
  ...will be added later
  
  
  
  
• Shiraishi Minoru (白石 みのる)
  
  
  Blood Type: AB
  Occupation: Akira-sama's Assitant, Seiyuu
  Abilities: わ、ＷＡＷＡ..., 谷口属性
  
  
  
  
• Patricia Martin (パトリシア=マーティン)
  
• Tamura Hiyori (田村 ひより)
  
• Yasaka Kou (八坂 こう）
  
• Miyakawa Hinata (宮河 ひなた)
  
• Miyakawa Hikage (宮河 ひかげ)
  
• Sakuraba Hikaru (桜庭 ひかる)
  
• Amahara Fuyuki (天原 ふゆき)
  
• Nagamori Yamato (永森 やまと)
  
• Izumi Soujiro (泉 そうじろう)
  
• Izumi Kanata (泉 かなた)
  
• Takara Yukari (高良 ゆかり)
  
• Hiiragi Tadao (柊 ただお)
  
  
  Family: ★Father, Mother, Eldest, Second, Third, Fourth Daughter
  Occupation: Priest
  
  
  
  
• Hiiragi Miki (柊 みき)
  
  
  Family: Father, ★Mother, Eldest, Second, Third, Fourth Daughter
  
  
  
  
• Hiiragi Inori (柊 いのり)
  
  
  Family: Father, Mother, ★Eldest, Second, Third, Fourth Daughter
  Occupation: Miko
  
  
  
  
• Hiiragi Matsuri (柊 まつり)
  
  
  Family: Father, Mother, Eldest, ★Second, Third, Fourth Daughter
  Occupation: College Student
  
  
  
  
• Kobayakawa Yuki (小早川 ゆき)
  
• Narumi Kiyotaka (成実 きよたか)

[Level E]

Opening 01: もっていけ！セーラー服
Take it away! My Sailor Uniform

• Before the OP
  

  Quote

  さぁ、始めるざますよ
  行くでがんす
  フンガ～
  
  Is a parody of the anime: Kaibutsu-kun / 怪物くん ('80s remake ver - Originally aired in '68).
  
  Here's the YouTube of the OP.
  Here is a pretty well known spoof to that OP: Hokuto no Kaibutsu-kun!
  * If you're interested in what anime the spoof is created from, see Fist of the North Star / 北斗の券.
  
  
  
• Various scenes in the OP and the last cut in the OP reference several places in Kasukabe city.
  
  
  See post #1 for more.
  
  
  
• The Lucky☆Star title scene can be taken as a spoof of the The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya / 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱's title screen.
  
  
  
• Ultraman /　ウルトラマン
  When Konata is posing to get her photo taken with Kagami, Tsukasa, and Miyuki (right before the other character butt-in), she does the famous Specium Ray pose
  

[Level E]

Episode 01: つっぱしる女
Running Girl

• Foods tidbits:
  
  Mont Blanc
  Early in the episode Konata asks Miyuki when does she eat the strawberry off her short cake. In that same segment, Konata also asks her the same question with the chestnut off a Mont Blanc. Since this dish was the only one not shown out of the pastries, for those that are interested, you can see what it is here.
  
  
  Relative Bowl
  When Tsukasa puts mayonnaise into her chicken bowl she calls it the Relative Bowl.
  There is a reason for this. In Japan, Rice Bowls (丼 / Don) do have cutesy names.
  
  Ex:

  
  Oyako-don / 親子丼
  Oyako-don is made with chicken, eggs, and rice. Oyako literally means parent and child (the chicken and the egg).
  
  Tanin-don / 他人丼
  Tanin-don is made with beef, eggs, and rice. Since the beef has no relation to eggs, they are strangers (Tanin), thus the name Tanin-don.
  
  Shinseki-don / 親戚丼
  This one doesn't exists. Tsukasa just made up the name here. Her reasoning is since mayo is made from egg yolk, it's related to the chicken and the egg, thus are relatives.
  

  
  
  Sauce / ソース
  During the food conversation, sauce is mentioned several times. The sauce the girls are referring to is Worcester sauce.
  
  Natto / 納豆
  This is a Japanese dish using fermented soybeans. It's very healthy!
  Apparently, the Seiyuu (Voice Actor) for Tsukasa, Fukuhara Kaori, tried mixing natto with mayo as her role in Lucky☆Star suggested. Her response? It's really good, everyone should try it!
  
  Yakitori / 焼鳥
  Is a grilled skewered chicken. It is very popular in Japan, especially at bars.
  
  Yakiniku / 焼肉
  Is a style of cooking where you grill several bite size meat slices on a griddle or a BBQ. It is very similar to Korean BBQ.
  
  Negitanshio / ねぎタン塩
  What is it? It's Salted diced onions on a cow tongue. It's a popular dish when eating at a Yakiniku-ya
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Japanese
  
  
  つっぱしる / Tsuppashiru
  The title of this Episode was Tsuppashiru Onna / つっぱしる女 (Running Girl).
  Tsuppashiru has the connotation of going ahead quickly without thinking things through as well.
  
  お邪魔します/ Ojyamashimasu
  This saying is a custom greeting when entering someone's home. It literally means "Sorry to be bothering you."
  
  萌え / Moe
  What is Moe? That is a tough question as everyone has their own interpretation of the term. Instead of defining what this is, I suggest reading the Wikipedia entry, this translation of the Author of Love Hina's interpretation, or this post on AnimeSuki and decide for yourself.
  
  ドジッ娘 / Dojikko
  眼鏡っ娘 / Meganekko
  天然 / Tennen
  
  All three are Moe Attributes. Dojikko basically is a klutz. A meganekko is simply a girl who wears glasses (megane / 眼鏡). Tennen is short for Tennen Boke / 天然ぼけ which refers to a person who is naturally prone to silly mistakes. In the AnimeSuki link above, I suggest to follow Sushi-Y's post to see some other examples of Moe Attributes.
  
  ボケ / Boke
  フォロー/ Follow
  ツッコミ / Tsukkomi
  
  Boke, in this case, means a silly or stupid comment made by a person. It is usually delivered as an innocent misunderstanding of the situation given. After the Boke usually a Tsukkomi or Follow is made. A Tsukkomi is a statement made to correct and point out the error of the Boke to set things straight. A Follow is a follow-up statement either in agreement or supporting the Boke. In Lucky☆Star, Kagami is in the role of the Tsukkomi, and with her being sick in this episode, the Boke and Follows were in an endless loop as seen in the Food tidbit and during Miyuki's visitation.
  
  ヒキコモリ / Hikikomori (Closed-in)
  “Closed in” (hikikomori) is a psychological problem where young adults who have chosen to withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement due to various personal and social factors in their lives.
  
  Ero-Ge, Gal-Ge, and H-Games
  
  Ero games are games with erotic scenes. Gal games are dating sims. Both are usually in the form of a Visual Novel. Both are also usually referred bishōjo game (美少女ゲーム). As for H-Games... Pornographic bishōjo games are often cataloged as "hentai games" in the Western cultures. However, this term is usually not used in the Japanese language. In Japan, they are usually called ero-games, or frequently eroge. Why the difference? Hentai /　変体 actually means abnormal in Japanese. I don't think I can explain it better than kj1980 did in this post.
  
  
  
  
• Sign: Yoshimizu Optometry
  When Konata and Tsukasa see Miyuki walking back and forth in front of the Eye Examiner's office, Miyuki bumps into the office's sign. Yoshimizu is the author of Lucky☆Star.
  
  
  
• The foreigner Konata saves Tsukasa from is Guile from Street Fighter 2
  
  
  
• Lucky☆Channel!
  What is the Lucky Channel? It's a advertising vehicle used to promote various Kadokawa merchandise. It had its own corner in Comptiq, a radio show, and now a TV show
  
  
  
• Ending Karaoke
  1976 – Uchû Tetsujin Kyodain (宇宙鉄人キョーダイン) OP: (YouTube)

[Level E]

Episode 02: 努力と結果 (Part 1 of 2)
Effort and Results

Japanese Terminology used

御馳走様 / Gochisousama
Saying this after finishing your meal is a custom in Japan.
It's more or less means "Thank you for treating me."

地鎮祭 (じちんさい) / Jichinsai
Kagami's father is a Shinto priest. He was away earlier in the episode to preform a ground-breaking ceremony which is a ceremony to calm the god of the land before any construction is done beforehand.

にらめっこ / Niramekko

Niramekko is a children's game. It's a staring contest but one is suppose to make the others laugh by making faces. Before the contest begins, this song below is usually sung (but it is common that the first line is cut). This is why, Konata said "ah, pu, pu" before making her face.

Quote

だるまさん、だるまさん、にらめっこしましょ
笑うと負けよ、あっぷっぷ

TL:
Daruma-san, Daruma-san, Let's have a staring contest.
If you laugh, you will lose, ah, pu, pu.

五月病 / Gogatsubyou

The May Blues are experienced by college freshmen or workplace recruits shortly after beginning school or work. The reason for May is in Japan, the new school year and fiscal year starts in April.

一粒で二度美味しい / Hitotsubu de Nido Oishii
"Enjoying the same gain twice" is a proverb which means another way to enjoy something.

特撮 (とくさつ) / Tokusatsu
Tokusatsu is a genre of films of TV shows whose main attraction are in their Special Effects (SFX). Godzilla, Ultraman, Power Rangers, and Mask Rider are some examples of this genre. The ending Karaoke that Konata so passionately sings in this episode and the previous are from popular Tokusatsu TV shows from the '70s.

コンプ祭り / Compu-matsuri
The Comptiq Festival is an actual fair. Here's an ad from the Winter 2006 one.

ラノベ　・　ライトノベル / L. Novels　・　Light Novels
Light Novels are novels whose primarily audience are young adults. Light Novels are popular choices for anime and manga adaptation. Some examples are Full Metal Panic!, Record of Lodoss Wars, Suzumiya Haruhi, Slayers, Vampire Hunter D, etc.

[Level E]

Episode 02: 努力と結果(Part 2 of 2)
Effort and Results

• The plush toys from the Crane Game are from Keroro Gunsou
  
  
  
• The Light Novel Kagami was reading before Konata calls her for homework was
  Full Metal Panic Vol. 17: The Blazing One-Man-Force / 燃えるワン・マン・フォースISBN 4829117931
  
  
  
• Love's Apron (恋のエプロン and 愛のエプロン)
  Well, there was a show called Koi no Apron which was based off the reality cooking TV show Ai no Apron (JP Wiki). Neither were Dramas so they're probably unrelated to what Kagami was watching...
  
  But!! The man with the red wash basin over his head (赤い洗面器の男) who came out at the finale of the drama Kagami was watching does have a reference. This is a running gag in the playwright Mitani Koki's works. Several references are made to that character, yet before anyone can explain why the man has a red wash basin on his head, they are interrupted in one way or another.
  
  
  
• The man on TV (Day 3 of the break) has a reference as well. It is a parody of the comedian Hiroshi - YouTube Clip
  
  
  
• 太鼓の達人 playing ハレ晴レユカイ
  
  Did you also notice the Ribbon and Ahoge on the characters on screen? (up Konata, down Tsukasa )
  
  
  
  
• Virtua Fighter
  
  
  
• The YPR on shirt of the first guy Konata beats - YouTube
  
  
  
• This was the issue of Comptiq Konata is reading
  
  
  
• Dentist Scene 1
  When the dual drill dentist appears, Konata mumbles: Change Getter! / 真ゲッター (#2 had a drill) YouTube
  
  
  
• Dentist Scene 2
  When Konata imagines the Dentist attacking the Monster, she yells: Dinosaur Empire! / 恐竜帝国 which is the nemesis of Getter Robo / ゲーターロボ
  
  
  
• Dentist Scene 3
  The Space Ship sequence is from Gunbuster / トップをねらえ！ OP: Active Heart
  
  
  
• Drama CD bit: The TV cast for Lucky☆Star drastically changed from its earlier Drama CD and DS game release. This bit was poking fun at themselves.
  
  
  
• When Tsukasa and Kagami were guessing what type of job Konata had, at the book store there was a banner for Shuffle's Sia
  
  
  
• Lucky☆Channel
  When Shiraishi Minoru introduces himself, he goes: わ、ＷＡＷＡ...　
  
  Minoru who plays himself is the Seiyuu of Taniguchi-kun / 谷口くん (Kyon's classmate in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). This phrase was immortalize because of this YouTube clip 谷口の忘物
  
  
  
• Ending Karaoke
  1975 - Akumaizer 3 (アクマイザー３) OP YouTube

[Level E]

Episode 03: いろいろな人たち
Various Types of People

• Sausage and Eggs
  二卵性双生児 Niransei Souseiji = Biovular Twin-birth (fraternal twins)
  一卵性双生児 Ichiransei Souseiji = Monovular Twin-birth (identical twins)
  
  In both Niran/ichiransei the kanji for ran is tamago (卵) which is egg (or ovaries in this case).
  Souseiji (Twin-birth / そうせいじ) is spell and pronounced similar as sausage if written in Katakana characters: ソーセージ
  
  Hence the pun.
  
  
  
• ManaKana
  Mikura Mana and Kana are actresses. They often appear together and are referred to as ManaKana / マナカナ. At birth they were determined to be fraternal twins, but on the variety program The World�'s Shocking News!, DNA tests showed they were identical by 99.999 999 999 999 4%.
  
  
  
• Ladybug Samba
  When Konata was looking at the postcard she received from her cousin Yui, she mumbles Tentoumushi no Sanba (Ladybug Samba / てんとう虫のサンバ). This is a very popular wedding song in Japan. ( sample )
  
  
  
• Wedding Talk 01
  When the Konata, Miyuki, and Tsukasa were talking about the types of wedding dresses, Konata makes several references to Wedding Peach. "Yume ga Ippai, FURIL Ippai" is a line in one of the OPs, and Angel Salvia and Daisy are characters from the series.
  
  FURIL is the Seiyuu group consisting of the three main girls who sang several of the Wedding Peach songs.
  
  
  
• Wedding Talk 02
  Later in the same conversation Konata goes off on a tangent again. When she talks about the tough choice between choosing a wealthy daughter and your childhood friend, she was making a reference to the choice you had to make in the game Dragon Quest V (the series was called Dragon Warrior in the USA). In the game, a noble requests for a warrior to get two magic rings. The one to get both rings could marry his daughter. However, during that quest you meet up with your childhood friend who was separated from you for 10 years. To go on the game you had to marry one of the girls. Konata claims it was a tough choice since Flora (the daughter of the wealthy family) actually had more going for her. She had a large dowry (and the father kept sending you gifts later in the game) and access to better spells (eg ベホイミ、イオナズン). But there was the moral dilemma of wanting to choose your childhood friend. Kagami overhears the conversation and promptly answers Konata's dilemma, "Of course you have to choose Bianca!" (the childhood friend) - however, in the game the choice was free to the player to decide.
  
  
  
• The Mystery Genre
  Konata mentions two titles as her examples for this genre: 名探偵コナン (Case Closed) and 金田一少年の事件簿 (Kindaichi Case Files).
  
  
  
• The manga Konata was reading and the characters she imagined in the scene later are from the series: Cromartie High / 魁!!クロマティ高校
  
  
  
• The Chalkboard scene is a parody of Pani Poni Dash! / ぱにぽにだっしゅ!
  The chalk board even had Lucky☆Star Dash! written on it as well.
  
  Other stuff written on the board that has other references:
  ごまえ～ Go my way
  エクスタス X+ is a pop-culture magazine.
  
  
  
• Just FYI, Konata got a computer and a PS2 from her father for getting into Ryou Ou Gakuen (陸桜学園).
  
  
  
• The Drunk Man was the father from ATASHIn'CHI / あたしンち
  
  
  
• July 07th
  
  
  Tanabata / 七夕
  The legend (digest of the Japanese version because I'm not too fond of the wiki entry):
  Orihime is the daughter of the Emperor of the Heavens. She was known to be a hard worker and a very skilled weaver, however, the Emperor was worried for her as she always worked so hard, she never had time to be a girl. So the Emperor searched the heavens for someone who would make her happy. His pick was this hard working shepard name Natsuhiko who lived to the west of the heavenly river. Orihime and Natsuhiko were happily wed but they spent so much time with each other that they neglected their duties. The Emperor got angry at this and separated the two; however, this put his daughter in much despair, so he permitted his daughter to cross the river once a year to see her husband. That day is Tanabata. Several festivals around Japan are usually held on July 7th to celebrate Orihime's (the star Vega) journey across the heavenly river (the Milkly Way) to meet with her husband Natsuhiko (the star Altair / Hikoboshi in Japanese).
  
  PONY!
  Konata wasn't kidding that the Japan Pony Tail Society declared July 7th to be Pony Tail Day.
  
  The Japan Pony Tail Society does actually exist and gives awards to celebrities every year for looking good with a pony tail. Past recipients of the award include Makiko Esumi, Utada Hikaru, Mai Kuraki, Kaori Mochida, and Ai Miyazato.
  
  President Kyon would be quite happy XD
  
  
  
  
• Yakuiwai 厄祝
  Tsukasa mentions that she was worried for her 17th birthday because it falls on a Maiyaku (前厄) year. Maiyaku (前厄) and Honyaku (本厄) are part of a Shinto practice where in person’s life it is said that evils will occur at a set age (Yakudoshi 厄年). Maiyaku refers to the year before the Honyaku when a serious plight is to occur in that person’s life.
  
  Both males and females have different years when Honyaku are to occur. For males it falls on 25th, 42nd, and 61st year and for females it falls on the 19th, 33rd, and 37th year. Note that these years are counted using the Counting Year system (数え年) which counts the year you are born as the 1st year then every Jan 1st, you add another year to the count. It is said the for males their 42nd year and for females their 33rd year, they will suffer their worst calamity (大厄) as in Japanese, 42 can be read as shini 「死に」 (to die), and 33 can be read as sanzan 「散々」 (severe). For each Honyaku there a period of +/- 1 year where this misfortune may occur. This is referred to as Maiyaku (前厄) and Atoyaku (後厄) respectively.
  
  
  
• Tengu 天狗
  There is a phase "to become a Tengu" (天狗になる) which implies one's arrogance. Tengu are mythical demons in Japanese culture who are known for their overconfidence, vanity, and conceit nature. One of their biggest features is an unnaturally long nose. When Konata completely overwhelms Kagami with her video games skill, Konata's nose elongates for this reason, as she's becoming a Tengu.
  
  
  
• QUO Card
  These are small gift cards that can be used in various stores that accept them. They are quite popular and several chains in Japan advertise on these cards.
  
  
  
• Ending Karaoke
  2003 - Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu OP: YouTube
  
  
  
• Japanese Terminology
  
  Lolicon - is short for Lolita Complex.
  
  Otaku - a person with obsessive hobbies.
  
  Kimono - the full-length traditional garment worn by women, men, and children. (Wiki)
  
  Orizume - a packed lunch (images)
  

[Level E]

Episode 04: やる気の問題
It's a Matter of Will

• Japanese Terminology
  
  
  身から出た錆 / mikara deta sabi
  This literally translates to "the rust which fell from your body." It is a proverb means to suffer the consequences of your own actions. In English there are two similar proverbs "You reap what you sow" and "You got your just deserts." We went with the latter for two reasons:
  1) Episodes 01's infamous food talk.
  2) The irony of Kagami getting her "just deserts" later in this episode.
  
  
  先生 / Sensei
  This means teacher or mentor. It is also an honorary title.
  
  
  ありがとう / Arigato
  Thank you.
  
  
  鯛焼き / Taiyaki
  A baked pastry in a shaped of a Tai fish filled with warm sweet red bean paste.
  
  
  コミケ / Comiket
  Comiket is short for Comic Market. It is the world's largest comic book convention held twice a year in Tokyo, Japan. The convention lasts for 3 days and majority of all the stands there are run by Circles, amateur groups who publish their doujin works.　Tsukasa doesn't know what the Comiket is so when she hears it, she asks "Whose house?" Reason is ke(ケ) can be interrupted as 家(ke) which means family or house (as seen in the below image). She didn't know who Comi was, however.
  
  
  ヒイラギケ = 柊家 = Hiiragi Family/Household.
  
  
  Update:
  Apparently, I was wrong on my intereptation of Tsukasa's misunderstanding.
  According to Tsukasa's Seiyuu: Fukuhara Kaori's blog, ke(ケ) was 毛(ke). This ke means hair. The reason for this is because if you write Comike the (unmodified) IME mis-interprets it as コミ毛. I apologize for that mistake. Tsukasa, you have one up on me.
  
  
  ブルガリアヨーグルト / Bulgaria yogurt
  When Kagami makes a comment that Miyuki is a bourgeois, Tsukasa not knowing what that means asks if that's a type of yogurt. This is what she was thinking of.
  
  
  少年 / Shounen
  少年誌 / Shounen-shi
  This is an extremely popular genre of anime/manga which is characterize usually with a lot of action and humorous main characters. The main target audience for this genre tends to be elementary to middle school boys, however, it is often popular outside of that demographic.
  
  
  初詣 / Hatsumoude
  Hatsumoude is a tradition to the first visit to a shrine or temple in the new year often wearing traditional kimonos. It is common to go visit a local shrine on January 1st. There are many people to go as soon as midnight hits as well.
  
  
  川柳 / Senryuu
  This is a type of poem similar to haiku. Like a Haiku there are three lines with 17 or fewer morae. However, unlike Haiku which describes nature, senryuu are often cynical describing weakness in the human character.
  
  Golden Week
  Is a string of National holidays all which fall on the last days of April to first week of May.
  
  
  
  
  
• Izumi Kanata (泉 かなた)
  Kanata is Konata's late mom. There is a picture of her in the EP @ 06:02
  
  
  
  
• Uguu~~~~~~~~
  How many references were in this EP? A LOT

Konata 2nd excuse for being tardy was a scene from Kanon (a bishoujou game turn anime). The first thing out of Kuroi-sensei's mouth when she hears the excuse is "ugu~~~~" which is the catch phrase of Tsukimiya Ayu from that series. Obviously Kuroi-sensei knew the reference, but couldn't point out Konata's lie because it wouldn't look good considering her social standing.



The armband B-day gift Konata gave to Kagami is from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
Kagami retorts back at Konata, "It suits you better." Just an FYI, but Konata's Seiyuu is Hirano Aya who voice acted Haruhi who wore the arm band.



The red long sleeve sailor uniform is from ToHeart




Bonta-kun!

The mascot (?) character from Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Kagami is a big fan of the Light Novels and the anime. He appears twice in Kagami's room @ 08:38 and @ 17:06.



Konata mimics Crayon Shin-chan when she comments on how Kagami ate her cake. (sample clip)



"Being flat-chested is a status. It's a precious rarity." is a line from Shuffle. Later in the episode, Konata has a poster of the character Mayumi who made that comment.



The scene where Kagami testifies against Konata's crimes is a scene from Death Note.




The sudden figure that appears on Konata's desk as she's studying with the large sphere over it's head is from Dragon Ball Z.



The manga Konata was reading was Blade of the Immortal (無限の住人) volume 19.




The fox on Konata's bed is Makoto from Kanon.



The episode of Haruhi, Konata was watching was "Someday in the Rain," (ep 09/14) parodied later with the blank screen when Konata tries to go to sleep. Konata proceeds to say Yamakan isn't all that which is bleeped. Yamakan is the nick name for Yamamoto Yutaka who directed that episode of Haruhi and was the series director of Lucky Star (up to episode 04).



The internet forum that was flaming the episode is 2ch.



When Konata comments on the festival brings backs memories, that is a line from Space Battleship Yamato / 宇宙戦艦ヤマト.



The Comptiq issue in her hands as she said this was the 2006/08 issue.



The Light Novel Kagami was reading wasThe Little Girl Who Conquered Time / 時をかける少女
Note that "The Little Girl Who Conquered Time" is the unofficial translated title of the novel. If you are interested in the animated movie see The Girl who Leapt Through Time.

.



つよきすの蟹沢（蟹の扇子）
Tsuyokiss' Kinu Kanisawa "Crab" folding fan.



にょろ～ん　/ Nyoro~n
Is a smiley / expression. The poster child for this expression is Tsuruya-san from Haruhi.





Ending Song
Series: セーラー服と機関銃 / Sailor Uniform and a Machine Gun ( JP Wiki / The Drama's Homepage ). YouTube

Non-anime related references:

The Crown English Textbook.



Miyuki's Tiffiany earrings.



When Kagami comments on how Konata's studies may improved with a DS Game, she self advertises the Lucky Star game: Moe Drill. The second one Journies will be out later this month.



みずほ銀行
The girls were standing in front of a Mizuho Bank @ 13:35.



The Smoking Man
The rumor is that this is Yamakan smoking is last cigarette before stepping down as series director to Lucky Star. This is unconfirmed, however.



Pocky!
One of Kagami's favorites snacks.

Lucky Channel

ダウンタウンのガキの使いやあらへんで!!
Downtown's "Not An Errand Boy!"

Downtown is the name of an Owarai pair (comedy duo). They have a variety show called "Gaki no Tsukai" which is what Akira was referring to when she shoots down Minoru early in the segment.



urepi~　/ うれピー
This phrase used by Akira in the Lucky Channel segment is from an '80s idol singer, Sakai Noriko, known to use really cutesy phrases like this one. So much that at the time, people referred to her phrases as Noripi-speak. のりピー語



The Comptiq issue that Akira had in her hand was the 2006/11 issue.



Twin Tail
Is a certain style of pigtails. The hair is parted in half and tied on each side of the head in a high position allowing the "tails" to dangle down to the shoulders. This is the hairstyle Hiiragi Kagami often wears. It has also become iconic for several Tsundere character archetypes to have them as well. You can see Shiraishi forced into the Fashion Plan! wearing twin tails here in this interview off the Lucky Channel website.

[Level E]

Episode 05: 名射手
Sharp Shooter

TL Notes will be posted when the WinD sub is released.

[Level E]

Episode 06: 夏の定番
The Summer Standard

TL Notes will be posted when the WinD sub is released.

Apologies for not posting EP04's notes on time.
I haven't been online much and didn't realize it was released.

[Level E]

Episode 07: イメージ
Image

TL Notes will be posted when the WinD sub is released.