Comiket

Comiket was the main reason I went Tokyo. Yes it was for my dissertation research but mainly it was out of my own interest thanks to the magical Genshiken and their adventures to the convention. For those who don’t know (mostly family) Comiket is short from ‘Comic Market’ and is a HUGE gathering over 3 days where people sell comics, games, music, fanfiction and other random things that they’ve made. Over 500,000 people will attend in a weekend. And although it cost a bit to get there the entry is free! Woot!

This was basically my first trip out of my own since I’d come to Japan (second technically but the first wasn’t all day). OMG it was sooo nice to get out without worrying about other people and just wander around at my own leisure. I had to get up early to get to the Tokyo Big Site at 10:30. Perfect timing I think because I could go straight in even though there were hundreds of people. Comiket is famous for having people que from 5am so they can get the doujinshi (fan made comics) from their favorite circles (these things are made in groups mostly rather then individuals).

I knew it was going to be big…I just didn’t realise the full scale of how big it is! Two huge halls the size of football pitches full of stands and people. Apparently there are something like 1500 stalls which change each day. Every day has different things and so I went for all three days.

Day 1 was mostly the comics aimed at girls. I have never seen so many Japanese women concentrated in once place. Of course there were men as well. Actually I was surprised to see that although mostly people in 20s there were also a lot of people who were older and middle aged. Even those selling stuff!

On day 2 there was an even mix of people and I met a middle aged woman selling…you wouldn’t believe it, Japanese fanfiction of BBC’s Sherlock Holmes! Turns out she had ordered it from England and her friend had subbed it for her. She was the first person I interviewed for my research and ahhh I made such a mess XD Oh well. She said I could e-mail her so if I had any questions I could ask her…I really should e-mail her ^^; woops. And then my second interview was of this guy who was selling a music CD he and his friends had made and he was really nice and GAVE me one of his CDs as a present! I didn't know what to say! Mainly because I didn't know how to say "I can't accept this" in Japanese but also because I was speachless. So kind! Half way through the day I randomly ran into this French guy who had come to London for the con. He was interesting, but I felt really awkward doing interviews with him standing there. He ended up coming round with me for the rest of the day. So much for having time to myself. Oh well. He was an interesting character to talk to and was also interested in the differences of practices between Japanese and foreign otaku.

Day 3 was New Years eve and yet the con was still going! Louise and Sheila met up with me for the con. Unfortunately it was also the busiest I’d seen it, and we could barely move through the crowds! I don’t know if they enjoyed it, I felt kind of bad dragging them around and kept worrying about them. We also went through quite quickly, missing out rows of vendors. So it was an early finish that day as they were both still tired and probably a little jet lagged. Oh well, can’t be helped. ^-^

At least I can say that I felt very happy and fulfilled after the 3 days at Comiket. I'd spent more money that I should have, taken LOADS of shiny cosplay photos and has succesfully interviewed a large number of people for my project ^_^ (Minor note: You can't take photos inside the con because of anamity, so only outside and cosplay pictures)

Later that day was New Years…I know technically the beginning of the day was new years, but in my mind the events got separated into two (probably because they’re just so different)

Tokyo at Christmas

Apologies for taking so long in updating, I will catch up now!

So after Cait and Brit left it was the 22^nd December. Hannah and I stayed in most of the day but got bored and decided to wander over to Akihabara. The first time we’d walked over there! It took about 40mins but was a nice walk through the sky scrapers, we even diverged off the main road to find very old style Japanese boat houses in the river behind skyscrapers. Akiba itself is famous for it’s large concentration of anime, manga, games and electrical stuff. It was certainly that, very busy with maids advertising cafes on almost every street corner it felt. Sadly it didn’t feel the same without having money to splerg on the figurines and I didn’t get as excited as I thought I would. We visited Akiba one more time the day after that with Myra who’s another Kent student studying in Waseda in Tokyo. I think I’ll need to go back there on my own before we leave and have a proper explore of the area and not get scared of using the DDR machines in the arcade (I’m worried I’ll look like an idiot compared to the insanely skilled Japanese kids in those arcades).

Then it was Christmas eve and all through the house...well anyway, eve was a busy day. Hannah, Myra and I went to Tokokawa Inari shrine and then to Heiei shrine which is based on the god of Mt Heiei (I cant spell it) which is another larger shrine in Kyoto area that I have yet to go to. Then we walked over to Tokyo Tower! We almost got lost but were ok in the end and omgoodness the view from Tokyo Tower was AMAZING! It really was worth the 1500yen we spent climbing up it. Especially because we went just before sunset before it got busy and got to see the sun setting and then Tokyo at night. SO COOL! Then wandered over to Roppongi Hills to see the famous Christmas lights, which were ok, but not that amazing. AND THEN we got the train to Myra’s place and ate tempura don (don lit means something on top of rice) which was nommy. AAAAAND THEEEEEN we went to Myra’s dorm for a bit before going out with her friends and kereokeing until 5am!!! Ahhh it was a good night ^_^ As Hannah and I arrived back at our house at 6am we could see the dark sky slowly getting brighter in the East on the city, but didn’t stay up watch the sunrise and instead went straight to bed.

Christmas day itself was, apart from the karaoke, not that entertaining, just sat in bed all day until it got late enough to Skype home. Watching Christmas happen through a computer screen was the weirdest thing. It was really nice still being involved in Christmas and seeing everyone, but it was like watching a film, I was involved but not part of it. But it was still lovely seeing my family again and I miss them a lot. I also opened the presents they’d sent me in the morning and that made me miss them even more hahahah!

Boxing day Hannah and I met up with some friends of hers in Harajuku but we weren’t really impressed that they didn’t want to see the temple in Harajuku park or that they wanted to go to Shibuya to an American clothes store where they’d been to the other day. But that aside Harajuku is cool! There weren’t as many people dressed up in extreme clothes like you would think there would be but that could have been because of many reasons. Tired of foreigners taking photos of them; found somewhere else to go; had already been and gone; where mostly wandering around instead of hanging out on the bridge; I’m just used to seeing that extreme wear after being in Japan so long. We also went to Shibuya (where the American store was) and it’s where the famous crossing is. We crossed it. It wasn’t as big as I thought it would be XD

And then that was the end of boxing day and Christmas :( Oh well. At least in Harajuku I got free hugs!

Ramblings - I miss England

I miss going to Anime on a Thursday and being insane. I miss RPGing and falling into the role of a make-believe character and discovering the story of the GM. I miss Roos awesome cooking and Hughs wise words. I miss Leo and his ability to be insane with me and Freds ability to be awesome sexy by being herself. I miss lying in on a Sunday morning in a room to myself. I miss baking random food with my house mates. I miss wandering into town and having to work my way through the tourists. I miss walking past the Lady Luck and never going in. I miss Sam and the way he smells like pipe tobacco and mens deoderant. I miss Cait and her ability to rant for ages and Danielle at her side knowing so much and saying so little. I miss Georgia whoes smile and hugs can brighten anyones days. I miss walking back from campus with friends late at night, or even on my own. I miss the smell of the trees along the foot paths up to campus. I miss the train tracks and the familiar scenery around them. I miss playing games and getting fish and chips with Sarah, Tom and Jon. I miss watching them play magic the gathering and wishing I knew how to play. I miss going to Adams to play games with them and others, eating snacks and doing sing star. I miss Steve who always reminds me of an adorable underfed rabbit and his awesome girlfriend Dinithi. I miss randomly jumping into conversations at anime. I miss randomly jumping people at anime. I miss the anime house crew sitting in the corner in a world of their own. I miss classes. I miss being inspired and fearing my teachers. I miss stressing over essays that only get so/so marks. I miss the end of a term when everyone says good bye. I miss being home being bored and then my mum comes back and makes me tea. I miss tea at home. I miss food at home. I miss getting a chinese on lazy days. I miss my dad and his random DIYing on Sundays. I miss my sisters not being at home because they have boyfriends. I miss it when I do get to see them. I miss my doggy Charlie. I miss walking him across the fields. I miss walking across the countryside for an hour into town. I miss the few occations I can get to Mogs house. I miss Mog's tea. I miss how her house smells and how her family are always nice. I miss Alicks and the three of us chatting online every night. I miss black berry picking. I miss the smell of the countryside. I miss so much more that I can't think of right now. I miss the smells, sounds, touch of England and all the people I know in it. <3

To Tokyo!

So, I’m in TOKYO! And my goodness has it been hectic! After the finals week I was really looking forward to having a rest! But before Hannah and I even left for Tokyo my days were spent with Aya, Amy, Gillian, Gabe, Areal and Katie. We had much fun over two days doing Visual K photo shoot (am just getting into V-Kei thanks to Katie and Gilli). Then in the evening of the same day we went out with Aya to brief karaoke and then to have all you can eat MEAT, or yakiniku, which is where you grill your own meat and it was soooo much fun! The following day we all went to Osaka and had all you can eat cake which was so amazing I cried! I love cake, and letting me have all you can eat was kinda dangerous ^^; but then being hyper we ran around Osaka which may have burnt most of the sugar off…possibly…maybe not ^^; And then after a final trip to Mandarake we said our goodbyes for the winter. I won’t be seeing Amy again for a while, but she lives near Otakon so always an excuse to go to that in America ^___^

The following day was Sunday 19^th December and after packing and cleaning the room it was off to Tokyo with Hannah! My goodness the bags were heavy and we got horribly lost trying to find the hostel, but it was made up by the AWESOME train ride on the shinkansen (bullet train). It goes so faaaast and has loads of leg room and is so smooth~ Out of the window I got to see Iga again! And the 1/1 scale model of a gundam!!! And Mt Fuji!!! It was the most awesomeist magicalist train ride eeeeeverrrr.

Then after finding our way fine until we got to the area the hostel was in we lost our way. An hour and very soar shoulders, arms and legs later, we made it! We were both so hungry we just dumped our stuff (no one to say high, just our keys and a note) and went round the corner to a restaurant we’d seen. That was the magical Jazz bar. It was only me, Hannah and the guy running it. We sat down, didn’t know what to have so asked what he suggested and he gave us two specials, fried rice and soba, soooooo goooooood!!! The guy didn’t speak a word to English and really liked Jazz. He let me play his piano. The bar itself had such a nice homely feel about it. It was so nice ^__^ I just can’t describe how after that one visit I fell in love with it.

Unfortunately the hostel was nothing to be desired (tatami guest house). Unless you like cheap in money and services (freezing cold, stained sheets, a large sink to wash stuff including your hands and face after going to the bathroom) then avoid it. We both realized we could probably stand it about a week, but a whole month? Ohhh no. But planning our escape had to wait because we were tired and the following day we met up with Cait and Brittany in Ikebukuro!

Ikebukuro was cool! We went around trying to find places that were in the anime Durarara (which is based in Ikebukuro and is an awesome anime!) And it gave us a chance to wander round the whole of it before we all got tired and hungry and went back in the evening. Oh yes, that evening was nerve wracking. Our plan to escape led us to Sakura Houses, expensive but we could move in the next day. We were thinking of sneaking out in the morning and had come up with a cover story when there was a knock on the door. It was the landlord -_- he wanted paying. So we told him our cover story (that we had to go back to England the next day due to a family emergency –hinting at an accident). He looked kinda disappointed and although he could have charged us the whole months rent he only charged us half. Gack >_<>

So the next day Hannah and I got up early in the freezing cold room and left. We traveled over to Shinjuku and began getting house stuff sorted. It felt better immediately, Sakura Houses, although notoriously greedy, were more professional and felt a lot more homely. Also they had free heating and showers which the last place didn’t. It took ages and we were both really tired and achy for carrying our luggage around again, but held on just that little bit longer. We were able to leave our luggage at the Sakura Offices while we viewed the new house, and then when we met up with Cait and Brit in Shinjuku to say good bye to them. I’m glad we got to say bye coz I would have been sad otherwise. And even then it wasn’t bye, but ‘mata ne!’ so I’ll see her again ^-^ We (me Cait and Brit) plan to have a 2 week visit to Britain, and then 2 weeks to Utah one summer! Defiantly! I mean, when else will I have a chance to go to Utah?

Since the move I have been really tight on cash. And I mean REALLY tight. We want to go to places and do things, but I’m trying to save money where I can and I really wonder if I can. At the end of the month here we plan to go back to Osaka via the mountains etc but train and accommodation might end up costing as much as this trip. And even though I might have money for it, it means I will be broke next semester. It’s all a bit of a pickle really, but I’ll work it out. Cross that bridge when I get to it ^-^

Next up, Tokyo at Christmas!

Nakama "Companions"

Nakama, Companions, Tomodachi, Friends~

It’s not often I talk about the different friends I make at places. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just because people won’t understand if I say “So-n-so and I did this and we…etc”, where as if I say ‘my friend’ they’ll…I dunno….get what I’m saying better. Anyway, I’m weird and it’s random logic that works in my head. But this time I’d like to introduce some of the nice people I’ve met here in Japan. It’s not all of them and I’m sorry if I offend anyone who I didn’t include, it doesn’t mean I love you any less. And in no particular order…actually, in alphabetical order to keep it even, here are the people I’ve met in Japan and why they are wonderful:

Amy. There’s one word for Amy and that’s かわい！ “Kawai!” she’s just so cute! And the little rascal knows it. Yes there is a little bit of Amy that is naturally cute but it doesn’t help when she flaunts it with her big blue eyes and sweet loli clothes. She’s certainly one who will always give you a big hug and a big smile to brighten up your day.

Areal. He’s a funny one. First time I met him he brushed me off and I actually thought he didn’t like me until we all went out one day to a doujin fair. Since then we’ve been really close and although with the rest of the gang go out quite a lot to do all kinds of interesting things. He’s a happy character who does things his way no matter what people say, and has such wonderfully flamboyant fashion! (Him and Amy like shopping and shoes a lot more then me)

Aya. The one Japanese person who I think I’ve gotten really close to. She’s wonderful and kind, likes anime, manga, cosplay, and rock music. She took me (along with Amy, Areal and Gabe) to a Japanese cosplay event which was awesome! She is the sort of person who will speak her mind as long as it doesn’t hurt people as is just a really fun person to be around. It’s hard to describe but she’s the kind of person I really admire.

Brittany. She is my wonderful, wonderful, wonderful room mate who is just wonderful! She’s so kind and gorgeous, although I think she pushes herself down a lot. She either doesn’t get upset or just has the skill to never show it to anyone. She sometimes dies from her wheat intolerance but bounces right back afterwards. We get along really well and she often does really random things, and then I’ll join in, like THE FUTON MOSTER! Winding her up is fun too.

Caitlin. Always has something interesting to say. She’s incredibly sweet and always has energy to go on an adventure! I really liked hearing her stories about her homestay and her views on animes.

Cassie. The Aussie with an American accent who had a will stronger then steel. She always does things her own way and knows how to get what she wants. Although she could be a bit brash without realizing it, she is equally kind and will always defend her friends. I loved hearing about her adventures on an online game she plays and it’s a good thing Brittany stalks the game otherwise I’d miss out on what she gets up to.

Gabe. Gabe, Gabe the American. Will always say the same thing when I see him “Jen-Jen! My favorite Brit” despite the fact I am the only Brit he knows. Silly billy. Really nice person who will keep everyone happy and the tone of conversation light.

Gillian. The 音楽オタク “Ongaku Otaku” or Music Geek who just seems to know everything about Korean and Japanese popular and rock music and the industry. A huge Visual-K fan who’s getting me into the scene too. She also knows Korean, and although it’s a same she can’t go to Korea next semester I’m really glad because it means she can stay in Japan and teach me Korean! She’s uber nice is always ready and rearing to go out and do something awesome!

Jacob. Kinda like a big Jewish teddy bear. He’s really quiet and sometimes ditzy but very sweet, and if he has something to say he’ll say it. He’s an awesome character.

Katie. Always embaressed about her age but sooo pretty! I love her hair! Also really awesome with a unique gothicy fashion sense and a love for Japanese and Korean rock music. She is uber fun when ever we go out and is as crazy as Gilli about doing random fun stuff!

Mandy. Sooooo smart! Mandy is from Finland/Sweden and is a History major. She’s picked up Japanese so quickly and is always teaching me about European history! She’s often very quiet and I forget she doesn’t like small talk, but she’s so kind and awesome and sweet! I did get miffed at her a lot for not eating anything but an onigiri (rice ball) a day coz she had no money. Silly billy. She was Cassies room mate.

Tyson. Loves Jet Lee. I swear he should just marry him. An awesome character who wants to be a martial arts specialist of some kind. He’s really helpful and has given me some good tips on loosing weight (I just have to use them). Always has something to say, and has some really good opinions. Incredibly down to earth character and room mate to Jacob.

These guys are kinda spilt into two. There’s Seminar House 1 people and Seminar House 2 people. Although not all of them live in those houses it’s how I divide them in my head because I’ve met them through either one of those houses. SH1 people include Brittany, Caitlin, Cassie, Jacob, Mandy and Tyson. We all went out a lot together at the beginning of the semester and got really close really quickly. It’s a shame that after midterms things meant we didn’t hang out a lot but they’re all really wonderful people.

SH2 people include Amy, Aya, Areal, Gabe, Katie, and Gillian. We went out together a lot after the midterms doing the really nerdy stuff like cosplay.

Although I’m going to see a lot of these guys next semester there are a few I won’t like Amy, Caitlin, Mandy and Cassie, who have all made my first semester at Kansai Gaidai wonderful and I’m gonna miss them a lot! Until I next seem them in America/Finland/Australia, coz I will ^__^

Changing

It's the last week of the first term in Japan. Everyone's getting final exams and papers done, and people are preparing to leave. The current topic of conversation between everyone (aside from how much revising they have or what they're doing in the Winter holidays) is how people have changed. A few people are saying how more open minded they've become, how much more outgoing they are, or are saying just how quickly they've managed to pick up Japanese.

This has got me thinking; what has changed about me? Am I any different from before? I find myself thinking a lot more about my future. I had originally planned to become an interpretor by doing the JET program before doing a masters in England on interpreting and translating in Bath. Now I'm not too sure. JET has a few horror stories, but mostly not incredibly positive stories, and it seems like University degrees are under threat from the Tories, so who knows if I'll even be able to afford a masters degree when the time comes. My Anthropology lecturer proffesor Hester is incredible, and although I've only had him for 3 months I've grown to really respect him like no other lecturer at Kent Uni. This has got me thinking about becoming an Anthropologist and moving to Japan. But likewise social stigmas towards foreigners amoung other stuff make me really wonder if living in Japan is really such a good idea.

Aside from thinking about the future more it's got me thinking about the past. At the beginning of the term I had a lot of pent up emotional stress from my now ex-best friend turning against and completly ignoring me for 9 months even though we were living together; and from my now ex-boyfriend who was just the worst person possible for me but I kept convincing myself that it would be get better and blah blah blah 7 months of missery later and I end it in a horribly guilty messy way...*Sigh*. But spending time away from all that had really helped clear it out. What's happened had happened and there's nothing I can do to change it. I think Japan has really helped me move away from that and learn from the mistakes that I made.

Then there's the present (which seems kind of appropriate considering it's almost Christmas). How has Japan changed me? I like I'm a lot more chilled here. I'm working a lot harder then I ever have done before and there isn't anything like AGS or AnimeSoc to relieve the stress so I think that gets built up and I'm less bouncy then I would be at Kent, but I don't think that's a bad thing. It's helping me to see that I just need to take it slow....I don't know if that makes any sense. I think the work and a greater stress on managing money is encouraging me to become even more responsible and giving me more of a desire to go out and explore as a relief method.

I think I'm still unclear on what has changed about me thanks to Japan, but I know something has. I also know (here's a warning to people back home), that although I still have 8 months to go and I'm missing everyone really badly, that when I do get back to England I am deffinatly going ot fall into depression from being apart from Japan which I've grown so familiar with. It really doesn't feel like I'm going to be here that much longer so I keep thinking that I don't have much time left when actually I do and I'm being silly.

Anyway. Random brief look into Jen's random mind, so feel free to ignore this rant. I think next time I'll give people much needed phrases you need in Japan ^-^

Cosplay Special: The Event

Cosplay Special!!!

Finally the JAPAN COSPLAY EVENT! 28th November (Saturday)

Something should be noted about Japanese cosplay events, which you may have realised from comparing my cosplay experience with the Japanese cosplayers experiences. Normally cosplay in England (and the US and other places) is done at conventions, or organised by groups to do a photo shoot. They are very much opportunities to have fun and run around and be crazy and creative. Japanese cosplay in very much not socially accepted in the public eye, it’s considered strange and alien and it is very much frowned upon for people to walk around in public in strange costumes. So events are often organised which focus just on cosplay rather then conventions which advertise products etc. This event is held every Saturday and Sunday every weekend at a shopping mall in the port in Osaka.

Not only is it very much not accepted in public but the general Japanese mentality has created a very different way of cosplay. Japanese people are brought up in their school and home life focusing on the in group. They are very much this is my group and people on the outside don’t matter, only this. So when Japanese people cosplay they cosplay in little groups of other people who have the same interest (often people they’ve met online on sites whom they know under pseudo-names as described in the interview) and they very much stay in those groups at events. People really did not break away and talk to other cosplayers or photograph other cosplayers. They staying in their groups (which are all characters from the same anime) taking photos of themselves. Often they’ll have a professional looking photographer who volunteers from the social networking sites to take photos of the single group for the whole day.


So, on with the story ^-^

This all started when Aya, Gabe, Areal, Gilli, Amy and I went to Mandarake in Osaka. Mandarake is a magical shop of second hand manga, figurines, dvds, games, and cosplay. Aya, Amy, Areal and I are all cosplayers and I was determined to get a cosplay to it was up to the 4th floor. So after browsing through the cosplay Amy and Aya found some Macross Frontier cosplay of Ranka, and because Aya already had a Sheryl cosplay then why doesn’t Amy do Ranka? She’s small and cute enough. I was kinda feeling left out until I found an Alto cosplay. I jokingly suggested it to Aya but she got so excited (it was so cute) that I just couldn’t not get the cosplay. So I bought the costume (and a Working!! costume) but decided to leave the wig for later (so I could afford the second coplay). A day of awesome geek filled shopping followed.

A week or so later Aya contacts me and Amy and we arrange a day to go the event she normally goes to, and Areal and Gabe decide to come along. This means I need a wig. So another week later and I return to Mandarake with Amy and Areal and my friend Yuka to get a wig. Now there was the choice of one wig was the right colour but the wrong length and the shop keeper suggests I get a longer one so I can do Alto’s pony tail, even though it’s not quite the right colour. So after umming and ahhhing I go with her advice.

So a few days later, before the weekend of the event, I try to style the cosplay…it did not go well…wigs do not like ponytails…at all…one little bit…So I made a horrible horrible mess of my cosplay and after someone pointed out what a bad job I’d done I just broke down. It was messy, rats nest looking that was top heavy. So I resided to giving up altogether because I felt sooo bad. BUT the following day Areal and Amy turned around and convinced me to give it another go. They helped me get back into the cosplay mood so I decided to borrow some trousers and go hunting for a t-shirt and other accessories to finish the cosplay. I looked up on the internet how to fix the wig and fixed it as best as I could the day before the event. Phew!

Morning of the event and we get up early, cosplay in bags and dressed in normal wear, we work our way through Osaka. What I found really cool was how you got closer to the event you could tell who cosplayers were, event if they weren’t wearing costumes. This is pretty awesome because when you go to an event you can tell who cosplayers are because they’re dressed up. Japanese cosplayers tend to be young girls with cases on wheels (it’s in these cases the cosplay is) and there were a lot of them. Aya said that normally about 500people attend the event but on that day there’d be about 250 (found out from her cosplay site).

We arrived at this mall by the port by the sea and had to go all the way up to the 12 floor where there was a lobby where we signed up and got split into guys and girls changing rooms. Japanese shop assistants said “irashyamase~” (welcome) as we went in. The changing room was just a big room with tape to indicate places you could change in. So we all got changed in public (which is fine because I’ve been to onsen and those are worse for ‘public displays’) and then dumped our bags in a bag section and met the boys (who weren’t cosplaying).

As I said, Japanese people don’t cosplay in public, and as pointed out in the interview there’s a strong sense of animosity. As a result you couldn’t photograph in the lobby, especially of anyone not in costume. And the boys had to pay an extra charge to sign up because they weren’t in cosplay, they had their photo taken, contact details and a blacked out membership card. No joke, it was BLACK so that people couldn’t see what it was a membership card for.

We then headed down and began testing out the cosplay (while I was frantically scribbling down everything I was because this was hot stuff for my dissertation). Areal was in charge of my camera and it was so WEIRD being out of control of my own photos. It was not a nice feeling, especially because he wasn’t using automatic but manual focus. Ahhhh >_< onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFTS7WRnvSj0P7j_GWu5bXWjFWu_jmKoKihHA-iEevsqLi0mSZyrlKh2YARPvWN0bdVmEYyDhCCWQZyZ5MN-LnH_XmcEbPguF46UuySfCJJ4TVgNhH45BrpNGtHMzgCaJED98yMWSOk-U/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG">ke South Park (translated into Japanese). He said he’s like to do cosplay but doesn’t have the body for it. I can understand that all too well…there’s just some cosplay you can’t do -_-


So we then, as they say, did as the locals do, and spent from 11-4 taking photos of ourselves. Now and then Areal and Gabe would wander off to get a few snap shots of other cosplayers (and sometimes I’d order them too, like of the awesome good K-On group). And we had two people come and ask to take photos of us, both times was of other Macross Frontier cosplayers. I felt so…inadequate compared to these Japanese Cosplayers. When you see their photos online they are amazingly good and now I can understand why. They just spend hoooouuuurs taking photos so of course they’re going to be really good at posing and photography…that and they’re Japanese and just suit anime characters way better. Although ironically the few I talked to said they thought Western faces were more like anime because their eyes are so big. I guess the one side will always wish for what the other one has.


At 4:00 approached we were getting stupidly tired. We sat for a bit while Aya went to find her friend and a girl who was working at the event came up and talked to us about cosplay and stuff. It was really nice ^^ She was the first person to come up and actually properly talk to us. I made a few more notes as a sight report and then we got changed and ate ramen for dinner. Ahhhhhh it was good ^_^ Summary: Cosplay in Japan is incredibly unique and fingers crossed the next one will be even better then this one >8D