Tokyo Anime Fair was open for the public last weekend.
I went on the Saturday, because I had to teach a lesson on Sunday.
I got the earliest possible train and arrived at Tokyo Big Sight around 8am.
I queued up for about an hour and a half. They started moving people in around 9:20, because the queue was so big.
The tickets were really cheap - only 800yen if you pre-book or 1000yen on the day.
The cost of getting to and from Tokyo Big Sight stung a bit though!
I expected more stalls selling things like at London Expo, but it was mostly displays and previews. I ended up with a ton of leaflets and postcards that were being given out.
I was really surprised at how small the Pokemon display area was.
There was an ad for the kimi ni todoke NDS game that's coming out soon.
I think I might have to get that!
There was a preview for the new Kuroshitsuji. I'm still excited to watch it, even if they've changed the characters.
Someone was dressed up as the Black Rider in the Durarara!! display area, there were so many people taking photos.
It would have been more fun if they'd allowed cosplay! I think they didn't want people parading the streets of Tokyo in cosplay...freaking people out.
I was glad they allowed photos in most areas, otherwise I wouldn't have a great deal to show for the day :S
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Monday, 8 March 2010
Spring Break Adventures
I've been out and about lately. So haven't gotten much revision or report work done XD
I went to a eikaiwa party in Shibuya. I was kind of nervous, but it wasn't bad.
There were many people of different English levels.
Although there was one guy who had been learning for 30 odd years who asked strange questions which made me feel rather intimidated.
Two weeks ago, I went to Chiba to visit my friend Ayako.
Her house is amazing! It's really old Japanese style.
She compared it first to a o-tera and then to an obake yashiki lol XD
I met her at Narita station and we drove to a park called "boso no mura".
I drank amazake and tried on a kimono!
Afterwards we watched a horror film called Mirrors and ate Gyuudon at her house.
Her mum and sister were really nice! I hope I can visit her house again before I return to the UK.
Last Wednesday Ayako and I went into Wakaba (nearby my town in Saitama).
After having lunch, making Purikura and looking around the shops, we went to BanBan Karaoke.
Even though I can really sing it was so much fun!
They had so many of my favourite songs, even ones from anime.
That would be impossible in the UK!
On Friday, I went on a Tobu line adventure with my flatmate.
We also stopped in Wakaba and made Purikura.
We went as far as Tobu Nerima and had a look in the big mall.
We had to come back quite early though. My cousin wanted to pick me up in Kawagoe at 7pm.
I spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at my cousins house in Fussa-shi.
He lives in the American military air base.
I was really surprised, because it was like being in an American town inside the base.
There were so many houses, flats, malls, a gym, cinema, swimming pool and a park inside the base.
My cousin's house was really nice and comfortable.
It had 4 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, 2 bathrooms and 3 toilets.
He has 2 sons and a daughter. We went to watch his sons play basketball.
Their team lost by 1 point, but they played really well!
There were little blond identical twins playing in the match, who were adorable!
Later that evening we had a BBQ, but it was raining so we had to eat the BBQ inside.
One of the guests was a Japanese lady and her son. I practiced speaking Japanese with her.
I was a little nervous because everyone else was listening too.
I forgot that most the Americans in the base don't speak Japanese - so they wouldn't have been able to understand anyway.
The son spoke very clear Japanese. Unlike a lot of young Japanese males I've listened to.
My cousin let me use his wireless internet. I'm so glad I brought my laptop and NDS!
It was an unsecured network, so I was able to access the Pokemon GTS and download the Shiny Pichu mystery gift. With Shiny Pichu I was able to obtain Spiky Eared Pichu as well!
I came back to Sakado on Sunday and haven't really done anything constructive since.
I've been sleeping too much, playing video games (Pokemon Ranger 3), updating my blogs, uploading photos, listening to music, watching Heroes and various yaoi titles.
oh yeah...the spring weather we had last week has now vanished and it's snowing quite heavily!
WTF XD
I went to a eikaiwa party in Shibuya. I was kind of nervous, but it wasn't bad.
There were many people of different English levels.
Although there was one guy who had been learning for 30 odd years who asked strange questions which made me feel rather intimidated.
Two weeks ago, I went to Chiba to visit my friend Ayako.
Her house is amazing! It's really old Japanese style.
She compared it first to a o-tera and then to an obake yashiki lol XD
I met her at Narita station and we drove to a park called "boso no mura".
I drank amazake and tried on a kimono!
Afterwards we watched a horror film called Mirrors and ate Gyuudon at her house.
Her mum and sister were really nice! I hope I can visit her house again before I return to the UK.
Last Wednesday Ayako and I went into Wakaba (nearby my town in Saitama).
After having lunch, making Purikura and looking around the shops, we went to BanBan Karaoke.
Even though I can really sing it was so much fun!
They had so many of my favourite songs, even ones from anime.
That would be impossible in the UK!
On Friday, I went on a Tobu line adventure with my flatmate.
We also stopped in Wakaba and made Purikura.
We went as far as Tobu Nerima and had a look in the big mall.
We had to come back quite early though. My cousin wanted to pick me up in Kawagoe at 7pm.
I spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at my cousins house in Fussa-shi.
He lives in the American military air base.
I was really surprised, because it was like being in an American town inside the base.
There were so many houses, flats, malls, a gym, cinema, swimming pool and a park inside the base.
My cousin's house was really nice and comfortable.
It had 4 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, 2 bathrooms and 3 toilets.
He has 2 sons and a daughter. We went to watch his sons play basketball.
Their team lost by 1 point, but they played really well!
There were little blond identical twins playing in the match, who were adorable!
Later that evening we had a BBQ, but it was raining so we had to eat the BBQ inside.
One of the guests was a Japanese lady and her son. I practiced speaking Japanese with her.
I was a little nervous because everyone else was listening too.
I forgot that most the Americans in the base don't speak Japanese - so they wouldn't have been able to understand anyway.
The son spoke very clear Japanese. Unlike a lot of young Japanese males I've listened to.
My cousin let me use his wireless internet. I'm so glad I brought my laptop and NDS!
It was an unsecured network, so I was able to access the Pokemon GTS and download the Shiny Pichu mystery gift. With Shiny Pichu I was able to obtain Spiky Eared Pichu as well!
I came back to Sakado on Sunday and haven't really done anything constructive since.
I've been sleeping too much, playing video games (Pokemon Ranger 3), updating my blogs, uploading photos, listening to music, watching Heroes and various yaoi titles.
oh yeah...the spring weather we had last week has now vanished and it's snowing quite heavily!
WTF XD
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Spring Break & Future Plans
PRESENTLY:
Spring break goes on XD
I have to say I've become remarkably lazy lately. Getting up at 11am and proceeding to do nothing but watch J-DRAMA and anime whilst being heated by the kotatsu! I blame the weather XD
I'm also reading a lot of manga. I suppose that's quite good in a way, since it's in Japanese. I'm making an Excel spreadsheet with new vocabulary and kanji from the books.
I'm reading various series at the moment. I'm flicking through "boku no hatsukoi wo kimi ni sasagu" by Kotomi Aoki, so I can record the vocab.
I'm also reading "kanojo wa uso wo ai shitesugiteiru" (that's a real pain to say out loud XD). Which is also by Kotomi Aoki.
I need more of her stuff, I really like her drawing style, but I don't think she has published much.
I'm working on Shin Tenipuri, I have volumes 1 and 2, but I've kind of put this series on hold - especially since they are so slow at releasing volumes!
I taught my last lesson in Ikebukuro last week. My student is going to be moving to Holland soon, so he's going to be too busy to have another lesson.
However, I have a new money making idea.
I tried selling one of my Hetalia keyring/phone charms on Ebay, since I had about 5 of him XD
Surprisingly, he sold for $10.50 in the end!
So I listed another and he already had bids up to $4.50 - and he still has 5 days left on the marketplace.
If I can buy other characters to list and they keep selling this well...I don't think I'll need a job XD
FUTURE PLANS:
I haven't really told anyone, but my boyfriend has become really wierd lately (complete personality transplant) and has repeatedly upset me.
Even he said that he really has changed a lot and decided to break up with me, so he wouldn't upset me again.
I guess that kind of changes my future plans, not greatly but slightly.
I'd planned to graduate and work in the UK until we could afford to move to Japan or Australia.
Although, if I'm going to be on my own....I might as well sign up with a teaching programme and go and live in Japan for a while to make some money, improve my Japanese and see the rest of Japan.
I quite fancy living in the kansai area!
When I return home, I really want to take up violin lessons!
I have looked into lessons - they're quite steep here and there is the issue getting the violin home XD
It wouldn't be a huge issue if I didn't have my laptop, doll and tennis racket to take on as hand luggage as well :S
Spring break goes on XD
I have to say I've become remarkably lazy lately. Getting up at 11am and proceeding to do nothing but watch J-DRAMA and anime whilst being heated by the kotatsu! I blame the weather XD
I'm also reading a lot of manga. I suppose that's quite good in a way, since it's in Japanese. I'm making an Excel spreadsheet with new vocabulary and kanji from the books.
I'm reading various series at the moment. I'm flicking through "boku no hatsukoi wo kimi ni sasagu" by Kotomi Aoki, so I can record the vocab.
I'm also reading "kanojo wa uso wo ai shitesugiteiru" (that's a real pain to say out loud XD). Which is also by Kotomi Aoki.
I need more of her stuff, I really like her drawing style, but I don't think she has published much.
I'm working on Shin Tenipuri, I have volumes 1 and 2, but I've kind of put this series on hold - especially since they are so slow at releasing volumes!
I taught my last lesson in Ikebukuro last week. My student is going to be moving to Holland soon, so he's going to be too busy to have another lesson.
However, I have a new money making idea.
I tried selling one of my Hetalia keyring/phone charms on Ebay, since I had about 5 of him XD
Surprisingly, he sold for $10.50 in the end!
So I listed another and he already had bids up to $4.50 - and he still has 5 days left on the marketplace.
If I can buy other characters to list and they keep selling this well...I don't think I'll need a job XD
FUTURE PLANS:
I haven't really told anyone, but my boyfriend has become really wierd lately (complete personality transplant) and has repeatedly upset me.
Even he said that he really has changed a lot and decided to break up with me, so he wouldn't upset me again.
I guess that kind of changes my future plans, not greatly but slightly.
I'd planned to graduate and work in the UK until we could afford to move to Japan or Australia.
Although, if I'm going to be on my own....I might as well sign up with a teaching programme and go and live in Japan for a while to make some money, improve my Japanese and see the rest of Japan.
I quite fancy living in the kansai area!
When I return home, I really want to take up violin lessons!
I have looked into lessons - they're quite steep here and there is the issue getting the violin home XD
It wouldn't be a huge issue if I didn't have my laptop, doll and tennis racket to take on as hand luggage as well :S
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Yu-Gi-Oh 3D
I went to see the Yu-Gi-Oh 3D movie in the Warner Brothers Michel cinema today.
I was surprised that this cinema was cheaper than the one I usually go to and it's pretty impressive looking too!
When I bought my ticket they gave me a card - Sin Red Eyes Black Dragon.
I'm not sure if everyone got the same card or if they had the other Sin Dragons as well.
I haven't collected Japanese version Yu-Gi-Oh cards before, just the English versions. Maybe I should go to the card shops in Akiba and compile one!(There was a word there but I've been in Japan for so long I think I'm forgetting how to speak English - now that I have a Japanese card it gives me more....something...to build a Japanese deck XD)
It makes me wish I had my decks....they're all in the UK still.
The movie was awesome!!! It was pretty short though, only 64 minutes according to the cinema guide.
I think Judai has done something with his hair, it's more sticky uppy at the back than I remember from the dubs.
It was totally nostalgic seeing the Pharaoh playing his old faves and Pegasus appeared (although he didn't have much screentime XD).
In the movie the antagonist "Paradox" uses "Sin cards", he messes around with time causing the time paradox that allows the 3 Yu-Gi-Oh stories to meld.
Pharaoh, Jaden/Judai and Yusei team up and fight him 3 on 1 to try and prevent Paradox's evil plans.
I won't tell you about the duel and ending...you'll have to watch it!!!
Although, a move in the duel reminded me of my own duel style and made me laugh my ass off XD
I'm quite old school when it comes to Yu-Gi-oh. All of my cards are from the Yugi season. So I'm not sure if any Sin cards have been released yet.
I wasn't really completely captured by Yu-Gi-Oh GX, but I'm gonna give it another chance to impress me.
This time I'll see if I can find the Japanese versions - I think there are more episodes than what has been dubbed so far.
But even though I've seen a lot of good movies lately - this was best!
I was surprised that this cinema was cheaper than the one I usually go to and it's pretty impressive looking too!
When I bought my ticket they gave me a card - Sin Red Eyes Black Dragon.
I'm not sure if everyone got the same card or if they had the other Sin Dragons as well.
I haven't collected Japanese version Yu-Gi-Oh cards before, just the English versions. Maybe I should go to the card shops in Akiba and compile one!(There was a word there but I've been in Japan for so long I think I'm forgetting how to speak English - now that I have a Japanese card it gives me more....something...to build a Japanese deck XD)
It makes me wish I had my decks....they're all in the UK still.
The movie was awesome!!! It was pretty short though, only 64 minutes according to the cinema guide.
I think Judai has done something with his hair, it's more sticky uppy at the back than I remember from the dubs.
It was totally nostalgic seeing the Pharaoh playing his old faves and Pegasus appeared (although he didn't have much screentime XD).
In the movie the antagonist "Paradox" uses "Sin cards", he messes around with time causing the time paradox that allows the 3 Yu-Gi-Oh stories to meld.
Pharaoh, Jaden/Judai and Yusei team up and fight him 3 on 1 to try and prevent Paradox's evil plans.
I won't tell you about the duel and ending...you'll have to watch it!!!
Although, a move in the duel reminded me of my own duel style and made me laugh my ass off XD
I'm quite old school when it comes to Yu-Gi-oh. All of my cards are from the Yugi season. So I'm not sure if any Sin cards have been released yet.
I wasn't really completely captured by Yu-Gi-Oh GX, but I'm gonna give it another chance to impress me.
This time I'll see if I can find the Japanese versions - I think there are more episodes than what has been dubbed so far.
But even though I've seen a lot of good movies lately - this was best!
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Spring Break Is Here!
I'm done for this semester! Now I'm on holiday until April!
I haven't really made any specific plans yet.
Although I do plan to go and see the Yu-Gi-Oh 3D movie that's going to be in the cinema this Saturday!
http://www.yugioh10th.com/
I think I'm going to visit some shrines and get some good blog photos!
I'm going to try and spend as little money as possible, but still have some good experiences.
Of course I still have my teaching job.
I only have 1 student so far, so I'll only be teaching once a week.
I'm teaching a trial lesson with a new student on Friday.
So I might have 2 permenant students by the end of this week ^__^
I think my 3rd student has decided not to sign up to the conversation school.
At least I haven't heard back from him after his trial lesson last Saturday.
I haven't really made any specific plans yet.
Although I do plan to go and see the Yu-Gi-Oh 3D movie that's going to be in the cinema this Saturday!
http://www.yugioh10th.com/
I think I'm going to visit some shrines and get some good blog photos!
I'm going to try and spend as little money as possible, but still have some good experiences.
Of course I still have my teaching job.
I only have 1 student so far, so I'll only be teaching once a week.
I'm teaching a trial lesson with a new student on Friday.
So I might have 2 permenant students by the end of this week ^__^
I think my 3rd student has decided not to sign up to the conversation school.
At least I haven't heard back from him after his trial lesson last Saturday.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Comiket Update, Damn Cold and New Doll Clothes
Yuk! As I type this I'm full of cold (I refuse to say flu) >_<
Sneezing is no longer a safe action XD
I bought some all purpose cold medicine this afternoon called "Shin Ruru A".
I had some after dinner...it seems to be VERY slowly kicking in.
I would love some real Western cold medicine (elephant tranquilizer) right now XD
I knew all of those beautiful Japanese handkerchiefs I bought would come in handy for something other than drying my hands in improperly equipped Japanese public facilities one of these day!!!
My doll photos seem to suck lately. I think when the weather gets nicer, I'll get a doll carrier so I can take Ryoma out to find some good photo spots!
I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of my dolls when I return to the UK.
I think I mentioned before that I commissioned a DOA member to do some Yukata for me.
She's finished making them now...they were $5 each and THEY ARE SO FABULOUS <3
Blue with lilac for Yuki and black with red for Yue
Comiket was pretty good! I got some nice pieces including Hetalia, Hayate no Gotoku, Toradora, Prince of Tennis, Gintama and some originals that I've never heard of (but I liked the artwork). It was so crowded, but it was just bareable!
Seriously, I've seen my fill of anime boobs in that exhibition centre to last me a lifetime XD
It was so freezing ass cold at first! I left Saitama at 5:30am, so that I could queue up before the opening time. It took quite some time to get there, I arrived at Tokyo Big Sight at 8am.
By 10am, the sun was shining bright and warm! You wouldn't have believed it was December 31st!!!
I finished all of my reports last week. I posted them up on Lang-8 (I LOVE this website) for grammar corrections, because my Japanese is not yet perfect!
Even if it is understandable, it doesn't mean it's grammatically correct! XD
I have to revise for the German test, revise for the kanji test, memorise my British superstitions (written in Japanese) essay and try to revise for another essay (which we weren't even given a clue as to what the topic will be).
BUT after the exams are over I'll be on holiday until April yay!!!
I really thought I had more to update....but I don't remember right now, oops XD
Sneezing is no longer a safe action XD
I bought some all purpose cold medicine this afternoon called "Shin Ruru A".
I had some after dinner...it seems to be VERY slowly kicking in.
I would love some real Western cold medicine (elephant tranquilizer) right now XD
I knew all of those beautiful Japanese handkerchiefs I bought would come in handy for something other than drying my hands in improperly equipped Japanese public facilities one of these day!!!
My doll photos seem to suck lately. I think when the weather gets nicer, I'll get a doll carrier so I can take Ryoma out to find some good photo spots!
I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of my dolls when I return to the UK.
I think I mentioned before that I commissioned a DOA member to do some Yukata for me.
She's finished making them now...they were $5 each and THEY ARE SO FABULOUS <3
Blue with lilac for Yuki and black with red for Yue
Comiket was pretty good! I got some nice pieces including Hetalia, Hayate no Gotoku, Toradora, Prince of Tennis, Gintama and some originals that I've never heard of (but I liked the artwork). It was so crowded, but it was just bareable!
Seriously, I've seen my fill of anime boobs in that exhibition centre to last me a lifetime XD
It was so freezing ass cold at first! I left Saitama at 5:30am, so that I could queue up before the opening time. It took quite some time to get there, I arrived at Tokyo Big Sight at 8am.
By 10am, the sun was shining bright and warm! You wouldn't have believed it was December 31st!!!
I finished all of my reports last week. I posted them up on Lang-8 (I LOVE this website) for grammar corrections, because my Japanese is not yet perfect!
Even if it is understandable, it doesn't mean it's grammatically correct! XD
I have to revise for the German test, revise for the kanji test, memorise my British superstitions (written in Japanese) essay and try to revise for another essay (which we weren't even given a clue as to what the topic will be).
BUT after the exams are over I'll be on holiday until April yay!!!
I really thought I had more to update....but I don't remember right now, oops XD
Friday, 25 December 2009
Christmas, Doll Plans and Comiket
Christmas has nearly past Japan now...it's 9pm 25th December.
It was more of a Sunny Christmas than a White Christmas.
I didn't do much...just eat and watch Jigoku Shoujo.
My parcel from my mum has been delayed in Tokyo customs since 3am on Thursday. -__-
I've had my MSN and Skype on waiting for my mum and boyfriend to come online.
So far, I've talked to my mum...but my boyfriend has yet to contact me,
which is unusual since he's always early to rise on Christmas and it's nearly 12pm in the UK ;__;
I have 2 weeks+ off now!
I have 1 exam and 1 report due on the 12th January, 2 exams on the 13th of January
and a report due on the 18th January.
After that is over I'm off for Spring Break (just over 2 months holiday) until sometime in April, when the new semester starts.
In the job area of life, I've got 1 semi-permenant student! He says he wants lessons until March, but he might want to continue lessons longer than that.
Thanks to the 2000yen I got for our 1 hour lesson the other day, I was able to go and watch the Nodame Cantabile movie!
I really feel inspired to play since I watched it...but all of my instruments are at home in the UK. My playing is going to be soooo rusty!
I feel the need to take up violin too XD
When I can afford lessons and a violin!
As far as dolls go lately, I'm on the list for Minimee Eiri Yuki from Gravitation that's being ordered Feb or March.
I'm somehow hoping to save up for Dollmore Pado (boy) before I go back to the UK.
He's going to be my Tezuka ^__^
I'd really love the smirky Volks F-17 to be my Sebastian...but he's sooooo expensive!!!
I've been inspired by Jigoku Shoujo recently and I can't wait to get Yue cosplaying Enma Ai...so I've just requested a black and red Yukata commission.
The Yukata look really amazing in the photos and they're only $5!
I miss my dolls so much ;__;
As far as events go, I'm planning to go to Comiket next week.
Planning to buy a few doujin for myself and then some to make profit on Ebay with.
I hope I can survive the endless queuing!!!
It was more of a Sunny Christmas than a White Christmas.
I didn't do much...just eat and watch Jigoku Shoujo.
My parcel from my mum has been delayed in Tokyo customs since 3am on Thursday. -__-
I've had my MSN and Skype on waiting for my mum and boyfriend to come online.
So far, I've talked to my mum...but my boyfriend has yet to contact me,
which is unusual since he's always early to rise on Christmas and it's nearly 12pm in the UK ;__;
I have 2 weeks+ off now!
I have 1 exam and 1 report due on the 12th January, 2 exams on the 13th of January
and a report due on the 18th January.
After that is over I'm off for Spring Break (just over 2 months holiday) until sometime in April, when the new semester starts.
In the job area of life, I've got 1 semi-permenant student! He says he wants lessons until March, but he might want to continue lessons longer than that.
Thanks to the 2000yen I got for our 1 hour lesson the other day, I was able to go and watch the Nodame Cantabile movie!
I really feel inspired to play since I watched it...but all of my instruments are at home in the UK. My playing is going to be soooo rusty!
I feel the need to take up violin too XD
When I can afford lessons and a violin!
As far as dolls go lately, I'm on the list for Minimee Eiri Yuki from Gravitation that's being ordered Feb or March.
I'm somehow hoping to save up for Dollmore Pado (boy) before I go back to the UK.
He's going to be my Tezuka ^__^
I'd really love the smirky Volks F-17 to be my Sebastian...but he's sooooo expensive!!!
I've been inspired by Jigoku Shoujo recently and I can't wait to get Yue cosplaying Enma Ai...so I've just requested a black and red Yukata commission.
The Yukata look really amazing in the photos and they're only $5!
I miss my dolls so much ;__;
As far as events go, I'm planning to go to Comiket next week.
Planning to buy a few doujin for myself and then some to make profit on Ebay with.
I hope I can survive the endless queuing!!!
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