Golden Week- Shops Are Closed and a bit of Life Update

If you rely on Japanese websites like I do for things, you'll notice that pretty much all of them have come to a standstill for the first week of May. This has to deal with their holiday called Golden Week. But why is it that most things come to a standstill when it comes to sites like Amiami and such? It mainly has to deal with every one taking their vacation time and it's a popular time for travel (this includes overseas travel as well). So even though the celebration ends May 5th in Japan, most companies will observe the holiday time for just a bit longer.

So even though I know Golden Week is happening I keep going to sites like Amiami and then being sad because I know there's no updates. I've been having a bit of health problems and I still feel a bit sick from time to time, along with school and there's a ton of writing in both along with basically at least 4 chapters of reading. But I will have more updates; I have lots of pictures and I still have to edit all the pictures from the GSCxMax Factory panel from Sakura-con even though it's late. Also I've been watching One Piece, from the very beginning.

More updates will be soon, also I have a convention even though it's small this week about ball joint dolls, so I will probably talk about that too.

Sakuracon 2015- Good Smile Company Booth

Sakura-con 2015 was an amazing year; there was lots of fun stuff to do.

On the first day of the con we actually got to our hotel at a little bit past 9am and we were able to check in already also a huge thanks to Henry and the staff at the Roosevelt as always for giving great service; which goes above and beyond expectations.

Anyway the dealers hall opened at 10am and I made sure that with my group of friends that we went to the GSC booth before anything else. And we were one of probably the first 30 people in line. And all of us were able to get everything that we wanted. But what was even great was the area that they were in had lots of toys and displays that they brought with them for even more fun.

Snow Miku was a popular purchase for most people though I was in there to get the nendoroid Sayaka and Kyoko. Though when I went to make my purchase I noticed they had the Shimakaze nendoroid and purchased that as well. From what I had overheard by the time I picked up my nendoroids they were almost out of the Kyoko/Sayaka pack. Which would make sense, because c'mon they're together and cute.

Besides that there were toys and figures all over. And some of them made me greatly regret that I don't like Figma.

I remember watching Big O on TV, and recall fondly the dub of the series and my overall love of the series. I remember when I got heavy into collecting toys and figures, the orders for Roger Smith were just closed. I did though enjoy looking at them, and I am pretty sure I stared at them for a good couple of minutes.

All the Kill la Kill that they had. Also the Ryuko is actually pretty badass looking in real life. Though I'm not too keen on the prototypes legs being like that with only one grounded while the other is just hanging there. But still looks cool none the less.

On the side, of their booth is were the face drawing challenge was, and for only $2 you can make your own nendoroid faceplate and keep it.

It wasn't available at the beginning of the day for obvious reasons, but I didn't have time to do it due to scheduling problems. But luckily enough Mamitan let us buy one so that I could paint it at home. And yes, I will hopefully be doing that soon, if not I have a nopperabo face just for fun. But in all seriousness I'll probably have the face painted within a couple of months because I already have paint, I just lack brushes for small scale and finite detail. Though at the area where the expression drawing was, they were using gundam markers.

Overall the GSC booth was amazing and a blast like last year. I hope they come back to Sakura-con again, not only because they bring some of the best toys and figures with them. But because the events that they had were amazing.

Q-Pot x Sailor Moon Goods

The Japanese accessory brand Q-Pot is known for having rather unique style all its own; all created by a man named Tadaaki Wakamatsu. Wakamatsu designed Q-pot not only as an accessory brand, but also as a tool for means of communication. If you're asking yourself how does that actually work, trust me, people do take notice that what you have is something unique, but it's not something bad, but rather a feeling of happiness or having a smile come over your face. But also Wakamatsu as well cares about people all over the world, and education of kids and women in more impoverished nations. Q-Pot accessories are made in Japan with a great deal going into design (all items are designed by Wakamatsu himself) and even down to the packaging; which means the items are pricey, but I've bought a few items, and I feel the price is worth it.

Besides his own unique take on items, Wakamatsu works with artists and designers and created unique collaborations based on them. While a lot of his more known collaborations have been with Disney, the Sailor Moon collaboration has taken his iconic look and design and mixed it perfectly well with the 90's magical girl anime.

Crystal Star Macaron Bag Charm-18,000 yen

First is a macaron based on Usagi's compact that she uses for transformation. It's a really iconic item that takes well to Q-Pot's design. The top of the macaron does have more mass detail than the back like it would in real life. Though my only complain really about this item is that it's just for your bag/purse and they didn't make it a necklace. A more intricate design like this; and the fact that it is a compact that Usagi wears on her chest, really should have made it a necklace or a brooch instead.

Moon Phase Pocket Watch Necklace-24,00 yen

Now this is more of my style of item; the Orgel. While there are lots of these already made by individual artists and groups on the internet, Q-Pot took theirs one step further and put an image of the Usagi and Mamoru to show off even more that it's a Sailor Moon item. Since this is an official collaboration I'm actually glad they decided to do something like this, instead of the traditional we're going to make it a locket playing Moonlight Densetsu. Though I haven't seen it on a person yet, I have no idea if this is a big piece or a small one, but I will be leaning towards big because of the details within the necklace.

As of all Q-Pot collaboration items, they're a bit more pricier than their regular stuff, but also keep in mind there will be limited quantities and pretty much this may be a preorder only type of deal. While I wish that I can get my hands on either one of these, by the time I do have this type of money after Sakura-con it will probably be too late. I just hope the Q-Pot blog will have someone wearing one of these so I can admire them.

Bloodborne is out...I need a PS4

The endless cycle continues

Usually I am not the type of person who buys a console or anything during its early stages, but Bloodborne just recently came out on the PS4 and I just cannot stop watching let's plays of it to satiate my desire to play it. Right now I'm watching theRadBrad playing as a lady through Bloodborne. And I got to say it really not only is my cup of metaphorical tea, but the female model looks damn well nice and makes me want to actually play as a girl.

While Hidetaka Miyazaki said it has the DNA of Demon Souls, it's its own thing, and not a successor to the game which a lot of people thought it would be. But you know what I am ok with that. Honestly though, I would have never thought I would have loved the games that From Software put out as they don't seem like the things I would play; but I fell in love with the Soul series. I think I'm just a glutton for punishment, though things like dying constantly don't bug me.

Anyway back to Bloodborne, the gothic style of the game just really makes me happy as it's an aesthetic I really love. As those are the types of fantasy situations I would write about when I was a kid and would pretend I was a hero in fighting against all sorts of spiritual and fairytale apparitions and monsters. I remember when I was young back in elementary school, a girl who liked anime back then let me borrow her VHS copy of Vampire Hunter D and my mom and I watched it together. I think it was that and the combination of the Adams Family that lead me down the gothic aesthetic.

Which means that Bloodborne feels like nostalgic to me without honestly playing it yet. But it feels like a thing I need to play. So I'll just have to get one soon after saving up for a bit. Hopefully by then there will be even more games I want for the system instead of a few choice ones.

More Sakura-con Fun from Good Smile Company

Today I was bombarded with all sorts of information from Good Smile Company about what they were bringing for Sakura-con. We only have the images of the limited items that they're bringing for sure, but that's enough to know I will have to be there early, as soon as the dealers hall opens.

They're bringing the Snow Miku again. Even though I have already the nendoroid on preorder, if they're avaliable I will so be getting another one, because I really think she's a cutie. Also for sure want those capsule toys and the Kyoko and Sayaka from Madoka Magica. I mean I already have three different Madoka nendoroids, but I really like that Kyoko, because it is what we see her wearing for most of the series. Also those cute capsule toys, I just want to line up all the cuties on top of my monitor or near my bed because cuties being cute.

Also we're getting the whole faceplate drawing thing, and that's going to be fun. I can't remember where I saw this at, but I remember seeing a video from Japan with this; it may have been something about Wonfes but I am not sure. Anyway super stoked for this little event, as it should be a lot of fun. I mean who doesn't love drawing on blank faces.

I just checked the Sakura-con website and found that there's a link to a video that GSC has put out for it, so here it is.   

 I am really excited for all the events from GSC and will be looking forward to the live sculpting event which is followed by a Q&A about the Japanese collectibles industry.

Really stoked and barely over a week left before the fun.

Monthly Purchase for March

Well I haven't done one of these in a long time. I just got in a huge amount of stuff from AmiAmi and I thought I would share it with you. Well it's not huge, but my box was pretty big. Inside contained a figure and some other things inside.


All the images have been taken with my iPhone, so hopefully the images look good. Also who doesn't love the cute Amico illustrations that Amiami sends people, because I know I love them.

So with my package I got a little bit of all sorts of things, and lets' just start out with the two things that kind of are different from all the rest; a CD and a game case.

I ended up getting the 24 card case for the 3DS from Hori and the Persora: The Golden Best 2 album. Oddly enough I actually found the first volume at Kinokuniya and bought it. I personally like volume 2 better because it has songs like Backside of the TV and Light the Fire Up in the Night from Persona Q. If you like P4 you should get volume one and volume two for P3. Though both have a good mix of songs, so honestly get both if you're into music collecting from video games.

 I also started to collect Gugure Kokkuri-san Bluray and poster collection. I haven't opened any of the posters yet but probably will pretty soon. If I have any duplicates I'll probably sell them online, because what am I going to do with all those posters. it's a pretty full box. The Bluray itself is pretty cool, I haven't watched any of my new Bluray's yet, but out of all of them, I think Gugure Kokkuri-san has a pretty interesting box style.

 I also bought an Otome game for the PC. It's called Taisho x Taisho Alice. This is volume one and I have ordered volume 2 as well. I haven't done anything besides looked at case itself and it seems like a genderbent version of fairytale characters. On the cover is Cinderella and Red Ridding Hood. But on the back is more fairytale characters. I'm sure this is going to be quite an interesting game, I hope to have either some sort of review or in progress shots as I go along. It should be a pretty good time as I really love Alice in Wonderland.

I also bought a few Hello Kitty x DRRR covers for my phone. I will be honest, I really only got an iPhone just for the cute covers along with the fact that I've been using the same phone for about 5 years without getting a new one. I did need one, so I bought an iPhone since the camera on it is pretty ok too. I was pleasantly surprised though, that the covers were all made in Japan. Right now I'm using the Heiwajima Shizuo one right now, but I probably will switch it to the white one or the other one in a couple of weeks. I actually have quite a few anime covers already, and will most likely be getting more in the future.

There is one thing I did get that made the majority of the box, but I just couldn't take a good picture and that's of my Sol Badguy figure. Hopefully once I open it, I can take pictures of it. But as of right now I cannot.

I do have more Blurays coming in but that's not really anything of a big deal. Hopefully during Sakuracon I should have images up of what I buy or things that I do, so look forward to that.

Sakuracon 2015 Plans

It's almost Easter, with that said more importantly for me, it's almost Sakura-con time. I've attended a few anime cons both big (like Anime Expo) and smaller ones as well, but I've always liked Sakura-con the best. I feel as if it's always getting better each year, and varies out what it does and focuses on each year.

This year I'm excited for quite a few guests, events and the concert.

First off the concert is both going to have Kanako Ito and GARNiDELiA. If you have no idea who either of these people are Kanako Ito does a lot of vocal music for Nitro+ games including Steins;Gate while GARNiDELiA has done music for various animes including Kill la Kill.

I'm very excited because I've never seen either live but I've watched a live of Kanako Ito doing Skyclad Observer and I really enjoy how her voice sounds just as lovely as it does in recordings. Also Kill la Kill's second opening is vastly superior, in my opinion.

There will also be both a BlazBlue and Guilty Gear Xrd tournament as well. Though I won't participate, I will be watching the tournament going on if I have nothing to do or if there aren't any events that I will be going to.

I'm also really excited for the Good Smile Company guys as well as h.NAOTO coming to the US. My friend told me the Good Smile guys are going to do a live sculpting event, and if that's true... It's going to be amazing. I went last year to the Magi/Sword Art Online live drawing and it was super fun.

I've got a little bit of money saved for the con so if I see something I like I'll make sure to get it. For sure I will be going to the Good Smile Company booth first to see what they're all selling, which is my main thing as I buy multiples of a lot of toys (for modding), but usually isn't much I buy because you know, online shopping.

I will make sure to post everyday of the con hopefully or at least have a huge megapost at the end of the con.

I have 22 more days before 3 days of con fun. I cannot wait!