Death Smiles 2 cosplay at AOU 2009

(tags cosplay, arcade, convention, Tokyo, gothic lolita, loli, Death Smiles)

This is gothic lolita right? Even though the clothes aren't black and white.

This cosplay promotion is for Cave's Death Smiles 2. All I gotta say is thanks Geemaga. This one has better lighting than this other guy's pictures... but his has some background info: (official?) cosplayer for "Spee" (sp?), a 150 cm tall, 15 years old, idoru talent named Eri Yamaguchi. Oh, and here I am thinking that the creases in her face makes her older, like legal or something. One more from Gigazine, with some video.

As for the actual game, Death Smiles and 2, I'll buy them on the Xbox 360, but it will be my first time to play them. It's a Cave shmup, that's good enough for me.

Dream Party 2008-11: Osaka, a mere shadow of Tokyo

(tags gal game, over 18, Osaka, Tokyo, failure, Dream Party, telephone card, goods)

Before arriving to Dream Party 2008-11 "Akiba-kei" adult gal game and cosplay convention at Intex-Osaka, I was already disappointed. I bought the 1000 yen ticket without consulting the attending list. I assumed that the same booths at the Tokyo show would be here as well, but I thought wrong. Particularly, I was hoping for a reprise of "Doki Doki! Tama-tan". I already have the pink Tama-tan figure and the CDs (which were not very good actually), but they had some exclusive telephone cards back in 2008-10, and I missed it. I also missed the auction snipering but then again I have limits (and others don't... boo).

So, I really didn't feel like going on this rainy day. But what the hey, I need to check the game shops in Osaka anyway for Mirror's Edge, so why not.

The pre-paid ticket was available at Sofmaps across the land. They are one of the sponsors for the event. Intex Osaka is where they had that Wii introduction event back in 2006 and of course, I previously went to a Dream Party in 2004 or 2005. It's probably about 30 minutes from Nipponbashi through convenient trains. At the door they were checking ID for age verification, and I successfully got this limited-ages pamphlet which I have to show to enter the event. Because the event is mainly over-18 content with 30 or more booths, while the all ages content is a slim 3 booths. Ha.

So, knowing that the only reason to be at this convention was gone, I just stumbled around looking at the sights. Actually, it was a perfect opportunity to grab some other telephone card designs. That is, if I could beat out the other wanton otaks. They are pretty strong, actually.

I scoped out some the Little Busters goods. There was a special Kuda-tan mini pencil card set for 2000 yen at ToyPla. I've seen all the illustrations over and over again in telephone cards and other goods, but still I wanted it. Unfortunately ToyPla ran out at only 12:30. The guy at the counter told me in plain english "Sold Out", even though I waited in the unruly line and the sign wasn't updated to reflect it. I wasn't pissed though. Some other good stuff to get.

Age, makers of my favorite gal game Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (君が望む永遠), had a bunch of concert DVDs and radio CDs for sale. It would have been my chance to get some "Tomoko Ishibashi"/ Chiaki Takahashi stuff, but I haven't finished the related radio CDs so I passed. I can probably get them next time at the Spring 2009 Dream Party or even Comic Market if I go.

And actually, I was reading famed "rubber stamp" (and recent rice bag and strawberry) illustrator Aoi Nishimata's blog and she said she would attend Dream Party in Osaka. I didn't get to see her, but there was a lot of her stuff there. Booths and even ita-shas (cars with moe stickers). Nice. Lines were long and everything pretty much sold out, proving that people still like her illustrations.

So here I am with some telephone cards. From the top left, it's Chuable Soft's Sugar + Spice which went from gal game to the all-consumer PlayStation 2 version in 2008-09. I like the illustrator Gintaro (ぎん太) because of the simple design and the nice eyes.

On the right is "Marie Ludel" telephone card and pencil card from Paletto's Sakura Strasse (さくらシュトラッセ), which was an over-18 game released in 2008-01. This particular illustration was probably released earlier, for the accompanying radio show. Again the appeal for me is the illustrator Kusu Kusu's style (くすくす).

Finally, the bottom is a Halloween-themed telephone card and daishi from Windmill's upcoming gal game, La Campanella Della Benedizione (祝福のカンパネラ). I don't intend to buy this game, but I already have some telephone cards from previous magazine illustrations (which I didn't bother to post, oops). I even have some of the character CDs, which are pretty fun to listen to. Windmill was also responsible for (the now 3 year old!) gal-game turned anime Happiness.

Ah well, I wrote down most of the things I want to remember about today. I am disappointed with the no-show Tama-tan, but I can only blame myself for not doing the homework.

Don't drink the local water

(tags travel, Tokyo, failure)

Um, there's something strange with the water in Tokyo. In any case my ear felt weird and I felt a little down. This was after I enjoyed an immersive bath at the hotel. What, do they get the water directly from Ochanomizu river?

Where to begin: Donut run 2007/05

(tags travel, Tokyo, snack)

OMG, the last two days felt more like a real vacation than the first seven days (of my nine day Golden Week). FFXII:RW? It doesn't compare at all. I have so much hobby blog post ideas but I don't have enough time. So lets start with an easy one:

After finishing the Ichigo Masimaro voice actor event (帰ってきた「苺ましまろでショー」in豊島公会堂イベント), I went to the first and only Krispy Kreme donut shop in Japan, located south of the Shinjuku station. Even though it was about 9 PM on a Sunday night, there was a 40 minute wait to get into the store.

Actually, I've only had a Krispy Kreme donut once, when I was in San Diego. I was planning to buy a dozen for the trip back home to Kobe. But! While I was in line, the store attendant gave me a free glazed donut. It tasted pretty good, and there was no doubt I would blaze through a whole box. But after I finished the donut just at the threshold of the building, I decided I didn't need to buy donuts. So I left the line still licking my glazed lips, content with just the memory.

Off to see the seiyuu

(tags anime, failure, games-of-chance, Ichigo Masimaro, live, seiyuu, Tokyo, voice actor, game, import)

Well I'm turning in, so that I can get a jump on the shinkansen tomorrow. So that I can attack the Akiba stores on Saturday. So I won't have to worry about Sunday. So that I can show up to the Ichigo Masimaro voice actor event (帰ってきた「苺ましまろでショー」in豊島公会堂イベント) with good seats (but seat assignment is a raffle).

But I'm laid back you see. The only thing I need to worry about is being at Ikebukuro at 16:00 on Sunday afternoon. No problem.

I haven't prepared anything except the invite and what import video games I should consider. Racketboy is putting spike in my punch with his recommendation for TMNT for the GBA. And I don't really want anything... except Puzzle Quest for the DS, and maybe some PSP games like After Burner: Black Falcon and Ratchet & Clank. Perhaps I'll see some telephone cards, or I'll see some CDs to complete my collection. Shoot, I should have prepared my inventory. My memory is not so good, but it keeps telling me it's excellent.

Well I am bringing an extra PSP battery (from my silver) and charge cables for iPod, DS and PSP, but its all really dead weight until I wait in line on Sunday. I should not be playing my games when stores are open! Plus I have a plan to reconnoiter Ikebukuro on Saturday night to make sure I don't get lost. I do wish that my copy of Harry Potter was electronic so I can get rid of dead-tree weight. I am not bringing my computer, there's plenty of Internet cafes to be had.

I am wondering if I'm going to write up this event. I failed to write up the Sachi Tainaka (タイナカサチ) live in-store event (last year), the Halko Momoi (桃井はるこ) live in-store event (last year), and even the recent Midori Karashima (辛島美登里) event (last month). I took notes,though! I'm not aiming to report at full verbosity like I did with Yoko Ishida (石田燿子) or Savage Genius, but just a liked it/hated it would be useful.

Um, maybe I should get to sleep now? With this, my vaction in Kobe (at home) is officially over.

Good and bad luck is with me: Ichigo Masimaro Voice Actor Event

(tags anime, games-of-chance, Ichigo Masimaro, live, voice actor, seiyuu, Tokyo, failure)

Yesterday was a good day. This whole week has been a good week actually, but let's concentrated on specifics.

One contributing factor was that I won the chance to see the Ichigo Masimaro voice actor event (帰ってきた「苺ましまろでショー」in豊島公会堂イベント) in person. I had all but given up hope of going to this event.

But unfortunately, it's on a Sunday (2007/05/06). Furthermore, the event starts at 19:00. I have to be at work on the following day! Did I mention it's near Ikebukuro? Which means Tokyo, which means returning to Kobe via overnight bus is not an option, and neither is Shinkansen or a plane flight. I can't help but think that the Shinkansen will be packed on the Monday morning...

I'm elated and depressed at the same time. This is one of those times where I wished I lived in Tokyo for my hobbies. Oh I'll definately be there, but I'm going to face hell at work, but that's fine.