We started out our day eating breakfast at the restaurant on the bottom floor. We just had to eat there. When we did our scouting mission a couple months ago, the breakfast buffet was so good, we just had to come back. I met Rehan again. He was the waiter I had a long business conversation with the last time we were here. He again greeted us. Actually he recognized me right away. That was cool. Anyway, we all enjoyed our breakfast.

After breakfast, we took the bus to the convention center to start out second day. The first event that we went to is the David Hayter panel (of Metal Gear Solid fame as Snake). Damn there was a lot of people at the panel. It was stupid of the staff not to seat everyone as soon as possible. There was a long line that went outside the center. And when we finally got to sit down, the panel already started. People were coming in until about half way through the one hour long panel. During the panel, Mr. Hayter was answering fans’ questions. Some questions were good but a lot of stupid questions, requests and self promotion also. The latter half probably screwed a lot of the remaining people who actually wanted to ask more appropriate questions. But I guess that fun part of it then.

Then Adrian, Lawrence and I left a tad early and got in line for the Yoko Ishida featuring Jyukai concert. I just thought “why should we get in line” when we could just go let tickets thirty minutes before the concert and get tickets then? Well, when Tim and Francis came to meet with us, we three headed to exhibit hall to roam around. Round and round. Soon Adrian and Lawrence met up with us, but just as quickly we met, we broke ranks again and went out separate ways. We eventually met up in front of the exhibit hall to go to the concert. We barely made it. I thought I had to check in the vidoe camera again, like yesterday, but security let me though. Cool. But no turning it on!

The convert overall was good, not as good as the SKIN concert at AX last year, but good none the less for the style of music. Yoko was signing and dancing solo with backup dancers to her karaoke music CDs. She sang songs from some of her works and a lot of para-para dancing songs. On the other hand, Jyukai sang solo with a guitarist backup. Again, she sang a lot of “Ah! Megamisama” songs from her karaoke CDs, minus the guitar track which was live.

After the concert we were waiting on the Nokia lobby because we though Adrian had to take care of some business, but later found out he skipped over the dealers hall. So we went to the dealers hall to meet up with him again. As as usual, one we met up, we go separated. Lawrence went to the Jyukai signing. Tim and Francis disappeared. So Adian and I roamed around again. On the way to get a drink, I met up with my old high school buddy, John. We chatted a little bit and he introduced me to his wife and baby. The last time I met him three years ago, they were still dating. Now they’re married. Cool. We caught up a little bit and stuff going on with our other mutual friends, we exchanged numbers and went our separate ways. It was good seeing him again. I couldn’t call him in the past three years because I never got his number. I give my number to him though, but he never called. Bummer. Anyway, Adrian and I wandered some more and stayed put by the Copic Marker booth to rest and have everyone meet up with us. Everyone eventually did. But while waiting, we met up with another acquaintance of of our, James and his friend. We just chatted about work stuff and then they left. In the meantime, Bam Zoom was having a signing with Patty Lee of the ASOS. Tim seriously wanted to go, but didn’t have anything for her to sign. So we left and went back to the Bonaventure just to eat dinner at Subway.



Nobody was sure what they wanted to do so Adian and I went back to the convention center to goof off and watch the premier of Helsing IV. We took a little pictures. And while waiting in line for the premier, we met these two girls, one from Illinois and the other from Colorado. They were cosplaying as Rey and Asuka from Evangelion. We talked about anime mostly, cosplay, anime movie rumors and a lot of stories of other conventions we went too. I forgot to ask their name which was stupid of me, but I took their picture. Thanks you guys. The Helsing IV premier was good. It really wasn’t my think with all the violence and blood, but I enjoyed it. And that’s it! End of day two. I just wished we could’ve done more today. Sorry we didn't take more pictures.

After getting us early, we all got ready to start our day. For breakfast we ate at Carl’s Jr across from the Bonaventure. I thought that, as a group, we made a pact not to eat junk food for a year. But I guess I missed the memo because eveyone said it was supposed to me until AX. Oh well, I gave in. After AX I’ll continue the no “No Junk Frood Pact.”

Tim called and was on his way. We talked a bit about the plan at Carl’s. After we ate, we went back to the Bonaventure to catch the shuttle. In the meantime, I went to the front desk to leave Tim a key to room. On the way to shuttle stup, we were surprised to find out that it was a bus that’ll shuttle people to and fro the hotel and convention center. Cool. It had A/C too!

We arrived at the convention center to look for line for the Opening Ceremonies. It was at the Nokia Theater, as we figured and waited a long time in line. Now it’s 1020 and Tim just arrived in LA. We’re instide the Nokia waiting for the Opening Ceremonies to begin.



The Opening Ceremonies wasn’t anything to write home about. But the demonstration of the Japanese seiyuu students was very interesting. There was a big ovation for David Hayter (Snake, MGS4) when he was introduced. During the ceremony, I was videotaping. But while doing that, I was stopped by Nokia personnel. Even though they let video cameras in (which they weren’t supposed to do), they stopped me anyway. The rest of the guests of honors were introduced. During and after the introduction of Shoko Nakagawa, she didn’t have a chance to speak as with the other guests. It was pretty messed up! David Hayter had a chance to speak after his mic was fixed, the Shoko, who was the second to be intoruced didn’t. This was a big oversight by Expo and pretty disrespectful to Shoko. She was left hanging as the Opening Ceremonies ended. Oh yeah, Tim showed up finally outside the Nokia Theater.



12:30

As always, there was a mad dash to the exhibit hall. But the difference is...there’s total lack of order! It was chaos! Everyone’s waiting outside the doors of the exhibit hall. Nobody knew what was going on. So to be out of the crowd, we decided to find an out-of-the-way place to relax. Lawrence and I were separated from the guys, but we proceeded to the designated spot. They didn’t show up. They went to a panel instead. On the way to the panel, Lawrence and I met up with Adrian, but not Tim and Francis. We stayed with Adrian for a bit, then Lawrence left to meet the other guys.



Adrian and I went to the “Gundam 30 Year” fan panel. The room that it was held in was college classroom style. A short 20 minute video was shown showcasing all the Gundam shows in the last 20 years. Only one wasn’t shown, “Gundam F91.” The fan panel was interesting. It was mostly a question and answering panel.

After the panel, Adrian and I finally got to go the exhibit hall. Unlike last year, there was nowhere to to rest the tired otaku. So we just wandering around the hall looking at stuff. I remembered that in Fanime, Broccoli was premiering “MosMode” magazine in the us with a presale as AX before the general public later on in the month. So I bought the AX special. And we wandered around some more. Later on we got in contact with Lawrence and Tim to meet us in the dealers hall. After met, we headed back to the Bonaventure to regroup and go to dinner.



We ate at some Japanese restaurant that was not worth mentioning. It was too pricey. Authentic Japanese food at authentic Japanese prices. I don’t recommend the restaurant. A lesson learned. After dinner, we relaxed a bit in our room and Francis finally showed up. We relaxed some more. Now we were deciding who’s going to the AMVs or the Battle of the Bands.



Since the bands thing starts later than the AMVs. Adrian and I joined Tim and Lawrence at the AMVs in the Nokia Theater. The AMVs started at 2000. Finally an event started at the right time. Adrain and I stayed to watch one set of AMVs, the action set. We then left for Battle of the Bands. The first band that played was the opening act for the event. They were a Japanese band called “GaGaaLing.” They were a pretty good goth hard rock band. The rest of the bands that played were local bands that played one song each. We left as soon as it was over. We didn’t even wait for the announcement of the winner. So that’s it. We went back to the hotel. End of the first day.