For starters, this was a trip that was not supposed to be. A couple weeks ago, I looked into the idea of going to the festival. For many, many years now, I have always wanted to go to the festiva, but never had the chancel. It sounded good and everyone agreed. In addition, we were to take the Metrorail there. Little Tokyo was just across the freeway from Union Station, so it would’ve been an easy day trip. No fuss, no hassles. Well, maybe on a timetable. Anyway, it was a good, easy and executable plan. Wrong. Due to everyone’s individual circumstances and price for a roundtrip train ticket, Lawrence and I were the only ones that went...by car. Even the decision to go was questionable. “But screw it! Let’s go anyway.”

We were about to leave at nine this morning, but it was good that we left earlier. It was smooth trip to LA. No problems with parking. But we were early. Good thing we were because with all the people that showed up later in the day, there was no parking left.

Since nothing started until 11, we decided to get coffee first. We walked through the community center area were all vendors were setting up shop. Actually we were looking for a Starbucks after someone walked by carrying their coffee, but we decided on a café in Weller Court. It’s funny, the café turned out to be the one were we usually buy drinks. I still can’t remember the name...oh yeah, it’s “Senka Café.” So we killed time there and drank coffee. Well, I’m the one that only did.

So after a long while, we went to Kinokuniya Bookstore to browse around. I was on a mission to buy some back issues of “Newtype Magazine” because my subscribing service screwed up. I couldn’t go here the last time we were in LA because of a “sake” issue where we had to kill time. I only found one that I needed, so I guess I have to try to order then from Japan myself. But I did buy a couple more things. On the way out of the store, we came across some t-shirts. It was tempting, but I backed off on it. Lawrence got one though. Well chilled a bit outside the store. We noticed that the store was setting up stands outside. They’re having a sale. Miscellaneous stuff and magazine back issues for a buck. One drawback though...it started at 11. It was about 10:45. So we had to wait for it. We didn’t wait though.



Instead, we decided to to check out the auto show. On the way there, we walked by Anime Jungle. It was still closed. So we continued through Japanese Village Plaza. We noticed random cosplayers showing up. Actually, they started showing up at Weller Court earlier. There were already a lot of people in the plaza, as well as a lot of vendors setting shop outside. There were shops that were open that we usually don’t see when we visited in the past. About this time of the morning was synonymous to a “normal” Saturday back in it’s heyday, during the 80s. So I could only imagine how it was during the Nisei Festival back then. When we reached the other side of the plaza, where the tower is, I accidentally came across my buddy Patrick under the tower. It was totally a coincidence. He was cosplaying as shinsengumi, a samurai police force from the Meiji era. So we were catching up on things since we didn’t have chance to talk back in Anime LA. I didn’t see him at Expo, but he was there.



When all is said and done, we didn’t go to the car show after all. It was where it was and wasn’t going anywhere. So we went to the Japanese Museum area to check things out. They were having the Tanabata Festival, a festival usually celebrated on July 7th to celebrate the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi. I’m not sure what the name of those hanging decoration were, but they were beautiful. On the way out, we skipped the car show again and went back to Kinokuniya to check out their sale. We kind’a missed out. Most of the magazines we wanted were already bought. Bummer. But we still got some good old mags for a buck each.



Now it was time to check out the car show. After stashing our loot in the car, we proceeded to the car show. But before that, we checked out the stuff at the community center area. All the stands were all now up and running. A lot more people and there were stage shows going on. There was a Sumo demonstration that was about to begin, but we passed on it. I found the this stand about the rail system that was going to be constructed, from LA to SF. I talked to them a bit and told them how I voted for the measure. They were cool to talk to. I even got interviewed on my thoughts about the matter.

Japanese Village Plaza was totally packed by this time. So many people in a smaller that usual space. Well, what can I say about the car show. It was awesome. It was the kind of car show I’d like to go to. It’s nothing like the LA Auto Show. The Show Off Car Show, which I didn’t know, showcased fixed-up imports. Now that’s what I want to see. Sure I like the other auto shows, but I liked this one better. And there were hot chicks there, too. Hell, what else can you ask for? Right? “More hot chicks!” There were plenty enough around the festival though. One other thing though. I totally regret not taking my camera with me. I had to use my cell phone camera to take the pictures. And it was already running out of juice.

It’s midday now and it’s getting really hot on the black top. Time to eat a late lunch. Earlier that day, Lawrence and I already decided to eat curry at the Curry House. We’ve already had Orochon ramen back during Expo and usually eat curry at the Rowland Heights restaurant, so it’s time to try this place. But on the why to Weller and through the plaza, we finally stopped at Anime Jungle. Again there was a lot of stuff we wanted to get but can’t or not willing to get. One thing though, it was packed! A lot more than usual. Wall-to-wall otaku and non-otaku. LOL, so easy to tell them apart!



When we arrived at the Curry House, there was already a bunch of people in line. Actually a long list of people were waiting to get in an eat. There was about a 25-minute wait. I put my name down. In the meantime, I went downstairs to Senka Café (again) to get a drink because of the long wait and it really hot now. Oooo, finally, a nice cool drink to cool down on a blistering hot downtown day. So Lawrence followed suit. After several minutes of waiting inside the restaurant after our drinks, we finally got to eat. Finally, some real food. At the end of lunch Lawrence got a curry pan to go.

After the satisfying lunch, we wandered around the plaza. We pretty much accomplished what we set out to do. There was one place I wanted to visit. It’s a snack place that I saw on the Food Network where they made Japanese snacks. This time I really forgot the name of the place. I know where it is because we went there before, but I haven’t tried their food. What I wanted was takoyaki (grilled octopus balls, no pun intended), but they ran out. I was told by the vendor that more are being prepared. We waited a little and I finally got it. We sat down to eat...again. I had my takoyaki and Lawrence had his curry pan. In the meantime, Pat came by and hanged around for a bit. When we finished eating, Pat went off.

We then decided to check out Anime Jungle #2, an extension of the other store. Here, they sold manga, videos, models, CDs and goth loli-related items. While the other store sold figures and other miscellaneous stuff. We picked up a few more things here. So after shopping, we bought some drinks back at the plaza and wandered around again. It was already about three so we we decided to head out.

One more round around the village. While walking, I finally figured out what that “grilled” smell we kept smelling all day. At first I thought it was grilled fish, but it turned out to be grilled squid. I always wanted to try it, so I did. For three bucks, it was worth it. It was more like a six dollar snack. Delicious. After the snack, we walked around the other side of the plaza and found the Starbucks we were looking for that morning. So we’re off. Our original plan was to stop over at Frank’s because it was Saturday and at Sam Ash to get more thumb picks. We were too tired, so we skipped that plan. All in all, today was a well worth trip.

6/30/10

Day Zero: Suitcase, Ramen, and the Long Ass Line

Today started at 12:00am. I still haven’t completely packed and was fumbling around looking for a suitcase. By 2:00am I found a suitcase and was packed and ready to get some sleep, but as usual due to my internal clock, I wasn’t able to sleep until 5:15am and got an hour and 15 minutes of sleep. (Damn you internal clock!) So, I got up @ 6:30 and got ready. Ed and his wife came by my house around 7:00am. Ed’s wife dropped us off at the Riverside Metrolink station, and as I pulled my suitcase to the platform, I noticed that it was dragging a bit. I examined my suitcase to find out that the hinge that connected my wheel to the suit case was coming apart. (FML!) With my busted up suitcase in hand, I got on the train and it was off to the Union Station. The train ride was smooth and relaxing and upon arriving to the Union Station, I took notice the graffiti covering train yard. Besides just being an act of vandalism, it really is a beautiful display of art and gives Los Angeles its distinct looks. We arrive at the Union Station around 9:30am and hopped on the Dash to the Space Station lookin’, Westin Bonaventure. We grab some Starbucks across the street from the hotel, and then we check in, unpack, and chill in the room for about an hour and a half. Around noon, it was off Little Tokyo to grab a bite to eat. Taking the dash towards Little Tokyo we get off in front of City Hall and we walk the rest of the way. Ed (unknowingly?) jaywalks in front of City Hall and LA Police department; I quickly bring it to his attention. “Hey, you know we just know jaywalked in front City Hall right?” Ed: “Oh $h!t!” (LOL). Upon arriving at Little Tokyo, we decide to eat at Orochon Ramen. I made it a point to look for the picture of the guy from Man vs Food on their #2 Special Hall of Fame while we were there. (It was on the Bottom right corner LOL!) We eat on the outside patio and I order the Soy Sauce #3 with Chashu Pork, (Yummy!) After lunch, we head down starts to the Kinokuniya Bookstore and I buy a copy of Otakool Vol.2 Worldwide Cosplayers. Next, we head to the Murukai Market for some groceries pack to the hotel. We dropped of the stuff and it was off to Ralph’s for more groceries. We buy two 12 pack instant ramen, water jug and hot dogs and buns. Done with shopping, we head back to the hotel via the Dash. At the hotel we made an unfortunate discovery, the ramen we bought was the “to cook” and not “cup” ramen. (How’d we F that up?) “Ah, Screw it!” I said” and we headed out to pick up our badges at the LA Convention Center. The line for badge pick up was friggin’ HUGE! It took us about 2 ½ hours to pick our badges. After picking up our badges, we stopped by the Merchandise booth. They had some pretty cool stuff there; shirts, hoodies, light rings, pins, gutair picks, and light sticks. I ended up buying a shot glass, light stick and a light up ring. (I’m now a part of the Anime Expo Lantern Corp. XD) Afterwards, we took the Dash back to the hotel but before that, we ate Carl’s Jr for dinner and went back up the hotel room. Day Zero was officially over.


7/1/10

Day One: Openings, Panels, and Yoshiki Foundation

I get up around 6:30am and Ed and I head out to the Convention Center around 7:00am to make for Opening Ceremonies. Upon arriving, we make the decision to go to the Event Ticket line instead of the Nokia Theater where Opening Ceremonies (OC) was going to take place. We arrive at the line to find out you had to buy the tickets for specific concert and the cost $20 a ticket! We pick up our OC ticket and bought the May’n and Nakajima concert tickets. We head of to the Nokia Theater for OC and luckily it was open seating so we sat in the front row. As expected, OC didn’t start on time and people were frantically walking past in front us. I was starting to get irritated until Kyle Hebert (Eng. Voice Actor of: Adult Gohan -Dragonball Z, Kamina -Gurren Lagaan, Ryu -Street Fighter IV) walks by. “Oh shit! Is that Kyle Hebert?” I said. Ed responses back with “Who’s that?” I explain to him some of his works and Ed tells me go get a picture with him. I get up from my seat and asked Mr. Hebert for a picture with him and he responses with a smile “Sure!” I get my picture taken with him return to my seat. (Very cool guy that Kyle Hebert) OC finally starts with Danny Choo walking on stage decked out in his Storm Trooper outfit. He welcomes all of us to Anime Expo (AX) and announces he’ll be the MC for OC, but is interrupted by the supposed “real MC” (Personally I didn’t care much for this guy, it would have been better if Danny MC-ed.) The MC then proceeds to ask Danny to show off his dance skills and Danny does so. (The Tokyo Dancing Storm Trooper has landed in LA! XD) Next, the MC begins to announce each guest: AKB48, Beni, RSP (Real Street Preformers), Katsu Konishi, SOPHIA, Beni, Masakazu Morita, May’n and so forth with a small intro video prepared for each guest. After OP, Ed and I returned to the Convention Center and head off to the May’n panel that was a noon. The panel was good except for some of the “unintelligent” questions asked by some of the people in the audience. We ducked out the panel a little early and headed to the RSP concert. To my surprise the concert was held outdoors in the Nokia Live Plaza, a stage was constructed with 2 large screens on each side of the stage. The concert was awesome! RSP preformed both of their ending song from Bleach –Kansha and Tabidatsu Kimi and songs from their new album. It was a little hot being out in the sun but the cool breeze made it tolerable. The outdoor venue was a great idea and I hope Anime Expo does it again next year (Good Job Anime Expo! You did something smart…finally XP) Right after the RSP concert was Masakazu Morita (Seiyuu of Ichigo Kurosaki - Bleach, Tidus -Final Fantasy X) panel. Ed and I figured that the panel would start late (and it did XD), so we went through the plaza to find a place to buy something to drink. While passing around behind the stage, RSP was taking picture and with some people so we decided to do them same. Both Ed and I got a picture with RSP. Ai and Saki (RSP) looked like were having a blast meeting and greeting the people and the cosplayers. (Ah! Satoshi, its Satoshi!” One of them said in Japanese, while shaking hands with Ash from “Pokemon” XD). After finding something to drink, we headed back to the stage and the panel began. Morita came out dressed in a shinigami outfit and the crowd goes wild (as do I). Morita preformed a live script reading from a clip of the anime and then calls up 3 sets of 2 people; one male and one female to perform a live script reading as Ichigo and Rukia. After the groups preformed, the audience then chooses which group they liked by cheering and the winning group then preforms again and then Morita chose the winner of the two person group. The Rukia from the first group won the contest. (She was cosplaying as Rukia too LOL) After the panel, Ed leaves to drop off a hotel key to Tim and Susan so that they can drop off their stuff. I waited around the Nokia Theater to see if the AX staff were going to pass out tickets for the AKB48 concert, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I called Ed and told him that I was heading back to the hotel and to meet up with Tim and Susan. At the hotel, Tim and Susan arrive and unpack their stuff. We split up, Tim and Susan head to the Convention Center to pick up their badges, and Ed and I head down stairs to Subway for dinner. After dinner, we head over to the Convention Center and meet up with Tim and Susan. The four of us head over to the Nokia Theater to see if we can get tickets for the AMV’s. Tim and Susan went to grab something to eat while Ed and I looked for AX staff giving out tickets, but there was no one to be found. It was still a little warm outside, so we went to get something drink. We were enjoying drinks and ice cream outside a shop when all of a sudden, there was a line forming down the sidewalk. We asked what the line was for and found out it was for the Yoshiki Foundation. Yoshiki is the drummer and pianist for the Japanese rock group, X Japan. The event was not part of AX and that it was being held at the Nokia Club with free admission. The Yoshiki Foundation made a generous donation to the Make a Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and I forgot the last one XP. A Visual Kei Fashion Show and an X Japan music video for Born to be Free were shot in the club. The whole experience was amazing and a coincidence because the event was occurring the same time AX was going on. After the Yoshiki Foundation event, Ed and I were dead tired. We went back to the Convention Center to grab a shuttle home back to the hotel but what a awaited us was a long ass line to the shuttles. We cut our losses and hopped in a cab and shelled out $5 each for the ride. With that, Day One was over.


7/2/10

Day 2: Bleach, the Special Guest, and Vocaloids

It’s up and out to Convention Center for the Bleach panel at 9:00am. The panel started late as usual at 9:30am. The panel began with a showing of the Director’s Cut battle of Ichigo VS Ulquiorra and Episode 277 which aired that week in Japan. Afterwards, RSP came on stage and preformed Kansha and Tabidatsu Kimi again. (It was as good as it was yesterday, if not, better!) After RSP preformed, Morita hopped on stage and a Q&A was held. After the panel, Ed, Tim, and I headed to the Nokia Theater to catch the May’n and Nakajima concert, while Susan headed back to the Hotel. At the concert May’n preformed a set of various song from Macross series (Northern Cross ,etc) and later Megumi Nakajima joined her for a duet and performed a set of own songs from the Macross series(At this point Ed is an Shock and Awe) During the concert, Nakajima pointed out a piano on stage. While preforming, she mentions a “Special Guest” that would be appearing on stage. This guest is none other than Yoko Kanno! (Composer, Arranger, and Musician for Macross Plus, Turn A Gundam, Cowboy Bebop, The Vision of Escaflowne, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Wolf's Rain and others) The crowd stands up and a loud roar shakes the walls of Nokia Theater. Yoko Kanno takes her seat at the piano and preforms with Nakajima. May’n later joins the two and the 3 preform a set of songs which send chills down my spine. After their set, Yoko Kanno takes her leave and May’n and Nakajima preformed their final two songs; Lion and their own duet version of Maaya Sakamoto’s Triangular. Overall, the concert was EPIC and well worth the $20 I spent for the ticket. Originally after the concert we planned to go the Danny Choo panel at 3:15pm but the concert ran late and it was already 4:50-ish so, the three of us headed to the Exhibit Hall instead (This was 1st trip into the Exhibit Hall). Once we went into the Exhibit Hall, we went our own ways (well I did anyway). There so much stuff to see and so many things I wanted to buy. (maybe coming in here was a bad idea ;_;) Walking around I made an interesting discovery, Little Kuriboh was here! (Creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series on Youtube. Account Name: CardGamesFTW) I went up to his booth, pointed at him and looked at him funny. (Probably thought I was a weirdo LOL) He says,” Hi “and I respond with a “Hi”. “Uh..can I help you? “he says. To end this awkward moment, I purchase the Catapult Turtle shirt and get it autographed by him and leave immediately. (Yes, I’m very smooth, just like sandpaper.) With my new shirt in hand, I meet up with Tim and Ed and we head out to eat dinner. We eat at Lawry’s Carvery and I order a Prime Rib Bleu sandwich (:drools:) After dinner, we headed to the hotel and joined up with Susan and rested up a bit. All four of us headed out to see the Laser Light Show at the Nokia Live stage. Upon our arrival, there was an AX Staff member passing out ticket to MELL’s concert. The concert was already an half an hour in but we didn’t care. We get some tickets and waltz right on in the Nokia Theater. She sang the opening songs to Sky Girls and Black Lagoon. The concert was awesome. After the concert, Tim and Susan headed back to the hotel and Ed and I headed to the Vocaloid panel. (The only Vocaloid I know of is Hatsune Miku) The Vocaloid panel was really interesting and I was really getting into it. During the panel, in the corner of my eye, I notice Ed was dozing in and out of sleep. It was to be expected, the panel was from 9:30pm-11:00pm. No surprise to exhausted from all the things we accomplished today. We duck out the panel a little early and head back to hotel. Day 2 was over.

7/3/10

Day 3: Toradora! Kamen Rider Eternal, and the Masquerade

Ed and I get up earlier than usual and eat breakfast in the lobby. There to greet us was our old buddy Rehan who, we met 2 years ago and he hooked us up with free omelets (NICE!) After breakfast, we head over to the Convention Center, the first panel we head out to see was the How to Report and Anime Convention. It was interesting panel, but what I remember most about the panel was what happened before it. Someone came up to me asking if I had seen a PSP (PlayStation Portable) laying around. I responded “No”, but what I noticed about the guy was that he was wearing Kamen Rider W’s henshin (Masked Rider W)belt. I thought to myself, “AWWW I want one!!!!” After the panel, we headed the to U.S Premier panel for Toradora! The panel started out with the showing of Episode 9 and afterwards Eri Kitamura and Yui Horie appeared on stage (Ami Kawashima and Minori Kushieda of Toradora! ) for a Q&A session and an autograph signing in another hall. After the panel, it was off to try to get tickets for the Sophia concert at the Nokia Theater. (I have to admit, I was a bit torn to whether go to the Sophia concert or the autograph signing for Eri Kitamura and Yui Horie. You never get to do everything you want to do at Anime Expo ::sob:: ) We manage to get the tickets for the Sophia concert and head on in. As a surprise, Beni was an opening act for Sophia. I really enjoyed her part of the concert and I come to find out that she lived her in Southern California in her elementary school days.(the fact that she spoke perfect English was proof of that) Sophia’s concert was really good. The singer, Mitsuru Matsuoka, who was also staring in the play KISARAGI (which I beat myself up for not being able to see it)at AX talked a lot between songs which wasn’t a bad thing because he did say that they were a band that like to talk a lot (LOL). It was also revealed that one of the members of their group couldn’t make it to the concert because of a serious illness and that this was the 1st time they ever preformed a man down. (I hope their band mate get better) At the end of the show, as an encore he revealed that he was a Kamen Rider. At first, I thought he was just messing around like he was a fan or something but during their song, the screen started playing clip of him with the same W Driver Kamen Rider W uses and he uses it to transform to Kamen Rider Eternal and starts kicking the crap out of Kamen Rider W Cyclone/Joker Xtreme. My jaw drops to the floor. “No way! This is from the new movie” i thought to myself. Then suddenly, the lights go out and the music stops. Within that moment everyone is wondering what happened. Finally the lights come back on and the music starts playing again. On the stage, the lead singer is nowhere to be found but in his place, with a mic in his hand Kamen Rider Eternal singing the rest of the song! (HOLY SHIT!) There he was, Kamen Rider Eternal singing what I think is gonna be the theme song for the new movie. (Yeah I know it’s just a suit actor but that was still pretty bad ass!) After the concert, I was pumped. I saw a Kamen Rider in real life! Next it was off to ESPN Zone for the Danny Choo meet up at 3:15pm. The room we were in was packed to the rim and overflowed to the second floor. So when the line died down we got in line to meet with Danny. It was cool to finally meet him, he autographs my copy of Otacool, I shake his hand, and take a picture with him. Because of the crowd and time limits, we leave early so that the people upstarts can have a chance to meet him. We step outside to grab a drink and Ed comes across an old buddy of his. They talk for a bit and then we head off to the Exhibition Hall. At the Exhibition Hall, I purchase Toradora! Premium Edition Vol 1 and Death Smiles Limited Edition for the Xbox 360. After the Exhibition Hall, Ed and I meet up with Susan and Tim at the hotel to relax and have dinner. We decide to have dinner at Subway and head out scrounge up some tickets to the Masquerade at the Nokia Live Stage. At the Nokia Live Stage where the AX staff members usually pass out tickets, the Laser Light Show was going on. They were playing remixes of anime themes while laser shot into the sky. (Pretty cool!) We find the staff member giving out the tickets and head into the Nokia Theater. The Masquerade was OK (nothing really stuck out for me to write about). After the Masquerade, it was back to the hotel. End of Day 3.

7/4/10

Day 4: Culture: Japan, Last minute shopping, and a BBQ

Today started the same as yesterday, Ed and I eat in the lobby and meet up again with Rehan. Meanwhile, Susan and Tim decide to take the early train back home and left while we finished breakfast. After breakfast we head over to the Convention Center to catch Danny Choo’s Final panel. At the panel, he premiered the trailer for Black Rock Shooter anime and an episode of his new show, Culture: Japan, where he explains Japanese culture and introduces it to the world. (Cool Show!) After the panel, we head off to the Exhibition Hall for a last minute shopping. I didn’t buy anything while Ed bought a figure of Lighting from Final Fantasy XIII. By 1:00pm I was dead tired, and I really didn’t have it in me to stay until 6 for Closing Ceremonies. Ed had planned to meet up with an old friend of his and catch the last train out home. I then decide to call my ride for an early EVAC, Phillip and Kristie drop by to pick me up and we head over to a BBQ at my cousin’s house. Day 4 Finito!


Conclusion: I had a lot of fun. I was busy for the most part of all four days of the Con and did more than I expected to do while I was there. There were a few things that I wanted to go like autograph signings and panels that I missed due to scheduling and time restrains, but that’s to be expected at Anime Expo. There hasn’t been a year in AX that I have done every single thing I wanted to do and this year is no different. So if I had to rate this convention on the scale of 1-5, I’ll give Anime Expo 2010 a 4/5. Good Job Anime Expo! I’ll see you next year!