Day 2: Saturday, August 9 - Tomoyo-hime

I want to catch the sun in your eyes...

Animemiz agreed to be my photographer for a photoshoot. We chose early Saturday morning so that it wouldn't go into any panels or signings that we wanted to go to. We decided to meet at the Tadano and Matsushita autograph line early so there weren't that many people and there was space in the middle for a shoot. Before long, a Sakura cosplayer came and joined us in the shoot. We had some awesome pics together. A Princess Serenity cosplayer also joined us for a few shots going along with the princesses theme. It was my first 'in a crowd' type photoshoot (instead of out of the way and to the side) and I thought it was very interesting. Definitely, I want to have another private photoshoot with less people but both of us need more time. ^.^ Sakura exchanged contact info with animemiz and she went off to the Dealer's room while I returned to the line. (lol My stuff was basically holding my spot. ^^;)

The autograph staff gave out raffle tickets and announced that the prize was 10 cel type sketches made by Tadano-san and Matsushita-san. What happened afterwards was epic...they called out my number! O.O I went ahead to the front of the line with the other winners and we went in first. I got a Keroro Gunso sketch which Matsushita-san signed. Yay! My first signed sketch! Of course, both of them signed my Sailor Moon pic. ^.^ I happily left for the Dealer's room.

...catch the breeze in your smile.

The Bandai booth greeted me as soon as I stepped in. They had the most events for an industry booth with several Yuri Lowenthal signings (for Code Geass and Gurren Lagann themes) as well as a JAM Project signing at 4:30pm. Everything was a ticketed event so I stuck around the booth, taking pictures, getting my picture taken and picking up some swag. I got a JAM Project ticket which is awesome and managed to reach animemiz who got the second to last ticket. After getting our tickets, animemiz and I went our separate ways to do some shopping.

I managed to pick up a Junjo Romantica pencil board for Pearl-chan. Unfortunately, Loveless pencil boards are nonexistent and the same goes for the Ouran bear. *cries* One of the booths had great prices though...lower then any of the cons I went to (and I've seen this booth many times already.) There, I managed to find a Naruto postcard set (super shiny too) which I bought for Jenn-chan. I left the Dealer's room for the next panel...

I will always remember that moment,

...which is the Yamaguchi Kappei-san panel #2. This is where I made my biggest con mistake. 25 autograph tickets were being given out to people who ask questions. However, the only way to ask questions was to be picked...which I didn't. That should've been a sign for me to leave the panel and head to the autograph area (where animemiz was already waiting...) but I didn't. Bakabakabaka.... However, I did catch this awesome L while waiting. ^^; From answering the phone and eating, she was totally in character.

I stuck around the panel, was able to record a few vids of voice requests as well as catch Yamaguchi-san singing the Sogeking song, popular song of Usopp of One Piece. Some voice requests were one of Inuyasha's attacks and Ryuichi and L voices. *fangirls* I left about several minutes before the panel ended...but was greeted with a mob at the autograph line.

when tears fell from my eyes.

Animemiz already at the front of the line and I was in the middle of the crowd. I picto-chatted with people around me, but we weren't able to get a game going. ^^; I finally passed my dvd over to animemiz to see if she could get two items signed (like last year) if she asked especially nicely...but alas, they wouldn't let her. She headed down to the Dealer's room after she received her autograph and got there in time for her JAM Project autograph. She came back up to see where I was at...still on the autograph line for Yamaguchi-san which was coming along at snail pace. She passed the dvd over to me and I gave her the ticket and cd for JAM Project. Truly, animemiz saved my butt that day since she was able to get my cd signed by the band. No luck with Yamaguchi-san though.... The cut the line as it was getting close to me and those around me. >.<

Me and a few others that were with me were very disappointed and we didn't feel like moving for awhile. The staff explained that Yamaguchi-san didn't eat since 12pm (it was already past 4:30pm) and he has scheduled plans and meetings. Turns out, there was a 2-3 girls that flew half way around the world just to see Yamaguchi-san. (I forgot where they said they were from.) One of them were in tears when they cut the line and refused to let anymore people in. Some of the other people on line behind us spoke with the staff. The rest of the group voted that she be allowed in and we'll all basically stop complaining. Please note that the 'rest of the group' didn't really know the girls until we were in line. Yay for bonds of otaku! The staff agreed to let just her in and she tearfully followed another staff through the sacred doors. Me and a few others stared after her sadly. ^^; (I'm not exaggerating...I was very sad. ^^;)

Another fan wanted to give fanart to Yamaguchi-san but was also one of the people who were cut from the line. Surprisingly, the doors opened and Yamaguchi-san appeared. We couldn't do much but just stare at him in awe. The fan presented her fanart to him which he graciously accepted and walked away with entourage in tow. We were in shock when Maruyama-san appeared around the corner and went through the doors. (You see why I call those doors 'sacred'? ^^;) Still in shock, Yamaguchi-san appeared around the corner again and went back in through the doors. I guess they realized that walking through the massive crowds was a bad idea and they opted to go through the back. ^^; Resigned, I left the autograph area and headed back to the hotel.

I was lost in the moment...

On the way back to the hotel, I saw sunseeli, a popular Sailor Mars cosplayer. (She does a variety of her outfits.) I told her that I recognized her from cosplay.com and took her pic in the process. She was happily flattered and gave me her business card. Turns out, there was a Sailor Moon artbook photoshoot earlier that featured the white dress. Yay! I love that pic! Can't wait to see the photos from the shoot. ^-^

After dinner and after adjusting my headpiece (which was sliding about all day) I headed up to the First Mariner Arena where the masquerade was being held. I arrived in time for the end of the youth division. The last youth division act was Sakura (from Naruto) singing 'Hikari' by Utada Hikaru. Unfortunately, she was bound by stage fright and we could barely hear her. (Major problem was tha she didn't get a karaoke version of the song so Utada's vocals was still there.) Everyone started clapping and singing along to encourage here which was an awesome moment. ^.^

Other skits to note was the three sisters actually cosplaying the Miyazawa sisters from Kare Kano and singing and dancing to it. Best Overall youth winner. *applauds* The Kingdom Hearts skit with the Behind the scenes fill of OrXIII was funny in itself...but it was overshadowed by the CLAMP skit afterwards featuring, Seishirou, Subaru, Hokuto and even Nokoru Imonoyama. CLAMP FTW! 'A Cornucopia of Anime' skit featured what anime characters would watch on tv...complete with an Alphonse, and lots of singing and dancing.... They won Best Craftsmanship in the Novice division. 'Not Another Hare Hare Yukai' turned out to be a medley of dances...but started with the Hare Hare Yukai of course. They won the Best Performance in the Journeyman Division. A Golgo 13 skit was another simple and short skit...which I lovingly call 'Headshot'. Another Hare Hare Yukai skit was there...except that a massacre was happening in the background. There was one Death Note that I loved to bits...and it's 'L gets His Just Desserts'. It's all about L...making cake. lol

After all the skits, the judges went to deliberate and the 'Agents of Cosplay' performed 'Pirates vs. Ninja' West Side Story (Luffy x Sakura FTW!) as well as an encore piece of Tetris pieces. No words can describe how fantastic it was.

I'll update these links to better ones once I find them. ^.^

Xenosaga

Purgatory is for Loading and Unloading Only

Final Fantasy

Hyrule Fantasia

Requiem

Eternal Sonata

As Imagined by Chira and Moonsheen

Pirates vs. Ninja

Tetris

...when you brushed my tears away.

I left before they announced the winners. I wanted to attend the 'Dub Actors After Dark' panel which is always full of lol but I also wanted to attend the CLAMP photoshoot that will be held an hour after the masquerade. Anyway, the line for the panel was HUGE! Instead, I headed back down and caught this blob....

I still don't know what it is but it stood over 10 feet and moved slowly. o.O Kazuhiko (Clover) found me and told me to stick around for the photoshoot. I settled near the fountains (where the CLAMP photoshoot will be held) and proceeded to take pics of passerbys. Actually, sitting with my dress around in me in a beautiful circle attracts alot of attention and I didn't have to catch people for pics since they would come to me. ^.^ My fav? Of course the kimono ninjas with Ichi Ichi Paradise pjs. ^-^

When the CLAMP photoshoot started, we began with everyone from any CLAMP series. We moved on to X, Tsubasa Chronicles, Xxxholic, Tokyo Babylon and Clover. Unfortunately, the photoshoot was smaller then usual, but we had time for more pictures. My fav couple being Kazuhiko and Suu. Awww....

Let me remember this fondly...

I was able to make it for the end of the 'Dub Actors' panel. Being that there was a no-recording, no-video policy, I couldn't take any pics there. But practically every VA was there except for Richard Epcar who left early since he was hosting the 'Uncensored Outtakes' panel that was next. ^.^ Right after this panel ended, all the VAs rushed for the door. Turns out, they wanted to attend Richard's panel as well.

The 'Outtakes' panel was already well underway when I arrived. They were showing clips of Lupin the Third with voices of various VAs making racy comments...like the phallic shape of one of the character's head. ^^; lol Clips from Bobobo-bo bo-bobo was next which were hilarious since the series itself was cracktastic and the comments made were even funnier. Then Epcar pulled up voice clips from Yuri and other VAs that were recorded when they were in the booth but didn't realize the mic was on.... lol Yuri's comment to the audience: Always assume the mic is on. ^.^

I asked Richard to sign my Ziggy pic after the panel and presented him with Mens Pocky before heading back to the hotel room. I decided by that time to wear my Ritsuka cosplay the next day, forgoing my usual kimono sunday tradition. I sew on the tail to my pants, prepared what I needed for the next day and packed everything else before heading to bed.

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