2023
Another year over (almost).
First, I'll start with the obvious: I'm on a break from Johnny's Entertainment STARTO Entertainment. It has nothing to do with the company's woes, but more because they aren't currently giving me a product I want to buy. So, while there are a few new purchases I made this year (actually, I think it was one-the new 20th Century album), I haven't been actively following anyone's activities.
2023 was a pretty nice year for me.
Since this post from summer 2022, I feel like I have truly returned to my roots of being an anime lover (though I want to stress that I am a very eclectic person and still hold onto many interests).
I am, indeed, a big fan of THE IDOLM@STER SideM, though I don't play the game (it's not available in my country) and I don't understand Japanese, so I don't know everything about the series 🙇 and feel awkward saying I'm a fan. If you think about the word 'fanatic', it's actually quite scary, isn't it? I fit definition 2. I mean, that 1st definition... I am definitely critical. I am aware of the flaws in things I like.
Anyway, at the time of that post I wrote it's making me happy right now and, mentally, I need that at the moment. I haven't really mentioned this on my LJ, but in August 2020, my oldest sister died. I was going through the anger stage of grief from that moment. When I watched THE IDOLM@STER SideM, my anger started to ease up. I'm not really sure why, to be honest. I just really enjoyed watching it. (It's actually quite incredible I like it so much, since I really made the commitment to watch it when I found out a group in the series was named Jupiter, which was the name of my precious cat who I had to put down not long after watching the anime.)
My cat, Jupiter, December 25, 2007 - June 10, 2022
When it comes to THE IDOLM@STER SideM, it's really as simple as I love the music, the characters, and the voice actors. I still get angry about my sister's death, but mentally I got better after finding THE IDOLM@STER SideM.
So, what does this have to do with 2023? I got it into my mind after watching THE IDOLM@STER SideM live Blu-rays countless times that I really wanted to attend one in person. The 8th live was announced early this year for October 28th & 29th and I couldn't get out of my head that I wanted to go. I contacted Kaji from Kaji's Shop and asked for help. I had used Kaji's Shop to buy JE shop photos before and I thought I'd reach out. I wrote so many embarrassing e-mails to Kaji. I went through a lot of emotions trying to get tickets. I was pretty pessimistic about getting tickets, but for some reason, midway through August, I had the thought, "Just go to Japan. You wanted to go again anyway." That week, I sat down in front of my computer and made all the necessary arrangements to be in Tokyo at the end of October. I began working on an itinerary and was pretty excited to go. I was also worried. I've traveled abroad many times, but never by myself. Kaji helped me buy tickets to day 1 and not long after that I hit for a trade-in ticket for day 2 and Kaji helped with that. (I have apologized to Kaji in e-mail so much for how weird I was, but I really truly mean I'm sorry for being weird and thank you so, so much!)
I'm not going to write a full concert report, but I will write that I had a blast. I enjoyed both days, but I liked day 1 more because of the setlist, and because of the crowd around me (I was in the nosebleeds both days, which was to be expected).
The nosebleeds aka Level 7 in K-Arena Day 1 and Day 2.
I was sitting in the venue day 1 before the concert started and I thought, "I'm actually here." I began to tear up a bit. And, when day 2 was packed, I realized I was far luckier than I already thought that I got a ticket to day 2. This was my first concert in Japan. Since THE IDOLM@STER SideM has 16 different groups, I loved people watching (I love people watching in general) and seeing who different people liked. I was impressed with itabags and other goods people had. Their clothes as well, mainly because all sorts of different types of people were represented. On the first day, outside (before doors opened), a young woman wearing a C.FIRST T-shirt sat down next to me. I decided to say hello and in response she said hello and gave me a piece of grape candy. I was like, "Thank you!" Day 2 I was a bit tired. Honestly, 9pm is my bedtime (LOL) and the night before I hadn't gone to bed until after midnight. On the morning of day 2 I went to church, which I didn't leave until 1pm. Also, I'm not too fond of crowds, so I looked like a huge grouch when I arrived at the venue on day 2. I calmed down once I was able to sit down. I look forward to watching the concert again in July when it's released on Blu-ray. My favorite part of the concerts was the medley they sang, but I have no idea what was going on on stage because I was too busy reading what lyrics I knew on the screen and singing along. I really am looking forward to seeing that on video.
Images of the venue and some of the goods I bought.
I had a lot of fun in Tokyo and Yokohama. After a week and a half by myself, though, I was ready to come home.
Tokyo Tower; a green tea mont blanc (yum!); The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo; giant panda, shoebill (from Ueno Zoo); The Art Aquarium in Ginza; Yokohama.
The world's busiest armadillo (LOL) at Ueno Zoo
Besides a fun end to October, 2023 was work and anime. Among all the new anime I watched this year, I started watching Pokémon (American dub) from the beginning again and am currently on the first season of XY. Pokémon began airing in America my freshman year of high school (1998). I watched it for awhile, but kind of stopped, and then my best friend's younger brother got me into the videos games my senior year. I played Pokémon Yellow, but then didn't play again until XY, and even then, Sun & Moon were the new games out LOL. I've learned that I love Snorlax, Oshawott, and Emolga. I love Pikachu more than I thought.
I am a fan of more and more Japanese voice actors. I love their live concerts and events. I don't want to list everyone I like 'cause that list is super long by this point LOL.
I'm addicted to goods and when I got back from my trip I ordered an itabag which is decorated with things I like, rather than one thing. I love mixing fandoms. In junior high I actually decorated my backpack with pins. I didn't know I had made an itabag LOL. I stopped decorating my backpack when I broke one of my favorite pins, so manufactured itabags are quite ingenious.
My itabag. Cinnamoroll (Sanrio), Sylveon and Quaxly (Pokémon), and THE IDOLM@STER SideM
I'm not too thrilled about turning the big 4-0 in 2024, but I will continue to work hard and hope for good surprises in the new year.
First, I'll start with the obvious: I'm on a break from Johnny's Entertainment STARTO Entertainment. It has nothing to do with the company's woes, but more because they aren't currently giving me a product I want to buy. So, while there are a few new purchases I made this year (actually, I think it was one-the new 20th Century album), I haven't been actively following anyone's activities.
2023 was a pretty nice year for me.
Since this post from summer 2022, I feel like I have truly returned to my roots of being an anime lover (though I want to stress that I am a very eclectic person and still hold onto many interests).
I am, indeed, a big fan of THE IDOLM@STER SideM, though I don't play the game (it's not available in my country) and I don't understand Japanese, so I don't know everything about the series 🙇 and feel awkward saying I'm a fan. If you think about the word 'fanatic', it's actually quite scary, isn't it? I fit definition 2. I mean, that 1st definition... I am definitely critical. I am aware of the flaws in things I like.
Anyway, at the time of that post I wrote it's making me happy right now and, mentally, I need that at the moment. I haven't really mentioned this on my LJ, but in August 2020, my oldest sister died. I was going through the anger stage of grief from that moment. When I watched THE IDOLM@STER SideM, my anger started to ease up. I'm not really sure why, to be honest. I just really enjoyed watching it. (It's actually quite incredible I like it so much, since I really made the commitment to watch it when I found out a group in the series was named Jupiter, which was the name of my precious cat who I had to put down not long after watching the anime.)
My cat, Jupiter, December 25, 2007 - June 10, 2022
When it comes to THE IDOLM@STER SideM, it's really as simple as I love the music, the characters, and the voice actors. I still get angry about my sister's death, but mentally I got better after finding THE IDOLM@STER SideM.
So, what does this have to do with 2023? I got it into my mind after watching THE IDOLM@STER SideM live Blu-rays countless times that I really wanted to attend one in person. The 8th live was announced early this year for October 28th & 29th and I couldn't get out of my head that I wanted to go. I contacted Kaji from Kaji's Shop and asked for help. I had used Kaji's Shop to buy JE shop photos before and I thought I'd reach out. I wrote so many embarrassing e-mails to Kaji. I went through a lot of emotions trying to get tickets. I was pretty pessimistic about getting tickets, but for some reason, midway through August, I had the thought, "Just go to Japan. You wanted to go again anyway." That week, I sat down in front of my computer and made all the necessary arrangements to be in Tokyo at the end of October. I began working on an itinerary and was pretty excited to go. I was also worried. I've traveled abroad many times, but never by myself. Kaji helped me buy tickets to day 1 and not long after that I hit for a trade-in ticket for day 2 and Kaji helped with that. (I have apologized to Kaji in e-mail so much for how weird I was, but I really truly mean I'm sorry for being weird and thank you so, so much!)
I'm not going to write a full concert report, but I will write that I had a blast. I enjoyed both days, but I liked day 1 more because of the setlist, and because of the crowd around me (I was in the nosebleeds both days, which was to be expected).
The nosebleeds aka Level 7 in K-Arena Day 1 and Day 2.
I was sitting in the venue day 1 before the concert started and I thought, "I'm actually here." I began to tear up a bit. And, when day 2 was packed, I realized I was far luckier than I already thought that I got a ticket to day 2. This was my first concert in Japan. Since THE IDOLM@STER SideM has 16 different groups, I loved people watching (I love people watching in general) and seeing who different people liked. I was impressed with itabags and other goods people had. Their clothes as well, mainly because all sorts of different types of people were represented. On the first day, outside (before doors opened), a young woman wearing a C.FIRST T-shirt sat down next to me. I decided to say hello and in response she said hello and gave me a piece of grape candy. I was like, "Thank you!" Day 2 I was a bit tired. Honestly, 9pm is my bedtime (LOL) and the night before I hadn't gone to bed until after midnight. On the morning of day 2 I went to church, which I didn't leave until 1pm. Also, I'm not too fond of crowds, so I looked like a huge grouch when I arrived at the venue on day 2. I calmed down once I was able to sit down. I look forward to watching the concert again in July when it's released on Blu-ray. My favorite part of the concerts was the medley they sang, but I have no idea what was going on on stage because I was too busy reading what lyrics I knew on the screen and singing along. I really am looking forward to seeing that on video.
Images of the venue and some of the goods I bought.
I had a lot of fun in Tokyo and Yokohama. After a week and a half by myself, though, I was ready to come home.
Tokyo Tower; a green tea mont blanc (yum!); The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo; giant panda, shoebill (from Ueno Zoo); The Art Aquarium in Ginza; Yokohama.
The world's busiest armadillo (LOL) at Ueno Zoo
Besides a fun end to October, 2023 was work and anime. Among all the new anime I watched this year, I started watching Pokémon (American dub) from the beginning again and am currently on the first season of XY. Pokémon began airing in America my freshman year of high school (1998). I watched it for awhile, but kind of stopped, and then my best friend's younger brother got me into the videos games my senior year. I played Pokémon Yellow, but then didn't play again until XY, and even then, Sun & Moon were the new games out LOL. I've learned that I love Snorlax, Oshawott, and Emolga. I love Pikachu more than I thought.
I am a fan of more and more Japanese voice actors. I love their live concerts and events. I don't want to list everyone I like 'cause that list is super long by this point LOL.
I'm addicted to goods and when I got back from my trip I ordered an itabag which is decorated with things I like, rather than one thing. I love mixing fandoms. In junior high I actually decorated my backpack with pins. I didn't know I had made an itabag LOL. I stopped decorating my backpack when I broke one of my favorite pins, so manufactured itabags are quite ingenious.
My itabag. Cinnamoroll (Sanrio), Sylveon and Quaxly (Pokémon), and THE IDOLM@STER SideM
I'm not too thrilled about turning the big 4-0 in 2024, but I will continue to work hard and hope for good surprises in the new year.