I went a little bit before 12 noon to make it in time for the opening ceremonies.
I worked and watched tennis on ESPN2 in the morning.
The opening ceremonies had a shinto ritual at the very beginning.
The shinto priest was a caucasian man, which I think is good because he explains everything.
I wish I could've contacted him when I was doing the Ghost Hunt #9 translation notes!
I had to leave before the ceremonies ended because K-san from Company BV arrived, and I had his badge.
We met up at Company B's booth.
Since I had nothing to do until 4:30pm, I helped Company B at the booth.
I was trying to get people to sign up for the mailing lists.
A nice man also bought Murder Princess #1 after I told him I translated it.
Now I feel pressure, but I hope he likes it.
I saw a guy cosplaying as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney!!
I should've taken a picture.
He looked soooooo much like Phoenix. (Japanese name: Naruhodo-kun).
N-san from Company DQ came by to say hi.
At 4:30 I went to the Yutaka Minowa Q & A.
He is the character designer for Vampire Hunter D, Ninja Scroll, etc.
He is from Niigata, where I was born.
(I was in Kobe for 1.5 years before I came to the US).
I think Niigata has many talents (hee hee).
Nobuhiro Watsuki of Rurouni Kenshin is from Niigata.
Many Company G people, including Yamaga-san, is from Niigata.
And my favorite scriptwriter Shinji Nojima is from Niigata too.
Then the panel continued to the Akitaroh Daichi Q & A.
He is so cheerful and out-going.
He's a great convention guest!
The best thing about him is that he pauses between his answers to let the interpreter translate.
What an interpreter's dream guest.
Some interesting things he mentioned:
1) For the poor animation in "Sugoiyo! Masaru-san" he made his staff who can't draw do the art.
2) Originally "Jubei-chan" was supposed to be a serious story.
3) He would like to stop global warming because he hates the heat, and can't work when it's hot.
So he would like everyone to use "eco-bags" when they go shopping.
"Eco-bags" is I think a Japanese English term?
He just wants you to take your own tote bags instead of using the disposable plastic bags.
I recommend the Trader Joe's one, because it fits a LOT.
And each time you use it at Trader Joe's, you enter a raffle for a gift certificate or something.
(At least the Trader Joe's near my house they do this).
Then I helped K-san out with testing the equipment for the Gunbuster 2 premiere.
It was my first time seeing it, and I recommend it to those who liked FLCL.
We saw the first two episodes of Gunbuster 2 and the first episode of Wings of Rean.
Then K-san took me and Y-san from Company B to dinner.
It was a nice Italian place but I couldn't take pictures.
