Looking Back: Kawaii Kon 2012

At the time I created this blog, I had finished attending the Kawaii Kon. It is Hawaii's very own anime convention, much like Anime Expo and OtaCon. As a lifetime member, I attend this convention every year. Sometimes I participate in cosplay (combined word of costume play that is often used when referring to dressing up as favorite anime and video game characters). This year, I didn't cosplay as much as I wanted to, but I did make an appearance as Kon, the stuffed lion from the anime Bleach.

Kon, the ever-lovable perverted mascot for the anime Bleach

Overall, I enjoyed my experience. Mostly in part to one of my favorite seiyuu (Japanese voice actor/actress) being one of the guests of honor. This seiyuu is Asakawa Yuu.

Asakawa Yuu, one of my favorite seiyuu

Asakawa Yuu has done a variety of rolls in many different anime from Sakaki in Azumanga Daioh! to Priss Asagiri in Bubblegum Crisis 2040. She also provided the voice samples for Megurine Luka, a Vocaloid character. My favorite characters that she has provided voices for are Rider from Fate/Stay Night and Aoyama Motoko from Love Hina. During her panels at the Kawaii Kon, Asakawa connected with her fans by answering questions. On the last day, during her music panel, she sang two songs - "Waiting for You" the ending theme from Bubblegum Crisis 2040 and "Just Be Friends" one of the popular songs done by Megurine Luka. Watching her perform live in person, to me, made the entire convention worthwhile.

Some other things that I enjoyed at Kawaii Kon was the Special Guest Dinner event where some con-goers get to have a dinner at Hard Rock Cafe with some of the guests of honor. Though Asakawa Yuu did not go, I did get to sit and talk to Lisa Ortiz over dinner. Lisa Ortiz is the English dub voice actress for Lina Inverse from Slayers and Deedlit from Record of Lodoss War. She's a great person and very friendly.

Lisa Ortiz - her character Deedlit was one of my first anime favorite characters

After having such a great experience during this past Kawaii Kon, I'm really looking forward to next year's convention. I've already put in my "wishlist" of guests I'd like to see. Hopefully, at least one of them will end up as being a guest of honor. Kawaii Kon 2013 will be held at the Hawaii Convention Center March 15th to the 17th.

Upcomming Spring 2012 Schedule

As it nears April, the new seasons of anime will be coming out. There looks to be a few good ones. Of all of them, the ones I'm probably most looking forward to are Fate/Zero (season 2) and Cardfight Vanguard! (Season 2).

Fate/Zero is a story by TYPE-MOON and the prequel to Fate/Stay Night. The story revolves around the premise that seven masters and seven servants are participating in an event called the Holy Grail War. Their aim is to become the last pair standing at the end of this battle royale in order to claim the legendary Holy Grail. The story follows the servant Saber and her master Kiritsugu Emiya. For season two, Fate/Zero will be continuing the tale (as Season One ended with only one servant having been defeated).

Cardfight Vanguard is an anime revolving around a CCG (collectible card game) by the same name. The story follows a young boy named Aichi Sendou. Aichi plays to gain recognition from his friend Kai Toshiki as a Vanguard fighter. As he dives more and more into the world of Vanguard, he and his friends wind up in multiple battles with other Vanguard fighters throughout Japan. Along the way, a latent power called Psyqualia awakens in Aichi. Season two of the anime will follow the events of the National Tournament.

As for new anime, I am looking forward to Medaka Box. The anime will follow student council president Medaka Kurokami. She was elected the student council president. She aims to help anyone in need, so she introduces a suggestion box called the "Medaka Box". This anime is based on a manga by the same name.

Introduction

Konnichi wa! Hello! The name is dragonstryke. I am an otaku...and proud to say that I am. 

Firstly, for those of you that don't know, an otaku is a Japanese term that is used to describe a person with obsessive interests, usually in anime, manga or video games. While I generally do not go overboard with my obsession, I do consider them to be the prime passion in my life right now.

My current favorite anime right now is Kara no Kyoukai, a series of movies adapted from TYPE-MOON's light novel series. For manga, I am following quite a few, but my favorite is Kami Nomizo Shiru Sekai (aka. the World God Only Knows). I don't find much time to play video games, but the game I'm currently playing is Fate/Extra and League of Legends.

Anyway, what I'm hoping to do with this blog is to be able to review some anime and provide some insight into my world. So please enjoy!