Hey, everyone.
Have you ever heard of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival? This cultural event is held every year in April at Japantown (Nihonmachi, 日本町) in the city of San Francisco. The event is celebrated during two back-to-back weekends and has various activities that showcase the community's Japanese cultural heritage.On the last day of the festival, a Grand Parade is held that feature parade floats, dancers and musicians, taiko (太鼓) drums, people in Anime costumes (cosplay), and groups of men and women carrying the mikoshi (神輿, portable shrines). The parade begins at City Hall on Polk and McAllister, and winds its way along a fifteen block route to Japantown.
This event holds great significance with me, ever since I first began working at the late Mikado store back in 2007. Working at the store during this event gave me a better understanding of Japanese culture and its importance within the community. Ever since then, I have done volunteer work alongside Japan Video & Media as their official photographer of the Anime Costume Competition & Parade. This will be my third year working with them as I will be their official photographer of the Anime Costume Parade and Dream Show this year.
Because of this, my first full-fledged Blog entry will be delayed until next week. I'm juggling between posting my personal experiences being a video game enthusiast in what's still considered a male dominated hobby and my views on the progression of Anime throughout the years. I was also debating doing "reviews" (and I call them reviews very loosely) on said Anime shows/movies and video games.
Maybe I'm stressing too much over doing meaningful Blog posts.
...so you know what I hate most about bars? When they use dispensed ice slush for their blended iced drinks rather then blending the ingredients together in an actual blender. If I wanted an alcoholic ice slush drink, I'd buy myself a Slurpee and mix some gin in it.
Until next time!
