Otakon 2011

This year Otakon was hot. I know it’s hot every year, but for the first time I was avoiding outdoor shoots like they had plague. Still, the convention ran smoothly and overall improved from last year. Both attendance (29k to 31k) and operations; I’m happy to report that I ran into no issues. My only complaint is the rising cost of the convention (but I don’t want to start speculating on their reasons, I’ll be here forever).

I’ll think back pleasantly on this years Otakon, despite not doing much as I was a bit out of it. Still, I didn’t go for reporting and managed to have fun despite everything. Maybe I’ll post again later (well, probably not, when I need to kill time I’ll go over notes from one of the many cons this past year I haven’t had time to write about). At least, right outside, I could get ice cold water for only one dollar. And on that note, I can’t remember anything else.

Here are the photos!

Animazement 2011

Posting photos irregularly during the con!
http://misuzulive.com/gallery/index.php/2011/Animazement-2011

Disaster in Japan (updated)


Art by Formalin

A colossal 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit near north-eastern Japan on Friday afternoon. The crisis was compounded by tsunami and a crisis at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Several coastline cities and towns have been completely devastated, if not completely wiped out. Thousands have been evacuated from surrounding the Fukushima #1 plant. Over 10,000 more are missing.

Google has posted a comprehensive list of information, maps, and donation links (including Japan-based Red Cross) at: www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html
Update: Google posted an experimental version of Google Translate with text to speech and SMS translation.

Donations through Crunchyroll, Anime streaming website, will be matched: www.crunchyroll.com/helpjapan

You can follow the news live via several networks:
NHK WorldUStream
NHKUStream
TBSUStream
Akiba Live Cam: UStream
Kyodo News

Pixiv users has responded with art with uplifting messages and asking users to pray for Japan. The tag 日本頑張って (Good luck Japan) has popped up with a rapidly increasing number of works.

Update: Reitaisai 8, the Touhou convention scheduled for Sunday at Tokyo Big Sight, has been cancelled. The convention center in Tokyo was damaged, it has not yet been announced if it will be rescheduled.
Twitter users have held their own virtual Reitaisai via the #AirReitaisai hashtag. Many artists picked up on the massive participation in #AirReitaisai and published some of their Reitaisai works as part of disaster response, asking for your donations or other assistance in recovery efforts in return.

Update: Tokyo International Anime Fair (March 24 – 27 at Tokyo Big Sight) has also been canceled.

To everyone in Japan, がんばって!(Hang in there!)