Photography and more for the Cosplayer
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by: BSaphire Opening Ceremonies is where you get to hear a convention welcome you, the attendee, and finding out about the con. Many times con attendees do not make it to the Opening Ceremonies because they are to excited about everything else a con has to offer. They are getting checked in to their hotels, picking up their badges, or looking at who is there and where everything is. If the con attendee is cosplaying, well they may not make it to opening ceremonies just because they are having their picture taken and getting from the entrance to where the opening ceremonies is located will take forever because of requests for photos. With this said, I want to recommend to you the opening ceremonies of Sakura Con. Take the time, make the plan, or have everyone meet you there ^^). Sakura-Con's Opening Ceremonies were entertaining in many ways. The Sakura-Con Cosplay Coordinator Mike Stark joined the Canadian comedy troupe The 404's to get the crowd warmed up and laughing. ^^) This was followed by a video that featured Sakura-Con memories of the past and a Kendo demonstration from a local Kendo school. They wore full body armor which was more entertaining for the audience. Then Sakura-Con Chairman John Krall, and president of A.N.C.E.A.* (Asian Northwest Cultural Education Association) governing body of Sakura-Con, took the stage and introduced the Make A Wish foundation* (a continuous supporter of Sakura-Con). The Make A Wish foundation talked about fulfilling a child's wish of attending a convention in Tokyo, Japan. We were then treated to more comedy from The 404's where the performed a skit. The skit had one of the 404's standing blindfolded in front of a screen where clips from Power Rangers where being shown. Then he was interviewed by the others about what we could see and he couldn't. The questions were focused in such a way to give him hints as to what the title of the show was, and in the end he guessed correctly. ^^) The karaoke winners from Sakura-Con 2005 performed their winning song “Ai” from Excel Saga for the audience followed by each attending guest of honor being called up on stage. The list includes (not necessarily the order of appearance) Takanori Hoshino (Japanese voice actor for "Van" in GunXSword), GunXSword character designer Takahiro Kimura & David Vincent (American voice actor for "Van" in GunXSword.) There was also Noboru Ishiguro (director of Macross), Goro Taniguchi (director of SCRYed), Hideyuki Kurata (creator of Read or Die), Katie Bair (costumer, wig designer and manga-ka), Bang Ippongi (Japanese cosplayer and manga-ka), Toni Oliver (voice actor & director), Jennifer Sekiguchi (voice actress ADV films), Jessica Boone (voice actress ADV films Texas), and J-Rock band Camino (Taka base guitarist, Rehit drummer, Hayato singer, Ryosuke keyboardist, and Kiku guitarist and founder of Camino.) It was quite a line up! Opening Ceremonies concluded with Mike Stark (SCCC) proposing to his girlfriend (who said yes!) and cries of "Banzai!" I found Opening Ceremonies to be entertaining and enjoyable. I recommend them for Sakura-Con attendees in 2007 and to finish this portion off I have some photos!!! *YEAH! *Founded in 1980, the Make A Wish foundation is celebrating it's 26th year. Many of you have heard of it, but do you really know about it? The Make A Wish foundation's mission is simple, "We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy." (the Make A Wish foundation Mission Statement) Many of you know that I am a single mom with children. Like many of you, I have seen joy and sorrow, life and death, good times and bad. When you become a parent you look forward to a lifetime of memories of your child's first everything. I can tell you, as a parent, that when your child is extremely ill or faces a life-threatening medical condition that your quality of life changes dramatically. With an ill child you quickly focus on the task at hand.... helping your child in anyway possible and their quality of life. What the Make A Wish foundation offers may directly benefit the ill child, but what it gives the parent (s) is just as beneficial. Fulfilling an ill child's wish leaves those beautiful moments for the parent (s) to cherish. Thank you Make A Wish foundation for fulfilling the wishes of children and giving their parent (s) those beautiful memories. If you would like to donate, volunteer, or just check it out then here is their website ^^): Make A Wish A.N.C.E.A.'s (Asian Northwest Cultural Education Association) is the governing body of Sakura-Con and their mission is, "To promote Asian culture and understanding through the use of Japanese Animation. " (A.N.C.E.A. Mission Statement) They have been an important part of Sakura-Con for years and have helped to make it what it is today. Now for the Opening Ceremonies photos.... ^^)
by: BSaphire I came into the press interview room wearing my "Gungrave" shirt. As many of you know, I love "Gungrave" and when I found out that Tony Oliver would be at Sakura-Con I was excited. Something perplexed me though, was Tony Oliver the voice of the young Harry McDowel or not? I didn't see anything in the press release, website, or other literature from Sakura-Con and I was beginning to doubt myself. So, my first question to Tony was to clarify weather or not he was the voice actor for Harry from "Gungrave." He was surprised and said yes! I had picked up a mask of Grave @ Yaoi-Con 05 and asked him if he would sign it. He said yes and wrote, "To Millenion.... love (as a heart) Harry." I am still stoked!!! Thank you again Tony! ^^) More on the interview later... *sorry... lots to do and I want to post this ^^)
Sakura-Con 2006 Guest Reception Dinner by: BSaphire The weather at con was fantastic. King Yama and I walked to the Hilton for the Sakura-Con Guest Reception Dinner. There were lots of people there and the food was outstanding. Set up buffet style, the dinner guests picked up their plates at one end and then tried to find room on their plates as they progressed pass aromatic selections. King Yama and I sat with Tony Oliver and much to my surprise I ran into a cospeep I had not seen since AniMagic 2004. She and her husband were also seated at our table. Here is a run down of the menu, just to make you a little hungry if not envious of the scrumptious food we had for dinner.... and that isn't including the dessert table ^^) I LOVE CHEESECAKE!!!
So, are you hungry now? *giggles After dinner I took some photos and I also had Jennifer Sekiguchi autograph Youko Kurama's Tenjho Tenge soundtrack. I mentioned to her that my daughters would be cosplaying as Aya and Maya. Jennifer smiled and asked which versions so I told her that my youngest would be cosplaying chibi Maya and that her sister would be doing Aya in the school outfit (the one with the blue jacket and plaid skirt) and Jennifer said that was her favorite version of Aya too ^^). After photos and autographs King Yama and I headed back to the hotel room to change for the Masquerade Ball (and later Club Sakura.) Walking back to the hotel proved to be a very painful experience for King Yama so he decided to stay at the hotel while went on. Dressed for the ball, and peeps who know me know how very little I wear dresses, I preceded to go and represent both of us and AC DC. If you want to know more about that then click the Masquerade Ball link. ^^) Thank you to the dinner staff, chefs, and dinner participants for a wonderful time. Let's do it again next year! Till then... Anime Corrupted Wishes & Deviant Cosplay Dreams!! ^^) ... BSaphire
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I will
be doing this write up shortly. For now though I wanted to post all the pics.
Enjoy!!!
