Japan?

[pacificpikachu]

I'm thinking about going to Japan again. I wish I could go for the Pokémon movie, when so many friends will be there, but I'm not sure if that would work out, unfortunately. Anime Expo is from July 4-7, and there's a possibility, however slim, that Yoko Kanno will be there (according to my pal Raj, who has worked with her). My cousin is getting married on the 20th, and I'd really like to go to Japan for at least two weeks this time. This makes me sad because I think it would be a blast to go with a bunch of pkmncollectors friends, and not to mention the Eevee stuff coming out for the movie, but... Part of me just wants to say, forget the wedding, let's just go to Japan after Anime Expo! But I dunno. Also, it'll be hard to get all that money together with Fanime and Anime Expo, though if I'm serious about Japan I'll probably just barely spend any money at the cons. I'll probably make a pretty good amount of money at Fanime, actually, due to the Swap Meet (and I'm going to go Thursday and Friday this year).

I might just shoot for the fall. I don't have many plans for the fall other than the occasional con, and August is a pretty dead month all around aside from Sac-Anime at the end of it, so that might be a possibility. I imagine most of the movie merchandise would still be around, at that point? Either that or later in the year, in October or something.

I feel like money is the biggest obstacle, of course. I only make $600-800 a month typically, sometimes more if it's a busy month, and if I'm going to go to Japan, spending money is a must (plus plane ticket, lodging, food). Of course, I have my sales stuff and if I manage to sell at a few cons, that would really help. I made way more than $500 ($700-ish, I want to say?) at Sac-Anime and that was a tiny con and only a few hours of selling. I feel like I can make this happen if I could figure out some concrete dates and just say, "Screw it, I'm going, that's it," like I did last time, but of course, I have to figure out my timing.

August will be really hot, so that's a downside, but in a way I think that could be a good month otherwise, maybe... I'd love to go in the spring, but there's no way I can get it together so soon, unless a miracle occurred.

Just the thought of actually, really going to Japan again makes me feel so alive, though. It's like a jolt of total excitement rushes through me. I think of my trip in 2009 (which was the best, best ever, despite being sick) fondly every day. I have dreams about going back to Japan often. I just hope I can pull this off again. I really want to go for longer this time, at least 2 weeks if not 3, and I just want to have an amazing time. We'll see if I can do this somehow!

Comments

[flag.livejournal.com]

I know exactly how you feel! I so desperately want to go back as I love it over there and two weeks was not at all long enough, but travel's really tough without a steady income..): I'm hoping to be back on my feet financially in hopes of going in spring or fall of 2014 but it's such a long ways off when one wants to go back now!!

I hope you can make another trip soon, and best of luck!

[sevenatops.livejournal.com]

Not knowing your family situation, I won't comment one way or the other on wedding attendance. However, I will ask: what are you going to do in Japan other than do fandom-related things? If you know conversational Japanese, may I suggest going clubbing or otherwise socializing with the populace? Japan's youth are wild about foreigners now and I think you'd like being in the middle of a paradigm shift like that.

[pheonixxfoxx.livejournal.com]

Here is a thought, how about asking some friends if they would like to visit Japan with you? That would cut the cost of lodging. I for one would love to go, but I doubt I could come up with the money in time...:\