tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59662087981386562482012-01-10T16:00:46.666-08:00Thoughts by an anime fan/cameko who likes taking pics of cosplayers.amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.comBlogger1981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-60981233201388216392012-01-06T20:03:00.000-08:002012-01-06T20:05:48.547-08:00

As Anime News Network reported, Bandai Entertainment (Lucky Star, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Cowboy Bebop, K-On!, and a bunch of other titles) is pretty much out of the anime and manga physical distribution game, leaving at least the U.S. market (since I don't really pay attention to the industry) to Funimation, Aniplex of America, Sentai Filmworks, Media Blasters, NIS America, Nozomi

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-27435127906826720012012-01-02T21:32:00.000-08:002012-01-03T15:41:15.909-08:00

  Well I was hoping I'd be spending a lot of time taking 3D pics, but carrying my rig along with my other cameras around the Strip became too impractical, so here are the few pics I took in Chinatown Plaza... The statue is interesting since it's called The Journey West.  However, the statue is facing east...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-89261213607108008572011-12-11T19:31:00.001-08:002011-12-17T19:51:47.199-08:00

Growing up in Las Vegas, pretty much my entire life revolved around Maryland Parkway...Even years after I've moved, I still stop by, like having breakfast (milkfish belly) for dinner at a Jollibee there (yeah, this Filipino fast food chain's been in America for a while now...)... Since it was gonna be a short weekend, there was time for only one new place for me to visit after the Santa Run

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-58165728932846272562011-12-10T07:12:00.001-08:002011-12-17T19:52:00.781-08:00

I bought the beard with a Santa wig...too bad it was too windy to wear the wig... Anywho, in order to break the world record, participants had to be given Santa suits.  Of course, there was no real obligation to wear them as is... Some did only a few cosmetic changes, like going Hawaiian style... Or change the hat... Or try to do a holiday mashup... Some even get

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-65574093289814488962011-12-08T18:41:00.001-08:002011-12-17T19:52:16.861-08:00

According to the local news, the world record for most runners in Santa suits was reclaimed by Vegas with 8,123 participants between the 5K and 1 mile walk.  Now this event is an annual fundraiser for Opportunity Village, a charity that helps people with severe intellectual disabilities. The event was held at Town Square this year.  The location is on the Strip near the airport.  I guess

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-2829777787202080002011-11-17T16:42:00.001-08:002011-12-17T19:48:46.153-08:00

  My fundraising page for Opportunity Village can be found here. My running event camera's (an old Sony DSC-P72) batteries died while I was running in the Disneyland Star Tours Family 5K back during Labor Day weekend two months ago, but I was able to get this pic of Princess Leia...and there was this cool Jedi runner too that I wanted to get a pic of... As the holidays approach, I

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-47430953595143020032011-11-09T19:43:00.000-08:002011-12-17T19:50:36.931-08:00

DISCLAIMER:  I am not an attorney so this should not be considered legal advice in any form...This is just a commentary on some interesting news articles I found. Okay, I'm just procrastinating from doing homework, but I did find some interesting articles about copyrights and cosplay/costumes... The first article that caught my attention was how Japan's possible entry into the

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-20099398304130073132011-11-03T17:39:00.000-07:002011-11-03T17:39:32.875-07:00

Well I was too busy to do Halloween stuff (ah the joys of engineering mathematics...), but I did think of a new fun activity...time to start compiling a list of things you would probably find in any typical anime, something I like to call #animetruth on my @amateurcameko on Twitter... Hopefully, this catches on so I can compile a list ever so often...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-25321583728364027912011-10-04T08:54:00.000-07:002011-12-17T19:51:32.433-08:00

Before the movie Cars, car clubs were part of the history of  Disneyland...there was already an idea to have a car-themed area in California Adventure... Well, it's been over a month since I saw the Imagineering Cars Land (for Disney California Adventure) panel on the last day of D23...I guess I wasn't too motivated to discuss it since you can learn more about Cars Land at the

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-20960316022087175092011-09-21T19:48:00.000-07:002011-09-21T20:04:49.175-07:00

One of the two lines I waited literally hours in during the D23 | expo 2011 last month...listening to Disney songs in a loop didn't make the time pass by any faster...at least the line for the D23 Arena (where I saw the Parks & Resorts presentation described in part 1) had video clips promoting everything Disney to pass the time (actually the program guide also had some activities like a maze

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-55884810697476900652011-09-11T19:50:00.000-07:002011-09-11T19:50:41.226-07:00

Okay, it's been weeks since D23 ended, and all I can remember is waiting hours in line for three panels and hanging around the Parks & Resorts pavilion and buying a bunch of Imagineering merchandise...Since pictures speak louder than words, I'm only gonna write about 10 pictures and let the others speak for themselves... For the first of these D23 Expo con reports, I'll just talk about

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-83968601514182403512011-08-25T21:50:00.000-07:002011-08-25T22:14:34.159-07:00

Okay...Unlike previous con reports where I organize everything by themes, I think this requires a day-by-day report...But I've been sitting on these cosplay pics for too long to not say anything about it. Pretty much my weekend was split between buying stuff, waiting hours in line to see panels, and wandering the main floor...There was only really one scheduled cosplay gathering I was aware of

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-17259246672001588532011-08-21T20:20:00.000-07:002011-08-21T20:29:38.604-07:00

So tired from D23, so I'll start my event (it's more than just a con, it's the ultimate Disney fan event) report later...but here's a pic of all the freebies I picked up...I know I spent more on stuff this weekend than at Anime Expo, but that's because they are really exclusive items, and some of the stuff I bought was part of my Christmas shopping... But for a taste of the kinds of cosplay...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-18336274347410723792011-08-15T21:40:00.000-07:002011-10-05T05:59:34.971-07:00

Note: Pics seem to be a little cropped by Blogger. Click on them to see the full image. This is the third year I've made the drive up to Little Tokyo for Nisei Week, and I've always found my favorite thing is the Tanabata Festival as this is the only time of year it is held...taiko performances, cosplay events, and martial arts demonstrations can be seen during other times of the year in

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-13279849801859445932011-08-13T20:42:00.001-07:002011-08-13T21:30:00.971-07:00

Metal chairs + hot day = hot seat...many of the chairs in front of the stage at the Tanabata Festival near the Japanese American National Museum were empty during the ukulele concert... Well I didn't plan on doing much for this year's Nisei Week in Little Tokyo because of plans to attend the upcoming Disney D23 Expo and going back to school...I tried to set up a meetup today, but I arrived 45

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-25837468784422868422011-08-03T21:07:00.001-07:002011-08-03T21:47:16.831-07:00

(Post pic of damaged camera here...)Well this was the last day that I had a working LCD on my Canon PowerShot A590, so there wasn't a lot of pics taken, though it was a long day...After parking at the convention center, I realized I forgot my cell phone, so I had to drive back to the hotel, grab my phone, and come back to pay for parking again since there was no in/out privileges (common for paid

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-54218009431404026042011-07-30T17:04:00.000-07:002011-07-30T18:32:54.055-07:00

If you showed your ticket at the Toyota booth outside Nokia Theater after the Miku no Polis (Vocaloid) concert, you got a free souvenir stadium seat cushion...Anyway, my focus for day 2 of Anime Expo 2011 was the concert, so I really kept to a few activities (really odd for a Saturday, but not so much for a second day of AX...)First step was to finally check out the Exhibit Hall to get some

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-38199467165203960712011-07-26T21:55:00.000-07:002011-07-26T22:26:46.071-07:00

Finally, I can look at the pics I took with my dedicated 2D camera...I think the above picture captures two of my favorite things...cosplay and food trucks...I'm happy I was able to take this pic before the fans swarmed this Kogi truck (I myself had to get my Lomo Arigato fix, and later that weekend I tried curry from India Jones that was awesome).Since it has been a while since I looked at these

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-3729133933861867522011-07-24T19:33:00.000-07:002011-07-24T19:50:18.274-07:00

Finally, the last set of 3D pics are done...too bad all that pink was washed out in the red/cyan anaglyph process...but here are pics from the Madoka gathering on day 3... Some more... When there is a large amount of red in the source pictures, the resulting anaglyph doesn't turn out completely well as shown in the following pics... And some more pics... Now that I'm done with the 3D, I

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-86611230807671022102011-07-20T19:35:00.000-07:002011-07-20T19:43:35.184-07:00

Okay during the crossplay/genderbend gathering on the morning of Day 3, I completely destroyed the LCD on my primary camera (the Canon Powershot A590 IS)...I ended up using one of the cameras from the 3D rig to take more pics for the rest of Anime Expo...What's great about the rig is that the firmware on the cameras do not appear to be altered when you install the SD card with the Canon Hack

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-81382911146236019682011-07-17T19:15:00.001-07:002011-07-17T20:17:23.856-07:00

The hidden Site 3 for cosplay gatherings during Anime Expo at the LA Convention Center...Here are some 3D pics generated using pictures taken outside of cosplay gatherings... Some more... And some pics of the Danny Choo itashas...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-89837465385343070572011-07-16T21:53:00.000-07:002011-07-16T22:19:41.355-07:00

Here are some K-On! goodness from the gathering on day 2...like last year, there was tea and cake! Now if only more cosplay gatherings ran like that... The cropping feature on the Stereomaker software needs work, so the picture sizes may look a little off... Some more K-On!!...(wishing to see a Nodoka or Jun cosplay one day...) I like how at the performance at the end, Ritsu was busy

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-47982558787913009272011-07-16T13:03:00.001-07:002011-07-16T13:03:10.568-07:00

Thanks! More are coming... Got a question about me or my blog?

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-7169140536905659062011-07-16T08:28:00.000-07:002011-07-16T08:31:35.428-07:00

I dunno why they didn't include highlights from Rin and Len's part or Luka's...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-7918880003051232932011-07-12T19:58:00.000-07:002011-07-12T20:13:28.957-07:00

More 3D goodness from two more cosplay gatherings on day 1...Tales Of...(Phantasia/Symphonia/Rebirth/a whole bunch of games)... And two pics from the Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt gathering...I just gotta know why this is popular, though I guess Stocking is cute...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-1769103843464230682011-07-10T18:53:00.000-07:002011-07-10T19:35:08.809-07:00

Except for a few pics taken of individuals, most of pictures taken with my 3D rig was at cosplay gatherings. The debut of my rig was at the Sailor Moon cosplay gathering on day 1...this was when I realized that I should've charged the batteries the night before... Some more pics... Some more... One more...Oh wait...Sailor...Men?

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-42076044507853506752011-07-07T22:19:00.000-07:002011-07-07T22:58:27.059-07:00

As always, I gotta have breakfast at The Original Pantry whenever I'm in L.A...Day 0 is usually uneventful, but I had plans that evening, so I really had to get my badge early...too bad I would be in for a long wait because I couldn't check into my hotel early...At least some people had fun with the tape the people had to line up on while waiting for badges...Once the doors were opened at 3pm, it

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-47348309813282468582011-07-06T23:09:00.000-07:002011-07-06T23:19:59.298-07:00

Don't worry...I'll post the original 2D pics eventually...I also gotta talk about Vocaloid, K-On karaoke in Little Tokyo, watching new anime, the food, and the stuff that I bought....There will be more K-On pics in 3D... More Panty & Stocking pics in 3D will come...Sadly, most of my Vocaloid pics are in 2D...And the bulk of my 3D pictures are from a Sailor Moon cosplay gathering as it was the

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-80836929694502579792011-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:002011-07-06T23:20:24.937-07:00

Well it turns out that it would be cheaper to buy a new camera than to take care of the broken LCD on my A590 IS...Anyway here are two new pics of gatherings that didn't go as well as planned...First up is the Haruhi x Lucky Star gathering that was scheduled at the same time as the premiere of the English version of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya...The other gathering was a crossplay/

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-22427276960107712792011-07-05T05:26:00.000-07:002011-07-06T23:20:44.536-07:00

Okay, the LCD on my primary camera broke on day 3, so I had to use one of my 3D rig cameras for the rest of the convention, limiting the number of 3D pics I could take (which in the end, could be as much as 71 as the batteries that came with the cameras drained quickly). My con story will come soon, but here are a few 3D pics I made to whet your appetite...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-59378153270174134952011-06-27T22:40:00.000-07:002011-06-27T22:55:21.769-07:00

Well this year I still plan on breaking out my Lucky Star/Anime Tenchou Meito Anizawa cosplay again...I will probably continue doing it until I run out of space on the apron to put buttons on...But I finally done a wear test of my Ika Musume genderbender cosplay minus the blue socks and white tennis shoes... I am pleased that I found a solution for the tentacle wig using felt, Heat 'n Bond, and

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-18151435801760925492011-06-26T15:10:00.000-07:002011-06-26T15:20:53.076-07:00

http://www.weheartjapan.com/2011/06/22/we-heart-singing/We Heart Singing For Japan featuring Stephanie Sheh and Cristina Vee from K-On! Sing karaoke in Little Tokyo and help raise money for relief efforts in Japan! Entry is less than the price of a Petit Nendoroid figure!

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-53705446979080552302011-06-24T20:24:00.000-07:002011-06-24T20:30:40.533-07:00

This is why I only remember it by the shorthand title...Originally, I wanted both my cosplays to be squid related (Ika Musume and Summer War's Mansuke), but after seeing how well received my off-the-(thrift store)-rack Nabeshin cosplay was last year (a kid asked for my autograph thinking I was him...), I thought about trying another off-the-rack cosplay...After watching Comic Party, I knew there

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-10852330472246261332011-06-21T21:07:00.000-07:002011-06-21T21:20:14.761-07:00

Okay, I needed to test this 3D rig outdoors since most of the cosplay gatherings for Anime Expo will be outdoors. I also needed to test this thing on live subjects such as animals...So my field test of this rig was at Mile Square Park after work...I'm still trying to figure out how to do batch mode with the software, but here are the first batch of 3D pics from the park...Okay more tree pics..

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-34690620542267695092011-06-19T21:35:00.001-07:002011-06-19T21:44:24.401-07:00

The downside about living in a small apartment is that I can't take a full body pic of myself, but here are pics of one of two new cosplays I have planned for Anime Expo 2011...A genderbender Ika Musume. I wanted to do this cosplay really only because I wanted to wear the squid hat. The original plan was to go for a genderbender Sanae with a squid hat since I wouldn't need a wig, and I only

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-18566871599389294642011-06-18T07:03:00.000-07:002011-06-18T07:09:14.992-07:00

Approximate costs for major components (actual cost would be higher because of all the mistakes I made when making this, and it's approximate since I tossed the receipts)2 Identical Canon Cameras - $85.01 on eBay (includes shipping)2 2GB SD Cards - $15 from Best Buy (I know I can find it cheaper, but I gotta stick with SanDisk. I am also limited by the capacity of the cameras)Basswood Strips

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-37999998029613210992011-06-17T17:34:00.000-07:002011-06-18T07:03:19.215-07:00

Okay well in Part 1, I realize that the frame that will hold my cameras isn't too great, so I built a new one with some sticks...Here's the back of the setup with the small red button to push to take the pictures:I cut up a plastic box that my Moo MiniCards come in to be the box that contains the switch and USB ports:What I like about the new simpler camera holder is that it is collapsible and

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-8413578160402947122011-06-16T22:15:00.000-07:002011-07-10T19:36:43.058-07:00

So busy with preparing for Anime Expo that I haven't spent some time outside testing the 3D rig. However, here's another test pic...I will eventually show pics and some details about the rig that is making this...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-2384093109233310162011-06-16T05:41:00.001-07:002011-06-16T05:58:11.601-07:00

-Finish cosplays (Ika Musume - 85% Oreimo - 85%...really should learn how to work with wigs...).-Further test 3D camera rig.-Actually plan out panel/screening schedule to include cosplay gatherings I want to see and meet & greets.-Stock up on SD cards, especially for 3D camera rig (the cameras I use for that cannot take anything larger than 2GB.-Construct the cosplay hunt hit list of must-find

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-63234618796020667852011-06-12T22:10:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:15:33.613-07:00

Well I got home late after having a friend do the soldering of the circuit for me...It's been years since I soldered anything, so I wanted someone with more practice to do this part...But I wanted to show how the very first picture taken with this rig looks like after I use the Stereo Photo Maker software...A description of what was involved in making the rig will come shortly...now some sleep...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-46486349572725112011-06-09T16:23:00.001-07:002011-06-09T20:45:52.445-07:00

So what school uniforms should I expect to see this year?Angel BeatsLucky Star (so wanna find a cosplay gathering that has more than 3 cosplayers)Ouran High School Host ClubMelancholy of Haruhi SuzumiyaNichijou (My Ordinary Life)K-On!OreimoOnes I've seen but will probably be surprised to find again:Full Metal PanicKanonClannadShuffle!Azumanga DaiohSchool RumbleOnes that I wish to see:Air (wanna

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-30773809959473587872011-06-04T21:11:00.001-07:002011-06-04T21:30:20.485-07:00

Okay, I thought it would be neat for this year's Anime Expo to take 3D cosplay pictures. Now I know you can use a Nintendo 3DS or the Fujifilm FinePix W3 Real 3D camera, but I didn't want to spend too much money on a new camera...The solution is to use two cheap digital cameras. I'm following the instructions I found in the Maximum PC article and two Canon SD400 cameras I bought for cheap on

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-52140391929686133872011-05-23T21:31:00.000-07:002011-05-23T22:35:58.008-07:00

I've been wanting to post this, but I was busy working on my 3D camera rig only to find that I need more wood...Considering that my childhood in Vegas was pretty boring (I was cooped up most of the time at school, home, the movies, or the library because they're air conditioned), there are few places that get my attention when they are closing. When I heard that the Sahara was closing, I

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-76243429665142566182011-05-10T19:26:00.001-07:002011-05-10T21:15:05.903-07:00

Last Saturday marked the third time I was at the red (I mean black) carpet of the premiere of a Pirates of the Caribbean film. While the entertainment press and Disney will show off the pics of the celebs (such as at the Disney Parks blog), I like seeing the arrivals of the generous people (some tickets were sold as part of a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America) who come in their

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-4562100531755764122011-05-05T21:26:00.000-07:002011-05-05T21:39:05.221-07:00

Still a Nissan fan, though...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-30954197393102688112011-05-03T21:26:00.000-07:002011-05-03T22:00:53.363-07:00

Some of the celebrity artists in attendance donated items for a raffle to encourage people to donate......Well I had finals to prepare for, but last Saturday, an opportunity came up that combined many of my favorite things...being at/near Disneyland, cosplay, and volunteering...helping collect donations for the tornado disaster relief efforts in the southern states at the Wizard World Anaheim

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-75658342669059890062011-04-28T20:23:00.001-07:002011-04-28T20:27:07.272-07:00

...and I still haven't started working on my cosplay for this year's Anime Expo (you can register here)I am so excited how it will turn out...I still am thinking about how I can ride a goat to AX...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-29023955323921073392011-04-26T17:02:00.000-07:002011-04-26T17:02:39.224-07:00

Just had to post this to celebrate the launch of K-On! on Blu-Ray and DVD...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-56089439701155892242011-04-07T22:48:00.000-07:002011-04-07T23:00:44.625-07:00

Tokyo Disneyland ready to reopen - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - VarietyThat's a good thing to read...I hope things will get back to normal soon...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-20220380086732259352011-03-13T07:59:00.001-07:002011-03-13T08:22:43.906-07:00

Amazing how fast people come together to help. The recovery will probably take years, so every little bit will help. I am relieved to hear that my friends in Japan are all right.Since I live in Southern California, I should mention that local news stations are partnering with the local American Red Cross chapters.ABC at the Rose Bowl and Angel Stadium on Monday, March 14.NBC at Dodger Stadium

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-52681530471478177852011-02-19T17:50:00.000-08:002011-02-19T18:09:49.980-08:00

I bought a new 17" notebook last year with Blu-Ray capability since it was cheaper than buying a new HDTV and Blu-Ray player, and I needed a new computer as my old one was already 6 years old. Since that time, I've added purchasing anime on DVD and on Blu-Ray (depending on which one I can get a better deal)...and a lot of the titles I just bought because it was cheap, so it wouldn't be much of a

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-18374272006696523412011-01-28T20:55:00.000-08:002011-01-28T21:01:20.887-08:00

It's been so long since I watched K-On!, though I listen to the soundtrack a lot...I was actually thinking Stephanie Sheh's Yui would be more like Barkhorn from Strike Witches, but I do like how the characters actually sound like high school students in the dub. Oh how I missed my chance to meet her, but I had to skip Pacific Media Expo 2010...Please come to Anime Expo...Please?

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-7325203664457503982011-01-09T20:20:00.000-08:002011-01-09T21:36:11.065-08:00

Okay, I didn't plan on attending Anime L.A., but I did have a full anime-related day yesterday...After taking part in my regular volunteering activity, I headed up to Anaheim to the SPJA office where they were holding their first Anime Expo/SPJA open house of the year so those who were interested can ask questions about volunteering and staffing. In addition to enjoying my new favorite from the

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-89667174956441779692011-01-09T18:28:00.001-08:002011-01-29T08:15:06.549-08:00

I guess a holiday vacation's last day is the last full day you get to spend with family, so New Year's Day 2011 would be it...I heard about a festival in Little Tokyo, so we headed up to downtown L.A. I finally took advantage of the route to finally take a picture of the downtown L.A. skyline from a bridge that crosses the L.A. River...The Oshogatsu festival in Little Tokyo was split between

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-14006181523026963512011-01-07T22:35:00.000-08:002011-01-07T23:04:27.723-08:00

I was concerned about traffic returning home from Vegas during New Year's, so I decided to cut my time in Vegas short and wanted to check out the new OC Fair New Year's Eve Block Party...I'm not sure why, but there was wandering entertainment...There were stages divided by decades from the 1960's to the 1990's with appropriate tribute bands...all my pics from those performances came out blurry,

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-4982693028100765252011-01-03T20:54:00.000-08:002011-01-05T17:12:11.143-08:00

Well my original vacation plan was to spend over two weeks back in the town where I grew up, Las Vegas, Nevada...I was also hoping I'd be taking more pics of Yui for my vacation. However, I realize after a busy year spent working late and going back to school, I just needed some rest. I did take a few pics during my Vegas holiday, though.While some people like taking pictures when engaging in

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-47591391206745197502010-11-28T19:23:00.000-08:002010-11-28T19:39:05.010-08:00

Now when family visits for Thanksgiving weekend, we go to Disneyland so often that I pretty much stopped taking pics, but I did find some neat things the other day...Like all-you-can-eat BBQ in Frontierland (my normal Disneyland Resort buddy can't eat anything they serve at the place whose name suddenly escapes me, so this was a treat...)Anyway, we did find people you don't see everyday outside

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-72087917976234658512010-11-05T22:40:00.000-07:002010-11-06T00:49:48.715-07:00

I started this blog with the intent of building up a list for a cosplay scavenger hunt, but I think I found another cosplay game that might also be exciting...Besides, my anime/manga tracking has not caught up with recent trends to pick characters that one would actually find in a large convention. And I was looking forward to finding people cosplaying as Akira Kogami's friends from the Lucky

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-45087176610080236082010-10-17T17:04:00.000-07:002010-10-17T17:17:57.041-07:00

Just because the weather was nice the week before doesn't mean you should cut the number of umbrellas to rent...Because I was curious, I went to the OC Japan Fair a few weeks ago in the Great Park in Irvine (still a rather arrogant name since this former military base has yet to really be transformed into a real park...)...Because it was really hot, and there was very little shade, I stayed there

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-87233362024396774342010-09-26T05:56:00.000-07:002010-09-26T06:40:23.343-07:00

Saw this on Cosplay in America's Flickr...Yeah, hardcore cosplayer, crossplayer (I've had this theory that straight guys crossplay in order to sneak into the girls restroom, but crossplaying may be linked to the kabuki tradition of having men playing the female roles...), and the anime critic (the guy who thinks all anime was crap after -insert title here-) are missing from this list...As for

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-33002724665698575292010-09-05T18:40:00.000-07:002010-09-05T21:44:19.435-07:00

Considering that I grew up in Las Vegas, and I enjoy anime, you would think I would be spending Labor Day weekend at Anime Vegas, but I don't as I found something that I find really rewarding because it combines two of my original loves, volunteering and Disney...The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, which was celebrating the 5th anniversary this past weekend...During the weekend, there is a 5K

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-51686556297225563372010-08-21T20:15:00.000-07:002010-08-21T20:18:56.747-07:00

Well it would be too much work to describe what went on at the Grand Parade last Sunday, so here's a slideshow of the pics I took at the parade from the starting line...pretty much the same as last year, but with Ban Daisuke as a special guest for the cosplayers...High school marching band has taught me to avoid walking in a parade unless I'm on a float, so you'll prolly never see my Meito at

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-18520234141491877612010-08-16T21:14:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:56:34.350-07:00

If the style looks familiar, it is because the artwork is by TokiDoki...Well I wanted to put up a 10 commandments of cosplayer/cameko as a closeout to my Anime Expo 2010 articles, but that can wait...This is the 70th year of Nisei Week in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. Since I had fun spending two weekends at last year's festivities, I came again this past weekend, but with the promise of

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-32933730446642438052010-08-07T07:30:00.001-07:002010-08-07T07:38:50.256-07:00

Well if you managed to poke around my Flickr account, you probably saw the other Anime Expo pics, but if not, here they are. Except for an excess of pics taken at what I guess were Resident Evil, One Piece, and Yu Gi Oh gatherings (I probably went to more, but it's been already over a month, so I don't remember that well), these were cosplays I just caught as I was wandering about the halls of

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-78998715258966876192010-08-03T19:42:00.001-07:002010-08-03T20:26:30.032-07:00

Why is there never any Lucky Star love when there's a Lucky Star/Haruhi gathering???If you saw my post about last year's gathering, there were only four Lucky Star cosplayers (myself included). There were three this year...I think I saw the Tsukasa cosplayer last year doing the MMORPG version from the OVA...It was nice to see new characters. One day I hope to see Yui or any of the characters

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-10812682993399842672010-07-27T20:58:00.000-07:002010-07-27T21:59:08.294-07:00

I did do some other stuff at Anime Expo besides watch anime, see cosplay, and attend Danny Choo and Nabeshin panels...Some other activities during AX 2010...Like the red carpet entrance of the Guests of Honor on Day 1 that I arrived late for...They were greeted by a samba dancer on stilts...I think a local marching band would actually be cool as it would be nice to greet our Japanese guests with

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-49123689135052505082010-07-24T17:08:00.000-07:002010-07-24T17:11:01.321-07:00

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-56859314104008345672010-07-22T19:57:00.001-07:002010-07-22T20:54:27.059-07:00

Hmmm...time after AX has been very busy...I gotta catch up with the blog...I hope someone took video of the Tokyo Stormtrooper at the AX Opening Ceremony...Anyway, I first was introduced to Danny Choo's site when I discovered a K-On! video on YouTube. After checking out the site, I was intrigued about the story of how an ex-pat built a successful empire around his passions...Which was what some

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-82092915415019033202010-07-20T00:22:00.000-07:002010-07-20T00:22:19.357-07:00

 efore continuing on with the Anime Expo 2010 story, I think I should point out the cosplay that surprised me this year as I thought the series wasn't as popular for cosplay this side of the Pacific as I thought...So here are some that stood out... I really liked the Aria series, so I was happy to see a cosplay from it... Well my Dororo cosplay was a failure for this event, but I did find some

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-14641560558507878522010-07-18T16:02:00.000-07:002010-07-18T16:02:39.369-07:00

What I like about Anime Expo is the fact that there is a much larger video program schedule than other events, which allows me to check out some anime that I otherwise would not think about.  Sometimes, I may have seen a series online (like on Funimation or Crunchyroll) and think that the series is really bad, until I watch it with an audience who finds ways of making it worth my time.  Here's a

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-39157114398229082752010-07-13T18:54:00.000-07:002010-07-13T18:55:25.598-07:00

Without the AX escort, I thought he was a cosplayer...and yet that was not my most embarrassing moment during Anime Expo 2010... Day 1 of Anime Expo was spent in the easiest cosplay I've done, wataNABE SHINichi.  Although it was the easiest, it was the most effective...After watching the opening ceremonies, I had lunch at the ESPN Zone (see previous post about my steak lunch there).  Apparently

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-39622172713696064432010-07-10T11:49:00.001-07:002010-07-11T06:07:11.523-07:00

The advertising this year seems a lot stronger this year, even radio ads on KROQ... As a lifelong Trojan, I've been an advocate for cheap eating near USC for the years that Anime Expo has been at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With the exception of a little splurging, I really didn't spend too much on food compared to last year (granted, I was showing a friend around Little Tokyo last

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-34549301384902595832010-07-08T19:54:00.000-07:002010-07-11T07:08:17.044-07:00

Some cameko will go to great lengths to capture the right cosplay pic...(or video as he had a camcorder...) I didn't see the K-On! gathering on the gatherings list from Cosplay.com, but I found an Azusa cosplayer who handed me an invite: To ensure that people found the gathering, a sign was there: In addition to the cosplayers and cameko, there was an electric violinist who was playing K-On

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-88169036512799307892010-07-07T22:39:00.001-07:002010-07-07T22:48:04.546-07:00

I'll give a report on the K-On! cosplay gathering at AX 2010 a little later (as I think other cosplay gatherings should be like this), but I really wanna share some of my favorite K-On! pics... I just got back from taking care of my personal matters, so I'll have some time to craft my picture stories...Stay tuned...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-46963307436290171322010-07-05T06:11:00.000-07:002010-07-05T07:44:11.388-07:00

Well I have a lot of pics to sort out before I can post anything worth reading about, but maybe the best way to organize this is not by day (though I have a bunch of pictures of the badge pickup line and my wristwatch taken on day 0 I wanted to show, but I think the story of long lines has been beaten to death), but by certain themes...--Dining with Yui (I should've brought a veggie platter with

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-11952860302330066762010-07-01T22:39:00.001-07:002010-07-01T22:42:53.815-07:00

Well I brought my laptop to Anime Expo thinking that I could give a full report each night, but alas, I'm too tired...So here's a pic of my cosplay today as a little teaser. I didn't take too many cosplay pics today as I wanted to check out the new stuff like the summer festival...When I first saw him outside, I thought he was a cosplayer until I saw his AX Staff escort show up...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-85338985883610697942010-06-27T20:59:00.000-07:002010-06-27T21:36:25.917-07:00

I really should remove the clutter in my closet...Well last year's Anime Expo taught me to expect the unexpected, such as the fact the Michael Jackson's death really wreaked havoc on the hotel arrangements (getting a single bed for the room holding four adults wasn't fun, but the rollaway was thrown in for free. However, since the room was meant for a single bed, the rollaway ate up what little

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-79928802959055102212010-06-20T21:22:00.000-07:002010-06-20T21:58:10.186-07:00

Well it's been a while since I came up with a scavenger hunt list (and I've been lazy working on my Sgt. Frog and Nabeshin cosplays for Anime Expo and lazy catching up on new anime), so I think I should refocus what I want to see at during the new event season, which for me starts with Anime Expo (Japan Expo in France, your day will come...)Let's see, maybe I should start with that which is most

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-69096097701580725172010-06-10T16:14:00.000-07:002010-06-10T16:44:44.750-07:00

Here are some things I ate while I was in Oahu:My first meal in Oahu, the signature teriyaki burger at Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu (to be replaced with a new location in Waikiki):Portuguese sausage scramble at Eggs 'n Things:Fried Mahi Mahi at Coral Kingdom (for the SoCal folks, this is like the Barstow Station of Oahu, but with only one restaurant and no gas station nearby):Dole whip float (in a

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-59752211524744225392010-06-07T21:50:00.000-07:002010-06-07T22:16:37.180-07:00

Well this vacation was still a birthday present for me and a chance to relax for my friend before she moves on to the next step of her career, so it's not like I stopped everywhere to get a Yui pic, but here are some places I did take a pic...Like in windward Oahu, particularly Kane'ohe:Or stopping to sample macadamia nuts (or finding where you are in relation to the rest of the world) in

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-64833341368988069302010-06-05T23:47:00.000-07:002010-06-06T00:00:21.494-07:00

For my vacation, my human friend wanted to go to a place warm...so Oahu we went...Of course, I had to bring Yui with me...I've decided to organize the pics I took of the plushie into two parts, places and food. I didn't take a pic of Yui everywhere I went because of time, didn't bring my backpack , and/or it would appear inappropriate (so no pics at Pearl Harbor or any religious places I visited

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-26624369704534696122010-05-24T21:19:00.000-07:002010-05-24T22:00:33.376-07:00

Well if you read my previous post about the SoCal Cosplay Gathering a few weeks ago, then you knew about the upcoming book Cosplay in America, a photo book made by Ejen Chuang. Well you can check out the site for details about the book...this post is about the launch party held yesterday at Royal/T in Culver City.Before I went to the party in the back, I treated myself to lunch in the cafe, a

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-44187690079798867982010-05-17T18:29:00.000-07:002010-05-17T19:00:51.091-07:00

One time hanging out at Disneyland, I saw some people taking a Flat Stanley pic...since Flat Stanley is too common, I wanted to do something a little more unique, so I bought an extra Yui plushie (after the first time I got during the cherry blossom festival in Little Tokyo) and took it with me to the city where I grew up...I visited family this past weekend...Unfortunately, I lost the plushie

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-52075228045030277832010-05-10T21:37:00.000-07:002010-05-10T22:28:07.763-07:00

I'm trying to cut back on trying to get every cosplayer's pic in any single event so I can step back and actually enjoy what's going on around me. Besides, one doesn't make a costume just for a single event, especially for a one-day BBQ (I think...).So here are the pics, FIGHT!Now FINISH HER!It's been a long time since I watched Pokemon...I wonder which is the better ninja/samurai world...Yui!..

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-35196638762718206052010-05-09T15:15:00.000-07:002010-05-10T21:37:06.311-07:00

The above quote is by American actress Gloria Grahame, probably best known for her role as Violet, the promiscuous girl saved by George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life.Anyway, I think this event was the first time I really took a notice to the really small details of a costume, especially when two people pointed out I used the wrong hiragana on my Meito Anizawa costume (Merito instead of Meito...

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-49243520836561246142010-05-09T13:56:00.000-07:002010-05-09T14:41:49.969-07:00

I really got excited as the SoCal Cosplay Gathering was getting closer as they were going to raffle off two copies of the new photobook Cosplay in America by Ejen Chuang. Unfortunately, I didn't win, but the author brought copies so he can get cosplayer reaction videos for his site. Well I definitely plan on buying a copy as this is probably only the second book I've seen containing American

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-40594681559455928952010-05-08T21:30:00.000-07:002010-05-08T22:22:47.522-07:00

I think for this event report I'll start in reverse (activities first followed by individual cosplay pics), but I guess order doesn't really matter that much as I spent most of today just chatting with friends instead of taking pics. However, this was intentional as I didn't wanna burn out quickly with cosplay like I did last year...plus I really am trying to get a feel for what to expect for

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-57319597010729525062010-04-12T21:39:00.000-07:002010-04-14T20:31:05.841-07:00

Of course when you have an event in Little Tokyo, Hello Kitty will be there...Okay when I think of gothic/lolita style, I think of those girls who like wearing frilly skirts that almost look too childish for them...pretty much the goth kids except sweeter. I didn't really know that there were types of lolita...none of the books I have really mentioned a difference. While my non-anime friend was

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-73745380951531892010-04-12T17:55:00.000-07:002010-04-12T18:40:13.286-07:00

The funny thing about the Cherry Blossom Festival was that there weren't really any cherry blossoms near any of the stages or booths. The only one I found was on the top of a mochi cake booth.But back to guys handing out the hurt...On the second day, I brought another non-anime friend to Little Tokyo. However, he had a Ducks game to get to, so the day was short, but I really wasn't planning

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-57053635549829876812010-04-11T16:55:00.000-07:002010-04-11T17:24:35.110-07:00

Pretty much I finished day 1 with some martial arts demonstrations. As someone who studies a little aikido (emphasis on little as I have a lot of things going on in my life), I like seeing how other disciplines work.I walked in on some Atemi Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, where I noticed some of the things I have learned, like getting control of the hand that gets you and doing a reverse hand throw: Or pulling

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-38763410686546492212010-04-11T16:02:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:55:11.063-07:00

In my wandering around Little Tokyo on day 1 of the Cherry Blossom Festival, I came across this statue of Chiune "Sempo" Sugihara, a Japanese consul in Lithuania who issued visas to thousands of Jewish refugees against the order of the Japanese government during WWII.Anyway, back to the story...after the cosplay contest on the J-pop stage, I wanted to catch the kimono fashion show. While I

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-18148341673885017712010-04-10T22:54:00.000-07:002010-04-11T00:08:26.924-07:00

This cosplay contest was presented by the Pacific Media Expo and Valley Gakuen on the J-pop stage. As this was the first event scheduled on the stage, the event couldn't start until it was cleared by the fire marshal, so things definitely started late (which meant that I would miss the one of two aikido demonstrations scheduled this weekend). I was happy to be able to get my cousin to come so

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-56661760799930088572010-04-10T22:16:00.001-07:002010-04-11T05:14:54.571-07:00

After a five month hiatus of attending events related to Asian culture, I've gotten back in the groove by attending The Cherry Blossom Festival Southern California held today and tomorrow in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. The way the two-day event is organized, there are several stages with each stage dedicated to a specific element of Asian culture. There's the main stage with the

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-47109430318854010712010-03-20T05:33:00.000-07:002010-03-20T06:08:03.010-07:00

Comic-Con Moving to LA or Anaheim?????Comic-Con may move out of San Diego and further north to L.A. or Anaheim (which I'm surprised has a larger convention center than L.A...). This is good for me as I would be able to attend Comic-Con. I don't think many workplaces would allow two scheduled four day weekends from work, and I would like to save up my vacation time for the occasional two-week

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-61536809733401390922010-03-10T20:30:00.001-08:002010-03-10T20:30:48.560-08:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/amateurcameko

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-7055532796485235372010-03-02T21:54:00.000-08:002010-03-02T22:34:26.395-08:00

Recently, I've been browsing through the Cosplayers' Cure website for ideas on a possible Sgt. Frog cosplay I've been thinking about for Anime Expo. I'm doing my research here more as I notice more anime titles are represented here than on other sites. As I browse through the pics and notice most of the cosplayers on this site are Japanese, I wondered if I would find cosplay from an American

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-72348437526732920562010-02-25T22:10:00.001-08:002010-02-25T22:40:27.732-08:00

After PMX, I felt burned out by seeing in many cases the same cosplay over and over again, but I think I'm getting my groove back. Now to think about what cosplay project I can convince my cousin to work on...maybe upgrade my Meito Anizawa cosplay? I really should not have used a turtleneck meant for winter for AX...Other ideas:Kululu from Sgt. Frog (baseball shirt and hat)Minoru Shiraishi from

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-27194207569933949382010-02-13T11:11:00.000-08:002010-02-13T11:19:13.182-08:00

While I prefer the Summer Olympics to the Winter Olympics, it's always interesting to see how national teams dress when they arrive to the event...Okay, so this post is not about cosplay, but I think I have a little better insight about how the Japanese take uniforms seriously. Apparently, the one snowboarder who wasn't in uniform was banned from some arrival activities...The full article can be

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-69349462190441828762010-01-17T21:46:00.000-08:002010-01-17T23:23:20.879-08:00

I've been thinking for a while what my 100th post should be about since I would like to put something in before I go to my next con (Tokyo International Anime Fair? London MCM Expo?)...but I guess the current issues surrounding Anime Expo, which was my first con in 2008, would be good material...(okay this would be my 101st post because there was a Clonnad post I deleted when I found out it was

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5966208798138656248.post-63755233819044719752010-01-11T18:36:00.000-08:002010-01-11T22:24:52.407-08:00

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-01-11/multiple-anime-expo-staffers-resign-in-board-disputeI'm not sure if I should believe some of the statements attributed to the SPJA CEO or legal counsel as I have strong doubts that either would make such unprofessional statements regarding the value of volunteers and expensive travel. I've only attended Anime Expo for the last two years, but I've

amateur_camekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00711754089686784458noreply@blogger.com1