♡ Hyper Japan ♡

みなさん、こんにちは!

It's rare for Sapphire and I to see each other so close together after a visit from whichever person but as we both wanted to go to Hyper Japan this year, how could we both pass up such an opportunity? We only went on the Saturday with a dual pass ticket (as the day was split into two sessions) but honestly, it was the best decision to go then!

The difference between Hyper Japan and MCM Expo (personal experience here) is that I find HJ less crowded than Expo... even on a Saturday and the fact it's now the beginning of summer holidays here. Even though there are many similarities and differences between the two events... Hyper Japan is just more my thing. Yes; it's nice at Expo to get the variety of movies, games and more cosplayers where as at HJ you just get a small handful of cosplayers, no real movie promotions and a small selection of recent games to check out... it's the cultural side of things that draws me towards HJ. You get to find out about studying in Japan, learning the language, the food, travelling, what is popular and what is traditional etc etc. All in all, the experience at HJ as just made me want to go again and indeed I shall. Luckily they have a Christmas version in November so I have officially decided to skip October Expo this year and just go to Hyper Japan for the weekend in November. Sorted.

The only problem I had with Hyper Japan was the heat... recently in the UK the weather has been absolutely dreadful with high humidty and scorching sunny days with no signs of rain anywhere. Saturday was no different, and it was just so horrible travelling through London on the tube because of the crappy air-con. Plus there seemed to be no air-con at Earls Court either, except for a couple of cool spots, but other than that... I was using a programme to fan myself most of the day!

Despite the heat, I loved looking around all the different stalls at HJ. There were different section dedicated to special genres of what HJ is trying to promote - so there was a section for food, for languages/studies and a section for "kawaii" stuff such as fashion, make-up, deco etc. The 'Fringe Market' was also extremely interesting to look around, as it's an area dedicated to small, independent shops/stalls selling whatever they do in their trade - so there were manga artists, wig sellers and jewellery sellers in that area.

Gosh there were so many highlights of the whole day. One being seeing friends whom I haven't seen (for what feels like) years! Finding an actually Diamond Lash stall in the 'Hyper Kawaii' section and talking to the stall owner for like 20 odd minutes about eyelashes and make-up (yes I get happy over that) The fashion show towards the end of the day that showcased Ayumi Seto's new fashion line;

Don't all the clothes look so freakin' adorable?! I honestly cannot decide which is my favourite piece... oh and all of the models are so cute and friendly just GAH! I'm so glad that I stayed to watch this show! Also seeing NEEKO was an amazing highlight as well!

Another major highlight of the day for me was seeing ONE NOT'E! After being told about them from my penpal and that they would be at HJ... how could I resist going? Also, the last official gig I went to was wwwaaayyy back in 2012!! Listening to them perform, it made me realise how much I do miss going to gigs and if there are any happening between now and before I leave for China, well I'm definitely going to make the effort! Also about ONE NOT'E, someone commented to me about the guitarist, Takato, looking extremely familiar and he really did but at that point I couldn't quite put my finger on it to where I had seen him before until I got home and googled the band... he's ex.VIRGIL! Don't you just hate it when you recognise someone but you just never remember until the moment has passed?! That was me...

Honestly, they were sooooo good performing live that I wished I had snapped out of my daydreaming and recorded some footage of them performing ahhh! I really hope in the future they'll do some more overseas gigs... if not I'm sure a quick trip to Japan won't hurt! Oh, what is a day out without food involved? My life would be incomplete without food, even though it felt like that all I had done was consume liquid most of the day because of the heat wwwaaahhh.

Oh and must not forgot about what I purchased throughout the day. You'll be able to see how truly happy I was about the Diamond Lash stall in the end! I think I picked up some amazing bargains though as well as finding out about some new shops that are worth checking out again in the future!

All in all, the day was fabulous and I'm glad that I went. I will definitely stick to my plan of going for the full weekend at Christmas time for a bit of fun (and as it's on my birthday weekend... a birthday treat!) All the above picture kind of sum everything up on how it all went on as I have nothing else really interesting left to say except for that the company was amazing, the atmosphere was brilliant and already I wish it wasn't over even though I still ache. As that is really it now, I'll just finish this post off with a couple of face pictures;

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

♡ MCM London Expo Weekend ♡

みなさん、こんにちは!

After, what feels like, an extremely long (as well as being extremely stressful) weekend... London MCM Expo is over again until the end of October. Despite the massive crowds on Saturday, the stalls inside the main halls were planned out better than previous times. 

Friday was the better day out of the two - even though I purchased a weekend ticket, I only went on the Friday and Saturday with Sapphire as it turned out cheaper that way. Friday was better because we could turn up over an hour after opening, walk straight through to get our wristbands without waiting and then walk around the halls whilst browse stalls and such without being pushed/elbowed out of the way and actually stop and look at the things around us where as on Saturday it felt like Mission Impossible trying to worm our way through the crowds to get to where we wanted... oh and the heat. The heat was physically impossible to bear... I honestly thought at a couple of moments I was about to faint but I managed... with the help of a lot of drinks! Also on the Friday, Sapphire and I went into Westfield's first (as my doughnut of a best friend forgot her make-up) and we ate some lunch at Umai - chicken karaage hirata bun with Dragonball Z lemonade! And for dinner, we decided on sushi from Wasabi - score!

As many of you may know, I don't cosplay. I have never cosplayed in my life but I am thinking about doing a couple in the future... shhh. And like an idiot, I didn't have any outfit pictures taken but I did manage to have some taken of my make-up over the course of the weekend;

left to right; Friday, Saturday and Sunday make-up/wigs

I actually didn't take many pictures of things at the expo... I only took pictures of figures really as there were so many lovely ones on display that I got distracted by what I actually wanted to take pictures of... d'oh. But hey, some pictures are better than no pictures to be honest!

Other than being with Sapphire the whole weekend, I got to see loads of friends again whom I haven't met up with since either the last expo or even longer than that! I found out that my college friend, Ben, was attending on the Saturday and as I hadn't seen him for over five years at that point, he was an obvious choice to meet up with! It was amazing to hang out with people who can make me laugh until I cry and can accept my sheer craziness... I don't quite know what I'll do without them in all honesty.

Expo Haul;

Kuroshitsuji Movie Book from Japan Centre, Notebooks from Art Box, SHO-BI Romantic Minnie False Eyelashes and Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner from unknown stall

Sakura Hatsune Miku Nendroid from Good Smile Company, Disney Ariel and Maleficent Pop! Funko from unknown stall

Rum Raisin Kitkat box, heap of different flavoured Puccho's, Milky sweets and Hello Kitty sweets from Sushi Noms and a Princess Celestia plushies thanks to my best friend!

On the Sunday, Sapphire and I met up with Sharan for the afternoon and mooched around Central London / Camden for a while. It was wonderful to just chill out and relax a little bit whilst enjoying the smoking hot weather. I swear, all weekend, all we did was walk everywhere and we could really feel it in our legs at the end of the day. I also believe that I've bummed up my dodgy ankle once again... sobs internally.

We went and ate at The Blue Kitchen located in Camden High Street - halfway between Camden Town tube station and Mornington Crescent tube station. It was such an amazing place with it's blues/jazz feeling to the decor and the comfy leather booths and the size of the portions... fml we were all so full at the end of it that I think all three of us rolled towards the tube station! Oh and we also had cake and bubble tea... normally when I go out with Sharan, we'll literally eat until the cows come home but I think because of the weather on Sunday, we all felt a little out of sorts?

And finally, just to finish off this blog post... what would complete it but with a few pictures of myself and Sapphire. I want to say we're sorry for the last one but in reality... we're not! Did anyone else go to expo at all? Is anyone planning on going in October? I haven't quite decided yet if I want to go or not as the next event in Hyper Japan in July - is anyone planning going there? Ahhh there is just too many things to think of sometimes...

Thanks for reading!
xoxo