International Sailor Moon Day UK

Photo Courtesy of Manga Girl Photography

15th August 2015 marked the International Sailor Moon Day across the globe. With events such as thr original voice actress dinging at the American day. Here is a glimpse into the UK festivities.

The meet started at Waterloo station where moonies walked together to St James Park. This was the location where everyone adjusted their outfits.

There were two competitions in place, one for cosplay and fashion inspired outfit. The prize for the cosplay contest were a pair of tickets to London Anime Gamong Convention in February 2016 which were won by a pair of Sailor Uranus and Neptune. The fashion inspired outfit was awarded by myself and Pixie Late to Vicky - who wore a horoscope dress with Sailor Moon collar, Cardigan and SM inspired necklace from the anime who was awarded a SM eyeliner/wand kindly donated by Dreamy Bows - a great online source to buy your official SM goods.

There was also a detailed Sailor Moon quiz devised by the editor of Hitsu magazine, this was won by a group who all received SM lanyards.

The whole group were invited to join in recording a SM vidro message and even preformed a sing along of the English opening theme.

A great way to meet felliw moonies of all ages. We were fortunate to enjoy great weather in the park too.

For more adventures into anime, cosplay, gaming and events follow me on Facebook and twitter. 

^_^ Aisha Anime

Review: Harajuku Girls

Harajuku Girls is Nicholas Goh and Papergang Theatre's debut production. It's written by Northern Irish/Japanese playwright Francis Turnly (currently resident writer at the Tricycle Theatre) and directed by Jude Christian (2013 winner of the National Theatre Studio Bursary).

The cast is made up on an entirely East Asian cast, starring Elizabeth Tan (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road ), Haruka Abe (Cyber Bully, Cucumber) and Kunjue Li (Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders).  From first glance or the manga style art on the flyers you may think this play is about fun loving fashionistas, this isn't the case at all.

We follow three girls finishing school and waiting to find out there exam results to see which University they would get into. Yumi is the young loving un-popular girl who is often insulted and shunned by Keiko the pretty and popular girl. Marie is the mediator between the both and wants them all to get on. Keiko comes from a divorced family which is rumored to have made her behavior spiral out of control and made her into the wild child she is. 'Rumours' is an important factor cover int eh play how society watches the youths and passes judgement.

Marie is desperately trying to get into acting school but her father does not approve and refuses to pay the fees. Keiko gives her a way to make money herself through prostitution or fantasy hotels. After watching the 'Love Hotel' recently on tv I was very aware of these concepts and it was in fact a part of Japanese lifestyle just hidden very well.

Somehow these adolescents leave there carefree lives from cosplaying and Japanese fashion at Harajuku street to club nights picking up rich old men - which Keiko does with skill, Marie does out of desperation. There is always a cut out point for Marie so she can pay for acting school and get out, Keiko has no goal this is just a means to end and being good at her job is then only thing that seems to matter.

This play is a great demonstration of fringe theater actors play double roles from Marie's father playing as a sleazy man wanting some fun with her. Yumi is also the innocent friend who later plays one of the fantasy girls in the hotel.

I certainly loved all the cosplay's used and shown from nurse uniforms to Sailor Moon inspired outfits they have kept to the roots of even using Yen as currency on stage. Also the soundtrack used for scene changes was great contemporary mix of Kyari Pamyu Pamyu and Baby Metal amongst Japanese cover songs as well.

In the words of an Otaku the play develops from innocence to fan service and then feels. You couldn't help but laugh at points and also feel deep empathy. Fantastic acting from the cast especially from Haruka Abe playing the tormented lead Marie. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and look forward to more productions from Papergang theatre.

Running till 21st March - buy tickets here.

The Cosplaying Guinea Pig Family

I absolutely love the cosplayers of the animal world (as long as no cruelty is inflicted). It takes a lot of hard work to make the outfits and getting the pet to sit still or not destroy it within seconds so I commend all owners who get that far to do photoshoots. 

Today is a new kind of cosplaying animal I have come across, a lady called Ayu on Twitter has posted up a series of photos from different anime series of her family of Ginea pigs in cosplay clad and loving it.


Not only has Ayu done a great job with the outfits she has even added props and some photo-shopping for added effect.

Meet Kintoki (male) and his mate Chikuwa (female), and their lovely daughter Menma!

Animes cosplaying from include: One Piece, Mario, Chun Li from Street fighter, Girls Und Panzer and Usagi from Sailor Moon.

More updates from me on Twitter & Facebook        ~Aisha Anime~

Hyper Japan announces new Venues for 2015

After the phenomenal successes of both our summer and winter events in 2014, HYPER JAPAN is set to delight visitors yet again this year in two new events: the HYPER JAPAN Festival on July 10-12th at The O2, and an up-scaled Christmas Market on November 27-29th at London Tobacco Dock. Both events will carry on the true HYPER JAPAN spirit of bringing visitors the best in Japanese cuisine, culture, entertainment and much more; combining old favourites with never-before seen exhibitors and cutting-edge performers.

The HYPER JAPAN Festival 2015 will be a dynamic summer fiesta, offering fun activities for all the family. Our much-loved sake tasting event will make a comeback, along with other Eat-Japan staples including cookery demonstrations and seminars, delicious street food and gorgeous confections. Big names in gaming such as entertainment giant Nintendo will feature in our HYPER Game & Anime Park, where pre-release demos as well as long-established titles will be available for fans to play and enjoy. Our spectacular bi-annual fashion show, which showcases the latest Japanese street fashion trends, will be powered up to include more creative and diverse ensembles than ever before. Other onstage entertainment will include: Cosplay competitions and parades; fascinating talks on a range of Japanese cultural topics; and sizzling musical displays from a star-studded line-up of Japanese talent. Our 3,000 capacity concert house at The O2’s Building Six will be the first in HYPER JAPAN history, and will be an undoubted highlight of this extraordinary cultural festival.

November’s Christmas Market will offer plenty of shopping opportunities in the extensive Tobacco Dock venue, whose picturesque setting creates an enchanting Christmassy atmosphere for festive shoppers in search of unique gifts. Dozens of businesses from both Japan and the UK will be showcasing the best quality Japanese goods this side of the Pacific, while our range of exquisite cuisine, exciting stage shows and all-star guests are not to be missed either! What’s more, delicious and innovative sushi will dazzle visitors once again as we play host to a team of elite chefs for our latest sushi attraction. Amazing entertainment, gourmet dining, fashion, gaming and retail combine to make HYPER JAPAN’s Christmas Market 2015 a must-visit event in everyone’s winter calendar.

HYPER JAPAN announces two new locations for the events this year:

HYPER JAPAN Festival at The O2, July 10-12th

Christmas Market at London's Tobacco Dock, November 27-29th.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hyperjapan
Twitter: @hyperjapanevent
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/hyperjapanofficial
2014 Event Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed410tP9Oso
Instagram: http://instagram.com/hyperjapanofficial

Who is Di Depux?

Di Depux may sound familar to you? Long time etsy buyers know and respect this woman for being hot competition for the likes of acrylic Jewelery designers such Tatty Divine.

DI Depux is the stage name for the model/designer Despina Bournele, who is from Athens,Greece. She's been a graphic designer since 2000 and now running her own shop ''DI DEPUX'' to customers all over the world. She designs websites, photo editis and combined that with her love for making jewelry so she will add a new season range once in a while but focuses on her custom orders,

The customs vary from her many fonts of writing in English, Japanese and even Persian. She has lots of differet fonts and colour combinations perfect for gifts, cosplay, hen party trinkets and your own project.

She is very environmentally friendly and is actively following and promoting Leonardo DI Caprio's foundation to protect the Atlantic ocean harbouring 1000's of untouched sea life threatened by extinction by man kind.

She is also an avid anime and kawaii lifestyle fan so her designs often include characters such as Hello Kitty, Twin Stars, Sailor Moon and recently Ardley. SHe can also do custom designs based on your own imagination.

Di Depux has also released a range of bags featuring logos, custom names, themes from her new range on top made to a high finish making for a real boutique feel. Amongst doing this she still has time to look after her two boys. This definately a super kawaii mamma.

www.didepux.com

*****************************************************************
http://www.twitter.com/didepux
http://www.facebook.com/didepux
http://didepux.blogspot.com
INSTAGRAM: @didepux

Kitsune Art Exhibition at Hyper Japan: who is #moonpride ?

Recently I attended the Christmas themed Hyper Japan market, (14th-14th November, at Olmpia) the focus was more on shopping for kawaii (cute), hand made gifts, anime merchandising, cultural souvenirs and Japanese food.

Upstairs nestled between the many lolita fashion stalls and anime merchandise was a wall filled with colourful illustrations dedicated to Sailor Moon. Kitsune Art had showcased many illustrations by 100 different artists on the wall. This was not all #moonpride had to offer.

Fiunder of Kitsune art Lucia and accompanied by Renee did 'live art' by painting dunnies from Kidrobot. This resulted in a gorgous Sailor Moon and all three cats; Luna, Artemis and Diana.

This was all sold and proceeding given to Plan B charity.

Now what is Kitsune Art?

Kitsune is Japanese for 'fox' - this is all headed by Lucia Fioretti.

Born in Italy, in a town near Venice and Treviso, she was surrounded by beautiful landscapes and constantly breathing the scent their glorious artistic heritage.
Drawing has been her passion but after much manga, anime, Disney's movies, comics and fairytales/fantasy/gothic books she decided to follow the path of imaginative art as a self taught artist.
Lucia's illustrations have been shown in some collective exhibitions in north Italy, Rome, Los Angeles and Now London - Hyper Japan.