Note: this is actually a post I should have published last year. I have quickly finished it in preparation for this year's event post lol.
So, after a while, I'm posting about my personal life again. This post is going to be about my visit to London and Hyper Japan on the 27th July, with a little bit of context too.
Just over a year ago, this Sailor Moon fan who lives in Japan tweeted about him featuring in a TV programme called Tokyo Eye on NHK World. I had never heard of this channel but by chance I found I did have it and coincidentally it was his episode of Tokyo Eye on that day. I enjoyed it and looked into other programmes on that channel and found imagine-nation which appealed to me. As I tuned in, they had a string of shows about conventions including Hyper Japan (and featured Tokyo Toys in that episode which I first visited in February this year). After watching it, I vowed to go to Hyper Japan the next year (2014).
And then we moved...I had always taken our close proximity to London for granted but after planning I found out it was still reasonably accessible. I voiced my wish to my parents and they said they'd buy transport and entry for me plus one for my 21st birthday present (and a little spending money for me). As I wasn't sure which friend to take, mum came with me. Even though mum isn't keen on London I would like to think she doesn't think it as bad as before going with me.
So we decided to go by train from Downham Market which was direct but busy being the first train to London that morning. I suddenly remembered as we arrived at King's Cross that platform 9 3/4 was there so we said we would look back at it later. We got to Hyper Japan and it was impressive. It was a good size and there was plenty of room for people to walk about in. It was probably heaven for a Japanophile but I didn't enjoy it as much probably because I was in mum's company and she wasn't a big fan.
I'm surprised I didn't buy anything for myself. Probably because I was conscious I didn't have a lot of room at home. I was also expecting more imported merchandise like Sailor Moon but I saw about 3 different products and I wasn't interested in them. But mum bought a Rilakkuma and a Batman T-shirt for my step dad. It got to lunch and the queues were massive. I wish I had tried some food but we decided to go somewhere else.
I took mum to Piccadilly as I wanted to go to Tokyo Toys again. Trocadero was shut off but you could still access the store which had moved. I bought my soft toy Luna which I wanted to buy last time :)
N.B. I found out just recently that the reason Trocadero is shut is because they are developing it into a capsule hotel.
I showed mum China town and we went to one of the restaurants for lunch before popping in a few shops and going back to King's Cross. I went to the burger bar in St. Pancras to get one of their gorgeous Belgian chocolate milkshakes, mum almost wished she had one herself but instead she helped me. We saw platform 9 3/4 and took a picture in a gap when no one was standing there as we didn't queue ourselves as it was way too long. The shop was packed too but it did look awesome. I'm sure it would be worth its while having a bigger unit.
We headed back home, pooped but happy. I would like to go to Hyper Japan again but with some other like minded fans. It might even be bigger than before then.
Lotty
xx
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