Sakura Matsuri during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC

There are a few things I enjoy more than an outdoor cultural festival/street fair. Needless to say, being so close to DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival really is a treat for me. Yesterday was the 57th Annual Sakura Matsuri in DC and I had been looking forward to it for months.

This year, the matsuri (Japanese for "festival") was held at Navy Yard, big enough for thousands of people and dozens of stalls and completely metro-accessible.  There were vendor stalls selling food and crafts, information booths regarding Japanese culture, and plenty of cultural performances throughout the day.

Here are a collection of the photos I took of the festival.

Chefs grilling squid and okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake made with different meats and topped with delicious Japanese mayonnaise

Cosplay contest/fashion show hosted by Anime USA (another con I went to this past year, but failed to share pictures from)

Earrings made from origami paper. I was pretty non-committal this year too and didn't end up buying myself a pair

Traditional ribbon-weaving ("Kimi no Na wa" anyone?)

Kokeshi dolls, I love the expressions on each of their faces

Traditional Japanese dolls, sponsored by a Japanese Doll and Crafts school in Rockville (they offer classes...need I say more?)

Beautiful kimonos

Taiko drum performance

New York-based J-rock group, The Asterplace 

KENYC, a kendama group from NYC

So happy they had this torii gate here this year also!

Ah cultural festivals really are my happy place. The traditional art, food, and cultural performances make me appreciate the diversity and quirks of 

Currently listening to: "Zen Zen Zense" by Radwimps

Katsucon 2017: League of Legends photoshoot

Katsucon 2017 has come and gone, and it was another amazing weekend at the Gaylord in National Harbor.  I can't say this enough, but I absolutely love the Gaylord Convention Center for anime conventions, especially for one that's known for the abundance and quality of cosplay.

Among the people-watching and panels, I ended up going to a League of Legends photoshoot at the fountain.  And as per usual, during the photoshoot, I was just thinking up what which champion I'd like to create a cosplay for. Ahh one of these days, I'll make a costume or prop using non-textile materials like foam, silicone, or plastic.  For now, enjoy these photos!

Ugh so amazing. It's always a slight surprise for me knowing that there's a good percentage of congoers who spend the weekend being photographed and doing photoshoots in the many "biomes" within the convention area.

Currently listening to: "Plain" Luck Life

The Art of Journaling

Hello blogosphere, it's been a while.  Major updates on this end, that'd be conventions, concerts, family, and work.  I obviously want to blog more regularly, but life gets in the way.  Let's see how long this streak goes.

This is a teaser post actually.  My siblings and I have quite a trip prepared for us in late April-early May and as a bit of a creative momento, I want to attempt to keep a travel journal throughout the trip.  Particularly trying to include sketches, thoughts, and the events of the day.  I've been scouring Pinterest and found some solid pinspiration.

I think this tea bag idea is brilliant. I might have to steal this idea with candy wrappers or even tea bags.

I hope to be able to take advantage of waiting time at airports, restaurants, stores, or to find some time throughout the trip to sketch and gather thoughts.

For now, I need to find myself a journal and with all these thoughts and ideas I've got in my head, I figure I can at least try out a couple pages before the trip itself.  I'm thinking to include a map highlighting the major locations we'll be visiting on our trip, and maybe doing some preliminary sketching. Wish me luck!  Any and all advice is encouraged and welcomed!

Currently listening to: "Fire Escape" Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness