Japan

Ever since I went to Otakon, the biggest anime convention on the east coast, the summer before ninth grade, I have had the distinct desire to learn Japanese and go to Japan. I started to try to teach myself some Japanese, and I really don't know much. I know a few basics, and I can count to ten. I can't read anything, but I can recognize Hiragana and Katakana in comparison to other languages. Sometimes I can recognize Kanji, but I am less familiar with it so it is more difficult.

I went into college with the knowledge that I wanted, at some point, to study abroad in Japan. And, what do you know, I got accepted into the summer 2013 study abroad in Japan program. Unfortunately, at the time being, it isn't looking like I will have enough money to go. Unless I can find a job or something of the like at Virginia Tech for the Spring semester, it isn't going to happen. I don't like to admit that to myself, but it's the truth.

On a lighter note, I am taking this opportunity to share my two favorite J-Pop bands, Chemistry and Hey! Say! JUMP. I came across Chemistry when I was watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and their opening has always been my favorite. To this day, Period is my favorite song I have ever heard. Ever. It is my ring tone and my alarm, and I have listened to it thousands of times on iTunes.

After that, I found out that they were going to be at Otakon that summer, and I decided to tell my friend that was going to sneak in a camera and film them for me. In all actuality, I ended up going with her and got to see them live, go to a Q&A session with them, and got an autographed shirt and bought a CD. I fell in love with them the moment they stepped on stage and started performing. I have loved a lot of their songs, and bought many CDs, ever since then, and I hope to one day see them live again, be it in Japan or America.

The next band from Japan I fell in love with was BORN, when I saw them at Nekocon that same year, but I will probably gush about them later, as this post is more focused on the J-Pop bands I love. There were a few other bands after that, mostly J-Rock, until I happened to stumble upon Hey! Say! JUMP while looking up a bunch of J-Pop bands for one of my friends who asked me to. I also immediately fell in love with them, though I haven't seen them live, and specifically the song Super Delicate.

Now, I am rather obsessed. Anyway, I just wanted to gush about that, and be sad about the low probability of going to Japan this summer working out. Have a nice day, or night, or whatever time it is you are reading this, and I will surely post again soon!