#there'll be a bonus panel if i feel like making it

[achillesdaily]

DAY #12

>posting Achilles until he arrives at my doorstep.

well can't argue with that

[meandmyechoes]

Ground Rules about Celebration 2025 so I can stop thinking about it until tickets go on sale ~June 2024

honestly if any of you tumblrinas happen to be going i'd love to be buddies

What we know so far:

Date: 18-20 April (Fri-Sun, Easter) 10am-6pm

Venue: Makuhari Messe, Chiba

How long should the trip take?

Probably 1 week ~8d7n if not longer. Ideally 16 (Wed) - 22 (Tue) for cheapest tickets, subject to rearrange if i have a proper long-term job then, and if partners.

Which day(s) am I going?

19 April, I hope. I don't think I can afford going all 3 days financially so the meat is the first choice. But I guess 18/Fri is agreeable if tickets are easier to get for a work day. I know there will be a group discount but I honestly don't think all 3 days is necessary. Pretty sure there'll be plenty happening outside the event hall as well. Likewise probably will be saving on the panel guarantee pass.

What/Who do I want to see?

Well, I don't really have a set goal --so let's sort that out! No celebirty's schedule is confirmed so far in advance and no shows are scheduled for a 2025 release so we're really in the dark here. 2025 is expected to be similar if not smaller than London for being an overseas event. I thought Japan is further but turns out both London and Tokyo are about 11 hours flight away haha. I don't even know what they're gonna announce seeing there's not much this year. Perhaps updates on the three new movies - which I'm have no interest towards whatsoever. and a Visions vol... 4, maybe?

2025 is ROTS 20th anniversary so I really hope Hayden and Ewan will be there. Hayden's probably free but we will have to see Ewan's schedule. Either way I'd still be subjected to panel lottery so it's out of my hands. I'm content just seeing them from far away as is.

Ashley, of course. I'm fairly confident she'd be there, and I'm preeeety sure the #Ahsokalivesinallofus meetup doesn't require a ticket. The thing is, I don't know what to do if I meet Ashley. I THINK I'd give her a letter and some small gift, and I could've done that if there's a present box like your usual Japanese idol, but I'm not sure if I should book at least an autograph session so we can have a little chat. I have NO idea what to let her sign (okay maybe the back of the custom animator baybsoka), or what I should SAY TO HER FACE. Handshake/hug/selfie is out of the window and I- if I have anything to say, i KNOW that I won't be able to boil it down to three sentences. It wasn't like that time I met Kishi and I can only say what I rehearsed in broken Japanese. I actually KNOW english and I won't be able to control my brain and mouth then.

I don't have my hopes high Matt or JAT would be there, it's not a TCW anniversary after all. But if they do I'm SO booking a group photo with them. I'm so jealous of the deal this year. Otherwise I'm fine not getting a photo or autographs. Seeing them in real-life is magic enough.

Sure I'd love to meet the Andor cast, but I don't think many of them would be there? There'd probably be an Andor S2 recap panel, but if I met anyone from Andor it'd be a bonus.

What do I want to see?

Like I said, I'm not actually as big about the panels as I am just being there to feel the event. I know expectation and reality and fall short and heard no little of this year's poor management. I'm not big on merch either exclusive or otherwise (unless they bring out dolls of course - but those would later become available anyway)

I'm more interested in meeting other fans and seeing the non-streamed fan panels. I found this souvenir-exchange group 'SWAG' (something we call get) where people trade patches and stickers. I'm captivated by the idea but I think for now the best i can do is made some polaroids with my toy photos. well, i'll need something to make friends in queue anyway. phew it's a long way, we'll see. Maybe I can bead some padawan braids, maybe i can make DF's skyguy and snips drawing into a patch/mini tshirt.

I wanna see the cosplay SO BAD. Because it's Japan I think we all have unrealistic expectations of how good the cosplay and (fan)merch would be. I'd lose half my liver there (on top of the thrift trips I WILL BE GOING)

Am I going in cosplay?

HA I'd love to. I'd love to go as at least Pav-ti if not TCW Adult!Ahsoka. HOWEVER, the very practical reasons of: how tired it is to walk in cosplay all day and how do i transport that to Japan and carry it around for 10 days, before i even think about making the props. I might get away dressing as Pav-ti with the smaller headpiece but I'd still have to paint myself orange. Maybe I can make use of queueing time to make up.... I could also carry a sturdy satchel (with a cute baby) to store all my stuff...

okay... I'd put Pav-ti as my goal first because I really want to make the most out of it.

Otherwise I'd so wearing an itabac lmao

Am I scouting a partner?

*sigh* I know every SW fan in HK will be going but technically I still don't know any one irl? Not even very close online? Also they're mostly a bunch of old men...? I know... thus this is the perfect opportunity for me to find a fellow fan like me...

I mean, it'd be cozier and probably easier to have a partner. I could share a proper hotel room and make a queue partner and photographer. But then I'd probably have to cut the trip short because no one with a steady job will just take a week of vacation.

When the time rolls around, there'd probably be a FB group of HK dispatchers and maybe I can find some one there. Then we'd have time to get to know each other better before the trip.

On the other hand, I don't know, I'm not really good with this planning for another person thing. I also figure one would meet plenty HKers on site anyway...

What's the budget?

plane, stay, food, ticket+shop, transport & misc. = 2k x5 = >10k HKD

if i save $1000 per month for a year we'd've more than enough

Other logistic details?

Yeah well, I had this delusion that I could just sleep outside the hall to save accomodation AND early access. Not sure... might still work haha. The official hotel blocks would be crazy expensive and the next nearest affordable rooms would be ahead at Chiba city rather than back at Tokyo. There are net cafes around Messe but you'd still have to take a bus probably. Well 6pm isn't very late yet so walking is plausible. Besides comments said they upcharge for the weekend so we probably won't be saving much, might as well book a proper hotel room/hostel space if we're staying for consecutively nights because we're gonna be so tired walking around all day. The key is to book Chiba city early.

Roughly goes Wed flight in Osaka, Thu Kyoto?(night bus CHIBA) At least from Friday to Sunday I'd be in Chiba. Might go back to Tokyo Sunday night if hostels are cheaper there. Then I'd have Monday to go around Tokyo (nightbus OSAKA) if the flight is Tuesday Day. (experience-wise i might have to enter/exit through KIX to save money but let's cross fingers for a direct tokyo flight)

If I fly direct Tokyo this time, I can even store luggage at the tokyo hotels and just head to Messe/Chiba on backpack!

Seeing '23 repo, I don't want my time to be wasted in queues. I'd have to prepare my own food and make friends while queueing. Bring a mini-fan and stay hydrated (but not too much that you need the bathroom) Choose a reliable network service and up my Japanese game.

I expect to pick up some items when I get into Japan. a trolley perhaps, or a foldable chair. not sure if i need a camp lol. too soon to speak.

What else to look at?

Doll stuff, toku spots, Kishi.

Kishi should still be easy enough to find two years later, don't know if I could happen upon his roadshow or better yet a concert.

Toku spots! Pretty much covered the classics my last two trip and don't think I'd go too far out this trip... Well, Messe itself is already a toku spot! I might round up a few new ones the last few years. However!!! mid-April is right when FLT goes!! jury's still out if I'd like the '24 Sentai but I hope this time I can see a hero show! finally!

Doll stuff. I'm actually not sure where to see doll stuff in Tokyo. I'd have to really dig blogs and videos for it. Would be more learning than buying with that price tag lol.

I had this 'ADVANCE BOOKING' list when I planned for the olympics that might be of use this time. Not sure if the timetable allows and terms would've changed... but I'll keep an eye out on places I want to visit (esp if bringing friends) hEY, i haven't even seen the imperial palace yet.

What to Do Now

Haha there's not much I can do right not for the actual itineary. New hotels, shops and transportation could open up next year and uproot everything. For now, sub to the newsletter, study japanese, get in shape and make a cosplay. I am thinking of a preview/test run trip but maybe save that money for shopping on the real thing. I need to put my mind off this trip and into the present so I can find a job and raise money for it lol