UlasanAnime.com – The author recounts their experience returning from Otakon 2015, detailing the journey back to the United States and the immediate aftermath of attending the convention.
The return journey involved a red-eye flight from Haneda (HND) to San Francisco (SFO), followed by another red-eye to Newark (EWR), a challenging trip that began in Osaka on the same calendar day. Upon landing, the author found themselves in a Baltimore bar, contemplating the wisdom of eating wings so soon after such travel.
The primary observation about Otakon 2015 was its reduced crowd density compared to previous years. This was particularly noticeable when crossing the 300-level bridge in the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) and the walkway to the Hilton. While the author didn’t personally perceive a significant difference in the dealer’s room, friends noted it felt less crowded.
This reduced crowding contributed to a generally smoother convention experience. The author only queued for one autograph, intentionally opting for a more relaxed pace, though they acknowledge they could have attended more sessions. It was amusing to encounter familiar faces from Japan at the convention.
A notable personal “fail” was missing an opportunity for face time with Toyonaga, having prioritized following Park Romi’s schedule, even skipping the Garo panel on Friday. Park Romi’s Saturday autograph session was reportedly accessible with an early start. The author describes her as playful in person, reminiscent of Yuzunee, and validates the observation that the Kill la Kill cast is indeed like that, attributing it to the nature of theater performers.
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Beyond that, the only other significant panel attended was for Aldnoah Zero. During this panel, Joanna reportedly punched through production materials while director Aoki and producer Nagano discussed their work. The panel was described as serious and somewhat dry, though attendees received scripts as loot.
The author also attended a screening related to Love Live 3rd live. The abridged video did not include “Snow Halation.” The author had preemptively distributed UOs to attendees who requested them, which may have led to an unexpected outcome. Watching Love Live live is considered fun, with the dance choreography matching the songs in anime or CG PVs being a notable aspect. The author muses on the concept of “idoling,” suggesting it relies less on individual charm and more on the collective concept, while still acknowledging individual moments and “memory bomb” instances.
The dealer’s room was satisfactory, with the author purchasing some LTHs to complete their collection, marking the second set of IM@S CDs acquired, with “Live Theater Dreaming” on the horizon.
Interestingly, the author spent more on food than merchandise at Otakon 2015.
The remaining convention time was dedicated to queuing for and attending concerts. Oreskaband is highly recommended by the author, described as legitimate and very good. Despite missing their downtown show due to fatigue, the author suggests attending if one enjoys ska and Japanese girl bands. Draft King, while similar in concept but with rock music, is noted as having room for improvement in their performance to inspire more confidence.
The band formerly known as Stereopony, now with a new direction, performed several covers. While they show promise, the author felt the band wasn’t fully cohesive yet, though still entertaining. The author also missed their panel, as well as Oreskaband’s panel. They specifically mention Nohana, noting her energetic performance.
Back-On performed at the Otakon matsuri on Thursday, a familiar experience for the author and a fitting choice for the convention’s musical lineup. Their show had a respectable turnout of a few hundred people, typical for the Matsuri event.
Overall, the convention experience was described as usual, with the author attending to socialize, eat, and attempt to shake off jet lag. While the jet lag wasn’t entirely conquered, the author views it as a learning experience.
In a postscript regarding food, the author mentions dining at Fogo for a $30 special and at Kona Grill, where the food was good but the service was exceptionally slow, with some patrons not receiving their meals until nearly midnight. A pre-game meal on Thursday had a similar pace. The author’s eating habits were gradually adjusted over the weekend due to an illness that began in Japan. They also visited a new Chipotle that replaced the Cali Tort location, finding it a decent alternative to JJ, offering street-food quality with better quality control. Shake Shack was also mentioned again.
A further postscript highlights that attending a convention after an exhausting 10th trip was not ideal, leading to a week of fatigue and extensive weekend recovery. The author attributes the extreme exhaustion primarily to the prior trip, which involved a packed agenda and visiting numerous locations, and emphasizes the challenging conditions of Seibu Dome in mid-July.
