Anisama Days 2 and 3 (August 26-27, 2017)

**This was originally posted on my personal Facebook and rewritten slightly to fit the blog format**

I traveled from Kochi to Tokyo and back for Animelo Summer Live (Anisama) at Saitama Super Arena (SSA) from August 25-28, 2017.

Honestly, I have no idea where to start with this post aside from saying that the experience was what I wanted out of an event and much more.

Yes, I've been obsessed with anime, seiyuu, and idols for a long time. But it wasn't until fairly recently that I started going to events outside of conventions (and although I've been going to conventions for 10 years, I hated concerts because too many people, too hot, tiring, expensive, etc). So when some of my favorite seiyuu or idols were doing concerts at the very conventions I was ready attending, I would disregard the events because I "couldn't" go; that's what I kept telling myself because I let my fear of socialization get the best of me.

This time, though, I thought I'd finally get over my fear of going to events. I've had a little bit of practice going to concerts now, and I've learned to make some yakkai friends (thanks DC Crew). I used to do calls in my own room watching lives because I refused to go see any of my idols in real life. I was always holding myself back due to my crippling anxiety.

But when I applied for JET, I told myself that regardless of how scared I am to dosomething in Japan, I won't say no if I can truly do it (and isn't against the law). So I applied for anisama tickets about 6 months prior to Anisama, jumped through hoops to get from Shikoku to Tokyo, actually asked for a day off from work (if you know me from work, you will know that I'm the type who hates asking for days off, even when I'm sick).

And finally, Friday August 25th was here.

Friday, I traveled via night bus and arrived in Tokyo on Saturday morning. I took in the sights of Kochi that I so learned to love in my past couple of weeks here, then when I opened my eyes, I saw the completely modern Tokyo; opposite of inaka life all together. I had a few hours until the concert began, so my aunt, uncle and I went to a café one stop away from SSA. We were even greeted by a large Wake Up, Girls! banner outside of the train station.

Food was good and being surrounded by anime the moment I walked off the train was already a dream come true, but I was quite honestly really nervous about going to an event with as many people as Anisama has; it had over 81,000 attendees in 2016 over the 3 days this concert lasts.

That's.

Lot.

But when I got to Saitama on Day 2 of the concert, I felt so pumped. I could hear music I like outside of the venue, I could smell food from the outdoor stands (food that some of the seiyuu ate and promoted on their social networking sites)...

so many merch I wanted to buy...

I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with a veteran anisama attendee who was also a Mimorian and Milkian who taught me the ropes because I certainly didn't have the balls to even talk to people I didn't know even when I saw a lot of gaijin people I knew from stalking on twitter. This person, I had previously met at Anime Expo and Bushiroad Grand Festival in July because he was a mutual friend, so I felt comfortable following him.

I thought no food or drinks were allowed like a lot of events that I've been to (all of the not very many), but he told me the very opposite; bring in liters of water and food to eat during break because you won't have any time to do so during the 20 minute break they give you during the 6 hour concert.

Thank you, kind sir for the wisdom. Because I sure would have died if it weren't for this piece of advice.

Both days, my seats were surprisingly fairly close, and I had no complaints although i do wish I could someday sit in arena seating. Below is my view from Day 3 of Anisama.

But the one thing that really stood out to me were the number of penlights in the concert.
I've watched the BDs, I knew that pretty much almost everybody had penlights and there'd be no or very little empty spots of darkness in between the light.

But seeing the sheer size of the venue and all the lights from every corner of the room.
Thinking back to all those comments that every performer gives about how nervous and amazingly happy they get seeing the number of lights.

I finally understood why some performers would cry on stage.

That thought made me cry a few times during the 2 out of 3 days of the concert I attended.

As ZAQ said on stage on day 3, "Anisama makes dreams come true."

It certainly made a lot of my dreams come true.

Next year, I'll aim for all 3 days!

P.S. I love Milky Holmes and hearing Mimorin 's Shiyoko voice live was a dream come true alone.
"カードゲームしよ！！"

Bonus photo spam:

↓This year's Anisama had a looot of Kemono Friends related merch. This was the official bag we were presented with upon entry.