Last weekend I went to Nagoya and what a trip!!! I only just now had time now so sit down and write about it. At first I wasn’t going to go. All the people I invited flaked on me last min, I didn’t have a place to stay, I didn’t know anyone there, and going by myself would have been pretty lame. That thought did cross my mind a billion times but I’m glad that I decided to go anyway.
I took the night bus friday night and arrived in Nagoya around 7am. I then headed over to the place I had contacted to drop my bags off and nap. I ended up staying in a sort of share house. Wasn’t the cleanest but hey, at least I had a place to sleep. I ended up going to a really nice park only to be caught off guard by the cosplay event going on that day. Dang Japanese people do not joke when it comes to cosplay haha. HARD CORE! 
I was lucky enough to check twitter and read a tweet about someone I had spoken to on USTREAM a few times coming to Nagoya that night. I sent a reply and we meet up later that night to see a show. The acoustic live with Naoshi from Blind Bird was awesome. I’m so glad I saw that tweet. I’m not sure what I would have done Saturday if I had not seen it. 
Sunday was the Kazoku fes!!!! One of the big motivators for me going all the way out there. I got mixed up on the way and took the wrong train, some how ended up in the middle of no where and had to wait forever for the next train causing me to miss the beginning of the show. It’s alright though because I did get to see the opening act Ms. Ooja. Shes a funny girl.
I can’t describe the feeling I got at Kazoku fes. The welcoming I felt. How nice everyone was and how some worried about me after the earthquake. It was surprising really. Honestly, if you told me back in 2005 as I was watching the ending of BLEACH and thinking “hmm this song is catchy, who is Home Made Kazoku?” that I would one day be sitting down with these people, sharing a meal, and ideas I would have thought you were smoking some really good stuff. Really, I could have never imagined such a thing. Its funny how the world works. The right things were said at the right time and some how that worked out for the better. 
Last year there was heavy rain but this year it was sunny and nice. It really was awesome. The performances were fun as always. I’m happy a lot of people remembered me. But then again we have to think about how many African American women with an Afro they run into daily… lol 
(I found Futoshi from Aqua Timez. I met them almost 2 years ago and they remembered me. They were my first concert in Japan.)
I’m not the biggest TMRevolution fan (leave that to Lara) but I must say that his performance was the most inspiring. Other than the mic stand being too short for him he still moved me. That little man has a lot of spunk.
HMKU also moved me too and I just had to tell Kuro that. I don’t want to sound like a groupie but counting it on my hands I have seen them a total of 8 times. Shit that is scary lol. The most I have ever seen any group (and thats kind of sad since I STILL have yet to see UVERworld perform T^T ) Their shows are fun and entertaining. I never get tired of them, not like the Wondergirls where its pretty much the same stuff. 
(HMKU doing their thing. 今スターとライン〜)
I need to meantion crazy SEAMO because hes amazing. I don’t know much about him though. Last year at Kazoku Fes people were like “ooo wait we have to go watch SEAMO hes next! His performances are great!” So I sit there and watching him… as he goes around with a speedo on and some kind of Oni mask with a long nose around his waist in front of his crotch( false advertisement maybe?) I dunno but that shit caught me off guard. A month later I took my friends to Beat Connection and low and behold .. he does the same thing… My friends go “Jess.. wtf did you bring us to watch?!” and I can’t even respond because again I was surprised. 
(this was on a building in Nagoya near Sakae. Imagine this red Oni mask with a REALLY long nose infront of SEAMO’s crotch … yeah… )
But this year was different. Oh yes! I was ready for it. I was preparing myself for some random ass costume and Oni nose around his crotch. But… no not this time? He came out.. with regular clothes on… I was slightly disappointed but relived. Ahhh now I can just watch him rap and not be completely taken back by him half naked. Or so I thought. Nope, he came out at the last min with that costume on… and no. I wasn’t prepared at all. I dont think I ever will be. Thank you SEAMO for scaring me for life. Also thank you for giving me your Kazoku Fes hoodie!! You saved me 5,000 yen because I was really tempted to go and buy one! 
(SEAMO and 2 of his dancers. They also have their own group called BRIDGET)
Monday I met with a friend of a friend. She was really nice and took me to eat ひつばむし a special eel dish.
IT WAS AWESOME!!! that was one of my other goals during the trip and man was it worth it. She took me around and we saw some more things. Afterwards we saw BRIDGET perform at the local mall. They guys are awesome dancers. I hope they become more popular. 
(Twins that are half Japanese and dancers for SEAMO and BRIDGET. Above me is Takeshi from the band FLOW. He never seems to look at the camera when I take a pic with him…)
I really liked Nagoya. The atmosphere was completely different from Tokyo. People just seemed to be more relaxed and … well less likely to jump in front of the chuo sen during rush hour. Although I did spend a little more than I should have I must say this trip was worth it. It was an experience I will never forget. I got to use a lot of Japanese and really had time to think about things. Thanks to everyone who helped me out and showed me around. The shows were so much fun and I hope I can hang out ( or even work) with them soon~
