By pure chance our hotel was next to the Seattle Convention Center. The week before was the big comic book convention, ComiCon. The day we left Seattle was the first day of the Sakura-con, an anime-themed convention in Seattle. Apparently. R. and I had a few minutes before leaving, so we popped into the convention center and took some pictures. She was too shy to take the pictures, but really got a kick out of seeing everyone dress up. I took all the pictures, and I asked every person if it was ok. Everybody was super excited to get their picture taken, and they almost always posed in some way appropriate to their character.

Click to see pictures and …    

Something strange is going on in Seattle… Also, R., look out for that bear!

Now I know something strange is up (Ganon from Twilight Princess)

Just like the Japanese imagine, it seems that all Americans have guns. Or Gun-Arms. As the case may be.

R. thinks that Otaku in Japan are worse than the ones in America. I’m not so sure. I’m pretty biased against the American Otaku who are proud to wear that as a label and call themselves *-chan, and everybody else “chan” for that matter, know a few phrases of Japanese, but invariably only things they pick up from watching anime. I somehow think that is worse than the Japanese otaku, who I view as simply the local nerds. As opposed to nerds with some sort of crazy escapism fantasy who lack the conviction to go through with things and really learn the language or move to Japan. But I’m biased, because I probably started in a similar (although much smaller) boat in the 80s, and now feel that I have outgrown that phase.

Sadly, my wife lumps me in with them.

So, the rest of the post is just links to pictures. Enjoy. We can snicker and point at them over the intra-web, but in all thruthiness everyone was super great by letting me take their picture, and the people I talked to (because I had no idea what their costume was from) were also pretty cool people. (I also really want to attend one of the Comike in Japan, but the timing just hasn’t worked out yet. It is really close to our home and is even on the same train line…)

There are a few more shots of the convention center that I didn’t include. I was frankly amazed at how many people were in costume, how good the costumers were, and in some cases how risque they were. I haven’t watched any anime in a long time – I can hardly keep up on tv – but if there are any good ones out there let me know. I did really enjoy The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

Naruto stuff

Porco Rosso, one of my favorites

R. knew who this was before I did. Inuyasha. R. seemed excited.

Dragonball Z. Goku? I can’t believe this is being made into a live-action film. It will totally suck. (The source material totally sucks, so I can not imagine any other outcome.)

Lilith from Vampire Hunter. Awesome.

Cosplaying Pair. I’m not actually sure what they are from. I should have asked. I think perhaps Giant Robo? I am probably way off.

Haruhi Suzumiya. One of the few anime I have watched in the past few years.

And for good measure, a Yuki Nagato from Haruhi Suzumiya’s Melancholy that we found outside.

Star War Ice Trooper. I’m ashamed that I didn’t recognize him as coming from the Empire Strikes Back. I just had a vague Star Wars feeling. Geek card: revoked!

Captain Jack: You are not from anime! Also, we have really been trying to cut down on piracy lately. You should be careful.

I-no from Guilty Gear. She was totally cool. I should have asked her if she can rock out on that axe.

There was apparently a Street Fighter shoot outside previously, but we were in a rush. And also not registered. I can totally take this guy as Zangief though.

Resident Evil. Jill Valentine (I do not remember her being such a … big girl. Also, an Umbrella soldier.

I think this is Blair from Soul Eater. I hadn’t heard of that before. Also, on an unrelated note, I have got to see Soul Eater.

A group shot. I’m not sure what they are a group of though.