Oidensai was awesome. Obon is probably my favorite holiday in Japan, so it was nice to celebrate it by exhausting myself along with a lot of other people who are as close to family as it gets over here even if i didn't spend it with my blood relatives. i still haven't gone to see any fireworks this summer (not in person, anyway. it's impossible to miss them- they fill half the sky).
in the absence of my closest friends this summer, i've been drawing and drinking a lot of coffee and driving all over and singing karaoke and getting ready to have my band's second show in september. and playing a LOT of drums, although that's calmed down a little now.
for all that summer's not my season of choice, i do kinda love summer in japan. even though it's hot and gross and sticky and all i want to do is go snowboarding and eat an enormous ice cream.
the rice fields have all gone electric lime green, which is gorgeous.

OIDENSAI

arright, so now it's august suddenly, i'm back in japan, and i have to figure out what to do for a month before classes start up again at my schools.
this means:
lots of music
lots of drawing
...roadtrips?

that's the plan, anyway. as it is, this weekend is completely full of taiko. in fact, sunday is ENTIRELY full of taiko, as in 10 hours or so of my day is practicing drums. outside, in the 90 something degree heat. next week, on the 13th, is my town's big obon matsuri and i'll be playing in that, so i need the practice. my group will be carrying shrines and playing drums and carrying more shrines and, considering the people i play with, drinking and carrying shrines and playing drums.
hurray!
my band's got their next show scheduled, we'll be playing mid september at the same place in the middle of nowhere as last time. this time though, it's looking like my friends (who are talented and have a REAL band with actual CDs and stuff) are also gonna be playing! awesome! i'm super excited about it.

i'm trying to get around 25 pages inked and (maybe) colored by the end of the month, plus a couple standalone pieces. we shall see if it is possible. i'm gonna try, anyway.

as far as roadtrips are concerned? there is apparently a town filled with statues of monsters. why would i not go there?! also, BEACH. also also, OSAKA. these are all places i'd like to waste some time this summer. oh! and there's a full-day hardcore and punk show in shibuya in late august which looks extremely tempting, so that would be cool too.

mannnn if i can get half this stuff done, i will be awesome.