Tokyo Otaku Mode Rei Mug Review

What lured me to purchase this mug was Rei's striking pose and the black and white art. The Rei mug is nice and small, sits perfectly on my desk. When I picked my mug up from the package it was in perfect condition, no chips at all! What really impressed me was how well and careful TokyoOtakuMode wrapped up the mug. My mug arrived in a big box.When I opened the box it was full of Japanese newspapers and the mug was tucked in a smaller box amongst the newspapers. 

I really am a weeaboo keeping the Japanese newspapers as a souvenir! :3 I also found the mug being well wrapped extremely impressive as it shows TokyoOtakuMode really care about their customers.

This is inside the smaller box, still very impressive wrapping the mug well.

This is the neat box the Rei mug came in!

The mug is beautifully polished white with a nice shine. It is spotless having a very clean look to it. The art of Rei posing with the Nerv logo behind her looked exactly like it did on the website and also has a glossy shine. If you look closely the black print stands out alittle which is a nice touch and adds a 3D effect to the mug.

The back of the mug is simple just saying "Rei Ayanami Eva-00 Pilot" with a little design having the same glossy shine and 3D touch. The art on the back of the mug is simple not taking away from the front artwork.

I only waited a week (ordering from Ireland) therefore the delivery was quick! I only use this mug for show on my desk. What I thought was really sweet was I showed images of my Rei mug on Facebook and on other online anime communities and people were very impressed and were asking me where did I get it? :)

My Rei mug can also be used to hold Rei figures/revoltechs and as a friend said the mug could be used as a hot tub for figures. :P Rei looks relaxed.

A nice shot of how my Rei mug looks on my desk with the other figures.

I really enjoyed my experience purchsing from TokyoOtakuMode and would highly recommend this mug! A must have for Rei fans and Otaku alike. :D TokyoOtakuMode is a fantastic store for buying anime merchandise ect. What I really like about TokyoOtakuMode, it is a place for anime fans and artists to share their work. It is a very creative site and notifies you an interesting upcoming events. I have my own profile so feel free to check it out and follow me. :) I look forward to purchasing more goodies from TokyoOtakuMode and reviewing about them.

Nomcon 2013

I was at Nomcon a big anime, manga convention in Dublin this weekend. I had a great time, did alot of networking and met awesome people! For once I didn't cosplay as I wanted to dress up for a change giving I had a fun dressing up at Dublin Comic Con. :)

I ordered a dress from Cosmates.jp which is school girl looking so I wore it to Nom. I am very happy with the dress!

I only attended the convention on the Saturday and found the event to be very relaxed, calm and sociable. There was also a very community feel to Nomcon and the staff were very helpful, accommodating (as conventions are). There was a point I was queueing nearly two hours for Monica Rial's (Voices Mari Illustrious Makinami from Rebuild of Evangelion, Fairytale and various animes) autograph and the staff kept on apologising to us for the wait.

When I arrived at the convention I went into the trade hall to do my shopping :) and chatted to a few traders. I was glad to see Jimi Mitsue was there. I met Mitsue at Nomcon last year and she presented a Japanese poetry which I enjoyed. I always found her a pleasure to talk to.

Mitsue shows off lovely Japanese crafts made by her father.

Thomas and I with Mr. Yamada who works in the Japanese Embassy and who I collaborate with for the Experience Japan Festival. He is very much into anime and enjoys going to conventions.

The trader hall. There were talented artists, United Publications selling figures, Comics, T-Shirts ect.

The above photos is cosplayer Anathiell selling her self made crafts. Anathiell is known for doing Lightning from the Final Fantasy series and she took part in the Cosplay stage show at the Experience Japan Festival as the White Mage.

You can look at more of Anathiell's cosplays here.

This photo above really suits the Joker being dark.

You may recognize this Miku Hatsune cosplayer from previous cosplay events. This is Leanne and she was Eternal Sailor Moon at the Experience Japan Festival Cosplay stage show back in April.

What was nice about Nomcon the majority of cosplays were anime (I know you think weird as you thought cosplay began at anime conventions, actually costuming began in Sci-Fi conventions in the 1930s) but nowadays the majority of cosplay are from well known films eg The Avengers, Iron Man, Batman and computer games eg Mass Effect, Halo ect. Therefore it was nice to see alot of anime cosplay.

Here are some shots I took of excellent cosplays.

The photo below was the long queue to Monica Rial's guest signing.

Meeting Monica Rial was worth the wait! She was buzzing with energy to the end (sure would you love it if alot of fans specially queued just to meet and chat with you for a few minutes and get your autograph :P)

Akemi Solloway was Nomcon's other guest. She is very popular in the UK convention scene in promoting Japanese culture. Akemi is Japanese but works in the U.K and in Japan. She presents alot of talks on educating international folks on Calligraphy, Japanese mannerisms, Japanese traditions. I took part in her Calligraphy workshop and she was nice to meet and helpful in instructing us.

My piece I done. It reads Nihon!

I had an interesting chat with Akemi after her workshop, asking her how did she get to where she is, which I need to follow up with an email. ^^ Akemi is doing a charity titled Aid for Japan. It is a very good idea in sending disadvantaged children and orphans from the Tsunami disaster in 2011 to the U.K so they can get an education in learning English. Please read more about the charity here. It would be good to organise a charity event linked with Experience Japan or Eirtakon, Akumakon or to organise an event.

Even though I was at Nomcon for only a few hours and I didn't get to experience much events, panels and screenings. I really enjoyed it and thought it had a relaxed and warm atmosphere which I mentioned earlier. The convention seems really well ran and the staff were very helpful. One committee member in particular John, the nicest guy you would ever meet! He made sure I went to Akemi's Calligraphy workshop. To be honest if you are the type of con goer who goes to conventions for the gaming and not really into anime, more into current popular computer games, films, comics Nomcon wouldn't really appeal to you as it is more a dedicated Anime convention and has a high Japanese cultural focus to it. Nomcon is kinda a convention version of Experience Japan with more focus on the anime. If you just enjoy going to conventions for the craic then you would really enjoy Nomcon too!

Please see more photos on my Facebook and I will be putting some up on my Cairdiúil page too.
Also see my Nomcon blog post from 2012.

I look forward to Eirtakon!

Recent Photoshoot

I done a recent photoshoot last Saturday with Susan Photography and Pade Beauty whom I met on the Dublin Models Facebook page.

We done the shoot along a back alley along the outskirts of Dublin city. The photos came out amazing! We had such a fun day.

Photography by - https://www.facebook.com/JusanPhotography
Make Up Artist - Pade Beauty - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pade-beauty/314804165321343?notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite

I am delighted with the photos! Love Pade Beauty make up skills so flawless.

All is Full of Love

I never really had time for Bjork but recently I have been listening to some of her tunes. She is fantastic and has an amazing voice. This song and video is just beautiful like anime. It is art.



#Latenightblogging#, #inspired#

Summer Cosplay and Events Diary in Summary

In plainer and in bullet points;

• July 20th - Will be attending the Celtic Cosplay picnic in the Iveagh Gardens. Will hopefully be attending the Nom-Con Beach party which is on the same day.
• July 27th - Cosplaying for Dublin Comic Convention for a promotional event. Will be wearing my Babydoll cosplay and representing Cosplay Ireland.
• August 10th-11th - Will be cosplaying at Dublin Comic Convention representing Cosplay Ireland. I will be Babydoll and maybe go as Juliet Starling as Rei from Highschool of the Dead.
• August 30th-September 1st - Will be cosplaying at Nomcon and will be giving a Cosplay Ireland panel. I am looking at bringing back my Mari Makinami Illustrious cosplay as Monica Rial who voices Mari is one of the guests! :D I am also looking at doing another cosplay which I like to keep a secret. It could be doable. 

So It is Con Season!

This week sure flew in! Last week I was preparing for the St. Mochta Family picnic Funday in Clonsilla Dublin. I cosplayed as Rei Miyamoto from High School of the Dead  and we cosplayed with Star Wars costuming group 501st Ireland. It was a fun day!

The three of us had to explain to the audience what cosplay is and encourage people at the event to give it a go. It was quite scary talking on the stage to people who are unfamiliar with cosplay but it was a joy to present it. I will blog about this event another day along with the Bloom Festival.

 So moving along... Getting on to Con season or convention season ta season to be going to conventions. Same with the States and everywhere else, here in Ireland we have caught up with the rest of the world having a few conventions on over the summer. Attending these conventions is like going to a music festival or ritual which takes me back to my Cultural Event Management postgraduate Diploma course, our lecture speaks of how cultural events and festivals bring a deep meaning to attendees. Conventions are a big part of my life and love seeing old friends and catching up!

This weekend I will be cosplaying at Arcadecon a large mixed medium convention held in the Ballbridge Hotel in Dublin. Video footage of last year below! See can you spot my Babydoll. :p



Also here is a video of me being interviewed.



My cosplay this year, giving budget is low will be simply be Juliet Starling from Lolipop Chainsaw alternative outfit, cosplaying as Rei Miyamoto. I had the costume all ready therefore I just needed a wig, lolipop and a chainsaw. My chainsaw is being made by Cosplay-Props Eire. I am was going to do Nick's head with help from a friend but it turned out it was too difficult and again low on money and resources. Maybe will do it in the future. Well in the beginning of the game Starling doesn't have Nick's head so...

The game really is class and enjoy playing it so much! It brought my faith back into gaming. Also Juliet would be a fun character to act out and pose as she is crazy. :p I am tempted to cosplay in her other alternative outfits. Watch the trailer! :D



I am delighted with my wig as it looks the part and I can wear it for other shoots and cosplays! I am literally dying to photoshoot as Juliet in this cosplay! I am only attending the Saturday and will be organising a Cosplay Ireland meet up for 16:00 in the back lounge , behind the tradehall, just a meet and greet if anyone would like to come along. We will be taking some group shots for our site!

I think the next convention I will be attending won't be until August for Dublin Comic Con. I look forward to taking part in the Promotional event in Belfast on the 20th of July. I will be cosplaying as Babydoll and the Predators will be there. More info later to come!

I am looking forward to Nomcon which is on the 30th of August to the-1st of September. Nomcon is a nice cosy, warm convention dedicated Anime, Manga and Japanese culture. I will be presenting a Cosplay Ireland talk and look forward to showing how far Cosplay Ireland has become. I will also like to talk about the rise of Japanese pop culture in Ireland and beyond as I have alot of experience there.

Let the fun commence! :D