Top 8 Showcases You Must Visit At AFA Singapore 2016

Hi Huneybees,


Anime Festival Asia (AFA) has returned to Singapore again at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 406, from 25th November (Friday) to 27th November (Sunday).

From my experience today at the festival, there seems to be greater focus on showcases than last year.
To avoid mental stress trying to navigate between booths and stages through thousands of anime fans at the festival, here are my Top 8 recommended showcases that you must visit.

1. Kodansha VR Idol "Hop Step Sing!" booth at A188

If you are looking for an upgrade experience to your typical idol anime, Idol anime VR, a system that takes you for an immersive idol anime experience may be what you need. Similar to THE iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls Viewing Revolution for Playstation VR, this system works using Steam VR instead, with an original cast of characters.

2. BANDAI Model Kit at booth A21 & A24

There is a life size Gundam model for photo opportunity but the real star is the 1/60 scale Premium Bandai featuring Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex in Perfect Grade on display. You can get this limited edition, shiny gold coating model kit at SGD550 with free shipping if you pre-order at the booth during the festival.

3. KOTOBUKIYA at booth A09

Frame Arms Girl reminds me of KanColle. Assembled in a similar fashion to Gundam models but with more customization in terms of weaponry, these kawaii plastic model kits have been well received so far since its launch in 2015.  Do note that the new models HRESVELGR (SGD64.99) and INNOCENTIA (SGD44.99) are coming out in January and March 2017 respectively. There will also be a anime release scheduled in 2017.

4. Sword Art Online at booths A29 & A35 

Sword Art Online has two booths (A29 & A35) this year. One of them features life size cut-outs of Kirito and Asuna dressed in costumes related to different countries such as Singapore, Germany and South Korea. Other products related to the new movie, Sword Art Online The Movie - Ordinal Scale -, were on sale at the booths. There was also a special anime showcase for the movie featuring Kanae Ito and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, the VAs of Yui and Kirito respectively.

5. Ghost Parade at Booth A89

Ghost Parade, a new game by Indonesian company Lentera, is currently in the beta stage. The game is about a young girl who gets lost in a forest on her way to school and meets many different ghosts. The ghosts are friendly and this young girl helps them by solving their problems. Players also get to "collect" the ghosts and learn more about their underlying legends, and in the end, they shall see that perhaps these mysterious legends aren't as scary as what we often make them out to be.

The game currently focuses on Indonesian ghosts and spirits, but is intending to expand to include other Asian legends as well. The game is expected to launch early 2017.

To show support for Ghost Parade, you can check out their Facebook, Instagram, Official Line account or their ask.fm page. You can also find out more at their webpage.

6. Cool Japan at Booth A105

Robi, a easy-to-assemble part-work robot from Japan standing at 34cm in height and weighing 1kg, was on showcase during the festival under Cool Japan (Booth A105) together with RoBoHon, a robot smartphone by SHARP.

Also at the booth are 5 recommended Apps and 88 Japanese animation spots (seichi) selected for anime fans.

7. WAKUWAKU Japan at Booth A97

Want to have a chance to meet & greet Pikotaro also known as Mr. PPAP in person? 

If so, you need to join the PPAP challenge by uploading to Instagram of you dressing up as Pikotaro himself and perform PPAP!

8. SONY at Booth A101

Experience Artificial Intelligence at work by interacting in real time with adorable character "Megumi Kato" from "SAEKANO ~How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend~. "MAIN HEROINE KATO MEGUMI"is available for Android App download on Google Play.

Have a Kawaii Sunday!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Why Did I Have To Miss SUUPAA JAPAN?!!!

Hi Huneybees,

Last Saturday, SUUPAA JAPAN (スーパージャパン) presented by WAKUWAKU JAPAN happened. But Huney here was struck again with backache from the aftermath of the surgery and couldn't make it to the event. I was so excited for it and even prepared a set of yutaka to wear to... WAAAAA~~ .·´¯`(>▂<)´¯`·.

Thank god for my sweet hubby who made the trip down and helped me cover the event. He brought back the photos and souvenirs for me, so i was depressed no more. :)

So if you didn't make it down to SUUPAA JAPAN or were only there for the night party, these was the few happening things that you might have missed too...

1) Special Guest Appearance by Takeru Satoh (佐藤 健)

This cutie that we have been in pretty memorable Japanese productions. He first made an appearance in 2007 in the drama Kamen Rider Den-O and best known as Rurōni Kenshin in the movies - Rurōni Kenshin (2012) and Rurōni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (2014).  

Though he might have seemed a little too 'chok' 誇らしい (* hope this is right translation) during the media session, but on this bright, sunshine day, he was all smiles, to find that he have so many fans outside Japan, here in Singapore!

Takeru-san stars in the Bakuman movie that will be screened in Singapore on 19 November 2015, be sure to book your tickets early! 

PLOT FOR BAKUMAN

Moritaka Mashiro is a talented artist who thought that he would work as an office boy after graduation as he doesn't want to follow the footsteps of his manga artist uncle who died of exhaustion. Things begin to change when he meets and falls in love with Azuki Miho, a girl who wishes to become a famous voice actress. Meanwhile, Akito Takagi is an award-winning writer, who wishes to be a manga artist. Upon learning about Mashiro's drawing skills, Takagi decides to persuade him into creating a manga with him in exchange for helping him engage with his crush Miho.

2) Special blend of traditional and new-age Dance Showcases

Seeing the kawaii ladies from Nebuta-odori from Aomori and KYUSHU-DANJI SHINSENGUMI coming together to combine the traditional Nebuta-odori dance that takes place during the Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori Prefecture, with break dance skills under the white canopy, breathes a refreshing take on what dance is today.

This combination performed by young Japanese of today made the whole festival so much more lively and we even got audience crowding and dancing along to the great music!

KYUSHU-DANJI SHINSENGUMI - a 20 man break dance group made up of students from Fukuoka Prefecture, have proved themselves as Japan's best young break dance group with their multiple appearance on TV, conquering countless championships and emerging as winners in the Youth category of 2015's World of Dance. 

During the day session, we also saw the Suzume-odori (sparrow dance) from Sendai. Based on the fluttering movements of skipping sparrows, the dancers were prancing, jumping, skipping and dancing with such light, graceful moves.

They even came down the stage and taught the audience some of their moves! It was great to get to know more about the Japanese culture eh?

3) Japanese Street Stalls

This is a symbolic must-have in every traditional Japanese festival, I remember watching Japanese movies and anime especially that the ladies will be dressed in kimonos and strolling down these street stalls together with their friends or boyfriends. 

Amidst the shaved ice, edamame, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), grilled corn and sausages, instant noodles (Japan still makes them better), there was also games like ring toss and yo-yo fishing as well as Japanese anime masks for you to transform into your favorite characters!

I think the SUUPAA JAPAN makes a great time for parents and kids or friends to spend quality time together, forget about all those stressful work and spend time bonding together by the beachside. I hope they hold these matsuri events more! I MUST be there for the next round! =X

All these are made possible by WAKUWAKU JAPAN to introduce to us some of the Japan's hidden gems and they are all just not about animes and manga-s.

WAKUWAKU JAPAN is a 24/7 TV channel exclusively producing Japanese contents such as dramas, films, music, animation/special effects, sports, culture, entertainment, documentaries, and was launched in Singapore back in July 2015. 

You can watch it on SingTel TV and for more information, go to --- http://sgp.wakuwakujapan.tv/en/#block-howto03

Have a great week ahead and do share your experience if you were at SUUPAA JAPAN too! :)

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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See You At SUUPAA JAPAN Tomorrow!

Hi Huneybees,

It's the weekend and it is time to go soak up the sun by the beach at SUUPAA JAPAN presented by WakuWaku Japan!

If you are fans of all things Japan, this Matsuri event is not to be missed. Happening for 1 day only - 14 November 2015, this SUUPAA JAPAN will be happening from 1pm till 11pm @ WAVEHOUSE Sentosa!

Themed as “MATSURI × CLUB”, there's gona be a clash of traditional and new-age. Promising not only traditional music and bon-odori dance, there will also be DJs and dance-floor activities, to introduce today's Japan to their visitors.

At the media conference earlier today, we were treated to a little sneak peek on what's to be expected tomorrow. 

Other than that, there will be a special appearance by Takeru Satoh. You will be familiar with his role as Rurōni Kenshin in the movies - Rurōni Kenshin (2012) and Rurōni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (2014).  He also played the lead role in a 2012 theatre staging of Romeo and Juliet and was also nominated for best Actor in the 2015 Asian Film Awards!

This is the line up for the day and don't forget to take part in the games stalls and enjoy some Japanese street snacks!

*Program schedule may be changed without prior notice.

For more information, go to http://suupaajapan.com/.

See you there tomorrow!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates

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