WCS Day 1 - New Challenges

Nagoya - Centrair Airport Int'l Arrivals Area

My journey to the land of the rising sun isn't really as thrilling as I thought it would be. The fatigue weighed over the excitement that I had when I left New Jersey. The excitement just came back to me after I cleared Nagoya's immigration and customs. It took a while before it sunk in to me that I'm in Japan, not just airport Japan, but actual Japan.

Let me explain. I normally just go through Narita International Airport (NRT) for transit and connecting flights. I go through immigration at times just to connect to a different airline if I'm on a ZED fare. For the most part, I never got out of the airport to actually tour around Tokyo which is 45 minutes to an hour away from NRT. Last time I attempted that, I felt like I'd be completely lost and unable to go back to the airport at the very least.

This time is different. I'm escorting the country's representatives to the World Cosplay Summit here in Nagoya together with a good friend of mine and our Project Coordinator, Tessa and also the HERO TV team which is the team's sponsors.

In like 3 hours of my stay in this country did I feel that they are so well disciplined that I got to be lectured (in Japanese if I may add) by one of their own. See photo below:

Photo credit to Tessa Villareal

Yes that's right, it's a ticket. Technically it's a receipt, but it does look like a ticket to me. My violation? smoking in a no-smoking zone. Apparently the sidewalks around the area of the Nagoya International Hotel is a "No Smoking Zone" and some parts of Nagoya as well. The signs are just marked on the pavement which could be easily unnoticed. Paid 2,000JPY for it lol.

After that small incident, I became wary of smoking signs and apparently some, if not, most establishments (especially food establishments) have their "Smoking areas". Japan - specifically Nagoya- is really serious about keeping their air and streets clean and disciplined. Now when will that happen in Manila? haha.

We had Ryosuke-san, one of the WCS "Omotenashi" Student Executive Committee staff take us and the current Thailand representatives to Meijo Park somewhere around town to meet up with the rest of the representatives and staff.

It was fun to mingle with them and play fireworks. Everyone was enjoying themselves so much I felt like I was having culture shock lol.

Photo credits to Tessa Villareal

As night came, we met up with Niti and Prang, former Thailand representatives, and had a smoke with them and Tadaaki-san at the Hotel.

It was nice to see familiar faces and to bond again with them. Taught Tadaaki-san the term "yosi". In return, he taught me that "yoshi" in Japanese means good. Putting it together, we all agreed with one short sentence: "yosi yoshi".




After an hour, we met up with HERO TV and our reps to eat at Hamasaku, a ramen house in the area and then called it a night after as we went to our respective hotels.

All in all, it was a fun day, a time where we could relax as we head out to face new challenges the following morning: WCS rehearsals at Oasis 21.

Will try to post again

-
xsprinter

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