There are a number of things I see regularly in anime that I wish I could take part in myself. Not fantasy things like piloting giant robots or appearing in another world where I am apparently the most attractive person ever. And I’m already a Magical Girl so that’s off the list.
I’m talking about normal attainable activities which I imagine may even be commonplace in Japan but I’ve never done. I mentioned before that Obon and School festivals always look very attractive to me even though the concept of walking around crowded places should not be appealing. There’s something softly nostalgic about the festivals I see in anime. I assume the real ones wouldn’t have quite the same effect, but I still would love to go once.
So here are the other top 5 anime inspired activities I want to do at some point:
5) Maid Café (in Japan)
I have been to a number of maid cafes but only in North America. When I went Japan I had almost no time to actually visit so I didn’t get the chance to go to one.
My experience so far with Maid cafes has been…pretty bad. It was an awkward, overpriced and generally joyless affair. It had none of the carefree campy spirit I was hoping for and I was pretty bummed out. However, I’m hoping that this is a cultural issue rather that a conceptional failure. It’s not that Maid Cafes aren’t that great (or that great for me), it’s that something’s lost in translation!
I would really like to go find out for myself. Although I might play it safe and go to a cat café instead. Those are sure to be great!
4) Comiket
On paper this sounds absolutely horrible. Have I mentioned that I am not fond of anime conventions? They’re o.k. if I’m in the mood for it but rooms chock full of over eager people in costumes that are way too warm for the season with all that implies, just aren’t my preferred venue. And from what I gather, Comiket is exactly that but with 10x more people and more…eagerness.
However: Doujin. Not just Doujin but a chance to meet and even talk with the amazing creative team behind them. I understand that most will be exhausted and probably way to busy for anything even resembling a conversation but I still find the concept so much more intriguing that just going to a merch room or watching an anime I’ve already seen with a bunch of strangers. I would like to go, at least once.
3) Mall or Rooftop Costumed Superhero Show
I’m not sure how to describe this… You know how at Disneyland they have themed shows with actors costumed as some of the popular characters. Well more than once I’ve seen animes in which these types of shows were held in a mall, often on a rooftop. And most of the time they looked like power rangers. And seem to be sparsely attended! We have a winner.
There’s something so delightfully cheesy about the whole thing that I would probably just go to my local mall for that if they had them! What a cool and really silly way to kill an hour or so!
2) Melon Smashing
I’ve seen this a few times, where someone gets blindfolded, handed a baseball bat and set loose to go wild on a defenceless watermelon. Usually on a beach so that the melon doesn’t roll away and for easy clean up.
I’ve always thought that this was a terrible waste of delicious delicious watermelon. I’m way suspicious that they never show anyone washing the bats beforehand. I’ve also always thought that this looked like tons of fun. It’s a hyped-up version of pin the tail on the donkey. It must be way satisfying! I’m just a little afraid that I’ll look unhinged doing this by myself in my backyard…
Honorable mention
Chillin’ under a Kotatsu.
How are kotatsu not a thing in Canada. We are so the country for this. And I love sitting on the floor. Pretty much everyone my age does! I’m going to find a Kotatsu. A fancy electric one I can plug in. And I will live under it for 6 months out of the year!
1) Hanami
Sakura trees are beautiful. And for once, the real live ones are just as impressive as the animated ones. I’ve seen pictures of cherry groves in full bloom and it is stunning. A flower viewing party is one of the rare events I wouldn’t mind braving the combination of crowds AND sunshine for.
There’s something poetic about the idea of just quietly enjoying the beauty of nature with your fellow flower lovers and letting the delicate petals rain down on you. It certainly not an experience I’ve had and it’s one that I long to try out!
These are my top 5 completely feasible anime activities I would like to try out.
Do you have anything like that. Just some random thing you see in anime and think to yourself, that looks like fun, I should do that too?
