If you haven’t already read about it on other blogs by now, details on the VIP tickets for May’n’s life performance are out on the official site. (Normal AFA ticket holders will be able to enjoy the concert from less optimal positions.) Diamond VIP tickets, which get you an autograph and a handshake from May’n in addition to front row seats, will sell for S$118 (80 USD), while regular VIP tickets go for S$68 (46 USD). They will be on sale through the website starting from 1st November.

I am helping AFA08 compile a list of questions from fans in Singapore (and other English-speaking countries) to send to May’n. She has gracefully agreed to answer them through email correspondence.

I will be sending the questions in both English and Japanese and the event organizers will help to edit and forward them to May’n. I will be translating her replies and the final result will be posted in both languages on the official website.

So, if you have anything you want to ask May’n, please submit your questions through the form on the official site. The deadline is Wednesday, 22nd October 2008.

UPDATE: The interview is up on the official site.

If you were keeping up with my C73 coverage, you would know that I had the pleasure of meeting Arisa Mizuhara live on day three.

For those of you who are oblivious to who she is, Arisa Mizuhara (水原ありさ) is one of the greatest cosplayers ever. (Even Danny agrees with me.) I’ve been a fan of hers for some time and it was quite a fanboy moment to meet her in the flesh at Comiket.

Anyway, I recently contacted her and requested for an online interview. She gracefully agreed and answered twenty questions provided by me. The interview was actually conducted over a week ago, but it took me some time to get around to translating the responses. Read them after the break!

日本からのかたへ：この記事は水原ありささんとのネットインタビューでãã€‚

1.

簡単な自己紹介をお願いしまãã€‚
Please introduce yourself briefly.

コスプレネーム水原ありさでãã€‚本格的にコスプレをはじめて８年になりまãã€‚HPは「娘々亭」でãã€‚
My cosplay name is Arisa Mizuhara. I started to cosplay earnestly 8 years ago. My homepage is called Nyannyantei.

Some additional information from her profile page:

Height: 164cm
Birthday: 22nd November (Scorpio)
Bloodtype: AB
Favourite food: Chocolate, cookies, cheese
Favourite drinks: Coffee, orange juice
Favourite manga: Gintama, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Initial D
Favourite games: Biohazard (Resident Evil), Final Fantasy series, Kamaitachi no Yoru, and other mystery novel games
Cosplay history: I started in December 1999’s Winter Comiket. My first cosplay was Dejiko.

2.

どうしてコスプレに興味を持つようになりましたか？
How did you come to be interested in cosplay?

元々同人誌を作っていて即売会に参加していたのでããŒã€éš£ã®ã‚¹ãƒšãƒ¼ã‚¹ã§ãƒ‡ã‚¸ã‚­ãƒ£ãƒ©ãƒƒãƒˆã®ã‚³ã‚¹ãƒ—レをしているかたを見かけとっても可愛いと思って自分でデジコの衣装を作ってみたいなぁと思ったのがきっかけでした＾＾
I was making doujinshi and selling them at events. I once saw someone doing a Di Gi Charat cosplay in the booth next to mine and I thought it was cute. I wanted to try making a Dejiko costume myself too and that was how it started. ^^

3.

コスプレの魅力はいったい何だと思いまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
What do you think is the attraction of cosplay?

好きなキャラクターの服を作ったり着てみたり同じようなポーズでå†çœŸã‚’撮ったりしてキャラクターへの思いをコスプレで表現ãã‚‹ã®ãŒæ¥½ã—いのだと思いまãã€‚
I think it is fun to make and wear the cosplays of my favourite characters and take pictures while making the same poses as them. It’s an expression of my feelings for the characters.

4.

どうやってコスプレのキャラを決めるんでãã‹ï¼Ÿè‡ªåˆ†ãŒå¥½ããªã‚­ãƒ£ãƒ©ã«éå®šï¼Ÿ
How do you decide on what characters to cosplay as? Is it limited to only characters you like?

【好きな作品のキャラクター】のコスプレをしていまãã€‚キャラクターによってはどんなに好きでも自分のルックスや顔立ちでは着こなせない場合もあるのでその場合は友達やほかのレイヤーさんがかっこよく着こなしているå†çœŸã‚’見て萌えていまãï¼Šï¼¾ï¼¾ï¼Šï¼ˆéŠæˆ¯çŽ‹ã®æµ·é¦¬ç€¬äººã‚„銀魂の土方十四郎とかがそうでãï¼¾ï¼¾::）
I cosplay characters from works I like. But occasionally my appearance or features don’t match certain characters, no matter how much I like them. In those cases, I get my friends or other cosplayers to cosplay and then take pictures so that I can moé over them later. *^^* (Examples include Seto Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Toshirou Hijikata from Gintama ^^::)

5.

自分が一番よかったと思うコスプレは？
Which is your own favourite cosplay?

遊戯王のブラックマジシャンガールとデジキャラットのデジコを作ったæ‚が一番印象に残っていまãã€‚どちらもかなり昔に作った衣装でããŒä»Šã§ã‚‚よく着ていまãï¼¾ï¼¾
Black Magician Girl from Yu-Gi-Oh and Dejiko from Di Gi Charat left the biggest impression when I made them. I made both costumes quite some time ago but I still often wear them.

6.

ãã‚‹å´ã¨è¦‹ã‚‹å´ã¨ã—て、どんなコスプレが好きでãã‹ï¼Ÿ
As a cosplayer and as a person watching others cosplay, what kind of cosplays do you like?

おのおのの作品に合ったポーズや着こなしで表現ãã‚‹ã“とがやはりãã‚‹å´ã¨ã—ても見ている側としても気持ちが良いかなと私は思いまãã€‚
I think no matter which side one is on, cosplay feels best when it brings out the essence of the character and the poses match the original source.

7.

今度やってみたいキャラは？
What characters to you want to try cosplaying as?

【うみねこのなく頃に】という作品のç»å ´ã‚­ãƒ£ãƒ©ã‚¯ã‚¿ãƒ¼ã®è¡£è£…を色々と製作したいでãã€‚（紗音・戦人・真里亞etc）同人ゲームの【東方】シリーズのキャラの衣装も製作中でãã€‚
I’m currently making a few costumes from Umineko no Naku Koro ni. (Shannon, Battler, Maria, etc.) I’m also making costumes from the Touhou doujin game series.

8.

尊敬ãã‚‹ãƒ¬ã‚¤ãƒ¤ãƒ¼ã¯ã‚りまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
Are there any cosplayers whom you admire?

数名いまããŒå†…緒でãï¼ˆç¬‘）この方たちの完成度が高く楽しそうにコスプレをしている姿を目の当たりにして私も楽しくコスプレを続けていきたいという思いが高まりました＾＾
There are a few, but it’s a secret. (lol) Watching them cosplay so perfectly and have fun inspired me to want to continue to enjoy cosplaying too. ^^

9.

コスプレは芸術だと思いまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
Do you think cosplay is an art?

衣装や小道具の再現度、全体的な雰囲気によって芸術性があると感じるæ‚が多々ありまãã€‚
Depending on reproduction level of the costume and the details, and the overall feeling it gives, cosplay does often contain artistic elements.

10.

初めてコスプレに挑戦したい人へのアドバイスは？
Some advice for people who want to give cosplaying a shot?

好きなキャラクターへの愛があれば誰でもããã«ã‚³ã‚¹ãƒ—レは楽しめるものだと思っていまãï¼¾ï¼¾ä¼¼åˆã†ä¼¼åˆã‚ãªã„とかは２の次な事なのでとにかく好きなキャラクターになりきってå†çœŸã‚’撮ってみてください!きっととても楽しい気持ちになれると思いまãâª
I think anybody can enjoy cosplaying as long as you put in the love for your favourite characters. ^^ Whether it fits or not is not as important as trying your best to become the character you like. I’m sure you’ll find that it’s a really enjoyable experience âª

11.

Ｃ７３のご感想を。
Your thoughts on C73.

実は当日風邪をひいていて体調がものãã”く悪かったのでぐだぐだでした＞＿＜色々な方とお会いできて楽しい一日でした＾＾
Actually, I caught a cold that day and I felt really sick. >_< But I met a lot of people and it turned out to be a fun day. ^^

Ops. Sorry for making you pose for a picture. -DM

12.

好きな音楽をæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
Please tell us the type of music you like.

頭文字Dで流れているような感じの疾走感のあるユーロビート系音楽が好きでãã€‚
I like fast eurobeat songs like the ones in Initial D.

13.

最後にやったゲームと観たアニメは？
What were the last games you played and the last anime you watched?

ゲームは１２／３１にçºå£²ã—た「うみねこのなく頃に第２話（原作：竜騎士０７）」をプレイしました。「ひぐらしのなく頃に」の原作者の最新作でããŒä»Šå›žã®ãŠè©±ã‚‚ものãã”く良いでã!アニメは色々見ていまããŒå…¨è©±é€šã—で「ガンスリンガーガール（１期）」と「さよなら絶望先生」をお正月中にまとめて観ましたâª
I played Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chapter 2 (Original work: Ryuukishi 07) that came out on 31st Dec. It’s a new work from the original creator of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and the story this time is really good! I’ve been watching quite a few anime series recently. I finished the whole series of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Gunslinger Girl (first season) on New Year’s Day âª

14.

「萌え」とは貴方にとってどういう意味を持つんでしょうか？
What does “moé” mean to you?

気になっているキャラや作品の話をしていたり考えたりしてドキドキやワクワクしてきたらその感情は「萌え」なのかなと思っていまãï¼ˆç¬‘）
If talking or thinking about a particular character and series makes me feel excited and my heart beat faster, then I think that is “moé”. (lol)

15.

最近、はまっているものはありまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
Are you really into anything recently?

お風呂の半身浴にはまっていまãã€‚漫画やアニメでは【銀魂（空知英秋）】・【ZONE00（九条キヨ）】などにはまっていまãã€‚
I’m currently addicted to half-body bathing. In terms of anime and manga, I’ve been enjoying Gintama (Hideaki Sorachi) and ZONE 00 (Kiyo Kujou), among others.

16.

理想の恋愛相手はどんな人でãã‹ï¼Ÿ
What’s your ideal relationship partner?

優しくて価値観の合う人がいいでãï¼¾ï¼¾
A kind person with compatible values. ^^

17.

家族や友達はコスプレについてどう思いまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
What do your family and friends think about cosplaying?

家族も友達もコスプレには理解がありまãï¼¾ï¼¾ç‰¹ã«ç§ã®çˆ¶ãŒã‚¢ãƒ‹ãƒ¡ã‚„可愛い感じのキャラクターグッズが好きなので理解がありまãï¼ˆç¬‘）
My family and friends are very understanding about cosplaying. ^^ Especially my father, because he likes anime and cute-looking character goods. (lol)

18.

外国のファンからメールをよくもらいまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
Do you often receive fan letters from overseas?

色々な国からメッセージやメールを頂いていまãã€‚とても嬉しく思っていまãï¼¾ï¼¾ã€‚私は日本でしかコスプレはしていませんがインターネットを通して色々な国でコスプレを見ていただけているのだなぁといつも感動していまãã€‚私は日本語しか出来ないのでお返事が返せずに申し訳ないのでããŒã€ãŠæ°—軽にメールなどをいただけるととても嬉しく思いまãï¼¾ï¼¾
I do receive e-mails from various countries. ^^ Although I have only been cosplaying in Japan, I always feel wonderful that people from so many different countries can view my cosplays on the internet. I can only speak Japanese, so I apologize for not being able to reply your e-mails, but I am really happy to receive them. ^^

19.

海外でコスプレしたことはありまãã‹ï¼Ÿãªã‹ã£ãŸã‚‰ã€ã—たいでãã‹ï¼Ÿ
Have you ever cosplayed overseas? If not, do you want to?

日本国内でしかコスプレをしたことがありません＞＿＜機会があったら他の国のコスプレイãƒãƒ³ãƒˆã«å‚加してみたいでãï¼¾ï¼¾
I have only cosplayed in Japan before. >_< If the opportunity arises, I will love to participate in cosplay events in other countries. ^^

Cosfest organizing committee: *hint hint* -DM

20.

最後に海外のファンたちへ一言をお願いしまãã€‚
Please leave a message for your overseas fans.

日本のアニメーションやコスプレをがこれだけ多くの海外のかたに興味を持って見ていただけていることをとても嬉しく思っていまãï¼¾ï¼¾ç§ã¯ã‚¢ãƒ‹ãƒ¡ã‚„コスプレが好きな素人でããŒã“れからも楽しく大好きなコスプレをしていきまãã®ã§ãŠæ°—軽にHPなどに遊びにきてください＾＾
I’m very happy to know that there are so many overseas fans who are interested in Japanese animation and cosplay. ^^ I’m still a novice at anime and cosplay, but I will continue to have fun cosplaying, so please feel free to drop by homepage anytime. ^^

Arisa-san, you’re being too humble… -DM

And that concludes one of the few rare posts that I actually went through the trouble of producing actual content for. I hope you enjoyed it, and do drop by Arisa’s booth if you happen to be at Comiket in the near future. :)

All pictures in this post are reproduced from Nyanyantei with permission.

They only printed a selected few of the questions while the full set of hundred is included on a CD-ROM that comes with the magazine.

Continue reading for the printed questions and translations.

1. お名前と、もしあるならば別の呼び名。そしてその由来をæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
こんにちは、DarkMirageと申しまãã€‚小学校のごろオンラインゲームを始めたæ‚に作ったんでãã€‚たまたま二つの英語単語で作り出しただけで、意味はありません。

Please tell us your nickname and its origin.
Hi, my nickname is DarkMirage. I made it up for an online game back in primary school. It’s just a combination of two words and has no special meaning.

2. 年齢をæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
１８歳。

What is your age?
18 years old.

3. どこにお住まいでãã‹ï¼Ÿ
シンガポール。

Where do you live?
Singapore.

4. 職業についてæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
高校生。

What’s your occupation?
High school student.

5. 身長は？
１８１センチ。

Your height?
181cm. (I realized that I overestimated it by 2cm.)

6. 好きな食べ物をæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
刺身。

What’s your favourite food?
Sashimi.

7. 嫌いな食べ物はなんでãã‹ï¼Ÿ
にんじん、ブロッコリ。

What food do you hate?
Carrots and broccoli.

8. なにか特技があればæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
耳を動かãã“と、それとジャッグル。

Do you possess any special talents?
I can wriggle my ears and also juggle.

9. 自分を動物にたとえるなら、なんでãã‹ã€‚
猫かな、éã‹ã§æ€ ã‘者。

What animal would you compare yourself to?
Probably a cat. I’m quiet and lazy.

10. 自分をオタクだと思いまãã‹ï¼Ÿ
はい、オタクでãã€‚

Are you an otaku?
Yes, I am.

11. あなたにとってのヒーローまたはヒロインは誰でãã‹ã€‚
科学者のスティーヴン・ホーキング。

Who is your hero/heroine?
The physicist Stephen Hawking.

12. 尊敬している人は？
元アメリカ大統領å€è£œã‚¢ãƒ«ãƒ»ã‚´ã‚¢ã€‚

Who do you respect?
Former American presidential candidate Al Gore.

15. 座右の銘は？
“God’s in his heaven, All’s right with the world.”

What’s your personal motto?
“God’s in his heaven, All’s right with the world.”

21. 理想のガールフレンドってどんな人でãã‹ï¼Ÿï¼ˆå®Ÿåœ¨ã®å½¼å¥³ã¯åˆ¥ã«ã—て）
ToHeart2のタマ姉みたいのがいいｗｗｗ　冗談は別として、趣味が合うのは一番大切だと思いまãã€‚明るくて大人っぽいのもプラスでãâ€¦â€¦ã£ã¦ã‚„っぱりタマ姉かな。(笑）

Describe your ideal girlfriend. (Not your current girlfriend.)
I want someone like ToHeart2’s Tama-nee! Jokes aside, I guess having someone with compatible interests is quite important. Cheerful and mature would be huge pluses too…… Wait I guess that is Tama-nee after all. LOL.

30. 好きなアニメ作品についてæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱、エヴァンゲリオン、ナデシコ、星界の戦旗、気まぐれオレンジロード。

What anime titles do you like?
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Evangelion, Nadesico, Banner of the Stars and Kimagure Orange Road.

54. 知っている、または好きな日本の単語をæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
神無月。

Please tell us your favourite Japanese word.
Kannadzuki.

59. Ramblings of DarkMirageを簡単に紹介してください。
最初は自分を話題にして書いてたブログだったが、二年前からアニメやアキバ系のサイトに変更しました。ビジターはアメリカから一番多い、それからシンガポールと日本。

Please introduce us to “Ramblings of DarkMirage”.
It started off as a random blog about my daily life but slowly transformed into an anime related site two years ago. Most visitors come from America, followed by Singapore and Japan.

66. いま、注目に値ãã‚‹ã‚¢ãƒ‹ãƒ¡ä½œå“ã‚’æŒã’てください。
「コードギアス」……って言うかもう皆観てまãã­ã€‚じゃ、「京四郎と永遠の空」かな。

What series should people look out for now?
“Code Geass”……but I guess everyone’s already watching that. “Kyoushirou to Towa no Sora” then.

69. アニメで、いちばん好きなシーンについてæ•ãˆã¦ãã ã•ã„。
「涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱」の第１２話で、ハルヒが「God knows…」を歌ってるところが大好きでãã€‚

What’s your favourite anime scene?
The scene in episode 12 of “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” where Haruhi sang “God knows…”.

79. 「アニメオタク」と「アニメファン」の違いとは、どういったことだと思いまãã‹ã€‚
あるレãƒãƒ«ã«é”成ãã‚‹ã¨ã€ã‚¢ãƒ‹ãƒ¡ãƒ•ã‚¡ãƒ³ã¯ã‚¢ãƒ‹ãƒ¡ã‚ªã‚¿ã‚¯ã«é€²åŒ–しまãã€‚ポケットモンスターみたいに。

What do you think is the difference between an anime otaku and an anime fan?
Upon reaching a certain level, anime fan evolves into anime otaku. Just like in Pokemon.

80. サイトへのクレームなどもありまãï¼Ÿ
最初はなれなくてãã”く気にしたんでããŒã€ä»Šã¯ç„¡è¦–しまãã€‚

Do you get complaints about your site?
Yes, I was quite bothered by them at first, but now I ignore them. (Speaking of which, Doremi just sent me an e-mail a few days ago…)

85. 尊敬している、字幕職人っていまãã‹ã€‚
Anime-KeepのDeathWolf。

Do you respect any fansubbers?
DeathWolf from Anime-Keep.

88. オススメのYouTube動画ってありまãï¼Ÿ
「Ask A Ninja」というシリーズ。まぁ、英語でãã‘どね。

Do you have any YouTube videos to recommend?
The “Ask A Ninja” series, but it’s in English.

92. 一番人気があるアニメサイトといえば？
darkmirage.com…というのは嘘でãã€‚多分animenewsnetwork.comだと思いまãã€‚

What’s the most popular anime site (in English)?
darkmirage.com… Just kidding. Uh, animenewsnetwork.com I guess.

93. マジコンって知ってまãï¼Ÿã€€ä½¿ã£ãŸã“とありまãï¼Ÿ
知ってまããŒã€DSは持っていません。PSPでカスタムファームウエアと使ってまãã‘ど。

Do you know what’s a Magicom? Have you used one before?
I know what it is, but I do not own a DS. I do use homebrew software on my PSP, though.

97. ひとことでいうと、アニメはあなたにとってナニ？
生き方でãã€‚

How would you describe anime in one phrase?
It’s a way of life.

100. 日本の読者にメッセージお願いしまãã€‚
いつかアキバで会おう！

Please end off with a message for the Japanese readers.
May we meet in Akiba someday!

You can view the rest of the questions that came with the CD-ROM here.

Alternatively, you can purchase the magazine itself from Amazon JP. The CD-ROM contains a few pictures of me which I shall not post here. :P

P.S. I have been without Internet access for the past few days due to a series of incidents. So yeah, I’m still alive.