A few Scarlet Rhapsody staff participated in March's infamous Sakura Watch. Stan and Deb (Traveling Valentine) cosplayed and took additional photos on the days I could not attend. They would like to share their experience with a podcast. Jared (of the upcoming Valenti East) listed 29 Things About Sakura Watch. Of course, as Scarlet Rhapsody founder, I get the final word.

Stan and Deb's Podcast Coming Soon! For now, enjoy the official mascot of Sakura Watch, Mr. Groundhog!

To summarize things up nicely for Sakura Watch, Jared of the upcoming Valenti East, listed 29 Things About Sakura Watch.

1. I can’t believe I have to write a list about this event
2. I hate the valley so much
3. Wigs are fun
4. Diamond is the birthstone of April
5. Where are all the cherry blossoms?
6. I don’t want to ruin my suit
7. Oh, shiny!
8. Sorry I missed your birthday Chris
9. Tansformers Fanboys = Final Fantasy Fangirls
10. I really I hate the valley, I can’t begin to tell you how much I hate the valley, words cannot describe my hatred for the valley
11. She made it easier for me to tolerate those creepy dolls
12. I didn’t bake for this event… maybe next time I will
13. Ducks: love ‘em
14. Mmmmm…. Riceballs
15. If your people eat dogs then dogs deserve to eat you
16. People stare and I don’t care
17. That last note rhymes
18. Is it Tagalong or just gibberish?
19. I have nothing against burying the hatchet
20. click, click, click, flash
21. I made it through a valley event without dying… doesn’t change the fact that I hate the valley.
22. Oh good everyone is on the other side of the park
23. To all the trees: I’m sorry for whatever it was I did to you, so will you please stop attacking me.
24. There is no theme music
25. I keep forgetting he’s not a man
26. Smile
27. Wow, an event with no narutards, what a refreshing change
28. As it turns out, we are better than you
29. Prime numbers are the basis of reality

Stan first told me about the amazing cherry blossoms at Anthony C. Beilenson Park when I just returned from the failed attempt at the Northern California Spring Gathering (March 2008). While browsing through Jason 's (i360) livejournal, I was enthralled by the beauty of the cherry blossoms. How nice it would be to spend a day or two under the cherry blossom trees. Costume, or no costume, I looked forward to spring time in the valley. Throughout 2008, Carolyn and Stan planned for Rurouni Kenshin cosplay for the event, but those plans went astray.

True, during Week Zero (Feb 28), there was hardly anything there. While it was a disappointment, complaining won't make the blossoms bloom faster. All that mattered to me is that I'm with good company enjoying our shared hobby. In the next few meet ups, I became acquainted with new faces. I will repeat this again, many thanks to whomever brought the rice balls.

I want to thank the photographers who took shots of me and my friends. It is always a pleasure seeing high quality shots. I do not consider myself a professional photographer, just someone who likes documenting events with stories and photos. Anela, Jason, Jeff, Fer, Kenji, Julia, Caitlin, and others - thanks for your service. We are looking forward to more photos of the even in the next few days.

Many thanks to my cosplay groups throughout the course of Sakura Watch. It was finally nice to cosplay from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Card Captor Sakura, and X/1999 with fellow fans of the series. This is what cosplay is all about - sharing the same fandom and enjoying the series together. Sakura Watch was rejuvenating in the sense that there were hardly any Ramune Babies, or new generation anime fans. Ramune Babies are those who cause ruckus in Little Tokyo, ruining the fandom for fans as whole. The event had zero to none. No yaoi paddles, no Internet inside jokes, no constant references to Internet memes - it was a relaxing event without the screams of a weaboo.

Many thanks to Stan for giving us all rides to the event!

Many thanks to Jason (i360) for hosting the event and providing food and drink to refresh us all between taking pictures.

But no thanks to Los Angeles' bi-polar weather.

Who knows where I will be a year from now. Here's hoping that the cherry blossoms will actually bloom in time to create that same magic Stan talked about. If anything, I'll just make a trip to Washington D. C. to their Cherry Blossom Festival. Otherwise, good times with good people. That's a win in my book.

Pictures are copyright by Traveling Valentine and Valenti East. If I took your picture, feel free to use it on your site or cosplay gallery. While you're here, do sign the guestbook. This site was brought to you by the font Ham Lake. Many thanks to Chaz Boston Baden for the image resizing and watermarking program.