Pacific Media Expo is the last dance before closing for many Los Angeles area otaku. This is the last chance of the year to party and to enjoy hobbies related to Asian pop culture. In 2007, Scarlet Rhapsody enteratined the idea of George Takei being a special guest at Pacific Media Expo. It was not until the week before, George Takei would be announced as a guest at the Asian pop culture event.

The convention began to pick up in the late afternoon as guest, Yashuhiro Imagawa (Giant Robo) had this Q&A session on the history of giant robots. This is Imagawa's first appearance in the USA since AniMagic 2003 in Lancaster, CA. The old school mecha auteur drew in a minimal crowd as he was talking about stories and lore behind the famed mecha genre. Shortly after the Imagawa panel, the room cleared out for the Allegiance panel.

The Allegiance panel was led by Broadway veterans, Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione. Scarlet Rhapsody has been quite famillar following the musical based upon Japanese American internment during World War II. Thanks to a special invite from Lea Salonga, we were there during the first workshop reading with Tamlyn Tomita, Jennifer Paz, and members of the current cast. Actors, George Takei and Paul Nakauchi, were also present during this panel.

Despite George Takei's popularlity among Asian pop culture fans, the room was half full. However, the panel allowed George and Paul to talk about Japanese American internment and how their family roots played an integral part in shaping the show. Producers, Kuo and Thione, hope to have the show open on Broadway in the future. Fans can support promoting Allegiance by visiting the website where they can find out how to win free tickets.

Takei headlined the panel. The subject shifted to Asian Americans taking lead roles in mainstream media. Takei was utterly dissapointed with the live action Akira.

Shortly after the Q&A with the creative team, we attended the press conference for Allegiance. Kuo, Thione, Takei, and Nakauchi also gave more insight about the production and making of the show. George Takei also talked about how he would like to be in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.

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