Hey everyone! It’s been almost a year since I’ve last posted, and after all that time I’ve come to realize a few things. But before I get to that, I’d like to share what’s been going on in my life–if not for your knowledge, then at least for my own sake of aligning myself aloud.
Oh, how my priorities have shifted.
I’m going to start this blog post with a disturbing admission: I wish I had never promised the Your Name Project, because now it is forever on my mind until I finish it. It is not hyperbole when I say that it has kept me up at night. The quality of video that I want to produce is going to take a lot of work, and I just don’t know if I alone am up to the task. My passion has certainly waned, and currently my attention is being torn away by a hundred different things.
I haven’t produced another video since Anime Japan. I haven’t written anything about my travels. I haven’t even been to any noteworthy anime pilgrimages.
Instead, I’ve been studying, and exploring other interests—including writing fiction. And I think, for now, I’m content with that. So, I’m sorry if you’re still eager to hear all my formulated thoughts and opinions on anime, but I’m currently on hiatus. Again. I have about 3 months left before I return to my home country, and perhaps then I’ll return to aniblogging.
Until then, I’d like to thank you for reading. I’m still shocked every once in a while when I check my metrics to see that people are still reading my articles. I wish I could supply you all with even more compelling, but alas, that takes time and effort that I just don’t currently have–like I used to. Hopefully I find it once again. And if I do, I hope you’ll give it a chance again. Thank you.
Well, today’s my last day in the States. I couldn’t manage to get out anywhere near all the things I had in mind for this humble little blog of my mine—which makes me pretty disappointed in myself. If I’m being honest, I feel like the blame falls upon 10% actual busyness, 90% procrastination. It’s been hard to keep my mind straight, especially in this last week as I’ve been spending time with and saying goodbye to so many people. One of my problems is that I treat social gatherings like another job to be scheduled, and I never turn down work. I suppose I need to get better at my time management and only work on the social links that really matter (Persona reference, for those confused).
Now that I’m going to be in Japan, supplied with brand new equipment, I’m excited by the things I’ll be able to create, and all the potential Japan has for the ideas I have in store. Your Name on TV will exist, and it will be my first priority once I settle in. After that, we’ll see where my crazy mind takes me. All I can say for now is that I definitely want to put my film school experience to use, and hopefully find people that will help me with that. I also want to eat a shit ton of ramen.
Sorry I couldn’t be quite so prolific in my brief return to blogging, but I’m going to continue writing about anime for a long time to come…there just might be some long times to wait between my posts. Writing has been a very important hobby for me, something that I wholeheartedly feel good about doing—unlike a bunch of useless acts of instant self-gratification that I’ve been indulging in lately (mainly worthless video games). Games are fun, but I certainly have a hard time limiting myself, which is why I won’t be bring my PlayStation 4 along with me (although I do have my Vita and Switch for the plane ride).
This next 5 months I’m going to be taking a break from a lot of things, and I’ll see how things go. I will most likely be updating this blog with my adventures, so I hope you stay tuned for that, as well as the usual randomly timed posts about anime (one day I’ll learn to stick to a schedule). Truth be told, I still can’t believe this is happening. I’m going to be IN JAPAN. TOMMORROW. Well, technically Tuesday because of the time zone leap and flight length. Still. Holy shit.
As a writer, I hate to say that I’m at a loss for words because it is literally my life’s goal to never let that happen—to always be able to describe to the best of my ability what’s in my head and in my heart. All I have right now are silly dreams and naïve wishes for what the next 5 months will be. But fuck it! I’m gonna work hard. I am going to turn all my dumb anime dreams into reality, or at the very least keep trying until it kills me.
Anyway, to close this I just wanted to do what I always do and thank you for reading. It’s still astonishing to me that people managed to find what I write, and even crazier that they continue to read. I hope you enjoy what comes next. I have a feeling I will as well.
I regret to inform you all that my “highly anticipated” video on why Your Name Would Work Better as a TV Series will have to be delayed a little longer. Script writing is more challenging than I had realized, and the weather has been quite awful lately–not allowing for me to go out and film some footage on location that I would like to add to the video. This feature is gearing up to be the biggest thing I’ve ever done on this blog, and so I want to take my best step forward as I finish and release this project. I greatly appreciate your patience. For now, I’d like to share with you a piece I wrote for a Japanese historical fiction class. I thought this may perhaps be of interest to some of you, as I did receive some nice responses the last time I posted about something not anime-related (Tokyo Story: The True Essence of Japanese Domesticity). This piece is about a short story called Date’s Black Ship; part of a collection titled Drunk as a Lord, written by Ryoutarou Shiba. Finding a translated copy (at least through legal means) seems to be a pain in the ass, so I wouldn’t blame you if you never read it yourself. Just know that it takes place around Japan’s Meiji restoration period, and is about a man tasked with replicating American technology the likes of which the previously self-isolated nation had never seen before. It was one of the most interesting times in all of Japanese history, and I found myself deeply fascinated in the different perspectives that could be found in this great turning point of Japan. Perhaps you may find yourself fascinated as well. Now I’m going to get back to working on my Your Name and Anime of the Year 2018 posts. See you tomorrow, and thanks for reading. Continue reading
Greetings everyone! I’m finally back after my longest hiatus yet, and I ready to kick off my annual feature week for 2019. I have some big plans for There Goes My Kokoro this year, and so I’d like to share them with you! Continue reading
Hey guys! I know that we’re nearing the time where I usually come out with a week full of features to ring in the new year. While I did indeed plan to keep that tradition alive and on time, sometimes in life…plans just get fucked. This is one of those times. I am not ready for the new year quite yet, and so my annually scheduled FEATURE WEEK must be delayed. This year has been the roughest year in There Goes My Kokoro’s history, and that is surely not just in mere correlation with my personal life.
But there is a silver lining—I think I’ve finally found what the next step for this blog is. In my estimation, I’m almost past the bottleneck. Overwhelming levels of stress have been taking their toll on me, mentally and physically, but the workload is lessening little by little each day. Once I’m at the point where I can comfortably get back to doing what I love, I will. And I have plenty of things already pre-planned, starting with something that’s been a long time coming. I wanted to be ready for a triumphant return, but I’m just not there yet. When I am back, however…that’s when I’ll deliver my best damn feature week yet. And I hope you’ll be around to enjoy it.
January 23rd, 2019
See you then.
As a quick note to the audience before my next feature posts (October 1st), I wanted to say this: Hi. I’m back. It’s been a while, and I could bore you with a thousand and one reasons for why I haven’t been posting, but I won’t. My intense hatred of excuses would never allow that. I certainly don’t deserve a reprieve for my tremendous laziness, and while you could tell me I shouldn’t beat myself up too much for it, that advice would probably fall on deaf ears. Discipline is what I lack, and it’s something I need if I truly want to become stronger…and I do. I really do take to heart the simple lessons of life that come with your typical shounen anime. As childish, corny, idealistic, or just plain naïve as it may seem, I want to be the very best, like no one ever was. I want to be the symbol of peace, the number one hero. I want to be the goddamn Hokage, BELIEVE IT! Continue reading
[Preface: Here’s another essay I wrote, this time for an art history class. I know I typically only write about anime and the occasional video game here, but I figured this might make for an interesting read considering Tokyo Monogatari is widely considered a masterwork in film, taught in any intro film class worth its salt. It is also Japanese, which almost makes it anime! Perhaps give it a chance!] Continue reading
So, it’s been a while since my last post because I was at and preparing for Anime Milwaukee 2018. Though I don’t typically do this, I’ve decided I’m going to dedicate a post to sharing a bit about my real-life experiences, rather than the usual anime analysis or slightly erotic fan fic. [By the way, did you see that Danmachi announced its second season! I couldn’t be less excited!] Last weekend was my second time ever at an anime convention, and I’ve taken away from it far more than I had from my first. It’s been on my mind all week, while I desperately completed a handful of assignments at the last minute because I had neglected them to go to anime raves and play rhythm games instead—and so now, I think, is the time for me to elaborate on my new understanding and appreciation of panel hosting and cosplaying, as well as just the great time I had being among hordes of fellow anime nerds for three days straight. Continue reading
A week of feature posts to ring in the new year! I know last year was rough for There Goes My Kokoro, and a bit empty, but I’m going to change that starting now. My first big change? Getting rid of the .wordpress.com! I already invest my time into this blog, but I figured it might be even better if I threw a little extra skin in the game. This also means no ads, which is always nice! Hopefully this year is good to us all, but if not, at least we can find solace in the fact that this blog is back, and better than ever. See y’all at the end of these seven days of features, where I’ll give my away frivolous anime of the year award! Until then, thanks for reading! (and sorry this started a day late)
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