Sadly, the trip is finally coming to its conclusion. I loved Japan and definitely did not want to leave, but after the amount of excitement from the past 2 weeks, I wasn’t entirely dreading getting to go back home.
Thankfully, Esther was on the same flight as me! The two of us headed to Haneda airport around 11 am in preparation for our 3pm flight from Tokyo to Washington DC. We had to do a bit of waiting around at the airport for baggage check to open, but once we were through security and had checked our (very heavy and merch-filled) luggage, we could relax a bit.
The flight itself went very smoothly and I was able to get some cool pics of clouds and mountains 🙂
We landed in DC after 13 hours of sleeping and listening to music. Unfortunately our layover did not leave us with a lot of time to get through customs and recheck our luggage and we thought we were going to miss our connecting flight. Thankful, Esther was able to make her flight to Rochester on time and I successfully made my flight to Albany! Crisis averted.
I was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again, but I can’t wait to go back to Japan! It was definitely the experience of a lifetime and one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited.
To start off the rainy morning, the group headed to Unreal Fest! Unreal Fest was held in a venue in Akihabara not far from the hotel, so despite the typhoon weather, the walk wasn’t bad at all. Once inside, we were able to wander the game showcase area to playtest tons of cool projects. One of my favorites was a cinematic, journey-inspired sea life game where you played as various sea creatures. Starting off as a small fish, you soon transitioned to a dolphin, a large school of fish, and more as you swam through beautiful oceans with an amazing orchestral soundtrack. Another favorite of mine that I saw was a small puzzle game called On The Rocks. I believe this was the result of a game jam, and it involved using pinball-like mechanics to transport a marble into a glass at the bottom of the level. What made it so interesting, however, was the various movement mechanics that were derived from simple just tilting paddles. It was also a very fun experience that I definitely think had potential to be developed further.
After Unreal Fest we had some free time, so Esther, Vincent, Brody, and I got some udon for lunch nearby and then went for some final shopping in Akihabara. I went back to a store I had visited a few days prior to get a gift for a friend and found something called a “Zeldabox” from the 2003 Wind Waker release and it was such a good find.
Inside is 2 small figures, a Wind Waker guidebook, a poster, and a cd with select songs from the franchise :0
I was also so excited to find a 1999 copy of Majora’s Mask for the N64 for relatively cheap.
Finally, we concluded our final day in Tokyo with a visit to Cyber Connect 2’s Tokyo studio. Cyber Connect 2 is responsible for the development of popular anime games such as the Naruto, Demon Slayer, and Jojo games. We got a tour of the studio where we could see the workspace layout and artists and designers at work. Cyber Connect is known for its gorgeous animation work and translating the art styles of manga and anime into games.
On day 5 we took a trip to Hiroshima it was an eye-opening and sad experience. I personally didn’t film a lot here due to that it’s a place you have to experience personally. But we ended on a high note with a group dinner of Okonomiyaki. We had a free day the next day so I went shopping and got cheesecake and had Japanese Macdonalds it was Macdonalds but the french fries did taste different. I liked them better than the ones in the States.
The Game Jam commenced punctually at 9:30 AM on the first day, prompting me to rise at 6 AM to allow for ample preparation time. Despite experiencing fatigue, I revitalized myself through a refreshing shower and a nourishing breakfast, prior to boarding the bus destined for KCG. Upon our arrival, we promptly convened with our respective groups. Personally, I became a member of Group 5, where we confronted critical decisions regarding fundamental elements of our game, such as gameplay mechanics and artistic style. Fortunately, we swiftly resolved these matters and proceeded with our endeavors.
As the hours elapsed, we encountered various challenges while navigating Unreal Engine 5, particularly in the realm of local multiplayer functionality. Consequently, we opted to temporarily divert my attention to other tasks, such as the implementation of collision and hitboxes, competently handled by Vincent.
To streamline collaboration and enhance organization, our team initiated a shared Google Drive, serving as a central repository. Initially, I harbored reservations regarding the employment of Google Drive as our chosen version control system. Nonetheless, considering the familiarity of this workflow among the KCG students within my team, I embraced the decision to immerse myself in its utilization.
When I was personally done with my part of the work I went around interviewing the other teams about their progress. All seemed to have gone as well as ours.
Joining the tour group, we eagerly boarded the tour bus, filled with anticipation to delve into the captivating history and culture of Kyoto.
Our first destination was Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, an awe-inspiring Zen temple with its top two floors lavishly adorned in gold leaf.
It was a remarkable sight! While it may not have gleamed with the luster of chrome, the natural surroundings were even more breathtaking, presenting a harmonious and visually stunning masterpiece.
Afterward, we strolled through the neighboring city to find a spot for lunch. We discovered an authentic sit-down restaurant where I had the pleasure of savoring delicious wagyu croquettes and indulging in Arashiyama Tenryuu ramen.
Following our satisfying lunch, we proceeded to Kiyomizudera, one of Japan’s most renowned temples. Its standout feature was the wooden terrace extending from the main hall, offering a panoramic view of the city and lush mountains. The sight was truly mesmerizing and left a lasting impression on all of us.
Our next stop was Fushimi-Inari, a shrine famous for its countless vermilion torii gates. As we walked along the winding path, we found ourselves enveloped by a striking tunnel of vibrant red gates, each one inscribed with the name of its generous donor. Despite the considerable number of visitors, the atmosphere remained remarkably serene, adding to the spiritual experience.
As the day drew to a close, we visited Kyoto Computer Gakuin, where the staff warmly welcomed us. After some casual conversation, we settled in for an anime screening of the Demon Slayer movie Mugen Train which I have personally seen. It served as a fantastic way to unwind and relax after a full day of exploring the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto.
The following day, we embarked on an early morning expedition to engage in a traditional zazen meditation session. The awe-inspiring architecture of the venerable Japanese temples never fails to captivate, and the abundant verdant surroundings, accompanied by the soothing melodies of nature, immediately instilled a sense of tranquility within me. The serene ambiance made me feel at ease in this peaceful sanctuary.
Following the meditation, we proceeded to revisit one of the previous locations to partake in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, an experience that provided us with a profound insight into the intricacies of tea etiquette. The gracious hostess exemplified kindness and empathy as she enlightened us about some of the subtle nuances involved in the art of the tea ceremony.
For instance, when sipping from the bowl, it is customary to orient the most embellished portion of the vessel towards oneself, acknowledging the person who will be holding the bowl. Additionally, before imbibing, one delicately rotates the bowl twice in a clockwise manner, ensuring that their lips do not make direct contact with the bowl’s exquisite craftsmanship.
Afterward, we ventured to the bustling Nishiki Market to indulge in a delectable assortment of culinary delights. Following a brief respite at our hotel, where I took the opportunity to rejuvenate for an hour, we convened once more at 6 pm for an evening of bowling at Round 1.
We Boweld, I lost but had an enjoyable time non the less. Then we just stayed a bit longer in the arcade and just had a swing at the games they had.
Then we walked back through Nishiki Market at night and the stark difference it has when there are no people is kind of scary but in any other country I would probably feel uneasy but here it felt calming.”
Technology day followed similarly to culture Day with our start at noon. Some of us went to grab Starbucks in the morning before we made our way to Diver City.
At Diver City, we saw the giant Gundam statue, shopped and ate lunch in the mall. I bought two shirts from Uniqlo for less than 2,000 jpy before running into Kat at a pizza place for lunch. We also waited to see the Gundam move which was kind of anticlimactic as only a few pieces and panels on the face moved.
Next, we went to the Miraikan museum which was… not my favorite. Many of the interactions were problematic at best or didn’t have anything meaningful to show other than being slightly cool. For example, there was a game where you chose a goal for the future of humanity. However, many of the different goals were interconnected such as solving global warming and equal access to drinking water. Some were of lesser importance such as the ability for everyone to eat fish. Then, you would send your message into the future by setting a path and trying to avoid the hazards. However, the entire experience didn’t give the participant any feeling of agency or what they can do to help the problem. The museum was also very sparce and did not utilize the space well, in my opinion.
The most interesting interaction I had in the museum was with a Ukiyo-e Hatsune Miku who introduced you to vocaloid.These robots served no purpose other than looking cool.
Next, we made our way to Team Lab planets. Even though I had been before, the experience was almost just as good the second time around. They also added a garden exhibit since I last came.
The Infinite Crystal UniverseProjected Koi that transformed into flower petals upon contactStrange Egg like shapes in the garden exhibitThese flowers slowly moved up and down
Lastly, we went back and gathered people for Karaoke. The experience of doing it for the first time was really fun and the mics could reverb really well inside the room.
