| Japan 2004: Chapter 3 - Day 3: Dolpa 12: Part 1 |
On the day of Doll's Party 12, we got up dark and early.
First stirring at 4.40am, we looked out at the window and went : "Wow. It sure is raining hard."
That turned out to be the understatement of the year.
To participate in the doll lottery, we had to reach Tokyo Big Sight by 7.30am. We were in
Ikebukurou, and Big Sight was on the other side of the state, but all guides promised no more
than a 25 minute journey. Leaving at 5.30am, that would give us almost two hours for
a 25 minute journey. Piece of cake. That turned out to be the misassumption of the year.
Because, when we got downstairs, we found out that the 'heavy rain' was a typhoon. So sue us.
We're sheltered Singaporean city slickers. Nevertheless, we tried to brave the storm by
taking the underground mall route. Or so our dad insisted. When we reached the door, it was -
as predicted - locked. What kind of selfrespecting mall opens at 5.30am, anyway?
So we rushed back to the hotel and waited for a cab. After a long wait, the taxi crawled through
the wind and rain [the former of which picked up mall banner stands and hurled them across
the driveways] to eventually deposit us at a side-entrance to Ikebukurou station.
So we finally reached the Saikyou platform just shy of 6.30am. Our time allowance had been
slashed by half. But with an hour to go, a 25 minute journey should still be accomplishable.
Right. Murphy-san says : when you think things can't get any worse, the Saikyou line turns
back at Shinjuku due to typhoon and you end up at Ikebukuro again before you know it.
I'll spare you the gory details. We finally arrived at Tokyo Big Sight. At 7.35am. -_-;;;
By then, the lottery winners had already been picked. Due to company privacy, we cannot
reveal what happened after. But at about 7.45am, disheartened and desperate for Touya with
but the slimmest of hopes, we joined the relatively early Sumika queue for a very long wait till 10,
with Shigeta Shino-san's well-wishes.
But of course, there's no use crying over spilt milk [and typhoon-confounded train lines].
After all we were at Dolpa12!
And so we got down to work.
...While the boys got down to being really bored for the next two hours. ^^;;
Seishurou : Alright, men. This is going to be a major operation.
Seishurou : In an event conducted on such a scale, we'll have to act quickly, move steathily,
and strike decisively if we are to reap any gains.
Seishurou : Furthermore, in a venue of such size, it is inevitable that our troops will eventually
get seperated by enemy forces.
Seishurou : Fortunately, I've long anticipated such an eventuality...
Seishurou : ...and have prepared the appropriate communicative devices. Look sharp, men!
Tsukisou : ...
Tsukisou : ...What a...charming shade of majenta, sir.
Seishurou : Thank you. I knew you would appreciate it. I chose it specially to go with your sweater.
Tsukisou : ...But of course.
Seishurou : Indeed.
Seishurou : Here's yours, squirt. I changed the wallpaper just for you.
Yanagi : ...Fuzzy kittens. Where has this been all my life.
Seishurou : And, kid - here, catch.
Sanada : Huh - WAUGHGHAUGH!!! Ah - *phew*
Seishurou : The contact list has been prepopulated - you'll find everything you need. And now, men -
Seishurou : - for Glory, God, and ME.
Seishurou : ...
Seishurou : ...Well. When the gates open, anyway. -_-;;
Eventually, the gates did open. By then, the Sumika line had swelled to almost fill the hall
[and we ran into Jacky and Candy XD]. Even though we were in the early lines, it was still
a slow stroll to enter Sumika proper.
Fortunately though, there were plenty of displays to sweeten the wait with. Here, as we saw
Sweet Dreams Mika for the first time in the
and the variation in yellow on her open-eyed sister was to die for.
...Almost as much to die for as the curvilicious bodies of these lovely ladies,
with a new internal frame for optimum posing that was simply divine.
...Though it would be hard to get any more divine than this coveted Tokyo Shounen
no Monogatari lineup. While the newly released Jun and Isao v2 ruled the roost in this display,
it was oh so tempting to reach out, grab Tsukasa and Shirou, and make a break for it. XD
...But if we'd done that, we wouldn't have enough hands for Kouya - and TOUYA, OH TOUYA,
who almost broke our pining hearts, so demurely inviting on the platform like that. T__T
Despite our lingering footfalls, eventually we all had to move on, and tried to drown
our sorrows in the multiple displays of sweet and sexy Dollfie Dream ladies in beautiful
Volks-released outfits.
...And even that was very nearly forgotten as we moved along to get our first look at
the SDCute boy prototype Arashi, and all three faces of sweet Kaede. Sadly, though their boxes
graced the same table, Pureskin rereleases Sakura, Maggie, and Myu were nowhere to be seen. By this table, Sumika loomed near, and we finally entered to make our purchases
[only to find that - *shock* all the SD13 boy jeans had already been sold out. O_O].
After a few minor purchases at Sumika, we were finally free to browse the hall.
One of our early visits was to the Volks One-off Balloting stands.
At every Dolpa, there are usually one or two One-offs that will capture your heart and tempt
you to drop hopleless little slips of paper into balloting boxes. This Dolpa, it was the
matching Madoka and Sweet Dream Lucas pair in matching kimono that got us, particularly
the sweet Lucas Sweet in the impeccable hime wig. We did not, however, drop a ballot into
the box, still clinging on to the faint hope of a Touya.
The other One-offs, too, had charm and appeal [and really snazzy outfits]...
And our other favourite was this lovely little Sweet Dreams Nana [sleep-face fetish? Us? Noooo....].
Really, the incredible outfits - particularly those traditional - of the One-offs thoroughly
The auction models for this Dolpa were a pair of F-09 witch twins - this the girl...
...and this the boy - both dressed in elaborate velvet ensembles.
But perhaps the most elaborate ensemble of all might well be a title that belongs to an
SD-customisation contest entry - the French-court showboat in pink that stunned the crowd,
alongside many other attractive entries.
Some of the 1/6th entries steathily stole the show, an incredible display of artistry on a minute scale.
...But of course, the real showstealers truly belonged to the three hundred-over dealer booths
that graced the event, and beginning with this sweet modified Syou here, we'll bring you on
a tour of the various stalls...
Stay tuned for the fourth part of our very exciting Japan adventure, where we finally show you
the meat, blood, sweat, and tears of Dolpa!
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