Event Introducing Tomo Sakurai Location Quincy Country Club Date 2024.05.25 (Saturday) Time 14:00 - 15:00 15:30 - 16:30 Seiyuu Sakurai Tomo (桜井智)

• Event report by Gary L. Blickhan, 2024.08.19

This event was a ticketed public event produced by the Tomo Sakurai Museum. There were over 50 attendees in total. Admission was provided in order of the ticket purchase.

The master of ceremonies was Gary L. Blickhan, Curator of the Tomo Sakurai Museum of Quincy, Illinois. Japanese-English language interpretation was provided by Logan Freiburg of the Tomo Sakurai Museum.

For each session, there was an extensive slideshow of Sakurai-san's recent social media images and background music from her animation theme songs.

For the first session,after a brief introduction and applause, Sakurai-san gave her greeting in English, and she also discussed in Japanese her experiences in visiting Quincy, such as shopping, dining, activities, etc.

There was an impromptu jan-ken-pon tournament. The prizes for four rounds were FEATHERED 2024 TYPE-A and TYPE-B Calendars. Attendees quickly learned that Sakurai-san prefers choki (scissors).

There was a handshake and autograph line. The bonus was one of three 8-inch by 11-inch photo cards. The types were Sakurai-san in a maid costume, a sailor uniform with cherry blossoms, and a white angel with wings in the snow. Fans were also permitted to bring their own official item (such as a Pokemon card) for the autograph.

One unexpected participant was a grandmother of Japanese descent who spoke to Sakurai-san in Japanese.

The second session followed the same format, but there was time for a question and answer session. Each fan was permitted to ask one question. Questions included:

1) Q: What do you like about your visit to the United States?
A: The spacious scenery and peoples' kindness.

2) Q:What is your favorite current anime series?
A: Everyone knows Pokemon, right? I also love Pokemon a lot.

3) Q: What is your favorite Pokemon?
A: Because I am Shriona (Cynthia), of course, Gabrius (Garchomp)! However, she thinks that the Water-type Piplup (Pochama) is very cute.

4) Q: What about your future music?
A: I have not thought about it much recently, but I am studying English these days, so perhaps songs in English, but it will be so difficult.

5) Q: How do you battle nervousness?
A: If you speak in a loud voice, nervousness goes away.

Finally, Sakurai-san was asked to voice her characters. First, Pokemon's Shirona, then Macross7's Mylene and Rurouni Kenshin's Misao. Finally, the MC asked Sakurai-san to voice Lemon Angel's Tomo. She jokingly protested that no one else would know who Tomo was. Sakurai-san voiced Tomo-chan with a youthful smile, then laughingly apologized to all the fans.

Official goods sales included FEATHERED's 2024 calendar TYPE-A, TYPE-B and TYPE-C, as well as the FEATHERED clear file set. Official goods sales were handled by Tiffany Roach of the Tomo Sakurai Museum.

Sakurai-san also shook hands with all attendees on their way to the exit.

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