Akihabaka Rant: Reach for your dreams, live your passion.
Those are the resounding words I will never forget. Even when I'm down, dirt kicked in my face, raining, while getting sucked into a giant whirlpool of fail. I know all I have to do is to never let go. I will never let adversity get me down. I was meant for bigger and better things. They say being an Otaku is a bad thing. Wasting money on plastic women, drawings on paper, and moving pictures on my screen. Danny sure proved them wrong. Look at him now, doing things with are sorts of media conglomerates. He's living the good life.
Not to slight Danny at the least bit; I know he worked hard for what he has now. Harder than anyone else, but he's lucky at the same time. Maybe lucky isn't the right word....blessed and fortunate would be a better one.
Right now I feel down. I won't let it get to me, but I thought I'd share with you all, why I do the things I do. Why I giveaway things earned with my hard earned money.
I have a dream, it may be the same with quite a few of you. Regardless of who tells me what, I want to live and work in Japan. I don't want to be an ALT or English teacher, I wanna do the things that Danny does; operate in the Otaku industry, while catering to the world outside of Japan. Talk is big. Of course people wanna be like Danny, you gotta earn it. I have my answer to that, Akihabaka.
My vision for Akihabaka isn't just a personal blog where I talk about my daily nuances. It's part of a much bigger network of Otaku with the same dreams, passion as I do. I don't want to simply review figures I buy, or giveaway prizes for the rest of my life. I don't want to work for some company, pushing pencils for my food on my table. Sadly, a lot of todays workers are doing just that. I know what I want, and I know I will have to work for it.
You see, to me, Danny represents everything my heart desires. As interesting as his articles are, every time twitter pops one of his new articles, my heart wrenches in a way that pure jealousy takes over. Making his own figma, having his own mascot, anime, culture;japan. Everything I've ever wanted...he already has. And deservedly too. He's worked hard to be where he is now.
A dream, a vision, and fire that burns within. I won't give up. I face hard times, but I won't give up. My visual novel project honestly is on hiatus. I've got a slew of applicants I haven't thoroughly tested yet but I have yet to find the perfect artist. (Eloande has shown glimpses if brilliance though.) So I ask you...We here are all obviously fans of Danny...fans of what he has done. But were you ever part of his legacy? Are you honestly satisfied with your 9 to 5? Don't you think you can be somewhere else, doing something else, that you like?
I think so.
I have yet to achieve any sort of success. Sure I may have a few panels at a few local anime cons coming up this year and the next....but its not enough. Join me, join Akihabaka in becoming the next big force in Otakuism. You see stories of people's success, but don't you ever wish you were part of that? Here is your chance. I am recruiting for a few big things:
First and most important thing: Visual novel project. Some of you may have already applied for some of the positions, but if you know any friends or family that can be of assistance, please let me know.
Second: I need someone proficient at wordpress/PHP script. I want to customize a certain theme to use on my website but I haven't gotten it down yet.
I am honestly depressed right now, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to to belt out a post like this. Join me comrades...I will soldier on, even if I have to do it alone.
Here is a song that always cheers me up whenever I'm down. It reminds me of my passion, the desire, and gives me the will to keep on pushing ahead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmiyTflp7Y
I totally agree with you. I have the same ambitions as you do and many others. I have set a goal to live and work successfully (not as ALT or English teacher, possibly in a business field) in Japan by the time I'm 30. I may not be able to help now, but once I finish my Comp Sci course things might change. :)
i totally know how you feel. sometimes you just can't help feeling envious even of those you admire because they make you feel like what you're doing might never get to the same level as them.
they have what they have, you have what you have. but with perseverance, resourcefulness and maybe some luck, we all might get there (and beyond!). :D
cheers!
What a story T___T
I also want to work on Japan. Yes, in an Otaku industry. I feel unfortunate for not having any talents related to Anime. All I have for now is my GUTS, my hardworking skills.
I want to be like Danny as well, not completely him. But something similar, design my own toy/anime. that is why Im inspired to do my own blog last week, http://mugengattai.wordpress.com/
and earn friends through Otaku culture, since I don have any friends because I prefer 2D
Im a collector of various Anime things so I hope to have a nice job someday in Japan so that I can earn right for my desires.
We have a very similar dream. and I do hope that we can accomplish it.
I really want to help you regarding your Visual novel game. But I dont have any talents. =_=
About your wordpress, I also run my blog on wordpress, although its .com not .org
You can ask for tips about php script on the wordpress forums, thats what I do to make my blog look kinda nice
Don't feel down man. I am only 17 but I have the exact same goal. That's why my blog is named Flawless Passion. I don't feel jealous of Danny, I proud am that he made such achievements and he really set an example of how I want to be. But, I will make my own way, I will be who I am.
I still have alot of work to do, as I want to be in Japan and working by 24. I know I will be there and all I can do now is to do my best, at whatever challenges come.
Cheer up, time to be sad means time to be able to work towards your goal.
Your comrades are always here to help. :)
Teacher for a living. Money from that is channeled to otakkism. I already pledged that I'm otaku for life (trust me, my CG hunting seemed endless).
Life isn't bad at all. We can be a successful person like Danny without being Danny. This is not a self-flattering promotion but people called me the "figure-collecting teacher" and I'm not ashamed of it. i even defended my hobby as my non-liquid asset *laughs*.
Pursue your dreams with all your might but if you can't make it, cherish what we got because people tend to forget that until it's gone.
Fellow fans like you are the new blood in this industry. To me, our "world" is getting stagnant, unlike those days back then where anime world was filled with inspiring stories. I might be wrong or just the old-school fanboy but I really believed the youngsters must carry on this unique popular culture.
Well, I think I digress too much. Maybe this will help you: nothing beats a reflection. It helps you to focus.
That's what this whole post is all about. I don't think I'm better than anyone else. As I recall, I remember distinctivly mention I'm in some lows right now. This is a reflection. An instrument to organize my thoughts.
Regarding the previous comment, I believe there are two trains of thoughts. One where you should cherish what you have now, and another is to never be satisfied. At the time both are right. I've flirted with both sides of the fence. I mean if everyone is happy with what they have, there would never be any breakthroughs or progress in life. At the same time, if people are never satisfied, people will never be happy... I guess we are both right :)
There must be a balance, right? ;3 Be satisfied with what you have is moderation but being satisfied all the time will lead to stagnation. On the other hand, dissatisfaction drives progress but when taken to the extreme, it will enslave us.
Glad to see fellow passionate people :)
Great post. I guess sometimes it takes a little looking inside and revaluation to get through rough times.
Though... I'm a bit saddened by your post, because... I'm an ALT :(. But I certainly want to be more than that. I just thought it would be great to at least get half a foot in Japan first before finding some other job.
I meant nothing wrong with being an ALT. Please don't take offence. If I was offered a job as an ALT I would take it immediately as a stepping stone to Japan. I just don't want to be an english teacher for too long, just for the sake of being in Japan. :P
nyaha^^ still need help on this one nyah? :3
well bettur be late than nevur
you shud ask yourself why you do the stuff you do?
kinda like the creation of the primal light
well, is this deep for you?
let's have an example, me
in a nutshell
i am an amateur illustrator, writer and sculptor
i like my thoughts and viewpoints about everything be heard
i do it by writing
reading full texts is kinda boring for me, and i enjoyed drawing
so i draw to add some visual aid
hmmmm... about the sculpting, i like clay modeling as well as it helps me improve on my drawings specifically on how to draw three dimensional images and perspective on a flat paper nyah :3
i also sculpt figurines as gifts since i'm bad at determining the right gift for someone. at least something homemade is sincere. though i never sculpt on a whim.
i also like commenting on any post i see applicable, since i like helping people with how i see things around. as well as a good way to answer the question on why i do the things i do.
following danny's footsteps is a tool to guide you on your goal
you shud find your own answer and never forget it
since we sometimes get lost in the middle of everything
if you ever get lost
try answering the questions "how great and wonderful are your days? how bright and true are your ways?"
if you ask me, i'd rather be an english teacher anyday than doing the job i do right now. teaching is good :3