Today it's the 21st of October which means... the 10 day countdown to Halloween can officially begin! As a kid it was my absolute favorite holiday and I'd spend months and months planning my costume. I tended to avoid the cliches of ghosts and vampires and tried to be as creative as possible, going as things like the Mona Lisa and a deep-sea zombie (with little rubber sharks attached to my costume). I still dress up every year.

Halloween in Japan is a funny holiday. Only recently have they picked up on it, and decorations are EVERYWHERE when it comes to commercial places. Used car dealerships have cut out pumpkins, clothing stores have ghoulish display or bring out the orange and black. Patisseries (of which there are MANY) go crazy with Halloween-themed cakes and cookies. Don't even get me started on the eleborate displays of department stores. Even the snack-food companies go a little nuts, releasing limited-time Halloween pocky and Disney stuff.

But after all this visual buildup, when it comes to actual Halloween night... nothing happens. No one has decorations on their house. No one goes door to door for candy. No one carves pumpkins, because the pumpkins here are only cooking pumpkins-- tiny and green. It's so funny, it's like building anticipation only to have it suddenly fizzle out. I think in the coming years it could be a very popular holiday that they actually celebrate properly, but for now they're working out the kinks.

Anyway apart from that life in Japan is still pretty sweet. I'm still updating my blog for anyone who wants the, just ask below. Sorry for the lack of updates. The person before me left me with quite literally zero furniture besides a bed and a nightstand, and so I haven't had a nice desk or surface I can use to sit and draw. Good news is though that that is being delivered very soon so I can finally crack down and get back to the art side of things. And maybe finally put that comic of mine in motion.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!