Love (for Anime) in the time of Covid: Sakura Con 2022
Wow, what a life we’ve led till now. Lifted Geek has been on a hiatus since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic and since then we’ve shifted quite a bit, for example, I myself have gotten pretty involved with the Twitch streaming community, building my community around Monster Hunter. Since then though, I never forgot this first little project I started with my best friend… so with this year being the first con I have attended since 2019, we had to hit our hometown Sakura Con.
Immediately we knew it was more of the same but still different. Sakura Con has always been a fun, party con for my friends and I and this year was no exception, while I didn’t stay in a hotel this time due to financial reasons, we still wanted to check it out and cover the convention.
The biggest change was the inclusion of masking protocols. I’m all for masking up, and before you try to say that “masks don’t work” or “it’s a conspiracy because Biden",” please realize that i will not share your sentiment. I was glad they enforced that masking and that their volunteers enacted a hardline stance on it. I’m immunocompromised and I wanted to enjoy the convention as safely as possible. For the most part I did feel very safe.
The vendor halls, the look and feel of that old convention center, the talk escalators leading up to the open area by the courtyard. it was almost like Covid never happened, it felt for a moment like the before times… just everyone was masked. We got to see so many friends and faces that we have not seen in person since before the lockdowns. I did keep in touch with many of them online, hence why I started streaming. But it’s different when you can actually see them, look them in the eye, and give that awkward “air-high-five” from Demolition Man.
I admit that I didn’t get around to nearly as many panels as I wanted, but this was our first year back in what has felt like the longest year ever. Elated by possibilities. Saturday is always the biggest day of the con and we made sure to take advantage of it. Buying our fill of merch, checking out the always entertaining Artists Alley, and seeing all our friends.
My one complaint is generally the same as previous years, the inclusion of the Artist Alley in the TCC made for a logistical nightmare. Pathways were cramp, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with my fellow convention attendees, and with the still looming threat of Covid… I was anxious to spend much time there… a shame because generally one of my favorite parts of going to a convention is checking out the Artist Alley.
Though I do have to commend the staff for being as steadfast with the masking policies. We really needed that. Overall, I had fun and I look forward to next year… maybe we’ll get to see the new convention center that’s been under construction… for like forever.
