Zoom Meetup: Tokyo Offline Meetup

A few regulars of the Zoom meetup - namely @MagicalRozen, @ragnamuffin, @XOHimitsuOX and I - managed to get together in Tokyo around the end of June / beginning of July.

Although the unreliable weather conditions threw a wrench into some of our initial plans, we still managed to get plenty of (more or less doll related) activities done.

This included (among other things)

• a trip to Tokyo Disney Sea (with dolls!!!),
• a visit to all the doll shops in Akihabara (including a stop at the Doll Point photo booths and someone getting a new Dream Choice 😆 )
• a visit to the Yokohama Doll Museum
• a faceup Lesson at the Parabox main office

Overall, lots of photos were taken, plenty a penny was spent and most of us ended up with one or more new crew members.

This thread is for all the participants to share their photos, experiences and new acquisitions from the offline meetup and for all the forum members to enjoy together with us.

 

Here are the pictures I took at Disney Sea. @MagicalRozen brought her Tamaki and her Delilah (Sasara)

while I brought my Kanata.

 

Overall, both us and the dolls had lots of fun checking out the scenery and the rides:

 

All in all a very enjoyable day - although a few of us regularly encountered a small problem...

Edited July 12, 2023 by Tierparkzone

And here are some pictures from the photo booth at Akihabara doll point:

This time I had Erina in tow

and @MagicalRozen again brought Tamaki and Delilah.

 

A cozy library like this is is perfect for some light reading.

Maybe a bit too cozy...

 

And somebody found the booze cabinet...

 

But wait...

Who might this be??? 🙃

Edited July 11, 2023 by Tierparkzone

Oh man, oh man was this trip a blast! I am so glad we were all able to meet up in person and really enjoy this trip full of bucket list stops and dolly fun. I am so thankful for all you guys for making time out of your busy schedules to meet up and hang out! I sincerely hope we can eventually do this again, as this is definitely a trip I will always remember.

Now enough mushy stuff and on to the trip photos.

The first full day and day two were thoroughly covered by @Tierparkzone, though I do have a few photos I snapped unprofessionally of our dolls at Volks and at Disney Sea. I also got to show off Tamaki and Delilah to the Volks staff and thanks to some amazing translating by @ragnamuffin I got to explain how happy I was to be able to own such important dolls in Volks history.

@XOHimitsuOX snapped this picture of Tamaki and Manager-san.

Day Three was a no dolly day for the most part, though we did make a quick stop at Volks Yokohama, which was lovely and the staff were super friendly, showing off a staff made makeup DD they had on display. Really cute and fun, but I didn't snag any pictures since I wasn't feeling great and headed back early. The others went to a really cool doll museum.

Day Four was amazing, as we headed to Parabox to do a faceup lesson! I had so much fun and I think everyone's heads turned out really well! I went crazy with my faceup because why not, you know? It was so fun to work with paints for the first time and I can't wait to put this cute little fox girl on an Angel Philia body at some point in the future! 

Also this is the day I picked up on of my surprise girls! I saw a listing at DollyTeria for an Aoko on the third day of the trip, a doll I was planning on adopting from @Bellatrix here on the forums earlier this year, but had to give up on due to life circumstances. Well the stars aligned this trip thanks to some amazing people on the forum and on Instagram, and I was able to bring Aoko home! Her name is Ann, I've swapped her to a S-Bust and have plans on making her into my mini-me. Hence why she's holding hands with Candace in most of the photos.

Day Five was my final day, and certainly a home run ending to the trip!

I started out the day with @XOHimitsuOX going to fabric town and picking up some really lovely fabric for him to work his magic on. Seriously he is a sewing wizard! While on the train to Nakano Broadway I was scrolling through DollyTeria again, hoping that my ultimate goal for the trip, Beatrice, would magically pop up when something amazing happened. The site updated and the first listing on there was a Dollfie Dream Miku First Edition, for an insanely good price and unused, thank you plummeting yen rate! I immediately told @XOHimitsuOX "we've got to go, I'll regret it so much if I don't get her", so we immediately turned around to Ikebukuro and straight to DollyTeria. I was practically vibrating. When we arrived, the case was empty and I was so crestfallen thinking she had already been nabbed by someone else, but no she was on the counter having had no time to be put on display for sale when I arrived. I told the lovely lady at the counter I wanted her and she was so stunned that she didn't have time to put her out on the floor before someone rushed to buy her. Also they were so surprised to see me in the same store buying two dolls on back to back days. Huge thanks to my amazing husband for Miku. It honestly was a funny and exciting experience.

Thank you @XOHimitsuOX for putting up with the adventure too, I appreciate you so much.

Her behind the counter not even having time to be displayed.

And that's all from me. Again an amazing trip and so, so grateful and happy I got to do all this with some of my dear friends!

Edited July 10, 2023 by MagicalRozen
Adding Photos Post Not Done Yet

1 hour ago, MagicalRozen said:

The faceup lesson was very fun indeed. I wonder if the forum people can figure out who painted which head?

How fun!  It looks like you all had an amazing time!  Thanks for sharing!

Wow that sounds amazing! I am so happy for you all that you were able to make such amazing memories together! Dolly friends are the best 🥰

My faceup is the one on the left - did you all guess correctly?

While it's certainly not super clean, I'm pretty happy with how my first ever doll faceup turned out. Definitely worth keeping her!

So I tried some wigs and eyes that I had laying around to find something that works for her:

Already not bad! But she needed a body - I'd have felt sad if she had to sit around as a floating head.

I've been interested in the Dollbot Body for a while now (got to handle one at a Doll Convention last year, too) so I decided to grab one. Thankfully, Dollbot was very quick with shipping.

Once her body arrived, I tried a few more wigs - and this one just clicked:

So, yeah! - I ended up with a new doll, too.

Welcome to the crew, Tiffany-chan!

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by Tierparkzone

So... I ended up getting 2 new girls. I got another Angel Philia Misaki, just cos I like the head sculpt and now I have Misaki twins.

And the second girl that i got was a Dream Choice. I was on and off about getting a Dream Choice as I was originally thinking about getting a MDD. However with the recent announcement of the ver 2 body I decided to put a hold on getting a MDD and maybe getting one at a later date.

Thanks to @MagicalRozen, @ragnamuffin & @Tierparkzone for helping and being there along the trip.

I went for a tan DDS body and DC-H-24, makeup 2. Blue eyes, a dark wig and number 4 and 5 ears.

I also sewn in a white wig cap just as a precaution from staining

And lastly I got Elle a new outfit

Edited July 11, 2023 by XOHimitsuOX

On 7/9/2023 at 9:18 PM, Tierparkzone said:

This picture OMG

 

..

 

100% positive this will go down in history as the best doll meet/hangout ever. You guys are absolute rockstars! 

Edited July 11, 2023 by puxlavoix

Wow, amazing photos and maybe next year I'll be able to return to Japan in person and with a special little person. I only wish I had somebody the staff would really fawn over. Also did your dolls get any hassle for reading those books, which are clearly for display purposes only!!!

Well done on the Miku too... I feel so stupid because last weekend Mandarake had Yor's cozy outfit on for a crazily good price but it sold out in an hour 😭. I'm also wondering if you guys went to Mandarake in Shibuya because when I placed my order at the weekend they had practically no DD wares left in stock!!!

That Dream Choice is probably definitely 100% the one I would have gone for. Omg I so want somebody with those droopy elf ears 🥰.

Also a big warm welcome to Elle for joining the fizzy soda club...

32 minutes ago, Xiongmao said:

Also did your dolls get any hassle for reading those books, which are clearly for display purposes only!!!

I specifically opened it to that page for you! Have a closer look 😁

Edited July 11, 2023 by ragnamuffin

10 hours ago, Tierparkzone said:

My faceup is the one on the left - did you all guess correctly?

While it's certainly not super clean, I'm pretty happy with how my first ever doll faceup turned out. Definitely worth keeping her!

So I tried some wigs and eyes that I had laying around to find something that works for her:

Already not bad! But she needed a body - I'd have felt sad if she had to sit around as a floating head.

I've been interested in the Dollbot Body for a while now (got to handle one at a Doll Convention last year, too) so I decided to grab one. Thankfully, Dollbot was very quick with shipping.

Once her body arrived, I tried a few more wigs - and this one just clicked:

So, yeah! - I ended up with a new doll, too.

Welcome to the crew, Tiffany-chan!

 

She's sooo sweet!!  i wanna die ahhggg...

Edited July 11, 2023 by puxlavoix

8 hours ago, Xiongmao said:

Also did your dolls get any hassle for reading those books, which are clearly for display purposes only!!!

This might be useful information for anyone planning to visit the DollPoint photo booths: You're free to use the provided props at your booth for the photo session, but you're not allowed to bring in any of your own props (apart from stands and stuff the doll is wearing). - Presumably to avoid any misunderstandings when packing back up.

 

8 hours ago, Xiongmao said:

I think your two little idols got confused on who's the one with the forehead here. 😁

 

8 hours ago, Xiongmao said:

I'm also wondering if you guys went to Mandarake in Shibuya because when I placed my order at the weekend they had practically no DD wares left in stock!!!

In fact, we did! And we saw MDD Reimu (at several Mandarake / DollyTeria locations).

We also saw this lovely lady at Azone and thought you might be interested:
(enable-mode on)

Edited July 12, 2023 by Tierparkzone

Kaguya looks awesome although I do already have her in Pureneemo size.

MDD Reimu is no longer in Shibuya 😁.

I am hoping and praying that Volks release Takina and Chisato from Lycoris Recoil next. They'd be amazingly suitable as a pair of DD. They both have distinctive uniforms, and they could have fun with the things that happen from the pantsu episode. It's the anime that has possibly launched more memes than any other show.

What I really need is a DD sized JAL or ANA uniform as that would almost certainly get me (or Towa) upgraded on the plane 😂.

My Yayoi is going to adjust her wig...

Belated celebratory post! 🥳

 

Technically I knew about this through Instagram, but I wanted to wait until it was posted about on the forum. And of course we discussed it on video chat. Biggest congratulations to everyone again on a successful, fun meetup, and for your new girls!

 

@Tierparkzone  I don't blame you for picking Kanata as the favorite. She's smart, she's stylish. She looks sharp in anything you put her in, even the sillier stuff. How many dolls can pull off houndstooth patterns?  Thank you for not only organizing this, but providing us with rad pictures too. It looks like it was a blast, even now, and your girls seem so at home, anywhere they are. I love Erina in the library- she can slouch attractively anywhere. And of course she was the first to find the liquor cabinet too. Welcome to Miss Tiffany, whose personality I can't wait to see emerge as she will make the third (?) younger character in your collective, and their own, side ventures from the older girls are a fun subplot. I like her style already. Plus, I've not seen a Parabox / Dollbot hybrid until now. Those elf ears suit her.

 

@MagicalRozen I am so, so glad to find out that the reason for your doll sales was this trip and not medically-related, and that they paid off. Had I the funds for a full sale, I would have happily adopted one of your girls. Congratulations on not one but two very special new additions! That Miku was clearly meant for you. Look at how happy she is to be free. You can feel the joy radiating from her. And Aoko is, well, a dream. Her serious face is a nice contrast with the bubblier girls. She'll make a good mini-you with her contemplative expression and thoughtful energy. Your girls' outfits are too cute. The strawberry shirt gets me every time. And there are some excellent group poses here.

 

@XOHimitsuOX  Twins! They're gorgeous. You've taken some beautiful pictures of your Misaki that you've shared on the forums. In fact, the shoot of her in your kimono with the lantern behind her is one of my favorite sets you've done. Definitely worth having two of her. She's got a stunning default faceup, and the underlying sculpt is so nice. I hope she brings lots of inspiration and joy together with her sister.

 

I'm going to do it. I'm going to fuss over Elle's new big sister again. She turned out so well! The makeup you chose creates a clear personality, and that dark wig is an ideal match. It is probably a good thing that you got Elle a new outfit to soothe her jealousy. She is the perfect model for it too. The blues look good against her skintone, and the fit is ideal.  I love the contrasting personalities of these girls. And this:

On 7/11/2023 at 7:21 AM, XOHimitsuOX said:

 

This sums them up just right.

 

@ragnamuffin

On 7/11/2023 at 11:42 AM, ragnamuffin said:

I specifically opened it to that page for you! Have a closer look 😁

I also appreciate your taste in literature. 😉

On 7/21/2023 at 4:17 PM, PolitelyNefarious said:

@MagicalRozen I am so, so glad to find out that the reason for your doll sales was this trip and not medically-related, and that they paid off. Had I the funds for a full sale, I would have happily adopted one of your girls. Congratulations on not one but two very special new additions! That Miku was clearly meant for you. Look at how happy she is to be free. You can feel the joy radiating from her. And Aoko is, well, a dream. Her serious face is a nice contrast with the bubblier girls. She'll make a good mini-you with her contemplative expression and thoughtful energy. Your girls' outfits are too cute. The strawberry shirt gets me every time. And there are some excellent group poses here.

Thank you so much @PolitelyNefarious!

Luckily I have really wonderful health insurance so my frequent trips to the hospital as of late have all been covered in full. I am incredibly thankful for that everyday, especially considering my chronic condition. Sorry if I scared you or others into thinking the sale of my girls could have been medically related. It was mainly to fund this trip without feeling guilty, to add a new addition, and to finish paying off Sasara as I had like $100 left on her at the time I was selling. The trip was definitely well needed and really seemed to help lift my spirits after a taxing year both physically and mentally; though I may have overdone it a bit health wise haha.

Awe thank you for saying that, I really appreciate it! I think Miku looks so much happier too, and you put it so eloquently! She looks free and relived that she has found her forever home with me. I rotate my collection often, it is my very bad doll habit, but she is definitely staying with me. I too, felt like it was really meant to be and felt an instant connection as soon as I saw her there in her box.

Aoko really was a dream come true. Especially after earlier this year and having to cancel my layaway for her with a dear friend of mine. I don't know if I have shared this anywhere outside some of the zoom meetings but Aoko was going to be my first Dollfie, 10 years ago. I had the money at the time of her release on Volks USA, but my parents were very adamant that I was not allowed to spend $700 on a doll. Especially considering they thought it was a phase at the time. Jokes on them, 10 years later and more money than I care to admit, and I'm still just as obsessed and invested as I was back then. So she really symbolizes, much like Khepra, how I've come full circle in the hobby. Getting dolls I used to dream about, everyday, for years, in my collection and how much I've grown as a collector. She has so much special meaning to her, and I am so deeply connected to her as well. It's why she's my mini-me, why I gave her such an important name to her (named after my late grandmother), and why she is as you put it "a dream". I am very happy she is home.

Thank you so much for the compliment on my girls' outfits! It's the one thing I get super self conscious about, so I'm always so happy when people think they're cute!

Thank you again so much for the lovely words, definitely made my week, and I appreciate you so much!

On 7/21/2023 at 4:17 PM, PolitelyNefarious said:

How many dolls can pull off houndstooth patterns?

The reply is a tad bit late, but i guess better late than never, eh?

Edited August 14, 2023 by Tierparkzone