This weekend everyone was was studying in preparation of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). So one of my friends had the amazing/awful idea to schedule his "Fuku-ing Fabulous Drag Ball" the day before the test. I was super excited to go and do this, but I did have to take a break in my studies to attend the event. While I was in Fukushima City that weekend, our "I heart/akabeko Fukushima tshirts that we ordered came in. I love it so much! Cormac ordered a green shirt and mine was purple. And Cormac made his "Tip Jar" for the Drag Show.
A lot of people made it and I think were both frustrated and relieved at the same time for the timing of this event. We were all happy to take a break in our studies and attend an amazing Drag event, but we were all a little frustrated because again, we had to take a break in our studies. And because of our relation to the person hosting the drag ball, there was an added sense of obligation to attend. It was his baby and his dream for at least six months previous to do a drag ball, and we all wanted to support him.
The purpose of the Drag Ball was to raise money for a Japanese charity called ReBit, an LGBT+ youth help group in Japan.
Cormac and I arrived a few hours early so we could help set up, get ourselves ready and help others get ready. But we mostly were messing around.
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| Trying to make myself look taller, I looked even girlier! |
Here, you may now see my own original character: Juan Adik! My Spicy-Latino-Dancer-Man! All he needs to do is dance in your general direction and you become pregnant!
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| Juan Adik |
Cormac went as his own creation "Penny Tration"!
Some of the acts and events. I was able to take video of a few of the acts. The best act of the night was by my friend Olga. I took video of it, but I had some trouble while uploading it to my Google Drive and in the process I lost it. She sang a song in Russian about how she was praying to God about wanting to be a fabulous Drag Queen and Diva! The music style was aria/religious sounding and solemn and beautiful. Olga has a wonderful voice. Then the music changes and she did a dance and song number with Felipe, Whose drag persona is "Shelita Booty!"
Shelita Booty: Singing a compilation of Lady Gaga
Madeline as "Ms. Mayhem: Singing "Violent Pornography" by System of a Down
Penny Tration: Singing "I'm Mad About the Boy" by Dinah Washington
Liang: Singing "Attention" by Charlie Puth
Iris also did a song performance as "Irish Whisky", but I didn't capture that one. However, it was really nice.
In the background of many of the photos, one of our friends dressed up as a Japanese celebrity Bruzon Chiemi. He asked that I don't use his real name, but you can see him in his outfit in the background of many photos. He's mostly in the background because he helped out by being the media organizer and DJ.
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| Bruzon Chiemi |
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| There he is in the back. |
In addition to the performances, there were other entertainments. There were a few contests and games. One was a contest to attach the most trash to a person. It was me vs Cormac, and I won by 2 items (one of the items that were taped to us was a person!)
Olga also gave a lovely presentation on the "Herstory" of Drag and LGBTQ+ struggles. It was very informative.
Along with some closeup of her costume.
Group photo of all the participants, the award winners, and those who attended.
When the night ended we helped clean up and put the space back into the condition we originally found it. We also counted up all the money the event made over ¥50,000 (~$500) for the ReBit!
7/2/17
The next day was the day for our JLPT testing in Koriyama. I was going to the same place, the same testing room even, as my friend Gabe. So I picked him up that morning and we drove together to Koriyama. We were taking the N3 test. Cormac took the N5, but he didn't go with us because the N5 test was being held in Fukushima City. Lucky duck!
We arrived, registered with the front desk and went upstairs to a large classroom with 100 + people in it, and there were multiple rooms. I was surprised to see that most of the people who were taking the test were of Southeast Asian descent. There were hundreds of them taking the test. I would never have guessed that in a million years. But it was pretty cool.
I didn't do very well. As I was taking the test I realized that I had been studying the wrong kanji. lol. I certainly dropped the ball. I hadn't expected to pass this test the first time, but I was surprised at just how unprepared I was. But that's ok. That is the reason I took it this year, to fully understand what was on this test and be better prepared for it next time.
Even going into this test not expecting to pass, I still left the testing center frustrated. I think Gabe was pretty frustrated too. We walked to a bookstore nearby to meet up with some other people who were spending the day in Koriyama.
We met up with them for about an hour, but I wanted to go back to Fukushima City and unwind. I was still frustrated and I just wanted to go relax and watch a movie with Cormac. So I gathered Gabe and we drove back to Fukushima City.
That night when I met back up with Cormac, we downloaded "It Follows", a horror movie. I was so impressed with this movie. It is a slow, but still terrifying horror. I totally recommend it! I crashed that night and I woke up extra early the next morning and drove back to Minamisoma and made it juuuust in time for work the next day.
