[Sad News] Announcement of My Absence from Game Market 2025 Spring

I, chitoseArk (Hiroyuki Kubota), have decided that I will not be able to attend this year's Game Market 2025 Spring, and I am writing this to formally announce it. Waaah!!

What is Game Market?

It is a festival and exhibition/sale event for analog games held twice a year, in spring and autumn. Since various manufacturers and game designers release their new titles to coincide with this event, it is a must-watch for analog game fans.

I, the author chitoseArk, have been attending almost every time since I can't remember when, and I have been posting report articles on note since the Game Market 2020 Autumn event.

It is not just a place to check out new games. This festival is also a place where game designers and fellow gamers I've met through board games gather from all over the country, so it's a place to greet each other and deepen our friendships. It is also a place for new encounters related to games. In fact, I met most of my current board game friends here.

Why can't you go?

Well, in a word, it's due to poor physical condition.

It happened on May 14th, just a few days before Game Market.

That day, my alarm clock app didn't go off for some reason, the train was delayed due to a person being hit on the tracks, and I was also scheduled to give a short presentation at my company's morning assembly, so I was in a bit of a rush.

So, I couldn't afford to get caught at a red light, and that's when I dashed across the crosswalk at full speed (Note: I didn't start running after it started flashing, just to be clear).

Snap!!

I did it. My lower back? And my back?
...Well, it's not like it suddenly got bad all of a sudden.

By the time I arrived at the company, it was just a slight discomfort, like 'Huh, that's strange, did I twist something?', but as time went on, the pain intensified, and by that evening, it had worsened to the point where it was difficult to stand or walk.

The next day, I took a half-day off from work and went to an orthopedic clinic to get it checked out...

The diagnosis was that I might have injured my 'erector spinae muscles'. I had two X-rays taken, but it seems there were no abnormalities in the bones.

So, for the time being, I was told to monitor the situation using medication (painkillers, stomach medicine, muscle relaxants?, and plenty of compresses).

Still, there were a few days left until Game Market. I was planning to go on Sunday, so I thought there might still be a chance if I recovered by then...!! I took the medicine and tried my best to recover, but this morning, Sunday, May 18th, I still feel excruciating pain even when turning over in bed, and standing up is a struggle... under these circumstances, I can hardly say I've recovered, so I've tearfully decided to be absent this time.

Well, it can't be helped. Actually, once the painkillers kick in, walking is fine, but even so, the physical burden of traveling to and from Makuhari Messe and walking around in that crowd is too much. Above all, I cannot let my hobby activities interfere with my company's work.

Still!!
I can't believe that just dashing across a crosswalk for a second would do this to me!!
What am I? Have I become a body that can't even participate in a footrace at sports day!?
I still think of myself as a hip, active young person!!
(Talking about age is a forbidden topic!!)

I will get my revenge at Game Market 2025 Autumn!

So, I've decided to stay home today and write a note instead.
I'll play board games happily with my family.

Needless to say, I will definitely get my revenge next autumn in perfect health!!
I'll write a report on note too!!

That's all from inside the walls.
For those I can meet at game gatherings or events, let's meet again sometime!!

(End)