Off to "Mori, Michi, Ichiba 2024"
Good morning.
This is Utari.
Gamagori City is located right next to Toyohashi City, where I live.
An event called "Mori, Michi, Ichiba" will be held in this city from Friday, May 24th to Sunday, May 26th.
The venue is the Lagunasia amusement park, which is rented out for a large-scale event featuring music, performances, and merchandise sales.
Last year, I participated solo!!
The reason was...
It happened one day when I stopped by a coffee shop in Gamagori called hiraya.
This coffee shop is a stylish renovation of an old building, and the atmosphere is wonderful; I was enjoying reading a book there in a great mood.
When paying, I gathered my courage and asked the owner something that had been bothering me (while half-thinking there was no way it could be true).
Me: "By any chance, was that written by Chalk Boy?"
Owner: "That's right. He used to stop by often."
I was surprised.
After all, the book I was holding in my hands right then was written by Chalk Boy!!
I showed the book to the owner excitedly and said,
Me: "I love Chalk Boy's work!!"
Owner: "Chalk Boy comes to the Mori, Michi, Ichiba event every year."
"Whaaaaaaat!!!
Are you serious????"
And so, that is how I ended up participating in Mori, Michi, Ichiba for the first time that year.
Last year,
I was able to meet Chalk Boy!!
I was genuinely nervous and shaking as I said, "I'm a fan! Could I get your autograph?"
At first, I was too shy and hesitant, but I thought, 'If I don't speak up now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!', so I took the plunge and asked.
I wonder how Chalk Boy felt being told that by an older man, let alone a young woman...
Even so, Chalk Boy kindly agreed.
He even took a picture with me.
And what's more, I even got autographs from the members of WHW, the hand-lettering art collective led by Chalk Boy!!
Thank you, CHIDORIPEN, MISAKI, and ANNA!!
I was in a dream-like state!
The autographs are a lifelong treasure!!!
So, with that said
I'm going again this year.
I'm not sure how much of my excitement from last year came across, but this time YOME is joining too.
MUSUME is also going on a different day lol
I'm really looking forward to seeing Chalk Boy, CHIDORIPEN, MISAKI, and ANNA again.
I'm sure many of you have no idea what I'm talking about.
I'll write an article about Chalk Boy at a later date.
P.S.
I wouldn't have had this experience if I hadn't gathered the courage to ask the cafe master.
I'm glad I gathered the courage to speak to Chalk Boy.
Courage is important, thought the slightly shy me.