Hey Guys, I just want to write this down why it's fresh in my mind so that I can look back on it in detail one day in the future!

At the October London expo me and Mute went to get our DVD's signed by the original Manga-Ka of 'Afro-Samurai', Takashi Okazaki.
Afro Samurai is a gorey and gritty seinen anime which has brought in alot of new fans. Each episode has a higher budget than any existing single episode ever produced by GONZO.

When I met him initially i felt it'd be nice just to say some of the few Japanese words I knew just to let him know that were truly fans of Anime/Manga/Japan in general. He seemed impressed and took out his camera to get a picture with me! *0* I couldn't believe it!
I gave him my buisness card and he seemed very amused lol.

Later that day we went to watch his panel which was hosted Pudz! ^o^
He looked over at me and Mute a few times and gave alittle wave. He clearly had no idea how much it meant to us at the time, but we couldn't believe it non the less.

Later on that day Okazaki-san was doing some signings and me and Mute happened to just be passing by. We came over to see he was looking through someones work, He pointed out some crit to his translater and the girl seemed very impressed that she was being critted by a Manga-Ka. Who could blame her, such an honour!

I thought to myself "wah, i wish i'd have remembered to bring some work here for him to look over! that truly would have been an awesome way to end one of the most memorable days of my life." AND THEN I REMEMBERED! I DID BRING MY PORTFOLIO! DOH!
I waited for the line to clear down a bit and brought over my stuff. He kept saying "sugoi" and "kakoi", i was dizzy with excitment!
He said he liked my latest SS promo (4) best, and that he was impressed with my toning on one of the sub-spirit pages that i brought along.

I had no idea if he was just homouring me, but regardless there's no way he could have understood how big of a moment this was for me. I did tell his translater this, but TBH i don't feel words could convey it, although he did say "No problem man" in english which was v.cool!

I asked if he would be here tommorow and ended my sentence by saying "Ashita?" And he said he would! ^o^

On the next day of the expo we again dropped by his table to say hi briefly, since the line was pretty big. Regardless we awaited the panel that was once again due! ^__^ (this time by both Pudz and Emma!)

Before this panel however there was a comics panel going on, discussing Manga, what is and isn't manga, and how OK it is for us to call our work Manga if we're not making it in Japan.
Someone sat next to me but i barely noticed since i was quite absorbed into the panel.
He started speaking Japanese to a lady standing next to him, at which i said to Mute "Hey alex they're speaking Japanese! XD". Alex then said "Mike...don't turn around too fast..."
At which I looked beside me to see none other than TAKASHI OKAZAKI!!!!! *0* (and his translater lady)

I Actually shouted aloud "Wah!!" and probably pointed-come to think of it that must have seemed rather rude- but i was so suprised that my head span alittle! ^o^;; Although he just laughed and said "Nice to see you again". It was at this point that i realised perhaps he did realise how big of a deal this was to me to meet a Manga-Ka.

He pointed at the panel and said "what is this?" At which i said some key words. "Manga/comics talk, Marvel-UK-man, Sweatdrop, Emma, Fehed, they are Uk-Manga-ka" At which he said "Ah, Sugoi!" And then something about Marvel that i didn't quite understand. We told him that we was waiting for his next panel, he seemed happy and said "Thank you".

We watched his panel and clapped as loud as we could where possible, and asked some questions too!

As the expo was just about to come to a close, Me and Mute were again walking by per chance. He seemed to be leaving his Afro Samurai stand and saying goodbye to all the people.
We barely caught his eye, at which he came over to us. we said "Thanks for coming to england!" at which he hugged both me and Mute. WOW! hugged by a famous Manga-ka! we said goodbye and were walking away, both me and Mute were trying to supress our fanboyness untill he was out of site. So that we could squee about it afterwards. But then something unexpected happened!
I felt a hand on my shoulder and i turned around...these next few seconds felt like an eternity!

"KEEPU DRAWINGU!"

He said. Pointing towards me. I then said "Of course! one day i shall work hard as a UK-Manga-Ka and visit Japan. And when we meet again say Hi!" Throughout which i was unconsiously doing hand gestures since his translater wasn't around. Since the last thing i said was "Hi" he must have assumed this to mean hi-five since my hand was up. At which he gave me said hi five. I wonder if he ever understood my shonen-like vow to meet again once i improve? who knows. Personally i feel it added to the awesomness ^___^

We then said goodbye for real, and parted ways. My previous erge to squee had been replaced...replaced with sheer determination! Someday we shall meet again Okazaki-san! and when we do, i hope to be someone worthy of note! ^__^

Well guys, longwinded story over. Sorry if it doesn't interest you but i felt i should record it somewhere since it means so much to me!

bye bye!