The Return of OC Japan Fair

Since 2018, I had always looked forward to the OC Japan Fair at the Orange County Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. It had become an annual tradition to meet up with a close friend of mine and we always would have fun for the day. Due to the pandemic, the event was unfortunately cancelled in 2020. However, 2021 was the year of its return at last. The OC Japan Fair is a Japanese cultural festival with food and merchandise vendors that is held yearly in the fall. Anyone who loves anime, manga, or is open to trying new foods is sure to love this event. I ended up buying up a whole stock of gatcha machine capsules and got some cool trinkets to keep. I was also finally able to meet up with my close friend and once again continue our tradition of exploring the festival together. We ended up deciding on eating chicken katsu sandwiches which were very tasty. The crispy crunch of the chicken and lettuce topping was a nice touch with the soft bread. I definitely would recommend.

It was nice seeing local artists and vendors selling unique works. There were a variety of figures, 3D posters, stickers, plushes, shirts, and other merchandise that would peak someone's interest. In addition, there were crane games added this year which was an exciting experience. At first it was frustrating, but I eventually got the hang of how to position the crane to get two prizes. The adorable Kirby and sushi cat keychain plushes now make a fine addition to my collection. When I came back to the OC Japan Fair in October, it gave me a nostalgic feeling from prior years as I hold memories from this event close to my heart. I only hope to continue to go every year and continue strengthening my friendships in the future.