J Pop Festival

After MineCon London 2015, the last thing I wanted to do is to attend another convention. Seriously overdosed on anything pop, or anything with a map that tells you where the keynote speakers are located, and when. This one allegedly had all that. But I love Japan as much as Anthony Bourdain and as long as there is food, which it did, it was going to be a good thing. Plus, a certain someone wants to escape the avenues due to a particular music fest and I was too tired to argue after the previous run at Marin Headlands.
Union Square on Sunday. Parking was surprisingly easy — On Sutter we found a free metered spot. Excellent progress so far. J Pop Summit set up a stage in Union Square with performances, sake tasting and food vendors. Amazing selection of sake. For $ 20 you can get 10 tasting. A total bargain if you ask me. They also gave you shrimp chips and tickets for another free tasting inside. There was also sauce tasting with fresh vegan stuff. Nice addition. Who does not like free stuff?
J-​Pop music was interesting. Performance ended mid afternoon, which was a bit of a bummer. Could have seen more of it.
There was also a tea ceremony demonstration. We saw half of it, and they passed around pastries and mocha tea for tasting. It made me miss Japan all of sudden.
San Francisco is a pretty neat city with expanding ethnic activities. I used to feel this way only towards New York but it’s possible I’m having a change of heart.
We began the Sunday with no plans. I did my usual web surfing with the usual sites to come up with some ideas and this was one of the few non Outside Lands options.
Sake tasting was not to be missed. It happens, for now, only annually. So for those who are uninitiated, get sparkling sake, it’s in, very in, and very delicious.
Next year, we may head to the main stage in Fort Mason; but on the other hand, Union Square instantly makes you feel that you are on vacation and you can pretend to be a tourist in your own city. On second thought, do stick to this locale for the next annual J-​Pop.