We have our winners!


Intermixi’s private stash!


Yes, that’s right we have two winners. The entries this year moved us so much we had to have give out two prizes!


Grand Prize: Kelly LIM
Runner Up Prize: K Cannon


Here’s the winning entries below and thanks to everyone that entered!


Name:Kelly Lim
Age:23
Occupation:Student/part-time worker with two jobs
City:Tucson
State:AZ


Why do you want to go to Japan?


Japan’s culture really speaks to me. I probably loved Japanese culture even before I was aware I liked it so much. The food, music, pop culture and the traditional culture really interests me. I of course like anime and manga as well, especially the works of Hayou Miyazaki, he is just a genius in my eyes. I plan to major in East Asian Studies with an emphasis in Japan when I transfer into the University of Arizona. My dream is to one day go to Japan, either for leisure or as an ESL teacher. I would love to see the places I have read about/seen on TV, in person.


Have you ever been to Japan?


Never


What would you like to see in a tour to Japan? (sumo matches, music concerts, clubs etc )


Studio Ghibli, an onsen, a ryokan, a food tour haha (I am such a foodie), music concerts (i love jrock!), fashion districts, a host cafe, a tea ceremony, sakura blossoms^^ basically anything and everything. I like to try everything at least once, and if I don’t like it, I will know to never try it again haha!


What is the most important thing to you about traveling to Japan?


To absorb the sites and cultures, maybe pick up the language better. There’s no better way to learn a language than to dump you into a foreign culture and try to ask the bathroom is haha! Also to have fun and explore, get lost! Getting lost is a great way to explore and find out new things.


What are your daily interests and activities in your town?


To be honest, there’s not really much to do in my home town. We have lots of retirees and college students, so its either drive like a geriatric or go to a keger lol! j/k! I mostly like to hang around with my friends, go shopping, try new places to eat. Look for bargain clothes to make cosplay with, do crafting, play video games. If there’s an anime convention in town (which there’s not many) we go to those^^


What would interest you in touring with Intermixi?


I like going on tours, they’re so much fun^^ Plus meeting new people/friends is always fun. I like when I meet new friends I can relate to and have the same interests. Plus the way that Intermixi combines modern aspects of Japan and the traditional, are both of my great loves about the country.


Where did you hear about Intermixi?


I saw the booth in Anime Expo 2009 in Los Angeles, CA and I signed up for a newsletter. Simple as that




Name: Karli Cannon
Age: 27
Occupation: Student & Computer Sales
City: Las Vegas
State: Nevada


Why do you want to go to Japan?


I have always wanted to go since I was 16. I have always been fascinated with Asian culture. A few years ago my friend took me to a spiritual healer and the moment I walked in the room she looked at me and said “Your soul sings for Japan.” Ever since I have wanted to go even more. I have a feeling it will be like going home in a strange way.


Have you ever been to Japan?


Not yet, but it is the biggest dream I have had for over 10 years. I also dream of retiring in a temple in Kyoto and spend my last days on earth up keeping a beautiful building in a country I always wanted to visit.


What would you like to see in a tour to Japan? (sumo matches, music concerts, clubs etc )


Everything. Need I say anything more? (BTW, best sushi on the planet. yum!)


What is the most important thing to you about traveling to Japan?


Just being able to travel. I have health issues that have forced me to remain unable to fly in airplanes. Thankfully I am having surgery to correct this on Feb. 11. If all goes well and with all the luck in the world, I will be able to fly in airplanes again.


What are your daily interests and activities in your town?


I work a full time job and I’m also a fulltime computer forensics student. What free time I do have I enjoy cooking for my mom and sister, watching Anime, reading manga and making any kind of art that I can afford.


What would interest you in touring with Intermixi?


Seeing the cherry blossoms &Traveling with a group of people that share the same interests as me that can become great friends of mine. Intermixi also seems to include all the “must see” places that a person needs to see when they go to Japan. That is why I have always been interested in Traveling with Intermixi.


Where did you hear about Intermixi?


Two years ago I saw a booth at Anime Expo in California and I have a fan ever since.





After taking two years off it’s back!


Win Intermixi’s private stash!


LOS ANGELES, Calif. – January 28th, 2010 –


How Sweet It Is


Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Intermixi is giving away several prize packs of collectibles and fun! Some things from the land of the rising sun and others from the home of Aka-san. (Notice that rhymed?)


The best part about the contest is all you need to do is answer a couple of Intermixi questions. Don’t be to wordy, but do be to short. Our judges are looking for something that will pop out at us! Good luck!


Intermixi’s Neotokyo Spring Prize Pack Questions:


Why do you want to go to Japan?


Have you ever been to Japan?


What would you like to see in a tour to Japan? (sumo matches, music concerts, clubs etc )


What is the most important thing to you about traveling to Japan?


What are your daily interests and activities in your town?


What would interest you in touring with Intermixi?


Where did you hear about Intermixi?


Name:
Age:
Occupation:
City:
State:


Send all entries to:


contest@intermixi.com


Deadline: February 17, 2010 (Same as our Neotokyo 2010 Spring tour!)


(Here’s the entry from the first contest)


1. Why do you want to go to Japan?


I have wanted to go Japan for several years; initially, it was because of my fascination with the culture in general (the food, the fine art activities, the people and their values, etc.), but the more I became exposed to the pop culture side of Japan (manga, anime, the art in general), I became more and more infatuated with the idea of traveling there someday, even just once, to be able to soak in all of those great things.


I’m also getting tired of where I live; I need to get out and explore while I have the opportunity, before I have to find a job and start working full-time.



2. Have you ever been to Japan?



I have not been to Japan yet, although I have intentions of going next summer with a college break group for nine days. However, I know that won’t be enough since the trip is limited to only five cities and certain areas. If I am fortunate enough in the future, I would like to go multiple times.



3. What would you like to see in a tour to Japan? (sumo matches, music concerts, clubs etc )



Short answer: Practically everything. Longer answer: As much as possible; I would like to visit some Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines for the religious perspective, and anything especially unique to the country. Although there are quite a few Japanese bands I like, I wouldn’t expect to be able to go while on a tour, even though that would be great. The “geek” in me would love to go to Akihabara for the anime and electronic goods. Most of all, though for some reason I can’t quite understand, I REALLY want to go to karaoke bar and let loose; I’m normally extremely shy, so I’ve never had the courage to go to such a place, not that there are too many by where I live anyway.



4. What is the most important thing to you about traveling to Japan?



That’s a tough one. Honestly, just to go and embrace the culture I’ve come to adore and perhaps come to understand why it is I adore it so much. Plus, I want to meet new, interesting people and make some international friends.



While this isn’t of particularly high importance, I’m hoping to use my first trip to Japan to help a little with my honor’s thesis. As a psychology and criminal justice major, I’m interested in doing a research paper on pedophilia in Japan and the United States; after reading Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita a few months ago, I remembered the recent controversy surrounding the manga Kodomo no Jikan (“Nymphet”) and did some research on the Lolita complex and thought it would be a very interesting subject to discuss. Since my school doesn’t offer anything regarding Asian Studies or Japanese, I figure this is a good way for me to incorporate my interests into a required project. I was hoping just to be able to observe the “cuteness” that is reportedly embedded into the culture.



5. What are your daily interests and activities in your town?



Well, I’m a full-time college sophomore, but I’ve also been working part-time at a veterinary clinic for over five years. When I’m not doing homework or helping out around the house, I like to work out at the gym, among other things like drawing, reading, and playing video games. This summer I hope to find time to volunteer at the animal shelter like I did last year.



6. What would interest you in touring with Intermixi?



I would love to go on one of Intermixi’s tours just for the fact that they are saturated with pop culture; I’ve been reading about Intermixi’s current trips, and they sound fabulous, especially the one with the visit to the Tokyo Anime Fair. I’d like to make it a goal to go on of those kinds of tours someday.



7. Where did you hear about Intermixi?



I read about Intermixi on the Pop Japan Tour website while browsing through what they had to offer; I also read about Intermixi on the Anime News Network website.



Name: Jessica Fiorini
Age: 20
Occupation: Student, kennel assistant at a veterinary clinic
City: Oswego
State: IL

Hey we found another opportunity to send you to Japan for free!

This time it comes courtesy of JNTO.

Basically you have to ways to win. Write an essay or take a picture with a caption.

It shouldn’t be hard at all with the creative people that make up Intermixi right?

OFFICIAL CONTEST PAGE.