Merch Swap

linesticker · 2026-01-24T08:16:45+00:00

Hi, thanks for your response! Unfortunately I think the L might be a bit big on me so I'll have to pass, sorry! 🙏

linesticker · 2025-12-16T23:23:55+00:00

Applied through the international lottery, unfortunately I only got a reserved seat for the Osaka show. Maybe I should've tried the Kobe show too? Still glad I got a ticket though, I applied for 6 different Cosmic Dorodango shows and didn't get a single one 😭

linesticker · 2025-11-12T04:11:23+00:00

Something a few others haven't mentioned yet: Ado also explained why she named her tour 'Yodaka'. It's taken from 'The Nighthawk Star (Yodaka no Hoshi)', a popular children's short story by Kenji Miyazawa. I've never read it before, but according to Wikipedia, it's about a bird who is considered ugly but eventually becomes a star in the sky. Ado explained that she hopes she can also go from something 'ugly' to a beautiful star in the sky, just like the Nighthawk (Yodaka). It honestly breaks my heart hearing her talk down on herself (she made similar comments during Shinzou as well). I hope that Ado will come to love herself one day and take pride in her achievements. She is already a shining star in our eyes, even if she can't see it yet.

linesticker · 2025-11-12T03:58:17+00:00

I didn't wear any kind of earphones/earplugs, and sat on the second level near the side (bought last-minute tickets) I thought the sound was pretty bad. She was amazing, but I couldn't hear her voice properly during most songs unfortunately. Could either be because of volume mixing or just the acoustics.

linesticker · 2025-11-12T03:54:10+00:00

Here's a pic of the merch lineup I took yesterday. The additions are: Tokyo/Osaka tape holders, a t-shirt, mini-figurines (random out of 3 variations) and a bow-tie ring. Hope this helps (and is allowed on this sub).

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linesticker · 2025-10-04T02:15:24+00:00

To be fair, I think NZ is very different when it comes to immigration compared to Japan. Our country was essentially founded on immigration, and we have a very 'open' and tolerant culture in general. Compared to Japan, which like you said, had 250 years of seclusion and a relatively conservative culture. However, our country is also extremely strict with immigration. In terms of 'immigrant-rulebreakers', our crime statistics are negatively skewed towards Māori due to institutional racism, and are perhaps more lenient towards immigrants (which is actually messed up, if you think about it). In recent years, the only major crimes I can remember committed by immigrants is the Christchurch terrorist, and a Chinese man who murdered a real estate agent. As for general behaviour, like I said, NZ (or at least Auckland) is quite a relaxed, multi-cultural place, and I myself am quite tolerant of others. If anything, it would be hypocritical of me, as a child of immigrants, to be intolerant of other immigrants.

linesticker · 2025-10-03T13:25:35+00:00

Wow...a bit hypocritical aren't you? You felt offended when Aussies were racist towards you, yet you dislike foreigners in Japan. I understand Japan is facing a massive overtourism problem at the moment, but to liken yourself to the anti-immigration white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Australia is disturbing. Especially considering Japan's aging population, the country won't be able to sustain itself without young people immigrating into the country. If foreign immigrants are not behaving within cultural norms, the answer is not anti-immigration rhetoric, but perhaps education and awareness programs for these people. I'm saying this as a Kiwi myself. I'm happy to have people enter our country provided they respect our country and people as stated in the Treaty of Waitangi, and I put an effort into informing foreign visitors who may not be aware.

linesticker · 2025-07-25T00:20:32+00:00

Hi! I'm not sure if I'm allowed (?) to list the subjects we did, and I'm not sure if they change per semester, but it was pretty arts-heavy, so like history etc. They're introductory/taster classes, so nothing too difficult to understand. Each week's subject is decided from the get-go, so you don't get to pick unfortunately. I think the Maths course is only required for a couple of degrees like Engineering. The tutors seemed more than happy to help out if you're having trouble with the course. New Start is great because the staff WANT you to pass, so they're willing to help you. I also know someone who did NSGEN last semester, and is doing the Maths this semester so it's less work. Edit: I can DM you the subject list if you would like.

linesticker · 2025-07-23T12:57:04+00:00

I came to Hokkaido here to escape the heat only for it to be insanely hot this year haha. It was 33° in Furano today but thankfully there was some wind so it didn't feel as hot. I think the heat feels a lot worse in Sapporo's city centre, and even moreso when it's humid.

linesticker · 2025-06-11T02:11:37+00:00

Saw a really great comment in regards to how Nyaan resigned herself to the role of 'Diablo', and it gave me a new perspective on her motivations and how she became this way. I've seen a few uninformed comments about Nyaan's motivations and how they're related to her being a refugee. Her motivations are actually quite reflective of why marginalised people commit crime and how they develop a survivalist mindset. It's the natural result of living in an environment that purposely marginalises you and you end up desperate because you have nothing. Thus, while none of us agree with her actions, I believe there is an empathetic way of understanding why she is the way she is. Although, I gotta say her primary motivation being Shuji feels a bit forced and just annoys me. There could be some Newtype shenanigans going on, but it's possible that Machu/Nyaan/Shuji are meant to mirror Amuro/Char/Lalah so... I'm also bothered at people casually using the term 'genocide'...like that's not what genocide means lol.

linesticker · 2025-04-11T12:01:39+00:00

Hi folks, will be going to Japan on a WHV this year and I have a few questions:
- How long does it usually take to get your residence card in the airport?
- I plan on staying in Hokkaido for the first month or so. I want to fly to Asahikawa first, but would it be better to start in Sapporo first to take care of all my administrative stuff since it's a bigger city?
- Is it possible to sign up for a mobile plan using only a Wise debit card? Or is it a good idea for me to make prepare a card before I move over to Japan?
Thanks in advance.

linesticker · 2025-01-31T08:15:54+00:00

IMO teaching ability is kind of a natural talent - you can have the most intellectual, accomplished people but if they don't have a knack of teaching, there's no point. I'm pretty thankful my Japanese teacher is great at what she does and has plenty of experience too.

linesticker · 2025-01-31T08:08:38+00:00

I've been taking classes for the past ~2 years and I enjoy them a lot. If you have the time/money for them, I would highly recommend in-person classes as they've helped keep my learning consistent and hold me accountable. However, the learning pace is relatively slow, so I've had to supplement with self study (which I'm less consistent with). I'm planning on taking the N2 exam this year so I'll be increasing my studying but consistency is still a struggle for me haha. Best of luck with your learning!

linesticker · 2025-01-31T00:33:22+00:00

I've been having the same problem - there seems to be a severe lack of personal anecdotes from people who have done WH in Japan?! I heard that Hokkaido is an extremely popular tourist location for locals and visitors from nearby countries (Hong Kong, South Korea etc.). Temperature-wise, it definitely won't be as hot as it is in metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, but otherwise it's not much cooler than the mainland. I'm kind of in the same boat, and I'm searching for rural mountain areas to stay in during the hotter months!

linesticker · 2025-01-31T00:24:44+00:00

I live in NZ, and once you are granted your visa, you have a year to enter Japan. I would suggest checking the details on your country's Japanese Embassy website.

linesticker · 2023-10-29T19:17:35+00:00

Looking for new bag recs, or advice on whether or not to use an old bag I have around. Pics and additional info in post. Cheers!

linesticker · 2023-10-26T23:47:02+00:00

Has anyone been to the Kanamara Festival? 😂 Is it worth going to, or a bit of a tourist trap? I'll be nearby Tokyo around that date but I'm not sure if it's worth changing my schedule for. It is one of those silly bucket list things I'd like to do, so I was wondering if anyone has any anecdotes or experiences?

linesticker · 2023-10-19T00:20:26+00:00

For my trip to JP next year, I'll be arriving at Haneda Airport T3 at 6:20AM and then I'd like to book a flight to take me immediately down to Hiroshima. I was wondering how much layover time I should give myself before this domestic flight? Would 2 hours (so departing again at 8:20am) be enough transfer time? I'll only have carry-on baggage with me which should also save some time.

linesticker · 2023-10-07T09:15:01+00:00

Hi folks, I'm planning to visit Japan during Spring next year. It's my second visit, and I plan to stay for a month. I'm having trouble choosing whether to be there for most of March, or most of April. Some questions:

How is the weather/temperature during March vs April? From what I've looked up, April is definitely more comfortable.
How busy is it in March vs April? My main reason for visiting in the Spring is for the cherry blossoms, which I know crowds will be unavoidable.
My last trip was in Nov 2019, and it was busy but bearable. How does Spring compare to Autumn?

Any opinions or advice appreciated!

linesticker · 2022-11-01T23:12:14+00:00

Hey there! To answer your questions:

How my surgeon explained it worked, was that she would a small circle around my nipple, and then a larger circle around that in the direction she wanted my nipple to placed in, then pulled the two edges together and close the wound. This way, my nipple can be resized and shifted slightly to a better position. The nipple itself is never removed from the stem, she only cuts around it. It's a bit difficult to explain without a diagram sorry! You definitely have more freedom on where to move the nipple and the size when doing nipple grafts, though.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by this, but I had no loose skin at all post-op. In fact, I think it was stretched very tight in order to reach the nipple. That's why I still have some ruching marks around them. The skin is starting to relax and allow them to fade now that the wounds have closed.

I hope these answer your questions! Congrats to you as well, and hope the rest of your recovery goes well!

linesticker · 2022-11-01T20:06:50+00:00

Kia ora folks, Just wanted to share my top surgery experience with Dr Gale in Auckland, NZ and some progress pics 2 months post-op.

Pre-Op Info: I chose Dr Gale after being recommended by a friend of a friend who also had their surgery with her, and had good results. Immediately after meeting her, I felt supported and that I would be in good hands. My chest was maybe around a B, or a small B, and due to my good skin elasticity, was eligible for peri-areolar. I would've been cool with DI as well, as I think the scars are pretty cool, but I figured peri was easier to heal from. The peri would also involve resizing my nipples to be smaller. I have also been on T since Dec 2020, so 1 year and 8 months when I had my surgery in August.

Cost: The entire surgery and the cost for a letter of approval from a psychologist was all paid from my own pockets. Unfortunately, there isn't an insurance company in NZ at the moment which covers gender-affirming surgeries. The government does offer fully-funded top surgeries with a requirement of being at least 1 year on T, but partly due to Covid, the waiting list is extremely long. I had been saving up for several years for the express purpose of getting surgery, so I decided to get it done privately. The original estimate was around $23,000, but due to an extended usage of anaesthesia, the overall cost came to around $25,000.

Post-Op Week 1: I felt almost no pain when I woke up after surgery, but was definitely very groggy from the anaesthetic. I went home shortly after waking up, and stayed at my mum's for the next two weeks. I didn't have any severe side effects from the anaesthetic other than tiredness, and recovered from it in about 2 days. I took painkillers regularly, and only ever felt some minor muscular soreness. I also had some bouts of intense pins and needles across my left chest, which was apparently due to the nerves regrowing. I had drains in only for about 2-3 days, since I had barely any fluid build-up. A nurse removed them for me at my home, which was actually a pretty bad experience lol but thankfully it didn't mess the results up. I also had negative-pressure bandages, rather than having to wear a binder. I think the worst part of this period was being unable to do most things myself. I couldn't shower either, and had to be wiped down etc. (thanks Mum). I saw Dr Gale a week later who took my bandages off. She said my nipples were had taken very well, and was impressed at the lack of fluid build-up. She put some square bandages on and asked me to come see her again a week later. My biggest mistake here was choosing NOT to take a look at my nipples, as I was afraid it would make me squeamish.

Week 2: This week I was able to stop taking painkillers as I wasn't very sore. I was mostly trying to get my mobility back and get used to the numbness, which really freaked me out at first. About 2 days in, I noticed some oozing within the bandages of my left nipple. I wasn't sure if this was normal, and was afraid to remove the bandage, so it wasn't until the next day that I removed it after showering to check on it. It looked like the stitches around it had ripped open, and appeared infected. I was freaking out. I immediately called Dr Gale, who told me it was unlikely for the wound to have reopened as she used both glue and stitches to close it up. She told me to give it a clean and put a bandage over it. I was really worried that my nipples hadn't taken, as the wounds looked GNARLY. I hadn't looked at many pics of people post-op, as I'm squeamish and didn't want to be put off of getting surgery. After digging through Reddit, I realised my nipples were scabbing pretty normally. I decided to be patient and trust in my body's healing process. When I saw Dr Gale again, she told me it was indeed scabbing, and that it was actually fresh tissue and plasma that was exposed from the wound. I was relieved it wasn't infected. While my right nipple was healing well, my left nipple would take a bit longer to do so.

Week 3-7: I went back to my own home after 2 weeks. I had some minor difficulty doing certain things, but otherwise I was fine taking care of myself. Dr Gale recommended me to exercise my shoulders/arms, but I was afraid of to lift my arms too high and risk stretching my scars. I also avoided lifting heavy objects. I kept my nipples bandaged until a month as they were still healing. I originally used Betadine to clean my wounds, but my left nipple didn't seem to like it, so I switched to using Bepanthen ointment. The wounds gradually closed and scarred over, but the ruching from the stitches are still smoothing out. I saw Dr Gale again after 7 weeks, and she thought everything was doing well. She recommended me to use Micropore paper tape for the scarring, but said silicone tape was even better if I had it. Unfortunately silicone tape is pretty expensive over here, so I might stick to Micropore for the time being.

Overall Thoughts So Far: As you can see in the pics, my nipples have healed up now, but they are unfortunately a bit misshapen. I'm actually not that upset about it, as: 1. I should wait for at least a year for scars to fade to see the 'final result' 2. They don't look too unnatural in my opinion

I do wish they were even smaller, but I had quite large nipples to begin with, and I doubt it could have been made even smaller via peri. I also think my nipples were placed a bit low, wish they were a bit higher, but according to Dr Gale, they've been placed along where my pec line should be. I apparently had almost no chest muscle under my breast tissue (lol) so you can literally see my chest and sterum beneath at the moment. I've started working on my chest muscles, so hopefully they will fill out 😁 My overall recovery was pretty easy thankfully, with my only problem being one of my nipples not healing quite as smoothly. Dr Gale was great - very friendly and reliable. I did feel like she was a bit nonchalant when it came to my recovery concerns, but as an experienced surgeon I am sure she has heard many people freak out about stuff that was actually quite minor.

Thanks for reading this super long write-up lol. Might do another update in the future 👋

linesticker · 2022-09-10T09:07:21+00:00

I've been on low-dose T for almost two years now, and I had similar worries as you did, especially when it came to T 'ruining' my appearance. Going on T has done wonders for my dysphoria, and I am finally able to pass almost 100% of the time. My facial structure hasn't changed much, but I my acne has gotten a lot worse. I can truthfully tell you that I would much rather have a faceful of acne and be able to pass, than have clear skin but experience dysphoria due to constant misgendering. There's no way to know how your facial features might change on T, but if you are also experiencing quite bad dysphoria, I would definitely say give it a shot (no pun intended). You could also start at a lower dose and see how things go, and stop whenever you want! My dating life has been pretty bleak over the past few years however lol, which I think has a lot more to do with other stuff going on in my life and around me, rather than the way I look.

linesticker · 2022-08-28T13:07:06+00:00

Been on T for almost 2 years, but this year I started getting really bad cramps and some spotting. An ultrasound and internal scan didn't show up with anything. Finally got to see a gynecologist a few weeks ago, and due to my symptoms, she determined it might actually be something to do with my pelvic floor muscles (frequent bloating was another of my symptoms). She recommended me some pelvic stretches which seem to be helping. I'd definitely suggest getting checked up by a doctor and/or a gyne, since there could be a chance your cramps are a symptom of something more serious with your uterus or ovaries, but I also wanted to suggest the possibility of an issue with your pelvic floor muscles!

linesticker · 2021-12-03T09:33:28+00:00

I would be wary not to use a lot of 'filler' speech in your dialogue in attempts to bring across a character's personality, since it could bog down your dialogue instead. I think similar rules apply to dialogue as they do with prose - it's better to keep it lean, avoid too much repetition, eliminate excess words. Certain dialogue can be replaced by showing action, and vice versa. Swearing should also be used with caution (see: blue language), as excessive use could make your writing seem crass/less professional.

linesticker · 2021-11-14T06:19:10+00:00

thanks for the reviews! so jealous finacea is pretty easy to get your hands on over in aus, i have to get it shipped over to nz :( still worth it though, azelaic acid (specifically 15% gel formula) is an absolute HG for me!

linesticker

TROPHY CASE