Sweden

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 18:48 -0700

I've accepted an invitation to the Swedish Small Press Expo in Stockholm being held April 25-27.

Didn't we have a few readers from Sweden on the Boards?

Thomas Froehling · Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:59 -0700

Here's their announcement on the web; I have to admit that I don't know any other artist in their list of guests, not even the German one...

But then again, they want to support unknown artists in the first place.

http://www.kulturhuset.stockholm.se/def ... id%3D21527

Thomas Froehling · Post by **Thomas Froehling** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:53 -0700

Sensei, I know you'll be in Stockholm mainly for business, but just in case you've got a few hours off, here's a link you might find useful:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Stockholm

For just a quick look into ancient warships, I recommend the Vasa- Museum with it's spectacular exhibition piece, the HMS Vasa.

I'm already looking forward to reading your travel report

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:27 -0700

Thank you for the link, Thomas. I really know very little about Stockholm. I will have an extra day there for touristy things. I thought if I can do London in a day, I can do Stockholm in the same amount of time.

Thomas Froehling · Tue Feb 26, 2008 13:29 -0700

Glad to be of service....ehm, wait a minute...Walking around Stockholm doing touristy things like in London? It's a good thing English is so popular as second language in Sweden, otherwise I'd hope for a guide for you....

I just remembered your legendary sense of orientation shown while you were in Paris...

Stockholm could get even a little more tricky because of the multiple islands it covers.

AT73 · Post by **AT73** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:01 -0700

Dear Stan-sensei,

If you are in need of some guiding in Stockholm I can come and help you.
I think two of my friends from the Swedish Comic Association will be there anyway.

So if there is any interest I can be at your service.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:24 -0700

AT73 wrote:Dear Stan-sensei,

If you are in need of some guiding in Stockholm I can come and help you.
I think two of my friends from the Swedish Comic Association will be there anyway.

So if there is any interest I can be at your service.

Thank you. I may take you up on your offer. I will have Monday free, but I do not know if the Expo will have something planned to show us around.

AT73 · Post by **AT73** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:36 -0700

I can ask them if they have anything planed for you.
(I guess they must have!? But strange that they don't
tell you the program?)

Any way, IF they don't have anything I'll be more that happy
to show you around.

AT73 · Post by **AT73** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 23:54 -0700

Dear Stan-sensei,
I have been talking to the SPX people in Stockholm an they say
that they are planing a foot or boat tripp on monday.
But don't be to sure the aranger isn't known for her planing ahead abillity
so I would say it's still open.

But I also talked to Patrik Norrman and he said that you two know eachother from Norway(?)
He lives in Stockholm and can also be of help if you need.

So I think you'll be in good hands.
But would you like to see the city togeather with a Swedish dojo member
I'll be more that happy and honerd to be at your side to show and tell you
about the town and country.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 20:55 -0700

AT73 wrote:Dear Stan-sensei,
I have been talking to the SPX people in Stockholm an they say
that they are planing a foot or boat tripp on monday.
But don't be to sure the aranger isn't known for her planing ahead abillity
so I would say it's still open.

But I also talked to Patrik Norrman and he said that you two know eachother from Norway(?)
He lives in Stockholm and can also be of help if you need.

So I think you'll be in good hands.
But would you like to see the city togeather with a Swedish dojo member
I'll be more that happy and honerd to be at your side to show and tell you
about the town and country.

Yes, I remember Patrik. We met in Bergen in 1999.

It sounds like the organizers have something planned. I do hope I will get to meet you at least.

AT73 · Post by **AT73** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:26 -0700

Hello again,
Today I got together with Patrik and he said that he'll be glad to see you again.
Also now it's clear that I'm coming so I'm looking forward to see you there,
and maybe get a chans to show you around a bit if you'd like.

I look forward to see you there.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:04 -0700

Here is my schedule while in Sweden. It looks like I will have time to do some sightseeing. Is there any Swedish food that I should make it a point to eat?

Thursday: 4 pm - signing at the Sci Fi Bookshop
6 pm - Reception organised by the Japanese Embassy at Serieteket.
Friday: 3 pm - short meet and greet with the guests.
6 pm - 12 pm - The festival opens with parties around the Culture
House
Saturday: Day off
6 pm - We meet up at Serieteket and go out to dinner with participants,
guests and people who have worked with the festival.
Sunday: 1.30 pm - Stan Sakai and Anders Lundgren in conversation.
6 pm - Dinner for guests and organizers of the festival.
Monday: 11 am - Boatcruise around the waterways of Stockholm.

AT73 · Post by **AT73** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 0:23 -0700

Maybe Saturday morning / noon would be a good time for a walk in the town and some dining?
(But anyday is fine for me.)

I'll be around all the days so we can arange the detalis there if you want.

I'm looking forward to see you.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:56 -0700

Stan is now in Sweden!

tahngarth (on LiveJournal) wrote: Today was a fun day

Spring has finally arrived in force in Sweden, which lifts my spirits a lot. So much sun and warmth. But that's not the only reason I had fun today, as evidenced below. And yes, I realize I am a giant nerd, but today was great fun for me.

Last week I saw an ad in our local sci-fi/fantasy bookstore that there would be a book signing this week. Normally I'm not TOO interested in these. About the only one I was interested in was the joint Gaiman/Pratchett conference a few years ago, and I missed getting tickets for those (they only let in a limited number of people). So anyway, I noticed that the guest was Stan Sakai, and I realized I actually wanted to go.

If you don't know who that is, Sakai was one of the pioneers of american independent comics, creating Usagi Yojimbo as well as other stuff, and inspiring lots of people with his smoothly flowing stories of eastern legends mixed with western storytelling. And this many years before manga became mainstream in the west, of course.

To make a long story short, I went out into the beautiful spring weather and went in to Stockholm. Since I was there well before most people get off work and out of school, the store wasn't very crowded, making for a few good photo ops.

The creator of Usagi Yojimbo turned out to be pleasant, chatty and seemed like a very nice guy. I picked up the fancy new edition of the first Usagi collection and not only did he sign it, he also drew a pic of the bunny himself on the inside cover. We chatted a little about comics, he smiled a lot, and I walked away very happy. I'd love to at some point get to attend some sort of panel with him, but for now, this was quite enough to last me the day.

I walked out with a spring in my step and a smile on my lips, like a true fanboy.

In summary, fun day all around!

http://tahngarth.livejournal.com/6643.h ... 275#t12275

Tahngarth · Post by **Tahngarth** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:00 -0700

Heh, odd to see my LJ entry picked up and reposted that fast. I'm not really much of a photographer, so these were the only two pictures I thought were good enough to keep (it's also hard to take pictures in there because it's fairly crowded).

Meeting Stan was great, and I really love the drawing I got, but I'm a bit afraid to destroy the spine of the book if I scan it.