Cosplay: Sayonara Kotoshi 2025 - Isshoni, Kagayaki no Mirai e

Goh: Hey hey, it's "your festival" again. 

Ash: Haha, "my festival".

Me: Hmm. It is indeed, and it's on my "home turf", so I (we) should support it, like last year. And this time...

Ash: There's a singing competition! I want to be in it.

Me: You sure can. In fact, I'm giving you "Advance Adventure" to work with.

Ash: OK, Hoenn outfit it is.

Pikachu: Pika chu pika! ["Nice choice!"]

Me: Great!

Goh: So... everything's the same as last year?

Ash: In the same place - with a lot of the same booths for food, merchandise, and community.

Goh: Oh, and entertainment too.

Ash: The same - bands and dance cover groups.

Goh: But then, the singing competition is new.

Me: Apparently so, and that's why we're jumping on it - also since we've been absent from one for a long time.

Goh: All good reasons. How'd you do?

Ash: I nailed it! I had a lot of fun too. And just before it rained somewhat hard too.

Goh: Again like last year. Almost everything in this one was a repeat.

Ash: You could say that.

Pikachu: Pi pi pi pika... ["Almost all the same..."]

Me: As for the winners...

Ash: The three of them were all girls. So the boys didn't get a chance.

Goh: Huh. I guess you two will have to set up something for next time.

Me: Looks like it. And there was also a character parade like last year, but...

Ash: I wasn't in it - and I could tell who was going to win right away.

Goh: Well, looks like your eyes are getting sharper for noticing this.

Me: Or it was already obvious from the very start.

Goh: Hmm. By the way, last year you had Necrozma raids going on... did anything Pokémon also happen at the same time this year?

Ash: I went to look for Solrock and Lunatone by doing tasks around the festival! But I couldn't do much since it was also raining.

Me: Even if I were to do it myself without a festival, it would be a challenge with the rain. At least it's an independent thing. 

Pikachu: Pika. ["Works out."]

Me: OK - takeaways, nags, and final thoughts.

Ash: I think they did great this year! Except maybe for bossing all of us around a bit too much.

Goh: But we do expect some from them.

Ash: Sure, in a way - like getting my bag searched.

Me: Oh, you mean it was like me being at the airport?

Ash: Yeah, you know the feeling. And maybe they can set up the area much better.

Goh: It's an open court, right? And then they have to put up barriers and all.

Ash: Yeah, that.

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika. ["Blocks, here and there."]

Me: Yeah, this is kind of hard. But things were still good overall, from what I can tell.

Ash: They hope it would be shining, even - like the subtitle of this year [OOC note: it means "together, to a bright future"].

Goh: Hey, yeah! That makes sense.

Me: Well, there's hope for bright futures just yet, with this one and others. 

One year ago: Pokémon Through the Ages: The Expansive Era

Two years ago: Let's Talk About When Money Talks

Three years ago: The Contribution and the Results

Four years ago: Merchandise over Games?

Five years ago: Pokémon Go: Tap... Tap... Tappity-Tap...

Six years ago: Sitting Pikachu Keychain

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/20/2018

Eight years ago: Movie Manga!