WMDF is built on a core of inviting international groups. Every morning at 8am, the people that solve the myriad logistical puzzles of keeping multiple groups on the move meet at Fururu to make sure our plans for the day will work out. These people are the Guides and their supporters. This is one of the most difficult jobs at WMDF, but also one of the most rewarding, as it’s the Guides that really get the experience of “Meeting New Worlds” close up. WMDF thanks all the Guides for their work so far, and wishes them good luck for the rest of the week!

The WMDF Opening Party was held in the Daimon Green Belt area as part of our “Outreach” collaboration with other events in town. Drakskip led everyone in a crazy dance, and Brian Hulse gave us a bilingual performance. We gather again in Motomachi Park for the first day of WMDF proper. See you there!

Today, we went to the station, to the airport, and to the ferry terminal to welcome groups from Russia, Thailand, France, India and Latvia. Hakodate gave everyone a warm welcome with a beautiful summer’s day, and the forecast is also reasonably good for next week. Two more international groups arrive tomorrow. You can join all the WMDF crowd, including some of the in-Japan groups, for the Opening Party in Daimon’s Green Belt area. The Motomachi Stages run from Aug 5 to Aug 10.