Yo. I'm actually more of an artist than a writer, but there're some characters that you want to spend more time with so badly that you just have to write fics for them, ne? Ne?

Anyway, I first was introduced to Japan through its art (tea gardens, shoin zukuri, and hokusai prints), but some time in middle school I found anime. I think my first was either Yu Yu Hakusho, which remains one of my favorites, or Inuyasha, which I've never watched to completion, but also love. Since then, I've watched way more anime than was good for me or my GPA. Anime got me interested in the language, which I still can't speak, read, or write after two years of study. I had a lot of fun trying to learn it, though, and adored all my senseis. I still hold a grudge against S-sensei, however, for laughing at me when I answered a question with a shrug of the shoulders and a flop of the hands, palms up and out to the sides. Apparently this is a stereotypically American gesture, and it amused him to no end. If you ever go to Japan, avoid this gesture, although the Japanese will probably be politer than S-sensei (who claims to be thoroughly Americanized), and withhold their mirth.

My love of manga and anime made me want to study the arts of Japan even more, and I took a few courses on the subject. The pen name Rinpa is actually the name of a school of artists including Tawaraya Soutatsu, Ogata Kourin, and Sakai Houitsu. Other favorite artists include Hasegawa Touhaku, Kano Tan'yuu, Sesshuu, and whatever groups of people painted the 12th century Genji Monogatari Emakimono and the Heike Nokyo. There's also a really adorable statue of Miroku (not the perverted monk from Inuyasha, but his namesake) at Chuuguuji that I love.

Umm... Sorry for rambling about irrelevant things. Anyway, yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

This is totally random, but if I could be any anime character, I think it would be Haibara Ai from Meitantei Conan. Damn, that girl has class, and she's a research scientist to boot! XD