69 films from 59 countries competed in this year’s Hiroshima International Animation Festival. All images courtesy of the International Animation Festival, Hiroshima 2004. Illustration by Seiichi Hayashi.

Sunday, August 15
Perhaps it was the security at the airports with their yellow and orange razzmatazz that decided me to arrive at LAX hours before my plane was to leave for Tokyo. The shuttle collected me and my baggage at 8:00 am and with little or no traffic, dropped me off at 9:00 am. As usual the security buzz went off. Was it my bracelets or the metal in my left hip? After a body search, I reached my departing gate at 9:30. Yee Gods! My plane didn’t leave until 1:45, a half-hour delay. I finished three Varietys, chatted with some Rocky the Squirrel fans and finally, finally boarded the plane. But not before I ingested two Sudafeds and sprayed those pesky nostrils. Years ago after a Zagreb Festival, my right ear ruptured on the plane to Frankfurt, so thanks to medication and my nose-and-throat doctor, I can fly without that ice pick pain in my head.

So, off to Hiroshima and the 2004 Animation Festival. It was thoughtful of Sayoko Kinoshita, the festival director, to think of me as a guest speaker. This time I’m traveling in first class. It’s the only way to fly. The food was alluring, and the chicken was well seasoned and hot. All during the 11-hour flight, I kept trying to think of the time difference and when I had to take my daily pills. If it’s 12 noon in L.A., it’s what? It’s 4:00 am the next day in Japan. OK, so I kept my watch set at California time, easier that way. I tell you, it wasn’t easy eating breakfast on the plane at 11:30 at night.

Monday, August 16
The plane arrived on time, long past a Los Angeles citizen’s bedtime. Like a jerk, I stood in the wrong immigration line until I was informed of that at the window. Another quarter-mile hike in the terminal to the next one. I was the last passenger to claim my baggage. But I was thankful for the patience of Masami, who greeted me, changed my money and brought me from the Narita Airport to the hotel for a night’s stay in Tokyo. I had been up for 24 hours. It was beddy-bye time, but daytime for us Hollywoodians. So I couldn’t sleep, all the Japanese night. But I had to take a 9:55 plane the next day to Hiroshima. Ever taken your bath at 2:30 am? As hot as the water was, it didn’t encourage drowsiness, so an early 7:00 for breakfast was a joy.

Tuesday, August 17
Well, up to my room again to pack my toothbrush and makeup and roll my suitcase down to the lobby for Masami to take me to the airport for the last lap of my journey to Hiroshima. The plane was about 15 minutes late. But who cared? I was numb by this time. I grabbed my first class seat and put on the airline slippers and read the International Herald Tribune — always a treat. Before I even finished the editorial, the plane to Hiroshima landed where I was greeted by the charming Myjri. Her given name was impossible. Even the locals found Miri easier to say. We picked up a Chinese animation teacher and his wife and off to the hotel, an hour’s drive from the airport. Masami dragged my luggage, and then took me to the festival office just a block away.

June Foray was honored for her contributions to animation at the Hiroshima festival.

What a joy it was to see Sayoko Kinoshita after all these years, since the first festival in 1985. We embraced warmly and laughed about the time that she and her late husband, Rinso, had stayed at my home during the 1984 Olympics. Those potent margaritas I concocted made them quite ecstatic and giggly. At Sayoko’s side was her assistant of 20 years, the lovely Mikako. I certainly didn’t ask nor need the 4,000 yen, which they generously gave me. However, they insisted, but then breakfast at the hotel was $10, so the yen did come in handy. I had been servitude with food, but fatigue did envelope my body so I went to my room for relaxation. That was

Wednesday, August 18
Today was preparation day. Sayoko and Mikako had arranged for my interview with LAPPY the daily festival newspaper. I never did inquire was LAPPY stood for. But no matter, it was conducted charming Japanese young ladies. Because of the language limitations on both our parts, a few misleading facts occurred, which were corrected the next day.

Thursday, August 19
It’s now the opening of the Hiroshima Animation 2004. Hooray! It was easy arriving at 5:00 am for a 7:00 am breakfast. I even felt guilty eating with a fork. On went the hiking shoes and out the hotel doors. Hitting the outdoors from air-conditioned quarters was almost heart stopping. The heat and humidity one can only attribute to a fire-breathing dragon. And you’d think automobiles on the 101 freeway are hazards! Try walking on the sidewalk with racing bicycles. Phew, pay up on your health insurance!