(As you surmise, the tl;dr of this is Vote For Isumi, but I would encourage you to read the entire article to get a better sense of why.)

The date is Sunday, January 31st, 2010.
The time, 2:00 AM. (Although by the time you read this, maybe closer to 7:00 AM.)
The place, my dorm room, my face lit only by the dim glow of a computer screen and the burning flame inside my heart. A flame that won’t die out. Not for the next nine months.

I sit, and await the dawn.

Not the occurrence every 24 hours, of the glowing orb we call the sun hoisting itself fervently into the sky, but rather, a metaphorical dawn.

The wheels of fate were already turning. Maybe you had already seen it coming.

The forty girls who had already been waiting, certainly had. On the 10th of January, they were joined by the eighty-six hoisted up by the people. Some, veterans. Others, hot-shots.

The long-haired and the short, the mature and the blob-like, the round and the DFC, the young and the … slightly less young.

Beginning now, is the start, of their journey. For some of them, it may be a road they’ve traveled already; others, unfamiliar territory.

But no matter whom, it was clear, that the golden road to the 2010 International Saimoe League would be harder than ever before.

And so, a vehicle must be constructed to traverse this road, a machine powered by passion itself.

I shall endeavor to become its mechanic.

INTERNATIONAL SAIMOE LEAGUE 2010: PRELIMINARY ROUND I
“My turn … where is it?”
Campaign A: Isumi Saginomiya

I always dislike introducing myself into the crude campaign posts I write. The girl, not the writer, should be the target of the paean, should it not?

The more that can be focused on the virtue of the character, the better, and it is better not to have any impure motives of the 3D author behind it at, muddling it up.

But it seems all but a necessity, as otherwise quite the paradox is created. The character may create the fanbase, but the fanbase cannot be driven by anyone but a fan itself.

Rather, objectivity is a difficult task. There have been far more, far more eloquent posts written on how to identify a ‘good’ character alone, not to mention a ‘moe’ one, a task that seems to elude even the best of us, at least in terms of creating a unifying definition.

And I would be perfectly fine with accepting that task as impossible. It’s only natural that ‘moe’ is a highly personal topic, and so trying to convince another that their character is more ‘moe’ than the other is something that I imagine is very difficult.

It’s something that counteracts the whole idea of campaigning itself, as it seems as if the pleas will fall on deaf ears. It is difficult, without the canonical characterization that an anime or manga can provide, to change one’s opinion on a character.

So why do we campaign in spite of this difficulty?
Or, is it, we campaign because of this difficulty?

Because, while maybe 90% of people have made up their minds, there is still the 10%. Those who are ambivalent. Whether it is an equal tie between the characters, or because they are unfamiliar, or maybe not even aware of ISML at all. These are the people that we seek out, more than anyone. It’s the same as political campaigning in the real world, right?

“Because, if I can even affect one vote, that can change everything.”

Of course, that’s faulty logic, right? The exact opposite of “my vote doesn’t matter”. Which one wins out in the end?

I still cannot say for sure. But, for me, I cannot believe anything other than the former. Not just because I cannot let those whom I care for down without a fight, but because I believe in the power of numbers.

I am but one person. But together, you as readers, total in the hundreds. (Well, on a good post day.)

And, I know, if I can affect even just a handful of readers, if those handful vote, and if they are inspired enough to spread the word themselves, a beautiful chain of events will occur.

It is that miracle that a seek. Maybe it was a miracle that I dragged out once before, for last year? I cannot say for sure whether it was my effect or not. And personally, I do not care. This is not my battle.

This time, it is Isumi Saginomiya’s. For her banner, is the one I plan to fight under first and foremost, in this first preliminary round.

Perhaps that statement may surprise some of you. Certainly, there is another girl who my heart belongs to even more. But, I shall show that side of me when the time is right. It is important, not only to know why to fight, and how to fight, but when to fight.

And for Isumi, that time is now. She can bring victory in the first preliminary round. I will guarantee that much. And all I ask is that you believe, and help create the truth behind that guarantee.

There are things that draw me to Isumi. Maybe it is the same for you.

Her personality, which can be lightly described as ‘air-headed’, the adorably clueless girl who can read the atmosphere of a room just about as well as she can read a map (which incidentally, is not at all).

Or maybe the contrast of her more serious side, the exorcist who, despite her sense of direction and balance’s strongest attempts to intervene, always tries to bring peace to those she purifies, with an unchallenged determination.

Maybe it’s just the fact that she can be tooth-shattering in a maid outfit, enhanced by her personality and character’s mismatch with such a thing.

Or her character design in general, the beautiful, flowing dark hair over a traditional kimono that could be described in any number of words. Refined? Delicate? Cute? Your pick.

I believe there is plenty. Not just from the attractiveness of such a girl, but from my own empathy as a clumsy, air-headed person. Something that internalized that sort of emotion, and created a stronger feeling.

That is the passion, I want to express, more than anything. (And perhaps the reason why I have gone on slightly longer than I wanted.)

The passion, that I would hope, drives every one of you.

The passion that, perhaps you sympathize with. Not necessarily for Isumi, but for some person, pastime, or otherwise. 2D? 3D? Somewhere in between? Whatever it may be.

I find that without the ability to understand this passion, without the willingness to let it drive you crazy at 2:30 in the morning, without the acceptance of this emotion in yourself, without that, life wouldn’t be very exciting.

And so, maybe I may consider myself a bit ambitious here, to ask you to understand my passion here, with, if you are not inclined otherwise, a few votes in the prelims of ISML 2010.

Because, even if it is not something that concerns you most drastically, it is the smallest of time lost for you, and the most of happiness gained for myself, and other like-minded people.

Everyone has something that drives them. This is what drives me. So, won’t you help Isumi move a bit closer towards the start line for ISML 2010 … ? Whether it is by voting or otherwise…

Thank you for your time.
(Incidentally, some administrative trivia: in order to advance to the next round, a character must perform the best out of a group of 9, in 4 three-way matches to be held over the next week or so.

So if you do feel convinced to lend Isumi a hand, please do note that the effect will be greatest if you vote in all four matches. There will be follow-up posts notifying of these matches, when the day comes.)

CCY