In 2010, the New People Museum in San Francisco's Japantown invited Mori Chack to attend their anniversary celebration. The event was not widely publicized, and even if it had been, Gloomy Bear has nowhere near the popularity in the US as it does in Japan. I contacted the museum running the event to ask if Mori Chack would hold an autograph session, and, after being informed that he would be sketching for those who purchased a shirt, I decided that I'd supress my absolute hatred of going to San Francisco, and make the venture there.

I decided to head over early, and I made it to Japantown about an hour before the store was set to open. Even then, there was a huge line of people and the majority of them were waiting for a special Gothic Lolita dress promotion that the store was offering. Only a couple of people were waiting to buy a Gloomy Bear shirt, and those that were remarked about selling it on E-bay. After buying a shirt, the store gave a ticket that was needed in order to receive a signature from Mori later in the day.

Mori was an incredibly nice person. He brought Gloomy Bear stickers for all those that attended his sketch session, and he seemed to really enjoy himself at the signing. I've read in several interviews that many Japanese guests are surprised that they're known in the US, and I wondered if that was the case with Mori-san as well.


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