It took a weekend to proofread and score the entries...and I enjoyed every minute of it, having proofed a magazine for 11 years! (Click here to read the master list of Zakuro's methods--and their Secret Origins!) Each correct method found was one point. The spelling and punctuation had to match that of the caption on the image (with four exceptions allowed, as explained on the master list page); if a word was misspelled or there was mistaken or missing punctuation, half a point was subtracted. The instructions required that the list of methods be numbered; this was to help me keep my sanity as well as to help check my math, so if the list was not numbered, it was counted as a typo with half a point subtracted (if there was a typo and the method was not numbered, half a point was only subtracted once). If the same method was submitted twice in a list, the second appearance was not counted. If a list included either of the red herrings ("Zakuro Hears A Who...of DOOOOOOM!" and "Hazel's Wacky Cat Snapper of DOOOOOOM!"), no points were added or subtracted, but it would factor into ties in the top five placings; the nod would go to the entrant who hadn't been fooled. Finally, three extra-credit points were awarded if you told me something you've enjoyed about "Journey To The REST," with one more extra-credit point if you mentioned what your favorite Zakuro method was and why.
With so many entries, and folks having put so much time and effort into them, I added prizes so that 25 folks could win Saiyuki loot instead of only three. There was a three-way tie for the top--all perfect scores, with none fooled by the red herrings! One of the three had asked in her entry if she could possibly get the third-place prize if she was lucky enough to win, she wanted "Shiro No Jumon" so much, so her entry was held out of the tie-breaking toss-off for first. And...first prize (the November 2002 issue of ZERO-SUM, a character shitajiki and laminate card) goes to Valerie G.! Second prize (the Chara Box Saiyuki RELOAD shitajiki and Vol. 4 of the "Saiyuki RELOAD" manga) goes to Dayang A.N.! And third prize (doa's "Shiro No Jumon" CD single and Vol. 4 of the "Saiyuki RELOAD" manga) goes to Tammy P.!
Fourth prize (ZERO-SUM November 2004 and Commit Gensomaden Saiyuki telephone card) goes to Helen N.! Fifth prize (Vol. 4 of the "Saiyuki RELOAD" manga and Commit Gensomaden Saiyuki telephone card) goes to Melissa C.!
There was a nine-way tie for sixth place among Tiina F., Laura O., Vickie W., Amy P., Kandace H., Natasha S., Julie S. (whose birthday is the same as "Journey To The REST"'s--happy birthday!), Corinne X.L.L., and Leah E.S., so they'll each get an item from the following stack of goodies: Vol. 4 of the "Saiyuki RELOAD" manga (one each to two people); Saiyuki RELOAD Scrap Note hardcover blank book (one each to two people); Saiyuki RELOAD round mousepad (one each to two people); Saiyuki cork coaster set with special Commit Gensomaden Saiyuki telephone card; set of four Saiyuki RELOAD character memo pads; and set of four Saiyuki RELOAD character magnets.
After that, I did a drawing among the rest of the entries to complete the list of 25 winners. The stack of loot for these 11 people includes: Saiyuki RELOAD plastic file (one each to four people); Saiyuki RELOAD character memo pad (one each to four people); Saiyuki RELOAD coaster premium from Animate (one each to two people); and a Goku highlighter pen. The winners are: Kimberley W., Ngoc C.L., Amanda B., Nicole C., Tracye C., Anita W., Erika E., Deidre H., Marie D.M.M., Ginger K., and Natalie M.!