Wow, what an event!

This past long weekend was amazing for so many reasons.  I originally figured I would simply be seeing a Morning Musume concert.  And maybe there would be some sort of extra event surrounding it.  Since I have seen MoMusu so many times before perhaps the anticipation in me wasn’t quite as high as some others.  But the event ended up being the blast of all blasts.

-It was incredible because the mythical Morning Musume actually came to California and put on an amazing show.  Even with a bare stage and slightly tinny sound system the girls looked and sounded awesome.  They worked very hard to pump up the crowd, and the crowd (especially the people front and center) responded admirably.

-It was incredible because their enigmatic producer Tsunku made multiple appearances at the event, which is something that doesn’t even happen in Japan.  Tsunku was great.  And his responses at the Q&A session were forthright and enlightening.  If UFA gets the support and feels the demand, more shows await!  And judging from the MM Q&A the girls have no problem with making the trip!

-It was unbelievably incredible because I had the opportunity to stand face to face with each Morning Musume member and interact with them for a brief moment.  Every last one of them was sweet, gracious, humble and absolutely beautiful.  I adore every single one of them.  I don’t want to forget about Yoshizawa Hitomi either.  I loved her hair, she was so cute in person!  I owe Bento from #wotachat big time for helping me score autograph tickets.  You are awesome!

-And last, but in no way least were all of the friends, colleagues and fellow fans I had the privilege of meeting.  I know many who attended the event felt the same way.  Being able to hang out with people who’s work I have read or have merely spoken to in a chat room/thread was far more amazing than I could have ever imagined.  That was amplified by the post concert Hello! Party event.  What a terrific idea hatched by Bryan and Jen from Hello! Ranking.  A room full of J-pop bloggers, IW writers, Hello! Online, JPH!P.com and other H!P fanatics.  Every time I saw a name badge I was in awe.  I had a blast narrating the event on UStream with mp from #wotachat!

Some of the names you might recognize from International Wota were the folks I spent the most time with.  Amy (along with brother Rocky and hawt sister Lysa, hehe), Maize, Joh and Kirarin Snow.  I also spent a lot of time hanging out with Catch Five Bats from Obnoxious Wota.  Greg from Selective Hearing, and of course Paul Thomas from Hello!Blog.  I loved running into Langdon from YODC, SacredCultivator from Hello! Fansubs, and what a surprise to see Yumestarlet from Stage48 and Egao Yes Idols who I had met two months ago at an AKB48 Team B show in Japan…awesome!!!  Although I am sure like me, part of her would have liked to have been in Paris this weekend for the AKB48 extravaganza.

But the silliest one of all had to be Pata from Hello!Island and P-chu piano labs, who sat next to me for the entire MoMusu show and never identified himself…instead choosing to tweet about sitting next to me to everyone else.  Bwahahahahaha!  Next time say hi dude!  Jyo-ru from S.P.A.K.A., I would love to spend a “lost weekend” with him along with Henkka and Shirow.  Party on!

Finally a shout-out to the “senior crew” of Rad, Mozenator and Arden who help make me feel not so out of place!

I hope I am not forgetting anyone.

The bottom line was everyone was great.  It’s one thing to be able to see Morning Musume, but to be able to share the experience with so many incredible people is beyond words.  I have loved reading all of the stories posted this week.  I have always said that you will find a new level of appreciation for H!P after seeing them in person.  And now so many of my friends have had the opportunity to live the experience.  I am so grateful for that.  Every single moment of this event was like a gift.  A gift I will never forget.

I don’t know when or where we will all be able to get together again for such a special event.  But I hope it happens soon.  And I hope some of you that didn’t make it last time will find your way there.  It will be sooooo worth it!

CK