Chuo Dori

Okay, so this time around I am going to separate these posts by event instead of by day.  The reason is that unlike previous trips I am not jamming every single minute into idol concerts.  I actually spent a few days visiting shrines, museums…touristy things.  I checked out the Edo Museum on Monday which is a neat place.  Kind of reminded me of the British Museum, although quite a bit more low-key.  But well worth the visit for the 600 yen admission.

I had the opportunity to see Berryz Kobo and C-ute last Sunday, but passed it up even though there were plenty of tickets available.  The funny thing was, when I made that decision a rush of relief came over me.  I don’t have to rush into every idol event that happens while I am here.  I am at the point where I can be a bit more selective.  The fact is that HP concerts haven’t excited me for a while now.  And since I had just come off of an exhausting day of handshakes, a quiet evening was so much more attractive.   Even with AKB48.  In the old days I applied for EVERY show while I was in town.  But now, even their popularity being what it is, I stick to shows I want to see.   Maybe I’m just getting old…

By the way, at this point of the trip I had yet to win one AKB48 show at the theater.  I was also blanking for SKE48.  So I was beginning to get worried.  Especially after Tuesday night.  I had mixed up the dates of the Team Ogi Matsuri concerts and made conflicting plans for the first night.  Originally I was okay with this because the tickets were reselling for a rather high price, and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on this concert.  However, when I heard that Wasamin was made a guest appearance to do an Enka performance.   Well, let’s just say I was disappointed, shall we?  Wasamin used to be in Production Ogi, but she transferred earlier this year.  That said, she remains a member of Watarirouka Hashiritai 7, which is an OgiPro group.

Team Ogi Matsuri Live at TDC Hall 11/16 (2nd Night)

I finally found a ticket that wasn’t too expensive after seeing most of the resellers pricing them at close to 20000 yen for the last two weeks.  I scored a standing floor ticket, but toward the rear of the queue.  The bummer was…actually there were two bummers…

1) Wasamin had to keep secret that she would be there, that and my mistaking of the show dates meant I missed the first night, AND Wasamin’s Enka performance.  I was kicking myself for a full 24 hours over that blunder.

2) I checked the reseller website about three hours after I purchased my ticket, and they dropped the prices by about 3000 yen, AND had better tickets at the same price I had paid for mine.  But that’s the chance I took.  I could have also missed out on the tickets altogether.

They handled the floor tickets the same way they used to do the queue for the Shibuya AX Setlist concerts, you queued and entered by number.  I finally got into the venue with floor ticket #735, and jammed down to the arena level as fast as I could.  I probably passed at least 100 people confused about where to go, and stuffing their belongings into lockers.  When I got in, most everyone had crammed themselves on the right side, so I quickly went to the left for a much closer vantage point.  Not bad at all.  I was about mid-pack on the left side of the stage.  I could see just fine.  Now all I needed was to see Wasamin, and I would be a happy boy!

The show started about 5 minutes late.  Right out of the box, Watarirouka Hashiritai.  A quick scan of the stage…There’s Wasamin!!!  Yatta!  They led off with the first two Watarirouka 7 singles, Valentine Kiss and Hettapai Wink.  At this point I was reminded that I had never seen Watarirouka perform live before.  So I was etstatic as I screamed for Wasamin and Komori every time they sang.

No3b definitely had a bigger fanbase in the venue, as the energy rose dramatically when they came out.  Lots of people screaming for Minegishi Minami.  Once again, I had never seen No3b live before (although I have seen the three of them do unit songs together before)  I didn’t realize what a treat this show was until I started to experience it.

They did unit songs as well, and I loved them all.  Tsundere is a great song to begin with, and watching Nacchan, Rabu and Ayarin “ham it up” was too cute.  The came Himawari…with Wasamin on lead!!!!!  I was already getting hoarse from screaming her name (actually I was a bit congested before the show even started, which didn’t help)  But I was so happy she was getting featured so prominently in the show.  I have seen Blue Rose performed live so many times, frankly I was getting bored with it.  But seeing SDN48′s CinDy in Akimoto Sayaka’s position was just awesome!!!  Totally rejuvinated the song for me.  It would have been even cooler if she pulled a “Meetan-gold bikini”, but that’s another story…

The next awesome moment (aside from the performance of the new Watarirouka song) was the appearance of Yokoyama Rurika and Kawamura Yui from Idoling!!!  They stuck around for a few songs, including Chuu Shiyouze!, the AKBIdoling!!! song.  That began the parade of special Ogi guests.  I think my favorite had to be Mayuyu’s solos with Asakura Daisuke.  The second song she did was so pretty.  She did a great job!  Watarirouka with Ikuina Akiko from Onyanko Club was also very cute.  BTW, she still looks smokin’ hawt dressed as a loli-idol!!!

The show ended with an Ariyoshi skit with some dude imitating Takamina.  Actually in the VTR he was also dressed as Acchan, Mariko and Harunyan!  After that, Ponytail to Shushu, Everyday Kachuusha and the show was done…and my legs were killing me from standing on that concrete floor for three hours+

I went over to the goods table to see if they would have anything Wasamin-related.  Unfortunately not, so the good news was I could save a few Yen.  It was basically “I love (Ogi member)” towels, clear files, and Ogi group CDs.  But they DID have the new Watarirouka Book “The Spec Kit”.  I didn’t know if it had been released yet or not, so I was glad to get my hands on it.  They also had gacchas for signed clear files, but I hate clear files!  So I hoofed it back over to the train and got the hell out of Suidobashi!

A few observations…perhaps it is because the fans these days have such a hard time winning shows, but nobody seems to know the calls/chants anymore.  They basically scream the name of the girl on the big screen, regardless of who is singing.  Also, I could only watch the Watarirouka-related MCs on the big screen because some guy kept holding up his “I love Harugon” sign every time she was up there during MCs.  And it wasn’t like he held it there for a minute, he held it up during entire MCs.  Ya know, when you are toward the front of the “standing section”, and have people behind you craning there necks to see, do the world a favor and don’t hold up a big fucking sign…idiot!

Aside from that it was a great show.  Wasamin and Komorin were awesome (as expected), CinDy is always a treat.  I have finally seen Idoling!!! (sort of).  Heck, everyone did a terrific job!

Oh, a quick and blurry shot of the birthday flowers from Flagator and everyone else on the forums.  Nice job guys!

And the good news?  I finally won a show at the theater, SDN48 and Chen Qu’s birthday show.  This means I will have been to every Chen birthday celebration since the beginning of SDN!  Cool.

CK in Tokyo

Those who attended AKB48′s Kaze wa Fuiteiru handshake event at Makuhari Messe this weekend were treated to seeing many of the girls dressed in the spirit of Halloween.  Recently Wasamin stated on her blog that she would like to try cosplaying at the handshake events.  As a result, everyone with an Iwasa Misaki ticket was treated to this…

Please excuse me for drooling all over this post.  But ZOMG!  She’s a bat!  How adorable is that???  She is Wasabat! (hahr hahr hahr) “Please Wasabat, bite my neck!!!”

I immediately left her a message telling her that I hope she does something just as special for the next event (which I will be attending)  Actually, this is the same costume she wore at a recent Watarirouka event where all of the girls wore Halloween costumes.  Oh, and a double bonus…Tanamin as a beautiful toeheaded witch!

Happy Halloween everyone!

CK in California
(photos taken from the girls’ respective blogs)

Anyone who reads my blog surely knows about my AKBMobile…

But I think given the choice I would rather be bumpin’ around NoCal in this!!!!

I WANT A WASAMIN WRAP!!!!!!

CK in California

The sweet smell of vindication.  I must admit I have been majorly pissed off at all of the IwaKomo hate that has been present around the latest Watariouka release.  It seems the loli purists didn’t like the idea of any changes to their precious unit at the risk of their oshis losing a line or two in the singles.  I usually don’t curse on my blog, but this is a special occasion for those of you who dissed Wasamin and Komorin along the way…

EFF YOU!!!

I’ll tell you why I am so pissed off.  I happen to be a champion of underdogs.  And when Wasamin “chose me” as someone who would support her, I promised myself I would do it “all the way”.  And for a long time I have seen her passed over for other kenkyuusei and asked myself “Why”?  Do they not see the talent and beauty I am seeing in this girl?  I’m sorry, but it just bothers me when I see a girl fighting hard to make it, and a bunch of front-running fans push her down when she finally gets a long deserved break.  But at long last, people are beginning to get it…

This video is from the OgiMatsuri Box Set that came out earlier this month.  I will admit that Misaki-chan still needs a little polish when it comes to her Enka-skills.  But she still hasn’t turned 16, and when you factor that in this is an amazing performance!  I always knew there was something special about this girl, even before I realized what a great singer she was!

As far as Komori is concerned, she is still receiving a bit of flack for being in this unit.  On one hand I understand why this is happening.  She is a unique idol, and on the surface she seems way out of her league.  But what her detractors fail to see is that all of the reasons they hate her happen to be the same reasons her fans adore her.  She IS awkward.  She IS shy.  She IS dopey too…a step slow.  That’s okay, it is all of those qualities that her fans find adorable.  And even by accident, they make her one of the funniest and most entertaining members of AKB48!  Let’s call it the “Oh-Yay” effect.  Remember, Ohe Tomomi was my original AKB Oshi, and the similarities between her and Mikapon are pronounced.

And don’t give me any BS about her being prematurely “pushed”.   I don’t see anyone complaining about the current promotion of Ichikawa Miori.  “Fresh Remon!!”

Now that the PV has been previewed, everyone is praising how adorable it is.  Any why wouldn’t they?  It is the epitome of cute.  Despite what many of us expected there is plenty of IwaKomo love to go around.  That makes me happy since I am STILL waiting for my Komori/Iwasa image DVD to arrive in the mail (Don’t ask, I will just say that this is the last time I order anything from YesAsia…the bastards!)

Anyway, I ordered the A and B editions of the single.  Hopefully I will get a nice Wasamin bonus inside.  My only regret about not getting the regular edition is that I think the cover is too cute!

I don’t care if Valentine Kiss is a remake.  Standing alone it is an adorable song, and an even better PV.  Enough to shut up all of the detractors we IwaKomo fans had to endure for the past couple of months.  I so hoped this would be a great single, and am completely satisfied after seeing the end result.

CK in California 

Okay, admittedly I wrote that post title with a bit of “tongue-in-cheek”.  I have always liked “Lolirouka”, although I didn’t like their last couple of singles as much as the early stuff.  The funny thing is I have never big a big fan of ANY of the girls in the unit.  However, as a group I think they are really cute.  And now…

What was four, and became five is now SEVEN!  And I couldn’t be any happier since the two newest members of WH are none other than my two favorite AKB members, Iwasa Misaki and Komori Mika.  I had been hoping for this ever since the two were added to the unit’s radio show.  It was like “what’s the point?  Are they 1/2 members or something?”  Perhaps it was a test to see how the girls would mesh together, I don’t know.  What I do know is that Wasamin and Miporin have arrived, and I am ecstatic!!!

By the way, I cannot wait for this DVD to hit my doorstep!!!

Of course I can always rely on my fellow fans to pipe in with a million opinions.  And of course idol fans react to change about the same way I react to a colonoscopy.  Everyone whining about this somehow ruining a “perfect formation” and poor Komorin is being pushed by AkiP beyond her capabilities and talent.

Ya know what?  Komori is a lot more talented than people give her credit for.  Oh and something else…Wasamin blows the doors off of all of them “singing-wise”.  They are both Super-Kawaii too, so as far as I’m concerned they are both a perfect fit for the group.

I’ll even take it a step further, they should have gotten their OWN UNIT!!!!  How about that???

Everyone loves to “Tuesday Morning Quarterback” every move AkiP and AKB Management makes, which is why Stage48 has 10 pages of two-penny opinions every time a news story breaks.  I learned long ago that being an AKB48 fan is like a rollercoaster ride.  We are riding the ride, not steering the coaster.  Even with all the high and low moments we experience, you gotta admit it’s a fun adventure.  Why not just enjoy all the ways AkiP keeps things interesting?

So after reading countless blogs criticizing this move (with the exception of Aigon, high-five buddy!)  I for one have become a bigger fan of Watarirouka as a result of the change and will be pre-ordering the single.  BAM!!!

And Go Wasamin!!!!!!!!

CK in California