#and are moving some branch (I just heard the report and I legit can’t remember what it was) from California to Texas

[kingofmyborrowedheart]

Seeing all of these big tech companies bending the knee to Trump is really something.

[dear--j]

Two Shot Report - 13/5/17 - Osaka Intex - Thumbnail

The last time I was at a 48G event was back at Takamina’s last handshake in Fukuoka ;; It’s been quite a while and I’m not really a fan of the group anymore (instead, I’m more a fan of individual girls), so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.

I arrived around 8:30. It was raining and kinda cold, but it was warm enough instead which was good. I got my tickets stamped and the staff tried to speak English to me which got me confused (she said name check, but it sounded like name chigau, so I was like?? No, it’s definitely my name lol).

The line wasn’t that big (people didn’t really show up until the third and fourth slots), so I was able to go to Miichan’s lane quickly. I was expecting it to be busy, but it was honestly pretty dead. I went to visit her in the first and second slots, and it was the same both times. It must suck being placed to Yukirin, who is always busy…

Actually, I won a cheki on my first try lol What are the odds! As such, we got to have a nice convo.

Miichan: Hello! Me: Hello! Miichan: What pose are you thinking of? Me: Is a heart ok? Miichan: Ok! –takes picture- Miichan: How old are you? Me: -- (a lady’s age is a secret ;p) Miichan: Wow, you’re Japanese is good! Me: Ah, my kanji is not good tho Miichan: Mm, yeah, kanji is difficult huh? (brief silence) Me: Actually, my birthday is on the 30th! Miichan: Ah, that’s soon Me: So the two-shot is a present to myself lol Miichan: -nods- -time- Thank you, come again ok? Me: Yes, I will!

She seemed a little down (maybe not a morning person?) but she cheered up for the second slot when she recognised me.

Miichan: Oh! You’re back! What pose? Me: Ummmmm cat? Miichan: Cat! Like this! –pose and photo- Miichan: Thank you! –handshake- Me: Thank you~ Miichan: Come again… Niku? Me: -laughing- Nikki! Miichan: Nikki! Me: Bye bye~ I don’t know if I’d go to visit Miichan again, but she put in the effort of trying to remember my name and does listen when you speak, so I do recommend visiting her once if you’re a fan.

I had nothing in third slot, which I regret, since there was such a long time between meetings, but I hadn’t had breakfast. So I had brunch in the cold before heading back in for Kitarie.

One thing I enjoy about events is the fans. Miichan’s lane had mostly guys in the 30s range I guess, while Kitarie had a much better balance of girls to guys, and also had more stylishly dressed girls. As an aside, I saw one girl in Kitarie’s lane, then again when I was lining up for Komiharu, Anna and Momoka lol. I guess we have similar tastes?? I wanted to talk to her (outfit was on point!) but we just kinda smiled at each other lol

Kitarie’s line was long. The girl next to her, Miyajima Aya, had pretty much no lane at points but her service looked kami level, so I’ll get a ticket for her next event. Miichan sat the entire time, but Kitarie walks you out, and since she’s still standing, she walks you in.

Kitarie: Hello! Me: Hi Kitarie~ Kitarie: I love your dress! Me: Thank you! Kitarie: What pose? –pose and photo- Kitarie: Ahhh, you look like a princess! Me: -laughing- No I don’t! Kitarie: Thank you! Enjoy your day okay! Me: Thank you! You too!

I would definitely recommend her. I’m not even a massive fan, but she’s pretty and very radiant. She really puts effort in to make you feel welcomed. Her line also was moving relatively well despite the time she takes.

Next I debated about going to Aanya’s autograph session or Komiharu’s photo first. Aanya’s signing lane was close to Kitarie’s booth, so I went there first. Good decision, as I was first in line~ It meant waiting there for 40 odd minutes, but I figured Komiharu’s line would already be busy by then. I’ve heard mixed reports on whether being first or last in line makes a girl remember you (though I guess it only matters if you see them often enough ;p) but first makes more sense to me. She’s less tired, hasn’t seen a billion faces, and last kinda implies you were elsewhere and she’s been shoved in last minute, whereas first shows the ‘stake out’ dedication. In any case…

Aanya: Yaho~ Me: Hello! Aanya: Wow~ Nikki-chan? –reading signing paper- Me: Yes~ Aanya: The flowers are really pretty! Me: Thank you! Aanya:  Are you half? Me: No, I’m Australian but I live in Ehime. Aanya: Eeeee… ah, the pen died… -steals pen from next lane, staff calls time- Aanya: -spelling out her name- -Ok! –staff tells her she has to write the date- Really? Ok! Aanya: Thank you, come meet me again! Me: Of course I will! Bye! Aanya: Bye!

That was a really good experience. It felt really natural. As she was walking to the signing area she looked a little tired? Poker face? Maybe she was just confused about which lane she was in (another girl was lol). She brightened up as soon as she saw her line and got really into it. 10/10 would recommend. Her signature took up the whole cover, which was great.

I went to Komiharu’s line and it was pretty busy. Lots of stylish people again, seemed to be a slightly younger crowd. There was a really cute girl, maybe 4 or 5, dressed in something that looked like a HebiRote outfit. Komiharu was super genki with her.

Komiharu: Hello~ Me: Hello~ Komiharu: Wahh, miteita! * Komiharu: Sit down~ You’re cute! Me: Komiharu is cute! Komiharu: No no! (I vaguely recall this being in English) –pose and photo- Me: Thank you! Komiharu: Mm, see you again! Me: Of course, bye bye!

*(I’m not entirely sure what she meant; It means “I was looking/I saw” right? But she hadn’t seen me before now, and none of the other lanes were close to hers and I wasn’t around near lane ending times so she wouldn’t have seen me from backstage… Could this mean another girl had mentioned me so it means more of “Oh! I see who they’re talking about” thing?)

I’d recommend her for sure. Very sweet and bubbly. Her smile truly is infectious and she fishes without trying haha

I wandered off to the trading area and instead of getting rid of photos, I made friends who gave me Momoka photos haha Also ended signing some birthday cards, one for a HKT girl I can’t remember, but her fan committee kinda dragged me in lol

I got to Momoka’s signing lane and it was a mess. It started out normal but ended up branching in four directions… Staff weren’t fixing it and people had no idea what was going on. She also showed up late, which was actually kind of ok because it meant the lines next to us moved on faster so there was more room for Momo’s line. Momo had a surprising age range (middle schoolers to jiisans) and a wide range of fashion, though a more casual/low key punk style seemed to be the biggest pull.

Me: Hello! Momoka: Hello. Those flowers are nice. Me: Thankyou! Momoka: They’re beautiful. Me: Thankyou!!! Momoka: -signed- Here. Me: -a stuttering mess- Momoka is really cool! Momoka: -laughing- Bye! Me: -a tomato- bye!

Momoka’s signature is hella tiny and not worth it unless you’re a fan haha. I feel like she might not get foreigners often and was either trying to figure out English or if I could speak Japanese, so I didn’t get much of a conversation with her. But she’s got me hook, line and sinker so honestly, I don’t mind lol

Still on that high, I went off to see Aanya. Her line moved pretty quick, probably because I’d spent a lot of time in Momoka’s lane. She’s way more popular than I thought, and to be honest, I think she’d have a good chance in sousenkyo. Obviously not senbatsu, but she certainly wouldn’t do poorly.

Aanya: Yahoo! Me: Hi Aanya~ Aanya: You’re back! Me: Yes! Aanya: What pose should we do? Me: Gao? Aanya: Gaoooo! Me: Thank you! Aanya: Thanks for coming, come see me again! Me: Of course! Bye bye~

She’s really cute and I wish she was more popular. I recommend her since she’s fun and you won’t be stuck in line forever with her.

My next photo was with Suuchan. I was talking to a guy in a suit who was in her lane. He asked where I was from, other boring small talk and if I liked Suuchan (duh?). Interestingly, he caught up to me later and said he was the father of one of the girls from another sister group. I don’t know how legit that is and obviously won’t say which girl, but he invited me to hang out with the Suuchan oshis next time lol

Suuchan’s line was kinda slow, but not unbearably so. She seemed to have a quieter crowd, and more guys to girls in her lane. Notably, Suuchan was the only one who spoke English to me.

Suuchan: Hi! Me: Hello! Suuchan: Wow, pretty! Me: No, Suuchan’s pretty! (Japanese) Suuchan: Beautiful! Me: You are! I love you~ Suuchan: Wow! –laughing- Suuchan: Thank you! Bye! Me: Bye~

She was so bright and happy! Honestly, my biggest thing was to get a member from every group, but I don’t really follow NGT or SKE, so Kitarie and Suuchan were my defaults lol. No regrets, they’re both excellent choices and well worth the money.

I had two tickets for Myao next. Back at my last event, I was lucky to get into an AnDare filming, and being the only foreigner there, got a bit of screen time. A week later at Takamina’s last handshake, Myao recognised me from there and I saw her twice. Even though it’s been well over a year, I thought I’d see if she’d recognise me. Realistically, she wouldn’t, but that led to a fun conversation.

However, I was floored by Momoka and was wondering if I could oshimashi Myao’s tickets to her. Turns out I couldn’t so I went to Myao first, so Momoka could be my last. Turns out to be a good call since I won my second cheki.

I also got to Myao early, being first in line. Whoever was before her was taking their sweet time with their fans to the point where they moved fans somewhere else to continue taking photos. Myao didn’t show up until 10 minutes past the block starting time thanks to this.

First photo nothing, second ticket cheki~ Lucky! The fans for the previous girl had been laughing with the staff, trying to bribe them for cheki tickets lol

Myao: Hi! Me: Hisashiburi~ Myao: Hisashiburi..? Me: Yeah, two? Years ago, at Takamina’s last handshake –laughing- Myao: Eeee… what pose should we do? Me: Well, since you like Kpop, let’s do Gangnam Style –laughing- Myao: You’re pretty~ Me: No no, Myao is~ -second photo, cheki- Myao: Where are you from? Me: Australia, but I live in Ehime Myao: Eeee Me: It’s a little far haha Myao: Yeah, a little! –showing me the cheki- Cute! It’s cute right? Me: Of course! It’s got both of us in it lol Myao: Next time I’ll meet you in Ehime! Me: Please do~ Myao: Come again okay! Me: Ok, bye bye!

She’s so enjoyable. Not as energetic as some (or as obviously energetic), but we had a good chat and she made you feel close to her and part of the process (me seeing the cheki), instead of sit down and move along.

My last one was Momoka. Again, I had two photos with her. Honestly, before today I didn’t care if I got a cheki or not. It’s nice, and definitely value for money, but I wouldn’t be miffed if I didn’t get one. Now that I’d seen them in person I wanted them all, so you can bet I’ll be forking out money for Momo until I get one haha!

Her line was pretty big but it also moved relatively fast. The thing with Momoka is that people are never sure what hair colour she has and are constantly trying to grab a glimpse of her. “Silver!” “It’s really grey?” And other whisperings as people tried to find the right angle to peek haha

Me: Hi! Momoka: Ah! From earlier! Me: Yes~ Momoka: What pose do you want? Me: Um, like this? -we started out with small smiles but she ended up grinning bigger and bigger and I turned into a tomato again- Me: -face in hands- Too cool Momoka: -laughing- Next? Me: Ahhh, a heart? -Momoka did a peace sign too, so I copied lol- Momoka: Thanks Me: Thank you!!!

For me I’d recommend Momoka. She’s got a crazy image but she’s really chill and has a cute smile. She doesn’t seem into it but her fans were doing weird photos like pretending to pat her head and stuff, which I didn’t see from other girls, so I think she’s more into it than what she conveys. Honestly, since I’m not a major fan of the 48G anymore, I’ve been ticking things off my list so I can leave the fandom/not follow it with no regrets. It now looks like I’ll have to keep following the group to make sure I have more time with Momoka ;;;;

One thing I would make a note of is staff. Some staff had no idea what was happening and others really didn’t know procedure. For example, Momoka didn’t put the date on my album cover. I don’t care, but did they have to or was Aanya’s security person being pedantic? The second photo I had with Miichan I had to take off my ring, even though I didn’t have to do that for any other photo. Maybe three times out of all my photos was I asked to show the front and back of my hands. I understand time is an issue, but when it comes to security or ‘fairness/right procedure’ in the case of signings, I think staff should be more consistent.

At the end of the day it was enjoyable. There was no craziness, the wota were genki, staff generally knew what was up and were helpful. I regret not buying a few more tickets, but I’m kinda glad I didn’t since I didn’t want to end up wasting them. It was a good learning experience and I had a good time. I’m looking forward to the next event~