So when a new single comes out from AKB48, there's a theater version of it which you can preorder within specific dates. When you place that order, you get to choose a member to shake your hands with for 10 seconds for every CD you buy. You also get a pciture with each CD, which people will trade at the event. We'll get back to how things works later on. The events will not always be at the same location, but for the last events, they've been shifting between Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe. This one was at Tokyo Big Sight, spread out on two days - July 3rd and July 10th. The next one, for Flying Get, will be at Makuhari Messe.
It's best to start the day with some Kagome juice and Aisu no Mi, sponsored by AKB. You should also grab a can of Wonda coffee for a morning shot.
The easiest way to get to Tokyo Big Sight is probably by taking the Yurikamome Monorail that runs from Shiodome. But I like to the Rinkai Line from Shin Kiba since it's cheaper. This is the station you want to get off at, Kokusai Tenjijo Station.
When you step out of the station, you will spot the Tokyo Big Sight building right away. Just follow the mass of people heading for the event.
You will eventually end up at the main entrance which is located between the west and east halls. I have never been to the rooms that are in the upside-down pyramids, and I don't think they are used for events, but rather administration.
Finally arriving at the corridor between east halls 1-3 and 4-6. This event used the halls 1-3.
This is the entrance to east hall 2. There are usually no walls separating the halls inside 1-3 or 4-6.
While you're not shaking girls' hands, you can mingle or rest in the free space area. In the free space area the staff won't bother you, but if you try to sleep on the floor outside of the free space area or even just sit down, the staff will come and shoo you away. You're not allowed to take photos inside, and the staff guys and guards are everywhere. So I had to take this shot from a low angle to avoid getting spotted.
There is also an official shop, with items that sell out quickly. And then there is the trading area, where people put up their pics they want to trade. If you want to set up your own little space, you need to get there early, when they open at 9am, and grab a space. Otherwise you have to walk around looking at pics you want and propose pics you want to trade away. Most of the people who has grabbed a space will have a small sign stating who they are looking for, and sometimes who they want to trade away. The staff doesn't like that fans use money to buy and sell pics among each other, and talking about money can be alittle taboo. So instead the letter "K" (as in "thousand") is used when asking if the buyer or seller can use money. Usually people answer with just a number, which would be in thousands, instead saying the full amount like "3000 yen". It's easy to start up conversations with random people about AKB, oshimens, events, experiences and so on. We all have the same interests after all.
Getting back on how things works at these events, when you order your tickets, you can order three tickets (at different time blocks) at most within one order. You can however place how many orders you want to. There are 6 time blocks during the day, so if you can only go late in the evening, you should only place orders on the later time blocks. An example for an order: Maeda Atsuko (9/10) - block 5, Maeda Atsuko (9/10) - block 6, Takahashi Minami (9/11) - block 3.
That's one order, and if you want to add more time blocks, more tickets for a member in the same time block, or just more members, you have to place a new order.
The thing is that if you will actually get to meet the member of your choice, is chosen by a lottery after the time limit for the preorder expires. The preorders goes in rounds, so after the first round ends, everybody gets to know who they won. When round 2 starts, all of the top members will be sold out, so that's when you should go for less popular members, if you are interested in them. So if you only put in one or two tickets of a member you would like to meet, the chance that you will win is small. That's why a lot of people put in a bunch of orders. But then, if you actually do happen to win all of them, you really have to pay. One CD is 1000 yen.
You will then get your CDs with handshake tickets, together with a receipt which you need to bring to the event. Everytime you enter a member's line for a handshake, you need to show the receipt, the ticket, and an ID card. For foreigners, a passport or an alien registration card is essential. Japanese people can show their national ID card or driver's license.
All of the above cards have a photo of the cardholder. If you want to mix/trade/sell/buy tickets with friends, you can use a bank card and a credit card instead of an ID card, since those kind of cards don't have a photo of the cardholder. You also need their receipt of course. You don't want to sell or trade this to people you don't know, since you'll giving out your credit card.
For each time you get on the line, you get the chance to use up to three tickets at one time. One ticket means 10 seconds with a member, so that would be 30 seconds. The staff has a stopwatch and check the time very precisely.
Some poeple still hang around after closing hours. Here a group of wotas are performing some wotagei.
More people near the station mingling.
Keiyo Line from Shin Kiba on the way back home.
This is my most valued picture that I managed to trade at the event. I gave away a little too much, but I wanted it badly.
Wow, nice. That lottery gig sucks..
ReplyDeleteBtw, there's no price too high for Rena chan. lol