Cakes With Faces is running #Japanuary2024 and since I’m trying to FINALLY arrange a report of my trip to Japan back in 2016, I thought I could do a double whammy and post a long overdue blog post AND participate in something fun. Day 8 is “Highlight of the trip”.
Foreward: I went to Japan for the first time back in 2016 with a group of friends for about 2 weeks. It was a really fun trip that I wanted to remember forever and so I wanted to blog it but not only was writing hard but a lot of places I was using to host my blogs either removed the feature my entries were hosted on or no longer supported images. I’m looking to save my memories in a physical form in one way or another, but since I’m typing out a sort of journal here it is adapted for the web!
My friends and I parted ways on this day. The three of them went to Tokyo Disneyland and I headed towards Yoyogi National Stadium for the ABC-Z Starline concert. It was located near Harajuku so I had to pass through the area. I walked past a line I didn’t know I would return to days later for yet another Johnny’s Shop visit. Soon enough, I saw this!
By the way, I had made this uchiwa in a rush the night before my flight. I wasn’t planning on making one since I thought I’d buy one or hold a penlight or something, but when Hiyoko-san, the person I met over Twitter when I was looking for ABC-Z con tickets asked me if I would bring one, I felt it was obligatory.
I had actually finished drawing it while I was on the plane! (laugh) I had to fix it a few times after Hiyoko-san told me the dimensions for what was “allowed”. I really rushed it but I’m glad it was OK enough for me to bring.. I really didn’t plan to at all!
Anyway, back to Yoyogi Stadium! When Hiyoko-san arrived with a concert ticket for me, she also gave me a big bag of gifts! It was full of Ebi’s singles and albums that she thought to give to me and I also noticed she gave me a parasol! I was incredibly moved when I saw it because it was so HOT out! I REALLY needed it! There weren’t enough “arigatous” in the world to convey how grateful I was.
I gave Hiyoko-san a small present.. I’m really glad I had at least something to give her!
She pointed out to me where the goods line was and told me there was still time before the concert started.
My haul!
Unfortunately, I didn’t know there were separate booths for different goods.. I didn’t pick up a penlight because I didn’t know where to get it or if there was one (it was my first con after all). My greatest regret was that I didn’t have a penlight to change colors with Ebi.. It was really pretty during “Back in Your Heart” when all the fans worked together to change the penlight to the right colors. I really wish I could have been a part of that.
When it was time to enter the building, I made my way in. I saw these arrangement of flowers that always pop up on Twitter. The congratulatory/good luck bouquets other people in industry send to talents who are performing live.
My Tweets pretty much summed up everything:
- YOU GUUUUUYSSSS (guys PLAYZONE) I GOT TO GO TO EBI CON TODAY AAAAAAAAAAAA
- EBI ARE SO MUCH SHINIER AND HANDSOME IN REAL LIFE NOT THAT I COULD REALLY SEE THEIR FACES BUT I COULD FEEL THE HANDSOME EMANATING FROM THEM
- it started with a cute segment with Train Man *Fumikyun* telling us what was not allowed on the train (I’m guessing the STARLINE)
- GOCCHI WAS EATING SO MUCH CHICKEN FOR DAYS LAFMEALEFJL I HEARD SOME GIRL NEAR ME SHOUT ‘NAGAI (too long)
- Fumi’s solo during SL Boy, he was wearing tight pants and had shoes with a pretty amazing heel.
- I was waving at Tsuka-chan and was thinking, “Aw, this is the closest I’ll get to see them” THEN GOCCHI APPEARED OUTTA NOWHERE AND I LOST IT
- GOCCHI WAS SO CLOSE TO ME YOU GUYS AAAAAAAA
- Travis Japan was the guest!! I could see them from where I sat ^____________^ ALSO THERE WAS LOTS OF FLYING AND JUMPING IT WAS SO FUN
- For the MC I *THINK* Fumi asked if we saw Dragon Ball on Sunday but the response was weak so he asked if he had no business asking about it
- They talked about Pokemon GO a bit and then Goseki-pikachu did his little cry, “Gosekichuu!” Then Tsuka-chan said that this guy is 31 years
- I’M STILL NOT QUITE OVER THE FACT THAT THESE BOYS ARE REAL AND EXIST *______________________*
- Thank you very much Mikyoni-san for giving me the opportunity to go Q______Q I had such a great time!! みきょにさん本当にありがとうございます！！！楽しかった！！
- I stopped by the the goods booths again after finally finding where to buy the penlight.. It’s late by now but I wanted a Johnny’s concert penlight for ONCE IN MY LIFE so I bought it anyway, still pretty bummed out I couldn’t join in with everyone else!
At this point, I thought I’d take a train over to Yokohama Stadium to catch a DeNA Bay Stars game! I knew there was one that day and told myself I’d catch it if I could. I like baseball though I’m not as avid of a fan as Tsubasa is, but I wanted to see his favorite team play. It was very high tension and there was constant cheering and singing throughout the game. There were large flags fans of either team brought that they waved around.
My view!
The most wonderful part is how excited everyone gets when the team earns points! I had come to the game late, but I think it was clear I was cheering for Bay Stars. When they won, these guys standing in front of me who were NUTS with their cheers high fived everyone– including me! I was out there high fiving everyone near me! I thought it was so great. Here I was, a foreigner at my first Japanese baseball game but we were all united in team spirit! I felt the kindness of fans yet again that day.
After that, I just wandered around Harajuku again until I was contacted to regroup after Disneyland closed its gates. I stopped by the Tamagotchi store to buy a few things for my sister who loves Kuchipachi. I can’t remember if my friends had dinner altogether or what time it was when we returned to the hostel, but I’m pretty sure this was snack night!
Some days before we had all decided to buy any snacks that looked good at Don Quixote to all try together. As we winded down with snacks, I also took the time to look over exactly what Hiyoko-san had gifted me.
Incredible.. This really helped bolster my Ebi collection! Thank you!!
That was the end of that day! Next was Comiket!!
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