Well, I just wrote another one of my poorly written entries in Japanese. Sorry! I thought I would add a little addition here in English since it has been a while since I have done a lazy English post.
I had an amazing time in Tokyo! Because it was a short visit, it ended all too quickly. The concert was fan service from start to finish. I loved it so much - Shingo-chan, you did a GREAT job this year! The last 2 concert tours were also good, but this year was simply spectacular.
I got to meet up with some wonderful people that I know from online - Smap fans from all over the world, but who I hadn't had the chance to meet in person. I also got to meet up again with fellow Smap fans I had met before.
Thanks to the friend of a good friend, we were able to watch the show from the Arena for one night. Last tour I was also lucky to do so, thanks to another dear dear friend. It was the experience of a lifetime. The only drawback of this is the ugly looks and comments we hear. (People think that as foreigners we don't understand. But think about it - we are there to hear a band that sings in Japanese. Chances are, we can understand some Japanese.)
Having said that, we also met some lovely fans who were interested that we had come from as far away as Italy and Scotland to see Smap. They were welcoming and friendly and interested. Initially they thought we lived in Tokyo - perhaps that we were English teachers or something. They were a bit shocked that we had flown all those hours to see Smap.
Anyway, I think perhaps Kimura-kun saw us? I didn't say anything to my friend that I went with until the next day because I thought surely I must be imagining things, but she saw the same thing. During Mae ni - when the carts were coming back to the stage, Kimura-kun was in front of our section (B section). He raised his arm high in a fist. I did the same. I saw his eyes look our way to see why that fist was so high, and as he looked down to see our faces, he suddenly had a surprised look. Perhaps surprised to see foreigners? That look of surprise was followed by a wonderful smile. Such a sweet smile - it made me think surely it was a dream. My friend and I were so very happy. I will tell myself in my head that he saw us. Who knows, maybe some other girl in the audience flashed her breasts at him and that's what he was smiling at? We know Kimura-kun likes a bit of peek-a-boo. I don't know. I believe though he saw us.
I only wish I could also go to Sapporo.....but I know that will be impossible. So, I will wait patiently for the tour DVD to come out, and then for the next tour. I am looking forward to Katori-kun and Kimura-kun's new dramas.
At the concerts, they always have a stand where they take membership applications for the fan club. Just to see if anything had changed, I asked the lady if I could join even though I didn't live in Japan and my address was in Scotland (I asked her in Japanese). She said she was sorry, but they still didn't have provision for people with foreign addresses. She referred me to the Johnny's International Email, but I told her that it was always just information about Tackey and Tsubasa, and never Smap. She smiled an apologetic smile. Poor girl - I put her on the spot. Someday maybe we can join the fan club so we can apply for the ticket lottery ourselves, instead of having to ask friends, and friends of friends, to help us.
Well, that's enough for tonight! I hope you all have a good week ahead of you.
With love from Scotland
I had an amazing time in Tokyo! Because it was a short visit, it ended all too quickly. The concert was fan service from start to finish. I loved it so much - Shingo-chan, you did a GREAT job this year! The last 2 concert tours were also good, but this year was simply spectacular.
I got to meet up with some wonderful people that I know from online - Smap fans from all over the world, but who I hadn't had the chance to meet in person. I also got to meet up again with fellow Smap fans I had met before.
Thanks to the friend of a good friend, we were able to watch the show from the Arena for one night. Last tour I was also lucky to do so, thanks to another dear dear friend. It was the experience of a lifetime. The only drawback of this is the ugly looks and comments we hear. (People think that as foreigners we don't understand. But think about it - we are there to hear a band that sings in Japanese. Chances are, we can understand some Japanese.)
Having said that, we also met some lovely fans who were interested that we had come from as far away as Italy and Scotland to see Smap. They were welcoming and friendly and interested. Initially they thought we lived in Tokyo - perhaps that we were English teachers or something. They were a bit shocked that we had flown all those hours to see Smap.
Anyway, I think perhaps Kimura-kun saw us? I didn't say anything to my friend that I went with until the next day because I thought surely I must be imagining things, but she saw the same thing. During Mae ni - when the carts were coming back to the stage, Kimura-kun was in front of our section (B section). He raised his arm high in a fist. I did the same. I saw his eyes look our way to see why that fist was so high, and as he looked down to see our faces, he suddenly had a surprised look. Perhaps surprised to see foreigners? That look of surprise was followed by a wonderful smile. Such a sweet smile - it made me think surely it was a dream. My friend and I were so very happy. I will tell myself in my head that he saw us. Who knows, maybe some other girl in the audience flashed her breasts at him and that's what he was smiling at? We know Kimura-kun likes a bit of peek-a-boo. I don't know. I believe though he saw us.
I only wish I could also go to Sapporo.....but I know that will be impossible. So, I will wait patiently for the tour DVD to come out, and then for the next tour. I am looking forward to Katori-kun and Kimura-kun's new dramas.
At the concerts, they always have a stand where they take membership applications for the fan club. Just to see if anything had changed, I asked the lady if I could join even though I didn't live in Japan and my address was in Scotland (I asked her in Japanese). She said she was sorry, but they still didn't have provision for people with foreign addresses. She referred me to the Johnny's International Email, but I told her that it was always just information about Tackey and Tsubasa, and never Smap. She smiled an apologetic smile. Poor girl - I put her on the spot. Someday maybe we can join the fan club so we can apply for the ticket lottery ourselves, instead of having to ask friends, and friends of friends, to help us.
Well, that's enough for tonight! I hope you all have a good week ahead of you.
With love from Scotland