CK in Japan, Fall 2009...Retrospective

I have made it back to California, but not before my traditional last-minute dash into Shibuya to find the newest releases to take home with me.  I had three items on my shopping list.  Fortunately I found two of the three, the only elusive product being Kojima Haruna's new photobook.  "Sold Outo" was the response I usually got.  I guess that is good news for Kojiharu, but bad news for CK...

Yes, I added the new CD/DVDs from Berryz Kobo and Watarirouka Hashirtai.  Each one had multiple versions to choose from.  Since I am not a big believer in buying multiple versions of the same CD, I chose version A for Watarirouka because it had the girls on the cover as opposed to the associated anime.  For Berryz I chose the Watashi no Mirai no Danna-sama cover since I prefer that song to Ryuusei Boy.  I always like to see what the big push items are at the stores on Tuesday.  In front of Tsutaya was a booth with a girl carnival-barking for the new Mr. Children. 

In front of Tower Records was a display for the new Otsuka Ai.  When I walked into the store a familiar song was playing.  But I am embarrassed to say I didn't know who it was.  I was wracking my brain and finally asked the clerk who pointed me to Ai's CD.  That's it, it is Sakuranbo!!!

I was torn whether or not to invest another 4000 yen on her new CD, which was a "best of"  Instead I decided to pick up the old cd/dvd single.  I headed back to Shinagawa for one last meal in Japan and my shuttle to Narita Airport.  I always get choked up when I leave Japan.  I'm not exactly sure why at this point as I visit often enough.  I'm sure I will be back in the next six months or so.  I think it's just that I am so happy while I'm there.  It's like "This is where I belong!"  Going back to California is such a letdown.

At risk of sounding like a broken record, this is the best trip I have ever been on in my life.  I know I have said that on every trip I have gone on.  But if you read my day to day activities you would have to agree this one was pretty special.  Per usual I squeezed a ton of fun into 11 days.  Again I found new areas to visit and new activities to do...

I saw 9 concerts/events, which is one less than my last trip...

SDN48 was the greatest find I had while in Japan.  I saw them three times, and watched a fourth show on the AKB48 Cafe Monitors.

AKB48 Team Kenkyuusei: I managed to win two AKB48 shows, although they were for the "research students"  I was slightly disappointed I got shut out on Teams A and K (Team B never performed)  But Team RS has lots of cool girls in it, and they performed B4, Idol no Yoake which is the current stage I have seen the least.  I did watch one Team A show in the cafe.

AKB Infinity:  I am so thankful that I got to see both versions of this super play.  My seats were great, and it gave me a chance to explore the amazing Tokyo Dome complex, complete with it's stadiums, shops and amusement parks.  My only regret is at the end of the day I should have gone to meet Tanabe Miku instead of Sayaka.  Oh well, next time!

Berryz Kobo:  This show was so much better to me than the Berikore show I saw last year.  My seats had something to do with it.  But give the girls credit, they were on fire that night and it was a super setlist.  And Maasa, oh baby!

Morning Musume:  All I can say is Reina's Birthday show...awesome!  I have to be honest, I have been getting a little bored with MoMusu as of late.  I'm not sure how that will manifest itself in the future.  But I am glad I got to see my favorite wonky-girl celebrate her birthday, and it was one last chance to see Koharu perform.  Plus I always have a great time when I am with Celestia!

In addition to concerts I got to visit some great places and eat some amazing food.  My visit to Tokyo Tower was amazing.  The view from up there is incredible, especially while listening to to soothing DJ stylings of AKB48's Umeda Ayaka.  I loved having manja dinner with my new friends in Ueno.  Odaiba was tons of fun, hopefully they will have more Yazawa collectibles at the Idoling!!! store when I return...

I always pack as lightly as possible because I know I am going to be bringing home a crapload of new merchandise.  This trip was no exception.  I was overwhelmed when I unpacked and arranged everything all over my bed...

DVDs
AKB48 Budokan Box Set
AKB48 Team K 4th Stage
AKB48 Team K 3rd Stage
Ohori Megumi Pre-AKB Gravure DVD
Erika Yazawa "Yazapai School" DVD

CDs
AKB48 Team A 5th Stage
AKB48 Team K 5th Stage
AKB48 Team B 4th Stage
AKB48 Team A 2nd Stage
AKB48 Team A 3rd Stage
AKB48 "River" Reg. Version
AKB48 "River" Theater Version (x2)
AKB48 "Iiwake Maybe" Theater Version
AKB48 "Namida Surprise" Theater Version
AKB48 "Sakura no Hanabiratachi" Original Version
Watarirouka Hashirtai "Ganpeki Guu no ne" Ltd Version A
Berryz Kobo "Ryuusei Boy" Ltd. Danna Sama-Version
Morning Musume "Kimagure Princess" Ltd. Closeup Vers.
Otsuka Ai "Sakuranbo" Ltd. Version
Idoling!!! "Kokuhaku" Ltd. Version

PBs
SKE48 Complete Book
Erika Yazawa "7ban Second Yazawa" (autographed)

Idol T-shirts
AKB48 NHK 2008 AKB-SKE
Idoling Yazawa #7
Berryz Kobo Fall 09 Tour "Maasa" (w/ Bandana)
Tanaka Reina 20th Birthday T-shirt (w/ wristband)

Misc.
AKB Infinity Playbill (x2)
AKB48 2010 Calendar (x2)
Ohori Megumi Biographical Book (Autographed w/ 2 personal pics)
Nissin Soup Mugs w/ AKB Autographs (x3, Tomochin, Tomo-mi, and Myao)
Ohori Megumi Ameba Pigg Uchiwa (2 versions)
Hatakeyama Chisaki Futsal Uchiwa (autographed)
Assorted Magazines and Newspapers Featuring AKB48

Then you have the pics.  This is dangerous territory for me.  I have never been much of a pic collector.  But I have found people have given me so many that I have started to develop a collection anyway.  Most of these were given to me as gifts, and many of them come with the DVDs and Calendars.  But I also found myself purchasing a few on my own...Oh no!!!

Pics
Iwasa Misaki x2
Tanabe Miku x2
Komori Mika x1
Ishida Haruka x1
Ohori Megumi x12 (1 autographed)
Infinity Cast A (2 pics)
Infinity Cast B (2 pics)
Akimoto Sayaka "Infinity"
Iwasa Misaki "Infinity"
Tanaka Reina (3 sets of 2)
Sudo Maasa (2 sets of 2)
Takahashi Ai (1 set of 2)
AKB October Team A (1 set of 5)
AKB October Team K (2 sets of 5)
AKB48 Budokan Set (5 pics)
AKB48 Calendar Set (6 pics)

Errr, that makes 62 pics in total.  No, I'm not a collector of pics.  Really I'm not.  You believe me, don't you?

Most of the AKB48 fans have always said to me that the handshake events are the best thing about AKB.  And now I think I see why.  What made this trip so extra-special was that I got closer to some of my favorite idols than ever before.  Most of you know my favorite idol in the world is AKB48's Ohori Megumi.  And to be able to "high-five" her three times.  And each time it was a warmer experience because she then knew who I was.  Seeing some of the AKB girls reaction to my being a fan, like Urano Kazumi, Iwasa Misaki and Nakaya Sayaka was awesome!  And the fact that Hatakeyama Chisaki was wondering why I wasn't at her promotional futsal event just made me even sorrier I couldn't attend.  I had never seen Chisaki before, and in just a few days she rocketed to the top of my idol pecking order.  That's how incredible she is!

At the end of the day I am just a happier person when I am in Japan.  I keep hearing the echoes of my friends "You are here often enough, why don't you just move here", "You should have an easy time finding work here".  Obviously it would be different if I lived there.  Life can't just be about seeing concerts and buying stuff.  But the fact is that I have been home for slightly more than 24 hours, and I am already counting the days until my return....Sigh

Pardon me while I go check the flight prices

CK in California