CK's Japan Tour, Fall 2008 Day 7 ~Dinner Theater & Berryz in Fuji~

So the trip is coming down to the home stretch.  I could seriously live here.  Obviously I am on vacation, and if I was living and working here instead it would be a different experience.  But Tokyo is such a great city!  It has really encouraged me to "step up" my Japanese lessons!

The Fate of the Elder Club

We have already seen some examples of what the Elders are going to be doing.  Melon Kinenbi will still perform, Yuko and Nacchi are continuing to act.  And of course I got an idea when I saw Ayaya perfprming at a jazz club the first night I was here.  The hotel I am staying at is huge, and it has many amenities, including a theater.  And who is on the bill this December?

Wow!!!  Yossie, Charmy and Sotoda Mai doing a Christmas dinner show.  And judging by the outfits, I don't think they will be doing any Hangry & Angry material!  Oh wait, someone else is doing a Christmas dinner show the next evening...

Oh, god, Ayaya is love!!!  Now before you even start thinking that I am going to plan a trip here in seven weeks, my vacation time for 2008 is all used up.  And my wallet needs a little rest before I head back over here again.  Those dinner shows ain't cheap!  $260 per person for Charmy and the gang, and $300 for Matsuura Aya...sheesh!!!

 

A Quick AKB48 Note

I got all of those for free from other AKB48 fans last night.  Two copies of the Theater Version of Oogoe Diamond, and a bunch of older photos, including three of the lovely Meetan!  I have Cancel Machi #61 for Team B matinee today.  If I get in, that will mean I got to see all three teams perform while I was here!  There are a bunch of crazy goings on with AKB48 this week.  And had I known about them this trip would've looked a bit different.  But I will explain that on a future post.  Suffice it to say, many more reasons to love AKB48!!!

New H!P Releases!!!

 

So while I have been here a bunch of new H!P releases have hit the shelves.  And sadly, a bunch more come out right after I leave.  As much as I like Milky Way, I don't love Tan Tan Taan, so I am skipping that one.  I'm torn on the Manoeri indie release.  Not because I like the song, but because the Tower Records version comes with a LE bonus photo!  I am definitely going to buy Berryz "Five" before I leave.  And the new ones from Berryz Kobo and Buono!  which sadly come out after I go home :(.  I absolutely love the song and PV for Madayade, and Rottara Rottara is growing on me with each listen!  I was really hoping Berryz played their new single when I saw them yesterday...

Berryz Kobo Live in the Shadow of Mt. Fuji!!!

Going to see Berryz Kobo in Shin-Fuji was a totally different experience.  It was my first concert here that took place outside of the general Tokyo area.  Fuji is about 100 miles south of Tokyo, and about a 70 minute ride on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train).  BTW, thank heavens for my Japan Rail Pass.  It made travel much easier here.  And the Shinkansen trips are pricey.  So it was well worth it!  From the JR Shinkansen stop it was about a mile and a half to the venue.  But I couldn't figure out the bus lines, so I decided to walk it.  I needed the excercise anyway.

I know the setlist from Wiki.theppn, and I was most excited about Suhada Pichipichi, Yuujou Junjou oh Seishun, and 21ji Made no Cinderella.  But I was also hoping that they would play their latest single, although they hadn't done as of yet on the tour, and this was the last stop!  I went in about 40 minutes before showtime.  I know a lot of people like to rush in right as the doors open.  But I don't see the reason for it.  I think everyone is afraid their favorite merchandise is going to sell out or something.  But when I went in there was only one sold out photo set, and everything else was available.  So I stocked up on my Maasa supplies!

T-shirt set and keychain, cool!  They also have this cool thing where you can buy a picture really cheap.  the only catch is you don't know which pic you are getting.  My favorite members in Berryz are Maasa, Captain, and Chinami.  My least favorites are Yurina and Risako.  So who did I get???

LOL, I think Yurina is meant to be my favorite because she ALSO was the one who did my birthday on that Berryz "Calendar" DVD!  Onto the show...

The other thing I was anticipating are the songs from the new CD.  To tell you the truth, I haven't really given them a good listen yet.  They opened with HAPPY! Stand Up, which is a nice upbeat number to open the show.  But the second song, Kono Yubi Tomare! was awesome!!!  I'll tell you right now that might be one of my favorite Berryz songs ever!  I also enjoyed CLAP and Yumi wo Hitotsubu...

The MC segments were great!  In the intro segment, Chinami and Miya got into a playful spat, with Chinami ultimately pointing at Miyabi and pouting.  Then Miyabi told Chinami she could sit on her knee, huh?  The MC with Chinami and Yurina just before "Cinderella" was also cute, with Chinami showing off her new manicure with little green studs around her cuticles to match her dress.  But the best was the little skit.  And Maasa again was the star of it.  This is why Maasa is my favorite member.  Not only is she adorable, but she is obviously their best actress!

After Yuujou, they left the stage.  But I already knew that BE and Special Generation (regular version, not the remix) were coming.  Finally the lights went dark, and the screen came on...

05/11/2008...

New Single...

Here We Go...

OMFG, My heart stopped, MADAYADE!!!  The first performance ever!!!  I loved it!  And no, they didn't sing it in the costumes from the PV, sorry.  But that would have been cool.  Overall it was a great show!  All of the girls did a great job.  there was some pitchiness here and there by a couple of people.  But that can be forgiven.  No one is perfect, and they all did their best.  So it was a great time for all!

Next Up, Morning Musume tonight!  I can't wait...

CK in California (or Tokyo)

(Berryz Performance Pics from Hello! Online)