Team Syachihoko in Dalian 21 – 22 March Day 2

Something I forgot to mention yesterday was that we were just randomly standing in a corner of the shopping centre when Tenchou and his Managers walk past. As we were in Wota gear, Tencho actually stopped and apologised to us personally for the cancellation of the 2nd session. I was really touched that he would bother to talk to us fans like this. I told him we were from Singapore and they were so surprised, did about an 80deg bow. Tenchou asked me if I was going to come to the shopping centre on the 2nd day and I replied “Of course”

Admittedly, when the 2nd session was cancelled, I immediately thought that this was a play of anti-Japanese sentiments. The Chinese and Japanese are not exactly known to be the best of friends (with good reasons). Later on I was re-assured by a local Chinese that this was not the case, but I guess we will never really know.

For day 2 I had originally wanted to do some morning sight-seeing to visit China’s “Great Ocean Road” called “Binhai Road” which is a coastal highway. It also features a 40km Boardwalk which happens to be the longest boardwalk in China, promising breathtaking views of the coast.

Alas, my body disagreed with this plan and I slept through the morning LOL.

A Random Giraffe

And so, back to the Wanda Shopping Centre it is. Reaching at more than an hour before the 1pm session starts, ALL the Japanese wota already lined the 2nd and 3rd floors looking down onto the stage area. This would be what we Singaporean Chinese call “自动” (Automatic). They all know the right thing to do without being reminded or cajoled.

However, the front row of the stage is still a row of wota. These are the local Chinese(and HK) fans which number less than 10. As we are not locals, we are slightly confused as to where we could stand. We decided to go up to the 2nd floor to recce.

Upon settling on a great vantage point in the middle of the stage, we make conversation with the wota around. It is only from talking to the wota in which you can get a real sense of what the fandom is really like, and also learn more about the girls. They also informed us that it was still not clear whether the performances would go on or not.

One other thing that made me chuckle was that one of the Ojisan wota said “Us Syachi fans are very nice to each other, not like AKB fans who always fight among themselves.”

There is a Chinese couple standing next to me and they also talk to me. They ask me about the girls and how I find the event. It is only halfway through our conversation that they reveal that they are one of the organizers to the event! What are the chances! Of course we say we are from Singapore. They told us that they are very pleased with the turnout and will likely invite the girls (and maybe more artists) next year! Although I do not like Dalian very much, but if Syachi PLUS other groups come again next year, I could consider going again.

They also told us that the Managers visited the Police Station yesterday to 打个招呼  or “Say Hello”. But we all know what that means. I guess things turned out for the best because they got permission to continue with the rest of the Lives!

The Japanese Wota urged us to go down to the first floor as we are not-Japanese. We took their advice and went down.

Basically, apart from the row of Chinese Wota sitting in the first row (whom I got to know later on), there was another 2 rows of chairs, followed by the crowd of local Chinese non-wota. We stood right in front of this crowd and in full wota gear so I guess you could say it was as good as front row seats. The MC is a very cute Chinese girl who speaks very fluent Chinese and Japanese. Her accent sounded a little Taiwanese to me so she was definitely not local Dalian-er (The local Dalian-ers have a strong Northern Chinese/Beijing-ish Accent). Her Japanese had a little bit of Chinese Accent in it so I know that she isn’t Japanese. She warned the wota not to make too much notice or get too excited.

The setlist was something like “Otome Juken Sensou” “Colours” and “Stardust Bowling”. This time, Nao chan gives me the full fan treatment. Lots of eye contact and smiles. She is really cute when she isn’t giving her bitch face. Haha. Haruna also looks at me at least once. Nao chan’s voice sounds exactly like in the DVD lives, her performance more than lives up to my expectations.

At this point we notice Tenchou, his managers and other random crew members lining both the sides of the stage. To our shock, they are actually physically holding down the red felt floor covering! And also visibly using considerable strength to make sure that the girls don’t fall down due to the loose flooring!

Incredible. Once again I was touched by their strong determination and commitment to the fans.

In between performances, the members have to do interviews. 

Yuzu-pon is not present so Yuzuki mostly takes over her lines. We later learnt that she flew back to Japan to take care of things at home (An internet source said that she had exams). Sometimes they forget to fill in for Yuzu-pon so everyone just kind of stares at each other while the music plays and nobody sings(Some people still chant for Yuzu-pon though she is not there). The sound system was still shitty and the music cuts off in short intervals.

The “Oi Oi”’s of the wota from the upper levels echo into the atrium of the shopping centre sending chills down my spine. You would have to be there to know what I mean. Just Amazing. Another person could likely describe the same as “Creepy” though.

After the performance Tenchou informed us of the Photo Session after the 4pm performance. I took it that this was to make up for the cancelled 2nd session on day 1. Maybe you could say that this was a blessing in disguise? I would never have thought to be able to take pictures with the girls!

Once the session was over, the local Chinese wota would gather at the back of the stage to wait for the girls to come out. So we went to hang around there to see what would happen. True enough, the girls came out and spoke to some of the fans.

We didn’t want to trouble the girls so we stood apart and just observed. To our surprise, one of the managers told Haruna that we were from Singapore (The manager recognized us!). Haruna gave us a 90deg bow and thanked us for coming. I was absolutely stunned. NOBODY has ever given me a 90deg bow. And it was from an Idol so young (and cute) as Haruna. In my eyes, she is not a kid despite being 15 years old (same age as Maa-chan but Maa-chan would never do this). She is an extremely professional artist who takes her job and commitment to her fans very seriously. She is mature beyond her years. She has my full and utter respect.

I wanted to tell her not to bow and that we were the ones who should be saying thank you. But I was just at a loss for words. I was so moved. Typing this now at this moment just makes me feel like oshihen-ing from Nao chan to Haruna. Double oshi it is then.

Finally we have some time for lunch, which was at a Japanese-Family-Restaurant-like place. The food again was nothing too great, if a little disappointing for the relatively high price. I swear I am not picky with food but the standard is just not within acceptable restaurant standards (for Singapore or Japanese standards).

I had Omurice, Fried Pork Cutlet and Nao-coloured drink

This time, the 4pm session started promptly. However, the Organizer took to the mic again and announced happily to the wota that they could make as much noise as they wanted to, this being the last session in Dalian. I could just feel the tingle of excitement in the air as the wota get ready to release their inhibitions.

This setlist does not disappoint with all their hit numbers “Otome Juken Senso”, “777”, the pizza song and the like. Once again, the staffs are using all their might to hold the stage together. This time I try to take note of members other than Nao chan. Chiyuri gives me a cute smile. Haruna also give me a quick glance to make sure I am paying attention to her. I don’t know if it’s just me, but Honoka doesn’t seem to connect with the audience much. It could be just how she is with her “my-pace” attitude, but she does always seem to be in her own little world. Yuzuki less so, but she too seems to be thinking about something else. Nao chan has her on and off moments; one moment she could be smiling and fishing fans, but when she is in her “off” moments, she puts on her doya face, especially when she has to dance at the sides.

More people forget to sing Yuzu-pon lines. There seems to be a slight improvement in the sound system too. But other than that, it was awesome! The wota certainly gave it their all the cheered the girls on with all their hearts. In response, the girls were fired up. To be in the middle of it all was unforgettable.

As the performance came to an end, the girls stayed on the stage extra long to say good bye to everyone. All the wota ended up waiting around for announcement of the Photo Session. We then trooped along outside to the front of the building where the photo taking would take place. Again making conversation with fellow wota. It is kinda confusing because there are multiple languages being thrown around. There was also a reporter from Nikkei Sport who spoke to me in English and Japanese, he took down my name too.

Soon, the wota are split into “Bus Groups” This is the bus service organized by Syachi Manager to ferry wota from the Hotel to the Shopping Centre. “Others” Japanese wota not signed up for the bus plan and “Local Fans”. Once again, we are confused where to go, but the manager who recognized us waved us into the “Local Fans” group along with 4 Japanese-Wota-Living-in-China. As a result our group is pretty small compared to the other Bus sized groups of about 15 people.

Behind the scenes of the picture taking session. This is a normal group pic size.

After the picture is taken, we get a chance to talk to the girls. Haruna again comes to talk to us and thank us for coming I tell her to come to Singapore. Nao chan then comes over and she is surprised that we are from Singapore. I ask her if she knows where Singapore is, and yep, she knows the Merlion. I tell her to come to Singapore. (This is my standard phrase haha). They are all super tiny. Her profile states that she is 154cm, but I swear Nao chan is smaller than that. What do they feed these girls!?

While Nao chan is very considerate as expected of an idol, Haruna is the one who won me over with her earnest-ness.

Soon, it is time to say our good-byes; to the girls and fellow wota. We head off to the airport straight, sharing the cab fare with 2 female Chinese wota. At the airport we chat about wota stuff and exchange wota stories. At our gate, we also bumped into 1 of the Japanese-Wota-Living-in-China who is a huge Mononofu.

The flight back is un-eventful aside from being bogged down by post-event depression. What a weekend indeed.

Lastly, the group pic! Too awesome!

Notes on Team Syachihoko, Managers and Fans

I would say I have become a slightly bigger fan. I could also appreciate how differently Stardust treats their fans as compared to other groups. The managers take their time to personally speak to the fans to make them feel like they matter. The thought that they put into taking care of the fans is something uniquely Japanese, and more specifically, uniquely Stardust (?). I can truly understand how Stardusters can support their groups so whole-heartedly. I came out of this re-thinking everything about the idol industry and realizing how much the management style can affect an idol group. And perhaps also begin to understand how Momoclo got to where they are now.