Japan 1-6 Oct 2014 Day 5

Day 5

This was undoubtedly my most hectic day in the history of my Japan Trips.

I woke up around 5am to catch a 6am highway bus from Osaka to Nagoya. Surprisingly I didn't get lost.

Upon reaching Nagoya 3 hours later, I deposit my luggage at Nagoya station and buy my Shinkansen ticket to Yokohama later on in the day. I am kind of Familiar with Nagoya already since I have been there many times. (Not always willingly)

I then head to the Airport(Nagoya Chubu Airport) about 30mins away for my C-ute Group Cheki. Revenge for my failed cheki the day before!! I am wearing my Team C-ute (gold) Black T today. I arrive kind of late (Not late actually, only time. Just that I am normally early) So I am about 30th in the queue. There are still signs around warning about Airi's eye patch. For group cheki, you are required to show some Photo ID because the ticket has your name on it. This is quite strange for foreigners I think because the people there have no way to verify your name, so it is a little dodgy. I show my passport with my English name on it this time to match the the English name on my ticket. BUT for previous group chekis, my name on the ticket is in KATAKANA, whereas my passport in in Alphabets. But I always get through somehow.

Before you go in, you have to tell the staff what pose you want. I try to tell the staff that I want that degree symbol and C, but he doesn't understand. (Obviously not a C-ute Fan). So when I go in I motion to the members and they all understand immediately.

I am not wearing a Maimi T today so everyone smiles at me (haha). Sadly Maimi chan is sitting in the Back row with Airi on my left and Chisa on my right. It is over in a flash and I have to say bye bye to Maimi chan for the rest of the trip :(

As usual I am glowing after any meeting with Maimi chan. I smile creepily as I look at my cheki. I head back to Nagoya station to collect my luggage and catch the bullet train to Yokohama

This is my first time in Yokohama so I have a little trouble navigating my way around. Plus, my next event is at shopping mall from which is a bus ride away from an unfamiliar (small) station, and I have my luggage with me. When I reach the station, it is pouring.

Yes, I know that my no.1 Oshi and my other High Ranking Oshi whom I am going to meet are both Ame Onna, so I should be prepared for Typhoons. (FYI both C-ute and Kikka have release UMBRELLAs as part of their tour goods)

I walk to the bus stop where I am supposed to board the bus, but am confused by the signs. My bus doesn't seem to be operating... I ask the staff nearby and confirmed that my bus is not operating at the moment. Oh dread. It is raining and the time for the event is about to start.

I then make a quick decision to take a Taxi to the venue. Honestly I advise AGAINST taking taxis ANYWHERE in Japan because the price is just too incredibly high to justify the means. Comparatively, Taxis in Singapore are cheap. But dire situations call for dire measures. With a wave of a hand, I am safely in a much welcomed and dry taxi. There is quite a Jam to the Shopping Mall. As I arrive at the Shopping Mall and rush to the center stage, Kikka just starts singing her first song. I am just that lucky.

She sings only 4 songs, including her new single's song. There are only about 20 Wota around. Kikka looks a little unsure while performing, but nevertheless she still delivers her songs very well. Actually I have never heard Kikka go out of tune before. Since the first time I saw her in 2011 Hello Con as opening act, nothing fazes her. Her MC is entertaining as usual.

This is when I have the time to look around and realize that this Shopping Mall mostly caters to Young Children.  And how odd it must be to have and Idol such as Kikka to hold her event here. Kikka's recent songs are a touch more "sexy" then your average idol. Not to mention the Samba Outfit that she wore is definitely not "Kid-Friendly". The wota certainly look out of place here. I would have preferred for her to wear a slightly more conservative outfit here. But anyhow, Kikka plays along and tries to get the kids involved, not that there are many near the stage.

When it is time for handshake session, the staff tell me handshake is only when you pre-order the CD. They will mail the CD to you or you have to go back to the same shopping mall to collect the CD when it is released. Both options are not viable for me. Anyhow I pre-order the CD because I want to speak to Kikka. I tell Kikka I am from Singapore (She gives the WOW! SINGAPORE) and that I took a taxi here.

Now I would like to say something about Kikka. She is not the iyasare-type idol. She is the loud in your face HEY HEY LOOK AT ME. type of Idol. BUT, her live has such a calming effect on me. When I listen to Kikka sing, I feel like I am elevated (not quite sure how to explain this). Especially so when she sings songs like "Mizuiro" and "Sweetie". It is a very strange but peaceful feeling which I enjoy very very much. It is funny because once her MC starts, you are brought back to earth. Her MC is usually very clumsy but at the same time very endearing. It makes her very human and relatable.

I swear I took this exact same picture with my now defunct camera phone.

Everything gets a little fuzzy from here on because Im running low on fuel. I take the local train back to Tokyo (25mins), deposit my luggage in yet another locker (my 3rd locker in 1 day). And head towards Odaiba's Tokyo Diver City for UUG mini live and handshake

It is still raining now. I had already changed into my UUG T which I bought at the T-Palette Kanshasai. When I checked UUG blog for details on the venue, it stated Event Plaza. This is next to the giant Gundam which is OUTDOORS. I take a look outside and its still POURING. So despite the rain I run outside to find nothing there! (Gosh I must have been really tired) I check the UUG twitter and they updated that due to the wet weather, they have shifted the event to the Mini Tower Records on the 5th floor.

Cursing my silly-ness, I rush to the 5th floor to find already about 50 people there = =

From the picture, you can tell that it is called "MINI" for a reason. This shop is tiny!! The put a stage on the right side of the picture, facing the inside of the shop. And all the wota crowd into the shop. UUG come out to do a 1 song rehearsal on a TINY stage. Its really funny because they have hardly any space to move about. They shuffled their feet and made small hand movements instead. They told us wota to not jump (as if there was space) or shout (and use our facial expressions to convey our excitement LOL!) so as not to disturb the other neighboring shoppers and tenents. So throughout the live the wota just fist pumped. A very interesting experience. Even during Pump Up when the audience usually goes crazy, everyone just silently fist pumped. Even then you could feel the excitement of the wota buzzing in the air. They performed about 4 songs.

For the handshake, again you need to pre-order a CD. I do so again knowing that I wouldn't be able to collect the original CD. I give away the CD form to another wota for collection. I tell everyone I'm from Singapore. I already know that Ayanon loves Singapore and she tells me again she wants to come to Singapore. When I get to Azusa, even though I am not wearing her orange, she tells me she remembers me from @Jam Hong Kong. We do the excited Jump Together thing again (this is becoming a normal for Azu/Me handshakes) I tell her I like her new hairstyle and she seems genuinely happy (I hope haha). When I get to Maana, I tell her that I have a Indo Friend who really loves her.

After this I go to the food court to grab a bite and stone a little cause I am really exhausted. Just as I am finishing my food, I see UUG running through the Food Court, presumably to go home? I stand up (still wearing the UUG T) and wave at them, they all see me and wave back XD (I try to wave harder at Azu) 

Before my energy left me entirely, I take the train back to downtown Tokyo, check in to my Hotel in Ueno and reward myself for completing the day in 1 piece. Believe, me its no joke trying to look for your hotel late at night, while it is raining heavily and dragging around a luggage.