Despite this new info, I hope they'll be coming to the closing so we can see them one last time. Anyway, onto my autograph experience. As usual, there's some swearing and venting in this story, and I'm sure everyone who's been here can understand.
Well, this adventure has felt soooooooo long, but it is nearing a close. Today was the last of the autograph ceremonies. I can't comment on the AX autograph event. Me and Rena did not bother with them at all since we were lucky enough to get tickets to the guaranteed UFA/JapanFiles event. However, those of you who were lucky enough to get into the AX signings, you got the better end of the deal. First off, Anime Expo tried to totally buttfuck the event. I guess AX didn't expect one of the most popular idol groups in Japan to have any kind of line, and when the line started to get long, the UFA/JapanFiles workers did the best they could, but some AX security people started arguing with the nice lady trying to not make a mess of AX's exhibit hall. We couldn't hear, but it was obvious by body language and voice volume that the security staff were being VERY hostile. Rena read on H!O they were threatening to shut down the event due to the lines being too long. The event actually began earlier than scheduled. The line moved very fast. As it got close to my turn, I got a little nervous but nothing big. I decided I'd just say "konnichiwa" and "arigatou gozaimasu" to everyone, except JunJun who I'd let know is my favorite. When we got in, things turned into a clusterfuck. Rushed doesn't begin to describe this event. Combine this with the fact that I was a bit starstruck, and I honestly don't remember seeing all of the girl's faces. As we got in, a security guard barked at us "Keep the line moving, no handshaking, no contact, and NO SMALL TALK!" Ummmm, what?! So, yeah, it was pretty confusing and fast. The first one at the table was Reina, who looked at me with this ... kind of defeated grin. With what Rena told me from her expression as she struggled to give them the postcards she had made for them, I think Reina felt bad for us, getting thrown around in line. She responded cheerfully to my Japanese hello and thanks.
The rest of just... a blur. We think LinLin was second, and sadly I barely remember seeing her at all. I was really hoping to have some English fun with her. She was fucking AWESOME at the panel and concert. She didn't really respond to my konnichiwa or anything that I recall. I'm wondering if they were told not to talk with us or something.
Up next was Takahashi who was nice but brief. When she finished signing my poster it got away from her. She was all "sorri sorri". It was cute.
After that was Risa, who said hi but nothing else. Then there was Aika. I'll never get that look she gave me out of her head. It was... weird.
I told her konnichiwa and she said it back. She was pretty cute. Up next was... Eri? She was awesome. She said hi first, but as I said "konnichiwa", she said it back with that cheerful face of hers. It was awesome.
After that was Sayumi, who honestly, I can't remember.
I think she just signed my poster and passed it on. Then there was Koharu, who was practically comatose. She looked so out of it, it was kind of sad. She didn't respond to me much at all. Her eyes seriously looked dead. I think she didn't take the jetlag too well and the concert took whatever little bit of energy she had. JunJun was last. I barely had time to say Konnichiwa. Things seemed really rushed when I was having her sign my poster. I didn't get to tell her anything, and she didn't respond to my "arigatou" at all.
I don't mean to sound like I didn't enjoy it. Me and Rena both enjoyed it a lot, but it was VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY short and impersonal. Compared to the stories I heard of the AX event(s), it sounded really... I dunno, dull. Still, I'm glad I got to experience a crappy autograph signing rather than none at all.
The girls did their best, and I'm very grateful to them. After the signing, me and Rena hung around to have a drink and try and watch them leave. It was an experience for sure. Fans and the wota were all over the place. Lots were taking pictures and filming. Me and Rena didn't risk it again.
As the crowd started to get noticable, this guy who looked like Hiro Nakamura from Heroes with a giant bug up his ass kept telling us to clear the area, but as soon as he left they all just piled right back. They even started singing happy birthday to Koharu and Sayumi. He kept coming back, but the wota's returned. Me and Ayla sat down and pretended to be normal con goers. "So... anime!
" It was pretty funny. We "saw" Morning Musume leave. They had an entourage around them so we didn't see much of them other than hands in the air waving. There was a kinda not cool moment when some wota's ran around to the other side to try and get a last glimpse, but it turned humorous when that stick-up-ass guy yelled "HALT!" at them. People were laughing at him hardcore. Heh... it was some day.
Since my experience with the con relating to this thread are pretty much over, I have something to say about it overall. I don't think any group, even my all-time all-genre favorite Perfume could get me to come back to this ever. This con is
GARBAGE. They have some good events but they never start at the right time, getting into them is a giant mess, basically anything AX has their hands in gets ROYALLY messed up. I think the higher ups want to do a good job and do all they can, but the staff that is actually on the floor is so often uninformed, lazy, and/or downright incompetent that these amazing planned events turn into a frustrating cluster fuck. It's a real bummer because this con does have stuff to offer. Also, maybe this is just the small-town Texas boy in me talking, but holy crap the con-goers were downright rude and uncaring. Me and Rena have been nothing but bumped into, damn near stepped on, and smushed into crowds of mush the whole time. None of them seemed to have any sense of personal space whatsoever. Furthermore, they need to work on their translating staff. That guy in the pimp hat was really good, but that women with the blond highlight and bizarre tattoos (H!O people have dubbed her Dragon Lady
) who did a lot of the English to Japanese stuff at the H!P events was horrible. When she translated to us, she was omitting so much of the answer, and she had no concept of H!P stuff causing people to clarify what they were talking about, only for her to get it pretty much wrong anyway. I honestly don't think she speaks English or Japanese fluently.
Personally, I just can't write enough words to describe how bad the con experience here has been.
Despite all that, this trip has been great. The #1 reason for this is the company of ichijoujirena. She's been a wonderful companion the whole time and kept me in good spirits when I was hurting, been great company throughout all these events, and made everything exponentially greater than it would have been coming alone. Second was the girls of Morning Musume. They were awesome every time I saw them. Even as they were obviously beyond tired and suffering from intense jetlag, they did all they could go smile and go on like the pros they are. Though I haven't been as into the group as I was in 2001, I have a newfound respect for this generation after seeing their efforts in person. I know it's only their job, but their dedication to it is definitely something that deserves intense respect. Meeting some of the hipsters was also pretty cool even though I only got to see you guys once. Another major plus was getting away from what I call "normal life" for a while. Everyone needs a break, and I've been years overdue for a vacation, so I couldn't think of anything more awesome than hanging out with a great friend and seeing a jpop group I've been into for a very long time. So yeah, not even the biggest AX fuckup could have ruined this for me. This was an awesome trip, and it ain't over just yet!
I plan to make the most of tomorrow and just enjoy one more day of fun. I hope that everyone got to do everything that they wanted to do, enjoyed themselves, and had a little fun amidst the insanity that has been Anime Expo 2009. Until the next adventure!
Topic: [07/02-07/05] Morning Musume @ Anime Expo (Schedule/Who's Down P.1) (Read 356313 times)