The Tokyo Idol Festival 2015 Thread

[wattstax]

I am completely ill, totally flu. The same like last year. I try to skip TIF next year. In exchange to something different. Not sure about @JAM though. It is only one day, but featuring at least the same amount of groups I like to see. Therefore I would probably be stuck with events the whole time, missing out on all the shows.

But something confuses me: You write about security checks at Zepp. I never had any there. I only experienced those for the Greeting area and those were lame (which is a good thing as it means fast). I doubt the metal detectors were even working. 

[Rezar]

I am completely ill, totally flu

I'm fairly sure it isn't the flu, it's not season for it and it's unlikely to catch it out of season since the virus just isn't there.

But on the other hand it definitely didn't feel like a normal cold to me on the first day.

But something confuses me: You write about security checks at Zepp. I never had any there. I only experienced those for the Greeting area and those were lame (which is a good thing as it means fast). I doubt the metal detectors were even working. 

Same, no checks at Zepp.

-

I like that the little girls from Sakura Gakuin are the best singers in the Jaboree 

[mixedmedia]

There was security checks before SKE48 on Saturday but, they were gone by the time I went back outside and felt like I was dying while watching GALETTe at the Festival Stage.

[wattstax]

There was security checks before SKE48 on Saturday but, they were gone by the time I went back outside and felt like I was dying while watching GALETTe at the Festival Stage.

I thought it would be because of AKB affiliates. That their management really is that stupid and paranoid. Luckily I don't care about them.
But agree with the dying part. I was already dead when waiting for PiiiiiiiN on Sky Stage for 2,5 hours. No shadows anywhere.

Question: I skipped Hot Stage this time. So how was it this year? Did they improve the stage and circumstances around it in any way?

[Rezar]

I can't really answer if it was different, but there were barriers everywhere it was very annoying to get in and out - also sometimes the sound was really distorted and triggered my tinnitus.

[wattstax]

TIF still has that flair to me. It is a complete different atmosphere than during the usual everyday live idol shows that happen several times a week. If only it weren't for the heat. This time I har the impression it was even worse than last time.

[Rezar]

Lets be real you really like it for the huge greeting area

[wattstax]

Yeah. Loved it. Free atmosphere, in comparison to usual events.

[Jul3]

^ I'm intrigued with what you mean by that.

[JFC]

TokyoGirlsUpdate.com - Emotional Final Stage of Shizuka Sugino: Graduation at Tokyo Idol Festival 2015
- http://tokyogirlsupdate.com/drop-tif-2015-shizurin-20150854814.html



TokyoGirlsUpdate.com - The Future is Now! Next Generation Highlights of Tokyo Idol Festival 2015!
- http://tokyogirlsupdate.com/next-gen-highlights-tif-2015-20150854692.html

[tsutomo]

rofl thanks to the time table planned, I didn`t see Passpo at TIF and won`t be able to see them at @Jam neither. 

but if it all goes well I`ll see some other groups I liked and didn`t see at TIF. I`ll post my plans for the event later.

[mixedmedia]

Is there going to be an @JAM EXPO thread?

If the locations of most of the stages are the same, I'm going to say that Pineapple is the Sky Stage of @JAM. At least they moved Kiwi from the 1st floor to the 4th. Last year it was the size of a meeting room. At least, I'm less interested in HKFC, and all their sister groups this year? I like them but, they don't do MCs and just walk off stage when they're done.

I might go against convention and skip the groups I usually see in favor for ones I have never seen before. Too bad GALETTe isn't on since I wanted to see the new 5-member formation.

[tsutomo]

I`m too lazy to make a thread just for the event, so I`ve been talking about the @Jam here. feel free to do the same.  in fact, there`s no problem to talk about other idol festivals here. remember the TIF thread in 2ch? they use it to talk about pretty much every other festivals that happen during the year while waiting for the next edition (and corresponding thread).

yeah Pineapple is pretty much the Sky Stage comparable. that`s why my plans don`t include a single performance there. not worth the time lost in the entrance lane. 

I had nothing against Kiwi in the first floor. Kiwi imo is way worse now, since the fourth floor is more distant from the others.

my rough plans for the day are:

10.00 Orange Stage (Hyakka Ryouran - Choco MilQ)
10.30 Grape Stage (Mai Kotone)
10.45 Blueberry Stage (Mirai Skirt)
11.00 Orange Stage (Stand-up Hearts - Ryutist)
11.40 Strawberry Stage (Hime Kyun Fruit Can)
12.00 Peach Stage (S Spicy)
12.15 Orange Stage (Fruitpochette - Rinne Yoshida)
12.45 Peach Stage (You Kikkawa)
13.05 Kiwi Stage (Ryutist)
13.30 Grape Stage (Yamaguchi Kassei Gakuen)
13.45 Peach Stage (Houkago Princess - Faint Star)
14.15 Strawberry Stage (Afilia Saga)
14.45 Orange Stage (PassCode)
15.00 Grape Stage (Koto)
15.20 Blueberry Stage (Lyrical School)
15.45 Kiwi Stage (Denpa Gumi.inc)
16.10 Blueberry Stage (Dianna Sweet - Up Up Girls Kakkokari)
17.00 Orange Stage (Tsuki to Taiyou - Jyujyu - Pop - Predia)
18.00 Peach Stage (Nananon - Alice in Alice)
18.40 Strawberry Stage (Up Up Girls Kakkokari)
19.00 Grape Stage (Tokyo Cheer2 Party - Idol College)
19.30 Strawberry Stage (festival ending)

probably I won`t be able to see every one of these, thanks to delays... but seeing the majority will be nice. specially the ones I couldn`t see at TIF (like Lyrical, Mainya, Predia, Nananon, Idol College...), some new groups to my list (like Alice in Alice, Mirai Skirt, S Spicy...) and my fucking Nyansan S2. of course, Ryutist and Hime Kyun fucking Fruit Can are priorities, since they weren`t at TIF and I don`t see them for months already. 

and yeah, I took some risks putting some groups well known for their trash wotas in my list, but... if things get too unbearable I can always take a 30 seconds walk and see other group in a near stage. 

the only complaint is not being able to see Passpo Whoop!e Whoop!e.  damned time table. sucks that this year they have so many groups that some won`t be able to perform two times meaning if you lost them once... there`s no another chance. for this reason I won`t see Whoop!e Whoop!e or FYT. won`t see Chu-Z neither, but that`s not a so big absence in my books.

ps: isn`t it curious that the two groups I used to like and don`t care so much anymore are exactly the ones that you, wattstax, like more nowadays?  guess I have a bias against the groups you like. =P

[wattstax]

@mixedmedia
Please share your thoughts about GALETTe, when you had the chance to see them. Would be interested to hear how Akari firs in there.

ps: isn`t it curious that the two groups I used to like and don`t care so much anymore are exactly the ones that you, wattstax, like more nowadays?  guess I have a bias against the groups you like. =P

Noticed it too The more curious thing is that both groups, PASSPO and Chu-Z were once amongst your faves. Seems I am more faithful  Nah, we just put different values in our fandom.
But don't worry about me: The feeling is mutual. I can not see any value in most of the groups you support now as well For example I saw You Kikkawa on my last trip and after listening to her for a while I decided to cash-in my drink ticket. Better use of time!

On the topic: @JAM seems to be more about the lives than the events. Obviously not a festival for me then. I need my breaks - and acknoledgement by idols through direct contact

[tsutomo]

You Kikkawa is great, one of the best solo idols out there. her recent songs have been quite nice too and her fanbase is passionate. though she is close to Up Up so of course I favor her a little bit more than I should. =P

@Jam has two areas for events. and the girls walk through the corridors between fans to go from a stage to another too. so there's plenty of interaction there. you can't get more "direct contact" than seeing them perform in little (almost improvised) stages where the girls stand just centimeters from your face. 

[mixedmedia]

The bit where the idols are just walking through the arena is one of the great things about @JAM instead of all the secrecy of TIF.

@wattstax Once I see GALETTe perform with the new lineup, I'll let you know but, I only have eyes for Nonoka. Hopefully, they do some release events or a live with some other groups soon.

I get how one can tire of PASSPO or Chu-Z though. For me, once I've seen a group enough times to where it feels like they're pretty consistent, I almost feel like I don't NEED to see them every chance that I can. I feel the same about most of the iDOL Street groups and THE Possible, which turned out to be a big mistake since Akkyan graduated right after TIF. As long as Upga does "Chopper", I can't not want to see them though.

POP and BiSH should be interesting since BiSH added the new members and put out that crazy pirate metal song and Saki got put on hiatus right after the release events/one man were over with no definite return date set.

[wattstax]

You don't NEED to seem them more often, as you have the (theoretical) opportunities to see them nearly everytime. For me it is only during my holidays there. 
It would probably be different for me, if I would live in Japan. Already I feel bored, if I see one group too many times in a row, if the setlist is basically the same everytime. What keeps me motivated in these cases is the 'relation' to the members.

What happened to POP? Saki is not in the group? I saw them during a small festival and really like their performance!

[mixedmedia]

From what I heard, Saki did something to piss off Watanabe (former manager of BiS, current manager of POP/BiSH and co-producer of BILLE IDLE). I didn't see them at TIF or at all since they were still Pla2me (last day of release events for UNIT back in January) but, the terms that are officially being used is "indefinite hiatus" (無期限活動休止) and "repeated violation of prohibited acts" (度重なる禁止事項に抵触した). I haven't seen any pictures or video proof, especially since TIF was so strict about people filming or taking pictures everywhere except Smile Garden (where they did not perform this year) but, I heard she dove into the crowd.

Saki said she's definitely coming back but then again, Sakoti (on indefinite hiatus of PASSPO) is "helping" 3min. kind of a lot lately.

Anyway, the great thing about big events like this is there should be something for everyone as far as idols go. I should make my schedule too.

[tsutomo]

instead of all the secrecy of TIF.

huh? you can (or at least could some years ago) pass by the idols moving from one stage to another at TIF too. I remember my interactions with Afilia and Up Up in the past, while seating or walking in the Smile Garden area. this year I bumped with Izukoneko, though I dunno if this one can be considered since she wasn`t performing there, just appearing in some kind of talk show.



I don`t really get "tired" from groups for seeing them too much, the appropriate term would be "lose interest". Chu-Z was never one of my top 5 groups, so it`s easy to drop them specially when other groups are releasing more interesting singles. but with Passpo... blame my apathy with the group on the graduations/hiatus, their shitty surprise (puchi passpo) and on Nachu being crappy on the handshakes. 

[mixedmedia]

I guess I meant that with @JAM being in one area compared to TIF where it's so spread out, the chances of having idols walk right next to you are way higher. Smile Garden is definitely where you can look over and see idols watching the same group you are since they arrive and leave from the Fuji TV building next to it. There were people standing outside waiting for them as they would come and go (like every year). I forget who it was but, some group commented about how it seemed like some fans would just stand there all day since they would see them a lot.

For Chu-Z, I liked "Girls on the Run" and "Bombastic" (even though it looked a lot like UUGs' "Uppercut" to me) as well as "Hana no Arch" and "Brand Boy" but, even with Tsunku, "Tell Me Why" was kind of a let down or maybe expectations were too much? With the loss of Makochan and Sakoti within the past 6 months, PASSPO does seem shaky but compared to all the graduations in other groups this year, it's not that bad? Blame Nachu!