Still about the Handshake event on Saturday, but this time, it is not about the review or anything. It is something that surprises us all fans. Something that never happened before in various event. About how some of the officials, for the first time ever, being so humble in expressing their concern.
As usual, we regroup at Starbucks while enjoying our coffee and sharing our experiences throughout the event. A somewhat ritual that we all enjoy listening to others experiences and getting to know each others.
While sharing our experiences; Ted, Mario, Febry and Pitra started to told us their most special experience with a Japanese national staff, Kato Mifumi-san. How just a small words from her could bring our gentlemen there told their experience with teary and glittering eyes, literally.
Ted told me first about it. And judging from how his pupil just widen up as well as his sincere smile while telling the story, I can know instantly that what he experienced is something that is so pleasant that came from the hardly budged officials. Something that most of the fans can only dream so far.
On the very contrary, what I experienced on Sunday is the polar opposite of what the guys experienced the day before. One of the security staff yelling and stating his displeasure with the fans along with a threat: “I will certainly punch you guys in the face!” (Gua tabokin lu!) when queuing for Sunday’s 2nd theater show. A very tasteless statement coming from that security staff which the fans nicknamed B.M. (Initials only to protect his identity)
I admit that one big guy in front of me was yelling like an ape in a zoo and acting so mighty, even went too far by shoving me and some other fans out of our queue lane. That perhaps what ignited the security staff’s somewhat surprisingly emotional-burst. But that emotional burst for me, as a non-regular theater visitor, is not needed whatsoever. He certainly could handle it better other than spewing threats to the theater prospective customers.
One nice young -theater first timer- office lady that came along with our group was so shocked with the threat. Thankfully, our overseas group able to enter the theater before it happened so they need not to experience what we experienced that day. For our next visit to the theater as a part of “Jadilah Nekad” project for overseas fans, I will certainly bring along a recorder to record any misconduct at the queuing process that I’ve experienced twice already.
BUT then, this is the good part of the story as what Ted describe in his testimonial.
As a big fan of JKT48, I came to a point in which I don’t only care about the members and their performances, but also care about the management and how JKT48 is run (by Jakarta Official Team). It is not a secret (for JKT48 fans) that there’s a lot of issues about lack of good management inside the JOT. Many fans have tried to express their concern through feedback and through harsh criticism via online social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
Bad scheduling and terrible event and theater operations have been their concern most of the time.
However, during the Yuuhi Wo Miteiruka Handshake event on Saturday, 14th of September 2013, I saw a figure that might be a new hope for the JOT/JKT48 management team. She’s a 40 something, tall, thin lady, with a long face and a determined yet still try to be friendly to all fans at the handshake (HS) event.
Since I came to fX mall in the morning until the end of the HS Event, she was never seen resting. One time, I saw her taking wi-fi router and all its cables in the lobby, other time I saw her making sure the queue in the theater, 4th floor – f4, was in order, with a friendly tone she asked the fans to make the queue into three lanes in order to make the queue shorter/unblock the mall corridor.
On f3 atrium I saw her making sure the queue was not snaking too long, asking her subordinates to prioritize those with current handshake session tickets. Taking out Yuuhi Wo Miteiruka CDs for the fans who redeem their online purchase, moving and rearranging the retractable barriers.
Wow. That was the first thought that struck me. She’s a Japanese, she can’t have been just a low level manager. After I asked some staffs, I found out her name is Mifumi Kato. A senior manager (some of them even called her General Manager).
Having worked in a multinational corporation, I knew right away, she’s an outstanding leader. She even worked harder than most of her subordinates who seemed to be more relax than she is. Taking initiatives, making sure everything went well.
In a very surprising move and in a very nice gesture, She also said her apology for the long and somehow ineffective queue system.
Looking at her dedication and performance I believe we can give a new hope and add our support to her. Actually I’m hoping her to be the general manager of the whole JOT for a better JKT48.
JKT48 is a good prominent product, with proper management and handling it can be huge in Indonesia.
A hat off too for Ichan, a manager whom yesterday was seen using crutch because his leg was injured. Yet he still giving all his best to make sure the HS event went smoothly.
Right now I can only say, Ganbatte Kato-san! We’re all looking forward and ready to support your efforts to make JKT48 a better idol group.
I believe many other fans also saw her dedication yesterday.
Faith in politeness: RESTORED!!
Kato Mifumi-san, thank you for being so humble and polite towards the fans. We all know how stressful it is to handle hundreds, even thousands of fans with various characteristics ranging from the polite one to those rowdy types. But she really handle her job with class. Even though I don’t experience it directly, her class act based on the fans testimonials is worth more than this meager article here and in fact, worth every bit of the fans respect.
We all wish her a long tenure in JKT48 Official Team and hopefully, can guide the girls and her team in the management towards a better and brighter future.
And to all the fans, respect the rules, respect the officials. JKT48 is not only you and the girls. JKT48 is us, the girls, the media AND the officials.
土曜日の握手会についてもう少し。今回は握手会自体のリポートではなくて、すべてのファンにちょっとばかり驚きを与える話だ。今までのイベントではこんなことは無かった。それは、かつてないほど謙虚で気配りに満ちた一人のオフィシャルスタッフのことなのだ。
いつも僕らはスターバックスでお茶を飲みながら、その日の出来事についてあれやこれや話をする。他の人の経験を聴くことでお互いよく知り合うことにもなるし、まあひとつの楽しい儀式みたいなものだ。
先日も、会話の中でTed、MarioそしてPitraが、カトウ・ミフミさんという日本人スタッフにまつわる特別な出来事について話し始めた。彼女のちょっとした振る舞いや言葉が、いかに我々を感動させたかという話なのだ。
テッドがまず話し始めた。彼の目の見開きようと心からの笑みを見て、例の鉄面皮で融通の利かないオフィシャルから今回彼が受けた扱いが、意外にも心地よい経験だったということをすぐに悟った。これは僕らファンが半ばあきらめつつもずっと夢見ていたことなのだ。
その前に、実は僕は日曜日にこれとは正反対な経験をしている。日曜の第２回公演で並んでいた時に、セキュリティスタッフの一人が、度を越した態度でとあるファンを大声で威嚇していた。「ぶん殴るぞ！」この下品な発言の張本人は、ファンがB.Mと呼んでいる（一応彼のためにイニシャルで呼ぶが）セキュリティ・スタッフだ。
実は、僕の前に並んでいた大男のファンが動物園のゴリラのように叫んで騒ぎを起こしていて、僕は大丈夫だったけれど、何人かは列からあわてて逃げた。これが、セキュリティ・スタッフが突然キレた原因だろうと思う。しかし、僕のような常連でないものにとって、いかなる理由にせよこの態度はいただけない。彼は劇場の常連になってくれるはずのお客さんを思うなら、こんな風にキレた姿を見せるよりもっとましな収拾策を見つけられるはずだ。
僕らと一緒に来たOLのお嬢さん（劇場は初めてだったが）は、この光景を見てひどくショックを受けていた。ありがたいことに、我々のグループのうち、海外組はこれが始まる前に入場していたから、この騒ぎを見ることはなかったけれど。次回また海外ファンのための観劇ツアー“Jadilah Nekad”をやるなら、ビデオコーダーを持ってきて、僕が既に２回も経験した行列時のまずい運営をしっかり録画することにしよう。
それはともかく、今回のテッドが見つけてきた以下の話は、ちょっといい話なのだ。
JKT48の大ファンとして、僕はメンバーのことやパフォーマンスだけでなく、JKT48のマネジメント方法（JOT=Jakarta Official Team）にも関心がある。JOTはまだまだ課題山積で、ちゃんとした運営に至っていないということは（JKT48ファンの間では）秘密でもなんでもない。これについて多くのファンはツィッターやフェイスブックで意見を述べたり、辛らつな批判を展開している。常に槍玉にあげられるのは、スケジュール設定のまずさと、イベントや劇場オペレーションの不手際だ。
しかし、９月１４日（土）の「夕陽を見ているか」握手会では、僕はJOT運営チームにとって新しい期待の星になるかも知れない人物を見た。４０歳前後の長身面長でほっそりした女性がそれだ。彼女は、握手会に参加したファン全員に対してフレンドリーに接しようと努めていたのが見て取れた。
僕が握手会のためにｆ（X）に着いたのは朝だが、彼女はイベントの最後まで一度も休むことはなかった。wi-fiのルーターをロビーに設置するためにケーブルと格闘しているのも見たし、４階では、“とても丁寧な口調で”、モールの買い物客の邪魔にならないよう、３列に短く並んでくれるようファンたちに頼んでいた。
３階のアトリウムでは、列がだらだらと長くならないよう、まず直近の握手券を持ったファンを優先するよう部下に伝えていたし、“夕陽を見ているか”のCDをオンラインで買って、チケットをここで引き換えるファンのためには、行列整理用のテープを張って別の列を作らせた。
「なんとねえ！」僕は最初にそう思った。彼女は日本人だし、結構なお偉いさんのはずだ。後でスタッフの一人に聞いたところでは、彼女の名前は、カトウ・ミフミ。シニア・マネージャー（上席部長）だそうだ（でもスタッフの何人かはゼネラルマネジャー（統括部長）と呼んでいた）
多国籍企業で働いたことがあるので、僕は彼女が際立ったリーダーであることを直ぐに理解した。彼女は、のんびりした自分の部下たちより熱心に動いていた。あらゆることに気を配って仕事の先頭に立っていた。
彼女の一連の動きで最も驚いたのは、長い行列や、並ばせ方の不手際について詫びていたことだ。
彼女の熱心な仕事ぶりは、これからもとても期待出来ると思ったし、応援したいと思う。実際、よりよいJKT48のために、僕は彼女にはもっと重要な地位に出世して欲しいとも思う。
JKT48はひときわ素晴らしい成果物だ。適確なマネージメントの下でしっかり扱うならば、インドネシアで大きな位置を占めることも可能だろう。
当日松葉杖姿だったマネジャーのIchanにも賛辞を贈りたい。骨折したにも関らず、握手会をスムーズに運営するため頑張っていた。いま僕が言えることはこれだ。「カトウさん、ガンバッテ！JKT48をもっと素晴らしいアイドルグループにするためなら、僕らみんなであなたを応援します！」僕以外の多くのファンも昨日の彼女の献身振りを見たはずだからだ。
信頼と礼儀正しさがここにある！
カトウ・ミフミさん、ファンに対するあなたの謙虚で丁寧な態度に感謝。何百人も扱うことは大変ストレスの強いことだとは僕らも承知している。礼儀をわきまえた人間から騒ぎを起こすやつまで千差万別の中で、彼女はしっかり落ち着いてコントロールしていたのだ。僕自身はこれを直接見たわけではないけれど、ファンたちが賞賛する彼女の落ち着いた振る舞いは、この僕らの些細なサイトで紹介するだけでなく、すべてのファンの尊敬を得るに値すると思う。
僕らは彼女がJKT48オフィシャル・チームで長く働いてくれることを期待したい。願わくば彼女の存在が、今後メンバーやチームをさらに輝かしい未来に導いてくれますように。
一方、ファンの諸氏は、ルールを重んじるとともに、オフィシャルにも敬意をはらって欲しい。JKT48とは、君とメンバー間だけの事ではないのだ。JKT48は我々、メンバーたち、メディア、そしてオフィシャルのものでもあるのだ。
thank you for all the authors reports and thoughts.
it’s really good to read m(_ _)m
so this mrs. Mifumi will replace mr. Jiro?
Mifumi Kato and Jiro Inao have been credited as JKT48 General Managers since the beginning (check CDs, guide books, etc.). Neither is a replacement for the other.
I think both GM’s had their own roles inside the management. I’m not sure of this, but taking from the reports, it appears that Kato-san were responsible for the field operation, while Jiro-san do things behind the screen and behind the desk.
So her name is Mifumi Kato-san? Well she is one of a few JOT staffs who is actually being nice to people at that handshake event. And from some conversation with fans while waiting in line, she is mentioned a lot , like “Itu staf yang cewe Jepang ramah ya ga marah2” yeah like that.
A true business persons never shout to staff and their consumers (fans). They treat them carefully. Probably she is the person who is tossed about the business storm of life. That’s kind of person is the person who can realize life ache of staff and fans. If she is the leading staff of JOT, I this there are many hopes in front of JOT, fans and the good relationship between Indonisia and Japan
this mrs. mifumi is just like mr. TGSK I presumed. Not only organize the member but also organize the event and giving the fans service even talk to fans about a problems. It would be nice if most of the staff are like her. the fans would not hesitate to go to event like HS again….Peace!!!! no harm intended JOT
“Itu staf yang cewe Jepang ramah ya ga marah2” –> Roughly Translated to: “That Japanese lady staff is soo nice!”
Since I’m just a far overtown fan, it’s really hard for me to imagine how the situation was at that time. But I could relate about how hectic it was to work an even by yourself when there’s a lot of people coming and hoping a good cooperation. When I was the president of student council, there’s a sport tournamen held annually by my school and I’ve arranged the event almost 2 months before the day. Making invitation, proposal, sponsor hunting and such. But I was really shocked that in the day, there’s not even one gather to my call to arrange the event and they were just busy with themselves. The event was still held since it’s a sport tournament, but I was so dissapointed of how my members had abandoned their duties and made those days of hard meeting went to the trash. I cried so hard that I couldn’t even utter one word, because there were some friends from other schools complained that the classes given as their continents were like a pigsty cage. No consumption or refreshment. I was the only one who provide all of those, calling people to provide them cup drink, leading them yo the continent room and even taking score board to the line of field by all myself. I was called by my sport teacher and gotten scolded like no tomorrow. Well, that’s not even all. But it’s already passed anyway.
What I wonder about is, if it happened to JOT on that event, that there’s only one staff who was available to do all job while people also demanded services, what would happen? They’re lucky to have big amount of personnels but didn’t use them well. But also, like the fans who were tired and annoyed about the crowded place, bad time management and their dissapointment to see many mistakes done by JOT, I’m sure deep down JOT also didn’t like the situation at all. We, both fans and JOT of course wanted the event to run smoothly without error. As I said before, running an event was really hard if you didn’t have people who were responsible enough to do their duties, and fans were just hoping for better treatment.
I can say that again, Annie-san. I hope my sentences following are not irrelevent. The struggles in one organization, such as company by only one perosn, i.e. me lonely are beyond possibility. I always need the cooperation from my colleagues. But sometimes they ignore. Probably they don’t want to have blame. But no one who leads any projects without taking any risks. The true leader sweats and cries in the back yard alone. But once, being back to the office, he or she musters for the project progress toward the target in future. I suppose Mifumi-san already tasted this kind of resistance from her colleagues or boses. I read she belonged “Multi-national” company. I hope it was not a Japanese subsidiary. Because irresposibility amomg many Japanese companies is thier daily life. I am sorry to disappoint you all. But from my experience and overview, probably it’s real business life in Japan. Finally, there are many impressive compaies here. I must add.
I just hope that JOT are aware of their resposibility as one team who has to manage all operations to support JKT48. One team means all members of the team, not an imbalance state where we can only see one or few staffs with good manner and work ability. And also, I hope the other staffs can learn from Kato-san’s attitude towards JKT48 fans. After all, who’s gonna buy all their products if there’s no fan to support? My mother always said to me whenever I serve my consument on our family shop, “Even if your costumer is your most hated person you’ve ever had, just smile and give that costumer the same service. Or even if you almost collapse from fatigue, you have to stand straight and give your best appearence in front of the costumers.”
Great mother you have.
All mothers are great lol. But of course, we all agreed that JOT should have given better treatment, at least with good mannerism towards their costumers. I’ve read a lot of bad reports about yesterday HS and I really don’t want to read the same reports for next KFC HS.
Fans have a fair share which pay staff’s salary too, why it’so hard for at least act polite in front of the fan.
No brainer that threatening and ignoring fans is bad for business.
according to LinkedIn ( http://sg.linkedin.com/pub/mifumi-kato/17/251/290 ) she had been a flight attendant for 6 years. So, no wonder, with that much years in high-profile service industry she knew the way to handle the costumers appropriately.
Um. I see. makes sence.
kato mifumi san handled problems without making new problems.
So the GM and the Operation Director directly involved themselves in the mud…
It’s great to have these peoples on the head of the management. I hope they can bring more positive effect towards the whole JKT48.
And I guess the security guards need a change, too. Sometimes, I feel that the hansip around my house are far kinder than the JKT48 theater guards
This article is written 2 years ago but represents exactly what I feel right now, specifically about JKT48 security staffs. I must admit their presence are very important to make sure that the show is going well. I’m a relatively new fan, only being a wota since january 2015, and watch theatre regularly once a week. The theatre staffs are somehow don’t have any sense of manner or politeness, some of the attendants and I were treated as we were a cats who uninvitedly come to the theatre. Their gesture are so rude. I wrote an email regarding this issue and haven’t got any reply from JOT and I think it’s something that can’t be fixed. If it wasn’t because of the awesomeness of the show and the pseudo-love experience. I bet no one will come to JKT theatre ever again since the paying customers are treated as dogs…