Jadilah Nekad I : Handshake Report from Japan Part 1

Prologue

Hello, guys!

I’m sorry I’m late. This is my report about Jakarta tour from Sep 13th to 15th.

For this Jadilah Nekad (reckless) tour, Joss-san (A guest of ours) was together with me.

Joss became a JKT48 fan after he found and watched the Generation-2 audition video in YouTube. This time, he decided to join me because of his passion “Anyway I wanna see JKT48 on live!”, it is nothing but the Jadilah Nekad spirit, right?

Later his own report also will be uploaded, please enjoy it, too!

Here you go, my tour report!

Sep 13th 4:45pm Arrival

When Jadilah Nekad-Preview in this June, I took the same flight as this time’s. At that time, I couldn’t reached the theater before 7:00pm, so I couldn’t watch the show although I had already won a super far ticket. Due to that experience, I didn’t apply Super Far ticket for this day.

We landed on Jakarta at 4:45pm, and took a taxi at 5:15pm. Since it was Friday night, I thought traffic jam should be heavy, but luckily not so. We arrived at Harris Hotel in fx at 6:30pm. After checking in, we left our luggage in each room, then before 7:00pm I went up to 4th floor with Joss to let him see the entrance of JKT48 theater anyway.

Sep 13th 7:00pm RKJ vol.1

RKJ show was just started. The entrance of the theater was already closed, and in front of the theater there were about 30 fans who could not enter inside. The TV monitor at the entrance was showing what’s going on inside theater. Then, Overture sound came from inside and we saw the wave of Cyalume(light stick) through the TV monitor. “Nagai Hikari” of RKJ got started.

After Nagai Hikari, a theater staff gathered fans who could not enter inside and asked “Anybody from far place?” Fans raised their hands and appealed where they came from, they shouted “Palembang!”, “Semarang!”. It seemed fans from far place would get a ticket to enter the theater. We were just seeing it at a distance, but suddenly staff’s eyes met mine. Wow, it’s a great chance! I smiled at him and said “from Japan”, we won by a wide margin with our distance from Japan! Luckily we got the right to watch the show.

When we entered inside before local fans, I said to them “I’m sorry”. But they smiled and said “please, please!”. Our happiness, right? (finally all fans were able to enter the theater. Great!)
We watched the show from the end of 2nd song “Squall no Aida ni”. I found a little empty area at the standing room (area for standing fans) but the theater was almost full.

In this report, I’m going to write simply what I saw. Honestly I had already posted some reports to 2ch in Japan from Jakarta. Hahaha.
(And I’m going to upload another article, another RKJ report which was on Sep 15th)

The member who took my attention first was Diasta. She is tall and her action looked dynamic. Usually she precedes her study in her collage, but I didn’t feel any lack of her practice. In MC session, she said “I gained weight, cannot button my costume”, but she didn’t look gain weight. Her performance was quite relaxed.

But then, Sonya obviously put on weight, sorry it’s just from my impression. Even Haruka may lose..

And Haruka, sometimes disappeared while their performance and MC session. She didn’t join Hi-touch session too. Maybe she felt sick.

Joss and I positioned at the left side of standing room. When Kinal came to the left side end of the stage, it’s behind the pillar, she gave her great smile and eye contacts to fans. Fans must be so happy! I think it’s same as right side end, these two positions are good for hardcore fans.

I saw Joss beside me. what??? He took out his Cyalume and was chanting, “Mix”. Hahaha.

And he had already made friends and shake hands with local fans. Joss said he is not good at English nor Indonesia, but he didn’t need any language because JKT48 is a bridge between him and local fans so he could communicate anybody without difficult expression in foreign languages.

It maybe Beby or Stella who was absent from this show. Then Dellia, a trainee, joined to 16 members and performed. I did never feel any discomfort from her performance. In MC session, she was asked by team J members “What do you feel?”, and she answered “very short time for practice”, “I was nervous, I hoped I wouldn’t make any mistake”. Her attitude was very fresh.

Until then, the show I myself had ever watched were Pajama Drive and Boku no Taiyo, both were by trainees (at that time). And this was my first time to watch team J’s show.

I didn’t have any other words to express my impression for this show but “steady”. The show was totally perfect.

After their performance a screen came down, then members and fans watched “Melody’s photo diary in Okayama” together. Her photo wearing Yukata was very beautiful. Then, she said “In hi-touch session, I present you grapes from Okayama!”, and fans exulted.

In hi-touch session, I tried one thing. I challenged to call member’s name one by one when hi-touch, like “Thanks, Kinal” “Shania, great performance!”, of course with all members. If I failed, it was impolite for her because I could not say her name. Yeah, the queue moved fast, so it was very tough challenge. But I made perfect! Gaby and Jeje were pleased the most. It’s fun!

Melody was in the end of members, holding a big plate and grapes were on it. Each fan took 1 or 2 grains and ate it. I asked Melody “How was your stay in Okayama?”. She answered “It was wonderful!”. Her eyes are the best healing for me.

That’s all for our first day. Joss was very happy to watch the show unexpectedly.

One of his aims is to know Indonesia, he said “I do never eat any food but Indonesian food while I’m here.” Then we had a dinner in a restaurant in fX, with Nasi goreng, Sate and beer.

Tomorrow we would meet Angga at 10:00am, and we were going to rush to the HS event!

Sep 14th 10:00am Handshake event

Well, I have to say my HS event this time was a big failure.

Firstly, let me remember the HS event in this June. It was the rule that both when we bought a CD (ticket) in advance and when we shake hands with a member on the event day, we had to show our own ID (identification). Therefore, it was no meaning for us, overseas fans, to buy a ticket in advance. So, in this June’s HS event I bought “tickets for today” and enjoyed.

Yesterday, after the show, Ve was selling CD for HS event in front of the theater. She was serving a application form to buy it. I asked her “Ve, when this event comes?” She said “not sure yet”. …

What? Isn’t it for tomorrow? But without thinking so much I bought several tickets.

Today, I came to know HS tickets I bought yesterday was for “KFC HS event” in November. I thought “They’re selling now” meant “HS ticket for tomorrow”. …Big mistake.

Due to that, I and Joss had to fight for getting “ticket for today”. My targets were Noella and Ikha from Team K, Kinal, Sendy, and Stella from Team J. (But Stella were not there because she was sick). Anyway I queued in front of the ticketing booth, but it was unbelievable congestion.

For example, my favorite member’s session would start at 2:00pm, so we had to queue from 1:00pm by the rule. But the queue hardly moved. Then, at 2:30pm, it is 30 minutes before the session finish at 3:00pm, the ticketing staff said loudly “Ticket for this Session finished!” Already 1.5 hours, but the queue didn’t come short.

I couldn’t do anything with that condition, then I left the queue. However, luckily my local friend gave me two HS ticket with Rica. But if the system was same as June’s, I would not be able to use the tickets because of different ID. However, my local friend said “Tidak apa2” / (That’s okay).

When registration, a staff used a bar code reader and just checked the bar code printed on an advance tickets, but no check with my ID.

Why? My ID was never checked there, it means it was better I asked my local friend to buy my tickets in advance. What’s done cannot be undone, No! What’s undone cannot be done…

Sep 14th 3:30pm Rica & HS event

I queued in a line for Rica. I had already met her in this June, got her sign and shake hands. So it was my second time to meet her.

I don’t know whether the word “As usual” is appropriate or not, but she was beautiful “as usual”. Hahaha. She has a beautiful face, so a black and dark color clothes matched her.

I wished she still remembered me, then I purposely talked her with almost same words as last time’s “Rica and Sendy are popular in Japan, you know?” Rica smiled and asked me like a rascal “Yes, I know. So, you are a fan of which one?” …Wawawa?? It was unexpected question… My answer was… secret!

That’s all for my handshake event. Hahaha. I’m very sorry, guys…

Talking about the HS event of this time, both the theater on the 4th floor and the open space on the 3rd floor was used for that. No. 1-7 booth were on the 4 floor (inside the theater) and No. 8-19 were on the 3rd floor. I was lucky to shake hand with Rica inside the theater on the 4th floor, but on the 3rd floor other people could easily see a fan was shaking hands with a member. Angga said “I feel like I’m an animal in a zoo. I was seen by others, it was uncomfortable.”

Please take a look at this picture, it was quite bare space. We hope it will be improved next time.

　
We had one lucky thing. In the corridor, we came across Kinal putting on Yukata. Joss and I said “Kinal, you look so beautiful!”, and she smiled. Every time I come to fX, I feel that the distance between fans and members is really close. It means we may see them as usual in fX.

Okay, our next chance is “KFC HS event” in November. I do expect the improvement to ease the congestion, to make the 3rd floor booths closed, and my biggest concern is a new system which makes overseas fans to get HS tickets surely.

After a HS event, we might find some overseas fans who say “we succeeded in shaking hand with a member but against the rules” but it was just a gambling only went well. Because overseas fans pay much money for their air tickets, we expect a new system like “Super Far ticket for HS event”. I’m going to propose it to JOT.

Sep 14th 6:00pm Fans Gathering

After HS event, all friends gathered at Starbucks and talked about today’s event. Local fans looked quite relax, I thought it was because they were already usual with any JKT48 events.
And there, I heard a good story about a new JOT staff. Actually I didn’t see her, but everybody said she made a good job while HS event.
If you are interested in it, please refer to this article.

So, the next was our private event! I invited them to Karaoke because I was curious whether they could sing JKT48 songs or not. And Angga, Richard and Red joined us to Vista, another name is Karaoke Inul on 7th floor (same as Karaoke Box in Japan). I have ever seen a photo in internet that JKT48 members were enjoying Karaoke, I think it was the very place.

I expected Vista already provided a few famous JKT48 songs karaoke, but surprisingly there were so many JKT48 songs! Even theater songs they had!
This is the song list that we sang there. (as far as I remembered, but they provided more than 20 JKT48 songs)

*JKT48 songs
Kimi no Koto ga Suki dakara
Aitakatta
Kiss shite son shichatta
Temo Demo no Namida
Oogoe diamond
Hikoukigumo
1!2!3!4! Yoroshiku

*AKB48 songs
Anata ga ite kureta kara
Flying get
Shonichi

Of course we enjoyed Mix as well. Hahaha. Red sang AKB48’s Yume no Kawa, Angga sang “TSUNAMI” and Richard sang Chinese famous love song too (Yin Xing De Chi Bang 隱形的翅膀 by Angela Chang 張韶涵). And I? I sang “Cinta dalam hati”. It is Ungu’s song, they were my favorite band when I worked in Jakarta. Oh guys, do you know Ungu? Yes, now they sing the Bima’s opening song.

We had a wonderful time to know each other, and to know how much we love JKT48.

Oh yes, Angga showed me his treasure.

This is a JKT48 playing card with members’ photo which was in the theater version CD, of course this is a completed deck one.
Wow, I want it!

Tomorrow, we’re going to watch RKJ again. However, I didn’t received any email from JKT48 ticketing office although 3 weeks ago I already applied super far ticket for tomorrow’s show. But it’s OK, I, Joss and local friends already decided to try Waiting List tomorrow.

It was 9 o’clock when I returned to my hotel room, and I checked tomorrow’s schedule again. Then I called Joss’s room to tell him what time we meet in the hotel lobby tomorrow.
Right after that, I got an email in my Ipad. Haaaa? It’s now? Yes, I received an email from ticketing office saying we got 2 Super Far tickets. We had already planned to queue in waiting list for show-1 (PM0:00), but we won for show-2 (PM4:00). Our local friends already went home…

Then I called some of them and asked them to re-schedule for show-2. Huuu cape deh! (I got tired)

Sep 15th 8:00am Sightseeing

In the morning, I and Joss went around some famous places in Jakarta. Monas, Istana Merdeka, Gereja Cathedral, Masjid Istiqlal, Taman Fatahillah. We were in hurry, it took 2.5hour and Rp 170,000 (Aroud 16 USD) by taxi.

Oh yes, when we passed Gambir station, Joss was happy to see a train which destination sign was “Shibuya”. It was exactly Tokyu’s car, but working in Jakarta now.

For our late breakfast, Joss-san wanted to try Bakso. However, I don’t want to recommend any Bakso “for tourists” in good restaurant. So I took him to “Es Teler” that is usual and casual fast food shop, is popular among young generation in Indonesia. I think JKT48 members also eat it as usual. Yeah, fortunately he loves the Bakso there.

Sep 15th 2:30pm Special Sign Event

Before Show-2, they had a special sign event from 2:30pm.

If we bought 1 OGB, got 1 sign from a member. And Shania, Natalia and Akicha were there.

I remembered that a Japanese fan in 2ch nicknamed Natalia “Natsuko”, I think it was because her nickname in Indonesia “Nat”, became “Natt-chan” that is popular nickname for “Natsuko” in Japan.

I was curious what Natalia thought of it, and decided to make it sure. I bought 1 OGB then entered inside theater.
3 members were sitting in the space before theater hall, from left Shania, Natalia and Akicha. I stepped to Natalia.

J : Hello, Natalia! How are you?
N : I’m fine, thank you!
J : Do you know you’re called “Natsuko” by Japanese fans?
N : Yeah, I know that! (with full smile)
J : So, could you sign here, “to fans in Japan, Natsuko”?
N : Sure!

She seemed a common student girl. She was meek and mild, and loves to be called “Natsuko”.

In that night, She tweeted “I signed Natsuko on OGB!”. Thanks, Natsuko.

Time was not enough to teach her KANJI, anyway this was her first sign “Natsuko”, you know!

OK, let me talk about RKJ show -2 on Sep 15.

However, this article is already too long, I make another article for my RKJ report. It was an awesome show.

See you again in my next article, guys!