How I Began to Like JKT48 Handshake Events
JKT48’s Kokoro no Placard handshake event is this weekend! Are you ready for it?
I started out not—as a fan of handshake events. I prefer watching the girls perform over at the theater. There’s lesser competition for space and you certainly can see them comfortably even if you stand at the back. Its cooler, has more songs and you still get a chance to say something during the post-theater hi touch.
Because of these, setting aside time for handshake events has never been a priority for my overseas trips. Besides, you really need to converse with members during these…. and coming from another country, trying to talk in Indonesian with members has always been a nervous issue.
It may be less difficult to come up with a phrase or two to start off, but to maintain a conversation is always hard, and inside I fear the handshake meet may turn out awkward instead. During the last Gingham Check handshake event (the first JKT48 handshake I ever went to), I prepared for the worst and only decided to go for only 1 or 2 times with my oshi even though I had more tickets.
My first handshake with Delima turned out totally surprising however. Instead of me trying hard to talk in Indonesian, she flipped the switch and, with all her effort, tried her best to speak back to me in English. She even asked the ticket-staff for help in translating her words. Inspired and totally shocked by her enthusiasm and willingness, I got so touched that all my pre-conceptions about handshakes just dropped.
“Members can be so kind. Maybe it’s really alright to go for handshakes. Maybe it’ll be fun.” These became my new thoughts.
The best thing however, might be the time and space given to finally catch all the JKT48 members on stage. While it is true that we can see the members upclose and personal in the theater, but that’s still only 16 members. In the handshake events, everything is a grand affair with whole teams up there— 70+ members! Heartening to finally see all the members, especially those you haven’t seen in months!
Building up to the actual day, members have also been tweeting to raise suspense and giving out hints to the different outfits they wear. It is a nice little bonus having them dress up especially for the occasion, and friends have shared stories about members even wearing unique gifts given by fans. Some members really dress elaborately and glamorously while others cosplay.
And while these were not really something that mattered to me initially, I am beginning to appreciate how much effort and attention the girls pay to what they wear. It’s refreshing to see them break out of the seifuku norm… but it may also be their inner drive to look great, make fans happy, or even some friendly rivalry between the members.
2 years ago, JKT48 was just this small group of 1st generation members but it has grown so big it becomes so difficult to really keep up with them. Now, I feel it is worth the effort to go to both theater shows AND the handshake festivals. The handshake events are really one of the best times you can take to catch up with individual members and also the whole group, and be nicely surprised by their reactions, conversations and dresses.
Of course, there are also the really BIG surprises which JOT or Jiro-san might drop at the very last moment. I’m expecting an announcement about JKT48’s 3rd Anniversary Concert or hopefully some news about the formation of team T or new setlists for the senpai members. What do you think? And how about you? Are you prepared for this weekend?
With 116 tickets (plus 4 more that I will get from friends) for 19 members, you can bet that I’m totally up for it!
4 team J members, 12 team K3 members and 3 3rd gen trainees. Let’s go.
Woo! That’s reaaaally a lot! But I’ll bet its gonna be lots and lots of fun
wow thats a lot of ticket bro . . lol how do you work the time to do all that 19 member ha ha
Yeah HS event always is always special especially for fans that not always go to the theatre show like me.. and I doubt the venue will perfect like last HS event venue in kemayoran