AKBxJKT Concert – Man On A mission

I already managed to get my mum to fall in love with JKT48 by bringing her with me to their 2nd Anniversary Concert. Now it is time for me to get my still green cousin who came far away from North Sumatra (Currently on his first few months of going into college here in Jakarta) to get to love not only JKT48, but also the origin of them all, AKB48.

And I guess this is also a great time for me to rekindle my love towards Japanese idols which on a steady fade after Yossie (Yoshizawa Hitomi) graduated from Morning Musume (while her Gatas project was going nowhere). Yeah, you heard it right, I’m not really into AKB48 at that time.

Even today, I only know so little about the originator group. The learning curve is pretty high with that so much members and the so colorful history of the group. That’s why, this is my chance to know them better as well, how their MC is, etc.

Anyway, I know some their songs and I can sing-a-long (albeit awkwardly) with them provided there’s a lyric cheat sheet somewhere.

That being said, I’m a man on a mission, a mission to influence my cousin to like both JKT48 and AKB48, as well as to rekindle my love towards Japanese idols.

Opening Act

Arrived at the venue and we decided to wait a bit with my friends while letting my cousin to know them better. Went straight to the venue gate and queued until the gate is open. To be honest, I thought that this is going to be another gridlock queue, but who would’ve guess that the queue was sailing pretty smoothly. In no time, I already found myself inside and sitting in comfort waiting for the concert.

Not a very long time waiting and the concert start. I don’t have any light stick whatsoever since I prefer to sit and sing-a-long in a concert am a cheapskate. Knowing that it is a joint concert, I’m sure the big display in front of me will display the lyrics and yes it is. Hurrah! Now I can sing the songs I know! The lyrics came up with a somewhat pretty noticeable delay, but I can manage.

I will not delve into details of the song lists and who performed the song (Heck, I don’t even remember all of the girls name, be it JKT or AKB), but it really starts with a firecracker, everyone is enjoying the opening numbers and almost all of the seated audiences even stood up to enjoy AKB Festival!

Okada Nana and Jessica Veranda

Then the time for MC Session came. I was kinda worried that this dual language MC Session will be in total chaos. Thankfully, Rena and Haruka really nailed their role as both the moderator and translator. Haruka snide remarks really help in setting up the mood too.

Unfortunately, Okada Nana’s zoomed face on the big screen when in MC session is not really good for the audiences heart nor the currently talking member. Every time her face is on the big screen, the audiences went hysterical and totally ignored the currently talking member, which prompted some great reaction from both parties.

Chikariina displayed her shock (and then laughed) when her speech was ignored by the audiences who were captivated by Okada Nana’s cuteness zoomed on the big screen, repeatedly. Okada Nana herself? She’s as red as a watermelon and repeatedly press her finger against her lips, telling the audiences to keep it calm with no avail.

Can’t blame Okada Nana, the audiences, nor the cameraman for doing that though. She is just out-worldly cute in this concert.

Oh, and if the audiences created some ruckus and in a rave when Okada Nana’s face is on the big screen, Jessica Veranda (Ve) from JKT48 is having the opposite effect with the audiences suddenly becoming calm and somehow managed to create a very unique serene atmosphere with all those “Shuush!” voices echoed through the venue.

Those two girls and the audiences reaction somehow becoming an impromptu running gag in this concert.

I heard that Ve’s “Mosquito Sprayer Gag” (taken from the “Shush!” voice) is a recurring gag on the theater. I asked one of my friends and he told me that it is indeed a recurring gag, something like “Shush! Calm! The Rain Goddess would like to speak.” I dunno about Okada Nana, but perhaps it was an impromptu judging by the oh My Lord level of cuteness she has in this concert.

Game Session

Another thing I’m afraid will end in chaos. But what do you know, it went so smooth that I might, for once, believe in the story of Babel Tower. So the game is using an automatic counter something and the girls will have to wiggle around to increase the counts of their uh…wiggling? Not sure.

Four representatives of each team will have to face the challenge. If AKB48 lose, they will have to eat a slice of bread with sambal spread. On the other hand, if JKT48 lose, they will have to eat a slice of bread with wasabi spread. And oh boy, those punishment is more than enough reason for both team to give all they’ve got.

The battle is so full of laughter, I don’t know how the hell those girls do that considering there’s no professional translation help whatsoever. Their body language, their eye contact, speaks more words than what language could do.

Well yeah, it is just a wiggling contest with no substance whatsoever, but still, I was amazed at how they could interact each other so good with so little preparation time, there’s even a small cat fight on stage that caught all of our laughter. JKT48 lost the battle and yeah, hilarity ensues.

I think Shimada Haruka and Rezky Dhike (Dhike) really shines in this segment.

Second Half Through The End

Alas, I can consider the second half as dead for me due to someone on the left side of my cousin that keep on whining very loudly whenever JKT48 is on the stage. I was perplexed and somehow irritated since it was such a fun concert and dear Lord, what in tarnation did I ever do to suddenly bear this unwanted role in a one-way talk therapy?

It turns out to be someone I know when I get back home and Tweeted about it, which disappoint me now even more (I first thought it was a “purist” or #truefan). He already apologize for that though, so yeah, all is forgiven and let’s leave it on the past. And hey, losing a friend over a trivial and superficial matter is not me.

I just wish for a more lenient and efficient way for audiences to change their seat due to the unavoidable vis major.

Mission: Cousin

Unfortunately, the story is not the same for my cousin. When we get back home, he bluntly asked me, quote: “Big brother, is that the true color of AKB-JKT fans rivalries? If yes it is, I’d rather not involve myself further then. I’ve had enough hate and I don’t need to add more to my dictionary. ”

Well of course I told him that not everyone is like that. He just smiled and said, “I heard derogatory remarks from other people too, you know. It is just that, apparently, my hearing is better than yours.”

YIKES! If this is Mortal Kombat, I’d be the loser with my body ripped in two! He might be a shy guy, but he’s sharp, man!

This might be his first and last experience in getting to know both of the groups. But oh well, I might try again one day. You know me

(Besides he’s a hunk and good looking dude that even makes our cool-headed Tilly went wiggly-wiggly, could be well my tool of the trade, MWAHAHAHA)

Conclusion

Despite the drama told above on the second half onwards, this is might be one of the coolest concert I’ve ever attended. The firecrackers opening, the MC, the audiences, the performances, the collaborations, everything is a such a joy to behold. If one day they make this kind of concert again, then please, I’m begging you here, spare some time and WATCH THE CONCERT.

Waku Waku Japan might broadcast the concert somewhere in April, so cross your fingers.

My cousin conclusion:

It was pretty interesting. I might have take a liking to some of the girls.

Full Setlist

M00. Overture (Combined AKB48xJKT48)
M01. Kibouteki Refrain (AKB48)
M02. Everyday, Kachusa (AKB48)
M03. AKB Festival (AKB48)
M04. Flying Get (AKB48 & JKT48)
M05. Kimi no Koto Ga Suki Dakara (AKB48 & JKT48)
M06. Manatsu no Sounds Good! (AKB48 & JKT48)
M07. Shoujotachiyo (AKB48 & JKT48)
M08. Kaze Wa Fuiteiru (JKT48 Senbatsu)
M09. Wink Wa San Kai (JKT48 Team T)
M10. Eien Pressure (JKT48 Team KIII)
M11. Juuryoku Sympathy (JKT48 Team J)
M12. Kampeki Gunone (Haruka, Kawamoto, Takeuchi, Hashimo)
M13. Blue Rose (Chikano, Kuramochi, Morikawa, Naomi)
M14. Heart Gata Virus (Nozawa, Ayana, Andela)
M15. Choose Me (Kitahara, Matsui, Okada, Hirata, Ve, Shania)
M16. Ame No Doubutsuen (Shimada, Uchiyama, Natori, Oshima, Yuvia, Michelle, Tata, Nabilah, Kinal)
M17. Temodemo no Namida (Yokoyama, Melody)
M18. Only Today (AKB48)
M19. Reset (AKB48)
M20. Yobisute Fantasy (AKB48)
M21. Hashire Penguin (AKB48)
M22. River (JKT48)
M23. Ponytail to Shushu (JKT48)
M24. Gingham Check (JKT48)
M25. Namida Surprise (JKT48)
M26. Aitakatta (AKB48)
M27. Kokoro no Placard (AKB48)
M28. Mae Shika Mukanee (AKB48)
M29. Sakura no Hanabiratachi (AKB48 & JKT48)
E01. After Rain (AKB48)
E02. 10 Nen Zakura (AKB48)
E03. First Rabbit (AKB48 & JKT48)
E04. Hikoukigumo (AKB48 & JKT48)
E05. Heavy Rotation (AKB48 & JKT48)
E06. Koi Suru Fortune Cookie (AKB48 & JKT48)