The Success of Joint Concert, Experience, and the Future

Before the concert

When this joint concert was announced on JKT48 3rd anniversary, the excitement is high and people were looking forward to the concert. It’s been less than 3 years since AKB48 come to Indonesia to hold a concert in February 2012 and the most important point was awareness of 48 culture in Indonesia has also heavily increased. In other words, this event offered many good chances for any side involved.

It’s a good chance for JKT48 to show off their proper performance with their senior from Japan. Back then in 2012, JKT48 was still a group of trainees and couldn’t do much to impress. This time for sure, JKT48 can prove just how far they’ve grown and challenged to deliver a good performance with AKB48.

This time also offered a very good chance for those who want to see AKB48 for the first time, as going to Japan to watch them will cost you much and you have to compete with another applicants, there’s nothing better option than to watch them when they’re going all the way to Jakarta. The member list were also fine to me. When AKB48 Senbatsu is a super busy lot, I can accept this mix of members gratefully.

Some fans might call the member list were a reserve team and but I don’t agree. Yokoyama Yui is the next AKB48 General Manager, the likes of ex-Senbatsu like Kuramochi Asuka (now is team B captain) and Kitahara Rie (now is team K vice captain), the talented Matsui Sakiko and Takeuchi Miyu, the latest boom push like Kawamoto Saya, and even Tentoumu Chu’s Okada Nana were coming. I could accept that combination any day, so there’s no reason to buy the ticket with hesitation, the ticket price is not that expensive either.

2-3 days before the concert, I was busy like Andy in Shawshank Redemption making hole on his wall. Busy just to check AKB48 member’s social media post and check some flight schedules. Before I knew it, I was at the airport with some other fellas waiting for the arrival of the girls that I’ve been frequently looking on my 14′ laptop screen.

Less than two hours long of waiting, Yuihan and Kitarie led the group and appeared. It’s not taking times until the noises and flash lights joined with the sound of rain that night, AKB48 member’s smile suddenly wiped all the tiredness. That 3-5 minutes was surreal and having all the lads high like they’ve just smoking pot.

Concert

Concert started unusually on time and the first song was AKB48 performing “Kibouteki Refrain”. Oh dear, it’s a real thing and that just passed quickly and followed by “Everyday Kacchussa” and “AKB48 Festival”. The next four songs were performed by AKB48 and JKT48 together. The recognition for Yuihan’s presence was no joke then. She’s the center for Flying Get, and the part where’s the center getting worshiped by her fellow was one of the best highlight from that night.

Talking a bit about Yokoyama Yui, she’s officially appointed by Takahashi Minami to become her successor as AKB48 general manager. Yuihan comes from AKB48 9th generation and becomes one of the next front line generation with Shimazaki haruka (Paruru). While Paruru is a cute, salty and laid-back person, Yuihan is the opposite with her composed-self, warm and hardworking ethic to reach her position today. Many fans respected her because of those trait and she’s deserved to accept such an elite position in AKB48 group.

What makes this concert awesome was the fair portion and the partnership between two groups. There are parts when one group performed separately and together, so, for all the fans who came with different purpose of rooting certain group or both could be pleased. My favourite part of 48 group concert is the unit song part.

Somehow, they managed to make it really good with the selection. “Choose Me” was a very niche selection, this song is so rare to be performed in any AKB48 concert before. The rest of the unit songs were also good, especially Kinal and Ryoka who were being playful on “Ame no Doubutsuen”.

The MC part was also finely executed. Rena Nozawa had a busy week with her role as the translator for both groups in any conversation. Rena seemed so confident on the stage, I could mistake her with Nadya Hutagalung on Asia’s Next Top Model. Rena was likely to show to the fans that her biggest charm is her language and literature skills and that’s a rare charm on 48 Group.

Aside from Rena, AKB48 members also gave their best on MC part, they tend to be funny and smiled a lot as “Kurus Kurus” (lit. Slim-Slim) is the new “Memancing” (lit. Fishing, popularized by Sasshi back in their first joint concert). The part when Sayaya cutely said “Aku Suka Kamu (I Like You)” was also heavenly.

The best part of the concert? For me, When AKB48 performed Only Today, Reset, Yobisute Fantasy, Hashire penguin consecutively and “Sakura no Hanabiratachi” which was
being assisted gracefully by Matsui Sakiko on the piano.

The 3 hours long concert with 35 songs finally finished, the fans were really having great time.The concert was really a blast. This concert will never go wrong to be remembered as the successful joint concert. Even though AKB48 slightly dominated the setlist, JKT48 can adjust the pace and made a great collaboration.

After the concert

Either you are AKB48 or JKT48 fans or both, I could say that everyone were pleased. The fans finally can grasp the concept of sister group between AKB48 and JKT48 through the great collaboration concert. This concert can be a stepping stone for more collaboration concerts of any 48 group concert in the future. The fans could also learn the difference and charm of both groups on the stage.

I’ve got no problem with some of those obnoxious and disrespectful local AKB48 fans, the most important thing in the concert is that you can enjoy the show to the fullest.

JKT48 will grow further and better after this concert, to be able to perform with their senior in their homeland is not everyday chance and they’ve gotta learn one or many valuable things from their sister. Hopefully, like Melody promised, JKT48 could visit Japan to perform with AKB48 and once again perform a great concert.

Some AKB48 members also shocked with the enthusiasm from the local fans and the recognition for some certain members. Like Okada Nana who’s really surprised with the amount of fans who know her really well. When the fact is fans here tend to eat up all the serving from AKB48, Okada Nana is also a well-known one with the fact that she’s a member of Tentoumu Chu (read: the fresh yet cutest sub-unit in 48 group).

She’s always serious, and need to chill a bit and relax. Even so, the others are simply delighted with the warm welcome and the atmosphere. I hope the words will be spreading, so we can see some other girls when they come again.

Thanks to everybody who’s been working hard during the past week, especially JKT48, AKB48, WakuWaku Japan, to make the concert happened and ended with big smile. Fingers crossed this concert will trigger another 48 group to do some collaborative project or solo concert in the future.