Part I: The Fan Meet

The girls of Team 8 are once again coming back and this time they will hold two separate events: the first-ever AKB48 Fan Meet in the Philippines on December 3, and the ’60 Years of Philippine-Japan Friendship Celebration’ event organized by the Japanese Embassy on December 4. This is the first time the Philippines will play host to an AKB48 fan event and everyone was very excited. Last year’s event was a success. It didn’t draw the usual AKB numbers, but it was a start, and it demonstrated how passionate the local fans are. The event was special because we didn’t know if we’d ever see the girls again.

But much has changed since then. A local sister group – MNL48 – was green-lit by AKS with Hallohallo Entertainment Inc., as the operator and producer. Team 8 is slowly rising the ranks with two members ranking in this year’s General Elections, while others have also become part of an AKB Single’s media line-up. But few would have expected that we’d see the girls once again.

On the day the Fan Meeting was announced, I have just bought a PS4 and a new game (Watch_Dogs 2), so my wallet that time wasn’t exactly prepared for what I knew would require a purchase of some kind. As it turns out, this purchase was one of two kinds of posters with tickets for the entrance and the high-touch event featuring the girls that were in the poster you purchased. I purchased Type B because it had Riona Hamamatsu and Rena Fukuchi in it. As luck would have it, so were Serika Nagano and Hijiri Tanikawa. I managed to make the purchase on the last day with two hours to spare. Talk about a buzzer-beater.

Because I had the sense that my body will take a beating, I took a few hours rest on Saturday morning. I was slightly rattled by the information that some fans were already in front of Movie Stars Cafe as early as 6AM, but I was thinking about my condition and decided, I’d better getting some sleep to avoid “shutting” down in the middle of a long line (a decision which I think, saved my life).

I arrived in MSC at around 11:30AM and boy, people were already in line. I was number 65, and the noon-time heat gave no quarter, but there was nothing I could do for the moment and so I carried on, trying to do some “zen” to forget the heat.

The staff announced that they will do an early registration. Probably to save us from the heat. Because we would have numbered tickets, it would be easy getting us back in line according to number. I figured, there shouldn’t be too many of us anyway since the posters didn’t really sell out. I was dead wrong.

The line kept growing and it was taking the staff some time to sift through the vouchers and identification cards needed. I think it took almost 20 minutes for the line to actually move. Or I think it was just 10. The combination of lack of sleep, hunger, thirst and the heat, are all wearing me down. But get my poster and my tickets I did and I went out to wander around the grounds.

Some fans even had banners they hoped to wave inside. A quick announcement dashed those hopes: in order to avoid inconvenience to other fans whose view might be blocked by the flags and banners, the staff told us that only small-sized posters – such as the one we just purchased – will be allowed. So the fans just contented themselves with putting it up outside and taking pictures.

We were supposed to be back in the line at 1:30PM, but it was delayed to 2:00. I figured the girls came from Quezon City after guesting in Showtime! so either they were stuck in traffic, or they were given a few moments to rest and prepare. It didn’t matter: 2:PM it is. Fast forward to 2PM and we were still outside. I think they started calling the numbers back at around 2:30PM but it wasn’t moving. We were all hot, sweaty, and tired. My feet hurt but I was still in good spirits.

I think they opened their doors at around 3:00 to 3:30PM (I was too tired to care), with the usual checks. I decided to leave my bag at the package counter and had my smartphone’s camera blocked (taking pictures inside wasn’t allowed) and so I settled down on my seat. A quick check of my things (I was holding the poster and the high-touch tickets) when I realized my package number was missing! Thankfully, the staff tended to it for me and a fan even said he saw a package number (number 42) outside. Thanks to that staff-member and that fan (sorry guys, I didn’t ask for your names), it was confirmed to be mine. Hey, at least I got my number back, and while I didn’t leave my valuables in the bag, I didn’t want to come home without it either.

It took a while before they had everyone seated down. They played a continuous loop of Team 8 MVs which helped set the mood. Unbeknownst to us, the girls arrived outside and we finally saw them go to the tent connected to MSC’s back door. People cheered and waved and some of the girls waved back. No matter how tired we were, it seemed that just seeing the girls brought back our spirits.

The event started at past 4PM. Hosts Angel and Een came and introduced the girls, starting the Overture and their first song, Aitakatta! (the go-to song for these kinds of events). Then it was straight to MC time. I found it really hilarious that the hosts started asking questions to the girls without an interpreter. Obviously Riona Hamamatsu understood but since they weren’t talking to her, none of the girls responded initially. But the interpreter finally came and the girls did their introductions plus a greeting in Filipino.

It always makes me happy to know that Filipino AKB fans have a way of making every member feel special. The fans cheered at all the girls like they’re superstars. Obviously the loudest shouts were reserved for the favorites like Riona Hamamatsu, Serika Nagano, Rin Okabe, and Nanami Sato. But everyone cheered all the girls and – hopefully – made them feel very special.

But the people feeling really special in that event would be the raffle winners. Each won a signed merchandise…..handed by the girls themselves. A good friend, Toshi, got his stuff from Nanami Sato. Lucky bastard. The girl with the enchanting eyes knew how to fish fans, and I’m sure she got Toshi’s heart even for just a moment.

The girls would only perform a few songs, with a repeat of their trademark 47 no Suteki na Machi e, but they were performing so close to us that I, at least, didn’t care. They were there, flesh and blood, in front of me, smiling, returning our waves. This is AKB48 at its finest, and they’re just a few feet away from me.

I came to the Fan Meeting for Riona Hamamatsu (and was satisfied), but I had “eye contact” with two other girls: Rin Okabe, and Rena Fukuchi. Now, eye contact isn’t exactly special, and it’s a way for the idols to “fish” fans. But I understood, instantly, why AKB48 became as big as it is: the interactions with fans, the “closeness” and the gestures designed to make a connection between idol and fan. And did I say the girls were more beautiful up-close? Pictures, and HD quality video don’t do them justice.

Then it was time for the High Touch event! We were all told to go outside and line-up according to poster types. To be honest, I was feeling really tired at this point. I was leaning on a post already because I haven’t eaten since 6AM and haven’t had anything to drink since 11AM. The line also took some time to move, and I was wondering if I can survive it. Fans were allowed to buy additional posters (we were originally only allowed to purchase one), and some folks with extra cash took the opportunity to meet both groups.

I opted not to buy a second poster even though I wanted to. I wanted to save some money for the big event on Sunday. And so I soldiered on the line and after the Type-A line was done, we had our chance.

I was amazed I didn’t faint. But I disappointed myself by forgetting Nanase Yoshikawa’s name. Probably because she was standing next to Riona, and I wanted to tell Riona that I follow her, go to her Showroom streams, etc, etc. Long story short, I fumbled a weak “Hi Riona, See you tomorrow!” while grinning like an idiot.

The day ended extremely well. It’s hard to explain the feeling of meeting someone you’ve only seen online or on TV. My body was feeling the strain and I knew I must get something to eat and then rest because there was still Sunday. This article should have been finished Saturday night, but I was too tired to write….nor care. Team 8’s second event in the Philippines was less than 24 hours away.

To be continued…..

• Pictures inside the venue were taken from Model Press.
• Pictures outside the event were taken by the writer’s trusty smartphone.