(no subject)
Dec. 5th, 2007 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chocolate_chipSo, I wasn’t too clear about it, but Asian Kung-fu Generation tickets are nearly impossible to get. I wasn’t picked for the pre-sale lottery, and the regular tickets for the entire tour sold out within ten minutes. And I can’t get a Yahoo!Japan premium account because they require a Japanese credit card, or a bank account at one of a few specific banks. (I plan on asking my JTEs to help with that, but right now they’re way too busy.) So there was nothing else for me to do but stand outside Zepp Osaka with a sign saying I needed a ticket.
And that’s how I learned that Zepp Osaka is on an island out in Osaka Bay. In other words, effing freezing and windy. Luckily, my plan of buying a UniQlo fleece hoodie that matched my winter jacket so I could wear them together worked perfectly. It also helped that I didn’t have to wait very long before this wonderful woman whose friend couldn’t make it showed up. \^o^/ I’ve been on a string of good things lately (no classes,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nightflight getting the ECC job, caught a shiny Pokémon, Pats pulled out another victory, had an awesome day at work on Tuesday, and even had an AKG dream Monday night), so all signs were pointing to success, but my anxiety attack on the train to Osaka had me convinced that there was no possible way I’d be getting into the concert. So I was sooooooooooooooooo unbelievably happy~~~ ^-^ And as we were about to go inside, a Japanese couple asked if they could use my sign. XDD
The opening act was Ogre You Asshole. They were pretty good. I think they’ve got the potential to be very good, but they’re not quite there yet. And then~~ >o< Can words even describe it? It was Gotoh~~ and he was right there~~ wearing a dorky sweater with maroon and black stripes. <3 The show started with a big screen between them and the audience, with their shadows being projected on the screen. And then they ripped into the opening chords of “After Dark” and the screen fell down and everyone screamed. And yes, if you plan on standing in the front section of a Japanese rock concert, you are taking your life into your hands. Think of the most crowded concert you’ve ever been to, and then triple the number of people standing in the same amount of space. And into that crowd, through the stupid boys who think that moshing is cool. -_- Still, it was sooooooo worth it, OMG. I do wish they’d played more of their older songs, but they played “Rashinban”~ And a version of “Kimi to Iu Hana” that started all quiet. And “Rewrite” was *o*, since that was the first AKG song I ever heard. And when the encore was finished and seemed like the concert might be over, they came out one last time to play “Understand” and I was soooooooo happy and <33333333333333333.
Then the concert really was over, and I was suddenly, “I can have fainting tiemz nao plz?” Yeah, it really wasn’t smart of me to go to a concert having had nothing to eat or drink since my tiny lunch. But Aki, bless her soul, found me and took me to the first aid corner, where a friendly oba-san gave me some water and cold washcloths, so I felt much better after that. And we also got to see the police interrogate some guy. O.o
That’s how I learned that you should always hit the drink stand before going into the concert area. At Zepp, you have to buy a ¥500 drink token when you go in. But if you get a bottled drink, like water or juice, it comes with a lanyard that you can fit the bottle into, so you can take it on the floor without worrying about holding onto it. That is definitely something that American clubs should do. Not only does it prevent people from getting dehydrated (like me), but it also means you’re not twisting your ankle stepping on someone’s empty water bottle. Plus, the lanyards were made from Zepp’s recycled drink bottles, which was cool.
And then there was merch! I got the tour t-shirt, a non-tour AKG t-shirt, the tour towel, the third DVD (already have the first 2), and the “After Dark” single, which I had almost bought at HMV. Oh yes, and the BEST ECO-BAG IN THE WORLD.
I wish I’d gotten the wristband too, though. And some people had these awesome hoodies from a previous tour, and I was so jealous. ;_;
I was able to get a rapid train back to Kyoto, which meant I could catch the second to last subway from Kyoto station, and even get to McDonald’s before they went drive-thru only at midnight. I had been craving ramen, but I didn’t know if the place across from my apartment would still be open, and I remembered that I had a coupon for a McWrap, and I wanted to try one. From the station entrance, I could see that the Chinese place was still open, but by then, I had convinced my stomach that it wanted a McWrap instead. (Plus, I had to go to the Lawson’s across from McD’s anyway.) And then it turned out that my coupon was good for only the shrimp McWrap, not the chicken one. >.> It took some doing to convince the guy that I really did want chicken instead. But I got it. And I ate it while walking down the street. :O And it was goooooood.
I’m hoping that this string of good things, particularly situations which seem bad but turn out well, applies to the JLPT, too. I did really badly on the first two sections, but much better than I expected on the last section, which is worth half the test. So there is a very slight possibility that I may have passed, but I won’t find out until March or so. :x
This post has been brought to you by the letters A, K, and G, and the fact that I have no classes today. \o/
And that’s how I learned that Zepp Osaka is on an island out in Osaka Bay. In other words, effing freezing and windy. Luckily, my plan of buying a UniQlo fleece hoodie that matched my winter jacket so I could wear them together worked perfectly. It also helped that I didn’t have to wait very long before this wonderful woman whose friend couldn’t make it showed up. \^o^/ I’ve been on a string of good things lately (no classes,
nightflight getting the ECC job, caught a shiny Pokémon, Pats pulled out another victory, had an awesome day at work on Tuesday, and even had an AKG dream Monday night), so all signs were pointing to success, but my anxiety attack on the train to Osaka had me convinced that there was no possible way I’d be getting into the concert. So I was sooooooooooooooooo unbelievably happy~~~ ^-^ And as we were about to go inside, a Japanese couple asked if they could use my sign. XDDThe opening act was Ogre You Asshole. They were pretty good. I think they’ve got the potential to be very good, but they’re not quite there yet. And then~~ >o< Can words even describe it? It was Gotoh~~ and he was right there~~ wearing a dorky sweater with maroon and black stripes. <3 The show started with a big screen between them and the audience, with their shadows being projected on the screen. And then they ripped into the opening chords of “After Dark” and the screen fell down and everyone screamed. And yes, if you plan on standing in the front section of a Japanese rock concert, you are taking your life into your hands. Think of the most crowded concert you’ve ever been to, and then triple the number of people standing in the same amount of space. And into that crowd, through the stupid boys who think that moshing is cool. -_- Still, it was sooooooo worth it, OMG. I do wish they’d played more of their older songs, but they played “Rashinban”~ And a version of “Kimi to Iu Hana” that started all quiet. And “Rewrite” was *o*, since that was the first AKG song I ever heard. And when the encore was finished and seemed like the concert might be over, they came out one last time to play “Understand” and I was soooooooo happy and <33333333333333333.
Then the concert really was over, and I was suddenly, “I can have fainting tiemz nao plz?” Yeah, it really wasn’t smart of me to go to a concert having had nothing to eat or drink since my tiny lunch. But Aki, bless her soul, found me and took me to the first aid corner, where a friendly oba-san gave me some water and cold washcloths, so I felt much better after that. And we also got to see the police interrogate some guy. O.o
That’s how I learned that you should always hit the drink stand before going into the concert area. At Zepp, you have to buy a ¥500 drink token when you go in. But if you get a bottled drink, like water or juice, it comes with a lanyard that you can fit the bottle into, so you can take it on the floor without worrying about holding onto it. That is definitely something that American clubs should do. Not only does it prevent people from getting dehydrated (like me), but it also means you’re not twisting your ankle stepping on someone’s empty water bottle. Plus, the lanyards were made from Zepp’s recycled drink bottles, which was cool.
And then there was merch! I got the tour t-shirt, a non-tour AKG t-shirt, the tour towel, the third DVD (already have the first 2), and the “After Dark” single, which I had almost bought at HMV. Oh yes, and the BEST ECO-BAG IN THE WORLD.
I wish I’d gotten the wristband too, though. And some people had these awesome hoodies from a previous tour, and I was so jealous. ;_;
I was able to get a rapid train back to Kyoto, which meant I could catch the second to last subway from Kyoto station, and even get to McDonald’s before they went drive-thru only at midnight. I had been craving ramen, but I didn’t know if the place across from my apartment would still be open, and I remembered that I had a coupon for a McWrap, and I wanted to try one. From the station entrance, I could see that the Chinese place was still open, but by then, I had convinced my stomach that it wanted a McWrap instead. (Plus, I had to go to the Lawson’s across from McD’s anyway.) And then it turned out that my coupon was good for only the shrimp McWrap, not the chicken one. >.> It took some doing to convince the guy that I really did want chicken instead. But I got it. And I ate it while walking down the street. :O And it was goooooood.
I’m hoping that this string of good things, particularly situations which seem bad but turn out well, applies to the JLPT, too. I did really badly on the first two sections, but much better than I expected on the last section, which is worth half the test. So there is a very slight possibility that I may have passed, but I won’t find out until March or so. :x
This post has been brought to you by the letters A, K, and G, and the fact that I have no classes today. \o/
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 08:32 pm (UTC)Ehhh? Kore dou iu imi kai??
::snuggles:: I am so so so SO glad you got to see them and that you had such a great time! *_* I'm also so happy that things are looking so up for you. Please stay in Japan a very long time so I can stalk you when I come over there, okay? OKAY.
I am sure you did fantastic on the JLPT. :D The third part is what saved me with 2-kyuu last year, and I'm sure you did better on the first two parts than you think. :D
♥ ::rabu::
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 10:52 pm (UTC)Don't worry, I will definitely be here! So you better hurry!
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 10:56 pm (UTC)::bursts over!::
I needs to be working on a paper, but that requires moving to the library. ._. I has my jacket on and my laptop unplugged, but yet the motivation to pick my butt up and move is lacking!
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 10:56 pm (UTC)::clings&loves::
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 11:19 pm (UTC)