Close encounters with Morning Musume

Aichan showed superstar presence during the July 3 concert at Anime Expo 2009.

Wow. In the aftermath of Morning Musume’s visit to the U.S. and concert at Anime Expo 2009 in Los Angeles, it appears that Hello! Project media, bloggers and the mainstream press received a mixed reception – and, hence, an anguishing mixed access to Morning Musume during the July 2-5 convention stretch.

Well, I mobilized everything I had to just get into the July 3 concert and be seated in an area where I could see and hear this band live. Yes, I have seen them “live” on eight occasions in Japan, but never like this – never close enough to make a real impression. To miss that show or get relegated to the rear of that cavernous main performance hall would have been catastrophic. I would have collapsed and died on the spot.

Yes, I took this picture! That was July 2, with Eri, Risa and Aichan beaming.

And because of two car breakdowns, a horrific family emergency and a sudden loss of travel cash during June in the run-up to the convention, I almost missed the whole damn thing. Again, I would have slit my wrists had that happened. But, somehow, I made it, and witnessed history at the July 3 concert.

I also heard the show twice – listening to the girls rehearse through the wall between the men’s room and the main concert hall an hour before the 12:30 p.m. time when doors opened. The show started at around 2:30. Holy crap, the acoustics were almost as good in that restroom and I got to hear all the songs before the actual show itself!

Koharu, Risa and Reina live it up during the scorching July 3 concert at AX 2009.

As it happened, I was in the front row, angled right, where media were seated. Only 25 such tickets were available. Another factor: Glowsticks were rare in our section, as the clueless press had no idea what they were getting into until it exploded in the other sections which were bristling with waving glowsticks and chanting fans.

At least me, CK and a New York TV producer, Brian Camp, were so armed, as were a half-dozen folks behind us. The view: Spectacular. Aika and Sayu made it a point to come over to our direction and cheer us on. What an experience!

Tsunku♂, between gigs during Anime Expo 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

But I would like to salute Madara, who penetrated right into the inner sanctum of Morning Musume and landed a 15-minute interview – with photos, including one taken with him and the group, or at least that is the claim he’s making – during the June 1 “press junket” in which media could stake out 15-minute slots with Morning Musume.

Hmm. Why did I not hear about this? What I did read on July 1 was that a host of long-time Hello! Project online journalists were stiffed in that press session.

But not Madara. The start of his account is here:

http://madara-blog.livejournal.com/39362.html

You can bet I’ll be tuned in to every chapter Madara cares to offer in the days ahead.

Aika, center, and Koharu, right, front Morning Musume during the historic July 3 concert.

Then, there’s CK, whose blogs on Hello! Project and AKB48 have become can’t-miss items in recent months. Not only does CK go to Japan often, reporting from there, he is also an editor and commentator for International Wota. Yes, the same IW that has exiled me for the last 18 months. So? I'm used to it by now.

CK’s claim to fame was getting to one of the autograph sessions and seeing Morning Musume up close and personal, almost as sensational as Madara. CK’s thrilling account is here:

http://ckhp.vox.com/library/post/meeting-morning-musume.html

I could not get to either the junket or any of the two autograph sessions. I was clueless on the ticket situation regarding the autographs (CK had an inside source). Now, with Madara … Somehow, this guy scored a magazine gig to write a story about Anime Expo and used that leverage to work his way into the junket.

Yep, took this one, too, squeezing in Sayu, far left, this time around.

Despite screwing up these chances of a lifetime, I must admit I am not really that disappointed at missing either opportunity. I probably would have either cried like a baby, or had a heart attack, if I attempted what Madara pulled off. Holy crap, he was sitting down right next to the band! I wouldn’t have survived that.

CK was able to get a brief face-to-face with each member (and described the whole thing in great detail) during the autograph session. Both CK’s and Madara’s blogs are going to be quite readable.

But following is the close encounter of all close encounters (unless this guy, one of Hello!Blog's Paul Thomas's pals, was making it all up):

http://www.pori.co.uk/?p=1779

I do have my own experience, as I did score an e-mail interview with Aichan and Tsunku♂ before AX 2009 but, because of various obstacles which I will explain later, I have those notes in hand but can’t use them – at least not yet. That is a strange tale that will have to come when I’ve sorted it all out – and when I get permission to run those interviews.

I will, even if it kills me. At least the concert didn’t. Neither did the splendid opening ceremonies (where photos were permitted!) and a grueling but intriguing Q&A with the band. Then, there was the lost notebook …

But that’s another story for another day.

This is Rad♂ signing off – for now.