Morning Musume 1st Gen Fanclub Event
So yesterday was the much waited for Morning Musume 1st Gen Fanclub Event. It was the first time the three (Yuko, Nacchi, Kaorin) have done an event together since graduating Musume.
Because it is the moment which made me the most nervous and excited, I will start by describing the handshake. Of course since it is a fanclub only event, there is always a handshake at the end as you are leaving. They are quite high-paced and although you aren't technically supposed to stand still while doing the handshake, most people try to in order to have a bit of a conversation with the girls. For me stopping is also because I cannot do handshake and move at same time, just doesn't work.
So the line was from left to right - Nacchi - Kaorin - Yuko. This is how it went down. I was surprisingly nervous, because although I have done handshake with current members and groups several times this was my first time with the ones who made everything we had today possible.
Me: "I listen to your radio show!"
Nacchi; "Thank you very much - ah, 'Hello'" She did her cute little Nacchi wave as she said this in English, clearly happy to see a foreign female fan. And it shows that we didn't just fly over here for a concert etc when it is FC only event.
Me: "Thank you for all you do"
Kaori: "Thank you!" Big smile
Me: "Onee-san is very pretty!" (she has always been called the Older Sister by everyone, though it seemed to surprise her that I did)
Yuko: Laughing "Thank you very much" and she smiled as I left the table.
Probably my most productive handshake, since the pace was fast but just slow enough that if you paused for half a second with something prepared in your mind to say you could get it out.
It really was just a wow-moment for me, I mean they are the ones that started it all.
Now for the actual event. I was in the second section which was kinda like seats on risers, actually making it easier to see than if you had been in the first section which were just chairs on the floor. The three came out and started singing Morning Coffee right away. I admit I teared up during the song, it was just so moving to have them singing something that changed my life. No, I didn't know about the group until 2001-2002ish but anyone who doesn't appreciate the beginning stages isn't a real fan in my mind. Without those five girls actions there would be no Morning Musume.
Most of the event was talk, intermingled with each girl singing the song she auditioned with on Asayan. It is interesting to hear how much their vocal ability has improved since they first sang that song 13 years ago. They all talked about what they have been doing since graduation, and how strict their manager was back in the early days. They also did a quiz where if they got less than 7 out of 10 questions about their early actions they would have to do a punishment game. They only got six right so they had to drink really bitter tea before Nacchi did her song.
In the end they announced that in the spring there will be a Morning Musume OG nationwide concert tour which got a great response from the audience. No announcement of members, and I am sure there a few we can assume won't be involved for various reasons, but part of me hopes they can bring back a few of the ones outside of UFA for a good show.
The last song they sang was "Ai no Tane" the indies single they were told they had to sell 50,000 copies of in five days in order to get a record label. This is another underappreciated song among many foreign fans, but it really is the most important song in all of Musume's lineup. Without that song, there is no Musume.
I look forward to the tour and it was great seeing the three who started it.
Because it is the moment which made me the most nervous and excited, I will start by describing the handshake. Of course since it is a fanclub only event, there is always a handshake at the end as you are leaving. They are quite high-paced and although you aren't technically supposed to stand still while doing the handshake, most people try to in order to have a bit of a conversation with the girls. For me stopping is also because I cannot do handshake and move at same time, just doesn't work.
So the line was from left to right - Nacchi - Kaorin - Yuko. This is how it went down. I was surprisingly nervous, because although I have done handshake with current members and groups several times this was my first time with the ones who made everything we had today possible.
Me: "I listen to your radio show!"
Nacchi; "Thank you very much - ah, 'Hello'" She did her cute little Nacchi wave as she said this in English, clearly happy to see a foreign female fan. And it shows that we didn't just fly over here for a concert etc when it is FC only event.
Me: "Thank you for all you do"
Kaori: "Thank you!" Big smile
Me: "Onee-san is very pretty!" (she has always been called the Older Sister by everyone, though it seemed to surprise her that I did)
Yuko: Laughing "Thank you very much" and she smiled as I left the table.
Probably my most productive handshake, since the pace was fast but just slow enough that if you paused for half a second with something prepared in your mind to say you could get it out.
It really was just a wow-moment for me, I mean they are the ones that started it all.
Now for the actual event. I was in the second section which was kinda like seats on risers, actually making it easier to see than if you had been in the first section which were just chairs on the floor. The three came out and started singing Morning Coffee right away. I admit I teared up during the song, it was just so moving to have them singing something that changed my life. No, I didn't know about the group until 2001-2002ish but anyone who doesn't appreciate the beginning stages isn't a real fan in my mind. Without those five girls actions there would be no Morning Musume.
Most of the event was talk, intermingled with each girl singing the song she auditioned with on Asayan. It is interesting to hear how much their vocal ability has improved since they first sang that song 13 years ago. They all talked about what they have been doing since graduation, and how strict their manager was back in the early days. They also did a quiz where if they got less than 7 out of 10 questions about their early actions they would have to do a punishment game. They only got six right so they had to drink really bitter tea before Nacchi did her song.
In the end they announced that in the spring there will be a Morning Musume OG nationwide concert tour which got a great response from the audience. No announcement of members, and I am sure there a few we can assume won't be involved for various reasons, but part of me hopes they can bring back a few of the ones outside of UFA for a good show.
The last song they sang was "Ai no Tane" the indies single they were told they had to sell 50,000 copies of in five days in order to get a record label. This is another underappreciated song among many foreign fans, but it really is the most important song in all of Musume's lineup. Without that song, there is no Musume.
I look forward to the tour and it was great seeing the three who started it.