NAOKaI meeting naokAi

[bkaii]

I wish I could tell you how much it meant to me to meet Naoki Maeda in person. Now that I think about it, I think it meant too much. I never thought I could meet an icon like that in my life. I received the name "naokai" from a friend to not confuse her with another friend of hers with the same name as mine, I just stuck with it ever since. I knew I was popular in the BEMANI community, but I didn't know how popular I was to everybody until recently. I also didn't know how important I was to the community until recently as well. I played DDR since I was 14, I retired at 20. I never quit, but DDR lost it's touch and it wasn't like how it was before. I have met a number of people because of DDR & a number of people knew me because of it too. Even though I knew his songs well, I never knew it was possible for me to meet him EVER. What do you say to the name that gave you a lot? What can you say? I have met a number of iconic musicians in my life, I unfortunately won't have the chance to meet a few (MJ, DJ AM, Nujabes, J Dilla) but I've met the people affiliated with them so it was close enough. Naoki Maeda felt like a ghost to me, I still felt like there was no way to see him in person. After meeting and becoming friends with Yoshinori Ono (Street Fighter IV), it felt more possible to meet the people I were into. I missed Naoki Maeda at E3, and thought my chances were ruined. Until I heard about another launch party for another DDR game that wasn't announced at E3 somewhat nearby then I thought here's my chance. When I saw him, I didn't know what to say. I shook his hand and he looked happy to see me, when I asked him to sign my copy of Extreme he was super excited to do so. Before we departed I thanked him for everything, I don't think he realized what he meant to me but he accepted anyway. I felt him looking at me a couple of times, I guess he knew there was something special about me just didn't know what. When it came time to take pictures with the producers (NAOKI, U1 & jun), NAOKI was particularly happy to see me. So with open arms, they welcomed me back in to be with them. I thought that was a big surprise to me, because I knew there was something about me that NAOKI liked but he still couldn't figure out. Let me say this very quick before I say something else, I thought it was very odd that I became a celebrity figure to those who came to the event. Not to sound self-centered, but I came there a regular person and walked out a favorite to everybody. I think I feel different after meeting and greeting Naoki Maeda in person. I feel more accomplished as a person, because I never thought it would happen to me. I feel that more things are possible, sounds silly but think about it. I've been waiting 10 years to see this guy, and gave up hope. I missed him at E3 2010 but caught up him here. I'll still carry the "naokai" name for him, now for more reasons then before. Thank you NM.



Notes
1. NAOKaI meeting naokAi: NAOKI meeting naokai / naokai meeting NAOKI. Take it for which sounds better to you.



-NAOKaI/bkaii