It’s so late here; and I've a long day tomorrow. But I must still write this down before I start forgetting whatever that happened, or if I lose my memory one day.
The entire of last week was so crazy for me especially since school just reopened, and my test results weren’t all that fantastic (though I kind of expected it).
WARNING:
THIS POST IS REALLY VERYYYYYY LONG. PARDON ME FOR BEING SO LONG-WINDED (I just wanna write every single detail down in case I might forget anything hahaha). YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST SCROLL DOWN TO FRIDAY’S POST INSTEAD CAUSE THAT’S THE BEST PART LOL. (though its still quite long also lol)
Thursday (28/6/2012):
I was totally dreading Thursday. It was gonna be the start of my French class (My school has a module called Interdisciplinary Studies where students list out their rankings of modules to choose. What module we’re posted into was based on balloting. I was so unlucky that I got my 4th choice.) Crazy long day for me; 10-5pm in school and Japanese class immediately after that. I could totally imagine how badly I had to rush. Luckily the French tutor ended slightly earlier, so that I could have dinner before my Japanese class started.
Reached Raffles Place an hour early (surprisingly) and went to grab my dinner. As usual, I was scrolling through my facebook and twitter, checking for updates. Then I realised that someone posted on the yamakaze facebook group (Singapore Arashi fanbase group) stating that Sho was spotted at Raffles Hotel for Nazotoki filming at around 2+pm (when I was still having my French lesson, so I didn’t think that he would stay so long). After looking through the comments, FANS SAID THAT HE WAS STILL THERE. HOLYMAMA I FINISHED WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY FOOD IMMEDIATELY AND RAN OUT OF BURGER KING WITH MY GPS ON (I really do not know how to use the GPS but I used it anyway). I set my mind on being late for the first-half of my Japanese class LOL.
Okay, back-tracking a little, on Wednesday, it was said that the Nazotoki crew was at Merlion Park though Sho nor Keiko were there. And there was a fan report stating that we would not be able to see them as they did not have any outdoor scenes. But after seeing what the fan posted on the facebook group about Sho being at Raffles Hotel, I just went to try my luck. SO I WALKED FROM RAFFLES PLACE MRT STATION ALL THE WAY TO RAFFLES HOTEL. For some of you who might know, it’s not very near. Took me 30mins to get there. Furthermore, I did not know the route at all, I relied on asking pedestrians on the road for directions to get there. Thankfully there were nice enough to help J
After about 20mins, I finally spotted the Raffles Hotel. The fans stated that he was filming at the Shopping Arcade instead of Raffles Hotel. And since I’ve never been to Raffles Hotel before, I didn’t know how the layout of the building was like, and ended up asking the receptionist at Raffles Hotel how to get to the Shopping Arcade, was like 5mins walk around the entire hotel. By the time I reached the Shopping Arcade, I was drenched in perspiration.
The moment I reached the Shopping Arcade, I could see a group of people crowding at a corner, and I knew immediately that Sho was there, filming. So I went to join the group but could see nothing thanks to all the plants around. Then, I saw this other girl (who is slightly older than me, prolly 25?) beside me who was alone and asked if she was here to see Sho too. And tadah, I made a new friend haha! (I think her name was Jordy, Idk how to spell her name!)
Since we couldn’t see anything from the 1st floor, we decided to check out the filming from the 2nd floor. (They were filming in an open area park kinda thing, under a pavilion, so technically, we could see from the 2nd floor). Just like the 1st floor, the 2nd floor had fans too (but lesser), and there were also staff that were there to prevent the crowd from going to close to the filming area. The staff on the 2nd floor kept telling us (the fans) to disperse as he mentioned that crowding around the area would attract more attention, and it might disrupt the filming. So, Jordy and I, left that area, to explore the place in search for another/better area to look at Sho :3
We walked to the other side of level 2 (which was in clear view of the filming area). There was not a single soul there (except for that one staff). So we were wondering why the fans did not want to go there instead. So anyway, the staff was so nice, he actually let Jordy and I walk along the corridor and watch Sho film!!! OMG THAT WAS IT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ENTIRE 5 YEARS OF FANDOM LIFE WHERE I ACTUALLY SAW ZA SAKURAI SHO. THAT MERE 30 SECONDS OF WALKING PAST WAS ENOUGH TO KEEP ME AWAKE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. I swear, he was just so…….Kageyama-ish LOL. But sadly, as we walked from left to right, we had to turn our heads back in order to see Sho. He was in his suit, spectacles and centre-parting. Of course, walking past once is never enough, Jordy and I walked for another 2/3 times LOL. At that instance, I knew that skipping Japanese lesson was the right choice LOL. There was a woman opposite Sho, thought it was Keiko (her hair was being bunned up really princess-y) but fans said it was Miyazawa Rie. I couldn’t make out who it was cause my eyes were too fixated on Sho and I could only see the female actress’ back view lol.
My view of Sho:
After which, Jordy’s friends came along, and we told them about the route that we discovered, and we walked again LOL. Lucky for them, they came earlier in the day (during their lunch break), and they saw Sho quite close up to them! For Iris (another friend whom I made that day), Sho was walking along the corridor opposite her !!! They also told me that one of their friends saw Sho, and when she nodded to him, HE NODDED BACK TO HER OMG LORD SAVE ME.
At about 715pm, we decided to leave the place and I headed back to Japanese class. THIS WAS THE DUMBEST DECISION OF MY LIFE BECAUSE THE FILMING ENDED AT 735PM AND THE FANS WHO STAYED SAID THAT SHO WAVED TO THEM AND THE STAFF ALLOWED THE FANS TO PLAY AND TAKE PHOTOS WITH THE SET.
So anyway, throughout my entire Japanese lesson, there were times where I unknowingly smile to myself cause of what happened earlier that day ;_;
Friday (29/6/2012):
Lessons as usual, and I still couldn’t get over the fact that I saw Sho the day before. Time in school was rather good, got back 2 papers on Friday and thank God results were quite okay. Plans for going down to Bugis to make my N4 exam voucher was cancelled cause the centre had already packed all the things and sent it to the exam centre. So I went straight to Harbourfront Centre instead to meet Ben Loo and Angie. By the time I reached, it was around 2+pm? Waited for Ben and Angie to finish eating before we went to the departure gate. It was soooooo crowded with fans already lol like twice the number that were at Raffles Hotel the previous day.
Since there were so many fans there, and the earliest boarding time was 4pm, we decided to walk around Harbourfront Centre to check out any escape routes that the Natotoki crew might take lol. Walked upstairs to the office area; coach bay; baggage check-in area etc. Finally, we decided to stay at the departure gate instead cause the coach bay was too hot lol (Singapore is too crazy hot I swear omg). Fans were all lined up in twos, there was a clear passage way for the crew to walk through (in case they do walk through). Being the calm people, Ben, Angie and I stood away from the crowd, which was near the railings where we can see both the second and first floor (this is what smart people do hahaha). But duh obviously I couldn’t control my excitement and was going crazy while waiting for them though I already kinda saw Sho the day before. Angie and Loo were damn calm lol ideky hahahah.
All of a sudden, there was a scream and fans raaaaaaaaan forward and we were like “wtf just happened” lol cause we did not see any shit lol, and true enough, it turned out to be a false alarm; one of the staff working at the departure gate area screamed some stuff which misled the fans lol (could see him laughing his head off with the other staff, such a meanie).
It was almost 4pm, and more fans started to accumulate around the departure gate. Loo and Angie were playing with their cameras, trying to take picture of each other lol while I stood alone there trying to calm myself down (ok this sounds funny hahaha but yeah I was really excited, hoping to be able to shake Sho’s hand or smth!!).
THEN, THERE WAS A FREAAAAAKING LOUD SCREAM AND ALLLLL THE FANS RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DEPARTURE GATE LOL. Being the calm ones (among the rest lol), we still continued standing where we were. It was when the fans’ screams continued where we suspected that the actors/actresses were out so we ran to where the other fans were. We ended up standing at the back of the crowd since we joined the crowd late. The crew came out, fans screamed. The first actor to come out was Shiina Kippei, it was crazy, all the pushing was insane. Security guards were out trying to control the entire crowd lol. I tried to run to the front to take a closer look at them (cause there was such a huge empty space in front of me and it was still around 3-5m away from the actors), but I was held back by the security guard wtf lol. As Shiina Kippei walked, fans followed, AND SOMEHOW IDK HOW, ANGIE AND I MANAGED TO GET AROUND THE CROWD TO THE OTHER SIDE AND GOT A REALLY GOOD VIEW OF THE ACTORS (I think we were really very lucky cause our view was probably the best). THE ACTORS WERE JUST AN ARMS’ LENGTH AWAY FROM US, I SWEAR. Of course there was a barricade and there were the cruise staff there as well to control the crowd, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT SEPARATED US FROM THE ACTORS WAS THE SECURITY GUARD’S HAND.
Shiina Kippei walked past me, I didn’t know what to do LOL I just looked lmao. Prolly cause I’m not really a fan but I was still excited. ( I totally should’ve shouted Keibuu or smth omg dumb me). After Shiina Kippei was an older actor lol at that point of time I was trying so hard to recall who he was and which drama I’ve seen him before I couldn’t even think lol. (After the entire thing was when I realised he’s Kaga Takeshi lol).
After Kaga Takeshi, some other actors/actresses and crew walked past, I couldn’t really see. After a few seconds, LOUDER SCREAMS OF SHO COULD BE HEARD, I TURNED TO MY LEFT AND SAW A DUDE WHO WAS HUNCHING DAMN BADLY WEARING A CAP, SUNGLASSES AND BACKPACK LOL I WANTED TO TAKE A PHOTO OF HIM (for personal purposes, didn’t have intention of uploading) SO BAD BUT MY PHONE WAS SCREWING WITH ME, LAGGING AND ALL LOL. BY THE TIME I OPENED THE CAMERA APP, SHO WAS ALMOST REACHING MY AREA SO I JUST PUT MY PHONE AWAY AND WATCHED HIM WALK PAST LOL. I was stunned for a moment while he walked right past me until I heard fans call out to him, and I called out to him also. It was sad that his head was down the whole time. He literally zoomed past all the fans, his managers were violently “protecting” him from the fans too lol. He was walking so close to the wall it felt as if the wall had some Sho-body magnet; pretty much like this:
Since Sho already walked past me, my time to see Sho was over. Then I realised, KEIKO ISN’T OUT YET. Just at that moment, KEIKO APPEARED. Angie, being a Keiko fan, shouted for Keiko as she approached. I was standing right beside Angie. Something urged me to shout for Keiko too, AND SO I WENT ALL “KEIKO-SAN!!!” AS SHE WALKED PAST. THIS IS THE BEST PART: SHE HEARD ANGIE AND MY SCREAMS AND WAVED AT US. SHE LOOKED RIGHT AT US. AND EVEN AFTER WAVING, SHE EVEN GREETED US WITH “KONNICHIWA”. (I know she was wearing sunglasses and all but it was damn obvious she was looking right at me, her face direction was right towards me) I was trying to keep myself calm until she left LOL and I teared. I don’t even know why I teared cause I’m not even a really huge fan of Keiko but I guess her wave to me got me too excited. KEIKO IS SO NICE I SWEAR, AND PRETTY.
KEIKO!!!!!!!:
Angie and I got so asdfjhasfkjadsfh over her wave we couldn’t stop spazzing lolol. It was after that where we realised Ben Loo went missing HAHA but turned out he was some distance behind us, taking pictures of the actors (especially Keiko lol). He didn’t take any pictures of Sho though, cause he thought Shiina Kippei was Sho lol he didn’t see Sho at all (I guess it’s not surprising considering how fast Sho walked and how small he looked thanks to his hunch).
There were many groups of fans crowding around a camera, checking out the videos/pictures they took of their idols lol. Angie and I were still in our dreamy land after meeting Keiko. We couldn’t stop recollecting the entire scene. Tired from the screaming, we went to get ourselves some gongcha and headed home.
I couldn’t stop smiling to myself the entire time lol, that moment was just - priceless. It felt so surreal. Never in my life did I think that I would’ve seen Sho in real life (though he just walked past lol). Never would I have thought a Japanese actress would actually wave to me lol. I guess I was actually more excited over Keiko’s wave compared to Sho’s appearance.
29th June was the one of my best days of 2012. Getting not-so-lousy results, being able to meet Sho, having Keiko wave to me, that’s all enough to make my day. The entire scene just kept replaying in my head. I love how Singapore is slowly recognizing Japanese actors/actresses.
NOTE:
All images containing Sho do not belong to me (credits: weibo).
Somebody shared a video on youtube of the stars coming out but I'm not sure if I can share it here... Let me know if you want me to pass you the link~ :)
Idk why the first 2 images' positions are kinda screwed but I'm just gonna heck it lol.
On a side note:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AKANISHI JIN & GACKT!!! ♥ #SEXGODS4LIFE