5x10 Con: 12/5 Tokyo Dome
The tickets for this con never worked out for me, tragically. But I decided that I'd go for my first merchandise run anyway, just for fun.
Other con reports warn of unspeakably long lines, so right from the start I decided to get there an hour prior to the opening time. My cell phone told me that there were five ways I could get there in under an hour. This meant I had to wake up at 6:30 this morning *is still groggy now*.
Schedule-wise, everything went according to plan.
What I remembered to pack:
Gloves (for cold hands)
Umbrella (just in case)
Mp3
Cellphone
Camera
Glasses
Breakfast (onigiri & hot coffee)
What I forgot to pack:
Lots of lots of yen *sob*
When I arrived at 8:00am, the line was already so convoluted I couldn't figure out which direction it was going in. All I could do was follow the signs which pointed me to a guy in a blue jumpsuit holding a board that said, "This is the end of the line"
It turns out ALL the staff are dressed up in similar blue jumpsuits. They walk around shouting into microphones and waving their arms but I'm tellin' you, it's hard to take a person seriously when they're wearing something like that >D
Even so, I was really surprised at how well-behaved everyone was. It could be because it was eight in the morning and everyone was still half-asleep, but it was surprisingly quiet. No one tried to cut in line or walk into places they shouldn't or raise their voice above 30 decibels.
Japan really is something special ~
There were lots of little kids. And randomly, a lot of dads XD And for every twenty girls I saw there was also a guy in the mix.
I glad I got there at 8:00 because the people were multiplying fast. Ten minutes after I started lining up, the guy holding the "End of line" board was already out of sight, he was so far away 0___0
And so commenced two long hours. I was supposed to meet with some friends there, but they had just gotten out of bed at 8:00 so I was by myself. It wasn't boring for several reasons.
1. Tokyo Dome is a fabulous tourist attraction with stone walkways and bridges and fountains and everything, so no matter where you're standing, there's something to see.
In the course of two hours, I passed a ferris wheel, two roller coasters, a suspended boat, the Tokyo Dome Hotel, and a gorgeous cityscape.
2. I had a hot breakfast!
3. The two girls in front of me were speaking in heavy kansai-ben, so I amused myself by seeing how much I could understand. Every fifteen minutes they'd take a look at the line stretching behind them and go "Holy cow Arashi's gotten so popular lately! It's insane!" =D
4. I had two book excerpts downloaded on my phone, which I could read even when the line was moving.
Plus, even though they'd said it would rain, the skies turned out clear.
Everything was pretty much nifty until I thought to check how much money I had with me. That's when it dawned on me. Oops. I hope the stuff up there isn't too pricey. I had about enough to buy a concert ticket at the regular price. That was it. And when friends called to ask if I could buy them stuff, since I was there way ahead of them, I had to say, "I-I just don't think there'll be money left over T_T"
Towards the end of the wait, when the Promised Land was just in sight, I started spotting girls in line who were already carrying the 5x10 Eco bag with them - probably from another concert. It made me sad just thinking about how some fans got to go to more than one concert while some couldn't go at all.
But that was when I finally made it to the pricing board where the items were listed, so I promptly forgot all about the lucky fans and starting calculating what I could buy. Some of the girls ahead of me had clipboards with lists and tallies on them 0__0 I...did not look at the online list in advance, so I had to do the most complicated mental math I've done in awhile. XD
In the end, I gave up on buying uchiwas, but I got myself the whole set of clear folders. I'm also the proud new owner of a real Arashi poster AND the 5x10 pamphlet which is the best thing I bought all day because there's SO MUCH to see. And then, because I had 1000yen left over, I got the limited edition phone strap.
All anyone seems to be selling on Yahoo Auctions is this phone strap, but I for one would much rather have the pamphlet. The book has a little bit of everything, and I looooove the concept behind the photoshoot. Jun with his Fancy Purple Spa Room full of beauty products still cracks me up. I don't understand Nino's haircut, but I guess he must've done this in his Bruno stage.
The red-hot second I used up all my money, I ran back outside and stopped just long enough to take pictures of the Arashi Car. You know, the red and blue one from the CD cover? That car was on display!
You can't see it, but there is an enormous ring of fans standing around this car taking pictures just like me. Japanese fans are SO well-behaved, they don't even crowd close enough to block other people's cameras.
Then I hopped on the train home. What had worried me the most this whole morning was that I wouldn't be able to get back in time for an obligation at 11:20. Well, I made it with 10 minutes to spare, though I was completely out of breath and totally high from my first successful con venture.
Granted, I might not get to see a con at all until their...11th Anniversary? But still I'm super glad I went today.
Oh, and the best-looking one of this con? (Well, based on the merchandise, anyway)
Sho-kun. Hands down. :D:D:D My Gosh. That suit.