Watanabe Daisuke ～ 2 days/1 night Fantour - Report, Part 2
And here is part 2 of the report.
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Dai-chan entered the dining hall at six o’clock after having been announced by one of the tour guides and as soon as we had laid eyes upon Dai-chan our applause was momentarily drowned out by our fangirl squeals because Dai-chan was wearing a yukata in combination with a dark-blue haori…he looked absolutely stunning!
Under our applause Dai-chan made his way to the stage and welcomed us to the dinner party before proposing that we should drink a toast to kick the dinner party off and thus we began filling each other’s glasses.
Much to our enjoyment and to Dai-chan’s surprise he received something very special for the occasion. The staff took a huge, relatively flat drinking bowl and filled it with some beer before handing it to Dai-chan who had a very cute expression on his face as he received it and once we had lifted our glasses as well Dai-chan shouted ‘kampai’ a couple of times while slowly turning to face the occupants at each table for a moment and once he had exclaimed ‘kampai’ one last time and raised the bowl we drank our toast together with him.
After that the resort’s staff members went from table to table to take the covers off our dinner sets and to light the tea lights under the mini ceramic stoves that were part of each set to cook some delicious beef stew as we discovered later. The entire dinner was a splendid affair, sushi, sashimi, Japanese pickles, vegetables, stew, soup, dessert and of course rice and while we started enjoying the delicious looking goodies Dai-chan went from table to table to drink a personal toast with every single one of the occupants seated at them.
We had to wait for a while, but finally Dai-chan came over to our table. He began at the other end of the table and made his way around it, politely clinking glasses with everyone, saying “kampai” every time. When it was my turn Dai-chan placed, much to my surprise, his hand onto my shoulder blade and offering me a huge smile while looking straight into my eyes he said “once again, welcome…kampai”.
Grinning from ear to ear and taking in a deep breath, for Dai-chan was smelling heavenly, I thanked him and softly exclaimed “cheers” before clinking glasses with him. His action of giving me a bit of extra attention compared to the other occupants at our table made me feel happy as well as a bit shy at the same time, not to mention that I felt very honored too.
Once Dai-chan had drunk his toast with everyone at our table he moved on to the next one and then took a short break while we continued to enjoy our dinner…that was until the rice cake making was announced.
Dai-chan reappeared wearing a green jacket over his yukata as well as a headband and this time he was accompanied by his four helpers who had been chosen by the lottery during the painting event and who were wearing jackets and headbands similar to Dai-chan’s. The group entered the stage together with two members of the resort staff, gathered around a big trough and took up one large pole each.
A big box of hot, soft-boiled rice was brought in and emptied into the trough and then the group started pounding the steaming mass. The rhythm for this action was set by one of the senior staff members playing a big Taiko (Japanese drum) that had been set up just behind our table while doing a traditional chant and by us clapping our hands and repeating certain passages of the chant.
It was really fun to watch, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Dai-chan and his helpers because the task they had to perform was a hard and tiring piece of labor and after a couple of minutes they were all sweating. Eventually the helpers got to take a break from pounding the rice while Dai-chan had to stay where he was and the staff announced that those of us who would reach the stage quickly enough could give things a try as well.
I swear I have never jumped so quickly to my feet as I did after that announcement and luckily, I made it to the stage fast enough. I got the pole next to Dai-chan and he offered me as well as the other fans, who had been lucky enough to make it onto the stage, a warm smile before we started pounding the rice to the rhythm of the Taiko, chanting along with Dai-chan. Pounding the rice into Mochi was just as fun and exciting as it had looked from afar, though really tiring for the arms and after a couple of minutes we were released from our task.
I returned to my seat and then the staff announced that two more groups of fans would have the chance to help Dai-chan making rice cake and needless to say there was another rush to the stage as soon as the staff member’s voice had trailed off.
After the last group of lucky fans had left the stage, Dai-chan’s helpers and the two staff members returned, ready to help Dai-chan finish the job while a member of the H.I.S. staff started giving out some bamboo discs that were decorated with ribbons and tiny bells.
A traditional tune started playing and before I knew it my friends had risen to their feet. I quickly followed their example and only a moment later we found ourselves, together with a number of other fans, moving around the stage in a traditional Japanese dance routine, some members of the resort’s staff modeling the movements for us while Dai-chan and his helpers tried their best to get the rice cake done.
Dai-chan occasionally raised his head and looked at our performance, smiling sweetly every time, before turning his attention back to the task at hand and finally, just a few minutes after we had sat back down, the rice cake was finally done. The staff asked us to clap our hands together with Dai-chan three times in a special rhythm and with that the rice cake making performance ended.
The rice cake was taken to the kitchen to be cut and about ten minutes later Dai-chan served it to us personally. Once everyone had received their dish of rice cake Dai-chan announced that he would retire to his room for a while saying that he was in dire need of a quick shower after having sweated so much during the rice cake making. He asked us to enjoy the rest of our dinner and announced that he would be back with us at eight o’clock for the photo shooting and with that he left the room in company of his manager.
Once Dai-chan had left my friends and I finished our dinner, chatting with the other occupants of our table and after we were done with our meal, one of my friends and I returned to our room in order to change clothes. When Dai-chan had come to our table to drink his personal toast with us we had asked him if he would wear his yukata for the photo shooting as well. Dai-chan told us that he would, so we decided to change into yukata as well since it was a great opportunity to have a picture taken that would be a bit different from the usual photos, in which Dai-chan always wears a fashionable outfit chosen by a stylist.
Changing clothes took us only about fifteen minutes and even though I’m not really used to wearing yukata, I felt quite comfortable in it. I decided to wear the haori that went with the yukata as well and after a final glance at the mirror my friend and I returned to the dining room.
My change of outfit had not gone unnoticed and many of my friends and acquaintances among the fan community complemented me on my look, saying that wearing yukata really suited me, which made me feel a bit embarrassed, but happy and relieved at the same time.
Just as he had promised Dai-chan joined us again at eight o’clock and entered the stage once more to announce that the photo shooting would be starting soon, but he didn’t want to leave again just like that. Instead he thought for a moment, mumbling “hmmm, what could I do…” and then he came up with an idea and asked “should I sing something for you?”
The words had barely left his mouth when we started applauding in agreement and Dai-chan offered us a bright smile before becoming thoughtful again and asked us “What should I sing? Do you have anything in mind?”
We started calling out various songs Dai-chan had performed in musicals or concerts over the years and finally we agreed on Lt. Cable’s solo from “South Pacific”. To our and Dai-chan’s surprise a member of the resort staff rushed up almost instantaneously to plug in the karaoke machine and Dai-chan said politely that it wouldn’t be necessary, praising the staff member for their quick reaction and we also gave them a round of applause.
Once the applause had died down Dai-chan asked us whether we were ready and we fell quiet. Dai-chan announced “here we go” and cleared his throat, the room being so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop. Dai-chan took a deep breath and then he began to sing, his rich, baritone voice ringing crystal clear through the room and every hair on my skin stood up in response. Dai-chan’s voice was breathtakingly beautiful and hearing him singing a capella like that was a truly amazing moment, one that I will never forget.
Eventually Dai-chan’s voice faded and as soon as it had, we broke out into frenetic applause and fangirl squeals. Dai-chan waited patiently for us to calm down and then announced that he would go out into the hall and get ready for the photo shooting, which earned him some more fangirl squeals and with that he left the stage and a member of the tour staff took over.
He explained that the shooting would be done according to table numbers and that the people who had taken their photo should return to their rooms to get ready for Dai-chan’s “goodnight” visit and it was announced that Dai-chan would first visit the rooms on the 5th floor, then the ones on the 8th floor and finally those on the 3rd floor. Upon hearing that my friends and I couldn’t help grinning at each other because our room was the 2nd last Dai-chan would visit, which would give us plenty of time to prepare.
Soon the occupants of the table closest to the door were asked to get ready for the photo shooting and my friends and I started getting excited as well. We checked our cameras, making sure that we had selected the right settings to ensure the best possible quality of the photo we were about to take and finally, after about thirty-five minutes it was our turn to get ready.
After a short wait at the door since there was a little queue, I was asked by a member of the staff to step outside into the hall and into a closed space that had especially been set up for the photo shooting. I felt giddy as I made my way out of the dining hall and I couldn’t help what Dai-chan’s reaction would be upon seeing me because he had never seen me in traditional Japanese clothing before.
Dai-chan welcomed me with a bright smile and exclaimed “you look really beautiful” once he had taken a good look at me in my yukata and haori and then he asked me to sit down next to him. Thanking him for his sweet compliment I took a seat and Dai-chan put his arm around me, pulling me close. With my heart beating like a drum I snuggled up to him and then Dai-chan’s manager snapped the photo.
Once the picture was taken Dai-chan took my hands into his own, squeezing them gently as we had a little chat. Dai-chan thanked me for having joined the tour and then remarked “you’ve been by my side for a long time, haven’t you? It was several years ago when we first met.”
His comment really took me by surprise for, even though I was sure that Dai-chan had to be aware of the fact that I have been supporting him for quite a while, but I never ever expected him to comment on it and it made me incredibly happy, not to mention that I felt extremely flattered as well.
With my cheeks turning hot and, without a doubt, crimson I told him that it had been his fan ever since ‘Ultraman Mebius’ and that it had been a little over five years since our first encounter at the ‘Takumi-kun - final meet & greet’ back in October 2012.
Smiling widely Dai-chan replied: “and I’m aware of the fact that you have attended almost all of my events and performances since then. Thank you, Stefanie for all your support and please stay by my side from now on as well.”
I answered that I definitely would and chuckling Dai-chan squeezed my hands tightly for a moment before finally releasing them from his hold. Smiling I thanked Dai-chan and then rose to my seat and accepted my smartphone which the manager was holding out to me with another “thank you”. Before I left Dai-chan offered me another beautiful smile, exclaiming “see you later, ne” and with that our meeting ended.
Grinning happily from ear to ear I stepped out of the photo booth and made my way to a seating corner in the hall where, while waiting for my friends, I checked the photo the photo Dai-chan and I had taken together and I couldn’t help giggling when I saw the result since the photo turned out to look much more intimate than I had expected it to.
Back in our room my friends and I started preparations for Dai-chan’s visit. We had decided to hold an early, renaissance-fair themed Halloween party for the occasion and had gotten costumes not only for ourselves but one for Dai-chan as well. We had bought a historical, Desmoulins-style jacket for him in ‘Capulet red’ and we were really excited to see Dai-chan wearing it.
Around ten-thirty the sound of the doorbell interrupted our conversation (yes, each room had a proper doorbell) and we rushed to the door to open it. Dai-chan’s eyes went wide with surprise once he had entered and laid eyes upon us in our costumes and the Halloween decorations. “It looks like you are having a lot of fun” he said smiling widely and we explained that we were having a little Halloween party and that we had prepared something for our special guest.
My friend got the jacket we had bought and gave it to Dai-chan. “It looks cool,” Dai-chan remarked as he put it on and he looked just as stunning in the outfit as we had imagined he would. He even noticed that the color and style of the jacket matched his costumes of Tybalt and Desmoulins. So, we chatted with him a bit about costumes and about the outfits he had worn during his stage acting and musical career.
Dai-chan told us that he really enjoyed the fact that as a stage actor he can wear many different costumes and become a different person. We asked him about some costumes he particularly liked wearing because of their style and design and he mentioned that he really loved his Desmoulins costume and that he was looking forward to wearing it again.
When the time came for Dai-chan to move on to the next room we told him that he could keep the jacket as a present and smiling widely Dai-chan thanked us a couple of times. He then asked us to give it to the staff later because he was not allowed to accept any presents during the room visits. We assured him that we would and with Dai-chan bid us goodnight. He shook hands with each one of us and said “oyasumi, sleep well and I see you tomorrow” before finally taking his leave.
Once Dai-chan had left my friends and I gave each other a couple of high-fives, happy that our surprise for Dai-chan had been successful and then we decided to celebrate our success with a glass of sparkling wine. When Dai-chan had finished his visit to the room next to ours, we asked the three fans who were staying in it over to our room for a little party since they were good acquaintances of ours and for the next hour we drank, chatted and laughed and naturally we did a lot of ‘Daisucation’ as well.
Just before midnight my friends and I made our way down to the first floor to take a late-night bath. There was a large indoor pool divided into two sections “warm” and “hot” as well as a sauna and four bathing spots in the outdoor area of the bath. My friends and I spent about forty minutes in the indoor and outdoor bathing spots and soaking in the hot water while enjoying the fresh and slightly cool night air was extremely relaxing and like every time when I get the chance to visit a hot spring resort I thought ‘I want my own private onsen, just for me’. Not that it is ever going to happen, but a girl can dream, right?
Back in our room my friends and I made ourselves comfortable and enjoyed some more drinks as well as a few snacks while chatting about a variety of things and by the time we decided to go to bed it was already three o’clock. With my mind full of images and thoughts of Dai-chan I snuggled into the warm, fluffy blanket of my futon and soon I had drifted off to sleep.
PART 1: HERE
PART 3: HERE