HANA YORI DANGO FANGATHERING
Last April 21st, a gathering for Hana Yori Dango fans was held at Amaia Skies Tower Cubao. It was initiated by ARASHI, Matsumoto Jun & Inoue Mao (Maotsujun) and Hana Yori Dango fans.
They partnered with Salt Payatas Foundation Philippines, a Japanese NGO which helps the youth in Payatas to finish their studies. You might have heard of them when popular Japanese actress Aragaki Yui (Gakki / Gakky) went here in Manila. She visited Payatas sometime in 2011. All the proceeds from the auction of Hana Yori Dango and Hana Nochi Hare treasured items were relayed to the said NGO. According to the team, the event was able to raise 13,000 Php for Salt Payatas! How amazing was that!
I felt excited when Maotsujun facebook page first announced that there’ll be a fan gathering for Hana Yori Dango fans. However, I was not sure if I could attend since I’m currently a poor fangirl now. But, Tina (@_potatocarrot) encouraged me to attend. I’m really thankful for that!
Before the event proper, we were asked to register. We received Hana Dan mugs and free magazines as souvenirs!
Part 1!!! Registration, first game and mooooore 💕💕 #BoysFlowersDangoPH #BringHanaharetoPHGMA7 https://t.co/nsP7MQ2mrE pic.twitter.com/RN0Xw6t00U
- 💜🌻jEaNN🌻💜 (@Ann_Niji17) April 22, 2018
Tina opened the program by welcoming all the attendees. According to her, the event was two years in the making. A representative from Salt Payatas was also present and said that she was really thankful for the team for choosing them as a partner organization.
Love So Sweet PH team prepared Hana Dan themed games for us. In order to get to know all the attendees, we first played Human Bingo. I was surprised and amazed to know that some already watched Oguri Shun and Inoue Mao live in Japan! It was included in the Human Bingo. Among the things that were also included were “Marathons Hana Dan every year”, “Owns an ARASHI CD/DVD”, “Favourite F4 member is Domyouji Tsukasa”, “Listens to Japanese bands”, etc.
We also played a quiz show about the whole Hana Dan franchise. I haven’t brushed up my memories about the show so I didn’t win! lol They gave regular editions of ARASHI’s WISH and Love So Sweet singles as prizes for the games.
After the two games, Tina gave away her fandom goodies like some PR magazines of Hana Yori Dango and her most prized possession: “Hana Yori Dango Final” 2008 DVD boxset!!
Yesterday's event was a blast! 🎉 Ive met a lot of HanaDan fans! And I got the HanaDan DVD Box, well like they said, "If you want something, fight for it." 😂❤
Psst! Ate! Kuya! Galingan niyo dyan para may kasunod 'to 😂 #BoysFlowersDangoPH #真央潤 #井上真央 #松本潤 #花より男子 pic.twitter.com/OFCfU5mFDA
- Mao ♡ Jun (@hatenaimaojun) April 22, 2018
GUYS I JUST WON HANADAN'S DVD BOX BY LOTTERY HUHUHU 😭😭❤️ #BoysFlowersDangoPH pic.twitter.com/7IrKcjsEh0
- ❀Dyan❀ 💎 🦓 (@yanniedesu) April 21, 2018
After the lottery, a contest was again held. Remember “Teen of Japan” which Makino joined and won the hearts of many people with her beauty and intelligence? We recreated it in the event! Only, it was called “Teen of the Philippines”. Three contestants were chosen to represent Boys, Flowers and Dango: Aira of the idol group "Loveso" for Boys, Rya for Flowers and Jewel for Dango.
For the beauty segment, the contestants were asked to model a towel. All of them did a great job but I think it was Jewel who stand out the most! She wrapped her head with the towel and modelled it fiercely on the runway!
For the intelligence part, the “Makino Tsukushi for a night” contestants were asked with the question, “If you were Makino Tsukushi for a day, who would you choose among the F4 members your boyfriend, best friend, brother and daddy?” For this part, I would go for Rya’s answer because of her line “We all deserve a Hanazawa Rui”.
In the end, Jewel became Makino Tsukushi for a night and was crowned “Teen of the Philippines”.
Photo from Jewel's facebook account
After the contest, the team auctioned numerous Hana Dan and Hana Hare goods. I was amused since some fans went all out and didn’t mind the cost since it’s for the benefit of Salt Payatas.
The main highlight of the event is to watch Hana Nochi Hare’s 1st ever episode. It was subbed by the team. Everyone screamed whenever Hirano Sho (Haruto) and Nakagawa Taishi (Tenma) appear.
Hana Nochi Hare ~ Hana Dan Next Season
Nakagawa Taishi as Tenma
Hirano Sho as Haruto
Sugisaki Hana as Oto
Of course, everyone was also anticipating Matsumoto Jun’s awaited cameo! I had tears in my eyes when he appeared in the huge screen. After all these years, he can still pull off this character. MatsuJun’s cameo only had back shots and side shots but the “Domyouji aura” still shines upon him. Alex Sho who plays as Haruto’s younger self also did a great job! One more reason that I almost cried was because of Utada Hikaru's song, "Hatsukoi", playing in the background during the Domyouji scene. It sounds lovely and heartbreaking at the same time.
MatsuJun as Domyouji
<3
Alex Sho as little Haruto
MatsuJun as Domyouji backshot
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I actually watched the 1st episode without English subtitles. Watching it the second time with subs made me more appreciate it. I am looking forward to the upcoming episodes!
I am really thankful that this event was made possible by Love So Sweet PH team. Hana Yori Dango is one of the reasons why I am currently in the J-Pop fandom. I am really thankful for MatsuJun, Inoue Mao, Oguri Shun, Matsuda Shota and Abe Tsuyoshi. Thank you for making my teenage life wonderful.
Again, thank you to Tina, K-Ann, Rai, Maotsujun Lovers and MatsuJun PH for making this happen! I hope there’ll be a second time!
More screencaps of Hana Nochi Hare below!
The new red card!
C5! The new F4
Hamada Tatsuomi as Kaito Taira
Imada Mio as Airi Maya
And, we have an Amuse actor included in Hana Nochi Hare! Suzuki Jin!
Suzuki Jin as Issa Narumiya
Nakata Keisuke as Sugimaru Eibi
Hirano Sho as Haruto Kaguragi
The adorable cast behind Hana Nochi Hare
F4 appeared for a bit :D
Haruto idolizes Domyouji so much! He even has a hologram of him.
Look at the caption! hehe
<3
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This is equivalent to the punch of Makino to Domyouji
Caught in a love triangle
The confused Tenma
Caught in between Oto
The in denial Haruto
If you want to watch the 1st episode, you may download the raw from J-raws: https://j-raws.me/2018/hana-nochi-hare-hanadan-2/ and get the English softsubs from potato-carrot.