We got into the small hall and were pleasantly surprised to find our seats in the 3rd row, so close to the stage.
Nakada-san
We were looking through the stack of flyers and goodie bag we got at the door. A man was looking towards us from in front of the 1st row and approaching us, much to our puzzlement. He reached us and asked "if we were (Miko's real name)-san". Since Miko was the one who corresponded through email to get tickets for this event, we had a pretty good guess. Indeed, the man talked to us in English (thankfully), introducing himself as Nakada-san, manager (?) of Takumi-san, and he was thanking us for coming to the event when his mobile phone rang and he excused himself. Still filled with question marks, we continued settling down until we wondered if his only purpose was to greet and thank us. But he returned soon, and after a little more small talk, he asked if we had time to stay for 5-10 minutes after the event ends at around 1pm. "Yes." We said. Nevermind not knowing what he wanted us to stay for. Strangely enough, he didn’t offer the information before he left and I thought it might be impolite to ask. He also gave us his name card at some point. Miko speculated it was to give us some promotional thing to distribute in Singapore. XD I was thinking about the Talk Live reports I’ve read about but didn’t say anything in case the disappointment was too great later...
Flyer :D There were these posters around too but we (kind of) forgot to take a photo of them.
The DVD with 4min of Takumi talking.. the signature's smudged before I know it orz.
Soon it looked like it was about to start. We both caught sight of a male figure coming up the stage from our left, but there were two... screen-like things on both ends of the stage so he was swiftly hidden from view again and remained hidden there until a short while later when the show starts and it was revealed to be none other than Takumi himself. (\(^o^)/)
Introduction
Takumi-san was dressed in a black leather jacket with white shirt underneath and jeans. He thanked us for coming to support on Christmas Eve and briefly introduced Sukitomo. At one point he jumped down from the stage (it was a low stage and there was quite a space between the first row of chairs from the stage) and squatted briefly, before going back up. ^^? Wakaranakatta~
Move Screening
He left the stage soon and the screen in the middle of the stage started showing Sukitomo. It lasted an hour or so, and "felt complete". Even now I don’t know if it was the whole show. 8D The dialogue in the movie was surprisingly easy to understand, though we missed out a lot of the climax. 8D
Summary
The movie opens with Aoi (Takumi) in boxing training and Yoshiki (Aiba) taking photos of said boxing. Aoi’s little Sis and her friend also arrived. After training Yoshiki was giving Aoi a bottle of water and towel but Sis beat him to it. Dejected, Yoshiki was leaving when Aoi invited him to join them for dinner, to Sis’ displeasure. After the dinner, they were walking along when a car/motorcycle (?) sped by, almost knocking over Yoshiki, but Aoi came to the rescue. Gratuitous boy-on-boy fanservice! (5 minutes into the movie!) So Yoshiki was pinned to the ground with Aoi on top and they stared at each other for an eternity. I think Aoi was even shifting his hand which was on Yoshiki’s shoulder a little. Then the spell was broken since there were the little girls still watching.
Skip to college scene where Yoshiki sees Aoi surrounded by fangirls and chased them away, acting like a good friend reminding and hurrying Yoshiki to boxing practice. In another scene, Sis and friend saw Yoshiki talking to his college (?) Friend (female) and asked hopefully if she was his girlfriend. Well of course not. They then went to stalk watch Aoi together. (I’m not sure but Sis’ friend might have a crush on Yoshiki too?)
Skip to Aoi’s upcoming competition. Yoshiki is shown staying up (?) and generally putting a lot of effort in creating a strengthening diet plan (with reference books on nutrition and stuff) which he nonchalantly gives Aoi. Sis later finds it on Aoi’s desk and my guess is she threw/hid it away. Cos all we saw later was Sis cooking something for Aoi enthusiastically and Aoi looking very guilty and apologizing to Yoshiki for having lost the paper. Yoshiki also goes to the shrine and prayed for a charm which he gives to Aoi. Somehow it ends up with Sis too, and Yoshiki saw her through his window (they live next to each other), trying to throw it away, but didn’t.
Sis cooked up a celebration dinner when Aoi won in the competition, Yoshiki and her friend were invited. But a surprise guest, invited by Sis, joined in later, to Aoi’s displeasure. Yoshiki’s Friend and Yoshiki ended up in a one-to-one conversation while Sis implies to a sourly watching Aoi that they are dating. Yoshiki then starts to help Aoi to clear the plates but is stopped by Sis.
Everyone shows up unexpectedly at Aoi’s training camp even though Aoi had expressly disallowed Sis to come, because of her holiday homework or some such, but relented. One night they gathered to play fireworks, about to go into a second round when Aoi retreated early, alone. Soon after, Yoshiki and Sis also announced they were leaving. Leaving behind a very awkward pair of Sis’ friend and Yoshiki’s Friend who probably just cleared up.
Aoi was training alone in the morning and took a nap in the sand. Sis showed up and wanted to kiss his sleeping form, but backed out at the last moment. Aoi woke and they talked, somehow ending up in an argument (about not wanting Sis here?), and Sis running away tearfully. Then Yoshiki shows up and told him off for making Sis cry, something about her simple wish to be with him even if she had to bring holiday homework here because Aoi didn’t want her studies affected because of him, etc. He got very agitated for some reason, and did they even talk about him? Because we were shown a closeup of his slight limp (seems like an old injury) when he left an Aoi on the beach to his thoughts. Aoi then had a repent moment flashback of them as kids, and there was some promise made about always being there for her, or was it let her be his bride when she’s grown? And there was a gratuitous shower scene somewhere. :D
Finally there were more talking and things are made up. Sis lets go of her crush on Aoi and gives him the charm before his competition. Aoi heads for the competition and won. They take first a group photo with the certificate of victory(?) and then Sis suggests an Aoi+Yoshiki two-shot. Yoshiki also won in his photography competition and we saw that the participating photo is of Aoi’s victory. Phew.
Talk Live
The movie ends and a lady Host appeared onstage, joined by Takumi and later, I think the director/producer they called Kantoku. 8D Kantoku is an honest, humble looking middle aged man, and Takumi and him kept competing about who showed more respect for the other.
They seated themselves on the 3 chairs placed at the center of the stage. This one we had a lot more trouble following; it was mainly comments on the movie and the actors.
Baby-talk
There was someone with a baby in the audience who made noises occasionally throughout the talk, and Takumi and the Host would tend to comment on it. "-see, the baby thinks so too." Something like that, maybe. 8D
Takumi’s comments on Aiba
The host said "Aiba-kun" at first but Takumi was using "Aiba-san". Host then changed to "Aiba-san" too.
One of Takumi’s comments was that Aiba is like a "prince". Host points out that "even though Takumi is the one with the Making DVD with '王子様' (prince) in the title.
Kantoku’s comments on Takumi
Host mentions that Takmi is the first male lead Kantoku has worked with in a long time (?). Kantoku replies that it’s because female leads are more fun to talk and work with. As for males... he’s not interested. XD But Takumi is beautiful so...
Kantoku’s comments on Aiba
Kantoku: "Aiba-san is also beautiful. Of another type (from Takumi)."
Host: "So which type is Kantoku (interested in)?"
Kantoku: "No, no... that’s why I said, I’m not interested (in guys)."
XD
Favourite Scene
Takumi: The scene in Sis’ room (?). Maybe something about the feel of a girl’s room and because he doesn’t get much chance to go into one.
Kantoku: (Takumi’s) Shower scene
Tenimyu
The topic came up somehow, and Takumi mentioned meeting (I think) Minami Keisuke recently?
Since the topic of Tenimyu came up, they talked about Aiba not being there because Rikkaimyu was still showing then. And then came
Video message from Aiba! (The chairs were cleared away for the video so Takumi and Host were standing)
Aiba greeted the audience and apologized for not being present at the screening because he would be performing Rikkaimyu at this time. *makes running motion with arms* Probably commented on Sukitomo and ‘Takumi-san’, but we didn’t understand 8D. Then he seemed to ask Takumi, who had been talking to the video Aiba the whole time, to perform something, and stopped speaking as if anticipating. Host also encouraged.
H: "One, two, three"
ST: *makes as if he was going to perform--*
A: Hai, arigatou gozaimashita! *bows*
ST: OI!!
Excellent timings for a pre-recorded video. XD
More Video Message
After some complaining about Aiba (?), the Host revealed that they have another video message. Oh? Said Takumi, and started guessing. Somehow his guesses (?) included Ueshima-sensei -_-|||? But then the video played and it’s THE HYOUTEI CHIBI TRIO!!! Takuya, KenKen, and RuiRui!!! (Standing in that order, from (our) left to right. And it’s so cute just seeing the three lined up like that so small so short so cute *gets shot*)
(\(*O*)/)!!!
KenKen spoke first, almost like a host opening a show while the two younger ones hung back more. Takumi is, of course, still ‘talking’ to the video images meanwhile. They commented/congratulated him on the launch of Sukitomo.. applause..
XD And I think KenKen ‘answered’ something about he’ll watch it.
After a while, Host asked Takumi to give them individual messages.
RuiRui gets some sort of message
Takumi looked troubled, I think in the but-I’ve-nothing-to-say manner, but then RuiRui was already leaning forward asking if waiting to hear his words, so he said some things I can’t understand, but it sure sounded like random nothingness, until something seems to occur to him.
"--Hey! You’re the tallest one there!"
XD They all looked the same height, lined up like that, except that illusion was with RuiRui slouching/leaning against the wall the most. :D There was no obvious response to that, though the other two sort of nodded with a sort of resigned look and RuiRui straightened? *forgets DX*
KenKen gets a few words
Then it was KenKen’s turn, who was smiling and nodding, looking like he was waiting, except Takumi paused even longer (after addressing him) before
ST: " ... Send my regards to your mother. " 'Because he ate her cooking at KK’s place? XD)
KK: ... -_- *nods*
ST: " Oh! You dyed your hair black. "
KK: ... ... -_- *nods, leans back*
XD Don’t force yourself, Takumi-san.
Takuya gets nothing
Then it was Takuya’s turn, who leant forward eagerly.
Takumi put down his hand holding the mike.
Takuya prompted for a message.
Takumi remained unmoved.
KenKen and RuiRui looked around them.
Takuya nodded and leaned back resignedly (refer to DL3 when Katobe didn’t praise him immediately X3), "yappari nai’su ne..." (I knew it, nothing for me...)
XD Takuya - Takumi’s favorite victim. Takumi sure dotes on RuiRui. XD No one gets anything remotely like a proper message after RuiRui.
Advertisement time! Takuya talked about a drama series he’s in (?) and Rock and Jam II (♥), KenKen talked about Air Gear myu, and RuiRui about his... show. >< I couldn't catch the name, but it must be the musical (? With Dori?) on the flyers we receive at every show. XD A bit more chitchat, then KenKen looked at his watch, the other two imitating, and they said time was up. (Awww)
Host alone
"Ara? Kantoku is missing." Began the Host, and after a little talk, Takumi went offstage to look for Kantoku. Host expressed belated realization (?) at having the stage to herself and not knowing what to do, then apologized because she knew the audience wasn’t there to see her (?). She then asked the audience for comment on Sukitomo/Takumi. And after a while people began to shout things like "yokatta", "kakkoi". At one point an audience said something, and Host elaborated on it, something about "imagining yourself as Yoshiki (in That Fanservice Scene)" and made kissy faces. It was hilarious. XD She also mentioned having a brother who does boxing (:O) "although he is nowhere as cool as Aoi". XD But she quite admired him too (?).
Because it’s Christmas
Then the lights were suddenly off, and white spots of lights danced on the screen onstage, Christmas music started playing, and Takumi-san reappeared from the side door in a Santa costume and walks through the audience with Kantoku also in Santa attire behind him, and they walked up to the stage.
Takumi was wearing a feathery white boa scarf and his top was opened slightly, showing a little chest, (XD) which he himself pointed to and talked about onstage. He was also carrying a bag over his shoulder. I forgot what it held.
Q&A
They soon went into this Q&A section, where the audience does the asking. Kantoku held out the box (of seat numbers) for Takumi to draw from. Kantoku bowed quite deeply while holding out the box, and because Takumi couldn’t stop him, he bowed even deeper when drawing the number. XD It was a very strange posture. They drew thrice, each time showing even more respect to the other till they were finally both on the floor, kneeling on one knee, head still bowed. XD Because Kantoku was holding the box above his head (in an offering pose), it was an even stranger position for a kneeling Takumi to draw from. XD
Don’t understand/remember the questions 8D (though I think the favourite scene question (abovementioned) came from here). For the first or second girl, because he was previously talking about/wondering out loud how many of the people that came were his fans/came for him (instead of for Aiba?), while the girl fumbled for words he asked
"Wait... Whose fan are you?"
Girl: *pause (?)* Takumi-san’s.
ST: Really?
Girl: *nod* Yes.
ST: Thank you. :D
XD
Ending
Near the end Takumi-san kept leaning over to look at the clipboard/script the Host had in her hand-- she showed it to him at first, but not later on, but he’d lean over to look anyway and read out whatever was there :D
Something like,
ST: ‘Saitou: *picks the third ticket*’, already done.
Then,
ST: Where is it... ‘Saitou: Thank you very much for coming today’-what, it’s already over?!
XD Nice one.
‘He will be here shortly’
The Live ended and I was there struggling to understand what they were announcing (door gifts at exit, apparently), when Nakada-san came to us again amidst the leaving crowd. "Please stay for 5-10min." It’s not like we’ll forget XD but we just nodded and said ok. Then he continued,
He then sat down and chatted with us briefly, asking about our time in Japan and mentioning the past artistes he had worked with. He was Zhang Ziyi’s manager at one point (O_o) and had worked with David Gan (hairstylist for a lot of Singapore artistes). Then he excused himself, presumably to look for Takumi.
A few minutes flew by and we have calmed down enough to look around at the emptied hall when the door opened and
工さんだ!!!
He was still in the Santa costume and looked around briefly before locating (perhaps with the help of Nakada-san behind him) and heading towards us. By which point all words had flew out of our minds and we just gaped stupidly.
"Hajimemashite." He smiled, and extended his hand.
"Hajimemashite! @///@" We mumbled back and shook his hand. (We were still at our seats, and he stood in the aisle, so Miko was in front of me.)
"Kore, Christmas present..." Miko gave him the present. (I wanted to buy one for Koji because a Japanese blogger I stalk said we could pass to the staff at the concert. Wasn’t that sure about Takumi’s, but Miko wanted to anyway (luckily 8D) and we ended up sharing both~)
He looked surprised, then smiled. "Present? Ah, arigatou!"
"Did you understand the movie (or was it ‘the whole Live’?)?"
Um. We exchanged looks, and since Miko didn’t look like she was answering, I offered a very uncertain "... daitai? 50%... gurai..."
"‘Daitai’?" He repeated, nodding (in a kind of good-you-didn’t-just-sit-there-and-ogle-me way?), and smiled. >///<
Then there was a short, very, very unsettling pause:
(When we talked after the show, Miko also had thought he was leaving XD)
Then we were gestured us to a spot near the front of the stage.
And there I stood to Takumi-san’s right (>///<) and Miko to his left, all bouncing excitement), after we stammered out some kind of explanation to the man helping us take the picture about Miko’s camera being rather faulty, so could he please press twice (in case one photo turns out bad)?
After the first flash, something did seem to go wrong with the camera? and Miko was about to leave Takumi’s side to correct it when the camera flashed again. XD Whoops. Takumi chuckled and said something I didn’t catch orz. (It was soft!) The man assured us it’s fine now, and so Miko returned to her position and we took a third time! <3
The resultant last and best photo taken. 8D Takumi-san is omghandsome and taaall. X3 Images used for 'masking' are from Azumanga. 8D
Then I was expecting (with great regret T_T) to be dismissed, but Takumi and the staff conversed for a bit, and postcards were brought over. Nakada-san explained to us that Takumi was writing us postcards ♥!!!) while Takumi-san sat on the stage to write. A lady who also spoke pretty good English and whom Nakada-san said was his boss, chatted with us briefly meanwhile, mainly about our time in Japan and maybe a little about Singapore? Nakada-san asked me for my name at one point (they only had Miko’s, who conversed with them through email). Then I was just staring at him writing our names on the postcards, since my mind already blanked and even if it wasn’t, it didn’t feel right for me to babble when Miko beside me is The Takumi Fan. Fortunately (?), Miko did say something...
And soon the postcards were done and we identified ourselves/claimed our own at the same time Nakada-san pointed us out because of course he didn’t know who was who. :P Postcard with my name and Takumi-san’s signature~!!! *floats* Nakada-san, very nice man, also explained to us what the words on printed on the cards meant, basically short forms for "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" in kana.
And then there were really no reason to stay T_T.
"Thank you very much." Takumi-san said in English at the end as he was leaving with the staff, and waved. "Enjoy your stay (or was it ‘time’?) in Japan."
We thanked him (for the n-th time) and waved back. Miko said he waved again at the door before he exited? ^^;
工さんす.て.き!
Endnotes:
1) We were passed the door gift too at some point. Can’t remember when. XD It contained a photo with signature (also slightly smudged on the gloss orz) and a candy~
2) I’ve read that at some Talk Lives, there is a section where the audience goes up to the celebrity and shakes hand and takes photo (naturally making small talk meanwhile) together anyway. So I was wondering if we might get to meet him. Apparently this Talk Live doesn’t have that, but it’s wonderful how he/they made an exception seeing how we don’t get to attend those other Talk Lives even if we wanted. And the postcard is something fanclub members received I think~
3) Nakada-san mentioned at some point it’s the first time Takumi-san had fans (coming to see him?) from Singapore. That must be why we got to meet him. ^_^ ... though it’s a little strange why they don’t ask how we come to know about him. I guess they have their own assumptions~ (tenimyu is BIG) or Takumi-san just isn’t comfortable with English (and he probably could see our Japanese isn’t good to converse properly DX)