Kago is currently traipsing around New York

[EmEl]

According to Hello-Online, Kago is currently in the New York area promoting KDDI or something.



The dude who is working with the production crew that was hired to document it has been giving updates on his blog. Apparently tonight she was gonna be at Webster Hall to see some band play, but instead she decided to go to Open Mic Night (!!!) at Lucky Jacks at "129 orchard street on the lower east side". Will she be out all night? Who knows, go and see!



For an actual non-stalking thing, she'll be at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Fort Lee, NJ on Sunday, November 22nd from 11am to 3pm for a press conference and supposedly "saying hello to fans".



Is this all a hoax? I have no clue, but I'm 1300 miles away so can't find out.

[thamychan]

Those news are kind of strange but I would go there if I lived in New York. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... stling.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' /> Well, we will probably see some photos with time... I'm waiting, New Yorkers! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... deways.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' />

[Tsujiji]

I just found about this like 1 hour ago. I wish I saw this earlier today, I am seriously kicking myself. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/doh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' />





I will SO be at the Mitsuwa event on Sunday though. I promise lots of pictures!



Anyone else going?

[Shoujo Q]

If I wasn't spending my day at the Harry Potter exhibit in Boston on Saturday I would so hop on a train and shimmy down to New York and hop on over to New Jersey for the day but I can't. And I'm really pouting about it too. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... pyeyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' /> KAGO~

[Special Needs Tricycle]

Make sure you guys bring cement for her vagina. Or super glue.

[Ap2000]

Somebody please go there and make a huge amount of high-quality fotos of her and then send it to me.

[EmEl]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='71918' date='Nov 20 2009, 10:29 AM']Somebody please go there and make a huge amount of high-quality fotos of her and then send it to me.[/quote]

I was about to say, "That's what photobooks are for." But then I realized "high-quality" doesn't really describe Kago's last book.



There is a short video and picture of her last night on that same blog. Her English sentence sounded good.

[Madara]

Well, I got the Webster Hall scoop but I didn't get the change-in-plans update until afterwards. So I spent two hours at the Zamza concert anxiously waiting for Aibon to appear.



I'll try to make it on Sunday and see what happens there. I just e-mailed the person in charge to get more details.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='EmEl' post='71919' date='Nov 20 2009, 06:19 PM'][quote name='Ap2000' post='71918' date='Nov 20 2009, 10:29 AM']Somebody please go there and make a huge amount of high-quality fotos of her and then send it to me.[/quote]

I was about to say, "That's what photobooks are for." But then I realized "high-quality" doesn't really describe Kago's last book.



There is a short video and picture of her last night on that same blog. Her English sentence sounded good.

[/quote]



Thanks for that link, my inner nerd is now satisfied. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... kowota.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pouty:' />



And hey, there were some good fotos in her recent PBs !



Besides, the shots in the black dress for her newest PB (I guess) looks very hot hot:

http://www.hello-online.org/index.php?act=...any+uploader%29

(It's somewhere there)

[thamychan]

[quote name='EmEl' post='71919' date='Nov 21 2009, 02:19 AM']There is a short video and picture of her last night on that same blog. Her English sentence sounded good.[/quote]

I thought she was holding a baby in that photo. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pouty:' /> _{Yes, my world is more colorful than yours so I always see more than anyone else <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> .}

[Ap2000]

Why does such stuff never happen in my area ?

It seems like everybody who ever was in touch with H!P exports themselves to North America now.

[EmEl]

[quote name='Madara' post='71921' date='Nov 20 2009, 12:51 PM']Well, I got the Webster Hall scoop but I didn't get the change-in-plans update until afterwards. So I spent two hours at the Zamza concert anxiously waiting for Aibon to appear.[/quote]

Damn Kago and her capricious ways. Was Zamza good at least?

[BeForJess]

If it weren't for work, I'd have grabbed the Fung Wah out to New York, but alas... <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pouty:' />

[cromartiedropout]

As of right now I'm going to the press conference, hopefully plans won't change XD Anyone else planning on going?

[Madara]

[quote name='cromartiedropout' post='71934' date='Nov 21 2009, 11:06 PM']As of right now I'm going to the press conference, hopefully plans won't change XD Anyone else planning on going?[/quote]



I'll be there.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='71924' date='Nov 20 2009, 02:49 PM']Why does such stuff never happen in my area ?

It seems like everybody who ever was in touch with H!P exports themselves to North America now.[/quote]



HANGRY & ANGRY at least give some love to Europe.

Don't worry, your day will come.

[eri]

[quote name='Ap2000' post='71924' date='Nov 20 2009, 11:49 AM']It seems like everybody who ever was in touch with H!P exports themselves to North America now.[/quote]



But, the United States ( specifically New York) is the center of the universe. Everyone knows this - especially Americans and insecure Japanese. Only Parisiennes remain ignorant of this reality.



/JOKING



I wonder about this too. I suspect that there is a ton of money to be made through the US market - not only is there are huge market but the US distribution power makes global inroads into smaller European or Asian markets. It is also notoriously difficult to break into so perhaps artists think it is a challenge to be addressed at some point in their career. Plus, America is "cool" in a way that, say, Brazil is not despite Brazil having the largest (or second largest?) expat-Japanese community in the world.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='71945' date='Nov 22 2009, 02:31 AM'][quote name='Ap2000' post='71924' date='Nov 20 2009, 02:49 PM']Why does such stuff never happen in my area ?

It seems like everybody who ever was in touch with H!P exports themselves to North America now.[/quote]



HANGRY & ANGRY at least give some love to Europe.

Don't worry, your day will come.

[/quote]



tbh, I don't care about generic concerts. I could have went to one during my time in Japan, but not interested in them at all, I'd rather have something special like this what Kago is doing, the MM Q&A at the weeaboo convention or similar events.

[tsukinobyouin]

Europe actually gets a lot of love from Japanese rock groups. I get the impression that rock music in general is a lot more popular in Europe than it is in America, and that's why after a few years Jrock groups started focusing their attention there. Not sure how true that is though. In general, Japanese pop groups wanting to branch out to the foreign markets put their biggest emphasis on Asia, since that's where they have the biggest overseas following. America is sort of an afterthought, a place to go because it's "cool." A lot of the appearances in America are driven by conventions inviting (/begging) groups to come rather than the management companies actually saying "Hey, we want to branch out to America! Let's find a venue to book!" Maybe European conventions just don't have the money to support many of these events? A lot of the time the Japanese companies make these conventions foot a LOT of the bill (sound equipment, venue, plane tickets, even instruments sometimes), especially if they know they aren't going to make any money by going.



As for the small events that you prefer, AP, I think they're just pretty rare in general =/ I really wish I'd known about Kago's appearance earlier, I might have tried to make a weekend trip out of it. Those of you who go, take lots of pictures and if you have the chance, let her know she's well loved even though she's kind of sleezy now! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':pouty:' />

[Ap2000]

[quote name='TnB' post='71950' date='Nov 22 2009, 04:09 AM']Europe actually gets a lot of love from Japanese rock groups.[/quote]



The "rock" groups that make it here are only those pop song "rockers" that put on a huge load of make-up and try as hard as possible to be cool, dark and totally emo.



I would have loved to see Sex Machineguns and X Japan though !





Thread successfully derailed !

[tsukinobyouin]

I'm not sure how you're complaining about make-up and praising X-Japan in the same post, but okay. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



Back on topic, apparently you had to be an AU subscriber to get tickets to Kago's hand shake event today. A friend of mine was able to see her from far away and get a few shots, but she said she couldn't hear anything =/ That's kind of lame, since it pretty much entirely excludes her non-Japanese American fans.

[Pucchi-Mo]

Now Ap2000 is just being picky. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



Also, you can't mention a Kago handshake event

without the use of this smiley--> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... shlick.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I'm pretty sure it's in the rules somewhere.

[Madara]

I got back from the event a little while ago. I'll post photos tomorrow. (I can't do it on my home computer, only my office one.) I'll do a more complete writeup on my blog. But it was fun and it was great to meet a lot of other fans, most of them from Hello Online. I met Usako, from this board, who gave Aibon a bag of gifts (I'll let her tell what).



When you got there you were supposed to get a ticket from the KDDI booth. (I knew that because I had called ahead of time.) I got a red ticket because that's what they gave me. I didn't know there were also blue tickets. The blue tickets got you a seat inside the little area there and a handshake and a photo with her. The red ticket only got you a handshake. But, those of us who had things to give gave them at that time. I gave her a signed copy of my book, inscribed, "To Aibon, my favorite entertainer. Keep singing, dancing and making us laugh. I love you so much," and then my signature. She seemed impressed. She was so sweet.



There wasn't a lot of English spoken by the people running the event. Only basic instructions, like what the red tickets and blue tickets got you, were repeated in English. Aibon spoke mostly in Japanese and her English was limited to stock phrases like "I love America" and "I love New York." Which is okay with me.



As usual with these events, the Japanese handlers didn't do much for American fans. I'm not sure they were even planning a handshake event, because it wasn't mentioned when I spoke to the head publicity guy and asked him what was being planned. So I pointed out to him all the fans who had gathered and that they'd come from far and wide and that some had brought gifts. So maybe that had some impact. Who knows?



I spoke to "Daisuke," the guy who was doing the videography covering Aibon's trip and the one whose blog alerted us to all of this and he was annoyed at how protective the handlers were and how conservative they were. He says he kept telling Aibon she should move to New York. He offered to ask her any question I had. So I asked two things: "Are you in touch with Nono?" and "Have you seen Nono's baby?" He reported back that he asked the first question and she looked at him like, "Of course, I'm in touch with her, why would you ask that?" and basically said yes. Which is nice to hear.



One fan there gave us a first-hand account of Aibon's performance on Thurs. night at Open Mike night at Lucky Jack's and it turns out she sang two songs in English, classics from the American songbook, "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Someone to Watch Over Me." What a thing to miss. And all because I didn't give Daisuke my cellphone number. Instead, I was over at Webster Hall getting my eardrums assaulted by loud rock music--not my cup of tea under the best of circumstances and especially not when I'm desperately seeking Aibon.



So that's it for now, pictures tomorrow.

[Ap2000]

Thanks for the report.

Kago singing Fly me to the moon... I probably would have melted away.

[thamychan]

Thank you for the report, Madara! I wish there were events like those with interesting people in my country... I'd go to anywhere here for Kago!



I'm waiting for those photos in your blog. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Madara]

Here are some pics:



When she first came out:





Calling out raffle ticket numbers (after they made her put on a KDDI jacket):





Receiving the gifts from Usako:





Posing with "blue ticket" attendees:





Some of the fans who attended:





And guess who managed to get a picture with her?



(I wish I'd remembered to smile.)



I'll update the blog later. I have to get some work done here.

[Ap2000]

Rucky you !



Thanks for the pics.

Her blue-ish jacket looks fugly though. lol

[thamychan]

Thank you for the pictures! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... joyful.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':joyful:' /> Ai looks beautiful in the first photo, and her haircut makes her remind me of Utada... I've never thought I'd compare both <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' /> You're really lucky. Congratulations! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



Looking again at the pics... Her blue pants didn't go well with the shirt and that jacket is the same as the one from security. Was it that cold there? But she's still very beautiful!

[Madara]

[quote name='JSp' post='72030' date='Nov 24 2009, 05:02 AM']Thank you for the pictures! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... joyful.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':joyful:' /> Ai looks beautiful in the first photo, and her haircut makes her remind me of Utada... I've never thought I'd compare both <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':weeeh:' /> You're really lucky. Congratulations! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



Looking again at the pics... Her blue pants didn't go well with the shirt and that jacket is the same as the one from security. Was it that cold there? But she's still very beautiful![/quote]





It's a KDDI staff jacket. They made her put it on--for promotion purposes.



Here's a shot of them putting the jacket on her:





P.S. I checked my dream journal over the weekend for an entirely different reason and came across a dream I had on October 29, less than a month ago, of meeting Aibon in New York and talking to her.

[EmEl]

Hahaha, Madara. You look like you rushed in there, took a picture, and rushed out--all while making sure security didn't stop you.



EDIT: Here's a video of her at the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UImHZlct668