Berryz Return to the USA

[Miss Moonlight]

It doesn't sound like anyone told them they'd only be half an hour from NYC... or anything about New Jersey, for that matter. Maybe it's for the best that the most prominent images of NJ haven't made it to them <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hahaha.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hahaha:' />

[Anderei]

Someone should totally show Risako what New Jersey is famous for.

[al kusanagi]

I'm all up at the hotel and there ain't shit to do. Guess I'll play Diablo until it's time to pick up tickets. Shoot me a text if anyone's in he area.

[Haru]

Maasa has the cutest English ever.

[Shoujo Q]

I'm stuck in new York traffic. I think id like to run around a block right aboutnow.

[al kusanagi]

So some of us BBSers went to eat at Ruby Tuesdays and Berryz was totally right there in front of us eating. Also, Chinami enjoys putting napkins on her head. As they left, they walked right past us. Maasa and Yurina looked terrified, but Captain was completely awesome and adorable in her glasses and made eye contact and said "hi" to everyone. And, for some inexplicable reason, Risako stopped and stared at my shirt for at least 5 seconds, so maybe she really is a Spider-Man fan. Needless to say, the place was nuts as there were dozens of fans there, possibly over a hundred, and we only just got out of there at nearly midnight.

[rob]

I'm presuming photos were a no no?

[al kusanagi]

Madara snuck a couple of pictures, but they're pretty much forbidden for the whole event.

[rob]

Yeh they usually are... still I thought someone might take a few sneaky ones!!



When they were in the restaurant did they know they had lots of fans near by or did they have no idea??

[Miss Moonlight]

Thaaaaat's awesome. Though as a foodie it makes me a little sad that they came all this way and the best NJ can offer them is Ruby Tuesday <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />

[al kusanagi]

There is literally nothing in the immediate area here, so that was pretty much the only choice other than hotel restaurants. We went over there for dinner at probably 9:30 or 10 and they were over there, and they left around 10:30ish. We didn't even get a table until probably 11.

[Haru]

Why'd you scare my saviour with your face, Al? You are not worthy.

[masa]

Someone intermittently broadcasts on Ustream from NJ.



Ryuji1132 turbos86

[al kusanagi]

We were in line for 3 hours for the goods, and all that was left were CDs, but we did get out autograph bracelets. Shojo lucked out and got a signed Yurina clear file. Concert coming up in a few hours.

[Haru]

MY FANS

<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />



Worst day for me.

[al kusanagi]

Finally a chance to post. Concert was amazing, of course. I lucked out and got pass number 11, so I was in front of the stage, but the venue was good enough that even farther back the view was still awesome. Even more amazing were my fellow BBSers, as we kept shit real and true to the BBS, lording out superiority over others while still being witty and hilarious. Also sexy. Tomorrow is the autograph signing, but after the merchandise clusterfuck today, I REALLY hope it goes smoothly. Also, I'm determined to get an answer out of Saki at either the Q and A or the signing as to whether she's the new leader of HP.



Still, it was a great time overall and the rest of you mo-fos should come out and party with us cool kids (and baller grandpa)!

[Miss Moonlight]

Here's a picture, though I surely hope someone can one-up me in this department. I didn't realize how completely terrible and useless it was until I looked at it this morning <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hahaha.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hahaha:' />







It was ridiculously awesome. Risako was seriously workin' it. They all sang really well though.

[al kusanagi]

In line for autographs now. They made giving presents part of the q and a which was kind of lame but the good part was that each member came forward and took our presents. Chi flipped out when usako gave her the doll and I was happy when she squealed "toy storyyyyy!" when I gave her mine.

[Miss Moonlight]

The whole thing was SO AWESOME. The gift giving thing was super awkward but I'm glad we all got to see Chinami get her crazy doll. I was near the very end of the autograph line and I think the girls were delirious by that point, and Miya forgot what was going on and held out her hand for me to shake it even though I don't think they were supposed to <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' /> <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':wub:' /> She had such tiny little perfect smooth idol hands, I felt like I had giant man hands by comparison.



Even though I said it in person, I want to reiterate what a great time I had hanging out with all the BBS-ers. Since I graduated college I haven't really had anyone in my life who shares this group of interests, and the whole weekend was all kinds of fun/cathartic/amazing for me. I really hope we get to do it again!

[al kusanagi]

So MM-BBS did the Hello Party afterwards in proper board fashion. Several pictures will most likely follow, but highlights include:



The BBS staking out a claim in the corner and putting up a sign.



The BBS mocking people playing the games and not participating in them.



The BBS using our ruthless tactics to still win some Berryz t-shirts and fans.



Me "accidentally" booting a wota in the ass during a dance.



Watching a wota have a complete breakdown.



Sooooo many good times! I'm sure the others will post pics and whatnot when they get back home.

[al kusanagi]

Looks like everything is over now. Berryz left yesterday but there was a charity auction for Child's Play today and there were a lot of things signed by Berryz. What sucked was, they were just all bundling them together, so they'd auction off a t-shirt, poster, pamphlet for the con and other things all in a single bundle, and there were some high rollers bidding like 500 bucks for them. Had they done them separately there would have been more than enough items for the dozen or so HP fans that were still left (all the Japanese fans having left already). I got lucky and got the very last set in the auction which was two pamphlets signed by everyone at the con, Berryz included, and a couple of art prints signed by the artist who does all the con artwork. Since all the others willing to pay the big money had gotten everything already, I managed to get mine for a fraction of what they paid. Plus, I already donate to Child's Play, so it's all good anyway.



I'm too heat exhausted and burned out to go into a detailed report, but I might do something later. I know Madara took quite a few pictures and there were some amusing ones from last night that might find their way onto the board eventually.

[Shoujo Q]

I'm on the bus home now. Nice to have some working wi-ti again. But also I hats typing on my kindle so I think I will wait to report in later. Also I did take video of berry z leaving ruby Tuesday's but its pretty bad since I did a sneak attack. Also my feet. Someone give me an axe!

[al kusanagi]

Looks like I'll just be relaxing this final day, so I'll give my thoughts on the girls:



Captain- She is an absolute sweetheart. She's just as kind as she comes off in her blog. Even with the craziness at the restaurant on Thursday, she still smiled, said "Hi" and made eye contact with us fans as they were leaving the place. She was really friendly during the autograph session and it was cute how she was trying to help the other members get things straight for the next autograph in line. Also, super-cute in her glasses.



Momoko- She is just on 24/7 apparently. She was in character the whole time and used every opportunity on stage and during the Q and A session to both promote herself and troll fans. She was glorious! Also, totally cute but DAMN can she give a crazy-eyed stare. Despite being so little, she's definitely got an aura about her that makes her larger than life.



Chinami- CHINAMIIIII! I completely fell in love with her. She's so fun and goofy, but also amazingly friendly and kind to the fans. She would always spare those extra few seconds to wave or say something or pose for the fans. Even though Usako gave her that amazing doll and I had to follow it up with my simple present for her and the other members, she still beamed and thanked me like it was the greatest thing in the world. It also made me really happy for her since she's by far one of the least popular HP members in Japan, but she was one of, if not THE, most cheered for member during all the events.



Miya- There isn't much to say other than she is as pretty and talented as she seems. She was also probably the most forward member in that she would almost always jump in and answer questions first or volunteer when other members didn't speak up. I wish I had more to say, but Miya was just Miya.



Maasa- Poor Maasa looked tired, confused and jet-lagged the whole time. She also didn't get nearly as much love from the fans as the other members, to the point where she got huge cheers when she finally got a present from a fan. It also didn't help that the times she was asked a direct question, the translator didn't do the best job. "Conan the Barbarian," indeed...



Yurina- The girl is a complete Amazonian Goddess. Stunningly beautiful. I think she was nearly as tired as Maasa, because she seemed to be in a daze for a lot of it, but she was still very friendly and had a smile on her face.



Risako- While she's not my favorite, she gained a lot of points with me this weekend since even though I'm not a big fan of hers, she seemed to be a huge fan of Al. We shared a couple of bizarre moments together, and she was super nice the whole time. Maybe we are just both attuned to the same brainwave that resonates on the frequency of "meh" and made a connection. People were saying that she was looking and acting tired like some of the others, but she was completely high-spirited and smiling the times I got to interact with her. Also, it goes without saying, homegirl can sing!

[Anderei]

Awww, poor Maasa. If I lived up there, I would have gone just for the chance to see her.

[Miss Moonlight]

[quote name='Al Kusanagi' timestamp='1339360191' post='127017']

Maybe we are just both attuned to the same brainwave that resonates on the frequency of "meh" and made a connection.

[/quote]

What a perfect Risako description <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/rofl.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I felt so bad for Maasa. And despite what everyone says about her and Risako's figures, they both seemed so tiny at the autograph table! Just not as freakishly tiny as the others (Yurina aside). Risako was being swallowed by her giant ruffly skirt which was twice as long as everyone else's. UFA has always sucked at dressing the curvy girls.

[Shoujo Q]

Due to my horrible short term memory, I got nothing of great importance to recollect. But I will share what I remember. Also, I suck at picture taking. Because I don't have many. Anyway, there are photos in here. You've been warned!



Thank our lucky stars this anime convention was held in the middle of nowhere. Seeing Berryz in a restaurant like Ruby Tuesdays was probably like seeing Lady Gaga walking through a Wal-mart. Totally unexpected, but downright awesome. I was too shocked and tired from lugging around my luggage all day in New York to fully appreciate the moment. Once I figure out how to upload this video I have, I'll share the grainy dark passing of Berryz leaving.



Lines suck, I hate them. I also hate people who buy out a whole table of merch because they are selfish pricks. They may be nice enough about giving stuff away after the fact, but not leaving anything for people who actually you know, WANT it is very rude and that's why I don't like wota. I WANT MY GOD DAMN VISUAL BOOKS!



Oh here's the banner they signed by the way.







The concert was fun, I may have started holding a few glow sticks up, but I kept shutting my purple one off so I was pretty bad at the whole thing. Then half way through I put them away as I was getting tired (I should have brought a bottle of water or something) so I just stopped and clapped along. I saw Al in front of me, dude me singing along. Don't deny it I saw you! .<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... R#>/8o.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='8o' /> I tried to sing too, but you know, lack of Japanese makes it hard. I speak total gibberish, it's glorious!

Also, Maasa had black knees. I wonder if she intentionally was on the floor or she miss-stepped? I don't pay attention enough to Berryz to know. Anyway, the stage was filthy. Risako also had a black knee. Check it out once the concert (if it comes out) comes out, you wont be able to not notice it near the end of the concert.



Q and A was a whole bag of weird. First we stand in line in order to get in. And then they rope us off and then casually Berryz comes by what!? There are better pictures out there of this moment because I got caught up and didn't manage to grab a photo of it till after the fact.









Here are the shots we were aloud to take before the start of the Q and A







I don't exactly LIKE to stand out in a crowd so having to present my gifts, which were highly unprepared to be handed all at once was very nerve wracking. I had a classic freeze, I didn't even say Hi to them. I regret that now, but in the moment, I was the deer in the headlight and Berryz were a giant bus about to hit me.



Here are the cards I gave them. I also gave them all a little bag with goodies and a handmade friendship bracelet. I noticed after the fact that Saki was trying to hand the stuff out. (SORRY SAKI! ) It was all a big hot mess.









Autograph sessions are always fun because someones usually stalled. Maasa was my girl this time. I do genuinely like her, she's a fabulous actress and I want more of that. So I did a classic weeaboo move. Maasa Daisuki! And she said, Oh Really? Thank You! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/ohmy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':o' /> That just made me all happy because to get an expression out of Maasa was pure gold. I wish I had a camera in my brain that could replay it. Then I said I love you and got moved on. I also said it to Momoko, but only because I knew she wanted to hear it the troll. :D



Despite the fact that Miyabi and Risako are my favorites, I couldn't say anything to them. :< I failed.



Hello!Party was as amazing as Al described it. Here was our corner!







They hung up member towels everywhere, we don't have any. So I "made" some.

(I'll take a better picture later.)

[al kusanagi]

Hells yeah I be singin' along! That'll impress the girls far more than knowing some dumbass chant!

[Shoujo Q]

Here are my autographs.

[al kusanagi]

Holy shit!!!!!!! Guess who was right fucking behind me in the security check in at the airport?!? I'm in line and Berryz walks down he stairs and get in line right behind me with all the staff. I chatted with their translator for a couple of minutes and I asked her if it was okay if I said bye to them which she said was fine. After we all cleared security they lined up and I could say he to them and tell them to please come back again and thank them for heir hard work, as well as fanboy on Chi one last time. She liked my hat and remembered me giving her he present. Yay! So freaking awesome.



PS. Watching Momo go through security was hilarious, as was when they checked Risako's bun for weapons.

[Shoujo Q]

That's pretty awesome. :D



Enjoy your trip home by the way.