AKB48 to perform Free Concert in Washington DC

[Tsujiji]

"It’s been reported that popular idol group AKB48 will be performing at Washington DC’s annual spring event, ‘National Cherry Blossom Festival‘!



This event will be held from March 20th to April 27th to celebrate 100 years since Japan gifted the cherry blossom trees to the United States. AKB48 will perform on March 27th with 16 members including Takahashi Minami and Miyazawa Sae. They will also visit Thomson Elementary School in DC for cultural exchange on the 26th."



Additionally, it was announced that singer-songwriter, MISIA, and court music artist, Togi Hideki, will perform for the opening ceremony on the 20th.







Confirmed for attending:



Team A

Takamina, Mochi, Aki,



Team K

Ayaka, Fujie Reina, Sakiko, Miichan, Sae



Team B

Suzuki Shihori



Team 4

Lemon, Abe Maria, Iriyama Anna



KKS

Kawaei Rina, Hirata Rina , Kojima Natsuki, Takahashi Juri,







Ticket info (from the Washington Post)

"In a concert celebrating Japanese pop culture, 16 members will perform two shows at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington on March 27 (at 4 and 7:30 p.m.). It’s the group’s first trip to D.C., part of a tour to thank Americans for their support during the 2011 Japanese earthquake. Tickets, which will be available on Eventbrite beginning March 13, are free. The performers will also visit the District’s Thomson Elementary School."





Article Source: http://www.tokyohive.com/2012/03/akb48- ... ington-dc/

Additional Readin': http://ameblo.jp/akihabara48/entry-11190959136.html

Washington Post Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/art ... _blog.html





Sooooo, holy shit. Not sleeping until I acquire tickets.

[Tsujiji]

Tickets are available now amigos! ♥

http://j-pop-concert-akb48-esearch.even ... ce=message



Anyone planning on going? no1curr? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hawhaw.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hawhaw:' />



I can finally sleep now at least.

[Miss Moonlight]

Why's it gotta be on a freaking Tuesday?? I got a ticket, but I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to get down there.



PS I started doing the whole AKB thing like 3 weeks ago when my boss was on vacation and I was super bored. It's super overwhelming <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nfused.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[tsukinobyouin]

My feelings on this are largely "ugh" because I don't care for AKB and I'm disappointed we couldn't get someone I care about (though MISIA is cool), since I live...right here. But oh well, it's cool that they got such a big name group and it's great news for AKB fans.



What I'm surprised about is that only 16 members are coming. On the news they keep making a big deal about how AKB is the biggest pop group in the world (as in number of members), yet it's not going to seem that way when they show up. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[Anderei]

And four of them are trainees! Come on.



The time does make it really hard for anyone who would be interested in seeing them live to show up.

[AEUGNewtype]

I like how everyone on this board just talks shit about them :D



Anyway, I'm driving there from Chicago to see this. That's like 8 of my favorite members. Also, they never have the entire group at any event outside of Japan that they've ever done, even a few of them are enough. I'm wondering if they'll do more of these around the country after DC, but I don't see it being too likely.

[tsukinobyouin]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' timestamp='1331658243' post='121310']

I like how everyone on this board just talks shit about them :D[/quote]



Uh...no one has talked shit about them in this thread. Unless you call me not liking them and mentioning the silliness of the media "talking shit."

[Shoujo Q]

I can talk bad if I want to talk bad about something I don't care for. I don't have to like everything they do because they are the golden children right now and all they had to do is spit a certain way and the media and their fans think they just did something amazing that no one has done before. I like what I like, and the rest can go collect in the garbage pile that will eventually collect in the next decade when something else takes their place.



Anyway~





Why Tuesday!? WHY!? I wanted to see Miichan and Lemon. Especially Miichan!

[Tsujiji]

Tickets ACQUIRED! Hotel booked. I'm doing this, nerds!

[Anderei]

Take a map! You'll need it in D.C. That city is so poorly laid out.

[Shoujo Q]

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1331680362' post='121327']

Take a map! You'll need it in D.C. That city is so poorly laid out.

[/quote]



You've never been to Boston have you? We take pride in our poorly laid out streets with lack of street signs.

[Anderei]

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1331680502' post='121329']

[quote name='Anderei' timestamp='1331680362' post='121327']

Take a map! You'll need it in D.C. That city is so poorly laid out.

[/quote]



You've never been to Boston have you? We take pride in our poorly laid out streets with lack of street signs.

[/quote]



No, but if I ever go, I'll report back with my feelings about it. I did learn while I was in D.C. that the problem with the roads started because they just began constructing buildings over them and then had to re-route everything.



In Houston the roads are just laid out in a grid shape. It all makes perfect sense and anything else just offends me.

[Shoujo Q]

Texas is a big state, you can have big grids. We little states have to pack a lot into our little tiny hovels. Truth is though, the planning committee of 1700 didn't account for the future. Well they did, but I think they thought we'd be flying around in magic carts without the horses. So tiny narrow streets that look like a glorified ally stayed and the city was just built around everything.

[tsukinobyouin]

So for people who aren't used to the DC area, here are some warnings:



The two times the concerts are scheduled are right during rush hour. Pad yourself in some extra time to get there. I'm not familiar with the area the theater is in, but the directions by car on the theater's website list 14th St NW and New York Ave NW. Both are extremely busy streets at those times of day. The theater is right across the street from a metro station. Take the metro rather than drive, if you can. Parking in DC sucks ass, and like I said - rush hour. Metro can get backed up too, so I'd pad in a bit of time with that as well. I'm assuming most people will want to get there early anyway, depending on how seating is handled.

[Tsujiji]

Yay! I actually booked a hotel 10 minutes outside of the city next to a Metro station so I could take that into the city. I FRIGGIN' hate city driving.. especially in D.C. Screw them and their circle layouts. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... dammit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />

[Miss Moonlight]

If anyone is an adventurous eater, there is some SERIOUSLY GOOD Ethiopian food like a block from the theater. Also a banh mi / wine bar. I miss the DC food <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... ryalot.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />



In fact, this whole thing would be so much easier if my boyfriend still worked in DC... but now we're in Nowhere, PA <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... dammit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':dammit:' />

[eri]

What a nice welcome home present for me <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />



Edit: That Eventbrite website seems to be down? I keep signing up and it just freezes and doesn't do anything.



Edit 2: Okay never mind. I got my tickets for the 4pm show <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />

[AEUGNewtype]

I ended up getting tickets for the 4:00 show and the 7:30 show. Shin Ukyo may be coming with me, we still need to see if he can get off work at the moment, but he managed to get a ticket for the 4:00 show, but the 7:30 was unavailable when he logged on. I think I'll just go to both if they let me in. It seems the 7:30 show may be a little different and MAY have some kind of meet and greet session, since it said the press coverage and VIP lists only apply to this show. This should be interesting.

[Miss Moonlight]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' timestamp='1331818668' post='121440']

It seems the 7:30 show may be a little different and MAY have some kind of meet and greet session, since it said the press coverage and VIP lists only apply to this show. This should be interesting.

[/quote]

I thought that was the 4pm show... at least that's what the little blurb on Eventbrite said.

[Anderei]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' timestamp='1331818668' post='121440']

I ended up getting tickets for the 4:00 show and the 7:30 show. Shin Ukyo may be coming with me, we still need to see if he can get off work at the moment, but he managed to get a ticket for the 4:00 show, but the 7:30 was unavailable when he logged on. I think I'll just go to both if they let me in. It seems the 7:30 show may be a little different and MAY have some kind of meet and greet session, since it said the press coverage and VIP lists only apply to this show. This should be interesting.

[/quote]



That sounds more like interviews and well, just general press coverage, rather than a meet and greet. This doesn't seem like that kind of event.

[Tsujiji]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' timestamp='1331818668' post='121440']

I ended up getting tickets for the 4:00 show and the 7:30 show. Shin Ukyo may be coming with me, we still need to see if he can get off work at the moment, but he managed to get a ticket for the 4:00 show, but the 7:30 was unavailable when he logged on.

[/quote]



This 4 foot nothing human has an extra 7:30pm ticket if he needs it! Let me know. I got it for my bestie but she's a poop who's profession is attending school.

[eri]

I'm going to the 4pm show. What's going on? When is everyone else going?

[JPope]

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' timestamp='1331658243' post='121310']

I like how everyone on this board just talks shit about them :D

[/quote]



Yeah, I LOL'd at all of the shit talk in this thread and this thread.

[AEUGNewtype]

[quote name='Usako' timestamp='1331870832' post='121540']

[quote name='The☆AEUGNewtype' timestamp='1331818668' post='121440']

I ended up getting tickets for the 4:00 show and the 7:30 show. Shin Ukyo may be coming with me, we still need to see if he can get off work at the moment, but he managed to get a ticket for the 4:00 show, but the 7:30 was unavailable when he logged on.

[/quote]



This 4 foot nothing human has an extra 7:30pm ticket if he needs it! Let me know. I got it for my bestie but she's a poop who's profession is attending school.

[/quote]

Hey, it turns out I may actually need another 7:30 ticket, since eventbrite fucked up my order and gave me 2 orders for 4:00 tickets when I picked one for 4 and one for 7:30...



If anyone has one extra besides the one Usako has up for grabs, I'd appreciate it, because I'm bringing one friend with me all the way from Chicago. I'll PM you Usako, and if anyone else has one more 7:30 ticket, please get a hold of me somehow. You do HAVE to have a printed copy of this ticket and show your ID there, so we'd have to meet up somewhere there. Is anyone else planning to be in town by early Tuesday morning and want to meet up? Get a hold of me here, or if you have my phone # from the LA Musume event, just get a hold of me.



Thanks guys, and hope to see you there

[AEUGNewtype]

Does anyone know how to get a hold of Usako outside of the boards? I tried to PM her a few times but she didn't respond, it seems like she doesn't have access to email or the board while she's on this trip but I need to try to get a hold of her by 7:00 tonight. If anyone can help, thanks. I wasn't able to respond to her PMs over the last few days but I really need to get a hold of her.

[Shoujo Q]

PMing you! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /ph34r.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ph34r:' />

[strawberryjam]

I need to make an MM-BBS/b!p/PH t-shirt for times like these..

Even though it's an AKB thing, whatever. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[eri]

In theater now!!! I didn't know takahashi was here! Also minami whatshersquirrelface too. The rest I don't know,...

[eri]

"Concert" update!



It was really great.



1. The Lincoln Theater is really small but lovely. It is a "real" historic theater in a sort of gentrified, hip part of DC. But anyhow, it was a real stage with proper lighting and stage effects. Plus, I sat center but towards the back but could see everything.



2. The AKB girls had WAY better stage presence and audience interaction than the MM girls did a few years ago. Even my husband (who had never heard a single AKB song before today) said the same thing and thought this show was WAY BETTER than the AX show. The AKB girls chatted with the audience sort of and were just really charismatic - even when they were awkward and silent at moments. They all had little English self-intros and comments prepared. I think maybe their tiny Don Quixote stage training pays off at times like this.



3. The costumes were sooooooooooooooo cute. Like seriously adorable.



4. Takahashi Minami had amazing energy and really stood out (imo). She had great stage presence and did not have any kind of diva vibe whatsoever. Everyone cheered like crazy when she came out (along with Minami Minegishi) but I was surprised at the crowd reaction to Ayaka Umeda - is she so popular?



5. There was "real" concert organization and everything was calm, orderly, etc unlike AX chaos.



Questions:

One of the girls had almost accentless English (I think Maria Abe) - half?



Why is Ayaka Umeda at the center of everything for this show? She seems like a crappy version of KARA with that hairstyle. Not a fan.



Who is the super adorable one with the Kago buns? I forgot her name and can't tell from the photos but maybe Miori Ichikawa? I love her. I want to put her in my pocket and feed her cookies.



I enjoyed it so much. Everything was lipsynched and the dancing sucked, but it was just a nice, short show (an hour).

[Shoujo Q]

Ayaka Umeda is in DiVA, she was also in the 7th gen Musume Auditions. So sad because I remember rooting for her hard core. Kinda glad now she didn't get in, cause to me she isn't exactly pretty. ((Fuggly Hair!)