9/11/06 Nihon o Ikimasu

Today I got up at 6:30 to get ready to go for cancelled tickets at Waratte Iitomo. Today was Shingo's day so you know I was going right! Anyway, why so early? Well it takes a bit to dry my hair and I gotten into slow mode in the mornings.

I got ready and ask the hotel clerk to please change my room to non-smoking in which they did and for direction. I then was off! I got there at about 9:15 and there was a long line! About 45 or so people where in front of me! So I went thur the motions and my number was 47. Well I did get in to the waiting and they said at first there were possibly 10 see. I thought, I'm an odd number cuz I was by myself. Anyway, he came back and said 0! They had none hahahahaha! It was fun seeing the mix of fans there.

I then continued on with my siteseeing itinerary. I walked around Ueno for about 2 hours and then I went to Harajuku to visit the Meiji Shrine.

9/10/06 of Nihon o Ikimasu!

My days and nights are still very much turned around. I wanna sleep in the day and stay up all night. ahahahaha I'm not adjusting very well. I got up to go siteseeing and really just turned around and came back to the hotel. It was too hot and I was feeling really drained. I came back and uploaded pics, typed blog stuff and went to sleep. I slept 5 or so hours and missed Tensei Shingo dammit! ahahahaha I really wanted to see it to. Anyway, I have a very sensitive nose and smells can effect me. I would have slept more but I could smell cigarette smoke like really strong. I then realized I was on a smoking floor and the person in the room next to me was like a chimney! So I was up smelling smoke for a well then I went outside for fresh and became a buffet for the mosquitoes! This was not the day I'd planned but I felt better after resting.

I was considering getting a ticket for Smap but I thought about and got antsy and thought about and started to freakout and then went to sleep. ahahahahaha

My first Smap Concert day 9/9!

I was warned by everyone to get go to buy concert goods early. So I finally got up to get dressed and go. I was really unorganized that morning. I get out the door at about 10 am! I was told to be there before this time not to mention, I didn't really know where I was going. I knew which station to go to but after that, nothing.

I go down and have coffee and croisants for breakfast because I hadn't eaten since being with Masako chan. I ate quickly and it was off to the races! I go to the train station and finally get some directions. I get on the train and make the right transfer and when I got to the station, I ask the attendent but he didn't speak English and I couldn't remember the name of the stadium so I just said Smap. ahahahaha! He pointed me to go the one way. Well, that wasn't right cuz he didn't tell me to turn left and I went right. Finally I stopped some young woman and she pointed me in the right direction after I said Kimura Takuya hahahahaha. I guess I've been pronouncing Smap wrong. So I go back and see fangirls. I stopped them and ask where to buy goods and they kindly let me follow them. I was grateful and happy.

We get in line that is super long. All the way around. I thought they opened at 11 but they didn't open until 11:30am. We weren't in line very long about an hour and they laughed at me when I opened my umbrella to shade the sun. I was sweating so much that my clothes were soaked.

I finally go to go into the lines and to my surprise, they weren't very long at all. I was able to get everything I need but after about a hour, I was exhausted not to mention, I needed to get back to the hotel and shower because that's how much I sweated.


I got back to back to the hotel and got ready for this wonderful night. I wanted to be there by 3:30 but it didn't happen and I was there at 4. I followed the crowd not really knowing where I was going. After walking half way around the stadium, I asked for help. I highly recommend you ask for help early! I ended up walking around the entire stadium and got to my seat about 5 minutes before the show started.

I must say, Japanese fans are a little different than US fans. Most people dance crazy wild at our concerts and usually everyone is screaming. Here, its just the opposite. Most of them were just standing there with their penlights all going in the same direction for the most part.

BTW, I didn't mention this but before they sang Under the Starry Sky, Takuya mentioned that it was cloudy and there weren't any stars to see so he asked everyone to turn off their penlights and when the song start to turn them on. Some people didn't do and of course Nakai called them out! ahahahahaha it was funny to see them hurry and turn them off. Then when they all came on, it was really pretty. I was teary on that one.

Megumi's Japan Trip Day 1

The 1st day I got here I had some difficulty finding my hotel. At the Shibuya stn, I walked out and was looking around trying to follow my map. When I turned around and saw this. I put down my purse, bags and dug out my camera! This is a billboard! YUMMY!











I walked up and down the streets of Shibuya with a 45 pound luggage and a 20 pound overnight bag. My legs and arms are bruised everywhere. It was very hot that day but cloudy, no sun. I was mistakenly hoping for sun! My bad!

I finally got a taxi to the hotel. Came in called Masako chan freshened up and went to meet her, Mindy Loo and Rebecca for Gyoza which is very tasty! I was a little worried because it was dark and my first night in Japan and I thought it wouldn't be very many people out. My bad again! The streets are just as crowded at night as it is in the day! I thought it was best to get back and get some sleep for the next day which was concert day! YATTA!

Pictures of the hotel room.