Of all the reasons I went to Japan when I did–because seriously, who goes on vacation just before Christmas when they’re a single parent with kids–this is probably the last thing my readers here can relate to. Yet, it’s an interesting story. An incredible story. So I’d like to share it with you, and perhaps you’ll enjoy it anyway. Perhaps it will inspire you to dream, and dream big.
Ever since I visited Japan nine years ago, I’ve wanted to go back. It’s a wonderful country, with kind, lovely, helpful people. But I wanted to go back in the spring, to see the cherry blossoms. Yet I went in December. Why?
It started out with a friend, Susie, who I met here at WordPress. (I’ll attach a link to her awesome Etsy store at the end of this post. Her jewelery is amazing.) She got tickets to a concert I would have given my right arm to see. But not only did she buy more than she needed, she won them. In a lottery. The band’s fan club does that sort of thing. To give you an idea of how incredible this is, the band in question plays to sold-out shows at Nippon Budokan, which has a seating capacity of 20,000. They played there yesterday. But the venue my friend got the tickets to? 2400 standing on the floor. And my ticket was number 252… almost within the first ten percent of the people to be let in. More about that later.
So the next thing was, whether or not to accept the ticket. Could I find someone to look after my kids? Their dad was busy with work – it’s his busiest time of year. No help there. Except I have a best friend who agreed to look after them. Yes. I could go. The flight was reasonably priced and, when I looked for places to stay I found some excellent deals for far less, in fact, than anywhere I could hope to stay on vacation in my own country. I was going to Japan to see my favourite band. It was now or never. Did I mention it was the final concert of the tour I really wanted to see?
Fast forward to the day before the concert. I was going to meet Susie the day of, but I decided to pop by the venue one day in advance when she planned to pick up our tickets. Good thing I did – she was detained on the day of the concert and I would have waited to see her and not made it to the front of the line where, as it turned out, I met a gal from Portugal who spoke English, who told me I needed 500 yen in cash to get in the door, even with my ticket. Can you imagine? Had I not known, I might have spent thousands of dollars to go to a concert and not gotten in for the sake of $5. So, with my 500 yen at the ready, I had to figure out when my number was being called. It was all in Japanese… except my new Portuguese friend introduced me to a lady who spoke both English and Japanese fluently… who just happened to hold ticket number 251… the one before mine. I followed her in. I’m shaking, writing this.
So I got in, as up front as I wanted to be, somewhere in the middle where I could see the lead singer – the one I’d come all that way to see.
Here’s my picture, taken by the lead guitarist.
As I watched this awesome concert that I’d been so blessed with being able to attend, that so many stars had fallen into place for me to be in that spot, at that moment in time, I remember thinking to myself how important it was to fully be in that moment. The music, the crowd, the incredible … moment!
I walked back to my hotel that night feeling truly truly blessed.
It was a bittersweet walk. Alone, I felt a little lost. My real reason for being so far away from home was over and I still had a couple of days left to go. I almost felt as though I had nothing left to look forward to. But.
When I got back to the hotel that night I went online to find out the concert had been taped, which is why I’m writing this today. It was played back to me, live on a streaming website, this morning. I had the chance to relive that wonderful moment! How often does that happen?
Here’s a tiny little excerpt of the concert. I know you can’t possibly understand most of what’s being sung, nor may you know who these people are on stage. But I was there. During this song, the lead singer, Atsushi Sakurai, made eye contact with me. This alone means the world to me. He is my muse – the one who has lead me through my novel and kept me going. He is my inspiration, pure and simple.
(Click on the word “Post.” One of those hands in the air is mine.)
You may not understand, but perhaps it will inspire you to hope that one day all your stars may align as mine did two and a half short weeks ago in Tokyo, Japan.
Susie’s jewelery! https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/birdicatt (I didn’t realize her shop was closed up until she gets back – please be sure to visit her after January 9th!)
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February 1, 2015 at 7:08 am
It’s always amazing when the stars align just for you! Sounds like you had a great time 😀
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January 25, 2015 at 9:48 am
My older daughter is an ethnomusicologist who is currently researching and writing her master’s thesis on the online fandom about the Japanese pop phenomenon AKB-48, which now comprises dozens of young women performers in various cities in Japan and in other countries in the region. She understands well the experience of passion that many fans who are far away from Japan have for j-pop music and groups. I’m so glad that you were able to make your trip and had such a fantastic experience up-close-and-personal at the concert!
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January 25, 2015 at 10:07 am
Wow, what an interesting line of study! I didn’t know that was a “thing.” But it certainly makes sense – without the internet, we’d never have been able to delve into the culture the same way.
I’ve felt passion like this because of other, more accessible artists – but many Japanese ones only perform at home. Thus the necessity to go there. I’d have done the same for Queen had they only performed in the U.K. 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment, Joanne. I learned something new! 😀
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January 25, 2015 at 1:48 pm
It’s what happens when you have two ethnomusicologists in the family – my daughter and son-in-law! Scholarship on j-pop – and on music fandom in general – is quite a new area of study, which makes it ideal for young scholars as they can do ground-breaking research that early careers in academia require.
Maybe some day more of the j-pop stars will venture over to our hemisphere…
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January 26, 2015 at 10:32 pm
I hope they do. 🙂 But I do find this new area of study an absolutely fascinating concept. Some of the real “fanatics” have deep psychological issues – put that together with cultural differences and you have a whole new brand of crazy. I must look into this further! Thanks so much for mentioning it. 😀
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January 25, 2015 at 8:23 am
Great piece!!
Always wished to travel and write one..
Hoe I do have a similar story..
Thanks for the inspiration
#Bless
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January 25, 2015 at 8:25 am
Thank you, Celona. 🙂 I hope you get the chance! I was very lucky. 🙂
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January 3, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Linda this is such an amazing experience. It reminded me of the time I saw Fleetwood Mac. Everything went into alignment for my sister and I. And we were lost in the throes of magic, music, and Fleetwood Mac magnificence. Kudos to you for realizing your dream in Japan. You inspire me greatly. 😃🎉🎶
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January 1, 2015 at 3:38 am
Oh forgot to say; thanks for the link to my Etsy store site 🙂
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January 1, 2015 at 12:16 pm
The least I could do. 🙂
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January 1, 2015 at 3:36 am
Hey Linda
Happy New Year!
So glad you got to re – live the concert through Nico Nico stream. I just got home. Dead tired but the
Nippon Budokan concert was awesome!!!! So glad you loved the BT tour finale 😀
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January 1, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Happy New Year, Susie!
The Budokan concert must have been sooo different. Happy you enjoyed it! And happy to hear you made it home safely – the weather must be a shock to the system, let alone the jetlag.
Thank you so much again for giving me the opportunity to go to the concert – let’s do it again soon! 😀
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January 1, 2015 at 8:27 pm
You are so very welcome! And we definitely should do this again…how about 2016/2017 at B-T’s next concert tour??? 😀
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January 1, 2015 at 8:29 pm
I’m saving money as we speak! 😀
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January 1, 2015 at 9:02 pm
LOL. 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 3:40 pm
I’m so delighted you had a great time 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Thank you, Joey! 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 8:06 am
That’s an amazng story Linda. i am so happy for you that you had the opportunity to take advantage of it. Awesome!
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December 31, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Thank you very much, Paul! It was an amazing experience. 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 6:55 am
Sounds like you had a great trip! Happy New Year and cheers to a wonderful 2015!!! x
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December 31, 2014 at 4:40 pm
The trip was wonderful! Thanks so much, Lucy and a Happy New Year to you too. 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 1:58 am
Congratulations to that awsome experience and happy 2015 😊!
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December 31, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Thank you, Bee! Happy 2015 to you as well! 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 1:18 am
Hey Linda. I’m that gal from Portugal who told you about the 500yen fee. I just found your blog via tumblr. I’m glad that you managed to find your way in inside the venue and that you enjoyed the concert so much! Buck-Tick sure do know how to give a show. You were very lucky with your ticket number, especially considering it was your first B-T concert. You got to see them very up close! Not many fans have that chance.
Anyway, I want to apologize for kind of leaving you after. I was having an horrible hangover that day, and after the concert I just wanted to get out of there. So, sorry for that. But surely, next time you come to Japan again for another B-T show , please let’s have a drink together 🙂
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December 31, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Wow! I’m amazed you found me! Thanks so much for commenting to let me know, Ana. 😀 If you’d like to connect on social media, my Facebook page and Twitter can be found here, or you can email me at bacamjoly at gmail dot com to let me know what you prefer. I’d love to go out for a drink next time I come to Japan! Hopefully it won’t be nine years before I get back… B-T might not last that long, though I certainly hope they do. 😀
Thanks so much for all your help at the concert – I couldn’t have done it without you!
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December 31, 2014 at 12:25 am
Man, I’m super happy for you and super jealous at the same time. Buck-Tick is one of my favorites as well. I happened to watch some of the anime they made an opening for. So fortunate and to be honest seeing the F* bomb up there is what drew me to this post. Looking forward to more of your posting and by the way I’m a new follower 🙂
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December 31, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Buck-Tick is great, aren’t they? 😀 Haha! I figured I’d lose followers because of my title, actually. Bonus that I gained one! Thanks so much! 😀
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December 31, 2014 at 12:11 am
I felt so happy reading your experience Linda 🙂 May there be many such moments in 2015. A Very Happy New Year to you and your family.
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December 31, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Thanks so much, KG. 🙂 Happy New Year to you and yours as well!
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December 31, 2014 at 12:08 am
wow – you are fortunate and passionate having this moments! Keep up!
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December 31, 2014 at 4:27 pm
Thanks very much, Mihran. 🙂
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December 31, 2014 at 12:07 am
This really is fucking awesome!! 🙂 It’s amazing how everything aligned so perfectly for you – and so far away from home!! Thanks for sharing this super cool story!
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December 31, 2014 at 4:23 pm
Isn’t it amazing? Thanks so much for commenting, Krissi! 😀
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December 30, 2014 at 11:50 pm
That is so awesome! I am so happy for you! The happiness just oozes out of this post and I love that about you 🙂
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December 31, 2014 at 4:21 pm
Thanks very much! 😀 I’m happy my happiness shows!!
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December 30, 2014 at 11:10 pm
You’re a fortunate Linda G., Linda G. I’m so happy you had this moment of moments. I get it, totally. Fucking A Wahoo.
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December 31, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Thanks so much, Mr. Mark! Wahoo it was!! 😀
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December 30, 2014 at 10:46 pm
You’re adorable 😉 Very awesome and super happy that your fan girl dreams came true. Look forward to checking out the video and glad you’re still riding the high.
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December 30, 2014 at 10:50 pm
Thank you Paul. 🙂 You’re so sweet.
The video is only a minute and a half long… the concert was 2 solid hours of awesomeness. 😀
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December 30, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Memories were made!
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December 30, 2014 at 10:39 pm
They certainly were! And recorded too! 😀
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December 30, 2014 at 9:42 pm
First, it’s great that you got to go on this trip and experience what you did. That is fantastic.
Second, you used “fucking” in your blog title. Tsk, tsk. I may have to unfollow you for that! 😉
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December 30, 2014 at 9:52 pm
First, thanks.
Second, I figured someone would, though I didn’t expect it would be someone who would go on to repeat the word in their comment. 😉
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December 30, 2014 at 10:45 pm
No worries. I have heard (and used) that word quite a bit and I am not going to abandon the blogger who picked my badge for her SoCS prompts!
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December 30, 2014 at 10:51 pm
Yay! hehehe
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December 30, 2014 at 9:34 pm
Thank you for sharing this, Linda. Sometimes the stars do align and you find yourself in a dream. My heart was soaring for you! ❤️
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December 30, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Thank you, Helen! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 😀
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