Earthquake

                I suppose it takes something as massive as an 8.9 earthquake and a tsunami on the Richter scale to make me update this blog.  As it was- there was no updates because I wasn’t doing much of anything so far- save trying to get L’arc~en~Ciel tickets for their concert in May.  Now I fear even making it to May.

                Anna, my friend from college, had just come in this past Saturday to visit Tokyo and sightsee things that she would be interested in.  As it was- we visited everything anime and Visual Kei related: Mandrake in Shibuya, Takeshita dori in Harajuku (including an expensive visit to Yellow House she left at MY house lol), Akihabara’s Electric Town, and Ikebukuro’s main street (didn’t go into Sunshine City).  After a trip to Tokyo Disneyland on Thursday, we decided that we were going to head back to Akihabara on Friday to get more Gachapon Gundams for her.  These things are very tiny but quite adorable Gundams that you have to put together.  I wouldn’t mind a few for myself XD.

                Anyways- we woke up late because we were both exhausted (and I didn’t want to get up- my hip’s been KILLING ME for a while now if I keep moving for a long period of time), and basically ran to hop on the train to Shibuya, catching the Yamanote line towards Akihabara (Akiba).  In the midst of all this, I was texting a sick Tyesha asking if she wished to come and that we’d meet her in Akiba and had just texted an okay to her getting ready when we reached the stop Yurakucho- which is somewhere between Tokyo and Shinagawa I think.  We were only about 6-8 minutes by train away from Akiba- sitting in the priority seating area (it was empty save for us basically) as we chatted back and forth about the person joining us and what we were going to do when we got there.  Suddenly the train began to move from side to side as the Yamanote line going in the other direction began to come into Yurakucho and my reaction was “Hey!  Anna- check it out- it’s an earthquake!”  We’ve had small ones up until this point so I felt very safe in a way.

                But the train continued to shake and move unnaturally- the doors stuck open and Anna and I finally (after about 10-20 seconds) abandoned our seats in favor of the station’s more stable platform- feeling a sense of panic run through me.  I’d never been though such a large quake before and all I could do was press myself against the office on the platform and stare at the train as it moved and the ground below us moved as well.  I know that my adrenaline continued pumping for a while afterwards as most of us moved back onto the train curiously and cautiously.  Only a couple minutes later- with men running up and down the train- were we basically told that it would stop running (as indicated by everyone exiting the train).

                So Anna and I made our way down into the train station to look up at the TVs- moving over to one side when suddenly the ground began to move again.  There was an immediate rush towards the station exits- everything turned off so that people could run through away from the now dangerous building.  In the distance, Tokyo Tower swayed with the might of this aftershock.   Anna and I now stood on the street in front of the station- looking up at a Bic Camera store and multiple large buildings in the cold.  Everyone had simply stopped where they were and it was strange seeing so many people simply STOPPED in the middle of Tokyo.  We stood- wondering what to do next as we watched some signs shake with the movements of the ground again and I rocked back and forth on my shoes (a pair of Shape-ups).  I felt nervous and worried but strangely excited I suppose for what was going on- I think that was the adrenaline speaking however.

                After this smaller aftershock, a Japanese woman moved up to us and asked us in good English if we were okay- to which we replied that we were shaken up and were okay.  She started a conversation with the two of us which a man from Switzerland joined in- stating that he had been up in a club or glass shop (couldn’t figure out which) and all of the glass in the store broke.  It put terrifying ideas in both mine and Anna’s heads of the glass running up the buildings above our heads falling down onto people with another quake.  Soon after, we all went our separate ways- the man walking towards the still slightly moving Tokyo Tower- and the woman walking across the street through the buildings- leaving Anna and I standing at this station.

                We decided to go back inside to see if we could wait for the JR to run again, moving up to the top platform but staying close to the stairs just in case another quake happened.  Eventually we grew tired of waiting- the lights in the train being turned off and everything as it sat there.  We moved back downstairs- continuing to wait for some news about the train beginning to move somehow.  For the next 9 hours- we stayed in Yurakucho, shivering and cold on the stairs- moving into Bic Camera afterwards until we were kicked out of there and then trying to continue finding a way home.  When none was found, we decided upon food- quickly eating at the closest non-jammed place we could find which turned out to be VERY expensive.  Which sucked.  Majorly.  Not like we wanted to eat there though but we didn’t know any other way home to Shibuya (Ikenoue station afterwards).

                After that- we could see that the Yamanote line wasn’t running- so we finally decided to buck up and start asking (in broken Japanese) questions to the attendants.  We (I) asked how to get to Shibuya and the answer was apparently the Ginza line- a subway.  One would think it wouldn’t run but we ignored that and ran into Yurakucho’s metro line station instead- quickly beginning to sweat our brains out from the heat there.  The Ginza line was found quickly and we tried to run down to it and found ourselves faced with a train literally PACKED with people.  Unfortunately- I was unsure of where this train went and IF it would go.

                So I walked up to the attendant there and asked if the train went to Shibuya which turned into a conversation like this “eto~~… kono densha wa… ano… Shibuya ni ikimasuka?” (not even sure if I said half of that correctly at the time but I TRIED).  And his reply was a bunch of Japanese I didn’t understand save for a word that sounded like “congested”.  Which made me reply “a…ah… gomen nasai- wakarimasen…”  Which he apparently took as not HEARING him… *sigh* so he repeated everything he said and then did the traditional arms in an X posture which means “it ain’t happenin’” if my experiences of getting shoved out of clothing sections in Harajuku have taught me anything.  So my report to Anna: “…I don’t think it goes to Shibuya… I think he said that it’s got too many people.”  So we stood there and watched a couple of trains go by- watching the people literally pack into them like sardines- more than anything I’d ever seen before.

                Then I got the bright idea to try to get to Harajuku.  We could walk from there to Shibuya easily.  Unfortunately- the attendant couldn’t understand a thing I said apparently and was just as confused as I was… I think… either that or he just said no again and probably wondered why I wanted to go to Harajuku.  So in light of this- the two of us decided to hop on the train anyways and just get further towards Shibuya instead of just sitting and waiting for nothing.  Thank you random intuition though, since as we rode the train (with me in almost heat stroke MISERY) we came to realize that it WAS going to go to Shibuya and that we COULD get home.

                I now question what the HECK that guy was saying.  But anyways- we wound up in Shibuya- happy to be closer to home if not on our way home.  We then started towards the Keio Inokashira line with fingers crossed.  In shock- we found a large LINE of people throughout the whole station as we descended from where the Yamanote and Ginza lines were.  Come to find out- as we moved over towards the Inokashira part of the station- that this large line was for the Keio line.  A simple “kono… line… wa… Inokashira sen desu ka?” in broken Japanese got the point across to the policeman who nodded and said that it was the line for the train.  Anna and I immediately hopped onto this line and hugged each other going “We’re going home! We’re going home!” or… technically to my home.

                This line however, was wrapped extremely far around the station’s insides and it took the two of us about an hour to get through the line to actually get on the train.  But nevertheless, we were on the train and on our way home.  We were so happy.  We got off at Ikenoue with a quick “Sumimasen” and an “Arigatou gozaimasu” from me and Anna- hugged again and started for my dorm.  All in all, it was a long day… so the Skype conversation and the phone calls that took place upon reaching home were even more tiring.  We were exhausted but happy to be alive and safe at home.  So happy.

                Even so- I dropped Anna off today (Sunday) at Narita Airport Terminal 1.  The line for her flight was LITERALLY wrapped around the terminal.  LITERALLY.  It must have been at least two or three or MORE football fields long.  It took about 2 hours to get through this new line and get Anna all checked in before I saw her off through security and sat down to wait for her call that her flight was okay and was going to leave on time.  Upon receiving this message and call- I left Narita and began home- feeling awfully lonely and sick to my stomach. 

                Now- I’m alone in a dangerous situation.  I wish I could’ve climbed in her luggage.  But it’s all right- I plan on trying to stick it out and continue through- despite not having much food to eat or anything and the blackouts that will start tomorrow and last for 3 hours each day.  I continue to feel as if the ground is moving beneath my feet and begin to panic each time I move myself without knowing it.  I feel like I’m all bundled up into knots and I feel absolutely terrified.  The coffee didn’t help.

                I now need to clean my room, do the rest of my laundry and pack an emergency bag- just in case- as well as contact the US embassy to see what I should do in this situation.  But that requires a phone card that I need to get tomorrow morning- which will also be expensive.  Hopefully I will be all right. 

                                - One lost and scared American

Concert Report!

                Omg it’s been a while since I’ve updated.  I looked and saw that my last one was the day after Miyavi and it’s now almost mid-January.  It seems I never made that post about the GazettE and Luna Sea that I said I was going to >.< well this is going to be that post and I’m going to post a second one probably (hopefully) in a couple of days with all the going’s on otherwise.  SO the concert report! (SIS! AVERT YOUR EYES!... if you’re reading this that is…)

                Luna Sea was great!  I was on the floor of the Tokyo Dome and right up close to part of the stage.  I wasn’t in the front of the stage but I was in a great position- considering there was only two chairs in my row and I was closest to the stage- right beside a railing.  The German/French/American people in front of me honestly pissed me the HELL off when I got back to my seat after spending some time in the lobby with Tyesha.  I’ve never gotten such weird looks from foreigners before and in fact- in the case of the three German girls- the one saw me and immediately turned to her friend and had her look at me too.  I’m almost curious about wtf they were expecting or what they were exactly looking at.  I’m an American white girl with blue eyes.  You’re GERMAN- you shouldn’t be shocked by this ><!!

                Anyways- the concert was great.  I felt more like just a music lover instead of a major fan but it was sill enjoyable and they even played Rosier I believe (either that or it was In my Dream… or both XD).  And I actually made some new favorites while I was there- though I don’t have a complete setlist of what they played unfortunately.  Time is Dead did stick with me though and it became a new favorite of mine due to the concert.  I have to be honest though- J, the bassist of Luna Sea, became one of my new favorite people lol.  I love Sugizo but J overtook him for the night.  At the beginning there was a large choir of people and eventually they all moved away to leave our five band members standing in the middle- it was a stunning opening and led up through a night of memories for those in the Dome I believe- as the members were styled more Visual Kei- more like the original “Lunacy”.

                As I’m not a big Luna Sea fan- I can’t tell you what songs they played, save for those that I knew but it was surprisingly harder rock than what I thought it would be.  Sugizo and J frequented the platforms nearby me- which made me happy.  I think one of the best moments for me (being a fan of bassists) was when Inoran was at the end of the platform near me- Sugizo on the far right- and I’m pretty sure Ryuichi was on the middle one- or still on the stage itself.  J decided to follow after Inoran but only moved a little down the platform- with no spotlight on him.  It was almost funny when he tried to get my area of the crowd pumped up (on both sides of this platform) and no one saw him.  He seemed slightly disappointed- so- it being me and me loving bassists- I immediately did a spastic, bouncy and yelly cheer for him.  Idk if it was me or someone else but he seemed to cheer up a little lol.  It was also amazing when it was just J and Shinya onstage- where Shinya had just done an amazing drum solo (LOTSA fire) and the bassist proceeded to try and make one section of the crowd cheer for him louder than the others- proceeding to flip the softer section off if he was impressed with the screams from the former section.  And I’ll admit that I felt REALLY special at the end of the concert- even if it wasn’t actually pointed towards me but- J walked partially down my platform at the end and basically I cheered as loud as I could for him- slightly bouncing and being spastic at the same time and he smiled and pointed at me (or in my general direction).  Overall it was a great night!

                …Save for ONE thing.  A camera… should be a CERTAIN distance away from one’s face.  I had a cameraman come up and take a picture- while I was cheering for Sugizo towards the end of the concert- and the LENSE of the camera can’t have been more than half a foot from my face.  I also seem to have popular with the rest of the video and camera men/women- as I found myself being filmed almost constantly.  So when the DVD for Luna Sea’s (“Lunacy” at this live) comes out for this concert- be sure to check out some of it and see if you can spot me.  Considering how much I was flimed- I’d be shocked if I WASN’T in it.

                Onto the next night!  Gazerock!  YES!  I finally got into the hall and found myself very confused and lost- as my ticket said something very different (and I was still tired from Luna Sea and also- I had come down with a mild cold at the beginning of the week >< that did NOT bode well for the concerts) from Tyesha’s and most of what I knew.  Come to find out- since I had gone through the gaikokujin ticket sales- I had ended up with a spot on the arena floor once again.  Oh man was I estatic!  I felt horrible though- as Tyesha had bought a regular ticket and ended up deep in the stands somewhere.  She threatened my existence though if I kept apologizing for it so I did stop apologizing… eventually lol.

                Anyways- since I DID get another foreign ticket- I was- once again- surrounded by foreigners… save that it wasn’t so bad this time around as most were nicer and less rude than what had happened the previous night.  For this one- I was on the opposite side of where I had sat the last night- though it seems that there are three pillar things… I’m not sure… all I knew what that while I was on the right side of the stage the last night- I was on the left side of the stage- in FRONT of the stage this night.  The middle platform wasn’t that far away to my right (just a section over) and the stage wasn’t TOO far in front of me- probably about the same distance from the last night.

                So- onward and forward!  I don’t have a setlist for this one either- but I knew a LOT more songs… less than I should’ve (as I was lacking in listening to the new singles and tend to just stick to my MP3 player (which did NOT include a lot of the songs that they played unfortunately).  I felt like a mega-Gazerock failure had happened on my part ;_; but it was still a great concert.  I have to say that the performance of this night as compared to Lunacy the previous was almost incomparable.  It was an amazing laser show lol.  I’m being quite serious when I say such a thing- we started off with outlining the background box before the band walked out and then the concert started after a few words.  There was IMMEDIATE headbanging… which I joined in on ^.^v I’m such a bad child.  I’ll be honest.  I’d buy a DVD of this simply to see what I missed while I was headbanging.  There was also lovely fanservice onstage between different band members.  One of the hardest things for me- who doesn’t watch the live videos for GazettE or ever been to any other of their concerts- was picking up on the puri (the hand/body movements that the fans make to songs- I’m almost sure that puri refers solely to the hand movements but I’m using body here for a reason).

                The highlight of the night for me was hearing Pledge though.  I CRIED.  The song is already so beautiful and then to hear it live in such a matter… it was overwhelming.  Another highlight was Bathroom right after it… it felt like I had been sucked into another world with that song.  As the song started- a beam of white light shot down the middle of the area- over the platform to my right as the intro began playing and the beam slowly opened up and looked like a piece of the sky- pure white though with clouds floating through/across it.  It was something so vivid and beautiful- I really did feel as if another world had just appeared above my head and I couldn’t help but simply stare and allow myself to be pulled along.  An absolute FAVORITE song of mine, Filth in the Beauty was also played and there was LOTSA fire with this one too.  The entire audience called for an encore together “An-co-re! An-co-re!”- clapping our hands on the re to make sure that we kept together for the GazettE to come back out. And they did- performing a SIX song encore, followed by another two song encore, which included, of course, Linda.  Now Linda has one of the MOST complicated puri I’ve seen in my life- one where you clapped and jumped in time with the music, which tended to be hard to do sometimes after being so exhausted from the rest of the concert.  But it was so much fun for that song that I just let myself go- even though my arms and neck were screaming for mercy from my energeticness.  I had to keep telling myself that I wasn’t tired- that I didn’t need to sit and relax for a bit- that I could keep going.  The final song was Miseinen and I was happy to hear it.  Kare uta had played right before- so both of these songs seemed to just completely calm the audience down.

                At the end, Ruki spoke about how long of a journey this was for them and how happy they were to be in the Tokyo Dome at this time- tripping over his words as his throat caught with tears.  And even though I know I didn’t understand the words at the time- I felt the same as he did- his emotions reached out and touched all of us.  I felt the tears welling up in my throat and I kept telling myself that I wouldn’t cry.  Then I watched as each band member broke down in tears on stage and felt myself crying as well- especially after Reita curled up onstage in an attempt not to cry- pulling his hood over his head and turning away from everyone as Ruki spoke.  Aoi left and came back a few times but all in all- I’ve never felt so moved by a group of people before in my life.  It was a wonderful experience that I’m so happy I could be a part of.  An amusing anecdote to everyone crying was the fact that I watched Uruha’s makeup run on one of the big screens while finding out later that my makeup had stayed perfect lol.

                Overall, it turned into one of the best experiences of my life and I’m happy that I could go to such an event.  Both events actually.  It was worth the next week of being laid-up in bed with pain and exhaustion.  So that’s my concert report!  I will update again soon so that things that AREN’T music take priority in this blog again lol.

                                -  One Happy American