i didn't really buy a lot of goods, just a ton of pin-up poster and Airi's day-of photo (it was the Amazuppai costume). picked up a Chisato towel for Rina, will give it to her tomorrow on what will be her LAST DAY in Japan. ;________________________; i really loved the pin-up posters, i got 20 and ended up trading about 7 of them to get the ones i want.
it was fun trading actually, Berikyuu fans are less greedy than MM fans..at Rival Survival i had to trade like 10 pin-ups for 1 Eri, and even then it took a while to find someone who'd agree to it.
maybe it was just because i wasn't looking for the most sought-after members this time, lol. i traded Maimi for the one of Captain i needed, a MaiMai set for the one of Chinami i was missing, on of Maimi & a Chisato set for the one of Nakki, and a Miyabi for a Yurina one. so now i have a complete set of Captain, Momo, Chinami, Maasa (might sell this set), Yurina, Maimi, Airi & Nakki. that's all my favorites (except for Maasa, who i just couldn't trade away
). i just realized i got absolutely no Risako in the pin-ups i bought, good thing i wasn't looking for her!
anyway, we got to the concert way later than i intended.. like at 4:30, and doors open at 5pm. but even so, i needn't have been worried! by then the goods line was short and moving fast, and the concert wouldn't start for another hour. i was lucky that pin-ups hadn't sold out yet (maybe by next concert), so all was good. we met some foreign fans that came to Hello! Party 2, and they advised us to get in line for the charity donation to get a chance to see some of the Berikyuu girls (they line-up and wave as you walk passed to leave a donation). :3 good advice! the line-up was Momoko, Chinami, Nakki, Airi & Captain.. and i'm forgetting someone, Chisato? >< anyway, it was 2 girls i hadn't met before, 2 girls i love, and my top 2 favorite. awesome!! and Nakki falls under i girl i love as well, but i was excited just to see her cuz i had never been in the same space as her before (this was just before the concert). and of course, i got all giddy excited as i passed Airi & Captain.
i spazzed at Airi (again) and told Captain Sakura-Con was the best, she was surprised but registered that we must have been there. :3
okay, now the actual concert! x3 i thought 17th row would be pretty far back, but thanks to the seating in Nakano Sunplaza i had a great view!! ^-^ they were also filming today (i assume both day and evening, though we were only there for the latter). they had huge cameras all along the back, and some going around up front too.
the opening medley was pretty crazy.
they move really quickly from one song to the next (
link for reference)! there did a really cool part where they mix Otakebi Boy and Dschinghis Khan together.
and in general it's just really cool seeing the groups participate in each other's songs. unlike Berryz Kamen there was no real theme or storyline going, but it kind of emphasized how they can work as a supergroup, as opposed to there being a versus type of separation. Berikyuu really did feel like they were working as just one large, familiar group. :3
after the VTR they changed into the most awesome outfits EVER. well, they just all looked really cool, cuz it was very fashionable. ℃-ute then performed Sekai Ichi, which was suitably fun in concert. :3 however, their best song was Kirai de Kirai de Kirai, and oh my GOD.
the song is cool, but it pales in comparison of the choreography. it's BRILLIANT.
it's sexy in a smooth way (not in a hip thrust! spread legs! show the audience your butt! way), it suits the mood of the song, it's complicated and unique, it's catchy/memorable, and they don't take ANY shortcuts.. the instrumental break is just as good or better than the rest of the song. best choreography since Namida no Iro (because while i liked Aitai Lonely Christmas, it wasn't as complicated as i know they can pull.. and for those that don't like NnI, then think Tokaikko).
after watching that (especially imaging the outfits as PV-worthy), it got kind of painful that it's not an a-side.
i can only hope that it becomes a regular in their concerts..
their MC was talk about rivals. Yajima said her rival was food (or rice)? Chisato "that makes no sense"
MaiMai has no rivals, and something about people would be happy to hear they're considered a rival and.. stuff. x3 Berryz MC topic was something about Maimi? i think the convo diverged at some point though, lol..
Berryz came out and performed Aa, Yo ga Akeru. i can't believe this is still their most recent song!
but i must say, i still don't get what people don't like about this song. it's so interesting and catchy! the outfits made the choreography about a billion times better, i can't wait to see this on DVD.
it's hard to follow along, i'll really need to watch closely to learn it! Tanjun Sugi na no Watashi was cute, but pretty forgettable compared to all the other songs in this concert. Hero Arawaru was fun, but for some reason i couldn't place it as it was being performed!
had to look it up when we got back~
also, i have to add that the MC's were so much fun. i didn't even know what they were saying half the time (in part because i couldn't understand, and in part because i was distracted by people around me so i wasn't focused which i need to be in order to follow along), but there was so much laughing, and a lot of girls commenting on what the other said, and stuff that brought out funny reactions lol. i hope these end up on the DVD. :3
for the Ousama Game Chisato was the chosen one! she then got to draw out a number (got number 5, who was Miyabi) who would have to do whatever it said on the paper. the paper said to do a "super super sexy pose that's seriously sexy"
Miyabi was wearing a vest, so she slowly opened it (though she was all smiles) before queueing Chisato's song, which was Romantic Ukare Mode! the audience goes really all out with that song. x3 it was fun!
next was a song involving dancing with uchiwa (each member had their own), which was fun to follow along to. :3 then came Buono!, and although i love DEEP MIND, i have to say that the lack of choreography hurts it. there isn't really much of a place to chant to, so when there's nothing to dance to it makes it hard to get into in concert. some moves were choreographed, but it basically just consisted of making some general hand motions at the same time once in a while. a little disappointed with that.
the song itself is of course all rockin' of course, but it lacked something to make people get into it! maybe it's just disjointed with all the Berryz and ℃-ute songs? might be better in an actual Buono! concert.
from here on, pretty much every song was high-energy.
Bye Bye Bye! with Yurina, Risako, Chisato & MaiMai made me remember even though it's not a favorite of mine, it's still very enjoyable. and apparently i knew more of the dance than i realized, because i was doing the steps without looking lol. then came Monkey Dance! x3 audience went crazy. these outfits were what i like for a song like this, whimsical without being downright comical. they had tails!
then came That's the POWER and we almost had a heart attack. about 6 (or it could have been 8?) half-naked girls are the first thing we saw, we throught it was Berikyuu at first.
just really randomly some
Brazillian dancers with their butts hanging out came out with Berikyuu and started.. well shaking their butts, cuz that's how Brazillian dancers dance. it was so random that i thought maybe it was a mistake, but when Berikyuu didn't react and the dancers started joining in on the "that's the power" move, i just shrugged and joined in on the dance myself.
MC with mixed members was just as back-and-forth as the group-only MC's, i really want some translations when they're on DVD. x3
Seishun Song! Maji Bomber! Yuujou Junjou! JUMP! i think most people have seen these performed enough that you know how high-energy they are.
but then came Iza Susume, Steady go!
i didn't know the song that well, but THE part (if you know/watch the song you'll know what i mean) was RIDICULOUSLY fun. it's the kind of move that gets you to go all out! to an extent i felt a bit restricted at this concert, cuz i'm getting over a cold so i couldn't yell/chant/sing along without having my throat hurt, so i was doing everything basically as a mute.. but this move made me forget about that, i certainly wasn't acting like i was sick.
and finally, Icchoume Rock!! ahh, this song brings back memories of Sakura-Con (the first place i saw it performed.. live, of course
). this is the only time i broke my mute-ness, i just couldn't help joining in on the "wowow"ing, it just doesn't feel right without it! i may pay for it tomorrow, but it was worth it.
after some encore-chanting (Be-ri-kyuu! Be-ri-kyuu!) they did Heroine, which was awesome for me because i know this dance, and by the end i was in the mood to do as i damn well pleased regardless of being sick. so i did the full dance.
it's nice seeing people around me know it as well, since i'm usually dancing by myself. x3 the Momo fan in front of me knew like every dance, and he was dancing more energetically than the girl he came with (a Captain fan all decked out in happi, t-shirt, headband and everything lol). since Berikyuu were in their Amazuppai outfits, they had to hold their sleeves back to do certain moves.
they ended with Amazuppai, and although i still wouldn't consider this one of my favorite songs, it sure does get in my head easily. i don't dislike the song, but i wish it had a stronger ending.. in the end Amazuppai is still in my head, so i guess that counts for something.
later we went to a sushi place! my first time in Japan, i was always worried that they wouldn't have much for me.. which is true, but turns out i don't mind eating a lot of tamago and inari sushi...
they also had an eggplant thing, but i only noticed it after i was full. maybe i'll go again sometime except.. it's awfully expensive for something that's not as delicious as ramen or okonomiyaki, either of which i could get way cheaper.
by Menno » Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:43 pm 
