We have come so far.

My Day Yesterday:

So, yeah, went to immigration in the morning to basically make sure I don't die a lonely death someplace other than Japan, which I'm sure to do here the way my life has gone since coming to this beautiful yet haunting country. But it all went surprisingly well and more easier than expected. Thanks Takao!

After this, found a net cafe to sleep a little, since I had stayed up the night before working on Idol Underworld orders and updating everything going on with that website of insanity. Managed to find a wonderfully overpriced net cafe right in the heart of Shibuya, which was not so bad. I could sleep in a net cafe for days and probably be just as happy as I am in my apartment now. I highly recommend doing it at least once if you ever come to Japan.

Of course, I only could sleep for one hour. Exactly. 

Then, much to my happiness and amazement, I was able to record RIN from KISS HUG EXTREME playing the violin. It's part of my documentary, and I plan to use the footage in a hopefully special way. She played for like an hour straight, practically killing herself for me over and over again, as I asked her to play the same piece about fifteen times. She did it without complaining, and trusted me with pushing her to the limit, and I think what I got out of this is going to blow people the motherfuck away. RIN is SO talented, and what I like about her is that when she plays, she exudes a sense of vulnerability. Like, when she was done playing the entire piece, she stopped and looked down, not at the camera, which is the natural instinct to do when you're being recorded so initimately like I'm doing with her (my camera was, of course, in her playing space the whole time... that could NOT have been easy with the pressure something like that brings to a situation!). When she looked down, those gigantic eyes of hers softened so much and she looked like she might cry, and it just... I dunno... transcended, I think is the word, in that moment what was already something incredible, that being her live performance, to this... other thing. This IDOL thing. 

And you know what? She did that same thing at the end of her last performances for the day, over and over again. 

She probably was just tired, but I think she went someplace in her mind. Maybe her youth? She's been playing the violin for many years... imagine the memories each note she bowed out brought to her mind. 

THANK YOU RIN. I mean, really, really thank you. To do this for me... what a real, fascinating joy she has become for me to study and observe in my documentary. 

All thanks to Oshima san as well for trusting me so very much with his group and letting me put them on full display like I have been doing. 

Afterwards, me and Rin actually talked more than I have ever talked to her before. We talked about her playing the violin, Kiss Hug, music, and the holidays. Then I said goodbye to her at the station, and that was that. 

For her, at least. For me, the day went on, as I then went to Lilii Kaona's monthly live event they hold, at my favorite venue in all of Tokyo, Moon Romantic. 

When I got there, I wasn't prepared to be assaulted by the sheer awesomeness of Atarashii Gakkou no leaders. I talked to Suzuka, their fearless front woman, as she was trying to remember when I had first met her and talked to her. It was at Reny, as one of the members recalled, though I couldn't for the life of me recall anything in that moment. I was too overwhelmed. This group is just too much for my brain. I want to work with them so bad. I was starting to tell them about Idol underworld but then they had to practice, and like every other person in the entire venue, we all could only stand and stare at their ridiculously perfect choreo and dance and live show. This is one group that is beyond perfection as idol and more importantly, they are just damn good fun live. I particularly like how idols watch this group during the lives... you can see the pained look on the faces of the idols as they realize how much they will have to practice in their lives to be even a tenth as good as the girls in Leaders. They are a MUST watch if you come to Japan. Seriously. 

I talked with Lilii Kaona a little after the Leaders set too... even THEY were impressed, and the Lilii Girls are pretty damn good at dancing themselves. So funny though. Really. 

I decided to record Lilii's set tonight, since hey fuck it... I had my camera from recording Rin earlier. Mishima san said it was okay, and so I got a nice balcony view and shot of the Lilii girls during both their sets. It was especially awesome because the night before, Mishima san texted me to ask for my advice on naming the second half's opening song. We worked on the name for awhile and I think he was happy with it (final title for the song: atmosphere: we have come so far). I felt so happy that he would include me in the creative process. Mishima san is cool like that though. Like, he brings people and ideas together to meld into something amazing. He even introduced me to DAIDAIDAI's manager, who was at the live last night for some reason. I mean, there is no real reason for Mishima san to do this, but he just does shit like that. ALL THE TIME. And I appreciated him so much for doing so. As for Mr. DaiDaiDai san, I have met him in passing at past lives, so it wasn't like a first time meeting or whatever, but me and him talked for awhile like it was our first time to even acknowledge each other in the chika-verse. I hope I can work with him someday. DAIDAIDAI are another group that is just sooooo much fun live! 

The show came and went before I knew it was even over. Me and Marlon, who was there with me, barely made it home though. We couldn't keep our eyes open, as both of us were hanging on the hand supports in the train and falling asleep while standing up. Of course, we had to stand the whole 50 minute ride back home. I was so hopeful we would get orders done when we got home but noooope... out in about 20 minutes, just long enough to eat our curry from Cocco Ichi and then experience sleep death. 

Today though has been good... got all of Pikarin's book orders pretty much processed, so now the remaining orders at IU can finally be really tackled. Doing that now, along with a million other things. Just wanted to share this with all of you. Tomorrow is another busy day of being out and about (Today I actually was able to go to the Squall and Burst Girl show and re-up on some chekis of members! And then also meet up with 2&'s manager to re-up on her items too that had been sold already but I didn't have at the office). Anyway, hope everybody is well. Thank you so much for the incredible response so far to my last post... all the things you guys are writing, I'm taking into consideration. 100 fold. Thanks beyond words guys! 2020 is shaping up to be already a much better year than 2019, which will go down in history as the Idol apocalypse. 

Love all of you. Stay warm. Stay happy. And if you idol, keep on idoling guys. xoxox