Embarking a journey to rediscover myself.


Somewhere near my house, Sept 27, 2009.

Might be, might not be back.

Thanks for the support for all these years.

Happy YUI-ing.

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Misc Rants:

I want to change the layout of this website and host it on my own but I don't want to spend a lot of $$$

How?

Anyone wanna help? I'm providing YUI goodies =D

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CLICK HERE

Don't get heart attack.

As usual, I'm neutral on this. This is what ah Mel and me think few minutes ago...

ah Mel: She can be nana now, with this hairstyle. Where is the choker and the wrist band etc
Teo: Haha. Yeah time to do another movie
ah Mel: Movie! would be great! I wonder what are her plans. Someone interview her quicklyyyy
Teo: You go stalk her at Shibuya then
ah Mel: Haha. must pick up some stalking tips. Hmm end of summer then she cut it short. 干脆 cut it in summer.. more refreshing
Teo: Maybe for the upcoming promotions of new single. Might as well image change.

(Changes topic)

What do you guys think of this image change?


In the meantime, check out this awesome video by our beloved Tsun Vun~



He has tabbed out It's all too much, as usual.

And Kikino rocks.

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Misc YUI info:

I like Amami Yuki, but the new movie with It's all too much as theme song looks weird.

Manga based movie, no wonder. I'm sure YUI already read it.

So they say It's all too much is another Beatles song, then Never say die should be the name of a horse which has something to do with Beatles' ex-drummer Pete Best??? Or a song by Black Sabbath?????

Somehow because of YUI, I get to know more about the legendary Beatles. I guess it is a good thing.

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Now that I'm back in Malaysia, guess I'll have to buy It's all too much/ Never say die from HMV.

It's all too much still growing on me. Can't say much about the song, might have to look into the lyrics too. The intro sounds fun to play.

As I was trying to look for myself in the ROCK IN JAPAN FES 2009 video, I compared the video with pictures I took on that day. In the picture below, the place near the stage there was a small space in the middle, I guess to separate the audience? For security reasons?



After repeating the Love is all performance video for like more than 10 times, all I could see was human, heads, people and more people.



WHERE IS THE HOLE???


PS: I've decided to remove the chatbox because it is the one causing all those annoying pop-up ads. I hate those stuff (even though my firefox blocks it), ain't gonna let you guys 'suffer' from it too. I'll think of a way to replace that chatbox ya~

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Misc half-banana updates:

Just came back from Singapore few days ago, planning to have a road trip to Hat Yai (Thailand) in the upcoming Raya holiday.

I'm seriously infected by the travel bug after studying in Japan for 11 months.

Extra note: ah Mel still lookin' cute as ever =3

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Brings back all the memories. Total 160,000 participants wow. First day was 40,000 people.

I wonder if Europe has something similar with this *hint hint*

Report, will be on soon. Just to inform that I'm still alive.

One week break ends today, time to get serious on school stuff.

If someone asks me what would I miss the most in Japan, it won't be the food, the place, it will be the convenience of being able to move around easily and...

LIVE EVENTS.

ROCK IN JAPAN is an event filled with music loving people. Most of the people just dance along with whatever music they heard, and you can't help but dancing along too, especially being a Japanese music fan for so many years.

Short report:


Sound of Forest stage. I could see YUI clearly from the place I stood. It was torturing though, people squeezing each other. That's show how popular YUI is.

1. Laugh away
2. Ame agari no yozora ni (Imawano Kiyoshiro cover)
3. Rolling star
4. Love is all
5. I'll be
6. again
7. ZOO (one chorus, Kawamura Kaori cover)
8. Sea

Live report from official website with MOE pictures.

The moment YUI appeared on the stage, at first everyone was stunned for 2 seconds, then I could hear KAWAII~~~~~~~~~~ here and there. I couldn't believe my eyes too. Too kawaii to be true. YUI, was in front of my eyes.

Somehow I was hoping to see the normal T-shirt and jeans YUI, instead of wearing folded up yukata with heavier make up, since this is our first meeting with each other.

But once YUI started to talk, you will know it for sure that she's the same YUI who we've been supporting for years, slightly more outspoken which made all of us shocked when she made such remark:

YUI: I've shaved my armpit hair. =O

I didn't know the word armpit hair in Japanese so I guess she was saying that she had make 'protections' to prevent revealing her 'flesh' from the side of the yukata. The sleeves of the yukata are quite wide so if you are not careful enough, it'll get pretty sexy. If you know what I mean haha.

Then someone in the audience said "Check it out, check it out" and everybody burst out laughing. I didn't know why when I was there but after knowing the armpit hair remark, everything started to make sense LOL. So cute.

It's sweet that YUI chose to make tribute for the two artists who had just passed away recently. ZOO acoustic version (with a bit drums) was LOVE. YUI sounds brilliant when she plays acoustic stuff.

Before YUI I went to see Perfume at GRASS Stage, skipped Chatmonchy though =/


GRASS stage is so much bigger than Sound of Forest, with two big screens.

Perfume is love. Their MC was super hilarious. It was so fun dancing along with their well known songs, just ignore the fact that they are lip syncing.

I will write a detailed report once I'm back in Malaysia. Going back tomorrow =.=

Yeah I didn't get to wear Kikino's shirt =/ Long story. The package was few hours late. Sorry Kevin ><



Today I'll wear the normal one to show my Japanese friends.

Finally, check it out (lol) the well waited YUI-Lover collaboration 3 at YL. The details of the booklet done by Kikino can be found on his blog. Impressive stuff.

Waiting for your comments on the collaboration! Please visit Kikino's blog or tell him directly if you appreciate all the hard work he have done. I was the one who started this project but in the end Kikino and depyon has to finish up all the mess I've done, really sorry about that...

Last day in Japan!!

Meanwhile, check out some other collaborations I have made with Japanese students:

YUI - Laugh away



Director + Cinematographer - あかりん (Love her Kansai dialect)
Vocal - チーちゃん (Korean who speaks fantastic English and Japanese)
Guitar, Backup Vocal - じょーじ (he can play Oshio Kotaro)
Guitar, Vocal - Teo

I wonder why I decided to sing most of the song hmm...It was fun though.


YUI - I remember you



Director + Cinematographer - あかりん
Vocal - わかな
Guitar - Teo

I like this video. It was recorded during our final gathering and we decided to perform like 4 hours before the gathering. Rehearsed twice and tadaa~ I couldn't hold F chord properly during the bridge part because I was so used to playing with my red Tele *excuses*

Samick is a sweet guitar brand.


Lastly, thank you for participating YL Collaboration 3, after I have relocate myself I'll come up with the ultimate plan to make sure that our CD and stuff reaches YUI.


PS:I have climbed Mount Fuji as well. It was a super torturing experience.

Album: 9mm Parabellum Bullet - VAMPIRE

For the past two weeks, I had one of the happiest moment in my life.


Final studio practice. Our 'band' technically has 20 members haha.

In one day, I got to play 'Les Paul', 'Fender bass' (the cute blue one above),



And posed with real PRS. Sweet guitar. The guitar strings and the neck are practically stick to each other. Now I understand why people can play barre chords non stop, thanks to such setting.



Out of 5 songs in our band, I participated in three songs:

1. Chatmonchy - Hana no yume (Guitar)
2. flumpool - Over the rain (Bass)
3. YUI - feel my soul (Guitar)

My first ever and final live in Japan *sad*, I'm gonna miss my band (わでぃバンド), regret for not taking group pictures with them, didn't record my own performance =/

But it was very very fun, completely different from usual gatherings in student centre, which would be something like this:



YUI - SUMMER SONG ～YUI Acoustic Version～

Director + Cinematographer - えりちゃん
Piano, Vocal - みさき (second collabo with her)
Guitar, Vocal - りょう (he can play DEPAPEPE)
Guitar - Teo

Basically I was just sitting there and played simple chords haha. This was the day after the newcomers' live, we didn't have much time to do rehearsal. This week somehow I've got to perform 4 YUI songs, luckily I've know how to play all of them before I came to Japan, if not I'm gonna screw up classes big time.

YL Collaboration 3 has been postponed to July 14, I'm still waiting for your entries!!

I can totally understand why YUI wrote songs specifically for live performances now, certain songs are fun when played in lives. I think I got a ticket to ROCK IN JAPAN FES 2009, I already paid for the ticket but I still don't get any confirmation email, weird.

27 days till I'm back to Malaysia.

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Misc YUI Rumours:

According to this blog, YUI is having secret lives under the name e.u.Band. Instead of Muta san, drummer is the cool girl we always see in YUI PVs.

They did once on February 20, then recently on June 12, they performed again in some live house. Set list:

1. Laugh away
2. 雨上がりの夜空に (The singer just passed away recently)
3. Rolling star
4. I'll be
5. Love is all
6. again
7. Sea

If YUI performs the same songs in RIJ, the rumours will confirm true, I suppose. I wonder how will I react if I go to some random live house, and the special guest turned out to be someone famous.

In this forum, some speculated that:

E.U.
イーユー
ユーイー
YUI


LOL.

More sources can be found here, here, here. Japanese language knowledge is required.

Btw, the arrangement for Sea are done by Hisashi Kondo and, e.u.Band.

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Album: GO!GO!7188 - Antenna

I guess YUI secretly reads this blog, because she decided to appear on the first day (July 31) of Rock In Japan Fes 2009. I'll get to see Perfume (yay) and Chatmonchy (5th time?!) but according to the timetable, I might have to move around and it will be impossible for me to see dear YUI in front rows unless I start queuing on the day before.

Already reserved 1 ticket for the that day and lets hope that I will get it *prays*

I read that some people are wondering how to get concert tickets in Japan in YL forum. First get a person who stays in Japan if you want to get the ticket legally. Personal information are needed to buy tickets in Japan, and buying concert ticket is like getting a lottery, especially for famous artist. You can't select the exact seat you want.

The other day I was featured in YUPI-LOCKS, it took me by surprise wow. GREAT JOB Kikino!! Thank you! Gracias!! I want to go Chile!!!! I think Teo-chan resembles me alot haha, really honoured to be drawn. Thanks again! (Now I really have to send the CD to YUI......)

Then on Friday, I didn't get to see depyon's dance but I took a picture with him in his costume. The next day I went to see JYONGRI.


No signature keyboard.

Apparently it was JYONGRI's first appearance in Waseda, after being a student there for three years. For Waseda students: She likes building 11 (hate you guys). Never seen her around though. She sang 3 songs, including her new single which will be released on August for the very first time, and I think not many of the audience know about her.

Tomorrow studio practice!

So far I have received two entries for our YL 3 collaboration. Keep the entries coming!!

I've been spending most of my time on music club activities, this is what we did the other day:


I was wearing the 3rd tour shirt, for PR purposes. Messed up a little bit here and there but, it was fun =D

If any of you guys are interested, this is how our weekly gathering looks like. Basically you just go up and perform, it is fun, especially collaborating with others. Normally I chose not to sing but recently I am more willing to open my mouth, guess practise does make things better.

Director + Cinematographer - あかりん
Vocal Guitar - まちゃこ (the girl who did the YUKI JOY cover)
Backup vocal - あかねぇ (joined 10 mins before gathering started, yeah she's a pro)
Guitar - Teo

Special thanks to Kate for lending me her video camera.

YUI Lovers, keep working on your covers ya~

That sums up my recent life in Japan, skip classes, music, movie, books, and binge eating on 85% chocolates + blueberries.

PS: Samart, if you are coming here, lets perform Damien Rice in the next gathering lol.

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Misc Rants:

I skipped my grammar class just now because I wanted to finish reading Walden by today. What a lousy excuse.

After being a good student for the first half of this semester, I plan to skip more classes now =D

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HMV store, Shibuya.

I have received quite a few emails asking me to help buying again Limited Edition.

HMV Japan has just restocked the limited edition, please buy from there directly, it will save your time and my time, and money as well. Other stores such as CD Japan and Play-asia are currently out of stock.

If you really want me to buy, I will charge 500 yen for each CD, plus shipping. Yeah it's gonna be expensive, better find some other people who stays in Japan to buy for you instead ;P


PS: Requesting Namidairo acoustic audio from My Short Stories DVD.

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Misc YUI Info:

Sea has PV too?!!

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Today I didn't have to go two classes in the afternoon (one skipped one cancelled), hence after I had my home made lunch, I went to Shibuya, hoping that I might bump into YUI. It has been a while since I last visited Shibuya. I was kinda overwhelmed by the crowd.


Perhaps he is celebrating YUI's return?

First stop was Tsutaya.



YUI was already there. Dang. I didn't take any pictures because there's this big no camera sign near YUI's writings.

Next stop, HMV.


Someone was interviewing someone outside Coach's store.

She was here, as well.



Last stop, Tower Records.



I have Tower Records point card, so I was thinking of buying from here but I couldn't find any limited edition.


So tempted to buy that I LOVED YESTERDAY band score.

I ended up buying the normal edition, and went back to Tsutaya to buy limited edition.

Apparently again is number one on Oricon chart now, did you guys get your copy of again already? Need my help to send the post card to YUI?

If you give me your post card, I might consider helping to buy the limited edition haha. Note that I don't do free services, and I have accumulated a lot of stuff over the past 8 months stay in Japan so I don't want to waste my time figuring out how to bring back CDs and things like that. I can help out but someone has to pay for the shipping, and transportation fees. Sorry about that.

Lastly, don't forget YL Collaboration 3!! And vote for YL Banner!


PS: Anyone has the audio or video of YUI performing Namidairo acoustic? I only have the one in My Short Stories DVD.

Time to show off your guitar/singing skills!! For YUI! For details, please go to YUI-Lover Forum.


Special thanks to ah vun for providing this. Chords can be found here. Yes the CD has leaked.

Yes, IF everything goes well, I will try my best and pass the CD directly to YUI.

Now, I have to go practise CHE.R.RY. Performing later, then will be entering studio for the very first time.


My plucking failed. Was trying to play Coldplay's In My Place.


Deadline is June 30th! Send your covers to me at hinfinitie@hotmail.com. I'll be looking forward to your covers~

For more information, check this thread in YUI-Lover forum.

Questions, feedbacks, suggestions are welcomed!! In case I didn't make it clear enough.


Further Reading:

OMG YUI mentioned my name in YUI LOCKS for 4 times!!
The Second YUI-Lover Collaboration
YUI's 21st Birthday Present

Album: Rie fu - URBAN ROMANTIC

Yes I messed up Last Train even though it was the second YUI I learned 2+ years ago.


I discovered this music club thanks to Nahoko, and big thanks to Dennis for introducing her to me. We were wearing RADWIMPS tour T-shirt.

Are you guys still practising your YUI covers?? I have received support from two mods in YL so the official thread for YL 3 will be created on upcoming Monday, I wanted to give you guys something more special this time around. I know, YUI's new single again will be released in two weeks time, really sorry for the long delay.

Don't stop practising!! (I'm referring to myself)

As a warm up YL collaboration 3, here I present our version of Last Train: MediaFire (That's how YUI play the acoustic version in YUI Radio 5, if I didn't mess up the strumming)

I have to apologise for messing up the lyrics, stopped half-way, and not being able to hold Bm chord firmly. Blame my Telecaster for having a thin neck =x Only during the bridge part I finally got used to that Seagull acoustic guitar, same thing happened previously when I performed with Marina as well. Buy a new acoustic?? Haha.

If you guys are wondering how good the Japanese students in the music club are, this YUKI cover is one of them. My jaw literally dropped when I saw the real performance last week.

This is the original song: YUKI - JOY

*Embarrassed* Okay I shall not comparing myself with others, I'm well aware of my guitar skills, not planning to be Ecchan or Yuu san anyway. My job is to drag as many YLs to join this thing =D

Somehow writing this post makes me all fired up. I shouldn't waste any available opportunity to jam with Japanese students here. You guys too, we have a lot of talented artists in YL forum, lets show to YUI and the Japanese how united we are ;)



Borrowed this bass from my dorm mate the other day and tried to mess around with it. Had problem following the tempo, but it was interesting though I can sense that my time is running out >.< Maybe I should put aside my low carb/diet venture?


Try to spot as many processed food as possible in Teo's fridge haha.

I have been spending a lot of time and money buying groceries and cooking, but so far the process has been very enjoyable. It is fun to know the names of those vegetables, spices and stuff, though I still have a lot to learn. Today I tried to make chicken stock from scratch by following this video, it turned out to be some sort of chicken soup, I can just drink it like that lol. That taste reminds of something my mom always make.

Never knew that cooking can be so fun, I used to loathe it, ALOT. There are just so many possibilities in the culinary world, being raised in a multi ethnic country, now surrounded by Japanese cuisine, and the internet is filled with western recipes, it took me quite a while to differentiate between green onion, leek, chives, scallions, as well as spices such as turmeric, bay leaves, paprika, thymes, bla bla bla.

Hmm, I am really a jack of all trades, master of none.

To prove that I'm in Japan now wahaha.


Source: Yahoo Japan



Wide Screen




According to Hisashi Kondo's blog, the guitarist in again MV is オダクラユウ (Odakurayuu) and the bassist is Backy.

And, the limited edition single comes with these goodies =D


Source: YUI STAFF DIARY

Hope to see dear YUI appears on TV soon~ *Prays for ROCK IN JAPAN FES*


Random YUI related rants:

There's this cute Korean girl in one of my class. Last Monday she carried a guitar bag on her back and being such a busybody, I asked whether it is an electric or acoustic.

Turned out to be a Gibson Les Paul =O The same model used by Bump Of Chicken lead singer. I told her that I bought the same red Telecaster because of YUI too XD

Then she told me that she heard that YUI can't really sing in live performances, she has to rely on electronics and stuff to sound better. I was like, what??? I never heard of such rumour. Being a polite person, I replied that it doesn't really make sense because YUI used to perform street lives, if she sounds that horrible, she wouldn't be able to perform street live. Plus, I've never heard of her voice live, so I can't say much about that.

Come to think of it, why didn't I defend YUI when people made such a offensive remarks, in front of me??

She's very cute though, and plays electric guitar. We talked about Chatmonchy too lol.


PS: 99% chocolate is damn bitter >.<

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Misc YUI Info/Downloads/Rants:

Hisashi Kondo aka Shigezou san posted a picture of YUI band doing rehearsals of again and Sea in the studio in his latest diary post.

Actually, Hisashi san is a radio host of this show called Satayan, he has to travel to Hokkaido back and forth every week.

On April 12 episode, he actually called dear YUI twice (around 1~2 pm), without informing her beforehand. He seems to know YUI super well, dare to call her around such time. And dear YUI seems to be fine with it, replying in a polite tone, as usual.

Credits to someone in 2ch.

Rants:

That reminds me of when my dorm mates knocked on my door when I was sleeping, to give me some cakes to eat because it was someone's birthday on that day. When I answered the door, they felt very guilty (especially the birthday girl), I wasn't angry at all, if that was the case I won't be answering the door at all. I was in fact quite happy because they still thought of me.

A lot of times, being scolded is way better than being ignored. I didn't accept the cake though, dieting you know.

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When I'm depressed/down/sad/nothing to do, I'll sleep/scratch or pick my face/waste my time doing random surfing, watching shows/eat a bunch of junk food.

Thanks to those scratching, my face is just like the moon's surface, even 10 layers of powder cannot cover them. Now that I'm on diet, I can only nib on 86% dark chocolate or almond. Those are the only 'edible junk food' available in my room now.

I feel that I've been such an @ss lately, ignoring messages/calls, forgetting birthdays, I still haven't send out a bunch of thank you cards, especially to my Japanese boss who treated my lunch in Japan 3 months ago. I didn't send a message or something to my sensei who is leaving my university at all, I didn't call to say thank you to my other sensei and my host family, I didn't send any wishes on mother's day, I didn't......

I will only start contacting people when I'm visiting their place, asking certain favor, wanting something from them, when I'm lonely......

I promised a lot of things but I failed to accomplish them, for this blog it will be ROCKIN' ON JAPAN interview, YL Collabo 3 (still no news from mods), I wanted to launch a YUI fansite but I'm too lazy to figure out how to set up a website, coding, and stuff. I wanted to learn Korean, I wanted to finish my homework earlier, I wanted to...

Yes I'm such a self-centred person. My trip to Akita (秋田) confirmed that. Somehow.

On Friday night I took 11:30 pm night bus from Tokyo station, and reached Akita station on 9:00 am next morning. The last time when I came to Akita was on last year, I only spent a couple of minutes here because of the luggage incident.


The cheapest way to Akita is by night bus. I bought the ticket from discounted ticket shop so each way costs 5900 yen, 600 yen cheaper than buying directly from the bus company.

Base Ball Bear live starts at 6 pm, I had 8 hours to wander around. My first mission, find food. I brought 3 hard boiled eggs, 22 kernels of almonds, and 1 piece of dark chocolate just in case I couldn't find anything to eat.

There are two big supermarkets near Akita station, but I was surprised that no Yoshinoya/Matsuya/Sukiya, there goes my cheap meat sources. For breakfast I had a green salad from Sunkus (the only salad without corn inside and cheap) with 2 hard boiled eggs, plus some almonds.


I had my breakfast nearby this pond.

Then I decided to checkout the venue of the live, Club SWINDLE, which is located 15 mins away from Akita station. I had a hard time looking for it because it is just a small live house located below a hotel. Not your typical Zepp or BLITZ. I couldn't find the exact entrance of the live house so I went inside the hotel and took the elevator to B1 floor.


Snucked a picture of this place.

Afraid that someone might chase me out, I quickly left the place. It is a really small live house. I went to Senshu Park after that, the only touristy place I visited.



They were having some sort of event in the park, I got pretty tired after all the climbing uphill, sat on a bench and started to read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Then this lady approached me and asked me to write some appreciation words on a card, to celebrate something. I was kinda puzzled by it but still, I wrote down that I'm glad that I came here, thank you, and my name on the card.

When she asked about my name, I told her that I'm from Malaysia and stuff like that, she took out a book and asked me to close my eyes and flip a page and point my finger on anywhere of the book. It was a book contains a lot of phrases, the one I pointed on sounded something like this: Take off your hat and share with others.

Something like that. She explained that we shouldn't keep everything on ourselves, only through sharing with others, we will gain happiness. People happy, we happy. I began to wonder, maybe I'm getting more and more self-centred these days, I'm a Leo after all. The lady gave me a little book (which I haven't read) and I thanked her before she left.

I tried to walk around the park but it wasn't fun walking alone, plus it was kinda hilly, I didn't feel like wasting my energy climbing here and there, and went to search for food.

After carefully examined every cooked food in two of the supermarkets, nearby restaurants, convenient stores, they were either too expensive or too difficult to figure out the nutrition content because they were not labelled properly. I gave up and ate my remaining hard boiled egg, almonds and that one and only piece of dark chocolate. After 2 weeks of no sweets, it tasted great.


'Camped' here for 2 hours, reading Silent Spring and sleep. You won't find such large space with free chairs and tables in Tokyo.

When I got hungry again, it was around 2:30 pm, another 3 hours to go. I went to Seibu department store's basement floor and bought this drumstick for 210 yen.


3 types of plastic bags + 1 styrofoam plate were used just to wrap this piece of meat nicely.

Now I know where to find food while on low carb diet, depachika =D Normally I don't buy food here because the food is more expensive than bento shops or conbini. Only in depachika they have cooked meat sold separately from rice/pastas, and less preservatives.

There were chairs around so I sat at a corner and ate it with my steel fork. People were eating bread, bento, ice cream, I was the only person poking around my food with fork, as silly it may sounds. Who cares, I got more satiated by eating this instead of bread, dorayaki, or onigiri for the same price.

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Then I continued my reading + sleeping process in the depachika. I didn't really care if people snapped a picture of me taking a nap in department store haha. It was 4:30 pm. I didn't care that my phone wasn't receiving any signals (being at the basement) even though I was supposed to meet another Steve from Canada, aka the legendary doubledown11 from Shangri-la Chatmonchy forum.

Steve was the person who introduced me the awesomeness of live houses, even though I got him a #1 ticket for FREENOTE concert, he didn't really enjoyed the live, after spending so much $$$ by paying me to see FREENOTE live for free, plus the transaction + shipping fee, and not to mention another extra ticket. My ticket number was #306, I knew that he has two ~#100 tickets, and he is a very generous person. Before I came to Akita, I was thinking of giving him something for treating me a free live, besides some corny Malaysian key chains, I couldn't think of anything. In the end I gave up the thought of giving him stuff, instead, I thought of treating him a cup of coffee or something if we do meet up.

I'm not really THAT stingy, you know. And secretly, I was hoping that he would give me that #100+ ticket, after showing my 'sincerity' haha.

But then, I didn't receive any calls from him. So I guess he chose to ignore me because I love YUI more, listen to mainstream Jpop, not an active Shangri-la member and sucked away his hard earned $$$. Before going to the live house, I bought another piece of drumstick, told the aunty not to wrap any plastics, and she remembered that I bought the same thing 2 hours ago. Opps.

Then, off to Club SWINDLE~

The moment I reached there, I spotted Steve's back immediately, since he is so tall. It was around 5:20 pm. The live house opens around 5:30 pm. I went to say hi to him, he seems to be in a hurry. Since he had no reason to give me the ticket for free, and I was still in a blur mode after all the napping at the basement, I told him that I couldn't afford to buy off the ticket. And then we went apart. I went to line up at the ~#300 area, wondering why I didn't persuade him to give me the #100+ ticket, in such situation, he could either give me the ticket or throw it away.

I should have been more 'pushy', yet I didn't want to owe him anything more. But then, I was more looking forward to have a small chat with him, since he knows so much on music and live houses in Japan, even though he is not staying in Japan. Guess that I should work harder on approaching 'famous people'.

After reading Steve's live report in Shangri-la forum, I knew that he was going to give me the ticket after all haha. Too bad I was hiding at the back and he couldn't pass me the ticket. Too late >.<

The venue is really small, at first I thought that I might not able to see anything but when Chatmonchy appeared, the crowd started to move forward and I squeezed all the way to the bassist side, in front of the speaker, 4th row I think. Akko was just in front of me. But I couldn't see anything below her shoulder, nor Ecchan's guitars.

This was the first time I saw Chatmonchy, up close. There were couple of times I met eyes with Akko XD Secretly I wished that I was at Ecchan's side though.

Set List (thanks to doubledown11 aka Steve):

01 Hira Hira Hira Himitsu no Tobira
02 Shangri-La (Fun Fun Fun)
03 Kaze Fukeba Koi
04 Somaruyo
05 Sekai ga Owaru
06 Last Love Letter
07 Tobiuo no Butterfly
08 Koi no Kemuri
09 Renai Spirits

I was wearing a jacket with pockets filled with camera, two mp3 players, pedometer, hand phone, it was very difficult for me to jump around with pockets full of stuff =.= My attempt to record this failed during Shangri-La because my mp3 dropped. I didn't continue to record after that.

Live house >>>> Halls. I rather watch DVD then going to big venues, unless I have an expensive binocular. It was great to see that fans were interacting with the artist, when Kumikon and Akko were telling us what they ate, things like Kiritanpo, hata-hata which are famous Akita delicacies, one fan interrupted and asked what Ecchan ate. She replied bananas, of all things. Brought from Aomori.

Then Chatmonchy was saying that even though not many people know about this, they are really close with Base Ball Bear, some people replied: We know we know, Nyaku Nyaku Nannyo right? (I know about it too). We don't get to see fans interrupting MCs in big venues, we have to shout to get noticed.

Maybe because of the night bus, after Chatmonchy, I started to get tired. No more energy to jump. The one thing I don't really like about lives with guests is it takes a lot of time to set up the instruments, I had to stand there do nothing for 30 mins, luckily the background 80s JRock music prevented me from getting crazy.

Shiori san was even more beautiful in real life =O Luckily I was standing at her side *Happy* Been a fan of hers especially after watching Linda Linda Linda, who cares if she can only play so-so bass. I could see Koide's face most of the time, and had to jump to have a peak on Hori-kun and Shohei.

Set List (Thanks to in 小石川殿さん in mixi, he included all the MC too):

01. Dramatic
02. YUME is VISION
03. Gokusaishiki Imagination
04. Heaven's Door Girls (one of my fave in the album)
05. Dakishimetai
06. Labyrinth He No Timing
07. Kamigami LOOKS YOU
08. SAYONARA-NOSTALGIA
09. Yuugata Generation
10. Umi ni naritai
11. LOVE MATHEMATICS
12. CRAZY FOR YOU no Kisetsu
13. ELECTRIC SUMMER

Encore: BBB x Chatmonchy - SUPERCAR's Lucky

I didn't know about SUPERCAR at all before that, but I saw that bassist girl before in MUSIC JAPAN. I was looking at Kumikon and Shiori all the time.

Encore 2: Base Ball Bear - Matsuri no Ato

After watching the PV of Matsuri no Ato, I became a BBB fan. I was kinda happy that Chatmonchy mentioned this song during their MC =D I quickly dashed out from the live house after the song finished because I put my bag in a locker which operates until 9 pm. It was 8:45 pm. It takes 15 mins to go back to the station.



I managed to retrieve my bag back safely. I had another 40 mins before my night bus departs, so I went to Lotteria and ordered a piece of fried chicken for 150 yen, the flour coating definitely made this piece of chicken goes over 10g of net carbs.

That sums up my day in Akita. I don't think I'll come here again any time soon.


Expenses:

Live ticket: 3815 yen
Bus ticket two way from Tokyo: 11800 yen
Salad + dressing: 220 yen
Lunch and Dinner: 570 yen
Locker: 200 yen (cheaper than Tokyo by 100 yen)
Total: 16,605 yen


If you think that I'm lucky, Steve got autographs from BBB and Chatmonchy members.

PS: Three download links are hidden in this post.

This post has nothing to do with YUI.

Two weeks has passed ever since I started this Atkins diet. The results? I lost 3 kgs, getting used to the life without sugar, been drinking nothing but plain water, half of my acne gone (no joke), got a little better at cooking, though I still have a lot to learn, if I want to cook real food.


I love tofu. I cannot afford wild salmon, those are farmed ones.

Tomorrow I got to have a bite on 86% chocolate, almond, and fruits~ But I'm not really that excited about it. I feel that I can live with this current diet, for now. Hmm......

Yesterday I went to RADWIMPS live at Zepp Tokyo with Nahoko, which is nearby Odaiba.



Live houses are wayyy better than those halls with seats. I was jumping and yelling here and there. RADWIMPS has a younger fan base, so most of the fans are more on the crazy side. The vocalist cried halfway during the live, which was totally unexpected.

Tonight I'm going to Akita, somewhere 8 hours away from Tokyo. Tomorrow will be Base Ball Bear concert, with Chatmonchy as guest.

According to this website, JYONGRI is coming to Waseda University to perform. Cool.

I don't have a better looking picture for the Sea YUI mentioned in the song. when I was there, it was cloudy, raining and shitty.


Shingu beach, 22 February 2009

Check out the preview of Sea at YUI-net. Or YouTube.

Shigezou san was 'teaching' someone to play the evil F chord.

Partial Lyrics
Chords

Time to drag a member in my music club to sing this song =D Love it!


Speaking of the music club, I joined their camp thingy last weekend at Chichibu (秩父), Saitama prefecture. Apparently it was my first time staying in a ryokan (Japanese style inn), normally staying in such place in more expensive than hotels, but you'll get to eat traditional Japanese food, and hot spring.

As I'm still on Atkins diet, during the drinking session, I didn't touch any drinks or chips, snacks, junk food. MIRACLE. I just sat there and eavesdropping, learned this thing called Circle of fifths from a senior who played DEPAPEPE and Oshio Kotaro's Savanna. Way more fun than trying to make friends with people who already has their own friends or doesn't give a poop on you.


Guitar is a must have for this music club.

I wore the Singapore YL T-shirt to show how much I love guitar and YUI, telling them I am the 'head' of some international YUI forum lol, and played a couple of YUI songs in front of those first year students (future *victims*). If not no one will know what a YUI maniac we are, even though we are from overseas.

Today I managed to get one first year to drag other first years to sing CHE.R.RY together on next week's gathering, because another YUI fan (guy) said that guys would like to see CHE.R.RY, when she couldn't decide which song to sing lol.

I'll work hard on the barre chords >.<

Oh I have a temporary band now, and I get the chance to play these songs in newcomers live on June 28:

1. YUI - feel my soul (either electric or acoustic)
2. Chatmonchy - Hana no yume (electric guitar)
3. flumpool - Over the rain (bass)

Apparently YUI and Chatmonchy have the most votes among our group, I suggested Hana no yume and they seemed to like it heehee. They encourage members to try out other instruments so I chose bass instead. Hopefully it doesn't take up much practise time because I want to improve my guitar skills more.

Even though I was kinda alone most of the time during the trip, I didn't really mind since I'm going back soon, no more time for random chitchat or trying to fit/squeeze in first year's or second year's group. People like to be in groups, I'll just do my thing and if someone noticed my existence, that'll be a plus.

Wednesday will be RADWIMPS live~

I'm so gonna screw up in my Japanese classes.

Request: Any kind soul willing to send me the Last Train performance video in Yume Chika Live or YUI Radio #5??? Last Train performance only. I have the videos, just that I'm lazy to figure out how to cut it.

YUI-net has updated again, did you guys check out the red button?

According to the latest YUI STAFF DIARY, they are planning to give away YUI again wristband, and Fender picks with YUI sign on it, to celebrate the release of again.




Source: YUI STAFF DIARY

You guys can check out the close up of those prizes at YUI MOVIE SHOW. The picks look so darn cool.

In order to win these stuff, first get a copy of again CD. There's this special post card thingy inserted in the CD. Fill out the form and write down your again story. Something that you have decided to try it out or do it again, and send it to Sony.

The deadline is on June 30, and you'll get your prize around the second half of July, I guess we'll have another new episode of YUI RADIO then =D

So if you guys wanted to let me win this contest, send me your again postcard haha. I'll give you guys my address in Japan hee.


A little bit update on myself:


Playing YUI's I'll be, with Marina san =D Photo by Yukio.

Next week will be Last Train. Maybe I'll get to play with a real band in next month??

Time to get serious in guitar-ing. Play something more 'complex'.

Album: Elephant Kashimashi - Noboreru Taiyou, The Killers - Day & Age

Last weekend, first I met one of my beloved junior in Nagano, then the next day I went to Yamanashi prefecture for free. The scenery in Yamanashi is one of the best!


Finally, I see you, dear Mount Fuji.

According to the tour guide, Mount Fuji is a girl and 60% of her ass is in Shizuoka prefecture and another 40% is in Yamanashi prefecture. If she decides to pay Osaka a visit, it would be impossible because her ass can't even fit whole Osaka.

Right now, everyone in Japan is having Golden Week. Waseda students get 7 days off consecutively. Technically I should have been travelling or going out, instead, I spent most of time going to gym, supermarkets, cooking, listen to podcasts/audiobooks, reading, and surfing the internet.


It only costs 2000 yen per year to use Waseda's gym. Unbelievable. I'm too lazy to learn how to lift weights and do exercise such as burpees, squats and what not, so I run on the treadmill and cycle instead.

I don't why I suddenly have this urge to go on a strict diet regimen, the more I read, the more I wanted to discipline myself. Hence I started Atkins diet, forcing myself to cook every meal, reintroducing pork and chicken into my diet in order to make myself full since I can't eat rice/pasta/bread any more.


My dinner today, I only ate half of them.

In order to keep my daily intake of carbohydrate below 20g (1 banana already has 14 g of carbs), I have to eat more meat than usual. Suddenly my grocery spending has gone up twice as much because I have to eat those whole fresh foods instead of cheap junk food. Well, I'll take it as an experiment, really looking forward to the results. I count all the carbs of the food I ate using FitDay, it has been pretty interesting, so far. Who wouldn't know that carrots have kinda high carb count too =.=

Today should be my 5th day on the induction phase (2 weeks long), I failed it because I ate 86% dark chocolate which is not on the acceptable food list. Aiks have to do all over again.

I can't wait for these two weeks to pass, then I can have some low GI fruits and nuts. Fighting! Been reading all the food labels I can find on my grocery shopping these days. I love grocery shopping.

Anyway, YUI stalking activity is still going on and tomorrow I'll be going to DAI's acoustic free live with another YL, from Canada ;)

Warning: Spoilers ahead.



Check out YouTube before the video is gone ;)

YUI must have spent quite some time 'touching' all the guitars.

No wonder the Fender Staff said that this PV is a must watch.

Wait, DON'T tell me that they are all Fenders????
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=.=

Marketing gimmick.

I bet these are Sony earphones too.


Cyborg YUI.

So the drummer is SHIHO, though I have no idea how she looks like. The director is the same person who directed My Generation, jam, Laugh away, SUMMER SONG, I'll be.

Time to change another director =x

According to Mezamashi TV, the singing scenes are taken in one shot without NGs.



We see that she got herself a RED pedal now, besides her usual KORG volume pedal (VP-10 or XVP-10). Her guitar skills must have been improved tremendously with that amount of free time during the holidays.

Btw, I have the same guitar strap and same Red Tele. My Tele doesn't make the same sound YUI played in the beginning though *obviously*, and no yui signature on it.

Recently I was listening to this book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, he said that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to reach success.

Since I'm a relatively lazy person, I guess, I'll need more time. Since YUI started playing guitar at around 15 years old, she needs to catch up a lot too.

That's why we love her. She showed us it isn't too late to start anything if we put on hard work and passion. The problem is that, I'm still yet to find something that I'm really passionate about, besides stalking her. I love to play guitar, but I can't imagine myself practising more than 3 hours everyday. I love to learn languages, but I'm no good at any of it. Hmm...

Someone in mixi saw her sitting at the VIP seat at EARTH DAY LIVE!!! 2009, chatting with Bianco nero and stuff. Stereopony performed as well.

I missed the chance to bump into her again.

Check out YUI MOVIE SHOW.

So many lights, guitars.

I saw girl drummer. The usual one or the Stereopony one?

Last Sunday, I went to the final Hanami (Sakura viewing) outing of the music club I'm eyeing on, Hoshizora. Nobody noticed my Chatmonchy shirt, YUI hoodie.


Obviously, no more Sakura. But that's not the main purpose Japanese people have hanami outings. Drinking is more important (besides building relationships).

Basically most of them already know my existence, the awkward part is, I'm not really first year aka new students, and second, third year members already have their own group of friends. I was kinda out of place when I chose to stay when some seniors escorted the first years to the nearby station after the outing. People were talking in groups, I didn't feel like interrupting them having great time among themselves. So I tried to act calm, listening to my audio book ;)

Should have been more active back then. Can I become good friends with them in 3 months? Can I at least find one okay vocal for YL Collaboration 3?

After the hanami, I went back to the dorm and watched FMA episode 3.


Small HD is definitely better than my hand phone TV.

Practise guitar~!!

PS: I've changed my return flight ticket to August 2. YUI, if you are going to appear on the final day of RIJ 2009, I will go crazy.

That guy in purple played piano and sang Smap's Lion Heart. His voice is really good *envy*

This is me playing Thank you My teens, embarrassing myself in front of pros. All for YUI. Cheers.

Random updates:

- Ayu concert is fun. Wasn't alone.
- Chatmonchy concert is fun too. Wasn't alone too. Yes I got the live audioss.
- Saw GO!GO!7188 girl again =D
- Westerner students in my dorm are crazy. Cross dressing guys and bunny girls. Culture shock.
- Genshiken is so real Japan.
- Amami Yuki is as cool as ever.
- BOOKOFF is LOVE, this week finished two Japanese books~
- First time in gym, after one semester.
- Finally settle all the Japanese subjects in new semester.


YUI, will you be participating ROCK IN JAPAN FES 2009??????