I just remembered those old times when there sometimes were autograph sessions just for free before concerts. Even though I’m happy for the bands to make money, man, it was a nice era when you didn’t have to spend so much money just for a quick ‘hello’. Just as every single concert has VIP tickets now. I guess perhaps I’m just used to those local and lesser-known artists who still sell their own merch at the booth after the show.
Everything has its pros and cons I suppose.
I felt that. Where I live, a few lesser popular bands used to be down for free signing sessions after the live, but last time I got into one was 2024 at a con and I still had to buy something so the band could sign it. 
My first vk live experience was heidi. EU tour In 2014 and for a while almost all vk lives in Poland had that. Except maybe Dir En Grey (which is understandable) and Morrigan, but my broke ass also didn’t attend every vk live in country, so I don’t know everything. XD
There was also a drought period where all we got was Mikaru with whoever was free every year, lol. He’s a fun guy live but there’s only so much merch you can have of one person and get them to sign it, before it gets insane, lol
Oh, interesting. I remember An Cafe and Mucc doing it in 2009 and the last one I went to was The Micro Head 4n’s in 2013. I didn’t go to any (japanese) concerts after that. But I also notice it with non-japanese bands, so it’s a general change I guess.
I don’t have any photos of these (also because I thought it was weird to shove a camera into their faces), but I still have some photos other people took saved on a hard drive somewhere.
I have autographs from An Cafe (I think from 2008?) from a free signing session they had before a concert in Helsinki. A friend of a friend was in line, I went with my friend to say hi to them (and maybe catch a glimpse of Miku) and the friend pulled my friend and me in line with them. In retrospect it was very rude, especially since like 5 minutes later the store staff cut the line and closed the doors right behind us, leaving behind a bunch of very bitter fans. I didn’t even buy anything, the staff/organizers/whoever gave out A4 black and white printouts of the Gokutama Rock Cafe album cover that the members signed. I also didn’t go to the concert later that day, but I did stick the autographs on my wall until I moved lmao.
Even in Japan those meet & greets at nearby CD shops / departments stores that they used to do during EU stores are getting much less common. They do still happen, but there are so few v系 shops left now… Like an edison and little hearts (I haven’t actually been to one at the new store yet!) have them but the format is not anymore always the old-school “just buy the new release at the store and participate”. Sometimes you’ll get tickets for them from taibans or such, sometimes you can still get them just by buying the right CD, sometimes you need to buy them separately.
My husband thinks the evil cali gari ATM shirt is funny, so I bought it for him…
Where are the fully frosted poptarts? Kelloggs please, give me a day of sunshine in the midst of all this metaphorical rain and fully frost the strawberry poptarts. Life has lost it’s vibrant spectrum of colors, the only thing that can return peace to my soul, A fully frosted box of strawberry poptarts.
I’ve already got a Berlin trip figured out before tickets are on sale, lol
Tell 17 year old me it’ll be fine in… 17 years.
Just opened instagram, only to see Karasu posting SH scars.
I don’t think he’s okay lol
My only presents for family from Paris are extremely expensive chocolate, that has probably melted twice and half a baguette 
I wanted to get an Eiffel-tower something for my tower-loving nephew, but I felt too unwell to go shopping ;; I just had lunch and sat in a park for most of the day. So half melted chocolate is still beyond what I managed.
But I’ve done the Paris touristy stuff enough times it wasn’t a huge loss. Honestly I just wanted to indulge on cheese, wine, and pastries 
(but that doesn’t require Paris specifically).
I saw Flow live yesterday. Best moment of my life.
their songs are so fun, i bet it was an amazing show!!
landed in japan very safely but am all over the place with sleeping/schedule keeping. so far i have gotten 5 pokemon plushies, the best eel of my life, mistaken for half japanese or half korean, gave directions in korean bc i just passed the place she was looking for, and someone spoke to me in mandarin??? my girlfriend who speaks more japanese than i do was BAMBOOZLED and was like “how…do you know…all these languages”
me: I Like Food. i learned the basics.
also it feels like being in a tropical butterfly house. i went from 45% humidity in seattle to like 85% in ginza. the rain is different and i can’t smell when it’s going to rain IT JUST HAPPENS??? im having so much fun but bamboozled
I loooved the rain in Japan in July. It also felt dryer during the rain. Enjoy your stay!
Karyu reposting all the fan stories makes me so happy. The man obviously loved this 
Why do I keep buying tote bags even though I only use tote bags for grocery shopping and the ones I’m buying are too good for that anyways?! 
Because there is no Drawstring Gymbag VK merch, that’s why 
(Except for lynch., whose gymbag I really, really want, but it is rare and expensive to obtain in Germany and I had too many bad experiences with shipping from outside th EU 
)
Update: The expensive chocolate did not melt and mom was very happy about the present.
Even the baguette was received very well
unfortunately still, after many years, i remain a simple woman attracted to a man in head to toe leather. lord help me 
