After work on Thursday, a fellow RISD friend and I went to see the fireworks in Shibuya. The fireworks went off at the Meiji Jingumae Shrine and at three other locations simultaneously. We looked for a crowd of women in Yukatas to follow to find a good viewing location, but people seemed to be going in all directions. We waited for the hanabi to start and then followed the sounds while walking the streets. Because Shibuya is crowded by buildings, it was hard to see the fireworks, despite the sounds sounded like they were coming from nearby. We walked through shopping streets, side streets and up a small hill, but the searching was worth it- we found a small place where we could watch the show between some buildings, and soon a crowd was forming all around us with people looking for good places to see as well. Then we saw the lovely display of lights- the show felt very appropriate to the location. There were many pinks, purples, and modern color combinations. The fireworks felt modern and designed, rather than tradtional.

Outside the windows at the design firm where I am interning this summer, we can see the side of a concert hall in Shibuya/ Aoyama. Sometimes, in the mornings, we can see lots of cutely dressed girls in typical Tokyo Shibuya fashion standing and waiting outside that building (there are even more at the front of the building). I was never really sure what these crowds of girls were waiting for, and never really paid any attention to them….until recently. Around lunch time a couple days ago, there was suddenly a lot of girly excited voices so we looked out the window to see what was happening. A man dressed in casual clothes, complete with the trendy vest and hat walked out of a car. I’m guessing this was a famous star the girls were waiting to see as he walked into the concert building. Though there were excited voices before, now at this instant the girls were all silent. Then the ritual began as the man walked near them. The girls in front kneeled down, and some held out their hands (in a sign of respect?) while the girls in the back gave a little bow. The guy waved to them before entering the building and the girls enthusiastically waved back. As soon as the man of the minute was out of sight, there were excited voices again, some girls even calling out “Prince! Prince!” I’ve never seen anything like this….. well here ’s a picture (taken from our window) of the mystery man walking by the kneeling girls…

One of the ladies in the office said that the “Prince” must be someone from Johnny’s Boyband Company and that she heard that his fans all act like this. (Johnny’s is a talent agency that promotes lots of boybands, some which I know and some which I even like- check out wikipedia for a short introduction) Maybe there are rules written on some fan site on how to behave when he walks by? Or maybe he prefers the quiet girls…. I’m not really sure… So I  later took at look at the poster in front of the concert hall and noted that later this fall there is a boyband pop musical opening with the group Kis-My-Ft2, which I really dont know anything about. Anyways, I’m guessing that our “Prince” must be someone in this group. What a popular guy to have so many girls waiting to glimpse him!

Anyways, today there was an even bigger crowd waiting outside…. oh goodness for those devoted fans!