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Questions about fanclubs

posts: 8 United States
I have a few questions about fanclubs if answering them doesnt' take too much of anyone's time.

Could anyone tell me about the actual fees (average range is good) associated with joining a seito's fanclub? This can include initial fee and yearly fee.

How does the money wiring work? Do all clubs still require a Japanese address and bank account?

How do I get into contact with a fanclub staff member? Embarassingly, I have written only two letters to a seito as words of encouragement...in English! (Terrible I know, but sadly I don't know Japanese). I had no idea you're supposed to continue writing in order to get a staff member's attention. Is this relatively true?

Last, can I just send the seito money without joining a fanclub :-)? If not, what's preventing them from receiving contributions directly?

Thank you for answering these questions!
posts: 166
Here is another perspective for you (I've been a Takarazuka fan over 10 years and been in two fanclubs in that time).

The fanclubs are run privately for each performer, so the way they handle things varies a lot, though there are some "rules" they all follow. Some are happy to have overseas members, some don't know how to deal with it. Most will want you to pay them by money transfer from a Japanese bank. I would say that, for me, handling payments has been the most stressful part of being in a club, since I mostly haven't been living in Japan.

The best way to get in touch with a fanclub is to talk to the club staff at the theater when you visit Japan. The second best is to mention that you'd like to join in a letter to the star - sometimes she will pass your address on to her club officers.

I don't want to be discouraging, but most of the fun part of being in a club comes with being able to be in Japan and do club events like irimachi/demachi and ochakai. Most clubs will send you a postcard with the stars picture once or twice a year, and some clubs (like top star clubs) have a newsletter they send out once or twice a year but... If you don't at lesat visit Japan, you may find it's a lot of money for a little, and more trouble than it's worth. :/
posts: 8 United States
Absolutely, you have. Thank you again :-). Glad you're enjoying your time in Japan, and it sounds fun and cute what fans do, albeit a little bit extreme. Power to them though :-).
posts: 10
No, not at all!! Actually the Japanese fans are quite impressive!! I ended up following their steps and going crazy in the fan club! The fc members (including myself) can wait for hours standing in the cold just to see their favorite actress for a couple of minutes! I never thought I'd be able to do that too, you can call it the Takarazuka Power ahhahaha Since I'm not Japanese, they look at me as if I was an alien when I'm in irimachi/demachi.. I'd love to have more foreigners doing it with me! Well, I hope I could help you!! :)
posts: 8 United States
Awwwww:-). I hope she didn't drag her fanclub staff to go stand in the cold with her. Thank you for the wonderful story and all the info you've given me. I guess you can call me a fan now, even though I never intended to be one.
posts: 10
Ahahahha I thought you were talking about Kazuya Seito!!!!!

You mean you're Micchan's fan??? My friend is from her fan club!!! She is sooo great, I love her voice! For Jin/Gold Spark, since it was the last performance of Otozuki Kei, who I'm a huge fan, I used to get up very early and go for irimachi. Everytime I was there, Micchan was always the first to arrive at the theater, and sometimes she arrived so early that the theater was still closed and she had to wait outside (in the cold >
posts: 8 United States
Hi Mille,

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Certainly gives me the needed information:-).

LOL, unfortunately I don't live in Japan and figured this will be the most difficult obstacle to overcome. Thank you for offering to ask your friends, but I'm afraid of troubling them.

I would love it if my sienne's method of communication with fans is via the Internet. Love the idea of having an account online and I can pay everything directly.

Hmmm, you're capitalizing Seito. Is Seito an actual sienne? OMG, I'm sorry for confusing you like that. I should have used sienne instead. Actually the sienne I'm inquiring about would be Hokushou Kairi.

Yes, I sent those letters to the Takarazuka address listed on the TakaWiki. Should I continue writing? Haven't written in 2 years. Wonder if that's bad?
posts: 10
Hi, I'm Mille! Sorry, my English is not great, but I'll do my best.

I think I can help you. Although I don't know about Seito's fc, most of the fanclubs are the same in terms of rules and prices.

The initial fee is the only one you'll pay in the year. It's about 7,500 yens (as I told you before, I don't know about Seito's fc, but surely it's around this price). It's not required a bank account to join the fanclubs.

They usually ask for an address in Japan, so they can send the information and other stuffs. But, for example, in Mirio's fc, which I'm currently in, if you want you can pay cheaper for the initial/yearly fee and they won't send papers/information by mail. They will give you a password and so you can have access to these information on internet. However, I really don't know if other fanclubs have this kind of service.

You can get into contact with a fanclub staff member during the performance days, in irimachi and demachi. There are some other ways, such as facebook or mixi.But I believe it's difficult for you, since you don't live in Japan :( I can contact some people and see whether they know somebody who is currently in Seito's fc, if it's ok for you.

About sending letters to Seito, did you send her letters using the Takarazuka theater address? If so, she will receive it directly, without passing by the fc staffs. The fanclubs are quite rigid, it's very difficult to have any relation with them without being a member.

All these information are from my own experience in fanclubs, it doesn't mean everything works as the way I think they do. :)

Well, I hope I could help!! :)
 

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