Tokutenkai - Fan Rewards Sessions
All idol groups vie for the support of their fans. In return, fans try to support their favourite idols and favourite members. How do you support your favourites? You buy their goods and merchandise.
In the underground idol world, the "Goods/Merchandise Sales" (物販 Buppan) is not always about buying actual goods (e.g. penlights, t-shirts, etc.) but can be about buying 'time' in way. AKB48 created what is called the trend of "idols you can meet" and the Underground idol industry is very much about that.
It all happens in "reward sessions" for fans called "tokutenkai" (特典会), which are similar to what is called a "Meet & Greet" in the West.
Now then what are these so-called "Tokutenkai"?
Tokutenkai can come in many different forms. The most common ones are:
☆ Autograph Sessions
☆ Handshake/High-Five Sessions
☆ Photo Ops (or チェキ会 cheki-kai)
Some groups have their own twists for these sessions e.g. rock-paper-scissors tournaments or colour ball catching but 99% of the groups I would say fall into one of the three categories above (or do more than one of the three types, depending on the time or the event).
As of late, due to the global pandemic, so-called "online tokutenkai" have become more common as have activities in general. I will elaborate more on one of the online tokutenkai as it has gained more popularity:
☆ Live, Private Video Chats
Apart from being the highlight of the event for fans, buppan and tokutenkai are when the groups actually make the most money. Ticket sales usually cover for the cost of the venue and you're lucky if you break even there (for solo events) and when it's a multi-group one, the organizers will pay the group for appearing but it's usually not much. So buppan is where the groups get their income.
It's also a good time for them to touch base with their fans. Since the underground idol world is relatively small, the group-fan interactions are pretty intimate. I was pretty surprised (positively) at my own experiences in multiple underground fandoms. After having been in relatively large fandoms over the years, it was pretty shocking to see how well you were remembered by members of a group. Let me tell you, I do not stick out in Japan. My face is one of many. So to have them remember things about me other than my face left a really deep impression on me.
We're talking "they remembered what we talked about last time we met and just picked up from there as if it had been yesterday" (when in reality, it had been almost 2 months since I had last seen them in person). Or "they remembered what job I do and which friends I brought". You feel appreciated as a fan a lot and it builds community.
Alright then, on to how every different kind of tokutenkai works.
☆ Autograph Sessions (サイン会 sign-kai)
Pretty much what it says on the tin and not much different from what autograph sessions are like in other countries or in other industries.
Pattern A: You buy something, you walk up to the person you want an autograph from (one member only) and you get the thing you bought signed. You can talk to the member while they're signing your thing for you. Usually there will be a table between you and the person who is writing.
Pattern B: You buy something and it (or an extra that comes with it e.g. a postcard) gets signed by the entire group - you get to talk to each member as they sign your thing right in front of you. They will be sitting along a long table and you move along the same table with other people to your left or right (unless you're the first or last person to go).
Those are pretty much the most common patterns you can get. With growing fandoms, things might change. Bigger fandoms will have "lotteries" for signed things or the extras will be distributed with random ones signed (e.g. everyone gets a postcard and some of them are signed, some aren't).
A slightly different but not uncommon pattern can be individual autograph + photo op. In which you can choose one member you'd like to get an autograph from and a picture taken with.
Autograph sessions are usually held in combination with release events, as those events naturally provide something to be signed. Sometimes you will get your 'cheki' signed but that's rare as 'cheki-kai' are quite busy.
Usually things will be signed with your name on them, so you're usually required to write your name down on a piece of paper which you hand to the person who's signing your thing (or the first person who is signing your thing). This is to prevent sales of the signed merchandise. And well, to make it personalized.
Do not be surprised if people get a little rough (not physically but verbally) as they move you along because some fans just can't be sensible people and patience wears thin as time passes. So please be understanding when people just bark "NEXT" at you (some people don't listen otherwise).
[I personally like autograph sessions because I like watching people write. You might think autographs take little time to write but that's misleading. A lot of idols actually put a lot of thought into their signatures. Some are in kanji, some in roomaji. And both kinds take a bit of time to write, unless it's really simple. So you get a bit of time to talk. I would say on average about 30 seconds to 1 minute. It doesn't sound like much but it can actually be enough for a decent, albeit short, conversation. Coming up with something to say is something I have found rather difficult so even that much time can seem like, too much.]
☆ Handshake/High-Five Sessions (握手会・ハイタッチ会 akushu-kai/high-touch-kai)
Again, pretty self-explanatory. Here you get the 'reward' of shaking hands with your favourite member or the entire group or getting a high-five from your favourite member or the group. Or selected members only, depending on how the event is set up (if it's the entire group or only a few members).
Sometimes a high-five session can be in combination with what is called 見送り which is the practice of 'seeing off' fans as they leave a venue for example.
If a handshake or high-five session is slated as part of a tokutenkai, it usually gives fans time to talk to their favourite member or members of the group for a specific period of time. There will be a time keeper to prevent people from talking forever or from hogging specific members of the group.
Just as with the autograph sessions, do not be surprised if people get a little rough (not physically but verbally) as they move you along because some fans just can't be sensible people and patience wears thin as time passes. So please be understanding when people just bark "NEXT" at you (some people don't listen otherwise).
Also, there will usually be some kind of 'barrier' between the artists and yourself, such as a table or counter or sometimes. This is to prevent fans from getting a little too enthusiastic, so it's a bit of a safety measure for the artists.
[Handshakes and High-Fives are a mixed bag for me. I am not super into touching people a whole lot, especially if a whole bunch of other people have touched them as well (lol that sounds wrong). And this was before the whole pandemic already. I just enjoy the chance to talk to them. And I can talk to them even without them holding onto my hand awkwardly or something like that. Although admittedly, this has led to some interesting situations before. Let's just say usually it's the fans who walk by and shake (quickly squeeze) the hand offered to them but some groups actually to 'proper' handshakes, where they take your hand with both of their own and hold it. And sometimes the guys have too much to say and they're not letting go of your hand. Which then leads to awkward standoffs with the staff lol.]
☆ Photo Ops (or チェキ会 cheki-kai)
Cheki-kai are probably the most (in-)famous kind of tokutenkai in the underground idol world. And when people talk about "buppan" after an event, this is usually what they are talking about.
To participate in the cheki-kai you need to purchase cheki-tickets. Or photo-tickets, depending on how the group does things.
1. cheki (small, polaroid style/instax pictures)
2. smartphone photos
The more economic option for groups is to take pictures using the fans' own smartphones (no filters, normal camera only). However some groups do not want to use this as pictures can be spread around more easily or can be altered more easily. There's also no physical item to be kept as a memory (but I think this reason is a bit more secondary). Another reason might also be efficiency, as phones have to be handed over and handed back, while cheki-cameras are managed by the staff.
Cheki- or photo-tickets usually cost between 1000-1500 yen for 1, depending on the group. In the underground circuit it is usually 1000 yen. Groups with bigger fans will limit the amount of pictures you can take at one time (usually to 5) but groups seldomly limit the overall amount of tickets you can purchase (unless there is a strict time limit for the venue).
Depending on the groups there might be limitations regarding poses and other rules such as "no presents" or "no props". In the underground circuit the rule of thumb is usually the less popular a group, the more relaxed the rules. With very minor groups, the boys can get a bit, let's say 'adventurous' and 'bold', in order to leave an impression and to get people interested.
Other rules may include the posting of pictures online on social media. Some groups do not want their pictures to be spread, others actively encourage it. So please make sure to check the rules before you do something. The rules will usually be specified before you take your first picture (smaller groups will recognize you as a first-time fan aka a new face).
If you'd like to see an example of how a cheki-kai works (albeit unrealistic because they're doing it in private, usually you do it in front of all the other waiting people), you can check out these two YouTube videos:
☆ Live, Private Video Chats (ライブトーク live talk)
This form of tokutenkai is relatively new. In the underground circuit it is being promoted by the YouTube streaming show ASOVIVA and the talks are done through an app called TalkPort.
TalkPort slots can come in different lengths and at different pricing, depending on the popularity of the participating groups but it's quite pricey in comparison with other tokutenkai in the industry.
A 2 minute private talk will cost you about 3000 yen.
(5 minutes go for 7500 or up to 10,000 yen)
Sounds expensive but looking at it from a fan perspective, it's actually not 'all that bad' if you consider other factors. The first factor is that getting the chance to talk to your favourite member in more major fandoms is by far more expensive (e.g. even in actor fandom, getting the chance to meet them up close and personal often requires purchases of multiple goods and you easily have to spend 10,000 yen or more).
The second factor is that this talk is absolutely private, it is just you and the member you are talking to, live via smartphone video call.
[Two minutes can also be very short or very long, depending on how you approach the situation. I can tell you, some two minutes can stretch for eternity while the next two minutes feel like mere seconds. 5 minutes is quite a long time and you can get a LOT of talking done!]
Finally, your groups will most likely earn more money with these live talks than they would with a cheki-kai, which is the only other option where you can get up to 2 minutes with any member. They don't have to pay for the cheki-film and the live talks are done via smartphones (sometimes their own phones even but the app protects their privacy).
So especially at times like these, when groups are making little to no income due to the pandemic, this is a good way to support your group or your boy(s).
Other options such as 'with LIVE' have popped up as well and are used by a couple of groups in the underground circuit. Pricing here seems a bit steeper than on TalkPort but it might depend on the individual groups. Popular groups seem to come at about 5000 yen per 2 minutes, while less popular artists will cost you 2000 yen for 2 minutes (even smaller, less popular artists even go for 1000 yen for 5 minutes).
[I've really come to like these talk events. Getting to chat in private is really fun and you can talk about anything and nothing and whatever. It's really nice to build more rapport with the guys and create a real sense of something that is akin to friendship even though it is still very much an artist-fan relationship.
While I do enjoy the talks, they can sometimes make me super nervous still. But that might just be a personal thing. Talking to people does not come easy to me but with the guys I have talked to up until now, it's been good. They know how to make a conversation fun and relaxing so even with limited language skills, I was able to have a good time and I am planning to do this again in the future when the opportunity presents itself.]
In the underground idol world, the "Goods/Merchandise Sales" (物販 Buppan) is not always about buying actual goods (e.g. penlights, t-shirts, etc.) but can be about buying 'time' in way. AKB48 created what is called the trend of "idols you can meet" and the Underground idol industry is very much about that.
It all happens in "reward sessions" for fans called "tokutenkai" (特典会), which are similar to what is called a "Meet & Greet" in the West.
Now then what are these so-called "Tokutenkai"?
Tokutenkai can come in many different forms. The most common ones are:
☆ Autograph Sessions
☆ Handshake/High-Five Sessions
☆ Photo Ops (or チェキ会 cheki-kai)
Some groups have their own twists for these sessions e.g. rock-paper-scissors tournaments or colour ball catching but 99% of the groups I would say fall into one of the three categories above (or do more than one of the three types, depending on the time or the event).
As of late, due to the global pandemic, so-called "online tokutenkai" have become more common as have activities in general. I will elaborate more on one of the online tokutenkai as it has gained more popularity:
☆ Live, Private Video Chats
Apart from being the highlight of the event for fans, buppan and tokutenkai are when the groups actually make the most money. Ticket sales usually cover for the cost of the venue and you're lucky if you break even there (for solo events) and when it's a multi-group one, the organizers will pay the group for appearing but it's usually not much. So buppan is where the groups get their income.
It's also a good time for them to touch base with their fans. Since the underground idol world is relatively small, the group-fan interactions are pretty intimate. I was pretty surprised (positively) at my own experiences in multiple underground fandoms. After having been in relatively large fandoms over the years, it was pretty shocking to see how well you were remembered by members of a group. Let me tell you, I do not stick out in Japan. My face is one of many. So to have them remember things about me other than my face left a really deep impression on me.
We're talking "they remembered what we talked about last time we met and just picked up from there as if it had been yesterday" (when in reality, it had been almost 2 months since I had last seen them in person). Or "they remembered what job I do and which friends I brought". You feel appreciated as a fan a lot and it builds community.
Alright then, on to how every different kind of tokutenkai works.
☆ Autograph Sessions (サイン会 sign-kai)
Pretty much what it says on the tin and not much different from what autograph sessions are like in other countries or in other industries.
Pattern A: You buy something, you walk up to the person you want an autograph from (one member only) and you get the thing you bought signed. You can talk to the member while they're signing your thing for you. Usually there will be a table between you and the person who is writing.
Pattern B: You buy something and it (or an extra that comes with it e.g. a postcard) gets signed by the entire group - you get to talk to each member as they sign your thing right in front of you. They will be sitting along a long table and you move along the same table with other people to your left or right (unless you're the first or last person to go).
Those are pretty much the most common patterns you can get. With growing fandoms, things might change. Bigger fandoms will have "lotteries" for signed things or the extras will be distributed with random ones signed (e.g. everyone gets a postcard and some of them are signed, some aren't).
A slightly different but not uncommon pattern can be individual autograph + photo op. In which you can choose one member you'd like to get an autograph from and a picture taken with.
Autograph sessions are usually held in combination with release events, as those events naturally provide something to be signed. Sometimes you will get your 'cheki' signed but that's rare as 'cheki-kai' are quite busy.
Usually things will be signed with your name on them, so you're usually required to write your name down on a piece of paper which you hand to the person who's signing your thing (or the first person who is signing your thing). This is to prevent sales of the signed merchandise. And well, to make it personalized.
Do not be surprised if people get a little rough (not physically but verbally) as they move you along because some fans just can't be sensible people and patience wears thin as time passes. So please be understanding when people just bark "NEXT" at you (some people don't listen otherwise).
[I personally like autograph sessions because I like watching people write. You might think autographs take little time to write but that's misleading. A lot of idols actually put a lot of thought into their signatures. Some are in kanji, some in roomaji. And both kinds take a bit of time to write, unless it's really simple. So you get a bit of time to talk. I would say on average about 30 seconds to 1 minute. It doesn't sound like much but it can actually be enough for a decent, albeit short, conversation. Coming up with something to say is something I have found rather difficult so even that much time can seem like, too much.]
☆ Handshake/High-Five Sessions (握手会・ハイタッチ会 akushu-kai/high-touch-kai)
Again, pretty self-explanatory. Here you get the 'reward' of shaking hands with your favourite member or the entire group or getting a high-five from your favourite member or the group. Or selected members only, depending on how the event is set up (if it's the entire group or only a few members).
Sometimes a high-five session can be in combination with what is called 見送り which is the practice of 'seeing off' fans as they leave a venue for example.
If a handshake or high-five session is slated as part of a tokutenkai, it usually gives fans time to talk to their favourite member or members of the group for a specific period of time. There will be a time keeper to prevent people from talking forever or from hogging specific members of the group.
Just as with the autograph sessions, do not be surprised if people get a little rough (not physically but verbally) as they move you along because some fans just can't be sensible people and patience wears thin as time passes. So please be understanding when people just bark "NEXT" at you (some people don't listen otherwise).
Also, there will usually be some kind of 'barrier' between the artists and yourself, such as a table or counter or sometimes. This is to prevent fans from getting a little too enthusiastic, so it's a bit of a safety measure for the artists.
[Handshakes and High-Fives are a mixed bag for me. I am not super into touching people a whole lot, especially if a whole bunch of other people have touched them as well (lol that sounds wrong). And this was before the whole pandemic already. I just enjoy the chance to talk to them. And I can talk to them even without them holding onto my hand awkwardly or something like that. Although admittedly, this has led to some interesting situations before. Let's just say usually it's the fans who walk by and shake (quickly squeeze) the hand offered to them but some groups actually to 'proper' handshakes, where they take your hand with both of their own and hold it. And sometimes the guys have too much to say and they're not letting go of your hand. Which then leads to awkward standoffs with the staff lol.]
☆ Photo Ops (or チェキ会 cheki-kai)
Cheki-kai are probably the most (in-)famous kind of tokutenkai in the underground idol world. And when people talk about "buppan" after an event, this is usually what they are talking about.
To participate in the cheki-kai you need to purchase cheki-tickets. Or photo-tickets, depending on how the group does things.
1. cheki (small, polaroid style/instax pictures)
2. smartphone photos
The more economic option for groups is to take pictures using the fans' own smartphones (no filters, normal camera only). However some groups do not want to use this as pictures can be spread around more easily or can be altered more easily. There's also no physical item to be kept as a memory (but I think this reason is a bit more secondary). Another reason might also be efficiency, as phones have to be handed over and handed back, while cheki-cameras are managed by the staff.
Cheki- or photo-tickets usually cost between 1000-1500 yen for 1, depending on the group. In the underground circuit it is usually 1000 yen. Groups with bigger fans will limit the amount of pictures you can take at one time (usually to 5) but groups seldomly limit the overall amount of tickets you can purchase (unless there is a strict time limit for the venue).
Depending on the groups there might be limitations regarding poses and other rules such as "no presents" or "no props". In the underground circuit the rule of thumb is usually the less popular a group, the more relaxed the rules. With very minor groups, the boys can get a bit, let's say 'adventurous' and 'bold', in order to leave an impression and to get people interested.
Other rules may include the posting of pictures online on social media. Some groups do not want their pictures to be spread, others actively encourage it. So please make sure to check the rules before you do something. The rules will usually be specified before you take your first picture (smaller groups will recognize you as a first-time fan aka a new face).
If you'd like to see an example of how a cheki-kai works (albeit unrealistic because they're doing it in private, usually you do it in front of all the other waiting people), you can check out these two YouTube videos:
As a lot of comments also pointed out, this is not a super accurate depiction of how an event would go. And you cannot expect all groups to give you this much fanservice. Some groups are more lenient and open than others.
No matter what, make sure to find out what the rules are and follow the rules!
In general, cheki-kai will work like this:
1. Purchase cheki tickets (usually there is no limit as to how many you can buy but there might be a time limit how long after the live portion of the event you are able to purchase the tickets)
2. Get in line to take the cheki. Groups usually have a "BEGINNING OF THE LINE" and "END OF THE LINE" sign which people standing in line are asked to hold (and then pass on as the line moves forward), so that people can get in line without too much trouble. If there is more space available there might be lines for each individual member. So you need to find the line of the member you want to take a cheki with.
3. Wait for your turn and then a staff member will ask you to come forward and give them your cheki ticket. They will confirm with you who you want to take the cheki with (you can only choose 1 member per turn) and how many cheki you can take (usually the maximum number per turn is 5, then you have to get back in line - there is no limit as to how many times you can line up again in theory but it all comes down to how much time there is and how many other people there are in line).
4. When it's your turn you can walk up to the member you're taking cheki with. If there are set poses they will ask you. If it's 'free poses' you can either request one or just leave it up to the member you're taking the cheki with. While you're taking cheki and waiting for them to print you can chat with them.
5. Once all your cheki have printed, the member will hand them to you and thank you for coming and then you need to move on and make way for the next person. If it's not too busy, you can re-take a cheki that did not turn out well but usually you just have to take it as it is.
[Cheki-kai are really fun and I usually have a good time if things are well planned out. However I have been to events where the planning was pretty poor and there have been instances where neither my friends nor myself could get cheki with the people we wanted because lines were just that crazy and not well managed. Some groups have great systems, others do NOT. But getting to talk to the guys is really fun and worth the time and money - in my opinion.]
☆ Live, Private Video Chats (ライブトーク live talk)
This form of tokutenkai is relatively new. In the underground circuit it is being promoted by the YouTube streaming show ASOVIVA and the talks are done through an app called TalkPort.
TalkPort slots can come in different lengths and at different pricing, depending on the popularity of the participating groups but it's quite pricey in comparison with other tokutenkai in the industry.
A 2 minute private talk will cost you about 3000 yen.
(5 minutes go for 7500 or up to 10,000 yen)
Sounds expensive but looking at it from a fan perspective, it's actually not 'all that bad' if you consider other factors. The first factor is that getting the chance to talk to your favourite member in more major fandoms is by far more expensive (e.g. even in actor fandom, getting the chance to meet them up close and personal often requires purchases of multiple goods and you easily have to spend 10,000 yen or more).
The second factor is that this talk is absolutely private, it is just you and the member you are talking to, live via smartphone video call.
[Two minutes can also be very short or very long, depending on how you approach the situation. I can tell you, some two minutes can stretch for eternity while the next two minutes feel like mere seconds. 5 minutes is quite a long time and you can get a LOT of talking done!]
Finally, your groups will most likely earn more money with these live talks than they would with a cheki-kai, which is the only other option where you can get up to 2 minutes with any member. They don't have to pay for the cheki-film and the live talks are done via smartphones (sometimes their own phones even but the app protects their privacy).
So especially at times like these, when groups are making little to no income due to the pandemic, this is a good way to support your group or your boy(s).
Other options such as 'with LIVE' have popped up as well and are used by a couple of groups in the underground circuit. Pricing here seems a bit steeper than on TalkPort but it might depend on the individual groups. Popular groups seem to come at about 5000 yen per 2 minutes, while less popular artists will cost you 2000 yen for 2 minutes (even smaller, less popular artists even go for 1000 yen for 5 minutes).
[I've really come to like these talk events. Getting to chat in private is really fun and you can talk about anything and nothing and whatever. It's really nice to build more rapport with the guys and create a real sense of something that is akin to friendship even though it is still very much an artist-fan relationship.
While I do enjoy the talks, they can sometimes make me super nervous still. But that might just be a personal thing. Talking to people does not come easy to me but with the guys I have talked to up until now, it's been good. They know how to make a conversation fun and relaxing so even with limited language skills, I was able to have a good time and I am planning to do this again in the future when the opportunity presents itself.]
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