When my friends in Tokyo informed me that Minayo Watanabe from the great Onyanko Club was going to give a concert in Tokyo, I immediately packed my bags and headed out across the Pacific. I never got to see Minayo in concert before and I knew that I would never forgive myself if I missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

When I got to the gig (actually a disco with a stage), it was already filled with tons of fans dancing to classic idol songs being played by DJs. On the far left long wall, four big screens were playing old, classic idol video clips, mostly from television appearances (natsukashi!!). One screen featured Minayo exclusively. Lots of Onyanko Club clips of course. My friends, who are heavy metal fans (and consequently, quite confused at my "otakuness"), constantly had to ask me who was singing and what the song was.

I must admit that, with all the Onyanko fans that showed up, I felt just a little bit like an amateur! These guys were HARDCORE! Specially-made Minayo and Onyanko Club jackets were all over the place. And yes, even light up hats. I've been called "America's #1 miha", but I couldn't compare with these guys! I salute them.

When the lights went out, the crowd rushed the stage. I was lucky enough to secure a place at the front. Minayo came out wearing a nice black dress and sang her signature song "Hitomi ni Yakusoku". The crowd went nuts and did the "Minayo" yell during key points of the song. She then continued to do songs from the early part of her career including "Pink no Chao" and "Too Adult". After a brief intermission that was filled-in by her back-up dancers, she came back out wearing a black top and matching black shorts. More classic Minayo songs including "Girls on the Roof". Another change ­ this time into a nice frilly red dress to do a medly of mid-career Minayo ­ "Chotto Fallin' Love", "Daite Ageru", "Ii ja Nai" and "Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall".

Another intermission and clothes change, and Minayo did her tribute to the Onyanko Club. Pulling 4 girls from the audience, they did the classic "Sela Fuku o Nugasanai de". Since practically everybody in Japan knows this song, everyone onstage knew their parts ­ even the moves. A few words about her marriage and she went into the Onyanko Club's "Wedding Dress", followed by her own "Hanako no Kekkon". After another short break, Minayo raffled off some autographed items including her "29" t-shirt! For those who don't know, 29 was Minayo's number in the Onyanko Club.

Minayo closed the set by again singing the classic "Hitomi no Yakusoku". An encore was of course inevitable and to the shock of the crowd she brought out one of her old compatriots from the Onyanko Club ­ member #32 Susan Kumiko Yamamoto. Apparently, Yukiko "Yuuyu" Iwai was supposed to show up also, but was still recuperating from recently having a baby.

And after much coaxing from the audience, Minayo came out for a final encore ­ she asked the audience what they wanted to hear and it was unanimous ­ "Hitomi no Yakusoku"! Yep, again. But it was great. It was what her fans wanted to hear and she gave it to them. Nobody wanted the show to end.

I must say that in all the gigs I've been to (around 500 I think, mostly metal and hardcore punk), this was the happiest concert I've ever seen! A great time had by all! Onyanko Club forever!

A very big, special thanks again to Yumiko Nakamura and Ami Kondo for making this possible! Honto ni domo arigato!