I’ve only casually mentioned it before, but it’s actually happening — the pieces are falling into place for the Japan trip I’ve been talking about for what feels like a lifetime. Dates aren’t locked down in permanent ink yet, but the blueprint is there: three weeks, late October into mid-November, Tokyo as the main focus with equal parts cultural deep dive and full-on anime pilgrimage mode (yes, Love Live is absolutely on the list). And then, because the universe apparently thrives on chaos, and impeccable timing, the 15th Anniversary live in Nagoya gets announced…and just like that, my carefully structured plan immediately pivoted.
To be fair, the dates shifting doesn’t actually derail anything I’ve been building — it just means extending the trip a few extra nights and carving out time for Nagoya. The Tokyo-heavy plan would remain intact. The cultural stuff? Still happening. The pilgrimages? Obviously still happening. This is just… adding one more layer.
And let’s be real: I would not be a very good Love Live fan if I didn’t at least try to get into a 15th Anniversary live while I’m already planning to be in Japan at the same time. Yes, technically last year marked the actual 15th anniversary, but logistics and scheduling are their own beasts. The point is, it’s happening — and I’m going to shoot my shot. But I’m also realistic, these lotteries are or can be brutal. The competition is intense, and overseas fans are basically throwing their names into the same storm as everyone else. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m going to try anyway. Aggressively, and if by some miracle I get that ticket? You genuinely could not script a better finale to a first Japan trip as a fan of the franchise than ending it surrounded by every generation of Love Live sharing one stage. That would be the kind of full-circle, emotional damage (the good kind) ending you remember forever.
If I manage to get a ticket for either night — or somehow the universe decides to go full main-character arc and lets me into both — I’ll absolutely write about it here. Just… give me time to emotionally recover first. I already know that’s not going to be a “post the next morning” situation, it’s going to be a sit-stare-at-the-wall-and-process-what-just-happened kind of experience.
And honestly? It would make the perfect final chapter in what will be a full series documenting this whole trip, concert or not. I’m talking everything — the whole journey from spreadsheet mode to touchdown back home; I’m taking you along for the ride as I finally take that dream trip that’s been years in the making. So, content, of course. Memories, absolutely.
If Nagoya happens, that’s not just a side quest, that’s the emotional finale.
I hope you win that lottery!