=LOVE (イコールラブ, イコラブ, ikorabu, eqlove)

IKONOIJOY 'offline' in-person talk event - Pacifico Yokohama 4/30

As I mentioned upthread, this event was announced after the two AKB48 Team 8 concerts that day in the same city for which I already had tickets. However as the two venues are just 500 metres apart it seemed possible for me to attend both and indeed I did.

Firstly though, on arrival at Minatomirai subway station I spotted this poster for Iori's birthday 4 days earlier:



On arrival at the venue after passing through security it was time to check the members' lane allocations:



And then I went to Lane 1 for my oshimen:

Otani Emiri



I got to Mirinya's lane just as the first slot started and she already had a very long queue. However it moved very quickly and it was soon clear that everyone had (like myself) only won one ticket each. What's more, I soon discovered that one ticket only allowed 5 seconds talk! So when I got to the front I barely had enough time to tell her that I was visiting from England and to thank her for my online signings and then I was ushered out. Also she was about a metre back from the glass screen so it wasn't exactly a close encounter with her. However it was still nice to see her reasonably closely and to say I've met her as well as to see her wearing a very pretty pink dress.

Now it was time for the first Eito concert. I'd hoped it would finished by 3pm so I could use one ticket in the 3rd slot for Ozawa Aimi of ≒JOY. However it didn't finish unitil 3.20 and the slot cut-off time was 3.30 so it was just too tight. Instead I took a slower walk to arrive for the start of the 4th slot.

Yamamoto Anna

I had 3 tickets for Anna. I told her I was visiting from England and also that I saw =LOVE perform in Tokyo in 2018 which certainly impressed her. Other than that nothing much to report, she was friendly and she was wearing an all-white outfit. Also she and the other two members I met this afternoon were much closer to the glass screens.

Oba Hana

I had 4 tickets for my second-favourite group member and she was even prettier than I expected, she had blonde hair which looked great on her and about which I complimented her. Again I told her that I was visiting from England and that she was the cutest member of the group. She was very lively and very friendly and she kept waving at me until after I'd left her booth. I had my best talk of the day with her.

Takiwaki Shoko

I applied for tickets for Shoko just in case I didn't win for anyone else, and when I won 5 for her after winning for Anna and Hana I wasn't sure I'd have time to use them in the slot but I did. She was definitely the most excited of the four members to see a foreign fan! I complimented her on her very pretty yellow Japanese dress and then I congratulated her on finishing the Tokyo Marathon. She was surprised but very happy that I knew about that and she seemed very proud of her achievement.

In the end everything went successfully but way too quickly and it was good that I had multiple tickets for the other 3 members. I later noticed that Mirinya, Iori, Maika, Hitomi and Risa each had larger booths so maybe they wanted to sit further back from fans? Anyway I had a great time and even without actual handshakes it's much better to meet members in person than online.

 

Boat Race Club - Hitomi's first expedition to Fukuoka with Director Sashihara:


if the video does not show watch the video here

'Making' video for the MV of Anna's solo song 'Okaeri, Hanadayori':


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Everyday Makeup from Mirinya:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Shokorisa's Kamakura eating tour:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

I use a website called trakt.tv to track the TV shows I'm watching and it was through that website that I learned the show is getting a 2nd season! I really enjoyed S1 so I'm looking forward to this.

 

Video posted by Mirinya of the members receiving gifts sent by Sasshi to celebrate the group's 7th anniversary:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

^Ahh I'm glad she showed this clip.

They were talking about it in showroom and I was looking forward for it.
They were so excited, especially at that moment when they almost dropped 1 and they screamed together, Staff members from their sister groups ran over to check if they are all right .

 

more of =LOVE x Sasshi content
an old show that was posted on Bilibili recently

Mei Assist Ariyoshi 230314

 

'Behind' video from Maika and Anna of the in-person fan meeting on 4/30 in Yokohama:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Shoko and Risa take a trip to the seaside at Kamakura:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Wow ! Type A is worth it as it has IKONOIJOY 2022 for both performance + Making + Sports Festival


＜商品概要＞

タイトル：イコノイジョイ 2022

SALES 発売日：2023年7月26日（水）


■TYPE A 初回仕様限定盤（スペシャルエディション） [Blu-ray3枚組]

仕様：Blu-ray

品番：VVXL-164～166

価格：15,180円（税込）

収録内容：

「昼の部：ウォーターパーティー」＋「夜の部：シャッフルパーティー」＋メイキング＋「イコノイジョイ大運動会 2022」

 

From AKB48 Honda Hitomi thread:

Hamada Song Festival / Hamada Kayousai is my favourite Japanese variety show at the moment, so I really recommend watching this!

 

Mirinya and Iori have a sushi breakfast in Hokkaido:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

^ my favourite =LOVE ship

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=LOVE's performance before Rakuten Eagles game 230520

 

"Who Understands Iori Best?" (with Mirinya and Hana):


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

https://twitter.com/equal_love_12/status/1661360147288014851

anybody care to share why their performance director Seigo is getting the boot?

 

Mirinya's Lookbook of summer coordinating outfits:


if the video does not show watch the video here

 

Iori together with Hinatazaka's Uemura Hinano will star in a drama DIY!
it will start on July 4th!

https://mbs.jp/dorama_diy/