Attending AKB48 handshakes: how-to (work in progress)

I guess what annoys me the most is that it was more or less out of nowhere, so many foreign fans were left stranded with a bunch of CDs they can't pay. Just do some announcement and fine.

 

It’s not just anything AKB-related that has problems for foreigners, the Tokyo Skytree website has an advance reservation webpage which is only in Japanese and which will only accept Japanese credit cards. I’m wondering what will happen with the 2020 Olympics and how difficult it’ll be for foreigners to get tickets outside of limited quantities sent to overseas agencies.

 

Hell, half of Japanese websites can't manage foreigner's names. Between my bank here and all my utilities and other accounts, I have probably 4 or 5 different versions of my name because everybody has different restrictions on length and type of characters allowed. It's a real mess.

 

A few of questions:

1) I can apply for a JCB credit card at my local bank. Does it still count as having a foreign credit card?

2) Are there forms of prepaid card like Nintendo or PSN cards that they accept and we can pay with?

3) So AMEX is 100% accepted?


Thanks in advance.

 

JCB is Japanese, so yes it works. AMEX works only because its tied with JCB now. I can't say 100%, but at least I know people who are able to pay with JCB and AMEX.

For prepaid cards I was more of leaning towards Japanese chargable visa or master card. I dont know the complication in getting them but in theory if you have no prolli charging them with a foreign CC u should be able to be pay with it no problem

 

Thanks for the reply.

I have not balloted at chara ani since last year and I have paid. I have been using a Mastercard from a foreign bank. It works. I am just worried that it won't work anymore.

 

It worked last year, the creditcard-ban is effective from this single onward

 

Thanks for asking chara-ani for us. At least we can plan ahead for future singles

 

Skytree off-topic:
If you are willing to pay the extra you can use the small foreigner counter that hides in the Skytree lobby.
1. Show you passport
2. pay
3. go past the pleb queue directly to your elevator
4. enjoy your stay
Total wait time: less than 10 minutes

 

Has anyone tried Diners Club?

 

How do we plan if we can't even pay?

 

open an Amex account and use it until it gets blocked too lol
I almost applied for a 0% foreign transaction fee master card. Thank god I didn't since i won't even be able to use it

 

For example find someone in Japan who can pay for you

 

I could but I think I will wait a little while and see how the situation plays out. There's nothing that interest me at chara ani at the moment.

 

I have never tried it but someone who usually has that card has MasterCard in front of it since they partnered with them. In that case, I doubt it can be used.

 

Diners Club is owned by Discover Financial which also issues Discover Card. The later is in an alliance with JCB much the same way as Amex.

From https://www.global.jcb/en/merchants/

Note that this not about paying with Diners Club at a JCB service but the other way round but in theory it could work.

Somebody has to try ^^

 

I've tried my discover card which technically should work as a JCB card in japan but it didn't work
So.... i doubt if Diners club will work too

 

So basically, any cards they can identify as foreign cards are not usable anymore.

 

Someone said that for AKS, international fame isn't important.

WTF. They aren't aware that members would be extremely happy if they have fans outside Japan. Imagine if a member encountered a fan from Wakanda in her lane, she'd reply すごいい and make Wakanda Forever Gesture. Maybe in the future Wakanda would have not only Starbucks but also an overseas 48 group.

How about 46? Can still buy handshakes with foreign credit card? Fans from a galaxy far far away would be angry because they couldn't have handshakes with Yoda anymore then they'd send Death Star and make Earth another Alderaan.