Kenshin Manila: Rurouni Kenshin Press Conference

Only a few hours after the RK premiere night (see my blog: Kenshin Manila: Rurouni Kenshin Premiere Night), my friend and I decided to meet in Glorietta for the press conference. We’ve planned this beforehand so I prepared for this day to be my off from work. I arrived at lunchtime and fans are already lined up for the event.

while waiting for the press con, RK Kyoto Inferno trailer on the screen

Since I am alone, I was able to get the best spot to see the cast. Sadly, Emi left already so she’s not part of today’s event. Still, we are more than excited to see Director Otomo, Satoh and Munetaka one more time.

I’ve met new friends who are also kpop fans and avid anime/jpop/jdorama fans too. I love these events because I always get to add more peeps who love to do the same things as I am. My friend arrived around 4pm. After almost 6 hours of waiting, the presscon started with a breathtaking production number ~ whew to these samurai masters who displayed their skills onstage. The Rurouni Kenshin cosplayers also entertained everyone while waiting for the presscon to start. After a few more minutes, the cast is here!!!

production dance and the Rurouni Kenshin cosplayers

Takeru was smiling while waving to the crowd. Aoki is hyper again and all smiles as well as Director Keishi. My favorite Sam Oh is the host for tonight.

answering press' questions are Director Otomo, Takeru Satoh and Aoki Munetaka

They started answering questions from the press and it lasted for about 30 minutes. Five lucky fans won via the raffle draw organized beforehand and they got the signed official posters and even came up the stage and hugged Takeru and Aoki. Awesomeness everywhere!

Takeru and Aoki expressed their love to their Philippine fans by speaking in our native tongue and even saying they were really surprised to know this is Japan’s first to hold such event hoping this will only be a beginning. They even said they want to come back and greet us again! Oh, anytime please!

This is their last day in Manila since they’ll be promoting RK Kyoto Inferno and Legend Ends in various cities in Japan. I hope they’ll be back very soon and so happy that they now knew that a lot of PH fans love them.

Did he just say 'Oro'?~ ^_~

Thank you Warner Bros PH, Warner Bros Japan and everyone involved for fulfilling every fans’ happiness.

Kenshin Manila: 'Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno' Premiere Night

Rurouni Kenshin started as a manga and then became the popular anime series. Last 2012, it launched its live action and my favorite star, Takeru Satoh starred as Kenshin Himura, the Battousai / manslayer, the main character of the Samurai X series.

Rurouni Kenshin posters for: Rurouni Kenshin (first movie); Kyoto Inferno and The Legend Ends

I started as a Takeru fan when he became Mei-Chan’s best buddy in the Japanese series Mei-Chan No Shitsuji (Mei-Chan’s Butler) which also stars Hiro Mizushima. Satoh was the second lead and plays Mei-Chan’s best friend in the series. I was hooked and watched his other movies and series, too.

I’ve watched Rurouni Kenshin movie last 2012 and I knew the next will be even greater and stronger! Now, Rurouni Kenshin is back with Kyoto Inferno or the Great Fire Arc in Kyoto which portrays Kenshin’s strongest villain, Shishio Makoto. The cast is going to hold their movie premiere and press conference in several cities including Manila.

Me and my friends heard the news and thought this is really happening! Honestly, Japanese movies don’t even hold premiere nights with their artists here in the Philippines, much more this big movie! I was awed that RK has promising box office sales last time here in our country and so, this is the best gift that RK cast gave to their Filipino fans.

credits: Warner Bros PH

Warner Bros. Philippines invited the RK actors, Munetaka Aoki, Tekai Emi and Satoh Takeru to grace their Kyoto Inferno premiere night here. Director Keishi Otomo also joined them. There is also a public presscon the next day after the premiere. With this, I knew it’s going to be 2 days of fangirling.

So, me and my fangirl friend Girlie, went to check the premiere night first. The cast arrived Wednesday, Aug. 6 and a premiere procession around 4pm will be held in SM Megamall while the movie premiere starts at 8pm.

I was out early from work and went straight to Megamall arriving around 5pm. Good thing my friend got a good spot where we can take photos. We’ve tried joining all contests to win those procession passes but we’re out of luck! This is the best we can do since Warner did not even sell tickets for the fans for this premiere, I bet all fans can buy them, hey!~ no one stops a fan girl, I assure you.

The cast are being interviewed along the carpet procession (isn't Takeru's eyes and dimples so cute???') ^_~

Once there, the procession started almost past 5 but it took 30 minutes for them to arrive at the main stage because they were shaking hands with the fans, getting interviews on the spot and signing autographs to very very lucky fans. They were really nice and Takeru is so cute he can’t hide his dimples. Emi is pretty too and Munetaka is super hyper! He was the funniest that night because he got so excited to greet everyone. It seems they were surprised to see how they were warmly welcomed by their Filipino fans!~ I’m proud of Director Otomo since he was smiling all the time and I believe they really appreciated the crowd and how they are loved by the fans.

Aoki Munetaka signing autographs for the fans

Takeru Satoh even signing a fans' camera *lucky fan!*

Upon arriving on the main stage, they get to speak their Tagalog words so cutely! I’m fangirling now and all of them are soooooo cute! They answered a few questions and a photo opportunity for everyone while the cast is together onstage. After the introduction, off they went to the movie premiere area in cinema 9 so they need to move fast backstage, but of course, my friend and I were faster! Since Girlie and I ran fast backstage, we saw them soooo near and I’ve seen Emi’s very pretty face. Especially Takeru who’s super duper cute when seen very near (I’m about to faint). They were still waving to everyone while walking out and into their vehicles (maybe to go to the parking space in the 3^rd floor as an alternate route). I haven’t seen Aoki nearer because fans were all around and maybe he was just faster, too.

Director Keishi Otomo, Emi Takei, Takeru Satoh and Aoki Munetaka

Since we don’t have tickets to the premiere, we need to go now and plan our fan girl event tomorrow, at their public presscon. But as fans, we were super happy to catch a glimpse of the cast and the director. It was a wonderful night and the first day of our fangirl moments with the Rurouni Kenshin stars was one of the amazing nights of our fan life.