For those who are planning to go TMC, here are some things to observe:

 

 

1)    Please do not make noise outside TMC.   The only exception being when they enter or exit the vehicles.  When they exit the vehicles in the morning, you may call out, not loudly,  "Ohayogozaimasu!  xx-kun".  When they enter the vehicles or when the vehicles exit the TMC area, you may say "Otsukaresama", of course once again, in a normal tone.

 

2)    If when a car enters, you are standing at the back, please do not attempt to squeeze upfront or push the people in front of you.  If you happened to be upfront, please do try to bend down your body a bit.  There have been reports of people upfront being “scolded” by Japanese fans at the back, who said that they couldn’t see anything.

 

3)    You may not approach them, nor try to pass things to them either directly or through any workers at TMC. That includes the security guards, the managers, the cafe owner and the waitress. 

 

4)    Please do not attempt to take pictures, whether it’s using cameras or handphones.  Do not use handphones when you are in the cafe.

 

5)    There is a 10 pm curfew.  TMC is situated in a residential neighborhood, so the 10 pm curfew is to prevent fans from disturbing the neighbors. Also, there is a sign posted by the police department of that neighborhood right next to the TMC sign out front where fans stand, clearly stating that they want those gathered in front of TMC to be quiet at all times. Frankly speaking, a lot do not stick to the 10 pm curfew (even Japanese fans themselves).  However, there are certain Japanese fans who will insist that you leave with them after 10 pm.  If this happens, please talk to them nicely, do not make a scene outside.

 

6)    Within SMAP, only Kimura-kun would accept cards or little gift from fans, if after his vehicle exit TMC, the fans have already queued up, and remained in an orderly fashion.  If he happens to be driving, he would not stop. 

 

7)    The remaining members do not accept things from fans. Please do not try and make a fool out of yourself.

 

8)    This is an unspoken rule among the Japanese fans in Tokyo, which is "no SMAP fans allowed in the cafe".  However, even though the Tokyo fans followed this rule, most of them did not stop others from entering the cafe.  And actually I’ve seen Japanese fans entering the café too.  Hence I think what’s most important is that if one does enter the café, please do not make trouble in there.  Go in, have your lunch or dinner.  If a member does enter, please do not stare at the member or attempt to talk to him.  Once you have finished your meal, leave the café.  Do not occupy the seats for hours.  And please do not attempt to enter only after you saw a member entering the café.  This is way too obvious and anyone would be pissed at the sight of this.

 

9)    If you are not clear, please ask.  There are BBS and mailing lists around and there are members there with relevant experience.  Please do not attempt to go there without sufficient knowledge.  Please do not rely on encounters reports.

 

 

 

(Thanks to paige for the contributions. And if anyone has anything appropriate to add...email me ne! Thanx!)