Friday 10 January 2014

Joining JOHNNY's FC as an international fan!


How many of you don't want to be a member of your fave JE band?
The thing is, as most JE things are, it's not easy to get it if you live outside Japan.
JE recently opened up their mobile page for foreign fans. But still to be a "normal" member - which means you get your FC card, FC newsletters and can ballot for shows and concerts, you need to know someone, physically, living in Japan to help you.
Don't forget to respect the rules of JE! I know all of us wants to be fan club members but do it the good and approved way!!

Some have been saying they are afraid to have more than one membership to their address unless it's a different FC. But the thing is, from what I have heard, JE do not care about the address, they care about the name! AND how you use your membership - that will say for your OWN private fan use!
Therefore, if you have a good friend who's already a member, she/he CAN help you out.
It is okay to use same phone number as well. JE do not really look at that. Unless you register more than 2 memberships.
I have heard of others who have helped others out and used same address and no problem.
As they have done it for their friends and not sold tickets on yahoo, ticket.jp or other so I guess that's also why JE do not bother.

Still JE is JE, so if they see that one address has 10 memberships, then yes, sooner or later it will become a YELLOW and RED flag! So do respect the rules!!
I do NOT recommend services from others, you have no idea who they are. Only trust your friends!!
You DO NOT want to get in trouble with the law.

And the address can be changed as many times as needed, but limited to once a month.. or you can also contact JE for special occasions.

More info what's needed will be presented further down...

1. JE FC Fee:
Membership registation (one time): 1000 yen
Annual fee: 4000 yen
Don't forget to deposit this money once a year... you will receive an email saying it's time. But if you forget to do so, you'll need to contact JE.

photo @ Johnny's net
You need to go to Japan Post to register.
After you register it can take some time before you get the first FC stuff sent to you. But be patient.
As you know there are many people in Japan and JE is popular, it takes time to process everything.
This paper is what you need to fill in, each FC has a different account so if you want to be member or more than one you need to fill in one form for each. 

photo @ Johnny's net


JE always uses accounts belonging to Japanese Post. Japan post also has a bank.
All instructions needed to enter you can find it in English HERE
Go to Johnny's net main site to access it in Chinese and Korean.

2. EMAIL and FC bulletins/tickets
So the tricky part is this...
JE do not send emails to "free email accounts", such as gmail, hotmail, yahoo.
Which is usually no problem for Japanese people, as they usually use their "mobile phone email" which is a paid one as people pay for the phone contract.
So please try to see if you have another address you can use, like a university email or so. I'd avoid work email as JE tends to send out a lot and I'm not sure which company would like that.

When it comes to ballot concert tickets - all go through paperwork.
They usually send an email with the same info, but when it's time to pay, everything is done the old way, this is also why you need a person physically in Japan. Online you have probably seen the ballot forms, To enter the ballot these should be sent in with your FC details and your wishes for the ballot. Such as venue, days, amount of tickets.

For shows - you can use email and apply online. But remember to check your email and phone. As they might contact you in short notice. There are many rules about the shows as well, so before entering, please read them. This is also why it's good if you have a friend who knows Japanese!

These days, because there have been many scams and re-selling of tickets..
JE has been taken actions. So, when balloting for tickets of any kind, you do not only you need to state your name, IF you want to bring friends (eg concert/show) you have to state their names too!!



3. Address in Japan
Compare to other countries Japan is strict with the mails.
If the name is NOT on the postbox they will not leave any kind of mails there. So when do your registration, DON'T forget to put C/O and your friend's name.
This can also be used if you are about to move and you know the ballot for tickets will start soon. Because if JE do not find you now, it could lead to some trouble.

Eg.
Your name (as it's ur membership)
C/O Your friends name
Address

In Japanese it could then look something like this, Let's say your name is Anna and your friend is called Sato in Last name...
アンナ様
佐藤
東京、新宿区、西新宿2-43-XXX
〒XXX-YYY

"" = C/O
In Japanese it would be "friend's name方"
As long as you have the C/O, they will leave your FC stuff in your friends postbox!



4. Do remember..
Although you can put C/O () on an address.
I also believe it's about being street smart. What I wanted to share if that, if you have a friend somewhere in Japan willing to help you. Then why not ask?! By saying this, to ballot etc it does take time, so be sure to explain it to your friend in case they are not into JE.
Also, JE do check the memberships now and then, if X has 10 memberships of the same FC, that will say one own and 9 c/o JE might check it up.
As you know the law is strict in Japan, so be aware, you don't want the FEDs to show up at your friend's door.

31 comments:

Unknown said...

wow! i find this post really helpful! please do continue with the rest of it! i would love to learn more as im planning to join the FC myself. thank you for this :D

darkiller said...

wow that was really interesting info, thank you! though i doubt I'd be joining the FC anytime in the foreseeable future, its nice to know how it can be done.

charis said...

Hi, i want to know further on the ballot website, is it in JE official website?

I have a friend who helped me register as member, but i still do not know how do i go about for balloting and when should i do so

charis said...

Hi, i am new to JE membership, i just registered through my friend last year.

I am so unclear on how to ballot for tickets...
Can i do it via the JE website? Or i have to request my friend to do it via post?
Appreciate your advise to clear my questions

charis said...

And when can i start to ballot for the tickets? When is it usually open for balloting?

C-Line said...

@Michelle Well it's not much more to tell, because I only have it to be able to ballot for concert tickets as I think resales are way to expensive and also a rip-off!!
I wish JE change system but that's how it is. :(

@darkiller happy you liked it. :)


@Charis if you are a member you can access the online fc community. That's where you also can find videos from Arashi now and then. Also ballot for tickets to shows and also find info how to ballot for Concerts. JE usually sends out emails saying what dates specific things are open for balloting.

As for shows I think it's ok to do it online. I'm not sure about concert tickets. My friend always told me she went to a Japan Post office and made the request/deposition to ballot for concerts.

charis said...

Ooo....
So we cannot ballot for the tickets online... I'm afraid that i have to trouble my friend to do it for me via post then...

Thanks for your prompt reply...

C-Line said...

@charis It might be possible to ballot online, I'm not 100% sure as my friend has always done everything for me. However in the end, if you hit and get con tickets you will need to go to Japan post and pay.

Gina said...

Hai,,i just read your post and hope you would give me some advice since i got some trouble.. I've already registered to JE FanClub with my name and using my friend's address and telepohone number.. But since we didn't know that Japan's Mail is strict (and since i didn't read your blog earlier) we didn't put the C/O name.. And now the post office send a notification to my friends because there's mail from
JE with my name on it but they won't send it because my name is not registered on my friends's address.. Is it possible to take the mail directly to the post station? And is it possible to add the C/O name by update the registered information? Thanks so much for your help.

C-Line said...

@Gina -
You can change this online with your JE account, Go to your Upage and registration. it takes a few minutes. :)

Gina said...

Sorry for the late reply.. Thanks so much for your help..

lioncubby said...

Hello,

I know this post is kinda old, but I really hope you could help me. I am currently living in Japan as an exchange student for 4 months and a half in Toyama. This summer, there is a Kanjani8 tour and I was really hoping to go there. The thing is :
- If I stay approximately five months, should I put my current adress ?
- I don't have a japanese phone number so is it really ok to put someone else number ?
- If I put my name with someone else adress, can I still pay by myself or do the other person has to pay for me ?

I know it is a lot of questions but I am really desperate right now haha. Looking through Johnnys.net gave me a headache and I felt like everything is impossible.

Thank you very much

Lisa

lioncubby said...

Hello,

I know this post is kinda old, but I really hope you could help me. I am currently living in Japan as an exchange student for 4 months and a half in Toyama. This summer, there is a Kanjani8 tour and I was really hoping to go there. The thing is :
- If I stay approximately five months, should I put my current adress ?
- I don't have a japanese phone number so is it really ok to put someone else number ?
- If I put my name with someone else adress, can I still pay by myself or do the other person has to pay for me ?

I know it is a lot of questions but I am really desperate right now haha. Looking through Johnnys.net gave me a headache and I felt like everything is impossible.

Thank you very much

Lisa

C-Line said...

Hi Lisa,

It's hard to say because your situation is quite different from others I have heard from.
Let me try to respond to your questions below..

- If I stay approximately five months, should I put my current adress ?
I'm not sure if you can create a membership with that short timeframe as it's a monthly fee.

- I don't have a japanese phone number so is it really ok to put someone else number ?
I believe the number and address should match.

- If I put my name with someone else adress, can I still pay by myself or do the other person has to pay for me ?
I'm not sure about the rules how you pay. My friend handle all things for me. If you have a japanese friend, ask if Japanese banks allows it.
Maybe it works if you put your name on the membership and C/O your friend's address..
I mean technically the membership is then in your name :)

lioncubby said...

Thank you very very much ! You are helping me a lot.
So, just some more questions.. (sorry to bother you).
If I put my name with my Japanese friends address and phone number it would work right ? I just have to put C/O and my friend address right ?
And once you entered the fanclub can you unsubscribe ?
And finally, if my friend enter the fanclub by herself can she get ticket for me (let say with my name or not) but without going to the concert with me ?

I think it is really complicated x)

C-Line said...

Hi Lisa,

I will try to reply.

If I put my name with my Japanese friends address and phone number it would work right ? I just have to put C/O and my friend address right ?
Yes, Your name C/O Friend's name and address.

And once you entered the fanclub can you unsubscribe ?
Yes, you pay for a year. So I guess if you stop paying you are out.

And finally, if my friend enter the fanclub by herself can she get ticket for me (let say with my name or not) but without going to the concert with me ?
Yes she can. Note: When she ballots she will write down names of who is attending in case she wins (JE rule) I have never seen them check. But do not worry.
I guess it's for reselling purpose, in case they do check..heard they actually have, if it says a man's name and it's all girls, I guess there will be a question. but other than that...fine :)

Hope it solved some of your concerns!

lioncubby said...

Thank you so much for your help !! You did help me a lot !!

Anonymous said...

Hi! Just came across your post. I'm a newly joined fc member. would like to ask about email addresses. I keep having issues trying to load the link that was sent to my email to validate the new email address. Have you come across/ heard of such an issue before?

C-Line said...

Hi @Anonymous(May 22),

Yes it happened to me, in the end I changed email to a "paid" one.
JE do not allow gmail, yahoo, hotmail, msn etc.
This might be the issue. I had trouble with some "paid" ones too. But once JE recognize it, it should not be a problem.
You have probably used an email address JE do not "allow".

Anonymous said...

Hello! Thanks for the prompt reply! How do you get a 'paid' email address?

C-Line said...

Hi sweetierain,

Well it depends, e.g. when I was a student I used my student email.
as it belonged to my uni, it was a special uni email so university "paid".
I know some phone companies have emails. Maybe you can check with yours?
I hope this gives you an idea.

Anonymous said...

Okies thanks! This really helped alot!

Par said...

Hi!! Thank you for sharing many information.
I would like to ask more about address changing.
I used my friend's address and put C/O her name. Now she's already moved to new address. If I change the registered address in member site, will my friend have to do anything?

C-Line said...

@Par just update on the website and it should be fine.
She doesn't have to do anything. If a letter is sent during the address change the letter should go back to Johnnys and you'd receive an email saying the address is invalid and ask you to change it. Once updated they will re-send it.

Par said...

C-line Thank you so much!!!
I had been worried for some time because I didn't want to bother my friend.
You are my hero <3

Amnos1999 said...

Hi, great that I saw this post. I have joined Arashi fan club using my friend's address and handphone number. Recently she has moved and change her handphone number. I wanted to update the address and handphone via Johnnys web. But when I read the instruction, it states we need to change our password before we can update our address. When changing our password, a pin code will be sent to the registered handphone number. As my friend has also change her handphone number, I can't change the password, let alone the address. Can anyone help me? Or is there other ways whereby I can update the address and handphone number? Thanks in advance!

Amnos1999 said...

Hi, great that I saw this post! I have joined the Arashi fan club using my friend’s address in Japan. Recently she has moved and changed her handphone number. I wanted to update the address and handphone number via Johnny's web. But from the website, I have read that we need to change our password before we can change our address. When changing our password, a pin code will be sent to the registered handphone number. As my friend has also change her handphone number, I can’t change my password, let alone the address. Can anyone help on this? Or is there other ways to update the address and handphone number? Thanks in advance!!!

C-Line said...

@Amnos1999 Hi, thank you for your comment, I'd suggest your friend to call the FC and ask for support.

Amnos1999 said...

Thanks for your reply!

Unknown said...

Can you help me register for my hsj fc before 31/3?

C-Line said...

Hi Unknown,
Apologies I wasnt able to reply on time, I have had a busy schedule. For FC, you should have info in English on Johnny's net or be able to contact FC directly. I hope you solved it.