Reading these reports from everybody, I get the feeling that lots of things are happening out there. In 1997, there was a couple who got married after sharing time together through FRF, and it would be no surprise if there were couples who broke up during that same time, ha! Also, there are some friends who I happen to see at FRF like an annual event or some kind. Some people have come and gone through as fujirockers.org staff (though we didn't call ourselves so back then), I sometimes wonder what they are doing with themselves now.
Anyhow, all the reports are really interesting and helpful. So we are still accepting your FRF experiences. Please send as much as you can. Please e-mail ORG-master. The word count should total no more than 400-1000 characters in Japanese, or 180-450 words in English. Please title your e-mail with subject of "FRF report".
This time Mari sent us her experience. Mari, please don't give up coming to FRF only because you start working this year. There are all sorts of old folks (myself included) who look forward to FRF every year. The older crowd seems to be increasing every year as well. Now, if they can do it, can't you? Taking a vacation is a privilege for all workers (even though I don't think it's actually being supported wholeheartedly by the bosses of Japan). But at least once a year you should take time to rejuvenate your body and soul.
We also received an experience from Kuro-jin. I remember that there were a lot of hot springs around Naeba. Actually, it's been a yearly event for the org staff to stop by at a hot spring after FRF. Unfortunately, we can't go there before FRF though.
Reported by ORG-master and translated by ORG-yuko and ORG-kaoriwith a help of ORG-jason (March 28, 2002)
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Around10 days before FRF last year, I was talking on the phone to my friend about the festival. We were chatting about how it was going to be, even though we hadn't decided to go yet. EMINEM and TOOL were coming for their first live performances in Japan, not to mention OASIS and KURURI (japanese band), too. More and more, the FRF became regular part of our telephone conversations.
Then the next day, I bought 2 tickets for the last day of the festival. We made up our mind to go to Naeba, which is about 600 km round trip by car. Two females, and I'm the only driver. My other friends were saying that we should take our boyfriends. They doubted if we could make it on our own. This was our final year as students and we decided to make this an experience to remember. Since we had heard a lot about the Fuji magic (fun!), we wanted to feel the real magic first-hand. In order to make some money for the highway fee, we sold our used clothes in the flea market the day before the departure.
My car was running very smoothly, but Naeba was so far from where I live and even cold. We saw many fujirockers at the Kan-etsudo parking area. Feeling the beats of our heart and the scent of the nature, we finally arrived at Naeba around 2 a.m. Felt like showing Peace Signs! I felt a peaceful atmosphere there. Seeing the Prince Hotel in front of us, we drove into the parking lot. Finally, we arrived in Naeba. From out of nowhere, we heard the music and people's voices. Since it was a long drive, I was tired, so I calmed myself down and slept in the car. I wondered what would happen the next day.
The heat! I woke up by the heat of the sun. I went outside and immediately realized the smell of nature, which I had forgotten for so long during my daily life. I was glad that I had come. I washed my face and brushed my teeth with fresh water. It was so nice. The 3rd day hasn't started yet, but what was this feeling!?
Many fujirockers were arriving, and I was getting excited. Blue mountains. They must have been happy to see us here. I decided to meet my e-mail friend whom I met through the BBS. At first I called her cell phone. We talked and talked. It was much more interesting to talk to her in person rather than chatting on email. I wondered how many people have the same kind of experience.
We enjoyed the Green stage mainly. We stood rooted to the spot watching TOOL, danced like a child listening to EMINEM. At the Rookie a Go-Go stage, there was a group called "Cockroach". They were from my hometown and I had been a fan of theirs since High school. I never thought they would perform at FRF. They looked great after not seeing them for a while. Their performance was so much better than before that I got goose bumps. I wanted to tell my friends. The "cock" sound was banging around the night of Naeba. When we were about to leave the Rookie a Go-Go stage, a boy spoke to my friend who was wearing "Cockroach" T-shirt. We talked about FRF and "Cockroach" while walking to the parking lot. It was almost over. Promising to see him next year as well, we said good bye.
I drove my BBS friend to the Echigo Yuzawa station. It was 4 am in the morning when we saw two boys way down the sidewalk holding a board asking to drive to Tokorozawa. Since we were going to pass Tokorozawa, we decided to give them a ride. I heard that they had kept staying at the front row of the Green Stage to see EMINEM from early in the morning. In the car, EMINEM's RAP was played softly, which put us in a calm mood. We didn't talk much.
"Are you guys students?"
"We are 'freeter' (part-time jobber)."
They didn't talk about themselves much, but I felt somehow that we had the same feeling as we were fujirockers.
It was almost dawn, and I was rubbing my eyes as I was driving. Even though the 3 people sleeping soundly next to me, I kept driving, giving way to the vigorous truck drivers. I pulled over the car at the parking area near the boys' destination. They gave me a canned juice in return for driving and then went back to their daily life -back to the real world... Hot sunlight was shining.
The summer of 2001, FRF. There are too many memories that it's hard to talk about them all. I wonder what those hitchhikers and the "cockroach" boy are doing now. Also, "How are you doing, my BBS friend Hiroko?"
The FRF pictures were developed, showing clearly the sun tan-tattoo which the Heineken lady patched on my arm. We all have easygoing smiles, and stupid faces. I want to go to FRF this year too!
...But it might be impossible 'cause I'm going to start working this year.
letter from Maki (March 27, 2002)
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I went to FRF 2000 and 2001. I will talk about my journey to FRF in 2000.
I took the 5 a.m. train (earlier than the very first train) arriving at Echigo Yuzawa at 9:30 p.m. I experienced so many things then. I enjoyed some "Ekiben (a box lunch sold at railway stations)", and got excited watching the beautiful natural scenery. Also, I got off the train several times to enjoy as much as I could before arriving at FRF (Naeba). Everybody, don't miss having "Ekiben"!
I got off at the station called Echigo Kawaguchi to transfer to the train to Echigo Yuzawa, but I missed the train the conductor told me to get on (it was not only 1 minute left to transfer to the other train, but also the platform I should have moved was far away). Also, since it was in the countryside, I had to wait for half an hour for the next train.
When I was at a loss, the station staff told me about a nearby hot spring. Yes, in Niigata there are many hot springs! I forgot such an important thing. The train station kept my belongings and I relaxed in the hot spring and got ready for the next day's FRF. It was the best hot spring I have ever experienced in my whole life.
But more than that, the station staff's kindness healed me (of course he was on duty, but I treated him beer). Perhaps this hot spring kept me healthy without any injuries and helped me survive for three days.
For all the people coming from long way to Naeba, try to enjoy the journey before arriving at FRF!! Also, keep yourself healthy!! It's a pity if you catch a cold.
Thank you.
letter from Kuro-jin (March 27, 2002)
