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Thanks for your replies! It was a blast! Although it finished too late for me to go back to Aichi, so I'm staying at a hotel XD I don't regret it at all though!

I actually went to Kacha's ochakai. Granted this was two years ago and things may have changed, but...

-There is a goods/pictures sale before the ochakai during the reception time. For Kacha's events you can buy goods on the spot (name stickers, etc), but will have to special order photos, which will be sent by mail several weeks later. Do you live in Japan? If not, it may be best to have any pictures you order sent to a friend's address.

-When I went to Kacha's ochakai, pictures with Kacha by table was in the middle, and handshaking was at the very end. Your experience may vary.

-As for the no pictures rule...for smaller clubs, sometimes there will be an small window of opportunity during the ochakai for everyone to take pictures of the sienne. The club will always announce this. Kacha did a few minutes of posing for us, but this was several years ago and I don't know how big her ochakai have grown or whether this continues. In short, if you see EVERYONE at the ochakai suddenly pull out their cameras and start taking pictures, it's okay.

-In regards to what to wear, I'd dress nicer than ripped jeans and a t-shirt, but how much above that is up to you.

Anyway, have fun! Kacha is such a sweetheart.

> I read the description of ochakai in the Takawiki glossary, but could people who have gone to ochakai before tell me if there are any unwritten rules or not so obvious things I should know? It says to get there early, but how early is early? Also, what do people usually wear? I have no idea XD I mean, obviously dressing nicely is expected I would assume....but I'm not too knowledgable about fashion and I don't want to over or under dress for the occasion....
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> Oh, and in case people are wondering, it's Nagina Ruumi's ochakai.
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> Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Ochakai tend to be an opportunity for the fans to get dressed up, so a lot of women wear something lovely--the younger girls in the latest fashion, older women in their kimono. But that's certainly not true for everyone. I've seen jeans, and I've seen people come straight from work in their suits. So, wear what will be comfortable for you.

Unwritten rules include not taking pictures, as the user above mentioned, and often you should not eat the sweets until a certain time. (Just follow what the majority do, often it's during picture time, if they are doing table photos.) Similarly, there is usually a toast by the 'sienne to open the ochakai, so you shouldn't drink your tea before then. (If it's crazy hot, there are always exceptions...)

Some 'sienne take pictures, some do not. Some do handshakes during the ochakai, some on the way out, some not at all. Check the little rules sheet they give you when you go in; the club will usually tell you if they want letters and presents dropped off at the registration table before the ochakai or whether you can give them to the 'sienne directly.

Ochakai can be very different depending on the 'sienne and their staff, so it's hard to give you any real advice other than to have fun! I know some members of the LJ commuity have been to Kacha's ochakai before, so they may have more useful advice. :)

Hi! It's nice to know that you're going to an ochakai! I love the ochakais!!!!

There's nothing in special that you need to know or do in the ochakai. You don't need a special dress or anything, unless you want to go dressed up. Pick anything you like that that's the best.

It's important to know that you should never never never never take pics during the ochakai. It's very very serious in Japan, so don't try to take even a single pic. Before the ochakai starts, it is ok to take photos!

About the time, the ochakais usually starts around 8 pm, but the uketsuke time (registration time) is usually one hour before. However, if you have time, get there like one hour and half or two hours before it starts. In ochakais, they sell lots of goods, so you can take your time and take a look at it! ;)

Can you understand Japanese? If you can, it will be much easier, since you will know the time for each activity, as for example, akushu (hold hands with the sienne), question time, and others. But if you can't understand Japanese, just do what the others are doing :)

Try not to do anything different from the others during the ochakai. We're foreigners, so we already stand out too much >o<

Well, I hope I could help!!

Enjoy yourself!!!