My theory is that they're sending this to those fans who still paid higher fees (the fees became cheaper when TA went global), but got fewer magazines than members used to before, so they're compensating for it now. I'm pretty sure they're not just sending this to whoever put a Japanese address in the profile.

As I said, I think to "qualify" for these magazines you have to had registered during March-September 2014 (and fees were still more expensive at that time). I quoted TA in my precious post here so I'd appreciate it if someone could confirm if my assumption is correct.

And I think that's also the reason why they only posted the info in Japanese. The membership used to be for "Japan only" (though you could still apply using tenso) and the fanclub used to be entirely in Japanese, so the probably just assumed that since they were able to join TA back then they understand Japanese enough...

btw, I'm member since 2010, address at my profile japanese
but I didn't recieve this magazine...

everyone who got this magazine post only cover photo >_< can't wait to see what's inside
I saw only one page, it was sexy A ONE photoshoot

Which month did you renew your membership in 2014/2015?

March

^ maybe you'll receive it later then? Iirc they send them in batches so sometimes you might receive them later than others :)

What's the actual benefit of joining the international fan club? Do you actually get any magazines? If so, what language are they in? I was a member for a year a while a go and, from what I remember, for that whole year all I got was a tiny jigsaw and two magazines. It didn't feel worth it so I never renewed my membership.

The membership is cheaper now, so there are no physical freebies any more. Basically these days it's just ticket lottery, TA shop bonuses, sometimes prize draws (but they're not often and there's just one winner, so you're very unlikely to win). The diary is also still there, but at least they're translating all the entries in English now. Then last year they also had the preview of the Summer diary PV before everyone else, but that one was uploaded here very soon after it was available on TA.

I joined TA in Dec 2014 and have not received any magazine for free (which I aware of it).

TA is really boring now. I'd say fanclubs in general have become rather lame since social media has come around.

Everything is so attainable now that it's almost impossible to make things exclusive. And even the bonus content (extra tracks, etc.) has been few and far between.

TA could do so much more for its members. But it doesn't. But well, this all goes back to aging fans as well. Most people don't need A logo branded trinkets anymore. I certainly can't speak for everyone though haha. I know -I- don't need them now. :-p

I'd rather have more audio/video bonuses added to TA limited CDs/DVDs.

So yea, I use it for tickets now. That's all. :-/

I have to agree. It's somewhat useless that I decided to quit TeamAyu. I'm part of Room Ayaka fanclub only for the exclusive blog pictures, special photos and wallpapers, and the occasional Room Ayaka magazine sent out by mail (via Tenso for me, but right now Tenso hasn't got it yet... EDIT 4/6 - it's on its way!), and I'm part of Room Ayaka just to support Ayaka herself (despite the fact she's married and she has a baby that is slowing her music operations down).

TeamAyu, on the other hand...come out empty other than the blog pictures. Surprised about what someone said - hyping things that are to come, only to find out it's still not there yet.

Seeing more 'mobile fanclubs' though - although the one I wanted (Sayuri Sugawara/THE SxPLAY) is off-limits to those outside of Japan because it required a Japanese phone, and I don't have one...

So, yeah, in general - I'm not too fond of these so-called 'paid' fanclubs recently.

I'm a member since december 2014, I don't know if I will received the magazine....

Yeeeeeaaaah!
my package arrived to tenso! 280g

My package arrived as well! woohoo! Now I need to get it sent to me... buuut perhaps I will do some used CD shopping to fill up my tenso box first. hahahahahahaaaaaaathisissuchabadidea

I feel like these days, thanks to social media, these fan clubs need to redefine themselves. What was a fan club FOR back in the day? Bridging the gap between artist & fan. That was WHY they existed. Social media has kinda taken that responsibility though.

I think fan clubs nowadays need to go back to being "clubs." I'd love for the TeamAyu BBS to reopen, for example, in part because I think there needs to be more unity between Ayu's Japanese fans and her global fans. I think we each feel threatened by the other because of the perception that one side steals Ayu's attention at the cost of the other (which is really unfair to her). I read old TeamAyu BBS posts by ayu (the precursor to her messages) and she talks about stuff that all the other TA members seem to be talking about often, and I just feel so... I feel SO left out that I couldn't be a part of TA back then.

In Ayu's case, also, since she has such a long career, I think there are a lot of opportunities to make TA members feel special by going back and reviving old stuff. Music that never got released could be put on a TA exclusive digital music store. Old behind the scenes photos that used to be on TA could come back. You know? Stuff like that, which would help bridge the gap between Ayu and her fans, but that more casual fans really wouldn't care about. That's the kind of thing that would give the club some sense of unity, and some sense of being separate or more elite compared to casual fans.

I got an e-mail a couple of days ago about my membership renewal and I truly don't know if I'm going to renew or not. Seeing as this is yet another year when I won't be able to go to japan for a councert seems kind of pointless but if as soon as I let my membership expire they announce the release of Ayu's latest album (''with the special limited edition of the latest TA tour for TA members only! '') I am going to have a fit! :dead2

I'm shocked how low quality of cover and postcard! Never saw something that bad from ayu

Low quality? What are you talking about?

Picture is so noisy! Looks like they took small photo, resize it and add dark grains to hide the quality

Lol! I was shocked as well when I received it a few days ago!
They upscale a low resolution badly taken photo. Luckily the inside pictures ain't that bad.

Ah it's about the TA mag, I thought I was blind because I didn't find LQ pic on the website XD