^ This was the ticket store in Shibuya - and yes, they have the specific seating plan pictured with the catwalk and the end stage posted right next to the tickets. I don't know about last year because I got my ticket through the fan club then. In general though, I've never known the ticket shops to be wrong about what kind of stage it will be. I suppose I will find out for sure tomorrow though.
If they didn't know about the stage last year than they must have received a lot of complaints and probably made sure that they knew for this year?
Yep, just the 29th. I have family here in Japan, so I spend actual New Years the Japanese way now.