This one is quite similar to the one posted in the Japan Forum (
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117608), but hopefully someone can respond in any way.
I'm quite a fan of Sayuri Sugawara, and recently she opened up her new mobile website, now accessible for smartphones. Site is:
http://sugawarasayuri.mobi/ (does not work if you're using a PC)
Now the problem is this: I've been wanting to join her new fanclub ever since she announced it...but the problem is this - I need an actual Japanese cellphone to join!
The problem is that for payment I have to use a docomo ID, My SoftBank or (KDDI) au ID - but no direct credit card option! (Her previous mobile fanclub provider was
M-UP, which is right now for SKE48 and Leo Ieiri, and they accept credit cards directly, but now her provider is
e-talentbank, and this format does not accept credit cards directly. I'm really mad about this - they might have eliminated the option of using credit cards directly had she stayed with M-UP...
And I even have the proof to show you:
https://twitter.com/SayuriSTAFF/stat...76011153383424)
As you are well aware of, I live in the USA (Seattle to be specific), but really this was a fanclub that I've ever wanted to join ever since Sayuri Sugawara announced it last month. But the problem is that I actually need a Japanese cellphone since the payment system revolves around the three Japanese mobile carriers, and cannot be progressed without a Japanese phone. At first, I thought au ID (KDDI) would work without a phone, so I signed up for that (and I even entered my credit card number!), but when I tried to use it with ikimonogakari's mobile fanclub (
http://ikimo.jp/), I actually needed an au smartphone just to try to sign up.
Is there any way I can join such a fanclub like Sayuri Sugawara's new fanclub if the payment requires an account from a Japanese cellphone and I don't have one as such!?!?!? I really wanted to join this fanclub really BADLY and I'm bummed out all because of the *draconian* payment options that I am seeing here.
I just wish either Sayuri moves back to M-UP for fanclub operations, or ask e-talentbank to accept credit card transactions directly, which is my preferred method, or try to give another option that allows potential overseas fans to join (e.g. direct credit card transactions or a separate payment option specific for overseas customers)! In the meantime, it seems I'm trying to ask BOTH Sayuri and her staff to allow direct credit card transactions and open "Chao! Crew" premium fanclub service to overseas fans, like me and possibly others!
But as of now Sayuri's staff is saying that the system does not support credit cards, and they're not sure if they're going to even accept it after all... I just hope it will happen in the near future...
For AHS initiates who live in Japan: If there is no way to be found, but if anyone is willing to give me access to the fanclub and pay for my fanclub access, please contact me through PM.
See also: http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2991314