Make Believe Bonus: PAS TASTA At Spotify O-EAST

A Thrill To End The Year

I thought “surely, by arriving about 90 minutes before doors open, I’ll be able to buy PAS TASTA merch.” A massive miscalculation. Two hours might have done the trick according to a friend, though in reality lining up right as sales started at 3 p.m. would have been best.

Instead, I found myself back near the “congratulations” flower displays by the time i reached Spotify O-EAST, formerly Tsutaya O-EAST and numerous corporate sponsors before. After 45 minutes, staff announced they’d probably have to wrap up sales due to dwindling supply, just as I reached the main staircase up. Five minutes later, they delivered the dagger of “nope, you guys are out of luck.” I left to go buy dinner before the show.

Deflated that I couldn’t buy a hoodie and sticker pack? Oh definitely. Yet this seeming overwhelming demand for PAS TASTA goods also made me feel as hopeful as anything else in 2024 about the state of Japanese music.