This is how it is done here....

There are many wonderful things about living in Japan, and then there are some things that seem like they should be SO simple, yet, they are not. It is maddening how long it takes to accomplish basic things here at times. Last year I attended the Rakuten Open with my friend Kim. It is a Professional Men's tennis tournament- Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick as well as many other incredibly talented people were playing and it was a great time. It took me a long time to get the tickets, as the only way to pre-purchase tickets was to do it through a Japanese website. I was on the phone with the Tokyo American Club for more than a half a day, just trying to get this form filled out correctly and make sure I actually did order tickets! This year, thinking I would have to do the same thing, I went to the Rakuten site to try to get a start. There I found a new link to Order tickets in English!! Oh how happy I was....until I tried to actually order the tickets! I had to fill in a form, stating what day and what seats I wanted. They would then email me back letting me know if they were available, and then they would assign me a reservation number and I could go to the 7-11 and get them (Convenience stores here are unbelievable! We pay all of our bills at them, order concert tickets and apparently, also sporting event tickets). The site actually states that if I live in Japan, I have to get them at the 7-11. I am hoping I have tickets when I get there, but I am too exhausted trying to have any more of these fun communications!

So, this is how my email conversation went:

Rakuten:

Dear Leigh Garrison,

The ss seat (row 11-14) the sixth is sold out.

It is in case of the SS seat(row 8-10).

How do you do?

Please answer.

Me:

Does this mean it is available in SS row 8-10? If not a seat in S will work as well- as close to the court, preferably mid- court if possible?

Rakuten:

Dear Leigh Garrison

SS seat (8-10) can be bought.

SS seat（11-14） is sold out.

How do you do?

Please answer.

Me:
Are the SS seats courtside (not on an end)? If so, I would like to purchase 4 together. If they are on an end, I would like 4 S seats that are courtside together. Thank you!!

Rakuten:

Dear Leigh Garrison

Please look at the hall chart.
http://rakutenopen.rakuten.co.jp/ticket.html

The SS seat is a thin green place.

Can you see?

The tenth the eighth row-row of the place can be bought.

If it is OK, the ticket is reserved instead of you. (4 tickets)

Thank you

(As you can see, I have at this point, given up on trying to find out where the seat numbers actually are in the stadium!)

Me:
That looks good- SS rows 8-10, 4 tickets. How do I get the tickets?

Thanks for your help!

Rakuten:

Dear Leigh Garrison

Your reservation was completed.

Please come to the ticket sales contact to take the ticket from October 2nd to October 9th.

Please say the reservation number in the Same-day purchase counter.

We will pass your ticket.
Moreover, please pay the ticket price then and there.

※reservation number　1109-1028

Your seat number is here.
D-8-5
D-8-6
D-8-7
D-8-8

Me:
I can pick them up at the Stadium and not at the 7-11?

Rakuten:
Dear Leigh Garrison

Receiving the ticket in the convenience store requires a handling charge.

Commission of issuing tickets/one piece　　210ｙｅｎ
System commission/one reservation　315ｙｅｎ
Commission paid/one reservation　　210ｙｅｎ


If it is OK, it changes one's reservation.

※The change and the cancellation of the reservation cannot be accepted in the future.

Me:
I would like to pick them up and not have a handling charge. Am I able to just pick them up at Ariake Stadium and pay for them the day of the event (Oct 6)?

Rakuten:

The ticket is received in the convenience store.
↓
It requires a handling charge.
Hereafter, I take the reservation again instead of you.


②
Present reservation status
↓
The ticket is received in the ticket counter on the stadium on that day.


①　ｏｒ　②　？？？？

Which is hope?

Me:
I assume I just give them my name and reservation number that day and I am all set? Can you please verify that picking them up at Ariake Stadium's ticket booth is ok? Where is the ticket booth?

Thank you very much. I apologize for the confusion!

Rakuten:

Dear Leigh Garrison

Your reservation was completed.

If the reservation number and the name are said, it is safe.

Please come to the ticket sales contact.

Please relieve.

Your ticket does the reservation completion.

Thank you,
Rakuten Japan Open 2011 Ticket Center