Warning: This post make less sense the more you read through it.

I'm glad I get to be part of the event and would like to share the experience if anyone is interested in reading.

The backstory

The event stems from a joke in her Instagram live where she wanted to make a company Ash co.ltd, looking for different roles (She is taking the manager role). Comments mentioned several roles like reception, security and toilet (?). One of the comments mentioned wanting to be Ash-kun's cat tower/ scratching post. She then jokingly said we should do multiple rounds of interviews and last round having everyone perform (?) in front of judges. After that, there are several people appealing to her in the comments that they qualify to be Ash-kun's cat tower making the cat tower audition become a recurring theme in her live streams.

https://x.com/ssk%5Fktk828/status/1803057226241744958

Kotoko worked with Sexy Saito-san from the same agency (he is the helping hand behind most of her live streams) to put the idea as main theme of her anniversary the event. She puts a lot of effort making the even such as writing the script and all the details of the event. (You can see that the writing in event details page is likely her in her own writing.)

The cat tower audition participation is optional and there is a field to fill in whether you want to participate or not, she was worried about no one participating in the audition which would make the big part of the event flop. Fortunately, there were overwhelmingly lots of applications to the event and many people wanted to participate in the audition. Because the main activity of the event was the cat tower audition, they got a small venue which made the lottery was very competitive.

At the Venue

Venue was at 7th floor Animate (wasn't announced in public but later to the winners of the lottery), 100 people capacity max.

After you enter the venue you pull a lottery for your seat and they'll ask you if you want to participate in the audition. If you want to participate they'll hand you a fake resume form to fill in, which you have to fill in nickname/real name/qualifications/self-introduction/consent to be in youtube channel. (Japanese are quite sensitive about their real name, so it's funny being forced to write it on the resume, but you were asked consent to be in Youtube lol)

https://x.com/ssk%5Fktk828/status/1815677448891347100

The stage banner is actually amazing because it's just a big Ash-kun lol Making it felt like it really is Ash kun's event. Sadly, Ash-kun himself can't come :pensive:

https://x.com/ssk%5Fktk828/status/1815677905785225217

https://x.com/ssk%5Fktk828/status/1815733872526766182

There are also goods sales which are 2 sets of Kotoko bromide photos (On from her artist photo, and one in Animate apron), and a set of Ash-kun bromide photo. Kotoko really despise reselling so there is a 1-per-product buy limit, but staff ensures there is enough for everyone participating to buy. Kotoko also mentioned she plan to do after-events online sales so don't miss out! These are very nice photos.

https://x.com/babu%5F%5Frisu/status/1815765119219241221

The Event

Kotoko came up with the script for the whole event, so she can do whatever she likes. First 10-20 minutes was her just making nerunerune and eat while everyone is cheering lol, you can watch them here on Youtube (member-only). The atmosphere was very warming and she was surprised how noisy loud everyone is. The whole event was photographed by Animate times, Kotoko wonders what kind of article will be made from this event lol.

After that they move on to the main part of the event which is the cat tower audition. Participants will get a special Ash-kun photo with Kotoko handwriting of your actual name (as a resell countermeasure). If Kotoko finds a participant superior, she'll give you Ash-kun fur in a ziplock bag.

UPDATE 2024/8/22 The audition is now on youtube (membership only, please join)

For people not doing the audition, she wants everyone to not look at them calmly but to be as crazy as possible. Penlights are allowed too, but she don't think anyone will bring it because it's a workday. She also mentioned not knowing how to properly use a penlight. (This is an excerpt taken from event details page because it's funny)

《For the audience》
・Don't watch with cold eyes, don't be harsh on them (Mostly talking to myself)
・Please help cheer up.
〈Example of a cheer〉
・Your shoulder so small no cat is gonna be able to ride on it！
・Ash-kun is looking at you！
・100 kittens probably could hop on it！
・That's cute！ etc.

As for what constitute a good cat tower, Kotoko doesn't fully understand that herself too,but she said it should be sturdy and recommends people to train for it. Lawyer's qualification is also preferred.

The flow for each round of the audition is as follows.

• Kotoko randomly pulls 3 resumes from a box.
• You go up on the stage, self-introduce and say a word before posing.
• Pose to the music

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T4tuoHyuNpo

• Get comments from Kotoko and answer a few questions from her while keeping the pose.
• Say what you feel after the audition.
• Staff hands you the prize as you go back to the seat.

The whole time Kotoko sits on the side commenting and laughing at the participants, while Sexy Saito-san walks around as a mic stand.

She was surprised how there are so many cat tower poses and the effort everyone puts in to the audition.

They originally wanted to do the auditions until the resume or time runs out, so there were initially 5-6 rounds of audition (if i remembered correctly), but the audition took too much time eating in the quiz section of the event originally planned, so there is an extra round which results in an extra around of the audition.

Luckily I got in the very last slot being able to show off my cat tower (?). I actually half-jokingly put effort into researching about a proper cat tower. So I'm very happy I get to be on stage (but insanely nervous though)

Kotoko is very serious about commenting at everyone's cat tower, here are some of the participants and the comments as far as I remembered:

• Bodybuilder guy: He shaped up for this event
  • Kotoko have him Ash-kun's fur for effort
• Salaryman: comes in as a drunken salary man pose, trying to keep himself alive
• A guy who said he'll show everyone what a real cat tower is like but fails miserably because the pose is difficult.
  • Ktk: You're shaky, thats a disqualify.
• Elegant-san: His actual name has 雅（みやび、elegance）character in it because his parents wanted him to be elegant.
  • Ktk: I think your parents will be sad instead.
• Fake Ash-kun: Want to replace Ash-kun
  • Ktk: Auto disqualify
• Dansa-san: She regularly sends superchat in Kotoko's youtube streams, everyone including Kotoko thought she was a men just by how she writes the superchat but she's a women. Last time she sent a superchat telling she want to be a chicken which Kotoko (and most of the audience) remembered. She didn't pose as a chicken but instead made a very accurate chicken sounds.
• A guy in Tsuzuri's bib
  • Ktk: You're not even me.
• Driver, but he drives his parents car.
  • Ktk: A driver would be nice, might need a your parents permission first.
• A veterinarian
  • Ktk: Maybe I'll contact you when Ash-kun is sick.
• Someone who got his pose corrected by Kotoko lol
  • Ktk: Maybe you should put your hand together, that might be easier. Yeah, that's it
• Guy who wanted to be scratched in the face.
  • Ktk: Where do Ash-kun gets to scratch?
  • Him: My face
  • Ktk: Is that ok? did you do anything special to it? You'll be covered in blood you know.
• Me: Ash-kun gachikoi cat tower imported from overseas. (I don't remember the details exactly)
  • Introduction
    • Me: Hi, I'm a cat tower from Thailand, after I learned about the cat tower audition, I went ahead and research a bunch of Ash-kun's preference.
    • Ktk: Thank you, hmm… that's a very familiar shirt :thinking_face: (it's a shirt she regularly wears)
    • Me: Haha, there is a reason for it. You'll see later.
    • Ktk: (laughs) So, I have to wait for it… Looking forward to it!
  • Describing the pose
    • Me: The cat tower has a lot of climbing spots, there is also a cat toy, so he can play have fun a lot.
    • Ktk: Seems like lot of things going on.
    • Me: Because I'm wearing Kotoko's favorite shirt, it might feel home to Ash-kun easier for him to approach.
    • Ktk: (laughs)
    • Me: Also, the color scheme is gray so it doubles as a chic furniture for your room which is also gray (This is from hard research lol).
    • Ktk: That's true, my room is gray so it might work well with it
    • Me: There is more other than that… I forgot, but I wrote a lot of them into the resume.
    • Ktk: (Looks at the resume) Woah that's a lot of things… wow you have an English qualification, you can speak English?
    • Me: (In English) Yes, I can!
  • Comments:
    • Me: I'm glad to be up on the stage to show off my cat tower Hits the mic in the head bowing down.
    • Ktk: Oh no, we're same clumsy type, that might be a disqualify.
    • Me: あ
• A guy working in a certain game company
  • Ktk: Sexy also worked in a game company. Where do you work? You can just whisper it to Sexy.
  • Sexy: Oh, I worked in Sega. Please give Kotoko more work.
  • Ktk: winks Please
• A person who is relatively short
  • Ktk: I think cat towers of different sizes would work, maybe we could have one of small, medium and tall cat tower.

Because the event is workday, there were lots of comments about people coming after work too. One of the sukisuki club member I know took a Shinkansen from his work just to participate the event.

Towards the end of the audition she completely forgets about Ash-kun's fur, so she gives it to the last few participants.

After the audition, she did a lucky draw for 5 winners of her signed bromide. Not sure if it comes with a signature or not, but she wrote your real name in the back. She somehow pulled seat number 31, 32, 33, 35 in a row and accuse that the box is not properly shuffled, the last one was 85 though lol

She talked about the bromide how it was taken when she still have bob hairstyle and now her hair has grown so long because she didn't get a chance to go to a salon. She asked girls in the audience whether short or long hair is better in summer which most of them said short is easier. She also asked men the same question (?). Then, she asked the audience whether they like short hair or long hair Kotoko which most people said long hair. But there are people who thinks current Kotoko is the best so she asks again to be honest which a few people raised their hand. Lastly, she asked the audience if you

She emphasize again to not resell because she hates reselling and asked the audience if anyone is a reseller. Fortunately, no one is so she's relieved. Kotoko had plans for birthday goods which will be sale online (this time we might get Ash-kun's acrylic stands too!?).

This event is a very nice experience overall, seeing everyone including Kotoko-herself, staff san and the participants the making a joke become a full-fledge event. Kotoko seems to fully enjoyed the auditions as she very looking forward to it and was laughing pretty much the whole time.

The participants who applied but didn't get to show off their cat tower are now posting their resume and videos of the cat tower. Some is planning to organize a private cat tower auditions too which is very heartwarming. I wish she consider organizing a sequel or another kind of this event.

https://x.com/NIJIGA%5FSUKI/status/1815743189476884543

https://x.com/yuuki06n/status/1815769551298314493

Random Photos

Kotoko set: Sauce Yakisoba - Nerunerune - Calpis water

Nerunerune dayo... Kotoko