What happened at Ado’s secretive Tokyo handshake event?

Ado, the enigmatic voice of Japanese pop, held her highly anticipated handshake event in Tokyo this weekend—an appearance that went viral upon its announcement in June. Marking the first time fans could “meet” the reclusive star in person, the event had a twist: Ado greeted attendees through a small opening in a box, preserving her signature anonymity.

Simply dubbed the “Ado Handshake Event”, the two-day affair was held at a confidential location and welcomed 1,000 fans selected through a special lottery offered to those who purchased physical copies of her latest album, ‘Zanmu’. Each lucky winner was granted a brief 10-second interaction with the singer, who has famously never shown her face. The event allowed fans to shake hands with Ado herself—albeit through the unique setup of a box inspired by Italy’s Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth), a marble mask in Rome, which legend claims will bite the hand of anyone who lies with their hand inside its mouth (thankfully, no one has yet to report any hand-biting incidents at Ado’s event).

Adding to the event’s sense of exclusivity, the venue location was revealed only to winners, and security was tight. Attendees had to pass an ID check and item inspection before entering, with all belongings, including phones and jewellery (except wedding rings), stowed away to preserve the mystery—meaning no photos of the setup exist beyond the original concept images. Stories quickly circulated online about fans traveling from far and wide for their very own brief encounter with Ado, including an unconfirmed tale of a fan from Fukuoka who, upon arrival, realised they had forgotten her ID and was unable to enter.

RELATED: Ado announces first ever handshake event – “I will really be inside the box!”

Inside, each fan placed their hand through a slot in the box, where Ado would greet them with her own unseen hand, preserving her anonymity while allowing for an unusual yet intimate moment with each attendee.

UPDATE: On October 28th, Ado shared a brief 9-second clip on X, giving followers a first time glimpse inside the mysterious handshake setup. In the dimly lit room, she’s seen holding a fan’s hand with both of hers, while what appears to be a staff member’s hand hovers nearby. Ado closes the mostly silent clip with a quick “ganbatte” (do your best). When asked if the dark booth felt claustrophobic, she quipped, “It’s as dark as a closet”.

握手会の中身はこうなっておりました。

※お相手の声と、私がお相手のお名前を呼んでいる声は消しております https://t.co/TxbmoWVavO pic.twitter.com/H4GH5Ahbwa

— Ado (@ado1024imokenp) October 28, 2024

Fans took to social media afterward to share their emotions, with many describing the encounter as both surreal and fleeting. Despite the brief time frame, some fans managed to convey heartfelt messages of admiration, while others, struck by nerves, could only manage a “Hello”. Some even took the opportunity to write notes on their hands for Ado to read during their brief exchange. One attendee admitted they were “shaking too much to speak properly”, while another humorously recounted their own bold request for a “koibito tsunagi” (lover’s handhold).

The impact of the undeniably strange event was evident, with fans recounting tearful goodbyes and some even going to great lengths to preserve the memory. One attendee went so far as to make a plaster cast of the hand that shook Ado’s, explaining that “now anyone can indirectly shake her hand as much as they want”. They even carefully wrapped their hand in a plastic bag for the journey home.

Adoと握手した手を石膏にした
間接握手し放題#握手 #保存 pic.twitter.com/nyjtSwSXoW

— ガ (@pikako2525) October 26, 2024

After day 1, Ado expressed her gratitude to the fans, posting on X about how fun the experience was, despite some awkward moments.

“Though there was limited time and only hands to communicate with, I ended up blurting out some confusing things myself. Thank you so much. It was a lot of fun.”

Following day 2, she added:

“I’m truly grateful to have had the chance to meet each and every one of you in person, each bringing your own unique presence. I apologize to those of you whose words I couldn’t catch clearly. Thank you as well to everyone who wrote messages on their hands. I am deeply grateful to all of you who came from afar. Thank you, thank you so much!”

Though the concept of a handshake event, even without the mystery box, may seem odd to some, such events are a common practice in Japan’s idol music scene. Popularized by groups like AKB48, handshake events allow fans a few seconds of personal interaction with their favorite artists, often as a reward for purchasing CDs or merchandise. These events create a closer bond between fans and performers, with each experience typically lasting only seconds before staff guide fans out, making each interaction both meaningful and fleeting.

Although Ado has not announced further events, the handshake session gave fans a rare chance to connect with her directly, hand-to-hand, and will undoubtedly remain a cherished memory for those who attended.

The weekend’s handshake event was just one highlight in a big week for Ado. Additionally, the singer celebrated her 22nd birthday with the release of her double A-side single, ‘Sakura Biyori & Time Machine / Shoka’, and announced her upcoming ‘Hibana’ world tour, set to begin in April 2025. This will be Ado’s second world tour and her largest yet, spanning over 30 cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

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