Classical music greets me as I file into the lecture hall. An usher guides me to my reserved seat: second row, front and center. The public wasn't so lucky.

"Where are you sitting?" asks a flannel-wearing reporter type.
"In the balcony," replies a guy with bedhead. "What about you? Where are you sitting?" Ah, he's using polite Japanese.

"Right here," he answers.

"Really? Wow."

Flannel shows Bedhead his press pass.

"This is for press only."

"Oh."

I get out my notebook and put it on the foldout desk connected to my seat. It's a couple minutes before half past ten. Ritsumeikan Unversity students, fanboys and otaku trickle in. On the stage, a perky college student fiddles with a DS. She was the one that greeted me at the door. "Kotaku, right?" Right. She puts the DS on the podium.

A buzzer sounds, and the lights go down. Class has begun.

DIEC Info [Ritsumeikan University]