1.
handshake event; meet-and-greet (where fans line up to shake hands with celebrities, idols, or authors)
A fan event where performers — most famously idol group members, but also authors, voice actors, and athletes — line up to greet fans one by one with a brief handshake and a few words. Attendance is typically limited by ticket, often bundled with CD or book purchases. A well-established fixture of Japanese pop culture.
Compound of 握手 (handshake) and 〜会 (gathering, event). The format rose to prominence with the AKB48 idol boom of the late 2000s and remains a signature Japanese fan-service event. Fans typically have only a few seconds of face-to-face contact, and events follow strict rules about photography, gifts, and behavior. The word is neutral in register and appears freely in casual conversation, marketing, and news.
Common collocations
- 握手会に行く: to go to a handshake event
- 握手会に参加する: to attend a handshake event
- 握手会を開く: to hold a handshake event
- 握手会の参加券: handshake event ticket
- 握手会イベント: handshake event (pleonastic but common in advertising)