More ticket purchase changes happening due to covid.

Some event tickets can now only be purchased as e-ticket via smartphone and must be downloaded via various e-ticket systems / Japanese mobile numbers via SMS, Some ticket box offices are only accepting credit card payments.

e-tickets are becoming mandatory due to the current pandemic.

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Another update, some festivals they are doing lotteries for the "front block" (restricted number of people) this requires a SMS confirmation code which is tied to the phone number registered when purchasing the ticket. It will use your mobile number as a check to see if you hold a ticket and then send a SMS for confirmation.

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E-tickets now need a SMS code to download to the application as well.

Graphically example here, email link -> SMS code verification -> download

https://guide.moala.fun/quick-ticket/sms

2021 April update.

Recently I had to download two e-tickets from eplus and they both required SMS re-authorisation.
i.e. you will need to have access to the Japanese mobile phone number in order to get the SMS and get the code to download the ticket. (i.e. those use once services I heard about will not work, as you will need the same number again to download the ticket)

e-ticket are commonly used now to avoid handling physical tickets, and staff watch you open the app and use 2 finger swipe to use these e-tickets, or they have a device to electronially "stamp" your ticket.

RE: Voice/SMS sim with Mobal.com

Recently I came across this company that can issue Japanese sim with voice/sms that is using Softbank's network for non Japanese residents, https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/ its not a pre-paid but has a montly fee to it, and it can possibly sent to you overseas (please check on the countries) or picked up in Japan, BUT the sim only works within Japan, i.e. leave it with a friend in Japan.

So this can get around the Voice/SMS registration problem, but its going to cost you at least 1000yen a month and its based on Softbank's mobile network, so you will need the appropriate 3G/4G phone that works on the correct bands. 4G LTE (CH1,3,8,11,28,41,42)

Disclaimer, I have not used this service before, but it might be useful once things are back to normal after the COVID situatation. The company has been mentioned on JTB/Japan Airlines etc. and are fully license with the Japanese government as a telecommunications provider.

https://www.hanacell.com/japan/

Another sim provider with SMS service. This one catering more for Japanese customers wanting to visit.
Note: All application/support in Japanese only.

Recent update, since I had to change smartphones regularly which meant I can to login to many tickets apps again.

Most box office services will require SMS verification, this includes eplus which usually supplies most of Scandal's one man tour tickets and includes Mania/Premium/light tickets, you need to use same phone number as Mania as well as eplus account.

As for Pia it require you to call a voice line to verify, you have to call a 050-xxxx-xxxx number to verfiy by your caller ID, this is when you first login from a new device.

Paper tickets are still availlable for some Scandal events, it depends on what Scandal chooses to do.

e-Tickets (which all usually require internet connection when you use the ticket):
eplus have their own app usually, but the event seller might use other methods like cloak (from ticket pia) , 
moala tickets (click on URL link and display on smartphone browser, needs internet connection) 
tixnet uses a code from email to input in an app

Unlike North America or Europe, Japan is not using QR codes/self printed emails for tickets.

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So long story short for the next Scandal Best Xmas 2022 ticket, you will need a SMS verified Eplus account as well as your Mania account with the same phone number in order to enter the lottery. Without a Japanese mobile number you have to wait for General Sales to buy a ticket, EVEN though you have might have a Mania account with a fake/borrowed number.

During the recent SiM x Scandal live, you had to use SiM's app to acquire and use the e-ticket.

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Update, I changed my smartphone, so to use the Best Xmas FanClub tickets, you need a Japanese ticket app and to verify with a Japanese mobile number as well to login. There is also a twice a month limit if you login to a different phone. So yes lots of hoops to jump through.

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Update, I also changed my other smartphone I noticed this time when I logged it, the tixplus e-ticket app that Scandal uses for FC Best Xmas ticket, the app only allowed 3 new logins per month (assume to stop scalpers lending out their e-ticket accounts). But be warn for Best Xmas tickets there is ID name check for everyone, I asume the same this year.

For Best Xmas for e-plus issued GA tickets, these GA e-tickets was using the e-plus app.

Latest update at Best Xmas 2022.

There was no ID check this time probably due to the large audience.
There was 2000 FC tickets and approx 650 GA tickets sold today.

But for FC tickets and GA tickets it must be split to one smartphone/app per ticket holder. 
Because of this EACH of you will need your own Japanese mobile number.

(I had 2 friends from overseas with GA tickets and because they were near the back of the line, they let them in on one smartphone with 2 tickets. Its going to be up the the decretion of the people checking the ticket.)

For Mania Gold members pre-live purchase, they were checking Mania card and Photo ID.

Lawson ticket will freeze an account if you use tenso address, recently many merchants been doing this to reject a sale. So maybe best to borrow a real address. But the other thing, I have had the post office contact me previously when fan borrowed my address as the keep a list of names to an address, there is a limit of 8 people or so to an address.