These were the scenes when Kaoru Mitoma and colleagues went to the shopping centre today.

Not just any shop. Mitoma, James Milner, Facundo Buonanotte and Jack Hinshelwood were the centre of attention at an event at the Kamo Soccer Shop in Hanjuku, Tokyo in an event with the club's kit suppliers Nike.

Fans had the chance to get a walk past and fist bump with the four Seagulls.

The queue stretched up several flights of stairs in the muti-storey shop and, of course, everyone waited patiently and quietly.

Even though there was great excitement inside.

Then a select few had more chance to meet the players at a bit more length, each enjoying their own few moments for a few words, autographs and photos.

Many were parents with young children, including a tiny baby right at the end who slept through until the last few seconds while Mum had her Albion shirt signed and posed for pictures.

The shop - in a large commercial area which is not far from the National Stadium and has all the outlets you would expect to see in a British mall - was closed for the occasion.

Mitoma was obviously a big focus of attention but all four players and former striker Glenn Murray, now a club ambassador, were popular.

Meanwhile, more crowds gathered outside the closed doors knowing the footballers were inside.

When it was over, security staff politely cleared a way through for the players and staff to get to their transport.

Of course it was polite. That part of Japanese culture is one of most endearing qualities.

The only time things got a bit more robust – and comically so - was when a woman in the first group of guests, who were supposed to walk past fairly quickly, went for a selfie and something did not happen.

Was it an iPhone malfunction? Was it (more likely) human error connected to nerves and shaky hands or sweaty palms?

Whatever it was, that much-desired selfie just wasn’t happening and she was losing her composure amid a fit of embarrassed giggles while a female member of staff tentatively tugged at her rucksack and tried to get her to move on.

Fortunately, Milner stepped in, grabbed the phone and took the picture for her – to laughter and applause all round.

Mitoma has himself been an unofficial Albion ambassador this week and was a smiling chatty presence throughout as the queue just kept on coming.

The first walk-through session took about 15 minutes, about the same for the one-to-ones.

Each player was asked to say a few words to the crowd before that.

Milner, probably a veteran of such occasions, set the tone by speaking well about the welcome he and the team had received in Japan.

And Hinshelwood was at ease too, as he joked about the heat and told supporters: “I have been at this club a long time and I never imagined I would be here doing something like this.”

And, yes, there was a Hinshelwood 41 shirt among the queue, worn by a young boy who grinned from ear to ear as it was signed.

It is indeed all a bit strange for those who have followed the club for longer than Hinshelwood.

One is tempted to think to a time when there might not have been this interest in an Albion event in Churchill Square, let alone a shopping area of Tokyo.

And of course it is very largely down to Mitoma.

They were mainly Mitoma 22 shirts we saw in the queue (there were also a couple of Buonanottes, a few Milners and an Evan Ferguson).

But is all about spreading the word, maximising commercial potential.

And, the great thing was, everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Certainly the excitement and sheer joy among the supporters who turned up was infectious.

So this one was special for adults and kids alike. Including big kids.

One dad watched as staff carefully set up a nice shot for his boy, with the four Albion players close together just behind him.

Then, before the players and photographer could move, dad dived in like Jason Steele saving a penalty in the bottom corner to have his own picture taken in that spot.

Laughter all round. Then applause as he walked away, delighted with his picture.

“What happened to security?” came the joking enquiry from chief executive Paul Barber.

And, soon after, another question – from a pedestrian whose progress was interrupted when the Albion group were ushered to their vehicle amid crowds of fans holding phones aloft.

“Who do they play for?”

There were plenty of people there to tell him.