This is happening to me too. For one thing, Ill tell you the problem.
You aren't "missing" or "not close enough". The game tells the characters (via scripting) to move to a designated spot, meaning its not you. Another thing is the game is not activating the event for a couple of reasons:
1. Has it been already "Unlocked"? (Usually done with cheats, a certain code might activate the event prematurely.
2. Is it a combination I must do? (I cannot read Kanji, therefore I am confuzzled about what to do.)
3. Is the Piracy Check messing up the event? (I tried turning it off, doing so reverts your special moves, such as the hammer and spin jump. You cannot use them. Still freezes as soon as you enter battle.)
Only reasons I can think of. Mostly why I said those is because I have done all three. Might of been the "All special moves" or other various codes. The combination one, I am not sure of, because as I said I cant read Kanji.