Currawong wrote:
So as not to ruin it for anyone who has yet to attend a concert, I'll keep it brief.

The concert hall was thankfully not gigantic, so even though I was seated on one side, I still had a very good view. The primary effects in the concerts came from hanging transparent "screens" that alternated between showing video or images from the camera's facing Hikki. The rear screen behind the band was fixed, with the front screen existing in 4 seconds that formed either one large screen at the centre, two screens with one either side, or 4 strips. The only downside to this was that when it relayed images of her there was a quarter-second delay.

The audience, typical for Japanese fans, was very passive, only clapping in tune with the music when encourage by Hikki. They were especially quiet when Exodus songs were being sung, a very strange experience considering that Devil Inside was performed very much as a rock tune. Despite this, you could feel everyone's heart skip a beat when First Love begun, and by the end, everyone was getting more excited.

Special for me were two things, one that that a song that isn't one of my favourites, Sakura Drops, was performed in a way that gives it more spirit that it has on CD, so I look forward to the DVD of the concert even for this alone. Second, she performed a traditional Hakata (a part of Fukuoka) song specially for us, which she said she'd only learned the day before. Though it was brief, she sung it beautifully - a special moment indeed.

You can see the pink top she wore (instead of the black one) with the blue skirt at this concert on the tour blog. What was amazing was that she had been working for 8 days straight up until that day yet she was going to give it her all.

Currawong wrote:
So as not to ruin it for anyone who has yet to attend a concert, I'll keep it brief.

The concert hall was thankfully not gigantic, so even though I was seated on one side, I still had a very good view. The primary effects in the concerts came from hanging transparent "screens" that alternated between showing video or images from the camera's facing Hikki. The rear screen behind the band was fixed, with the front screen existing in 4 sections that formed either one large screen at the centre, two screens with one either side, or 4 strips. The only downside to this was that when it relayed images of her there was a quarter-second delay.

The audience, typical for Japanese fans, was very passive, only clapping in tune with the music when encourage by Hikki. They were especially quiet when Exodus songs were being sung, a very strange experience considering that Devil Inside was performed very much as a rock tune. Despite this, you could feel everyone's heart skip a beat when First Love begun, and by the end, everyone was getting more excited.

Special for me were two things, one that that a song that isn't one of my favourites, Sakura Drops, was performed in a way that gives it more spirit that it has on CD, so I look forward to the DVD of the concert even for this alone. Second, she performed a traditional Hakata (a part of Fukuoka) song specially for us, which she said she'd only learned the day before. Though it was brief, she sung it beautifully - a special moment indeed.

You can see the pink top she wore (instead of the black one) with the blue skirt at this concert on the tour blog. What was amazing was that she had been working for 8 days straight up until that day yet she was going to give it her all.

Edit: Spelling

Sunday 7.16.06

Last show in Fukuoka

The show this evening was really good! Those of you who were there know. The band sounded tight and they looked like they were having a good time up there. The fans tonight were really good. One of the band members? families are in town and they got to see the show tonight too!

The band is backstage now waiting to head back to Tokyo. Everyone is happy with the way the show went tonight. It is busy backstage with many people busy doing something. The stage has begun to be taken down so it can be on its way to Osaka. It has been a long, but very good, day for the Utada United band and crew.

It was nice to be in Fukuoka during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival. The morning of yesterday?s show was the Oiyama that Tomita and Toshie went to.

The questions that have been posted are good! You can post questions on the comments section of this post too. I will be looking for them.

Next week we?re off to Osaka. See you there!


-Pat Woodward

Friday 7.14.06

Going to Fukuoka

Today we go south to Fukuoka for a weekend of shows at Marine Messe. I will post again after we arrive in Fukuoka and fill you in.

Did everyone enjoy the pictures of the Shizuoka concerts? I have the opportunity to ask Hikaru five questions after a show in a few weeks. If you were able to ask Hikaru something related to the tour what would it be?! Post a comment with your question and I'm going to pick the best questions, relating to the tour, to ask her. Make the questions good!

If you don?t already know, the English blog is being translated to into Japanese on the site listed below.
http://bbs1.on.kidd.jp/?0100/aishadow
I hope this is helpful to you.

-Pat Woodward