Popcorn 2013.01.13 Nagoya report
Last day of the Popcorn tour ! =)
I queued from 7:45 am to get the earphone jack, but at 10 am we got an announcement, telling us it was sold out… I was completely disheartened. Not only did I queue in for two hours in vain, but also Jun being my ichiban, I really really wanted the violet earphone jack T_T I think the worst parts were that I only had 20 minutes of queue left, and that I could have gone at 6 am since my bus arrived at that time. If only I hadn’t gone sightseeing a bit before… But well. What’s done’s done. And on a side note, JE should seriously get better at evaluating stocks for goods… It’s not like it’s the first time this kind of things happen, Arafes alone was a very good example -_-
(Yup, it goes as far as the eyes can see… And this was the third line at 7:45 am, there were two others around the dome. Oh, and did I mention that the majority of us were lining only for the earphone jack ?)
In the afternoon, I got to my seat around 3:20pm ~ I waited doing nothing in particular, because I wanted to enjoy the concert atmosphere I was maybe experiencing for a last time before really, really long…
As usual, a few things before the actual report :
-There are most likely mistakes, because I don't take notes and my memory is far from perfect... And it also means it’s not a very detailed report, sorry ^^" (I only added stuff that weren’t in my four other reports) Also, I still have a long way to go in studying Japanese, so I may have misunderstood some stuff.
-English isn't my native language, so pardon any English mistake !
-I’ll never say it enough : a million thanks t yamakaze067 for her amazing contributions to the fandom <3
Random thoughts on attending an Arashi concert (in general)
-Going to an Arashi concert is always a special occasion, and you can feel it when you look at people around you. Lots of people are dressed for the concert ~ Some fans are amazing at reproducing costumes Oo In other venues I saw Kaibutsu-kun, Ohmiya SK (for Arafes), Masaki.com… And in Nagoya, I saw jackets from Beautiful World (the ones they wore during the MC, with a different message in each member’s back ; the jackets I saw had Switch on and Rock the World written on them), lots of girls in a popcorn costume (well this obviously happened at every venue ~), and one girl with the whole T.A.B.O.O costume (so well done !). At Nagoya station I even saw a woman in the kind of pyjamas Nino wore during a VS Arashi, the pale blue-grey thing with a big bear around Nino’s tummy x) Arashi concerts (JE concerts as a whole actually, I don’t know about non-JE concerts) are really a special occasion, you get dress for it, often do your hair as well, make an uchiwa, and so on. There’s a “let’s get prepared to party/to go to a festival” vibe to it ^^ And I have to mention penlights, the best invention ever for a concert ! It truly makes you feel involved in the concert, and it’s soooo much fun to wave it around with everyone =D It’s also impressive to see a whole dome doing the choreography in unison ^^ Now I kinda can’t imagine a concert without a penlight anymore… lol
-Arashi fans hijack every city every time there’s a concert x) It’s always fun to see and to know you “belong” to that group ~ Everywhere you go, out of 10 people, you can be sure at least one of them has an Arashi bag haha This year’s bag being yellow, it was even more easy to spot Arashi fans x) I didn’t stay long enough in Osaka so I can’t tell, but in Sapporo and Nagoya, Arashi fans were everywhere ! In Tokyo I think it was more concentrated around Tokyo Dome, but I didn’t go to tourist places on that day so I can’t say for sure. In any case, that’s just my feeling, but I love seeing Arashi fans everywhere like that, it feels like I’m right where I belong to =)
Random thoughts on the concert
-I don’t know how that works, but at gate 1 I saw people coming with what I suppose was a printed email, paying for tickets and getting random ones (but still fanclub tickets). I had never seen that… And I do wonder what kind of seats you get. The girls in front of me seemed quite happy with their seats though, so I guess they didn’t end up at the back of the dome ! Still, these seats remain a mystery to me Oo Maybe some people never paid for their tickets, so other people got an email saying they were chosen and will get their tickets when they come to the venue and pay. But that’s just my supposition…
-We got previews for Platinum Data, Nazotoki, Arashi ni Shiyagare (Nagase Tomoya is so much fun ! x)) and VS Arashi (got sooo excited watching this preview, since I attended this episode’s recording <3)
-Three minutes before the beginning of the concert, we heard the loud backstage cheer Arashi, Juniors and staff members did ~
-Nino had some problems with his voice in the first part of the concert, and Jun just a bit at the beginning (or was it his mic ? Can’t remember)
-The audience around me was okay, but not amazing. Especially the two ladies beside me, they didn’t say a word during the whole concert… Oo At first I thought the audience wasn’t that hyped, but afterwards it was fine ^^ Nothing beats Tokyo though x)
-We got lots of fanservice as a whole =D
Footage
The appearance order in the video is Sho, Aiba, Jun, Ohno and Nino. It may be the other way around for Jun and Oh-chan’s turns, I'm not entirely sure.
Up to you
Just before the song starts we had the usual confettis, but this time on the main screen "Final" appeared in golden letters.
The usual small Juntoshi moment : they got close when they had to sing together during the song.
Jun got lots of kya when he sang the last "Song for you" pointing at us ~
Welcome to our party
At the high touch part, Ohmiya got close and hold hands briefly, while Aiba and Jun just got close.
The last image was Ohno's arm (up in the air), with a close-up on his peace sign =)
Troublemaker
Greetings
Jun : Hey ! Yay yay yay ! (Audience : Yay yay yay !) Yay yay yay ! (Audience : Yay yay yay !) Nagoya ! Let’s make together the best memory of 2013 ! Are you ready ? Are you ready to be happy ? From now on we’ll make you happy ! (And then he ended with something I didn’t understand)
Nino : Irasshaimase ! (x2) This is the last one. Let’s make a good year out of 2013 ! Until the end yoroshiku !
Aiba : Are you popping ? Can you still go on ? Yay ! Yay ! More ! More ! (Again, ended with something I didn’t understand)
Ohno was late (he has to be already at his appointed place in the hanamichi when he starts his greetings), and asked us to wait for him from inside the hanamichi hahaha (ちょっと待ってよ！) Then when he appeared : Hai ! (x3) It’s the last popcorn festival ! Yoroshiku !
Sho : How are you feeling Nagoya ? (in English) How are you feeling ? (x2) Upper floor, how are you feeling ? (x2) Lower floor, how are you feeling ? (x2) Hey Nagoya, how are you feeling ? It’s the last last last one ! Are you ready ? (Same pattern, didn’t understand the end…)
Believe
Meikyuu Love Song
Cosmos
Akashi
All screens were switched off except for the one at the back of the dome. I do understand the purpose of it all considering the stage effect desired during the song, but I think previously the screens on the far ends were working... Or at least, I don't remember having to be obliged to watch the screen at the back of the dome for this perf. Because the dilemma between watching their faces on the screen or watching them "for real" is even more acute in that case.
Kaze no mukou e
Again, when they passed by each other on the center stage, Juntoshi hold hands ~
Rakuen (Aiba’s solo)
On the stage screens (not the main one but the two on the sides), there are images of "paradise" : the sea, some land on the horizon, a tree on the right, some flowers on the foreground, and amidst everything, flamingos haha There are some butterflies as well at some point ~
We got the usual "wiping-kiss" tonight ^^
Fly on Friday (Sho’s solo)
It was mentioned in the MC that Nino threw a small propeller as well in front of the main stage ! And like on the last day in Tokyo, the propellers were thrown in the whole arena.
At the end, Sho did Aiba's "wiping-kiss" and earned LOTS of screams x)
Super Fresh
A Day in Our Life
Juntoshi moment : at the "te to te tsunagu" Jun held out his hand, Oh-chan put his on Jun's and they locked fingers. Then they lifted their interlaced hands at their heads level, kissed each other's hand, and Oh-chan approached his face towards Jun’s really quickly for a surprise kiss (on the lips !) but Jun stepped back instantly. They both laughed afterwards.
The Juntoshi moment for this song was really good during the whole tour, but this one may have been the best ~ It got lots of screaming as well of course with this near-miss kiss x)
For the second Juntoshi moment, they just got close to each other.
Kitto Daijoubu
Before rapping, Sho said super quickly "yoroshiku onegaishimasu", it was cute ~
Besides, Aiba (I think) chased after Ohno when they were returning to the main stage x) I only saw the end of the action so I'm not sure at all, but the chasing might have involved some butt touching haha
Kakenukero
MC
Sho started the talk with Kitto Daijoubu, how everyone had sung loudly and the result had been amazing. For A Day in Our Life as well, they had been impressed with our “way” and such, saying we most likely practiced for it ~
After we took seats, Sho apologized to Aiba XD Since it was the final, he did the “wiping-kiss” ~ He’d been watching it from the back stage for the whole tour (his solo being right after Aiba’s one), so today being the last day, he thought of trying it. Aiba asked him when he did it, and Sho answered “of course at the end !”.
Then Nino entered the conversation. Also invoking today being the last day, he thought of doing something. He talked about how the small propellers for Sho’s solo fly really high, and took a red slingshot with a brown rubber elastic out. Big "Ehhhh" from the audience, because of the implied meaning behind Nino having a slingshot. Aiba asked him if he participated today, and he answered yes. Sho asked him where from, and Nino pointed towards the main stage, a bit on the right from the middle. Then Nino “complained” about how no one looked in his direction haha Sho’s solo starting from the back stage to the main stage on the moving stage, obviously people wouldn’t look towards the main stage at that time x)
Afterwards Sho talked about the propellers. He came across them two-three years ago, when he was abroad. He bought them at that time, and then again last year, but couldn’t find a right time to use them in a concert until now x) (On a side note, ever since he got it out, Nino was playing with the slingshot)
Aiba then talked about the choreographies, with him having a hard time to do them right. Today since it was the last day, as he was dancing, he was like “oh it’s okay if I forget !” XD Jun told him they might do some of the songs in the next tour though, and mentioned how it’s always only Aiba who has to remember the choreographies over again haha
Next, Sho changed topics to Ohno choreographing for this tour. Ohno talked a lot with Jun, and even after they got home, they would talk about it on the phone. As they were walking back to the main stage, Jun and Oh-chan talked about Cosmos. Jun wanted two choreographies for this song (the members lead two different groups for this song, Nino and Sho are on the left, Ohno, Jun and Aiba on the right), and Ohno argued on something. I can’t remember what it was, but the feeling I have is that Jun asked for something that involved more work for Oh-chan, and he didn’t want to do it but tried to hide it with receivable reasons x) Like it’d be hard for the audience to follow or something lol
Also on their way back, they asked Oh-chan if he would choreograph for Arafes 2 as well, pushing him to say yes. Oh-chan was like “well, as for this…”, searching for a way to avoid a direct yes, and at that moment we clapped to cheer him in doing the choreography x)
The other members thanked us for showing our support hahaha Ohno said he would have to study again then, and another New York trip became the topic of conversation ~ Like in Osaka’s MC on the second day, they mentioned what they studied in New York : staging for Jun, dance for Ohno… When Sho asked “What about you Aiba-san ?”, he answered the actors’ passion XDDD (They were on the main stage at that point) They also talked about goods, but I don’t remember it well.
Nino, Jun and Ohno went backstage to change clothes, and Aiba promoted Last Hope. Then Sho’s turn, promoting Kamisama no Karute and Nazotoki. Nino returned, they asked him if he’d be fine alone and he answered yes, but he didn’t have to in the end, because Ohno and Jun came right at that moment. Nino promoted Platinum Data, Jun said he’ll watch it, and Nino asked about Ohno. He replied with an “Eh ?” that made us laugh (he wasn’t listening x)), and even after Jun repeated the question for Oh-chan, he didn’t give a direct answer XD Instead he asked if they had watched Kaibutsu-kun, and when they answered they did, he said “Oh, is that so. Sorry” hahaha Afterwards Oh-chan dragged the conversation with simple questions : where is the movie released (Jun : “It’s a movie, so of course in movie theatres” XD), when, how long will it be screened in theatres, etc. We laughed a lot thanks to Riida x) They should bring him in the conversation every time they promote something, it makes it much funnier ~ Though maybe it would end up not being as well promoted as it should be haha The individual promotions ended with Jun’s movie, then they promoted NHK’s program (airing on that night) compiling the videos of people they interviewed for the 2012 Furusato. Sho thought it was airing on Monday 14th, but Jun reminded him that there’s News Zero at that time XD Sho did “Zerooo ~” and made us laugh x)
Oh-chan promoted 24h TV, and they prepared for the second part. Nino asked Aiba-chan to show the passion he had learnt about in New York hahaha
Tsuide Oide
Kimi ga iru kara
This was one of the instances where something was wrong with Nino's voice... After Jun's line it was Nino's turn, and Jun sings as well but softly, so that it kinda appears as "Nino's solo line". Though this time, Nino's voice was really soft as well, so the effect didn't come out as it was supposed to be. It may have been the mic, but I'm not so sure considering how Nino's voice wasn't his usual one in the first part of the concert.
At the end of the perf, Nino got entirely lifted up by the Juniors around him ^^
Two (Ohno’s solo)
Footage
The last image always makes me laugh : the balloons are in the background, and the focus is on a corn potage can x)
Tabi wa tsuzuku yo
When they appeared and started throwing out the balls, they were mentioning things like it's the last time they're doing it and stuff.
Sho had his "throwing out balls crazily" moment, shouting "Ageru ! Ageru ! Ageru !" (Giving ! Giving ! Giving !) while doing it XDTh
The balloons get lifted up when Sho's rap begin ~
Also at some point Sho changed the lyrics, and Nino as well for his last line, but I didn't grasp it ><
Nice na kokoroiki
Sho had again an "Ageru ! Ageru ! Ageru !" moment x)
Lucky man
Jun was having a blast waving at everyone and acting like a child, Sho-chan didn't forget to hit his head for the "popcorn" part (when we have to scream "man" after him), and the other members were having fun as well ~
Just before disappearing, Sho took off his popcorn headpiece and earned lots of kyas x)
Also, at the end Jun made a "neee" in his child voice while doing a peace sign, so cute !
We wanna funk, we need a funk (Jun’s solo)
Sore wa yappari kimi deshita (Nino’s solo)
Beautiful, as usual… Nino did well with his singing =)
Refrain
Face down
Oh yeah
Love so sweet
For the Jun-Aiba moment, Aiba held out his hand making the first half of a heart, looked at Jun, and Jun had an abashed smile and face while completing the heart ~ At the same time Nino was playing around with Juniors at the back of the dome on the moving stage ^^
I'm not sure at all but I think it's Ohno who, when he had to change individual carts, threw himself in a Junior's arms (the Junior was on the alley between the two carts), tied his arms and legs around him, and got carried by the Junior to the cart on the other side of the stage alley x)
Your eyes
Waiting for you
During the song they get down from their towers and dance (at least the last chorus) on the moving stage at the back of the dome. I really like the bouncing movement for the “hashire” part, and the moving stage bounces with them ~ I hope we’ll get the dance on DVD for this particular line, and not a close-up on a member ><
Wild at Heart
Confettis in all arena and more for the stands as well, just like in Tokyo ~
Jun made a puppet out of Nino again, making him blowing us a kiss. With Aiba, he just got close and they sang with their heads next to each other, Jun pointing his thumb in Aiba's direction when Aiba was singing.
Encore
Carnival Night
Energy song
Oh-chan introduced this song with his Kaibutsu voice ~
My girl
Everytime I think this song's lyrics really fit an encore, and the video with the members in popcorn men, waving a penlight during the last chorus, is really cute =)
When the stage doors were closing, Aiba being in the middle, he was the last one we saw. He pointed his index finger towards us the whole time the doors were closing on him.
Double encore
Thank you speeches
As usual, Sho appeared with his back on us while holding the Popcorn towel ^^
Jun thanked us, and said while it’s true that there’s some sadness since today is the last day, he received a lot of power and courage from us. So he’ll keep on doing his best, and talked about meeting again in concerts in 2013.
Nino thanked us three times, and the audience laughed at that time ; I’m not sure why though. Maybe because of his hair Jun fixed afterwards ?
Aiba started talking about harmony, and then went “no no, that’s not it” lol He also mentioned how this time he remembered the concert (he had talked previously during the tour that he doesn’t really remember concerts, they pass by too quickly for him). Finally, he asked us to attend when they have new concerts ~ He said something like “出席を取るね”, which means being present (for a class, etc.) x)
Oh-chan talked about going to New York again to study haha And like Aiba, asked us to come when they do another concert =)
Sho thanked us for the uchiwas we always make, it was really nice of him ^^ (There’re a given for an Arashi concert, and yet these things take so much time to do !! Kudos to fans who do a different one every time, it’s such hard work…)
For the introduction of the next song, Jun let Aiba-chan do it, and he said something but Nino interrupted him quickly afterwards haha “You should ask “yaru ?”” (Wanna do it ?) So that’s what he asked us ~ He added other requests, like getting excited and singing along with them, and Wish started playing.
Wish
Happiness
Jun went on the left baseball stands again, and this time took care of getting rid of his towel before climbing first. He started walking on a wall separating two sections, but fans approached him and started touching him, so he stepped backwards a bit and a staff member intervened. Afterwards he walked again on that small wall, then went to a stand wall on his right (also really small Oo And there was a kind of pipe on it as well) before coming down.
Triple encore
A.RA.SHI
A guy came to make the usual announcements, but of course we were screaming for Arashi. It was the last day, so we had to get a third encore, no other way possible x) The music started right as the poor guy was still talking lol Again, A.RA.SHI was awesome <3 I was surprised though, I really expected Calling as the third encore !
On the main screen, it was a mix of all the videos used during the concert ^^
Then the guy came again, but we screamed for Arashi. It didn't work that time though... T_T Well, I knew that a fourth encore would be really hard to get so it wasn't a surprise. Still, I was impressed at how long everyone kept screaming ~ Usually it doesn't last that long, and there aren't that many people screaming (when we know we can't really get another encore, that is). I couldn't even hear what the guy was saying XD He had a hard time, repeating every thirty seconds that it really was over (and thus that we should stop calling and listen to the exit order instead). I felt bad for him ^^"
The concert ended around 7pm, and that was how my Popcorn adventure came to an end... It has been two awesome months following Arashi during their Japan tour, so thank you Arashi <3 またね ~ ^w^