Friends, Johnny’s stars, and fans gather at Matchy tour’s final concerts
KinKi Kids, KAT-TUN, and Tegomass were among the Johnny’s stars who had come to see their Johnny’s senior Masahiko Kondo (46) perform at one of the last concerts of his 30th anniversary tour in Tokyo last night, reports Oricon.
It has been reported the teary-eyed singer faced his fans and friends in the Nihon Budokan who were all chanting, “Matchy”.
“I’m not crying…but I’m very touched. 30 years has been really long…
“The things I hold closest to me are my friends, my (Johnny’s) juniors. And of course, my fans,” he said.
During the concert’s encore, Kondo was joined on stage by Johnny’s stars lead by Shonentai’s Katsuhide Uekusa, Atsuhiro Sato, Hiroshi Nagano from V6, KinKi Kids, Tegomass, and KAT-TUN.
“Today my juniors have come to see me. I hope they go home thinking, ‘the old man’s still going strong’,” he said.
KinKi Kids’ Koichi Domoto had said, “it was like his soul was singing”, prompting the press at the concert to cheer Kondo on to do another tour next year.
“Next year? Let me think about it please,” Kondo said.
However, he also added he wouldn’t be the underdog at this year’s Johnny’s New Year’s countdown concert.
“I’m not going to let myself lose to my juniors yet!,” he said.
Kondo’s fist national tour in 21 years had started back in April, titled “あの街この街マッチとデート 思い出ツアー(Ano Machi Kono Machi Matchy to Date Omoide Tour, That Town This Town a Date with Matchy Memory Tour)”, the singer has been touring around more than 30 venues before finishing at Tokyo’s Nihon Budokan, where his final concert will be held tonight December 11.
With an orchestra and band backing him up, the 46-year-old sang all of his hit songs, and was even taken up 20 metres into the air in a gondola as he continued to sing.
After finishing the first of his last two concerts in Tokyo, the singer said he had a lot of hope for the future.
“I was really touched. 30 years is very long and I can’t believe my fans have been with me all this time.
“This year was an amazing year work-wise. I was awarded Best Vocal Performer by the Japan Record Awards, which has been very encouraging and it motivates me to work harder and learn more things,” he said.
source: MOMOEDGWOOD