Hihi Jets - Johnnys Ginza 13 May
This was the first Juniors concert I've been to so I wasn't sure what to expect. The concert was at Theatre Creation which has about 700 people capacity so already much different to huge dome or even arena shows.
First off, this is weird, right? In the goods, they were selling uchiwa but not penlights but when I got into the concert, everyone had penlights but no uchiwa. The girl across the aisle from me even got told her penlight was too big and to put it away. She had an ABCZ light that had like a blow up hand on it. The no uchiwa thing was kind of good since you don't have to worry about crazy fans ignoring the no uchiwa above your shoulder rule. I'd made an Igari uchiwa but wasn't sure if it was allowed (they'd said official goods only but you never know if those rules are going to be enforced or not so I just took my uchiwa and left it in my bag).
There were three boxes to the side of the theatre and before it started I heard the girls behind me say "johnny san" then looked up at the box and was like is that Johnny freaken Kitagawa?
Since I only really know Hihi jets from Shounen Club, I was expecting similar songs but there were quite a few songs I didn't know. It seemed like most of the other audience members had been to a ton of other concerts and all knew each other.
They started off with their intro rap with a whole chant that I didn't pick up at first, so I just faked it. I think they were saying sekai no ichiban high level otoko. All the members looked great and the rollerskating was amazing. They all had great skin too, like have they been all going to a dermatologist or something? Also, thankfully, Igari got rid of that horrible hair style that made him look like a middle aged Jewish woman and had his hair similar to how it used to be.
I didn't really know the first few songs that well. Someone on twitter said that they did some songs Love Tune used to do. I know next to nothing about Love Tune so I don't know but Johnnys do love to recycle.
The first solo was Sakuma doing mata kyou to onaji asu ga kuru. Nino's solo from AYH. Umm, yeah... not good. I thought it was a weird choice because what really made this song was Nino's bitterness when he sung it, and when Nino does this song it's one of the few times I've found him sexy. That's something no teenage kid is going bring. Sakuma was obviously lip synicing, badly, and the backing he lip synced to wasn't that great to start with.
Next, Mizuki's solo, First Love. I didn't know this song but found out it was a cover of a song by Utada Hikaru. I'd never heard of her before but this is a link to the original - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuKluSrbHik.
To be honest, Mizuki pisses me off sometimes. He overplays the cutesy thing and his voice can be annoying but he totally nailed it with this solo. It was perfect for his voice and just worked so well. I'd totally expected him to do a Yamada or Jump song but I'm glad he didn't. He sat on a chair for the whole song but Igari rollerskate danced to it and he was so freaken amazing. The whole thing was one of the highlights of the show.
Then a few songs I knew = Dreamer and Beast. Then Yupi came out and did the intro to when I was seventeen, which was a weird choice to me. It's like a totally weird and depressing song.
Then rollerskating baton throwing. Hell yeah. With flashing light up batons and flashing rollerskates. That was super amazing beyond words. Except Sakuma dropped the batons three times. Sakuma, get your shit together.
Then another song I didn't really know then Jounetsu Jamboree. I didn't know that well either but it seemed everyone else knew some complicated furi to it.
Then they went into the MC. I didn't get a lot of the MC but they were talking about Sakuma's CM and making him do lines from it. Then about Yupi's drama. I think it ws during the MC that they did a rap about the goods for sale and making the crowd do a response like "Uchiwa!", "Uchiwa!". That was pretty amusing.
Speaking of goods, they were selling an uchiwa strap, that clipped over your uchwa handle. Why? Who knows? I've never once in my life felt my uchiwa would be safer with a strap.
Oh I forgot to mention, somewhere in the first part they introduced 7 Men Samurai as special guests. I never used to like them but they are growing on me. I always thought the kid playing guitar was faking it but he really did look like he was playing live. If he wasn't, it'd put as much time in to learning to fake it as it would take to actually learn guitar. He seemed much more real than say Keito when he plays guitar with Jump.
I didn't know the next song. Then it was Igari's solo. When the music started, I thought I know this song. Then realised it was Fuma's solo ... but. Very brave choice. As the song started, the girls behind me were laughing loudly. I turned around and gave them a dirty look but they kept talking loudly so I had to tell them to shut up. I'm not sure how anything can think that is appropriate behavior.
I think I'd never heard Fuma sing this song, I'd have thought it was great but I couldn't help compare and well Fuma has one of the best voices in Johnnys. Like Sakuma's solo, I thought this wasn't a song that should be covered by someone so young. I was really interested in hearing Igari sing because he rarely sings alone but he was good. Not great but definitely not didnt' embarass himself. I'd like to hear more of his singing.
Next was Yupi's solo, Muchu Koi. I didn't know this one either but he came out in a very over the top (even for Johnnys) sequin robe then the other members came on one by one in similar robes while Yupi tried to fan service it up with them. Hashi looked hot AF in his black and silver robe. Lastly Igari came on in a leopard print robe and was trying to escape to the other side of the stage but Yupi caught him and started stroking his face. It was all very fun.
Then Troublemaker. I don't really like Hihi, or really anyone, doing covers of Arashi songs but they stuck to fairly safe covers for this show. They ran through the crowd for this song, going to a platform in the middle. I sat on the aisle but too far back. Still, they were only about 5 rows in front of me.
Then 7 Men Samurai did Samurai.
Then Hashi's solo. I don't really remember much of it except he has an amazing voice. His singing reminds me a lot of Takaki from HSJ.
Then Kimi to Milky Way which is one of my favourite Sexy Zone songs. Really loved the Hihi version of this too.
I loved Fire, which seemed to be rocked up a bit more than usual.
After that, more Arashi covers = Kotoba Yori and Oh Yeah. Again, pretty safe covers which were lots of fun. They ran down to the center stage again (I think it wasn't a real stage just a temporary platform). At one point Yupi looked at me and did a double take like OMG, foreigner and Sakuma kind of looked at me like that person isn't like everyone else. Igari wink but I think it was a general wink in my direction.
I did get a bit choked up in Oh Yeah because it's like the definitive Arashi concert song and maybe I'll never see them do it again. But I got over it fast and got into the furi.
Then Be My Story to get the main part. I didn't know that well either since I only saw them do it once on SC.
It didnt' take long for them to be back for their encore. I was expecting them to do Baby Gone but there was no Baby Gone. I have no idea why because IMO it's one of their best songs.
Then Perfect. Okay, total fangirl squeeing moment warning. They ran to the middle stage again but when Hashi ran up, he was kind of looking then got to the centre and instead of heading for the stage, he kept going through the crowd. I put my hand out so he could hand touch and stopped and grabbed my hand and squeezed it. He is so cute. I don't care if I'm old enough to be his mother, I was all like doki doki. Then he kind of did that smile and went back to the centre stage. I was all like I'll never wash my hand again but I went to the toilet right after the concert and I'm not filthy enough to NOT wash my hands :) LOL.
They got called back for another encore but just came out and did thank yous.
Then it was over. If the resale tickets weren't like 50,000 yen+ I'd go again but that's an insane price.
I'm sure there are heaps of things I've forgotten but it was amazing show. I was so super impressed at how Igari's dancing has leveled up. Mizuki is such a professional, which is probs because he's been in Johnnys since he was in nappies. He just really seems in command of things when he's on stage.
Oh I forgot the taiko drumming while rollerskating. I'm not sure which song they did it in but it was mindblowing. I'd seen them do this in Kinpuri Island and I think it was around then I became a Hihi fan.
That's about as much as I can remember. I really should write up a report of Sexy Pages but I've been sick with a bad cold for the past week.
First off, this is weird, right? In the goods, they were selling uchiwa but not penlights but when I got into the concert, everyone had penlights but no uchiwa. The girl across the aisle from me even got told her penlight was too big and to put it away. She had an ABCZ light that had like a blow up hand on it. The no uchiwa thing was kind of good since you don't have to worry about crazy fans ignoring the no uchiwa above your shoulder rule. I'd made an Igari uchiwa but wasn't sure if it was allowed (they'd said official goods only but you never know if those rules are going to be enforced or not so I just took my uchiwa and left it in my bag).
There were three boxes to the side of the theatre and before it started I heard the girls behind me say "johnny san" then looked up at the box and was like is that Johnny freaken Kitagawa?
Since I only really know Hihi jets from Shounen Club, I was expecting similar songs but there were quite a few songs I didn't know. It seemed like most of the other audience members had been to a ton of other concerts and all knew each other.
They started off with their intro rap with a whole chant that I didn't pick up at first, so I just faked it. I think they were saying sekai no ichiban high level otoko. All the members looked great and the rollerskating was amazing. They all had great skin too, like have they been all going to a dermatologist or something? Also, thankfully, Igari got rid of that horrible hair style that made him look like a middle aged Jewish woman and had his hair similar to how it used to be.
I didn't really know the first few songs that well. Someone on twitter said that they did some songs Love Tune used to do. I know next to nothing about Love Tune so I don't know but Johnnys do love to recycle.
The first solo was Sakuma doing mata kyou to onaji asu ga kuru. Nino's solo from AYH. Umm, yeah... not good. I thought it was a weird choice because what really made this song was Nino's bitterness when he sung it, and when Nino does this song it's one of the few times I've found him sexy. That's something no teenage kid is going bring. Sakuma was obviously lip synicing, badly, and the backing he lip synced to wasn't that great to start with.
Next, Mizuki's solo, First Love. I didn't know this song but found out it was a cover of a song by Utada Hikaru. I'd never heard of her before but this is a link to the original - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuKluSrbHik.
To be honest, Mizuki pisses me off sometimes. He overplays the cutesy thing and his voice can be annoying but he totally nailed it with this solo. It was perfect for his voice and just worked so well. I'd totally expected him to do a Yamada or Jump song but I'm glad he didn't. He sat on a chair for the whole song but Igari rollerskate danced to it and he was so freaken amazing. The whole thing was one of the highlights of the show.
Then a few songs I knew = Dreamer and Beast. Then Yupi came out and did the intro to when I was seventeen, which was a weird choice to me. It's like a totally weird and depressing song.
Then rollerskating baton throwing. Hell yeah. With flashing light up batons and flashing rollerskates. That was super amazing beyond words. Except Sakuma dropped the batons three times. Sakuma, get your shit together.
Then another song I didn't really know then Jounetsu Jamboree. I didn't know that well either but it seemed everyone else knew some complicated furi to it.
Then they went into the MC. I didn't get a lot of the MC but they were talking about Sakuma's CM and making him do lines from it. Then about Yupi's drama. I think it ws during the MC that they did a rap about the goods for sale and making the crowd do a response like "Uchiwa!", "Uchiwa!". That was pretty amusing.
Speaking of goods, they were selling an uchiwa strap, that clipped over your uchwa handle. Why? Who knows? I've never once in my life felt my uchiwa would be safer with a strap.
Oh I forgot to mention, somewhere in the first part they introduced 7 Men Samurai as special guests. I never used to like them but they are growing on me. I always thought the kid playing guitar was faking it but he really did look like he was playing live. If he wasn't, it'd put as much time in to learning to fake it as it would take to actually learn guitar. He seemed much more real than say Keito when he plays guitar with Jump.
I didn't know the next song. Then it was Igari's solo. When the music started, I thought I know this song. Then realised it was Fuma's solo ... but. Very brave choice. As the song started, the girls behind me were laughing loudly. I turned around and gave them a dirty look but they kept talking loudly so I had to tell them to shut up. I'm not sure how anything can think that is appropriate behavior.
I think I'd never heard Fuma sing this song, I'd have thought it was great but I couldn't help compare and well Fuma has one of the best voices in Johnnys. Like Sakuma's solo, I thought this wasn't a song that should be covered by someone so young. I was really interested in hearing Igari sing because he rarely sings alone but he was good. Not great but definitely not didnt' embarass himself. I'd like to hear more of his singing.
Next was Yupi's solo, Muchu Koi. I didn't know this one either but he came out in a very over the top (even for Johnnys) sequin robe then the other members came on one by one in similar robes while Yupi tried to fan service it up with them. Hashi looked hot AF in his black and silver robe. Lastly Igari came on in a leopard print robe and was trying to escape to the other side of the stage but Yupi caught him and started stroking his face. It was all very fun.
Then Troublemaker. I don't really like Hihi, or really anyone, doing covers of Arashi songs but they stuck to fairly safe covers for this show. They ran through the crowd for this song, going to a platform in the middle. I sat on the aisle but too far back. Still, they were only about 5 rows in front of me.
Then 7 Men Samurai did Samurai.
Then Hashi's solo. I don't really remember much of it except he has an amazing voice. His singing reminds me a lot of Takaki from HSJ.
Then Kimi to Milky Way which is one of my favourite Sexy Zone songs. Really loved the Hihi version of this too.
I loved Fire, which seemed to be rocked up a bit more than usual.
After that, more Arashi covers = Kotoba Yori and Oh Yeah. Again, pretty safe covers which were lots of fun. They ran down to the center stage again (I think it wasn't a real stage just a temporary platform). At one point Yupi looked at me and did a double take like OMG, foreigner and Sakuma kind of looked at me like that person isn't like everyone else. Igari wink but I think it was a general wink in my direction.
I did get a bit choked up in Oh Yeah because it's like the definitive Arashi concert song and maybe I'll never see them do it again. But I got over it fast and got into the furi.
Then Be My Story to get the main part. I didn't know that well either since I only saw them do it once on SC.
It didnt' take long for them to be back for their encore. I was expecting them to do Baby Gone but there was no Baby Gone. I have no idea why because IMO it's one of their best songs.
Then Perfect. Okay, total fangirl squeeing moment warning. They ran to the middle stage again but when Hashi ran up, he was kind of looking then got to the centre and instead of heading for the stage, he kept going through the crowd. I put my hand out so he could hand touch and stopped and grabbed my hand and squeezed it. He is so cute. I don't care if I'm old enough to be his mother, I was all like doki doki. Then he kind of did that smile and went back to the centre stage. I was all like I'll never wash my hand again but I went to the toilet right after the concert and I'm not filthy enough to NOT wash my hands :) LOL.
They got called back for another encore but just came out and did thank yous.
Then it was over. If the resale tickets weren't like 50,000 yen+ I'd go again but that's an insane price.
I'm sure there are heaps of things I've forgotten but it was amazing show. I was so super impressed at how Igari's dancing has leveled up. Mizuki is such a professional, which is probs because he's been in Johnnys since he was in nappies. He just really seems in command of things when he's on stage.
Oh I forgot the taiko drumming while rollerskating. I'm not sure which song they did it in but it was mindblowing. I'd seen them do this in Kinpuri Island and I think it was around then I became a Hihi fan.
That's about as much as I can remember. I really should write up a report of Sexy Pages but I've been sick with a bad cold for the past week.