Kaya's live at Takadanobaba Area 7/19 REPORT
Yesterday I was at Kaya's live in Takadanobaba and I enjoyed it so much! I have made a big effort to describe it thoroughly in this report. Please read if you like him!!
KAYA’s ONEMAN AT TAKADANOBABA AREA 7/19
Finally, I have seen Kaya live!! My very first concert, and an oneman, so what else could I ask for? 24 hours have gone by and I am still feeling happy and spellbound. But let me tell you about it in detail.
I met my friends around 2pm at Shinjuku station; we wanted to get to Takadanobaba soon because we had read on the official site that some limited merchandise, including t-shirts and tanktops, would be going on sale at 3.30 (even if doors wouldn’t open until 5.30). We arrived there way too early, and queuing for it was forbidden, so we went to eat something and when we came back some lolitas and other fans were already lurking around impatiently. We were let in and walked down the stairs, and we were told that we could already buy stuff but the t-shirts weren’t there yet. So I bought some photosets and a wristband in the meantime. We knew that Kaya was very near, inside the hall, but I couldn’t get a glimpse of him or anything, even if the access doors behind us opened several times. The t-shirt boxes were finally delivered; there were three different ones: polo shirt in white, white tanktop and black t-shirt, all with some sort of cute emblem on the front and the words “Glitter: Who is tonight’s guest?” on the back. I took a picture of the two I bought:
After buying our stuff, we went away again because there was a long time left before the door opening. When we returned, they were already calling people according to their ticket numbers, and some minutes later we were let in (we had around 168). The audience area was divided into three levels, and the first was basically all taken when we went in, after leaving stuff in the lockers. I am glad I didn’t make my way into it, thought, since the visibility from the second level was much better, it was basically on level with the stage, so I could see Kaya very well all the time. A girl in an awesome Chocolat cosplay (perfect, 10/10 really)was standing next to me, and there were some other very pretty cosplayers with different Kaya outfits.
To ease the waiting time, two dragqueens, Veronica and Lil’ Grand Bitch, came on stage and playbacked some disco songs; it was quite amusing since I had never seen them. I have to say that they are wonderful performers, not pretty (the hair in the armpits of Lil’ was disturbing), but very good dancers and really funny when they talked. They are a couple of unique creatures lol.
The real live started way past 6pm, fifteen minutes late, but gosh was it worth it! The beginning of Carmilla started playing with the curtain still down, and at least one minute of the song was sang, in a wonderful, wonderful voice, before the curtain was pulled up and we saw Kaya. As I had seen the outfit in the photoset I’d just bought, I was praying he’d be wearing the new red dress, and yay he was!!! I was dumbstruck, he looked so pretty and elegant. The dancers were chained to the wall and Kaya molested Ryoushin while the drag-queens molested the others and there was a lot of dancing.
Outfit he wore during this part:
I can’t say that I didn’t imagine him to be like that; I did, so he was exactly as I thought *_* (aka amazing).
Let me tell you, all the songs in the Glitter album were sang except for Hydrangea (aww I love the new version), plus Kagami Oni, Pourriture Noble and Chocolat. This might have been the setlist (I am not 100%sure about the order, but I am about the songs):
1. Carmilla
2. Kagami Oni
3. Paradise lost
4. Silvery dark
----
5. Psycho butterfly
6. Pourriture Noble
7. Walkure
8. Masquerade
9. Epicurean
----
10. Chocolat
11. Kasha
----
12. Funerary dream
13. Glitter arch
----
14. Rose jail (twice)
Basically, at least to me, the first part of the live, in the long red outfit, had some of the deepest songs, with very elegant choreographies. During Kagami Oni they did some awesome hand dances. Paradise Lost took my breath away. One of the dancers, Ochi, appeared in a black outfit, as if he were the dark, pitiful creature that is the protagonist of the lyrics of the song, and Kaya moved around him as he performed awesome antics and contemporary-dance moves. I also have to say that Kaya’s dancing is great, he can move in so many different ways; at one moment, during Paradise Lost I think, he moved as if he were a doll or marionette pulled by strings, so well that one could almost see the invisible strings.
The lower part of the new dress, just as in the Carmilla one, was detachable, and once he had greeted us and talked for a while he went away and came back with this dress in short-skirt version, awesome! I am so happy I could see the outfits very well from my position, even if I was missing being able to touch him and be really close (he touches fans all the time, he’s really warm and close). He did several long MCs during the concert, sometimes with chanson, like Edith Piaf, playing as background music; even if I’ve been here for some weeks my comprehension of Japanese is not that good, and he speaks very very fast, switching between formal Japanese, colloquial one and remarkably girlish one all the time, which is something that makes the audience giggle and laugh all the time. But I understood some things, and my friend told me some others, and basically listening to him speaking was a real pleasure even if I felt lost at times. He’s charming, he has a broad, lovely smile and he looked like the sun to me, casting his light on everyone and sharing his warmth. At one point he asked whether we liked his outfit and the audience replied “kawaii!!” (“it’s cute”), to what he replied with a very funny “I know!!” XD and everyone laughed. He also mentioned that it had been his birthday two days ago, and thanked everyone for their warm birthday messages; but he also complained that some people had sent their messages one day earlier, which is pointless since it only makes sense when it’s done on the proper day; but still, doing it earlier was much better than doing it one day late late, which is what KAMIJO from Versailles had done (hahaha). He also mentioned that it was KAMIJO’s birthday (on that day, the 19th) and we wished him a happy birthday (I wonder if he was hiding somewhere? XD). I think that he mentioned him a lot, not only because they are good friends but also because next weekend he, Versailles and some others are having a live together. During his MC he also told us what merchandise was available, and asked whether we’d buy the t-shirts and stuff. By the way, when he said it had been his birthday, a guy in the audience asked: “how old did you turn?” and he giggled a lot and said “hatachi!” (meaning… twenty years old). We all know that’s a big fat lie but it was so cute. And then he was like “how do you ask me such a thiiiing~?” Anyway, it’s clear that he’s still in his twenties haha. He also mentioned that the national tour has been extended, and some lives are scheduled for September; everyone clapped and congratulated him.
As he performed, sometimes he was alone onstage, as for instance during Silvery Dark, which was really wonderful; his voice is so rich and he did awesome things with it, you could feel the emotion in every note. Sometimes the drag-queens were dancing with him, and sometimes it was two or four of the cute dancers. During Masquerade all the dancers were half-naked and the dragqueens were onstage too; Kaya actually held a mask on his hand. Psycho Butterfly had an elaborate, really striking choreography and some hand movements during the chorus which I could barely follow lol (I am clumsy). The dancers also did awesomely during this song, even including some breakdance movements. Epicurean was really fun to dance, the audience joined Kaya and his guys and we danced a lot! I love the song.
During the break due to his change of outfit, Lil’ Grand Bitch appeared on stage and it was really his best act! He play backed “Nasty, naughty boy” from Christina Aguilera, while -playing- with a cute guy who was sitting on a chair; Lil’ whipped him and did bad things to him hahahaa… it was so funny.
I was positively surprised when I saw him come onstage, after a break, in school-girl outfit!
It’s the same outfit he’s wearing in the album cover, but the hair is different, I am very happy he got rid of that blond wig and got a much cuter one. He looked exactly like this: PHOTO. The outfit matched the lighter songs like Chocolat very well. The Chocolat choreography looked even better live than in the PV fragment, because we got to see the whole of it, and it made more sense. His smile as he sang these happier songs was out of this world, honestly, he really was beaming. During the chorus of Kasha the audience jumped really high at some points, it was fun to do it with everyone at the same time.
The dancers changed outfits about six times during the concert, and at some point they showed up wearing the polo shirts that are part of the merchandise, and looking geeky for a while.
It was very hot in the live hall despite the air conditioner, and some fans used the pink feathery fans available as merchandise to fan Kaya in a cute way, at which he was very happy haha. But the number one lovely moment of the night took place when he was about to introduce one of the songs, and one of his singers came onstage and hugged him by surprise, and he blinked several times as if saying “whaaat??”. Then the other dancers appeared carrying a big birthday cake with lit candles, and a woman carried a rose bouquet. He was genuinely surprised, and really moved; we could tell because the pitch of his voice went down and he actually talked in his singing voice (so that you have a rough idea…) for some moments, unable to control it. He covered his face, turned away (probably wiped some tear) and he giggled all the time, saying he didn’t expect it! He was told that the woman who was carrying the rose bouquet was the designer of the Glitter CD (the cover and booklet, I suppose? I know many of you want to kill her XD), and he didn’t recognize her so he was like: “really!?” We all sang happy birthday to him and he blew out the candles. He counted the candles aloud and there were... twenty!!! haha the guys had continued the joke, and he said "yes, perfect!!" XD.
And then after some time everyone left the stage and he was left standing there, hugging the rose bouquet. Seriously. MOST-ADORABLE-SCENE-EVER.
At some point he also explained that some tickets for the September live were going on sale right there, after the show; but still, the best tickets (first ones) would go to the people in his fanclub, who seem to be finally getting ticket privileges as expected. So the ones going on sale there would be the second best, and then there would be a general sale sometime later. I am so proud I did understand this part without help lol. I’d love to be here at that time…
He left the stage and we called him back for an encore, and he reappeared, still in the highschool uniform, and talked a bit about Funerary Dream. He said that he wrote it out of the feelings he had when he left his hometown Tokushima and went to Tokyo, and he realized that even if he wanted to see his family and his loved ones he couldn’t, he was far. After this explanation, and being as it is a wonderful song, I admit a wept a bit during the first part of it. He put so much emotion in it… After that, he asked us to sing Glitter Arch with him and waved the microphone in our direction often; I felt guilty because I don’t know most of the lyrics, so I will make sure to learn them… Everyone sang, though, and he was very excited and happy. He introduced the drag-queens and dancers to us before they left the stage.
He left again and the audience decided to call him back for a second encore by singing happy birthday about ten times… And then the general craziness began. He reappeared wearing tight JEANS and a half-open white t-shirt that revealed a part of his firm chest, and no wig (I think, his hair was much shorter, dark brown and straight). MANLY Kaya drove me crazy and I made my way down to the first level and joined the hard, mad moshing that went on during Rose Jail. It was insane; everyone pushed forward during the chorus and reached for him and touched him and he let us do it; he really got molested A LOT, and hell I joined too XD, after all it was what he wanted! I held his hand for at least 4 seconds (I’ll never forget it) and touched the fabric of the jeans too hehe. I can’t use enough words to describe how fun and steamy this last part was, he kept luring us and doing sexy poses… We really got to see the hot, playful guy beyond the elegant female outfits he usually wears. It’s a pity that there’s no photoshoots of him in these clothes available; but the good thing is, we were totally surprised.
I was just too excited when he left the stage, so at least I didn’t feel depressed or anything; after all I am seeing him and Versailles next weekend, wohooaa! All in all, it was an awesome show, everything sounded awesome and he was at his best. The recording of the songs doesn’t do justice to the way he sings live, he’s much more striking (I do love the CD though, and the new arrangements). If you ever get the chance to go to one of his lives, don’t miss it…
When we were exiting the venue, the staff had placed rose bouquets sent by several people in different spots, and I could take a pic of the beautiful bouquet that Hizaki and Jasmine You from Versailles had sent him. Look!! So cute~.
I have to thank Neff for reminding me of important details that I’ve included!! ^__^ Thaaanks
KAYA’s ONEMAN AT TAKADANOBABA AREA 7/19
Finally, I have seen Kaya live!! My very first concert, and an oneman, so what else could I ask for? 24 hours have gone by and I am still feeling happy and spellbound. But let me tell you about it in detail.
I met my friends around 2pm at Shinjuku station; we wanted to get to Takadanobaba soon because we had read on the official site that some limited merchandise, including t-shirts and tanktops, would be going on sale at 3.30 (even if doors wouldn’t open until 5.30). We arrived there way too early, and queuing for it was forbidden, so we went to eat something and when we came back some lolitas and other fans were already lurking around impatiently. We were let in and walked down the stairs, and we were told that we could already buy stuff but the t-shirts weren’t there yet. So I bought some photosets and a wristband in the meantime. We knew that Kaya was very near, inside the hall, but I couldn’t get a glimpse of him or anything, even if the access doors behind us opened several times. The t-shirt boxes were finally delivered; there were three different ones: polo shirt in white, white tanktop and black t-shirt, all with some sort of cute emblem on the front and the words “Glitter: Who is tonight’s guest?” on the back. I took a picture of the two I bought:
After buying our stuff, we went away again because there was a long time left before the door opening. When we returned, they were already calling people according to their ticket numbers, and some minutes later we were let in (we had around 168). The audience area was divided into three levels, and the first was basically all taken when we went in, after leaving stuff in the lockers. I am glad I didn’t make my way into it, thought, since the visibility from the second level was much better, it was basically on level with the stage, so I could see Kaya very well all the time. A girl in an awesome Chocolat cosplay (perfect, 10/10 really)was standing next to me, and there were some other very pretty cosplayers with different Kaya outfits.
To ease the waiting time, two dragqueens, Veronica and Lil’ Grand Bitch, came on stage and playbacked some disco songs; it was quite amusing since I had never seen them. I have to say that they are wonderful performers, not pretty (the hair in the armpits of Lil’ was disturbing), but very good dancers and really funny when they talked. They are a couple of unique creatures lol.
The real live started way past 6pm, fifteen minutes late, but gosh was it worth it! The beginning of Carmilla started playing with the curtain still down, and at least one minute of the song was sang, in a wonderful, wonderful voice, before the curtain was pulled up and we saw Kaya. As I had seen the outfit in the photoset I’d just bought, I was praying he’d be wearing the new red dress, and yay he was!!! I was dumbstruck, he looked so pretty and elegant. The dancers were chained to the wall and Kaya molested Ryoushin while the drag-queens molested the others and there was a lot of dancing.
Outfit he wore during this part:
I can’t say that I didn’t imagine him to be like that; I did, so he was exactly as I thought *_* (aka amazing).
Let me tell you, all the songs in the Glitter album were sang except for Hydrangea (aww I love the new version), plus Kagami Oni, Pourriture Noble and Chocolat. This might have been the setlist (I am not 100%sure about the order, but I am about the songs):
1. Carmilla
2. Kagami Oni
3. Paradise lost
4. Silvery dark
----
5. Psycho butterfly
6. Pourriture Noble
7. Walkure
8. Masquerade
9. Epicurean
----
10. Chocolat
11. Kasha
----
12. Funerary dream
13. Glitter arch
----
14. Rose jail (twice)
Basically, at least to me, the first part of the live, in the long red outfit, had some of the deepest songs, with very elegant choreographies. During Kagami Oni they did some awesome hand dances. Paradise Lost took my breath away. One of the dancers, Ochi, appeared in a black outfit, as if he were the dark, pitiful creature that is the protagonist of the lyrics of the song, and Kaya moved around him as he performed awesome antics and contemporary-dance moves. I also have to say that Kaya’s dancing is great, he can move in so many different ways; at one moment, during Paradise Lost I think, he moved as if he were a doll or marionette pulled by strings, so well that one could almost see the invisible strings.
The lower part of the new dress, just as in the Carmilla one, was detachable, and once he had greeted us and talked for a while he went away and came back with this dress in short-skirt version, awesome! I am so happy I could see the outfits very well from my position, even if I was missing being able to touch him and be really close (he touches fans all the time, he’s really warm and close). He did several long MCs during the concert, sometimes with chanson, like Edith Piaf, playing as background music; even if I’ve been here for some weeks my comprehension of Japanese is not that good, and he speaks very very fast, switching between formal Japanese, colloquial one and remarkably girlish one all the time, which is something that makes the audience giggle and laugh all the time. But I understood some things, and my friend told me some others, and basically listening to him speaking was a real pleasure even if I felt lost at times. He’s charming, he has a broad, lovely smile and he looked like the sun to me, casting his light on everyone and sharing his warmth. At one point he asked whether we liked his outfit and the audience replied “kawaii!!” (“it’s cute”), to what he replied with a very funny “I know!!” XD and everyone laughed. He also mentioned that it had been his birthday two days ago, and thanked everyone for their warm birthday messages; but he also complained that some people had sent their messages one day earlier, which is pointless since it only makes sense when it’s done on the proper day; but still, doing it earlier was much better than doing it one day late late, which is what KAMIJO from Versailles had done (hahaha). He also mentioned that it was KAMIJO’s birthday (on that day, the 19th) and we wished him a happy birthday (I wonder if he was hiding somewhere? XD). I think that he mentioned him a lot, not only because they are good friends but also because next weekend he, Versailles and some others are having a live together. During his MC he also told us what merchandise was available, and asked whether we’d buy the t-shirts and stuff. By the way, when he said it had been his birthday, a guy in the audience asked: “how old did you turn?” and he giggled a lot and said “hatachi!” (meaning… twenty years old). We all know that’s a big fat lie but it was so cute. And then he was like “how do you ask me such a thiiiing~?” Anyway, it’s clear that he’s still in his twenties haha. He also mentioned that the national tour has been extended, and some lives are scheduled for September; everyone clapped and congratulated him.
As he performed, sometimes he was alone onstage, as for instance during Silvery Dark, which was really wonderful; his voice is so rich and he did awesome things with it, you could feel the emotion in every note. Sometimes the drag-queens were dancing with him, and sometimes it was two or four of the cute dancers. During Masquerade all the dancers were half-naked and the dragqueens were onstage too; Kaya actually held a mask on his hand. Psycho Butterfly had an elaborate, really striking choreography and some hand movements during the chorus which I could barely follow lol (I am clumsy). The dancers also did awesomely during this song, even including some breakdance movements. Epicurean was really fun to dance, the audience joined Kaya and his guys and we danced a lot! I love the song.
During the break due to his change of outfit, Lil’ Grand Bitch appeared on stage and it was really his best act! He play backed “Nasty, naughty boy” from Christina Aguilera, while -playing- with a cute guy who was sitting on a chair; Lil’ whipped him and did bad things to him hahahaa… it was so funny.
I was positively surprised when I saw him come onstage, after a break, in school-girl outfit!
It’s the same outfit he’s wearing in the album cover, but the hair is different, I am very happy he got rid of that blond wig and got a much cuter one. He looked exactly like this: PHOTO. The outfit matched the lighter songs like Chocolat very well. The Chocolat choreography looked even better live than in the PV fragment, because we got to see the whole of it, and it made more sense. His smile as he sang these happier songs was out of this world, honestly, he really was beaming. During the chorus of Kasha the audience jumped really high at some points, it was fun to do it with everyone at the same time.
The dancers changed outfits about six times during the concert, and at some point they showed up wearing the polo shirts that are part of the merchandise, and looking geeky for a while.
It was very hot in the live hall despite the air conditioner, and some fans used the pink feathery fans available as merchandise to fan Kaya in a cute way, at which he was very happy haha. But the number one lovely moment of the night took place when he was about to introduce one of the songs, and one of his singers came onstage and hugged him by surprise, and he blinked several times as if saying “whaaat??”. Then the other dancers appeared carrying a big birthday cake with lit candles, and a woman carried a rose bouquet. He was genuinely surprised, and really moved; we could tell because the pitch of his voice went down and he actually talked in his singing voice (so that you have a rough idea…) for some moments, unable to control it. He covered his face, turned away (probably wiped some tear) and he giggled all the time, saying he didn’t expect it! He was told that the woman who was carrying the rose bouquet was the designer of the Glitter CD (the cover and booklet, I suppose? I know many of you want to kill her XD), and he didn’t recognize her so he was like: “really!?” We all sang happy birthday to him and he blew out the candles. He counted the candles aloud and there were... twenty!!! haha the guys had continued the joke, and he said "yes, perfect!!" XD.
And then after some time everyone left the stage and he was left standing there, hugging the rose bouquet. Seriously. MOST-ADORABLE-SCENE-EVER.
At some point he also explained that some tickets for the September live were going on sale right there, after the show; but still, the best tickets (first ones) would go to the people in his fanclub, who seem to be finally getting ticket privileges as expected. So the ones going on sale there would be the second best, and then there would be a general sale sometime later. I am so proud I did understand this part without help lol. I’d love to be here at that time…
He left the stage and we called him back for an encore, and he reappeared, still in the highschool uniform, and talked a bit about Funerary Dream. He said that he wrote it out of the feelings he had when he left his hometown Tokushima and went to Tokyo, and he realized that even if he wanted to see his family and his loved ones he couldn’t, he was far. After this explanation, and being as it is a wonderful song, I admit a wept a bit during the first part of it. He put so much emotion in it… After that, he asked us to sing Glitter Arch with him and waved the microphone in our direction often; I felt guilty because I don’t know most of the lyrics, so I will make sure to learn them… Everyone sang, though, and he was very excited and happy. He introduced the drag-queens and dancers to us before they left the stage.
He left again and the audience decided to call him back for a second encore by singing happy birthday about ten times… And then the general craziness began. He reappeared wearing tight JEANS and a half-open white t-shirt that revealed a part of his firm chest, and no wig (I think, his hair was much shorter, dark brown and straight). MANLY Kaya drove me crazy and I made my way down to the first level and joined the hard, mad moshing that went on during Rose Jail. It was insane; everyone pushed forward during the chorus and reached for him and touched him and he let us do it; he really got molested A LOT, and hell I joined too XD, after all it was what he wanted! I held his hand for at least 4 seconds (I’ll never forget it) and touched the fabric of the jeans too hehe. I can’t use enough words to describe how fun and steamy this last part was, he kept luring us and doing sexy poses… We really got to see the hot, playful guy beyond the elegant female outfits he usually wears. It’s a pity that there’s no photoshoots of him in these clothes available; but the good thing is, we were totally surprised.
I was just too excited when he left the stage, so at least I didn’t feel depressed or anything; after all I am seeing him and Versailles next weekend, wohooaa! All in all, it was an awesome show, everything sounded awesome and he was at his best. The recording of the songs doesn’t do justice to the way he sings live, he’s much more striking (I do love the CD though, and the new arrangements). If you ever get the chance to go to one of his lives, don’t miss it…
When we were exiting the venue, the staff had placed rose bouquets sent by several people in different spots, and I could take a pic of the beautiful bouquet that Hizaki and Jasmine You from Versailles had sent him. Look!! So cute~.
I have to thank Neff for reminding me of important details that I’ve included!! ^__^ Thaaanks