Concert Report; duet: May 2006
Photographs: Tetsuji Arai
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TOKIO "Ashita wo Mezashite!" Live Report
TOKIO's Annual Tour, this year named: "Ashita wo Mezashite!" LIVE TOUR!! 2006. A Hot Report on the March 12th Nihon Budokan show.
March 12th, 4pm, Nihon Budokan. In the darkness, the members quietly standby on the stage. Nagase's silhouette appears. But when they start to play, the one who is lit by the spotlight and begins to sing was not Nagase, but Yamaguchi!? They stir up the hall with a surprise right from the start. And we are pulled into the TOKIO world from the opening song 'for you.' The strong layering of sound, the entwining voices feel good to the ear and heart. Vocalist Nagase’s voice is at a peak!
This concert tour has songs written by each member, increasing the TOKIO-ness. Joshima's 'Boku no Renaijijo to Daidokorojijo,' Nagase's 'Ashita wo Mezashite!', Matsuoka's 'No More Bet', Yamaguchi's 'Starving Man' and Kokubun's 'T2' were played full and solid! And then, the MC switched over to laughing mode. With Matsuoka's greeting, "Welcome to Romeo, Juliet," he changed to his Yaoh host face. Today he came with his host buddies (!?). Guitarist Joshima, who had been discretely grown his hair out, immediately became fluffy Leader, saying "The theme of my outfit is “Choi waru oyaji." Kokubun freaks out with the sound of the explosions and made everyone laugh by explaining, "It goes off on the 'Bon' of 'Bon Voyage' and I got told by the staff to just sing the 'Voyage' that comes after."
The MC flowed from stories about the member's moms and everyone talking about how good the motsunikomi Matsuoka had prepared for a week was and quickly changed. Today, as a special present, they performed 'Sunset, Sunrise' for the first time at a concert. In the acoustic version, Yamaguchi was on tambourine, Matsuoka played the congo drums. Since it was the first time since they recorded it, there was an incident at the intro and Taichi said "Let me try that one again." And after the performance, suddenly there was a surprising comment from Yamaguchi, "Can we do an acoustic concert this summer?" When Nagase then asked "Are you going to plan it, Gussan?" he responded, "I'll take full responsibility for it." promising everyone.
Overpowering the hall with the second half of the concert, there was even a Joshima and cello session: 'Amazing Grace'. And Taichi playing a guitar. And Nagase, with his kaleidoscopic voice, deepens the feel of the concert and the men on the stage appeared larger than life. That's what kind of concert it was!