Kagrra, at the Tokyo International Forum Hall C

Tickets for the long awaited one-man live in Tokyo on June 6 were sold out, with the spacious hall filled to capacity with many fans wearing Japanese yukata (informal cotton kimono for the summer season) eager for the concert to begin. When the venue darkened, the audience started cheering and the SE grew louder. Then, Akiya, Sin, Nao and Izumi appeared on the stage with Isshi appearing last of all on the top of the stairs on the center stage. He raised his hand and the audience’s cheering became even louder.

The live started with the grand song Uzu from their new album Shu released in April. As green laser beams stretched out from the stage, Sin played koto, Akiya played a guitar solo, and Isshi sang using a lot of falsetto. Suddenly flames flared on the stairs and went up where Isshi was standing, then Paraizo started. Many in the audience opened their fans and waved them around following Isshi’s lead, and in Sai, the fans spun their towels around in the air during the bright main melody. In the upbeat Kamikaze, members stirred up the audience at the front stage, and the fans pumped their fists up into the air with Isshi.

“Let’s enjoy tonight like it will never end," Isshi said before Towa ni... started. Izumi hit the drums and creating a steady rhythm, Nao made low rolling bass sounds, Sin’s guitar sounds rang out delicately, and Akiya played his guitar solo powerfully. Tanbi naru shi e no shoukei started with exotic guitar chords made by Sin, and Isshi sang enthusiastically opening his hands widely. In the following Ren, he squatted on the stage and looked up to heaven expressing an eternal love. Nao played chopper bass which held a low sound, Sin deftly played koto and electric guitar, and Akiya played the electric guitar quite sharply.

Utakata started with Akiya’s acoustic guitar, and Isshi sang the sad beautiful lyrics. Akiya’s powerful electric guitar sounds were put on Sin’s delicate koto sounds, which made this slow ballad develop dramatically. In the following Kikokushuushuu, Akiya stood on the top of the stairs and played a double neck guitar. It was a grand song in which exotic guitar chords and repeated phrases lapped like waves and evoked a historic Chinese beauty. Here, flames on stage flared out one after another in time with Isshi’s movements. The stage was illuminated by red light, then Jusou was performed with a solemn mood. (Jusou is a tie-in song for the horror movie "Hitorikakurenbo.") Nao’s low bass sounds and Sin’s beautiful koto sounds twisted around mysteriously, and Akiya’s guitar sounds slashed the air. When Gion, an old song from their Indies period, was announced, the fans cheered for joy, and the band performed and expressed the glamorous world of a red-light district in the flashing light. After the drum and bass solos, Japanese festival rhythms began and Yousai started. Sin’s guitar sounds were scattered clearly over the upbeat rhythms made by Izumi.

Isshi addressed the crowd: “Are you warmed up yet!? Next, we’ll play a song we have been working on from our tour last year.” Then Isshi called, “Subarashiki kana?"(Is it wonderful?), and the audience answered all together, “Jinsei-!" (my life). Shubarashiki kana? Jinsei started like this, and the fans raised their hands one after another and jumped to the bright upbeat rhythms. The members looked happy coming up to the front stage, playing and jumping around. “Let’s do one more!” Akiya scratched his guitar, then Kam iuta started. In the flashing light, the fans raised their hands again and jumped. Izumi hit the drums rhythmically, Akiya played an exotic guitar solo, Nao’s bass roared low, and Sin played his guitar sharply and head banged. “Let’s do this together!” In Kotodama, the audience opened up colorful Japanese fans and waved them around the flowery venue.

Isshi then introduced a beautiful slow ballad, Sakurazukiyo:“Please listen to a quiet song here. We put the four seasons into Kagrra,’s songs, and this year we were able to make a beautiful song about cherry blossoms.” Akiya’s guitar sounds rang resonantly, Sin’s guitar sounded low and quietly, and those different types of guitar sounds were in unison in the intro. On the stage cherry blossom petals fell beautifully in the air and Isshi sang emotionally about old memories of his father. The song evoked the slightly sad meaning that spring holds because often we must part with friends in that season. Cherry blossoms falling in the air have particularly moving connotations in Japan; they are a combination of incredible beauty and the feeling that something has come to an end. Then for the final song, Isshi addressed the audience again: “Finally, please all of you, sing for us.” In Urei, silver tapes were shot out into the air, where fans sang again and again. While the SE repeated, members left the stage quietly, and Isshi went up to the top of the stairs and disappeared with smoke.

Answering calls for an encore “Ka! Gu! Ra!” from the audience, members changed their costumes to black T-shirts came back out on the stage. “We’ll complete the album Shu with this song,” Isshi announced. Sin played koto and a slow ballad Houzuki started. Isshi sang about a bitter love in a dark night putting his thoughts into a houzuki (Chinese lantern. In Japanese, it’s written as ‘demon’s lantern’ in kanji characters). In the following Shigatsu tsuitachi, bright synthesizer sounds rang lightly, and the members sang together, moving around on the stage as they played their instruments. During the MC Isshi said, “On June 3rd, Kagrra, turned nine years old. Since our major debut, a lot has happened, but I’m happy to say that there has not been any member changes. And most of all I thank fans who love Kagrra,. Thank you so very much. I’ll sing this next song for you with all my heart.” Then Ouka ranman began, and the audience raised their hands in to the air, jumped, sang together, and never seemed to stop until the last song Yume izuru chi.

Afterward Akiya addressed the crowd: “I really enjoyed today. I was nervous at first, but your smiles made that go away. We’ll go to Brazil in July, so don’t start seeing someone else.” Akiya's words evoked the audience’s laughter, and Sin followed up, raising the fans' hopes: “Playing a live in Tokyo after such a long time makes me want to do a tour again.” Then Nao said, “Kagrra, celebrated our 9th year anniversary on June 3rd. We’ll keep working towards a higher goal, making you better music. Let’s make some great memories together.” The audience answered him with a big applause. Izumi then said, “When we decided to do this live, we looked again at how we should be. We’ll change what we should change, and we won’t change what we shouldn’t change, and when we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we want to be a band that never fails to meet your expectations, and I want to be Izumi who never fails you too. So please keep supporting us!” Finally, Isshi concluded, “I really enjoy the times I can stay with you like this, let’s always keep it this way.” Then, they made the announcement that a long-awaited new single will be released on October 21st, and finished the live by clapping once all together.

Although their music is rock, the world of Kagrra, goes beyond just rock, as they express Japanese tradition through using Japanese instruments, wearing Japanese costumes, and using fantastic stage effects. Undoubtedly people all over the world can enjoy Kagrra,’s performances; Their sincere take on music was very refreshing.


Set list:

1. Uzu
2. Paraizo
3. Sai
4. Kamikaze
5. Towa ni…..

6. Tanbi naru shi e no shoukei
7. Ren
8. Utakata
9. Kikokushuushuu

10. Jusou
11. Gion
12. Yousai
13. Subarashiki kana? Jinsei
14. Kam iuta
15. Kotodama
16. Sakurazukiyo
17. Urei

En1. Houzuki
En2. Shigatu tsuitachi
En3. Ouka ranman
En4. Yume izuru chi