[fan report] KAT-TUN 10th Anniversary Live Tour "10Ks!" in Nagoya 2016.04.03
The first leg of KAT-TUN's 10th Anniversary Live Tour "10Ks!" happened in Nagoya Dome last April 03, 2016. As all Hyphens know, aside from the idea that this is a celebration of their 10th year, this will also be their last tour before going on a "charging period". With expectations high (but still trying not to have any) and feelings confused, I decided to travel from Tokyo to Nagoya to watch them for the first live after the tragic happenings in the group.
With that said, as usual, this post will be a mix of my attempt to give a fan report and my personal thoughts on the experience. To those who don't want to be spoiled for the concert (whether you'll watch the other concerts or you're waiting for the DVD, if there will even be any), please do not read this.
And another disclaimer: Sensitive people that can't accept a matter of opinion about KAT-TUN, DO NOT READ THIS.
I'm seriously broke so my travel to Nagoya was long and painful because I decided to take a 7-hour train ride. The travel was fun with lots of sight-seeing moments but it definitely robbed me of my precious sleep. But even with an almost-empty wallet and the hassle of a long travel-time, I told myself that I really wanted to go since I will only have few performances left to watch before they'll take a break for until who-knows-when. And so I went to Nagoya and spilled more money that I barely have at concert goods for the pre-selling (day before the concert). Goods were cool and very KAT-TUN-like and I plan to buy two bags because I intend to use it all the time as a "promotion" for KAT-TUN even if they're on a hiatus. >.<
On the day of the concert, we decided to keep it chill and not have any plans to roam Nagoya before the show. You can say we want to be "fully-charged" before the show (we're not that young anymore so we can't keep up to all-day activities) and have a peace of mind and a calm heart before facing the fact that we're going to start the show that will eventually lead to their end. But at the hotel, we watched KAT-TUN's performance in Music Station of Real Face and Kimi no Yume, Boku no Yume so we didn't end up having calm but more feels. Lol.
Concert starts 4PM (super early) but gates open at 2PM. We decided not to linger outside with all the "activities" fangirls usually do before concerts and just settle down on our seats early and eat our food. And because we're early, I got bored fast. So I just did this:
Well, they have guns for penlight and Kame looks like the perfect victim.
And then, the concert started. I enumerated the stuff that I can still remember from the concert for easier plotting of thoughts:
- Concert started with GOLD. KAT-TUN appeared on stage wearing prince-like mixed with pirate-y kind of costumes. Stage has a huge ship's wheel in the middle so probably, the theme is a "sailing ship" kind of thing. The projected videos on the big screens has the sail with all the KAT-TUN logos of their tours before. These guys are huge One Piece fans up to the end I swear.
- D-Motion was such an awesome performance making the Dome very club-like with a fantastic use of the laser lights. There's new lyrics sang by Nakamaru too which is very cool (and should I say much more preferred than the past versions)
- There was a video of Nakamaru again promoting their concert goods and this time, it's for the Charger. As always, it was hilarious. He gave out reasons why the charger is very practical that it can even save your life. Honestly, I'm at my noisiest laughing at that part.
- For the recording of the sound to be used for their alarm clock, they decided each of them should think of what can be used. It seems they will give a sound individually and then as a group. As KAT-TUN had no idea what kind of stuff they should say, some fans at the arena started shouting, "eroi" and Kame said, "Hey you, why do you keep on saying 'eroi'?". Oh Kamenashi you asshole how can you be angry when your individual message was very erotic too. >.<
- Nakamaru's "waking up sound" was the usual normal and funny statement. Ueda's was very angry/yankee style. Kame's very hskshdjksjshs with him saying the person should wake up and shower or else he'll do something and then he got pretty shy at the end of it so he turned out laughing at his own antics.
- In the end, when they decided what to record together, it was pretty long so Kame has to repeat it to Nakamaru and teach it to him. Ueda had a tough time remembering too. They were super cute trying to memorize it then and there.
- Nakamaru's beatbox corner has parts again when his beatbox represents his statements (just like in Quarter con). He also made an action that he's slapping a mosquito and on the screen, while his beatbox was going on, pictures of the mosquito, Buddha (to represent praying for the slapped mosquito, and insect repellant spray were shown. It's very difficult to explain but it's very funny!
- Nakamaru Clinic/Dentist Skit was back! Vampire Kame was a patient again and doing his cute and obnoqious character. At Nakamaru's first attempt to do something about his "fangs", Vampire Kame acted like he's transforming into Bemu. The last attempt, he "bit" Nakamaru on his neck.
- "Solo" Parts
Kame: Intro Video was from NMP's Lost My Way performance and he sang Love Yourself. He wore Sunako's sunglasses (the one with the skull) and brought out his own 10Ks uchiwa. When he removed his sunglasses, he said, "Ma-ma-mabushiiiiiii~" to his own uchiwa acting like Sunako. But in the end, he got all shy saying mabushi to himself so he said something during lights out how embarassing it is doing it.
Ueda: Entered driving a huge three-wheeled bike. He was so cool and even brought out a rifle and gave a shot with explosions coming out from the hit area. He also had a bomb and threw it somewhere with, again, more explosions. Very cool part there oozing with Ue-sama's sex appeal as he sang Change Ur World
Nakamaru: Performed Star Rider and using laser lights for the performance. There was a part when his "shadow" was formed and enlarged through the green lights at his back. He also did a "poi-like" dance (I think it's something he did for Majissuka) with the laser. The entire performance was great! Good job Nakamaru!
- During Going, huge balloons (pink, blue and purple) were released. Nakamaru ran to the middle stage carrying a purple balloon. Ueda hit (or more like did a strike) to the balloon to the fans. Hyphens passed the balloons around until the next song (Fumetsu no Scrum)
- Ten-G was back. Ueda's mic was busted (making his voice sound like he inhaled helium) and he just coughed to make it normal. Kame mentioned that he was so cool in making the staff change it by just coughing. They were in their tengu costumes and kept on mentioning KAT-TUN as their sempais. At this segment, they gave away signed posters to 10 lucky fans. Unlike the last time they did this (I think it's Chain concert?), fans were not so enthusiastic with the idea or more like they don't know what to do when their areas were called. So Kame instructed the audience to cheer more as they say more and more of the seat details of the drawn fan. Of course, the audience did better after that.
- When they removed their tengu masks at the end of the segment, Kame fixed Ueda's hair for him. Nakamaru, though, went down (almost at the dressing room areas under the stage) just to fix his hair and they teased him about it.
- During 4U, the audience sang the second half of the song with the lyrics shown on screen.
- UNLOCK was such a fantastic performance. During the bridge part, there was a pause and lights out only to be back with more effects for the rest of the song. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. UNLOCK IS FOREVER WIN.
- Precious One in this concert was probably the most beautiful performance of the song ever. Before this part, there was probably a minute pause in order for them to prepare set-up (and also maybe the fact that the song before was full of energy UNLOCK). Ueda was beautiful playing the piano, Nakamaru did a very subtle beatbox as accompaniment and Kame did the singing and they did this for the first part of the song. For some reason, I have this overwhelming feeling while they're doing this. I know we somehow saw this already in SCP but this made me have more feels than expected. I had this image of the future seeing Kamenashi singing his own songs, Ueda playing the piano for him and Nakamaru doing what he does best, beatbox but as a constant support for the lead. Tears started to flow because, aside from their beautiful performance, that image won't leave me. The bond there was so strong I can't even....and oh yes! Kamenashi sang it perfectly too even on his own. >.<
- As expected, Kimi no Yume, Boku no Yume was a performance full of feels. In all fairness, they sang it very well then (finally Kame!). What struck me the most was the fact that the moving stage they're standing at was divided into three with a member on top and went on its separate ways. The implication was clear to me and my subtle crying got more scandalous.
- Encore was Brand New Stage
And that's about it for the fan report. Now for my thoughts on the concert as a whole:
Setlist:
It is expected that KAT-TUN will be singing all their A-Side songs and those included in the Hyphen Selection as that's what they mentioned and plan to do. I do not like the Hyphen Selection and was very angry about it even but I prepared myself to "accept" that fact. I just didn't realize that it was clearly and utterly horrible. Hahahahaha. I still will not accept the fact that SHUNKASHUTOU was on the list my goodness!! But then the entire thing feels very...weirdly combined. It's weird for me because I like mostly KAT-TUN's A-sides but maybe it's me longing for something new and nostalgic at the same time. Like I want to hear the song but I want them to perform it differently from before. But what happened is like they just sang everything and..........
I also feel a bit sad with the fact that TRAGEDY and UNLOCK B-side songs were not given a chance to be performed and will NEVER be given a chance to be performed. WHERE IS FEATHERS AND JET???
Production:
Video projections on the huge TVs at the background were superb. It's always good but I think in this concert, it's better than ever. And it was great that a lot were used on their cool performances.
Effects....nothing I haven't seen before so no further comment.
KAT-TUN Performance:
AWESOME!! It's true that people will notice the loss of another member with the songs (some forgetting their lyrics or having a different key) but that is just expected since this is the first time they're performing as three and they're all doing the rehearsals and new arrangements probably less than a month from the concert date!! And I would have to admit that every time Kame, Ueda or Nakamaru were singing more, I want to cheer for them more. These guys continuously re-arranging their songs because someone left AGAIN and them doing their best to make it seamless -- HOW CAN YOU NOT APPRECIATE THAT???
Crowd:
This is probably my biggest depression in this concert. The crowd in Nagoya! I was so depressed I can't even talk normally for hours.
Let me give you an example: After Kimi no Yume, Boku no Yume, it is so obvious that KAT-TUN will be in for another encore since they haven't worn their concert shirts yet. But then when the typical, "please prepare to leave" announcement was given, people were indeed starting to leave. There were a few claps for the typical "Encore!" chant for KAT-TUN to come out again but that was very short-lived and soon died out. I felt like I'm one of the few who were left standing up and even I got a bit weirded out by the scene that I could not continue chanting "Encore" anymore. I got depressed with the idea of Hyphens not having enough passion as it used to have before. It depressed, bothered and angered me. These will be KAT-TUN's last performances before they leave us and people are not hungry to see them?? RIDICULOUS!!! IF YOU'RE IN THE FRIGGIN' CONCERT, DO YOUR PART AND CHEER MORE DAMNIT.
When KAT-TUN appeared to sing Brand New Stage, I felt like they're not even that happy to be out. I dunno of course they're smiling and it's probably just me who felt bad. But imagine, you're expecting someone to call you because it will be the last few times you'll see each other only to find out that you will not get the call...What will that make you feel? Unwanted, right? So why would you even bother? T-T
The concert ended very early with less than 3 hours. And there were even 2 segments of MCs (the MC and the Ten-G part) and their longest parting message to date (Kamenashi probably took 3 minutes in his speech). I think less than 3 hours was a very short time to enjoy their music to the fullest. I STILL WANT MORE!!! MORE OF KAT-TUN! But they probably had a plan for another encore (concert shirts didn't get much exposure there) and didn't continue because "fans didn't want it" *sigh*
So just a small request to those who will be going to their next concerts, please, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST IN SCREAMING THE LOUDEST THROUGHOUT THE CONCERT AND SHOW KAT-TUN HOW MUCH YOU WILL MISS THEM THROUGH SIMPLE STUFF LIKE CHANTING "ENCORE". The power of the audience gives energy to the performers. If everyone's so quiet, I wonder why you're even attending a KAT-TUN concert! We're supposed to be loud! We're expected to be most passionate at this time. So I hope we'll have more energy in Osaka and then the best in Tokyo! PLEASE!!
With that said, as usual, this post will be a mix of my attempt to give a fan report and my personal thoughts on the experience. To those who don't want to be spoiled for the concert (whether you'll watch the other concerts or you're waiting for the DVD, if there will even be any), please do not read this.
And another disclaimer: Sensitive people that can't accept a matter of opinion about KAT-TUN, DO NOT READ THIS.
I'm seriously broke so my travel to Nagoya was long and painful because I decided to take a 7-hour train ride. The travel was fun with lots of sight-seeing moments but it definitely robbed me of my precious sleep. But even with an almost-empty wallet and the hassle of a long travel-time, I told myself that I really wanted to go since I will only have few performances left to watch before they'll take a break for until who-knows-when. And so I went to Nagoya and spilled more money that I barely have at concert goods for the pre-selling (day before the concert). Goods were cool and very KAT-TUN-like and I plan to buy two bags because I intend to use it all the time as a "promotion" for KAT-TUN even if they're on a hiatus. >.<
On the day of the concert, we decided to keep it chill and not have any plans to roam Nagoya before the show. You can say we want to be "fully-charged" before the show (we're not that young anymore so we can't keep up to all-day activities) and have a peace of mind and a calm heart before facing the fact that we're going to start the show that will eventually lead to their end. But at the hotel, we watched KAT-TUN's performance in Music Station of Real Face and Kimi no Yume, Boku no Yume so we didn't end up having calm but more feels. Lol.
Concert starts 4PM (super early) but gates open at 2PM. We decided not to linger outside with all the "activities" fangirls usually do before concerts and just settle down on our seats early and eat our food. And because we're early, I got bored fast. So I just did this:
Well, they have guns for penlight and Kame looks like the perfect victim.
And then, the concert started. I enumerated the stuff that I can still remember from the concert for easier plotting of thoughts:
- Concert started with GOLD. KAT-TUN appeared on stage wearing prince-like mixed with pirate-y kind of costumes. Stage has a huge ship's wheel in the middle so probably, the theme is a "sailing ship" kind of thing. The projected videos on the big screens has the sail with all the KAT-TUN logos of their tours before. These guys are huge One Piece fans up to the end I swear.
- D-Motion was such an awesome performance making the Dome very club-like with a fantastic use of the laser lights. There's new lyrics sang by Nakamaru too which is very cool (and should I say much more preferred than the past versions)
- There was a video of Nakamaru again promoting their concert goods and this time, it's for the Charger. As always, it was hilarious. He gave out reasons why the charger is very practical that it can even save your life. Honestly, I'm at my noisiest laughing at that part.
- For the recording of the sound to be used for their alarm clock, they decided each of them should think of what can be used. It seems they will give a sound individually and then as a group. As KAT-TUN had no idea what kind of stuff they should say, some fans at the arena started shouting, "eroi" and Kame said, "Hey you, why do you keep on saying 'eroi'?". Oh Kamenashi you asshole how can you be angry when your individual message was very erotic too. >.<
- Nakamaru's "waking up sound" was the usual normal and funny statement. Ueda's was very angry/yankee style. Kame's very hskshdjksjshs with him saying the person should wake up and shower or else he'll do something and then he got pretty shy at the end of it so he turned out laughing at his own antics.
- In the end, when they decided what to record together, it was pretty long so Kame has to repeat it to Nakamaru and teach it to him. Ueda had a tough time remembering too. They were super cute trying to memorize it then and there.
- Nakamaru's beatbox corner has parts again when his beatbox represents his statements (just like in Quarter con). He also made an action that he's slapping a mosquito and on the screen, while his beatbox was going on, pictures of the mosquito, Buddha (to represent praying for the slapped mosquito, and insect repellant spray were shown. It's very difficult to explain but it's very funny!
- Nakamaru Clinic/Dentist Skit was back! Vampire Kame was a patient again and doing his cute and obnoqious character. At Nakamaru's first attempt to do something about his "fangs", Vampire Kame acted like he's transforming into Bemu. The last attempt, he "bit" Nakamaru on his neck.
- "Solo" Parts
Kame: Intro Video was from NMP's Lost My Way performance and he sang Love Yourself. He wore Sunako's sunglasses (the one with the skull) and brought out his own 10Ks uchiwa. When he removed his sunglasses, he said, "Ma-ma-mabushiiiiiii~" to his own uchiwa acting like Sunako. But in the end, he got all shy saying mabushi to himself so he said something during lights out how embarassing it is doing it.
Ueda: Entered driving a huge three-wheeled bike. He was so cool and even brought out a rifle and gave a shot with explosions coming out from the hit area. He also had a bomb and threw it somewhere with, again, more explosions. Very cool part there oozing with Ue-sama's sex appeal as he sang Change Ur World
Nakamaru: Performed Star Rider and using laser lights for the performance. There was a part when his "shadow" was formed and enlarged through the green lights at his back. He also did a "poi-like" dance (I think it's something he did for Majissuka) with the laser. The entire performance was great! Good job Nakamaru!
- During Going, huge balloons (pink, blue and purple) were released. Nakamaru ran to the middle stage carrying a purple balloon. Ueda hit (or more like did a strike) to the balloon to the fans. Hyphens passed the balloons around until the next song (Fumetsu no Scrum)
- Ten-G was back. Ueda's mic was busted (making his voice sound like he inhaled helium) and he just coughed to make it normal. Kame mentioned that he was so cool in making the staff change it by just coughing. They were in their tengu costumes and kept on mentioning KAT-TUN as their sempais. At this segment, they gave away signed posters to 10 lucky fans. Unlike the last time they did this (I think it's Chain concert?), fans were not so enthusiastic with the idea or more like they don't know what to do when their areas were called. So Kame instructed the audience to cheer more as they say more and more of the seat details of the drawn fan. Of course, the audience did better after that.
- When they removed their tengu masks at the end of the segment, Kame fixed Ueda's hair for him. Nakamaru, though, went down (almost at the dressing room areas under the stage) just to fix his hair and they teased him about it.
- During 4U, the audience sang the second half of the song with the lyrics shown on screen.
- UNLOCK was such a fantastic performance. During the bridge part, there was a pause and lights out only to be back with more effects for the rest of the song. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. UNLOCK IS FOREVER WIN.
- Precious One in this concert was probably the most beautiful performance of the song ever. Before this part, there was probably a minute pause in order for them to prepare set-up (and also maybe the fact that the song before was full of energy UNLOCK). Ueda was beautiful playing the piano, Nakamaru did a very subtle beatbox as accompaniment and Kame did the singing and they did this for the first part of the song. For some reason, I have this overwhelming feeling while they're doing this. I know we somehow saw this already in SCP but this made me have more feels than expected. I had this image of the future seeing Kamenashi singing his own songs, Ueda playing the piano for him and Nakamaru doing what he does best, beatbox but as a constant support for the lead. Tears started to flow because, aside from their beautiful performance, that image won't leave me. The bond there was so strong I can't even....and oh yes! Kamenashi sang it perfectly too even on his own. >.<
- As expected, Kimi no Yume, Boku no Yume was a performance full of feels. In all fairness, they sang it very well then (finally Kame!). What struck me the most was the fact that the moving stage they're standing at was divided into three with a member on top and went on its separate ways. The implication was clear to me and my subtle crying got more scandalous.
- Encore was Brand New Stage
And that's about it for the fan report. Now for my thoughts on the concert as a whole:
Setlist:
It is expected that KAT-TUN will be singing all their A-Side songs and those included in the Hyphen Selection as that's what they mentioned and plan to do. I do not like the Hyphen Selection and was very angry about it even but I prepared myself to "accept" that fact. I just didn't realize that it was clearly and utterly horrible. Hahahahaha. I still will not accept the fact that SHUNKASHUTOU was on the list my goodness!! But then the entire thing feels very...weirdly combined. It's weird for me because I like mostly KAT-TUN's A-sides but maybe it's me longing for something new and nostalgic at the same time. Like I want to hear the song but I want them to perform it differently from before. But what happened is like they just sang everything and..........
I also feel a bit sad with the fact that TRAGEDY and UNLOCK B-side songs were not given a chance to be performed and will NEVER be given a chance to be performed. WHERE IS FEATHERS AND JET???
Production:
Video projections on the huge TVs at the background were superb. It's always good but I think in this concert, it's better than ever. And it was great that a lot were used on their cool performances.
Effects....nothing I haven't seen before so no further comment.
KAT-TUN Performance:
AWESOME!! It's true that people will notice the loss of another member with the songs (some forgetting their lyrics or having a different key) but that is just expected since this is the first time they're performing as three and they're all doing the rehearsals and new arrangements probably less than a month from the concert date!! And I would have to admit that every time Kame, Ueda or Nakamaru were singing more, I want to cheer for them more. These guys continuously re-arranging their songs because someone left AGAIN and them doing their best to make it seamless -- HOW CAN YOU NOT APPRECIATE THAT???
Crowd:
This is probably my biggest depression in this concert. The crowd in Nagoya! I was so depressed I can't even talk normally for hours.
Let me give you an example: After Kimi no Yume, Boku no Yume, it is so obvious that KAT-TUN will be in for another encore since they haven't worn their concert shirts yet. But then when the typical, "please prepare to leave" announcement was given, people were indeed starting to leave. There were a few claps for the typical "Encore!" chant for KAT-TUN to come out again but that was very short-lived and soon died out. I felt like I'm one of the few who were left standing up and even I got a bit weirded out by the scene that I could not continue chanting "Encore" anymore. I got depressed with the idea of Hyphens not having enough passion as it used to have before. It depressed, bothered and angered me. These will be KAT-TUN's last performances before they leave us and people are not hungry to see them?? RIDICULOUS!!! IF YOU'RE IN THE FRIGGIN' CONCERT, DO YOUR PART AND CHEER MORE DAMNIT.
When KAT-TUN appeared to sing Brand New Stage, I felt like they're not even that happy to be out. I dunno of course they're smiling and it's probably just me who felt bad. But imagine, you're expecting someone to call you because it will be the last few times you'll see each other only to find out that you will not get the call...What will that make you feel? Unwanted, right? So why would you even bother? T-T
The concert ended very early with less than 3 hours. And there were even 2 segments of MCs (the MC and the Ten-G part) and their longest parting message to date (Kamenashi probably took 3 minutes in his speech). I think less than 3 hours was a very short time to enjoy their music to the fullest. I STILL WANT MORE!!! MORE OF KAT-TUN! But they probably had a plan for another encore (concert shirts didn't get much exposure there) and didn't continue because "fans didn't want it" *sigh*
So just a small request to those who will be going to their next concerts, please, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST IN SCREAMING THE LOUDEST THROUGHOUT THE CONCERT AND SHOW KAT-TUN HOW MUCH YOU WILL MISS THEM THROUGH SIMPLE STUFF LIKE CHANTING "ENCORE". The power of the audience gives energy to the performers. If everyone's so quiet, I wonder why you're even attending a KAT-TUN concert! We're supposed to be loud! We're expected to be most passionate at this time. So I hope we'll have more energy in Osaka and then the best in Tokyo! PLEASE!!