Japan Expo 2009
DAY 2 (Sunday 5th)
First, went to shop. Bought the so-popular & kawaii bunny hat. and a classic black bag with musical notes. Took samples of mangas passing by as well.
Lunch time, bento time. This time's menu was wraps (smoken salmon, gruyere / ham, mayonese), rest of a gratin and cup of watermelon, since i don't have a 'baran' (divider) yet.
There was the Cosplay Défilé Japan Expo Special 10 ans at the main stage so my friend and I, curious, went there. It was utterly disspointed, the wait was long at first. The stage too small and far from the audience. Finally, the sketch they do was not unique at all and also not prepared enough. The emcee was like a random geek picked at the last minute. He didn't know his text nor were too into to his work. A few characters were funny though, and the accompagned music well played at least.
Exiting the main stage place, I heard Wonder girls's So hot song from the karaoke place so rushed there, but unfortunally I arrived late the perf was already over. Two girls performed para para dance after, they were very good at it!
By the way, I passed by this wall earlier. So much people tagged it. Some funny message? Lots of love. ♥
Headed the J.E Live House to attend to Asuka's performances. It is the first and only fusion group who use traditionnal Japanese instruments with a electro-popish background music. The concert was delayed for a good 15minutes, I guess there was technical problems.
The concert was astonishing. An introduction of the group, a 4 mates band (two women two men) and their music was made in French at the beginning. There were actually priestess & priests. That's why they wore traditionnal outfits (kimono & .. idk for the men) and use things like bells (to purify the minds?) and danced traditionnal dances. They first played their instruments then began to added electro beats. Later, one guy even played piano.
It was a refreshing experience, the music is not too bad, it can sometimes fits the anime theme
As soon as the Asuka's concert ends (actually even duing the concert), masses of people came by with the only aim to attend to beautiful Kanon Wakeshima. I expected it a lot too. I was stuck with the song '砂のお城' of the anime Vampire Knight Guilty. Although lolita style wasn't my thing, I see in her a lot of talents. That's why I was urged to see her performance and didn't even come to the toilets during the wait (because i know i won't have it back when i return). Luckily I was 'pushed' to the front cause so guys got pity of my 'height' and let me go ahead. But I may be a few meters of the stage, it was difficult to see it.
At 5:40PM, she finally appears, in the somptuous red dress and black top. It was pretty amazing that she spoke in French. Very cute. She introduced herself and her songs. During the performances, there were flashes from everywhere even though the staff made an announcement earlier NOT TO use cameras (because there is already the press staff who are taking it) nor to film the performances.
pictures of the courtesy of Hanachan@KOME <3
Her voice was pretty and sweet. And the performance very lolitaish. In the stage there was a table, a coat rack, and her white cello, named Croissant, she later confessed. The overall concert has great response, the concert was the most filled among the whole J.E concerts. Most of the audience was girls. There were lot of shoutings and hardcore fans with banners. But I really appreciated the performances despite the wait.
Tracklist (from what i remember, not in any order):
sweet ticket - intro song. cello performance. (it was played as background music but it's still nice)
still doll - nice doll movements at the beginning
砂のお城 Suna no Oshiro - my favourite song of her album.
真紅のフェータリズム Shinku no Fatalism - very cool cello performance in this song. it looked so complicated.
鏡 Kagami - not so into this song
マボロシ Maboroshi - not so into this song
アンニュイ気分! Ennui Kibun! - The 'ah-ah~' is so funny (in the perf) yet annoying (when listening). She did an cute intro of this song. 'As qui est ce téléphone?' HARDCORE FAN'Moiii!!'
L'espoir ～魔法の赤い糸～ -Mahou no Akai Ito - Glad she used a french word for the title. the chorus is nice.
黒い鳥籠 Kuroi Torikago - Awesome voice in this song
skip turn step♪ - not so into this song
10 songs out of 13. great! I was hoping she would sing 白い心 Shiroi Kokoro as well =(.
The end came yet. I exited the Japan Expo doors after the concert, passing by the stands for the last time. I thought I would rest come back home in peace, but no! The crowd was awful big and the station saturated. I thought I woulkd never go back home, but fortunally I thought to my brother, who was in the Japan Expo as well. And fortunally again, he was going to exit soon. My friends called me if they could accompaged me in the way back home since my brother was driving. We eventually arrived back home at 8:30.
It was such a long and greatissim week end !! Let's hope the best for the next year !
THANK YOU JAPAN EXPO♥