3 concerts in a week, might have been a bad idea

As the titles say, I had 3 concerts last week, while going to school = not smart.
Since I live a bit outside of Tokyo city, it takes at least 40minutes for me to get there, or more depending on where the venue is.

So, I had to go all the way to Odaiba on thursday to attend a concert (I was exhausted when I got back home x_x), on saturday was Kamijo's Halloween event and on sunday I went to see Jupiter!

I'm not a big fan of Jupiter (and to be honest, even at the concert some songs melted togheter and I felt like they played a song they already played :P), but I never got to see Versailles so I thought this is at least almost all the members! (close enough :P)

They were good as a live band, Zin's voice was good, but yeah, the songs...

They did play my 2 favorites though, Nostalgie and Innovation, so I was happy.

The highlights for the evening (except for those songs) were Yuki and Hizaki's solos. I got so excited because Hizaki's sounded a lot like the old solo songs he did (and also like Hizaki grace project, I wish he'd release something like that again).

I also noticed how manly Hizaki really is XD Everyone calls him Hime and he's so pretty, but damn his bodylanguage! Don't get it wrong, I think it's charming, but also a bit funny. He wore this skirt which was long on one side and shorter on the other, and he put up the leg with the short side on the stairs up to Yuki while playing sometimes and I kept thinking, at least some fangirls on front row has to see straight up his skirt!

Also, at their encore all the member had put on the tour t-shirts, and there Hizaki stood, with his manly arms (so cute), and when he left stage for good, he jumped down to the first row touching everybodys hands, then he jumped up on stage again, the very manly way (when you jump up on the side), which didn't just look funny because of that but also because he wore his really fancy skirt.

Everyone was kind of excited that they announced a new album and a new tour! The new album will be released in january and the tour begins in march.

 

Jupiter's flowers

Kamijo Halloween Special Live

I knew it would be fun, but I didn't think that I'd enjoy it this much. Kamijo's Halloween event was one of the best gigs I've ever been to!

To be honest, I was thinking about going when Kamijo announced this, but then I decided not to, and then I went because Schwarz Stein would be there XD and I'm really happy I got to experience it.

Me and  friend arrived just before they began letting people inside, our ticket weren't that good, but with a bit of pushing I think I got an okey spot. I have to say I really liked Tokyo Kinema, the inside looked more like a theater/opera stage which I think suits Kamijo perfectly!

There was a DJ there who played various songs while we waited for the event to start, then a sort of marchsong began playing and Kamijo's band came on stage, in Halloween costumes of course^^ (the drummer was a police XD) and Kamijo last, in a black suit (with dark red details, as the upper part of the pockets and the "collar"), white shirt and zombie make up!

I was afraid he'd only play new songs, and I haven't listened to Heart yet, but I got to hear Symphony of the Vampire, and some other old songs, like Louis! He was as charming as you can expect from him. Talking gently, or making everyone scream "Bonjour" XD. Before playing Gensou, he mentioned that he wrote it with his heart. Then he left the stage for MU, the groupe he has signed to his label. They sat on the "balcony" of the stage and played 2 songs acoustic (the first had a flute, which made me feel like Kamijo probably wanted the whole scenery to seem a bit nocturnal, with them playing on the balcony instead of the stage).

Then Kamijo marched in again to the same song as before making everyone put their hands in the air. In that suit, Kamijo really felt like some sort of cabaré host or something XD He was very charming. I don't really remember order of songs, he played a few newer ones, like Lion, it was kind of fun, he tried making everyone sing a long at one part but he didn't really get everyone to say it (it was in english so I can honestly say I didn't hear what he was saying...), but he laughed it off and just started the song.

The second time he went off, the DJ came back and I realised what was up next, Schwarz Stein! She put Testament on and Kaya and Hora entered stage. They both had their new outfits for the new single, Sleeping Madness, and Hora decided to join the Halloween theme, making stitches from his mouth. They played Release Me first, it didn't sound like when I heard it in 2012, I think they made some small changes, at least Kaya sang it a bit differently, not much, but a tiny bit. Then Kaya said Happy Halloween and talked a bit, then he announced Transient, but Release Me got back on, so he stoped, saying it was the wrong song, laughed and then Transient played, but that stoped as well and Kaya laughed saying Happy Halloween again. THEN, they acctually did Transient. After that I saw Hora removing his portable keyboard (the one he wears as a guitar) so I assumed they'd do like Creeper or Syphilis and Disorder, that he'd grab a mic, but no, he went off stage! Just like that, I was a bit disapointed =(

Kaya stayed on, saying he had a secret to tell, he was gonna let the secret guest in, and in comes no less than Juka!...I mean Shaura. Also in a bit spooky make up. He played a song (don't know which, I'm not a fan of his solo) and then he went off and in came Kamijo again wit his marching beat. I was very suprised Juka didn't get more respons from the audience...I mean he disappeared from the music scene...

Then only 1 guested was left, Hizaki. Kamijo played some songs on his own first (Moulin Rouge among others), then Hizaki came along and played with him. He was really energetic, I haven't seen him live before, but I didn't expect that XD It looked like they really had fun on stage togheter. Kamijo told us that the first time his support guitarist saw Hizaki, he said he was cute, which Hizaki thought was sweet I guess because he went over to him and gave him a tiny sidehug. After just a short while everyone went off and MU played one more song, which of course led to Schwarz Stein entering stage again <3 This time Kaya announced that they'd play their new single Sleeping Madness. I listened to the preview just before I left home this morning and I felt like finally, they're back to their more aggressive sound! I also love when Hora sings, so I was really happy to hear that he's doing the chorus. BUT, the song was so awesome live. It might have been my inner fangirl just being very happy to see them again, or it really was great :P It felt like one of those songs which just is great live, the sound was perfect.

Kaya stayed on stage, with the singer from MU, making everyone shout stuff, they went from sounds to Halloween, Bonjour and finally Kamijo :P So Kamijo came out on stage again, and they all sang Bastille togheter (EDIT).

Kaya and the singer from MU left, and this time Kamijo made us all scream Hizaki out, telling us to yell "hime". Hizaki came holding a clown mask, with a pink mask which only covers the eyes over that ^^ Then one of the highlights (at least for me) came. Kamijo held a mask, put it on and then he asked if we remembered when he wore this the last time, and at that point I got really excited. So, with Kamijo's support band and Hizaki on stage, they played Versailles song Masquerade! The best part was that I was listening to that song on my way to Shinjuku thinking how it's one of Versailles best songs, and I wish I would've been able to seen it live, and then I got to! I'm really happy they played this, not only because the song's great, but since this Halloween event was a "masquerade party", after the guitarsolo in the song, ALL guests came out holding a mask infront of their face, doing a little spin (may I add the best part of it was Hora, he was so obviously uncomfortable, he kept having one hand in his waist or as if he were pulling down his corset, but I feel with him, I'm just the same XD). Since everyone was on stage, they ended with Kamijo's song Death Parade. I haven't listened to his new album, but I searched for the song just now on youtube and it was by far better live. It was really fun seeing everyone togheter on stage (again, especially Hora, looking like he wanted to run backstage, while the others danced around). Unfortunetly that was it. I could've stayed all night. Kamijo really made an impression on me, I'd love to see him live again.

Chekis I got^^

Back on Odaiba

I first went to Odaiba in 2011, and it became one of my favorite places in Tokyo. It's an artifical island, so IMO it feels a bit more quite than other parts of this metropolis (I acctually enjoy the busy streets, but it's nice to see some quiet places from time to time).

For some weird reason I did my sightseeing and never came back XD Until last night! I was going to the Japan Night event at Zepp Tokyo Divercity, and since I was a bit late I couldn't really enjoy Odaiba like I was hoping I would, but it was an amazing feeling to step out from the trainstation and look out over the beautiful view! It's so pieceful and yet so futuristic. The buildings look very modern, and seeing the big ferris wheel painted in different neonlights really made my night.
I promised myself I have to go back and enjoy it for a whole day before winter has arrived.

Tomorrow I'll be going to Kamijo's Halloween event! I'm very much looking forward to this. (I'll be seeing Schwarz Stein again!!!) and on Sunday I'll be going to the final gig on Jupiter's tour! (going to 3 concerts in 1 week is exhausting... really, but I'll sleep all Monday)

I didn't have time to take photos, but I finally found the Gundam robot! (yeah it's huge so how did I ever miss it....)

(ow yeah, I was so impressed by a band called サカナクション (sakanaction) last night! They played some sort of electronic rock, awesome, check the video out below!)

Easygoing Sunday and Imai Hisashi

Since I'm living a bit outside of Tokyo city I'm surrounded by a lot of nature. So on Sunday we went down to the river to have lunch.

I've seen this place everytime I take the train to Shinjuku but never acctually visited. It looks just like in the animes, or dramas, when they go down to the river! It was really pretty and peaceful.

That grass is turning yellow since autumn is coming, I can only imagen how beautiful it must've been some months earlier.

Also, today's Imai Hisashi's birthday! I've been listening to Mona Lisa Overdrive and I also went to 7-11 to pick up my live cd! 

Yay, I got the poster and pin!

I don't have a cdplayer, so I can't rip it or even listen to it, but I bet it's amazing, can't wait to find a download XD

Kichijouji

Today me and a friend went to Kichijouji! It's twn outside of Tokyo (it's part of Tokyo but Tokyo consists of many small "towns"). I've never been there before, and I can tell it won't be the last time, I really enjoyed it. They have this big BookOff, and I just love those stores. I did some shopping there aswell! I got my first Pokémon game, books and a LOT of socks!

 

But, one of the most important things was to find the Lindt café! I'm not really a fan of japanese chocolate to be honest, so when my friend told me about this café I got really excited, and it was just as nice as I expected.

                                      

I can really recommend everyone to check this out when you're in Tokyo, it had a really nice atmosphere and the chocolate was delicious :3 A bit expensive, but it was totally worth it. 

We walked around the station for quite some time and I've never seen so many shops selling socks and so many restaurants with pizza on the menu! (seriously, pizza feels kind of rare in Japan...)

I had a lot of fun today, I miss just doing random shopping, I rarely do that at home since we barely have any interesting stores :P

I just realised I totally missed taking any pictures of the actual city...

I want to timetravel...

When I went to see The Velvet I had to endure lots of random bands before they got on stage. They were mostly small visual kei bands, and what kept running through my head was; What happened to good old visual kei?

All the new bands are young pretty boys, without any unique voice or style. I really miss the 90's.
Not that I listened to visual kei then, but god I love the old bands. There were something special about the way they dressed and the way they sang, the way the music was played, everything.

Before I left for Japan (well about this summer) I got into the old, successful visual kei band Raphael. Among foreigners they're probably known mostly because their guitarist, Kazuki, killed himself at the age of 19.
Everyone who enjoys old Malice Mizer or Lareine should check this band out for sure! This song is called Eternal Wish~ Todokanu Kimi e, a ballad with a lot of emotions. A new version was released in memory of Kazuki in 2012.
So please give them a try (at least if you're into older stuff)! I really love Yuki's voice, it's really something special, the deep kind you rarely hear in todays VK scen.

(random comment; Mimi updated his blog and The Velvet will have a Tim Burton theme at their Halloween live *_* Mimi will go as Edward Scissorhands and Bera as Jack! A bit sad I can't go and see that, but on the other hand I'll be watching Velvet Eden play their fantastic new song Toxic Queen, so I can't complain!)

Deep Sanctuary IV

Last night Deep Sanctury was held at Akasaka Blitz! Most of you know what that means; it's a one night tiny Malice Mizer reunion!
When I first heard that it would happen while I was going to be in Japan I couldn't believe it, and it really was one of the best concerts of my life.
So, you want details I'm sure :3

I met up with two other girls and we went to the ESP fair first. To be honest I got a bit disapointed, mana only had 1 costume for display and Közi had NONE! Yeah, only 3 of his guitars. I get a bit sad that Közi feels slightly forgotten sometimes...
The ESP store also played parts of the Invite to Immorality DVD.

Then we were off to the venue. Earlier Moi Dix Mois had announced the merch tables would open earlier and that they'd have Malice Mizer items/item and that of course made me really want to get there on time :3

Unfortunately, it was just a luckybag, an envelope sort of, for 3000yen, so I decided not to get that (it was random Malice Mizer items, like stickers, postcards, frame, mirror etc). I did get a ZIZINE vol2, ZIZ t-shirt and a Matin cup though! (the cup was cheaper than if bought from MidiNette or CdJapan...)
Mana requested Malice Mizer cosplayers for this event and a few showed up! The cosplayers spotted did:
Mana from Gekka no yasoukyoku, fanclub event after Gackt left, Saikai no chi to bara and Beast of Blood. There was also a Közi and Yu~ki from Gekka no yasoukyoku. Acctually I also spotted one girl who looked like she made a cosplay from an old Glol photoshot of Mana.
One funny thing was, about 70% of all the people showing up was in Moité or at least in that kind of fashion. I was kind of impressed by those completly dressed in Moité, thinking about how expensive it is XD
I had a sort of good ticket. I think I had a row with about 6-7 people infront of me, so when ZIZ got on I had a view of Közi. He was wearing a sort of red/black poncho/jacket which looked a bit army inspired, with leather pants. His make up was like it usually is but with some green and purple:ish eyeshadow on the sides.
This was my first time seeing Közi and ZIZ live (I don't count the talk event I went to) and I have to say, Közi lived up to my expectations, x100! I just love how he's so full of energy, his voice is so great live too! He really seems to enjoy himself on stage. The guitar he used during ZIZ was his grey/silvery one from back in Malice Mizer.
I was really hoping I'd get to hear Spiegelwelt, but unfortunately not. ZIZ played 3 songs I've never heard of, according to a japanese twitter account at least one was an american song (so a cover??), but I reallyreally enjoyed Kosmostill and Sanityman! Even with a full band Kosmostill was awesome, eventhough the accoustic version at the talkevent was sort of special. Közi got everyone going really well, I was sort of paralyzed during the first half though (couldn't get I was standing infront of THE KÖZI, I've been admiring him for so long now, it was so special for me to see him play live). The last song ZIZ played was Super naked disco, which I...don't like XD but live it was really fun to see, Közi was dancing all over getting people in the crowd to join him. Then the band went off.

ZIZ playlist:
Superbsaw
Freakquency
RayD5
ISOME-TRIC
E-I-O
BE POP HIGHSTYLE
Kosmostill
Sanityman
Super naked disco

Then the staff began preparing the stage for Moi Dix Mois. They didn't have anything special on stage (like when I saw them in 2011, they had a huge cross in chains hanging from the ceiling), just the Moi Dix Mois logo in the background.
The crowd had been kind of calm during ZIZ, but once the first tune from En lumiere began to play people started pushing to get closer to stage. Moi Dix Mois was in their most recent costumes (the ones with gold). Seth looked a bit different, he had a white/silver lense in his right eye, looked really good on him.
I stood right in the middle and I have to say it felt weird with just 4 members... It really felt like something was missing. I also began to wonder where Közi was, since he was supposed to be acting support member.
This was my second time seeing Moi Dix Mois, so I know they really perform well. Their gigs are somewhat predictable, but I enjoy them so much. You really enter Mana's world for a short while. I was looking at Mana quite a lot, and he felt a bit distracted, unpresent acctually from time to time. I felt a bit sad for him, I'm guessing it might have to do with K(?), or he just had a bad day maybe. I really looked forward to a "Dix-song" (one of those in which they always make people yell things out and do stuff to, like Dispell Bound) and tonight they played Immortal Madness. It was creating a good atmosphere, and all the members seemed to be at good spirits, except for Mana who seemed a bit sad. Even Hayato got a bit of time to make an appearance! (I really like Hayato so I was very pleased) He tried his hardest to get the 2nd floor to shout, ...it was as silent as the grave. After a while they joined in though. I've seen people say there was a technical problem with Mana's guitar, but from where I stood it looked more like he acctually missed strings when he was playing, which wouldn't be impossible since he seemed a bit distracted.
This was the first time for me to hear one of their new songs, Twilight Flower! It reminded me a bit about Mephisto Waltz but with heavier bass and guitar. Seth was dancing so gracefully over stage while singing this, so pretty.
At the end, Közi joined in for 3 songs! The interesting part was his change of clothes. Seems like not many noticed but he got into some Eve of Destiny clothing. The corset he had a lot during that time (but which he also had during Malice Mizer late era) and he also wore that pleather poncho you can find on old EoD pictures!
Közi didn't really have that big of a part during this time, he just played and shouted a bit. Also it was really cute, Mana came over for a short while and put his hand on Közi's shoulder while he was playing. I wish those 2 could get togheter and do something, it would be so awesome.
The last song played was Je l'aime, it was a very suiting song to be played as final. Then the band left the stage, hayato was holding a pumpkin doll with black and red yarn on one side of its head (I think it was a tiny K reference).

Moi Dix Mois playlist:
En Lumiere
Dialogue Symphony
Gloire dans le silence
Front et baiser
Twilight flower
Witchcraft
Immortal madness
Dead scape
Beast side
Ange
Je l'aime

Then it was time for what I think most looked forward to, Malice Mizer!
Everyone began to shout when the first tunes of Bois de Merveilles could be heard, then all members entered togheter. Mana and Közi had a change of clothes, Mana had the same outfit as he had on the last Deep Sanctuary, and Közi had almost what he had on the first, but instead of the shirt with the lips on, he had a sort or black velvet blouse with black seethrough cuffs and collar, with a red ribbon around the neckpart. Yu~ki had the same black blouse but with a new vest and pants (with pattern), he also wore a hat, not a tophat though and without a beard.
Like the old Merveilles DVD, they followed Bois de Merveilles with S-Conscious, making everyone shout "cut it out". Then there was time for the QA with Yu~ki. When Közi went up to the mic and announced them as Malice Mizer people shout, and it felt so nice to hear to be honest.
People had sent questions to Mana to be asked to Yu~ki, so Közi held a Moi Dix Mois folder with the questions, he had a bit of trouble opening it XD Mana came over and helped him, hehe.
Közi read out if it was a girl or a boy who asked the question and where they came from, then he made funny/weird voices reading the questions, so it was hard to follow XD They talked chocolate though, and clothes (Yu~ki mentioned vintage). Közi also pointed out some cosplayers in the crowd and Yu~ki was also impressed by his own cosplayer! (she looked so much like him)
Then there was time for the last song, N.P.S.N.G.S. I have to say I was a bit disapointed with the chosen songs, both are kind of short... But there was so much energy on stage, especially from Közi, I can't complain. Then they went off, and after a short while we could hear the tunes of Au Revoir playing! I was so hopefull they'd play that, but they didn't. Mana came first on his scooter (same as in Brise with his little toy on it), and then all of a sudden he fell! I was so suprised, Yu~ki came and helped him up, but Mana gestured he was fine, I think you could see on him he was kind of embarrassed though, he looked down to the floor for a while. Közi also showed up with his creepy doll from Brise :P and then they all threw out some candy. I didn't get any (but later found one of Yu~ki's chocolate coins on the floor, fufufu). Yu~ki had a cute little pumpkin basket, and Közi was so into his doll he didn't notice Yu~ki and Mana stood in the center of stage, ready to say goodbye. Yu~ki went over and got him to join them though XD
Then they left and that was that.

Malice Mizer playlist:
Bois de Merveilles
S-Conscious
N.P.S.N.G.S
Au revoir (instrumental)

 Outside, 2 huge flower arrangements had been put out, one from Schwarz Stein, and one from ESP.

I felt a bit sad at the end, I've been looking forward to this since I heard about the event and now it's over... but I'll see Mana and Közi again for sure (Moi Dix Mois will play again at Shibuya WWW in december, that's also where I saw them the first time so sweet nostalgie).
One ting that bothered me tonight was that Moi Dix Mois really felt incomplete. K's gone, and Mana was distant, they rarely play live gigs anymore and even rarer to see a release from them. They didn't even sell cd's like they used to! I feel worried about the future of Moi Dix Mois. I really don't want to see them go on a hiatus or even worse, break up. I really hope they'll keep going, we need them.

I had such an amazing evening! I can't put it into words how happy I was to be able to see Mana, Közi and Yu~ki togheter. Malice Mizer has meant to much to me, for so many years now. It's partly because of them I decided to study japanese and so it's thanks to them I'm here now! This might have been the last time for me to see them togheter, and I will certainly cherish it for the rest of my life.

My dinner XD

The Velvet at Ikebukuro Cyber

Yesterday I had a reservation to go see The Velvet at Ikebukuro Cyber! I got some guidance from a The Velvet fan, otherwise I would've been completly lost! I had no idea all these events with a million bands playing had so much set "rules", so I was lucky to get help^^

While standing in line, in the rain, for 2 hours you could see bands arriving, Mimi and Bera aswell.

The Velvet was scheduled for 8pm, so for 4h we had to watch all these other random bands (I thought I had seen random, I had not...one band had a dragon bassist O_o).
Ikebukuro Cyber was so much smaller than I imagened! Eventhough it felt bad that most left when their favorite band played, it was acctually nice since the floor was so tiny.
The Velvet got a bit delayed, they were scheduled for 8pm, but the band playing before them never seemed to start :P
Their gig was so much more fun than I thought, both Mimi and Bera was so full of energy eventhough they weren't even playing for a full livehouse. Mimi danced and jumped around so much you couldn't help but get some of that energy. I totally forgot I was soaking wet XD
I enjoyed all the songs but Shiroi karasu wa nemurenai and Kansensuru android were two highlights^^ I stood infront of Bera and he came so close to the edge of stage I had his crotch like 30cm from my face, and a few drops of sweat landed on me. (XD)
Mimi stood at their table selling items afterwards (he was so cute*_*), I asked if he had any t-shirts with him and he looked so suprised, and apologised saying he didn't bring them, so he asked if I was coming to the Halloween event, but I'm not =( so I just got a cheki ^^ He was really kind =) (then I sat on the floor by their merchtable, taking short glances at them XD)

I can't go to the Halloween event, but I have to see them once more before I leave Japan *_* (and hopefully Mimi can bring t-shirts^^)

Setlist:
1. Shiroi karasu wa nemurenai
2. Fukigenna Mari
-MC-
3. Oboreru ningyo
4. Plastic doll
5. Meikyuu shoujo
6. Kansensuru android

October

I'm kind of amazed that Japan starts Halloween so early. Stores are full of pumpkins and witches eventhough October just began. Halloween parties are also all over October (what happened to the fact it's acctually a holiday at the end of the month?), and yet Tokyo is so hot I feel like I'm on a trip to hell (I'm really bad with heat, and cold acctually).

I'm still on a hideous jetlag, so as soon as I lie down I'm lying there for probably 2-3 hours trying to sleep. But of course that can't stop me when it comes to seeing my bands. This morning I set my alarm so that I'd be ready to go down to Lawson at 10 a.m, to get a ticket to D's concert at Shinjuku BLAZE in November!

Shinjuku BLAZE isn't that big so I wanted to be sure I'd get a ticket, but their webpage was down and when I got to the Loppi machine it stoped working because too many were buying tickets at the same time :P But I got my ticket and that's what's important!

To be honest I've been a bit disapointed in D's latest releases but they have some really amazing songs from their previous albums and since they're going on hiatus I really want to see them (to be frank, many bands say they go on hiatus and then you never see them again).

Tomorrow though, I'll be seeing The Velvet for the first time! I've planned on going to one of their livegigs since the first time I went to Tokyo and then something else has come in the way. But tomorrow I'm finally off to see Bera and Mimi! I'm really looking forward to it.