XVision Tour: X4 at Kashiwa Palooza

Hello Everyone!

(X4)

Ok this is a super late entry but I still wanted to share it with all of you. Back in April I was able to go to my first X4 Concert. I’ll admit I had heard next to nothing of their songs due to the fact that I was planning on buying their CD at the concert (thus the only preview I got was from Youtube and my friend Katie just prior to the concert). But regardless, it was something I greatly looked forward to and enjoyed! 

(Happy Day!)

So who is X4? X4 is a newly formed Boy Band signed under Japanese Dream Records, specializing in R&B and Pop styled music. Members include: Yuya (Matsushita), Kodai, SJ, and T-Max, all from the Kansai area of Japan. Their first album released was "XVision", which was the title of this Live Tour. I was lucky enough to join three of my friends for their concert at Kashiwa Palooza in Chiba (千葉県), near Kashiwa Station (柏駅).

(My Ticket)

Similar to past concerts I've been to, the Goods Lines opened up about 2 hours prior to the actual concert. For anyone curious about Goods Lines, depending on the performer, it is a good idea to line up anywhere between 1-2 hours prior to the line opening, assuming that those in charge allow it. We lined up an hour before, which was a fantastic decision on our part. While we were waiting, a black fan rolled up front and too all of our surprise X4 just strolled out and quickly went into Palooza (as we were all waiting out front). Talk about cool!

(Shot of the inside of Palooza; check out one of the past performances!)

After buying our goods, we went to wait for an hour before coming back for the actual concert itself. We were luckily near the front of the line, so we got good spots once inside. The location was a bit smaller than the last place I saw Yuya live, but I liked that as it meant we were all closer to the performers and the audience could interact more with the band. We only had to wait a little bit before the performance started with the "Theme of XVision". In this concert, it was about half talking/half singing as they only had one CD out, but I think most of the fans appreciated it as it allowed us all to get to know the singers a bit better. They would joke, laugh, and sometimes speak seriously, but most of all, they made for a great performance for all of their fans there.

(The Inside of Palooza)

After the concert came the best part of this adventure though. One of the lucky things about this location was that if you bought a CD, you could stay after and shake hands with all 4 of the band members and speak them for a bit. Being able to that was absolutely fantastic, and a memory to be had. They were all really sweet, funny, and had wonderful smiles. This was my second time meeting Yuya, but my first time meeting the others, who were very charming young men as well. It was though the first time I had the chance to talk to any of them, which was very interesting for me as my Japanese was put to the test. Thankfully, I think it passed. ;)

(My Handshake Pass)

Overall, the concert was a lot of fun and the location was great as you could really interact with the performers. X4's music itself was very catchy and I found myself immediately needing these new songs on my iPod after the concert. My favorites included: "Bang a Gong", "Fire", "Little Longer", "Raindrop", and "Mikaduki", and "I Don't Know Your Name". If you're unfamiliar with their music, you can check them out on iTunes and on their official website here: X4 . Each member also has their own Instagram that you can follow as well. Check them out!

Till my next big adventure,

The Alucard Show

Wow! Just wow! That was fantastic. Where to begin?

Alright, I'll begin with this. What on earth am I talking about? I'm talking about my experience last night seeing "The Alucard Show".

(Promo poster for the show; credit: Tumblr)

What is that you ask? "The Alucard Show" is a musical directed by Masahiko Kawahara with choreography by MIKIKO and music by Atsushi that has gained much popularity and a bit of cult following here in Japan, known as "Alucadnia". The demand to see it was so great after its first run back in 2013, that they brought it back for a re-run in 2014! Fans prior to the second showing all posted photos of themselves doing Alucard's pose (perhaps made even more popular due to Mangaka Yana Toboso's drawing rendition of Alucard back in 2013) to cheer on the cast and crew and thank them for coming back to give everyone another chance to see the show. So of course, when I heard that it was coming back for another run, I quickly bought my tickets as soon as I could! There was no way I was missing out on this.

(Vlad as depicted by Yana Toboso, "Black Butler" Mangaka, from her blog back in 2013) 

Starring names like Silvia Grab (シルビアグラブ), Takeshi Kongochi (金剛地武志), Yasuko Mitsuura (光浦靖子), Takuya Uehara (植原卓也), and Yuya Matsushita (松下優也) (and yes, the latter of which is why I wanted to go), Alucard tells the story of Maria, a pop idol attempting to make a comeback by hiring 6 new backup dancers, when all of a sudden her show is stolen from her by the mysterious "Vlad". Now with 7 members, the group "Alucard" is created.

(Alucard Pass with the seven members of "Alucard")

(2014 Commercial for The Alucard Show's second run)

At its core, "The Alucard Show" is a vampire story. But it's clear that the reasons for its popularity stem from far more than just that. I had a vague idea of what I was getting into when I went to see the Alucard Show (I was also once again the only foreigner in the audience and while I could go on about why that is a crime because the show is so good, I won't). I had pre-ordered the CD (available here) and had been listening to it since it arrived in early November, but that was nothing compared to seeing this musical live.

(CD Cover)

(Pre-Order Poster Gift; Envelope Reads "Dear Alucadnia)

Alucard is impressive for numerous reasons. The first of which that stands out to me though, is the dancing and choreography. With a moving stage, the dancers moved with such vigor and in such sync, it was hard to decide where to focus your attention at times. You wanted to see it all! Dancers back-flipped, rolled across the floor, and demonstrated various styles of dance through out the musical (I could pick out pop, hip-hop, and classic, to name a few). It was captivating with every turn.

(Check out the 2013 Commercial for some of the choreography work!)

The second reason that Alucard probably stands out is that its style, it's roots as a vampire story, something that classically speaking, derives to mind old decrepit buildings, the drinking of blood, monsters, and death, is woven so well into a "modern" world, where fans gather to meet their idols, posters of Alucard spread across the land, and the two music styles (classic and new) are combined so tastefully.

(Second depiction of "The Alucard Show" by Yana Toboso)

(Shot from the show; Credit to sumabo.jp)

Being a costume person, I also loved their costuming department for numerous reasons. The costume changes were quick and effective. While the character of Maria had some pretty fantastic costumes, in particular, the 6 members and Vlad perhaps had the best. The most stylish, the most in sync with the ampire feel, and incorporating the modern street flair that made their outfits so appealing and interesting to look at. They were something that any girl would love her boyfriend to wear. Vlad's were stunning as he goes from a random man on the street, to a pop idol and the leader of a Vampire legion, always maintaining that feeling of classic 'Dracula' in some form.

(Even their Premium Seat gift, a special rendition of Hello Kitty was decked out in Vampire gear! I'm not much of one for Hello Kitty but this thing is super cute!)

All of the characters had interesting personalities too. The first character that I greatly enjoyed was that of Maria. Maria makes a compelling character as she seems to be the only one unswayed by Alucard's beauty and appeal. While normally Maria's character might have annoyed me due to her sense of entitlement at the beginning of the story, watching her fall and feeling helpless and betrayed made her a much more intriguing character. You wanted to root for her, but at the same time, watching Vlad, you sat there wondering if she was fighting a loosing battle, if he was insurmountable, or even if he had somehow gotten you under his spell (or rather charmed you over to his side) as well.

(With a curtain like this prior to the show, how can you already not be charmed by it? And yes, those were candlesticks off to the sides.)

And speaking of Vlad, I must talk about his character for a moment. Vlad was a brilliant creation of a character (and definitely my favorite). Vlad maintains silence the majority of the time, save for when he sings. The only times he does talk, you can tell that he is holding all the cards, knowing and understanding everything going on. He holds a power unlike any of the other characters present. Matsushita's performance as him was also phenomenal, as he kept a refined, sophisticated air about him, while also maintaining an air of danger and mystery. Watching Vlad, you could tell he was amused by watching people follow him for reasons they could not understand. And while he was often aloof and mysterious, he had a personality that felt very real, like a young man holding the world in his hands and knowing it too.

(Mid-performance shot of Vlad; Credit to sumabo.jp)

I often felt that Matsushita's voice literally breathed life into the whole show as well, as in some ways, it felt like a medium for connecting the whole show, even the audience, together (probably intentionally so too). It took the show from a great show to a spectacular one. Take all of that and add in the stellar performances by Silvia, Takeshi, and Yasuko, and you really have a compelling story with music and dancing that takes the whole show to another level of entertainment. I won't spoil the ending, but needless to say, it's good. Really good.

(Check out the 2014 New Song here which features Matsushita's voice prominently)

The Alucard Show is currently showing at the AiiA Theater Tokyo until the 24th of November. As it stands, the show is now completely sold out (rightly so, might I add).  However, the DVD is available for pre-order on ASmart (here) and will be released in March of 2015.

(Sign Announcing the DVD Release at AiiA Theater)

The theatre itself was a good location between Harajuku (原宿) and Shibuya (渋谷) stations on the Yamanote line (山手線). It is well run and has a style that matches that of Alucard's. My only complaint was that the seats were not the most comfortable. They were okay, but not great like that of Bunkamura's Cocoon's or Blue Theater's. The pro of the seats? No matter where you were, you were sure to get a great view of the show. Literally.

(The entrance to the AiiA Theater Tokyo)

(Side view of the Theatre)

Goods were sold on location and it was honestly hard to show self control for most of the things available (I thanked my lucky stars that I only had cash on me).

(Goods Stand)

(Some of the Alucard Goods)

(Bromides of Uehara and Matsushita)

Anyway, if you have the chance to go to "The Alucard Show" you will not be disappointed and if you have the chance to view it on DVD, don't debate. Do it. Watch it. It literally is a work of art, appealing to both the classic lovers and new generation of Musical goers alike. Till next time!

(My shot for Alucard)

"In The Heights" at Bunkamura

久しぶりです！
(Long time no see!)

Playing a bit of catch up right now admittedly, so I figured the best place to start would be near the beginning. Living so close to Tokyo has allowed me to go to many musicals, plays, and concerts since my arrival. One of the first that I went to was the Japanese Rendition of "In the Heights" (インザハイツ).

Before I begin, just so you know, this post is going to talk about both the Musical itself and my experience going to said Musical ie. what was the same and what was different in comparison to Broadway, what it was like going to a Show in another country, what I could understand/not understand, what I enjoyed or didn't enjoy, etc. as well as advice I would give to a foreigner going to a musical in Japan.

A bit of background, "In the Heights" is a Broadway Musical that takes place in Washington Heights (Manhattan) and is about a man named Usnavi who dreams of leaving "The Heights".  It's a wonderful musical with beautiful colors, themes, and Dominican influenced music. The original English version also includes various Spanish-lingo within the dialogue and music as well. So how did it translate into Japanese?

In a word: Marvelously.

The Japanese Production starred such names as Micro, Ayaka Umeda (Former AKB48 Member), Chihiro Otsuka, Motomu Azaki, and Yuya Matsushita. (I was also delighted to see one of my other favorite stage named Takuya Uehara starring in it as well). For me, the draw was Singer Yuya Matsushita, who I had wanted to see for... 5 years. So when I heard he would be in Tokyo starring in this musical, I had no choice, I had to go. However, the entire cast was excellent and just wonderfully talented, which I think led to a very successful and fabulous show (more of which I'll talk about near the end).

"In the Heights" was performed the Bunkamura Theatre in Shibuya, a straight shot back from the Hachiko Exit. Bunkamura was a beautiful theatre; very classy and large, perfect for a show from Broadway. Getting tickets for this show proved to be a very different process in comparison to what I was used to though.

Often in America, we go through Broadway websites, or even the show's homepage itself and pay through PayPal or via Credit Card. In Japan, this was my first time experiencing the magic of Ticket Pia or E+ (ePlus). From the Musical's webpage, you go to either of those two sites mentioned above and purchase your ticket through there (you have to make an account first). Now, unfortunately since coming to Japan, one thing I lack is a Japanese Credit Card and a PayPal with 円 (yen) on it. So how do I pay for my ticket?  I register for the ticket, receive an email with a payment number on it and bring it to the local Lawsons / Convenience Store (Konbini / コンビニ). There I pay for my ticket and they print it out! Right then. Right there. Magic! Well not really, but this convenient system is available to most people and used often in Japan.

So the day arrives and I traveled into Tokyo to Shibuya, making sure to check my map for the Theatre before I go as well as the exit I should use at the station. Small note, I recommend if you go to any event in Japan to check and double check your map and the location of the event before you go. Addresses in Japan are VERY confusing sometimes, especially in Tokyo which, unlike Kyoto, is not on a grid system. If you know the station and which exit you should take, that will find that to be a lifesaver sometimes. Thankfully in this case, my exit was the Hachiko exit (a very famous one that I will talk about perhaps in another post).

And then there it was, the Bunkamura!

A little about this particular performance and dress code. I applied the same rule of thumb that I always do with Broadway shows. Dress nicely. No jeans. No T-shirts. Dress pants or a skirt and a nice top. And I'm glad I did. Not all events in Japan are like that, but I have found that the same rules of thumb that you would apply in America apply here. Rock concert? Ripped jeans, ok. Opera? Wear a nice dress. Broadway Musical? A nice skirt and stockings does wonders.

At Bunkamura they displayed "In the Heights" theatre location right at the entrance, both in Romaji and in Kana. I found this to be something that many theatres do (though if it's a Show from Japan with Kanji, they will generally display the Kanji over the Kana).

I got there early and got in line. They scanned my ticket, gave me some fliers, and all of a sudden I was inside a hustling bustling crowd (same thing as Broadway guys). The only thing that I did not get was a pamphlet, which I would have to buy. It happened to be that I did want to buy some items before going to my seat, so I had to locate the line and the store. I have found this to be the same with every performance I've been to so far. You can look at items from afar, but the line will likely always be long and you should look for an assistant at the Theatre or Arena to help you find the line (it likely wraps around some places; my first mistake here, not realizing that they wrapped the line to other places that you can't see). But they were gracious and helpful and showed me where to go, for which I greatly appreciated their help.

I was one of the few foreigners going to this particular performance, but not the only one. The Japanese staff were very helpful and understanding. They clearly guided me to my seat. Particularly at Bunkamura, I found the staff to be very gracious and extremely helpful. 

A different element to Theatre/Concert going that I've found is that you generally DON'T get the option to choose your seat. It goes almost like a lottery. You apply for a ticket and the seat you get is what you get. Sometimes you can choose a "Premiere Seat" or a "Regular Seat", but it depends from location to location. When you get your ticket, it will tell you where your seat is and if you're lucky and able to read it, you might be able to go to the website of the theatre and find the seat chart and see where you need to head to. If you can't read your ticket and don't know where to go, just ask someone working there. 

And then, surprise! I was there! And I was able to watch it. Now, to be fair, my Japanese at the time (I've improved since coming) was not enough to get me through the whole musical and understand everything that was being said. Beforehand, I read a synopsis online of "In The Heights" which helped me understand what was going on significantly. 

However, one of the beautiful aspects of theatre is the ability of the actors to display what they're saying and how they're feeling, through their actions (they are after all, act-ors). If I were just to listen to the music and the narrative without seeing this, I probably still would have been very lost. But with the Synopsis, the Actors themselves, and what Japanese I did know, I was able to follow, understand, and enjoy the musical through every minute of it.

So if you are going to a Musical/Play in Japanese or in any other language that you don't think you will understand, do NOT let the language barrier stop you. Read the synopsis before you go (making sure to know what occurs in each act and if you can, what the musical numbers are) and you will likely enjoy the Musical/Play regardless.

(above shot courtesy of JapanTimes)

As I said before, the actual performance itself was fabulous. But I do want to elaborate on that. It was not just fabulous, it was beautiful, vibrant, raw, and full of emotion. Motomu Azaki, who played Abuela Claudia, brought a powerhouse of vocal strength to the musical. Similarly, Micro, who played Usnavi, brought a culturally rich vibe to the performance with his singing and acting. While there are many in the cast that I could talk about, I must also mention Takuya Uehara. He was perfect for his role as the Piragua Guy. In the past, he has played various serious and comedic roles, and I loved him in this one. He always brought a smile to my face when he got on stage.

Finally, my main reason for going, Yuya Matsushita, who played Benny, did an incredible job in giving a deep emotional center and real feeling to the audience. Just a disclaimer, no I am not being biased. If he had not done a good job, I doubt that I would have understood, nor been able to feel exactly what was happening through out Benny and Nina's love story. Thankfully I did, and I was able to enjoy watching the subplot of the beautiful young love story within the musical.

For a full review on "In the Heights" in Japan (not written by me, but one that I think is pretty accurate), visit this website:

"In The Heights" Sizzles Across Distant Cultures

So overall, I would call my first trip to a Musical in Japan a success! I am lucky in that I have been to one since then and have many more to come! I will write of those soon. Thank you for reading!