ONE OK ROCK played an outstanding live at Yokohama Arena during their two-day tour final.
The tour began in November 2011 with the release of ONE OK ROCK‘s fifth album, Zankyou Reference. The last shows, at Yokohama Arena on two days, were called Yokohama Arena Special Final. The venue’s capacity was 24,000 people for both days and it was substantially beyond the show at Nippon Budokan in 2010! Tickets for the shows were all sold out on the same day. This report describes the second day of the shows. An enormous audience filled the hall with eager faces, including a lot of male fans as well. As the stage was blacked out, the four band members were silhouetted against a white curtain. The audience exploded with cheers of enthusiasm. From the first song LOST AND FOUND, the audience began to sing along and jump stormily. The whole hall moved about energetically like a living thing. Taka (vocal) stretched out his arm to the audience, Toru (guitar) came to the front actively, Ryota (bass) raised his hands high and Tomoya (drums) stood up and surveyed the audience after he played. Right from the start, all the members made efforts to engage the crowd without any hesitation.
During the first brief break, Taka swore, “I’ll do my best to make you enjoy it!” In the next song, Mikansei koukyoukyoku, he incited, “Show me your very high jump!” and yelled, “It’s your life, isn’t it!?” While at the Nippon Budoukan show his vocal ability and personality proved suitable for a big stage, his skills this time went above and beyond. Of course, the skills of the band as a whole had been greatly improved too. In Seken shirazu no uchu hikoushi, laser beams crossed each other in the air, while Tomoya, Ryota and Toru played a solo relay in order. In the next song, Mr. Gendai Speaker, they overwhelmed the audience with a great heaviness. InAnswer is Near, the band communicated with each section of the audience, none of the members easing their attack during the show. The band’s evolution seems to have been very affected by their trusting relationship with the audience, whose excitement was amazing. A lot of people had never gone to a show before or listened to rock music, but many went up the stairs with the band, enjoying the evolution of rock music and the attraction of concerts. In the middle of the show, Taka introduced Kagerou from their first album Zeitakubyou, saying, “We don’t usually play the song.” Taka‘s beautiful voice was vividly notable in Wherever you are. Following that, the audience watched a video for a short while, and string players arrived on the stage. They played Et cetera, Karasu and Pierce in a refined arrangement. In Pierce, Taka sang while playing the piano, opening up new possibilities.
The show grew hotter and hotter from there. Taka said, “Since I started the band, I’ve met my dearest people for the first time in my life”, introducing the song C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.. He prostrated himself on the stage after he finished the song. In an amusing break, Taka pointed a camera out over the audience and talked with them. InLet’s take it someday, he asked the audience to squat down, and he jumped with the crowd. The hall steadily became one mass. Pillars of fire rose in Rock, Scissors, Paper, while fireworks fell from the ceiling in Kanzen kankaku Dreamer. The large-scale effects were quite suitable for these band members. The last song of the main part was Nobody’s home. Taka‘s connection with the song seemed to spread to the band, and finally to everyone who loves the band members, growing bigger and bigger. Taka buttoned it with an “I love you!” at the end.
The audience sang Answer is Near and enthusiastically asked for the band to play again. Obliging, the four members appeared on the stage and played Yumeyume. Taka declared strongly, “Your future is bright. Trust me!” Then they played the last song, Kimi shidai ressha. When it seemed the show was at an end, Taka said to the crowd’s delight, “I don’t want to go home yet, so can I sing one song again?” They went on to perform Naihi shinsho from their début single, the audience enchanted by the band’s completely bright and powerful enthusiasm. The show was finished after two and a half hours.
After the show, many in the crowd praised the band, adding that they would look forward to future shows. The band was not only able to succeed on this big stage, but they were also able to connect to the audience enough to make those impressions and have the audience looking forward to more, even in this age. They are an amazing rock band, and we will keep an eye on their career in the future too, not only as a music group but also as a hope of Japan.
Set list
1. LOST AND FOUND
2. Kaimu
3. Mikansei Koukyoukyoku
4. Jibun ROCK
5. Re:make
6. Seken Shirazu no Uchu Hikoushi
7. Mr. Gendai Speaker
8. Answer is Near
9. Kagerou
10. Wherever you are
11. Et cetera
12. Karasu
13. Pierce
14. C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.
15. Liar
16. Let’s take it someday
17. Rock, Scissors, Paper
18. NO SCARED
19. Koi no Aibou Kokoro no Cupid
20. Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer
21. Nobody’s home
Encore
22. Yumeyume
23. Kimi Shidai Ressha
24. Naihi Shinsho
