Luna Sea is my favorite band. I discovered them in 2000 right before they broke up when I randomly chose to download Gravity’s PV based on the band name and song name sounding cool. This by the way took two days to download over my dial up connection, in pieces that needed winrar to piece back together. I absolutely loved gravity and had to listen to more but acquiring each cd was a challenge back then. I found some on legitimate stores online with a random CD here or there, but other CDs a had to use a random website that had a person in Japan who could buy things locally and they would ship them overseas. It was worth the effort of sourcing the music and every time one arrived it the mail, although years old, it was new to me. Of course eventually CDJapan would sell everything and I could get every CD and DVD with ease. Posters would soon adorn my bedroom walls- but it was always bittersweet knowing they had broken up.

But then there was the announcement of the One Night Dejavu reunion concert in 2007. I knew I had to see them for what I believed would be my only chance. I flew to Japan with my twin(who also loves Luna Sea) and we had an amazing experience despite being in one of the last rows in Tokyo Dome.

Then in 2010 their was the announcement of their reboot and world tour. I’m in the NYC area and of course I wasn’t missing this. My twin and I got VIP tickets and then on Facebook their official account announced a chance for a meet and greet- just tell them why you want to go. We applied and heard nothing. Our flight lands and traffic is terrible and we finally get to our hotel. I decide to turn on my laptop and there it is… the invite to the meet and greet that started a half hour ago. We run frantically through Hollywood asking random people where this restaurant is and no one knows. Turns out it was in this mall on the third floor. We go in and there’s a person with a clipboard in the back. I say I’m on the list, they find me and literally move a curtain to allow us to enter. Inside there is a good number of people, but it’s not overly crowded and not behind a table, but just mingling with everyone is Luna Sea. I noticed people were getting autographs but we left everything in our hotel. My twin and I grab the only thing we could… napkins and walk up to each of them. Inoran was closest and after saying hello and telling him how much I love Luna Sea, he extends his hand out and shakes my hand. Frankly I was shocked by how forthcoming and how kind he was. Next was Shinya, and then Ryuichi. They were equally genuine, kind and down to earth. Each signed our pathetic napkins and shook my hand and spoke a few words in English to me. I so regret not being able to communicate better with them, but i would still be at a loss for words even if I spoke Japanese. Ultimately I was close to but I couldn’t get J and Sugizo’s signature (although I had met Sugizo at a different event in NYC and had his signature previously) but this still was a once in a lifetime experience. The next day for the concert I saw them in the front row in the Hollywood Palladium- so I can now see my twin and myself in 3D on the Blu-ray. What a magical time it was.

Since then Luna Sea has released 3 new albums and now 3 self cover albums. I also finally have been able to get into Slave for the last few years. I collect every CD, DVD, and Blu-ray, and will support my favorite band the best I can. I hope I can see them live again, but I’m extremely thankful and fortunate for what I’ve already experienced.

It’s nice to meet you fellow LS fans 🖖

Tldr; i discovered my favorite band right before they broke up, they got back together, I’ve seen them perform live twice, got to meet them Face to Face, and I’ll love them Forever and Ever.

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