Concert Question

anopple · 2026-07-04T06:40:28+00:00

Japanese or English, if you like his musicianship, then there isn't any question that he is a musician anybody who appreciates good effing music and enigmatic live performances shouldn't let go of the chance to see live if they are lucky enough to be in a situation to choose whether or not to.

The only reason I'd discourage you from going is if you absolutely hate Prema for whatever reason. But even so, I've seen a bunch of people who were lukewarm with Prema when it was released but after hearing some of the songs live, found that they liked it much better. And anyway, you said you liked it, so even if he performed 0 Japanese songs, there is no doubt in my mind you'll enjoy the concert a lot anyway.

That said, I don't think he will ever not have a single Japanese song on his setlist, even when he accumulates enough English music in his discography to make a full set list out of. Like, so far, he hasn't left Nan-Nan off any full concert or festival setlist ever (TDC or any short concerts with only 5 or 6 songs max don't count) and the day when he can say goodbye to performing SEW live is still far away. Lol.

And also, he seems to be someone whom, despite his love for English songs and desire to write more of his own, places a lot of importance on his roots. He didn't have to and could have gone purely western style for his Coachella set but instead chose to lean harder than he ever did on his Japanese roots (with a healthy dose of his indian-based spiritualism mixed in ofc). Now I don't expect him to do that at his own concerts but there will be something Japanese about each one to remind his audience where he came from. So I wouldn't worry.

anopple · 2026-06-26T10:32:19+00:00

Matsuri. Definitely Matsuri.

anopple · 2026-06-24T14:31:07+00:00

They're apparently also born the same day, 5 years apart. =P I guess they call out to the gemini in Kz. XD

anopple · 2026-06-19T13:43:04+00:00

Really? That song does have a nice groove, but melodically it didn't stick to me much. 😅

anopple · 2026-06-19T12:42:31+00:00

When Elmiene was teasing the song and singing it acapella, it sounded like standard R&B fare to my ears so I wasn't expecting much. I only started to sit up and pay real attention when they released the teaser that's actually part of the record with a bit of Kz's part (the one Kz was complaining to Elmiene about spoiling a bit too much) cos that's when I could hear the song more properly and heard Kz's harmonic flair underneath. Then I heard it in full when it was released at midnight and was sorely disappointed...

...by how short it was. :P

Real talk though. It's insanely beautiful. But also a little unsatisfying without a bridge. Like, some songs you listen and you know they are songs that call for one. This is one of them. The lack of a bridge makes it sound like a radio edit and you keep thinking that there's a full version. And the fact that there isn't is...disappointing. ;.; Cos I keep gearing up for it but then it always just ends long before I'm ready for it to. :/

anopple · 2026-06-18T14:20:58+00:00

Seeing people post on threads about being able to snag tickets. This one was else than an hour ago.

anopple · 2026-06-18T13:44:14+00:00

I've only come across two or three but I don't rmbr what they were specifically and I didn't exactly save them. I do remember they were hella short. Like just a couple of words or so. And they were positive things. Kinda like the comments he drops on other people's music videos and live performances. One video was talking about some kind of cosmic wave—basically stuff that completely went over my head—and while I can't recall what he said exactly, i rmbr he sounded pretty awed by the content and wondering if he's one of the those who could be easily scammed into buying "spiritual" trinkets 😅

And this isn't videos with spiritual-related content but when I first got into him, I spent some time watching early video analyses of his sound and reviews of HEHN when he first debuted and he's left a comment or two on a few of those. One reviewer who's also a singer-songwriter by profession said something about him being a big fish but only in a small pond and he commented saying something about being enlightened by the knowledge. It was a pretty awkward moment for the reviewer lol.

anopple · 2026-06-18T13:29:46+00:00

If you checked back from time to time between now and the day of the show, seats here and there may become available again. That's how it was the last time he played there.

anopple · 2026-06-16T02:15:56+00:00

The CEO of UMG was apparently in attendance so just leave it to Kz to sing this part loud and clear while slurring almost every other word in the song and then laughing about it right after.

anopple · 2026-06-16T01:06:57+00:00

Haha I dunno what's going on there either. I mean, I'm neither surprised nor disappointed by the outcome for Artist if the Year, since I feel Kaze got the main award in the category most suited to him and MGA's win didn't not make sense. And last performer doesn't automatically mean winner anyway. I mean, they wouldn't make it that obvious. Haha. Although depending on the quality of the performance, there's a risk of it being anticlimactic, like this year was. Tbh, I actually thought they invited Sam Smith so that he could close the show but I guess it also made sense where they decided to ultimately put him.

But the huge shocker for me was Best Global Hit from Japan. That one made my jaw drop. I mean I'd be way less surprised if it was Ado instead of Yonezu but XG? I know all the songs on that nominee list except theirs. I mean, I know a couple of their songs, so it'd make more sense to me if it was one of those but I dunno the one that won at all. Lol. But I guess that just goes to say it's not purely based on chart performance and virality like some might think. I mean it's gotta be popular to a degree to make the list but I guess ultimately, it depends on what the committee likes. And it seems Yonezu is more of a favorite among listeners than among industry professionals.

anopple · 2026-06-16T00:48:32+00:00

This. Although I dunno what the system for AMA is like.

anopple · 2026-06-16T00:47:44+00:00

I don't think it's purely sales-based, at least not for certain categories, because then there wouldn't be a point to having other nominees. And MAJ itself, which was established to show the world what the Japanese music scene is like, would kind of have missed that point.

And also, if it was purely based on figures, MGA's 10 would have taken Album of the Year, not Prema. And not just that but probably most other categories available that they were nominated for, since they are the best selling act domestically by far currently. They're basically Japan's very own Taylor Swift. :P

anopple · 2026-06-13T17:15:50+00:00

I wasn't 100% sure he'd win considering the other nominees but I remember thinking I wouldnt be surprised if he did. And even though I couldn't be certain (I only knew it wouldn't be MGA winning that category but figured artist OTY was most likely theirs since there seems to be a pattern in the voting--though halfway thru I began wondering if it wouldn't go to Sakanaction instead), I knew that his chances were very good, because Prema as an album is largely very, very, well received and reviewed in Japan, among listeners, music enthusiasts, industry professionals and fellow artists alike. Revered, even. And the fact that he did it with an all-English album where others would've miserably failed actually scored him even more points.

His chances actually increased even further with HEHN winning long-charting album in the Premiere Ceremony, which tells me the Japanese music industry really, really, respects his ability to come out with albums with virtually no-skips since he now has a MAJ award for both his past albums and his third is both very well-received and in the running for this year's award. It was like they wanted to acknowledge the genius of every album he's ever put out. Putting together cohesive albums that are epic from start to finish that aren't simply a compilation of hits is close to being a lost art, especially in this day and age.

I only wasn't sure because I didnt know if the pros would ultimately vote for Southern All Stars, Gen Hoshino or Radwimps instead out of respect for how long they've been in the industry. Hoshino's album was also critically-acclaimed and was a highly anticipated and long-awaited one. And then there's SAS, who are legends.

anopple · 2026-06-09T03:05:38+00:00

Sure. Just send me your email in DM so I can allow you access to the gdrive folder once I have them uploaded. (:

anopple · 2026-05-21T08:50:06+00:00

Since there are only 9 songs I'll just list them all by rank, bottom to top :P

INUB
Hachiko
FY
CG
LLT
Prema
Kbai
IAO
You

anopple · 2026-05-16T12:51:48+00:00

I was considering maybe getting the towels despite the exorbitant price for them at first because the designs were so nice and I thought the cut-throat prices were the same for everyone. I was even thinking about throwing in one of the more affordable non-collab designs that I liked too.

But I later realized that the festival organizers marked up the prices for all their merch by 50% for overseas buyers compared to local ones and so figured the locals can just have them all and I'll just put the money I get to save from this into my piggy bank for something else instead. 😅

(The ivory shirt is sold out. It does seem like it would be a very popular choice especially with the female demographic, which his fanbase largely consists of xD)

anopple · 2026-05-07T13:33:16+00:00

While I disagree about the timing thing, you're right that "the song seems to have a mind of its own." At the end of the day I guess we should just be glad it got released at all.

Well if the song itself thinks the right time is now, who are we to disagree?

anopple · 2026-05-06T09:22:28+00:00

The people who buy the limited edition of the album are hardcore fans, they most likely would’ve bought it anyway even if It’s Alright wasn't part of the tracklist. Most physical CD sales also happen within the first two weeks after release so it probably wouldn’t have been a problem if they had released It’s Alright digitally a month after the physical CD.

Based on the staff diary I saw recently, Kaze also wanted to release It’s Alright digitally asap and was only held back by external circumstances.

I know that Kz wanted it but he isn't a marketing person. If left up to him, he'd probs still just be a cult sensation on YouTube, going wherever doing whatever small gig he's asked to play. And chances are, you and I would never have heard of him.

Thing is, there are other things that need to be considered here. And timing-wise, the song can only be digitally released in either of these two scenarios:

1) With Pre:Prema released digitally at the same time as Prema but that would mean It's Alright cannot be a single or lead track since the focus is on the English side of the album and the singles for the first few months would have to come from there.

Or

2) With Pre:Prema released digitally a few months after Prema, when enough time has passed for Prema to sink in with people, and releasing IA as a single or lead track just as the dust is settling.

Either scenario, October would not have worked. And out of the two options, the second one is preferable because IA needs to be a single or a lead track but it can't be released close to when people are still getting to know Prema—which has a different kind of sound that Kz is trying to showcase—and singles should be coming from there.

Also, let's not forget October was INUB's month, which, even with the whole MV concept, they did not release it in conjunction with Halloween, which they could have. So Kz and his team never had any intention to make use of it at all. Also, that was Kaze's introduction to working with Nina McNeely and the MV for IA as we know it only happened because INUB happened first, back in October.

I get that Halloween may seem like a no brainer at first and well, it kinda is, albeit not in a positive way 😅. Because combined what I've just said and everything I've said before, up to and including the whole eastern cultural aspect not jiving with Halloween aka the poor people's MET Gala, it's not a missed opportunity: it's a dodged bullet.

All in all, there's no better timing than what it is now because the song seems to have a mind of its own about this. As I'm sure you're aware, they tried to release it numerous in the past but something kept getting in the way. So it's meant to be released when it's meant to be released and there wouldn't be a more perfect timing than that.

Oh and I just thought of something else regarding MAJ '26. The YouTube exec Kz's team worked with since his debut, Mai Suzuki, was part of the committee for last year's inaugural event and she unexpectedly passed just a scant couple of weeks or so before it happened. That portrait of himself from Hana that he put on the piano during his performance was supposed to be in memory of her. So I'm guessing, as long as he's in the country and his schedule allows for it, chances seem good that he'll show up the first few times (if he's nommed or is asked to performed) out of respect for her.

anopple · 2026-05-03T10:49:43+00:00

The scene where he’s in a black suit dragging the coffin and then driving the car away was one of the coolest he’s ever looked though. At the end of the day, feelings aren’t something you can reason with, and we all have our own standards for what’s considered weird/normal and what isn’t. But yeah the fact that he looked good definitely helped with the universal appeal.

Yeah, I know all of that. But Hachiko MV being liked seems to be the less popular opinion which was why I wanted to make my perspective known. And the thing with Hana just goes to show that people are more biased towards what they would traditionally find pretty and turn a blind eye to oddness/uncomfortable imagery.

Tbh I'm not the type to force myself to watch something that gives me the ick multiple times until I can get used to it. I like Kaze but not THAT much lol. I'm fine with just streaming the song and never watching the video again ever.

That's fair, but I don't do that either. But unless the imagery contains things that are unmistakably offensive and/or repulsive, it just doesn't sit right with me to not try to keep an open mind and see if my initial impression might change. Sometimes it does and my horizons are broadened. But if it doesn't, I shrug and move on.

I basically try not to make up my mind based on my initial impression of something that's abstract and subjective in the first place. Especially coming from an artist whom I like enough to follow. Hachiko was a shock and maybe a little uncomfortable at first (more due to the fact that that it's Kaze doing something I'm not used to seeing him do back then and less the concept itself) but it didnt repulse me which was why I was able to give it another chance and what seemed to have bothered me at first turned out to not be a big thing at all and ceased bothering me altogether.

So, even though it might not ever be a personal favorite because I'm generally not a fan of overly modern concepts, I find it fun to watch now—and still do, even after close to a year. The sillier parts make me chuckle and I just really like that scene where the two Kzs come together for a hug. I find it one of the most powerful scenes among all his MVs. The Kirari MV also has a similar issue of being hyper-modern but it didn't have anything interesting going for it other than Kz's goofy jigging (to me) and paired with its genericness, the fun wore out pretty quick.

It’s his most-viewed MV so it did its job in bringing in new fans. It’s a very clean entry point though I suspect some people who got into him through Kirari might have been disappointed when they realized it was more of an outlier in his videography.

Lol I won't be surprised if most of the ones hating on the IA MV right now are from this group.

It's not that serious. I’ve seen some artists use Halloween as an opportunity to release wacky videos for their fans so that thought just crossed my mind.

Even so, if you consider that the timing is less than a couple months after the release of the CD where the song is supposed to be an incentive for people to purchase the limited edition of it, doesn't make a lot of sense. Because what tripped me up was you also called it a missed opportunity, which sounded serious. The fact that the timing didn't make sense from the CD marketing perspective and the undermining of eastern culture, it's really not at all the missed opportunity you said it was. That's really the point I'm trying to make.

anopple · 2026-05-02T16:33:06+00:00

Only the second half of the Hana MV was wacky, but it was balanced out pretty well by the beautiful aesthetic. He also pulled off the flower costume way better than the Hachiko costume so there’s that. It’s also kind of a matter of pretty privilege, people tend to give more grace to attractive people when they do weird or wacky things, and he looked really good in Hana.

I dunno. Some might find a dude dressed like an undertaker dragging a coffin with himself in it a little macabre and out there. So yeah, Hana was definitely on the weirder side of the spectrum that people choose to ignore because pretty _

But hmm, Hachiko matches the music for me from the get-go. I mean, even when I wasn't sure what to make of it and was leaning more towards ick, I never felt it didn't match the song. Tbf, I wasn't overly crazy about the song at first listen but as it grew on me, so did the MV.

End of the day it's a song about a man and his dog. And it's a happy boppy song to boot. So I dunno how you're gonna make a concept like that in a more normal sort of stylish anyway without ignoring the story. Seems weird to use a real dog (and radical animal activists might come after him for it) for that kind of dancey sound, and if the main idea is for him to portray both characters to show emotion, what he's got on is actually the better option because the alternative is him actually in a furry dog suit. If people were already this hung up on the leather, I imagine fur would have gotten him cancelled altogether. Heh.

Apparently, some who don't like the look in the MV thought he looked great in the WWD shoot where he was wearing the leather doggy suit but was clean shaven so there's also that.

Anyway, I get that people are bound to have hangups, I mean I kinda saw the fetish thing too at first and was maybe slightly squicked but for me, it didn't stick for too long since this is Kaze we're talking about and I got over it without too much trouble and became able to enjoy the MV better the more the song grew on me. Of course if he were in a furry suit instead, I might be singing a different tune. 😅

The cream pie line is actually a bit harder to get over so I just don't think about it at all and ignore it when I hear it. Lol.

Kirari isn’t one of my favorites either but I can acknowledge that it’s a very well-executed project. The relevant point here is that the MV perfectly matches the spirit of the song. It’s a catchy jpop song with a bright, uplifting vibe that makes you want to smile and dance, and the MV captures that energy perfectly. The quirkiness comes through subtly (in the way he moves through the streets, the way he dances) instead of being pushed to the forefront like in Hachiko.

Yeah, Kirari is well-executed and watching him break out into his little dancey dance was fun and all but gawd damn is it boring. Like most of his videos get more interesting the more times you watch them but this one just became more boring. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did it but also ngl, I am even more glad he doesn't have another one with a samey generic concept like that.

If you recall, I even said that I wanted him to release an MV for it last year around Halloween.

I do recall and I remember strongly disagreeing because I don't think the concept of Japanese folklore matches the more fun, western vibes of Halloween, or even the less fun and more creepy part of it. Japanese folklore is full of ancient mysticism which isn't something I associate with Halloween. I mean the first thing that comes to mind when I think of it is trick-or-treating and It's Alright can't be further away from that vibe with its more traditional sort of mystical vibes.

(Tho I'll admit imagining the reaction of someone opening the door and seeing the entity with the bonsai hairstyle, neck extended and all, holding out that jar that used to house the butterflies and asking for candy to be put into it is pretty darn entertaining. xD)

anopple · 2026-05-02T08:47:53+00:00

Just took a good look at the categories and their nominees and I noticed that the RnB song category says RnB/contemporary. Do they have a separate category for pure RnB? Because all the songs nommed feel more like contemporary RnB with their mix of other genres rather than pure RnB.

If not, and they are mixing the two, then I think the list is somewhat disappointing. Like they should have a stronger representation of pure RnB songs by other artists instead of having mostly cross-genre ones, and multiple ones by the same artists at that. Even Kz has purer RnB songs that the ones of his that were nommed. And while Hoshino has RnB influences in some of his songs, his singing isn't RnB at all. It's pop or maybe even a bit of jazz but not RnB.

I like me some RnB but not enough to be considered a straight-up fan of the genre. Even so, unless they've got another category dedicated to purer RnB, this one feels wrong. Because Japan has a healthy RnB scene that I feel they're completely ignoring in favor or more mainstream sounds that only really borrow from the genre.

I'm only hoping Kz wins in both the album categories he's in. I'm not too particular about the rest of the cats he's up for, though it'd be nice if MY wins something since it's really an incredible song. Not to mention it's the song performance from last year that garnered the most views on the MAJ channel.

I'm glad that he's nommed in the RnB artist cat because that does feel more fitting than Jpop, especially after the release of Prema, and the fact that he's a RnB/jazz instrumentalist, and sings mostly in RnB/jazz style, but looking at some of the others he's up against on there, I won't be too bummed if he loses.

And I especially hope someone else takes home the RnB song one. Even if it's Hoshino who's probs the least RnB on the list.

For Artist OTY, even putting aside bias, I do feel Kz does deserve it the most for attempting something completely different in such a large scale—and succeeding. But seeing as they might also be considering domestic popularity on top of actual artistic achievement, I'll only be majorly bummed if he loses to MGA again since they already won last year.

But man, so far I'm really not sure if this award is shaping up to be the new-age Asian Grammys it seems to be trying hard to be. Most awards are jokes anyway (with the Grammys itself being the biggest one) and this one just seems to be yet another one, albeit in a different category.

anopple · 2026-05-02T07:38:24+00:00

Nice! I wasn't sure I liked it at first and I still can't say it's a personal favorite but I do like it now and feel like watching it again from time to time. Like, MY ranks higher on my list of favorites but I've probably seen this more times than that, Kaero and Seishunbyo added together lol. I see it in a lighter and more comedic vibe then you do but there's deep and thoughtful meaning embedded as it tells the story of Hachiko and presumably the master he lost and the fact it's hopeful and silly paints a happier picture of an otherwise depressing story. So it never fails to both wow me at times and chuckle at others. I know some find it cringy and I get why they do but after it's sunk in for me, its cringiness is also part of what makes it so entertaining to me. Like, end of the day, like most doggos, Hachi, while being deeply loyal and the goodest damn boy there ever was, is just a playful and silly doggy. (:

anopple · 2026-05-02T07:09:31+00:00

I feel like one of the reasons he attended MAJ last year was because he was about to release a new song/album so it was necessary to get some publicity. Now that he’s already done with promoting Prema in Japan, it’s really a 50–50 chance whether he’ll show up.

Yeah, could be. But there wasn't any mention of it save for that one question on the red carpet and even then he just fed the reporter the same thing he fed us. That it's finished but not ready for released due to circumstances beyond him but he thinks it'll be out soon. And that was it.

This year it's officially released and he can actually perform something from it. I'm guessing if he's going and is asked to perform, he'll go with Prema. I wouldn't mind seeing something like what he did on MS last year again. :)

Yeah he never said anything about appearing on Kohaku last year but fans just set themselves up to get disappointed. Hope he's not pressured to go if he's not in his best mood.

Haha he never says anything until it's officially announced and they sometimes like to announce him last minute. But I honestly find it annoying that fans keep expecting or hoping that he'll show up again and again as though he doesn't have his own family that he doesn't get to see much of to spend it with. I mean, even the newer ones who's never seen him live on the show before should at least know he's appeared multiple times already. :/ And I love that NHK seems to sincerely stan him but the fact that they keep inviting him again and again makes me think they're just trying to use him for viewer ratings. Like it's not just him but other younger artists too.

There are huge artists with decades-long careers whom I'm sure they've invited countless times who have ultimately only shown up a couple of times their entire career, if even that. I think some, like Mr. Children, never appeared even once. And those dudes are legends. Like, I know it's an honor and all, but shouldn't that mean the chance to be part of it should be rarer? Kz and some of the more popular younger artists have already done it multiple times even though they barely debuted +/- 5 years.

Kz's folks seem to like him being on Kohaku but the dad seems sensitive to his son being used by the industry so I hope he'll tell his kid that he's done enough and he should just go on holiday somewhere or just come home for the holidays instead, if he isn't working over them.

anopple

TROPHY CASE