First on tap for this trip was a train ride to Osaka, to see one of my favorite groups, Tokyo Jihen. “Discovery,” well that’s the name of their 2011 tour. As some may recall, this isn’t my first time seeing Shiina and crew, as I saw them on tour last year. This go ’round however, I felt more prepared than I was last time and what can I say, the Incidents didn’t dissapoint.

Got to the concert hall a few hours early after a bit of sightseeing; not too early though I guess, as they already had things setup to where you could buy goods. I had taken a little bit of a peak online to see what types of things they’d be selling, but actually seeing all of it, I was a bit overwhelmed. It’s not that there was a lot more than there was last time, but there was a lot of variety. In any case, I just grabbed a couple of flags, a t-shirt and a keychain.

Tokyo Jihen Discover Tour Flag

The flags are bright green, with Tokyo Jihen’s logo on them they really stand out. As with last time there would be much flag waving; it’s simple, yet a fun way to be involved with the others attending the concert, at the same time involved with what is happening on stage.

After buying my goods I was approached by a girl who was handing out cards, with an apple and a date on them. 2011/11/25. A note on the card indicated that that was Shiina Ringo’s birthday. Didn’t know that was coming up, so, Happy Birthday! Anyway, I was asked to write a message on the card, which I did; a mix of English and Japanese as I usually do when I fill out things like that. I like being involved with little things like that.

A couple hours of waiting and the doors opened up. My seats were decent enough and I had a pretty good, clear view of the stage. The stage was setup a bit larger than I remember they used for their last tour, and for good reason. I’d say that they were a lot more dynamic and there was a lot more movement on stage this time. This concert had a lot more energy I think.

Things opened up with a big screen where there was some animated, almost meteor like things crashing down. The screen was setup so that you could see behind it, quite clearly, but at the same time the things projected onto it were pretty clear too. So as these things are crashing down, Tokyo Jihem come out and start playing their first tune.

The music selection was awesome. You can’t go wrong with much of their songs anyway, but I feel that the setlist here was pretty great. There were a couple of songs I hadn’t heard before. I think one or two of them, from what I read, were new songs from Shiina. Anyway, just a few songs I wanted to being attention to. Himitsu for DJ – Awesome! The part in particular that I’m talking about is from Ukigumo, the guitarist’s rap. There was a screen brought up behind him, and stairs illuminated showing his name as he and their pianist came down front and rapped a bit about his guitar. After which Ukigumo climbed up the stairs and gave his little guitar solo. The energy and how it was all set up was just great. The audience was really into it too.

The last two songs I wanted to make mention of were during the encore. Gunjou Biyori, one of my favorite songs. It was a little, remixed I guess. This version was interesting, but not so different that it still was unejoyable. After that they played Atarashii Bunmeikaika, another one of my favorites. It was a great song to end the concert on with a lot of energy and cheers. It’s like things ended with the old (Gunjou) and the new (Atarashii), a great selection.

One final note is on the costume changes. There were what, three or four changes from what I can recall. Seemed like many more than the one that they had during their last tour. The costumes were great, and one that stood out was Shiina’s Native American looking headdress she was wearing towards the end.

Overall, great show; awesome show. While their last tour was great, this one seemed to have taken that greatness and made many more improvements to produce a much better show. I had fun and look forward to whatever Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen have in store for us in the future.

I lucked out and was able to snag a decent ticket for their show on Thursday in Tokyo. It was an isle seat, close to the front and there was no one sitting directly in front of me so I had a great view. As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, Tokyo Jihen was one of the first Japanese groups I discovered back when; they remain one of my favorites to this day, I’m glad I had a chance to see them live.

Showing up to the concert venue, I didn’t know what to expect. I had only been to H!P concerts in the past, so obviously this one was going to be a different experience. First thing that stood out to me was the number of females attending the concert, outnumbered the males by at least two to one. The genre, and Shiina Ringo I guess, pulls a totally different audience for the most part.

Tokyo Jihen: Sports

One thing that really hadn’t crossed my mind was buying concert goods; they had a bunch to choose from. Some of the people there already had on their tracksuits and, t-shirts and flags. There were also things like socks, shoes, perfume, medals, stickers, &c. I decided to get a shirt and a couple flags, figured that I could wave it around as the concert went on (and kinda assumed that others would be doing the same).

So, on to the concert itself… the stage wasn’t too big, and really it didn’t have to be, it’s not like they would be running around and dancing and such, they’d be playing instruments which would kind of confine them to certain areas. The band comes out on stage and, what are they wearing, like some sort of caveman outfits or something with their hair all braided and one or two spiky braids just sticking out for good measure. Oh, and Shiina Ringo is blond. I was maybe expecting something sporty, to go along with the sports album and victory theme. They would wear the same stuff until the encore, where they would change into some more casual clothes.

The performances of the songs themselves were awesome. Much flag waving was had and a little bit of dancin’ thrown in too. A comment on the audience, I found it interesting how during some of the slower songs things would just stop. I mean, it’d become like silent and nobody would move a muscle, not even bob their heads. Even when the song happened to pick up the pace and instrumentals somewhere in the middle there, they’d still be stiff, until the next song came on. Now, I’m not one to get all enthused and excited really, but even I was like, come on guys, let’s wave our flags or something, heh.

I haven’t been keeping hard tabs on their releases this year, so there was a little from their latest album that I hadn’t heard before, but it was all good. The stand out performance for me had to be Killer Tune, one of my favorites, if not the favorite song of theirs. The audience really seemed happy when it came on as well. OSCA and Senko Shojo were also a couple of favorites that I really enjoyed seeing live. The band mostly stayed in their respective positions on stage, moving around a little, sometimes coming together to do a little group play thing. Of course Shiina was the most animated, from picking up the guitar, singing through a megaphone, tweeting a whistle, waving a flag, just doing her thing. She was great, but then, so was the rest of the group. I like the dynamics that the addition of the piano and guitarists voices adds to the sound of the group as well.

The lighting effects throughout the concert were pretty cool. There was a countdown timer, 3 minutes, for Noudouteki Sanpunkan, which was nifty too. They used the same screen to run some 8 bit like video game graphics during a couple songs which I thought added a interesting dimension to things, but not so much to be a distraction.

Overall, great show, great group. Admittedly, it’s probably not a concert that I would go to see over and over again, but I really did enjoy it.

Some new artists include Leona Lewis, PUFFY, BAReeeeeeeeeeN, Mr.Children, 4minute… I haven’t been keeping up with a lot of artists or seeking out anything too new as of late, but I hope to get back into exploring some more in the future.

General Info

Songs: 2307 (+822)
Length: 6 days 19 hours (+2 days 13 hrs)
Size: 22.38 GB (+7.81 GB)

Sort by Name

First:

★Akogare My STAR★

Last:

5:09a.m.

Sort by Time

Shortest:

We will (4s)

Longest:

Requiem (10m 38s)

Sort By Artist

First:

Aa!

Last:

9mm Parabellum Bullet

Sort by Genre

First:

Alternative

Last:

Rock

Sort by Play Count

Top 10:
Killer Tune – Tokyo Jihen (310) (+79)
NAMUKIN Girl – CHERRY LYDER (289) (+69)
Omae wa Ushi ka!? – CHERRY LYDER (279) (+64)
Sorairo Days – Nakagawa Shouko (267) (+51)
Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai – Berryz Koubou (266) (+56)
21ji Made no Cinderella – Berryz Koubou (264) (+62)
Kirin no Kubi Yori Nagaku Naru – CHERRY LYDER (248) (+56)
1/2 – Nakagawa Shouko (245) (+55)
Warera! Berryz Kamen – Berryz Koubou (243) (+47)
16sai no Koi Nante – Abe Natsumi & Yajima Maimi (234)

Sort By Rating

4½ stars:
Rival – Berryz Koubou
Kirin no Kubi Yori Nagaku Naru – CHERRY LYDER
Togatta Teguchi – Shiina Ringo
Gunjou Biyori – Tokyo Jihen
One’s LIFE – °C-ute

½ star:
Making Songs – Mr.Children
Wishing On The Same Star – Namie Amuro
Ore wa Drummer – GO!GO!7188
Kozukai UP Daisakusen – Berryz Koubou

Find Common Words

“sex”: 19 (+11)
“death”: 1
“love”: 212 (+71)
“peace”: 2 (+1)
“rock”: 339 (+3)
Until next time…

It started with me downloading music videos from YouTube. I can’t pinpoint what it is that got me seeking out these videos in the first place. It might have been the anime I had been watching through the summer which had just ended, Tengan Toppa Gurren Laggan. Nakagawa Shouko did the opening, and it’s one of the first songs I grabbed. I’ve mentioned on my site before that I stumbled upon some catchy J-Pop in 2002, but at the time it didn’t stick. This time around however, it really stuck. Berryz Koubou in particular, stuck pretty hard.

I began seeking out blogs that discuss this type of music, which lead me to a couple that focused mostly on Japanese music, but also other topics that pertain to the idol fandom; from there, exploring their blogrolls, I found a great many more to keep my interest. It was fun reading about others’ opinions and experiences with the music, the idols. It motivated me to seek out more and more blogs and artists. It was all new to me and I was glad that there were a lot of resources out there for me to look to.

In early December of 2007 I started buying a bunch of tracks off of iTunes Japan. Angela Aki, Amuro Namie, Berryz Koubou, CHERRY LYDER, Nakagawa Shouko and Tokyo Jihen were some of my first purchases. I enjoyed burning CDs and shuffling them in my car. Simple stuff right, but I really hadn’t done anything like that before. Listening to music was never my thing, but I was having fun with this. In February of 2008 I decided to create my own blog related to Japanese music. While I haven’t been the most interesting, frequent or lengthy writer, I’ve enjoyed doing it.

I continued to build my music library, adding Abe Natsumi, Buono!, Canary Club, C-ute, Goto Maki, Matsuura Aya, Morning Musume, Ongaku Gatas, Shiina Ringo, THE Possible, and more. Tho it wasn’t until Berryz Koubou’s first single last year that I actually bought my first CD. Dschinghis Khan wowed me. Well, Chinami was a big part of that. The video was so fun, the song was catchy, and I just loved it. By this time I was already fascinated with this idol pop genre. Watching concerts, their little variety shows and the like, above and beyond the music, there was so much fun and cuteness to keep me entertained.

Random Chinami Stuff

More purchases would follow, including my first bunch of photosets. It was kind of weird buying Berryz Koubou and C-ute’s photos. I mean, what was the point of collecting these photos, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with them exactly. When I go them however, I was so happy to just have and look at them. I can’t explain it really. There were never any celebrities or the like that I had any sort of vested interest in before, but these girls grabbed my undivided attention. The photos made me feel connected in some sense. I used to not get the obsession and exuberant interest that other people saw in “celebrities,” but now, I had fallen into it.

Random Berryz Stuff

Over the next year and some, my musical interest would continue to grow to other Japanese artists and to this day it is ever expanding. I’d buy a lot more songs and a lot more photos, some photobooks, posters, a bunch of stuff, the music, the culture had become a big part of my daily life. I’ve participated in forums and chat rooms, and have contributed to other blogs in an attempt to help spread the J-Music goodness to the masses. In addition, I’ve started learning Japanese in college and am looking to pursue the language and culture so much more. During my brief time in school thus far, I’ve actually had the opportunity to write a few successful essays and do a couple lengthy presentations on the subject of being a wota. It’s great being able to share not only with those who do know a bit about what it means to be a wota, but also with those who have no idea of the subculture.

This past summer I went to Japan for the first time. I hadn’t planned on doing anything as it pertains to music, but it turned out that there would be something going on at the same time I was there. Champloo was definitely the most fun experience I had ever had at the time.

Berryz Tattoo (Drawing by Chinami :P)

When I got back from Japan, I decided to get a tattoo. Well, I had been thinking about it for a while, but with the recent experience, I decided to go through with it. So, I had “Berryz” tattooed on my chest along with a design that Chinami had drawn in the past. It was strategically placed, over my heart. Cheesy, maybe, but it’s a representation of the love I have for Japanese culture, Japanese music and more specifically, Berryz Koubou and how much it all has literally changed my life. It’s hard to express how much it all means to me, try as I might, but even then I feel that words really cannot convey how much I love this stuff.

More recently, towards the end of November, I went to Japan for a few days. For what? Well to see Berryz in concert of course. Or really, it’s because Chinami got a solo, and I wanted to be there to see it. Medachitai!! Another great concert experience. Honestly, the best experience of my life. Sitting front and center, to wave and smile and to have the girls wave and smile back at me, epic.

I Want To Stand Out

Now why am I sharing all of this exactly. Is it to show how much of a fan I am? Am I trying to stand out above the crowd? Am I trying to be different (just like everybody else)?

Well, not really. It’s just me sharing my experiences, sharing something that I love with everyone. As I started into the J-Music scene, I enjoyed reading about others experiences, their journeys into wotadom, their praise and criticisms of something they too felt passionate about. Maybe someone will get the same out of my writing. But even if that is not the case, I’m doing it because it’s fun, because I enjoy talking about it. Sure, there is a little bit of me that wants to stand out, but that’s not even remotely the core of why I do it I don’t think, or why it all interests me in the first place.

Really, It’s Okay

((I have to keep telling myself that it seems, lol)). So the thousands of dollars I’ve spent on all of this stuff over the past few years might seem a bit obsessive. I’d say that yes, it is an obsession to some extent. While my interest doesn’t lie exclusivity with the bubbly pop of 13-18 year old Japanese girls, I realize that some might find the interest in general as being a little weird; but I love being a wota. It’s a big part of who I am now, I love just being able to be myself. I’m glad to have found something to be passionate about, no matter how out of the ordinary it may be.

Now, with all that said, I’m aware that I didn’t exactly define what a “Wota” is. I think tho, that I’ll let the post speak for itself. I’ll let others make up their minds on what it means, to me anyway, based on the context of my experiences.

1. What was the first Japanese song that you ever listened to?
Back in 2002, Momoiro Kataomoi by Mattsura Aya.

Momoiro Kataomoi

2. Did it inspire you to like that group/singer, or did it turn you away?
I wasn’t really into any type of music at the time. I was probably looking for cute Japanese stuff or something (-_-);, and happened to stumble upon the adorable and bubbly video.  While I wasn’t inspired, it didn’t turn me away either. Years after the initial find, I rediscovered H!P and was greatly surprised to find Aya had sung the song. I remembered the catchy tune immediatly and I’d say that Aya has been a favorite of mine for a while, partly because of that.

Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai

3. What is the one song that you have been listening to for the longest time?
Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai gets credit for this one. I think I’ve mentioned this a quite a few times in various ways, but the opening melody grabbed me and I was hooked. Chinami killed me with her cuteness and the whole thing was an eye opening experience of sorts.

4. What group/singer have you liked the longest?
I guess there’s a bit of a tie between Tokyo Jihen, CHERRY LYDER, Berryz Koubou, Nakagawa Shouko, Angela Aki… but again, I’ll give this one to Berryz. They’ve been there since my intro into J-Pop.

Killer Tune

5. What is the song with the most plays on your itunes/media player?
Killer Tune by Tokyo Jihen at 252 plays has a pretty good lead over CHERRY LYDER’s NAMUKIN Girl and Omae wa Ushi ka!? which sit at 234 each.

6. Is that song your favorite?
It’s definently in my top picks, but I wouldn’t call it my favorite.

Rottara Rottara

7. If not, what is?
If I had to pick just one, I’d go with Rottara Rottara by Buono!. Buono! is awesome, the song is awesome, the awesome is awesome, awesome Buono! is awesome… sorry. There are a couple more that I’d say are favs (One’s LIFE by °C-ute, Kirin no Kubi Yori Nagaku Naru by CHERRY LYDER, Gunjou Biyori by Tokyo Jihen, Minna no Ki by Tomoiki Ki o Uetai) and then even more that I’d rate very highly.

8. Is there any one group that you can listen to all/most of the songs by? If so, who?

Kirin no Kubi Yori Nagaku Naru

CHERRY LYDER has a discography of 11 unique tracks, and I enjoy them all. She’s fun pop rocky, and can slow it down too. Then there’s Buono!, and well, they’re awesome. There are some songs that I like more than others but overall their stuff is tops.

9. What is your favorite agency?
Still don’t know, or care(?) about agencies all that much. Still, I’ll go with Up-Front Works cause they contain both Berryz Koubou and Buono!.

10. What is your favorite group/singer?
Berryz Koubou of course. So much to love. The girls are fun and the music is great.

General Info

Songs: 1485 (+741)
Length: 4 days 6 hours (+2 days 4 hrs)
Size: 14.57 GB (+8.18 GB)

Sort by Name

First:

★Akogare My STAR★

Last:

5:09a.m.

Sort by Time

Shortest:

We will (4s)

Longest:

Requiem (10m 38s)

Sort By Artist

First:

Aa!

Last:

9mm Parabellum Bullet

Sort by Genre

First:

Alternative

Last:

Rock

Sort by Play Count

Top 10:
Killer Tune – Tokyo Jihen (231) (+35)
Sorairo Days – Nakagawa Shouko (216) (+28)
Omae wa Ushi ka!? – CHERRY LYDER (215) (+29)
NAMUKIN Girl – CHERRY LYDER (212) (+30)
Gag 100kaibun Aishite Kudasai – Berryz Koubou (210) (+44)
21ji Made no Cinderella – Berryz Koubou (202) (+30)
Warera! Berryz Kamen – Berryz Koubou (196) (+41)
Senkou Shoujo – Tokyo Jihen (193) (+13)
Kirin no Kubi Yori Nagaku Naru – CHERRY LYDER (192) (+31)
1/2 – Nakagawa Shouko (190) (+31)

Sort By Rating

4½ stars:
Darling I LOVE YOU (Berryz Koubou ver.) – Berryz Koubou
CLAP! – Berryz Koubou
Rottara Rottara – Buono!
Darling I LOVE YOU (°C-ute ver.) – °C-ute
One’s LIFE – °C-ute
Kirin no Kubi Yori Nagaku Naru – CHERRY LYDER
Ne~e? – Matsuura Aya
1/2 – Nakagawa Shouko
Come Together – Ongaku Gatas
Gunjou Biyori – Tokyo Jihen
Minna no Ki – Tomoiki Ki wo Uetai

½ star:
Wishing On The Same Star – Namie Amuro
Ore wa Drummer – GO!GO!7188
Kozukai UP Daisakusen – Berryz Koubou

Find Common Words

“sex”: 8 (+5)
“death”: 1
“love”: 141 (+56)
“peace”: 1
“rock”: 336 (+151)

That’s about it. Perhaps next time, it’ll be a little more comprehensive. I think there are some programs out there that will do all sorts of nifty library analysis and such. Until next time…