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Con Report: Kanjanism, All Final, Osaka 01/12/2015

con reports > music

With the concert and 10th year celebrations officially over, what’s next for this group?

January 13, 2015 ・ merkypie

Monday was the all final and I won’t go into too much detail here because it was pretty much the same show as Tokyo’s. The difference from today and 1/9 performance was the crap ton of cameras all over the arena.

  • Oekaki, except just with the children singing. I guess they wanted the audience to sing but as typical with Japanese, if they’re not told to do something they won’t do it.
  • Opening movie
  • EJ CoasterThe dance was a bit more sharper than usual. Probably because of the DVD filming.
  • Musekinin Hero
  • Gamushara KoushinkyokuPretty much on point. The energy levels were pretty ridiculously high which is funny when you look at the news reels of this song’s performance during the Recommen recording. Of course, we were encouraged to dance along with them but that was impossible for me due to the bitch to the right of me and the stiff to the left who just wanted to stand the entire time with binoculars to their faces.
  • RAGEMaybe its just me but they were using carts, pushing them through the arena, to get back to the mainstage for FUNx8. I don’t remember carts being used on 1/9 but since I was just getting to the concert venue between Gamushara Koushinkyoku and RAGE, I probably just missed it. Those carts were only used once though. But I’m pretty sure they didn’t use carts because half of those carts would have been really close to my section…. Oh well.
  • Hina’s introduction
  • FUNx8This was fun as always though no adlibbing and pretty straight forward. So, unfortunately, no ” Give it away, give it away, give it away now ” from Ohkura and Ryo for the DVDs.
  • Misoji ShounenThe same as Tokyo’s performance. No adlibbed gag solo, Hina definitely had to do some push ups on stage while Maru rambled on about nonsense with a Pan. Subaru’s censor button was him dressed up as Takoyaki.
  • Video Intermission, Yoko puts a balloon eyeglasses on the “park’s visitor” and then Maru gives an Apple to eat
  • Adam and EveNo change here. Even from 1/9. Except this time I had the unfortunate experience of watching that PV which I didn’t have to see on Friday cause I couldn’t see those monitors. The audience loves it though, well, some do. The thirsty Ohkura fans do.
  • Ice CreamNothing different. Stiff Ryo and Bubbly Yasu.
  • MichiNothing different though Subaru and Maru were both pretty sharp and cracking notes. But singing for five days straight, it was to be expected.
  • Video intermissionHina mentions there’s a new attraction but it’s not working so he fixes it. Yasu appears and dances
  • MasterpieceNothing spectacularly different.
  • Frozen MargaritaSame.
  • Futatsu Te to TeNothing rememberable that I can think of.
  • CLOVEROn the back stage. Fans love it.
  • TWL and Cool Magic CitySpinning towels and all sorts of stuff. Yoko entertains my side of the arena with some Youkai Watch dance moves.
  • MCThe MC starts with Hina saying we can all sit down now because its about that time for the MC. The guys talk about how fun the tour has been and that they’ve finally reached the final stop. Also, Osaka has been pretty warm all weekend, especially that day.Yoko breaks into the conversation with that he made some mistakes, to which Ryo said, ” From the start to the end, you make a lot of mistakes, don’t ya? ”

    Tacchon, ” You must like making mistakes… ”

    Yoko, ” No, not really ”

    They start talking about the transition from Gamushara to RAGE in which Ohkura ~quickly~ transitions from one song to the next. Subaru and Yoko thought that was really ” Johnny’s ” of him to which Ohkura denies. They also talk about how it’s pretty much been a thing between some of the guys to get the camera spotlight on them during that transition but Ohkura officially stole the light for the DVD. Subaru goes as far as to recreate what Ohkura did on stage. Ohkura complains again.

    Ohkura tries to change the conversation but Subaru cuts in an basically says that all Ohkura’s been doing on the tour has been getting flat out drunk and shoving cheese in his mouth.

    Ohkura, ” (Yoko) He keeps misleading me ”

    Apparently Yoko and Ohkura keep planning nights to hang out but Yoko hasn’t really followed up on any of them. But last night, Yoko did and brought over some cheeses and wine to have with Subaru and Ohkura for their game night. Yoko mentions that Subaru is pretty aggressive when he brought over the cheese, immediately snatching it but that Ohkura is really damn serious when it comes to cheese.

    So more into the conversation, Yoko accuses Subaru of being me, ” Subaru is so mean. While playing the games, he started falling asleep!! ”

    Subaru denied it at first but Yoko went as far as to show everyone what he meant,

    Yoko, ” (impersonating Subaru) Ohkura!!! Let’s go…. I’m not sleeping…. AND THEN HE JUST FALLS ASLEEP ”

    Subaru defends himself saying that video games are too intensive and that it was cold anyway so all of that just contributed to him passing out.

    Subaru calls Yoko, ” Kimikun “, which gets the audience going, ” After we finished playing the game, Kimikun went after the left over cheese “.

    Hina, ” What time did you actually go to bed? ”

    Yoko, ” 5:30 ”

    K8: ” Ehhhh?~!!! ”

    Subaru then mentions that Yoko apparently was picking characters based on the cheeses he was eating, like, ” Yeah! This guy looks a lot like blue cheese! ”

    But Yoko was like, it wasn’t like that at all, he was just making dumb mistakes like playing a game while walking to the bathroom and then you suddenly trip. So, Hina, he’s pretty like wtf is this conversation about because they all sound like kids,

    Hina: ” How old are you agian? ”

    Yoko: ” I’m 33. ”

    So Yoko tries to defend himself by comparing himself to TOKIO and how even though they’re all in their 30s/40s, they’re still pretty childish at heart so its ok.

    Subaru: ” When I was in my 20s, I didn’t think I would still be playing video games in my 30s ”

    The conversation switches to Maru, who had just been standing there a while, and they talk about everyone meeting up in each other’s rooms for Christmas and New Years and that everyone met up in Maru’s room for Christmas and they all had a pretty good time. Anyway, something things were said that I don’t remember but Subaru got pissed off and Tacchon had to apologize for it, then Maru tried to make the situation right but Yasu said don’t come any closer because he stank.

    So then Tacchon calls Yasu, ” Yasusu ” and that pisses Yasu off to the point that he gives Ohkura the bird on stage, but he’s covering it up with his other hand so the camera’s can’t flim it.

    Ohkura: ” You can’t hide that! THat’s going to be on the DVD! ”

    Subaru, ” Yasusu~~~~ ”

    Yasu: ” I’m not Yasusu!! ”

    So then they start talking about more stuff but Yasu rambles on about eating meat or sushi.

    Yasu, ” I wanna eat meat, but then… I wanna eat sushi… but, hmm, naw, I rather eat meat. … Okay! I’m gonna eat meat ”

    Yoko, ” What in the hell are you talking about? ”

    Yasu, ” Talking about meat “.

    They start making fun of him again with the Yasusu but Yasu just gives in,

    Yasu, ” The Yasusu is now my middle name ”

    Subaru, ” Middle name?! ”

    Yoko, ” Yasuda Yasusu Shota ”

    The MC begins to wind down at this point so Hina tells Yoko to do the thing, but in English, but Yoko doesn’t want to. But then everyone starts pushing him to say the thing in English but instead Yoko just tells everyone in Japanese stand up. No one does, and everyone makes fun of him for it, so Yoko yells, ” Y’all better stand up! We’re filming a DVD ” but K8 just laughs and then they eventually get everyone to stand up and Yoko gives introduction to Hina’s solo.

  • Ai Love Hip HopHina has pretty much given up on performing this song and just makes up a whole bunch of shit as he goes. When the song ends, as King, he thanks everyone for his first ” 5 Dome Tour ” and introduces the solo melody.
  • Butterfly I Loved, Ai igai nandemo nai, Fantastic Music, Revolver, Wanshan Ropin
  • Video Intermission, Ryo with a skull mask who then gives the park guest a flower. Subaru with a guitar and throws a pic into the wall.
  • BansouNothing different.
  • ZouNothing different except Subaru’s voice is cracking on falsettos.
  • King of OtokoSame as 1/9, with flying shirts
  • Sukiyanen Osaka, Kanfuu Fighting, Wahaha, Aoppana, Hesomagari, and Yu
  • Doya Gao JinseiThis is the hardest that they’ve played this song and even Yoko’s trumpet was on point. Hina kept glancing at Yoko a lot during the jam session. Hina really fucking cares a lot about Yoko… He’s always like being protective or something. Anyway, sweet performance and can’t wait to see it on the Bluray (there better be).
  • Itta jyanai kaSame, no changes.
  • Subaru speech – He thanks us all for listening to their music for the last 10 years, about being supportive and that the concert theme’s this year is something they want to continue on forever.
  • LIFESame, no change.
  • Final video, TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN.
  • Encore OneOmoidama, Mugendai, Zukkoke Otoko Michi
  • Encore TwoIt’s my Soul, All is Well

The con ends immediately after All is Well and then its the usual mad house rush out of the arena.

It was a good finale but I didn’t feel as if much was put into it. When I compare it to JUKEBOX finale, it seems more like 8EST’s finale but with more lights and cameras. I think the emotional aspect that JUKEBOX and 8EST’ finale had was also lost with Kanjanism’s finale. Like, I was more excited for 1/9 than I was for 1/12.

For instance, during JUKEBOX finale, hearts fell from the top of the dome onto fans during All is Well but nothing here. Omoidama, the ~feels song~ of the tour was an Encore performance than a main spotlight feature.

I also got no gin tape at all. It, again, flew right over my head and into the stands above me. >:| But plus side is that there was a camera stuck in my section’s face for half the concert so who knows if my ugly mug gets on the DVD or not.

I also lost my wallet at this performance with all my credit cards, driver licenses, and pretty much everything of life importance so that maybe why my mood is completely and utterly soured.

Anyway, I had to reflect a lot on this tour in general. The concept of Kanjanism sounds great on the album but the performance side of it just seemed… I don’t know… Lacking. JUKEBOX seemed like K8 was more or less stepping out into the music world of like, ” Yes, we’re here and yes we can be taken seriously as musicians ” where Kanjanism is more like, ” Oh, we’re Johnny’s. Look we can dance and be kawaii too. ”

I like there to be a balance and this concert tour seemed as if it couldn’t make it’s mind up if it wanted to be a 10th anniversary special or a re-debut ” This is Kanjani8 ” statement to the world. They were playing things either too safe or not willing to put more work into the production because the fans will literally just accept anything (which, hell, after this tour experience I’m pretty damn ascertain of this fact).

For instance, since 8Uppers, there’s always been a considerable balance between the band and the idol.

  • 8Uppers – 7 Band Songs
  • ExE – 7 Band Songs
  • 8EST – 8 Band Songs
  • JUKEBOX – 9 Band Songs
  • Kanjanism – 3 Band Songs

And really, its not just complaining about the fact they’re not playing instruments. I just don’t want to see 30 something year old men visibly tired on stage before we even make it to the second half the goddamn concert. I mean, yeah, it’s funny to see Hina damn near exhausted at the end of Ai Love Hip Hop, but it’s also like, ” Yo, this guy is damn near exhausted at the end of this song and there’s still another 45 minutes left to this show ”

When the group is trying so desperately hard to get off the stage by the double encore, you know they are exhausted. Kanjani8 isn’t young anymore and trying to stay young by doing these “idol” things is just not going to work anymore. Musically, Kanjanism makes sense but visually its a nightmare and more of a desperate attempt at trying to stay hip and relevant despite the fact those days have long past.

TOKIO had the same beginnings as well, but eventually they grew with their sound and image and picked a path to go with. I’m not saying K8 should be 100% band but they need to just maintain the balance they’ve been sticking with for the last 8 years. Because, honestly, when you have a concert and there’s no Misetekure you know something’s fucked up. Thats not Kanjani8, thats just some attempt at being ARASHI.