KinKi Kids' 15th Anniversary Concert in Tokyo - 30 Dec 2012 to 1 Jan 2013 (Part 1)

[I will be updating this post with more video clips and photos over the course of next few days or weeks...depending on my schedule.
Update on 6/1:  Videos 2 and 3 links + silver ribbon photos
Update on 8/1:  Video 5]

YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!!!

It's KinKi Kids' 15th Anniversary Concert!

[You can go straight to the Concert section below if you don't want to be affected by my negative thoughts!  Hahaha!]
Before this, fans were wandering cynically whether the agency has really become totally senile and is not going to even hold the traditional year-end KK concert.  Thank goodness we fans were not deprived of this tradition!  Especially when 2012 can really be described as a KK desert, with only 1 single at the beginning of the year.  It was solo after solo after solo.....well, you get the point.  It's not that I don't support their sole activities (I attended Gravity con in Tokyo) but my heart is really with KinKi.  I want more KinKi Kids' activities!  So when I heard Koichi announce at his Gravity solo con that KK will be holding their traditional year-end KK con, I was ecstatic!!!

If I don't recall the sequence wrongly,

• 24-Sep:  Koichi attended Hey! Hey! Hey! live and made the infamous response "Even though it is KinKi Kids' 15th anniversary..."  (see my earlier post on that)
• 5-Oct:  Johnny-san went to Osaka to attend Tsuyoshi's 小喜利 (this is similar to a solo stand-up comedy act, except that there is a 天音 (voice from above) that will ask Tsuyo questions)
• 6-Oct:  Johnny-san attended Koichi's Gravity concert on 1st night in Tokyo - Yokohama Arena.  
• 8-Oct:  Koichi announced KK year-end con during Gravity concert!!!  Tsuyoshi then also updated Love Fighter with the KK live con decision.

So was Johnny-san personally assuring KK that they have not been forgotten?  I would dearly like to think so. KK has always been perceived as being personally selected and groomed by Johnny-san.  However, they are also very close to SMAP as they had been taken care of by SMAP when back-dancing as juniors for SMAP's performances. There has been long-going rumours about succession fights at the agency, with Johnny-san's niece pitted against SMAP's manager fighting for the prima donna role.  Of course, not forgetting the other pair of rivals - Machi and Higashi......both of whom Koichi is close to.  Gosh, no wonder KK does not wish to take sides and is not in any camp!  But that probably also explains why nobody takes special care of them.  Only Johnny-san will.  And we all know Johnny-san is already very very very old and he won't be around to take care of KK much longer...=.=

So it is with this mindset that I really value whatever opportunities there are left to see KK and watch them perform.  Of course I hope for many more KK anniversaries to come, but as KK themselves had commented a few times over the years, it is not they who decide whether they get to stand on the stage but it is the times and the audience.

So enough with this facing up to "reality" and let's get back to the super duper すごい (awesome) and of course かわいい (cute) KinKi Kids and their 15th anniversary concert!

Concert Stage and Effects

30 Dec:  Red  -  Whilst the seat was very very high up, it was actually quite good as we were right in the center and KK spent half of the concert on high stage platform!  I am so lucky!  We could see the whole stage effects and this is also the best spot for ML recording!  Wahahahaha!
[I am trying to upload the video clips and will insert the links once upload is complete.  Video 1 is complete.  Try and see if it works.  Shhhhhh!]

31 Dec:  Blue  -  We bought this from the Harajuku shop on 30 Dec around 1 pm.  There were so few KK con tickets available for sale.  Only about 20 tickets (1 column in display shelf) for 3 nights when there were usually at least 6 columns for past concerts! Today's singing is the best!  Both Tsuyo and Koichi were in great shape.  30/12 - Koichi's voice not so warmed up and 1/1 - Tsuyo's voice could not reach high notes well. Think he was too tired out from 31/12 KK con, Johnny's Countdown and his wee hours 小喜利.

1 Jan:  Purple  -  We were in Row 10!  I got these tickets from JE International.  We were about 100 m from the bottom tip of the figure 1 stage and 30 m from the aisle in front of the stand!   When Tsuyo and Koichi came to that area, we can see them close up!!!  Ahhhhhh!  I can faint.  Koichi is super good-looking, just like a prince who has walked out from a manga.  However, the one with the greater surprise factor is Tsuyoshi.  OMG!  He is sooo good-looking in real life.  When on TV or in photos, he looks good only at certain angles due to his plump cheeks and jaws.  But in real life, his face is actually quite small and if you see him on a MRT, you would probably be sneaking peeks at him cuz he's so good-looking!

Concert Set List

(Photo 1 / 4:05pm)

(Video 1 / 4:39pm  - http://www.4shared.com/video/ISDm1sd9/IMG_2412.html
 
- This is a short recording just before the start of Anniversary.  2 vehicles were moving down the aisles towards the end of the dome, each with a small round platform with a person standing on it shining the spotlights at the audience.  Nope, that's not KK.  KK did a switch with these persons when the dome turns dark and when lights came on, ta-daaaa, there they are!!!)

[Silver costumes]
1. Anniversary
2. Garasu no Shounen 硝子の少年  (Youth made of Glass)
3. Swan Song
4. Aisareru yorimo Aishitai 愛されるより愛したい  (It's better to love than to be loved)
(This is where the silver ribbons were shot out!  I didn't manage to catch the silver ribbon myself even though my seat on 1/1 was very good and should have got it.  The 2 ribbon rocket shooters aimed at my left and right and I was in the abyss in the middle!  Sob sob!  But I was sooooo blessed.  On 31/12, I went to toilet after this, thinking it was intermission (actually it was not).  This Japanese lady also went to the toilet and she had a whole bunch of ribbons entangled on her arm.  I told her she was very lucky and she offered me the silver ribbons!!!  YEAH!  I took 2, one for myself and one for my friend!

 

5. Time

Album History
[Coloured flowers costumes]

(Photo 2 / 4:57pm)

 

 

(Photo 3 / 5:01pm)

 
6. A Album (1997):  "Kiss Kara Hajimaru Mystery" (Kissからはじまるミステリー)  (Mystery Beginning with A Kiss)
7. B Album (1998):  "Zutto Dakishimetai" (ずっと抱きしめたい) (Want to Hold You Forever)
8. C Album (1999):  "Kimi wa Naite Tsuyoku Naru" (キミは泣いてツヨくなる) (Crying Makes One Strong)
9.  D Album (2000):  Misty
10. E Album (2001):  Lovesick
11. F Album (2002):  "Harukanauta" (ハルカナウタ） (Distant Song)

[White with black embrodiery costumes] 
KK appeared at the top of the top stage platform after the transition for the change of costume. Can you see the 2 tiny white spots being shone upon by the spotlights?

(Photo 4 / 5:16pm)

12. G Album - 24/7 - (2003):   "Teiden no Yoru ni Wa: On the Night of a Blackout" (停電の夜には －On the night of a blackout－)  (Video 2 / 5:16pm - http://www.4shared.com/video/ELpEVRNl/IMG_2416.html)


13. H Album -H・A・N・D- (2005):  Aozora  (Blue Sky) (Video 3 / 5:20pm - http://www.4shared.com/video/ep_oHOZx/IMG_2419.html)


14. I Album -iD- (2006):   "Love is... Itsumo Soko ni Kimi ga Ita Kara" (Love is... ～いつもそこに君がいたから～)  (Video 4 / 5:25pm) - this is the video where my iPhone accidentally hit the head of the person in front of me...  Orz

15. Φ  phi Album (2007):  "Kase no iro" (風の色)  (Colours of the Wind)
16. J Album (2009):  "Yūutsu to Niji" (憂鬱と虹)  (Melancholy and Rainbow)
17. K Album (2011):  "Negau ijyou no koto Inoru ijyou no goto" (願う以上のこと　祈る以上のこと)  (More than Hope, More than Prayer)

MC - 1/1 Birthday Con MC will be in Part 2

Tsuyo and Koichi each appeared on 1 monitor screen during the MC.

(Photo 5 / 5:42pm)

18. New Song No. 1 (by Ken-san 吉田建) (Video 5 / 6:14pm - http://www.4shared.com/video/l3lbS9RQ/IMG_2422.html)


19. New Song No. 2 (by Tamasa Kouji 玉置浩二):  "Muku no hane" (むくのはね)  (Pure Wings) (Video 6 / 6.18pm)

20. "Seppaku no Tsuki" (雪白の月)  (Snowy White Moon) (Video 7 / 6.25pm)

21. "Ai no katamari" (愛のかたまり)  (Bundle of Love)  (Video 8 / 6:30pm) - Unfortunately, I had to stop recording even before KK started singing as an usher started walking up and down the stairs checking very intensively.....)  

(Photo 6 / 6:29pm)

[Gold costumes]
This is where all parts of the stage (including the musicians) started moving to the back of the dome.  The top platform of the stage is about 25 m high (about 7 storeys)!!!  No wonder Tsuyo was saying こわい (scary) in his LF!  He has to sing and dance at such high level on a small little walkway with only railing bars at the sides......

 (Photo 7 / 6:35pm)

22. "Eien no Bloods" (永遠のBLOODS) (Eternal BLOODS)
23. Happy Happy Greeting
24. "Yamenaide, Pure" (やめないで,Pure)  (Do not stop, Pure)
25. "Jounetsu"  (情熱) （Passion）
26. "Ame no Melody" （雨のMelody） (Rain Melody)
27. "Hakka Candy" （薄荷キャンディー） (Peppermint Candy)

(Photo 8 / 6:51pm)

Encore
[Tsuyo took off his gold jacket and wearing a black T-shirt; Koichi still in his gold costume] 
28. Secret Code
29. Rocketman
30. "Flower" (フラワー)


Double Encore (1-Jan)
31. 99% Liberty

KinKi Kids' 2010-2011 Concert: ~君も堂本Family~ (Kimi mo Domoto Family) - PART 1

Yeah!  I have just returned from my annual pilgrimage to Tokyo for KinKi Kids' concert!  Actually, this is only the second time I have been to KinKi Kids' concert but I definitely hope for many many many more to come!!!

I attended their concert at Tokyo Dome for all 3 days - 30 & 31 Dec 2010 and 1 Jan 2011.  There are just so many special moments that I want to record down.  In fact, though I just touched down this afternoon, my memories are already getting all muddled and I thought I'd better start writing all these down before I forget. 

So for this Part 1, I will set out the design, technical and logistics aspects of the concert!  Hahahahaha!  Afterall, one half of KinKi Kids is a musical stage director and producer, F1 fan who knows all about chassis, etc and the theory of relativity, etc etc etc.  So, we must give due acknowledgement to these important aspects of a concert!  Fufufufu!  I'm sure the two of them put a lot of thought into conceptualising these technical and aesthetic matters, especially Koichi.

Concert Tickets
First of all, for overseas fans like me who can't join KinK Kids' fanclub because we don't have a Japanese residential address, Johnny's Entertainment opened up for the first time an online application for 30 and 31 Dec con tickets for overseas fans.  Each person is allowed to apply for only 1 night and max of 2 tickets.  I applied for 30 Dec whilst my friend R applied for 31 Dec.  We succeeded on the 30 Dec application.  So that means 1 night down and 2 more nights to go.  The tickets for the other 2 nights were subsequently purchased though Yahoo Japan Auction using the English proxy engine -Shopping Mall Japan and you pay a commission for the successful bid.  We got the tickets for bid price of 10,000 yen each which is quite reasonable as the original price is 7,500 yen and these tickets we got were for the 1st level stand.  When we reached Tokyo and went to the shop in Harajuku that sells concert tickets, there were also available tickets at the 1st level stand at reasonable prices.  You can see from the Tokyo Dome map below where my seats were.  I watched the concert from 3 different angles! Sankaku!!! :P

Concert Logo in front of Tokyo Dome
KinKi Kids had this special event where the fans were asked to send in photos that go with the Family theme and a motif would be made out of these photos.  The concert logo in front of Tokyo Dome was the heart motif made up of all these photos sent in by the fans.

We saw a KK fan carrying this fan with very kawaii KK faces on it and asked her to let us take a photo of it!  Anyway, I've "borrowed" the fan to cover my face, so that you all can see the Tokyo Dome banner behind me as well as the kawaii fan!  Heeheehee!

Concert Goods

Below are the concert goods that I have bought!

パンフレット Pamphlet - ¥1,500

ミニうちわ (個人/2種類) Mini Fan (Individual / 2 types) - ¥300 each

携帯ストラップ Mobile phone strap - ¥2,000

トランプ Trump - ¥1,200

ブレスレット (ハート・音符/2種類) Bracelet (Heart ・Musical Note / 2 types) - ¥1,800 each

ペンライト Penlight - ¥1,300

クリアファイル (集合・個人/3種類) Clear File (Group・Individual / 3 types) - ¥500 each

Tシャツ (T-shirt) - ¥2,500

オリジナルフォトセット (個人/2種類) Original photo set (Individual / 2 types) - ¥600 each

フリースマフラー Fleece Muffler - ¥2,000

ボールペン [フリクション] Ballpen [Frixion] - ¥300

ショッピングバッグ Shopping Bag - ¥1,000 

And for the Johnny's Countdown 2011, the concert name is "Johnny's Family"!  How convenient! Last year, they used KK's "J" Con for "Johnny's" and this year, they use KK's "Family" theme! Hahaha!  Anyway, this year, there is only 1 blue scarf (¥1,200) for all groups; I guess that's because they are all in the Johnny's Family.

Heart-Shaped Arena
When I walked into Tokyo Dome, to my surprise, the arena seats have been shaped into a heart shape, with the heart outline being formed by walkway stage that looks like those that the fashion shows have.  This means that KinKi Kids would have easily sacrificed a few thousand seats in order to create that unique heart shape for the arena. 

Video footage source:  YouTube - chamarudive7

Stage Design

This time round, the stage was really really impressive! I though J Con's moving stage was already superb and it's unlikely they can surpass it this time, but KK proved me wrong!

There were 2 semi-circle tracks (red lines) in the arena and I was trying to figure out how the stage was going to move, but I just couldn't see how the stage can move from the front to the back with 2 semi-circles that don't connect. Right at the start of the concert, the answer was revealed and it was awesome. Those of you who have watched the Johnny's Countdown would have seen it when KinKi Kids sang Family ~ひとつになること. There are 2 side plank stages (pink) at the front that can swing inwards to connect the front stage to the center stage, and likewise at the back (pink). And the answer is out, the front stage, the center stage (blue) and the back stage (green) are all connected!

So imagine when the lights went dark, everybody started screaming, and the spotlights came on and Tsuyoshi was standing at the edge of the LHS plank stage and Koichi at the other edge of the RHS plank stage, and all 4 plank stages lit in yellow lights started swinging inwards! It was really like those Star Wars sci-fic type of futuristic feel!  The 2 of them walked from the front to the back stage and they sang Family, starting acapella with these 2 lines below.  It was a beautiful moment!  I managed to find a photo below taken by since1997★ of this scene.

Koichi:  君がいるから  (kimi ga iru kara) (Because you exist)
Tsuyoshi:  僕がいるから (boku ga iru kara) (Because I exist)

Photo Source: since1997★

Apart from these 4 swinging plank stages, the front stage had this very interesting slide design.  Yes, it was a slide!  And during the concert, the dancers like MA and MAD were sliding down the slide stage as part of their dance choreography!  On 1 Jan con, Koichi ran halfway up to slide down and then he exclaimed that his pants became very hot!  Our Koichi playing baka as usual!  Fufufu! 

The amazing thing about this slide design was that it created a 3D effect, like the omni-max theatre.  There are 3 separate stage panels that can move up and down the slide stage.  During the concert, when Kinki Kids were singing, the whole backdrop was the universe and the stage panel they were standing on was near the stop of the slide stage.  It really felt like they were standing in the middle of a universe and singing their hearts out to us!

Ribbons
For the last few concerts, Johnny's has been exploding these gold/silver ribbons with the group name and concert name printed on it, and they were usually exploded above the arena.  I was fortunate enough to have an arena seat for J con last year and got a silver ribbon.  This year, even the 1st level stand had a chance at these ribbons.  They had about 4-5 big ballons positioned around the 1st level stand and when the ballons burst, golden ribbons came flying down.  What was so unusual about these ribbons was that they were tied in such a way that they twirling in the air and you can't tell where they will land.  They were like golden bees flying around!  As for the finale, silver ribbons were expoded above the arena and the 1st level stand.  On 1/1 concert night, I could see both the golden and silver ribbons floating down above me but I didn't get any unfortunately.  The nearest I ever got to a ribbon fell to a fan sitting the row behind me, 2 seats away who got a golden ribbon twirling into her hand!

Photo Source: since1997★

White "Feather" Snow
When KinKi Kids were singing SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! at the front stage, tiny white feathers fell down on them to simulate snow.  I was sitting nearer the back stage on 31/12.  Can you imagine, the feathers actually floated all the way from the front to the audience behind the back stage and both R and I each got a feather!  It's just a tiny feather to others but KK fans would understand its special meaning.  Unfortunately, as usual, klutzy as I am, I realised I lost my feather just now when I was searching for it to take a photo of! Sob sob!

Concert DVD?
On the 1 Jan concert, there was an aerial camera filming the concert! And many camera-men were also following after Koichi and Tsuyoshi!  So let's pray very hard that we are getting the concert DVD!

Part 2 should be on 1 Jan Birthday Con.  Hope to finish that by tomorrow night.



KinKi Kids' concert tour J: More ML video clips!!!

Credit to Sky00071 for the videos below:

20091230 つばさ ~little wing~


20091230 風のソネット


20091230 MC


20091230 MC2









Credit to kimiiroango for the video clips:

KinKi Kids' Concert Tour J - 100101 ML: Koichi's Birthday Celebration

Credit to Sky00071 for the Youtube videos:


Tsuyoshi's sweet and yet so funny love song to Koichi for his 31st birthday!




The Tokyo Dome birthday cake with the lotus flower shaped musical candle and the whisper-sung Happy Birthday song! What wonderful memories this ML invokes!!!




The birthday game hosted by Tsuyoshi that finally led to his greeting "O tanjyobi omedeto"!

[100104] TV Reports of KinKi Kids' J Concert Tour and Johnny's Countdown 2009-10

100104 Tokyo MX TV News 3:15 - Countdown 2009-10

Source: 8891588915
- Tsuyo holds Koichi's hands up when turned midnight,Performance of Harmony of December, Machi's Motto

100104 Tokyo MX TV News 3:17 - J Con

Source: 8891588915
- Performance of  Garasou no Shonen, Birthday cake, Birthday drawing of "Pan", Johnny-san called Pan-chan "Bread", Performance of Swan Song



Source: wideshows2
6:21
-  Performance of Garasou no Shonen, Secret Code, Blow out candles on birthday cake

7:11

-  37th performance at Tokyo Dome,  Birthday Cake, O tanjyobi omedeto, Koichi's thank you speech



Source: wideshows2
6:09
- 銀色暗号, Tsuyoshi's Love Song (1st line), Birthday cake, "Pan" picture, Koichi eat strawberries, Koichi says this is the best birthday ever, Swan Song,
8:25
- Swan Song, Birthday cake, Tsuyoshi's love song (Kimi ga suteki dayo), Koichi lies down on the steps


Source: wideshows2
7:47
 - Tsuyo holds Koichi's hand up at turn of midnight at Johnny's Countdown, Garasou no Shonen, Johnny's Juniors, Birthday cake, Koichi's thank you speech

KinKi Kids' Concert Tour J: 091231 and 100101 Tokyo Dome (Part 2)

I think I will start first with Tsuyoshi's birthday love song for Koichi on 1 Jan concert!  Fufufu!  Well, it's obviously the most important and romantic moment in J con!

At the start of the 1st MC, when Koichi started introducing himself, Tsuyoshi suddenly ran to the back of the stage.  As that section of the stage was in darkness, we couldn't see Tsuyoshi at all and Koichi pretended to look bewildered, looking left and right for Tsuyoshi, saying, "Is this my solo?".

At that very moment, we hear the strains of music and the spotlight shined on Tsuyoshi who was playing on the keyboard.  (Wahhhh!  I didn't expect Tsuyoshi to start on his love song so quickly!  Fufufu!)

Koichi then commented, "I think this is going to take very long."  (Lol! He definitely knows best since he's a very experienced "victim"!) And then, he said, "I want to sit down" and he then sat down on the steps leading up to the musicians' decks.

Tsuyoshi launched into his love song for Koichi's 31st birthday.

Tsuyoshi's love song for Koichi

Source for Japanese lyrics: 白羽*白雨
Chinese translation reference: キンキだけの世界
Concert MP3 Audio Clip Download link:  Domoto Kyoudai (fenlings)

"I love you" MP3 Audio Clip Download link:  Rayfile

(Note:  I have taken the liberty of modifying some of the Japanese lyrics and my English translation may not be the same as the Chinese translation.  As my Japanese is limited, I might be wrong and ask for your indulgence.)

光一　もうおじさん
Koichi, you are already an ojisan (old man)
ねぇ光一　バーボンの用意はれきてるかい
ne Koichi, have you prepared the bourbon?
光一　古着のジーンズなんて絶対はかないいって　可愛い笑顔で言った日もあったね
Koichi, you once said that you will never put on secondhand jeans.  You had such an adorable smiling face on the day you you said that ne.
でも光一　君はもうおじさんだね
But Koichi, you are already an ojisan da-ne
だけどね光一　君は素敵だよ
Even though so ne Koichi, you are lovely da-yo


君がいなければ　僕はいないだろう
If you are not here, I guess there wouldn't be me
僕がいるから  君が笑ってくれるだろう？
Because I exist, I can be gifted with your smile, don't you agree?
「光一」　何度この名前を呼んだだよ　叫んだったよ
Koichi, how often I have called out your name da-yo, cried out your name yo
悲しい夕日の色に* 負けそうな夜も  
Amidst the sorrowful colours of the sunset, in a seemingly defeated night
君の笑顔を思い出せば  涙が枯れたんのだ
When I think of your smiling face, my tears will dry up
(*At this romantic moment, Koichi accidentally touched the bottom of his mic, thus creating a loud feedback noise.  Audience all burst out laughing at this point.  Orz...baka as usual, our prince Koichi.  Koichi apparently was already "corrected" during the concert on the first night by the Johnny's Juniors not to touch the bottom of his mic to prevent creating the feedback noise, but he still created it a few times on the first night!)

光一　ねぇ君が  こうして  いねるれることが  いつまでも続くように歌うよ
Koichi, ne, I hope to be able to sing forever of you thus

(Tsuyoshi then played a few more bars and slowly brought the music to a close.....or so everybody thought as the audience all started clapping and going "woah"......and then Tsuyoshi sang out "ne Koichi" and played on.  Audience again all burst out laughing.  Tsuyoshi managed to trick us all again.  We KK fans are all so M......) 

ねぇ光一　ねぇ光一
ne Koichi, ne Koichi
君が~wo~ 目を見つめろ
Gazing intently at you
知らない僕がおどりだしてく
An unknown self emerges
 知らない愛がおどりだしてく
An unknown love emerges
知らない愛がおどりだしてく
An unknown love emerges
知らない君が輝きだしてく
An unknown radiant you emerges


I love you
I love you
I love you you you
I love you

(I think somewhere in the above 2 stanzas, Koichi lied down on the steps in a very ojisan manner. Something like the red matchstick figure in the screen cap below.  Sorry, my artistic skills unfortunately are also comparable to Koichi's......Then somewhere later down the line, probably in the next stanza, Koichi sat up and changed direction, laying his head down on the other side in exactly the same posture, save that it's symmetrical like a mirror image. That's why the fans keep laughing even though Tsuyoshi's lyrics were so touching.  Our baka Prince strikes again...)

このメロディーが君を永久の  眠りへと誘うはずはないさ　
This melody should not induce you to sleep for eternity
起きてよ　僕を見てよ
Wake up yo, look at me yo
僕の心の目は  いつも君の愛を愛を愛を愛を見つめてる
My heart is always gazing at your love love love love 
I love you　I love you
一方通行の　I love you
One-way traffic, I love you
(I think this line uses one-way traffic as a metaphor to describe his love for Koichi.  Since the street is a one-way traffic, there is no other way to go for his love to go.  He can only love Koichi.  Well, that's my interpretation.)

おじさん  起きたよ*
Ojisan, wake up yo

(*This line is hilarious and all burst out laughing.  On the big screen, we can see that Koichi also couldn't help but break out into a grin at this point. He was still lying in that ojisan manner on the steps at that point.) 

風邪ひいちゃうよ
You can catch a cold yo
仕事は始まったよ
Work has begun yo
そんなとこじゃ風邪ひいちゃうよら

As you may catch a cold in such a "bed" yo-ra

僕の声であいためてよ

I will use my voice to warm you yo

起きたかな選らんよ？* (I think Koichi sat up at this point.)
Have you decided to wake up yo?
寝起きが悪い君　顔が可愛い

Though you usually wake up in a bad mood, the look on your face then is adorable.

I love you
I love you
I love you
I love you　　シルバーパンツ Silver pants

(I think it is around the above "I love you" stanza that Koichi started to massage and stretch his legs whilst seated on the steps.  The "silver pants" is absolutely hilarious, referring to the silver pants Koichi was wearing then.  I have to sheepishly confess I heard "silver butts" during the concert...Orz...don't ask me why.)

I love you
彼が生まれてきたことを誰もが光だと知ってるから

Your birth into this world lets everybody know the meaning of light

その輝きを僕らは絶やさぬように愛そう

Such radiance, we will love you so as not to let it be extinguished

その輝きを絶やさぬように僕らは愛そう
Such radiance, we will love you so as not to let it be extinguished
シルバーパンツ  
Silver pants

Don't read this hidden paragraph below if you don't want to spoil your romantic impression of the love song, or you are anti-KKL or you are a passionate KKL. It's in black-coloured font and you can read it by blocking it.

KinKi Kids' Concert Tour J: 091231 and 100101 Tokyo Dome (Part 1)

I haven't said anything in my blog previously but I can definitely say it now.  I have attended my very first KinKi Kids' concert!!!  YEAHHHHH!!!  I still cannot believe it but I had finally stepped into Tokyo Dome and spent the last day of 2009 and the first day of 2010 with KinKi Kids at their J concert tour!  I don't think any words can express that very moment where I finally saw Tsuyoshi and Koichi face to face.   I am just so touched and blessed by the whole experience and can only thank God for it all.

Right from the start, everything was touch and go, and hence I dare not say anything for fear of jinxing my chances.  My KinKi Kids' fanclub membership card only arrived 2 days before the deadline for submission of application form for the concert tickets.  Whew!  It wasn't until 9 Dec that I received news from my proxy that I have successfully been ballotted the concert tickets for 31 Dec and 1 Jan.  I was elated but that was also the start of a 1-2 week period of suspense and worry about whether I will be able to get hold of my concert tickets, airplane tickets, hotel, etc.  I finally received confirmation from my proxy just 2 days before my departure that the concert tickets had been mailed to my Tokyo hotel.  Thankfully, all things went well and the concert tickets and fanclub membership card landed safely in our hands when we arrived at the hotel.

This is my KinKi Kids' fanclub membership card.

 
These are my concert tickets.  When I saw the word "arena" on my 31 Dec ticket, I was so happy that I couldn't stop grinning.  I couldn't help wishing that the arena seats were for the 1 Jan concert but I quickly told myself I shouldn't be greedy. I was already so blessed to get the concert tickets for these 2 nights.

So on 31 Dec, we went to Tokyo Dome in the morning to purchase the concert goods first.  We nearly landed up in the wrong queue as there were 2 queues for concert goods, one for Johnny's Countdown and one for KinKi Kids' J Concert Tour.  The signages simply said concert goods and the queue right before our exit from our Metropolitan subway station was actually for the Johnny's Countdown.  Fortunately, the queue was long and by the time we managed to reach the end of the queue, we were halfway round the Tokyo Dome.  Then, we saw the other queue and realised that that was the one for KinKi Kids' concert goods!  Thankfully, we didn't queue wrongly.

We joined the KinKi Kids' concert goods queue at about 11.30 am.  The queue was very long but as usual, the Japanese are very efficient and we reached the booths after about 45 minutes.  As I was helping some friends back home buy the concert goods as well, it came to quite a lot and people around me must have thought I was one of those proxy merchants......Thankfully, my friend was there to help me but I felt paiseh that she had to wait for me as I had to join many separate queues to buy all the items and quantities.  Without her, I couldn't have managed to carry so many things back to hotel.  If you are reading this blog, thank you for being so patient and kind throughout this trip.

Below are photos of the Tokyo Dome and J concert tour logo. 

This is taken whilst in the queue.

That's us with our victory concert goods!

This is the J logo during the day.

 This is the J concert banner(?)

We managed to also get the KinKi Kids' fan for Johnny's Countdown 2009-10 as the KinKi Kids' concert goods booths also sold that.  I think KinKi Kids' fan looks the best but of course, I am biased! :P

After dropping off the concert goods at the hotel, we came back to Tokyo Dome. At about 5pm, we queued to go into the arena.  When we stepped into the arena and saw where we were seated, my friend and I were so elated that we couldn't help doing little shrieks.  We were seated right in the center column of the arena in the 3rd block from the front stage!!!  Ahhhhhhhh!  We were only about 50 metres from the front stage!  If you look at the seating plan below, the pink spot is where our seats were on 31 Dec.

As for the 1 Jan seats, we thought we would be right at the top level, left hand corner of the dome since the seat description seems to mean 3rd level side.  However, we guessed wrongly.  We actually had very good seats at the first level stand slightly off to the left side.  The red spot on the seat plan above would be where our seats were.  We had a good view of the mini-stage in front of the stand as well as the whole front stage and arena area!  My friend said on the 1 Jan night that we can now see the whole stage effect as well as the performances off the front stage which we couldn't see very well from the arena.  She was right!

I don't know how people managed to take photos during the concert as there were so many "security personnel" around.  There were also signs stating that we would be removed from the dome if we take photos.  I managed to "smuggle" my camera in but I didn't dare to take it out at all.  Sob sob!

The front stage is actually a moving stage and Tsuyoshi and Koichi actually passed about 2 metres above our arena seats on 31 Dec when the stage moved to the mini-stage at the back!  When the stage was moving towards us, I was so worried that we will not get to see their faces as they were both at the left and right sides of the stage.  When the edge of the stage moved to about 2-3 rows before me, Tsuyoshi suddenly walked over to our end, looked down, gave a gentle and sweet smile and wiggled his fingers in his customary downward wave!  He looked just like he is on screen, innocent, sweet and gentle.  That was the best moment for me!  Tsuyoshi was probably 3-4 metres from me!  It would have been even more wonderful if Koichi had also come over but I must not be greedy.

I took the screen caps below from Johnny's Countdown.  The red dot would be where we were seated.  That's probably the closest I will ever get to Tsuyoshi.  I will always treasure this memory.

At the end of the 31 Dec concert, when all the golden ribbons fell down on the arena, it was really a marvelous sight standing right underneath the waterfall of golden ribbons.  Below is picture of the golden ribbon that I got.

 

This is the photo of the J logo taken at about 3 pm before we entered the arena.  You will notice that the plague on the right states "KinKi Kids concert tour".

This was taken after the 31 Dec concert.  The plague had been removed and changed to "Countdown"!  The "J" was really useful!  Lol!  But this meant I had to try and take the night photo of the J again tomorrow if I wanted the KinKi Kids' plague.  Orz...

KinKi Kids concert tour J: Concert Goods

The theme of the J con goods appears to be the pure and classic image with white and silver colours.  I especially love the furry strap and shiny silver bag!


Source: since1997★

Pamphlet

パンフレット - ¥2,000

 Source for 2nd photo: since1997★

Clear Files (Group・Individual/3 types)

クリアファイル (集合・個人/3種類) - Each ¥500

Source: since1997★

Jumbo Fan (1 type)

ジャンボうちわ(1種類) - ¥500

Source: since1997★

T-shirt

Tシャツ - ¥2,500

Source: since1997★

Diary

ダイヤリ - ¥1,500

Source: since1997★

Shopping bag

ショッピングバッグ - ¥1,500

Source for 2nd photo: since1997★

Poster (Group・Individual/3 types)

ポスター (集合・個人/3種類) - ¥800 each

Original Photos (4-piece set) (Group・Individual/3 types)

オリジナルフォト[4枚組] (集合・個人/3種類) - ¥600 each

Source: since1997★

Bath Towel

バスタオル - ¥3,500

Source: since1997★

Mascot Strap

マスコットストラップ - ¥1,500

Penlight
ペンライト - ¥1,300

Source:  Johnny's Net