Ah, I see, thanks for explaining.
But drink prices at concert venues being much higher than in convenience stores is pretty normal everywhere in the world, right?! 
Yeah, but everything is all about coin management. Eventually you run out of coins and 1000 to pay for drinks with, and then you have to go somewhere to break a 10000.
So you can only pay with coins, no other option? 
Coins or 1000, anything else is too much change for them. The Zepp’s take IC card, which is what saved me from having to run somewhere to get change.
I’d guess you could pay with a bill and cause a fuzz because you’re delaying everyone in line because they’ll may take 10 seconds to get you your change. You could also use a 2000 yen bill for special extra fun!!
The idea is to get through asap so you not oly pay in coins, you have the exact ammount in coins in your hand to hand it over as fast as possible.
2 Likes
True, also preferably 500+100(or 200), orrr 6 or 7 x 100. Small coins are more of a pain for them
Oh wow, I didn’t know that. Thank you guys for explaining, really interesting.
These are the small things you never think about when you never visited Japan
2 Likes
what if… u show up to get merch.. with a card… they have technology right…right? t-t-tap?
edit:
omg so some places dont ok
You better carry some cash in Japan 
3 Likes
Merch line is distinct from the drink fee station, but yeah, most merch lines don’t take credit card either. They miiiight take PayPay (Japanese equivalent of PayPal)
4 Likes
2026.05.06 Aiming Multiple at Ikebukuro Edge
After that loooong day yesterday, I can’t help but take things slower today. Sleep in a bit, take care of some trash, make homemade ramen, utilize the storage space in the room to separate stuff that I’ll need later from stuff that can be safely packed away.
But I do still have a couple spare hours to go do something, and since JR lines are pretty much free for me…
So I ask AI “How do I spend two and a half hours in Kamakura?”
And it told me to focus on the stuff around Hase station, where the two big highlights of the town are.
So after just narrowly missing my JO line connection, I rationalize that I can always skip the “go back to the main station and visit snack shops until you go back” part.
Getting off the JO, the way to the attractions is to board the Enoden line for three stops until Hase station.
Why Kamakura specifically? It’s home to one of the Daibutsu, a giant sitting Buddha. The one in Kamakura dates to the 13th century and is actually hollow, allowing people to go inside.
At 300¥ to get in to the grounds, and another optional 300¥ to buy a souvenir Goshuin (a paper with a seal showing that you’ve visited a certain temple), it’s quite worth the price.
AI’s next recommendation was to pop over five minutes to Hasedera temple.
In addition to the standard shrines and gardens that most temples have, there is also a cave entrance where there are plenty of statues and mini figurines.
Heading up the stairs to the temple proper
The one piece I couldn’t take any pictures of was the wooden Kannon statue inside of the main temple, just over 9 m high. By now, it was getting to be time that I needed to head into Ikebukuro. On the long train ride back (direct from Kamakura station), I crammed the music from two of the acts I would be seeing today.
I’ve been meaning to see heidi. for quite a while now, but the timing never really lined up. Kaijin Niju Menshou also put on a really good show.
ジュリィー(Jully) are a band from the mid late 2000s who have come back together for a 20th anniversary show at this live.
And it is…packed in here. Kind of comparable to that Luv Parade and Jiluka show that I was at. My feet are already sore despite getting to sit on the whole train ride back.
Ticket 135 today, enough to get me to fifth row on the right side of the stage.
Kaijin Nijuu Menshou is first, their fans already have the knife light up paddles at the ready. Support members are already on stage, and official members guitarist Ken and vocalist Makoto, both former Doremidan, head on stage. The support guitarist Ryu is also former Doremidan.
I can’t quite interpret the first song on the list, but 2025’s ヲルゴール and セウワヰシン、一九三六二二六 were next, most of the audience in front of me actively engaged in the furi.
After several more and a couple short MCs, the flags come out for Taiyou Demo Crash. I don’t have any flags, but I follow along with my hands as much as I can. They close the set off with Kaisou Carnival.
I grab a setlist photo and then I feel the need to crash, despite there being tons of people around me. I manage to get a five minute break before I realize that people will continue to crowd around, as the crowd hasn’t thinned out at all like it sometimes does for Taibans, so I get up.
Heidi.
(I swear, half of the work is trying to read these guy’s handwriting)
So there are no fancy props for Heidi’s set. Just some good old indie rock. But I fear that I may have to bounce after them if things don’t thin out after their set.
They open up with what (I think) are older tracks 黒の足跡 (track on 2006’s Kurobaa single) and Twilight Town, not available on streaming from their album Sixth Sense.
After a brief MC, they play three newer songs, Esa, Esoragoto, and Fallin’ off the 2024 album Core.
After they finish of Rem after another brief MC, I’m surprised by Koukotsu and Ichibetsu, my two favourite songs by them. After Koukotsu, the bassist Kohsuke looks over and tosses his bass pick in my general direction, but it over shoots me.
Could I be getting a second wind?
So I try and get over to see about the merch line, but by then, it was extended to almost the door and to be honest, I just wanted to find a place for a good massage and then get yakiniku.
Here’s what Jully played for their 20th, though.
5 Likes
2026.05.07 Ikebukuro Standard @ Ikebukuro Global Ring Theatre
Another outdoor show today, interestingly enough dad and I have been here before, accidentally. I had a show at BlackHole, and because it was all standing, featured a couple heavier bands with involved furi…I opted to go alone.
So dad stayed behind in the free seating area and watched a Vienna boy’s choir.
…I asked him afterwards if the crowd cheered for their favourite choir boy in between songs. He laughed and said no.
But first! I anticipated spending some time at Sunshine City, so I booked something in advance that I normally wouldn’t get to do in Canada.
The mipig cafe! Basically, a place where you get to pet and sometimes hold a bunch of small pigs, ranging from baby to adult.
I’m seated on a pillow and given a blanket to cover my clothes before they come and place the first pig in my lap. It takes a couple of tries before it stays, but it seems like once one of their scents is on you; more inevitably start coming on their own.
The big white one with the purple collar was lowkey kind of scary. Would nip at any of the piglets who got too close to his face. Very much the “alpha pig”, they even gave him that collar with a crown symbol on it to show that he’s the “King of Pigs”.
So I’m sitting here, legs going numb from about 3-7 pigs sitting on me at a time. My time is finally up, and a white one that’s been sitting on me for 20 minutes walks over to the next empty station and pees all over the floor. Thanks for waiting to do that. Really appreciated not getting my pants covered in pig piss.
So where can I get some good fuwa fuwa around here? Turns out, the answer might be closer than I think.
The Sanrio Cafe is located nearby, and my experience with character cafes hasn’t always been the best. The food at the Squaresoft cafe was just so-so, and the Pokémon take away kiosk food was borderline inedible.
But I’ve heard decent things, so I’ll have a sweet brunch here.
I’m handed the crepe first. Cinnamon banana flavour. The top portion was filled with whipped cream, and the bottom portion was a few more banana slices and a crunchy cinnamon flavoured flake cereal. Crepe itself was a little doughy, but oh well.
The pork bun was pretty good, and the pancake was too, but I was starting to get a bit sugared out, so I left half of the whipped cream from the pancake and Dojima roll on the plate.
Still having an hour to kill, I head up to the Observatory at Sunshine60.
I look at the clock, and realize it’s time to get there. They way out, and towards the Global Ring theatre is a lot longer than I think at first, so I finally huff my way over there late for my number call…
Not that it really matters much anyways. It’s a really chill relaxed environment and everything is seated inside the paid section.
I find Panda and Val and take the seat next to them.
Nao (ex Hueye, Hue-ye? Hu-eye? Huehway?) comes out, in a plain green button down shirt, little to no makeup. Nothing like his promo photo. He has a back up band of three acoustic support musicians, and his songs are jazzy and very…public appropriate. It’s a short set, only lasting twenty minutes before we break for 10.
ManhattanDayBreak are next, the solo project of Temari (ex Amber Gris, current Yoru), although he does have a support guitarist…also acoustic. He sings a few ballads for us, lasting about 25 minutes.
Gokigenuou! is next. They don’t have a VK.gy page, but they seem awfully familiar…can’t quite put my finger on it…wherrrrre have I seen them?
They play a couple of acoustic songs, and then it dawns on me. I literally just saw these dudes yesterday! It’s Yoshihiko and Nao of heidi! And yep, that’s definitely a heidi song that they finished with.
I tried to get cheki, but Adapter is literally on in 2 min and they shoo everyone away.
The first real furi of the day, and the only non-acoustic set, Fukusuke manages to get people out of their seats, and even completely unrelated people are stepping forward in the free viewing area to participate. Fukusuke comes and congratulates an elderly man during his second last song. After some more interacting with the crowd, he finishes the set off and I must be going.
Because, like many times in my travels…this is just another one of those Dejavu days.
2026.05.07 Senketsu A ko-chan 滅多刺しひろくん生誕ワンマン『痛学残留』@ Ikebukuro BlackHole
I have number 242 today. Terrible, but it seems like they managed to release just a few same day tickets only because they decided to remove the merch table from the main room and move it to beside the bar. By the time that I got there at 5:45, everyone else had already been let in and I take my place right in front of the stragglers hanging back for a little breathing room where the merch table would normally be.
The curtain opens and the members make their way on stage, cheers going up for every member this time. They had a support bassist for a bit, but it looks like Maruko is back.
They start up with Jin’nikumanjuu Tagiru-kun (roughly translated to “Tagiru-kun is a human meat bun”), the audience taking care of the modulated vocals at the beginning.
Hiro lets out a scream and the audience is jumping back and forth, calling out “ay ay ay ay” on the way back to their spots. They play a few more off of their set of 2024 EPs, including Zansatsu Biyori (whose furi gave me flashbacks of that time in September 2024 where he started cutting himself) before breaking for a short MC.
They play the next few, Asahi getting a decent amount of love from the crowd. The furi continues enthusiastically from most of the crowd.
You know, I was a bit worried about resellers showing up to this show to buy up merch for markup prices. Seems like the guys were anticipating it too, because they limited people to one shirt per colour for the birthday merch. I guess we’ll have to see what happens to cheki sales right after this.
At this point in the show, Hiro starts undoing his skirt, teasing like he might be pulling it off…but decides against it and tries to fasten it back up…only for a tech to come help him on stage with it mid song. They also play their newest single, Chuunibyou Catastrophe -botchi no satsuriku tenshi -, the audience striking a prayer pose for a lot of the furi. The overly enthusiastic centre Saizen fan even brought a cross.
It comes to my personal favourite of theirs, Aa Mekura. People may not love his regular vocals, but he has some damn impressive screams.
Eventually, there’s a bit of a drum issue and the tech comes to fix it, Tenmei deciding to take a quick water break. After that MC, we’re into the final stretch of the main set, playing a mix of 2024 and more recent songs, until they get to the board’s favourite song, 2023’s Ijigen Togekou. But it’s not the final song, as they close out the main set with 5-gatsu ni okaasan ga hiri-on shita (Or, My mother had a groaning sound in May).
But no, it’s not over yet. We still have squints the Cover song set? Oh god, this is always death (I kid, lol). Anyways, I didn’t manage to get a picture of the songs, all I know is that they sounded like standard J-rock songs, not necessarily VK. After the first song, Hiro asked how many people knew that song. About six people raised their hands, and he said it was cool.
After three, I decided to go sit in the bathroom for a few minutes before someone else needed it. They played a few more before it’s time for cheki pick up, which I am first to. After picking up mine, and two other orders, I have four 2-shots, and now it’s time to head back to the room to wait for them.
What should I do? One of each? But I am beat, like always. I get to snap a main set list photo, and I move, because it seems like the line I was shuffled into was for cheki pick up, which I already did.
So I head closer to the stage. The curtains are getting set up, so I have to move. What do you know, the spot right where I’m standing, staff calls, Hiro-kun!, and I’m #3 in line.
I could just get one, and move to the other three lines that are much less populated.
But you know what? There are two dedicated Senketsu fans that couldn’t be here today that I decided to pick up merch/cheki for, each spent 10,000¥. So two of these 2shots belong to them. I’ll pack it in their orders.
After wishing his a happy birthday and giving him my brief elevator intro (I’m Katie, I’m from Canada, I had fun), he gives me a bro handshake and I head off.
But there is one two shot today that might just beat the Hiro-kun one…
Cover song set:
12 Likes
2026.05.08 Cubrick Ni Ten San Ten volume 105 @ Shibuya Rex
Today being my main rest up day. Laundry, food shopping, merch shipping.
Gee. Last time I saw this series, we were at 77. That’s 28 volumes in the last year and a half.
Number 34 today, which gets me centre second row. Aaaand, here come the spot trade requests.
Normally, I would brush them off, saying that I’m here for all bands…but you know what, hey. If these bands mean so much to the local fans here, who am I to say no? I ultimately picked this live for it’s length and number of newer bands, not really any specific one.
I can step back a few rows for some of the bands. So within about five minutes, I’ve yielded the spot for Akai Yuurei, Taboo and Machina. Once it’s clear that nobody else is approaching me, the lady for Akai Yuurei takes her spot and I find an adjacent third row space that is still empty.
They are…actually really good.
Set opener 1UP has a super catchy intro/hook, and new single Ashura was probably the set highlight for guitar work. I think they’ve earned cheki money. The most musically and visually interesting new band I’ve seen so far, they had almost two solid rows of dedicated fans, but a couple of people in other rows were engaged. The ladies in third row didn’t want to move for Odabutu Gokurakuhen, so I moved around them.
I pull…two guitarist and two drummer.
Between acts, it’s customary to at least return to your spot to hold it for the next person. Personally, I plop my bag down because I want to head to the cheki table. I wasn’t even sure who was next. I come back to see Taboo lady standing around the bag, so we do a quick acknowledgment and I take my bag and head to the fourth row centre. Right behind Wig Ojisan. White wig today, paired with white cardigan.
Taboo take the stage.
They were operating under the name Nora for a while, but they’ve rebranded as this cat themed band.
They’re pretty alright. Setlist highlight had to have been Tokyo Hell, where the audience had to time an extra jump during mosh furi. More audience participation than Akai Yurei. Setlist could have used Pussy Land.
…I got hit in the head with a tube of cat food during SaSU by Yuuma. I swear, if someone tries to steal my cat food off the floor before this show is done…
I will treasure this forever.
Machina are next. I’ve already done the trade off again, the fan who originally asked me for the spot was actually asking for her friend, but no worries. They come on, holding animal masks in front of their faces. It’s a pretty energetic set, like most of the bands here. Pretty solid participation rate from almost everyone in the first five rows. No setlist yet, but they played Nee, boku ga and Suicide Skip for sure.
Guess I’ll have that second row spot for five bands in a row, nice. Wig Ojisan tried to poach my spot, but the fan who traded with me stepped in to correct him. He’s on the floor grumbling now. Oh well.
Guess that’s a plus of being nice and trading spots if you don’t really speak Japanese well. People will be more likely to look out for your spot.
Next are session band Tada Raku Umi, featuring the vocalist of QJackthe and rhythm section of The Pity (formerly I.D.A).
A guy named Furitsu is on guitar, but he is not mentioned on the VK.gy entry. Turns out, he is the guitarist of Deigan and it acknowledges this project on his VK.gy page.
Set was fun, but visually bare bones..no special light up background like the rest of the bands, no real costumes, just hair and makeup.
I’m not even certain where to look for the setlist. I’m presuming it’s a collection of the vocalist’s older songs.
Up next is M.E.S.S., who arrive in long sleeved kimonos. Their vocalist striking marionette poses during an interlude of their second song. Probably the most call and response of the night so far. Near the end of the set, I swear I can hear vocalist Yuuka say in clear English “let’s try that again” to get a louder response from the audience.
The bands are starting to kind of run together.
Hopefully Co’Coon can break that. They’ve been around for a while, I remember them being an option that I could see at 2023 Kansai Rock Summit, but I ultimately chose a different band.
Opening with Tayousei Modoki, first thing I notice is the vocalist Tenshi’s really edgy sweatshirt. Nazi Mickey and Minnie asking to do anal?
Anyways, Watashi neglect is a more energetic song. After a couple more, they close off with Jinsei Easy Game.
Superknova are in seventh position, and after so many bands today blending together, I’m about ready for some decent kirakira. Their Saizen changes over, everyone wearing light up rings and bracelets. At least I’m not the obviously oldest person here like last time.
They start up with I live for U, and while it’s a bit more sparkly, the heavier parts still kind of blend together with all of the other bands here. It isn’t until setlist mainstay Dengeki Billibilli and Buzz Ranto Year when we get the super intricate furi that the light up rings come in handy.
Setlist closer Kamikaze x Antithese is the newet song on the setlist, and my feet are finally starting to hurt.
I try obtaining cheki, but unfortunately, no day of available. Aw shucks.
Singularity is last tonight, and you know what? Screw it. I’ve seen them before, and can’t remember a single thing about them. I’ve decided to be gentle on myself and call it a night. Here’s what they played though.
I look around Shibuya looking for something to eat that isn’t super expensive, finding nothing but touts (local touts, btw, or at least East Asian ones) and tourist trap restaurants in the area, I opt for good old Famichiki instead. A tout comes over, turns his back to me…and relieves himself in the alley next to the Family Mart.
At least the pig did it when I wasn’t eating.
8 Likes
2026.05.09 Kill Me Milky @ Shibuya Rex
After being refreshed, I think it’s time for another excursion. And what better than a trip to Ishikawa Zoo, home of the viral sensation Punch the Monkey.
It’s not a very large place. A bit cumbersome to get to maybe. A malfunction with my JR pass around Nishi Funabashi is leading it to decline at the machines going forward, but the station staff seem to just be waving it off and letting me through. Would love to get it actually solved, though.
But not before I stop for a good old Indian lunch meat set
Now, the actual curry portions (like, actual chicken, veggies and rice, not just the sauce) is much smaller than I would get back home, but the real star of the show is the cheese naan bread. Dipped in the sauces? Delicious.
Too bad that with business Visa restructuring, a lot of these places will go out of business. It’s a shame.
I get to the zoo after a long walk through some orchards, and first is a flamingo, crane and stork exhibit that people can walk through.
Which leads to the zoo’s main attraction as of late, the Macaque den.
As to which one is Punch, it’s anyone’s guess.
I head back to the entrance because…well, my phone has 20% left and my battery pack is out of charge. I need a top up back at the share house.
But there is something I absolutely need to go visit, before it’s gone.
At the ESP museum, getting through a hoard of slow moving tourists and residents alike. I have to be quick, because my show is in less than 30.
Plus a little souvenir
Anyways, back to Shibuya Rex. Yesterday was alright, plenty of room to sit down, and relax…
Yeah, not today. They’ve borderline sold this thing out. I’m 118 of who knows exactly how many. There were still plenty of people hanging back when it was my turn to head down the stairs. I’m chilling at the back of the main floor, nearly shoulder to shoulder with people sneaking by to get to the drink room.
My feet are already feeling it.
The curtains raise at 6:00 sharp, and the three band vocalists are there, to greet the crowd Ensoku’s Buu taking the leading role, as it is essentially their Taiban.
He turns to Sugar’s Nea and says that since he’s the junior, that his band should go first. Also addressing Mama’s Mei, he reminded him that he’s also Buu’s junior, so he’ll he going next after Sugar. Then he says something that I think was a dunk on 0.1g no gosan.
There was a bit more joking and crowd pumping up, of course. But the main purpose of establishing the order of today’s bands being done, the curtain lowers for another eight minutes or so until Sugar take the stage at 6:15.
They come out in these white and pink outfits and start off with Black Sheep, followed by Manuke off of their Nandemonai Uta album.
The girls right behind me seem to be in a competition for who could vault themselves over the back barricade the farthest. One beans me in the head while aggressively bowing. She apologizes though, all good.
I’m beside this middle aged guy who was reading a book before the show started, but even he seems to be getting into the set around the time that they play Jam.
During Mazo, the vocalist loses the back piece of his outfit, and tosses it behind him. The guitarist got solo chances in about half of the songs, and as they exited the stage, the guitarist Kentaro stayed behind to riff a bit to draw the hype out. The set lasted about 40 minutes total.
I *finally* get to sit down. I’m immediately under the back barricade, lined up as flatly as possible and people are still struggling past me with their drinks. Not much I can do. I’d take up even more space standing up.
It’s time for MAMA, coming out to Cry Morry and middle aged guy has moved up a couple rows and is really getting into the set. No furi yet, but just really head bopping, especially during Nope and Witch?
I was closer to Jimmy’s side, and he really liked making faces at the crowd.
For Oomizuao, Mei pulls out his guitar and says that since it’s a 3man show, he thought he’d introduce a third guitar. He starts off the intro with just him singing and playing, then it kicks into higher energy when the rest of the band joins him. The energy kicks into high gear for Murder Red Chainsaw, before they close with 毒入りミルクはママ.の味. Kind of fits with the “kill me milky” theme. Total runtime of about 50 minutes.
So Ensoku is probably going to take a full hour here and I just *need* to have a proper sit. I take it to the “lobby” of Shibuya Rex where some other ladies are hanging out and I sit in the corner. It seems like they have chairs here, if someone really needed one. Plus, there’s a monitor…
Ho, ho, ho, delightfully devilish, Seymour.
But no, I’m too much of a coward to ask for a stool, so I chill on the floor. There’s a sign that says not to, but four other Japanese people are already doing it. Plus, it’s not like we’re disrupting a 2shot session or anything, which is what this space is normally used for.
Ensoku takes the stage. Their right hand guitarist joe is a furry, left hand Kuraoka Yuusuke is a shark, their bassist Mido is a furry. Buu is a cow furry. And their first song is Kurui Tokei no NEJImaki MECHINA, which is just them all furi dancing except the drummer, Sin, who doesn’t look like anything in particular from my vantage point.
They pick up their instruments afterwards, but launch into an MC for a few minutes.
A few songs into the set, and just looking at the furi is making me tired.
During the next MC, the vocalist gets the crowd to practice moving for the next song ギリギリキッドプレイキラーズ by getting one half of the crowd to move at a time. The guitarists also share the platform for a solo. Are the two halves of the crowd supposed to represent bunny vs shark?
The guys give the crowd a break for the next one, and into another MC right after. But the next two pick right up, the vocalist using a whistle to guide the crowd during はたらくのりもの王 . This continues for a couple more, finishing with 狂ったセカイと時計仕掛けの神様
For the encore, they called Jimmy and Kentaro on for Super McEnroe. Ensoku was the provider to the audience today.
They were Sugar Mama, Ensoku.
dodges trash
For now, I have a loooong day tomorrow, so my goal right now is finding a Chinese massage place to work my feet over for an hour. Wasn’t disappointed.
8 Likes
2026.05.10 Plastic Tree “A piece of Hakusei” @ Rensa (Sendai)
Early start today. I have something very specific I wanted to do today, and only one time really works. Everything hinges on one set of bus times. If I miss either connection, the plan is tits up.
So it’s why I need to catch a 7:44 Shinkansen to Shiroizao station. Not Sendai, not yet.
There’s super beautiful scenery out here. Shiroizao is a smaller city near the hills and mountains. There’s a circuit bus that takes us further into the forested hills to an Onsen town, an old timey village and what I’m here to see.
The bus costs 1000¥, and gets me there just a couple minutes past what I expected, but I’m here.
Zao Fox Village. It’s kinnnnd of like the various monkey parks around the country, where there are already foxes native to the area, but they’ve decided to turn it into a tourist attraction. I say kind of because there are some foxes that are kept just for interacting with tourists. Perhaps they were raised by humans and so wouldn’t be fit to live with the foxes in the main “open” area. Either way, there were pens that they didn’t want us taking pictures of. Probably concerned about social media backlash.
The ones in the main area are labelled as wild. Plenty of warnings around about not getting too close or attempting to pet them.
There’s a feeding area in the centre. It’s in a closed area where the foxes can’t get directly to you, but you can drop meat pellets on the ground. I tried to drop pellets directly into their mouths to avoid scuffles, as there were many that I saw.
It came time for the handling experience, which was an additional 1000¥. The line puts on smocks and sanitizes our hands. They say the best time to visit is in Winter when it looks the most picturesque. The second best time to visit is now.
Why?
A quick little clip on fox tail keychain later, I get back on the bus five minutes before take off back to the station. Due to me not being sure if I’ll catch my Shiroizao connection to Sendai, I opt to get off the bus one stop earlier at Shiroi station and take the more scenic Tohoku line into Sendai, arriving around 1:45 ish.
Still time for one last attraction. And a good idea is to take a look at the Mausoleum of the founder of the Sendai clan, Date Masamune as well as his son and grandson’s smaller less ornate mausoleums. Mind you, these are technically replicas, as the original buildings were razed during WWII.
It did, however, lead to a lot of artifacts being excavated. A separate museum is on sight with items like pieces of their samurai armour, swords, burial jars, and everyday Edo items.
The Mausoleums are in this thick forested area. I could also take a hike, but…
I finally pull up to Rensa. Or, at least where Google Maps says it is. Where???
Oh, inside. Seventh floor. Fuck, no elevator. About half way up, a staff member is checking people’s tickets to make sure nobody tries to sneak forward in line and gum up the stairwell.
Number 53 today. The best position I’ve ever had for a regular PT live.
Fourth row, in between Tadashi and Ryutaro. Definitely no real room to sit, so I guess I’m on my feet for almost 3 hours unless I piss off to the back after the main set.
Starting ten minutes late, as per tradition. We can only listen to so much Sneaker Pimps, guys.
Starting off strong immediately with Frasco, followed by Rakka, and then we get No rest for the wicked, Ryutaro on guitar until he puts it away and picks up the tambourine for Insomnia Blues.
Melt starts up, and I’m psyched. I love this one.
We get a few more Hakusei songs, plus Tefu Tefu. Azabana was kind of predictable, Sanbika a bit less so.
We’re only 12 songs in now, and we’re already getting Maimu? I would have thought that would have been an encore. It’s a crowd pleaser, as always. So is Thrashing Pumpkin Deathmarch, which comes right after. At this point, I’m worried that they’re running out of Hakusei bangers for the encore.
They break for a brief MC. Ryutaro asks the crowd if they like what he did with his hair today. They yell “kawaii!!!”. To prove a point, Akira points at Tadashi and the crowd yells it too, if not louder.
The set’s crowd pleasers come to a close with Ghost, one of the few Plastic Tree songs that brings out the head banging.
The rest of the main set is a lot slower, what with Slow, Meruhen from the newest album, and Hakusei closing out.
The encore call starts, and fortunately, I’m saved by needing to use the bathroom. I get a five minute reprieve before heading back in.
They head back out, and we get Harusaki Sentimental again. Perhaps a hint as to the next leg of the tour? Andrometamorphose is the second song, before they head out with not much talk.
Are they seriously making us do this again? I swear, if I didn’t like this band so much…Ken Ken comes out to give a small speech after the whole set of saying nothing. The others follow him eventually, including Ryutaro, beer in hand. It’s a Plastic Tree encore, though. So everyone has to get a new beer can and Kanpai.
Ryutaro takes off one of his shoes and starts rambling. Then says “Haku-shoe”, to chuckles from the audience. Something about a beer can, then he reads the bottom of the shoe “Made in China”.
We’re also getting Bambi again, and Ammonite already had its turn. So who knows what it means. We finish off with Replay off Utsusemi.
Personally, I’m hoping for two “mid” albums next time. I can’t afford to come out to anything sooner than Leg 5, maybe not even Leg 6.
I decide to let hunger win and I grab some McDs on my way to Sendai station. A non-reserved Shinkansen later, and I’ll be back in Tokyo well before final trains. One win after another. Guess foxes are good luck after all.
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2026.05.11 Gertena presents Agato’s Birthday Greatfull Days
After the hectic run around that was yesterday, it was time for a detox. And by that, I mean do a load of laundry, throw out the trash in my room, go shopping for meat, eggs and rice for brunch bowls, make a brunch bowl, and help my new housemate out with PayPal, because his bank card stopped working a couple days ago and he needs cash for places that don’t accept credit card.
So I’m his Yen lady until he can get in touch with his bank and get his card working again. That, and getting some afternoon zzzzz.
Number 32 today. It gets me third row, which originally makes me think that I’m in the clear for spot trades, but someone approaches me for Rengeki. You know what? Sure, have it for Rengeki. I double check Twitter, and they are on third. The floor is hard concrete, but I think spot trade requests have stopped, so I grab a seat for the last ten minutes before curtain. It may have been a slow day, but I can’t get cocky.
First is U.D.M, a new project of Raika, (former drummer of Ninth in Pluto), Guitarist Lin of Affective Synergy/Lyncs/Forbidden, and vocalist Isara and guitarist Asato, formerly from Amnesia. The bassist is a new face, Rabi.
This is actually their second ever performance, playing an introductory one man at the end of April. You could tell that the Saizen didn’t know what to do with themselves half the time. Like with Rotten Apple, there were a lot of “Should we? Shouldn’t we?” Moments where fans hesitated as to whether they should bow, headbang, or do something with their arms.
But it was only a hiccup, as musically, the band knows what they’re doing at least. Isara switching up between growls, inhale screams, and melodic vocals easily. Asato and Rabi contributed background growls, and the music was fairly competent metalcore. Could the music plug the gap left by Nazare, or dare I say, Dimlim? Possibly.
Definitely a band to watch out for.
Next is Tsukishigure ni Hanataba Wo, featuring Sana, the former vocalist of Ms Eva, Guitarist Tatsuya of former Alvarez and Yarenai and Bassist Ryuiji of Kyokuto Romance and TeaR. It looks like they are joined today by legendary communal VK drummer, Loa, who has provided support to so many VK bands that it’s difficult to count.
Tatsuya got a few good solo opportunities. At some point, the sound was so loud and distorted that my ears started plugging themselves as a defence. We had a full solid three rows of participating though, which is more than I can say for the past couple times I saw Ms Eva. Good to see Sana doing decently with his new band.
The lady for Rengeki and I trade off, and I retreat to fifth row. I’ve always been interested in checking them out, but never quite got the chance. Most of their social media marketing is their guitarist Nimo flexing his muscles in and out of makeup as a pro body builder in between shows.
Vocalist Kazumi lets out some pretty impressive inhale screams throughout the set. For the second last song, Pump Up, the audience is doing some exercise furi, Nimo taking the mic during the breakdown to instruct in some squats. This is definitely the most engaged the audience has been so far.
As they’re signing off, Kazumi is talking about their upcoming lives as Nimo gives us a flex and a few pec flutters, his vest discarded.
Dokubari follows up, now down a bassist for tonight, Kabane being away.
I believe this is also my first time seeing their new support drummer, Nii.
The first couple of songs kind of blend together for me. A lot of jumping back and forth, a lot of their signature furi move of clapping with the sides of your hands, nails facing the stage.
They take a brief MC before the last two, Inori’s face half melting from the heat of the lamps. “It’s hot, right? But I think we’re still having fun?” He also talks about Agato from Gertena being one of his senpais. For the second last song, Okiku lays down while playing on the right platform.
They end off with Freak Show, only Inori leaving the stage at the end as Nii mimes pulling down the curtain.
Gertena is closing off the night, as is tradition with birthday shows.
A couple of songs in, a video plays from the other members wishing Agato a happy birthday. We all squat down for the video, and stand back up for the usual birthday song and cake/present. Not sure what it was. They decide to save cake for later.
After a couple more, the set ends off with Countdown to Zero, Agato pumping up the crowd in a combination of Japanese and English, and Identity, where they get a chorus of woah-ohs from the crowd, Agato pointing to and nodding at me near the end.
I head back towards my share house, planning for tomorrow’s excursion. I complete my detox day with a nice bowl of Hakata style Ramen with extra pork.
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A Shizuoka Getaway
I wake up after a good rest, not 100% knowing how today is going to go. Am I going to make my connections properly?
I ask, because there’s kind of a monkey on my back. It’s the JR Pass.
Yeah, it kind of hasn’t been working properly for the last week. Which usually results in me scrambling to the nearest office to get a ticket to where I need. Always trying to explain via translation that the pass has an error and won’t work at gates, or at the ticket purchase machines.
Up until now, all staff have just looked at the pass, seen that it is still valid, and waved me through without fixing the actual issue. The two ticket agents that I bought tickets for…also just printed the reserved ticket without fixing the underlying issue.
I know what caused it, too. At a station where I had to transfer between Metro and JR, I thought "hey, why don’t I save the 400¥ and scan my IC card first, to pay for the Metro, then insert my JR Pass to indicate that I’m using that for the JR route?
Bad idea, in hindsight.
When I got to the next station, they fixed the IC card issue no problem, but the JR pass, they just…waved it on through.
And it’s been buggered ever since.
So I thought, "oh, I’m going to Tokyo Station today, where I picked up the pass in the first place. Perfect, they could fix it. Maybe issue me a replacement just as long as I have my original.
Closed until 8:30. Balls. Meaning, I’m out of luck for any kind of reserved seat to Shizuoka for now.
Emphasis on Reserved seat. My JR pass still entitles me to free passage on Hikari trains in the non-reserved section.
And because Tokyo Station is the beginning of the line, finding a non-reserved seat is relatively easy.
Just under an hour later, I arrive in Shizuoka with about 30 minutes to wait until the next bus. Guess I can grab some Doutor for breakfast.
The bus platform isn’t clearly labelled on Google Maps, so based on a combination of asking staff and reading the bus route map, I get to stop 11 where there’s already a decent lineup. Thankfully, I’m able to save my feet and get a seat.
I’m headed to the Nohondaira Ropeway, one of the possible routes to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, burial site of Tokugawa Ieyasu (the first Tokugawa Shogun, who died in 1616).
Afterwards, I head into the Tokugawa museum. There are no pictures allowed, but there were a few things of note. Several Tokugawa family swords, Samurai armour, chests, household items, several paintings, including things drawn and written by Shogun Ieyasu himself.
Now, where to go next? I’m allowed to go back over the Ropeway, but it’s a long ways back to civilization.
Orrr, there’s a steep stone staircase leading to the road on the other side. Some beautiful scenery photos later, and I’m off.
I’m greeted by a couple high schoolers who give me a “Nihongo jouzu” for being able to say “Hai, Konnichiwa” back to them. Damn, these stairs are going on forever. I pity the fool who has to climb up these steps. Maybe they should be pitying me, because someone could really break their neck with a wrong step.
So how long will it take to get to the next stop?
…Fuck it, I’ll Uber.
My ride was pretty pleasant. He liked making small talk and knew a bit of English. He asked if I had just finished with the shrine, and I told him that I had, then on to the Miho no Matsubara and then..well, that’s for later. He said that Matsubara is very popular for Mt Fuji views, but there was cloud coverage today. He showed me a photo on his phone of what Mt Fuji is supposed to look like on a totally clear day.
(Not this)
Miho no Matsubara is not only for Mt Fuji though. It’s home to a lovely pine tree path, a beach with ocean access, a lighthouse and an info centre with more background on a popular folk legend that was turned into a Noh play, Hagoromo.
The info centre also had a short video pointing out that due to religious significance, this particular forest/beach is often depicted in the distance when Mt Fuji is drawn.
After I went over to the shore to put my hand in the ocean, I even find a new bird. A black eared kite that was hovering over an elderly couple’s beach picnic.
But there’s only so much I can see here. I still have…gee, over 4.5 hrs left. That leaves one other major attraction, I get on a bus that leads me to one of the main rail lines in Shizuoka. Going from one end of the line to the other, gets me to Sumpu Castle Park.
The retirement castle site of the Tokugawa Ieyasu, until his death in 1616, it eventually burned down in 1635. Like most castles in Japan, this is a post WWII reconstruction. However, there are some artifacts located inside the recreated building.
The inside of the park is…relaxing. There’s a tree grove, a statue of Ieyasu, moats. The inside is free, and the museum portion cost 200¥, can’t complain. It was more expensive getting here.
And back I need to go, in fact. It’s almost time for…
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Hey, that ain’t a bad idea on principle I guess…
Ooouch that’s no good…
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Gotta say, aside from the reports,I love your sightseeing photos. And the ones with the piggies and the foxes were sooo cute.
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You make me miss japan so much 
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