~27:10
Ayu: Pass them to the back!

~1:20:18
Narrator: Dress rehearsal two months before the start of the NEXT LEVEL arena tour. This tour will be at the next level, just like the title. From the music, stage appearance, and costumes, there were many new challenges. Rehearsals were held for a successful tour of a total of 11 places, 35 shows, which spanned 7 months. In August the summer music festival, a-nation, was held on an outdoor stage with an ambitious performance planned for the audience to enjoy the summer night together. November began the rehearsals for Countdown Live ~future classics~, planning the costumes, band and dancer costumes, props, and stage design. Ayu was the one who decided things in order to create the best possible show to enter 2010. Hand in hand, let’s move forward together with all our power.
(With lots of love, Ayu)

~1:22:11
Ayu: Now let’s start counting from 15. 15….1! Happy new year! This year please have lots of advice.

~6:10
Ayu: How’s everyone? Are you energized? Having fun? Having fun? Are we happy? Thanks everyone for coming here. First, everyone, happy new year. Please have lots and lots of advice this year. Now, I want to start the first MC of 2010. Please welcome these two to the stage: ZIN, Subaru, come on!
ZIN: Happy new year. I am dancer ZIN. Please have lots of advice.
Subaru: Happy new year. I am dancer Subaru. Please have lots of advice. Now, let’s begin.
Ayu: Yes.
Subaru: Because it’s the new year, so let’s ask everyone their new year resolutions.
ZIN: Alright.
Subaru: What do you hope 2010 will bring? What do you want to do? Let’s ask everyone. First, ZIN will start.
ZIN: 2010… Thanks everyone. Thanks everyone.
Ayu: You don’t have to stop like this. Just start talking.
ZIN: I wanted to hear a bit more. In 2010, I hope that I will become a man for the sake of women, that way I can have 1000 more Yen than Shu-ya. It’s like that.
Ayu: Let’s ask the rest of the members about that. Okay. Let’s hear the adult’s resolutions.
Enrique: I’ve been touring with Ayu for 10 years now, right? There is lots and lots of music. Every time a tour ends, I will randomly throw the music somewhere, but sometimes I will need to perform it again after a while, right? So, for this year’s tour, I will try to find the old music, but I don’t know where they are. So, this year’s goal is to sort it out.
Ayu: Sort out the music. So it’s like that.
Enrique: That way when Ayu says she wants to sing this song, I will be able to take it out. I want to become this kind of man.
Ayu: Okay.
ZIN: I also believe you can explain something with the music.
Ayu: So, it’s to sort out the music. Okay. Princess, please go.
Princess: Happy new year.
ZIN & Ayu: Cute.
Princess: Me? Every time it seems that I talk about desserts and such, right?
Ayu: Right. It seems it’s always related to food.
Princess: It’s really like that. In the past, it was to eat different types of food at different places, so in the future I would like to stretch or exercise more in order to lose the weight.
Ayu: So however much you eat is how much you’ll exercise. This has nothing to do with being in the chorus.
Subaru: Correct. There’s no connection to the music.
Ayu: Princess’s new year resolution is to eat and exercise the same amount.
Princess: How much I eat is how much I’ll exercise. It’s like that.
Ayu: Next, let’s have Eguchi talk.
Eguchi: Happy new year. I hope this year will be a grateful year. Of course, I’m really thankful deep in my heart right now. This year I want to become someone who can cherish all these feelings of thanks, to hold no grudges towards people or things.
Ayu: How handsome.
Eguchi: Of course, I’m very thankful for the drums, the earth, the universe, everything.
Ayu: The list grows.
Eguchi: I feel that everything needs love and I’m thankful for that. That person over there causes trouble, though. I hope it can be a grateful year.
ZIN: That’s being grateful?
Ayu: Eguchi is very grateful towards Tomonari.
Eguchi: Right, right. I can’t be angry. I was wrong. I’m grateful towards you, Tomonari. I hope next year at this time, I can still be here with everyone in good health. I will do my best.
Ayu: Very nice. Really an adult’s wish. Next is keyboardist Tomonari.
Tomonari: Actually, next much this year, just that I will also do my best and word hard at the keyboard.
Ayu: I want to tell everybody that Tomanari isn’t very enthusatic or lacking manners. It’s not like that. This is just his character. So, when he just said he’d try his best, Tomanari says it like, “Okay, let’s do our best.” Although, hearing it he sounds really relaxed. That’s just Tomanari’s character. It’s just how it is.
Tomonari: Thanks.
Ayu: Please keep doing your best in Tomonari style. Please have lots of advice. Next is Yusuke.
Yusuke: For a really long time, I haven’t been able to sort out my cars, so I want to sort them out.
Ayu: A small resolution.
ZIN: It’s like you could finish it all tomorrow.
Ayu: Right. You can finish tomorrow.
Subaru: You didn’t wash them at all last year?
Ayu: Next up is Peco.
Subaru: Yes
Ayu: Please
Peco: I hope I can become carefree and happy mentally. That is my goal. It’s like being happy for the moment. I hope next year even more chances will come.
Ayu: Really beautiful.
Subaru: Really beautiful resolution.
Ayu: Thanks. Next let’s chat with Yoshio.
ZIN: Cute, cute.
Subaru: Not enough. Again, again.
Yo-chan: Happy new year. As a musician, I suddenly changed.
Ayu: Suddenly, your image changed a lot.
Yo-chan: We’re saying our resolutions, right?
Ayu: Really smart, really smart. Yo-chan, can do anything.
Yo-chan: The group members didn’t all say something related to music.
Ayu: Right, even though they’re musicians.
Yo-chan: So, I should summarize a bit.
Ayu: Is this related to the music in anyway?
Yo-chan: I have a room in my house.
Ayu: Yes.
Yo-chan: There are about 8 mats, but there isn’t enough space to move around. All you see is lots of stuff.
Ayu: There are 7 mats covered?
Yo-chan: Clothes, T-shirts, and guitar.
Ayu: Yo-chan, you said clothes and T-shirts, right? Right now I’m a little confused.
Yo-chan: Hamasaki-san.
Ayu: Yes.
Yo-chan: So there are clothes with buttons.
Ayu: It’s like that. Adults have these types of things.
Yo-chan: Right, right.
Ayu: Clothes and T-shirts.
Yo-chan: Clothes with buttons. In my case, there are lots of T-shirts with Ayumi Hamasaki written on them, the back too. This year, there’s just a huge print of Ayu’s face. I really don’t know how it’s good to have such a huge Ayu in my room. So, in short, I really want to sort out the room. The goal is to have at least 2 clear mats.
ZIN: You can’t empty the whole thing. This year just clear out 2 mats.
Yo-chan: The goal is to separate T-shirts and clothes from 2 mats so I can have some floor space. There’s also another goal.
Ayu: Yes
Yo-chan: I want to see the wall.
ZIN: You can’t see the wall?
Yo-chan: I haven’t seen the wall in about 3-4 years.
Ayu: It just keeps piling.
Yo-chan: Clothes, guitar case, CDs, T-shirts and such.
Ayu: That’s how it is. So, that’s Yo-chan’s resolution.
Yo-chan: I would like to see the wall.
Ayu: Please work hard on the mat area.
Yo-chan: Right. Basically, clean the mat area.
Ayu: Thanks. Now Subaru.
Subaru: Last year I was assigned to do the MC. Originally, I’m not good at or use to talking in front of people. So, I hope I can be able to become a man who can really face everyone.
ZIN & Ayu: Very nice.
Subaru: Next is Ayu.
Ayu: I hope for 2010 that we can all be ourselves and can move forward together.
Subaru: Really great.
ZIN: A really perfect ending.
Ayu: Thanks.
Subaru: This year’s resolutions are done. Why is there another segment? Because ZIN has something he wants to do.
ZIN: Right. I definitely want to do this. (Tatatatata…) This time we want to do a dance with everybody, so I prepared a new dance. Do you want to learn? Thanks. Today let’s teach everyone the new dance. Now, let’s start. First take both hands…
Audience: Should we stand?
Subaru: Right, everyone please stand.
Ayu: Ah, right, right. Both hands raise up looks like this.
ZIN: Sorry that everyone was sitting. That was the first mistake of the year.
Ayu: Really.
ZIN: Everyone please stand up. Both hands… Let’s try that again. Both hands raise up.
Subaru: Not like this.
ZIN: Then make a fist and dot downwards. Right. At the end it’s like ZIN ZIN. First let’s make sure it’s clear. Both hands raise up, two shakes down, again, ZIN ZIN, again, do it together again, ZIN ZIN. Take the left hand forward and the right hand placed over your chest. Then right hand forward and left hand over your chest. Again. Left, right, left, right. Not clear? Once again. Ayu, no problems?
Ayu: Almost no problems.
ZIN: Both hands raise up. ZIN ZIN, 2nd time, ZIN ZIN, 3rd time, ZIN ZIN, left, right, left, right, repeat twice more. After 2 times, left hand raise up next along with the right. Then make a fist and shake 4 times. Dong dong ZIN ZIN, the first 2 are “dong dong” and the final 3 are “ZIN ZIN,” dong dong ZIN ZIN, that was better, left, right, dong dong ZIN ZIN. Very strong. Next clasp both hands together like this, raise them up. Everyone gets it, this is ZIN. The final ZIN. Right now everyone knows the movemtns. Let’s all try it to see. Slowly. 1 2 3 4
Ayu: Both hands raise up, two shakes down
ZIN: 2nd time
Ayu: Again
ZIN: 3rd time
Ayu: Left hand in front
ZIN: Left, right, left, right, again raise up, again, ZIN ZIN, 2nd time
Ayu: Again
ZIN: 3rd time
Ayu: Left hand in front
ZIN: Left, right, left, right.
Ayu: Raise the right hand, left hand
ZIN: Open both hands, clasp, raise up
Ayu: Great work
Subaru: Beautifully done.
Ayu: Really beautiful. Everyone did well. Are you satisfied?
ZIN: Very much.
Ayu: That’s Teacher ZIN. Thanks.
ZIN: Please do this well.
Subaru: It seems this year will pass happily. The MC has come to an end.
Ayu: What?
Subaru: What did you say something?
Ayu: Sorry, I disrupted. Please end.
Subaru: Let’s pretend it never happened.
Ayu: Just now we will edit it out.
Subaru: Let’s give the editor a good frame. Like this: It seems this year will pass happily. The MC has come to an end.
Ayu: Let’s make some noise for ZIN and Subaru.
Subaru & ZIN: Thanks. Thanks everyone.
Ayu: Let’s continue with the encore. Band, are you ready? Dancers, ready? Staff, ready? Audience, ready? Okay. Yoyogi, ready?

~30:21
Ayu: Yoyogi, lots of power! Now, let’s introduce the band members.

~35:45
Ayu: Now let’s introduce the dancers. Please make some noise for them.

~36:42
Ayu: Thanks to all the staff. Thank you to the whole audience here today and those in front of the TV who keep cheering me on. I am singer, Ayu.

~41:28
Ayu: Finally, really thanks everybody. Thank you.

~43:01
Ayu: Everyone’s support and blessing have given us a strong start to the new year. Really thank you very much. In the end, I hope that 2010 will be just like it is now, seeing the same scenery and moving together. Today is the last day of 2009 and the first day of 2010. Thank you very much!

Credits:
~45:08
Ayu: It’s like a feeling that the hands are leading. Then we’ll go around.

~45:36
Ayu: I hope everyone from the start to the finish can lift up their head higher. Nobody should get stuck.

~46:07
Maro(?): Very dangerous, very dangerous.

~46:29
Ayu: Isn’t it obvious? Have a look.

~46:49
Ayu: Is this okay?
Staff: It should be stopped here or it’ll fall.

~46:58
Aki(?): My hand is big.

~47:40
Ayu: He’s disliked. Everyone runs away.

~48:19
Ayu: Are you tense? Wait, wait.

~48:48
Ayu: Happy new year, everyone!

~49:09
Go-mi: It seems to pass like this, but… Sorry.
Ayu: Really like an old lady.

~49:35
Shingo: Work hard and please have lots of advice this year. Cheers!

2009.11.11
(Stage Planning Meeting)
Ayu & Staff: Please look after me.
Ayu: At this spot after the sound happens, then everyone should pop up one by one. When I’m singing here, the movement should be here. During the interlude, I want everyone to be on this side. Basically, I want it to be completely different. This is the new year concert, so it should only have this type of dance.

2009.12.23
(Rehersal)
~2:07
Ayu: Although we changed the end position, I would like a little backwards tilt at the end. When I’m singing this it hasn’t ended yet.
(To the very end rehearsals and planning how to bridge the segments together are checked thoroughly)
(Acting like a real show, all parts are carefully checked in order to make the stage perfect)

~2:38
Ayu: It’s like the people at the edge have a great distance.

~2:41
Ayu: Can I try it first?
ZIN: No problem. It’s this move here.

2009.12.31
(12.30-31 “Year End Surprise,” Occupied Shibuya~ Harajuku)
(The biggest challenge was for all the shops to do this and give the fans an even more excited feeling going towards the arena)
(Keep pushing on till the very end of rehearsals)
Ayu: From this side, let’s do this part like… Stop for a sec to check the rhythm of this move.

~3:45
Ayu: This side is clearly a bit intense…

~4:44
Staff: The rehearsal for the whole show has ended. For the official show, please everyone take care.
Ayu: Please take care.

( There are 7 hours left for 2009)
Ayu: Please take care

(The preparation for the Red/White festival has begun)
(In the middle of the Red/White festival)
Fans: This is really cute. Really cute. It’s like a breeze feeling. So cute. I want to be there. I can almost feel like I’m there.

Staff: Really nervous.
Ayu: Begin. Diva, diva, diva.

~6:39
Staff: Please prepare.
(Although they couldn’t buy tickets, fans have already started to gather and all get together to welcome the new year)
Staff: Ayu, go! Please open.
Ayu: 15….3 2 1. Happy new year! Please have lots of advice this year.

Fans: Although we couldn’t get in, it was a very strong concert.
We ended 2009 with Ayu, and we started 2010 with Ayu. I hope it’ll be a strong year.
Ayu, happy new year.
Thanks, Ayu. I’m a mom. Thank you!
This year I’m also really intense towards Ayu.
Happy new year. I love you Ayu.

~9:36
Ayu: Please have lots of advice this year too.

~10:18
Ayu: Good work. Thanks everyone. This year please take care.

After party
Staff: Happy new year. Please take care this year. Let’s ask the music director to say a few words.
Shingo: Everyone good work. This year we’ve scheduled a tour. Please everyone pay attention to your health. Let’s once again build up our strength to a great concert. Everyone work hard.
Ayu: During the concert I was thinking once it stopped I would be able to draw.
(Please have lots of advice in 2010!)