Arena Tour 2005 Nagoya 13/2 Report

[SiGma3]

Hi, I realise this is kind of a late report, but I thought I'd share my experience with you guys. I stumbled across this forum late last year and found this to be the place for Ayu discussions and info, even though I have never posted!

Anyway I was reading a couple Arena Tour 2005 reports by some others and especially with the DVD to be released soon, I thought what the heck, why not share!! To tell you the truth, after the Ayu concert I just couldn't wait to tell others how good it was!

It was my first LIVE Ayu concert ever- I've watched a lot of her past ones and enjoyed the 'A Museum Tour' the most probably. But now, Arena Tour 2005 My Story has to be my favourite (maybe 'cuz it's live)!

I was taking leave off work for a month to visit my relatives over in Malaysia and Japan. I only had 9 days in Japan, but managed to fit the concert into the schedule. Prior to arriving in Japan from home (New Zealand) I was listening to Ayu music constantly (who wouldn't!) and even practising the para para dance when I got the chance - no jokes! I was getting worked up!

It was a Sunday and we (my wife and I) were arriving at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall by train. We saw Ayu fans packed in the train anxiously waiting to get off! Once we got onto the platform there was a bridge to cross which led to the Rainbow Hall. I didn't actually think the place would be that close to the train stop, but there it was, all the Ayu fans gathered waiting to get inside! They had the tents up selling all sorts of Ayu merchandise- I only managed to get a small shot of it (attached). I couldn't believe how many Ayu-wannabes there were- I was certain I was seeing Ayu clones!

At last we entered the concert hall and saw the My Story pink theme across the stage with Wonderland playing in loop (without the scary sounds). Then the moment everyone was waiting for (Wonderland coming to a close), the lights went out and Kaleidoscope led the intro. It was an awesome intro that just felt good- my heart was thumping! Ayu then appeared on stage and everyone was cheering/yelling "Ayu"!! It was a dream come true, I couldn't believe I was there!

Ayu performed the songs as mentioned by others already (and according to the DVD listing). Someone mentioned that they got to see Step You, but we got Trauma instead, which was good anyway! I would have liked to have seen Step You, but the energy in Trauma was awesome!

About You - just like in the PV where Ayu and others were trapped inside. On stage there were chains hanging off the top and then it all came crashing down later. It was cool

My Name's Women - seeing Ayu doing some whip action (like in the PV) was just too HOT!!

Carols - this was really beautiful. As mentioned in an earlier post, the centre , circular part of the stage elevated with Ayu singing. A wall of lights surrounded her and it was snowing. It was magical!

Humming 7/4 - Ayu taught everyone to do "Everybody go, everybody jump!" That was good fun too!

Everything from start to finish was just sooo good The performances, videos, lighting, colour and everything- Evolution rocked too! If you ever get a chance to go to one of Ayu's concerts, GO!! Even if it's just once, it's worth it- I still dream about it!

I thought everything was over by the time we headed off to the train station, back to central Nagoya station (3 stops away). We bought tickets (at Nagoya station) for the shinkansen (bullet train) bound for Tokyo and stood at the platform waiting for it to arrive.

All of a sudden there was a group of people creating quite a commotion as they were coming up the stairs. I thought what the hell and ignored the crowd that went passed us. I didn't pay much attention, but my wife then shouted out to me, "Ayu, it's Ayu!". Believe it or not, just steps away stood Ayumi Hamasaki!!! I was in shock and literally froze when I got a glimpse of her! All the fans were screaming out and the many bodyguards were surrounding Ayu, shoving people away! One of the bodyguards yelled out saying we should be more orderly and to stand behind the yellow line on the platform- everyone stood still and looked down with guilt it was hilarious! Smack me in the head, but I didn't manage to get a photo of Ayu! I was in a state of shock not expecting to see Ayu (so close too!) that by the time the excitement was over, she had boarded the 'Nozomi' train bound for Tokyo. We boarded the next train, 'Hikari', so was not on the same one as Ayu.

There's another reason to go to the concert, you might just see Ayu! Thanks for reading and sorry if the post was majorly long!