Well before I get started, I’m sure there are people here who don’t know who Nana Mizuki is. Nana Mizuki is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Her summer tour this year is called Live Flight and the concert I went to was in Yokohama Stadium.
I want to apologize in advance if my writing is all over the place. I tried to finish this as fast as I could while it was still fresh in my memories.
Before I get started on the concert, I’ll share how I first got into Nana Mizuki. I first heard about Nana Mizuki from a KawaiiRice blog on tl in 2010. Someone posted a performance of one of her songs, Eternal Blaze. http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/132174-mizuki-nana#7 I just realized now that it was the 7th post lol (Nana in Japanese means seven). The link doesn’t work now because her performances and songs usually get taken down really quickly but now that she has an official youtube channel I’ll link to another performance of Eternal Blaze.
When I first watched it, it looked really cool seeing all those glow sticks moving in unison and thought how nice it would be to be in a concert like that. I also thought the song was really good and looped it a lot afterwards. I tried to find more songs but other things that preoccupied my interests came up and that was the end of that.
Then about 2 years later KazeHydra wrote a Nana blog. It was the blog entry that really got me started on Nana. I thought it was really honest and sincere about his admiration for her. Afterwards I started listening to more of her songs and started watching the Nanoha series, which is her most popular show that she was in. Around the same time I joined Courage. Courage is tladt's drtl team. KazeHydra was on the team and I got to know him better. Last summer, Kaze went to his first Nana live. I really enjoyed reading his experience and it just made me want to go to one even more. After I graduated from college, I went back home to Korea for grad school. Early this year KazeHydra asked me if I could make it to the last live for her summer tour on August 3rd. Without even thinking I immediately said yes.
August 2nd
I got on my flight from Seoul to Tokyo. It was about an hour in a half flight. From the airport I took the subway to the stop I was supposed to meet Kaze. On the way there was some trouble with the subway. I don’t know the exact details but on the signs it said a passenger was injured so the subway was frozen. It didn’t move for like over 20 minutes and I was getting worried because I only knew one build order to get to the stop and Kaze was in a meeting. Thankfully he got on later and showed me an alternative route.
We met at the station and went back to his room so he could drop off his laptop. After that we were ready to go get tickets for the sequel of Rurouni Kenshin. On the way back, we got Nana Special Curry for lunch. Nana Special Curry is a special dish created by Nana herself from her favorite curry restaurant. It was take-out only so we brought it back to Kaze’s place. It was actually the best curry I ever had. I guess it’s isn’t saying much because the only curry I had so far was like instant curry. I also didn’t have anything since early in the morning so I was starving. It was so good. Now with this I am ready for the concert tomorrow.
Mmm curry
After we ate lunch, we chilled around until the movie, watching Live Union, one of her past lives. Before the movie, I found out it was going to be a trilogy but the third one was going to be like one month in a half after the second one. We were wondering what the third movie was going to be about. I was actually hoping for Jinchu arc because it wasn’t in the original anime series. The movie was pretty long like 2 hours and 30 minute. I actually barely know any Japanese but I could actually follow mostly what was going on because I read and watched both the manga and anime. The movie tried to follow the source pretty accurately which was why I wondering how they were actually going to end the movie. The movie ended in the middle with a cliffhanger so the third movie will finish the story. After the movie, we got some burritos which was also really good. It was awhile since we had lunch so I was pretty hungry. When we got back from the movie and dinner, I just like passed out. I couldn’t sleep that well the night before because I was so excited and we also had to walk around a lot.
August 3rd
We both woke up pretty late the next day. Before the concert we got ramen for brunch. I wish I brought my phone with me so I could have taken pictures but it was sooo good. I had Japanese style ramen before in Korea and it was nothing like authentic Japanese ramen. Everything from the noodles and broth was different. It’s really hot and humid in Tokyo so I was sweating like crazy while eating but I honestly thought it added more to the taste. After we went back to his place and watched some more Union before the concert started.
Nana Live Checklist:
water bottles, glow sticks, ticket
Note: The most important thing to a Nana live is not actually your ticket or glow sticks. It is water. If you don't bring at least 3 water bottles you will die of dehydration.
The staple to any Nana live
Can’t forget my boarding pass for the flight
When we got on the subway, we noticed that there were several people with Nana merchandise on. After we got off our stop, we were surrounded by other people going to the concert in Nana gear. We just needed to follow the crowd to get to the stadium.
Sorry random guy that got his picture taken
Kaze was about to buy goods but saw the line for it and decided against it. There were a lot of people outside. Noticed a few people who were wearing old Nana costumes too.
Our spot was on 21 in the stands.
Picture of the stage. The propellers were actually moving during the concert ^^
Afterwards we went into the stadium to find our seats. The stage was shaped as a T and in the field. We didn’t get spots in the arena but in the stands which was still pretty close. [Side note: I’m actually listening to the whole set list while writing to help jog my memory. I don't really remember when she said what during the talks so I decided to not include those.] After we were waiting I heard the beginning of …
01 – Virgin Code
I don’t have a link to the song but if you heard the song before at 0:25 there is this build up and everyone in the crowd is raising their glowstick in union to it which was so epic. Like I listened to the studio version and hearing it live made the intro sound so much more epic. Then Nana appears in a plane in the air. The moment I was waiting for had started. Since it was still light you couldn’t really see the glowsticks yet but since I was in the stand I could see everyone raising their arms. Nana was wearing googles over her head which looked really cute. I don’t remember much afterwards because I was so distracted watching the audience.
02 – Next Arcadia
I was actually looking forward to this song before. In Live Union she goes around the arena in a ship while singing it which looked really cool. It wasn’t actually as good as I expected. It was still light and you couldn’t see any of the lights and also there are jumping parts in the song which I couldn’t really do because I had no room to.
03 – Kakumei Dualism (革命デュアリズム)
This is actually a song that Nana collaborated with T.M Revolution. I actually didn’t like the song too much before but hearing it live changed my mind. For T.M’s part the audience sang it so it was like a duet with Nana. I actually couldn’t hear his track so I thought it was removed. Kaze told me later that they actually played his parts, it’s just that the audience was so loud that you couldn’t really hear it. I don’t know the lyrics so I couldn’t sing it but it sounded really awesome hearing the audience.
04 – Million Ways = One Destination
This was actually one of the higher ranked songs for me in her latest album. Surprisingly I actually don’t remember much about this. I think you noticed a common theme. Live versions of her songs are totally different than the studio version.
05 – Don’t be long
Ah this song. Before I get into the song, I forgot to mention that the color of glowsticks change depending on the song. Most of her songs are blue, but there are a few that are orange (Eternal Blaze and Power Gate are the most well-known) and other colors like red and pink. So when the song starts fans change the colors of their glowsticks. For all of her past lives for Live Flight so far Eternal Blaze has been the 5th song. When I first found out about this I was actually really disappointed because I think Eternal Blaze really shines when it’s dark when you can see the sea of orange glowsticks moving in unison and also the flames that burst out from the stage. When I first heard the first few notes for the next song it didn’t sound like Eternal Blaze but I was too busy switching the colors for the glowstick I borrowed from Kaze. I actually skipped over orange and had to go through all the colors again because you couldn’t go back. Also it was still really light so I couldn’t really tell the difference between red and orange. Then I realized wait this isn’t Eternal Blaze it’s Don’t be long. I was really happy when I realized this because it meant there is a chance Eternal Blaze will be pushed back to when it’s darker. I think everyone else was thrown off by this while they were switching colors too.
Cherry Boys Introduction
Cherry Boys is the band that performs with Nana. They were introducing the members of the band one by one. I remember Kaze saying that he sits at this time to rest. I felt a bit bad sitting down but I realized later how tiring it is and am glad I did. Also there were a lot of people who kept on standing up and cheered for them.
06 – Fun Fun★People
I think Nana changed her outfit from here. This was a really fun song. There are parts where Nana goes “Oh yea” and “Oh no” which the audience copies after each. The thing is that Nana doesn’t say it like in the studio recording, but in a more exaggerated way especially “Oh no”. I thought it was really funny.
07 – Dramatic Love (ドラマティックラブ )
I actually don’t remember much from this song. Again like I said before I was really distracted for most of the concert just watching the audience. I think the glowstick color for this song was pink. I think it was from this song where I noticed Kaze alternating between his right and left hand with his glowstick and followed him. My right arm was starting to hurt. For the rest of the concert I think I used my right only for the songs I was looking forward to and special songs.
08 – Egao no Yukue (笑顔の行方)
This actually isn’t a Nana song but a cover song. It normally would have been a song I wouldn’t remember much from but there were these big balls bouncing around the arena with the song. It created a really nice atmosphere with the balls synced with the song. At some point when the balls burst, I noticed that they had little balloons in them which just spread around. Some of the people grabbed the balloons and started using them like glowsticks. I thought it was pretty cool because you could see the motions better than the sticks because it was still light outside.
09 – Desire –Jounetsu (Desire -情熱)
Ah this song. This song actually wasn’t chosen before. Nana rolled a big dice which had 5 songs on each side and a star on the other. If it lands on a star a member from Cherry Boys can choose the song. Nana threw the dice and it landed on a star. They asked Aniki one of the guitarist to choose the song. I don’t remember who it was before maybe Nana who said that they haven’t done Desire-Jounetsu a lot before throwing the dice. When Aniki was put on the spotlight to choose the song, he shyly said Desire-Jounetsu. This was actually one of the songs I didn’t know before checking the past set lists for Live Flight. A lot of the songs on the dice were more unknown songs of her, done usually as character songs for animes. Of the list Desire –Jounetsu was one of them that I knew most because it has this really distinct guitar intro and part that goes “Get up, get up, get up, get up burning love”.
10 – Soradokei (空時計)
This was also one of the songs I was hoping to be performed. Seeing the past concerts she alternated Soradokei and Hikari. I didn’t mind hearing one or the other. They’re both one of Nana’s slower songs. Most Nana songs are really energetic and upbeat but I also have a soft spot for her slower songs and ballads. Soradokei is a really peaceful song.
11 – Fate
Ah Fate. Fate is one of the main characters in Nanoha that is her most popular role. The song was also track 7 on her album. She sang this while sitting on the stairs on the stage. Fate is a ballad, which Soradokei set the transition for. Fate is a very beautiful song.
Team Yoda Introduction
Team Yoda is Nana’s dance team. Like with Cherry Boys each member was introduced and I also sat down for this one.
12 – Guilty
It’s now time for Nana’s dance song. Nana and Team Yoda danced at the center end of the T stage. It was also when it was dark enough that you can see the glow sticks. Think the color was red for this song. Must have been fun for the people in the arena.
13 – Still in the Groove
This was also one of the songs I didn’t know before looking at the past set lists. I recognized the melody when it came out but I just couldn’t connect it with its name. Don’t remember much from this song.
14 – Undercover
Same as above :<
15 – Antique Nachtmusik (アンティークナハトムジーク)
I think this was the song where Nana wore like a hooded outfit. Besides that don’t remember anything to note.
Special Video (Aoi Yuki and Yoiko Arino)
I don’t know who they are but I think Aoi Yuki is a voice actress who worked with Nana.
It was a video with Nana riding a plane talking to the two and after some time warp thing the plane crashes. It was really long so I was wondering if it was because they were setting up for something…
16 – Vitalization –Aufwachen Form-
Vitalization –Aufwachen- is a modified version of Vitalization with an added introduction. I actually didn’t notice the intro being played. This was definitely the highlight of the entire concert. It was dark on the stadium and then lights were displayed in the air. Nana was flying through the arena for the whole song. It looked really cool but I also was a bit worried because it looked pretty dangerous. I was close enough to the arena that when she passed by our area I could see her face. Man I would have been really scared if it was me up there but she pulled it off while singing. Kaze and I were talking before how Nana usually does something in the air but it was always done in the vertical motion before. Not like with this one where she was soaring across the whole arena above the crowd. Another thing to note is that Vitalization actually wasn’t played in any other concert for Live Flight so I bet no one expected this one.
Here’s a clip of it at 0:27.
17 – Appassionato (アパッショナート)
Lol I don’t remember this song being after Vitalization. Maybe I was just so excited after Vitalization in the air. The thing I remember about the studio version of the song was the guitar was really strong which I didn’t notice at all for the live.
18 – Eternal Blaze
Eternal Blaze, Eternal Blaze the moment has come. So glad they changed the order for this. I think Eternal Blaze with Power Gate are the two songs that really define a Nana live. Both songs are just perfect for lives. I’m actually listening to the live version while writing this. When I heard the first notes I immediately went to switch colors to orange while smiling. This was the moment I’ve been waiting and it was the personal highlight of the concert for me. It was also pitch black outside so you could really see the sea of orange. The seat next to Kaze was empty so I had a bit more room after and jumped fully for this song. I heard there was about 32k people at the stadium. It was really a breathtaking sight being part of that crowd. There is a part which you can see at 3:16 where the audience shouts “Eternal Blaze”. When that moment came I shouted at the top of my lungs “ETERNAL BLAZE” with two full jumps afterwards. A true right hand glowstick song from start to finish. I could actually feel the heat from the flames from the stands.
19 – New Sensation
Sigh like with Still in the groove and Undercover, it was one of the songs I didn’t know prior to looking at the set list and also the third song I couldn’t place the name on when I heard it. Don’t remember much from this one too
20 – Rock you baby! (Towel song)
While the studio version is average it was actually one of my favorites for the concert. Nana and team yoda were in the center end of the stage again for this one with towels themselves. People started taking out their towels. I didn’t have a Nana towel with me because I couldn’t afford one even if the lines were small. But it didn’t matter I still had a lot of fun with this song. There is a part in the chorus at 1:07 where everyone starts twirling their towels which I am so addicted to now. I was twirling my glowstick along with it. One thing I’ll say is that since it was so dark it was hard to see everyone else besides the people the people around me so couldn’t see the sea of towels twirling in the air.
21 – Power Gate
Ah finally Power Gate is here. Again everyone began to switch colors for orange. This is another song that is just so great live. There are also parts where the audience sings. For me the ending of Power Gate is the best where it ends with Nana and the audience singing “Wooo Power Gate” several times. Nana also calls out to certain parts of the crowd like boys and girls to sing which Kaze gave me a cue for our turn.
MC
I think this is the part where Nana announced her new single and also her first acoustic live in the winter (or not ;; ) This was translated by Kaze.
22 – Miracle ☆ Flight (ミラクル☆フライト)
This is a special song. When Nana first announced the name for her the tour, I’m pretty sure this was the first song that came to everyone’s mind when they heard Live Flight. It was the last song for all the concerts. While normally it’s not in my favorites but since it was the theme song for the tour I put my all for it. There are jumping moments in the song and also for me the most memorable parts of the song. At 0:48 for the chorus, the audience has their glowsticks up in the air and waves it side by side to the song.
Encore
After everyone on the stage disappeared the calls for an encore started. People were shouting “Nana”, “Nana” back and forth for a while. This was the moment where I actually sat down to take a picture of the crowd. It really is a sea of blue.
23. – Jiku Sapphire (時空サファイア)
Nana appears in a ship which starts moving around the arena. Since I was in the stage when she passes by my area I could actually see her and joined the others in waving.
http://moca-news.net/article/20140804/201408040209a/image/006.jpg pic from here
24 – Setsuna Capacity (セツナキャパシティー)
When Nana got halfway across she started this song. It’s one of the songs on her newest album which I actually liked in the studio version but since Nana was on the other side nothing much to say.
MC
Nana got back onto to the stage. If it wasn’t the talk before the encore it was this one where she announced her new single and acoustic concerts.
25 – Innocent Starter
Wow just wow. She didn’t play this in any other of the lives this summer so wasn’t expecting this at all. Innocent Starter is one of Nana’s slower song but it’s a really special song. It was the theme song for the first Nanoha, the series that really jumpstarted her career. The audience really moved as one for this.
26 – Discotheque
Another song I expected. All the encores so far ended with Jiku Sapphire, Setsuna and Discotheque with Jet Park instead of Jiku for 2 of them. It’s a cute song which was fun. The pink lights for it looked really pretty mixed with blue.
MC
I think this is where Nana starts crying. You can hear the crowd shouting “Thank you Nana”. Everyone then gets on stage and holds hands. Nana then without her mic shouts “Thank you very much (Honto Arigato)!” You could actually hear her voice from the stands. Then everyone bows. There was actually a group of three friends in front of me who also held each other’s hands and bowed together.
Double Encore
Usually there is only one encore but I remember Kaze saying that since this is the last for her tour and also the biggest one that she might do a double encore. Again you can hear everyone shouting “Nana”, “Nana”, I think I also started to hear this clap pattern. Nana appeared again saying that she wanted to spend more time together (Again translated by Kaze). She said it was a waste to only fly once and got ready again. She said it would take a while and was embarrassed in front while everything was getting ready. Then she announced that the next song was
27 – Aoi Iro (アオイイロ)
Apparently the color for the home team of the stadium is blue and Aoi Iro literally means blue.
This was the last song so I put my all for it. The people next to me left before this (their loss) so I had three seats all to myself where I can raise my glowstick as high as possible and wave them without worrying about bumping into anyone. I actually bumped into the guy next to me like over 5 times during the whole concert sorry .
After Nana said bye and everyone cheered, Kaze said its best to get out as fast as possible. We were close to an exit so it wasn’t that bad for us. The concert started past five and ended at nine. It was definitely over 3 hours in a half but I actually couldn’t feel it. The whole concert felt so fast for me. It takes about an hour to get from the stadium to Kaze’s place and also we didn’t have dinner yet so we got some beef bowls near his place. Again because I haven't ate anything for awhile I was starving and it tasted amazing. We got back to his place and after watching Astrogation from Live Castle King's Night, another one of her past concerts, we decided to call it a day. Kaze must have been pretty tired because he like passed out and didn’t move a muscle. I actually couldn’t sleep at all because I was just so excited. The adrenaline still didn’t wear off for me. I think I fell asleep around past three.
Goodbye Yokohama
August 4th
I randomly woke up around 8 and saw that Kaze was still dead asleep so I went back to sleep lol. We both woke up past 11. After getting some brunch we just chilled at his place. My flight was at 8 but I remember how I was stuck on the subway before so I decided to get some lunch and go to the airport around 3. We parted and he went back home. It takes about an hour from Kaze’s place to the airport so I got there around 4. I spent the rest of the time just listening to the set list from the concert again trying to relive the experience. It was the first time in my life where I wanted to go back in time but not to change anything but to relive the experience again. I will say it was definitely the most fun I had ever. The whole concert felt like a dream to me. I actually also felt a little sad at how it was now over. Afterwards I got on my flight and went back home thus ending my Live Flight 14.
Goods
Presentu from Kaze~
It’s an artbook and picture by Diesel, a fanartist. http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?id=1673905 His page.
Shoutouts
Thanks Kaze for everything. You were the best host and this trip would not have been possible without you.
+ Show Spoiler [Internet friends best friends] +
Official pics for the concert are here.
http://moca-news.net/article/20140804/201408040209a/01/