STARTING LEGEND 1999 ~Face to Face~

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Zepp Sapporo 1/30/99 Starting Legend 1999 Face to Face has begun. Tour opening concert at Zepp Sapporo, all standing live house. It's been almost four years since the last all standing concert. So begins the new legend - Hekiru's 10th concert tour, her 131st live. Song List 1. invisible 2. Let me sing with soul 3. Wakaranai otoko MC-1 4. Kono yo de ichiban taisetsu na mono 5. Atarashii kaze 6. Tears MC-2 7. Watashi no mirai MC-3 8. Aitai 9. Zutto... 10. This Moment 11. fly away 12. Ganbare Costume change - Band intermission 13. Moon light 14. Koi no Race Queen 15. Me wo samase, otoko nara 16. Kaze ga fuku oka MC-4 17. ROLLING STONE 18. Graduater Encore 19. Dakishimete - Band member introduction 20. Todoketai omoi As the lights went down, a techno BGM began to play on the speakers as the plain stage remained empty of anything but speakers, band equipment, and of course a single mike stand in front. As the crowd continued to shout to the beat, Hekiru's voice began singing the chorus to "Kono yo de ichiban taisetsu na mono", really quickly. The techno remix continued for several minutes as the tension built to a frenzy, and then the band members walked on, took up their instruments and filled in their accompaniments to the song. Then Hekiru ran onto the stage and the hall erupted in cheers. She was wearing a tight red pants and black sleeveless blouse with a thick collar of black feathers, and the same decorations around her wrist. The band swing in and she jumped right in with "invisible". At that first scream the crowd went wild! She sang and danced and shook her short hair around, and during the guitar solo she was swinging the mike stand around and ended holding it upside down behind her as she bent over screaming the lyrics into the mike in her other hand. It was just too cool!! Then she went on to "Let me sing with soul", and "Wakaranai otoko". Lots of head banging in the latter song! When the song ended, she moved to the back and took off the feathers and put on a red jacket so she looked like she was wearing a suit. She gave a short introduction welcoming everyone. "Are you all genki?" *YEAH!* "Well, you think you're going to be fine, but soon your feet are going to hurt and you'll be wishing you could sit down!" *NO WAY!!* "For my next song, you heard the remix version, but here's the normal version. Please listen to this, 'Kono yo de ichiban taisetsu na mono'." After "Kono yo de ichiban taisetsu na mono" came "Atarashii kaze" and "Tears". The crowd was a little hesitant with what to do for the new songs, but got into the beat of the music. Hekiru had the mike on the stand and was moving her arms and gesturing for the songs. Her expression was serious, and it made a very strong impression during "Tears" as she moved her arms in a clock-like fashion between verses. The song ended and after she took a sip of water in the back, she made another short MC. "Here is a ballad, one that I really like." With that, she sat in a chair that had been brought on stage and sang "Watashi no mirai" to a rock ballad band accompaniment. After that, she stood up, the chair was whisked away, and she asked the audience to listen to her next two ballads as well - "Aitai" and "Zutto..." These two songs are beautiful, but were more so that day because of that sad look of concentration she had, her eyebrows pulled high as she came to the climax of each song. When "Zutto..." ended she took another drink as the band began the intro to "This Moment". After "This Moment" was "Ganbare", and Hekiru really fired up the fans with this cheery crowd pleaser. Although it was a new song, the crowd slipped straight in, jumping and putting in calls as Hekiru ran across the stage and punched the air. With everyone intoxicated, she launched into "fly away", and the cheers and "HE! HE! HE!" were twice as loud as before! Everyone really missed this song that had been sung last summer as an unreleased track. After that, Hekiru left the stage for a costume change. But the band didn't let up, with each member taking their turn to show their stuff to the hard rock rhythm. Just when you thought they would drop from exhaustion, Hekiru finally appeared wearing black pants, and a translucent black long-sleeved blouse (with a black slip underneath), open at the collar. The music changed into some sort of rock/techno, and Hekiru looked the picture of a rock singer - beautiful, cool, and cute all at the same time. Then we suddenly realized, this was "Moon light"!! Hekiru started the trademark clapping above her head and the crowd could only follow in wonder as she began to sing a very rearranged version of this favourite. Then as if she hadn't mystified the audience enough, the next song, yet another hard rock piece, turned out to be "Koi no Race Queen"! This was a wonderful song, with everyone doing the familiar gestures, clapping and waving their hands and mirroring Hekiru in a fresh, nostalgic intermingling of old and new. Hekiru herself never looked happier; her eyes were shining and her mouth was wide in a wonderful smile throughout these songs. She looked so cute when she forgot a line of the lyrics to "Koi no Race Queen", bending to the side with a sudden expression of utmost embarrasment! But the crowd took up the song in a heartbeat and everyone sang together. Next was "Me wo samase, otoko nara", and this was as usual (including another memory lapse on Hekiru's part!). By this time, we were all lost to the power of the song, screaming louder and jumping higher than ever, even in that tight space of people packed in together. Then she went into "Kaze ga fuku oka" and we gave it all our best until she finished. Hekiru was probably almost as out of breath as we were, but her smile never faded as she teased the crowd. "Still feeling genki? Sure you can still go on?! Yeah? Well, let's goooo!! ROLLING STONE!!!!" And the band struck up the song and we screamed and cheered and jumped and clapped and danced! Then it was straight into "Graduater" and we all sang together with Hekiru the strains of this song - the song first born from Hekiru's concerts in 1996, evolving throughout the years, never released until last year and still going - the symbol of Shiina Hekiru in concert. Everyone left the stage right after Graduater ended, but we immediately began calling "ANKORU!" We called for what seemed like ages at the top of out voices, and finally, finally, the band reappeared and starting up the intro to "Dakishimete". Then Hekiru ran in, wearing tight black pants and a skin-tight thin black shirt over a long-sleeved pink shirt (ala SL'97 ~todoketai omoi~ encore costume), and said, "Everyone, sing together!" so we did, as loud as we could. The song ended, but the band kept playing, and Hekiru began introducing all the members, who played their own solos. When she came to Yoshi, the drummer, he simply stood up with his arms outstretched and only kept the beat with his foot as the lights flashed around him, then sat down, and Hekiru was like, "That's it?! Wait a second, that's all?! You can't just get away with that!!" But she finished off the introductions and said, "Come on everyone, sing together!" and went back into the final verses of "Dakishimete". Then it ended, and the music stopped. We were all so very tired but happy, and Hekiru was out of breath and soaked in perspiration as she began thanking everyone. It seemed like the end of the concert, but when she was done, the band began playing again. It was a medium paced, hard rock beat, and we had no idea what song it was. When Hekiru finally began singing, slowly and deliberately, we suddenly realized it was yet another remixed version, this time of "Todoketai omoi". She sang the first verse and the chorus twice, then the beat picked up and as we could do no more than cheer, she went into the second verse and it became a dreamlike experience. All of Hekiru's thoughts, everything she wanted to express but just did not have the opportunity to put into words, all the trials of the last year and her renewed conviction to live life to its fullest, never back down from her ideals and dreams, and create something that would never fade away... It all came together in this one song that she sings as a promise of things to come. Before we knew it, more than two hours had passed and the concert was over. Starting Legend 1999 in Sapporo, the beginning of Hekiru's 10th concert tour, an amazing live that far exceeded all my expectations, wiped away all the uncertain and fear of the last few months, and made me realize that Hekiru was already far ahead of all our petty doubts, had come to a close. "Any newcomers today?" asked Hekiru, and hands shot up throughout the back of the hall. "Well, at the end of a live, we always say 'Want you!' as a promise to meet again. Ready? WANT YOU!!!" Then, probably as some weird cultural thing I have no either about, the staff handed bags of peanuts to the band members and everyone proceeded to throw peanuts into the audience. Got one from Hekiru. ^^ 1/30 Zepp Sapporo - THE END. We'll meet again in Niigata. Tour Goods and a couple words Since it was all standing, I only bought goods after the concert. I was rushed for time, so I only got the bare essentials: Concert pamphlet, both T-shirts, both telephone cards, and the Hekiko cellphone strap. I don't like the 417 design on this tour's T-shirts, but the telephone cards are really nice. Amazing how a simple change of expression can make all the difference... Hekiko looks weird. But it's the tour pamphlet that really shines this time. I would say that this is by far the best tour pamphlet, better than SL'97 ~todoketai omoi~. When I first read that it was only 16 pages, I was really disappointed, but one look at the cover and I knew I had to have it. Same outfit as the first picture in VA24, with the white wing drawn in. But it was what was inside that really moved me. That message from Hekiru... She might say that she isn't as strong as everyone thinks she is, but those words could only come from someone who has been through endless cycles of failure and frustration, and emerged far stronger than ever. Hekiru has changed a lot through the years, been through a lot. Her position is a problematic one since her management is a seiyuu company, yet her producer is from Kyodo Rocken (concert production company), and her record label and music producer is Sony. It's been a constant battle with the idol fans, her staff, and her own deficencies to get to where she is now. She almost gave it all up in frustration last spring, but pulled through and finally cut her hair to symbolize her decision to be true to herself from now on. As she has said in numerous interviews, "I'd rather create something that I feel happy to leave behind as a mark of my existence, rather than something that just sells a lot now. Even if no-one accepts it, it doesn't matter as long as I do." At the very end of the tour pamphlet is the message "And our dream goes on". It's the same message that was at the end of the SL'97 ~with a will~ tour pamplet, but this time she's aiming at something far beyond Nippon Budoukan...

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Niigata Telsa 2/07/99 Today was the first day of the hall tour. At Sapporo there was no set, but this time it was out in full force, and it was very impressive. Plenty of lights, almost blinding at times, with a video screen in the back that moved during the ballad so that the lights on top lined up at a diagonal. There was a smoke gun as well, that kicked in in the beginning. However, there was no tape this time. Everything was more or less similar to the Sapporo live, except that the song list has changed slightly. "fly away" and "Ganbare" have been switched. In addition, instead of the black outfit that Hekiru wore during the "old songs" stretch previously, she appeared this time in a white china dress style outfit, with what could possibly have been a long pink skirt, and bangles on her wrists. Personally I thought it looked uncomfortable as hell, and consider it a change for the worse. The black outfit returned for the encore though. At the beginning, it looked like Hekiru forget the lyrics to the first song, as she didn't sing the second line and made a very upset face. But when it got into the second song, the mike cut out and although she tried to continue, nothing happened. The band continued playing as Hekiru stopped singing altogether and gestured, looking extremely upset and angry, to the staff offstage that the mike wasn't working. Then somehow, there was a feedback loop and the monitors (speakers that allow performers to hear themselves) on stage began howling, and Hekiru covered her ears in pain. Someone finally ran on stage to replace the mike, and she finished the song. But as the band started the intro to the third song, she picked up the mike stand really roughly and simply threw it against the platform in the back. The rest of the live was completed without trouble, and Hekiru joked a little about how this would become a Niigata legend, but some people in the crowd had been quite shocked by her totally uncharacteristic display. Later that night, a few people wrote their opinions, quite biting, about the whole thing on the Hekirision free board. They were very unhappy with Hekiru's lack of professionalism as well as the song choice of the concert, which only had songs from the new album, and songs from before 1997. There was a lot of dissatisfaction among the "koi" (elite? serious?) portion of fans concerning Hekiru's seeming inability to carve out her music style with any conviction. At that point, Hekiru's producer Tairaku stepped in, and explained that the incident was caused by some sort of radio interference from the parking lot interacting with Hekiru's wireless mike, causing some sort of strong sound waves to reverberate on all the monitors. He apologized but pointed out that everyone did their best under the circumstances, and that Hekiru had panicked because she was in pain. He also defended the choice of songs for this tour, thanking people for their opinion but asking them to listen properly. He said that while it was through that there were still old songs, they had been completely rearranged and fit perfectly with Hekiru's new rock sound. The one good thing about this incident was that the fans and staff finally had it out in the open. Everyone has been so upset for so long... It's finally time somebody aired their feelings about this whole thing. I only hope Hekiru isn't hurt by the somewhat harsh, but viable, opinions that were written. On a lighter note, I am totally in love with Hekiru's little dance/moves for "Wakaranai Otoko". Too cool and kawaii! And the remix of "Me wo Samase" is great... I wonder if it'll make it to video. Oh, and of course, the new CG opening to the "Kono yo" remix makes for a really incredible experience... Pokemon attack! ^_^

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Nakano Sunplaza 2/09/99 I noticed Hekiru exchanged her red jacket for a long blue coat for "fly away". Also the china dress outfit isn't really a china dress, since the "sleeves" are actually disjointed, leaving her shoulders bare. The skirt was pink, and it seemed to have a slit down the left side. During "Me wo Samase", Hekiru put her leg up on the monitor and it was just covered by the skirt. I felt extremely envious of the people right in front of her. This time, during the encore, instead of running through the crowd in the middle, she came through the right side. Safer, I suppose. I still think it's a bad idea... But at the same time, I'm looking forward to Hiroshima. Hehehehhe... Before the ballad, she had an MC. She asked the audience to listen to her song, "but before that..." And she went to the back and had a drink. "What are you drinking?" someone shouted. "Volvic... ka na?" she replied, playfully. Then someone pointed that she drank only Evian before, and she said, "Ah, you really know." Then she talked a bit about water, and she named a bottled water that no-one knew, but then one person replied that they did, and she was like, "A, someone always responds immediately. It's nice to know you're not alone." Then she said, "There something I really want to do. No, it's not work or music. It's Final Fantasy." I was really surprised. What?! Hekiru? A video game? She said, "In the TV commercial, those two just run into each others arms. That really gets me here." And everyone was clapping. Then she said, "But there's one problem. I don't have a Playstation." And then she hastily added, "But don't send me one! It's okay! It's okay!" (Hekiru's birthday is in one month.) "I mean, I don't even know how to hook it up. I really have no idea. I'm terrible with machines. It took me two hours to hook up my MD player to my stereo. I really am an old-fashioned person. Oops, I guess I should get on with the song." The MCs for this tour are really short, so it was really nice to hear Hekiru talk. I never realized how much I loved her MCs until she cut them out. When you go multiple times to a live, of course you still enjoy the songs, but what I always look forward to are the MCs. There really isn't any other forum for hearing Hekiru's words, and she usually tells the audience interesting stuff. Along other lines, I didn't notice it at Niigata, but Hekiko appears on the screen during "Koi no Race Queen"! Ah, I love this remix... And of course, "Wakaranai Otoko" is getting to be a real favourite. Love those moves! Overall, though, I felt something was lacking, or not quite there. At the end, before the "Want You!!" Hekiru said, "I don't want to leave!" And to my own surprise, I thought, "Did you really have that much fun?" Maybe because I was in the back, I didn't feel that this live had been really that superlative. And of course, my second thought was to shout, "I won't let you leave!" but luckily I still retained some measure of sanity. ^^ I felt the music, and it was good.. The opening was amazing... I could literally feel the bass pumping right through me, even in row 18. But... I didn't quite feel "Hekiru"... Whatever that means. Something just felt lacking. Maybe I just miss her MCs. In any case, Ichihara is tomorrow. I never thought I could feel so grateful just to be able to see Hekiru every other day. It's a wonderful feeling.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Ichiharashi Shiminkaikan 2/11/99 It was cold and wet. I went with Matsui-san by car, and arrived at 10am because I wanted to see Yasuda-san's car. Also, I wanted to see if I could get a better seat with toujitsu ken. I guess I've been spoiled, and I wanted, well, a good seat. So I waited around in the freezing cold until 4:30, but before then I had already decided that I was being a selfish idiot, and wound up sticking with what I had. I'm really glad I did, because damn it was a good seat. Right behind the PA, almost in the center, with a straight view to the stage. There was no way Hekiru could have missed me. Since Arai-san was a seat away, I switched places with the person in between. But that turned out to be a minus, because this mike-like contraption was in front, and I bumped it several times. Spent a good part of the latter half of the concert wondering if I had ruined the concert. Ugh "Graduater" was a real battle. This live was better than Nakano. But there were a lot of things... Too much to write, and stuff that really shouldn't go into a concert report. Someday I'll sort it all out. In any case, during the MC before "Watashi no Mirai" (during which my mind wandered like there was no tomorrow), Hekiru talked about FFVIII again. Except she called it "FFE". Doh... She said she really wanted to play it, but that she didn't have a Playstation. She asked if people had bought it, and someone in front held it up. Then Yo-s.K handed a copy to her. She got all happy and stuff and sat in the chair with her knees pulled up to her chin looking like some giggling, carefree schoolgirl. Ah... Hekiru will probably get 200 PSXs for her birthday. After it ended Matora and Matsui and I went to a family restaurant for dinner, and we talked a bit. I talked quite a bit with Matora on the way to his station, and after that kinda fell asleep. Gomen, Matsui-san. PS, Yasuda-san's car looks amazing... PPS, I still don't know why I'm not enjoying this lives as much as I should. Maybe I'm just pushing myself too hard, trying to show off to be something I'm not. That's not what a live should be about. I should just be myself. In any case, I doubt it's a matter of seating. PPPS, God I love "Koi no Race Queen"... PPPPS, Neck hurts like hell.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Shizuoka Shiminbunkakaikan 2/13/99 I was supposed to get a ride to Shizuoka with Matsui-san, but something came up and he had to cancel that day. But since I had a weekend pass for East Japan (you can ride on any train anywhere within the prescribed area), what I wound up doing was just hitching an express out to Shizuoka and paying the balance. Matora-san did the same thing, except he just waltzed right pass the ticket gate within paying. >_< When we got there it was about noon and we had lunch at some ramen shop that wasn't very good. The area around Shizuoka Station reminds me of Yokohama Station, actually, with the office blocks and stuff. We got kinda lost but ran into some friends as we made our way over to the concert hall. To be honest, I have no memory of what the hall or its surroundings looked like. The concert itself was... maybe it wasn't that bad, but it really did not leave me with any good impression. Fun? Not really. During the MC, Hekiru talked about FFVII again, I think. Then before the ballad, she cracked some joke and laughed. I was in the row in front of the partition in the first floor, so Hekiru ran by behind me. I stuck out my hand but got batted aside by the staff covering her. Maybe this had something to do with me feeling a little blue. After the concert was over, Hekiru thanked some people in the back, saying, "Thank you for head-banging!" Yuusuke said that he thought Hekiru tried pretty hard, since it had been a year and a half since the last time she had a concert at Shizuoka. Graduater, coming after Rolling Stone, was definitely atsui, but aside from that I thought this was one of the poorest of this tour's concerts. Matora-san and I bought the cheapest tickets and rode the rest of the way back on a normal train. It took forever, but it was cheeeep! Not to mention illegal. ^^;;

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Sendai Sunplaza 2/14/99 It's been exactly one year since I became a Hekiru fan. Valentine's Day... After yesterday's concert in Shizuoka, when Hekiru laughed before singing "Watahsi no Mirai", and I just felt kinda tired and unenthusiastic about the whole deal (partly because I was pushed aside when she passed behind at the encore, and didn't even catch her eye), I really started questioning a lot of stuff. Too much to write here, but basically I was beginning to doubt what type of person Hekiru really was. Was she the person who talked about never compromising her ideals, about wanting to make something that she could believe in, no matter what others might think? Or the person who was singing "Ganbare" on stage? (I hate that song with a passion.) This morning, I was really down and blue. I took the noon bullet train to Sendai with Matora and the hWo bunch, and cheered up after talking to Matora-san about concerts and Hekiru and other weird stuff. Until then, I wasn't looking forward to the live at all. I should have been really happy that I would spend Valentine's Day with Hekiru (although I don't really believe in that sort of crap), but I didn't want to go through another concert feeling tired and depressed. But... today was amazing. No, I say that a lot, but this time, I mean it. It was AMAZING. It tops Morioka and Ichikawa. Okay, Ichikawa comes close, but I never thought anything would ever be more incredible that Hekiru saying to me, "Thanks for always coming!" Thanks to Motona-san, who had expressed an interest in meeting me to Matora-san and I finally met yesterday, I had what turned out to be a first row seat, next to Motona, a little to the right of the center but still damn awesome because there was less than 3 feet between the seats and the stage. Wow! This has to be the closest I've seen Hekiru, aside from the handshake at Okinawa, and some of the campaign events. So I did my best, dancing and head-banging and generally being really enthusiastic. And this time I didn't have to try, it just came naturally. It wasn't just from being in front; Hekiru was really cheerful and into it, and other people agreed that today was very good. I didn't think she paid me any special attention (although one person later said that she looked down at the front seats a lot more than usual). I just did my thing, and hoped she would think well of me later. Then the encore. "Todoketai Omoi". The part where everyone sings "lalalalalalalala lalalalalalalala" to the melody, waving their hand. I sang, loudly as usual, in my hoarse voice, being one of the first to start waving as well. She walk around the stage, gesturing for people to joined in while singing, then pointed the mike at the audience so people would get the idea. Then, she moved my way, and stopped in front, looked me straight in the eye smiling, and crouched down and pointed the mike at me. I don't remember much... Just Hekiru with her hand outstretched, holding the mike close, me moving forward towards it, singing lalala, still waving and smiling back at Hekiru who was just watching me with her face cupped in her other hand... It lasted for about 20 seconds, perhaps? I heard my own voice coming out of the speakers, and the camera was pointed at me too, so I was on the screen. I smiled as wide as I could, and Hekiru was smiling back and looking at me, and moved away to finish the song. It was surreal. I wasn't sorry to see her go, I was just so happy that she had done that for me. After the end of the song, she looked so many times at me again, while thanking everyone for coming. After the "Want You!!", she left but came back with Fujiko-chan. (BTW, during the band member introduction she forgot Fujiko-chan's name and I had to shout it to her... Her expression of self-beratement was priceless.) They were carrying a bag of chocolate, Hershey's Kisses, each, and Hekiru said that since it was Valentine's Day, they would throw chocolate into the audience. I was right in front, but couldn't manage to catch one. After she finished throwing, there were still pieces left on the stage from when they fell out of the bag. Hekiru was leaving the stage, but I pointed at the chocolate closest and gestured and pointed, and she came back to where I was, picked up the piece, and tossed it straight to me. That just put the perfect cap on everything tonight. After it was over, I thanked Motona and we hugged. She started crying from joy. Today was her birthday, so it was a doubly special day for her, and I'm glad everything worked out so well. It was incredible. All I could think was, this had to be a dream. After I got out of the hall, I ate the chocolate and folded my happi... Thinking about it on the bullet train back with the Dakishimetai group, I guess I should have taken a picture first... I do have the wrapper saved in my fridge though. ^^;;; PS, another bonus of being in front - I don't have to see those idiots who jump during "Kono Yo". It totally spoiled that song for me. Ah, today was a good day. I try my best. I support Hekiru in what ways I can, going to events and concerts, and writing letters. I really do pour all I have into it, probably more than I can afford, at the expense of my work and my personal life. I love Hekiru, what she stands for, a lot, and I want to do anything I can to help. But as a fan, I can't make much of a difference. Just my petty worries, my letters that tell her to try her best. But after today... I wonder, just a little bit... Or rather, I will permit myself the luxury of thinking, just for a little, that Hekiru appreciates what I'm doing and that I do make a difference. My heart is glad. I look forward to Kagawa.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Kagawa Kenmin Hall Akuto, Hiroshima Kouseinenkinkaikan 2/19&20/99 Took Friday off work to go to see the Kagawa-Hiroshima lives. Didn't think I was going, but after talking to BETA in Osaka last year... That guy is dangerous. Overnight bus to Takamatsu, left my PHS in the bus, dragged Matora-san along to go fetch it from some bus depot out in the middle of BFE... Heh, well, it was fun and I got a look at the lyrics sheet. "You better give up right now."??!? Hekiru's pronunciation hasn't gotten any better... Oh well, it's kawaii. ^^ Reached the hall around, 8:30? It started pouring like crazy, and it was cold! The guard was nice and let us in early, and I feel asleep in a chair for an hour. Later, after I woke up I, Matora said that some old dudes were looking at a poster of Hekiru and going, "Shiina Hekiru? Never heard of her... But she's cute." Hehehhehe... Weird how that gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. I was really surprised at how small the hall was. It barely seated 800, probably, if you discount the seats that the PA takes up. In any case, I was in the 12 row on the far left, and Matora was on the far right, surrounded by Action and BETA and WantYou and Hasekawa-san etc... Kowai... After checking out the seat map, I gave Takechan a call. I had never met him, but he is the 4th Hekicar owner, and he was giving me a ride to Hiroshima after the live. Got in touch, and he drove over. My first impression... Wow! Not so much the picture, which is really nicely done but I can't help but find fault with the lip... No, just the whole car itself was damn impressive. Stickers all over, and well, the picture itself is done in a really creative manner. Nice car, too, so I really like the whole thing. The coolest thing was the silhouette on the side. Heh, Matora and I were really enjoying ourselves when people would stare at the side of the car, not being able to see in and not realizing that we were staring back and laughing our heads off at their incredulous expressions. We had udon for lunch... Damn best udon I've had. Cheap and plenty of it. The soup was really good. I had to eat faster than I would have preferred, and kinda burnt my tongue. After that, we kinda hung around. I wrote out my letter of thanks to Hekiru, then later more and more Hekicars (just ones with stickers, but still pretty impressive) showed up. Action flew in from Tokyo, and we all got ready for the live. I had a pretty good time, not awesome though. Felt tired halfway through, probably because I was still on the mend from a cold, and it wasn't altogether that fulfilling. But, it was fun, and I went nuts during "fly away". Hekiru looked really tired though, and she had tons of makeup on. After the live ended, and I got lost trying to find my way out, I wound up back in the hall and was in a good mood, so I kinda strolled up to Tairaku and said, "Otukaresama desu." ^^\___ Talk about the stupid things you do when you are high on adrenalin... The Dakishimetai crowd did not seem to be in a good mood, but at least Matora-san really enjoyed himself. We packed in Takechan's car, drove to a sentou, took a nice bath... Whoa... I just popped in Shiena to listen to "Tenshi", and the difference from Face to Face is leaving me in shock... O_o!! Back to the report. After the bath, most people ate, and then it was off to Hiroshima. I slept most of the trip. We reached the Kouseinenkinkaikan at about 5am, and slept until 8. Lingered around as more and more and more (!!) Hekicars showed up... Man, even driving over, there were already like 5 or so cars together... Damn impressive, scary sight. Sometime in the late morning, as I was in the back kinda vegging out and Yasuda-san was asleep in the passengar seat, Kenmotsu-san rapped on the window! At first I had no idea who it was, but after seeing the staff jumper and the passes, I was like, whoa... Guess he just wanted to compliment Yasuda-san on the car. We bided our time. The Osaka crowd showed up too, and before the live, after we got into the parking lot, I changed into my happi to get a picture taken with the car, and was in generally an excellent mood for the hour before the concert was to begin. It's been a while since I've gotten that hyper and genki before a concert. I had a seat on the partition area, which meant that not only did I have a nice big space in front of me, Heki was also going to run by at the encore... Woo woo! I dunno if the concert was just really good, or if it was because I had been hyper before, but this was the best concert of the tour, if I don't include service. I had so much fun right from the start. A little bit in, the guy next to me was told to get back to his spot, and I found that I could no longer see Hekiru because the people in front of me lined up exactly to block my view. I was kinda blue about that, but I told myself that it shouldn't bother me, and in the end it didn't. It was a wonderful concert. Hekiru was still probably really tired, but I didn't really notice, and everyone was really worked up at the end. As usual, Graduater was atsui! And at the encore, when I put up my hand, she high fived me! Heheheh.. Well, she high fived a lot of other people, and her expression was kinda strange, but I think that's okay. I'm just happy she made the effort. Her hand was cold, but soft... I don't remember the MCs... Except that Hekiru said, "My heart has been warmed today. Thank you." (Just how would you translate kokoro no eiyou?) And I felt so moved, and happy, that I started crying during Todoketai Omoi. I could feel Hekiru's warmth, throughout the concert, and I wanted so hard to make my own feelings of gratitude known. It was a wonderful wonderful concert. It doesn't take a good seat to make a concert fun, although it's better to be in front, of course. I've kinda wrestled with my conscience on that. It's only natural to want to go to the front, of course. And I think I figured out why... It's because I want to be close to Hekiru. I want to see Hekiru, and I want her to see me. That's why I wear that happi, even though I should know better. I really should stop, but I can't. I don't have the courage or the willpower to face a concert where I didn't stand out to Hekiru. I don't care about standing out to other fans. My ideal situation would be if I stood out to Hekiru but not to anyone else. ^^;; I just want her to know that I'm there. Pure selfishness. So unlike BETA, if it's a bad concert, I want to be up front because that's the only plus. If it's a great concert, then I can have fun anywhere. I just hope to god that NHK Hall turns out to be okay... After the concert, Yasuda-san and I got Takechan to drop us off at our hotel. Matora went back by bus. Yasuda-san and I had dinner, talked a bit, then we retired for the night. I slept from 11pm to 9:45am... Went to Best Denki, then to the station. Met up with Hasekawa-san and BETA and went to the airport, talking about stuff. After we got into Tokyo, Yasuda-san and BETA and I went to Shinjuku to pick up Legend 1998 Side A. It was a nice day, a nice end to a nice weekend.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at NHK Hall 2/24&25/99 For these two concerts, the girls from Toyama came to Tokyo to attend, and stayed the night at my place. The first night is probably the most fun I've had at a concert during this tour. In the end, no one took the ticket, and with Matora-san in the aisle seat, we had what amounted to almost 4 seats worth of space for the two of us. I just went crazy. God, I love the first part of the concert, with the opening and then "invisible", "Let me sing with soul", and of course "Wakaranai Otoko". I didn't like Let me sing with soul at first that much, since it had a major melody running through the chorus. But damn it's a good song. I don't remember the MC too much, except that Hekiru said that when she went to Hiroshima, she ate okonomiyaka at a restuarant popular with famous artists. She said it was very good. The shop owner began talking about how a bunch of weird people in shirts with 417 on the backs came around a few years ago and wandered around. (The restaurant is in a street filled with okonomiyaki restaurants.) Then Hekiru said that they were probably her fans. And the shop owner got all mad because not one had entered his store! And Hekiru talked about how other people send her letters with pictures and stuff, and write about what they do, or how she spotted people doing dance lessons in a small corner outside somewhere... She said that she loved that sort of thing, where everyone has fun together. At the encore, instead of running across the aisle of the first floor seats, Hekiru instead appeared on stage with the rest of the band. She gave a little pep MC, then to she turned to Yos.K and said, "YoS.K! IKE!" and Yos.K swept his arm in an arc to play that first chord of "Dakishimete"... Man, that was too damn cool! ^_^ I really enjoyed this concert a lot. It was raining, generally a miserable day, so instead of having dinner together I just took the Toyama girls back and spent several hours playing videos for them. The next day, I also arrived at 6:15. Kuwada-chan could not make it since a meeting got scheduled, but then Masa called and so I offered him the ticket. So Matora-san, Yuusuke, me and Masa lined up in said order in the seventh row, right in front of Hekiru. Today was... in many ways, good and bad. The crowd was worked up, but these idiots to my left, right next to Matora-san, kept screaming calls and stuff... It got so bad I couldn't even hear Hekiru's singing at one point. I felt really sorry for Matora-san, but then again he displayed a stroke of genius by stufing his left ear with tissue. ^^;; Still, it left a very sour taste in all of us, and Hekiru probably wasn't exactly happy either. For today's MC Hekiru asked if there was anyone going to all the tours. Hekiru asked, "How do you manage the travel expenses?" She talked a little about people who hitchhike all the way from Tokyo to Fukuoka, and spend the night camping out because they don't have any money. She added that this was probably impossible for girls. I wanted to shout out, "No! It's possible if you have good friends!" but I held back. Before that, Hekiru had mentioned that many people had a lot of fun, and some fans even made friends with a foreigner. Masa looked at me and stuck his finger out and muttered, "You mean this one?" to me. Hekiru's remark certainly took me by surprise. Perhaps it's hubris, but I doubt that she meant anyone else. For the latter half of the concert, everyone was getting really worked up, and Hekiru was looking tired but still going. But then, to my surprise and shock, when Graduater ended, suddenly she was no longer standing. I couldn't see too well, but it seems that she just lay down on the stage and couldn't get up. After a few moments, perhaps a minute, a staff member came out and helped her up. She managed a "Doumo arigatou!" before exiting. We were all terribly worried. Hekiru has certainly had lives where she can barely stagger off the stage, but never before has she collapsed from exhaustion. The encore was longer than usual, and when she came out (again on stage) she looked very tired. The rest of the night finished without further incident, but we were quite disurbed by that incident. After the end of the concert, BETA and Masa had a little talk while everyone else gathered around. Things just feel much better with Masa around. The guy may not look like much, but he's got a damn good head on his shoulders, and plenty of leadership charisma. We ended up in a cafe eating dinner and talking, before heading home.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Osaka Kouseinenkinkaikan 2/27&28/99 Seven of us (Matsui-san, Kubota-san, Seki-san, Matora-san, Hajan-san, Yuusuke and I) piled into Matsui-san's car and made for Osaka on Saturday morning, 3am. We reached Osaka a little before 11am. I had a bad cough and hardly caught any sleep. But it was the first chance I had to talk to Yuusuke and the Osaka gang and stuff in a long time. Masa showed up around 4pm, and so did Jieitai, and Dai-chan, and Haragucchan, and Sho-chan, and Nakano-san... It was pretty moving, actually, to see everyone together. Osaka was where it all really began for me, and I feel their warmth even in the midst of winter. I had bought a ticket up front, which was coincidentally next to Jieitai and right behind Sho-chan. After it was over, everyone said that the live wasn't very exciting (worked up) at all. But to me it was good. I really gave it my all. Of course, the MC probably had a lot to do with it. I don't remember what she said before Watashi no Mirai, but after that was over, Hekiru started talking about how she had gotten a letter from a foreigner, saying that that person would be leaving Japan soon, but in the mean time wanted to attend and enjoy Hekiru's lives. She said that when she read it, she was really moved. "Kokoro ga jiin tokita." I might not be me. I never said I was leaving soon, only that I did not intend on staying in Japan long. But I did send her letters of encouragement at the beginning of the tour. And I would like to think that she was referring to me. Coming on the heels of NHK Hall, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. I spent the major portion of Aitai crying softly. I'm not usually someone who cries over little things, but for some reason Hekiru has made me cry again and again... The rest of the night I did my best. To me, although Hekiru was certainly very tired, it was good. After the live was over, all 40 something of us had dinner at a yakitori place nearby. It was really good, and really cheap, and we had a good talk. Then it was off to Hotel Kansai. Yuusuku, Okappei, Masa and I shared a room (Y2800 each! Cheaps!) and spent the better part of the night talking about matters better left unsaid, suffice that it was not exactly pleasant conversation material. In the end, Nakano-san also came over, and although we didn't have much time, we decided to give tomorrow our best shot and knock Hekiru out. We didn't want tomorrow to end up like today, and we certainly did not want Hekiru to leave Osaka feeling bad. Went to sleep at 4:30, woke up at 9:30, checked out, ate gyuudon, went to Kouseinenkinkaikan after a stop at the pharmacist's for some cough medicine. (Incidentally, it's been a week and I'm still sick. Ugh.) Hung out, talked some, generally had a cold but good time, until the concert. That day, everyone said that the crowd went wild. At the end, Hekiru said that everyone's enthusiasm really showed. "Osoru beshi Osaka" or "The terror that is Osaka", she quoted one of the staff members. She looked really happy. Then after the "Want You", Yos.K left the stage but she called him back and they did the jyukkai jump. (Probably wasn't ten times, but seeing Hekiru's happy face, it didn't really matter...) Personally, I tried a little too hard, and didn't enjoy myself as much as I would have if I didn't feel the pressure, but everyone was happy, especially the person who counts the most... The only thing that gave me a cold feeling... During the MC, a strange childlike voice was heard. Hekiru said, "Is that a child? Don't be afraid. Don't cry." She was quite cute when she siad that, but then she said, "It would be nice if I could still be going on when that child becomes a first grade student." If you think about it, even if there had been a kid in the hall (and I highly highly doubt it), that doesn't give Hekiru more than a couple years. And at Nakano, she said she wanted to preserve the memories of the live audience somehow. It's not just me who feels a rather sinister sense of time running out...

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Nakano Sunplaza 3/02/99 My cold, which I've had for a week or so, had gotten worse. I went happi-less, thinking I might just go easy on this concert. Suffice to say, 2 seconds into the opening, I was clapping as hard as ever. ^_^;; Today was really fun. There was a rumour that Hekiru had sprained her foot on Sunday, but she seemed to be okay, although she had me worried towards the end. Today, the MC was about... laughing dogs?! And cats? Uh, don't ask me... These MCs are getting weirder and weirder. Also, Hekiru completely reversed the verses in Aitai, singing the second verse and chorus first, then the first one after. Made for a strange story. Most of the gang was there for the concert. Masa was right behind the PA and when the concert ended he stood there making obscene gestures to Tairaku's back. ^^;;;;; Matora-san went off with his friends, and the rest of us went to a Royal Host for dinner. I was feeling kinda crappy, but still high. It's pretty fun doing a concert without a happi, since you don't get hot and it doesn't get in the way. Also, there isn't any pressure. A lot of the discontent I feel at a concert stems from trying to make myself visible to Hekiru (a rather hard task when you are in the back of the hall). Without the happi, I can just enjoy myself, and it doesn't matter if she can't see me or I can't see her. Which comes down to the same problem... Do I have the courage to continue attending concerts where I am just another one of the crowd? Or to put it another way, what are my reasons for attending a concert? I want to show Hekiru that I am there. But with that comes the hubris that if she doesn't see me, it would make a difference. It doesn't, and I have to learn to accept that. A bitter pill to swallow, but one that I must, if I want to keep my ego down to a manageable level. Ugh, this isn't much of a report anymore.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Nagoya Century Hall 3/05/99 Matsui-san drove Matora-san, Yasuda-san and me to Nagoya. Matora-san was going straight to Fukuoka after, so it was only the three of us on the return trip. I completely forgot about the P-Stock program that was scheduled to be shown that night. It was past 3am when we reached Hiyoshi and Yasuda-san and I had to wait until the first train so that he could go back to his office. I had a temperature that day, and felt less than ideal, but I was in a good mood when we reached Nagoya. Nakano-san and Haraguchi-san, Sho-chan perhaps... The Oda brothers were there, and so was Dai-chan... Well, Nagoya being Nagoya, I didn't expect too much, but still, having Hekiru forget the lyrics to Atarashii Kaze and Moon Light (or was it Race Queen), and look extremely nonchalant about the whole thing was kinda, well, not good. I felt quite sick a bit into the concert, and spent Ganbare leaning against the wall. (Thank heavens for a Row 27 No.1 seat.) But during fly away I accidently overdid things and knocked my glasses off. Fly away, o glasses, fly away... To the seat in front. The worst thing was, couldn't find them, and the guy in front couldn't either. So I spent the rest of the concert glassesless and praying that they would not be trod on by anyone. Still, I didn't think it was a terrible concert, and I had fun even though I couldn't see anything. Goes to show that you can enjoy a concert even if, for example, you had such a terrible seat that you couldn't see a thing. I only regretted not being able to see Hekiru's expression at the end, although I am told that I didn't miss much and was probably better off. Well, what can I say. It's Nagoya... On the way back, I suddenly realized I forgot to tape P-Stock. But then I found out later that it was 4 minutes long and the content was less than pleasing. But all in all, I don't regret going at all. I doubt I would ever regret attending a Hekiru concert, no matter how bad the crowd or the performance. When you think about it, that's about the only time you can see Hekiru. And I'd want every chance I can get, be it her good side or her bad. Because it is all Hekiru.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Fukuoka Sunpalace 3/07/99 Took the 8:30am plane to Fukuoka. It was the same plane as OneMore-kun and when I arrived I met up with him. He had planned to go to the park where the jacket for Moon Light was shot, and to a cafe called Ribbon where Hekiru had ordered pancakes and coffee during the Face to Face campaign last year. ^^; Since the weather was rather uninviting, we decided to skip the sea and head to the cafe instead. It was a long walk but we finally made it. It was in the basement of a building... EGADS! It was closed! Oh! The pain! Closed on a Sunday... Ugh. It was probably because it was in the basement of a bank, which closes on weekends. OneMore was really crushed but we mosied on to Fukuoka Sunpalace. I wanted to get a tanoshimi bukuro as well as sell my extra tickets. OneMore had 4 adjoining seats in the 4th row, and Matora-san, Yasuda-san and I collectively relieved him of said seats. >:) The tanoshimi bukuro was a long wait. Haragucchan, Sho-chan, Hide and.. uh... shoot, don't remember the other person showed up and asked me to join in their photo shikishi. Took some polaroid shots ("want you!" pose for me, "shinya and shiina" for them wackos) and pasted them on a signboard and added some messages. I think it turned it really well. Kudos to that lot for a great idea. Oh, and the tanoshimi bukuro turned out to be a drum bag, both pamphlets from last year, the black T-shirt for the summer, and a blue bandana. Sounds lucky, but what I really wanted was the pamphlets and the paper bag!! Well, I guess I can't complain too much with the drum bag... It started raining around 3 or so, and we took shelter in the cafe in the hotel next door. Haragucchan let us in on the secret coin lockers (free!) on the second floor. Lifesaver... So we passed the time. Saw Matora-san. The guy had flown in from Nagoya that morning. Seems that the Nagoya bunch had a rather, um, interesting time. Roasting uiros on an open fire and such... For all of us, Fukuoka was more or less the final, since we really didn't expect much out of the Tokyo concerts. (Oh, how very wrong we were, it turns out. Forgive our cynicism, Hekiru and fans.) But in the previous tours, Fukuoka had always been a special place where Hekiru (or just the staff) do something weird and original. In SL96SS, Odorundesu was born. In SL98Bbe, Hekiru, unbeknownst to all the fans, dressed up in a bear outfit and handed out fliers to people, bonking a few on the head and bear-hugging a couple. (Oh! The cries of surprise of those who had felt that they had been victimized, when the real identity of the perpetrator was revealed during the 4179*LOVE event May '98.) Getting back to Fukuoka, we all looked forward to this concert as the last "good" one of the lot. And it was. To be honest, I was disappointed because there was nothing speicla this time, but it was a good live. The 4 of us had a great time in our own little corner of the concert hall. Hekiru looked a little tired at first but she really picked up. She did do something that wasn't in any other concert this tour - she held a band members corner where each member talked a bit about themselves. Since I was booked on the 9:10pm flight this sort of worried me. ^^;; Ah, it was great fun. Towards the end, Hekiru came by a few times and I think we caught her eye. Whether in a good way or not, we shall never know. ^^;; When she asked "Onna no ko-chan, genki?!" I jumped up and screamed "HAI!!!" And Hekiru gave this weird look and was like, uh, okay, next. Doh! ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;; Later Action said I should've added something more to the end of the scream... Ahem. Hekiru did look like she was in a really good mood. Then, at the end of the live, after the "WANT YOU!!", Hekiru waved to everyone, touched the hands of the people in front, and when we thought she was done, she went to the center of the stage, to the back, took a run and a jump, and blew everyone a kiss! Dash Nage Kiss!!! Woo woo!! Ah, this was a good live. Made the plane fine, although do to various factors I had barely enough money left to take the train home (like 20yen left over). Still, Fukuoka was a good one. It's lives like that that we travel the country for. It's lives like that that we want to see, to enjoy, to feel, to create together to Hekiru. Let's all have fun, people. There's a Legend to be made!! PS, Matora-san hit his head on the seat in front, quite hard. I think he said it was during the third beat of that part in Graduater. *tsk tsk* Even I don't hit my head on the seat... Although I've hit my hand hard enough to cause a little bleeding, and bruised my knees completely black and blue, and sent my glasses flying a few times... Heh. Are Hekiru fans that bad?

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at Omiya Sonic City 3/13/99 It was Hekiru's birthday the day before. I gave a small present and a letter, and a few of us got together to chip in to get a flower arrangement. Before the live, some other fans came around with a plan for everyone to wish Hekiru Happy Birthday after the encore. At that time, I was rather dubious of its potential for success, but during the live, a lot of people chanted it together and Hekiru was so surprised... She asked if everyone have got together to plan it. Nobu-K began playing the tune to Happy Birthday and everyone sang it together. Hekiru was moved almost to tears... Why was I so suspicious of the plan? Why did I feel so aloof? I should have supported it whole-heartedly. And I never even noticed that Hekiru's expression... I knew she was happy, but I just kept doubting and reading more out of the whole thing than there really was. I'm such a fool sometimes. I just want Hekiru to be happy, yet I can't believe that she can be happy. What kind of a fan am I, anyway, if I can't even believe in that? I felt a little disgusted with myself that day. Sometimes, we should just take things at face value. ... For the MC, Hekiru talked about how when she was in Fukuoka, she saw a TV show, a human documentary, about two brothers who had been abandoned by their mother. They had a really hard life, but they grew up not hating her, but instead hoping to be reunited with her again someday. And when the camera went into the room of the younger brother, there sat two guitars. Hekiru was really moved by that. She said that at that time, it hit her that as long as someone has music to lean on, they would not go astray. She sat there with tears streaming down her face, watching the show. At the end, Hekiru thanked the audience for their support. She said, "Minna dai suki!" and before she left the stage she threw everyone a kiss ala Fukuoka. I just have to keep remembering, there are only a few bad fans among the thousands and thousands that come to see Hekiru. Most people really do like her and would not knowingly hurt her. They are just there to have fun, and give their support as best they can. And I am not "better" than them. In fact, after today, I know that I am worse, because I couldn't accept that fact that they could make Hekiru so happy. And she was... PS, I have stopped wearing my happi. It's time to become a better person.

Starting Legend '99 ~Face to Face~ Concert Tour Report Shiina Hekiru at NHK Hall 3/14/99 Starting Legend 1999 Face to Face tour final, NHK Hall. I had a set of 4 seats on the right side of the second floor, to the back. Masa, Matora, Action and I were supposed to there, but Haragucchan had 4 extra seats, so Action and Yuusuke took those. Before the concert began, WantYou came by seeking refuge from the Konpeki crowd, so it was the four of us. Matora-san had requested the aisle seat, and next was me, then Masa then WantYou. I felt sorry for WantYou because he was closest to a very noisy, annoying crowd. In the end, Matora-san got the aisle, but he never got a seat. ^^;; The whole concert was great fun. I kicked Matora-san out into the aisle where he didn't seem to mind a bit, and since no-one came along he spent the whole time there, except for the ballads of course. We head-banged, jumped, shouted and sang to our hearts content. It was the last concert, and I tried to burn the images of Hekiru in my mind, but in the end I just shut my eyes and moved with the music. I still hardly remember many parts of the live because I've only really watched them a few times. But how can you stand still and just watch when the music is pounding through you? I don't regret not seeing much of Hekiru this tour. During the MC, Hekiru asked each band member for a comment on what he or she felt was a memorable moment during the tour. Most of them talked about the time they spent at an arcade between Nagoya and Fukuoka. After they were done, Hekiru said that she would tell her own feelings about this tour, but only after the concert was done and it was truly the end of the tour. There were really annoying people screaming "He-kiru!" throughout the concert, but to be honest, that doesn't really bother me that much. It's true that it can get so bad that you can't even hear Hekiru's singing, but in a sense, everyone is entitled to their freedom of expression. I can hardly say that singing at the top my my lungs is the most considerate thing either, and so before I criticise others, I had best sort myself out. But enough of that sort of thing. Today was the concert final, and Hekiru really went all out, and the crowd was in a frenzy. I think Hekiru was really happy today. I think she really, truly gave it her best, and it showed. You could feel it, the energy in the air, the power from the stage. After the encore was over and before the Want You!, the band and Hekiru gathered in front of the stage as usual for their bows, someone (who? I give my thanks...) cried out, "Encore!" And in a flash, the entire hall had taken up the call. Surprise on Hekiru's face, a moment's hesitation as all 3500 fans called out for more, and finally, "OK!" We cheered, and Hekiru and the band huddled up for a conference. The camera zoomed in and you could see Hekiru's face, covered in a sheen of perspiration, serious as she debated. What would she sing? I called for Infinity, even though I knew it was out of the question for the band since Mario had not been at the summer tour. In a few minutes, the decision was made, and the band members went back to their places and Hekiru took up her mike. And... invisible It was "invisible" that Hekiru had decided upon. And suddenly I felt just a little ashamed for asking for Infinity, because when all is said and down, "Infinity" is the Hekiru of yesterday, and it is "invisible" that is the Hekiru of now. It was a wonderful 5 minutes. Ah, invisible the beginning and the end, and a new beginning in itself. If only it could be this way, every time. This is a live. This is a living creature, born and created by not just Hekiru and the staff, but by everyone standing in that hall. Something which should come naturally every time, but which I have hardly seen this tour. I am so glad that it happened finally, at the very last part. In the end, Hekiru never told us what her feeling were about this tour. I still wish I could have heard them, because I think she had something very important to say, made more important because she spoke not a single word about her feelings throughout this tour either during an MC or on radio or in an interview. But, I think I could live with "invisible". Hekiru might not be able to see the future, but she lives neither for the future nor in the past - she lives now. And that's not a bad answer at all. For me, the most memorable part of this concert, perhaps this tour, was the ending of Wakaranai Otoko. The four of us lined up, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see WantYou, Masa, and Matora, and of course myself, and Hekiru, moving together in step, left arm upwards and down, right arm upwards and down, and both arms up and down, head thrown back. At that moment, I was so happy to be not simply a Hekiru fan, but to be a Hekiru fan with friends like these. Starting Legend 1999 Face to Face, tour final. The end, and the beginning, again.