Asagi Diary
[June] Walking through puddles
…that is to say… it’s already June, and the first half of this year will soon be over. Time passes surprisingly quickly!
The time different between Japan and the EU is seven hours, so when we went it felt like we were going back in time and kind of gained some advantage through it.
Although, going back home it felt like the opposite.
This is a bit late, but we could finish our three week European tour successfully and safely. I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to all the fans who came to see us, and to everyone who helped with the concerts.
Regardless of concert, all the fans were on fire and really into it - it was the best! There were also so many people who were really good at speaking Japanese, I was so surprised!
Those two things left the strongest impressions on me!
Seeing ‘Night-ship”D”‘ flags being waved during the concerts really made me happy!
I ended up thinking “I wonder where everyone learned this” when I saw that everyone head-banged perfectly in time to each and every song we played. (laughs)
Hearing the fans’ calling for us before the show, and then again “thank you” shouts after, got me and the band members exited. It made us very happy that we could feel that sensation abroad as well!
Our tour schedule was pretty tough every day and we didn’t get much time off, but because we could have so much fun during the shows,
I really enjoyed it!!
I also got to experience wonderful food, scenery and culture in every country we visited, it was really fun!
Although I couldn’t hide my surprise over the amount of food served. (laughs)
Also regarding Europe, I heard the song "Sleeper" was really famous and popular.
Of course I also love the song "Sleeper", and it’s a very important song for me, but since the lyrics and melody are pretty dark and sad, it felt oddly surprising (that it was so popular).
It’s not because you liked the suits, right? (laughs)
And then we received so much support and were driven around everywhere by the staff in each country, leaving them as well made me feel pretty sad.
Although we could only communicate with broken English, I managed to get my feelings and what I wanted to say across. So at the farewell party I felt a sharp twinge (of sadness) in my chest.
I had the same feeling on stage, especially when I realized how far some people were coming from. It reminded me of a strong sense of community.
Hearing “We want you to come back to Europe and do more live concerts!” from organizers, venue staff and fans really made me so happy.
I also really want to go back again! Experiencing the marvel of all the different countries has left a deep impression on me and now, I
feel I want us to spread our wings further and soar even higher.
I wrote this in my cell-phone blog, but towards the final stage I managed to lose some important props (laugh). And there were a few
incidents, but before we returned home we found the missing items and could return safely!
It seems like it’s quite common for luggage to go missing after you check it in at the airport, huh?
I hope that I, the other members and also the staff manage to keep a hold of our luggage on our trip to the US!!
Before going to Europe I had so many thoughts, thinking I wouldn’t be able to get used to the new environment, but now I’m thinking “Why on Earth did I think that?” (laughs)
This first trip was three weeks, so our next trip for A-KON in the US feels so short!
Oh! As for all the presents, letters and banners we received in each place, they have all returned with us home to Japan! (We had them sent separately, but it seems they have arrived safely!)
They’re still at the office at the moment, but since I live close by I’ll be taking them home soon!
The picture at the bottom of the page is one of the banners we received!
People wrote so much on it, thank you so much!
Europe is the best!
Our "Toumeihan" (Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka) Fan Club concerts in July will be in essence a "triumphal return" show, so I’m looking forward to it!
It’s a special concert so of course D will be working hard for it, and I hope all you fans will come and show us your love!
And also, from the end of July to August, we’ll be doing part 2 of our countrywide tour (here in Japan)!
As for the name, it’s "Torikagogoten ~L’Oiseau bleu~"!
It’s been ages since we’ve had a special sales option like this! (Live venue and official mail order as well as mail order from overseas will be available.)
During these last few years we’re not had many concerts across the country, have we?
I’m so happy that we’ll be able to meet those long awaiting fans!
With the romantic motive of the "Aoi tori (lit.: Blue Bird)", D would like to express the splendor we’ve experienced in the world.
The other day, I bought some goods for a photo shoot from a store in Sendai. Inside the box with the goods in it, there was a note.
It was a note of thanks and on it was written: “Sendai is working hard and has its eyes set on revival!” Reading this, the corners of my eye were filling up with tears.
Seeing everyone doing their best and giving it their all, I feel I have to keep working harder too!
The truth is that that although we really want to encourage and help the victims of the recent natural disaster, it feels like the opposite: they’re giving us the strength and motivation to keep going.
It feels like summer is already upon us and there are thoughts we have to express. And the blue birds will deliver our wishes to all areas of the country. Please wait for us, okay!
Well then, I wrote this diary on the 7th of June, so we’re leaving for the US very soon!
Our stay in Europe was quite long, so this time it doesn’t seem like we’ll be as nervous before departure.
For the concerts we’ll be going to the US state of Texas, the city of Dallas’s…somewhere or other! (laughs)
I did some research on the area and it seems like the highest temperature recorded in June was around 33C and the lowest 22C, but since it’s pretty arid I suspect that it’ll be a lot more pleasant than Japan’s rainy season!
I hope that we, the band, our staff and everyone can return safely to Japan again after our performances!
We’ll do our best to become Japanese Cowboys! (laughs)
And to American D fans, just wait a little bit more, we’ll be with you very soon!
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