On Sunday, December 19, 2010, I went to my first ever Eikichi Yazawa concert. This may mean nothing to my American friends who probably don't know who the hell he is in the first place, but does impress my Japanese friends as tickets are hard to come by and sell out quickly. Yazawa is now in his 60s and still rocking, you could perhaps call him the Mick Jagger of Japan (I'm sure Yazawa fans may disagree though, but that should give you an idea of how popular he is). The fact that he can do five consecutive shows at Budokan must also tell you something. So, how did I manage this feat? Originally, I was going to join my wife and sister-in-law and check out the Korean pop band FT Island who were playing the same night in a small venue called the JCB Hall near the Tokyo Dome. Mikako had scored two tickets to the show through their fan club. Trying to get one more ticket through other channels proved to be a fruitless endeavor. But we have a friend who is a big fan of Yazawa who goes to his show every year and I had mentioned to him and Mikako how I wanted to see Yazawa in concert at least once in my lifetime. And he came through with a ticket for me!
Deko Tora (Decoration Truck) / デコトラ （凄いでしょう？）
There is one other must-have item for a Yazawa concert. That would be an Ei-chan towel. In one of his songs, usually the encore, there is section in the song where everyone at the show will throw their Yazawa towel into the air. Strange, but interesting and my friend who got my ticket for me was kind enough to buy me an Ei-chan towel as well.
Me with my Ei-chan towel / 永ちゃんタオルゲット
２０１０年、１２月１９日、日曜日、私が初めての矢沢永吉のライブを見に行きました。アメリカの友達なら誰でも知らないと思いますが、日本人の友達なら、スゲ～しか言えない。なぜならば、超人気で、チケットを手に入るのも結構苦労しますから。矢沢も還暦なのに、今でもロックをつづいてます！カッコイイと言うしかない。毎年の年末、武道館で５日連続でライブを行う！それを知ると矢沢の凄さが分かるでしょう。さて、どうやって矢沢のライブに行けたのかって？ 同じ日に東京ドームの近くのJCBホールで韓国のポップバンドFT Islandのライブもあった。本当は美香子と美香子の妹と一緒に行く予定だったが、FT Islandの現在の人気ぷりでこのライブのチケットも取るのは難しい。美香子はFTのファンクラブの入って、チケットを注文した。ファンクラブのメンバーでも抽選で当選するかどうかも分からない。美香子の運が良かった上で２枚も取りました（メンバーは２枚までしか買えない制限もあった）。もう一枚取ろうとしましたが、やっぱり無理がありました。そこで、僕の友達が大の矢沢ファンで毎年年末のライブを行ってる。以前にその友達に僕も一回位は矢沢のライブを見たいなと言った。そして、それが叶ったわけです。
But what makes a Yazawa show so different from another shows is his fan base. Mostly young and middle-age men you would not want to introduce to your daughters, with their feathered back hair a la James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" and their all white suits (or all red or all yellow). They are similar to fans of the Grateful Dead and travel around Japan following Yazawa and going to all of his shows. You can't miss them or their deko tora (decoration trucks) - see pic below. They may also remind you of bosozoku (biker gangs) as they gather around in a parking lot waving these large flags and chanting, "Ei-chan! Ei-chan! Ei-chan!"
永ちゃんライブは他のライブとは結構違うな。なぜと言えば、永ちゃんのファンが凄い！かかりたくない様な怖いオッサンたちばっかり。髪型もリーセントで着てる服も白いスーツとか。会場の駐車場で畠を振りながら、永ちゃんコールを叫んでる。全国の永ちゃんファンも集まるので、なんかの集団か分からない位迫力がある。永ちゃんが描いてるデコトラも多い！
Deko Tora (Decoration Truck) / デコトラ （凄いでしょう？）There is one other must-have item for a Yazawa concert. That would be an Ei-chan towel. In one of his songs, usually the encore, there is section in the song where everyone at the show will throw their Yazawa towel into the air. Strange, but interesting and my friend who got my ticket for me was kind enough to buy me an Ei-chan towel as well.
永ちゃんライブに吹かせないアイテムも必要だ。それは永チャンタオル。ある曲に観客が必ずタオルを上になぐる個所があって、結構不思議な風景が見られます。チケットを取ってくれた友達も僕にタオルを買ってくれた。
Me with my Ei-chan towel / 永ちゃんタオルゲット01. FLESH AND BLOOD
02. 闇を抜けて
03. ゴールドラッシュ
04. GET UP
05. shake me
06. 危険い女
07. 時間よ止まれ
08. 小悪魔ハニービー
09. オイそこのfriend
10. ずっとあの時のまま
11. 長い黒髪
12. 見つめ合うだけで
13. 居場所
14. HEY YOU・・・
15. ワニ革のスーツ
16. long good bye
17. コバルトの空
18. Ａ ＤＡＹ
19. ＹＯＵ
20. サイコーなRock You !
21. マブ
---encore---
22. 苦い雨
23. 止まらないＨａ～Ｈａ
24. アイラブユーＯＫ
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