Sukekiyo in Finland

It was full surprise to hear Sukekiyo coming to Europe. Band haven't been existing long but surely being Dir en Grey's Kyo's solo project, band would get attention. 

As for me, I never have been fan of Dir en Grey, even though I do listen them at rare times and seen them few times live.

The day was surprising warm to be September. Since, I had VIP ticket to the show, I had to arrive earlier. There were around 10 VIPs and it seemed not many had heard about the VIP tickets. I can't complain because most of us talked with each other, even when most of us didn't knew each other.

We got in hour or so before regulars. VIPs bought whatever they wanted and left jackets and bags to cloakroom.  Also, we got VIP passes, randomly chosen polaroid and cd with autographs. Polaroids were taken by Kyo... and well, you can see he did used his free will to take random photos.
While waiting permission to go upstairs, where the stage area was staff lady talked with us, mostly only questions. She did ask who were Dir en Grey fan and who was fan of Kyo. I laughed finding it little to notice that I seemed to be only fan of long time disbanded band Rentrer en Soi. As I stated that to friend who was with me, merchandise table lady gave me surprised gaze.

Sukekiyo live was so much fun. Thank you♪ #sukekiyo #nosturi #finland #kyo #takumi #mika #live #concert #japan #vip #polaroid

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi 15. 09ta 2014 klo 12.40 PDT

In the stage area, we didn't had to wait long till band members started to come to the stage. They played 2 or 3 songs while just chilling on the stage  in their own clothes and checking if their equipments were working right. Many of us had been talking whether Kyo would show up at all or not, because when Dir en grey had been doing VIP thing, such as taking photos with fans; Kyo had been missing whole time. At first it was only members who played their instrument but eventually to our surprise Kyo walked on stage wearing green sweater. 

Before they walked away, Kyo took good look at us and sort of greeted us. I don't remember if he said something like "oi" "hi" etc... or was it just greeting with movement of his head. Kind of like single nod. Please tell me if you know proper name for it. We greeted back..partially, cause it was also amusing us. Such a special treat from Kyo.

One thing I was truly surprised was the fact that people in crowd weren't pushing at all. It was easy to enjoy whole live from the first row.  I hope this kind of act would continue but I have doubts... 

Through the live there, weren't any speaks, that I can remember at least. Last thing Kyo said before live came to end was good night in Japanese. "oyasuminasai."

I did enjoy the live, I could even say it was better than those Dir en Grey lives I have went to but then again both of these are different kind of music. And, I'm not fan of the other one.

Set list:
destrudo
elisabeth addict
aftermath
latour
nine melted fiction
the daemon's cutlery
Intermission
ameagari no yuushi
hidden one
zephyr
scars like velvet
hemimetabolism
uyuu no sora
304 goushitsu, shita to yoru
vandal
madaraningen
kugui
mama
Encore:
in all weathers

Takumi's official blog

  

From Sukekiyo's official twitter

Last entry for now. Till next time~

Sorry for really late last entry about latest trip to Japan.

Few days before leaving Japan behind went to Kyoto for a day. It was going to be quite busy day, even in the end it felt like we could just easily roam around Kyoto in peace.
First went to Scenery train in Saga Torokko Station, one way cost 600yen. Sure it was quite a lot for one way ride. I don't remember how long the ride was but sceneries were nice. Sad to say that it wasn't as quite impressive as I thought it would be. Maybe the reason for it was that I live in country where are normally lots of trees and forests and rivers/lakes. I would like to go on it again but only in Sakura time.

Scenery train #throwback #kyoto #japan #日本 #京都市 #travel

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Joulu 28, 2014 at 10:39 PST

Middle of nowhere. #middleofnowhere #japan #somewhere #mountains #field

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 15, 2014 at 9:01 PDT

Because we didn't bought both ways train ticket we ended up in middle of fields. It was peaceful feeling to be out of the city for a moment. There were no constant noise and you could easily see far away.
We took JR train back to Saga Torokko, just because wanted to visit Bamboo forest. Only minus for it was that there were few cars driving by in already narrow roads. It ended quite fast but I could enjoy it. Haven't never walked next to living bamboos which was nice experience.

Bamboo forest. #bamboo #forest #kyoto #japan #green

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 15, 2014 at 9:32 PDT

Last but not least place was Inari shrine and Torii gates. It was quite late when we arrived, it had gotten darker. I had read that in around the middle of Torii gates you wish you wouldn't have gone there. That it was long but in the end it didn't even felt long. I truly enjoyed walking through it.
As friend and I were walking through Torii gates it had started to drop few rain drops and slowly getting bigger. Soon it was pouring rain. We had to laugh, it was so our luck that in some point in Kyoto it would start raining. I had said in some former entries when I were in Golden pavilion that there would always rain something, whether it was rain or lightly snowing.
Finally making through Torii gates we had soaked socks but it didn't matter much. In Japan it can be warm weather even when it is raining but in my country, most of the cases when it rains it also gets colder.

Temple #temple #inari #japan #travel #kyoto #evening

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 15, 2014 at 9:35 PDT

Torii gates #toriigates #kyoto #japan #travel #goodtimes #evening

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 15, 2014 at 9:38 PDT

Happiest horror day

Something what I have been planning and wanting to go and do for a long time happened in last trip. Fuji-Q Highland. The Road there was quite a long and part of the road felt like it was middle of nowhere. But like the name already says Fuji, the amusement park is really close to mountain Fuji.

It was past 12 o'clock as we arrived. And, cause of that we were in a bit of hurry. While buying the entrance ticket, there were so called time table in visible of how long lines were. Quickly pondering the things we wanted to try out. 1st thing was must Haunted Hospital.

Haunted hospital. The beat haunted house ever. Zombies and having nearly heart attack. #fuhiqhighland #fujiq #haunted #hauntedhouse #hauntedhospital #best #zombie

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 8, 2014 at 8:53 PDT

Just by looking from outside, the building was really well made. It really looked like it had been there for years empty. The reason besides it was must go was the fact that line was ridiculous long.... We had to wait 3 hours to get in!!! It even started to rain pouring down for a most part of the lining time, lucky us knew that rain might happen so, we had umbrellas with us..but think of big  amount of other people having umbrellas with them.... it was hard to keep yourself from getting wet.
As we finally could enter we had soaking wet shoes but for some reason it didn't bother us at all. I was far too anxious to get in the house.
10 different sizes groups were taken in at the same time but if you were alone, you couldn't enter or if your group were bigger than size 6, one of your group members had to be left behind.
There were introduction of rules inside before getting the scary part, and yes they had it even in English...but yeah it was piece of laminated paper.
I'm not going to tell much about the place in case someone is planning to go there, etc.
There were narrow corridors and corners and empty rooms, which were part of covered with curtains. There even were holes in a walls where someone could come and grab your leg... I have never ever laughed like a nutcase and screamed at the same time. It felt like I was going to have a heart attack middle of it. (NOTICE: It is allowed to quit middle of the way if it gets too much for someone)  I wanted to go whole way, even it felt it was going to be too much. It also felt like I was part of horror movie which I knew was fake.
 There were couple other groups we alternate who went first. Group of two younger girls and bigger group of foreigners (6 or 5 persons) and us...in total 3 groups. We ended up finishing the Haunted Hospital together.

Scenery of Fuji Q Highland. #fujiq #fujiqhighland #japan #fuji #scenery #amusementpark

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 8, 2014 at 8:58 PDT

Next was Fujiyama Roller Coaster.  It was already late evening when managed to get in line for this but this time line was much more shorter.  And as the time went on while waiting it started to get foggy. The fog had this burned scent in it, most likely it came from the mountain Fuji. I guess.
Fujiyama had been the world fastest roller coaster back in a day. There were this World Record plate placed on the wall.
As the line got shorter, thought started to ran through my head. 'Was this such a good idea..?' It was really foggy and you couldn't see where you were going.
As we were waiting it get higher and higher...it visibly was not such a good idea, top height was 79M from the ground till it started to drop down with a really fast speed. Never ever have my mouth been dry after screaming... but I was and still am really happy that I went both of these places. Maybe I will go once again there but to different ones. Only time will tell.

Went to Fujiyama when it wad foggy and couldn't see much where you were going. #fujiqhighland #fuji #fujiyama #rollercoaster #foggy #japan #goodtimes

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 8, 2014 at 9:06 PDT

Rilakkuma x Tower Records Cafe

From July 10 to August 17, Shibuya Tower Records Cafe were helding Rilakkuma theme.  When I first heard of this, I instantly wanted to go and try it, at least once.
First day when I tried to get in to cafe in the Shibuya's Tower Records building, only 1st floor was open and highest as well. I'm not 100% sure what was the reason why upper floors were closed but just to amuse ourselves we went to highest floor without actually taking notice what was in it...  (^^;) There were the exhibition going on about Alice nine. I don't remember the entrance price for sure but it was something like 500yen. Since I'm not anymore interested of Alice nine, I didn't even wanted to go in.

Another sunny and hot day, it were decided to give another shot for the cafe and as arriving to 1st floor, for my enjoyment people could enter once again to the Rilakkuma Cafe.

It was around midday we went there but had to wait to get in because cafe was full, even it didn't seem so. What I mean that there were quite a few free seats but maybe staff wanted to keep customers privacy  and not get anyone too close or something... Next to the entrance door there was placed HUGE Rilakkuma sitting in a chair. (It looked like fat lazy ass teddy bear.lolol)
Anyway, the wait was around 15mins to 30mins, not too long. As staff member guided us to table, she said that we had only 1 hour time to enjoy and eat.

It was so cute looking around the cafe.
I bought peach ice tea and these two lovely things. Don't remember exact prices but paid in total around 2500yen Quite expensive but it was worth of it. Both of those were delicious!

#cute #rilakkuma #teddy #drink #towerrecords #cafe #shibuya

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 8, 2014 at 8:42 PDT

Went to Rilakkuma cafe ♪♪#towerrecords #rilakkuma #cafe #cute #teddy #food #limitedtime

Kuva, jonka Urtsi (@urtsihell) julkaisi Elo 8, 2014 at 8:03 PDT

Changes in weather.

Around end of July till mid August there were typhoon warning going around but it wasn't in area where I was. Luckily. It was typhoon Halong.
It wasn't first time for me to experience typhoon. Areas where I was had only lots of rain coming down and wind since it was further away from the area where it would hit.
Worst wheather what I got from typhoon Halong was when I traveled to Hamamatsu one day. They had promised pouring rain but in the end it didn't rain almost at all but it sure was windy. In the evening around 10PM I left Hamamatsu and it sitll didn't rain much but after getting back to Tokyo I saw next morning photo which was taken from a car. Rain was pouring big time down somewhere between Hamamatsu and Tokyo. I'm happy I could survive in one piece from that. It could have been  a lot worse.

In Finland we don't have typhoons or earthquakes. So, all those were new to me back in a day when I first time came to Japan. We just have 4 different seasons... and I hate the longest one.

First time experiencing typhoon was back in a July 2011. At the time it was much closer to Tokyo and could feel the wind blowing from right and left and forward and also from behind. It was really hard at times to keep umbrella straight.
Bad weather in that trip started when road was taking me and friends to Osaka. It did rain almost constantly as we stayed in Osaka for a week.
Also, in July I experienced first earthquake. It was the very last night before we would leave Tokyo behind and go back to Finland.  I woke up as the house was shaking, the first thing I thought were 'Who is shaking the bed???' and 'Why are walls moving??' it took me awhile because of my slumber to realize it was earthquake. We laughed about it in the morning

In March 2011 there were big tsunami as most of you know (Tohoku earthquake) which made me nervous and anxious if it even was possible to go to Japan in summer but I did get to go and so I did later in 2011.

I went back to Japan December and stayed till next year. Nothing too interesting happened but as I was leaving Harajuku, I was surprised that other side of the station's platforms were closed...Yes, the side which I should had been going. I had to made my way to other train and go longer way back to hotel where I was staying with friends. I don't remember how many magnitudes there were but it wasn't small. What is surprising in this, is that I never felt it and, because of that I was surprised to see what happened in Harajuku's train station.

November-December 2012 I was staying month in Kunitachi. Yeah, it was further away from Tokyo, Japanese person would say it is country side. (took 30min to Shinjuku and to Tokyo 45min by train) Don't remember exact date but it was around 5AM to 5:30AM as I felt eartquake which wasn't small. It woke me up and since it was quite big and seemed to last long time...well, at least for me who isn't used to such a things.  One of my thoughts were something along like 'Is it tsunami all over again?!'
After it ended, I fell quite quick asleep again but woke about 30-40 minutes later as earth shook again. This ended up getting me even more nervous but since it was far smaller, I hoped it would end up being after shocks of the Tohoku earthquake which the news were talking about that those would happen for a long time till after the Tohoku earthquake.
Later as friend and I woke up, we looked in the news and saw that there had been 1 meter high tsunami in somewhere above Tokyo but more closer to Sendai prefecture.

Back in Tokyo

After leaving Nagoya and arriving to Tokyo (29 July), first thing we did was head to hotel where we were staying. It was much better than Nagoya's own but to our surprise the room we stayed in was quite small. We even thought that maybe we should change the place to somewhere else but first we gave a try for this place. In the end we stayed there whole time. And, yes I know Japanese houses are usually smaller than western style houses/rooms. Room was in top floor and of course there were no elevator...I hate to drag luggages in narrow stairs!

Even the numerous times I have been in Japan, this was first time I saw rockabillys. It was interesting to say at least. I was surprised by the fact that there was one younger kid among them. He wasn't left in shadows of older rockabillys.

As well went to imperial palace in Tokyo for the first time. It was pretty but burning hot day wasn't such a nice when walking in area covered with small rocks and one line of asphalt without trees to give any kind of shadow.

Ladataan

Tokyo; Imperial palace #imperialpalace #tokyo #japan #palace #travel

Näytä Instagramissa

Soon was about to be second live of the GazettE 31 July at Tsutaya O-EAST and third the GazettE live was tour final 4 August at Studio Coast.
Both lives were great and won't regret going in them.
Only thing I wonder a bit is the fact that in March tour final there were video cameras and once again in this tour final there were cameras too. Will they release something after last and third HERESY only tour will end? or will it those videos be for their own personal use...?

Tsutaya O-EAST. Photo taken by the GazettE staff.

Studio Coast. Photo taken by the GazettE staff.

In the tour final live there were on display the GazettE's newest collaboration with Walkman products. 

Couple days before the HERESY tour was coming to end there was announcement but this time it only included vocalist, Ruki from the band. He was releasing brand named [VITAL MATERIAL] and there were going to be exhibition for the stuff on 9 and 10 of August. 

Exhibition got my attention soon as I saw it because it had been too long since I've done anything like this and being a the GazettE fan I wanted to go. 

The area where exhibition was held was small but they let in only small number of people stay in the area. As soon as some left, new people were let in...and so on. Because of that it easy to explore what kind of stuff there was. There were all the cosmetic stuff on show, all the bottles and such. Front of those bottles were smaller glass bottles which held inside cotton ball with the scent of the products. Going around and smelling out every cotton ball there was, I only came to one conclusion which was that I would love to buy all of those, even they were quite expensive. 

[Official site:] http://vitalmaterial.com/ 

More photos of the show in my instagram account.

Ladataan

#vitalmaterial #ruki #thegazette #japan #tokyo

Näytä Instagramissa

Nagoya road trip

It hadn't been long time since last trip to Japan and once again I set foot on the plane which took me to Japan, but this time didn't flew to Tokyo. Instead flew to Nagoya where was planned to stay few nights.
Friend and I arrived to Nagoya on 26th of July, and we took a risk by choosing not so good hostel to stay at. It turned out to be pretty nice with few minuses. Air condition didn't work properly but we had two fans also which made it rather ok.
On the day we set foot in Japan was really hot day, really humid and hot, close to 38C or maybe even slightly above it. Too hot even for Japanese people. Such a nice way to start vacation, right? (laughs) Had to took shower at least couple times on that day.

Still remember how feet were burning through the shoes while waiting traffic lights to turn green. And got my only sunburn on the way to hostel. It is and still is slightly seen as a tanned skin close to my shoulder.

Next day was pretty much roaming around the city and seeing Nagoya better. Surely been in Nagoya before but this time we actually stayed there longer than a daytime. We were already outside of the hostel at 8AM. Still to this day I can't understand how we did it because second day is always hardest to get up and get going. Jet lag but this time there was none.
Even when we had left outside early, we came back to hostel around 6 to 8PM
Originally second day plans were different but we talked about it and agreed it was better if we changed them and not go to Osaka or Kyoto yet.

Third day was something I was waiting for, it was once again time for the GazettE live but this time they would play songs from albums Stacked Rubbish and DIM. Goods selling was actually held inside of the live arena which was great decision in that weather. Also, it was good that other days weren't as hot as first one was. Usually weather would reach 33C on days and on nights 26/27C

Actually taken in Tokyo but same photo nonetheless. 

Caught Kai's drumstick. I'm happy~!

Photo taken by the GazettE staff.

The GazettE - HERESY LIMITED STANDING LIVE TOUR14- PULSE WRIGGLING TO DIM SCENE ZEPP NAGOYA 28-07 unofficial set list

01 Hakuri ( 剥離 )
02 The invisible wall
03 Leech
04 Cockroach 
05 Mob 136 Bars
06 Before I decay
07 Ganges ni akai bara ( ガンジスに紅い薔薇 )
08 Shiroki yuutsu( 白き憂鬱 )
09 Nakigahara ( 泣ヶ原 )
10 Dim scene
11 13 Stairs[-]1
12 A Moth Under the Skin
13 In The Middle Of Chaos
14 Headache man
15 OGRE
16 Linda ~Candydive Pinky Heaven~
17 Kantou dogeza kumiai ( 関東土下座組合 )

ENCORE
E01 Ride with the rockers
E02 Ruder
E03 Discharge

Day after the the GazettE live we traveled to Tokyo where we would stay till we would leave Japan behind. For some odd reason it seems almost every time next morning after the GazettE live I've to travel somewhere, either it's inside in Japan or to airport.