Wagakki Band Packs 10 Years of Thanks Into Last Show Before Hiatus, Promises Fans to Meet Again

Wagakki Band’s Japan Tour 2024 THANKS – Yasou no Oto – came to a close on Dec. 10 at Tokyo Garden Theater. This year marks the eight-member group’s 10th anniversary, and in January it announced that the band would go on indefinite hiatus at the end of the year. With this tour, Wagakki Band will be putting its activities on hold for the time being. The band performed songs off its best-of album released in October, ALL TIME BEST ALBUM THANKS – Yasou no Oto -, with members conveying their gratitude to fans as the project’s title suggests and putting on a show representing the culmination of the decade of work together as a singular musical group.

As the members appeared one by one to the opening music “Overture – Yasou no Oto -,” the audience already showed signs of excitement. Once the members were in place, the set kicked off with the sound of the koto (Japanese harp) and the powerful rhythm of the wadaiko (Japanese drums) leading into “Rokuchounen-To-Ichiyamonogatari (Re-Recording).” The ensemble captivated the audience with its intense arrangements, while still allowing the individuality of each instrument to shine through. Perhaps because this was their last show together before taking a break as a band, the seriousness with which the members approached this performance was palpable.

Frontwoman Yuko Suzuhana (vocal) took a moment to hype up the crowd after the first number. “Today is the culmination of our 10th anniversary,” she said. “Everyone here, let’s all come together. Keep up!” The group then launched straight into “Valkyrie -Ikusa Otome-.” By this time, the members’ expressions had softened and it was clear they were trying to enjoy the show to the fullest. In their next track, “Aria of Life,” the band gradually built up the excitement in the venue with a performance featuring contrasts in tempo and emotive vocals.

“Today is probably a special day for you all, and it’ll be a special day for us too. Thank you for being here on this day that we’ll work together to create,” said Suzuhana. “Let’s all liven things up like a big year-end party.” The band then resumed the set with the serene track “Starlight (I vs I ver.).” The singer encouraged the audience to turn on the lights on their smartphones during “Queen of the Night” and the venue was bathed in dazzling light, creating a dreamy atmosphere combined with the dramatic music.

Midway through the show, the band members flaunted their colors during an instrumental section highlighting their musicianship. After Machiya (guitar & vocal) dazzled with a sparkling arpeggio followed by some percussive techniques, Kurona (wadaiko) joined in with his Oke Daiko (a kind of wadaiko) with a shoulder strap and Suzuhana performed a sword dance, creating an imaginative sight onstage. During the session, Kiyoshi Ibukuro (koto) also joined in with Shirasagi, a bunka-koto (compact koto) he produced, and the musicians boisterously showed off their skills in friendly rivalry. Then, Machiya, Asa (bass) and Wasabi (drums) wowed the crowd with their aggressive metal riffs, while Daisuke Kaminaga (shakuhachi) and Beni Ninagawa (Tsugaru shamisen) added their flourishes to dramatic effect.

The octet went on to perform songs including “The Beast,” which included time for the audience to take photos on their phones, “Perfect Blue,” featuring twin vocals by Suzuhana and Machiya, “Synchronicity,” and “Children Record.” They drew fans into their robust musical world with a wide range of songs like “Yoshiwara Lament” and “Sasameyuki (Re-Recording).” The set list mixing Vocaloid tracks and the band’s original numbers was truly a summary of Wagakki Band’s career. “We put together the set list based on requests of everyone’s favorite songs,” Suzuhana told the crowd. “Wagakki Band’s catalog includes rock-heavy numbers and elegant ballads, but no matter what we play, it always ends up being a Wagakki Band song. The music will continue to live on, so I hope you’ll continue to listen to and sing your favorite songs.” The band then performed the “Re-Recording” version of its first original song, “Hanabi,” featuring vocals evoking both glamour and transience backed by the band’s solid performance.

As the end of the main set approached, Kurona and Wasabi commenced their drum vs. wadaiko battle, now a regular feature of the band’s shows. Kurona hyped up the crowd, saying, “I want today to be the best battle cry of the decade,” and the audience responded by cheering loudly in time to the beat by the two drummers. The band then launched into “Kishikaisei (Re-Recording)” to the rhythm of the 3-3-7 beat, signaling the start of the show’s climax. During “Yukikageboushi,” fans spun towels above their heads, enhancing the feel of togetherness. The band went on to perform “Yasouemaki,” a track displaying the fruits of their years together as a group, and the main set ended with a flair with Wagakki Band’s signature number, “Senbonzakura (Re-Recording).”

The members returned to the stage as if led by the voices of the eager crowd singing “Akatsukino Ito.” Because this was the band’s last live show before going on hiatus, each member took turns expressing their current feelings. “Hard to believe we’re taking a break,” “I’m so glad I joined this band,” “Thank you for encountering us,” they voiced in unison. When Asa noted, “The eight of us together made a full-fledged team. We each had something missing, so we were able to stand by each other and fight together as a band,” Suzuhana responded by saying, “We were able to create so many miracles because the eight of us together made a full-fledged team.”

“There’s so much music in the world, so we thank you for finding and liking Wagakki Band,” she continued. “We’ll continue to struggle and survive in this world of music, so please keep supporting us.” The members then presented their fans with “GIFT,” a song filled with their feeling of gratitude. The venue was filled with smiles and tears as the song, promising a reunion rather than an end, came to a close.

Fans may be feeling sad right now, but as Suzuhana said at the end of the evening, “I think this view today will continue to support our lives from now on,” they can reminisce on the many miraculous moments they’ve seen over the years as they wait for the day the eight members converge again as the Wagakki Band.

This article by Tomokazu Nishibiro first appeared on Billboard Japan.

Wagakki Band Japan Tour 2024 THANKS – Yasou no Oto – Set List

Tuesday, Dec. 10, Tokyo Garden Theater

1. Overture – Yasou no Oto –

2. Rokuchounen-To-Ichiyamonogatari (Re-Recording)

3. Valkyrie -Ikusa Otome-

4. Aria of Life

5. Amenochi Kanjyoron (Re-Recording)

6. Starlight (I vs I ver.)

7. The Last Confession on Earth (Chikyuu saigo no kokuhaku wo)

8. Queen of the Night

9. Toono Monogatari Kyuu Yon

10. Toono Monogatari Go Go

11. Chie no Kakitsu

12. Homura

13. The Beast

14. Perfect Blue

15. Synchronicity

16. Children Record

17. Yoshiwara Lament

18. Sasameyuki (Re-Recording)

19. Hanabi (Re-Recording)

20. Effector Of Life

21. Drum vs. Wadaiko Battle – Ikusen no Onkai –

22. Kishikaisei (Re-Recording)

23. Yukikageboushi

24. Yasouemaki

25. Senbonzakura (Re-Recording)

Encore

1. Akatsukino Ito

2. Hoshizukiyo

3. GIFT