I went.
Verdict: a complete away game for me. Yeah.
Male to female ratio: roughly 2:8.
Over half were there for JUNSU/JEJUNG/YUCHUN.
Team color: orange.
It felt like accidentally walking into a Tohoshinki concert. That kind of atmosphere.
The moment anything related to them appeared on screen or stage — or even something that suggested them — the crowd erupted with a piercing cheer.
The person sitting in front of me showed up for their first-ever live show, seemed overwhelmed by the energy around them, and quietly disappeared at some point.
I may have been alone in feeling like the other artists looked like opening acts by comparison.
I did feel a bit sorry for them.
Anyway — a-nation ’10 was held on August 28 (Saturday) at Ajinomoto Stadium. The lineup:
Koda Kumi
GIRL NEXT DOOR
ICONIQ
WaT
50TA
AAA
Ami Suzuki
Do As Infinity
hitomi
mihimaru GT
JUNSU/JEJUNG/YUCHUN
TRF
Ayumi Hamasaki
THX A LOT
I knew quite a few of the artists and enjoyed it well enough.
Comparisons to Rockin’ are inevitable for me, but the whole concept is different, so.
· Arena seats are assigned seating, so you can’t roam freely — it doesn’t build into the front-rush energy you get elsewhere.
My theory: with a largely female crowd, that format probably can’t be changed.
· The PA mixing area is in the far right corner, so all arena seats face the same direction with no gaps.
· Stadium facilities are top-notch. Clear sightlines from the stands. Plenty of bathrooms. Keio Line means no post-show crush. Convenience stores nearby. In and out smoothly.
· The volume felt low for a live show. At LIVE FACTORY it was almost painfully loud, but a-nation felt quiet by comparison.
Maybe complaints from surrounding residents? But a live show without that physical thump feels like something’s missing.
Less a festival and more a concert with many acts taking turns.
A festival in name, sure. But nothing like Rockin’ or Fuji Rock.
Anyway — what stayed with me most was the sheer scale of Tohoshinki’s popularity. That was the real takeaway.
Note: photos inside the venue were completely prohibited, so there are none.
