Kanon Wakeshima Live at Sakura-Con 2012

Fans waited longer than expected but soon, the stage lights faded to darkness. Excitement grew in the air—every single person in the crowd knew that the moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived. Cheering and applause followed as Kanon Wakeshima gracefully stepped onto stage, wearing a simple white outfit and matching cream white accessories.

After a short but haunting prologue, Shakespeare no wasuremono, Kanon Wakeshima slipped right into her debut single from 2008, still doll. The opening eerie cello chords to the first song of the evening were played effortlessly. She sang the first half while standing, daintily stepping the length of the stage before sitting down at her white cello, Mikazuki-san. Kanon Wakeshima reached for the bow, waved it over the crowd like a wand and quickly played the cello part with intensity. Loud cheering arose at her fast playing during the instrumental portion of the song and once it was finished; she got to her feet and sung the next verse and chorus.

Upon the conclusion of the second song, Kanon Wakeshima bowed deeply and asked if everyone was having fun. She expressed her excitement for being in Seattle and asked everyone to give a warm welcome to her friends and accompanists on piano and violin as two additional people walked on stage.

Kagami, Kajitsu no keikoku and Odette contained several jazz elements: a faster, edgier piano line and a different note scale. At the end of Odette, the final line “Secret heart, my my little sky” sung in a capella was the only sound heard in the large auditorium—a very chilling moment. In Marmalade Sky she emphasized each word as if she were telling a story to the audience; she even conducted the pianist and violinist with her cello bow.

“Thank you” was a common phrase that night and a response Kanon Wakeshima used when fans shouted “we love you” and “ashiteru.” During a short break, she mentioned that she went to see the cute fish at the nearby Seattle Aquarium and asked the audience “what is popular in Seattle?” in clear English. Responses shouted were “Space Needle,” “fish”; many shouted “coffee” loudly. Kanon Wakeshima then said, “Let’s go to Space Needle…with everyone, together!” laughing as soon as she said it. She asked about popular food in the area (gaining similar responses) and replied with “I’m up for a challenge!”

Surprised that many members of the audience could speak Japanese well, Kanon Wakeshima then introduced the next few songs, The Dollhouse and Chocolate. The latter was a slower number with plucked violin and cello during the verses, causing the audience to sway gently with the music.

In the final song Princess Charleston, she asked that “if anyone knows this song, please sing along.” Many clapped along to the beat and cheered louder when she played an intricate melody on Mikazuki-san during the outro of the song, ending her time on stage. Kanon Wakeshima welcomed applause for her accompanists and said "thank you" to the audience again. She bowed deeply to each section of the audience at a time and finally thanked the audience again before stepping off stage.


Set List:

01. Shakespeare no wasuremono -Prologue-
02. still doll
03. Kagami
04. Kajitsu no keikoku
05. Odette
-MC-
06. Marmalade Sky
07. Celmisia
08. The Dollhouse
09. Chocolate
10. Waltz
11. Yoake
12. Princess Charleston