SEKAI NO OWARI held an arena tour through Japan and played three consecutive days at Saitama Super Arena.
SEKAI NO OWARI held an arena tour through Japan and played three consecutive days at Saitama Super Arena before leaving for the next venue. The rock band has made its major debut in 2011 with Inori and managed to sell out arenas already. With their current tour, Honou to mori no Carnival –Starland hen-, they let the audience enter the magical world of the band. On April 30th, about 15.000 people gathered in Saitama for the last show given in this arena.
An enormous tree with lights hanging in it was decorating the stage, the colors of the old tree bright and playful. At the sides of the stage smoke was coming out of pipes. The hall darkened and lights turned on and off, and a pounding sound could be heard. A video started playing, matching the sounds, but then there was a sudden break. White noise could be heard and there was a small flash, an electric shock on stage, before the video continued. Then the roof of the arena was covered in a starry sky and the intro music started playing.
Out of nowhere, the watches people were given at the entrance turned on, covering the whole arena with dots, and the lights on stage flashed on, the members ready to start their first song, Starlight Parade. The watches changed colors and gave the show an extra dimension. Not only was the attention directed towards the stage, but also at the audience who had a role during the show by wearing the watches. The effect it gave throughout the whole arena was breathtaking.
The screens showed the members, all wearing matching red clothes. Saori played the piano on a pedestal, smiling towards the camera while guitarist 1 walked around on stage, often standing on the furthest end of the stage, interacting with the crowd. DJ LOVE clapped his hands, the audience following his example soon enough, before turning his attention back to his mixing table. He entertained the mass whenever he could. Peace walked around on stage, sometimes pairing up with the guitarist, but also had a rocking chair on stage where he sometimes retreated to and sang his parts in peace and quiet.
Saori’s sweet piano melodies filled the arena, soon followed by a strong beat from DJ LOVE and 1 playing riffs, changing it to a more rock sound. Along with the vocals of Peace, they created an interesting music mix. The audience cheered immediately when the first accords of Love the warz were played. Suddenly, flames shot out and brightened the dark red and purple stage. The song was a mix of English and Japanese and the lyrics were often displayed on the screens next to the stage and subtitled in Japanese. The vocalist encouraged the audience to sing, the unified voices loud and clear, and Peace complimented them after singing their part, receiving some cheering because of it and then he continued.
SEKAI NO OWARI surprised the audience with some fine techniques. Not only did they use the watches to light the whole hall, but in Fantasy and Aoi Taiyou water fell from above and formed signs, patterns and lyrics. It surprised at first, but then everybody watched it in amazement. Seibutsugakuteki Gensoukyoku was upbeat and the screens showed a boy riding his bicycle. A delay was audible in the music and suddenly the power shut off, the whole venue turned quiet and dark. A radio turndc on for a news broadcast. Eventually a video started playing of the band members in animation form, discovering that DJ LOVE was missing. ‘Where is the love?’ was displayed on the screen, getting a laugh from the audience. Spotlights fixed on a platform above one of the screens where DJ LOVE was dancing and grabbed onto a long pole to slide down on to the stage to continue dancing. This time, he and his dance crew showed their moves. The lights in the arena flashed on when DJ LOVE pulled over a lever and the dancers left the stage.
The loud and hard beat of Death Disco kicked in and the audience clapped along with the rhythm. Projected on the tree were colorful patterns, the screens focusing on the members, but it was altered. Peace spoke out ‘Question’ and water in the shape of a question marks fell down and changed patterns. The effects were dramatic and fit in well with the song. With every song they played, they knew how to use the effects to give it that extra mind-blowing touch to the song. SEKAI NO OWARI had also shown some variety in the change of instruments: 1 played a few drums and a gong during a few songs, like in Pierrot where Saori replaced the guitar for an accordion and gave a light and cheerful feel to the song.
That merry feel was replaced by Gingagai no Akumu, dark and heavy, giving the audience goose bumps. The animation strengthened the feeling. The song was well brought and left the crowd impressed and quiet. SEKAI NO OWARI knew how to handle the songs and give them impact. They did that also in Fukai Mori. It started with a sweet piano melody that Saori played wonderfully, the rest filling in the song with their own parts. Fukai Mori felt danceable. However, the lyrics showed a whole different side than the happy piano melodies and 1’s cheery solo, and were bitter and dark.
With flashes, thunder and pounding rain, the encore was opened and they started with Honoo to Mori no Carnival. In between the songs they had a short MC, talking with each other about how they started out in live houses and were now playing in an arena. Soon towels were held the air, and even DJ LOVE swung his towel up. Peace left the stage to stand in the hall and walked around, giving handshakes to the fans who were ecstatic to get to touch him. The guitarist also hopped off the stage and joined Peace for a bit before they both returned to the stage. They ended the setlist with the upbeat Instant Radio. A cannon blew strings of confetti on the audience and bubbles filled the stage. The watches flashed on and changed color randomly while the crowd clapped along with the song.
The band thanked the audience and took their time waving to the crowd, saying their goodbyes to them. The show lasted over two hours and they gave it their all and had a great variety of songs. Danceable, melancholic, soft and sweet ones and ones that were more electronic, the audience moved from feeling to feeling during the set. The show was magical and showed all different sides of the band. With all the effects they used, they made the most out of playing in an arena, amazing the whole audience.
SEKAI NO OWARI’s completely sold out arena tour started on April 12th and ended in Hokkaido on June 21st.
Set List:
1. Starlight Parade
2. Nemuri Hime
3. Love the warz
4. Nijiiro no Sensou
MC
5. Fantasy
6. Katyo Fugetsu
7. Snow Magic Fantasy
8. Seibutsugakuteki Gensoukyoku
9. Death Disco
MC
10. Aoi Taiyou
11. Pierrot
12. Gingagai no Akumu
13. Maboroshi no Inochi
MC
14. yume
15. RPG
16. Fukai Mori
Encore
17. Honoo to Mori no Carnival
MC
18. Fight Music
19. Instant Radio
