KAMIJO brought a medieval European-style masquerade to Tokyo this Halloween.
KAMIJO hosted a special event called MASQUERADE on Halloween this year in celebration of the fifth anniversary of his solo career. Fans who were fortunate enough to receive invitation letters gathered at DANCE HALL Shinseiki. Some were dressed up in ball gowns, while others put on Japanese kimonos and Halloween costumes instead. Eager to experience one of KAMIJO’s unpredictable live events, the costumed fans entered the lavish dance hall.
Once they were inside, the fans saw the bar and buffet staff dressed in masks and ballroom dancers waltzing on the floor. The dancers escorted some fans to the ballroom, and they swayed to the classical background music. However, then the venue’s lights suddenly blacked out. A group of masked men dressed in black robes brought a coffin into the center of the ballroom. Lightning sound effects raised fans’ expectations for KAMIJO’s grand entrance, but what they saw next was simply an empty coffin. Some fans noticed KAMIJO standing on the stage mezzanine and pointed him out to the other attendees. “Let the MASQUERADE begin!” KAMIJO announced the start of the show.
Then, the narration brought fans into the story of Cinderella. In KAMIJO’s version of the tale, Cinderella longed to participate in the MASQUERADE and she was able to make her wish come true by agreeing to a contract offered by Count Saint-Germain, a character that also appears in the story of KAMIJO’s Sang Project. Fans watching the show from the lounge area were surprised by the sudden appearance of Cinderella, dressed in a mask and a blue dress. Fans experiencing the show live witnessed the famous scene of the heroine dancing with Prince Charming. Laughter filled the venue when Prince Charming asked KAMIJO where Cinderella had gone.
During the interval, one of the event’s special guests, JAGUAR, appeared on the stage. Fans’ exclamations of amazement filled the venue when they saw the staff carry JAGUAR riding on his special “JAGUARWAY” hand cart, which was decorated with illuminations and emergency vehicle lights. Some of the event staff followed him while carrying flags featuring his initial “J”. JAGUAR moved around the ballroom using his JAGUARWAY, drawing cheers from the fans. “Thank you, yeah!”, the rock star from the universe responded to the fans’ ovations.
Afterwards, Count Saint-Germain’s narration introduced the history of KAMIJO’s solo career and his reason for producing this show. He explained that KAMIJO wished to express his gratitude for his fans’ faithful support during the last five years. Warm applause filled the venue when fans saw KAMIJO walk into the ballroom. KAMIJO walked around and high-fived with his fans. He also gave some lucky fans the experience of a lifetime by actually dancing with them.
The next part of the show invited fans into the story of The Phantom of the Opera. Fans gazed at Christine and The Phantom as they danced to the famous theme song of the popular musical. Afterwards, MASQUERADE continued with the appearance of Emao Yu, a legendary former top star of the musical theater troupe TAKARAZUKA REVUE’s YUKIGUMI. Although her face was hidden by a mask, her gallant presence immediately had the fans spellbound as she walked around the ballroom.
Later, the show had talk sessions with KAMIJO and the special guests. First, KAMIJO invited Emao to the stage. “I always want to be a prince myself, but it took me only 15 minutes to become a girl when I met Ms. Emao,” KAMIJO said. “You looked very cute,” Emao’s response made the fans laugh. “One day, I would like to present a song for you to sing”, KAMIJO said to the TAKARAZUKA REVUE legend. “I look forward to it,” Emao welcomed his offer.
After Emao left the stage, KAMIJO introduced JAGUAR. Then, KAMIJO recounted an episode when JAGUAR gave a box of “JAGUAR CURRY” to him. “I presented JAGUAR CURRY to the band members for MALICE MIZER’s 25th Anniversary Special during the rehearsal. The members loved the curry!” KAMIJO said. “Shall we dance to JAGUAR’s song? I would like to present you the real experience of dancing in a masquerade,” KAMIJO continued. While JAGUAR sang Dakishimete on the stage, KAMIJO walked down to the ballroom and danced with some more fortunate fans, and the ball dancers also joined the gorgeous show. Other fans waved their hands left and right along with JAGUAR’s vocals.
Later, fans were wowed by the unexpected appearance of HIZAKI. The guitarist walked into the ballroom in an elegant red dress. While Versailles’ song MASQUERADE was played in the background, HIZAKI and KAMIJO looked to each other from a distance through their masks. As the distance between them closed, KAMIJO kneeled down to HIZAKI, escorting him to the dance. Cheers arose from the fans as the duo’s rondo finally started. HIZAKI gracefully made a turn at KAMIJO’s lead. HIZAKI and KAMIJO posed aesthetically at the end of the dance.
Next, Emao returned to the stage for a special performance of Ai to Si no Londe, which is a song from the popular musical Elisabeth. Emao’s voice richly expressed forbidden love and burning passion, and her overwhelming stage presence took the fans’ breath away.
After Emao absorbed the crowd’s ovation and left the stage, Marie-Antoinette appeared dressed in yellow. “Bonjour, KAMIJO!”, she greeted the event’s host and moved towards the buffet area. However, suddenly, she was surrounded by men in black and abducted. “The queen was taken away. Now, walk up the forbidden stairs from the back door!” Count Saint-Germain’s narration told the fans to rescue Marie-Antoinette.
Fans walked up the stairs and entered Tokyo Kinema Club. Their joy-filled voices grew louder when they saw the musical instruments placed on the stage. “The queen is alive, so be at ease. This is the venue where KAMIJO held his first live in Japan. Now, spread the invitation letters through your mobile phones so that those who couldn't be present at MASQUERADE can join this secret live from now on!” This proclamation from Count Saint-Germain delighted the fans even more.
The sound of a bell announced the start of the secret live, and a movie depicting KAMIJO’s Sang story brought fans back to the time of the French Revolution. Fans exploded when they saw guitarists Meku and Anzi, bassist MASASHI and drummer YUKI appear on the stage. Then, KAMIJO made a return to the stage, singing Theme of Sang in his strong, glamorous voice. “I’ll give you all of my five years, so receive it!”, KAMIJO said to the fans in the midst of the song’s grand melody. Later, KAMIJO raised up a blue rose as Barawa Utsukushiku Chiru started. Fans waved blue rose pen lights left and right and joined their voices with his while KAMIJO sang passionately about noble spirit and aestheticism.
“We actually brought in our musical equipment last night. A lot of the staff members did their best to put together this secret live to surprise you guys. I really looked forward to seeing your happy smiles. Sorry for keeping this live a secret for those who could not make it. However, I will continue to sing for all of my life, and I will make it up to those who could not come today,” KAMIJO said. Afterwards, he expressed his love for the fans through his heartfelt vocals during Konoyode Ichiban Utsukusii Barayo. The live continued with an unforgettable performance of his debut solo single Louis ~Enketsu no La Vie en Rose~.
“You guys look very beautiful tonight in your gorgeous dresses. We do not get to hold masquerades often in today’s world, but it is great to be able to host such an event in the modern age. I would like future generations to look back on the modern age we live in together and see that our time is as gorgeous as the medieval age. Let’s jump up together to bring today to a close,” KAMIJO said to the fans. Everyone jumped up together, and with a shout of “Vive le roi!!”, they celebrated the success of MASQUERADE.
