Maaya Sakamoto to hold her second World Heritage live concert in three and a half years at Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima!　Commemorating the 20th anniversary of her debut following the Saitama Super Arena

Maaya Sakamoto held a solo live concert at Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima on May 30.

Maaya Sakamoto celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut. As part of her 20th anniversary commemorative project since April this year, she has been releasing a tribute album "REQUEST" and holding a solo live concert at Saitama Super Arena, and as part of the project, she held a live concert at Itsukushima Shrine, which is also a national treasure. This was Sakamoto's second time to perform at a World Heritage site since September 2011, when he performed on a special stage in the courtyard of the Tomioka Silk Mill, but this was the first time for him to perform on a stage registered as a World Heritage site, as it was not yet registered then. The following is a report.

Unfortunately, it was raining on the day of the event. Since umbrellas were not allowed in the special venue built on the corridor above the sea, raincoats were handed out at the entrance. Sakamoto and his acoustic band appeared from the back of the main hall and bowed deeply to the main hall, where the audience of 1,200 greeted them with applause that belied the sound of the rain. Walking straight down the hall of worship, she arrived at the high stage where the tent had been set up, and first waved to the waiting audience in kappa. After taking a breath, she made eye contact with the band members, nodded lightly, and began to sing Yumi Arai's famous song "Yasashinasana ni Surrounded by Tenderness," accompanied by an acoustic guitar arpeggio. This song is set in Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and was covered as the theme song for the anime "Tamayura," for which she has sung the theme song throughout the series. Dressed in white and pale pink, she carried a soft smile that seemed to release the slight tension in the audience, who were listening attentively as if they were cowering in a sacred place. After she finished singing, she murmured as she looked up at the sky, "It's raining......," revealing that it had also rained during the live performance at Tomioka Silk Mill, which drew loud laughter from the audience. She continued, "It is so called the World Heritage Theatre and Open Air Museum, so I think it is a place where even this rain and this ink painting-like scenery can be enjoyed. I hope you will enjoy not only my appearance, but also looking at various places, closing your eyes and smelling the wind," she said, and her gaze was drawn to the bright red Otorii gate, which seemed to float above the sea, and Mt. The atmosphere was even more solemn than on a sunny day.

After her explanation that she had chosen songs that would be perfect to sing at this place, the three songs she sang were, in a word, "songs of the sea. The opening theme song "Hajimari no Umi" from the TV version of the anime "Tamayura" reminds us of the scenery of the sea, and the low tone of "DIVE" takes us to the bottom of the dark sea, but with the powerful phrase, "Never look back. The powerful phrase "Never look back, never look back again" pulled the audience up to the surface at once. She looked straight ahead, and the newly lit Otorii gate and the ferry could be seen beyond her gaze, signaling that the sun had set.

She continued, "Yesterday, the divine sun was setting and the moon was rising behind me. I could see the stars, too. I felt great," he said, describing the previous day's rehearsal. He showed a clean and cheerful face, akin to the resignation of a human being who cannot go against the natural order of things.

I tried to choose songs that would not be covered by the 20th anniversary live performance at Saitama Super Arena. After the MC said, "Next, I would like you to listen to travel-like songs for those who have come from far away for sightseeing. The song was "Nicola," a composition inspired by a private visit to Turkey. The ensemble of brush, cello, and piano told the drama of "The Day the Wind Blows," which resonated with the delicate and strong singing voice and long tones that seemed to glide over the sea. The rain was getting heavier, but the overlap of her voice and the sound of the rain as she whispered quietly to herself, "Someday soon, surely, soon," was something that could only be heard on this day. In the small piece "Letter," based on acoustic guitar and song, her voice and fakery were impressive in a sad yet charming way.

Before the second half of the concert began, the reason why he had said he had longed to perform at Itsukushima Shrine was revealed.
I often dreamed of that torii gate since I was a little girl," he said. I don't know why I dreamed of a torii gate floating on the sea, especially since I have no roots in Hiroshima, but sometimes I dreamed of sitting on a board, with my feet in the sea. So I took the liberty of thinking that there must be some kind of connection.
I always thought there had to be a connection, and I always said I wanted to come here someday when I grew up. The first time I visited was when I was 29 years old, on a trip with my mother. This will be my second visit. Putting aside my own connection to the shrine, I am very grateful to be able to sing in such a mysterious, solemn, yet friendly place," she said, expressing her feelings toward Itsukushima Shrine and her gratitude for the opportunity to perform there.

The audience applauded loudly when she performed three mysterious songs in rapid succession: the ballad "Light of love," which developed dramatically with the sound of bells; "Air and Stars," which featured the sound of water being scooped; and "Miracle Sea," which evoked an oriental breeze through the conga and vertical flute. The arrangement of the songs evoked a dramatic story like a song and dance or bugaku, and the audience felt as if they were sharing in a song dedication that has been continued since ancient times.

The audience was excited by "5 Ways I Know About Happiness," which opened the concert at Saitama Super Arena, The audience was excited by "Five Ways I Know About Happiness," which opened the concert at the Saitama Super Arena, and "Magic Number," a popular song with a dance routine that is familiar at live performances. The last song she chose was "Kakeru", the theme song of the anime "Tamayura: Graduation Photo", which was released on April 11 and attracted much attention because she wrote the lyrics for the theme song of the anime for the first time. She sang the ballad "Sayonara wa okazu" (It's ok to say goodbye) and took the audience to a world they had never seen before, before leaving the stage looking around at the audience and bowing deeply.

Answering the call for an encore, she ran and reappeared, exiting the tent, drenched in rain, and exclaimed, "It feels so good! She lightly sang her memorable debut single "Yakusoku wa Naiwa Nai" (I don't need a promise), and the audience and everyone got up from their chairs to sing "Empty Your Pockets" together. The audience clapped their hands and waved their familiar flags in the air, and their singing voice echoed through the mountains, "La la la la la~". When the singing stopped and the performance ended, Sakamoto walked off the stage, drenched in the rain with the audience, and said repeatedly, "Thank you so much. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said.

<Set List
01. If you are wrapped in gentleness
Active Heart
Hajimari no Umi
DIVE
Nicola
Kaze ga Kowaru Hibi (The Wind Blows)
Letter
08.Light of love
Air and Stars
10.Miracle Sea
11.5 ways I know about happiness
12.Magic number
13.From now on
Encore
01.No need for promises
Empty Your Pockets