AKINO from bless4's 15th anniversary live report! AKINO from bless4's 15th anniversary live report has arrived!

A report from AKINO from bless4's 15th anniversary live held at Club Citta (Kawasaki) on April 14 has arrived.

⇒The first official music video of the hit song "Genesis of AQUARION" was released! The 15th anniversary album will also be released!

AKINO from bless4, who made their debut with "Genesis of AQUARION" in 2005, will release a 3CD album "your ears, our ears" on March 24 to celebrate their 15th anniversary. On April 14, a live concert was held at Club Citta (Kawasaki) to coincide with the album release.

During the two-hour live performance, AKINO sang a total of 19 songs, most of which were included in the album. The live performance was not only about AKINO's singing, but also about dancing, live band performance, fashion show, and other fast-changing and colorful stage performances that attracted fans. It was a moving live performance that condensed the trajectory of AKINO's 15 years of career.

Official Report (original in Japanese)

AKINO 15th Anniversary Concert "your ears, our years
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Venue：Club Citta Kawasaki

AKINO's high tone voice and powerful dance moves captivated the audience.
At the appointed time, the lights in the auditorium dimmed and AKINO appeared on the upper stage, illuminated by spotlights, looking like an angel descending from the sky with her large wings on the stage. Finally, the 15th anniversary live started. When the girl band formed for this live started playing, the audience applauded loudly.

AKINO chose "Soccer Spirits" as the first song, a fierce rock number. The audience's excitement increased as AKINO performed using both the upper and lower sections of the stage. The second song "Umiiro" and the third song "Eve no Fragment" were performed in succession without a break. During the songs, models in colorful costumes made by AKINO appeared on stage to add a touch of color to the show. The audience was thrilled by AKINO's unique and enjoyable performance that combined a song with a fashion show.

For the fourth song, "Kimi no Myth," bless4 appeared on stage as back-up dancers and chorus members. AKINO's high tone voice and the dance formation of AKASHI, KANASA, and AIKI were very powerful.

After performing four songs nonstop from the beginning of the show, AKINO stood in the center of the stage and talked for the first time today. AKINO greeted the assembled fans with "I'm AKINO! AKINO was all smiles as she greeted the assembled fans.
I should be so happy to see you all after a long time, but I was so nervous backstage. But when I saw your smiling faces, my nervousness disappeared. I am really happy. Thank you," he commented, expressing his gratitude to the fans who had gathered.

The talk corner was cut short early, and they sang the fifth song, "Wilderness Heath," and the sixth song, "Doki Doki Kurara" (Because I'm Doki Doki). Receiving loud applause from the fans, AKINO himself seemed to be enjoying the live performance which he was able to hold for the first time in a while.

The duet "Tsuki Medley" ("Moonlight Sinfonia" and "The Other Half of the Moon") with his brother AIKI was followed by a happy talk about "My brother AIKI has a baby. AKINO & AIKI's clear, high-pitched singing was a supreme love song.

The next song was as flowing as the last one. AKASHI and KANASA joined them on stage and sang "Go Tight! The audience was blown away from the calm atmosphere by the ballads with their intense performance. The setlist, which included many of their hit songs, was a perfect one for the 15th anniversary live, and it was obvious that not only AKINO but also the members, backing band, dancers, and audience were all enjoying themselves to the fullest.

After the MC, the second half of the show started with the 10th song, "Shirakaba no Hikari (Light of Birch)," sung softly, followed by the 11th song, "What Am I Fighting For," which again featured a fashion show performance to the delight of the audience.

After finishing the 11 songs, AKINO gave a slightly longer MC. She asked the assembled fans, "Do you have a dream?" He asked the assembled fans, "Do you have any dreams? AKINO tried to continue his speech, "Now is the time of the new Corona (......)," but there were tears in his eyes. Although AKINO sang on stage with dignity, the past year must have been a difficult time for him. When the audience applauded her warmly, AKINO regained her composure and continued. She continued, "You and I are in a period when we can't go out or do what we want to do, but it is important to have dreams. But it is important to have dreams. People shine when they have dreams. I have had a lot of troubles in my life. What kind of singer do I want to become?　What kind of costumes do I want to make?　There was a time in my past when I could not sing, but I overcame it. Please do not give up on your dreams. If you work hard every day, even just a little, I believe you will find the light.

It was very impressive that AKINO, who usually does not show any weakness, spoke with tears in her eyes. Amidst the thunderous applause, AKINO stood in the center of the stage and sang "Chance To Shine," a song for all those who have dreams. The lyrics of the chorus, "Your thoughts will surely come true," were probably a shout out from AKINO to her fans. The song must have touched the hearts of the audience more than any other "Chance To Shine" songs sung on stage in the past.

The 13th song was "Extra Magic Hour. AKINO from bless4 doesn't deserve a somber atmosphere! The audience was like in a theme park. The venue was transformed into a glamorous space like a theme park.

The 14th song was the theme song for Iizuka Auto, "Go! The 14th song was "Go! To Victory," the theme song for Iizuka Auto, featuring a unique dance that made the audience feel as if they were driving a motorcycle, and the audience enjoyed the choreography on the bike.
The 15th song was "Let's Have A Party," the anthem of bless4. AKASHI shouted "PARRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

The fun-filled live show was finally coming to an end. However, there were still some songs that had not been performed on ....... To meet the audience's expectations, the 16th song "Genesis of Aquarion" and the 17th song "Genesis of Aquarion" were performed on stage. AKINO sang enthusiastically as he moved around the stage, thanking all the fans who had congratulated him on his 15th anniversary.

The encore, which took place after the main show, featured the title track from the album, "your ears, our years. The song was composed by AKASHI and written by KANASA.
AKASHI, who composed the music, said, "AKINO's 15th anniversary coincided with the new Corona model, and we and those around us were gradually getting depressed. I wrote this song to cheer them up and make them feel positive. This song has the highest notes among all the songs AKINO has sung so far.
Nevertheless, AKINO sang the new song with a goal for the future, saying, "(Please remember the song you are listening to today) I will take more time and sing with higher notes in the future. The gospel-style pop songs that made one's body start to move involuntarily were, as AKASHI said, "songs to cheer everyone up.

The 15th anniversary special live concert ended with a total of 18 songs. 2 hours seemed like an instant, and the concert was so rich in content and wonderful. The setlist, which featured their debut song "Genesis of AQUARION" and their latest song "your ears, our years" in succession, was a fitting selection to sum up their 15th anniversary.
AKINO from bless4 has reached a milestone in 2021, and it will be interesting to see how they will continue to evolve in their 20th and 30th anniversaries.
(Photography & text by Pon Sato)

<Setlist> #01 Soccer Spirits
#01 Soccer Spirits
#02 Sea Color
#03 Fragments of Eve
#04 Your Myth
#05 Heather in the Wilderness
#06 Dokidoki kara
#07 Moon Medley
　　("Moonlight Symphonia" and "The Other Half of the Moon")
#08 Go Tight!
#09 Golden Life
#10 Shirakaba no Hikari
#11 What Am I Fighting For
#12 Chance To Shine
#13 Extra Magic Hour
#14 Go! To Victory
#15 Let's Have A Party
#16 Genesis of Aquerion
#17 Genesis of Aquerion

Encore] #18 your ears, our years

The 15th anniversary album "your ears, our years" is also introduced in the following article.

⇒The first official music video of the hit song "Genesis of AQUARION" is now available! 15th anniversary album to be released!

<Profile
AKINO
AKINO is a vocal prodigy who was chosen by Yoko Kanno to sing the OP theme song for the TV anime "Genesis of AQUARION" because of her outstanding singing ability. Her exceptional pitch and clear, spontaneous, yet powerful voice captivate people all over the world.

The band is composed of
The "bless 4" consists of the eldest son AKASHI, the eldest daughter KANASA, the second daughter AKINO, and the second son AIKI, and is truly a quartet of siblings. Born and raised in the U.S. to Okinawan parents, they returned to Japan in 1997 and made their major label debut in May 2003. Their exquisite chorus work, which is unique to the siblings, and stage performances featuring Tae Kwon Do and dance performances, have won them support from people of all ages and genders. Their native English is still the main language of conversation in the family, and their powerful singing voice is very appealing.

Genesis of AQUARION" music video (Short Ver.)