Hiroko Moriguchi reports on her one-woman concert "Starry People," a one-night-only special concert filled with gorgeous collaborations and a whirlwind of emotions!

Singer Hiroko Moriguchi held "Hiroko Moriguchi Concert 'Starry People'" at Showa Women's University Hitomi Memorial Auditorium with three works from the "GUNDAM SONG COVERS" series. The concert, titled "Starry People," was a one-night-only extravaganza with special guests jazz violinist Naoko Terai and gospel chorus group The Voices of Japan (VOJA).

Moriguchi appeared in a cool red and black costume against a silver curtain and mysteriously opened the show with "Meguriai" (Meguri Ai), which was followed by "Hello everyone! Welcome to "Starry People"! Let's make a hot night together! The audience was then roused by the rock tunes "Torigago no Shonen" and "Samurai Heart ~2022~," and the heat level of the venue rose dramatically. Then came "Freesia / with Tetsu Shioya," featuring beautifully played piano and Moriguchi's vocals alone. The warm and gentle voice echoed through the air, and the dramatic stage performance took the audience's breath away.

The silver curtain was raised to start "BEYOND THE TIME ～Mebius no Uchu o Koete～ / with TM NETWORK", a song from "GUNDAM SONG COVERS 3" that drew much attention because it was a cover but also a collaboration with the original artist, TM NETWORK himself. NETWORK" started. As soon as the intro started, the entire venue was filled with joy as if they had been waiting for it.

In the middle of the main part of the live, world-renowned jazz violinist Naoko Terai, who has participated in all three "GUNDAM SONG COVERS" series, was invited in and Moriguchi thanked her saying, "The production of this series would not have started without Ms. Naoko," and under the glittering mirror ball, Moriguchi's debut song The two collaborated on "Ai wo Hoshi e Ai wo Komete," the opening theme song for "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam," Moriguchi's debut song, under the glittering mirror ball. Terai's violin overlapped with the jazzy sound, creating a pleasant mood, and together with "Silent Voice," they performed two songs in total.

During the following MC, the band members exchanged humorous talks with each other, and the audience was invited to "tweet time," which was used at last year's 35th anniversary concert as a way to communicate with the audience. The audience was invited to tweet as many times as you like with #HirokoMoriguchiStapi! Let's go for trending! Moriguchi left the stage to change her costume, and the audience posted their own messages on social networking sites.

Moriguchi appeared on stage again in a pure white costume and performed "Yume ga MORI MORI" and "Speed," the theme songs for the variety show in which she also appeared, with colorful lights and pop music. He then introduced the "tweet time" that had just been held. He then introduced the tweets that had been collected during the "Tweet Time" held earlier in the day, including "Hiroko Moriguchi's originals make me happy," and "The diva who leads the times. After enjoying communication with the audience, who responded with applause even though she could not speak, she performed two songs, "Whistle" and "Position," a sequel to "Whistle," in a cheerful and gorgeous manner, a far cry from the gentle and dignified Moriguchi who covered the Gundam songs. I've always wanted to hear the voices of my fans," she said. But even though I can't hear them now, I feel them in my heart. I think this meeting is a miracle, and I would like to express my gratitude and entrust my feelings to the next song.

This is the last song. I hope that everyone will be surrounded by love and a healthy life. Then they moved on to "Beginning / with VOJA". As the chorus began, the second special guest of the day, gospel chorus group The Voices of Japan (VOJA), appeared on stage. They performed on stage with VOJA, who also appeared in the music video for this song. Moriguchi's beautiful voice, combined with the profound and warm chorus of eight members that seemed to shake the soul, echoed throughout the venue.

In response to an encore by applause from the audience, Moriguchi appeared on stage again, wearing a bright royal blue dress reminiscent of the universe. The dress and the stage lighting combined with the star-shaped penlights, which were the goods for this event, made the entire venue unite like a beautifully shining galaxy. The song "Ai wo Hoshi e Ai wo Komete (With Love to the Water Star)" was performed. Unlike the collaboration in the main program, the original version of the song was sung and spun as if facing Moriguchi's precious debut song.

The news makes my heart ache every day. We have to live through the present to the fullest because there is no certain tomorrow. May the birth of this planet, surrounded by love and free from conflict, be protected forever." She then performed her new song "Ubugoe," the theme song for the movie "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Island of Cruz Doan," which opens in theaters nationwide on June 3. The song is a magnificent song that seems to condense the worldview of the movie and focuses on the feelings of Kara, a character in the movie, and she sang it with a beautiful voice that evokes an enveloping motherly feeling. Ubugoe" will be released as a single on June 1 to coincide with the release of the film.

GUNDAM SONG COVERS" has reached its final chapter, but the existence of Gundam, singer Hiroko Moriguchi, and our journey is not over yet. No matter what pain we encounter, let us keep walking forward, opening various doors! I sing with these thoughts in mind. This song is the only way to end! Thank you so very much for today!" After leaving a strong message, they performed "Endless Journey / with VOJA" again. In the middle of the song, claps spread and the sense of unity spread. The overwhelming chorus work of Moriguchi and VOJA, who looked straight ahead and sang with a stretchy voice, conveyed courage, hope, and power to the audience, which naturally brought smiles to the faces of the audience.
At the end of the concert, one of the performers remained alone on stage and said, "This is the final chapter of 'GUNDAM SONG COVERS,' but I would like to continue to deliver the original version in a different form. Please take care of yourselves and come see us again at the concert. I will continue to sing one note at a time." He bowed deeply and brought the curtain down on the day's performance.
The "GUNDAM SONG COVERS" series, which attracted attention based on the concept of "Gundam song cover albums for adults," all ranked in the top three of the Oricon Weekly Ranking, and the total number of copies shipped exceeded 250,000. Hiroko Moriguchi, who has achieved the feat of selling more than 250,000 copies of her "Gundam Song Covers" series, gave an outstanding performance as a singer, and her sincerity in trying to reach every corner of the audience was always evident in her live performance.

The concert will be broadcast on the live streaming service "PIA LIVE STREAM" from May 28 (Sat.). Those who could not make it to the venue and those who want to witness the excitement once again are welcome to check it out.

The following is an excerpt from the video.
Photo: Sayaka Yuki

＜May 3, 2022 Showa Women's University Hitomi Memorial Auditorium Set List
1. meguriai
2. bird cage boy
3. samurai heart ～2022～ 4. freesia / with Shioya
4. freesia / with Satoshi Shioya
BEYOND THE TIME ～Möbius no Uchu o Koete～ / with TM NETWORK
6. stand up to the victory / with oishi masayoshi
7. mizu no hoshi e ai wo komete / with Naoko Terai (Guest: Naoko Terai)
8. silent voice / with Naoko Terai (Guest: Naoko Terai)
9. yume ga MORI MORI
10. speed
11. whistle
12. position
13. eternal wind ～Hohoemi wa shining in the wind
14. beginning / with VOJA (Guest: VOJA)
＜Encore
15. mizu no hoshi e ai wo motomete
16. ubugoe
17. endless journey / with VOJA (Guest: VOJA)

Distribution Information
Hiroko Moriguchi Concert "Starry People" will be streamed online!
Date & Time: May 28 (Sat) Doors open 20:30 / Concert begins 21:00
Archived streaming: After the above streaming ends - June 5 (Sun.) 23:59
Ticket sales period: Tuesday, May 3, 20:00 ? June 5 (Sun.) 18:00
Ticket price: ¥4,400 (tax included)
URL: https://w.pia.jp/t/moriguchihiroko-pls/

Product Information
New single "Ubugoe
June 1, 2022 (Wed.) Release
Special website #
CD reservation site : #

CD ※All forms are the same.
1 Ubugoe
Lyrics: Goro Matsui / Composed by doubleglass / Arranged by Keiichi Tomita
Theme song for "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Island of Cruz Doan
2 Good night now
Lyrics: In Iogi / Composed by Takeo Watanabe / Arranged by Koichiro Tokinori
Insert song for "Mobile Suit Gundam" (COVER)

3 Eternal Amuro / with VOJA
Lyrics: In Iogi / Composed by Takeo Watanabe / Arranged by Akira Onozuka / Chorus arranged by Koichiro Tokinori
Ending theme of "Mobile Suit Gundam" (COVER)

4 Ubugoe (Instrumental)
Lyrics: Goro Matsui / Composed by doubleglass / Arranged by Keiichi Tomita

Blu-ray *Only for <First Limited Edition
1 Ubugoe (Music Video)
2 Ubugoe (Making of Music Video)

Limited First Edition
Part Number: KICM-93371
Price: 1,980 yen (including tax)
Contents: CD + Blu-ray

Normal Edition
Item No.: KICM-3371
List Price: 1,430 yen (including tax)
Contents: CD ONLY

Limited theater disc
Part Number: NMAX-1386
List Price: 2,750 yen (including tax)
Contents: CD ONLY
LP size jacket (Illustration by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko)
Jacket sticker enclosed (illustration drawn by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko)

[Pre-orders are now being accepted at "Kinkurido" mail order site.]
⇒# #
Period: 4/24(Sun.) 20:00 - 5/8(Sun.) 23:59

The limited edition theater disc will be available for pre-order on the mail order site "Kinkurido" and at the theaters showing "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Island of Cruz Doan". Both sales are limited.