SEKAI NO OWARI at ZEPP DiverCity

SEKAI NO OWARI is a band you nowadays find playing some of the biggest arenas in Japan. However, this Halloween saw them performing at the comparatively small ZEPP DiverCity. For fans, this was a rare opportunity to see the band in a more intimate setting.

The band always strive to create a world within their concerts, and in keeping with this show’s Halloween theme, SEKAI NO OWARI had turned the venue into their own ghost house. To reach the main hall, concertgoers must walk through a large old gate into a dark room, the walls of which are decorated with paintings of “zombified” band members whose eyes moved every once in a while. The atmosphere continues into the hall, where the lights are dimmed and there’s a huge banquet onstage.

This concert is divided into two parts. The first part is focused on the international audience who are attending Tokyo International Music Market (TIMM), with songs sung in English. The second part is for the Japanese fans. On both sides of the stage, the lyrics of the songs are shown to assist everyone’s understanding.

The venue darkens, train sounds are heard and out of nowhere, rain and thunder erupt across the hall. The band walks onstage and start off with one of their newest songs, ANTI-HERO, the theme song of the movie “Attack on Titan”. The dark lyrics are accompanied by a heavy beat and catchy melody, although some eerie minor tones also feature.

Having set this gloomy atmosphere to match the décor, SEKAI NO OWARI then make a complete 180-degree turn and continue with the light and danceable Mr. Heartache. Death Disco keeps up the happy beat, albeit with more of an edge. Meanwhile, the lights project large question marks across the stage. The band are performing this song in English especially for the event.

Overall, the music of the first part can be described as EDM meets pop. DJ LOVE knows how to start a party, and Saori and Nakajin show their talents on various instruments. The group’s songs have a power that captures the audience. The beat is really loud and heavy and goes straight through the body.

SEKAI NO OWARI end their first set with the English version of Dragon Night. There’s Saori on accordion and a short banjo solo from Nakajin, but the beats of DJ LOVE dominate this number. This song pulsates with energy, and it has the crowd jumping and dancing, making it a great ending to the first part of the night.

During the break, koto and shamisen music fills the hall while the crew overhaul the stage décor, setting up trees, shoji and in the middle of the backdrop, a large painting of a ghost. The Japanese part of the show has a whole different feel, with cutesy songs with sweet melodies all sung in the original Japanese. The audience is a bit quieter, but they enthusiastically swing their towels in the air during Biological Fantasia, one of the funkier songs in SEKAI NO OWARI’s repertoire. The fans are engrossed in the song when it’s abruptly interrupted by flashes of thunder and rain.

These sounds fade away and the piano starts up again, playing the intro of Beauties of Nature. The soft piano melody is soon joined by the guitar, steadily growing into a more catchy song. Overall, the second half’s set list features more variations in sound, mixing sweet songs and mellow melodies with a more upbeat tempo. The audience listen in silence to some songs, and clap along and jump on the beat during others, easily adjusting to the music.

As RPG starts, the energy level reaches another high point. The band is lively, giving all they have into the song. DJ LOVE involves the audience by clapping along with them, and Nakajin switches from guitar to drums for a spell during the instrumental break. He also runs to the piano and plays back to back with Saori. Meanwhile, the crowd sings along.

As they wait for the encore, the whole audience slowly start singing the words of Starlight Parade, making time pass faster. On their return, SEKAI NO OWARI play Dragon Night a second time, then close the set with Instant Radio. The encore is happy and upbeat; bubbles are blown in the venue and close to the end, confetti rains from the hall's ceiling. The end truly comes once the audience sing Happy Birthday in honour of Nakajin. Then the lights turn on, and slowly, the magic of the concert fades away.

Set list:

1. ANTI-HERO
2. Mr. Heartache
3. Monsoon Night
4. Death Disco
5. SOS
6. Simple Life
7. Dragon Night

8. Moonlight Station
9. Phoenix
10. Biological Fantasia
11. Beauties of Nature
12. Love the warz (rearranged)
13 Starlight Parade
14. RPG

Encore
15. Dragon Night
16. Instant Radio