Anime Expo hosts performers from Pokemon, Fullmetal Alchemist, PriPara, Gurren Lagann, and the IDOLM@STER franchise.
Japan Kawaii Live, the final night of Anisong World Matsuri’s three-day concert event at Anime Expo, was held on July 7th, 2018 at the Microsoft Theater, featuring AKB48 Team 8, THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, i☆Ris, and Shoko Nakagawa.
THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS returned for the second year in a row with a new lineup pulled from the popular video game’s nearly 200 characters: Yui Makino (voice of Mayu Sakuma), Ruriko Aoki (voice of Riina Tada), and Kotomi Aihara (voice of Shiki Ichinose) made their Anisong World Matsuri debut next to Anime Expo veterans Rei Matsuzaki (voice of Kirari Moroboshi), Yuko Iida (voice of Kanade Hayami), and Tomoyo Kurosawa (voice of Miria Akagi).
Wearing read-white-and-blue uniforms, the idol group greeted the audience with a performance of Shine!! before introducing themselves to the thousands of eager “producers” who changed the colors of their light sticks to match each character’s image card projected on screen.
Afterwards, the performers split into pairs for SUN♡FLOWER (feat. Tomoyo Kurosawa and Rei Matsuzaki), Love∞Destiny (feat. Ruriko Aoki and Yui Makino), and Tulip (feat. Yuko Iida and Kotomo Aihara). “Thank you so much for today,” said Aoki, who along with Yui Makino and Kotomi Aihara, was making her first appearance in Los Angeles.
“Personally, this was my first time coming to LA so I’m having so much fun! We will do our best to come back to this stage as Cinderella girls. Thank you so much!”
Yui Makino expressed her gratitude for those who braved the record LA heat, “America producer-sama! Thank you for coming to see us!” THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS reunited for final comments to the audience, then closed their set with the group’s special song, Onegai! Cinderella.
i☆Ris came on next with bright, individually-colored dresses and feathered headpieces. The hybrid group, who perform both as idol singers and voice actors, showed off their dancing skills as they performed songs from the anime series "Magical Girl Site" and "PriPara", matching their choreography to the animated moves of their on-screen characters.
When i☆Ris leader Saki Yamakita announced that it was the group’s 6th birthday, fans in the front rows surprised the members with large “Happy 6th Birthday!” signs, and member Yuu Serizawa grabbed her smartphone to take a group selfie to celebrate the group’s warm welcome on their first-ever USA concert. For their final song of the night, it was i☆Ris' turn to surprise the audience with a high-energy cover of the "One Piece" theme We Are!
AKB48 Team 8 began their set with AKB48’s signature song, the 2006 single Aitakatta. Dancing in matching gray plaid uniforms, the members performed some of AKB48’s best-known songs, including Everyday, Kachūsha, Iiwake Maybe, and the international hit song Koisuru Fortune Cookie.
During their MC, the members joked about going to visit Santa Monica (“Hot! Hot!”), mall shopping, and eating big hamburgers during their short visit to California. Cheered on by the crowd’s laughter and excitement, Team 8 performed two of their own releases, the dynamic Hachinosu dance (the coupling song from AKB48’s newest single Teacher, Teacher) and the inspirational 47 no Suteki na Machi e.
“This is AKB48 Team 8’s first time performing in Los Angeles,” said the members. “We’re so happy that everyone’s having fun!”
As the lights came up for Shoko Nakagawa’s performance, audience shouts of “Shokotan!” spread across the theater even before the singer’s entrance. Nakagawa arrived at center stage in a bright pink and white dress and short, white lace-up boots, carrying her own Anisong World Matsuri pen light to match the thousands of fans in the audience. Backed by two dancers, she led the crowd to sing Doridori from "Pokemon XY" and greeted the audience. “Hi everyone! I’m Shoko Nakagawa!” she announced to the crowd’s applause. “I’m back! It’s been ten years!”
“I’m an otaku,” she continued. “Are you otaku? Yes! We are otaku!” said the performer, Japan’s ambassador for otaku culture. “Ten years ago, I came to LA to shoot this MV…” she recalled as the music video for Tsuzuku Sekai from "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann" played above her, giving fans a double-vision of two generations of Shoko Nakagawa singing together.
“Because of anisong, I’m not alone. We are all together,” she said, introducing Ray Of Light from "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood". Nakagawa then commanded the audience’s pen light movements and color changes during performances of Magical Circle and Pegasus Fantasy, creating whirlwinds of pink and blue throughout the large hall.
“This next song is my favorite anime song. Let’s sing together!” The opening notes of A Cruel Angel’s Thesis from "Neon Genesis Evangelion" brought a roar from the audience and all lights turned red for Nakagawa’s most famous cover song. The voice of the Microsoft Theater crowd singing the lyrics was so loud that Nakagawa shared the mic with the audience during the chorus.
Nakagawa closed her set with Sorairo Days, the "Gurren Lagann" theme which launched her international popularity. Afterwards, she delivered heartfelt thanks to the audience. “Tonight is the best night ever! My dream is to come back next year. Ganbarimasu!” She then invited all the night’s groups on stage for their final goodbye to close Anisong World Matsuri’s third night of anisong concerts in Los Angeles.
Set list
THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS
01. Shine!! (THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS anime)
02. SUN♡FLOWER (THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS anime)
03. Love∞Destiny (THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS: Starlight Stage game)
04. Tulip (THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS: Starlight Stage game)
05. Onegai! Cinderella (THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS: Starlight Stage game)
i☆Ris
01. Gensoukyoku WONDERLAND
02. Changing point (Magical Girl Site)
03. PriPara Medley – Make it! / Miracle☆Paradise / Realize (PriPara)
04. Dream Parade (PriPara)
05. We Are (One Piece)
AKB48 Team 8
01. Aitakatta
02. Kibou teki refrain
03. Everyday, Kachūsha
04. Iiwake Maybe
05. Hachinosu dance
06. Koisuru Fortune Cookie
07. 365Nichi no Kamihikouki
08. 47 no Suteki na Machi e
Shoko Nakagawa
01. Doridori (Pokemon XY)
02. Tsuzuku Sekai (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
03. Ray Of Light (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
04. Magical Circle (Mahoujin Guru Guru)
05. Pegasus Fantasy (Saint Seiya Omega)
06. A Cruel Angel’s Thesis (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
07. Sorairo Days (Gurren Lagann)
THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS Website: http://idolmaster.jp
AKB48 Team 8 Website: http://toyota-team8.jp
i☆Ris Website: http://iris.dive2ent.com
Shoko Nakagawa Website: http://www.shokotan.jp
Anisong World Matsuri Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnisongWorldMatsuri/
Anisong World Matsuri Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnisongWorld
Anisong World Matsuri Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anisongworldmatsuri/
