ZARD was one of my favorite JPOP artists in the 90's. While it was originally an actual group, vocalist Izumi Sakai was the only consistent member (and thus ZARD and Izumi Sakai became synonymous). Concerts (with guest performers from the same studio ZARD/Sakai Izumi has been contracted with) have been held to honor her memory while also keeping these widely known songs alive for many.
The ~What a Beautiful Moment 2004 Tour~ was ZARD's actual first large-scale concert tour encompassing 11 dates. The only prior live concert was on August 31, 1999 aboard the (now defunct as of 2023) Pacific Venus cruise ship where tickets were available via lottery to 600 attendees (I tried but wasn't one of the lucky ones).
I fortunately got tickets for the tour final Nippon Budokan show in July 2004. At the time, little did we know that Izumi Sakai (real name Sachiko Kamachi) had been suffering various health issues (related to her uterus) from between 2001-2003, and thus was not really at her peak even during this tour (but she took things like forgetting the lyrics or struggling to hit certain notes, all in stride). That final concert will forever remain a precious memory for me, a truly beautiful moment in time (this was Yureru Omoi from the Tokyo International Forum concert).
Unfortunately, in 2006, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, promptly underwent treatment, and was initially thought to be clear. However, the cancer was found to have spread to her lungs where she was admitted to Keio University Hospital in April 2007 to undergo chemotherapy. Sakai unfortunately passed away on May 27, 2007, after taking a fall the day prior on a wet/slippery emergency exit slope at the hospital. The location was a place she would often walk around to meditate/relax during her treatment and rehabilitation. She was only 40, but her music has transcended time and still remains impactful even to this day.
These anniversary concerts over the years have gotten better in terms of the videos used (some of them have been enhanced OA performances, clips from old PV releases, and previously unreleased footage that has been found over the years).
LUNATIC FEST 2025 Writeup (in progress)
LUNA SEA's drummer Shinya (Yamada) made a "surprise" appearance at LUNATIC FEST 2025 after deciding to sit out from performing due to the discovery of a brain tumor several months ago. He decided to turn over the drumming duties to a long trusted friend; his former student and drum technician, Jun-ji (Sakuma) who was the drummer for SIAM SHADE (and has been support drummer for many different acts).
Doctors originally informed him that he might require the use of crutches for 3 months while undergoing chemotherapy (which began in September 2025), but he has been able to stand and walk unassisted after just the first month (back in early September, he still attended a festival in his hometown albeit in a wheelchair, and required assistance to stand for a short time to perform the opening ceremony/make a short speech). Part of me believes this rapid recovery is due to the inherent stamina required to even play the drums the way he does.
He made this appearance on day 1 of the festival (walking on stage, giving a short speech of thanks/gratitude, and announcing the bands Xmas concert where he hopes to be able to play the drums at least in a limited capacity), and did the same on day 2 (though it didn't have the same surprising/emotional effect). It was incredibly inspirational to have been able to experience this moment in person.
NOTE: excuse the raw audio vocal quality; it's basically minimally processed soundboard where you can hear how rough the vocals are (can still hear how Ryuichi's singing voice still hasn't recovered after past vocal chord surgeries). Will be interesting to hear the broadcast version in December and the future Bluray DVD release once the audio goes through its usual post-production processing.
ESP Ltd M-400 Dual EMG
Live edit from Animelo Summer Live 2006 -Outride- at Nippon Budokan on 2006.7.8
![(2024.12.14 The Republik, Honolulu, HI) 羊文学 [Hitsujibungaku] - First Live Concert in the U.S.](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9qa3HlsFwiU/maxresdefault.jpg)
Best Japanese Alternative Artist for the 2025 Music Award Japan (held May 2025 in Kyoto)
Setlist:
• Opening: Yokan (予感); instrumental
• Girls
• countdown
• Party wa sugusoko (パーティーはすぐそこ)
• Sabaku no Kimi e (砂漠のきみへ)
• Hikaru Toki (光るとき)
• Aimai de iiyo (あいまいでいいよ)
• Eien no Blue (永遠のブルー)
• tears
• honestly
• MAYOIGA (マヨイガ)
• Burning
• OOPARTS
• more than words
• GO!!!
• 1999
• Addiction- ENCORE -
• Jingle Bells
• FOOL
Thanks to Aizawa Toshi
![(2024.12.14 The Republik, Honolulu, HI) 羊文学 [Hitsujibungaku] - Addiction](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pqlARI3jDzE/maxresdefault.jpg)
Best Japanese Alternative Artist for the 2025 Music Award Japan (held May 2025 in Kyoto)
![(2024.3.8) 羊文学 [Hitsujibungaku] - Addiction (Official Music Video)](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AteWl40-UP8/maxresdefault.jpg)
3rd track off of their December 12, 2023 album (4th major album) "12 Hugs (Like Butterflies)".
As soon as I heard the guitar tone of the opening riff (with the distortion and "atmospheric" groove), I immediately took a liking to this song before hearing the entire thing. This official music PV released a few months later (March 8, 2024) cemented the deal.
Hitsujibungaku (formed in 2011 by Shiotsuka Moeka) is Moeka Shiotsuka (vocals, guitar), Yurika Kasai (bass) and Hiroa Fukuda (drums); on hiatus due to health issues (currently being filled in for by Yuna).
This is a really great song (power ballad) with lyrics and a melody to match (the guitar solo and harmonization by Hazuki and Saki is one of the best). Click the CC button for the English subtitles. The live stream for this (on August 22, 2020) had an emotional/tearful mini chat since this was the first performance they did together after drummer Murata Tamu took a leave of absence to give birth to her 2nd child.
ELT - Dear My Friend (Fernandes STJ-75). ELT's former keyboardist Igarashi Mitsuru composed,arranged, and wrote the lyrics for this fun song (single was originally released 1997年1月22日). I wished I still had this guitar.
Pink Sapphire P.S. I Love You Cover (Fernandes STJ-75). Originally released 1990年7月25日, Pink Sapphire never really got the credit they deserved, being overshadowed by Princess Princess (the more well known all-female band at that time). The group had a lot of catchy pop rock tunes that were typical of this early 90's era. The group did receive a bit of relived nostalgia from 2012-2017 when they re-united (including their 25th anniversary in 2015). Their final performance together was in May 2023. Unfortunately in December 2023, guitarist Miyagawa Takako passed away from breast cancer.
Dedicated to the memory of Sakai Izumi (坂井泉水) February 6, 1967 - May 27, 2007 (gone too soon, but never forgotten)
Live edit cover of ZARD's Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い) onboard the PACIFIC VENUS (now retired) in what was a lottery limited show (I applied but wasn't lucky). Fortunately got to attend the 2004 concert at the Tokyo International Forum.
Money cover Fernandes STJ-75. This song has a ridiculously addictive riff and the lyrics are also relevant to what I've blogged about many times before (wearing my investors cap) with regards to how money (like suddenly falling into too much of it) has this tendency to "break" peoples brains (because most do not have fiscal discipline and/or allow that wealth especially when suddenly thrust upon them, to change how they think and do things). On the opposite end, there are also those who suddenly want to slide into your life (the worst being the gold diggers who love you for all the wrong reasons). The background video was an attempt (from 2015) we did at creating a tacky karaoke style of video on that theme... 😛 Lyrics:
この町のメインストリート
僅か数百メートル
さびれた映画館と バーが5、6軒
ハイスクール出た奴等は 次の朝
バッグをかかえて出てゆく
兄貴は 消えちまった
親父のかわりに
油にまみれて 俺を育てた
奴は自分の夢 俺に背負わせて
心ごまかしているのさ
Money, Money makes him crazy
Money, Money changes everything
いつか奴等の 足元にBIG MONEY
叩きつけてやる
彼女は夢見てる
華やかなMOVIE STAR
湖の畔に車を止めて
俺達 楽しむのさシートを倒して
むし暑く長い夏の夜
あの時彼女は こう呻ぎ続ける
"愛してる‥‥‥愛してる‥‥‥
もっともっと‥‥‥･"
だけど ゆうべどこかの
金持ちの男と
町を出て行った
Money, Money makes him crazy
Money, Money changes everything
いつかあいつの 足元にBIG MONEY
叩きつけてやる
Money
俺は 何も信じない
俺は 誰も許さない
俺は 何も夢見ない
何もかもみんな 爆破したい
純白のメルセデス
プール付きのマンション
最高の女とベッドで
ドン.ペリニヨン
欲しいものは全て ブラウン管の中
まるで悪夢のように
Money, Money makes him crazy
Money, Money changes everything
いつかこの手に
つかむぜ BIG MONEY
I've got nothing nothing to lose
Money
English:
This town's main street
Just a few hundred meters long
A run-down movie theater and five or six bars
The high school kids leave the next morning
Carrying their bags
My brother vanished
Instead of my dad
He raised me covered in grease
He makes me carry his dreams
To fool his own heart
Money, Money makes him crazy
Money, Money changes everything
Someday I'll slam BIG MONEY
Right at their feet
She's dreaming
Of being a glamorous MOVIE STAR
Parking the car by the lake
We'll have fun, reclining the seats
On a muggy, long summer night
Back then she kept moaning like this
"I love you... I love you...
More, more..."
But last night, with some rich guy
She left town
Money, Money makes him crazy
Money, Money changes everything
Someday I'll slam BIG MONEY
Right at his feet
Money
I don't believe in anything
I don't forgive anyone
I don't dream of anything
I want to blow everything up
A pure white Mercedes
A mansion with a pool
The best woman in bed
Dom Pérignon
Everything I want is inside the TV screen
Just like a nightmare
Money, Money makes him crazy
Money, Money changes everything
Someday I'll grab it
BIG MONEY in my hands
I've got nothing nothing to lose
Money
Found this old clip (2012ish?) while looking through a drive for something else. The G-Life Caribbean Ocean Blue (COB) Standard has been EOL for years. I still have a 2016 DSG Classic-Ash COB (rosewood fretboard with inlays) that is also EOL.
GIGO - attempt to upscale this is an example of the limits of a poor source; result is garbage out