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This performance was for Triumph’s induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the 2025 LEGENDS, held at the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto Canada on October 17, 2025. Rik Emmett is Triumph's original guitarist and Phil X took his place in 1992 (after Emmett left in 1988). Triumph's recently announced 2026 reunion will have Phil X joining as a supporting musician.
This performance sort of highlights how both will compliment each other during that tour; Rik has definitely lost that high end vocal range for this song but Phil is able to cover a good part of it in his own way. Emmett's guitar was also definitely lower for the solo in this live mix, but his guitar playing still sounds true to form even after being in retirement for several years now along with the arthritis in his hands (not bad for someone who is 72 years old and beat his 2024 announced prostate cancer). Watching this gave me goosebumps for sure.
Took over 18 years to make this composite edit 🥴😂. Circa 2006 (Hekiru's 300th memorial live performance at Zepp Tokyo) + 2008 cover (ESP Ltd MH which I no longer own). That show was also the last I did event staffing for.
Live opening 2024 & 2023; ONE OK ROCK began doing these opening intros into songs transition starting around 2015 or 2016 tours. 2024 is from their Premonition tour (a really heavy jam that can get the adrenalin rushing) at Ajinomoto Stadium where I transitioned it to the more pop rock jam session they did for 2023's Luxury Disease tour at Tokyo Dome, leading into the guitar cover portion.
![(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.