hsjhoshi | Yabu Kota – PARADE Tour Book (English Translation)

Because it is a conceptual live, I want to show you how each song shines.

I think this tour will be a live that will show the worldview of one album more than before. Compared to recent albums, PARADE has slightly more songs. Of course, there are times where it is good to have many songs, but if you make that a goal for the live, it is more important to think about making each song shine rather than singing many songs. I think I was very conscious of that in this work. Also, since there are many chosen songs that were calculated backwards from the lives, I think that it would be possible to show each song interestingly on the stage.

Actually, while working on the album, there was something that I had always felt personally about. Since the singing ability in the group is improving, especially in a group with many people, I want to make the most of the member’s voices and take on the challenge of adding various tones and scales. By telling this to the record company at the time, I think it took shape a little. The songs were divided based on the voices of each member. My harmony increased, and Yuto, who was improving his English, sang the English lyrics at the beginning of the song. If there was English and Keito was here, then he might’ve taken charge (lol). In response to these changes, I hope the awareness of our songs will increase further.

When you hear the word “PARADE”, the words “dazzling” and “showy” come to mind. Of course, there is also the sparkling world like “Parade ga Hajimaru”, but this time the imagery is heroic and enchanting like in “Kemono to Bara”. At the live, I want to value this worldview while also expressing the parade in various ways that are JUMP-like. After all, Johnny’s “doing anything” is one of their “characteristics”. I thought that in Taiwan. It’s a Japanese-style production, it has flying, the recent Jrs. are using drums and batons in the performance, and dancing in swim shorts (lol). In a good way, it’s the fun of Johnny’s Entertainment that doesn’t decide that difference. Among them, the Taiwan performance that was considered JUMP-like seems to have returned to one origin.

Additionally, Taipei Arena had a unique characteristic, so thinking about the venue, I felt the importance of what to value. For example, in Taiwan we had a corner where we danced lively for 15 minutes and because of the arena size, there was a sense of presence. On the other hand, if you perform a dance that has a detailed swing, it might be difficult for the audience on the second or third row to see it, and some people might feel the barrier. After all, it would be more fun for everyone if we show the Dome with staging that makes use of the large space.

I hope that I can connect my experience of things I felt in overseas performances in this tour. More than anything, being on the stage every year and doing lives with an album is a luxury. I am grateful for those circumstances, and I want it to be a live where people who come can fully feel the worldview of “PARADE”. Please enjoy yourself by not only seeing us, but also by going into the world and participating in the live together!