#Fukuoka Venue

[yyh4ever]

Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition (Fukuoka Venue) Commemorative Project

13 Yoshihiro Togashi characters from Yu Yu Hakusho, Level E and HunterxHunter have appeared in the TV section of the Fukuoka Morning Edition of "Yomiuri Shimbun" newspaper. As for Yu Yu Hakusho, we have clippings of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Kurama, Botan/Koenma, and the Toguro Brothers.

Puzzle Official Twitter has been sharing these newspaper clippings and holding the following campaign: "if the number of likes and reposts of the clipping reaches 10,000, we will give away wallpapers". As this number have already been reached, here's Yu Yu Hakusho Wallpaper:

Source: Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition Official Twitter

For more clippings and wallpapers from Togashi's other series (Level E and HxH), stay tuned on their Twitter!

[yridenergyridenergy]

HD scans from Zappy September 2002 issue. Please DO NOT repost.

Spoilers for the MY BLOODY VAMPIRE shows in January 2024!

I saw on Twitter that an old magazine covered Dir en grey's first series of concerts with that name, actually mixed with a couple that were called "MY BLOODY ZOMBIE" instead. Seeing as we don't have much info from back then I hunted down that magazine in hopes of learning more bout what Dir en grey might do in January 2024. As it turns out, there were quite a few similarities!

Apparently, at first Papa Roach played as background music until the show started. Then, every band member walked on stage one by one as usual, but Kyo showed up with a big white mouse costume head (reminescent of the Child Prey PV? which had come out earlier that year). When the first song started, he took off the mouse head and appeared to have white foam or liquid at his mouth. It grew until he eventually spat out a lot of (fake) blood. That was in the first song, but it didn't stop there. Throughout at least the first part of the concert, Kyo continuously spat out more and more blood. The live reporter commented that whether it was due to the substance being stuck in his throat or not, Kyo was not bent on singing well that night, which he interpreted as a sign of integrity.

The theme that night of 2002 at Zepp Fukuoka, which the live report focused on, was really "blood". A message had been played on the intercom to advise the audience about the risk of being splattered with fake blood, and blue vinyl sheets/tarps had even been laid on the floor between the front row of the audience and the stage, to avoid staining the venue.

For what it's worth, not a trace of Yurameki, Akuro no Oka or Zan was played in that show hahah. It was a mix of Kisou and Six Ugly.

If you have seen some fanart of the band's look in Tour23 Phalaris Final -The scent of a peaceful death-, maybe you noticed that Kyo has been dressing a bit like in the pictures above lately, and he used fake blood similarly in Petit Brabançon's Explode-01 show.

[pretty-idol-hell]

The PriPara 10th Anniversary video and Tweet is up again! I believe this information wasn't supposed to be released until after the concert, but someone released it early. Oops.

I also noticed that the official Idol Land Twitter name and avatar has been changed. The name of the Twitter is now "Idol Land PriPara and PriPara 10th Anniversary", the new avatar features the 10th Anniversary logo, and the description explains that this account will be covering both Idol Land and the 10th Anniversary while it is ongoing.

(It's hard to imagine Idol Land ending during the 10th Anniversary, but having the official account being used for something else and the lack of a season 2 announcement today is a little concerning I have to admit.)

Okay, so about the actual announcement:

There will be a PriPara exhibition held this August 9th-25th 2024 in Tokyo, specifically Shibuya. They are also planning to bring the exhibition to Fukuoka and Osaka as well.

Having been to the Rainbow Live 10th Anniversary exhibition this past March, this honestly sounds very similar. They mention displaying PriPara's chronology (the Rainbow Live one had an episode-by-episode guide on the wall) and photo spots of Making Dramas and other scenes (same, we got a Prism Jump and Prism Stone shop as well as a bunch of mini ones), as well as stage costumes (well, we didn't get that at the RL one, instead we got merch and a guitar). The Rainbow Live one was cute, but very small. I was curious if this one might be bigger since they are taking it on tour but looking up the venue (地下1階, where it says "Event Space") this one looks equally small. So, perhaps not worth flying to Japan for, but be sure to check it out if you'll already be there!

Now, she's already made the rounds but the video also announced a brand new character. Not just for the 10th Anniversary, but the 1000th Anniversary!

Laalulu! She is a transfer student from the future, come to study about PriPara at the exhibition.

So... This is very funny for several reasons.

First of all, celebrating the 1000th Anniversary at the same time as the 10th is very on brand for PriPara considering it's long been canon that PriPara has existed for thousands of years, so why wouldn't it exist for thousands more?

And of course, although they don't acknowledge it directly, Laalulu is very clearly a fusion of Laala and Falulu.

Thus suggesting that Laala and Falulu's families become... intertwined at some point, somehow.

But at the same time, they are safeguarding themselves from suggesting she's a direct descendant since she's from so ridiculously far in the future. Yes, I know that vocal dolls, if she is one, can live for thousands of years. But, if she was already a thousand years old, why would she need to study PriPara in our age? So, I think she must be relatively young.

Or is she even a vocal doll at all? Because... not sure how that would be possible either.

My personal headcanon on this would be that perhaps Falulu or a Falulu clone becomes a real girl at some point, and meets up with a descendant of Laala.

Which, if true, would mean that they not only stole @moonlit-angel-serenity 's OC but mine as well, since that's what happens to Hinode in my canon LOL.

Haha, who knows. I'm pretty sure they will never explain it.

But, it seems to me this character is a character specifically made for the exhibition (especially since the logo features Laala and Falulu). Unless a voice actress is announced for her soon, I don't think they will be doing much of anything else with this character.

(In the video, Laala speaks to her and Laalulu replies back with text only, so it seems that she does not have one at this point.)

[wakanayamazaki]

Coming Soon🤡🎡🎢🎠

. AND READY × WAKANA YAMAZAKI

WAKANA YAMAZAKI POP UP "Attractions!"

Venue: . AND READY

Address: 1-12-30 Yakuin, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City, Japan

Event Period: Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Tuesday, July 2, 2024

OPEN: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Official Website: https://dotandready.jp/

[putschki1969]

Hikaru LIVE TOUR 2024 -FEATURES-」 Tokyo

Here’s a picture of today’s Tokyo performance at Billboard Live TOKYO.

「Hikaru LIVE TOUR 2024 -FEATURES-」 01/13(Sat) Osaka Umeda Zeela 01/20(Sat) Fukuoka LIVE HOUSE OP’s 02/09(Fri) Tokyo Billboard Live TOKYO 02/25(Sun) Toyama Soul Power Tweet 1 & 2 by Hikaru | Tweet by Sai (CCC) | Tweet by Yuki (CCC) | Tweet by Gaia | Tweet by Keiko | Tweet by drummer | Tweet by Haruna Luna | Tweet by Yuriko Kaida | Tweet by Akira (CCC) | Tweet by Yuka (CCC) | Instagram post by Hikaru | Instagram post by Hikaru

『Hikaru Acoustic LIVE 2024 -FEATURES-』 Announced

Following her first solo tour as freelance artist, Hikaru will be holding an acoustic live on March 17. It will be a live streaming concert so everyone can watch it. Accompanied by just a guitarist, Hikaru will perform her songs from the album "FEATURES" ♪ (Source)

Title: Stream LIVE “Hikaru Acoustic LIVE 2024 -FEATURES-” Date: March 17 (Sun) Time: 17:00~ Ticket sales start 🎫 2/10 0:00~ Ticket price: 3,500 (overseas credit cards accepted) Archive period: 7 days Link: https://musicchamp.page.link/PJByVDREEbTmdRf77 ※The ticket needs to be bought within the Music Champ app. Please download the app

『Hikaru B-day LIVE 2024』 Announced

In other news, Hikaru will be holding a special live on the day of her birthday. This will be her largest venue since becoming a freelance artist.✨ Further details will be revealed soon.(Source)

Title: 『Hikaru B-day LIVE 2024』 Date: July 02 Venue: duo music exchange(@shibuya_duo)

[prfm-multiverse]

Hikaru Utada's Best Album Release Date Announced, Full Tour Schedule Announced. The release date of Utada Hikaru's best album "SCIENCE FICTION" has been set for April 10.

The album will include 26 songs in total, including the theme song "Nan-iro nanai hana" for the Fuji TV drama "Kimi ga kokoro ga okara de" (Because You Gave Me Your Heart) and newly recorded versions of their signature songs "Addicted To You", "traveling", and "Hikari". In addition to the previously released songs, the album will also include a new song (title undecided) and an album edit of "Somewhere Near Marseilles - Marseilles side" as a bonus track.

List of Dates & Venues for HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024 (Japan) Marine Messe Fukuoka SAT 13 JUL 2024 - 17:00 (Doors Open: 16:00) SUN 14 JUL 2024 - 16:00 (Doors Open: 15:00) Aichi Sky Expo, Hall A FRI 19 JUL 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:00) SAT 20 JUL 2024 - 16:30 (Doors Open: 15:00) Saitama Super Arena WED 24 JUL 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:30) THU 25 JUL 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:30) Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Miyagi) TUE 30 JUL 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:30) WED 31 JUL 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:30) Yoyogi National Stadium, 1st Gymnasium SAT 3 AUG 2024 - 16:00 (Doors Open: 15:00) SUN 4 AUG 2024 - 16:00 (Doors Open: 15:00) Osaka-Jo Hall TUE 27 AUG 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:30) WED 28 AUG 2024 - 18:30 (Doors Open: 17:30) K-Arena Yokohama SAT 31 AUG 2024 - 16:30 (Doors Open: 15:00) SUN 1 SEP 2024 - 16:30 (Doors Open: 15:00)

[tomorrowxtogether]

240408 [Notice]『TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR <ACT : PROMISE> IN JAPAN』 Announcement

TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s coming to you with 『TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR <ACT : PROMISE> IN JAPAN』! We hope you’ll be looking forward to TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s first Dome Tour in Japan!

* All dates and times listed on this page are in Japan Standard Time (JST).

[DATE/VENUE] [TOKYO]TOKYO DOME Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Thursday, July 11, 2024

[OSAKA] KYOCERA DOME OSAKA Saturday, July 27, 2024 Sunday, July 28, 2024

[AICHI]VANTELIN DOME NAGOYA Sunday, August 4, 2024 Monday, August 5, 2024

[FUKUOKA] FUKUOKA PayPay Dome Saturday, September 14, 2024 Sunday, September 15, 2024

[akaridream]

after dark pt. 3: stakeout (hawks x reader)

tags: hawks x reader

cw: cursing, hawks is a big fat flirt, afab reader, mentions of drugs/alcohol

taglist: @inkthgoat @pnsduck @animedreamworlds @melxdig @mizvaun @mysideeffectsofyou

masterlist

From the roof across from the Fukuoka police headquarters, you watched the sun drift lower in the gray sky. Your shadow was long and wind howled in your ear. In the other, you were being entertained by Hawks’ incessant singing.

“And all I am is a man, I want the world in my hands,” he sang, off-key and unabashed through your ear piece.

You pulled your hoodie tight around your ears. “Oh, please don’t ruin The Neighborhood for me too,” you laughed.

“Ruin?” he said, feigning offense. “You get a private karaoke session and this is how you thank me?”

Tired of pacing, you laid down on your stomach, chin on top of your hands, peering over the side of the building. “If I had my way, we’d be listening to an orchestral suite or something.”

“Orchestral suite?” He fake snored, making you scoff.

“Don’t be so uncultured, bird brain,” you sneered. “There’s one called The Planets, it’s actually really cool. Each movement was written to be the personification of the Greek gods they’re-” Hawks snored even louder, but you just talked over him. “It’s actually really interesting!”

He laughed. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. Tell me about-”

“Hold on a sec, I’ve got movement.” Your eyes focused on the door of the police station.

“Ugh, finally. Dude is supposed to be on patrol already, not cooped up in the office,” Hawks whined.

“Never mind, it’s not him,” you said, body relaxing.

“Damn. Is surveillance always this boring?” he asked.

“Not when I get to listen to the music I like,” you joked.

“Wow, so ungrateful! But you like The Neighborhood enough to know them at least, right?”

“Yes, I like some popular stuff. But I find long, complex pieces to be more mentally stimulating when I’m working, especially since I’m always alone.”

“So what’s so cool about this Planets piece?” Hawks asked. You could tell he was munching on a snack.

“I don’t want to put you to sleep.”

“You won’t, I like hearing you talk about stuff.” You could hear the smile in his voice. It made your heart stutter.

“Well… Okay,” you resigned. “So each planet has a totally different vibe. Like, Mars is the god of war and that movement is aggressive and bombastic, definitely sounds war-like. But then Venus is next and it’s this ethereal, soft piece with a dreamy feeling. All seven are totally different. So yeah, it’s neat.”

“Sounds cool. Do you have a favorite?”

“That’s tough. Everyone loves Jupiter, and for good reason. It’s bright and vibrant and the main melody is gorgeous. I also really appreciate Saturn, it has this solemn vibe but has this really pretty ending. And I really like the far away, mystical feeling of Neptune, it definitely makes you feel like you’re floating through endless space. But I also can’t overlook the dreamy, almost sleepy sense you get from Venus… Sorry, I’m rambling,” you chuckled, slightly embarrassed.

“No, not at all,” he said. “Like I said, I like hearing you talk. You’ll have to send your favorite one to me, I’ll check it out.”

“Really?” you asked. “You aren’t just making fun of me for liking classical music?”

“Hey, I may joke around a bunch but I promise I’m not making fun of you, angel. You’re smart, so I’m sure you have good taste.”

There’s that word again. Angel. Why does it make my heart stop like that? Wish I had the guts to ask why he insists on calling me that, you thought. But you were too scared to broach the line of flirting just yet, especially since you were on the job. How awkward would the rest of your contract be if he wasn’t interested? Plus, you weren’t kidding when you told him you were chronically single. You had no idea how to act in a relationship, and there was little doubt in your mind that Hawks was experienced. His confidence was proof that he knew just how attractive he was. You’ve never had trouble with emotions before, so get this little crush under control, you told yourself.

“So what do you usually listen to?” you asked.

“Pssh, I dabble in all sorts of stuff. Some pop stuff, some metal, whatever’s good. How about we go for some Local Natives next, they’re a little more indie.”

After the first few bars, you started tapping your foot. “Hm, good bass line,” you said, barely hearing Hawks humming along. “Did you say you like metal?”

“Oh yeah. But I won’t scare you off with that just yet,” he chuckled. “It can get a little intense.”

“Hey, I get it. We all need an outlet for that teenage angst.”

Hawks gave a full-voiced laugh. “For sure! Speaking of angst, you ever get into American Emo stuff?”

“Yeah, quite a bit when I was young,” you said.

“I’ll make us a playlist and we can serenade each other all evening tomorrow. Let me know your requests!”

“Will do,” you said, internally laughing at the thought of Hawks outside your bedroom window with a boom box like in the movies.

Your target finally exited the police station and headed for his patrol vehicle. Hawks turned off the music and switched your headsets to listen in to the police scanner so you could follow the target without needing to trail him directly. While Hawks’ wings were built for speed, yours were not. You followed as closely as you could, taking shortcuts across rooftops to rest your wings while keeping an eye on the streets below.

“Sounds like he’s going to do some detective stuff, probably a follow-up interview,” Hawks said.

“Yep, headed north. Any movement there yet?” you asked.

“Actually, my target just walked out. He’s with two others. Just regular office chit-chat.” He paused. “Seems to be headed to the train station with the others. He gets on at Hakata and heads south to Kasuga, so I’ll just fly there- Well, apparently he forgot something in his office.” He paused again. “But he isn’t going back inside, just standing around looking at his phone. Weird.”

“That is weird. Wonder what his deal is,” you said, thankful that your target had stopped for coffee so you could catch your breath.

“Okay, he’s on the move again. I’m suspicious now, so I might tail him to see which train he gets on.”

Hawks followed his target from the rooftops to the train station, then sent out a feather to discern which direction he would go.

“He’s heading north,” Hawks said, surprised. “That’s unusual. He must not have wanted his co-workers to know where he was going. I’m going to head up to the next station, see if he gets off there.”

Once he reached the next train station, Hawks carefully scanned the crowd, looking for his suspect from the Safety Commission.

“Must have stayed on the train. Hopping up to Hakozaki next.”

“That’s pretty close to where I am. They might be meeting up after all,” you said.

“I’ll be surprised. If they’re links in the Trigger supply chain, it’s pretty bold of them to meet up so soon. I mean, your guy just got caught about a week ago.” Hawks grew quiet in thought as you both flew over the city.

“Just made it to Hakozaki, and I already see him getting off the train,” Hawks said. “He’s heading east towards the river.”

“Shit. So am I,” you said. “You feel confident in getting a clear photo of him whenever he stops walking?”

“I took one of him already, just in the crowd at the station.”

“Really? That’s perfect. Maybe you know what you’re doing after all, Hero,” you said.

“You taught me well, and I may not be as dumb as I look at least.”

“You getting close? I’m across from a fried chicken place we might have to check out,” he asked, kneeling near the edge of the roof.

After tailing the police cruiser for a few more blocks, you spotted crimson wings ahead, despite the dying daylight. You drifted on the wind towards him, your silent wings aiding your stealthy approach.

You smirked and landed several feet behind him, your boots crunching the gravel giving away your position. He whipped around, slightly startled.

“Damn, your wings really are silent! You’d make for a bad-ass stealth hero, you know.” The way his bright eyes raked over your form made you self-conscious, but his smile told you he was pleased with what he saw. “The all-black outfit really suits you.”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Oh please. You’re laying it on a bit thick, don’t you think?”

“Laying what on thick?” He stood and drew near to you, flashing a coquettish grin.

“You’re such a flatterer, Hawks.”

He brushed away a strand of hair stuck to your hood. “What, I’m not allowed to compliment you?”

You blushed and couldn’t hide your smile. “We are co-workers, you know.”

“Yeah, for now.” His flirty tone made your cheeks flare to life further. No guy had ever shown you attention like this. He must just be this way with everyone. Can’t let myself think I’m anything special compared to the number three hero in the country.

You walked to the edge of the building together, peering over to the street below. Hawks’ target from the Safety Commission looked around, then spotted the police cruiser pulling over near the next intersection. He began walking with purpose.

“Think I should head down to street level and try to listen in?” you asked.

Hawks shook his head. “Don’t want you to get spotted. I’ll send down a feather.” He handed your digital camera over to you. “Try and get some pics of them together without going all the way down there.” Despite his typical lighthearted demeanor, Hawks’ tone was serious and his eyes narrowed in focus.

You nodded, both of you watching the man below. Without a word, he entered the police vehicle.

“Well, that tears it, huh?” Hawks asked, sending a red feather down to rest on the roof of the car.

You fluttered over to a lower roof to take pictures of the pair. Thanks to the street noise, you couldn’t make out any of their conversation. Hopefully Hawks’ feathers are as useful as they seem. Your camera shutter clicked away as they conversed. After taking a sufficient number of photos, you returned to Hawks’ side.

“They’re working together, and it’s definitely related to Trigger,” he said, eyes closed in concentration. “They’re surprisingly confident despite the report last week. Yamamoto- the PSC guy says he can supply more on Thursday. Officer Mori says that’s fine. They’re going to meet at Bay 7 at the docks, 10 pm. No correspondence until then.”

“Damn. You were dead on, then.”

Yamamoto exited the vehicle and hailed a cab. Hawks’ feather darted from the police cruiser to the roof of the cab, listening in.

“Sounds like he’s headed home now. Must be making serious cash if he can afford a cab for that distance,” Hawks said. He recalled his feather and stood, rubbing the stubble on his chin. You watched the gears turn in his mind and couldn’t stop the thought of how incredibly handsome he was. His large hands, strong jaw, glimmering eyes… He chewed his lip in thought, making you subconsciously lick your own lips. He is not making this easy for me… He’s too fucking hot.

As if he could sense your stare, he caught your eye. “You okay?” he asked, voice low.

Mortified at being caught, you shook your head. “Yeah, I’m fine, sorry. Just thinking.” Suddenly warm, you lowered your hood, trying to get the cool air to circulate around your burning ears.

“Yeah, I was too. Have to wonder if there’s anyone else in the PSC or the police department involved or if it’s just the two of them. We should try and figure out who Yamamoto is getting his supply from and when.”

“Yes, I agree. Perhaps we can dig up some intel tomorrow or Wednesday, then catch the hand-off Thursday night,” you suggested.

He nodded. “Yeah, good plan.” He sighed and shrugged. “Well, I guess that’s as much as we can do for now. But hey, I’m glad we got what we were looking for.”

You snorted. “Yeah, me too. Can’t believe it went so well, actually. I almost never get anything usable on the first night.”

“For real? Then we should spent the rest of the evening getting some dinner to celebrate our first success!” he said with a brilliant grin. “I think that fried chicken place is open til nine!”

“We’ve only been at it for a couple hours now and you’re already done for the evening? We could go back to my office and start looking for info,” you said, crossing your arms.

“Well, I’ve been doing hero work all day and I’m starving! And your office is aaaall the way across town. We’ve already made progress, so I think we deserve a little reward. So, what do you say? Join me?” he asked, extending a hand towards you.

“Have you forgotten that you’re super famous? I can’t be seen with you in public!” you said, more harshly than you meant it.

“Aw, angel,” he pouted. “You aren’t going to let me take you out?” He tilted his head like a curious puppy.

Had it been anyone but the ever-charming and undeniably attractive Hawks, you might have scoffed. Instead, you sighed and relented.

“Do they have takeout?” you asked.

Hawks beamed. “Sure do! What sounds good to you?”

“Whatever you’re having, so long as it isn’t too spicy,” you said.

Hawks started punching the restaurant’s number into his phone. “You know, my apartment isn’t too far from here. We could always take this back to my place to eat, if you get tired of eating on rooftops.”

Your eyes grew wide. “You’re trying to get me to go back to your place on our first night of work?” you chuckled, assuming he was joking.

Realizing how his words had come off, he stammered. “Oh shit, uh- That’s not how I meant for it to come out at all! I mean- Yeah, I’m placing an order for pick-up, please.” His cheeks burned a lovely shade of red to resemble his feathers. He rubbed the back of his neck and you laughed silently as he fumbled through the dinner order. So he finally breaks the confident persona, only to come off even more endearing. He’s so cute my heart might explode.

He hung up the phone and turned back to you bashfully. “Should be ready in ten minutes,” he said, swallowing hard and chuckling. “Sorry, I really didn’t mean it like I was trying to hit on you or anything.” He paused. “Uh- Not that I wouldn’t hit on you, I mean, you’re gorgeous! But taking you back to my place would be-”

You laughed. “Hawks, relax, okay? I’m not mad or anything.” He calmed down and laughed with you. He thinks I’m gorgeous?

“Good. Sooo, you don’t mind me hitting on you then? Just a little?” he asked, cocking a brow up.

Your heart soared and you gave a coy smile. “Oh, if you must. So long as we’re done working.” You met his eyes, bravely returning his flirtatious spark.

“Yeah? Like… Everyday when we’re done, or after our little contract is up?” he asked eagerly.

“Geez, you are so impatient!”

“Yeah, maybe I am.” He shrugged. “But what can I say, you really are gorgeous.”

You couldn’t maintain eye contact, so instead you raked your eyes over his body. “Oh, shut up. But… You aren’t so bad yourself, bird brain.”

A soft blush bloomed across his cheeks and he shrugged. “Eh, I try not to look like a total wreck at least. While we wait, you wanna show me that planet orchestra you were talking about?” he asked

“Yeah. I may not be the brightest bird, but I like to be open to new things.”

You smiled and pulled out your phone as you sat on the ledge. “I’ll play it through the headsets, okay? This one’s Jupiter, I think you’ll like it best.”

Hawks sat down next to you, his wings puffed up to block the biting wind. They were much larger than yours, but they didn’t intimidate you as they had upon your first meeting. Now, they were your shield.

The song began with a jovial burst of energy. The driving percussion and triumphant brass energized you, and you found it hard to sit still without conducting an invisible orchestra with your fingers.

“Sounds like a movie,” Hawks remarked.

You nodded. “Yeah! A ton of modern film composers have been influenced by this suite.” You closed your eyes, allowing your head to sway with your favorite passage.

Hawks was trying to pay attention to the music. He really was. But he was far more enraptured by you. Your excited heartbeat, your soft scent, your angelic wings nestled within his own. The elegant music only emphasized his infatuation with your beauty. He knew you would eventually open your eyes and catch him staring, but he just couldn’t take his eyes off you.

You sat in comfortable quietness, enjoying the music together. You felt Hawks’ arm gently resting against yours, pinky nestled against yours. Butterflies surged in your gut as you allowed yourself to lean into him. He provided warmth, deep in your chest and relief from the cool wind. As the lengthy song neared conclusion, you opened your eyes. Hawks’ golden irises sparkled in the dim light, his gaze soft and attentive. He glanced at your lips, but turned his head away.

Was he… Thinking about kissing me? Or am I totally misreading him? I have to be over-thinking it. He’s a flirt with everyone, right? Gotta keep this professional. Probably shouldn’t have said he could hit on me.

As silence filled the air once more, you opened your mouth to speak. Hawks’ stomach gave a noisy growl, sending you both into a laughing fit.

“Right on cue, as always!” he said.

He stood and offered his hands to you, helping you to your feet. Not letting your hands go, he pulled you close.

“Would it be super cheesy to say that song was almost as beautiful as you?” he asked with a cheeky smirk.

You giggled. “Yes, extremely.”

He laughed too and brushed his thumb over the back of your hand. “Guess I’ll just keep it to myself then. Back in a few with dinner.”

As he fluttered down to the street, your heart hammered against your ribs. You rested your icy fingers against your burning cheeks. He is such a dork. An absolutely adorable dork.

part 4

[rz-jocelyn]

[NEWS] ZIPANG OPERA: ZIPANG OPERA will be Having Their "ZIPANG OPERA 1st Tour 2024 ～Rock Out～"

DATES AND VENUES

June 08, 2024 (Osaka)

Time: 14.00 (Japan time) / 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp Osaka Bayside

Capacity: 1,198 people

June 15, 2024 (Taiwan)

Time: 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp New Taipei

Capacity: 2,245 people

June 19, 2024 (Tokyo)

Time: 14.00 (Japan time) / 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp DiverCity

Capacity: 1,102 people

June 20, 2024 (Tokyo)

Time: 14.00 (Japan time) / 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp DiverCity

Capacity: 1,102 people

June 23, 2024 (Sapporo)

Time: 14.00 (Japan time) / 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp Sapporo

Capacity: 723 people

June 28, 2024 (Nagoya)

Time: 14.00 (Japan time) / 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp Nagoya

Capacity: 741 people

June 28, 2024 (Fukuoka)

Time: 14.00 (Japan time) / 18.00 (Japan time)

Venue: Zepp Fukuoka

Capacity: 669 people

TICKET SALES INFORMATION AND LINKS

Prices

All reserved seats: 12,000 yen

2F standing positions (back): 11,000 yen

To purchase tickets for the performances of the tour in Japan, please refer to the links below.

Lawson Ticket: HERE

Ticket Pia: HERE

ePlus: HERE

To purchase tickets for the performance of the tour in Taiwan, please refer to the link: HERE

Source: ( x )

[yyh4ever]

Yu☆Yu☆Hakusho "Battle Days" Bromide Prints

Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition - Fukuoka Venue

Price: 660 yen

After the "Attention" Sticker Collection, a set of 3 bromides plus a photo mount, with Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama illustrations, was announced on the Puzzle Official Site. This is another exclusive merch that will be sold at the Fukuoka Venue.

The mount surface is a mix of the end of chapter 91, after Yusuke sees Genkai being killed, and Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara's faces from the opening of chapter 78.

The first bromide is part of the opening of chapter 77. They just removed Toguro.

The second bromide is the opening of chapter 130. I like this illustration so much, because Hiei is wearing shorts and Kurama's hair is tied back in a ponytail. Please, have a look at Kurama & Hiei Fashion Variation from the Yu Yu Hakusho Official Characters Book.

Finally, the third bromide is the famous group photo from the last chapter.

[twinkinspector]

takami keigo / hawks ❥ astrology masterlist ❥ generational planets

❥ birth date: december 28, 2119

❥ birth time: evening

❥ birth place: fukuoka

❥ pop astrology analysis

hawks has a capricorn sun, scorpio moon, and leo rising. this feels like a pretty balanced big three! it describes his public persona pretty well, imo. he’s hard-working, as evidenced by his status as the number-two hero. i think his scorpio moon is well-represented in his “i-don’t-give-a-shit” persona. because he does give a shit. he just doesn’t act like it. his leo rising is....... well, yeah. he’s super popular, everyone loves him, and he’s got a larger-than-life persona – although it’s kind of all curated. that falls in line with the sign of leo and specifically its placement in his ascendant – it’s what he projects to the public. his cockiness is..... very leo lmao i don’t think i’d change a thing here! these three placements meld together really well in his case.

❥ in-depth below the cut ❥

❥ capricorn sun: pragmatic. ambitious. disciplined. intense drive for achievement. proud. can be a workaholic. realistic. goal-oriented. grounded.

hawks is so cunning. he’s able to think logically about things and has foresight that not a lot of other heroes seem to have. he’s much more realistic than his fellow heroes and works tirelessly to fulfill his duty – even though he would “rather be a lower-ranking hero” so he can slack off. he’s so complex and has a lot of contradictions in his personality, but that’s how real people are. and that’s why he’s so relatable.

❥ scorpio moon: not really interested in surface-level relationships. desires long-lasting and deep connection. potentially very secretive about their feelings even though they are intensely emotional. creative. mysterious. captivating. ambitious. empathetic – or at least aware of the vibes around them. a bit manipulative at times. the moon is in its fall here.

hawks is well-liked as a pro-hero – sure. but i don’t see him getting very close to anyone, really. he doesn’t seem interested in the relationships he has with other pros or any of his surface-level acquaintances. he’s definitely secretive, mysterious, captivating, aware of the vibes around him, and can be manipulative – all of these are PERFECT examples of why he turned spy. his creativity is always on display when he uses his quirk. he uses it in the most unexpected ways! he also uses it to retain his placid appearance – even while he’s chasing down villains with his feathers. this mirrors the way scorpios tend to maintain a placid surface while their emotions might be raging underneath.

❥ leo rising: bright. shiny. dramatic. everything is BIG. emphasis on hair. confident. generous. attractive to others. strong mind. clear intentions. self-aware. body-conscious. warm. eager to stand up for what he believes in. loves new tasks.

i think hawks’s leo rising is a really prominent placement for him. whatever he wants to project to the public, he does. leos tend to be a bit larger-than-life, and this checks out here. he also has SUPER dramatic facial expressions, especially in the manga. he’s able to sense vibrations through his individual feathers, making him even more body-conscious than most other heroes. denki and bakugou both have this placement as well.

❥ capricorn mercury: matter-of-fact. to-the-point. not a fan of idle chit-chat. authoritative. professional. from personal experience: it can seem like they’re talking down to you – big mansplaining energy.

his lack of professionalism is probably because of his leo rising and definitely that sagittarius venus. at the same time, his lack of professionalism isn’t perceived negatively – it almost works in his favor regarding his career. it’s communicated in a way that people still feel his sense of responsibility. hawks is super honest and blunt, often to the point of being rude. i do think his libra moon tempers his communication a bit, making it more palatable than it would be otherwise.

❥ sagittarius venus: independent. freedom-loving. adventurous. fun-loving. not a big fan of commitment. open-minded. honest. probably a fan of hookups and fwb-type relationships. impatient.

from his wiki: hawks's given name is composed of the kanji for "disclose, open, say" (啓 kei) and "enlightenment, understanding" (悟 go). even his name outlines his honesty. he often seems restless – like he feels caged in – by the pro-hero framework. he says that he wishes he wasn’t so popular because it would give him more freedom. his impatience plays into how quick he is with literally everything. he’s used to getting things – and getting them fast – which (as a Sagittarius Bitch™️ myself) sounds about right for this placement.

❥ capricorn mars: high achiever. quietly confident. self-motivated. cool-headed. likes to face challenges alone. one of the most tenacious and determined mars placements. strong principles. mars is exalted here.

dude is literally the youngest pro to make the top ten and is just generally a prodigy. that’s high achieving af. he’s confident for sure – but not quietly so. the quiet confidence of cap mars is more about their security in their own ability – they don’t need to go around telling everyone how great they are. while he’s not quiet per se, i wouldn’t say there’s any dissonance here. he’s just a loud guy lmao i don’t think it has anything to do with his mars. he’s cool-headed when presented with a challenge, which is why he’s such a good strategist. he often faces challenges alone because he’s literally too quick for anyone to help him most of the time. a hallmark of cap mars is that you just wouldn’t want to mess with them...... and i wouldn’t want to mess with hawks (AT LEAST IN COMBAT SKSKSJA;OFSIDJ).

❥ gemini jupiter: curious. easygoing. restless. easily bored. quick-witted. quick to catch on. quick to learn. loves learning. excellent perception of reality. jupiter is in detriment here.

we know i love sagttarius jupiter, but i also love gemini jupiter even though it’s in detriment. something interesting about planets in detriment – they’re challenging placements, but those challenges grant wisdom that make the placement arguably stronger than one in exaltation or domicile (imho). if you get a handle on your “negative” placements, the reward is usually huge. gemini and sagittarius are sister signs, meaning that while they’re similar, they have key differences. the main one is their goals – sags can be very single-minded, while geminis tend to float from idea to idea. this even manifests in the ability to multitask. hawks will often subdue criminals with his feathers while he’s still holding a conversation and isn’t even visibly reacting to the conflict. he is a master multitasker. it’s insane. again, from dat wiki: hawks's given name is composed of the kanji for "disclose, open, say" (啓 kei) and "enlightenment, understanding" (悟 go). he’s constantly learning and trying to understand things around him – especially when he turns spy for a bit.

❥ gemini saturn: ability to articulate information. good problem-solver. detail-oriented. prone to anxiety and overthinking – the burden of intelligence. intellectually complex. often gets new ideas.

i said this earlier, but he is sooooo complex – full of contradictions. and that’s really why i love him. two things can be true at the same time. and he’s proof! his ability to articulate information is really highlighted when he gives endeavor information through the meta liberation book that he highlighted. he’s using his judgement – knowing that he shouldn’t be outright with the info. but still communicates it in an effective way. which also ties into his problem solving and how detail-oriented he can be when he wants to be.

❥ cancer uranus: creativity. a fresh perspective. eccentric. intuitive. aspires to understand life itself. homebody. family-oriented even though he has family issues. strong reactions. patriotic. frees other generations from limiting traditions. sometimes takes time away to refresh.

since he’s slightly older than the student-age characters and younger than most pro-heroes, hawks has one different generational planet from the younger characters. this changes his general outlook on life a bit. where the younger characters deal with more introspection and “coming into themselves,” hawks deals with family issues and his ideals. he’s a fresh perspective and a bit unconventional in comparison to other pros. i would definitely say he’s a bit eccentric. also (tw here for family issues) his backstory with his parents is crazy sad. he wants to be family-oriented but his parents were so shitty to him that he has to wrestle with it. and this manifests in the way he wants to give the public the security that he didn’t have as a child. i touched on his dramatic facial expressions earlier, but this probably plays a part in them too – he has strong reactions to situations. he’s able to easily control his emotions, but those gut feelings are there. he’s patriotic in a...... weird way. he wants to give security to the public even while projecting his “i-don’t-give-a-shit” image, which – again – breaks the mold a little as far as limiting traditions. he refreshes himself with alone time – i can kind of see this when he’s spying. he takes a step back from what he’s used to and looks at it through another lens.

❥ overall

i think hawks’s placements interact really well with one another. with all his capricorn placements, i’m surprised he’s not more straight-laced – but he has some sagittarius and gemini energy that definitely give him the desire to be the exact opposite of that. he wants freedom in spite of his high achievement. he wants both things. and i don’t blame him. and what is gemini energy if not duality? i was initially surprised at how many earth placements he had, but after looking more into him, it clicked for me. he stays grounded in situations that someone with different placements might not. too much air and he might lose himself. too much fire and he might get carried away and combative. too much water and he might have a bit of an internal conflict. i really think his chart is spot-on. there’s nothing in here that i really disagree with. ALL MY HOMIES LOVE HAWKS

❥ chart

[dailyexo]

Chen - 230705 Official EXO News Japan Twitter update: "『CHEN JAPAN TOUR 2023 - Polaris -』EXO-L-JAPAN2次先行受付開始！🎫 #CHEN からメッセージが届きました！💌 日本オリジナルのソロライブツアー、CHENの歌声・パフォーマンスをお楽しみに🎤✨

<EXO-L-JAPAN2次先行(抽選)> 🗓受付期間 2023年7月5日(水)15:00～7月11日(火)23:59 🔗受付URL http://r.y-tickets.jp/chen2301_fc2

💫詳細はこちら https://exo-jp.net/news/detail.php?id=1109474"

Translation (caption): "The second EXO-L-JAPAN fanclub ticket lottery for ‘CHEN JAPAN TOUR 2023 - Polaris -‘ has started!🎫 #CHEN has a video for fans! 💌 Look forward to this Japan exclusive solo tour featuring Chen’s vocals and performance!🎤✨

🗓Period 2023/7/5 (Wed)15:00～7/11(Tues)23:59 🔗 Application URL http://r.y-tickets.jp/chen2301_fc2 💫Details here https://exo-jp.net/news/detail.php?id=1109474"

Translation (video): "Hello, Japanese fans! It’s Chen. Long time no see, everyone! My first Japanese tour ‘Polaris’ has been announced! Yeah! I am very excited to be able to see you guys in Nagoya, Yokohama, Osaka, Okayama, and Fukuoka. I am working very hard on preparations so I hope you guys can all make it. Please look forward to what’s in store, i’ll see you guys at the venue! Bye-bye everyone!"

Credit: EXO News Japan.

[ayuvogue]

Ayumi Hamasaki's official site has released the logo and official dates for her upcoming 25th Anniversary Live Tour. First announced at her one-night 25th anniversary arena show, the ambitious hall tour will visit all 47 of Japan's prefectures for the first time.

Ticket information has not been announced yet; we will no doubt have more details after TeamAyu is relaunched as an app next month. The tour dates are as follows:

July 8, 2023 (Sat) Chiba: Ichihara Civic Hall

July 9, 2023 (Sun) Chiba: Ichihara Civic Hall

July 15, 2023 (Sat) Saitama: Saitama City Cultural Center

July 22, 2023 (Sat) Aomori: Link Station Hall Aomori

July 23, 2023 (Sun) Iwate: Morioka Civic Cultural Center

July 29, 2023 (Sat) Niigata: Niigata Prefectural Civic Center

August 1, 2023 (Tue) Hokkaido: Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater Hitaru

August 5, 2023 (Sat) Yamanashi: YCC Prefectural Cultural Hall

August 18, 2023 (Fri) Osaka: Festival Hall

August 19, 2023 (Sat) Osaka: Festival Hall

August 26, 2023 (Sat) Aichi: Nagoya Conference Center Century Hall

August 27, 2023 (Sun) Aichi: Nagoya Conference Center Century Hall

September 2, 2023 (Sat) Ibaraki: The Hirosawa City Hall

September 8, 2023 (Fri) Ehime: Matsuyama Civic Hall

September 9, 2023 (Sat) Kagawa: Rexxam Hall

September 17, 2023 (Sun) Yamagata: Shelter Nanyo Hall

September 18, 2023 (Mon・Public Holiday) Fukushima: Kenshin Koriyama Cultural Center

September 30, 2023 (Sat) Tochigi: Utsunomiya City Cultural Center

October 2, 2023 (Mon) Kanagawa: Kanagawa Prefectural Hall

October 8, 2023 (Sun) Hyogo: Kobe International House Kokusai Hall

October 9, 2023 (Mon・Public Holiday) Kyoto: ROHM Theater Kyoto Main Hall

October 14, 2023 (Sat) Okayama: Kurashiki Civic Hall

October 15, 2023 (Sun) Hiroshima: Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen HBG Hall

November 4, 2023 (Sat) Gunma: Beisia Cultural Hall

November 18, 2023 (Sat) Miyagi: Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi

November 19, 2023 (Sun) Akita: Yuzawa City Cultural Center

November 24, 2023 (Fri) Fukuoka: Fukuoka Sun Palace

November 25, 2023 (Sat) Nagasaki: Nagasaki Brick Hall

December 3, 2023 (Sun) Shizuoka: Shizuoka Civic Cultural Center Large Hall

December 30, 2023 (Sat) Tokyo: To be announced soon!!

December 31, 2023 (Sun) Tokyo: To be announced soon!!

January 7, 2024 (Sun) Kagoshima: Hozan Hall (Kagoshima Prefectural Cultural Center)

January 8, 2024 (Mon・Public Holiday) Miyazaki: Miyazaki Civic Cultural Hall

January 13, 2024 (Sat) Shiga: Biwako Hall Large Hall

January 14, 2024 (Sun) Nara: Nara Centennial Hall Large Hall

January 20, 2024 (Sun) Ishikawa: Honda no Mori Hall Rescheduled 4/24 due to earthquake

January 21, 2024 (Sun) Fukui: Phoenix Plaza Rescheduled 4/23 due to earthquake

January 27, 2024 (Sat) Gifu: Toki City Cultural Plaza Sun Hall

January 28, 2024 (Sun) Mie: Yokkaichi City Cultural Hall 1st Hall

February 3, 2024 (Sat) Tokushima: Asty Tokushima

February 4, 2024 (Sun) Kochi: Kochi City Cultural Plaza CUL-PORT

February 9, 2024 (Fri) Oita: Oita Holt Hall

February 12, 2024 (Mon・Public Holiday) Yamaguchi: Shunan City Cultural Center

February 17, 2024 (Sat) Saga: Saga City Cultural Center

February 18, 2024 (Sun) Kumamoto: Kumamoto Castle Hall

February 23, 2024 (Friday) Tottori: Rika Hall, Torigin Bunka Kaikan

February 24, 2024 (Sat) Shimane: Shimane Prefectural Civic Center Large Hall

March 1, 2024 (Fri) Toyama: Aubade Hall

March 2, 2024 (Sat) Nagano: Hokuto Bunka Hall

March 9, 2024 (Sat) Wakayama: Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Center Large Hall

March 10, 2024 (Sun) Osaka: Orix Theater

March 23, 2024 (Sat) Okinawa: Okinawa Convention Center

March 24, 2024 (Sun) Okinawa: Okinawa Convention Center

April 23, 2024 (Tues) Fukui: Phoenix Plaza (rescheduled from January)

April 24, 2023 (Weds) Ishikawa: Honda no Mori Kitaden Hall (Rescheduled from January)

The only dates without a set venue are the New Year's Eve Tokyo dates, suggesting the possibility of a more traditional COUNTDOWN LIVE.

[putschki1969]

[Ikebukuro] New opening! GiGO Headquarters

Hello, this is Hikaru. Thank you for watching! This time, I went to the newly opened GiGO Headquarters in Ikebukuro. What was it like to go there during the opening celebrations? I will show you! I was very confused by the latest Purikura 😂 And I had a really hard time playing the crane game (because I was so bad at it...*laughs*) I recharged with some delicious Taiyaki 🐟 Even though playing games that involve physical movement is not my biggest strength, my heart still feels so fulfilled✨ By the way, the bonus footage is of me playing a shooter video game for the first time in my life 🙄*laughs* I hope you enjoyed this video 🍀 Everyone, please come and visit GiGO Headquarters 🧸 I look forward to your comments and requests!

FictionJunction to Participate at LisAniI! LIVE 2024

Yesterday, it was revaeled that FictionJunction would be taking part in the upcoming LisAni musical festival at the beginning of next year. The four regular members will be joined by LiSA so it will surely be a grand spectacle.

Title: リスアニ ！LIVE 2024 Date: January 27 (SATURDAY STAGE) Venue: Nippon Budokan Ticket price: ¥11,000(tax incl) Website: https://www.lisani.jp/live/ Appearing artists: illumination STARS & CoMETIK／ASCA／Yuma Uchida／JUNNA／ FictionJunction (Vocal: KAORI, KEIKO, YURIKO KAIDA, Joelle, LiSA)／Myuk UPCOMING ARTISTS：asmi / SennaRin / UniteUp!

This is around the same time as Hikaru's solo tour so if you have plans to visit Japan in January, it would be a perfect opportunity!

Title: 『Hikaru LIVE TOUR 2024 -FEATURES-』 Jan 06 Toyama (Soul Power) Jan 13 Osaka (Umeda Zeela) Jan 20 Fukuoka (Live House OP’s) Feb 09 Tokyo (Billboard Live)

Keiko Attends LiSA's Tour Concert

On a side note, Keiko went to see the first live of LISA's nationwide hall tour "LiVE is Smile Always ~LANDER~". She is very excited to perform together with her at LisAni in January!

[hotarutranslations]

Fukuoka!

Evening

Fukuoka performance! Thank you very much!

Today's venue, had a gentle slope……?

It looks tight to me🙈🙈 lol

I thought, there are lots of fans from my point of view--!

On one hand, thank you very much, for the lots of support today! Did you enjoy it!

Also, today,

I was really happy……🫶🏻

Nakazawa Yuko-san came😌💜

Everyone took a photo with her, Nakazawa-san was in the mood to get going right away, so I went to change my clothes but,

After I changed she was still there!!

I got a 2 shot with her after I changed🙈💜

I'm happy

Nakazawa-san really, really, conveyed that she enjoyed it…… It was cool….. that the 2 in 17th generation are cute…… All of her words were warm,

Personally Ishida also, got to talk with her for a bit after taking the photo,

(But its kinda, I ended up talking about myself a ton, moreover I was speaking in a way where I couldn't stop, I was definitely really strange…..I got closer because I wanted to chat but I'm not a good conversationalist so I want to be reborn soon…..)

Its like that, really, my heart was full as it was filled with love

.🥺🥺🥺❤️‍🔥

Morning Musuume is big, really……🌏💫

Nakazawa-san always watches over, I couldn't say it well but in any case I love her!!!

I'll do my best from now on!!!

Fukuoka,

The mentaiko rice was really delicious, the fried egg with mentaiko on top was also delicious, Its not related to Fukuoka but the hayashi rice was also delicious, The gift I got from Ikuta-san was also delicious, the gift we got from a magazine editor-in-chief, I'm looking forward to eating the Menta-France tomorrow as well~~🤤

Its been a while in this tour, since having 4 performances during the weekend!!! that is,

Speaking of a solo tour its always like that but🙈

Its been a while, When schedule was decided to have lives at this momentum, It was like, Oooh…can we do it…? Thats what I thought at first but,

No actually I was out of breath lol

I've doing my best from the support! there were days where I realized this again😌🫶🏻

This is the end of the 4 performances during the weekends! Thank you very much!

Next week is finally our last hall, Hokkaido

⋆͛📣Tickets are here

There are 9 days till Yokohama Arena …eh, 9 days! lol

November 28th (Tue) Yokohama Arena "Neverending Shine Show" SPECIAL

November 29th (Wed) Yokohama Arena "Neverending Shine Show ~Sanctuary~"

⋆͛📣At movie theaters nationwide, Hong Kong, & Taiwan, there will be live viewings held

→General Sales From The 18th

⋆͛📣The live broadcast will only be available on the 29th

Lets run through------

see you ayumin <3

[diamondtaem6v6]

✨ 190422 - Taemin’s interview for ‘Barks’

SHINee’s Taemin will hold a nationwide tour <TAEMIN ARENA TOUR 2019> from June. Following the <TAEMIN Japan 1st TOUR~SIRIUS~> held in 2018, the second solo nationwide tour for the second year in a row will expand the scale of the venue from the previous one, starting with the Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena in Hokkaido on June 8 and ending with Marine Messe Fukuoka in Fukuoka on August 7, visiting arena venues nationwide Japan. It should show us a scaled-up stage in an arena with 14 performances in 6 locations.

His impressions of appearing in “Shabekuri 007”, the secret story of shooting the first photo book “PORTRAIT”, the artist looking back on the previous tour <TAEMIN Japan 1st TOUR~SIRIUS~> Taemin’s current location, and his premonition for the arena tour <TAEMIN ARENA TOUR 2019> I would like to introduce the interview with the photos taken carefully.

— You will be making a guest appearance on the variety show “Shabekuri 007” (Nippon TV) which will be broadcasted on April 22, but when did you decide to appear on the program first?

Taemin: I was surprised. It’s a very powerful show, and Japanese people watch it a lot, so I was excited from the moment it was decided. I was nervous the whole time during the recording, and I don’t remember much of it (laughs).

— Have you been entertained by the host, Shinya Ueda, and other comedians?

Taemin: Yes. Moreover, everyone’s speaking speed is fast! I was nervous, and it was even more difficult because I couldn’t hear some things (laughs). However, I think this "Shabekuri 007" was a huge experience for me. It was a good opportunity to show myself to people who didn’t know me yet, and I’m sure the people who have been supporting me for a long time will be happy.

— I see. So, could you give a message to those who first got to know Taemin in "Shabekuri 007"?

Taemin: (Being shy) Well, nice to meet you. My name is Taemin and I’m active in a group called SHINee. I think you saw me solo this time, but I also want to be very proud of the team SHINee. We are an energetic group with distinct personalities, so if you know me this time, please watch SHINee's performance. Thank you in advance!

— I hope more people will learn about SHINee. By the way, Taemin's 1st solo photo book "PORTRAIT", which is on sale, debuted at No. 1 in the Oricon weekly book ranking "photo books" genre. That’s great!

Taemin: First of all, there were so many people who were waiting for my photo book. I couldn't believe it, and I was happy. I'm happy to show everyone pictures of a 25 year old with a lot of energy.

— Again, what is the concept of the photo book "PORTRAIT"?

Taemin: "Taemin running away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life" (laughs). But actually, rather than "running away," I think they were able to take pictures of my relaxed facial expressions with a little free time. It was impressive to eat delicious food for the first time in Okinawa, where it was shot, and I was really into the famous Soki soba* and Agu pork**. I used to eat it every night (laughs). I also experienced scuba diving, and even though I went there for shooting, I was quite refreshed.

*Soki soba: It’s a noodle soup typical from Okinawa (It’s also known as “Okinawa soba”)

**Agu pork: Black pig from Okinawa. Its meat is one of the most popular in the region.

— I heard that Okinawa was your own choice.

Taemin: That's right. I had been there before to shoot a music video for SHINee (“Boys Meet U”), and at that time I couldn't go sightseeing due to my schedule, but the view of the sea and nature I saw while traveling were wonderful. Even before I hearing about this photo book, I often told the staff that I wanted to go to Okinawa. So this time I made the request, and I was waiting for the day of the shoot with excitement.

— It was a long-cherished wish, wasn't it? What were the most impressive locations and shooting scenes?

Taemin: The whole thing was really good, but the shots taken on the cliffs in the sea are impressive. I could enjoy the view all the way to the other side and smell the scent of the sea. I was caught by the wonderful sight, so I was not afraid at all even in a place like a precipice.

— So, what is your favorite photo?

Taemin: I would like to say "all of them," but this photo was taken in a beautiful evening. It's very memorable. It's beautiful when you look at it in the photos, but I feel that there were some things that could only be felt there, such as colors and atmosphere. When I look at that photo, I can always remember how impressed I was when I saw the sunset.

— Throughout the entire photo collection, what kind of expressions do you expect us to see?

Taemin: I was on a solo tour last year, and all I had left (to finish the tour) was the last performance in Tokyo. That's why I think there are some resolute expressions. There are a lot of smiles in the photos during the day, but sentimental emotions naturally come out at night, so I want everyone to pay attention to such changes. Now that I'm 25 years old, there were moments when I was thinking about the future directions and was a little lost in thoughts.

— To celebrate the release of the photo book, an autograph session was held at Fukuya Bookstore Shinjuku Subnade. What was the reaction of the fans?

Taemin: I received "congratulations" from most people. Because of the release of the solo photo book, the arena tour , and the appearance of "Shabekuri 007". Since many people were saying "congratulations", it felt like it was my birthday (laughs).

— Ahahahaha. It was a valuable opportunity to meet the fans who have always supported you.

Taemin: Yes. It's hard to meet or talk that closely. Some people were nervous, and some people came full of energy saying: “I'll give Taemin-kun power!" and it was an important time where everyone's emotions were conveyed directly.

— A Blu-ray & DVD containing the final performance of your first nationwide solo tour <TAEMIN Japan 1st TOUR ~SIRIUS~> last year is also on sale now. Looking back, what kind of tour was it?

Taemin: There was a lot of tension and pressure that I won't forget, but the 32 performances were a very productive time for me to grow and experience. I feel that I learned again the importance of creating a stage with the fans and staff. When I performed with SHINee, in a sense, I was committed to doing my best and keep my role going, but in my solo performances, I began to see the people who supported me closer. I also communicated with the dancers and staff in my own way, and it was a time when strong bonds were formed.

— Starting with a fantastic production of the opening, the stage with various ideas is a masterpiece. Each song was so complete and artistic, breathtaking.

Taemin: Thank you very much. Since the hall tour is close to the audience, we made it with the intention of making everyone sympathize. Then, in order to properly express the concept and world view of each song, I challenged myself to dance a wide range of dances and played the piano. At first, I was so nervous about playing the piano that my hands were shaking, but as the performances progressed, I gradually got used to it, and I was able to see everyone's faces and expressions. That process was also fun for me.

— I think many fans are looking forward to your first arena tour starting in June. How are your enthusiasm for the second consecutive nationwide tour?

Taemin: I'm really grateful. Right now, while the other members of SHINee are a little bit away, I want to work hard and grow, so that I can “explode” even more when I get together with SHINee again. While each member is experiencing new things, I want to do what I can now and grow.

— It may be a little early, but have you decided on the contents of the arena tour?

Taemin: No, nothing has been decided yet (laughs). However, I hope everyone can enjoy Taemin, which can only be seen one day at a time (during the tour). At first, I might be nervous, but then I will gradually relax, make a little mistake and show an expression that tells that I’m in trouble... (laughs) That's the real thrill of live performances, and I hope it will be a special performance for everyone rather than doing it perfectly from start to finish. As an overall highlight, I would like to show you my new image as I have grown through the hall tour. Musically, I want to try a style that I've never done before, and I'm actually looking for that kind of music right now.

— Do you have any image of the stage set and outfits from now on?

Taemin: Yes. But somehow, I want to make the stage flashy and glamorous. I think the hall tour was a rather flashy performance, but it was a strong atmosphere that took it to the next level. It's more like an adult than a boyish image. Please look forward to it. I will deliver a wonderful stage!

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Credits: Barks

JPN - ENG translation: @DiamondTaem