Yokohama Arena

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Lore & Background

Following a subarachnoid hemorrhage in December 2012, Gen Hoshino underwent surgery and began a hiatus that stretched into 2013. He later underwent a second surgery for a related issue in early 2013, requiring six more months of recuperation. During this difficult period, he wrote lyrics inspired by the film 'Why Don't You Play in Hell?' and drafted the melody for what would become 'Crazy Crazy.' By February 2014, Hoshino officially returned with a performance at Nippon Budokan, followed by the Fukkatsu Live Tour from March to April. On August 8, 2014, he announced the Yokohama Arena concerts as a fitting wrap to his year of recovery. The event was divided into 'Hikigatari Day' on December 17 and 'Band Day' on December 18, featuring guest Tamio Okuda for covers like 'Sasurai' and 'Mother,' alongside a performance of 'Ai no Sei.'

In Their Own Story

The concert experience unfolded over two distinct nights. On Hikigatari Day, Hoshino performed solo with acoustic guitar, joined by Tamio Okuda to cover Okuda's 'Sasurai' and Puffy AmiYumi's 'Mother,' while debuting their collaboration 'Ai no Sei.' The setlist included deep cuts like 'Uta o Utau Toki wa' and 'Record Noise,' concluding with encores of 'Crazy Crazy' and 'Stranger.' The following night, Band Day featured a full ensemble including Ryosuke Nagaoka on guitar, Takuji Nomura on piano, Eiko Ishibashi on marimba and keyboard, Wataru Iga on bass, and Daichi Ito on drums. This night opened with the instrumental 'Daisy Omisoshiru' and closed with a cover of Kenji Kadoya and Mickie Yoshino's 'Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī,' alongside encores of 'Crazy Crazy.' The event was broadcast via Wowow Live on January 18, 2015.

Reader's Guide

For fans seeking to understand the release, the video album 'Two Beat in Yokohama Arena' contains two discs. Disc one covers Hikigatari Day, featuring tracks like 'Bakemono,' 'Kuse no Uta,' and 'Why Don't You Play in Hell?,' along with Tamio Okuda's guest appearances. Disc two presents Band Day, subtitled '(Band Day (2014.12.17))' for all tracks except the documentary. The setlist includes instrumental pieces like 'Daisy Omisoshiru' and 'Sayōnara no Hoshi,' full-band arrangements of 'Gag' and 'Night Troop,' and a 9:11 minute performance of 'Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushī.' Both discs include audio commentary from Hoshino and staff. The second disc concludes with the documentary 'Yokohama no Hoshi, Arena Shijō-hatsu no Kiseki' (The Star of Yokohama: The Arena's First Miracle). First editions came with a booklet of interviews and behind-the-scenes photos.

Did You Know?

• The concert was split into two themes: 'Hikigatari Day' (Acoustic) on December 17, 2014, and 'Band Day' on December 18, 2014.
• Guest musician Tamio Okuda joined Hoshino to perform covers of 'Sasurai' and 'Mother,' and performed the original song 'Ai no Sei,' which had first been debuted earlier in 2014 during the Fukkatsu Live Tour.
• The video album includes a documentary titled 'Yokohama no Hoshi, Arena Shijō-hatsu no Kiseki' (The Star of Yokohama: The Arena's First Miracle).
• Hoshino wrote lyrics inspired by the film 'Why Don't You Play in Hell?' and created the melody draft for 'Crazy Crazy' while recovering from his subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Band Day featured Daichi Ito on drums, a co-member of Hoshino's band Sakerock.