Momusu, junior groups shine at Elders’ fete

Members Morming Musume, Berryz Kobo, °C-ute and the Eggs combine to salute the retiring Elder Club at the start of the Feb. 2 Hello! Project 2009 concert at Yokohama Arena.

Wow. Talk about an epic concert. Call it a revival of sorts – a Japanese idol-music revival where you’re given a front-row seat. It was the Hello! Project Winter 2009 concert, the graduation concert for the company's Elder Club, on Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

Well, not exactly front row. We were 17 rows back on the extreme left of the main stage at Yokohama Arena, but that was OK, because I really didn’t feel worthy enough to be either on the floor, or in the prime seats opposite the main stage next to the main launch pad. It’s only fitting that otaku-wota fans who had followed these singers over the past 12 years should have those spots during all three shows, Jan. 31 and two more on Feb. 1.

I was perfectly happy with just being in the same building at that pivotal moment in music history.

C-ute exploded with 'Forever Love,' as exceptional single, early in the Feb. 1 show.

Yes, it was all about the Elders, but flagship ensemble Morning Musume and its surging junior groups – Berryz Kobo and °C-ute – all performed admirably as did a charming if not unrefined new Taiwanese ensemble, Ice Cream Musume. Indeed, all six ICM members were dressed like, yes, ice cream cones.

Berryz Kobo rocks with 'Dakishimete, Dakishimete' right after C-ute's performance, Feb. 1, 2009.

The great side of this was that we did get a great seat at the Jan. 31 show, in the facing seats, just to the right, about 14 rows back and in prime position to see all the acts approach from the main stage, crossing the center walkway right at us! The highlight, as it was throughout the three identical shows, was Miki Fujimoto, whose pro-wota classic, "Romantic Ukare Mode," resonated throughout the thousands of fans in attendance. Wotas rose from their seats and danced the “wota dance” to this astonishing song.

Ayaya before the Yokohama Arena fans (we are in the upper left, about five rows down from the door in the background (note the closeup below), wearing a black shirt and tam hat with folded arms. I had long since lost power to my glowstick and my arms were dead tired.

Of near-equal significance was Aya Matsuura’s fabulous trifecta – "Chocolate Tamashii," "Yeah! Meccha Holiday," and "Egao no Namida" (Thank You My Dear Friends)." It was during that sequence that, just as it would do later with Miki’s song, the videographers decided to cut to our obscure corner of Yokohama Arena. Presto, we were eternally preserved on the DVD forever, albeit quite a distance away. But so what? We were in the history books along with all the Elders and junior groups.

Speaking of which, Morning Musume, Berryz Kobo and °C-ute were splendid with their contributions as were the Eggs, who opened with a flowing scarf display reminiscent of their sensational summer 2008 opening at Yoyogi Hippodrome in Tokyo.

The Eggs painted a scarf-waving masterpiece to open this eloquent concert, Feb. 1.

Suffice it to say, it was a spectacular show, a bittersweet but wholly appropriate goodbye to the Elders, who as of March were “graduated” from Hello! Project (hopefully not to be forgotten, or not to suspens ther singingn appearances in the future), and a marvelous tribute to Hello! Project, the world’s most amazing music company.

This is Rad signing off – for now.