It's been more than 10 days since YUI's first ever Budoukan live was held. Even though I didn't attend (I wish I could), I have compiled related links in this post, and a small summary/ conclusion I come up with after reading all these live reports which will just make me even more jealous.

Don't read it if you love surprises, because this might cut down half the fun you gonna have through watching the upcoming DVD (yet to be confirmed).

Song List:

Opening



1. It's happy line


She lights up the candle, just like in Taiyou no Uta, but failed in the first time. Maybe due to nervousness.

-MC-

2. Good-bye days


No cables or anything were attached, except a microphone placed in front of YUI, just like what she did in street performances back then. She sang this song twice because she messed up the lyrics.

3. Merry Go Round
- She went to main stage and screamed 'BUDOUKAAAAN!!!'

4. LIFE

-MC- Short introduction of herself and band members.

5. CHE.R.RY

-MC- Introduced her friend, Yuuyu kun (you you). People said the name was taken from Happy Birthday to you you lol so cute. It was a bear made from CG, then YUI asked when is his birthday, started from January, February, March....(it is November 19). Then she asked You you kun to dance together.

6. Happy Birthday to you you
- In the screen there were lots of different coloured bears dancing together, and You you's girlfriend too. There was another red bear doing "sonna no kankei nee" pose LOL plagiarise (if you know the comedian who wears swimming trunks only and goes around terrorising artists with that famous phrase).

7. It's all right

-MC- Asking fans to take care of themselves since it's cold out there, and introducing that one and only song which should be listened during winter mornings, inside your futon.

8. Winter Hot Music
- She sang with hand mic, no guitar playing, and slowly walked towards the pavement.

9. I remember you
10. Skyline

-MC- YUI Radio at budoukan

Apparently at first they were having problems with the sound system, YUI couldn't hear Shigezou san's voice but the audience heard his. After fixing it, they had small talks such as how YUI came up to stage in the opening. She exposed that she did it in Johnny's style, the one they always do in concerts, 'Jya~n' (bounce) from bottom. Then Shigezou told YUI that she shouldn't spoil these secrets out lol.

In YUI RADIO #28, Shigezou asked fans to send any requests they wished to have in this Budoukan live so here are some of the requests:

#1 Mickey's version of Wu~wang!!
- Without thinking further YUI did it xD

#2 Asking people who attended this concert to support YUI on behalf of those who couldn't make it (like me T.T).
- huge applause from the audience.

#3 Wu~wang on right hand while wu~nyan on the left.
- At first dear YUI thought that she could do it but when she tried to do so...apparently it was difficult lol. Wu~nyawan?!

#4 Among band members, who will save YUI if someone asked YUI to do another back flip? (HEYx3 incident lol)
- Everyone looked at YUI's guitarist Kaji san lol. With drum rolls by Muta san, Kaji san did it~ Then he was kinda embarrassed and went to hide behind drum set.

#5 Puts on that weird looking sun glass.
- YUI went to backstage and took it from her manager Waji san, then put it on.

#6 Pose as the emergency exit in YUI's way.
- While wearing the sun glass (perhaps requested by Shigezou san lol). Then YUI, with that sun glass, stood still lol, acted as the emergency exit xD Notice that this time YUI didn't 'throw' any of the requests to others like she used to do. She did whatever she could *touched*

#7 Play drums
- It started with simple beats then blasted off with other instruments accompanied by band members.

#8 Lastly, sing along Good-bye days accompanied by YUI's acoustic guitar.
- Lyrics were shown on the screen, and everyone sang first half of the song, while YUI playing her acoustic.

End of first half.

11. LOVE & TRUTH


Together with strings, consist of 22 members. Solo! Solo!!

12. Driving today
- YUI played her acoustic in a slower tempo.

13. Last Train
- After this song YUI went to backstage. And band session started.

14. RUIDO
- YUI changed leather jacket and entered with this song. Apparently the exploded fireworks in the end shocked most of the people, it is a first in YUI's concerts I suppose lol.

15. Jam
16. Rolling star



17. Highway chance

-MC- Saying that next will be the last song (and every one goes "what??")

18. My Generation

-Encore-


Nice Martin there. YUI and band members changed to tour T-shirt.

19.Understand
- slide shows of family photos from members of YUI Fanclub, including YUI's). Members introduction.

20. HELP
21. feel my soul

-MC-

22. Thank you My teens
- The screen showed footages of staff preparing for this concert, fans lining up etc.

-Encore 2-

23. TOKYO



- She stopped singing halfway (trying to hold back her tears), but continue playing guitar. According to her fans, it was such a unusual sight seeing YUI tried so hard to withstand it T.T

Before leaving the stage, YUI asked her fans be careful on their way home >.<

Around 21:30 - END

Related Links:

Official Website: YUI Diary, Staff Diary, Tachiyomi corner, Manager Diary (nice photos, only for YUI-net members though), YUI Radio #29 (<- this one is funny LOL).

YUI LOCKS! - 22 November 2007

Live Reports:

Chinese - triper san. He translated live reports of Japanese fans, and included one from his friend. He translated some extra stuff as well, very touching T.T

English - nihongakusei, yoeru (@YUI Lover)

Japanese - Artists: Muta san (YUI's drummer), Base Ball Bear (Bassist, Drummer), kaede, Bianconero, Sonim.

Fans: MARI san (Part 1,2,3), AKIRA san, 131号 san.

To those who went to this Budoukan live, thanks for all your live reports!! And for those who didn't have the chance (or missed it) to go, there will always be another concert in the future. As YUI said, this doesn't mean it comes to an end, she will be looking forward to see fans from different places in her next concerts =)

Till then.

PS: I was using SlimTimer to track how long I have spent writing this (4.5 hours LOL, abit guitaring, snacking in between haha). Oh I have received FMTY Winter Sleeve =)

I have posted the pictures of YLs Malaysian outing at YL forum, if you wanna know how me look like, feel free to check it out.

Someone in Taiwan helped me to buy this Taiyou no Uta Taiwan version DVD from 5MUSIC (or you can buy it from YesAsia, slightly expensive), because I tried to register but never receive confirmation email from them. So, THANKS =D

I think this Taiwan version is much better than Japanese version in terms of price and value. But Taiwan version doesn't have guitar pick =P If you wanna buy Japanese version simply because of that guitar pick, good luck to you (maybe some stores still has first press).


Left: Taiwan version (~RM 75), Right: Japan version (~RM 180)

This DVD box consists of 2 DVDs (movie and making of), 10 postcards, and Taiyou no Uta diary written by YUI. The diary was translated into Chinese, the translations sounded correct but somehow I felt that it kinda make dear YUI's writing a little bit childish. Lol. Original text in Japanese sounded fine to me, hmm...



When it comes to dear YUI, me can be quite picky. The first thing I checked was the translation.


Chinese: My name is Amane Kaoru, I love music. I don't have boyfriend. My favourite food is banana. WRONG.

Haven't checked the translation of diary though (not that my Japanese is really good...just being picky lol).

Next, the translation in the DVD.


My favourite banana is food (最喜歡的香蕉是食物). Yay~!!

Oh yea the movie has Chinese and English translations, yet half the price of Japan version. That's why I bought it =D

But they got the lyrics of Good-bye days wrong I think: ~la la la love with you, with extra 'la' and 'love'.

To those who were wondering where is that YUI 'drops her tear' part, I finally found it lol. It is in the making DVD, under behind the scene, last chapter.

One day, dear YUI went to watch Taiyou no Uta full show for the first time. I think she went there by herself, with her backpack and sweater. After the movie finished, she was asked to give comments.


Trying to hide her face (aiks I forgot what she said...I was distracted).

For the making DVD, only Chinese translations, no English.

Then...(click to enlarge)


Don't cry T.T

That was the second time I saw her tears 'dropped' (first was TOKYO PV).

Maybe the third time will be...Budoukan DVD?!

Till then.

This translation needs to be digested slowly. It is freaking long.



Chinese translations can be found at triper san's blog, he had translated the whole thing.

Part 6 & 7

Disclaimer: My JLPT level is only 3, my MUET (some stupid Malaysian English test) is band 5, just giving you guys a guideline on my language ability (I don't really know how to measure these things anyway, what do mean by 'fluent'?). Sorry if I made any stupid grammatical errors and tell me if I made any factual errors. Don't believe in everything I wrote. If you wanna copy anything from here, please ask your future readers to stop by my blog, to increase my blog traffic LOL.

Previous translations: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

Teo: Italics

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quitting School

YUI: Of course there were times that I spilled tea on customers too. Then a lady whom I respected that time came and said:" Go ahead and do something else instead ya." while lowering down teapot, apologised to the customer for me. I always think that they are wonderful grown ups, when seeing such figure from behind. I was motivated by such consideration, kindness, too. I thought of wanting to improve myself even more, hence I tried my best in just about everything, with utmost effort as much as possible. To me, that time turned out to be quite a beneficial period.

I can sense redundancy...screw it lol.

# But- having only ~2 hours of sleep, means almost no free time, right?

YUI: That's true, yea.

# The time during classes or recess will be...

YUI: I ended up sleeping most of the time.......Instead of communicating, I felt asleep. It was such a waste right? Too many things just need to be done. And...because of not having much time, I even stopped singing songs as well. Besides, I realised it by chance. "Ah, I don't even sing these days..." I started to have such thoughts. I'm sure from there, "Ah, I really wanna sing." Such simple emotion was born, and gradually these feelings were accumulated to a certain extent. Passing through paddy road, on my way home by bicycle after finished part time, I would lean on the telegraph pole, taking off one side of earphone, listened to the music, and sang along. After doing so every time, it relaxes my mind. While thinking along that I really like music after all. Yea things like that somehow calms me down. Because of that, when I happened to think of my future, things like perhaps there isn't any music path came to my mind. When I thought of that, somehow I would feel as if a gaped hole opening in my heart.

# Continue living that way might be the reason you decided to quit high school. But how was it like the whole process?

YUI: Well, something like that, because of living in that way laid quite a burden physically, or around end of high school first year, one day my cold went bad and admitted to hospital. It was pneumonia by the way. All of a sudden my time was less occupied after entering hospital, because of that I had more time to think. It was about two months. On that time, the feeling of "ah, I want to do music after all" grew even bigger.

Besides thinking, dear YUI finished whole series of Harry Potter available that time too lol.

YUI: On the way back from high school, every day as usual I would stop by musical instrument store, looking at some band recruiting members poster thing, always thinking of joining. I like to look at guitars too. I have contacted those who recruiting members before as well. Actual meeting with them and asking them about it was around twice. However, maybe I was too young in terms of age, plus I thought that it would be difficult for me, I never received any follow up.


Picture credits to Reset.

YUI: That feeling of wanting to make music raised when I was in the hospital, was accumulated as well, and in some way it became stronger. Hence, I was thinking of maybe I should quit school or something. Plus, I was having problem, financially. No matter how hard I tried to pay the school fees, it was still not enough, and kept pilling up more and more. That worried me too. If I were to put my utmost effort into something at any rate, only the feeling of wanting to make music can make me stronger. If that is the case, since it is impossible for me to swing both sides for sure, thus when it comes to the time when I have to decide which one I really wanted to do the most, of course I felt more towards the feeling of wanting to pursue music.

Even more redundancy lol.

YUI: This is gonna be the first time I talk about...I once participated in one, small audition thing. I think I saw it in commercials or something and I had no idea how big the scale was. That thing was small, and I happened to come across it. I joined it before I was admitted to hospital. I was informed that I entered final stage when I was still in the hospital. Since I was already getting better, I requested for permission to go out, and went to that final audition. I really thought a lot about whether I should pursue music or not around that time, hence if I failed that audition, I will give up once and for all. It wasn't because that without the talent, no matter how you tried it will still remain meaningless, since this is a serious matter...that was how I thought. Even though I was still recovering, I sang in the audition and guess what, I won the competition. Because of that, I had this proof to persuade my parents, maybe I should try to work on this, such feeling came to me as well. And that started to motivate me. If it wasn't for that audition, maybe I would just quit from there. After discharged from hospital, I thought of trying my best in the path towards music. Definitely it wasn't because that I was told that I have the talent but, they could sense that I had this strong urge to pursue music, hence it turned out that I wanted to pursue the music path after all.

# Around that time you still haven't start writing original songs, right?

YUI: Yea I didn't write any original songs. I didn't even have a guitar. That time I sang Japanese songs.

# And that boosted your confidence, don't you think? Something like there's no such thing as zero possibility after all.

YUI: That's true.

To be continued.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmm I actually translated the whole thing...almost word by word, so that you guys can interpret it in anyway you want. Hopefully after reading this, you will get to know more of this girl called YUI.

5 more pages to go.

Till then.

Next: ROCKIN' ON JAPAN Interview Part 7

This is a biased review. Click on the pictures to have a closer look at it.

Received my copy of DVD yesterday, together with LOVE&TRUTH (after 2 months).



As expected for a less than 3000 yen DVD, it is just some normal DVD case with a 2-page booklet, and sticker. There are Hong Kong and Taiwan version too, which is 50% cheaper (if I'm not mistaken), with sticker included, if you're on a tight budget, can consider buying these two versions.

According to YUI staff, in order to trigger the additional sound channel, after finished this DVD for the first time, go to the menu and click on the yellow YUI word.



The video will be replayed again, along with commentaries between dear YUI and Shigezou san, like what we always hear in YUI Radio. Apparently when this commentary was recorded, YUI was watching this DVD for the very first time. So it is kinda interesting, being able to hear comments from YUI on first hand.

Because of this, I watched twice back to back (55 minutes x 2).

I'm not particularly excited with the live performances, since we have seen most of it quite a number of times previously in different occasions, except Happy Birthday to you you and RUIDO.


I really like YUI's expression in Happy Birthday, very...yasashii (gentle), and the way she swings around during chorus was cute. As for RUIDO, notice the high jump by Kaji san in the beginning?

Since I don't expect much from this DVD, when I first watched it, I just didn't feel any special about it. Except the tour documentaries, these scenes showed the 'off' side of YUI, something we rarely have the chance to see.


*PINK*

As for the live performances, CHE.R.RY, Highway chance sounds really good to me, I'm going to watch for the third time with earphones on (emphasize on the sound). However YUI shouting + shaking heads + kneeled down seems awkward to me. Well as long as she likes doing so, I shall be fine with it ^^


*Rawrrrr*

But, after hearing her explanation (commentary), I can understand why she's so into it. She said that during those moments she was too absorbed into music and just let everything out. I think with this additional commentary, it is actually worth the money, because you are technically watching this with dear YUI. They really know how to please a fan, besides 'sucking' my money xD

Things she will do on tour:



Find the best seat and try to 'feel' what it is like to be the audience. And bring out YUI note during MCs. Btw, she didn't really have to look a it, just that by holding YUI note it will make her calm down. She wrote all sorts of stuff in her note, such as local food, the dialects etc.

Extras:


She wore this outfit only during Sapporo's live.

　
Wah she carries her own luggage =D Is that keyboard? Or pedal board...Lol she still has that green or blue evil thing on her backpack. CUTE.

Lastly, when they showed these,



YUI's response was really sincere. She replied to almost every comment given by her fans. *touched* She said a bunch of other stuff too but I cannot recall it =x

Credits to MellowB @ Jpopsuki for rip + up this DVD =D

I don't think Sony dare to release future Budokan DVD with this style, they better don't...

Till then.

Related posts:

• First Live DVD
• Updates on YUI First Live DVD, Thank you My Teens
• YUI-net New Layout, Staff Diary, DVD
• Winter Sleeve campaign and Thank you My teens DVD
  

Today, after I finished my part time job, I walked to KLCC and had a look at the venue of our YLs gathering. The KLCC park. I wiki-ed it lol.


I'm doing part time in that blue tower.

This is actually the first time I 'explore' the park, that just shows that how ignorant I can be, never bothered to check this park out. Even though I like KLCC so much.

Back to the gathering. Someone suggested that we meet at 12 pm. Unless he wants to do all his crazy solos under hot sun, I don't mind tagging along.



This place looks like a nice spot to "shock ourselves". Staircases for audiences, small stage for whoever wants to 'perform'.


We can react the scene in Taiyou too, just like our Singapore members.

Oh remember to bring along cardboards if you don't wanna dirty your butt.

This is another good spot with shades.



We can have a picnic or something too, lol picnic.

So my plan is, on this Sunday (November 25), maybe 8~9 am we meet outside KLCC, the exit near Dome cafe, below Signatures food court. Then have a small talk + guitar session, if everyone is shy, or we ran out of songs to play, then we have to end it earlier lol and go inside KLCC.



We can have a lunch there or I'll bring you guys tour my favourite place in KLCC, Kinokuniya. Lol.



It took me quite a while to build up the courage to take this picture. Because somehow I think they will not allow pictures in book stores...They just moved the store up together with English section.

Suddenly become a tour guide blog xD Till then.

PS: Dear YUI sang Skyline in her Budokan concert T.T

There will be a YLs gathering (in Malaysia) on November 25 (Sunday). Everyone is invited, as long as you are half-banana dot com's fellow readers, or any followers of YUI-ism.

Venue, activities are yet to be decided. However there will be massive guitaring session for sure, since our beloved guitarist, Stephen aka tsunvun86 will purposely fly to KL for this occasion. Me will just stand aside and play twinkle twinkle star instead. Maybe we can have our gathering in a park or places with less crowd, unless you want to attract attention so that we can promote YUI-ism. That is fine too. Just that I will hide at some where else. Me pai se.

Right now I think the park at KLCC will be perfect for this gathering, it is nearby LRT station, there are plenty of restaurants in case we are hungry, but you have to carry guitar around if you come by train lol. Well I will xD

For those who plan to join, just show up on that day or you can inform me before that. If you come 'uninvited', that is fine too, just that you have to introduce yourself ala Taiyou no Uta style LOL. Then we will know you are part of us.

In short:

• The park at KLCC
• 25 November 2007 (Sunday)
• All are welcomed, free
• Guitar session

It's on!!

Further updates will be announce here and in YL.

Can't wait to meet you people. Don't expect too much from me though. You might disappointed, and don't be shy, just come and have fun. Bring your or something in case you get bored easily. I used to be like that, sitting at a corner and not participate in the conversation, that's why I dreaded gatherings.

But I will try my best to be more 'outspoken', on that day. Since I am more 'enlightened' these days lol. Might as well be the MC. Or we will let guitars do the talking.

So are you coming? Any other suggestions are welcomed!

PS: I have posted about this gathering at YUI Lover forum as well.

half-banana dot com is the place where the author Teo/ atheon/ hinfinitie writes down her discoveries, obsessions of this Japanese singer songwriter called YUI.

Sometimes she will translate certain articles, interviews but she doesn't really like to do it, because it is time consuming and...frustrating (because she is a perfectionist when it comes to YUI). Unless due to high demand on a particular article/ show, or she feels that she's obligated to spread her discoveries. Otherwise, she will be more than happy to leave the translation to others.


Feel free to find me at these places:

1. YUI-LOVER - atheon is one of the moderator, please don't flood my pm box because it is almost full.

2. YUI FORUM - hinfinitie is part of the translating team.

3. Other forums: JpopMusic Forums, JDorama.

4. Email me: hinfinitie@hotmail.com

5. MSN: hinfinitie@hotmail.com (seldom online, can try sending offline messages)

6. Or leave a message in chatbox, please comment directly in the post though.

7. I have mixi account too. Nick name: ティオ, Keyword: YUI.

Me prefer email. Messages in English, Chinese, and Japanese are welcomed.

メールやコメント、日本語でも大歓迎ですよ～

中文呢，简体繁體都接受，但請不要用粵語（雖然看得明白，但還是覺得很奇怪）。

If you have any requests (translation/ upload), post it in YL forum instead. You might have higher succession rate =)

Album: Onitsuka Chihiro - LAS VEGAS

I am going to buy my second copy of FROM MY TO YOU just for the sake of this cool-looking back cover.


Picture taken from 2 Channel

Blame that Sunburst Telecaster. There is a thread about this Winter Sleeve Campaign at YUI Lover with all the details. MARI san bought it and posted up pictures in her blog. Check it out if you wanna know how the CD looks like.

Me going to order from YesAsia this time, because they offer the lowest price.

As for Thank you My teens DVD, some members at YUI Forum sneaked it out (as usual) before the release date (Nov 14). It has a 2-page booklet *swt*, sticker and DVD. In latest Staff Report, the second sound channel featuring voices of YUI and Shigezou san is hidden, you have click on the big yellow 'YUI' in menu to activate it.

OMG I read that it is only 55 minutes long. This is cheating. Ok maybe not, since it is such a 'low cost' DVD. Some fans said that maybe Sony kept the price low to make it affordable, since YUI has large young fan base. But the content suffers...

Just hope next DVD will get better.

TOKYO (from DVD) was aired in November 8 YUI Locks. Ooo the first ever song I learned.

8 more days to Budoukan live (November 19)~

It is fun to read lists/ rankings, I might as well compile some of it to stir things up. No point letting all the information I gathered over the years just sit comfortably inside my brain, plus I might forget someday, you know, having short term memory loss.

I shall start it small and with more obvious ones. Image/ Appearance.

To compile this list, I have to look through pictures of dear YUI. That kinda makes me feel/ sound like a lesbian. Anyway, feel free to add more if I missed out any, and correct me if I'm wrong. Sometimes my optic nerves might send wrong signal to my brain.

I will not post any pictures, just for the sake of making you more curious.

1. She wears contact lenses. Her first pair of spectacles looks like this, if she is still using it.

2. She wears earring on her right ear. She pierced it herself as some sort of a celebration in commemorate with the release of her debut single. She did not poke the other side though.

3. She has moles on forehead, neck, right side of lower lip and maybe more at some 'other' places. Who knows.

4. She does not apply coloured nail polish (or maybe don't apply any at all). I think I saw picture with toenail polish though.

5. Her basic outfit is jeans + T-shirt. She likes to buy second hand clothes.

6. Normally she has light make up. No fancy eye shadow or blinking powders lol.

7. Those high heels she wears always with flat bottoms. Platform ones, no Stilettos.

8. She never wear anything skirt/ pants above her kneecap on public. The shortest I have seen was the skirt she wore in MTV VMAJ 2006 (with long boots, can only see her kneecap). And there is like only ONE picture of her wearing sleeveless shirt LOL.

9. She said her hands are small.

10. I wonder when she will have cut her hair short.

10.1 I never seen her carrying those Coach, Gucci-ish bags. All I can see is backpack/ rucksack, sling bags or guitar bag

10.2 She never bought leather jacket before. At the moment, even though we always seen her wearing it. She mentioned about this in Nov 8 YUI Locks.

Bonus:

The reason she does not smile much when taking photos is because it will make her face look big.

What else do I missed out?? My YUI picture folder is less than 700 MB, not really a big collector. I think you guys can create a better list than me, the ones up there are so general. I'm more of a 'mind stalker'.

More lists will be featured next. If you guys like it. Feel free to request prove/ evidence if you doubt about it. Me don't wanna spread wrong information.

11 more days to Budoukan live (November 19)~

Album: James Blunt - All The Lost Souls

Lets start with YUI's official website, YUI-net. New Thank you My teens live DVD layout!!

So PINK, the layout. I like the one with Telecaster and Adidas. Maybe I should buy From Me To You 'winter' version, thanks to this Winter Sleeve Campaign. Hmm...if I have that extra cash.

As for the DVD, they are having free previews all over Japan. On places which dear YUI never have concerts before. Such as Hokkaido, Fukushima (Chatmonchy's hometown), Okinawa and so on. The list can be found on YUI-net.

Latest Staff Diary reported on the first DVD preview show, at Yamagata. Some fans even lined up for 2 hours. Maybe they thought that dear YUI will appear, who knows? And according to the staff, this DVD will include second sound channel featuring commentary by YUI and Shigezou san, host of YUI Radio, and free sticker. Sticker might look like this (the 4th picture).

That is something worth looking forward to, even though I ranted about it. Can't wait when it released on November 14!!



This DVD will be featured in next week's YUI Locks too. What will they air?

13 more days for Budoukan live (November 19)!! Me is excited yet sad about it, at the same time.

Till then, next post will be ROCKIN' ON Part 6, hopefully. Been working on it these few days.