What to expect at a live concert in Japan?

5 comments

1. bringing your own merch to get signed depends entirely on the artist and their management team. most of the time ive been in that spot youve needed to buy merch there and get that signed, they didnt sign personal items. that being said, there usually is commemerative merch for the concert so no reason not to buy if you ask me.

   EDIT: also this assumes there is a signing at all, if you didnt pay extra for one then it may not happen.

   if it is open air, definitely be prepared for weather and just be advised that depending on the audience, concerts tend to be more subdued. not sure how it would be for YOASOBI specifically, just pay attention to how people around you act and you should be fine.

2. I was at Sacra Music Fes 2022, an indoor concert at the Makuhari Messe featuring artists like LiSA, Aimer and ClariS.

   I would say the crowd was more reserved than you might expect. I believe clapping was encouraged over cheering due to COVID considerations but that probably won’t be an issue outdoors. My favorite part of the concert was waving my penlight and changing the colors to match the sea of penlights in the crowd.

   Having also been to anime con concerts before (including Sakura Con), I can say this was whole different level of experience compared to anime cons where a lot of people aren’t necessarily into the music and just there to hang out as part of the con.

   Also, there was no opportunity for autographs like you might get at an anime con. It’s possible that there might be special tickets to a “handshake” event of sorts either before or after the concert but those are usually sold via lottery so I doubt you’d have those.

   Lastly, it might be a good idea to make sure your name is written on your ticket and not someone else’s. If not, it’s somewhat possible that an ID check at the door could cause issues.

   In my case, I had name written in katakana on my ticket (via Google Translate), which could have still presented issues since my ID is obviously in English. But thankfully no IDs were checked and I got in with no issues. Hopefully the same applies to you.

3. I just Yoasobi at Summer Sonic not too long ago, they were a lot of fun! I was in the bleachers area so it was quite subdued but the floor were definitely enjoying themselves. If you have merch like a towel or shirt, they might ask you to wave it.

   If you want merch, earlier the better. The no photos rules is one of the biggest things/cultural differences, and this rule is taken quite seriously.

4. Unless its an idol group or a popular rock band like Maximum the Hormone … expect a subdued crowd than what you’re use to at a concert. Though the crowd at Summer Sonic this year went wild when Yoasobi performed Idol.

   Wouldn’t expect a merch signing event unless the artists or event management have announced sessions.

   Have fun and load up your IC card and wallet for food, drinks and some merch to remember your time with. Also maybe some ziplock bags to protect your essentials from rain.

   Bring a poncho and shoes you don’t mind getting wet in case of heavy rain.

   Earplugs! Protect your hearing. At Sweet Love Shower this year I heard Maximum the Hormone in full clarity like a kilometer away from the stage lol.

5. 再入場禁止 means “no re-entry” so don’t make the mistake of leaving the venue unless you’re done for the day.

   If there’s a drink charge at the entrance, having exactly ¥600 (usual price) will help speed things up. In general, having smaller bills will also help at the food/drink/merch booths too.

   Most artists in Japan won’t do any kind of fan interaction without prior notification and/or a price involved.

   Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand all day because any place to sit at the festival will be extremely rare.

   Earplugs! Hearing loss is irreversible and the constant ringing is extremely annoying.