[JMUSIC] LANTIS MATSURI – Kanto Area

Tokyo’s Lantis Matsuri took place over the weekend of 13 and 14 September, and the public holiday (in Japan) on 15 September at the Toritsu Shiokaze Park on Odaiba attracting a whooping 28,000 attendees over the 3 days. With over 45 artiste groups making appearances over the three days, this is just a part of the grand celebration of Lantis’s 15th Anniversary, which has so far travelled around Japan, in the Toukai, Kansai, and Kanto areas, and will head to the Tohoku region in November.

AFACHAN was invited to sit in for the concert on 14 September, or Day Two of the three-day festival live! And it was AWESOME! Let’s see why!

Part one

The day kickstarted with μ’s (Love Live!), a rare occasion where all nine members of the animated Idol group performed live on stage. Nico Yazawa, portrayed by seiyuu Sora Tokui, rallied the crowd by performing her  famous Nico Nico Ni Chant, while Kotori, portrayed by Aya Uchida, thanked the fans for celebrating her birthday, which was just a few days prior to the event.

After performing a total of three songs, the group was followed by artistes such as TRUE, AiRI, milktub, Megumi Ogata, and the members of IDOLMASTER Million Stars before the show took break from the afternoon sun. One of our favourite performances had to be from milktub, along with their comedic backup dancers, the brief boys.

Part two

Part two of the day resumed after a short 30 minutes of rest and started with fhána, then quickly proceeded to artistes including StylipS, OLDCODEX, JAM Project and more. Natsuko Aso almost stole the show with her tearful declaration of returning to become an anisong singer, after a five-year break from singing anisong. JAM Project’s Masami Okui welcomed her back during the gathering at the end of the day.

JAM PROJECT – STAR OF THE DAY!

Not to be outdone, JAM Project, Lantis’s most senior group, exploded onto the stage with their best hits including Gong, Skill, Rocks and more, even collaborating with the young StylipS. Coincidentally, 14 September  was also JAM Project member Yoshiki Fukuyama’s birthday, thus prompting the breaking out of party hats and fanciful sunglasses!

We even manage to have a chat with JAM Project after the show, when as asked if JAM Project will be adding new members,

Hironobu Kageyama, the band’s leader replied, “No plans for now but we’ll have more collaboration with different artistes(in the future) like the one at Lantis Matsuri(with Stylips).”

What about the current Anime Song industry? Are there any artiste that you guys/gal liked?

To which, Hiroshi Kitadani, was pondering till the end before coming up with SPHERE, Eir Aoi and exclaiming that Girl rock band are quite cool! Other names mentioned by the members of JAM Project includes, Granrodeo, LiSA whom Masami Okui seem to like a lot, while Masaaki Endoh prefers the entertaining Milktub and Yoshiki Fukuyama the style of OLDCODEX. Kageyama-san on the hand prefers the classics by Horie Mitsuko.

If there is a chance of JAM Project coming to Singapore, where would you like visit?

Kageyama-san: The pool (Infinity Pool Marina Bay Sands)
Okui-san: The pool!
Endoh-san: I want to stay there ( Marina Bay Sands)
Kageyama-san: You can’t. it’s expensive.
Endoh-san: Night safari , Singapore zoo.

Fukuyama-san whom on his previous tours and visits to Singapore is sharing the fun he had at the Night Safari and everyone is getting hyped.

Being with Lantis for 15 years since their founding, are there any comments?

To which Kageyama-san replied,

When we just starting, we were just a few people ,staff was just like 4 people, the office was quite small (Making comparisons with the meeting room, maybe a bit smaller?). Then as time goes by, more and more people started to join. I am touched seeing the company grow to the current state!

With the grandeur of Lantis’s 15th Anniversary Live in Kanto, one can barely imagine that when JAM Project first started with Lantis, its office was no bigger than our interview room, with staff amounting to no more than 10. They sure have come a long way in these 15 short years. Not to mention, the celebration is not over.

LANTIS MATSURI OVERSEAS!

The big announcement by JAM Project’s Hironobu Kageyama revealed the location and date of the previously announced Lantis Matsuri outside of Japan, the first time Lantis will be holding such events overseas. The details announced are:

[Las Vegas] – 16 (Fri), 17 (Sat) January 2015, venue to be announced later.

[Hong Kong] – 7 (Sat), 8th (Sun) February 2015, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre HALL-3G

[Singapore] – 28 (Sat) March 2015, The Star Theatre

[Seoul] – 4 (Sat), 5 (Sun) April 2015, AX-KOREA

[Taipei] – 18(Sat), 19 (Sun) April 2015, Taipei International Convention Center

Yes, Singapore’s Lantis Festival will be held on 28 March. The details are below:

ANISONG World Tour Lantis Festival in Singapore

Artiste line-up and price will be announced at a later date. For now, here’s a messaged from JAM Project!

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