Summer Sonic 2018

Despite never having been to a festival in my life, I decided to jump right into the deep end this summer, and went to Summer Sonic in Osaka. 

It's similar to festivals back home, and like Leeds and Reading in the sense its line up alternates locations over the two days. However, since they take place in stadiums and outdoor sporting areas both in Tokyo and Osaka, people don't camp overnight.

Haruka and I decided to only go for one day, and we wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for our favourite band, One Ok Rock, announcing their performance. It's been almost 3 years since we saw them together in Manchester, and although I saw them in March too, it was a totally different experience seeing them at a festival in Japan compared to an arena. During their tour, fans were completely reserved with coordinated fist pumping and quietly listened to their singing. This was anything but that. I was bruised and filthy afterwards, but it was definitely the best atmosphere I've ever experienced at a concert.

 

There were five different stages, and luckily all of the artists we wanted to watch were at different times. Such a variety of artists attended so there really was something for everyone; we saw Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, One Ok Rock, Paramore, Jess Glynne and overheard many others. 

There was also a magical little oasis area in amongst all of the stages, filled with a variety of food stalls and spaces to just chill out. Easily the best place to people watch and eat lemon ramen at sunset, surrounded by palm trees and booming music.

Frankly I dont think I could have handled another day in the blazing heat, but all things considered I did well. My white ass remained wonderfully snow white and sunburn free (thanks to a custom made kaftan courtesy of Simona for that exact purpose) and I didnt get heat stroke, something which I was super stressed about since I got it last year. Needless to say I had no shame and spent the best part of the afternoon wearing the cooling gel strips you put on kids who have a fever. 

 

I do have some standards though. When we were stuck in the midst of a mosh pit, Taka being less than a metre away and my hat flying off, my first instinct was to rip it off my forehead and fling it into the crowd. God knows where it ended up, but I'll be damned if I ever let Taka see me as the girl with a blue sticky strip on her forehead.  

Take a peek at our sweaty as hell after mosh pit picture, it sums the day up pretty well.

A bit of Japanese culture; past and present.

I’ve been spending a fair bit of time up in Fukuoka recently, and with that came an opportunity I’d never heard about before. For the past few years, Kohei’s mum has been volunteering at the Nagasaki Kaido Event in Kokura.

This event sees participants walking parts of the old highway that stretches all the way from Kokura to Nagasaki, a grand 223km. Back in the Edo period, numerous goods were transported along this road to Dejima, Nagasaki, the only centre for overseas trade at the time.
Using the sugar transported along the highway, a confectionary culture grew alongside it, leading to the popular name ‘Sugar Road’.

We were tasked with serving zenzai (a sweet red bean soup with mochi) and other refreshments to the participants on one of the shorter courses. I had such a fun day and it was super entertaining to see people’s confusion upon realising there was a foreigner there. 

My old barista nature definitely kicked in when the waves of people arrived, and I got accustomed to the sticky fingers from the soup by the end of the day. I also got a picture with some super high up guy at one of the biggest department stores in that area, and definitely befriended his wife. Kohei on the other hand, befriended a little dog named Happy. 

Since Kohei’s mum is always so busy with work, it was one of the first times I’ve been able to spend some quality time with her outside of the apartment. Don’t get me wrong, I love our late night chats about cultural differences, but I love our matching Hawaiian aprons more. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet some of her friends lately, so I really feel like my Fukuoka family is growing little by little.

The night before I went to see One Ok Rock in Fukuoka. They’re my favourite Japanese band and despite seeing them three years ago in Manchester, I’ve always wanted to see them play on their home turf. I have to say, I’ve never felt so culturally out of place in my life; at every moment I’d usually be loud, the Japanese crowd was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 

I’m thankful Kohei didn’t join in with the choreographed head banging and fist bumping… that being our first concert together could have been a deal breaker! Needless to say I still had a wonderful time as always, and the atmosphere was so much more emotional being one of the last tour dates in Japan for that album.  I’ve already booked tickets to see them again at Summer Sonic, a festival in Osaka which is serving as this year’s reunion with my bestie, Haruka. Looks like I've got a few months to get my Japanese rock concert etiquette on point.