Last year, world tour took place in South America in the first half of September and the last half of the month it was held in Europe. The condition of the live hall weren‘t that good but in the end, if you look back, it was really enjoyable. However, foreign live halls start working at 8 pm, that’s why we couldn’t do a long performance – it lasted about one and a half hour. And yet, somehow, opening hour [for us] was early in the morning (laughs). Once we entered the live hall, we did rehearsal and then just waited [for the live to start]. Getting closer to the performance hour, we would get sleepy (laughs).
As for the set list for world tour, it was centered to the songs from albums “DIVISION” and “TOXIC”, songs like “SHIVER” got the foreign fans fired up. 6 years after our [first] world tour, this time we brought moving lights, etc, we use in Japan – it added the mood, I think.
If we compared foreign countries with Japan, they are dry, so, sound was rigid and solid. There was sound limitation, we couldn’t make thick sounds, but [fans] were still enthusiastic. People from Europe were close to Japanese fans in terms of passion, they listen to you when you play, but people in South America were quite wild. There weren’t headbanging and [crowd] diving like in Japan, but the audience in Brazil seemed the most fired up? Because Mexico is on the highlands, air is thinner there, that’s why we didn’t feel very well. You won’t be using pocket oxygen inhaler. It’s painful when using it, so, perhaps you won’t get refreshed [after all] (laughs). I had memorized MC talk for every live but… I forgot it (laughs).
All the migration [from one country to another] was painful. We traveled to Mexico through Washington, so, we spent 19 hours in the plane. As we barely slept, we were like “ah, what are we doing here?”. When we landed, we had to go over passport control but we were so tired – we really aren’t used to this. Plus, there were many fans meeting us in the airport, and when we got off the plane we couldn’t do a thing about that enthusiasm [of fans] (laughs). But, after watching the DVD once again, such welcoming makes you feel really happy.
In Europe we traveled by bus. It was dreadful. There was even 16-hour of ride and as we stayed at the bus, we finally were able to fall asleep quite fast, because our living space was limited to one storey.
Between tours in South America and Europe we once came back to Japan. Getting back home, packing your luggage, then comes morning – it was quite tight [in time], but you can relax only in your own place, right? That’s why I thought going to Europe [right after coming home] was terrible.
After all, there were various incidents in overseas. In Mexico, when I entered my hotel room, there was a stranger foreigner sitting there, who asked me “Same room?” [in English]. And I replied “Same room ja ne yo!” [“Not the same room!”](laughs). It appears it was a double booking. In addition, in Mexico, somehow a fan letter came to Aoi’s room. It seems like someone from the hotel staff made a move…
Then, during location hunt for a photo shoot, purses, passports and equipment of staff members that were left in a car, were stolen. So when we were preparing for a live, staff members went to the embassy (laughs). It was said you should carry all valuables with you, so, it was their fault they didn’t (laughs). Japan is safer, ne.
During free time, I did some shopping. In Argentina I visited the same store every morning and bought some western-style clothes. But when I came back home I asked myself “Eh? Why did you buy this?” (laughs).
Even though lots of things happened, next time for a completion [of a world tour*] I would like to go to other countries, too. I would like to visit Asia and USA!