The weather last week was mainly cold. The sun came only out on this particular day, perfect for ToshI's restart.
I arrived at AKASAKA BLITZ around 3 p.m. Merchandise was sold both outside and inside the venue, so people without tickets could buy something, too. Though, the sale outside started already at 3:30 p.m., while 200-300 people were waiting around the venue already. They sold T-shirts (black/white 3,500 yen), towels (3,500 yen), posters (L size 1,500 yen, S size 1,000 yen), brochures (3,500 yen), and ToshI's new album (2,500 yen).
After I bought some of them and ate something outside, I waited for the doors to open with many other fans. I saw some fans cosplaying ToshI, HIDE and YOSHIKI.
Luckily, this concert wasn't in usual X-style. The doors opened on time and the people went in order into the venue while the staff called the numbers of the tickets.

When I went inside, many fans were already standing in front of the stage. The crowd looked excitied and waited for the concert to start while calling "ToshI!".

The hall's lights turned off almost on time, the crowd yelled, ToshI came out on the stage. I heard many fans screaming his name "ToshIIIIIII!!!" from everywhere in the venue. He sat down on the chair in front of the piano without saying anything. The first song "made in HEAVEN" started. When he began to sing, the crowd became quiet instantly. But many people cried out his name whenever he finished singing a verse or a chorus.
How many years have passed since he sung that song the last time? He was singing HIS song with a smile. Some people were singing with him, some were screaming his name again and again, some were crying, and others were just watching him singing with happiness. I can't find any words to describe the feeling I had at that time. But that was the moment many fans had been longing for.

After the song, he said - or rather screamed - the first words in this concert, "会いたかったぜー!" (Aitakatta zeee! / I wanted to see yoouuu!) " ついに帰って来たぜー! 帰って来たぜー!" (Tsuini kaette kitazee! Kaette kitazee!!/Finally, I'm back! I'm baaaack!!). We were very excited, yelled his name, applaused, and answered him,
"お帰りー!" or "お帰りなさい!" (Okaeriii! or Okaeri nasai! / Welcome baaaack!).

Then, ToshI called SUGIZO. The second song was "Dear LIFE" from SUGIZO's solo songs. SUGIZO played the guitar, and ToshI was singing. The lylics matched this concert. "泣いて泣いて泣いて　命のネガティブを捨てて  咲いて咲いて咲いて　輝け Dear LIFE 美しく生き続けて" (Naite naite naite  inochi no negatibu wo sutete  saite saite saite  kagayake Dear LIFE utsukushiku ikitsuzukete/Cry, cry it all out Don't you be so down and out Bloom Dear Life, there is a way to carry on*).

The next guest guitarist, PATA, joined. They performed "春の息吹" (Haru no Ibuki). ToshI sang it while playing the guitar together with PATA and SUGIZO. He seemed to give himself completely into the song.

The fourth song was one of PATA's solo works,"Story of a young boy". SUGIZO left the stage once, and HEATH joined. ToshI asked us to sing with him in the middle of the song. He sung "Hey Hey!", so we responsed "Hey Hey!". He changed the way little by little like "Hey Hey!" (in a high tone) or "Hey Hey!" (in a low tone)" or "Hey Hey Hey!". He is very good at rising the crowd's enthusiasm. We enjoyed it so much!

At next, ToshI sat down on the chair in front of the piano again. HEATH's solo song, "eagle sniper" was performed. The arrangement was very different from the original one, but it was great and ToshI's vocal was so cool.

Then SUGIZO came back on stage, and ToshI started to sing "エアポート" (Airport) and playing piano. The song is about that he had noticed all lies, lost his voice, and decided to leave. So it's painful, but I was happy to hear the members performing this song with him to support him.

The next song was also from his new album,"武士JAPAN" (SAMURAI JAPAN**). This song rocks. The crowd went wild with him, and I felt ToshI's positive spirit.

PATA and HEATH left the stage, and YOSHIKI appeared. The crowd yelled for a while. So ToshI said to us, "YOSHIKI speaks quietly, so if you want to hear his voice, shh!". And YOSHIKI answered to him, "Not so quiet." It was so funny! YOSHIKI's solo song "Unnamed Song" was played. I love this song, so I was happy to hear it. ToshI sung it with YOSHIKI accompanying him on piano and SUGIZO on violin.

The last song "雨音"(Amaoto) was also sung with piano and violin. YOSHIKI said this song was awesome. ToshI almost cried while singing, "あれから　何年もたち　私は　今ここに　帰りました" (Arekara nannen mo tachi watashi ha ima kokoni kaeri mashita/Many years have passed since then, now I came back.) The crowd called his name over and over again to support him.

After the members left the stage, the crowd called for an encore with clapping hands. Soon they came out again. All members appeared on stage at last. They played two X JAPAN-songs. The first one was "Forever Love".
PATA played guitar, HEATH bass, SUGIZO violin, YOSHIKI piano, and ToshI sung it with them. What a gorgeous version of "Forever Love"!

Before and after "Forever Love", ToshI talked with members for a long time (about half an hour in total). He said, "じじいになっても歌うぜー!" (Jijii ni natte mo utauzee!/I'll sing even when I become an old man!), we screamed
"YEAAAAAAHH!" with big joy! And before they played "ENDLESS RAIN", he showed his appreciation to members and fans.

While singing the song, ToshI  walked over the stage and went to each member's side.
A big mirror ball was shining above them. SUGIZO played the guitar solo part on his violin. It was nice. This song is my favorite. I love fans singing the chorus part in their concerts. X JAPAN's members looked at the crowd, listening the fan's singing, and smiling always. It is a moment when I feel members and fans being one, sharing this beautiful song.

As all songs were over, the members gathered in the center of the stage, held each other's hands, and jumped ten times. Everyone was smiling. All members left the stage, but ToshI stayed in the corner. He made a low bow to crowd for a little while. It showed us his deep thanks more than any words, therefore I was moved so much.

After he was gone, it was anounced that the concert was over. "Say Anything" started to play and the fans were singing along. Almost all the people stayed there till the song ended.

The concert is unforgettable. Not only their performance was great, but also ToshI, the other members and the fans there have created a happy and heartwarming atmosphere through the whole concert.
ToshI, I'm very happy about your return, you are really wonderful.

* This is the translation SUGIZO himself uses - so it's no translation word by word but rather delivers the meaning.
** "武士" is normally read "Bushi", but ToshI chose a special pronounciation as "Samurai"

Written by: Ivy
Edited by: Maverick