Like all good trips, this one included a blowout rock show. The final piece de resistance for the great 2009 Tadhog Walkabout took place right back in my old haunts – Ibaraki, Japan. As planned, I made it out here to see friends and to ROCK OUT. The Rock In Japan Festival 2009 proved to be a more than adequate opportunity to do both. I was able to round up a bunch of my good friends from my time here in Mito (I used to live here about 4 years ago), and charge headlong into the gigantic festival.
Rock in Japan is one of the biggest annual rock n roll events in Japan, covering 3 days with about a bazillion bands — all of them Japanese rock acts. About 50,000 people attend each day. I’ve been to many shows in many countries all over the world, and this is still one of my favorites. The bands are really good. The sound quality is surprisingly good. The atmosphere is festive. Yet, being a Japanese rock festival (unlike, say an American one), it’s very clean and well organized. All the bands start exactly on time. How many rock shows have you been to have seen that?
The best part, though, is the audience. The audience at Japanese rock shows are the best in the world. Everybody gets into the show. It doesn’t matter what the band is. Everyone is jumping, dancing, and having a great time. This is in sharp contrast to American audiences, where the majority at any show tend to be “too cool” to show any emotion. Japanese shows instead have an atmosphere somewhere between a rock show, a sports event, and a religious revival tent. The entire audience dances — more than occasionally in unison — and everyone is smiling and having fun. Rock In Japan 2009 was no exception, with a long linup of amazing acts. Here is an example of HY’s performance last year:
I have one more night here in Mito, and then I fly back to the USA via Los Angeles. It’s been a lot of fun seeing my friends here, and I’m looking forward to seeing Kelly and Erin in LA!
Domo arigato!
that picture says fes. 2008.
Sorry, it’s what I could find on the internet. Cut me some slack, man!