CONCERT REPORT: My Trip to Taipei to Watch Arashi Around Asia 2008!!

DISCLAIMER:   Most of the pictures I’ve posted here are purely for visual presentation to give an idea of what Arashi were wearing on the concert. I did not at all take those pictures. Credits to yuckie-chan for the scans.

 

CONTINUED FROM FIRST ENTRY…

At 6:00 p.m., me, my brothers Gary and Mark, my mom and dad took a taxi to Taipei Arena. At around 6:30pm we met with a girl from Singapore who sold us really cool ticket seats. We bought 2 2800NT tickets from her. Quite pricey though… NT9500 ! @_@ So we then had 6 tickets for Oct 11. Me and my brother Gary were on the second floor 2800NT, my mom and bro Mark were on the 3rd floor 1500NT tickets. And my dad was on the 3rd floor 1000NT. ROFL… my dad needed to kill time so he tagged along. Oh, we had an unsold 1000NT ticket.

 

2800NT tickets, second floor, Row 9, Seat 3

 

At exactly 6:30p.m. the audience were allowed to go in.   I can’t explain my excitement! The moment we got to the second floor and saw the concert venue… GOD! I had goose bumps all over! I can’t believe that we were finally going to see ARASHI! KYAAA!!   My heart went doki doki DOKI DOKI DOOOOKIII DOKKKIII!

 

When we got inside the venue, I was so surprised how small it was! And how NEAR we were from the surrounding aisles and center stage! Ahhhh… I was getting more and more thrilled, excited, ecstatic, overjoyed with every minute.

 

Here’s our view of the venue:

 

I know, I know.. cameras are prohibited… but I took this shot after the concert XD. We were very near the stage aisles (the area where they run along in if you’ve seen AAA Taipei 2006) so you can really see the boys up close. 

 

Here is the concert seating chart … and also a view of where we were seated.

 

 

DOKI      DOKI        DOKI         DOKI DOKI DOKI   DOKIDOKIDOKI! 

 

At exactly 7:30 p.m., the audience all cheered ARASHI! ARASHI! ARASHI! ARASHI! The lights dimmed.   There were 4 giant projectors scattered in the venue. And it played a video showing a map of Japan… leading to Taiwan.   And the words ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 showed! There was an unbelievably loud cheer from the crowd… (UWAAAH! I’m getting goose bumps again thinking about it!)   Suddenly the music played…

 
 

1. LOVE SO SWEET – Oh my God!!!! It’s starting! The boys came down from the front stage on a lift that slowly went down from the ceiling.   We were jumping around!! Screaming our lungs out!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!  Wow oh oh.. YEAH YEAH YEAH!

 

The guys were wearing yellow, black and white costumes. Like the one they wore on their concert in the National Stadium in Japan.

 

Here’s a pic of their costume. 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 
 

 2. OH YEAH – the boys rode the moving stage. Ahhh!!! Remember their cool dance for Oh Yeah? The moving stage is gradually moving from the front to the back. OH YEEEEEAAAH!!! The crowd is waving their arms like crazy! They’re getting nearer and nearer to us! ACK!!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

3. KOTOBA YORI MO TAISETSUNA MONO – They started from the back part on the moving stage… Then we can hear Ohno’s AMAZING VOICE: “Kiritoota merodii kurikaeshita wasurenai yon iii.. kotoba Yori mo Taisetsuna Mono, Kokori wa aru kara!!!” All the boys went running wildly to the side aisles!   UWAAAAAAAAAAA!! I can see them so near! We were only 9 rows from the side aisles so you can clearly see how amazingly GORGEOUS they all are! Ah! I would have died then and there! And this is one of me and my brothers’ favorite Arashi songs!

 
Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

4. LIFE GOES ON – Ohno and Sho are on the left aisle… Jun, Aiba and Nino on right.   I love this song! On the part “owaranai ai no hadou boku mo kitto kimi ni tsutaete miseru yo, kaishi wazuka sanbun sensei dakedo kouhan ressei gyakuten, Please please me” They put their arms around each other and did this MECHA KAWAII step were they were making waves with their arms. It was so cute!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

5. STEP AND GO – Center Stage! Ahhh… their dance steps are impeccable!

 

MC / TALK – if I remember well, I think the guys spoke a little Chinese here. Ack! Wish their were subs! XD Then it went lights out.

 

6. HIP HOP BOOGIE – 5 back up dancers in pink tops appeared from the back on the moving stage. One was holding a boom box.. and put the tape in… then the music played. Then Sho appeared! WAAAAAAA! We were quite near where Sho was and you can see him quite clearly. He is cute in TV… but in person he is so PERFECT!   His skin is so fair, rosy cheeks, beautiful features. Nice built! Perfection I tell you! ROFL. I dunno if I’m exaggerating but he is soooooo GORGEOUS in person! He wore striped black and brown suit, moss green pants, red suspenders, white shoes. Like this one he wore in the National Stadium:

 

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

 

7. JIDAI – The boys jumped up from under the front stage. You know those springy jumping entrances they have when they perform Jidai? They wore silver glittery long vests and black pants. If I’m not mistaken, this is what they wore:

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

 

8. YES? NO? – “Bokutachi no rifurekushon!”   We went Bonkers!! The guys stayed only at the front stage.   Then the guys did their dance step all lined up before the rap part. Then Sho said “Let’s Go!” That part the lights went out. And 11 backup dancers together with the boys did some choreography with the neon jumping rope thingy.   Ahhh! Exhilarating!

 Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

9. CARNIVAL NIGHT - the guys ran out to the side aisles!   We saw them up close again!!   Gorgeousness… The crowd danced with them… you know the steps for Carnival night… yeah like that. And then lights out.

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

10. NIJI – the lights went back on… and on the top of the front stage is Nino with his kakkoii glasses on, sitting in a white chair in front of this elegant white piano.  He’s wearing maroon pants, white shirt, black vest with white stripes. Awwww… shivers down my spine.   His voice will make you melt. Just like the Summer Tour Final Concert, he was sweating profusely.   Then the he paused from singing letting the crowd sing “ Lala lala lalalala…” Before he removed his glasses *intense shrieks from the crowd* and sings “Arigato, arigato”.  

 

Here’s what he wore:

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

11. TAKE ME FARAWAY – Ohno appears in the center stage. The center stage has an elevated platform.  Like the platform when they sang Hadashi Mirai in their concert in Taipei on 2006. He wore a gold vest, black glossy pants, black shirt, white shoes, white gloves. Ahhh, so detailed! XD   He did some chair dance. There were also 2 back up dancers with black chairs. Ohno dances so fluidly and he has such a powerful singing voice! Ack!! I will die!

 

Here’s what he wore:

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

12. LA TORMENTA – WAAAH! Such a cool song! They were in the Front Stage. Wore orange shirts with long fringe details and green camouflage pants… Only Aiba had knee length pants with red and black knee pads or fit shorts inside I think. They were introduced this sequence: Matsujun, Nino, Aiba, Ohno, Sho. You know who had the loudest scream from the fans… Sakurai Sho! The shrieks were distinguishably louder than the other 4!   Ahhh.. but I was always screaming the loudest for my Ichiban Ohno-chan.

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

13. LUCKY MAN – Soooooooooo cool!! *shrieks* They went from the Front stage to the aisles. Gaaaah! I saw them up close again!!! Doki doki! They had 11 dancers with them. 

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

14. HADASHI MIRAI – Remember the side aisles that lift up on their Taipei 2006 concert…Yeah, the elevated platform.  It was the same. Nino was very near us because he was up in the elevated platform! God! He is so handsome! 10x more handsome in person! AHAHA! I dunno if I’m exaggerating but he really is! And he’s so genki! Crowd pleaser! Matusjun was on the center stage. Ahhh.. don’t get me started on Matsujun.. he looks too beautiful for words! Rosy cheeks, flawless skin, donning his new bangs. Amazing smile!

 

 15. HAPPINESS – the guys all danced in the center stage. “Hashiridase! Hashiridase!”

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

MC / TALK – The guys had an interpreter with them. On the first concert, they talked about Domyouji as Japan’s F4 leader… and in Taiwan, Dao Ming Zhi. That’s the only thing I actually understood. ROFL.

 

On the second concert, they made Sho perform the steps for Yes? No? The part where they had the cool dance steps that looks like the many armed deity. They talked more.. this was the part I wished I had taken Advanced Nihongo lessons.  

 

16. KAZE NO MUKOU E – They were in the Front Stage… on top of the stairs. 
 

 
 Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

17. KIMI NO TAMENI BOKU GA ARU – Juniors Boys and M.A.D. boys performed this song. They were all over the place… aisles, front stage, center stage with 11 back up dancers in Green costumes.

 

After that… the VTR played about the previous Dream A-live concert… and the National Stadium concert. The last part was Matsujun saying the words Re’mark”able’. 

 

18. RE’MARK’ABLE – Ultimately the coolest entrance ever! They appeared in the front stage the boxed VTR went up to reveal the boys in blood red outfits! *shivers down my spine* They wore Red, Gold, black outfit… some of the guys had cape-like tops. From the front stage, they rode the moving stage to the center.

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

19. TRUTH – UWAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! Exhilirating, invigorating! Such a powerful song! The crowd went WILD! Not to mention their costumes look sooo hot!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

20. A DAY IN OUR LIFE – from center stage to the side aisles. *sigh* I saw them up close again! Lights out.

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

21. YABAI YABAI YABAI – KYAAAA! My favorite Matsujun song and performance ever!  Just like the Summer Tour concert… he had harness on… went up a flight of stairs… and began air walking!! WAHOOOOOOO!!! Sooo cool! *screams like there’s no tomorrow* The song list for this concert is really the best ‘cause most of them are my favorite songs ever!    He wore what he wore on the Summer Tour 2007 concert:  He had green and white glittery top with the Letters MJ on it, pueple and pink pants, and that really cute bonnet! Oh, on the second concert, Matsujun almost hit his head on the floor. What the heck! There was this part where he was like making us think that he was gonna fall… and he almost did because his arms hit the floor… his head was a few feet from the ground. GOD! Talk about YABAI! Good thing Matsujun was all right, he was such a pro and performed like nothing happened.

 

 

 

22. ICHIOKU NO HOSHI – the guys wore pastel suits. The song was so refreshing. OH!!! AIBA-CHAN was like dancing in front of US! Ack!   He is also 10x more handsome in person. He’s got his hair all permed up… has beautiful, glossy olive skin. Pink lips. And is so genki when he dances. After dancing he waved at us!!! I will die!!!   He’s just too cute for words.

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

23. SHIRIUSU – when I heard the song, I completely forgot what the title was… then I remembered it’s Shiriusu. Silly ol’ me. Exquisitely sung… especially by Ohno!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

24. HELLO GOODBYE – Aiba appeared in the front stage with the Maximum Kawaii outfit! Purple and pink checkered shorts and white shirt. He zoomed to the back of the aisle stage through those carts you saw in their 2006 Taipei concert… the ones where some staff guys are pushing them. Right. Then he went to the center stage to play his harmonica. Just so cute!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 

25. THEME OF DREAM A’LIVE – Junior Boys and guys from M.A.D. were introduced by Nino.   Then the Arashi boys were introduced. Matsujun performing an impeccable cartwheel. Nino, doing his card trick! And he looked so darn hot when he looked like a million bucks after pleasing the crowd! Then Ohno-chan doing some adorkable trick with his eyes!   Too BAKA! Aiba doing one cartwheel, then 3 flips… unfortunately failing on the third flip… he flopped on the floor. But does his signature move when the music played “Hello Goodbye!”. Kawaii!    Sho rapped singing “Hip pop da hi bi da hi bi to da hip na POP STAR!”  So cool!

 

They were wearing what seemed like pastel Spanish bolero tops, and gold pants!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

26. A.RA.SHI – The CROWD went bonkers! They sang some words in Chinese… just like their Taipei 2006 concert.   They danced on top of the moving stage, the stage going towards the back.

 

27. PIKANCHI DOUBLE – the guys walked toward the aisles… Aiba was so near us again… and his bolero jacket was stuck in his arms… so he was like dancing around with it dangling… so he asked the help of a staff to take it off. Aiba’s so funny! There were 11 back up dancers in this song they wore white shirt, black vest and black pants.

 

28. ASU NI MUKATTE HOERU – the crowd was waving their hands to the beat. The guys are still on the side aisles. 

 

MC / TALK – The guys talked in Chinese… carefully making sure what they say is correct. When Aiba was finished with his sentence… he made a gesture like “Yes!” and the crowd laughed. Undeniably… Sho had the loudest shriek from the fans. I can imagine why!!! When I saw Sho up close… I got confused and couldn’t decide whether my ichiban would still be Ohno… or it definitely had to be Sho. He’s just perfect!

 

29. ONE LOVE – the guys did really cute hand gestures and the crowd followed. The moving stage went from the back to the front stage for the entire song. Everyone was singing along to the song. Then the guys disappeared and said goodbye “Baibai!” to the crowd. Huhuhhuhuhu… the end is near!

 

FIRST ENCORE

30. WE CAN MAKE IT – The boys wore the official AAA shirts.  But the letter A was sequined.  Matsujun and Nino wearing Purple, Sho, Aiba and Ohno wearing Yellow. Sho’s was sleeveless.. Ahhh! Those arms!!! On the second day, Aiba’s was sleeveless.   The boys went from the front to the back. At the back part there was this lift, the ones you see in their Taipei 2006 con, where they can be lifted in the air.
 

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

 

31. KANSHA KANGEKI AME – They were high up in the air… and they started with the Chinese version… also like AAA 2006 in Taipei. On the second day, we only had 1000NT tickets, which means we were on the third floor. That was the place to be for this song because you can see them quite near!

 
32. SAKURA SAKE – The boys walked to the side aisles and then back to the front! KYAAAA!! I love this song! I was feeling a bit sad here because the show would be over soon. Bitter sweet but very much worth it!!!

 

SECOND ENCORE

When the boys disappeared.. the crowd went “ARASHI! ARASHI! ARASHI! ARASHI!” Then finally the guys showed up… saying something about Nino’s new drama! Then they sang it live… for the first time!!!

 

 

33. BEAUTIFUL DAYS – They were in the Front Stage. Mesmerizing, relaxing song… really beautiful!

 
 

34. GORI MUCHUU – they only sang this on the second concert show! They went running to the aisles. We were definitely hoping that they would throw out their Cardboard autographs and balls. But unfortunately they didn’t!! 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.
 
 

35. HERO – Again, only sung on second day! They were in the front stage… and There was this really cute Ohmiya moment. Ohno had his suspenders down… and Nino carefully put it on him!! Awwwww how sweet is that!?  Love it!

 

Credits to yuckie-chan for the scan.

That was the last song! And Everything was perfect!! The best concert ever!!! Ahaha biased!   After the show I felt that one of my dreams finally came true. Everything was so surreal… unbelievably surreal. From getting anxious, angry and frustrated about getting concert tickets , to flying all the way to Taipei, to spending hell a lot of money, to waiting painstakingly in line for concert goods, to seeing them soooo close!!   EVERYTHING WAS SOOO WORTH IT!    TANOSHIKATTA! I wanna see them again next year! In Japan… probably? Aghhh… we better plan it!  

 

Pinoy fangirls after the concert:

 

 

Me my brothers Mark and Gary after the con: