Live Report.

I`m back... and in this beast of a post, I`ll write about~

- Information on tour goods
- Zepp Fukuoka extras
- okayama ACTRON live report

Also, please don`t take any of the pictures I post here without permission. All you need to do is ask...


First, the tour goods. I bought everything, so this is all that they sold...

Tour shirts



TOUR05 shirt



During the shoot for CDでーた and FOOL`S MATE, 薫 is wearing this TOUR05 shirt...

CLEVER SLEAZOID tank



A note on the sizes. I went over there thinking `Alright, I`m a foreigner, so I`ll obviously need a big size".
Wrong.
The sizes there are very generous! I looked at the sample M size, and it was like a large. I went with S sizes, and it still has room to spare...
Just use your judgement. And remember that you CAN NOT take back shirts you have bought. Even if it`s unopened...

Tour wrist band



Tour belt - This was also sold during their spring tour.





Tour socks - Again, also sold during the spring.





Tour cloth bag



Tour tote bag - With lyrics from CLEVER SLEAZOID on it...





Tour towel



Tour stickers



I bought 1 pack to use, and 1 pack to save. I`ve already used all the first pack, so I can`t take a picture of the second sheet. The one in the top pic is sheet one, and I took a pic of sheet 3 a few days ago...
It`s a comic put together by 京... with THE BEST Engrish I have EVER seen. And the drawings are just... oh god.



I kept it bigger so you can read it...
The best ￥1,000 I ever spent, obviously.

~END OF TOUR GOODS~

In my last report, I forgot to include this picture. It`s the outside of Zepp, and people waiting in line for tour goods.



I received a lot of comments for my last report asking for me to include my interactions with the members. I hadn`t included them previously, because i didn`t want to seem as though I was bragging.
But, for those who`d like to know, I`ll post them here. Everything I say here happened; I have no reason to lie.

___________________________________
"At the end of MARMALADE CHAINSAW, I was the first to scream out. 京 was already at the drums with his back to the crowd getting water, but 薫 was pacing around. I screamed in the complete silence "KAAAAAAOOOOOORRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!", and jumped up making a fist. 薫 looked over, made a fist at me, and nodded. So, not only love from Toshiya (Toshiya had smiled and pointed at me during MARMALADE CHAINSAW), but 薫 too?? What did I do to deserve this?? But that was nothing compared to what happened in the next song...
孤独に死す、故に孤独. Early in the song, 京 let out a scream that lasted about 10 seconds. It was amazing. After the scream, he collapsed onto the podeum with his head down. When he looked up, he looked directly at me. And his eyes didn`t move...
He just stared. It was an intense stare, and he slowly got up, and stood on the podeum... the whole time staring right into my eyes. I just stared back, wide eyes thinking `How can this be happening to me!?`... so I point to myself to make sure, and he nods. Then I lost it. I screamed his name as loud as I could, and blew him a kiss. He laughed and smiled, and by that time, it was onto the next chorus. This all happened between 1:13 - 1:30... so if you listen to it, he even missed out a portion of vocals to do what he did.
Out of the 2,001 people in that hall, he chose to do that to me. I`ve never felt so special in my whole life."

And the second interaction...

"And then Child Prey. This was the best song of the night.
京, front the beginning of the song, was screaming at the crowd in his usual Child Prey style. And when it came time for his beginning scream... he did it like he always does; head back and shaking his elbows. I was such a happy girl.
And the second time that I got one on one attention from 京 was during this song...
Again, he looked right at me, and then he kept looking away-look at me-look away-look at me. Like darting his eyes...
He saw me laughing and smiled. I`m sure he has no idea how much his attention meant to me. I really felt like the most fortunate person at that whole live..."
___________________________________

And now onto their live at the `okayama ACTRON`, on October 15th!

The `okayama ACTRON` is one of their smaller stops, being a hall that only holds 700 people during standing lives. For comparison, Zepp halls hold 2,000, and the largest halls like YOKOHAMA BLITZ and STUDIO COAST hold around 2,500 people.

The people in Fukuoka were very nice; some smiled and waved at me, and some even moved for me in the hall. The crowd in Okayama, however, was different. Lots of glares, and lots of staring. For the most part, they don`t like to see foreign Dir en grey fans...
Chances are it`s also because some of them recognized me from Fukuoka...
I just stared back. Dir en grey is my life, so they need to deal with me being there...

But, there were 2 really nice people! I was in the bathroom putting on my make-up, and I see this absolutely *amazing* 京 cosplayer walk in with her friend. I tell her she looks awesome, and she humbly denies it...
When I was walking away, they ask me if I`d take purikura with them. I felt so honoured that *they* would ask *me* to take it with them, since they were the ones who looked amazing!!
So here it is~



Ahahaha, I`m doing the SHOCKER! 京, what have you done to me...

And here`s a random picture of the present boxes that are put out before every live.



Ahahaha, and the `NO DIVE` sign. Those are everywhere...

I didn`t buy my ACTRON ticket through my 「a knot」 membership like I had for Zepp ticket, so my entry was pretty dismal. 400 / 700. I knew I had to be determined to get to where I wanted to be...
But once I entered the hall... I was so weird! There was a group of people at the complete back, most of them cosplayers in IMPOSSIBLY high shoes, so no chance of surviving at the front. Next was a large group in the middle, and then there was a big open space. Lastly... there was the huge mass at the front. I *ran* over to 薫, Toshiya and 京`s side (yes, the stage was so small, being in front of one would make you close to all 3), and started to weave. I managed to get through 5 rows, and then I hit a dead end. Everyone was packed...
I asked 2 girls in front of me if I could take a very small opening in front of them. They talked among themselves for a minute...
They said they didn`t think it was a good idea, because then they wouldn`t be able to see (Hey, I`m about 5`10 in my 京 shoes, so I can`t blame them), but they also said it was extremely polite of me to ask, instead of just pushing through, so they let me past. THANKS XD
I assured them I wouldn`t be there long, cause I`d go up front during G.D.S.

I`m feverishly scanning around me to find any kind of opening... and I notice the 2 girls next to me glaring. Great, exactly what I need -_-;
One of them even goes as far as to slowly shift her weight, trying to get in front of me. But luckily, some security people made a path through the crowd, and I managed to get a little more forward in that commotion. AWAY FROM THE B*TCHESMEAN GIRLS!
I was 7th row at this point, and no where to go. I just stood there, listening to Nine Inch Nails, and waiting...
Roadies come on stage about 15 minutes before show time, and do last minute checks. They all wear tour shirts... DESPAIR OF THE FAULT, BLITZ5DAYS, 5UGLY KINGDOM... *stares longingly* M-MAD STALIN.
Then the speakers come on...

"Diru an guree sutandingu tsuua oh faibu. Ito wizzaazzuu ahndo wizzaazzuuzz..."

The lights go out. And G.D.S starts.

Fukuoka was intense, I won`t lie. I really had to strain to get to the front...
But Okayama was, in all honesty, at least 10 times more intense.
Absolutely everyone around me was rushing to the front. That`s 400 people all rushing to get a spot at a VERY small front row. I have never been in a more difficult position...
Pushing, yelling, elbowing... being hit. Grabbing onto the people in front to pull myself forward...
My hair was being pulled, I saw girls being trampled. It was absolutely brutal.
I finally got a hold of the front barrier, and I opened my eyes. There was a short girl, probably about 5`1, in front of me. I was directly in front of Toshiya, and right at the edge of the MAD STALIN podeum. I was exactly where I wanted to be...
But seriously, it was pretty scary. The staff had to drag the 2 girls that were trampled out. Luckily there was no blood, but it looked like they were out cold. G.D.S is the most intense experience I have ever been a part of...

薫, Toshiya, Die and Shinya all come on stage as a group. I waste no time, and scream to 薫 as loud as I can. I`m the first person he acknowledges, so that`s a fantastic start to the live.
Die and Toshiya wave at the crowd to get us worked up (even though everyone is STILL rushing and pushing...). Then 京 enters...

京 recognized me from Fukuoka. Within 10 seconds of being at his podeum, he looks over to me... nods, and gives me one of his half smiles. I lost it.
I must have been the only foreigner there, and being at the front, I must have stuck out like a sore thumb XD But at Dir en grey lives, IT`S FANTASTIC TO STAND OUT!!!

First, the set list-

G.D.S
C
Mr.NEWSMAN
Spilled Milk
THE FINAL
孤独に死す、故に孤独
dead tree
audience KILLER LOOP
Jesus Christ R`n R
RED...[em]
Merciless Cult
THE IIID EMPIRE
Machiavellism
GARBAGE
Beautiful Dirt

Encore 1

愛しさは腐敗につき
悲劇は目蓋を卸下優しき鬱

Encore 2

鼓動
CLEVER SLEAZOID
INCREASE BLUE
Child Prey
umbrella

First, what everyone was wearing.
京 - Very similar to Fukuoka. Black button up shirt, 3 buttons undone. Black pants and his Creepers. A black stone necklace, chain bracelet and 2 rings.
Again, with no make-up. His hair was just down... but he seriously looked godly. He looked just like he did during the new FOOL`S MATE and CDでーた shoots...
薫 - Black, black and more black! Shirt was undone 2 buttons, with 3 necklaces under it. Lots of eye liner... making me a very happy girl. His hair was just lying down, and it looked great. But, it kept me from seeing his new tattoo on his neck...
Oh well, such is life. He looked fantastic, as always.
Die - I CAN`T GET OVER HIS HAIR. Long and straightened... it`s SUCH LOVE. Gah, I`m so envious of him...
He was wearing black pants and a black jacket, with a red t-shirt under it. No make up, at all... but he`s a gorgeous boy o-natural, so no problems there.
Toshiya - Skin tight black pants. Skin tight white skull tank. Did I mention they were skin tight!? So I lost my breath for a minute there...
I`m thinking that Toshiya`s dresser needs a raise after this tour, cause just like in Fukuoka, he looked AMAZING. And his hair was beautiful again... and lots of eyeliner... and yeah. He looked haaaaandsome.
Shinya - Same beautiful hair style as always. He was wearing a white button up shirt, that looked REALLY good on him. Black pants, and boots with slight platforms. And his signature Shinya necklace (here`s a picture of the replice I was wearing, so you know what I`m talking about. Click!). He was wearing a LOT of eye liner, and it looked really fantastic.
Yet again, the boys took my breath away just by their looks!

And onto the live...
C - The crowd was absolutely pulsing with energy. You could tell the boys loved it, especially 京, because he was giving it his all, and spot on every single note.
During the "実際" / "Jissai~" notes just before the chorus... it just sent chills up my spine. A fantastic start to the live.
Mr.NEWSMAN - One of my absolute favorite songs ever. They didn`t play it in Fukuoka, so I came to Okayama praying that they`d include it in the set list. So, when 薫 started the guitar rift... I had the widest smile on my face. And it was even better than I had hoped...
During the chorus, the lights turned blue, and the whole crowd (or at least the front) sings along. Everyone around me was singing... it was fantastic. For the second chorus, 京 turned the microphone to the audience and let us sing it all. He told us to give it our all, and I gave it everything I could...
Spilled Milk - The pushing really started up again. I look beside me to see who`s giving me such a hard time, and I see that one of the `glaring` girls has made her way right beside me. Greeeeeat -_-;
She had the nerve and audacity to shove her elbow in front of me, and try to pry me from the front. I was absolutely livid at that point... not only because this was my last Dir en grey concert of this tour, but also because I was a meter away from the man I have obsessed over for the past 2 years, and I`d be damed if she was going to take my spot in front of him.
... so I do what any mature ***** would do. I elbowed her in the chest, and shifted right in front of her. She stopped giving me troubles after that...
At the end of the song, I decide to give my love to Toshiya. I screamed his name as loud as I could, and waved my arms. Toshiya smiled, pointed at me, and waved his hands, telling my to do it again. I gave it my all, and he laughed and nodded. I felt such a rush of happiness to have him pay attention to me when there were so many people there...
And then there`s a barrage of "TOSHIIIYAAAAAAA"`s... because the girls around me are jealous, and want some attention for themselves.
THE FINAL - 京 SANG A DIFFERENT VERSION. I`ve never heard it before...
In Fukuoka, they performed THE FINAL, but it was the normal version. I don`t know if this was only for Okayama...
It`s just like the 腐海 live in THE CODE OF VULGAR[ism]; only different for 1 live. The only lyrics that remained from the original was the "手の中には..." / "Te no naka ni wa..." chorus. When the "一つ、二つと..." / "Hitotsu, futatsu to..." part started, the crowd started to do the hand motions that go with it. But everyone stopped half way through, because it didn`t work with the new lyrics...
孤独に死す、故に孤独 - Alright, so after what happened in Fukuoka, I was really looking forward to this live. And 京 did NOT let me down...
Halfway through the song, he stands up on the podeum, and rips open his shirt. He then starts to undo his belt. My heart literally stops.
His hand is hovering, and he has a contorted face, like he`s considering groping. The girl to my left and I are going *h*y*s*t*e*r*i*c*a*l. Absolutely hysterical screaming...
He shifts his weight, and stares at the front down his nose... and then moves his fingers, asking for more.
The front erupts.
And then... 京 STARTS TO PULL DOWN HIS PANTS.
He stopped surprisingly low. I saw no underwear... but I could see almost all of his pelvic bones (you know, those really hot lines that lead right to... the... goods). I was a screaming, reaching, hysterical mess at this point.
京 laughs, and jumps off the podeum. He does his belt back up, and finishes the song.. though it`s all like a blur to me... cause I was seriously way too happy about what I had just seen.

~Between every song, the security workers circle around, and flash their lights over the crowd, asking is everyone is alright. Yes, the live was so intense, they needed to constantly check for injuries.
Almost every check resulted in at least 1 person being pulled out. It`s pretty scary to see a lifeless body being passed over everyones heads, and taken away...~

dead tree - 京 did his little dance again. Held his hands up high, and moved his hips slowly. I can`t explain in words how hot it is...
京 gave this live as much passion and emotion he could, and you could really hear it. His screams sounded so painful, it really made you feel the live. It`s so hard to explain it in words... but it was really an emotional live to watch.
audience KILLER LOOP - No opening, it just started right at 0:16. This is one of my favorite tracks on VULGAR, and I couldn`t wait to see 薫`s guitar portions in person. 京 did the same thing where he pulls his shirt over half his face that he did during VULGAR[ism] (and I assume he probably does it for every live of this song). During the intense guitar rift, 薫 closed his eyes and nailed it. I couldn`t take my eyes of him the whole time. Toshiya also did his upright bass technique... it was so awesome to see...
Then 京`s vocals. His voice was booming, and he hits those high octave notes at the end absolutely perfectly. It`s so hard to explain, but when he reaches the pinacle of the note, it almost sounds like his voice will give; it`s such an intense note, it sounds almost painful. I just stared at him wide eyed... because it`s performances like that that confirm him as, in my opinion, the most talented and versatile vocalist I have ever heard.
Jesus Christ R`n R - Soooo much fun. Toshiya and Die came up to their sides and played right by the edge. Die`s side seriously exploded... and there was a massive rush behind me to get closer to Toshiya, who was *directly* in front of me... no more than 10cm away from my outstreached hand...
Toshiya was headbanging, thrusting... in his skin tight clothes and it was wonderful. He was giving the crowd a LOT of attention, and I just had the biggest smile on my face...
京 again let the crowd sing the "Ominous Communication" parts, and also the second "Jesus Christ Rock and Roll" chorus. There was so much energy... and you could tell the boys loved it.
RED...[em] - The lights go out, and the spot light hits Die as he starts his solo. He absolutely nailed it...
Everyone was moving... not really headbanging, but moving with the music. I had my hands outstreached to the stage as everyone in front row did... and I just stared at 京 for the whole song. He really gets into RED...[em], so it`s fantastic to watch live...
Merciless Cult - Headbanging. During the whole opening until 0:26, the crowd just headbangs in a big wave. Even if you didn`t want to, you`d have to. When everyone around you does it, you can`t stand your own...
京 gets really into this song, darting his eyes and scratching his chest. Really looking crazy... and his screams were quite scary. A fantastic live.
THE IIID EMPIRE - The lights go out, and the strobe starts. Flashing lights... and then the headbanging starts again. 薫`s legs are spread, and he`s headbanging along with the crowd. Toshiya`s down too, and Die`s getting into it on his side as well.
The crowd thrusts their hands up during 京`s screams, giving it all the energy we could (cause at this point, you`re exhausted). During the milotic part from 2:05 ~ 2:19, the lights go low, and 京 stumbles around the stage with his hand outstreached. I absolutely loved that part...
Machiavellism - One of my favorite live songs. Ever. The whole crowd grabs onto the people around them for support, and just headbang and jump with the music. I had about 5 people holding onto me... but I could hold onto the front barrier... so I was lucky~
薫 and Toshiya come up to the edge. ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. Seriously...
I *almost* touched Toshiya... but there were so many hands around mine coming from over my shoulders and stuff... it was really hard to move. 薫 moves his fists to make the crowd uproad... and it worked!! He saw me give him a fist, and he did his signature `grimace nod`, or whatever you want to call it. Haha, I was so happy to get one of those looks XD
During Machiavellism, Shinya`s drum stick *shattered*. No, his right stick... it literally shattered because he was drumming so hard. I was watching 京, and the next thing I know a huge chunk of drum stick is flying over his head and lands between front row and the stage. No one got to take it, because the security took it away right away... but Shinya kept drumming! With half a stick... and pieces kept flying off and stuff!! If anything, it made him drum harder!! Luckily, it happened near the end of the song, so he could change sticks quickly.
Again, 京 let the crowd sing all the `HURRY UP! HURRY UP! WRIST CUT SHOW!` parts, and again smiled when the whole front did the motions to `NO THANK YOU NO THANK YOU GOOD BYE`. I just looooove that song live.
GARBAGE - There was a surprising rush at the beginning. I was pushed RIGHT up to the short girl in front of me, and again, I couldn`t move. Then more headbanging... and LOTS of thrusting arms. Have I mentioned how wonderful the "Whatever I may wish, it's weed life" part is?? It`s so entertaining to watch 京 absolutely REFUSE to even TRY to sing the English, and just make random noises that make him sound like a dolphin. If you`re heard the live on the CLEVER SLEAZOID single, it`s just like that. Soooo funny to watch!
Beautiful Dirt - 京 goes right onto the podeum, and just screams the first 2 verses... with such a pained look on his face. Die was over on his side throwing his hands up, getting his side worked up. Even I was screaming his name at that point...
By this time, 京`s down with one leg on the podeum... and he starts punching his face. Blood starts coming out... and he gets a really crazy look in his eyes. His eyes are wide and intense... but he`s smiling. He has the mic in his left hand... and his right is slowly coming up to his face... and it`s twitching and stuff...
Really a dramatic live. At the end, 薫, Toshiya and Die throw some picks, and Shinya throws his sticks (but not the shattered one. Whoever fought over that would get so many slivers XD).
Then it was good bye until the first encore.

I was absolutely drenched, exhausted, and dehydrated. I was resting my arms on some people around me, and I was literally shaking from exhaustion.
It was scary, because a girl was screaming hysterically for help, because her friend had fainted, and was out cold. During that break, 3 people were dragged out of the front.
I checked with the girl in front of me to see if she was alright, because I knew she had gotten a lot of pressure during the rushes. She looked back, and her glasses were completely fogged up, so she couldn`t see anything. It was so funny, we both laughed. She thanked me for showing concern, and she assured me she was alright. She also tried to move aside and make room up front for me, but she got about an inch, and then it was impossible to move any more. It was nice of her to do, but I was more than happy where I was.

The first encore was the same as in Fukuoka, with very very similar clothes as well. 京 looked the same (yes, with his hat!! Gah, I love it!), and 薫 was still in black... Toshiya, Die and Shinya all had similar clothes on as well to their previous live. So look back to my last report if you`re interested~
愛しさは腐敗につき - This encore was all about lighting and atmosphere. No pushing... no rushes. It was all about the music.
京 stood at his spine mic stand for the whole song, touching it and stroking it... he was very passionate.
At 1:28, the lights changed to a golden-reddish colour. Small red lights shone out over the audience... almost like flower petals. It was absolute magic. I can`t even try to explain the feeling that this live gave me...
悲劇は目蓋を卸下優しき鬱 - The lights gave the effect of rain, and it was the backdrop of that stage. 京 stood at his stand the whole time, passionatly stroking the stand with his mouth right up against the mic. His eyes were closed the whole time...
When the song reached 1:50, the lights changed to a rich, deep blue, just as the song calls for. I just stood there, wide eyes, staring at 京. The emotion of the song, the lighting, and his passion on stage just made everything else disappear to me... as I stared forward, he was all I saw... and it was just breathtaking. I completely forgot where I was. It was magic.

They exit in complete silence. No cheering, no acknowledges to the crowd. They put down their instruments and leave.
The crowd was completely silent. Everyone was just floored after that performance...

And this seems like a good time to let in a little warning. If you find yourself at a Japanese Dir en grey live, be very careful with your cheering. In North American and European concerts, it`s common to cheer during the songs, and at the end, even before the song is finished. In Japan... that is like taboo. Don`t think that the members will like it if you scream their name at a silence during a song... and the crowd will give you many shoves and glares because of it.
In Japan, you wait until the song is over *completely*. Even if you think it`s over... you still wait a few more seconds to make sure. Then you can scream you head off.
Luckily I didn`t witness anyone make this mistake during my lives here, but I remember thinking a few times "Oh god, if someone were to scream right now... *shudder*"... so just a heads up!

And while I`m giving heads up! Here`s one more... FOR THE LADIES! (and maybe guys, too?)
Cosplayers usually stand at the back, not only because of their restricting costumes, but also because of their make-up. They don`t want to ruin it, so they don`t go in the rushing areas.
If you plan on getting to the front, or anywhere past half way in the hall, you will be *drenched* in sweat by the end. It doesn`t matter who you are, it will happen.
Make-up will start running and smearing by the 3rd song, so if you put on a pile of make-up to `impress the boys`, it`ll probably be doing the opposite.
Yeah, put on some, but just keep in mind that by the second set of songs, chances are you`ll be so exhausted, you`ll be all `Screw it` and doing the full face towel. I know that`s what I was like... because everyone looks pretty terrible after a live. Expecially up front...

BUT that`s beside the point! Back to the report!!

Again, the security was scanning for injuries, and pulled out a girl and boy. I think the count was over 10 by this point...
Everyone`s chanting "ENCORE"... meaning "EHNKOORUUUU"... and waiting for the boys to come back on stage. The 4 finally enter, to a rush of screaming, and 京 follows a few seconds after.

鼓動 - This is my favorite Dir en grey song. Seeing it live just gives me chills...
Unfortunately, for 0:26 ~ 0:58... there was a commotion in the crowd where the security had to remove a girl who had fainted. She was complete center, about 7th row back. The people in the rows in front of her had to pass her over their heads to the front...
All of this was happening right in front on Diru. You could tell they were emotional about it. 京`s eyes were concerned, but he had to stay in the song. 薫, Toshiya and Die kept their heads down...
These are their fans who are being hurt for the sake of their live. I`ve read many times about how terribly they feel for fans who become injured at lives, so it was plain for all to see that this concerned them.
But once the 1:26 chorus came, they were all back. Vocally, 京 couldn`t have been better. During power notes, the mic was in his left hand, and he outstretched his right arm completely. And when the screaming came, 京 just gave it his *all*. He held the mic with 2 hands, and threw his head back while shaking. The screams he made were the most emotional I`ve ever heard. I was seriously left speechless.
CLEVER SLEAZOID - Yeeeees!! So happy to see this live again!! 京 threw his head back and just belted "WAKE UP YOUR DEAD". Then he stayed between the drums and podeum and was thrusting and throwing his arms around and stuff. He was seriously spazzing out; so funny to see!! And just like he did in Fukuoka, 京 looks square at me, to see if I`m singing along to the English. I`m obviously singing along, so he smiles and nods at me. BOTH lives he gave me love... so I love the song about 1,000,000 times more already. Even though I loved it a sinful amount when it was released. Oh 京...
I was finally joined by the rest of the front during the "Wither"... meaning "WITHARIRARIRARIRARIRARO ITHARIRARIRARIRARIRAAAA" part. GOD that`s entertaining to hear everyone sing XD
And yes, 薫, Die and Toshiya do some background vocals. Sometimes it`s even just 薫. It`s really cool to just hear 薫 sing!! I love his voice...
INCREASE BLUE - THE BEST SONG OF BOTH FUKUOKA AND OKAYAMA. JUST... SO... MUCH... FUN. Everyone was *exhausted*, but we all found energy from somewhere to jump, headbang and give them love!
薫, Toshiya, 京 AND Die all come to the edge of the stage. The front... *explodes*. They don`t touch anyone, but they`re smiling and teasing. All 4 of them seemed to be having an absolute ball. All smiles, and lots of attention for the crowd. 京 got up onto his podeum...
"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN... IT`S A SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOW TIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!!!" He jumps down with a huge smash from Shinya. During the "JELLY IS WILD" chorus, all 4 of them are pointing and giving love. I got a tongue from 薫!! HE LICKED HIS LIPS WHILE LOOKING OVER AT ME! Aaaaaaaaaahaha, I was waaaay too happy that happened. Also, during INCREASE BLUE, I got another point from Toshiya... which was nice too. And I noticed 京 looking over at me a lot...
I just can`t get over how fortunate I`ve been for these 2 lives in the attention I`ve gotten. Looking back, I can barely belive it myself... but everything I put in this report is true. I have no reason to lie.
Child Prey - Definately a staple for every tour stop. A concert without Child Prey would be seriously lacking...
Again, he did his `Angry Chicken Dance`. *Found out the name from room___304. Haha, apparently 京 nicknamed it himself...* You know, where he throws his head back and shakes his elbows... while screaming. Such a fun thing to see live.
The crowd was just pulsing again. Everyone thrusting their arms with the song.
And 京 does it again. I posted earlier in this entry what he did to me during my Fukuoka live during Child Prey...
*He did the exact same thing with me... at the exact same time in the song*. He looked at me-looked away-looked at me-looked away. Darting his eyes...
I was hysterically happy because of this, and was laughing and smiling. He shot me a smile, and continued with the song.
And then... the dreaded words... LAST SOOOOOONG. I was thinking AAAH WHAT WILL IT BE!? WHAT WILL MY LAST SONG OF THIS TOUR BE??
umbrella - 京 stood on his podeum and was pointing at all the boys in the crowd. He screams "男 / Otoko" (boy) and points at a guy in front row. He yells at 3 other guys... then he gets this sultry smile on his face... and just bellows "女 / Onna" (girl) and the whole hall... just... *ERUPTS* in cheering. I screamed with whatever voice I had left...
All 5 seem to be having so much fun. Toshiya is skipping around stage... 薫 and Die are laughing together, and 京 is interacting with the crowd a lot. Even Shinya looked out at the crowd a lot, and that earned him some screams... which made him smile. I was like "OH GOD. DID SHINYA JUST SMILE??". Yes, he did. And it was beautiful.
Everything about that song was fun. Lots of jumping in the crowd... and the whole hall thrust up their hands during the "1 2 3 4 CHILD OF SAND" part. It was just... an energy I`ve never experienced in my life.
And the end. 薫 and Die kept their final cords going for some time, while 京 said his good bye`s to the crowd. Toshiya started with the picks, and 薫 and Die followed. Only about 5 picks from Die, but 薫 and Toshiya were really generous. Again, no front row love, but that`s understandable considering the show we just got.
Shinya was next, and threw 4 sticks. All to the back... *was jumping up for them hopelessly* Ok, so I`m not that tall...
Toshiya was the last to exit. Before he left, he jumped on the podeum and put his hands together, and you could tell by his face he was sincerly thanking us for giving them such a memorable show. He really looked happy...
And he exited... and the lights came on. And Nine Inch Nails came on...
It was over. And I couldn`t have had a better time.

I stayed in the hall for about 10 minutes after, leaning up against the front barrier as everyone left. Not only because I was absolutely exhausted, but because I wanted to just stare at the stage. I knew it would be 5 months until I saw Dir en grey live again, so I wanted to take in as much as I could.
There were still picks on 薫, Toshiya and Die`s stands... gah, I so wanted to just jump up there and take 1. But noooooooo.

I discovered that both my ticket, and also my bag claim reciept had fallen apart in my pocket because of the rushes and moisture. Yeah, I just handed the baggage people a pile of papery mush, and they laughed so hard at me XD
"Looks like you were front row..." he said between laughs. I was laughing too... I can only imagine how `wonderful` I must have looked. Got my bags... and went home.

*END OF okayama ACTRON REPORT*

I`ve read live reports in the past that were good, but I was still left with so many questions...
With my 2 reports, I really tried my best to include as much detail as I could. I`m actually quite surprised with the amount of detail I remember... because my head was seriously off somewhere else for most of the lives.

I hope that people don`t view my reports as "Oh god, I HATE HER! She saw Dir en grey and the members gave her attention!! *ANGST*". That`s not the reason I put these together. I tried to bring the most detailed report I could so that foreign Dir en grey fans can have insight into a Japanese live, and how Dir en grey acts in their element. I`m not bragging about what happened. I`m just trying to share what happened during these lives, because chances are none of you would have known otherwise.
Also, I hope I shed some light on what it`s like being a foreigner at a Japanese live; how the other fans react, and most importantly, how Dir en grey reacts.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I know this really was a beast of a post, but it took a *long* time to write, so please comment! That`s all I ask...

I sincerely hope that each and every one of you get the opportunity to see Dir en grey in Japan as I have. As a fan, it`s the most rewarding thing you can ever experience.

Thanks...