Surf & Snow in Naeba vol. 44

When did we come here to the Naeba ski resort last time?  In 2006 probably?  The Naeba Prince Hotel was totally different from my faint old memory.  The hotel was a whole Yuming world: the entrance was full of flowers celebrating Yuming, the ski hill viewing restaurant offered a special lunch with five different cocktails inspired from her songs.  And full of happy people who didn’t look like skiing at all, just like us.It is always extremely difficult to get tickets for this special annual winter concert and we were on the waiting list.  The agent let us know this was uploaded just about 20 days ago.  We also got lucky with a special five course dinner: each plate was related to her songs and the chef came over to our table to explain the meaning of every dish.

It was a very warm day, and snow was not so good for skiing, but lots of people were enjoying themselves on the slopes and the lightning was beautiful at night.

Yumi Matsutoya, Yuming, started this special annual winter concert, YUMING SURF & SNOW in Naeba in 1981 at this hotel’s restaurant, and in 1992 the hotel built a concert hall for her which she named “Blizzadium” after one of her popular winter songs “Blizzard”

The concert from 9pm, lasted for over three hours, and the hall capacity is about 1,300, so the audience is very close to the stage, just like a live house, but the stage set is always spectacularly gorgeous.  This year it started with her danceable song plus sixteen drones flying around.  We stood up, clapping hands, jumping!  The miraculous time had begun!

There is always request time, when she points to the audience to raise their hands, with the lucky one invited onto the stage, have a little chat and take a photo with her, get some presents before Yuming sings the requested song.  I knew she would never point at me but I only regret that I didn’t even try.  It was a very rare opportunity and it might have been our last chance to get tickets.  So I made up my mind that I will make the most of it for every opportunity as life is too short and seize the day!!

We went to the last day and there was the quadruple encore “Sotsugyo Shashin” and the whole audience sang along with her, which provided a very emotional moment.

I just really hope we can come again next year as well!!!!!

Yuming's New Year appearance & TV special - super fan's review!

 Every New Year's Eve, NHK has a special music concert, with many Japanese artists performing on stage.  

The 2020 concert involved Yumi Matsutoya (‘Yuming’), who sang two of her original songs; 'Mamotteagetai', a famous hit, and her latest release 'Kiminotameni Superman', which was featured as the theme song for a non-NHK TV program called 'Small Three' (the three small comedians).  The Superman song was a big surprise which even the MC didn't know about.  I believe all Yuming fans, as well as all the audience, must have enjoyed the unexpected staging enormously.

Shimkai no Machi - Yuming's new album

As for the Yuming TV  special on 15 January, we were shown the process of making the Superman song, which included the first opportunity to see inside of Yuming's home.  She has a brilliant high quality recording studio, which under this Covid19 situation meant she could record her new original album by herself.  It was also the first time for us to observe how to create a new song, which really amazed me.  Yuming's husband, who has produced and arranged her work, had quite a power and always provided accurate advice.  On the other hand, Yuming was very humble and rather quiet, but claimed her opinion in a gentle way.  She even cared for the nervous three comedians and helped them relax.  

Yuming was supposed to hold her annual concert in Naeba ski resort in February, but it has been postponed.  I was going to go there with my famous new iPhone, so it is very very disappointing but Yuming said her new year resolution was 'Never give up!', I believe that we can go to her fabulous annual concert, and her new album tour, someday soon.

Posted for Sayuri