The live event “Kyoto Geijutsu 2024,” hosted by Hakubi, was held at KBS Hall in Kyoto on August 10th.
This year, the fifth since 2019, will feature a total of 10 acts, the largest number ever, including Hakubi, Kami wa Saikoroi wo Furanai, SHE’S, Maki, and Yutori on the Ukon stage, and Clenasm, 35.7, TETORA, hananashi, and Brown Basket on the Sakon stage. The layout was changed and the scale was increased, with the Sakon stage moving from the basement to the ground last year. On the day before the event, Katagiri (Vo.Gt) said at X, “This year, I’ve been thinking about creating an event that is unique to Hakubi, not following in the footsteps of my predecessors and doing the same thing. I love, I’m a little jealous, and I respect the best bands and artists that I welcome to Kyoto for the Kyoto Art Theater. I want to carve this era.” With full of enthusiasm, the annual party began with hananashi on the Sakon stage.
With the simple sound of a three-piece rock band, they played “Ashita wa” and declared, “In the annual letter from Hakubi, Matsui (Yuuki, drums) wrote, ‘When I see hananashi’s live performance, I feel like ‘kuuu!’ So I’m going to let everyone feel that ‘kuuu!’ before going home (laughs)” (Kimura Kento, vocals and guitar, same below). They also played good melodies that were true to their word, with every word hitting the heart in “Seitakawaawadachisou” and “Night Cruising”.
“At Kyoto Geijutsu Theater, you can see both glamorous bands and passionate live performances, and I think it’s an event where you can experience the possibilities of various bands and music. I hope we can deliver what we think is the best moment to you, so please come and see us!”
The two-year gap since 2022 has given “Guitar” more persuasive power than just explosiveness. “As fellow Kyoto friends and rivals, they invite us and Brown Basket, and they always invite TETORA, so I think they’re a very human band. At the end, when he sings, I want to hear a song that’s not a good song, but one that’s emotional and shaky… I want to make it that kind of day for us!” he declared, declaring war on the alternative “Someru”, screaming and racing along with “A little further ahead”, and “Did you feel like “kuuu? If you want to feel that, please come to the live house again”, promising a reunion with “ato”. There were seven songs in total. As with the previous performance, the sound that was played there was much more impressive and weighty.
The dramatic opening, with a single phrase of Hakubi’s “Koubou,” was met with overwhelming vocal talent from Sato Kotoko (Yutori Vo.Gt). Yutori quickly took control of the KBS Hall, and with their crisp performance and supple vocals, they built a worldview that was the epitome of Yutori with “Sleeping Drugs” and “Kimi to Habit.”
“Thank you for inviting me to the Kyoto Geijutsu! I was born in Kyoto, so my name is Kotoko, which means “child born in Kyoto.” This is my first time performing live in Kyoto, and I think this is a very meaningful day. Please support me until the end so that today can be a great day!” (Sato, same below)
The variety and quality of the songs is simply amazing, with “Yuyamayu” attacking with a thrilling yet pop beat, “One Room” dragging you into a vortex of intense groove, and “Himeido Distortion” combining edge and popularity.
“Because the bond between people can easily disappear, I want to share the same music with you again and again. Will you see us again? I’m glad that today was the day that Kyoto Geikigeki performed live in Kyoto for the first time. There are many things happening in the world, but as long as you’re alive, you’ll be able to manage.”
The final song was a quick burst of “Kemuri Yori” and “Meguru,” proving yutori’s brilliance as players and their chemistry as a band at their first live show in Kyoto.
35.7, a rock band of four active university students, commonly known as Goten Nana, transforms the overflowing impulses from the opening songs “Uso So Honto” and “Hurtful” into music and charges ahead! Takahashi Yu’s (vocals and guitar) voice quality, which combines innocence and elegance, and the catchy melodies, and Kaminohara’s (guitar) ear-catching phrasing are also outstanding in “Sumomo Drop” and the viral hit “Kyuuju Tengoku”. Their unintimidated performance despite it being their first appearance and first time in Kyoto shows why the scene is gaining attention.
“I love Hakubi because they’re a band that makes me remember that even girls can be cool, but I think it’s important who says what to me. Hakubi told me that 35.7 is great, but today I was happy that they said that with their actions. I’ll do my best until the end so that I can live up to that.” (Takahashi)
The sight of them singing their heartfelt feelings in “Happiness” and “Bad Repeat End” is enough to appeal to the audience. They ended with a bang, jumping and hyping up the crowd in “eighteen candle”! 35.7 gave it their all and did a great job on their first stage performance in Kyoto.
“We only arrived 15 minutes ago (laughs), but we’re going to keep up this pace!” said Hibiki Yamamoto (Maki, vocals and bass). Maki, who was a passionate three-piece rock band that was true to its sound, said that it was a waste of time to play sound effects, and replaced them with the sound of opening a can of beer (laughs), and sprinted full speed from the opening song, “Strange”! It’s no wonder he said, “We’re at the forefront of live music venues!” (Yamamoto, same below), and while being considerate of the floor that was going wild with his bandmanism, he was reliable in leading a big chorus of “Tora” saying, “It’s cool to work hard!” From the way he called out to the audience many times between songs in “Shayo”, his passion to have fun in the space of his beloved live show oozes out.
“Bunsai no Hate,” which he said was “a song we used to play when we first met Hakubi,” was full of emotion, and then he said, “This is our second time performing at the Kyoto Geijutsu Theater. We all came here because we love Hakubi and we love music, right? I think the people next to me feel the same way. We’re not strangers. Let’s have fun together in this space where only music lovers are present,” and then he launched into “Lucky.” Fists were raised to the slow BPM power pop.
“Katagiri is very serious, but when he drinks he gets pretty bad (lol). Yasukawa Aru (Ba) is cool even when he drinks. Matsui is trash (lol). That’s what I can say about him as a friend and as a rival. Please continue to have fun, laugh, and listen to great music before you go home!”
Maki is the best! She pushed forward with wholeheartedness through “Aspiration” and “Shimotsuki”, and left the stage saying, “I’ve been singing the song from that day in live houses ever since!”
In recent years, Brown Basket, who has been listed in the Kyoto Geijutsu after TETORA, is truly a close friend of Hakubi. As a band from Kyoto, what will they leave behind in this annual big challenge? They performed “One More More” with a passionate performance that burst their veins, and then without a moment’s pause, they performed “Nanimono”, and moved on to “ROLLING” with “Let’s go to the Kyoto Geijutsu for the third time since last year!” (Kishimoto Kazunori, vocals and guitar, same below). Brown Basket has a melody line that makes you want to sing along, and they fully demonstrate their charm in “Kokoro no Kori”.
“At the Kyoto Geijutsu Theater, which only comes once a year, you can see the parts of Hakubi that have gotten cooler and the parts that remain unwavering only because you’ve met them after a long time. I love that core of Hakubi. To all of you who love live houses and have been looking forward to this day,” Hakubi said, dedicating the song “Until We Become a Star,” as Brown Basket burned out with such passion that they left not a single millimeter of energy behind.
“They’re always a little ahead of us. It makes me envy them in many ways. But behind the scenes, I’m sure they’ve worked hard and overcome hardships, which is why we were able to meet again like this. We’ve both continued to live, which is why we’ve reached this day. When you’re in a situation where you have to do something, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female or your age. What’s important is to throw in the towel when it’s your turn. Thank you for making me feel like I don’t want to lose again today!”
The climax of the show was the introduction of the two surefire hits “BY MY SIDE” and “Ketsu ni Nagemu.” Supported by the highest number of fists ever, Brown Basket’s stage was intense, showing their determination and progress.
The next three acts were all first-time performers. SHE’S was one of them, but they had a strong affinity with Kyoto Geijutsu, as the first song “Oikaze” naturally had the crowd clapping along. Their ability to incorporate trends from the overseas music scene into the band is first-rate, and they made full use of the keyboards and synchronization played by Inoue Ryuma (vocals and keys) to express the songs without excess or deficiency even in live performances. The lively urban dance tune “Raided” and the floating, chill “No Gravity” made the Kyoto Geijutsu crowd dance comfortably, and they put on a performance that fit the time when the long event was approaching the middle. Every year, I am impressed by the ingenuity of the lineup selected by Hakubi, and SHE’S is a prime example of this.
“Everyone in Kyoto, we are SHE’S, nice to meet you! I’m happy to have been invited today, and there are a lot of young people and we are the oldest… but no, age is just a number (laughs). As we continue to build up like this, I think that we will involve everyone, regardless of seniority, and one day we will do a bigger event with the Kyoto Geijutsu, and I am proud to have been involved in one page of that history. I think that the older generation will be the ones to talk about music when they go home.” (Inoue, same below)
The second half of the show also started with the grandiose and euphoric “Kick Out,” which was followed by “Grow Old With Me,” which had the KBS Hall wrapped in hands-up without any prompting, and the finale with the celebratory “Dance With Me,” with the words, “Everyone at Kyoto Theater, do you still have any energy left? Let’s come together at the end!” It was perfect! SHE’S played their role perfectly and captivated the audience with their masterful skills.
Fukuoka band Clenasm blew us away with their cool opening, a feedback noise cutting through the sound effects of My Bloody Valentine’s “Only Shallow.” In the midst of the tremendous roar, Moe’s (vocals and guitar) fragile voice brings out the melancholy in “Futari no Kizuato,” and the divine masterpiece “Hanaben” gives us goosebumps. Then, the dynamism and energy of “Home” shows the popness of Clenasm. Sweaty moshing and diving is one way to enjoy a live show, but just standing there and soaking up the music is also a live show. The fact that bands with various musical styles come together under the name of Hakubi is one of the best parts of Kyoto Geijutsu and is a centripetal force.
“This is our first time performing live in Kyoto. It’s all thanks to our beloved Hakubi. Thank you so much for inviting us and for coming! Looking closely at the faces of each and every one of the audience members from here, I thought they all had really happy expressions on their faces and were enjoying the live performance…” they said, touching on their impression of Kyoto Geki Geki, and then generously performed their new song “Rebellion,” the theme song for the just-released film “Rookie Reporter Trocco: If I Don’t Do It, Who Will?”
Although there was some equipment trouble during “Bonka”, Moemi gave a nice follow-up, saying, “Every year around this time, when I check social media, I see a lot of buzz about Kyoto Geijutsu, and I wanted to perform at Kurenazm too. I want to take this opportunity to become closer with Hakubi (laughs). Let’s make some summer memories together!” Instead, they started afresh with a sense of unity, finishing with “Glare at Everyone Left Behind!” Kurenazm captivated the audience with their sound, people, and performance.
From the shout of Shusaku Yanagida (Vo) and the start of “Shura no Kou” with a powerful guitar riff, Kami wa Dice wa Ikebukuro, which had the presence of a veteran rock band, was not to be missed. In a complete change from the deep bass that shook the KBS Hall, the mellow and dreamy “What’s Pop?” brought unconditional happiness, and “Yurameite Soro” filled the body with ecstasy that could not help but move. Yes, after just three songs, Kami Sai pierced my heart, and the song that made their name known to the world, “Yonaga Uta”, had a fantastic soundscape that fell endlessly deep, and I was taken aback.
“I’ve known Hakubi for a long time, and when we performed at OSAKA MUSE, the young band that gave me a CD after the show was Hakubi. I think that both Hakubi and we are bands that don’t belong to any particular group, and we are comrades and rivals regardless of our history. Thank you for inviting Kamisai to the Kyoto Geijutsu Theater after such a long wait. Seeing my juniors creating such a big event, I respect them from the bottom of my heart, and I hope we can continue to fight together for a long time to come.” (Yanagida)
“Night Flight” seamlessly blended in with “Autumn Chrysanthemum”. In addition to the worldview of the song itself, Kami-Sai’s unique live performance, which shows a different view every time with a series of set lists, engraved an unforgettable scene in “Kyoto Art Theater”.
Every year, the Kyoto Geijutsu Theater provides new musical encounters, and it is clear how important TETORA’s presence, having performed for the fourth consecutive year, means to both the Kyoto Geijutsu Theater and Hakubi. “We’ve come to play with our comrades, Osaka TETORA. We look forward to working with you!” (Ueno Hayane, vocals and guitar, same below). With a golden combination of a husky voice that makes it obvious who they are at first listen and a solid band sound, starting with “Laylee,” they unleash a barrage of massive songs such as “July,” “June,” and “All Lies” from their latest album “13 Months,” which express memories related to each month!
“Thank you so much for letting me join again this year! To be honest, it was a bit of a tough schedule, but I decided to perform because Hakubi was serious about it. By performing today, Hakubi will be the last live show that TETORA sees before going to Budokan. Hakubi will be the last show they play together. I’m looking forward to an amazing live show next time, Hakubi!”
Despite only having their first Nippon Budokan performance in just two days, they rushed over to the venue, and the excitement grew with each song, from “East Hills,” “Kotoba no X-ray,” “Sunao,” to “Wawaza,” which was incredibly emotional. “Please invite me back next year, I’ll definitely be performing no matter what!” cried TETORA, who was the opening act last year and the act before the final act this year, and who injected a blast of excitement, passed the baton to Hakubi as the closer of the Sakon stage.
About six hours after the start of the show, the members of Hakubi appeared on the Ukon stage one by one, carrying the feelings of the nine groups that had connected the drama of “Kyoto Geijutsu Gekijo”, and were greeted with particularly thunderous applause.
“Did you enjoy ‘Kyoto Geijutsu 2024’? Thank you so much to everyone who came. This is Kyoto Hakubi, please take care of us.” (Katagiri, same below)
As if resonating with the beliefs that Hakubi has cultivated over time, listening to “Koubou” at KBS Hall now penetrates the heart like the theme song of “Kyoto Geijutsu Theater”. Even at “Hajimari”, the atmosphere in the venue conveys that everyone was waiting for this moment. “Eye”, which made the entire audience jump, further adding color to the magnificent view that unfolded before each other’s eyes.
Here, he plays “Intro,” describing his feelings at the time, saying, “I left my hometown, which I hated, and came to Kyoto. Then, being alone was lonely and scary. But I met people and music here. That’s why it’s meaningful to perform in Kyoto.” He then asks, “I was supported and saved by music, I met the people I care about, and you in front of me… will you sing with me?” and the audience erupts in a chorus of “The Continuation of a Dream.” Katagiri continues to sing the song, turning it into music together. Such moving scenes are born at live performances, at the Kyoto Geijutsu Theater.
“It’s the best, thank you!” he said with a satisfied look on his face as he launched into “Decadance”. Despite being a three-piece band, Hakubi is constantly updating his music, and this dance number, which has reached new heights, shook the KBS Hall!
“Starting with hananashi, everyone kept on giving great shows, and before we knew it, it was our turn. But instead of being nervous, we were really excited. For us, Kyoto Geijutsu is the place that makes us realize that a year has passed. Today, there were bands that we could say, “It’s been a while,” and “We met again,” and it made me realize once again that having “again” is a wonderful thing, and not something to be taken for granted. That’s why we want to make sure we can make that “again” happen. This is a song of regret for those who said “see you next time” and can no longer meet.”
Hakubi’s music, including “Dear,” which was performed by Katagiri, is sometimes sad but beautiful, quiet but passionate. As with the following “Heart Beat,” emotions are never one-sided. That’s why…
“We can’t understand everything. But let’s connect somehow, even just a little, support each other and keep moving forward. See you again. I was happy.”
With the huge stained glass of the KBS Hall as a backdrop, the soulful anthem “Everyday is So Sad” resounded. Everyone there waved their hands as hard as they could, and this moment became the strength for the next year.
“I will definitely make you proud to have been here. Thank you, it was great from start to finish. And we will definitely do “Kyoto Geijutsu 2025″!”
With this final promise, Kyoto Geijutsu 2024 has come to an end! The performance will be streamed on the AmazonMusicJP channel of the live streaming platform Twitch at a later date.
Interview and text: Masashi Oku “Bowie” (@oku_boy)
Photography: Tsubasa (@na283be) Shiga Saku Sora (@shiga_saku_sora)
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The straightforward words spun by Vo.Gt. Katagiri and the powerful singing voice that appeals to suppress the weakness have been supported by listeners with a keen ear, and the music video for “Dream Continues” has exceeded 3.3 million views on YouTube. “4:00 AM, SNS” ranked 4th in the 2020 USEN Indies Annual Ranking. Their major debut album “era” released on September 8, 2021 won the CD Shop Awards 2022 and ranked 5th in Nippon Television’s “Buzz Rhythm 02” “This is going to buzz 2022”, making them the new generation band that is attracting the most attention right now. They have appeared at large festivals all over the country, such as VIVA LA ROCK, OTODAMA ~ Onsen Tamashii ~, Kyoto Daisakusen, and JOIN ALIVE, and in November 2023, they successfully performed at their first Zepp Haneda performance and Namba Hatch performance, and their momentum is unstoppable even in live performances. In March 2024, they released their latest mini-album “throw” and went on a release tour in 13 cities across Japan. In August, they held their sixth self-produced event, “Kyoto Geijutsu 2024,” in their hometown of Kyoto.
