[UTADA UNITED 2006] SPECIAL REPORT! no.48

【2006.8.10】

Friday Night at Rainbow Hall

The crowd in Nagoya was impressive the past two days.  The fans here really loved the shows.  It was a fun couple of days being in Nagoya.  The band had a really good time.  They appreciated the awsome fans. 

Next week we are in Saitama.

Here are the answers to some of the questions that you wanted to ask Hikaru.

-Pat Woodward

Hikaru-Hi everyone! Thanks for all the questions!

Daniel-Do you enjoy being back on stage singing to thousands after aハ
6 year break since the last summer concert in 2000?

Hikaru-Yes! It's a huge responsibility, but truly rewarding. With every
show I feel a great fulfillment and oneness with my fans. I'm very
glad to be doing a tour again.

Cindi-Which do you prefer to perform at---a large arena or a small
live house?

Hikaru-Hmmmm. Tough question.

Performing in a large arena requires a LOT of focus and
determination. It's not easy, trying to reach every single one of
the crowd, from the front row to the sides to the very back row.
Every night after a big show I am so drained and exhausted, I can't
believe that I actually pulled it off again. But the reward is just
as big as the challenge. Feeling the roar and clapping of ten
thousand people directed to yourself is really something amazing.
It's surreal.

A small live house means less pressure on me, and more fun for
everyone, I guess. It's a lot less tiring than a big arena,
emotionally because it's easier to communicate with the audience, and
physically because a small stage means much less running around for me!!

Yuji-Hikaru mentioned in a few recent interviews that her NYC
showcase last year was a huge turning point in discovering who she
was as a stage performer. I'm just curious as to what specifically
about the showcase caused this epiphany?

Hikaru-I felt more powerful and in control and confident, in a way that I
had not experienced on stage before. Maybe the fact that the
audience had no idea what to expect from me made me feel I had the
upper hand. In Japan, I'd started performing without being aware of
what I was really doing, so maybe this felt like a fresh start for me
to be what I want to be on stage.

Nao-I'd like to know if Hikaru does something special before the
shows. Play Nintendo? Enjoy talking with crew? Yoga? Eating?
Shopping?(never!) or she wants to be alone and try to concentrate
on the show?

Hikaru-After makeup, I get a 20~30 min break. I stretch, warm up my body
till I sweat a little bit, and do vocal warm-ups.
Then I eat a banana :)
I get dressed and sing some more until I get called to gather with
the band. We get in circle, put our hands together, and do a little
"shout."
In the final minute before my appearance onstage, I usually do
like... 30 seconds of shadow boxing :) Jab jab, straight, left hook,
right upper, step back, jab jab, right hook... Hey, whatever pumps
me up, right? :)

Tamachan-Is there a difference in a character by use to sing in
English as UTADA and to sing in Japanese as Hikaru Utada? In
addition, which is high in motivation?

Hikaru-It's the same... using every fiber of my body and soul to get this
feeling across to all these people... but I must admit that while
performing my english songs, I feel that I'm being a little more
personal and honest about my true self.
My motivation is just completely MAXED OUT during the entire show! :)