I returned to Tokyo from Nagoya and had some free time before my next live show.
With no plans other than a radio appearance on Inter FM scheduled for the next day, the members spent their time in Japan in their own ways, visiting Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara... and other places they each wanted to visit.
on the other hand, The POOL SIDE team at Aloha Tokyo Preparations for the stall were also a big challenge, and the days were hectic. I was looking forward to Aloha Tokyo, an event I look forward to once a year, and before I knew it, it was right there in front of my eyes. This year, spending time with Bombye was even more exciting than usual.
Aloha Tokyo 2025 kicked off on Friday, May 30th and will be held for three days at Yebisu Garden Place. The weather forecast predicted rain... Looking back, it seems we've never had such a bad year. A little rain would have been fine, but the event kicked off in bad weather, with strong winds and even a chill.
Nick Kurosawa was scheduled to perform solo at Aloha Tokyo, not Bombye. He performed on the second and third days. The venue was the newly built Grass Point, which differs from the main stage in that it is an open-air stage set up on a grassy plaza, meaning that if it rains, the performance will be forced to be cancelled.
On the second day, he will collaborate with Chill&Dub of Your Song Is Good, and on the third day he will headline Grass Point. In particular, many people were probably looking forward to hearing "We're Not To Blame," the song that made Nick's name known in Japan.
Holding a live concert at Grass Point was no easy task. We had numerous meetings and site visits with the Aloha Tokyo executive committee. We discussed what kind of venue and space we should create, what artists we should invite to fit the concept, and what kind of stage and equipment we should get. Everything was put together piece by piece in a short space of time. Nick's solo performance was the one thing we couldn't give up.
Rainy Friday night.
The organizers made a quick decision, announcing on Friday night that all Saturday's live shows at Grass Point had been canceled, meaning one of the events I was looking forward to was cancelled.
Late on Friday night, an official announcement was made that one of the Saturday performers had cancelled due to illness. Just as I was believing in the possibility, an offer to perform came in. An act on the main stage suddenly appeared before my eyes. Nick himself was acting as usual, saying "Okay, let's do it," as if to calm our excitement. I wanted my excitement and effort returned (lol).
As Saturday arrived, all the POOL SIDE staff were feeling a little nervous. This was Nick's first time performing in Japan in an environment where so many people could see him.
The schedule was a little tight that day, as they were scheduled to perform at the Nihonbashi Jazz Festival in the evening. It was also a hectic time for Your Song Is Good, who had a solo concert in Osaka the next day. Rehearsals and performances on the main stage were conducted at a rapid pace.
Although the main stage was covered, heavy rain blew in sideways.
The concert began in conditions that were the complete opposite of the Hawaiian atmosphere. Once it started, I was so captivated by the professional stage performance that I forgot about the weather.
I don't know if Nick was satisfied with the performance or not, but for those of us who were waiting in anticipation, the time just flew by.
We quickly finished chatting after the concert and headed to the jazz festival venue in Nihonbashi. I didn't have time to bask in the afterglow, but I clearly remember every scene that happened at that moment.
Bombye closed Day 2 of the Nihonbashi Jazz Festival, taking over from virtuoso DJ Neil Armstrong. Performing outdoors in the unseasonably cold weather seemed a bit tough for them back home in the tropics, but once they got going, it was a breeze.
The audience, who had never heard of Nick or Bombye, were captivated by the sound. The people who discovered their music here went on to attend their later shows, so their music must have reached them.
Despite the bad weather, it was a good Saturday.
The final day of Aloha Tokyo, a major annual event for POOL SIDE, was approaching. The third day was greeted with sunny skies, as if mocking the two rainy days.