Ryutopia Concert Hall
September 7, 2025
TV commercial captured by singer Yuuki, posted on Twitter June 7th.
This weekend I’m going to be a crew member of Space Battleship Yamato. We’re coming to Niigata! It’s been a year since my last performance with Siena, and I’m so excited!
For those who don’t know, in this concert I’m singing a scat part. I sing “Ah~” during the performance. It’s embarrassing.
Today, I’m going to review and practice the song, note by note. Just listening to the song, it’s like a landscape or a visual suddenly appears before my eyes. It’s so exciting every time. I need to be in top condition to board Yamato!! I’m looking forward to seeing you in Niigata. Two thumbs up!
Photo posted on Twitter by guitarist Sota Watanabe
We played the program in order from the beginning. I even added some scatting. Since it’s a rehearsal, when there are any corrections or confirmations, Akira-san conveys the image of sound and movement that he has in his body through words, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and syllables to the people of Siena. I hear that. Just seeing it is incredibly valuable.
I don’t know if this is the right way to put it, but hearing talk like that makes me excited. Maybe it’s because it makes the wonderful performance I just heard even better. It even feels like I’m being reborn. This is truly a learning experience.
Photo posted on Twitter by aoi2199
Photo posted on Twitter by YAMATO_MUSIC_FE
Photo posted on Twitter by lucky616
The performance ended safely! Thank you to everyone who came to the venue. Everyone I met today, everyone who shared their feelings with me, everyone at GLORY CHORUS TOKYO, everyone at the Siena Wind Orchestra, Akira Miyagawa, thank you so much. It was a wonderful time!!! !!!
By the way, next week (9/14) I’m performing at Kitara in Sapporo.
Photo posted on Twitter by YAMATO2021_2022
Photo posted on Twitter by YAMATO2021_2022
Photos posted on Twitter by YAMATO_MUSIC_FE and AnalyzerAU09
Setup for Chiko Miyagawa’s lobby concert before the performance
Watch the entire lobby concert (under 10 minutes) on Youtube here
Photo posted on Twitter by organist Yuka Ishimaru
Photo posted on Twitter by guitarist Sota Watanabe
Photo posted on Twitter by organist Yuka Ishimaru
Yuka Ishimaru, organist
Surrounded by the sound of my beloved Sienna, it was a happy time. The unity of the entire venue during the finale brought tears to my eyes. The musical advice I always receive from Akira-san is something for a lifetime.
Photo posted on Twitter by guitarist Sota Watanabe
Sota Watanabe, guitarist
Siena Wind Orchestra’s Yamato Festival, Niigata performance. It was fun to have the Yamato Festival after a long time. I’m happy to be able to perform again next week!
Photo posted on Facebook by Shuji Matsuda
Program book pages
Photo posted on Twitter by organist Yuka Ishimaru
Left to right: Yuuki (vocalist), Yuka Ishimaru (organist), Akira Miyagawa (conductor), Chiko Miyagawa (pianist)
I’ve performed as a scat member before, but I’m always curious about which songs get played. I can enjoy it freshly, too. I love each song more and more every time.
Some songs capture the “spectacularness” and “excitement of flying” of Yamato. Some songs have a “for the Earth” feel, while others have a slightly melancholic feel. The music of the villains isn’t just dark (minor scales), but it really does evoke a sense of fear and danger. The melodies often use musical scales, and I can sense the “beauty” that can be found in the “fear.”
After listening to it so many times, I found my favorite phrases, melodies I just can’t help but hum. There was a song I’d been repeating in my head for a while. I was at the front of the stage, sitting in my chair and waiting until I started singing. I just couldn’t help it…it was such a great performance, my body just couldn’t help but react, it was so stressful So, I tried to keep the rhythm a little. I’m trying to restrain myself from moving too much. (I move around a lot during rehearsals, lol.)
I also love Chiko’s performances. This time, I was a little closer, so I enjoyed staring at the difference in her facial expressions and the way her hands look when she plays a beautiful melody and when she plays in a rock style. My eyes are lit up with love. If I were to list my favorite moments, I could go on and on.
In this Yamato Festival, pipe organ performances are essential, so the performance is held in a hall with a pipe organ. And it was truly wonderful, with applause, applause, applause. The performer is Yuka Ishimaru. She’s a truly wonderful woman, able to effortlessly manipulate the large pipe organ.
The performance begins with Yuka’s performance. The deep bass of the pipe organ, combined with the aura of horror in the music, it almost feels like the sound is right in front of me! And while they’re playing, I’m waiting to sing…the menace I feel from the song and the tension of the a cappella opening have my heart beating twice as fast. I’m sweating profusely, lol.
The scat I’m singing almost exclusively uses “Ah~,” But in my mind, I imagine there are many different “Ah~s.” A warm, embracing “Ah~”. A bright, powerful “Ah~”. A mysterious “Ah~” and so on. It changes depending on the song.
This time, we received an encore, and at the very end, everyone came out onto the stage and we were able to sing along with everyone in the audience. For those who could only see the back or top of my head, I try to see as much as possible, but seeing so many people singing along with big smiles and clapping their hands really warms my heart.
Once again, To everyone who came to the Space Battleship Yamato Festival, performers, staff, and everyone involved, Akira-san, Thank you so much.