SUMMER SONIC 2025

Live Music Is Our Life!

My daughter and I absolutely love live concerts!
Last year, we went about one to three times a month, but this year—because of money and because she’s a student preparing for exams—we’ve cut back and only choose the very best shows.

Summer Festivals with My Daughter

I’ve been taking her to summer festivals since she was little. Back then, we went to Rock in Japan Festival when it was held at Hitachinaka Seaside Park.

Taking a small child to a big festival by myself wasn’t easy, but I had my strategies:

• Avoid the crowded rush at opening and go a bit later.
• Leave early before things got too intense.
• Always book reserved seats on the limited express train.
• Escape to the nearby mall to cool down during the day.

Even if one of my favorite artists was performing last, I’d hold back my tears and head home early. It wasn’t as hot back then as it is now, but still, it was important to put safety first.

I went mainly because KICK THE CAN CREW and KREVA were performing. Our family has such a special connection to KREVA—it feels like our life now is thanks to him in many ways. I really wanted my daughter to see him too. Normal concerts are too late at night for little kids, so festivals were the only way.
We also got to see groups like Ketsumeishi and Every Little Thing—such nostalgic memories.

Even after the pandemic, we went to Rock in Japan in Soga, Chiba, and saw King Gnu, Sukima Switch, Aimyon, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and more.

From Rock in Japan to Summer Sonic

But in the last three years, we’ve switched to Summer Sonic.
The first time was for NewJeans’ performance.♡

The location at Makuhari Messe is perfect for me—yes, it’s far, but compared to Hitachinaka, it feels so much closer. You can even walk from the station! Big plus!! And except for the Marine Stadium, most of it is indoors, which is another huge plus compared to the scorching Rock in Japan.

In 2023, we saw NewJeans, SEKAI NO OWARI, ENHYPEN, Hoshino Gen, and more.
In 2024, the highlights were BOY NEXT DOOR, BABYMONSTER, and Christina Aguilera.

Christina… my youth in one person.♡♡♡
I listened to her songs endlessly, trying to imitate her voice. When her name was announced last-minute, I screamed out loud. I never thought I’d hear her live—so yes, I cried.

This year (2025), we mainly went for aespa. I grabbed tickets early, and then later, my daughter’s favorite Yuuri was announced. She was thrilled. Then, Alicia Keys was announced, and I was over the moon. But… Yuuri and Alicia’s sets overlapped. We had to split up.

We also caught a surprise appearance from Mrs. GREEN APPLE. They came out at 11:00 on the Marine Stage. We barely made it for the last two songs—Lilac and Ao to Natsu. Even from the stands, we could see Mokkun’s funny faces and hear how good they sounded live.

Still, it was so hot… I really worried about the fans who had been in the arena since 9:00. And with the last-minute announcement, many fans without tickets came just to hear the music from outside.

Survival Strategy at Festivals

After Mrs. GREEN APPLE, we retreated to the outlet mall near Kaihin-Makuhari station until aespa’s evening show. Some people might think it’s a waste not to stay inside the festival all day, but your health always comes first.

We had ramen for lunch to get some salt back into our bodies—sweating so much means salt is essential. I even drank the broth, which I usually avoid. Then we cooled off, did a little shopping (oops… unplanned expenses), and came back refreshed.

We also grabbed some festival food—cheese croquettes and fried chicken (zangi)—before heading to the stadium for aespa.

Finally, after years of missing them, we saw aespa live! They were flawless—visuals, vocals, dance, everything. My daughter and I were beyond satisfied.

Alicia Keys vs. Yuuri

After aespa, my daughter went to Yuuri’s stage, while I stayed for Alicia Keys. The stadium was packed. When the lights went down and Alicia’s first note rang out, I cried again. Her voice, her power, her presence—it was overwhelming. Watching her stand and play piano while singing was pure magic.

I did move over to Yuuri’s stage halfway through, which meant I missed some songs I wanted from Alicia. Still, I’m grateful I got to be in that space at all.

Yuuri was amazing too. I especially love Betelgeuse and Billimillion, and luckily, I made it in time for both. The final song was Billimillion, and the entire crowd sang together:
“Ganbaro, ganbaro, ganbare!”
It was so moving. It gave me strength to face my new life starting next month.

Why Live Music Matters

Every time I go to a concert, I’m reminded of how powerful music is. Lyrics that move your heart, voices that bring tears, melodies that make you feel alive. Just an intro can take you back in time.

Entertainment stopped during the pandemic, but now we can enjoy it again. Music gives me so much energy to keep going in daily life.

Live music is essential to my life. Even when I’m 50, 60, or 70—I want to keep going to concerts.♡