Hi-STANDARD

In 2023, after Tsune's sudden passing, Namba and Ken promised at that year's SATANIC CARNIVAL that "Hi-STANDARD will not disband!" ZAX, the drummer of THE BORNEZ, officially joined the band after supporting NOFX's THE FINAL JAPAN TOUR in 2024. They are now on their highly anticipated "Screaming Newborn Baby Tour" @ Toki Messe with new songs!! I won a Block B standing ticket at the arena!!! Amidst the approaching cold wave, I entered Niigata the day before and arrived at the parking lot at 6:20 AM! Thinking I had plenty of time since merchandise sales started at 10:00 AM, I nonchalantly took a walk and peeked into the venue at 7:00 AM, only to find an incredibly long line (sweat)! I hurriedly lined up, ending up around the 270th spot, and waited in the passageway for over two and a half hours... Just before the merchandise sales started, we were led to the venue, but another hour passed... Finally, I managed to return to my car and lined up at a ramen shop next door for an hour after 11:00 AM... Well, I've been kept waiting since 2023, so none of that bothered me much. An announcement was made that entrance to Block B would start at 5:10 PM, so I excitedly headed to the venue around 4:40 PM. The entrance to Area A was at the back, and the entrance to Area B was at the front, making it somewhat confusing. Block B's entrance was at the Area A entrance. I pushed through the crowd towards the Area A entrance and patiently waited for the call. At the venue entrance, my e-ticket was stamped and I entered the venue. Block B was surprisingly in the second row from the front! The very front row on Namba's side was "N Block", and Ken's side was "K Block". Behind them was B Block. A clever block division. I secured a spot in the second row from the fence and greeted the old and new kids around me. The crowd was somewhat older, but I couldn't let my guard down. I braced myself, knowing I would definitely be headbanging non-stop, and waited for the opening SE. My outfit was the so-called "Tsune T-shirt". I kept it unopened for this day and wore it for the first time! Let's witness history together with Tsune! 6:20 PM. The moment finally arrived. The house lights dimmed, and when "Go for it" resounded, the voltage soared at once!! No warm-up or anything! This is the true essence of Hi-STANDARD. Ken brought out his old skateboard!! Here it comes!! "Welcome everyone! We are still standing here! Thank you for coming to see us! We're back!!" After that shout, they immediately launched into "Turning Back"!! Followed by "Standing Still"!! From the very beginning, it was a killer tune with maximum output!! Just like the track order on "Making The Road", it was like a dream! For the third song, they played the new song "Song About Fat Mike". The sing-alongs never stopped from the beginning! Everyone had clearly memorized the song! Before the 9th song, "Teenagers", there was the Nippon call that Tsune suddenly did at the last Saitama Arena show of The Gift Tour in 2017!!! I'll never forget it. The night I called out from the last row of the stands at Saitama Arena. Tsune-san, you actually wanted to do it in Miyagi in 2012, didn't you. During the MC that followed, Tsune was sighted floating in the venue!! No, he was definitely there. Tsune was among the divers. Before introducing the songs, there was a part of "Linda Linda", and while Namba was speaking so happily, it warmed my heart. I responded to Hi-STANDARD, who threw themselves into each song with all their might, with a sing-along. After the new song "Our Song", Ken said, "I saw the future!!" It was the moment when the scream of newborn Hi-STANDARD was embodied! "We can Sing our Song!!!" The live ended with "Stay Gold" followed by "Can't Help Falling in Love", but the Nippon call shook the venue www. A new Hi-STANDARD has begun. For the first encore song, Ken played the one I wanted to hear, "Lovin' You". To be able to dance to "Mosh Under The Rainbow" after "Moon" and "Dear My Friend"!! It was the best thing ever that young men, women, old men, and old women, regardless of generation, put their arms around each other and sang along with smiles on their faces. That's the charm of Hi-STANDARD. A mom who came with her high school son, a guy with a small mustache who kept rolling around, everyone was smiling and sweaty. Niigata ended with "Close to Me". It was a great night. I believe the next show in Sapporo will update the record for best night. Thank you to the best geezer band!! Thank you, ZAX! Thank you, Ken! Thank you, Namba! Thank you, Tsune-chan!