Aska - Aska Concert 2026 Shouwa Ga Miteita Christmas!? - Japan Blu-ray Disc + 2 CD

Credits:

Aska

Description:

"ASKACONCERT 2026: The Christmas the Showa Era Saw!?" Live Blu-ray + Live CD Released! "ASKACONCERT 2026: The Christmas the Showa Era Saw!?"—the February 13, 2026, performance at Tokyo International Forum Hall A—has been released as a video. Concerts under this title were also held in 2009 and 2012, and can be considered one of ASKA’s life’s works. The stage revives the “lively musical festival spanning from Christmas through the end of the year” that ASKA experienced in his youth, and the lavish big-band arrangement—featuring strings and horns—is a major highlight. A constellation of timeless Showa-era classics—such as “You Are More Beautiful Than a Rose,” “Until We Meet Again,” and “Cotton Handkerchief”—shines like stars across the setlist. The song selection also shines with masterful touches, including tracks like “Rainy Ballad” and “Such a Sad Color.” Perhaps it is because these songs are etched with “memories of the Showa-era living room” that ASKA’s vocals—brimming with respect—evoke not only nostalgia and a sense of freshness but also a profound warmth. One of the advantages of this video production is that it captures the finer details: ASKA’s facial expressions and gestures, as well as the seamless chemistry with the musicians. It’s a stage where one smile leads to another. During the performance by guest Hiromi Iwasaki, I felt as though I’d received the ultimate Christmas present. In “Love is Alive”—a song ASKA reportedly wrote with a duet with her in mind—this dream collaboration became a reality. Just watching ASKA and Hiromi Iwasaki gaze into each other’s eyes as they sing brings a sense of happiness. Furthermore, her voice in “Romance”—a song requested by ASKA—is exceptional, combining both freshness and richness. Her presence added even more brilliance to this special stage. One of the highlights of the second half was “It’s You Who Rings That Bell.” Her versatile and powerful vocals, interspersed with ASKA-style shouts, were simply breathtaking. Starting with “Guardian of Dreams”—which began at ASKA’s signal—and continuing with “Rhapsody” and “Like Wild Strawberries Swaying,” the final segment featured a string of CHAGE and ASKA classics, and the audience’s enthusiasm was palpable even through the screen. In “BIGTREE,” with its magnificent vocals and grand-scale performance, the image of the massive tree depicted in the song overlapped with a Christmas tree adorned with colorful musical ornaments. The closing number, “Look Up at the Stars in the Night Sky,” performed by ASKA and Hiromi Iwasaki, was equally vivid, leaving the audience with a pleasant afterglow. Though it was a dreamlike performance, it was a production brimming with elation and a festive spirit, where memories of Christmas in the Showa era truly come alive in the Reiwa era. Music Writer Makoto Hasegawa