I’ve had a busy past couple of days, of which I’ll gradually make some updates about it all here.

First off, since it’s still fresh in my memory, I’d like to talk a little bit about the ECO 10th Anniversary Party 2015. Unfortunately, I knew very little about ECO until around this time last year when I learned from my friend Sierra that she would be performing with another band of amazing composers, artists, and performers that I adored: ACE!! The core of ACE is comprised of vocalist CHiCO and guitarist Tomori Kudo. According to my friend, Sierra, she and CHiCO have been friends for a very long time…!! Such a small world!

Anyway, this year at the ECO 10th Anniversary Party held at Differ Ariake Arena was excellent. I suffered through the preceding stages beforehand, one including a panel of five female seiyuu actresses with the most piercing voices… I felt very sorry for reacting so poorly to these stages merely due to my acute abhorrence for the Japanese “cute girl” trope. But thankfully to their popularity, once the stage was over, many people left, leaving me to grab an available seat closer and closer to the stage until I managed to make it to the front row!! <3

The concert had a couple technical and artistic hiccups here and there, but for the most part, it was great. The concert last year felt a little “closer” or less like an actual concert due to the venue without a stage…but I felt like it was better that way. Maybe because I felt closer to those performing…? No matter the venue or location, they put on a really great show.

One thing I sort of wish would be better is the interaction with the audience and vice versa. For the most part, the crowd is extremely docile and need a lot of coaxing to get them to do anything. Since I am part of the crowd, I am also to blame for this. If the audience does not receive the same level of enthusiasm, they cannot be expected to dish out the same. It’s perhaps a little unfortunate, but the band itself has to raise the bar and show the crowd how they want them to respond. I’ve had the thought before with similar concerts that it might be a good idea to enlist someone in the crowd to sort of lead everyone else in what to do. If the band wants the crowd to stand, they can have this person stand…and generally everyone else will follow. It’s a very interesting study on Japanese culture here that gets a little too complex for the typical concert goer… xD

Getting back to the concert itself, Emi Evans, unfortunately, only performed one song: ∮Åmiliauðe E￠oliauðe (ファミリアウセ エコリアウセ) Famiriause Ecoriause. This was her first performance after becoming a mother. <3 Here’s a short clip of her appearance that I recorded from the NicoNico broadcast:

I could be wrong but… I don’t think this was her best performance, whether it be due to becoming a new mom or the awkward dialogue with CHiCO and the unnecessary “half” Japanese statement… I have nothing but the utmost respect for these people and I am sure this statement wasn’t intended to be negative in any way.

But it brings up an issue about race that has concerned me for a long time. I’ve discussed these issues in the past and I’ve come to the conclusion that most Japanese innocently say these somewhat racist things out of complete inexperience or lack of exposure to other cultures and people. Japan is still a very isolated country…and it cannot think very well outside of its small, little world. As I watched this performance, I couldn’t help but wonder if Emi took some offence to this statement…

Recently, an American friend of mine who has lived in Japan for over 20 years posted this image that clearly demonstrates the cultural insensitivity or complete lack of understanding:

As a non-Japanese resident in Japan, it is unconscionable to me to even begin to imagine that someone thought this sort of advertising is okay. In Japanese it says, “Anyone can have an alluring half-face.” This is to say that children of half relationships are more beautiful because they have a bit of exotic DNA that most Japanese don’t have, and yet these half-children are continually persecuted and deemed not to be “whole” Japanese. It is this uncomfortable dichotomy that is so difficult to accept let alone let slip by in today’s day and age.

Maybe I’m wrong, but it was several minutes of awkwardness that hopefully went unnoticed to the majority of Japanese concert-goers. I have the utmost respect for ACE, CHiCO, and my dear friend Sierra, that I know they would not intentionally say anything derogatory against anyone. I feel a little strange bringing up this topic, but also feel like I’d be biased towards one side if I didn’t. I’m not taking sides in anything nor am I pointing fingers. This is more of a general cultural analysis than anything else.

With all the unintentional uncomfortableness aside, it was a great concert and I wish ACE would have more of them–particularly a complete Xenoblade concert!! <3