An Effort Level Akin to YMO's Overseas Re-Debut

The American performances, the first in 31 years, had been in the planning stages since the previous year, with details finalized only after the start of this year. The first confirmed event was a performance in Los Angeles, headlining a "Japan Night" organized by KCRW, a popular local radio station among young music fans.

Initially, this event, titled "Big in Japan," was conceived simply as a showcase of popular Japanese bands and Japanese culture in America. However, following the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11th, it evolved to place a stronger emphasis on supporting Japan's recovery.

Having experienced the significant event of 3/11, YMO increasingly poured their energy into this event and the West Coast tour. To coincide with the tour, they produced a newly compiled best-of album, "YMO," primarily aimed at introducing YMO to younger overseas audiences (released worldwide via iTunes Store alongside their back catalog by SONY), and prepared an American edition of Masayoshi Sukita's photo book "YMO X SUKITA" (published by Tokyo FM Publishing), which was released in Japan last year. After more than 30 years since their formation, the tour took on the appearance of an overseas re-debut for YMO.

Setlist Aligned with the New Compilation "YMO"

Three years prior, YMO had performed in the UK and Spain as part of a festival organized by Massive Attack. Those European performances were essentially a continuation of their recent Japanese live set, presented in a casual, everyday manner. In contrast, this American West Coast tour, for various reasons, saw YMO bringing a heightened level of commitment.

YMO arrived in Los Angeles, their performance venue, on June 22nd. The following three days were dedicated to rehearsals to perfect the 2011 iteration of YMO. The setlist was based on the newly compiled album "YMO," and had been thoroughly refined through email exchanges among the members beforehand.

The work at the rehearsal studio in Burbank, about a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles, reportedly went very smoothly. By the second day, the structure was largely in place, and thanks to their long-standing, synchronized collaboration, the complete form of the live performance began to take shape rapidly.

A Surprise Guest Appears at the Los Angeles Performance!

On the second day of rehearsals, a welcome surprise occurred: a visit from Kunihiko Murai, the founder and former president of Alfa Records, who was instrumental in YMO's formation and success. Mr. Murai, now residing in Los Angeles, brought rice balls as a treat.

YMO and rice balls — it's a well-known anecdote that Haruomi Hosono offered rice balls around a *kotatsu* when he first proposed forming YMO to the other members. The YMO members remembered this fondly. They took the rice balls back to their hotel, set up an impromptu *kotatsu* in their room, and had a playful photo session with the rice balls. This "2011 version kotatsu rice ball YMO" commemorative photo was shared online via Twitter that same day, bringing tears to the eyes of long-time fans. The fact that they could engage in such playful activities amidst the intense rehearsals highlights the high spirits and energy YMO brought to their West Coast performances.

Moments of Intense Concentration with Serious Expressions

Of course, there were also many moments of intense concentration during rehearsals, where everyone wore serious expressions. The most notable of these likely occurred on the afternoon of the third day. As 3 PM approached, the tension in the rehearsal studio grew palpably. Not only the members but also the staff were bustling about. Recording equipment and video cameras were all powered down. It was time for the arrival of Yoko Ono, the secret guest for the Los Angeles performance.

Yoko Ono was to participate in her song "It's been very hard." Her vocal improvisations would be layered over YMO's performance. It was a 15-minute rehearsal, akin to a serious encounter, for their first meeting. However, Haruomi Hosono and guest guitarist Keigo Oyamada had performed this song numerous times in recent years as part of the Plastic Ono Band. Last year, they even performed it in San Francisco with Lady Gaga as the guest. Consequently, the tense rehearsal concluded very smoothly.

"Well, now it's time for the real thing," Hosono Haruomi murmured while taking a break outside after the rehearsal.

A Song Fitting for the Opening of the West Coast Tour!

The actual performance was imposing. The Hollywood Bowl, the venue, is truly a prestigious location. On the evening of the performance, the road leading from the nearest station to this renowned hall, which seats 18,000, was packed with people. Police officers and ticket touts were abundant. The audience consisted mainly of local Americans and Japanese residents, with a significant number of younger attendees. Many were eagerly anticipating not only YMO but also the performances of the reunited Chumbawamba and DJ Towa Tei, whose work with Deee-Lite remains memorable.

At 7 PM, with the sky still holding onto daylight, the show finally began. Chumbawamba, Buffalo Daughter, and DJ Towa Tei took the stage. As is typical of the desert climate of Los Angeles, the daytime heat gave way to a cool evening air that enveloped the outdoor amphitheater, but the stage and audience were filled with warmth.

As darkness fell and the projected images on the stage backdrop grew more vibrant, YMO finally made their appearance.

The opening was "Firecracker" without preamble. While this song was often performed as the closing number in previous YMO concerts, it also marked the opening track of YMO's debut album. Renamed "Computer Game" in America, it became YMO's first hit single and achieved great success. There could hardly be a more fitting song to open this West Coast tour. Indeed, the audience was fully engaged, with some already on their feet and dancing.

A Parade of Masterpieces and Famous Songs

Then came "Behind the Mask," a song that had recently garnered renewed attention due to Michael Jackson's cover, released on the very day of the performance, which happened to be his death anniversary. Knowing this, the audience's cheers intensified.

"Today is a hit parade," Takahashi Yukihiro had quipped during rehearsals, and indeed, YMO's famous and beloved songs were performed one after another. While YMO's concerts traditionally feature no MCs, and this night was no exception, Ryuichi Sakamoto's megaphone performance during "Taiso" was a huge hit in Los Angeles as well.

The main set concluded all too quickly with "Cosmic Surfing," performed for the first time in 30 years, and "Tong Poo," which marked its first performance as YMO in 18 years. It was particularly striking how the early songs were performed in arrangements close to their original versions. This did not feel merely nostalgic; rather, it seemed as though YMO themselves were paying homage to their classic, now-standardized masterpieces, reaffirming that the power of these early hits was what propelled YMO to global recognition.

The Hollywood Bowl Performance Becomes a New Legend for YMO

After the encore of "Rydeen," the venue fell silent. Ryuichi Sakamoto delivered the only spoken English MC of the entire West Coast tour.

"Please give a warm welcome to Yoko Ono."

The atmosphere in the venue instantly became tumultuous. Although Yoko Ono's guest appearance had been announced on her Twitter that morning, many in the audience were unaware. The fervent, almost frenzied cheers that greeted her underscored her immense presence and status in America, which clearly differed from how she is perceived by Japanese people in Japan. The audience was deeply moved by Yoko Ono's sincere message to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and to Japan as it continued its recovery. Her powerful vocal performance on "It's been very hard" followed.

The Final Song: "Hello, Goodbye"

Amidst thunderous applause, Yoko Ono departed the stage, and YMO prepared for their final song: a cover of The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye." The success of the Hollywood Bowl performance, echoing the impact of The Beatles, and the presence of Yoko Ono and her late husband, John Lennon, on stage likely evoked a flood of memories for everyone in the audience. Thoughts of Michael Jackson, an icon of Los Angeles and a huge fan of The Beatles, also likely crossed their minds.

With all the performers of the day, including the kabuki and Japanese dance performers from the pre-show, and of course Yoko Ono, joining on stage for a grand sing-along of "Hello, Goodbye," the Hollywood Bowl performance, which had become a new legend for YMO, concluded.

It Wasn't Just YMO Who Were the Maniacs

Following the Hollywood Bowl concert, the next day brought the performance in San Francisco.
YMO, with the exception of Ryuichi Sakamoto who had recently become an early riser, gathered at the airport at what could be considered the crack of dawn, 9 AM. Despite murmurs of "I'm tired," "I'm burnt out," and "I can't do today," their expressions were serene.

Contrary to their words, the members' energy was palpable, evident in how they each heartily consumed substantial, quintessentially American breakfasts at the single restaurant in the small regional airport. Jokes flowed freely.

"Today's setlist is a bit obscure," Takahashi Yukihiro confided with a smile.

It wasn't just YMO who were the maniacs.
The Warfield, located in the heart of San Francisco, where the temperature felt like mid-winter, is a venue with a capacity of around 2,000, comparable to a live house. It is also considered one of the most discerning venues on the West Coast. Major artists who perform in arenas or even stadiums in other cities often choose to play here. Posters of past performers lined the lobby, indicating that artists like David Bowie and Björk had also performed here, in venues with a fraction of the capacity of others. Incidentally, Iggy & The Stooges and Echo & The Bunnymen were scheduled to appear the week after YMO.

A Different Level of Enthusiasm Compared to the Hollywood Bowl

And the audience, too, were maniacs. Here and there, Americans wearing YMO T-shirts could be seen. Apparently, many American YMO fans had gathered from across the country specifically for this day. This was YMO's only solo performance of the summer, including dates in Japan. The audience's level of enthusiasm was entirely different from that at the Hollywood Bowl.

As the opening act, Prefuse 73, concluded their powerful performance of electronic noise, the audience was already in a state of fervent anticipation. Even as YMO's equipment was being set up, shouts of "Welcome Back YMOoooooo!" and "Hosono Saaaaaan!" "Sakamoto Professor!" "Yukihiro Saaan!" echoed from the crowd. While there were a fair number of female fans, the undisputed stars of the audience that day were the discerning, older male fans!

The Maniacs of America Are Truly Something Else!

As Takahashi Yukihiro had hinted, during the live performance that day, songs rarely played by YMO, and even tracks from Sketch Show, were interspersed between the hits performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

However, the American maniacs not only kept pace but were clearly ahead of the curve. A symbolic moment occurred with a group of American fans in the center of the audience. As the live performance began, they shouted requests between songs, such as "Please play 'Gray Zone'" (in English, of course). It seemed like an obscure request, and one might have thought it difficult for YMO to play, as they had never performed it live. To their surprise, it was played. While it wasn't a direct response to the request, it had been prepared in advance, but the synchronization of their niche enthusiasm sent shivers down one's spine.

"Hosono-san, thank you for the request!" Their broken Japanese thank you was also delightful.

This joyful and passionate atmosphere continued until the very end. The unscripted, genuine fervor of the audience fueled YMO's performance, leading to a scene where many audience members mirrored Ryuichi Sakamoto's "convulsive dance" during "Taiso," even singing along to the Japanese lyrics – a sight rarely seen even at YMO concerts in Japan!

The encore included "Rydeen," "CUE," and "Tong Poo." All were met with enthusiastic reception, but the reaction to "CUE" was even stronger than to "Rydeen," proving that the American maniacs were truly something else.

Broadcast on WOWOW in October!

At the after-party following the performance, the YMO members repeatedly downplayed their success, saying things like, "Was it really that good?" "We can't tell ourselves," and "We're exhausted!" Yet, anyone present could see the undeniable satisfaction in their expressions. There was also a sense of fulfillment in having created a new legend for YMO in 2011.

This fulfilling West Coast tour by YMO saw the Hollywood Bowl performance unfortunately unable to be recorded due to venue regulations and agreements with the local union. However, the San Francisco performance was successfully recorded and is scheduled to be broadcast on WOWOW in October. We urge you to witness the audience's fervent excitement and YMO's passionate performance for yourself.