The Summer of 2011 for YMO Concludes Tonight

With few exceptions, World Happiness has traditionally been the one day a year for YMO's reunion. The three members, each busy with diverse solo projects, would come together as YMO (formerly HASYMO) for this event. But this year was different.

Following a series of substantial performances in late June on the US West Coast, and at Fuji Rock and an NHK public recording in Japan, this World Happiness event marked the final stop on YMO's 2011 tour.

Sakanaction, who unexpectedly performed a cover of "Tong Poo" as a surprise,Ryuichi Sakamotoand Towa Tei, who closed the night with a DJ set featuring "Summer Nervs," a vocal track by Sakamoto that reportedly made him wince, and YUKI, who playfully inserted "TOKIO!" into her own songs... For artists, both emerging and established, World Happiness is a place where the backstage can be more nerve-wracking than the stage itself, all because of YMO's presence.

And then, in this ultimate home within a home, YMO made their long-awaited appearance. The thunderstorms that had troubled the afternoon crowd had subsided, and searchlights now illuminated the night sky. The summer of 2011 for YMO was drawing to a close on this very night.

The Motif of Reconstruction, Revival, and Rebirth: 'Phoenix' Inspires a Song

The performance began with a session distinctly different from the improvisational opening that had continued from their San Francisco shows.

It was "Fire Bird," a new song YMO had created for this day, and indeed, for Japan in the wake of March 11th. The key visual for this year's World Happiness was Osamu Tezuka's masterpiece, "Phoenix."

YMO translated the motif of reconstruction, revival, and rebirth into music with "Phoenix." Their intention was clear. Japanese society and the lives of its people had irrevocably changed after March 11th. Through an instrumental piece, deliberately without words, YMO delivered a powerful message.

Festivals like World Happiness, though extraordinary, eventually return to the everyday. This is true for both the audience and the artists. While the daily lives they return to are far from peaceful now, there is nowhere else to go. This was equally true for the three members of YMO, performing with "Phoenix" badges on their chests and waving a "NO NUKES MORE TREES" flag.

Beyond the new "Fire Bird" and "Absolute Ego Dance," the removal of the electronic version of "Rydeen"—which had felt somewhat out of place in YMO's recent physical, funky performances—from the World Happiness setlist might have been a shock to long-time fans.

While "Rydeen" was the catalyst for YMO's revival in the 21st century, it is certain that the band will reimagine it with a new arrangement as they enter this next phase.

World Happiness had miraculously enjoyed good weather since its inception, but this year's intense heat and mid-show thunderstorms made for less-than-ideal conditions. However, as the weather cleared and YMO began "Fire Bird," imbued with their hopes for Japan's recovery, the nation's current state and the atmosphere of the venue seemed to subtly synchronize. In that moment, a beacon of hope was visible—the belief that Japan, despite the difficulties, would undoubtedly overcome this disaster.