NANA MIZUKI LIVE RUNNER 2020→2022 Day 1

Feels weird to be writing a report again after 2 years of nothing... but here goes! I’m slightly changing up how I write my reports, and instead of going song by song I’ll group things section by section to lighten the writing load on myself a little bit (or so I thought, but since it's been so long since I got to go to a live, I ended up probably writing as much as usual xD) – let me know if you feel this style works or if you’d prefer something else!

Also, since I only attended Day 1 of LIVE RUNNER in person (and just watched Day 2 on the stream) I'll only be writing this one report.

Before concert

I have to say I was pretty nervous about attending LIVE RUNNER, since I've been very careful for the past two years and refrained from doing pretty much everything until I started giving myself some liberties after getting both my shots. Once here though, I felt way more comfortable about it all than I thought. The venue was only filled to 50% capacity with empty seats beside and in front/back of your seat, masks were mandated and no calls were allowed - just claps. Even towel waving was forbidden. I did not feel like I was taking any reckless risks and that made me feel pretty relieved.

My seat!

Without further ado, let's fucking goooooo!

SET LIST:

01. Synchrogazer

02. DAYBREAKERS

03. ETERNAL BLAZE

MC1

04. glitch

05. ミュステリオン

Cherry Boys -showcase

06. Knock U down

07. SUPER☆MAN

08. Light Births Shadow

MC2

09. 花、星、空 -reunion-

10. suddenly ～巡り合えて～

Live History movie

11. Phase 21

Team Yo-Da -showcase

12. Inside of mind

13. Love Fight!

MC3

14. The Place of Happiness

紙芝居 movie

15. Red Breeze

16. カルペディエム

MC4

17. Get Up! Shout!

18. Tears' Night

19. FINAL COMMANDER

MC5

20. ALL FOR LOVE

Encore:

21. No Rain, No Rainbow

22. POP MASTER

MC6

23. UPSETTER

24. VIRGIN CODE

Outfit #1

01. Synchrogazer / 02. DAYBREAKERS / 03. ETERNAL BLAZE

Oh man, Nana brought out the big guns right from the get go didn’t she?! The moment I heard Synchrogazer start up I could feel so much of my pandemic weariness dissipating and my spirits lifting. It was like everything was okay again (even though it’s not, but it was nice to forget about everything for a few hours). I think Nana was feeling a lot of it herself too, because when she said "I'm back!" it was pretty obvious that her voice was faltering a little bit. Guess we've all been waiting for this very moment for what feels like an eternity, huh?

Took a moment for my brain to register that the next song was DAYBREAKERS, but when it dawned on me I realized it was a good pick for the opener set since well we've all been waiting for so long for daybreak, right?

Then getting ETERNAL BLAZE so early into the night too was a surprise, but after thinking about it for a sec it really makes sense. Everyone (Nana included I am sure) must have been so starved for a live for the past couple of years that giving us the song everyone was waiting for so soon was like delivering a mercy blow. xD

MC1

Welcome to LIVE RUNNER 2020→2022! Finally! A live again after 841 days (looks like Nana was counting)! Of course there has been the online NANA ACOUSTIC LIVE and the online Fan Club Event VIII, but it's not the same without everyone there - Nana says she's wanted to see everyone again for so long. She talks a bit about the LIVE RUNNER penlight, which comes with 3 call functions (hai!, fuu! and shassu!) and encourages people to use it when they feel like it. Though apparently the Cherry Boys tested it out and made the observation that there's a slight lag (was it 0.8 secs or something?) from when you press the button to when the call actually plays so it's kinda difficult to time it as intended.

Nana warns us that tonight is going to be intense, because there are pretty much no ballads or slow songs whatsoever (except, maybe 1), so everyone better be ready.

And here we gooooooo….

04. Glitch / 05. Mysterion

Yeeeessss!! The intense starter set continues! One of my best friends got into Nana's music during the pandemic (this was her first Nana live) and the one song she really wanted to hear was glitch, so I was really happy for her that it popped up! And….. also happy for myself because I really love this song too. And holy hell is it great live!! Could just feel the power of Nana’s voice sweep over me. And then even Mysterion?! Wasn’t expecting it so I got pretty stoked!! Hisashiiiburi! How long has it been since I heard it? Still as badass as ever...ahh, my mending heart.

Cherry Boys -showcase

While it proceeded pretty much like it usually would, somehow it felt shorter than I remember? Kinda wonder if they sped through it a little bit so that people wouldn't start getting the itch to call out every Cherry Boy's name too... it was actually so fast that I didn't really have a chance to catch any of the small exchanges between the members, except for a few yoroshikus. Anyways, there were a couple of fresher faces today - Champ and Kojiro!

Outfit #2

06. Knock U down / 07. SUPER☆MAN / 08. Light Births Shadow

I was expecting to hear Knock U down tonight! It’s definitely one of those songs, which while fun to begin with, gets even more fun when you hear it live! Can’t wait for it to be okay to do calls again though, since it seems like a song that would have fun calls :3!

When SUPER☆MAN started, I got a bit confused…. was this the dance corner? Shouldn’t it be one section later after the Team Yo-Da intro? Will I not get my Love Fight! tonight?? So many questions! 

22/01/24 edit: it was brought to my attention by RoseSeus10 in the comments -thanks!- that SUPER☆MAN might have been part of the setlist tonight as a tribute to it being roughly a year since Kei-tan crossed the rainbow bridge (as he featured in the PV) and I wouldn't be surprised at all if that was the case! Losing a dear furry companion hits very hard and it's always been obvious that Kei-tan meant the world to Nana. To make up for my oversight, here's a couple of pics of a new furry Nana fan in the making!

I didn’t get to dwell on the dance corner related train of thought for long, since next we got Light Births Shadow and I finally realized how much I actually like this song. Like, I really really like it….!

MC2

Nana starts by commenting on her cute outfit, which prompts silent mawatte calls (so essentially, everyone is just twirling their penlights around the way they would during this)! Of course Nana obliges and even gives us a mou ikkai of just her rather than asking any Cherry Boys to join her like she’s typically been doing for years now. Nana talks briefly about Fan Club Event VIII, which she held over live stream from Saitama Super Arena during the pandemic and how she had an exhibition of all her live outfits and when they asked the fans what outfits they liked best, her cute outfits were ranked pretty high, so she realized fans still want to see that kind of thing regardless of her age. As long as we’ll have her, Nana will keep wearing cute outfits for many many years more to come!

Nana also told us about a dream she had just before the live, in which she was asked to change to the next outfit on stage and her staff was telling her it’s okay, but Nana herself was thinking “no it’s not!!” and then the dream continued with how she’d be executed if she got the lyrics wrong while singing.

09. Hana, Hoshi, Sora -reunion- / 10. suddenly ～Meguriaete～

For some reason I never much listened to the original Hana, Hoshi, Sora that released way back when, and it’s a shame because I really like this –reunion- version! I missed out on like what 10 years of listening to it… sniff… guess I gotta make up for it now by listening to it a lot.

And then it's time for a classic! I have to say I never get tired of hearing suddenly ～Meguriaete～ live even if it's not something I listen to a -lot- otherwise.

Live History - movie

Now even more confused… are we not… getting Team Yo-Da intro at all..? I didn’t have too much time to ponder on this since watching the live history compilation video was so endearing as it reminded me of a happier time when the world wasn’t on fire and made me feel so much regret that we couldn’t celebrate 20 years of Nana when it was time. At first, there was a countdown from 2020 all the way to 2001 with footage from all the lives along the way, then we got a short clip from X’mas LIVE “supersonic girl” followed by another compilation of all lives and their logos, this time counting up, first to the Tokyo Dome announcement during LIVE JOURNEY, and then from there to the most recent one, finishing on a clip of Nana singing Omoi while playing the piano from Fan Club Event VIII and a clip from the rehearsal of LIVE RUNNER.

Outfit #3

11. Phase 21

I’m still a bit out of the loop with all the latest songs, since I only got back into actively listening to Nana very recently so I didn’t actually remember what song this was, only that I really enjoyed it in the moment. And when I checked what it was afterwards, it had indeed been my favorite from the Get Up! Shout! single.

I had given up all hope of a dance corner when…

Team Yo-Da –showcase

Oh! Very random timing, but I'll take it! I felt that the Cherry Boy intro was dealt with fast, but man that was nothing compared to this! The Team Yo-Da intro was literally over before I even had a chance to blink and then Nana was back.

12. Inside of mind / 13. Love Fight!

Ahhhh, starting with an old song?! She’s really making me beg for my Love Fight! isn’t she… D: Regardless, I was really pumped up to hear Inside of mind too since it was one of my very early favorites. I had kinda forgotten how much I used to like it though, so I am glad to be reminded of that now.

I knew that once Inside of mind ended, it would be my last chance to still get Love Fight! tonight and I was really holding my breath…. Till *exhaaaaaale* YES! There it is! Thank you.....! I was honestly just so excited at this point that my brain kinda froze in place and I blanked out? So I feel like I totally missed the dance even though I was looking forward to it so much… whyyyyy?! (T^T) glad I still have the stream for the 2nd day to look forward to. Gotta make sure I pay attention then (disclaimer: I did and man this choreography rocks)!

MC3

Nana of course talks about the Live History - movie. Nana mentions how the clip from X’mas LIVE “supersonic girl” was uploaded to her YouTube some time back, since one of her staff had recorded it even though the live itself hadn’t been recorded officially. She reminisces about how back then she didn't have anyone to make her outfits so she and Mishi-P went shopping in Harajuku. Nana then mentions how her first album, supersonic girl, is getting a vinyl release!

Then it’s time to talk to the Cherry Boys! Champ the keyboardist and Kojiro on guitar were supposed to make their Nana live debut on LIVE RUNNER 2020, but they never got a chance then, since it was all cancelled. So finally, they are here making their first to live audience debut with Nana! Nana also bugs Kenny who is as tight lipped as usual and just reminds everyone that he is number one. Think there was one or two more conversations, but this is as far as my memory had capacity for, sorry! :<

14. The Place of Happiness

Oh! More classics! The Place of Happiness has never been one of my favorites, but tonight I really appreciated having this song here - I feel like it was really fitting considering the times we are living in. Here we are, in our place of happiness right now and it literally is Nana protecting us from all the sadness with her songs.

きみを見つめてる　どんな暗闇でも

きみを守りたい　すべての悲しみから

<3

Voice Actor History （声優アイドル奈々）紙芝居 - movie

Omg this was insanely good. xD Maybe you’ve seen the paper theater these guys did for Pop Team Epic’s Hellshake Yano? If not here it is so you can get some idea of what this was like!

It started with a segment of little Nana and her dentist dad, followed by slightly older Nana with Mishi-P going through a bunch of her major seiyuu roles with Mishi-P describing that being able to do roles like this is what it takes to be a seiyuu. Laughed out loud accidently about how she’s been doing so many ninjas with mystical eye powers. xD Also stuff like her Precure role got pixelated due to copyright shenanigans I guess lol. It was honestly way too funny to be shown at a time like this when we weren't supposed to let out a peep!!! Keeping the laughter in was torture....

Outfit #4

15. Red Breeze / 16. Carpe diem

Hell’s yeaaaaaaaah!!! Red Breeze is definitely one of those powerhouse songs that you feel with your whole body. While with the absence of calls it’s been kinda weird with the overbearing silence and whatnot, it is songs like this that manage to bring the energy up with or without calls for sure! And oh man, the different colored mini fireworks that were flaring up on stage were so epic!!

Aaahhh, and this was followed by one of my top favorites from CANNONBALL RUNNING, Carpe diem!! Think I actually kinda did a small jump of excitement when it started. xD and oh man Nana is in super kakkoii mode in this section for sure, really loving the ninja inspired outfit too and the hakama pants just look so good on her. God, have I really missed lives…. (T^T)

MC4

Nana talks about the paper theater. She wanted to do something to commemorate her seiyuu career as well, so she asked the AC-bu guys to do this for her. It was originally supposed to be shown during the LIVE RUNNER 2020 tour and there were some variation to it per venue, but now… yeah, just this one of course. Nana says Mishi-P looks just like himself in it... xD hehe well maybe not quite. She then also talks about Shaman King and how it's been so nice to be doing a song for it again. Nana then warns us that things will just get more intense from here, so hopefully everyone is ready!

17. Get Up! Shout! / 18. Tears' Night / 19. FINAL COMMANDER

Wasn’t super into Get Up! Shout! when I first listened to it, but yappari, it was one of those songs that made more of an impact on me live. Really liking the sound of it tonight.

And then I guess Tears’ Night got thrown in here to represent the usual winter live lineup! Which I don’t mind at all! Haha also, I was telling my friend not to get her hopes up about METANOIA or FINAL COMMANDER since they both made a flashy appearance in LIVE EXPRESS, but what do you know – suddenly FINAL COMMANDER (also funny that METANOIA actually showed up on the 2nd day, so much for my pathetic predictions)! I didn't give FINAL COMMANDER too much thought until I heard it's in my friend's top favorites, after which I started paying more attention to it and then it has grown on me immensely. Definitely a nice surprise for tonight!

MC5

Next Nana tells us she has to say what she doesn't want to say, that it's time for the last song. She can't believe it's already over, since she waited 841 days for this! She really waited for this sooooooo, so long. Nana thanks everyone for being here tonight, as she is sure everyone had many hardships and worries on the way here. With the next song she hopes to convey all her love and these feelings to us.

20. ALL FOR LOVE

Very fitting for the final song! Man, started feeling pretty emotional too myself... just can’t believe the first live in over 2 years is nearing its end – and also still can’t believe that we actually got to be here tonight and see this in person. So grateful for it all. It definitely wasn’t easy making it this far and even now, it’s not easy to keep going. Guess we just gotta make it one day at a time till another live is possible again.

Encore!

Outfit #5

21. No Rain, No Rainbow / 22. POP MASTER

I was hoping No Rain, No Rainbow would grow on me when I hear it live like most songs, but it’s still not doing much for me. It’s nice but not particularly memorable to me.... sigh. :/ Always really bummed when that happens with a song!

Luckily POP MASTER brought back my excitement levels! Glad we got it as part of the encore lineup today, since I really wanted to hear it actually!

MC6

Shassu! We got to do the call through the LIVE RUNNER penlight, but it was kinda weird since the penlight voice sounds like a very unimpressed monotone ojisan.... oh well, better than nothing (though I would have preferred if it had used Nana's voice instead :3). Nana mentions the recently announced King Super Live and the live figure gacha lineup for all the things she has ridden during her lives from LIVE ACADEMY through LIVE EXPRESS. These guys:

Next up is a towel song, but since towels are not allowed Nana tells us to wave our penlights instead by following Team Yo-Da's lead.

23. UPSETTER / 24. VIRGIN CODE

Should have guessed that the new towel song would be UPSETTER! This song kinda makes me.... upset? Somehow from the name I always got the impression that it would be a badass song, but then my mind gets so confused every time I hear it and it's a cute cheerful song instead. xD

And then it's time for the actual last song of the night! It's VIRGIN CODE! Such a surprise! My impression of it as an opener song thanks to all my fond memories of LIVE FLIGHT is so strong that it is hard to see it as a closing song instead! Like it makes me feel ready for another round of songs, so it's unfair that there is nothing coming after!! But as much as I'd like the night to go on.... it's over..... and I gotta accept it.

--------------------------------------------------------

After Thoughts

It felt pretty surreal to be going to a concert again. I don't think I believed it was really happening until Nana actually appeared and even then it felt like a fever dream. My heart aches for everyone who didn't get to be here for LIVE RUNNER, either due to not being able to grab tickets or because Japan's borders remain tightly shut thanks to Covid. I really, really hope the day we can enjoy lives and celebrate Nana's music together like we used to is near and I look forward to seeing everyone again!

Until then, please hang on and stay safe!